The survey by Ipsos-Reid, provided exclusively to CanWest/Global, reveals Stephen Harper's Tories hold a "solid" five-point lead over the Liberals under Prime Minister Paul Martin. Thirty-five per cent would vote Conservative nationally, compared with 30% for the Liberals, 18% for the NDP, 12% for the Bloc Quebecois and 5% for the Green party.Most importantly, the Conservatives have broken the Liberals' grip in vote-rich Ontario, where the fate of the upcoming election will likely be determined. The Tories have the support of 40% of Ontarians, compared to 36% for the Liberals, 20% for the NDP and 4% for the Greens.
I've yet to hear much on radio this morning about this (on Rawlco or on CBC). Instead, they've been pimping the "Canadians don't want an election right now" meme, an assist for Paul Martin's "wait for Gomery" lifeline grab.
They say this as though there's something especially distateful about voting in June - we'd really much prefer a December call.
I can see it now - party signs amidst the reindeer displays. Santa in Liberal Party colours.
Return your ballot to: Elections Canada, HOH OHO.
"You're a mean one, Mr. Harper. You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a Christian, You're as charming as an redneck American kicking the sick into the streets ...."
Jack Layton in that cute little elf suit.
So, elaborate, please. This alleged dread of elections is conspicuously silent on specifics. What precisely is the source for this Great National Reluctance we are supposed to be gripped with? An aversion to unprotected pencil sharing? The time required to study up on the letter 'X'?
I won't presume to speak for others, and I'm sure I'm not as brilliant as the media pundits telling me what I want ... but when I look down my Life Moment Heirarchy of Disagreeableness, election related annoyances are conspicuously absent;
Voting robs me of approximately 4 minutes of my life. A minute or so to walk to the polling station at the end of the street, a moment or two while they check for my name, a few seconds to vote, and a minute to walk home. Unless I'm in a hurry, and then I take the bike.
Of course, most people in this rural area have to drive many miles to the polls. I can feel the rage building now across the countryside, anger simmering with the prospect of having to come out to vote on a warm June day...
Why can't we be doing this in January, when it's -28 below with blowing snow, and a driveway to shovel?" ..."An election, now? Right in the middle of just finished seeding?" ... "Damn them, couldn't they just wait for some ice on the sidewalks?" ... "What were they thinking? It's not even flu season!"...
"Canadians don't want an election now".
They must think we're idiots.
"They must think we're idiots."
No, they're praying we're idiots.
They need time to buy paper shredders.
I only one reason for NOT voting in Dec., I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG!!!!
Would be nice to know which direction the countries going so alternative plans can be put into place if necessary....
Germany: Elections:
March 13, 1932
April 10, 1932
July 18, 1932
July 31, 1932
Nov. 6, 1932
March 5, 1933
National Socialism: winner takes all..
Well, obviously the Liberals want a winter election, if they can possibly get away with it. The rural ridings tend to vote more conservative than the cities, and guess which ones--city folks or country folks--would find it harder to get out to the polling station when the snow drifts are piling high? The Liberals may be hopelessly corrupt, but they're certainly not stupid.
Harper and the Conservatives need to run a solid campaign though. My suggestion would be for them to lay out some straightforward election planks, nothing that suburban Canada can't live with (and preferably something that substantively addresses the health care issue), and then hit the Liberals with a campaign slogan along the lines of "Who has the real hidden agenda?"
They're paying people to be idiots, they should get idiots.
I'm amazed the liberals still have 30% - CBC must have more viewers than I thought.
Jay,
It's not just CBC backing them, CTV and Global have also softened it to a point were people think "It's not that bad". The local radio station here is claiming that Jumpin Jack Layton through the libs a life raft, but no mention of anything related to corruption, or anything related to the election. For that you have to listen to the conservative radio during the week. The Librano control on media is fairly strong.
Martin doesn't want an election now because he is bamboozling us all into a scenario where he controls our information.
First, he used the SAME tactic to get free political party television time as the Gomery Inquiry is investigating. That is, he used our taxpayer money (the CBC prime time), not for an announcement of a national emergency but for his own Liberal party political purposes. That's what the sponsorship adscam did; it used our taxpayer money to fund political work. HE DID THE SAME THING two nights ago.
