Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: THIS is the NRA....... [View all]rl6214
(8,142 posts)"I've looked at various individual races. In some cases, it was clearly a case of the NRA knowing which side its bread was buttered on"
Something we agree upon, they are a one trick pony and will support whomever will help them the most.
"Where I'm at, candidates in each constituency are nominated by the local constituency association, with only paid-up members of the party doing the voting. The federal or provincial party then has to approve the candidacy. Once in Parliament, an MP is required to vote with the party unless a free vote is allowed (on matters of "conscience", which historically comes down to capital punishment, abortion and same-sex marriage, that I can think of). An NDP MP voted against the Liberals' same-sex marriage legislation (as did numerous Liberals and most Conservatives) a few years ago. Unfortunately, she wasn't booted from caucus, but she did lose the local nomination in the next election, and as I recall the party would not have allowed her to run under the NDP banner if she had won it. (Once she lost it, she resigned from caucus and sat as an independent until the next election.)"
So tow the party line or you're gone? Dosen't seem entirely fair.
"In the US, without any really clear political platform that candidates and members of Congress are required to adhere to, and without any party discipline in Congress, you get what you get. Which includes opportunists using the party name, and opportunists endorsing people running under the party banner."
Which is why we also have so many politicians, knowing they are in a losing fight, switching parties to keep themselves in power. Does that happen in Canada as well?