Elections

[Annie]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...435&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467

 

[Said1]

Quote: "This guy is spending 16 hours a day on an airplane and avoiding questions about all manner of things. It's time for him to elaborate on this for Canadians," said Steve MacKinnon, deputy campaign director for the Liberals."

Tis true He's also getting slammed by the media very badly - at least he is in Ottawa - and (need I mention) in the House of Commons. Not as bad as the Stalkwell Day v Chretien, but bad enough. I don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, so don't ask. Maybe Issac has some advise

 

[Isaac Brock]

I'm terribly conflicted too Said! I hate how the liberals always lie to me and get away with it, although I don't believe social conservatism is proper for Canada. In an normal election I would have voted for the PC's, but now that the Alliance and PC's merged, it's become way too right wing for me to except.

I also think Harper's budget projection are, well, optimistic. There's no way he can give a 50 billion tax cut! That's a huge portion of our tax revenues. Plus his plan for Military spending is outdated. We don't need a big military, we need a small, highly equipped one.

Liberal's plan seems to make the most sense, but I just don't trust that party.

I think I'm resigned to the NDP. I've met Jack Layton, he's an honorable guy from what I can sense and I think the NDP has moved a bit centrist since the liberals and consertives have both moved right. They don't have a shot at wining my riding let alone the PM's chair, but I do like most of their platform.

My prediction: Liberal minority government with NDP backing that lasts one year followed by a conservative minority government. Welcome to the decade of political hell in Canada. Politcal reform is in the air... Good luck!

 

[Said1]

Originally posted by Isaac Brock
I think I'm resigned to the NDP. I've met Jack Layton, he's an honorable guy from what I can sense and I think the NDP has moved a bit centrist since the liberals and consertives have both moved right. They don't have a shot at wining my riding let alone the PM's chair, but I do like most of their platform.

My prediction: Liberal minority government with NDP backing that lasts one year followed by a conservative minority government. Welcome to the decade of political hell in Canada. Politcal reform is in the air... Good luck!

I have to agree with you Issac, although Ed Broadbent is pretty popular around here, I think he has a good chance in my area (Ottawa Centre). A lot of people like him, and he's often in the area just "shopping"


Jack Layton is gettting badmouthed badly in papers also (here) - many are buying into it, and think he's a moron. There was a really bad article about him in the Sun over the winter, I didn't think he deserved it, but I'm not very familiar with him either

 

[Enthused]

In the coming election I will be voting for the first time. I'm a bit excited to exercise my democratic right.

I really, really don't know who to vote for. The area I was raised in was very Liberal/PC, NDP would never stand a chance at even getting a sign on someone's lawn. Where I am living now is a split between NDP and possibly the Green Party. I think it will be NDP for me. I sense my father rolling over in his grave.

 

[Said1]

Originally posted by Enthused
I sense my father rolling over in his grave.

My mother is ashamed....she can't believe she raised a conservative

 

[Isaac Brock]

Canucks, Monday the 28th is coming soon. Make sure to you exercise your right to vote. It's going to be one hell of a race.

Latest polls (Ipsos-Reid June 25, 2004) from Right to Left.

31% Conservative
12% Bloc Quebecois
32% Liberal
17% New Democratic Party
6% Green Party

Looks like we're in for a minority parliament!

 

[Said1]

I saw that Isaak, but I thought the bloc was farther ahead?? Not that they're going to win anyway If Martin wins, how bad do you think he could be?

Interesting side note: Mahar Arar's wife is running for Ottawa South (NDP). I don't really know how popular she is there, but Jack Layton had some very positive things to say about her.

 

[Annie]

Lucky you!

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=6729

....A HARPER VICTORY WOULD MEAN a return in foreign policy to a pro-American stance and an end to the vaguely Gallic, religiously pro-UN tendencies exhibited over the past ten years. This is one of the big wedge issues in the campaign, and it overlaps onto both defense policy and "border issues"; in a sense it's a replay of Aznar vs. the Spanish socialists, or Tony Blair vs. his own party. To put things in a way that summarizes the dialectic neatly, Michael Moore has stopped by to urge Canadians not to vote Conservative....

