David Emerson

[aznboi9]

Unfortunately the 2006 election results, when compared with the results from 2004, seem to suggest just that. Vancouver-Kingsway is traditionally a left-leaning riding (though not to quite the same degree as Libby Davies' Vancouver-East riding). In 2004, Emerson beat Waddell by a mere 1,351 votes, or 3.2%. Given the strong anti-Liberal sentiments surrounding the 2006 election, and the fact that the Conservatives gained only negligible ground in this riding, one would have thought Waddell would have pulled ahead, but he didn't. To the contrary, he actually lost to Emerson by 4,592 votes, or 10%. Given Emerson's excellent track record as both a cabinet minister and a representative of the Vancouver-Kingsway riding (and the City of Vancouver, VANOC, etc.), it would appear that constituents were indeed voting for David Emerson "The Man" rather than David Emerson "The Liberal."

2004 Results:
Emerson 17,267 40.4%
Waddell 15,916 37.3%
Johl 7,037 16.5%

2006 Results:
Emerson 20,062 43.5%
Waddell 15,470 33.5%
Wong 8,679 18.8%

My feelings towards his defection are mixed, however. I recall reading a Jan 24 Globe and Mail editorial exploring the issue of whether Vancouver voters had effectively screwed themselves by failing to vote in a Conservative candidate. I agree that a lack of representation in the House could have serious negative ramifications for the City of Vancouver. More likely than not, David Emerson's shift to the Conservative party will in fact benefit Vancouver in many ways. Emerson likened his shift to remaining on a corporate board of directors even when the CEO has been fired and replaced by the shareholders. Not a bad analogy, in my opinion.

On the other hand, I feel that the Vancouver-Kingsway electorate was, in effect, duped into choosing a Conservative candidate. Although I have speculated that it was Emerson "The Man," rather than Emerson "The Liberal" who was voted in, that certainly can't be the case for everyone who cast a ballot in his favour. In addition, although Emerson was (and is) very well liked by his constituents, I do have my doubts that he would have ben re-elected had he run his campaign as a Conservative.

The only fair way to settle this issue would be, as stated by previous posters, to hold a by-election. Harper and Emerson should stop defending their actions and allow the voters their rights as Canadian citizens to make a truly informed decision.

Jodie's so hot...


















Sorry, I'm not trying to sound like a chauvinistic pig; but I find intelligence awfully sexy.

 

[Sonny]

I recall Mulroney trashing the Liberals for pork-barrelling before he won power. Immediately upon becoming PM he was the worst that ever had been at partisan patronage with taxpayers' dollars. Harper is cut from the Mulroney cloth - an unethical, opportunistic, hyprocritical liar who minimizes criticism from detractors by characterizing it as "superficial".

Emerson has absolutely no respect for the voter. Not even a single day of the new government had occurred before Harper "facilitated" his betrayal. The electorate did not vote for him; they voted overwhelmingly for the Liberal party on a platform in which Emerson included a strong pitch to keep the "hidden agenda" Cons out. Well, he had his own hidden agenda, perhaps for quite a while.... just in case the Libs lost. He is just a big business asshole who thinks he's smarter than the rest and is "entitled" to foist his personal views on his constituents and decide he knows better how to serve them - so much for democracy!

And then there's that jerk Fortier who knew he could not be elected and therefore chose not to run, knowing all the while that he would be awarded a Senate seat and a cabinet position. Let's just see if he gives that seat up before the next election (coming very soon folks), or whether he does not (gee, I can better serve my country by remaining in the upper house - to take a lead from Emerson's excuse).

I don't care what political affiliation folks follow - that is everyone's free and democratic right. But wake up guys & gals - there is no rationale (other than a perverted one) that justifies how these two got their cabinet posts. They want in? Fine, then win in by-elections... or not, and go back to your hole.

 

[dexi]

Given the strong anti-Liberal sentiments surrounding the 2006 election, and the fact that the Conservatives gained only negligible ground in this riding, one would have thought Waddell would have pulled ahead, but he didn't. To the contrary, he actually lost to Emerson by 4,592 votes, or 10%. Given Emerson's excellent track record as both a cabinet minister and a representative of the Vancouver-Kingsway riding (and the City of Vancouver, VANOC, etc.), it would appear that constituents were indeed voting for David Emerson "The Man" rather than David Emerson "The Liberal."

Interesting and well thought out. However, you may be discounting one factor in this election, namely the number of people who voted Liberal for fear of the Conservatives winning. In a close election, those who naturally gravitate towards a 3rd party sometimes feel compelled to vote for one or the other of the 2 mains to "hedge their bets."

