Senate appointments

[jdobbin]

Alright jdobbin, I'm going to answer it directly if I can. I don't in any way speak for Harper, obviously but I can guess which is what we're all doing.

If he goes to court and they rule that it is then that's t it's over. No one will ever be able to change it without opening the const. He wants to do it w/o opening with Const which would be very difficult.

If he tries to make changes, the province will challenge to the court anyway. He can't force elections on provinces that don't want them and he can't set term limits in either the House of Commons or the Senate without making an amendment to the Constitution.

I personally don't understand why everyone is afraid of changing the COnst. What's the big deal.

Because it tore country apart. It caused the dollar to stay low the entire time. It made investors wary.

And worst of all, because everyone and their dog was adding things to put in. Once open, people want to entrench dozens of provisions, not all of them workable.

Edited December 14, 2008 by jdobbin

[Mr.Canada]

Well I guess that's it then. It must be amended in order to better serve Canadians. In order to save Canada we must amend it!

[jdobbin]

Well I guess that's it then. It must be amended in order to better serve Canadians. In order to save Canada we must amend it!

Now that is scary. If you want to reduce the Tories to 2 seats that is the best way to do it.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Why is Stevie thinking about hiring Kim?

[Mr.Canada]

Now that is scary. If you want to reduce the Tories to 2 seats that is the best way to do it.

Well if you support the status quo you should be happy is making the appointments. He has full authority under the COnst. to do so.

[jdobbin]

Well if you support the status quo you should be happy is making the appointments. He has full authority under the COnst. to do so.

I don't believe I stated I have a problem with it. I've only pointed out that Harper is a hypocrite if he does make the appointments.

[Mr.Canada]

I don't believe I stated I have a problem with it. I've only pointed out that Harper is a hypocrite if he does make the appointments.

Ok so he's a hypocrite if he makes the appointments, trying to tear the country apart if he opens the Constitution and scared if he doesn't cry to the Supreme Court.

This is getting silly jdobbin. In your world the only thing he can do is leave them open so a Liberal can appoint them right? After all only a Liberal is fit to run the country right?

[SSD]

We should abolish the senate. It's useless. Imagine an elected senate. We would end up in a legislative deadlock. An elected senate would gain the legitimacy to "do something." They could veto anything the lower house proposes. How would the government function in such a situation. Either we keep things the way they are or abolish it altogether.I don't want to live in an American system.

[punked]

We should abolish the senate. It's useless. Imagine an elected senate. We would end up in a legislative deadlock. An elected senate would gain the legitimacy to "do something." They could veto anything the lower house proposes. How would the government function in such a situation. Either we keep things the way they are or abolish it altogether.I don't want to live in an American system.

At least someone knows what is up.

[Oleg Bach]

At least someone knows what is up.

Second rate shadow governments are useless - senator May? What a waste of time and money - I say fire them all...and the ones that are semi-hard working - give them jobs as Parlimentary Pages. All Harper will do by continued stacking of the senate is leave a mess for the next government. There should be a voluteer board of wise old advisors...who actually want to help. That idea of formalizing a group of informed observers could be a real senate...Senators without the stupid title..to much entitlement going on these days. We could use less. Harper is showing a lack of confidence in his own abiltiy with this knee jerk appointment frenzy..this lack of personal confidence might become another vote of non-confidence...Either Harper can lead or he can not! He had better pull up his socks and stop politicing and lead!

[jdobbin]

This is getting silly jdobbin. In your world the only thing he can do is leave them open so a Liberal can appoint them right? After all only a Liberal is fit to run the country right?

There is plenty of other things Harper could do. If he cannot figure them out perhaps he should step down.

[bush_cheney2004]

At least someone knows what is up.

Yes...be careful...first is will be an American "system", then you will be using Windows or Macintosh operating systems.

It's insidious......

[Mr.Canada]

There is plenty of other things Harper could do. If he cannot figure them out perhaps he should step down.

There is nothing he can with the Senate that will make you happy right?

I'll post it again since you were too afraid the first time to answer.

Ok so he's a hypocrite if he makes the appointments, trying to tear the country apart if he opens the Constitution and scared if he doesn't cry to the Supreme Court.

So what should he so?

[punked]

There is nothing he can with the Senate that will make you happy right?

I'll post it again since you were too afraid the first time to answer.

Ok so he's a hypocrite if he makes the appointments, trying to tear the country apart if he opens the Constitution and scared if he doesn't cry to the Supreme Court.

So what should he so?

Leave them open is what he should do until it gets to a point that something real has to be done about it.

[Mr.Canada]

Leave them open is what he should do until it gets to a point that something real has to be done about it.

I see, and would the coalition leave them open?

[jdobbin]

There is nothing he can with the Senate that will make you happy right?

Where did I say that?

Ok so he's a hypocrite if he makes the appointments, trying to tear the country apart if he opens the Constitution and scared if he doesn't cry to the Supreme Court.

So what should he so?

He could appoint people with no obvious political connections from a list of distinguished citizens drawn from up from various sources.

That would be impressive. Can he do it?

[Smallc]

He could appoint people with no obvious political connections from a list of distinguished citizens drawn from up from various sources.

That's really how it should be. I think that was the original intent wasn't it?

[jdobbin]

That's really how it should be. I think that was the original intent wasn't it?

I'll have to ask the Fathers of Confederation. Back to you in a bit on that.

[Smallc]

I'll have to ask the Fathers of Confederation. Back to you in a bit on that.

Ok, ok, stupid question, I get it.

[Mr.Canada]

Where did I say that?

He could appoint people with no obvious political connections from a list of distinguished citizens drawn from up from various sources.

That would be impressive. Can he do it?

WHy are the Tories constantly held to a higher standard then the Liberals are?

This would never be suggested to a Liberal government.

[jdobbin]

WHy are the Tories constantly held to a higher standard then the Liberals are?

This would never be suggested to a Liberal government.

My suggestion to a Liberal government would be to get rid of the Senate if there was willingness from the provinces.

Otherwise, I think looking for the best people would go a long way to doing something different.

[Smallc]

Otherwise, I think looking for the best people would go a long way to doing something different.

I like that idea better. I want people in the senate wit the best interests of Canada in mind. That idea would make that a reality.

[jdobbin]

Ok, ok, stupid question, I get it.

Just joshing around. My view of why the Senate was first created is that the elite in Canada wanted a place to parachute their comrades since they didn't completely trust the electorate.

[Smallc]

Just joshing around. My view of why the Senate was first created is that the elite in Canada wanted a place to parachute their comrades since they didn't completely trust the electorate.

I know you were joking, don't worry, I wasn't taking offense, I was joking too. I still like the idea of sober second thought, but I don't think political appointments are the way to achieve it. That's why I like the idea of returning all discretion to the Governor General. I like the idea of a chamber of merit.

[madmax]

Second rate shadow governments are useless - senator May? What a waste of time and money - I say fire them all...and the ones that are semi-hard working - give them jobs as Parlimentary Pages.

I guess your not on Harpers short list