The Hook

Death throes

While the lines are getting clearer the only thing that is obvious is that Carole will survive this weekend and may even survive till the election but she will not win.

Start planning 2017 after Taylors one term wonder.

Go Horgan 2017!

P Markunas

And you know this for a fact because...?

skywalker

Read her words. She didn't have support of Caucus.

Article title

The "cracks in the opposition" aspect of the title is most disappointing as it presumes that top-down control parties are somehow stronger or more popular than those that encourage open debate.

This is not so.

The biggest crack in the opposition has been the James/Farnworth gang and their failure to honestly promote or accept honest debate.

They can pretend they represent the moderate side of the party all they want. But they don't.

They represent top-down politics as usual. The old school. The secret union slush fund crowd. Rather than being indicative of strength, such approaches are indicative of the type of politcis that has alienated honest people throughout the province from the party and from politcis in general.

There is an inverse relationship between people's knowledge of James in the party and their level of support.

I am also not sure that the list of MLA's who mentioned they support the leader actually support her in the big scheme.

Let's put this all in perspective again:

If the James/Farnworth gang would take a positive approach to all this - an open, honest, and civil leadership debate could widen the tent and bring people back in the party.

Instead, they are forcing this mess and then blaming "the other" for it.

Sad...

Foolish woman

"James said she is angry on behalf of the people of British Columbia. “There are people who would rather fight themselves internally and focus on those kind of issues than serve the people in British Columbia.”

James herself is the divisive force in the party. This incompetent, no talent, stupid woman with a giant overinflated ego refuses to do the right thing and resign for the good of the people of British Columbia.

She is responsible for the massive destruction two Canwest/Gordo relections have visited on the province. She needs to be gone so the party can reunite under a new and competent leader.

Foolish woman 2

James i know she do not read blogs.When she get to her head she can't win any thing for NDP .
She was the best friend of Gordon Campbell because of Her he win everything
SHE ALONE MADE GORDI WINER 2 TIMES
Last election she definitely blow up.
When Bill Good at CKWW 980 start taking haw good she is for NDP .......it is time for HER TO GET BOOT FROM NDP.
James after voting for NDP last 25 years because of YOU my vote will go to BC FIRST. James you don't read blogs start reading BC pools popularity in BC for you DROP 9 !!!!!!!!!!!! POINTS

Seth

Blaming James for Campbell's win and the state the province is to much and insulting her intelligence makes me question yours.
Carol didn't pick him the media did.
What is happening in the party I'm not certain but it is something that is soon going to work it self out. If anything I give Carol a great deal of credit for putting up with all the BS of having to deal with Campbell's dirty politics.
James was going to have to deal with Simpson sooner or later because it is a certain he wanted her job.
Apparently words like hard ass are used to describe the softy Carol who didn't have it in her to be tough enough.
NDP leader's background is just what this province needs because it has been on big business over load for quite sometime. Even the Liberals with a cash give away and subsidies to help sales along haven't been able to rid BC of its bear market.
I had confidence in Carol and felt she would have been good for the province and someone you could trust.
And I was counting on the Liberals oppositon to keep the NDP on their toes. The Liberals are especially effective as opposition as are a media favorite and British Columbians become better informed.

Thickness

How do you penetrate the thickness!!!!! It is not possible to win an election with Carol James!!!!!!

Today's Mustel poll has James tied for odiousness with the orgre himself - the Gordo yet still this [EDITED... ] woman [EDITED... ] refuses to do the right thing and resign for the good of the people of British Columbia.

The level of competence the NDP has shown by picking Carol James in the first place and running one of the stupidest election campaigns in decades, requires a massive purging. And the buck stopped at Carol James, she needs to go now.

James is the George Chuvalo of the politics game, wooden, dogged, utterly no finesse, [EDITED... ] stubborn, but great at taking a punch. Chuvalo was also a close second in almost ever fight he was in. Muhammed Ali made the Carole analogy perfectly in calling Chuvalo "washerwoman".

As Rafe Mair states the party lead by James ignored the unmatched in Canadian history financial incompetence of Campbell, barely mentioning IPP and other PPP losses approaching $80 billion in off the book losses to the taxpayer. No matter how many commentators be it Rafe himself, online and on the air commentators on stations like CFAX kept telling James, Horgan, Dix, Simpson and other NDP idiots "its the economy stupid" they'd persist in speaking of hospitals, and homeless, and motherhood and little kittens. Everybody knows the NDP was great on those issues.

When Campbell mentioned James' lack of business experience, she could have hit back with Campbell having no business experience either having worked 30 years ago as the political bagman for some real estate developer. She have asked Campbell why is it that the only experienced qualified power engineer and business executive in his party Ralph Sultan PHD P Eng, P.Eng (Electrical) former Professor of Economics at Harvard and CFO of RBC Dominion sits on the backbench.

James barely made it out of high school and it shows big time.

