I think I should clarify something --- I do want an election -- NOW.
As much as I have been following this (and I admit, it hasn't been with the rapt attention I had during the last session of the House) I have gathered that the opposition doesn't plan to call a confidence vote -- rather they plan to suggest the government commit suicide in January.
I have to say I'm with Martin on this one -- have the guts to call a non-confidence vote and live with a Christmas election or leave it go with Martin making the call in February and live with an election date of March/April.
Yesterday's post (I want an election, but . . . )was written with the understanding that the united opposition still has no plan to call a confidence vote. They are still banking on this wishy-washy un-binding motion. I wrote my post on Thursday -- Why is a corrupt government suddenly a bad thing because I believe that closing parliament with a whimper is the weak plan of an opposition that has less confidence in its own convictions than it does in this sham of a Liberal government -- and that is pathetic.
I DO want an election -- but I want it now.
I don't understand why a Christmas date would upset so many in a secular country like ours. For those of varied religions who celebrate 'Santa Claus day' how can a Christmas election interfere with something that isn't sacred? It's like saying you don't want an election near the time of your family reunion or your wedding anniversary or your great-aunt's birthday bash -- what possible difference could it make?
I'm a practicing Christian, and I'm fine with a date around Christmas because I can walk and chew gum at the same time. I will still go to church every Sunday like always (which leaves me to wonder -- how many of the Liberal politicians complaining about it will attend a church unless there is an election on and people are watching.) I will still teach Sunday School and plan for the Christmas pageant. I will still go to my kids' schools for their 'Winter Concerts' and I will still watch Christmas specials and go shopping. If I happen to run into a politician campaigning -- I'll give him the time of day unless s/he's being obtrusive.
An election can't interfere with a religious holiday simply by existing in the same time-frame.
Those of us who are committed Christians and who are celebrating a sacred holy day will do so, and will not be bothered by an election campaign. Politicians who are committed Christians will continue with their familial and church obligations as they would any other time, and would campaign outside of church or family related celebrations.
I'm sorry I wasn't clear on this earlier. People seem to have inferred that I want to wait until Spring and I can see how it could be read that way by anyone who doesn't have unfettered access to my brain.
I DO want an election -- I want a Christmas election -- which means I want a binding non-confidence vote in which the government is unquestionable toppled.
The opposition must go big, or go home -- any attempts to circumvent a confidence vote to prevent a Christmas election are dangerous.
People want leaders that are prepared to take action -- even unpopular action.
That's my point and that's what I should have been saying all along.
canadianna
20 comments:
I hear you C. - and I wasn't among those who might have misconstrued what you were saying - it's the principle of the thing that matters here. The opposition must show unequivocal resolve - it's no time for Charlie Brown wishy-washiness. It bothers me not a whit to have an election during the Advent/Christmas season - if we're to believe the MSM, there's never a good time for an election anyway, so what, pray tell is the difference? And who knows? Maybe the Prince of Peace's presence, however muted by our secular excesses, will have a salutary effect on people's consciences. One can hope!
Good luck to all in the 'frozen north'! I'm hoping you get what you want. Just make sure whoever you vote for is ready to govern!
I used to want a Republican congress! (frown)
I hear ya, 49erdweet. I'm so ticked at my GOP congressman because he's one of the ones what blocked ANWR drilling for oil. Thing is, he'll still get my vote because his tentative opponent is a far-left lunatic.
C, go get the vote on. And, as I told Les, there's never a good time for a Liberal to want something so SCARY as an election!
Luke -- that's why they have advance polls.
Nadine, where ya been? Missed you. And you may be right about Liberal voters going over to the NDP... which we should wish for because that will pave the way for a CPC minority government!
Bob. Yes. Think of 1957. A Conservative Minority Government.
Followed, once people got used to the idea of a Tory Government, by a massive majority nine months later.
Is history about to repeat itself ?
I guess I would be happy with an early January election tho' similarly I have no problem with a Christmas election. This will not be a meaningless election, no matter what the outcome. If the resultant electoral count is close to the same, this is important to both Alberta and Quebec. Of course, if the government changes, this will be important for Canadians as a whole.
The enthusiasm of Liberal voters may be the key factor on election day. I actually like the tactic of letting the Liberals choose the mechanism of their downfall. If the Liberals want to get their tax cuts in place, all they need to do is accept the mid-February election date and there would be time to pass them.
I love it, Pete.
I too want an election, but I also want a leader that can make TAX CUTS PERMANENT. Can Harper do that? Is he up to the task?
My blog investigates the hypocrisies of the left. I tear 'em a new one daily.
http://canadianliberals.blogspot.com/
Where's John Diefenbaker in your hour of need? If King Arthur will come back to save the Britons why not. Reagan or Lincoln are needed to save the U.S., and as long as I'm dreaming Syl Apps and King Clancy save the Leafs!!
One thing that I have continually noticed is this belief that a Tory government will mean the "re-birth" or "saving" of Canada.
The Liberals have a 2/3 majority in the senate. Anything radical won't clear it. The Tories will be trapped into not veering from the status quo.
maritime liberal, isn't that what Orders in Council are for? And how long could they last doing that before the public revolted?
Besides, do we really expect the Senate to approve a bill on electoral reform that would cause them to *gasp* run for election?
My two cents...
this is an exercise in futility.
