Him? With a capital H? Time for new business cards: Stephen Harper, God.
I'm sure they're already on order.
Man, with May and some of the NDP's new parachute MPs, the nut-bar Conservative backbenchers won't sound so crazy any more...or, at least they'll have balance.
So, will Harper be re-opening CFB Calgary, or will the soldiers (with guns) in our streets (in Canada) have to drive in from Edmonton every day?
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* a national majority government formed primarily by the votes from the economic engines of this country - CHECK
* a strong, progressive Official Opposition from a party that ran a positive campaign - CHECK
* obliteration of a separatist party - CHECK
* defeat of a 'Canadian of convenience' Liberal leader - CHECK
* a Liberal Party in shambles - CHECK
Tonight was a GREAT night. I hope the NDP permanently replace the Liberals and we return to a two-party system because I don't think electoral and parliamentary reform will ever happen.
Last edited by kn; 05-03-2011 at 01:22 AM.
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Alright guys, time for me to swallow some bitter medicine. Here goes.
Some of you might remember that I'm an advocate for electoral reform, but also, failing that, for strategic voting. I've long been telling NDP supporters that the smartest thing they could do, to get a government that more closely reflects their values, would be to vote Liberal.
We're now closer to a two-party system than we've ever been for a long as I can recall. And a two-party system is what you get when everyone votes strategically. It's what I've been advocating for. I'm not happy that it's been the demise of the Liberals (rather than the NDP) that has brought us here, but I'm not going to give up my principles as a result.
Therefore, I am now forced to argue for the dispansion of the Liberal Party of Canada. Hey, we've had a good run. But the way to bring power back to the middle, which I believe is the ultimate goal of liberals (small "l"), under the current circumstances, is simply to eliminate the party.
I need to make an important distinction here: I'm not advocating for a merger with the NDP (although maybe it doesn't matter). Some Liberals would go left, some would go right. I don't even know which way I'd go. (I think I've argued more with CPC supporters than NDP supporters because there are more of them.) What's important is that instead of being governed by the rightmost 40% as we are now, the two parties that would be remaining would have to fight for the middle. Power would shift back to the middle, which as far as I'm concerned, is where it belongs.
Anyways, now that you longer need his vote in the House, can you CPC supporters finally vote out Anders next time? Not looking forward to the new copyright law...
For other random musings (and quotes), read on:
Spoiler!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vulcan
I could see a joining of the Liberals with the NDP before the next election, much as happened with the Conservatives and the Reform. The Democratic Liberals, the New Liberals.........
That may actually be the worst case scenario for the Cons. Haha, stupid Harper.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilers_fan
The best part about this, is Canada is finally going to see that there is no hidden agenda with the CPC. Scary Harper is not going to make an appearance.
Or he is, and we're all screwed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
Wait...I thought the Liberals were the centrist party in Canada now?
now that they lose...they are left?
The CPC is now the center party in canada.
The Cons are the the right-most 40%. The Libs are still the center.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Huh? Don't see many left-wingers calling Conservative supporters crazy. Do see a lot of Conservatives calling NDP supporters crazy.
Probably because there's not a lot of left-wingers around here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryred
Harper has the majority of support from Canadians that got off their lazy butts
39.7% of the popular vote is NOT the majority of the Canadians that got off their lazy butts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
quote on CTV:
The CPC are like Nickelback - nobody seems to like them, but they keep doing well.
What have we done?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frequitude
I have no idea how the NDP keeps this number of seats. Quebec is completely in play now, and I don't see the NDP becoming "Quebec's party".
They might. Quebec is pretty damn socialist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3
Heather Liscano singing Oh Canada for the Conservatives.
you can donate whatever you can afford. 10 bucks, 100 bucks whatever.
How do you think Obama built his warchest that decimated the GOP?
In a country such as Canada, I think almost everyone can afford the $2 to donate to the party of their choice (in place of the vote subsidy) plus you get 1.50 back in taxes. So it's not a financial issue, if you want to spend your money on political support go for it. I will instead spend my money on my family, or donate to my favorite charity...then be happy that my government is using my taxes to pay for the services I need and not to fund political parties so they can advertise.
