madmax

I don't know if the NDP are foolish enough to contest a 2nd election on the last campaign. I believe the Martin Government tried this trick twice, and it failed in the 2nd go. The master of using the tried and true over and over again is Chretian, and I don't think there has been a shrewder player in modern Canadian Politics. So What would the NDP Campaign on? Lend me your votes.........Again I think the NDP campaign was superior in 2004 and I think the Liberal 48 hour blitz attack on the little NDP party that year cost the NDP alot of seats including Chows. In the final hours of the Campaign, the Liberals weren't going after the scary player hiding in the trailer, the guy whom could be Prime Minister and called Paul Martin a supporter of Pedophiles, no they go after the real threat the NDP. Then in 2006 the Liberals got all red eyed, because the NDP came out Swinging against theLiberal Government. Small little party going after the Big Party, this is not acceptable. Yet, the Big Liberal Party going after the Little NDP party in 2004 is acceptable. I think the Libs gave the NDP a black eye in 2004 and the NDP responded by giving the Liberals a bloody nose in 2006. Liberals are still stinging about this. I find this funny that some party that has been in single digits for over a decade upset the liberals so much. No, the CPC will be the target in the next election if the NDP has smart strategists. The Liberals may very well go back to attacking the NDP.

I don't.

Stephen Harper is going to make an announcement today, probably to tell you why he cut a deal.

But the US won't let him in

Income Trusts :angry: But you have diverged because JDobbin has pretty much proven that the Liberals didn't take us into Iraq while in government, and Stephen Harper would have. This discussion has strayed off Afghanistan, or at least Canadian Military, or OConnor and his historical revision of Canadian Participation in Afghanistan.

Can you direct me toward Flaherties comments.

Who knows. The Conservatives were wiped out to 2 seats once. The Environment has risen to the top of voters minds, and has done so more rapidly then the 2 major parties expected. The NDP had the best environment platform in 2004 embarrassing the Green Party. Who knows what would have occurred in 2004 had environment been the main issue. But it was not, it was.... what was it, oh yeah, Paul Martin a supporter of child porn, wait, no, Harper hiding in a trailer, no, wait, I don't remember anymore. I don't know what will be the main issue in the next election. Lots of #1 issues with the voters, seem to change come the election. Ontario is going to look pretty bleak by the end of 2007.

Yeah, My apologies, I overlooked the other thread. That said, It really doesn't matter whether this guy has a criminal record, or anything. It is public perception and his actions that matter most. Talking about people that learned to accept corruption as a means to enrich the party is not a way to win the hearts and minds of Canadians. Dions Fresh Face weaving through the potholes of politics, just drove off the road. The intent is to put the scandal behind them, not put it on the front page. Their are no good talking points about participants in the scandal. And while it may be an intellectual argument about how long someone is punished for by the party..... In the world of politics, this is attempted suicide.

Yes you are right. These people, go to work in various different jobs and some still have the old vision that you put your money in Banks and collect interest on your account, which really hasn't occurred since the early 80s. I made lots of money on little cash in the banks during a period of crazy inflation rates. But today people whom work, and are not financial managers themselves, rely on professionals, including banks to aid them in investing their money. You seem to do really well. I can't say I have done as well, and my Wifes 6 figure investments have taken huge losses. She trusts the banking system, and it hasn't been all that wonderful. Finally, cutting losses, moved that money back into real estate. But again, not everyone out there is going to be in your position. There are always going to be the low wage labourers whom are getting stung on bank fees. There money is usually under $1,000 and on individual terms doesn't make a hill of beans difference to a bank. Their money shouldn't be in a bank. The banks consider it an inconvience, which is why they don't charge people with more money in an account. This inconvience needs to be removed from the banks, not banks profiting off low wage labourers, and people on fixed incomes.

Why don't you ask Stockwell Day?

