Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Rube's too young to pretty much remember any Liberal government - or at very least probably wasn't engaged since Harper's been in power since pretty much High School for him.

Unless you're someone who's spent considerable time working in politics, it's a pretty safe bet my level of political engagement from about age 14 on completely dwarfs most people's.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Politics is a dirty, dirty game of tattle tale and name calling for adults. All parties have their dark sides and aren't free of misguidance and wrongdoings; smear campaigns, anti-party advertisements, illegal activity, etc.

I will be continuing to vote Conservative because their business and personal tax platforms aligns with my values and beliefs. I simply won't vote Liberal or NDP because of their tax platforms and opposition to Northern Gateway. The marijuana debate is a non-starter for me as I don't care if it continues to be illegal or is decriminalized or legalized.

For me it's not about choosing between Harper, Trudeau or Mulclair as a leader, but rather the parties and platforms they represent. I don't care if Stephen Harper gets his haircut at Supercuts and Trudeau goes to Hedkandi.

#VoteConservative

Ironic.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Unless you're someone who's spent considerable time working in politics, it's a pretty safe bet my level of political engagement from about age 14 on completely dwarfs most people's.

Thats a pretty bold and unverifiable statement.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Thats a pretty bold and unverifiable statement.

Absolutely.

EDIT: Actually it's verifiable. I'd just rather not drag it out because most of it is about as relevant as the NEP. I probably should've just ignored the post.

[Daradon]

Man some people can hold a grudge for a long time. Destroyed a huge chunk of this city? We rebounded pretty well then. Last I checked Calgary is as vibrant, wealthy, and renowned as it's ever been. And it's becoming pretty evident we're doomed if we don't diversify anyway. Whether it be environmental, waning demand and lower price, or the insanity of the boom bust cycle, fossil fuels are on the way out. Time to stop bitching and moaning over something that happened over 40 years ago and look to the future. That's the best thing for everyone, including the citizens of Calgary.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Man some people can hold a grudge for a long time. Destroyed a huge chunk of this city? We rebounded pretty well then. Last I checked Calgary is as vibrant, wealthy, and renowned as it's ever been. And it's becoming pretty evident we're doomed if we don't diversify anyway. Whether it be environmental, waning demand and lower price, or the insanity of the boom bust cycle, fossil fuels are on the way out. Time to stop bitching and moaning over something that happened over 40 years ago and look to the future. That's the best thing for everyone, including the citizens of Calgary.

I agree with you in principle, I only take issue with the bolded. It may just be semantics on my part, but the NEP destroyed a lot of lives here, and caused a lot of terrible years.

I guess you're right in that we did rebound well eventually on a civic level, but I just feel your wording was slightly dismissive of how devastating that program was on a person to person to basis. It caused anything from financial hardship right up to suicide in many cases.

Basically I agree that it was a long time ago and shouldn't be held against any current politicians/parties, but I don't really like that you tried to make it sound like it wasn't a disastrous program for our province.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Unless you're someone who's spent considerable time working in politics, it's a pretty safe bet my level of political engagement from about age 14 on completely dwarfs most people's.

Wait. Are you saying that you can't be trusted? Also, please relay my congratulations on Straight Outa Compton to Ice, since you have the same last name.

Lets all just try to remember that we are trying to decide between the twit, the idiot and the villain in a circa 1970s Redford espionage film here. There is no 'good' choice. We just need to find which one will hurt us the least.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Wait. Are you saying that you can't be trusted?

I mean, I thought that was obvious.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I mean, I thought that was obvious.

I trust you rube.

btw I saw your response to my post earlier and wasn't dodging it, it was a fair rebuttal I was just too lazy to respond because you broke it down too much.

[KelVarnsen]

transplant, you let me ask you this.

Should we judge you based on what your father did? Or on your own actions?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

From Chantal Hebert, of the Toronto Star who is also part of the CBC At Issue Panel. Hebert, Coyne, and Murphy are my favorite journalists.

I find it interesting that you enjoy both Coyne and Murphy. Coyne, I get that. But Murphy comes across to me as a grump yelling "get of my lawn" who makes his points seem better than they are (kind of like a more eloquent Rick Bell).

From the National Post group, I'd rate Coyne first, Ivison second.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by SebC

I find it interesting that you enjoy both Coyne and Murphy. Coyne, I get that. But Murphy comes across to me as a grump yelling "get of my lawn" who makes his points seem better than they are (kind of like a more eloquent Rick Bell).

From the National Post group, I'd rate Coyne first, Ivison second.

Yeah, Murphy is kind of a ####. And I mean that in a sportsmanlike way. Also....I'm sauced.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I was just too lazy to respond because you broke it down too much.

[Frequitude]

Finally took that poll.

