"...As a result, there was some thinking that delegates from Mr. Martin's riding should seek election as independents rather than declaring for one candidate or another..."

"..But such an agreement would have required unanimous consent amongst all the campaigns."

The federal Liberals have reached a new high in low.

Telling and making sure a riding's delegates are
of the composition the candidate campaigns want?

It should be that candidate delcaration does not
matter in the first place as a condition to be
able to win a seat.

The reason why the candidate declaration is needed is because it is a marriage of one-member one-vote and a delegated convention. It is the only way to tie the delegate's first ballot to local riding association choices.

You'd think with all the Martin guys around Dion they would have stayed out of this one riding out of respect for the former PM. Martin's guys did not run delegates in Chretien's riding in 2003.

... therefore eliminating the possibility of a Flora debaucle. People who promise support (at least on the first ballot) and campaign under that guise should be held into this barely restrictive ideal. They are free to vote another way come the second ballot.
And anyways, this will be the last of these types of conventions. The ridiculous complaint at top seems like a drive-by with little gas.

"The reason why the candidate declaration is needed is because it is a marriage of one-member one-vote and a delegated convention. It is the only way to tie the delegate's first ballot to local riding association choices."

Who ever thought that up should be given either
a Conservative or NDP membership and told to leave the party.

Doesn't matter in regards to local riding association choices. It - in the basic scheme
of things - doesn't matter.

What does matter in the basic premise is that people choose the leader on the basis of who he or she sees as being best for the interest of the party at large, and who he or she thinks would be able to defeat the Conservatives and
keep the Bloc and NDP where they belong. In opposition.

This applies to any vote, first or fourth, last
or anything in between.

Besides, what if something happens between delgate voting and the actual convention that causes the person to change their mind? Under this nutty system, there doesn't seem to be any reason to do that.

and what if someone decided to change their mind at the Convention and vote Kennedy instead of Iggy on the first ballot? If that person decides
that she or he doesn't like Iggy's new ideas brought forward since the delegate selection, then it is a wasted vote.

A person goes to leadership conventions to choose on the basis of his her decisions, not those of the local riding association.

The absolute final decision before any vote is
made once the person looks at the ballot in the voting compartment.

Anyone who can't think for themselves in these
conventions shouldn't be there in the first place.

The basic premise of a ballot vote is that it is secret.

If it isn't then there's no sense in voting by
ballot.

Might as well just sit in a room in the local riding and raise your hand and be done with it.

The federal Liberals are making this far more complicated than it needs to be.

Walk into a riding poll location, register, get your ballot, go to the voting area, mark your choices 1-2-3, deposit the ballot into the box and you're done. You're free to go and visit
your buddy for a Timmies and then watch the
results on CTV with commentary by Craig Oliver.

Keep it simple.

I am amazed at the intensity and length of some of these posts. Personally, I just cannot get interested in the Liberal Has-Been Contest. Furthermore, I still want to know how they persuaded themselves to go for a delegated leadership convention instead of a modern One Member One Vote model.

Grit Guy: that's why the red ribbon task force is reccomending a one-member one vote system for next time. That, the the new fundraising regime.

A lot of us have been deligates at assorted conventions. First step is to not pin on anybodies badge, keeping yourself as one who will listen to all the candidates looking for the job. Of course even if you do end up with a button on your shirt, the ballot box is secret. Buttons don't vote , people who run around with big signs may well not vote for the canidates who's name is on the banner. A button means something only to the ones who really arn't prepared to listen to the candidates and vote for the one they figure can do the job. Heck I can't ever rememebr anyone admitting they voted socred in BC but somehow they won a lot of elections. Did I vote for them? Not in your wildest dreams. But would you know? of course not.