Whatever has been happening behind closed doors, it better warrant having a palace coup over. Before this internal implosion, the NDP was a shoe in for taking over power next election.
I don't know where people are getting this idea. I admit I am not living there right now, but I really don't think people would have gone NDP simply because of the HST. The Liberals just need to find a reasonable replacement, tweak the HST thing, and they're back in black.
I think the timing is appropriate. When else is this going to happen? The Liberals could pull a surprise election once they've reconsolidated, and the NDP needs to be ready. It seems to me it has to happen now, which is probably why there is this sense of urgency. But I agree the actual vote should wait until after the Liberals have gone through theirs.