Harper Benefits From Voter Apathy

Harper has delivered a steady stream of Conservative propaganda that we the people do not want any election - in hopes that we will stay away from the polls.

That works in his favor (and Big Biz), so I urge one and all to GO VOTE!!

Getting a little too EXCITED Bill.

This is 2011 remember? A century is a long long time - the suggestion this will be the election of the century is clear, and clearly foolish, hyperbole.

Remember, my friend, it's only a couple of weeks ago you wrote this:

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/03/29/IggyAndJackWereDumb/

I'd say, as a prognosticator, you have a lot to learn before you're going to be a credible predictor of anything.

Cheers.

A Harper majority is wrong for Canada

And what is without doubt the most important issue in this campaign is the one they never discuss. Namely, what is going on with the ongoing radiation emissions from Fukushima? And why our current conservative government gives it little or no play in this election. I know your friends are talking about it, just as mine are, and what we all would like to know is why our 'representative government' is not testing our water, milk, and vegetables for radiation. Tests in Washington and Hawaii have proven that the rainwater is no longer safe for consumption, but here in BC our government has failed us entirely - they won't even do the tests.
Are we expendable?
Isn't it odd that the Bush family owns the largest aquifer in the world in South America? It is under 70,000 hectares which they have purchased in Paraguay. The article linked to suggests that they bought the water to sell back to the people who live there and should by all rights own it. But how convenient when our own water looks more and more like it is being irradiated by goons in search of profit in Japan and elsewhere. May I recall to you the words of one of the few great politicians of all time: John F Kennedy:

"we all inhabit this small planet, we all breath the same air, and we all cherish our children's future."

Where is the leadership of Canada in the ongoing nuclear catastrophe on the coast and interior of BC. Looks like we are going to get the radiation worse than anybody, and our government does not even have the courtesy to test the drinking water, the milk, and the vegetables on which we all rely for survival. That is not leadership; that is abrogation of leadership. WHETHER OR NOT it is safe to drink the water and consume other comestibles, our government should at the very least begin testing to determine the truth. What do they do? They say, 'Oh everything is fine and radiation will never reach this coast.' Except it already has, and as we can't all move to Argentina, it would behoove a responsible government to lay out in plain terms what we can do to protect ourselves and our children from the very real danger which now surrounds us. It is not enough to believe in some mythological god who will somehow save the 'chosen' (what if my god isn't your god? Whose god decides? Gimme a freakin break!), it is the government's responsiblity engage all the power which our tax dollars support to solve this problem. Six weeks and counting, and no government response.

Well then

I have to agree with G West on this one. Slagging the opposing parties for bringing down the government wasn't your finest hour. To now jump on the bandwagon based on polls, that may or may not be credible, is the equivalent of being able to place a wager on a horse race after the horses reach the stretch rather than before they leave the starting gate.

The only time the general public really gets to weigh in on how they are governed is when they get the opportunity to cast a vote. The fact that the Tories and a good portion of the MSM keep on bringing up the cost of an election and the fallacy that the electorate doesn't want an election is that they don't want the average citizen to have a say in their governance.

If Canadians give Harper a majority...

...by whatever means, they can kiss Canada goodbye. Please vote! @Rolf_Auer

A Harper Majority? , Yikes! Perish The Thought Bill

Credo's to Mr Layton for having a decent, down to earth campaign. Bill I have to agree with some of the other posters and remind you that the only "poll" that really counts is the one on May 2/11. Saying that though I don't believe that Mr Harper will get his prized majority. Perhaps an increase or decrease in seats but from what has been posted here or on other sites there is a great many of us who would not vote Conservative thus not awarding Mr Harper his prize. The shakeup in the lineup of the parties is long overdue and sometimes change is a good thing. I guess the encouraging parts of reading the posts here are the way people are paying attention and how people are encouraging others to just get out and vote. Hopefully Bill you'll write an item after the election which will tell us what the voter turnout was like on election day!

Remember to vote strategically http://catch22campaign.ca/

I remember the awful sick feeling of disgust when George Bush won. Same thing with Gordon Campbell.

A Harper majority? Please vote strategically to stop this!!!!

What is the matter with Canada's halfwitted voter that they can't see the Harper's fascist's are Lucy with the football and they are Charlie Brown.

I can't stand Layton but if voting for him is my only chance of stopping the Harp, I'd hold my nose and vote NDP.

My riding is the opposite where the fundamentalist wack job MP Russ "the Deacon" Hebert is the Harper crony to beat and only the Liberals can do it.

I can't understand why Seniors who lost so many friends and family fighting in wars to defeat fascism are now the biggest fans of that odious philosophy.

I suspect the endemic idiocy of the Canadian voter has infected them.

2/3 = Majority

It is obvious that the majority of the population of Canada does not want Stephen or a Harper-government.

Stephen when you see the results of this election do the majority of us a favor and step down.

Yes, Steppie it is time to leave you have worn out your welcome.

All you people out there, who cannot stand Harper or his reckless policies that are selling out our nation, get out and vote him out, please.

ONCE PROUD CANADIANS

Yes, we were proud to be Canadian. Should either the Liberals or the Conservatives get a majority government, we can kiss our Canadian ***es goodbye. Both of the major parties are governed and driven by the same masters. A majority, by either the Liberals or Conservatives will be compelled to purchase obsolete American "war" planes, to help the broke U.S. continue to profit from it's Military Industrial Complex. Canada, once the nation of peacekeepers, goes to war. Doesn't that have a nice profitable ring to it?

A country is a social organization not a business. Countries don't go broke, the businesses that are allowed to run them do.

Watch how the once proud Iceland kicks the foreign bankers out of their country, regains it's pride and it's sovereignty.

Will we Canadians ever learn that partisan party majorities are not democratic and never will be?

The big picture

With Tieleman you have to read between the lines!

All he was trying to do here was to make sure the NDP supporters do not become complacent and forget to vote.

Harper is not going to ge a majority, but it would be prudent to make every effort to give the NDP as many seats as possible

Historic?

Well, its looking like it will be for the NDP.

Of course I'm basing that on polls but although they all disagree in the numbers, they all agree in the trend. The NDP is climbing.

