October 22, 2008

Kevin Yates

It appears that the NDP leadership is quickly turning into a one-person race. While this isn't entirely true, Mandryk wants you to believe that Lingenfelter is the only choice to beat Brad Wall, and that his only obstacle is an unforgiving membership.

And so enters Kevin Yates. Kevin's always been kind of a buffoon: he's loud, self-important, and tends to exaggerate. A lot. But he's well-liked in his constituency, and his head's usually in the right place, so he's been tolerable. Now we hear Mr. Yates piping up about his involvement in Link's campaign: he talks about what Link's requirements were before he'd come back to the province, speculates on how many caucus members support Lingenfelter's leadership bid, and suggests that other potential candidates will bow out now that a concensus is forming.

But the best bit in this article is how Kevin comes clean about an attempted coup he organized in 2006, to try and oust Calvert as leader. And how 14 members of caucus supported a leadership change, but in the end, he was the only one with the balls to demand it. And how unrepentant he is about it all.

Kevin Yates: have you lost your tiny little mind? Session starts today, you ass, and nothing says "effective opposition" like a splintered caucus. In case you were too dumb to realize this, Link hasn't been elected and you still have to work with Calvert. This wasn't an act of principle, Kevin -- it was mutiny. In one act you've shown everyone that you're not only a liar, but you can't be trusted. If it were me I'd kick you out of caucus immediately and make you sit as an independent.

And if I were Link, I'd distance myself from your sorry ass as soon as possible.