Who's enjoying the Liberal mudslinging???
 

My fellow Canadians...heeheehee

Anyway, have any of you seen the new Liberal ads with the wonderful quotes from Steven Harper?

Have you checked out the site, StevenHarpersaid.ca (I believe that's the web address)?

What do you all think?

Personally I find it disgusting. While I'm no longer a PC support, I will never ever be a Liberal supporter and this just confirms it even more.

Who cares... it make the Liberal's and Harper look like crap.

You'd think the Liberals learned from the mistake the PCs made years ago...

The ads do call to mind the fact that he has had a history of being part of a movement has sought even closer ties to US economics and politics...

Now if they'd want to attack Harper they could bring up the fact that he left the Reform party, then came back to run for leadership, then left again... only to join the PCs... then helped bring about the merger....

Heck one could argue that all along it has been a plot by him to become the leader of the far-right :)

I saw the ad last night, but haven't checked out the site yet. Despite the big sponsorship scandal, the Liberals are in a good position to win and should just let sleeping dogs lie.

Personally, I used to be a PC supporter, but with Harper leading the Conservative party I am currently not too trusting of Canada's right . Will they remain Canadian right wing or become right wing right wing.

I am firm about voting for the Liberals. I live in a province that once had a very left wing government in power and now a very right wing government - and currently a more left wing and totally usless [Vancouver] city council, I need one party that's governing me to be somewhat middle of the road - a nice blend of capitalism and socialism...

Goodwill Ambassdor to Canada
 

Hello fellow North American Federal Superpower. How would you feel about helping us start something I like to call "The Federal Republic of United North America." All member nations would keep their soveriengty, i.e. Canada would still be Canada, the U.S. would still be the U.S. etc. but we meet to decide on issues like defence, there would only be once currency, etc. What do you think?

Man I'm glad I'm not from Canada

What does that mean?

Hey at least it doesn't get as bad as the mudslinging down in the US during elections.... except for the PCs back under Campbell... and that cost them a lot of votes.

It means exactly what it says! I'm glad I'm not from Canada, not a hard concept.
I don't mean any offense when I say I'm glad I'm not from Canada, I've just got a lot of American Pride! I'm glad I'm not from Canada, just like I'm glad I'm not from Great Britain, or India, or any other country! And fortunately AMERICA gives me the right to say it!

At one point we lived in Detroit, and often traveled across the Ambassador to Ontario. Even watched CBC quite often.
I'd lay off the Canada stuff. I think we get shoved down their throats so much that if roles were reversed, we 'd understand how they feel.
I DO enjoy watching Divine Design, however...!

After yesterday's announcement, MisterMadly got really upset that Martin was allowed to start his campaign from the steps of the GG's residence. He couldn't remember if other PMs had done it, or whether Paul Martin was taking advantage of an opportunity. Does anyone know if this was a new thing?

I'm going to enjoy watching this election. Canadian politics are really foreign to me, but I can't wait until I'm eligible to vote.

He did it from the GG's residence because a PM needs the permision of the GG to hold an election. As for whether other PMs have done the whole press conference thing from the steps of Rideau Hall... not that I can remember... hmm

Perfect timing for elections - I leave for DPhiE convention the next day. So in all my running around I will be doing the day before I leave, I will have to add vote in federal election to my travel list of things to do... LOL.

They've already started campainging in my riding. As soon as the election was called they were out putting signs on people's lawns.

Same here, I went out a few hours after the announcement and there were campaign signs up already - I mostly saw ones for the Conservative Party candidates.

Martin best able to lead 'honest' government: poll
A new poll suggests that more Canadians think Paul Martin is able to lead an honest and trustworthy government than the leaders of the other three major parties.

full story

It's good to see that the newspapers aren't taking sides :rolleyes:

Anyone else see the cover of the Sun... whatever happened to at least attempting to maintain the illusion of being unbiased?

