tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post7102897566401266819..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: The Emphasis On "Team"Steve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-13133766409046581932008-06-02T10:23:00.000-04:002008-06-02T10:23:00.000-04:00Looks like ruralsandi scooped the former NDP Leade...Looks like ruralsandi scooped the former NDP Leader on a Liblog ...<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1059591.html" REL="nofollow">Alexa to leave federal politics</A><BR/><BR/>(link will probably only be good for 7 days)The Pundits' Guidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14538508466559680720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-56827266254779509182008-06-01T16:15:00.000-04:002008-06-01T16:15:00.000-04:00Yawn.And I thought the left had no sense of humour...<I>Yawn.</I><BR/><BR/>And I thought the left had no sense of humour.<BR/><BR/>Desperate times.Möbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851148006420274055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-65311797973543617222008-06-01T11:43:00.000-04:002008-06-01T11:43:00.000-04:00I am confident Harper has policies he will hang on...I am confident Harper has policies he will hang onto until the election. He needs to run on something, and good government is not it.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112657859825911939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-34394939737312250342008-06-01T11:31:00.000-04:002008-06-01T11:31:00.000-04:00I wouldn't put it past Harper to have some (secret...I wouldn't put it past Harper to have some (secret) policies he's saving "just in case". I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to opposition parties to believe there's nothing there.<BR/><BR/>The Liberals could stress the amount of talent and would have no problems filling the cabinet positions at all - but not say who in what position.RuralSandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09552973218865121867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-86488974962408090832008-05-31T23:19:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:19:00.000-04:00"Harper's in the midst of a cabinet shift and poli..."Harper's in the midst of a cabinet shift and policy paucity."<BR/><BR/>While the summer might allow Dion and the Liberals time to get their message out, it doesn't happen in isolation, the Conservatives can also retool and come up with some new policy. In some ways, it's hard to imagine the government going through a tougher patch, then they have the last couple of months. I try to think of it from the Con side, when Parliament shuts down for the summer, there will be relief, which actually speaks volumes.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-52082473986491770382008-05-31T22:25:00.000-04:002008-05-31T22:25:00.000-04:00knb,Monday's main agenda in Parliament is movement...knb,<BR/><BR/>Monday's main agenda in Parliament is movement towards Final Reading of the budget, which includes the contentious immigration reforms. My local MP will support a filibuster, but he is an NDPer anyway. In fact, I expect the NDP to start a filibuster soon.<BR/><BR/>Also note that I expect Harper to shut down Parliament between now and June 20 to avoid any further confidence motions. He will also not recall Parliament until after the Conservative policy convention, knowing full well the House will fall immediately after the Fall Throne Speech. The Cons expect some damage for doing this, but they have come into the realization that the Government cannot limp until Fall 2009.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-68846407904264528762008-05-31T21:33:00.000-04:002008-05-31T21:33:00.000-04:00mushroom, well, maybe we should push that. We sti...mushroom, well, maybe we should push that. We still have Sunday. <BR/><BR/>I'm serious here. I think you're right in terms of a filibuster. I fear Lib's would be loathe to do that, lest they be compared to the Con's, but it would show strength.<BR/><BR/>All in favour, write your MP tonight and tomorrow.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-49559377736095243202008-05-31T20:47:00.000-04:002008-05-31T20:47:00.000-04:00Doves have claws too...not talons perhaps but the ...Doves have claws too...not talons perhaps but the older we grow, the tougher they get.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, if we could do this on Monday it would be brilliant.<BR/><BR/>I too doubt it will happen, but I think we might be missing something here.<BR/><BR/>Harper's in the midst of a cabinet shift and policy paucity. <BR/><BR/>I think it could work.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-4760821855888136502008-05-31T20:08:00.000-04:002008-05-31T20:08:00.000-04:00"Can we get this in place for Monday?"knb,The team..."Can we get this in place for Monday?"<BR/><BR/>knb,<BR/><BR/>The team is already in place. You can start paralyzing the House on Monday through filibustering. Something the Grits aren't even thinking of starting at this moment :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-80178247356925764572008-05-31T19:02:00.000-04:002008-05-31T19:02:00.000-04:00knbYou hawk you ;) It is a good time, when you co...knb<BR/><BR/>You hawk you ;) It is a good time, when you consider the inner circle is in flux, they don't expect an election. Truthfully, I've just resigned myself to the fall, but what you're saying is intriguing.