Canadian Federal election. 2011

[Baron Von PWN]

The block tried to break up my country. Twice. Any support to a political group that supports that stance is in my view treasonous and intolerable.

Not true, the Parti Quebecois tried to break up the country twice. The two are different organisations, though granted they have similar ideologies. Its like how the provincial versions of the Liberals,conservatives and NDP can be and are very different from the federal parties. There is a reason the bloc consistently gets most of Quebec's seats federaly but the Parti Quebecois has much stiffer competition inside the province.

Any government formed with the block being a part of ( I'm not opposed to an NDP/LIB coalition...) will spell a period of confused and wasted time and money, bickering and Bloc agenda bullshit. You cannot effectively govern a country when there is bias to one province.

The provinces, especially Quebec, need to be reminded where their lavish, appeasing transfer payments come from.

As I said before, I'm no Harper fan, but the lack of leadership, or viable leadership in this race is frighting. This was a stupid time to force an election.

J

The block would be no more part of a Lib-NDP gov then it was a part of the previous con minority. Evrything Ignatieff has said was that he would like to run a Liberal government, whether majority or minority, drawing support from the other parties on an issue by issue bassis. Just like the conservatives have run their last government.

[Johnny Rockets]

Then why won't he say that he will not form a coalition government when asked by the press if he'd consider it if there isn't a liberal victory in this election?

Not true, the Parti Quebecois tried to break up the country twice. The two are different organisations, though granted they have similar ideologies. Its like how the provincial versions of the Liberals,conservatives and NDP can be and are very different from the federal parties. There is a reason the bloc consistently gets most of Quebec's seats federaly but the Parti Quebecois has much stiffer competition inside the province.

Yes, but that points out the "I want to have my cake and eat it too political mentality of the separatists. Like I said, they like the threat of separatism to leverage economic benefits out of the feds, but the new generation realizes the economic suicide of departing from the dominion.

A federal political part that focuses mainly on a single province does not serve the aims of the country....and a separatist is a separatist is a separatist my friend.

Ruling them out of the picture, we would then have the same parliamentary set up except with Iggy running the show? This does not inspire confidence. His attendance record was poor, and he did not even support some of his own members proposed bills, either abstaining voting for them of not being in the house for the vote in question.

This is leadership?

I tell you Baron, anyway you cut it, I'm not looking forward to the results of this s.n.a.f.u.

JRock

[Baron Von PWN]

Then why won't he say that he will not form a coalition government when asked by the press if he'd consider it if there isn't a liberal victory in this election?

Not true, the Parti Quebecois tried to break up the country twice. The two are different organisations, though granted they have similar ideologies. Its like how the provincial versions of the Liberals,conservatives and NDP can be and are very different from the federal parties. There is a reason the bloc consistently gets most of Quebec's seats federaly but the Parti Quebecois has much stiffer competition inside the province.

Yes, but that points out the "I want to have my cake and eat it too political mentality of the separatists. Like I said, they like the threat of separatism to leverage economic benefits out of the feds, but the new generation realizes the economic suicide of departing from the dominion.

A federal political part that focuses mainly on a single province does not serve the aims of the country....and a separatist is a separatist is a separatist my friend.

Ruling them out of the picture, we would then have the same parliamentary set up except with Iggy running the show? This does not inspire confidence. His attendance record was poor, and he did not even support some of his own members proposed bills, either abstaining voting for them of not being in the house for the vote in question.

This is leadership?

I tell you Baron, anyway you cut it, I'm not looking forward to the results of this s.n.a.f.u.

JRock

He has

"We will not enter a coalition with other federalist parties. In our system, coalitions are a legitimate constitutional option. However, I believe that issue-by-issue collaboration with other parties is the best way for minority Parliaments to function," Ignatieff said in a statement

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDi ... ?e=3046649

This was reported elsewhere but its first link that came up.

As to the bloc. Say what you will they aren't speratists. They loby for greater provincial power/autonomy for Quebec, but they don't neceseraly want it out of Canada. I it "wanting your cake and eating it too"? yeah, that's why I don't vote for em. Calling them traitors and so on is a bit much IMO.

It is leadership if he wants to encourage his members to come up with policy, if he wants to encourage his members to speak up and not neceseraly kow tow to him all the time. If he were to vote against their bills it would represent a rift in the party and discourage his mps from doing that.

This is a big contrast with the conservative style of shut up and do what harper tells you or you get the ax.

In temrs of the attendance of the other leaders Harper was little better than Ignatieff and Layton and Ducepp were there for almost every vote.

