babble is rabble.ca's discussion board but it's much more than that: it's an online community for folks who just won't shut up. It's a place to tell each other — and the world — what's up with our work and campaigns.
NDP leadership - the REAL thread
December 12, 2011 - 2:05pm
I can see clearly now the rain is gone...
Rude.
BY REAL thread do you mean sponsored by REAL Women?
No kidding. It's called satire. See the 50 threads so far, and check out the comments about people's appearance, personal style and habits, etc. The difference is that those babblers don't mean it as satire.
You won't find any pictures of me wearing glasses.
For Howard's benefit, here's one sample thread, and it's not alone. Just check through the offensive comments (not just about glasses - about looking "dumpy", about looking too young, etc.) - even after Rebecca tried to introduce a note of good taste.
Are you looking merely for good taste?
Or shopping around for relevance?
Is it the season?
I make no appologies for my interest in candidate appearance. Appearance is part of politics (for better or worse), and it has an impact on the decisions voters make.
But I'm quite prepared to hear people's views on the matter. Particularly if people have ideas on how to change the culture that makes it a factor.
Well, it IS the season to be jolly, after all, or so they say. But I'm never jolly. Send me some money and maybe I can change.
Well, look at Harper. He clearly is the image of a winner - been PM longer than Diefenbaker (another charismatic dude
) and by the time the next election rolls around, will have been PM ten years. So, if you don't look like Harper, can you win???? 
I just got trendy new glasses, and I can just feel the enhanced gravitas competing with my natural youthful charm. Hell, too bad I'm not running for something.
Given where we generally set the bar on babble banter, this has the oldgoat seal of good taste.
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.
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Provisionally
I got new glasses too. I look like this guy, except I have a beard:
Ok, here we go:
Does appearance influence your decisions?
I thought the one about Vladimir Putin wearing a tank top and shorts made your point nicely.
Clearly you don't have your heart in your membership on Facebook.
Very few of the candidates I've voted for over the years have compelling visual features, so, no. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, no?
Just received this from the Topp campaign:
Dear friend,
It takes courage to say it's time for the wealthy to pay more taxes.
And I'm really glad Brian Topp did just that. Its what I've come to know about Brian and the kind of leader he is.
I've watched him in action and know that he combines vision and ideas with the energy and practical ability to get things done. I also know he is a team builder, and not afraid to tackle tough issues with principled, effective solutions.
Brian is deeply committed to fighting Canada's growing inequality - and he has a bold, and realistic plan to do it.
I hope you've had a chance to take a look at his paper on tax fairness and how we can attain greater equality in our society. He not only identifies the problems we face and the solutions we need - he tells Canadians how we have the ability to pay for solutions that bring us closer to social and economic justice.
His plan for fair taxation means that wealthy Canadians will pay more. In brief his plan calls for:
You can find details at www.briantopp.ca
Brian's leadership on this and other key issues are what we need, to bring about a more democratic and just society. It's the same kind of leadership that Brian showed when he directed our federal campaigns in 2006 and 2008, and helped draft our breakthrough platform in 2011.
Brian has demonstrated that he has the leadership qualities to build on our historic gains. He can navigate tough, complex issues and bring people together for common cause. I know he can go up against those Conservatives and expose their right wing agenda that is hurting so many people.
With Brian as our federal leader, I know we can win the next federal election and form Canada's first New Democratic government. Wow, imagine that - but it is achievable!
Please, join me in supporting Brian Topp for leader and Prime Minister.
Libby Davies
MP Vancouver East
PS - if you have questions or comments for Brian or me, feel free to let us know. We'd be happy to respond!
info@briantopp.ca
Yeah, yeah, I know... "Robert Who"?
omo Bob.
Wilf, given that we are FB friends, you know whereof you speak! Here is my FB profile photo (for my non-friends):
Is that you on the far Left?
In general elections? No. I always vote NDP.
In the leadership race? Possibly. I don't want to vote for someone who's trying to be something they are not, or who's not comfortable in their own skin. I want to vote for someone who 'cleans up' as well as possible before presenting themselves to voters. Electability is an issue I am concerned with - and part of that is image. Part of that is speaking ability, charm, intellegence, and work ethic. It's all part of a package.
Am I more likely to support Ashton without her glasses? Probably not. But if I was advising her campaign - I would still tell her to drop them. (But Saganesh should keep his).
As many of you know, I am married to a politician. She faces these issues all the time. It's a fact of her life. It's worse for women, but men face it to some degree as well.
All of this is to say that while I don't believe it is the MOST important issue to judge a leadership candidate, it is one of many factors I weigh. If others don't want to weigh it at all - I respect that. We all get the same number of votes in the end.
Bump
Maybe Trudeau can jump to the NDP and be the tenth candidate. After all, he is cultivating the look.
That would be ok with me
Unfortunately, Lisa Raitt won't allow any strikes. Makes it more difficult to follow in his father's footsteps.