Picking a party leader...what's the best method?

[Canuck E Stan]

We had two leaders picked this past weekend.

A national party leader picked by the representation at a convention. Five thousand people represented 195,000 members.

At the same time the Alberta PC's picked a new leader by the one person-one vote method having 145,000 members vote.

Which way is the best method for picking a party leader?

Why is it better for the party or the party members.

Which is most democratic?

[jdobbin]

I don't have a preference for either. They both have their share of problems and both have their merits.

[geoffrey]

I don't have a preference for either. They both have their share of problems and both have their merits.

I agree. Delegates take non-party voters out, but bring in more backroom dealing.

That's pretty much the synopsis.

[gc1765]

I'll take the one member one vote system. It might not be perfect, but it's gotta be better than delegates. I just wish there was a way to ensure that people from one party don't vote for another party. Could there be some sort of registry of all the members of all the political parties that they could use to cross-check? I dont' know, maybe that's not the best idea. Anyone have a better idea?

I wish it was free too. I shouldn't have to pay to decide who is going to lead the country. I mean, sure, I have a choice between basically three people, but if I don't like any of them, what kind of choice is that?

[jdobbin]

I'll take the one member one vote system. It might not be perfect, but it's gotta be better than delegates. I just wish there was a way to ensure that people from one party don't vote for another party. Could there be some sort of registry of all the members of all the political parties that they could use to cross-check? I dont' know, maybe that's not the best idea. Anyone have a better idea?

I wish it was free too. I shouldn't have to pay to decide who is going to lead the country. I mean, sure, I have a choice between basically three people, but if I don't like any of them, what kind of choice is that?

Give the bragging the Tories have done about how they tried to influence the Liberal election, I wouldn't be surprised to see highly organized efforts in the future to undermine the one member, one vote system.

[mikedavid00]

I'll take the one member one vote system. It might not be perfect, but it's gotta be better than delegates. I just wish there was a way to ensure that people from one party don't vote for another party. Could there be some sort of registry of all the members of all the political parties that they could use to cross-check? I dont' know, maybe that's not the best idea. Anyone have a better idea?

I wish it was free too. I shouldn't have to pay to decide who is going to lead the country. I mean, sure, I have a choice between basically three people, but if I don't like any of them, what kind of choice is that?

Give the bragging the Tories have done about how they tried to influence the Liberal election, I wouldn't be surprised to see highly organized efforts in the future to undermine the one member, one vote system.

Well Ignatieff or Rae would have won under 1 member 1 vote. I forgot to mention in my other post 'What Really Happened On Saturday" that supposedly after Bob Rae's speech the buzz on the floor that he was phenominial and was going to win almost hands down. People were discussing the pro's and con's of having him become an Ontario politician and general concensus was that it was a good idea to have a non Quebec leader. This was even coming from Quebecers.

Also there was an incident where Iggnatief pushed a microphone away from a female reporter and told security to 'get her out of here'. He also was being rude and abrupt with delegates and his own supporters which were mostly students. That made its way around teh floor and word got around that Ignatieff wasn't 'being nice' to people and delegates. This had a lot to do with why he didn't gain much momentum from what I heard.

If it wasn't for the 1 member 1 vote system, Belinda would be running the CPC party right now. (actually the CPC use a better electoral college system).