2012 NDP leadership convention

[MaxQue]

So that rounds out the top 4. Would both Julian and Nash run?

No clue. But I'm pretty sure than a woman will run.

[MaxQue]

You're not feeling Topp either, Hatman? I dunno. I think he rubs me the wrong way, leader-wise. How much do we even know about him? And he's been behind the scenes for so long... hasn't even held office. This whole Brian Topp thing seems like it came out of nowhere.

Believe me, I dislike him. I have my reasons, which I refuse to post publically here.

[MaxQue]

What is P&P? Anyways, I think than any candidate running on a merger platform will perform poorly. In any case, the centrist wing of Liberals and the socialist wing of the NDP will probably never get along. And I doubt than the big Liberals egos (Rae, Trudeau, Brison...) will accept being a minority in their own party.

[MaxQue]

What is P&P? Anyways, I think than any candidate running on a merger platform will perform poorly. In any case, the centrist wing of Liberals and the socialist wing of the NDP will probably never get along. And I doubt than the big Liberals egos (Rae, Trudeau, Brison...) will accept being a minority in their own party.

Power & Politics= P&P. I agree with you, and the two parties are incompatible ideologically and culturally- that's without taking egos into account.

Position on Quebec would a big problem too. Trudeau's view vs. Sherbrooke Declaration.

[MaxQue]

Pat Martin said what!? That crazy loon. I have an idea where he can put all those pennies he hates.

Calm down. The NDP is a mature party and a serious discussion must be held on that subject, I think. My opinion on that is already done, but, some in the party disagree. Him running could be useful to know which %age of the party supports it.

And yes, Pat Martin is a little bit loony, but that isn't new. He is against monarchy, too.

[MaxQue]

Radio-Canada says than Megan Leslie and Robert Chisholm are both considering a run.

Leslie is bilingual, Chisholm is spending the summer in Quebec to learn French.

[MaxQue]

Oh! Leslie was raised in Kirkland Lake.

Also, notice that the NDP numbers didn't go up, just that the Tories went down... I think the more important numbers will be after the new leader is chosen. But if the numbers in Ontario are 34 Conservative - 30 NDP, that's goodbye Liberals. Even more.

Considering than NDP got 30% last election, NDP went up. (Or didn't, by considering the error margin.)

[MaxQue]

I just saw a tweet that Romeo Saganash will run! Good to have a Quebecer in the race in addition to Mulcair - esp. one who is Cree as well!

Again, I doubt very much than he will run.

[MaxQue]

I agree with the President of the Quebec wing.

[MaxQue]

I suppose than they will stay for the federal vote, no?

[MaxQue]

Remember that unlike the other parties (outside Atlantic Liberals) the NDP shares provincial and federal memberships. If you are in one, you are in the other. No opting-out.

Except in Québec.

[MaxQue]

Total shocker.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-firebrand-toots-his-own-horn/article2152741/

Also, Romeo Saganash is considering an entry. NDP's 2006 IMO.

Well, the choice of the date will be more or less an endorsement of a candidate.

[MaxQue]

Wanting to vote for a particular candidate for party leader is, perhaps, not the greatest reason to join a political party.

That's the main reason anyone joins parties in Canada (that and nomination contests)

It's interesting how different our two political cultures are. Over here, signing up members for this purpose would be called branch stacking and is heavily frowned-upon (and often criticised in the media and by people whose opponents have signed up many new members).

As long as it's done properly. Perhaps the dirtiest race was the PC leadership race of 1983, where youth memberships in particular were used and abused due to highly *flexible* statutes in the PC constitution. Long story short, that's why the modern CPC does not have a youth wing.

That was the one in which kids were used as members?

Smid, if I remember well, here, in some parties, to be a candidate to the investiture in a riding, you must sell a fixed number of memberships. I don't know if that still happens.

[MaxQue]

Any chance of a re-launch of the Quebec NDP?  I mean, considering that it will probably be like a heartland for them from now on, (unless they suddenly see a collapse in Quebecois support) federally, it makes little sense not to have a provincial NDP in Quebec. 

We already have two social democratic parties in Quebec: PQ and QS. Even federalist social democrats vote PQ.

I know none federalist social democrat supporting PQ. They support QS or are big supporters of Legault thing.

And anyways, Marois' PQ isn't social democrat. It has no other ideology than chasing votes, now.

