NDP Leadership

[Newfoundlander]

Does anyone care about the NDP leadership? The race will be concluding in two months and I've still seen little on it, nobody seems to talk about the race or care that much about it.

[cybercoma]

The problem is that all the candidates just agree with each other. The only person that has really done anything to set himself apart is Mulcair, who has pledged support for the Maritimes. Outside of that, none of them have really taken a stance on anything.

[cybercoma]

Right now, I would say it's looking like this:

Thomas Mulcair

Paul Dewar

Peggy Nash

Brian Topp

everybody else.

[Evening Star]

What stances are they really supposed to take? I thought party policy is determined by the party at policy conventions, not by an individual? The contest has to do with who has the best chance of winning an election.

Edited January 19, 2012 by Evening Star

[cybercoma]

I should have probably thrown Nathan Cullen in that mix, but he won't win it. Chances are it will be one of those top three. Rumour around is that the Conservatives are actually most concerned about Paul Dewar getting it because they can't smear him like the others.

[Evening Star]

I really like Dewar, actually! Everyone was saying earlier on that his French isn't good enough to be a serious contender (even if it's somewhere around Harper level) so I didn't think of him as one. Maybe things have shifted. (Apparently, I've been following this closely.)

[capricorn]

Does anyone care about the NDP leadership? The race will be concluding in two months and I've still seen little on it, nobody seems to talk about the race or care that much about it.

Seems to me most everyone is concluding Mulcair will take it. I mean, Mulcair broke the ice in Quebec for the NDP with his win in Outremont and the NDP's strength there is a product of "le bon Jack". You could say that the birthplace of the present day NDP is Quebec and with Jack gone Mulcair is the heir apparent.

[cybercoma]

I really like Dewar, actually! Everyone was saying earlier on that his French isn't good enough to be a serious contender (even if it's somewhere around Harper level) so I didn't think of him as one. Maybe things have shifted. (Apparently, I've been following this closely.)

I want to like Dewar, but I can't picture him debating Harper and Rae (let's assume for now Rae takes the LPC leadership). Personally, I think he would be in over his head. You're right about his French as well and he made the critical mistake of claiming Angus would be his second in charge. As much as I like Angus, you can't have two people who don't speak French at the helm when the majority of your caucus is from Quebec. Moreover, you can't alienate the voters in Quebec this way. So, I just don't see him being a viable candidate.

Mulcair is going to win this thing.

I believe Peggy Nash is in a strong second right now according to the polls. She seems to be focused on social aspects of the party though.

Brian Topp, who seems to be polling way behind, I believe might be the best choice for party leadership, despite not having a seat right now. He's the only New Democrat that seems to be economically focused. It will be important to dispel the myths about New Democrat economic policies and I believe he's the best contender to do it, with Mulcair just behind him.

This is what I mean about differences. While they all agree on the party's platform, they haven't really shown their focuses fully yet. We're starting to catch glimpses of it though.

[Newfoundlander]

I've followed it a bit but it's just not interesting.

While it might be a leadership convention and not a policy convention, the leader still determines the policy. I would hope the leader would agree with the policies they run on in an election. Plus you can agree with an overall vision but different ways of getting there. The debates have seemed quite easy and the contenders haven't seemed to be asked about tough issues, I don't think any of them have mentioned what they'll do with the Bank of Canada or how much they will interfere in the private sector.

[Newfoundlander]

The only one that is probably up to Harper and Rae's level is Mulcair, and it would appear he'll turn the party into the Liberals.

I agree that Dewar is very likeable.

[cybercoma]

Personally, I would like to know from the candidates what their plan is to increase NDP support in the next election. I want to know how they plan on courting voters that may not have ever voted for the NDP before.

[cybercoma]

The Liberals seem to be worried about Mulcair becoming leader of the NDP. They're worried that it will keep the party from regaining its place in Quebec:

«Nos efforts de reconstruction vont bien. Ils pourraient aller encore mieux si les militants du NPD élisent le bon chef. Il est clair qu'un Thomas Mulcair à la tête du NPD pourrait nous faire mal», a affirmé un militant libéral, qui résumait ainsi l'état d'esprit de bon nombre de libéraux au congrès.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/201201/16/01-4486501-direction-du-npd-les-liberaux-craignent-lelection-de-mulcair.php

As long as the Liberals remain locked out of la belle province, the NDP will continue to be seen as a more viable alternative to the CPC all across Canada and thusly continue to bleed support from the Liberals, imo.

[Newfoundlander]

Well Mulcair's plan seems to be that he will turn the NDP into the Liberal Party, that's why they're worried.

[cybercoma]

It's a good plan. The NDP has been slowly creeping towards the middle over the last 20 years anyway. It questions the LPC's purpose. If you're right in the centre, then it's hard to stand for anything. You're just the party of weak convictions.

