If I, a confirmed current events and political junkie, cannot summon interest in this topic at the moment, I cannot imagine the level of excitement it arouses in the general electorate.
Discuss.
Related thoughts from Mike, who emails – I can almost hear Stephen Harper saying….. “Don’t you dare throw me into this election.”
Yeah, as far as I can tell from here in Calgary, most people want to treat the impending election as if it were a dead ferret that just dropped in their laps.
Oh well, at least it keeps all the parties from making mischief inside the Commons…
I hope the rest of the voting public has the same impression as me – it’s a $300,000,000 Liberal formality, a part of their process to replace their leader.
The only reason opposition parties would want an election is to form a coalition. None of them can win any other way.
I look at this election as the Conservatives vs the Co-op.
As far as issues..don’t see any real ones.
Iggy is off to a stumbling start. Liberal gov’t eh I mean Liberal caucus. Don’t settle for the imitation, settle for the amalgamation of three imitations.
My Liberal Husband commented this morning that it won’t be a 300 million dollar election, it’s a 300 million dollar liberal leadership campaign on our dime. That sums up what’s happening nicely.
“dead ferret that just dropped in their laps”
I was struggling to find the words but you’ve got them there.
I agree with Kate – a tempest in a pisspot.
I smell a coalition brewing
You’re not the only one. The average Canadian is sick of the dog and pony show that is parliament and Canadian Federal Politics in general. Do we really need a third election in less than five years to return the same results we saw in 2006 and 2008? Ugh. Election fatigue has struck the Canadian populace.
Jean Chretien called three elections in seven years, WITH A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT!
It’s time to give the Conservatives a majority and see if they can deliver on their promises.
Otherwise, we continue on the same path, watching the Opposition call down our troops and embrace terrorists and illegal immigrants.
If there is a coalition, which “leader” gets to debate Harper? Anybody would do, since they all want one thing – power.
I hope the senate passes those bills that will help the seniours … if not, then the Cons can blame the opposition of blocking passage of bills that would help those who opened up Canada.
Does Harper still have time to replace the criminal LIEberal? He should do it today. [Just thinking.]
This isn’t about governance, it’s about power, plain and simple. The lefturds are as maature as a child holding its breath until the dolting parents give in.
Why oh why is the Bloq even considered a federal party? I can’t vote for the anal orifices even if I wanted to. The marijuana party is more federal. They (bloq) are feral!
As I see it we need the following:
Fixed election dates
Weighted voting (1,2,3) to truly represent peoples wishes
Parties must run candidates in at least 5 provinces/territories.
Hey Kate! Aren’t you gonna tell us what you gave up for lent?
I chatted to the orthodontist and receptionist about this yesterday and the general feeling is that this is electoral nonsense.
I rather suspect that PMSH may well get his majority, as the Liberal caterwauling about “Ig’naughty’eff” and how they need to be left, lefter and leftist is rather amusing.
Tru’dopia’ is so passe’ see David Frum’s article:
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/03/23/david-frum-the-disastrous-legacy-of-pierre-trudeau/
David Frum: The disastrous legacy of Pierre Trudeau
…
“Pierre Trudeau pondered. Perhaps he had planned, perhaps he remembered something that Richard Nixon had said after losing the California governor’s race in 1962. In an instant Pierre Trudeau revised Nixon’s words to his own very different purpose. “Yes,” he said. “I regret I won’t have you to kick around any more.”
It’s long past time that Canadians in turn resolved: no longer to be posthumously kicked by this bad man and disastrous prime minister.”
Nothing like a return to the ’60s to capture the Liberal ‘glory years’…of high taxation, poor job prospects, massive debt load and a tottering economy.
Yep that’ll do it, more of the same Liberal policies that didn’t work in yesteryear!!
I’m think this is just a recast of PMSH vs the “Coalition”…yawn which we didn’t want then nor do we have a burning need for it now.
Despite some half decent NDP policies, my God even Ken Georgetti said Jack Layton should support the budget, Jack acted as the ‘trigger man’ for the election.
Wind up the election rhetoric…and ‘whoop de doo’ here we go off to the races.
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
My concern is “VOTER APATHY”. The party that can muster the voters will win this. And, I think the percentage of the population voting might be pretty low.
