NDP Leadership

[Evening Star]

Does Mulcair have a personality, many consider him to be cold.

If he's cold, it's in the same way that PET or the young Mulroney were cold.

[j44]

Does Mulcair have a personality, many consider him to be cold. He's not to bad but I don't think he'll have the appeal as someone like Nathan Cullen. The biggest benefit with Mulcair I think is that at the moment he's very popular in Quebec and could win a huge majority of the seats, compared to the others who would likely have to work hard to keep the Quebec base.

You're right. Maybe he just looks more personable next to Topp etc. I agree Cullen comes off well. Almost like a funny diplomat. I agree with the Quebec point too. I'm curious to see if the members like his centrist views.

[Topaz]

I think what's been happening with right now, the NPD better check carefully who really IS a NDP before the voting comes. Why? What better way to control an opposition leader, than to stack the NDP membership with with other party members to pick the weakest person for the job. Do you think this could be done?

[Newfoundlander]

I think what's been happening with right now, the NPD better check carefully who really IS a NDP before the voting comes. Why? What better way to control an opposition leader, than to stack the NDP membership with with other party members to pick the weakest person for the job. Do you think this could be done?

What?

[j44]

What?

[Newfoundlander]

Robert Chisholm just endorsed Mulcair. There doesn't seem to be many high profile MPs left to endorse.

[j44]

Robert Chisholm just endorsed Mulcair. There doesn't seem to be many high profile MPs left to endorse.

Did Megan Leslie endorse anyone?

[Newfoundlander]

Did Megan Leslie endorse anyone?

No she's one of the few bigger names that has yet to endorse someone.

Paul Dewar says a senior member of caucus is endorsing him tomorrow.

[j44]

No she's one of the few bigger names that has yet to endorse someone.

Paul Dewar says a senior member of caucus is endorsing him tomorrow.

I couldn't remember if she said that she would stay neutral or not. I was surprised she came out right away and said she wouldnt run.

Any insight on Provincial Party leaders/Premiers endorsements?

[Jack Weber]

Question...

Does Niki Ashton eerily resemble Rivers Cuomo of Weezer,or not?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0wJzA9JfM

[cybercoma]

The Conservatives fear Mulcair, according to Lawrence Martin.

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/03/02/lawrence-martin-leak-shows-harper-fears-mulcair/

You see, the Conservatives are saying Mulcair would have joined their party if Harper would have promised him a cabinet position.

[Newfoundlander]

The fact that Mulcair considered any options from the Conservative Party is interesting.

[olpfan1]

The fact that Mulcair considered any options from the Conservative Party is interesting.

He's unelectable now, it completely tarnished his rep

NDPs only hope is Cullen .. I like his policies hes like a Ron Paul in that he challenges the establishment and wants to fundamentally change it

Edited March 2, 2012 by olpfan1

[cybercoma]

He's unelectable now, it completely tarnished his rep

NDPs only hope is Cullen .. I like his policies hes like a Ron Paul in that he challenges the establishment and wants to fundamentally change it

You're terribly inconsistent. You don't take a thing the CPC says on the electoral fraud, no all of a sudden 5 years after the fact, you take their word on this? Please. Harper's scared and pulling out all the stops already because Mulcair slapped him down on the split-loyalty comments.

[olpfan1]

You're terribly inconsistent. You don't take a thing the CPC says on the electoral fraud, no all of a sudden 5 years after the fact, you take their word on this? Please. Harper's scared and pulling out all the stops already because Mulcair slapped him down on the split-loyalty comments.

Muclair confirmed he was basically shopping around for a party .. talking to the libsrals conservatives and ndp and greens

before deciding ndp is the best fit...that isn't what I look for in a leader

I want my leader to already know which party he fits in

Mr. Mulcair calls the claims “transparently false,” while acknowledging he talked to the Conservatives (and the Liberals and the Greens) before opting to join the NDP, after quitting Jean Charest’s provincial Liberal government in Quebec City.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/03/01/john-ivison-mulcair-asked-for-conservative-cabinet-post-before-joining-ndp-tory-insider/

Edited March 2, 2012 by olpfan1

[mentalfloss]

He's unelectable now, it completely tarnished his rep.

I seriously hope that was sarcasm.

