Canada 2008: Official Thread

[cp]

Don't mind Earl. He's a hard core dipper (NDP supporter for those outside Canada) and they have a fetish about saying they're the only left wing party in Canada and the Liberals are actually rightists. They say it all the time. It's like a verbal tick.

Sadly, my comment is part of the answer to your second question. The NDP and Liberals would be loathe to form a coalition government. The Liberals see the NDP as no better than gum on their shoe and want nothing to do with them. Especially if it means putting them in a position of power or influence. The NDP sees the Liberals (as I mentioned) as repackaged Conservatives. Some, out of desperation to finally form a government, might swallow their pride and agree to a coalition but most would see it as selling out.

As for the Greens, your suggestion that they 'should' be supporting the NDP sounds a lot like the Liberal argument that the NDP 'should' be supporting them. After all, if you add up all the NDP and Liberal votes the Conservatives would be in permanent opposition, and who could argue with that? (sarcasm intended)

Frustration at vote splitting is a legitimate grievance, particularly when it benefits a sinister bully like Harper. That said, wishing for a coalition of NDP/Liberal/Green is naive. Though they're both leftist parties, the NDP and Liberals disagree on a lot of issues; finding a common banner would be difficult and probably wouldn't last. The Greens transcend the left/right economic divide, though they're pretty close to the NDP and Liberals on social issues. The ideological roots of the three parties just aren't close enough to support a coalition. It's a nice thought, though.

[Dan the Roman]

Don't mind Earl. He's a hard core dipper (NDP supporter for those outside Canada) and they have a fetish about saying they're the only left wing party in Canada and the Liberals are actually rightists. They say it all the time. It's like a verbal tick.

Sadly, my comment is part of the answer to your second question. The NDP and Liberals would be loathe to form a coalition government. The Liberals see the NDP as no better than gum on their shoe and want nothing to do with them. Especially if it means putting them in a position of power or influence. The NDP sees the Liberals (as I mentioned) as repackaged Conservatives. Some, out of desperation to finally form a government, might swallow their pride and agree to a coalition but most would see it as selling out.

As for the Greens, your suggestion that they 'should' be supporting the NDP sounds a lot like the Liberal argument that the NDP 'should' be supporting them. After all, if you add up all the NDP and Liberal votes the Conservatives would be in permanent opposition, and who could argue with that? (sarcasm intended)

Frustration at vote splitting is a legitimate grievance, particularly when it benefits a sinister bully like Harper. That said, wishing for a coalition of NDP/Liberal/Green is naive. Though they're both leftist parties, the NDP and Liberals disagree on a lot of issues; finding a common banner would be difficult and probably wouldn't last. The Greens transcend the left/right economic divide, though they're pretty close to the NDP and Liberals on social issues. The ideological roots of the three parties just aren't close enough to support a coalition. It's a nice thought, though.

Plus the Liberals are so factionalized, they need all the Ministries to pay off their various constituencies. Much better to form a minority and force the NDP to support them, especially after a good NDP result.

[Hash]

good NDP result.

I don't have the feeling they'll have a good/excellent result this time 'round. We'll see.

I hope they do well, though. They're the only nationwide party that offers credible year-round opposition to George W. Harper.

[Dan the Roman]

good NDP result.

I don't have the feeling they'll have a good/excellent result this time 'round. We'll see.

I hope they do well, though. They're the only nationwide party that offers credible year-round opposition to George W. Harper.

Except for the fact that they have kept him in office for two years.

[Hash]

good NDP result.

I don't have the feeling they'll have a good/excellent result this time 'round. We'll see.

I hope they do well, though. They're the only nationwide party that offers credible year-round opposition to George W. Harper.

Except for the fact that they have kept him in office for two years.

How can the NDP bring down a government alone?

[Kevinstat]

good NDP result.

I don't have the feeling they'll have a good/excellent result this time 'round. We'll see.

I hope they do well, though. They're the only nationwide party that offers credible year-round opposition to George W. Harper.

Except for the fact that they have kept him in office for two years.

I thought the NDP were the only party to vote against the Harper Government in every motion of confidence?

[Dan the Roman]

good NDP result.

I don't have the feeling they'll have a good/excellent result this time 'round. We'll see.

I hope they do well, though. They're the only nationwide party that offers credible year-round opposition to George W. Harper.

Except for the fact that they have kept him in office for two years.

I thought the NDP were the only party to vote against the Harper Government in every motion of confidence?

