Wow, I missed a lot while I was at sea, didn't I. I don't get any of those references.

That being said, my vote can be bought by any party promising to resurrect the JSS dream. Which pretty much means nobody is going to get my vote.

/navy
//I want new destroyers, not new tankers

Pretty much.

We'll talk about a few issues, have a couple of debates, a few hokey commercials and wrap it up in a month or so with a minority government that will force those idiots to work together to get shiat done.

It'll be over right around when hockey starts.

My take: Harper's going to win a narrow majority, Dion is going to lose the election and his job at the helm of the Natural Ruling Party™, Layton ... well, who cares, and the Greens are going to lose their borrowed seat and fade into the obscurity where they belong.

Prove me wrong, eh?

40below: Harper's going to win a narrow majority

Please gawd no.
Give us another minority government. Make the parties do a little self-examination, do leadership reviews and put up some compelling human beings for us to choose from.

/dreaming

Hey Canada - can we borrow your election for a few months? Ours is getting ridiculous. I promise you can have it back in November.

Thanks,

The USA

Doomed: //I want new destroyers, not new tankers

Yeah, you must have missed that too. You're not getting tankers.

F-bear: Doomed: //I want new destroyers, not new tankers

Yeah, you must have missed that too. You're not getting tankers.

You must have missed the part where I hoped they resurrected the JSS. I know it's dead. Resurrection generally means a return from the dead.

jerry2a: Hey Canada - can we borrow your election for a few months? Ours is getting ridiculous. I promise you can have it back in November.

Thanks,

The USA

We'll be done with it on Oct. 14, then we'll put it up on eBay like that Alaskan government jet.

PC Party of Nova Scotia FTW!

Procedural Texture: 40below: Harper's going to win a narrow majority

Please gawd no.
Give us another minority government. Make the parties do a little self-examination, do leadership reviews and put up some compelling human beings for us to choose from.

/dreaming

Agreed! Please, a minority.

Or an NDP majority :D

/just kidding
//I'm not that delusional
///GO NDP! :D

Doomed: You must have missed the part where I hoped they resurrected the JSS. I know it's dead. Resurrection generally means a return from the dead.

Oops. I knew what a resurrection was, but I was kind of hazy on the JSS part -- you crazy military guys and your acronyms!

40below: We'll be done with it on Oct. 14, then we'll put it up on eBay like that Alaskan government jet.

Can we make a trade? We give you a qualified, conservative VP candidate with executive experience and you give us...I dunno...whatever you got. I'm willing to roll the dice.

My greatest fear is the Conservatives getting a majority.. If they do, we're farked.

And any conservatives reading this, just remember that the current Conservative party is NOT the Progressive Conservative party of old. That party is dead. When you vote conservative, you're voting for the old reform party, which became the Alliance party, and then wiped away the last of the PC party to become the Conservative party of Canada.

40below: My take: Harper's going to win a narrow majority, Dion is going to lose the election and his job at the helm of the Natural Ruling Party™, Layton ... well, who cares, and the Greens are going to lose their borrowed seat and fade into the obscurity where they belong.

Actually if Harper wins a majority it will be because of Layton and the NDP splitting the non-conservative vote. Think about it: Dion and the Liberals really suck right now, but shifting votes from them to the NDP will actually hand many seats over to the Conservatives.

It's a flaw in the system really, we need a good chunk of seats to be based on popular vote.

We could see many ridings like this:

35% conservative, 32.5% liberal, 32.5% NDP

...and the seat goes the right-winger that 65% of the population dislikes the most.

Alacritous: My greatest fear is the Conservatives getting a majority.. If they do, we're farked.

And any conservatives reading this, just remember that the current Conservative party is NOT the Progressive Conservative party of old. That party is dead. When you vote conservative, you're voting for the old reform party, which became the Alliance party, and then wiped away the last of the PC party to become the Conservative party of Canada.

REFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORM PARTY!

Doomed: You must have missed the part where I hoped they resurrected the JSS. I know it's dead. Resurrection generally means a return from the dead.

Oops. I knew what a resurrection was, but I was kind of hazy on the JSS part -- you crazy military guys and your acronyms!

=P JSS=joint support ship='big honkin ship'=glorified tanker with some extra trasport capabilities. It's still basically a tanker.

I read about six months ago the Russians were trying to sell us ships. Oh, please, let that be so, I'd love to crew a surplus Sovremmenny :D

What would be the point of a stealth Muslim if you knew about it? Better practice your Arabic friends

I can't believe I miss Chrétien.

