Parrish says she'll vote against Martin government

[mirror]

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Independent MP Carolyn Parrish says she will no longer consistently vote with the Liberal minority government on confidence votes, due largely to Defence Minister Bill Graham's decision to send troops to Afghanistan this summer and because the federal government didn't "muzzle" Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier who recently referred to terrorists as "murderers and scumbags."

Add on that Ipsos Reid poll released today, and the Layton New Democrats clearly cutting them loose, and it beginning to look like a REAL S*** WEEK for the Martin Liberals.

[Guest Warwick Green]

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Independent MP Carolyn Parrish says she will no longer consistently vote with the Liberal minority government on confidence votes, due largely to Defence Minister Bill Graham's decision to send troops to Afghanistan this summer and because the federal government didn't "muzzle" Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier who recently referred to terrorists as "murderers and scumbags."

Add on that Ipsos Reid poll released today, and the Layton New Democrats clearly cutting them loose, and it beginning to look like a REAL S*** WEEK for the Martin Liberals.

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So, we could get an election before the Gomery Report comes out. Maybe that's what the Grits are hoping for.

[mirror]

If one looks at the latest Ipsos Reid poll released today, I doubt very much the Libranos are going to be in a rush to go to the polls. I read over the weekend they were going to be strutting their stuff out West. I honestly cannot imagine why. Maybe if they showed more humbliness, and less arrogance, voters might be more receptive to them.

[Toro]

That's great. Maybe she'll vote down the government, and then she'll be defeated. But that's okay. I'm sure the Toronto Star will find a place for her.

Mirror - What were the latest poll results?

[mirror]

The last thing the Liberals are going to want is an election now:

L - 36%

C - 28%

N - 17%

Toro

Check the "Latest federal opinion poll" thread for all the details including the regional breakdowns.

[shoop]

That's great.  Maybe she'll vote down the government, and then she'll be defeated.  But that's okay.  I'm sure the Toronto Star will find a place for her.

Mirror - What were the latest poll results?

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My vibe would be that she tried to get back into caucus and PM Dithers finally decided no.

Parrish is definitely going to be a thorn in the Liberals side this session.

If she is bitter and runs as an independent that could really hurt the Liberals in the riding. A riding that voted PC as recently as 1988.

Warwick - the only reason for PM Dithers to try and force an election this early is if he has an inkling that the Gomery report is going to be dynamite to him. but you never know. He would be lucky to hold onto the seats he has at this point.

[Shady]

Parrish is definitely going to be a thorn in the Liberals side this session

I agree, and I guess I should be happy. However, I'm almost as anti-Parrish as I am anti-Liberal. I really can't stand her.

[shoop]

I agree, and I guess I should be happy.  However, I'm almost as anti-Parrish as I am anti-Liberal.  I really can't stand her.

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I am no fan of Parrish either. She isn't my MP, and likely won't be back after the next election.

If she can inflict some damage on the Liberals on her way out the door, power to her...

[mirror]

Don't forget what happened last session when the speaker had to vote to break a tie otherwise the government was going to be defeated. In a situation where potentially every vote counts, Parrish's vote could possibly end up bringing down the government this Fall. She may end up being in the position Chuck Cadman was in last session.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Warwick - the only reason for PM Dithers to try and force an election this early is if he has an inkling that the Gomery report is going to be dynamite to him. but you never know. He would be lucky to hold onto the seats he has at this point.

Reasonable comments. But if the Oppos gang up on him and then he has a chance to claim he needs a majority and he can also show around that hilarious "Oh, do not forsake me, oh, me darlin'" pic of Hopalong Harper anything could happen in an election.

[shoop]

Reasonable comments. But if the Oppos gang up on him and then he has a chance to claim he needs a majority and he can also show around that hilarious "Oh, do not forsake me, oh, me darlin'" pic of Hopalong Harper anything could happen in an election. 

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Martin can definitely try that, but there is a reasonable question all three opposition leaders can ask in response.

What has he done to prove he deserves to be trusted with a majority?

Thankfully that picture will be long forgotten by the time of the next election.

[Leader Circle]

Reasonable comments. But if the Oppos gang up on him and then he has a chance to claim he needs a majority and he can also show around that hilarious "Oh, do not forsake me, oh, me darlin'" pic of Hopalong Harper anything could happen in an election. 

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Martin can definitely try that, but there is a reasonable question all three opposition leaders can ask in response.

What has he done to prove he deserves to be trusted with a majority?

Thankfully that picture will be long forgotten by the time of the next election.

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For how things are going a majority is out of the question for anyone and if they can't get along to some extent....we're gonna keep having confidence votes. Parrish is a liability no matter what color she wears!

[shoop]

For how things are going a majority is out of the question for anyone and if they can't get along to some extent....we're gonna keep having confidence votes. Parrish is a liability no matter what color she wears!

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There was that string of the minority governments in 1962-1963-1965 where both the Liberals and the Conservatives were lead by men (Pearson and Diefenbaker) with regional pockets of support, but lacking the gravitas to appeal to voters across the nation.

The minority governments ended by the time of the 1968 election when both parties had picked new leaders.

Does anybody see either Harper or Martin leading their parties into another election if the polls stay as they are in a 2005/06 election?

Martin is gone without a majority, period.

Harper is gone without a win. Guess he's lucky in that a CPC minority government would save his job.

[mirror]

In some ways I would not mind a Cons minority government as their hands would be tied to a large extent so they could not do too much damage.

It would perhaps get the Liberals to lose some of their arrogance and it is no good in any political system to have one party in power for too a period of time. That should be the opposition theme song for the next election.

[shoop]

Mirror, are we actually agreeing on something?

I think a CPC minority is the best thing for the party, and the country, at this point.

A minority would give the party the chance to learn about how to govern, while forcing them to be moderate and appeal to a broad spectrum of Canadians.

It would also give the party the opportunity to project a more moderate image nationally and build support in Quebec.

The Conservatives would be fortunate if they won, in that the electorate would want to give them a chance to govern for a while. Nobody really wants a never ending succession of elections.

It would also give Harper the opportunity to groom a potential successor. We'd have to see a list of names as to who that might be.

Besides the Martinite wing of the Liberal party are such arrogant bastards it would be great to see them turfed to the sidewalk.