It is time to get serious about the implications of the Dion/May so-called Red/Green show. I have been waiting for this liaison to consummate for some time now. I am delighted as a Canadian to see a new politics start to crystallize with this collaboration. Who would not trade Lizzie for Belinda if you were serous about the future and good governance of the country?
I have scanned a smattering of blogs on this issue and listened to the local Liberal Party president Allan Armsworthy interview on the House this morning. He is a most reasonable and enlightened man in my opinion. It is worth a listen.
As for disenfranchising Liberal voters in Central Nova constituency well yes that may be true for a few folks but we are dealing with the Law of Small Numbers here. Everyone who voted Liberal, or for any other party for that matter, is not one of “them” and they did not decide to "join the party" as a result of their vote. They are just ordinary citizens who voted in a certain way and who made their decision based on any number of individual motivating drivers. Old thinking MSM seems to believe everyone who voted Liberal is a Liberal and they will be upset and disenfranchised. "Out of touch" is the kindest thing one can say about such superficial observations.
The real world sees about 3% of Canadians actually belonging to political parties...that is all of them combined. So those gladiator Liberal members in Central Nova, if you are ticked…go ahead and cry a river of angst and anguish but you know you will get over it. Besides May could well be the best Liberal you can muster as a preferred candidate anyway.
Political parties have too much power and influence given the sparse and clubby nature of the usually exclusive activist membership. That is true of all political parties these days. This focus on local party membership reaction over this collaboration is not the main issue at play here.
What is truly wonderful about this unconventional collaboration of Dion and May is just that. It is collaboration not a confrontation and it is based on an expression of personal convictions and values. This “unusual” move by Dion and May is not about power politics, the cult of personality or adversarial partisanship. It is not a back room deal and Layton has to desperately characterize it. It is about two pragmatic people with leadership ability, a depth of character and with genuine convictions who want to make a difference acting strategically. I applaud the move.
Lets face it we have a plethora of McKay types in the House of Commons and a dearth of May types. This is a designed effort towards creating a potential for a greater diversity of voices that the first past the post approach will not deliver. This is in and of itself enough to make this collaboration worthy of praise.
We live in a relational world not a hierarchical one any more. That maybe news to Harper but I doubt it. My guess is Harper just does not want to network with his own Caucus. He wants to command and control them. Given the value set and loose cannon proclivities of many of them, one can hardly blame Harper.
Dion and May on the other hand are post-conventional politicians and the first wave of a new kind of politics. Their collaboration is the first tangible sign of a new political order emerging. Heaven knows we need one.
ongratulations to both of them for this courage and wisdom. I expect we will see Canada better served because of this initiative. If not this coming election, then the next one for sure.
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Wish that more of this kind of thinking could be found in the MSM.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Sheeple, this is the type of back-room dealing that Canadians are sick of and both leaders are going to be punished. One only needs to read Bourque's column to see how some of the great divides in the LPC are being to be thrust open. This announcement gave everyone who was concerned about Dion's weak leadership a "hook" to place their grief on.
ReplyDeleteThis was decision was purely out of self-interest of both leaders. I also find it odd that Dion would support May, an individual who some would call a social conservative (in fact, she is personally opposed to abortion rights! - I figure Ken you would be opposed to such views - and may actually call them Bush-like).
Ken, what would you think if Dion did not run a candidate in your riding?? Your response: "go ahead and cry a river of angst and anguish but you know you will get over it." This is absolutely absurd - these people have tirelessly worked year after year, campaign after campaign to promote the LIBERAL cause in that riding. Expect the Board members and local volunteers to sit on their hands in the next election.
Maybe you should look at some of May's policies BESIDES the environment. In fact, once you do, you will find that MacKay is much more of a progressive than May.
You best re-read Sheeple in this context. You are at best misunderstanding him and at worst being misleading.
ReplyDeleteListen to the local Liberal constituency president interview on Saturday's CBC radio show The House. It is at www.cb.ca. In fact we are told the local constituency organization was involved in the Dion/May decision. Hardly the stuff of back rooms...not at all like Anders recent "acclamation" CPC nomination oveturned by the Courts because they didn't even follwo their own rules. His appeal is heard this week isn't it?
