NDP #15

RIP Jack.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/08/21/jack-layton-death.html

Fucking bullshit article.

Brachina, I read that post tonight and almost, but than couldn't be bothered to challenge - again - the old tired lib lie about that election. It doesn't matter how many times that story is corected, it is the liberal zombie lie that lives forever. And yeah, they know it's bogus bull but they also count on the public to believe their lie if you tell it over and over again.

They lost the last election and the public actually laughted at libs when they trotted out that they would start a national childcare program, and oh, they would protect public healthcare. Public was on to their "con game".

Shields just forgets that the election is over and they are upset that on August 22nd everybody is talking about Jack - positively - and that the house that Jack built was made of brick and not straw. So libs look like like people when they post that crap on Jack's death day. The only one with class was Bob Rae. Good on him for being classy.

I found Brian Topp's article remarkably magnanimous. Notice the following:

<a href="http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/brian-topp-the-ndp-after-layton-big-gains-big-challenges/article4492401/?service=mobile">Brian Topp</a> wrote:

First, our opponents hoped that the NDP’s remarkable progress under Layton would instantly evaporate without him. But I am in an excellent position to testify that the New Democrats found a formidable replacement in Thomas Mulcair. Mr. Mulcair is a former Quebec cabinet minister who looks more comfortable at the Calgary Stampede than our Albertan prime minister does. Somebody who can do that has got the chops to provide Mr. Harper with a serious run for his money – and his office.

He will do good things with the BC NDP.

That being said, I don't share his optimism regarding the NDP's chances in Alberta. I think Mulcair really torched the party in the prairies by picking a fight with the premiers (i.e. calling them Harper's errand boys) and then backing away from it. On the otherhand, Brian Topp has had a much, much longer and more illustrious career in politics than I. As such, maybe what he is seeing is how a little pushback and groundwork by Mulcair could really warm attitudes towards him in Alberta. For one, Mulcair has totally got Albertan's attention- that is not easy to do in a province where people are near proud of their political apathy. For another, they like it when he goes into the lion's den and comes out unscathed. He's kind of like a loveable villain.

If the NDP does make a real play for Calgary Centre, which they almost have to as it is one of the few conceivably NDP Alberta seats in an NDP majority governing scenario, then I would love it if Mulcair did the opposite of most federal leaders plans to parachute in but actually kept a very tight-lipped tour to a variety of locations in Alberta. To me the message would be, I care about Alberta more than just this byelection and I'm not afraid to go anywhere. I would milk the loveable villain card for all it is worth. As it is, the only NDPer currently scoring points is Brian Mason, for the cautious distancing he has done from the Mulcair flame out.

Denise Savoie just resigned her seat. her riding will be by-election maybe same time as two riding date?

Here's the article on Savoie:   New Democrat MP Denise Savoie is resigning

The 69-year-old cited a "health warning" from her doctor for her decision.

"My doctor gave me a health warning this spring and recommended that I adopt a more balanced lifestyle, without the travel and physical demands of the job of an MP from Western Canada," she said in a written statement.

Victoria should be pretty safe for the NDP to keep. They can't take it for granted though, of course.

I really liked Denise Savoie. Best wishes for her health. 

My Fellow New Democrat,

I am announcing today that, effective August 31st, I will be resigning as the Member of Parliament for Victoria. I want to explain the reasons that led me to this announcement, and then reflect about my experience in federal politics since January 2006.

A year ago yesterday, my dear friend and leader Jack Layton passed away. As it did for Tom, for our caucus and for all Canadians, his loss affected me deeply. It made me reflect on the fragility of life and the need to make the most of each day we have left.

This spring, my doctor gave me a health warning. After I considered these facts over the summer, I realized that I cannot continue to represent my constituents to the standards that they have come to expect nor indeed to my own standards. Hence my announcement today.

I want to thank my leader, Tom Mulcair, who travelled to Victoria to join me when I made this announcement at a news conference just a few moments ago. I note in particular Tom’s principled stance on sustainability and polluter pay. Canadians from all regions are responding to Tom’s positive message and focus on substance, rather than scandal.

I’m disappointed that I cannot continue to work on the problems and the issues that my constituents want me to work on. I thank you for re-electing me three times. It has been a privilege representing you in Ottawa.

As I prepare to leave politics, I want to speak to you about an issue so many have raised with me in the last year: the changes that are occurring in Canada under Harper’s Conservatives. Many of you have told me you no longer recognize Canada as a voice for peace, justice and sustainability in the world. Many have wondered what can be done to stop a majority government.

Clearly change will occur - whether positive or negative. But the key is to work for the change we want. An informed and engaged electorate is unbeatable.

Look at the way the Enbridge Project is evolving. At the beginning, the Harper government called those who opposed it radicals and extremists. But when it became clear the majority of British Columbians would then be radicals and extremists, Harper had to back peddle and change his language. It is the power of the electorate that has forced this change. So I encourage you to use the muscle and the brain of democracy to work for the changes we want and to make sure that change comes from the electorate, not just from an ideology.

I have had the privilege of serving as Deputy Speaker over the last year, and in that capacity as well as my previous roles, I have always strived to set a civil and constructive tone in debate. My work to maintain mutual respect among MPs in a hyper-partisan environment has not always been successful; but for me, it was about protecting our democratic institutions from the erosion of overly divisive politics. I’ve heard from many of my constituents that they really value these efforts to bring civility to federal politics and I know others have it made it their goal.

I look forward to an exciting NDP nomination and by-election in Victoria in the coming months. While I will be neutral in the nomination process, I will campaign as my health allows for the NDP candidate in the coming by-election and I am confident we can keep this riding NDP if we all work as hard as we have in the last few campaigns.

