Canadian Election Tread (part deux)

[cinch]

Originally posted by notyoueither
And this is scarey.

Martin's position on same-sex marriage also seems to have evolved rapidly over the past week as he strives to turn gay rights as a wedge issue against the Tories.

A devout Roman Catholic, Martin initially admitted he was torn on the issue and was lukewarm in his support for former prime minister Jean Chretien's draft legislation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Anxious to avoid turning it into an election issue, Martin delayed a Supreme Court hearing on the matter by asking the top court also to consider the constitutionality of allowing only civil unions for gay couples, the option favoured by Harper.

By the end of last week, Martin suggested that lower courts have already settled the matter and said "there is no way anybody should be allowed to prevent same-sex marriage."

Another man willing to do anything, to say anything, to get or keep power. For how long will Canadians tolerate such crap from the Liberals? Frankly, I'd prefer they eliminate the middleman, put the NDP in for a term, and let's see how much of an appetite for the left Canadians have after that.

I'll tolerate it... as long as I like what he's saying.

[LulThyme]

Originally posted by notyoueither
The hot topic at the moment seems to be seat counts in Ontario and Quebec.

I admit I have not bothered to look in detail at ridings and historical votes, but I think things in Ontario and Quebec are more volatile and less likely to be accurately predicted than many might believe.

Well obviously since this constitutes what ? (out of my ass) 60% of the ridings?

[KrazyHorse]

WUTANG


Liberal riding association throws support behind NDP

BRAMPTON - A Liberal riding association in Brampton, Ont., has rejected a candidate appointed by Paul Martin and thrown its support behind the riding's New Democratic Party challenger.

The Liberals in Brampton-Springdale, northwest of Toronto, were outraged when Martin cancelled their nomination vote by appointing Ruby Dhalla as the local candidate.

Their riding association executive responded on Sunday by withdrawing its support for Dhalla, and voting to back local NDP candidate Kathy Pounder.

Riding association vice-president Raj Jhajj said Martin's decision to override a nomination meeting has left many local Liberals bitter and disappointed.

"Saying something against Liberal party for me is like saying something against my religion," said Jhajj, who has been a Liberal since he settled in Canada 13 years ago.

However, "we had no choice," he said on Monday as he campaigned for Pounder. "If someone throws you out of the house, what you're going to do? You can sleep at the neighbour's house."

While the majority voted against supporting Dhalla, the riding association's president was among those in favour of backing Martin's handpicked candidate.

"It's bad," said Vicky Dhilon. "We are Liberal and, as a Liberal riding association, we should support the Liberal [candidate]."

Jhajj said the rebel executive members have not abandoned the party, but are merely expressing their unhappiness with Martin's decision.

"We are loyal to the Liberal party," he said. "We support the Liberal party in all the other ridings.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/08/canada/elexnriding040608

[notyoueither]

I love it!

Take back Parliament!

[joncha]

Wow. That's integrity!

[joncha]

Interesting results in the latest poll:

Tories, Grits seen at parity with campaign half over

Globe and Mail Update

As the campaign hits the midway point, the Conservatives are in a position to form a minority government as it battles the Liberals in a neck-in-neck race, a poll suggests.

Nationally, the Liberals have 32 per cent voter support, compared with 31 per cent for the Conservatives. The NDP has 16 per cent support, according to a poll conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV by Ipsos-Reid.

Since the last Ipsos-Reid poll, which was released on Saturday, the Conservatives and Liberals have not budged. In the first 18 days of the campaign, the Liberals have fallen from 35 per cent while the Tories have risen from 26 per cent.

In Ontario, the Liberals have the lead over the Conservatives with 40 per cent compared with 35 per cent. In Quebec, the Bloc has a substantial lead and in Atlantic Canada, the Conservatives are now within striking distance of the Liberals

A seat projection by Ipsos-Reid would give the Conservatives between 114 and 118 seats and the Liberals between 104 and 108. In the House of Commons, 155 seats are needed for a majority.

The campaign hits a crescendo next Monday and Tuesday when the major party leaders cross paths at the French and English TV debate, their big chance to go on the offensive in front of a mass audience before the June 28 vote.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin said his party would stay the course by pointing to the differences between his party and Stephen Harper's Tories. “We're into the playoffs in terms of this campaign,” he told reporters while attending the Group of Eight summit.

The poll of 2,000 Canadians was conducted between June 4 and June 8 and is considered accurate plus or minus 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

It says that 61 per cent of Canadians are opposed to a Conservative-Bloc coalition while 57 per cent would accept a Liberal minority working with the NDP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040609.elipsos0609/BNStory/specialDecision2004/

[St Leo]

Making the Case Against the Conservatives

[notyoueither]

Why should we want a PM who can beat his caucus into submission?

The guy just doesn't get it, an nor do the Liberals. Pity them.

[Richelieu]

The Libs campaign in Quebec focuses more and more on how voting for the Bloc is really giving a vote away to a party that will never hold power.
I get the feeling that those who abandon the bloc aren't going to the Libs however, but towards the Conservatives. Maybe a momentum thing.

[Ben Kenobi]

Liberal riding association throws support behind NDP

[Ben Kenobi]

It says that 61 per cent of Canadians are opposed to a Conservative-Bloc coalition while 57 per cent would accept a Liberal minority working with the NDP.

How many would accept a Conservative majority government?

If they are so afraid of the Bloc, then vote the Conservatives a majority.

[Ben Kenobi]

St. Leo:

This first installment will argue against the Conservatives, mostly because they're the party I'm leaning towards.

That tells me all I need to know.

It's interesting to compare his complaints about the Conservatives with mine.

[St Leo]

Would you prefer an NDP voter's views of Harper? As far as I am concerned, he is wrong on everything except proportional representation.

Canada 2004 Vote Selector

-Jack Layton Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada (score = 100)
-Gilles Duceppe Leader of the Bloc Quebecois (score = 89)
-Paul Martin Leader of Liberal Party of Canada, Prime Minister of Canada (score = 48)
-Stephen Harper Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (score = 0)

[Ben Kenobi]

Would you prefer an NDP voter's views of Harper? As far as I am concerned, he is wrong on everything except proportional representation.

No, I think it's cool that you're showing me the concerns of a fellow leaning towards the Conservative party.

[Ben Kenobi]

Here's what I get.

Stephen Harper Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (score = 100)

Jack Layton Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada (score = 42)

Gilles Duceppe Leader of the Bloc Quebecois (score = 37)

Paul Martin Leader of Liberal Party of Canada, Prime Minister of Canada (score = 32)


That's a rather unusual list when you think of this.