Rae/Layton

[lukin]

Politically, what is the difference between Jack Layton and Bob Rae? How is Layton's vision for Canada different than Rae's? I find it odd that Bob has been so quiet during this campaign.

[ToadBrother]

Politically, what is the difference between Jack Layton and Bob Rae? How is Layton's vision for Canada different than Rae's? I find it odd that Bob has been so quiet during this campaign.

Is it important at this point? Will either man be able to enact any of the past or present policies they adhere to?

[lukin]

Is it important at this point? Will either man be able to enact any of the past or present policies they adhere to?

It is very important toad. Is rae a true Liberal or does he still lean to the policies of the NDP?

[Sandy MacNab]

It is very important toad. Is rae a true Liberal or does he still lean to the policies of the NDP?

You'll never know. Liberal lie like the proverbial sidewalk. And, "true Liberal" is a non sequitur.

[Topaz]

So what's the difference between a progressive conservative and a conservative? Still haven't gotten an answer to that?

[Rovik]

Politically, what is the difference between Jack Layton and Bob Rae? How is Layton's vision for Canada different than Rae's? I find it odd that Bob has been so quiet during this campaign.

I'm so sick of the people's obsession with the NDP 90s Ontario Rae govt. and today's NDP govt. And the sad thing is that the media and many columnists and opinion pieces also focus on this. How about the difference between Devine and Harper or how about Hatfield and Harper or even Smallwood and Iggy. No one in the media or these rabid anti-NDPers ever mention those bad Conservative/Liberal govts.

This is just a small part of the big picture. The Conservative and Liberal dominated media are in complete character assassination of the NDP and their leader more so than I ever seen them ever go against Harper or Iggy. Yes, the party should be looked at but what going on now in the media is bordering on fear-mongering, midinformation and bias-based wild speculation. I mean columns like the NDP will raise mortgage rates is clearly wild speculation from an extreme anti-ndp view.

If the NDP do drop back on their polling numbers, it won't be because of attacks from the Libs, Cons and Block, it will be of the rabid Conservative and Liberal influenced media that will say and do anything to keep the Cons and the Libs as the dominant two parties.

[cybercoma]

Well, I can start with a very clear difference section 91 and section 92.

[noahbody]

The Conservative and Liberal dominated media are in complete character assassination of the NDP and their leader more so than I ever seen them ever go against Harper or Iggy.

I think the media had an "Oh my God, what have we done?" realization.

[Slim MacSquinty]

Not true, the only the National Post has supported the Cons since day one, and they can, and have. dredged up links to many Liberal follies from days gone by.

The Star never tires of finding a way to make reference to Mike Harris when refering to any Tory in any jursdiction. So to say the NDP are being treated unfairly because people are asking questions about linkage to past failed policies is just not true.

Bob Rae is an intesting case, like many Steven Lewis era socialists his association with the left wing cause might well be attributed to a salving of the conscience based on his silver spoon - trust fund upbringing. Bob, who likely never had to balance a chequebook his entire adult life until he was confronted with a provincial budget as the unexpected Premier. If you read his books you would likely come to the same conclusion as I did. His experience as Premier lead to his (partial) conversion to capitalism, this was such an epiphany for him that he actually wrote a book about it, of course the comedy of this, for anyone who learned to prepare and maintain a budget in our teens as a necessity, is that he did not actually learn this fundemental lesson until middle age and was so suprised by it felt the need to share it to enlighten the rest of us!

Bob's turned into a sort of well meaning, overly ambitious twit. I expect he now realizes he is never likely to succeed at either of his ambitions, to lead the Liberal party or to effect the merging of the left wing parties. He will likely fade into obscurity if we're lucky, if not he might occasionally emerge from the shadows as an entertaining diversion. If you really want to hear from him he does rent himself out: http://www.speakers.ca/rae_bob.html

[mikedavid00]

what is the difference between Jack Layton and Bob Rae?

One was laying on a table nude during a police raid.

The other jumped in a lake nude on national tv with a goal of prime minister of Canada.

Both are nut jobs. Both are an embarrassment to Canada and our political system.

[eyeball]

One was laying on a table nude during a police raid.

The other jumped in a lake nude on national tv with a goal of prime minister of Canada.

Both are nut jobs. Both are an embarrassment to Canada and our political system.

I'd say it's our political system that's the real embarrassment.

[Topaz]

I think all three top parties should have a chance to govern in a minority, so we can see how bad or good they are governing, what's wrong with that. We've had 5 years of Harper and voters want change, then they will change it. The Tories under Harper, a mjority of voters don't want or trust him , so the Tories will HAVE to change leaders if they want a majority, then again, it will depend on who they pick. So if Jack gets to the PMO, we'll judge him as we did Harper.

[nittanylionstorm07]

Politically, what is the difference between Stephen Harper and Grant Devine? How is Harper's vision for Canada different than Devine's? I find it odd that Grant has been so quiet during this campaign.

[August1991]

I'm so sick of the people's obsession with the NDP 90s Ontario Rae govt. and today's NDP govt. And the sad thing is that the media and many columnists and opinion pieces also focus on this. How about the difference between Devine and Harper or how about Hatfield and Harper or even Smallwood and Iggy. No one in the media or these rabid anti-NDPers ever mention those bad Conservative/Liberal govts.

It matters because in general, the NDP has only formed governments in small provinces specifically, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The NDP BC governments have not been a great success and the NDP only formed a government once in Ontario. So, the comparison matters.

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In 2002, Bob Rae wrote an article titled "Parting Ways With The NDP" in the National Post explaining why he was leaving. You can find it on the Internet or if you have access to library archive websites.