NDP Not Ruling Out Future Deal With Liberals

[mirror]

NDP not ruling out future deal with Liberals

Mr. Layton said in general, the topics of discussion include how to address what Canadians see as a failed leadership in terms of the federal government and trade agreement violations, especially related to the softwood lumber issue (Canada is currently in a battle with the United States after it ignored a ruling from a North American Free Trade Agreement panel requiring it to pay back billions of dollars in duties it had collected on lumber).

The NDP Leader said the party will also be discussing worries over privatization of health care and the continued environmental deterioration in Canada.

"We're at the back of the pack. We're not showing leadership," he said in terms of Canada's response to environmental issues such as air quality.

Mr. Layton said the party is going to bring a number of proposals to the House and "see how the other parties react...we really have to take it one step at a time," he said.

Fearful of losing a confidence motion last spring, the Liberals made a deal with the NDP in which NDP agreed to support the government on the motion, thus preventing the government from falling, in exchange for $4.6-billion of new spending for New Democrat priorities including deferring corporate tax cuts and increasing spending.

After the deal was made, the NDP was seen as a party that was able to hold its own in the minority government.

Once again we are going to see an NDP-driven government agenda it seems. This is good because Canadians are more in tune with NDP policies than any other political party.

[Canuck E Stan]

"Once again we are going to see an NDP-driven government agenda it seems.

This is good because Canadians are more in tune with NDP policies than any other political party."

You've been sitting at your computer too long Mirror,I think you've become delusional with your wishes for the NDP. Canadians who work don't think as you do, that's why they vote as they do.

[mirror]

"Once again we are going to see an NDP-driven government agenda it seems.

This is good because Canadians are more in tune with NDP policies than any other political party."

You've been sitting at your computer too long Mirror,I think you've become delusional with your wishes for the NDP. Canadians who work don't think as you do, that's why they vote as they do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dear CES

Once again instead of your constant personal putdowns, please try posting something, anything, that has substance to it. Thanks.

Cheers

[cybercoma]

Dear CES

Once again instead of your constant personal putdowns, please try posting something, anything, that has substance to it. Thanks.

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dear mirror,

Hell will freeze over before Jack Layton becomes Prime Minister.

How's that for substance?

[err]

Hell will freeze over before Jack Layton becomes Prime Minister.

How's that for substance?

And that's the best you can come up with... Pretty lame...

I have to agree with Mirror on this one... The NDP is the only party that has shown any interest in the greater public good in the past year or so... and all of Canada has seen it... Well except for those who don't possess the intellectual capacity to see it... They'll be the ones to contradict Mirror's and my position.....

[shoop]

I have to agree with Mirror on this one... The NDP is the only party that has shown any interest in the greater public good in the past year or so... and all of Canada has seen it... Well except for those who don't possess the intellectual capacity to see it... They'll be the ones to contradict Mirror's and my position.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All depends on what you consider the greater public good.

A party that has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to medicare, will pay down the debt quickly and will get rid of corruption in government sounds to me like it is working in the best interest of the greater public good.

Oh wait, that is the Conservative Party of Canada. Let the hate-fest begin.

[Riverwind]

A party that has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to medicare, will pay down the debt quickly and will get rid of corruption in government sounds to me like it is working in the best interest of the greater public good.

The CPC had a chance to prove where it stood by cutting a deal for tax cuts or similar policies, however, it decided that a mindless grab for power was a better strategy.

I hated the NDP deal but I put the blame for it squarely on the shoulders of Harper the opportunist. He had a choice and choose self-aggrandizement over pragmatic policy decisions.

[shoop]

The CPC had a chance to prove where it stood by cutting a deal for tax cuts or similar policies, however, it decided that a mindless grab for power was a better strategy.

I hated the NDP deal but I put the blame for it squarely on the shoulders of Harper the opportunist. He had a choice and choose self-aggrandizement over pragmatic policy decisions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are making a big ASSumption that such an offer was ever on the table.

Never ever heard anything about that before here and now. What was the offer?

[Riverwind]

You are making a big ASSumption that such an offer was ever on the table.

Never ever heard anything about that before here and now. What was the offer?

