I shook hands with Jack Layton - again

[TrogL]

It might be on the news.

[Clintonista2]

1. I've only met him once

The first time me and my friend were in Ottawa. He refused to take a picture with us. When the cameras aren't on, he doesn't have time for the peasants.

[Metric System]

2. You're going to love this:

***NDP Leader Jack Layton was scathing when asked during a campaign stop in Courtenay, B.C., this week what he thought of candidates who skip debates.

"I'd heard that it's a malady that seems to be sweeping across the Conservative candidates across the country," he said.

"I think that the best way to deal with it is to replace them in government so they can go back and get some bed rest, or whatever is required."

That evening, one candidate failed to show for a debate in the far-off riding of Toronto Danforth.

The absentee? Jack Layton.***
http://www.thestar.com/article/514537

What a phony.

[Clintonista2]

3. Yup, very typical of him

I always laugh when talking to my dad, a lifelong NDPer, complain about Layton. He articulates it perfectly when he explains how "the guy is an idiot."

[Dutch]

5. You mean the debate where Jack told the organisers well in advance

that he would not be able to attend, and arranged for MPP Peter Tabuns to take his place, only for the hall to be swamped with sleazebag Liberal cronies (where do they breed them, anyway?) who booed him off stage?

But it's interesting that you're sneering at Layton for attacking the Conservatives. Another reminder of who you guys regard as your real enemy (hint: not your partners in the grand coalition).

What a party of phonies.

[iverglas]

9. jesus christ

There surely is a phoney here.

That would be the individual trumping up some righteous indignation over how the leader of a national party, engaged in a national campaign, had a scheduling conflict undoubtely arising out of campaign decisions made in response to unfolding events.

It may not have been a wise decision, although somehow I doubt that all the indignant voters on the scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NupOHEg6X4M

were actually considering voting NDP anyhow ...


The Liberal incumbent in one provincial election I ran in chose not to show up for the cable-TV debate. That was simply contemptuous; he was an asshole. His federal counterpart, against whom I also ran, was a genuinely nice person (at least he was in any of my dealings with him; others, including in his party, thought otherwise) who did show up for the debate at a local nursing home.


To equate local candidates' obviously considered and deliberate and orchestrated decisions not to participate in local debates with the decision by a national party leader, who is taking part in several national, televised debates and heading up the party's national campaign across the country in the short time period we now allow for campaigning, to give priority to that national campaign, is disingenuous. At best.

[Dutch]

6. Sure.

[glarius]

4. Going by my own gut feelings from observing him for years.....

He is single-minded about getting power for himself as Prime Minister. He doesn't care that he has been responsible for Harper getting into power initially and is willing to do just about anything to accomplish his goal. Just watching Layton marching around, ram-rod straight, painting Liberals as practically criminals....I want to puke!.....I think of Ed Broadbent, who is so different, and respected by people of all political persuasions.

[Dutch]

7. It's funny how they all become so loveable when they retire.

But I agree, saying that the Liberals are practically criminals is completely inaccurate...

[glarius]

8. Your sarcasm is completely uncalled for!

You need to be informed of the fact that Ed Broadbent, while he was leader of the NDP, always placed very high in the polls as a leader and was held in great affection by Canadians.
Calling the Liberals (or any Canadian political party for that matter) criminals is just a reflection of your own pathetic state of mind.

[Liberalboy]

11. I HAD a Jack Layton sign in my front yard

I live in his riding, but when I heard what he did it pissed me right the fuck off. You don't ignore your constituents; they voted you in and they can vote you out. He should have taken the time to attend and debate. Elizabeth May did it with Peter MacKay, but Harper seems to have the same stance as Jack.

[Clintonista2]

12. It's evident that all libs are criminals. Remember when one of them stole a ring? How embarassing!

Oh wait.

[iverglas]

10. snork

uh ... can't think of anything else to say. ;)