Harper Bombs, Bye, Bye Majority

[Harry]

Is this to be interpreted as a concerted effort to keep all parties hobbled enough to never form a majority? Is Canada afraid of a majority for any party?

When no party commands 50% of the vote what's wrong with a hung Parliament? Or don't you believe in democracy?

[Harry]

Most pundits agree that Harper stumbled during the French debate and it appears that it has been a slow downhill ride for Harper ever since.

Liberal health care ads may be working

So, rather than looking at who is ahead and who is behind, it’s more important to look at who is trending up and who is trending down, he said, and, at the moment, Mr. Harper is trending down.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberal-health-care-ads-may-be-working/article1988627/

[Harry]

It's not realy a sleeper issue, as poll after poll has shown that protecting our health care system is the top issue for Canadians, but health care is definitely becoming another problem for Harper.

Ignatieff pledges meeting on health care

Layton says trust on health care becoming 'more and more' of an issue

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/17/cv-election-liberal-health.html#

Edited April 17, 2011 by Harry

[bloodyminded]

It's not realy a sleeper issue, as poll after poll has shown that protecting our health care system is the top issue for Canadians,

Yes, it remains the most important, according to Canadians who are polled.

Taxes remains a very small issue for the majority of Canadians, though you wouldn't know it from this board.

[Harry]

Exactly. A lot of smoke and mirrors abound.

Edited April 17, 2011 by Harry

[Molly]

Folks I talk to all ask why Libya has remained unmentioned.

It's a strange twoist on the old "What if they threw a war and nobody came?" Halfway through an election, and no one has gotten around to talking about a war... a very minor war, I guess.

[Evening Star]

I guess it's because the main parties are all in agreement on it. I also found it odd though.

[Wild Bill]

Funny comment given the very personal attacks coming from the CPC and their Booster Club for the last year + about Ignatieff....

That's it! That's the last time someone implies I'm a Conservative!

Shakeyhands, from now on I will constantly refer to you as the president of the "Friends of the Martians Space Party!"

Why not? It's about as true as my being a Conservative!

[Harry]

Now I've heard everything.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/17/cv-election-leaders-bc.html#

[Shakeyhands]

That's it! That's the last time someone implies I'm a Conservative!

Shakeyhands, from now on I will constantly refer to you as the president of the "Friends of the Martians Space Party!"

Why not? It's about as true as my being a Conservative!

I didn't say that you had or that you were a Conservative, but hey, go ahead if you like. Probably wouldn't even be the worst thing said about me today....

And to be honest, I think if we were to do a disection of your posts on this board, I'd suggest that most people would correctly assume that you are a CPC man through and through.

[Bob]

Is this to be interpreted as a concerted effort to keep all parties hobbled enough to never form a majority? Is Canada afraid of a majority for any party?

What you need to recognize is that the amount of people opposed to Harper is at least equal to those who support Harper. I am quite certain the vast majority of people who support the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois DESPISE the CPC and Harper. So as news of Harper's growing popularity spreads, his opponents (and there are many) begin to panic and do all they can to stop him.

Bear in mind, most supporters of the CPC, such as myself, want a majority Conservative Party. government. There are as many if not more Canadians, however, who are opposed to a majority government formed by the CPC. I think this is partially the product of decades of liberal indoctrination (through our beloved leftist media and universities, for example) which ties into one of your favourite subjects - how Canadian identity shapes itself largely by what it's not (we're not Americans!) rather than by what it is. I think this is connected to a strange and almost reflexive pro-leftist mentality held by so many Canadians. In other words, since many Canadians view America as largely conservative and right-wing, they feel they need to take the opposite approach.

For example - strategic voting.

[ToadBrother]

What you need to recognize is that the amount of people opposed to Harper is at least equal to those who support Harper. I am quite certain the vast majority of people who support the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois DESPISE the CPC and Harper. So as news of Harper's growing popularity spreads, his opponents (and there are many) begin to panic and do all they can to stop him.

Bear in mind, most supporters of the CPC, such as myself, want a majority Conservative Party. government. There are as many if not more Canadians, however, who are opposed to a majority government formed by the CPC. I think this is partially the product of decades of liberal indoctrination (through our beloved leftist media and universities, for example) which ties into one of your favourite subjects - how Canadian identity shapes itself largely by what it's not (we're not Americans!) rather than by what it is. I think this is connected to a strange and almost reflexive pro-leftist mentality held by so many Canadians. In other words, since many Canadians view America as largely conservative and right-wing, they feel they need to take the opposite approach.

For example - strategic voting.

For a non-partisan guy you certainly do post no lack of pro-Tory conservative bullcrap.

[Guest peterb]

Professorial Advice for Ignatieff from Satchel Paige

As Michael Ignatieff reaches in desperation to former Liberal leaders for help, who bring back repugnant memories of Liberal corruption from the past, may I suggest this gem from Satchel Paige, baseball star from years past, who may have sage advice Ignatieff may want to heed.

“Don’t look back. Something may be gaining on you”

and his name is Jack.

[cybercoma]

What you need to recognize is that the amount of people opposed to Harper is at least equal to those who support Harper. I am quite certain the vast majority of people who support the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois DESPISE the CPC and Harper. So as news of Harper's growing popularity spreads, his opponents (and there are many) begin to panic and do all they can to stop him.

