madmax

Its demonstrates how much of the public couldn't accept the corruption of Smitherman over the incompetence of Ford. Ford is great Entertainment... and I think he is the perfect example of Right Wing Leadership.

This Wife...? one dispute became public after Ford was charged with assault and uttering a death threat. And this family On Friday, the Star reported that 22 Division’s Youth and Family Violence Unit was probing two recent incidents at the mayor’s Etobicoke home. Mayor Rob Ford has continued to stay silent about two ongoing police investigations into domestic disputes at his home. Police called to Ford's home Christmas Day: report Police have responded to multiple 911 calls from Ford's home in recent years

You (like the Tories) sound more like the NDP

If Howard Hampton was never "Realistically" expected to win, then its realistic to expect him to achieve some other goal. John Tory has poor political judgement. Seems like a really good guy.. just not cut out for politics. Hudak... I think he is the best the PCs have to offer.

Interesting http://www.toryorwildrose.ca/?q=1 Warning... Liberal Link

1) If one takes the position of the first sentence... then it supports the position that it is not simply a merger that brings one to vote for a political party. 2) The merger didn't immediately launch Harper to government. 3) I believe the campaign of Harper was successful. A good campaign can produce a positive government image in spite of running the largest deficit in Canadian History. Its better marketing and branding then actual competence. 4) Many will hold their noses.. its called the incumbency factor and many did that during the Liberal period where the books were balanced but corruption prevailed behind the scenes. Finally something has to give. Mulroney got 2 terms and the largest Majorities in History, while running the largest deficits in history and taxing us to death. Harpers Deficit is now the largest in History.

Can you source the bolded quote?

I have to wonder what the "OTHER" outcome is on the 2nd question.

My "City" has 1200 people and one stop light but that is roughly 30 miles from the concession I live on. Please explain how it makes government bigger , cause once you have done so... you will be on my side. However, I highly doubt they hired anyone to put this together.. possibly a well connected firm ... and another private contract. And don't blame me for Dalton.. he comes from your neck of the woods...

He certainly was.. he was a waffle if I read correctly. I said he had passion, I said he spoke his mind...I didn't say, in any of these threads that Ed was the bar of perfection. That is why the debate is so interesting to me.. We have to have a debate with people who are still alive At least it wasn't the Senate. Now.. you got one person sized up.. Lets here your thoughts on Manning

Not necessarily so...Yes you have described the Modern LPC accurately, however, Both the CPC and NDP can suffer from plagues that infest all governments over time. Laziness, entitlement, corruption, lack of direction.. and it may not be in the best interests to change the direction from a sharp right to a sharp left (Or visa versa), when all is required is good government and maintaining the current direction (whatever that may be) but with a more hungry and rejuvenated party. Any 3rd party can take on that role. One would probably have preferred that the Cons govern more fiscally responsible like the Liberals did during their period, but do it without the corruption and arrogance. Seems we got the latter and not the former.

One can play endlessly with individual ridings.... But I am just trying to show that you cannot assume that merger 2 numbers together gets you growth. Toronto Centre 2000 PC = 8,150 CA= 5,057 Total = 13000* Toronto Centre 2004 Conservative =7,936 Whereas the NDP went from 5000 to 12000 votes in the same election cycle. This riding has only ever been held by Progressive Conservatives and Liberals. PC highmark is around 24000 votes Today , Close to 1 decade after the merger the Conservatives have roughly 12000 votes and sit in 3rd... whereas they used to be first or 2nd.. for the past 100 years running as Conservatives or Progressive Conservatives depending on the era.

Don't blame the Harper Government for the failure of the Coalition. Ignatieff pulled a coup over Dion and then Reneged as leader to follow through on the coalition. Ignatieff helped give it a bad name. Now imagine if he ignored the polls, and tried to run a government based upon the agreed agenda? I don't have a crystal ball, but the public could decide on the value of the coalition based on its success or failure. Just because Harper said it was bad medicine (and it was for him, he nearly lost power) it is his JOB to run down the idea and sway opinion. Unfortuneately for the Liberals, they had two weak leaders back to back.

