CANPOL: Today is election day

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by RedFred
Fair to good victory speech. Harper is definately speaking better this election.

Good speech, but this is going to take a lot more than speeches.

Liberals to his left, Blocists to his right, he's stuck in a very unenvious middle.

Should be entertaining political watching for a time.

[notyoueither]

Bye bye, Annie.

For now.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by snoopy369

I'd say about 15-20% of our national congressional elections (in America) are decided mostly on that issue

There would a difference from up here.

There would be a few Liberals and Conservatives who want to reverse that issue. The majority of both parties want to leave it behind, but the Liberal leadership continues to bring it back from the dead like some hypocritical Lazarus.

[notyoueither]

The last two private members bills on abortion have been brought forward by Liberals, and Harper is on record as using the influence of the PMO to prevent further such bills.

That didn't stop Martin from using the issue to scare voters.

I'd like to wish Martin a fond farewell, but the bastard can roast in a lower plane of hell for all I care after the bull**** he tried to pull on the electorate.

[snoopy369]

JM, the Whigs still had a presence, if not a huge one, in the early days of the Republican party. Many Whigs ended up joining the Republicans, including Abraham Lincoln.

Heck, the Whigs elected a President in 1848

Anyhow, some oldtimers call Republicans "Whigs" because the Whigs not only were associated with the Republican party (in their position as primary opposition to the Democrats), but also because of their opposition to the strong Presidency, which has since fallen by the wayside (probably due to the fact that Republicans in the last 60 years have held more strength and found more success in Presidents than in Congress).

[KrazyHorse]

The bad news: the Conservatives did, as expected, win

The good news (in order):
1) they got a minority
2) they got less seats than I thought they would
3) the NDP increased their vote total and seat count
4) the Conservatives won seats in Quebec
5) the Bloc lost a significant share of their 2004 vote count, and lost some seats

All in all, it worked out better than I'd expected.

[KrazyHorse]

The stupid pollsters were of course proven to be wrong about Martin's seat. I told you guys, but you didn't believe me: that is one safe ****ing Red seat

Add in the fact that the Bloc candidate has 0 experience and gave birth about a week ago, and a similarly weak Tory candidate and you get Martin winning by a very comfortable margin.

[notyoueither]

3. The NDP are irrelevant, since once again they cannot deliver a majority... unless of course several MPs cross the floor/get critically ill.

[KrazyHorse]

The NDP continue to be a threat to the left which forces the national debate to their side.

[Nostromo]

I briefly saw Harper's speech. Was he crying?

[notyoueither]

It's telling that even after 5 mandates, and millions stolen, a change is regarded as 'bad news'.

Who did you expect to be voted in to spell the Liberals? The Easter Bunny?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
The NDP continue to be a threat to the left which forces the national debate to their side.

Not anymore.

They are irrelevant. Even with Liberal support collapsing they could not bring the votes to the table to keep them out of power. That will depend on the Bloc.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
It's telling that even after 5 mandates, and millins stolen, a change is regarded as 'bad news'

Millions stolen is not as important as a change in policies. Hate to tell you that, nye. At worst the sponsorship scandal works out to 5 or 10 bucks for each Canadian. That's pretty small fish.

The good news about this is that maybe it will force the Libs to shake up their leadership (far beyond changing just the number 1)

[notyoueither]

What change in policy?

More accountability in Parliament to independent watch dogs?

Independent prosecution of crimes committed by politicians?

I agree, from the POV of the old guard, these would be unpalatable things, but from you?

Small fish? You have to be joking. We are talking graft of banana republic proportions (public money flowing directly into coffers of ruling party).

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
What change in policy?

More accountability in Parliament to independent watch dogs?

Independent prosecution of crimes committed by politicians?

Neither of these are going to happen in any meaningful form.

What is going to happen are Harper's tax cut giveaways.