Federal NDP convention

[George+]

Any predictions for the new Federal NDP leader?
I will go with Thomas Mulcair.

[albertabound]

removed - Jennylives

[dg3]

removed - Jennylives

[George+]

Mulcair well ahead on the first ballot.
Probably will win on the second.

Hopefully, he will work with the former NDPer, Bob Rae, and the Liberals

[The Green Barbarian]

Good on the dude from Terrace for hanging in there. I guess his "let's shut down business at all costs" attitude is really resonating with the party faithful. Go Mulcair go! He's the best of a pretty sorry bunch.

[NAB]

Some interesting numbers coming out of this convention, aside from the fact it is far more interesting than other more recent leadership selection events such as the federal Liberals, provincial Liberals, provincial NDP, etc. in a more optimistic party time sort of way. There are apparently over 120,000 party members, of whom just over 4000 are attending as delegates. But unlike the BCTF who still cling mind numbingly to the defunct concept of allowing only the delegates to choose their leader, at least the full membership of the NDP is allowed to vote for their leader even if they are not attending as a delegate.

...even then, only about half of the total federal NDP party membership chose to participate and vote.

Still, as is usually the case, the extreme right wing of Canadian business and politics eventually get too full of themselves, push too hard in self interest and greed, and cross the line. Usually that brings us back to the Federal Liberals after a term or two of Conservative government, but this time it may well be very different.... shhuuussssssh, the people are coming and they are going to push back just as hard, if not harder this time ;-), ....so "business" better get used to the idea and prepare themselves for the day of reckoning as the pendulum swings hard left once more.

Edit to add: Apparently the second vote continues to be delayed. "Internet voting problems" are given as the cause...

Nab

[The Green Barbarian]

Some interesting numbers coming out of this convention, aside from the fact it is far more interesting than other more recent leadership selection events such as the federal Liberals, provincial Liberals, provincial NDP, etc. in a more optimistic party time sort of way. There are apparently over 120,000 party members, of whom just over 4000 are attending as delegates. But unlike the BCTF who still cling mind numbingly to the defunct concept of allowing only the delegates to choose their leader, at least the full membership of the NDP is allowed to vote for their leader even if they are not attending as a delegate.

...even then, only about half of the total federal NDP party membership chose to participate and vote.

Good points Nab. The NDP faithful bleat the constant mantra that "only 40% of Canadians voted for Harper" and that "this isn't a true democracy", yet when it comes to selecting their leader, they follow Canadian voting patterns and are exactly the same. Hypocrisy to the maximum.

[Logitack]

lol @ computer voting.... just confirms that voting online is a bad idea

according to cbc, the computer problems with the voting may be caused by overloading the computer systems, by outside sources. outside sources meaning those NOT eligible to vote, not delegates or ndp members.

[Bestside]

If Brian Topp wins... it's a trip straight to the socialist wilderness....

[NAB]

In watching this NDP leadership convention unfold, it crosses my mind (and perhaps most other's minds too) how effective, democratic, and civilized the federal NDP have been over the decades at choosing and rallying behind their leaders, ....compared to the other main stream parties (Liberal and Conservative) who tend to be rather cut throat about it. I sometimes wonder why that is...

Nab

[Logitack]

can you imagine what would happen if general elections in canada or in BC (or any other province) allowed online voting and what sort of abuses would take place. this convention just proves hacking is and continue to be a major obstacle to voting by computers.

[The Green Barbarian]

In watching this NDP leadership convention unfold, it crosses my mind (and perhaps most other's minds too) how effective, democratic, and civilized the federal NDP have been over the decades at choosing and rallying behind their leaders, ....compared to the other main stream parties (Liberal and Conservative) who tend to be rather cut throat about it. I sometimes wonder why that is...

Nab

Pretty simple Nab - it's what is at stake. Being leader of the NDP guarantees a life in opposition, as there is no way they'll ever find enough Canadians stupid enough to vote them in as a national government. The leader of the Liberals and the Conservative party has usually a 50-50 shot of being the head honcho of the entire country, so way way bigger prize at the end of the tunnel. I guarantee you if the NDP ever dropped 99% of the leftist gunk that make them basically unelectable, and moved to the center, such that even moderate centrists wouldn't be keeling over wretching at the thought of voting for them, the knives at these conventions would be just as long and sharp as they are at the Lib and Con conventions. I think a better contrast is the comparison of the NDP feds vs the BC NDP - look at how the Kwanites cut James' throat and installed Comrade Dix - that was some serious backroom dirty dealing - but again, look at what is at stake - a chance to grab the mantle of the BC government, even with a jelly-back-boned radical leftist agenda.

[steven lloyd]

Good on the dude from Terrace for hanging in there. I guess his "let's shut down business at all costs" attitude is really resonating with the party faithful. Go Mulcair go! He's the best of a pretty sorry bunch.

Ya, I'm not very happy with Cullen's plans of erecting billboards along our coast proclaiming Canada is "closed for business", but what good things have you heard about Mulcair ? I've been way too busy these last few weeks to follow along with much.

[The Green Barbarian]

Ya, I'm not very happy with Cullen's plans of erecting billboards along our coast proclaiming Canada is "closed for business", but what good things have you heard about Mulcair ? I've been way too busy these last few weeks to follow along with much.

He seems to be the MP with the most experience in a pretty inexperienced party. As much as I despise the NDP, we do need a strong opposition, as we need to keep the arrogance of the far right wing of the Conservatives under some kind of control.

[steven lloyd]

Fair enough.