Political Predictions: Looking Back on 2007

Back in January 2007, I made a series of political predictions with decidedly mixed results.

Many of the predictions did not come to fruition because of elections that did not take place(Federal election, Alberta election...). Others, I revised in advance (Nicholson prediction), while others are likely to come true sooner rather than later (Hampton's resignation).

On the positive side, I correctly predicted that the Ontario Liberals would be re-elected with a reduced majority and that John Tory would lose in his own riding.

On the negative side, I incorrectly predicted that the PQ would win a majority in the Quebec election and that the Bloc's anti-scab bill would become law (I was almost right on that last one...)

In the coming days, I'll make my predictions for 2008. Hopefully, I'll be a little closer to the mark.

A Holiday Message From Santa Claus

"One day you will learn everything about Santa Claus. On that day remember everything the adults have told you about Jesus."

h/t Paulitics

Memo to Sanctimonious Liberal Bloggers

To those Liberal Party bloggers who have complained that the PQ's Quebec citizenship bill is racist, divisive, and unconstitutional, please note the following story in today's Le Devoir which indicates that the Liberal Party was floating this idea before the PQ.

Un groupe du Parti libéral du Québec voulait proposer une «proclamation de la citoyenneté québécoise» au prochain congrès libéral mais a dû renoncer à ce vocable après le dépôt du projet de loi 195 du Parti québécois.

I'm willing to bet very few Liberal bloggers while criticize the members of the Liberal Party who came up with the idea in the first place... separatists are such easy targets for sanctimonious Liberals.

Happy Birthday Blog

Uncorrected Proofs is one year old today. Check out my greatest hits collection to see what I've been thinking about...

My Greatest Hits Collection

I almost can't believe that I managed to blog consistently for a year. It's certainly been an interesting year. Thanks for reading. Check out a sample of my favourite posts over the course of the last year...

Cold War Unicorns... I actually received this for my real birthday.

25% Pay Hike... The public furor over pay raises at Queen's Park sure seemed to dissipate quickly....

Get Orange?... Wow, did I ever hit the nail on the head with this post.

Tunnel Vision... Ditto.

Why the Greens Should be Allowed in the Leaders Debate... Enough said.

A Short History of the Labour Movement in Canada and Quebec

A Unified Secular School System for Ontario... The issue that could have saved the Ontario NDP.

Crossing the Floor... Defections gone wrong.

The Future of Quebec Solidaire... Get your Quebec fix.

My meeting with Stephane Dion... Trust me, he's not a leader.

The Ides of March... Thankfully, I've moved away.

In Defence of Staff Unions... I normally agree with Plawiuk.

The Trials and Tribulations of a Liberal Blogger... He's off the hook, but as nutty as ever.

The NDP and MMP... Don't get me started.

Outremont By-Election... Check out the exclusive photos!

NDP Hit List in Quebec... So close yet so far away.

Confrontation, Struggle, and Transformation... Buy my book!

Danny Glover Stands up for Hotel Workers... My first YouTube appearance.

Top Ten NDP Races to Watch... I didn't do badly with my predictions.

On NDP-Conservative Cooperation... Gasp!

Ontario NDP Leadership Speculation... Long overdue.

Peter Tabuns Leadership Campaign

Well, it's certainly not official, but all signs point to a Peter Tabuns NDP leadership campaign here in Ontario.

Although Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton recently announced that he was staying put, the general consensus is that he will retire after the next federal election in time for the 2009 Ontario NDP convention. I have blogged quite a bit about Tabuns and other would-be successors, but a Tabuns candidacy is almost a sure thing at this point.

Here's why:

1. Although the entire Ontario NDP caucus (minus Rosario Marchese) attended Hampton's speech to the Ontario Federation of Labour Convention in November, Tabuns was the only MPP to stick around for an extra day. This is significant because organized labour is an important stakeholder in the Ontario party and Tabuns has a few anti-union skeletons in his closet. He needs to work hard to mend fences with the labour movement.

2. Tabuns has embarked on a province-wide speaking tour called "Dialogue for a New Energy Economy" wherein he discusses an "exciting new plan to transform Ontario from a province dependent on diminishing reserves of imported non-renewable energy to a thriving economy with good jobs built on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources." Sounds like the theme to a leadership campaign to me....

3. As previously discussed, as a former Executive Director of Greenpeace and the NDP's current Environment critic, Tabuns' green credentials make him an attractive candidate in some circles. He's closer to Jack Layton than he is to Howard Hampton policy-wise and many of Layton's people will work for Tabuns.

