I think there is a bigger, more existential, crisis at play for the @bcliberals. Their raison d’etre is to keep the @bcndp out of govt. Power has been disciplining in holding their coalition together. 1/

#bcpoli #bcexln2020 https://twitter.com/char_des/status/1315383781633654784

The only times BCNDP has ever won govt has been when there has been a split on the right. BCLibs need to avoid that - thus the attempt to retain social conservatives by not clearly denouncing homophobia, or the racism & sexism on display in that video. 2/

#bcpoli #bcexln2020

And they can't cater too much to “virtue signalling” types who care about things like sexism & racism & y’know, human rights, because those cigar smoking tuxedo wearing dudes need to still feel like they live in a world where their opinions reign supreme. 3/

#bcpoli #bcexln2020

And the political ground has shifted below them. The BCNDP “managed the economy” and now in these pandemic times there is more recognition than ever of the importance of the role of government in our collective well being...4/

#bcpoli #bcexln2020

...that social programs and services matter and we have no economy without them.

Tax cuts just ain’t where it’s at these days.

So how to ‘modernize’, and keep everyone in the tent? 5/

#bcpoli #BCelxn2020

It’s a real problem for @bcliberals. I don’t think it’s just that they’re ideologically restricted, though they definitely are. Or that leadership isn’t taking good advice... 6/

#bcpoli #BCelxn2020

...I’m not sure there is any advice for them now that doesn’t also come with risks for their party’s survival. Though the risks they are willing to take vs those they are clearly not are quite telling. 7/

#bcpoli #BCelxn2020

We can all see in other jurisdictions where 21st century conservatism is going. And I'm sure there are federal Liberals in the @bcliberal tent who can’t be happy with positions their party is taking. So what does this mean for their future? 8/

#bcpoli #BCelxn2020

Unless they can manage to pull off a win in this election — which I still maintain is possible — we shall all find out. A leadership race, almost certainly. But I think their challenges right now go far beyond their leader. end/

#bcpoli #BCexln2020