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Election Talk (14)
Wed, 2011-04-27 09:36
#1
Election Talk (14)
Wed, 2011-04-27 09:46
#2
knownothing
Noah Evanchuk won the debate in Palliser last night and delivered some knockout blows to conservative cadndidate Ray Boughen, 73. Whenever Boughen said that the election was unnecessary he got a rowsing boo from the crowd. When Noah introduced some of his ideas Boughen said, "It's nice to have these big ideas but when you get there it's not that simple", or something like that, and Noah nailed him, "If you can't handle it you shouldn't be applying for the job" or something like that. Noah used other good line, "Torys and Liberals are like Coke and Pepsi, they are just sugar water, try some orange juice, it's better for you." Later in the night the Liberal, Russ Collicott, answered back, "You talk about orange juice, I think you are drinking Koola-Aid." Pretty funny!
Wed, 2011-04-27 09:55
#3
Layton streaming live now in Winnipeg:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada_Votes_2011/1857462143/ID=1854897866
Wed, 2011-04-27 11:30
#4
The attacks on Jack are starting to get quite toxic. First Radwanski saying Jack may be worse for national unity than the BQ. Then this bs about "the markets" being nervous. Time the NDP trotted out a letter signed by fistfuls of economists (e.g. the progressive economics forum) that says the NDP is a pragmatic party that can be trusted to not only run government, but bring all sectors of society together to work towards common solutions to prosperity and growth.
Wed, 2011-04-27 11:42
#5
So right! They should def do this!!The attacks on Jack are starting to get quite toxic. First Radwanski saying Jack may be worse for national unity than the BQ. Then this bs about "the markets" being nervous. Time the NDP trotted out a letter signed by fistfuls of economists (e.g. the progressive economics forum) that says the NDP is a pragmatic party that can be trusted to not only run government, but bring all sectors of society together to work towards common solutions to prosperity and growth.
Wed, 2011-04-27 11:55
#6
"Now, the old parties are spending the last week on the attack, hoping to drown out the voices for change in Canada," Layton said at a campaign event in Winnipeg.
"Well, in the final days of this campaign, New Democrats will launch a few attacks of our own. My friends, I will attack health-care wait times. I will attack doctor shortages. I will attack seniors' poverty. I will tackle the crisis in retirement security."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/27/cv-elec...
Wed, 2011-04-27 11:59
#7
Time the NDP trotted out a letter signed by fistfuls of economists (e.g. the progressive economics forum) that says the NDP is a pragmatic party that can be trusted to not only run government, but bring all sectors of society together to work towards common solutions to prosperity and growth.
What the NDP needs is to have the Communists (both the Marxist-Leninists and the vanilla Communist Party) come out and denounce them as just another bourgeois capitalist party, to put everyone's mind at ease.
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:05
#8
Planted Info on Ignatieff 'Should Concern Canadians' Says Sun CEO
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/04/27/18071406.html
"The report suggested that rather than being an observer from the sidelines, as he wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece after he entered Canadian politics, Ignatieff was in fact on the front lines and on the ground at a forward operating base in Kuwait assisting US State Department and American military officials in their study sessions..."
and if so Iggy played the consummate Canadian role - as contrary to myth - Canada was deeply involved, including senior military commanders, in the invasion of Iraq. What's up with this? Everybody knows all parties are quite contented and resigned to their lapdog lacky roles as accomplices to US imperialism. All parties are pro-NATO and Libya and Afghanistan are barely mentioned.
NDP Part Of The Imperialist System
http://boycottelections2011.blogspot.com/2011/04/ndp-part-of-imperialist...
"The New Democratic Party (NDP promotes itself as the option for the left in Canada. But just like the Conservatives or Liberals, the NDP is steeped in imperialism, in which Canadian business and political elites exploit and impoverish already poor countries for the benefit of Canadian companies...Well aware that an advanced military is required for ensuring cheap access to natural resources in foreign countries, the NDP supports Canada's increasing militarization.."