Whether its 50 seats, 60, 70 or more, the important thing is that the NDP will have more seats than ever before. And it appears those gains will generally be at the expense of the Bloc and the Conservatives which will produce a minority government and include Quebec in the political conversation at the federal level.

Which is a great result all around.

why I'm switching to the ndp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-WOXycAhwI is my online statement, but I'll reiterate it here: I have always voted centre-left, usually for the Liberals federally. This time, I believe that we need a dramatic shift in Ottawa; we need to defeat the Conservatives, or at least reduce their numbers and Harper's arrogance, and the best chance for doing that is NOT Ignatieff but Jack Layton. An honorable man who has been passionately involved in Canadian politics for decades, a man whose courage and good humour in the face of ad hominem attack ads proves he can tackle either a Conservative government, or a Conservative opposition, with grace, honesty, and conviction. Vote NDP, let the Liberals soul-search and find another leader and get their act together for 2014.

2nd Choice Liberal Party Getting the Popular Nod...

An over abundance of hyper-optimism and superlatives is and will, of course, flow like wine from the NDPer likes of Bill T.. We can forgive them that. That Canadians have had two Liberal parties for a very long time now... since the end of WW2 at least... is finally about to work in their favour, as the second Liberal Party of choice.

There is finally a growing sense among the working class masses (who vote) that this socio-economic time is not about to get any better for them... certainly not anytime soon. And the Liberal Party of historical 1st choice is now over-weighted down and sinking fast into Davey Jones... from the sheer mass of accumulated baggage it has been carrying, owns, and cannot let go of.

Of course, enter the Liberal Party of 2nd choice. Canadians after all, are really a "liberal" people... not really fascists as are the closet ambitions of the Harper Conservatives. (It has just been untenable up to now, with the "liberal" vote split in two... from which the extreme rightists have benefited in recent times.) We, the great working class mass, will now get to see how the NDP perform seriously front and centre on the national stage... whether or not they are really capable of solving the "dead-end" problems of current global committed Canadian/US dominated capitalism.

My own view is, that these problems of current capitalism are not resolvable within the framework of "the status quo system". That there will ultimately be proved a need to finally move beyond the norms of capitalism's assumptions and shape form. But this will, of course, have to be demonstrated by real life events, not theory. Who in their right mind wants to engage in that kind of a struggle if one doesn't have to?

But no doubt, we are moving into a qualitatively new stage of it all... finally.

The irony of it.

Imagine the irony if Layton's popularity gives Harper his majority. The notion that Layton could derail Harper's agenda because he is the official opposition is ludicrous.

Interesting NDP numbers

According to Ekos the NDP leads among women and among under 45 voters.

Also, in spite of the huge numbers that have already moved to the NDP they STILL lead in second choice support which suggests they haven't peaked.

In fact, when counting second choice support to produce a "ceiling" the NDP has the highest at 54%.

For comparison purposes, the Conservative ceiling is only 41% and the Liberal ceiling is 40%.

we want MORE!!!

Ah come-on, Bill we want more than official opposition status we want "the house that Jack is going to build" We want an NDP minority government at the least and if a (Dreaded word.....sorry Mr. Harper that you don't understand that coalition is part of our parliamentary system and is presently existing and working in European governments now as we speak)COALITION has to be formed THEN Jack will be the guest inviting the elected other guests to THAT table.

Yes, the tables will be turned and as a Toronto Star columnist recently said,"Too bad, Stephen Harper didn't get to go to the Wills and Kate wedding. The Queen could have explained the parliamentary system to him so that he can better understand how it works"!

guests and hosts

A bit of a slip there when I said Jack was a guest who would invite other guests: I meant he would be the "Host".
But I still think that those whom WE, THE VOTERS elect, especially Mr. Harper (who claims that the Canadian government is the "Harper" government) should clearly understand that they are there only at the invitation of the people...for just a while...but Mr. Harper, it will be not this time.

The Constitution...

It looks like the corporate and State media MAY be about to mob Jack for daring to address the issue of Quebec's constitutional place in Confederation. I agree with Jack entirely on this issue, and it was in the course of responding to a question, and spoken of in terms of "eventually", but the wolves clearly think he has stepped on a landmine, that MAY be his undoing.

We shall see. But hopefully, for the sake of continuing to instill "some" interesting stuff into this electoral race, as part of turning away from the extreme right, and what it would say about the political maturity of the Canadian people, Canadians will see through this scheme. And have moved some beyond the routine Anglo-Canadian especially, national chauvanism of the past.

For Jack was correct, whatever else one says about him... "eventually" our national constitution is going to have to carry the signature of Quebec... and I would claim, our other significant "founding national group", the Native Nations of Canada... in a new sovereignty and "one united country" arrangement, mutually agreed upon by the three significant "nations" to Canada. what is will not forever endure, especially in the face of the US Empire absorption threat.

Vote Strategically

http://www.projectdemocracy.ca/

projectdemocracy

Yet another website that tells NDP supporters to vote Liberal.

I will never vote Liberal

after I realized, in 2005, that they were supporting a large company in BC that was union busting.

They are Liberals, but they're not liberal.

They're no better than the Conservatives, IMHO.

NDP all the way for me.

NDP Opposition and a Minority Liberal Government

Or the other way around as was just looking at some of the different polls out there and boy is there differences in what is supposed to be going on. I have been watching the election and Iggy seems to be really enjoying himself on the campaign trail as he gets it on with potential voters. Harper is really put off with being held accountable and insists it has to stop and begs for a majority. Layton is much like the energized bunny and nothing is going to stop him from getting to Canadians and asking for their vote. It is kinda of exciting and at first At first I was concerned the Conservatives where going to be rewarded for their dishonesty with a majority win but it is a very questionable win indeed.

Give me a break Tieleman!

"Could 2011 be the defining federal election of the century, with a dramatic political realignment as the New Democrats "orange surge" helps them replace the Liberals as Canada's Official Opposition?"

Pretty presumptious on your part Bill; there are 89 more years in the century!

And I would 'crystal balls' that the first election with some kind of proportional representation system in place will be the defining federal election for Canada, up until that date!

