Canada General Discussion

[RogueBeaver]

Tories and Dippers hold an issues monopoly. Grits not seen as best to handle any major issue. No surprise.

[RogueBeaver]

So um, yeah, JT has a new event out that makes Hey Girl look tame. I'm now fully sympathetic to Hash's "biebertrudeau" moniker.

[RogueBeaver]

#askjustin is getting deservedly panned by women across the political spectrum as sexist, patronizing BS.

[RogueBeaver]

In other news, Mulcair is moving ahead with his plan to recreate the NPDQ. Now that should be fun, given the history of branch planting here. Who'd lead it?

[RogueBeaver]

Question is why Dad shifted to begin with, but at least the choice will be clear.

[RogueBeaver]

QC charter's been tabled.

[RogueBeaver]

More Ford. Says he was extremely inebriated at the time.

[RogueBeaver]

More Ford. Says he was extremely inebriated at the time.

The sound clip was played on FM breakfast radio here this morning during the news segment!

With or without expletives? CBC initially aired it with.

[RogueBeaver]

Ford's mother and sister are saying he needs help, but not in dire straits yet.

[RogueBeaver]

Too stubborn, still has a fighting chance next year, no mechanism to do so.

[RogueBeaver]

Technically the province can use Section 451.1 of the Municipal Act: "If the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that it is necessary or desirable in the provincial interest to do so, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations imposing limits and conditions on the powers of a municipality under sections 9, 10 and 11 or Part IV or providing that a municipality cannot exercise the powers in prescribed circumstances." Thing is, a Liberal-NDP attack on Ford would be the ultimate red flag to Ford Nation, which is why Wynne's staying out.

[RogueBeaver]

On another subject, what do resident Dippers think of the reborn NPDQ?

[RogueBeaver]

Who would ultimately lead such a thing?

[RogueBeaver]

If it damages all 3 parties though... I'd be curious what'd happen in provincial voting intentions if she rolled that particular dice.

Speaking of ON voting intentions, Ipsos pegs 34/3131. Among "very likely" voters 38/31/27.. Wynne's approval is 37%, leading preferred premier w/31 to Horwath's 29 and Hudak's 28. Any idea what the seat projection would look like? Tories are collapsed in the GTA w/23% to the OLP's 38% and NDP's 35%.

[RogueBeaver]

Ducasse would make sense, if he wants to do it. Recognizable candidates, fundraising, logistics, the usual. I guess a small-target strategy to start, like QS at its outset? PQ/QS/left PLQ are the targeted voters, after all.

[RogueBeaver]

He'd be a welcome presence in the leaders' debates IMO, and in provincial political debate generally. As it is David is the only remotely relatable leader. Will temporarily try and park my usual views on multiparty systems and minority govt, just to see how this turns out.

[RogueBeaver]

QS got only 8% there last year. You would need to collapse one of the major party votes, which certainly won't be easy.

[RogueBeaver]

Leslie and Chisholm say no to the provincial leadership, Stoffer uncertain but I'd guess he doesn't run either.

NDP reiterates their Keystone opposition.

[RogueBeaver]

Trudeau goes the full Tom Friedman on China. Then says that the questions at the fundraiser "weren't as fluffy as some were expecting." ROFLMAO.

[RogueBeaver]

Cullen and Simms formally decline a provincial run.

[RogueBeaver]

It is. Chinese and Tibetan community groups are demanding apologies and it's been roiling through the media since Thursday. Then he's calling journalists "breathtakingly cynical" on Twitter for daring to treat Palinesque foreign policy gaffes as, well, Palinesque foreign policy gaffes. Usually pissy self-righteousness we saw with the separatist thing last year. Then Bob Fife said on QP this morning that Trudeau's been complaining to journalists that they're being too critical. ("Chutzpah" is putting it extremely mildly) That's without discussing the family history on certain authoritarian regimes (PRC, Cuba, Vichy, Iran).

[RogueBeaver]

It isn't like he lacks media rationalizers and/or defenders, and not just from the usual quarters. Detracts from things of longer-term relevance: for instance, he announced over the weekend that he supports abolition of mandatory minimums and a carbon tax. (Seems to forget '08, but he'll be reminded) None of which made a splash outside the Sun, at least not yet. Of course, this is all kid stuff compared to a GE, especially the leaders' debates.

[RogueBeaver]

It is. Chinese and Tibetan community groups are demanding apologies and it's been roiling through the media since Thursday.

What impact might this have in the vicinity of Markham?

Edit: And Richmond, BC, for that matter?

Won't help the Grit battle to regain votes in those communities, that's for sure.

[RogueBeaver]

Same here.

In other news, Donnelly and Julian are still considering the provincial leadership. Donnelly sounds more open than Julian. Any Dippers think one or both would run?

[RogueBeaver]

Of course, this is all kid stuff compared to a GE, especially the leaders' debates.

Yes, that's certainly a point at which he could collapse rather messily. But caution! Excessive aggression would certainly backfire in that situation.

True. I'd think they'd hope he visibly stumbles and then pounce, as has happened in past debates, rather than aggressively trying to force an opportunity as often occurs in the House. Debate format isn't that friendly to freelancing, plus most of the time they prefer talking to the camera rather than each other. Especially Harper.