Yesterday, the NDP held its final leadership debate. Tim Harper gives a cogent evaluation of the four candidates:
Singh promises growth. Backers believe he will grow personally as he moves from provincial to federal politics. They also believe he will grow the party with fresh membership.Mention the NDP leadership race to those of us who do not live in the political world, and you get a lot of blank stares. Those same people, however, know Singh.His opponents believe if he cannot win on the first ballot, he cannot grow.Angus has worked assiduously to court second-choice support. Caron’s team believes he can finish third, stay on the ballot and grow his support because the Quebec MP has run a strong campaign. Ashton, the only one of the four making a second bid at leadership, has run the most unabashedly leftist campaign and has built perhaps the youngest core of supporters. She has also won union support and is a much more formidable campaigner than the Ashton of 2012.She could surprise. If she is the first to drop off the ballot, however, her backers are expected to split three ways.
It really is hard to predict who will win. But Harper is also spot on in his analysis of how far the party has fallen:
It needs to find that relevancy in Quebec again and this is a tough road for any of the four, not just the turbaned Singh.The party sold 124,000 memberships during this race, but a mere 4,907 of them were sold in Quebec, about half the total sold during the 2012 race.It allowed itself to be outmanoeuvred by Trudeau on traditional left-of-centre issues and has largely been rudderless for 16 months.
However, some of the shine has worn off Justin. There is an opportunity for the NDP -- if they choose the right leader.
Image:thestar.com
32 comments:
People who wear their religion on their sleeve or head should not be leaders of a secular society.
It's not just about religion, Steve. It's about culture.
How many of the conservative Sikhs would have bought cards if Singh wasn't a candidate? pretty shaky base for the party
In what I have read recently about the contest, Owen, there is something almost too calculating about their considerations of who should be the next leader. The conversation seems almost exclusively about who can bring them to power, not who has the best policies. While I realize this is just a political fact of life these days, I have always thought the NDP has been at its best when it has been visionary, sometimes inspiring other parties, especially governments, to appropriate their ideas and make them their own.
any culture that has at its core running around with swords is likely a loser.
Good question, Ben. But votes -- like gold -- are where you find them.
Your opinion is probably shared by many Canadians, Steve. Unfortunately, it's based on a surface understanding of a rather rich religious tradition.
I agree, Lorne. Traditionally, lots of us thought of the NDP as this country's political conscience. The party has lost that reputation. That's at least part of the reason why it finds itself in its current position.
Steve is an ignorant bigot, has demonstrated it many times and is being tolerated on your otherwise fine blog because?????
Because he generates good responses from folks like you, Dana.
Well, not any more. I've stopped engaging with them elsewhere and now here too.
I'm sorry to hear that, Dana. That's a choice you're entitled to make.
Jagmeet's strong recommendation in the Vancouver debate that the party should make more direct appeals to the electorate based on ethnic affinity confirmed to me that he'd be more comfortable as a Liberal. Though these divisive outreaches have some electoral effectiveness, they should have less place in Canadian politics than they unfortunately do. Jagmeet seems to be encouraging more of it.
I hope this comment doesn't suggest to some any intolerance on my part.
The current situation in the United States provides a cautionary tale about what happens when identity politics becomes central to party's appeal, John. A big tent party must display tolerance. But once a party crosses over into victimhood, it's in trouble.
"Good question, Ben. But votes -- like gold -- are where you find them. "
Problem is like gold (votes) it flits and out and people are attracted to the glitter not the miner.
Quite true, Ben. It appears Mr. Trump likes to decorate in gold.
My sense is that the NDP still want to be the next LPC, something instilled in them by Layton and Mulcair. This at a time when the country so urgently needs a strong champion of the Left, not another centrist wannabe. It's all about power. Trudeau duped us into believing he was a principled reformer and he wasted no time reneging on one solemn campaign promise after the next. The NDP have been thoroughly Blairified. It's small wonder they're languishing in the public eye.
As for Steve, I too find his bigotry offensive. Sikhs have been proudly wearing their headgear in the British forces at least as far back as Victoria and their record for bravery and loyalty to the Crown is well known. We recognized this when our military and the RCMP adopted the British approach. That photograph from Afghanistan of Harjit Sajjan in full combat gear with full beard and turban seemed to be immensely popular with Canadians. Ought he not to be allowed in a leadership position due to his headgear?
