2015 Canadian Election

[Napkiraly]

Conservative (Stephen Harper) - Bad for free speech, freedom in general
Liberal (Justin Trudeau) - French last name, cannot be trusted.
NDP (Thomas Mulcair) - What's the NDP?
Green Party (Elizabeth May) - What's the Canadian Green Party like? Are they totally crazy like in Europe or more reasonable like in the US?
Bloc Québécois (Gilles Duceppe) - Wat.

Hahahahahahaha.

Also the Greens in Canada aren't the worst, but general rule to Green Party's are that they are bit...batshit.

[Nation of Quebec]

So we've been getting repeated calls from partisan pollsters "on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper" asking for my dad. Since they always call in the afternoon and early evening, and my dad's job has ridiculously long hours, he's never home when they call... so I answer. I always politely tell them he's not available and that we don't do phone surveys in our household, but they always end up calling back a few days later (and I swear it's the same woman).

Finally today at breakfast my mom was home on her day off and she got to the phone first. As soon as the voice on the other end got to saying that it was a "courtesy call from the Prime Minister to ask for feedback" she just bursts into about 30 seconds of sustained laughter, then says "You're calling the wrong house for that, lady!" and hangs up.

If you don't mind me asking, which pollsters are these? I've highly suspected that pollsters such as "Mainstreet" are incredibly biased towards the Conservatives and inflate their numbers significantly. Their polls tend to be outliners that don't show the current trends, which is currently a Conservative-Liberal race with a slight Liberal lead.

Oh this is rich. Stephen Harper, during his brief time out of parliament in the late 1990s, was the co-author of a piece called "Our Benign Dictatorship" in The Next City magazine. It argued that the only reason the Liberals were still in power at the time was because FPTP is a bad system and lets them take advantage of a divided opposition.

Many of Canada's problems stem from a winner-take-all style of politics that allows governments in Ottawa to impose measures abhorred by large areas of the country. The political system still reverberates from shock waves from Pierre Trudeau's imposition of the National Energy Program upon the West and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms upon Quebec. Modernizing Canadian politics to make it more representative would not only be good for conservatism, it might be the key to Canada's survival as a nation.

Here's a link for anyone who wants to read it in all the Late 90s Internet glory.

90s Harper also, to my knowledge, opposed omnibus bills which is something 00s and 10s Harper loves. I'd go so far as to say 90s Harper would be very afraid of what 10s Harper has become. This man reeks of hypocrisy.

[Camicon]

So we've been getting repeated calls from partisan pollsters "on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper" asking for my dad. Since they always call in the afternoon and early evening, and my dad's job has ridiculously long hours, he's never home when they call... so I answer. I always politely tell them he's not available and that we don't do phone surveys in our household, but they always end up calling back a few days later (and I swear it's the same woman).

Finally today at breakfast my mom was home on her day off and she got to the phone first. As soon as the voice on the other end got to saying that it was a "courtesy call from the Prime Minister to ask for feedback" she just bursts into about 30 seconds of sustained laughter, then says "You're calling the wrong house for that, lady!" and hangs up.

If you don't mind me asking, which pollsters are these? I've highly suspected that pollsters such as "Mainstreet" are incredibly biased towards the Conservatives and inflate their numbers significantly. Their polls tend to be outliners that don't show the current trends, which is currently a Conservative-Liberal race with a slight Liberal lead.

Oh this is rich. Stephen Harper, during his brief time out of parliament in the late 1990s, was the co-author of a piece called "Our Benign Dictatorship" in The Next City magazine. It argued that the only reason the Liberals were still in power at the time was because FPTP is a bad system and lets them take advantage of a divided opposition.

Many of Canada's problems stem from a winner-take-all style of politics that allows governments in Ottawa to impose measures abhorred by large areas of the country. The political system still reverberates from shock waves from Pierre Trudeau's imposition of the National Energy Program upon the West and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms upon Quebec. Modernizing Canadian politics to make it more representative would not only be good for conservatism, it might be the key to Canada's survival as a nation.

