Canadian Election Results - shall we dance?

[Roj]

So, it looks like I hit the nail right on the head.

We have a government that if it wishes to survive will have to form a European-style coalition with the other parties and do what's best for Canadians instead of their own narrow mandates. Canadians have in effect said:

"OK, you have a limited mandate to fix issues within the country but you don't have a mandate to govern unilaterally. This is more of a message to the Liberals to get their act together rather than one that says we endorse your ideals."

That's a GOOD thing and quite frankly the best outcome one could hope for given the mess that we had to choose from.

Mr. Harper, et. Al. are humbled this morning. He has been told by Canadians that they don't subscribe to his party's narrow-minded ideals regarding so-called "morality" and there will be no new religious "renaissance" (more like a return to the Dark Ages). There will also be no mindless falling into line with American foreign policy and internal interests (lobby groups! NAFTA!) such as the behavior exhibited by the inhabitant of Number 10 Downing Street; Canadians will continue to evaluate situations on their own merit and determine their own course of action without becoming the 51st State. There will be a greater degree of honesty in government primarily because both sides will be watching each other like hawks in a form of political détente. Mass privatization of government functions (thus driving costs to Canadians exponentially higher the way privatization has always demonstrably done) will not happen. There will be no two-tier Health Care system. There will be no repeal of evolutionary laws that are "morally reprehensible" to only a narrow-minded and bigoted few.

And if the Conservatives make one slip, they'er out - they have no margin for error.

If that party wishes to survive beyond the two years (and perhaps even as long as the two years), it will have to manage itself very carefully and act on behalf of ALL Canadians, not just those who fall into what still thankfully remains in this country a minority of an outdated ideology. That is clearly recognizable in the election results - there will be no storm of gunslingers out of the Republic of Alberta into the seats of power in this country. George W. must be so very disappointed this morning.

Personally, I voted Conservative. My riding has a long ohistory of not subscribing to the ideologies of a particular party but rather looking at the candidates and deciding whether or not they will serve us well. We have been Liberal for consecutive terms, we were Conservative before that and have now elected a Conservative for his second consecutive term again. Mr. O'Connor does us proud (I have a personal stake in getting this fine man and his staff re-elected - for one, he's not a politician). As such, that makes us intelligent voters and keeps us out of the ranks of those poor unfortunates who mindlessly spout party rhetoric without truly understanding anything beyond the simplest of ramifications or worse yet, those who mouth "moral" platitudes because they are foolish and myopic enough to put that man-made fabrication known as religion on the same bandwagon as government.

Also, no dead people voted in this election.

So now the dance begins. It will be an interesting one. But I think that by and large, because no one side has sway, it will be good for Canada at this point in time.

I won't be monitoring this thread, just as I decided to no longer monitor the Canadian Election thread. This was my soapbox, I've said my piece and I'm off to enjoy life again (at the end of February I'm off to Jamaica for a week of sun, sea, sand, rum and eye candy). I have no interest in further discussion on these issues; time will tell.

[acushla]

So, it looks like I hit the nail right on the head....

; time will tell.
So, it looks like I hit the nail right on the head.

If by hitting the '...nail right on the head' you were referring to a Conservative victory, then yes, you got it right. Other than this I would submit you didn't hit anything on the head, but instead mashed up your hand to the extent no one can be certain it is a hand.

Unlike Stephen Harper, who has shown (see said victory) that he is able to evolve and move right to center in order to govern... translates (in simple terms) into someone who has moved the party away from it's roots so that it now stands as something new and redefined. Unfortunately there are those who are more comfortable to tirelessly point to those policies the Conservatives were no longer able to accept as policies of their 'new' party' and use their ignorance to run around hysterically as chickens with their hands cut of yelling 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling'. You presented an overview yourself:

'...that they don't subscribe to his party's narrow-minded ideals regarding so-called "morality" and there will be no new religious "renaissance" (more like a return to the Dark Ages). There will also be no mindless falling into line with American foreign policy and internal interests (lobby groups! NAFTA!) such as the behavior exhibited by the inhabitant of Number 10 Downing Street; Canadians will continue to evaluate situations on their own merit and determine their own course of action without becoming the 51st State. Meaning they have evolved...or at least changed.

Just like the Conservatives who govern those Canadians...'who have evolved...or at least changed.' At least it is comforting to see that you can grasp the concept that people are capable of evolving...or a least changing.

There will be no repeal of evolutionary laws that are "morally reprehensible" to only a narrow-minded and bigoted few.