93% Conservative
74% Liberal
71% Libertarian
66% NDP

I really thought the way I was answering was going to push me into Liberal/NDP territory, because let's be honest, when you're asked in a vacuum if you want to have some neat social program its pretty heartless to say no.

At then end of the day thiugh, I suspect what pushed me far into Conservative territory was that desire for pipelines was one of the only things I said I cared about greatly.

Pipelines, especially one to the west coast, are my number one platform issue. I'd trade west, south and east pipelines for almost anyone else's platform item.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The pipeline going west is more or less dead right now. Enbridge barely acknowledge it in their last annual report. If people think its gonna be years before anything starts on the arena here, it's gonna be a decade at least before anything happens with that pipeline. The legal battles will be very long, very drawn out, and very expensive.

I'm not sure how it can really be an issue. Even if the CPC is 10,000% for it and the Liberals and NDP 10,000% against it, there's a 0.001% chance it gets built at this point. If a CPC majority with a friendly government in BC (and yes, Christy Clark is that) can't get it done, how is a likely CPC minority going to do it? It's pretty much dead and has little chance of coming back to life. Even Enbridge appears to know that.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Finally took that poll.

93% Conservative
74% Liberal
71% Libertarian
66% NDP

I really thought the way I was answering was going to push me into Liberal/NDP territory, because let's be honest, when you're asked in a vacuum if you want to have some neat social program its pretty heartless to say no.

At then end of the day thiugh, I suspect what pushed me far into Conservative territory was that desire for pipelines was one of the only things I said I cared about greatly.

Pipelines, especially one to the west coast, are my number one platform issue. I'd trade west, south and east pipelines for almost anyone else's platform item.

I'm not going to pretend I'm not rooting for pipelines--both Northern Gateway and Keystone. I totally am, for two reasons. One (I'll admit) is self-interest. Though I don't work directly in O&G, I am in an industry that to some extent has it's fortunes tied to the energy sector.

There is also a policy reason--I think pipelines are generally safer than, say, shipping dilbit or crude oil (or other stuff) by rail.

But here's the thing: my view is that Harper has badly mishandled this issue. His relentless cheerleading of Keystone has just made Canada look like the bad guys (which is kind of a first) in the US, and he badly misjudged the regulatory (not to mention legal) obstacles that Northern Gateway faced. He handled both with the grace and aplomb of an angry hippo.

Now, both of these projects (in their ideal form) are basically toast. That's not completely his fault (in fairness) but I also think it's fair to say that his sales job lacked subtlety--and in the end, didn't help.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I'm not going to pretend I'm not rooting for pipelines--both Northern Gateway and Keystone. I totally am, for two reasons. One (I'll admit) is self-interest. Though I don't work directly in O&G, I am in an industry that to some extent has it's fortunes tied to the energy sector.

There is also a policy reason--I think pipelines are generally safer than, say, shipping dilbit or crude oil (or other stuff) by rail.

But here's the thing: my view is that Harper has badly mishandled this issue. His relentless cheerleading of Keystone has just made Canada look like the bad guys (which is kind of a first) in the US, and he badly misjudged the regulatory (not to mention legal) obstacles that Northern Gateway faced. He handled both with the grace and aplomb of an angry hippo.

Now, both of these projects (in their ideal form) are basically toast. That's not completely his fault (in fairness) but I also think it's fair to say that his sales job lacked subtlety--and in the end, didn't help.

^This. Mclean's does a real good job highlighting how Harper really messed up the Oil industry in Alberta by pushing the oil agenda so strongly that he painted a gigantic global target on our backs.

He really also doesn't have any clear federal leadership and his partisan policies have created such a huge rift between provincial leaders that half of the pipeline projects are stuck in limbo even without the bad international optics for the pipelines.
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/otta...s-worst-enemy/

For a leader who is supposed to advocate the oil industry in Alberta, he has an awful track record of actually accomplishing just that.

Sorry if reposted.

[Frequitude]

Fair points, gents. It might just be a fruitless platform issue and desire. I just want them and I want our government to be continued proponents of them in any form. I'd take a pro-pipeline government who's mishandled doing so over one who is against them.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Right, and at least in the case of Northern Gateway it's not fair to pin the blame completely on Harper. But I can appreciate your point.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I'm not sure how it can really be an issue. Even if the CPC is 10,000% for it and the Liberals and NDP 10,000% against it, there's a 0.001% chance it gets built at this point. If a CPC majority with a friendly government in BC (and yes, Christy Clark is that) can't get it done, how is a likely CPC minority going to do it? It's pretty much dead and has little chance of coming back to life. Even Enbridge appears to know that.

Not to mention the fact that there's a good chance the NDP oust the Liberals in BC next year. Also, both the Liberals and NDP are in favour of the Kinder Morgan pipeline (which also probably won't go through), so I don't get how either can be labelled as anti-pipeline.