Layton sets his sights on Stornoway
Jack Layton is after Stephane Dion’s job. He wants to be Leader of the Official Opposition. And in order to achieve that goal, he is writing off Dion as a political opponent.
Interesting strategy.
Greg Weston tells us in today’s Sun that Jack is going after Stephen Harper. Apparently, Mr. Bean doesn’t even merit his attention!
Of course the official story is that Jack wants Stephen’s job - Prime Minister. But in real life, could he possibly become the next resident of Stornoway? In some ways, Jack Layton seems to be a stronger leader than Dion and certainly recent polls reflect that perception.
Lawrence Martin warns us not to underestimate Mr. Bean Dion. Advice worth considering for sure.
I’ve heard many pundits suggest that Dion’s expectations are so low that if he exceeds them at all he will be regarded as being successful. That’s like telling your child who usually gets D’s in school that a C would be awesome. Yes, perhaps. But if the rest of the class is getting A’s & B’s, should your kid get to be class valedictorian?
The Gazette’s Don MacPherson calls Dion the new Joe Clark. He discusses Dion’s latest concessions to changes in the the Liberals’ Green Shift platform as follows:
Were Harper to make a similar policy concession, he might be praised for being flexible and responding to criticism for a change, because he is supposed to be stubborn and rigid.
But Dion’s concession is more likely to be seen as perhaps only the first in a series of retreats from a position that was poorly chosen in the first place and a sign of weakness. That’s because Dion is the Joe Clark of the 21st century.
The Post’s Don Martin also suggests that Dion’s last minute amendments could be interpreted as weak ‘waffling’.
Martin points to what I see as a very arrogant attitude on the part of the Liberals, who obviously haven’t had enough time out to learn their lessons:
…The Liberals don’t just want to win, according to Mr. Dion’s argument, Canadians need them to win to save the country from an incorrect governing choice in 2006. That will be a tough sell, given the Liberals’ less-than-perfect record in power…
Jack Layton has likely assessed all these nuances and is ready to move into the political vacuum on the left created by the presently dysfunctional Liberal party.
I believe it’s his for the taking.
Time to get out the orange paint for Stornoway.
* * * *
Noon Update: Just caught a glimpse of the NDP rally being shown live on CTV Newsnet. Jack has clearly taken a page from Obama’s playbook. He was standing in a circle of supporters, rather than at a podium on the stage. The discussion was heavily punctuated with the word ‘change’ - another of Obama’s trademarks.
Then came the clincher. He remarked that it was getting very hot and he decided removed his jacket. This again is the standard Obama play that Dalton McGuinty also loves to emulate.
My husband was sitting beside me and said, "Hey! His sleeves are already rolled up! Nobody rolls up their sleeves before putting on a suit jacket!"
A clearly contrived performance.
So, is it o.k. to admire Americans again? Just asking.
(Evening note: Graham Richardson remarked on the already rolled-up sleeves as well on MDL)
* * * *
Dion is holding a press conference now. (1 pm) He wants Gerry Ritz to resign.
Liberal talking points for this election are: Most right wing, most secretive, most pro-Bush, neo-con, hidden agenda, yadda-yadda.
Did I miss anything?
*Yawn*
* * * *
Evening Update: This has got to be horrible news for Dion! Canadians set to vote Conservative:poll - CBC!!!
Check out the Ontario numbers.
* * * *
Friday Update: NDP to take aim at PM, shrug off Dion - Star.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I’ve said it before on this blog and I’ll say it again. I think Layton and the NDP could easily replace Dion as the official opposition. Layton’s team shows up for votes and we know where they stand and they’re pretty consistant.
Dion and the Liberals have none of that now.
Layton should lay off Harper and target Dion’s move to take over the far left, because Dion is really Layton’s problem….not Harper(well maybe), but the better strategy for Layton in my opinion is to go after Dion and May.
Weston’s column is dead-on.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I also think Layton could be moving in Oct, but if he really wants to, he has to take on Dion.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:16 am
He is wrong in comparing Joe Who with DeYawn. First of all Joe Who was actually elected PM. Secondly DeYawn ’s involvement in parliament is disgraceful, the LIEberals even voted against their own amendments. DeYawn and the LIEberals were nothing but Conservative “back benchers” and NOT an opposition party.
The Bloc had their turn at opposition and now it should be given to the NDP - at least they propose some changes that might make sense, though many are extreme.
I think you are right, if the NDP focus on DeYawn and the LIEberals they have a very good chance of becoming official opposition.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:34 am
It would take A LOT of movement in the electorate for Layton make Stornaway his new address. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. While it would give us Conservatives a fit of the giggles to see Dion relegated to a small section of seats in the HOC the likelyhood of it happening is slim to none this election.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:54 am
He is wrong in comparing Joe Who with DeYawn.
