08.11.2015 01:13 PM

After 10 days

19 Comments

  1. bobbie says:

    They’re too busy riding Notley’s fumes and measuring curtains at 24 Sussex. Guess they didn’t get the memo about having to do more than bluster.

  2. doconnor says:

    I’ve been reading the NDP RSS feed for years, and there has been only one per day this election which is less then I remember from past elections.

  3. Alex says:

    I was recently re-reading your greatest hits Warren when I came across this gem (http://warrenkinsella.com/speeches/canadian-association-of-journalists/). While this awesome speech brought a lot of great memories of pre-Harper Canada — oh what a wonderful time that was — it also made me ask this question: Which political operative today would write such words and be able to deliver them with a straight face? My answer: Nobody except Kory Teneycke.

    Harper is no genius. I am starting to conclude that he is a fairly predictable and lame politician who is highly beatable. What he does have, however, is a great war room and opponents who are even lamer than him. Do you think someone like James Carville or David Plouffe would let their opponents get away with half the shit that the Cons get away with? Not a chance. But that’s why Clinton and Obama are winners, and the anti-Harper forces are laying the ground for another defeat.

  4. Alex says:

    p.s. To answer your question in your tweet, the NDP are acting — to quote Donald Trump — like a bunch of losers. I live in Paul Dewar’s riding, so I have to keep reminding myself that I will be voting for him and not Tom.

  5. davie says:

    They are busy with in house stuff, making sure that there is no representation at all by any party in the House of Commons of the views on Israel and Palestine of a fair chunk of Canadians.

    (Grrrr!)

  6. Christian says:

    I’ve been wondering the same thing. Are they keeping their powder dry? Waiting till September to really pour it on? They seem to be asleep! I hope they aren’t doing the “Front Runner Campaigning Strategy” (I think they are tho). For one thing – I don’t think it EVER works. Especially this early in the game. You have to play as if you’re in third place, be agressive and step on your opponent’s throats. Every. Chance. You. Get. In the NDP’s case its what got them where they were before the election was called. Why screw around with a successful approach? Le sigh…..

    • davie says:

      Maybe they have reason to save a few bucks just now, and that is why they tried to negotiate that satellite office thing, rather than going straight to open court.

  7. KenzoS says:

    Clearly, they are getting carried away by their permanent opposition to all wars, all the time.

  8. Pipes says:

    They are running scarred because of this and they are still in meetings: https://youtu.be/DG6fhub9HDQ

  9. P. Brenn says:

    Hi .. they are trying to soften Mad Tom …but yup they are neglecting the fight they need to wage against Mr H and Mr T (no not that Mr T)…

  10. Peter says:

    Who knows what is going on, but anyone who works in the NDP war room should demand danger pay. Between the Leader, caucus, old guard and base, there is such a potential for internecine struggle it’s not surprising they become tongue-tied in an election. A lot of NDP supporters ooze self-regard, ideological constipation and a conviction the electorate doesn’t understand what is good for them. It’s no secret NDP leaders have traditionally had to fend off more radical, vocal and “principled” members of the family.

    When a Con or Lib candidate says something extreme and embarrassing to the party, and unpopular with the electorate, most of their supporters sigh with relief when they are shown the door. But when a McQuaig or Wheeldon are slapped down by HQ or some Quebec member insults Canada, large segments of the party bristle because they believe they are understating the case. The Cons and Libs have their issues, but at least they don’t think John and Jane Frontporch are dummies to be patted on the head and circumvented.

  11. Maps Onburt says:

    They all ran away screaming after seeing Creepy Tom gin at them…. seriously, what can they say? If the NDP brings out their real policies, Canadian’s won’t elect them. You think Harper exercised candidate outburst control… you ain’t seen nothing yet!

  12. The Doctor says:

    I’m wondering if anyone is going to bring up Linda McQuaig’s comments about Chretien-Martin slaying the deficit in the 1990s. I personally think that would be political gold for the Liberals. As I understand it, McQuaig said they shouldn’t have slain the deficit, and it was some evil corporatist plot to do so. It’s all explained quite nicely in this article by Michael Den Tandt:

    http://o.canada.com/news/national/0918-col-dentandt

    • Michael Bluth says:

      McQuaig did more than just make comments about slaying the deficit. She has authored numerous wing-nut diatribes.The most applicable to the deficit battles of the 1990s would be Shooting the Hippo. Makes you wonder what sort of war room Butts et. al are running.

  13. Melrose Munch says:

    They are still winning this election until said otherwise. Justin has a lot of ground to make up.

  14. fan590 says:

    I predicted this here a few weeks ago. NDP is not ready for prime time (in Ontario or federally).

    Justin vs. Steve

  15. Priyesh says:

    It IS August, and nobody really cares. It’s possible the NDP war room isn’t ready, but it’s also possible they’re saving their ammo (and money) until after Labour Day.

  16. nic coivert says:

    Simple. Let the Cons blow their wad, then go big.

  17. John Werry says:

    The War Room: I wish they did not exist. Foolish, Idealistic. The real answer: it is too early. Mulcair is ahead (not always the best at this time) and may stay that way. War Rooms cannot stop a crush of voters. It remains to be seen that there will ever be a “crush” of voters with all the Elections Canada/Robocalls nonsense and the disinterested ignorant-of-Politics citizen. Was even more Naive until former relative became a Town Coucillor in King Twp. What she told me about Politics blew my mind; one thing she imparted was politicians pick parties to run for that are seen as winning next election.

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