It would appear as though this current debate among left wing ranks as to the possibility of a Liberal/NDP partnership agreement is dividing along the Martin/Chretien fault line, with Rae and Ignatieff on either side. Liberals more likely to support a coalition (like Chretien) are more likely to support Rae as leader, and those against a formal coalition are more likely to support Ignatieff as leader. Who better to lead the merger than a lifelong dipper who bought a Liberal membership near the end of his career? Jim Lahey Trailer Park Supervisor once said "a shit leopard can’t change its spots."
Scott Reid was belligerent on this subject on the CBC today, absolutely against any form of pre-election merger. Scotty firmly believes that the Liberals should run candidates in every riding, and any coalition talks can only come after an election where the Liberals ran in every riding. Basically you can't tell Canadians before an election that there will be a coalition, you have to just shut up and hope that the Liberals + NDP = majority control of the House of Commons. Paul Martin didn't want to talk about it today with Soloman, unlike Chretien who a week before openly declared "let's do it".
Of course Rae is going to side with Chretien because they both take there orders from "Power Corp". Iffy's connection to PC aren't as strong as Bare Ass Bob's.
ReplyDeleteRob C
Beer and popcorn, kill him dead Reid is right on one thing.
ReplyDeleteThey have to run in every riding else they lose one more reason to claim they are a national party.
He's in a really hard place, though.
The coalition is going to be the issue, whether they like it or not.
They have every prominent Liberal on tape defending it in 2008.
Hidden agenda, indeed!
There will be no coalition publicly formed before an election. Both Party's would never give up the cash they would receive from the "per-vote subsidy" by not running candidates in every riding.
ReplyDeleteA now dead liberal often described the NDP as being Liberals in a hurry. I think the split evident since at least Turner/Trudeau has been between those Liberals who want to walk their way to some progressive utopia and those Liberals who want to run all the way to said progressive utopia.
ReplyDeleteMartin takes his orders from Power Corps too, but pretends he does not. Don't forget his steamships were a Power Corps gift.
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