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Who Replaces Gordon Campbell?

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Wed, 2010-10-20 15:16

#1

UnionSupporter

Who Replaces Gordon Campbell?

Carole Taylor, long touted as a potential replacement to Gordon Campbell, has been appointed SFU Chancelor. In speaking to media today, she has clearly stated she is not interested in the BCLiberal leadership. This is in keeping with the common understanding that Ms. Taylor will not enter into a leadership contest, but rather would only accept a coronation.

Discussion in the media suggests that the post Campbell BCLiberal leadership will be determined by a lively contest. Active campaigns are underway for Kevin Falcon, Rick Thorpe and George Abbott, with speculation about outsiders like Brad Bennett and Diane Watts running as well.

All of these people are strong candidates, but not without weaknesses. Those currently in cabinet will be hampered by their record of supporting several years of bad government. Those from outside, while bringing the benefit of a claimed innocence on past BCLiberal sins, will have been untested on some of the key issues that will determine voters minds.

This Brad Bennett speculation does raise the prospect of another white male realestate/develper mogul leading the BCLiberals. What more do we know about him?

And are there other potential candidates I've missed?

Wed, 2010-10-20 20:02

#2

David Young

Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Wed, 2010-10-20 20:46

#3

Fidel

What's Mike Harris doing nowadays? Gary Philmon?

Wed, 2010-10-20 20:51

#4

mybabble

Kevin Falcon isn't he on the recall list and if he isn't I will certainly ensure we add his name because Falcon is one of Campbell's Ministers and that speaks for itself. People don't like Campbell and they aren't going to be thinking to much of any of Campbell's Ministers especially the Attorney General who should be taken out with the morning trash.

Wed, 2010-10-20 21:51

#5

JKR

Campbell probably wants to make it to his 10th anniversary as Premier on June 5, 2011 so I wouldn't be surprised to see him resign in time for a leadership convention in June. By that time he'll have been leader of the Liberals for 18 years and a prominent politician here in Vancouver since Expo.

I'd put my money on Diane Watts to replace him. If she becomes leader before the end of September, she'll probably come out with some modifications to the HST like reducing the rate.

Wed, 2010-10-20 21:59

#6

mybabble

Campbell iis amazing what a premier can do as how low can you go lower than the rest as BC premier sits at 0% approval rating.

How about the Liberal party what will they do as Campbell says "Its my party and I will drag it down if I want to"!

The economy is stagnate and it is going to be like that for sometime and will anger the people more as

public picks up the corrupt premiers legal payoff as Basi and Virk get their walking papers and the public picks up millions and millions of dollars on their legal fees because Campbell stretched out the case for 7 years. Campbell was fingered for being the master mind of the dirty deal. While selliing the future right from the people's feet as trains are the future not the past and then spend millions of publics dollars on fixing up the tracks and trains real nice for your rich friends. This is very bad and people don't like the Liberals much either, ask them and words that pop up are what a crock, they should all be in jail, liars and thiefs can you believe that, and on and on and is not going away......nor is the HST. Is there no way to hold Campbell accountable? What can the people do as they feel real cheated because their Liberal premier is a liar and a theif? The Liberal Cacus ifully supports their lying premier. Suck it up and vote in another Liberal? That will not happen.

Wed, 2010-10-20 22:14

#7

NorthReport

Diane Watts is highly respected and is no fool. She will not be entertaining a run for the BC LiberaL leadership until atr least after the next election.

Kevin Falcon is a definite yes.

Carole Taylor, although getting a bit long in the tooth, may still decide to go for the brass ring.

Wed, 2010-10-20 22:14

#8

mybabble

Campbell is a schemer and a dreamer but like I said plenty of job loses, bankruptcies and foreclosures to tick off frustrated people who already feel cheated a little more each day and the premier is pushing it because nobody is buying what the media has to say. I bet something happens to shake the premier and his corrupt party up real good as loose lips sink a crooked premier and his band of thugs. I just got the feeling so we will see.

