Funny how quickly the shenanigans change things around. So I'm thinking spring before we see an Election. There seems to be some concensus that there wouldn't be an election during the Olympics. Not sure why, but there it is.
Lately, the federal conservatives have been getting exposed for their partisan abuses of public events, funding, etc. They've been spotted with Conservative Party logo's on gov't funding novelty cheques. And when the logo isn't on it, the colour scheme is miraculously their party colours. And the signatures are always the nearest conservative.
Also, the bulk of the funding events seem to be in the ridings of Conservative members.
I'm getting jaded, knowing that even though the ethics commissioner has been referred to these events, and even if he can bring himself/herself (who is it these days?) to criticize, nothing will stick on these guys. They could bring out pictures of the whole bunch of them riding orphaned immigrant children like ponies, and the electorate would shrug and ignore it.
Oh well, let's let this stew a bit longer.
Tuesday
Politics Gets More Depressing
Well, it's looking like the Liberals are further messing up the state of their party. Meanwhile a poll suggested last week that the Conservatives are nearing potential majority status.
Mr Ignatief has pulled a Dion-like move with his strategy to not tell anyone his platform details for fear of the Conservatives snagging all his planks, meanwhile petty childishness erodes any firmness to their Quebec numbers.
Meanwhile the NDP are sheepishly hiding due to their support of the Conservative agenda on the last vote, and the Greens are snoozing as well.
I am really truly worried about what would happen to the country if the conservatives got a majority. I would actually start investigating possible other destinations to live. Perhaps somewhere in a UN highly ranked country like Norway or something. I truly think we'd see totalitarian moves to oppress the people, move religious-right policy into place, isolate the media, eliminate public broadcaster, keep most of government out of the public visibility, move the country closer to the US, eliminate the Canadian dollar, make guns wide-open for broad availability, move our incarceration rate up as high as the US and so on. Our treatment of Canadians abroad, our positions in international bodies and our environmental positions have all been eroded to embarrassingly malformed states.
There is absolutely a secret agenda waiting. We see it regularly in the strategy of the PMO to silence their people so that their constantly mouth-occupying feet don't get exposed. Their racism and intolerance would be set free, and their ideology would guide all their paths. They know that the fear-factor has held them back from majority territory, so they've tried to have us forget the crazy stuff they espoused early in their formation.
Even worse, with a majority all of the Bush/Cheney advisors who find themselves impotent in the USA would be quickly employed (some already are) by the Conservatives, and we'd get to experience that regime ourselves. Welcome to 2001.
Ignatief has got to lay open his kimono and make take ownership of his platform. Yes, Harper will steal parts of it, but that won't be hard to prove. In fact, plan on it. Introduce the platform, point out the government's position, and as each plank is stolen be ready to point out that they have done so to prop up their minority.
It sounds like an election has been delayed until at least Q1 of 2010. Let's hope we can find some way to make it an election that makes Canada a better place than a worse one.
Mr Ignatief has pulled a Dion-like move with his strategy to not tell anyone his platform details for fear of the Conservatives snagging all his planks, meanwhile petty childishness erodes any firmness to their Quebec numbers.
Meanwhile the NDP are sheepishly hiding due to their support of the Conservative agenda on the last vote, and the Greens are snoozing as well.
I am really truly worried about what would happen to the country if the conservatives got a majority. I would actually start investigating possible other destinations to live. Perhaps somewhere in a UN highly ranked country like Norway or something. I truly think we'd see totalitarian moves to oppress the people, move religious-right policy into place, isolate the media, eliminate public broadcaster, keep most of government out of the public visibility, move the country closer to the US, eliminate the Canadian dollar, make guns wide-open for broad availability, move our incarceration rate up as high as the US and so on. Our treatment of Canadians abroad, our positions in international bodies and our environmental positions have all been eroded to embarrassingly malformed states.
There is absolutely a secret agenda waiting. We see it regularly in the strategy of the PMO to silence their people so that their constantly mouth-occupying feet don't get exposed. Their racism and intolerance would be set free, and their ideology would guide all their paths. They know that the fear-factor has held them back from majority territory, so they've tried to have us forget the crazy stuff they espoused early in their formation.
