Friday Link Grab Bag

A few random Friday thoughts:



1. Don't expect this weekend's NDP convention in Vancouver to be nearly as exciting as Wednesday night. Still, the possibility for riots and/or make out sessions does exist when delegates begin debating a motion to repeal the Clarity Act.


2. Speaking of the NDP convention, FarandWide has a good blog post up on NDP attempts to squeeze the Liberals.


3. The Liberals, meanwhile, will be holding an extraordinary telephone convention this weekend, to determine when we'll pick a new leader. Truth be told, I haven't decided how to vote yet - as I've said before, neither a 5 month mad dash or a 2 year marathon are appealing leadership options. I have writen to the LPC in support of Jeff Jedras' motion to hold the leadership vote next fall - I still think that's too far out, but it beats the alternatives.


4. Kudos to the Liberals and NDP for speaking out in favour of an asbestos ban. I've given the NDP some flack on this blog for choosing politics over principle in the past, but I'll give them props for doing the right thing, even if it doesn't jive with their new role as protectors of Quebec.


5. Samara has a fascinating report out, based on their MP exit interviews.


6. One incoming MP who managed to grab headlines this week was Elizabeth May, who was the sole voice in the House opposing the extension of the mission in Libya and the passage of mega trial bill.

While it's important for May to stay relevant, she'll need to learn to pick her battles - the quickest route to a headline is not always the quickest route to relevancy.

ALP Convention

This weekend was the Alberta Liberal Party's annual convention held in the city they are expecting a big breakthrough in next election - Calgary (no, that's not my patented sarcasm, I'm serious).

I drove down with Daveberta which allowed me to get a good three hour information session on SU politics. Other bloggers in attendance include PTimH, David Swann, and Darryl Raymaker.

The convention was extremely well organized with, I must say, I great selection of food (mmm...pie...). The workshops focused on election readiness in anticipation of the upcoming provincial election, expected in early 2008.

Surprising even myself, I managed to wake up in time for the Saturday breakfast and listened to Keith Brownsey who is certainly a member of the church of Warren judging from his repeated urgings to go negative early and go negative hard. His recommendation of a TV buy to show 5 or 10 second video clips of Stelmach stumbling over his words makes sense to me; just like the Tories are trying to define Dion before he can define himself, it would make sense for the ALP to use the same tactic. Even a cheaply produced add with a limited buy would generate enough earned media to make it worthwhile.

Saturday evening entertaining included a trip to Heritage Park (I presume so that we could see what the city looked like the last time there was a provincial Liberal government). That was followed up with the unnoficial youth CPAC hospitality suite.

All the media reports I saw were quite positive of the convention and it certainly seems like the party has its act together - candidates are being nominated and the debt is being widdled down quicker than Ed Stelmach's credibility. The real litmus test will be the two by-elections expected this spring, including Ralph Klein's old seat in Calgary Elbow which is certainly winnable for the Liberals.