Well, either Martin or Harper is. Harper's certainly done if he loses, because people are ready for change, and if they don't vote for change it'll be because they don't like him.
Martin's also definitely done if he manages to lose, and his time is probably limited eve if he wins another minority.
My prediction: Liberals lose seats, but still have the largest number. NDP gains a few, but not enough to hold tha balance of power. Tories stay about the same, and Harper goes. Bloc gains a few, All in all, not much change, until the next time, when the Tories have a better chance IF their membership is smart enough to elect a moderate, electable leader. (This is not a given.)
First of all, neither one of you know what you are talking about.
This is just the beginning for Mr. Stephen Harper to the both of you, if you don't mind, and even if you do, it really doesn't matter.
After the Ad-Scam deal, the Martin Government is done like burnt toast. It will be great to have Right Wing Commander for a change.
Allow the Americans to bring in their Missile Program.
Build up our Military by instituting a Draft system.
Harper will have a Solid Majority Government, and as soon as it's officially announced as to who will be running in my Riding, I'll be out volunteering for either He or She.
Preacher your man is done. Bye bye Harper. He has no chance in hell given the nature of Canada - Quebec and mistrust of Harper east of Alberta and west thereof too.
Hmmm...toss up between who gets the minority government, the Liberals or the Conservatives and I'm not even going to try to guess which one, however here are a few predictions. The Liberals will lose some seats and the Tories will gain some seats although probably not significant amounts although the Tories will probably make the most gains. The BQ will pretty much sweep Quebec with maybe 3-5 Liberals surviving. The NDP will receive more votes but return to the house with even fewer seats because of the vote splitting and an election which is ultimately going to come down to Liberals vs. Conservatives (except in Quebec) with everyone else somewhat lost in the wake. This is all contingent on the World as it is today. Things of course can change rather quickly during a campaign. Anonymous 8:50 is right. Harper or Martin are done after this one.
I predict with confidence that Harper will not make to the Prime Minister's office. Another minority or majority Liberal government because Canadians do not trust Conservatives especially given its roots from Reform and Harper being the leader.
I really don't think that Martin or Harper will be 'done'. Just take a look at who else is in their party, nobody of note.
The conservatives, as always, will hold the west and rural ridings. The maritimes don't have enough seats to matter anyway, so it always comes down to southern Ontario.
Just look at the last election and count the liberal wins which were within 10,000 votes and even if all are counted then it still has a liberal minority. Gomery simply SHOWED what everybody already knows, that politicians are crooks. The conservatives under Mulroney were even worse, and the crooked way the 'new' conservatives were formed shows they are no different.
Canada has one of the most dysfunctional electoral systems in the world (of democracies) and that will no doubt lead to even further drops in voter turnout. The one big question mark is how many conservatives will show up hoping for a big win, vs how many liberals or 'anti' conservatives will bother casting a vote. If liberal voters are so disgusted they dont' bother showing up then that's the only way the conservatives really have a chance. My advice is to vote the same as last time and force these adolescents to work together.
For those who are thinking of voting conservative, how many times can you say: ACOA, 1.4 billion, all regional development-those are the FIRST cuts the feds will make to the province, plus all the federal jobs when the privatize everything. Think you're living on a shoestring budget now, just wait!
Not to mention a party so scary its own members, and ones who ran for leadership, bolt to the other side of the floor. Plus a party heavily subsidized by american money as well as the 'christian coalition' (where it's 'be like us or get out') which also has heavy ties to the states. Most of their money that challenged same sex legislation came from the US.
Plus the deal that created the conservatives in the first place, namely Peter MacKay sticking the knife in David Orchard's back. Then the party refusing to let one of its members (yet another who even ran for leadership of the party) come to any of its conventions.
Gee, what a wonderful choice: Liberals: fiscal conservatives who underhandedly fund their own party,
and,
conservatives: privatize everything so that when you do the exact same thing it will be LEGAL.
Here's a thought, how about voting for the ONLY party (well, besides the BQ) that actually voted to give the maritimes some money, can you say NDP, NDP, NDP, NDP. I knew you couldn't.
You're right I can't. Although we're a lot further left as a nation than the U.S., socialism, at least the NDP's version of it IE: Tax and Spend hasn't sold well and that's the NDP's fault not the voters just as it's the Conservative fault if voters haven't connected to them. This blame the voters theory is bogus. The parties need to figure out how to connect to the people not blame the voters.
