It happens almost every election. The Liberals choose an indecisive leader, run a bad campaign, and then lash out at the NDP for deliberately splitting the left vote. You could set your clock on their timing. Usually the Liberal appeal to NDP supporters has worked. This time I'm not sure it will work and I certainly don't want to see it happen.
The Liberals are tired, they can't raise any money, and they have lost Quebec in a big way. Now it seems every Liberal online is taking their shots at Jack Layton. Its not going to work this time because you have tried so often and failed to deliver that people do not buy your line anymore.
Martin lost his last election because he thought he could do what Liberals always do. Offer up a four or five carrots and when elected deliver on one or two of them. Paul Martin did that in the last election he fought. He had two big things in the wings, the Kelowna accord and childcare. Both were excellent steps forward, yet he failed. He could have introduced them in the house and passed them but he chose not too.
From 1993 to Martin's last budget he cut the CBC funding from 1.7 billion to less that 1.1 billion per year. Harper has barely cut the CBC based on that comparison. The bill for cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs passed and lauded by singer Bono has proved so ineffective that only one country and one drug company has been able to benefit and that was only one shipment. The law is absolutely useless.
The Liberal Prime Minister promised to make MP's more effective, committee work would become meaningful. He did nothing. And Harper has done nothing despite his promise to do the same.
Then there was the anti-scab private members bill from the NDP. The CLC worked and lobbied Liberal MP's and got assurances they would vote for the bill. The Liberals on third reading voted with the Conservatives. They did this after agreeing with the bill. When push came to shove, the Liberals rolled over.
I have many more examples, these ones were the most important to me. The point is in case it has missed my Liberal friends is this, The New Democrats are attuned to my interests. The New Democrats are the party that best represents what I desire.
The Liberal party has cried wolf far too often, I and many folks I know have been hoodwinked once too often. Its not going to happen this time, no matter what you say. Oh and I detest Harper more than you do!
4.18.2011
4.16.2011
Harper's Democratic Deficit
Here are a few things about Harper from NUPGE you have forgot about!
November 2010 - unelected senate defeats climate bill BEFORE debate
"Stephen Harper has done what he always promised never to do – use unelected officials to counter the will of Parliament and the Canadian public," says Graham Saul, ED for Climate Action Network-Canada.
November 2009 – Senior diplomat Richard Colvin is publicly smeared
Richard Colvin, a career senior diplomat, reports to parliamentary committee that Afghan prisoners transferred to Afghan authorities are at risk of torture. The Harper government responds by publicly smearing and attacking Mr. Colvin's character and reputation. An open letter from a group of former ambassadors criticizes the government's treatment of Mr. Colvin as unfair and inappropriate. "The Colvin affair risks creating a climate in which officers may be more inclined to report what they believe headquarters wants to hear, rather than facts and perceptions deemed unpalatable," the former diplomats said.
November 2006 - Women's Law organizations stripped of funding
The National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL), as well as three other prominent national women's organizations, had their funding withdrawn. The Harper government doesn't agree with the legal cases these NGO's advance on behalf of vulnerable women or the advocacy they do to improve women's equality.
June 2007 – Conservative MP Bill Casey is kicked out of caucus
Tory MP, Bill Casey, on a matter of principle related to Canada's equalization program, votes against the 2007 budget and is kicked out of the Harper government caucus.
The Liberal Party has one thin hope
It may be a desperate times yet the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) does have the luxury of bringing out a previous Prime Minister. Two of them. I think it can only help.
Jean Chretien, lets call him JC, is still popular, he can remind people of the good days. Its easy to get excited with JC, he is quick, witty and sharp.
Paul Martin is also seen as competent. The deficit slayer. Not so smart as a Prime Minister but as Finance Minister he has peoples' respect. It may be too late however.
Why is this needed? The LPC have lost Quebec, they are struggling to hold what they have in Atlantic Canada and have pretty much all but pulled the dead and dying roots out of the ground in the west.
Toronto and the GTA is the LPC. It the only region left that they can say is ours. Lose the GTA and you give Harper a Majority. Lose the GTA and your party will finish behind the Bloc in the next election.
We are seeing the unraveling of the LPC. They likely will finish 30 to 40 seats better than the NDP this time, but any growth by the NDP over 40 seats and a NDP percentages in the 20+ area in Quebec spell doom for the LPC in next election.
I suspect a big part of the problem goes back to the Dion coalition plan and a very effective anti-coalition campaign by Harper. Its my view many of the GTA LPC MPs liked the coalition plan. They could actually be liberal in their approach to governing. I loved the idea. It was a recipe for success. A chance to bring a progressive approach to governing in Canada.
It went off the rails when the LPC backrooms got cold feet. In fact I believe these behind the scenes unelected folks were opposed to the coalition from the start. The LPC backroom boys are still thinking of the days when the Royal Bank and HBC wrote them cheques for $100,000 or more every year. Those days are gone due to JC's legislation and the RBC and HBC are far more comfy with Harper.
