Bryon Wilfert Is A Very Serious Man

Hon. Bryon Wilfert: "Coalition talk - something has to be done about the fact that 25% of the vote on the left NDP/Green means Liberals are no closer to govt."
If you know the Hon. Bryon Wilfert, you know he is a very serious man, a hardworking man, and, not to be mean, but maybe even a bit slowmoving - no Usain Bolt he. If you know him, you know he is not exactly a left-wing firebrand. A fiscal conservative, a huge booster of our military, and an almost Coynian true believer in free-trade. No EFL, he. But he is rational. And serious. And being rational and serious, he is thinking about things. Seriously. Rationally. So should everyone. Everyone should engage in some slow, hard, serious reflection - but maybe not too slow, eh? In fact, maybe not slow at all.

PS. I've more or less defended Scott Reid, but I was struck by the breadth and intensity of the response to him, from even such normally easygoing guys like BCer. I don't think it's just because people disagree with him, although they do feel strongly about the issue, rightly, or that some may not be his biggest fans, although I can understand that. I don't think it's a leadership thing except to the extent it's made into one by certain elites themselves, by focussing attention on attitudes that drive ordinary Liberals crazy. And here I'm getting to the crux of why the response by ordinary Liberals is so strong. Consider the following comment on Calgary Grit's piece: "This is getting embarrassing. We are the Liberal Party. The party that Canada has turned to repeatedly throughout its history. Right now, we have a leader that has the potential to be one of the great ones of all time, and yet the rank and file sit around mulling over ridiculous concepts. Folks, get a grip" (my bolding).

I think this issue is turning into a crux for the up-to-here frustration the Liberal membership and electorate have with the LPC elites. That kind of comment well captures the arrogant dismissive attitude of so many towards those Liberals who might dare try to make the party expand its thinking. It was exactly this attitude that helped Dion win the leadership, as so many couldn't stand the attitude they got from self-satisfied elites, who treated the membership like cattle to be pushed into the correct pen. Many remarked on the cultural revolution the 2006 convention represented, by a membership sick of Chrétien-Martin quarrels, and general high-handedness. It is striking how poll after poll shows Liberal voters miles ahead of the party on these questions, let alone LPC elites. Now consider, the LPC electorate and ordinary membership had to observe their previous duly elected leader, elected with 55% of the vote, a very clear majority, subverted and attacked from almost day one of his leadership. Then, post-election, when under extraordinary circumstances, this leader, with the massive support of caucus, party and LPC electorate, tried to overthrow Harper to stop his anti-democratic knavery, behind the scenes, and also not-so-privately, the same types helped  subvert the project. Then, this leader agreeing to prematurely resign for the good of the party, once again taking a bullet for the party, there was no fair democratic race or convention for his succession. The insiders and elites knew best, blocked out all others, staged a coup, and installed their choice. Ordinary Liberals were just supposed to bend over and think of Laurier. And now, when the elites' chosen one isn't doing so great, as every poll shows the LPC brand is being dragged down because of an undemocratic decision imposed on it from above, and ordinary Liberals dare to call for the party to stand up for the most basic ideals of democracy, to demand Parliament's Order be enforced (an LPC motion, moved by the Leader after all), when ordinary Liberals call for the party keep all options open post-election, including that of a coalition, given 2008 and the UK, as Silver noted, when ordinary Liberals call for the party to frigging stand and fight, for Gods' sake, they are again condescended to, and dismissed. And so now, upon reflection, it is easier to understand how even the most easy-going sorts might finally have had enough.

As far as its membership and electorate are concerned, the LPC does not exist for its own good, as some sort of freestanding monument to its supporters' own enlightenment. It is a vehicle, embodying certain ideals, to achieve certain objectives, politically, economically and socially. As far as its membership and electorate are concerned, they do not exist to serve the LPC elites's interests, rather the LPC elites are supposed to work to serve and further ordinary Liberals' interests, and those of all Canadians.

If the LPC, a party that calls itself "Liberal", will not defend democracy within itself, then what is the use of it?

If the LPC, a party that calls itself "Liberal", will not defend democracy within Canada, then what is the point of it?

If the LPC elites persist in condescending to and denying, even confounding, the will of the mere "rank and file", then what loyalty should that rank and file have to the LPC?

Elites: who the hell do you think you are?
Why the hell should we put up with this BS any longer?
Screw you. Do your jobs. Defend democracy. Or pay the price.