Wed, 2010-10-20 22:46

#9

Stockholm

Carole Taylor has to be almost 70 - thought I suspect that she has had a few rounds of cosmetic surgery to cover up her age.

Thu, 2010-10-21 01:00

Malcolm

Malcolm's picture

She's 65

Thu, 2010-10-21 08:22

remind

remind's picture

After yesterday's announcement Falcon will not be leading the BC Liberals into any win in BC politics.

Please do stop with the ageist crap though, especially when older, or just as old, male politicians are not referred to in the same way.

Thu, 2010-10-21 14:18

UnionSupporter

Brad Bennett has been inducted into Order of British Columbia today. Is there a move afoot to elevate his status?

Thu, 2010-10-21 14:41

UnionSupporter

David Young wrote:

Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Interesting observation. Do you have any thoughts about which Conservative MP might be considering?

Thu, 2010-10-21 19:28

Stockholm

remind wrote:

Please do stop with the ageist crap though, especially when older, or just as old, male politicians are not referred to in the same way.

Actually i made the exact same point about a male politician. When some people were speculating about vanderZalm making a comeback and I pointed out that the guy is at least 75 years old now - and well past his political prime.

I agree that politicians (and people in general) can be very productive well into their 80s (I think Hazel McCallion is really pushing the envelope running again for mayor of Mississauga at the age of 89 and she is clear not "all there" anymore). But, its one thing to be 70 and a premier at the tail end of a long political career - its another thing to be almost 70 (i.e. the age Carole Taylor will be by the time of the 2013 election) when try to be a supposedly freshfaced brand new leader who is going to give an image of youth and novelty on a tired old party that has been in power far too long. If someone can successfully launch a political career when they are already pushing 70 - all the more power to them - but I'm just saying that it is a political liability - as John McCain learned running for president at a similar age.

Thu, 2010-10-21 21:33

David Young

UnionSupporter wrote:

David Young wrote:

Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Interesting observation. Do you have any thoughts about which Conservative MP might be considering?

If I had to guess, I'd say James Moore would be my pick as the most likely possibilty.

He's got the high profile from being a federal cabinet minister, and by the accounts I've heard, one of the few real 'progressive thinking' Conservative M.P.s from B.C.

But I'm here in Nova Scotia, and I'd need someone much more familiar with B.C. politics to let me know if I'm imagining things or not.

Anyone?

Thu, 2010-10-21 23:07

Frmrsldr

David Young wrote:

Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Right now the B.C. Conservatives are making as much political hay as they can out of the Anti-HST movement.

Thu, 2010-10-21 23:14

Frmrsldr

Stockholm wrote:

... But, its one thing to be 70 and a premier at the tail end of a long political career - its another thing to be almost 70 (i.e. the age Carole Taylor will be by the time of the 2013 election) when try to be a supposedly freshfaced brand new leader who is going to give an image of youth and novelty on a tired old party that has been in power far too long. If someone can successfully launch a political career when they are already pushing 70 - all the more power to them - but I'm just saying that it is a political liability - as John McCain learned running for president at a similar age.

Ronald Reagan?

Fri, 2010-10-22 01:03

Malcolm

Malcolm's picture

It would, however, be part and parcel of a pattern of aging baby boomers refusing to let anyone else take the lead.

Fri, 2010-10-22 01:44

mybabble

Crown key witness labels BC premier a hypocrite and over the top on national TV.

People are sickened to the stomach with the whole event what is Campbell going to give BC residents for a little stomach relief

for the nausea they feel every time people see Campbell's lying face?

Maybe he will give residents a break and just do an about face as Campbell is the man of many faces labeled a FRAUD AND OVER THE TOP ON NATIONAL TV

by the Crown's key witness was a deserving end.

I knew something like that was going to happen it was a intuition I had.

Fraud and hypocrite one in the same face as British Colombians sure know hoe to pick em or did Campbell pick them? There is one born every second in the province of BC is that how it works when your conning the masses?

ps Northreport I hope you feel better real soon!

