And another sad election coming, probably May 2

[HankQuinlan]

Another election coming this spring, with no possible good result. The opposition is uninspiring, the current government filled with spin and lies. Blah.

Best result -- a coalition that at least represents more Canadians, but wouldn't last long.
Next best -- another minority Conservative government, same as we have now.

The only election platform that Harper seems to have is that "At least we aren't as bad off economically at the other G-8 countries". He doesn't mention that is because he didn't have the power to pull the banking regulations that he wanted to.

I hate voting against something instead of voting for something, but I will be doing it yet again.

 

[wilde]

Agreed. But one good thing will come out of it, the Grits will lose Ignatieff after this election and hopefully get a more electable leader.

 

[bcneil]

Total waste of money. 300mil! That's like what 5000 school teacher for a year?
I saw the cons at 43 percent. This could backfire, for the libs/ndp

 

[mercyshooter]

It's the system and the constitutional rights make Canada a poor fucking country! Like everyone is out of a job or whatever that can benefit most in the world!

Simply put, Canada is not a country because of zero team work!

 

[storm rider]

Iggy has one thing right. There is a Red door and a Blue door for everyone outside of Quebec. For most of Canada, the choice is Liberal or Conservative.

That is his answer to reporters asking him that if the Conservatives win another minority government will the liberals form a coalition government...more spin/lies and utter BS...you can bet that is just what the liberals are planning to do.I myself would love to see a voting citizen in a town hall forum put the screws to ignatieff and ask him "If the Conservatives win another minority government will the liberals form a coalition government with the other opposition parties....YES or NO?" and when ignatieff tries to put the spin on it I would like to see that voter badger him...beligerantly challange him and repeat the question and loudly say "YES or NO?"

Personally I think the Conservatives have a good chance at a majority...they have good polling numbers going into the election and it is highly doubtfull they will be derailed by a fiasco such as the listeriosis debacle.I would much rather see the Conservatives with a majority or even a minority instead of the liberals.

I would like to add that I voted liberal all the way up to the sponsorship scandal.After that story broke wide open and the details slowly became public knowledge I vowed I would never vote liberal again.

SR

 

[Cock Throppled]

I vote Rhino.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

Agreed. But one good thing will come out of it, the Grits will lose Ignatieff after this election and hopefully get a more electable leader.

...and that's a good thing?

 

[chilli]

...and that's a good thing?

yup.

Ignatieff is not a true Canadian.

He can't decide whether he's a Canadian or an American.

 

[Bartdude]

yup.

Ignatieff is not a true Canadian.

He can't decide whether he's a Canadian or an American.

That's complete bullshit.

Harper and Ignatieff have almost identical backgrounds in Canada.

Both are Eastern Canadian. Both grew up in upper middle class homes.

Both went into university and spent much of their adult life in academia before entering politics.

The only difference? Ignatieff rose to the top of his field and was a professor at Harvard.

Harper got a masters from one of the lowest-ranked universities in Canada.

 

[wilde]

...and that's a good thing?

That depends, to me it is as the Liberals' policies are more in line with how I think this country should be goverened. I have nothing against Ignatieff and I don't buy the he is less Canadian propaganda but I just don't see him as our PM. Just look at the provincial Liberals, with Christy Clark as the new leader, they just might win the next one.

 

[curmudgeon]

I was just looking at the recent polling for the federal parties

http://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/polls.html#NATIONAL


results from the 2008 election:

10.0% Bloq
37.6% Conservative
06.8% Green
26.2% Liberal
18.2% NDP

I used the data from the website above, and averaged the data from the last 7 polls (all done in the month of March) and the result were:

10.0% Bloq
37.4% Conservative
07.9% Green
26.6% Liberal
16.6% NDP

So the electorate is pretty much where it was 3 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[mercyshooter]

Green will never be in the parliament!

 

[DavidMR]

I absolutely loved watching Jack Layton try to explain why or how the Conservatives could or would change the budget after the non-confidence vote. When the NDP voted to move the non-confidence vote before the budget vote, there was no longer any reason to negotiate with the NDP. When the NDP voted with the Bloc and Liberals on the non-confidence vote, there was no longer anything that could be done in the house.

Layton offered to let the Govt amend their budget, and they said no. Flaherty said this isn't collective bargaining. So that is why the NDP supported the non-confidence motion.

I think, Al, you've been watching the 24 hour news channels a bit too late at night and your memory has mixed up the order of events.

 

[Bartdude]

Layton offered to let the Govt amend their budget, and they said no. Flaherty said this isn't collective bargaining. So that is why the NDP supported the non-confidence motion.

I think, Al, you've been watching the 24 hour news channels a bit too late at night and your memory has mixed up the order of events.

Layton totally got used by Harper. All he was doing was looking to tweek or enhance his "budget" (read: election goodies) enough to appear like he was being cooperative, when really all he was doing was moving another piece into place to engineer his "defeat".

 

[maroonedsailor]

If we ever again get an electable liberal leader I'm calling the Pope to report a verifiable miracle.
I never thought I'd feel compelled to vote for Harper but I'm getting pretty sick of the gang of three

 

[mercyshooter]

They all know the fucking system. It's fucking weak! So, inductively, the chance of everything is good without going to the back door channel is fucking garbage. Therefore, debate is not needed!

 

[ReluctantPooner]

Just what we need right now....the 4th federal election in 7 years. I hope this backfires on the opposition and the Conservatives get a majority!

 

[curmudgeon]

Give this a try:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

it's a web based questionnaire that tests your political leanings on various issues, and then shows where you stand relative to the leaders of the major parties.

 

[HankQuinlan]

Give this a try:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

it's a web based questionnaire that tests your political leanings on various issues, and then shows where you stand relative to the leaders of the major parties.

The only consistent result I get is that I disagree with the Cons on almost every subject. The much more general test that has been posted before is a far more accurate test of general beliefs:
http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

This one, of course, is directed towards the actual choices we have with our political parties, which are much more limited.

Anyone should automatically answer that Gilles Duceppe is the most trustworthy leader -- he is clearly the only one who says exactly what he means.

 

[HankQuinlan]

I also see this morning that Harper has a second platform (aside from we are somewhat better off than most other developed countries). That would be that those other scoundrels will form a damn sneaky coaltion and have a coup of some sort. I hope they do, but it won't happen.

If Harper does get a majority, I will console myself with the surety that it will be one term only. The country will be increasingly divided, there will be many more protests in the streets, and many more people will vote in the next election afterwards. The Liberals, NDP and Greens will hopefully come to realize that they have to unite and form a single party -- or at least, a coalition PRIOR to that election.