We're having an election, too!

[Flash]

Announced yesterday, it will be over even before yours is done.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/09/07/election-call.html?ref=rss

Canadians will head to the polls in a general election on Oct. 14, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday in Ottawa after meeting with the Governor General.

Harper made the announcement outside Rideau Hall after his conversation with Michaëlle Jean.

"Her Excellency, the Governor General, has seen fit to dissolve Parliament," he said.

The vote will take place one day after the Thanksgiving holiday.Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion says the Oct. 14 election may be the most 'crucial' campaign in election history.Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion says the Oct. 14 election may be the most 'crucial' campaign in election history. (CBC)

"Between now and Oct. 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble," Harper said.

When asked about what the outcome might be, the Conservative leader said, "We believe it is going to be a tough election. We believe it will be a tight election. And, yes, we believe in all likelihood it will be a minority."

Before taking questions, Harper paused briefly to praise Canada as the "best country in the world," and said serving as prime minister has been an honour.

Harper took direct aim at the Liberals, led by Stéphane Dion, and their promotion of large-scale spending and a new carbon tax.

"This tax will pack a cost on to every expenditure every family and every business makes," said Harper who is the MP for Calgary Southwest.

Dion's plan would levy $15.4 billion in new taxes on Canadian industries that produce high carbon emissions. The higher prices for energy that people would face would be offset by broad-based tax cuts, according to the plan.

Dion has countered that his plan is revenue neutral — offset by income-tax cuts.

 

[slappy4428]

I see you also have d_b's there too!
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/60774/

 

[JR]

I posted this yesterday over at the politics thread. They're too caught up in their own silliness to pay attention to ours.

The Liberal's best hope is another minority government which would trigger a leadership review which would trigger a leadership convention--and the Liberals don't have the money.

A Conservative majority would effectively neutralize the Liberals for probably the next ten years .

Michael Ignatieff is our MP. I may volunteer for grunt work on his campaign. Anything to help stop the Conservatives.

 

[JR]

I see you also have d_b's there too!
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/60774/

Yeah, but it got buried over there, what with the twenty-five different threads on the US election.

We'll concede that board. Besides, I bet this doesn't go past one page.

 

[Flash]

I didn't think to post it on the Politics board for the very reason JR's got lost in the shuffle.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Which one wears a Canadian flag lapel pin?

 

[poindexter]

Move this **** over to the politics board. It's politics. If it gets buried in the children's board, its your problem , not ours.

Why do canadians think their **** is special?

 

[slappy4428]

I didn't think to post it on the Politics board for the very reason JR's got lost in the shuffle.

You don't have politics in Canuckistan?

 

[Flash]

Move this **** over to the politics board. It's politics. If it gets buried in the children's board, its your problem , not ours.

Why do canadians think their **** is special?

 

[bigpern23]

Move this **** over to the politics board. It's politics. If it gets buried in the children's board, its your problem , not ours.

Why do canadians think their **** is special?

For an orange-flavored turd with a smooth texture, it's gotta be Metamucil Orange! Mmmm, mmmm!

 

[Flash]

So ... should May be allowed into the leaders debate?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/08/greens-debates.html?ref=rss

 

[JR]

No, because her one member was kicked out of the Tories, sat as an independent and then joined the Greens. They have one member who was never elected under that banner.

Besides, May must be as dumb as two short planks. She's running against Peter MacKay for heaven's sakes. How many votes does she think she'll get?

Naturally, our PM said she shouldn't participate because it would be unfair to have two candidates who are essentially running on the same platform in the debate.

So, who cares>

May, of course, immediately called Harper an "anti-feminist".

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Awww ... isn't that cute. The Canuckistans are playing pretend and having an election like us.

 

[poindexter]

It doesn't even count as real politics. It's Sports and News politics.

 

[RagingCanuck]

No, because her one member was kicked out of the Tories, sat as an independent and then joined the Greens. They have one member who was never elected under that banner.

Point of order: he was kicked out of the Liberals.

 

[Flash]

No, because her one member was kicked out of the Tories, sat as an independent and then joined the Greens. They have one member who was never elected under that banner.

Besides, May must be as dumb as two short planks. She's running against Peter MacKay for heaven's sakes. How many votes does she think she'll get?

Naturally, our PM said she shouldn't participate because it would be unfair to have two candidates who are essentially running on the same platform in the debate.

So, who cares>

May, of course, immediately called Harper an "anti-feminist".

That riding is rather loyal to its incumbent. MacKay would have to quit politics to lose that seat.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

This is going to be a slaughter.

 

[Flash]

Ya figure? It's hard to tell the way Ontarians think these days and I honestly don't read enough news from out that way. Everyone out here is Harper, Harper, Harper -- no way in hell they're going to vote for a French guy.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

Oh, plenty of Ontario will vote Liberal -- always does -- but it won't be 98-1 like in 1993. Dion is a total non-factor.

 

[JR]

Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe has a proper response when asked about the "Eastern media " during an online Q & A today:

Jason Schmidt, Saskatoon: I believe Mr. Harper should win a majority. He's the best prime minister Canada has had since Trudeau — even though they were from different parties.

But I fear the Eastern media is going to do everything it can to defeat the Conservatives. What do you say to that?

Jeffrey Simpson: Jason, I say that's complete and utter baloney.

Every since I became a journalist, Conservatives, Reformers and the Canadian Alliance have always blamed the "eastern media" for their problems. But when they win, as they did in 1984, 1988 and 2006, where did the "eastern media" bogeyman go?

Who are the "eastern media" anyway. Yes, the Toronto Star is proudly Liberal. But the Sun newspaper chain? The National Post? The CanWest papers that Jason presumably reads in Saskatoon and Regina. CTV, Am Radio? Get a life.

The Globe endorsed the Conservatives in the last campaign and the Liberals in 2004.

But editorial endorsements count for nothing in determining how people vote and what the editorial board of The Globe thinks and does has zero impact on how the news is covered or what a columnist such as myself writes.

The most level-headed political columnist in Canada almost blows a gasket. Good stuff.