Two roads diverged and I, I took the one the whip told me to, or else I'd lose my seat in the next election.

Forgive the italicisation but this is a day of sorrow, of poetry, an elegy for the beauty of representative government and the only party in the House of Commons that ever appears to give any inkling of understanding what that means.

Bev Desjarlais, New Democrat Member of Parliament since 1997, voted against a bill passed by the Liberals to introduce same-sex marriage last year. I feel she voted wrongly as she was presented with a bill that would give same sex partnerships the same legal, social, and economic rights under the law. That was what I said I'd vote for, call it same sex marriage or civil union I'd bite at the first lure on the line. Bev, citing both the concerns of her constituents, but by no means a representative sample of the riding, and her own personal feelings voted no. It was a slap in the face to Jack Layton's belief that MP's are delegates of the party leadership. As a result she was marginalised and when the time came for a three-term MP to be re-nominated she faced a five way race. Open Progressive Conservative nominations in Rural Alberta aren't that hotly contested and they're virtually guranteed seats.

Jack Layton says he wasn't involved, though from all apparent signs it appears he was neutral in much the same way that Pearson was neutral on Trudeau's ascession to the leadership: Nothing was said in public, but rest assured he wanted the right result and let it be quietly known. Sheila Copps knows all about that sort of neutrality.

But don't take my word for it let's see what the chatteratti have to say about Bev Desjarlais' loss and the sorrow of the NDP:

"I'll take a chance on her [nominee Niki Ashton] over a known bigot."

"I couldn't be more pleased. One more homophobic bigot put on the boat. Bye,bye Bev. Too bad, so sad. Enjoy life after politics... "

"Best of luck to Niki Ashton. I hope the seat stays in NDP hands, but better a Liberal than Desjarlais. She was a stain on the whole caucus. "

"justice 1, bigots 0."

"The Dark Side freaks are saddened by her defeat now.... "

"If Bev had abstained she would still be the candidate."

"However belated, it's nice to see that there is a price to be paid in the NDP for being a bigot."

There's this lovely little exchange:

quote:
Originally posted by corkyfan:It's too bad that Bev lost, that'll make one less sensible MP for the NDP. And over what? SSM? Just goes to show yet again that the Federal NDP is turning into a monoculture of Jack clones.

[Response]Allow me to be the first in a long line of babblers to tell you to fuck off.

"Good riddance to bad rubbish. Bev will no longer be a thorn in the side to good NDPers everywhere."

"So, I wonder what story the right wing media is going to come up with to say that Layton orchestrated this entire thing. "

The story appeared on CBC as you saw above.

"In my books party loyalty means accepting defeat graciously, not quitting the party and trying to split the vote to defeat the democratically chosen candidate."

"Strange that she didn't mention her plans to run as an independent if she lost. Maybe she can sit beside Pat O'Bigot now."

"Na na na na, na na na na, Desjarlais hey, goodbye."

Re: Bev: "At the very least, she's going to learn how to get along on a whole lot less money. "

And what is without hyperbole the gretest comparison in the history of everything:

"When she voted against equal marriage, she voted in favour of denying homosexuals their basic humanity. "

And finally, in the name of sexual equality:

"If you're talking about Niki being young, i'm sure I speak for many in stating the obvious... she's also pretty damn attractive.I recommend trying to get her on tv as often as possible. Young males will come out to vote ndp in droves!
Niki Ashton
New Democratic Party - the sexiest party in Canada "

Yep, the party of tolerance strikes again.

Bev Desjarlais disagrees with me on SSM, but she agrees with me on something much more fundamental: The notion that Edmund Burke had of trusteeship:

"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

This is the same for stupid servants of the party as it is for stupid servants of the constituent.
The tired populist says that our leaders should govern by polls and then castigates them for cowardice when they do.
The righteous partisan says that our representatives should be worship at the foot of the flag and be grateful for the privilidge and then laments the vacum of personality.
The passionate trustee knows that she would not have sought to serve, if she had nothing to offer.

Bev Desjarlais, MP, will be running in the next election.

Give 'em hell.