Why I Won't Vote NDP

[SpankyMcFarland]

I don't like Harper either, but Chretien had the same autocratic tendencies, and so does Mulcair. And Mulcair will have to clamp down HARD on a caucus full of newbies, many of whom are wild eyed, anti-capitalist zealots who won't be happy if he doesn't start punishing big business, the oil industry and rich people. I also expect huge tax increases under Mulcair.

I think Harper is worse than any of them. His control of the caucus shown that. The lack of a Deputy PM shows that. He does not like dissent or debate. The details of the Duffy trial - it all adds up to paint a picture of an autocrat.

[TimG]

I think Harper is worse than any of them. His control of the caucus shown that. The lack of a Deputy PM shows that. He does not like dissent or debate. The details of the Duffy trial - it all adds up to paint a picture of an autocrat.

What you don't seem to understand is our political/media process is designed to select autocrats because leaders that allow dissenting opinions are immediately branded as 'weak' by the media or worse the party gets tarred because a single MP goes off message.

If you don't like autocrats then you need to think about how you directly contributes to a culture where only autocrats by judging leaders by how they appear in the media .

Edited September 9, 2015 by TimG

[Argus]

I think Harper is worse than any of them. His control of the caucus shown that. The lack of a Deputy PM shows that. He does not like dissent or debate. The details of the Duffy trial - it all adds up to paint a picture of an autocrat.

The Duffy trial is fluff. That doesn't show him an autocrat any more than Martin cancelling the parliamentary committee hearings into the adscam affair and stacking the Supreme Court. It doesn't show him an autocrat any more than Chretien cancelling the investigation into the airborne regiment and disbanding them, not to mention firing and then trying to arrest a public servant for questioning an unpaid government loan to a criminal friend Chretien had demanded be made.

I am still tired of Harper and his methods, but I don't want the shallow and sanctimonious Mister Trudeau instead, and I think the NDP have almost no one in their caucus with any real experience or capability, and far too many left wing zealots.

[Argus]

What you don't seem to understand is our political/media process is designed to select autocrats because leaders that allow dissenting opinions are immediately branded as 'weak' by the media or worse the party gets tarred because a single MP goes off message

Absolutely. The media absolutely loves it when some MP, or even better a minister says something even mildly in disagreement with policy and will make it front page news.

You don't hear Liberals or NDP candidates or MPs contradicting anything the party or its leaders says, nor will you. Discipline is just as tough in those parties, if not tougher.

[PIK]

TORONTO -- A senior aide to New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair apologized Tuesday after past tweets surfaced in which he took aim at the Roman Catholic church.

The two-year-old tweets by Shawn Dearn, hired in February as Mulcair's director of communications, were also directed at the Pope.

"Memo to CBC and all media," one of them reads. "Stop calling the misogynist, homophobic, child-molesting Catholic church a 'moral authority.' It's not."

So I wonder how the catholics will take to this. And why would mulcair keep him?

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/09/08/mulcairs-communications-director-apologizes-for-past-anti-catholic-tweets

[SpankyMcFarland]

What you don't seem to understand is our political/media process is designed to select autocrats because leaders that allow dissenting opinions are immediately branded as 'weak' by the media or worse the party gets tarred because a single MP goes off message.If you don't like autocrats then you need to think about how you directly contributes to a culture where only autocrats by judging leaders by how they appear in the media .

Firstly, Harper promised more open government. On this count, he has utterly failed, has he not? And a person who has failed so badly over a decade does not deserve any more time. The other parties deserve a chance to do better.

Secondly, it is obvious to many in the British Isles and Canada that the Westminster system is no longer fit for purpose as currently constructed. This is not just a Harper or Canadian problem - it occurs across the world. The legislature has ceased to function in the manner it was supposed to. I am surprised there is not a larger international conversation on this matter. Here, for example, are Michael McDowell's suggestions for reform of the Irish parliament, called the Dail. The Ceann Comhairle is the Speaker. Even the discussion of abolishing the Seanad (Senate) would be familiar to Canadian readers:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/michael-mcdowell-eunuch-dail-must-be-reformed-29470979.html

And here is Andrew Coyne's take on our predicament:

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andrew-coyne-we-have-the-form-of-a-parliamentary-democracy-but-not-the-substance

Democracy is messy and takes up time. The independence of MPs and their committees must be re-established.

