Jack Layton, leader of the opposition dies at 61

Jack did want someone elected ASAP. We could probably see someone heading the opposition within two months. I'd like his wife to take over, her policies were rather similar to Jack's.

I don't know if Jack ever lied, I'll say that personally I don't remember him ever lying.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

Do you think his wife will be well received? I've seen a lot of dislike of Olivia Chow. I don't mind her, if the platform only gets better than I could vote for NDP (rather than Green). They might go for a more broad-base leader. The two names I'm thinking of totally escape me right now but they were basic head of strategy or deputy leader or something like that. The names are less well known but their faces probably work better for the public.

edited 23rd Aug '11 8:30:23 PM by breadloaf

She's hot.

/not contributing

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

^ Wouldn't you rather Ruth Brosseau?

I don't think that would work well with George Washington, but Canadians could bash former presidents like Adams or Cleveland all day and most Americans won't know the difference.

All I can say, is that when so many people seem sad about a politician dying, especially with so little valid criticism, they must have been pretty impressive. Also, damn, he died young for today's world.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

He brought a meager third party to opposition status. It was amazing, though he did get help from the Conservative bashing the shit out of Michael Ignatieff.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

Yeah cancer sucks. He had prostate cancer but then a secondary cancer got him. Probably overworked himself and didn't watch his health properly.

If the government were still a minority, an NDP opposition could push through some interesting policies. As it stands, I'm not sure what they can do. Overall, I'm not sure what the NDP wanted to do as their star legislation. I was thinking something between healthcare reform or day care services.

The greatest failure of the Conservative government was not takng care of day care.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

The rep from Georgia's 12th district has prostate cancer :/ He had a job fair set up and was going to attend, but couldn't because of his radiology treatments.

He means nothing.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

He's a democrat in the state of Georgia.

~And Tomu comes in with a random and only slightly (if at all) related topic~

So, what did this Mr. Layton fellow achieve in his political career?

I am now known as Flyboy.

Well mind you Tomu, Jack didn't die from the prostate cancer. He died from a secondary cancer, which is highly unfortunate. The survival rates for prostate cancer in Canada are above 90%, so it's just really unexpected to me anyway that he died.

EDIT: So for USAF question, when Erock remarked to me that he wasn't that important, I would tend to agree. A state funeral for him is nice and all, but it might be going above what is necessary for his achievements. He was always heavily cockblocked by the liberals and tories from achieving much. I was hoping that he finally got a historic victory for NDP to get into Opposition position, he would do something about healthcare reform or national day care.

As it stands, it's up to either his wife to continue that battle or whoever the new leader will be.

His legacy is mostly based on his character and his determination rather than his achievements, so unfortunately while history will look kindly on him, it won't say much about him.

edited 24th Aug '11 9:20:53 AM by breadloaf

Right, right. Well, my dad died of brain cancer, so I have a lot of sympathy for his family.

He sounds like he was a pretty cool guy.

He was basically a party leader that people of any political stripe could respect. We'd crack jokes about his mustache but hey, that's also a sign of his character. He stated a loooooong time ago he'd only shave it if he became prime minister and he never shaved it in all those decades.

@USAF: TO put it simply, he gew a party from 13 seats and 15% of the vote to 103 seats and 30.63% of the vote.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

And to add to that, remember there's five major parties in Canada, so 30% means a lot more than it would in America.

Well...

three major parties. lolGreen and Bloc

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

~long whistle~

Well then, I don't much care what he stood for, that's impressive...

I am now known as Flyboy.

Indeed he was.

And lolGreen? I voted for Greens, and May won her seat from a sitting Tory cabinet minister! Ha!

If the Greens actually become viable; we are screwed. We. Do. Not. Need. the left to split 3 ways.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.

Well actually, if you look at their platform, they're fairly fiscally conservative. I was hoping the Greens become the new tories and displace the neocons.

Also if we were to implement proportional voting and/or instant runoff voting, that would eliminate most of the problem of vote splitting.

Yeah, that'll happen.

Vote reform: the only thing less understandable than economics in politics...

I am now known as Flyboy.

The Liberals randomly banned corporate donations. It could happen! A man can dream.

edited 24th Aug '11 9:57:26 AM by breadloaf