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

[the_only_turek_fan]

Anyone else see Ignatieff basically dodge the leadership question?

The reporter flat out asked him if he wanted to be the leader, and he said he won't answer that question. He looked a bit agitated as well.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by photon

How else would he be able to argue on the Internet?

Best comment in the thread!

LOL

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm happy with the results, I would have been happier with a majority, but this election is devastating for the Liberal party as they lost a lot of steam in Ontario and everywhere. The NDP made some gains, but it was a meh increase against a rudderless Liberal party, and the Conservatives strengthened their position and gives them a chance with a new mandate to govern since the Liberal's are going to want to avoid an election until they can get a new leader and refill their bank.

Elizabeth May lost, the Greens didn't gain a seat and 9% total popularity was not a strong showing, they need to re-evaluate her role as the leader.

What can I say about the Box, Duceppe did what he promised that he would do, and ran a solid campaign.

Dion's shot against CTV was a rare display of temper, and probably misplaced.

Good speech by Dion, affirms support for working with the standing government and focusing on the economy, pretty much a white flag of surrender.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by jammies

I'm actually quite happy with another minority government - I think one of the big problems in Canadian politics is that the PM has too much power with a majority, and essentially can do anything he/she wants with little oversight.

What would be really nice would be for the Conservatives to enlist the Liberals in a coalition; that would give a majority of Canadians (that voted) a voice in what the government does. It would also marginalize the Bloc and perhaps drain some of their support away to the national parties, which cannot be seen as other than a good thing. However, I don't know if Harper has the humility to try it, which is too bad as it would be very hard for Dion to reject such an overture.

That's the crappy thing about it... It's a double edged sword. To work together can be viewed as one party conceding power. To attempt to stand alone or take full command can be viewed as power hungry.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm happy with the results, I would have been happier with a majority, but this election is devastating for the Liberal party as they lost a lot of steam in Ontario and everywhere. The NDP made some gains, but it was a meh increase against a rudderless Liberal party, and the Conservatives strengthened their position and gives them a chance with a new mandate to govern since the Liberal's are going to want to avoid an election until they can get a new leader and refill their bank.

I think this election is more devastating for the PCs. If this is the best they can do vs. a weak Liberal leader, they are in big trouble vs. a strong Liberal leader.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

The reporter flat out asked him if he wanted to be the leader, and he said he won't answer that question. He looked a bit agitated as well.

That's a question that doesn't have a right answer. I thought Ignatieff was spot-on with his other comments, though, and he actually seemed sincere as opposed to Dion who seemed more like he was saying what the public expects but not what he really believes.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not to say that a majority isn't what they wanted...they did...all parties do.

And that's why they "failed".

They should have nailed this one but they did not. They had a lot of things going for them but didn't capitalize. Kind of like a certain hockey team we know of.

1)Crappy opposition with an unpopular leader and weak campaign
2)No serious gaffes while they were running things
3)The whole "economic crisis" thing (Harper is an economist, nobody blames this on him, and "stability")
4)They were not (and could not be) nailed on socially conservative stuff like they were last time
5) the Liberals stink and nobody else had a chance in hell

[the_only_turek_fan]

The perspective from south of the border:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americ....ap/index.html

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think this election is more devastating for the PCs. If this is the best they can do vs. a weak Liberal leader, they are in big trouble vs. a strong Liberal leader.

I don't know if I agree with you, the Conservatives gained seats elsewhere but were corked in Quebec, people say that the Conservatives are out of step with Quebec values, but I think Quebec is out of step with Canadian values, and your never ever going to please them over the long term.

Your damned with the rest of Canada if you reach out to Quebec, your damned in Quebec if you reach out to Canada.

I think the day and age of majority governments is dead as long as the Bloc remains as a alternative in Quebec. But the Conservatives gained over 20 seats, the NDP which ran a pretty strong campaign, probably one of their strongest since Ed Broadbent didn't really break through all the way.

As soon as Harper bought up the Arts programs and the crime bill that seems like it resonated everywhere else, the Bloc killed the conservative hopes.

[Bunk]

Even though I'm not a conservative supporter, I can live with a Conservative minority. Let's face it, the federal government is largely an elaborate mechanism to redistribute tax revenue. What the federal government actually does in terms of delivering services is very, very minor compared to Municipal or Provincial governments.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by 4X4

To work together can be viewed as one party conceding power. To attempt to stand alone or take full command can be viewed as power hungry.

You are right, and it would take a lot of work and compromise before such a scenario could work out. Still, it would show the two parties really do have the interests of Canadians at heart and would strengthen both of them vs the other parties - as long as the coalition held together.

[the_only_turek_fan]

10M eligible voters did not vote today.

[metallicat]

I missed that part of Dion's speech, I gotta see a youtube of that.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Anyone know the voter turnout?

[old-fart]

Trying to spin this as a "loss" for the PCs is a bit of a stretch... they increased their seat count by near 20 (still waiting for final results) while also increasing their popular vote. The Liberals took a major dive in both those categories.

The stock market fall definitely hurt the ruling party as they were comfortably in the lead prior to that and were flirting with majority territory. Having said that, the Green Shift is an idiotic plan.

It will be interesting to see what happens next. Dion has said before the election that he would not step down no matter what, and has May. If they both stay on and fight for their leadership, the other parties are sure to pick up more of the vote next time. If Dion drags out the leadership and fights it, the party is doomed. They have basically no money now (are actually in significant debt after this election) and are still fighting a major lawsuit. They still haven't paid back all the sponsorship scandal money either. They can't afford another election anytime soon, and if they prop up the PCs over and over again, their base support will bleed.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Wow. Too bad for Dion that his best speech was delivered after the election.

edit referring to his post election speech, not the ctv comment

His speech was a bit too late. They say on CBC that he will be replaced by the party. They'll quietly ask him to step down to avoid an expensive leadership convention that would damage the Liberal party. Also a lot of party members weren't happy with going the carbon tax route.

[V]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

10M eligible voters did not vote today.

I figured it would be low today. Everyone knew how this was going to play out.

[4X4]

Worst voter turnout in Canadian history according to CTV...

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if I agree with you, the Conservatives gained seats elsewhere but were corked in Quebec, people say that the Conservatives are out of step with Quebec values, but I think Quebec is out of step with Canadian values, and your never ever going to please them over the long term.

Your damned with the rest of Canada if you reach out to Quebec, your damned in Quebec if you reach out to Canada.

I think the day and age of majority governments is dead as long as the Bloc remains as a alternative in Quebec. But the Conservatives gained over 20 seats, the NDP which ran a pretty strong campaign, probably one of their strongest since Ed Broadbent didn't really break through all the way.

As soon as Harper bought up the Arts programs and the crime bill that seems like it resonated everywhere else, the Bloc killed the conservative hopes.

CC, why are Quebecers against the crime bill. Sorry, I just don't get it.

Was it something that Harper said as well?

[4X4]

Sorry, meant to add that they said it was 58% voter turnout.