2012 NDP leadership convention

[Senator MaxQue]

None of those things you mention will hurt him in a general election. Most likely they won't prevent him from being elected 3 weeks from tomorrow.

I hope they do.  If the NDP still has any commitment to labour rights, they should.  I'm amazed that so many labour figures have endorsed him. 

Mulcair announced more labour support today and also unveiled his labour policies and they strike me as being very progressive and pro-labour and have all sorts of provisions for banning replacement workers and making it easier for peoiple to join unions. What's not to like?

The main default of Mulcair is not being a friend of St. Brian Topp.

For Dewar French, it sounds like a elementary kid (and more Grade 3 than Grade 6). Sorry.

[Holmes]

Je parle le français. C'est bien. Le débat à Montréal est bien. Ma réponse est bien. C'est bien.

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, French is a disqualifier. Nor do I think he has the killer instinct to face Harper and Rae even if his French was half-decent. Mulcair it is.

[Peter the Lefty]

None of those things you mention will hurt him in a general election. Most likely they won't prevent him from being elected 3 weeks from tomorrow.

I hope they do.  If the NDP still has any commitment to labour rights, they should.  I'm amazed that so many labour figures have endorsed him.  

Mulcair announced more labour support today and also unveiled his labour policies and they strike me as being very progressive and pro-labour and have all sorts of provisions for banning replacement workers and making it easier for peoiple to join unions. What's not to like?

That he supported taking away many basic labour rights as a provincial cabinet minister.  Makes him more like Romney in that way too, lol.  

[RogueBeaver]

More on Mulcair's flirtations from La Presse.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/201203/03/01-4502098-mulcair-a-flirte-avec-les-conservateurs-en-2007.php

Le Devoir didn't think this was a story worth mentioning, which doesn't surprise me. They've always been cordial if not warm towards him.

[ModerateCoward]

C’est bien. Je parle français à chaque jour avec mon équipe et avec mon ami Danny. Je crois que pour le prochain débat à Montréal, c’est mieux que le débat à Québec. Je crois que j’ai—je sais hier par exemple, ma réponse dans le débat c’est bien. Juste une question mais c’est bien, je suis tres content avec ça.

Geez. It's not often that I can understand every single word of a paragraph in French. That can't be good for Paul, can it?

If it wasn't for his lack of French, Paul would be a great candidate. I'm tempted to keep him in my #2 spot.

2 words here, that I didn't know.

[You kip if you want to...]

C’est bien. Je parle français à chaque jour avec mon équipe et avec mon ami Danny. Je crois que pour le prochain débat à Montréal, c’est mieux que le débat à Québec. Je crois que j’ai—je sais hier par exemple, ma réponse dans le débat c’est bien. Juste une question mais c’est bien, je suis tres content avec ça.

Geez. It's not often that I can understand every single word of a paragraph in French. That can't be good for Paul, can it?

If it wasn't for his lack of French, Paul would be a great candidate. I'm tempted to keep him in my #2 spot.

2 words here, that I didn't know.

I know 16-year olds with better French. In the UK. Seriously.

[Hashemite]

Harper looks like a full bilingual compared to Dewar. That's too bad.

[RogueBeaver]

It isn't just the French but poor Quebec judgment and total lack of killer instinct. When your opponents are Harper and Rae, the latter is not optional.

[RogueBeaver]

Mulcair pulls ahead in fundraising.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20120303/ndp-leadership-race-fundraising-120303/

[RogueBeaver]

Mulcair today's main target.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/04/pol-ndp-debate-montreal.html

[RogueBeaver]

Den Tandt: Mulcair's the best candidate.

http://www.canada.com/news/Tandt%2BMulcair%2Bbest%2Bhope%2Bbattle%2Bwith%2BHarper/6249165/story.html

[lilTommy]

I need to get online on the wknd more The NDP updated the membership numbers...

Electoral roll per province:

AB - 9800
BC - 39859
MB - 11,991
NB - 946
NL - 974
NS - 3904
NT - 124
NU - 24
ON - 36,965
PEI - 262
QC - 13,987
SK - 11,243
YK - 747
Out of country: 74
Unknown due to incomplete addresses: 252
Total electoral roll: 131,152

*Note: party is contacting those with incomplete addresses via e-mail and phone to ensure ballot packages can be sent
*Note: some provinces appear slightly lower than previously stated due to elimination of duplications on electoral list

That's another 1,100 for B.C. and 1 721 for Quebec.

Dewar - Agreed, great guy but his poor french and good guy image (just look when he went on the offensive at the debates, thats offense?) he would make a wonderful Minister but to get to government we need someone who can take on Harper/Rae and i don't think Nash is up to it either, shes an admitted conciliator, negotiator... and thats great IN gov't but to get there.
I'm not concerned about Mulcair... if he is all that people say, first why run for the NDP at all?... it was a huge victory but not a sure thing, and even in 08 he was close, and it was a fight to win, so if he wanted power and all that he would have bolted to the tories.

[RogueBeaver]

Hebert: Mulcair will be on probation.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1140841--hebert-ndp-leadership-winner-could-find-many-fences-to-mend-if-margin-of-victory-is-slim

Mulcair under fire.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1140847--ndp-leadership-thomas-mulcair-under-attack-in-montreal-debate

[Holmes]

From the Lib who brought us Vikileaks?

https://twitter.com/#!/kNOwMulcair

[Holmes]

Well, I cast my ballot.

