I haven’t been following the ins and outs of the BC election at all (blogging takes a back seat to work commitments in recent days), except perhaps to wonder if Gordon Campbell isn’t about to learn the one truism right-leaning* politicians seem most incapable of grasping – pleasing your enemies does not turn them into friends**.
*I use that term extremely loosely in this case.
**Related – Who owns BC? (h/t Jema54)
Campbell, the best of the worst, what can you do?
You are so right Kate.
I held my nose and voted, but i dont think Campbell is capable of learning that lesson.
Our choices out here are very limited.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that STV gets defeated.
Unfortunately the new BC Conservatives did not have enough time to organize candidates in each riding, as such for many the only options if you want to send Campbell a message for his Carbon Tax, you must vote for NDP or Green who also fully endorse Carbon Taxes and Kyoto.
They don’t stand much chance in the Lower Mainland but politics are different in the interior. I hope that BCC leader Wilf Hanni is able to win his seat at least, and able to get the recognition to help build a good team for next election.
Basically, we’ve got four competing ideas about how to end global warming …
** the Liberal way (pay more for gas)
** the NDP way (give Mo Strong money)
** the Green way (I couldn’t bear to look into it)
** walk outside (works every time)
In my riding we had a choice between Liberal, NDP or Green, which meant Liberal being the least of the three evils. Sad state of affairs but at least I was able to vote NO to the STV. I am still amazed at the number of people willing to buy a pig in the poke – at least according to what they say. They do not understand the STV but say they think it is great. Go figure.
Voted Liberal only because there’s no Conservative candidate in my riding; no to STV.
Bernie: I’m with ya.
This was my first time voting as a BC resident. I’m from Calgary – southwest at that – and have never had to choose between left, lefter, and leftist. Unbelievable!
I held my nose and voted liberal in the absence of any reasonable choice. I’ve also never been more tempted to spoil a ballot in my life.
That said, I wasn’t thrilled to see John’s comments in the paper. John’s a friend and I’ve helped him both on campaigns and ‘illegal’ fishes in the past, but why oh why must conservatives encourage people to vote for communists just because they hate socialists?!?
-sigh-
I’ve voted for the Campbell Liberals before, but didn’t this time. The carbon tax rankles; it shows how out of touch he and Carol Taylor are/were about how most BCers live. The NDP are worse; they appear to love the word, “moratorium.”
Anyhow, for the first time, I voted for the Independent, a guy who calls a spade a spade. A dying breed.
This was the first time I have voted either provincially, or federally, where I had to metaphorically hold my nose. I cast my ballot for the BC Liberal Party (note to non-BC residents, the BC Liberal Party is not affiliated with the federal party of the same name. The BC Liberal party is a centre-right coalition of former Social Credit, conservatives, and liberals).
However, I am extremely disappointed with the gusto with which our premier has taken up the cause of global warming (a.k.a. climate change, a.k.a. climate crisis), and has made this province the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a Carbon Tax.
However, given no other alternative on the right, there was really no choice. In my riding, the only other choices were NDP and green, which means there was no other choice at all, apart from staying home.
The NDP were dead against STV because under the existing FPTP system they elected a majority government with 38% of the vote and they want and will do it again. All of the NO voters to STV will see an NDP government again. As someone who has lived under Davie Barrett and Glen Clark I cringe at the thoughts of another NDP gang in power.
Oh, you poor people in BC
For the first time in my life I spoiled my ballot. Just could not bear to vote for the Lib, NDP, Green or left-wing crank that comprised the only choices in my riding.
I had been almost ready to hold my nose and vote Liberal until I got a telephone message from Andrew Weaver, UVIC’s official global warming alarmist, urging support for the Libs and their wonderful carbon tax.
At least I voted against STV, so hopefully the walk to the poll was not a complete waste of time.
ward, careful what you wish for. Remember, Reform BC siphoned off enough votes in the 1996 election to allow the NDP to form power with a smaller portion of the popular vote. Lord knows how long those 5 years were.
I worry what will happen should a second centre-right party form in BC.
I was going to give a protest vote for the Refederation party, but after seeing all the vandalized Liberal signs in my riding, (no vandalized NDP signs)decided to hold my nose and vote for the Liberal candidate. No to STV. Sounds to much like STD.