Bear in mind, most supporters of the CPC, such as myself, want a majority Conservative Party. government. There are as many if not more Canadians, however, who are opposed to a majority government formed by the CPC. I think this is partially the product of decades of liberal indoctrination (through our beloved leftist media and universities, for example) which ties into one of your favourite subjects - how Canadian identity shapes itself largely by what it's not (we're not Americans!) rather than by what it is. I think this is connected to a strange and almost reflexive pro-leftist mentality held by so many Canadians. In other words, since many Canadians view America as largely conservative and right-wing, they feel they need to take the opposite approach.

For example - strategic voting.

Rather than trying to be "not American", I think people are reacting more to all the shit harper did (see: website)

Edited April 17, 2011 by cybercoma

[Harry]

Definitely worth reading. You can try using a google translator process if you wish.

Thomas Mulcair veut chasser Harper

M. Mulcair nhésite dailleurs pas à dire que les conservateurs «sont finis» au Québec. Selon lui, non seulement la troupe de Stephen Harper a-t-elle abandonné la Belle Province, mais, en plus, les Québécois sont maintenant mûrs pour du changement. «Au début de la campa­gne, il faisait froid, cétait encore pratiquement lhiver, mais le 2 mai, le beau temps sera arrivé. Les gens vont être influencés par le changement de saison et ils vont se rendre compte que cest pos­sible daller vers quelque chose de mieux, a avancé M. Mulcair. En ce moment, les gens sont déprimés, cest comme sils sortaient dun hiver de cinq ans et demi avec Stephen Harper. Mais avec larrivée du printemps, lespoir renaîtra.»

http://www.journalmetro.com/linfo/article/835404--thomas-mulcair-veut-chasser-harper--page0

Edited April 18, 2011 by Harry

[Bob]

For a non-partisan guy you certainly do post no lack of pro-Tory conservative bullcrap.

You saying I'm wrong in my assessment of Canadian public sentiment?

[Harry]

What you need to recognize is that the amount of people opposed to Harper is at least equal to those who support Harper. I am quite certain the vast majority of people who support the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois DESPISE the CPC and Harper. So as news of Harper's growing popularity spreads, his opponents (and there are many) begin to panic and do all they can to stop him.

Bear in mind, most supporters of the CPC, such as myself, want a majority Conservative Party. government. There are as many if not more Canadians, however, who are opposed to a majority government formed by the CPC. I think this is partially the product of decades of liberal indoctrination (through our beloved leftist media and universities, for example) which ties into one of your favourite subjects - how Canadian identity shapes itself largely by what it's not (we're not Americans!) rather than by what it is. I think this is connected to a strange and almost reflexive pro-leftist mentality held by so many Canadians. In other words, since many Canadians view America as largely conservative and right-wing, they feel they need to take the opposite approach.

For example - strategic voting.

Almost 2/3s of Canadians are opposed to Harper forming the government, let alone aquiring a majority government, so why should he? Or do you not believe in democracy?

Let's lose words such as 'despise' or 'hate' as they are not at all helpful for these discussions

[Chippewa]

Harper only answers 4 questions at a time, and his question period is limited to the reporters who have submitted questions prior to the period.

I think Harper wants to be a dictator. Because he won't even talk to the people, and the people don't directly vote Harper into leadership, but vote for the Party. Atleast in the USA, they can vote for the President, Judge, and Sheriff.

[Harry]

This is rich.

The Tories, whose every second word is a distortion of the truth, want the Grits to pull their health care ad because they say it is untrue.

The ads are obviously working so why would the Grits puill the ads. All's fair in love and politics.

Tories demand Liberals pull anti-Harper health ad

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/18/cv-election-lib-ad.html#

[Evening Star]

The ads are obviously working so why would the Grits puill the ads.

I dunno, are they? The Liberals seem pretty stagnant in the polls.

[CANADIEN]

There are as many if not more Canadians, however, who are opposed to a majority government formed by the CPC. I think this is partially the product of decades of liberal indoctrination (through our beloved leftist media and universities, for example)

And after this wonderful demonstration of contempt for anybody who dares not to vote Conservative - which is the same attitude coming from the party itself, you're surprised that most Canadians will vote for somebody else.

Edited April 18, 2011 by CANADIEN

[Keepitsimple]

And after this wonderful demonstration of contempt for anybody who dares not to vote Conservative - which is the same attitude coming from the party itself, you're surprised that most Canadians will vote for somebody else.

Most Canadians will always vote for someone other than the winner. That's what happens when you have 5 choices.....and THAT is democracy! If you want more than half to vote for the winner - move to the US where they only have two parties.

Edited April 18, 2011 by Keepitsimple

[nittanylionstorm07]

What you need to recognize is that the amount of people opposed to Harper is at least equal to those who support Harper.

At least equal? I'm sorry, did I miss all of the polls showing a 50/50 split between the CPC and other parties combined?

[Harry]

I dunno, are they? The Liberals seem pretty stagnant in the polls.

Why would Harper want the Liberal ads pulled unless there were having an effect?

Anyway FWIW the Grits have decided not to cancel the ads.

[CANADIEN]

Most Canadians will always vote for someone other than the winner. That's what happens when you have 5 choices.....and THAT is democracy! If you want more than half to vote for the winner - move to the US where they only have two parties.

I don't particularly want, or not want, one party to get more than 50%.