"Orange Crush" Making Big Waves in Canada

Today's latest chart of election polling, from CTV.com

Your Head Trucker admires a great many things about Canada, not the least of which is their public healthcare system, as well as their legalization of same-sex marriage back in 2005.  So I take a friendly interest in the political happenings of our neighbor to the north; and this week, the rather placid (by American standards) political waters are rising fast in what might turn out to be an unexpected tsunami that will reshape the landscape for some time to come. 

It appears that the New Democratic Party (softcore Socialists, shhhh!), led by Jack Layton, hitherto always in third place, is riding a wave of disgust with politics-as-usual that might put them into office as the official Opposition for the first time ever at the national level.  Experienced pundits say there's slim-to-no chance of Layton becoming Prime Minister - but there is a chance that Conservative leader Stephen Harper might lose his grip on the office somehow, and the Liberals could be reduced to third-party status for the first time since Confederation in 1867, a major upset - all depending on just how the election returns shape up on Monday, May 2.

Speaking of which, they've only been campaigning since the end of March up there:  Canadian elections last only about 5 or 6 weeks.  OMG, isn't that a blessed thought?

Anyway, here's a clip of the Canadian leader's debate that was held a couple of weeks ago.  Your Head Trucker watched the whole thing on youtube, and this short video montage is a fair representation of the tone of the whole.  One Canadian journalist described it as something like "Jack Layton, a smiling, postive guy surrounded by three angry men," which is about right. 



Harper, as you'll see, tries to smile angelically and play the abused-but-saintly leader, but don't be fooled:  he came into office five years ago pledging to revoke the marriage-equality law.  Some people up there call him the George W. Bush of Canada, for that and other reasons.  But fortunately, when he tried to reopen the issue, Parliament voted down his nasty plan, 175-123, a moment your Head Trucker watched on live television and will never forget:  imagine a nation's elected representatives resoundingly approving, for the third time in three years, under three different prime ministers, equality and justice for all.

What a concept.  Imagine!

The NDP was solidly in favor of gay rights on that and all other occasions.  I like Jack; he's a politician, but he seems very sincere, very down to earth, and clear on what's the right thing to do.  Give him a try, google up the NDP platform, see what you think. 

Below, Layton in an iconic picture saluting his supporters at a rally in Winnipeg yesterday, brandishing his cane.  He's recovering from both prostate surgery as a well as a busted leg, but he's a scappy guy.  Good luck to him.  Maybe Canada, at least, will find some Change they can believe in.