| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 9/30/2008 9:48:23 PM | | Fiddler, they don't need to do that whole aborting baby jesus thing you mention. All they would have to do is cause another hockey strike. THAT gets the nations attention. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 9/30/2008 9:57:09 PM | Good point...
As I watch the "Rome" miniseries, I am reminded that the only thing that keeps the mob in check is "bread and circuses" and in this modern Canadian context it might be pizza and HNIC
I can see it now....
"Yes Mr Harper, Bay Street is down another 600 points today, another 50 Canadian troopers died in Afghanistan...but will the House step in to get the teams back to the bargaining table and will the Canadian taxpayers be on the hook for another 10 billion dollar League bailout?"
"Yes, but everyone knows it's in the Spirit of the Game and all Canadians can get behind that." *wraps self in flag, stands by aging veteran...CF-18 flyby...*
Sorta makes you tear up, don't it. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 3:57:33 AM | I think every voter in Canada should watch the CTV news clip of Dion from an interview on October 9th before voting in the tuesday election.....
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/mike-duffy-live/thursday-oct-9/#clip101442 | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 4:35:29 AM | | Everyone in Alberta votes Conservative anyways...Harper is still likely going to win; but with no real plan for the rest of Canada ( The GTA has about the population equal to Alberta as a whole...never mind Quebec or BC)... a minority for whoever should win...is the best solution right now. Could be another big waste of taxpayer money in the end... Should be some good mudslinging in the last few days here... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 7:57:47 AM | I watched the clip, you who cannot pick a name.
You find this unusual? That the parties non-con across the nation are starting to stand behind one party that is not Conservative? People of Canada from coast to coast recognize the dammage the Cons have done so far and what they could continue to to our nation. It's been a weakening point of all parties, this habit of having small offshoots and parties that run in federal politics but do not offer national coverage for their parties. They take votes away from the larger parties, yes. That is exactly what they aim to do. By claiming sections of the vote, they help to ensure the likelyhood of a majority win just go harder. So, now, when it's time to get a party out of there, they are ceding their party status and encouraging people to vote ABC, Anything But Conservative. No news there.
Otherwise, what? Are you talking about the difficulty understanding the question from the reporter? If so, I'd love to have a conversation in French with you after depriving you of sleep for a month. Really, I would. It's a bilingual country, you learned one primary and one secondary in school. So you should be good to go, right? Somehow, I believe a stronger understanding of a second language was demonstrated there than what most of English Canada could produce.
It is a good example of how low the conservative supporters will stoop, however. Hapro's no treat to listen to in the french language. I somehow don't see the French news crews jumping all over a simple misunderstood question that the English side makes, so why would the English do so? Is it a question of the fear that Conservative supporters have or a question of intollerance for anyone who has learned english as a second language. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 8:36:06 AM | Well, ________, I watched the clip. I feel bad for him. The campaign trail is long and difficult and he, as well as every other candidate, must be exhausted by this point. Throw in the language barrier and at times you will have misunderstandings. I really don't see a need to make a big deal of that.
That being said, I'm still not voting for him. No, just because I'm in Alberta does not mean I'm voting Conservative either. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 8:44:38 AM | I watched an interview with Dion and he stated that he has a hearing impairment. Add that to the language difference and no wonder he has a problem with interviews and debates.
Everyone in Alberta votes Conservative anyways
There's something about sweeping statements... I can understand feeling defeated about the outcome of the election but try to be more realistic. Most people will no doubt vote Tory in Alberta, but not all... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 9:39:41 AM | I watched the clip...how could he answer such a question...even in English it's an absurd obtuse question.
"If you were Prime Minister today..." (implying you had been Prime Minister for a term or more) well if he was Prime Minister today, what guarantee is there that Canadians would be under similar threat of such a backlash due to an American market crash as his financial policies might be substantially different than a Harper government and had been for some time.
If you could "become" Prime Minister today... that's a question that can have an answer given to it correctly.
It's a matter of grammar, phrasing and the clumsy construction of the journalist...wait, a journalist that is only used to constructing a phrase at a grade school level??? What a twist!
The spin given after by the Conservative toady afterward was just disgusting.
