Some notes about the #CPC 2026 Calgary Convention.
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But no, it's beyond that. To go to a political convention is not merely to be surrounded by people with a common interest: it's as if you're all part of the pit crew, you're all on the same team. You are people who've done the same sort of work — knocking on doors, putting up signs, calling potential supporters — to help your side win. You're with your teammates.
3/12
Someone whom
you've never seen before and may never see again and who lives across the
country from you is a comrade in the struggle, someone you can go out to supper
with, buy a drink for, call by first name, talk with about what's in the news
in his or her province. I was walking on the sidewalk downtown Saturday night,
someone recognised me, and in a few minutes I was driving her car (to help with
parking).4/n
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Someone whom
you've never seen before and may never see again and who lives across the
country from you is a comrade in the struggle, someone you can go out to supper
with, buy a drink for, call by first name, talk with about what's in the news
in his or her province. I was walking on the sidewalk downtown Saturday night,
someone recognised me, and in a few minutes I was driving her car (to help with
parking).4/n
At NDP conventions, it's customary to refer to the delegates as
brothers and sisters; Conservatives don't do that, but the feeling exists.If you have an interest in politics, think seriously about going to a
convention.5/n
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At NDP conventions, it's customary to refer to the delegates as
brothers and sisters; Conservatives don't do that, but the feeling exists.If you have an interest in politics, think seriously about going to a
convention.5/n
2. Beyond the general sense of camaraderie of a political convention, it's
enjoyable to go to a place where people share my basic political inclinations.
Imagine that you're in a party in the evening with other delegates: "Who's in
favour of lower taxes?" *Cheers!* "Who wants to lock up criminals?" *Cheers!*
"Who supports a stronger military?" *Cheers!* "Who supports law-abiding gun owners?" *Cheers!* "Who's proud of Canadian history?" *Cheers!*6/n
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2. Beyond the general sense of camaraderie of a political convention, it's
enjoyable to go to a place where people share my basic political inclinations.
Imagine that you're in a party in the evening with other delegates: "Who's in
favour of lower taxes?" *Cheers!* "Who wants to lock up criminals?" *Cheers!*
"Who supports a stronger military?" *Cheers!* "Who supports law-abiding gun owners?" *Cheers!* "Who's proud of Canadian history?" *Cheers!*6/n
(Here on
Mastodon, people would ask completely fair and valid follow-up questions to any
of those sentiments; but it's pleasant to be among those who fundamentally
agree.) In the news, they tend to report the issues on which the party is
divided, but on most of the policy propositions discussed at the convention
there was at least a 4/5 consensus.7/n
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(Here on
Mastodon, people would ask completely fair and valid follow-up questions to any
of those sentiments; but it's pleasant to be among those who fundamentally
agree.) In the news, they tend to report the issues on which the party is
divided, but on most of the policy propositions discussed at the convention
there was at least a 4/5 consensus.7/n
3. I enjoyed meeting some people whom I'd crossed paths with primarily on
social media: @yuanyiz.bsky.social , @tonyclement , https://nitter.net/stephentaylor . In retrospect, I should probably
have looked for more MPs.8/n
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3. I enjoyed meeting some people whom I'd crossed paths with primarily on
social media: @yuanyiz.bsky.social , @tonyclement , https://nitter.net/stephentaylor . In retrospect, I should probably
have looked for more MPs.8/n
4. Trumpiness. The party struck me as essentially the same as it was twenty-five
years ago: same sort of spirit, same sort of issues, even many of the same
individuals (I ran into people who fought in the Clark-Mulroney struggle). I
have to say that there wasn't much discussion of Canada-US issues; mostly I
talked about domestic policy (the CBC! Zoning!) or current regional/national
politics (John Rustad was terrible!).9/n
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4. Trumpiness. The party struck me as essentially the same as it was twenty-five
years ago: same sort of spirit, same sort of issues, even many of the same
individuals (I ran into people who fought in the Clark-Mulroney struggle). I
have to say that there wasn't much discussion of Canada-US issues; mostly I
talked about domestic policy (the CBC! Zoning!) or current regional/national
politics (John Rustad was terrible!).9/n
I did bring up Pres. Trump a few times,
and when I did so, the response I received was that he was doing crazy things
and that he was bad for our electoral chances. But people weren't really
talking about Pres. Trump one way or another, so I can't claim to know that
that was the general feeling.10/n
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I did bring up Pres. Trump a few times,
and when I did so, the response I received was that he was doing crazy things
and that he was bad for our electoral chances. But people weren't really
talking about Pres. Trump one way or another, so I can't claim to know that
that was the general feeling.10/n
5. Pierre Poilievre. Members of the CPC like him personally, like where he
stands on issues, like the way he's a fighter, like the way he's brought new
support into the party. I ran into one guy who said that he'd be another
Robert Stanfield, someone who'd be an excellent PM but who would never win.
But I didn't run into anyone who'd admit to opposing Mr. Poilievre; there was
no one organising against him; there were not even anti-Poilievre buttons
around.11/n
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5. Pierre Poilievre. Members of the CPC like him personally, like where he
stands on issues, like the way he's a fighter, like the way he's brought new
support into the party. I ran into one guy who said that he'd be another
Robert Stanfield, someone who'd be an excellent PM but who would never win.
But I didn't run into anyone who'd admit to opposing Mr. Poilievre; there was
no one organising against him; there were not even anti-Poilievre buttons
around.11/n
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undefined evan@cosocial.ca shared this topic
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Some notes about the #CPC 2026 Calgary Convention. #CanPol #cdnpoli #Conservative #Tory :
1. The ex-MP pointed to me: "You're abnormal", and he pointed to my left: "You're abnormal", then "And he's abnormal", and "I'm abnormal." We are all people who enjoy sitting around over lunch and discussing relations with the PRC.
Imagine that you have a niche interest, F1, let's say. Every morning, you check the news about F1, you listen to podcasts about it, you read essays about it. (cont'd)
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@mpjgregoire this is a great thread. Thank you!
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@mpjgregoire this is a great thread. Thank you!
That's kind of you to say, @evan . I'm still somewhat concerned people will think I'm spamming the timeline.
@pluralistic does it and people don't mind; but I'm not the same kind of writer.
Really, this ought to be a blog post, not a thread; I should really reactivate my blog.
Gli ultimi otto messaggi ricevuti dalla Federazione
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Februllage day5: Star. #Februllage2026 #Februllage #Collage #AnalogCollage #MastoArt
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@sos you're gonna hate the game I'm making ;_;
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@haubles @firesidefedi That's a cute hat! Is it edible too?
Get better soon girl!! 
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That's kind of you to say, @evan . I'm still somewhat concerned people will think I'm spamming the timeline.
@pluralistic does it and people don't mind; but I'm not the same kind of writer.
Really, this ought to be a blog post, not a thread; I should really reactivate my blog.
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Vi ho mai mostrato il porta PC portatile da parete che feci qualche anno fa? Stasera ho smontato tutto per sfilare e ripulire la PS4 accanto.
Quello bianco è un pannello in PVC di recupero dalla galvanica, lo buttavano via, poi c'è un profilo ad angolo in alluminio e pellicola lucida effetto carbonio del negozio di cinesi.
Si nota la presa d'aria che ho fatto di sotto verso il centro?
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ICE and CBP face-scanned 100,000 people last year. So EFF is proud to support Senator Markey’s “ICE Out of My Face Act,” which will stop these agencies’ biometric surveillance. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/02/yes-ice-out-my-face-act
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@mpjgregoire this is a great thread. Thank you!
