BREAKING NEWS: The Return of Carole Taylor
It is not often that I receive the same information from three different people in one day, but you can say, when the scenario below plays itself out, that you read it here first.
The best two Premiers we’ve never had, Carole Taylor and Dianne Watts, may be headed to Victoria–and sooner than you think.
I have it on excellent authority that former B.C. Finance Minster Carole Taylor has been musing to confidantes that she would be quite willing to stand for the leadership of the Liberal Party of British Columbia when Gordon Campbell finally steps down from his self-soiled perch. This is information that has been corroborated by three different sources, with large enough and significant enough circles of influence that I decided to proceed with this story. I have not spoken to Ms. Taylor about this, but may try to do so as more details arrive by carrier-pigeon.
As any of you who followed my old column in 24Hours know, I was the initiator of the idea that the incomparable Carole Taylor should run as an Independent against then Mayor Sam Sullivan for Mayor of Vancouver, or challenge for the NPA belt. The first time I mentioned this, was in a special editorial piece I did for the Vancouver Sun in September of 2006. Sam’s reign of error was in a flat spin and there was nothing to do but wait for the wreck to be recovered (which happened, as predicted–though the loss to Vision Vancouver was NOT brave Peter Ladner’s fault–maybe 5% for misstatements). Ms. Taylor, gracious, charming but tenacious as ever, walked away but not without some extraordinary, for her, parting shots about Sam’s madness.
Well, she didn’t save us from one madman, but she may indeed save us from another.
It’s no secret that Ms. Taylor was never fond of the ham-fisted and micromanaging ways of the current Premier (I’m understating the case here, in a moment of charity, not coyness). She said so privately to many advisors and friends before entering the provincial fray. It was the main reason it took her so long to commit. But commit she did and after a stellar job as Finance Minister, she rode off into the sunset to enjoy family time with her husband, perennial great-guy and former Mayor of Vancouver Art Phillips and her children. Prior to departing, it was the worst kept secret at the Legislature that Carole Taylor could not work with Gordon Campbell. It began to grate at her that she was supporting a man who was so very wrong on so many issues. Of course, she will deny this, as any good politician would do and Mr. Campbell did at the time of Ms. Taylor’s departure from provincial politics, deflecting such questions from the dean of B.C. media, Vaughn Palmer, his colleague Keith Baldrey, the best talk show host in B.C. CKNW’s Sean Leslie and B. C.’s number one investigative reporter, Sean Holman of publiceyeonline.com .
Since retiring from Victoria, Ms. Taylor has been appointed to a series of corporate boards and remains as busy as ever, but the political itch, the one that often creeps up on us when we least expect it, apparently needs a scratch. She has informed her most trusted confidantes that a point-person to run a campaign for leader is step one, but she’s in…for now.
This scenario, if it should play itself out, raises some very interesting prospects for this province–and very positive ones at that.
Most notably, should Carole Taylor AND Dianne Watts team up and go off to Victoria, the NDP are absolutely guaranteed opposition for 12 years, at a minimum, no matter who they choose as leader. The Angel Gabriel himself couldn’t save the NDP in that case.
And here’s how it could all work…
Let’s begin by looking at the players in a leadership race to replace Gordon Campbell.
The contenders…
George Abbott: One of perhaps three people in cabinet (Kevin Falcon and Rich Coleman being the others–see below) to have the testicular fortitude to stand up to Gordo the Tyrant. You do not mess with the Preem, as he is always right and notoriously petty. Carrying a grudge and executing revenge is to Gordon Campbell what breathing is to you and me. But Mr. Abbott, to his credit, has never backed down from telling the Premier when he thought he was wrong or when the Preem had over stepped his authority. I’m told George Abbott has already chosen TWO people to assist in a leadership bid. In fact, he has been most open around the Legislature with colleagues about his interest in the top job. But alas, George couldn’t win: A decent man, without question, and capable cabinet minister, but he doesn’t have the star power to get across the goal line.
Rich Coleman: A favorite with the ultra-Conservative set throughout the Bible Belt of the Fraser Valley, he would not have the numbers to do it on his own. Mr. Coleman would need to team up with at least two other contenders of the five (or six) likely to make a good showing at a convention. Not trusted by the always and forever whining and bleeding-heart liberals in the party, he would be several horses short of a full stable. Funny point about the liberals in the party: Mr. Coleman, Ms. Taylor or Ms. Watts–any winner, would have to deliver a soft ‘c’ socially moderate, fiscally conservative agenda to make the party appreciated in this province, but the true Grits couldn’t accept such a platform from a Tory. Typical of why the federal party is such a failure at the moment, they will never hesitate to cut their nose off to spite their collective face. Such fickleness from the Gordon Gibson wing of the party is probably why Gordon Campbell has gone overboard on typically fringe (traditionally liberal) initiatives (egs. a deference to First Nations tantamount to foot-kissing and false greenwashing). So a Coleman run wouldn’t work either.
Kevin Falcon: Probably one of the most underestimated cabinet members in terms of intra-party appeal. Not one to pull a punch, sometimes his brutal honesty has cost him in star-power points. Bright, articulate, yes, but ‘The Falconator’ is viewed as too similar to Gordon Campbell (an unfair comparison perhaps, but that’s the unmistakable perception) because of the polarizing effect his sometimes incendiary public comments. Always affable and approachable, but his statements about healthcare cuts have been from inadvisable to mindless (when apparently repeating the Premier’s lines). Mr. Falcon hosts a constituency BBQ every year at the Surrey ranch of Tory Senator Gerry St. Germain; he would also be popular with the Bible Belt in B.C. But the majority of strong (read: inflexible) conservatives aren’t going to park their votes with a young, hip, monied guy, who dresses like he could be the member from Holt Renfrew (sound familiar?). Notwithstanding the annual shindig at a horse ranch, the Tories in the party don’t want a guy who looks like he spends three afternoons a week at Hot Yoga and sips tofu lattes through a straw. Best political move: Swiftly shut down the Robert’s Bank end of the BC Rail deal, the second even a hint of controversy hit the govt hull.
Colin Hansen: Far too attached to the federal Liberal party to keep aboard the Tories in the party. His mother-in-laws circle of influence (he’s married to Laura, daughter of long-time federal Grit philanthropist, activist and all-round lovely woman Doreen Braverman). His feeble explanations about the hated HST killed off any chance of a leadership run, but his diehards would expect nothing less of him. Only chance of success: If Carole Taylor stays home or does something else AND Dianne Watts remains Cloverdale’s favorite gal. Mr. Hansen is one of the best regarded MLAs in decades…perhaps he’s too nice.
