Even the Toronto Star is starting pull away from Ignatieff

[Mr.Canada]

This is truly amazing. I just read Chantel Hebert's tri-weekly blurb and her take on Quebec politics and she is saying what we all know already. Ignatieff's numbers are dropping in Quebec and Ontario at the same time and there's a good chance that they'll be even lower then they are now the next time they present their next confidence motion.

This may be the only time I'll ever post a source from the Star so don't get used to it.

Liberals might just be granted their death wish

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/704253

Here's something else that's quite telling. The Star shut down comments on this story less then 8 hours after posting it. Almost every comment was critical of Ignatieff and almost all were in support of Harper. Maybe the Harper numbers in Toronto really are going up.

Tories survive confidence vote

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

[blueblood]

This is truly amazing. I just read Chantel Hebert's tri-weekly blurb and her take on Quebec politics and she is saying what we all know already. Ignatieff's numbers are dropping in Quebec and Ontario at the same time and there's a good chance that they'll be even lower then they are now the next time they present their next confidence motion.

Here's something else that's quite telling. The Star shut down comments on this story less then 8 hours after posting it. Almost every comment was critical of Ignatieff and almost all were in support of Harper. Maybe the Harper numbers in Toronto really are going up.

[/b]

I don't agree with Dobbin on much, but I'll try and do some defending for him because this OP is flat out a dumb waste.

Ho hum

Harper has gelled at 37%, this to me looks like voters are staying home the next time around. As for the Star shutting down comments after 8 hours, I think just about everywhere else does that as well namely CTV. Don't worry the CBC comments section has very "flattering" things to say about Harper.

So after a year, nothing has changed, move along, next issue.

[Mr.Canada]

I don't agree with Dobbin on much, but I'll try and do some defending for him because this OP is flat out a dumb waste.

Ho hum

Harper has gelled at 37%, this to me looks like voters are staying home the next time around. As for the Star shutting down comments after 8 hours, I think just about everywhere else does that as well namely CTV. Don't worry the CBC comments section has very "flattering" things to say about Harper.

So after a year, nothing has changed, move along, next issue.

Why is Ignatieff forcing an election then if nothing will change?

The Tories have 46% support in Ontario. That is a significant change. The Tories are polling much higher in Toronto then they did during the last election. This is decidedly not the same as last time.

Chretien won a majority with 37% of the vote. The Tories can do the same with the vote in Ontario being higher then last time.

Edited October 3, 2009 by Mr.Canada

[blueblood]

Why is Ignatieff forcing an election then if nothing will change?

The Tories have 46% support in Ontario. That is a significant change. The Tories are polling much higher in Toronto then they did during the last election. This is decidedly not the same as last time.

Chretien won a majority with 37% of the vote. The Tories can do the same with the vote in Ontario being higher then last time.

I don't think Ignatieff is actually forcing an election, he's calling the NDP's bluff and is throwing them in the fire for a spell.

The Tories also have lost ground in Quebec, do you think that Toronto will counterbalance that?

Chretien won with 37% because he had Ontario, Urban western Canada, some random western Canadian ridings, a lot of Quebec, and solid Atlantic Canada. Harper needs to get Atlantic Canada and Quebec. No majority for Harper this time around. I'd like Harper to get a majority, but lets be realistic here. Ontario voters are extremely fickle.

[Mr.Canada]

I don't think Ignatieff is actually forcing an election, he's calling the NDP's bluff and is throwing them in the fire for a spell.

The Tories also have lost ground in Quebec, do you think that Toronto will counterbalance that?

Chretien won with 37% because he had Ontario, Urban western Canada, some random western Canadian ridings, a lot of Quebec, and solid Atlantic Canada. Harper needs to get Atlantic Canada and Quebec. No majority for Harper this time around. I'd like Harper to get a majority, but lets be realistic here. Ontario voters are extremely fickle.

I suspect that the Tories who are at 22% atm in Quebec will retain much of the same seats they have now. They'll gain in the 905(Ruby Dhalla is as good as gone) and even a couple 416 seats are ripe to fall.

A few pickups in BC and even a few in the maratimes. voila majority. I don't think it'll be a huge majority as it won't be, it'll be very slim but they'll get it.

Ignatieff is almost at the level of support that Dion was in the last election and he's not showing any signs of slowing his descent now.

[blueblood]

I suspect that the Tories who are at 22% atm in Quebec will retain much of the same seats they have now. They'll gain in the 905(Ruby Dhalla is as good as gone) and even a couple 416 seats are ripe to fall.

A few pickups in BC and even a few in the maratimes. voila majority. I don't think it'll be a huge majority as it won't be, it'll be very slim but they'll get it.

Ignatieff is almost at the level of support that Dion was in the last election and he's not showing any signs of slowing his descent now.

And if the tories pull the plug bye bye 3-6 of tory points nationally...

[Mr.Canada]

And if the tories pull the plug bye bye 3-6 of tory points nationally...

Nah they don't have to do anything. The Liberals are willing to do it for them, the Liberals cannot retreat now or they'll suffer even more in the polls.

Nope the Liberals will have to continue like lemmings to make this government fall. I imagine it will happen at the next budget in the Spring so we're looking at a May-June election. Immediately after forcing the GG to drop the writ the pary who caused this election will drop at least a point to a point and a half nationally.

