Martin Liberals defeated in vote of non-confidence...

[Taualumna]

...let the campaign begin...

from the Globe and Mail:

The short-lived 38th Parliament met its demise on Monday night, setting the stage for one of the longest election campaigns in two decades, as the Liberal government was defeated in a no-confidence vote at the hands of all three opposition parties and the country was launched into official election mode.

More info here

[RACooper]

Great a Christmas election campaign all because of Harper's ego... joy

Personally I think Harper is going to get burnt big time - and I couldn't be happier; the guy is killing conservative support in Canada.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by RACooper
Great a Christmas election campaign all because of Harper's ego... joy

Personally I think Harper is going to get burnt big time - and I couldn't be happier; the guy is killing conservative support in Canada.

I agree 110% with you.

Harper is the reason I will no longer vote Conservative.

[DeltAlum]

I'm moving to Canada...

A "long" campaign goes from now until Mid-January with time off for the holidays?

Why haven't we thought of that? Think of how much less money would be wasted and how much more time elected officials would have to actually do some work.

Of course we would probably have to reinstate tobacco advertising so TV would break even.

[RACooper]

What a moron Harper is... within an hour of the election being called he managed to come-up looking like a tool - and opening the Same-Sex Marriage can of worms again.

I gotta agree with the CBC commentator that felt Harper was weak in his speach... if you are asked if you love the country - the answer should be yes with some examples of how, or what you love - not an attack on the Liberals. The same goes when asked about being the PM; you answer that you have lead two national parties and brokered a deal to unite two bickering political parties... not launch into a discussion how your still learning and and such.

Finally what possessed him at the end of the question period to mention, unprompted!, introducing a Traditional Marriage Bill to effectively overturn the Same-Sex Marriage legislation?



That being said I think the FOXNews "Canada" commentator was not bad... although he needs to do a little more fact-checking or background work when preparing - Chretein was the PM that opposed Bush's call for joining the Iraq War, not Martin.

[bcdphie]

I found this on Rick Mercer's blog - a humourous look at the end of this Canadian government:

_________________________________________________
Hello Fellow Liberals and Merry Elexmas one and all.

Wow! Can you believe it’s holiday Newsletter time again?

As you know, today the Governor General dissolved the 38th parliament of Canada. It seems like barely 18 months ago we were celebrating the birth of our recently deceased minority government. Well I guess we weren’t so much “celebrating” as putting a brave face on. Whatever you call it there was drinking involved.

Personally I find it hard to discuss the 38th Parliament. All I can really say is that, like you, I once had high hopes for its future. Needless to say it was devastating to me personally when it finally dawned on me that the 38th parliament of Canada, the fruit of my loins as it were, was helplessly retarded. (Sorry developmentally delayed, I can’t keep up).

Of course once the initial shock wore off I decided that the only decent thing to do was to play the hand I was dealt. Turns out in the end no amount of money could save the bloody thing and twenty billion dollars later Stephen Harper took it on himself to put the poor simp out of its misery.

So here we are.

So much has happened since that last election so I’ll try to be brief. Phase one of the Gomery report came out and I have been completely vindicated. Turns out I had no idea what was going on after all. Some people find this hard to believe but to those naysayers I say think back to high school. Remember that dim kid you hung out with in grade ten who never had a frigging clue what was happening? Remember him? That’s basically me except far more powerful. This is the case I will bring forward to Canada.

I’m pleased to report that the democratic deficit has been all but eliminated. KIDDING! It’s fucked but what’s a guy to do? I have Belinda on the file and she says it’s under control and that’s good enough for me.

Of course I have to mention Belinda. If it wasn’t for her this government would have died months ago and me along with it. Some people in the press have referred to her as my guardian angel, I prefer to think of her as my political defibrillator. Even to this day when I see her coming I want to tear open my shirt, put Vaseline on my nipples and yell CLEAR!

The rest of the front bench is doing well and looking forward to the coming Elexmas season.

I am proud to report that Deputy Prime Minister Anne Mclellan is raring to go. People don’t know how hard she works. I bumped into her just minutes after the non-confidence vote and instead of feeling sorry for us she was busy putting up posters for a yard sale at her house. Everything must go apparently. She is a multi-tasker that Anne!

Scott Brison has turned out to be the star of the front bench. Personally, I am sick and tired of people saying that the behaviour in Question period is like a bunch of kids on the playground. If it was like a playground would I hide behind the gay kid when I got picked on? Hardly.

Anyway I have to go now. Scott Reid is barking at me to get my ass in his office pronto! May I take this time as your Prime Minister to wish you well and may I be the first to say to you: Merry Elexmas and hopefully we will live to see another year.

Paul Martin

[bcdphie]

Mark your calendars - January 23, 2006.

The outcome: I believe it will be another Liberal minority, and we will all be trudging back to the polls in the near future.

I was kind of hoping that the election was going to take place before the end of this year - then I would have voted in a Federal, Provincial and Municple election, all in the same year - what can I say, I am political nerd .

