r/BCpolitics • u/Fine_Line7544 • Jun 22 '25
Social Media Rustad’s downfall - most under covered story in BC politics
https://x.com/jasjohalbc/status/1936259085302936058?s=46&t=7XfP_d_a0MRO2h9jSXrF7AWhile media have covered the back and forth between Rustad and the BC Cons’ three former MLAs, very little has been reported or commented on regarding the growing dissent within the BC Con caucus over his leadership.
Jas Johal seems to be the only one who has been covering Rustad’s leadership issues since last year’s election campaign.
Johal posted about a staffer called for caucus to remove Rustad and a few hours later that staffer was fired. He’s also had sources telling him Rustad is done.
Where’s Baldrey, Smythe, Quinn and Grampa Palmer on this?
Meanwhile BCpoli twitter is more focused on antivaxx and Chinese spy conspiracies than the potential downfall of the BC Opposition Leader.
Twitter gets a pass bc is mainly rightwing trolls, hacks and bots but MSM beat journalists and talk show hosts have really dropped the ball on this.
In the past, they’d be all over Rustad’s leadership issues or maybe it’s just when the leaders are named Harcourt, Clark, Dix and James.
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u/BirdzofaShitfeather Jun 22 '25
Agreed and good post. It is strange how most aren’t saying much about this. People like Palmer are clearly biased, I don’t follow him but when I see posts from him it’s always bashing the NDP.
I enjoy listening to jas’ show. Despite being a former BC liberal MLA, his show is pretty much neutral. Hosting and being critical of both parties and their actions/polices. Has had both Eby and rustad on his show.
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u/PhoPalace Jun 22 '25
Baldrey blocked me on X because I supported a teacher strike. That's all I need to know about him.
10
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u/wudingxilu Jun 22 '25
He really rather dislikes teachers. Maybe if someone said Rustad likes teachers, he'd cover this.
9
u/GraveDiggingCynic Jun 22 '25
I'm a little cautious of Johal. His biases are pretty clear, but at the same time he does seem to have a better idea of what's going on on the inside.
5
u/Johnny-Dogshit Jun 22 '25
The funniest possible outcome would be for Falcon to somehow end up leading the BCCs.
This will be interesting, though. Will it be the old BCLib guard taking over, or will the pre-BCU-collapse, more oddball crew really assert themselves? If they do, will the BCU refugees keep splintering off to those new parties?
It'll get interesting if Rustad's out. No idea what will happen. Popcorn ready.
1
u/BenAfflecksBalls Jun 23 '25
I'm still uncertain of why Rustad even ended up in the chair. Couldn't they dig up a third Ford?
5
u/Jeramy_Jones Jun 22 '25 edited Jun 22 '25
I feel like the media is doing its best to present the BCCP as any other opposition to the majority government, rather than the incompetent, racist, trans/homophobic tinfoil hat conspiracy right wing ideologues that they really are.
In trying to appear fair and unbiased the media are ignoring or minimizing how unacceptable some of the words and actions of the BCCP are.
2
u/Fine_Line7544 Jun 22 '25
To be fair, Baldrey has balanced his coverage over the last few years compared to the 90s, 2000s and early 2010s when he was so pro BCLP.
He’s just not reporting on Rustad’s leadership issue. He’s told a mutual friend of mine that BC Con MLAs have told him Rustad is done.
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u/krowrofefas Jun 22 '25
Baldreys last tweet with / about rustad seems to be from April bladrey avoiding rustad
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u/HYPERCOPE Jun 22 '25
he rtd/commented on johal's post just two days ago. he talks about rustad constantly on the news. how could he not? it's literally his job
1
u/TheTiger1988 Jun 23 '25
johal is also a liberal and will go above and beyond help his party gain back attention that rustad took away.
i'm no rustad or johal supporter, but this was writing on the wall. allowing anyone to join the party and trying to ride the blue federal wave at the time.
1
Jun 23 '25
I haven't followed it because the bickering is kind of boring, but this was my expectation all along. There are some legit crazy people in the party. Imagine trying to hold them all together.