Fair play to Trudeau for naming his dad last night as the man who started us on the current downward slide to PMO control of parliament.

Edited September 9, 2015 by SpankyMcFarland

[Argus]

TORONTO -- A senior aide to New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair apologized Tuesday after past tweets surfaced in which he took aim at the Roman Catholic church.

The two-year-old tweets by Shawn Dearn, hired in February as Mulcair's director of communications, were also directed at the Pope.

"Memo to CBC and all media," one of them reads. "Stop calling the misogynist, homophobic, child-molesting Catholic church a 'moral authority.' It's not."

So I wonder how the catholics will take to this. And why would mulcair keep him?

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/09/08/mulcairs-communications-director-apologizes-for-past-anti-catholic-tweets

Don't worry, he didn't say anything insulting about the Muslim religion, so it's all good. In fact, I'm willing to bet a guy like this would be horrified at making any insulting statements about the Muslim religion, even if it actually deserves to be called misogynistic and homophobic. As for child molesting, don't they still do a lot of child marriages over there? But no, no, mustn't dare suggest anything bad about the Muslim religion!

Edited September 9, 2015 by Argus

[TimG]

Don't worry, he didn't say anything insulting about the Muslim religion, so it's all good.

You called it:

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/religion/tom-mulcair-defends-top-aide-who-apologized-for-telling-pope-to-go-f-yourself-in-a-tweet

New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair said Wednesday that he had no plans to fire his most senior communications aide for tweeting offensive anti-Roman Catholic comments.

The greatest intolerant bigots in the country today are among people with left wing views. The annoying thing is how they always insist they are not intolerant bigots despite evidence to the contrary.

Anyone paying attention knows that someone saying identical comments about Muslims would be drummed out the job without a second thought. But this guy has nothing to fear because he simply repeats the bigotry which his fellow travellers take as truth.

Edited September 9, 2015 by TimG

[cybercoma]

The greatest intolerant bigots in the country today are among people with left wing views.

Let me guess, you're not trolling, right?

Edited September 10, 2015 by cybercoma

[WIP]

Where's our media?

So, when Harper&co. get flushed down the crapper next month and...if we have the first ever federal NDP government, are you going to become a socialist again?

[Canada_First]

Let me guess, you're not trolling, right?

The left won't even allow right wing speakers to speak in Canada. Yeah very tolerant.

[cybercoma]

The left won't even allow right wing speakers to speak in Canada. Yeah very tolerant.

How am I stopping anyone from speaking? You can speak all you want. I don't have to listen.

[cybercoma]

So, when Harper&co. get flushed down the crapper next month and...if we have the first ever federal NDP government, are you going to become a socialist again?

If the NDP wins, Harper will be known as the prime minister who polarized the country so badly that we elected our first socialist government.

[drummindiver]

If the NDP wins, Harper will be known as the prime minister who polarized the country so badly that we elected our first socialist government.

It certainly wouldn't be because of what the NDP bring..or don't bring..to the table.

[Evening Star]

If the NDP wins, Harper will be known as the prime minister who polarized the country so badly that we elected our first socialist government.

I honestly don't see much socialism in the current federal NDP.

[Canada_First]

How am I stopping anyone from speaking? You can speak all you want. I don't have to listen.

Ann Coulter was stopped from speaking by the left wing.

Next year I'm going to start provoking Muslims by picketing outside the big Mosque. Cooking bacon and giving out free bacon sandwiches. Having signs that tell the truth. Then we will see the real Muslim come out. Not the cuddly ones on TV or the ones who walk around like ninjas.

Let's see if the left wing try to stop us from doing that.

I'm old retired and nothing better to do with my money. So I'm going to have some fun.

If the Syrians come I will be there telling them they're not welcome here and to go home.

So we will see how tolerant the left is.

