NationStates Jolt Archive

After two ballots, Andrea Horwath (http://www.andreahorwath.com/flash/home.html) is poised to become the next leader of the Ontario NDP. The National Post described this post yesterday as "one of the least glamorous jobs in Canadian politics" (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1363167), and while it pains me to agree with the NP, ever, on anything, I admit they have a point. This is a provincial party that's been in the wilderness a long, long time.

So NSG....does anyone besides me care? What's Howard Hampton's legacy as leader? Can Andrea make the NDP relevant in Ontario? Can anybody?

Aw... damnit! I can't believe I didn't remember to vote, and I'm my riding's delegate! And Andrea Horwath? She's leading? Does anyone in this party have decent taste any more? What about Prue?

Aw... damnit! I can't believe I didn't remember to vote, and I'm my riding's delegate! And Andrea Horwath? She's leading? Does anyone in this party have decent taste any more? What about Prue?

Wow...and I thought Newfoundland NDP was in hard shape!

Those on the brightside the NDP party in Nova Soctia is becoming more of a contender in elections and a decade ago it was in the wilderness and nobody thought that would ever change. So prehaps their still hope.

Wow...and I thought Newfoundland NDP was in hard shape!

Those on the brightside the NDP party in Nova Soctia is becoming more of a contender in elections and a decade ago it was in the wilderness and nobody thought that would ever change. So prehaps their still hope.

Well, all the candidates were excellent for the job. At this point, it's a matter of preference amongst party members.

I'm not a Canadian (and thus not really qualified to judge), but IMO, the NDP, while absolutely horrible on economic issues, is great on social issues, and especially great in their position on Afghanistan (IIRC, they want to end the Canadian involvement in that war). I'd rather see the NDP in power than the Liberals or the Conservatives. At least then we'd see less needless bloodshed.

I'm not a Canadian (and thus not really qualified to judge), but IMO, the NDP, while absolutely horrible on economic issues, is great on social issues, and especially great in their position on Afghanistan (IIRC, they want to end the Canadian involvement in that war). I'd rather see the NDP in power than the Liberals or the Conservatives. At least then we'd see less needless bloodshed.

Depends on weather you think withdrawnal from Afghanistan is a good idea at this point ;) Also would the NDP even be ready to lead a federal government if they were somehow elected? Do they have the experience? I do remember hearing that a Ontario NDP praty was elected but it members weren't really ready to rule?

Depends on weather you think withdrawnal from Afghanistan is a good idea at this point ;)

I do. The U.S. and all of its allies there should withdraw. Victory in Afghanistan is not attainable, nor should it be. They don't call the place "the boneyard of empires" for nothing.

I do. The U.S. and all of its allies there should withdraw. Victory in Afghanistan is not attainable, nor should it be. They don't call the place "the boneyard of empires" for nothing.

At the risk of highjacking a thread that probably doesn't have that must life in it anyway. I must say just because all the other empires tatics didn't work. You know the ones that were out to takeover the country not restore it to a save stable country as we aim to do. Our tatics have shown to worked wonderfully, it just that we don't have enough men or equipment to wage ground operations without worrying about public out cry of soldier deaths and deal with Paktiski and crooked government offical and everything that comes with it.

At the very least if you think you can't win your not going to anyway no matter if it a game of dodgeball in the gym or a war.

Aw... damnit! I can't believe I didn't remember to vote, and I'm my riding's delegate! And Andrea Horwath? She's leading? Does anyone in this party have decent taste any more? What about Prue?

Prue was nixed on the first ballot. Even I'm shocked that he came in behind Bisson.

I backed Andrea, myself; I watched the London debate and thought she was excellent--she seemed, to me, the best able to reach beyond the NDP's traditional constituencies, and I think her background as a community organizer will help the party technocracy rebuild links with the grassroots. A friend of mine was also developing her agriculture policy, so there was some loyalty involved.

I thought about Prue for awhile, but his unabashed determination to focus only on urban issues was a dealbreaker. I understand his point about urban centres being where the NDP gains seats, but how can you be campaigning to be the next Premier of Ontario (as he was so fond of telling us) when you're also openly saying you're only going to represent some (urban) Ontarians? I'd like to see him head up a task force on party reform, but I dont see him as leader material.

Depends on weather you think withdrawnal from Afghanistan is a good idea at this point ;) Also would the NDP even be ready to lead a federal government if they were somehow elected? Do they have the experience? I do remember hearing that a Ontario NDP praty was elected but it members weren't really ready to rule?

Federally, the NDP will never form government until they can build a solid base in Quebec, and that won't happen until separatism is no longer the wedge issue in Quebec. Good luck with that.

The Ontario NDP did hold government for five years, but it was pretty much a fluke.:$ Provincially Ontario is actually one of the weakest parties; BC, Manitoba, the Yukon and particularly Saskatchewan are the provincial strongholds. And, as was mentioned above, the Nova Scotia party is on the verge of taking power there, too.