Saturday, May 5, 2007

Who's standing up to Stephen Harper? Not Stéphane Dion.

Now we know what the NDP was up to with that vote analysis that showed Stéphane Dion voting with Stephen Harper 60% of the time.


Neat animated graphic. Sure gets the point across.

10 comments:

susansmith said...

Why are the liberals propping up the Harper govt? tee hee

Steve V said...

If that graphic is really true, and not simply political calculation, then why is it that Harper continually praises the co-operative tone of the NDP?? Doesn't quite jive with the ferious opposition meme. According to Harper, it's the Liberals that are opposing everything, the NDP "helpful". Do that math, it tells you everything you need to know.

Steve V said...

Just to add, I would say Layton has been more critical, beginning in the late fall, through the new year. I attribute this fact to the falling polls, and the well known criticism from some NDP supporters about the "coziness" factor.

Idealistic Pragmatist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Idealistic Pragmatist said...

Steve,

Are you really blaming the NDP for what the Tories say about them? In whose world does that make a lick of sense? The Tories do that even when the Liberals and the NDP are on the same side (i.e., the Clean Air Act). It's about attacking Dion, and it comes squarely from Harper and Company. The NDP isn't responsible.

And as for the NDP not having been critical of Harper until recently, I think you're falling for your own party's propaganda on that one. There were plenty of people debunking that myth as early as last summer.

Steve V said...

IP

No, I'm not blaming them at all, but it is relevant. Let's cut through the bullshit shall we. When the election was over, we all know that Layton and Harper met, on a few occasions. No one knows what was discussed, but the varying tones give us easy hints. Please find me one hansard in the early days of this parliament, wherein Layton didn't mention the Liberals in his questions to the government. You will also see the corresponding praise from Harper towards the NDP, as constructive, compared to the dasdardly Liberals. Now this is speculation, although many in the media seem to take this as fact, the two men thought they could marginalize the Liberals and proceeded accordingly, for their mutual benefit.

I noticed a change in Layton, which again, just so happened to correspond with criticism of "cozy" relations and the corresponding drop in the polls.

I don't blame Layton for what Harper says, but I don't think they are just throw away lines anyways, they say something. It makes sense to me, but then again I'm a Liberal partisan ;)

Blogging Horse said...

This isn't about Jack Layton -- he's been doing exactly what he said he would: working with MPs from all parties when there is common cause and opposing Harper when he is wrong -- 69% of the time.

Dion on the other hand has been setting his hair on fire while accusing the NDP of faking opposition, while he votes with Harper 60% of the time.

If Liberals don't like Dion voting with Harper so often they should tell him: dions@parl.gc.ca

susansmith said...

We all know this is about who gets to set the frame. It doesn't matter if it is truthful, as the optics are everything.
Hence, Steve is just trying to reassert the liberal frame that the NDP props up the Cons, hence, some sort of conspiracy behind the scenes talk, shady backroom deals, the coziness factor, rumour mongering propagated by the liberals.
But I tell you that picture of Harper shaking Iggy's hand in parliament - priceless!

Oh drat, oh where or where is that picture? Oh well, this is well have to do!

"OTTAWA-- After narrowly winning the vote to prolong the risky Afghanistan mission, a triumphant Stephen Harper crossed the floor of the Commons and threaded his way to the back of the Liberal benches to shake hands with Michael Ignatieff.

The prime minister's gesture may well turn out to be the political equivalent of the kiss of death for Ignatieff's bid to lead the Liberal party."
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=07a874aa-4e70-488e-b622-ab611d640a09&k=26718

Blogging Horse said...

JftB is 100% right.

It's too bad that the Liberal frame is just bogus.
1) Liberals are the only party that can take on Harper (check their fundraising #s, and their enduring weakness in QC);
2) The NDP has been keeping Harper alive (is that why Dion has voted with Harper twice as often as Layton?)
3) Liberals and the NDP "share the same values". (That Iggy image says it all.)

Lest we forget the Harper Liberals:
http://www.ndp.ca/xfer/lpc2006/en/insidersguide_e.html

My Family said...

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has acknowledged the supporters' importance in their impressive start to the season.
Sightline Payments Kirk Sanforddicas para pokerThe Magpies are currently fourth in the Premier League table with 19 points from nine matches and will go third should they garner maximum points from their away encounter against Stoke City on Monday.