Canadian Political Polls

[jbg]

Harper is certainly talking about pulling the plug himself rather than waiting for a vote or the fixed election date. Just anoher broken promise on his part and one he never meant to keep in the first place.

Or rather has he talked about making many votes confidence votes so that the Liberals have to put up or shut up?

[normanchateau]

Or rather has he talked about making many votes confidence votes so that the Liberals have to put up or shut up?

He has indeed talked about pulling the plug on himself:

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012019052

[jdobbin]

He has indeed talked about pulling the plug on himself:

Some Conservative supporters are still in disbelief that it could possibly mean Harper walking to the Governor General and asking to go the polls without even a vote.

If that indeed happens, perhaps they can lead the charge against this clear break in a major Tory policy plank.

Edited August 21, 2008 by jdobbin

[normanchateau]

Here's a surprising comment from Jack Layton:

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be "misguided" if he chose to call a federal election before Parliament resumes sitting on Sept. 15, NDP Leader Jack Layton said Thursday."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/21/ndp-election.html

It seems that Harper may want an election before the other leaders. Could it be that he realizes that as time elapses, his chances of securing even a minority are quickly fading as the in out affair, the Cadman affair, the crumbling economy, the government's lack of accountability, and increased government spending will have an increasing impact before October 2009?

Or maybe he's looking at this:

http://www.trendlines.ca/electcanada.htm

[Wild Bill]

Well, this story has quite a different twist!

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national...81-d15c60126e40

"The poll says the proportion of Canadians who favour an election "to clear the air" has risen to 40 per cent from 27 per cent in March. Moreover, the proportion of Canadians who said "there's no need for an election at the moment" dropped dramatically to 38 per cent from 66 per cent. Almost one in four, or 23 per cent, said they did not know which statement best captured their views, up from seven per cent in March."

Quite an interesting read. I guess it all depends on whose newspaper you read. The Star has been claiming something quite different. Harris-Decima is taking a stand but they always seem to be wrong.

Anyhow, just FYI.

[jbg]

Here's a surprising comment from Jack Layton:

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be "misguided" if he chose to call a federal election before Parliament resumes sitting on Sept. 15, NDP Leader Jack Layton said Thursday."

I thought Layton was hot to trot.

Guess not.

(not trying to be a poet).

[madmax]

I thought Layton was hot to trot.

Guess not.

(not trying to be a poet).

Only the Liberal Oriented CBC has portrayed the comments with that headline. But the comments are the same in the context of the article.

From the article

Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be "misguided" if he chose to call a federal election before Parliament resumes sitting on Sept. 15, NDP Leader Jack Layton said Thursd

Layton calling Harper misguided is nothing new and has repeated that frase since early 2006.

The NDP leader said Harper's assertion that Parliament isn't working is at odds with the facts.

"He's managed to get his entire program through with the help of the Liberals and the Bloc [Québécois]. So it's actually not a valid complaint," Layton said. "So he's up to something."

Who doesn't think Harpers up to something?

"I'd love to see a prime minister who says lets all roll up our sleeves and work together," he said. "I'm not holding my breath, but that's what I'd like to see."

On Tuesday, Harper and Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion both talked to reporters about election timing, but neither would say they were ready to trigger a vote.

And both Harper and Dion are firing blanks. So it appears that both Harper and Dion are saying they want an election and neither accepted that they were ready to trigger a vote. Seems all three sound the same, just the headlines are different to sell papers or form opinions.

[jdobbin]

And both Harper and Dion are firing blanks. So it appears that both Harper and Dion are saying they want an election and neither accepted that they were ready to trigger a vote. Seems all three sound the same, just the headlines are different to sell papers or form opinions.

Why is Layton hedging now. He seemed to want an election any time, anywhere.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...pN79OCshkYjqObQ

How is going to the polls undemocratic?

[normanchateau]

Why is Layton hedging now. He seemed to want an election any time, anywhere.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...pN79OCshkYjqObQ

How is going to the polls undemocratic?

Maybe Layton would rather see Harper than Dion as Prime Minister. It was Layton who by pulling the plug on Martin foisted Harper on Canada. Perhaps Layton has finally figured out that Harper has increased government spending by more than any Prime Minister in the history of Canada.