Mostly NDP signs went up. But I live in such a Liberal riding so I already know who's winning in my riding :rolleyes:

I'm thinking of getting myself a Green Party sign.

same here.

I saw Paul Martin's rant on the news tonight. The local TV station said that it well, sounded like The Rant :D

I'm at the heart of all the action: Ottawa.. I think that this election is going to be an election finaly..a tight race unlike the liberal leadership race where everyone said that martin would be coronated..what kind of democracy do we live in when that happens?? ANYWAYS..one last point:

hate to start a fight but I AM GLAD I AM NOT AMERICAN..we do have the right to say that we are proud that we are Canadian but maybe we are a bit more critical of our actions..thats MY opinion!

Well it's only fair....

I have always railed against posters who say "Glad I don't live _____" or "Glad I'm not a ______"... so would it have been better to have said "I AM GLAD I AM A CANADIAN"? hmmm?

On another note, two questions:

1) Has anyone else ever wished they could select particular parties to fill specfic government posts? ie. Foreign Affairs>Liberals, Ministry of National Defense>Conservatives, Social Programs>NDP, Enviroment>Green Party.

2) Should we adopt the Australian voting and Political system? They have mandatory voting (fine or imprisonment if you don't), increased proportional representation in politics.

I've never really thought about different parties for different government posts. It's an interesting thought though.

I don't like the Australian political system because well I don't believe it is all that democratic. I do wish more people would get out and vote. However I don't think they should be forced to. Part of a modern day democracy is the right to vote, but it's also the right to remain apathetic. As much as it irriates me when people are too lazy to get off their arses and vote, it's their choice.

RA Cooper:

Perhapes you are correct in saying that I should have posted that I am glad to be Canadian. ..I dont have anything against Americans It only makes me upset when they post things like that and by SOME who think that they are only democratic and free soceity in the world but i guess it wasnt fair of me to bash back and I apologize.

In terms of our electoral process maybe we could look at Germany who has a combination or PR and 'first past the post'

Another Q/A what do you think of Jack Laytons remarks??

I haven't really been paying attention. What did Jack Layton say?

Layton claimed that Martin has the blood of a hundred homeless people from Toronto, on his hands becuase of fedral funding cuts made while Martin was Finance Minister.

PS> By the way techinically it was Harris who redirected what remaining funds the province recieved...

Ah.. the US is a Republic, and we are technically a Constitutional Monarchy... as it stands I can't think of any true Democracy in the world right now (maybe the Isle of Man comes close).

And the NDP wonder why they don't have official party status.

As you can tell I am not an NDP supporter. I used to be a PC supporter till the merge.
Mike Harris made some choices that I didn't like, but I also liked the fact that he did was he said he would. I commend him for that.


The NDP will never run this country and if they keep talking out their house they won't ever have offical party status.

This election campaign is starting to piss me off. All it's been so far is bash the Liberals, I have heard very little from the NDP and nothing from the Conservatives regarding their party platforms. This whole election is turning into a joke and that's very frustrating.

I have studied many different government systems and I think that Germany has the right idea, very decentralized - The Lander (equivalent to our provinces) have more power than the federal government - which is what or close to what our provinces want - hey that might take care of the whole health care "issue". I also like the fact that 2 parties rule Germany. I suppose the closest we can get to that is a minority government, which I what I am hoping for this time round.

ETA: I don't like the Aussie rule of you have to vote; Canada isa free democratic society and one should be able to choose if they want to vote or not; however I am a firm believer in "if you are too lazy to get off your arse and go vote" then you loose your bitching rights. If you don't like the way Canada is being run, but you didn't go vote - then you don't get to complain.

I'd dearly love to see a minority government....

That being said the mudslinging is in full swing.. everyone attacking the Liberals because their in power, and therefore easy targets. However it is interesting to see what each party's attack angle is:

Bloc :
Everyone else is bad for Quebec; as well as the seperatist platform still.