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-25710323361458114932008-05-31T18:59:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:59:00.000-04:00Steve: Huh? Surely, you can come up with something...Steve: <I>Huh? Surely, you can come up with something better than that. Why wouldn't the media seek out others, they do it EVERYDAY now.</I><BR/><BR/>Precisely. I'm sure they are chomping at the bit to get something, anything to report on.<BR/><BR/>So my question to you is this. Can we get this in place for Monday?<BR/><BR/>I know the answer of course, but there is something in me that would love to take them down then. Harper's off his game and I'm not sure now is not a good time to go.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291881352139075405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-52853830396429311702008-05-31T18:57:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:57:00.000-04:00"I love that Volpe/Coderre tag-team!"Yawn."I love that Volpe/Coderre tag-team!"<BR/><BR/>Yawn.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-71606072687739837412008-05-31T18:48:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:48:00.000-04:00I've got another angle on Jurist's question: "Isn'...I've got another angle on Jurist's question: "Isn't the converse also true though? If you name a cabinet-in-waiting in advance, then every voters in every riding whose candidate doesn't make the cut will rightly perceive that they're going to have no say."<BR/><BR/>Good point. But in my riding, the Liberal candidate is one I'd prefer to see out of politics altogether. I'll probably vote strategically, for him, just to make sure the Cons don't get the seat, but it will be a nose-holding exercise.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if I knew that a Liberal win would put certain <I>other</I> better candidates into Cabinet, I could vote for him with less revulsion and more enthusiasm. <BR/><BR/>So there's another up-side.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-67640569537872561732008-05-31T18:45:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:45:00.000-04:00I love that Volpe/Coderre tag-team!I love that Volpe/Coderre tag-team!Möbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851148006420274055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-84312438752768424702008-05-31T18:38:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:38:00.000-04:00"You guys are just going to irritate the media, if..."You guys are just going to irritate the media, if you change the rules they are used to."<BR/><BR/>Huh? Surely, you can come up with something better than that. Why wouldn't the media seek out others, they do it EVERYDAY now.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-2374614686765153362008-05-31T18:13:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:13:00.000-04:00Maybe the Grits should set these debates rule come...Maybe the Grits should set these debates rule come election time and put less emphasis on Dion.<BR/><BR/>Emerson v. Rae on Foreign Affairs.<BR/><BR/>Martha v. Flaherty on Finance.<BR/><BR/>Wilfert v. MacKay on Defence.<BR/><BR/>McGuinty v. Baird on the Environment.<BR/><BR/>Forget about inviting Layton and Duceppe to the televised debates. They can't form government.<BR/><BR/>The thing about this concept is will Harper let his ministers go into a CBC Town Hall meeting and embarrass themselves? Or are we changing the debate rules to reflect the leadership polls?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-60204757977116721702008-05-31T18:07:00.000-04:002008-05-31T18:07:00.000-04:00Gary Doer is okay, but he does cut corporate taxes...Gary Doer is okay, but he does cut corporate taxes - not a thing Layton likes.<BR/><BR/>Didn't the NDP have problems in BC?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-51684173080537084462008-05-31T17:34:00.001-04:002008-05-31T17:34:00.001-04:00Okay, how is this going to work in practice, over ...Okay, how is this going to work in practice, over a 36 day campaign ?<BR/><BR/>The media will be on Dion's campaign plane/bus, following him along from place to place. The media will expect Dion to make policy announcements, hold daily press conferences, hold impromptu scrums (to react to events unfolding elsewhere), give stump speeches, and the like. <BR/><BR/>Dion will be the go to guy for whatever is happening during the campaign. The media will not try and track down Ignatieff/Rae/whoever for a reaction. It's too much trouble for them. <BR/><BR/>Unless you guys have Ignatieff and a few others tagging along with Dion ? But the optics of that are questionable. <BR/><BR/>You guys are just going to irritate the media, if you change the rules they are used to.Calgary Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14036174847335286409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-82255789120137558142008-05-31T17:34:00.000-04:002008-05-31T17:34:00.000-04:00We couldn't afford an NDP GOVT - TOO EXPENSIVE. We...We couldn't afford an NDP GOVT - TOO EXPENSIVE. Well, considering it was two NDP govts - provincially (with the exception of the Bob Rae Ont govt)- that were the first to get out of deficit (even before the fed lib govt) in the mid 90s, one should base their conclusions on FACT, rather than fantasy, and drinking their party's koolade. <BR/>Them are the facts, mame!susansmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02573558646874765432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-48299513144103102682008-05-31T16:24:00.000-04:002008-05-31T16:24:00.000-04:00McDonough must have changed her mind because I saw...McDonough must have changed her mind because I saw her interviewed by Katherine Clark on CPAC just a couple of months ago and she said she was going to retire and spend more time with her kids/grandkids.