And I will definitely not be voting Conservative... we need to get Rahim Jaffer out of our riding so we can get an MP in who doesn't get people to impersonate him during interviews or flip off the media to go moonlight for the family business instead of the business of government. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 2:15:53 PM | He didn't HAVE an answer -- it wasn't language -- maybe some a small percentage on the first try -- or deafness -- after all it was a one-on-one situation in a quiet room set up for doing an interview....... And it wasn't just being tired out -- but leading a country can be an exhausting job too!!!!!!
He tried to twist the question to the answer he wanted to give -- and then believed he had changed the question by the end of it -- and rambled off his stock reply with little or no sincerity -- and it was a very clear I'd say almost a cliché-simple question.... It's the type of question you get in scrums as "slow-pitch" -- if a small town mayor had performed at that level it would be surprising -- never mind someone expecting to become the leader of a mostly English speaking nation.
How many tries do you get in a job interview... I am used to getting one if I am lucky. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 3:32:25 PM | Canada is no longer a 'mostly English speaking nation". We're just not. What's our population 30 million? I'm willing to bet that half the population of Canada doesn't speak English as their first language. Between the new immigrants and the province of Quebec and large parts of NS, NB...we *may* just be a tad over the half way mark.
Frankly, Stephan Dion scares me less than Jake Layton or Steven Harper *shudder*.
And I shouldn't have to vote for the one that scares me less...there should be a candidate that I can fully endorse. Sadly...Canada lacks that for me. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 7:02:29 PM | | I'd agree that our choices suck more than at any point I can remember. It is too bad that there weren't a "none of the above" box where if "none" were to win, all people would have to step down and leave politics, clearing the way for new choices. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/10/2008 8:53:09 PM | "Are you talking about the difficulty understanding the question from the reporter? If so, I'd love to have a conversation in French with you after depriving you of sleep for a month."
Well, BOO-F*CKING-HOO. What, little baby Dion cannot operate without having his nappy-poo? Or is it that HE is the ONLY ONE deprived of sleep on the campaign trail. I've heard excuses before, that this is really pathetic. Heaven help us if a world-wide tragedy happens and little Dion needs his nap so he can fully understand simple questions or try to attempt making world-changing decisions.
It was a question put before him that even HE understood after the second time, and even REPEATED it back to the reporter. He KNEW what the hell was being asked. IT WAS SIMPLE PEOPLE...what would Dion do about the economy if he were Prime minister TODAY? Chrissakes, how the f*ck hard is it to answer that? I suppose it is hard IF HE DIDN'T HAVE A F*CKING CLUE. He never DID answer it.
"even in English it's an absurd obtuse question."
"It's a matter of grammar, phrasing and the clumsy construction of the journalist...wait, a journalist that is only used to constructing a phrase at a grade school level??? "
Holy sh!t dude...then go the f*ck back to school. If the federal leader of the Liberals cannot answer a SIMPLE question (even I understood what the reporter was asking)put before him 3 times, a phrase that is at a "grade school level", as you put it, you actually think he is world leader material? Gimme a f*cking break...
ok...ranting done... | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 1:26:21 AM |
Holy sh!t dude...then go the f*ck back to school. If the federal leader of the Liberals cannot answer a SIMPLE question (even I understood what the reporter was asking)put before him 3 times, a phrase that is at a "grade school level", as you put it, you actually think he is world leader material? Gimme a f*cking break...
He asked for clarification back at the journalist who was obviously unwilling to give it because A) he wanted a gotcha answer or B) was too stupid or obtuse to realize that what he had asked in English was not a clear question for anyone with only an academic and not an idiomatic education in English.
Are you a foreign language speaker who has come to learn English as a second language?
Do you know anyone who is? Do you realize how awkward English is at an idiomatic level? If not then I'm afraid your ignorance is showing - it is an extremely awkward language for those of us who are aware of the construction of language at the level of linguistics and for foreign speakers approaching English.
