A question that burned through my mind on Tuesday during the Calgary-Klein forum was “How did this guy ever get elected?” How did this guy get in? Fawcett wasn’t prepared. He fumbled. He didn’t have answers, didn’t have positions, and shared very little. This has to end. This Tory didn’t stand
Continue readingTag: leadership
350 or bust: TED Talk Tuesday: Follow Your Curiosity
In this talk from a 2012 TEDx conference at the University of Florida, Morris Morrison talks about the subjective nature of what it means to be successful, drawing on his life story to show how even in the bleakest circumstances we can count on our instincts and curiosity to guide
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Lessons for the Liberals from the NDP leadership and showcase weekend
With the NDP leadership race and showcase weekend in the books, there are some lessons the Liberal Party should draw from the experience as we prepare for our own leadership vote, scheduled for some time next spring. I think the first lesson is that you need a strong field of
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Mulcair Shows Liberals the Way to Do It
There is one reason I like Thomas Mulcair. It isn’t his politics, which while closer to me than any other possible NDP leader save for maybe Martin Singh, I still have major disagreements with. For instance, his insistence that Quebec gets a free opt-out of everything. Try following that to
Continue readingPolygonic: A vote for reality – a congratulations to the NDP
Quel jour! Quel nuit! And, for most New Democrats, thank god it didn’t take two jours and two nuits to finally sort the question out. Indeed, poor me – UK clocks leaped ahead one hour into summer time yesterday, leaving me drowsy-eyed in front of the CBC live feed at
Continue readingPop The Stack: Beards Again
Last night the NDP chose a new leader Thomas Mulcair. Mulcair was the most reformist candidate that was on offer but he was also not the biggest party insider among the candidates. So in a sense he represents a tradeoff between striking out in bold new directions versus staying the course
Continue readingPop The Stack: Beards Again
Last night the NDP chose a new leader Thomas Mulcair. Mulcair was the most reformist candidate that was on offer but he was also not the biggest party insider among the candidates. So in a sense he represents a tradeoff between striking out in bold new directions versus staying the course
Continue readingLeftist Jab: Time To Rally Behind Thomas Mulcair And His Beard Of Courage
The New Democrats have a new leader. (h/t Jamie Masse) The future of social democrats has been chosen and it is a bearded one! Thomas Mulcair will lead the NDP as head of the Loyal Opposition. Despite some skepticism by New Democrats, I suspect the Outremont MP will win them
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: A Tale of Two NDPs
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: A Layton-22
Jack Layton never based his decisions on what one person would do, to ask New Democrats to do that is doing anything but honouring the man or the party. Finishing a speech at the NDP Leadership Convention Olivia Chow told the crowd of orange, “Ask yourself, what would Jack do.”
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Liveblogging Today’s NDP Leaders Debate
Today’s NDP leadership debate lands in Quebec. I’m using 14 criteria to evaluate who I’ll be voting for. Let me know if you have suggestions for improved criteria. 2012.02.12 NDP Leaders Debate February 2, 2012 — NDP Leaders, By the Numbers and the Intangibles (0) August 27, 2011 — Liveblog
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Outshining Trudeau
Just as Liberals look at Justin Trudeau and ask if he is like his father, many are asking if he will run for leader, the answer to one is the answer to the other. Though Justin Trudeau has stated he will not be running for Liberal Leader, citing his duty
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: If we’re betting everything on leadership, Bob Rae must be clear on intentions
Reflectingon last weekend’s Liberal Party of Canada biennial convention, where delegatesvoted against reducing the powers of the leader and put much of their hope forrebuilding into one key initiative – admitting supporters into the party ranksand giving them a vote for the next leader – it seems clear to me
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Liberal Members Vote To Allow Supporters To Lose Too
Without buying a party membership you can become a Liberal supporter and not vote too. Liberals this weekend passed numerous amendments, one of them allows for non-members to vote for Leader, and though this issue was passed by a majority, both sides of the debate lost, because so few delegates
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Less Liberal, Less Canadian
In 2006 Howard Dean spoke at the Liberal Leadership convention. In 2008 many Liberal organizers went to the United States and worked for the Democrats. In that same year many Liberals attempted to draw similarities between Liberal Leadership candidate and longtime American resident Michael Ignatieff with Barack Obama. In 2009
Continue reading350 or bust: COP17: Politicians, Get Your Head Out Of The Sands And Lead!
Our eyes on the ground of the Durban climate conference, Ani, updates us from Day 6 of COP17. To read more, visit Ani’s blog at YouthDelegateManitoba.wordpress.com: I could spend my time writing this blog about a draft text for the Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, which has been circulated
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Qualities of the Next NDP Leader
Here is the benchmark I’ll be using to evaluate who ought to be the next leader of the federal NDP: @PoliticsReSpun Wanted, #NDP leader: integrity, inspiring, engaging personality, intelligent, ability to include French & First Nations, bilingual. #cdnpoli via Twitter / @PoliticsReSpun: Wanted, #NDP leader And let’s add environment and climate change leader, optimistic, and […]
Continue readingThe Liberal Scarf: Leadership on the economy
Premier Dalton McGuinty has said the tax rate on new investment by small businesses will be reduced by 55%. Ontario’s economic strength depends on the strength of our businesses, large and small. That’s why Ontario Liberals are working with small busin…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Fundamental myths about the Liberal Party and the interim leader
Let me start by making one thing perfectly clear: there is no rule that prevents interim Liberal leader Bob Rae from deciding to seek the permanent leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Once again, THERE IS NO RULE! I resort to repetition and bri…
Continue readingThe Liberal Scarf: Leadership for Ontario
“You want the politics of anger, resentment and division? That makes you feel good? Then Mr. Hudak is your guy. If you want to do things so that we can grow stronger together, build something better together – then that’s what we’re putting on the table.”
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