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Saturday March 19, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday March 19, 2016 Mulcair at risk of ouster by crush of new critics Tom Mulcair doesnÕt come across as the kind of person whoÕd spend much time looking over his shoulder, even if he had to. But these days you have to wonder whether the NDP leader, who celebrates his fourth anniversary as head of the party next week, is taking the time to look both ways before he crosses any political streets between now and his partyÕs convention next month. It would be wrong to say rumblings over MulcairÕs future with the party began only last week. Those rumblings have been a staple of the NDPÕs background noise since its dismal showing in the Oct. 19 election. But with the exception of a well publicized sortie by Ontario NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo in January, and complaints last month from a newly minted Montreal-area riding association president, any I-told-you-sos had been uttered off the record, if only in apparent deference to the panel the party convened to autopsy why things went horribly wrong during the last campaign. Given that the panelÕs findings compelled Mulcair to write a letter of apology to the partyÕs rank and file and take full responsibility for the NDPÕs return to third party status, it wasnÕt entirely surprising to hear the volume turned up last week on the complaints over MulcairÕs leadership. It started when Sid Ryan, former head of the Ontario Federation of Labour, told the Globe and Mail last week that MulcairÕs Òoverbearing personalityÓ made it necessary for the NDP to seek out new leadership. That was followed by letters published in Le Devoir and the Toronto Star this week that didnÕt mention Mulcair by name but may as well have spray painted it in day-glo orange across its text as three defeated MPs and nearly three dozen party activists complained the NDP had come adrift from its ideals and purpose. That missive was quickly followed by a far more specific slam against Mulcair by NDP s

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday March 19, 2016

Mulcair at risk of ouster by crush of new critics

Tom Mulcair doesn’t come across as the kind of person who’d spend much time looking over his shoulder, even if he had to. But these days you have to wonder whether the NDP leader, who celebrates his fourth anniversary as head of the party next week, is taking the time to look both ways before he crosses any political streets between now and his party’s convention next month.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday September 1, 2015 Mulcair can only benefit from claims heÕs not a traditional leftwinger (By Kelly McParland) If I was a conspiracy theorist, IÕd suspect there was a conspiracy under way to covertly boost the image of Thomas Mulcair among non-NDP voters. ThereÕs no question Mulcair has made a real effort to separate himself from the partyÕs loopier policies of the past. You wonÕt hear the word ÒsocialismÓ escape his lips. He has promised a balanced budget Ñ not someday later on, when they get around to it, if circumstances allow, as the Liberals have done. But right away, in the first New Democrat budget after taking office. And heÕs pledged to do it without raising taxes on income. ThatÕs all well and good. But thereÕs also been a series of curious leaks that seem intended to undermine Mulcair by arguing heÕs too conservative, not a real New Democrat but a late convert who adopted the party because it seemed best suited to serve his personal ambition. ItÕs possible the accusations might raise doubts among true NDP believers, who like their politics undiluted by practicality, but they could also have the opposite effect, making him more attractive to voters who might otherwise be disinclined to support the countryÕs traditional left-wing party. In other words, if you believe in conspiracies, you might suspect the leaks are an effort to achieve the opposite of their apparent intention. As the National Post noted recently, Mulcair has been outed for once saying nice things about Margaret Thatcher, of considering an offer to join the Conservatives after quitting QuebecÕs Liberals, of being Òthe most right wingÓ member of that Quebec Liberal caucus, of supporting Quebec business owners against QuebecÕs language police, and of failing to adopt the leftÕs rote opposition to free trade in all its forms. He was also criticized by Ed Broadbent, the NDPÕs current patron saint and elder statesman, w

September 1, 2015

It would be wrong to say rumblings over Mulcair’s future with the party began only last week. Those rumblings have been a staple of the NDP’s background noise since its dismal showing in the Oct. 19 election. But with the exception of a well publicized sortie by Ontario NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo in January, and complaints last month from a newly minted Montreal-area riding association president, any I-told-you-sos had been uttered off the record, if only in apparent deference to the panel the party convened to autopsy why things went horribly wrong during the last campaign.

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday June 17, 2015 Trudeau and Mulcair today: Compare and contrast Major speeches by NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau today served up an intriguing contrast. Mulcair sought to soothe anyone worried about the sort of economic change an NDP government might bring. Trudeau tried to reignite interest, especially among progressive voters whose enthusiasm for him might be waning, by promising Liberals would usher in big change in Canadian democracy. The two men vying to be seen as the most viable alternative to Prime Minister Stephen Harper clearly face different challenges. Mulcair is on the rise in the polls, and his aimÑas he delivered an economic policy speech in Toronto at the Economic Club of CanadaÑseemed to be to forestall a worried reaction to his emergence as a serious challenger. But Trudeau has slipped in recent months, after a long stretch leading the polls, creating whatÕs shaping up as a tight three-way race with HarperÕs Conservatives and MulcairÕs NDP. His goal in a speech to assembled Parliament Hill reporters at OttawaÕs Ch‰teau Laurier was to reignite interest in his leadership with at least one promise that canÕt be ignored. And both took the opportunity to shore up their policy messages with a little personal narrative, the sort that modern political strategists view as essential to connecting with voters. (Continued: Maclean's) http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/trudeau-and-mulcair-today-compare-and-contrast/ Canada, Thomas Mulcair, Justin Trudeau, NDP, Liberal, campaign, election, politics, platform, polls

June 17, 2015

Given that the panel’s findings compelled Mulcair to write a letter of apology to the party’s rank and file and take full responsibility for the NDP’s return to third party status, it wasn’t entirely surprising to hear the volume turned up last week on the complaints over Mulcair’s leadership.

It started when Sid Ryan, former head of the Ontario Federation of Labour, told the Globe and Mail last week that Mulcair’s “overbearing personality” made it necessary for the NDP to seek out new leadership. That was followed by letters published in Le Devoir and the Toronto Star this week that didn’t mention Mulcair by name but may as well have spray painted it in day-glo orange across its text as three defeated MPs and nearly three dozen party activists complained the NDP had come adrift from its ideals and purpose.

Thursday, November 28, 2013That missive was quickly followed by a far more specific slam against Mulcair by NDP supporters at Concordia and McGill universities, pointing out “If the NDP wants to remain relevant in Canadian politics, Thomas Mulcair must not remain as party leader.”

At this point, Mulcair seems to be at war . The apparent refusal of NDP MP Niki Ashton to endorse his leadership when asked to do is the icing on an increasingly toxic political cake. Suddenly it seems the brand name Orange Crush may well be taking on a grim new meaning for the party leader. (Continued: London Free Press)

 

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