Even worse, with a majority all of the Bush/Cheney advisors who find themselves impotent in the USA would be quickly employed (some already are) by the Conservatives, and we'd get to experience that regime ourselves. Welcome to 2001.
Ignatief has got to lay open his kimono and make take ownership of his platform. Yes, Harper will steal parts of it, but that won't be hard to prove. In fact, plan on it. Introduce the platform, point out the government's position, and as each plank is stolen be ready to point out that they have done so to prop up their minority.
It sounds like an election has been delayed until at least Q1 of 2010. Let's hope we can find some way to make it an election that makes Canada a better place than a worse one.
Yes, Seems to be That Time Again
The ducks are being lined up for another election. It seems to be in the cards for this autumn. The deciding factor will be if the NDP decide to use their leverage to advance some of their agenda with the government. I know people will complain, but this is really how the NDP add value to our system. They are not going to get elected in the next decade, surely. I'm a bit doubtful that they will ultimately survive the next few years, with pressure from the greens.
However, their value in the past has been to use what leverage they have to advance items from their platform with the government in power to get change for which they can claim ownership. Hey, it got us medicare didn't it?
Meanwhile, the Liberal party leader Mr. Ignatief seems to be in a decent jumping off spot. The media is kind of getting this wrong, saying, 'oh look he's neck and neck with Harper, what tough times for any chance of a Liberal win.' But in reality, this is his starting position. He's basically been neutral, AND had a negative campaign attack for a few weeks - though I haven't seen that lately.
So as he begins to roll out his platform details, he has the opportunity to build on, or subtract from, this current position. Basically any positive response, and he's in the black.
The Liberals have also managed to test-fly a few items. They haven't got much response to a campaign built on EI reform, so now they're tuning it to address jobless numbers. They need to move forward with an autumn election, because the recession is wrapping up, and they don't want the conservatives - who denied there would even be any downturn at all a year ago - to take credit for this incoming tide.
Two things resonate with me for this coming election. One - leadership: I MUCH more trust a guy who has actually had a job. Seems a minor thing, but look at Mr. Harper who has never really held down a job - he went from school to political backroom activity under Manning, and into eventual political leadership. How does a person like that relate to the process of applying for a position, going to interviews, answering to management hierarchy, getting paycheck (or not). It's a fundamental life-skill thing. And delivering things! He's probably never had to create and deliver something! Ignatief as a journalist and a professor has had to deal with deadlines, delivery and completion of tasks. Man, these are such basic things that we SURELY should have in our leaders.
Add to that the leadership ability on the world stage - who would you want someone who has never travelled anywhere on his own time (post PM-ship doesn't count), or someone who spent decades travelling and reporting on issues around the world. I feel much more comfortable with the global awareness of an Ignatief, than someone who has never been there.
Even when he does travel, Harper cannot seem to figure out such basic things as how to get to a meeting on time. Again - a skill we learn in the workplace, but not having held a job, Harper is habitually late for media events when EVERY other leader in the G20 can manage to pull it off.
So that's the leadership piece.
The second issue for me is respect for the rights of Canadians. There seems to be case after case after case of Canadians abroad who are ignored by our government when they get into difficulty abroad. The most infuriating is the case of an autistic man in Africa who was abandoned for 3 years and STILL isn't able to come home. There is the disturbing element that all the people affected appear to be people of colour.
Add to this the case of Guantanamo detainee Omar Khater. Every rule in the book says that we need to bring this young man home. Regardless of his role in the Afghanistan. I think that our civilization proves itself not in the easy situations but in the difficult situations. Not under idle calm but under stress. We demonstrate our humanity and fundamental principles through how we handle the difficult situations. A minor child involved in a war situation - the UN position on it is clear. The position of the courts is clear. Yet the government continues to appeal court decisions and allows the guy to remain in illegal US detention.
I dislike what the man and his family have espoused and advocated. But we should recognize that as a Canadian he has unalienable rights that we will support. We either have or should have a means for dealing with him here. We can imprison him if necessary, apply judicial process, and restrict his personal freedom in an appropriate way. However, he has an unalienable right to have his government support his return.
There seems to be an innate racism in the Federal Conservative party that pokes it's head out occasionally. Even though their approach has become to never allow anyone except the inner cadre to ever speak to Canadians through the media, it doesn't manage to mask that ugliness.
