.

[Roger Steele]

Apparently Ignatieff isn't going to resign. This is gonna be fun - for the Conservatives.

For such an intelligent individual, he sure doesn't catch on very fast. Is it not obvious that he is not wanted?

[kimmy]

Quite true, no one has won with the majority of voters since 1940 when King won with 51.3%. Pearson won a minority with 41.5% in 1960, while Mulroney won a majority with only 28% in 1984. Canadian Politics are a fickle game. But I'm sure my meaning was understood. You seem to need to keep the "select minority" happy.

Mulroney 50.03% of popular support in 1984. It was Turner who had 28%.

-k

[Roger Steele]

Mulroney 50.03% of popular support in 1984. It was Turner who had 28%.

-k

I stand corrected. It's getting late I better quit while I'm behind. (unlike Ignatieff I know when to call it quits)lol

[Pliny]

I'm listening to Layton's speech now and all I can say is that fortunately for Layton, most NDP voters in Quebec are asleep.

I don't see how this NDP caucus is going to work and relate in Quebec. The only elected NDP candidate interviewed tonight was Mulcair. The journalists know almost nothing about these people. It is as if they have no connection to Quebec, as if they are ghost MPs.

Even when the ADQ was elected in 2007, journalists interviewed several on the election night.

I sympathize with you. The bloc was originally a splinter from the Liberal party. They moved left from the Liberals, at least becoming more authoritarian, and sucked as much as they could out of government using the bloc and must think the NDP will be provide for them and be their new "host". They couldn't turn back to the Liberals after so had to leave their anemic host and latch onto a new host. They know the conservatives won't cater to them and are too close to the centre so they chose the more compassionate left wing NDP to cry on their shoulder and promise to make Quebec more like France.

The NDP being a socialist party will not enjoy the power struggle with Quebecers. Jack will be replaced with perhaps - Gilles Duceppe?? Nyuk Nyuk!

[kimmy]

I sympathize with you. The bloc was originally a splinter from the Liberal party.

I thought they were Progressive Conservatives who left Mulroney's caucus during his 2nd term.

-k

[Bob]

Has anyone in here yet mentioned the fact that the opposition brought upon this election? Don't you think this is just another in a long string of miscalculations from Ignatieff, and perhaps even Layton considering that the CPC now has a majority? In one sense, the NDP gained ground, in another sense, the evil right-wing secret agenda Tories secured a majority. In my view, these events demonstrate, at least in part, a sense of disconnection from the opposition towards the will of Canadians.

Personally, I didn't think the CPC could secure a majority. My faith in Canada has been so damaged over the years. I think the mainstream Canadian press has done a good job on me.

[yarg]

Has anyone in here yet mentioned the fact that the opposition brought upon this election? Don't you think this is just another in a long string of miscalculations from Ignatieff, and perhaps even Layton considering that the CPC now has a majority? In one sense, the NDP gained ground, in another sense, the evil right-wing secret agenda Tories secured a majority. In my view, these events demonstrate, at least in part, a sense of disconnection from the opposition towards the will of Canadians.

Personally, I didn't think the CPC could secure a majority. My faith in Canada has been so damaged over the years. I think the mainstream Canadian press has done a good job on me.

Its strange though, I didn't here the NDP leader lamenting the conservative majority and the inevitable implementation of the evil agenda, instead he seemed fairly pleased with the result, but we already know from 'mastergate' that Jack says one thing and does something else. The NDP self serving?...nah.

[sealman]

Its strange though, I didn't here the NDP leader lamenting the conservative majority and the inevitable implementation of the evil agenda, instead he seemed fairly pleased with the result, but we already know from 'mastergate' that Jack says one thing and does something else. The NDP self serving?...nah.

Canadians should beware of getting what they asked for. Harper IS NOT a conservative and never was. He is a reformer as are the mainstays of his caucas. They have kept a low profile while awaiting a majority government.Now that they have achieved majority we will see the hidden reform agenda surface.The NDP along with remnants of the other parties are like jobs with no meaning all all.Harper was given a blank check to do anything he wants to for the next 5 years and by that time Canadians will be crying over this decision.

