Like many people, I'm sick of Liberal lies, excuses, utter incompetence, patronage, secrecy, scandalous indifference (to among other things-- veterans who didn't fill out the proper forms and have been unable to collect any benefits for sixty years because they are deemed 'never to have served'), and bribes (with our own money).
An election might rectify things, but I think not. I think they'll get a majority, but that's beside the point.
The 'united opposition' is trying to back Martin against a wall. They are trying to push him into making a mistake, but it's they who have blundered.
Last Spring, I wanted an election. I wanted the Liberals to be wiped off the electoral map.
I still want an election, but there is no momentum for one. The three opposition parties are trying to push a button that disappeared when the summer came.
It's mid-November. The Gomery recommendations are due out in a couple of months. An election will (likely) be called as per Martins grovel/promise.
Greg from Political Staples points to a post from Sinister Thoughts where the timeline Paul Martin has determined for an election is questioned. Should the PM follow through with his plans, it would appear an election would be held during Holy Week, and campaigning would be right through Lent.
These posts are correct when they say that to Christians, this time period is much more important than the Christmas season. Like them, I really wouldn't want an election then, but . . .
This is Paul Martin's call to make -- let him deal with the political fallout. Let him postpone an election until June in order to prevent the fallout from a Holy Week election. Let him break his promises -- but don't make it easy for him to accuse the Conservatives of impatience for power.
There is no compelling reason for the combined opposition parties to push for an election. Much as I want rid of the Liberals, all this posturing benefits them -- not the opposition parties. The Liberals are the government -- in contrast, the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc appear ineffectual and desperate. It's unbecoming.
This is another case of the Conservatives listening to bad advice. The public is not going to perceive them as heros for bringing down the government -- they are going to be seen as petty, vindictive and chomping at the bit to plant themselves on the other side of the House.
I'd like to be wrong about this, but if someone like me, who despises the current government, is frustrated by this inane attempt to force an election call -- think of those people who are not particularly warmed by any of the oppostion parties.
As I wrote in the comments at Greg's place -- The Gomery recommendations come down February 1st. Martin promised an election call within 30 days. He doesn't have to wait thirty days -- he could call it right away and an election could be held the first week of March. Ash Wednesday is February 28th so Lent would have started, but it would be the first week, and not so close to Holy Week.
When an election is so close at hand anyway, the opposition parties actions are unwarrented.
I'm disappointed that the Conservatives haven't taken a leadership role and said, as they should have, that we should wait for Mr. Martin to do the right thing and keep his promise.
If the time-frame within Martin's promise were here and past, I could see the opposition going after him like this -- but now -- it just seems stupid.
canadianna
5 comments:
There is no good time to have an election in a nation overrun by biased Liberal media mouthpieces and trough swilling government dependents and clingons. The more time those deceitful scoundrels have, the more promises they'll make and the more votes they'll buy. Lets just pull the pin and let the chips fall where they may.
I agree that the timing is not ideal. I also agree that sadly...Harper most likely will lose. I pray to God I am wrong.
But...I take solace in a few facts. I do not believe the Liberals would ever call an election until they are high up in the polls. Gomery or no. They might even find a way to stall the final report. They know they can lie and the media will spin things to their favour. They also couldn't care less about Christmas or Easter. As long as they are riding high...they will pull the plug. If they are not, they will always say Canadians do not want an election.
At best, at least this catches them a little off guard before all the bribes come down the pike. Again, I know the odds are against us and the situation is grim...but I do think the longer we wait the worse it gets. Layton on our side (for now?) is actually not a bad thing.
I also take a little solace in the fact...and Martin knows this...if he does not bring home a majority this election...he is gone by spring.
We'll see soon enough.
Indeed, the Liberal$ will likely be given another mandate, probably a majority. Paul's strategy is already clear: paint the Conservatives as right wing extremists, which they aren't; insist that Conservatives have a secret agenda, although Gomery proved it was the Liberal$ that had the secret agenda; and to juxtapose the Conservatives with the separatists, even though it's the Liberal$ that have reawoken the separatist movement.
And yes, the media will ensure the Liberal$ will get away with it. Just now, I saw Nancy Wilson and Susan Bonner make sure the public knew the Liberal$ were ahead in all the polls. No doubt the Liberal$ will get off the hook again with their vote-buying election platform, *cough*, I mean fiscal update. The two of them truly have no sham. I'm willing to go to the polls on Christmas morning!
I think Harper is up for the job and I'm glad they're joining up with the BQ. Quebecers, unlike Ontarians, don't appear to be willing to forgive the criminal Liberal$. But Ontario has more seats and will thus guarantee the Liberal$ more time in office. Why won't Ontarians wake up and see what a precarious state their putting the country in? I won't hold my breath for an answer.
An election or campaign through Lent would have zero repercussions on the electorate, unlike an election through Christmas.
One thing to consider, however, is that postponing an election until 30 days after Gomery releases his report places us in federal budget season and gives Ralph Goodale and the Libs the opportunity to table another elusive, long-term, expense-filled, no-measureable-tax-cut budget with which to buy support. And if the Libs manage to extend the writ date, there is no doubt a succulent budget will be proffered.
Is Christmas the prime time to head to the polls? No. But then neither is March 1, 2006. And neither was June 2005, if you believe the media. (Remember the headlines preceding the last federal election? "Wait for Gomery", etc?) In fact, according to the Liberal-loving media there does not exist a time when the Liberals should be voted out of power.
Which is to say, when you consider all the options, a Christmas election campaign is probably no worse than having one during Spring.
Canadianna, I think I (mostly) agree with you. There was a very good article in today's Toronto Star by Chantal Hebert explaining that this united front is really an admission of weakness on the part of the Conservatives. The article is worth a read, at least I think it is.
Either way Alberta will not tolerate another Liberal victory, whether majority or minority.
Unfortunately Tim, at the federal level, what Alberta tolerates is irrelevant. What matters is what Ontario and Quebec will tolerate. And they have shown that they are perfectly willing to tolerate the Liberals. Mostly because they are afraid of what might happen under a Conservative government.
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