madmax

Oh shit, I am pissing my pants. Harper hasn't visited China, and I am not going to either.. SO THERE. Who needs 22 minutes... We've got Politicians.

LOL.. You must have been twisted in knots heading to the polls last year.

Competence of public servants and their rules to conduct and aid stranded overseas Canadians can certainly be legislated. Electing Liberals and maintaining incompetence or bad policies isn't going to make a hill of beans difference.This is the failure of Canadian overseas services.

Back on topic of Deficit vs Human Rights.... What is quoted above is not possible.

1) Ignatieff the Human Rights guy was silent on the issue. 2) The problem with Canadians stranded abroad is not the coloUr of their skin. The Liberals didn't act any different when torture was occurring. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sampson_(author)

Not so, has been very much Liberal Turf for at least 15 years. Since the collapse of the PCs in 1993, the Reform took some time to bust in. The CA not much better and the CPC finally getting competitive in the past few years. Toronto has been virtually a Liberal Rock, and to take a phrase from jdobbin, most are yellow dog ridings, of which few can penetrate although Layton did so, and his wife required two attempts. Neither can be considered safe seats, and could revert back to the LPC, although Layton will likely hold his. The NDP swept more Northern Ontario Seats then did the CPC. The NDP with a Toronto Leader, has more Rural support then Ed Broadbent ever had. The CPC took the Kenora Seat. However, all these recent gains of CPC and NDP could swing back to the LPC if their campaign is anything but a complete disaster. Ontario's default party has been LPC. And IIRC you are in Guelph which is SO Liberal, that even with 2 strong candidates and campaigns from both the Greens and NDP, with them taking 37% of the vote combined (note in many ridings their combined average is still in single digits), the LPC candidate still handily defeated the CPC candidate who lost votes and this inspite of a disasterous Liberal campaign and weak leader.

I always find it a painful experience to find myself agreeing with Argus. However, I concur with Argus analysis.

The interesting part is that this was a trend. And it is not the first time that the public perspectives and the realities of parliment don't match. When it comes down to it, many people will say they want a Majority government, and there choice will split along party lines.... which will create a minority government. LOL. There's a Gordian Knot laying around. Got a knife.

I fully agree.

I disagree. It was Manning that moved the Liberals to the Centre Right, thus the Paul Martin Budgets vs those Micheal Wilson budgets. Manning was a true Professional and not a hatchet man. There is no way Manning would have blown the 04 Campaign the way Harper did, and go hiding in a trailer during the last week of the Campaign.Harper is still so Chippy, that the party has to keep him out of sight and out of mind during the final 72 hours of the 08 campaign. Because he is prone to blow it. No one would ever have to concern themselves with locking Manning up during an election campaign. Harper still has a very thin skin.

Day wasn't dangerous, he was Daygerous. Not up to the job and out of his league. Much like Dion being Dionerous. Harper..... I have to hold major reservations to anyone who would claim the Prime Minister of Canada was a supporter of Child Porn during an election campaign. He control over outrageous statements is extremely lacking. Preston Manning... Yes, I think the Liberals did an excellent job of going to town on Preston. Many in his own Party did so in the end and they paid the price by bringing in Stockwell Day.

Where's Waldo...

That's hardly a prediction... or a bold prediction. The data in a vast majority of Liberal Held ridings was that many people who voted Liberal did not switch to the NDP, but simply stayed home. The NDP shrunk, but not by much, whereas the Liberal vote collapsed. If the same number of people who voted Liberal in 2006 showed up, and the NDP vote held at its 2008/2006 level, the Liberals should regain some lost seats. This is true in some battles with the CPC although in many contest CPC/LPC ridings, the CPC vote grew significantly to overthrow the Liberal MPs. Possibly the biggest loser in vote percentage for the CPC was Diane Finley. No worries, if she gets tossed out of office, I sure there is a seat waiting beside her hubby. This is known as CPC Senate Reform.

ROTFLOMAO 3 pointer.

If the CPC cave in to the NDP and make 1 concession, it would be one more concession then the LPC extracted from the CPC in 4 years. Does anyone expect the CPC to cave?

The numbers supporting Minority government have been steadily rising... not the other way around. That doesn't mean the CPC aren't focusing on a Majority, but when didn't they? http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1918505 New poll suggests Canadians are warming to minority rule 53.9% Supportive; Election-ready Conservative MPs focused on majority Emily Senger, National Post Published: Sunday, August 23, 2009

I think this would be a strong campaign strategy for the CPC.

If the NDP receive concessions on EI, please send me $100, and I will return it to you in March. I promise.

If they do, then what will the Liberals do? Especially if the NDP extract concessions from Harper, or more concessions the the Liberals?Of course Harper is not one to give concessions, especially to the NDP. But seriously, few would care if the NDP backed the CPC, just like few people were concerned about the LPC backing the CPC. Perhaps hard core Liberals would care... LOL. But, I really can't see it happening, unless the NDP get something on EI and I don't see the CPC caving in on anything, as the CPC is election ready. If Ignatieff follows through, there will be a fall election. That's about it.

Erm, what did they have right?

Enjoy your time in the limelight, its been a long time coming

And so it does.... We have an election.

More importantly it has little to do with this thread. There are two other thread topics that cover both Bryants recent departure from the Ontario Liberals thus causing the by election currently being held. Comments on Bryant would be better suited there. Punked has pulled a Jdobbin with respect to thread creep. The fact is that the OLG has been a hornets nest for all governments of late.

oh.. I thought voters were mad ok forget it... which reminds me, what happened to MADMICHEAL?