<BR/><BR/>Layton must have talked her into staying.<BR/><BR/>The so-called vast number of Liberals retiring - just take a look at their ages - late 60's most of them. Doesn't mean a thing. They realize it's time for new blood.<BR/><BR/>The "only" two NDP's I respect are Blaikie and Comartin - the rest are just activists and/or unionists.<BR/><BR/>We couldn't afford an NDP government - triple the taxes probably.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-144900260257601112008-05-31T16:22:00.000-04:002008-05-31T16:22:00.000-04:00" How would you attract more stars to the party, i..." How would you attract more stars to the party, if you've already decided on your cabinet?"<BR/><BR/>That could cut both ways, you could attract star candidates if you told them they would have a portfolio.<BR/><BR/><BR/>jurist<BR/><BR/>"Isn't the converse also true though? If you name a cabinet-in-waiting in advance, then every voters in every riding whose candidate doesn't make the cut will rightly perceive that they're going to have no say."<BR/><BR/>That's true. But, if you take that to its final conclusion, then you could argue there is no sense voting for anyone who wouldn't be part of the cabinet, like NDP candidates ;)Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-22247811148962585792008-05-31T15:51:00.000-04:002008-05-31T15:51:00.000-04:00"NDP's Blaikie and McDonough will not be running i..."NDP's Blaikie and McDonough will not be running in the next election - they are retiring."<BR/><BR/>Blaikie is the only member of the current NDP caucus who is retiring (compare that to the vast number of Liberal MPs who are bailing out). MacDonough has already been renominated to run again and she has stated numerous times that she plans to keep running until the day she dies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-26893845932721513632008-05-31T15:15:00.000-04:002008-05-31T15:15:00.000-04:00Far and Wide: Nice idea, with one sticky point: ...Far and Wide: Nice idea, with one sticky point: Elections often identify your superstars. People very often shine on the pulpit, and as a result probably work into a ministerial role. We have so many people who are talents OUTSIDE of political life, that our "cup literally runeth over". <BR/><BR/>With so many potential stars, you want to ensure that they all have a fair shot at becoming ministers in government - and not name the few names that you know in advance. How would you attract more stars to the party, if you've already decided on your cabinet? You would hope that they would still run, but seriously, a real heavy-hitter that deserves a cabinet role (let's hypothetically assume a Danny Williams) would definitely want to know there is a shot. Besides, if any of these "stars" lose, it's quite a laughing matter for the opposition... They would probably target all of them HARD to crumble the whole theory...<BR/><BR/>But... it is a good idea in principle. I think the "critic" route is best. I'm confident these people will step to the forefront on these matters. Besides, the media knows where the stars lie. The Canadian public too...WesternGrithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658358114507615351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-40302166840320740902008-05-31T15:09:00.000-04:002008-05-31T15:09:00.000-04:00MPs outside of Ontario? Are you serious? We have...MPs outside of Ontario? Are you serious? We have Ralph Goodale (MP of the year in 2005/6?). Then their is Ujjal Dosonjh (former BC Premier AND federal cabinet minister). We have a PLETHORA of candidates on the East coast with federal experience (too numerous to name). We also have several stars in the Greater Vancouver area which have been huge talents OUTSIDE of politics (not life-long Conservative back-room hacks like our PM - and that includes the NCC), and have strong provincial and municipal electoral experience.<BR/><BR/>It's no contest. You lose. Keep talking about Mr. Bungles.WesternGrithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658358114507615351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-65827793969237133082008-05-31T15:05:00.000-04:002008-05-31T15:05:00.000-04:00I meant to add to Anon: NDP's Blaikie and McDonou...I meant to add to Anon: NDP's Blaikie and McDonough will not be running in the next election - they are retiring.<BR/><BR/>Besides, the NDP are more like the neighbourhood snoop - they are always snooping like blue haired gossip ladies.RuralSandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09552973218865121867noreply@blogger.com