"Even the most ardent federalists ... are stunned at having been treated as nobodies by Ottawa," Paille told 300 people who turned up in a Montreal hotel Sunday to hear the leadership results. "We sovereigntists are no longer alone ... Canada is being built with its Conservative, majority government without Quebec."
Paille has a good point.
Perhaps because Quebec has clearly rejected the Conservatives, Quebec no longer has much sway in Ottawa. The result of this is an increasing isolation of Quebec from RoC.
That's not good.
That will lead to a rebirth of the sovereigntists as a movement.
http://bit.ly/tel12z
Monday, December 12, 2011
"When the Gods Changed: The Death of Liberal Canada", by Peter C. Newman
is compelling (and infuriating) reading. But his view that the Liberal Party is history is premature. Still the book is interesting.
There is some interest in reading about details of the inner working of the Liberal Party (if, like me, you are a Liberal) but candidly that's more gossip than real history.
What's more interesting is how Newman doesn't explain, or even try to explain, how the Conservatives won or the NDP triumphed. Now, in fairness, he was writing about Liberals but what seems clear is that the Conservative victory was due to (1) Stephen Harper's total control of his Party and (2) the lack of an alternate leader who inspired confidence (Layton came close I grant you).
Now, the Conservatives are slowly imploding themselves. The dangers of power -- corruption and arrogance -- can undermine any government. To avoid a fall the Conservatives will have to reinvent themselves but that will be hard without a new Leader and who would replace Harper?
Accordingly, a reasonable opposition Party can be elected on a 'throw the bums out' platform. That opposition could be the NDP -- but we'll see who they choose as Leader.
My sense is we will be the functional opposition by the next election -- especially if we rejuvenate the moribund Ridings with some new faces and some excitement.
There is some interest in reading about details of the inner working of the Liberal Party (if, like me, you are a Liberal) but candidly that's more gossip than real history.
What's more interesting is how Newman doesn't explain, or even try to explain, how the Conservatives won or the NDP triumphed. Now, in fairness, he was writing about Liberals but what seems clear is that the Conservative victory was due to (1) Stephen Harper's total control of his Party and (2) the lack of an alternate leader who inspired confidence (Layton came close I grant you).
Now, the Conservatives are slowly imploding themselves. The dangers of power -- corruption and arrogance -- can undermine any government. To avoid a fall the Conservatives will have to reinvent themselves but that will be hard without a new Leader and who would replace Harper?
Accordingly, a reasonable opposition Party can be elected on a 'throw the bums out' platform. That opposition could be the NDP -- but we'll see who they choose as Leader.
My sense is we will be the functional opposition by the next election -- especially if we rejuvenate the moribund Ridings with some new faces and some excitement.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Elvis Costello - Veronica
One of the saddest music videos -- agree or disagree with Elvis Costello's politics, the man takes issues seriously... .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)