Left

Tuesday September 1, 2015

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

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 1, 2015

Mulcair can only benefit from claims he’s not a traditional leftwinger

Listen to this old dittie from yesteryear as you read on…

(By Kelly McParland) If I was a conspiracy theorist, I’d suspect there was a conspiracy under way to covertly boost the image of Thomas Mulcair among non-NDP voters.There’s no question Mulcair has made a real effort to separate himself from the party’s loopier policies of the past. You won’t hear the word “socialism” escape his lips. He has promised a balanced budget — 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 he’s pledged to do it without raising taxes on income.

RB-Mr-InBetween-promo

Available at the boutique

That’s all well and good. But there’s also been a series of curious leaks that seem intended to undermine Mulcair by arguing he’s 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. It’s 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 country’s 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 Quebec’s Liberals, of being “the most right wing” member of that Quebec Liberal caucus, of supporting Quebec business owners against Quebec’s language police, and of failing to adopt the left’s rote opposition to free trade in all its forms.

He was also criticized by Ed Broadbent, the NDP’s current patron saint and elder statesman, who questioned Mulcair’s leadership skills, accused him of claiming credit for matters he had nothing to do with, and of seeking to change the NDP into “another Liberal party.” Perhaps worst of all, Mulcair is known to be sympathetic to Israel, challenging the party’s status as a safe harbour to all manner of anti-Israel zealots and promoters of boycotts. (Continued: National Post)

 

Alberni Valley Times (British Columbia) September 2, 2015

Alberni Valley Times (British Columbia) September 2, 2015

 

Friday September 12, 2014

Friday September 12, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 12, 2014

NDP may not be able to stop tide turning against it

There is a tide in Ontario political affairs that does not bode well for Thomas Mulcair’s New Democrats in next year’s federal election. And they may be powerless to reverse it to their advantage.

That tide was instrumental in propelling Premier Kathleen Wynne to the safe ground of a majority government last spring. By all indications, it is again at play in Toronto’s municipal campaign.

It should come as no surprise that a Forum Research poll that suggested Mayor Rob Ford (Open Rob Ford’s policard) was still in the running for re-election — with Olivia Chow running third — was followed by a Nanos poll that showed that John Tory had consolidated his lead on his main rivals.

For scores of Toronto voters, ousting Ford from office this fall comes before loyalty to a political brand.

For obvious reasons, the anybody-but-Ford movement is in a class of its own, as is the incumbent mayor who has inspired it. But last spring’s Ontario election demonstrated that it is not necessary for a politician to make it on the international tabloid circuit to induce voters into coalescing behind the strongest available alternative.

In the provincial campaign, the platform put forward by Tory leader Tim Hudak went a long way to convince many progressive voters to stick with the Liberals rather than risk facilitating a Conservative victory by giving their vote to the third-place NDP.

Transpose those dynamics to the federal level and you will find more than a few progressive voters willing to hold their nose next year if that is what it takes to end Stephen Harper’s reign in power.

To many, the first-place Liberals come across as a safer haven than the third-place NDP, regardless of the comparative skills of their leaders or even their respective policies.

This is a problem that may ultimately be beyond Mulcair’s fixing. (Continued: Toronto Star)