2012 NDP leadership convention

[Хahar 🤔]

We should really look at moving to an open primary system using party registration. Wont happen though, as our way means $$$ for members.

That wouldn't be possible; the Canadian party system just doesn't work like that.

[Хahar 🤔]

It seems like Canadians use area codes to identify places much more than Americans do.

[Хahar 🤔]

Xahar, its even more prominent in Toronto, your a 416'er (TO proper) or a 905'er (GTA suburbs)(even though we have two toronto area codes, the other is 647 but no one talkes to them anyway LOL)

Yeah, Toronto was what I was thinking of. References to the 416 and the 905 baffled me until I realized they were area codes. Here we don't refer to San Francisco as the 415.

[Хahar 🤔]

Trying to relate municipal parties to real parties is a futile endeavor. They exist solely to gain power.

[Хahar 🤔]

Well, this is interesting: It seems Nathan Cullen is making himself the "cooperation" or "non-compete deals" candidate. 
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/cullen-proposes-running-joint-ndp-liberal-green-candidates-in-next-election-132071883.html

He seems determined to distinguish himself from Pat Martin though.  Martin will now probably either get behind him, or enter the race proposing an all-out merger. 

Why are these people so interested in this idea.

[Хahar 🤔]

Is it okay if we all mutually agree to never mention 308 on this board? I think that would be good for everyone.

Said he's definitely not anti-union, and is definitely not a separatist, either.

Is this really something people are saying about him? The man was a Liberal frontbencher! If the Quebec Liberal Party stands for anything (other than the Mafia), it stands for federalism.

[Хahar 🤔]

There seem to be a lot of Sikhs in Canada with names that aren't identifiably Indian. Why is that?

[Хahar 🤔]

There seem to be a lot of Sikhs in Canada with names that aren't identifiably Indian. Why is that?

He is a convert.

Is that at all common? In British Columbia, it's not uncommon to see candidates with names like Herb Dhaliwal or Jinny Sims who are Sikh.

[Хahar 🤔]

Topp: The choice between Mulcair and I is an ideological one.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/topp-drops-his-gloves-to-take-shot-at-ndp-rival-mulcair/article2286790/

Mulcair and me

[Хahar 🤔]

Would it be possible for you to make a map showing only current MPs? That might be interesting to see.

[Хahar 🤔]

I can't imagine Topp winning. What does he have going for him?

[Хahar 🤔]

Did you oppose Dion's '06 candidacy for that reason? Of all the things to criticize Mulcair for... that should be near the bottom of the list.

I opposed Dion for a LOT of reasons. Even my grandmother, who had voted Liberal in every Federal or Provincial election in her entire life, refused to vote for Dion.

Unlike the US, you can be leader even if you are not born here. People choose to be Canadian. My father did. Mulcair should choose to be Canadian, and not leave a backup option.

Why should he have to renounce his other citizenship?

[Хahar 🤔]

Brian Topp got some more endorsements. The biggest seems to be that of another comedian, Colin Mochrie (I'm sure our British and American friends will recognize him from Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

It's weird how there were two Canadian regulars on that show.

[Хahar 🤔]

Well, I think we can put SSM behind us for now, as is hopefully a moot issue.

It's nice that Canada has moved past that.

[Хahar 🤔]

Mulcair would have been courted by the Mulroney Conservatives in 1984, for sure.  (Remember: Nick Auf der Maur ran for the Tories that year)

Of course, everyone who didn't like Trudeau was a Tory in 1984.

[Хahar 🤔]

Democrats are winning elections all over the place pledging to reverse the Bush tax cuts on the top 1%.

What now?

[Хahar 🤔]

The NDP in Quebec can't and shouldn't be associated with provincial politics.

[Хahar 🤔]

I'm impressed by Saskatchewan. The NDP ought to gain a number of seats there.

[Хahar 🤔]

Why do you think that? The numbers will go down post-convention like all parties' always have. If we win another majority the NDP won't be stealing any SK seats from us.

Polls have been good for the NDP in the West, and boundary changes ought to produce a map that's better for the NDP (there couldn't possibly be a worse map for the NDP than this one). Most importantly, the next election will come after many years of right-wing rule in Ottawa and Regina. Fatigued voters won't be going to the Liberals.

[Хahar 🤔]

the Democrats and Obama are running on a tax the rich platform quite successfully in the US

This really isn't something that's happening.

[Хahar 🤔]

Couldn't they get someone from Radio-Canada or something?

[Хahar 🤔]

So the whole thing will be done by the time I wake up? That's a shame.

[Хahar 🤔]

Any info on the candidates, because I don't know much about them. Cullen seems good, though.

In terms of ideology, there's not any real difference.

[Хahar 🤔]

Obviously, Mulcair not winning would be deeply problematic.

[Хahar 🤔]

I love that picture.