[Baron Von PWN]

Jack layton calls for an "adult conversation" on Marijuana legalization

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3f5PIfzw-s

Also a look at the Harper Gov's record. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-1R-Y3t ... r_embedded

[Baron Von PWN]

Cons to their candidates, "Don't debate anyone!"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadav ... dates.html

[keiths31]

Cons to their candidates, "Don't debate anyone!"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadav ... dates.html

The article clearly states that the Tories didn't tell these two candidates to not take part. The debate organizer is saying that...the Tory people said they supported the candidates decision to not participate. There is a difference. The Green Party candidate in my riding didn't participate in the local debate last election. Conspiracy? Not likely. And you don't even quote anything from the article. If you are going to imply with quotes that something was said in the article, try and find a quote that is actually true.

[Timminz]

The proposed F-35 jet fighter purchase seems to be a fairly prominent issue in this election.




Canada’s F-35s: Engines not included

[Baron Von PWN]

NDP are apparently getting a groundswell of support in Quebec, seemingly at the cost of the Liberals. They are even beating the Bloc!

French article .http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/el ... cueil_POS1

[Baron Von PWN]

The NDP continue to see a significant up surge in support nationally, now in a statistical tie with the Torries in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/ ... 1_2011.pdf

also Liberal Voters in Toronto appear to be the target of vandalism.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/ ... ntoNewHome

[Baron Von PWN]

EKOS research says the NDP surge is continuing and that based on their poll results we could see as many as 100 NDP MPS a chastised Conservative party, a humiliated Liberal party and a crushed bloc. The chance to annihilate the bloc has swayed me to consider strongly voting for the NDP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le1998802/

With an election add like this, which focuses on what the NDP is about rather than an attack on the other parties, it can help explain why the NDP is where they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag__Nvw_ ... r_embedded

[keiths31]

I look forward to a NDP surge, even though I don't lean that way. I am tired of the Liberals piggy backing off of the good ideas from the NDP and Cons to give voter a centrist "choice". Nothing would please me more than to see the Libs knocked down to a shell of their former self.
As impressive as the NDP surge is, watching Layton try and explain where the NDP would get the money to pay for all the promises they never thought they had a chance to implement is making for good TV.

[Ray Rider]

EKOS research says the NDP surge is continuing and that based on their poll results we could see as many as 100 NDP MPS a chastised Conservative party, a humiliated Liberal party and a crushed bloc. The chance to annihilate the bloc has swayed me to consider strongly voting for the NDP.

I hope the NDP takes every single Bloc seat! Anything to get the Bloc out of federal politics, where a separatist party like that doesn't belong.

With an election add like this, which focuses on what the NDP is about rather than an attack on the other parties, it can help explain why the NDP is where they are.

Again, good for the NDP! I would love to see more emphasis by each party on their own merits rather than demonizing the other parties. The NDP's most recent TV ad stands in stark contrast to the negativity of the Conservative and Liberal ads.

I look forward to a NDP surge, even though I don't lean that way. I am tired of the Liberals piggy backing off of the good ideas from the NDP and Cons to give voter a centrist "choice". Nothing would please me more than to see the Libs knocked down to a shell of their former self.
As impressive as the NDP surge is, watching Layton try and explain where the NDP would get the money to pay for all the promises they never thought they had a chance to implement is making for good TV.

Hey, if someone creates an idea that's good for Canada, I couldn't care less where it originated! To the politicians: enough with the partisan politics! Consider what's best for Canada, and work towards that goal rather than blindly promoting some political party. It might be nice to see the Liberals knocked down third place, just to teach them to drop their entitlement attitude towards government (as was seen in the debates by the way Ignatieff treated Layton). However because the NDP policies are based in never-never land, it would be seriously detrimental to Canada if they were to gain too much power. Although much of the Liberal policies are strikingly similar to the NDP's (as was noted in their interviews with Peter Mansbridge), at least the Liberals are more reasonable about the extent of their policies. The NDP's platform involves creating money out of thin air--literally--and endorses extreme policies without considering their far-reaching impact.

Anyway, back to books for me...

[saxitoxin]

With an election add like this, which focuses on what the NDP is about rather than an attack on the other parties, it can help explain why the NDP is where they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag__Nvw_ ... r_embedded

wot about this ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6AUzCxjJKc

SHOW US THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IGNATIEFF!

[Baron Von PWN]

I hope the NDP takes every single Bloc seat! Anything to get the Bloc out of federal politics, where a separatist party like that doesn't belong.

As an English Quebecer very little would make me happier! Other than maybe the cons out of gov.

I look forward to a NDP surge, even though I don't lean that way. I am tired of the Liberals piggy backing off of the good ideas from the NDP and Cons to give voter a centrist "choice". Nothing would please me more than to see the Libs knocked down to a shell of their former self.
As impressive as the NDP surge is, watching Layton try and explain where the NDP would get the money to pay for all the promises they never thought they had a chance to implement is making for good TV.