[Evening Star]

I don't think any of them have mentioned what they'll do with the Bank of Canada or how much they will interfere in the private sector.

These are definitely the sorts of things that should be decided by the party at a policy convention. I would find it inappropriate for leadership candidates to take strong stances on these things. It's not a primary for a Presidential candidate.

Cybercoma's points are very well taken, however. Yes, they could certainly emphasize their areas of focus and personal strengths.

[Evening Star]

Well Mulcair's plan seems to be that he will turn the NDP into the Liberal Party, that's why they're worried.

You keep saying this as if it means something at this stage of Canadian political history. Even the Liberals are still trying to figure out what it means to be the Liberal Party right now.

[Evening Star]

Ha, I started watching tonight's debate and then decided to watch a DVD of The Office instead.

[Newfoundlander]

You keep saying this as if it means something at this stage of Canadian political history. Even the Liberals are still trying to figure out what it means to be the Liberal Party right now.

Well he plans on moving them closer to centre, and describes himself as a fiscal moderate. He'll probably be a Gary Doer Dipper, and he's been criticized for being a Liberal.

[Newfoundlander]

These are definitely the sorts of things that should be decided by the party at a policy convention. I would find it inappropriate for leadership candidates to take strong stances on these things. It's not a primary for a Presidential candidate.

Cybercoma's points are very well taken, however. Yes, they could certainly emphasize their areas of focus and personal strengths.

Well it's up to the leader in the end. Layton made odd comments about the Bank of Canada while Turmel said she thought private companies salaries should be capped.

[punked]

I've followed it a bit but it's just not interesting.

While it might be a leadership convention and not a policy convention, the leader still determines the policy. I would hope the leader would agree with the policies they run on in an election. Plus you can agree with an overall vision but different ways of getting there. The debates have seemed quite easy and the contenders haven't seemed to be asked about tough issues, I don't think any of them have mentioned what they'll do with the Bank of Canada or how much they will interfere in the private sector.

Wow look at that a Liberal saying the Leader determines the policy. Sorry my friend in your party yes in my party we have 72 hours of debate every two years to determine party policy the leader must stick to. I know shocking there is a party that is FOR democracy. Sorry.

[fellowtraveller]

The Liberals seem to be worried about Mulcair becoming leader of the NDP. They're worried that it will keep the party from regaining its place in Quebec:

As long as the Liberals remain locked out of la belle province, the NDP will continue to be seen as a more viable alternative to the CPC all across Canada and thusly continue to bleed support from the Liberals, imo.

"the NDP will continue to be seen as a more viable alternative to the CPC all across Canada".

??? Only if you also believe in Tinkerbelle. The NDP have increased their support outside Quebec only marginally, and a reincarnated Hitler could have done that given the steady collapse of the Liberals and the attendant seats up for grabs.

Did you think you were signiong on at rabble.ca and somehow found yourself here instead?

Everybody outside the NDP is surely rooting for Dewar: a charismatic, energetic guy who does not speak one of the official languages. Perfect.

[Wild Bill]

Wow look at that a Liberal saying the Leader determines the policy. Sorry my friend in your party yes in my party we have 72 hours of debate every two years to determine party policy the leader must stick to. I know shocking there is a party that is FOR democracy. Sorry.

Hey, in your party you have 72 hours of debate to decide where to get the coffee and doughnuts for the meeting!

It's just something about the socialist mind that loves procedure, bureaucracy and minutiae. Hence the old phrase "He argues like a commie lawyer!"

NOBODY can nitpick like a socialist!

[punked]

Hey, in your party you have 72 hours of debate to decide where to get the coffee and doughnuts for the meeting!

It's just something about the socialist mind that loves procedure, bureaucracy and minutiae. Hence the old phrase "He argues like a commie lawyer!"

NOBODY can nitpick like a socialist!

No we move it along quite quickly at a policy convention. We can debate most of our policy out side and before the convention so when convention time comes we can knock down a resolution every 15 minutes or so.

Although it is quite clear you have never been to or seen a NDP convention. Typical of your Conservatism even though you know nothing about it you are an expert on it.

Edited January 19, 2012 by punked

[fellowtraveller]

No we move it along quite quickly at a policy convention. We can debate most of our policy out side and before the convention so when convention time comes we can knock down a resolution every 15 minutes or so.

Although it is quite clear you have never been to or seen a NDP convention. Typical of your Conservatism even though you know nothing about it you are an expert on it.

Don't change a thing about how you operate the party or policies, it has ensured your place in Opposition for decades.

[punked]

Don't change a thing about how you operate the party or policies, it has ensured your place in Opposition for decades.

Screaming "Scoreboard" isn't going to change my mind that policy of a party should come from and be voted on my the membership instead of from a heavy handed leader. Sorry I believe in Democracy you can take whatever your party stands for.