T-Servo: I can't believe I miss Chrétien.

I can't believe you miss the Cretin, either.

I hope that there's essentially no change in the composition of the seats, other than a few here and there changing hands (not enough to give a majority).


Ideally I'd like to see a minority, but the NDP bleed off some seats from the Liberals, embarrassing them and forcing them to find new leadership. I don't want the Conservatives to have free reign over the whole deal.

Oh, I read in the paper today (Edmonton Journal) that there are some experts wondering if Harper is breaking his own law, giving justification for the GG to deny harper's request to dissolve parliament on a whim, forcing him to go to a sitting with the current makeup of parliament and prove that the situation is unworkable.

if that happens, it'll be a HUGE embarrassment for Harper. I already think it's a crock of bullshiat that he's ignoring his own law and forcing an unnecessary election.

Hey Submitter, you forgot Joe Biden.

You want some crazy in this election?

Look to my riding: West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky

Currently sitting MP was elected as a Liberal, was thrown out of the Liberals for...um...."financial improprieties" and has recently found a new home thus becoming Canada's first sitting Green Party MP.

Not that I'm gonna vote for him, but his presence means that the Green Party will be included in debates and (iirc) they get a hell of a lot of federal election money that they've never seen before.

Not that Mr. Wilson is going to get himself re-elected in this riding. He's freakin' crooked and everyone knows it. But it'd be interesting to see if a qualified and not-too-corrupt Green managed to win a seat somewhere due to Mr. Wilson's raising up of the party.

40below: My take: Harper's going to win a narrow majority, Dion is going to lose the election and his job at the helm of the Natural Ruling Party™, Layton ... well, who cares, and the Greens are going to lose their borrowed seat and fade into the obscurity where they belong.

Prove me wrong, eh?

RON PAUL!!1!

/just getting it out of the way

Alaska. Do you guys want it?

Tim Horton 08, eh.

CanadianCommie: I hope that there's essentially no change in the composition of the seats, other than a few here and there changing hands (not enough to give a majority).


Ideally I'd like to see a minority, but the NDP bleed off some seats from the Liberals, embarrassing them and forcing them to find new leadership. I don't want the Conservatives to have free reign over the whole deal.

Oh, I read in the paper today (Edmonton Journal) that there are some experts wondering if Harper is breaking his own law, giving justification for the GG to deny harper's request to dissolve parliament on a whim, forcing him to go to a sitting with the current makeup of parliament and prove that the situation is unworkable.

if that happens, it'll be a HUGE embarrassment for Harper. I already think it's a crock of bullshiat that he's ignoring his own law and forcing an unnecessary election.


I was just about to say that. Isn't the election illegal since he's breaking his own law?

My dad is very anti-NDP, so I grew up with that "influence" , but I honestly don't know enough about the NDP to consider voting for them.

I voted Liberal in the last election, but I'm starting to associate "Liberal" with "scandal", so I don't know if I'd vote for them again. I don't mind Dion, I just wish his accent weren't so heavy (sorry to all you French speakers). I think it makes him a little hard to take seriously for some people.

I don't want to vote Conservative. I like the new age of consent law they passed, but I didn't vote for Harper in the last election because he was trying to get the same-sex marriage law overturned (thankfully he gave up on it after polls revealed the majority of Canadians wanted him to leave it alone).

That leaves the Green party, but to me that's like throwing my vote away. So I don't know if I'll vote in this election or not.

Anyone care to share their thoughts or give me some information you think I should know? (Please be nice!)

aniktwo: Procedural Texture: 40below: Harper's going to win a narrow majority

Please gawd no.
Give us another minority government. Make the parties do a little self-examination, do leadership reviews and put up some compelling human beings for us to choose from.

/dreaming

Agreed! Please, a minority.

Or an NDP majority :D

/just kidding
//I'm not that delusional
///GO NDP! :D

Don't be dumb. The last thing Canada needs is an NDP government. Ten years down the road, that's when we'll want an NDP government - to support all our seniors. Or alternatively, a Conservative government to make sure the old fogeys don't get any of our youthfully earned money.

Now on the other hand, if Layton was the leader of the opposition, that would be simply awesome.
/ His moustache is scary as hell though

RON PAUL, EH!!!1!

/obligatory

haemaker: Alaska. Do you guys want it?

Seriously. It's just sitting there. Has an absentee Governor, even.