What does he want? He wants the cessation of the democratic process for 8 months. That is, no matter what his gov't says and does, he wants no opposition for 8 months. His time definition is 'after Mr. Gomery presents his FINAL report (not his draft, not his first final but his final, final, final). That gives Martin and his Liberals at least 8 or more months to do anything, as an autocracy, not a democracy, because he wants the opposition to 'lay off', i.e., allow him to do anything and not prevent him.
Martin will use this time to promise any and everything, including Mars and Venus. Neither of which he can deliver.
Then, he wants not only silence from the opposition, he wants silence from Gomery. He doesn't want people to do to the polls, having watched the Gomery inquiry on daily television or read various analyses. No. He wants silence. He wants the public inquiry over with..and Mr. Gomery to retreat to the isolate silence of his study for six months. So that Canadians will forget the details. Silence.
During that silent period..Martin will be back to his Mars and Venus..and Pluto and Uranus promises. It's easy to promise. The most recent is the Tsunami funding, promised by the gov't, which hasn't been handed over. Promises...
Just think what he has done over the past few days.
1)Laundered our money, to gain himself a prime time television political advertisement.
2)Asked for the cessation of democracy for 8 months.
3)Set up a manipulative scenario where he can bombard us with propaganda - free of interference from the opposition.
4)Oh- and lied to us. We don't need Mr. Gomery to tell us the facts and truth of this sponsorship mess. We can hear it daily on the news, and we can read the analyses. Martin is lying by comparing it with a 'criminal trial' where we must presume innocence. This is NOT a criminal trial. It's an inquiry - and those on the stand are not merely under oath, but, as a descriptive inquiry, all the details are public. There's no judge of truth; there's no jury; it's a descriptive analysis.
We don't need to wait for Gomery's Report.
It's Martin who wants us to wait - for those manipulative reasons I've outlined above.
I'm finding it hard to believe that 26% of Albertans would vote Liberal... who did they call, all of the screecher's supporters?
My phone didn't ring, did yours?
Hmm. let me see if I can help you...
1. Doing income tax - Hmm, hire it out.
1(tie). Gynocological exams - Never experienced those so can't say. Don't think I'd like either though.
3. Dentist - get a couple of plates, upper and lower would work.
4. Driving to Winnipeg - Don't go.
5. Deleting spam - Buy a Mac with OS X Tiger.
6. Whelping puppies - Get rid of the dogs.
7. Paying bills - Get rid of all the 'stuff' you're collecting. Simplify your life.
8. Cleaning the dog run - Get rid of the dogs.
9. Lining up at Superstore - Shop at the market. Become a vegetarian.
10. Laundry - Buy fewer cloths? I dunno.
Believe me, life gets simpler if we ditch all the 'stuff' we burden ourselves with.
ET,
One big question comes to mind after reading your post, which is most excellent and very true. What makes anyone think the Gomery report will ever be released?
Candace,
Ya gotta be a Librano card carrying member to get called, go to the same place they hand out the fake passports, and pick up a fake one.. ;-)
John Cittenden wrote "5. Deleting spam - Buy a Mac with OS X Tiger."
Sorry, but that won't help with spam, accept for the built in filter in mail.app. Responsible ISP's are suppose to handle that for you but it costs. It will eliminate a virus problem though(at the moment).
The solutions that people come up with..
1. Doing income tax - Hmm, hire it out.
Can't afford that.
3. Dentist - get a couple of plates, upper and lower would work.
That requires going to the dentist
4. Driving to Winnipeg - Don't go.
Not always an option.
5. Deleting spam - Buy a Mac with OS X Tiger.
Deleting spam at this site. The OS is irrelevant.
6. Whelping puppies - Get rid of the dogs.
I love the way people say "get rid of" when it comes to pets.
7. Paying bills - Get rid of all the 'stuff' you're collecting. Simplify your life.
Apparently I'm collecting power, water, gas and telephone.
8. Cleaning the dog run - Get rid of the dogs.
See above.
