GT: Federal Election

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Seems like it works...

Forcing people to mark an X doesn't force them to become informed. Take our election and add 10 million votes where people just randomly mark a candidate. That's not good democracy.

The right to vote should include the right not to vote.

[Duruss]

I want to know when Tom "Angry Beard" Mulcair is going to resign as leader of the NDP. He can't be so delusional as to think the party will keep him as leader after his complete failure in this Election.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Forcing people to mark an X doesn't force them to become informed. Take our election and add 10 million votes where people just randomly mark a candidate. That's not good democracy.

The right to vote should include the right not to vote.

I agree.

That's what spoiling ballots is for. Not many people see this as an option because currently, it's meaningless. If you made it mandatory to show up, you would get those ballots, and then we could actually track how many get spoiled and possibly look into why.

Or just add a "none of the above" option, which is essentially the same thing.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Obviously this poll is lacking women, but just shows it will be a wide open CPC leadership race (lol Oliver)

We're related to Brad Wall, on my MIL's side. I just....hmmm.....

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by dammage79

That's pretty cool. Trudeau going out to thank folks on their way to work in the morning.

I'm cautiously optimistic that this guy can actually be a good representative of this country.

He's charismatic, young, good looking, and progressive. He has a very good chance to be the most recognizable PM outside of Canada since his father, probably even moreso now with social media

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Duruss

I want to know when Tom "Angry Beard" Mulcair is going to resign as leader of the NDP. He can't be so delusional as to think the party will keep him as leader after his complete failure in this Election.

Probably when the party has that discussion with him. Because they're not the government or official opposition they have the luxury of taking time to sort out the options and prepare for a leadership race.

I figure in the next 1-2 years there will be a new NDP leader.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

My obviously right-wing slant on CPC leadership
Being right about the economy doesn't allow you to be wrong about everything else. When the CPC focuses on ridiculous 'social issues' like what somebody chooses to wear and playing on fear rather than on responsible economic policies, they will certainly lose. When any political party plays solely to a faction of their base they have no chance of winning with the general voters. Anyone that believes in a conservative economic action plan needs to make sure the party has learned this lesson and moving forward works towards combining good economic decision making with smart, relevant social understanding/policy. Today's leaders are energetic, positive, accepting, progressive people - exactly the opposite of how the CPC leadership ran this campaign. Whomever it is, I look forward to the day the CPC has leadership whose ideas are worth getting excited about again.

You (and others) have hit the nail on the head with regards to lost votes for the conservatives. I'm someone that could be pulled into progressive conservative, but there is just no way I can stomach pretty much everything else about the party. All I heard the whole campaign was "taxes!" from anyone on the con side. Even last night, the CPC rep who they interviewed at the headquarters said it flat out: "You're voting for lower taxes, or to give more of your money to the government." If you see things that black and white, you're going to alienate a lot of people, even if they don't want higher taxes (who does?). If that's the only benefit your party can trot out, you're so far behind it's not even funny.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

He's charismatic, young, good looking, and progressive. He has a very good chance to be the most recognizable PM outside of Canada since his father, probably even moreso now with social media

Plus, he can do this:

Spoiler!

That has to be one of the strangest hobbies.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Plus, he can do this:

Spoiler!

That has to be one of the strangest hobbies.

Some people juggle geese.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The only believable one out of that group to me is Kenney, which would be just awful. Charest is the most charismatic of the bunch, but no way he gets the support of the Reform/Alliance crowd. Oliver and Clement have all of the combined charisma and appeal of a TV dinner.

I don't know enough about Wall but I can't see any of these other succeeding

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by MattyC

A few have fudged numbers for sure (small nations and African nations showing close to 100%, as does North Korea, so you can take those with a grain of salt. Although I don't want to poop on the smaller and African nations as I don't know how legitimate any of them are.)

But there are some notables:

Australia - 93%
Belgium - 89%
Turkey - 86%
Denmark - 85%
Sweden 85%


What's much more sad, the US, the "birthplace of democracy", shows a meager 41%, good for 12th LAST. Brutal.

http://www.idea.int/vt/field.cfm?field=221

To be fair, that number is for a midterm election, which are typically low. Their presidential election in 2012 was around 65%, which is about the same as Canada. It appears most EU countries are in the 60% - 75% range.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

For those who think they will lack representation now, if you live in Calgary you will benefit from the new government because the Liberals consider urban Canadians to be their core supporters. I've always been puzzled by the reluctance of Calgarians to think of themselves as urbanites first (rather than Westerners), but this election might change that. And with Calgary definitely in play in federal elections now, expect the city to get a lot of attention from all the parties. That's a good thing.