The question he asked was only clear if he meant either "if you could become Prime Minister today" or "If you were Prime Minister already." Those are two separate sets of conditions with two separate sets of outcomes and situations... of course his answer will be cautious and guarded... that's a duh. And yes compared to a sniveling little parasite like Steven Harper who takes his marching orders from corporatists and Bay Street, Stephan Dion is a statesman extraordinaire. I don't begrudge him that simply because his idiomatic command of English is not up to par. English is as languages go, frankly, the Freddy Krueger of languages - the **stard son of a 1000 maniacs. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 2:26:04 AM | | All I have to say to Papa is that, after providing the proofs you asked for to back my position, if all you have to go on is a misunderstood question, then there's just no point in discussing it with you. I only hope the rest of Canada is a little more selective in what reasons they choose to either vote for or vote against a party, no matter what they choose to vote. Otherwise, we're in serious trouble with the continuation of the downslide Canada's been in for the last few years rather than someone trying to mop up the mess and get things back on track for the country. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 5:48:35 AM | 14 yr old murderers should be in prison for life.
My 3 yr old knows right from wrong, so should every 14 yr old in this country.
Gays shouldn't be allowed to marry
they can have unions.
Set elections were for majority governments.
Harper didn't have a majority
GST reduction
Did it!
More money for families with kids *daycare*
Did it
Money for families with children in sport
Did it
Encourage people to take the bus more.
DID IT
He gives tax credits for people buying monthly or longer term bus passes. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 6:50:53 AM | 14 yr old murderers should be in prison for life.
My 3 yr old knows right from wrong, so should every 14 yr old in this country.
Will he care when he's 14? We can only hope.
Gays shouldn't be allowed to marry
they can have unions.
Opinions are nice. Rights are rights. If you are going to go according to the bible, then people shouldn't be married at all, they should be procreating. It wasn't until the martyred status of St.Valentine that the church recognized the public outcry for marriage and started allowing the institute of marriage. St. Valentine was killed specifically for performing marriages against the will of the church.
Set elections were for majority governments.
Harper didn't have a majority
Instituted by Harper knowing the rules wouldn't apply to him. Nice.
Money for families with children in sport
Did it
In the form of a tax credit that is applied at income tax time, so only the families who can afford it in the first place can take advantage of it. Low income families cannot afford the out of pocket expense to begin with so it only applies to middle and higher income families.
Now, how about the rest of the major issues that are being walked all over? And if you are asking what, go back and review the thread.
Add to it Harper's lack of recognizing that this country will be affected by the financial turmoil in the world, that his actions toward the banks and mortgages was ordered by the G8 summit, not his own ideals, to free up money from the banks so that they could then use the freed up money to help failing industry in the country.
Add to it the fact that he had no clue as to what his government is spending to keep Afganistan going. And the fact that he's continued a state of war when Canada has a history as a peace keeping nation, not a warmongering one. Russia gave up after twenty-some years. What makes him think a different force would have any different result? So, he's continuing to kill off our soldiers in a war that cannot be won while paying to do so and had no idea of the cost to do so.
His policies, actions and statements show he is out of touch with the rights of Canadians, the will of Canadians and the realities Canadians face long term. The only way he will win is because all of our options are not the greatest. Even his own party's faith in him has been dropping and if he loses, he will in all likelyhood be replaced by his own party. Should that not tell you something as well? | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 7:05:09 AM |
His policies, actions and statements show he is out of touch with the rights of Canadians, the will of Canadians and the realities Canadians face long term. The only way he will win is because all of our options are not the greatest.
Pretty sad.
Its a shame that the Conservatives will possibly win.... just because they're lesser of all evils.
I for one will make sure that my one lil' vote is cast, I haven't decided just WHO will get it. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 7:08:20 AM | Ug, and I thought forums would be a cure for insomnia. So, Dion can't speak either official language and that's not a big deal? Of course learning a second language is difficult but really, we're totally justified in expecting a perfect command of English from someone who's going to represent us internationally. At the very least I think he understood enough of the question to fudge something better than "badup badup badup...that's all folks!". And that's not even the major point here. The Libs made a deal with CTV to keep that bit off the air and that doesn't strike anybody as being a bit scummy. Everybody is jumping on Harper for being a control freak and muzzling his stupider candidates when there are deals being struck between the Libs and federally funded media corps? Hmmm. Sounds familiar.
And yeah, English is very idiomatic. But the question Dion was asked had nothing to do with idioms. It's a hypothetical conditional phrase and the grammar in French is exactly the same. Harper still takes French lessons. Maybe Dion and Harper could do a language exchange twice a week. Or maybe we should switch to Esparanto and then everyone would be equally ignorant.
