POLL: Harper’s brand hits ‘new low’

[capricorn]

It takes some time for scandals to percolate through the public consciousness but it's starting to show in the numbers now.

I've never put much faith in polls. And as we've seen with the polling prior to the Alberta election even some pundits have sworn off relying on polls to support their analysis of political trends.

[g_bambino]

I've never put much faith in polls.

Exactly.

[Boges]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1168871--forum-research-poll-puts-ndp-ahead-of-the-conservatives?bn=1

I'm not terribly worried about this because the Liberals are at 22%. I don't see the NDP going against the CPC head to head in Ontario and winning.

[capricorn]

Just heard a CTV reporter say that, given the margin of error, the Conservatives and the NDP might actually be neck and neck in the polls. Of course, she didn't add the other side of the coin i.e., given the margin of error, the Conservatives' lead could be wider than reflected by the polls.

[cybercoma]

Harper: "In 1939 the NDP wouldn't even support going to war against Hitler!"

(Whispers ... Sir there was no NDP in 1939.")

Harper: "Well then the CCF ... same thing."

Mulcair: "Then I'll have to talk to you about Reform Party policies some time."

This exchange yesterday was awesome.

I have to say though, in interviews Mulcair seems really stuff and the calmness in his voice sometimes comes off as contrived. We'll see how things go in the future.

About this thread however, I'm surprised to see the Liberals support all but gone from this forum, as compared to the last time I asked this question just before Mulcair won the leadership. Interesting.

Edited April 27, 2012 by cybercoma

[cybercoma]

Just heard a CTV reporter say that, given the margin of error, the Conservatives and the NDP might actually be neck and neck in the polls. Of course, she didn't add the other side of the coin i.e., given the margin of error, the Conservatives' lead could be wider than reflected by the polls.

You don't seem to understand margin of error. It means that the NDP and Conservatives are statistically tied, regardless of the nominal value from the poll. This means that there's no way of telling who is ahead or behind. Any assumptions otherwise are just that, assumptions.

[PIK]

Are you serious? You would vote for a party that have been charged with contempt of parliament, has MP's scamming money from taxpayers and you, trying to bribe a MP for his vote, was charged and found guilty of the in and out scam, has the largest deficit in history and the list could go on and on. so are you voting party line no matter what, or you really think they are doing a good job??

Give it a break. And yes they are doing a terrific job keeping this country afloat. So you would vote for a party that started this F-35 mess or a party that ACTUALLY steals taxpayers money and gets caught and yet to pay it back. Or a party that divided the country between english and french and almost lost the country. Harper is a breath of fresh air, and in the next election your libs will go nowhere and don't ever think canadians would be stupid enough to let the NDP anywhere near power.

[capricorn]

You don't seem to understand margin of error. It means that the NDP and Conservatives are statistically tied, regardless of the nominal value from the poll. This means that there's no way of telling who is ahead or behind. Any assumptions otherwise are just that, assumptions.

I know what margin of error means. You obviously missed the point I made that this reporter made her margin of error assumption in favour the NDP.

[cybercoma]

I know what margin of error means. You obviously missed the point I made that this reporter made her margin of error assumption in favour the NDP.

Right because the "other side of the coin" when a reporter says the two parties could be neck and neck is that the Conservatives could be out ahead. You seem to have a funny shaped coin.

[CPCFTW]

In other news, the deficit through 11 months of the fiscal year is 10B lower than projected. Canada has also posted surpluses of over 1B in January and February 2012. We have already effectively balanced the budget while the rest of the developed world teeters on the edge of economic collapse. Good job Harper!

[Smallc]

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABRE83P1AX20120427

Wow...so how long until we return to full year balance? Next year? Probably not, but it could be close.

[madmax]

In other news, the deficit through 11 months of the fiscal year is 10B lower than projected. Canada has also posted surpluses of over 1B in January and February 2012.

its a $28 Billion Deficit if it continues at this pace...No surplus, just a budget based on their dismal record in 2010 makes this look good.

We have already effectively balanced the budget while the rest of the developed world teeters on the edge of economic collapse. Good job Harper!

I guess YOU, (as you seem to be part of this when you say WE) , have no reason to solve the deficit on the backs of Seniors now.

Edited April 28, 2012 by madmax

[Smallc]

its a $28 Billion Deficit if it continues at this pace.

Ummm....no. Do you know how to count?

[CPCFTW]

its a $28 Billion Deficit if it continues at this pace...No surplus, just a budget based on their dismal record in 2010 makes this look good.

Nope. Read the article smallc provided. Might need to whip out your calculator.

I guess YOU, (as you seem to be part of this when you say WE) , have no reason to solve the deficit on the backs of Seniors now.

