|
Post by phil on Nov 8, 2005 7:51:45 GMT -5
HÉ ! Are you as excited as I am with the possibility of going to vote in a federal election on the 27th of december !!
STUPID LIBERALS !!
|
|
|
Post by phil on Nov 8, 2005 7:55:21 GMT -5
From now on, I'm cancelling my vote in any federal elections ...
Unless the Parti Rhinocéros makes a comeback !!
LONG LIVE CORNÉLIUS THE FIRST !!
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Drum on Nov 8, 2005 8:55:50 GMT -5
Yeah, this government’s days are numbered but at this point, I actually don’t think we’re going to have a Christmas election. For one thing, none of the opposition parties want to get blamed for causing one but everyone but the Bloc also has other political considerations to weigh up as well.
Best bet right now, though, is that the government falls when the supplemental spending estimates are tabled on December 8. By law, the minimum length of a federal campaign is 36 days, so that would leave us with an election in mid-January. There is talk that the Liberals may want a considerably longer campaign this time, however, since they’re almost certainly planning another largely negative campaign centred around Stephen Harper. A mid-January wouldn’t leave much time to ramp up voters’ fear and loathing of Stephen – they’d basically lose the last 2½ weeks of December to Christmas – so they may end up calling it for late January or even early February.
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Drum on Nov 10, 2005 10:24:16 GMT -5
Layton as kingmaker, elegant gambit-taker
John Ibbitson The Globe and Mail November 10, 2005
Jack Layton has done something very, very clever. The question is whether it is too clever by half.
The NDP Leader has been enjoying life as a kingmaker and breaker over the past six months. He helped Paul Martin survive the assault of the opposition parties last May, in exchange for budget considerations; now he has decided that this scandal-plagued government has to go.
But the Liberals have one crucial asset in their campaign to delay an election until April: The public emphatically does not want to be bothered with an election campaign over Christmas.
In consequence, all three opposition parties have found themselves awkwardly trying to get some other party to take responsibility for moving the motion of no-confidence in the government.
"You do it, and I'll support you," Mr. Layton, in effect, told Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.
"No, you do it and I'll support you," Mr. Harper replied.
"I'm not going to do it unless you go first."
"No, you go first."
"No, you go."
"No, you."
"You."
"You."
Yesterday, after recess but before nap time, Mr. Layton proposed a constitutionally adventurous way out.
Although details have yet to be worked out, it might involve the three opposition parties agreeing to override the existing parliamentary calendar, voting later this month to recall the House of Commons in early January, with that day to be designated an opposition day.
On that day, the opposition would move to vote no-confidence in the government, forcing an election.
Mr. Harper quickly endorsed co-operation in principle, subject to successful negotiations on tactics. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe was also cautiously positive.
The Layton gambit elegantly sidesteps the difficulties of forcing a Christmas election, while taking away from the Liberals control over the vote's timing.
It will prevent the government from bringing down a February budget, loaded with tax cuts and spending sprees.
Best of all, the second Gomery report will arrive on Feb. 1 and reawaken voter disgust with the sponsorship scandal.
So is a January election inevitable? Hardly.
The three opposition leaders must first agree on this daring strategy, for the Liberals will ignore anything less emphatic.
In any case, the Liberals will have the next eight weeks to figure out a strategy, and their procedural experts are the best in the business.
The government will also point out that some or all opposition parties will be voting in support of legislation to provide low-income families with heating-fuel rebates, will endorse the results of the first ministers meeting on aboriginal issues, and will even let the supplementary estimates pass, which, for the Conservatives, will mean voting for the implementation of the very budget they voted against.
And then, after that show of support, the opposition will declare no-confidence. And Paul Martin will ask: No-confidence in what?
Meantime, expect the Liberals to cram as many goodies as they can wedge into Monday's economic statement.
Nonetheless, the governing party would hate being brought down without being in control of the timing, and with the second Gomery report landing smack in the middle of the election campaign. The Layton gambit will advance the election by only six weeks, but the Liberals wanted those six weeks badly.
So has Mr. Layton outsmarted the Liberals and placed himself at the forefront of opposition strategy, for which voters will reward him in the next election?
Perhaps, but consider this: Politics is as much about the gut as about the head.
In the history of this country, opposition parties have never tried to hijack the agenda of the Commons in such a fashion, in order to force a premature election, to be held in the dead of winter. In your gut, does this seem to you a smart move, or merely a clever one?
It is far too early to say how the Layton gambit will ultimately be received.
|
|