Fri, 2010-10-22 02:22

Vansterdam Kid

David Young wrote:

UnionSupporter wrote:

David Young wrote:

Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Interesting observation. Do you have any thoughts about which Conservative MP might be considering?

If I had to guess, I'd say James Moore would be my pick as the most likely possibilty.

He's got the high profile from being a federal cabinet minister, and by the accounts I've heard, one of the few real 'progressive thinking' Conservative M.P.s from B.C.

But I'm here in Nova Scotia, and I'd need someone much more familiar with B.C. politics to let me know if I'm imagining things or not.

Anyone?

Not an unreasonable suggestion. But it'll still be easy to to tar him with the HST, since it was the federal Conservatives who helped introduce the tax. Though they haven't been hurt too much in BC by it yet, I suspect they would during a campaign. He doesn't seem to have much of a profile though. Then again, what federal Conservatives (who aren't doing something incredibly stupid), other than Stephen Harper do?

I think it might be someone completely out of left field with a lot of "business experience" and little political experience. Brad Bennett seems like a likely candidate for this reason, not that I'd bet on him in particular. But someone along those lines.

Wed, 2010-11-03 16:18

schoolsfirst

I wish Christy Clark would step back into politics right now. We need politicians who care about things greater than tax cuts and taxes such as education.

Wed, 2010-11-03 16:30

kropotkin1951

schoolsfirst wrote:

I wish Christy Clark would step back into politics right now. We need politicians who care about things greater than tax cuts and taxes such as education.

The race has begun. New poster within hours of Gordo's announcement, well done to her team.

Schools first even has a nice ring for a campaign slogan.

Wed, 2010-11-03 16:33

remind

remind's picture

OMG now that is hilarous, especially coming here and trying to say such a thing.

Christie is only a friend to Christie Clark and given her ties to Basi and Virk, perhaps she should try a run at it, gives us lots to take her down with.

Wed, 2010-11-03 16:45

NorthReport

Kevin Falcon will be the front runner, and the person to beat. It's his to lose, I would think.

Wed, 2010-11-03 20:37

Vansterdam Kid

If he runs he'd make a pretty easy opponent. Part of the inner circle, pretty right-wing.

Wed, 2010-11-03 20:42

Fidel

They're all the same Gordon Campbell in that party. Someone should break the mold, test tube or whatever it is they use to clone these stooges.

Thu, 2010-11-04 11:25

kropotkin1951

Falcon is beatable and Howe Street knows it. He will be Queen maker and the power behind the throne. These people get the game of smoke and mirrors so I would be extremely surprised if they elect a white male leader this time around. Likely a white woman like Watts or even Clark. The real power behind this corrupt government will sweeten the pot enough so people like Falcon will play the game right.

Thu, 2010-11-04 11:44

remind

remind's picture

Don't think Watts will do it, seriously.

IMV, they will most likely chose a interm leader, as the talk is they won't win the next election, and the leader won't want to be opposition leader, as oposed to Premier.

Unless of course someone "charismatic" launches themselves on the scene. ;)

And Falcon has no possibility for winning, nor does the education minister, nor would I say Mike De Jong. A provincial election I mean, not the leadership race.

Some are actually yelling for Furlong to run, and that is hilarious.....

Thu, 2010-11-04 13:00

gadar

Falcon in my view is as right wing (if not more) and as much of an asshole as Harper is and I think is more polarising than even Gordo. He will not be able to ablolish HST as he has been all for it so far. So I hope that they pick Falcon instead of someone who can come in abolish HST and ask for a mandate in quick succession.

And Campbell will probably be appointed senator by Harper as a reward for doing his dirty work.

Thu, 2010-11-04 13:02

kropotkin1951

gadar wrote:

Falcon in my view is as right wing (if not more) and as much of an asshole as Harper is and I think is more polarising than even Gordo. He will not be able to ablolish HST as he has been all for it so far. So I hope that they pick Falcon instead of someone who can come in abolish HST and ask for a mandate in quick succession.