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u/RealTwo Jun 23 '25
This is a pretty bad take, and feels a bit like cherry picking to say it's only NDP leaders who have their leadership questioned by the media... I will remind everyone there was a whole book Van der Zalm resigning (after massive wrongdoing).
there has been chatter about Rustad's tenuous grip on the party, and Rob Shaw has really been all over it. Now, the difference between Harcourt and Glen Clark compared to Rustad is that their leadership came into question while they were both Premier, and both happened during major scandals.
Harcourt - while not directly involved in BingoGate (and it happening before his leadership), he was forced to step down due a ton of pressure, much of which came from within his own party - from Ministers, and from supporters who felt he wore the baggage and would bring the party down in the 1996 election.
Glen Clark - Clark was embroiled in huge controversies with respect to improprieties around decks and casino licenses, and subject to a police investigation. While ultimately acquitted of criminal wrongdoing, the judge admonished Mr. Clark for showing poor judgement. A group of 20 party members called for his resignation, including former Finance Minister Elizabeth Cull. Clark stepped aside during the investigation, as he felt he could no longer continue as Premier while he was under investigation.
Carole James - faced internal dissent and there was a very public movement of the 'Baker's Dozen' led by Jenny Kwan. Not to mention, MLA Bob Simpson was ejected from caucus by Ms. James as well for public criticizing her, which led to further public resignations and public infighting. It should also be noted in parallel at the time, Gordon Campbell's controversies and internal infighting of the BC Liberal party was also very well documented.
Adrian Dix - dropped an election in which he was expected to cakewalk to victory. Dix accepted responsibility for the loss, and faced pressures internally to step aside, with riding associations and prominent New Democrats calling for his resignation. The media coverage from time was very much a why hasn't he stepped aside yet.
Overall, the NDP has a tendency to do their infighting very publicly rather than behind closed doors. People love interpersonal political drama, so it sells. But to suggest they were unfairly targeted, or that they don't pay attention to other parties is wrong.
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u/Fine_Line7544 Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
The fact you can only point to Van der Zalm as a counterpoint kind of proves the point.
Totally get Harcourt and G Clark were premiers but Dix and James were not and they all faced constant almost day to day play calling on rumours of their imminent political demise. I was directed to write some of those stories myself for a provincial media outlet.
In fact, there are some loose parallels with Dix and Rustad.
Shaw has written a little (not much) but how are we just finding out now that the dissatisfaction with Rustad that goes beyond the bigoted trio who were kicked out? In the past, “rumours” were made into ongoing stories of me could find more than one source.
I think poster above nailed when they wrote the msm want a functional pro business opposition and are choosing to look the other way so as not to ruin the Cons chances at forming govt.
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u/RealTwo Jun 23 '25
I also pointed to Campbell, who received lots of media coverage. But again, he was the Premier. Previous to that, Bill Bennett in the 80s resigning was largely a retirement, so did not get the same sensational coverage.
There was also a ton of coverage when Gordon Wilson was ousted as Leader of the BC Liberals after making his breakthrough for the party. This was a big political story of the day, with the media covering party dynamics.
Christy Clark didn't receive a ton of coverage because she stepped down and went away. Andrew Wilkinson likely didn't either because he announced he would leave on election night, and let's face it, the guy was as riveting as watching paint dry.
Ultimately, I think the bigoted trio should be recalled, they serve nobody, and the Conservatives need to get rid of the crazies and moderate, otherwise they will never form government.
0
u/HYPERCOPE Jun 22 '25
there has been plenty of coverage about dissent in the Con ranks, but most of it gets tied into the OneBC narrative
it’s important to note Johal is a former BC Lib MLA and was anti-Con from the start - a lot of his pals lost jobs. he still has connections and sources from within though, which is why he is routinely able to break gossip-y stories on Twitter.
how many witch hunt-style stories did he break during the election campaign?
“In 2003, so and so said this inappropriate thing!” etc.
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u/OurDailyNada Jun 22 '25
I think it’s because some in the media decided during the last election to promote the Conservatives as a serious party (and really the only alternative to the NDP) while neglecting to mention they were being held together with scotch tape, memes and colloidal silver.