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:10
#9
They are running scared people..they are running scared ..The advance polls data shows a 38% increase ...remember if all the young people just east of Manitoba voted it would destroy and decimate the cons to a 20 seat party and they would be history...
I notice the media is down playing this..and showing data from few provinces and even trying to down play the fact that they promotted this bullshit of Canadians not wanting an election...
It's looking to me that Canadians DO want an election and they are willing to "toss the tory"..out on their ass...I would love to see what kind of advance poll increase Alberta had ..I'll bet it was the lowest and that will prove to me that yep ...people are out to get rid of the KON once and for all and the media exposed as the spinning corrupt supporters of the Kon...wonder if that is being covered up as it would disprove media spin?
After seeing and hearing how the media and the pollsters are reacting to the NDP sweep and Krush...I'm looking at the polls with a 6% tory cut and a 6% NDP boost to get closer to what is probably the real numbers...and I'll bet come election day the Libs ..if they really want to wipe that Oswald smirk of Harpers face they will vote NDP..now that is something that they should be reporting...
And if Jack really wants to solidify his support in the west and actually attract another 20% of the population ..all he has to do is say " Gun registry for the city".."NO gun registry for the country"..period ..instant majority.
I am so excited ..this is real history taking place...I hope Canadians vote and become part of it..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0eQgUpkJ1Q
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:20
#10
Jack is talking about being prime minister at all his campaign rallies now and it does seem like Jack is on a rocketship 
NDP rocks election race, markets uncertain Markets take closer look at idea of coalition government
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/27/ndp-rocks-election-race-markets-un...
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:21
#11
Er … I think Dosanjh and Rae renounced the NDP some time ago. What the Globe is reporting on is them denouncing the NDP. Tsk, tsk.
Once a sub-ed, always a sub-ed.
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:30
#12
I'm gonna get clobbered for writing this, but I will anyway.
Here is the new NDP ad, Imagine.
Did it appear to anyone else that the ad was designed to draw attention to the boobs of the woman in the gray clingy top? They were in the centre of the frame on all the shots of her. Was it subliminal - to emphasize her 'maternalness' to female voters (notice the kids' drawings on the wall) - or was it overt to stress her MILF-ness to men?
There is a reason why no older people are in this ad, and all the women are attractive. I just expected better from the NDP.
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:38
#13
You must be a lot younger than me! I didn't notice anything related to gender roles in this ad. It is awesome for another reason. The people in the advertisement really do believe what they are saying.
It also compares great with the negative ads the Liberals are running. Everyone is so used to negative Conservative ads now that they turn them off as soon as they appear.
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:43
#14
remind
Wow Navigator and friends are really sinking to the bottom of the barrel
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:45
#15
Even people like Dobbin are perhaps finally beginning to see the light and the error of their ways.
Layton's Surge and the Intentional Citizen
Most Canadians' values long have aligned with New Democrats. Is this an ah ha! moment?
If the NDP surge is real, it may represent the breaking of an historic contradiction in Canadian politics. One of the largely unspoken features of Canadian political culture is the gap between the majority's stated social and community values and their voting patterns. The CBC's fatally flawed Vote Compass notwithstanding (it's virtually impossible to get a result suggesting your values line up with the NDP), years of polling and focus groups suggest that if there was a direct line between voting and values, the NDP would win every election, hands down.
Even though the NDP is skittish when it comes to talking about tax increases (rightfully anticipating a firestorm of media attacks), the fact is Canadians say they would support tax increases if they could be assured the money would be spent on things they want. And the things they want are, of course, essentially the list of things the NDP has always run on: Medicare, affordable post-secondary education, generous social assistance, human rights, genuine EI, eliminating poverty. You know the list -- if you are part of the 70 per cent majority, it is your list, too.
But people not engaged in the political process -- for whatever reason -- are easily dissuaded from believing their values are practical and just as easily persuaded that you can't trust government to act on their behalf. On the latter point, of course, there is a lot of evidence to back them up regarding governments in the past 20 years. Since the advent of "free trade", our governments have become un-governments, dedicated more to dismantling the activist state than enhancing or even maintaining it.
