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Post by Dr. Drum on Nov 29, 2005 8:14:31 GMT -5
Starting this one off with a poll. Conventional wisdom is we’re going to get a Parliament out of this election that looks a lot like the last one, regardless of whether first, second and third place positions change hands. Will you be happy with this kind of outcome - were you OK with the wheeling and dealing of the last Parliament - or would you prefer a return to the kind of stability we've been accustomed to over the last 30 years?
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Post by rockkid on Nov 29, 2005 8:53:49 GMT -5
It’s distressing no matter the type. I ask myself why are we as Canadians so stupid? So into self punishment? Or so it seems. I ask this after having heard 2 different poll results on TV the other day that still put the Libs in the lead.  WTF! After all the scandals & the constant grousing that’s done about them why oh why on earth are a majority of the populace still inclined to vote for them. This is the most mind boggling of all IMO. |
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 9:03:01 GMT -5
Dr. Dr. ~ HÉ ! This is the Season to be Jolly and stuff... our face with lots of good things so there's no way I'm actualy paying ANY attention to politicians stupid enough to get us through a winter election... From now on, I'm not clearing the snow in the walkways around the house this should keep all candidates on a door to door campaign from making it to my own door !! Expect the Bloc to increase its number of MPs ...  |
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 9:04:38 GMT -5
WTF! After all the scandals & the constant grousing that’s done about them why oh why on earth are a majority of the populace still inclined to vote for them.
This is the most mind boggling of all IMO.
Maybe it's because the alternative is even more scarier !!
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 9:14:55 GMT -5
Parti libéral du Canada : 132 sièges
Parti conservateur du Canada : 99 sièges
Bloc Québécois : 54 sièges
Nouveau Parti démocratique du Canada : 19 sièges
Indépendants: 3 sièges
Vacant: 1 sièges
Those numbers may have changed slightly
- actual numbers - ...
and they will change a bit after the elections
but not enough to modify things drastically ...
The Conservative Reform Party and the NPD
still has "no snowball in Hell chance" of seeing
any candidate elected in Québec
and Ontario will be voting Liberal again ... !!
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 9:23:42 GMT -5
OH ! This time I'll probably give my vote to the BLOC ...
The BLOC POT that is !!
Unless Cornélius the First makes a triumphant return
to active politic with Le Parti Rhinocéros ...
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 11:57:17 GMT -5
Lastest poll in Québec concerning vote intentions ...
- Bloc Québécois : 53 %
- Parti Libéral : 23 %
- NPD : 13 %
- "Reform" : 9 %
- Others : 2 %
The second half of January is usualy the coldest
and snowiest period of winter but an Ice Storm
is also possible ... ;D ;D
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Post by Dr. Drum on Nov 29, 2005 12:38:39 GMT -5
Holding off on getting up on my soapbox till we (hopefully) hear from a few more people. Not a whole lot of time right now anyway. However, I will say this, Phil – piss on Rudolph and ho ho ho and all that. I’d much rather be pounding lawn signs into frozen turf!! ;D
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 12:38:55 GMT -5
June 2004 election results in Québec ...
54.8 % of all voters did actualy vote !!
The Bloc québécois won 54 seats with 49,4 % of the votes
Liberals got 21 seats (33,4 %)
"Reform" got NADA (8,7 %)
NPD ... 0 ... (4,6 %)
Others ... (3,9 %)
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Post by Dr. Drum on Nov 29, 2005 12:41:09 GMT -5
Gotta feeling that with all those stats that protests to the contrary, so would you.  |
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Post by phil on Nov 29, 2005 12:44:54 GMT -5
A 7 weeks election campaign ...  If there wasn't already 22 runs open at Mt Ste-Anne I think I would hibernate until mid-March !! |
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Post by Dr. Drum on Dec 1, 2005 7:14:59 GMT -5
Guess I should vote on my own question…. Since the next Parliament (or the one after that, depending on how long the next government lasts) is almost certainly going to have to deal with another national unity crisis in Quebec, I’d prefer to see us move toward formal coalitions on the European model. Maximum democratic input to the process ( and a little water in everyone’s wine) + a measure of political stability. Realistically, I think that’s our best available option right now.
Given the likely outcome of this election – Liberals in first place again – I’d hope such a coalition would be between the Liberals and NDP. However if the Conservative Party wins, I think the NDP should be prepared to work with it as well, though it’s hard to see that one resulting in a coalition. Probably a very short-lived minority.
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Post by riley on Dec 1, 2005 10:07:09 GMT -5
Tough question, but I voted minority government if only from the standpoint that the NDP hold enough cards in that scenario that they keep the Libs focussed on social agenda without major detriment to the economic one, where if otherwise left to their own devices, the scale might not be as balanced. The NDP are perfectly placed right now as shit disturbers with leverage for change.
Presuming the minority plays out to look like this one, it also ensures Harper and co. are kept to a dull roar on things that have been dealt with (like gay marriage) and forced moreover to weigh in on forward thinking issues like Canada's role globally. Gay people can marry each other. Get over it and move along. Most Canadians have bigger fish to fry.
As for scandal, it really should be a non issue unless you allow yourself to be manipulated by the Cons, who don't have a platform other than highlighting the scandal. It could have and most likely would have happened when they were in power as well. It plays no role in any of the three parties being effective on a go forward basis. I will probably vote NDP, but it's not the scandal that would preclude me from voting Liberal, and part of me would like to see what Martin is capable of if left to govern rather than dealing with his parties past indiscretions.
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Post by Dr. Drum on Dec 1, 2005 11:58:08 GMT -5
Tough question, but I voted minority government if only from the standpoint that the NDP hold enough cards in that scenario that they keep the Libs focussed on social agenda without major detriment to the economic one, where if otherwise left to their own devices, the scale might not be as balanced. Highlighted the last section of this cause I’m assuming what you’re saying here is that if the Martin Liberals were left to their own devices in a majority government, they might not strike the right social/fiscal balance, right Riley? Though, of course, that would sort of answer your other question of how Martin would govern if he got the chance to do it without Gomery hanging around his neck.  --- I don’t have a lot of qualms about continued minorities, except that there is this inherent instability; historically the average lifespan for a minority government in Canada is about 18 months. Ordinarily this doesn’t concern me, but in this case if things play out in Quebec the way they look to be going, the province will likely have another PQ government no later than April 2008, committed to a referendum in its first term. Under those circumstances, it seems preferable to have a little more stability at the national level. At the same time, I don’t think it would be healthy for the political system overall if any of the three federalist parties got a majority right now, though I realize, 1990 Bob Rae scenario notwithstanding, that in the NDP’s case this is less than a pipe dream.
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Post by riley on Dec 1, 2005 12:11:12 GMT -5
Correct and touche Doc |
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