The Hook

NS, what a beautiful place!

Yep, NS has the right idea. It also has, with the Halifax Chronicle Herald, a large independent newspaper that reports in a balanced and unbiased manner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJvz5W32bYg

Whoo hooo!

Way to go guys!! Not only a government but a majority government. Awesome!

And our local papers wonder why the declining readership. A historic Canadian election and not one word from them. Guess they'd rather create the news than report the real news. Disgusting.

Good News/Bad News

The Good news is the NDP won.

The Bad news is the NDP seems to have become Liberal Lite and moved away from its values.

What is the point of a leftist social democrat party if it is no longer leftist and more liberal that social democratic?

Power for the sake of power rather than power for the sake of its values is why the left is in trouble in Canada and around the world.

The platform looks pretty good to me..

It's missing a few things, but you can't do everything all at once. First you restore public confidence in government, then you attack the problems.

http://www.ns.ndp.ca/assets/nsndpcommitmentslores.pdf

Red Alert Red Alert, Danger

Red Alert Red Alert, Danger Danger, as Max the bunny's cartoon toy says as it goes round and round.

The NDP worked hard to win and they won big. The combined opposition comes no where equal in seats. The new government will no doubt change a few things but listening to some of the folks on TV last evening , doom and gloom reminded me of Max and his bunny. If the previous government had been doing a great job they wouldn't have ended in third place by one seat below the Liberals. How sweet it is

Not only did they win

They won big...first or second place in all but a handful of ridings.

In Halifax I think they got more than 50% of the popular vote....

Sensible people - but now watch the backlash - BC could teach them something about what comes next....

A trend started by Alexa MacDonough

People need to remember that Darrel Dexter's victory yesterday stands on the shoulders of Alexa MacDonough and her work for the provincial and federal NDP in Atlantic Canada over the past thirty or more years.

This is the woman whom SFU chattering class writer John Richardson once ridiculed as a "brave Atlantic Canadian", meaning she wasn't buying into the same anti-labour, anti-union doctrines that are fashionable in the Yuppie circles Richardson travels in. This is the woman parodied by Montreal cartoonist Aislin as a desperate case, pleading for people to vote for her out of sympathy. This is the woman whose tenure as national NDP leader was made more difficult by never ending, widely publicized hazing by a major Canadian labour official whose organization has to this day refused to apologize for his deliberately dishonest and destructive conduct.

Alexa has left a permananent new feature in Canadian political geography behind her. Dexter now has a chance to extend it further to Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Totally agree Rod

Sadly, the prejudice against women in politics and especially positions of power and influence continues.

Right on, Rod

Alexa definitely deserves a lot of the credit. Finally she's vindicated. I hope Darrell remembers to thank her.

DPL - wasn't that the robot in Lost in Space that used to say that? I seem to remember him waving his arms around using that phrase.

Well Done

The Nova Scotia NDP ran a middle of the road campaign. It choose its issues carefully and stuck with them on the campaign trail. It did not announce big taxes on business and therefore did not scare them away. The party moved towards the centre and it has been elected.

Good on them I say. Perhaps there is lesson to be learned by the BC NDP.

But now, the BC NPD is perfect and is not in need of learning lessons.

Rod

That's right, this victory owes a lot to Alexa's work. Even the federal NDP now gets seats in Nova Scotia.

LOL

"Power for the sake of power rather than power for the sake of its values is why the left is in trouble in Canada and around the world."

I rest my case..............

Nova Scotia...

Sounds like a progressive conservative.

Sounds like the federal Liberal Party.

Again sounds like the federal Liberal Party.

Paul Martin anyone?

The NS NDP vote appears to have come from soft PC and Lib voters, not enamoured with their leaders, in conjunction with Dexter's high popularity rating.

BC NDP leaders, OTOH, never achieve high levels of popularity like Dexter or Doer.

Methinks that after two years, the NS NDP will still likely be a one term wonder just like the ON NDP between '90 and '95.