 

[Said1]

Originally posted by Kathianne
Lucky you!

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=6729

....A HARPER VICTORY WOULD MEAN a return in foreign policy to a pro-American stance and an end to the vaguely Gallic, religiously pro-UN tendencies exhibited over the past ten years. This is one of the big wedge issues in the campaign, and it overlaps onto both defense policy and "border issues"; in a sense it's a replay of Aznar vs. the Spanish socialists, or Tony Blair vs. his own party. To put things in a way that summarizes the dialectic neatly, Michael Moore has stopped by to urge Canadians not to vote Conservative....

Can you imagine Moore having influence on the way Canadians voted? Sort of like saying "If Moore trusts Martin, then that's good enough for me".

 

[Isaac Brock]

Originally posted by Kathianne
Lucky you!

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=6729

....A HARPER VICTORY WOULD MEAN a return in foreign policy to a pro-American stance and an end to the vaguely Gallic, religiously pro-UN tendencies exhibited over the past ten years. This is one of the big wedge issues in the campaign, and it overlaps onto both defense policy and "border issues"; in a sense it's a replay of Aznar vs. the Spanish socialists, or Tony Blair vs. his own party. To put things in a way that summarizes the dialectic neatly, Michael Moore has stopped by to urge Canadians not to vote Conservative....

Kathianne, I must say that that article was probably the most politically biased article I've seen currently on Canadian politics.

Here's the basics of current Canadian politics.

The current liberal ruling party headed by Paul Martin has spent 3 terms in power as a majority. During that time Canada has had unprecedented economic growth. However, the liberal government has grown big and fat and has been subject to scandal and corruption. They've also let slide our health care system diverting money to large unfocussed national projects that rarely stem out (ie, Gun Control, Culture sponsorship).

The Conservatives are a new party formed of the old Progressive Conservative party which was a socially moderate, politically moderate and economic conservative with the Alliance party which was a new party which was socially, politcally and economically conservative. They are lead by Stephen Harper, former leader of the Alliance. Their campaign has been plagued by majority Canadian dissatisfaction towards Harper's leanience on social conservatism and willingness to join America in Iraq, which are not popular in Canada.

The New Democratic Party headed by Jack Layton is a left wing party that has never became government in Canada. Headed by a former Toronto city councillor, the NDP has seen a increase in support from disenfranchized liberals who see the liberal party going too much towards the right. Major issues are the environment, social liberalism and democratic reform. The NDP has been hampered by the same things that always hamper it, being economic uncertainty and voter fear that a vote for the NDP helps the Conservative party.

The Bloc Quebecois is a seperatist group from quebec headed by Gilles Duceppe. It has seen a surge in support in Quebec due to anger towards liberal mismanagement.

So what does it all boil down to? A close race. No party is the Messiah in a politician shoes as the article seems to imply as each party has its pros and cons. However, anyway it looks like we're headed towards a minority government.

 

[Isaac Brock]

Originally posted by Said1
I saw that Isaak, but I thought the bloc was farther ahead?? Not that they're going to win anyway If Martin wins, how bad do you think he could be?

Interesting side note: Mahar Arar's wife is running for Ottawa South (NDP). I don't really know how popular she is there, but Jack Layton had some very positive things to say about her.

Bloc in Quebec for sure, but that's a national poll!

Well, I don't know her very well, but if she fought for our country like she did for her husband and other captives over seas than we'd have a trooper!

 

[Said1]

Originally posted by Isaac Brock
Bloc in Quebec for sure, but that's a national poll!

Well, I don't know her very well, but if she fought for our country like she did for her husband and other captives over seas than we'd have a trooper!

Her educational background is in economics, and judging by Ottawa Liberal economics, we need all the help we can get The city pools aren't open yet, and the sprinkler pads are only turned on if someone calls the city Why can't they find the trillion dollars in cut backs in the salaries and benefits of some who don't deserve it? How is the city of Winnipeg doing?