Here's a link for anyone who wants to read it in all the Late 90s Internet glory.

90s Harper also, to my knowledge, opposed omnibus bills which is something 00s and 10s Harper loves. I'd go so far as to say 90s Harper would be very afraid of what 10s Harper has become. This man reeks of hypocrisy.

A person's political views can't change over 20+ years?

[Nation of Quebec]

If you don't mind me asking, which pollsters are these? I've highly suspected that pollsters such as "Mainstreet" are incredibly biased towards the Conservatives and inflate their numbers significantly. Their polls tend to be outliners that don't show the current trends, which is currently a Conservative-Liberal race with a slight Liberal lead.



90s Harper also, to my knowledge, opposed omnibus bills which is something 00s and 10s Harper loves. I'd go so far as to say 90s Harper would be very afraid of what 10s Harper has become. This man reeks of hypocrisy.

A person's political views can't change over 20+ years?

I'm not saying a person can't change. What I'm saying is that Harper has become everything that he used to hate and preach against when he was younger.

[Commonwealth of Hank the Cat]

On an unrelated note, just watching Trudeau speak makes me nauseous. What a smug, incoherent, and rhetorical asshole.

Trudeau also said that he "admired" China's government. I have to agree with you.

[Oneracon]

So we've been getting repeated calls from partisan pollsters "on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper" asking for my dad. Since they always call in the afternoon and early evening, and my dad's job has ridiculously long hours, he's never home when they call... so I answer. I always politely tell them he's not available and that we don't do phone surveys in our household, but they always end up calling back a few days later (and I swear it's the same woman).

Finally today at breakfast my mom was home on her day off and she got to the phone first. As soon as the voice on the other end got to saying that it was a "courtesy call from the Prime Minister to ask for feedback" she just bursts into about 30 seconds of sustained laughter, then says "You're calling the wrong house for that, lady!" and hangs up.

If you don't mind me asking, which pollsters are these? I've highly suspected that pollsters such as "Mainstreet" are incredibly biased towards the Conservatives and inflate their numbers significantly. Their polls tend to be outliners that don't show the current trends, which is currently a Conservative-Liberal race with a slight Liberal lead.

I can't remember the name of the polling company, sadly.

Oh this is rich. Stephen Harper, during his brief time out of parliament in the late 1990s, was the co-author of a piece called "Our Benign Dictatorship" in The Next City magazine. It argued that the only reason the Liberals were still in power at the time was because FPTP is a bad system and lets them take advantage of a divided opposition.

Many of Canada's problems stem from a winner-take-all style of politics that allows governments in Ottawa to impose measures abhorred by large areas of the country. The political system still reverberates from shock waves from Pierre Trudeau's imposition of the National Energy Program upon the West and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms upon Quebec. Modernizing Canadian politics to make it more representative would not only be good for conservatism, it might be the key to Canada's survival as a nation.

Here's a link for anyone who wants to read it in all the Late 90s Internet glory.

90s Harper also, to my knowledge, opposed omnibus bills which is something 00s and 10s Harper loves. I'd go so far as to say 90s Harper would be very afraid of what 10s Harper has become. This man reeks of hypocrisy.

Did you ever see the retrospective clip where This Hour Has 22 Minutes compared covering Chretien and Harper?

Mark Critch and Mary Walsh talk about dealing with Harper back when he was leader of the Canadian Alliance, and how he'd always come up to them asking if they'd like to talk to him and how he'd do ridiculous things. Mary even has the great line: "Now that he's in power, of course, he doesn't feel that he has to speak to even legitimate journalists let alone [us]."

[Ainin]

Leave it to 22 Minutes to expose frauds for who truly are.

See Marg, Warrior Princess versus Rob Ford.

[Camicon]

A person's political views can't change over 20+ years?

