Did Layton’s Ambition Overcome his Common Sense?
January 7, 2009 · By Greg Farries
Lorne Gunter certainly thinks so:
First, he had a chance to do the Liberals in and replace them as the default selection on the left had he gone along with the Tories’ plan to end public funding to parties. Next to the Tories, the NDP have the best chance of replacing public handouts with private donations. Layton could have crippled the Liberals; instead he tried to vault himself into cabinet by riding into power as the Liberals’ shotgun.
Layton was exposed as a self-serving opportunist with no compunction about making a deal with separatists, even weeks before the Tories lit the match on the crisis.
And with the coalition’s demise, Layton is now even further from power than he was before.
I already discussed to some degree why the NDP couldn’t have gone for it:
http://www.pomochristian.ca/ar.....ffee-line/
Basically, the President of the Liberal Party of Canada told me that the NDP took out a 2 million dollar mortgage on their party HQ to pay for unprecedented ad buys in the last election. They did so on the basis that the 1.95$ would continue. So, they need it.
Well, first off, I find it very entertaining that this columnist claims that this is what exposed Jack Layton as a “self-serving opportunist”. I think Jack Layton clearly proved that back in 2003/2004 when he offered his “services” to whomever was willing to offer the most, and ended up saving then PM Paul Martin. Since that time, Jack Layton has been shaking the NDP’s ass in whatever direction they think will give them influence and power. Jack Layton long ago turned the NDP into the Hill Whore of Canada.
All that aside for the moment, Jack certainly was frothing at the mouth during the crisis. He saw Power within his grasp, and was blinded by that possibility. He was so focused on that shiny bauble that he failed to see how he was coming across in the media. This is to say, Jack Layton was the clever coward who suddenly became a mouthy bully when be believed he was being backed up by the schoolyard goons.
That, I believe, was Jack’s ultimate failing here. He thought that he was the one who was in control of the Coalition. Certainly he did a lot of legwork and preparation, but even then, he didn’t understand that the Liberals were allowing him to do that so that they wouldn’t take the heat for initiating this. That effectively returned Jack Layton to the glorious status of Gofer in the House of Commons. Jack himself however, was entralled with the illusion that he was the mastermind and architect behind a bloodless coup that would bring the NDP to the Cabinet Table (and not just the Kitchen Table) for the first time in Canadian History, and his influence over the logistically necessary Liberal PM would be heavy and intimately involved.
I wonder if Jack Layton actually see’s Canadians smirking behind their hands while they laugh at the antics of Parliament Hill’s latest jester?
Well, at least now the death of the coalition is assured, and Jack Layton has been reminded of his place in the House of Commons.
Yes Jack, that would be obscurity.
Additionally Jack, as you have promised to oppose this government in every possible way from this day forward, I trust you’ll understand if nobody seeks your opinion, support or input on anything from now until the next election.
Cheers Jack!
[ h/t to the Phantom Observer ]
It seems that further to this issue, the Hill Times is looking around for Jack Layton. Rather, they’re wondering why Jack Layton and the NDP are missing from the news, and why no one seems to notice, or care.
As I said in January Jack, enjoy obscurity. Go quietly into your self-imposed retirement. Or not. Either way, just go.
Cheers!