Wednesday, June 15, 2011

NDP Continues Long, Painful Process Of Redefinition

...or, to put it more bluntly, of selling out.  But its a good thing.  Some of the nutty language in its constitution does nothing but provide fodder for Tory attack ads, and should be removed.  Not that moving to the Centre isn't fraught with problems:

“If it fails, it will be little more than the new Liberals,” said [York University Professor James]Laxer...

And of course there's the issue of a backlash.  Be interesting to see how Mr. Layton and Co. handle, for example, the move to repeal The Clarity Act.  I am assuming the NDP caucus is, like that of the other parties, allowed to ignore whatever comes out of  its convention.

12 comments:

sharonapple88 said...

Moving to the centre? New Liberals? ""We accept you one of us." ;)

Tof KW said...

Yes, but the NDP selling out in the name of winning power will, somehow, be different from how the Liberals and Conservatives sold out to obtain their power. Because after all, they're "different" from all the other political parties.

The Mound of Sound said...

They were the party of principle, the "conscience of Parliament" when that's all they had and they reveled in their feigned moral superiority and did everything but sing "The Internationale" at every meeting. And then, this. They'll grab the brass ring even if that means revealing themselves to be just like the old guys they used to condemn. Ha, ha, ha.

bigcitylib said...

And the Green Party moves into the space they once occupied...

sharonapple88 said...

And the Green Party moves into the space they once occupied...

Well, nature abhors a vacuum.

Tof KW said...

Another thing ...and I know the NDP are "different" from everyone else, but, how long are they allowed to use the word NEW?

They've been the 'New' Democrats for 50 years now, and regardless of that name change they've been around since the Great Depression.

The CBC is 'newer' than they are.

I wonder if the voters can sue for false advertising?

Then again, conservative is a misnomer when describing the Harper Conservatives, so the NDP are not alone there.

Steve said...

I wish it Broadbent instead of Layton. Layton is responsible for bringing Harper into power, and while he has the politics right, I think the chances of NDP winning next election are very slim.

The Mound of Sound said...

Careful now Steve. The Dippers really, really hate it when somebody says the obvious - that Jack has carried Harper's water in each of the last three elections and was instrumental in getting Harper his majority. Oh my but they don't like to hear that. Mustn't upset them when they're having to shed their skin.

Terence said...

lets see how the new center politics of the party play out when harpo decides they need an attack ad lesson or two.
The libs will not sit back and give him that space even though he thin ks he has the bully pulpit right now.
Jack the ripper's lust for power will ultimately enfeeble him as his Quebec wing and their voters will not like moving more to the right. After all they replaced the very left leaning bloc because of similar poliices, disnyesque as they were.

Robert McClelland said...

Aw, the third place party supporters are upset. Boohoo!

sharonapple88 said...

Aw, the third place party supporters are upset. Boohoo!

Hey, if you were going to head for the centre and dump socialism, why not join the Liberals years ago?

Well, at least with the changes, the NDP no longer has to hide its Constitution. I guess you can post it on your party's website with pride now that the S-word has been dumped from it.

susansmith said...

sharonapple88 said...

Aw, the third place party supporters are upset. Boohoo!

Hey, if you were going to head for the centre and dump socialism, why not join the Liberals years ago?

Because NDP are against "taking bags of money"! Enough said.