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Post Race Party Unity thread #1
March 13, 2012 - 11:00am
Boom Boom asked for this thread so here it is. So how can we bring the party togother no matter who wins the leadership, but still retain the right to critize policies one may disagree with.
Thanks!
I hope this is the first of many on the subject.
I am reasonably certain that the candidates will close ranks in support of the new leader, whoever it is, and I hope babblers can do likewise. Party unity is a first step towards unseating Harper in 2015. That doesn't mean mindless and uncritical support - it just means we join together in making the party stronger and more attractive for more support from the electorate.
A few voluntary suggestions:
1. Allow time for people to be angry / upset / disappointed that their preferred candidate didn't win. The hyperbole will sometimes get ridiculous.
2. Assume good faith. Assume all New Democrats want to advance a social democratic agenda, not a personal hidden agenda.
3. Don't treat criticism of the leader as an attack. Share common concerns and ask the best way to act on those concerns.
4. Be optimistic and realistic. Wherever possible, refer to the 2011 platform as an objective benchmark for success.
5. Broken promises matter. A leader who breaks promises should feel our wrath. Make phone calls. Send emails. Write blogs.
6. Personal preferences matter a lot less. Don't confuse ends with means. Be prepared to accept alternative solutions to the same problem.
7. Join other intraparty and external organizations. Interact with the party in that organization's interest. Get MPs on record on key issues.
8. Demand a large role for other candidates and non-candidates. As a member, take as large a role as you can.
9. Share common principles: equality, peace, diversity, sustainability. Everything else is just details.
10. Being a New Democratis voluntary. No one has to do it, and people are free to support other parties, even not vote, no matter how unwise that seems.
Excellent! Great post.
Another suggestion if I may:
11. You've already tolerated likely more than was ever thought possible in still being here, so why walk now?
SJ:
The NDP needs a revival of constituency association democracy. These associations have the power to propose and co-sponsor policy resolutions. Following the leadership convention, there will be a convention in two years time to set new policies, improve the platform, review the leadership, and elect regional officers to the party executive. If you care about any of these things, I think you want to get ready for having a big impact at the next convention. If the goal of the NDP is to form government in 2015, the process of preparing for forming government will start now. If NDPers (or progressives more generally) are serious about building a mass/popular movement that can carry the NDP into power, they need to start preparing now. Better candidates also have to run and accept nominations in ridings where the NDP was unwilling or unprepared to compete. More skilled people need to be encouraged to get involved through training, taking jobs with the party, working at the constituency level to mount credible campaigns, donating, and giving the party the feedback it needs to win locally.
Yes. And in some cases, "allow time" might mean "if said ridiculous hyperbole is going to make you feel hopeless / piss you off / upset you too much, remove yourself from NDP-related online and in-person situations for at least a month."
(I, for one, am very glad to be on another continent. Extremely well timed, self!)
Actually the best way to achieve party unity after the leadership race is to ease off on the criticisms now.
Look to BC for a good example. A little more than a year past the leadership race, the former leadership contenders and their supporters are all contributing mightily to the work of the provincial party. Even the deposed Carole James is sticking around as an MLA, and frankly she looks relieved to have been spared the responsibility of leadership.
Also, no disrespect intended for Turmel, as she was put in a difficult position, but... nothing could possibly unite the party better than replacing her! Aside from the prospect of replacing Harper :)
And replace it with something like "I'm crazy about all of you fellow orange munchkins, but I'll be damned if any of you are getting my vote?"
At first glance I thought the thread title was referring to the odious "post-race" terminology bantered about after Obama was elected.
But of course, it's another thread about the NDP. I don't think we've had enough of those lately.
I think we should all be emotionally prepared for the fact that our preferred candidate (whoever that may be) may lose and that our least preferred candidate (whoever that may be) may win. My advice is not to get to space emotionally where you walk so far down the plank that you can't walk back. Try to see good in all seven candidates so that no matter who wins you will have something positive in your mind to hang your hat on.
Bravo.
yeah, i really really strongly support mulcair, but i'm becoming more and more convinced that he won't win, my gut just tells me that it won't happen. so i'm totally expecting to have to take a few days off if/when we get nash in there over mulcair. then it's onto shadow cabinet speculation.
Haha, that's what I thought, too!
Maybe we could have a Post Race Unity Party or Post Unity Race Party or Post Party Race Unity.
Boy daylight savings time really scrambles my brain.
I've been thinking of taking a few days off posting after the leader is finally selected, but this thread offers me hope that there will be no need to leave.
I have had very few expectations for this leadership race and therefore am resigned to what seems to be the inevitable. Jack should have died hereafter. There would have been time for such a word...
Caissa,
Looking at the comments above, I think Jack would have been pretty pleased with us.
Look at our slate of candidates for leader, they are a pretty good group who would be the envy of any of the other Parlaimentary caucuses. We will get through this. As "bitter" as it might have seen this is nothing like the NPI or Waffle fights of the past - it's a leadership race where, as far as I can tell, everyone is honestly committed to selecting the best choice, in their opinion, to move us forward and onto the government benches to make some real, lasting and positive changes. Many paths, one goal.
Yeah, even though I've seen some really hostile comments here, they're more atypical, and haven't picked up much steam in wider membership circles. I have confidence that people will come together and find common ground... as long as the supporters of the winner do the hard work of reaching out to everyone else, which requires a little bit of humility, and a lot of listening.
I agree with this. I like all the candidates, although some more than others.
Be prepared to mourn your own great hopes and expecatations you had for your preferred unsuccessful candidate. Don't wallow for too long but allow yourself to feel whatever you have to.
Remember that your losing candidate (unless he is Singh, and under some scenarios unless he is Topp) will be a part of the team and will continue to contribute in awesome ways.
And in the words of BC ex-premier Dave Barrett upon his 1975 defeat: "Relax. Tomorrow we pick up tools." Actually I could totally imagine that being something Nathan Cullen would say.
I like those words.
Ha! Me three.
For a thread that is suppose to make everyone feel good, I found this to be a real downer - kind of a scorched earth mindset.
"Remember that your losing candidate (unless he is Singh, and under some scenarios unless he is Topp) will be a part of the team and will continue to contribute in awesome ways."
So you are suggesting that if a particular leader wins, that Topp won't be invited to be a part of the federal NDP team, a key strategist that got the NDP to Official Opposition? Now that is smooth! And disgusting. Sounds positively Liberal and that is just so cheap and small and shallow and how I see the liberal party. Yuk
As for Singh, I'm sure he's bought himself a place in the party.
I think the new leader will want her/his own people in place. I am sure there will be some changes.
Yes, I just heard Martin Singh interviewed on CBC radio and he said that Mr. Mulcair is his second choice and that one of his friends is working for the Mulcair campaign, but that there is no formal support relationship between the campaigns.
If I'm reading that quote correctly, I think Singh and Topp were singled out only because they're not sitting MPs.
She's a lightening rod, she goes into the corners, she digs, she speaks out, and she knows how to take a hit for the team. And yes, she's vulnerable sometimes. And wrong. But I don't underestimate her importance to the party because Layton was no fool and I don't think she is either. She is doing her job. Whenever she makes a mistake, that's ok, the new leader can clarify and rectify later, and we all learn from it.