Are you suggesting that Martin would have said no if Harper went to him and said he would back off on the non-confidence thing if Martin addressed some issues of importance to Conservatives? Martin was shitting bricks at the time, if the CPC came up with a few suggestions that weren't Liberal sacred cows then Martin would have jumped at the opportunity to forestall the inevitable.

If beleive that if Harper had played the stateman he would be sitting in Layton's shoes today and looking at a least a Conservative minority in the near future.

[shoop]

Are you suggesting that Martin would have said no if Harper went to him and said he would back off on the non-confidence thing if Martin addressed some issues of importance to Conservatives? Martin was shitting bricks at the time, if the CPC came up with a few suggestions that weren't Liberal sacred cows then Martin would have jumped at the opportunity to forestall the inevitable.

If beleive that if Harper had played the stateman he would be sitting in Layton's shoes today and looking at a least a Conservative minority in the near future.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you are chastising Harper for not peddling his arse?

Hmm a lot of Canadians, were and still are, pissed about Adscam.

Harper took a risk, with a reasonable chance at winning an election they tried to force - (the NDs have NEVER had a reasonable chance to win a federal election) Harper took his shot.

Got love you attacking him for not going for the short-term minor gain.

[Riverwind]

So you are chastising Harper for not peddling his arse?

It is a minority parliment - something we are going to have for a quite awhile. That requires negotiation and compromise among parties - I don't call that 'peddling his arse' - I call it 'doing the job he was elected to do'.

Got love you attacking him for not going for the short-term minor gain.

Trying to force a snap election was classic short term thinking. Even if he won a minority based on anger at the Liberals he would have been likely turfed in a year - by that time the Liberals would have a new leader and adscam would be forgotten. Playing the stateman would have got people to actually vote for him instead of voting for him by default. That would have given his eventual gov't much more staying power. Now he is stuck with the angry white man image which will be hard to shake.

[err]

Martin was shitting bricks at the time, if the CPC came up with a few suggestions that weren't Liberal sacred cows then Martin would have jumped at the opportunity to forestall the inevitable.

If beleive that if Harper had played the stateman he would be sitting in Layton's shoes today and looking at a least a Conservative minority in the near future.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you are chastising Harper for not peddling his arse?

You mean not being smart enough to be expedient ??

Harper took a risk, with a reasonable chance at winning an election they tried to force - (the NDs have NEVER had a reasonable chance to win a federal election) Harper took his shot.

... A stupid risk... but it's better for Canada this way, because he's shot himself in the foot, pissing off the Canadian public with his cheap attempt at a power-grab....

Got love you attacking him for not going for the short-term minor gain.

Even better... you've got to love how he's sabotaged the Conservative/Reform/Alliance's chances at getting elected....

[mirror]

Not too many Canadians want an election soon, it appears. I wonder why. Maybe this idea of minority government is finally rubbing off on the voters.

When do you want the next federal election to be held?

As soon as possible        623 votes  (21 %)

Winter 2006                  245 votes  (8 %)

Spring 2006                  971 votes  (34 %)

After spring 2006          1059 votes  (37 %)

 

Total Votes:                  2898

[shoop]

[Trying to force a snap election was classic short term thinking. Even if he won a minority based on anger at the Liberals he would have been likely turfed in a year - by that time the Liberals would have a new leader and adscam would be forgotten. Playing the stateman would have got people to actually vote for him instead of voting for him by default. That would have given his eventual gov't much more staying power. Now he is stuck with the angry white man image which will be hard to shake.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually Harper played the statesman repeatedly in that parliament. For example, agreeing to pairing so cabinet ministers could attend ceremonies marking VE Day, alas forgotten in the shuffle.

Please give ONE example of something statesmanlike Harper could have done to win your vote.

Hmmm thought so...

[shoop]

Not too many Canadians want an election soon, it appears.  I wonder why. Maybe this idea of minority government is finally rubbing off on the voters.

When do you want the next federal election to be held?

As soon as possible        623 votes   (21 %)

Winter 2006                   245 votes   (8 %)

Spring 2006                   971 votes   (34 %)

After spring 2006           1059 votes   (37 %)

 

Total Votes:                   2898

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's from today's Globe and Mail online poll for any of y'all worried about copyright infringement or such.

Seems to me like the majority of respondents (63%) want an election by Spring 2006 at the latest.

