Because we all wanted to read about…

- The One Vote idea brought out some passionate speeches from MP’s and delegates.

- Still searching for Volpe people, anyone?

- How fun was last night? I even got to hang out with a prominent Conservative blogger. I’m sure he got sick of the “does this week feel awkward for you?” question.

- There was a nice little fisty-cuff at the bottom of the escalator involving the media swarming Michael Ignatieff.

- Can the NDP really comment on how the Liberals run conventions? Well they did. Jack should be proud after his candidate finished fourth in the London by-election. (Sorry that was actually a Bill Graham line from last night.)

And so we end the day

In old Montreal at a brewery. The Kennedy campaign is hosting a great pub party with lots of other supporters (Raevolution and passengers from Martha's Bus and some Dionationers too).

Kennedy made his rounds and I told him again that he's the candidate for renewal and is the voice for the rural and Canadians who feel alienated by all governments. Justin Trudeau also showed his support for GK again at the bar.

Howard Dean's speech tonight was wonderful. He really hit the nail on the head when he talked about being "everywhere". Campaigning, shaking hands, phoning, speaking everywhere.

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Vote FfeitangI!

I’m sure this has already made it’s way onto the blogosphere but I couldn’t resist.

Odds and Ends from Palais des congres

Martha Hall Findlay has some of the best buttons. She has incorporated her big red bus into the button.

Apparently it was something like 11 degrees outside today! Who knew?

The first workshop I was at (Social Justice) was fairly well attended. However, the rural affairs workshop was not. It’s disappointing and a number of delegates expressed that frustration. I even heard some of them say they were shocked to know that the gun control issue was not up for vote in the rural affairs workshop and that it was passed in the social justice workshop. There were a number of Gerard Kennedy delegates at the rural affairs gathering including Senator Eugene Whalen.

It’s interesting how the candidates are all rock stars when they first arrive with hoards and hoards of media around them but then by the end of the first day, “oh hey, Bob Rae snuck in the room” or you see one walking through the corridors with a couple of staffers.

There’s a big party for Kennedy tonight at Les 3 Brasseurs. Rumour has it that it could go all night.

Well I’m off to the washroom and then the coat check and then I’m going to get food. And then I’m going to go for a nap and then I’m going to take this thing to the foyer and then we’re going to LISTEN TO HOWARD DEAN - YARRRRR!

Scrums

Dions supporters were extremely vocal with their Canadian flags and even broke out in the NATIONal anthem in the foyer.

Martha's scrum was filled with questions about calls she's getting from other camps and her plans for the future.

Ignatieff emphasized the women's commission during his scrum.

Women’s Commission

I just had a chance to very briefly say hello to Belinda Stronach as she mingled outside the Liberal Women’s Commission.

An older woman at the door told her that she recently read about a study in the Ottawa Citizen which said blonde’s “don’t have more fun.”

There were men there too, including MP Paul Zed. Former leadership candidate Carolyn Bennett was also seated in the crowd.

Anne McLellan was the keynote speaker and she gave a real “Anne McLellan” speech - fiery, passionate and funny too. She talked about how Liberals can look outside of Canada to see progress - Nancy Pelosi in the U.S. and how France is about to have it’s first female presidential candidate.

But she also said that she’s heard from Liberals over the past few months who have told her that this party does not walk the talk when it comes to women’s issues. She referred to the “flatline” for women involved in public life and emphasized that the women of the party have to make their voice heard because if they don’t speak up - they can’t expect the men to do it for them.

What I thought was a little tacky was that during this part of her speech, Bob Rae entered the room and not necessarily in the most discreet manner. Here we have a highly respected woman in the party making a speech about the matter and in walks a leadership candidate - sparking lots of chatter and distraction to what she’s saying. I know she’s a Rae supporter but at least Michael Ignatieff chose to stand outside and wait until McLellan’s speech was over.

Finally, I got this from Liberal blogger and fellow Kennedy supporter Vince Riccio. It’s almost kind of eerie but for us in a good way, we hope!

Back in the Day…

Well this can never be good for your image. Thankfully, for John Tory it’s well in the past.

Those darn “Liberal sources” eh.

Thanks to Lemonchicken.ca for directing me to it.

Registered

Well, I’m officially registered for the 2006 Liberal Leadership and Biennial Convention in Montreal. Thanks to Liblogs.ca for setting up the media passes for us bloggers. I’m also doing some volunteering for the party throughout the week.

If anyone from the Pontiac region of Quebec reads this blog I want to hear what you think of Lawrence Cannon’s comments on the nation issue.

My Sidekick in Montreal

I can’t not thank my gracious host for the week. Thanks for the “Sidekicks”.

On Stands Today - 24.4% Off!

An Interesting Poll

I think CTV missed the mark a little bit. The headline for the SES Poll released last night for the convention was “Dion strong 2nd choice, poll of delegates shows“

Fair enough. Stephane Dion does have the most support amongst decided delegates for a second ballot at 23%, according to the SES Poll.

Here’s what makes me chuckle.

He (Allan Gregg) noted that 44 per cent of delegates polled say they are undecided on a second choice.

That’s DOUBLE the support of Dion and more than double the support of any other candidate, factoring in the margin of error.

I’m in no way disputing that Dion has some momentum going into this thing and for that matter so too does Kennedy. But I learned a hard lesson about polls recently and I just want to share that with everyone who is reading too much into this poll.

Leading up to the Ottawa municipal election there was a very large portion of undecideds (about the same as this poll) and, according to those damn polls, they almost all went to one candidate and that candidate had about 4% of the vote only two and a half months before the election, according to those polls again. This candidate was being written off as a potential winner (yes, I wrote him off too) right up until the last week of the race. Now he’s a sitting in the big chair.

Polls are a good snapshot and coming from a guy who works for one of the country’s top polling firms, take them with a grain salt.

Also, were the views of delegates who are not planning to attend the convention included in the SES poll?

It’s not a knock against Dion. It’s a “keep-your-head-in-the-game” message to Dion and Kennedy supporters as well as all of those in the race. Just keep doing what you do best - convince Canada (especially that 44% chunk of delegates) that your candidate is the best for the country.

So you had a bad day?

Well, Stephen Harper you could always just pull "a Fortier" and appoint Dianne Haskett to a Commons position.

I heard you're now recruiting for Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

She'd NEVER break party ranks either.

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Pearson Leads in London

Liberal candidate Glen Pearson has a lead in the London by-election.

Dianne Haskett appears to be toast. It's a battle of the Green and Red. Latest results are at lfpress.com or Elections Canada site.

Go GP Go!

Kennedy Arrives

Gerard Kennedy arrived here in Montreal today for the big convention.

After his flight landed, the CBC's Paul Hunter reported, "Kennedy arrived at the airport almost baggage free."

I Stand Corrected

Michael Chong just proved my last post wrong!

The Conservative cabinent minister from Ontario….is no longer. According to the CBC, Chong has quit. His reason — Stephen Harper's nation motion.

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