So those elements- leadership and the rights of Canadians abroad - are big issues for me. I don't know that I will vote for Liberals, but I have to advocate an anyone but Conservatives position.
Independent of those two issues, the other element I touched on there, the isolation of the government from the people is surely something that is not appropriate for a democratic government. Media interviews are almost never granted, and the politicians never speak except in very scripted situations. Can't we get some people in there who can think on their feet, aren't so bigotted and inept that they have to be muzzled?
Bring on the election! We need some change. For once it seems like we're a year behind the US political status. They flushed their right wing wackos last year, we're still stuck with ours.
However, their value in the past has been to use what leverage they have to advance items from their platform with the government in power to get change for which they can claim ownership. Hey, it got us medicare didn't it?
Meanwhile, the Liberal party leader Mr. Ignatief seems to be in a decent jumping off spot. The media is kind of getting this wrong, saying, 'oh look he's neck and neck with Harper, what tough times for any chance of a Liberal win.' But in reality, this is his starting position. He's basically been neutral, AND had a negative campaign attack for a few weeks - though I haven't seen that lately.
So as he begins to roll out his platform details, he has the opportunity to build on, or subtract from, this current position. Basically any positive response, and he's in the black.
The Liberals have also managed to test-fly a few items. They haven't got much response to a campaign built on EI reform, so now they're tuning it to address jobless numbers. They need to move forward with an autumn election, because the recession is wrapping up, and they don't want the conservatives - who denied there would even be any downturn at all a year ago - to take credit for this incoming tide.
Two things resonate with me for this coming election. One - leadership: I MUCH more trust a guy who has actually had a job. Seems a minor thing, but look at Mr. Harper who has never really held down a job - he went from school to political backroom activity under Manning, and into eventual political leadership. How does a person like that relate to the process of applying for a position, going to interviews, answering to management hierarchy, getting paycheck (or not). It's a fundamental life-skill thing. And delivering things! He's probably never had to create and deliver something! Ignatief as a journalist and a professor has had to deal with deadlines, delivery and completion of tasks. Man, these are such basic things that we SURELY should have in our leaders.
Add to that the leadership ability on the world stage - who would you want someone who has never travelled anywhere on his own time (post PM-ship doesn't count), or someone who spent decades travelling and reporting on issues around the world. I feel much more comfortable with the global awareness of an Ignatief, than someone who has never been there.
Even when he does travel, Harper cannot seem to figure out such basic things as how to get to a meeting on time. Again - a skill we learn in the workplace, but not having held a job, Harper is habitually late for media events when EVERY other leader in the G20 can manage to pull it off.
So that's the leadership piece.
The second issue for me is respect for the rights of Canadians. There seems to be case after case after case of Canadians abroad who are ignored by our government when they get into difficulty abroad. The most infuriating is the case of an autistic man in Africa who was abandoned for 3 years and STILL isn't able to come home. There is the disturbing element that all the people affected appear to be people of colour.
Add to this the case of Guantanamo detainee Omar Khater. Every rule in the book says that we need to bring this young man home. Regardless of his role in the Afghanistan. I think that our civilization proves itself not in the easy situations but in the difficult situations. Not under idle calm but under stress. We demonstrate our humanity and fundamental principles through how we handle the difficult situations. A minor child involved in a war situation - the UN position on it is clear. The position of the courts is clear. Yet the government continues to appeal court decisions and allows the guy to remain in illegal US detention.
I dislike what the man and his family have espoused and advocated. But we should recognize that as a Canadian he has unalienable rights that we will support. We either have or should have a means for dealing with him here. We can imprison him if necessary, apply judicial process, and restrict his personal freedom in an appropriate way. However, he has an unalienable right to have his government support his return.
There seems to be an innate racism in the Federal Conservative party that pokes it's head out occasionally. Even though their approach has become to never allow anyone except the inner cadre to ever speak to Canadians through the media, it doesn't manage to mask that ugliness.
So those elements- leadership and the rights of Canadians abroad - are big issues for me. I don't know that I will vote for Liberals, but I have to advocate an anyone but Conservatives position.
