[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Josephus]

We need a thread. Government about to fall. Election campaign soon.

[Neil]

What's the point?  The end result will be the same, except the Liberals will be stronger and the NDP weaker.

[Cecil]

What is the conservatives polling at?

[Grey Fox]

What is the conservatives polling at?

34% everywhere but in Quebec, I believe.

[Josephus]

What's the point?  The end result will be the same, except the Liberals will be stronger and the NDP weaker.

That wouldn't disappoint me so much. I don't like Layton and am hoping he goes down after this election.

[Grey Fox]

I might vote Cons. I don't like them much, nor do I care about their tendencies to control everything plus their hidden agenda but my number 1 issue is #UBB & so far Clement's the only one that seems to be against it for more then the political capital it gives.

[Grallon]

The Conservatives need enough rope to hang themselves - that means time.  Were I the Bloc leader I'd continue to support them until they do so; hang that is.

As things stands though it's a gigantic waste of money that will further alienate the electorate from its representatives.



G.

[Camerus]

I supported the Conservatives in the last couple elections.  I might otherwise be inclined to vote Liberal this time, but with Iggy as their leader and lacking any coherent principles, I will likely vote Conservative.

[Josephus]

Because Harper is so full of principles.

[Barrister]

Because Harper is so full of principles.

Both Harper and Ignatief seem to be honest and principled in their personal dealings.  If that's how PP meant it, I would disagree with him.

If however PP mean political principles, he is right.  Harper has a very concistent political ideology, and has generally been consistent in pushing for same (Potash decision notwithstanding ).  If Harper is elected you know what you will get.  That's not to say it's a secret agenda - you only have to look at what issues he's pushed for the last several years: balanced budget, lower taxes, tough on crime, clamp down on illegal refugees / streamline immigratin process, pro-military.

Ignatief though... it's unclear what his political principles are.  He had a long track record of wriging and commentary before returning to politics, but it doesn't seem to have much connection to anything he's saying as leader.

[crazy canuck]

This feels a bit contrived to me.  There is no burning issue to go to the polls over.  It seems to me the Liberals motivation is to see if Iggy will sink or swim and if he sinks to move on to another period of party "renewal".  I have no idea what Layton's motivation is.  The NDP will lose seats. The conservatives can't be all that unhappy because they have a shot at a majority or the status quo.  I dont know enough about politics within Quebec to know what the Bloc is thinking but they might be forced to vote against the budget because they didnt get all the funding they wanted.

[crazy canuck]

Because Harper is so full of principles.

Yes.  They just happen to be priciples that are at odds with your particular ideology.

[Josephus]

Absolutely, which is why I'm not a Layton fan; I don't think we need this election.

The Conservatives have the most to gain--Harper's long coveted dictatorship majority governement. He's already been found in contempt of parliament, imagine what he could do with a majority.

I think this is a final stand for all three leaders.

If Harper doesn't get his majority; If Iggy doesn't win at least a minority; If Layton doesn't gain an extra seat, then  their time as party leader is over.

As it stands now, I believe the Cons are on track to make a valiant effort at that majority...but election campaigns are fickle creatures and anything can happen. But I don't think either Iggy or Layton has the ability to swing this campaign, so the only hope is for Harper to blow it like the Conservatives did in Ontario. We shall seee.

We should also have a pool to see what percentage of eligible voters will vote...I think it will be extremely low.

[Barrister]

This feels a bit contrived to me.  There is no burning issue to go to the polls over.  It seems to me the Liberals motivation is to see if Iggy will sink or swim and if he sinks to move on to another period of party "renewal".  I have no idea what Layton's motivation is.  The NDP will lose seats. The conservatives can't be all that unhappy because they have a shot at a majority or the status quo.  I dont know enough about politics within Quebec to know what the Bloc is thinking but they might be forced to vote against the budget because they didnt get all the funding they wanted.

All I can come up with isa that the NDP's loony fringe, who never saw a political advantage they wouldn't squander, just bitched so much about Harper they forced Layton into a disasterous election.

Bloc - maybe they think the arena non-funding in QC is enough for them to make headway (plus is there any residual effect from the whole coalition fiasco where the Conservatives railed against an alliance with sepratists)?

[crazy canuck]

He's already been found in contempt of parliament, imagine what he could do with a majority.

You can tone down the party rhetoric here.  So the three opposition parties who want to force an election for some reason got together to vote on a "contempt of parliament motion"  which is effectively an "I dont like you" motion.

That may sell in union halls and NDP faithful meetings but I doubt it is going to have much resonance anywhere else.

I agree with you about Iggy and Layton being on the way out.  But as much as you might wish it I doubt Harper is going anywhere. He has governed very effectively for years with a minority government and a majority has never been far away.

I agree that voter turnout will be low.  Tough to say who that will benefit.