The NDP Attack Ad and the Con Zombies

I'm not quite sure what to think about this latest attack ad from the NDP. 

I suppose I should be grateful that somebody put out a video calling the Cons Lying Liars. I'm sure that somewhere out there, some people who get their news only from YouTube, must be saying "Who knew eh?"

And it certainly was sneaky to put out an attack ad that only quotes some scribblers from the MSM. So the NDP can say we didn't bad mouth the Cons, Andrew Coyne did.

The Triumph of Thomas Mulcair

The Cons and their stooges in the right-wing media have gone after him like a pack of rabid hyenas.

They have attacked the man, claiming he was too angry and divisive to be a leader. 

They have mocked him for pointing out the dangers of the Dutch Disease, that is ripping the guts out of our manufacturing sector and hollowing out our country, just to make Alberta rich.

The Harpo Hate Monster and the Liberals

Oh. Mein.Cabaret. It's showtime in Harperland. The Cons are screening their latest attack ad. 

And this time the Harpo hate monster is going after the NDP !!!

But wait what's this? Despite the creepy Halloween theme, the critics are panning it. Not because it's clearly a product of Stephen Harper's deranged mind. And morally repulsive.

But because it's not  SCARY ENOUGH !!!! 

The Failed Assault on Thomas Mulcair

Well I see that even before Thomas Mulcair rose in the Commons today, the Cons sent out one of their attack chihuahas to try to "define him." Or in their mob lingo, bite his balls knees ankles.

“This hug-a-thug, soft-on-crime leader will return Canada to policies favoring the rights of criminals over those of victims,” said Mr. Watson who labelled Mr. Mulcair an “opportunist” with a “divisive personality” and “ruthless ambition.”

But since the designated chihuahua was the Con wingnut Jeff Watson, and he probably said worse things about Nick Kouvalis.

Justice Lloyd Dean acknowledged testimony by two campaign workers who told the court they heard Nick Kouvalis say, "If I could ... kill Jeff Watson with my bare hands and get away with it, I would." 

Thomas Mulcair and the Road to Victory

It was the result I was hoping for, the only real choice the NDP could have made.

For Thomas Mulcair is the only leader that can win back support in Quebec from the Bloc, without which everything else would be in vain. He is the only one who can make the NDP more popular in the rest of Canada, and take it all the way to power. And above all he is the leader Stephen Harper fears the most.

Which is why, like many others, I was disappointed by his victory speech. For it was not the Mulcair I know. Mulcair the fighter who takes no prisoners, and will give the Con thug Harper no quarter. 

The NDP Convention and Jack's Little Tree

Well this is as close as I got to the site of the NDP Leadership Convention. I briefly thought of crashing the party, but I was afraid I might bump into Ed Broadbent. Call him an old asshole.

Former party leader Ed Broadbent, who has endorsed Brian Topp, said on CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon that he thought Mulcair "bombed."

And be unceremoniously ejected from the building, for causing a ruckus at an NDP event. Which is about as low as you can go eh? Sort of like farting in a church.

But unfortunately it was too late, because by the time Uncle Ed was finished blowing his fog horn, or acting like old man Potter in It's a Wonderful Life...

The NDP and the Nightmare in Harperland

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I was thinking the other day, as a thick fog hid Toronto from view, that ever since I arrived in this city, it's like a curse has been hanging over me.

The Nightmare in Harperland.The G20 police state in my backyard, the death of Jack Layton, the crushed dreams of Occupy Toronto, the horror of Rob Ford. 

I mean really...

This city owes me eh?

But then this evening I saw that they were painting my neighbourhood orange.

And all was forgiven. 

The NDP and the Arrival of Spring

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What with the fog hanging over the island, and the usual run of depressing stories, it hasn't been too easy to write about politics in Harperland this week. Or even celebrate the arrival of Spring.

But isn't it great to see the Con fluffer John Ibbitson begin his day with this story? 

There is a reason the Conservative Party launched an attack ad against Bob Rae on the same week as the NDP leadership convention.

The Conservatives are convinced Mr. Rae will lead the Liberal Party into the next election–an increasingly safe assumption. And they fear him more than they fear whomever the New Democrats choose on Saturday.

Trying his best to make Harper's grotesque attack ad against  Rae sound rational, and the NDP appear doomed.

Only to end his day having to write this one? 

Ed Broadbent and the Progressive Suicide Club

It was so spooky on the waterfront last night, as a heavy mist rolled in, it reminded me of the movie The Fog.

You know, the one where the ghosts of the past stagger ashore, and scare the bejeesus out of everyone.

Just like Ed Broadbent.

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is standing by his sharp criticism of party leadership front-runner Thomas Mulcair, saying he has a “responsibility” to highlight the shortcomings of the Montreal MP before the race concludes.

Because old Ed is obviously so worried about the fate of his cabin backroom boy Brian Topp, that he is willing to say ANYTHING.

Which I suppose is his right eh? He's been around so long he's even comparing himself to Tommy Douglas.

But he really shouldn't be allowed to get away with this:

Broadbent revealed the tipping point for his decision to speak out was twofold: Mulcair’s criticism of people at party headquarters, and how he took credit for the NDP’s success in Quebec in last year’s election — in which it increased its seat count to 59 from just one in the province.

Broadbent said that Mulcair was a good candidate but that, in fact, the campaign was developed by officials at party headquarters and a team in Montreal.

“They developed a brilliant campaign, adopted language in Quebec for the campaign that was appropriate for a province with a different language and culture. But Tom had virtually nothing to do with it.”

Because that's absolute bullshit, or merde as we say in Quebec. 

In Defence of Thomas Mulcair

I wasn't planning to write anything about the NDP leadership race today, but after yesterday's attack on Thomas Mulcair by Ed Broadbent, I feel I have no choice.

For that attack was ill advised, intellectually dishonest, and cognitively challenged. And mark my words, if the NDP rejects Mulcair it will not only condemn itself to irrelevancy once again, it will help re-elect Stephen Harper, and threaten the very future of this country.