Sprint to the finish

[Slim MacSquinty]

So we've got nine days left until the vote, given the poles I expect to see some desparate measures most particularly by the Liberals who must be terrified by the financial consequences of a poor showing.

Here is what I predict:

Conservatives will target the regions where they have a good chance of making progress, they will solidify there position on their economic platform and conintue to show the dissarray of the other parties. They will make a very big effort to get Quebec back on board. Harper has to find a way to get more than ten seconds of air time to make his message clear. I recommend more piano playing perhaps even with accompanyment.

Liberals will ramp up the scare tactics in an effort to block the Tories, particularly in Quebec. They will continue to play the chicken little game on the economy (demonstrating their lack of concern for the actual economic health of Canadians). They will march out all their partisan "experts" to make all kinds of oblique attacks on primarily the Cons but also the NDP. Dion will tell us so many times that he loves Canada that we may have to consider a restraining order for fear he is stalking us.

NDP will go for the jugular on the Liberals looking for the many soft Liberal voters who question Dion. I expect their main target will be the Liberal economic plan centering on the the green shift. Jack will perfect his sleeve roll within the next few days.

Greens will effectively throw their support behind the Liberals, although we probably won't see it out in the open I suspect there will be some kind of deal behind the scenes. Lizzy will cry fowl that there was some kind of conspiracy to keep the Greens down.

The Bloc will target the Cons almost exclusively saying they don't understand Quebec, they're mean and they want to attack their culture, sovereignty won't get mentioned once.

The mary jane party will head down to the seven eleven pick up a big bag of doritos and will nap right through election night.

Edited October 5, 2008 by Slim MacSquinty

[capricorn]

Liberals will ramp up the scare tactics in an effort to block the Tories, particularly in Quebec. They will continue to play the chicken little game on the economy (demonstrating their lack of concern for the actual economic health of Canadians). They will march out all their partisan "experts" to make all kinds of oblique attacks on primarily the Cons but also the NDP. Dion will tell us so many times that he loves Canada that we may have to consider a restraining order for fear he is stalking us.

IMO an important number of undecided voters is made up of the middle class. The Liberals are trying desperately to convince them that they are not a left leaning party. Ever since the English debate, Dion has been making reference to the stock market in all his stump speeches. I cannot recall Dion making any reference to the stocks in any previous speeches. (I just heard Dion on a clip on CTV and once again he mentioned the stock market.) Trying to appeal to the leftists and the centrists all at once has Dion and the Liberals twisting in every direction. I don't see a change in Liberal strategy as Oct. 14 approaches.

BTW I sure would like to know what Dion is trying to accomplish by referring to the NDP relying on monopoly money. I don't get it.

NDP will go for the jugular on the Liberals looking for the many soft Liberal voters who question Dion. I expect their main target will be the Liberal economic plan centering on the the green shift.

I've noticed Layton is playing the same game as Dion, targeting the middle class vote. He has been making statements about how important business is to the economy. He is straying from the NDP platform. This is sure to infuriate some NDP supporters.

The Bloc will target the Cons almost exclusively saying they don't understand Quebec, they're mean and they want to attack their culture, sovereignty won't get mentioned once.

Issues around arts cuts and young offenders have provided the wedge that Duceppe is playing up in his campaign. Harper has received very poor advice from his Quebec advisers and he is paying the price.

[independent]

IMO an important number of undecided voters is made up of the middle class. The Liberals are trying desperately to convince them that they are not a left leaning party. Ever since the English debate, Dion has been making reference to the stock market in all his stump speeches. I cannot recall Dion making any reference to the stocks in any previous speeches. (I just heard Dion on a clip on CTV and once again he mentioned the stock market.) Trying to appeal to the leftists and the centrists all at once has Dion and the Liberals twisting in every direction. I don't see a change in Liberal strategy as Oct. 14 approaches.

BTW I sure would like to know what Dion is trying to accomplish by referring to the NDP relying on monopoly money. I don't get it.

