In Toronto, Gerard Kennedy is poised to run against the NDP's Peggy Nash in
Parkdale-High-Park. In Ottawa Centre, David Chernushenko, one of the top
figures of the Green Party, is going after the only New Democrat seat in the
nation's capital. Bob Rae is said to have set his sights on Bill Graham's
Toronto Centre riding but, until recently, there was talk that he might take on
NDP Leader Jack Layton. In an attrition battle reminiscent of some
episodes of the Conservative civil war of the 1990s, progressive candidates are
poised to take each other out of the game from coast to coast in the next
federal election. Within the confines of party backrooms, that makes eminent
sense. The Liberals and the Greens have a common interest in wiping the NDP off
the map and vice-versa.
This means that anyone who actually believes the NDP is a truly left-wing party has got to be kidding themselves. If the NDP is in danger of being indistinguishable from eco-capitalists and welfare Liberals, then the party has almost lost its entire sense of purpose. I guess the NDP has rested content before it has eradicated capitalism and put into operation a full programme of socialized planning . Wake up NDP, let's try and get on the right (err, left) path. At the very least, be able to distinguish yourselves from the likes of Gerard Kennedy, Bob Rae, and David Cherushenko.
4 comments:
Let's hope this is the beginning of the end for the NDP. What a waste of a party. The sooner it dies a horrible painful death, the sooner the left can get itself together.
So what, you want the NDP to move further left. We do that and it really will mean game over.
Let's continue with the winning path that we have taken since Jack Layton go into power. The path that has allowed us to grow our vote over the last couple of elections.
There are a certain two parties further to the left that are looking for new members, if you think that the NDP is so doomed.
You know when I read that article I got concerned, and decided to check out David C. In Ottawa Centre, David Chernushenko, one of the top figures of the Green arty, is going after the only New democrat seat in the nation's capital.
Of course, David C. also ran against the NDP in 2004 and 2006. In 2004 and 2006 respectfully, he came in 4th both times. He would have to gain about 15 thousand votes to catch the NDP in relation to the vote spread from both those elections. So chantel is a bit deceiving here, as she tries to imply that the NDP in Ottawa Centre is threatened. She just forgot to mention those 2 previous elections, but saying this, well it wouldn't fit with her analysis.
Hebert's point wasn't that Cherushenko could or would win the seat, which he won't, it was that his running may have negative effects on Paul Dewar's vote totals (the NDP MP), which might allow the Tories or Liberals to win that seat. If you look at recent polls, nearly all of the Green's increased support has come as a result of decreases to the NDP's support, so I think that Hebert's point is a valid one. She was drawing parallels between potential vote splitting on the 'progressive' side this upcoming election with vote splitting on the right prior to the Tory takeover, and suggesting that Harper and the Tories would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the vote split this time around.
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