The one and only wildcard…
Christy Clark: ”I think the govt is going to be able to find another politician but Hamish is never going tobe able to find another mother.” (Christy Clark, September 16th.2004). This was her now infamous statement upon “leaving politics”….less than a year later, she was running for the NPA Mayoral nomination. Boy those darn kiddies grow up quick, don’t they? As Minister of Education she was an unmitigated disaster, gutting multicultural and special needs support worker positions and translator positions to ESL services, resulting in overflowing classes, displaced special needs students, etc. Also, her directionless agenda and general incompetence as the Minister of Children and Family Development was also a problem for the govt. Her only non-political job, ever, has been as an afternoon host on CKNW radio (a job that notorious backroomer and Gordon Campbell pal Patrick Kinsella claims to have arranged for her), where as a forty-something woman, she has not been able to carry the coveted 24-55 year old demographic for the station. In fact, since she began at NW, that statistic has plummeted for them. Viral maladroit positions with callers, spectacular on-air gaffes and serial misstatements notwithstanding her following is limited… Biggest problem: She constantly comes up as someone of interest where the political issues leading up to the BC Rail scandal are concerned. Her former husband Mark Marissen and brother Bruce Clark were both questioned at the time by the RCMP, but not charged. Essentially, this is a nice enough (and very lucky) gal whose life-long pipe-dream(s) of being Mayor/Premier/Prime Minster (insert delusion of grandeur here) just isn’t going to happen. Chances of success: Slim to none and slim left for a sinkhole in Siberia. Her star has faded, badly.
The REAL DEAL…
Dianne Watts: A majority of media colleagues mocked me when three years ago I predicted Dianne Watts’ (then) pending mammoth success. Without having taken the time to meet her, they thought I was just pandering to my old roots in Surrey by declaring Dianne ‘Megawatts’ the Premier-in-waiting (I had assumed Ms. Taylor’s retirement). Well, what a difference 36 months make…the media supernova Watts is now widely beloved, not just for her unparalleled accomplishments on thorny issues like social housing and drug treatment, but too, because of her straight-shooting, common sense approach to everything from supporting business to rescuing people from the street; to bringing both Rudy Giuliani and Tony Blair to Surrey; to attracting retirees and young families alike to the ‘City of Parks’. She also has an uncanny ability, like Ms. Taylor, to reach across the political divide and make perceived enemies almost immediate friends. Her creation of the Surrey First Party, with highly competent councilors of all political stripes is a stunning accomplishment. I’ve met a more put together politician (someone who knows their precise place in the political world), twice: Ronald Reagan and John Crosbie. She would win a leadership contest in a walk without Carole Taylor in the mix and be able to bring the same attributes to the job of Premier as Carole Taylor. After a likely one-term Carole Taylor run as Premier, Dianne Watts would be a lock for the job. And it only helps that her random acts of kindness and legendary big-heartedness are hardly ever outside her repertoire. Never one to worry about ruining her immaculately manicured hands, she’ll work with intelligence and commitment.
The NATURAL…
Carole Taylor: A resume no one can touch, she is the one non-NDP Finance Minister in B.C. history to really commit to union peace, as more than only a rhetorical priority; a move that sent the union bosses scrambling for something nasty to say…instead, silence and acceptance of new deals that made everyone happy. A consensus builder and someone who demands to roll up her sleeves and get the work done herself, she isn’t afraid of working hard. Compassionate (sometimes to a fault) and engaging, she is absolutely HATED by the NDP backroom because attacking her is like announcing that you’re going to go off a boil bunnies. Left-wing pundits like Bill Tieleman actually had to manufacture bad things to say about her when they were worried she would run for Mayor of Vancouver (Gregor Robertson would have NEVER run against her)–criticisms made of NDP speaking notes that were as flawed as they were biased. Ms. Taylor is almost bullet-proof, particularly considering her badly kept secret of knowing how wrong Gordon Campbell is for British Columbia.
And the permutations…
If Gordon Campbell doesn’t leave voluntarily by the end of 2010, there is a group that have decided to prepare an in-the-beginning quiet mutiny (no, I’m not going to tell you who, yet…but you’d be surprised at the ringleader..) It will go a long way to restoring the Liberal party’s image with the electorate and the fact that they might by ushering a madman out the door, will also play well. The concern, particularly by those backing both Taylor and Watts is that the longer the Premier remains the Premier, the more difficult it will be to resurrect the party. Both Ms. Taylor and Ms. Watts camps have plans, if successful, to mitigate the HST hurt by providing exemptions for all sorts of sectors and their interest in getting addicts into drug treatment, the homeless into mental health treatment–by reopening Riverview to start (without Rich Coleman’s Gordon Campbell-inspired nonsensical mixed development), and initiating real environmentally-friendly initiatives that don’t cost British Columbians at the dinner table (or include friends/donors of the Premier–like the Rape of River Power nonsense) and also working towards substantive solutions for a reasonable and sustainable relationship with First Nations. (Notwithstanding the INSANITY of renaming the Queen Charlotte Islands, thank you Premier). Both women are said to privately like each other and both share a great deal of respect for bridge building with political opponents, although the tough-as-nails Ms. Watts has shown she won’t hesitate to take the gloves off if necessary, while Ms. Taylor is likely to look for a surrogate in that regard.
Location, location, location…
Since Kevin Falcon has now moved to South Surrey/White Rock, he is likely to seek the nomination for Gordie Hogg’s seat, should Mr. Hogg retire (Hogg is a first-class guy who is very well liked and regarded as having taken a bullet for the Premier during the Doug Walls Affair). That would make room for Dianne Watts to run in Cloverdale (where she lives). Carole Taylor, on the other hand, could run in almost any Vancouver constituency and take it without a hiccup.
The point here is that the coalition that was the Social Credit and now the “Liberal” party has finally awoken to the nightmare that is Gordon Campbell. He is a MASSIVE liability. He needs to go as soon after the Olympics as possible, otherwise, the party risks a freefall that might not be recoverable. The NDP far out poll the Liberals now and that’s with the feckless Carole James as leader. Can you imagine what a John Horgan, Adrian Dix or Mike Farnworth (all excellent MLAs) might do to Liberal polling numbers, with Mr. Campbell still in the Premier’s Office?
Additionally, Ms. Taylor will need time to assemble a new team. She will have to, of course, keep the Bill Bennetts and Pat Bells, in order to appeal to the heartland (and hinterland) voters, as well as encouraging stronger candidates from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
To be sure, such a scenario as the one I describe here, spells certain doom for the NDP, who cannot be trusted. Their recent election of Moe Sihota as party President and the carrying of Carole James as leader only shows the glaring schisms and deep divisions of a party ultimately in disarray, stuck between socialist philosophes, moderate idealists and retrograde union fluffers–but they’re leading in the polls nonetheless. And this is the concern of Liberal strategists as well, trust me.
(As an off-shoot benefit, such a scenario could also spell doom for Vision Vancouver. As a farm team for the NDP, it would be much easier for Team Taylor to deal with an NPA council or Vancouver First council than the rabid ideologues currently killing Vancouver’s progress with vacuous, far-left grandstanding. There would be great incentive for a new team in Victoria to work towards moving COPE-light along into retirement in 2011…the developers and industry donors today nervously embracing Vision could more easily walk away, too. They’d be done)
More to the point…
The only ace up the NDP’s sleeve could be anything political emanating from the Basi-Virk trial, but that all might affect those not in government and perhaps only those long departed from Victoria. Hard to say… Regardless, any detonations will have to be carefully messaged by the Liberals. The distance between the party and the possible offending individual or group of individuals MUST be significant, otherwise the voter will measure the distance for them–in votes out the door.
