Monday was Thomas Mulcair's first day on the job as leader of the NDP, a rather friendly introduction to his new role, slightly less venomous than the original talking points from the Conservative Party post convention.
On Saturday, Mr. Mulcair claimed the title once held by Jack and stretching back to Tommy Douglas, though NDP purists probably don't see much in common between the new leader and the man who helped found the party, but that's a debate for another day.
The weekend convention as we have observed had its strange moments, from Friday's speeches which ranged from earnest (Nathan Cullen's one man in the spotlight show) to the bizarre situation of one of their top candidates effectively getting a hook from the sidelines as the music played her off the stage, through to Thomas Mulcair speed reading his speech to fit into the allotted time, from it all the term well oiled machine just didn't spring to mind.
And that was before the marathon of voting owing to computer issues whether in house or from a concerted attack from forces yet identified, making Saturday a day of much tedium wrapped up momentarily in a bit of political excitement. An event so captivating that even the NDP's own faithful it seems didn't quite see the need to become totally involved.
The NDP ended up banished to the various news networks by 6:30 the CBC no doubt aware that their switchboard operators were not deserving of the outburst of anger any delay to Hockey Night in Canada might provide for.
And as the day droned on into night, we imagine even the executives at the News networks might have been looking for an escape hatch, the CBC no doubt looking over the schedule at Bold and wondering if anyone would notice if they shifted convention coverage further down the digital dial.
Finally however, that burden of decision making was removed as the final ballot came along and Mr. Mulcair and all the NDP apostles took to the stage to set the course ahead.
A road that should provide for many twists and turns along the way, they believe they have shored up the NDP presence in Quebec with the arrival of Mr. Mulcair to the national stage, the test now will be if they can hold their ground in Ontario and recapture the imagination of those supporters in the West, a part of the nation that suddenly seems very under represented along the NDP benches in Ottawa.
To review some of the events from Toronto, a few items of note from the convention weekend can be found below.
Globe and Mail-- NDP on verge of brave new world under brash Thomas Mulcair
Globe and Mail-- Mulcair victorious on fourth ballot
Globe and Mail-- Thomas Mulcair replaces Jack Layton as leader of the NDP
Globe and Mail-- NDP opts for a power broker over a protest leader
Globe and Mail-- 'Well over 10,000' computers used in attack on NDP leadership vote
Globe and Mail-- NDP hunts for source of cyber-attack on electronic voting system
National Post-- Thomas Mulcair must be hard on the outside, soft on the inside
National Post-- In the struggle for power, Mulcair's winning attitude better last
National Post-- When Thomas Mulcair runs into Western public opinion there will be blood
National Post-- If Mulcair can't hold the NDP's gains, the merger whispers will begin
National Post-- Was this any way to pick a new NDP leader
National Post-- Thomas Mulcair's challenge is to prove he is no political opportunist
Toronto Star-- NDP leader Thomas Muclair returns to a tougher neighbourhood
Toronto Star-- Thomas Mulcair off to a good start - with good timing
Toronto Star-- Officials mum about source of cyber-attack meant to disrupt online voting
Toronto Star-- NDP makes the right bet by making Thomas Mulcair its leader
Toronto Star-- New Democrats take the safe road with Thomas Mulcair
Toronto Star-- How Thomas Mulcair won the NDP leadership
Toronto Sun-- Former Quebec Liberal new NDP leader
Toronto Sun-- Mulcair Harper with whiskers
CBC-- Thomas Mulcair builds on his Quebec base
CBC-- Mulcair, Harper allies in plotting Liberals' demise
CBC-- New NDP Leader Mulcair touts party unity
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