[jdobbin]

Maybe Layton would rather see Harper than Dion as Prime Minister. It was Layton who by pulling the plug on Martin foisted Harper on Canada. Perhaps Layton has finally figured out that Harper has increased government spending by more than any Prime Minister in the history of Canada.

Who knows what his motivation is? I think the next election will show the NDP and Layton running against the Liberals again instead of the Tories.

Edited August 22, 2008 by jdobbin

[madmax]

Why is Layton hedging now. He seemed to want an election any time, anywhere.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...pN79OCshkYjqObQ

How is going to the polls undemocratic?

Pick and choose. Quote from the same article.

Speaking with reporters in Montreal, the NDP leader also said he's ready to go into a federal election.

[madmax]

Who knows what his motivation is? I think the next election will show the NDP and Layton running against the Liberals again instead of the Tories.

Sure it will

[Vancouver King]

Fired off a cheque today to the national NDP. I didn't have the heart to tell them if polls indicate the Tories are anywhere near majority territory come election day, I along with legions of other supporters will be abandoning ship by placing a strategic vote for the Liberals.

[jdobbin]

Pick and choose. Quote from the same article.

Layton wants to have to every way. Blame Harper if he calls an election before his self imposed mandate. Blame Dion if he vote non-confidence and bringing about an election. Ignore their own part in bringing about an election while indicating that they wanted to make Parliament work.

Is it is no wonder that Layton's party lingers where it does in the polls?

[jdobbin]

Sure it will

You mean the strategy they have had since their founding will be abandoned?

[jdobbin]

Fired off a cheque today to the national NDP. I didn't have the heart to tell them if polls indicate the Tories are anywhere near majority territory come election day, I along with legions of other supporters will be abandoning ship by placing a strategic vote for the Liberals.

I think you will see a number of NDPers doing that again this election.

Some NDP supporters are strongly in favour of Dion's plan for greenhouse gases.

[normanchateau]

Fired off a cheque today to the national NDP. I didn't have the heart to tell them if polls indicate the Tories are anywhere near majority territory come election day, I along with legions of other supporters will be abandoning ship by placing a strategic vote for the Liberals.

Currently two thirds of Canadians support parties to the left of the Harper Conservatives. The Harper Conservatives are not the Mulroney centrists which captured the middle and therefore a majority. I suspect if it ever appears that the socially conservative Harper has the slightest chance of winning a majority, the Liberals can expect to gain votes at the expense of the NDP, Greens and BQ. Dion is fortunate that the socially but not fiscally conservative Harper remains at the helm.

[madmax]

You mean the strategy they have had since their founding will be abandoned?

I am rolling my eyes, over LPC crybabies who blame their parties electoral failure on everyone but themselves and their entrenched corruption with regards to adscam. Only LPC partisans blame others for not securing their own votes.

Did you forget that in 2004 when Mr. Harper was hiding in his trailer after calling Prime Minister Martin a supporter of Kiddie porn, and his party was dead in the water with one week to go in the election, the LPC did what any party would do. No they didn't finish off Harper, they went after the NDP.

LPC political infighting and an exhausted party bereft of ideas and accountability demonstrated that the LPC realm of entitlement was coming to an end. The arrogance of the LPC led them from Majority, to Minority to Opposition and they have no one to blame but themselves.

I never use my violin. Would you like it.

[Fortunata]

I am rolling my eyes, over LPC crybabies who blame their parties electoral failure on everyone but themselves

I just about choked when I read this. It has been the CPC whining and crying since their inception about how everything is someone else's fault - from the left leaning biased media to yada, yada, yada. As far as I can see the Cons haven't taken responsibility for anything that hasn't worked out their way. They are the biggest whiners and crybabies this country has ever produced.

And of course there is their never-ending mantra ...... but the Liberals.

[Wild Bill]

And of course there is their never-ending mantra ...... but the Liberals.

Yeah, they have whined a bit but still, when they say "but the Liberals" that doesn't change the fact that it's true!

Proving one side down never brings your own side up. We rise or fall on our own merits.

As I have said many times, I will vote Tory but only by default. When they steal as much money as the Liberals did with AdScam then maybe it will be time to switch.

[madmax]

They are the biggest whiners and crybabies this country has ever produced.

And of course there is their never-ending mantra ...... but the Liberals.