Wealthy provinces like BC, AB, and ON tend to shun the NDP, for the most part.

One thing though... Dexter should be able to give the BC NDP a pointer or two about the financial benefits of offshore oil and natural gas.

Nahhhhh... the BC NDP are still too left-wing for that concept. ;)

Luke

"Sounds like the federal Liberal Party."

Nope, Dexter's platform doesn't sound like anything that you and Wilf would vote for at all.

"Again sounds like the federal Liberal Party."

Nope, Dexter's platform doesn't sound like anything that you and Wilf would vote for at all.

"New Democrats followed with conservative spending strategies.

Paul Martin anyone?"

The Liberals have the worst record in the last 22 years on balancing the books, the NDP has the best, sounds like Dexter is going to do what NDP governments do and Liberal ones don't.

"The NS NDP vote appears to have come from soft PC and Lib voters, not enamoured with their leaders, in conjunction with Dexter's high popularity rating."

That's right Sherlock, thousands of NDPers didn't suddenly move to Nova Scotia, the party's new strength comes from people who used to vote for other parties.

"BC NDP leaders, OTOH, never achieve high levels of popularity like Dexter or Doer."

With one more defeat Carole can claim to have been defeated as many times.

"Wealthy provinces like BC, AB, and ON tend to shun the NDP, for the most part."

As do wealthy people, funny that.

Ontario

The NDP victory in Ontario was a fluke. Even the NDP didn't see it coming.

Everyone in Canada saw the Nova Scotia NDP victory coming. It was no surprise at all.

Good Observations, Frank

"That's right Sherlock, thousands of NDPers didn't suddenly move to Nova Scotia, the party's new strength comes from people who used to vote for other parties."

That is an excellent observation, Frank. The way to get elected is to get voters who would not otherwise vote for you to in fact do so.

Are there lessons to be learned here?

Frank...

Good point. The NS NDP consistently led the opinion polls over the past few years and Dexter also led the opinion polls in the "best premier" category.

Last time that happened in BC was during the so-con Vander Zalm implosion when Harcourt was seen as "the premier in waiting" and the BC NDP as "the government in waiting".

Dexter was seen as a "Premier in Waiting" and ran a positive non-ideological campaign.

OTOH, the Libs have consistently led opinion polls in BC over the past few years and Campbell still led "the best premier" category, even though he's a huge drag on the Libs causing Lib voters to stay home in droves.

Carole James is not seen as a "premier in waiting" nor is the BC NDP seen as a "government in waiting". And they had to much "ideological" baggage in their campaign such as IPP's, BC Rail, etc., which only plays to th NDP's core base, not the swing electorate.

Dexter didn't use any of that ideological rhetoric.

Now if the NDP chose Surrey mayor Dianne Watts as their leader and jettisoned the ideological rhetoric in conjunction with Campbell running again in 2013, I can see the NDP winning.

But that will never happen.

1993

I don't know, the Liberals haven't won a majority gov't in Nova Scotia since 1993. Do you think there's any chance they will ask why in that time they've done so badly while the NDP have gone from 3 seats to forming a gov't?

Will you be sending your compadre McNeil an email detailing for him how to win?

Luke

"Dexter... and ran a positive non-ideological campaign."

Much like Carole did and much unlike Campbell did.

"And they had to much "ideological" baggage in their campaign such as IPP's, BC Rail, etc., which only plays to th NDP's core base, not the swing electorate."

Translation : BC is really right-wing.

"Dexter didn't use any of that ideological rhetoric."

His supporters did.

"Now if the NDP chose Surrey mayor Dianne Watts as their leader and jettisoned the ideological rhetoric in conjunction with Campbell running again in 2013, I can see the NDP winning."

No chance. The NDP could have Jesus as their leader and you and Wilf wouldn't vote for them.

Frank...

Put it this way Frank...

