NDP name change?

[cp]

I didn't really see the point of this name change business. It's the most superficial move the NDP could have made. In a way, I'm not inclined to criticize it: the less NDP presence in Canada the better, as far as I'm concerned!

But I still wonder what the motivations behind it are. Surely the NDP diehards don't think that their anaemic polling and lack of media attention are because of their name. Renewing a political party is an agonizing, contemplative ordeal that usually *ends* with a name change rather than beginning with it. It takes a controversial leader (or proposal) that leads to stark reflection and examination of the party's principles and objectives. The name change doesn't come close to doing this, nor do any of the proposals on the rest of the docket at the convention. Basically, I think the NDP is taking the easy way out and the only ones who will benefit are the Liberals.