4. Tabuns, elected in a 2006 by-election, is not tainted by the Rae years like Hampton was. As such, he can disavow the former NDP leader in a way that a former Rae cabinet minister could not. This plays into the theme of party renewal that the anti-Hampton crowd is trumpetting.

Perfected: The Ann Coulter Song

This singer/songwriter hits the nail on the head with this funny song about right-wing nut Ann Coulter.

Americans Launch Recycling Program for Canadians

What a good idea.

Managers of the Fashion Outlets mall in the Town of Niagara may have found a solution to the piles of old clothes that Canadian shoppers are tossing aside in their parking lots, dressing rooms and restrooms.

The mall has placed collection bins at each exit where shoppers can deposit “gently used” and unwanted items.

Whatever is collected is given to Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, said mall spokeswoman Julie Clark.

“It’s been a win-win situation for both organizations,” Clark said.

Thanks to the recent parity between the U.S. and Canadian dollars, there has been a surge of Canadians wielding their buying power on this side of the border.

Retailers have long seen the leftovers from shoppers who like to wear their new purchases home to avoid paying a duty when they cross the border.

Shuffling the Deck

Check out the new links in my "What Cool People Read" sidebar.

Accidental Deliberations (The winner of this year's 2007 unofficial Blogging Dipper award for best blog overall).

Politics'n'Poetry (The winner of this year's 2007 unofficial Blogging Dipper award for best feminist blog).

I also had to remove a link... you need to post if you want to stay on the list!

Dump Howie Website in the Works

A disgruntled Ontario Conservative launched Draftaleader.com earlier this month in an effort to organize opposition to John Tory's campaign to retain the leadership of his party.

I'm told several Ontario New Democrats are poised to launch a similar website in the new year as part of a bid to convince Howard Hampton retire as leader of the NDP. The website will likely contain a message board for New Democrats to share their thoughts on Hampton's leadership.

Several names have been suggested as replacements: Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo, former Toronto-Danforth MPP Marilyn Churley, current Toronto Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns, Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath, Welland MPP Peter Kormos, Beaches-East York MPP Micheal Prue, Hamiltom Centre MP David Christopherson, Windsor Tecumseh MP Joe Comartin, and Parkdale-High Park MP Peggy Nash.

In November, at the party's provincial council meeting, Hampton blamed everybody but himself for the party's dismal performance in the October 2007 election. Although he received a standing ovation after his speech to delegates, many party stalwarts and defeated candidates remained planted firmly in their seats, visibly unimpressed.

Hampton has said he will stay on as leader until at least after the next federal election and the next Nova Scotia election (New Democrats have a history of shipping campaign organizers across the country), at which point all options, including staying on as leader, are open. Such a timeline would not normally be objectionable, if Hampton were indeed planning to retire, but there is no strong indication that he will indeed retire. There is also concern that the Nova Scotia election may not occur until 2009 or even 2010. Therefore, grassroots NDP members are moving to convince Hampton to call it quits early, immediately after the federal election expected in the spring of 2008. From what I'm hearing on the ground, I suspect their efforts will pay off.

Rick Mercer Meets Mike Huckabee

Could the next US President be as dim-witted as the current one? You decide. h/t to Rusty Idols

Winners Announced for 2007 Unofficial Blogging Dipper Awards

Best Overall Dipper Blog

Nominees:
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
La Revue Gauche

And the winner is: Accidental Deliberations, Best Overall Blog

Best Feminist Dipper Blog

Nominees:
Idealistic Pragmatist
F-email Fightback
Politics'n'Poetry

And the winner is: Politics'n'Poetry, Best Feminist Blog

Best Labour Dipper Blog

Nominees:
La Revue Gauche
Rusty Idols
The Daily Dissidence

And the winner is: La Revue Gauche, Best Labour Blog

Best Partisan Dipper Blog

Nominees:
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
Northern BC Dipper

And the winner is: Buckdog, Best Partisan Blog

Best Radical Dipper Blog

Nominees:
La Revue Gauche
Paulitics
Red Menace

And the winner is: Paulitics, Best Radical Blog


Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote.

Nova Scotia NDP Widens its Lead Over Ruling Tories

The newest CRA poll is good news for Darrell Dexter's New Democrats.

Vote Intention

New Democrats 39%
Conservatives 32%
Liberals 25%

Best Premier

Dexter 32%
MacDonald 23%
McNeil 14%

Final Reminder - Vote in the 2007 Unofficial Blogging Dipper Awards

Unofficial 2007 Blogging Dipper Award Finalists

Best Overall Dipper Blog
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
La Revue Gauche

Best Feminist Dipper Blog
Idealistic Pragmatist
F-email Fightback
Politics'n'Poetry

Best Labour Dipper Blog
La Revue Gauche
Rusty Idols
The Daily Dissidence

Best Partisan Dipper Blog
Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
Northern BC Dipper

Best Radical Dipper Blog
La Revue Gauche
Paulitics
Red Menace

Vote for your favourite in each category by sending an e-mail to politicaldiscord@hotmail.com before December 14, 2007. Thanks to everybody who participated in the nominations round and a special thanks for people who nominated this blog - which I have deliberately excluded from the competition.