1. If the BC NDP stays away from the ideological rhetoric (ie. moves back to policies it supported in the late 1990's such as IPP's, etc.)

2. If the BC NDP selects a popular leader akin to a Doer or Dexter that receives a higher approval rating than the incumbent premier;

3. And if the BC NDP continually leads in public opinion polls leading up to 2013;

Then the BC NDP will form government in 2013.

As you can see, after the mid-2006 NS election, Dexter and the NS NDP ALWAYS led in the opinion polls and those are the tea leaves leading to victory.

http://www.nodice.ca/elections/novascotia/polls.php

What about David Anderson, Briony Penn and Andrew Weaver???

Luke Sidewinder
One thing though... Dexter should be able to give the BC NDP a pointer or two about the financial benefits of offshore oil and natural gas.

Nahhhhh... the BC NDP are still too left-wing for that concept. ;)

Are David Anderson, Briony Penn and Andrew Weaver too left wing for the LPC in BC, or for the BC Liberals? If so, why did Weaver do a robocall for the BC Liberals in the provincial election?

Luke

"1. If the BC NDP stays away from the ideological rhetoric (ie. moves back to policies it supported in the late 1990's such as IPP's, etc.)"

In other words adopts policies supported by its most unpopular leaders during its most unpopular period.

"2. If the BC NDP selects a popular leader akin to a Doer or Dexter that receives a higher approval rating than the incumbent premier;"

How about Angelina Jolie?

"3. And if the BC NDP continually leads in public opinion polls leading up to 2013;"

And if beluga whales suddenly sprout wings...

Huh?

"Much like Carole did and much unlike Campbell did."

Carole didn't run on ideology? Did we see the same campaigns?

Let's face it, Luke. The BC NDP Faithful believe they are perfect and deviation from Perfection is Blasphemy, making defeat preferable to victory. This is why they cannot win.

Wilf

You should tell the Nova Scotia Liberals how to win since you're an expert.

Actually Frank

Before I call the Whaaam-bulance, the Nova Scotia NDP ran a brilliant campaign. The focused on a few key issues, didn't say anything overtly radical that would scare business away and very successfully got voters who would not normally vote for them to do so. They moved their platform towards the centre, where the overwhelming majority of Canadians vote.

That is success for any party in Canada is done.

Wilf

Send that email to McNeil, he's a fellow Liberal after all and needs the advice.

Ditto

You can forward that to Carole, Frank. She needs all the advice she can get.

Wilf

This is an article about Nova Scotia, although I know you don't want to discuss that.

hurray for Nova Scotia

which proves that one can be a conservative progressive, but progressive conservatives just aren't.

Now, Angelina Jolie is much better postioned as the Libs' new leader - all that breathtaking beauty (nicely branding THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH) with a completely gutted heart (the heartlands all become fodder for the Big Smoke). I see the Liberals lining up in droves to support her...

Look Above, Frank

Frank, I have nothing but congratulations for the Nova Scotia NDP. They ran a good, focused and clean campaign. The deserved to win. I wish them the best of luck in governing the province in hard economic times. Really, they can act as a model for the BC NDP. However, I don't think the BC NDP can learn from their cohorts in Nova Scotia.

Wilf

And I guess the BC Libs will never learn from their brethren in Nova Scotia.

On the bright side VivianLea's discussion of Angelina's positioning is making me rethink my position vis a vis the Liberals should they bring her considerable assets to the table.

VivianLea: Good point!

In some ways the Liberals have been yearning for the return of Pierre E. Trudeau, so perhaps Jolie could fulfill this function and provide a female breakthrough at the same time. That she hasn't written any political science essays won't be a problem since this is a TV/magazine image affair.

However, there's a large chauvanist core hiding under the Liberal rug, so I wonder how they would actually react to a female leader?

Feel the force, Luke

Luke, I think you have to open your heart and mind. I know that it can be tough with your father be Darth and all, but you have to try. Perhaps you missed too many behavioural therapy sessions with O. B-1 Kenobi.

