B.C. Liberals have one thing going for them. NDP leader, Carole James, who has lost two elections and her approval rating of only 27 per cent. The NDP itself is sitting at about 49% which would likely see them win close to 70% if not more of the seats with the first past the post system.
The NDP enormous lead will not be there once the Liberals elect a new leader. Especially if that new leader is seen as a moderate and cancels the HST referendum because he or she has decided to end the HST. That will remove a lot of the animosity toward the BC Liberals. Campbell will be painted as the villain and the race tightens up, possibly allowing the Liberals a statistical shot of winning.
That is the best scenario for the BC Libs.
The NDP is much stronger now in large part due to the HST. Adding to the NDP's strength is the Liberals budget lie, the BC Rail scandal, and the Liberals 10 plus years in government. The NDP can rely on its traditional support of 30 to 35% and will need to maintain 46 to 49% to actually win.
To do any of this the NDP will have to move Carole James' personal approval rating up from 27% to north of 40% or have their own leadership contest and do it before summer 2011. There are no shortage of good candidates for the job. The NDP leadership make over can't happen too soon.
The other big factors will be the economy, things look to be getting a little better but with the Liberals bringing in another tax cut, they will need to find 600 million dollars fast. Add to that lost 600 million the loss from the HST. You can see there is a billion plus dollars to be made up through an improving economy or big cuts to government programs and services.
Finally, the recall campaigns. Knocking off five to eight MLAs and replacing most of them with New Democrats will make things much easier for the NDP. They need to happen asap before the Liberals can put a new leader in place.
11.05.2010
Laila gives us 100 reasons for Campbell to go!
I know lots of folks are looking for stuff on Gordon Campbell, or Gordo as his buddies know him. Here is a link to a pretty good list of reasons Campbell must go... In fact the list has 100 reasons, well over a 100 links to supporting documents, news articles and blog postings.
Its quite comprehensive and must have taken a while to compile. Thanks for this Laila Yuile.
Check it out here.
Its quite comprehensive and must have taken a while to compile. Thanks for this Laila Yuile.
Check it out here.
Gordon Campbell - his record is profitable for his friends
"Anyone who spent 26 years in public office deserves some level of praise. Going beyond that for Gordon Campbell -- offering thanks for his public service -- is a challenge." - The Daily News Canada.com
Gordon Campbell and I have a mutual dislike for each other. It goes back to my days as an Executive Assistant in the BC NDP government in the 1990's. I was a political appointee and he was the newly elected leader of the BC Liberals. Campbell may not remember our short and brief encounters in the Cariboo or in Victoria. I do as its not that often I come face to face with someone that instantly goes from a cheery smile to a forced, albeit unsuccessful new smile that says, "who let that little socialist fag near me".
Campbell never really had a lot of public support. People voted for the party over him. Few people were "warm" to him. He was a politician that always had two faces. The one he showed you as you met with him and the other when he walked away from you. The HEU know this well. Before the 2001 election, Campbell met with the HEU, was interviewed by their newsletter. He told them a contract was a contract, he would abide by any union contracts in place.
It did not take Campbell long to show his other face once he became Premier. Campbell introduced new laws, including Bill 29, that stripped away many of the rights and benefits in the very union contracts he promised to honour only 13 months before. Workers making $14 to $18 an hour were laid off and sometimes offered their job back at $10 to $12 an hour. The BC Liberal Government was taken to court by the HEU, BCGEU and other unions. The case fianlly made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, where the court declared the government had violated the workers rights.
Campbell of course did not stop breaking promises with just unions. He went on to break one of his biggest promises. In the 1996 election it was thought the BCNDP would be wiped out by the newly elected leader of the Liberals, Gordon Campbell.
That was before he announced that a BC Liberal government would sell BC Rail. People in BC were pretty happy owning Canada's third largest railway. They liked the idea you could catch a passenger train from North Vancouver to the 108 Mile Resort or too Prince George.
They also liked the historic Royal Hudson which ironically was bought by the Dave Barrett NDP government in 1974 and completely restored and in service from Vancouver to Squamish in the same year.
Campbell lost the election in 1996. His supporters in the BIG business community were pissed off at him. Campbell learned his lesson. In the 2001 election, he promised to keep BC Rail. It was not for sale. That promise lasted about two years. In 2003 Campbell and the BC Liberals sold the Railway to CN for $1 billion. It was a steal for CN. The railway made the provincial government between 30 and 50 million a year in profits. It was also responsive to local issues and local businesses. It had an excellent relationship with its customers and local communities.
