Canadian Politics Thread

[saskganesh]

heh.

crazy canuck= socialism in one country

[Josephus]

 

Have you ever seen her website? libbydavies.ca?

It's so.........pink

[Josephus]

According to the papers this morning:

"a Fall federal election is a virtual certainty."


You know, I think this is Harper's best --and last--shot for that elusive majority. I have a funny feeling he might get it. The conditions just are not there for the Liberals to steal this one away. Recent polls give the edge to the Conservatives, and the NDP have enough support to split many ridings. And there's no telling what those Greens will do.

The recession just, in my opinion hasn't lived up to its billing. I think the majority of those who voted Conservative last time have no reason to abandon them now...and many fence sitters will probably just want a stable gov't for the next four years.

So hats off to all of you and bon chance.

[saskganesh]

Harper just needs any one party to support him in a  forced confidence vote.

or any 15 members of the opposition can stay at home citing swine flu or important constituency business and the government will survive.

I think the opps should punt, and look at the election in spring 2010.

[Barrister]

Yeah, I can't see a big upside to any opposition party pulling the plug at this point.

But I can see the dilemma too - there's no real upside to supporting the government either.  It's kind of like a 3-way game of chicken.  Each of the parties hopes another one blinks.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Yeah I'm getting a bit bored by all the posturing (and I don't mean here on Languish) stop the name calling and start working together in a bi-partisan way to get some things done. There is no such thing as governing without making some compromises. You'd think the leaders of 3 national parties would know that.

[Grey Fox]

Yes to voting #7 since I turned 18.

[crazy canuck]

I think the NDP are being very clever here.  They have pulled out one issue they want addressed by the government and it looks like the government will do it.

Both will come out looking good while the Liberals will come out of it splattered with mud - potential headlines (NDP wins concessions Liberals failed to obtain) or something along those lines.

Meanwhile the BQ continues to look good by standing by the easy and age old mantra "if its good for Quebec we will support it"

I see no win in this for the Liberals in the short or long term.

[ulmont]

Yes to voting #7 since I turned 18.

Does BQ always have the #7 line?

[BuddhaRhubarb]

I think the NDP are being very clever here.  They have pulled out one issue they want addressed by the government and it looks like the government will do it.

Both will come out looking good while the Liberals will come out of it splattered with mud - potential headlines (NDP wins concessions Liberals failed to obtain) or something along those lines.

Meanwhile the BQ continues to look good by standing by the easy and age old mantra "if its good for Quebec we will support it"

I see no win in this for the Liberals in the short or long term.

Ya I think Iggy is the wrong guy for the job at the wrong time. (he's better suited to being a critic on TV or in print etc)

[Barrister]

I think the NDP are being very clever here.  They have pulled out one issue they want addressed by the government and it looks like the government will do it.

Both will come out looking good while the Liberals will come out of it splattered with mud - potential headlines (NDP wins concessions Liberals failed to obtain) or something along those lines.

Meanwhile the BQ continues to look good by standing by the easy and age old mantra "if its good for Quebec we will support it"

I see no win in this for the Liberals in the short or long term.

Ya I think Iggy is the wrong guy for the job at the wrong time. (he's better suited to being a critic on TV or in print etc)

Nah.  Leader of the opposition is always a hard role, and every leader of the opposition gets tagged with the "not up to be PM" label.   I bet Iggy would be a fine PM.  He (and nearly any Liberal leader) is just in a nearly impossible situation.  Your base does not like Harper, and gets discouraged every time you say anything even a little bit positive about him.  But the wider population wants you to work with him.  But every time you do work with him it is Harper, not yourself, that gets the credit.  But if you pull the plug on this parliament Harper runs a good chance of doing even better (plus you have no money in the bank).

[Grey Fox]

Yes to voting #7 since I turned 18.

Does BQ always have the #7 line?

They are by Alphabetical order with the Candidates last names.

I meant it will be the 7th time I'm going to vote. It's alot, I only turned 18, 7 years ago.

[ulmont]

They are by Alphabetical order with the Candidates last names.

Same as here, then.

I meant it will be the 7th time I'm going to vote. It's alot, I only turned 18, 7 years ago.

Wuss.  I voted 5 times last year (and all Georgians had the same 5 chances, with one state house district adding another 2 chances):

Presidential Preference Primary
General Primary
General Primary Runoff
General Election
General Election Runoff

[Malthus]

I suspect the main problem for the Liberals is that the recession in Canada hasn't been nearly as bad as everyone feared (at least so far), and hasn't had the expected political effect of making Harper look like Herbert Hoover.

[viper37]

Yes to voting #7 since I turned 18.

and you're what, 19?