Apolitical Staples

The rhetoric is idiotic, of course — at least, that’s why I’m no longer on the left — but the general idea is fairly sensible.

If one wants to consolidate the political party system in Canada, it would make a lot of sense for the left to unite in the way that the right did.

On the other hand, the NDP may prefer to keep on existing so that they can influence debate and have their ideas stolen (as took place in the 1960s and 70s with them, and with Reform in the 90s).

It sounds like it’s better to forget about advancing your principles if it means cavorting with the enemy. Party first, country second. Liberal party would be a perfect fit.

Attention “Red Tories” who previously left the conservative fold to join Martin’s fiscally responsible Liberals:

Your conservative memberships can be obtained at your local riding association.

Chester would ask that you please stop calling him at home. While Chester understands your fear stemming from Dion’s far leftist position (tax cuts being “useless”, workers going for “easy money”, and now motioning to meet Kyoto/destroy the economy),

the number of calls has reached the tens of thousands, particularily from the Toronto burbs, and Chester simply cannot handle all of the calls.

However, while you await your conservative membership cards in the mail, we are currently working on developing support networks to help you deal with your guilt of unwittingly aiding in a movement to destroy the economy, and your anxiety in dealing with the prospect of our prosperous way of life being destroyed based on a far left ideology that has taken ahold of Canada’s “natural governing party.”

Chester thanks you for your cooperation.

But yes, of course, as Chester mentions, we had better then prepare for a flood of former Red Tories back to the Conservatives after such a merger.

Ben,

after the merger? The Libs are currently more left than the NDP. The flood is starting right now.

Hey, I’m a big fan of Harper. If it’s happening right now, I think that’s wonderful.

It doesn’t seem to be reflected in the polls, though. Is this something you have noticed on the ground?

(Or is it thus far wishful thinking?)

Non election polls matter very little. Voters don’t solidify their intentions untill the election date draws near.

For a stark example of this see Kim Campbell’s numbers. She starting out decent.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Dion’s a disaster for the Libs. It will bear conservative fruit.

Trust Chester, Chester knows.

There is a clear difference between the NDP and the Liberals. The NDP has principles, although I don’t agree with most of them, but I respect them anyway. The principles that the Liberals have depend on what the polls are saying. It would indeed be a sad day if the NDP held their noses and joined the Liberals.

Anon:

The Libs are currently more left than the NDP.

You, my dear, are certifiably insane. I dare you to put the two parties’ proposed policies next to each other and try to prove that.

I’d like to trust Chester, as his predictions accord with what I should very much like to see happen.

But wasn’t Chester predicting a majority last time out?

Look, I strongly suspect John Waugh is a Liberal who just sees the writing on the wall. The Leger and SES polls tell the same tale - the NDP support is not tanking but is in fact improving in Ontario at the expense of the Liberals. Dion has become a ‘one-trick-pony’ on the issue of the environment, and completely failed to strategically address the Tories who properly leveled the playing field by neutralizing the issue. Waugh knows that if the NDP and Tories come to a deal on rewriting the Clean Air Act the Liberals are screwed. A good Liberal knows fear mongering is the strategy to now employ - not against Harper this time but rather Layton; and to attempt to scare his base and ensure that previously ‘borrowed’ floating voters don’t stick with Layton next time.

Wow all this free stuff, education,drugs, dentists,daycare, I can’t wait, and who do we borrow the money from to pay for this , the Chinese???