As for the Conservatives, I haven't heard talk from them at least about privatizing anything let alone everything. But perhaps you are right that they may privatize some things. I am certain many would probably at least like to privatize the CBC just like a lot of Canadians. No wonder the CBC spends so much time trashing the Conservatives. They're afraid their gravy train might be on the line. Although realistically I doubt the Conservatives would privatize the CBC but hopefully some provisions would be brought in to make them more accountable to ALL Canadians not just left wing fringe groups or elitists who like watching programming on the mating of the praying mantis or whatever some TV executive at CBC thought was a good idea.
I thought we agreed if we sent you the freaking $30 of yours that goes to the CBC then you'd shut up about it! Most people don't think CBC is left enough. What, you want ANOTHER Irving media outlet? Boy, some people simply don't want ANYBODY else's viewpoint to be allowed (which is a reason enough to distrust conservatives)
Conservatives will:
1.make 'security' a major issue (even though nobody is in the least bit interested in attacking us)
2.make 'social policy' their primary focus to mask their fiscal policies
3.kowtow to the americans even more than the liberals (which is hard to do)
4. substancially increase defense spending (that's tax dollars, not a tax decrease for you mathematicians)
5. increase the rate of 'public-private' partnerships, which is going gung ho under the liberals. This is how they pull their own 'sponsorship scandal'. You contract out government services, then the happy recipients (rich people) give you money, all nice and legal.
6. dismantle ACOA altogether, which gets mere pennies as it is and certainly gets on 'economic development' money. This year they could barely afford to send some aquaculture companies to Norway.
Of course the liberals are ALREADY conservatives, just a different focus and they seem to only differ on two social agenda's.
Blaming a party for having policies is just crazy. It's the party's fault that canadians haven't the brains to elect the ONLY party that even MENTIONS canadian needs? But remember, with first past the post most people know a vote for NDP is a throwaway, and of course we have to remember that almost half of canadians know its a complete waste of time to vote anyway.
Saying that the NDP should become another conservative or liberal party to get votes is just nuts. Go and READ the NDP platform before you criticize, it's available at their website.
Finally, the biggest myth is that Canada is 'more left' than the US. That's just crazy talk from two decades ago. Even people on welfare in the southern US have more money than those in New Brunswick. People who know absolutely nothing about the states are the only ones who make such ridiculous assertions. Canada has FAR lower corporate income tax than the US, fewer environmental regulations, far more billionaires per capita, and check out the health care system in New York state-it's twice as 'left' as Canada's medicare system.
(Ottawa) Conservative Christian groups have grabbed control of nearly a dozen Conservative Party ridings across Canada and vow they will ensure the party adheres to a strict right wing agenda including an end to same-sex marriage. Candidates with close ties the Canadian branches of groups including Focus on the Family and other American evangelical groups have won party nominations in three provinces: Four in British Columbia, three in Nova Scotia, and one in Ontario. The groups also have succeeded in having their members win votes to become riding association presidents elsewhere in the country. And they say that it is only the beginning. The Globe and Mail reports that the groups are preparing to put up candidates for Conservative Party nominations in other regions as the country prepares for an election late this year or early in 2005. Even though the Conservative Party is the only federal party to oppose same-sex marriage, the right wing groups say they want to be assured that if a bill currently before Parliament to legalize gay marriage is passed it would be repealed by the next government. But, not all Tories are in favor of the plans by FOC and others. "The difficulty, from a party perspective, is that it begins to hijack the other agendas that parties have," Ross Haynes told the Globe and Mail. Haynes lost the Conservative nomination in the riding of Halifax to one of three "Christian, pro-family people" recommended by a minister at a religious rally this spring in Kentville, N.S. Tristan Emmanuel, a Halifax evangelist with ties to Focus on the Family, makes not apologies. "It's time we stopped apologizing and started defending who we are," he said. "The evangelical community in Canada, by and large, and socially conservative Catholics, are saying we have been far too heavenly minded and thus we have been of no earthly value for far too long, on too many fronts." Darrel Reid, the Conservative Party candidate in Richmond, B.C., is a past president of Focus on the Family Canada. "The reason I entered this nomination contest is because I am really concerned about the direction our government is going," Reid told the Globe. Rondo Thomas won the party's nomination in a suburban Toronto riding. Thomas is a top official with the Canada Christian College, which is run by Charles McVety, a senior director of the Defend Marriage Coalition. Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado has reportedly sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to its Canadian affiliate to wage an anti-gay campaign and the Roman Catholic Knights Of Columbus in the US recently spent nearly $100,000 to print two million postcards to be distributed in Catholic churches across Canada for people to send to Members of Parliament opposing gay marriage. (story) The growing number of anti-gay candidates is making some moderate Conservative MPs nervous. "It's making the party look extreme and making me nervous," said one MP who asked that his name not be used. But, the growing coziness between Christian conservative groups and the party should not be a surprise. In April Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper addressed a rally on Parliament Hill organized by many of the groups now trying to take control of the Tories. At the time he told the 15,000 people bussed in from across Canada that if his party is elected to govern he would would abolish the same-sex marriage law. (story) Harper and the Conservatives have been receiving help from the Republican Party. GOP advisers and consultants have been working with the party for more than a year. Earlier this month moderate Conservative MP Belinda Stronach left the party and joined the Liberals. Stronach, who supports same-sex marriage said she had become disillusioned with the Tories and accused Harper of pandering to extremists
Of course that's good news if you're a conservative christian and think your views should be the views of the entire government. However, one wonders if that would be the same if it were a national muslim party or a national buddhist party who were going to make sure their beliefs were the official government policies.
