Reading Current Events

I will add my thoughts.

Harper presented a far more competent and composed debate than ol' Stockboy Day did way back when. But I tend to agree with Martin that chances are if elected they will get in, see the real numbers, be totally disorganised and end up being forced to break some of their loftier promises.

Martin seemed to kind of have confidence but not inspire confidence. He dodged some questions, talked a lot to the camera as opposed to the other leaders, and seemed a little shaky at times. His best point was when he mentioned Harper's letter to the Wall Street Journal... if that story is true, Harper has lost any chance at my support in the future. But overall I found the way he kept saying "the fact is" and "fundamentally" got annoying after a while.

Layton made a good impression (on me at least). He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his participation, which is a good thing. He made an excellent point in criticising Martin's declaration that it was a two party choice for all of Canada. But on the other hand, it is mostly talk for him at this point.

Duceppe had the aire of someone who had been there before, and except for a couple dodgy moments, his greater experience was clear. I agree he represented Quebec well, and most of the time him and Layton were in violent agreement.

P.S. to Bunk: I don't like the Sens, mainly because they aren't as good as they used to be. While they could block certain knee-jerk bills from going through, that portion of government generally rubber stamps things through as a simple tradition rather than because the laws are actually useful without modification.

:) I must agree with you there. But I certainly hate having a whole bunch of... Leaves, lying around on my lawn, old and unless, waiting to be raked away at the beginning of the next season. I hear it takes them at least 38 years and counting for them to fully decompose.

"History is more or less bunk." - Henry Ford

This post was edited by Bunk on Jun 16, 2004.

Well the election has come and gone at last.

Result (seats):

Liberals 135 (minority government winners)
Conservatives 99
Bloc Quebecois 54
New Democratic Party 19
Independent 1

Not exactly the nail-biter people expected; the end of this, a campaign largely viewed as negative and partisan, was dampened by the lowest voter turnout in history, around 60%. *sigh* Oh well.

It appeared that at least part of the mainstream right was scared away by Harper, allowing Martin to claim the hard fought minority. If working with the NDP and the Independent, the liberals can get a majority vote in parliment, whereas a Conservative-Bloc-Independent coalition would fall just short. The whole thing is, on the surface, rather unstable. However, since parliment won't be reconvening till September, and all parties seem to have exausted their campaign cash, not to mention a dis-enchanted public that would react negatively to another election, it's quite possible that nearly nothing could be going on for some time. Ah, beauro- I mean, Democracy, isn't it wonderful?

"History is more or less bunk." - Henry Ford

The popular vote, for those who are interested (not that it matters in a confederation):

Liberal: 36.7% (4951,107)
Conservative: 29.6% (3,3994,682)
N.D.P: 15.7% (2,116,536)
Bloc Quebecois: 12.4% (1,672,184)
Green Party: 4.3% (580,816)
Christian Heritage party: 0.3% (40,283)
Marijuana Party: 0.3% (33,590)
PC Party: 0.1% (10,773)
Marxist-leninist: 0.1% (9,065)
Canadian Action: 0.1% (8,930)
Communist: 0.0% (4,568)
Libertarian: 0.0% (1,964)

Independent: 0.4% (47,596)
No Affiliation: 0.1% (17,465)

Total votes: 13,489,559

The green party appears have been gaining momentum recently. They haven't been taken seriously by Elections canada yet, but they seem to be close to breaking the magical 5% mark.

About 1.3% of the votes went to the various fringe parties. Seems just about right for voters that are generally not interested in the current mainstream parties, although it does feel like it's on the low side at the time.

It appeared that at least part of the mainstream right was scared away by Harper, allowing Martin to claim the hard fought minority. If working with the NDP and the Independent, the liberals can get a majority vote in parliment, whereas a Conservative-Bloc-Independent coalition would fall just short.

At first, I thought that would be true. However, the Liberals have to elect a speaker of the house who doesn't generally vote - bringing their voting strength to 134. A Liberal-NDP colition would bring it up to 153. The conservatives and Bloc Quebesoic have 153 votes combined in order to oppose the Liberals (if necessairy).

In this case, there would generally be a deadlock, where neither side can consistantly get bills passed. The only way things can get through is by controlling the independant MP, and he may side with either party at the time.

As always, parliment will close again after four years or so. The problem then is with the big pile of dirty leaves that blows right into parliement after each general election.

This post was edited by Sigma_7 on Jul 03, 2004.

Hmm... fascinating stuff.

I think the highlight of the CBC election coverage was when, for five short minutes, the Marxist-Leninist party was leading the poll count for one riding. Mansbridge didn't know whether to wind his ass or wipe his watch.

1.3% of the votes went to the various fringe parties.

it does feel like it's on the low side at the time.

Ask the 9 million who didn't vote what their second choice was, besides abstinence. Some people's lazyness astounds me. And they can't say it's because "There were no options". There's tons of options, just look at the list. It bugs me, listening to them on CBC talking to that reporter (I forget his name) trying to make up excuses to hide their ignorance... 'mumble mumble'

As always, parliment will close again after four years or so. The problem then is with the big pile of dirty leaves that blows right into parliement after each general election.

... you're really confusing me now... don't make me send you to St. Louis!

"History is more or less bunk." - Henry Ford