Canada’s political reversal is complete

[regexcellent]

Okay, let me restate: One of the best things that ever happened to Canada was free trade with the United States, and it happened thanks to the Mulroney government.

[Wezil]

I can go with that. Free Trade was the reason he got my vote the second time. As much as I wanted to vote against the Progressive Conservatives (not the same party as our current government btw), the 1988 election was essentially a referendum on free trade and the opportunity could not be missed.

[regexcellent]

Wezil, I think you would be a fan of New Zealand's ACT Party. New Zealand must be the only place where a genuinely libertarian party has actually held seats in the national legislature.

[Uncle Sparky]

I can't wait for the 'Wildrose' to move federally and redivide the Cons. Harper will have to run on his record of scandel and wedge politics this time. He has pissed off the social cons, is disappointing the fiscal cons, and many non cons see him as the antichrist. I don't, I'm an athiest.

[Medex]

Does this mean Canada will tolerate inbreeding and large trailer parks that hold country and western music festivals. Fossil fuels and gunpowder will be the new crack. We will erect large shrines and temples to these substances. Tribalism and imperialism will be embraced as well as religion especially if it controls the government. A police station, a prison and a Mc Donald's will be built on every street corner. If you have any weakness's or illness like being gay you will be stomped by some conservative voting rednecks (e.g oil-workers, hunters, soldier, cowboy, cop.. the list is endless).

Or you will be institutionalized in some large prison like camp where they may gas you because your not elite enough or flawed in some way. And anybody who isn't living in a naive immature bubble knows a majority of conservatives hate gay folk but hey that's okay... right?? . All Canadians should spend some time in the military so they are toughened up and don't end behaving like some funny talking feminine behaving Liberace type character. If you don't drive a pickup you will be lumped in with those commie, foreigner, hippie, liberal types. Who are all vile creatures and should be hanged from a lynching tree. Btw... growing lynching trees should be government subsidized business.

Money is more important than people, heart is for wimps, hate is good, especially if the hate involves something geographical, conflict and loud obnoxious confrontational behavior is a beautiful thing, religion is awesome, especially if its christian, women and family are the only way. Creationism is where its at. Money before anything, profit is king. White skin color should rule. Smart with computers and stupid with people is a virtue which should be rewarded. More ATV's the better along with snowmobiles. Animals are a nuisance and should be used for target practice along with beer cans and barbeque tanks. Mother nature is whore and should be treated as such. Minimum wage for dark skinned folk and stupid people. Cotton should still be picked by hand. NASCAR tracks in every town, village and city. War is the most awesome thing on the planet and should be celebrated. Lots of parades, monuments and medals to sucker the next batch into doing the war dance. And only poor people should pay for those new jets as punishment for being poor. Besides their hair is a dirty blond and their goosestep is pathetic.

Sounds awesome. I think I should vote for conservatism too. Its sounds like a haven for quality people. And those people should get what they deserve.

Also hey If I'm invited to the next conservative convention can i bring my pet tank, its painted it up like General Lee. I can't afford one of those jets. I will bring my cowboy boots too.

[The Mad Monk]

...Agathon?

[Asher]

He sounds like he's from Toronto.

Last gasp of a dying breed.

[Medex]

Jack Layton's Ghost.

Come back from the dead to ask you if you would like to hang out in the locker room. You can shake your booty for me like you used to like to do.

Shake it, Shake it, Shake it....

[giblets]

Smart with computers and stupid with people is a virtue which should be rewarded.

How did something that makes sense slip into this guy's hate-filled stereotype-laden rant?

[Uncle Sparky]

I read the whole thing as sarcasm, but I'm a sarcastic bastard.

[Dinner]

CLUB THREAD!

[notyoueither]

The article in the OP is pretty vacuous. Not a surprise as it was written by J Simpson.

Lopsided results in a single election do not a trend make. He had better insights when he was writing about how the West and Ontario are now a viable base for a federal government. Of course Quebec can be largely left out. The West was largely left out for years, a hundred of them. Population moved. Yawn.

The next election could easily see Quebec and Ontario in accord with the West on the outside again.

The common demoninator is Ontario. The only thing that is new is that Alberta and BC elect as many MPs as Quebec.

[Medex]

Sarcasm... not me.

Hate and Stereotypes... are you calling me a conservative.... lol

Ontario has no shortage of conservatives who will vote conservative. But the way these Ontario mostly rural conservatives vote federal baffles me. We have had no shortage of Liberals in there in the past few years. Maybe the conservative's latest success has something to do with the way they rezoned the voting areas in Ontario in mid 2000's I think. Harper if he wants to keep the conservatives in power has to make sure the rural people and some urban (Mayor Ford) of Ontario are happy.

The problem with leaders from Quebec and Alberta or anywhere for that matter is if that they may be too concerned about their own area. Other areas will feel left out. Other parts of Canada like Ontario won't vote for them. Alberta certainly has felt that way.

The social stuff don't matter because most people care about money more at this point in time. The only thing that the conservatives have to fear is if the left move slightly to the right and get their act together when it comes to economics. This will get more of the moderates voting left. I don't think these so called scandals like the Military Jet's scandal hurt the right that much. The right will vote right no matter what. Those kinds of scandals seem to hurt the left more I think.

Anyway we will have to wait and see what these new opposition leaders do in the near future. Should be interesting.

In regards to my rant, I was just just having fun. Hate is pointless. But I have to ask you guys do you think that its possible (in the near future) for the Province of Alberta to vote in a gay premier. Or even Alberta or rural Ontario vote for a gay Prime Minister. Or WOW.. can you imagine...... Americans voting in a gay President of the good ole USA... or better yet... Governor of TEXAS... the mecca of Conservatism... lol

Yes.... No and why not... apparently my stereotypes are bogus.. so why not??

In my opinion oh yeah its possible only if the old guard conservatives become the dying breed. Which means the hairy knuckles are slowly rising about the knees and humanity is slowly evolving to the left and leaving the caves behind.

[Hauldren Collider]

Can someone explain how the F-35 is a scandal in Canada? What's scandalous about replacing your F/A-18 fleet?

[Asher]

Can someone explain how the F-35 is a scandal in Canada? What's scandalous about replacing your F/A-18 fleet?

1) Cost. Every other country was reporting massive cost increases for it, the Tories said it wouldn't cost any extra. They repeatedly said this. It was part of their election platform. They're now admitting what everyone knew - it would cost far more than the $9B they said it would. Billions more. And this comes at a time when they're nickel-and-diming every government service.
2) Practicality. F-18s are twin engine planes, F-35s are single engine planes. They fly frequently over the arctic where there's very, very few places to land. When an F-18 loses an engine, it still has another usually. It can make it back to base to land. When an F-35 loses an engine, it crashes and burns. Further, they're replacing about 90 F-18s with 65 F-35s.
3) Usefulness. Canada doesn't send its fighters in until the US has already blown the **** out of air defenses. Why the need for super-expensive stealth planes?