Liberals catch up to Harper in the polls.

[Bertuzzied]

There is no way the conservatives could ever get a majority with him in charge. Hope Harper and the Conservatives enjoy watching the olympics. Its costing them big time.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Fe...144/story.html

Thursday’s Ekos survey echoed the results of another poll released Wednesday which found that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to have Parliament suspended temporarily was ill-received by the electorate.
“Canadians have noticed, they do care and this having a very negative effect on Conservative fortunes,” Ekos President Frank Graves said in a statement, calling the change from three months ago “stunning.”
Ekos has the Conservatives at 30.9% and the Liberals at 29.3%, roughly where they were last summer and a level which would make victory uncertain for Harper if an election were held now.

[Slava]

Suddenly a confidence vote as soon as parliament returns could mean a new PM.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

Suddenly a confidence vote as soon as parliament returns could mean a new PM.

Yes, because the last time Ignatieff tried this ploy it worked out so well.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yes, because the last time Ignatieff tried this ploy it worked out so well.

The proroguing of parliament is a huge game changer. You may find that people's appetite for an election is a lot higher than it was last summer.

At the same time, the polls don't show an increase in Liberal support yet. So really, we're talking about a humbled Harper with a narrow minority, not a new PM. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks.

[alltherage]

I for one have absolutely no appetite for an election.

1) If I want to hear immature bickering and slurring, I can check out the latest trade proposal thread in the FOI forum,

2) There is not 1 person in Canadian Federal Politics that I would like to meet, hear from, or much less continue to pay to run my country.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yes, because the last time Ignatieff tried this ploy it worked out so well.

Its a good thing that nothing has changed since that time I guess. Probably nothing to worry about...maybe you and all of the other CPC supporters whould just plan a relaxing vacation for the month of March.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

The proroguing of parliament is a huge game changer. You may find that people's appetite for an election is a lot higher than it was last summer.

I doubt personally that there is much of a change in appetite for an election. Harper has overplayed his hand badly, but I think some of the soft support that is currently on Ignatieff's side would flip right back if he returned to his attempts to take down the government.

Either way, we lose. Parliament will be just as dysfunctional out of the next election as it is now.

[d_phaneuf]

If Ignatieff wants to call for an election I hope he gets crushed just for the stupidity of costing us another few hundred million to most likely get the same results we got last year

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

If Ignatieff wants to call for an election I hope he gets crushed just for the stupidity of costing us another few hundred million to most likely get the same results we got last year

The cost should never be the deciding issue of having an election or not. This is how poor democracies run by minorities end up becoming dictatorships.

Not that I want an election. I couldn't care less... but elections should happen either when the mandate ends for the governing party or when there is a significant change in public opinion.

Personally, I just want to see government work on way or another. The Conservative minority just seems to have too few friends in parliament to do anything but stall for time.

[Rerun]

I think Ignatieff should go for it! Now is the time to vote down the Conservative government! Do it now!!! Strike while the iron is hot!

... oh wait... Parliament has been prorogued until March..... drat! Foiled again by those damn conniving Conservatives.

[SteveToms]

Saw this coming.

[InstantDeath]

Im not asking for a dissertation on Canadian politics - but honestly I know very little...
Are 'conservatives' in your country anything like 'conservatives' in America? (Bible thumping, war mongering, etc...?) I didnt think so, but Im just wondering. Canadians seem so much more level headed overall, but Im probably just romanticizing what I dont know.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by InstantDeath

Im not asking for a dissertation on Canadian politics - but honestly I know very little...
Are 'conservatives' in your country anything like 'conservatives' in America? (Bible thumping, war mongering, etc...?) I didnt think so, but Im just wondering. Canadians seem so much more level headed overall, but Im probably just romanticizing what I dont know.

Not even close.

these poll numbers would shift dramatically if Ignatieff started sounding the election drum beat.

Did Harper blunder badly here? Absolutely, delaying on the stupid prisoner exchange issue was a dumb move. He's cost himself a sh%t load of credibility.