I'm not saying a person can't change. What I'm saying is that Harper has become everything that he used to hate and preach against when he was younger.

What you said is that Harper should be held to the views he expressed twenty-some years ago, which is ridiculous; people change, there's nothing wrong with that. I think Harper's current views are shit, but I'm not going to harangue him because his olds views are at odds with his current ones.

[Geilinor]

I'm not saying a person can't change. What I'm saying is that Harper has become everything that he used to hate and preach against when he was younger.

What you said is that Harper should be held to the views he expressed twenty-some years ago, which is ridiculous; people change, there's nothing wrong with that. I think Harper's current views are shit, but I'm not going to harangue him because his olds views are at odds with his current ones.

People are commenting that his old views were better.

[Camicon]

What you said is that Harper should be held to the views he expressed twenty-some years ago, which is ridiculous; people change, there's nothing wrong with that. I think Harper's current views are shit, but I'm not going to harangue him because his olds views are at odds with his current ones.

People are commenting that his old views were better.

As did I, but my contention is NoQ calling him a hypocrite because his views have changed over the last two decades. There are plenty of things to criticize Harper for, but that isn't one of them.

[Nation of Quebec]

People are commenting that his old views were better.

As did I, but my contention is NoQ calling him a hypocrite because his views have changed over the last two decades. There are plenty of things to criticize Harper for, but that isn't one of them.

Again, I'm not saying people can't change, but it's like he's a completely different person now. It's like a Republican social conservative who suddenly changes and becomes a Democrat who favors abortion and same sex marriage. It's mystifying to say the least. I'd much rather have 90s Harper than the one we have now. I think the younger Harper would be disgusted at what he's become.

I guess we could chalk it up to "absolute power corrupting absolutely", as the old saying goes.

[Camicon]

As did I, but my contention is NoQ calling him a hypocrite because his views have changed over the last two decades. There are plenty of things to criticize Harper for, but that isn't one of them.

Again, I'm not saying people can't change, but it's like he's a completely different person now. It's like a Republican social conservative who suddenly changes and becomes a Democrat who favors abortion and same sex marriage. It's mystifying to say the least. I'd much rather have 90s Harper than the one we have now. I think the younger Harper would be disgusted at what he's become.

I guess we could chalk it up to "absolute power corrupting absolutely", as the old saying goes.

Two decades is considered "sudden change"? Five years ago I was socially conservative Roman Catholic, and a supporter of laissez-faire economics; I don't believe that I suddenly changed into a socially liberal atheist, with a healthy respect for government intervention in the economy.

Yeah, Harper is completely different than he was two decades ago. Yeah, I much prefer his older views. Yeah, I don't get why his views changed either. That still isn't grounds to criticize him as a person, and honestly, it kind've detracts from more pressing and valid criticisms of his policies and positions.

[Confederate Ramenia]

https://votecompass.cbc.ca/results/?s=d ... 1444170536
I guess I'd be NDP.

[Fanosolia]

https://votecompass.cbc.ca/results/?s=d7f91eb4a5d4b47863e84c1d0db820282f7c6ef11444170536
I guess I'd be NDP.

You know looking at that 3-d compass I have to ask, what makes the greens more reformist than the ndp Well I miss read, but the constitution question still stands? I know these tests aren't perfect but I'm curious about this.

edit actually I got ndp here as more reformist? https://votecompass.cbc.ca/results/?s=c ... 1444172062

I don't know.

[Camicon]

https://votecompass.cbc.ca/results/?s=d7f91eb4a5d4b47863e84c1d0db820282f7c6ef11444170536
I guess I'd be NDP.

You know looking at that 3-d compass I have to ask, what makes the greens more reformist than the ndp? I know these tests aren't perfect but I'm curious about this.

Abolition of the Senate.

[Geilinor]

You know looking at that 3-d compass I have to ask, what makes the greens more reformist than the ndp? I know these tests aren't perfect but I'm curious about this.

Abolition of the Senate.

The NDP wants the same.

