2011 Canadian Election Thread

[flylock shox]

These NDP rookies have me seriously wondering whether I could make a run for a seat with the Liberals or NDP next time around.

I mean, it could be kind of fun.

[metallicat]

Quebec has become an even bigger joke than when they were electing Bloc Quebecois MPs.

[V]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

These NDP rookies have me seriously wondering whether I could make a run for a seat with the Liberals or NDP next time around.

I mean, it could be kind of fun.

Find a way to gain a spot in Alberta as a Con and you'll get in no problem. You could run a toaster here and win.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by V

Find a way to gain a spot in Alberta as a Con and you'll get in no problem. You could run a toaster here and win.

Isn't that the truth. The media and CPC supporters jumping all over these candidates is somewhat silly. Sure they got elected because of the party that they ran for...that's been happening in Alberta for years though. Tell me that Jason Kenney was the most qualified when he first got elected? There have been a lot of excellent candidates in Alberta who ran for other parties and thus were not elected.

The other point is that poor girl who booked a trip to Vegas, didn't think that she would win and went on the trip anyway. if I were running for the Liberals or NDP here I would do the same thing. How is she supposed to predict that people will flock to the NDP? Funny how no one seems to really care that most of the CPC candidates here didn't show up at any public forums, or like the aforementioned Kenny spent all of the campaign somewhere other than his riding. I get that she is a rookie, and rode the tide in....but they aren't exactly the first ones to benefit from the colour of their signs.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Slava

Isn't that the truth. The media and CPC supporters jumping all over these candidates is somewhat silly. Sure they got elected because of the party that they ran for...that's been happening in Alberta for years though. Tell me that Jason Kenney was the most qualified when he first got elected? There have been a lot of excellent candidates in Alberta who ran for other parties and thus were not elected.

Everyone is a rookie at some point, but previous experience in politics is certainly a help.

I dont get the dislike for Kenney at all. He was a long time advocate for taxpayers before transitioning into the political arena. The CTF may not be your cup of tea, but it at least led to real world experience in dealing with governments at the benefit to common people.

Compare that to the girl who won in Quebec who lives 3 hours away from her riding and was a pub manager at a university, and from what the media can figure out, never attended her riding once during the campaign.

Stark difference.

[Starfishy]

I agree that CPC candidates in Alberta are a lock. But when I look at the list of CPC candidates in Alberta I don't see any 19 year old bar tenders. Even though they were a lock the party looks to have put some effort into picking the candidates. Even when I look at the list of Liberal candidates riding in Alberta (with next to no chance of being elected) I don't see any teenagers.

I understand that the NDP didn't expect them to win, but you would think they could prepare for the unexpected by at least picking some people that spoke french? It just seems crazy to me that they couldn't find some french speaking adults that had respectable jobs and a sense of responsibility.

[Slava]

Well I'm not saying that the girl in Quebec is incredibly qualified (and really that is for the voters to determine), but my point is that the most qualified candidate doesn't always win.

Kenney is a typical guy who railed against everything bad about Ottawa, went there and forgot all of these principles. He was one of the original campaigners against the MP pensions and yet his entitlement is huge now....and nary a word. That and I have a general dislike of voters in their ridings being taken for granted. Its not only him, but the idea that they all bugger off for 6 six weeks and do nothing here to court voters or communicate with constituents just rubs me the wrong way. Why not show up at a forum, debate the issues and bask in the glow of your enormous approval rating....could be worse!

I get that there are no 19 bartenders on the ballot here, but its not that easy to get someone to put their name forward for an election either. Alberta CPC candidates face their hardest battle in the nomination process, but that is not the case for the other parties, and not the case everywhere. If you want to run for the Liberals or NDP next time around in Calgary my guess is you could easily secure the nomination for them. To run for the CPC though you would actually have to sell memberships and campaign for the nomination, because its basically the MP job thereafter.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I'm not saying that the girl in Quebec is incredibly qualified (and really that is for the voters to determine), but my point is that the most qualified candidate doesn't always win.

Kenney is a typical guy who railed against everything bad about Ottawa, went there and forgot all of these principles. He was one of the original campaigners against the MP pensions and yet his entitlement is huge now....and nary a word. That and I have a general dislike of voters in their ridings being taken for granted. Its not only him, but the idea that they all bugger off for 6 six weeks and do nothing here to court voters or communicate with constituents just rubs me the wrong way. Why not show up at a forum, debate the issues and bask in the glow of your enormous approval rating....could be worse!

