NDP leadership race 2

Absolutely, Left Turn -- there was no engagement in my riding. I'm a member and never heard a word from the federal party itself, or from any local people as to any discussion on the Leap topic. Zero. Nothing.

As far as I'm concerned they've totally dropped the ball on engaging membership in any discussion on this topic. Not impressed, whether the NDP took the leap direction or not, the point was to have a discussion about it. Total failure to do so.

I want a kick ass new leader, who wants to do things differently than the Mulcair years! (And, I can tell you right now, that's not going to be Peter Julian!)

Geoff, the convention could have voted confidence or non-confidence in Mulcair if they so chose. They didn't. Nor did they vote to repudiate one single policy that helped bring electoral disaster. So yes, it seems that the convention has already been forgotten - by those who read their own wish list into it.

Any thoughts on this "Draft Sid Ryan" campaign from the Socialist Caucus?

 http://www.sidryanforndp.ca/

Quote:

Interesting points about what we didn't vote for, but what we did vote for was to hold a meaningful discussion at the riding level on the Leap Manifesto.

So what's preventing you and your riding from having those meaningful discussions?

Party favour wrote:

Any thoughts on this "Draft Sid Ryan" campaign from the Socialist Caucus?

 http://www.sidryanforndp.ca/

Yeah. Sid Ryan, like the Socialist Caucus as a whole, is a sore loser.

..you are right to persue this issue geoff. and it would be a breath of fresh air to have a discussion around party democracy that didn't end up in a big fight with name calling. starting a fight is really a way to divert attention away from a topic when what is needed is an open discussion. how else will things change? demanding actions from a membership that isn't even able to openly discuss the issues without being attacked by the party is also futile.

..lessons could be taken from the labour party and the saunders campaign instead i sense a defensiveness. a closing up when it comes to the topic of party democracy.

I note the Angus page has grown substantially.  ETA:  I think the Dana Larsen page is not applicable to the federal race.  I think it was set up a while ago for the BC NDP leadership race.

Guy Caron, another potential NDP leadership candidate, presents to the Student Budget Consultation what the NDP's priorities will be for budget 2017.

[youtube]s17XN_XyngY[/youtube]

[url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/CheriDiNovoForNDPleader/]Friends of Cheri DiNovo for NDP Leader (unofficial discussion page)[/url]

68 likes

[url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/charlie-angus... Angus, ‘socialist punk rocker with a big heart,’ expected to announce federal NDP leadership bid[/url]

Quote:

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus — a no-nonsense “character” by all accounts — is expected to announce a federal leadership bid soon, sources say.

The race to find a leader by next October is empty so far. B.C. MP Peter Julian recently stepped down as House leader to consider his own candidacy, but hasn’t announced a decision yet.

An NDP insider said Angus has notified party leadership he’s planning to step out of his position as caucus chair, probably before the holidays. An announcement is likely to come soon after that.

“I think he’s a very likeable politician and human being, which is a huge asset,” said former party director Robin Sears, of Earnscliffe Strategy Group. “I think his credibility, especially on First Nations issues, is unimpeachable.”

I don't know.  But the NDP is a member of Socialist International.

Not directly about the leadership race, but kinda related: NDP’s Challenge: Seize Working Class Anger and Make It Positive, Says Director Robert Fox

"Angus Steps Down as NDP Caucus Chair"

Yes, we saw that coming. What I find interesting is that REB is expected to replace him as caucus chair, which - I presume - means she doesn't intend to enter the leadership contest.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/angus-leadership-run-1.3863515

"The only band that matters: Can Charlie Angus rock-and-roll his way to the NDP leadership?"

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/the-only-band...

josh wrote:

Angus gets most mentions among those who would vote for NDP.

http://www.hilltimes.com/2016/11/23/ndp-leadership-charlie-angus-edge-am...

That's a crazy poll, including people who've confirmed they will not be running (Boulerice; Cullen), and not including contenders who are generating some interest (Singh). It's meaningless until people jump in and the race actually gets going.

Crazy way to report the poll, too. With a 7.5% margin of error, it's not even true to say Angus is in the lead with 10% - he is tied with everyone except Julian who trails at 2%. 

I'm a huge fan of him - as musician, writer and MP - but Angus is not an effective leadership candidate.  He's funny and biting and his commentary rings true, but it is also the type that will come across as snide when compared to Trudeau's disposition.  He'll mostly appeal to people already voting NDP or garner "shucks, I like this guy" sympathy from people voting conservative.  But mostly, Angus' French is just not good enough.  It's bad.  It's a shame Boulerice isn't running.  Angus is the candidate to suceed Jack Layton in a world where the NDP didn't win official opposition and didn't develop a following in Québec, or the guy that takes over the provincial mantle in Ontario if Singh doesn't want it.  The problem with the latter is that I don't think Angus cares much for provincial politics.

"Despite Ottawa ‘charm offensive,’ Jagmeet Singh remains coy about NDP leadership plans"

"Singh said he thinks the race will be exciting, and there’s a “vibrant universe” of potential support for the NDP — especially after recent Liberal missteps."

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/despite-ottaw...

Mighty Middle wrote:

Rachel Notley has announced Brian Topp has resigned and will be returning to Ontario in the new year,

Guess he's got an election on his mind. He's a sharp dude, so I think he'll be a helpful addition to Andrea Horwath's team.

Mulcair is predicting "several" candidates will enter the NDP leadership race "right after Christmas."

Only Angus and Julian are mentioned in the article. 

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ndp-leadership-race-to-gain-candidates-af...

I think no one wants to run because the polls are so bad. Almost certain defeat does not fit with the personality of the average politician.

josh wrote:

Mobo2000 wrote:

I like Charlie Angus too, both his politics and his demeanor/presentation, but agree with Ciabatta that he may not match up against Trudeau well.   Unfortunately I don't see anyone right now that does match up well with Trudeau.

Glad Brian Topp isn't in the running either.  

Either Angus or Julian would be a big improvement.

Interesting that Niki Ashton's name wasn't included in the article about Mulcair. Agreed, it's good that Topp isn't running. I thought, though, that if he was returning to Ontario, it would be to play a role in running the ONDP campaign.

montrealer58 wrote:

I think no one wants to run because the polls are so bad. Almost certain defeat does not fit with the personality of the average politician.

That's probably true and probably for the best. The NDP needs someone who can re-build and take the party in a new direction, not someone who's only in it for the glory. 

Mighty Middle wrote:

12 NDP MPs allegedly wanted Thomas Mulcair to step down as leader after losing the election. That according to political pundit Ian Capstick. He was a former press secretary to Jack Layton, and his husband was Thoms Mulcair director of communications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap6h8hpoi-w

Wow - that's an excellent discussion about the lazy-ass job Mulcair's been doing as leader during the interim until he's replaced. Bravo to the panel, and especially Ian Capstick! Maybe he should run for leader? 

I the end what does it matter. the moment a new leader is chosen, no one will care that Mulcair stuck around as a lame duck leader for a year and a half rather than stepping aide for an interim leader.

The really big mistake the NDP made was setting the date for the choice of a new leader so far down the road. If they had simply decided to pick a new leader - say - in late november of this year 2016 - Mulcair would only be lame duck leader for a seven months rather than for 18 months...and for all the talk about needing a year and a half to let new unheard of candidates get in the race - i predict that there will be four or five serious candidates for the leadership and they will be the same four or five people who would have run if the contest had happened a year earlier. Instead the party is stuck spinning its wheels for a whole year. A lost year.