Venezuelans are facing a humanitarian crisis and Canada can play a positive role by working with its regional partners to provide support. No country should act unilaterally and we must all support a democratic Venezuela with free and fair elections.
https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/1088241249763688448
Well, that was calculatedly vague and breathtakingly timid yet guaranteed to fire up nobody. If the NDP had a voice it would be screaming "I don't know who I am anymore!"
Sounds clear to me. He’s not saying Maduro wasn’t fairly elected and he’s not recognizing this other Juan character.
For someone who hasn’t even won a seat yet and only starting to get into his grove, it’s actually a decent polar comment to the horrific liberals that must probably be the most painful they have ever made so far this mandate.
The Canadian left urgently needs to do something about the stinking putrefaction that is the NDP. How anyone can continue to support this reactionary abomination is beyond me.
Disgusting statement by Singh, telling Venezuela they need to have elections. He seriously needs to get lost, and his party needs to disassociate itself from such craven support for Trump and Trudeau and Freeland. I know, it won't happen. But it would be a heartening change if some NDP activists stood up to this toadyism.
I actually suspect it would have been better PR for Singh to not say anything at all. The conventional assumption is that Maduro is a dictator who is running Venezuela into the ground. For Singh to come out in full support of the Maduro government would result in non-stop criticism of the NDP for being friendly with dictators. Of course if Singh makes a statement asking Maduro to step aside, that will only alienate the party's left wing without gaining any new followers. All this on an issue that is really not on the radar for most people. That's not to say that this isn't an important issue, but sometimes it's better to say nothing and move on to other issues.
The NDP's come a long way, and all of it bad, since the days its official policy was withdrawl from NATO. That would probably be a vote-winner right now, but perish the thought.
I'd have thought, in 2019, the NDP would be keen to distinguish itself from the Liberals. Even court "controversy" like saying coup's are bad. It would get people's attention, and maybe suggest the difference between Singh and Trudeau runs deeper than tailors. But no.
Nothing on Trudeau's action? For or against? Not only is it a cop out, it's politically stupid.
Libya, Syria Ukraine, Israel and now Venezuela...the NDP like Canada itself will never oppose the fundamental interests of empire. We need a left party with a leadership and a constituency that does. The world is watching and waiting for progressive Canadians to stand up and be counted in the great battle to come. Not a shameful, servile, bourgeois, Blairite surrender con-job.
Niki Ashton makes the statement Singh should have made (and if Singh's true to form she'll be punished for it):
PM Trudeau sides with Trump's regime change agenda and Brazil's fascist President in support of someone calling for a military coup in Venezuela. No! We cannot support an agenda of economic or military coups. #HandsOffVenezuela
https://twitter.com/nikiashton/status/1088303987248562176?fbclid=IwAR2as...
Nice job by her.
But what it means is that every other NDP MP could have done the same but didn't.
But what it means is that every other NDP MP could have done the same but didn't.
Some MPs are not living up to Jagmeet Singh own slogan "Courage"
Singh's typical wishy-washy say-nothing "statement" is terrible. Bravo Niki! Looking at the feedback on Twitter to both of their statements it's pretty clear what people think -- Singh's comments feed is strongly negative, while Ashton's is strongly positive.
But you can't build a credible left progressive political party around a single good tweet from one good MP unfortunately. If it was a party policy statement it would be a good start. It isn't. The NDP is not up to the present nor the future. Make something better.
Singh's typical wishy-washy say-nothing "statement" is terrible. Bravo Niki! Looking at the feedback on Twitter to both of their statements it's pretty clear what people think -- Singh's comments feed is strongly negative, while Ashton's is strongly positive.
But-but, Niki Ashton is an intersectioal feminist! That's BAD! Niki Ashton over-reacted to elbowgate! That's BAD! Niki Ashton says what's on her mind and people sometimes don't like it! That's BAD! We need someone likeable who everyone likes and will never ever say bad things about. Someone like Jagmeet Singh! Singh is our Messiah, he will lead the NDP to the Promised Land of Governing!
Svend Robinson sides with Niki Ashton position (though doesn't mention her name)
(go 15:00 into video below)
http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/headline-politics/episodes/65920271#
Much stronger than Singh.
Yes. So glad to see Svend back with his political instincts in working order.
I actually suspect it would have been better PR for Singh to not say anything at all. The conventional assumption is that Maduro is a dictator who is running Venezuela into the ground. For Singh to come out in full support of the Maduro government would result in non-stop criticism of the NDP for being friendly with dictators. Of course if Singh makes a statement asking Maduro to step aside, that will only alienate the party's left wing without gaining any new followers. All this on an issue that is really not on the radar for most people. That's not to say that this isn't an important issue, but sometimes it's better to say nothing and move on to other issues.
