Saturday girl

[jawnbc]

querrelle was sharing his résumé expertise with a lovely lesbienne française this morning, so I had to clear out. In addtion to taking out a pile of paper recycling, I then toddled over to the 10h30 NDP rally downtown. I think homosexualists have taken over the party proper--the rally started at 11h45. And it was readily apparent that the organizers were Big Labour™.

Now don't get me wrong: I think there's a place for Big Labour™. However, I remain dubious of much of labour leadership, which is almost always white men and all too often becomes a testosterone shreikfest. Like the first half of this morning's rally was. I see the value of offering charge to your core supporters: I also see how the optics of Jim St. Clair bellowing in 1960s socialist discourse will quite possibly turn off some likeminded voters (to the Liberals) and some undecided-but-populist-oriented ones (to the Cons). Which kinda defeats the purpose of an NDP rally, non? In fact, two NDP supporters gave up waiting for Jack Layton and took off. Me? I was homelessless and had nowhere to go but shop. So I stayed.

And I'm glad I did. But before Jack came out I had to poo. As I was finishing up in my stall I heard a familiar voice. Veritably leaping out of my stall it was him, the man, the mystery, Dr. Jack Layton, PhD, draining his schmeckie at the urinals. OMFG Becky!

I love Jack's politics, but I also think he's hawt. And you know what? He's hawter in person: short (170cm?) stocky but solid (80kg?), great chin, fab moustache, steely eye contact. I can't attest to anything more than that, since I didn't wanna freak the poor man out just before an important speech...and the Hyat Regency Vancouver has anti-homosexualist dividers between chaque pissoir. But we washed hands together and I like to think the memory will be as powerful for him as it were for me.

*swoon*

As for his speech, he did a crackerjack job of it: compelling, entertaining, inspiring, humourous, more than a little moving, confident but not arrogant. His message was both appropriate for the trade union-dominated audience and relevant to the average Canadian. I really felt that the message he gave was reasonable: the Liberals are like roughnecks in a whorehouse right now--trying to curry favours with cash--while the Cons have achieved little in opposition for BC over 12+ years. Especially at the constituent level.

There are now 20 (of 36) ridings in the Lower Mainland (greater Vancouver). Currently the NDP holds 4 and we're pretty much assured of having 7 after this election. That's the worse-case scenario; more realistic is 10 seats, with a perfect-case being 15. In 1988 19 of BC's 32 seats were NDP--almost half the federal NDP caucus under Ed Broadbent. Things seem to be swinging our way, but we have to capitalize on our issues, our momentum and what we can offer British Columbians: real results.

Oh yeah. As Jack left the stage I got to shake his hand. He gave me that handshake-shoulder squeeze. Had the January monsoon not washed all the Jackie goodness away, I'd perhaps not ever wash that jacket again.

*swoon*

Comments

I heard it through the grapevine...

[chen-tokuryu.livejournal.com]

Good to read a fairly detailed account (bowel movements and all) with The Layton.

Apparently the reason why The Layton was late was because the bus driver broke a leg. Earlier in the day, Jack was at a hockey rink in Burnaby with Peter Julian. It seemed that the bus driver annoyed Peter so much that he did a two-handed slash on the driver's left leg, breaking it.

Ok, that didn't exactly happen, but Jack was with Mr. Julian and the bus driver broke his leg. How he broke it, I do not know.

Mind if I add you to my friend's list?

Re: I heard it through the grapevine...

[jawnbc]

sure!

Re: I heard it through the grapevine...

[chen-tokuryu.livejournal.com]

I stand corrected, there was a road hockey game. I just heard hockey and thought it was on ice. Ah well, there you go.

And thanks for letting me add you!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_social_retard_/]

Lol!

[feygele.livejournal.com]

I've gotta say that, while I normally vote NDP, this election I'll be forced to vote Liberal (I know, I know)... I just cannot bring myself to vote for Svend. Can. Not. And I like Hedy, and have always believed she's more of an NDPer trapped in a Liberal's body (just as she's a drag queen trapped in a straight woman's body).