9. Lining up at Superstore - Shop at the market. Become a vegetarian.
Say, what?
10. Laundry - Buy fewer cloths? I dunno.
Fewer clothes require more frequent washing.
Gee, and a June election seemed like SUCH a good idea last year, when the lying scum called it prior to any of this coming out and while the Conservative Party was still either in disarray or perceived as being in disarray...
I submitted a humorous speech edit at
http://toronto.dose.ca/webx?13@@.ee9be52/14 - mine is number 14. Thought you might want to see it.
I'm going to state the obvious here, because I just can't quite be sure this string isn't ignoring it:
It's not VOTING that's at issue, it's having an election CAMPAIGN. People have real distaste for that month-long process, and there's that $250m cost argument lying underneath too.
OK. Proceed ...
That's right! A report coming down in November, means a campaign kickoff within 30 days, which places a campaign across a backdrop of Christmas/New Years... and by the way, where did you get the figure of "free" for it being held in 8 months?
In other words, the cost is a red herring, and so is the timing.
Canadians don't want an election. That's code for Ontarians don't want an election. Yours to Discover.
On the paper shredders. Good point! That's probably why the Ollie North Turbo 5000 is out of stock!
Liberals Mandate Blog Registry...
Paul Martin, in an televised address to the nation, announced "The National Blog Registry" or BlogReg
In a prepared statement taped in the two official languages from his (bunker) office on Parliament Hill, Mr. Martin stated:
Sorry, I brazenly jacked the idea from publius at
Coyne
Kate, I would have thought taking out the garbage would be on that list. Has it moved out off the 'disagreeables' list over onto the 'agreeables' list?
Who authorized this poll? Who did it? Who PAID for it? Who released it? Who gets published for comments on it?
OK, so I won't get called. But I DID get a response from one of my emails (not from the screecher, yet, this is in response to my Popsicle Republic email). A Conservative MP suggested I tell Paul directly how I feel (let's see if I even get through, maybe I'll lie & say I like Paul to the pre-screener). Let's all phone in, shall we?:
Election Update: Paul speaks to the country:
Prime Minister Paul Martin is fighting for his political life as the details of Sponsorship corruption continue to surface. An election seems inevitable ...but when? All parties are consumed with jockeying for advantage.
Talk to the leaders. Talk to the Prime Minister yourself.
Join host Rex Murphy and his guests, Sunday on Cross Country Checkup
Live on CBC Radio One at:
Newfoundland 5:36 - 7:30 pm
Atlantic 5:06 - 7:00 pm
Eastern 4:06 - 6:00 pm
Central 3:06 - 5:00 pm
Mountain 2:06 - 4:00 pm
Pacific 1:06 - 3:00 pm
Toll-free number (during the broadcast only): 1-888-416-8333
Maurice (Mo to Payola & Co.) Strong is Santa; Henne Strong is his bag-lady,helping to handout all the gifts.
Conspiracy by Strong? Communism by another name?
Nah, that is malarkey.(Gaia Movement, ten Commandments by Mo, & etc.) While you sleep, the Movement works, works, works,..
http://www.meta-religion.com/Secret_Societies/Conspiracies/NWO/earth_charter.htm
http://www.fathersforlife.org/articles/gunter/Strong_Martin_2.htm
Strong is lovingly dubbed "Mr. Earth" by the enviro-freaks.
Anyone found Mo & Hen's dacha address?
Is it north of Mo-ntreal abutting Paul Desmarais' dacha within 100 miles of Payola's "farm"?
How is a delay of 8 months a red hearing when it comes to cost? I mean, hell, let's call an election every three months then, why not - there are an infinite number of future elections so cost is irrelevant right?
Frankly, an election at this point would not change anything - the close we got to election day, the larger the chances of Harper or someone else in the CRAP spewing something vitriolic and everyone looking right, shaking their heads, looking left, shaking their heads, sighing, and voting for the bloody corrupt liberals again.
If nothing changes, the next "election" will take place in Quebec.
Followed soon after, by one out here.
