how would you vote.....

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by peter12+Apr 7 2005, 01:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (peter12 @ Apr 7 2005, 01:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

You mean they would be playing politics to win the election?

We hear this a lot lately -- "the Liberals will make the Conservatives look bad, what a bunch of creeps the Liberals are for doing that".

That is the name of the game.

It's like blaming the Lightning for winning the Stanley Cup because they scored more goals in that last game.

Considering the Liberals have had no policy but bash the opposition... I think it's a valid criticism. [/b][/quote]
Actually I think it's a valid criticism as well, but not just of the Liberals. It's the way things are done by all parties (well, 3 here, 2 in the States).

I don't like it any more than you do, but they are just playing the game.

They all use the same schtick. Some have proven better at getting the message out than others.

[octothorp]

I'd vote Green. As someone else alluded to, it doesn't matter whether the Green party would be effective as a government, because it won't happen. It doesn't even matter whether I want a Green candidate representing my riding, because that's not going to happen either. It's my opinion that in the long run, Canada would be well-served to have the Green party replace the NDP as the third national party in the country (let's admit it, the NDP hold quite a bit of power right now, and determining the third party is probably more important, policy-wise, than determining parties 1 and 2), based on the current platforms of those two parties, and showing a bit of support for the Greens is one way of doing that.

[MarchHare]

Considering the Liberals have had no policy but bash the opposition... I think it's a valid criticism.

Oh please. How short (or one-sided) our memories are. The Conservatives spent most of the last election campaign blasting the Liberals over the Sponsorship Scandal. They were just as much, if not moreso, into attacking the opposition rather than promoting their own message as the Liberals were.

And while this really pains me to say, the only party that was really promoting themselves last time around was the NDP.

Anyway, I'll be voting for the Liberals, even though I'm not happy about the Sponsorship Scandal and Gun Registry. If a few million per year of wasted tax dollars is the price to keep our soldiers out of Iraq and other ill-advised adventures and preventing us from turning into America Jr., I'll gladly pay it. I may have considered voting NDP as a protest, but there's no way I'm going to see the eight consecutive years of balanced or surplus budgets the Liberals gave us go squandered away under all the increased spending any NDP government is likely to introduce.

Also, it's probably worth noting that I would have voted for the PC party in the last election if they had still existed.

[albertGQ]

I would vote Conservative. I am a right winger

[Freeway]

Hey, any possible Conservative government would be a minority government, so they couldn't go all nuts and maintain power.

So, I'd vote Conservative.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Like I said in another thread, I'd love to see the Liberals booted out. Convince me why you think the current bunch of Conservatives could do a better job, other than the obvious fact that they aren't the Liberals? One vote here for the taking...

I'm still waiting Sammie....

[CaptainCrunch]

I wouldn't even think about it, the Liberals have to go.

They've been in power for too long and haven't really done anything solid in years. They've turned into a real money burning pig, who have bloated special interest groups with taxpayers money.

The conservatives might not be much better in the short term, but honestly they can't be worse.

I get p*ssed off everytime half of my paycheque goes to the government, and honestly I'm just not seeing the value. I should have the right to opt out of paying for government programs.

do you want to put money into the CBC? No
Do you want to put money into the gun Registry? No
Do you want to put money into bilingual programs? No
Do you want to put money into the military? Yes
Do you want to put money into law enforcement? Yes
Do you want to put money into healthcare? Yes
Do you want to put money into education? Yes
Do you want to put money into Canadian Filmaking? No
Do you want to put money into job creation progams? Sure
do you want to support Liberal pork barreling, and Quebec ad firms? No pass

[Ironhorse]

I'm right wing the whole way - CPC for me.

Get those arrogant a-holes out of there already.

[Flame On]

I'd be more inclined to vote tory if social preaching hadn't got so entrenched in their rethoric. Even if they've tried to clean themselves up and force the loony right to comply with moderate stances, it's still there in the background. The "pro life", christian, anti-gay rights, don't even talk about pot, anti green etc. they're just not at all proggresive for me. Even if I'm wrong about all that and they have moderated out, that's the perception they've left me, and that's their cross to bear and why there's no way they get back in, in my opinion.
However I've voted green the last couple of times and probably would again. I like the way they're getting more respectable; though still a long way to go.

