That will be the finish, and end, of this tired and worn out government

Today, in the Vancouver Sun, newspaper Vaughn Palmer had an opinion piece entitled, “Liberals unlikely to win seats in newly called by-elections”.  Here’s the Coles Notes from that piece:

… The two seats in the legislature had been vacant for weeks … candidates were already nominated and running.

… Clark had visited both ridings on multiple occasions, making announcements, reaping media cover-age

… all that remained was for her to call the by-elections and make it official.

Still she hesitated. Her answers to questions about timing went from "soon" to "very soon" to "every day we're closer."  … "because I haven't called them yet."

… as to the chances of either one of those seats being re-occupied by a B.C. Liberal, the premier's hesitation provides the strongest evidence of the government's reading of the public mood …

The story goes on to say that;

… in Chilliwack, the Liberals cast about for "name" candidates to replace the departed MLA Barry Penner, before finally settling on Laurie Throness, a long-time political aide with strong connections to one of the evangelical churches.

There, too, they were upstaged in the battle of the political names, when the B.C. Conservatives nominated John Martin, a newspaper columnist (Chilliwack Times, the Province) and outspoken criminologist who takes special delight in baiting his academic colleagues for what he regards as an overwhelmingly small-l "liberal" bias.

Some of you may not know much about John Martin, if you do not live in the Fraser Valley.  If that’s the case, I’d encourage you to drop by his website.  You’ll find a number of media releases regarding various policies and ideas from the BC Conservative Party … and along with his thoughts on policies and plans of the current BC Liberal government. 

A Conservative victory should be quite alarming to the Liberals

Christy Clark -- leader of beleaguered BC Liberal Party?

After posting three stories yesterday, this comment today is going to be a real short piece, and right to the point.

In a news story (Parties gear up for by-election battle in Chilliwack-Hope) in the Straight.com today, they hit the nail right on the head with the following observation:

Political scientist Maxwell Cameron says that Chilliwack-Hope is the strategic battleground for the B.C. Liberal Party in this year’s two by-elections.

It’s in this Fraser Valley electoral district where the dominant conservative vote will be up for grabs for both the beleaguered ruling party and the resurgent B.C. Conservative party.

A BC Liberal defeat in Chilliwack-Hope could mean an unraveling of the political coalition of federal Liberals and Conservatives working together to keep the leftist NDP out of the gates. It would also boost the claim of the B.C. Conservatives to being the new party of the right.

And his story concluded with a wise observation:

 

First name announced for run as BC Conservative in the Chilliwack Hope riding

John Martin to seek BC
Conservative nomination

Down in the Fraser Valley the first name has surfaced as a potential candidate for the BC Conservative Party in the Chilliwack Hope riding recently vacated by Liberal Barry Penner. 
A story in today’s Chilliwack Times says that, “Times columnist and UFV criminology professor John Martin seeking Conservative nomination”.  Martin is also a criminology professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.

He is quoted in the story saying … "The BC Liberals absolutely don't deserve a fourth term to be re-elected.  I'm a small 'c' conservative and the Liberals don't represent me anymore. And I can't vote NDP.  The by-election in Chilliwack-Hope is the first opportunity for the BC Conservatives to get on the map and get a seat in the legislature. That's why I'm doing this, I want to help make that happen."

Meantime … I am not sure what is happening, but I am finding media stories like the following being posted by members of the BC Liberal Party???

BC Conservatives -- leadership race

FLASH ... at a board meeting of the BC Conservative Party this evening, it was decided that a leadership race for the party will be taking place this Spring.  Members are expected to vote on a leader at a convention to be held on Saturday May 28th.  The leadership convention will likely be held in the Fraser Valley.  MORE TO FOLLOW .....