40th Canadian Federal Election - Welcome to another Conservative Minority (whee!)

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by calculoso

It looks to me like they are targeting their funds to where they think they have a chance. My riding (Anders) has a lot of Liberal signs for their candidate (including a picture of her). Other areas appear to have little if any Liberal presence.

The NDP is a different story. It's all about Jack Layton's team - no mention of the actual candidate.

In my riding, it's the opposite; John Chan is fairly heavily promoted on the NDP signage, but I think this is his third campaign at the federal level, so he's got a small amount of name recognition. No mention of Layton.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by octothorp

In my riding, it's the opposite; John Chan is fairly heavily promoted on the NDP signage, but I think this is his third campaign at the federal level, so he's got a small amount of name recognition. No mention of Layton.

Not only that, Chan ran in the provincial campaign this past winter/spring as well. What does he do for employment if he has sufficient time to wage two campaigns in a year?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So where the hell are the campaign signs and, for that matter, the campaigns?

Thus far, neither the Liberals nor the NDP appear to be making any kind of effort to let voters know they exist. No signs, no literature, no door-to-door knocking. Nothing. You gotta at least try, guys...

I was talking to my wife about this over the weekend. How serious can you be about winning when your campaign is this bad? 1/2 the reason that the Liberals and NDP aren't competitve in Alberta is the campaign that only runs during the writ.

Quick, without looking this up can anyone name the Liberal candidate running against Harper? Granted she wasn't going to win...but at the same time we're 3 weeks in here...

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So where the hell are the campaign signs and, for that matter, the campaigns?

Thus far, neither the Liberals nor the NDP appear to be making any kind of effort to let voters know they exist. No signs, no literature, no door-to-door knocking. Nothing. You gotta at least try, guys...

Well, to be fair, it's not like the Conservatives are investing heavily in campaigning in Calgary either. Where I live (Lee Richardson's riding), I haven't seen a single campaign sign for ANY candidate. In fact, I've only seen a grand total of ONE sign since the writ was dropped (a generic "Vote Green Party" sign); someone walking through my neighbourhood would have no idea there was an election going on if they didn't already know. If the CPC weren't running an incumbent MP who I was already familiar with, I wouldn't be able to tell you the name of any of the candidates for any party in the Calgary Centre riding.

The Conservatives know they have this area locked up, so they're allocating their resources to swing ridings elsewhere. Likewise, the opposition parties know they can't win here no matter how hard they try, so they too are concentrating where it might actually make a difference for them. It's really no different than McCain not wasting his time, money, and effort trying to win Massassachutts or Obama trying to win Texas.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Slava

I was talking to my wife about this over the weekend. How serious can you be about winning when your campaign is this bad? 1/2 the reason that the Liberals and NDP aren't competitve in Alberta is the campaign that only runs during the writ.

Quick, without looking this up can anyone name the Liberal candidate running against Harper? Granted she wasn't going to win...but at the same time we're 3 weeks in here...

Is it still Avalon Roberts, the typical Provincial/Federal SW Calgary Liberal also-ran?

I'll give the Dipper in my riding credit, at least she put up a couple signs to with the few generic Green ones and the half dozen massive Harper signs.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Is it still Avalon Roberts, the typical Provincial/Federal SW Calgary Liberal also-ran?

I'll give the Dipper in my riding credit, at least she put up a couple signs to with the few generic Green ones and the half dozen massive Harper signs.

Hilarious!! You're in the riding and have no idea!? (I know that you follow politics, so figured that in your riding you might know). Well the womans name is Marlene LaMontagne.

This might shock a few, but I don't even know if I'll be voting for her. If you can't even string together a campaign then I can't think that it is a good idea to have you as my MP. (Same goes for Harper, for the same reason amongst others).

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Slava

Hilarious!! You're in the riding and have no idea!? (I know that you follow politics, so figured that in your riding you might know). Well the womans name is Marlene LaMontagne.

This might shock a few, but I don't even know if I'll be voting for her. If you can't even string together a campaign then I can't think that it is a good idea to have you as my MP. (Same goes for Harper, for the same reason amongst others).

LOL Shocking! I guess Dr. Roberts gave up the ghost... Yeah, I tend to follow politics, and well, no literature, no signs, no media coverage (as the rep of the other major party v. the major party's leader, there's usually something), no nothing. Its like she's running for the Communists, Marijuana Party or the Christian Heritage Party. I agree, if one won't even try and fork out for a sign on 90th and 14th, one isn't worth electing.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Well, to be fair, it's not like the Conservatives are investing heavily in campaigning in Calgary either. Where I live (Lee Richardson's riding), I haven't seen a single campaign sign for ANY candidate. In fact, I've only seen a grand total of ONE sign since the writ was dropped (a generic "Vote Green Party" sign); someone walking through my neighbourhood would have no idea there was an election going on if they didn't already know. If the CPC weren't running an incumbent MP who I was already familiar with, I wouldn't be able to tell you the name of any of the candidates for any party in the Calgary Centre riding.

The Conservatives know they have this area locked up, so they're allocating their resources to swing ridings elsewhere. Likewise, the opposition parties know they can't win here no matter how hard they try, so they too are concentrating where it might actually make a difference for them. It's really no different than McCain not wasting his time, money, and effort trying to win Massassachutts or Obama trying to win Texas.

While you are absolutely correct in the assessment, this goes back to to my argument in the Richardson thread that I hijacked. The opposition parties won't put any effort into building a base in this city, therefore they are unelectable. Yet people want to blame the voters for that.