[Mike F]

Liberals - holding my nose. A vote for the party policies, not the individuals

They're the only party that can keep the Conservatives out of office, or at least hold them to a minority. And you can't deny the success they had turning the country around after Mulroney, bringing all of Canada's debt back into Canadian hands, paying down a substantial portion of it, keeping the economy on track despite a global slowdown that helped knock the US into a huge hole, etc. Plus they are committed to social policies that I favor: protection of free choice and anti-discrimination.

Hopefully this ugly scandal is enough to knock the rats out of the attic.

As for those who are going to vote Green -- in this election more than any other, a vote for Green is a vote for a Conservative government with an asterisk. Basically the equivalent of voting for Nader in 2000.

[Fire]

Originally posted by Mike F@Apr 7 2005, 11:01 PM
Liberals - holding my nose. A vote for the party policies, not the individuals

They're the only party that can keep the Conservatives out of office, or at least hold them to a minority. And you can't deny the success they had turning the country around after Mulroney, bringing all of Canada's debt back into Canadian hands, paying down a substantial portion of it, keeping the economy on track despite a global slowdown that helped knock the US into a huge hole, etc. Plus they are committed to social policies that I favor: protection of free choice and anti-discrimination.

Hopefully this ugly scandal is enough to knock the rats out of the attic.

As for those who are going to vote Green -- in this election more than any other, a vote for Green is a vote for a Conservative government with an asterisk. Basically the equivalent of voting for Nader in 2000.

Baaaah! Some sheep won't stray from the flock.

If the Liberals win the next election is would be a sad day for Canada. We would be the laughing stock of the world.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Mike F@Apr 7 2005, 11:01 PM


As for those who are going to vote Green -- in this election more than any other, a vote for Green is a vote for a Conservative government with an asterisk. Basically the equivalent of voting for Nader in 2000.

Wrong.

[metallicat]

It's all fine and dandy that the conservatives are getting the western Canadian nod (maybe even moreso with this liberal debacle), but what are the easterners going to do? I really can't see them changing their entire voting strategies over this. They just don't give a damn. I don't think this issue alone is going to grant the CPC the right to govern our country unfortunately...I would love to see it happen, but I don't think enough people from Ontario would.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally posted by CaptainCrunch@Apr 7 2005, 09:37 PM
I wouldn't even think about it, the Liberals have to go.

They've been in power for too long and haven't really done anything solid in years. They've turned into a real money burning pig, who have bloated special interest groups with taxpayers money.

The conservatives might not be much better in the short term, but honestly they can't be worse.

I get p*ssed off everytime half of my paycheque goes to the government, and honestly I'm just not seeing the value. I should have the right to opt out of paying for government programs.

do you want to put money into the CBC? No
Do you want to put money into the gun Registry? No
Do you want to put money into bilingual programs? No
Do you want to put money into the military? Yes
Do you want to put money into law enforcement? Yes
Do you want to put money into healthcare? Yes
Do you want to put money into education? Yes
Do you want to put money into Canadian Filmaking? No
Do you want to put money into job creation progams? Sure
do you want to support Liberal pork barreling, and Quebec ad firms? No pass

I'm with you on 6 of those points Crunch, but I see you left off big hitters such as missile defense, US relations, and same sex. However, that's a seperate discussion in of itself. I'm not looking for issues based reasons to vote for the Conservatives as we all have our own positions on those. I'm looking for the answers on:

1) Can a party that has troubles holding itself together (the McKay/Stronach camp vs. the Harpers) lead a nation and run a government?
2) Can it make inroads into Ontario and Quebec (Moreso ON as QUE will likely go PQ), presenting and selling a vision for the country that wins them over?
3) Can Harper inspire a country with his leadership? This is critical - he's a recluse and I wonder if he's really capable of an inspiring Kennedy like speech, to rally voters to his party.

