Coalition Deal To Topple Minority Tory Govt- [Update Parliament Prorogued until Jan]

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I think that the Liberals are already at very close to their floor; the people who voted for them last time around are largely the 'vote liberal no matter what' category; the sort that will plug the fingers in their ears all the way to the voting booth.

While this is right, it's important to note that they didn't have to plug their ears through a Separatist/Socialist platform the last time around.

I have a feeling that that might make too much noise for even their fingers to block out.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by ernie

I agree. That is what the Tories have to do...continue to move to the center so that the Blue Liberals do consider them an alternative again. This is where they need an Stronauch-esque defection from the Liberals into their own ranks. A couple of high profile Blue Liberals joining the Tories ranks splits the liberal party and you likely now have a right of center party and a left of center party (canadian politics center of course). I think Harper played a dangerous personal game in this, I don't deny that, but I think the Liberals are playing a game that is dangerous for the entire party for years to come.

I have to believe Rob Anders is the key to all the problems here. There is a reason why he is on this earth! hehe

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

source?

It's been mentioned and quoted numerous times in this thread already.

[octothorp]

And if I was a Green Party member, I'd turf May right now. People are looking for a serious change to the way politics are done, and as a true outsider party, the Greens could have picked up a platform of change and made significant gains next election, drawing from both sides. Instead, she sides with the coalition in a move that's sure to drive some of her voters to the Conservatives and some to the coalition. She's clearly putting herself ahead of her party's interests.

[Tron_fdc]

Hey here's an idea....how about Harper punts Quebec from confederation, and along with them their seats in Parliament?

Problem solved. Instant Con majority.

Should that post be in green?

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

While this is right, it's important to note that they didn't have to plug their ears through a Separatist/Socialist platform the last time around.

I have a feeling that that might make too much noise for even their fingers to block out.

You might be right about that. I'm looking forward to getting some decent polling data on this so that we can start to make half-way informed guesses about where voters are going to split.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by octothorp

And if I was a Green Party member, I'd turf May right now. People are looking for a serious change to the way politics are done, and as a true outsider party, the Greens could have picked up a platform of change and made significant gains next election, drawing from both sides. Instead, she sides with the coalition in a move that's sure to drive some of her voters to the Conservatives and some to the coalition. She's clearly putting herself ahead of her party's interests.

Well, considering this is the same woman who asked her members and constituents to vote for anyone other than the Conservatives...

It's not like she's the world's most honorable person. Perfect fodder for a Liberal Senate, though!

[Nancy]

The BQ are playing the Libs and NDPs like fools. They are going along with this just to discredit the whole system, to demonstrate that Canada is a dysfunctional, loser nation. Fast forward a few months, and they will be voting against the coalition on a non-confidence motion to bring down the government again. Combine that with a tanking economy, the country will be a shambles, and they will have a strong case for independence. Shortly after that, they will announce a new separation vote.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

It's been mentioned and quoted numerous times in this thread already.

I confess I have not reviewed all pages....were sources provided in those posts?

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by tron_fdc

hey here's an idea....how about harper punts quebec from confederation, and along with them their seats in parliament?

Problem solved. Instant con majority.

Should that post be in green?

no!

[simmer2]

Originally Posted by Nancy

The BQ are playing the Libs and NDPs like fools. They are going along with this just to discredit the whole system, to demonstrate that Canada is a dysfunctional, loser nation. Fast forward a few months, and they will be voting against the coalition on a non-confidence motion to bring down the government again. Combine that with a tanking economy, the country will be a shambles, and they will have a strong case for independence. Shortly after that, they will announce a new separation vote.

I'd be fine with that...let them leave.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Michael Fortier lost his election bid, then was appointed to the Senate and the cabinet by Harper.

Were you this outraged then?

I'm not a fan of appointing people to Senate in the first place but realize that is the way it is done. But it was more than rewarding a guy for being a PC. This was a way to get representation in the government for a province that did not have a good number of MPs (yes i understand that in itself in pandering to Quebec in the hopes of future votes). It had precedence in previous Canadian History i believe. The agreement was also that he step down and run in the next federal election...which he did.

The appointment of May doesn't have such potential underpinnings...it's completely a reward for being a friend of Dion. Nothing more.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Hey here's an idea....how about Harper punts Quebec from confederation, and along with them their seats in Parliament?

Problem solved. Instant Con majority.

Should that post be in green?

Around these parts, I'm sure you'll find enough people who agree with you.

While it's obviously a joke, and an extreme action... I would like to say that I would have absolutely no problems with turfing the National Party status of the Bloc.

Of course, all that would do is make the Bloc MPs cross the floor into welcoming Liberal arms, and drive their Separatist ideals underground.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

That could be justified if the Liberals, who have the most seats in the coalition was in on it. But they did not jump onboard until after the funding proposal.

We don't know they weren't. Seriously, with all partisanship aside.

I mean, we only know the NDP and Bloc were in on it early, because they accidentally leaked it to a CPC staffer. They could have easily been lurking, and just not been caught. I find it hard to believe such a Machiavellian scheme was not in play weeks ago. I think Harper actually did that funding thing to flush them out and try to expose them as greedy opportunists.

Dion is on public record saying no coalition and no NDP cause they are "too socialist," so its not like he's exactly honest.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

I confess I have not reviewed all pages....were sources provided in those posts?

Yep yep.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by octothorp

And if I was a Green Party member, I'd turf May right now. People are looking for a serious change to the way politics are done, and as a true outsider party, the Greens could have picked up a platform of change and made significant gains next election, drawing from both sides. Instead, she sides with the coalition in a move that's sure to drive some of her voters to the Conservatives and some to the coalition. She's clearly putting herself ahead of her party's interests.

No kidding eh...

Remember when Harper and Layton initially did not want her to be part of the debates because they thought she was "a second Liberal candidate"?
Later the Liberals and the Greens made a pact to not run their respective candidates in the ridings of May and Dion.
Finally, May is endorsing this move and potentially leaving her party to sit in the Senate?

Is it just me or does this not seem like the actions of a true party leader? She's clearly been a Liberal all along. Did she not even endorse the Liberals at one point during the campaign?

Talk about selling out her party indeed!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Hey here's an idea....how about Harper punts Quebec from confederation, and along with them their seats in Parliament?

Problem solved. Instant Con majority.

Should that post be in green?

In reality, if Canada lost 1/3 of its population and 1/5 of its land mass, hardly anyone would probably ever vote for the party again. National unity problems were one of the things that destroyed the Conservative Party after Mulroney's government. Not to mention the infrastructure problems it would cause by cutting off the eastern provinces from the rest of the country.

So yeah, it should probably be in green.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

source?

Pick an article from today. The new ads the Tories are launching uses a Dion speech where he says, "you cannot form a coalition with a party that has a platform that would be damaging to the economy."

His words. No one putting words in his mouth on this. He also said it on Mike Duffy live during the election I believe.

[CaptainCrunch]

Man if I was an MP, I would be putting my influence and vote up for sale on ebay to the highest bidder.

I'm running on the platform "And you think that other guy is currupt? I'm just more up front about it."

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

How was that stat derived?

Lester Pearson was elected to 2 consecutive minority governments spanning from 1963-1968 (until Trudeau took over and won a majority).

You may be right, it was from an article I read this morning.

Now the focus is on what steps Harper, who led the longest surviving minority (937 days) government before seeking dissolution in September to call the Oct. 14 election, could take to save his second minority government.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/546900