Hey, if someone creates an idea that's good for Canada, I couldn't care less where it originated! To the politicians: enough with the partisan politics! Consider what's best for Canada, and work towards that goal rather than blindly promoting some political party. It might be nice to see the Liberals knocked down third place, just to teach them to drop their entitlement attitude towards government (as was seen in the debates by the way Ignatieff treated Layton). However because the NDP policies are based in never-never land, it would be seriously detrimental to Canada if they were to gain too much power. Although much of the Liberal policies are strikingly similar to the NDP's (as was noted in their interviews with Peter Mansbridge), at least the Liberals are more reasonable about the extent of their policies. The NDP's platform involves creating money out of thin air--literally--and endorses extreme policies without considering their far-reaching impact.

Anyway, back to books for me...

I think the NDP should be given a chance to govern.I agree some of their policies are a little wishful, but as the saying goes "shoot for the moon hit the stars", it's nice to see some idealism in Canadian politics, a party running on what they think is right, rather than what's "realistic". If a reduced conservative minority were to fall, and we then saw a NDP led Coalition with the liberals. I think that would be an excellent result for the election. The NDP would be moderated by the Liberals greater governing experience, but they would still be a fresh new party in power. Whether Jack and the NDP want this is another question.

[2dimes]

I vote we get rid of English and French and speak Piegan. Go back to Europe if you can't fit in.

Looks like a, "Look at the bad man." ad to me.

http://youtu.be/5wfAUlU-2_A

[Baron Von PWN]

I vote we get rid of English and French and speak Piegan. Go back to Europe if you can't fit in.

Looks like a, "Look at the bad man." ad to me.

http://youtu.be/5wfAUlU-2_A

It is, but it also talks about what the NDP would do as well. Unlike say the add Saxi posted.

[2dimes]

True the ad saxi posted is indeed from the only federal party worse than Steve's team though so they didn't feel like making up some fantastic lie for that particular one.

[2dimes]

Are the NDP going to fund alternative health care like Massages. Sometimes I get stiff riding my bicycle around China town and sure could use a rub down.

[Ray Rider]

I think the NDP should be given a chance to govern.I agree some of their policies are a little wishful, but as the saying goes "shoot for the moon hit the stars", it's nice to see some idealism in Canadian politics, a party running on what they think is right, rather than what's "realistic". If a reduced conservative minority were to fall, and we then saw a NDP led Coalition with the liberals. I think that would be an excellent result for the election. The NDP would be moderated by the Liberals greater governing experience, but they would still be a fresh new party in power. Whether Jack and the NDP want this is another question.

$70 billion in spending over the next four years while at the same time cutting the deficit isn't even close to realistic unless there are dramatic, drastic increases in taxes. I'd rather vote for a party that has their feet on the ground rather than the NDP with their heads in the clouds.

I vote we get rid of English and French and speak Piegan. Go back to Europe if you can't fit in.

Looks like a, "Look at the bad man." ad to me.

http://youtu.be/5wfAUlU-2_A

That was from 2008. Yes the NDP has made their fair share of attack adds, but I was referring mainly to the one Baron posted, which was quite positive. The same is true of the other parties: they've made a lot of attack ads, but some are very positive like this one. I'd be happy if they could all cut down on the mud-slinging.

With an election add like this, which focuses on what the NDP is about rather than an attack on the other parties, it can help explain why the NDP is where they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag__Nvw_ ... r_embedded

wot about this ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6AUzCxjJKc

SHOW US THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IGNATIEFF!

lol yeah, that takes the Birther conspiracy to a whole new Canadian level. However the facts show that Ignatieff was documented claiming to be American more than once; and after being overseas for 35 years, he returned to Canada and went almost straight into politics. Seems kinda fishy to me.

Here's a handy little comparison of the three main parties on some of the main issues:

Click image to enlarge.

Or there's this comparison at the Globe and Mail.

I've been trying to get a balanced view of things by reading the right-leaning National Post and the left-leaning Globe & Mail. I wasn't surprised to see the National Post's editorial board endorsement of the Conservatives. What did surprise me though was when I was reading on the Globe & Mail a little later and found out they too are endorsing the Conservatives! The left-leaning Globe endorsing the Conservatives?? I was shocked! It made me wonder how many centrist Liberal voters, after seeing the "big red tent" is empty and the NDP is gaining ground, might switch to the Conservatives with their more moderate policies to oppose the NDP extremes.

