So, what's Niki Ashton's future look like now?
Sun, 2012-03-25 01:17
#1
So, what's Niki Ashton's future look like now?
Sun, 2012-03-25 01:18
#2
Getting knocked out on the first count, I think, had to be a bit unexpected for her. What lessons should the youngest leadership candidate take from this result, and what kind of prospects do folks here think she has for the future?
Sun, 2012-03-25 01:23
#3
You don't have to win leadership to have an impact. Remember 2003? Layton was credited with the Orange Crush in Quebec, but it was actually Pierre Ducasse's candidacy that forced the party's hand in dealing with la belle province. Niki spoke very eloquently about the need to win back Western Canada, and was the only candidate to propose a plan to that end: a breakthrough conference in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2013, modelled after the Sherbrooke Declaration. Mulcair spoke about developing the NDP in areas that the other parties took for granted. Liberals in Ontario 2008, Bloc Quebecois in Quebec 2011, and Conservatives in Western Canada in 2015. Frankly, he would be an idiot to not allow that conference to happen.
Sun, 2012-03-25 02:23
#4
Her future's so bright, she has to wear glasses
Sun, 2012-03-25 02:40
#5
she definitely needs new glasses though. hey, niki, the 1990s called, they want their style back.
in all seriousness, i was very surprised when i woke up this morning to find that singh had topped ashton, i really don't know if it reflected her role in this. and the very day that she was eliminated, her parents got caught up in an abuse-of-power scandal. not a great day for her, all told.
future? probably pretty bright, if she can just be more authentic and subtle, less strident and scripted.
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:24
#6
Really? You think those glasses are out of style? They have been the only freakin' style I can find in eyeglasses stores for the past 10 years. Either those, or slight variations on those but the same shape. I keep HOPING they'll go out of style so I can get something different at some point. I had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into getting that style to begin with, long after the style I used to wear became really out-of-style.
Anyhow, I can't imagine why her future wouldn't be much brighter for having ran. (genstrike, that's the exact song I was humming when I read the thread title too!) She is quite young as politics goes, no one really expected her to win, but everyone thought she ran a great campaign with the resources she had. She's raised her profile in the party, and with this experience under her belt, she'll hopefully run again someday and win.
I agree that she sounds too scripted when she speaks. She needs to find a way to work her talking points in more naturally and conversationally, and not sound like she's memorized a script. But hey, at least she memorizes and doesn't read. ;) And I should talk - I'd be totally tongue-tied I'm sure, if I had to do the kind of speaking she has to do!
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:30
#7
raised her profile, for sure, and from the right region, so she will likely get a House critic's post,
but she remains a very junior MP, and her standing not necessarily raised by a quixotic 7th-place or whatever leadership bid
she has to perform to remain visible nationally
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:38
#8
Boom Boom
And drop that 'new politics' meme! I think that's what did her in. Folks just got tired of hearing it.
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:41
#9
Well, that goes along with the whole talking points and slogans thing, Boom Boom. People want to be talked to, not sloganed at. Communication skills are the number one criteria for leadership.
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:47
#10
Boom Boom
Yup. I've said before that Niki is the future of the party, and I stand by that. But she has a lot of growing to do before that happens. And she's on the right track, and the right party (I probably should have used "left" instead of "right" but you get my drift...)
Sun, 2012-03-25 07:49
#11
dacckon
Ditch M Moore. Don't walk out on stage like a motiviational speaker/tv workout person in a leadership showcase(I laughed for 5 minutes). Have ideas that are maturely developed and easily backed up.
And then she'll do fine, she would easily win the leadership with a great campaign.
Sun, 2012-03-25 08:07
#12
Boom Boom
Niki was endorsed by the Socialist Caucus as the 'most left' candidate. And she was the first to drop off.
Moral: run like hell from an endorsement by the Socialist Caucus! 
Sun, 2012-03-25 08:19
#13
I never understood why she wanted to be the Leader. That seemed inconsistent with her emphasis on New Politics. I think she'll have to choose.
Sun, 2012-03-25 08:21
#14
Boom Boom
Well, "Dear Leader" has a nice ring to it, no?
Sun, 2012-03-25 08:22
#15
dacckon
I am getting out of this thread before all hell breaks loose.
Sun, 2012-03-25 09:25
#16
I hope she gets a good critic's position in cabinet. I hope Mulcair & Co. fully back her plan for the Lethbridge conference. I hope she works closely with the young MPs to build a solid base leading into 2015. I hope the NeoCons (and the NeoLibs) don't pull some rabbit on exlax out of a hat as we get closer to '15.
Sun, 2012-03-25 10:08
#17
Well, "Dear Leader" has a nice ring to it, no?
I thought THIS was the Deer Leader:
Sun, 2012-03-25 10:16
#18
Boom Boom
Sun, 2012-03-25 10:57
#19
Bingo!
You don't have to win leadership to have an impact. Remember 2003? Layton was credited with the Orange Crush in Quebec, but it was actually Pierre Ducasse's candidacy that forced the party's hand in dealing with la belle province. Niki spoke very eloquently about the need to win back Western Canada, and was the only candidate to propose a plan to that end: a breakthrough conference in Lethbridge, Alberta in 2013, modelled after the Sherbrooke Declaration. Mulcair spoke about developing the NDP in areas that the other parties took for granted. Liberals in Ontario 2008, Bloc Quebecois in Quebec 2011, and Conservatives in Western Canada in 2015. Frankly, he would be an idiot to not allow that conference to happen.
Sun, 2012-03-25 11:59
#20
Remember, too: even in last place, Niki got over 5%. That's better than a lot of apparent heavy-hitters have done in other leadership conventions, NDP or non-NDP. (And it's better than Ducasse and Meslo put together in '03.)
Sun, 2012-03-25 13:19
#21
I voted for her in the first round. I think you'll find that she does just fine. She's had a chance to tour the country, meet a lot of supporters, build relationships with high profile members, hone her presentation abilities and her message. Mulcair will surely give her something important to work on until 2015, and into our (fingers crossed) first NDP government. From there, the sky's the limit.
Sun, 2012-03-25 14:45
#22
She is cabinet material after 2015 for sure.
And once Prime Minister Mulcair decides to step down, I will be amongst the first to join Team Niki to help her become Canada's first elected P.M.
Sun, 2012-03-25 21:43
#23
I agree with the Lethbridge conference. I also agree with giving her an important role now and in a future Cabinate.
That being said I think the NDP has loads of hugely talented young MPs with more coming,in the future so Niki needs to really,excell and achieve, because she will face some huge challengers if she does run for leader in the future. She did have some great ideas and tons of energy though.
Mon, 2012-03-26 10:29
#24
I was shocked when she came in below Singh. She was my second ranking behind Topp. Maybe I should have given her my number 1 ranking. One needs to keep in my mind that she is one of only 3 NDP MPs on the Prairies. She'll be around for awhile and I'm sure her message will be more specific next time around.
Mon, 2012-03-26 10:56
#25
She is cabinet material after 2015 for sure.
And once Prime Minister Mulcair decides to step down, I will be amongst the first to join Team Niki to help her become Canada's first elected P.M.
Canada's first elected PM??
meaning direct-elected female PM?? (Campbell just inheriting Mulroney majority)
Mon, 2012-03-26 13:27
#26
We've never elected a PM; they have all been appointed by MPs. 