If as Bill says, a dramatic

If as Bill says, a dramatic change in this country that for years figured it was the red or blue door and nothing else. So now another door so let's work to ensure the orange door gets a much bigger position in the country. We have lived through three Conservative majority governments( and Joe who had issues with counting or swim) with all their costly errors, its nice to see a real option . May 2 will be interesting

On Stephen Harper?

On Stephen Harper?

Very smart but uses his intellect to deceive the public. However, he has poor social skills and seems to miss public cues that the rest of Canada sends out. Listen to any Canadian pundit or comic and Harper's lack of social skills are often a talking point.

Lack of empathy is another common complaint about Stephen Harper. For instance, he has a seeming inability to comprehend the impact of funding cuts on social service agencies, but has no problem with giving money to tangible things - socially negative items - like fighter jets and jails.

Besides illegally renaming The Government of Canada to The Harper Government, he commanded that the Conservative party colors or logo appear just about everywhere. That includes the official Canada government website that turned Tory blue soon after he came into power, never mind that the country's colors are red and white. It includes adding the Conservative logo to oversize government cheques for federally funded programs, a clearly misleading action.

And what about the reports of Harper ranting out of control in private meetings, shouting at staff and other politicians and apparently even throwing furniture about. Which is probably explanation for the number of people who have left the Conservative party once they are part of Harpers team? If you follow the media at all, it's impossible to miss the references to the degree of control that Stephen Harper demands in just about every area especially media.

Harper is restricting media access to a bizarre degree. Only five questions allowed daily, and four of those are from people who paid over $10,000, to be on his election tour - even two in each language. A local media outlet can ask the fifth question. That does not mean he will even answer the questions posed! He only answers the questions he likes. Media as a whole restrained a very safe distance away, behind a barricade. This he calls keeping the public informed.

Even more bizarre is the incredible degree of screening of people to his "public" rallies - really micro-managed photo ops. Not only do people need to register to attend, they can still be removed (by the RCMP!) if they are deemed to be even slightly, possibly opposed to Harper policies. Students ejected for posting a facebook photo with an opposition politician, being part of a university group to restrict water bottles on campus, and even for being part of a group encouraging students to vote. Even seniors rejected if they dared to speak up on any issue. Apparently, only the most compliant and quiet allowed in his presence and domain.

Charged with contempt of Parliament, Harper shrugs it off. In addition, there are complaints and evidence in tampering with election funding process? These spun as a difference in opinion in Stephens’s world. Hiring convicted con men as staff, his former top advisor Tom Flanagan calling for the outright murder of another human being.

On Stephen Harper? continued

Denies involvement and shrugs it off as not his problem. Lets not forget evidence of distorting or simply hiding facts, bending truth and wholesale falsehoods.

What gets the biggest slap in the face is Canada’s democracy as now that he has loaded the Canadian Senate with appointed senators as opposed to elected ones. As he has proven with the climate change bill, he can now have ‘his’ senator’s slap down any bill he opposes in parliament with a minority government. However, this is precisely why he screamed when he started out in Alberta about an elected senate as opposed to an appointed one to prevent exactly this kind of occurrence.

This from the National Post byline 2006.09.08 by Allan Woods:

“OTTAWA - Stephen Harper hopes to move ahead this fall with legislation that will allow Canadians to elect senators, but he warned of "political consequences" for anyone who stands in the way of the major reforms promised in the last election.”

Which can be found @

http://www.sen.parl.gc.ca/jmunson/documents/english/Clippings/20060908.nationalpost.htm

He is an absolute opportunist of the worst stripe as soon as he realized he could seize control of the government of Canada through the senate, he seized the opportunity. He has appointed 32 senators, just about enough to seize control of the upper house. If he gets a majority government, it will be a one-man government, the Harper government. Wake up folks Stephen is down right criminally dangerous to Canadian Democracy.

Parts of this borrowed directly from here:

http://www.special-need-child-canada.com/does-stephen-harper-have-asperger-syndrome.html

Conservative economic management less than half truth

"The economy stupid" is the Conservative mantra. Important, yes, but not the prime.

If that were the case, we should follow China with their exploding economic success and less than stellar human rights and environmental records (although when it comes to non fossil fuel energy & design, they are becoming world leaders, despite those coal powered plants).

The Cdn. banks were restrained from following their U.S. counterparts by Paul Martin. Fortunately, Harper did not alter that.

Martin's Liberals left us with a 9 B. surplus, squandered away by the Conservatives to the tune of a 13 B. deficit in 2007, BEFORE the recession hit. How is that good economics?

Some ridings will go Conservative, no matter what. It's obvious that those voters ignore or dismiss all the anti-democratic shenanigans of this Harper govt. Could just as well vote Rhino except for the $2 per vote to the party of choice, something Harper vows to be rid of if he gets his majority.

Some riding members dislike Harper, usually upper middle class in nature, but fear Layton. In these, Liberal is the best hope to defeat a Harper majority.

Some ridings are shifting to orange, willing to give an earthy, often working class alternative a try. Here, Liberal or Green vote splits could allow Harper the win.

Please, allow the Greens one seat in the House of Commons. They represent nearly a million Canadian voters and have added a positive direction in Australia's and various European parliaments (mostly the ones not in financial crises).

Former Nfld. premier, Danny Williams was right. ABC.

We need some form of proportional representation, partly for a better reflection of the will of ALL the Canadian people and partly so that elected members reflect the will of their own constituents rather than that of their party leaders. This is not clear in the major party platforms YET.

Until then, we'll have to, in some cases hold our noses, and vote stategically.

Check out this site to see the ongoing odds in your own ridings.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/canada_elections/?vl

Get out and vote and if you can, volunteer some of your time, money, or both.

Prop Rep... Freebear

"And I would 'crystal balls' that the first election with some kind of proportional representation system in place will be the defining federal election for Canada, up until that date!" freebear

Certainly closer to the truth of what it would take to be an "election of the century".

The NDP is fair waxing poetic in their excitement freebear. :-) Though it's understandable, it certainly is over the top. 8-D lol. And may yet be just another stage managed will-o'-the-wisp.

But merely breaking the tweedl-dee/tweedle-dum historical pattern of what passes for bougeois democacy in the country, even if it's just for another tweedle-dip... making the leap of faith... would not be entirely insiginificant though.

Harper the Dictator!

