NDP Leadership 37

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Fri, 2011-11-18 20:08

Hunky_Monkey

KenS wrote:

Nor can Topp be accused of just positioning himself for a race- pandering to the membership. Because it is something he knows he will never be able to walk away from.... you've made a lot of the downside risks yourself. So there is a logical inconsistency there. How can it be both risky with the public and just pandering to the membership?

That's the sense I'm getting though. He was an advocate of the "Third Way" in Saskatchewan and I wonder if he had a role in the NDP after Jack dropping much reference to fair taxation. Nothing "evil" about that but it doesn't quite fit with what he's saying today.

Maybe he'll appoint a commission to study the issue for cover :)

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:09

#103

Hunky_Monkey

Stockholm wrote:

Similarly, if Mulcair is to win the NDP leadership this time around - signing up a lot of new members is nice - but his real path to victory is to spend a helluva lot of time in places like BC and Ontario where there are a lot of existing members and convincing them that the "man from Outremont" would be the best leader.

Which is what he's doing. I think though there is a huge benefit to Mulcair, a high profile Quebec politician, to sign up as many new members in Quebec. Around a million and a half voters in Quebec voted NDP. Mulcair is the most well known there. There is a huge pool of new members there for Mulcair especially to sign up. Doesn't mean he will ignore the rest of the country.

There is though at times a favourite son/daughter thing play out. I experienced a part of that in 1995 when I supported Lorne Nystrom over Alexa and some long time members locally wouldn't even say hi. It was pretty petty and sad on their part. I remember walking into the convention in Ottawa and one high profile New Democrat, remain nameless, yelled at me "think about your future"... meaning my future in the party. So it's a bit of a factor.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:10

#104

Stockholm

It might be a factor for party elites making public endorsements - but I think that rank and file NDP members just want a good leader and don't really care what province he or she resides in. In 2003 Layton was from downtown Toronto and yet he ended up getting endorsed by most of the NDP MLAs in Saskatchewan and he swept the province and left Nystrom and Blaikie in the dust.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:13

#105

dacckon

Do you have proof of this accusation of his advocation of "third way" Any trusted, reliable, nonpartisan sources? Until then, I'm not sure that claim can be made. If you have "hidden sources" that "wish" to be "unnamed", this is a leadership race and this information should be revealed.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:20

#106

Malcolm

Hunky_Monkey wrote:
As for giving dismal speeches and such, just look back to Audrey in 1989.

The particular dynamics of the convention matter, though, HM. I recall being there and telling a friend of mine working on Audrey's campaign that she'd need to fall flat on her face in her convention speech in order to lose. While she was less exciting than Howard Pawley and not quite as dynamic as Allan Blakeney, she didn't fall flat on her face.

A better speech might have won her the leadership a ballot or two earlier. But she largely had the race wraped up prior to the speeches.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:22

#107

Malcolm

Hunky_Monkey wrote:
There is though at times a favourite son/daughter thing play out. I experienced a part of that in 1995 when I supported Lorne Nystrom over Alexa and some long time members locally wouldn't even say hi. It was pretty petty and sad on their part. I remember walking into the convention in Ottawa and one high profile New Democrat, remain nameless, yelled at me "think about your future"... meaning my future in the party. So it's a bit of a factor.

And Nystrom (by all accounts) ran third in Saskatchewan during the last leadership race, behind both Layton and Blaikie. Indeed, I've heard some rumblings that choosing Lorne as his Saskatchewan campaign chair is a serious miscalculation on Mulcair's part.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:23

#108

Doug

It's rather impressive that there's a group of people willing to support Brian Topp to the tune of $1,000 each. Unfortunately, we don't get to find out who they are until a month before the convention, such are the rules.

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:35

#109

Marks

Brian Topp's $1000 a ticket event at the Albany Club was not targeted at actors it was for big money Bay St. investment dealers and entertainment industry executives. John Sterling, CEO of ROI (Return on Investment) funds, was lining up large donors for Topp and they aren't New Democrats.

Sterling invite: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2049793989/eorg

ROI link: http://www.roifund.com/About_Us/Story.php

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:55

#110

vaudree

Quote:
The list includes provincial Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson, The Pas MLA Frank Whitehead, Peguis First Nation Chief Glen Hudson and Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand.

Eric Robinson used to be Minister of Heritage until Oscar Lathlin's death. He co-wrote The infested blanket: Canada's constitution, genocide of Indian nations. Wonder who Dan Vandal is supporting.

Louis Riel Day is in February, David Chartrand is referring to the Commemoration day here (not sure how this will go over in Orange Ontario):

http://www.mmf.mb.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:pre...

Quote:
Ashton's other endorsements are her dad Transportation Minister Steve Ashton, Manitoba's Culture Minister Flor Macelino, Trade Minister Peter Bjornson, and MLAs Bidhu Jha (Radisson) , Drew Caldwell (Brandon East), Tom Nevakshonoff (Interlake), Ted Marcelino (Tyndall) and Clarence Pettersen (Flin Flon).

Surprise surprise - she has the support of Steve Ashton! Flor Macelino was touted as the first woman of colour to be elected to the Leg - she is a former business woman with I think 5 kids.

There are a few names still up for grabs:
http://yourmanitoba.ca/caucus2010/ourteam

Fri, 2011-11-18 20:56

#111

Policywonk

Idealistic Pragmatist wrote:

Wilf Day wrote:
Idealistic Pragmatist wrote:

The leadership debate schedule has been released:

Dec. 4, Ottawa – Building an inclusive economy

January, Halifax – Giving families a break

February, Quebec City – Providing leadership on the world stage

February, Winnipeg – Building bridges between urban and rural Canada

March, Montreal – Building a strong united Canada

March, Vancouver – Creating opportunities for youth and new Canadians

In Nova Scotia, 136,620 voters voted for New Democrats on May 2.

In Manitoba, 126,639 voters did.

In Saskatchewan, 147,214 voters did.

In Alberta, 234,730 voters did.

I think the consideration was more representation of regions than representation of clumps of existing voters. Some people here are up in arms about that, but I have to admit that I do see a certain logic to the schedule as it stands, even if it's unfortunate for most Prairie voters that they will have to watch the debates on CPAC or online instead of in person.

What I take issue with is the Torontonians who are crying foul. The convention will be held in their city, and there's a debate scheduled elsewhere in their very own province to boot. Anyone whose first thought upon looking at that schedule is that Ontario isn't getting its fair share of NDP attention is exhibiting "centre of the universe" thinking at its most odious.

The location is one thing. But what's the point of an inclusive economy if it isn't sustainable?

Fri, 2011-11-18 21:07

#112

Catchfire

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