But this all boils down to whether Gordon Campbell wants to take the party down with him. He needs to go soon after the Olympics are done, giving a new group time to stick-handle the HST fire pit and the massive debt of the Games.
It will be interesting to see all the denials after this post hits the desks of many of the politicians named herein…but remember…
You read it here first…
Great piece Alex. One thing disturbs me though. No matter who you get to run the liberals they will still pander to the whim of big business. That is their bread and butter. Although I think Ms Taylor or Watts would make a very good leader, do you think they might bite the hand that feeds them?
Just for instance. How would they stop Campbells crazy “rape of the rivers” projects. May of these have now had millions poured into them and you could be damn sure there would be lawsuits. Lawsuits that any government in this province could ill afford because I allege that Campbell has left the province absolutely broke.
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There are ways to stop Rape of River Power Projects….but I’m not going to tip my hand…or that of other thinkers…
They are an answer to a problem which does not exist.
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Very criptic answer Alex. I’m glad you and others think there are ways.
I personally can’t think right now of any way that will stop them that doesn’t cost the Province a huge bundle of cash. Which I still submit we don’t have .
As far as an answer to a problem that doesn’t exist. How can there be an answer if a problem doesn’t exist? I submit that this whole mess of ROR is a huge problem set up by a person who hasn’t the vaguest clue on how to “best handle our finances”.
So the only answer that I can see here is to cancel all contracts for ROR on the premise that were not legal in the first place as we the voters did not give permission for this to come about.
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We’re agreed in principle at least. But that’s how these ROR projects are described. As “answers” to fictitious energy supply issues.
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Thanks for the clarification Alex. Now that you have helped me “take a walk outside my mind” everything is much clearer.
Funny how one can get bogged down without a little input from others.
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You forgot Mary Polak. Gesse. I guess her fan club needs to buy some amplifiers and rock the Rockpile some more
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With all due respect, it was Mary Polak not Carole Taylor or Dianne Watts who saved BC from the NDP on 30 April 2009 when she rode her CF-18 into the NDP dragon’s jaw, slaying the NDP lies and inspiring a new generation of BCLibs around da world to take the fight TO the NDP. It’s on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ui2HE6Taac
Of course, this is the same Mary Polak who grew up in poverty in a special needs family to rise up to the top. Never knew a day of BMWs, Porsches and the like. Rags to riches if ever, my friends.
Our Mary also has an unnerving tendency to seek out dangerous, hazardous and tough assignments from caucus leadership in ’06 (she lost, but still she put her hand up), resolving the Surrey book debacle (which she gets zero credit for bringing peace to, but all the blame), the MCFD during the Great Recession and the list goes on. Yeah, she’ll run. And she’ll win!
Why? You want tough guy with moxie to save the best place on Earth who ought to license herself for video games & action figures instead of salary? Hire Mary Polak – she’s a cross between Diane Watts & Sarah Palin, and already inside the trenches, “ready, aye, ready” just as much as the Falconater but better at going over there and doing the business with the NDP. A great demo reel is also up at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcFU3BOxhU if you care to watch.
HOWEVER and I’m going to pour the sugar on this to be fair: IF you want an aging gracefully Vancouver creamie whose office floor had better have two digits and doesn’t like Gordon Campbell and will maximize the perks… hire Carole Taylor.
Let’s have some fun in any event
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Polkite, I know Mary Polak…Mary Polak is a friend of mine…and you’re no Mary Polak…
“Our Mary also has an unnerving tendency to seek out dangerous, hazardous and tough assignments from caucus leadership”–you could have just stopped there… LOL!
Isn’t that how it goes?
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Yes sir. And I am 1/1,000,000th the courage and bravery and morality and poise and wit and rhetorical firepower and beauty that is Mary Polak, I can assure you.
I hope you please consider boosting Her Maryesty as a Premiership candidate – unless she demurrs
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You must be joking…
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And thats all it takes to keep the Liberal dynasty afloat in the Province.
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Yup, pretty much. The NDP are utterly frightening, but the Liberals have become more frightening under Gordon Campbell.
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Excellent post Alex! And as a keen observer of the provincial political scene also both very intelligently and analytically written. Bravo!
I read Gary Mason’s column this morning and was also taken aback about Carole Taylor’s apparent new interest in the top job with the full blessing of her husband.
That was a bit of a stunner considering that everyone was under the assumption that she had gone off into the political sunset.
Gary also aptly described Taylor as “A perfect political blend in many people’s minds”. Couldn’t agree more.
On top of that, Diane Watts’ cache is also pure political gold for the Liberals and it’s no wonder that she was in first place by far in the “best premier” category in a recent Angus Reid Strategies poll.
When Gordo retires, his Point Grey seat would be a good fit for Taylor. I also heard that Hogg has plans to retire from the provincial scene and that Watts would run in his White Rock seat, albeit I was unaware of Falcon’s move to South Surrey.
Anyway, the dynamics of a Taylor/Watts political combo would be akin to a speeding freight train. It would be politically unstoppable IMHO.
The enormous political capital in that regard is HUGE.
Very interesting stuff!!
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Thank you kind Sir!
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Glad to hear the knives will comes out on Campbell if he doesn’t retire on his own after the Olympics.
Old Gordon has been the lesser of two evils, with the other being the NDP. Now that the worse evil is within reach of the keys to the legislature again, its time for him to say adios.
I’d happily support Carole Taylor or Dianne Watts should they seek the leadership, regardless of what comes out of the Basi-Virk scandal.
Sign me up, I’m ready to help them take Victoria by storm.
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Glen, I just want Premier Campbell to retire graciously. He has done a lot of good – between cleaning out the BCNDP, getting BC’s reputation back, bringing a string of hits into caucus (Judith Reid, Christy Clark, Kevin Falcon, Mary Polak) and of course the Olympics.
Gyratin’ Gord also has suffered mightily for his service. I would much rather he go out in style rather than intrigue (caucus mutiny) or infamy (lost election).
For those whom want centrists and not ideologues though – Taylor-Watts is a good ticket!
For those whom want action heroes for liberty – vote Polak-Falcon…
For those whom want socialist disaster – do anything BUT vote BCLib or tell Gordon Campbell he’s King of B.C.
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Um…”Gordon Campbell has done a lot of good”
This very well could be the most frightening statement of the last ten years. Gordon Campbell is out of his mind and needs to go. He is the worst Premier we’ve ever had, and his tenure has been destructive and toxic.
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Wow! is all I can say.
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Christy Clark has even less to do with the Basi Virk scandal than Paul Martin had to do with the Gomery scandal.
Yes, Bruce Clark was questioned but never charged with anything. Why, then, does Alex keep repeating this as an item of interest? Is he trying to spread some kind of innuendo?