Canadians are progressive, say polls
http://thetyee.ca/Op...25/LaytonSurge/
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:48
#16
Harper's in full blown panic mode now.
Growing NDP support 'crystallizes' coalition threat: Harper
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada/Growing+support+crystallizes+coa...
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:52
#17
Duceppe is taking a turn for the nasty. He made fiery speech about how the BQ will always be there to defend Québec in French. Subtext? Attack Jack because he is an anglo.
Jack's response? I am a uniter more than a divider.
Wed, 2011-04-27 12:56
#18
I'm gonna get clobbered for writing this, but I will anyway.
Here is the new NDP ad, Imagine.
Did it appear to anyone else that the ad was designed to draw attention to the boobs of the woman in the gray clingy top? They were in the centre of the frame on all the shots of her. Was it subliminal - to emphasize her 'maternalness' to female voters (notice the kids' drawings on the wall) - or was it overt to stress her MILF-ness to men?
There is a reason why no older people are in this ad, and all the women are attractive. I just expected better from the NDP.
Um, no. She's hardly in stripper-wear. It's not like they're running this sort of election commercial.
Wed, 2011-04-27 13:00
#19
1. He speaks French, as does the vst majority of his electors. 2. The Bloc's position has always been to defend Québec's interests.
So, how goes the trolling?
Wed, 2011-04-27 13:00
#20
1. He speaks French, as does the vast majority of his electors. 2. The Bloc's position has always been to defend Québec's interests.
So, how goes the trolling?
Wed, 2011-04-27 13:15
#21
I thought Jack gave an effective response to the "market fears" question. He talked about "predictability" and the sitting NDP governments of Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Now to pivot the final ballot question to health care, where Harper will lose.
Wed, 2011-04-27 13:33
#22
I thought Jack gave an effective response to the "market fears" question. He talked about "predictability" and the sitting NDP governments of Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Now to pivot the final ballot question to health care, where Harper will lose.
The market? The one failing young workers? That is why the NDP is surging. The market isn't working for too many people. Time to shake up "the market".
Wed, 2011-04-27 13:39
#23
The market? That which must be paid homage to, or else. At least that's what people in power and in the media generally believe.
Wed, 2011-04-27 14:04
#24
Check out Ivison's panicked posting in the national post!
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/04/27/john-ivison-the-tories-do...
Wed, 2011-04-27 14:13
#25
The NDP needs to win a majority to be safe.
Wed, 2011-04-27 14:14
#26
Evan Soloman (of all people! ) is promising this afternoon to highlight the firing of the former assistant chief adviser to Harper, Patrick Muttart, who is still on the Conservative payroll for distributing a phony photo of Ignatieff in an American army uniform supporting American troops in Afghanistan from before the time he became Liberal leader. While this is probably going to be a slap at Sun media (his new competitor) considering the way he announced it on Carole McNeil's program, it will once again raise the issue of trust regarding Harper. Could happen at a better time to a nicer guy!
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:03
#27
haven't posted in a while, but this ndp "imagine" ad is worth taking the time. so yeah, a few things:
1) in terms of strategy, this is obviously the most frontally left ad the ndp has ever run, at least under layton. the substance basically amounts to this: "you know, they're correct when they say i'm a leftist and you know where we stand, and where we've always stood on these issues. and if you just think about it, don't you stand with us?" the messaging goes to the basic appeal to close out this campaign with a direct affective contrast with the count and harper.
2) specific to the delivery, well, i can't really envision a more perfectly modulated delivery. there's this call and response effect where, the question is phrased with conviction and the answer is delivered (by someone else) with this quiet but equally effective corollary conviction. indeed, it would seem radical if it were any less effective - the people, the tone, this amazing setting and staging, it's the sort of spot that the other parties would laugh at but also dread because of how hugely effective it could be.
3) in terms of campaign more globally, i think this one tells us two very interesting things about the difference between the dipper rise in roc/anglo quebec and quebec proper. the dipper campaign is very effectively caroming the insane rise in quebec into very frequent roc media mention, and then re-asking a basic question during the second-look that the quebec-resulting media attention is bringing to the campaign. effectively, by going affective to close out the campaign, the ndp is suggesting that the rise in the polls that everyone is talking about is occurring because lots of people, all at once, are buying into this message.