The coalition would have been a gamble but one that was worth trying. The LPC would be the government. They would have two years to show they can govern and I expect they would have done a far better job for Canada than the Harper gang did.
That's all history now and full of what-ifs. Those same backroom boys went to work arranging the coronation of Ignatieff. They forced Dion out, they wanted Iggy and had to smackdown Bob Rae who likely would have won the leadership in a vote of LPC members.
So not only had Ignatieff not earned the leadership, he was seen by the public to have not earned it. Ignatieff was behind from the beginning. And it just got worse. The Harper Conservatives managed to paint a view of Ignatieff as visiting professor. Add all those votes or missing votes that amounted to the same thing, for Harper's budgets, showed a weak and desperate party, trying to wait out the storm.
The Liberals dug a deep hole waiting for Harper to screw up. Harper has screwed up, yet it hasn't translated into LPC support. That being the case, the LPC fell back to their tried and true practice. Adopt as many NDP platform ideas without seeming too left, run the campaign from the left.
This time the campaign from the left has not worked. The NDP and Jack Layton have resonated with Canadians. He has had fewer snickers from media when he says he is running to be the Prime Minister. Layton has connected with voters. He is the most trusted leader, he is seen as the one best able to address healthcare, which is fast becoming the number one issue. That all spells bad news for Ignatieff and the LPC.
Its comes down to this. Keep the left LPC voter from switching NDP. It may be too late. The LPC should be able to hold onto second place but its no longer certain.
If I were the LPC I would spend a good deal of money getting 10,000 people into an arena in Mississauga to hear JC's call to action. And I would do it now!
Jean Chretien, lets call him JC, is still popular, he can remind people of the good days. Its easy to get excited with JC, he is quick, witty and sharp.
Paul Martin is also seen as competent. The deficit slayer. Not so smart as a Prime Minister but as Finance Minister he has peoples' respect. It may be too late however.
Why is this needed? The LPC have lost Quebec, they are struggling to hold what they have in Atlantic Canada and have pretty much all but pulled the dead and dying roots out of the ground in the west.
Toronto and the GTA is the LPC. It the only region left that they can say is ours. Lose the GTA and you give Harper a Majority. Lose the GTA and your party will finish behind the Bloc in the next election.
We are seeing the unraveling of the LPC. They likely will finish 30 to 40 seats better than the NDP this time, but any growth by the NDP over 40 seats and a NDP percentages in the 20+ area in Quebec spell doom for the LPC in next election.
I suspect a big part of the problem goes back to the Dion coalition plan and a very effective anti-coalition campaign by Harper. Its my view many of the GTA LPC MPs liked the coalition plan. They could actually be liberal in their approach to governing. I loved the idea. It was a recipe for success. A chance to bring a progressive approach to governing in Canada.
It went off the rails when the LPC backrooms got cold feet. In fact I believe these behind the scenes unelected folks were opposed to the coalition from the start. The LPC backroom boys are still thinking of the days when the Royal Bank and HBC wrote them cheques for $100,000 or more every year. Those days are gone due to JC's legislation and the RBC and HBC are far more comfy with Harper.
The coalition would have been a gamble but one that was worth trying. The LPC would be the government. They would have two years to show they can govern and I expect they would have done a far better job for Canada than the Harper gang did.
That's all history now and full of what-ifs. Those same backroom boys went to work arranging the coronation of Ignatieff. They forced Dion out, they wanted Iggy and had to smackdown Bob Rae who likely would have won the leadership in a vote of LPC members.
So not only had Ignatieff not earned the leadership, he was seen by the public to have not earned it. Ignatieff was behind from the beginning. And it just got worse. The Harper Conservatives managed to paint a view of Ignatieff as visiting professor. Add all those votes or missing votes that amounted to the same thing, for Harper's budgets, showed a weak and desperate party, trying to wait out the storm.
The Liberals dug a deep hole waiting for Harper to screw up. Harper has screwed up, yet it hasn't translated into LPC support. That being the case, the LPC fell back to their tried and true practice. Adopt as many NDP platform ideas without seeming too left, run the campaign from the left.
This time the campaign from the left has not worked. The NDP and Jack Layton have resonated with Canadians. He has had fewer snickers from media when he says he is running to be the Prime Minister. Layton has connected with voters. He is the most trusted leader, he is seen as the one best able to address healthcare, which is fast becoming the number one issue. That all spells bad news for Ignatieff and the LPC.
Its comes down to this. Keep the left LPC voter from switching NDP. It may be too late. The LPC should be able to hold onto second place but its no longer certain.
If I were the LPC I would spend a good deal of money getting 10,000 people into an arena in Mississauga to hear JC's call to action. And I would do it now!
