Liberals starting to show true colours

[Rovik]

A friend of mine lives in a district in which the Conservatives and the Liberals are running neck and neck. He was going to vote liberal as he was not impressed by the negativism of the Conservatives. He was also voting for the Liberals because he believed they seem to running a clean campaign.

But now, the Liberals are turning blue as they are now attacking just as negative as the Conservatives. He told me that he is now voting NDP out of principle even though he knows that the NDP won't win in his district.

He can't in good conscience vote for a party that has changed in a blink of an eye. I told him that they were like a wolf in sheep's clothing but now they ripped off the clothing and revealed themselves for what they truly are.

I hope people see through the hate and punish the Liberals for such tactics.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Rovik

[Topaz]

A friend of mine lives in a district in which the Conservatives and the Liberals are running neck and neck. He was going to vote liberal as he was not impressed by the negativism of the Conservatives. He was also voting for the Liberals because he believed they seem to running a clean campaign.

But now, the Liberals are turning blue as they are now attacking just as negative as the Conservatives. He told me that he is now voting NDP out of principle even though he knows that the NDP won't win in his district.

He can't in good conscience vote for a party that has changed in a blick of an eye. I told him that they were like a wolf in sheep's clothing but now they ripped off the clothing and revealed themselves for what they truly are.

I hope people see through the hate and punish the Liberals for such tactics.

Good, the more former Tory supporters change their votes the less of a chance Harper will get a majority or even a minority!

[Rick]

A friend of mine lives in a district in which the Conservatives and the Liberals are running neck and neck. He was going to vote liberal as he was not impressed by the negativism of the Conservatives. He was also voting for the Liberals because he believed they seem to running a clean campaign.

But now, the Liberals are turning blue as they are now attacking just as negative as the Conservatives. He told me that he is now voting NDP out of principle even though he knows that the NDP won't win in his district.

He can't in good conscience vote for a party that has changed in a blink of an eye. I told him that they were like a wolf in sheep's clothing but now they ripped off the clothing and revealed themselves for what they truly are.

I hope people see through the hate and punish the Liberals for such tactics.

Another vote for the good guys! Your friend is not alone. Unless you're a devout blindly loyal Harperite, you are sick of both of those two parties and their continual lying to Canadians.

A vote for the NDP is a vote for positive change.

[punked]

Another vote for the good guys! Your friend is not alone. Unless you're a devout blindly loyal Harperite, you are sick of both of those two parties and their continual lying to Canadians.

A vote for the NDP is a vote for positive change.

Could not have said it better myself.

[Bryan]

But now, the Liberals are turning blue as they are now attacking just as negative as the Conservatives.

You and your friend must be quite young if you honestly believe that it was the Conservatives that initiated the negative campaigning.

Stanfield, Manning, Day, and Harper were all vilified by the Liberals. It was viscous, the negativity was over the top. After decades of putting up with this, Conservatives have simply decided to fight back.

[kimmy]

I definitely have to give credit to the NDP for taking the high road in this campaign. They have set themselves apart, and clearly people are responding. As the cliche goes, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

As for the Liberals, I'm trying to figure out how things went off the rails so quickly. They started off with their 3 big policy announcements and promising to give Canadians a positive vision. That's great! But their first ad right out of the gate? Michelle McPherson in her underwear, as if further humiliating a 22 year old girl has anything to do with the many many faults of the Harper government.

At the end of the day I think policies are what matters, and I think voting based on how you feel about the ads is kind of short-sighted. But if I were voting on how I feel about the campaigns, the NDP would be the first and only choice.

-k

[TimG]

The NDP is a 3rd place party with no where to go but up. It did not go negative because it had nothing to gain. Things will change really fast if the NDP ends up as official opposition. The next campaign will be filled with negative adds paid for by the NDP. People who think the NDP is somehow different from other parties are deluding themselves.

[Evening Star]

As for the Liberals, I'm trying to figure out how things went off the rails so quickly. They started off with their 3 big policy announcements and promising to give Canadians a positive vision. That's great! But their first ad right out of the gate? Michelle McPherson in her underwear, as if further humiliating a 22 year old girl has anything to do with the many many faults of the Harper government.

This is actually one aspect that pushed me away from the Liberals.

[Posc Student]

Why do people think the NDP will be any different if they were in power?

[punked]

Why do people think the NDP will be any different if they were in power?

If they aren't any different why do you vote?

[TimG]

If they aren't any different why do you vote?

Because the policies are different. The complain is about politicians pretending they are more ethical/more honest than the other guys. Edited April 24, 2011 by TimG

[punked]

Because the policies are different. The complain is about politicians pretending they are more ethical/more honest than the other guys.

Yah but if you can't trust them to put through those policies then why vote?

[Bryan]

I definitely have to give credit to the NDP for taking the high road in this campaign. They have set themselves apart, and clearly people are responding. As the cliche goes, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

I wouldn't necessarily call their latest cartoon ads "high road" either.

