Conservatives To Slash Federal Funding of Political Parties [Update-CPC backs down]

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Laugh.

"It should be"

Says who, you?

I actually think that Stephane Dion said it about 6 weeks ago.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Bloc makes up the balance but the reports are that they aren't in Government, they will just support it.

Weird situation sure, but in response to Frequitude's criticism, it seems pretty rational.

Your fooling yourself if you believe this. This coalition puts Quebec interests firmly in charge of the government.

I wonder what the Liberals gave up to rescind their demand that Dion step down before they give their support?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Laugh.

"It should be"

Says who, you?

Who else would you expect?

[Dan02]

IMO a coalition won't work, if it was just the NDP and Libs needed i could see the liberals selling out often enough to keep the NDP happy. Add the Bloc in there and there are just too many hands out looking for something all the time.

As other people mentioned the cons are closers to the libs then NDP, a coalition with them would be akin to spite calling in poker. It might make you feel empowered but it's actually pretty ridiculous.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Your fooling yourself if you believe this. This coalition puts Quebec interests firmly in charge of the government.

I wonder what the Liberals gave up to rescind their demand that Dion step down before they give their support?

100% True. The party that does not want to be a part of Canada will IN FACT have all the power. Really really sad if you ask me.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Your fooling yourself if you believe this. This coalition puts Quebec interests firmly in charge of the government.

Not much different than Mulroney's and some other governments before him. In fact his buddy and Minister, Lucien Bouchard started the Bloc. Won't be much different with the Bloc as a part of the government again.

Even now with Harper in charge, he's bellying up to Quebec with his promises and the West gets ignored again. You see the squeaky wheel gets the grease and Quebec with there votes up for sale, can do a lot of squeaking whereas Alberta will vote Conservative till hell freezes over and so can be taken for granted.

[ikaris]

The irony is that if the Conservatives had just went with the plan without the partisan effort to remove funding for the opposition parties, this situation would have never happened.

Ultimately you reap what you sow.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by ikaris

The irony is that if the Conservatives had just went with the plan without the partisan effort to remove funding for the opposition parties, this situation would have never happened.

Ultimately you reap what you sow.

Except that the reports are indicating that these back-room talks have been going on since before the proposed subsidy cuts were announced, and they are still going on even after the subsidy cuts have been taken off the table.

The subsidy cuts as an excuse is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. This was (apparently) going to happen regardless of anything else.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Not much different than Mulroney's and some other governments before him. In fact his buddy and Minister, Lucien Bouchard started the Bloc. Won't be much different with the Bloc as a part of the government again.

Even now with Harper in charge, he's bellying up to Quebec with his promises and the West gets ignored again. You see the squeaky wheel gets the grease and Quebec with there votes up for sale, can do a lot of squeaking whereas Alberta will vote Conservative till hell freezes over and so can be taken for granted.

Not really true. Albertans did start Reform and blow the PC Party into pieces.

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Except that the reports are indicating that these back-room talks have been going on since before the proposed subsidy cuts were announced, and they are still going on even after the subsidy cuts have been taken off the table.

Which reports are you referring to?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/fed-govt.html

From the article:

"Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent had confirmed earlier in the day that he had been in talks with former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien about the possibility of a coalition stemming from disagreement with measures proposed in the government's fiscal update, delivered Thursday."

It sounds like these back room talks have only occurred since Thursday to me unless there is some other evidence?

[transplant99]

After reading endless articles on this and listening to what the players have had to say...how can this been seen as anything short of a coup de tat?

No the use of military force isn't there, but that doesn't really make it any different by definition. This is over throwing a government by a group of individuals not given the authority to do so.

Normally we see this kind of thing in impoverished 3rd world nations...not in freaking Canada!

Just frightening that the two brokers in this power play (Chretian and Broadbent) aren't even elected officials. How can any Canadian be OK with this kind of thing?

wow.

[SebC]

So I asked one of my friends who is pretty involved with the LPC if he knew why they were doing this, and he doesn't have a clue either.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by transplant99

After reading endless articles on this and listening to what the players have had to say...how can this been seen as anything short of a coup de tat?

No the use of military force isn't there, but that doesn't really make it any different by definition. This is over throwing a government by a group of individuals not given the authority to do so.

Normally we see this kind of thing in impoverished 3rd world nations...not in freaking Canada!