I think we all have a responsibility to speak out against bigotry.
I can't imagine Tommy Douglas or David Lewis marching under the party's banner in 2017, Mound.
Steve's rule would exclude Jews who wore yarmulkes from political leadership, Mound. I doubt he's thought through the implications of what he wrote. It has taken us a long time to get beyond the religious stupidity of the 19th century.
Problem is Mound that criticism of Singh has to be very clear about policy disagreements otherwise all criticism is taken to be something else. Rather like the supporters of BDS being smeared as anti-semites.
That's precisely the problem we face these days, Ben. Red herrings are everywhere.
Yes I would eliminate all religious symbolism from public service. Calling me an ignorant bigot for this enlightened stance is an oxymoron.
I have no problem with Sikhs wearing turbans in the Legion. All I am saying if your a public servant you do not play the "culture card"
Why with swords is offputting to me. Religion belongs in the personal sphere on the body politic venn diagram.
Last Post Owen - a facebook entry from Syd Ryan:
Without fail and on cue NDP members wake up today to yet one more Toronto Star story that is singing the praises of Jagmeet Singh. Those who were actually in the Hamilton Convention Centre yesterday or watched the event on TV will know that Jagmeet's performance was anything but stellar. It was a weak speech content wise that touched upon a laundry list of topics without delving into specifics.
The one set of stats that Singh and Toronto Star continually harp on is his alleged electability in the 905 belt that surrounds Toronto. Let us take a look at that claim. Singh alleges he has signed up 25,000 New members in the GTA and Hamilton. His fundraising shows the vast majority of doners reside in the 10 Ridings of Brampton and Missisauga. With 120,000 voters per Riding that's 1.2million voters in that region alone. While 25,000 new members spread across 10 Ridings is impressive, it most certainly does not guarantee any degree of electoral success in the future.
Moving to the rest of the 905 area, I live in the heart of the 905 region east of Toronto and I do not see nor hear any significant groundswell of support for Singh in Pickering, Ajax,Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington or anywhere in the Durham Region. Likewise in Hamilton, the leadership of the Steelworker local 1005 is supporting Niki Ashton, as is CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn who has tens of thousands of members in Hamilton and surrounding districts.
The Toronto Star conveniently dismisses the two polls conducted by reputable polling companies that show Singh sitting dead last in both polls among NDP voters. But that won't stop Toronto Star columnists from incessantly bombarding us with their pap about Jagmeet's bespoke tailored suits and martial art skills.
Surely to goodness NDP members will see through the shallowness of the Toronto Star campaign and agenda.
You're adopting Parti Quebecois policy from a couple of years ago, Steve. It was not wise policy. That's why Quebecers rejected it.
Thanks for the refereence, Ben. Ryan is a fervent Dipper and he does not shy away from controversy. As I wrote yesterday, it's hard to predict who will win this race. A friend of mine is voting for Caron because he likes his financial credentials. Charlie Angus reminds me of what the party used to be -- the country's political conscience. Nikki Ashton probably would appeal to the same voters Justin appeals to.
Owen it was not wise because it was wrong, or it was not wise because it was politicaly incorrect. If we are to be free of tribalism our worst ism, we have to start with the funny
hats in politics.
Corruption is big on the body politic and even the impression of corroboration is corrosive
do I have to drop the dime to make my point?
The rule of law. What if the rule of law
said we dont believe in any fairy tale
under the law we are all equal?
I don't see this issue as an example of corruption, Steve. Save your dime.
Your opinion is probably shared by many Canadians, Steve. Unfortunately, it's based on a surface understanding of a rather rich religious tradition.
I come from a rich religious tradition, it's called Christianity.
A friggen failure if I ever saw one.
Wear your conscience or humanity on you shoulder , not your belief in a spaghetti monster of whatever belief.
TB
Beliefs should govern our behaviour, TB. It's that behaviour that validates or invalidates those beliefs. Hypocrisy is the spaghetti monster which destroys them.
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