Jack Layton wakes up briefly, then hits “Snooze”
September 15, 2009 · By Sean Calder
So, for a brief shining moment, Jack Layton opened his eyes, let in the light of day, and saw the real world. Then he promptly hit the snooze button and went back to bed.
At least, that’s they way I see it.
Jack Layton is starting to see that Michael Ignatieff doesn’t seem about (able?) to back down from his insanity and it’s put him into the very uncomfortable position of having to seriously look at what the Conservative government is doing and consider it’s merits, and possibly support the interests of Canadians. In a brief and shining moment of my own, I thought perhaps he had grown up. Then he opened his mouth.
“It could be a start” he says. Jack Layton appears to be laboring under the delusion that the Conservatives are going to yield to him on a number of issues in order to stay in power. I’m sorry Jack, I just don’t see it happening for a number of reasons.
First (and most obviously), it’s clear to most people that Jack Layton is backpedaling. The NDP are in no way ready for an election, and he’s looking for any straw that might allow him to retain some sort of dignity in the face of the utter destruction of his false-bravado. EI reform happens to be the carrot that Stephen Harper is dangling in front of him.
Second, with the BLOC coming out and stating that they will support this EI initiative in the ways-and-means motion on Friday, the BLOC has effectively undermined any NDP leverage. Pretty crafty of Gilles Duceppe actually. If he can get rid of the NDP, then he becomes the balance of power at all times.
Third, the Conservatives are not about to call an election, and as such, they’re perfectly content (and perhaps eager) to lay the blame at the feet of the Opposition Parties; and rest assured, that is exactly how it will pan out in an election.
Finally, as has already been discussed here, the NDP have painted themselves into a corner and have no good-will left with any of the other parties in Ottawa, and as such, they have no credibility remaining; a fair-weather friend on Parliament Hill.
The party of Tommy Douglas has become the Party of Jack Layton, and that’s been a disaster for them. Hopefully the NDP will soon re-invent itself or fade away.
Just kinda putting this out there.
What do Conservatives think of keeping the government alive by voting with the bloc as mentioned in this piece? Would you rather an election and another crack at a majority?
Just wondering since they were recently polled 39% which is close…
RD, I look at it this way. The Conservatives aren’t out to form alliances or coalitions with the other parties. They are putting forward legislation based on their agenda and inviting the other parties to work with them on it.
As the Government, it is their privilege to proceed with their agenda. The Opposition Parties have the privilege to support, suggest reasonable alternatives or defeat the legislation.
I do not believe the Conservatives particularly care who supports them, or not as the case may be. That is up to each party to decide for themselves. What’s important to the government is that their legislation is passed. The Conservatives will not actively seek the support of the BLOC, or the NDP in this situation.
The fact is that the Prime Minister and the Conservatives are not actively soliciting support for their legislation. If they were, that would be a different story, but they’re not.
Myself, I most certainly do not want another election. Is it possible that we might get a majority? Sure. But then, I also believe that the 39% number that’s being thrown out there is artificial. It’s a knee-jerk reaction against the Liberals, which isn’t exactly the same as a dedicated Conservative vote. Canadians have proven themselves to be nervous voters in recent elections, and that the numbers haven’t been entirely reliable or are easily susceptible to wild fluctuation.
So no, I don’t think it’s time for an election; majority territory or not.
@Sean:
“The Conservatives aren’t out to form alliances or coalitions with the other parties. They are putting forward legislation based on their agenda and inviting the other parties to work with them on it.”
That sounds great. Which country was that, again? Maybe our parties could go there and learn how to act like adults.
/sarcasm
the NDP are the floor sweepings of federal politics and jack knows it. hes desperate. the EI legislation that was presented is far from what he wants but it does not matter, money and time are more important. ignatieff should be breathing a sigh of relief too. he is one non-confidence vote away from being truly embarrassed on the national stage.
[...] had been thinking about Layton’s status for the last day or two (before Sean posted about him this morning). Scott H. Payne at The League of Ordinary Gentleman has a very good post about the the [...]