2004 Democratic Primary

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I was watching a CBC news report and they hit the campaign trail with Mr. Clement. Brampton has been a solid Liberal city for 10 years, really solid, winning by good clean majorities.

I don't know how much you know about Ontario politics, I hope this doesn't sound patronizing, but Clement was the Ontario health minister under Harris and Eves. Now, people on the left know what the Conservatives did in power, under Clement the Ontario healthcare system fell to pieces, he's also seen as a symbol of the Ontario Conservatives who are still hated for their treatment of teachers (education), nurses, and their management of the budget ($5.6 billion deficiet). Clement will lose, by a narrow margin I think, I believe there's a star Liberal canidate here. I'll check.

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Even if you could find a map it would be hard to do anything with it, Canda has such a huge amount of land and such dense areas of population. Toronto seats number the same amount likely in most provinces and they are only a couple blocks. So any riding map would be difficult to fill in.

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The other day I heard about the possiblilty of a Conservative Minority Governement on a radio talk show. With every passing week that seems more and more likely. I'll be frank, the idea of the Conservative-Alliance Party in power in Canada scares me to the bone. I believe that Canada is on the crux of an important era, this is the time before the Baby Boomers retire and place a huge drain on medical resources, if the crisis occurs under the Conservatives then I expect the one response that I've grown to expect from them, "PRIVITIZE NOW!" They'll drop all ties to public healthcare and set up the private care they've always wanted. Healthcare needs reform and investment right now, not cuts and neglect. Vote NDP or Liberal, for the love of god, for the good of the country!

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I suppose "investment" is a code word for "tax increase" in Canada too?

In my opinion htmldon taxes are worth public healthcare, so ya tax increases, for those what are richest and can best afford it. I pretty much agree with the NDP on their platform for taxation www.ndp.ca .

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For the love of God I hope that SES is more accurate. I point out however that the Conservatives winning a Minority Government would likely have to call an election by 2007 so that they could A) thicken up their minority or B) gain the majority. I say this because a minority Conservative government would find it difficult to pass legislation without pandering to the NDP, Bloc or Greens (if there are Greens). Their new grand vision for Canada would be a little difficult to instrument to say the least. After last week's bilingual statements and their Alliance past the Bloc won't be anxious to help them, so I wouldn't bet on Bloc support like many pundits are.

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New SES/CPAC tracking poll:
Lib 36, Con 25, NDP 22

What about the Bloc and Green? 15% Block 2% Green? Do you guys think that the Greens will win any seats at all this election, if so will they get the required seats for party status (3 I think) in your opinion?

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I'm starting to write out a platform for massive Federal election reform in Canada. I don't much care for the US example for voting. The Caucus/Primary system gives me a headache, not to mention that whole elector system. When I finish working out the system reform I might post it here. To be perfectly honest I've never cared who the local canidate was, just the party. Not that it matters, in my riding I don't think the NDP have ever won, which is why reform is needed, so all voices are heard.

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Will the debates be on CSPAN or something?

www.cbc.ca will probably have it on their site.

Global, CTV, CBC CBC Newsworld, CPAC and BBC Canada should all be covering it.

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Hey all,

I don't know how many people here are actually from Canada, but I am.  One of the things that I find most frustrating about our electoral system is that, when voting, I often clash between whether to vote locally and take my MP into consideration, or whether to vote federally and take the party leader into consideration.  For example, last election I hated my Liberal Candidate for MP but loved Chretien.  This election, I love my Liberal Candidate and hate Martin.

Then I started thinking about how I'd vote if our country was like the US and we elected our PM like a President.  Personally, I'd vote for a Liberal MP but Jack Layton (NDP) for Prime Minister.

Anyone else care to voice their opinions?  Or, for those outside of canada, any thoughts on which leader you'd prefer?

I am in Canada. I am a Conservative and will vote Conservative, but I'm not crazy about Harper. I come from the Progressive Conservatives and wasn't too keen on Alliance. I am however glad that the parties merged. It actually gives us a chance!

You poor misguided... Beaver, voting Conservative is a TERRIBLE idea, hopefully the fates will smile upon us and give us a Liberal Minority government, or if worse comes to worse, a Conservative minority.

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You poor misguided... Beaver, voting Conservative is a TERRIBLE idea, hopefully the fates will smile upon us and give us a Liberal Minority government, or if worse comes to worse, a Conservative minority.

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I assume you are an NDP fan. My dad worked for and is good friends with Brian Mulroney so there is absolutely no chance I am switching parties.

Where are you from (Province) and where is your riding?

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You poor misguided... Beaver, voting Conservative is a TERRIBLE idea, hopefully the fates will smile upon us and give us a Liberal Minority government, or if worse comes to worse, a Conservative minority.

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I assume you are an NDP fan. My dad worked for and is good friends with Brian Mulroney so there is absolutely no chance I am switching parties.