[MaxQue]

Any chance of a re-launch of the Quebec NDP?  I mean, considering that it will probably be like a heartland for them from now on, (unless they suddenly see a collapse in Quebecois support) federally, it makes little sense not to have a provincial NDP in Quebec. 

We already have two social democratic parties in Quebec: PQ and QS. Even federalist social democrats vote PQ.

I know none federalist social democrat supporting PQ. They support QS or are big supporters of Legault thing.

And anyways, Marois' PQ isn't social democrat. It has no other ideology than chasing votes, now.

We'll have to agree to disagree, but I still don't see any Quebec NDP. We haven't had any provincial branches of federal parties since the PLQ became independent in 1964.

I neither see a Quebec NDP. But I have to correct you, NDP had a provincial branch in Quebec in the 80's, I think.

[MaxQue]

Well, that's too bad.  At least it's nice to see that some potential Quebecois alternatives to Mulcair are emerging.  But are there any potential candidates who are from the more moderate wing of the party, but would still firmly oppose a merger with the Liberals?  If I were Canadian (and an NDP member, since that's where I'd fit ideologically), I'd probably support them.

Mulcair?

[MaxQue]

Speaking of the Hon. gentleman from Outremont, more on how Layton's inner circle hates his guts.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/09/05/don-macpherson-ndp-leadership-drama-is-worthy-of-shakespeare/

Well, perhaps the problem is Mulcair.

But perhaps the problem is Layton's inner circle? Who are they, first of all?

[MaxQue]

Sanganash might have "the stuff" to beat Mulcair if he can get off the ground; he's not a Quebecois, but he is a Quebecker, and if any party is going to elect Canada's first Native leader, it would be the NDP.

Saganash is more than a Québécois than Mulcair. Saganash was an outspoken supporter of Quebec Independance before.

[MaxQue]

Your opinion does not count since you live in Quebec It's all about what the middle-class-uneducated-white-anglo-ontarian-western-canadian-NDP-members think

Sun Empire will remind all the time to them his independantist past.

[MaxQue]

The biggest difference would be in tone. Speaking as someone who's followed Mulcair's career since '05... his temper is no worse than Coderre's.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lawrence-martin/firebrand-mulcair-is-the-best-bet-to-take-on-harper/article2152485/

Coderre problem isn't his temper. It is than he is a loudmouth which craves media attention.

[MaxQue]

Well, that's too bad.  At least it's nice to see that some potential Quebecois alternatives to Mulcair are emerging.  But are there any potential candidates who are from the more moderate wing of the party, but would still firmly oppose a merger with the Liberals?  If I were Canadian (and an NDP member, since that's where I'd fit ideologically), I'd probably support them.

Mulcair?

Mulcair hasn't really rejected it.  He sorta dodged the question by saying the main priority should be to seek out supporters from Liberal ranks. 

Well, if he wants to win, he has to say that. At the last convention, the delegates voted against a motion forbidding merger talks.

[MaxQue]

Nycole Turmel explained than the reason for no labour vote is than 2006 Convention decided to wrote "One Member, One Vote" in the Constitution, which meant than the will of members was no labour vote in leadership races.

[MaxQue]

Excellent news. Central Canada means I will probably be able to go (although having a convention in Vancouver didn't stop me this year). Maybe I will be able to meet Holmes!

Who decides who goes to the Conventions?

[MaxQue]

Excellent news. Central Canada means I will probably be able to go (although having a convention in Vancouver didn't stop me this year). Maybe I will be able to meet Holmes!

Who decides who goes to the Conventions?

Technically the ridings, but I'm sure you could just show up at the convention and they'll randomly assign you a riding to represent.

Well, I don't have time to go there anyways. I'll focus on the campus association.

[MaxQue]

Excellent news. Central Canada means I will probably be able to go (although having a convention in Vancouver didn't stop me this year). Maybe I will be able to meet Holmes!

Who decides who goes to the Conventions?

Technically the ridings, but I'm sure you could just show up at the convention and they'll randomly assign you a riding to represent.

Well, I don't have time to go there anyways. I'll focus on the campus association.

If it's in Montreal, you have no excuse!

I have the excuse than Outremont riding will be full of delegates already. And if all the members of Montreal goes, that will be a mess.

Even if I can pretend than I'm Abitibian and not from Montreal.

Anyways, there is nothing to do there for me.