As to the Liberals, I'm more on-side with their ideology by far than the Conservatives. It's their corruption I don't like but I'll take that over bigotry and so-called holier-than-thou "moral" BS any day.

I'm voting Conservative, I can't support the Liars errr I mean Liberals.
I can't support bigoted, homophobic, holier-than-thou rednecks who try to come off as being moralistic (even though they most assuredly are not

Fact finding will show you that the Liberal Party was a far greater danger in bringing this country to the 'Dark Ages'. There were far more Liberals against same-sex marriage and abortion than the current Conservative government. A fact that Harper was counting on should a free vote be called in Parliament. A vote that, IMHO, will never happen. It's a dead issue. In an interview with CBC's Peter Manbridge Harper allowed how personal beliefs are not always translated into National policy. As for '...no mindless falling into line with American foreign policy...'...uh...exactly where did you get the idea we were in danger of mindlessly falling into line with American foreign policy? Which American foreign policy issues...all of them? Some of them? Perhaps we will judge on a issue by issue basis? I thought so.

Fortunately there were enough people to recognize that change and given the political landscape, were willing to give the Conservatives a 'test drive' and see how they liked it.

To write with a serious face that the Conservatives will be kept in check and do what's best for Canadians instead of their own narrow mandates is simply more rhetoric (wishful thinking?) which, again, is based on a party which no longer exists. You may have taken a clue from the fact that the name has changed.

Let's talk about name change for a moment. Earlier in the original Canadian Election thread you wrote:

Considering that the GST was a mess his party INFLICTED it upon us, it's only fitting that THEY do something to fix the grief it has caused.
Wonder if he'll have the balls to yank us out of so-called "Free Trade" (again, another mess his party got us into) if he becomes Prime Minister? Then maybe I'll be a good little True Believer, just like you.

Really...the party led by Brian Mulroney is the same party led by Stephen Harper? I don't think there is anybody in this country who follows politics on a daily basis who would agree with that statement. Sure, you might have to wait while they picked themselves up off the floor before they would tell you...but tell you they would. This would be akin to suggesting that the Liberal Party today resembles the party led by Trudeau or Pearson. If we were only that lucky. My hope is that in 6 years we will add Harper's name to that list of great Prime Ministers.. Perhaps, if you were honest with yourself, you would recognize that should be your wish as well. I understand you don't think there is a chance in hell that will happen...but wouldn't it be a pleasant surprise to you if that is in fact how it evolves. The point of this is that finally Harper has his opportunity. He has convinced enough Canadians that today he is Prime Minister...now he needs to convince the rest of you.

I'm hoping he does.


.Harper humbled this morning

.....more likely Harper was exalted this morning. Keep in mind that this is a man who was written off just over a year ago...and now...at 46...is the Prime Minister of Canada. A man who is eager to introduce new policies and new ideas that will benefit Canada. Now, before anybody goes running their mouths about how he would take us down the road to hell based on ideas that have nothing to do with the Conservative Party as it stands today...why not, as Canadians have done, wait and see what actually transpires? Issue by issue.

The government they have replaced was in such disarray with so much dissent and infighting that I believe they are more than a convention and an election away from being a viable alternative. For one thing they need to reevaluate what exactly it is they stand for...not to mention how to get out from the mountain of debt they find themselves in.

As for being the 'best outcome one could hope for' , well, there are many, myself included, who do not agree with that statement...although I recognize where it originates from. Someone who is not familiar with the Conservatives as they are today is bound to be led by fear and want a series of road blocks in place 'just in case'. Others who believe they know the party would have much preferred a majority government in order that they could govern in a way which would be efficient and the populace would that more quickly realize that the Conservatives are in no way even a shadow of what the nay sayers and fear mongers would have us believe.

The truth is we have what we have and as a result, Harper has his work cut out for him The upside is, if he is able to prove himself and walk through the mine field which is laid out before him, then he will win a landslide when the next election is called in, I predict, 2 1/2 to 3 years from now.

One significant result of the election is that this party has united the country like no other, from coast to coast. The other, and troubling, result was that the 3 largest cities in Canada, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver failed to elect one Conservative between them. Two other important cities , Calgary and Edmonton are now represented entirely by Conservatives. I think that this will prove to be the real story of this election and an area that will be analyzed throughout the current term.

And if the Conservatives make one slip, they're out.

News flash...not in the near forseeable future.It would be a very foolish party that would bring another election to the people of Canada. The only valid reason would be a perception of an issue so important and so reprehensible to Canadians that we would understand the choice was not based on selfish political gain. Let me e the first to tell you...the Conservatives are NOT stupid...they WANT to govern...so they are not to about to 'rock the boat' with issues Canadians as a whole do not want.