The story you have seems pretty accurate but it's no different than the NDP which has some militant gays calling the shots in some ridings IE: Svend Robinson. The Bible is technically hate literature these days thanks to Mr. Robinson although no one has tried a court case on it YET.
Personally I don't have a problem with either scenario. All of these folks, whether it be protesant Christians, Gays, or atheists have a right to have their voices heard and getting involved in politics is a smart way to do that. Usually by hearing all voices through thoughtful debate some middle ground is achieved. Marginalizing any group isn't the right answer, but the Christian Right is the #1 target of marginalization these days by the Left. Ex-gays and ex-lesbians are probably a close second.
A cheque sounds good but it should come from the Government of Canada not a private individual who's trying to buy off opposition to shut them up. I do however admire your loyalty to CBC. Millions like it but millions don't and that number is on the rise. We'll have to check out the coverage from CBC over the next 58 days to see where they stand. Personally I've been impressed the most lately with Global National's coverage. The Margaret Trudeau drunk driving coverage a week ago was outstanding on Global especially compared to CBC National which buried it as a 15 second voice-over.
Who cares about Margaret Trudeau drinking and driving? How is that news at all? Is your life so oblivious to what is going on in the world that 'celebrity watch' is your idea of news coverage?
That the NDP is somehow 'controlled' by 'militant gays' shows just another reason why 'conservatives' are berated for being close minded. The NDP had ONE gay member, and the gay legislation was brought in by LIBERALS. So do your homework. As we've said before, the legislation was NOT a proactive piece of legislation, it was simply recognizing what the SUPREME COURT had already upheld. I'm always amazed that so called 'christians' spend so much time on abortion and gay marriage, two issues which Jesus never even mentioned, and completely ignore poverty issues, which is almost ALL Jesus talked about. Jesus also had a word for those kinds of people, it starts with 'h'.
We KNOW that liberals were against same sex marriage until the supreme court ruled. It's one thing making legislation, it's quite another to make legislation that says you are are going against your own court's ruling.
So even if the NDP were somehow 'controlled', which is crazy, the NDP is nowhere near being in power.
So of course if you are on the side of taking rights from people, just like members of the nazi party were of course quite happy to rob others of rights, then the above scenario is quite acceptable.
However, for those of us not looking to bring in a taliban style government, it is good reason to support that other group of crooks-the liberals. However, check your own riding to see how close the vote is. Remember, each vote gives $2 to a party, so if you are in a riding where liberals are way ahead, the NDP could use some money.
I would suspect every person who has ever lost a loved one to a drunk driver would care anytime someone gets off on a drunk driving charge. It's a pretty devastating thing.
On the issue of Christians being involved in politics. Are they not allowed because of their beliefs? Seems kind of discriminatory to me. If they have influence on a party, so what? If they're that far out, people won't vote for them. I don't believe fundamentalist Christians are controlling the Conservative Party anyway but if for argument's sake they were clealry they have a message which resonates with a lot of Canadians - 30% or so. Not enough for a majority but that's a lot of voters and despite what I heard on CBC at noon today, they're not all over 90.
"Conservative leader Stephen Harper took less than an hour into the federal election campaign to confirm that, as Prime Minister, he would attempt to roll back the Charter rights of Canadian minority groups.