[TimG]

Harper was given a blank check to do anything he wants to for the next 5 years and by that time Canadians will be crying over this decision.

I have no doubt that some people who are addicted to government entitlements will be complaining but such actions will greatly please others. The great thing about majorities is hard decisions get made. In the long term that is good for the country.

[sealman]

I have no doubt that some people who are addicted to government entitlements will be complaining but such actions will greatly please others. The great thing about majorities is hard decisions get made. In the long term that is good for the country.

I am retired military after 30 years of service and not in the catagory of your focus. However I am old enough that I clearly remember vividly that previous Conservative majorities all the way back to 1957 have been disaterous to Canada.Harper may well be the best of what is available at this time but not to the extent of a blank check majority.We needed a minority to keep his reform agenda buried.Now he will be able to pull out that agenda and vote down anything in his path. That my friend will not be good for the country. Young people who seem to vote heavily for Harper need to be carefull of what they wished for.

[Shakeyhands]

Its strange though, I didn't here the NDP leader lamenting the conservative majority and the inevitable implementation of the evil agenda, instead he seemed fairly pleased with the result, but we already know from 'mastergate' that Jack says one thing and does something else. The NDP self serving?...nah.

Well... he finally got his happy ending. Good for Jack.

[icman]

...

Edited May 3, 2011 by icman

[icman]

I am retired military after 30 years of service and not in the catagory of your focus. However I am old enough that I clearly remember vividly that previous Conservative majorities all the way back to 1957 have been disaterous to Canada.Harper may well be the best of what is available at this time but not to the extent of a blank check majority.We needed a minority to keep his reform agenda buried.Now he will be able to pull out that agenda and vote down anything in his path. That my friend will not be good for the country. Young people who seem to vote heavily for Harper need to be carefull of what they wished for.

It will take decades to reverse the damage, if it will be reversible at all. Harper's minority has been disasterous, a majority can only be 10 times worse.

[sealman]

It will take decades to reverse the damage, if it will be reversible at all. Harper's minority has been disasterous, a majority can only be 10 times worse.

A small example right from Harpers own mouth> Living in Manitoba when he was first elected with a minority and he told us. Some of our planks such as private health care may be difficult with a minority but I accept the will of the Canadian voters.

For those of you old enough to remember Diefenbaker,Mulroney and Joe Clark, you are well aware of the destruction caused by conservative federal governments. Then cross breed conservatives and Reform. That is enough to make the strongest shudder to think what will happen in the next 5 years.

[Dave_ON]

Well... he finally got his happy ending. Good for Jack.

lol well played sir.

[BornAlbertan]

I thought they were Progressive Conservatives who left Mulroney's caucus during his 2nd term.

-k

The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative Party and Liberal Party. BQ founder Lucien Bouchard was a cabinet minister in the federal Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois

[Tilter]

I am retired military after 30 years of service and not in the catagory of your focus. However I am old enough that I clearly remember vividly that previous Conservative majorities all the way back to 1957 have been disaterous to Canada.Harper may well be the best of what is available at this time but not to the extent of a blank check majority.We needed a minority to keep his reform agenda buried.Now he will be able to pull out that agenda and vote down anything in his path. That my friend will not be good for the country. Young people who seem to vote heavily for Harper need to be carefull of what they wished for.

It's all OK now--- as I said before the Services (including public services) are all liberal supporters because that is the party that proliferates the public service sector, causing bureaucracy to flourish. The armed service likes the Liberal party because they have deeper pockets for the services. But just remember-- Harper is breathing new life into the airforce (or whatever it's called now) by giving them the aircraft they need to act as out primary defense both here & where ever they are called to go. This time the contract will be fulfilled unlike the helicopter SNAFU by the Libs.

I can appreciate your apprehensions about the CPC-- I was posted to go to Germany flying CF100s when deef pulled the plug on the CF105 and all married transfers out of country. Needless to say-- I was pissed.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Tilter

[capricorn]

Did any MPs you wish were gone win their seats tonight?

-k

David McGuinty in Ottawa South. I'm consoled by the fact that Lib Marlene (House heckler) Jennings lost in St-Henri in Montreal.

