Iggy & Libs Doing Best (Strange, eh?)

It's a funny old world where I end up defending Iggy. But I just felt moved to comment on a report & comments, and I reproduce my comment here:

I think I am on record as probably the most consistent, most emphatic critic of Iggy out there, and for the longest sustained period. So perhaps some might listen when I disagree sharply re. the previous NDP vs. Lib characterisation, and say Iggy & the Libs are doing well. The Libs were the first Opposition party to do as CAPP asked and commit to showing up for work on the 25th. The others were ambivalent at best, and the NDP was actually loudly opposed, claiming that it would do better to stay in the ridings. I would especially refer you to their press statement NDP won't join Liberal prorogation protest and Wasylycia-Leis screaming at Lib MP on a panel on CTV's Power Play (Jan 12 I think) [this has been corrected from original comment], preventing any criticism of Cons for prorogation, such was her/NDP determination to score points off Libs, rather than take issue seriously. From the beginning, when Libs made it clear that their position on torture allegations was "let the chips fall" by supporting inquiry back to 2001, to quickly acceding to CAPP demands, to rousing cross-country tour by leader, in context that served him well, to being first to establish actual serious panels led by MPs to examine a number of public policy issues despite and/or because of prorogation, the Libs have been quickest and most effective caucus. The ads were an excellent cost-benefit calculation: rarely has so little money bought so much coverage, eh? And how much did this dynamic, plus increased popularity, increase Lib donations in this quarter as compared to 2009? All in all, well done Donolo.

I am glad NDP leadership has been pressured by activists into reversing themselves on 25th. I welcome their prorogation proposal - they have taken the tack one would expect. Libs can now propose a compromise position between PM privilege and Parliamentary prerogative. This is all good news, for idealistic NDP & Libs, and more importantly, for all Canadian democrats of good faith. Point scoring is counterproductive. There is one big issue, (parliamentary) democracy vs. arbitrary executive. Forget game playing, as much as possible. Just do the right thing. It will be rewarded.

PS. Iggy is what he is. But ever since the beginning of the detainee issue, he has done well, esp. compared to his recent past. I don't really see what could have been achieved over Christmas-New Year period by leader shouting. Rae & Goodale did what was needed. If Iggy needed rest to gear up and now is better, as he is, then fine. Inside Downing St., recurring criticism of Blair was he didn't sleep enough and decisions/performance reflected it.

Blogpost Addendum To Comment: Since facebook has been the medium through which Canadians have expressed their anger with anti-democratic behaviour, it is only right to give CAPP the respect it deserves by having LPC Leader address concerns in Facebook forum. And the roundtables will allow us to flesh serious proposals on a number of topics, notably democratic reform. I've made many proposals over the years. One I should be fairminded enough to mention, is the reversal of Bill C-31. It was one of the few occasions on which I vigourously disagreed with Dion's management. I don't know what happened, in caucus or something, that led to it. But for as smart a political scientist as Dion, and as good a man, not opposing was wrong and sad.