Plenty of commentators have piled on Ian Capstick in the wake of his musings about the number of candidates in the NDP’s leadership race. And I won’t belabour the same point others have already made in refuting speculation about particular candidates dropping out. But there’s another part of Capstick’s analysis
Continue readingTag: leadership 2012
Accidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Robert Chisholm Ends His Campaign
As might have been clear from my most recent candidate rankings, Robert Chisholm’s odds of winning the NDP leadership have seemed limited for some time. But Chisholm’s announcement that he’s ending his campaign will nonetheless have a couple of important consequences for the remaining candidates. Most obviously, Chisholm’s exit leaves
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Kady highlights the Cons’ combination of complete incompetence in rejecting positive amendments to their dumb-on-crime bill, and dishonesty in pretending not to introduce exactly the same changes later. And if the Cons were the least bit concerned with *good* government rather than
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – December 18, 2011
We now have at least a bit of pollster data to compare to Skinny Dipper’s online poll on the relative positions of the NDP’s leadership candidates. But Forum Research’s results look to largely match the previous candidate positioning – which combines with relatively little news from the candidates’ travels to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Profile – Martin Singh
With the NDP’s leadership contestants otherwise consisting entirely of sitting MPs or media-anointed favourites, Martin Singh has faced a tougher job getting noticed than anybody else in the field. So how has he done trying to start from that disadvantage? Strengths So far, the answer looks to be “not badly
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – pogge points out the Cons’ suppression of news that a lack of running water on First Nations reserves facilitated the spread of H1N1 – offering a case in point as to both how neglect of social needs can carry widespread ramifications, and how
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Yes, it’s absolutely asinine that the Cons’ attacks on Muslim women have been extended to denying citizenship based on a particular type of clothing. But after the Cons’ repeated efforts to suppress veiled voting, we shouldn’t expect anything less from them. And
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Profile – Paul Dewar
From the moment his leadership campaign launched, Paul Dewar has been positioned as a compromise candidate. And prior to the first debate, it’s arguable that none of the candidates had done more to improve their standing in the race. But there are now some open questions as to whether Dewar
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Policy Roundup 2
Following up on my earlier post, let’s take a quick look at the policy proposals that have been unveiled by NDP leadership candidates over the last couple of weeks. – Niki Ashton’s plan for a more inclusive economy includes plenty of noteworthy ideas, including a direct attack on structural discrimination
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – If you’re only going to read one analytic take on the NDP leadership campaign, make it Alice’s – featuring this take on Thomas Mulcair’s strategy in cultivating later-ballot support: I’m fairly sure I was privy to the exchange between Paul Wells and “Mulcair
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On eroding bases
It’s far too early to declare anything decided as to what’s going to happen in Canada’s next federal election. But for anybody looking for an early indication as to whether or not we’ll see a Bloc resurgence, about the only more clear sign than this… The Bloc Québécois had held
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Profile – Nathan Cullen
Nathan Cullen was the third candidate to join the NDP’s leadership race. And initially, he figured to be a strong contender to win over soft support within the party as the campaign progressed. Strengths After all, Cullen’s bio includes experience as a successful critic or committee chair on issues ranging
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – December 10, 2011
While there was plenty to talk about following the NDP’s first leadership debate, the effect of such an early event on the candidates’ long-term prospects was bound to be limited. And so the most-discussed event of the campaign so far hasn’t led to much change from last week’s rankings. 1.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Profile – Romeo Saganash
Romeo Saganash was the second candidate to enter the NDP’s leadership race, and remains one of the contenders with a plausible path to a strong victory. But how likely is it that Saganash can reach that result? Strengths On paper, there isn’t another candidate in the race with a personal
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Profile – Brian Topp
Let’s start my series of NDP leadership candidate profiles with the first to enter the race, and one who’s probably inspired more discussion than any other so far: longtime organizer and strategist Brian Topp. Strengths Topp’s combination of organizational acumen and institutional support has been one of the defining features
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On pertinent questions
I’ll add one additional follow-up note from yesterday’s NDP leadership debate. In principle the opportunity for candidates to ask questions of one another looks to have been an ideal chance to test one of the major roles of an opposition leader. And while most of the contenders decided to lob
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Debate 1 Wrapup
Plenty of others have already commented on the NDP’s first leadership debate. But I haven’t yet seen any that line up with my take on yesterday’s chance for candidates to introduce themselves to the country. To start with, the perceived top-tier candidates generally lived up to their billing. Thomas Mulcair
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On positive outcomes
Following up on this morning’s candidate rankings, I’ll add one more general post in advance of this afternoon’s NDP leadership debate. While plenty of media commentary seems to be asking questions about whether anybody can land a knockout punch, let’s note that a party leadership debate – and particularly one
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – December 4, 2011
Not a lot has changed since last week’s rankings. But with the first NDP leadership debate looming this afternoon, let’s quickly take stock of where the candidates stand – including with a quick take on what they’ll each need to accomplish this afternoon. 1. Thomas Mulcair (1) There isn’t much
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Policy Roundup
As the NDP’s leadership race moves into the limelight, the candidates are starting to unveil some of their policy priorities. As I’ve mentioned it’s an open question as to how much members will want to change from a set of ideas that’s worked rather well for a few election cycles
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