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Topic: conservative strategies - scary stuff
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Red Partisan
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13860
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posted 14 March 2007 02:41 PM
I wonder what these right wing policies the posters on that site want. They don't seem to be too specific.Could they be... Bring back the death penalty? Build more jails? Increase the military? Cut taxes for the rich? Gut the government?
From: Toronto | Registered: Feb 2007
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Red Partisan
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13860
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posted 15 March 2007 07:41 PM
The neo-Liberals were in an expansionist mode before the NDP decided to support Stephen Harper. New money was being made available for all kinds of social priorities.Court Challenges and Status of Women were pretty popular among Liberals across the political spectrum. Instead of whining about open markets and free enterprise, as losers do, the idea was to try to include as many people as possible. Modern business texts extol the benefits of diversity in making decisions, so it makes sense that the Liberals would support programs which increase that diversity.
From: Toronto | Registered: Feb 2007
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Steppenwolf Allende
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 13076
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posted 15 March 2007 08:23 PM
quote: The neo-Liberals were in an expansionist mode before the NDP decided to support Stephen Harper.
And the Neo-Liberals, who are both the Liberals and Conservatives, have always been in consistent Lie Mode. The fact is as a long the Liberals had a majority government, they continued to obediently follow Corporate Canada's dictates and gut and destroy Canada's public infrastructure and sell it off to various elite interests, breaking promise and after promise in election after election, repeatedly sanitized by the Liberal-owned corporate media. It was the one budget in 2005 where they had a minority government that they were forced to compromise with the NDP and re-instate some of what they had previously destroyed in order to get its support. Interesting thing is the Liberals still likely would have had that support if they hadn't been so plagued with scandal after scandal that got so bad no one with even a shred of personal integrity could continue to support them. Have they learned their lesson? Nope. Instead of coming clean and admit what they did for a whole decade was plain wrong, they twist the reality around to actually have the gall to accuse the NDP of "supporting Harper." quote: Court Challenges and Status of Women were pretty popular among Liberals across the political spectrum.
Which is why after a decade with majority governments, they never bothered to restore the cuts to these by the previous Mulroney regime. quote: Instead of whining about open markets and free enterprise, as losers do, the idea was to try to include as many people as possible. Modern business texts extol the benefits of diversity in making decisions, so it makes sense that the Liberals would support programs which increase that diversity.
The fact is, though, they have never supported such diversity or democratic input--neither federally nor provincially. The past 20 years prove it.
From: goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here | Registered: Aug 2006
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unionist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11323
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posted 15 March 2007 08:56 PM
quote: Originally posted by Policywonk:
Which is to say they have never supported the Conservatives on a matter of confidence, unlike the Liberals and BQ.
Which is to say that the NDP has been unable, to date, to influence the legislative agenda of this minority government.
From: Vote QS! | Registered: Dec 2005
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West Coast Lefty
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3697
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posted 15 March 2007 09:22 PM
quote: quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But the NDP hasn't voted with the Conservatives on a single major bill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which is to say that the NDP has been unable, to date, to influence the legislative agenda of this minority government.
Both statements above are factually incorrect. I believe the NDP voted for the Federal Accountability Act, and I'm certain they got over 20 NDP amendments adopted in committee to the FAA. While it doesn't go far enough in transparency and controlling lobbyists, it's a definite improvement from the past. Considering this was the signature legislation of Harper's first year in office, I'd say the FAA is definitely a "major bill" and the NDP had considerable influence on it. Banning all corporate contributions to political parties, creating an independent panel to oversee gov't appointments, etc are good measures the NDP should be proud to have shaped. There are other examples - the decision to tax income trusts was certainly due in part to NDP pressure, Harper has just restored money previously cut to the summer jobs program, the federal funding for homeless programs were renewed, etc. These aren't massive victories but the NDP has managed to punch above its weight with 29 MPs out of 308. Of course, the major test will come with the special committee on the Clean Air Act - if we can get a serious climate change plan out of that process, it will be an historic victory for Jack Layton and the NDP caucus. We'll find out how well they did in the coming weeks.
From: Victoria, B.C. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Boom Boom
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7791
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posted 17 March 2007 07:03 AM
Meanwhile, Conservatives issue campaign alertexcerpt: OTTAWA–The Conservative party has warned its members that a federal election campaign could start within days, in an internal letter that makes an "urgent" appeal for donations. Odd. I thought the Cons were flush with money.
From: Make the rich pay! | Registered: Dec 2004
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Parkdale High Park
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11667
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posted 17 March 2007 02:59 PM
quote: Originally posted by Boom Boom: Meanwhile, Conservatives issue campaign alertexcerpt: OTTAWA–The Conservative party has warned its members that a federal election campaign could start within days, in an internal letter that makes an "urgent" appeal for donations. Odd. I thought the Cons were flush with money.
I suspect that the Conservatives are flush with money, given that they ran attack ads recently. I think they want to ensure the opposition that they are election-ready to dissuade a vote against the budget (in a stark contrast to say, 1979). I think Harper has looked at the lastest polls and said "we would win an election, but no majority, so I'm sticking it out." Of course, he would love it if the Liberals killed his government, but he isn't going to pull the plug himself. Going into election-mode the past month has been about making Conservative poll numbers unassailable during the budget vote (and to shore up Charest), so that the opposition backs the Tories. With the Bloc at historic lows, the NDP down, and the Liberals no better than before, Harper is well-placed to survive a budget vote.