“We will simply ask the House of Commons through a motion whether they want the government to table legislation on the marriage issue – to change the definition of marriage,” Harper said in a scrum in Ottawa on November 29, 2005. “If it is passed, we will proceed.”
Reinstating the traditional definition of marriage would require the use of the notwithstanding clause to override a Charter right.
No Canadian Prime Minister in history has invoked the notwithstanding clause to override a Charter right – Stephen Harper would be the first to take this radical step."
I have no idea what the drunk driving reference is about, but as the above quote shows, the conservatives are RADICALLY attaching themselves to the christian right. Nobody said anything about christians exercising rights, however, as said, if huge masses of muslims comprised 30% of the vote, could feasonably form government and had a policy of all women wearing burkas, then I think the arguments here would be quite different.
Nobody is saying that they shouldn't exist, we are talking about reasons not to vote for them, those are two very different things. Personally, I'd vote conservative in a heartbeat if it weren't for their social policies which are basically ripped off the old reform party. However, that's not the case, and I'd be telling people not to vote for the muslim party who want all women wearing burka's as well. Taking away charter rights is a VERY serious thing to be doing. Taking away rights is the FIRST thing fascist governments do, and is a cause for alarm. THAT clearly resonates with as many people-virtually nobody I know is voting liberal because they love Paul Martin-usually its quite the opposite. However, they DO believe in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
i do not understand the far left. tolerance and understanding is for all until someone disagrees with them then the insults fly. i have not seen spinks say anything mean spirited yet anonymous starts calling him oblivious and minimizes boozers on the road. i had a friend seriously injured because of a drunk driver. they should lock them all up including trudeau.
You're partly right Sarge. Maggie got off because of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms brought in by her former husband. I doubt back then that many Canadians thought it would be used to get drunk drivers off the hook, tie the hands of police to catch criminals or bestow special rights to some people (same-sex marriage). However that's what the Holy Grail of Canada has done.
Do you know how many drunk drivers are arrested every single day? How often is that covered on global or any news station? Heck, global hardly even covered the Premier of British Columbia getting pulled over for drinking and driving. Just because somebody is nominally famous (and VERY nominally), that is somehow newsworthy?? Half of the lobbyists and MP's on parliment hill are drunk most nights of the week yet we never hear anything about how many of them are pulled over.
What this has to do with the 'far left' is beyond me, I don't even know what the far left is. I clearly said that if it weren't for social conservatism I would probably vote conservative, so if THAT makes me 'far left' then there's going to be a lot of cheesed off NDP and Green party supporters (not to mention all the other parties and those who are so far left they completely ignore politics-which is almost half of canadians).
Nobody said Spinks was oblivious, so I don't see where the insults are flying, clearly some people are jumping to very strange conclusions.Drunk driving is a HUGE issue, dumbing it down to charter rights and one persons arrest is simply a way to avoid addressing the issue.
Sorry, I guess that 90 wasn't your age, just IQ. Good comeback, glad your sober enough to come up with such quality wit. Perhaps a little more of the Doobie Brothers in the future and a little less of the doobies:)
33 comments:
Stephen Harper is finished.
Well, either Martin or Harper is. Harper's certainly done if he loses, because people are ready for change, and if they don't vote for change it'll be because they don't like him.
Martin's also definitely done if he manages to lose, and his time is probably limited eve if he wins another minority.
My prediction: Liberals lose seats, but still have the largest number. NDP gains a few, but not enough to hold tha balance of power. Tories stay about the same, and Harper goes. Bloc gains a few, All in all, not much change, until the next time, when the Tories have a better chance IF their membership is smart enough to elect a moderate, electable leader. (This is not a given.)
First of all, neither one of you know what you are talking about.
This is just the beginning for Mr. Stephen Harper to the both of you, if you don't mind, and even if you do, it really doesn't matter.
After the Ad-Scam deal, the Martin Government is done like burnt toast. It will be great to have Right Wing Commander for a change.
Allow the Americans to bring in their Missile Program.
Build up our Military by instituting a Draft system.
Harper will have a Solid Majority Government, and as soon as it's officially announced as to who will be running in my Riding, I'll be out volunteering for either He or She.
So grab you're crying towels now.
Can you say bye-bye Harper?!?!?!
WOOHOO!
Hey great pic Charles! Hmmmmmm kinda looks familiar though..............LOL
Charles, can we see the Disco King and Queen just for old time sake.