Some normally NDP voters in Vancouver-Kingsway may have done just that. Left leaning, but fearful that their riding will go Conservative, they "lend" the Liberals their vote as they feel the Liberals are the lesser of two evils.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Emerson has absolutely no respect for the voter. Not even a single day of the new government had occurred before Harper "facilitated" his betrayal. The electorate did not vote for him; they voted overwhelmingly for the Liberal party on a platform in which Emerson included a strong pitch to keep the "hidden agenda" Cons out. Well, he had his own hidden agenda, perhaps for quite a while.... just in case the Libs lost. He is just a big business asshole who thinks he's smarter than the rest and is "entitled" to foist his personal views on his constituents and decide he knows better how to serve them - so much for democracy!
I don't care what political affiliation folks follow - that is everyone's free and democratic right. But wake up guys & gals - there is no rationale (other than a perverted one) that justifies how these two got their cabinet posts. They want in? Fine, then win in by-elections... or not, and go back to your hole.

This is the real point. While Jodie and others say it is justified because the guy is talented and will do a good job for BC it misses the real issue, which is ethics and arrogance. Emerson was on the losing side. In every election talented, effected people are on the losing side and end up out of cabinet or work in Opposition. That's what happens. They don't all switch sides just to keep their positions. It shows an incredible arrogance that Emerson thinks his talents are so special, that he is so perfect, that he is the only one capable of handling that portfolio. If it is as easy as saying, "I'm playing for the other team today," why vote? I hope his wife is prepared to hear about him being a Brokeback Mountain fan because he seems to switch teams awfully easily. I have always voted, but I really feel it is truly pointless until there is some change to the electoral system.

 

[Damaged]

its assholes like him that make all politicians look bad.

assholes like him are why i dont bother voting.

No voting in my books means you've lost the right to complain about the current government.

 

[David in Van]

Hmmmm.............

I'm sure that will happen.



not so sure about that happening


My take.

Crossing the floor should require a by-election. We can then do away with this BS from all the parties. I'm sure the crazies will come up will all kinds of reasons that it is worse for Harper and Emerson to do this than Martin and Stronach but in my books it is equally bad. Having said that.....I think Emerson will do a good job and am glad that this happened.

RM

Yes, but we are forgetting that we are voting for people that happen to be affiliated with parties. If we were voting for the party, then we would vote by party for each riding and then the winning party would install whoever they wanted.

Put another way, the Liberals want their money back because they thought that they bought and paid for their man. When their man decided to vote his own way, they are screaming bloody blue murder. By this logic, I should be able to go to Ottawa, hand Harper or Martin a piece of legislation and a wad of cash, and expect to get it passed.

If David Emerson stayed a Liberal but voted with the Conservatives on certain issues, would he be getting the same response? The answer is that would depend on what the issue was, which is the real crux of the issue.

I thought that Martin and Harper both made tactically astute decisions.

Emerson's will be judged soon enough at the next election.

 

[Sleepy]

Well actually your reasoning is pretty good too but here's my point. There was a survey taken just before the election in Vancouver-Kingsway that pretty much picked the Liberals but Emerson's recognition factor, name, postion, accomplishments were very low. The pollsters were surprised and concluded before the election that it was a the party not the man who would get the votes. (I tried to google it but couldn't find that poll--there are so many!)

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=a9aae16a-4fd5-4022-94a7-8089e1bd4373&k=64969

"The Mustel poll had some surprising conclusions that may provide clues as to why Mr. Emerson took some unusually aggressive stands during the campaign, accusing the Tories of being "heartless'' and the NDP simple-minded:

- Asked to identify Mr. Emerson's accomplishments, 3% mentioned Mr. Emerson's status as a minister, 2% said he was outspoken on softwood lumber, 2% mentioned he promoted B.C. business development, and 1% referred to his support for Western issues.

Three per cent mentioned "miscellaneous" items and the remaining 90% wouldn't or couldn't mention anything."

And here's another link some of you might be interested in:
http://www.petitiononline.com/RDE/petition.html

 

[sdw]

Yes, but we are forgetting that we are voting for people that happen to be affiliated with parties. If we were voting for the party, then we would vote by party for each riding and then the winning party would install whoever they wanted.

Put another way, the Liberals want their money back because they thought that they bought and paid for their man. When their man decided to vote his own way, they are screaming bloody blue murder. By this logic, I should be able to go to Ottawa, hand Harper or Martin a piece of legislation and a wad of cash, and expect to get it passed.

If David Emerson stayed a Liberal but voted with the Conservatives on certain issues, would he be getting the same response? The answer is that would depend on what the issue was, which is the real crux of the issue.

I thought that Martin and Harper both made tactically astute decisions.

Emerson's will be judged soon enough at the next election.

David Emerson probably would get away with it if he had done as lovely Belinda did and crossed after a year. Emerson's problem is he crossed before the Official Agent had even started on all of the necessary reports. Somehow, I don't see the Liberal who was acting as Official Agent continuing to act for a now Conservative.

There are currently a whole bunch of clocks running. If David Emerson misses any of them, the only penalty provided for in the new 2004 Election Act is a 5 year ban from holding elected or appointed federal office.

Check out the Election Act sections 443, 445, 446 and 472.

