They're Shocked...

That Nycole Turmel has recent ties to the Bloc and Quebec Provincial Separatists.

Imagine!

As I predicted in my recent Blog on dear Nycole, this was apt to get out sooner than later - indeed what surprises me is why the pundits are surprised - it was always patently evident where Turmel's true loyalties lay.

Now to Turmel herself - she has been on the talk circuit trying desperately to mitigate the damage. Her main line of defence is that "yes "she held membership in the Bloc and in a Quebec-based Separatist Organization but that was to endear herself to friends.

In fact, it was just a matter of weeks before she announced her candidacy for the NDP in the recent Election that she turned her Bloc Membership in and only days ago, cancelled her membership in the other separatist organization.

Talk about a Conversion on the Way to Damascus.

For the Record - I do not Buy it for one moment.

Turmel also alleges that she voted "No" in both of the Quebec Referendums on Separation. Lucky for her, those votes were held by Secret Ballot.

Some have suggested that Layton was unaware of Turmel's Separatists Leanings when nominating her for his replacement.

Impossible.

So why did he do it?

Layton knows that his recent surge in popularity is entirely Quebec based. He knows too that the bulk of his new Caucus has ties to Separation. So he needed an Interim Leader that could relate to this important contingent; enter Nycole.

What I pointed out in my earlier Blog is that his nominee will turn off their long time base outside of Quebec - the one that has stood with the NDP for decades and it will offend Canadians generally.

It was a dumb move on Jack Layton's part and his Party should never have endorsed it.

The fact that they did means to me that his Party is Dead on Arrival.

Should Nycole step down? Yes.

Will she - likely not.

In fact, from the outset, Jack Layton was probably the only guy that could straddle the divide between Quebec and the Rest of Canada when it came to the NDP.

Without Jack - it will be far more difficult to accomplish and with Turmel continuing in place - it will be impossible.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'