4) so effectively, this "imagine" spot is telling these second lookers: "listen, i know it's not working for you like it should (ie. you don't like harper, and you're unclear on the russian count dude, that is, i know that these are not the leaders that you want). and you know that i'm a man of principle, and that this principle is not only based solely on my own deep personal integrity, but also on the ideological integrity of a party that has always been for the people. because of these, you know that you can trust me to pursue my platform to the end (at least concerning those issues where we hold the most public trust), and don't you want that? join all these people that you've been hearing about, join this movement, for this sort of government." the way that the woman sort of pauses and arches her eyebrows and says "cares", like i could see people spontaneously bursting into tears at that point, so compelling (and unfamiliar to some) is the notion and the hope that it really could be true.
as for the questions above on the specific characters in the story, i think it's clear who ndp thinks will listen to this: young professionals, city dwellers (i bet this whole thing was shot in the annex) and women (especially mothers of younger children). the spot definitely tells us that ndp knows (or at least thought when they made it) that they can't massively break through and form government outright - you don't shoot for these demos when that's your strategy. it's definitely about killing off the lpc.
final notes and qualifications: this was delayed to continue running the much stranger (at least for canada and ndp) movement spot, which i saw twice on cbc during la game last night. that suggests that they want to keep on with that movement-oriented second-look demo appeal, and delay or run this on other channels, as an attempt to broad-cast their appeal. narrow-casting along this line will be most effective targeted to the above groups and least effective with older and less educated people, especially men and those in rural areas. in terms of contrast, think about this ad against the harper "great canada" ad and iggy "great nation" spots: three very notional understandings of what makes for a great canadian leader. if harper is about strong economy and bedrock values as basic voting issues, and the count is about some broader canadian civic national idea, jack is narrowing his appeal to simple questions of empathy and solidarity. so that the affective appeal reduces to something like: who do you really trust to take care you when you really need someone to be there? just think about that one and the conviction in her face and voice when she says that "cares". it's incredible as contrasts go, and the audacity itself almost makes it believable. people literally, and maybe without it even registering consciously, will ask themselves the question this ad wants them to. i've seen an ndp campaign so elegantly telegraph their core appeal, really amazing, this, and if this penetrates at all, ndp should be able to consolidate a reasonably good share of these gains.
wow, long post.
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:27
#28
i still feel the ndp needs to talk more about young adults who are no longer in school, and cant find full time work. I am a bit concerned because giving tax cuts to small business might not be all that effective in big cities since i dont see alot of small business around where i live anyways..
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:37
#29
Is right or wrong?
Lorne Gunter: The NDP surge will give Harper his majority
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/04/27/lorne-gunter-the-ndp-surg...
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:42
#30
Lorne Gunter: wrong.
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:44
#31
Give me a break . I am no longer a die hard Ndper , but the Liberals make me sick. We have the liberals in Ontario and what have they done? Nothing, they gave us the HST and they have not created jobs, its only now they are talking about Ottawa not giving ontarians more decision power on immigraton policies..
we need to shake things up and if people are moving to the NDP, thats good, i dont feel like iggy has stood up for canadians at all, i think he is a complete failulre and supported harper blindly all the past 3 years..its disgusting.
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:45
#32
Harper still doesn't get it. The party's over for the Cons.
Harper's take on NDP surge in polls: It's us or them
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/981235--harper-s-tak...
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:46
#33
IMO, Conservative pundits are going to be desperate to breath life into the Liberals for the next few days to dissipate a concentration of anti-Harper vote. A surging NDP not only threatens their majority but now imperils their government.
Wed, 2011-04-27 15:54
#34
Ignatieff on As It Happens last night sounded like a dude who was preparing to step aside for PM Layton. He kept repeating the usual party leader mantras, and his stump messages, but added to this were many "two thirds of Canadians don't want the Cons in power".
