Jack Layton's war room scores a direct hit

[ba1614]

As much as I hate to see another wasteful election, I do think one right now could be good for the country, in the long run.

Not because I'm real fond of Harper or the CPC, but I believe the CPC would get a majority, if we voted anytime soon, for no other reason than we're sick of this minority BS because the current lot are acting like selfish children. This would force the LPC to clean house and get some new blood that can, hopefully, inspire people. Even without a majority, the LPC would lose some ground, and hopefully send the message that Ignatieff isn't the type of leader we want.

JMO of course.

For the record I voted Liberal in every election I voted in, until 2006, when most of us that are for the most part "center" had had enough of the LPC. They haven't yet done anything to win us back, and if anything, are more out of touch with us now, if that's possible.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

If folks were serious about this will of the people stuff, as in nobody wants an election, then perhaps they should concern themselves with non-partisan candidates accountable only to constituents. If you think about it that is the only way to get the peoples voice instead of the partisan voice to be heard. Otherwise just take your once in a blue moon chance to vote and be happy with what the government and the rest of the House of Commons does.

[ba1614]

If folks were serious about this will of the people stuff, as in nobody wants an election, then perhaps they should concern themselves with non-partisan candidates accountable only to constituents. If you think about it that is the only way to get the peoples voice instead of the partisan voice to be heard. Otherwise just take your once in a blue moon chance to vote and be happy with what the government and the rest of the House of Commons does.

"non-partisan candidates", sadly that's pretty much an oxymoron in todays politics.

[madmax]

They had been 5 points higher until September.

FFS jdobbin. I am replying to your comments that you compare polls 1 year apart. I pull out the data for Quebec that shows the NDP marginally higher, and you go full circle and abandon that fact to suggest the NDP showed higher numbers in Quebec earlier this year.

I know you are having many discussions, but try to keep the goal post in the same spot during the conversation. Its sometimes difficult to tell if you are playing by NFL or CFL rules, or if the game is Hardball or Softball, or chess or checkers....

If you wish to compare LPC and NDP strategy in Quebec based upon a poll that had the NDP at 18%, then you would be aware that the LPC have lost something like 12% to 14% in Quebec over the same period of time, and that is before the Coderre debacle.

Edited October 1, 2009 by madmax

[Jerry J. Fortin]

"non-partisan candidates", sadly that's pretty much an oxymoron in todays politics.

Sooner or later folks will figure out that independents give them their best shot of being heard in the House of Commons. We need to focus on the smaller picture of who we send to Ottawa instead of what we send to Ottawa. Send someone to voice our concerns instead of parrot a voice partisan concern.

[madmax]

Still think if the Liberals had not said they had lost confidence that the Tories would not have made an EI change and the NDP would have voted against. Or, if the Tories did do EI change and the Liberals supported it, the NDP would have voted no.

The bottom line is...

Ignatieff took a position in May, back up with a Gunfight in June, that he was going to do everything to help the unemployed. By August, Ignatieff backed down completely on EI. EI was no longer important.

The problem as I see it...... Is that you are focused on party politics and polling data and whether or not the NDP will get wiped out.

I see it as there is a regional EI program that is going national. A program developed by the public sector, not the Conservatives, and the civil servants working in EI wanted to see this successful program go nationwide. It required funding, and the political parties can play politics... or get the money secured.

I really don't care if the NDP polling numbers go down. The fact is, the NDP did the right thing. It is difficult to argue that the NDP did the wrong thing by supporting a bill that helps people.

Call them hypocritical, free riders, pushed into a corner... whatever, even "chicken" as the childish masters running the LPC have chosen as a political strategy.

But the bottom line is, the LPC played politics and were more interested in taunting the NDP then doing the right thing for the people they exploited all summer.

Edited October 1, 2009 by madmax

[madmax]

Go read the comments on Jack's facebook page. NDPers are pissed at him for supporting Harper.

You could be right. I have never seen Laytons Facebook page. But for every upset NDper and phoney NDPer that is an LPCer with phoney outrage, there appears to be alot of non voters, who are following the news and seem to be taking the position that they neither wanted an election and Layton has done the right thing.

Whether this translates into polling numbers or not is disputable. But the NDP role in parliment is to get something, and being a party of infinite opposition is a fools game.

Edited October 1, 2009 by madmax

[madmax]

Sooner or later folks will figure out that independents give them their best shot of being heard in the House of Commons. We need to focus on the smaller picture of who we send to Ottawa instead of what we send to Ottawa. Send someone to voice our concerns instead of parrot a voice partisan concern.

Beware Thread drift....

Independents do not have the parlimentary resources or QP time that is available to political parties. The system is skewered against independents more then anyone else.

[jdobbin]

The fact is, the NDP did the right thing. It is difficult to argue that the NDP did the wrong thing by supporting a bill that helps people.

And that bill probably wouldn't have happened if the Liberals had said they were going to vote for the government.

Want to accuse someone of playing games, call out the Conservatives on it.

[madmax]

And the NDP are now the main party keeping the government going. Let's see if it starts to hurt them in the polls.

Apparently hasn't made dent one way or the other.

The vote came on a day when a new poll showed little change in voters' preferences. The Angus Reid/Toronto Star poll showed the Conservatives at 37 per cent, Liberals at 27 per cent, NDP at 17 per cent, Bloc Quebecois at 11 per cent and Greens at 6 per cent.

The poll of 1,000 Canadians was done Tuesday and Wednesday and is considered accurate within 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/703843

[Keepitsimple]

Apparently hasn't made dent one way or the other.

The vote came on a day when a new poll showed little change in voters' preferences. The Angus Reid/Toronto Star poll showed the Conservatives at 37 per cent, Liberals at 27 per cent, NDP at 17 per cent, Bloc Quebecois at 11 per cent and Greens at 6 per cent.

The poll of 1,000 Canadians was done Tuesday and Wednesday and is considered accurate within 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/703843

The STAR....amazing.....after saying what a terrific job Ignatieff did in villifying the Conservatives - in the very last paragraph, they mention that the Conservatives are now ahead by 10 points. By the way, have people noticed how just about every day, The Star uses the wordsw "trumpet" and "boast" to describe any Conservative statements. I'm befuddling by how childish The Star reporters are - it just seems that they are right out of high school with their Liberal Glee Club sweaters on.

[madmax]

The STAR....amazing.....after saying what a terrific job Ignatieff did in villifying the Conservatives - in the very last paragraph, they mention that the Conservatives are now ahead by 10 points. By the way, have people noticed how just about every day, The Star uses the wordsw "trumpet" and "boast" to describe any Conservative statements. I'm befuddling by how childish The Star reporters are - it just seems that they are right out of high school with their Liberal Glee Club sweaters on.

The Toronto Star is a Liberal Paper. That surprises no one, anymore then the Toronto Sun is a Conservative Paper or the National Post is Conservative and the Globe and Mail is business first and recognises that one of the two major parties will do the bidding of the corporate sector and are not overly partisan one way or the other.

[jdobbin]

Apparently hasn't made dent one way or the other.

Guess we'll have to see the regional breakdowns.

Certainly, the Ekos poll showed a change in Liberal support in cities this morning. Quebec could be interesting in terms of the NDP vote as well.