James Will Regret Booting Simpson

(Aired on October 8, 2010)

Back in December, an interview I did with Bob Simpson made me sit up and take notice.  He spoke about an upcoming party convention in which the New Democrats would discuss their Harmonized Sales Tax strategy.  While his colleagues were simply launching attacks against the Liberal government, Simpson was much more reluctant.  He said after the party already opposed the Carbon Tax, it needed to be careful.  Opposing the HST, he thought, would position the NDP as an anti-tax party.  BC politics are crazy, but not that crazy.

The interview confirmed to me that Bob Simpson isn't always in step with the rest of the party.  Sure enough, Simpson was booted out of the NDP camp this week for criticizing leader Carole James. 

Most people will recognize that Bob Simpson was ejected from the caucus for speaking the truth.  Simpson sees that the NDP have failed to capitalize on the giant political football fumbled by the governing Liberals directly into their hands.  The HST boondoggle should be what the party is jumping all over - not the substance of the tax, but the way the government screwed up its imposition.  Instead, the upstart Fight HST group has been the dominant voice keeping the government accountable, and as such has become the de facto opposition party.  The NDP are riding high in the polls, but that's because they are the default second option.  The party has failed to find its voice.  It's exactly the reason why I am still reluctant to write off the Liberals for the next election.

Bob Simpson is right to criticize his party, and he is justified in doing so because he wants to see his party do well.  If he stays on the outside looking in, and if his critiques are not heeded, it's Carole James who regret not having him on board.

Who's in Bigger Trouble: Campbell or James?

(Aired on October 7, 2010)

One of the things I love about politics is that just when you thought you've seen it all, something else pops up. Just when she thinks things are rolling along for her, and the NDP looks like it's on its way to beating up on Gordon Campbell, the party starts to self-destruct just like the Liberals did a few months ago.

Carole James has booted Cariboo-North MLA Bob Simpson out of the caucus and taken away his post as critic for aboriginal relations and reconciliation. Apparently Simpson attacked James' recent speech to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention is some online comments. And now his constituency association is openly calling for a leadership race.

Just days ago, it looked more and more like we were going to have a new Liberal leader for James to fight in the next election. Speculation was that Gordon Campbell was going to step down and make way for a new leader who could resurrect the party after all the HST and health care controversy of the past year. But wait-maybe it will be Campbell who will stay and James will go.

James has not been as stellar a leader as many thought she might be when she took over the party reins, but it was generally assumed there was no real challenge to her leadership, and she might well have a chance to become the Premier in 2013. Who knows what might happen now? Is Simpson's revolt the tip of the iceberg? Politics is a crazy game. You just never know where the next bit of juicy news will come from. I'm sure James and Premier Campbell are both going to be watching their back as much as they watch the road ahead over the next few months. Perhaps Campbell is about to rise from the ashes like the Phoenix and maybe it will be James who crashes and burns. keep your eyes tuned for the next installment.