Ontario 2014 (June 12th)

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Looks like I'll be voting Liberal again. I really don't want to (especially because my vote will be going directly to Charles Sousa, the architect of that horrible budget), but you don't create jobs by cutting 100,000 people from the workforce and slashing funding for vital projects that spur economic growth in the private sector.

Gah.

Build me an LRT in Mississauga and I'll be happy.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Looks like I'll be voting Liberal again. I really don't want to (especially because my vote will be going directly to Charles Sousa, the architect of that horrible budget), but you don't create jobs by cutting 100,000 people from the workforce and slashing funding for vital projects that spur economic growth in the private sector.

Gah.

Build me an LRT in Mississauga and I'll be happy.

Good man. Hudak is a lunatic.

I guess that's kind of what I say to myself when I need reassurance. For the good of the party, the PCs must lose so that they can oust Hudak and get back on the right track.

I miss John Tory.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

New Ipsos poll: 37/31/27 EV, 42/28/27 among the likeliest voters. Some MOE movement in 905, NDP gobbling up Grit votes in SW, Tories expand their E lead. Very similar to the last poll. LV numbers translate to Tory majority and perhaps NDP Opposition. Hudak also leads PPM at 34% to Horwath's 29% and Wynne's 28%.

Yeah, this'll budge the threehundredeight projection pretty soundly, I think.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I miss John Tory.

You and no one else.

I'd take Ernie Eves, too. Anything's better than the Harris/Hudak wing.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I think the Liberals have handed Horwath a decent opportunity if she handles the situation properly. It doesn't really matter if the Liberals are or aren't running to left of the NDP; the perception is that Wynne is presenting a very left-wing agenda. If Horwath can frame the election for leftists as a choice between two ideologically-similar parties, she has the upper hand. On character and leadership alone, the NDP win.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't see that Hatman made the same point earlier. We agree on something!

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Am I seeing correctly that Mississauga South doesn't even have an NDP candidate?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I didn't watch. I already voted (I'm graduating on the 12th) and I didn't need to see the political theatre to know that Tim Hudak's a stupid hack. Sounds like it wasn't a very good night for the Liberals, though.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Will crappy weather in Southern and Eastern Ontario have any bearing on things?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

For my part, I'm curious to see how Mary Rita Holland does in Kingston. She ain't gonna win, but the NDP ground game here has been incredible. She's been a real workhorse this time around compared to '11. Signs don't really provide much information for an accurate prediction, but Christ... There are a lot of orange ones.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Well, I'm not impressed with a majority, but I'll take it over Hudak's stupid conservatism. Plus, Mississauga gets LRT. That's a plus.

Still, the political action starts now. Letters to the editor, petitions... whatever I can do to stop this bogus pension plan.

And Hatman, I split my time between Kingston and Mississauga. I decided to vote in Mississauga South because I still consider it "home," as cheesy as that sounds.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Well, each level of government deals with very different issues. At least that's the quandry I find myself in. It's not just about wanting to have the premier and prime minister come from different parties to keep things honest.

Also, I have to disagree that this was a mixed night for the NDP. I mean, y'all are right that they did make inroads in some important constituencies, but those inroads mean squat if you lose elsewhere. You trigger an election if you want to come out on the other side with more power. Horwath triggered the election and, as a result, lost the significant bargaining power she had at Queen's Park. I know it feels reassuring to say it was a mixed night... but come on. It was awful. For the next four years the Liberals will get to do whatever they want and the NDP will play second fiddle to the PCs in terms of media attention. I don't really see an upside for the NDP. Plus, four years is an eternity in politics, and there are no reassurances whatsoever that the inroads Horwath made will stay around 'til 2018.