Mark Marissen, on the other hand, never had anthing to do with the allegations surrounding the Basi-Virk issue at all. He was not “questioned by the RCMP” about any alleged wrongdoing on his part or anthing of the sort – and was told in writing by the RCMP that he was “not implicated” in any way, merely the “innocent recipient” of Basi and Virk’s resumes because they were seeking jobs with the federal government. They came looking for those resumes, and that was it.
This clarification was printed in the Sun after they published Christy Clark and Mark Marissen’s pictures.
November 29, 2008
A timeline published Nov. 28 to accompany stories about the trial of Dave Basi and Bob Virk included photographs of Liberal organizer Mark Marissen and former cabinet minister Christy Clark. When RCMP visited Marissen in 2003, they gave him a letter stating he was not implicated in the investigation but might have been the innocent recipient of some documents. Marissen advises he has had no contact with them since. The Vancouver Sun has no information to suggest that either Marissen or Clark are central figures in this matter, and the inclusion of their photographs was inappropriate.
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Hi Jack…I’m not sure what your problem is?
Both Bruce Clark and Mark Marissen were questioned by the RCMP investigating the raid on the legislature. Neither of them have ever been charged with anything. If Mark received a letter, so what? That has NOTHING to do with what I wrote and there is NO implication of wrongdoing. Simply that their names keep coming up and that IMO this would be problematic for Christy, if she were to run. Where is the problem here, pal? Statements of fact bother you?
“Yes, Bruce Clark was questioned but never charged with anything. Why, then, does Alex keep repeating this as an item of interest? Is he trying to spread some kind of innuendo?” Um…you are repeating what I wrote and then suggesting I was spreading innuendo? Give your head a shake.
“Mark Marissen, on the other hand, never had anthing to do with the allegations surrounding the Basi-Virk issue at all. He was not “questioned by the RCMP” about any alleged wrongdoing on his part or anthing of the sort – and was told in writing by the RCMP that he was “not implicated” in any way, merely the “innocent recipient” of Basi and Virk’s resumes because they were seeking jobs with the federal government. They came looking for those resumes, and that was it.” Mark’s office was subpoenaed for search and that was denied but he eventually complied and he was spoken to by the police when he was informed that he might have innocently received information. That’s what I wrote except for mentioning the search. There is no innuendo there either. I mentioned that there were no charges, therefore, the direct implication is that there was no wrongdoing. Can you read?
Your opinion is that Christy has little to do with the Basi-Virk scandal. But well after the “clarification” by the Vancouver Sun, defense documents have Christy coming up in all sorts of emails related to the case. And that’s my point. IF the trial proceeds and more questions are raised than are answered = possible problem. No implication of wrongdoing, just that this will sit there and cast a dark cloud over any potential run, IMO.
No one mentioned any wrongdoing, criminal or otherwise, least of all me.
A little sensitive are we?
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I guess it’s up to me to be the contrarian on this one. By the time of our next provincial election Carole Taylor will be 68 years old, depending on her actual birthday, which may not be a saleable product to the younger voters. She would also have to deal with the fact that she was the finance minister when the BC Liberals gave the banking industry a huge tax break then took a job as a director of one of the major banks. Another albatross will be the HST, which she railed against when she sat as a MLA, and will be forced to defend after the fact. That is not an enviable position to be in.
Dianne Watts could be a possibility, but I’m not so sure she is ready to take on the roll of Rita Johnson or Kim Campbell. The BC Liberal party, under Gordon Campbell, have accumulated a great deal of baggage to date and their legacy will no doubt grow as time passes. At some point, the true state of BC’s finances must come to light, and it ain’t gonna be pretty. The debt carried by the provincial government, Translink and BC Ferries alone are scary to say the least. The Basi-Virk trial could be a wild card depending on how things unfold there. The true costs and indebtedness of the P3 endeavors will be another millstone that any right thinking politician would shun in a heartbeat. If I was her, I’d just be happy being mayor of Surrey and wait for the next opportunity, which would likely occur before the 2017 election.
As for those that are currently sitting, any one of them may become the next leader and no matter which way the delegates choose there is a good possibility that the coalition of right and left will be permanently fractured. If a Falcon or Coleman gets the nod then I suspect some of the left leaning types will either retire or look for other opportunities. If a more moderate type such as George Abbott or Colin Hansen gets the nod, then it is quite likely that the more conservative types will emulate my thoughts on a Falcon or Coleman victory. Either way, the new leader will have to answer to the legacy of Gordon Campbell. They were all in cabinet throughout his tenure, and not once did any of them question his directions publicly. They may have been unwilling cohorts in cabinet meetings, but that is something we will never know as what is said in cabinet stays in cabinet. For any of them tto claim something different will be looked on as nothing more than political opportunism. As they say, no guts, no glory.
The reality is that we are being exposed to the shortcomings of our so-called democracy. The fact that we have no mechanism of a sober second thought puts us into a situation where the leader of any party that can get a majority can rule as a dictator if they so choose. It is up to the rest of his or her team to keep him or her on the straight and narrow, and from where I sit that has not occured. And remember that Carole Taylor was in such a position not too long ago.
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I disagree, for a number of reasons…
Carole Taylor’s age will not playa factor since her appeal is that she is indeed youthful and energetic. Her plan, from what I’m told, is to reverse course on some of Gordon’s mania. This is good. As for her position on the HST, this means nothing. There are already plans to offer up exemptions. That will mitigate any negative impact. As for the banking tax break, this was necessary and part of an announced initiative that became policy. The fact she went off to sit on the board of TD is meaningless. What if it were VanCity?
Comparing Dianne Watts to Rita or Kim is, well, not a comparison. Watts has tremendous cross-over appeal and will help Taylor in righting the govt ship.
NONE of the current stable of sitting MLAs could possibly take the helm and deliver a win. Won’t happen. And if it does it will be curtains for the Liberals.
The trick will be to distance themselves from this man Campbell who has badly damaged the party.
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I agree that Carole Taylors outward appearance belies her age, but the reality is that she will be either 67 or 68 when the next election is due to occur. That means that voters that were 10 years old when she last sat in Victoria will be elegible to vote and I doubt that the majority of them will even know who she is. What they will relate to is the fact that they will be asked to vote for someone that older than their grandparents and the youth of today is just as rebelious as we were in our formative years.
My reference to Dianne Watts was not to compare her with Kim Campbell or Rita Johnson on the basis of of quality, but on situation. The BC Liberal party may not be reduced to single digit seats in the next election, but they will most likely suffer substantial losses no matter who becomes their next leader. The party has just accumulated too much baggage, and if she is an astute politician as I think she is, she will choose to bypass this dance and wait for something more promising. She is in a situation where she can probably continue to succeed for many, many years if she so wishes. She is in a good place now, but stepping into the provincial fray may not be so idyllic.
This is just one man’s opinion. I’ve been wrong before and will surely be wrong again, but that is the way that I see the universe unfolding.
