2011 Canadian Election Thread

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

NDP's support in Quebec is a mile wide and half an inch deep. They made a deal with the devil saying they'd open up the constitution.

I must have missed that (although I'll admit I didn't pay much attention to Layton, he's a windbag).

What was their promise?

[edn88]

The three headed moronic monster of the NDP-Bloc-LPC got exactly what they deserved by forcing an election that only a minority wanted. I am glad that two of their heads got lopped off.

I think that Canadians said - we want to see the CPC rule for a little while longer - we put them there, let us see what they can (or cannot do).

And as someone pointed out, the NDP win, might end up being an NDP loss, once they realize that they have no real power at this point in time. The most the NDP can hope for is to have everyone of their members show up for votes, forcing the PCs to do the same (or more - and would be great - actually having MPs show up to vote on the things they are paid to vote on). I highly doubt Harper will ask the NDP for anything now and the new NDP MPs have no experience.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by flambers

NDP won big in Quebec, now they have limited influence and have lost power.

Really the only thing the NDP managed to do was to secure a Majority for Harper.

When the next election occurs, I would bet NDP will ultimately loss seats to the Liberals.

With so many new seats in Quebec it will be difficult to manage that aspect.

Absolutely. I think the NDP is in for a hell of a ride in Quebec. Though when the constitutional promises go nowhere, they can blame the Tory majority for that.

But as much as they have to pay attention to their new fortress, lest they lose it, they also have to try and be a national party. If they can pull that off, they can make any Liberal recovery that much more difficult.

[North East Goon]

Really it just seems like this NDP vote by the Quebecor's is nothing more than a protest vote. The orange tide will be gone after the next election.

[DFO]

This '60% of the country hates you' response from those opposing the CPC is getting old quick. Do people realize that Mean Jean's highwater mark in 1993 was only 41.24% of the popular vote?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...eral_elections

[LChoy]

DFO^

I know, this was bugging me too. Just to share my response back to facebook detractors:

This is the system we have. If it was a 2 party system, I can see the point about a 40% popular vote. But with a multiparty system, it's not like any other party was more popular nationally. In addition, PC support isn't just Western based. The only provinces that had a popular vote to the other parties was PEI, QUE, NFLD, and NWT. I'm sorry some of you are disappointed with the results, but support for the PC is National.

Lastly, I'm willing to give this government a chance to govern without worrying about non-confidence threats from the other parties. Even without actual power, I think the NDP is an excellent opposition choice as they as best choice to remind the government of its commitment to the people. Layton is diplomatic and respectful, and won't let the house turn into a circus. From the PC, this is their chance to show that they can govern. They have no more excuses or people to blame. They know if they mess up, they'll never be in this position ever again.


A further thought too. PC has grown from a Western based party to a National one. They be stupid to throw it all the way trying to resurrect some hidden agenda. If they did, every inroad they made into the rest of Canada would evaporate next election. They have also learned their lessons from a previous majority under Mulroney. call it blind optimism or a grudgen respect for Harper, but he's smart, and will govern his best with his first majority.

[Tinordi]

And although the CPC won a large majority there are still nagging issues for them too, issues they will need to address carefully if they want this to be a lasting state of Canadian democracy. Specifically, now that they have broken through Toronto they are no longer a party of rural Canada. Since being in Government they have leveraged the interests of rural Canadians disproportionately I would argue in the face of urban voters. They will now need to shed some of that old populism for a more managed and erudite platform that brings urban voters under their umbrella because I don't see it as a given.

As a small (l) urban liberal in the truest sense this gives me a bit hope that they tone down some of the really stupid parts of their platform. Specifically, the crime bill and their misguided and idealogical intransigience toward good policy like the safe injection site. If they can reconcile those things that urban voters care about with their larger platform then they will do well.

But I'm not holding my breath.

[billybob123]

Those who keep repeating that the conservatives are a western party are not quite correct. Reform was from the west; however in 1984 (especially) and 1988, PCs carried Quebec and Ontario (mostly, but particularly in 1984) which is what really won them the election. Conservatives have always been popular in NS and NB as well.

To those who are lamenting having a Tory majority, Canada survived two MASSIVE PC majorities in the 1980s and three consecutive MASSIVE majorities from the Liberals in 93, 97, and 2000. The world won't end. Get a grip.

Look at the seats in the 1984 election: PC 211, Lib 40, NDP 30. That's a far bigger majority than Harper just won.

That all being said, I don't like Harper personally and was hoping he'd lose solely so he couldn't have his majority. Something about him rubs me the wrong way.

[worth]

Anyone know when will parliament resume? After summer?

[mykalberta]

Likely to have a short stint before to get the budget pushed through.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by worth

Anyone know when will parliament resume? After summer?

Harper mentioned that topic in his speech, I believe he has ordered the parliament to resume (not sure on the day). So the various blocked bills can be passed along with the budget.

[Hockeyguy15]

Why these clowns get so much time off is beyond me. I guess bickering and acting like kids could take a lot out of them.

[worth]

Thanks, didn't get to hear Harper's full speech last night.

I'm looking forward to when all these people sit in the House together.

[Frequitude]

Talking to a few disappointed co-workers today. To a word, they're all sad because they "just don't like Harper".

When asked whose platform they preferred the most, the response was a consistent "ummm, I don't know".

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Talking to a few disappointed co-workers today. To a word, they're all sad because they "just don't like Harper".

When asked whose platform they preferred the most, the response was a consistent "ummm, I don't know".

I wasn't really fond of any of the parties platforms this go around. I would say the conservatives had the lead though.

For me in the end it came down to the fact that I don't think Harper is a good leader so I just couldn't bring myself to vote for the conservatives.

And my riding the conservative candidate (Rempel) did not impress me at all.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by worth

Thanks, didn't get to hear Harper's full speech last night.

I'm looking forward to when all these people sit in the House together.

cbc.ca - election - video player

You can view all the speeches.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Talking to a few disappointed co-workers today. To a word, they're all sad because they "just don't like Harper".

When asked whose platform they preferred the most, the response was a consistent "ummm, I don't know".

I feel exactly that way...don't much care for Harper and had a very hard time finding a platform that I would prefer the most.

[evman150]

Harper is just such a scumbaggy kind of guy.

Almost impossible to find him appealing imo.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Those who keep repeating that the conservatives are a western party are not quite correct. Reform was from the west; however in 1984 (especially) and 1988, PCs carried Quebec and Ontario (mostly, but particularly in 1984) which is what really won them the election. Conservatives have always been popular in NS and NB as well.

To those who are lamenting having a Tory majority, Canada survived two MASSIVE PC majorities in the 1980s and three consecutive MASSIVE majorities from the Liberals in 93, 97, and 2000. The world won't end. Get a grip.

Look at the seats in the 1984 election: PC 211, Lib 40, NDP 30. That's a far bigger majority than Harper just won.

That all being said, I don't like Harper personally and was hoping he'd lose solely so he couldn't have his majority. Something about him rubs me the wrong way.

Yeah, I think some people take things way too far. The Conservatives aren't my first choice, but they are just a party like any other. Life goes on and the country will be fine... just like when the Liberals had the majority, and the Conservatives before them, and the Liberals before that.... and so on.

Eventually you come to realize that they are all pretty much the same. There's no point in worrying.

[Tinordi]

The vindictiveness of Harper is what bothers me most. He really isn't about compromise and brokerage. It's divisive politics with him. The base loves it because they feel like it's their turn but I hate it.