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Democraticus Layton no longer in hiding

There has been some coverage of late in the traditional media and the blogoshpere of the purpoted existence of a "Prime Minister Harper". Less covered is the leader of the New Democrats, but fear not, he has been flushed from hiding by Ralph Klein's "turd way".

With the Liberals in leadership chaos and erstwhile policy torpor it is critical for the NDP to have a single, clear voice against the Tory machine. And from the Emerson and Fortier appointments to his essential disappearance from the media scence, Stephen Harper has handed the NDP a huge opportunity that they have to take.

Posted by kevvyd on Sunday, March 05, 2006 at 2:59 PM |

You know, this post makes Layton sound like a quail, which may not be wise considering Dick Cheney is still loose.

Posted by Blogger Dan | Sun Mar 05, 04:07:00 PM  

Good post. The NDP need to get their act together. And not just the federal NDP either. There are three upcoming by-elections in Ontario and there's nary a word about it on the Ontario NDP's website. The Newfoundland NDP didn't even run a candidate in their by-election last month. Stuff like this makes me wonder if the NDP is a serious party or just clubhouse.

Posted by Blogger Robert McClelland | Sun Mar 05, 05:37:00 PM  

Well, the problem is, at least here from the Newfoundland viewpoint, is that the NDP has little real organization behind it - the reason they didn't run a candidate in the byelection was that they didn't have a riding association in the district. They really need to start at the grassroots as a party. Now, mind you, it may well be different in the other provinces.

Posted by Blogger Dan | Sun Mar 05, 06:23:00 PM  

It doesn't seem like the Newfoundland NDP is interested in doing that, Dan. I wrote them a month before the by-election to offer up the assistance of the Blogging Dippers and they didn't even respond. You can't build a grassroots movement when you can't even be bothered to reply to the grassroots movement that's taking shape.

Posted by Blogger Robert McClelland | Sun Mar 05, 06:41:00 PM  

Good point Robert, but by 'grassroots' I mean actual boots on the ground, canvassing the citizens, going door to door. The problem I can see with utilizing the Blogging Dippers is that they're generally preaching to the choir, and that's of limited use - the NDP needs to open a dialogue with the people who don't normally vote NDP or if they do, only do as a form of protest and demonstrate how the party can speak for them on a fulltime basis.

Posted by Blogger Dan | Sun Mar 05, 07:14:00 PM  

Dan,
How do the NDP poll in the urban Avalon area? It seems like it might be there best chance to at least get a solid organization on the ground, if not actually win an election.

It took a long time for the NDP to establish themselves here in Nova Scotia, but they are now a force provincially and federally, and I don't see why it couldn't happen there, too.

Posted by Blogger kevvyd | Sun Mar 05, 11:25:00 PM  

No idea, Kev, I'll have to look into it.

Posted by Blogger Dan | Mon Mar 06, 02:28:00 AM  

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