Liberal party abstains from voting on throne speech

[Juventus3]

I wonder how those 96 Liberal ridings feel about not having a say in this years government objectives?

These Liberals are more concerned with getting elected than running off principles of the party, and they're losing a heck of a lot of votes along the way.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

I wonder how those 96 Liberal ridings feel about not having a say in this years government objectives?

These Liberals are more concerned with getting elected than running off principles of the party, and they're losing a heck of a lot of votes along the way.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

Or they don't believe their constituents want an election right now but they also won't support the throne speech.

It's politics - nothing more, nothing less.

[burn_this_city]

Hahah good for them.. With Dion at the helm they are almost as unattractive as the NDP.. Just one more step towards a conservative majority and that "hidden agenda" I've been dying to see unveiled..

[Juventus3]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Or they don't believe their constituents want an election right now but they also won't support the throne speech.

It's politics - nothing more, nothing less.

There's a difference between not thinking their supporters want an election and thinking they can't win an election.

[Thunderball]

It looks like both major leadership conventions of one year ago, have brought forth the exact same result... two incompetent leaders.

Dion took the Liberals from being a credible opposition and constant threat for re-election to a laughing stock and a lame duck. Harper has totally outmaneuvered Dion.

As for Farmer Stelmach... we'll see what legacy he carves for himself tomorrow afternoon. Luckily for Ed, even his opponents seem equally incompetent or are suffering from being irrelevant due to proximity to the margins (sorry Alliance, I do like a lot of your economic platform though)

[IntenseFan]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

As for Farmer Stelmach... we'll see what legacy he carves for himself tomorrow afternoon.

That's actually today, no?

Has anyone ever heard of a mass abstention like this on a Throne Speech before?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by IntenseFan

That's actually today, no?

Has anyone ever heard of a mass abstention like this on a Throne Speech before?

I thought I heard Oct 25 (thursday) at 3pm EST.

Edit: Wait, you're right. Its tonight at 6:40pm... he'll just explain it more tomorrow at 1pm.

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by IntenseFan

Has anyone ever heard of a mass abstention like this on a Throne Speech before?

Didn't the Conservatives do this a few years ago when the Liberals had the minority government? Didn't want an election so the front liners voted and the rest abstained.

Meh, so I got it backwards. Not a Throne Speech, but it was a confidence vote.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/...es_050309.html

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

I wonder how those 96 Liberal ridings feel about not having a say in this years government objectives?

These Liberals are more concerned with getting elected than running off principles of the party, and they're losing a heck of a lot of votes along the way.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

The same as they would feel if the Conservatives were running a majority government I suppose.

As for the "care more about being elected" comment...that is what politics is about! Every opposition party wants to be the government, and every governing party wants to stay there!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Slava

As for the "care more about being elected" comment...that is what politics is about! Every opposition party wants to be the government, and every governing party wants to stay there!

Absolutely.

I think a lot of people are surprised that the Liberal's fortunes have diminished so greatly under one-trick pony Dion, that they have to abstain out of knowledge that they would be trounced in an election, and that the Dippers could be the official opposition for the first time in history. (okay, I'm pushing it... but things are pretty bleak in Gritville)

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Slava

The same as they would feel if the Conservatives were running a majority government I suppose.

As for the "care more about being elected" comment...that is what politics is about! Every opposition party wants to be the government, and every governing party wants to stay there!

That would be true.....but here is the but....

They, the Liberals, could have actually care(d) about doing something for this country other than doing things that they think would get them re-elected!

You know....like lead!

Again we see how hollow their policies, visions and convictions really are.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

I wonder how those 96 Liberal ridings feel about not having a say in this years government objectives?

These Liberals are more concerned with getting elected than running off principles of the party, and they're losing a heck of a lot of votes along the way.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

Dion was told by his members he couldn't win an election as his party is in near shambles. He had no choice but to get a number of his elected members to abstain from voting. It's a political move to save face.

The Liberals played this game of chicken with the Harper govt hoping they would cave in to some of their demands. Harper called his bluff and dared the Liberals to force an election.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

I wonder how those 96 Liberal ridings feel about not having a say in this years government objectives?

Meh, it's politics as usual. Your attempt to spin this like the Liberals are somehow abandoning their constituents shows a lack of knowledge of Canadian government history -- and recent history at that!

