I notice that some of the trees in Toronto have started sprouting buds, fooled by the unusually warm weather into thinking that Spring has arrived in January.
And no doubt feeling like many Liberals are feeling today.
But I know an icy wind will soon sweep in and freeze those buds off the branches. And as someone whose only partisan goal is to defeat Stephen Harper's ghastly Cons, I see trouble ahead for all of us.
For while I don't think Lise St-Denis' defection means anything. She's not much of an MP. Not a very classy one.
Asked about voters in her riding and whether they voted for the NDP or for her, St-Denis said simply "They voted for Jack Layton, but Jack Layton is dead."
And not a very bright one either.
What really bothers me is that the two main progressive parties still seem to believe that they can beat the Harper Cons all by themselves. Even though the only party gaining some measure of traction in Quebec is the Bloc.
Pollster Nik Nanos said the Bloc Québécois, which was reduced to four members in the election, has been “the main beneficiary” of the NDP’s decline in the province, moving to 19.9 per cent from 15.9 per cent in November.
With the generous help of Stephen Harper. For why do you think he is shoving the monarchy down our throats? Or appointing a Supreme Court judge and an Auditor General who don't speak French.
Answer: because he knows that if he can make French-speaking Quebecers feel that their history is ignored, and their language threatened, some of them will go back to the Bloc even if they don't want to separate.
And that if the progressive vote is fragmented rather than united, his Cons can stay in power FOREVER.
You know trying to get progressives to understand that Spring will NEVER arrive in January, and that they must unite to fight the common enemy, is a bit like trying to paddle a kayak into a strong headwind...
And of course it makes EVERYBODY hates you eh?
But shouldn't more of us be asking where we are really going?
Because as the old philosopher said, those who don't learn from their mistakes are condemned to repeat them.
And those who cling to the politics of the past will find themselves living with a government they despise. Beating their heads against a wall.
In a country they don't recognize...
Well said Simon!
ReplyDeletehi Pamela...thank you. I think you are the only person who liked it. As I said in the post it's not easy to challenge the partisan crowd, who wear their colours like hockey players wear jerseys. If I felt that any of the progressive parties could beat the Harper Cons on their own I would be happy. But I don't. Maybe that will change when the Libs and the NDP get new leaders. But just in case it doesn't, I think we should at least keep our minds open to a merger or a grand coalition, for we cannot afford four more years of Stephen Harper...
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