They haven't voted for the government. They have abstained from voting against it though at least during 2006. Since 2007 they've found its more convenient to force the Liberals to prop up the Government. They had a good result in 2006 and aren't thank anxious for an election.

[2952-0-0]

It's the NDP and Bloc who have consistently voted *against* the government each time.

And each time the Liberals either vote yes because they're too scared of an election, or half of them walk out and the remainder vote no to make it seem they oppose the government.

It's the NDP who stand to lose the most here. Last time they worked hard to loot the Liberals. This time the reverse will happen.

[Harry Hayfield]

Liberal Targets
If all these seats turn red, the Liberals become the largest party
1   Parry Sound--Muskoka
2   Winnipeg South/Winnipeg-Sud
3   Glengarry--Prescott--Russell
4   St. Catharines
5   Hamilton East--Stoney Creek/Hamilton-Est--Stoney Creek
6   Tobique--Mactaquac
7   Ahuntsic
8   London--Fanshawe
9   Fleetwood--Port Kells
10   Ottawa--Orléans
11   Simcoe North/Simcoe-Nord
12   Brossard--La Prairie
13   Papineau

If all these seats turn red, Dion becomes Prime Minister with an overall majority
14   Burnaby--Douglas
15   Barrie
16   Kitchener--Conestoga
17   Halton
18   Peterborough
19   Burlington
20   Parkdale--High Park
21   Ancaster--Dundas--Flamborough--Westdale
22   Sault Ste. Marie
23   Whitby--Oshawa
24   Northumberland--Quinte West
25   Hamilton Mountain
26   Niagara Falls
27   Trinity--Spadina
28   Jeanne-Le Ber
29   Edmonton Centre/Edmonton-Centre
30   Essex
31   Western Arctic
32   Ottawa Centre/Ottawa-Centre
33   Sarnia--Lambton
34   Gatineau
35   South Shore--St. Margaret's
36   Burnaby--New Westminster
37   Ottawa West--Nepean/Ottawa-Ouest--Nepean
38   Chicoutimi--Le Fjord
39   Pontiac
40   Kildonan--St. Paul
41   Cambridge
42   Brome--Missisquoi
43   Charleswood--St. James--Assiniboia
44   Victoria
45   Saanich--Gulf Islands
46   Chatham-Kent--Essex
47   St. John's East/St. John's-Est
48   St. John's South--Mount Pearl/St. John's-Sud--Mount Pearl
49   Avalon
50   Haldimand--Norfolk
51   Kamloops--Thompson--Cariboo
52   Port Moody--Westwood--Port Coquitlam

[Hash]

Steve to ask the GG on Sunday for a dissolution and October 14th election.

[2952-0-0]

If Harper gets a majority then the Conservative Party Logo would be on the coins and Steve's face would be on the currency bills.

I'm not kidding.

[Hash]

If Harper gets a majority then the Conservative Party Logo would be on the coins and Steve's face would be on the currency bills.

I'm not kidding.

And abortions would be illegal of course, gays would be interned by Doris Day, the only movies to get funding would be Barney (maybe that's we're being too tolerant there. Barney?!), and MPs would get bribed daily.

[Smid]

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Somebody's losing touch with reality...

[2952-0-0]

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Somebody's losing touch with reality...

He'll also change the national flag to this:

[cinyc]

Liberal Targets
If all these seats turn red, the Liberals become the largest party
1   Parry Sound--Muskoka
2   Winnipeg South/Winnipeg-Sud
3   Glengarry--Prescott--Russell
4   St. Catharines
5   Hamilton East--Stoney Creek/Hamilton-Est--Stoney Creek
6   Tobique--Mactaquac
7   Ahuntsic
8   London--Fanshawe
9   Fleetwood--Port Kells
10   Ottawa--Orléans
11   Simcoe North/Simcoe-Nord
12   Brossard--La Prairie
13   Papineau

