NDP? As easy as 1,2,3!

It’s been an odd week, trying to be a Dipper.

First off, I had to stop watching Sun TV, start watching PBS and CBC and track down everything I could find to read about David Suzuki’s latest pursuits.

Then I had to start thinking about social justice, higher taxes and growing more facial hair.

I had to endure piercing glares from anyone in the Tory Blue pinstripe suit, which included a letter to the editor about my column entitled “Bye-Bye Blue, I’ll Miss You” from Brandon West PC MLA Reg Helwer.

In it he reminded me that under the NDP and Premier Greg Selinger:

• “Manitobans have been forced to endure the largest tax increase since Howard Pawley, $184 million in new taxes when they promised no tax increase, more than $100 million in fee increases, two NDP cabinet ministers who broke the elections law, the highest debt and deficit levels in Manitoba history and yet another flood caused by NDP mismanagement.”

In defending his party’s new acclaimed leader, Brian Pallister, Helwer concluded:

• “Mr. O’Connor had the choice of doom, debt and deficits with the NDP or an opportunity to create an economic powerhouse with the Progressive Conservatives. Interesting choice, Mr. O’Connor. I trust that once he has sampled the exotic parties, like the Communists or the NDP, that he will return to his senses and support the Tories once again.”

Funny, but I was never really “supporting the Tories” in my post here as managing editor of this fine paper, but rather just not supporting the NDP.

But as they continue to find ways to appeal to the public — as the Conservatives provincially and federally flounder about — I wrote last week that I thought it was high time I found out why and start to think like a Dipper.

Call it my own version of method acting.

Speaking of which, this sounds like something I should consider:

VOLUNTEER EXTRAS NEEDED FOR MOVIE SHOOT.

Smilin’ Jack: The Jack Layton Story

Winnipeg MB — Pier 21 Films and Eagle Vision Inc. are currently shooting the original bio-pic Smilin’ Jack: The Jack Layton Story in Winnipeg, and are asking Manitobans to help recreate history.

The movie is looking for hundreds of Volunteer Extras to help recreate Jack Layton’s walk onto the stage of the Toronto Convention Centre where he greeted his supporters and celebrated the first time Canadians asked the NDP Party to be Canada’s official opposition. Tuesday Aug. 14, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg.

Now that sounds like a way to connect with a whole bunch of my new ideological colleagues.

Or maybe I’ll just have a beer (union-made only, please) this weekend with my old buddy Drew Caldwell, Brandon East MLA and someone who has been at the centre of a few political controversies of his own.

That sounds like the more appropriate thing to do.

Unless Reg invites me over ...

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM ...

“The War of the Worlds” was performed on Oct. 30, 1938 and aired on the CBS radio network.

The adaptation of H. G. Wells’s novel was narrated by actor Orson Welles.

The first two-thirds of the 60-minute broadcast were presented as a series of simulated news bulletins which suggested to many listeners that an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently in progress.

In the days following, notes Wikipedia, there was widespread outrage and panic by certain listeners who had believed the events described in the program were real.

Meanwhile, Editor’s Notebook was published last Saturday in your Brandon Sun.

The column was headlined “Bye-Bye Blue, I’ll Miss You” and was written by yours truly.

The entire column was a mix of fact and fancy about my newfound disaffection for the provincial Progressive Conservative party — for which I once worked — and its new leader Pallister and my apparent decision to switch sides over to the governing NDP.

In the days following, there was widespread commentary from the community that ranged from expressions of support for my position and kudos for the entertaining writing style, to some downright nasty and personal attacks.

While I truly do love this community and feel most of its citizens are positive, encouraging and supportive of the city and its institutions — such as this 130-year-old media outlet — there are a few who live in the shadows and throw mud.

Here is the range of some of the comments I received following the publication of the column. They come from a variety of sources, such as Twitter, email and anonymous submissions to our Sound Off line:

•“Love it. The problem with your readers probably came from the fact you mixed reportage with the satire. You have to write in capitals in crayon in order to get them to get it — a la Swift’s A Modest Proposal, the world’s most famous satire, which was taken for the real thing by some when it was initially published.”

• “You should know by now that satire is above the majority of the masses, my friend.”

• “I thought the Pallister piece was very humorous and entertaining. It’s amazing folks couldn’t hint the sarcasm as it was nicely placed throughout. As well sadly I must say, my Ché mug was placed on back order this week.”

• “So the Sun’s editor has now come out of the closet and admitted he is a Dipper. Shocking! The Sun has shifted noticeable to the left.”

• “Anyone else sick to death of this train wreck? Hire a new editor Sun, this one has no character, credibility or shame left. Embarrassing. Scumbag.”

• “Watching his imminent demise is entertaining and overdue.”

• “Not sure if the arrogance of James O’Connor exceeds his progression into madness in his recent writings but it’s time to shut him down. Worried about personal attacks? You’re the pro at that both professionally and personally. Goof.”

That some people actually took the time to write such mean passages is scary to me. These are your neighbours, folks.

I remain undaunted. My column is designed to inform and entertain. But most importantly, I want it to start people thinking. I hope it spurs, as the saying goes, rich public debate.

Not the sick and twisted trashy slurs shown above.

A BANNER DAY

Even Ken Waddell — mayor of Neepawa, and publisher of a couple of weekly papers — took exception to my column.

The hard-right former PC Party leadership candidate — who I consider a casual friend, as I also do with his son Mike — wrote a scathing attack at an editorial penned by the Sun’s night editor Matt Goerzen on the Canadian Wheat Board and then turned his sights on me.

Some excerpts:

• “What O’Connor doesn’t tell us in this column, but what is well known, is that he has been leaning heavily towards the NDP for years, all the while pretending to be conservative.”

• “He is best friends with NDP MLA Drew Caldwell.”

• “O’Connor never was a conservative. He may have pretended to be, but here is guy who couldn’t take a firm stand on almost any traditional conservative issue in his life.”

•“He could be a fiscal conservative as long as it didn’t mean any budget cuts that would affect anything close to his backyard. As far as social conservative issues, he runs for the hills at the mere mention of social issues.”

• “To O’Connor’s credit he has at last come clean. He’s a socialist, plain and simple.”

You know what? I’m not sure what I am any longer. Politics are starting to give me a headache.

RADIO, RADIO

Doing live radio can be a harrowing experience. Even though I’ve done a fair share of hits on radio over the years, I was a bit nervous going into the CKLQ studios yesterday morning to do the Feedback call-in show with guest host Tyler Glen.

With regular host Bill Turner on vacation, Glen gets to try out some AM action, which is a bit different from his regular gig as morning show co-host of the Star FM 94.7 Breakfast Buzz.

As Glen is an aficionado of all things newsy and political — and he also writes a weekly column in our Weekend magazine — he’s been doing a bang-up job of bobbing and weaving with some interesting guests.

And yesterday, this ink-stained wretch got invited on the show.

Glen didn’t hold anything back and I answered as frankly and openly as I could. During commercial breaks, he said he was impressed with the numbers of callers waiting in the queue. I suppose that’s a good sign.

There were a couple of critics, but a lot of the callers praised the Sun and commented on how much it has improved over the years.

The toughest part was during the last few minutes of the show, when the FM creeped back into the AM and Glen threw a nutty word association quiz at me.

That’s really the only time my tongue got tied.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition August 11, 2012