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Ha ha ha can you believe this guy? He’s talking about the youth vote!
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Yeah, actually, I can and I do.
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Perhaps my criticism of Dianne Watts was too harsh? Perhaps she didn’t win because of her lovely thighs alone. All I know is that I wouldn’t let my daughter go out looking like that, had I one; which just shows I’m from another generation and thus, over the top. Nor, seemingly should one discuss the mix of gangsterism with policing policy when set by the mayor.
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Larry–what criticism? And I’m confused, help me out! What gangsterism and policing policy are you talking about??? Lovely thighs? As for your comments about lovely body parts etc., I find it extraordinary that when an attractive woman runs for office, at some point, someone raises the issue and many even dwell on it, without pause to think that it might be summarily sexist. If a handsome fellow runs, his looks are referred to only in passing and then it’s done with. Yes, Dianne Watts is an attractive woman, so is Carole Taylor, she of the porcelain skin…but why are these observations relevant? And I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I covered Dianne Watts’ election to the Surrey Mayor’s chair as a guest commentator for a major station, and I didn’t find her quite conservative attire even a worthwhile observation. She was (is) articulate, intelligent and passionate about making the world a better place. There are always challenges along the way. Thx for stopping by!
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Dear Alex.
This is your show and you may edit it if you find my comments in someway improper or rude. I guess your idea of conservative dress and mine are obviously different. I don’t remember the time but shortly after her first run as mayor and after pointedly saying that if elected she would cut back on policing in Whalley, sometime thereafter in the towers right behind the Surrey Inn (or whatever they call it), 6 persons were murdered, two of them being uninvolved in crime. And yes, all eyes were on her on the podium and (maybe I’m a dirty old man here) all eyes were on those legs that were so prominently shown. That’s not necessarily a bad point, why not vote for someone who is healthy? I wasn’t too impressed with her do nothing attitude on the monster housing question, of course it’s all about votes isn’t it. We can’t just tell people that those are the laws and they must comply? To hell with those who don’t want to live next to these gross behemoths with attached dump truck? That said, I agree with you on many things but apparently not on Diane Watts or same-sex marriage, so what? Don’t take umbrage, just because I do. I’m not the professional here, you are. God bless; I will be back to cause you all sorts of agony, but only at times appropriate. Feel free to edit, it’s hardly the first time I’ve been silenced, hell Andrew Holota refused to print anything I said for almost a year until Brian Buchanan called him on it in the B.C. Business magazine many years ago.
Larry
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Larry, with all due respect, I edit NOTHING. I have no idea why you are suggesting I have done so. I allow all messages to go through unless they are deemed to be defamatory, offensive or unfair. I cannot imagine what you of all people could possible write, that would prompt me to edit, however, let’s move on here…
I don’t know about any “conservative” or “unconservative” dress that can be attributed to Dianne Watts. I’ve never known here to be inappropriate and I’ve seen her at any number of events throughout her career. As for the lovely legs you refer to, I haven’t seen those either, but as I wrote in a previous post, some say these things only about women, forgetting their intelligence and commitment, while men seem to get a pass.
The Whalley comments you are referring to, are from her first term when she suggested that they would realize efficiencies, by altering shifts to fit patterns of traffic. During the first two quarters of that year, crime went down. And during the last two, it increased. The “shortages” that you are referring to, never materialized. As for the deaths in those towers…Larry, Rudy Giuliani didn’t increase the amount of security around the WTCs after the first attempts (certainly when he became Mayor), although he increased police services (as did Dianne after becoming Mayor). Does this mean that Rudy Giuliani is responsible for the deaths of 3,000 American souls? I think we need to be careful not to generalize here. Dianne had no way of knowing such a mass murder would take place in Whalley and certainly the indicators were that crime was flat-lining there. As for the monster houses, I think that’s more of a cultural issue than anything,since the majority of them are owned by Indo-Canadians and they certainly like to have their in-laws and children often living with them. I find NO problem with that at all. If fact, I encourage it since it’s what they want. They certainly aren’t hurting anyone by it.
As for my “taking umbrage”, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I find you absolutely delightful, as you know, and I have enjoyed our discussions over the years. You will never cause me “agony” either, since the door is always open for you. And I will never edit you since I know you are gentleman. I wish you well.
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Alex,
I get the feeling from our posts that you didn’t get, or else it got lost in the ether-sphere or whatever, my first post, though it did end up here under the title “waiting for moderation”. When I looked for your reply the next day or so, the comment was gone and I just presumed you had rejected it, and I never kept a copy of it (plus I’m not too proficient on these damn things) It was at that time I replied with the follow up, which confused you, understandably. Be that as it may I still say that Diane was negligent of her duties in allowing (mostly E. Indians) to build far over city code limitations. You try to make it sound all nice and pro-family, but I’m quite aware that they are used as rental units that over use the sewers, parking, hydro, garbage services etc., etc.. Would you want to live next door to one of these grotesque monstrosities? Why must we change our minds to defer to the tastes of Indian culture? At least in European terms, if you want a manor house you build it where there are no building codes with limitations on size. At the risk of sounding crude, Surrey needs a mayor with balls! Still, and always, feel free to disagree.
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I didn’t see a first post honestly, otherwise I wold have printed it. If you find it let me know. I had one other regular poster lose a post as well. Strange…
I agree that there might be ways to increase the efficiency of allowing such homes to be built by having the owners pay extra for their additional share of amenities…
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The point is simple, Alex – given that they have nothing to do with the Basi-Virk allegations, repeating the idea that they somehow have something to do with it is very much like asking someone “when did you stop beating your wife?”
It is your kind of “reporting” that keeps a smear alive. Or are you suggesting that it’s a problem for Christy that they are NOT implicated in the case? Is that why you are bringing this issue up?
Also, please prove that there are any emails from or to Christy Clark related to this case, because that would be real news.
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Look, you need to either read what I wrote and not project your own blind defense of Mark and/or Christy or calm down and understand the perception out there.
You have now littered this stream with nonsense about what you think I think and wrote. So, let’s look again, shall we?
Here’s the quote from my story:
“Biggest problem: She constantly comes up as someone of interest where the political issues leading up to the BC Rail scandal are concerned. Her former husband Mark Marissen and brother Bruce Clark were both questioned at the time by the RCMP, but not charged.”
As I’ve stated several times for you, her biggest problem is exactly what I wrote…that her name comes up from issues that emanated from the POLITICAL end of the the investigation. My “reporting” isn’t one stitch different than what has been written by several others in the past, or by major newspapers and news venues in this city, province and country.
There are more questions than there are answers and in the absence of either a statement from her, with specifics, the perception remains intact that people close to her were spoken to about the investigation (what discussions took place and what questions were asked have never been revealed)… Also, I NEVER suggested, as you have written above, that she or Mark are connected to the specific Basi-Virk allegations or charges. Not once. As I understand the charges, they are against Messers Basi and Virk and do not include anyone else. Thus, the only thing you have demonstrated is that you are a defender of theirs and I think that’s lovely. Good for you. But you have defended them from phantom smears.
