VICTORIA – In the politeness that follows defeat, demands for provincial New Democrat leader Carole James to resign will be kept out of the headlines - at least for the time being.
Despite the Campbell administration's strong negatives, the NDP's failure to effectively present and exploit those negatives to British Columbians is cause for New Democrats to reassess the party's leadership and approach to politics over the past six years.
Defeat was inevitable in neither circumstance. In 2005, the New Democrats went from three seats in the legislature to 33. But, given the Campbell administration's first term cutbacks, it's conceivable that seat count could have been higher, despite the disaster that befell the party in 2001 (Where the NDP were only awarded 2 seats).
As for this election, the Liberals were dogged by friends' and insiders' allegations in the months leading up to the writ being dropped.
And the Campbell administration's claim to being the province's best economic manager became assailable as Statistics Canada released numbers showing British Columbia's economy is in worse shape than the Liberals had forecasted in their most recent budget.
But the New Democrats didn't drive those numbers.
They mishandled the allegations from friends and insiders and the mushy middle election platform gave New Democrat candidates little to talk about on the campaign trail - with most of the major planks having been rolled out before the writ was dropped.
Of course, that's not to say the Liberals campaign was much better. It was just better than the New Democrats. And that was enough to win the incumbents a third term in government.
Sean Holman reports for Public Eye Online
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biscotti
3 years ago
Purge the backrooms
Maybe it's time to turf the well paid backroom spin doctors, poll addicts and pork choppers who design stupid, paternalistic election campaigns.
They are incredibly out of touch with the rank and file, especially in the hinterland. Since global warming hasn't yet allowed us to establish any rice paddies in the Fraser Valley, send them tree planting in the Cariboo for a couple of years.
At the very least, puh-leez stop using the phrase "working families" instead of workers or working class. It conjures up Dickensian scenes of children toiling with their parents instead of what this doublespeak code is meant to convey.
Politically correct platitudes just sound like BS to the unconverted.
Skywalker
3 years ago
Good analysis David, but If Carole goes...
...I would hope there is a real vetting of all those inner circle that also selected Ujjal Dosanjh. As the strategy is not just one person's to develop they need to clean up the place a bit. I found that the carbon tax was not evenly hated across the province but not convinced it was a factor. The media bias was probably greater and it will be for a while. maybe when CanWest is gone.
Rod Smelser
3 years ago
What about the CBC?
Skywalker
The media bias was probably greater and it will be for a while. maybe when CanWest is gone.
The traditional socialists who blame the NDP's situation only on privately owned corporate media are being extraordinarily naive. The CBC doesn't do the party any favours either, and that holds true both federally and provincially, as you can easily see by noting the almost fawning coverage the Corp gives to even the most perfunctory appearances by Ujjal Dosanjh.
JStog
3 years ago
Time For A Change.....
Biscotti's right
"Politically correct platitudes just sound like BS to the unconverted"
The BC NDP's Defeat was inevitable with a stupid campaign by out of touch backroom spin doctors.
Time For A Change..... Time Real Leadership and New direction for the opposition.
A Hate Party has no place in BC
Frank
3 years ago
Hate Party??
Actually they just won a third straight majority government.
biscotti
3 years ago
Gordo-obsessed
I think what JStog may have been referring to is the NDP's obsession in campaigns with Gordon Campbell. Not as bad as the last election, but looking at their web pages and campaign literature, the Premier's name is mentioned repeatedly, in some sidebars more than Carole James'.
I think Bob Simpson was re-elected in Cariboo North where I live in large part because he focused his campaign on what he was FOR, not just the policies (and not personalities) he was against.
I wonder what the NDP campaign literature and website would have been like if it didn't publish photos of Gordon C, and instead focused on a concrete, positive platform and engaged in critiques of Liberal policies, not Liberals.
Simply ignoring Gordon might have helped him disappear electorally ;-) But the NDP backroom boys (I'm assuming they're all male) are really stuck on him. And there are plenty of people out there who find that alienating or confusing.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Paranoia does destroy ya!
"CBC doesn't do the party any favours either"
They are all against us! We didn't do anything wrong!
buccaneer bay
3 years ago
Campbell didn`t win.......