"uh, election in October, election in October."
"Again? This stupid country!"

The Conservatives now fill 127 of the 308 seats in Parliament. The Liberals have 95, Bloc Quebecois 48, the New Democrats 30 and the Greens have one seat. Three seats are held by independents, and four are vacant.

Man, five parties and and three members who aren't even in those? You mean they actually have to find common ground with at least one other party to get anything accomplished?

Right on, Canada.

-"and"...

Nickers:
I don't want to vote Conservative. I like the new age of consent law they passed, but I didn't vote for Harper in the last election because he was trying to get the same-sex marriage law overturned (thankfully he gave up on it after polls revealed the majority of Canadians wanted him to leave it alone).


Do you guys really exist up there? Is there actually a country where the vast majority thinks people shouldn't be criminalized or devalued because of who they love? Wow.

Sorry, it's just that we're down here in a land full of mouthbreathers who either don't know or don't mind that their state constitutions are being amended to outlaw same-sex marriage. A country where people actually care about issues that matter is kind of a novel idea, anymore.

Hoopy Frood:
Yeah, we call it "democracy". It's pretty awesome, actually.
It was even more awesome when the "right" vote was split between the PC's and the Reform parties.

But there will be HOPE and CHANGE, right?

I mean those are solid concepts. They really tell you alot about a politicians' views.

Hope and change hope and change hope and change!!!


The stupid suckers eat that right up.

thatvoiceguy: Nickers:
I don't want to vote Conservative. I like the new age of consent law they passed, but I didn't vote for Harper in the last election because he was trying to get the same-sex marriage law overturned (thankfully he gave up on it after polls revealed the majority of Canadians wanted him to leave it alone).


Do you guys really exist up there? Is there actually a country where the vast majority thinks people shouldn't be criminalized or devalued because of who they love? Wow.

Sorry, it's just that we're down here in a land full of mouthbreathers who either don't know or don't mind that their state constitutions are being amended to outlaw same-sex marriage. A country where people actually care about issues that matter is kind of a novel idea, anymore.


Yep! :D I'm the annoying Farker who comes into all the American same-sex threads and brags about how it's been legal in Canada since 2005. And our country hasn't gone to hell in a handbasket or anything.

What's nice about the law is that while it's legal across the country, churches aren't forced to perform same-sex marriages. If a church doesn't want to, then they don't have to. The option is just there for churches (like the Anglican one I grew up in) who do want to perform same-sex marriages.

It's something that makes me proud to be Canadian, that's all. :) We're not perfect up here, but this one law does make me very proud.

I know Harper is wearing a sweatervest in all his new ads, but yet when I watch them I just can't help but think "needs more sweatervest."

Don't tell me I'll actually get to make fun of my own country for once. Yeehaw.

AgentOrangeDrink: I know Harper is wearing a sweatervest in all his new ads, but yet when I watch them I just can't help but think "needs more sweatervest."


Heh, someone should lol-caption a picture of Harper with his sweatervest.


On a side note, I watch that first ad that came out, where all the different people are saying what they like about Harper, and the line with the woman saying how Harper has "strengthened our justice system" makes me want to laugh.

We have a piss poor justice system, and it's embarrassing. Absolutely ridiculous. You can kill someone and you get like, 10 years or less.

Hell, that one chick who participated in the killing of Reena Verk (sp?) years ago is getting a FOURTH trial because a judge overturned her last conviction. For fark's sake, do the farking trial RIGHT and haul her ass to jail for 20 years. Let the family get on with their life and put the biatch where she belongs.


/end rant

So, how's your economy up there? And do you guys get video game releases same time as we USA people or do you need to wait forever for the PAL versions? How about movies? Do nerds have better or worse chances of getting laid?

/Lives In Ohio.
//Practically Canada.
///Lake Effect Snow.

Crude: But there will be HOPE and CHANGE, right?

I mean those are solid concepts. They really tell you alot about a politicians' views.

Hope and change hope and change hope and change!!!


The stupid suckers eat that right up.

I know, right? Suckers. I'm voting for "reform, peace, prosperity" with "a leader I can believe in" for my "country first." Screw empty slogans.

/The change you deserve.

Nickers: We have a piss poor justice system, and it's embarrassing. Absolutely ridiculous. You can kill someone and you get like, 10 years or less.

Or less? Who got less, for 1st or 2nd degree murder? Yes, you can be eligible for parole after 10 years, but that's not a ten year sentence.


...but I didn't vote for Harper in the last election...