As for “proving” that there are emails with Christy’s name on them, it’s really simple: I don’t have to. The defense have repeated this several times. Why would they lie? Can you prove they don’t exist? (other than saying so from behind the cover of an anonymous “name”. Can you produce a copy of Mark’s letter from the RCMP? I’ll be happy to post either proof and call a spade a spade. Show me!
Frankly, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time grappling with a coward who hides behind an anonymous “name” and misrepresents what I have written.
I am profoundly disinterested that reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit. Either come up with something concrete, or go away. Nothing I wrote is actionable in the least. If you think it is, forward the post to either of your friends and have them sue me.
Christy Clark and Mark Marissen were not smeared by my post ar enot considered connected to any charges, nor would I allow such contentions to be made on this website.
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i agree carole taylor will be very popular with the gucci shoes crowd but very little to anybody else. 1996 glen clark said about gordon campbell “i didn’t know gucci made plaid”
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Very cleaver of old Glen, but not particularly effective (or accurate) since Campbell’s vote in the interior is fairly steady….but here’s better explanation: The folks in the interior of the province are more likely to decide on a local basis. They would not be swayed to vote against the Liberals because Carole is well-monied. They’d just simply dismiss that as big-city trappings, etc. With Dianne Watts in the mix, they would be unbeatable.
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This is the best analysis I’ve read of the sad state that the party is in because of Gordon Campbell. He is just a totally insensitive man. Actually he’s sick with all the cuts he’s made to social programs. Renaming the QC islands was just crazy. Great analysis Alex!
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Oh god Alex I sure hope you are right. Campbell is the worst premier in my memory. Thank you for bringing us the good news. Your website is great because I can read you everyday instead of just one day a week at 24 HOURS.
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Interesting scorecard. I’ll have to keep track when and if the fur starts to fly.
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A pleasure to see you here Eleanor. Yes, indeed, it will be interesting to see how this plays itself out. Both Dianne and Carole have significant pope backing them. Joining forces will destroy the NDP chances of election.
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I am not sure how well any one running for the BC Libs will do when true budget numbers of whats been done come out the backlash will be felt hard , traditionally such things have decimated parties so Taylor and Watts will need such agresssive plans to undo past damage it will be difficult and to be honest i had ties to political right all my life and ill vote NDP hoping to kill the cancer thats run us into this situation and will come back when im convinced smart decisions which consider all people as investors in Gov from a kid at a fast food place to the top offices on Howe street .
I also know im not alone in this many i know who would support a Liberal are saying the same they see a party so out of touch with reality they do not trust any of them now .
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You make good points. But I think the combination of Dianne and Carole with new candidates across the board could get the job done, no question. The NDP are no badly divided, thanks to Carole James entrenched stay and Moe Sihota’s arrival.
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I dont like James either maybe shes a lot smarter than her PR shows but i dont see enough from her all i can say is we have seen BC Liberals out and out lie and lie and its a culture of elitist that runs to the core of the party i dont know if a leadership change shakes off the smell , much like our NDP but at least they are over 10 years removed even with a few recycles and sadly we need a change and we need politics that reflect an understanding that polarized visions blinded by cash or idealism is no longer tolerable , good smart small government run with the intent of making things work well for all good education and health are the backbone of success take care of those and most of the rest takes care of itself.
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Many thx Tim!
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No question, it won’t be easy…
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A great piece of work Alex. It was a very enjoyable read and insightful.
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I’m not sure how it works but I don’t think Gordon Campbell can unilaterally change the name of a geographic location. Does there not have to be some kind of statutory Declaration or legislation with majority approval to do this. It is still the Queen Charlotte Islands as far as I’m concerned, there is no such creature as a Spirit Bear and it is (edited by AGT) Mountain and always will be, until, at least, such time as the Paddy Wagon references are made illegal. My mother came from the Lees of Belfast and this is a slur on all Irishmen, Orange and Green (though especially Catholics) which is of course the last holdout of racist bias.
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Lisa Kennedy states that Campbell’s renaming of the Q.C. Islands is just crazy, but we do not have your take on the matter, Alex and I would like to know your thoughts on it because I do respect you. You obviously agree with renaming a particular mountain that will go unspoken here, and you may be right, why cause unnecessary hurt, though for the life of me, I think we are all a little oversensitive these days. My remark about the Paddy wagon was tongue in cheek, I really could care less, it’s the point I’m trying to make here. It seems that only white persons are capable of being racist and unthinking of other’s feelings. Irish people were as much dreaded by the world, as were Jews and blacks, and were likewise banned in many places. I have read many times that Irish were considered drunken, filthy and argumentative; and I really don’t doubt they earned that reputation. However if we start giving Native names to all the sites named after British royalty, we must change Prince George, Prince Rupert and Victoria, just for starters.
Tweedsmuir Park and the community of Bessborough were I believe named after British Governors-General of Canada, Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond, etc., are all British place names. What to do. And of course we have Fort St. John and Fort St. James that may be offensive to non-Christians or, for that matter, Protestants. And the province of Alberta and Lake Louise were both named after British royalty. Dear God, will it ever end? The small community of Fredandtedandjohn in Northern B.C. might be seen as sexist. Should this kind of political correctness spread we may see the Christchurch of New Zealand being renamed so as not to offend Maoris and atheists. But perhaps it is I who is getting carried away? At any rate there are thousands of Native place names in Canada, and now they want the Salish Sea to be the name of the inland coastal waters between Van Isle and the mainland.
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I think the world of you and your opinions. I will be giving my thoughts on the OBSCENE renaming of the Queen Charlotte Islands later this week. For now, I have to follow the Parsons story because it is EXTREMELY significant.
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I will not support taylor, not happy about her giving the banks a very large tax break (500 million annually?) then excepting the board position at TD as payment, meanwhile my daughters school is in need of seismic upgrades!
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Sorry, I fail to see the connection. Instead of throwing a massive stimulus package at them (as has been done in the States) she leveled the field for them. And do you have proof that going off to the TD was anything more than her old friend Frank McKenna being savvy and intelligent enough to hire a brilliant woman to get on the board? The TD were in better shape than some of the others. A pay off is awfully tough to prove. And your daughter’s school PAC should all be clamoring to support Carole for precisely the reason you cite: One of the main reasons she is considering coming bak is because the monumental premier was worried about seismic work in schools that were in his constituency but not anywhere else really. She wants to come back to right WRONGS, precisely such as those you mention.
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I disagree with you she dropped the tax, left office then excepts the position with TD speaks volumes to me. I am sorry but the TD and their many foreign investors did not need this tax break as badly as the children of this province need the money, we do have the highest number of children living in poverty in Canada do we not?
TD profits
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/05/28/td-bank-earnings-q2.html
Child poverty in B.C.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/11/26/bc-childpoverty.html
There are a lot of reasons to get rid of gordo but I am not convinced Taylor is the one to fix our problems she is driven by the same ideology or she would not have joined the liberals, we need to clean house and hold these people accountable for their actions. The only way to accomplish this in my opinion is to eliminate political donations from corporations unions and associations to name a few.