And to you Anonymous 2:32 PM
Can you say Ad-Scam ripp-off, there ya go`, I knew ya could
Preacher your man is done. Bye bye Harper. He has no chance in hell given the nature of Canada - Quebec and mistrust of Harper east of Alberta and west thereof too.
Hmmm...toss up between who gets the minority government, the Liberals or the Conservatives and I'm not even going to try to guess which one, however here are a few predictions. The Liberals will lose some seats and the Tories will gain some seats although probably not significant amounts although the Tories will probably make the most gains. The BQ will pretty much sweep Quebec with maybe 3-5 Liberals surviving. The NDP will receive more votes but return to the house with even fewer seats because of the vote splitting and an election which is ultimately going to come down to Liberals vs. Conservatives (except in Quebec) with everyone else somewhat lost in the wake. This is all contingent on the World as it is today. Things of course can change rather quickly during a campaign. Anonymous 8:50 is right. Harper or Martin are done after this one.
I predict with confidence that Harper will not make to the Prime Minister's office. Another minority or majority Liberal government because Canadians do not trust Conservatives especially given its roots from Reform and Harper being the leader.
I really don't think that Martin or Harper will be 'done'. Just take a look at who else is in their party, nobody of note.
The conservatives, as always, will hold the west and rural ridings. The maritimes don't have enough seats to matter anyway, so it always comes down to southern Ontario.
Just look at the last election and count the liberal wins which were within 10,000 votes and even if all are counted then it still has a liberal minority. Gomery simply SHOWED what everybody already knows, that politicians are crooks. The conservatives under Mulroney were even worse, and the crooked way the 'new' conservatives were formed shows they are no different.
Canada has one of the most dysfunctional electoral systems in the world (of democracies) and that will no doubt lead to even further drops in voter turnout. The one big question mark is how many conservatives will show up hoping for a big win, vs how many liberals or 'anti' conservatives will bother casting a vote. If liberal voters are so disgusted they dont' bother showing up then that's the only way the conservatives really have a chance. My advice is to vote the same as last time and force these adolescents to work together.
For those of you who think Harper is all done, Well maybe he is, only election day will show for sure.
For those of you planning to Vote Liberal, how many times can you say, AD-SCAM, AD-SCAM, AD-SCAM, AD-SCAM,AD-SCAM, One more Time AD-SCAM
For those who are thinking of voting conservative, how many times can you say: ACOA, 1.4 billion, all regional development-those are the FIRST cuts the feds will make to the province, plus all the federal jobs when the privatize everything. Think you're living on a shoestring budget now, just wait!
Not to mention a party so scary its own members, and ones who ran for leadership, bolt to the other side of the floor. Plus a party heavily subsidized by american money as well as the 'christian coalition' (where it's 'be like us or get out') which also has heavy ties to the states. Most of their money that challenged same sex legislation came from the US.
Plus the deal that created the conservatives in the first place, namely Peter MacKay sticking the knife in David Orchard's back. Then the party refusing to let one of its members (yet another who even ran for leadership of the party) come to any of its conventions.
Gee, what a wonderful choice:
Liberals: fiscal conservatives who underhandedly fund their own party,
and,
conservatives: privatize everything so that when you do the exact same thing it will be LEGAL.
Here's a thought, how about voting for the ONLY party (well, besides the BQ) that actually voted to give the maritimes some money, can you say NDP, NDP, NDP, NDP. I knew you couldn't.
You're right I can't. Although we're a lot further left as a nation than the U.S., socialism, at least the NDP's version of it IE: Tax and Spend hasn't sold well and that's the NDP's fault not the voters just as it's the Conservative fault if voters haven't connected to them. This blame the voters theory is bogus. The parties need to figure out how to connect to the people not blame the voters.
As for the Conservatives, I haven't heard talk from them at least about privatizing anything let alone everything. But perhaps you are right that they may privatize some things. I am certain many would probably at least like to privatize the CBC just like a lot of Canadians. No wonder the CBC spends so much time trashing the Conservatives. They're afraid their gravy train might be on the line. Although realistically I doubt the Conservatives would privatize the CBC but hopefully some provisions would be brought in to make them more accountable to ALL Canadians not just left wing fringe groups or elitists who like watching programming on the mating of the praying mantis or whatever some TV executive at CBC thought was a good idea.