Three reasons for going now:
1 - The Gomery report will probably never be released or watered down
2 - The party is totally corrupted and shouldn't be in the governance of a country
3 - Speedy immigration passes made for close election zones to push the libs over the top. This would create an unfair condition.
Cost of an election is not an issue as it will cost the same in Dec as it would in June. More money is being funneled in the mean time and could actually cost more in the long wrong.
As Harper said, it's a LIBERAL PROBLEM, not a Government problem.
Mr. Crittenden urges us to have a simpler life.There is nothing that has a more simple life than what a steer has in a feedlot.It is supplied with water, feed, and all of its necessaties all towards the day when it makes that trip to market.Remember that.Simple lives are for simpltons. There is one thing that scares me in this our Canada ,when I ask if someone has clicked on to sda they invariably say "will this get me into trouble ?"
Spike, why would they ask that, it's suppose to be a free country, or have we come that far left...
On another note, it looks like there's talks between http://www.wips.ca and http://separationalberta.com . They've been having meetings togethor and the Alberta leader has already warned Ontario, http://separationalberta.com/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=209
Things are really moving in the background in case the Libranos get back in.
Actually, it is a Political-Party-In-Power-For-Too-Long-With-No-Credible-Opposition + the most corrupt state/province in North America north of the Rio Grande (and I'm not too sure about that either). If this were done in T.O. or Vancouver all of the people whose fingers weren't in the pie would complain, but in Quebec, it is well understood how these things work.
Look, the Liberals need to be kicked out - but they need to be replaced by the Liberals, so we have a problem.
As for any separation mongering - won't happen, this is Canada, home of the We'd Rather Not, Thanks, We're Canadian.
can someone please tell me what is so scary about the conservatives/reform? middle and eastern canadians seem to have a spinal reflex without brain processes.
Can somebody please tell me when the name of the province I live in was changed to "Vote-Rich Ontario"?. I liked the old name better.
Kate: I'm with you on the "get rid of them" remark. Pets are a responsibility for life; if you can't commit, don't get one. (Although I must admit, I'm rather amazed at the *#(&$ing guinea pig lasting this long...funny, I don't feel that way about the dog or cat, likely a personality thing. How much personality can you have when you weigh less than 1 kg? More than you'd think, but ...)
Dave: "Vote-Rich Ontario" is an improvement. (Assuming you live there). Don't worry, be happy.
Chris Beck: "Look, the Liberals need to be kicked out - but they need to be replaced by the Liberals, so we have a problem." - apparently you landed on this site in error. Please explain "they need to be replaced by the Liberals,..." What? You LIKE the idea of a psuedo-mafia running our country? Have you visited scandal.coldwave.net? Would you, KNOWING that your investment counsellor was ILLEGALLY taking, say, 50% of your monthly contribution & putting it in his pocket, CONTINUE to give him money? You are scaring me. Do Canada a favour & vote NDP or Green if you must. Write your dog's name in & vote for him/her/it. Just don't vote Liberal, we can no longer afford it.
and as for "We'd Rather Not, Thanks, We're Canadian" don't bet on it. If Ontario votes the Libs in...Quebec will be the least of your worries.
I'm a not-quite-diehard federalist that will IMMEDIATELY become an Alberta separatist should the Libs get back in... And I'm sure we'll have special immigration laws for those that put us in that boat (except for Angry & friends, of course) ;-)
Oh dear, it's late & I'm getting bi*(&y.
Pope Martin is asking to remain in control, because he still has the power to shovel a lot of TAXPAYER'S money out the back door and into Quebec before he gets turfed.
That guno exam might be okay - it'd really depend on the female tho.
In reality an election now is a win-win situation for the Conservatives. The best outcome for the Conservatives is a majority government and that is certainly within reach. With either a minority Cons or minority Lib government Judge Gomery will still report the scandal and implicate Martin and the Liberals so even under the absolute worst case scenario, Martin may be in another minority government in Dec when Gomery comes out with the report, if he does so at that time. Then is Paul Martin going to call another election within 30 days as he promised. He never mentioned anything about an election now superceding his election call after Gomery reports. Either way, Stephen Harper is the ultimate winner, there is no end game for the Liberals.