In an convention that was seriously lacking in news (which is the way the Conservatives wanted it, incidentally) the one bit of drama was the battle (which seems to happen at each of their conventions) to re-write the rules for selecting Stephen Harper…
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A BCer in Toronto: Barely news today, forgotten tomorrow: live-blogging the policy plenary
1:30 PM: And we’re back, or we will be in 5 minutes, the voice from on high just informed the hall. It’s time for the policy plenary, and apparently we have 30 or so to deal with in one-and-a-half hours. We’ll see how that goes.Policy plenaries are a f…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Let’s get ready to roberts rules rumble…liveblogging the constitutional plenary
(refresh for updates)10:14 AM: After sleeping in a little and grabbing a muffin and a diet pepsi (breakfast of champions) I’m settled in on press row again for more Conservative mainhall drama. Actually, we may have a modicum of drama today because th…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: My day two video blog from Conservative Convention 2011
Back again with my day two video blog of Friday’s fun and games at the Conservative convention in Ottawa. We got shut out of the good stuff, such as the constitutional and policy workshops where, once again, the creation of a youth wing was soundly rej…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Navigating the anti-Harper protest line (video)
After venturing off campus Friday afternoon to have a drink with an old Carleton friend, I returned to the conference centre to find the road out front closed and filled with about 200 protesters there to greet Stephen Harper who was due to speak to de…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Liveblogging Harperpalooza gloat-a-thon 2011
7:01 PM: I’ve settled in on press row for the evening keynote by Stephen Harper. I’m a little late but, thankfully and true to form, Harper is even later and the event shows no sign of starting, so it’s all good. Was off campus meeting a friend from my…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Dean Del Mastro’s lie-based campaign techniques
At a punditry panel this morning at the Conservative Convention in Ottawa, Conservative MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dean Del Mastro, took to the microphone to share some of his campaign techniques.Apparently his primary techni…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Gettin’ our conservative on: live blogging Preston Manning at #cpc11
10:30 AM: Had to run over to the Rideau Centre for a cold beverage because none seem to be available in the conference centre, but I’m back in the same hall. It’s now packed; with the delegates having sent a message to Canada’s youth by massively rejec…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Video: Don Plett rips into Peter MacKay on one member, one vote
As promised, here’s some video of a speech Conservative Senator and former party president Don Plett gave at a hospitality suite Thursday night sponsored by MP Scott Reid, who is leading the movement to do reform the system of riding weighting for lead…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Liveblog: Panel of Conservative pundits
(refresh for updates)9:05 AM: Whole delegates are off doing fun constitutional things blogger/media types like me are banned from, I’m with a small group in a large room for a panel of pundits hosted by Monte Solberg. Other pundits on the panel of men …
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Video: James Moore and Mark Strahl on one member, one vote
As I mentioned earlier, an attempt led by MP Scott Reid to change the equal ridings one member, one vote method of leadership selection is generating buzz at the Conservative convention. I’ll have a fiery speech on the topic shortly, but here are BC MP…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Touring Conservative hospitality suites
At least until the day when policy developed at conventions has any impact even remotely on campaign platforms, for many the most important part of most political convention is the hospitality suites,which seek to woo delegates with free booze and snac…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: My day one video blog from Conservative Convention 2011
Here’s my video blog from the first day on the 2011 Conservative convention, which I’m attending as a blogger. It includes cameos by Tony Clement and Jacques Demers, close-up shots of cheese, and failing to negotiate a bargain on a Stephane Dion t-shir…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Night One: #cpc11 live blog
6:30 pm: I have my blogger/media pass, I’ve navigated my way through the brand new Ottawa convention centre, I’ve paid $33.90 for WiFi (you’re welcome, dear readers) and I’m settled into the front row of the media section (at the waaaay back of the con…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: I’ll be blogging from the Conservative convention in Ottawa
After starting the week in Las Vegas, during which time my Canucks forgot how to play hockey, I’m onboard a Via train at the moment on my way to Ottawa, where I’ll be through Sunday evening covering the Conservative convention and patronizing some of t…
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