My take is that Iggy is prepping the Libs to accept a Layton led minority government... if it comes to that point. The election would have to go really lateral for the Cons to go under a hundred seats.
Wed, 2011-04-27 16:06
#35
Here comes the fear! Will Layton raise your mortgage payments?
Wed, 2011-04-27 16:51
#36
Cons. leader Stephen Harper claims that the NDP's plan to end subsidies to profitable oil and gas corporations, plus returning the tax rate to 19% for corporations, will result in less government revenue.
Less going out, more coming in = LESS??
Harper explains it like this:
corporations will move operations offshore to avoid Canadian taxes, and ending the subsidy will mean less profits and therefore less tax paid.
What a load!! - the taxes the corporation would pay on the extra profits that the government subsidy creates will never equal the whole subsidy [which the government will simply keep under the NDP plan], and "moving operations offshore" will cost corporations more than paying the 5% tax increase [which is actually just RETURNING the corporate tax rate to 19%]. Furthermore, the whole offshore tax haven gig is just a glorified LOOPHOLE than can, and should, and will be under the NDP, closed. And, it has been "done to death" allready.
---
The other thing concerning the Cons is that new C.P.C. "attack ad on Jack Layton" that I saw for the first time last night [Ap. 26] on CBC. For one thing it never identified who put the ad out, or who paid for it, nothing. I think that is just wrong, sneaky, and maybe against the rules?
The ad said that Jack WOULD DEFINATELY form a coalition with the Bloc. Oddly, this unfounded pronouncement comes on the heels of the news that the NDP is picking up seats in Quebec, many at the expense of the Bloc. Therefore, voting NDP will result in FEWER separatists in Canada's federal parliament - what do you think about THAT, Mr. Harper?
Wed, 2011-04-27 16:55
#37
This is interesting ... from the desk of the BC NDP Press Secretary.
At a candidates' debate yesterday morning, Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal pledged to resign if New Democrat Jinny Sims could confirm her statement that Dhaliwal has the 13th worst attendance record in the House of Commons.
The table below shows that Sukh Dhaliwal missed 69 votes – the 13th worst attendance record of all MPs. Apologies for the lack of formatting.
Truancy Rank
Member of Parliament
Party
Absences
1
Michael Ignatieff
Liberal
135
2
Francine Lalonde
Bloc Quebecois
121
3
Albina Guarnieri
Liberal
103
4
Keith Martin
Liberal
102
5
Jim Karygiannis
Liberal
93
6
Gerard Kennedy
Liberal
88
7
Ruby Dhalla
Liberal
87
8
Stephen Harper
Conservative
82
9
Helena Guergis
Independent
81
10
Monique Guay
Bloc Quebecois
78
11
Irwin Cotler
Liberal
77
12
Joy Smith
Conservative
73
13
Sukh Dhaliwal
Liberal
69
Source: 40th Parliament, howdtheyvote.ca
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:00
#38
Northern Shoveler
I think the ads were already in the can and the Cons war room does not appear to be nimble enough to react. Or maybe they budgeted poorly and spent too much on prime time ads already and don't have enough room in their Elections Canada imposed budget to produce new ones. This is not a scenario every envisioned by the arrogant assholes that work in and around the PMO.
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:20
#39
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/brian-topp/w...
A nice read. This article answers a lot of questions asked to Layton on the NDP's vision and position in regards of Quebec.
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:27
#40
Sukh Dhaliwal obviously needs to resign - thanks Becca
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:31
#41
More bad news for Harper
Go to second leader for PM if government falls again: Poll
Election-weary Canadians would rather try out the next-in-line leader than return to the polls if the prime minister picked Monday is quickly toppled in a non-confidence motion, a new poll suggests.
The EKOS-iPolitics survey finds two-fifths of Canadians - 43 per cent - think the governor general should call on the leader of the Official Opposition to form a new government if the next prime minister's party is immediately defeated. Only 19 per cent of Canadians think another election should be called, while 38 per cent didn't know or did not respond.
