A conservative vs. a socialist (NDP) government

kimmy · May 5, 2011

You guys are the ones making fun of the MPs that the people of those ridings CHOSE to rep them even before they get into office. You make it clear you think the people of those ridings will regret everything they have done and they must be stupid to do such a thing. Good luck with that for the next 4 years.

I wouldn't say the NDP support in Quebec was a "fad", exactly, but this is a very new thing for both the NDP and the Quebec voters. It's very much an experiment for both the party and the voters, and it is hardly guaranteed that it is going to be a lasting success. It will be very interesting to see how that goes over the next four years, and to see how being Quebec's defacto voice in Parliament changes the NDP. They've been handed a responsibility that they may not have been expecting.

You can be sure that by the end of four years, the NDP will stand for whatever those people stand for. The Tories morphed in much the same way after absorbing the PCs. You go where the votes are or you end up like Reform; stunted and unable to grow.

And it's going to be really interesting to hear Quebec advocated for by a national federalist party instead of the BQ. I long ago stopped listening to Duceppe's interpretation of what Quebec wants. I expect Jack Layton's interpretation of what Quebec wants to be a lot more compatible with the rest of the country.

-k

Scotty · May 5, 2011

The NDP is the first federal party to have 40% of its caucus be women.

Yeah, because it had a whole pile of women running in what they regarded as hopeless ridings in order to be able to say their party has a lot of women candidates. And through the strangest electoral fluke in half a century (at least) a whole pile of them got elected.

Scotty · May 5, 2011

Kinda like the "fiscal conservatives" that voted for the biggest spending government in history?

I have consistently voted, throughout my life as a voter, for the least-worst choice. This election was no exception.

ToadBrother · May 5, 2011

The problem is the NDP has two audiences. It has the Quebecois types who it appeases by supporting expanding Bill 101, by supporting the law to make all SC judges bilingual, by opposing the clarity act, by suggesting he'd reopen the constitution. Mulcair derided the Conservatives for 'attacking Quebec' during the election by its dismissal of separatists as possible partners in a coalition government. This sort of thing is bread and butter for the Quebec victim people, but it won't sit well for long with NDP supporters in Toronto, Hamilton and BC.

If it can maintain anywhere near the number of seats now, or possibly grow on them, I think you'll find political supporters can stomach a great deal. Again, look at the Conservatives. While there are a few who pine for the old days of Reform, most realize that that road did not lead to power.

Besides, in this particular case, the NDP has long advocated so-called Asymmetric Federalism, so I'm not too sure how any of this is actually sacrificing their principles at all.

Edited May 5, 2011 by ToadBrother

scouterjim · May 5, 2011

With the recent rise of the NDP (popularity now near 20%) and Harper's total disregard of good governance, do you think the NDP would form a good government? Would you have more faith in a Conservative government or an NDP government if you compare the two federal parties?

The NDP long ago ceased to be "the working man's party". They are now the "I don't want to work man's party". They view the working man now as a cash cow to be taxed, taxed and taxed again in order to support the lazy bastard that does not want to work. "If you make $50,000/year, you are rich and can afford to pay more taxes." is what Layton and some of his cronies have said. That is now about an average wage for the average working person.

ToadBrother · May 5, 2011

Yeah, because it had a whole pile of women running in what they regarded as hopeless ridings in order to be able to say their party has a lot of women candidates. And through the strangest electoral fluke in half a century (at least) a whole pile of them got elected.

I'd call it a lot of things, but it wasn't a fluke. I think Quebecers knew very well who and what they were voting for. They abandoned the Bloc, and the won't vote Liberal and Conservative, so that only really leaves the NDP.

The real question is, in four years, whether even a quarter of these ridings will remain in NDP hands. That's one of Layton's challenges, on top of trying to firm up support in ridings elsewhere in the country. Jack is going to be one busy guy.

Battletoads · May 5, 2011

Yes. The Cons's objective is to make everyone in the middle class a member of the lower classes whether they want it or not.

Fixed a few spelling mistakes and grammar errors in your post.

punked · May 5, 2011

Yeah, because it had a whole pile of women running in what they regarded as hopeless ridings in order to be able to say their party has a lot of women candidates. And through the strangest electoral fluke in half a century (at least) a whole pile of them got elected.

The NDP ran more women then the other parties and thus got more women elected then the other parties. Why is that so hard to understand?

WWWTT · May 6, 2011

The by elections showed that the NDP is in trouble....which is afterall a very good thing. With Castro gone they should take the hint...

Hey look at this comment I found

HaHa

Got any more MDancer

WWWTT

Mr.Canada · May 6, 2011

The Tories have a long history of governing Canada as does the LPC meanwhile the NDP have just been screaming in the corner since their inception Federally. This will be the first time that they've been given a chance to be taken seriously so they have to first prove to Canadians that they can have an adult discussion without throwing a temper tantrum. They have to earn the respect of the House and the title of Official Opposition before they can ever dream of becoming the governing party.

Sandy MacNab · May 6, 2011

...And it's going to be really interesting to hear Quebec advocated for by a national federalist party instead of the BQ. I long ago stopped listening to Duceppe's interpretation of what Quebec wants. I expect Jack Layton's interpretation of what Quebec wants to be a lot more compatible with the rest of the country.

-k

Yes, someday Layton will read the signs and his interpretation will be, like the rest of Canada, Quebec doesn't want him either.