This is really is Harper's election to lose. Steven - show me why I should vote for you rather than what's wrong with Chretien et al.

[Mike F]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos+Apr 7 2005, 10:08 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (RougeUnderoos @ Apr 7 2005, 10:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Mike F@Apr 7 2005, 11:01 PM


As for those who are going to vote Green -- in this election more than any other, a vote for Green is a vote for a Conservative government with an asterisk. Basically the equivalent of voting for Nader in 2000.

Wrong. [/b][/quote]
Nice rebuttal.

Well argued.

[Mike F]

Originally posted by Fire+Apr 7 2005, 10:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Fire @ Apr 7 2005, 10:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Mike F@Apr 7 2005, 11:01 PM
Liberals - holding my nose. A vote for the party policies, not the individuals

They're the only party that can keep the Conservatives out of office, or at least hold them to a minority. And you can't deny the success they had turning the country around after Mulroney, bringing all of Canada's debt back into Canadian hands, paying down a substantial portion of it, keeping the economy on track despite a global slowdown that helped knock the US into a huge hole, etc. Plus they are committed to social policies that I favor: protection of free choice and anti-discrimination.

Hopefully this ugly scandal is enough to knock the rats out of the attic.

As for those who are going to vote Green -- in this election more than any other, a vote for Green is a vote for a Conservative government with an asterisk. Basically the equivalent of voting for Nader in 2000.

Baaaah! Some sheep won't stray from the flock.

If the Liberals win the next election is would be a sad day for Canada. We would be the laughing stock of the world. [/b][/quote]
Nice rebuttal.

Well argued.

[V]

Originally posted by CaptainCrunch@Apr 7 2005, 08:37 PM


do you want to put money into the CBC? No
Do you want to put money into the gun Registry? No
Do you want to put money into bilingual programs? No
Do you want to put money into the military? Yes
Do you want to put money into law enforcement? Yes
Do you want to put money into healthcare? Yes
Do you want to put money into education? Yes
Do you want to put money into Canadian Filmaking? No
Do you want to put money into job creation progams? Sure
do you want to support Liberal pork barreling, and Quebec ad firms? No pass

I think that's a fantastic idea, but once put into practice, that idea would flop. How many people would rather just worry about their paycheques then whether or not we should have a military? The fact is, for every person that's conceintious about what's necessary for a country to run properly, there seems to be another 10 that just don't care.

It's too bad though. I'd love to be able to choose where my tax money went.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Mike F+Apr 7 2005, 11:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike F @ Apr 7 2005, 11:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Wrong.

Nice rebuttal.

Well argued. [/b][/quote]
If I vote for the Green Party here in SE Calgary it's not going to change anything.

It's not at all like casting a vote for Nader in 2000 and sending Bush to the White House.

[Sammie]

Originally posted by I-Hate-Hulse@Apr 7 2005, 08:48 PM
Like I said in another thread, I'd love to see the Liberals booted out.# Convince me why you think the current bunch of Conservatives could do a better job, other than the obvious fact that they aren't the Liberals? One vote here for the taking...

I'm still waiting Sammie....

i don't know, I-Hate-Hulse. I'm weighing my options. It's either the Libertarian Party, the Marijuana Party, the Commonwealth of Canada Party, or the Marxist-Leninist Party. They're all so close!

They all share a desire to be the governing party of this Country. That means they all must have very similar platforms. I just can't decide which one I like best. :innocent:

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally posted by Sammie@Apr 8 2005, 12:35 AM
i don't know, I-Hate-Hulse. I'm weighing my options. It's either the Libertarian Party, the Marijuana Party, the Commonwealth of Canada Party, or the Marxist-Leninist Party. They're all so close!

They all share a desire to be the governing party of this Country. That means they all must have very similar platforms. I just can't decide which one I like best. :innocent:

Ahh gotcha. You offer nothing other than "It's not the Liberals". The process of elimination isn't how I base my vote.

See my post above. Got any answers to my 3 questions?