Oh Canada?

[greatbear]

I certainly hope that this mess does not cause any grief for my friends to the North. The last thing we need is, well, another USA.

Comments

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

It's all sorta freaky and up in the air. However the chances the Conservatives get a majority government are still pretty low. They are riding on the Sponsorship Scandal pretty hard and most Canadians aren't really too concerned about it. I mean, yes, some politicians embezzled a lot of public money. This is news to nobody but it is worthy of a vote of no confidence.

I predict another minority government. See there are a few factors such as the NDP gaining a lot of seats in Ontario and urban areas around the country and the Bloc Quebecois in Quebec that prevent the Conservatives from getting in power. Most people default to Liberals otherwise and it's mostly the bigots, super rich and religious types that vote Conservative.

I'm still a tad worried though.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Value judgement? I didn't read that at all, Francophones are a very real and important segment of this country, especially when it comes to election time. I think the article tries to point that out to the largely American audience because it's a bit of a foreign concept.

I'm not too worried about my marriage rights being taken away just yet. They'd have to jump some seriously wicked legal hurdles to do that. And most Canadians are totally TIRED of the subject, it's not a vote motivator.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

It's not a surprise, and it's all been done above-board; we have not lost rights or anything in the process. Our Conservative party (does not equal Republican) is still kinda on the fringe so as Brodie says the most likely outcome is another minority (three-party) government, which actually tend to function pretty well until they suddenly dissolve.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I feel the Canadian people are far more mature and intelligent enough not to fall for the kind of extreme political nonsense and divisiveness that has plagues the US. Still, I hate seeing any sort of conservative swing anywhere these days.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Unlike here, where the neo-cons have marginalized anyone but their own, you guys still have a cooperative state where the representation is pretty broad and inclusive. That's my understanding at least. More of a European style, no?

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I hope you're right but I'm not entirely sure. I think there is a sense of national unity here that transcends political affiliation. There are still tons of bone heads and morons just like anywhere else. Remember that Conservative doesn't have to equate the religious right. There was a time when conservatives were about like saving public money, preserving good foreign policies and generally conserving a good thing.

Know thy enemy.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Not totally on the fringe. I think they only have 50 less seats than the Liberals last election. It's still a fair enough margin but not exactly "fringe".

Re: Know thy enemy.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Yeah that has the wrong connotation. I think what I meant to convey was that they can still come across as loonies, which could (I hope) limit their appeal.

Re: Know thy enemy.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Somebody on the CBC predicted that the leader who appears most on Rick Mercer's Monday Report is most likely to win the election. I think that might just be it.

It's wierd.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

On EFNet #Politics, one of the channel OPs (a guy named Pickle) is a dye in the wool Libertarian. Can't be many of those in Canada. Pretty much the typical bullshit (he hates CNN, the NY Times, "mainstream" media, he even blasts Bill O'Reilly's comments about the crassness of the Oil Industry's profits.

Then there are another two Canadian chatters who are a bit moderate, but nonetheless very right wing. But anyhows, it's interesting to hear them blab about Canada's "welfare state," since so many people in the US just assume there aren't any conservatives north of our border.

Maybe a smart guy like you should hang out on that channel; and straighten them out (of course they're abusive ops, so you may get kicked if you get too fiesty ;)

Should be an interesting election.

I think we'll be ok

[jongrizzman.livejournal.com]

The fact that not many people want to hear the mudslinging that will be going on over CHRISTMAS this year does worry me a bit. Voter apathy may turn out to be a Liberal advantage this time around.

That said, they're not going to win any more seats than they have. My guess is that the NDP will pick up a handful of new seats, and perhaps the Conservatives will do so as well. The Green party and Bloc are well... Green, and The Bloc.

I'm still convinced that the Con. party won't see any form of power comparable to that which they are hoping for. Stephen Harper is one messed up fucker, and i'm pretty sure everyone that isn't swimming in money sees it.

I predict another 3-party minority government. Take 20-30 seats away from the libs, give 15-20 to the NDP, and 5-10 to the Con. While it's depressing that there doesn't seem to be any party, or candidates, that scream "Vote For Me!" , i find some comfort in knowing that with a government so well balanced between 2-3 parties out of 5, no ONE party agenda would ever be pushed into law without being put through the ringer.

Same-sex marriage is quite safe. Fuck Mr. Harper and his dream of a Northern Republican State/Country.

[detailbear.livejournal.com]

Not a value judgement, but a big factor in the election. The Bloc is an entirely Québéc-based party, so the 14% support it has can translate to a lot of the 75 seats in Québéc. The Gomery scandal was also centered in Québéc, and many people there blame the Liberal for focusing negative attention on the province. Every seat for the Bloc in Québéc (currently 53) is generally one taken away from the Liberals (currently at 21).

The NDP and Conservatives will be unlikely to gain any seats in Québéc, so the Bloc (a fiscally conservative but socially liberal party) could be a deciding factor if a coalition government were required.

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