2012 NDP leadership convention

[RogueBeaver]

It is, as I said, the bare minimum required. Understandable? Yes. Fluent? Far from it.

[Holmes]

On one hand, the vast majority of recent party leaders didn't and don't speak French well at all (in fact, I cringe when they do... embarrassing). Duceppe did obviously, and Dion, but other than that... however, it's not like their French-speaking ability really did them any good in Quebec in the long run, eh?

[MaxQue]

Yeah, Dewar's French is basically non-existent. For leadership purposes, Harper's is the bare minimum.

  What is Harper's French like anyways, it sounds fine to me, but consideirng my French is really bad (Je Parle en peu de Francais, mais moi Francais est tres mauvais) I cannot tell whether he speaks horrible French or speaks it fluently.  I will admit that this probably the biggest disadvantage for anybody from the West as due to lack of exposure French is not widely spoken in the West.  Heck even here in Toronto which is only 5 hours from Montreal, not many speak French.

Well, Peter Julian is bilingual, I heard.

[RogueBeaver]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1266057.html

Chisholm will enter soon, while Nash is still thinking about it.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/will-nash-give-up-needling-flaherty-to-run-for-top-ndp-job/article2187086/

[Peter the Lefty]

Personally, I feel that both Leslie and Ashton would be shocked that you're discussing them in such horny-nerdy-boy terms.

Women do the same thing. Why do you think Obama got elected?

Well, if it's all about how good-looking they are, then draft Pierre-Luc Dusseault, I say! lol

[mileslunn]

Its true that of the leaders outside Quebec, not too many regardless of party have spoken it very well.  I am surprised though that Paul Dewar's is poor.  After all he is from Ottawa which is at least officially bilingual never mind his riding is only 10 minutes away from Quebec meaning I suspect he probably has crossed over the river on a fairly regular basis. 

[RogueBeaver]

Dunno- they have unilingual Anglos in Francophone ridings and vice-versa. My MP is one of the latter.

[Hatman 🍁]

Ottawa Centre is not that french. Most francophones live in Ottawa-Vanier or Ottawa-Orleans. There's probably more fancos in Ottawa South than in Centre.

[RogueBeaver]

Even if he spoke fluent French, I still don't see him winning. Depends if Nash and/or Julian get in.

[mileslunn]

Dunno- they have unilingual Anglos in Francophone ridings and vice-versa. My MP is one of the latter.

Which riding are you in for curiousity.  Most of the unilingual Anglos I suspect were the paper candidates who won unexpectedly such as Ruth Ellen Brosseau.  I am in Trinity-Spadina myself.

Also as for Ottawa, I realize Ottawa Centre is not as Francophone as Ottawa-Vanier or Ottawa-Orleans but it is only across the bridge from Quebec so I assume its proximity would have some impact on the number who can speak French.

[MaxQue]

Dunno- they have unilingual Anglos in Francophone ridings and vice-versa. My MP is one of the latter.

Which riding are you in for curiousity.  Most of the unilingual Anglos I suspect were the paper candidates who won unexpectedly such as Ruth Ellen Brosseau.  I am in Trinity-Spadina myself.

From what I understand and remember, he is in the other case. Anglo ridings with an unilingual Francophone MP.

[Hatman 🍁]

Dunno- they have unilingual Anglos in Francophone ridings and vice-versa. My MP is one of the latter.

Which riding are you in for curiousity.  Most of the unilingual Anglos I suspect were the paper candidates who won unexpectedly such as Ruth Ellen Brosseau.  I am in Trinity-Spadina myself.

Also as for Ottawa, I realize Ottawa Centre is not as Francophone as Ottawa-Vanier or Ottawa-Orleans but it is only across the bridge from Quebec so I assume its proximity would have some impact on the number who can speak French.

Oh, I reckon nearly 50% of the riding can speak French, but probably less than 10% have it as a native tongue.

ETA: According to pundits guide, it's actually 39% that can speak both languages, but I was bang on about the 10%.

[RogueBeaver]

I'm in NDG-Lachine, FYI.

[mileslunn]

I'm in NDG-Lachine, FYI.

. I believe the former MP Marlene Jennings was bilingual.  Up until the final week she seemed pretty safe, only then did the riding look vulnerable so I suspect they had a paper candidate who wasn't expecting to win.

[Holmes]

Julian out, Mulcair in.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/julian-bows-out-but-mulcair-will-be-running-for-ndp-helm/article2190641/

It's between Cullen and Mulcair for me at the moment.

[Hatman 🍁]

If Julian's out, I'm voting for Pauly D.

[mileslunn]

If Julian's out, I'm voting for Pauly D.

Not an NDP supporter, but I would probably go the same way if I were one.  The reality is Layton did well due to likeability and much the same reason Howarth is doing well also.  Topp comes across as too much of your traditional union type, while Mulcair seems to have too explosive a temper.  Mulcair would make a good opposition leader, but doesn't seem like someone who could take the party to the next level.  Off course I don't expect the Liberals or NDP to actually "beat" the Tories, rather than the Tories will be removed from power when they "lose" not because someone else "wins". 

[Holmes]

What, exactly, is up with Mulcair's "temper"? Is it akin to McCain's, where we never really saw it, only heard anecdotes about it?

[Hatman 🍁]

I dont know anything about a temper, but I know he doesn't play well with others.

Im mostly support Dewar because's he's my MP ; I haven't made up my mind about further down the ballot.  I also liked Julian, because I used to work in his office.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Julian out, Mulcair in.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/julian-bows-out-but-mulcair-will-be-running-for-ndp-helm/article2190641/

It's between Cullen and Mulcair for me at the moment.

Julian was the best chance at a neutral 3rd.

[RogueBeaver]

Now waiting on Nash and Ashton.

Mulcair: More private than public, but he's too much of a culture shock for the NDP regardless. Put it this way, he's a hell of a lot more civil than Coderre.

[mileslunn]

Now waiting on Nash and Ashton.

Mulcair: More private than public, but he's too much of a culture shock for the NDP regardless. Put it this way, he's a hell of a lot more civil than Coderre.

Isn't Ashton awfully young to be a leader?  I believe she is still in her 20s.  I can see maybe mid 30s, but 20s seems a little young for that type of position.

[RogueBeaver]

I made that point a while back, so yeah, I agree. Nash is another wildcard, though she's expressed reluctance about giving up her finance critic's position.

[MaxQue]

Now waiting on Nash and Ashton.

Mulcair: More private than public, but he's too much of a culture shock for the NDP regardless. Put it this way, he's a hell of a lot more civil than Coderre.

Well, we are not gonna use Coderre for comparisons, right?
He is a bit extreme.

[mileslunn]

I made that point a while back, so yeah, I agree. Nash is another wildcard, though she's expressed reluctance about giving up her finance critic's position.

Considering how the next budget is probably going to be the most crucial the Tories bring down, I suspect you want someone who is at the top of their game as finance critic.  That may be the reason she is reluctant to throw her name in.

As for Denis Coderre, I cannot stand the guy myself.  When Ignatieff took over as leader, the Liberals were actually not far behind the Bloc in the polls, although with him as Quebec lieutenant I can see fully why Quebecers turned strongly against the Liberals.