Public opinion polls show Stephen Harper's Conservatives would likely take the most seats in the May 2 election, but would fall short of winning a majority. The same polls now put Jack Layton's NDP in second spot, and depending on seat counts could be in a position to form Official Opposition for the first time in Canadian history.
Pollster Frank Graves said the survey reveals Canadians aren't buying in to Harper's argument that a coalition of opposition parties would be illegitimate or "reckless."
http://ipolitics.ca/2011/04/27/go-to-second-leader-for-pm-if-government-falls-again-poll/
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:35
#42
Potential good news for Layton
Top civil servants told to focus on NDP position on constitutional reform: CP sources
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/national/top-c...
Wed, 2011-04-27 17:39
#43
Bruce Carson Scandal Greased by Harper's Oil Sands Agenda
Federal millions set up PM advisor to push petro interests from U of Calgary. A special Tyee investigation.
Everyone that is, except the Prime Minister. Harper, a tough guy on crime, acts appalled and abruptly refers the whole matter to the RCMP.
The scandal seemingly ends.
But that's not the full truth, let alone the real scandal.
In fact, the Bruce Carson affair is a much darker tale about the character of the Harper government and its abuse of the public trust.
And it goes like this: Harper's key political troubleshooter and problem fixer is lobbied for money for a new university think tank.
He then leaves the Prime Minister's Office and becomes executive director of that same think tank: the Canada School of Energy and the Environment.
It's mostly funded by a $15-million grant from the Harper government.
The former senior advisor alters the school's mandate to permit government lobbying and policy development on the oil sands.
He then lobbies for more federal money, $25 million, and gets it.
He also works for several of his former associates (three cabinet ministers) and directs a joint industry and government campaign to improve the image of the oil sands industry.
Wed, 2011-04-27 18:33
#44
What would happen if the NDP and Conservatives have the exact same number of seats on May 3rd?
Wed, 2011-04-27 18:42
#45
Potential good news for Layton
Top civil servants told to focus on NDP position on constitutional reform: CP sources
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/national/top-c...
It is good news. The civil service has to prepare for a change of government if it looks likely.
Wed, 2011-04-27 18:46
#46
Gérald Larose s'excuse d'avoir traité Layton «d'imposteur» et de «crapule»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-federales/201104/27/01-43...
Wed, 2011-04-27 18:48
#47
bagkitty
Mike N: Harper, in his role as PM (which title he retains until Parliament decides otherwise) would be asked by the G-G if can gain the support of the house/form a government.
Of course, if his pointy little head explodes because of the election outcome, the deputy leader would be the one asked by the G-G.
Wed, 2011-04-27 18:49
#48
Larose s'excuse pour ses propos sur Jack Layton
http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2011/322027/larose-s-excuse-...
Wed, 2011-04-27 19:02
#49
Further evidence the Cons are getting very worried - the Con war room just released a lengthy "Reality Check" news release titled "What does a vote for Jack Layton's NDP really mean?"
From the release - a vote for Jack Layton's NDP means:
- A Vote for a Coalition with the Ignatieff Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois
- A Vote for Higher Taxes
- A Vote for Job-Killing Policies
- A Vote for Reckless and Unaffordable Permanent Spending
- A Vote for More Constitutional Battles
- A Vote for Higher Gas Prices
- A Vote for a Soft-on-Crime Agenda
- A Vote for a Candidate who advocates Quebec Sovereignty
- A Vote for Conspiracy Theorists
- A Vote for Canadians who Take Vacations over Working for You
Man, they've thrown in everything but the kitchen sink there. Some of the wording is so over the top it's almost comical. They may as well have thrown in:
- A Vote for More American Teams in the NHL
- A Vote for a 50% Increase in the Price of Beer
- A Vote for Longer Winters, More Mosquitos in Summer
- A Vote for the End of Civilization as We Know It
Anything I might have missed?
Wed, 2011-04-27 19:45
#50
- A Vote for a Tommy Douglas theme park, called Saskatchewan?
Wed, 2011-04-27 19:48
#51
knownothing
They could have the Doctor's Strike Haunted House