Just frightening that the two brokers in this power play (Chretian and Broadbent) aren't even elected officials. How can any Canadian be OK with this kind of thing?

wow.

That's exactly the point I made earlier. This is very frightening!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Can everyone step out of their insane partisan pants for a second?

You first, Ronald. Don't be a hypocrite.

Yes, if I voted for the Liberals I'd want them to form government instead of the opposition. They would have the keys to 24 Sussex nstead of shivering in the dark at Stornoway.

And you cannot be so naive as to actually think that Dion as a figurehead Prime Minister is what you were voting for. You voted Liberal, but the Bloq and NDP would be running this country.

Basic stuff. Someone with the vast genius you have should be able to figure this out.

You're saying that the difference and acrimony between Liberals and NDP is so huge that their respective supporters would forego the chance to form government?

It was for Dion just two months ago. The same Dion who passionately argued that he had spent his career fighting to keep this country together, only to turn around and kiss the ass of the separatists. You support a hypocrite.

Bloc makes up the balance but the reports are that they aren't in Government, they will just support it.

One would have to be brain dead not to realize that the Bloc would wield an enormous amount of power, no matter how you split the hairs.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

One would have to be brain dead not to realize that the Bloc would wield an enormous amount of power, no matter how you split the hairs.

Indeed, the Bloc has the least to lose IMO if the government falls and a new election is called.

[FanIn80]

I'm still pissed off that a separatist group is even allowed to act as a national political party. Like... there's freedom of representation, and then there's just bending over for the sake of bending over.

Popular ideal or not, I do sometimes wonder what this country would be like sans Quebec.

[Ford Prefect]

Resolute14 ... for what it's worth, I'd give you a double thumbs up on the above post if I could.

I can't believe anyone one would actually consider supporting what amounts to a coup d'etat, as transplant99 has pointed out. Aside from the political immorality of the whole scheme, this plan would tear the country apart at a time when we need to be united and working on strengthening our economy. I can't believe the Libs and Dippers are that self-centred, and have such little regard for the good of the nation.

Edit: Actually, on further reflection, I can believe the Libs and Dippers are that self-centred. Their past record shows they are ... especially the Libs.

[FanIn80]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/fed-govt.html

"I've talked to Mr. Chrétien. He and I both discussed what would be a good situation here for the people of Canada, for Parliament, and we'll see what happens," Broadbent told CBC News."

This quote is one of the most upsetting things I've read in a very long time. What makes Broadbent and Chrétien think that they have the right to decide what's best for Canadians?! Who the ____ do they think they are?!

For the record, btw... it's time to stop calling this a "coalition" and start calling it what it really is: a coup.

[CaptainCrunch]

I have my doubts that if the confidence vote passes that the GG would actually allow a coalition government formed from the opposition would be allowed. It would set a dangerous precedence in Canada since we are probably looking at majority governments as being rare. This would open the way to governments falling on a monthly basis. Especially with the hatred between the Libs and the Cons. If the government falls I expect that the GG will receive the prime minister (she doesn't talk to the opposition) disolve parliment and call for a general election.

The logical step if a coalition does step into place and goes after Alberta's energy sector and Saskatchewan's energy section is to not recognize the authority of a non elected federal government and site self interest.

I would hope that an election is called and the Liberal's and NDP are smashed for their foolishness, the fact that they refused to wait for the actual federal budget in 6 weeks which acts on the recommendations of the provinces and the G20 meeting points to me that this is more about election money and party self interest, then helping Canada through a GLOBAL economic down turn.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/fed-govt.html



This quote is one of the most upsetting things I've read in a very long time. What makes Broadbent and Chrétien think that they have the right to decide what's best for Canadians?! Who the ____ do they think they are?!

For the record, btw... it's time to stop calling this a "coalition" and start calling it what it really is: a coup.

Broadbent has a self inflated sense of worth due to all of the flattery thrown his way when he retired, and even in the last election. He's a political non entity who ran a fringe party, he and the NDP should have nothing to do with governing his party or this country.

Chretien is an corrupt little anti canadian with a strong hatred for the West, who was so vindictive that he tried to destroy his own party on the way out the door, and now he's whispering sweet nothings in the ears of a party leader who can't lead a boy scout troop out of a room made up of doors and he's going to lead this country.

Sorry, but this whole thing really pisses me off.