What is in the future for the NDP?

[cranky]

Some of the commentators last night were talking about the NDP's unussual position where it has 59 of its seats in Quebec. They went on to say that the NDP's success may slide backwards very quickly in the next election unless they ensure that they lay down some new grassroots in Quebec.

What do you guys think of this? Dp you think the NDP should strive to hang onto Quebec, or do you think they should strive to absorb so much of the Liberals that they become the new liberal ndp party? I think the later would be harder to achieve but less volatile.

 

[Mowich]

Some of the commentators last night were talking about the NDP's unussual position where it has 59 of its seats in Quebec. They went on to say that the NDP's success may slide backwards very quickly in the next election unless they ensure that they lay down some new grassroots in Quebec.

What do you guys think of this? Dp you think the NDP should strive to hang onto Quebec, or do you think they should strive to absorb so much of the Liberals that they become the new liberal ndp party? I think the later would be harder to achieve but less volatile.

I think that Jack is going to be very busy just getting to know all his new party members. Once that is done, he will have all the time he needs to expand his support in the ROC. I doubt he has any interest at the moment in making overtures to the Libs - maybe down the road. The Libs might have something to say about any possible move to meld into the NDP - after all they have a long history of governing our country and given time may very well rise to power again.

It will be very interesting to note just how this NDP surge in Quebec plays out in the long run - it is way too early for me to have any guesses at all.

 

[damngrumpy]

To start with, the NDP must transform itself from a political movement to a full dimensional
political party and there is a difference. Go back a number of years and remember the
Reform party which was not a party at all it was a one dimensional movement and it showed
Only later when it merged with the Conservatives, did it have credibility with voters as a
party. Greens at the moment are a movement with some electoral success but they are not
a party with diverse interests. views and opinions.
Most people I don't think realize, that the NDP has roots in Quebec and that is why people went
out in droves to elect them. The Bloc and the Party Quebecois are both for the most part social
democratic parties, but they were too separatist for the NDP to have any ties with them. Last
night the people decided to opt into Canada and become part of the national agenda while
attempting to protect their own interests. I expect the NDP if they play their cards right will be the
voice of Quebec for a long time.
In addition the NDP clearly become the choice of the center left last night and in order to hold that
position look to the NDP to move a little more to the center, that comes with being a party with
more than one dimension.
It will be a struggle for the NDP but it will also be a struggle for the Conservatives. Attack ads will
not work against the NDP for a couple of reasons. One is that the NDP will fight back and the
second is the NDP don't have that "We're Liberal Exclusivity" that is what destroyed the Liberal
Party.
Liberals always made it seem that they were doing you a favour by allowing you to join them at
least that was the image, and it gave rise to voters considering them to be arrogant.
Like it or not, and no matter what side you are on , the NDP and the Conservatives have a base
line of principles, on the other hand the Liberals will take short cuts with principles that suit them
at the time, a weakness that finally caught up with them last night. I think the Conservatives, the
NDP and the Greens will be around as national parties a lot longer than the Liberals ever will.

 

[lone wolf]

I think separatiste isn't in a New Democrat policy. Layton said he'd re-open Constitutional talks. What's a country without its Constitution? Quebec just spoke....


Are we a whole nation or not?

 

[mentalfloss]

Their platform will be to try and change the social fabric of the caucus and parliament. You can already see it by how they've pimped university students as reps.

 

[lone wolf]

Their platform will be to try and change the social fabric of the caucus and parliament. You can already see it by how they've pimped university students as reps.

In Quebec? NDP was a lot like running the Rhinos here. Who knew?....

 

[Johnny Utah]

Some of the commentators last night were talking about the NDP's unussual position where it has 59 of its seats in Quebec. They went on to say that the NDP's success may slide backwards very quickly in the next election unless they ensure that they lay down some new grassroots in Quebec.

What do you guys think of this? Dp you think the NDP should strive to hang onto Quebec, or do you think they should strive to absorb so much of the Liberals that they become the new liberal ndp party? I think the later would be harder to achieve but less volatile.

Screw the commentators this is the chance the NDP's been fighting for and now it's here so they better not screw the pooch..

 

[CDNBear]

Screw the commentators this is the chance the NDP's been fighting for and now it's here so they better not screw the pooch..

Not a chance, Layton prefers happy endings from young Chinese girls.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Not a chance, Layton prefers happy endings from young Chinese girls.

lol, I wonder if he dresses up Olivia like Hello Kitty

I shouldn't be talking about my MP in such a manner :roll:

 

[CDNBear]

lol, I wonder if he dresses up Olivia like Hello Kitty

Yes...

