Canadian National Vote

[Hill-Shatar]

Further, there is no limit to the amount of time somebody can serve as Prime Minister.

Not including elections, mind. They must be called at least every five years. Preferably four. Otherwise, it does not give your party a good image in the public's eye.

There is one major plus now, though. Propaganda is off the TV for the next few years!

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Hill-Shatar

Not including elections, mind. They must be called at least every five years. Preferably four. Otherwise, it does not give your party a good image in the public's eye.

There is one major plus now, though. Propaganda is off the TV for the next few years!

True

Regarding a propaganda-free TV, however...
I wouldn't count on it if I were you...
On a serious note, there was a lot US backing (monetary and otherwise) behind Harper's campaign... I'm sure they'll find plenty of insidious ways to propagate positive images of themselves..
Speaking of which, apparently Harper has a tendency to end his speeches with the phrase "God Bless Canada."
Now just where have I heard something similar?
I wonder how long it will be before somebody whispers...
"Pssst.. Stevie.. we don't want to make our connections to the US religious right *too* obvious"

[Hill-Shatar]

On a serious note, there was a lot US backing (monetary and otherwise) behind Harper's campaign... I'm sure they'll find plenty of insidious ways to propagate positive images of themselves..

Don't tell me that's verified? I thought Harper never publicized the list? If not, then ever worse, your believing something from a party that stole hundreds of millions of dollars from tax payers. Whether American look-a-like or a party wrapped in scandal...

Speaking of which, apparently Harper has a tendency to end his speeches with the phrase "God Bless Canada."

All these different parties we don't want in office... makes me wish we were an actual monarchy and not just a constitutional one, eh?

[Lestat]

Oh well there's still wine.

[Obsidian]

I found this election very difficult to cast a vote on.

I'm tired of liberal indifference and middle of the road attitude. The corruption bothers me, but does not surprise.

The NDP, while I support their many intiatives, would strip my beloved army to the core, then send us out on more missions than we are on now...

The Conservatives, while they would build the army back up to respectable, even powerful, levels, would send this army all over the world doing things I may not approve of, plus Harper's affirmed campaign against gay marriage just raises my ire. If a man loves a man, or a women loves a women, how does that effect me? I'm sure they will be just as capable as raising children as any other couple. I refuse to fight for a man that denies people their basic rights.

The minority government just means more bickering, and less coming down to fund the army when we need it most.

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Hill-Shatar

Don't tell me that's verified? I thought Harper never publicized the list? If not, then ever worse, your believing something from a party that stole hundreds of millions of dollars from tax payers. Whether American look-a-like or a party wrapped in scandal...





All these different parties we don't want in office... makes me wish we were an actual monarchy and not just a constitutional one, eh?

No it hasn't been verified.... yet...
However... Harper *did* use a US PR firm to run his campaign, and much of his rhetoric sounds suspiciously similar to US Republican dogma... as do some of the changes that he wants to implement. (like court "reform")
Moreover, it stands to reason that US oil interests and the US religious right would be doing everything they could to ensure somebody considerably more sympathetic to their goals be sent to Ottawa.

Sure, my statement isn't verified... but I don't think it is without foundation either. I would be willing to bet a healthy sum of money that it will, at some point, be shown that there *was* US backing behind Harper's campaign.

As far as the whole liberal sponsorship thing goes. I was not impressed by it, but it didn't really light my hair on fire either. I tend to get more animated by the social issues... like Gay Marriage, Reproductive Rights, Aboriginal issues and Healthcare. I do not like seeing a party in power that could jeopardise the things about Canada that I hold dear.

No, the Sponsorship Scandal should never have happened, and I was disgusted by it. But, I'd rather have a party in power that won't be likely to tear apart the social fabric of the country.

But hey... I'm a commie (well actually a Trudeau Liberal/NDPer) from the coast, you shouldn't expect any less

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Lestat

Oh well there's still wine.

lol!
Yes, indeed. The country has been producing some excellent vintages over the last decade. I may just have to climb into a wine barrel and live there for a couple of years

[Aegis]

Simple fact is, Conservative minority, and one shakier than the previous Liberal Minority. Projections have it being toppled by winter next year, which would simply bring the Tories back down, because Canadian's do not like to vote in the winter.

As for my own projections of the election, well, I was off only on the Bloc. I predicted a clean sweep of Quebec for the Bloc, but that surprisingly enough did not happen.

I am happy to report that the NDP gained a valuable amount of seats, settling in at 29 at the end of the day. It means Canadians see them as a more viable option now.

I have class for now, but I will return later and give a better posting on my thoughts on the election. All I can say for now is do not worry about the Harper government. He has a habit of shooting himself in the foot. He will do it again.

[fable]

I hope he does, Aegis, and repeatedly. Bush has shot himself in the foot so often that you would think he'd be nicknamed Pegleg by now, only Americans are naive enough to buy any good humor fantasy they're told, instead of believing the unpleasant truth before their eyes. I sincerely hope Canadians aren't like that. We'll just have to see.

[Aegis]

Well, an important aspect to remember in regards to Canadian politics, is that shooting oneself in the foot, politically speaking, does not mean political death. What it does do, however, is turn public support against them, which will be felt come the following election. As I am sure both Hill and DW remember, back in 1993, after Mulroney passed the seat onto Kim Campbell, the Progressive Conservative party saw its biggest loss ever, being brought down to just 2 seats. That was on account of Mulroney and Free Trade.

The way parliament is situated now, there is no party that really holds the balance of power, with it instead being spread amongst the opposition parties, and the one Quebec Independant. The Bloc has a habit of leaning a bit more left than the Conservative party, which means they will probably end up being the clinch party this time around. The NDP should use this time to push as much of thier agenda as possible, in exchange for certain social minded Conservative issues (Child Care, for instance).

As it stands, this government is far less stable then the previous Martin government, and it will not take long for the opposition parties to attempt to topple it. If the Bloc and NDP are strong enough, I would even suggest doing so before the next Liberal leader can become accustomed to the job.

On the subject of leaders, the most likely people to run for it, as earlier stated, do include McKenna and Ignatief (with Ignatief being the favorite), but there have also been rumblings of Ken Dryden and Belinda Straunich(sp) being contenders as well...

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Aegis

On the subject of leaders, the most likely people to run for it, as earlier stated, do include McKenna and Ignatief (with Ignatief being the favorite), but there have also been rumblings of Ken Dryden and Belinda Straunich(sp) being contenders as well...

I can see why those names would have been tossed around. Beyond his hockey association, though, I don't know enough about Dryden to comment.

Belinda... I'm not too sure..
I don't think she would be a very good choice right now... I suspect there would be too many issues surrounding her lack of roots in the party...
But, I could well be wrong, maybe she'd prove to be very good, it's a bit hard to predict at this point.