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Thanks sdm
Subject changing time? Other than the remaining candidates, Romeo Saganash, Olivia Chow, and Craig Scott, who do babblers want to see speak at convention? Who do they hope to see at the Layton tribute? Any word on how many people are expected to attend convention?
I'd really like to see Romeo Saganash take a more prominent role (in general). Mind you, it might not be fair to have the former candidates speak, just because they're not really neutral.
Stephen Lewis is one of our most compelling speakers, and I'd love to hear from him again.
I'd also appreciate a little outsider perspective. Kiefer Sutherland maybe.
I'll do it if you like, just to keep the entertainment going.
Ah, the "enemy within." Seems like there are enemies everywhere in Mulcairworld. Check under the bed while you're at it.
As a Mulcair supporter, I really don't like this "enemy within" put down. It is divisive, offensive, unnecessary...
Gaian, you are capable of great posts. Please stick to them.
Lay off the mods folks.
Interesting to see this comment from Justin Trudeau, re: co-operation...
“…if by 2015, with the election approaching, and neither party has got of our act together enough to shine and to be the obvious alternative, then [pause], there will be a lot of pressure for us to start looking at that. I think there is not anyone in Parliament, outside the Conservative Party of Canada, that is willing to risk seeing Stephen Harper become Prime Minister one more time.”
Does this mean that when the NDP becomes the "obvious alternative" to Harper, that Trudeau will drop out and endorse the NDP? ;)
I'm surprised that you all are suggesting those old stuck in the past old new dems - why don't you suggest those "out of box" speakers of those we want to entice into our fold - oh what's bob rae doing that weekend or well Gerard Kennedy - they both live in TO
now where's that laugh button when you want it
I'd be happy to have the support of some Liberal voters, but I'm less inclined to absorb their politicians.
France Gelinas Ontario MPP, has endorsed Mulcair
Doesn't Northern Ontario have some of the highest NDP membership numbers in the country?
Also, Mulcair has won the support of several councillors in the People's Republic of Burnaby
LOL! :)
It's amazing how convivial the two liberal parties can be.
On a side note, I think it is GREAT how prominent babble/rabble has become within the NDP/NDP race that it could attract 7 out of the 8 candidates to drop by. You can validly critique babble/rabble but the website has been able to generate some true grassroots strength and I think Brian Topp was even so magnanimous as to say that it helps shape the NDP. With that in mind, let's keep things civil, productive, and forward looking. There is still a lot of work to do, to help build a more progressive Canada.
Broadbent echoes many of the anti-Mulcair points that have been raised on Babble (is he a reader, poster?
)
From that article:
I thought "modernizer" was a weasel word. In fact, we had a discussion many threads back discussing it (as a straw man). Now Broadbent is using it to describe Topp, so it must be a good thing!
Furthermore, I agree with Broadbent. As Broadbent defines it, Topp was a modernizer and he helped the NDP achieve a lot of great things.
yeah, i'm thinking that the quickest line to some sort of caucus division is precisely this sort of attack on the part of people like broadbent. "tom will destroy the party" lines a week before convention is not at all helpful. i don't think mulcair will win in the end, but if he does, i really don't think that it's helpful that he'll have to spend the next months focusing inward rather than 100% on the devils-in-human-form across the aisle.
I find Broadbent's comments to be unseemly, particularly coming from the elder statesman of the party. It's one thing to endorse a candidate, albeit incredibly early in the process; it's something else entirely to attack someone from his position.
I, for one, cannot wait until this contest is over.
The mischevious side of me would have enjoyed if the Globe and Mail had asked Broadbent about his endorsement of Peter Tabuns for Ontario NDP leader, but that is sooooooooooo 2009.
There's not much else happening of interest, but, just the same, I wish the convention was tomorrow so we can all move on to building unity in the party and change our focus to attacking Harper and what he has done to this country.
I too look forward to this race being over. Either way I will continue to support the party but my level of interest/involvement/excitement will depend on who wins.
That said, just let it be over. Previous races were riveting, and I enjoyed them as a spectator or more active player (even in 89 which was both exciting and terrifying for the unthinkable result that ended up being the actual result). This one has felt like a horror show. I have never seen the kind of attacks, the negativity, the coarseness as I have seen this time, particularly against Thomas Mulcair, though also, to a much much lesser extend against Paul Dewar. Instead of advocating for a candidate it's all been about tearing down and I always thought we did things differently, and that's from someone who likes a little hardball with my politics.
I idolized Broadbent when I joined the party but this article of his - and I'm sorry to say it - makes him into a total dick. It's a shabby, low attack that makes me ashamed of him. The tenor of the Topp campaign writ large has been a disgrace.
I hope Mulcair wins - I dearly dearly hope for the continued success of the NDP I hope he wins, and yes I fundamentally believe he is the key to contunued electoral success, especially in Quebec, but I'm ready to wash my hands of this intractable leadership race. Appalling all around.
Well said. The longer this drags on, the worse it is getting.
Awesome post Charles, I agree with you 100%.
ETA: The only leadership candidate who has been truly appalling is Martin Singh going after Topp. These 125+ leadership threads on babble have occasionally been reduced to truly appalling invective - I apologised after I lost it against Dewar one time; I think there's something about this format that brings out the worse in us sometimes.
I'll be so happy when this is over.
Oh and just to add, Mulcair has the support of 6 MPs from the pre-2011 class by my quick count looking at his supporters list. How many candidates have more than that from the 2007-2011 period? 90% my ass, Ed.