2012 NDP leadership convention

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

No offence to her, but I don't cant Ashton and Attractive in the same sentence. Now Megan Leslie on the other hand...

[Verily]

Those things DL mentioned don't count as experience. Because if we apply that standard to the Liberals, they should acclaim Trudeau for permanent right now. He's impeccably bilingual, young, charismatic, dynastic and has 3 years in Parliament. But he's the first to admit that now is too early, same applies for Megan Leslie. In a leadership cycle or 2, Ashton can run. But not now.

The main criticism of Trudeau ultimately isn't that he's inexperienced. It's that he's a legacy. The public is naturally skeptical that he's qualified as a result; no one wants to vote for the incompetent beneficiary of nepotism. That he's only been in Parliament for a few years wouldn't bar him from running if he weren't a legacy, but of course he wouldn't even be considered if he weren't a legacy because he wouldn't have any political clout (and probably would never have made it to Parliament in the first place).

Niki Ashton is different in that she is not perceived as a legacy and is thus not subject to that same skepticism (although of course she is sort of a legacy, just a local legacy rather than being nationally famous for being someone's child).

[Hatman 🍁]

No offence to her, but I don't cant Ashton and Attractive in the same sentence. Now Megan Leslie on the other hand...

You have not been in the same room with her. Pictures do not do her justice.

Interestingly, both Leslie and Ashton were hosting the 2008 convention.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

She looks like Uma Thurman or Liza Minnelli

[Hatman 🍁]

She looks like Uma Thurman or Liza Minnelli

wut (I find Uma Thurman attractive, but I dont think she looks anything like Ashton)

[adma]

Personally, I feel that both Leslie and Ashton would be shocked that you're discussing them in such horny-nerdy-boy terms.

[MaxQue]

Personally, I feel that both Leslie and Ashton would be shocked that you're discussing them in such horny-nerdy-boy terms.

From what I know, women are used to guys talking about them in that way.

I suppose then they both have a very old guy which is losing his sanity and is saying anything passing by his head without control, as a constituent, too.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

She looks like Uma Thurman or Liza Minnelli

wut (I find Uma Thurman attractive, but I dont think she looks anything like Ashton)

It's in the eyes

[Hatman 🍁]

Personally, I feel that both Leslie and Ashton would be shocked that you're discussing them in such horny-nerdy-boy terms.

Women do the same thing. Why do you think Obama got elected?

[RogueBeaver]

Do you agree or disagree with Rex?

http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/rexmurphy/story/2011/09/22/thenational-rexmurphy-110922.html

[Holmes]

Do you agree or disagree with Rex?

http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/rexmurphy/story/2011/09/22/thenational-rexmurphy-110922.html

A+++

I admit that Mulcair has his faults. But the treatment he's been getting lately is a bit too much. Before the election, he was a beacon. Now that the party has 59 seats in Quebec, it's as if he's been tossed aside. Especially with Jack gone now.

[RogueBeaver]

Maybe I was too quick to say Mulcair wouldn't fall victim to Brison Syndrome. Not ideologically but in every other sense. We respect you, we want you where you are, we like your ideas... but we'll never elect you leader.

[RogueBeaver]

Dewar's getting in on Sunday.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1060981--dewar-expected-to-become-next-contender-for-ndp-leadership

[Hatman 🍁]

Excellent. Hope this gives us a bump in Ottawa Centre for the provincial election.

[RogueBeaver]

Cullen's jumping in tomorrow. Now we're only waiting for Nash and Mulcair.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1061925--nathan-cullen-expected-to-run-for-ndp-leader

[Hatman 🍁]

and Peter Julian

[RogueBeaver]

Anyone heard of this guy?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Democrat%2BSingh%2Benter%2Bfederal%2Bleadership%2Brace/5478563/story.html

[Hatman 🍁]

Sounds like this convention's Pierre Ducasse.

[mileslunn]

Maybe I was too quick to say Mulcair wouldn't fall victim to Brison Syndrome. Not ideologically but in every other sense. We respect you, we want you where you are, we like your ideas... but we'll never elect you leader.

To be fair the Quebec Liberals are really a federalist party so I don't think you can call someone a turncoat for supporting it.  After all it has some Conservatives too.  Charest was a former PC leader and Lawrence Cannon was also a Quebec Liberal.  With no provincial NDP, what party was Mulcair suppose to support anyways?

