Any organization faces questions in trying to make the best use of the resources available to it. And in most cases, a deliberative body should be able to consider who might contribute what to the organization’s goals, and ensure that power and responsibility are allocated accordingly. In principle, there’s no
Continue readingTag: thomas mulcair
For #NDPLDR, It’s Thomas Mulcair or Bust
I made a Storify story out of my most recent decision to support Thomas Mulcair for NDP leader but seem to be having some trouble embedding it to my wordpress (thanks to my lack of knowledge on many things HTML). So, here is the link. Enjoy. Filed under: Canada, Progressives
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Reading the NDP Tea Leaves
Any good pundit (for is that not what I aspire to become?) must dispense with caution and modesty from time to time and, in godlike fashion, attempt to predict the future. It is a virtually risk-free enterprise. If my prediction turns out wrong, no one will notice or care, because
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
As we enter the last few weeks of the NDP’s leadership race, we’re of course seeing loads of attention. But what from the flurry of activity might actually affect the results of the leadership race as well as the party’s future development? – Niki Ashton took questions at Rabble, including
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: The Dippers Vote
Ballots have arrived to thousands of NDP members, who now have until March 24th to vote for a leader. Originally, the field reminded me a lot of the 2006 Liberal leadership race, with the role of the establishment front runner lacking elected experience played by Brian Topp, the polished veteran
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On case studies
Chantal Hebert draws pretty much the exact opposite conclusion as I do from the opportunities raised by a close leadership race. But yesterday’s debate offered us a neat reminder as to whether we should buy into the theory that the NDP will continue its success in Quebec if and only
Continue readingMulcair or Dewar: My Brain or My Heart
The Federal New Democratic Party leadership race has entered it’s final weeks and I’m completely torn. Let me start off by saying that Thomas Mulcair has been floating back and forth between my first, and second, choice for a while now. It’s true, I’ve come out full force in support
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – March 4, 2012
With the voting window open and the second-last debate having just finished, we’re into the home stretch of the NDP’s leadership campaign. I’ve posted on the outcomes I’d like to see – but since that’s a separate question entirely from how I think matters actually will play out, let’s see
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
I haven’t done a roundup post in quite some time (having focused instead on candidate analysis and preliminary endorsement posts over the past week). But in advance of today’s Montreal debate, let’s take a look at some of the noteworthy developments from the week. – Niki Ashton spoke to the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On non-factors
Having raised what I see as significant issues for Thomas Mulcair’s NDP leadership campaign, I’ll take a moment to contrast those against the trumped–up story that’s become the latest shiny object to catch the media’s attention in the race. Simply put, we don’t trust Con spin or leaks generally because
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – Preliminary Endorsement
I’ve run through a high-level analysis of the NDP’s leadership candidates this week knowing that paper ballots are being mailed out, that online voting starts today, and that the leadership candidates will soon be racing to lock in as many votes as possible (with little focus on the down-ballot impacts
Continue readingIt’s #ndpldr Voting Time
Starting today members of the NDP (New Democratic Party) will start to receive their voting information in the mail. Members can choose to vote immediately upon receiving their information. Below are the details on how to vote as released from Leadership 2012 How To Vote There are four ways you can vote for the next
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Analysis – Thomas Mulcair
Thomas Mulcair has held the pole position from day one of the NDP’s leadership campaign, and only looks to have entrenched that status as the candidates behind him have focused largely on trying to make the final ballot. 1. What direction will he set for the NDP?And that’s much to
Continue readingThus Prate the Pundit » Social Critique: Should the NDP Renew Itself with a Shoot of Green?
Before our last federal election in 2010, I’d proposed a rationale for the NDP and Green Party to merge (from an NDP perspective). With the NDP leadership convention operating at full speed, now is a great time to reconsider this idea. In fact, one of the NDP’s recurring debate themes
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Impressions and Analysis from the Winnipeg NDP Leadership Debate
The following is my impressions of the candidates and discussion of various issues raised in the Winnipeg NDP Leadership Debate. Past debate coverage: Ottawa | Toronto | Halifax Brian Topp: I believe that Brian Topp won this debate. I don’t say that lightly; in every other debate thus far I have
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – February 26, 2012
Today’s debate didn’t do much to resolve the continued uncertainty surrounding the NDP’s leadership campaign, particularly among the candidates I’ve had ranked between 2nd and 5th for the bulk of the race. But let’s see if the last week has changed any of the rankings… 1. Thomas Mulcair (1) Mulcair
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
Assorted news from the past few days in the NDP leadership race. – While Niki Ashton had already introduced her justice plan, she re-emphasized her commitment to decriminalizing marijuana and treating addictions as illnesses rather than prosecutable offences in the wake of support for the principle from provincial Attorneys General
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
A quick survey of what’s happened in the NDP leadership campaign over the past couple of days… – Niki Ashton has rightly criticized other candidates’ operatives who seem to be working to push her out of the race. But the behind-the-scenes maneuvering may only backfire it if gives Ashton and
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 readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – February 19, 2012
We’ll get plenty more information about where the leadership campaign stands once we see how membership sales have turned out. But there’s been enough news in the past week to make one change to the rankings for now. 1. Thomas Mulcair (1) When I started these rankings, I clarified that
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