I don't care who anyone votes for, but I think it's important to get past the mud slinging and understand what each party is telling you. Together, the Libs and the NDP are promising over 120 billion in spending programs. Wacky Jack (who's Jake Layton?) is going to raise corporate tax to get it and Dion is going to carbon tax at the point of production (essentially corporations but deferable to everyone) to get it. If you think that's going to work, then vote away. Keep in mind they couldn't even operate a gun registry without spending a billion dollars. Of course that's not the only issue (keep your hands off my body!) But it's one that will effect everyone. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 8:50:58 AM | Marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman.
Nothing else is a marriage.
Call it a union, call it a joke!
But it is not a marriage!
There are plenty of programs to help low income families get into sport.
Just because some don't use those options is their personal choice/laziness!
It wasnt harper who forced idiotic Canadians to pay 400-500-600-700-800-900-1million dollars for homes that arent worth it.
It was a personal choice! They should not be bailing out the banks. Nor should they bail out those people that did that.
They have been helping industry. But no man or woman is worth $37.50/hr to push a button in a union job for ford's, chrysler or gm.
I love knowing my sister has had to learn to work for a living, instead of living like a union queen making huge money for piddly work! Her husband and her went from an income of $170 000 down to $80 000 and think the world has come to an end!
boo hooo hooo!
But it was harper's government who is paying to send her back to university to get a degree.(oh yeah she pays nothing towards her re education)
Health care is improving, wait times are getting shorter.
Taxes have come down
The war in afganistan is something that the Liberals put us in. If I recall the liberals sent our soldiers in the wrong colour camo, under equipped. Harper and team have done their best to equip the military
It was the Libs who bough defunct subs which killed cdn soldier
It was the Libs who put in an over cost gun registy
It was the Libs who funnelled 100's millions to their friends.
It was the Libs who cut programs every which way
Dion has time and time again proven his lack of worth as a leader
Anyone from Ontario originally will recall the Rae days! So that eliminates the NDP
Greens are clueless as to anything! Elizabeth May is nothing more than a whiner!
The other parties listen below don't have a clue.
* Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada
* Bloc Québécois - only working towards destroying canada
* Canadian Action Party
* Christian Heritage Party of Canada -
* Communist Party of Canada
* First Peoples National Party of Canada
* Libertarian Party of Canada
* Marijuana Party
* Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada
* neorhino.ca
* Newfoundland and Labrador First Party
* People's Political Power Party of Canada
* Progressive Canadian Party
* Western Block Party
* Work Less Party
Guess that leaves Harper and Only Harper to lead Canada. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 11:06:42 AM |
The Libs made a deal with CTV to keep that bit off the air and that doesn't strike anybody as being a bit scummy.
Well obviously they didn't "make a deal" as it wasn't a live broadcast and any person can request such a thing and hope to have it met during a taped interview...but obviously the request wasn't met as it showed up anyway on Mike Duffy after being leaked.
As if anyone else wouldn't do their best to make such a taped interview appear their best?
I'm going to go with "tired" on this one. I don't think Dion is any better a candidate. I have always felt that he was singularly unelectable for the Liberals....but this whole thing is a tempest in a teapot and portraying it as something "conspiratorial" is just the province of the moonbats.
Together, the Libs and the NDP are promising over 120 billion in spending programs.
They will not be forming a coalition running simultaneous platforms will they? If so, that number doesn't really mean much So what does each parties platform suggest in spending and how does that compare to the total of the Conservatives...that might be a more meaningful comparison. How much money by way of tax breaks goes from to the individual or to the corporations and banks from each parties platform? That might be another more meaningful breakdown.
If you think that's going to work, then vote away. Keep in mind they couldn't even operate a gun registry without spending a billion dollars.
No matter who attempted to run a gun registry at that point if they had attempted to use computer based businesses, it was at the height of the expense for such before the bottom began to drop out of the dot com market and the Liberals were paying a premium price for computer consultation and systems...it was foolish but any fool would have gone down that road at that time. Frankly no one should have done it...it was an urbanite knee jerk reaction to controlling gun related crime and money to law enforcement rather than redundancy to a gun registry should have been the solution..IMHO.
The war in afganistan is something that the Liberals put us in.
For the record, to put a nail in the coffin of this mindless comment, our partnership as a member of the NATO alliance put us in Afghanistan. We were fulfilling our responsibilities as an ally state of NATO.
