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Harper is following parliamentary tradition

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Madwow
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Joined: Jul 12 2006
December 5, 2008 - 12:46am
#31
Fidel wrote:

Only 22 percent of registered voters supported the Harpers.

 

This may be true, but then what percentage of registered voters supported each of the leaders of the coalition?


Fidel
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Joined: Apr 29 2004
December 5, 2008 - 12:54am
#32
Madwow wrote:
Fidel wrote:

Only 22 percent of registered voters supported the Harpers.

 

This may be true, but then what percentage of registered voters supported each of the leaders of the coalition?

Enough to out number the Harpers in Parliament, apparently. Where does everyone think herr Steve will go for the holidays? Bavaria? Switzerland? Eagle's nest? 


the regina mom
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Joined: Oct 21 2008
December 5, 2008 - 4:32am
#33
I'm blogging that opening post, Sean.  Hope that's ok!  I'll link to this thread.

Doug
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Joined: Apr 17 2001
December 5, 2008 - 1:55pm
#34

This Godwins the whole debate magnificently - but it's so funny!

The Harper Dictatorship 


Lard Tunderin Jeezus
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Joined: Aug 27 2001
December 5, 2008 - 2:34pm
#35
Madwow wrote:

To all the complaining how 62% did not vote for Harper

74% Did not vote for Dion
90% did not vote for Duceppe
83% Did not vote for Layton
93% Did not vote for May

I'm willing to bet that Harper is the very last choice for the vast majority of those who voted against him. And polling showed that more than half of those who intended to vote for Harper didn't actually want him to win a majority.

 


tostig
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Joined: Jun 28 2005
December 5, 2008 - 2:31pm
#36
Madwow wrote:

To all the complaining how 62% did not vote for Harper

74% Did not vote for Dion
90% did not vote for Duceppe
83% Did not vote for Layton
93% Did not vote for May

On the flipside, we can say that although 62% did not vote for Harper, only 57% did not vote for either Dion or Layton.  And then only 47% did not vote for any of Dion, Layton or Duceppe.

This outlines the fundamental fault of FPTP system.  Another strong argument for PR.


Fidel
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Joined: Apr 29 2004
December 5, 2008 - 5:29pm
#37

If herr Steveler thinks he has a mandate to rule, then why is he afraid to show up for work?

Steve's first act as phony minority PM after a $300 million dollar election is to take a two month paid vacation in Bavaria, or Switzerland, or five star Eagle's Nest Hotel? Those lazy louts! 


Madwow
Offline
Joined: Jul 12 2006
December 5, 2008 - 9:48pm
#38
Lard Tunderin' Jeezus wrote:
Madwow wrote:

To all the complaining how 62% did not vote for Harper

74% Did not vote for Dion
90% did not vote for Duceppe
83% Did not vote for Layton
93% Did not vote for May

I'm willing to bet that Harper is the very last choice for the vast majority of those who voted against him. And polling showed that more than half of those who intended to vote for Harper didn't actually want him to win a majority.

 

Well why don't you prove it.  Oh yeah, in Canada, picking second place

is not on the ballot.

Jeez, I thought you would know that.

 


the regina mom
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Joined: Oct 21 2008
December 5, 2008 - 10:28pm
#39
Nothing quite like shutting down Parliament when you're about to be taken down.  Herr Harper, indeed!  (Or should that be Hair Harper?)

oldgoat
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Joined: Jul 27 2001
December 5, 2008 - 10:30pm
#40

Quote: Old Goat, I was aware of the irony given Harper's positions on human rights.  I have not condoned Edward's nasty end, 

 

Sorry, I was tired and cranky.


Jingles
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Joined: Nov 13 2002
December 5, 2008 - 11:12pm
#41

Harper's Coup

 Mike Whitney notices what's happening up-a here. 


Fidel
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Joined: Apr 29 2004
December 5, 2008 - 11:56pm
#42
Jingles wrote:

Harper's Coup

 Mike Whitney notices what's happening up-a here. 

Quote:
On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended Canada's parliament to avoid a challenge from opposition parties that were planning to oust him from power. The 3-party coalition--the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois---decided to remove Harper because of his strong opposition to a stimulus package that was designed to minimize the effects of the financial crisis. They also opposed his "proposed elimination of subsidies for political parties, a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike, and limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity." . .

It's hard to imagine an agenda with more profound consequences for Canadians, beginning with a dramatic reordering of national priorities. Public health care? Child poverty? Fighting global warming?. . .

"The Canadian government has always been chosen by the people," said the Prime Minister.

Not true, and Harper knows it.

"He's appealing to people who learned their civics from American television," said Henry Jacek, a political scientist at McMaster University. Other scholars... say Harper's populist theory of democracy is more suited to a U.S.-style presidential system, in which voters cast ballots directly for a national leader, than it is to Canadian parliamentary democracy

Harper is a shameless toady for the vicious empire. 


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