OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jack Layton says the House of Commons should spend the next couple of months focusing on employment insurance reforms and other matters - not electioneering.
They'll call it Jack Layton's Summer of sweeeeet surrender. It is so like listening to Stephane Dion about the same time in '08.
Oh Gawd this shall be fun. I can barely control my smirking. Might as well kill yourself now, McClelland, for you shall never get your dignity back.
I can't wait for the verbal gymnastics to spin the "real opposition's" new strategy as principled. In reality, Jack and the boys had a sober rethink the last two weeks, finally realizing that yes, they are pretty irrelevant these days. I've been dumbfounded at how the NDP braintrust has continually misread the mood of the country, it's actually a testament to amateur hour.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, it's not exactly a bragging point to show that your party voted against EVERYTHING, EVERYTIME. Hate to break it to people, but, um, that's actually the problem.
NDP are showing up to the House to work for Canadians, unlike the Libs that are working on keeping the Cons in power as a coalition regressive govt. Our record shows it.
ReplyDeleteToo bad libs can't say the same in their less than flattering "no show" or outright voting to prop up Harper's agenda and keeping it on track.
Oh, and unlike Iggy who is out drumming up an election, and out of all the leaders, not showing up for work, maybe he should try it - isn't that what his constituents elected him for in his so safe "lib seat."
Record of voting is the one that counts - instead of the "blowing of sweet nothings" that Iggy and the Libs are doing - LOL
Gawd, Jan, you sound like Me, six months ago.
ReplyDelete"As an aside, it's not exactly a bragging point to show that your party voted against EVERYTHING, EVERYTIME. Hate to break it to people, but, um, that's actually the problem."
ReplyDeleteAnd, look who shows up one minute later to BRAG. Too funny.
It is delicious to see, but at the same time it could mean no election till 2011 or later because the NDP now know that whenever it comes they are going to lose seats. And Layton knows if that happens his time is up and that's a VERY powerful motivator no matter how embarassing it would be to continually prop Harper up. Half of their caucus I'm sure would rather swallow their pride than lose their jobs so we could be looking at a long Harper reign here no matter how ridiculous it makes Layton look.
ReplyDeleteAnd surely enough we'll still see people like Jan coming back in 2 years to explain how Layton "was working for Canadians, unlike those obstructionist Liberals!"
Though while it will be a Liberal win at the end of the day (probably a very sizable minority), for each extra year Harper is power the harder it will be for Liberals to fix the job. So we shouldn't get too pleased by this news.
I told you the other day that the NDP were likely going to crush Iggy's pipe dream of an election this year in exchange for something from the Cons. I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table.
ReplyDeleteRobert
ReplyDeleteI thought you didn't "trust" Harper, now there's backroom deals? Oh, make it stop, hypocrisy overload.
Whatever, Steve. Enjoy your poll numbers, because that's all your going to have.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Harper will want to make the NDP look good, so he is going to appear to be giving them something for their support.
ReplyDeleteIt is not in Harper's interest to treat the NDP the same way he treated the LPC. A deal will be made.
Harper and Layton will happily deal with each other to ensure their personal political advancement. After all, they're going over well travelled territory. Waiter, another string of beads for my friend Jack here!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the Cons and NDP in bed together again.
ReplyDeleteBend over Jack, your face looks familiar.
This whole voting count nonsense, reminds me of little kids snitching in school - Libby Davies would be the one bringing the apple to the teacher while she snitches. How pathetic can it get.
Proof that Layton and the NDP are all bluster when it's easy for them and the onus isn't on them - chickens and hypocrites.
Record of voting is the one that counts.
ReplyDeleteDon't be ridiculous. It's what gets done that counts.
I realise for a marginal party that's never held office nationally, it's a difficult concept to grasp, but there you are.
Stop trying, Moonie.
"I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table."
ReplyDeleteGod, I hope so. The quickest way to finally kill that idea once and for all is to attach it to an increasingly unpopular goverment.
As well, the quickest way to reduce the NDP to a rump and hand much of the centre-left votes to the Liberals is for the NDP to attach itself to that same increasingly unpopular government.
Such an alliance would alienate all but the most partisan supporters of both parties leaving a huge pool for the Liberals.
So, by all means Jack, climb into bed with the Conservatives to stave off your final retirement from politics. It will virtually guarantee a large Liberal majority government after the next election.
Robert McC: "I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table."
ReplyDeleteWhere'd you hear that? Am waiting with baited breath.
WOW! It certainly doesn't take much for Libs to think this is a 'gotcha' moment ... in fact considering what the Libs have been doing off and on for the last year or 2, it is actually hilarious to read this post!
ReplyDeleteI mean the Libs are going to have a convention without discussing or dealing with ANY policy whatsoever! They are going to endorse a leader who has neither been elected NOR will he be challenged at a delegate convention that will likely reject the democratic concept of 'one member one vote."
Gloating Liberals should walk softly!
"Gloating Liberals should walk softly!"
ReplyDeleteActually, there's a lesson for YOU in that statement :)
McClelland wrote:
ReplyDelete"I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table."
Yeah and I'm hearing each NDP MP will be given a free bowl of soup. Not much to sell your soul for.
Leftdog said..."WOW! It certainly doesn't take much for Libs to think this is a 'gotcha' moment ... in fact considering what the Libs have been doing off and on for the last year or 2, it is actually hilarious to read this post"...