A Conservative Majority Equals a Harper Dictatorship!
All the MP's vote the party line, so there will be no Democracy.
People all over the World are Dieing to get rid of Dictator's, yet....
Canadian's can't wait to have a Dictator!!!

"Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)"

It dosen't matter who the Opposition is if Harper gets a majority government Democracy will die a sudden death. (along with Canadians prized Health Care, you wanna bet?) Jack and Iggy will not make one bit of difference because the people gave Harper what he wanted. Pass Go and Get Out of Jail Free.

Election of the Century

The NDP surge will, for the first time that I can remember in federal politics, give NDP supporters the opportunity to vote by the issues rather than the numbers. Having lived in a Liberal riding for years (barely held away from the Conservatives by 68 votes), I am looking forward to voting NDP this time.

Although I am glad that my vote prevented a Conservative candidate from being elected in 2008, I am proud to be voting NDP this time.

If more former compromisers are motivated by the surge and vote NDP this time, it sets the groundwork for future elections. Who knows, if enough people vote their values, we may have an NDP government in this decade.

I think I could even put up with a few more years of Harper with that in mind. Well, almost.

latest polls

Just heard the latest polls on the news and they will be out tomorrow at Angus Reid. Layton sits at 30% and Harper at 35%. No majority for Harper not with those numbers but if Layton wins history will be made in Canada, a NDP Prime Minister, a first.

Purported NDP Surge

Remember the 2010 British election whereby the 3rd place Liberal Democrats experienced Cleggmania after the debates?

The LD’s eventually (and incredibly) vaulted into first place with 34% in a YouGov poll.

Alas, on election day the LD’s finished 0.9% above its 2005 polling mark at 23% but still lost 5 seats in the process – going from 62 to 57 seats.

And then remember the 1991 BC provincial election whereby the provincial Liberals surged into 1st place? That win also never materialized with the NDP winning a landslide.

The NDP will not pick up much in terms of seats in BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and Atlantic Canada.

Quebec is another matter. The surge is real there and that is what is causing the NDP national numbers to surge.

If the NDP win a good chunk of seats in QC, likely from the Bloc, the NDP caucus will also likely be dominated by sovereignists.

And the QC sovereignists simply want more money and powers from the rest of Canada. The same old Quebec gimme, gimme.

And the QC sovereignist-dominated NDP will then oppose more seats/MP's for BC, AB, and ON, which they are entitled to - because QC will then also want more seats so it won't fall below 25% of Parliament.

The NDP will be pandering to eastern Quebec interests against that of the west. That's a major reason why the Libs are not popular in the west in the first place.

Be careful what you wish for. The majority QC NDP contingent will likely be the NDP's Achilles' heel.

Ah, good to see the coyote

Ah, good to see the coyote re-emerge. with the historically patterned, tweedle-dip :-)

Had the privilege of being invited last summer to an island dinner where both the current MLA and his opposition participated. Great dialogue and discussion, although one Tea Party type worried these folks because he wanted to "clean my clock." Nothing profane or accusatory on my part. He didn't remember the next day and apologized. I've been invited again this summer.

I rarely get that discourse with really conservative minded people. No discussion or debate.

At a recent all-candidates' meeting, the Tea Party style heckling of candidates and questioners was worse than disrespectful. It would not be acceptable in our churches, schools, libraries or community centres. No wonder our youth are turned off to the political process.

Aside from back room decision making, this behaviour is undermining our democratic process as it tries to force and frighten citizens to conform without discussion.

Intolerance and disrespect are the first steps to the loss of individual will as well as freedom of thought and speech. The sort of harassment from these right wing quasi morons didn't exist to such an extent during previous meeting experiences. I doubt that they ever read the party platforms. We've slid backward in our democratic discourse.

But this is dangerous. Fiat has pointed this out previously with his experiences during and after WWII. It is very much how totalitarian, including fascist, regimes begin.

Winston Churchill pointed out that Democracy is a very messy system, but still better than any other. Although Harper is certainly not Hitler, some in his party show those tendencies.

The desire for stability and security during tough economic times, as during the Great Depression of the 1930s, lets citizens turn a blind eye to the undermining of democratic principles, and point to a handfull of scapegoats, such as the recent Tamil refugees, to rail against. Note one of the Conservative attack ads. Half truths and fear.

Thomas Jefferson stated that those who would give up liberty for security deserve neither. Another quote suggested that we should watch how politicians treat refugees as that is how they would treat all of us if they get the chance.

Coyote, it would be great if at some time we could have a large, free discourse dinner, with Fiat, free bear, rantnic and so many more. Trouble is, that if we, on the whole, don't attend and act on what's going on, that dinner could be rats in some sort of camp. It didn't happen overnight in the late 20s and early 30s.

Even if many Canadians don't connect the convoluted dots of our economic and geopolitical situation, I hope they have the insight to feel that we are headed down a very undesirable and dangerous road.

Economics is not prime except to certain types of insidious demons, for lack of a better definition.

Uniting the strength of our nations:

Jerry Munro wrote:

"eventually" our national constitution is going to have to carry the signature of Quebec... and I would claim, our other significant "founding national group", the Native Nations of Canada... in a new sovereignty and "one united country" arrangement, mutually agreed upon by the three significant "nations" to Canada. what is will not forever endure, especially in the face of the US Empire absorption threat."

Hopefully it will come to pass - it would be Canada's finest hour.

This election, this moment for Canada is a highly precarious one - as Harper's real hunger is for a broken Canada - created by assimilating all our diverse strengths and nations into more digestible, 'stabilized' size chunks, custom-fit for easy swallowing by the jaws of America North.

A Large Free Discourse Dinner...:-)

"Coyote, it would be great if at some time we could have a large, free discourse dinner, with Fiat, free bear, rantnic and so many more." OwlRol

Indeed, it would OwlRol. It would be great. And I am convinced that, despite all current disinterested appearances, we may be wanting to have that "chew the fat" sooner than we might think. for all the reasons you indicate. And the sheer pleasure of it alone, of course. :-)

As important as it may be, what is happening here, if these polls turn out to be accurate, by way of indicating that a Rubicon of sorts may be about to be crossed, in the recent reactionary ascendant politics of this country, it is going to need to be firmed up. And I'm sorry, but I don't think the NDP is ideologically/intellectually capable of doing that by themselves... given their fundamental "liberal" limited preference for the hoisted pinky of the status quo parliamentary process. They are more by nature, committed to the status quo, a part of it, compromisers, and self-fancied political wheelers and dealers.

