I wonder how well Wendy would have done if Mike Hillman hadn't been her campaign manager.

Wendy had recruited some 2000 Liberal members by March 2004 before she had to step aside for David Emerson...Did she do all that with the help of Mike Hillman? Of course not. Wendy did not even know Mike Hillman then.

People who got to know Wendy along the way have high respect for her as she is a dedicated person who delivers...It's time for Mason to stop whining and wake up to reality.

We witnessed Wendy and her team working day in and day out during the last two elections...Where was Mason then?

So Wendy runs and focuses on her own comfy issues and that awful David Emmerson.

Not much depth there.

Maybe the riding should goto Ian Waddell.

Our party winning Kingway isn't a sure thing.

Big deal - Mike Hillman supported calling a meeting early. So did the riding president. So did pretty much everyone else.

Good thing that Mike was managing Wendy's campaign. They didn't get the date they wanted. If they did, then Wendy would have been acclaimed. The only reason why Mason was even in the race was because he was aided by a whole bunch of last-minute memberships that were recruited to stack the riding for Bob Rae.

Interesting, but one wonders what really was the message:

"Dear Mr. Graham:"

Dear Bill.

"It was a pleasure to meet with you at the last meeting of the National Executive and to have the opportunity to talk with you about my home riding of Vancouver Kingsway."

It was nice to see the the boys again, and to
have that chat about my riding over coffee at
Tim Horton's while in Ottawa a few weeks ago.

"Ivan Curman, President of our Vancouver Kingsway riding association, has asked me to join him in writing to you as we seek support to move ahead with an early nomination meeting."

Ivan I want our meeting. I talked to the National boys about it and we figured it might be a good idea for you to support us on this thing.

"We write to advise you that on April 20, 2006, the executive of Vancouver Kingsway Liberal Election District Association passed a unanimous resolution on our desire to hold an open candidate selection meeting before June 23, 2006."

Bill, we want you to know the riding wants the
meeting before the kids leave school for the
summer. Alot of our supporters have kids in
school,and it would be good if we had the meeting
before the end of school.

"We expressly seek your support."

Bill, we want that meeting date. Can't be
emphasied enough.

"The reasons for this are both numerous and clear from our 'on-the-ground' battles and protests that have raged since our MP departed our party and voters that elected him as a Liberal. We highlight only four:"

Here's a few reasons why we need the meeting
Amongs them is that David Emerson got fed up
with the Party and took off to Stephen Harpers
group of malcontents. He's quite happy over there. At least they given him something to do.

"1. Our Liberal team needs to be re-ignited with new found energy for a new battle. There is a deep sense of betrayal felt by those who gave so much to our past candidate over two elections. To win we must rebuild and re-energize our team."

Bill, the campaign bus is falling apart. David
took off because we couldn't keep him around.
Offering him a cheap desk and lots of free
coffee didn't do it.

"2. Our 'Liberal' brand is not on our voters' radar screen. This needs to start changing now - not just days before the next election. We do not want to lose this riding - right now we would."

People just arent' buyin' Liberal these days
bud. They look at the Party, think of the way we were and turn nauseous. If we don't get this party back on its tires it's heading to the boneyard.

"3. The doorstep battle will be even more important next election - we need to start knocking on doors now an we need a candidate dedicated to doing the hard work of early campaigning."

Bill, we gotta get movin' son. Get Wendy elected
oops I mean a candidate elected and we can get
something happening starting after Labour Day.

I checked with the local guys and they would
slog out door to door if we got our meeting now.
Hell, even Marissen would get off his bum
and go out into the field. How often does he
do that?

"4. We need to build financial resources for pre writ and writ periods. With a candidate in place, we will be able to raise substantial resources. We have a massive ethnic base in and they repeatedly say that they will 'give' once we have a candidate selected."

Bill, the tanks are running low. We need to
get Wendy oops I mean our new candidate put there
earning party money so we can put her - oops I
mean the new candidate - on the front bench.

"We need to move from protest and outrage to action. We need to do it before others as we have the most ground to retake. We need to put a candidate in place and get on with the job of winning."

Bill, the kids have cried themselves to sleep.
Ever had to deal with small kids with colic or
tooth aches? This was much worse than that, bud.
I got headaches just listening to them whine and
cry about Emerson.

We need to redirect their energies, and getting
our meeting would do it. Get the kids doing
stuff rather than throwin'tantrums all over the
place. They even bothererd the Conservatives at
their BBQ a week ago, and that was a private function.

"On April 21st our resolution was discussed at a joint meeting of BC Caucus members and members of the executive of LPCBC. Everyone at the meeting offered full support for Vancouver Kingsway proceeding with an early nomination. This offers strength to your consideration and decision to support Vancouver Kingsway."