Well, no. See, when we vote in Canada, we vote for our local MP - not the head of the party they support. This is not a trivial distinction. Your local MP may cross the floor, among other things. Don't pay so close attention to national politics, look at the guy that you're actually casting your ballot for. You want a guy that's going to represent you and the rest of your riding, in Parliament.
Remember, the PM is just another MP with a few extra powers.
/ Or so it's supposed to be

Ok, whoa whoa whoa. This is political thread about a major, important national election that is about to take place.

And here you guys are, talking rationally, and rather politely, about the history of your parties and the issues.

No one has said "suck it libs", no one is slandering someone in the candidates family, no one is claiming that their party is the party of God and faith, no one has called anyone else an "elitist", and no one has called anyone else a pussy for not supporting a war.

Wow, you Canadians still have a lot to learn.

Harper hate is retarded, he is the only one with the ability to lead a country. I mean...imagine Layton in charge? Yeah, not so much.

Criticize his mistakes, yes, absolutely. Calling him George Bush jr? Come on, I mean you immediately betray your ignorance.

Of course, he looks like a clown when he tries to act like a gentle, friendly warm guy in the ads...god, just give it up. You're an obsessed economic/policy geek who is afraid of us slipping too far to the left. Thats fine, that's why you are there dude.

Prediction:

This election is going to be a referendum on Dion, and end up a strong Conservative minority. Dion gets tossed to the curb, and the next election in a few years is the big show.

Also, I'd love to see the greens make more headway, looks like they could be in the debates for the first time this year. At least they have a vision that includes economics, as opposed to the NDP's decades of emotional platitudes about health care...

organizm:
Wow, you Canadians still have a lot to learn.

Just because Canadian farkers happen to be a decent cross-section doesn't mean the entire country is that great. Go look up Stockwell Day for an extreme example, or even some of the manipulative BS Harper tries to pull.

/yeah I do realize you were being mostly facetious
//tried to be "fair and balanced" by thinking up a loony from a different part of the spectrum, and though I know they exist I couldn't off the top of my head
///PS if you feel liking digging at your brain with a rusty spoon via your ear canal go read the comment boards on political articles at the Globe and Mail website

Also, by the way you're saying things in here I'd imagine that the Canadian definition of "conservative" and "liberal" are very different from ours, being that calling your conservative candidate "George W. Bush" is an insult, and saying your liberal candidate "is no Barack Obama" is also an insult.

Am I right?

Doomed: Wow, I missed a lot while I was at sea, didn't I. I don't get any of those references.

That being said, my vote can be bought by any party promising to resurrect the JSS dream. Which pretty much means nobody is going to get my vote.

/navy
//I want new destroyers, not new tankers

CTI2 here

organizm: Also, by the way you're saying things in here I'd imagine that the Canadian definition of "conservative" and "liberal" are very different from ours, being that calling your conservative candidate "George W. Bush" is an insult, and saying your liberal candidate "is no Barack Obama" is also an insult.

Am I right?

Generally Canadian politics falls to the left of American politics, but in my view both of those examples stem from different reasons than liberal/conservative labels. The association of Harper to Bush comes from a strong backlash from the Canadian left against any policy that is seen as moving towards cultural or economic hegemony of the US over Canada, which are things that Harper seems to have little problem with, and for which he takes some heat for (but also lots of praise from other places).

The "no Barack Obama" insult against Dion is purely to do with the fact that he lacks any strong leadership abilities or charisma, but is instead a rather soft-spoken policy geek. The comparison in this case is entirely about character.

DandamanFL: Hey Submitter, you forgot Joe Biden.

Who?

mister13: Harper hate is retarded, he is the only one with the ability to lead a country. I mean...imagine Layton in charge? Yeah, not so much.

I think I agree with you. Dion is not PM material. Neither is Layton. But this election is going be very interesting to watch. The economy is doing well, the PM hasn't done anything overwhelmingly controversial, the last scandal has had some time to die down.

Not to mention, Alberta, a typically right province, is filled with migrant workers on the oil "fields", from the coasts - which are typically left, the East coast much more than the West. I think 40below called it, up above, though I really hope the NDP get the Opposition.

They seem to be the most inclined to actually work in politics, unlike the Liberals or Conservatives who seem to prefer to dig in their heels and make demands. An NDP Opposition who is willing to compromise to get things done with a Conservative minority government would be awesome.

/ Will be voting Green
// They've been doing kickass things in my riding