NDP, Tories find common ground in quest to tame a thuggish House

[mentalfloss]

Feel good story of the year..


NDP, Tories find common ground in quest to tame a thuggish House


Before they square off for the first time as Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, Stephen Harper and Jack Layton sat down for a private chat about playing nice.

In the past, the NDP Leader would often give reporters a play-by-play of his conversations with Mr. Harper, peppered with criticisms.

This time, when pressed for details Thursday morning by a CBC radio reporter, Mr. Layton said he’d rather keep his Wednesday-afternoon chat with Mr. Harper “entre-nous.”

Later, after meeting with his caucus, he offered a bit more information. He said the discussions focused on the need to improve the tone in the House of Commons.

“We talked about all sorts of issues that are before us, especially decorum in Parliament and that we need to change the tone of the debate. That was a preoccupation. And for us, it will change,” he said, referring to the NDP.

Ditto, says the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We were distressed by the erosion of decorum in the last Parliament,” the Prime Minister’s director of communications, Dimitri Soudas, said in an e-mail. “Our hope is that the new Parliament can turn a page, and the PM has certainly expressed this hope and expectation to his caucus, which is firmly united on this point. There will always be give-and-take on issues, but it can be, and should be, respectful both of individual Members and of the dignity of the House.”

Mr. Layton is promising his MPs won’t heckle during Question Period.

A string of Tory MPs campaigning for Speaker Thursday promised to help improve the tone in the House, which is largely known for the shouting and name-calling during Question Period.

NDP, Tories find common ground in quest to tame a thuggish House - The Globe and Mail

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Hopefully this is not just window dressing, but I can't help being cynical.

 

[lone wolf]

It would be nice for my grand-daughter to be able to watch the Parliamentary Channel (on her own!) without an example being set that it's okay to behave like the spoiled brats in the Legislature - on the playground, or at school, or....

 

[weaselwords]

Give it a week then back to same ole same ole or until the Layton gang gets comfortable with the first shot.

 

[lone wolf]

Give it a week then back to same ole same ole or until the Layton gang gets comfortable with the first shot.

Considering a lot of Tories act like some on Internet Forums, why would it necessarily be NDP who sound off first?

 

[cranky]

however short lived, it will be a good thing, imo

 

[wulfie68]

Considering a lot of Tories act like some on Internet Forums, why would it necessarily be NDP who sound off first?

None of the parties have shown much decorum in recent parliaments but its nothing new... and neither is talking about making the Commons a home to more respectable debate. I don't see this parliament being much different from any other, save the numbers available to heckle their respective opponents.

 

[lone wolf]

None of the parties have shown much decorum in recent parliaments but its nothing new... and neither is talking about making the Commons a home to more respectable debate. I don't see this parliament being much different from any other, save the numbers available to heckle their respective opponents.

Personally, I think Parliament should take a page from the rules imposed on schoolkids - ejection from class (standing in the hallway) to complete expulsion from the House for a time for inappropriate behaviour.

 

[Unforgiven]

Well of all the pressing matters out country faces I am sure glad we got this one in the bag. Now maybe they can get on with more important matters like wall colours and curtains.

 

[JLM]

Feel good story of the year..


NDP, Tories find common ground in quest to tame a thuggish House


Before they square off for the first time as Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, Stephen Harper and Jack Layton sat down for a private chat about playing nice.

In the past, the NDP Leader would often give reporters a play-by-play of his conversations with Mr. Harper, peppered with criticisms.

This time, when pressed for details Thursday morning by a CBC radio reporter, Mr. Layton said he’d rather keep his Wednesday-afternoon chat with Mr. Harper “entre-nous.”

Later, after meeting with his caucus, he offered a bit more information. He said the discussions focused on the need to improve the tone in the House of Commons.

“We talked about all sorts of issues that are before us, especially decorum in Parliament and that we need to change the tone of the debate. That was a preoccupation. And for us, it will change,” he said, referring to the NDP.

Ditto, says the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We were distressed by the erosion of decorum in the last Parliament,” the Prime Minister’s director of communications, Dimitri Soudas, said in an e-mail. “Our hope is that the new Parliament can turn a page, and the PM has certainly expressed this hope and expectation to his caucus, which is firmly united on this point. There will always be give-and-take on issues, but it can be, and should be, respectful both of individual Members and of the dignity of the House.”