[jawnbc]

On Tv this week she claimed personal credit for "gay rights in Canada". As what, Martin's nose-pinching support of equal marriage? Of Liberal support for Robinson's anti-gay violence private member's bill? Her voting record is OK, but she's initiated nothing. For. No one.

I'm holding my nose voting for Svend...but at the constituent level he's been awesome for the folks of Burnaby/Douglas--regardless of their politics.

For all his flaws he has been the #1 parliamentary advocate for queer issues. And he represents the only part to not consider queer rights a "free vote" issue--the Liberals (under Chretien and now Martin) have done it twice.

Having met Fry a number of times I've always thought she's more ambitious than substantive or loyal. But her claiming this week on Canada Now was the last straw. Arrogant, clueless asshole is she.

[feygele.livejournal.com]

Yes, Svend was good in Burnaby-Douglas, but he was also rather two-faced. I might still have, in with materials from my first degree, the collection of pamphlets he handed out to different groups in the his area. To students at SFU and known queer-friendly groups, he handed out queer/human rights stuff. To new immigrants, he said nothing about queer or human or equal rights, or even about his "proud and out" self, but focused on how they could earn money through his economic beliefs. I know that's not any different than any other politician, but because he claimed to be so proudly out it really irked me.

And a lot has changed for him since he was representing B-D.

I've met Hedy many times over the years, and she's personally gone to bat for me (and for organizationas I worked for) many times. She was campaigning for gay rights long before it was the stance for the Liberal party, though, I agree, her statement is hyperbole. I disagree though - I wouldn't call her an asshole.

[jawnbc]

Her response to a mate who's a physiology prof who wanted to discuss high ed and research funding: "oh physiology? I did well in that in medical school" as she walked away.

The whole cross burning thing.

Her quote in this week's Xtra West that transgender people "are neither fish nor fowl".

I'll stand by my asshole characterization.

[feygele.livejournal.com]

You're going to believe something you read in Xtra West? They've published articles where I'm quoted... Only I never talked to anyone nor did I have an interview. Same thing goes for several of my friends.

But, yay, nothing brings friends together like politics ;)

[jawnbc]

Well it's that candidate Q&A survey thing they always do. I've never heard of a candidate claiming they've misquoted them.

FYI Hedy swore the election would be about issues and not "rings and crosses" but the same Canada Now clip has her saying she's never been accused of being unethical or having broken the law.

Unless you count writing a bogus presciption for insurance fraud.

You're still my pal, right?

BTW I'm going to the homo All candidates meeting next Wednesday. I'll be sure to blog about it--hair pulling and all!

No Hot Jack Action for you.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Hate to break it to you, but Olivia's penis is even bigger than yours.

If I lived 2 blocks further east I could even vote for her. *pout*

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[jawnbc]

I know, I know. So which riding are you in?

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Davenport. Given what else we're likely to end up with from Ontario, I'm all for Gord.

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[jawnbc]

Liberal since '62, last time out the guy won by 5k votes. But some say the NDP could squeak in...

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

It's possible. Gord's campaign has been poorly organised - I volunteered to run the office for him and do all the design, and never heard from him. *shrug*

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[jawnbc]

Oh Svend's campaign here has been only marginally better. I signed up to do office stuff, stats, member calling, mainstreeting. Got a call a week later, made it clear I don't cold call the public, went to the office and they tried to get me cold calling. Nope. Finally they found some database stuff to do.

This week they called about scrutineering (which I'll do), but when I went to get my credentials today they said they won't be ready until Wednesday--with advance polls starting Friday.

I think party wonks are a bit socially in-bred and don't always understand les...enthralled...supporters. Meh.

Re: No Hot Jack Action for you.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Same here. The only thing they ever called me for was to work the phones, which I simply won't (did that for Elelections Canada through 8 electoral events ... never again).

Dr Jack

[retrosexual-au.livejournal.com]

Being an Aussie, I normally have little interest in Canadian politics. But after reading your description, I just had to see who this luscious hunk of meat was. So I googled him up. Woooooooooooah buddy, back off the bitch is mine. Very hawt.