#41
Post rating: +
Ndp disappointment turned me into a communist. And that's a major win for canada if I may say so
#42
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~

shriekingviolet posted:

getfiscal posted:

if you want a prime minister? mulcair 2012.

so i hear bumping old shameful things is in vogue right now


I was joking... cmon... I voted for Peggy Nash.

#43
mt.real
Post rating: ~
you voting this time donald?
#44
Post rating: ~
i might re-up my membership to vote for jagmeet singh
#45
Post rating: +
good to see that theres a popular party in canada looking to achieve the immediate goals of a New Democratic Revolution
#46
Post rating: ~
thinking back on Jack Layton's legacy...

NDP votes to take 'socialism' out of party constitution

an inspiration. we still miss you.
#47
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~

drwhat posted:

you voting this time donald?


i probably will, but i haven't been paying attention closely yet. i just read that both angus and caron are trying to push a 'moderate' line on pipelines to try to paper over divisions, which seems repulsive. niki ashton has mostly good opinions but inexplicably called her nationalist economic/trade policy 'Canada First', and i don't know where her actual on-the-ground support would come from. like being more right than the other people doesn't translate into automatic success, she got like 6% last time. jagmeet singh has picked fights with the police, which makes him my automatic first pick obviously, but i am randomly guessing he will try to find some way to smooth over relations between BC and Alberta NDPs rather than causing the blow up to translate fully into federal politics. peter julian said 'no pipelines' but my guess is he is best positioned within the caucus if the campaign is low profile and might sort of turn it into a "well we'll see what happens folks" and try to keep the controversy between BC and Alberta. the situation isn't tenable long-term though.

so, june rankings:
1. Jagmeet Singh
2. Niki Ashton
3. Peter Julian
4. Guy Caron
5. Charlie Angus

#48
Post rating: +
So the foreign affairs minister just made a speech where she said we would distance ourself from the USA by expanding military spending (by 70%) to avoid becoming a 'client state', yet increasing our commitment to NATO will just make us a more effective US pawn.

Didn't know where else to put this, just pissed off that the government is going to expand the military so we can go prop up Latvian capitalism or w/e.

I'll vote for the NDP if they get out of NATO and/or burn down the white house
#49
mt.real
Post rating: +

Belphegor posted:

I'll vote for the NDP if they get out of NATO


keep holding your breath

#50
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +

Belphegor posted:

So the foreign affairs minister just made a speech where she said we would distance ourself from the USA by expanding military spending (by 70%) to avoid becoming a 'client state', yet increasing our commitment to NATO will just make us a more effective US pawn.

The idea it is 'distancing' us from the US is just Liberal branding. A lot of the spending increases are just old plans being repackaged, and they are mostly there because of promises to the US and just business-as-usual things like vehicle purchases. An NDP government would probably have done the same thing. Harper of all people seems to have been convinced the military was an easy target for cuts, and things like the F-35 were probably quiet deals with the US military. I mean the NDP nominated the White Helmets for the Nobel Peace Prize and are pretty firmly in the liberal imperialist camp right now, the main difference being that they are more critical of interventions once they start or after they have happened.

#51
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +
the main emerging story in canada right now really is probably the liberal premier of quebec (couillard) announcing he wants a new round of constitutional negotiations. i imagine that justin trudeau punched a hole in the drywall. the aim seems to be to polarize the province in advance of the next election to make the CAQ less relevant, at a moment where the sovereigntist movement seems divided and weak. the negotiations will likely flounder and then couillard can position himself as both a defender of quebec and a federalist. like ideally he'd get right-wingers across canada frothing at the mouth and sovereigntists calling for a new referendum and couillard acts like he's the reasonable middle quebecer. and he's sort of positioning it as a way of closing a chapter and moving on when really it's just opening everything up again. if it gains traction then it is a big risk because you've immediately made the PQ's core message relevant again.
#52
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +
one of his demands is a constitutional veto for quebec, which is incredibly unpopular outside of quebec. it also sets off another round of negotiations with first nations because their constitutional status is in quebec and has been increasingly promoted by the courts. like recently there was a supreme court decision which said you can't just do bullshit consultation with first nations for things like pipelines, you have to show that you've credibly met their concerns. one of the greatest scandals of the past week has been the notley in quebec basically saying that's bullshit.
#53
Post rating: +
TO: Mr. Ernest Hall,
Provincial Executive Committee
New Democratic Party.