[olpfan1]

I seriously hope that was sarcasm.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/03/01/john-ivison-mulcair-asked-for-conservative-cabinet-post-before-joining-ndp-tory-insider/

Mr. Mulcair calls the claims “transparently false,” while acknowledging he talked to the Conservatives (and the Liberals and the Greens) before opting to join the NDP, after quitting Jean Charest’s provincial Liberal government in Quebec City.

I've no doubt in my mind (like any politician would) would take the best deal given to them..if that was the CPC he would be a conservative..if it was the liberals who gave him the best offer it would have been the liberals, but hes an NDP and now 6 years later he is running to be the leader of the party

[j44]

He's unelectable now, it completely tarnished his rep

NDPs only hope is Cullen .. I like his policies hes like a Ron Paul in that he challenges the establishment and wants to fundamentally change it

Like Martin says it is going to be a 'whose version do you believe type thing.' Although IMO those in the NDP with reservations re Mulcair will believe Harper.

I wouldn't say Cullen is as populist as Ron Paul, or at all for that matter. And I don't see how he wants to fundamentally change the establishment.

[cybercoma]

I wouldn't say Cullen is as populist as Ron Paul, or at all for that matter. And I don't see how he wants to fundamentally change the establishment.

Cullen is awful. He wants to unite the left temporarily to bring in electoral reform, but has no exit strategy. Cullen will be out of the running right behind Ashton, imo.

[UofGPolitico]

Muclair is this party's only hope of attempting to form a government. If any of the radical lefties win (Nash, Topp and to a lesser extent Dewar), its back to 3rd place and irrelevancy.

[TheNewTeddy]

The Liberals haven't been a dominant force in the Prairies since the Diefenbaker era. They've barely amounted to anything in the Prairies from 1972 onwards. In the last election, the NDP came second (if a distant second) in most Prairie ridings. How do you see the Liberals becoming a potential threat in the West?

I never said "becoming". They are a potential threat.

If you were to give voters in Calgary the policybooks for each party and not tell them from which party the books come from, you'd likely find most would prefer the Liberal policy book. People vote for other parties because of branding. The Liberals are the party of Trudeau. Quebec voters voted Bloc because of branding, and for Trudeau's Liberals for the same reasons. When the brand names died down or out, like in the 80's, we saw the NDP doing better in that province. The NDP's policybook has always been close to Quebec's normal views on various issues, and Liberal policies should be able to sweep the urban west. Branding prevents us from doing so, but the potential is there, and if we can ever break though that glass ceiling like the NDP did in Quebec in 2011, we could win dozens of seats on the Prairies.

[UofGPolitico]

I never said "becoming". They are a potential threat.

If you were to give voters in Calgary the policybooks for each party and not tell them from which party the books come from, you'd likely find most would prefer the Liberal policy book. People vote for other parties because of branding. The Liberals are the party of Trudeau. Quebec voters voted Bloc because of branding, and for Trudeau's Liberals for the same reasons. When the brand names died down or out, like in the 80's, we saw the NDP doing better in that province. The NDP's policybook has always been close to Quebec's normal views on various issues, and Liberal policies should be able to sweep the urban west. Branding prevents us from doing so, but the potential is there, and if we can ever break though that glass ceiling like the NDP did in Quebec in 2011, we could win dozens of seats on the Prairies.

Becoming a threat, perhaps, but its going to take a long time. I mean, in some ridings in Saskatchewan the Liberals received under 1,000 votes. The Liberal Party should really focus in on Quebec the next election, especially if Rae does become permanent leader. I think Quebec really is up for grabs.

[j44]

Cullen is awful. He wants to unite the left temporarily to bring in electoral reform, but has no exit strategy. Cullen will be out of the running right behind Ashton, imo.

Other than the last debate he was one of the top performers IMO. I still think his proposal garnered him a lot more attention than he would have received without it. I also see Cullen and Mulcair teaming up in some form.

[Jack Weber]

Muclair is this party's only hope of attempting to form a government. If any of the radical lefties win (Nash, Topp and to a lesser extent Dewar), its back to 3rd place and irrelevancy.

Pretty much...

[cybercoma]

Other than the last debate he was one of the top performers IMO. I still think his proposal garnered him a lot more attention than he would have received without it. I also see Cullen and Mulcair teaming up in some form.

I only disagree with your last sentence.