So why did the Liberals sell off BC rail if it was so good for BC? I suspect it had to do with the relationship Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals had with the Chairman of the Board of CN Rail, David McLean. McLean was behind a group of business people that encouraged Campbell to run for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party. He helped fund-raise for Campbell and gave generously himself.
In 2002, that's the year before BC Rail is handed to CN, McLean made donations of $36,075 on behalf of, you guessed it, CN Rail to the BC Liberals. In 2004 McLean and or his family and companies gave over $20,000 to the BC Liberals. That's almost $60,000 to the BC Liberals from one person. Did McLean have anything to to gain by encouraging and funding Campbell's BC Liberal leadership campaign? Was McLean instrumental in Campbell's promise during the 1996 election to sell off BC Rail?
I will do more on Campbell's legacy soon. I haven't even mentioned Campbell's joyride in Hawaii yet...
Gordon Campbell and I have a mutual dislike for each other. It goes back to my days as an Executive Assistant in the BC NDP government in the 1990's. I was a political appointee and he was the newly elected leader of the BC Liberals. Campbell may not remember our short and brief encounters in the Cariboo or in Victoria. I do as its not that often I come face to face with someone that instantly goes from a cheery smile to a forced, albeit unsuccessful new smile that says, "who let that little socialist fag near me".Campbell never really had a lot of public support. People voted for the party over him. Few people were "warm" to him. He was a politician that always had two faces. The one he showed you as you met with him and the other when he walked away from you. The HEU know this well. Before the 2001 election, Campbell met with the HEU, was interviewed by their newsletter. He told them a contract was a contract, he would abide by any union contracts in place.
It did not take Campbell long to show his other face once he became Premier. Campbell introduced new laws, including Bill 29, that stripped away many of the rights and benefits in the very union contracts he promised to honour only 13 months before. Workers making $14 to $18 an hour were laid off and sometimes offered their job back at $10 to $12 an hour. The BC Liberal Government was taken to court by the HEU, BCGEU and other unions. The case fianlly made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, where the court declared the government had violated the workers rights.
"The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that sections of Bill 29, the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act, violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a groundbreaking ruling extending the freedom of association provision of the Charter to include the right to free collective bargaining, the Court struck down key provisions of the 2002 law that restricted and gutted the bargaining rights of health care workers." - BCGEU Press release July 2007
That was before he announced that a BC Liberal government would sell BC Rail. People in BC were pretty happy owning Canada's third largest railway. They liked the idea you could catch a passenger train from North Vancouver to the 108 Mile Resort or too Prince George.They also liked the historic Royal Hudson which ironically was bought by the Dave Barrett NDP government in 1974 and completely restored and in service from Vancouver to Squamish in the same year.
Campbell lost the election in 1996. His supporters in the BIG business community were pissed off at him. Campbell learned his lesson. In the 2001 election, he promised to keep BC Rail. It was not for sale. That promise lasted about two years. In 2003 Campbell and the BC Liberals sold the Railway to CN for $1 billion. It was a steal for CN. The railway made the provincial government between 30 and 50 million a year in profits. It was also responsive to local issues and local businesses. It had an excellent relationship with its customers and local communities. So why did the Liberals sell off BC rail if it was so good for BC? I suspect it had to do with the relationship Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals had with the Chairman of the Board of CN Rail, David McLean. McLean was behind a group of business people that encouraged Campbell to run for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party. He helped fund-raise for Campbell and gave generously himself.
In 2002, that's the year before BC Rail is handed to CN, McLean made donations of $36,075 on behalf of, you guessed it, CN Rail to the BC Liberals. In 2004 McLean and or his family and companies gave over $20,000 to the BC Liberals. That's almost $60,000 to the BC Liberals from one person. Did McLean have anything to to gain by encouraging and funding Campbell's BC Liberal leadership campaign? Was McLean instrumental in Campbell's promise during the 1996 election to sell off BC Rail?
I will do more on Campbell's legacy soon. I haven't even mentioned Campbell's joyride in Hawaii yet...
MP Don Davies questions actions of police that led to the violations of civil liberties and charter rights during the G/20 Summits
There are many blogs that have been covering the G20 police abuses in Toronto earlier this year. I have not until now. There are hearing being held by Parliament into the matter and I came across the following video where NDP MP Don Davies is questioning Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair.
