Liberals spending promises/vote buying may be backfiring big time.

[transplant99]

In todays Herald.

Ipsos-Reid president Darrell Bricker said in an interview Friday one of the reasons for the declining Liberal support is an apparent voter backlash to the government's pre-election strategy of promising billions of dollars in tax cuts and new spending programs.

"It underscores the fact that people believe the Liberals are willing to spend money to buy votes. And it's one of the things that came out of the sponsorship inquiry. So it highlights the character elements of the Liberals that people don't like.

"For opposition voters, it's throwing a log on the fire for them and steeling their resolve to kick these guys out. And for people who are voting for the government, it's making them nothing but squeamish."

The new poll found that, after 12 years of Liberal government, there is a widespread desire for change and a growing number of voters are becoming comfortable with the idea of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper becoming prime minister, provided a Tory government is kept to a minority.

Moreover, the poll found the Liberals are in trouble in two key regional battlegrounds: Quebec, where the popularity of the Bloc has surged, and British Columbia, where the Conservatives have suddenly soared.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgar...1-017dadb9829c

[The Goon]

Meh. This will go up and down over the course of the election, and then we'll end up with the same arrangement. The only thing I'm hoping for in this campaign are commercials featuring the various leaders sitting in front of their Christmas trees, wearing hideous Bill Cosby-like sweaters.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Meh. This will go up and down over the course of the election, and then we'll end up with the same arrangement. The only thing I'm hoping for in this campaign are commercials featuring the various leaders sitting in front of their Christmas trees, wearing hideous Bill Cosby-like sweaters.

Yep. Polls said the same thing just prior to the last election and the Liberals still won. It's one thing for someone in a poll to say they are upset with the Liberals (which most people are), but it is another thing to actually get them to vote against ideology.

[evman150]

Stephen Harper will never be Prime Minister of Canada. People don't "become comfortable" with a person like that.

There are three main groups of voters in the country. Those who blindly support the Liberals, those who blindly support the Conservatives, and those who are on the fence. Those on the fence decide who will form the government that leads the country. And the fact is, to those on the fence, Stephen Harper is not a pretty option. People on the fence would much rather stick with the "Fiberals" than risk electing a guy who will turn the country into some quasi-American war-supporting country that is against equal rights for all.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by evman150

Stephen Harper will never be Prime Minister of Canada. People don't "become comfortable" with a person like that.

There are three main groups of voters in the country. Those who blindly support the Liberals, those who blindly support the Conservatives, and those who are on the fence. Those on the fence decide who will form the government that leads the country. And the fact is, to those on the fence, Stephen Harper is not a pretty option. People on the fence would much rather stick with the "Fiberals" than risk electing a guy who will turn the country into some quasi-American war-supporting country that is against equal rights for all.

I will once again point out your blind inept political knowledge. Truly remarkable dude, stick to astrophysics.

[transplant99]

"Fiberals" than risk electing a guy who will turn the country into some quasi-American war-supporting country that is against equal rights for all.

Just curious...exactly what equal rights is he against?

He has stated quite clearly, he wants equal rights for gays, but doesnt want them using the term marriage for their nuptials. Beyound that he has expressly supported all rights for everyone being the same. So thats a lie. (Should i say "Fib")

This is just the fear mongering BS that conservatives are always accused of IMO.

Quite funny actually...smacks of desperation.

[RougeUnderoos]

Yeah that's pretty bad news for the Liberals. Might be a little soon though.

There's a good article in the paper (not online) by the same guy about what the Conservatives should not do to screw this all up. The gist of it is do the opposite of what they did last time. And the "Golden Rule" is don't predict a Conservative majority because that'll make a lot of people change their minds. Also, tell the MPs and candidates not to say dumbass redneck things.

Nothing turns moderate people off more than Stockwell Day saying we should bring back the death penalty, or suggesting the Canadian military mount a mission to find Noah's Ark.

They might even have a chance this time.

[duncan]

Originally Posted by peter12

I will once again point out your blind inept political knowledge. Truly remarkable dude, stick to astrophysics.

Actually, most of what he said was right. There are three groups of people in Canada, the pro-Conservative 'right' the pro-Liberal?NDP 'left', and the undecided. The key to the election is swaying the undecided. Forget Quebec, since neither party will amount to much there.
As for the view he holds towards Harper, it is his view, right or wrong, and your bias will not sway his.

[duncan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Yeah that's pretty bad news for the Liberals. Might be a little soon though.

There's a good article in the paper (not online) by the same guy about what the Conservatives should not do to screw this all up. The gist of it is do the opposite of what they did last time. And the "Golden Rule" is don't predict a Conservative majority because that'll make a lot of people change their minds. Also, tell the MPs and candidates not to say dumbass redneck things.

Nothing turns moderate people off more than Stockwell Day saying we should bring back the death penalty, or suggesting the Canadian military mount a mission to find Noah's Ark.

They might even have a chance this time.

That actually would be enough to sway my vote. I am pro capital punishment, and wish the government would put more money into the millitary. What would help for me, is getting a conservative representative in my riding that I can believe in. The Liberal candidate is really good, but I don't have faith in the party.

