Second Thots

Sometimes one has to step back, take pause, and have some "second thots"

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

 

Is the sky really falling for the NDP?


Some people will take a look at what's going on with the NDP now and conclude that they're in a bit of trouble. I'm not so sure.

The past M.O. of the NDP has been this: everyone toe the party line, everyone bash Conservatives, Liberals, and especially Conservatives, everybody look at how well the NDP is doing in the polls, everybody wonder why the party didn't do as well as they thought they would in the election.

That the M.O. has changed this time around might not be a bad thing.

Let's not forget that Layton did well in the last election despite many who preferred he side with Martin versus Harper. Those same people are now complaining about Jack's current tactics.

The one troubling development for Jack, however, has been the continuing rise of the Green party. Probably after it was too late, the NDP started attacking Green leader Elizabeth May once it became clear that she was a political force of some significance in the London North Centre by-election. May has been subject to very little scrutiny from the media or anyone else. I suspect that will soon change, and I suspect Jack Layton will be a part of that change. She's an opponent. She's open game for Layton. She's certainly taken her share of shots at Layton. He'll probably fire back at some point.

The Conservatives are famous for party infighting like this while in opposition, complaining about bad poll numbers in between elections, yet doing better than expected when it actually matters. Now, either Dippers can take solace in the fact that this kind of approach might work, or they can keep bitching and complaining like a bunch of children.

The choice is theirs. I suggest they keep looking at the bigger picture, like successful politicians do.




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