maplesyrup

a reluctant one. --------------------------------- scandals - pierre seveigny - gerta M, how long ago?

CTV Question Period political play of the week And this weeks winner is PM Martin as he labels the new Conservatives as the Alliance Conservatives.

Substance - where is it? Just more typical right wing attack the messanger. Doesnt cut it here.

The reality is that had Harper been PM last year, Canada would have gone to war in Iraq. What better reason does a Canadian need not to vote Conservative? Although there are many other good reasons not to vote for Conservatives as well.

Republican takeover of Tories enough to vote NDP I would fathom a guess that this is a widespread view held by Canadians.

I think it could backfire on opposition parties. Overspending done to save Canada, yadha, yadha..... Guité: ‘When you're at war you drop . . . the rules' Canadians want a positive campaign. Dont think they are going to get it.

I was thinking more about our Canadian history.

has a former leader (ie premier) ever changed parties like Dosanjh? I can understand a Scott Brison, or a John Bryden or a Keith Martin, switching, but Ujjal Dosanjh, a former premier of BC.

Minority Liberal government- they need some punisment. Writ to be dropped May 6th for a June 14th election. Actually it all depends on the polls.

This is an analysis of the recent Leger Marketing survey in late March, 2004. I believe it was put through the UBC election forecaster. The seat forecast may not be that sccurate. Nationally LPC: 38% CPC: 26% NDP: 16% BQ: 13% Other: 6% Atlantic LPC 36%: 13 seats (gain of 2) CPC 39%: 15 seats NDP 18%: 4 seats Quebec LPC 36% (22 seats) BQ 45% (53 seats) CPC, NDP 8% Ontario LPC 47% (95 seats) CPC 28% (7 seats) NDP 19% (4 seats - assuming win in Ottawa Centre and Toronto-Danforth, based on candidate strength) Sask/Manitoba LPC: 25% (6 seats) CPC: 40% (14 seats) NDP: 25% (8 seats) Alberta LPC: 27% (1 seat - Kilgour lives) CPC: 49% (27 seats) NDP: 17% (CLOSE second in Edmonton Strathcona and Edmonton Southeast) BC LPC: 31% (8 seats) NDP: 22% (2 seats) CPC: 37% (26 seats) Seat total (not including territories) LPC: 145 seats (Liberal minority) NDP: 18 seats CPC: 89 seats BQ: 52 seats From FriedmanForever at another discussion board

I thought this guy Harper was a dud from day one. Totally void of charisma. Conservatives by their choice of leader have assured the Liberals of another majority government. It is all up to to Jack Layton and the NDP now.

The Liberals have written off the West, apart from a few seats on the Prairies. It's a joke to think these folks would represent BC. These appointments are geared towards the Ontario voters. Dosanjh to secure the left vote, and Emerson to ward off the Conservative vote on the right. 76% of BCers said Martin was wrong to parachute in candidates on a BC TV call in show tonight. Did you see the National coverage?

Now I am beginning to understand what it must have been like to be living in a British colony. Is Martin totally nuts? I don't think he has any idea what a slap in the face he has just given the people who live in BC by his actions today. What arrogance. I would be very surprised if any of these "star" candidates win their seats.

Keeping Canada out of the US led war on Iraq will continue to grow in importance in the years to come. Chretien depicted Canada's style here, and I think 80% of Canadians now support his decision.

I find it very refreshing that the NDP has come of age federally. Finally we have a party to vote for that is not in the pocket of Bay Street, that is going to represent the average Canadian, rather than the corporate elite. Canada needs a good shakeup and Jack Layton and the NDP are the ones to do it.

August 1991....are you talking about the failed Russian Coup?

Well I know the right wing have just statred one up called "Western Standard"

Just minor stuff like helping to keep the country from breaking up, seven balanced budgets in a row, and reducing Canada's debt.

I'm getting the impression the only people who care about the sponsorship scandal anymore are the Conservatives. It seems like the rest of the country is getting scandal fatigue. Maybe people are just looking forward to summertime, oh I forgot, I should have said springtime, everyone doesn't live in BC.

What is so hypocritical about this, after telling Copps for example that he doesn't get involved in riding choices, is that Martin is appointing 4-5 Liberal candidates in BC. I think this is just going to enrage the BC voters, and end up helping the NDP. We are talking about urban ridings here. There still seems to be some confusion which ridings are going to be the lucky recipients of Martin's largesse.

Mr. Dosanjh was B.C. premier when the Liberals swept the two-term NDP government from office in May 2001. It was the most lopsided political drubbing in provincial history, with the Gordon Campbell Liberals winning 77 of 79 seats. The federal Liberals were told that a Dosanjh candidacy could spark a voter backlash, the provincial source said. Many voters would likely still want to hold Mr. Dosanjh and possibly the federal Liberals responsible for the economic problems and scandals that plagued B.C. during the decade the NDP held power, Mr.Cunningham said. "It would resonate poorly or very poorly with a lot of supporters and potential supporters of the federal Liberal party," he said. "Don't go sell the B.C. seats down the drain because you are trying to save some seats in Metro Toronto." Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has been getting under the skins of federal Liberals lately with his depiction of Mr. Martin as being in the pocket of big business. The federal Liberals expect to lose seats in the Toronto area to the NDP, but believe the Dosanjh candidacy could win them left-leaning support in B.C., the provincial source said. Full story I can understand people like Scott Brison crossing the floor, but a former pprovincial premier. Anyways his most recent track record is not so hot. he led the NDP to the worst defeat that any political party ever experienced in BC.

So, Stephen Harper has been crowned king of the conservative movement – like that was a surprise. There was little doubt as to the outcome, although, pleasantly Belinda Stronach at least made it a contest. Unlike the Liberal nomination, at least there is an outward appearance of democracy at work. Although Bay Street’s new poster boy was not going to be defeated, they have too much invested in him. The bone of my contention with Mr. Harper comes in his post-crowning attitude. o­ne would think that Harper would come out gunning for Paul Martin and the Liberals. Could there be an easier target for Harper than the dog and pony show that passes itself off as a democratic party in the Liberal Party of Canada? Well it seems Harper has had enough of the Liberals and is going after Jack Layton and the New Democratic Party. Fresh from his stunning win, Harper has come out clucking against Layton and the NDP. Why do I keep eluding to chickens? Simply this – Harper is trying to say that Layton and the NDP policies would be worse for Canada than Martin and his track record! Content to just throw muck, but not back it up, Harper is coming across as a blowhard. We had a saying around our schoolyard – bad mouth all you like, but o­nce challenged either back up your assertions or be labeled a chicken. Harper is avoiding the loud calls coming from Jack Layton to meet him in a head to head debate so he may counter the muck being racked by Harper and his team of lemmings. As of today, Harper and his handlers are refusing to go head to head with Layton. Now, why could that be? Full Article I think Harper is doing a lot of stumbling coming out the starting blocks. This has got to be probably his biggest blunder so far. Instead of focusing on the Liberals, he goes after the NDP. All he has done by his attack is give the NDP more credibility.

Problem is that Martin has no mandate. The media has turned sponsorship scandal into a circus. I think Martin is going to take a hit because he is front and centre dealing with sponsorship scandal. Concerning political strategy I agee with Chretien. Maybe this new PC Party will save Martin s butt by splitting the Conservative vote. If I were Martin I would help them get off the ground.

Politically I think Martin has really blown it. Who the heck is advising our current Prime Minister anyways? They must be an obsequious group. Do they have a death wish? Chrétien defends sponsorship program

Just do not understand how this approach will work for Martin. Chrétien assails Martin in a most diplomatic tone