NDP Leadership Convention 2017

[RogueBeaver]

Cullen has changed his mind, says he'll announce his decision this week but seems ready to jump in.

[Vega]

Cullen has changed his mind, says he'll announce his decision this week but seems ready to jump in.

I don't believe there is any doubt that he won't win if he runs, which is a shame because it will be an open/shut vote.

[Hatman 🍁]

Cullen has changed his mind, says he'll announce his decision this week but seems ready to jump in.

I don't believe there is any doubt that he won't win if he runs, which is a shame because it will be an open/shut vote.

I don't necessarily agree with that. Let's see who runs first. I think Jagmeet Singh could give Cullen a run for his money.

[RogueBeaver]

Singh isn't mentioned on that list. What do you think of Boulerice and Julian?

[Hatman 🍁]

Singh isn't mentioned on that list. What do you think of Boulerice and Julian?

Singh isn't around "Ottawa circles" maybe. Plus, the media doesn't really know the NDP. But I get the feeling that if he does run, Singh would be one of the favourites.

I worked for Peter Julian many years ago. He's a very hard working MP and has lots of Quebec connections. Not sure if he has the je ne sais quoi to be leader though. I don't know much about Boulerice, but obviously he's the strongest Quebec candidate (outside of a fantasy REB candidacy).

[DL]

I have to say I find Cullen's dance of the seven veils a bit bizarre. Back in the winter he said he would not run and supported Mulcair sticking around. Then after the party voted to dump Mulcair, he said he was revisiting his decision not to run.

Then the party announced that the new leader wouldnt be chosen until fall of 2017 - which to me takes the heat off anyone being expected to throw their hat in the ring for quite a while.

Then Cullen said he would make an announcement about whether he would run or not "very soon" but sounded like he was leaning towards not running...and it would make sense that if he was NOT going to run he would say so right away so that other people thinking of running would know that he was out of the equation. Then this week he gives an interview to the Star where he sounds like he is leaning towards running after all and that he will announce a decision as soon as next week!

But i find it hard to believe that he would announce he was running in June 2016 for a contest that doesnt even officially start until July 2nd and that will last until Oct. 2017. There is no upside to announcing that far in advance and lots of downside in that you can alsmost get overexposed.

Any theories?

[RogueBeaver]

Cullen is OUT.

[136or142]

Cullen is OUT.

I'm trying to come up with a line about how Cullen not running may Killen the NDP, but I can't quite get the grammar right.

[emcee0]

Now that Cullen is out I don't really know if anyone is suitable to lead the NDP. The only ones that stand out are Ashton and Boulerice. Unless a hail mary happens I question if the NDP will even be able to keep official party status after this election.

[DL]

I think Ashton is a bit of a twit and will embarrass herself if she runs again...Boulerice is a credible candidate and there are rumours about Jagmeet Singh and supposedly Peter Julian and Guy Caron want to run as well.

Cullen says he will not be neutral and plans to back a candidate for the leadership - so one wonders if he is actively recruiting someone to run

[Vega]

If Gary Doer was younger, he'd be a good fit for right now.

[DL]

If Gary Doer was younger, he'd be a good fit for right now.

He also speaks no French

[Hatman 🍁]

Lots of NDPers are talking about Jagmeet, and I think I'd back him right now - but he's totally unknown outside of NDP/Queen's Park circles.

[136or142]

Now that Cullen is out I don't really know if anyone is suitable to lead the NDP. The only ones that stand out are Ashton and Boulerice. Unless a hail mary happens I question if the NDP will even be able to keep official party status after this election.

What's wrong with Charlie Angus? He's likable and he seems to be nearly as creative as Nathan Cullen.  (I'd joke 'alsol he's beefy' but I'm being serious.)

[Hatman 🍁]

Charlie Angus would be great, except his French isn't good enough.

[RogueBeaver]

Singh says he's thinking about it. Caron says no rush, but he also has a young family. Boulerice hasn't decided yet either.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

What a mess.

[RogueBeaver]

There will be an Ontarian provincial candidate... DiNovo.

[Vega]

There will be an Ontarian provincial candidate... DiNovo.

I think she's part/closely linked of the NDP Socialist Caucus, but not their official candidate.

[DL]

There will be an Ontarian provincial candidate... DiNovo.

I think she's part/closely linked of the NDP Socialist Caucus, but not their official candidate.

I'm not sure how much they would like her when they learn that she calls herself a Zionist and is very pro-Israel...she also speaks ZERO French but promises to take a few Berlitz courses if she wins...whihc she won't

[RogueBeaver]

She's not actually running.

[Hatman 🍁]

OK then...

[Vega]

I wonder how well Barry Manilow will do with the NDP Socialist Caucus.

[Hatman 🍁]

Apparently Jagmeet Singh made a rousing speech at the Alberta NDP convention (perhaps his Obama moment?), which is leading many to speculate he's running.

[Vega]

Apparently Jagmeet Singh made a rousing speech at the Alberta NDP convention (perhaps his Obama moment?), which is leading many to speculate he's running.

Wouldn't he be historically in-experienced?