Libs gained no more support,one cabinet minister lost(murray Coell),no NDP lost,except Jenn Mcginn.....
A Canwest hatchet job,CKNW hatchet job, 10 million dollars to 3 million dollars in advertising....
Angus Reid(the most accurate pollster by far)Yet all we hears about for polls in the media was Ipsos/Mustel/Environics/Innovative(they were all wrong) Yet Canwest had front page coverage of Mustel and Ipsos!
11.30 pm last night,Jane Sterk had a CTV interview,she made her best passionate speach,,she called "Gordon Campbell a enviromental disaster,privitizer" ...
She went after Campbell hard--Why didn`t she do it earlier?..Because the green strategy was to attack the NDP....
5 ridings/1000 votes--That was the margin of Victory for Campbell,maybe 4 ridings,Oppal stole the riding....
Campbell didn`t win the election/Record low turnout.....Perhaps it is time for the Greens to join with the NDP and create a coalition?
So finaly,a stolen election,Campbell has no mandate,a special hats off to East Kooteney voters for showing your true colours!.....
Hats off to the bible belt,hope one day you people get your eye and ear transplants,must be difficult to go through life deaf,dumb and blind!.....
The bone award goes to the one term wonder.....Gregor Robertson....way to go endorsing Jenn Mcginn quietly on the last day,and for showing the people of the lower mainland that you are a whack job!...
Urban chickens? City hall garden...and deciding to mess with Burrard bridge 3 days before an election! Oh,I almost forgot about banning bottled water!.....
Yea,thanks Gregor,you sure proved that NDP were whack jobs......
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Hi Quarry!
>he reason Gordon Campbell is relaxed on >his bus tour........He knows the election >is over!
Yup, he knew he was going to win! Har, har!
>MY prediction 50 NDP seats
>Liberals 34 seats
>1 independent
>Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
Try inverting those, Quarry. Your eyes might be open but they are probably dilated and bloodshot!
>NA NA NA NA Na, --Can you understand that?>Is that on your level,or should I dumb it >down a little bit?
Look in a mirror, Quarry.
The green vote is breaking towards the NDP
and Wilf Hanni will elect an extra 6 NDP candidates.......
>My prediction,THE OUTCOME,bet the >farm,call it a lock,........Lets just say
>I have seen the internal polls....
That there sounds like secret agents stuff, eh?
>Rumour has it.......A 3 point NDP Lead...
Next time stick with facts. LOL!
buccaneer bay
3 years ago
You are a Baffoon Wilfred...
Libs gained no new support.
There was no blowout,I am waiting for the excuses from Ipsos/Mustel/ Kennedy Stewart...46 Lib Seats...39 NDP/independent seats...Well Kennedy Stewart?Where are the 53 Liberal seats you predicted on election eve?.....
I feel sorry for the future generations...
Have fun with the massive debt GC,good luck with the upcoming fudge it budge it...
P.S. Wilfred, Glad you kept all my posts,I unfortunately kept NONE of yours.
Cheers
Kam Lee
3 years ago
gordo
Well if there is any news worth watching after the election, we will continue to see a stall
by the lawyers (Defense as well as Bill ( I lov gordo) in the BC rail show. My question to all who write in, have voted for him or work in his gang. Would you support gordo again after he is convicted of involvement in the BC Rail fiasco? A simple question. All you bobbleheads (His cabinet and backbenchers), just answer that. No longwinded lies, just yes or no. Answer from your heart, not from the dictators office. Dont ask his GF, his x,
or his staffers. Would be surprised if any of you have the balls to reply.
DPL
3 years ago
Lots of blame to go around
WE can all blaim everyone in sight but Saint Gordo ended up with more seats.
Who's fault, what difference does it make. he can rule for four years no matter how we say he doesn't deserve it. Hold on to your wallets folks, the bills will start coming in soon. Best man to handle the economy? Hardly but he gets to fiddle it as much as he wants
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
LOL.....
"You are a Baffoon Wilfred..."
There is the pot calling the kettle black, Quarry. I thought the election was "in the bag."
LOL!
offended
3 years ago
"neither circumstance"
The use of the word neither in the headline suggests that there was a choice of circumstances, i.e. more than one choice. Not true.
The fact is, defeat is inevitable when you don't get the most votes. There is no other choice.