I didn't say I thought he shouldn't run, I just think the people who run the party are smarter than that. Never mistake your enemies for fools. Falcon is the dream candidate for the opposition, ergo IMO is not going to win even if he runs.

He will however be in the inner power circle of whoever does win if they go on to win an election. He is a back room organizer and a vicious cutthroat one at that. He has been working for Howe street since his years slandering the Clark government with claims of their corruption and lying. He is a very effective attack dog but I think he knows who his real masters are.

Thu, 2010-11-04 14:20

mybabble

kropotkin1951 wrote:

schoolsfirst wrote:

I wish Christy Clark would step back into politics right now. We need politicians who care about things greater than tax cuts and taxes such as education.

The race has begun. New poster within hours of Gordo's announcement, well done to her team.

Schools first even has a nice ring for a campaign slogan.

The former Minister of Education will not be able to fool anyone that "School Counts" as once upon a campagain Christy Clark dropped out while her bother had an in on the BC Rail scandal no doubt.

Thu, 2010-11-04 14:30

mybabble

kropotkin1951 wrote:

gadar wrote:

Falcon in my view is as right wing (if not more) and as much of an asshole as Harper is and I think is more polarising than even Gordo. He will not be able to ablolish HST as he has been all for it so far. So I hope that they pick Falcon instead of someone who can come in abolish HST and ask for a mandate in quick succession.

I didn't say I thought he shouldn't run, I just think the people who run the party are smarter than that. Never mistake your enemies for fools. Falcon is the dream candidate for the opposition, ergo IMO is not going to win even if he runs.

He will however be in the inner power circle of whoever does win if they go on to win an election. He is a back room organizer and a vicious cutthroat one at that. He has been working for Howe street since his years slandering the Clark government with claims of their corruption and lying. He is a very effective attack dog but I think he knows who his real masters are.

Abolish the HST isn't there a referendum in place for next year? Why not speed it up and open up the legislature and get it on for before the new year? However I don't think its going to happen anytime soon. Is it really going to happen or was that just Campbell asking for time to sell BC on the whole idea as Campbell didn't want to leave a legacy of being a whimpering premier as Campbell gets all teary eyed when saying his goodbyes. While most British Columbinas felt rejuvenated with his demise.

Your description of Falcon sums it up as Campbell surrounds himself with the best attack dogs the people's money could buy as Falcon, Coleman, and the other Ministers are all part of the wolf pack except for Hanson, a lap dog leaves me speechless as there is no accounting for the little weasels actions, and wondered how Campbell keeps them all happy on kibbles and bits. I'm sorry that it is BC seniors who Campbell has shopping around for the cheapest dog food for dinner their money can buy as former premier had no prejudices in who he would have do without as BC wee ones feel lucky when they are thrown a bone or two to knaw away at the hungry pains.

Thu, 2010-11-04 20:39

ghoris

Watts could be interesting. She doesn't strike me as a dyed-in-the-wool right-winger or conservative. With no real ties to any of the existing Liberal party factions, her election as leader could mark a departure from the current ideological stance of the party.

If Carole Taylor wins the leadership, I think that would be a victory for the federal Liberal/Seawall wing of the party, and I suspect you would see the party become something closer to the federal Liberals (conservatives with a conscience?).

Falcon, Coleman, Abbott, de Jong, Hansen or Clark would just be more of the same, ideologically.

Thu, 2010-11-04 20:47

adma

Frmrsldr wrote:

Stockholm wrote:

... But, its one thing to be 70 and a premier at the tail end of a long political career - its another thing to be almost 70 (i.e. the age Carole Taylor will be by the time of the 2013 election) when try to be a supposedly freshfaced brand new leader who is going to give an image of youth and novelty on a tired old party that has been in power far too long. If someone can successfully launch a political career when they are already pushing 70 - all the more power to them - but I'm just saying that it is a political liability - as John McCain learned running for president at a similar age.

Ronald Reagan?

Jerry Brown? (Funny how *he's* escaped mention.)