From a realpolitik position you are right, Singh should have kept quiet.
It was a political no-win trying to thread the needle with that gray-water statement. Keeping quiet would have been what more seasoned NDP neoLiberals would have done--then voted for any resolution in support of the coup government.
Much credit to Niki Ashton for speaking up against this latest in the VERY long unceasing list of of US-sponsored "regime change" operations against countries that impede US imperial/corporate strategies.
By backing the coup in Venezuela, Donald Trump shows himself to be like any other US president
His actions are an almost exact replay of what was a staple of the Cold War years: US attempts by fair means or foul, to determine what happened in what it regarded as its own back yard
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/venezuela-donald-trump-nicolas-madu...
Former U.N. Expert: The U.S. Is Violating International Law by Attempting a Coup in Venezuela
JANUARY 24, 2019
https://www.democracynow.org/2019/1/24/former_un_expert_the_us_is
The Trudeau/Freeland government is true to form supporting the vile Trump/Bolton , current executioners of imperial policy.
Update: Singh has somewhat firmed up his statements in the face of party opposition from Niki and Sven...more a follower than a leader:
Jagmeet Singh questions Canada’s recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader
By ALEX BALLINGALLOttawa Bureau
Thu., Jan. 24, 2019 OTTAWA—NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is questioning Canada’s decision to recognize a Venezuelan opposition leader as the country’s interim president, after prominent members of his party lashed out at the Liberal government’s foreign policy move Thursday....
The NDP leader, however, is calling for a United Nations-led dialogue to “avert a disaster” in Venezuela, and said Thursday that all countries deserve to choose their leaders without “authoritative pressure or foreign interference.” He also condemned military action against protesters by the Maduro regime.
“Canada should not simply follow the U.S.’s foreign policy, particularly given its history of self-interested interference in the region,” Singh said....
https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/01/24/jagmeet-singh-questi...
"This is the kind of spineless, non-commital rhetoric which has so discredited the NDP..."
https://twitter.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1088516406679953410
Jagmeet Singh has just released another statement on Venezuela
“The situation in Venezuela is a humanitarian crisis. Food shortages and financial turmoil has led to millions fleeing the country. People's lives and safety are at risk. The NDP condemns military action against protestors by the Maduro regime. As Amnesty International has said, protesting cannot be synonymous with death.
Canada should not simply follow the U.S.’s foreign policy, particularly given its history of self-interested interference in the region.
The question of who is to lead Venezuela should be in the hands of Venezuelans. All countries should be free to make their own democratic decisions through free and fair elections, independent of authoritative pressure or foreign interference.
Canada should provide more assistance to tackle the humanitarian crisis. We must advocate for the United Nations to be involved, support the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres’ calls for dialogue to avert a disaster and condemn any military foreign intervention and unilateral action.
The NDP will always stand up for human rights around the globe.
So he’s putting his toe in the water.
Evidently his hand was forced by Niki and others, and by the reaction to his awful nothing-statement, to do some damage control.
The man is not fit to lead a party, especially not one purportedly of the left.
Jagmeet Singh has just released another statement on Venezuela
“The situation in Venezuela is a humanitarian crisis. Food shortages and financial turmoil has led to millions fleeing the country. People's lives and safety are at risk. The NDP condemns military action against protestors by the Maduro regime. As Amnesty International has said, protesting cannot be synonymous with death.
Canada should not simply follow the U.S.’s foreign policy, particularly given its history of self-interested interference in the region.
The question of who is to lead Venezuela should be in the hands of Venezuelans. All countries should be free to make their own democratic decisions through free and fair elections, independent of authoritative pressure or foreign interference.
Canada should provide more assistance to tackle the humanitarian crisis. We must advocate for the United Nations to be involved, support the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres’ calls for dialogue to avert a disaster and condemn any military foreign intervention and unilateral action.
The NDP will always stand up for human rights around the globe.
Much, much better!
Canada should not simply follow the U.S.’s foreign policy, particularly given its history of self-interested interference in the region.
It seems popular to describe this solely in terms of Trump, Bolsonaro and Freeland, but in addition to a bunch of Venezuela's neighbours, evidently the EU is also on board. And generally speaking, they don't even like Trump, nevermind "toadying" to him. There's so much more to this than just "bad Imperialist U.S.!"
Canada should provide more assistance to tackle the humanitarian crisis.