Anybody who has been around BC politics for 20 years or so, realizes that a vote for anyone other than the ‘popular’ right wing party, elects the NDP.
Conversely, a vote for a left party other than the NDP, results in a center-right government.
And I agree, the carbon tax is a thorn in my side too, not not nearly enough to spoil my ballot, or to throw my vote away on an independent not to be heard from again, or to vote for the BC Conservatives (sorry).
The end game is to keep the NDP out of government, at almost any cost. The damage they have caused goes without saying. We don’t need that kind of dumbed down thinking running the government. \
Remember, Jim Sinclair and his henchmen pull the strings of the NDP and give the marching orders. Carole James is just a friendly(?) face on a hardcore party full of hate and envy
Colin:
Should a first “right of centre” party form in BC, I’ll start to worry about the second. Until then, we appear to have a “right of hard left” party and a nascent conservative party without enough candidates. Interestingly it’s only a little further left than the situation we faced in Alberta not long ago – with the Alliance in the same position as the BCC.
Hopefully things go better for the BCC, however.
South Delta had a strong independent last election, and she (Vicki Huntington) chose to run again. Hopefully this time she wins. South Delta has been royally screwed over time and time again and a protest vote for Vicki was in order this time. The arguement that independents are powerless — wtf, no change if she wins, and we still get to send a message to king Gordon. Especially since the much successful Wally Awful is running for the BC Libs in place of a retiring Val Roddick. Apparantly Wally has been a South Delta resident for 11 years, but has been surprisingly silent while we were being screwed.
I did exactly what many of you did; voted for the lesser of the evils. So I held my nose and voted *gasp* Liberal.
Wait for Gordo to say tonite: “British Columbians have told us by their vote tonite, that they are overwhelmingly in favour of the carbon tax”.
And I’ll be puking soon after that.
I’ll also echo what Alan said: STV does sound like an STD, so NO to that.
And I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that no Greens get in. THAT we don’t need.
Extremely astute comments from Colin, Dan, & Soccermom!
I’m in Vancouver Fairview, which is supposed to be one of the contentious ridings in this election.
FYI I’m currently watching this page on CBC.ca. It was very informative for the federal election. But I’m listening to CKNW for audio.
Live in south central island, North cowichan nanaimo. have 2 dippers and others running. Hutchins has been an ardent ndp now running as a lib.
What a choise. left left and further left. Need an independant party. some one that can speak for them selves.
It appears the lib’s biggest assest is the ndp, their next is the greens.
What a cluster f##k.
voted against stv. The system needs replacing not tinkering.
I have a BCC in my riding – voted for him … NDP will win the riding anyway. I hope Campbell loses a bunch of seats, with any luck, he may even figure out why.
People in BC still vividly remember the NDP gov’t of Glen Clark, elected 1996. Even some construction workers I know say it was a disaster. BC politics is a strange animal. Why ? In a word – Hippies.
Really pissed off that there was no Libertarian or Marijuana party candidate in my riding. There was a Conservative candidate who I ended up voting for. As far as STV goes, if it means that we mind end up with watermelon party moonbats in the legislature, forget it so voted against it.
And what was the talk around the polling station where I voted ?
Global Warming – as in what the he!! happened to it !?
It’s still effin cold and it’s mid May. The grapes have got to be more than two weeks behind.
Tony W You wrote “voted against stv. The system needs replacing not tinkering”
everyone else is voting against STV because it is too drastic a change, it certainly is not tinkering.
Had a good chat with the local Campbell candidate.
Asked him his thoughts on GW. He said he was on the Premiers Climate Action Panel.
I pressed him on fallacy the issue. His response ? Well, some people believe in it. I came away with the feeling that he, himself, did NOT buy the religion.
Only hope is that he will just pay lip service to the Warmongers, keep them at bay till it dies a natural, inevitable and fraudulent death.
Option 1… a guy who wants to sell off everything that’s bringing in any money to the province and then tax us on carbon generated by the resources he’s making multiple revinue streams off of…someone who’s not doing enough to protect BC but is working with industry to keep the economy going…unfortunately not with perhaps everyones best interests at heart…
Option 2… a Gal who hasn’t got any real job experience in industry and that has “feel good” ideas and will follow the path 8 years of previous No Damn Plan NDP did for BC….another nearly bankrupt province with 1/2 billion to pay back and higher tax’s in an economic stall/down time… ya… okay… gee… ya think?!?!?