Depending on who you talk to the Libs are about 10 points in the lead and people are simply just sick and tired of Harpers lies and are just no longer listening. You every hear the story about the boy who cried wolf??
I'm going to make a prediction....
Wait for it...
ANOTHER LIBERAL MINORITY!!!!!
And do you know who I am going to blame for my wasted time and the millions of taxpayer dollars needlessly spent on an election?
You guessed it, the opposition, and in particular, the one's who introduced the motion.
Do you think I'm going to be the only one??
I bet not!!
Do you think this will help any of them in the polls??
You can figure this one out by yourselves.
People do not like smear campaigns (at least normal people), this is something Harper should have learnt ages ago. The only reason the Conservatives aren't in office now is becuase they can't figure out who to elect as a leader.
Seriously, when someone like Klein comes out and critizises Harper for being to far right, you know it's true.
Conservatives will never have a majority government under him and any minority government he's involved in will fall.
It's the plain, cold, hard truth.
The only party we can even consider close to being "in the middle" is the NDP.
My guess is that the next majority government is going to be that.
Hiya Peg -- I've missed you.
I agree in that I think the Libs will win again, but to suggest that people are going to be mad about an election and the expense is just silly. The average life of a minority government is about 18 months. This government has survived 17 months.
If you resent your tax dollars going to an election, why don't you resent them going into Liberal pockets and bank accounts?
Well, here you go! Let's do what we can!
Hey Canadianna, Missed you too =)
Been pretty busy, haven't really had a chance to blog much.
I do resent my money going into the pockets of the governing party, but lets face it, this isn't the first time and it won't be the last. That's politics. It's a write off, and yes, a big one that shouldn't have happened.
I see this as throwing good money after bad. Not only that, but I think I might actually be more upset if the Liberals win becuase then this whole thing would have been an absolute waste of time and would have accomplished absolutley nothing, except waste more money.
Do you really think the outcome of this election is going to be drastic enough to justify all this?
Beside, Martin was going to call an election after the report. Why not wait till then?
Let me get this one;
Because the whole scandal issue, the oppositions only ammo, would have fizzled out by then.
So no, Jack Layton has NOT made a monority work, and no, Stephen Harper has NOT made a minority work, and no Gilles Ducept has NOT made a minority work. The only one who's been able to get anything out of this is Paul Martin.
So why would someone vote for a party which has refused to make this government work as oppostion and expect them to make it work in office.
Canada is so split right now, and these parties are coming from all different directions, I doubt will see a majority for a while.
Should the Conservatives form the government (it will be a minority, we can all agree on that) do you think they'll table anything more than one party will agree on?
Look at it this way, the Bloq will always be agianst whoever is in power, and the Liberals and NDP have such different platforms from the Conservatives, I doubt they will agree on anything.
So, what really, have are elected representatives accomplished?
We got one, Anna. We'll see what Canadians do with it.
Peg, by my numbers, the cost of the election is far outstripped by the cost of the corruption in the 12 years of Liberal governments in Canada... both in dollars and cents and in the psychological costs to the country. And, beyond SSM, what did this last government really accomplish? A change of government with a CPC minority control would not be expected to accomplish much, true. But a strong package of changes that would boost transparency in government would likely have Bloc and NDP support in many of the particulars. Also, another minority Liberal government -- especially if the party loses seats, which seems quite likely -- would probably set off an intra-party war that would make the slanders coming from the Martin campaign now look like child's play and certainly disrupt the process of governing. Jack Layton has a monstrous opportunity (which I will blog on before the weekend's out... stop by) in this election to establish the NDP as the left-of-centre party of choice. Does he have the will to do it? Does he have the skill to do it? If he can, the Liberal Party as we know it goes to its deathbed. He'll have to lose some of his anti-business attitudes to pull it off, but he has the chance to build a party that has the potential to govern federally.
Hey Bob,
psychological costs to the country? I think that's a bit melodramatic.
as for the Liberals, They have delivered four consecutive surpluses. I mean, after all the money that has supposedly gone into there pockets, they still manage to pull that off? It's makes one think, doesn't it?
The bottom line is, The Liberals have done more for the Canadian economy than any other party has. And even despite the scandal, I still trust the Liberals with the economy of Canada than I do any other party.
See, but that really isn't what this election is about. It's not about the Scandal, or the fact that the House has lost confidence. It is about Four separate parties with for entirely different visions of Canada, and all the scandal did was provide them with a chance to knock the torch out of the Liberals hands.
And before we go on to the whole "Conservatives do no wrong", let's remember Mulroney. Same party, different pile.
I honestly don't see any inter-party war going on. In fact, with exception of the SSM debate, which should be done and finished, Martins Party has backed him unconditionally. Beside, The conservatives have had there trouble with intra-party mud-slinging.
But deathbed? No. The Liberals still have as much support as the Conservatives, and if that is what you see as the Liberals being on their "deathbed" it doesn't fair well for the Conservatives.
But your right, Layton (I think) is the best decision for the left of center voter. However, the NDP haven't changed much since the day, Big on Social Spending, not big on taxes. I see another Trudeau coming around the corner.
I wouldn't count on the Bloq really doing anything that benefits the rest of us. If they do, it's because it benefits them more. The only reason the Bloq was conceived was to get Quebec out of Canada.
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