I get that there are no 19 bartenders on the ballot here, but its not that easy to get someone to put their name forward for an election either. Alberta CPC candidates face their hardest battle in the nomination process, but that is not the case for the other parties, and not the case everywhere. If you want to run for the Liberals or NDP next time around in Calgary my guess is you could easily secure the nomination for them. To run for the CPC though you would actually have to sell memberships and campaign for the nomination, because its basically the MP job thereafter.

Fair enough and I understand that sentiment.

In this case though, what Kenney, Richardson and Anders did during the campaign likely led had a large part in the CPC getting their majority. They were in targeted ridings in Toronto for most of that time and won almost everyone of them. It really was brilliant strategy by those who make the calls for the party in the end. they lose TO and they dont get to 155+.

Kenney cant singlehandidly change the pension issue by himself, although the party now can and probably should visit it and at least make an attempt to change things. Though I wont hold my breath on that one...who votes themsleves to have less money?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by transplant99

...who votes themsleves to have less money?

NDP supporters?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I understand that the NDP didn't expect them to win, but you would think they could prepare for the unexpected by at least picking some people that spoke french? It just seems crazy to me that they couldn't find some french speaking adults that had respectable jobs and a sense of responsibility.

I hear what you're saying, and agree with it (almost) wholeheartedly. The phrase ""In a democracy, people get the government they deserve" keeps rolling through my mind. Man.....the first townhall meeting with Ruth Ellen Brosseau is going to be hilarious. Does the government now hire an interpreter for her?

I'd be a lot more upset if the NDP actually carried some power, but fortunately they don't. The only people that will (more or less) suffer are the constituents that voted for these people.

On the other side of the coin.....who knows, perhaps a couple/few of these people will actually turn out to be excellent politicians - ones that would never have had a chance in the normal stream of things. /foolish_optimism

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Slava

Isn't that the truth. The media and CPC supporters jumping all over these candidates is somewhat silly. Sure they got elected because of the party that they ran for...that's been happening in Alberta for years though. Tell me that Jason Kenney was the most qualified when he first got elected? There have been a lot of excellent candidates in Alberta who ran for other parties and thus were not elected.

The other point is that poor girl who booked a trip to Vegas, didn't think that she would win and went on the trip anyway. if I were running for the Liberals or NDP here I would do the same thing. How is she supposed to predict that people will flock to the NDP? Funny how no one seems to really care that most of the CPC candidates here didn't show up at any public forums, or like the aforementioned Kenny spent all of the campaign somewhere other than his riding. I get that she is a rookie, and rode the tide in....but they aren't exactly the first ones to benefit from the colour of their signs.

Firstly, I doubt that most CPC candidates don't show up at any public forums. Although most probably don't go to every opportunity. It's the same with the PM's debate. The PM only had two debates whereas I'm sure those behind him in the polls would have prefered more opportunities to go at him. For MPs who are up against virtually unknown opposition it doesn't make sense to attend many forums. You just are giving them more of an opportunity to become known.

Also, unlike these new NDP candidates the CPC canadidates had at some point win a hard fought nomination campaign. Originally they didn't get in because they were the only one to sign up for the party.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I agree that CPC candidates in Alberta are a lock. But when I look at the list of CPC candidates in Alberta I don't see any 19 year old bar tenders. Even though they were a lock the party looks to have put some effort into picking the candidates. Even when I look at the list of Liberal candidates riding in Alberta (with next to no chance of being elected) I don't see any teenagers.

I understand that the NDP didn't expect them to win, but you would think they could prepare for the unexpected by at least picking some people that spoke french? It just seems crazy to me that they couldn't find some french speaking adults that had respectable jobs and a sense of responsibility.

True not teenagers, but I recall last election there was one guy named Mohamed El-Rafih who ran for the Liberals in the Yellowhead riding in Alberta. I remember this guy from University, he was the guy who constantly ran for SU President and failed because he rarely spoke to the student newspaper, did not campaign, and had terrible hand drawn signs that looked literally like someone just wrote in marker in illegible handwriting. I think after two Presidential bids he ran for VP of something and lost yet again.

So fast forward two years after University and he pops up as a Liberal candidate in the 2008 Federal Election in a riding three hours away from Calgary (He came in 4th place securing 4% of the vote). He also tried to run for Ward 5 this past municipal election. So in conclusion the Liberals also run placeholder candidates in much the same way as the Dippers who won in Quebec. Formally this wasn't an issue for the Liberals as when they were in power many people wanted to be sacrificial lambs in Alberta so they could earn favor and get patronage jobs, or senate appointments. Obviously those days are long gone.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by V

Find a way to gain a spot in Alberta as a Con and you'll get in no problem. You could run a toaster here and win.

