maplesyrup

If a right wing political commentator Norm Spector is correct with his analysis, about the surging strength and rising potential for the New Democrats, the Conservatives could end up in third place in BC, which would result in serious seat losses for the Conservatives on the West Coast. What do you think happened to cause such a dramatic change/drop in the Conservative fortunes in BC?

The election strategy is not unfolding as it should for the Conservatives in British Columbia. As we can see from the figures below the Conservatives are down substantially from the combined Alliance/PC vote in the last election. The results of the last election, on November 27, 2000, compared to the latest SES CPAC polling released last week, are as follows: Libs: 41% to 34%, down 7% Cons: 38% to 29%, down 9% New Dem: 9% to 29%, up 20% Green/Other: 2% to 10%, up 8% Norm Spector, right wing political columnist/analyst stated this evening on the New VIland TV weekly political show "Right On', that most of the Green vote will collapse on election day and go to the NDP. Spector also stated that the Greens will not win any seats in BC. As a result, the Tories have had to change their election strategy, Instead of being able to keep Harper in Eastern Canada, the conservatives are rushing their leader, Stephen Harper out to British Coluimbia in a desperate attempt to try and salvage their campaign on the West Coast. What happened?

A Harper's dictionary This should be a helpful tool for the confused Canadian voters who often feel they are being bamboozled by their politicians.

Conservative MP slips on party's hate law view What's this?

NDP prepares new campaign front against Harper and 'artful' right-wing agenda Never a dull moment!.

TAKING THE POLLS OF CANADIAN POLITICS Now that you mention it, I am kind of missing Chretien. Who the heck is Josh Freed? He's hilarous.

What about Capital Punishment? What are the various parties position here?

If we are talking about marijuana, Harper probably does not want a free vote on it, or a referendum on the issue, because the current American government, and probably previous American governments, are or were opposed. Welcome to Harpanada, the 51st state.

Let's take a look at our priorities for the military. What is the remuneration for a Canadian military person? Do our soldiers need a raise in pay? This is the number one issue Canadians need to explore concerning the military.

caesar........I agree. Also if Martin had been PM when Canada was deciding to participate, we may have joined with the US to invade Iraq. Look at the views of our current Defence Minister whom Martin appointed. Apparently Martin avoided taking a position on the Iraq vote when it came up in the House of Commons, or so I have been led to believe. Does someone know how I can look that up in Hansard?

S44..........please explain how are my comments concerning marijuana are anti-Harper. Thanks.

We need to keep an updated list of the Liberals, Conservatives, and New Democrats positions on social issues, in order to be able to contrast them with each other, and also to have them handy, just so we don't forget what they are: 1 - Legalization of Marijuana: Harper/Cons - status quo, does not want to reintroduce the Liberal legislation Layton/New Dem - decriminalize what (details?) Martin/Libs - status quo, Liberals had 11 years to deal with this, done nothing, and they have run out of time 2 - National Daycare Program Harper/Cons - (tax credit of $2,000. annually which amounts to, is this a reduction in tax or taxable income?) Layton/New Dem: Yes (Details?) Martin/Libs - status quo, had 11 years to implement a program, time has run out (sort of, $5 billion annually?) (Daycare program based on the progressive Quebec approach, or something to that effect.) 3 - Capital Punishment: Harper/Cons: ("Yes--in clear cases of DNA (Stockwell Day, 2000), but let's not talk about it, anybody is free to have a free vote on it. (Harper, 2004)") Martin/Libs: No. (Strongly) NDP: No. (Very strongly) Abortion: Harper/Cons - Free Vote ? Layton/New Dem - woman's right to chose Martin/Libs - Unsure Supportive of Bill C-250 (can't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, is this correct?) Harper/Cons - No Layton/New Dem - Yes Martin/Libs - Yes Same-Sex Marriage Harper/Cons - Free vote (No?) Layton/New Dem - Support Martin/Libs - referred to Supreme Court (Yes?) [ Another Issue Harper/Cons Layton/New Dem Martin/Libs Another Issue Harper/Cons Layton/New Dem Martin/Libs Maybe some people would like to help me construct this summary post. Send me your imput and I will attempt to keep the first post up to date. Short, precise, and sweet please. I don't pay a lot of attention to these issues, but it appears they are turning into major campaign issues. Anyway, I am going to have to rely on some of your assistance here. Thanks.

caesar......welcome to mapleleafweb.

Put this in your pipe and smoke it: Harper opposes legalizing pot What's that expression: "Where there's smoke, there's weed"? So we have: Harper who opposes decriminalizing marijuana. Martin who isn't quite sure about it. Layton who supports decriminalizing marijuana. I hope I have that right. The gloves are now finally starting to come off, and Canadians are starting to be offered clear choices for June 28th, eh? I am beginning to feel a breeze starting to pick up here.

Abortion activists warn of Conservative policy I sense the tide may be turning.

Riley on the Road

Tories following failed Liberal policies, Layton says Conservatives and Liberals don't know Jack.

Have the Conservatives peaked? Canadians are peeved with the Liberals, but are they really prepared to throw the baby out with the bathwater? Paul Wells this evening entitled his column: "BREAKING TREND STORY". I think Wells may be onto something here. What do others think?

BREAKING TREND STORY: Martin is finally getting some well needed help.

Harper must come clean on partitioning Quebec If this issue heats up it will play into Liberals hands once again.

Gotta love Duceppe. The Bloc is probably the one thing preventing either right wing party, the Liberals or Conservatives from forming a majority government. Canadians could grow to like these guys a lot!

Politics makes for strange bedfellows. The bizarre thing about the Green party is that the leadership is right wing., both federally, and in British Columbia. And that is what precludes them from impacting on the NDP vote. Gotta love Martin trying to cuddle up to Layton and his progressive ideas, for the election campaign only, of course.

Men...mind your own business on the abortion issue.

AF....abortion is women's busines, not yours.

Forget the Toronto Star, and the CBC - they don't what else to do but shovel 99% Liberal pablum all day long. Chantal Hebert, and a few other columnists, are pleasant exceptions. I am finding the Globe and Mail coverage the least biased of the major media. Of course, certain columnists, like Jeffery Simpson, have their own personal political axe to grind, but overall the Globe is OK. If you haven't, try reading outside the box a bit - you might be pleasantly surprised. Imagine how difficult it must be for the Ottawa press gallery to consider a PM coming from outside the current corridors of power (Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor) in Canada.