re: the middle road, or the road privately owned by the Liberals, or the road the NDP has long ambled along which will indeed lead to "results we've never had before": an undignified demise, where the NDP goes down looking like Liberals (inner squabbling, brokerage politics, poll driven ideology).

 "Third Way" social democracy is whack yo! It can only possibly make sense as a Liberal conspiracy destined to destroy democratic socialism. You see, once you concede that capitalism is the legitimate economic underwriter of democracy, you've effectively driven a wedge into the heart of democratic socialism.

Folks around here, of course, are entitled to their third way, liberals in ahurry, enlightened, corporate loving, decaffeinated, fence sitting social democracy, but I will not cede thereby your unquestioned right to call yourself a "leftist". I'm afraid you'll have to throw out the baby with the bath water if you walk away. If a term in political discourse ever was worth defending and fighting for, it is "the left". In fact, one of the discursive battles being waged in this leadership campaign is precisely around our rebranding as a party, a rebranding that in many ways hinges on the party's relationship to the left.

 You see when arguing with Liberals or Tories, even other NDP'ers, I always insist that they may call me whatever they'd like (lefty, moonbat, hippie, communist, etc.) so long as they don't call me a liberal or a social democrat. I am a "democratic socialist". I take pride in being called a "lefty" and will fight to the end to have that position minimally stand for a critical relationship, as opposed to an "enlightened" lovey dovey relationship, to capitalism. 

The NDP needs to rebrand itself in such a way that it reconnects with its democratic socialist roots and at the same time reinvigorates democracy and engages young voters again. Our growing edge should not be swing voting Dipperals. It should be the non-participant electorate; it should be workers and new Canadians who reflexively vote Liberal; it should be true "progressives" (we need to assert ourselves as a party of the environment, of fiscal competence, of electoral reform, of the marginalized).  And it should be done in such a way that the "Left" feels enthusiastic about the NDP and thus begins to take a more active role in mainstream politics (I was disheartened though not altogether surprised, that a number of CUPE 3903 supporters with whom I spoke at a recent rally, had no idea there was a ONDP leadership race under way); in such a way that Labour and the NDP become once again undivided partners in the fight for social & economic justice in this province. 

Peter Tabuns, I believe, "is leading the way" to a bold NDP I could be really proud of. Like the other candidates, he's a good organizer, tireless worker and a very likable person. Notably, I cast my support for Peter Tabuns as someone who has never volunteered nor worked for Tabuns. Wonder if the other shills around here can make the same claim regarding their candidates of choice. 

In my view, Peter Tabuns stands out in his intelligence, bold leadership and insight (he's also got the best hair and more importantly doesn't sport a 1980's porn star moustache). His organizing talents are second to none. Tabuns' ability to connect with the past and future with the old establishment of the party (Broadbent, Lewis,...) as well as with the future of the party (ONDY) are a testament to his outreach. Tabuns is the only candidate with the environmentalist credentials to win over Green Party supporters.  Lastly, Tabuns remains my only hope that the party swerves boldly to the left. Capitalism should be a dirty word; it is a rapacious and untenable system that dehumanizes us to our core.  Sidle up to capitalism at your own peril. Are we social democrats or democratic socialists? That is the question.