Bill. I talked to the boys downtown. They're all
on board. They also phoned a few of the
guys in Ottawa and discussed what can be made
to happen. Talked at length to Marissen and he's in on it.

If we can't get the meeting date, we're going
have trouble refilling the tanks since there
isn't that much money around these days. If they
see Wendy - oops I mean a new candidate - in
Kingsway, it will attract the money.

"You are also aware that the recent meeting of all riding presidents in British Columbia passed a unanimous resolution indicating their desire to see us on a firm election readiness footing and to be ready for the next campaign."

Bill, the other riding presidents want our Party
back in government. They're not comfortable being in opposition. For quite a few it has been
a nerve wracking experience. Many figure that if
Wendy - oops I mean a new candidate in Kingsway -is in place, it will get things rolling again.

As you know we gotta be back in government. Otherwise we're losin' money and support, pal.
BCers are a finicky bunch. They won't see the
movie unless they know the money scene is good.

"We appreciate that our goals for an early nomination come at a time when we are choosing a new Leader. Vancouver Kingsway is a very unique situation and we do not see proceeding as 'opening the floodgate' for early nominations everywhere. Our goal is to win for our Party and our new Leader - but we are very clear that our work needs to start now if we want to hold this riding."

Bill we need our meeting. Think of it as an
opportunity for Kennedy - oops I mean the leadership candidates' supporters in the area
to come out and meet those who should be supporting our new leader.

Think of this. There's enough Liberal volume to
keep the leadership campaign hacks occupied while the real volunteers are busy workin' the
nomination meeting and later on Wendy's - oops
I mean the new candidate's campaign.

You know the scene, Bill. The volunteers work
their behinds off in order for the political
hacks to get their overpaid jobs. One goes before
the other, friend.

"We are sharing our desire to proceed with an open nomination meeting with others as noted below. We sense there is a broad consensus and support for us moving forward - support that we value."

Bill. Forget the appointment of a candidate. I know its the thing to do in our Party to avoid
problems, but forget that one. We need to show
to the public that we don't give away candidate
appointments and don't favour good candidates such as Wendy.

Come out to the house when you're in town next.

I'll fire up the BBQ and bring a few of the boys over for beer and burgers.

"Yours truly

Ivan Curman
President, Vancouver Kingsway

Michael Hillman
National Vice-President, LPC
Director at Large, Vancouver Kingsway"

Your liberal friend,

M.

Yeah Big Deal. Yuan and the Liberals are barbeque pork anyways BUT not because it may go to Ian Waddell. Kingsway will certainly go NDP BUT to ex-Vancouver mayoralty candidate Jim "The Real Deal" Green running for them.

And maybe Liberal Senator Larry Campbell and others from the Kennedy camp will go out and help Mr. Green and the NDP gas Yuan and Emerson.

Gritguy, I believe Ian Waddell has said he won't run a third time, it's time he thinks for someone younger. Too bad in a way, he is a bright and experienced person.

In any case, I can see the NDP ads in the local shoppers in the next election. They will say:

"In 2006 the Liberals said you had to vote for Emerson to stop the Conservatives.

Now the Liberals are ordering you to vote for Yuan to knock off Emerson and stop the Conservatives.

What do you suppose the Liberals will be demanding that you do next time?"

Is Mason Loh going to run as an independent?

I think Greg Wilson worked as lot harder on voting day than Mike Hillman. He was down in the basement with his laptop making sure all of Mason Loh's potential supporters got their vote out. Hillman seemed to spend the day standing around in the parking lot smoking cigarettes - although he is good at fixing things behind the scenes. No wonder Mason came within 25 votes of capturing the nomination.

I know both Mason and Yuan quiet well and I think they represent the new generation of Chinese-Canadian politicians.

The problem with Mason is that he should have stayed with Van East after 2000 election instead just disappeared from the riding and party

from this respect, I applaud Wendy's commitment to Van Kingsway

This is precisely the kind of campaign that Wilson is great at: pre-election, short term, quick ground assault, lots of busy work, memberships, etc. There is no one better at that kind of pre-writ campaign. Mike Hillman is a great 'General' who surprised me as Yuan's campaign mamanger. He's overqualified for that. I'm really surprised that with the quality of Mason Loh's candidacy and Greg's short strike expertise that Yuan wasn't knocked off. She should have been. Loh would have been a tough fight for anyone else. MP Jim Green won't mind.

Nor will anyone else care. As usual, the Liberal mantra: much ado about nothing. It's over, turn the page.

As someone who worked for the NDP campaign for the seat, to see a swing to the Liberals under David Emerson and then to see him betray all of our efforts for a progressive vote from the seat for reasons of pure self-interest, I really hope that Wendy or any other Liberal who stands for this riding signs a charter or something saying she will not switch parties if elected. The level of distrust and feeling of betrayal out here is *very* deep.