[Black Dog]

I have no doubt that some people who are addicted to government entitlements will be complaining but such actions will greatly please others. The great thing about majorities is hard decisions get made. In the long term that is good for the country.

Hard decisions aren't necessarily right decisions.

[Pliny]

The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative Party and Liberal Party. BQ founder Lucien Bouchard was a cabinet minister in the federal Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois

Thanks, I stand corrected on that. Lucien Bouchard just seemed too Liberal to be Conservative at all, in my tiny little mind.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Pliny

[Vancouverite]

The earth may not really have moved - when Mulroney won his second majority, Peter Mansfield said that this was the beginning of a Tory dynasty, but, four years later, that dynasty shrank to two seats. The Liberals then ruled for over a decade, and, with Reform and the PC's bickering among themselves, they seemed impregnable. Then you know what happened.

So I wouldn't count the Liberals out yet, and I would not say the NDP will become the new natural opposition, and I definitely would not count a sovereigntist bloc out.

But Ignatieff has resigned, when he said he wouldn't - he's done the sensible thing.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Vancouverite

[ToadBrother]

The only hope for the Liberals if if the NDP and CPC become captive to their extremes. If that happens there will be a need for a 'socially liberal fiscally conservative' party.

I think that's an outside chance. Both Layton and Harper made it clear in their speeches that they're going to be "governing for all Canadians". You don't do that by transforming yourself into Bible-thumping gay-bashers or Marxist-sloganeering Commies. You do that by moderating your policies, and by, to some extent, marginalizing the fringe elements.

I think the Liberals are going to have a very hard time of it.

[Pliny]

It's all OK now--- as I said before the Services (including public services) are all liberal supporters because that is the party that proliferates the public service sector, causing bureaucracy to flourish. The armed service likes the Liberal party because they have deeper pockets for the services. But just remember-- Harper is breathing new life into the airforce (or whatever it's called now) by giving them the aircraft they need to act as out primary defense both here & where ever they are called to go. This time the contract will be fulfilled unlike the helicopter SNAFU by the Libs.

I can appreciate your apprehensions about the CPC-- I was posted to go to Germany flying CF100s when deef pulled the plug on the CF105 and all married transfers out of country. Needless to say-- I was pissed.

The difference is that the conservative party prior to Harper was the Progressive Conservative Party.

I'm just glad that there is another four or five years for the electorate to learn that governments are not the source of wealth or the standard of living of Canadians. Canadians are. And when there is a government of the people and for the people it does not mean of the rich and for the rich or of the poor and for the poor or of Quebecers and for Quebecers or of Albertans or for Albertans or of women and for women or of immigrants and for immigrants, or of gays and for gays, or of multiple cultures and for multiple cultures, or of health care and for health care, it is of the people and for the people.

Our social programs define our government they do not, as politicians like to claim, define Canadians. Our common bonds, initially agreed upon and formed over the course of our history are what makes the country. Governments and politicians, in their quest for power, tend to be divisive and erode those bonds by trying to cater to special interests and voting blocs. We can only get along when we agree and the easiest way to ensure we get a long is to stick to being of the people and for the people.

I don't think anyone wants a tyranny but let's not mistake governments giving us handouts and committing future genrations to the liabilites created in sustaining them and our voting ourselves those entitlements as anything but the road to tyranny. A generation or so may enjoy these entitlements but since their is no economic checks and balances to adjust for losses and increased funding and subsidies are the sole solution government provides it eventually bankrupts itself and collapses affecting the whole population. The option is to create as much wealth as possible to charitably handle those in need.

Of course, hard economic times, created by natural or external threats means those most needy will feel the pinch hardest. but at least the whole society won't collapse.

It's another glorious day!

Edited May 3, 2011 by Pliny

[kimmy]

He's going to resign. He might not know it yet, but he'll resign before long. He said he'd step down when they ask him to... and they're going to ask soon.

And it took all of seven hours.

I think the burning question on peoples minds is ... now that he's not an MP, and now that he's not the Liberal leader... are we now allowed to refer to him as "Count Igula"?

-k

[Bob]

Sealman, what is Harper's secret agenda?