Rebuilding the Liberal Brand

[cybercoma]

During this NDP convention and in the media recently, Liberals have alluded to how the LPC plans on rebuilding. Scott Brison made a comment about the Liberals being the party where Progressive Conservatives like him and New Democrats like Bob Rae can convene. It seems they're seeking to be the party that is fiscally conservative (not the Harper Conservatives, as their profligate spending and deficits is anything but conservative) and socially progressive. They want to be the NDP on social issues, but the Conservatives on financial issues. Where will this put the Liberals in the future? Is this workable? Will this attract voters from both the CPC and NDP?

[j44]

During this NDP convention and in the media recently, Liberals have alluded to how the LPC plans on rebuilding. Scott Brison made a comment about the Liberals being the party where Progressive Conservatives like him and New Democrats like Bob Rae can convene. It seems they're seeking to be the party that is fiscally conservative (not the Harper Conservatives, as their profligate spending and deficits is anything but conservative) and socially progressive. They want to be the NDP on social issues, but the Conservatives on financial issues. Where will this put the Liberals in the future? Is this workable? Will this attract voters from both the CPC and NDP?

Hasn't that always been their way? Fiscal conservative and socially liberal.

I was going to wait until the NDP race was over and start a Liberal Leadership thread. I think it depends on the Liberal leader. I don't know if Rae is the guy to win govoernment but I think he can be the guy to build the party. Because let's face it. They aren't goog from 3rd to 1st in the next election.

[Evening Star]

Hasn't that always been their way? Fiscal conservative and socially liberal.

PET was not a fiscal conservative.

But, yeah, if the LPC wants to have a reason to exist, this seems like a strategy that makes sense.

[j44]

PET was not a fiscal conservative.

But, yeah, if the LPC wants to have a reason to exist, this seems like a strategy that makes sense.

Ok maybe not always but for a while.

[cybercoma]

Chretien's Liberals were fiscally conservative and socially progressive. I think they believe that's the winning formula.

Save for the current Conservatives though, it has almost always been the case that a party needs to unite Quebec and the ROC. The Liberals need desparately to rebuild their Quebec support if they are ever to be a contender again.

[Topaz]

Someone told me they heard that the no one in the Liberals want the leadership, so that would leave Rae in charged. Of course things could change. Perhaps the party is happy with Rae and don't want to go through another leadership race.

[cybercoma]

Someone told me they heard that the no one in the Liberals want the leadership, so that would leave Rae in charged. Of course things could change. Perhaps the party is happy with Rae and don't want to go through another leadership race.

Denis Coderre made it seem like he would run when they were talking to him last night.

[j44]

Someone told me they heard that the no one in the Liberals want the leadership, so that would leave Rae in charged. Of course things could change. Perhaps the party is happy with Rae and don't want to go through another leadership race.

Good point. Why be leader now when you know you'll have Tobuild and not be PM anytime soon

I think I did hear about Gerard Kennedy running and he didn't rule it out. I can't stand him. And he was the one that thought Dion would be good. That tells me his political instincts arent great.

[punked]

During this NDP convention and in the media recently, Liberals have alluded to how the LPC plans on rebuilding. Scott Brison made a comment about the Liberals being the party where Progressive Conservatives like him and New Democrats like Bob Rae can convene. It seems they're seeking to be the party that is fiscally conservative (not the Harper Conservatives, as their profligate spending and deficits is anything but conservative) and socially progressive. They want to be the NDP on social issues, but the Conservatives on financial issues. Where will this put the Liberals in the future? Is this workable? Will this attract voters from both the CPC and NDP?

That party already exist it is called the NDP. The literally want to be the NDP.

[Evening Star]

That party already exist it is called the NDP. The literally want to be the NDP.

I'm pretty sure they mean "fiscally conservative" in the sense of "neoliberal", Paul Martin-style, with privatization, lower taxes, etc.

Edited March 24, 2012 by Evening Star

[Newfoundlander]

During this NDP convention and in the media recently, Liberals have alluded to how the LPC plans on rebuilding. Scott Brison made a comment about the Liberals being the party where Progressive Conservatives like him and New Democrats like Bob Rae can convene. It seems they're seeking to be the party that is fiscally conservative (not the Harper Conservatives, as their profligate spending and deficits is anything but conservative) and socially progressive. They want to be the NDP on social issues, but the Conservatives on financial issues. Where will this put the Liberals in the future? Is this workable? Will this attract voters from both the CPC and NDP?

It did in the 90's but then they abandoned that philosophy.

[stopstaaron]

for goodness sakes just merge the LPC and NDP, LPC can be in charge of the finances and NDP can be in charge of the social issues

[j44]

for goodness sakes just merge the LPC and NDP, LPC can be in charge of the finances and NDP can be in charge of the social issues

Not that it could be set up that way but that would give the Liberals all the power by controlling the finances.

[punked]

Not that it could be set up that way but that would give the Liberals all the power by controlling the finances.

Considering that NDP governments balance budgets WAY MORE then Liberal governments it would be a bad decision anyway.

[cybercoma]

Considering that NDP governments balance budgets WAY MORE then Liberal governments it would be a bad decision anyway.

The Liberals have the worst record when it comes to deficits. That would be horrible. The NDP is the party the LPC is trying to be, exactly as punked wrote.

[Evening Star]

The NDP is the party the LPC is trying to be, exactly as punked wrote.

Again, if they're going for Martin-style financial policy, they are trying to be something different from even the more centrist NDP governments.

[capricorn]

Considering that NDP governments balance budgets WAY MORE then Liberal governments it would be a bad decision anyway.

The NDP has no experience with budgets at the federal level and we don't know how they'd perform. IMHO, there is a difference.

[madmax]

The NDP has no experience with budgets at the federal level and we don't know how they'd perform. IMHO, there is a difference.

Revenue

Expenditures

yup.. very different

LOL,,, I just realized this thread drift is about the NDP..lol

Edited March 24, 2012 by madmax

[capricorn]

Revenue

Expenditures

yup.. very different

Equalization in the equation makes it a whole new ballgame.

[madmax]

Equalization in the equation makes it a whole new ballgame.

Balancing a Budget is balancing a budget!

[punked]

Equalization in the equation makes it a whole new ballgame.

It would just be going out instead of coming in, it would be the same calculation the provinces make.

[j44]

Considering that NDP governments balance budgets WAY MORE then Liberal governments it would be a bad decision anyway.

The Liberals have the worst record when it comes to deficits. That would be horrible. The NDP is the party the LPC is trying to be, exactly as punked wrote.

The NDP may have a better record but they usually do it by raisesing taxes. A lot of taxes in some cases. And people don't usually like that. Balanced budgets or not.

[punked]

The NDP may have a better record but they usually do it by raisesing taxes. A lot of taxes in some cases. And people don't usually like that. Balanced budgets or not.

You just made that fact up. The NDP in NS is cutting taxes right now, in Manitoba they cut taxes, in Sask they cut taxes. Once you get a BB you can start looking at what you want to put money into or cut taxes. hey might raise business taxes (not on small Business they have a history of cutting those) and the top income bracket but outside of that they are not big taxers. Although the big money spends lots to send people like yourself that message.

Edited March 24, 2012 by punked

[Newfoundlander]

Considering that NDP governments balance budgets WAY MORE then Liberal governments it would be a bad decision anyway.

How is their economic growth record?

[punked]

How is their economic growth record?

On par with all the other parties. As long as we are comparing the same governments to the same regional governments. It would be unfair to compare say NS to Alberta but if we compare NS governments to NB governments we would see the NDP is doing as well as the Conservatives.