Depends on how confident Harper is in his support level.
Watching their coverage tonight, I don't think he has any support at the CBC.
** bazinga **
But seriously, it's hard to imagine that in this day and age of 200+ tv channels that we need a government funded broadcaster. The last time we had a Conservative majority government, we saw the privatization of Air Canada, CN Rail, Canadair, and Petro-Canada. I think we're likely to see the privatization of the CBC floated as an idea at some point over the next 4 years (probably around the time the HNiC contract is up for renewal).
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This is how it's always been and always will be. Respect is not mutual in Canadian politics.
Hilarious considering the arrogant, condescending, and downright disrespectful posts by many Conservative supporters on here. I'm very indifferent to the results tonight, but this campaign showed me the biggest loss in Canadian politics has been reasonable and civil discourse.
So the single mom who never visted or talked to anyone in her riding 3 hours away from where she lived, can't speak French, her employer at a pub didn't know she was even running, and just returned from Vegas because she had booked a cheap ticket a few months ago and didn't want to drop it, won by a landslide.
So, she basically won strictly based on her (webcam) picture.
Wonder how she even got hooked into the NDP in the first place.
I'm not sad to see the Liberal party decimated. They don't really have much purpose - centre right voters will vote Conservative, centre left will vote NDP so who needs the Liberals?
I have always voted NDP, but for the first time in my life I am not upset by a Conservative majority. We are in risky economic times, and I feel most confident in Harper to keep the economy strong. We've seen enough of Harper to see that he isn't as scary as some of the media paints him.
Liberals and Bloc decimated? NDP getting a historic number of seats in the house and the official opposition? It was a pretty good night.
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I wasn't near a TV during the evening and I couldn't watch this stuff unfold on the networks. I really wish I had set my PVR or something or record CBC or CTV, etc. and to hear panels and reactions, etc. as it happened live.
All I can do is read things like this thread and other live chat records, etc. now to see what the mood was. All the major websites just have post-election videos and no videos of coverage from during the period results were coming in. I would like to see those. Any idea where to look?
I feel like I'm just watching the highlights package/wrap up of the game and not actually watching the game happen live which is the good part.
I'm not sad to see the Liberal party decimated. They don't really have much purpose - centre right voters will vote Conservative, centre left will vote NDP so who needs the Liberals?
I have always voted NDP, but for the first time in my life I am not upset by a Conservative majority. We are in risky economic times, and I feel most confident in Harper to keep the economy strong. We've seen enough of Harper to see that he isn't as scary as some of the media paints him.
Liberals and Bloc decimated? NDP getting a historic number of seats in the house and the official opposition? It was a pretty good night.
This is an interesting perspective from a committed and circumspect NDP supporter. Too bad there aren't more of you out there.
But with a majority government also comes expectations from the base that Harper has tried to keep happy over the past five years. "For years, we've kept our mouths silent because we knew it was a minority and we didn't want this hidden-agenda label to come out," said Craig Chandler, a businessman and long-time supporter of the party in its various incarnations. "But the reason we chose a westerner is because we wanted the Canadian Alliance-Reform agenda, and now that he has won a majority, he won't be afraid to show his true colours."
Hilarious considering the arrogant, condescending, and downright disrespectful posts by many Conservative supporters on here. I'm very indifferent to the results tonight, but this campaign showed me the biggest loss in Canadian politics has been reasonable and civil discourse.
Then there's my demographic (18-30 "educated young voters" etc.), who seriously believe that there will be Conservative death squads patrolling the streets by noon today and probably a 9pm curfew implemented by tonight based on the fear mongering I see on my facebook feed.
Last edited by Regorium; 05-03-2011 at 07:23 AM.
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Congratulations to Elizabeth May for beating out Gary Lunn.
I still think she's a lousy politician leading a poorly run party, however, she managed to beat a long-term MP to earn the Green's first seat. Credit where it's due.
1) I think the conservatives were/are very popular with immigrants and that the ethnic vote went in large part to them.
2) Those like the person in the above quote who are expecting harper to come in and implement the reform agenda will be bitterly disappointed. Half the caucus is from Ontario and east.
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The Cons are the the right-most 40%. The Libs are still the center.