WE are all Canadians and WE are all in this together. The seniors are largely responsible for the debt that we have to pay off, ao it is only fair that they share in the pain.

[huh]

This exchange yesterday was awesome.

I have to say though, in interviews Mulcair seems really stuff and the calmness in his voice sometimes comes off as contrived. We'll see how things go in the future.

About this thread however, I'm surprised to see the Liberals support all but gone from this forum, as compared to the last time I asked this question just before Mulcair won the leadership. Interesting.

Mulclair seems really competent, at least in parliamentary debate, i just dont like the party he stands for.

At this point i dont much like any of them.

[cybercoma]

Mulclair seems really competent, at least in parliamentary debate, i just dont like the party he stands for.

At this point i dont much like any of them.

Those with conservative views need to be more open-minded about the NDP. There are some things in their platform that would appeal to the right. For example, they want to reduce taxes on small businesses to zero and they've proven to be very successful at balancing budgets. The NDP isn't the Marxist-Socialist party that some people seem to think they are.

[Machjo]

I think you are correct if we have to take a sample today.

I am waiting to see more of what Mulcair is doing.. I gotta say, he looks and sounds alot stronger and more confident then Harper watching the clips from yesterday.

I think this is Mulcairs to win or lose when it comes to a vision and direction.

We will have to wait and see.

The problem with Mulcair though is that he's just as authoritarian as Harper always whipping the party vote.

[Machjo]

In the end though, we have none to blame but ourselve. The day we stop voting strategically and vote on principle instead, and the day we stop voting for a party and start voting for a candidate based on character rather than ideology, we will continue to get these corrupt governments.

[punked]

The problem with Mulcair though is that he's just as authoritarian as Harper always whipping the party vote.

Yah accept you know on Private member bills because he can't. You fail to understand how the NDP works. The NDP is the ONLY party to never whip a vote on a privates members bills. So not just as authoritarian he is a little be less authoritarian then both the Cons and Libs you know being part of the only party to never whip a private members bill vote.

[WWWTT]

In other news, the deficit through 11 months of the fiscal year is 10B lower than projected. Canada has also posted surpluses of over 1B in January and February 2012. We have already effectively balanced the budget while the rest of the developed world teeters on the edge of economic collapse. Good job Harper!

I find it odd that when Harpers budget numbers are good then economy accounts for 100% of voter decision.

But traditionally the NDP have the best economic track record,however according to you they are unfit for power.?!?!

WWWTT

[dre]

The seniors are largely responsible for the debt that we have to pay off, ao it is only fair that they share in the pain.

Not really. Those seniors paid more taxes than Generation Useless (thats us), they built this countries roads, bridges, highways, energy infrastructure, and bled the ground red in a couple of major wars. Generation Useless has done absolutely nothing in comparison. The laziest and most pampered generation in Canadian history.

[Machjo]

Yah accept you know on Private member bills because he can't. You fail to understand how the NDP works. The NDP is the ONLY party to never whip a vote on a privates members bills. So not just as authoritarian he is a little be less authoritarian then both the Cons and Libs you know being part of the only party to never whip a private members bill vote.

You're kidding, right?

He's just as bad as Harper, or at least close to it.

[punked]

You're kidding, right?

He's just as bad as Harper, or at least close to it.

I am not kidding. THE NDP IS THE ONLY PARTY TO NEVER WHIP A PRIVATE MEMBERS VOTE. That is just a fact.

[Machjo]

I am not kidding. THE NDP IS THE ONLY PARTY TO NEVER WHIP A PRIVATE MEMBERS VOTE. That is just a fact.

Opposition to the long-gun registry was not part of the NDP's election platform, yet Turmel did sanction those Dippers who voted against it. Seeing that it could just as easily have been a private members' bill, what's up with that? And yes, Mulcair forgave them for it, so he's a little better than Turmel on that front, but now he's proposing to whip his MPs to vote against the new bill concerning the beginning of life. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are leaving it to a free vote, only the NDP is making it a whipped vote.

That's not to say the Liberals or Conservatives are not guilty of whipping votes too, but just saying the NDP is no different.

[punked]

Opposition to the long-gun registry was not part of the NDP's election platform, yet Turmel did sanction those Dippers who voted against it. Seeing that it could just as easily have been a private members' bill, what's up with that? And yes, Mulcair forgave them for it, so he's a little better than Turmel on that front, but now he's proposing to whip his MPs to vote against the new bill concerning the beginning of life. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are leaving it to a free vote, only the NDP is making it a whipped vote.

That's not to say the Liberals or Conservatives are not guilty of whipping votes too, but just saying the NDP is no different.

AGAIN no private members Bill has ever been Whipped by the NDP unlike the Conservatives and Liberals. It is that simple. Never has never will.

Edited April 29, 2012 by punked