Byelections 17 March 2008

[Vancouver King]

Here's another observation. The percentage of the by-election vote captured by the Conservatives increased substantially in the two western ridings relative to their percentage in the 2006 election. Harper did not campaign nor even show his face in those ridings. Coincidence?

Stephen Harper's political instincts are slipping. Two weeks before the Quadra vote the PM was in Vancouver and deliberately snubbed his own candidate - not a single photo op, not even a quick limo trip to the campaign office for free exposure on the evening news. The Tory media continues to question Dion's judgement over parachuting candidates yet here is a stark example of Harper's ineptitude - the elusive and cherished urban break through was sacrificed to the PM's petulence.

Edited March 19, 2008 by Vancouver King

[normanchateau]

Stephen Harper's political instincts are slipping. Two weeks before the Quadra vote the PM was in Vancouver and deliberately snubbed his own candidate - not a single photo op, not even a quick limo trip to the campaign office for free exposure on the evening news. The Tory media continues to question Dion's judgement over parachuting candidates yet here is a stark example of Harper's ineptitude - the illusive and cherished urban break through was sacrificed to the PM's petulence.

By contrast, Dion did have the courage to appear with the Vancouver Quadra Liberal candidate three days before the by-election.

[M.Dancer]

By contrast, Dion did have the courage to appear with the Vancouver Quadra Liberal candidate three days before the by-election.

Maybe that explains why they almost lost....

[normanchateau]

Maybe that explains why they almost lost....

Perhaps in the same fashion that Harper's absence explains why the Conservatives almost won...

Edited March 19, 2008 by normanchateau

[Alta4ever]

Is this the way that Conservatives lose?

By resorting to thuggery type tactics?

Read the rest here

So how do you know who it was? Your artical said nothing about any political party.

Why is it that you act like this. Please post proof of your accusation.

After you post the proof here you better call the police because your obvious skill at deduction are much better then theirs.

[JaysFan]

I saw nothing about Conservatives being apprehended in that article. Do you live in Willowdale, Jaysfan?

No but I hope that when they catch the cons (criminals) involved in that vandalism and they are identified as being Conservative supporters, you'll be the first to step up and admit some of Harper's thugs were responsible.

[JaysFan]

So how do you know who it was? Your artical said nothing about any political party.

Why is it that you act like this. Please post proof of your accusation.

After you post the proof here you better call the police because your obvious skill at deduction are much better then theirs.

Oh yes, the Conservative lackies quickly rush to their heros defence.

Who else would have been so bitter at losing an election as to target strictly Liberal supporters vehicles.

Not the NDP, they have more class than that.

[Alta4ever]

Oh yes, the Conservative lackies quickly rush to their heros defence.

Who else would have been so bitter at losing an election as to target strictly Liberal supporters vehicles.

Not the NDP, they have more class than that.

No ones defending anyone, I am asking you to prove your allegation.

Without that you have nothing and are nothing.

The ndp and the greens also lost in that riding so by your logic.........what can one infer?

[capricorn]

Who else would have been so bitter at losing an election as to target strictly Liberal supporters vehicles.

It was predetermined that Findlay would win big. The Liberals could run a turnip in Willowdale and win hands down. So why would Conservative supporters lash out when the outcome was already known?

Let me join your speculation game. Wouldn't it be a hoot if the perps were really Liberal supporters/thugs who wanted to pull a stunt to smear the Conservatives, or heaven forbid, the NDP?

Not the NDP, they have more class than that.

My but you're naive.

Oh, and btw, you're new sig, although just as juvenile as the original one, is not as hard on the eyes.

[scribblet]

Okay, I haven't read the whole thread as I'm behind my news and now on lousy dialup for a couple of weeks, so sorry if this has allready been said, but this is my take.

The interesting news is the collapse of the NDP vote, the Conservative win in Saskatchewan and the very tight race in the riding of Vancouver-Quadra, which I don't think the media has made much of. ( I only get my Canuck news on line for now so correct me if I'm wrong) P:)- Jack Layton and the NDP will have to be careful, they could lose more to the Greens.

Dion is crowing about his wins which were allready Liberals, not much of a victory. So, Let us hope he is equally successful in the next Federal election - let me see ..... a 25% loss from 101 seats equals 76 Liberals - 25% gain from 126 seats equals 157 Conservative seats - hmmm majority government. May Mr. Dion always be so

victorious.