Mr. Layton is promising his MPs won’t heckle during Question Period.

A string of Tory MPs campaigning for Speaker Thursday promised to help improve the tone in the House, which is largely known for the shouting and name-calling during Question Period.

NDP, Tories find common ground in quest to tame a thuggish House - The Globe and Mail

Oh, you mean like a bride and groom on their wedding day! :lol:

 

[mentalfloss]

Give it a week then back to same ole same ole or until the Layton gang gets comfortable with the first shot.

Sorry to disappoint but it was the cons that blasted off first..

Trade Minister launches blistering attack on NDP - The Globe and Mail

 

[YukonJack]

A Parliamentary system, where a member has no individuality, personality or value is by definition, THUGGISH. When an MP knows that truly representing his/her constituents, rather than blindly and stupidly tow the party line results in expulsion, will act THUGGISH. That same MP will act like a silly 12-year-old, bang the desk, shout "SHAME" no matter what the opposition says, is THUGGISH.

Until and unless an MP can vote on ANY matter according to his/her conscience or the wishes of the constituents, we as citizens, will see no courtesy, decency and good manners in Ottawa.

 

[mentalfloss]

 

[Colpy]

Sorry to disappoint but it was the cons that blasted off first..

Trade Minister launches blistering attack on NDP - The Globe and Mail

Excuse me???

This speech was NOT made in the House of Commons.

Sorry, but the CPC are not brain-dead socialists, and will continue to criticize the ridiculous policies of the NDP in language that leaves no doubt as to their position.

In an adversarial system, THAT IS THEIR JOB.

As it is the job of the NDP to oppose (thus the name) the policies of the CPC they find objectionable.......they oppose politely in the Commons (we hope) and ATTACK out on the speech circuit.

It is called democracy.

The problem is when attacks are personal, off-subject, meant to derail significant and meaningful debate, include out-of-order shouting and attempts to drown out the other voice, and are done in the HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The problem is NOT partisan speeches criticizing the other side's policies. Those are extremely necessary in any democracy.

The problem is HOUSE OF COMMONS debate.

Are you clear on that now?

Do you understand??

GEEZUS!

 

[mentalfloss]

Okay, I'll give you the house of commons bit. It's a fair point.

I'm not sure I agree with this though..

The problem is NOT partisan speeches criticizing the other side's policies. Those are extremely necessary in any democracy.

A speech that correctly identifies pertinent issues and is as non-partisan as possible will always be more effective to advance democracy than a belligerently partisan speech. We've seen that time and time again.

In an adversarial system, THAT IS THEIR JOB.

As it is the job of the NDP to oppose (thus the name) the policies of the CPC they find objectionable.......they oppose politely in the Commons (we hope) and ATTACK out on the speech circuit.

Not necessarily.

I think people are smart enough to give credit to a party that realizes when they are wrong and concede a point to the other party when they are objectively correct on any given issue.

Would you really respect a party that is completely adversarial without making any concessions?

 

[YukonJack]

Finally, a smart, valid and to-the-point response from mentalfloss. NO WORDS to betray who he is.

 

[mentalfloss]

Finally, a smart, valid and to-the-point response from mentalfloss. NO WORDS to betray who he is.

You're beginning to sound thuggish.

 

[YukonJack]

You're beginning to sound thuggish.

Thanks, mentalfloss, coming from you that is the highest compliment!

 

[cranky]

I think persuasive speeches should remain respectful so as to give the opposition an easy way to agree with you.

Thuggish is not meant to persuade, it is meant to belittle, destroy, or polarize.

 

[Colpy]

Okay, I'll give you the house of commons bit. It's a fair point.

I'm not sure I agree with this though..



A speech that correctly identifies pertinent issues and is as non-partisan as possible will always be more effective to advance democracy than a belligerently partisan speech. We've seen that time and time again.



Not necessarily.

I think people are smart enough to give credit to a party that realizes when they are wrong and concede a point to the other party when they are objectively correct on any given issue.

Would you really respect a party that is completely adversarial without making any concessions?

No.

There are things everyone can agree on......if you reread my post you will see that I said the NDP's job as official opposition is to attack those policies that they find objectionable.