Sandy MacNab · May 6, 2011

The Tories have a long history of governing Canada as does the LPC meanwhile the NDP have just been screaming in the corner since their inception Federally. This will be the first time that they've been given a chance to be taken seriously so they have to first prove to Canadians that they can have an adult discussion without throwing a temper tantrum. They have to earn the respect of the House and the title of Official Opposition before they can ever dream of becoming the governing party.

For Layton's sake, I hope the NDP doesn't go to school on the performance of Iggy and his zoo. They were given a chancee to be taken seriously and they blew it - big time.

WWWTT · May 6, 2011

The Tories have a long history of governing Canada as does the LPC meanwhile the NDP have just been screaming in the corner since their inception Federally. This will be the first time that they've been given a chance to be taken seriously so they have to first prove to Canadians that they can have an adult discussion without throwing a temper tantrum. They have to earn the respect of the House and the title of Official Opposition before they can ever dream of becoming the governing party.

Man you are freakin wrong!

This is the conservatives first majority government in Canada.

How will anybody take them serious when their supporters are not even aware of Canadian History?

Good Luck

WWWTT

RNG · May 6, 2011

they have to first prove to Canadians that they can have an adult discussion without throwing a temper tantrum..

That never seemed to apply to the Cons or the Libs lately, unfortunately.

Edited May 6, 2011 by RNG

blueblood · May 6, 2011

Man you are freakin wrong!

This is the conservatives first majority government in Canada.

How will anybody take them serious when their supporters are not even aware of Canadian History?

Good Luck

WWWTT

Except for the mulroney and diefenbaker administrations or are they imaginations. The cpc was a merger of the reform/canadian alliance and the progressive conservatives. Cripes peter mckay is harper's head stooge.

Who's up on canadian history now.

Ladies and gentlemen we have the anti-mr.canada here.

WWWTT · May 6, 2011

Except for the mulroney and diefenbaker administrations or are they imaginations. The cpc was a merger of the reform/canadian alliance and the progressive conservatives. Cripes peter mckay is harper's head stooge.

Who's up on canadian history now.

Ladies and gentlemen we have the anti-mr.canada here.

Ya the progressive conservative party!

Not the conservative party.

In fact after the merger the progressive conservatives still ran candidates in the following election in some ridings against the conservatives so technically the conservative party is a seperate entity!

But hey if you want to cling on to some of the worst politicians in Canadian history go right ahead

WWWTT

Smallc · May 6, 2011

In fact after the merger the progressive conservatives

That was the Progressive Canadian party.

blueblood · May 6, 2011

Ya the progressive conservative party!

Not the conservative party.

In fact after the merger the progressive conservatives still ran candidates in the following election in some ridings against the conservatives so technically the conservative party is a seperate entity!

But hey if you want to cling on to some of the worst politicians in Canadian history go right ahead

WWWTT

Who in 2004 ran for the progressive conservative party which was the election after the two parties merged?

The wost politicians in canadian history would be the dion and ignatieff crew. How many of them are in parliament now?

WWWTT · May 6, 2011

Who in 2004 ran for the progressive conservative party which was the election after the two parties merged?

The wost politicians in canadian history would be the dion and ignatieff crew. How many of them are in parliament now?

I'm sorry I can't give you any names but I do recall that many members were angry at peter mckay for the merger and a few continued on with the progressive conservative name in the following election after the merger.So technically the conservatives now are not the progressive conservatives and are in fact another party.

WWWTT

cybercoma · May 6, 2011

I remember that election and Smallc is right; that was the Progressive Canadian party. There was some controversy over them using a name so close to Progressive Conservative because some thought it would cause confusion at the polls.

WWWTT · May 6, 2011

That was the Progressive Canadian party.

Thank you for the correction.

WWWTT

dre · May 8, 2011

There is a difference between Cuba and Bush/Harper. Cubans do not have input to the laws of the country they are dictated.

Horse shit. A majority of Canadians have wanted pot decriminalized for decades... now theyre talking about mandatory prison sentences. Canadians get ignored by government just like Cubans.

scribblet · May 8, 2011

Thank you for the correction.

WWWTT

It was David Orchard I believe, who was no conservative, he just wanted to get rid of free trade among other issues. I'm not sure but I think he crossed the floor from the Liberals to the Conservatives.

Mr.Canada · May 8, 2011

If the NDP and Jack Layton had formed government Canada would be in serious trouble. The economic action plan would be halted. Taxes would rise dramatically, corporations would be leaving Canada in droves and Canadians would be poorer. Unemployment would skyrocket and Layton would blame Harper and Harris I'm sure.

Canadas economy is doing rather well and the people have agreed. The voters have come out in drovers to send the Harper Tories back to Ottawa with a majority so they can continue our economic stability.

The Conservatives are the governing party during hard times while the Liberals have only governed during good times. The voters know which party they can trust when Canadas back is against the wall.

Oleg Bach · May 8, 2011

Just like those hard working folks at Bear Stearns? No doubt you do have to create your own wealth though, you're probably to far up the food chain to benefit or need any socialist-like bail-out from that direction. That said you're also likely to far down the chain for a seat on the lifeboats that Nanny has for the high-end losers who can't swim on their own.

Conservative vs socialist? Its all pretty relative I think. Ideology is like curved space, go far enough to the right and eventually you come back full circle to the left.

Conservative elite usually manipultate the socialist to do their dirty work and make them richer...the drones are the socialist and the king bees are conservative.