2012 NDP leadership convention

[Hatman 🍁]

Teddy: I think you need to change the big backers for some. I think Charlie Angus counts as a big backer for Dewar.

Holmes: Cool, I might see you there then.


It's not an endorsement really, but Bruce Hyer (MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North) told me today he is undecided between Dewar and Cullen. It sounds like he won't be making an endorsement though.

[Hatman 🍁]

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?)

Topp also got the endosement of former MP Bill Siksay and current MP Chris Charlton

[Hatman 🍁]

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?)

I thought he would be better than that.

Well, Topp was the head of the actor's union. He's going to get all of the actor's endorsements.

But, I think the most coveted celebrity endorsement will be that of the Barenaked Ladies. Who will BNL support? (I think they're the most famous NDP supporters)

[Hatman 🍁]

McGuinty isn't going anywhere until he retires. And Mazigh can't win the white middle to middle-upper class vote that dominates Ottawa South. The NDP received 13% in the OSo both in 2004 and 2006, but from very different constituencies. Mazigh did really well in the immigrant communities, but Sader lost most of that support. And despite being an Arab himself, he was able to pick up support from middle class whites who were probably drawn in by the national campaign.

I was just a couple months shy of turning 18 for the 2004 election, and I would have voted for her initially, I learned a couple days before the election that she was against same-sex marriage and I would have voted Green.  I guess it's good I couldn't vote, because that would have been a blemish on my clean voting record

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.

Yes, not to mention a couple of Canadian non regulars as well (Kathy Greenwood).  Actually come to think of it, both Mochrie and Greenwood were briefly on This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

[Hatman 🍁]

And THAT my friends, is the EXACT attitude I was referring to when I said the NDP has an attitude in it that makes people want to leave.

I'm sorry if the gays bother so much Teddy.

[Hatman 🍁]

But same sex marriage is pretty important to me, despite my heterosexuality (I guess I'm a closet metrosexual? .. oh and my girlfriend's bisexual, not that that matters), so it's one of the few issues I would not vote NDP if the candidate and I disagreed.   

[Hatman 🍁]

I disagree with the NDP on Senate abolition too, but you don't see me whining and running from the party.  I don't see the issue of the Senate as being a litmus test, anyways. At least the NDP sees the Senate as being a total waste of money the way it is now.  You support a party that wants the status quo on the Senate, and that is the truly disgusting thing.

Mazigh isn't a bad person, she has a lot of courage, but I couldn't vote for someone who is against gay marriage.

[Hatman 🍁]

Well, I think we can put SSM behind us for now, as is hopefully a moot issue. However, our Liberal friends are just going to have to deal with the fact that the NDP is a party of ideology (I would say principles), and the Liberals are more, as Rae would say "pragmatic". Fair enough, I think a party should have both principles and be pragmatic.

Some people's brains (such as mine?) are more wired ideologically than others.

[Hatman 🍁]

Ryan Cleary endorsed Thomas Mulcair

New map:

[Hatman 🍁]

Bay St. ponying up for Topp.

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/02/02/bay-street-ponies-up-for-topp-leadership-bid/

Interesting. Coordinated effort to destroy the NDP?

[Hatman 🍁]

New map (haven't made on in a while)



Nova Scotia is getting interesting...

[Hatman 🍁]

One of Topp's lawyer donors is a corporate lawyer with a specialty in intellectual copyright

[Hatman 🍁]

Finally, another blog post!

http://canadianelectionatlas.blogspot.com/2012/02/ndp-leadership-endorsement-map-as-of.html

[Hatman 🍁]

No robocalls so far.

[Hatman 🍁]

Mulcair gets 4 NS endorsements.

New map

[Hatman 🍁]

Apparently Glenn Thibault endorsed Mulcair today, but Mulcair's last tweet is a retweet of mine, advertising my endorsement map 

[Hatman 🍁]

Surprised about Liu. Wasn't she working on Mulcair's campaign instead of campaigning in her own riding?

[Hatman 🍁]

[Hatman 🍁]

Ha. I havent got any calls yet!

[Hatman 🍁]

Does such a huge Mulcair lead seem plausible to the Dippers here?

NDP supporters are different than NDP voters.

I'd prefer e-mails, anything is better than starting a conversation with a stranger near 9 o'clock about beating Harper.

Ive been getting plenty of emails. I just ignore them. I'd rather a phone call, I think. I'd feel more important than just someone on a mass email list.

[Hatman 🍁]

In Canada, we have a fear that the "successful" will flee to the US if taxed too much. It's less of an issue in the US, since it's supposedly the "greatest country in the world" and people think the rich will be less likely to flee if taxed.

[Hatman 🍁]

I think its absurd to think that if Canada had a slightly higher marginal tax rate on people with incomes over $250k - there would be this sudden mass exodus of to the US. If that were true - the exodus would have already happened long ago.

I'm more concerned that a cap and trade system that was punitive enough to raise BILLIONS of dollars would cause entire industries to move south of the border to places like North Carolina...

Why are there ANY doctors whatsoever in Canada?? According to that argument, since doctors make more in the US 100% of Canadian medical school graduates would pack their bags and move to Miami.

Of course you are right, I'm just suggesting what people believe.

[Hatman 🍁]

Hey, Charlie is a fine man.

Well, Peggy Nash said than he was a poor choice for being the deputy of Dewar, because Dewar has an afwul French and Angus doesn't speak French either.

Anyways, in short, if Dewar win, NDP will crash in Quebec and NDP will return to being the 4th party in Ottawa.

Sorry, Earl.

*sigh* It's alright... I really don't like the field of candidates... I'm starting to warm up to Mulcair again. Maybe I'll vote for him.

[Hatman 🍁]

I've lost all respect of her, but I have a low opinion of political pundits who aren't myself (Alice Funke excluded).

Anyways, I just renewed my membership online. w00t.

[Hatman 🍁]

Good point. If Topp wins, that means Turmel will be leader for another 6 months at least (if an MP steps aside for Topp), and maybe even longer. Another reason to not vote for him.