I think his weakness is has a hot temper and I don't find him as likeable as Jack Layton.  Paul Dewar seems like a decent choice and being from Ottawa, what better to place to connect with both English Canada and Quebec when you consider he is bilingual and his riding overlooks the Ottawa River.  I don't know a lot about Nathan Cullen, but he seems like a principled decent guy.  I wonder if he will get any flack over his vote on the gun registry which he opposes.  Mind you his riding is quite rural and the population is overwhelmingly against it there.  I should add although not an NDP supporter myself, I think their policy of allowing a free vote on the gun registry is the most sensible as the divide seems more of a rural vs. urban rather than left vs. right.  The one notable exception is Quebec where the registry is popular throughout the province.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Cullen is in, but Davies has endorsed Topp.

[MaxQue]

Maybe I was too quick to say Mulcair wouldn't fall victim to Brison Syndrome. Not ideologically but in every other sense. We respect you, we want you where you are, we like your ideas... but we'll never elect you leader.

To be fair the Quebec Liberals are really a federalist party so I don't think you can call someone a turncoat for supporting it.  After all it has some Conservatives too.  Charest was a former PC leader and Lawrence Cannon was also a Quebec Liberal.  With no provincial NDP, what party was Mulcair suppose to support anyways?

I think his weakness is has a hot temper and I don't find him as likeable as Jack Layton.  Paul Dewar seems like a decent choice and being from Ottawa, what better to place to connect with both English Canada and Quebec when you consider he is bilingual and his riding overlooks the Ottawa River.  I don't know a lot about Nathan Cullen, but he seems like a principled decent guy.  I wonder if he will get any flack over his vote on the gun registry which he opposes.  Mind you his riding is quite rural and the population is overwhelmingly against it there.  I should add although not an NDP supporter myself, I think their policy of allowing a free vote on the gun registry is the most sensible as the divide seems more of a rural vs. urban rather than left vs. right.  The one notable exception is Quebec where the registry is popular throughout the province.

Provincial Liberal is no problem. Henri-François Gautrin, which was formely the leader of NDP-Québec is a Liberal MNA since years (Verdun).

And the gun registry ISN'T popular throughout the province. Rural areas (Abitibi, Beauce, etc...) don't like it.

[canadian1]

Maybe I was too quick to say Mulcair wouldn't fall victim to Brison Syndrome. Not ideologically but in every other sense. We respect you, we want you where you are, we like your ideas... but we'll never elect you leader.

To be fair the Quebec Liberals are really a federalist party so I don't think you can call someone a turncoat for supporting it.  After all it has some Conservatives too.  Charest was a former PC leader and Lawrence Cannon was also a Quebec Liberal.  With no provincial NDP, what party was Mulcair suppose to support anyways?

I think his weakness is has a hot temper and I don't find him as likeable as Jack Layton.  Paul Dewar seems like a decent choice and being from Ottawa, what better to place to connect with both English Canada and Quebec when you consider he is bilingual and his riding overlooks the Ottawa River.  I don't know a lot about Nathan Cullen, but he seems like a principled decent guy.  I wonder if he will get any flack over his vote on the gun registry which he opposes.  Mind you his riding is quite rural and the population is overwhelmingly against it there.  I should add although not an NDP supporter myself, I think their policy of allowing a free vote on the gun registry is the most sensible as the divide seems more of a rural vs. urban rather than left vs. right.  The one notable exception is Quebec where the registry is popular throughout the province.

Dewar isn't bilingual; his French is very weak. That's why I think he hasn't a hope of becoming leader. If you listen to him speaking, you'll have a great deal of difficulty interpreting his French.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Hi there. Welcome to the Atlas!

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, Dewar's French is basically non-existent. For leadership purposes, Harper's is the bare minimum.

[mileslunn]

Yeah, Dewar's French is basically non-existent. For leadership purposes, Harper's is the bare minimum.

  What is Harper's French like anyways, it sounds fine to me, but consideirng my French is really bad (Je Parle en peu de Francais, mais moi Francais est tres mauvais) I cannot tell whether he speaks horrible French or speaks it fluently.  I will admit that this probably the biggest disadvantage for anybody from the West as due to lack of exposure French is not widely spoken in the West.  Heck even here in Toronto which is only 5 hours from Montreal, not many speak French.