The Collapse of a Government - In CBC Headlines

[ToadBrother]

November 12 - "B.C. Liberals to decide on leadership vote"

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/12/bc-liberal-leadership-date-rules.html

November 13 - B.C. Liberals change leadership vote process

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/13/bc-liberals-leadership-vote.html

November 14 - Liberal MLA urges Campbell to step down now

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/14/bc-campbell-bennett-step-down.html

November 15 - Watts not seeking B.C. Liberal leadership

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/15/bc-dianne-watts-liberal-leadership.html

Explanatory Note: Dianne Watts is the very popular Mayor of Surrey, seen by many for months as one of the front-runners to replace Gordon Campbell and rescue the BC Liberals from their troubles

November 15 - HST recall campaign takes aim at 5 MLAs

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/15/bc-mla-vander-zalm-recall-mla.html

November 17 - B.C. premier 'abusive,' says fired minister

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/17/bc-bill-bennett-fired.html

November 17 - B.C. suspends 15% income tax cut

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/11/17/bc-tax-cut-cancelled.html

I think you can probably see where this is going...

[August1991]

Uh, the CBC doesn't like Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals in general?

[Jack Weber]

Yeah....But that does'nt change the facts...

[ToadBrother]

Uh, the CBC doesn't like Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals in general?

Can you point out anywhere where you feel there's some sort of editorial slant? I eagerly await your keen observations. For instance, are you denying that Bill Bennett didn't publicly slag Campbell on a number of occasions? Are you denying that the BC Liberals are in serious trouble? Are you denying that the 15% income tax announcement did absolutely nothing for the party's fortunes? Are you denying that Dianne Watts, one of the big hopes, has publicly announced that she won't be running?

So why don't you point out exactly where your "observation" is legitimate, or even an observation?

[kimmy]

Gordon Campbell's personal approval ratings have been in the single-digit territory.

You'd think that with such an unpopular opponent, the BC NDP should be miles ahead in the polls, and yet last I heard they aren't, which speaks to the lack of faith many in BC have in Carol James and the NDP.

A couple of right-leaning upstart parties are attempting to capitalize on this dissatisfaction, but these efforts look to be fragmented and disorganized. I doubt they'll amount to anything.

I think that the Liberals can actually capitalize on Campbell's personal unpopularity. When they finally "revolt" against him and choose a leader, Campbell himself will be seen as the source of all evil and people will give the party a clean slate. That's my hunch, anyway. It's not really to the NDP's advantage that the dissatisfaction is focused so squarely on Campbell.

-k

[madmax]

Uh, the CBC doesn't like Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals in general?

That is such a cop out answer in the best of circumstances. And utter rubbish in the real terms.

The CBC is always fingered as being a Liberal voicepiece. Now with the Shit hitting the fan, and a cumulation of bad government finally making the general public rise up and take notice,

You of all people pull out the weakest statement one could make.

Come on Voltaire... I know u can do better....

[ToadBrother]

Gordon Campbell's personal approval ratings have been in the single-digit territory.

You'd think that with such an unpopular opponent, the BC NDP should be miles ahead in the polls, and yet last I heard they aren't, which speaks to the lack of faith many in BC have in Carol James and the NDP.

Then you need to pick up some newspapers. Before the Campbell resignation, the NDP were at 47% and the Liberals at 26%. That's a 20 point lead.

A couple of right-leaning upstart parties are attempting to capitalize on this dissatisfaction, but these efforts look to be fragmented and disorganized. I doubt they'll amount to anything.

I think that the Liberals can actually capitalize on Campbell's personal unpopularity. When they finally "revolt" against him and choose a leader, Campbell himself will be seen as the source of all evil and people will give the party a clean slate. That's my hunch, anyway. It's not really to the NDP's advantage that the dissatisfaction is focused so squarely on Campbell.

-k

The problem is that they, as in the party in general, aren't revolting. The guy sensible enough to suggest that Campbell step down now and an interim Premier be picked (as happened when Glen Clark stepped down and Dan Miller took over the job until the NDP could find someone else) was booted out of Cabinet yesterday (by Cabinet mind you, Campbell apparently wasn't even in the room).

Frankly, I think the NDP could win with Adolf Hitler in charge.

[kimmy]

That is such a cop out answer in the best of circumstances. And utter rubbish in the real terms.

The CBC is always fingered as being a Liberal voicepiece.

Not sure where you're posting from... but the BC Liberals bear no similarity to the federal Liberals or Liberal parties in other parts of the country. They might be the most right-wing government in the country.

-k

[msj]

I find it interesting that the NDP are squabbling over their leader (and I admit - Carol James is awful, imo).

The poll results are also telling:

The Mustel Group survey was conducted Nov. 4 to 15 and found that if a provincial election was held, 42 per cent of voters would support the NDP while 37 per cent would support the Liberals. Campbell announced Nov. 3 that he would give up the party reins.

and

The poll found Mr. Campbell’s performance is approved by 32 per cent of voters, similar to the 34 per cent that was reported in September.

But while the Premier’s approval rating stayed about the same, opposition leader Carole James’s numbers dropped.

Mustel said 33 per cent of British Columbians approve of Ms. James, down from 42 per cent in September. The poll said 45 per cent of British Columbians now disapprove of Ms. James, up from 36 per cent two months ago.

[fellowtraveller]

The NDP need somebody new but old, tried and true.....

How about Svend Robbingstores? Does he have a day job?

[ToadBrother]

I find it interesting that the NDP are squabbling over their leader (and I admit - Carol James is awful, imo).

The poll results are also telling:

Popularity of leaders is only of limited utility. What does count is that the NDP has had, for over a year, a substantial leader on the BC Liberals.

Edited November 30, 2010 by ToadBrother

[The_Squid]

Every news outlet in BC was reporting on the demise of Campbell... it was a meteoric fall caused by his own arrogance and right-wing agenda. Every media outlet is also reporting on the NDP's infighting...

Uh, the CBC doesn't like Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals in general?

According to the post quoted above, this must mean that the media supports the Green Party!

Edited November 30, 2010 by The_Squid

[Oleg Bach]

The NDP need somebody new but old, tried and true.....

How about Svend Robbingstores? Does he have a day job?

Wasn't he the guy that the NDP kept on in order to add a bit of liberalism to their image? Apparently dearest Svend loved to liberate all sorts of things.

[madmax]

I am surprised there isn't more talk about Carole James Resignation, but then again Campbells didn't get alot of action here either.

I want to thank BC.

BC Politics adds a unique flavour to the political scene.

I Like it!!!

Its always difficult to follow or understand if you aren't from the region..

But there is still such a strong populist element alive and well, it makes things interesting and makes voting more appealing.

To think Campbell shed to 9% and even then the NDP run their own Leader out of town.

But in Ontario, we have McGuinty sitting quite comfortable in the polls where he should be in the Teens and our main opposition is a hypocritical PC party which supports and opposes the HST at the same time.

Congrats BC...

On top of that, I see the Recall being put to use. This has demonstrated what happens to a government and an opposition leader when they become out of touch/isolated from the people and respond only to advisers and lobbiests and big corporations and global trade lies/deals.