ReplyDeleteno fucking kidding,the Liberals please the same Liberals who are all talk,but when it comes to actually doing anything they his in the halls rather than hold the Cons accountable.
"verbal gymnastics" lol
that's Liberal territory,Steve,Liberals are pros at that game.But then as Cherniak use to say "principals are over rated",the Liberals would rather win at any cost.
typo-should read.."hid in the halls"
ReplyDelete"who are all talk,but when it comes to actually doing anything "
ReplyDeleteSomebody help me out, is that irony?
"I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table."Really Robert? That'd be swell. You know what. A referendum of that sort actually IS happening right now in BC. And guess what side BC NDP leader Carole James is on? (Hint: it's not the yes side).
ReplyDeleteI mean the Libs are going to have a convention without discussing or dealing with ANY policy whatsoever!Not that's just not true, leftdog. I'm sure you know better then that. Would you like a PDF with 50ish pages of policy that will be both discussed AND debated at that convention? Let me know, I'd be happy to send you a link.
ReplyDeleteI'd sure there'll be lots of fodder for you to mock all the offbase policy you don't agree with that we won't be discussing whatsoever.
Or
Reality time here. Why on earth would the Cons want to hold a referendum on PR? Seriously, if passed it would practically mean they would never be able to form government again, unless they can stomach a coalition with the Libs or the NDP.
ReplyDeleteThe only party that would fare worse than the Cons would be the Bloc. And there's another scary thought, take away their influence and I can ses another kind of referendum coming.
When the whacko Dippers and the Latte Lieberals are having an ass-kicking, I won't pick sides.
ReplyDeleteI'm pray'n for that asteroid.
When the whacko Dippers and the Latte Lieberals *bzzzt* *pop* *hiss* *crackle crackle*I think Univac up there blew a vacuum tube.
ReplyDeleteThis is what you have to work with, Dips. Enjoy!
Heh heh.
If Canada had proportional representation during the October 2008, basing it on a model that divides up the nation into 5 regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Praries, BC) this would be the riding distribution:
ReplyDeleteCON = 115
LIB = 80
NDP = 62
BLQ = 29
GRN = 22
Actual
CON = 143
LIB = 77
NDP = 37
BLQ = 49
GRN = 0
IND = 2
OK everyone can see why the Dippers and the Greens are all for it, but why on earth would the Conservatives even entertain the idea?
So, the NDP and Layton thinks kicking some one's ass (the Liberals) is more important than those suffering Canadians fretting at the kitchen table.
ReplyDeleteUh, huh.....so much for principled eh?
Forget about it you suffering Canadians, Jack's trying to save his own ass.
Mike I always said since the 2006 election that the numbers mean that all three opposition parties need to want to force an election, and the chances of that ever happening were slim. If the Liberals don't prop him up, another party will. That's why Harper ended up breaking his own election law (in spirit) and why the coalition was the only way they were willing to bring him down.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, waiting until 2011 should lead to a defeat of near Kim Campbellesque proportions. To know Stephen Harper is not to love him. Even an economic recovery won't help him, because basically, he's an asshole and people will be sick of him.
Tof KW asks
ReplyDelete"Reality time here. Why on earth would the Cons want to hold a referendum on PR?"
Well, if they're like every other government in Canada that has held such a referendum, they will hold it under conditions that ensure it will be rejected.
Harper loves to promise votes he knows he can't afford to win if he's assured of losing them. Remember the vote on the definition of marriage?
I just love how the Liberals attack the NDP on speculation, THAT'S ALL THIS IS FOLKS. Over and over again we see liberals saying "Jack has no principals, propping up the Tories!" and "His base will disappear". So if Jack is wrong for thinking about propping up Harper for one or two votes what does that say about the Liberals under Iggy and Dion (what is it, 70-80 times now they've kept the Tories in power)?
ReplyDeletewhat is it, 70-80 times now they've kept the Tories in power.
ReplyDeleteJust round it out to a bazillion times. Requires fewer cognitive resources.
Some people should resign themselves to the fact that politics is unfathomable and should stick to specifics or just ignore it.
Bottom line is, the NDP is going nowhere after declaring war on the Liberals (and by extension a good proportion of progressives in Canada) three years ago. Too bad, so sad.
BCer in Toronto said...""I'm hearing that a referendum on PR may even be on the table."Really Robert? That'd be swell. You know what. A referendum of that sort actually IS happening right now in BC. And guess what side BC NDP leader Carole James is on? (Hint: it's not the yes side)"...
ReplyDeleteYeah so...you seem to be implying that this is some kind of divisive bone of contention.
Sorry to disappoint you but it is not,here is what Jame's said...
She ,personally, supports proportional representation albeit MPP over STV.
But that said the NDP as a Party will not take a stand one way or the other,as they believe political parties(conflict of interest and all) should be neutral on this issue.
Individual NDPers can and should vote as they see fit.
They sure as hell do not feel it's their right(as a party) to influence or second guess the choices made by ordinary voters/working people.In short James and the NDP are handling this issue correctly,they trust and respect voters.
And unlike the Liberals the NDP see the 60% benchmark as typical Liberal arrogance.50%+1 is democracy,the irony of the Liberals who were elected under 50%+1 turning around and telling voters for them to change the system they need to reach a 60% threshold before democracy kicks in is just well...what can I say rich,typical Liberal arrogance.