Canpol: Election Imminent?

[Tingkai]

Once again, the Conservatives snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Way to go Harper!

[Fve Crathva]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Prey tell what they are supposed to do when they have decided it is time to go to the polls, but the government does everything but allow a vote that could lead to an election.

Martin hasn't been doing extreme things to hold onto power?

The most extreme thing he's done was bribe whatshername to cross the floor. That was a dirty, slimy trick. Other than that, the Liberals have been pretty much rosy when it comes to defending their government--because they didn't have anything solid to defend against. I find their internal politicking to be less antagonising than the bull**** the Tories are advertising about Paul Martin grasping for power as if he was Emperor Palpatine.

Personally, I think the government is right to hold off on an election until after Gomery says his piece. It seems kind of stupid to have an election where the primary issue is a corruption scandal, before the corruption scandal has been investigated fully. It's kind of like putting a person to death before they've been sentenced with the death penalty. I'm sure it's exactly what the Tories want. I think that starting the campaign at all, let alone with scummy, disingenuous attack ads, while the government is still in session is obnoxious and appalling.

In any case, it's really not up to the opposition to decide when to go to the polls. They're within their rights to try for a vote of non-confidence if they feel it's appropriate, but they can't just start shrieking abuse when decades-old parliamentary procedure inconveniences them and fails to give them an unfair advantage. They made a stupid mistake with their fake confidence vote, and for some reason they've latched onto it and started shrilly proclaiming that the government has ignored a vote of non-confidence. I say, suck it up, Harper, you failed to incite an election illegitimately, and now you've failed to convince the House on a real confidence issue. Can we get on with governing the country until an election can be called on the rest of Canada's timetable?

SP

[embalmer42]

But as I understand it Gomery is not going to be allowed to "name names" (which is what Paul was implying when he told everyone they should wait for the election until Gomery released his report). Besides - didn't Paul call the last election while Gomery was doing his thing? It didn't seem so all fire important to wait then

[embalmer42]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Yeah and how many parties already have similar social policies?

If they want social liberalism, they got plenty of choices on the market. Why don't they vote NDP or Liberal?

You're not trying to win a debate with him by using logic now, are you ?

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Fve Crathva

The most extreme thing he's done was bribe whatshername to cross the floor. That was a dirty, slimy trick.

It's not really a trick. It's standard politics everywhere. People routinely get cabinet position in exchange for their support or loyalty to a leader. Cabinet positions are also handed out simply because a leader wants to have regional represenation in a cabinet.

[embalmer42]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Yes, it was a narrow victory, but she won a seat in an area that traditionally elected Liberal MPs. Now that she is a Liberal, it will be easier for her to win the next vote.

Perhaps that was one of the things that helped convinced her to cross the floor (of course, the cabinet post didn't hurt either - after all, if you're going to be a whore you might as well get as much as you can while you can).

[St Leo]

Good for Canada, Layton declares
Commons backs `first NDP budget'

Party hints it has more on wish list


BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA—New Democrats cheered a "banner day" for their party but warned that their support of the minority Liberals could be measured in weeks.

New Democrat MPs were beaming as the House of Commons gave first approval to a budget that contains billions of dollars in new spending they demanded of the Liberals in return for their votes in last night's showdown.

"It's the first NDP budget bill ever to be adopted by the House of Commons ... so we're pleased about that," party leader Jack Layton said after his 19-member caucus stood with the Liberals to help ensure the budget's passage.

"I think Canadians will now get some results that they've been waiting for for a long time," he said.

Layton, labelled the most trusted of the leaders in a recent Star poll, enjoyed congratulations from fellow New Democrats as they stood to show their support of the budget.

Layton struck an extraordinary budget deal with the Liberals late last month to add $4.6 billion in new spending over the next two years on housing, foreign aid, cities and education, as well as a delay in tax cuts for major corporations.

In return, the NDP pledged not to vote against the government until after the budget receives royal assent. The Liberals hope that will happen before the House rises for the summer on June 23.

But once the budget passes, the NDP warns all bets are off.

"We have to make sure the budget gets through all final stages," said Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore). After that, it's a "new ballgame."

New Democrats are dropping hints they're ready with a wish list of more demands if the Liberals hope to court their continuing support.

"This decision to vote for the Liberals only lasts until the budget bills are through. Then we'll look at things all over again," Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) said last night.

She rhymed off electoral reform, protecting pensions and tapping the employment insurance surplus for job creation and worker training as among NDP priorities.