You would find similar numbers of support if the Liberal supporters asked the question about merging with the Conservatives. Equal in support actually results in LESS support then one party has on their own. As those opposed to the idea LEAVE and go to ANOTHER existing party or a new party. One might wonder why the NDP got Stronger at the same time the creation of the Conservative Party occurred? There are a few reasons for the NDPs growth, but early on, before they had done any groundwork, they got a bump from 2 different bases leaving this new Conservative party. NDP supporters moved to the Reform Party and held their vote their, even through the Change to the Canadian Alliance, but once the merger with the PCs occurred, they choose not to support the change. The Other base was from disgruntled Longtime PC supporters.. Red Tories.... whos enemy is the LIBERAL party but would not support the Republican direction of the Conservatives and still held a grudge against the Reform Party. In Irony of Ironies the NDP gained from the merger... so too did the Green Party, as Red Tories who could NEVER support the new Conservatives, or the Liberals OR the NDP went with the Green Option. Not Much has changed and I am not a believer that Electioneering the parties results in success. You have to earn the publics respect... if Harper never succeeded, then you would not see him in government regardless of the Rightwing Merger... and the same would be true with a merger of the NDP and Liberals. But the Fallout from an NDP/LPC merger would be larger then the PC/CA merger as most who vote Liberal today would NOT vote NDP, but would choose the Tories first. Strange examples on micro level. Central Nova... Conservative Mackay is challenged by NDP candidate comes within striking distance, Libs competitive 3rd, Greens distant 4th. Liberals Standdown to support MAY, Many NDP move to the Green Camp, Many Liberals move to Green camp.. but where did the other votes go? MACKAY! His votes went up... when facing less parties.. then the previous campaign. Come next election cycle, and Mackays numbers go back down and other parties numbers rise, with all parties running their candidates. On the last note... the Liberals have more in common with the Conservatives then with the NDP. Sure the Liberals share some policy positions, but so do Red Tories, and So do some remanent reformers, and so do some Conservatives share policies with the NDP. But the broadest support is between the LPC and CPC and not the NDP and LPC.

Ironcically the BQ/Reform were the PCs not so long ago...

So What? You are the one who doesn't want to do things online, and the fact that you can get everything at these Private Delivery outlets makes it more accessible for you.. not less. The Companies big and small do this for a small fee and for the bigger outlets its to draw customers into their stores. Animal and eco terrorists have nothing to do with your problems. You are looking for a scape goat. You ask for smaller government... and you got it.. Its not perfect... and the world won't come to an end. Doing it this way saves the government money.

IF you mail it in it requires people on the other side. If you want smaller government then this is exactly the outcome you desire. I personally think an all in one swipe card would be perfect... Looks like you need to keep your paperwork dry

Ok.. give it your best shot .. Armchair critics.. get your poll revisions in so I can make it better before EDAY!

No, i am speaking that a single issue wedge topic on a discussion forum leads nowhere.. I am trying to get a prediction poll posted..but MLW is crashing on me before it posts...

Nothing like discussing an Election Campaign while standing on the 3rd rail. The discussion is a net loss.

If I only had two choices I would puke first and then work on creating a 3rd and better option.. IF this merger happened...I might create the WB party... which is way superior to Wild Rose...

Very often the Rightwing parties merge to take on the NDP and Previously CCF... Once this occurs you get a two party system and a 3rd option is desired.. such as in BC the growth of the Green Party..as the 3rd option... It is a matter of time before a 3rd or 4th or 5th party is created as people will always want and demand choice. It is possible in the Canadian System for even small parties to compete as well as populist grassroots party. I believe the same could occur in the US with other parties but the barriers required for success are to large of hurdles... so unless you are Ross Perot and can fund your own Campaign and create a political party around your income... its rare for any upstart party to participate in the modern era. I believe the last time the US had 3 parties prior to Perot was during the Teddy Roosevelt era but someone can correct me on that ... i am guesssing...

compared to 22% that don't want Hudak. I don't think either are worried with those kinda numbers.. However.. look at people with great approval numbers like Campbell who had 80% and was turfed by his own party a few months after the convention.. I can think of a few others.. Partisans in political parties are fickle. However, the NDP seems to hold onto their leaders one election cycle longer then the other parties.. for better or for worse.

Not gonna happen. If the budget fails.. the Liberals will defeat themselves in order to go to the polls.

ROTFLOL