I was heartened to see MP Davies was well prepared and well versed in the alleged police abuses. You should watch this video as Davies attempts to hold Chief Blair accountable for the actions of Toronto Police during the parliamentary committee hearings.
This is one of the finer examples of how a committee should be responding to issues and the value of an informed Member of Parliament, doing his job well.
I was heartened to see MP Davies was well prepared and well versed in the alleged police abuses. You should watch this video as Davies attempts to hold Chief Blair accountable for the actions of Toronto Police during the parliamentary committee hearings.
This is one of the finer examples of how a committee should be responding to issues and the value of an informed Member of Parliament, doing his job well.
11.04.2010
Who thinks up these polls
Okay the Sun has just stepped over the ledge. An online poll of Canadians to decide who is a bigger threat to Canadians, Omar Khadr or serial killer Russell Williams. This is just ludicrous. Brian Lilley are you a journalist or simply an adjunct of professional wrestling entertainment. See Brian`s story here, Khadr a bigger threat than Williams: poll.
Heck you asked to question solely in BC, you could add Premier Gordon Campbell to the mix. The Sun is nothing more than a rag with a sunshine girl thrown in. Lets compare Prime Minister Harper to leftist US Senator Bernie Sanders. Who is a bigger threat to Canadians.
hat tip to our Sister
Heck you asked to question solely in BC, you could add Premier Gordon Campbell to the mix. The Sun is nothing more than a rag with a sunshine girl thrown in. Lets compare Prime Minister Harper to leftist US Senator Bernie Sanders. Who is a bigger threat to Canadians.
hat tip to our Sister
11.02.2010
Send Garneau back to Space
The space-station is celebrating ten years today of continuous habitation. Its my suggestion we send Liberal MP Marc Garneau back up there for the next ten years after he decided it was more important to protect the patents on life saving HIV medications than to save lives in developing countries. Garneau voted with the Conservative government at committee virtually gutting the ability to make life saving generic drugs in Canada.
Often people suggest that I spend too much time attacking the Liberal party and should be going after the demon Harperites. I can only add in my defense that the Liberal party has proven time and again, they are Conservative lite on issues involving corporations. Often to the detriment of Canadians like you and me. Recently most Liberals lined up to support anti-scab legislation on second reading, only to go missing on third reading or to change their votes. They have done this at least three times in the last 6 years.
Take the recent EI expansion bill that would have extended benefits to Canadian workers laid off and with little or limited hopes of finding decent employment in the near future. People with mortgages, kids in school and or barely keeping the wolf outside. Now many Liberals voted for the bill despite Iggy saying it would be irresponsible to support it. Yet just enough Liberals stayed away ensuring the Bill would be defeated.
Now I know many of these Liberals, especially the ones that did come in to vote for the EI bill do want to move on progressive issues. Trouble is they can't as Iggy and the Liberal leadership are far more corporate minded. It really must be hell for Gerrard Kennedy, Ken Dryden, Carolyn Bennett or Hedy Fry in that group. Why the hell are they still there is a better question.
I recall many years ago when I was an executive assistant for a BC NDP Cabinet Minister. I was sent out to see what we could do when a first Nations group had blacked the construction of a bridge. The bridge was being built by a logging company to access logging rights in disputed territory.
After a three hour drive, I was expecting I would be there for several hours and then I would return home late that night. As the day went on, the bridge construction crew and the Indians sat around a fire, sharing moose-meat stew, smoked salmon and coffee. We waited for the the owner of the logging company to come. He was to arrive about two in the afternoon by helicopter. He was a very wealthy man.
We waited and we waited. Finally he arrived, six hours late, the setting sun providing a magnificent backdrop for his large yet sleek silver and blue helicopter to swoop overhead like a powerful eagle. He landed and bounded out toward the fire. He introduced himself graciously. He spilled out all manner of flattery.
So after some discussion, it was clear we would need to be there the next day as well. And me completely unprepared. The big owner of the the logging company asked me if I would like to spend the night at a lodge just over the next range. A big dinner was being put up, a comfy bed and a hot tub awaited. It was very tempting until a young member of the band council asked, "Will you go there Ricky, or stay and sleep with the people?"
I slept in my truck that night near the fire, waking up every hour or so to start the truck and warm up, knowing I had made the right choice for me. Wouldn't it be good if some of the red Liberals started speaking out, standing up to their party leadership, if they would accept that more can be done, we don't have to settle for less all the time.