[bcdphie]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi


Harper is the reason I will no longer vote Conservative.

Ditto.

[RACooper]

About the only thing I looking forward to is going to be the comedy - you know the leaders will do something stupid, and you know folks like Mercer are just waiting

For the conservatives south of the border, don't worry I'm sure our own Conservative Cowboy will work wonders :

(no this is not photoshop-ed...)

Also please note this is the guy that wants to get rid of gay marriage Draw you own conclusions.

LET THE FUN AND GAMES BEGIN KIDDIES!

[Tom Earp]

Damn, and We all think American Polotics is F****E Up!

Should be interesting to watch instead of USA Fiasco of On the take Poloticians! Yea, they are finally getting caught, on all sides of the Border!

[MooseGirl]

I was bored of this election before it was ever called. I expect others are too.

I've never voted for conservatives on the federal level before (i have provincially), and although i certainly wouldn't want a conservative gov't, sometimes i wish they would win so all their followers would just "get it out of their system" and then in another 4-5 years we could have another election when ppl realize there really is no good choice.

I was surprised to see a $1000 deposit is necessary to file nomination forms, makes sense though, but it's still funny to read that the $ is returned "if the candidate dies before all polling stations close." I wonder how often that happens?

I'll try and forget about this electon stuff until the 23rd

[bcdphie]

Here's a letter from the desk of the Crazy, Conservative Cowboy, to follow up the letter from the desk of PM, PM:

From Rick Mercer's Blog:

__________________________________________________ _

Hello My Fellow Conservatives,

It has come to my attention that the lying Liberals have recently released an “Elexmas newsletter”. This is nothing but another example of the “culture of entitlement” and I would like to take this opportunity to emulate them. Let us never forget, as Conservatives, we despise the Liberals and all they stand for; but there must be no discernable difference between us and them.


So, Merry Elexmas!


By now you know that we have defeated the government. It has been suggested that the people of Canada do not want an election at this juncture. Those of you who know me know this: I don’t care what the people think. I am not a people person. I don’t like people and the feeling is mutual.


I must admit I am sick of this discussion. I ask you, why in heaven’s name would I like People? The so called “people” had their chance 18 months ago and they choose not to give me a majority. This morning I suggested to Tom Flannigan that we should change our campaign slogan from “Standing up for Canada” to “Fuck the People”. He said no, pointing out that in politics honesty is not the best policy. “Besides” he added, “300 million bucks on an election nobody wants is about as big a “fuck you” to the people that the Tories can muster”. How we laughed!


So far I feel the campaign is going really well. In an effort to appease Ontario voters it is imperative that we bring forward an image of moderation. To this end I would like to point out that I waited a full five hours after parliament dissolved before I started in on the queers.


Some leftists have suggested that I choose the first day of the campaign to discuss gay marriage to get the issue out of the way. This is not true. I choose to discuss gay marriage on day one because it is a number one issue. In fact I would like nothing better than to spend every day of this campaign discussing gay sex. Unfortunately I cannot do that, but I am announcing today the formation of a “Conservative gay sex caucus”. The caucus will meet with me throughout the campaign and will monitor any new gay sex practices that may develop over the holiday season.


As you know, I have stated I will hold a free vote in parliament on the issue of gay marriage when I am prime minister. And let me reiterate: “I will not whip my Cabinet on the issue of same sex marriage”. When I made that commitment to caucus Jason Kenney broke the ice by raising his hand and saying “Whip me! Whip me!” What a soldier! Later he pulled me aside at John Baird’s headquarters and told me sincerely that if asked to sit in cabinet he will serve, and that he for one he will gladly be whipped on the issue of gay marriage. He is a stand-up guy Jason, always willing to subjugate himself for the cause of conservatism. I remember the day he branded Nelson Mandela a terrorist, I thought to myself, “That man will make one hell of a great Immigration Minister some day”. We need more Jason Kenneys representing us on the world stage!


Anyway it’s day two and I have to run. Somebody at Tory Headquarters gave my phone number to Peter McKay and now I have to get a new phone and initiate another purge.


Good luck and God Bless.


Stephen Harper

_______________________________________________

I am sure there will soon be a letter from Layton and Duceppe...

[Taualumna]

Did anyone watch the debates last night? To me, it didn't sound like they brought anything up that we didn't already know about, and I don't think there really was a clear winner. Thoughts?

[bcdphie]

The only thing I got out of last night's debate was how strange Gilles Duceppe sounds...

[MooseGirl]

I was too busy to watch - didn't get home til 11:30.

But unlike my previous post, I actually haven't just forgotten about it, but actually signed up to be a member of a party and fork over my $25 .

Although, I still haven't volunteered for them at all - not enough time, and now I'm sick. Anyway, as someone who's decided, the debates don't mean much to me personally - just hope it makes a difference with those undecided.

Did anyone read that article on rabble.ca about why minority governments could be good?here's the link

I like Gilles voice - but then again I have a thing for les personnes qui parle français.