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Strategic voting is wrong.  Not because it perverts some high-minded view of democracy, where every citizen sticks to her principles when casting a ballot.  (Quite frankly, that view of democracy is visible only through high-prescription, rose-coloured glasses.)  Rather, strategic voting is wrong because it is self-defeating.  What these people need is electoral reform, and that’s the last thing they’ll get by casting their ballots for either of the two most-successful parties.

[Read more…] about Why Strategic Voting is Wrong: Oh, the Irony

It’s the last weekend of the election and it’s time to look back at the campaign. I’ve also looked back at the blogging we’ve been doing. I went back to the post where I argued that the election wouldn’t make much difference in the campaign. Obviously, I was wrong. The election has come to dominate the campaign in a way no one could have foreseen. In that post, I argued that the economy wouldn’t make much difference because there’s a lag between economic changes and voters’ perceptions of the economy. As a general statement, I think that holds true. But my argument that voters in Canada wouldn’t yet perceive the economic downturn turned out to be incorrect. In my defence, what we’ve seen in the markets is almost unprecedented. But obviously panic has set in and people have become very concerned with the economy.
[Read more…] about Mea Culpa: The Economy and the Election

Awk-ward! Hoo boy, this exchange between a sneering Mike Duffy and a smirking Geoff Regan has to count as the most uncomfortable moment of the campaign. You have to fast-forward to the 04:40 point see it.

[Read more…] about Election 2008: Most Awkward Moment?

Since the English language debate, the media have essentially handed Stephane Dion and Jack Layton free passes to attack Harper for "not having a plan," despite that they are somewhat lacking in this respect themselves. This has led to some amusing episodes as the two leaders have tried to keep the spotlight focussed on Harper, and away from themselves. Failure to do so has led to disaster, at least for Dion.

[Read more…] about Dion and Layton on the Economy

My first thought after watching the clip is that it’s hardly as bad as many are making it out to be. He’s obviously tired and there’s something about the question that is throwing him off. And he doesn’t exactly come across as petulent or annoyed – I’ve seen much worse from Dion, especially in interviews from the 1990s. He actually comes off as somewhat likeable near the end of this video.

[Read more…] about Stephane Dion and Gotcha Politics