 

[Mowich]

To start with, the NDP must transform itself from a political movement to a full dimensional
political party and there is a difference. Go back a number of years and remember the
Reform party which was not a party at all it was a one dimensional movement and it showed
Only later when it merged with the Conservatives, did it have credibility with voters as a
party. Greens at the moment are a movement with some electoral success but they are not
a party with diverse interests. views and opinions.
Most people I don't think realize, that the NDP has roots in Quebec and that is why people went
out in droves to elect them. The Bloc and the Party Quebecois are both for the most part social
democratic parties, but they were too separatist for the NDP to have any ties with them. Last
night the people decided to opt into Canada and become part of the national agenda while
attempting to protect their own interests. I expect the NDP if they play their cards right will be the
voice of Quebec for a long time.
In addition the NDP clearly become the choice of the center left last night and in order to hold that
position look to the NDP to move a little more to the center, that comes with being a party with
more than one dimension.
It will be a struggle for the NDP but it will also be a struggle for the Conservatives. Attack ads will
not work against the NDP for a couple of reasons. One is that the NDP will fight back and the
second is the NDP don't have that "We're Liberal Exclusivity" that is what destroyed the Liberal
Party.
Liberals always made it seem that they were doing you a favour by allowing you to join them at
least that was the image, and it gave rise to voters considering them to be arrogant.
Like it or not, and no matter what side you are on , the NDP and the Conservatives have a base
line of principles, on the other hand the Liberals will take short cuts with principles that suit them
at the time, a weakness that finally caught up with them last night. I think the Conservatives, the
NDP and the Greens will be around as national parties a lot longer than the Liberals ever will.

I heard much the same thing from both politicians and pundits today, DG. It is a good analysis of the situation facing both the NDP and the Liberals. I would differ only on your prediction concerning the longevity of the NDP in Quebec. I believe their endurance will be contingent upon their ability to deliver the goods to their Quebec constituents - it is well known that the political temperament of some Quebec voters is volatile to say the least.

As to the Liberal party their time in the wilderness has come. Long ago they lost touch with their grassroots membership and in doing so, alienated the bedrock of their party, IMHO. I say this as one who once was a staunch member of the Liberal party as was my entire family and most of our friends. The Liberals would do well to look for a leader outside their normal territory - anywhere but Ontario or Quebec, again IMHO.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Not a chance, Layton prefers happy endings from young Chinese girls.

Jack Layton is Canada's Woody Allen? 8O

 

[lone wolf]

Suppose they know something?

 

[ansutherland]

I can't imagine them repeating what they did this time around. Good for them, but unless they move more to the centre on some issues, I don't think they have long term viability as the official opposition. As they gain more notoriety they will hopefully attract more qualified candidates because they cannot be taken seriously when some of their candidates are teenagers or have never had a job before. Another issue that could possibly hurt them could be a return to more prosperous times. When the country went into recession I thought it would strengthen the NDP. The reason I think this is because when times are good and everyone is doing well people often seem to have a negative attitude about socialistic tendencies but when times are tough and they are having a harder time, all of a sudden they want help from socialistic programs. I think this tendency works both for and against the NDP depending the shape of the economy.

 

[Omicron]

I was secretly trying to bring them to Australia with me where they have proportional representation.

You guys are never going to b4elive this, I got a super educa5tiono from Alberta from the source from when the neofascyt does forward, which everyone in Albertina knew2 they could to but just didn't believe they would meaning they were cuykick dick on Lucifer';s side.

I dare you ask Harper if he read the Bible, and he's going to say he doesn't to anymore he is on the side of lucifer and he doesnt' kknow how to kill that prick from God.

Harper with the IQ capable of growing a dandelion has nevermore a battle with a dandelion angel.

http://tunes.digitalock.com/ColinPalletEisforEstranged.mp3 <- Harpers followers from dumb southern alberta shoot "dicky birds" on a playground hunt like they laugh at his. I grew up with Albertans who I knew this sounded good and my all arounds said it was bastardtly when I told them they were thinking on the leve of neanderthal.

You fu*cks in Ontario are dummer than people in BC.

Nobody believed you would get so ducked by that advertizing. I have friends in the states laughing about how Ontario go suckered by hate ads they tired in Indoneisa and didn't work. That means Ontario *used* to have thing going okay.

These morons totally don't wonder why the national economy goes up by 3% per year, yet their standard of living is not gong up by 3% per year,k and you watch... the women with kids freak and do not plug into how to fix it.

Get this. All I have to do is be a non-elvil guy they lask to bone and I get to **** lucifer, whom I am not going to let Lucifer got I am going toput him into a spiritual jail in order to head off Armagedone I get you morons never learned Mormon.

 

[CDNBear]

I was secretly trying to bring them to Australia with me where they have proportional representation.

You guys are never going to b4elive this, I got a super educa5tiono from Alberta from the source from when the neofascyt does forward, which everyone in Albertina knew2 they could to but just didn't believe they would meaning they were cuykick dick on Lucifer';s side.