[TimG]

If the NDP wins, Harper will be known as the prime minister who polarized the country so badly that we elected our first socialist government.

If the NDP wins it will be because Quebec decided to ditch the Bloc and support the NDP because they were 'new and shiny'. If Quebequers had gone Liberal we would be talking about a Liberal government. In any case, the polarization issue takes two to tango. The completely unhinged response of the left to policies which they disagree with is a big part of the problem.

[drummindiver]

TORONTO -- A senior aide to New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair apologized Tuesday after past tweets surfaced in which he took aim at the Roman Catholic church.

The two-year-old tweets by Shawn Dearn, hired in February as Mulcair's director of communications, were also directed at the Pope.

"Memo to CBC and all media," one of them reads. "Stop calling the misogynist, homophobic, child-molesting Catholic church a 'moral authority.' It's not."

So I wonder how the catholics will take to this. And why would mulcair keep him?

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/09/08/mulcairs-communications-director-apologizes-for-past-anti-catholic-tweets

Effective communication from the communication minister.

He also told the pope to eff off.

I kinda like this kid.

[cybercoma]

I honestly don't see much socialism in the current federal NDP.

There isn't. I was being tongue in cheek.

[Argus]

I honestly don't see much socialism in the current federal NDP.

Wait till they're in power and don't have to worry about getting elected for five years.

I expect a lot of grand new social engineering works to be brought out, just to start, then we'll get big tax increases, including a huge new carbon tax on energy and gasoline, new business taxes, and probably a rise in the GST.

[Argus]

If the NDP wins it will be because Quebec decided to ditch the Bloc and support the NDP because they were 'new and shiny'. If Quebequers had gone Liberal we would be talking about a Liberal government. In any case, the polarization issue takes two to tango. The completely unhinged response of the left to policies which they disagree with is a big part of the problem.

Unhinged is putting it mildly. Harper's policies have, at best, been slightly to the right of centre. But the Left has been freaking out for years as if Hitler was in charge and was about to introduce concentration camps just for Lefties.

[Evening Star]

If the NDP wins it will be because Quebec decided to ditch the Bloc and support the NDP because they were 'new and shiny'. If Quebequers had gone Liberal we would be talking about a Liberal government.

Did they choose the NDP completely at random then? Why have they stuck with them?

In any case, the polarization issue takes two to tango. The completely unhinged response of the left to policies which they disagree with is a big part of the problem.

What would be a more appropriate, less unhinged response to policies with which 'the left' disagrees? Would it be more like the responses of people who dislike the Alberta NDP (which has been in power for all of four months) or the Ontario Liberals? Maybe more like the Sun's or Conrad Black's responses to Bob Rae's provincial government in the 90s?

[socialist]

So, when Harper&co. get flushed down the crapper next month and...if we have the first ever federal NDP government, are you going to become a socialist again?

Nope. I agree the CPC will not win. It will be an interesting minority. I know many Liberals who can work with the NDP, but I also know more that despise the NDP. Interesting times.

[Evening Star]

This is starting to win me back a little:

Mulcair was in Winnipeg to announce a plan to create job opportunities and paid internships for youth at non-governmental organizations and in the private sector.

“You deserve to be paid and you deserve to be safe in your workplace,” Mulcair said in the announcement at the Operating Engineers Institute of Manitoba Inc.

The NDP says it will commit up to $100 million every year to a pilot program it says would create 40,000 job opportunities for youth over the span of four years, which would be focused on the non-profit sector but also be available to corporations and small businesses.

It would use this money to leverage more investment from the private sector.

The NDP would also require all federal infrastructure projects at federally regulated airports, port authorities and Crown corporations that cost more than $10-million to hire apprentices.

It also promises to provide $5 million every year to municipalities and Indigenous governments so they can create 1,250 youth apprentices.

[cannuck]

The left won't even allow right wing speakers to speak in Canada. Yeah very tolerant.

At one point in time, the NDP government of Saskatchewan made it illegal to wear Spandex in a bar. If you ever wonder how idiotic, intolerant and out of control the NDP can get, there's a good example.

Geez, I can't wait to live in my very own Greece.