I've noticed Layton is playing the same game as Dion, targeting the middle class vote. He has been making statements about how important business is to the economy. He is straying from the NDP platform. This is sure to infuriate some NDP supporters.

Issues around arts cuts and young offenders have provided the wedge that Duceppe is playing up in his campaign. Harper has received very poor advice from his Quebec advisers and he is paying the price.

I never heard any Liberal suggest they are trying to be left leaning. They are against raising corporate taxes. They are a center to right of center party with a social conscience.

The stockmarket is important to nearly every Canadian. Any one with a pension fund realises the importance of stocks.

All parties support business it just that some parties tend to regulate business more than others.

The NDP are usually more than willing to hand out millions to corporations to create jobs. I do not want to pick on any individuals but their are plenty of business people that have made millions from government handouts. The NDP try to create a stabilized business environment.

Harper supports an unregulated business environment. Trusting they will be good corportate citizens. He figures business should be created and fail as the free market system dictates. This is difficult for employees who get laid off and have to find new skills and new jobs.

The Liberal and old Progressive conservatives usually took a position some where in between.

Business and stockmarkets are big part of all of are lives regardless of what party we belong too. It is just a matter of how much government involvement is needed too make our system run well.

[capricorn]

I never heard any Liberal suggest they are trying to be left leaning.

I never said a Liberal has made such a suggestion.

They are against raising corporate taxes.

Are you so sure none of this would happen if the Green Shift plan is implemented?

They are a center to right of center party with a social conscience.

But I thought a party right of center has fascist tendencies. That's what many on the left say. I would suggest that having a social conscience is not the exclusive domain of the Liberal Party.

The stockmarket is important to nearly every Canadian. Any one with a pension fund realises the importance of stocks.

You're absolutely right. I would add that anyone with a basic knowledge of economics would realize the value of a healthy stock market. It looks like Dion has just discovered this fact. How else would you explain that the words "stock market" only appeared in his vocabulary on the campaign trail after the debates?

All parties support business it just that some parties tend to regulate business more than others.

Layton wants to increase corporate taxes. I don't see this as supportive of the business sector. See my link below.

The NDP are usually more than willing to hand out millions to corporations to create jobs.

Really?

NDP Leader Jack Layton is promising to undo billions of dollars in corporate tax cuts, a pledge that quickly drew accusations it would threaten an already ailing economy.

Layton said Sunday that an NDP government would reverse corporate tax cuts brought in by Liberal and Conservative governments, raising the rate to 22.12 per cent from 19.5 per cent.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/canadavotes/new...28/6913251.html

IMO the NDP is the enemy of the business sector. The NDP platform speaks for itself.

Harper supports an unregulated business environment. Trusting they will be good corportate citizens. He figures business should be created and fail as the free market system dictates.

That is inaccurate. Harper believes in free enterprise yet he knows that some government regulation is imperative. In addition, he has indicated that as Prime Minister, failing Canadian banks would not be bailed out as they are in the US at present.

This is difficult for employees who get laid off and have to find new skills and new jobs.

Yes it is. But would you not agree that it is impossible for the government to guarantee the jobs of all workers? There are many federal and provincial programs that offer assistance to displaced workers.

Business and stockmarkets are big part of all of are lives regardless of what party we belong too. It is just a matter of how much government involvement is needed too make our system run well.

I agree. The problem is that too many people on the left disregard the importance of large, medium and small businesses to the well being of our economy. They would want to hinder the business sector to a point of rendering it totally unproductive and ineffective. In turn, this would only result in failed companies, more companies relocating operations offshore and massive job losses.

[Slim MacSquinty]

Did you expect they would come out and say; Oh by the way we are now a left of center party?

It is pretty well known that the left wing has taken over the party since the leadership race, looks who's prominent in the party, Bob Rae still a socialist at heart, Dion robin hood with a funny accent, Iggy a hawk on the war a lefty on everything else. The old guard is sitting in the wings (or have been shoved there) waiting for Dion to fall on his face, then tey come back to re-tool the party in the Chretienite image.

A right of center party with a social conscience, whatever your on man, I gotta get me some.