Independent of those two issues, the other element I touched on there, the isolation of the government from the people is surely something that is not appropriate for a democratic government. Media interviews are almost never granted, and the politicians never speak except in very scripted situations. Can't we get some people in there who can think on their feet, aren't so bigotted and inept that they have to be muzzled?
Bring on the election! We need some change. For once it seems like we're a year behind the US political status. They flushed their right wing wackos last year, we're still stuck with ours.
Thursday
Autumnal Poll Visit?
The scuttlebutt says an election is looking virtually certain for the Autumn. There is no clear idea yet about which issue Mr. Ignatieff will centre his push around, but it does seem logical that his current position as leader of the liberal party for long enough now to be fresh, yet not spoiled goods means he'll do it.
As well, the Conservatives seem to have made enough recent messes that they will be rather damaged goods the next time around. It's clear their attacks upon Iggy will be based on his career's travels around the globe, and time at Harvard in the US.
It's a bit sad that the argument will carry some weight in some quarters. Just think, a political party, in a climate where the global ecomony and foreign policy issues are at the forefront perhaps more than they have been since WWII is going to make the argument that the other candidate has spent a career travelling and engaged in employment in international culture and issues, while their candidate has rarely been out of the country, and has never held an actual, real 'job.'
What a bizarro-land situation that will be.
Meanwhile the Greens and NDP are looking a bit has been. I would have thought the best option for them would be for the NDP to drop the trade-union focus, and join up with the Greens becoming he "New Green Democrats." or something. Of course that would likely split the left of centre vote, and help out the conservatives, but in terms of their fortunes probably make more sense.
Well still a whole summer to work through. But mark you Calendars for Octoberish I suppose.
As well, the Conservatives seem to have made enough recent messes that they will be rather damaged goods the next time around. It's clear their attacks upon Iggy will be based on his career's travels around the globe, and time at Harvard in the US.
It's a bit sad that the argument will carry some weight in some quarters. Just think, a political party, in a climate where the global ecomony and foreign policy issues are at the forefront perhaps more than they have been since WWII is going to make the argument that the other candidate has spent a career travelling and engaged in employment in international culture and issues, while their candidate has rarely been out of the country, and has never held an actual, real 'job.'
What a bizarro-land situation that will be.
Meanwhile the Greens and NDP are looking a bit has been. I would have thought the best option for them would be for the NDP to drop the trade-union focus, and join up with the Greens becoming he "New Green Democrats." or something. Of course that would likely split the left of centre vote, and help out the conservatives, but in terms of their fortunes probably make more sense.
Well still a whole summer to work through. But mark you Calendars for Octoberish I suppose.
Friday
Making Them Wear It
Ignatief at the helm and the Liberals have approved the "Conservative" budget. I have a hard time finding a slate of policies that would endear me to any party. My morals and common sense tells me that bits of each platform adds up to responsible government. I'm rather surprised though, in the whole budget after the prorogation thing that:
a) Iggy didn't at least suggest a few constructive changes to the budget (spend more on this, less on that)
b) The "we already fixed it last year" conservatives could suddenly become the NDP
c) That Jack Layton isn't playing this a bit more astutely. Read more constructively, less attacky
I'll avoid too much policy picking, as this blog is focussed on the path to election(s). But my preferred play through this whole thing is that Iggy lets it lie enough that the spending gets going and money starts flowing, and the paperwork is in place for the programs, then pulls the plug.
My big concern is that the conservatives will be as lame at actually moving the funds as they have been for $billions announced years ago for city infrastructure funding that have barely moved.
So that next election, or movement to a much needed coalition is still a good 4-6 months away.
a) Iggy didn't at least suggest a few constructive changes to the budget (spend more on this, less on that)
b) The "we already fixed it last year" conservatives could suddenly become the NDP
c) That Jack Layton isn't playing this a bit more astutely. Read more constructively, less attacky
I'll avoid too much policy picking, as this blog is focussed on the path to election(s). But my preferred play through this whole thing is that Iggy lets it lie enough that the spending gets going and money starts flowing, and the paperwork is in place for the programs, then pulls the plug.
My big concern is that the conservatives will be as lame at actually moving the funds as they have been for $billions announced years ago for city infrastructure funding that have barely moved.
So that next election, or movement to a much needed coalition is still a good 4-6 months away.
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