Check out this column from Chantal Hebert.
If the NDP is to prevent a stampede of its supporters to the Liberals in the next election, if it is to eat away at Liberal support instead, it desperately needs to show results for its presence in the current minority Parliament. Then there is Quebec. With the Liberals in disarray and the Bloc stalling, the NDP has its sights on the province. It will not gain any ground there by opposing Harper's agenda for Quebec. Indeed, the Liberals can only accelerate their own ongoing demise in the province by doing just that. Forgetting perhaps that Harper enjoys the full backing of the Quebec federalist establishment these days, there was evidence this week that some Liberals were only too happy to fall into the trap. Jean Chrétien benefited immensely from a divided right. Today, Harper has the same interest in keeping the left divided. As for Layton, he is as keen to pluck the Liberal goose from the left as the Prime Minister is from the right. The opening of Parliament this week coincided with the opening moves of the debate on a united left. As their leadership campaign gets underway, it is a conversation the Liberals will be joining with a vengeance over the next few weeks.
If there any other polls that confirm the latest from Environics there will be no talk of uniting the left. It will change to "the new face of the left" as the NDP take over. I know, cart ahead of the horse and all that but that appears to the NDPs goal.
Comments (10)
My goal is to have people stop calling the Liberals a left-wing party. ;)
Posted by Greg | April 7, 2006 8:59 AM
Posted on April 7, 2006 08:59
Okay, let’s call them a statist party instead.
Posted by potato | April 7, 2006 9:03 AM
Posted on April 7, 2006 09:03
I’ll sign on for Socialist Greg’s initiative, as “left wing” is utterly devoid of meaning. Potato’s seems fine too.
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | April 7, 2006 10:41 AM
Posted on April 7, 2006 10:41
Seconding Greg’s goal!
I can’t speak for the whole of my party, but I personally have no interest in seeing it take over the Liberals. Why force ourselves to move right when the two parties could just implement electoral reform and co-exist alongside each other?
That said, the statistical tie did make me chortle. Fun times.
Posted by Idealistic Pragmatist | April 7, 2006 11:05 AM
Posted on April 7, 2006 11:05
Maybe the NDP can become neo-libs
Posted by nomdenet | April 7, 2006 11:18 AM
Posted on April 7, 2006 11:18
It is hard to imagine how the NDP will gain anything significant with the amateur that is currently fronting them. The NDP missed a glorious opportunity to punt Layton and undertake a very public effort to get Kennedy. They had nothing to lose and much to gain.
The “Orange Liberals” (Rae and Kennedy) joining the fray can’t be helping any poaching efforts all that much either.
“neo-libs”? Outstanding.
Posted by DC In YOW | April 7, 2006 1:02 PM
Posted on April 7, 2006 13:02
It is hard to imagine how the NDP will gain anything significant with the amateur that is currently fronting them.
I’m sure it would be hard for you to imagine that considering all your imagining skills are working overtime to convince you Iraq is going great, but luckily for you there is no imagination required to see that Layton has increased the NDP popular support by roughly 7% since he became leader of the party.
Posted by Robert McClelland | April 7, 2006 1:12 PM
Posted on April 7, 2006 13:12
“I’m sure it would be hard for you to imagine that considering all your imagining skills are working overtime to convince you Iraq is going great,”
Actually my imagination was skipping between playing Augusta National and sex but good effort anyways. BTW, you forgot to slag Bush with your reference to Iraq.
“Layton has increased the NDP popular support by roughly 7% since he became leader of the party”
Good for him. In that time, they have gone from being the 4th place party to the 4th place party.
While I don’t give a rat’s a** about the NDP, Layton deserves props for getting the NDP back on the map. Taking a decent sized chunk of the Libs will need the skills of a real pro.
Posted by DC In YOW | April 7, 2006 2:07 PM
Posted on April 7, 2006 14:07
Is it only me or is there some IRONY in having the biggest buffoon to ever head the NDP becoming their strongest leader in decades? Well…maybe its just dumb luck and not good management.
Posted by PGP | April 7, 2006 5:21 PM
Posted on April 7, 2006 17:21
Just heard Michael Ignatieff on CTV Newsnet, he claims that the liberals are going to be back big time in Quebec for the next election - I want what he’s smoking!!
Posted by Anne (happier in Ontario) | April 7, 2006 5:36 PM
Posted on April 7, 2006 17:36