‘He’ being Don MacPherson, right?
But I agree. Don does Joe Clark a great disservice in his column.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:57 am
sorry Reid I don’t buy what you’re suggesting. If Liberals who would historically never vote Conservative can’t stand Dion are urged to park their vote this time with Jack Laytong, especially in those Toronto ridings where the Liberals are vulnerable the NDP could very well reach opposition status.
Quite frankly Layton’s team deserves it because they simply performed better in the legislature than did those liberal lemmings.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Layton should lay off Harper and target Dion’s move to take over the far left, because Dion is really Layton’s problem….not Harper(well maybe), but the better strategy for Layton in my opinion is to go after Dion and May.
Well, here’s the thing. Layton wants to be seen as a credible alternative. He should spend some time focussing on the Liberals’ terrible voting record, but mostly they want to be seen as the party that can effectively provide an effective opposition to the Harper government.
Hence he needs to be able to debate Harper’s policies with something more logical and credible than calling Harper more of a Bush-lover than McCain, as Dion has been doing.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I think it would be a strategic error on Layton’s part to focus on Harper, if he wants to gain seats he will only do it by stealing seats from the libs.
CPC voters would never go NDP.
If Layton demolishes Dion and the lib philosophy he may get the support he needs from disenchanted libs.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
If Layton doesn’t pull a big fat rabbit out of the hat this election, I think he’s done. If they want Stornoway, they will really have to pick someone better than Layton. I think the Liberal party will be divided for years to come with Iggy and Rae infighting, so the NDP should get serious about the next leader they pick (hopefully not a nutter).
O/T, but I wish we had a Sarah Palin in the Conservative Party to vote for. Someone not afraid to stand up for conservative values. That’s what’s sorely lacking in this nation.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I like the Dippers strategy. If Jack ignores Dion, Dion will have to attack Jack in an attempt to steal Dipper votes (and media attention).
It will look like Dion is in a battle for the #2 spot, instead of PM.
Jack will be able to repeatedly brush off Dion’s attacks by reminding Canadians that the weak Liberal party supported the Harper government on 42 confidence votes, Dippers opposed the government.
Dippers and Cons are against a carbon tax.
Dion and Lizzy are for it.
That puts Dion squarely on the radical left.
This isn’t 2006.
This time when the Libs try to scare Canadians about a Conservative majority,
it will be seen as a concession from Libs (and the media), that at least a Harper minority is a given.
And Jack can point out that Dion’s Liberals handed Harper a majority in Parliament, why would that change in the next Parliament?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I noted Dion thanked the Globe and Mail for digging up this dirt on the conservatives at the news conference. Now recieving talking points from both the CBC and CTV. But of course Gloria Galloway helping husband Mark Dunn.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
“So, is it o.k. to admire Americans again? Just asking”
Only if they are democrats, Joanne, only if they are democrats!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
But of course Gloria Galloway helping husband Mark Dunn.
I was thinking about that too, Fay.
As far as the press conference goes, I fail to see the smoking gun here. I’ll have to wait for minds greater than mine to explain it. I read the press release at the Liberal site and am still left wondering what the big problem is.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I really think this country would be better off if our Liberals went the way of the Liberals in Great Britain in the 1920s. If we had just Conservatives vs. Labour, parliament would function much better. Under Dion, the liberals have moved so far left that they might just as well let the real left do the job. And, even though I don’t really like Layton, I think he would be a much better leader of the opposition. Here in the centre of the universe (Ontario) we had a very effective NDP leader of the opposition in Stephen Lewis for one provincial parliament.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I agree more with you Wilson — Both the NDP and the Conservatives should totally ignore D… and the Liberals - Don’t even mention D…’s name. For the next 38 days or so, instill in the voter’s mind that this is a two party race - Conservatives and NDP - it works for both parties - we get back to government and NDP gets to Stornoway. Both Harper and Layton have to go at each other and dismiss D… as if the is right up/down there with the Communist party or the Green party. Dismiss any charge or policy announcement as old news and third rate material while spending their time and effort convincing all those in between the Conservative and the NDP on the political scale to cut bait - pick one or the other — Nice strategy if they can pull it off.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
One difference between Joe Clark and Jack Layton. I voted for Joe Clark before he became a sad, bitter shadow of a conservative.
I wouldn’t vote for Layton in a million years.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Hence he needs to be able to debate Harper’s policies with something more logical and credible than calling Harper more of a Bush-lover than McCain, as Dion has been doing.
