Layton and the rest of the NDP crew seem to be on a roll like never before.
With Moe Sihota back in the saddle with the BC NDP on the Left Coast, the NS NDP Government on the East Coast, and the increase in NPD polling results in Quebec, I'm starting to finally get hopeful for the NDP in the next federal election.
The rumblings of discontent within the Liberal caucus may have been overblown in the press, but everyone in politics knows that only the winner gets to smoke the real cigar. When Grit MPs privately acknowledge missing the political professionalism of Stephane Dion, it is time for a serious change of course. Iggy continues to sail steadily for the rocks.
At every major policy juncture, Ignatieff has forfeited the chance to distinguish his party from the government. He has backed the Harper position on Afghanistan, on fighting the recession, and most recently on the unpopular harmonizing of provincial and federal taxes. In the process, he has handed the political dividend to be had from opposing these divisive and unpopular issues to the NDP.
Even on those major policy issues like pension reform, where he did take a position, he ended up looking suspiciously like Jack Layton in less of a hurry - and with considerably less sincerity. The NDP have been early and consistent on their stands, making the Liberals look like timorous imitators in search of an issue.
http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/columnists/michael_harris/2009/12/10/12...