They, as part of that entire "liberal" tradition, need a challenging phenomena on THEIR left, breathing down THEIR necks and challenging THEM... or they will, under pressure, tend to "cave" Right. It is their entire history.

And sooner or later, IF I and my analysis are correct :-), the Canadian people, as and assuming they continue to seek to escape this Right extremist period that is so damaging their lives, are going to discover this great weakness in the NDP. That it is really, fundamentally a part of the system, and will only go so far in challenging it... for they really just want to put an acceptable, human face on capitalism... save capitalism from itself.

I think, on the other hand, a realistic challenge to capitalism itself needs to begin to be mounted, articulated and fought for. In no uncertain terms.

Without this development, this period has nowhere to go, moving further away from fascism, when, if and as "the masses", now suddenly showing new signs of life in casting about for alternatives to the status quo, themselves begin to more seriously question and seek to challenge a failing status quo.

Already, they no longer buy the ongoing bullshit of a "fragile recovery" underway. They know something way more serious than this is happening. And they are becoming alarmed.

Which is a very good thing. From my perspective. :-)

Cool Hand

It is interesting to see how people laud the polls when they reflect their views, but find ways to dismiss them when they don't.

The evolution of Canadian politics

Since Canada became a country it has been governed by two parties, the Conservatives and Liberals. The Conservatives have always been beholden to Bay Street. The Liberals have also been beholden to Bay Street with just enough spin to pretend that they cater to the well being of the average citizen.

It seems that the great unwashed are finally realizing that our governance has been nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It seems that as more and more people find it harder to make ends meet, they are not buying what the Conservatives and Liberals are selling.

Politicians can throw out all the catch phrases they want but when a good portion of the electorate are employed fulltime and still struggling to put a roof over the heads of their family as well as food on the table, they must face a pushback.

BS baffles brains for only so long, and I think that the BS has more than run its course.

After too many years of the Harper Teflon Man Act...

I am getting sick of seeing Sir Stephen and King John running this country like a monarchy. Baird spemnd millions on his own discretion for the G8 meeting, with no reference to his own department. Harper thinks he is leader by birthright. That is just plain dangerous. How many times would he suspend parliament if he had a majority? Debate would be useless, so he would just DO it, whatever IT was.

This is not The Harper Government, nor is it the New Canadian Government, it is the Government of Canada. Harper is tinkering with democracy. If he gets a majority, it may be the last chance we ever get to vote, ever. We will have a string of new jails and a flight of untendered fighter jets is all.

Jack Layton comes across as honest, forthright and decent. He beats Ignatieff in that respect and he is swinging my vote. Wouldn't it be nice to have an honest man in Ottawa, for a change? Just imagine the benefits of that!

It is ironic that Quebec is leading the rest of the country in re-examining our values,

Angus Reid poll today

Angus Reid was the most accurate pollster of 2008. This is the 3rd Angus Reid poll of this campaign, plus they did one other in BC and Ontario. All a couple of weeks apart. I'll post the new polls along with the old ones so the trends are clear.

Atlantic
Cons 34 22 35
Libs 48 38 29
NDP 14 32 32
Grn 3 7 4

BC
Cons 42 46 42 44
Libs 21 16 18 16
NDP 28 26 32 30
Grn 8 9 6 5

Quebec
Bloc 34 36 29
NDP 24 26 38
Cons 19 17 14
Libs 18 19 16
Grn 4 2 2

Ontario
Cons 46 41 38 37
Libs 31 33 31 30
NDP 16 19 24 27
Grn 6 6 7 6

The Best Long Term Outcome

The best long term outcome would be a Jack Layton led federal government. It would be the best long term outcome as once and for all Canadians would see how much nonsense he has been peddling, unchallenged for the most part by the media. After a few years of short term pain, as Layton drives the bus into the wall, he would then forever be purged from the Canadian political landscape for once and for all.

Oil tankers and that pipeline

I am surprised I haven't heard more about the oil tankers that will be coming down out coast if Harper gets a majority.

Go Jack, Go.

A conservative majority scenario

The ROC finally gives Harper its majority. No conservative party MP is elected in Quebec. Quebec reelects the PQ on its next provincial election and carries its 3rd referendum. What happens next??? Election of the century allright!

Jack certainly surprised all

Jack certainly surprised all with his highly effective campaign and more power to him. Hope he succeeds beyond the wildest expectations.

That would also bring the political careers of both Harper and Iggy to an end, with the hope the the Libs would come to their senses and elect somebody with enough brains to form a coalition.

Of course, by that time Harper will be sitting in lucrative directorships, and at least we won't have to see him.

I hope for his resignation within a week.

The problem is that big business has already started the blackmail campaign against the public, if they'd dare to vote for the NDP.

We can be certain they'll follow up their threats if the NDP comes anywhere near to government, either federally, or here in BC, and will do their best to ruin the economy and then blame the NDP.

It is interesting, that while blackmailing anybody is a criminal offence, it is not only permitted, but praised and welcomed in politics.

Is this democracy, or autocracy ?

And this is all what the fraudulent "free trade agreements" and the "free movement of capital" are about, permitting the multinational corporate mafia to extort and blackmail under the "national treatment" clause.

Now, would Jack or the NDP have the courage to do something about this legalized blackmail and extortion, in the name of "economics" ?

Ed Deak.

An election to lose?

Contrary to government feel good propaganda the situation of Canada seems to me to be very fragile at this moment.

The immediate prospects for the USA look bleak. We are over dependent on high commodity prices which are historically volatile and likely to plunge in the event of a reduction in world demand. As a result of these high prices our dollar is currently overvalued creating the potential for 'Dutch disease". There is the possibility of a real estate bubble burst and a local equivalent of the sub prime crisis. And in these circumstances Conservative policy is not 'tax and spend' but 'spend and borrow'.

Without wishing to be apocalyptic, we live in dangerous times and it is not hard to think of half a dozen scenarios that exacerbate any or all of these problems bringing down the house of cards, though possibly after building it even higher to make the fall worse.