Yet again, Mirror's analysis, in this case the idea of minority government's 'rubbing off on voters' is far too nuanced for the likes of me to understand.

[Riverwind]

Actually Harper played the statesman repeatedly in that parliament. For example, agreeing to pairing so cabinet ministers could attend ceremonies marking VE Day, alas forgotten in the shuffle.

That only happened after Martin was forced to cancel his trip to VE Day because of fears over a snap vote of confidence. All of the leaders arrived a day late as a result. If Harper was a statesman he would a unequivocally promised not to bring down the gov't while Martin was in France much sooner and ensured no one was late.

Please give ONE example of something statesmanlike Harper could have done to win your vote.

It is tough to say if one thing would have changed my vote, however, I would be looking much more favourably at Harper and the CPC today if he had actually talked about ideas and policies instead of running around screaming about corruption.

A sensible budget deal brokered between Harper and Martin instead of Layton and Martin would have definitely pushed me towards the CPC instead of Liberals. You have to remember, economically speaking I don't have a problem with the CPC - my biggest issue is the CPC needs to convince me that they will not follow the path of the Bush republicans with idiotic tax cuts and an obsession with imposing backwards social prejudices on others.

[shoop]

That only happened after Martin was forced to cancel his trip to VE Day because of fears over a snap vote of confidence. All of the leaders arrived a day late as a result. If Harper was a statesman he would a unequivocally promised not to bring down the gov't while Martin was in France much sooner and ensured no one was late.

A sensible budget deal brokered between Harper and Martin instead of Layton and Martin would have definitely pushed me towards the CPC instead of Liberals. You have to remember, economically speaking I don't have a problem with the CPC - my biggest issue is the CPC needs to convince me that they will not follow the path of the Bush republicans with idiotic tax cuts and an obsession with imposing backwards social prejudices on others.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There`s the problem. Harper was definitely acting in a statesmanlike manner with that deal, yet you still attack him for not doing it earlier. It is fair to say you interpret his actions in the worst possible light and don't give him credit for anything.

IMHO a sensible budget deal would have included tax breaks for working families, giving them the option to choose how to provide daycare to their children.

The CPC isn't obsessed with following the path of Bush republicans. many of us see Bush for the flawed, flawed man that he is.

[mirror]

The CPC isn't obsessed with following the path of Bush republicans. many of us see Bush for the flawed, flawed man that he is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dear shoop

Now let me see if I understand. Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread until Katrina. Now because his actions have discredited the right wing, you are going to cut him loose so the Republicans can hold onto control of the Congress in 2006. I just wanted to be clear about that.

138

Cheers

[Hawk]

The CPC isn't obsessed with following the path of Bush republicans. many of us see Bush for the flawed, flawed man that he is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dear shoop

Now let me see if I understand. Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread until Katrina. Now because his actions have discredited the right wing, you are going to cut him loose so the Republicans can hold onto control of the Congress in 2006. I just wanted to be clear about that.

138

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem with Bush is he is too left-wing economically and socially, otherwise I have no gripes with the man... heck, compared to Canada's last 3 PMs Bush is amazing.

[shoop]

Dear shoop

Now let me see if I understand. Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread until Katrina. Now because his actions have discredited the right wing, you are going to cut him loose so the Republicans can hold onto control of the Congress in 2006. I just wanted to be clear about that. 

138

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, for supporters of the CPC Bush has always been a mixed bag at best.

Yet again, making the blanket assumption that the CPC is automatically in tuned with 'conservatives' in the U.S.

Did you find track pants to fit your arse yet? Wal-mart is the place for you. Just wanted to be clear about that.

[mirror]

No, for supporters of the CPC Bush has always been a mixed bag at best.

Yet again, making the blanket assumption that the CPC is automatically in tuned with 'conservatives' in the U.S.

Did you find track pants to fit your arse yet? Wal-mart is the place for you. Just wanted to be clear about that

Dear sloopy

Canadians obviously are aware of the qualiites of US presidents. We thought Reagan was bad, but Bush is almost making Reagan look good which is hard to imagine.

169

Cheers

[BHS]

Who cares? It's the NDP.

[shoop]

Who cares? It's the NDP.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, like those freaks are ever going to form government.