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Okay..we may be getting somewhere here. I, too, would like to see some kind of campaign finance reform. But I still think you’re perspective on Carole is quite narrow. Even though I think Dianne Watts would have easier cross-province appeal. It will be the juggernaut the NDP will not get past. I think there are people who realized that Gordon has dropped the ball significantly and I can confirm that both Dianne and Carole are being courted quietly, but significantly.
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I think Derek Corrigan, Mayor of Burnaby, would make an excellent premier. Your thoughts?
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To be brutally frank, I think as little about Derek Corrigan for Premier as I do, very much, in his abilities as Mayor of Burnaby. He is similar to Gordon Campbell as a micro-manager (although I suspect no one could possibly be as bad as the Preem in this regard). He has a notorious intolerance for vindictiveness. Mr. Corrigan has also shown an alarming inability to reach across the political divide and bring along opponents. That hardscrabble manner has earned him an almost permanent spot as Burnaby Mayor, but it won’t work in a badly divided Victoria or heavily factionalized provincial NDP. Can you imagine him and Moe in a disagreement?? LOL!
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PS, This would be news to Corrigan and he has not put his name in the hat that I know of!!
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He wouldn’t. He’s a sure-shot candidate: meaning he doesn’t like risky propositions. Say Carole James was gone tomorrow…what happens to the party? They are in disarray and despondent (never mind what you hear in public). Mr. Corrigan is not going to enter the Lion’s Den. Besides, he is seen as too pro-union. He’d lose a good fifty percent of the current NDP hierarchs that matter.
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What a breath of fresh air, “Common sense and Beauty to boot” coming into gov’t power for the first time in BC history. Have we all not had enough of the “Old boys club and same old same old” game of politics!!?? Lets get serious for the first time in many generations and elect a person of integrity / honesty / responsibility / decision making ability and lastly accountability for the future of their actions whether right or wrong???!!! We don’t expect “perfection” simply because it doesn’t exist, but lets accept “Open discussion / Transparency / Flexibility to change when a decision is determined to be wrong”. Let’s simply elect our next leader “a simple person who thinks simply for the majority of the population” at all times!! Is this asking too much after all these years of mediocrity to absolutely fraudulent governance!! Get on with your lives BCer’s and change the things in your life that are not working to the benefit of your life and family.
cheers!! courtney
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Thx Courtney…appreciate you coming by. Visit again soon!
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Alex, the leadership race by insiders is between Abbott and Falcon. Hansen is not doing it and Coleman is undecided. Outside caucus, you are bang on. Carole Taylor would have to work at it, but she would win and most of caucus would support her. In 2005, some MLA’s warned Campbell the public view was that the government was pathologically unempathetic. Good with the economy but don’t care about people. Many long and anguished discussions in caucus after 2001, but the point man, Mr Campbell, could never express let alone personify the emotional difficulty many MLA’s had with the tough decisions. In comes Carole in 2005 and all that changed. She is the missing ingredient, the balance to all the male testosterone, the cool cucumber, the sphinx who knows all.. She guarantees the NDP will not win. Problem is, she won’t do it. So that leaves Dianne Watts, who has definite potential but is lacks experience with caucus. No existing caucuus member can win, so let’s get behind her and help her become a good premier. And keep the socialists away from the piggy bank.
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It will not matter who the leader is. The memberships are mounting fast, the Tactical Group of experienced politicians is in place and operating, the executive is strong and the BC Conservatives are going to change the political scene in BC for a long time to come. Whatever the results of the next election the Liberals and NDP are in for a substantial surprise.
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It is precisely your kind of misguided, troubling thinking that, should it bear fruit, will only serve to elect the NDP. Give your head a strong shake. Any splitting of the center-right vote and the NDP are govt, without problem. And where, pray tell, is this “tactical group” from? The Bible Belt? Oh, great…been to that movie before and it always ends the same way. Thanks for coming by, just the same.
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If the provincial conservatives are moving hard and fast it would make sense as to why the NDP is sitting back now they would not need to do anything now to win the split will take care of them.
so whats next and what level of majority would any govt get best case is strong enough opposition to maintain a middle road we will have a lot to watch for no doubt.
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The provincial Conservatives would have been good to hold the balance of power last election–that’s why I endorsed them. However, in a closer vote, they would not get my endorsement. Simple fact: Split the right = NDP wins = province is screwed. The argument that we have already been royally screwed over the last decade of Liberal reign is noted, and accepted, but it’s an anomaly. Much of the problems emanate with Gordon Campbell and his personal crew, and NOT with the party (even though many party hacks will need to be gone too). You raise, as always, good points.
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Ive been doing a lot of reading and info gathering , the island area seems somewhere off the map local NDP say James has to go in private but party says shes teh leader publicly , the conservatives are being very public with their federal people but nothing at all as provincial group as of now , almost seems all are on holding patterns to see what happens next i guess NDPs hoping Gords gathered enough hate to give any thing but him a win now.
I know you like the idea of Taylor and Watts but if Campbells personal crew has managed this much damage how can they clean it up to give us some sense they are from a different line of thought and not just poster faces for the next round of the BC Liberals self interest regime,
I do not see NDP as truly credible at this time but id do almost anything to clear Campbells stench out of Victoria now but i doubt i would trust any person who sat with him all of them are tainted and in need of full public clearing on what they knew and why they watched the proceedings and allowed it to go on.
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You raise good points…Carole and/or Dianne would be able to get the right people into govt. Many of the current MLAs would be gone. This province cannot afford the NDP. They are a disaster for anything other than rabid unionism (I know, that’s redundant) and business bashing. Industry would die. Our resource sector would perish. The only reason their record wasn’t worse in the 90s is because the global economy was still quite fluid and the US was booming.
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Alex. If Gardiner helps Watts, Falcon is not after the big job. Chris and Kevin are good friends and CG will not work against his buddy.
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I’m not sure about this…I know Kevin and Chris very well, no secret. It’s not a matter of working against Kevin. I just think people need to be realistic. Only two names can deliver in the next election, Watts or Taylor, otherwise it’s the NDP’s election to lose. Gordon has very much damaged the party. Perhaps too much, and don’t think for a minute that this isn’t weighing heavily on the minds of both Carole and Dianne. My respect for Gardner grow by the day though…the man is a purposeful, principled organizer whose talents and knowledge are almost without equal. I’d put him up thee with Ransford.
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Did anyone see Carole Taylor on CTV’s Question Period today? She expressed how the majority of British Columbians see federal issues in her own inimitable manner, with grace, the trademark smile, and intelligence. No leader is perfect and neither would Carole, but what an improvement!
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I’ve been saying this for over ten years. Imagine if she ran for the NPA against Larry in 2002. We’d still have her as Mayor and the City would be MUCH better off.