Liberals:
Bloc=> Claims that they are inherently a racist group as no minorities are running in the party.
Conservatives=> That they will simply follow the American's orders, as well as covert public services into US styled system.
NPD=>the "evil" hippy fringe dwellers on the left that don't understand how real government is run - I have seen one comparison made in local press to the "Black Bloc".
Others=>beneath notice.

Conservatives:
Bloc=>misguided traitors for wanting to leave the greatest country on earth.
Liberals=> Anti-Americans who have mismanaged our tax dollars, and who have dimissed our status with the US.
NDP=> see liberals attack
Others=>also beneath notice

I haven't really seen anything from the others:
Natural Law
Green Party
Commonwealth of Canada (Communist)
Marxist Leninist Party (guess)
Monarchists
Christian Heritage (fasicsts)

You rarely see anything from the others. The Green Party seems to the most active out of that group.

I believe the Green Party is an up and coming major player in this country and they need to step up the campaigning.

**emerging from below the border**

My dear friend is Manx, and in conversation it was explained to me the Tynwald's (oldest parliament in the world I believe since Viking times) Legislative Council elects the Chief Minister, but the people elect the House of Keys members by party vote. But by definition they are a parliamentary democracy, but have monarchy influence, as Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and chooses who the Lt. Governor is.

As for the Aussie model, can you imagine how many people would make uninformed votes just to stay out of trouble? Better to have more educated voter perhaps, than those who vote for the name they recognize or the first person on the list?

I live close enough to Canada to get some commercials and television, but there is never anything political that I see. Are commercials for our elections coming across the border the other way?

Actually I was more interested in the Aussie electoral, parliamentary system, and senatorial system...

For example you don't pick one candidate but instead you rank your choices, because no candidate can be elected to office without support from at least 51% of the voters... it's a bit complicted to explain here but CBC did a piece on it a while ago I'll see if I can find a link....

We don't mind visitors. Just be respectful (I don't worry that you would be disrespectful...but there are some people...)

I haven't seen any Presidential election commercials. I don't know if they are shown here. It might have something to do with Can. Con. laws or other legals issues.
Do you get the CBC, that's the best station to find our election commercials on. You might not get them because there are legal issue surrounding what commercials the US and Canada can pick up.
Can anyone else shed some more light on this?

As far as being respectful, I attended the University of Alaska, where there is a Canadian Studies program (they always advertised with William Shattner?), and most of the hockey team was Canadian. I also have love for my Northern (well western while in Alaska) neighbors as Canada is my chocolate (crunchies, cadbury, and kinder surprise to be exact) outlet.

I had a scary experience with CBC in a hotel room in Beaver Creek YT. There are some strange things on there, and Beaver Creek itself is a trip! I believe the only CBC I get here is programs shared with PBS, and not direct broadcasts. The commercials we get are often strange, the most prevalent are those for "singles phone lines". I'll ask my friends in Bellingham if they pick up anything. It may be different if one has cable as opposed to an antenna.

I've seen a few presidential commercials on US channels when they aren't simulcasting with any of ours. So far, they're kind of tame.

I don't want you to think that I was insulting you.
I was actually of one person in particular. I welcome your thoughts, ideas and opinions...but to get back on topic.

Not being able to pick up direct broadcasts is most likely the reason why you wouldn't see any election commercials.
Those "singles phone line" commercials I thinka re on every station late at night.

I would like to see the US commercials. They'd be interesting to watch.
But since I don't think they are shown here I will get my updates from the news and newspapers. But in all honesty I haven't been following the US campaigns that closely. So I don't have an opinion of it.

Like Taualumna said, you can catch the US election commericals when the US stations aren't simulcasting with the Canadian stations; however I haven't seen any in a while.

Hey, I found some fun election political cartoons on the CBC website:



http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecam.../images/05.jpg

http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecam.../images/04.jpg

http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecam.../images/03.jpg

I found this useful link on CBC website - it's pretty much everything you want to know about this election, where the candidates stand, etc...

Canada Votes