She also warned that with the possibility of more confidence votes in the weeks ahead, it's not a given the budget will survive.

Layton knows he's a walking a fine line by propping up the Liberals. "We've always had concerns with the government and the way they do business," he said, but added that in the end the NDP succeeded in getting a budget "that really addressed people's needs."

[St Leo]

Originally posted by embalmer42
You're not trying to win a debate with him by using logic now, are you ?

More like logical fallacies.

No party is campaigning on outlawing recycling bins and enshrining garbage disposal as "a holy union between trash and landfill". Obviously, Canadians are being ill-served by the irresponsible pro-recycling stances of the major parties.

There is no recycling in the Bible! Also, incineration is an abomination -- Leviticus quite clearly tells us that burnt offerings must be of the finest meat and flour. To burn garbage is to offend the nostrils of the L_RD G_D. It is a blasphemy.

No, my sheepchildrenflock, landfills are the only way to G_D's heart. Accept J_SUS and cast away your heathen recycling ways.

We need a proper conservative party that will take on a firm anti-recycling stance.

[Agathon]

Aggie, you don't have to be in Ontario to hear a lot about people not liking the Tories. I can go to a campus bar in Edmonton and hear the same thing in the same concentration.

Incidently, Harper was winning that election until the Liberals retreated from campaigning on their own platform and went for fear of the Tories.

It wouldn't matter if the Tories dumped Harper and brought in the second coming of Christ, they are going to have to battle through the Liberal fear machine before they can win.

A fear machine that appeals to obvious weaknesses the Tories have. For ****s sake – Joe Clark of all people told people to vote liberal in the last election. The Reform side of the Tories needs to be suppressed. If they don't realize that, they'll keep losing.

[Shi Huangdi]

http://www.compas.ca/data/050519-Stronach-EP.pdf

While the defection of Stronach allowed the Liberals to survive, three may be electoral consequences:

http://www.compas.ca/data/050519-Stronach-EP.pdf

Conservatives seem heading for majority territory with a 38-29 lead of the Liberals.

[Agathon]

No.

Every time a poll shows the Tories in the lead it is false. What matters is if they are in the lead in Ontario.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by St Leo
More like logical fallacies.

No party is campaigning on outlawing recycling bins and enshrining garbage disposal as "a holy union between trash and landfill". Obviously, Canadians are being ill-served by the irresponsible pro-recycling stances of the major parties.

There is no recycling in the Bible! Also, incineration is an abomination -- Leviticus quite clearly tells us that burnt offerings must be of the finest meat and flour. To burn garbage is to offend the nostrils of the L_RD G_D. It is a blasphemy.

No, my sheepchildrenflock, landfills are the only way to G_D's heart. Accept J_SUS and cast away your heathen recycling ways.

We need a proper conservative party that will take on a firm anti-recycling stance.

One of your best posts ever. You relly need to archive it in your blog

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by St Leo
We need a proper conservative party that will take on a firm
anti-recycling stance.

Yes, we need political parties that get their priorities straight. Global warming, pollution and the destruction of the environment are far more important than whether two men can be legally married.

We're living on borrowed time right now. We need politicians who have the guts to address the real problems facing us.

[Ben Kenobi]

No party is campaigning on outlawing recycling bins and enshrining garbage disposal as "a holy union between trash and landfill". Obviously, Canadians are being ill-served by the irresponsible pro-recycling stances of the major parties.

There is no recycling in the Bible! Also, incineration is an abomination -- Leviticus quite clearly tells us that burnt offerings must be of the finest meat and flour. To burn garbage is to offend the nostrils of the L_RD G_D. It is a blasphemy.

No, my sheepchildrenflock, landfills are the only way to G_D's heart. Accept J_SUS and cast away your heathen recycling ways.

We need a proper conservative party that will take on a firm anti-recycling stance.

So to you opposition to gay marriage is like opposing recycling?

My question goes back to the point, there are benefits associated with recycling, beyond 'saving the planet'. What are the benefits for gay marriage to society?

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
So to you opposition to gay marriage is like opposing recycling?

My question goes back to the point, there are benefits associated with recycling, beyond 'saving the planet'. What are the benefits for gay marriage to society?

Consistency, fairness, and equality. If we make an exception for gays and say they can't marry, we become capable of making arbitrary exceptions in the rights of others.

Of course, the assumption underlying my argument is homosexuality is unremarkable and mundane. It's hard to argue otherwise from a purely empirical, positivist perspective.