http://blogs.itworldcanada.com/insights/2008/07/15/michael-byers/

In fact, I’ve given the thumbs-up for a number of MPs and candidates in the NDP on this important area of policy.

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/16394

Newspaper columnist Gary Mason had an interesting quote in his article today: I think there is a very broad progressive consensus in this country that extends all the way from the NDP to the old red Tories. I’m fairly left on the issues I’m identifie…

Wayne, the claims didn’t just come from the Opposition. As I stated in my post, it was the forestry industry that had a hissy fit over what Emerson negotiated. So forgive me for wondering why the press gallery has all of a sudden decided that Emerson is a brilliant minister that Harper should hold on to for dear life.

My question is a valid one. What has Emerson done to merit such praise?

So Emerson’s deal not only cost Harper his credibility as someone who means what he says (since as leader of the opposition, he was claiming that one thing a Prime Minister shouldn’t do is cut a deal on softwood lumber considering all the facts on our side) but cost Canadians a billion dollars, and a final precedent setting ruling that would have shut down their complaints for a significant period. Instead, we made *our* producers pay *their* producers a billion dollars, and the complaints have already started up again.

Go Go Team Harper!

Since then, what has he done exactly? Or is it that Harper’s cabinet is so useless that we have had to lower our standards in such a way that Emerson’s performance is now considered stellar?

Personally, my money’s on Hedy. If Sven couldn’t take her out in Vancouver Centre, Byers doesn’t have a prayer of beating her.

“And if you really believe that I have a bridge in Montreal to sell you. They are much better at hiding their backroom machinations, I’ll give you that though.”

Doesn’t always work though … even Ed Broadbent had to fight a nomination battle in Ottawa Centre in 2004 (against Paul Dewar, who had already declared quite some time before). Next time out, after Ed stepped down, Paul ran for the nomination against Layton’s former aide Jamie Heath, and won.

Believe me, NDP members do NOT like to be told which way to vote at nomination meetings. This doesn’t stop the leadership from trying to inject a little persuasion, but it sure doesn’t always work and occasionally has exactly the opposite effect from that intended.

Anyway an interesting race in VC. Adrienne Carr is the wild card, will she take more from the Libs or the NDP? If the low-profile Kennedy Stewart could come within 3000 votes of winning, Byers certainly could pull an upset.

http://www.vancouvercentrendp.ca/qs/page/7576/0/-1

Too bad: Garrison is a good chap and did well against that turncoat Dr. Martin in Esquimalt.

http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/riding/277/

This from a party that had to write the power of the leader to override local democracy into thier constitution. This from the party that spiked their local candidate in Central Nova to dump in Dion’s “auxilary back-up leader” to borrow a Wells-ism.

This from the party whose “leader-approved” candidates in Outremont and Churchill River are now writing letters to the editor.

Give us all a break.

Two relevant posts, the first by Damian Brooks:

“At what point does he become a partisan, I wonder?”

‘Why I say “no” to Byers‘

Mark
Ottawa

Hedy is hard to beat. She took out a sitting prime minister. She took out Team Martin’s preferred 2004 grit standard bearer (Lynn Kennedy)–even Sheila Copps couldn’t beat the Martinites from taking her nomination away.

Can’t guarantee Hedy will win, but I can guarantee that pitbull Fry will take some major bites out of Byers’s butt.

I don’t know or care if she will win. But I do know that her presence will affect the votes other parties get. She is likely to clear 20% of the vote. From whom does she take it, though?

Unless you consider either Hedy or Byers a ‘Right winger’ then I think she is unlikely to elect a right winger in Van Centre. But Carr sure will make it a more interesting race than if they run some 22 year old student who works at London Drugs like the greens did in 05/06.

And if you really believe that I have a bridge in Montreal to sell you. They are much better at hiding their backroom machinations, I’ll give you that though.

He is clearly underestimating Hedy Fry. He an Emerson of the left, even before he gets out of the starting gates.

And if he now says he is running for the NDP instead of his first choice, the Libs, because of Dion’s green shift, then he is a complete goof.

On the one side, you’ve got almost every reputable economist, David Suzuki, and on the other side you have Jack Layton, Carole James, Stephen Harper and the climate change deniers.

Good luck, Mr. Byers. No one is going to treat you like an expert any more. Now you are just another politician.

I think I’m sympathetic to Byers’ general MO, and to some of his specific prescriptions. But the quote about the carbon tax in the release Kady swiped and his Barlowesque fear of economic globalisation leads me to believe he’s going to add to the Layton echo chamber rather than helping the party become a serious force of opposition in Canada.

For his sake, I hope Dr Byers has never mentioned Belgium in a speech. Politically, it’s too risky, unless your name is Stephane Dion.

I have been to Brussels. It rains.

I have been to Vancouver Centre. It rains.

Check out what happens with politicians
that Mr. Wells actually liked.

As for the At Issue thing, Byers’ argument was that Canadians are made of sturdier stuff than to despair for long over a terror attack. He’s probably right. Recall that Londoners were out drinking at pubs the night of the Tube bombings. Was it necessary to allude to the annihilation of Andrew Coyne to make that point? According to Coyne, no. Fair point though.

It’ll never happen, but a guy can dream.