Whoever is in power when that happens will own the result, fairly or not.

Let's Get Our Priorities Straight

The third comment responding to this article appropriately labelled it hyperbole - a tool that Canadian journalists, politicians and pundits rely on far too much.

I'm not a fan of spectator sports so I didn't watch the BIG GAME last night, but I heard the noise on the streets that I presumed signalled its conclusion. Today's cover of the Vancouver Sun shouts "FINALLY!" and the article below begins "For most of four decades, we've been waiting for a goal like that."

Four decades? Waiting? Well, not me sir.

If the NDP's purported surge pans out and they win more seats than the Liberals, so what. A hockey game could easily blow that right off the front page of every newspaper.

"Election outcome: see page B4"

Point taken, ChirisB

But it's important to make a distinction between big media and the people.

The front page has been a front for special interests for some time now.

Let them fill it with hockey hyperbole - we have learned "FINALLY" to look elsewhere for the real news.

Canadians quietly went to the advance polls in significantly higher numbers - all while Mr. Harper doth protest too much about the worthiness of elections....and how ('he' says) Canadians find them irritating.

As irritating, apparently, as coalitions, as 'he' is want to say over and over and over again..

As irritating, apparently, as any differing view from his own - as he downgrades and pejoratively redefines the democratic process as just more irritating 'bickering'.

If we are smart we will continue in the days ahead to surprise Mr. Harper .....and his depraved notions about the true character of the Canadian people....and this country.

Prime Minister Jack Layton?

With the NDP far ahead of the Liberals and now closing in on the Conservatives there's a real possibility of Jack Layton becoming the next PM.

Today's Angus Reid has the NDP only 3% behind the Cons nationally.

Today's Forum Research has the NDP only 3% behind the Cons.

And there's rumours of a yet unreleased poll showing the NDP in the lead.

Somebody pinch me.

oops

meant to write that according to today's Angus Reid poll the NDP are only 5% back.

About More Than Jack...

Appropriate comments above me here from Fait Lux.

And while this sudden turn of events is about more than Jack, really more a clearly pissed electorate, make no mistake, the "socialist hordes" rhetoric is already beginning. If you've heard the statements of the banks and business class today, and saw Power and Politics on CBC this afternoon, you know what I mean. And the closer we get to election day, the more hysterical the business/ruling class is going to get.

But setting aside for now, the issue of the courage capacity of the NDP in the face of another possible red scare hysteria display, from those it has to be expected from, my view is, this time it isn't going to work on the public... not as it did in the past. Capitalism is not ascendant and riding high any longer. Despite all the endless assurances of a fragile recovery happening, Casino Capitalism is deep in a funk pit of its own creation, and the masses know it. They feel it, are living it, witness the daily market, ruling class and CEO excesses, as their jobs and incomes tank, and their debt load rises.

The masses are pissed big time, this time around. And worried. Even if they don't understand all the nuances of what is going on. And they know, the problem is not with them and their expectations, but the banks, oil companies and other major corporations to the system.

This time, if the corporate fascists and their mouthpieces in the Conservative and Liberal Parties dare try to resurrect the Socialist Hordes Bogeymen of old, and forget that it is they themselves who changed the socio-economic conditions and context of everything, and this is NOT the Old Social Democratic State of Capitalism world... they are about to get the shock of their mofo lives.

Hang in there. Be strong. Fight back. Don't cave. The world that they once dominated is now already a disintegrating societal fabric... along with the lives of the population they were once willing to buy off with candy. The society is different, the economy is different, the times are different, but especially important here, the masses are different. Work to mobilize and engage them onto your side, and against the minions of Casino Capitalism

This new phase opening up is all just at the beginning. Unless you all just roll over and let them have their way with you, this is highly likely going to get ugly before it gets better.

The NDP is going to be seriously tested.

Here's some Liberal - 'stuff'

"Calgary Northeast Liberal candidate Cam Stewart is apologizing for accusing his Conservative rival, Devinder Shory, of running his campaign "like Indian politicians" — a term the federal Liberal party immediately rejected.

The apology comes after Stewart released a statement regarding an alleged heated shouting match Tuesday night between the candidates' supporters, which resulted in the police being called but no charges laid.

"Devinder Shory is running his campaign like Indian Politian's (sic) do,"

http://www.canada.com/Liberal+apologizes+Tory+opponent/4685546/story.html

Who cares about the Liberals?

They are clearly a lost cause - now it's time to deal with Canada's dictator.

Still, on that point, perhaps you missed this:

http://news.sympatico.cbc.ca/canada/tory_strategist_dumped_over_bogus_ignatieff_photo/a3242074

Things are pretty bad when Sun media actually admits to a mistake.

Harper is running his campaign like a criminal....

Party Line

Harper depends on the mainstream media to not expose his many failings. However, it is getting harder to control the message as people leave traditional media and move to more open sources. Harper is becoming trapped in a box as he tries to control the message through limiting interviews and staging appearances. While Canadians are figuring out what Harper really represents ie War, Prisons, private everything etc and they don't like what the man represents.

G West

I'm not really into Sun media like you are, so I didn't follow this closely. I do know though that this is a very complicated story, with a long string of details on National Newswatch's link. It looks a bit like the spoof ad we saw here on The Tyee. Imagine, Iggy brandishing an M-16!? Or is it an AK-47, how would I know?

As I said before, the really interesting part of this election is probably going to be after the vote. But, I might be wrong because there are still five days to go. If you're a really happy person that can go by quickly. If you tend towards melancholy then five days can be a very long time.

r'man

"If you're a really happy person that can go by quickly. If you tend towards melancholy then five days can be a very long time."

Having waited for Christmas morning many times I strongly disagree with you. I would suggest it has little to do with happiness and more to do with how excitable and interested you are in what is 5 days away.

I'm not into Sun media either

It sure looks like Harper and a goodly number of his gang are though.

But we won`t find chickenhawk Steve with any kind of a weapon in his hands.

Need I remind you what Jean-Robert Sansfaçon called him in Le Devoir after his fist prime ministerial trip to Afghanistan.