[keiths31]

If you went on sound policy, the Cons would win easy. No one in their right mind can agree with all the NDP promises. Not even the NDP themselves can support their promises now that they have a chance at the official opposition or even form the government. It is funny to see Layton backtrack on some of the promises made, saying now "if" the money is there, when he knows it won't be there. The big thing is the right-wing-boogie-man that the public fears with a Conservative majority. People afraid that if we have a Conservative majority we will become too much like the US Republican led government of Little Bush are just fear mongering themselves.
I grew up in an NDP household. Parents voted NDP federally and provincially faithfully. When I became old enough to vote I did too. It wasn't until the NDP formed the government in Ontario did I fully understand what they stood for. That opened my eyes.

[2dimes]

That was from 2008.

Some one needs to purge the internets.

[GreecePwns]

I've been trying to get a balanced view of things by reading the right-leaning National Post and the left-leaning Globe & Mail. I wasn't surprised to see the National Post's editorial board endorsement of the Conservatives. What did surprise me though was when I was reading on the Globe & Mail a little later and found out they too are endorsing the Conservatives! The left-leaning Globe endorsing the Conservatives?? I was shocked! It made me wonder how many centrist Liberal voters, after seeing the "big red tent" is empty and the NDP is gaining ground, might switch to the Conservatives with their more moderate policies to oppose the NDP extremes.

Well, the Globe and Mail has historically endorsed more conservatives than liberals.

[Ray Rider]

Are the NDP going to fund alternative health care like Massages. Sometimes I get stiff riding my bicycle around China town and sure could use a rub down.

heh but I seriously believe it was stupid for the press to make a big deal out of that story. Layton was innocent of any wrongdoing and this was all 16 years ago, so it's a pretty lame attempt at a smear. In a recent interview with Harper, when asked to comment on that story, he outright said "No;" that he was willing to challenge Layton and the other leaders on party platforms but he wouldn't comment on the story. I believe that was very commendable! Actually it would have been foolish for him to do otherwise.

If you went on sound policy, the Cons would win easy. No one in their right mind can agree with all the NDP promises. Not even the NDP themselves can support their promises now that they have a chance at the official opposition or even form the government. It is funny to see Layton backtrack on some of the promises made, saying now "if" the money is there, when he knows it won't be there. The big thing is the right-wing-boogie-man that the public fears with a Conservative majority. People afraid that if we have a Conservative majority we will become too much like the US Republican led government of Little Bush are just fear mongering themselves.
I grew up in an NDP household. Parents voted NDP federally and provincially faithfully. When I became old enough to vote I did too. It wasn't until the NDP formed the government in Ontario did I fully understand what they stood for. That opened my eyes.

Well their policies weren't intended to be implemented. The NDP has never passed 20% of the vote, and so now when it looks like they will surpass that with the possibility of leading a coalition government, they're forced to actually consider their out-to-lunch policies. Previously their party platform was intended to draw attention to certain issues but with no realistic view of implementing their policies. Now they're actually in the big league and are forced to take that into consideration.

I've been trying to get a balanced view of things by reading the right-leaning National Post and the left-leaning Globe & Mail. I wasn't surprised to see the National Post's editorial board endorsement of the Conservatives. What did surprise me though was when I was reading on the Globe & Mail a little later and found out they too are endorsing the Conservatives! The left-leaning Globe endorsing the Conservatives?? I was shocked! It made me wonder how many centrist Liberal voters, after seeing the "big red tent" is empty and the NDP is gaining ground, might switch to the Conservatives with their more moderate policies to oppose the NDP extremes.

Well, the Globe and Mail has historically endorsed more conservatives than liberals.

Hmm I never knew that...I guess their endorsement of the Conservatives shouldn't be too surprising, then. Seems weird that they would do that, considering most of their articles tend to have a leftist slant (compare them with the National Post if you don't believe me) and their readers--at least those who comment--are almost exclusively left-wing.

[Baron Von PWN]

If you went on sound policy, the Cons would win easy. .

Gimme a break! Sound policy like buying fighter jets without engines? Scraping the long form census? withholding information from parliament (apparently so they don't find out their cost analysis' are bogus)? Mandatory sentencing? theses are not sound policies.

Well their policies weren't intended to be implemented. The NDP has never passed 20% of the vote, and so now when it looks like they will surpass that with the possibility of leading a coalition government, they're forced to actually consider their out-to-lunch policies. Previously their party platform was intended to draw attention to certain issues but with no realistic view of implementing their policies. Now they're actually in the big league and are forced to take that into consideration.

I agree with this, their platform is very idealistic. However they most likely won't be able to form government without the liberals, which would create a strong moderating factor. People talk about the bad NDP gov in Ontario. What about the good NDP governments in Manitoba or out east?

Also I wouldn't call the globe left, I'd call it closer to centrist.

[Baron Von PWN]

Oh and remember to vote tomorrow!