2011 Canadian Election Thread

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Actually, I might kill my credibility but I was ok with the Victoria class/Upholder purchase at the time. The British Upholders were a very good diesel boat, the government screwed the time line and transfer processes up badly though.

They are good boats, I am ok with the purchase too. The issue is the extreme amount of time that the Chretien Liberals took to get around to closing the deal. Meanwhile the Brits had stopped all maintenance on the subs and they rotted at the pier, which has caused problems and added expense.

[CaptainCrunch]

There were some design flaws in the Upholder focused around torpedo fire control which the British fixed for about 10 million pounds per boat.

People always ask me about the short life of the boats in the British Navy as they only lasted for three years, but the British Navy decided to go with an all nuclear submarine fleet.

The Upholder though in terms of electronics, Sonar and weapons/fire control is as capable as a nuclear boat. They tend to be a bit quieter then most previous generation nuclear boats, they just don't have the range and depth of a nuc boat.

It was a solid idea by the government to purchase these boats to replace the terrible Oberon class submarines that we had before, but they sat in dry dock with no maintenance forever before we took possession of them.

However the Chicoutimi will return to sea next year joining the Windsor and the Corner Brook on active patrol. The lead boat the Victoria has spent most of its time in Dry Dock and its not known when it will rejoin the fleet, however its problems are more crew related then design related.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

It also doesn't help that the NDP has completely taken over CP's ad banners.

CP servers are in B.C.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't know if I really believe in the 100 seat projection personally. That would be a 60 some odd seat improvement over the last election result.

I think people are getting too tied up in polls representing popular vote and trying to translate them into seat projections.

I also figure that when it comes to election day, some people will step back from the NDP and move back to their party line.

threehundredeight has the NDP at 47 seats, which would be an all-time high. Interestingly, they have the NDP "winning" only nine seats in Quebec, but eight of those would be gains - 1 from the Conservatives, three from the Liberals and four from the Bloc. What is kind of crazy is that they predict only one Ontario riding will change hands - from an independent to a Conservative.

Only one change in BC - CPC to Liberal, but that riding is showing a statistical tie. No changes in Alberta or Saskatchewan, one seat in Manitoba goes liberal to NDP. Two CPC seats go NDP in Nova Scotia, and one Liberal goes CPC in Newfoundland.

Which really makes you wonder... with such a large swing in the national polls, how can so little actually change in the predictions? CBC had an article up a couple days ago that basically said "polls are worthless", so we'll see.

[calculoso]

Electionprediction.org has:

Current Prediction:
Changed: 2011-04-28 09:35:18

Conservative Party - 130
Liberal Party - 58
N.D.P. - 37
Bloc Quebecois - 38
Too Close - 44
Total 308

They've been very accurate in the past (between 70 and 96% accuracy).. now we'll see if the polls or their methodology is wrong.

http://www.electionprediction.org/2009_fed/index.php

[Resolute 14]

^ Well, it's easy to be accurate when you only call safe ridings.

This is amusing:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...o-to-hell?bn=1

I think the pressure of embarrassing himself is getting to Ignatieff.

[The Goon]

I wondered why the Globe and Mail was trending on Twitter, then I see that the editorial board has officially endorsed the Conservative Party:

Facing up to our challenges

If you enjoy true message board meltdowns, check out the comments section.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

^ Well, it's easy to be accurate when you only call safe ridings.

If 264 are safe ridings, then shouldn't everyone be 87% accurate?

[VladtheImpaler]

Wow, the official newspaper of the LP has endorsed the CP - just shows how incompetent Ignatieff is... Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to this, so please enlighten me, serious politicos - do I have to fear a Socialist-led coalition? Am I at serious risk of giving more money to the CRA?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I wondered why the Globe and Mail was trending on Twitter, then I see that the editorial board has officially endorsed the Conservative Party:

Facing up to our challenges

If you enjoy true message board meltdowns, check out the comments section.

You really weren't kidding about the meltdowns. Holy crap its like every whiny internet troll gathered in one place.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I wondered why the Globe and Mail was trending on Twitter, then I see that the editorial board has officially endorsed the Conservative Party:

Facing up to our challenges

If you enjoy true message board meltdowns, check out the comments section.

LOL, that Message Board is the polar opposite of CP LOL.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I wondered why the Globe and Mail was trending on Twitter, then I see that the editorial board has officially endorsed the Conservative Party:

Facing up to our challenges

If you enjoy true message board meltdowns, check out the comments section.

Its a common tactic for papers to endorse the candidate they dont want to see win to embolden the base of the other party.

I do have alot more respect for the GM rather than the NYT but this endorsement is very suspicious.

New York Times endorsed John McCain

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

You really weren't kidding about the meltdowns. Holy crap its like every whiny internet troll gathered in one place.

The response on Twitter is equally amusing.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Wow, the official newspaper of the LP has endorsed the CP - just shows how incompetent Ignatieff is... Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to this, so please enlighten me, serious politicos - do I have to fear a Socialist-led coalition? Am I at serious risk of giving more money to the CRA?

The Layton Threat is creating a definite drag on CDN market although not too serious yet. Caution is starting to creep into things as he moves up.

I remember when Bob Rae surprised in Ontario and seem to recall a lot of chaos that day.

I think Layton's ascendancy has more to do with the obvious horribleness of Ignatieff than anything to do with Jack's brilliance. A shuffling of choices on the left side of the spectrum.

Cowperson

[corporatejay]

So if there was any doubt that the G&M readers were liberal look no further than the comment section.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

So if there was any doubt that the G&M readers were liberal look no further than the comment section.

It's odd - when I was a kid, my Dad always encouraged me to read the Globe and Mail because the quality of the writing was the best among the papers.

So you'd think the intelligence of the reader would be equally as high (no matter where they fall on the political spectrum). The comments are just sad and disappointing, but the internet has turned most people into idiots.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by The Goon

It's odd - when I was a kid, my Dad always encouraged me to read the Globe and Mail because the quality of the writing was the best among the papers.

So you'd think the intelligence of the reader would be equally as high (no matter where they fall on the political spectrum). The comments are just sad and disappointing, but the internet has turned most people into idiots.

Yeah, I look at the globe and mail as Canada's leading newspaper in terms of quality and never thought it had any bias (liberal or conservative) but I'm just commenting more on their readers.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Wow, the official newspaper of the LP has endorsed the CP - just shows how incompetent Ignatieff is... Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to this, so please enlighten me, serious politicos - do I have to fear a Socialist-led coalition? Am I at serious risk of giving more money to the CRA?

Well with the Liberal platform this election, if either of Ignatieff or Layton lead a coalition gov't, it will be very socialist like. At this point is there really a discernable difference between the two? I don't believe so, and it wouldn't matter who assumed the PMO.

[mykalberta]

I dont think there is any direct bias with the GM - best paper by far in Canada. It just has to do with the current environment in Canada - the vast majority of the country is to the left of where I would consider centre, its no surprise that Canada's national newspaper shows those same leanings.

As for direct bias, if they werent owned by Bell then I would say maybe. The Star is owned by its own company, similar to the NYT.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well with the Liberal platform this election, if either of Ignatieff or Layton lead a coalition gov't, it will be very socialist like. At this point is there really a discernable difference between the two? I don't believe so, and it wouldn't matter who assumed the PMO.

The Liberals at least attempt to explain how they are going to pay for their budget. The NDP have long since figured out that their supporters are too stupid to worry about how they will pay for their free ride. I would have an inkling of hope with the Liberals in charge. With the NDP, the Canadian market would take a beating as soon as Layton becomes PM. I shudder to think of what would happen once that moron begins to jack up taxes.