Often people suggest that I spend too much time attacking the Liberal party and should be going after the demon Harperites. I can only add in my defense that the Liberal party has proven time and again, they are Conservative lite on issues involving corporations. Often to the detriment of Canadians like you and me. Recently most Liberals lined up to support anti-scab legislation on second reading, only to go missing on third reading or to change their votes. They have done this at least three times in the last 6 years.
Take the recent EI expansion bill that would have extended benefits to Canadian workers laid off and with little or limited hopes of finding decent employment in the near future. People with mortgages, kids in school and or barely keeping the wolf outside. Now many Liberals voted for the bill despite Iggy saying it would be irresponsible to support it. Yet just enough Liberals stayed away ensuring the Bill would be defeated.
Now I know many of these Liberals, especially the ones that did come in to vote for the EI bill do want to move on progressive issues. Trouble is they can't as Iggy and the Liberal leadership are far more corporate minded. It really must be hell for Gerrard Kennedy, Ken Dryden, Carolyn Bennett or Hedy Fry in that group. Why the hell are they still there is a better question.
I recall many years ago when I was an executive assistant for a BC NDP Cabinet Minister. I was sent out to see what we could do when a first Nations group had blacked the construction of a bridge. The bridge was being built by a logging company to access logging rights in disputed territory.
After a three hour drive, I was expecting I would be there for several hours and then I would return home late that night. As the day went on, the bridge construction crew and the Indians sat around a fire, sharing moose-meat stew, smoked salmon and coffee. We waited for the the owner of the logging company to come. He was to arrive about two in the afternoon by helicopter. He was a very wealthy man.
We waited and we waited. Finally he arrived, six hours late, the setting sun providing a magnificent backdrop for his large yet sleek silver and blue helicopter to swoop overhead like a powerful eagle. He landed and bounded out toward the fire. He introduced himself graciously. He spilled out all manner of flattery.
So after some discussion, it was clear we would need to be there the next day as well. And me completely unprepared. The big owner of the the logging company asked me if I would like to spend the night at a lodge just over the next range. A big dinner was being put up, a comfy bed and a hot tub awaited. It was very tempting until a young member of the band council asked, "Will you go there Ricky, or stay and sleep with the people?"
I slept in my truck that night near the fire, waking up every hour or so to start the truck and warm up, knowing I had made the right choice for me. Wouldn't it be good if some of the red Liberals started speaking out, standing up to their party leadership, if they would accept that more can be done, we don't have to settle for less all the time.
I am the face of the Republican Party
The speaker in waiting, Republican Mr. John Boehner has been running around the US reminding people of the good ole days...
"At each stop he draws on nostalgia for the Republican glory days of the 1980s, by telling the same joke. “Remember when Ronald Reagan was president,” he said. “We had Bob Hope. We had Johnny Cash. Think about where we are today. We have got President Obama. But we have no hope and we have no cash.” It draws hoots of laughter and applause every time." New York TimesIts a funny line, one that you can expect partisan crowds to enjoy, except that the daughter of Johnny Cash has this to say on twitter ...
"John Boehner: Stop using my dad's name as a punchline, you asshat." Rosanne Cash on TwitterNational polling suggests that Democrats have more registered voter support in this election yet news is that they will lose. It seems that registered Democrats are less likely to vote today. The Republicans are expected to win today because many registered Democrats do not plan to vote. All I can add to this is this,
11.01.2010
WTF Ontario - USA - Harper
The world is going crazy as I see it. First there you have to ask yourself WTF happened in the USA. Too much tea?
Then you have to look at the Ontario Liberals. They are doing their level best to hand Ontario back to the Harrissites. The McGinty Liberals fresh from the embarrassing health-care dollar paid lobbyists now they are taking campaign money from public hydro utilities.
Finally the Harper conservatives have done it again. They eliminate the long form census because it is an unacceptable intrusion of your privacy, then they introduce a bill that allows police and CSIS to read your email and look at what you do on the web. Now thats better, right?
Then you have to look at the Ontario Liberals. They are doing their level best to hand Ontario back to the Harrissites. The McGinty Liberals fresh from the embarrassing health-care dollar paid lobbyists now they are taking campaign money from public hydro utilities.
Finally the Harper conservatives have done it again. They eliminate the long form census because it is an unacceptable intrusion of your privacy, then they introduce a bill that allows police and CSIS to read your email and look at what you do on the web. Now thats better, right?
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