From: Toronto | Registered: Jan 2006
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Adam T
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4631
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posted 17 March 2007 10:15 PM
The real story of the opinion polls should be why the Conservative government who 1.have not had a serious scandal 2.have a huge surplus to play with 3.are facing an allegedly weak opposition 4.have been responsive to public opinion, even when it disagrees with their views (re global warming)are not much higher in the polls. The last poll shows them stuck at 36%. The highest poll has put them at 40%. I think they should be at least at 45%. I think the only explanation is that the public doesn't want the Conservatives to get a majority for the same reason that those Tory Bloggers want to get a majority: both expect a Harper Government to enact a completely different agenda with a majority government than the one they are implementing right now with a minority government.
From: Richmond B.C | Registered: Nov 2003
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Adam T
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4631
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posted 18 March 2007 05:30 AM
N Beltov, far be it from me to act as an editor on this board, but I think your post would be better placed in its own thread or on the Manitoba/Ontario/Quebec section.That said, as to the particulars, I find it rather odd of the Manitoba Conservatives to attempt to score points on Crocus given that I believe they were in power as it started going down the tubes. I'm pretty sure they still have a bunch of MLAs who were in cabinet when the problems were getting serious. I think the NDP just came it at the end. None of this removes any legitimate questions that should be asked of how the NDP handled the situation, of course.
From: Richmond B.C | Registered: Nov 2003
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N.Beltov
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4140
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posted 18 March 2007 05:53 AM
quote: Adam T: I think your post would be better placed in its own thread or on the Manitoba/ Ontario/ Quebec section.
These provincial elections, an actual one in Quebec and a possible one in Manitoba, seem to me like warm-up events for the big {federal} one. And the result(s) could have a strong bearing on when the writ is dropped. To be perfectly frank, all 3 "major" political parties in Manitoba seem insipid to me and can only be distinguished by their "flavour" ... and are, therefore, barely worth talking about except how their actions might influence Canada-wide politics. Like many others, I will likely vote NDP under protest. quote: That said, as to the particulars, I find it rather odd of the Manitoba Conservatives to attempt to score points on Crocus given that I believe they were in power as it started going down the tubes.
They're counting on the poor memory of the voters.
From: Vancouver Island | Registered: May 2003
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Stockholm
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3138
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posted 18 March 2007 06:38 AM
quote: NDP Premier Gary Doer had a chance, last election, to wipe the Conservatives and Liberals off the electoral map (Alberta style). He failed to do so. It won't happen this time around.
That was NEVER a possibility. Manitoba is NOT Alberta. It is a province that has always had very competitive elections and where the two major parties have core ridings and electoral bases that are indestructible. When Gary Filmon was riding high, he never won more than 33 seats and out of 57 and similarly the NDP at the current 35 seats is the highest it has ever or will ever get. There are a bunch of rural ridings in southern Manitoba that will simply never vote anything but Conservative in a million years. It is almost congenital. There are also some very wealthy ridings in Winnipeg that are core Conservative seats. Similarly, there are a clutch of seats in northern Manitoba and north Winnipeg that are virtually unloseable for the NDP. Alberta has a long history of being a one party state with no competition outside of a handful of inner city seats. Manitoba is a totally different political culture.
From: Toronto | Registered: Sep 2002
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 18 March 2007 07:30 AM
It seems the Harper government is spying on the Official Opposition these days. Also, we the taxpayer appear to be paying for it. As Harper plays the shadowy figure behind blacked out limo windows, only to be caught with his pants, er window down.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk--Iv0wz5Y [ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: remind ]
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 18 March 2007 08:11 AM
New info on the taxpayer funded spying on Dion, by the Harper government. quote: 'Tory spy' outed online in YouTube video Conservative staffer shadowed Dion at events in Ontario ELIZABETH THOMPSON, The Gazette Published: Sunday, March 18, 2007 A Conservative staffer is being paid through the House of Commons budget to shadow Liberal leader Stephane Dion.Reached yesterday, Murray's sole response when informed about the video was, "Oh, s--t," before referring all questions to Conservative Party communications officials. A Tory spokesperson made no attempt to deny Murray had been following Dion, or to make any apology for it. "An opposition researcher does opposition research," Ryan Sparrow said. "It would be irresponsible to simply rely on media reports to track the missteps of Stephane Dion." Sparrow refused to explain why Murray's activities were being paid out of the House of Commons research budget rather than out of party coffers. A Conservative insider, who asked that his name not be used, said Murray's filming of Dion's appearances is just part of the Conservatives' secretive "black ops" -
Gazette
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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E.Kootenayt
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12032
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posted 18 March 2007 01:30 PM
quote: Originally posted by remind: New info on the taxpayer funded spying on Dion, by the Harper government. Gazette
How about Jack demand a public inquiry into this,oh wait it's not the Liberals that's why. Jack has turned a once for the people by the people political party into a harpocrite one.
From: Canada | Registered: Feb 2006
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Aristotleded24
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9327
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posted 20 March 2007 10:43 AM
Continuing the drift on the exchange between Betlov and Stockholm about the political situation in Manitoba:Betlov does have a point. Even if the NDP didn't win more seats at the expense of the Conservatives, 35 seats is a highwater mark that isn't often reached by any political party in Manitoba, and winning that gives you political capital. When you have that kind of capital, you might as well spend it because you're certain to lose seats in the next election anyways. Doer failed to spend that capital, and as a result, automatic certification for joining a labour union is still well over 60%, corporate taxes continue to fall to the detriment of the provincial treasury, the balanced budget law is still on the books, the rural economy is still in trouble, and the economy is still dependent on the service sector in many ways, to name a few. These opportunities don't come around very often. What's really unfortunate about this is that if the Manitoba Conservatives ever reach this highwater mark again, they won't be shy about shifting the political culture of Manitoba rightward, the way Doer was shy about shifting Manitoba to the left.
From: Winnipeg | Registered: May 2005
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