Harper's New Budget - Is it the Coalition Killer?!

blueblood · January 11, 2009

I include the Bloc because Harper included them when he formed his Coalition in 2004. Combined with only the NDP he had just 118 seats to the Liberal's 135.
Even at 55% the Coalition is ahead of the Con's 37%. Also, the Green party has agreed to support the Coalition and are actively campaigning on their behalf; which is also crucial if an election is called. The Coalition have agreed to stay united, probably only fielding candidates with the best shot at beating the Conservatives, to avoid vote-splitting.

But in crunching numbers when we combine actual votes, the NDP and Liberals total 6,046,382 to the Conservatives; 5,204,468. Still ahead and without the Bloc. Harper avoided vote-splitting by uniting the Right. Now he's also united the left.

Many of those new Conservative MPs won by a very small margin. Gail Shea just 76 votes and reading the local paper in her area, people are already upset because apparently she's been flying friends to Ottawa at taxpayer's expense, to conduct business that should be conducted when she's in her riding. Dion factor gone, Carbon tax gone, and if the Left do unite, even informally; vote-splitting gone. Not much left.

What about the NDP Liberal coalition formed to pass PMPM's budget. The one Corporate Canada took a butt kicking on?

The difference between the Bloc-Tory, NDP-Lib coalition during PMPM's reign and the Dion coalition is pure optics. The one years ago was backroom behind closed doors, and people thought this was politics as usual. However this new one was in your face, and people thought it was malarkey.

A product is no good if your marketing sucks and nobody buys it.

Progressive Tory · January 12, 2009

What about the NDP Liberal coalition formed to pass PMPM's budget. The one Corporate Canada took a butt kicking on?
The difference between the Bloc-Tory, NDP-Lib coalition during PMPM's reign and the Dion coalition is pure optics. The one years ago was backroom behind closed doors, and people thought this was politics as usual. However this new one was in your face, and people thought it was malarkey.

A product is no good if your marketing sucks and nobody buys it.

Jack Layton only agreed to pass Paul Martin's budget if corporate tax cuts were off the table. That has long been part of the NDP's platform so he was doing what he was elected to do.

'Prorogue' and 'Coalition' are now part of our venacular and Political Science profs are loving it. There hasn't been this much excitement in Canadian politics since Trudeau used the 'F' word.

The grandson we're raising is severely disabled, so I count on volunteers to help with his physical care. One is a Political Science major and she said she loves going to class for the heated debates. (She's a member of the University's Green Party). Her professor did inform them of the 2004 Harper/Bloc/NDP Coalition saying that it could have set a precedent. He had covered it with his class in 2004 so still had his notes. She hadn't seen the 2005 Harper speech when he said that a PM shouldn't expect to call an election everytime he failed, so I not only let her view it on my computer, but sent her a link.

This will sell itself.

I only want the spirit of the coalition to keep Harper on his toes, but if they have to take power, I'm fine with it.

Mr.Canada · January 12, 2009

There is nothing Tory about you and should change your name, it's an insult to Tories everywhere.

So the Liberals are too broke to hold a leadership convention and are also too broke to hold an election and want both for free. That's hilarious, well, one down , one to go eh? No need to ask voters of anything is there? The arrogance of the Liberals is disgusting.

Jerry J. Fortin · January 12, 2009

There is nothing Tory about you and should change your name, it's an insult to Tories everywhere.
So the Liberals are too broke to hold a leadership convention and are also too broke to hold an election and want both for free. That's hilarious, well, one down , one to go eh? No need to ask voters of anything is there? The arrogance of the Liberals is disgusting.

Perhaps it is only an insult to you, and therefore of little consequence to him.

The Liberals are indeed in rough shape. That is changing rapidly though, perhaps not soon enough for an election but I am willing to bet that Iggy will play for time. I think he will use the big stick threat to keep Harper in line, because he knows Harper will do almost anything to retain power. So why not wait, and just give Steve a nudge and a wink every now and then to get him to do what he wants, when he wants it?

The only thing I find disgusting is people spewing their moral opinions all over the place and insulting those who do not conform to their ideals of morality. I find the position of the fanatic religious sorts to be a mix of compromised ideals. For example anti-abortion, but pro-death penalty. These kinds of things frustrate me, but I do understand them.

Progressive Tory · January 12, 2009

There is nothing Tory about you and should change your name, it's an insult to Tories everywhere.
So the Liberals are too broke to hold a leadership convention and are also too broke to hold an election and want both for free. That's hilarious, well, one down , one to go eh? No need to ask voters of anything is there? The arrogance of the Liberals is disgusting.

I am a Red Tory and have been most of my life. However, the Reform Party hybrid Conservative Party is too far right, while I stand in the middle. I like Jack Layton and loved Ed Broadbent, but the NDP are too far left for me. Michael Ignatieff is centre fiscally but a strong supporter of human rights and necessary social programs.

My guess is that you're a Blue Tory, because you seem to support the social conservative views of your party. I don't have a problem with that except when it creates undue arrogance or intolerance.

By the way, do you know what the term 'Tory' means? "a supporter of traditional political and social institutions against the forces of reform"; or "a political conservative" (small 'c') Stephen Harper is suing all of our institutions and 'reform' is his middle name.

Alta4ever · January 12, 2009

Certainly Harper had no problem thinking about coalition when he was thinking of taking down Martin.
In any event, the Governor General does not have to call an election if she feels it is not right for the country. She can tell Harper to go back to the drawing board and see if he can stop acting like a horse's ass.

I never saw a signed governing agreement did you?

Edited January 12, 2009 by Alta4ever

Alta4ever · January 12, 2009

I am a Red Tory and have been most of my life. However, the Reform Party hybrid Conservative Party is too far right, while I stand in the middle. I like Jack Layton and loved Ed Broadbent, but the NDP are too far left for me. Michael Ignatieff is centre fiscally but a strong supporter of human rights and necessary social programs.
My guess is that you're a Blue Tory, because you seem to support the social conservative views of your party. I don't have a problem with that except when it creates undue arrogance or intolerance.

By the way, do you know what the term 'Tory' means? "a supporter of traditional political and social institutions against the forces of reform"; or "a political conservative" (small 'c') Stephen Harper is suing all of our institutions and 'reform' is his middle name.

You are by no means a red tory. Every post here shows a left of centre approach as does your support of a now dead coalition that was very far left wing in its stance.