2011 Canadian Election Thread

[Frequitude]

Its pretty sad actually that we're stuck with a bunch of morons as the opposition for 4 years. How do the Conservatives even work with that?!

Harper's going to have no choice but to do his own thing, only to be blasted by the left for "crapping on democracy" or something absurd.

[IliketoPuck]

That's just it. They don't have to.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Its pretty sad actually that we're stuck with a bunch of morons as the opposition for 4 years. How do the Conservatives even work with that?!

Harper's going to have no choice but to do his own thing, only to be blasted by the left for "crapping on democracy" or something absurd.

Well, it's still better than the BLOC imo. The Libs weren't much better with their comments and attacks either.

I think it's the job of the opposition to act indignant and to accuse all the time. Not that I want to see that, but I think that's just they way it is.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its just unfortunate that Hedy Fry managed to hold onto her seat.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I'm not really sure there's a spot for the Blue Grit/Red Tory on the political landscape anymore given these federal election results.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Its pretty sad actually that we're stuck with a bunch of morons as the opposition for 4 years. How do the Conservatives even work with that?!

Harper's going to have no choice but to do his own thing, only to be blasted by the left for "crapping on democracy" or something absurd.

The job of the opposition is just to complain. Like it or not, it's not effective for them to agree with government all of the time. The party in power just does their thing regardless of the opposition demands (for the most part, unless the opposition comes up with an amazing point in which case it becomes their own). That's why it really doesn't matter that the NDP elected so many MPs as they're along for the ride in the house.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by evman150

It amazes me that the same guy who throws himself into a tizzy at the very notion of anyone other than him getting their hands on his oil money thinks people should sacrifice massive amounts of money because of their "desire to improve the country".

You sir, are a hypocrite.

Lol, it's almost too much to justify this claptrap with a response.

You demonstrate another case of the left generally being unable to generate wealth feeling they, and only they, know how to spend it.

Once you are done your MA maybe you will qualify to run for parliament and 'earn' the exhorbitant salary it demands? Me, I'd rather us pay our doctors, teachers and soldiers a bit more than arts students who somehow win elections with heads so big they can hardly fit through a doorway.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Slava

The job of the opposition is just to complain. Like it or not, it's not effective for them to agree with government all of the time. The party in power just does their thing regardless of the opposition demands (for the most part, unless the opposition comes up with an amazing point in which case it becomes their own). That's why it really doesn't matter that the NDP elected so many MPs as they're along for the ride in the house.

I agree, if it's the main resposibility of the opposition to OPPOSE the government, at least we will have a stark contrast of opinion to consider in this parliament.

That being said... what the hell is Mulclair talking about!!?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Once you are done your MA maybe you will qualify to run for parliament and 'earn' the exhorbitant salary it demands? Me, I'd rather us pay our doctors, teachers and soldiers a bit more than arts students who somehow win elections with heads so big they can hardly fit through a doorway.

He'll have to finish high school first...

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Slava

The job of the opposition is just to complain. Like it or not, it's not effective for them to agree with government all of the time. The party in power just does their thing regardless of the opposition demands (for the most part, unless the opposition comes up with an amazing point in which case it becomes their own). That's why it really doesn't matter that the NDP elected so many MPs as they're along for the ride in the house.

Completely agree. That being said, they probably shouldn't be opposing the US government, especially when it comes to an issue as sensitive for them as Bin Laden. I'll just consider it a gaff and hope that they smarten up from here on.

[Aeneas]

Read all this thread, but rarely felt the urge to contribute.
I must say I am quite excited by this parliament. I think the dynamic of the majority Conservatives finding some sort of working balance with the NDP is intriguing.

If it were the Liberals in opposition, I would not feel such optimism.

Of course the Conservatives can do what they want within reason, but I believe that Harper and Layton can work together in many areas.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The NDP has been running student aged candidates in elections for years now in ridings where they couldn't find anyone else with much for qualifications interested in doing the job. As they say....throw enough darts and a couple will hit the board.

For these youngins it will seem like a lot of money, and it is, I wish I could get paid half that....but IMO the MP's salary is the last thing that attracts people to politics, or keep them in it. The power is what these people crave. Hence why so many of these guys retire, only to return later often with a different party. In fact I would be so bold as to claim most seasoned politicians could probably act well enough to convince people that they believe in their party's platform...when they really don't care...they just want to get in and have power.

The exit poll analysis found that everyone knew about the NDP’s so-called “Vegas girl.” Indeed, Ms. Brosseau won office even though it was well-publicized that she barely spoke French, that she had spent little time during the election in her Quebec riding and that she went to Vegas on holiday.

