The Baker's Dozen.

Pierre Trudeau said that the essential ingredient of politics is timing. There is just cause to suggest that the “Baker’s Dozen” have mixed this up and created a recipe for disaster.
We should ready ourselves for a fourth term of the BC Liberals now that the NDP has imploded under the weight of those who thought Carole James was good enough to rebuild the party from 2 MLA’s and no party status to 35 MLA’s, but not good enough to pursue a real chance to govern after the next election. She was good enough to form the largest NDP opposition in history but not good enough for 13 members of that opposition who likely got into or stayed in power due in large part to her hard work. She was good enough to garner a 42% approval rating from the voters of B.C. on May 12, 2009, the highest level of support in 23 years, but 13 duly elected MLA’s ignored the will of their constituents and decided they knew better. This is not a great recipe for democratic representation of the people by the people for the people. It certainly is a “new” type of democracy however!
We don’t know what has gone on behind closed doors but we do know that James won the party's support as delegates voted 97 to 18 against a motion calling for a leadership convention in 2011, translating to an 86% approval rating. Those 97 delegates recognized that it is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared (Whitney Young quote).
When the next Gordon Campbell clone is voted in as the leader to succeed him, the essential ingredients for a Liberal win will include adding a snap election to the mix, while the NDP are still whining “did not” , “did too” and poking their tongues out at each other. Now was NOT the time to rebuild the foundation of the NDP when they had a real opportunity to put their platform to work and rebuild the foundation for so many marginalized British Columbians who have had it pulled out from under them since 2003.
On their website, the NDP states that social justice translates to fairness and respect for all. All except to Carole James, the delegates and constituents who by vast majority supported her leadership. As social democrats they say they believe in a balanced and responsible approach to government. Thirteen MLA’s having so much power and influence seems pretty unbalanced to me and airing their dirty laundry publically is completely irresponsible. The NDP say they will work together to make sure the needs and aspirations of ordinary people are effectively represented in the political process. The one thing the NDP isn’t doing is working together and as such they have just burned themselves and the ordinary people who had some real hope that the injustices they have suffered for the past 8 years may have been remedied.