The Liberals had no competition from the NDP from 1993 until 2004. What did they do for Social Democratic Voters? And since the NDP number seat totals today are still around numbers held by the CCF and Early NDP, I wouldn't have called it competition in the 50s and 60s either. The Liberals would love to have the NDP gone, but there would only be short term benefits to that. Look at polls where the NDP are not a factor, and the Liberals lose to the Conservatives. If the Liberals smell bad, people will choose the Alternative no matter what their platform. The Liberals want to be the Alternative for NDP votes, and the Conservatives want to be the Alternative for Liberal government. But I know people whom move their votes between all parties based upon the Candidate and the Platform and whether it is Provincial or Federal, and the issue at hand. I don't think a Hard Core Conservative voter will vote NDP, but I have heard of people whom moved from NDP to Reform, then stick with the Alliance only to vote for NDP in 2004 and back to Conservative in 2006. Don't ask me why, I don't know. I also saw signs on lawns in 2006 that said, vote for "anyone but Liberal" So, the removal of the NDP will be of little help to the Liberals under this atmosphere. I don't think that Canadians will ever settle down to a two party system. Ours is best suited for a two party system, yet, even with the first past the post system, more parties continue to challenge the status quo or break apart from one of the larger two parties. NDP actual numbers have been far worse then these polling numbers. And even if the NDP were to vapourize as some here suggest, Another party would rise up, before long, espousing different values again from the Liberals and the Conservatives. Whatever those values may be.

There was a time when Westerners supported Liberals and the Conservatives were a party of Ontario. The Social Credit and CCF replaced corrupt/useless Liberals with their own brand of populism. This populism was adopted by the Conservatives, and the Liberals continued to ignore the ideas of the west. Eventually the Conservatives adopted a more Liberal style of governing under Mulroney with high deficits and Quebec catering overiding the Western Ideas of fiscal responsibility and equality. The Reform Party once again revives western populism, and after a number of years merge again with Eastern Conservatives. Full Circle. But Alberta hasn't voted against a party that supports business, they voted against a party that has not had an understanding of the west, regardless of their fiscal responsibility, and they voted against a party that became arrogant, corrupt and stale.

In an effort to totally destroy his rising credibility, Dion is about to learn a hard political lesson. CBC news

No, my Canadian Ancient History class only covered the Social Credit Party.

It takes a teller a lot longer than 1 sec to process a check. When I deposit checks at a teller it takes about 5 minutes to process the transaction. If you assume the tellers are paid $8/hour then it costs the bank $0.67 to handle the deposit in initial labour costs alone. After that the check must be handled several times by various bank employees (e.g. it has to be returned to the bank where the check came from). I guess with an ATM a check goes into the machine and presto, no hands touch it after that. Pure magic. I

"Those Bastards"

Seems Mckay hasn't wanted to meet the Arab Federation or the Islamic Congress, so they are ticked. I don't understand the problem, they can see Wajid Khan anytime:P

I thought both of them were changing their votes? The Banks will offer a reply to brush off the NDP as an unwarranted attack on them, and continue making healthy profits in a protected market. These comments remind me more of the Social Credit then the NDP. But, someone has to keep the banks on peoples minds. I don't pay user fees because I have enough to cover it, but there are people in minimum wage jobs whom, in my opinion, would be better off not having any of there money in a bank, short of the amount needed to receive a direct deposit. Withdraw it all, and go on living instead of paying significant service charges each month for day to day living expenses. Of course, then again, I receive these service charges for lord knows what reason, have to go in see the banks and get them removed. Real time waster, but it is my money.

I should have known better than to read this thread. I clearly have to much time on my hands? No I didn't sign the petition.

Yes, how do you say hasta la vista in French?

OH MY GOD NORTH KOREAS GONE MUSLIM!!! I will now replace Fearless Leader Kim Jongs outfit to proper Muslim Attire.

Let me know when you're done. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxist-Leninist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democrats LOL.

The United States defends it's "interests". I am with you on the "Build up our armed forces". The US should laugh at its junior partner. Infact, I doubt we are even that. So when the US is seeking our "support" in order to lend a voice of credibility to their actions, it is just as important for us not to waste that credibility by simply signing the dotted line. If you are suggesting that if we had a larger military, then we would have "just cause" to openly challenge the US, then I disagree. France has a larger military than us, with nuclear weapons. They were completely opposed to the US invasion of Iraq, and where neither listened too, nor laughed at. Let them laugh at us, but after that, build up our military. Go forward with actions that will make the Military and Canada Proud, and continue to pick our foreign engagements with as much wisdom, information and knowledge as possible to set goals that are achievable.

What do you mean, " Didn't Mulroney sell Canada's helicopters?."