Thu, 2010-11-04 20:48

bekayne

They just showed a poll on the news about positive & negative feelings towards possible leadership candidates (don't know who the pollster was). Watts & Taylor were on top, John Furlong was + 19, Chuck Strahl was -9. Everyone in caucus was -20 or worse, with Falcon at -32

Thu, 2010-11-04 21:10

Fidel

]

Thu, 2010-11-04 22:14

Centrist

bekayne wrote:

They just showed a poll on the news about positive & negative feelings towards possible leadership candidates (don't know who the pollster was). Watts & Taylor were on top, John Furlong was + 19, Chuck Strahl was -9. Everyone in caucus was -20 or worse, with Falcon at -32

Yeah, that was an Ipsos-Reid poll for BCTV Global. They combined the net positive/negative score for each potential contender as follows:

Dianne Watts: +30%

Carole Taylor: +21%

John Furlong: +19%

And the potential cabnet ministers ranged from a high of -16% for Bennett to a low of -32% for Falcon. So its Watts if she wants it and she has been playing coy with the media praising Campbell's legacy while saying "that discussion" is for another day. BTW, I was surprised that Watts attended cabinet minister Rich Coleman's fundraising dinner in Langley over a week ago.

Carole Taylor is out of the picture as she just signed on for three years as SFU Chancellor and Furlong has no interest whatsoever.

Thu, 2010-11-04 23:22

Stockholm

In case you haven't noticed - parties don't always (or even usually) pick as the leader - the candidate who seems the most popular in pre-context hypothetical polls. There are all kinds of powerful forces in the BC Liberal party and people who will feel its their turn. A big chunk of the BC Liberal caucus and membership are rightwing federal Tory types who would eat broken glass before they would let the party be led by some wishy-washy federal Liberal type - they want rightwing populist red meat!

Any outsider can look good because people can project whatever they want onto them. Supposedly a majority of Quebecers would vote for a non-existent party led by a hypothetical leader. But, running for a party leadership is a major test of political skills and if a person wins and has to govern and make unpopular decisions etc... that's a tall order as well. IF Diane Watts runs for the BC Liberal leadership - she may discover that its way, way more difficult and nastier than being a suburban mayor where the most controversial thing you ever have to deal with is a debate on a zoning by-law and where you can be popular just by doing a bit of mindless civic boosterism and by fixing a few potholes. BC politics are extremely polarized and nasty and have chewed up and spat out a lot of well-meaning diletantes.

Campbell has really left a poisoned chalice behind for his successor. If he had resigned a year from now AFTER the HST referendum - the issue would have been dealt with one way or the other and the new leader would have a chance to pick up the pieces. Instead, ANYONE running for the BC Liberal leadership will have to pronounce themselves categorically on the HST - and the business lobby which bankrolls the BC Liberals are 100% in favour of the HST and would make sure that anyone running who promised to scrap it would be stripped of funding.

Fri, 2010-11-05 10:56

Wilf Day

My apologies; I didn't see this thread when I opened the redundant one.

Fri, 2010-11-05 11:13

Centrist

Knowing how politics works, party membership of any party looks at the polls and will look to someone who is high in the polls and can win an election - especially if there is a very clear front-runner in that regard.

A local Surrey reporter who knows and is familiar with Watts thinks she's going for it.

http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/Watts+will/3782708/story.html

Here's a detailed table of the Ipsos results:

[img]http://www.ipsos-na.com/images/news-polls/media/chart1-lg.jpg[/img]

Fri, 2010-11-05 11:46

Centrist

BTW, here's todays latest Angus Reid Strategies poll, with stability remaining in the numbers:

(completed just prior to Campbell announcing his resignation)

NDP: 47% (-2%)

Lib: 26% (+2%)

Con: 10% (+2%)

Green: 10% (-3%)

Campbell Approval: 12% (+3%)

Campbell Momentum Score: -61

James Approval: 25% (-2%)

James Momentum Score: -13

http://www.angus-reid.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2010.11.05_Politics...