Dear Mr. Hall:

The undersigned are in receipt of a letter signed by you on behalf of the provincial executive. This communication sets forth a resolution calling on us to state reasons why we "should not be expelled" from the N.D. P., and claiming that the resolution was passed at a meeting of the executive. Your letter, Mr. Hall, raises a number of rather important questions which need to be answered by you and your provincial executive.

First question we would pose is: "Has the N.D. P. not got a constitution setting forth the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the officers and members of the Party?" If such a document does exist (and we are sure you will agree that it does) then disciplinary action against any member could only be launched under its provisions. The legally, correct language contained in your letter, (something to be expected from a gathering literally sprinkled with legal talent) cannot obscure the fact that action taken outside the provisions of the constitution is illegal. This type of action is one which has been recently introduced by you into the affairs of the party and used exclusively against anyone "tainted" with left-wing associations. Authority for such action has never been accorded the executive body by any responsible delegated convention of the Party. We suggest that you forth with cease these illegal methods, and if you desire authority for your undemocratic actions you should request such authority from the delegates attending the next regularly constituted convention and let them determine if they wish to uphold you in your proposed course of action.

Second question we would raise with you is: "On the basis of what facts did the executive decide to expel us?" We ask this question since your letter clearly indicates by its tone - state reasons why you "should not be expelled - that you have already determined on expulsion and challenge us to prove that the order for expulsion should not be made effective. This strange decision was apparently made at a closed session of the executive and certainly without charge or trial - without "due process" we believe is the term. Unknown to us are the facts (if any) which led to your decision. The evidence before us at the moment compels us to conclude that your decision was arrived at on the basis of newspaper reports - hardly to be considered a satisfactory way in which to carry out the business of a "democratic" Party.

At this point we would like to suggest to your committee that if differences arise between members and leaders, which indicate substantial disagreement, it should be mandatory on the responsible officers to discuss the matter directly with those concerned and not to carry on a witch-hunt in the columns of the daily press. If the opinions and actions of such members should be considered detrimental to the best interests of the Party then charges should be preferred as provided for in the constitution and proper trial procedure should be followed.

Events over the past few years indicate that the present leadership of the Party in B.C. is hell-bent on carrying on a crusade against the left, while they make every effort to excuse and cover up the activities of the right which are leading us to destruction. Let us cite just afew from the many hundreds of examples on hand to substantiate this charge.

Mr. Strachan, provincial leader of the party. could not possibly embarrass the party more if he were specially trained for the job. He is continually using the opportunities provided him through access to the mass news media for the purposes of insulting and attacking members who disagree with his tactics. This has gone on for some time without apparent protest from the executive. In an interview with Miss Pat Carney some months ago Mr. Strachan described his political philosophy as being that of "a natural tory". Now we ask you, Mr. Hall, do you seriously suggest to us that a tory, natural or otherwise can really represent the fundamental interests of Canadian workers, that group toward whom you make a special appeal for support for Mr. Strachan, and your complete lack of criticism of him, indicate that you believe a tory in the ranks to be perfectly acceptable while the left must be treated like lepers.

There is also the case of Professor Young who suddenly appeared from nowhere and overnight became a sensational success in the party while people with years of service to the movement were coldly ignored - It was this same professor who was given free access to the front page of the Democrat so he could hurl gratuitous insults at the heads of the Socialists. Let us remind you, Mr. Hall, and your very good friend the professor, that it was these same "crack-pot" Socialists who dedicated the greater part of their life to the building of the movement in the hard years when those who now attack us were discreetly silent. Without these so-called "crack-pots" the party would be without a past and stripped of them now, it is certain to be without a future. Remember also professor Young's haste to join E.P.I.C., that short-lived conspiracy to submerge us in the Liberal ranks.