“Participants told us they see this as proof that Canadians voted based on parties and leaders rather than their local candidate,” Ensight’s Jacquie LaRocque told The Globe. “Hardly a single participant across the entire country told us they voted for their local candidate.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2010885/

True enough.

Cowperson

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Its pretty sad actually that we're stuck with a bunch of morons as the opposition for 4 years. How do the Conservatives even work with that?!

Harper's going to have no choice but to do his own thing, only to be blasted by the left for "crapping on democracy" or something absurd.

Work with it?

They have a Majority - they dont need to "work with it"

If they want another majority they will release more centrist bills but they in no way need to pander to Laytons 100+ MPs or pass any of his bills.

Their big challenge is to run Canada very Vanilla (shouldnt be hard with so many Ontario MPs) so that they can then say durring the next election, Secret Agenda, what Secret Agenda? You mean the Secret Agenda to reform immigration, reduce crime, balance budget, etc etc etc if thats the Secret Agenda then we are guilty on all accounts It almost writes itself. There will be countless headlines from the GnM, TorStar, CBC, etc about the hidden agenda that they can bring out.

I am sure there are Layton quotes out there about the Hidden Agenda, you think the Iggy attack adds were bad, think of what you can do when you have rock solid proof that there was no Hidden Agenda (4 years of governance proof) and that he in essence lied about the Conservatives having one.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The NDP has been running student aged candidates in elections for years now in ridings where they couldn't find anyone else with much for qualifications interested in doing the job.

I think it's a matter of, when victory seems highly unlikely, the qualified candidates don't want to waste their time, quitting their job for 6 weeks of hard work, for likely no gain.

Had the future been known, I think the NDP would have had no problem filling those positions with qualified candidates.

It's really just an unfortunate result of voting for candidates, and not parties in each riding. In ridings where victory is very unlikely, qualified candiates likely lose something by running. Underqualified candidates have nothing to lose, so the party can place them in those ridings.

Of course, the NDP would love to now replace some of the candidates with a more qualified person from the riding (I don't think they would have a hard time doing this, if it were possible). However, the only way to do that would be through a byelection, and I sort of doubt that the NDP would be winning any byelections in these ridings, even if they happened tomorrow.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Slava

The job of the opposition is just to complain. Like it or not, it's not effective for them to agree with government all of the time. The party in power just does their thing regardless of the opposition demands (for the most part, unless the opposition comes up with an amazing point in which case it becomes their own). That's why it really doesn't matter that the NDP elected so many MPs as they're along for the ride in the house.

Totally agree. I'm just saying that its sad our opposition is now a bunch of rookie morons (politically speaking) who never thought they'd end up in this position.

At least the Liberals have been there before...

[Frequitude]

Then again, at least there's not quite the hate and vitriol between the Conservatives and NDP.

Its sure going to be an interesting 4 years.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

“Participants told us they see this as proof that Canadians voted based on parties and leaders rather than their local candidate,” Ensight’s Jacquie LaRocque told The Globe. “Hardly a single participant across the entire country told us they voted for their local candidate.”

[

That is the problem I have with the Canadian system. The local representation doesn't really have much say at all. With the party whip you are only voting for the leader.

But that being said, if I was a MP I wouldn't complain about the system at all.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Tiger

That is the problem I have with the Canadian system. The local representation doesn't really have much say at all. With the party whip you are only voting for the leader.

But that being said, if I was a MP I wouldn't complain about the system at all.

I wonder how much would change if we were allowed more of a republican system style of vote... one for PM and another for our local representative...?

[Reggie Dunlop]

It was quite the turnip truck Preston Manning drove to Ottawa back then.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

“Hardly a single participant across the entire country told us they voted for their local candidate.”

This may be true in a lot of the country, especially in the prairies and flaky Quebec, but it is definitely not true in all parts.

Where I live, it is definitely the candidate people vote for.

There are three ridings in Greater Victoria, and all three have a recent history of voting for candidates, not parties.

Victoria - David Anderson (Chretien environment minister) was elected because of who he was, not what party he represented. Denise Savoie (NDP) was initially elected because of her local reputation and popularity. She could have run for any of the three major parties and won.

Saanich - Gulf Islands - Any party that goes from CPC to Green is not voting for the party. Lunn was relatively popular, but obviously people were won over by May.

Esquimalt- Juan de Fuca - The ultimate example. This riding elected Dr. Keith Martin six times under three different banners. He could have run for any party and won. This election was the first without him since 1988, and the heir presumptive was CPC candidate Troy de Souza. He lost for the third election in a row, and the NDP candidate, the popular Randall Garrison, won the seat.

Anecdotal examples, yes, but party politics don't dominate in every part of the country.