Fri, 2010-11-05 12:46

Stockholm

Anyone running to lead the BC Liberals will have to either say they support the HST and will campaign actively to keep it in the referendum or that they will immediately scrap it if they become premier. Heads we win, tails you lose.

Premier of a province or being a major party leader is not usually considered to be an entry level job for someone with no relevant political experience. Carole Taylor - whatever you say about her - served a term in the BC legislature and was Minister of Finance. If she was leader - she would clearly know what she was doing and could answer questions on a wide range of issues etc...The risk of putting too much faith in a poll like the one above is that you end up with another Kim Campbell or Stockwell Day or Rita Johnston or Ujjal Dosanjh (though even those people had some political experience at a senior level). Anyone can be popular superficially when they are seen as some inoffensive suburban mayor who deals with dog runs and zoning by-laws. But there is a vast learning curve in making the jump to provincial politics.

Whatever Carol James weaknesses may be - she has been through the rigours of two provincial election campaigns and has been through that learning curve and that's something not be underestimated.

Fri, 2010-11-05 14:20

Centrist

Stock, the ARS poll taken before Gordo stepped down, also has this finding:

Quote:
"At this point, which of the following scenarios would you prefer for British Columbia after the 2013 election?"

1. The NDP forms the next government - 32%
2. The BC Liberals with Gordon Campbell as leader form the next government - 6%
3. The BC Liberals with a different leader form the next government - 28%
4. None of these / Not sure - 34%

With Gordo gone and a new leader (whomever) the Libs go from 6% to 28% (actually 34% in total) against the NDP's 32% in terms of government preference.

That tells me that alot of soft vote parking is going on right now and even Mario Canseco of ARS points this out today:

Quote:
Some disenchanted BC Liberals are saying they would vote Conservative because of their centre-right leanings, but may be ready to go back to the party they voted for in 2009 once a new leader is in place.

http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/communityofinterest/arc...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/05/bc-angus-reid...

And that's even without Dianne Watts in the picture. Let's let the dust settle until after the Libs pick a new leader. Nevertheless, I suspect a bounce in the polls for the Libs and, depending how the NDP's numbers hold, we may seriously have to look at replacing Carole at the November, 2011 convention. If that's the case, two prominent names stand out in my mind:

1. MLA John Horgan - moderate, affable, and a great communicator;
2. Former BCGEU head (now with Sierra Club of BC) George Heyman whom I would characterize as another Gary Doer;

Fri, 2010-11-05 14:32

Stockholm

I would go along with letting the dust settle after the BC Liberals pick a new leader - there is no point doing anything rash when you don't know what you're dealing with. Depending on who the next BC Liberal leader is - it may make sense to stick with carol james or it increase pressure to replace her - but WHO to replace her with may also depend on who the Liberals pick.

I'm neither concerned nor surprised that polls now show that the BC Liberals would be competitive with the NDP under a mystery person "X" "new leader". Similarly, you can find lots of polls in the US that will show "a Republican" could defeat Barack Obama - but that he wins anytime you test him against Romney or palin or Huckabee. People will always project whatever they want onto an un-named new leader - but in the real world - whoever the BC Liberals pick will piss off some segment of the unwieldy coalition that makes up that party and will have liabilities of some sort and will take policy positions that many people won't like.

Fri, 2010-11-05 15:03

remind

remind's picture

Centrist, interesting that you would say Horgan, as I was going to state earlier, if it turned out that Carole really did need to be gone, then the only other candidate I could see myself supporting would be John.

Worked really hard to get him elected in the first place, as I thought he was such a fine person for MLA. Was living in Sooke then.

Fri, 2010-11-05 16:38

kropotkin1951

George Heyman is the kiss of death for the NDP. A slick back room dealer from the most divisive organization in BC unions and left politics. LOL that is really rich. No political experience except leading the Goo, thats going to really excite people.

