# Rest in Peace, Jack Layton. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652 "2011-08-22T13:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/41 "2011-08-24T18:10:48Z")
Not bad for an evil dictator with a secret agenda who hates democracy, eh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/42 "2011-08-24T18:18:14Z")
[He was trying to appear human again](http://thingsharperdoestoseemhuman.tumblr.com/). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/43 "2011-08-24T18:55:41Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Not bad for an evil dictator with a secret agenda who hates democracy, eh? 😃 [Godwin]Hitler painted watercolours…[/Godwin] :smack:😉 Actually that is pretty cool and something I would have loved to see. Political leaders starting a band and/or just jamming together. Proposed band name: The Frontmen. I wonder how much personal time any MP even spends with people in other parties? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/44 "2011-08-24T19:08:22Z")
I figure it was just a way to say something nice, but not actually say much of substance. Struck me as a little bit closer to feint praise somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/45 "2011-08-24T19:45:22Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Actually that is pretty cool and something I would have loved to see. Political leaders starting a band and/or just jamming together. Proposed band name: The Frontmen. > > I wonder how much personal time any MP even spends with people in other parties? I would imagine some time, if not a significant portion of time. I’m thinking here of working in any office–you’ll see the same faces often, exchange banter in the lunchroom (“How’s the family? Played any golf recently? See the game last night?” sort of thing), and make a few friends along the way. If you don’t see eye-to-eye politically, that’s okay; they’re still good people. Now, swap out “any office” above for “Parliament Hill,” and I’d guess the same thing would obtain–an MP would encounter other MPs, of all political stripes, in the hallways, washrooms, eating areas, and similar; in addition to the House. For an MP not to be civil and pleasant to all of his or her fellow workers, no matter who or from what party (and perhaps getting to know them as more than just fellow workers), would surprise me. I’ll also miss the jam session that never was. Hearing Harper on piano together with Layton on guitar would have been fun. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/46 "2011-08-24T20:14:51Z")
I think they would have sang Hello, Goodbye. > [@](#): > > You say yes, I say no > You say stop and I say go, go, go > Oh, no > You say goodbye and I say hello > Hello, hello ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/47 "2011-08-24T20:20:09Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I would imagine some time, if not a significant portion of time. I’m thinking here of working in any office–you’ll see the same faces often, exchange banter in the lunchroom (“How’s the family? Played any golf recently? See the game last night?” sort of thing), and make a few friends along the way. If you don’t see eye-to-eye politically, that’s okay; they’re still good people. Now, swap out “any office” above for “Parliament Hill,” and I’d guess the same thing would obtain–an MP would encounter other MPs, of all political stripes, in the hallways, washrooms, eating areas, and similar; in addition to the House. For an MP not to be civil and pleasant to all of his or her fellow workers, no matter who or from what party (and perhaps getting to know them as more than just fellow workers), would surprise me. I know personally that several MPs have good working relationships and even cordial friendships with other MPs with whom they profoundly disagree on policy. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/48 "2011-08-24T20:42:59Z")
That’s good to know; and I wonder if having that be more public would be a good thing for politics in general? It seems everyone agrees that Jack Layton was _friendly_ and polite - I’m not sure it’s the public perception that most people have of most politicians. A Layton-Harper _Hello, Goodbye_ would have been hilarious. With Duceppe and Iggy/Rae/Liberal-leader-of-the-week piping up a “Bonjour” and “Au revoir!” at the last minute. On a Canada Day special! Oh, the possibilities our government could have 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652/49 "2011-08-24T22:09:56Z")
Actually, Bob Rae is a very good pianist as well - a piano trio (Jack Layton played both piano and guitar…) involving those three leaders would have been something to behold… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rest-in-peace-jack-layton/593652.md?page=2)