With the NDP leadership race and showcase weekend in the books, there are some lessons the Liberal Party should draw from the experience as we prepare for our own leadership vote, scheduled for some time next spring. I think the first lesson is that you need a strong field of
Continue readingTag: #ndpldr
A BCer in Toronto: Post-#ndpldr, with Mulcair change will be more personality than politics
Leadership contests tend to create the appearance of stark differences where none really exist – it’s in the interests of both candidates looking to differentiate themselves and media looking for a meaningful race to cover. In reality, these differences are usually exaggerated, and governing tends to be a moderating influence
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: #ndpldr pics, video and a few thoughts
It was a very long Saturday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre — about 12 hours for me, longer for others — for the NDP to arrive at what, for many, was an inevitable result: the election of Thomas Mulcair as their new leader. With Mulcair set to take his
Continue readingPolygonic: A vote for reality – a congratulations to the NDP
Quel jour! Quel nuit! And, for most New Democrats, thank god it didn’t take two jours and two nuits to finally sort the question out. Indeed, poor me – UK clocks leaped ahead one hour into summer time yesterday, leaving me drowsy-eyed in front of the CBC live feed at
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Some more thoughts on Mulclair and the Convention in general
After a day and a night of digesting what I saw at the NDP Convention, some thoughts on what I saw and heard: – I’ve heard some say that Mulclair will charged as being an “opportunist” because he’s been associated with or had flirtations with other parties. As Susan Delacourt
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Congratulations to Thomas Mulclair
I’ll have more to say later this weekend.. but I have only 1 plea/request to Mulclair’s handlers/advisers: When the next election’s leader debates happen, please please please don’t let him try to debate by having reading notes with him (even as a Liberal, it would be painful to watch). Otherwise,
Continue readingThanks to the NDP for their hospitality.
On behalf of Progressive Bloggers, I’d like to thank the NDP for allowing us bloggers some great access to your convention. I’d like to specifically thank Sally Housser, the interim Deputy National Director, for the invitations and for the assistance on what to do once we got there (also thanks
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: OK, I’m Out
Attending NDP conventions isn’t supposed to be my full time job. Rumour has it they’re handing out sleeping bags and we’re all supposed to sleep on the floor. Not happening. Mulclair will eventually win and give his speech to a convention center full of sleepy, disgruntled socialists sometime Sunday morning.
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Third Ballot; Bottom Line
Fuck me, I think we’re off to a 4th ballot unless Topp backs down.
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Its Descended Into CHAOS!
The computers have crashed and the vote was going to be delayed! Then the announcement announcing the delay was delayed! Now they have successfully announced the delayed announcement! The delay is officially in effect, until 5:40 when things are supposed to get back on track. I’m getting flashbacks to the
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Live At The NDP Convention
Jim Calder and I are hanging out here at the BLoggers War Room, observing the festivities and the voting here. It’s been an interesting experience – I can see both the advantages of online voting and one member one vote(and preferential balloting going along with it) – and the disadvantages.
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: 2nd Round; Bottom Line
— Total vote count went down. The rumoured B.C. surge (are waking B.C. voters casting on-line ballots). LPoC should take note; on-line attendance will disappoint you.–Peggy Nash drops out. Where does she go? Apparently she has released her people.–Cullen didn’t pick up much steam at all. He will not be
Continue readingHere at the Convention
Just arrived at the NDP Convention, after getting lost. NDP Delegates are very friendly however, and pointed me the way. Just getting settled in, and I think it should make for a fun day, particularly after what I consider a slightly surprising First Ballot result. ONE COMPLAINT: Who decided to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Musical interlude
In keeping with the convention theme…KTA – Longer than a Lifetime (And if anybody has audio of the song from Jack Layton’s tribute, feel free to pass along the link.)
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Cullen won #ndpldr showcase showdown, but it’s likely meaningless
With the candidate showcase showdown in the books and just over an hour until the Jack Layton tribute, I have time to switch from tweeting quick sarcastic comments to blog with a bit more deliberative thought. Like the Senate, but even more sober (there’s an open bar in the media
Continue readingImpolitical: NDP Convention – Day 1
Don’t know how coherent or value added this will be after a day of tweeting, thought I’d try to get a few things down here. First of all, impressions on the afternoon’s “showcases” of the candidates, as the NDP termed them. There were a lot of supplemental activities (floor demos,
Continue readingFar and Wide: Mulcair’s Magic Number?
One number everyone will be watching, Mulcair’s first ballot percentage. Some talk about a Mulcair first ballot win here at the NDP convention, but I think that would be a stunner. The conventional wisdom is multiple votes, and within that a conversation about what Mulcair needs on the critical initial
Continue readingtoday so far
the first day has been good. this has to be the first time a convention in Canada has been run with new media. the different campaigns have put together good programs. the leadership candidates all managed very thoughtful and inspiring messages. Part of a convention like this is to create
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – First Ballot Endorsement
The NDP’s leadership campaign has presented such a wide variety of opportunities and questions for party members that it’s been difficult to decide who to endorse – and I’ve reached my own first-ballot decision only after taking time to see how those have been balanced out in this afternoon’s leadership
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: A Liberal perspective on #ndpldr in Toronto
I hear a wildcat strike by unionized Air Canada workers at Pearson Airport has been delaying some NDP delegates from making it to the leadership convention, but luckily the TTC is still running and I’ve arrived at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, gotten my media/blogger badge, and settled into the
Continue reading