For what it's worth I don't doubt for a second this started when the Conservatives pledged $1.5 billion for the Green LRT. They felt weakness in Calgary and wanted to get the party started. The Liberals said they'd match which is a significant portion of their infrastructure going forward. Win for Calgary!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Probably when the party has that discussion with him. Because they're not the government or official opposition they have the luxury of taking time to sort out the options and prepare for a leadership race.

I figure in the next 1-2 years there will be a new NDP leader.

Yeah, I can't see Mulcair being around in 2019, but the New Democrats can take their time in replacing him. Did Harper say we was resigning his seats as well, or just the party leadership? I can't imagine him staying on as an MP but I was just curious if there was any official announcement on that front.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Plus, he can do this:

That has to be one of the strangest hobbies.

Well, that's weird.

As seen in the Last Week Tonight segment, he can also throw himself down the stairs.



I know how he can save the economy... At the next world leaders summit, make it look like the leader of China pushed him down the stairs. Then, Canada sues China for a trillion dollars, and we all live happily ever after.

[RubberDuck]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I think that's awesome. Not because I necessarily like skateboarding, but because it shows some youthful enthusiasm and an "I don't give a ____ what you think" sort of vibe to what is likely mostly grumpy old farts pointing and laughing . I wish the conservatives had attacked that, would have been hilarious to see that backfire too.

Cons: "Look how young, he rides a skateboard! Just not ready!"

Apathetic 20-25 year old males: "Hey did you see that Trudeau boards to work? That's pretty awesome. Maybe we should vote!"

Cons: "Oh, people...like that?"

When is it time to drop the stereotyping and annoying rhetoric?

[getbak]

Nice headline from the Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/na...409/story.html


Goodbye F-35s, hello marijuana: 5 things the Liberals are likely to do first

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I don't know enough about Wall but I can't see any of these other succeeding

It's going to be really interesting to see what happens with the CPC after this. I think there's a good chance we see a power struggle between the old PC and Reform/Alliance factions. I don't think they're in any danger of breaking apart, but it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If I was American, I wouldn't vote either.

It is literally meaningless.

Unless you're rich. In which case you dont have to vote but you can if you want to. Just for appearance's sake.

Originally Posted by MattyC

Anyone who took school outside the US knows this...

I go to the penalty box for two minutes and I feel shame.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

My obviously right-wing slant on CPC leadership
Being right about the economy doesn't allow you to be wrong about everything else. When the CPC focuses on ridiculous 'social issues' like what somebody chooses to wear and playing on fear rather than on responsible economic policies, they will certainly lose. When any political party plays solely to a faction of their base they have no chance of winning with the general voters. Anyone that believes in a conservative economic action plan needs to make sure the party has learned this lesson and moving forward works towards combining good economic decision making with smart, relevant social understanding/policy. Today's leaders are energetic, positive, accepting, progressive people - exactly the opposite of how the CPC leadership ran this campaign. Whomever it is, I look forward to the day the CPC has leadership whose ideas are worth getting excited about again.

This, 100%. But if you're looking for a socially progressive yet fiscally conservative party, you need look no further than the Liberals. On most major economic questions they differ very little from the Conservatives. The Liberals won this election because the crazies took the CPC into the election. I firmly believe that the Conservatives could have easily won without Harper at the helm, and by focusing on their strong economic record rather than bizarre identity/social conservatism questions. Difficult to see it any other way especially given that many of the major moderate voices in the party -- John Baird, Peter McKay, for example -- jumped ship before the election.

There is little to no chance that Kenney will take over the party, as he is gay, albeit not openly. Do not misinterpret this remark as ME having something against homosexuals but there is no way that he could hold the strained social conservative-economic conservative coalition together. It already is beginning to fracture. That is probably why John Baird left also.

[rubecube]

A big bonus for me last night was seeing Calandra, Valancourt, and Fantino all given the boot.