+_+
Jenny Kwan definitely should run for the Leadership of the BC NDP
Thu, 2010-12-02 00:52
#1
Jenny Kwan definitely should run for the Leadership of the BC NDP
Thu, 2010-12-02 00:52
#2
And Jenny has not closed the door to doing so.
Thu, 2010-12-02 00:53
#3
The latest polling at the Georgia Straight shows 72% think she should run for leader
http://www.straight.com/poll/should-jenny-kwan-run-leader-bc-ndp
Thu, 2010-12-02 00:57
#4
Finally a BC NDP MLA with courage!
NDP MLA Jenny Kwan slams Carole James, calls for leadership race
Jenny Kwan isn't ruling out the prospect of running for leader of the provincial NDP.
"Right now that's not my top priority," Kwan told the Straight in a phone interview, after she issued a statement on December 1 calling for change in the party's leadership. "What I would like to see is [the NDP] to have a leadership convention."
The long-time Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA also indicated that she's not leaving the NDP caucus despite having publicly criticized the leadership of Carole James.
"I believe that my party is worth fighting for, and I'm going to do everything to fight for our party and to fight for democracy within our party," she said. "And I think that the time has come for change and renewal. I think that to ensure that our membership has a voice in this, we would actually have a leadership convention-a one-member, one-vote leadership convention-as soon as possible."
http://www.straight.com/article-362187/vancouver/ndp-mla-jenny-kwan-slam...
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:08
#5
A few of of Jenny's many attributes
Only BC MLA to have been elected for 4 consecutive terms
Owns her riding politically - have you ever driven through Mount Pleasant during an election campaign
Is much more popular than her party
BC NDP needs much more of the Chinese community support
Has the fire in her belly, excellent speaker
Very attractive, charasmatic
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:25
#6
Maybe Joy MacPhail will return and run for leader?
I don't think Kwan is leadership material. When Kwan and McPhail were holding the fort at the Legislature, Kwan was definitely the junior member.
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:29
#7
Maybe this is the reason Jenny went public today.
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/viewfromtheledge/archiv...
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:46
#8
That was then, this is now.
Maybe Joy MacPhail will return and run for leader?
I don't think Kwan is leadership material. When Kwan and McPhail were holding the fort at the Legislature, Kwan was definitely the junior member.
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:47
#9
Kwan Blows Up NDP 
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:54
#10
Kwan's announcement sure took Kevin Falcon announcement about his leadership aspirations for the BC Liberals off the front pages, eh.
Gotta love though how this sure blows up the BC NDP. 
Of course the party hierarchy is not going to like this, duh!
Thu, 2010-12-02 01:55
#11
I really respect the woman for raising as much hell as possible in the days the NDP caucus could fit in a phone booth, and for just calling things as they are now, but Kwan isn't running (check the CBC Radio interview), and shouldn't run. She's better than she was back when I first noticed her in 2001, but she's just not articulate and charismatic enough.
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:05
#12
It is too early to say who will be running and that includes Jenny. I'll take Kwan's political successes however, against pretty well anyone else in politics in BC. Libby Davies is another.
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:13
#13
That, I think, now retired political scientist, is his name Norman Ruff, from University of Victoria was a reasonably good pundit. Not too many more here in BC.
It's Quiet Carole - so far
Political scientist Kennedy Stewart says James should've booted Kwan when she stood up against her at last month's NDP Council meeting, if not sooner, "She's late on this one. But she really just needs to get rid of Jenny Kwan and that might stop the whole thing in its tracks. She's obviously been the lead dissident in this revolt and if James doesn't fire Jenny Kwan then she really has to resign, she's got no choice here."
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1320569
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:23
#14
Kwan's announcement sure took Kevin Falcon announcement about his leadership aspirations for the BC Liberals off the front pages, eh.
Gotta love though how this sure blows up the BC NDP.
Of course the party hierarchy is not going to like this, duh!
Falcon? I thought de Jong announced today.
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:25
#15
If she fires Kwan I wouldn't be surprised to see the dissidents leave one by one creating bad headlines for James. I mean honestly, people can blame them one by one but how many leaders have to deal with this sort of thing? How many let it get this bad?
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:32
#16
Political scientist Kennedy Stewart says James should've booted Kwan when she stood up against her at last month's NDP Council meeting, if not sooner, "She's late on this one. But she really just needs to get rid of Jenny Kwan and that might stop the whole thing in its tracks. She's obviously been the lead dissident in this revolt and if James doesn't fire Jenny Kwan then she really has to resign, she's got no choice here."
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1320569
That article went on:
Douglas College politics instructor Jeanette Ashe believes there are also gender issues at play. She says female leaders often get into power when the party is weak, nurse it back to health, and then get the axe when there's a chance at winning, "I think there's a little bit of strategy here, because I think this might be an attempt by other people in the party to use her symbolically to see hey, it's a woman taking on a woman."Ashe says that way none of the male leadership candidates would look like they're being too tough on a woman.
Is it a coincidence that all the major candidates set to replace James are male?
I wonder how women in BC will vote in an election that pits Christy Clark against a male who replaced James?
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:39
#17
She's late on this one. But she really just needs to get rid of Jenny Kwan and that might stop the whole thing in its tracks.
Wow.
Thu, 2010-12-02 02:54
#18
"I wonder how women in BC will vote in an election that pits Christy Clark against a male who replaced James?"
Women don't vote as one collective entity.
Anyhow, the party establishment includes Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Shreck, and they are totally out of touch. Getting rid of Kwan will do nothing to solve the NDP's problems. Getting rid of the establishment, now that might work. 
For the record, I'd seriously consider Kwan for leader.
Thu, 2010-12-02 03:03
#19
Kennedy Stewart and some person from Douglas College? Couldn't they have found anyone, err, smarter to comment? Oh well, I guess they're better than Keith Baldry.
Thu, 2010-12-02 09:06
#20
What did anyone expect from the mainstram press? Federal politics basically the same thing.
Thu, 2010-12-02 09:07
#21
Jenny Kwan doesn't want to become NDP leader, so who will it be?
http://www.straight.com/article-362721/vancouver/jenny-kwan-doesnt-want-...
Thu, 2010-12-02 09:16
#22
My prediction: Boss Carole James is toast
Kwan was condemned as a traitor by James's supporters, including the union bosses who appear to have taken over the party under her crippled leadership. But they refuse to see that the rebels are right: James is a timid, waffling leader who has flip-flopped on a long list of issues: the Olympics, the carbon tax, the Port Mann Bridge, the MLA pay raise, the carbon tax.
Even when the best issue of all was dropped right in her lap -- the HST -- James meekly let former premier Bill Vander Zalm set the agenda and lead the fight.
She has set no bold vision for the province. She does not inspire the people. Why do you think the Liberals want to run against her again? Because they're convinced a new Liberal leader will beat her again, that's why.
My prediction: Get out the marmalade. She's toast.
http://www.theprovince.com/technology/prediction+Boss+Carole+James+toast...
Thu, 2010-12-02 09:20
#23
NDP divided as longtime MLA Jenny Kwan slams leader, calls for review
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/divided+longtime+Jenny+Kwan+slams+lead...
Thu, 2010-12-02 09:31
#24
I think Jenny Kwan is playing a valuable role now, and is obviously a great asset to the party, but yeah, I don't quite see her as the leader for some reason. I'm glad she has stated that publicly. I don't think it would look too good to be making this kind of a public call for change while promoting oneself at the same time.
I liked MacPhail too, but I remember her being unpopular for some reason.
I think keeping a strong female in the leadership would serve the party best. The list of potential male candidates looks like a big yawner to me.