The Opposition has to act fast and force an election NOW before the coalition agreement expires in June 2011:
Read for yourself and forward to everyone:
The Lib/NDP with BLOC 2008 Coalition Agreement-Expires June 2011 http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/081201_Accord_en.pdf
It needs to be pointed out that not only is the Conservative Party going up against the coalition, but against the main stream media liberal hacks, aka: Jane Taber, Oliver, the entire CBC staff, etc.
Should be a tough fight….no guarantees either way.
Sadly, I think we’re going to end up with largely the same makeup of Parliament as we have right now, with the added possibility of the three minority parties attempting to create a workable coalition government (I guess you could call it their “hidden agenda” — but they won’t tell anybody this until after voting day).
With any luck, this will be the Liberals “Kim Campbell” election.
But the media put all that effort into the long-form census and Bev Oda, and you’re telling me it’s all one big yawn?
Sheesh, it’s almost as if the MSM has no impact at all.
I would like to know if the Liberals have paid off all of their debits yet? I say to the Liar’s and moochers, bring it on! This is how you piss the voters off,wasting money. I hope that the Lib’s are made to pay dearly and Iggy goes back to Harvard with his “tail” between his legs.
Lets end the vote subside and see which party surrives on their own blood. ( instead of living of the taxpayer.)
“… to return the same results we saw in 2006 and 2008?
Dante
That’s only because we have idiot citizens who don’t have a clue and are not interested about democracy and freedom.
Harper has been governing in the centre all along…The same as a Liberal party of many moons ago.
There is no “Right wing” party in this country. We currently have 1 centrist (Conservative) and 3 lefty (Lib,NDP,Bloc)…90%+ of the population does not even understand, let alone aware of this.
My prediction:
A Conservative majority only because Canucks vote for stability “It seems to be going OK/Not rock the boat mentality” type thing…Much faster and less boring than actually studying the facts and proposals.
Ontario will deliver most of the required seats to put us over. If a few seats shy, blue Libs might be poached to complete the majority set.
The only way Jack “The Weasle” Layton can get to be part of the governing party is to hope for the Cons to get another minority then he can spearhead another coalition takeover. This would probably mean giving the keys to the vault yto the Bloc and the keys to the wood chipper to Lizzy May.
Good grief.
I’ts all crap if they call an election harper will get a majority i have herd from so many people that are so mad at the tactic’s of the coalition to try to tople the govornment back in the early day they cannot wait to make there voices herd loud and clear this time ….harper wins either way !!
I truley think canadians are slowly but surley starting to wake up !!
Spot on as usual…well 95% of the time IMO at least 🙂
Regarding comments on a “Lieberal Leadership” excercise I totally concur and think Boob should pick up the tab. One of the other points “voter apathy” I think plays into the CPC’s favour for a number of reasons.
We do not need and election and I think the PM should illustrate to the public the various contradictions in the opposition parties’ arguments for one.
Boob Rae is the NDP plant into the lieberals. part of the coalition strategy.
I think Taliban jacks problems are more than he is letting on, he doesnt look healthy . I think the cancer in the part of his anatomy that he most resembles is worse than we are told.
Oddly the total pointlessness of having an election on this budget makes me content to have it. I don’t have to pay any attention I don’t want to and it will be a get out of another election free card for the next few years. Or even a majority since it will be hard for the opposition to convince anyone this isn’t totally frivolous.
I will be sad if it means the end of Iggy though.
I don’t understand why anyone would take this election lightly for the following reasons;
1) There is an appetite on the left to bring the left together thru power sharing. ie Kootenay-Columbia in BC. The NDP candidate previously ran in a federal election as a Libel. He is uniting the left in an effort to win a ‘solid’ CPC seat.
2) Many vested supporters on the left (unions) are scared to death that a CPC majority will lead to a repeat of Wisconsin. It will be used in this campaign by the left but could backfire on them.
3) As mentioned, people are not interested. Which constituency won’t bother voting? Left or right?
I suspect another fiscal crisis in Euro land during this campaign. Portugal has defeated their austerity driven government even though their debt carrying cost has hit +7.5%. Irish and Greek debt are already there. It could create a home run for Harper if they handle it well.
Power Play had radio host on last nite
Dave Rutherford, Tom Young & Steve Madely
all 3 agreed that something is afoot in the backroom In other words A Coalition Deal has been made.
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/power-play/march-23/#clip438051
IMO is there an Election actually coming? Not being a constitutional expert If the PM goes to the GG on Sunday Will Ignatieff aproach the GG Monday & say we dont want an Election but are willing to form a Govt Now.
Is this possible? I think it is.