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Premier Dianne Watts has a great ring to it…As a loyal supporter and resident of Surrey, I would be willing to let her go to run the Province as much as we would miss her, she would be a fantastic Premier. As for the comments about her thighs…all I can say she is beautiful inside and out and if that is the only thing that some people on this blog can say about her than they really have no credibility…great article Alex.
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No argument from me. Thx for the kind words and appreciate you stopping by.
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No matter what you say and I respect your right to say it
.But I FOR ONE DO NOT TRUST THE LIBERALS.
THEY HAVE LOST THE TRUST,LIED, AND WERE SWAYED TO FOLLOW THE LEADER,(Campbell)down a rats nest,TO CONFORM TO THEIR LEADER.THIS INCOMPITANT PREMIEr.
.Diane Watts(still LIBERAL,Carole Taylor,still LIBERAL.
Especially Campbells little Dennis the Menace-Kevin Falcon. Especially another Liberal,who to my mind is a lier and and a man who lost all of my respect trust,and credibility- Colin Hansen.George Abbot is a joke,ex-look at the complete mishandling of public sewage control under the Dept.of Public Health handed over to be run by private interests,which has turned out to be a complete disaster.
Point in fact-I will never trust the Liberals,based on their past performance.Not one of them had the guts to stand up to Campbell with the exception of Carole Taylor,and she left.God bless her principles.
With all the credibility and respect to Diane Watts,and or Carole Talor,- as a leader of the Liberal Party.In order to run the Province of BC,efficiently,they must have and be able to rely on a strong base support of all Liberal cabinet members,to their leader.
Based on the performance,are you even suggesting that we re elect the same bunch of incompitants that helped get BC into the mess we are in right now?
NUH HUH !!
Gordon Campbell certainly proved that this Liberal house of cards Liberals have failed 100 %,for two reasons -1. he tried to run and control it all by himself,-2.His cabinet failed to stand up to Campbell,even when they new that Campbell was destroying BC.
I for one will never ever trusty or support the Liberals again no matter who is the leader of the Liberals.Remember a building is only as strong as the foundation,and the Liberal foundation is rotten to the core.
as its foundation
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Hi there Ray:
Look, I’m not sold on the Liberal hull being scrubbed free, having enough sea-worthiness for sail. We are agreed on Gordon, but I think Dianne and/or Carole would make great Premiers. I just can’t bring myself to even think about supporting the NDP. They make too much of a mess everytime they get the controls. The Liberals this time are an anomaly. The vast majority of center-right govts have actually done great good in this province. Mind, the NDP’s ALR was a smart move too. Lets see what happens. I’m gather information… Thx for stopping by. A pleasure to have you here. Come again!
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All very interesting but….
Kevin Falcon is a swash-buckling fool. While apparently having some background as freedom-advocate (my impression from comments about his SFU days) he clings tenaciously to economic controls – he’s just another mercantilist, is a swash-buckler type – as transport minister he reminded me of Glen Clarke and Phil Gagliardi, and holds Gordo’s party line on environmentalism – which is about to become an albatross. I don’t care about how he dresses even though I’d prefer faded blue jeans and I sneer at his haircut and Gordo’s bean-counter glasses (but hey! it’s the fad and that’s what most politicians are about).
The new MLA from Tsawassen or thereabouts has promise for guts and some of her policies, though not as deep an understanding of freedom as I’d like and confused on some issues.
Diane Watts? Anyone who brings the money-grubbing hypocrite Tony Blair to town is nuts. Yeah, I suppose she did bring Rudi in (is he available to run? ). My limited understanding of the events was that they were the typical self-serving expensive feel-good nonsense of corporate and political types – who needs that? (But hey! we’ve seen worse – in a “duh?” moment a bunch of sales executives wanted to host a politician widely known as “slick Willie”. What a novel way to build credibility.)
Carole Taylor? Convince me she has depth of understanding of life, not just pizazz and ability to communicate, negotiate and budget (all good but that’s not enough).
The NDP? Don’t seem to click these years and now voters know they could have Marxist violators of contracts instead of Mercantilist violators of contracts. Of course Gordo makes them look good. Unions? Well, we know those who get into office in unions will always work for the more marxist party, but I’d want to see numbers on how many members actually vote NDP. In the US traditionally much of the membership votes Republican – but they are stupid enough to keep electing union officials who show movies about tyrants like Chavez.
Greens? No one in Canada votes for them, despite all the media claims that people support environmentalism.
Provincial conservative parties? I don’t see substance and breadth. Too religious, economically conservative but not fundamentally pro-freedom (they seem to just want a provincial fiefdom controlling people instead of a federal). They didn’t get far in the last election as a Gordo alternative though voters may still have done the BC thing – “hold your nose and vote Social Credit to keep the leftists out”, which has prevented past efforts like Darrell Warren. They live in hope that a tipping point will be reached that motivates present “Liberal” politicians and voters to move to them. One is trying to get mileage from Vanderzalm’s opposition to the HST, but he was an emotionalist – tried to force his own ideology yet violated his claimed free-market principles in another context for political gain.
And of course we have the crazy British Parliamentary system used here in which someone can be in a position of power without facing the electorate. How many Premiers did the NDP flip through that way?
BTW, in your theories, how would someone like Taylor take over from Gordo? She’s not an MLA now, she’d have to win a contrived by-election? That gives Gordo more time to fumble around to our cost, though less than if he hung on until the next election date.
As for “liberal” and “conservative” and “socialist” why not go for what has been proven to feed, shelter, protect and foster humans – individual freedom supported by justice and defense. Start with http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=arc_why_individual_rights. All of my life B.C. politics has flopped between marxists and hypocritical religious conservative mercantilists, who manage to do what politically and sometimes morally are Very Dumb Things. (Like violating a contract, having aids play games with talk shows, failing to grasp budget basics, adding unpopular taxes like carbon and HST, …. not to mention driving while drunk. Gordo has managed to do what his buddy from California has done – get elected by voter rejection of previous incompetents then proceed to do not better for the economy while damaging the economy in the long term by pandering to eco-freak irrationality more than leftist predecessors. Who needs such fools?)
I’m tired of it. Indications are many voters are too, look at very low voter turnout in municipalities, look at the rise of the Tea Party efforts in the US. (Which are now morphing into candidate selection efforts and will eventually be absorbed into the Republican party which has a sorry history of flash-in-the-pan efforts like Newt Gingrich and GW Bush – plus sincere but misguided types like what’s-his-name who lost the last election.) Look at voters falling for charismatic types like Obama (forgetting Martin Luther King’s maxim “content of character”) and Trudeau. Voters have to wake up and support good values at the grass roots where politicians come from.
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Thx for your comments. Either of Carole or Dianne could take over from Gordo with a purposeful plan that makes right the insensitivity and hardships ( broad social services cuts) which he has enacted.
In fact, Genghis Khan would have been more sensitive than Gordon…. But I will be doing a detailed list of what a new leader might do to help. That post will likely come next week, as I’m working on some larger pieces right now.
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“He is the worst Premier we’ve ever had, and his tenure has been destructive and toxic.”
2nded
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