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Old 12-04-2008, 01:14 PM   #1
Rifleman
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Thumbs down Party Whip....uhhg, What Is It Good For?

This is one process of the Canadian political system that I have never agreed with, even when I had first heard of it in Social Studies.

Why do we have it, and what is it good for? Yes, it's good for keeping the party in line, but I've always felt it was the responsibility of the MPs to vote what was their constituent's wishes.

Has there ever been an incident where someone said "screw this" and voted the way they felt they should?
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Old 12-04-2008, 01:19 PM   #2
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Unless your freed from your party to vote by your constituants wishes (I think Gay Marriage was a free vote, not sure though) its expected that you vote by your party platform. I know that there have been MP's that have been sent to the back benches or even tossed out of the party for going against the party wishes.

I always thought that the party whip should actually get a real whip. We wouldn't have gotten into this mess if there would have been flailing leather in the House.
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Old 12-04-2008, 01:20 PM   #3
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Lots of instances. Just last term, Bill Casey voted against the Conservative budget, saying that went against the terms of the Atlantic Accord. As a result, he was expelled from the party, and now sits as an independent. Interestingly, Casey was previously a Conservative Party whip, I believe.
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Old 12-04-2008, 01:37 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rifleman View Post
This is one process of the Canadian political system that I have never agreed with, even when I had first heard of it in Social Studies.

Why do we have it, and what is it good for? Yes, it's good for keeping the party in line, but I've always felt it was the responsibility of the MPs to vote what was their constituent's wishes.

Has there ever been an incident where someone said "screw this" and voted the way they felt they should?
It depends on the situation. Sometimes the party wants to project unity so the whip will force all votes for (remember politics is dirty, even if nothing is shady, if not all the members of your party vote for it the other party mouthpieces will shout out dissention or chaos when there might not be any, just a difference of opinion on an issue or 2.

What is happening now is a perfect example, lets say after this 2 month timeout Harper is able to convice 10 or so Liberals to call in sick for budget day. That would allow the budget to pass because they could win that vote. The Liberal whip would very likely want all members to vote against to try to force the coalition.

I think durring JC erra Kilgour in Edmonton voted against the Libs a couple of times and was demoted to the back bench or kicked out.

Its very rare I would think that people vote for the candidate first, and party second. I know for me I vote party first, leader second, candidate third.
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Old 12-04-2008, 01:50 PM   #5
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I admire those politicians who vote based on their own conscience. The problem is that not many will because without support from a major political party, they will be gone from Parliament.
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Old 12-04-2008, 01:51 PM   #6
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I find party whip goes really well with nachos.
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Old 12-04-2008, 02:12 PM   #7
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Absolutely nothing, sing it again!

(You forgot the 'Good God Y'all' in between the 'uhhg' and the' What Is It Good For?')
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Old 12-04-2008, 02:14 PM   #8
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Its a two-edged sword really.

Most candidates are elected on their party brand. Example, Rob Anders wouldn't have a snowflake's chance in hell if he didn't run with that stylized C beside his name. Part of that brand is a "guarantee" that this person will vote along party lines.

However, this is a lazy way to vote, and in cases of big-tent parties like the CPC and Liberals, the definitions are vast. A Blue Liberal and an "Orange" Liberal have vastly different views. Depending on what constituency they represent, going against the party might be in the best interest of their constituency. Failure to allow that is a stifling of democracy.
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Old 12-04-2008, 02:29 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke View Post
I find party whip goes really well with nachos.

Stephane Dion: ooh, you've got some nachos. Can I have a piece?
Bob Rae: Uh, ok
Stephane Dion: Hey, pass over some of that Party wHip
Bob Rae: What?
Stephane Dion: Well, you put Party wHip on nachos.
Bob Rae: It's Party Whip
Stephane Dion: That's what I said, Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Why are you putting so much emphasis on the H?
Stephane Dion: What are you talking about? I'm just saying Party wHip
Bob Rae: Say whip
Stephane Dion: Whip
Bob Rae: Now say Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip!
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip!
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: You're eating HAIR!

Last edited by octothorp; 12-04-2008 at 02:34 PM.
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Old 12-04-2008, 02:33 PM   #10
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the Party Whip is important in U.S. politics. Like in the Clinton administration, when Monica would visit Bill, he'd want her to bring the party whip
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Old 12-04-2008, 02:33 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by octothorp View Post
Stephane Dion: ooh, you've got some nachos. Can I have a piece?
Bob Rae: Uh, ok
Stephane Dion: Hey, pass over some of that Party wHip
Bob Rae: What?
Stephane Dion: Well, you put Party wHip on nachos.
Bob Rae: It's Party Whip
Stephane Dion: That's what I said, Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Why are you putting so much emphasis on the H?
Stephane Dion: What are you talking about? I'm just saying Party wHip
Bob Rae: Say whip
Stephane Dion: Whip
Bob Rae: Now say Party Whip
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip!
Stephane Dion: Party wHip
Bob Rae: Party Whip!
Stephane Dion: Cool wHip
Bob Rae: You're eating HAIR!
Ah Family guy, is there any scenario when its off color hilarious quotes can't be used in complete context.
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Old 12-04-2008, 05:46 PM   #12
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nm




Last edited by Magnum PEI; 12-04-2008 at 06:12 PM.
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Old 12-04-2008, 08:51 PM   #13
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Jerry and Kramer in their booth.

JERRY: Hey, do you know what the Whip does?

KRAMER: What whip?

JERRY: The Whip. In the Senate, in the House.

KRAMER: Well, you know in the old days, when the senators didn't vote the way
that the party leaders wanted 'em to... they whipped them. (holds imaginary
whip) You better vote the way we want you to, or there's gonna be big trouble.
(cracks invisible whip and makes sound effect)
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