But I think this poll is more about Harper losing credibility, not Ignatieff actually making gains or reforming his image. Iggy is still pretty dreadfull as a prime ministarial candidate.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by InstantDeath

Im not asking for a dissertation on Canadian politics - but honestly I know very little...
Are 'conservatives' in your country anything like 'conservatives' in America? (Bible thumping, war mongering, etc...?) I didnt think so, but Im just wondering. Canadians seem so much more level headed overall, but Im probably just romanticizing what I dont know.

Not really the same. They're right-wing by Canadian standards, but that still puts them pretty far left if they were on the American spectrum. There isn't a strong religious connection there, although it exists in some parts of the country a grass-roots level. You would never have a conservative leader saying that he was making a decision based on faith. And I wouldn't particularly call them war mongering, unless you consider slight increases to the national defense budget, and an emphasis on establishing an armed forces presence in the North to be war mongering. But there's very little to choose from in terms of policy differences between the Conservatives and Liberals; different policies in terms of immigration policy, environmental policy. But really most of federal politics right now surrounds charges of corruption and intellectual elitism against the liberals, vs. charges of blatant political manipulation and hypocrisy by the Conservatives.

[FlamesAddiction]

Both the Conservative and Liberal parties are closer to centre than people on opposing sides like to admit. The Conservatives have a few more socially conservative people, but they are careful not to let it out too much. Both parties like to have a few people in the party that can appeal to groups of the otherside. Liberals like to have a few "conservatives", and the Conservatives like to have a few "liberals".

Canadian poltics are smoke and mirrors. The conservatives and liberals in Canada don't seem that tied to their convicitons.

[InstantDeath]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Not really the same. They're right-wing by Canadian standards, but that still puts them pretty far left if they were on the American spectrum. There isn't a strong religious connection there, although it exists in some parts of the country a grass-roots level. You would never have a conservative leader saying that he was making a decision based on faith. And I wouldn't particularly call them war mongering, unless you consider slight increases to the national defense budget, and an emphasis on establishing an armed forces presence in the North to be war mongering. But there's very little to choose from in terms of policy differences between the Conservatives and Liberals; different policies in terms of immigration policy, environmental policy. But really most of federal politics right now surrounds charges of corruption and intellectual elitism against the liberals, vs. charges of blatant political manipulation and hypocrisy by the Conservatives.

I really should just get it over with and move to Toronto.

I live in New Jersey, which, despite being the butt of the ‘what exit’ jokes, etc…is pretty progressive like the rest of the northeast. Still, you cant possibly understand having to deal with the bible belt conservatives in the US – its really out of control. These people are brainwashed by religion and are largely severely undereducated. Obviously its not fair to generalize entire states/regions – there are smart people everywhere, and dumb people everywhere – but I think it is fair to say that there is a sliding scale, and there are places in this country that are so backwards that its scary.

Glad Canada doesn’t get caught up in televangelist insanity. Pat Robertson actually said yesterday that Haiti made a pact with Satan, and they are now ‘suffering the consequences. I didn’t make that up, sadly. Whats sadder is that people send contributions to him regularly and he has a massive, massive following in the US – and they vote in droves.

[3 Justin 3]

If I have to live in a country run by Ignatief I'll bolt to Russia. Honestly, Ignatief is a complete moron ######. Harper may not be the best, but he isn't a traitor.

[starseed]

You are fooling yourself if you think that the majority of the CPC doesd not hold the same convictions as the majority of the GOP. Harper himself wanted Canada to be more right wing than the USA, and wanted us to eliminate socialized medicine. He has muzzled his caucas since day one, so you only rarely see them make the same dumb comments as their counterparts in the US. (I am not saying only conservatives make dumb comments)

The only reason the CPC does not have the same policies as the GOP, is that their support would go down, and the rest of the country would not tolerate them as the leaders. The merger with the PC party was just a take over, they said that they would only focus on certain non-socially conservative priorities, but Joe Clark knew what that really meant.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

If I have to live in a country run by Ignatief I'll bolt to Russia. Honestly, Ignatief is a complete moron ######. Harper may not be the best, but he isn't a traitor.

Hmmmm...one less Conservative if Iggy wins....cmon election!

[starseed]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

If I have to live in a country run by Ignatief I'll bolt to Russia. Honestly, Ignatief is a complete moron ######. Harper may not be the best, but he isn't a traitor.

Seriously? Ignatieff is brilliant. His only knock is that he is not a very good politician.