One of the opposition's complaints is that even as people are dying from lack of food or medical supplies, Maduro refused to allow any humanitarian aid.
and condemn any military foreign intervention and unilateral action.
Agreed.
Evidently his hand was forced by Niki and others, and by the reaction to his awful nothing-statement, to do some damage control.
The man is not fit to lead a party, especially not one purportedly of the left.
My conclusion as well. And thank goodness for the Niki Ashtons and Svend Robinsons. Don't know how long they'll last in this putrefying party, but if they can help turn things around, I'll happily acknowledge I was unduly pessimistic.
Evidently his hand was forced by Niki and others, and by the reaction to his awful nothing-statement, to do some damage control.The man is not fit to lead a party, especially not one purportedly of the left.
Exactly. If he wanted to lead on the issue of Venezuela, he should have led on it, learned what was happening, and come up with a statement reflective of that. The fact that 3 of his candidates (to this point) have publicly contradicted him and forced him to backpedal says a great deal. If he didn't feel confident, he could also have allowed one of his MPs or candidates who was knowledgeable to take the lead, and have that person speak to the issue. He didn't do either, so now we have another demonstration of Singh's incompetence.
And thank goodness for the Niki Ashtons and Svend Robinsons. Don't know how long they'll last in this putrefying party, but if they can help turn things around, I'll happily acknowledge I was unduly pessimistic.
Ashton will most likely be re-elected in the Fall. If Robinson is also elected it will be in the context of an overall crash in party support. The NDP Establishment will be so badly discredited by that point that if they try anything, Robinson and Ashton can turn around and say, "we won, you lost, enough said."
My conclusion as well. And thank goodness for the Niki Ashtons and Svend Robinsons. Don't know how long they'll last in this putrefying party, but if they can help turn things around, I'll happily acknowledge I was unduly pessimistic.
Some Ottawa pundits are speculating that if Jagmeet Singh is pushed out, Svend Robinson might be recruited to lead the NDP in the 2019 election.
Jessa McLean is the NDP candidate in York-Simcoe. From her Twitter feed:
Riddle me this: If Elected Venezuelan President Maduro is a dictator... What do you call Guaido who has simply declared themselves leader? And why are we standing w/Trump and Bolsonaro?
Jessa McLean is the NDP candidate in York-Simcoe. From her Twitter feed:
Riddle me this: If Elected Venezuelan President Maduro is a dictator... What do you call Guaido who has simply declared themselves leader? And why are we standing w/Trump and Bolsonaro?
A fortunate right-leaning dictator with US support behind him?
Yeah thanks, montgomery. Maybe I should have been clearer. I posted that tweet to illustrate that there appear to be people of principle within the NDP in addition to Niki Ashton and Svend Robinson. Hopefully that trend is larger and deeper than would appear from the nauseating statements of the Leader.
I thought Jag’s first comments weren’t that bad. Had I known that everyone here was going to rip a piece off him, I wouldn’t have made the comment so I’ll have to admit I made an error.
Julia Sanchez has also spoken out against US and Canadian interference and the danger of (US or other) intervention.
Julia Sanchez has also spoken out against US and Canadian interference and the danger of (US or other) intervention.
Some Ottawa pundits are speculating that if Jagmeet Singh is pushed out, Svend Robinson might be recruited to lead the NDP in the 2019 election.
Don't know which pundits you mean, but I don't have the feeling that the caucus and Federal Council are going to pick an interim leader with no seat, and who fared rather poorly in his last attempt to get one.
Anyway at this point I think Singh will win the by-election, and if so he's not stepping down as leader no matter how hard he's pushed.
I highly doubt that Canada will be involved in any intervention in Venezuela. It's the same old lip service to the US. If we weren't attached physically, Canada would not even entertain such an idea. You know Canada is going to back the Americans. They are no longer one of our allies but what can you do? Canada is the USA's endentured slaves because of trade. And Canada will always be that way until we find closer allies in which we can shore up a trade relationship which excludes the US..
Don't know which pundits you mean, but I don't have the feeling that the caucus and Federal Council are going to pick an interim leader with no seat
Why not? Since 1995 the NDP membership has elected three leaders who didn't have a seat.
Julia Sanchez has also spoken out against US and Canadian interference and the danger of (US or other) intervention.
What has she said?
I can't remember where each party stood when the US orchestrated the ouster of Haiti's democratically elected leader, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This move by Trump is very similar to what Bush Jr and his hatchet men did to Aristide. From Wikipedia:
"Aristide was then president again from 1994 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2004. However, Aristide was ousted in the 2004 coup d'état after right-wing ex-army paramilitaries invaded the country from across the Dominican border. As he claimed, the United States helped orchestrate the coup against him. Aristide was later forced into exile in the Central African Republic and South Africa."