If all these seats turn red, Dion becomes Prime Minister with an overall majority
14   Burnaby--Douglas
15   Barrie
16   Kitchener--Conestoga
17   Halton
18   Peterborough
19   Burlington
20   Parkdale--High Park
21   Ancaster--Dundas--Flamborough--Westdale
22   Sault Ste. Marie
23   Whitby--Oshawa
24   Northumberland--Quinte West
25   Hamilton Mountain
26   Niagara Falls
27   Trinity--Spadina
28   Jeanne-Le Ber
29   Edmonton Centre/Edmonton-Centre
30   Essex
31   Western Arctic
32   Ottawa Centre/Ottawa-Centre
33   Sarnia--Lambton
34   Gatineau
35   South Shore--St. Margaret's
36   Burnaby--New Westminster
37   Ottawa West--Nepean/Ottawa-Ouest--Nepean
38   Chicoutimi--Le Fjord
39   Pontiac
40   Kildonan--St. Paul
41   Cambridge
42   Brome--Missisquoi
43   Charleswood--St. James--Assiniboia
44   Victoria
45   Saanich--Gulf Islands
46   Chatham-Kent--Essex
47   St. John's East/St. John's-Est
48   St. John's South--Mount Pearl/St. John's-Sud--Mount Pearl
49   Avalon
50   Haldimand--Norfolk
51   Kamloops--Thompson--Cariboo
52   Port Moody--Westwood--Port Coquitlam

Isn't Desnethé - Missinippi - Churchill River a more likely Liberal (re)pickup than Port Moody-Westwood or Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, etc?  The Conservative only recently won in a by-election.  Turnout is usually higher in the general election.

[Hash]

I don't think Harry took by-election results into consideration. Which, in my opinion, is a grave error.

I'd certainly agree that DMCR is a more likely pickup opportunity for the Libs than PM-W or K-T-C is.

Also, the Liberals have little to no chance of regaining Chicoutimi-Le Fjord.

[Dan the Roman]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Somebody's losing touch with reality...
[/quote]

He'll also change the national flag to this:


[/quote]

Well I like the flag of our soon to be Conservative Overlords.

[Cubby]

Also, the Liberals have little to no chance of regaining Chicoutimi-Le Fjord.

The Liberals weren't that far behind in the last two elections. Has Bouchard become much more popular? Its a very French area and was strongly pro-secession but I don't know much else about it.

[MaxQue]

They don't have their star candidate, André Harvey.

[Hash]

Also, the Liberals have little to no chance of regaining Chicoutimi-Le Fjord.

The Liberals weren't that far behind in the last two elections. Has Bouchard become much more popular? Its a very French area and was strongly pro-secession but I don't know much else about it.

André Harvey, who was the Liberal candidate in 2006 and MP until 2004 is not running again, IIRC. Conservatives will get second, of course.

[Bacon King]

This thread made me miss Gabu

[Hash]

The Greenies are supporting Bill Casey (Ind) in his NS riding.

[Хahar 🤔]

The Greenies are supporting Bill Casey (Ind) in his NS riding.

So 2 less candidates than a full slate?
If the NDP was to form a minority government, what would happen to Senatorial appointments?

[Hash]

The Greenies are supporting Bill Casey (Ind) in his NS riding.

So 2 less candidates than a full slate?

Yes. I reluctantly agree about not running a candidate against Bill Casey.

[Hatman 🍁]

Don't mind Earl. He's a hard core dipper (NDP supporter for those outside Canada) and they have a fetish about saying they're the only left wing party in Canada and the Liberals are actually rightists. They say it all the time. It's like a verbal tick.

Sadly, my comment is part of the answer to your second question. The NDP and Liberals would be loathe to form a coalition government. The Liberals see the NDP as no better than gum on their shoe and want nothing to do with them. Especially if it means putting them in a position of power or influence. The NDP sees the Liberals (as I mentioned) as repackaged Conservatives. Some, out of desperation to finally form a government, might swallow their pride and agree to a coalition but most would see it as selling out.

As for the Greens, your suggestion that they 'should' be supporting the NDP sounds a lot like the Liberal argument that the NDP 'should' be supporting them. After all, if you add up all the NDP and Liberal votes the Conservatives would be in permanent opposition, and who could argue with that? (sarcasm intended)

Frustration at vote splitting is a legitimate grievance, particularly when it benefits a sinister bully like Harper. That said, wishing for a coalition of NDP/Liberal/Green is naive. Though they're both leftist parties, the NDP and Liberals disagree on a lot of issues; finding a common banner would be difficult and probably wouldn't last. The Greens transcend the left/right economic divide, though they're pretty close to the NDP and Liberals on social issues. The ideological roots of the three parties just aren't close enough to support a coalition. It's a nice thought, though.

Prove that the Liberals are a left wing party Supporting a few socially progressive planks does not a left wing party make. On electoral reform, the Liberals are still in the stone age. That's why I'd rather see a Harper minority government than a Liberal one.