I'm sure that a "special person" like David Emerson has never had to deal with necessary paper work. It's possible that some difficulties never crossed the minds of Steven Harper and David Emerson.

Political hacks like me are the persons who ensure that a candidate's election is made legal after election day.

I'm going to personally enjoy watching the first idiot run afoul of the 2004 Election Act which closed a whole batch of holes that he could have slipped through previously.

 

[dreamer222]

why not pick the best?

I think that this Emerson thing shows the need for electoral reform and a change of thinking about politics. Why doesn't Harper pick the best people for the job regardless of political affilation (European style)? Why not give Emerson and Jack Layton (and may be even Jim Harris) a cabinet post? It is time that we moved towards a political system where all voices are at the table. What we have now is a dictatorship of the largest minority.

 

[dick slap]

There was an election?

 

[expo joe]

Exactly, come the next election the voters will be able to express their opinion as to the merits of his decision. Belinda and Brison never considered stepping down, but did face the voters in the 2006 vote. While I detest both of them, the fact of the matter is the voters reaffirmed their decision by returning both of them to Parliment. The only person that seems to be fanatically pursuing the issue of a by-election is Ian Waddell. In his mind, has-been socialist hack that he is, he was robbed of the election somehow by Emmerson.

Sparky,
I completely agree with your assessment/ opinion but aside from the "socialist hack" there isn't anyone of political significance to pursue a by-election. The traitor Emmerson is no longer a Lib, can't remember the Cons candidate but obviously, he can't speak up, leaving only the "hack" to whine about things. I really cannot see him even having a remote chance at winning the riding. If there was a by-election, I believe the Libs would come out on top again...

 

[Gentleman First]

Sparky,
I completely agree with your assessment/ opinion but aside from the "socialist hack" there isn't anyone of political significance to pursue a by-election. The traitor Emmerson is no longer a Lib, can't remember the Cons candidate but obviously, he can't speak up, leaving only the "hack" to whine about things. I really cannot see him even having a remote chance at winning the riding. If there was a by-election, I believe the Libs would come out on top again...

Actually many in that riding have already said they voted for emerson, just to keep the cons out.

So now that he has screwed over so many, i bet in a by-election, it would return as it used to be, to an NDP strong hold.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Jodie]

Community Forum

Saturday at 1:30 at a school in the Van-Kingsway riding but I can't remember the name. Can anyone help?

Saturday February 11th from 1:00-3:00 pm at Tupper Secondary School auditorium (419 East 49th Ave).

 

[CJ Tylers]

Jeez, wouldn't a good old fashioned lynching or a tar & feathering followed by a night in the stocks be much simpler? Mob justice at its finest.

 

[The Lizard King]

Jeez, wouldn't a good old fashioned lynching or a tar & feathering followed by a night in the stocks be much simpler? Mob justice at its finest.

Actually if he strays anywhere near Tupper, he could even get shot!

 

[Randy Whorewald]

I have a friend who extoled the great virtues of that fuckwad Harper to me during the election....how ethical he was blah blah blah.
He even made a point of saying how he is for elected people in cabinet only etc etc. and how with the Cons in it will be a true gov. for the people and how we will have such a great and ethical leader.
The man was not even sworn into office yet and he had already called that asswipe Emerson to defect.


Emerson should be sued for the $100K he stole from the Libs and banned from politics for life.

Harper should get a non confidence vote and a forced election for breaking his promises BEFORE he is even sworn in.

I bet if an election was held today he would lose big time.

The people are not happy and Harper has not even been in a week yet....and i will bet this is just a preview of what is to come from that fucking scumbag harper.

Personally i would not piss on harper if he was on fire.

He is the lowest of the low

Why don't you tell us how you really feel Gentlemnfirst! I don't think Martin and the Chretien gang are anything to be proud of. Canadians have become so numb after being robbed by the Libs for over 12 years, their demise was inevitable. Was it OK for Belinda to switch sides?

 

[Cock Throppled]

As bad as Emerson (rhymes with prick) is in this - Harper comes off worse because he showed he did have a hidden agenda- to behave exactly like the Liberals. Both are now staying the course and hoping it will all go away. It probably will, but it will cost the Cons dearly in the next election. The sooner it comes, the more damage. Harper is betting Emerson (rhymes with asshole) will solve the softwood issue, become a hero and all will be forgiven. I wonder if the business people supporting Emerson (rhymes with jerk) would be so suportive if the scenario was put this way - Em secures partners and bank loans to build a manufacturing plant - then takes the money to build a mansion for himself and family because he can think better in that setting. How is his negotiating going to be now he's shown he can't be believed or trusted?

 

[westwoody]

Harper claims to be for an elected Senate because appointment to the Senate is undemocratic. But having an appointed cabinet minister-Fortier- responsible for spending billions of dollars and who doesn't have to appear in Question Period is democratic?
Can't wait to see how Harper defends himself in Question Period. I hope he gets roasted alive. He'll say "The Liberals did it so we can too".