You aren't far off of the truth...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I agree that CPC candidates in Alberta are a lock. But when I look at the list of CPC candidates in Alberta I don't see any 19 year old bar tenders. Even though they were a lock the party looks to have put some effort into picking the candidates. Even when I look at the list of Liberal candidates riding in Alberta (with next to no chance of being elected) I don't see any teenagers.

I understand that the NDP didn't expect them to win, but you would think they could prepare for the unexpected by at least picking some people that spoke french? It just seems crazy to me that they couldn't find some french speaking adults that had respectable jobs and a sense of responsibility.

They were put in for the same reason why the NDP parachuted two Edmontonians into Calgary, neither of whom bothered to campaign. The goal in those ridings was just to have a name on the ballot, collect a few hundred votes, and keep that vote subsidy money coming in.

If the NDP had any inkling that there was a chance in hell they win these ridings, you would have seen different candidates.

But who knows? Maybe one of them will actually turn into an effective politician. The rest will spend their time sitting on the back bench doing their nails or picturing that hot, 20-something page by the Speaker naked. For the most part, they are just statistics. They will stand when Layton tells them to, and sit when ordered.

[corporatejay]

Don't blame the candidates, blame the ######s who elected them.

[Starfishy]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

True not teenagers, but I recall last election there was one guy named Mohamed El-Rafih who ran for the Liberals in the Yellowhead riding in Alberta. I remember this guy from University, he was the guy who constantly ran for SU President and failed because he rarely spoke to the student newspaper, did not campaign, and had terrible hand drawn signs that looked literally like someone just wrote in marker in illegible handwriting. I think after two Presidential bids he ran for VP of something and lost yet again.

So fast forward two years after University and he pops up as a Liberal candidate in the 2008 Federal Election in a riding three hours away from Calgary (He came in 4th place securing 4% of the vote). He also tried to run for Ward 5 this past municipal election. So in conclusion the Liberals also run placeholder candidates in much the same way as the Dippers who won in Quebec. Formally this wasn't an issue for the Liberals as when they were in power many people wanted to be sacrificial lambs in Alberta so they could earn favor and get patronage jobs, or senate appointments. Obviously those days are long gone.

Although I respect what you are trying to say, I will have to point out that the person you are referring to has obviously shown an interest in political life and has actually graduated a post secondary institution. He appears to be an adult as well. My guess is he doesn't work as a bar tender, and he likely speaks the same language as his constituents. I am also guessing he never had an affiliation with the communist party. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

Although I respect what you are trying to say, I will have to point out that the person you are referring to has obviously shown an interest in political life and has actually graduated a post secondary institution. He appears to be an adult as well. My guess is he doesn't work as a bar tender, and he likely speaks the same language as his constituents. I am also guessing he never had an affiliation with the communist party. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here.

Sure, all of the above would be true. Except I don't know what he does or did for employment.

But I suppose that by signing up to run for the NDP would be considered an interest in political life, no? Also the communist party guy actually sounds more qualified than maybe 5 other NDP MPs from Quebec, he also mentioned that that was really from an era in his life where he was young and stupid. Last I checked 19 was still considered 'adult' too, he could at least get a beer in any province he visits. The point was this guy has all the signs of a placeholder candidate, which is what this issue is about.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Slava

Isn't that the truth. The media and CPC supporters jumping all over these candidates is somewhat silly. Sure they got elected because of the party that they ran for...that's been happening in Alberta for years though. Tell me that Jason Kenney was the most qualified when he first got elected? There have been a lot of excellent candidates in Alberta who ran for other parties and thus were not elected.

The other point is that poor girl who booked a trip to Vegas, didn't think that she would win and went on the trip anyway. if I were running for the Liberals or NDP here I would do the same thing. How is she supposed to predict that people will flock to the NDP? Funny how no one seems to really care that most of the CPC candidates here didn't show up at any public forums, or like the aforementioned Kenny spent all of the campaign somewhere other than his riding. I get that she is a rookie, and rode the tide in....but they aren't exactly the first ones to benefit from the colour of their signs.

Not the same.

[automaton 3]

This new MP (youngest in history) actually sounds quite thoughtful and well spoken. I suspect he will serve his constituents well:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2009395/

[The Yen Man]

I wonder if the people in the bartender's riding woke and realized what just happened. They essentially elected a recently high school graduated teenage bartender who doesn't speak French. Good luck representing them in the House of Commons. That riding just became a national joke. I'd honestly be kind of embarrassed if I had voted for the girl.