Will Warren Kinsella and Robert McClelland Finally Agree on Something?

McClelland says that Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton has to go.

Kinsella thinks Hampton should stay (in an insulting patronizing way).

I find myself in the awkward position of agreeing with both of them. But, I do have to point out that I was calling on Howie to resign way back in 1999 with the unanimous support of the Ontario NDP Youth Executive. I suppose that makes me a visionary ;-)

Giuliani Answers Phone at NRA Function

Caught on tape, with a hilarious twist!

Effective Workplace Health & Safety Ad

Via Nag on the Lake

Buzz Hargrove, Magna, and Movie Posters

Tomorrow, CAW members debate the Framework for Fairness agreement between the union and Magna. You can read about the controversial agreement, which would take away the right to strike, here, here and here.

Liberal Blogger Off the Hook on Fraud Charges

Liberal blogger, James Curran, who was charged in April 2007 with two counts of fraud on the day before he was to be nominated as the party's candidate for the next federal election, is off the hook. According to a Niagara Falls Review reporter who was in the courtroom today, the Crown withdrew the charges, thus bringing an end to Curran's current legal woes.

Political Graffiti

Courtesy of Dark Roasted Blend.

Liberal Blogger's Fraud Case Adjourned Until Thursday

Former Niagara Falls Federal Liberal Riding Association President, Jim Curran, also known as the "What Do I Know Grit," will finally have his day in court on Thursday December 6, 2007.

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Curran, a 42-year-old businessman was charged in April with two counts of fraud in what Niagara Regional Police described then as a "cheque-kiting scheme" against two financial institutions. The charges were laid the day before the longtime Liberal party activist was to be nominated as the party's candidate for the next federal election.

Read more about Curran here, here, here, and here.

Protect Our Troops - From the Womb to the War

Protect our troops - from the womb to the war. What if the fetus you were going to abort would grow up to be a soldier bringing democracy to a godless dictatorship?

Plastic replica of an 11-12 week old fetus, 3" long, holding a firearm in its precious little hand, with an assortment of other military paraphernalia, encased in a translucent plastic ornament, with a patriotic yellow ribbon on top. Includes a metal ornament hanger. If only a womb were this safe, attractive and reasonably priced!

Show that you support the "culture of life" by buying and proudly displaying one of these patriotic unborn Americans.

Robin Sears and Brian Mulroney

Former NDP National Director Robin Sears will act as former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's new spokesperson... Before Liberals start another round of Conservative-NDP conspiracy talks, they should read this blogger's humorous insider account of life with Robin Sears.

Unofficial 2007 Blogging Dipper Award Finalists

Two weeks back, I asked readers to submit their nominations... here are your finalists:

Best Overall Dipper Blog

Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
La Revue Gauche

Best Feminist Dipper Blog

Idealistic Pragmatist
F-email Fightback
Politics'n'Poetry

Best Labour Dipper Blog

La Revue Gauche
Rusty Idols
The Daily Dissidence

Best Partisan Dipper

Accidental Deliberations
Buckdog
Northern BC Dipper

BlogBest Radical Dipper Blog

La Revue Gauche
Paulitics
Red Menace

Vote for your favourite in each category by sending an e-mail to politicaldiscord@hotmail.com before December 14, 2007. Thanks to everybody who participated in the nominations round and a special thanks for people who nominated this blog - which I have deliberately excluded from the competition.

OFL Convention Update

For the past week I attended to Ontario Federation of Labour Convention in Toronto as the newly elected President of the St. Catharines & District Labour Council.

The convention highlighted speeches from Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Geogetti (who sidestepped the thorny issue of the CAW-Magna deal), Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton (who blamed the media for his third straight pummeling at the polls), and Federal NDP leader Jack Layton (who outlined his party's green jobs strategy).

In terms of convention content, it was pretty much a Buzz Hargrove bash-fest, with labour leaders criticizing Hargrove for giving up the right to strike in his pact with Magna. On the positive side, a campaign for card-based union certification emerged as the most important issue facing labour.

In terms of resolutions, the convention was decidedly post-materialist, with not a single resolution being submitted, let alone debated, on political action or economic policy.

I can now return to a more regular schedule of blogging.