Canada's Opposition Parties Vow to Bring Down Government, 1 month into its term...

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Asher

They can do whatever the hell it pleases. If they lose a confidence vote, so be it. You seem to think what they're doing is against the rules, it's not.

I said no such thing. I said it was crass political opportunism. Yes, it is the sort of thing a party can lose a confidence vote over.

I'm not sure why you think there's this formal set of rules (if you do anything in the first X months of office, it needs to have been in your election platform?), because they do not exist.

I didn't say that. See above.

The government in power -- the Harper governmnet -- can do whatever it wants to within the laws of this country. You didn't know that?

Your entire post was a huge red herring based upon something I didn't say. Want to try again?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil


I said no such thing. I said it was crass political opportunism. Yes, it is the sort of thing a party can lose a confidence vote over.

I'm not sure why you think there's this formal set of rules (if you do anything in the first X months of office, it needs to have been in your election platform?), because they do not exist.

I didn't say that. See above.



Your entire post was a huge red herring based upon something I didn't say. Want to try again?

So you're accusing the Conservatives of "playing politics"? I busted a gut yesterday when I read "Grits complain Tories playing Politics" as a headline. Please tell me that's not you?

If the tories do lose the confidence vote, it'll look terrible to the general public (who are already way too sick of elections) to go back again and spend $300M again just because the Liberals can't fundraise privately. I'm actually hoping this happens.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Asher


I voted. And I didn't vote like a child who is throwing a tantrum.

Alright then. Those that didn't vote (as you argued I should) are apathetic. This obviously doesn't describe me.

"tantrum" - They count spoiled ballots but they don't count non-voters. The best tantrum I saw in the last campaign was you with your partisan blinders on. It was comical and almost pushed me to vote Liberal. If you are representative of Conservatives I want nothing to do with the party.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
"tantrum" - They count spoiled ballots but they don't count non-voters.

Yes, they do. The percentage turnout is far more publicized and worrisome than a handful of spoiled ballots...

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Asher


So you're accusing the Conservatives of "playing politics"? I busted a gut yesterday when I read "Grits complain Tories playing Politics" as a headline. Please tell me that's not you?

I've already explained how it is. Now you explain how it isn't.

If the tories do lose the confidence vote, it'll look terrible to the general public (who are already way too sick of elections) to go back again and spend $300M again just because the Liberals can't fundraise privately. I'm actually hoping this happens.

Unless the Opposition forms a lasting and successful government. In this case the Conservatives will have screwed themselves.

Quite frankly I expect one or more of the parties to blink before Monday.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Asher

Yes, they do. The percentage turnout is far more publicized and worrisome than a handful of spoiled ballots...

Yes, the voters that can't be bothered to vote are more likely to be won over than those that go to the polls. Good analysis.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil


Yes, the voters that can't be bothered to vote are more likely to be won over than those that go to the polls. Good analysis.

Yes. Look at the US election -- Obama specifically targeted people who haven't voted.

I've never heard of political parties worrying over how many spoiled ballots there are. They probably just assume all of the people spoiling ballots are either retarded, anarchists, or communists.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
I've already explained how it is. Now you explain how it isn't.

I did no such thing.

I am completely flabbergasted that people are outraged that a political party is playing politics.

What is going on with the world? I'm deeply saddened right now that people are surprised.

[embalmer42]

Someone blinks.......

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/11/28/7567736.html

[Asher]

Originally posted by embalmer42
Someone blinks.......




http://www.torontosun.com/news/canad...8/7567736.html

Cowards.

[Ninot]

Not ANOTHER election

The poor traffic polls are going to fall over from the weight of all the political posters!

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil
They should have made it part of their campaign. It's a good policy, too bad there is absolutely no mandate for it.

Governments do lots of things that are never mentioned in election campaigns. Perhaps this should have been part of the campaign--hell it would probably have been popular-- but I don't lose much sleep over the idea that an elected government does not have a mandate for x and y unless it is something extreme. This is not.

[Flubber]

Overall I want this government to govern. I want and expect them to push policies they really believe in, even if all 3 opposition parties oppose a given policy and if the government falls on an important matter, I can live with it.

I do not want the government to intentionally be smacking the opposition and daring them to bring the government down. Put simply I do not want Harper to be trying to engineer his own downfall. This did smack of that . In the end I am glad that someone backed down .

But if the Liberals are feeling frisky it could make for an interesting session. Lets imagine that the Conservatives propose something fundamental as a way to deal with this economic crises with which the three opposition nparties fundamentally disagree. If there is no "fear of an election" causing someone to abstain, it seems pretty inevitable that this government wopuld be somewhat short-lived.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by embalmer42
Someone blinks.......




http://www.torontosun.com/news/canad...8/7567736.html

Word is the Conservative backbench was pretty pissed at the leadership.

[Wezil]

So the Conservatives blink but they may get the boot anyway.

OTTAWA — The Liberal Opposition plans to introduce a motion in the House of Commons on Monday declaring non-confidence in the minority Conservative government and proposing a governing coalition.

The motion comes as emissaries from the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois hold talks about forming a new government should Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority fall.

But Harper could still avert the immediate defeat of his weeks-old government through procedural tactics.

The Liberal motion, which has the approval of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, reads:

“In light of the government’s failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada’s economic situation and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons.”

A source says the opposition parties have agreed that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion would lead the government for the next few months

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/11/28/7569861-cp.html

At least a coalition will more accurately reflect the will of the voters than a minority party that refuses to cooperate with others.