Listen for one key word from the opposition: Contempt.
They’ll play word games and will attempt to portray the Conservative party as ‘contemptible’.
The good news is, with a Conservative majority, Canada will get seat redistribution. More seats for B.C., Alberta and Ontario, less importance for the Bloc whiners.
Why an election ..
1. Yes, as others stated, the Libs need a new leader.
2. Jack thinks he has a shot at Stornaway and if he moves into that address, he will not move out for five full years guaranteeing that Harper can operate as a majority.
Saul Goode
I am what my friends call an old Geezer. There have been three times that I have worried about this country we call home.
The first time was during the Quebec referendum, the second was when the coalition raised it ugly head…and now.
It is vitally important that we not view this abomination called the coalition as something for polemics. It’s real and it’s a done deal.
By the time we finish our polemics they will have completed organizing their troops.
Think about separatists sharing power or the NDP
running a coping machine for Hamas and Hezzbulloh.
What will the fanatics in the Labour movement who hate Israel do when they have access to the most significant of secrets inside government. Will Chavez from Venezuela be invited here and touted as a national hero?
The question for all of us is: How can we stop them and if we can’t put on their brakes, what do we do when they begin dismantling our country.
This abomination must be stopped!
I am hoping for a well run Conservative campaign that results in a CPC majority (the extra seats promised to BC, AB and Ont sure would have help). Without those, I think that the Conservatives will be short of a majority and the left-wing triplets will resurrect the coalition agreement. Once again the idea will be immensely unpopular with voters and there will be public protests from citizens, particularly in the west. A few fiscally conservative Liberal MPs, realizing their re-election will be in jeopardy or genuinely concerned about the amount of dollars needed to feed the insatiable appetites of separatists and Dippers, will walk away from the coalition. Liberal instincts to save their own skins will prevent a new national unity crisis, one more destructive than either Trudeau’s NEP or one of Quebec’s boringly regular separation/extortion votes.
The Koalition Kooks who hate Harper are taking a calculated risk (planning/hoping) that it will be another minority CPC govt and if it is, Harper will have to step down from his failure to get a majority govt again under his leadership.
And then the new CPC leader will have to come from – TA DA- ONTARIO.
So all federal leaders will be from the same 4 sq mi of ground again, as it written in the political bible of central Canada.
And they are quite willing to squander at least $300 million of your money to make this happen, in spite of the fact 80% of Cdns do not want another election so soon.
REEEEEEEEEEE – laaaaaax!!!
Conservatives will get a majority (because we all want 5 election-free years), Liberals will fire Iggy and hire Bob Rae (thus revealing the depths of their leadership desperation), NDP will pick up a few seats from Liberals and may form the Official Oppositon (giving Layton an annoying ego boost) … and Lizzie May will wallow like a beached whale in her irritatingly pompous irrelevance.
Hopefully with a majority Harper will wield a clever to the size and cost of the federal government, but don’t bet your house on it.
The MSM are hoping that Canadian don’t care about this election. John McComb, CKNW’s afternoon host, stated that voter turnout will be lower than last election’s 59.1%. I think he is nuts. The coalition talk will guarantee a larger turnout.
In an election, the small cabal of PPG reporters will not be able to set the agenda. This election will be about the coalition. Layton nor Duceppe will not rule it out, Ignatief refuses to discuss it, and the coalition agreement is still in effect until June.
Stephen Harper, in stating a coalition will form unless he wins majority not only lends it clear legitimacy, he ensures the coalition will be the central topic of this election.
I know this is a cliche, but this will be the most important election in our generation.
On the bright side we are going to see the proof in Lizzie May’s statement that “Caanadian voters sre stupid”. Anybody that votes for any, and I mean ANY opposition parties will be showing their complete stupidity. The present government has not shown contempt for parliament but rather contempt for the opposition. The “faux’ scandals that the opposition and the MSM have been treated with distain by the Canadian population as they should have. The costing of the new fighter jets that the Lieberals aree carping about is small potatoes comparedto the Lie of the long gun regisrty cost. The coopereation that Layton harps on is nothing more than extortion as practiced by the Bloc, “the more you give me the more I want”, truly agreat way to have a government run a country. So lets get on with this election it’ll give us all a better idea of how much truth there is in Lizzie May’s quote and maybe just maybe there are enough Canadians in the country that can give the boot to this coalition of power seekers and twits.
