For a provincial MLA, Mr. Chudnovsky sure spends a lot of time worrying about and working on COPE's internal political "dynamics", doesn't he?

Unlike Robertson and other NDP moderates, Chudnovsky really has not much future left in either provincial politics or federal politics. But attaching himself to COPE is the quickest way to sink. With turning centrist becoming cool for NDPs, I would say David will soon the light and decide to back Vision Vancouver candidates as he will soon realize that as union activists flood the party, COPE will go titanic on themselves a pretty soon.

With developers already backing Vision Vancouver in 05 which had NDP written all over, I say we should not be surprised to see the likes of Libby Davies (champions for the poor) to be backing condo king for a change as Carole James starts making centrism a mainstream for her party at both provincial and local levels of government.

The COPE slate is a good assortment of activists. When I hear someone call themself an activist it’s a euphemism for sh*t disturber.

I think FHK has pretty much said it all. In Vancouver the politics always boil down to the same thing, property prices and real estate developments, mostly residential.

When I hear someone call themself "truthmeister" it's a euphemism for sh*t maker.

"Unlike Robertson and other NDP moderates, Chudnovsky really has not much future left in either provincial politics or federal politics. But attaching himself to COPE is the quickest way to sink."

I would say that attaching himself to COPE is the only way to distance himself from those Vision Vancouver sellouts. The Chud at least realizes that COPE has principles and actually stands for something. COPE isn't a gang of wishy washy, be everything to everyone political opportunists. That's why I think the NDP should continue to support COPE.

After all, how can the NDP and big labour proclaim to support Vision Vancouver when they are being primarily bankrolled by big developers, internet gambling tycoons and the liquor industry? That doesn't sound like they have much in common with working class Vancouverites?

"With turning centrist becoming cool for NDPs, I would say David will soon see the light and decide to back Vision Vancouver candidates as he will soon realize that as union activists flood the party, COPE will go titanic on themselves pretty soon."

Keep on dreaming my friend. Nobody actually knows what Vision Vancouver stands for or against. What's clear is they have a track record of voting for more cops and the military agenda...heck, they are openly courting Vancouver's top cop as their Mayoral candidate. Now that's a centrist/left party if I've ever heard of one.

They vote against the Olympics, even though it was Glen Clark and the NDP that brought the games to B.C. They vote against freezing business taxes, even though they claim they are a free enterprise party. I'm getting whip lash trying to keep track of what Louie et al actually stand for. Contrast that with COPE, and David Cadman has been solidly representing his constituents. That's why he should throw his hat in the ring against Bass and make this a real race.

It is high time that the extreme left learns that the City has evolved, considerably, and the antics of the Anti-Poverty Committee and those morons who support violence, are incompatible with civilized dialouge. COPE is infested with such thinking and their slippery grip on trying to use City Council as a global soapbox will no longer work.

If Vision Vancouver have any hope of remaining government-in-waiting, then they will jolly-well continue to put as many sets of socks and sandals as they can find, between themselves and relics like Woodsworth, Roberts and Tim Guevera. Mind, with Dinosaurus Maximus Stevenson on board, you've got to wonder. And Raymond Louie has to stop providing Peter Ladner so mnay reasons to take a nap while council is in chambers. Lose the binders Raymond! Free yourself! You can be just as boring without!

Eco-fascism and meaningless anti-war slogans have no place in a City that will be hosting the world in little time from now. Thus, COPE is dead.

The slate forming for this crew matters not. They will drop the tofu turkey on both feet and it will be all over but the crying.

The next Vancouver civic election will be between a divided NPA and equally divided VV.

Just watch.

"Nobody actually knows what Vision Vancouver stands for or against."

Give me a break. I'll tell you what they stand for. How about progressive politics without the class warfare and business-baiting? How about getting stuff done on housing rather than being mired in internal warfare?

And since when is COPE the sole representative of "working class Vancouverites?" All those Tim Louis motions calling for world peace and against the Iraq war were't exactly helping out the DTES.

buddy, you're all over the place. Actively courting Vancouver's top cop? The only guy who believes that is the top cop himself. Voted against the Olympics? Seems to me that it was the Classics who were against it, and are now becoming the loud "anti-Olympics" side. good luck gaining traction with that as we get within shouting distance of Games.

"Contrast that with COPE, and David Cadman has been solidly representing his constituents."

I like Cadman, but what has he done? He's brought something like 2 motions to council in the past 6 months. Contrast that with Vision, which has been calling for action on housing, child care, TILMA, climate change, Olympics transparency, minimum wage.... but oh no, you can' tell what they stand for.

"After all, how can the NDP and big labour proclaim to support Vision Vancouver when they are being primarily bankrolled by big developers, internet gambling tycoons and the liquor industry?"

Ah, my favorite argument of all. Seems to me COPE didn't have too much of a problem with all those interests donating to them after the election on 02. And now, they argue that Vision somehow owes them money, simply because COPE has yet to put together a strategy to pay back Cadman.

Translation: labour movement is freezing funding over the split and COPE needs it to survive.

So they want to be paid back in evil developer money that's been funneled through Vision? Or do you want to sign an agreement that says Vision keeps its big bad money, but only pays COPE in friendly, moral, working-class money?

Keep dreaming.

Stop being in denial about where Vision stands. COPE's best chance lies in working with Vision on some tacit level in 08. And this idea that the Greens are already backing COPE is a bit much.

there's enough smart people in COPE who will figure out that just because you're not trying to take down vision every moment of the day doesn't mean that COPE is going to crumble.

Luv,

Kid

ps Vision is the only party not mired in internal warfare. just thought I'd add that in.