The difference, IMO, is they are funny rather than just mean. One thing they do very different is balancing both types of ads in one. CPC and LPC ads are either "hard-attack", or "soft-vote for me", NDP does soft, funny attack followed by vote for me in the same ad. They are really well done.

[Mr.Canada]

The NDP are doing great and any Liberal supporter would be smart to start backing the NDP. They are the only party besides the Tories worth voting for. The NDP deserve to be promoted to second party status ahead of the Liberals. So all people thinking of voting for the Liberals, don't. Vote for the NDP if you love Canada.

[Scotty]

The NDP are doing great and any Liberal supporter would be smart to start backing the NDP. They are the only party besides the Tories worth voting for. The NDP deserve to be promoted to second party status ahead of the Liberals. So all people thinking of voting for the Liberals, don't. Vote for the NDP if you love Canada.

I don't want the NDP to be second party. Because eventually, the second party winds up being the first party. The NDP in its present incarnation would be an unmitigated disaster for Canada. This is still, though you rarely hear much about it, a party committed to old style socialism, anti-Americanism, punitive taxes on the upper and middle classes, punitive taxes and rules on business, mandatory hiring quotas, and huge welfare to the poor and minorities.

[Smallc]

And the Conservatives are really anti abortion fascists who want to do all the evil things that the left says that they do.

[bloodyminded]

And the Conservatives are really anti abortion fascists who want to do all the evil things that the left says that they do.

How else is one supposed to answer that tirade, yeah?

[punked]

And the Conservatives are really anti abortion fascists who want to do all the evil things that the left says that they do.

I think if the Cons addressed abortion it would tear their party apart. Like it or not the social Conservatives are a small minority even in the party they are at home in. I don't think the Cons would ever touch abortion. Heck I think the pro choice crowd were the only people to ever shut down parliament for the day.

[Smallc]

I think if the Cons addressed abortion it would tear their party apart. Like it or not the social Conservatives are a small minority even in the party they are at home in. I don't think the Cons would ever touch abortion. Heck I think the pro choice crowd were the only people to ever shut down parliament for the day.

I wasn't being serious....although it is true of some Conservative supporters, just as some NDP supporters really are socialists.

[punked]

I wasn't being serious....although it is true of some Conservative supporters, just as some NDP supporters really are socialists.

You are right!

[Keepitsimple]

I don't want the NDP to be second party. Because eventually, the second party winds up being the first party. The NDP in its present incarnation would be an unmitigated disaster for Canada. This is still, though you rarely hear much about it, a party committed to old style socialism, anti-Americanism, punitive taxes on the upper and middle classes, punitive taxes and rules on business, mandatory hiring quotas, and huge welfare to the poor and minorities.

I could see the NDP being a useful official opposition - as long as the Conservatives have another strong minority. There are elements of NDP principles that have some common ground with Conservatives - as long as they are not exaggerated. Better support for seniors, a longer term vision for GIS/CPP, post military support. On the other hand, all the baloney about National Housing strategies and creating another tier of government by doling out in a direct link to the cities are taboo. These are areas of Provincial responsibility. Certainly, the NDP would be more workmanlike as the official opposition - and as they move their platform more towards the center. As with most parties, the Conservatives will eventually run their course. 5 years from now, the timing may be right for an NDP/Liberal merger.....but the NDP have to remove the rough edges...and the Liberals have to rebuild from the ground up.

[bloodyminded]

I wasn't being serious

No, no, it was essentially a reductio ad absurdum response to a rant.

Edited April 24, 2011 by bloodyminded

[Smallc]

No, no, it was essentially a reductio ad absurdum response to a rant.

Exactly.

[Vancouverite]

I think the Liberals are acting out of desperation, but they won't be able to prevent the NDP surge. And that means Ignatieff is finished - he must be asking Harvard if his place is still available.

[cybercoma]

You and your friend must be quite young if you honestly believe that it was the Conservatives that initiated the negative campaigning.

Stanfield, Manning, Day, and Harper were all vilified by the Liberals. It was viscous, the negativity was over the top. After decades of putting up with this, Conservatives have simply decided to fight back.

This is absolutely true. The Liberals were relentless in their attacks. It was a shame and it's still a shame when the Conservatives do it. Those attacks ring a lot differently than, "Dear Mr. Ignatieff, Confidence votes are really important. Where were you for 2/3s of them? Sincerely, Jack Layton."

Ignatieff, truly, was caught between a rock and a hard place. The party was rebuilding, so instead of showing up and voting down the government, perhaps forcing another election when they weren't ready, he just didn't show up. This is also why in some instances he "held up Stephen Harper". They're really in a Catch-22 here. The baggage of the Chretien/Martin/Dion transition has decimated the party and one can add Ignatieff's name to that list on May 3.