Chantal's report card on opposition leaders
Beleieve it or not Chantal Hebert actually feels obliged to give the Jack Layton the highest mark - in her end of the year report card on the opposition leaders:
Its all in French though (perhaps she will do an English version in the Star)
http://www2.lactualite.com/chantal-hebert/2009-12-07/le-bulletin-de-lopp...
"Jack Layton : Le chef néo-démocrate gagne la palme du Téflon pour 2 009. Contre toute attente, le NPD a réussi à se revirer sur un dix sous lorsque les libéraux ont retiré leur appui au gouvernement conservateur en septembre et à se convertir du jour au lendemain aux vertus de la cohabitation parlementaire avec Stephen Harper. Et cet automne, la moitié, près un tiers du caucus du NPD a voté pour l’abolition du registre des armes à feu. Malgré cela, le parti a augmenté son score aux élections partielles du début- novembre en Colombie-Britannique mais également au centre-ville de Montréal dans Hochelaga. B"
I hope this isn't too much to ask, but would someone mind translating this? My French is very rusty, so although I got the jist of it, I'm missing some vocabulary and some expressions, and would really appreciate having a more complete understanding.
In my experience Chantal usually runs the NDP down or discounts them, so I'm amazed she had something positive to say.
Here is my stab at a translation:
"Jack Layton : The NDP leader wins the teflon award for 2009. Against all expectations the NDP succeeded in turning on a dime when the Liberals withdrew their support for the Tories in September and becoming a convert to a parliamentary "cohabitation" with Harper. This fall one third of the NDP caucus voted to abolish the long gun registry - despite this the NDP managed to gain ground in the fall byelections with a big win in BC and also in the middle of Montreal in Hochelaga. B"
NB: Chantal gives the lowest grade to Elizabeth may who gets an F and she more or less suggests that May should be barred from any future leaders' debate since she is such a marginal player.
If you chuck it into Google Translate it comes out a bit weird but not too hard to follow.
NB: Chantal gives the lowest grade to Elizabeth may who gets an F and she more or less suggests that May should be barred from any future leaders' debate since she is such a marginal player.
I got that chantal was saying because she endorsed Dion last time around called into question her participation. Or at least that what I understood the Babel fish translation to say.
She says that between May's total disappearance off the political scene and lack of any profile whatsoever when the world is talking about climate change - coupled with the fact that in the last debate her role was limited to being there to support Stephane Dion - it calls into question why she should waste everyone's time by being allowed to participate in any future leader's debate.
She will though try and succeed in getting in the debates for the next fed election, provided she survives the mandatory leadership review. With copenhagen going on RIGHT NOW there is absolutely no excuse for her disappearing act. Just because you don't have a seat in the House is not an excuse for not stand, Jack for example,or Roger Duguay or hell even Preston freaking Manning. This is her time to supposedly shine because an ENVIRONMENTAL issue is front and centre. But then again what can we expect from a "leader" who was quoted as saying she would sit down and not ask a question in question period if there is heckling. I've got news for her democracy is not a spectator sport.
In my experience Chantal usually runs the NDP down or discounts them, so I'm amazed she had something positive to say.
Does she run them down, or is she perhaps providing objective criticism?
Check this out
Layton making gains in Quebec: pollNDP Leader Jack Layton is on the way up in Quebec, while Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is still going down, according to a new poll.
The survey of 1,002 respondents in Quebec, conducted earlier this month, found that Mr. Layton has upward momentum in terms of inspiring trust among voters. Mr. Layton is scoring a strong second in most categories, behind either Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe or Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. Mr. Ignatieff, on the other hand, comes in last place.
The results are surprising, given that the NDP only has one seat in Quebec, compared to the Liberals’ 14. However, the poll numbers confirm that the NDP’s second-place showing in a Montreal riding in a recent by-election was not a fluke, and that the Liberals are still struggling in Quebec after a controversy-filled autumn.
The poll was conducted by Repère Communication Recherche, which also acts as the pollster for the Bloc Québécois.
Overall, Mr. Duceppe is the most trusted party leader in Quebec, at 31.1-per cent. However, his rating has dropped 2.3 points since October, while Mr. Layton’s trust rating, at 21.8-per cent, was up by 3.6 points over the last two months. Mr. Harper came in third at 20.3-per cent (down 2.7 points), while Mr. Ignatieff was far behind in fourth place, at 9.3-per cent (down 2.8 points).
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/layton-making-gains-in-quebec-poll/article1393040/
that's classic chantel hebert - write a compliment that highlights to the readership why the party ought not to be where it is. really, this woman just came off the rails ~2006 and she's not looking back.
I guess that when she writes that Layton did well this fall "against all expectations" its just her way of saying "against HER expectations"