Coalition Deal To Topple Minority Tory Govt- [Update Parliament Prorogued until Jan]

[flamingchina]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah the Rob Anders thing would definitely throw a wrench in my blissful ignorance.

I don't get why he hasn't been replaced by a different PC, but I guess that's for another conversation.

Supposidly it's because he can raise money lke a MoFo, and since his riding is safe, it can be spent elsewhere.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Contrary to popular opinion. I don't hate him. I'm just not blind.

This entire mess is on him. Don't believe me? Read any of the prominent political columnists on this debacle. They unanimously deride Harper as the instigator of this entire mess and most say that he should step down. Were it not for Harper we would not be where we are. A fact lost on most people in this discussion.

Actually, the messageboard is a bold new innovation where individuals get to express their own thoughts and conclusions.

[Ronald Pagan]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I see...

So if I poke you with a stick and you hit me over the head with a shovel, it's all on me because I instigated it?

Sorry... life doesn't work that way.

Well I guess you could say that I 'reaped what I sowed."

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Well I guess you could say that I 'reaped what I sowed."

I don't think anyone is scornfully looking down their nose at you.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Contrary to popular opinion. I don't hate him. I'm just not blind.

This entire mess is on him. Don't believe me? Read any of the prominent political columnists on this debacle. They unanimously deride Harper as the instigator of this entire mess and most say that he should step down. Were it not for Harper we would not be where we are. A fact lost on most people in this discussion.

I may actually agree with you on that. I know I argued against it, but after considering everything the last couple days, I think that there would have been a better time to go after the party subsidies. I still agree with getting rid of them, but I am open to questioning the timing of the attempt.

Having said that...

I think the response far outweighs the cause. Especially when you consider that the CPCs have given everything that's been asked for the last few days, and the coalition is still pushing forward. That reeks of something more than "what is best for Canadians/Sovereign Quebecors."

The ensuing concern, however, is who else could possibly lead this country right now? The suggestions that Dion or Layton would be a better PM than Harper are laughable at best. Igantieff does not even have the support of his own party. Prentice is someone even I wouldn't want to have as PM.

If this coalition goes through, none of that will matter because Duceppe will be our PM.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by ronald pagan

when did that happen?

#1534 & #1536

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Dion

#1534 & #1536

look again... 2 different peeople

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Jim Prentice - anyone?

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

You reap what you sow.

Originally Posted by Dion

#1534 & #1536

I don't get it.

[North East Goon]

What is the significance of the kids that stand up and sit down with Mr. Speaker of the house?

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

What is the significance of the kids that stand up and sit down with Mr. Speaker of the house?

I don't know, but I find that very disturbing.

[Wookie]

I just spoke to someone who works in industry Canada, and I'm answering some one's post from awhile back.

The prorogue doesn't mean they don't work. It's just the "house isn't sitting" or something along those lines. Everyone will still be @ work. It's just like the summer when they don't sit and it's just like xmas. Actually, they would have gone on break in a week from this week anyway, and come back one day earlier. People are acting like they're shutting down Canada when the house wouldn't have been sitting anyway. The budget is still being worked on, things are still moving ahead. If anything is causing delays it's this Coalition nonsense.

My friend will still be sitting @ work, doing policy, etc. everyday, full working day other than the days they take off for xmas holidays.

[MarchHare]

Despite being a Liberal, I mentioned numerous times in the election thread that I'm not impressed with Dion as a leader. I've also expressed my extreme fear of what the NDP would do to our country's finances if they ever got any real power in parliament. The proposed Dion-Layton coalition government makes me extremely worried.

BUT

Anyone who doesn't think the blame for this mess doesn't start and end with Harper's office needs to remove their CPC homer googles. In the wake of the election, what Harper should have done is reach out to nine fiscally-conservative Liberal MPs from the Paul Martin branch of the party and pass important economic policies to deal with the current crisis while leaving divisive social issues off the table. An alliance of the CPC and a few blue liberals might have been very successful, and certainly better than what we're going to get.

Instead, Harper chose to play a game of brinkmanship and acted like he had a majority, banking on the Liberals allowing him to pass anything he wanted because they're not ready for another election until after their leadership converntion. Unfortunately for him, the opposition parties called his bluff.

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I don't think so. My understanding is that it would be a 1.3 billion increase in the equalization transfer payment to the province of Quebec. Guess which provinces the money would come from?

How exactly would they just increase it? The equalization payments are based on a formula.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by ikaris

How exactly would they just increase it? The equalization payments are based on a formula.

Probably as a "special condition" over and above whatever inflated amount the formula gives them.

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

What is the significance of the kids that stand up and sit down with Mr. Speaker of the house?

Those are the House Pages, I think. I believe they are there to deliver messages, documents, assist House officers, etc.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't get it.

He commented on trannys post twice.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Despite being a Liberal, I mentioned numerous times in the election thread that I'm not impressed with Dion as a leader. I've also expressed my extreme fear of what the NDP would do to our country's finances if they ever got any real power in parliament. The proposed Dion-Layton coalition government makes me extremely worried.

BUT

Anyone who doesn't think the blame for this mess doesn't start and end with Harper's office needs to remove their CPC homer googles. In the wake of the election, what Harper should have done is reach out to nine fiscally-conservative Liberal MPs from the Paul Martin branch of the party and pass important economic policies to deal with the current crisis while leaving divisive social issues off the table. An alliance of the CPC and a few blue liberals might have been very successful, and certainly better than what we're going to get.

Instead, Harper chose to play a game of brinkmanship and acted like he had a majority, banking on the Liberals allowing him to pass anything he wanted because they're not ready for another election until after their leadership converntion. Unfortunately for him, the opposition parties called his bluff.

While Harper's act was a bad move, it is still no reason why the "Coalition" should get a free pass with what they're doing... They're using a Nuclear Bomb to swat a mosquito. They don't want to just reverse the clause they disagree with, they want to blow up parliament and take over. I don't see how this can be acceptable in any way, despite what caused it.

Just because Steve Moore hit Naslund, it in no way justifies what Bertuzzi did.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by ikaris

How exactly would they just increase it? The equalization payments are based on a formula.

Brown envelopes stuffed with cash and lots of lunch meetings.

In Quebec.

[ikaris]

So, out of curiousity, when the Conservatives eventually offer a revised budget with significant bailout dollars being sent over to Quebec, will anyone cry foul here?

It will be interesting to see the reaction here.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Kerplunk

Those are the House Pages, I think. I believe they are there to deliver messages, documents, assist House officers, etc.

Yup, used to be a pretty prestigeous gig. they're the alterboys of the Canadian Political system.