NDP Convention - Day 1 Notes

I'll be blogging more frequently over the next couple of days as the more substantive parts of #HFX09 (notably elections and constitutional resolutions) get dealt with. For now, though, here are a few notes on the convention's first day.

The most surprising development was an extended dispute over the convention agenda - which was amended by motion to delay Marshall Ganz' scheduled appearance to make room for more policy debate, then returned to its original form following a motion to reconsider when it became apparent that Ganz wouldn't be able to reschedule.

In retrospect it's perhaps most interesting that the motion was set up to actually move Ganz' slot rather than merely replacing some break time with more policy discussion. That may have been seen as a more symbolic decision to replace a training agenda with more policy discussion - but the choice likely made for the main reason why the change was bound to be reversed where an extra hour of policy discussion might have been allowed to stand.

Meanwhile, the training from today's proceedings was a bit on the top-down side at times, with Manitoba NDP campaign manager Bob Dewar sending a particularly dispiriting message about his campaign priorities: "Target. Target. Target. Message. Message. Message. Discipline. Discipline. Discipline." It's tough to argue with Dewar's results - but it's worth wondering how much of the grassroots cultivation which did wonders for the Obama campaign will be part of the convention message as well (and a couple of speakers did at least hint along those lines).

Finally, the line of the day went to Gary Doer: "Some parties have one member, one vote. But only the NDP follows a rule of one delegate, one resolution."

Again, there's plenty more to come - so stay tuned...