Those Quebecers, they have their own special way of saying everything:
Cette réalité nous a touchés de façon tragique le 11 septembre 2001 lorsque deux douzaines de Canadiens ont perdu la vie soudainement et gratuitement dans la destruction du World Trade Center, a rappelé M. Harper. Enfin, nous avons notre petit Rambo tout rosé, un brin rondouillard, pour nous seuls...

We can only hope for a real

We can only hope for a real Christmas morning in about a week's time, when we hear of Harper's resignation.

I'm not a drinking person, but I'll have a drink to cheer the occasion.

Ed Deak.

Discourse dinner

Hey Jerry, if I ever get enough cash to host such a dinner, You'll be at the top of my invitation list.

You are correct in so many ways, but I still don't think that Canadians are ready for that. Tipping points occur quickly but require long times to build up, sort of like volcanoes.

Even Karl proposed that the needed shift from capitalism to socialism would take time and be much opposed Given our southern neighbours (remember Dief.) it may take over a hundred years. We should follow some Scandinavian leads. Surely far best of a bad (capitalist) bunch.

To move to a true type of communism, (surely not the mostly, no brain, despicable, reactionary Stalinist or Maoist type, let alone North Korean style,) would be still much longer, this probably born of necessity rather than choice.

Comm. tech., wonder or curse

About 30 years ago I thought that new and exciting communications technology would free citizens to make informed and wise decisions on how we should be governed, but, as seen in some of these article responses, many choose to confirm their own beliefs without truly examining those that might contradict them in a rational manner.

Rather than truly examining contrary concepts, many omit them out of hand. Different channels for different ideologies. Fragmentation. Manipulation.
Bullshit uninformed rants.

Furthermore, what frightens me is how previous discussion is being replaced with angry rhetoric.

Even when one side actually does positive implementations, the other side discredits it without giving it a chance, usually based on quasi-historical references.

The conservative, Winston Churchill, screwed up on many items, especially, big time, on Gallipoli. Two decades later, thank all the gods, he had it correct, or we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Leaders make mistakes. Some learn from them at a fundamental and thoughtful manner while others only see the problems as superficial tweaks.

Without investigation and insight, many insulting commentators really should not state what they do without providing evidence that all can examine.

Will long past practices determine valuable candidate positions in our rapidly changing world? How much error can we allow those who would change things or force, often out of fear, all of us to accept the status quo? Should any have the right to censorship over all?

Funny how these Conservative proponents are so blind in their right eyes.

Trudeau's National Energy Policy? Outrage. We desperately need an NEP, but its not an option.

Mulroney's GST, NAFTA, and Airbus, hardly mentioned. What environmental efforts. Cretien's clawbacks, disgusting.

Preston Manning's "take your CPP funds to invest in the stock market as you see fit", forgotten. We would have many more poor seniors with that policy. Forgotten.

Martin's "No" to 1990s big Cdn. banks. (How did Harper ever get credit for that one?)

Perhaps our federal finance minister deserves a reprieve from Mike Harris's "Common Sense Revolution" but...

I might accept Harper making errors as he matures, if he would acknowledge them, but while he tries to appear more calm, conciliatory and willing to work together, anyone who can look through the politicowash sees the opposite, that he is actually hardening his position through defunding, gagging, false and fear attack ads and phony positioning, as recognized by so many other nations, beyond the same sort of "economic" positioning as China.

Never confuse Democracy with Capitalism. They can coexist but are more often diametrically opposed, and as is evident in so many cases, capitalism works more smoothly with the stability of long term dictatorship and corruption than with the vagaries of democracy.

Rick W

The title of the article was actually Pee-wee Rambo, it was written by
Jean-Robert Sansfaçon and appeared in Le Devoir mercredi 15 mars 2006.

I thought it was thoroughly apt and appropriate then, especially that bit, which, translated, is ...Finally, we have a small pink Rambo, a bit tubby and overweight, just for us...

Bay street not reality

Yeah, Bay street is freekin' out over Jack because many work on tight margins. Logic, no, desperate, yes.

The big guys and their shareholders will whine and spread fear. Why ? They'll still be makin' profits, just not as much as under their previous master/servants.

Tax rates, even under Jack, are still much lower than most OECD nations. And the resources that they're interested in are here. Bitch loudly and adapt.

Ed, that comment about "the chronicle of incredible human stupidity, through the ages", although so often appropriate, also implies your frustration of "ongoing history". There are numerous historical examples of incredible human insight and perseverance. But, yes, it is a media problem, the "winners write (not necessarily "right") the history".

But if Egypt (I'll omit Libya for now), Ivory Coast and all those other nations, with or without interventions, (I'm truly saddened by Burma/Myanmar - different geopolitical dynamics), are trying to "democratize and manage" their now, much more literate, informed and empowered citizenship; this must be viewed as some big steps forward.

They will never go back to their past, knowing what they do now (except for some indoctrinated extremists).

But western abusive domination, as in many Cdn. mining company practises in Latin America, won't soon be forgotten. Some, yet undefined "blowback" will occur.

It is not otherwise possible but to be coercive and violent in various situations. Reconciliation may go a long way toward appeasement, but so much of corporate comprehension cannot fathom such considerations.

The primary problem is usually that of the dominant elite being unready to give up power or associated privileges to others, organized or not, regional or municipal..

An intertwined problem is that of various interest groups competing among themselves for much of that same power and privilege, this sometimes benefitting the dominant group.

Dicey, yes, unsolvable, no, good historic precedence can set direction if examined and acknowledged. Its "those who don't learn from history that..

Interesting times, definitely. Lets not get too cynical (although often drawn to it), as even our minimal selves can have exponential effects on those we connect with.

- "A B.C. poll by Angus

- "A B.C. poll by Angus Reid last week showed the Conservatives at 42 per cent, leading the NDP at 32 per cent, with the Liberals well back at 18 per cent and the Greens at just six per cent, likely ending Elizabeth May's chances of being that party's first elected MP in Saanich and the Islands."

WRONG!! She's in the lead! A provincial or national poll only tells you popular support. Since this is a 'first past the post' system and not proportional representation you need to look at each riding individually.

Election of the Century

As a political junkie what I notice even before the election was a swing away from the Harper Government. Partaking in a lot of polls big and small straw polls there has been a steady surge away from the Conservatives going on now for six months.