Adrian Dix despite following the leaders policy of ignoring economic issues, was an excellent debater kicking the ass of Neocon contenders whenever they dared rear their ugly heads. Jim Sinclair, Ken Georgetti both excellent debaters would have wiped the floor with all Neocon comers, especially the likes of Suzuki, Bill Good, Vaugh Palmer, Mike Smyth and of course Gordo and any of his minions.

In speaking with my non political working class buddies, they refused to vote for James with names for her like shrill, just can't stand her, harpy, witch, bitch, ugly and ball breaker. Given the utter idiocy of those comments, sadly the NDP must realize that it is impossible to get working class male or female voters to get out and vote for a woman unless she is a spokesmodel Sarah Palin type babe. George Bush was elected and reelected by working class types, who were the major recipients of the Bush crime family shaft.

The party needs her out of there and soon.

elect Jenny

Jenny Kwan for leader!
There I said it!
She was around when the going was tough and she is a good speaker that has the respect of everyone.

Has the NDP lost its way?

I and many other life long supporters of the NDP see the party losing its way. As soon as there is a chance of political success, the NDP leadership runs to court the business vote. LIke "Bush Lite", this is the exact same failed strategy of Obama and the Federal Liberals. The NDP was founded as the people's party. Not business. Not the elite. Has anyone in the NDP leadership read the NDP Constitution lately (see below)? Is this reflected in their policy? If not, why not.

Is there a plan to redevelop BC's wealth for its own citizens that will survive the NY bond rating agencies? If we can't figure out how to sidestep the bond agencies with bold policies inspired by Bolivia, Sweden, Denmark and Venezuala, then BC is doomed to remain an exploited outpost, selling its riches to the highest foreign bidder.

Until the NDP rediscovers its roots as a true alternative to BAU (business as usual), it will simply be marginalized as a watered down neoliberal party. Which will always deliver less to big business and will be pummelled repeatedly by the business bullies.

The Constitution of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia

"The New Democratic Party believes that social, economic and political progress in Canada can only be assured by the application of democratic socialist principles to government and the administration of public affairs."

"The principles of democratic socialism can be defined briefly as follows: a) the production and distribution of goods and services shall be directed to meeting the social and individual needs of people and not for profit, b) the modification and control of the operations of monopolistic productive and distributive
organizations through economic and social planning, towards these ends, and c) where necessary, the extension of the principle of social ownership."

"The New Democratic Party holds firm to the belief that the dignity, freedom and equality of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended."

"The New Democratic Party is proud to be associated with the democratic socialist parties of the world and to share in the struggle for peace, international co-operation and the abolition of poverty."

Investor Confidence

"NDP leader Carole James dropped by for lunch Thursday and delivered a campaign-style speech to the Surrey Board of Trade.

About 100 people gathered to hear James say that an NDP government would work to create a stable, strong economic climate that would attract investment while being fair to all segments of society.

"That means maintaining a fair tax environment. That means making sure we're an attractive and easy place to set up business. That means a commitment to simple, yet fair, regulation that's good for business as well as labour and strong economic stewardship that gives investors' confidence."

Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/will+have+partner/3854688/story.html#ixzz15qDOcwNZ"

Jeffrey J.

But Obama won, and when the federal Liberals were in the pockets of the boardrooms, they won. The NDP only won when they stuck to their CCF roots and looked out for the little guy, whether a farmer or industrial grunt. (P.S. Bob Rae's win in Ontario was always just a fluke that he handled badly and wasted an opportunity, now he is again a Liberal).

I'm not sure who or what Carole James stands for but she has lost the support and confidence of her caucus, especially when when punted Simpson without discussing it with her caucus. She is history, another despot bites the dust.

R/man

Carole James goes to the Surrey Board of Trade and endorses Campbell's pro business position. I can see how that works for you.

@Skywalker

Good shot at conflating the two Skywalker, but I see Carole including labour in that equation, something the BC Liberals could never do. And there are other nuances to her message that suggest she's the kind of leader I want in Victoria, one who will include ALL perspectives in deliberations and decision making.

Still No Plan

Okay, the NDP party whip resigned. Yes the BC NDP is going through some changes. I cannot though vote for any party without a plan. It's that simple. Over this weekend the NDP will decide it's own future. If this party wants to win it will, if it wants the status quo then the NDP will make that choice as well. I (and many other voters) will make our choice on election day. I cannot stand the BC Liberals, I hope that our opposition party can get its house in order and boot the BC Liberals out to the curb. C'mon NDP, get yourself in order and restore democracy to BC. Otherwise people like me who don't support the BC Liberals will suffer even more hardship for another 4-5 years.

choices

if we look at this situation strategically, then what wins elections is having a good personality fronting the party.
Someone who can keep peoples attention for as long as a good actor could.
James is no such personality, we can argue her policies or lack of, but she could not make the cut for a soap commercial.