One last example. A leading national figure in the party, who has been honored with nomination and election to office from which he draws a salary four to five times that of the average working-man (not to mention other considerable considerations) tramples underfoot the best and most honored traditions of the working people. This character, not satisfied with his considerable income, finds it necessary to cross a picket line, using the excuse of "contractual obligations" for doing so. If the B. C . Provincial Executive has made any protest about this behaviour it remains unknown to the membership.

Now, Mr. Hall, developments of the recent past indicate that you, and your executive, are not supposed to tolerate, in the party, any point of view which appears distasteful to you. On this there is really only one point on which we differ with you - it has never been endorsed by any delegate convention. We suggest that you go before the next provincial convention with a proposal to declare any left-wing trend unacceptable in the party, and if the majority endorse your proposal we will have no further quarrel with you. It will then be made clear to left-wing opinion that they must, if their voice is to be heard, resort to some independent form of organization and action.

Finally, Mr. Hall, we suggest that the provincial executive desist from their star chamber methods of disciplining members. In place of the secret gathering, where the accused is charged, tried, convicted without even being in attendance, and then challenged to show cause why he should not be executed, we recommend all constitutional procedure of laying charges and open trial before the membership.

Before laying ill-considered charges or issuing bombastic challenges of "show cause", you might be well advised to enquire if your intended victim has any desire to remain a member. Mr. Gene Craven, for example, has paid no dues to the party since August last and it seems to us that there is no more definite way than this to express a complete disinterest in you and your affairs, This is a method, by the way, which has been used by thousands, during the past few years, to express complete disapproval for your policies and program. Your methods are building toward the most catastrophic defeat in the history of the party.

We call upon you to withdraw your insulting letter. Following this if you wish to discuss with us any differences we may have with you and your colleagues we will hold ourselves ready to meet you at any time and place, and under any conditions that suites your convenience.

J.L.LeBourdais J.A. Scott G.A. Craven

Progressive Worker Volume 1 Number 3. December 1964.
#54
Post rating: ~

getfiscal posted:

I mean the NDP nominated the White Helmets for the Nobel Peace Prize and are pretty firmly in the liberal imperialist camp right now, the main difference being that they are more critical of interventions once they start or after they have happened.


people always compliment me on how i'm critical of repeatedly slamming my own hand in the drawer once i start or after its happened, i'm a real smartypants

#55
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~

shriekingviolet posted:

people always compliment me on how i'm critical of repeatedly slamming my own hand in the drawer once i start or after its happened, i'm a real smartypants


Well we should remember that right-wingers called Layton things like "Taliban Jack" because he supported a peace process and troop withdrawal in Afghanistan. So having a party that's wildly uneven on such things is at least an improvement over having a Foreign Minister who appears to harbor genocidal hatred towards Russians.

#56
Post rating: +
We shouldn't fall into the trap of accepting or apologizing for the NDP's shitty foreign policy just because the contrast with crazed tory thugs makes them look superficially better. If a diplomatic policy doesn't actually stop canada from materially supporting imperialist invasions in the first place, it doesn't matter how vocally critical they are. I don't care how much less distasteful the form is when the murderous content remains the same, that's only an improvement in our ability to lie to ourselves about our complicity.
#57
Post rating: ~

getfiscal posted:

and he's sort of positioning it as a way of closing a chapter and moving on when really it's just opening everything up again.


yeah the news is loving this in the same way, everyone's real excited for the increased reader/viewer engagement from talking about how much we're totally not talking about Quebec sovereignty

#58
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +

shriekingviolet posted:

We shouldn't fall into the trap of accepting or apologizing for the NDP's shitty foreign policy just because the contrast with crazed tory thugs makes them look superficially better. If a diplomatic policy doesn't actually stop canada from materially supporting imperialist invasions in the first place, it doesn't matter how vocally critical they are. I don't care how much less distasteful the form is when the murderous content remains the same, that's only an improvement in our ability to lie to ourselves about our complicity.


