March 30, 2000
False hope - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- Right before rank and file NDP members voted Ujjal Dosanjh in as leader of their party (or as they like to say, movement) and the Premier of British Columbia; a pollster, McIntyre and Mustel I think, doled out a poll saying that Ujjal Dosanjh would be preferred over Gordon Campbell as Premier. Surprisingly, or not, I found out results of the poll through one of the Dosanjh booths many pamphlets and brochures.
In recent days, Angus Reid and the other pollsters in this province have gone on to say either Dosanjh and Campbell are in a dead heat, tied at popularity or that Dosanjh bests Campbell in personal popularity. One poll said that although BCers would prefer the Liberals over the NDP, though they’d prefer Dosanjh as Premier rather than Campbell.
Bill Vander Zalm, the other fellow in the race for the Premiership, said it best. “People don’t like Gordon Campbell, but they don’t know why.”
Now, although I hold an NDP membership card, I think that this administration is so far removed from a level of competency, that it’s humorous. The NDP have to do serious housekeeping to make sure they can pose a serious showing against Campbell and the Liberals. Dosanjh was elected at that convention by 58% of all delegates. That isn’t a strong enough number to warrant an observer to say, they’re all united at the NDP. If in-fighting and bickering will continue, namely from the Glen Clark-Moe Sihota tandem of disgruntled idiots, than Ujjal Dosanjh through no fault of his own will see his party sink into political oblivion. Hello Socreds and Federal Tories.
The state of provincial politics right now seems rather calm. Dosanjh’s biggest problem as of last week was the fact he couldn’t find a press secretary and it’s the front page story in the Sun! Dosanjh is having a relatively calm time with the press, yet again so did Glen Clark amidst the fudget budget scandals. If this is the way Dosanjh governs, his shot at winning an election are pretty damned good. Monday’s budget was relatively lackluster, as it had a deficit and further compounded the provincial debt, as is the custom of the NDP government. And the CUPE strike will be far from remembered from BCers minds, by the time an election rolls around. If ever.
But, then again we must note these are polls. Never take polls with much importance, take them with a grain of salt. Politicians like using polls when it suits them, but when they don’t go in their favour they snuff them off as poppycock. Dosanjh is wise not to capitalise on the poll and to not use the findings to his advantage. To do so, would suggest great desperation.
Ujjal Dosanjh and the NDP are thriving on our apathy, but right now on the false hope of these polls. But, I, ever the optimist must note that the opposition Liberals aren’t doing too well either. If Dosanjh is most popular, than the Liberals must seriously look at the leadership of Gordon Campbell. More importantly they have to look at the appeal of their leader. Face it, Gordon Campbell isn’t too popular. He doesn’t appeal to folks north of West Vancouver and that’s a shame, because he’s poised to take the Premier’s office. And with that kind of popularity, it’ll be a short time before the NDP sweeps in again. I’ll take Gordon on another time. I’ll give the false hope time to sink in.
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