On another topic, Kate, how about a site to list ideas for a CPC platform, eliminate party financing as mentioned above, and eliminating serving felons franchise and pensions, etc., etc.
I don’t understand why Canadians would have election fatigue, the Americans go to the polls every 2 years.
It would be nice to see people take an interest in democracy for a change.(probably won’t happen but still…)
Lorriane, I have a beautiful evil thought on how the election can be forestalled until after the coalition agreement expires.
Tomorrow, before the vote on the budget, PMSH prorogues parliament for the necessary time to get ‘er done.
Exploding Leftie brains, all ’round!
My prediction: the Libranos are back, this time for good – since they were clearly so discombobulated by PMSH even getting in that they lost their marbles entirely and formed a coalition with the Separatist Party (and brought Iggy back) and the Commies – they’ll rewrite the Constitution and name their new leader Dictator For Life and suspend elections entirely. I mean, what the HELL could be more ironic than these bastards accusing the CPC of being anti-democracy, or of shouting “scandal”? Damnable hypocrites, swine, power-mad freaks!
Just kidding. Hopefully.
The CBC radio crowd are so giddy. Lots of sleepless nights and cold sandwiches ahead but that`s what journalsim is all about. It`s going to be a blast!!!SLEEP OVER!!!!
they’ll rewrite the Constitution and name their new leader Dictator For Life and suspend elections entirely. – Michael H Anderson
Don’t forget outlawing SUN News, getting rid of FOX News North (and any other news daring to deviate from the liberal talking points) will be priority #1. Who knows, they may even attempt to exile Ezra Levant and Charles Adler to Nunavut.
I think they got all excited by the Wisconson reaction to the new government. They have their 60’s flower power thingie making them hot to be crushed.
Tell the people you want to tax the crap out of the industry they are employed in. That’ll work. Federal Daycare..yeah ok. Three hundred a month for seniors..heck why not.
The apathy will cost the Conservatives the election and us our country, for as much as the left believes it’s their country it is not and never has been.
Elizabeth May on TV again? ‘shudder’
I don’t think the CPC should underestimate this election. I think we can win, maybe even a majority. But we need to get the vote out!!
Poll at Canoe.ca, left side. Do you want an election? 68% No so far.
@LC Bennet – yep, suspension of freedom of the press always accompanies Fascism. Very good point: “freedom of expression – for everyone who agrees with us.”
I agree. The most annoying prospect of another election is the resulting shriekage from Lizzie May. Shut your windows and put in the earplugs. Now if Rat-Eyed Thomas Mulcair does most of the NDP’s campaigning due to Layton’s health issues, I would also advise to hide the small children and get used to the nightmares….
“shudder”
I think the challenge will be getting the vote out for sure. I guess the question is what the heck are the liberals going to run on here? What have they got? I just don’t see the contempt of parliament thing resonating with anyone. The budget was just same old same old nothing interesting to the average person so nothing to attack on there.
I hope the CPC does a one platform announcement per day to get early earned media and creams Ignatieff early on. Then they’ll get desperate and do something stupid and Jack will one up that stupid move by letting the coalition deal slip out. Anyway that’s what I think is going to happen.
Lets be honest,
The conservatives are contemptuous of pretty much everyone.
We all know that the real reason the Liberals are doing so poorly is that Harper has claimed the Liberal platfrom as his own, giving the Liberals nothing to do.
In doing so he’d pulled Canada hard left. We are spending our way into oblivion. Granted, oblivion is rush up not so quickly as it would under a Layton government.
So what are the options?
We can’t tea party our way into sane governance; Harper has already shown that he’ll reject any nominee who will not toe the party line.
Your instinct is not to vote at all, but as Kate says, “not showing up to riot is a failed conservative policy.” All you do by not voting is give Harper a reason to move faster to the left.
There is an answer, Vote for someone more conservative than the CPC. The only party that fits that bill is CHP Canada. I know that you won’t agree with all their policies, but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Harper sees people whose support he has merely taken for granted are actively working against him.
Just like the Green party has yanked the NDP hard Left CHP can do for the CPC.
And just imagine the red faced catatonia coming from the PMO if a stronghold riding were to be split and a Libera or NDP came up the middle. That would be a real threat.
CHP Canada is only running in something like 40 ridings, so its not likely you will have an opportunity to vote for one. At the very least, when the local CPC fundraiser calls asking for your money, tell them you’ve decided to donate to CHP Canada instead. Now if you were to actually make that donation, they would be greatful.