[Kincoboh]

https://votecompass.cbc.ca/results/?s=d7f91eb4a5d4b47863e84c1d0db820282f7c6ef11444170536
I guess I'd be NDP.

You know looking at that 3-d compass I have to ask, what makes the greens more reformist than the ndp? I know these tests aren't perfect but I'm curious about this.

It's disputed whether the NDP is more left or the Greens being more left. I personally don't understand why looking after the environment is seen as a left wing virtue.

[Fanosolia]

You know looking at that 3-d compass I have to ask, what makes the greens more reformist than the ndp? I know these tests aren't perfect but I'm curious about this.

It's disputed whether the NDP is more left or the Greens being more left. I personally don't understand why looking after the environment is seen as a left wing virtue.

Honestly, almost anything was given some kind of label on these sides. I don't get it much either some times with something like that. I guess I'm asking what makes them more "constitutionally reformist". Maybe it's that one question about the monarchy?

[Saint-Thor]

Just saw the last poll. Mulcair is starting to feel he heat.

[Fanosolia]

Just saw the last poll. Mulcair is starting to feel he heat.

(Image)

that makes me sad, though I guess that's what I get for buying into the hype, even if they didn't have a chance in my riding. Still I'd gladly wait if it means we get and election reform.

[Nation of Quebec]

Just saw the last poll. Mulcair is starting to feel he heat.

(Image)

that makes me sad, though I guess that's what I get for buying into the hype, even if they didn't have a chance in my riding. Still I'd gladly wait if it means we get and election reform.

Eh, Mulcair never appealed to me. He lacks the charisma that Jack Layton had and what Trudeau does have.

If the Liberals have a chance of beating the Conservatives in your riding, then I'd recommend voting for your Liberal candidate if you want to defeat the Conservative. I suspect that strategic voting just might play a bigger role in this election than some of the pundits are giving it credit.

[Geilinor]

Just saw the last poll. Mulcair is starting to feel he heat.

(Image)

Trudeau has been underestimated by many.

[Fanosolia]

that makes me sad, though I guess that's what I get for buying into the hype, even if they didn't have a chance in my riding. Still I'd gladly wait if it means we get and election reform.

Eh, Mulcair never appealed to me. He lacks the charisma that Jack Layton had and what Trudeau does have.

If the Liberals have a chance of beating the Conservatives in your riding, then I'd recommend voting for your Liberal candidate if you want to defeat the Conservative. I suspect that strategic voting just might play a bigger role in this election than some of the pundits are giving it credit.

Yeah that's my plan, I was going to give ndp my vote if they were higher just to show the support, but I rather have some justin than harper at this point, regardless of his pass transgressions. Even then, my liberal mp doesn't seem so bad. She seem to be good choice, I just hope that she doesn't have to tow the party line she was in.

[Nation of Quebec]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundl ... -1.3256756

Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier, Danny Williams, has once again come out swinging against Stephen Harper. When Danny talks, people tend to listen. He was continually ranked as one of the most popular Premiers and is a model for non-partisanship. He was the one who began the ABC (Anyone But Conservative) movement and it may surprise you to know that he was a Conservative Premier.

This is the kind of conservative I would like to see in charge of the Conservative party, not the uber-partisan, ideological, big government supporting, and fiscally irresponsible Harper.

[Fanosolia]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/danny-williams-stephen-harper-election-1.3256756

Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier, Danny Williams, has once again come out swinging against Stephen Harper. When Danny talks, people tend to listen. He was continually ranked as one of the most popular Premiers and is a model for non-partisanship. He was the one who began the ABC (Anyone But Conservative) movement and it may surprise you to know that he was a Conservative Premier.

This is the kind of conservative I would like to see in charge of the Conservative party, not the uber-partisan, ideological, big government supporting, and fiscally irresponsible Harper.

WOW! He told people not to vote at all if you're a Conservative supporter. This guys has some stones. I can see why he's so popular.