As Kerplunk noted, Harper's Conservatives also abstained en masse instead of voting against Paul Martin's budget and triggering an election in 2005. Where was the huge outcry then from the CPC supporters around these parts that they weren't getting any say in how their federal tax dollars were being spent because their MPs didn't vote against the budget that year?

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm fine with it, I knew it was going to happen, but I honestly thought that the Liberal's would stay away from the vote enmass as a strong protest.

When the Conservatives abstained against Martin's budget, it was seen as a delaying tactic since the Conservatives were not ready for an election, but it wasn't seen as the move of a weak leader.

With Dion, because of all of the issues going back to the leadership of its party, and the fact that he's allowed himself to be played and abused by harper, it is a huge sign of weakness because he's opened the door for Harper to strip him of his platform in any upcoming election due to forcing Dion to support his platform through the use of the confidence votes.

Eventually, Dion is going to have to swallow his pride, trigger an election and take his beating like a man.

The Liberal Party is in dire straits, and will remain that way for quite a while. I don't think they'll plummet as far as the Conservatives did with Kim Campbell though.

[JohnnyFlame]

I could really care less as they are all dufii but the strategy of abstaining is stupid. No matter what it makes that party sound like weasels. The Liberals for instance squawking the "people don't want an election" line and it makes them look like losers.

Why not just come right out and say we don't think in the current political climate that we can achieve a majority and so it's smart politics to not have an election now. Then add and we are confident this government will lose what confidence you have in them and we will soon return to a majority government position. On the attack!!!

With everybody saying they are weak they come out and appear --- WEAK.

I'd change the message while still abstaining and waiting for a better hand if I was the Liberal braintrust.

[mykalberta]

Politically its a smart move. Take your licks now and hope to fight another day. Dion has to clean his own house before he can try to run an election. I wouldnt want to be in his shoes - lots of sharks about.

[Ford Prefect]

AFAIC, the longer Dion and the Liberals want to flounder around and tread water, the better. Their current ineptitude gives Harper the freedom to govern as if he has a majority anyway, and the longer the current scenario plays out the stronger the majority I think Harper will eventually win. The longer this goes on the more voters will abandon the Liberals, and the more voters will overcome their fears about "evil" Harper's "hidden agenda." The course the Liberals are on will elect the first NDP opposition in history.

Acutally, the stars are aligned quite nicely at the moment in general. The Liberals are sucking slough water, the Coilers look like they might win the draft lottery but not benefit from it, the Eskimos suck, Borat and the Canuckleheads are floundering and Sather's big spending this summer has the Rangers sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. And the Red Sox are looking good in the World Series. Life is good ... now if the Stamps can pull a horseshoe out of their arses life will be truly terrific.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

AFAIC, the longer Dion and the Liberals want to flounder around and tread water, the better. Their current ineptitude gives Harper the freedom to govern as if he has a majority anyway, and the longer the current scenario plays out the stronger the majority I think Harper will eventually win. The longer this goes on the more voters will abandon the Liberals, and the more voters will overcome their fears about "evil" Harper's "hidden agenda." The course the Liberals are on will elect the first NDP opposition in history.

Acutally, the stars are aligned quite nicely at the moment in general. The Liberals are sucking slough water, the Coilers look like they might win the draft lottery but not benefit from it, the Eskimos suck, Borat and the Canuckleheads are floundering and Sather's big spending this summer has the Rangers sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. And the Red Sox are looking good in the World Series. Life is good ... now if the Stamps can pull a horseshoe out of their arses life will be truly terrific.

LOL this is so so true. It is priceless having the Esks and Oilers suck at the same time. Meanwhile there does exist the chance the Stamps could at least win the Semi-Final. Plus the Hitmen are looking very good. Maybe we get a special year for Calgary sports fans at the same time the fans up North are hating life!!!!!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by HOZ

That would be true.....but here is the but....

They, the Liberals, could have actually care(d) about doing something for this country other than doing things that they think would get them re-elected!

You know....like lead!

Again we see how hollow their policies, visions and convictions really are.

So if they were to trigger a vote today would you vote for them? Would you give them a chance even?

If you can't honestly consider them as an option why would any rational person subject themselves to an election?

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

These Liberals are more concerned with getting elected than running off principles of the party . . .

You're just clueing into this now? The only 'principle' of the party is and always was getting elected.