COPE has NO chance without Larry Campbell.

I'm a huge COPE supporter and volunteered for them in the last election. I'm not impressed with Larry Campbell right now, I want him to build bridges and agree with much that Bass has to say. I became a supporter of the party because of Tim Louis and Fred Bass, not because of Mayor DaVinci.

It is no wonder why Larry Campbell split the caucus. He couldn't agree with anything that the more radical COPE councillors wanted. I think Vancouver wants to elect moderates. That is why Campbell got 80,000 votes. If COPE destroys itself and helps the NPA gain control over the Vancouver School Board again, it will be a very sad day for the Vancouver teachers.

Talk about airing your dirty laundry in public...Fred has shown all the political acumen of the average Canadian Alliance MP :-)

So Fred Bass is divisive for calling out Mayor Flip-Flop on his forming a separate caucus and straying from COPE's long-time principles, but Larry the Liar who frequently says what people want to hear to get then promptly does something different is the saviour of Vancouver? Love him or hate him, Bass promises idealism and delivers same. Campbell promises pragmatism and delivers self-interest. Guess who I have more respect for?

Letter sent to the Province Newspaper: There are those believe political party infighting is often far worse from within than it is from the outside - case in point the recent split between COPE light and COPE classic. COPE have paid the price for going with a mayoral candidate with little or no political experience and hardly any ties to the COPE establishment. What they did go for is an almost celebrity like candidate, who it turns out has a mind of his own an a thin skin to go with it - an explosive combination if ever there was one. I've seen Larry Campbell belittle and bemoan people who oppose him, its not very pleasant to be on the receiving end especially when you know he is wrong. We saw this prior to the 2010 referendum in Vancouver; nothing lights up Larry Campbell's eyes than the dangling carrot of the 2010 Games, so don't get in his way. So the left in Vancouver has imploded after less than a full three year term. Yes, they care more for their own ego's than the people who voted for them and yes they need to settle down and get on with the business of running the city in a more amicable style. Moreover, Larry Campbell has to get off his high horse and remember we elected him as Mayor not Emperor.

No question, Mr. Campbell's personality is something of a problem. He's a bright guy, though, and probably a good mayor. The best thing for COPE to do, I think, is to let him run as an independent, and concentrate their energy & funds on re-electing COPE councillors citing their accomplishments (which are, as listed by Mr. Bass, pretty impressive).

Thank-you for your admission, Ian Greggson, that are a rightwinger, who speaks of the left "imploding," and who writes letters to the rightwing shill newspaper, the Vancouver Fraser Institute Times,oh, sorry, the Province, whose editorial and letters page is now managed by global warming deniar, and flat earth supporter, jon ferry. What a surprise that he published your maudlin closet rightwinger "theories." Perhaps you could answer my repeated request about your determination to split the vote and reelect a rightwing government that attacks both gay and disabled people, two groups in which you share membership. Oh, those damn unions, eh, greggson...you're a dud!

Mayor Campbell may the "celebrity coroner" mayor but he is difficult to work with. It's his way or the highway. It must be remembered that if the NPA hadn't self-destructed Mayor Owen would still be in office-- having won by a landslide. Larry won by default-- the other candidate being hideous backstabber-- and now claims he is COPE. Let him form his own party "Friends of Larry Campbell." It may be easy to garner money from casino interestes but money alone does not make a party. It takes membership and that is not easily accomplished. No matter how much the media totes him as Mister Olympics, Larry Campbell is only one member of the Gang of Four-- now reduced to the Gang of Three.

COPE should find their own mayoral candidate, and let this ex-movie star mayor, who thinks he is the 'cats whiskers' move back the illusionary world of the movies...where the eltist stars run the show. and ...while COPE is at it...show the door to Raymond Louie, and Jim Green too. The "Campbell" clan seems to be cut from the same cloth, regretably. Campbell's conduct, and the other COPE LITE caucus's conduct is acting like a Trojan horse. Their conduct on the RAV, on expansion of gambling at Hastings Park, is not laudable. I, and many others will not voting for the Cope Lite "crew".

the macho boys who raise their money from developers, construction companies and gamblers should leave COPE and take their piggy bank with them. This was once a proud principled civic party until mayor daVinci arrived.

good going Fred. and thanks to the Tyee for publishing his actual speech.

Most of you people are on crack. COPE was only too happy to use the Mayor and his coatails to sweep them into office. They just had a problem with him making decisions and exercising leadership on tough issues. When COPE chose him as their candidate they knew he was no lefty ideologue - he was, and is, a centre-left pragmatic governor. But no sooner than they were elected on a moderate platform with a moderate leader, the intolerant, ideological extremists ion COPE decided they would pull a bait-and-switch on the voters who had entrusted them with power in the City of Vancouver. Suddenly, the masks came off and COPE Classic revealed its true colours and intentions. It is no surprise that they have driven Larry and his supporters out of COPE, and they will pay an enormous price in November for their treachery. They will then be back in opposition where they are most comfortable, always able to be righteous, and never accountable for making a decision. What a moral victory! What a lot to be proud of! I hope the Mayor and some reasonable people are elected, otherwise the COPE Classics will have cleared the way for years of NPA rule. Good going guys!