Shall I used the phrase, SULKING IN HIS TRAILER? I prefer hiding, because I know a coward and a bully are often the same. I also know LPC strategy is to attack the smaller parties and avoid the larger ones.

[Fortunata]

Shall I used the phrase, SULKING IN HIS TRAILER? I prefer hiding, because I know a coward and a bully are often the same.

How about being so afraid to face the public it had the CPC ducking and running (slinking) down the back stairway after their "for invitees only" press conference to do with the Cadman tape? Brave, honourable bunch.

[jdobbin]

I am rolling my eyes, over LPC crybabies who blame their parties electoral failure on everyone but themselves and their entrenched corruption with regards to adscam. Only LPC partisans blame others for not securing their own votes.

I certainly don't blame other parties. I think Chretien stayed too long. I think Paul Martin ran a bad campaign. I think elements of the Quebec branch of the party were either out of control or showing no signs of control at all. I think corruption was rife in sponsorship and it stuck to the party like a stain.

Even after that, the Liberals still looked to be heading for a win in 2006 were it not for the RCMP announcement of an investigation into Ralph Goodale. The Liberals dropped 10 points overnight.

Did you forget that in 2004 when Mr. Harper was hiding in his trailer after calling Prime Minister Martin a supporter of Kiddie porn, and his party was dead in the water with one week to go in the election, the LPC did what any party would do. No they didn't finish off Harper, they went after the NDP.

The NDP had been going after the Liberals the entire election and the Liberals virtually ignored them. You are criticizing them for responding?

LPC political infighting and an exhausted party bereft of ideas and accountability demonstrated that the LPC realm of entitlement was coming to an end. The arrogance of the LPC led them from Majority, to Minority to Opposition and they have no one to blame but themselves.

All true.

I never use my violin. Would you like it.

I can't recall personalizing with you as seem to be doing with me.

My acknowledgment of the flaws of the Liberals still doesn't answer why the NDP targets the Liberals every election all the way back to is origins even when they are out of power. It really limits them as clearly demonstrated during the Mulroney years. When it comes to who can replace the Tories, the NDP seem to attack the Liberals while the Liberals attack the Tories. The result is that people vote Liberal because it looks like they are prepared to take the Tories to task.

We have already seen evidence of unions and NDP members voting Liberal as a strategy to end Tory rule. It happens every time in part because of this long standing tradition of going after the Liberals.

Edited August 22, 2008 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

I also know LPC strategy is to attack the smaller parties and avoid the larger ones.

I've never heard that claim before. Dion spends all his time attacking the NDP?

[madmax]

I certainly don't blame other parties. I think Chretien stayed too long. I think Paul Martin ran a bad campaign. I think elements of the Quebec branch of the party were either out of control or showing no signs of control at all. I think corruption was rife in sponsorship and it stuck to the party like a stain.

Even after that, the Liberals still looked to be heading for a win in 2006 were it not for the RCMP announcement of an investigation into Ralph Goodale. The Liberals dropped 10 points overnight.

The NDP had been going after the Liberals the entire election and the Liberals virtually ignored them. You are criticizing them for responding?

All true.

I can't recall personalizing with you as seem to be doing with me.

Don't give out all the right answers then hit me up with that especially heading into a weekend. You are going to make me feel guilty.

No intent to be personal.

The 2006 campaign the NDP challenged the Government of Paul Martin. We agree on that. The LPC didnot ignore the NDP during the campaign, but the LPC did spent more time putting out fires and using the same 2004 strategy

in very poorly run campaign. I don't question the LPC tactics, they are real, they attack the little NDP for votes and the NDP know this. What I don't believe is the claim many LPC supporters make, in that the NDP is responsibile for the state of affairs of the LPC.

My acknowledgment of the flaws of the Liberals still doesn't answer why the NDP targets the Liberals every election all the way back to is origins even when they are out of power. It really limits them as clearly demonstrated during the Mulroney years. When it comes to who can replace the Tories, the NDP seem to attack the Liberals while the Liberals attack the Tories. The result is that people vote Liberal because it looks like they are prepared to take the Tories to task.

The LPC are not a good opposition party. Unless you consider ABSENT as taking on the Harpre Conservatives.

We have already seen evidence of unions and NDP members voting Liberal as a strategy to end Tory rule. It happens every time in part because of this long standing tradition of going after the Liberals.

The LPC campaign from the left. Nothing new.