I dare you ask Harper if he read the Bible, and he's going to say he doesn't to anymore he is on the side of lucifer and he doesnt' kknow how to kill that prick from God.

Harper with the IQ capable of growing a dandelion has nevermore a battle with a dandelion angel.

http://tunes.digitalock.com/ColinPalletEisforEstranged.mp3 <- Harpers followers from dumb southern alberta shoot "dicky birds" on a playground hunt like they laugh at his. I grew up with Albertans who I knew this sounded good and my all arounds said it was bastardtly when I told them they were thinking on the leve of neanderthal.

You fu*cks in Ontario are dummer than people in BC.

Nobody believed you would get so ducked by that advertizing. I have friends in the states laughing about how Ontario go suckered by hate ads they tired in Indoneisa and didn't work. That means Ontario *used* to have thing going okay.

These morons totally don't wonder why the national economy goes up by 3% per year, yet their standard of living is not gong up by 3% per year,k and you watch... the women with kids freak and do not plug into how to fix it.

Get this. All I have to do is be a non-elvil guy they lask to bone and I get to **** lucifer, whom I am not going to let Lucifer got I am going toput him into a spiritual jail in order to head off Armagedone I get you morons never learned Mormon.

 

[taxslave]

I'm surprised that the dippers took so long to make inroads in QUebec. They are a natural alliance since both are freeloaders. Trouble is that Taliban Jack takes himself seriously while most view him as a protest vote against the two real parties.

 

[Machjo]

Some of the commentators last night were talking about the NDP's unussual position where it has 59 of its seats in Quebec. They went on to say that the NDP's success may slide backwards very quickly in the next election unless they ensure that they lay down some new grassroots in Quebec.

What do you guys think of this? Dp you think the NDP should strive to hang onto Quebec, or do you think they should strive to absorb so much of the Liberals that they become the new liberal ndp party? I think the later would be harder to achieve but less volatile.

Hard to say. One thing I can say is that next election, the NDP's platform will be much more closely scrutinized. Should the NDP wish to grow further or at least hold its current number of seats, it may have to become less ideological and more pragmatic. I'm not saying abandon their idealistic side, but merely temper it with pragmatism like the Swedish Social Democratic Party had had to do.

Bear in mind though that some in the NDP actually prefer remaining a balance-of-power party while keeping to its ideological roots, whereas others might wish to become more pragmatic and try to form a government. This may cause some friction in the party later as they try to decide which way to go.

Honestly though, I wouldn't mind a more pragmatic social democratic party similar to Sweden's in Canada.

 

[mentalfloss]

I'm surprised that the dippers took so long to make inroads in QUebec. They are a natural alliance since both are freeloaders. Trouble is that Taliban Jack takes himself seriously while most view him as a protest vote against the two real parties.

I don't think NDP voters are really protesting against Liberals. They just seem to have become ambivalent to their platform.

 

[damngrumpy]

The NDP has moved a long way from where they were even a generation ago and that is
because times have changed. Some of points I have read here that others should think
about is that the NDP as I said will depart from being a movement and become a political
party, that means they will shift to the center slightly more, but they are a left party and
the membership will decide how far left that will be. I am one of the old times who had
roots in the party but drifted away somewhat over time, I see them moving toward the center
but slightly left, that will mean being progressive, but more conservative fiscally.

I noticed some saying they need better candidates, they have some really good candidates
actually and age has nothing to do with it. In fact having a number of really young candidates
will inspire more youth to join the party. Secondly age should not be a barrier. Kelowna has
a young university student who was 19 when first elected to council and he has proven to be
a very good representative for the city. Many of the youth in the NDP party have a serious
grasp of the issues and can hold their own in a debate at least when I was in that party they
did.
The party's attitude seems to be changing a lot over the past few years and I might even consider
looking at them again. I tend to vote their way but not on all occasions and not on all issues for
sure. I don't expect to be on side with the party on all issues anyway. The main reason I left was
during the Ujjal run for leadership and becoming the Premier, I never saw a more flawed
membership system in my life. I stayed around long enough to make them clean it up but I was
so angry and disgusted I left never to return. I have found out recently that most of the Ujjalites
as I called them have either left for the Liberals or drifted away and others are no longer in
positions of leadership. Maybe I shall return to the party one day but there are some issues
I don't agree with, the long gun registry being one of them.
I don't think the NDP will be short lived either as they feel their way along the wall, and yes they
will be looked at more closely as will Harper and his agenda. Lots to be decided along the way.
I do think the Liberals went from being in the penalty box to having the voters hand them a 10
to 12 year misconduct. They have to completely renew their vision, direction and explore the
reason for their existence and they have a very small window to do it in.
In the future the Green Party is now the movement as the NDP is now being given a chance to
play on the main stage in the future.