[transplant99]

There's a good article in the paper (not online) by the same guy about what the Conservatives should not do to screw this all up.

Which paper Rouge?

Though if it's not online i guess it irrelevant.

Just curious if there is an actual campaign strategist out there that gets it and isnt involved in the party already!!

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Which paper Rouge?

Though if it's not online i guess it irrelevant.

Just curious if there is an actual campaign strategist out there that gets it and isnt involved in the party already!!

All I know is that none of the ones involved get it. It's something I'd like to help them out with, but alas, I'm in school and don't have time for frivolous things like elections.

[FlamesAddiction]

I actually voted for the Conservatives once, but that was back before the Reform/Alliance influence. The only way I will vote for them again is if the ultra-right wing contigents break away again. I just don't like the way the party is right now, no matter how bad the Liberals screw up.

I would vote for the NDP or Greens, but like Rouge said, the Conservatives start predicting a majority and it just scares people into voting for the only party that can stop that - the Liberals. A Conservative minority would be tolerable, but would likely not last long. Maybe not even a year.

[RougeUnderoos]

It's in the Herald. Odd that there is no mention of the thing on their website at all.

Anyhow another thing he said is that they have to stay away from Ralph Klein during this campaign -- "send him to the Bering Strait" is how he puts it. Ralph just doesn't "help". Then there's this article about Ralph saying the Liberals will win and Mackay suggests they use duct tape to shut him up.

Funny stuff.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Which paper Rouge?

Though if it's not online i guess it irrelevant.

Just curious if there is an actual campaign strategist out there that gets it and isnt involved in the party already!!

Don Martin in today's Herald I believe.

One of his other "rules" was that Harper shouldn't try to manage the whole campaign himself, as he did in 2004. Unfortunately, it would appear as though he is trying to do just that this time around. As well, the muzzling of the loudmouth conservative MP's who fuel the Liberal spin machine was another point.

Anyhow, glad to see the Liberal's are having a tough time buying votes this time around. Never put much faith in polls though, and it's still way to early to start speculating on how people will vote IMO...

[transplant99]

The only way I will vote for them again is if the ultra-right wing contigents break away again. I just don't like the way the party is right now, no matter how bad the Liberals screw up.

i will never understand this way of thinking...ever.

you KNOW the Libs are crooked, have screwed up a ton of stuff and its the same gang asking to go back and do it again.

But the over riding "feeling that something is wrong" (no proof just a feeling i assume) is enough to send the crooked back again?

Scary.

Anyhow another thing he said is that they have to stay away from Ralph Klein during this campaign -- "send him to the Bering Strait" is how he puts it. Ralph just doesn't "help". Then there's this article about Ralph saying the Liberals will win and Mackay suggests they use duct tape to shut him up.

Yup...read that the other day. It was funny actaully.

Never put much faith in polls though, and it's still way to early to start speculating on how people will vote IMO...

For sure.

Though i can buy into the concept that most Canadians are just so tired of the Liberal nonsense. Year after year of broken promises and poor decisions have to start wearing one even the most disinterested observers.

[transplant99]

The only way I will vote for them again is if the ultra-right wing contigents break away again. I just don't like the way the party is right now, no matter how bad the Liberals screw up.

i will never understand this way of thinking...ever.

you KNOW the Libs are crooked, have screwed up a ton of stuff and its the same gang asking to go back and do it again.

But the over riding "feeling that something is wrong" (no proof just a feeling i assume) is enough to send the crooked back again?

Scary.

Anyhow another thing he said is that they have to stay away from Ralph Klein during this campaign -- "send him to the Bering Strait" is how he puts it. Ralph just doesn't "help". Then there's this article about Ralph saying the Liberals will win and Mackay suggests they use duct tape to shut him up.

Yup...read that the other day. It was funny actaully.

Never put much faith in polls though, and it's still way to early to start speculating on how people will vote IMO...

For sure.

Though i can buy into the concept that most Canadians are just so tired of the Liberal nonsense. Year after year of broken promises and poor decisions have to start wearing on even the most disinterested observers.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by transplant99

i will never understand this way of thinking...ever.

you KNOW the Libs are crooked, have screwed up a ton of stuff and its the same gang asking to go back and do it again.

But the over riding "feeling that something is wrong" (no proof just a feeling i assume) is enough to send the crooked back again?

Scary.

It's not that I "feel something is wrong" with the new-conservatives, it's that I know that I share virtually no ideologic similarities with them. I can't justify voting for them and wouldn't like most of the changes they would try to make. For me, the changes they would want are worse in the greater scheme of things than Liberal money wasting.

[Bertuzzied]

Canada will never vote for a reform party prime minister. The stigma will never leave Harper.

[transplant99]

For me, the changes they would want are worse in the greater scheme of things than Liberal money wasting

.

What changes are you referring to?

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by transplant99

.

What changes are you referring to?

I doubt it's accountability, credibility, an E3 Senate, and electoral reform... I mean, obviously we've done so well without them!