This I think is the reason the Harper Government did not want to go to a election this year, the mood of the country towards them was not positive.

People want change, real change and this is whats happening.

And to get a jump on the after the election what went wrong stories, it's Harpers campaign it really blows no really this is the worst campaign in Canada's history bar none.

sailorkris

Can you provide a link to a poll which shows Elizabeth May in the lead in Saanich and the Islands?

OwlRol and The End of Capitalism....

"Even Karl proposed that the needed shift from capitalism to socialism would take time and be much opposed Given our southern neighbours (remember Dief.) it may take over a hundred years." OwlRol

Welll, the Cromwellian Revolution in England that first established what became capitalism, occurred in the 17th Century, with Marx writing during the later 1800s/ 19th Century. Himself suggesting that the struggle to replace capitalism, with what he called socialism/communism, could only happen arising out of advanced capitalism in its late stage of development. (Which communists, in my early days, thought wrong... at the time of the collapse of the British Empire and the rise of the US Empire.)

In short, it appears he was actually right, and we must be just about there, at the time of the end of advanced capitalism. :-)

The reality is, however, it will take as long as it takes to rid the world... and this country... of capitalism.

I'm ready, right now. :-)

The NDP sure as hell ain't gonna do it. Not as it is anyway. Too many candyasses. :-)

I'm sure, from within the time of Rome and its slave system, it looked and felt like it was never going to actually end too. And it lasted from 27 BC, to when Romulus Augustus became the last Roman Emperor in 476 AD. But here we are now, still talking about it, but it has been long, long gone... giving way to feudalism and now, from the time of the English Civil War and Cromwell, finally to capitalism.

This too shall pass. Whether I am here or not to be part of it. So long as I can at least help to prepare the way for it. :-)

Love, Peace and Revolution

Post Vote Buddies.

With Jack blasting the Bloc out of the water, I wonder how Gilles could possibly be lovey-dovey to the NDP if his support is needed to topple the winner. A coalition of the arch-enemies?

If it happens, it will be fun.

Ah well r'man - nothing Stevie hasn't done before eh?

September 9, 2004
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.Governor General
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A1

Excellency,

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government's program.

We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Gilles Duceppe, M.P.Leader of the Bloc Quebecois

Jack Layton, M.P.Leader of the New Democratic Party

(emphasis added - just for you - because, Virginia, Stephen Harper DOES talk to Separatists - he even drafts letters with them)

"Presumptious" Bill Tieleman replies

Okay friends - I may be completely off base on predicting it MAY be the "Election of the Century" but on the other hand GWest and company, you don't know it won't be either!

As to eating crow, if Jack Layton is Official Opposition leader on May 3rd, I will happily chow down - with a glass of champagne.

On the other hand, several polls have shown a real possibility of a Conservative majority - if that happens, those who harped loudly for an NDP/Liberal forced election will be eating platefuls of raven.

Not that I want that to happen - but anyone who says it could never occur wasn't watching the ebb and flow of politics.

Alternatively, I don't believe any Tyee posters predicted Jack Layton would be a possible Prime Minister at election's end - and amazingly that isn't completely out of the question.

If it does - "Election of the Century" - you heard it hear first!

Now let's everyone - Tory, Grit, Dipper or Greenie - make sure voter participation goes up.

Sorry Bill, won't wash

Nothing wrong with your article - and I appreciate your offer to eat crow - but I'll stand by my suggestion that any prediction about politics which can't be evaluated until 89 years in the future is still hyperbole.

Unless you're claiming to be not only the NDP's Svengali but its Nostradamus as well.

I sincerely hope you'll be eating a lot of crow with your champagne on Monday night....

As for your 4th paragraph, I'll accept your word for it even though your earlier piece had a really nasty flavour about it.

Or would saying that be going too far?

After all, this stuff is almost as over the top as the 'election of the century stuff'

Let's look at it again:

It is apparently a myth that lemmings commit mass suicide by jumping of cliffs, according to wildlife biologists who have studied the rodents.

They might then next want to turn their research to federal Liberal and New Democrat Members of Parliament -- because the evidence of their political death wish is now well documented.

Friday's opposition vote to defeat the Conservative government for "contempt of Parliament" was an exercise in self-delusion, testosterone and faulty logic that will surely result in Stephen Harper returning after the May 2 election as prime minister -- and likely with a majority.

Cheers. Vote early and vote often....

And R/man - even Andrew Coyne isn't voting Harper

And yet, although the Liberals have tried to make accountability an issue in this election, they have signally failed. Does this mean the public has spoken? Perhaps once again I’ve attached too much importance to a single issue, at the expense of the big picture.

I don’t think so. The Liberals never gave the public much reason to translate their misgivings about the Conservatives into votes for them: a particular imperative, given their own record in office. It’s not enough just to implore people to “rise up.” You have to give them some hope that things will get better. But instead of the sort of large, concrete, attention-grabbing proposals that would really stamp the issue on the public mind, the democratic reform chapter of the Liberal platform is notably thin: reform of question period, a study of online voting, a vague nod to empowering committees.

So I will continue to make the case that we have a duty to perform as voters. Any election is in part a trial of the incumbents. Do we, the jury, find them guilty or not guilty, in this case of offences against democracy? And if we find them guilty, there has to be a penalty.

But what about the economy? In punishing the government, do we risk punishing the country? No. Economies have enormous recuperative powers: as Adam Smith said, “there is a great deal of ruin in a nation.” We can afford a period of Liberal silliness. What we cannot afford is the continuing slide of Parliament, and parliamentary democracy, into disrepair. Conventions once discarded, habits of self-government once lost, are much harder to regain.

If we return the Conservatives with a majority, if we let all that has gone on these past five years pass, then not only the Tories, but every party will draw the appropriate conclusions. But if we send them a different message, then maybe the work of bringing government to democratic heel, begun in the tumult of the last Parliament, can continue. And that is why I will be voting Liberal on May 2.

source:http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/04/28/a-price-must-be-paid-but-by-whom/
It's a tepid endorsement...but coming from Coyne, it's significant - even he recognizes the danger we're threatened with from a Harper majority trumps his natural aversion to the Liberals.

Maybe we are going to see something at least mildly historic Bill.