Where are you from (Province) and where is your riding?

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I live in Ajax, Ontario. It's a safe Liberal seat

I'm not to far away in Brampton West. Which likely will be won by the Conservatives, Tony Clement is here. You're right, I'm a New Democrat, luckily for us, even if the Conservatives are elected they'll have to water down their agenda for the Bloc, NDP or Liberals to help them pass, and a new election would likely be called by Fall or Winter 2005.

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Tommy Douglas save us all if Harper gets elected. Conservatives have officially overcome Liberals in the Province of Ontario and the NDP keep their gradual growth in the province. In other news, my NDP lawn sign just arrived... to the grumbles of the Conservatives across the street.

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The Alliance wing of the Conservative party, which seems to be dominating has some scary right wing ideas. In time I hope to see Harper's numbers freeze and decline. I doubt that the NDP and LPC would work together, the NDP would likely lose all credibility.

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The Alliance wing of the Conservative party, which seems to be dominating has some scary right wing ideas. In time I hope to see Harper's numbers freeze and decline. I doubt that the NDP and LPC would work together, the NDP would likely lose all credibility.

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Yes, the Alliance wing dominates because they were far larger than PC at the time of the merger. Thier ideas, while I disagree with many of them, are no scarier than the ones put out by the New Democrats, nor are they any more right wing than those put out by the American Republicans.

I know, Republicans scare me too.

I just wanted to say to all those here who are registered voters of the Northeast to consider me for the Governorship, I'm specifically talking to Democrats, since their former canidate Handzus was dropped from the race, he's a good guy and endorsed me. So to Kevinstat and all other Democrats, please vote and consider Siege40 for Governor.

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I know, Republicans scare me too.

I just wanted to say to all those here who are registered voters of the Northeast to consider me for the Governorship, I'm specifically talking to Democrats, since their former canidate Handzus was dropped from the race, he's a good guy and endorsed me. So to Kevinstat and all other Democrats, please vote and consider Siege40 for Governor.

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Republicans don't scare me, but many of them make me very angry(especially Bush).

Can you run in Fantasy Elections as a Canadian, or do you have to pick a state?

I can run since in all technicality I am "in" America.

Just pick a state to be registered in, but you don't have to pick it as an avatar, just makes life easier, go to the Fantasy election section, choose a state, I'd suggest Michigan, New York, Maine, or somewhere in the Northeast, I think Canadians fit in best there. And you don't need a party, just remain independent if you can't pick, but I think PCs in Canada are Democrats in America.

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Sorry htmldon, I'm a little nervous about the election, and all those I want to gather support from have hidden their e-mails. The race is close, so I'm anxious, I know I shouldn't of posted here, but deperate times call for desperate measures.

And Al, if you remember, the Brampton canidate was "parachuted" in to the area. The riding association was imbittered by the disregard for their authority. So they've pulled support and endorsed the NDP. Good luck Kathy Pounder.

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And Al, if you remember, the Brampton canidate was "parachuted" in to the area. The riding association was imbittered by the disregard for their authority. So they've pulled support and endorsed the NDP. Good luck Kathy Pounder.

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Something similer has happend in Niagara Falls: the local MPP (a Grit) turned up at the NDP's nominating thing.

Never heard about that one, but the NDP stock just keeps going up !

So, I've heard that the Conservatives have over taken the Liberals. Looks like a Conservative Minority government. How stable do you think they'll be? I heard that the Bloc won't work with the Conservatives unless they pledge support for Quebec's air industry. So, if they don't get the Bloc, NDP or Liberals on their side, the Conservatives could be in trouble in goverment, but fine in the election.

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Found a great photo on the CBC site:

*tear* A truly great man... *sniffle* If I understood how, I'd put it in my signature, but I'm not very tech. savy.

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Simple:

The code for the picture is: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/images/cp/graveyard_ccf.jpg

Put that between too img tags in your sig

How would I write that, I don't know how to use image tags... *blush*

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Simple:

The code for the picture is: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/images/cp/graveyard_ccf.jpg

Put that between too img tags in your sig

How would I write that, I don't know how to use image tags... *blush*

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<img> </img>

But use [] instead of <>

Thanks a lot Al.

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Layton embarassed himself by talking to much, Martin did better than I expected, Harper came across weak and the scary factor was felt be me and a few people I've talked to, and Duceppe might send a few voters to stick with the Liberals with fear of a Bloc victory.

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The debate and all the recent media attention on Harper is slowing his train of good luck down, in fact a poll showed the Liberals went up a percent or two above the Conservatives. This will be a nail-biter of an election.

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What would the Governor General due in the event of a tie between Liberals and Conservatives?

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LOL! More likely it'll come down to who could make a more stable government, and I think the Liberals might win in that case.

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Libs up by 6%!

Oh, thank Dave, for he must be smiling down upon Canada.

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