As well you are wrong on the social conservative aspects of May too - and you are misleading again and you know it. How can anyone trust you guys to tell the truth...the whole truth - and to keep your election promises too - when you hype and torque the facts this way?
She is a feminist and a Christian and can easily reconcile those perspectives and is not opposed to abortion rights. I answered this tripe with a quote from her posed on the Babble site. It is on my comments in the Sunday April 15 post. In fact she articulates my own perspective on the matter. Hardly Bush league or Bush like.
As for the divide in the Liberals -I hope so...that is what political parties are supposed to do - work out the differences in POV and perspectives on public policy concerns in the open and with vigour...but always with respect!
Dion is weak in term of old style ineffective command and control buying power politics that citizens are obviously sick of. that is a virtue in my mind. Dion is stong as a leader in a networked world and a master of consensus building and is able to bring independent clear thought to complex issues. That is 21st century leadership.
Can you imagine Commander Harper tolerating such open and dialectic debate in the Cons ranks? "Off with their heads" would be his demands.
Your post is totally aligned with your world view of top down, leadership that requires a stern dominant father figure who becasue he is the "head of the family" he demands respect instead of earning it. Your view of effective leadership is a scary guy ("you just wait until your father comes home and he will dal with you")who can reward and punish on a whim...and often does.
Not the real world any more eric - but I think in your heart of hearts you already know that new reality and you understand just how misaligned the Cons are with the real world of today.
Put yourself in the shoes of the EDA Board or the volunteers who worked year after year to elect a liberal - I would be furious and I know of a few that certainly are!
ReplyDeleteI will take Ed Broadbent's view that this is a "backroom deal". A backroom deal is where neither the party members nor public get involved. Here, it was two people (May admitted she was talking to Dion for a month or so) - and it was not even discussed at the LPC convention.
I clearly stated that she that those were her "personal" views and not necessarily the Green Party's views.
Riiiight - Dion made this deal "for the good of the country". Good luck with that (having the Green party put no candidate in his riding is not out of self-interest - riiight). We will have to wait and see how this plays out. However, it seems already that the NDP is shoring up its support because of this move.
It's a sad day for the LPC - it is no longer a national party. It has given up in a riding before an election has even been called, without a fight.
I must say, however, that you were quite articulate in your defense of this agreement. Maybe you should be on Mike Duffy Live instead of Scott Reid.
Eric: "methinks you doth protest too much." Your concern for the LPC is interesting and undoubtedly insincere. Of course, the CPC is terrified that the NDP vote will collapse and move to the LPC. Also, that the under-performing Peter McKay might be defeated.
ReplyDeleteYour argument that democracy is defeated is silly. Voters can vote for whoever they want. Your position carried to its logical conclusion menas that the the Progeressive Conservatives and Reform Party should not have merged because voters were deprived of the opportunity to vote for them.
The fact is that voters will choose. Plotical parties and political coircumstances are not stagnant. In a minority parliament it is not uncommon to see coalitions and cooperation between political parties.
LAstly, you say this decision was in the self-ineterst of both leaders. Duh! Were you born yesterday? Do you think Steve Harper makes decision against his leadership ambitions. Of course not. You need only look at his blown promises and groesque spending in Quebec to know that his ambition is his master.
Gritpatriot, I never argued that democracy will fail. I only stated that the members of the EDA are understandably upset.
ReplyDeleteI glad you mentioned the merger! This was done in an open and transparent manner AND WAS APPROVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES! This is what May and Dion should do if they are having an alliance, instead of this backroom deal.
"LAstly, you say this decision was in the self-ineterst of both leaders. Duh! Were you born yesterday?"
Dion is saying the alliance is "for the good of the country" and thus is being completely dishonest. I am merely pointing out that rather blatent dishonesty.
Bourque has sources that some of the EDA members are planning on running an "independent liberal" in the next election. All the power to these disenfranchised liberals.
ReplyDelete