Trust me PM Harper would love an election right now. Who wouldn't. The climate is good. Voters are pissed at the Liberals for trying to make the government fall aa pissed off electorate is the best kind to have and more likely to be sick of all the minorities and reward someone with a majority to stop the constant elections.

I'm sure Harper was wishing that the NDP voted them down.

[blueblood]

Nah they don't have to do anything. The Liberals are willing to do it for them, the Liberals cannot retreat now or they'll suffer even more in the polls.

Nope the Liberals will have to continue like lemmings to make this government fall. I imagine it will happen at the next budget in the Spring so we're looking at a May-June election. Immediately after forcing the GG to drop the writ the pary who caused this election will drop at least a point to a point and a half nationally.

Trust me PM Harper would love an election right now. Who wouldn't. The climate is good. Voters are pissed at the Liberals for trying to make the government fall aa pissed off electorate is the best kind to have and more likely to be sick of all the minorities and reward someone with a majority to stop the constant elections.

I'm sure Harper was wishing that the NDP voted them down.

The Liberals can retreat, and say they'll wait until the time is right to not express confidence and our brand is rebuilt and we have some policies in place.

PM Harper had almost a 50% polling right around the coalition fiasco. He didn't go to an election because the country does not want to and he doesn't care if he's in minority or majority as long as his mandate is getting through. Cripes even with a majority he has a Liberal dominated Senate that could potentially cause problems for him. All Harper wants to do is govern, and given how he can perform with a minority gov't, it doesn't matter if it's a minority or a majority.

Harper probably doesn't want a majority because that would give the Liberals much needed time to right their ship and strengthen their base. Harper in a minority situation is doing far more damage to his opposition than he could ever do in a majority gov't.

[Mr.Canada]

The Liberals can retreat, and say they'll wait until the time is right to not express confidence and our brand is rebuilt and we have some policies in place.

PM Harper had almost a 50% polling right around the coalition fiasco. He didn't go to an election because the country does not want to and he doesn't care if he's in minority or majority as long as his mandate is getting through. Cripes even with a majority he has a Liberal dominated Senate that could potentially cause problems for him. All Harper wants to do is govern, and given how he can perform with a minority gov't, it doesn't matter if it's a minority or a majority.

Harper probably doesn't want a majority because that would give the Liberals much needed time to right their ship and strengthen their base. Harper in a minority situation is doing far more damage to his opposition than he could ever do in a majority gov't.

January 2010 the Senate will be controlled by the Tories.

[Smallc]

And then what will he do, Mr. Canada? Will he attempt Senate reform (even though he already could have)?

[Mr.Canada]

And then what will he do, Mr. Canada? Will he attempt Senate reform (even though he already could have)?

He did try...twice. Both times voted down by the Liberals, NDP and the Bloq so don't give me that. You don't get to vote against it when it's proposed then later say we did nothing on the subject...lol.

[Smallc]

He did try...twice.

No he didn't. He tried to make things worse, I grant you. The reality is though, He doesn't need the Senate for Senate Reform, but he does need the provinces. He hasn't tried to get them. Even if he needs the Senate to vote with him (which is Questionable), do you think that the Senate would override every other sovereign legislative body in the land?

Edited October 3, 2009 by Smallc

[noahbody]

Why is Ignatieff forcing an election then if nothing will change?

$1.95/vote/year.

[fellowtraveller]

$1.95/vote/year.

Correct.

Let us not forget what precipitated all the kerfuffle last fall.

Was it national unity?

Was it economic mismagament?

Was it lack of cionfidence in Harper or the govt?

Was it the public clamouring for the coronation of Dion, Duceppe and Layton as a Holy Trinity?

Nope. It was the attempt by Harper to remove all parties, inclduing his own, from the public teat.

The $1.95/vote/year is Cretiens legacy, his gift to a political party that would be crushed without it.

[Smallc]

The $1.95/vote/year is Cretiens legacy, his gift to a political party that would be crushed without it.

No, it was part of a trade off. It was a trade off that made our system more accountable.

[Mr.Canada]

$1.95/vote/year.

After the next election when Harper has a majority I truly hope they do away with the $1.95 per vote like they tried to do earlier this year. That money could be better spent elsewhere. I don't support this party welfare system we have.

[punked]

After the next election when Harper has a majority I truly hope they do away with the $1.95 per vote like they tried to do earlier this year. That money could be better spent elsewhere. I don't support this party welfare system we have.

They might but they will first wait untill the first year is over and they get their 4 quarters of allowance. He has to win it first I hope the Liberals see the NDP vote is going to go to them and come to the NDP vote to stop Harper.

[Mr.Canada]

They might but they will first wait untill the first year is over and they get their 4 quarters of allowance. He has to win it first I hope the Liberals see the NDP vote is going to go to them and come to the NDP vote to stop Harper.

I don't feel that another minority is best for Canada at this time. It seems to me that more gets done under a majority Parliament however I'm sure that NDp supporters hate a majority because they get shut out. No one needs the NDP or Bloc vote for anything under a majority which is why I'm surethat any Bloc or NDP supporters will be against me saying a majority is good for Canada.