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Brenda N's avatar

I would be interested to know how many of the supposedly "new" members who joined for this leadership race were former members, volunteers and long-time supporters vs totally new Nenshi movement folk. I don't think the long-time party builders / members necessarily know this information either and it would be premature to assume it's a total 'take-over' by non-NDP types.

I first volunteered over 40 years back and have been an on-again / off-again member and donor, long-time supporter, even with some of the issues I've had with party line / policies. I joined (again) specifically to vote for leadership that could build momentum, and am keen to see all the best strengths, people and ideas come together in a compelling vision with some mobilizing chops.

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Tris Pargeter's avatar

There are no more similarities between Nenshi and Smith than there are between the parties they lead. To say anything else reflects the same profoundly irrational "bothsidesism" found in ALL the media right now as they excitedly push for Trudeau's demise EVEN THOUGH HIS REPLACEMENT IS Mr. "Unfair Elections Act" himself, PIERRE POILIEVRE, a.k.a. "Skippy," leader of the indefatigably tone-deaf CRAP, or Canadian Reform Alliance Party that has further devolved into the CONVOY PARTY OF CANADA.

Where has our collective perspective gone? Why in hell are we acting all fever pitch election mode, American style, when an election hasn't even been called here, and isn't DUE for more than a year?! Could it be because the equally relentless campaign to "own the Libs" via the relentless vilification of Justin Trudeau has gone VIRAL, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that when something is repeated enough, no matter WHAT it is, an alarming number start to believe it, WAY more than makes sense, seemingly WITHOUT EVEN BEING AWARE of it?

Under the current BINARY political circumstances when one side actually has democracy ITSELF, AND the international rules-based world order that goes with it on the ropes as we speak, and a proven leader, PROVEN leader emerges, talking about the size of the sky and how Albertans identify most with that, NOT the very SMALL pettiness of "owning the Libs," OR building a "firewall" to separate us from the rest of the country, OR indulging persistently in some typical NDP narcissism, how is everyone NOT breathing a huge sigh of relief and reviving flayed, vital hope, even if relief is THREE LONG YEARS from now?

Bring on Nenshi's "urban progressive agenda" I say. It's either that or the REGRESSIVE one after all.

Oh, and about hating Nenshi because he comes across as "the smartest guy in the room?" Just more peevish conservative anti-intellectualism that denies YET another reality (their stock in trade), in this case the one where we are NOT all equally intelligent, some are far more so, and in this critical, existential time it has never made more sense to choose a natural leader.

Why does everyone keep forgetting that the conservatives are proudly, stupidly anti-science and apparently don't even think VIRUSES are real now, not to mention climate change?!

OBVIOUSLY that should disqualify them completely from governance, period. They present a clear and present danger to all of us.

They show us over and over why we NEVER talk about a "conservative democracy," only a LIBERAL one.

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