I want to thank my family for their love and support as I experienced the highs and lows of elected politics over the last 13 years, the first half as a city councillor and the 2nd half as a Member of Parliament.

I got into politics to help make a better world for my children and grandchildren. Now it’s time for me to devote myself full-time to my family and to seeing my grandchildren grow up. Once again, I want to thank the people of Victoria for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Member of Parliament.

Denise Savoie

I can't imagine Carole James giving up the chance to be a cabinet minister in the Dix government, but who knows. She would likely do very well if she ran.

Mulcair at Institut Nouveau Monde August 17th

http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&h...

Coderre's riding in 2011

LIB 40% (-9 from 2008)
NDP 32% (+24 huge gain percent)

NDP likely going win in Bourassa

Brachina wrote:

In other news thanks to growing parania and an addiction to blaming the NDP we have this,conspiracy theory. Nevermind that its not Mulcair's style. http://blunt-objects.blogspot.ca/2012/08/liberalwhoca-candidates-website...

Paranoia is the right word for this.  It doesn't make any sense for anyone to be suggesting that LiberalWho is an NDP website.  The NDP would not launch this.

I've heard some people suggest that it's for an Andrew Coyne leadership bid, simply on the basis of the fact that the figure in the image supposedly looks a little bit like Andrew Coyne.  I've heard others suggest that it's for Justin Trudeau, on the basis of the fact that the website is registered to address in Trudeau's Papineau riding.

These are both possible explanations.  Reading through the quotes on the site, though, there was another potential Liberal leadership candidate that came to mind: Scott Brison.  The quotes just seem like his style.

Furthermore, I can definitely see the guy in the picture as Brison, too.  And listing the site in Papineau arguably is a much more sensible as a tactic for a non-Trudeau candidate than for Trudeau himself.  The media grabs onto anything Trudeau-related, which means that giving the media a reason to think it might be Trudeau is a surefire way to get more attention for the site.

To be clear, I don't know who LiberalWho is.  But if I had to guess, I'd guess Scott Brison.

Unlike Stockholm, E. May expressed a measure of grace:

Elizabeth May Yesterday (on Facebook): NDP MP Denise Savoie is a wonderful person and dedicated public servant. I am so sad she is stepping down. Best wishes!

and,

Elizabeth May Wednesday (on Facebook):  Praise beyond party lines! Good for BC NDP Leader Adrian Dix for insisting on a BC environmental review of proposed the pipeline!

I think Stockholm is really setting a bar that is unreasonable for the Greens-- it would be more than difficult for the Greens to take the seat from the NDP and I'd be surprised if they wasted that many resources into trying. Calgary would be a better bet for them-- however that might increase the chance the seat stays Conservative.

Sean in Ottawa wrote:

I think Stockholm is really setting a bar that is unreasonable for the Greens-- it would be more than difficult for the Greens to take the seat from the NDP and I'd be surprised if they wasted that many resources into trying. Calgary would be a better bet for them-- however that might increase the chance the seat stays Conservative.

You don't know E. May.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/high-stakes-by-election-a-b...   She just wants to win, even if the effect is not good.  By running in a solidly NDP riding, who have a very green leader and respect the environment, she jeopardizes the seat to the Cons.  In fact this will happen in numerous ridings across Canada.  If you want Harper and  CON policy out, you need to vote NDP.  One day she talks about working together with the other parties to get rid of Harper, then the next it is all about her and the Greens again.  I see her as Harper's best friend, working to keep him in majority territory.  

May appears to talk in code, so when "she talks about working together with the other parties to get rid of Harper", she really means that she only is willing to work with Liberals and not the NDP. It appears that May hates the NDP as much as the liberals and is why she is the lib's "cat's paw". I thought it was Jack she hated but I was wrong. It's the NDP.

That's a potentially self-destructive stand for her to take, given that she only won in her riding because the local NDP effectively stood aside for her in 2011.

Given that, why SHOULD she have it in for the Dippers?

Aristotleded24 wrote:

addictedtomyipod wrote:

Sean in Ottawa wrote:

I think Stockholm is really setting a bar that is unreasonable for the Greens-- it would be more than difficult for the Greens to take the seat from the NDP and I'd be surprised if they wasted that many resources into trying. Calgary would be a better bet for them-- however that might increase the chance the seat stays Conservative.

You don't know E. May.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/high-stakes-by-election-a-b...   She just wants to win, even if the effect is not good.  By running in a solidly NDP riding, who have a very green leader and respect the environment, she jeopardizes the seat to the Cons.  In fact this will happen in numerous ridings across Canada.  If you want Harper and  CON policy out, you need to vote NDP.  One day she talks about working together with the other parties to get rid of Harper, then the next it is all about her and the Greens again.  I see her as Harper's best friend, working to keep him in majority territory.  

Then the way to counter that is to not accuse May of trying to split the vote or win (gee, a poitician trying to get elected? Horror of horrors!) is to have clear evidence that the NDP is acting to address the concerns of Green-leaning voters.

Tom Mulcair is doing a great job of defending the environment and I have no doubt that he will bring back the Green vote to the NDP.  Except for the Green free enterprisers, who will never vote NDP.  

Splitting the vote in the next election is a problem as we cannot afford another Con term.  They are ruining Canada.  So I think it is important to talk about it.

mark_alfred wrote:

Brachina wrote:

And I'd love it if Coderre resigned to run for Mayor. Still I'd rather it be Justin resigning, but I'll take what I can get. Is Coderre's riding winnable for the NDP?

 

I haven't seen anything on the internet or in the media that suggests Coderre is resigning.

Straight from the horse's mouth. Not sure if it is the most reliable source though