Again, I have no idea where our parties stood when the US, again under Bush Jr., faciliated a coup attempt against Hugo Chavez.
At least the CBC has so far avoided calling Maduro a "strongman" or "dictator" and figure "socialist" is enough of a dispariging adjective. So freaking pathetic.
From Feb 2018:
Engler: NDP Marches With USA on Venezuela
https://yvesengler.com/2018/02/13/ndp-marches-with-usa-on-venezuela/
"Has it become NDP policy to support US-backed coups in Latin America?"
NDP shifts position on 'sensitive' Venezuela issue despite differences inside party
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ndp-shifts-position-on-sensitive-...
The Canadian left needs to euthanize this execrable party of compradors and reaction which stands squarely in the way of history and a genuine Canadian mass movement of progressive change so urgently required. Stop collaborating! Start resisting!
NDP shifts position on 'sensitive' Venezuela issue despite differences inside party
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ndp-shifts-position-on-sensitive-...
I think this may be exposing inadequate communications within the party. If there had been enough consultation between the leader's office and the MPs then likely the party could ahve made the decision to either make no statement or to come up with a consensus. I say this without judgment on the actual issue as this is not only about the issue but also about a breakdown in communications.
Sadly, this is a reflection of a long-time problem within the NDP (and other parties) and that is the distance between the leader and the party. While the NDP survived this at times with electoral success, in the current context with low polls, an election coming and poor finances, this has to be fixed otherwise the party will pay dearly. This is not something you can paper over in the current weak state of the party.
You would think that Singh's judgment is really a problem here given that with Mulcair speaking out of turn, any competent leader would have taken the warning to be much closer to the MPs than he is - especially for a leader without a seat. Frankly, Mulcair is not just being a jerk - he is exposing a real problem within the NDP and a good quesiton about the leader's incompetence.
In as much as people hate Mulcair for what he is doing - it is possible that he is actually trying to sink the present leader as a favour to the party. Given this latest screwup and what it demonstrates about the connection between the leader and the caucus, I cannot rule out that Mulcair believes he is sincerely helping. It is possible that Mulcair sees a devastating loss. One that will be blamed on him and is doing all in his limited power to prevent it.
Things may not be so simple on the Mulcair question as one failed leader trying to bring down the party. It could be one failed leader now tring to warn the party about an even bigger failure coming. And he may be right. To say so is not to think he was not a failure or to want him back. It is one more example of seeing things in binary terms from extremes (the need to demonize Mulcair to maintain morale or whatever) is not the best reaction to the realization that the party may have made two leadership mistakes in a row.
The Canadian left needs to euthanize this execrable party of compradors and reaction which stands squarely in the way of history and a genuine Canadian mass movement of progressive change so urgently required. Stop collaborating! Start resisting!
I remain resistant to tearing down without a strong blueprint for a replacement. This is where we differ. I am probably not a lot more happy with the NDP than you are. Our difference is that I am skeptical about the potential of a non-parliamentary movement being bale to do all the heavy lifting and I am skeptical about the chances a new party can rise up without all the problems of the NDP. As of now I see the NDP as a carcass but one with a better chance of being revived than anything else and that the problems exposed in the NDP exist everywhere and that we may as well fight the fight there than burning it and fighting it elsewhere.
I suspect that one reason why many are so angry with NDPP's attacks on the party is that in reality many of us are not that far apart and that it really is less of a difference in how we are seeing things as a massive difference in judgment about what to do about it.
The reasons for not giving up on the NDP, may be less of a compliment or a presumption that it is better than what NDPP says it is than a judgment that it is better to renovate than blow up. To complete the analogy -- we all can see the same leaky roof.
It is just another failed party with no direction and no analysis on what is causing the real problems in the world and the role Canada is playing. Any party that accepts this imperial coup is not a party that believes in the people. Its just another party that thinks we need to feed the oiligarchy what ever it wants, all in the name of democracy.
After such a party's collaboration and support of such monstrosities as NATO, Israel, US regime change ops in Libya, Syria, Venezuela etc, it is far worse than a'leaky roof.'
NDP shifts position on 'sensitive' Venezuela issue despite differences inside party
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/ndp-shifts-position-on-sensitive-...
Well Laverdiere won’t be talking on behalf of the party after October.
I've seen the NDP bizarre, pathetic and irrelevant before, but never this much all at once. And given what the election likely has in store for it, may it be for the last time. I hope a handful of good people win their races, but otherwise, just RIP already, NDP.
