Derek 2.0

What things point to that? From the NDP's Linda McQuaig: NDP= No Defense Policy

Of course they were, likewise, they would be very critical of the Government if they increased defense spending.........that is what they do.....Of course, the NDP has been mum on their own defense policies.

And his caucus? You understand this is the same NDP that accused the Canadian Forces of war crimes and has members (Pat Martin) that has referred to the Forces as "G.I. Joe wanting more toys"........If you think the NDP wouldn't be a disaster for (Canada as a whole) the military, you've got rocks in your head. I base my opinion on past NDP policy papers (going back to Broadbent's '87 calls for a leaving NATO) and whatever is spewed by NDP shills Mike Byers and Steven Staples..........if you have contradictory evidence highlighting the NDP's defense policies, by all means, make them known.

Where have they promised to maintain the current defense budget?

Labour Governments in the UK and Australia aren't made up of leftist kooks and are more align with American Democrats or the former Liberals here.

A possibility? Its without a doubt......the Canadian Forces, under an NDP Government, will get a haircut, resulting in (at best) a mirror image as to whats found in Ireland or New Zealand.......As to the Liberals, the last Trudeau put his own mark on the Forces, a mark only now starting to be scrubbed off, I don't doubt this one would be any different............ Look no further then either parties Defense policy papers.......you'll have to look hard, as they've both been removed from the parties websites (for good reason!!!)

With a Liberal or NDP Government, you can bloody well be certain spending/procurement for the Forces will be greatly reduced, well various capabilities already existing will go without a replacement...........say goodbye to anything that doesn't fit into the mythical image of an unarmed Blue Beret Peacekeeper.........

I don't doubt an NDP Government will build some ships, but they won't build actual warships, as there won't be a reason once an NDP Government pulls Canada out of NATO........replace frigates with cutters, and the NDP can still provide union-jobs well building far less capable vessels for a Navy that will be transformed into an lightly armed Coast Guard.

That it is a political hit-job devoid of context.........any article that ranks our Navy as the same as Bangladesh, is not worthy of reply.

Sure, interim as in a capability to bridge the gap until the two purposed built ships are in service........at such time, the interim capability is already paid for and combined with the two Queenston class, would require less an annual financial burden in operating costs then the two previous steam powered, manpower intensive, Protecteur class.

No, that was a "paper design", design devoid of anything beyond a power-point, with then no viable builders.........and of course a design that made no military sense.

With who? And with what money? And what design?

Who said they would give it up?

What has taken "far far too long"? You understand purchasing (and designing) a large naval vessel is a major undertaking right? Look no further than any USN or Royal Navy program and I'll show you a decade plus of lead time with an already viable ship building industry

Why?

The former Liberal promise to purchase the Joint Support Ship, a combination of supply ship and troop/logistic/landing/command ship was dropped very quick with the change of Government in 2006........and for good reason. Said reason, of course is common sense, and is why other navies don't place leadership, troops aboard a ship stuffed with fuel and munitions...... As to civilian crews, that's not the end of the world.......the USN and Royal Navy are supplied with their own civilian operated vessels....the only drawback with such an approach is that civilian manned tankers are bound by maritime law on which ports they can enter (like conventional crude oil tankers) versus military vessels which are not.........somehow the United States military sealift command and Royal Fleet Auxiliary are able to manage..... ------ As to the leaked document in the article, its dated and not reflective of the labor market and availability of skilled trades (welders, pipe fitters and industrial electricians etc) due to the downturn in the O&G industry.

The Government of Canada, and the Royal Canadian Navy, already has a "brain".........in regards to the retirement of the AORs, as spoken too last year (and prior) the Government did/does have contingencies. When the purchase/lease of the two American Supply class vessels became too costly, in addition to presenting physical challenges in basing due to the ships shear size, option 2 was selected.....option 2 being the lease of two allied vessels: On the West Coast: On the East Coast: Filling capability gaps for deployments, well lending further experience to our two Allies (Chile and Spain) until the conversion of the Resolve is complete, followed by the completion of the Queenston-class......resulting in three AORs, returning a capability lost in the 90s with the retirement of Provider....

I forgot about that one........Without a doubt, going after family members is not a winning strategy.

It was classy John Edwards........I don't think Kerry would have gone that deep into the muck.

During the 2000 run the cat was let out of the bag by the media (either CNN or ABC iirc) in an interview with Darth and his wife......then again in 2004, always classy John Edwards, included Mary Cheney's personal life well stumping in blue-collar swing States, in an attempt to marginalize Bush/Cheney among religious voters........then there was the debate in which Edwards again brought up Cheney's family life.........If one didn't then know Mary Cheney was gay, they must have lived under a rock.

You might have missed a step, the "proposed ticket" was Bush/Rice.......the reference to Darth's daughter was to highlight that Dr Rice's "rumored" sexual preference wouldn't damage, to a great extent, a Bush/Rice ticket among most 21st century GOP power brokers & donors, and in turn, GOP supporters......as Bush/Cheney weren't damaged by Mary Cheney's personal life, I fail to see how an already popular Dr Rice would damage Jeb.

Remember Herman Cain, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich all lead in various polls, a year out, over Mitt Romney......

With Martinez, the majority of her views are aligned with who I do feel will/should win the GOP ticket.........if one were to assume Bush wins, his selection of a VP will likely align with his own policies......one such social policy sets Bush out from the others, Common Core Education Standards (Following in big brother's No child left behind), very few other Republicans support Common Core......those that do? Gov. Kasich and Gov. Martinez........

Fair enough, and to be quite clear, I think Fiorina along with the majority of the 17, wouldn't make viable nominees for 2016.

That is a good point.......a 60 year old cancer survivor. McCain's health/age was an issue in '08 for some.