Martin may run for NDP leadership in bid for Liberal merger

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA - Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin says he’ll run for the NDP leadership himself if no candidates step forward pledging to take the party into formal unity talks with the federal Liberals.

"I firmly believe we have the ability to stop the Harper agenda," said Martin. "I’m serving notice that that’s what I want to hear from a leadership candidate. And I’m not alone."

Martin said he knows of several people from both parties who believe the same thing. He isn’t seeking the leadership job yet but he says he will do it if it means members can vote for someone willing to lead the two parties to a united stand.

"If none of them throw it on the table, I’ll do it myself," he said.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/128701343.html

Coderre tries to reignite NDP merger talk
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/30/pol-liberals-tuesday.html

Bob Rae scoffs at Liberal-NDP merger ‘fiction’
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/bob-rae-scoffs-at-liberal-ndp-merger-fiction/article2147225/


NDP leadership race should be open and competitive

The federal New Democratic Party should allow enough time before its leadership convention to build up its membership and organization in Quebec. Jack Layton’s wish, expressed in his final letter, that the new leader should be chosen in January, 2012, should not be treated as infallible doctrine.

It is in the interest of Canada as a whole that the success of the NDP in Quebec – which is a federalist party, not simply a federal one – not turn out to be a flash in the pan. The Quebec NDP needs to put down some roots. Otherwise, the Bloc Québécois, or some new incarnation of it, could return to fill a vacuum.

At present, most NDP riding associations in Quebec have few members. And the party’s leadership convention rules give one vote to every party member (before labour and other “affiliated” members are added in). Without a major membership drive in Quebec, New Democrats from the province could easily come out of the convention feeling alienated and marginalized – in spite of their remarkable predominance in the caucus, with 59 out of 103 MPs.

For some time before Mr. Layton’s illness became unmistakably grave, Thomas Mulcair, the NDP MP for Outremont and a former Liberal cabinet minister in Quebec, seemed to be his most likely successor. Since Mr. Layton’s death, Brian Topp, the party president, has suddenly become a major potential candidate, and there is speculation in the past few days about Olivia Chow. Mr. Topp and Robert Chisholm, the MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, have both acknowledged their interest. There is now some doubt about the viability of a campaign by Mr. Mulcair. It would be unfortunate if there were no candidate from Quebec.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/ndp-leadership-race-should-be-open-and-competitive/article2147495/

[mahigan]

1. Not this time

Normally I like Pat Martin but not this time. He really needs to give his head a shake. Far from being a sure fire way to defeat the Conservatives, trying to merge the NDP and the Liberals is more likely a sure fire way to guarantee the Conservatives a long run of majority governments. The right wing of the Liberal Party would be far more likely to defect to the Conservatives than join with the NDP. And many on the left wing of the NDP have already said they would start a new party rather than join with the Liberals.

We would be left with a situation similar to that in the US with a centre right party and far right party as well as a small left wing party that would probably pull enough votes to guarantee Conservative majorities. No one I know would support, work for or even vote for a bastardized Liberal/NDP merger and that includes Liberal as well as NDP voters.

The next 4 years with the real NDP as official opposition will provide Canadians with as stark a contrast as possible with the plutocratic, corporatist Conservatives. If the majority of Canadians are too stupid to see which party represents their interests as opposed to the interests of the elite, they will richly deserve the royal screwing they will get. Unfortunately,the rest of us who do see the difference will also get the screwing.

This misguided notion needs to die now.

[polly7]

2. I agree. We need the real NDP. Watering the party down with the right

wing Liberals would be a shame and just stupid, imo.

[Bragi]

3. The parties must collaborate somehow to defeat Harper

So what way is it? Without a plan to give a coherent choice to the 6 in 10 voters who don't vote for Harper, Harper will continue to get elected.

Stated otherwise, how many asskickings do the majority need to take from the minority who vote for Harper before the fucking parties they want to vote for get their act together so we don't split up our votes all over the place to elect Harperites? I'm with Pat Martin on this. I'm neutral, though, on the nature of the cooperation, it could take various forms, I hope and expect adults to work that out.

But what I care about most now is that Harper not get another term.