On another thread Luke made remarks about my character that one could construe as negative. That thread has closed but it is related to this thread, so I respond here.

Luke Said:

"You're certainly an individual full of hate. Typical mindset of hard core left-wing NDP'ers IMHO. I feel sorry for ya."

We must be clear, To the best of my knowledge, I have never said I hate any person at any time in my life. However, I would go so far as to say I do hate certain specific behaviours and behaviour patterns I have witnessed put forward by this Liberal Government. I also have hate for the results of many of the BC Liberals' policies.

I hate having a premier that was drinking and driving let alone be caught doing it. I hate watching child poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse and violence increase under this Campbell government. I hate watching BC's resources and services being sold off (privatized) and farmed out to wealthy corporations (often owned and controlled by foreigners): BC Forest TFL licenses BC Rail, BC Hydro, BC Gas, BC Ferry contracts, and accounting, book-keeping and record-keeping services, net-pen salmon farms killing the native stock - to name but a few of my complaints. I hate having our government conduct its business in secret, while it hire hires hundres of PAB readers and writers to manage public opinion.

I don't hate Campbell or the BC Liberal elite nor their bootlicks; I wish them no harm just in the same way I wish no-harm to pedophiles and drunken drivers. If a person has been proven to be a pedophile will I never trust them alone with children. If a person has been a drunken driver, I will never trust him or her with the keys to my car. It is my belief that the Liberals have a pattern of destroying, pillaging and murdering the province of BC and I don't trust them. I hate what they have been doing with this beautiful place.

to be continued...

Luke also said

Luke also said:

"So ya said that you were gonna leave BC after the election and move to Nova Scotia. So much for your credibility. :D"

My credibility is intact, Luke. You have to be careful not to make assumptions. It weighs on your credibility. I will be moving to Nova Scotia.

As stated in a post I made some time ago, I will remind you, my lovely wife and I are professionals with school-aged children. Our kids do well in school. You wouldn't expect us to move them just before the end of a school year, would you? Our being successful community-oriented people, you must realize it naturally takes us a while to unhook gracefully from our long-term commitments to our employers, various boards and societies, sell our real estate in a down market, purchase a new home and secure new employment. Fret not, and slow down, Luke. It has not even been a month since I said I would leave for Nova Scotia, and you are trying to trash my good name for not having left yet. We will be leaving for Nova Scotia. I never gave you a time-line.

We have already purchased property. We have already secured a Nova Scotia mailing address and I have purchased a vehicle that is waiting for my return to Nova Scotia. I was deadly serious about leaving.

I was truthful when I said that I love this province too much to bear watching it be trashed by Gordon Campbell and his bootlicks. It is obvious to me that my beliefs are not in line with the slight majority of voters who bothered to vote in this province. I'm not as young as I once was, and I haven't the energy to continue fighting this losing battle. I am moving to a polite land that is steeped in history and politeness. You and your kind can have BC.

Wanna buy a good house? If you buy my home, you can get rid of me all the quicker, Luke. Even when I am gone, from BC, I'll still send money to the Tyee, and I'll check in every once in awhile. Perhaps i can help Mr. Beers & his associates open an Atlantic Canada branch.

Don't have to

"And I guess the BC Libs will never learn from their brethren in Nova Scotia."

They don't have to. The BC Liberals just won their third term in a row. That is success in politics, Frank.

Lunenburg and Mahone Bay

A lovely place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My wife and I visited there last year, maybe it's time to look more seriously. Both Lunenburg and Lunenburg West went with Darrel Dexter's candidates.

http://www.explorelunenburg.ca/

http://www.mahonebay.com/

Wilf

"That is success in politics, Frank."

Do you need McNeil's email address?

How about the email addresses of the Liberal leaders in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba?

When was the last time any of them won an election anyway?

Wasn't it when Tommy Douglas was a teenager?