NDP victory in Nova Scotia

The NDP has finally been elected in Nova Scotia, and with a substantial majority. They take 31 seats, while the Liberals climb to 11 and the Progressive Conservatives drop to 10.

Naturally, comment boards on sites like the Globe and Mail's are full of dire warnings for us foolhardy Nova Scotians. We are in for the kind of socialist hell that Ontario suffered through in the early 1990s.

According to these folks, I guess, every provincial New Democratic Party will be forever tainted by Bob Rae's government. Bob Rae, of course, is now a Liberal.

As I recall, most media had hysterics the moment Rae was elected. In order to demonstrate that he was not a crazed left-wing radical (see above: Bob Rae is now a Liberal), he brought in Rae Days -- unpaid days off for civil servants -- thereby pissing off both right and left and ensuring his defeat.

Are we to believe that every single NDP government from now to eternity will make the same tactical mistake?

The NDP were elected because Nova Scotians are fundamentally decent people, and Darrell Dexter is a fundamentally decent person who ran a fundamentally decent campaign.

I think that's what tipped the balance in a lot of rural ridings (including my own) that many thought would never vote NDP.

The Conservatives rolled out their scary attack ads, which didn't make clear (unless you read the tiny fine print on your TV) who had paid for them. Instead, they directed viewers to their risky NDP site. They ran misleading, nasty radio ads saying the NDP had accepted illegal campaign contributions from unions, and people saw through them. They claimed the NDP would be fiscally irresponsible, when they are the ones who lied about stimulus projects not going ahead if their government fell, and who tried to fudge the fact that they were going to ignore their own balanced budget law.

The Nova Scotia NDP are hardly socialist firebrands. Their promises were modest. Take HST (that's GST plust provincial tax to most of you in the rest of the country) off electricity. Keep seniors in their homes longer. Keep emergency rooms open. Develop a plan to encourage young people to stay here.

It worked. Good luck to them.

Doing the math

I don't pretend to understand the intricacies of the mixed proportional/first-past-the-post system rejected yesterday by Ontario voters, or even to have an intelligent opinion (other than thinking that seat counts and popular vote results should be closer to each other).

However, I note the following:

• McGuinty's Liberals won 71 of 107 seats. They did this with 42% of the ballots cast. (Voter turnout was less than 50%). The party's popular vote dropped, but their seat count went up. Headline on the front page of The Globe and Mail's website: "McGuinty cruises to victory."

• Electoral reform -- which was considered marginal at best not all that long ago -- received the support of 54% of the voters. This is a far greater number than supported the Liberals. Globe subhead? "Electoral reform soundly rejected."

Takes one to know one department

Former Bush speechwriter David Frum (the man apparently responsible for the words "Axis of" in the phrase "Axis of Evil") talking about Ervand Abrahamian, co-author of the book Inventing the Axis of Evil on CBC Radio's The Current:

"Unfortunately, you can find apologists for anything."

He should know.

Mulroney's attack on Trudeau

Just about what one would expect from this character. Nothing like attacking a dead opponent who was so much more eloquent than you ever were.

When I first saw the headline, I thought, I hope he's attacking Justin, who at least will be able to answer back.

Bathroom Brouhaha

I never realized the politics of using the disabled washroom/stall were so contentious.

I never realized there were politics connected to it at all.

Are these washrooms a decidated resource for the disabled - like a parking spot - making their use by the able-bodied immoral or illegal? Or are they like wheelchair ramps - allowing accessibility to everyone?

Full post from CBC'er Paul Gorbould's blog here.

Huh?

André Boisclair leads the PQ to a disastrous showing. In the days before the election, various polls and seat projections had the party in the 40s or low 50s in terms of seats.

The PQ came third, with 36 seats.

The Globe and Mail's take on Boisclair?

After a slow start, his campaign picked up steam and, in the end, he surpassed all expectations.

Where's the smackdown?

I enjoy a good dust-up (as long as I'm not part of it). So when Paul Wells suggested that Andy Riga couldn't read poll numbers, I rubbed my hands. Surely a spirited response from Andy would ensue.

Well, I guess Andy was too busy actually covering the election. And he's a nice guy to boot. So instead of ripping into Wells, he shows the numbers and leaves the decision-making up to the readers.

And Wells? His response is to note that "Andy Riga responds."

Neither one should audition for a role on the Howard Stern show any time soon. I'm one to talk. I probably would have worked an apology in there somewhere.