I have to basically accept everything that happens because I don't yet have comprehensive power over time and space.

#59
Post rating: ~
Kind of messed up that its been 5 years since this thread & people still live in Canada.
#60
Post rating: ~
Jagmeet Singh is an idiot and going to lose very badly
#61
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~

hey posted:

Jagmeet Singh is an idiot and going to lose very badly


Hmm... Well... I trust you, so I won't vote for him now.

#62
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~
Guy Caron said that Couillard opening up the constitution was a good idea. Good grief!
#63
Post rating: +
In local news, the conflict between the oil baron Alberta NDP and the minty fresh just elected environmentalist BC NDP over pipelines through indigenous land is causing career apologist handwringers to lose their goddamn minds, and
#64
Post rating: ~
Is anybody doing anything for July 1, kkklanada day ?

I want to go to an antinationalist demonstration but the pcr-rcp won't respond to my emails. Maybe they think I'm a narc

Do yoy think I'm a narc rhizzone?
#65
Post rating: +

Belphegor posted:

Is anybody doing anything for July 1, kkklanada day ?

I want to go to an antinationalist demonstration but the pcr-rcp won't respond to my emails. Maybe they think I'm a narc

Do yoy think I'm a narc rhizzone?


don't use your @cia.gov email you fucking idiot.

#66
Post rating: ~
haha, apparently the rcp-pcr is going through a bit of dishevelment. i read the montreal branch has been excommunicated, but they still have most of the assets of the entire organisation... i read that awhile ago though, so it's possible things have returned to an even keel. but that might be a factor.
i'm not really planning anything, i'm moving back to my hometown the day before for a couple months, probably just drink beer with friends near water.
#67
Post rating: ~

Belphegor posted:

Is anybody doing anything for July 1, kkklanada day ?

I want to go to an antinationalist demonstration but the pcr-rcp won't respond to my emails. Maybe they think I'm a narc

Do yoy think I'm a narc rhizzone?



fwiw they stopped responding to my emails as well. either we're both narcs or nobody is a narc.

#68
UNUSUALY COOL
Post rating: +
we must promote the revolutionary praxis of email response times
#69
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: ~
One group of PCR/RCP lost control of their email server to the 'Quebec section'. The former's email is now pcr.rcp.canada@gmail.com I think.
#70
Post rating: +
Did you know you can speak directly to any famous person in the world by emailing their real (not stage) name at gmail dot com
#71
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +

Keven posted:

Did you know you can speak directly to any famous person in the world by emailing their real (not stage) name at gmail dot com


this is just the skeleton key i need to tell larry david about my idea "seinfeld 2"

#72
Post rating: +
He might be too old you might have to email his daughter who was profiled in New York magazine for having an Instagram.
#73
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +
some facts about peter julian:

1. two first names
2. has the most caucus support
3. former house leader
4. against pipelines to BC
5. couldn't raise enough money to run a campaign and is dropping out.
#74
mt.real
Post rating: ~
the ndp is an empty sham and we should just acknowledge that and move on
#75
Post rating: ~
finally!
#76
[account deactivated]
#77
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +

drwhat posted:

the ndp is an empty sham and we should just acknowledge that and move on


some of my best friends are empty shams!

#78
mt.real
Post rating: ~
i'm still gonna move back to canada someday and rejoin and get really active, BUT, i am mad, online, about the current state of it. no one can stop the liberal sandcrawler
#79
Mike Nelson here.
Post rating: +
the ndp announced a timeline to a leadership race in their quebec provincial party. the vote will be in january 2018, with quebec provincial election expected october. it's a strange project basically being invented out of no mass or activist base. i asked guy caron about it and he politely explained why it was a terrible idea, and he's like... the most prominent quebec MP right now i guess? this when quebec solidaire is polling double-digits consistently now. i think it has more potential in the short run to fuck with the liberals than it does to hurt QS though... QS has strong personalities and people who like them will probably stay together in their key ridings.
#80
Post rating: ~

getfiscal posted:

i think it has more potential in the short run to fuck with the liberals


sounds like a solid basis of action to me