Option 3… vote for people who’s beliefs aren’t that far out of the dark ages when it comes to “the world is the center of the universe, it’s flat, and everything revolves around us…” GHG is a load of hot air brought on by David Shitzuki to help him raise money to get a shave and a hair cut that’s long past due…why isn’t he their leader if he’s sooooo commited to the enviromental cause??? Guess he’d never pass the “I’ve never smoked pot” question…
as for STV…they left out the “C”…as in SCTV… what a joke… if my vote doesn’t count towards who I want as my personal first pick then scrap my vote… only 2 country’s on the planet use it today and they’re “fu@#ed up” when you look at what’s going on in their parlimentry systems today…check out Ireland and tell me it makes a difference…and who decides how the second round of ballots are split out…or the third…or the fourth…
We need a system devised by non-politicians to be suggested…and ministers to be elected by the people or the elected house, not appointed by the PM…placing power back in an elected house and not a party whip who cow tows to the one voice of the PM in a majority parlament
I voted opt 1 more in fear that option 2 or 3 might get in and Against the SCTV option …the simple fact that if it did get legs we can’t suggest anything else for 15 years and there’s no way in hell it would live past the first reading in the house
Under the Glenn Clark NDP, the top combined marginal tax rate got up to 54% on only $77,000. So with 46 cents take home and allowing for GST and PST, that bought about 40 cents in goods/services. So, really, its was a 60% marginal tax rate starting at only $77,000.
A good indication of what a nutty place my adopted province is (1979) Jimmy Pattison hired Glenn Clark after he (Clark) wrecked the province.
Haven’t studied the STV, but my sense is that it came out of the Poli-Sci department of UBC, and is mind-numbingly complex (and therefore subject to corruption). It seems to be based on a fallacy also, which is that all votes over the number required to secure the seat for a candidate are wasted! That’s wrong. Votes in excess of the needed minimum are how we measure the strength of a mandate. Remember, Campbell reduced provincial income taxs 25% — TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT — the day after his first win.
I have a feeling that STV would result in a proliferation of new parties (mostly of the left) and our old tradition of throwing out the socialists after they wreck the province and restoring prospertity will be destroyed.
BC should be the richest Province in Canada . Its not because the governments there are run by nuts & mad men.
CTV just declared a Liberal majority. No thanks to you dickheads who voted for the fringe in a fit of pique. If the NDP had won, it would have served you right.
I hope Gordo takes note of the poor Greens showing – about 8% attm.
I hope the networks take note of the poor Green showing and don’t invite those losers to any more debates.
CTV is reporting a Liberal majority
Apparently BC has tremendous petroleum potential off shore. A Campbell gov’t may take a look at it.
[“The government of B.C. views potential offshore energy development as an important component of the province’s long-term economic development, especially in areas that are comparatively disadvantaged,” said a briefing document provided to the federal natural resources minister in November 2006, obtained through a federal Access to Information request.
The Geological Survey of Canada has estimated there is a potential 43.4 trillion cubic feet of gas off the B.C. coast and 9.8 billion barrels of oil.] CTV
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090504/BC_election_offshore_oil_090504/20090504/?hub=BritishColumbiaSpecialEvent4
Looks like I won’t have to leave the province!!!
As someone said earlier, I don’t think that most BC Liberals have actually bought into the Man-made Global Warming Religion. As pure political strategy, perhaps it helped out Campbell & co.
Anyhow, as more & more evidence comes out against the Global Warming Propaganda, I think it’ll be less & less of an issue.
I voted for Chris Delaney BC Conservative.
Libs elected or leading in 49
NDP elected or leading in 36
At dissilution
Libs 42
NDP 34
Vacancies 3
Gains after redistribution
Libs +7
NDP +2
Boo freakin’ hoo, ural
Environmentalist religion = paganism = worship creation, reject loving creator
If Gordon Campbell passes that native land give away legislation, expect a slow down in the resource sector. (mining, forestry and gas)
Prior to his first electoral victory , Gordon Campbell promised a provincial radio audience that there were absolutely no federal Liberal candidates or workers in that election campaign. This was necessary because the party is a coalition of anti-socialists against the NDP. .Other party workers will not work with Federal Liberals. They are viewed as mercenaries, opportunists, parasites, crooks, or all of the above. After the RCMP raid on our legislature Federal Liberals, who were not supposed to there in the first place, are popping up every where. Now that the slime and sleaze is just oozing out of this government, most other party volunteers are sitting this election out. My riding has never elected a provincial NDPer or a Federal Liberal since 1948. I have counted 12 Liberal signs, only 2 of which were on private lawns. There is no phone bank, door knocking, or rides to the polls. The ground game is gone and if they lose this election to the commies it will be laid at the feet of Federal Liberals.