Interesting to note that only one more vote in each of the polls would have given the CPC a victory in Quadra... maybe a recount is in order!

Any bets on Bob Rae replacing Dion in the not too distant future?

Edited March 20, 2008 by scriblett

[scribblet]

Is this the way that Conservatives lose?

By resorting to thuggery type tactics?

Read the rest here

Spurioser and spurioser, there is nothing in that piece to indicate conservatives did it, you'd better have some thing to back that up.

[M.Dancer]

Oh yes, the Conservative lackies quickly rush to their heros defence.

Who else would have been so bitter at losing an election as to target strictly Liberal supporters vehicles.

Not the NDP, they have more class than that.

Well, lets suppose that vandalism is a crime of youth and immaturity....the greens have a lot of young supporters...so do the NDP....both attract youthful immature supporters....

[Wilber]

The direction this thread has gone is as immature as the vandalism.

[pfezziwig]

Poor Stefan Dion, he gets a couple Liberals elected and they are the one's who wil likely challenge him for his job in a year, he just can't catch a break these days.

[normanchateau]

The Liberals could run a turnip in Willowdale and win hands down.

Just as they could run Jesus Christ in any riding in Alberta and lose hands down.

[Wilber]

Just as they could run Jesus Christ in any riding in Alberta and lose hands down.

Somehow I don't see him joining the Liberals or any other Canadian political party.

[normanchateau]

Somehow I don't see him joining the Liberals or any other Canadian political party.

Nor do I see a turnip joining the Conservatives or any other Canadian political party.

[Pliny]

No but I hope that when they catch the cons (criminals) involved in that vandalism and they are identified as being Conservative supporters, you'll be the first to step up and admit some of Harper's thugs were responsible.

Yes. I will. I am not a conservative or a liberal. I admit I look like a conservative because I definitely don't support any liberal or left wing socialist party. I would be equally against the conservatives introducing socialist policies and I dislike any move they may make toward increased bureaucracy in Ottawa.

The problem with my stand is that it protects the Lib-left. I should be more encouraging of a larger conservative voice with some patronage and privilege to swell the ranks of conservatism and utterly defeat any move toward Liberalism but that would mean a larger government. I think Conservatism will have to defeat liberalism and then gradually reduce itself while it weans the citizenry off the State Teat by educating them to look after themselves and not be so damned dependent.

P.S. Conservatives don't have thugs - that's a union term and is reserved for those supporting the NDP. The conservatives have "henchmen".

Edited March 30, 2008 by Pliny

[Pliny]

Okay, I haven't read the whole thread as I'm behind my news and now on lousy dialup for a couple of weeks, so sorry if this has allready been said, but this is my take.

The interesting news is the collapse of the NDP vote, the Conservative win in Saskatchewan and the very tight race in the riding of Vancouver-Quadra, which I don't think the media has made much of. ( I only get my Canuck news on line for now so correct me if I'm wrong) P:)- Jack Layton and the NDP will have to be careful, they could lose more to the Greens.

Dion is crowing about his wins which were allready Liberals, not much of a victory. So, Let us hope he is equally successful in the next Federal election - let me see ..... a 25% loss from 101 seats equals 76 Liberals - 25% gain from 126 seats equals 157 Conservative seats - hmmm majority government. May Mr. Dion always be so

victorious.

Interesting to note that only one more vote in each of the polls would have given the CPC a victory in Quadra... maybe a recount is in order!

Any bets on Bob Rae replacing Dion in the not too distant future?

Is that a working holiday you are on?

Anyway, an accurate account of the outcome of the by-elections in my view.

Offering any odds?

[normanchateau]

I am not a conservative or a liberal. I admit I look like a conservative because I definitely don't support any liberal or left wing socialist party. I would be equally against the conservatives introducing socialist policies and I dislike any move they may make toward increased bureaucracy in Ottawa.

Sounds like you're a fiscal conservative and are therefore opposed to the fact that socon Harper's free-spending government has increased spending by more than any government in the history of Canada:

http://andrewcoyne.com/columns/2007/03/fla...ig-spenders.php