There will be no two-tier Health Care system.

Here's another news flash...we already have a 'two-tier Health Care system' and growing everyday. Canada's decision is how best to assimilate this reality.

Belinda...

I'd say she was damned smart.
She abandoned a sinking ship before it went under and took her with it.
Most normal people call that intelligent.

I wonder what she calls it...now

Personally, I voted Conservative. My riding has a long o history of not subscribing to the ideologies of a particular party but rather looking at the candidates and deciding whether or not they will serve us well. We have been Liberal for consecutive terms, we were Conservative before that and have now elected a Conservative for his second consecutive term again. Mr. O'Connor does us proud (I have a personal stake in getting this fine man and his staff reelected - for one, he's not a politician). As such, that makes us intelligent voters and keeps us out of the ranks of those poor unfortunates who mindlessly spout party rhetoric without truly understanding anything beyond the simplest of ramifications or worse yet, those who mouth "moral" platitudes because they are foolish and myopic enough to put that man-made fabrication known as religion on the same bandwagon as government.

This smacks of hypocrisy and elitism. For the record...ANYBODY who runs for 'political office' IS a Politician.


...time will tell.

For the second time...you 'hit the nail on the head.':) :) :)

[acushla]

There will also be no mindless falling into line with American foreign policy and internal interests (lobby groups! NAFTA!) such as the behavior exhibited by the inhabitant of Number 10 Downing Street; Canadians will continue to evaluate situations on their own merit and determine their own course of action without becoming the 51st State.

Looks like Harper didn't need anybody telling him what he should or shouldn't do when it came to Canadian interests over the US. Find it here:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060127/wilkins_arctic_060127/20060127?hub=TopStories

Imagine...he's not even Prime Minister yet and he has made Canadians sit up and breathe a sigh of relief.

No telling what great things lie in store for us when he actually is Prime Minister.

I fully appreciate that one action does not a legacy make...but it is one action more than the nay sayers expected. Should quieten them for a while.

[acushla]

Conservatives have pulled Canada's fat from the fire

Two elections in a row, Canadians were poised to hand the Conservatives a strong minority, perhaps even a majority. Twice, the Liberals played on Ontarians' fears of what an untried party with radical roots might do with such power, and Ontarians have blinked.

But this time around they were less scared than in 2004, and this time the Tories do hold power. Canadians will have a chance to see that Conservatives can govern and the sky will not fall. If they handle themselves well, they will be seen as competent and human — unpromising material for attack ads. And unlike Brian Mulroney, Harper doesn't want to control the Liberal patronage machine. He wants to dismantle it. If he does that while reforming the financing of political parties, this long series of baby steps will have been a quiet, incremental and, therefore, deeply Canadian political revolution.

Brian Lee Crowley is president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, a public policy think-tank in Halifax.

For full story go here: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1138491907061&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795

[acushla]

In one brilliant stroke of inspired political ingenuity Canada once again presents a path for the world to learn from.

How best to avert a terrorist attack...or worse...a war with the enemy? Simple...sell 'em some pristine real estate.

Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal, the worlds 5th richest man, today, as part of a US consortium, purchased a chain of the most historical hotels in Canada. Paid by cash. (You should have seen the line of transport trucks while they unloaded all the money. I will never forget.)

He's gonna' be really pissed off if anything happens to them.

Are you listening Bin-Laden?

(Imagine..Bin-Laden...long time listener of QCD and reader of the forum. Under an assumed name of course. Hey...let's guess which one...What?...no...Inthewoods?...no....Todd?...no. ..Neo?...:confused: :rolleyes::silly:

[acushla]

An initial assessment of Harpers cabinet appointments:

"This seems to be a clear nod toward quite a pragmatic, centrist style of government," said Allan Tupper, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia.

Put another way, the old grassroots Reform party is dead, dead, dead.

"This is the final transition away from Reform," said Faron Ellis, a career Reform-Alliance-Conservative party chronicler who teaches at Lethbridge Community College. "And I don't say that critically."

...on balance, Harper's first cabinet seems a fiscally conservative, socially moderate model of regional balance, provincial experience and young and old.

Harper said in his first news release as prime minister that the executive is "designed for work, not for show."

'Nuff said.

It's nice to learn you were right all along.

Full story:http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=28d47bfa-1278-46f7-9821-e257c81df7d4&k=52829