With apologies to the credit card company Capitol One: BC, you’ve got Liberals!
Dear Looney,
NDP Trolls like you are definitely welcome here! Sorry that you’re going to go back to pouting for the next 4 years, but at least the province will have a chance at some prosperity now!
Robert
Wilf didn’t get his seat because he couldn’t plan ahead
He was going to run north of here but no one would sign for him
so that he could be a candidate and run
so he came down here and ticked a bunch of folks off
That probably brought up participation
Also Folks from the industry unions have finally had it with the NDP (they found out it was socialist)
Yay for no STV,
time to work on better improvements to the system
Lol Rafe M. thinks that “backroom” people would be more accountable under STV, idiot (or worse)
Now if only they would turf Campbell and the other reds
(IMHO the BC Conservatives would have done much better if they had started several years ago and pushed the issues starting then)
If history is any indication Wilf isn’t one to learn from this
hopefully his party is so that I can vote for them next time
“CTV just declared a Liberal majority. No thanks to you dickheads who voted for the fringe in a fit of pique. If the NDP had won, it would have served you right.
Posted by: randall g at May 13, 2009 12:05 AM”
Oh, bull.
My vote went to a guy whose opinions appear to be most like mine. Even though he didn’t win, I can sleep easily with my choice.
That’s what it’s all about, randall.
To Jim303: I’ve been voting provincially since 1968 (yeah, I’m that old) and for the first time EVER, I chose to spoil my ballot.
I’m a strong conservative and not only worked on behalf of the B.C. Liberals in past elections, I once ran for the nomination to be the candidate for the riding.
But I just couldn’t bring myself to vote B.C. Liberal or anyone else this time.
I suspect that Gordon Campbell won as much by default as by actual support this time, but he’s unlikely to realize that he has alienated his base.
I’m also in the same riding as Tony and again I have to concur. The Liberal candidate is a nice guy, but a former teacher and hardly one who espouses the social or fiscal positions I’d be comfortable with.
But that’s politics today: who can best straddle the squishy center and appeal to, or at least not offend, the greatest number of people who have no real principles.
Re the BC Conservatives. They need a high-profile, well-known person with some charisma to become leader. That’s the only hope they have to win some seats and set up a beachhead.
You know you live in a strange province when the Greens are on the screen and getting votes, and the Conservatives are nowhere to be seen. Yikes. This prairie girl is still having a hard time getting used to this even after living here 8 years…
And seriously, it’s time to stop giving Greens a podium at the debates, either provincial or federal. Enough with the pandering already.
Also I think it’s safe to say Gordo and Carole will be gone before the next one. THANK GOD.
Looks like Wally Oppal may lose to the Independent candidate. He’s ahead by 1!!
Re “Who owns BC”. Gordo lost his mind after his drunk driving charge. He started giving away billions and lots of land and bought into global warming. I guess he thought this would be a penance for his sins. He wanted to be Mr. Nice Guy. Well, to me, he comes across as Mr. Stupid.
I wonder what his brother, the financial guy Michael Campbell REALLY thinks of the stuff his brother has done in the last few years???
“CTV just declared a Liberal majority. No thanks to you dickheads who voted for the fringe in a fit of pique. If the NDP had won, it would have served you right.
Posted by: randall g at May 13, 2009 12:05 AM”
Do you make all your decisions based on fear?
No campaign, no signs, no donations and I still got 234 votes, (1.94%) and counting, as the Reform BC candidate in Maple Ridge-Mission! Looks like I’m the protest vote candidate. I did get a good response at the three all candidates meetings though.
Oh here comes the climate change crap in Gordo’s speech. I feel queasy. And the reconciliation stuff with the aboriginals….
Now I really regret marking my X for his candidate. Can I have a do-over??
Congrats, Ian! Now I wish I had parked my vote with a protest candidate as well.