The Conservatives aren't exactly hitting the streets hard, but I at least see large campaign signs placed as you enter each riding. i.e.: Richardson has huge signs up 37th St. appraoching Richmond Road. I've seen a small liberal sign on 50th st. east of Elbow, and a generic Green Party sign in Cranston. Other than those two signs, you'd think Calgary was Mexico, and only one party was contesting the election.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Personally for me, with the canadian debate, there are too many people involved. I have seen a few debates in the past, and it just turns into 5 or 6 people bickering over some issue, with no real message being brought forward.

Plus, I already know whom I am voting for, so watching the canadian debate for me means nothing.

For me since the US election is now basically over, I will be watching the Canadian debates and taping the VP debates.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

While you are absolutely correct in the assessment, this goes back to to my argument in the Richardson thread that I hijacked. The opposition parties won't put any effort into building a base in this city, therefore they are unelectable. Yet people want to blame the voters for that.

The Conservatives aren't exactly hitting the streets hard, but I at least see large campaign signs placed as you enter each riding. i.e.: Richardson has huge signs up 37th St. appraoching Richmond Road. I've seen a small liberal sign on 50th st. east of Elbow, and a generic Green Party sign in Cranston. Other than those two signs, you'd think Calgary was Mexico, and only one party was contesting the election.

You have to remember there are budgets that each party can spend. On the Conservative side they see a riding where they got 60%+ of the vote, they likely think they could win it based on Harper = Conservative alone.

Also, not surprising to see little NDP/Liberal signage in Calgary, they need to win elsewhere to have a shot, spending money in Calgary doesnt gain them enough ground /$ spent.

[Resolute 14]

No, but if you put a bit of effort into building a base, that base then donates to the party, and the party has more money.

It's going to take the Liberals a very, very long time to dig themselves out of their hole, but until they pick up a shovel they arent going anywhere.

[mykalberta]

True, but I believe it needs to start at the Provincial level where both the NDP and Liberals in Alberta are non existent. Its easier to get people involved when the politics affect their daily lives.

No offence to Ontario, but the rust belt in Windsor affects me directly very little (unless of course Ont becomes a have not province)

[nik-]

I live in Sunnyside and see a decent amount of Liberal and NDP signage around here.

I really just don't even know who to vote for. I've never voted federally before (I used to live in Harper's riding, so voting for or against him seemed pointless to me last election), so I've briefly gone over the policies and ideologies of each party and really there are pieces of all three that strike a chord with me.

However no party platform really hits me as "yes, I am in line with their ideas"

I'm leaning Conservative at the moment which is odd, since I generally consider myself more liberal in thinking, but I just can't trust the Liberal party of Canada. Perhaps if there was another legitimate left of center option I would go there, but there isn't. From what I know right now, I don't want any of these parties to have a majority government. I don't trust what any of them would do with carte blanche.

Perhaps the debates will help cement me.

[Resolute 14]

Hmmm, someone must be reading this thread. A small little sign for the sacrificial lamb the Liberals put up against Jason Kenney went up last night at the entrance to Cranston. At least I now know the name of one of the contenders for second place.

[worth]

Anyone see Rick Mercer last night? I thought there was a good segment on the leaders.

Go here:

http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/

click video and then "RMR - On Family"

Jack Layton...hilarious.

[Daradon]

So how long will this next minority government last? Any guesses?

[Bobblehead]

Sweetheart of an independant candidate in a Sudbury riding.

"A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed," he said. "My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn't be more clear on that point." Candidates and teachers looked on in silence as students called for him to be "cut off." Despite their outrage, the discussion moved to other topics.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/C...41636-sun.html

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Sweetheart of an independant candidate in a Sudbury riding.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/C...41636-sun.html

I think that's a pretty clear hate crime. There is an allowance under Canadian law for expressing religious beliefs, but even these aren't protected if the hate crime is advocating genocide.

Criminal Code of Canada

Section 318: Hate Propaganda

(1) Every one who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

Definition of "genocide"
(2) In this section, "genocide" means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part any identifiable group, namely,

(a) killing members of the group; or

(b) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.

Consent (3) No proceeding for an offence under this section shall be instituted without the consent of the Attorney General.

Definition of "identifiable group"
(4) In this section, "identifiable group" means any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

[Nehkara]

New polls are showing Conservative support slipping. Definitely away from a majority and even likely away from their support at the last election.

Two polls from yesterday have been released.

Nanos Research: Con - 34%, Lib 30%, NDP 19%, Bloc 10%, Green 7%

Harris-Decima: Con - 34%, Lib 24%, NDP 20%, Bloc 8%, Green 13%

Article on CBC about the Harris-Decima polling:

Conservative support slipping, poll suggests

[Nehkara]

As an NDP supporter (one of the few around these parts it seems), the most important thing for the NDP is to translate a significant amount of support (20% or 1/5 of voters) into a significant number of seats.

In the last election the NDP had 17.5% of the popular vote but only 29 seats. The Libers had 30% of the vote and 103 seats. The NDP need to do better at not only competing in ridings but WINNING them.

I think the NDP need 40+ seats for this election to be considered even a marginal success for them and to continue their momentum. If they want to be considered a true threat then something in the range of 50-70 seats are needed. Layton is well-liked by the Canadian people, he just needs to continue to show that the NDP is the only viable alternative to the Conservatives and the Liberals.

Also, watch for the green party to start winning seats in this election. With most polling showing them around 10% (up from 4.5% last election), they should have enough votes somewhere to win a seat.