I don't think it is a gender issue as such, Jenny Kwan was respected when she was part of a 2 man opposition, and she can hold an audience by coming across as very sincere and knowledgeable.
Possible the best choice we have at the moment since Corky does not seem to be a candidate.

Farting in the wind

Carole James can go and say anything and everything to the business community here in BC. She's farting in the wind cuz the Vancouver Board of Trade, BC Chamber of Commerce, and The Fraser Institute will never ever endorse the New Democratic Party especially when they own the Liberal Party.

To become government

To become government, the NDP must appeal to a large enough section of the electorate to obtain a majority. That means they must compromise on some die-hard issues of the far left. Even at that, it will be a difficult row to hoe.

Mike Harcourt had a central platform and thereby managed to convince enough voters to support the NDP. As expected, the power brokers of the business community ignored his conciliatory approach. Mainstrem media and hawks like Phil Hochstein and Jim Shephard bashed him at every opportunity.

The real destructive forces to the Harcourt government were the objectives of the far-left. They wanted immediate adoption of their ideals. He was also undermined by the Glen Clarke troupe who wanted power for themselves. Harcourt eventually took the fall for the Nanaimo Commonweath Gaming scandel, and the undermining by his own party.

Come Election Day, sufficient members of the electorate must be convinced that the NDP will deliver on their pre-stated policies. Since the electorate are fickle, a winning NDP team must convince the public that they are achieving their pre-stated goals. They must stay the course to cope with the machinations of the business community and others. Undermining by the far-left will quickly knock a new NDP government out of power, and therefore any reasonable social policies will not come to fruition.

Where you are wrong.

Harcourt won because the right was split between the real liberals and the Socreds. It had nothing to do with Harcourt being perceived as a moderate. In fact that was a liability with most of labour as the claim always was that he did not do enough. He also never seemed a natural at his job sticking to the message box as though someone was pulling a string behind him. He made people anxious whenever he was asked a question. Remember that artificial thing with the credit card on the TV debate with Rita Johnson? that was reflective of things that made people uneasy.

The NDP was down in the polls before 2006 and would have lost it if wasn't for Glen Clark. Glen's surprising win was waht brought out the knives from the media. They never could countenance somebody smarter than they were. The farce that followed was orchestrated and the rest is history.

Carole is making the job easier for a liberal successor to Campbell and we know what happens if you make the job easier.

I think we are in for a wait till 2017. Thanks a bundle Carole!

One other thing.

The NDP, and the BC Liberals, are primarily run by the lower mainland interests. In the NDP they were at one time and maybe still referred to as the Vancouver Mafia. These are the folks who rarely get out to rural BC and often have no idea what the voter opinions are outside of Vancouver. Most of them could care less. They are the bulk of the representation at Provincial Council Meetings and conventions. Attending political functions is much easier and less costly for them. This will always dominate.

The problem is that any party needs a substantial representation from rural B.C. I doubt that most of those who vote to keep a lackluster leader in place ever listen to what is the prevailing opinion in the rest of B.C.

Hats off to those who are standing up for what they believe when they know that most at a meeting will sneer an look down at them for listening to their constituents. It probably was not a secret ballot. It takes real courage to tell a leader that he/she should go. It takes nothing to play nice, CYA, and enjoy opposition because you still have a salary while the rest of BC gets screwed.

So Carole, have a secret ballot and then talk.

"The NDP was founded as the people's party."

Great comments by Jeffrey J:

"The NDP was founded as the people's party. Not business. Not the elite. Has anyone in the NDP leadership read the NDP Constitution lately (see below)? Is this reflected in their policy? If not, why not."

And Skywalker:

"Hats off to those who are standing up for what they believe when they know that most at a meeting will sneer an look down at them for listening to their constituents. It probably was not a secret ballot. It takes real courage to tell a leader that he/she should go. It takes nothing to play nice, CYA, and enjoy opposition because you still have a salary while the rest of BC gets screwed."

@ Skywalker

You are partially correct when you say: "...Harcourt won because the right was split between the real liberals and the Socreds". Harcourt was recruited by the NDP because he had left of centre views and he was electable. Heck, many business oriented folks I knew voted for the NDP, because they were tired of the deceitful behaviour of Bill Bennett/Bill VanderZalm and Rita Johnson.

One other concern the NDP had during this period was they did not want to be a one term government, as was Dave Barrett. Arguments presented then was Barrett went too far left and alienated too many of the electorate.

You also say Harcourt's approach was a "... a liability with most of labour as the claim always was that he did not do enough". I agree, and that was part of the undermining Harcourt had to contend with.

And yes, it was as "though someone was pulling a string behind him. No doubt he felt like the proverbial rubber chicken.

I don't remember the credit card issue with Rita Johnson, but I certainly remember her being part of the Bill Reid cabal.

All this is history, but on Election Day sufficient members of the electorate must be convinced that the NDP will deliver on their pre-stated policies.

Carol James is not my preferred choice for the leader of the NDP; however, if her causus supports her so will I.