Yes, exactly how many conservatives will switch their vote to Layton’s NDP?
My prediction is that Layton will quickly begin attacking Dion and May, because that’s where he might swing a vote.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I should have said I would rather drink a bottle of Gagliano Estates wine, than vote for Layton, just to be more topical.
A half-million dollars to Alfonso, to keep him happy in retirement, and not make any incriminating statements?
September 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Check the latest update!
September 4th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
While schadenfreude isn’t pretty, it validates what I’m hearing on the “liberal street”. And I live in the centre of liberal-land.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Isn’t it funny that now we are (almost) into an election the Conservatives are ahead in ALL the polls . Could it have something to do with scaring people about the dreaded Conservative Majority ????
September 4th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Jennifer Wright is stepping up legal action. Poor Mr. Bean.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
PMSH must be assured of at least an increased minority. Poor Atlantic Canada and NFLD will be out in the cold. What is Casey doing, is he running.
Hopefully we can start the countdown to the end of garth. Sorry to see Monte not running again, but he has been there a long time and has never believed in a career as a politician.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Jack Layton? Should anyone really care what he says?
Subtext to this story seems to be, Jack wants a better class of subsidized housing.
Parasite.
As for Dion … didn’t he go away for the August break claiming that Canadians are ready for an election?
Not that anyone who is not a political keener of one stripe or another spent their summer mooning about elections and what Stephane Dion thinks, BUT it brings to mind the old saw about being careful what you wish for.
The difference between the sleeves of doers and posers is that the former don’t bother rolling them up for the benefit of a photo-op.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
“Isn’t it funny that now we are (almost) into an election the Conservatives are ahead in ALL the polls . Could it have something to do with scaring people about the dreaded Conservative Majority ????”
Something does seem very strange - I do think this is a concerted effort to pull out the “what will they do if they get a majority” line again. How we went from the poll last week where the Libs were ahead to poll after poll after poll showing gigantic spreads.
Something smells rotten in Denmark, no?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:12 am
The difference between the sleeves of doers and posers is that the former don’t bother rolling them up for the benefit of a photo-op.
Well said, OMMAG!
Something smells rotten in Denmark, no?
Alberta Girl, the same thought occurred to me. These polls are from normally liberal-leaning media such as the Star and CBC. The Star downplayed theirs a bit, but the CBC had it out front and centre.
Yup. I suspect the ‘Fear Factor’ is being pushed big time.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:30 am
The dead giveaway is that this time last week the polls, according to the same media said something entirely different.
Hopefully Harper’s team see the through the CBC’s dangling and dropping the term “majority” front and centre, and counter it and do so quickly.
Although, I think we have enough proof in things like the, what is it now 60 accomplishments, and the public has seen enough of Harper’s leadership to reconsider that a Harper majority wouldn’t be bad at all.
The scare and fear tactic are wearing thin, especially when you compare the rants of Dion yesterday to the peaceful and calm ads Harper’s launched. Who’s the madman?
September 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Something smells rotten in Denmark, no?
That’s probably the stench left over from former Canadian Ambassador Alfonso Gagliano
September 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
on a different topic, did anyone else receive an e-newsletter and request for funds from the provincial PCs yesterday?
Isn’t it bad strategy for the provincial party to be fundraising NOW in the lead up to a federal election?
I’m no expert but I do know that it risks undermining the effort on the federal campaign front.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I did Sol. And I won’t contribute to the provincial party as long as Tory remains leader. Many feel the same way.
And I do agree it’s not the right thing to be doing on the eve of a federal election. My guess is Tory hopes to capitalize on Harper’s popularity with Ontario Conservative voters and maybe get a few donations sent his way.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I got one too, Sol.
Couldn’t hit the delete button fast enough.
I’ll give Tory a fair shake on my blog, but he’s not getting a cent from me.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 am
[...] that is exactly the very ironic situation in which many of my readers and I find ourselves at the present [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Isn’t it bad strategy for the provincial party to be fundraising NOW in the lead up to a federal election?
Coming up with unintelligent policies upon which to lose the next election isn’t cheap, you know.
And I won’t contribute to the provincial party as long as Tory remains leader. Many feel the same way.
Ditto.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:13 am
[...] the whole thing himself with his initial strategy to take over Stephen Harper’s job, but as discussed a few weeks ago we all know where he really hopes to be living after the election. The NDP leader wrote off [...]
September 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
[...] the whole thing himself with his initial strategy to take over Stephen Harper’s job, but as discussed a few weeks ago we all know where he really hopes to be living after the election. The NDP leader wrote off [...]