3.31.2011
Jason Kenny doesn't get it!
This is a snip capture of a Tweet from Conservative heavy weight, Jason Kenny from this afternoon. It's clear the Conservatives and Harper's team just don't get it. Its not funny.
3.24.2011
Individual MP's can make a Difference - Lynn McDonald
So you think individual MP's can't make a difference? Lynn McDonald would tell you otherwise. McDonald was the MP in the federal riding that comprised part of what is now Toronto Danforth, Jack Layton's riding.
McDonald was elected to Parliament in 1982. She is the first MP to be referred to as Ms. McDonald introduced a private Members Bill C-204, the Non-smokers’ Health Act.l
This private-member’s bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Lynn McDonald (NDP) in October 1986, proposed to restrict smoking in federally regulated workplaces, as well as on planes, trains, and boats. The bill placed tobacco under the Hazardous Products Act, thereby prohibiting all advertising and sales except what was permitted by regulation.
It took two years but Bill C-204 passed 3rd reading on May 30th 1988. A government Bill C-51 passed the following day.
Today Canada's fight back against tobacco can be traced back to a New Democrat MP who with the support of her party took up the fight. McDonald's bill was passed with the support of all political parties as was the government Bill C-51 which as I noted above was passed the next day. It wasn't easy as many MP's stayed away for the vote.
Individual MPs do make a difference, your vote counts when you cast it for someone that you believe in.
You can read more about the fight to pass the two Bills here.
Lynn McDonald works on the faculty of the University of Guelph.
McDonald was elected to Parliament in 1982. She is the first MP to be referred to as Ms. McDonald introduced a private Members Bill C-204, the Non-smokers’ Health Act.lThis private-member’s bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Lynn McDonald (NDP) in October 1986, proposed to restrict smoking in federally regulated workplaces, as well as on planes, trains, and boats. The bill placed tobacco under the Hazardous Products Act, thereby prohibiting all advertising and sales except what was permitted by regulation.
It took two years but Bill C-204 passed 3rd reading on May 30th 1988. A government Bill C-51 passed the following day.
Today Canada's fight back against tobacco can be traced back to a New Democrat MP who with the support of her party took up the fight. McDonald's bill was passed with the support of all political parties as was the government Bill C-51 which as I noted above was passed the next day. It wasn't easy as many MP's stayed away for the vote.
Individual MPs do make a difference, your vote counts when you cast it for someone that you believe in.
You can read more about the fight to pass the two Bills here.
Lynn McDonald works on the faculty of the University of Guelph.
Lawrence O'Donnell on Catholics pro-gay views
Lawrence O'Donnell of msnbc rails against political pundits who hold up the so-called "Catholic vote" to make points about gay rights, using a new study which shows that American Catholics are at least five points more supportive than the general public across a range of gay and lesbian issues..
I knew many Catholics growing up and worked with a few Knights of Columbus. They were great people, supportive of my rights as a gay man. We fund raised for each other. They had a booth at the Williams Lake Stampede. The money we made from working their booth went to a political group that supported gay rights. They knew this. These people will forever be in my thoughts.
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/03/catholics_odonnell.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Daily++%23gay+news%29&utm_content=Twitter#ixzz1HWKYSypl
H/T to Towlerroad
I knew many Catholics growing up and worked with a few Knights of Columbus. They were great people, supportive of my rights as a gay man. We fund raised for each other. They had a booth at the Williams Lake Stampede. The money we made from working their booth went to a political group that supported gay rights. They knew this. These people will forever be in my thoughts.
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/03/catholics_odonnell.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Daily++%23gay+news%29&utm_content=Twitter#ixzz1HWKYSypl
H/T to Towlerroad
3.23.2011
NDP, BLOC show up for Liberal Motion - Too Bad the Liberals didn't
Iggy's Liberals couldn't organize a a piss up in a bar. They planned a perfect way to get the Harper Conservatives to go on record as being opposed to contraception. They forgot to tell or compel Liberal MPs to be there. Three of the Liberals there voted with Harper. Read all about it here and here. The blog that sums up what the other two said albeit with video is here.
Who did the heavy lifting on the vote, the NDP and Bloc. Both Parties felt it was vital to be in the House for this vote. Why couldn't these Liberals be there, Anita Neville, Gerard Kennedy, Andrew Kania, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Alan Tonks, Marlene Jennings, Joe Volpe, Lawrence MacAuley, and Stephane Dion, Jim Karygiannis.
h/t Dammit Janet
Who did the heavy lifting on the vote, the NDP and Bloc. Both Parties felt it was vital to be in the House for this vote. Why couldn't these Liberals be there, Anita Neville, Gerard Kennedy, Andrew Kania, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Alan Tonks, Marlene Jennings, Joe Volpe, Lawrence MacAuley, and Stephane Dion, Jim Karygiannis.
h/t Dammit Janet
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