1. Mulcair
2. Nash
3. Ashton
4. Dewar
5. Cullen
6. Singh
7. Saganash
8. Topp

Yup, Saganash was still there. Which is good, any reason to rank Topp lower is welcome.

[lilTommy]

Well, I cast my ballot.

1. Mulcair
2. Nash
3. Ashton
4. Dewar
5. Cullen
6. Singh
7. Saganash
8. Topp

Yup, Saganash was still there. Which is good, any reason to rank Topp lower is welcome.

I got my ballot too... i'm still debating if i want to live vote or online... My ballot only changes after your 2nd choice but at that point it doesn't matter now does it. I have mixed feelings about Saganash dropping out, i liked him but found he struggled in english and since i feel Dewar is lacking in french and that disqualifies him... the same applies. One last debate to go!

[Hatman]

I'm still planning on going to the convention. I consider myself underemployed, which means it will only cost $100, and I heard their may be a free shuttle from Ottawa.

Haven't checked the mail yet, so I don't know if I got my ballot yet.

[Vasall des Midas]

Well, I cast my ballot.

1. Mulcair
2. Nash
3. Ashton
4. Dewar
5. Cullen
6. Singh
7. Saganash
8. Topp

Yup, Saganash was still there. Which is good, any reason to rank Topp lower is welcome.

I got my ballot too... i'm still debating if i want to live vote or online... My ballot only changes after your 2nd choice but at that point it doesn't matter now does it. I have mixed feelings about Saganash dropping out, i liked him but found he struggled in english and since i feel Dewar is lacking in french and that disqualifies him... the same applies. One last debate to go!

Not really fair since English is only Saganash's third language. You should compare his French skills to Dewar's - primary foreign language for either of them.

[lilTommy]

Oh no insult to either Dewar or Saganash, but being PM in canada i have to say being at least bilingual fluently has to be a given. Harper angers me cause he seems barely pasable in french but they don't give a damn about quebec so. Given Saganash's first language is Cree, which isn't hugely spoken outside the Nord-Quebec region hes very impressive. Infact 22minutes did a spoof where three candidates debated in spanish since Nash, Ashton and i think Cullen (someone can correct me) are tri-lingual... infact Ashton can speak i believe 6...
But he seemed to struggled to fluidly express himself in english, he will make an impressive Minister some day.

[lilTommy]

Sorry some news...

Saganash endorses Mulcair...
http://www.abitibiexpress.ca/Actualites/Politique/2012-03-07/article-2917677/Saganash-appuie-Mulcair-pour-la-chefferie-du-NPD/1

the first newspaper endorsement... Le Devoir endorses Mulcair http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/344420/nouveau-parti-democratique-mulcair-chef

Forum released a poll but i don't have an account so i can't link it.
https://www.forumresearch.com/PollsLogin.asp?c=ar95eryrn5r5&f=MHJED_Pn0nqn-9vqr_-_Srqr4ny_V557r5_c1yy_(S147z_er5rn4pu)_(FDEFDFDI).2qs

Leader / BC / AB / PR / ON / QC / AT / CAN / M / F

Mulcair / 25 / 12 / 26 / 25 / 37 / 30 / 27 / 25 / 29

Topp / 20 / 12 / 30 / 24 / 19 / 27 / 21 / 18 / 24

Nash /20 / 12 / 25 / 27 / 16 / 27 / 22 / 18 / 26

[RogueBeaver]

You guys get wiped off our map and lose OO if anyone but Mulcair wins, per the new Forum poll. I won't like to That Place, but you can find it there.

Cullen also has a decent shot at an upset.

http://www.punditsguide.ca/2012/03/cullen-momentum-threatening-mulcair-ndp-leadership-donation-data-suggests/

[RogueBeaver]

Pratte endorses Mulcair.

http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/edito/2012/03/05/mulcair-a-raison/

[Peter the Lefty]

Damn it!  I may just end up having to put him first on my hypothetical ballot.  I really hope he at least makes clear his support for a Palestinian state (or lack thereof) or opposition to Israeli settlements (or lack thereof).  Not to mention the things the Charest government did while he was in it, and his explanation of his flirtations with the Conservatives seem less-than-satisfactory to me.  He also has some explaining to do regarding his Bay-Street donors.  But I can't see anyone else leading the NDP to power, but I really wish it didn't have to be with his approach.  I really wish Topp had more charisma, he'd be great if it weren't for that.  I STILL wish Megan Leslie or Peter Julian were running.  Nash needs to get to Quebec and work really hard campaigning if she wants to hang onto it, by the look of this poll.  She'll have a bit of time, but she'd still have a helluva lot of work to do (I'm surprised they're so unfavorable to her.  Is it that her French sounds too European? lol).

By the way, just out of curiosity...are Andrea Horwath and Adrian Dix likely or expected to make endorsements?  I'm a bit surprised that they haven't yet, seeing as they could be potential kingmakers (or queenmakers, if one or both of them go for Nash).  Dix especially.

[RogueBeaver]

Neither Horwath nor Dix have endorsed (nor do I think they will- their parties are too divided), though Topp and Nash are doing well in ON and Mulcair's doing well in BC fundraising-wise.