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.
Support rabble | Advertise with us | Contact our staff | About rabble | Log-in or Register for a new account | Corrections | Privacy policy | Newsfeeds | Mailing lists
rabble: Features | Columnists | In Cahoots | Blogs | Books | Photos | What's Up | Polls
babble: Forum Topics | Active Topics
The rpn: About the RPN | Become a podcaster
rabbleTV: Program Guide | Features | Indie Inside | Best of the net
Copyright © 2001-2013 the authors
Syndicate
When and more importantly why did the party system start?
-------
Federal Liberals' desperation growing in wake of Mulcair’s NDP winhttp://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Columns/2012-04-16/article-2954411...
THE VIEW FROM THE WEST
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Mulcair is NDP's mojo manhttp://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/mulcair-is-ndps-mojo-m...
Rosemary Barton tweets:
source: https://twitter.com/#!/RosieBarton/status/193005685783535617
Mixed feelings about this.
Three deputies is at least one too many. The title is now more meaningless than ever.
That none are from Quebec presumably signifies Mulcair has that covered. I don't know that's the best message to counter the Lib/Con smear that Mulcair is not a leader for all of Canada.
Is this really a promotion for Megan Leslie? She's been a great Environment critic. Presumably she'll be giving that up?
I suppose my feelings aren't as mixed as I'd first thought.
I would not assume that Deputy Leader means giving up / not holding more substantive roles. Especially with 3 of them.
I'm not sure why we should assume that Megan Leslie would give up being Environment critic or that she might not also be made critic of something else. Up to now the position of Deputy leader has always been a bit of an honorific coupled with other job descriptions: Mulcair himself was previously Deputy Leader AND Finance Critic and then Deputy Leader AND House Leader. Libby Davies was previously Deputy Leader AND House Leader and then she became Deputy Leader AND Health Critic.
My guess is that the Deputy leaders will each have critic responsibilities but will have an additional role to play as regional representatives.
Okay then. I was anxious this signaled Leslie being shuffled out. Until we learn more I'll attempt to remain calm....
Word has it that Nathan Cullen is to be the new House Leader
http://www.vancouversun.com/Nathan%20Cullen%20receive%20major%20promotio...
any thoughts on that?
On the campaign trail Nathan seemed to have gotten along with everyone. He resume also screams good logistic and organizational skills. So it makes sense.
I would prefer a BC MP to be the point person on the pipelines issues and thus the environmental critic. Nathan has great credentials in the North but the big fight is likely going to come in the South. The transport of the filthy bitumen is the major environmental issue facing us over the next ten years. Stopping it must be an NDP priority and whoever gets the environmental file needs to hit the ground running. The Southern route is on the fast "steamroller" track. It would be a good time to have an MP who represents a Salish Sea riding front and center.
At convention, if you were looking for Leslie she was hanging out in the Mulcair section link. Don't know if that suggests anything.
Agreed, but the Opposition House Leader is ideally a master of parliamentary strategy and procedures etc...I wasn't aware of Cullen having those strengths...doesn't mean he isn't up to the task, just that I was not aware of it...then again, the House leader is the one who has to negotiate with the other two parties and maybe it is good to have a 'nice guy" like Cullen who claims to want more cooperation in that role.
If Nathan is being promoted to House Leader it means Joe Comartin is being moved out. Nathan is a great guy but this is a HUGE loss for the Caucus. Comartin and Mulcair never seem to get along especially given Mulcairs blanket support for Israel and villifying Libby.
Wonder if Comartin will retire now.
Comartin only took over the job of House Leader temporarily from Mulcair while he was running for the leadership - so its not like he had had that job for long...let's wait and see what role Mulcair has in store for him. If Comartin really had an "issue" with Mulcair - one would have expected him to have endorsed one of the other leadership candidates as opposed to staying neutral to the end.
Never seen any indication Joe would take it that hard. If anything, he was expecting it.
Christopherson is a super impressive person who was one of the most successful cabinet ministers in an ONDP government. He is a veteran and shows that Mulcair is serious about his support of labour.
Joe is quite a brilliant MP. A real veteran. Regardless of what happens to him portfolio wise, the NDP needs him as a mentor (and for his expertise on Justice issues).
was thinkin along those lines myself. then I thought the east coast is having issues itself with fracking. whose plight is more important?
then i thought some more with Nathan being house leader he won't have time for it all plus his ever so sweet twins.
the environment critic is going to need time and skill in the next couple of years. who else is there that has a big yen for environmental stuff?
subject change cause i am lazy to make another post
what's this about Cromartin though i have never really heard of him and Mulcair not getting along? and adding Libby Davis into the equation bothers me. Libby is "a" deputy leader and i saw her speak front and centre yesterday about that guy in Cuba. doesn't seem like Mulcair is treating her oh so badly to me. if she doesn't have an issue with mulcair why'd others have 'em?
I find 3 deputy leaders kind of weird but it remains to see what their role will be. If Mulcair is out of the House a lot because he is touring, they can cover for him and cover the regions that need representation. Only Leslie has French if I am not mistaken.
If Mulcair's plan for the deputies is to treat them like "lieutenants" (i.e. send them out on tour), then this may have proven a shrewd move. Davies never struck me as the lieutenant type though. Maybe she will be his number two in the house and the others do outreach. That would be interesting. Mulcair could focus on the prairies and Leslie & Christopherson could focus on the other regions where the NDP needs growth.
This move also makes me wonder how large the new shadow cabinet will be.
i kinda like the idea of 3 deputy leaders. power sharing and all ya know. seems to have a regional presence all 'cept for the prairies.
makes more sense to have Megan be 2nd in the House given she has french .
on a tangent maybe Linda Duncan could be environment minister? that'd be a huge break through for the Prairies.
hah
Duncan was Environment critic previously. She crossed to Mulcair when Dewar dropped off after the first ballot. After the first caucus meeting she was quoted in the media as being "thrilled" or something like that with Mulcair's new leadership.
she would've been critic when the Libs were the OO then. and sweet maybe there is something to my ill-informed musings.
Cullen is House Leader
Assuming that isnt revionist history that explains somethings.
I wondered why Nathan was dropped down. Just chalked it up to so many new people. Though I did still wonder why Nathan. But it had to be somebody(s).
where did I write that?
Apparently it is being reported here in Ottawa that Comartin is holding a press conference tomorrow morning. It is being reported that he is retiring or stepping down as MP for Windsor.
write what?
:)