If Harper and the Tories were in power during September 11, 2001, his statements as a member of the opposition make it quite clear that at that time he would have had little problem putting our soldiers in harms way in Iraq, something he now admits would have been a grievous error...but at the time would have been all for. So please, lose the jingoist BS that only the Tories love the country and wrap themselves in the Canadian flag...it's devisive, it's ugly, it's bullsh1t and it's a lie. Besides, every political party should be allowed the chance to screw this country up at least once. The Tories and the Liberals have been at it for 130 years, I say its time for a change.
Gays shouldn't be allowed to marry
they can have unions.
Yeah and mouth-breathing bigots shouldn't be allowed to walk about in public without their keepers holding their leashes either but we can't have everything...I just hope that when they get too close to electronic media devices, that someone will have the good sense to tase them before they run amok. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 11:27:08 AM | Every time I read a Conservative 'reason' or 'logic' here to vote Conservative... it makes voting for ANY of the other parties running in Canada that much easier.
A trade pact with Europe...following the NAFTA pattern.... would be another crush to the already waning quality of life Canadians have. Scary stuff. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 11:40:10 AM | I sure hope that lots of people are reading this thread before they vote on Tuesday.
My biggest question for Harper would be:"How can you call an election without a platform?!" Obviously, he felt he could coast to another win, but circumstances intervened and so he presents a platform in the last week-after the advance polls!!! | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 11:49:41 AM | here's a little something I stumbled across...made by an Albertan...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkPLzJdvkz0
short...but yet strong!! | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 12:08:58 PM |
Every time I read a Conservative 'reason' or 'logic' here to vote Conservative... it makes voting for ANY of the other parties running in Canada that much easier.
Amen!
The Tories and the Liberals have been at it for 130 years, I say its time for a change.
As per usual I agree with your political posts and I totally think its time for another party to have a stab at running this country.
Gays shouldn't be allowed to marry
they can have unions.
Sometimes I wonder what century some people live in. Everyone should have the same rights and thankfully many others see it that way. It shouldn't matter who you love or what sex they are. Who's business is it anyway how others live their lives. Try focusing on your own. Or maybe it's just jealousy that guides such narrow minded views.....over the fact that gays and lesbians can find love and happiness in same sex marriages. Which is exactly what it is here in Canada, a marriage, and hopefully always will be.
I could easily say that obese people should have to pay health care premiums or more premiums as they are the ones that tax the health care system, but I won't go there as that is a right they have that they share with everyone and that is just an opinion. Gays and lesbians have every right to have the same rights as breeders. | |
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| Who's following the Election?
Posted: 10/11/2008 12:19:22 PM | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ef5wlCeHTI
This will take you to his other link to describe strategic voting at "Anything But Harper"... informative and amusing.
The Tory plan to "privatize" and "small government" is indeed all about lining the pockets of "Big Corp" and widening the growing gap between have and have not in this country, never mind the gap between have and have not abroad. Our lifestyle here is only sustainable because of corporate greed and turning the bulk of the worlds population into indentured slaves out of some D1ckensian workhouse.
How much is your loaf of bread really worth? Your gallon of milk? If you had to pay the real, unsubsidized fair market price for your food, how long do you think you would put up with real laissez faire capitalism before you would riot in the streets for your food? So market controls ARE ok so long as it's just benefiting you? What about utility deregulation as the video suggests? That was an Alberta Tory project under Ralph Klien's watch where the most resource rich province cannot regulate its own utilities (???) and flings the door wide open to corporate weasels and lets the "industry regulate itself to (ha) benefit the consumer" which it does...straight to debtors prison. All because the Tories wanted to reduce the size of government (??????) How did this help anyone but the Utility companies to our wallets?
I see a poster complaining about "unions" but for the existence of which in this country, they too would have been working slaves wages.
I'm sure as good Bible believers, the Tories will just quote the good book and say "The poor we will always have with us" and then laugh themselves to sleep on a big pile of money.
Don't forget this last one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgJHZN6F4bo a handy retrospective of the other zingers on Tories c0ckups before we go to vote in this illegally called Election.
Yeah you heard me. Illegally called. Under a law proposed by - dun dun dun - Mr. Law and Order himself, Steven Harper. *boggle* | |
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