Vancouver City Politics: Ladner is In, Sullivan is Out

This is from a comment we did on the Tyee from Monte Paulsen's article:

Ladner Seizes NPA Crown: After 15 years on council, Mayor Sullivan turns out fewer than a thousand supporters.By Monte Paulsen Published: June 9, 2008

Vision has nothing to be scared of, unless Gregor Robertson doesn't win the nomination, which I think he will quite easily.

It's the NPA who should be very, very scared and I think they are, especially now. When I talk my dear old mum, a lifetime small c conservative voter and she says she will vote for Gregor over the NPA, that speaks volumes. He appeals to a wide cross section of voters on many levels.

And both Vision & COPE are right, Ladner, while maybe having a "softer" image than Sullivan, does not differ policy wise and has voted onside with him. And, Sam's cheerleaders on council made the biggest rookie mistakes you can, they put all their eggs in one basket and it turned out it had a false bottom. It's easy to understand though, you're either on Sullivan's side, or you're the enemy, that's why the NPA have created such bad party: Sullivan is a poor leader. Diversify people, be friends and supporters of everyone, at least publically. Politics 101.

It seems so very tedious that the political folks seem always doomed to fail to learn their lessons... when you become so insular and arrogant, you alienate many, including some of your supporters and as Sullivan found out, your own party. And voters. This happened when they pulled the nastiness to oust Phillip Owen & that backfired big time.

Ladner's win is a good thing for the NPA, but it will make the race for the next mayor a bit more of a challenge. But, one thing Roberts has that no-one else does, is the political might and machine of the NDP and some of the big unions. The NPA and COPE can't even begin to compete with that
kind of organizing and campaigning strategy and experience.

I know those in Roberts camp are reading this and as a small time observer in this drama, it's my suggestion that it's time for Vision to bury the hatchet with COPE and bring a progressive majority back to city hall in time for the circus that will be 2010 and the fallout that will be sure to follow.

If the Liberals get in for a 3rd term, the carnage that we all see in this city now will look like a walk in the park compared to everything that is coming and Vancouver needs a progressive, united and strong team to work together. It is inevitable with food security issues becoming more prevalent, ever-increasing utilities, a real estate bubble that will burst and the many other socio-economic realities that will continue to arise because the Liberals have destroyed the social safety net and are selling BC's resources and services off lock, stock & barrel. Our province is in serious trouble, only people don't know how bad yet.

The consequences of globalization and the false world economies are coming home to roost faster than many are aware and it's going to get ugly. We need a solid and progressive government and leadership to help bring us all together to work for the common good.