Here, on the open questions as to whether Nathan Cullen’s plan for pre-electoral cooperation would serve any useful purpose. For further reading expanding on the points in the column:– I’ve previously posted on some of the practical considerations involved in Cullen’s proposal, while also questioning whether we should write off
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Terahertz: Niki Ashton’s Vancouver visit #ndpldr
I should have posted about this ahead of time, but here’s a video I took of Niki Ashton on Tuesday evening when she spoke at the Lion’s Pub in Vancouver. Besides this stump speech, Niki spent most of the evening very casually talking to people (very literally) young and old.
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Robo-Gate: Harper Conservatives stole the 2011 election from the NDP
The New Democratic Party (NDP) suggested in a press conference today that the Conservatives rigged the May 2011 federal election against the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals. Call it election rigging western style. Apparently, RackNine …Read More
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Canadian Foreign Policy: Nuance Matters
This video (from April, 2011 before the election) was brought to my attention today. Some thoughts: We should not forget, nor should we let Canadians forget that Stephen Harper lost a seat on the United Nations Security Council, for the first time ever. With the situation in Syria and the
Continue readinggay persons of color: Rick Mercer takes on Vic Toews
Gay Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and blogger, Rick Mercer, addresses Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’s proposed Internet-surveillance legislation, Bill C-30, in a brilliant, two-minute video rant. A must watch for a quick summary of what the fuss is all about surrounding the controversial bill.
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Dip-Flop Fly #nlpoli
Twitter flame wars between cabinet ministers and Dale Kirby over Muskrat Falls. Surely Darin, Jerome and Clyde have better things to do with their days. Then again, maybe not. But at the heart of the whole flare up was Lorraine Michael’s theatrical delivery of a letter to the public utilities
Continue readingImpolitical: On the NDP numbers and race
The NDP leadership race membership numbers rolled in yesterday, accumulating to about 128,000 members, so I thought I’d do a rare blog post on their race. I have been watching but like many others on the outside, have found it very hard to gauge. They don’t do things the way
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On universal growth
Alice has weighed in on the final membership numbers for the NDP’s leadership campaign, pointing out that B.C. and Ontario between them will go into next month with a combined majority of the party’s membership. But I’ll add one more observation as to the provincial membership numbers which speaks well
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Grant Gordon: The Real New Progressive Politics
These videos are both fantastic for similar reasons. They both show how positive and energetic Mr. Grodon is and how he is the progressive voice that Toronto-Danforth needs in Ottawa. I had the pleasure of spending two days canvassing for Mr. Gordon. The first thing I noticed was that the
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Toronto-Danforth Polling!
308.com graphic And it’s exactly the same as what happened in May 2011! This is going to be an uneventful by-election. While it is a riding poll – they’re not always to be trusted – and the campaign has really only just begun (Feb 12), I’m not surprised in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On limited choices
Daniel Leblanc’s report on a possible detente between Thomas Mulcair and Brian Topp certainly makes for some interesting scenario-building. So let’s follow up on what Paul Wells has already written. Obviously, we wouldn’t expect locked-in supporters of any candidate to be swayed by the appeal. So the obvious first target
Continue readinggay persons of color: John Baird feeling the heat over privacy concerns?
During question period in the Canadian House of Commons on Friday (February 17), Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird accused the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) of having been caught in a “dirty, sleazy Internet game,” an allegation the NDP has denied. What Baird was referring to was an anonymous
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
A quick look back at the last few days in the NDP’s leadership race… – In addition to his support from Leadnow and Avaaz, Nathan Cullen won cross-partisan support from the B.C. Green Liberal Caucus. But it’s an open question whether the result will be a net plus for Cullen,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: A cooperative forecast
Nathan Cullen’s plan for a pre-election accord between the NDP, Libs and Greens is certainly receiving loads of attention. Leadnow and Avaaz are encouraging members to join the NDP to support it (raising for me the question of how a large number of instant NDP members would allocate their down-ballot
Continue readingknitnut.net: Last chance to join
I’ve pretty much always voted NDP, but now I’m an official card-carrying member. I signed up last week so I can help choose the next leader of the Official Opposition and the first New Democratic Prime Minister of Canada. Woohoo! There are a number of impressive candidates running for Leader
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Guilty Before Proven Innocent… No, Wait, Just Guilty
Because you know that even if its proven the NDP are not the culprits behind the Anon twitter account @vikileaks30, John Baird will most likely not apologize and retract his remarks. The evidence provided by the Ottawa Citizen’s investigation into the Vikileaks account is ridiculous, as well. Here’s what they’re
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Susan Riley brilliantly slams the message that austerity is necessary for everybody but those who already have the most: Is anyone else getting tired of being lectured about austerity by wealthy consultants in expensive suits who charge $1,500 a day for their advice
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, featuring an overview of the NDP’s leadership race from a Saskatchewan perspective. For further reading:– The per capita membership numbers cited in the column are from Alice. And of course her general coverage of the leadership campaign is well worth a look.– For those who haven’t seen it yet,
Continue readingBlunt Objects: NDP quick update by Teddy
Teddy here, with a quick update on the NDP race for leader. Looking at polls, endorsements, fundraising, I have the following numbers in my personal tracker. Thomas Mulcair has somewhere around 30% support. The real number could be 1-in-5 (ie 6%) higher or lower Peggy Nash, Brian Topp, Paul Dewar,
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Don’t Toews Me Bro – Conservatives Eying Email Spying
Minister Vic Toews is a nice guy, on Mark Horseman’s authority. I have to disagree, the evidence to the contrary is too strong. Nice guys don’t try to destroy the Internet as we know it, and subject innocent Canadians to higher ISP bills to fund government spying on legal communications.
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