If you want to go to union roots then Raj Chouhan would be a good pick but I think that if you look at who wins elections then the obvious choice is Gregor. Mayor of Vancouver is a tried and true stepping stone. Personally he would be not my ideological choice but he would be a good choice for the party as a moderate centrist candidate with business and government experience. It worked for Mike and he was the last BC NDP leader to win the popular vote in an election.

Fri, 2010-11-05 17:23

Centrist

kropotkin, I would have agreed with you about Gregor up until about one-two years ago. Gregor publicly supported the carbon tax and also publicly boasted about Gordo getting a "three-peat" at a function attended by Gordo DURING the 2009 election campaign. Furthermore, he declined to give an endorsement to Jenn McGinn in Vancouver-Fariview until the last day of the campaign, which seat we lost. People have long memories and the entire optics of that situation were bad, frankly.

Gregor also has a reputation as a bit of a flake and a light-weight who shies aways from the media and prefers to let councilor Geoff Meggs be the public face at city hall. Added to that, Gregor seems to be only renowned for backyard chicken coops, city hall lawn vegetable gardens, and bike lanes. I don't know how well that will play outside the City of Vancouver.

As for Heyman, he was actually going to be our star candidate in Vancouver Fairview during the 2008 by-election but due to the gender rules he was not able to contest same. He still has the public stature of a moderate, likeable guy in the Gary Doer mold IMHO.

Fri, 2010-11-05 17:42

Wilf Day

UnionSupporter wrote:
David Young wrote:
Since the federal Conservatives are practically interchangeable with the provincial Liberals in B.C., wouldn't some of the B.C. Conservative M.P.'s be thinking about going provincial when Campbell steps down?

Interesting observation. Do you have any thoughts about which Conservative MP might be considering?

. . . other rumours, like Stockwell Day being spotted shopping for a new wet suit.

Sat, 2010-11-06 13:29

kropotkin1951

Centrist wrote:

kropotkin, I would have agreed with you about Gregor up until about one-two years ago. Gregor publicly supported the carbon tax and also publicly boasted about Gordo getting a "three-peat" at a function attended by Gordo DURING the 2009 election campaign. Furthermore, he declined to give an endorsement to Jenn McGinn in Vancouver-Fariview until the last day of the campaign, which seat we lost. People have long memories and the entire optics of that situation were bad, frankly.

..

As for Heyman, he was actually going to be our star candidate in Vancouver Fairview during the 2008 by-election but due to the gender rules he was not able to contest same. He still has the public stature of a moderate, likeable guy in the Gary Doer mold IMHO.

Swing voters like politicians that take stands that differ from the party they are seen as aligned with. Quite frankly fighting the carbon tax was one of the stupidest political moves and it back fired big time. Looks like Gregor has better political instincts than the fools who have lost at least three election in a row.

As for Heyman you have to be joking. Who is your target audience for this "union boss." The BC NDP have spent a decade trying to distance itself from the BC Fed and part of their polling problems is the general public doesn't really believe the line. So you propose that the party be led by a white male whose experience is as a President of the BCGEU and Vice President of the BC Fed. Like I said the kiss of death. You don't even have to delve into George's personal shortcomings to see that his resume would lead to a field day for the right in hammering the NDP as old and union controlled and the new Liberal leader as a moderate not controlled by anyone. Pure bullshit of course but that is the spin that comes to mind immediately. Can you say "union boss" because while I hate the term I can hear it ringing in my ears now.

Sun, 2010-11-07 02:51

NorthReport

If the BC NDP were smart they would send observers to this event, record who are these donors are, and go after them to support the NDP.

Terms of Campbell departure threaten party unity, former adviser says

Mon, 2010-11-08 09:18

Centrist

It sure says alot about Carole James leadership abilities when even here on Babble she's in 3rd place behind Lib Christy Clark and "None of the Above" when it comes to the "Who do you want to see as BC Premier" question!!

Quote:
Who do you want to see as B.C. Premier now that Gordon Campbell has resigned?

Christy Clark 34% (58 votes)

None of the above 31% (54 votes)

Carole James 28% (49 votes)

Dianne Watts 5% (9 votes)

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