What Would Blaikie Do? Knowles? Douglas?

I find this hard to believe. As a Liberal I should be glad, as the NDP have yielded ownership of the issue to us, the biggest issue out there. We are the good guys, standing alone against Harperism. Knowing more than a few NDP activists, they will be incredulous that we're going to be allowed a monopoly of democratic reform. Great for us. This will pay enormous dividends, in money, votes and enthusiasm, reversing any associations with past cynicism. But as a Canadian, and I'm a patriot before I'm a Liberal, I'm sad. Sad for the NDP, a necessary part of our democracy, and its lost soul under Layton, but more sad for Canada, where only one of the parliamentary caucuses is willing to really fight for our democracy, and this being the case, our democracy is more in danger than ever. Think of Stanley Knowles, who only ever lost his temper during the Pipeline Debate, think of Douglas, think of Blaikie - would any one of them have taken the tack of this Luvvy NDP? We Liberals will profit from the NDP's weakness and descent into suicidal cynicism (believe us, we know it's suicide), but it's a sad day for Canadian politics when this is the NDP reaction: "“We're formulating a thoughtful, reasonable response,” NDP spokesman Rick Boychuk said.(...) Party sources said they think their time would be better spent preparing for an eventual election, working with constituents, and targeting vulnerable Conservative ridings." That's how much principles matter to Layton & Co. Maybe we should approach some of the NDP's good guys and see if they want to come on board, as a result. Comartin, Harris, Dewar, maybe? Anyway, we've all got to get ready, in case Govt continues down current path, and if things shake out as they may, I hope NDP does win in straight Con-NDP fights. But today was maybe the saddest day in NDP history. After carbon tax, HST, pandering to worst elements of QC nationalism, and tough-on-crime zombie demagoguery, not to mention bringing Canada four years and counting of Harperism, it was hard to believe Layton could bring his party any lower. But today, the NDP declared that parliamentary democracy meant little to them. If I was Layton & Co. I'd be scared: I swear I can hear Knowles rising from his grave in anger. I'd keep the night lights on the next little while, if I were them.