I thought we agreed if we sent you the freaking $30 of yours that goes to the CBC then you'd shut up about it! Most people don't think CBC is left enough. What, you want ANOTHER Irving media outlet? Boy, some people simply don't want ANYBODY else's viewpoint to be allowed (which is a reason enough to distrust conservatives)
Conservatives will:
1.make 'security' a major issue (even though nobody is in the least bit interested in attacking us)
2.make 'social policy' their primary focus to mask their fiscal policies
3.kowtow to the americans even more than the liberals (which is hard to do)
4. substancially increase defense spending (that's tax dollars, not a tax decrease for you mathematicians)
5. increase the rate of 'public-private' partnerships, which is going gung ho under the liberals. This is how they pull their own 'sponsorship scandal'. You contract out government services, then the happy recipients (rich people) give you money, all nice and legal.
6. dismantle ACOA altogether, which gets mere pennies as it is and certainly gets on 'economic development' money. This year they could barely afford to send some aquaculture companies to Norway.
Of course the liberals are ALREADY conservatives, just a different focus and they seem to only differ on two social agenda's.
Blaming a party for having policies is just crazy. It's the party's fault that canadians haven't the brains to elect the ONLY party that even MENTIONS canadian needs? But remember, with first past the post most people know a vote for NDP is a throwaway, and of course we have to remember that almost half of canadians know its a complete waste of time to vote anyway.
Saying that the NDP should become another conservative or liberal party to get votes is just nuts. Go and READ the NDP platform before you criticize, it's available at their website.
Finally, the biggest myth is that Canada is 'more left' than the US. That's just crazy talk from two decades ago. Even people on welfare in the southern US have more money than those in New Brunswick. People who know absolutely nothing about the states are the only ones who make such ridiculous assertions. Canada has FAR lower corporate income tax than the US, fewer environmental regulations, far more billionaires per capita, and check out the health care system in New York state-it's twice as 'left' as Canada's medicare system.
That was meant to say that those on welfare in the southern US have more money than those on welfare in New Brunswick.
I haven't received my annual $30 so it's still open season. LOL.
Give your address, we'll send a cheque.
Here's an article from 2004:
(Ottawa) Conservative Christian groups have grabbed control of nearly a dozen Conservative Party ridings across Canada and vow they will ensure the party adheres to a strict right wing agenda including an end to same-sex marriage.
Candidates with close ties the Canadian branches of groups including Focus on the Family and other American evangelical groups have won party nominations in three provinces: Four in British Columbia, three in Nova Scotia, and one in Ontario. The groups also have succeeded in having their members win votes to become riding association presidents elsewhere in the country.
And they say that it is only the beginning.
The Globe and Mail reports that the groups are preparing to put up candidates for Conservative Party nominations in other regions as the country prepares for an election late this year or early in 2005.
Even though the Conservative Party is the only federal party to oppose same-sex marriage, the right wing groups say they want to be assured that if a bill currently before Parliament to legalize gay marriage is passed it would be repealed by the next government.
But, not all Tories are in favor of the plans by FOC and others.
"The difficulty, from a party perspective, is that it begins to hijack the other agendas that parties have," Ross Haynes told the Globe and Mail. Haynes lost the Conservative nomination in the riding of Halifax to one of three "Christian, pro-family people" recommended by a minister at a religious rally this spring in Kentville, N.S.
Tristan Emmanuel, a Halifax evangelist with ties to Focus on the Family, makes not apologies.
"It's time we stopped apologizing and started defending who we are," he said. "The evangelical community in Canada, by and large, and socially conservative Catholics, are saying we have been far too heavenly minded and thus we have been of no earthly value for far too long, on too many fronts."
Darrel Reid, the Conservative Party candidate in Richmond, B.C., is a past president of Focus on the Family Canada. "The reason I entered this nomination contest is because I am really concerned about the direction our government is going," Reid told the Globe.
Rondo Thomas won the party's nomination in a suburban Toronto riding. Thomas is a top official with the Canada Christian College, which is run by Charles McVety, a senior director of the Defend Marriage Coalition.
Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado has reportedly sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to its Canadian affiliate to wage an anti-gay campaign and the Roman Catholic Knights Of Columbus in the US recently spent nearly $100,000 to print two million postcards to be distributed in Catholic churches across Canada for people to send to Members of Parliament opposing gay marriage. (story)
The growing number of anti-gay candidates is making some moderate Conservative MPs nervous. "It's making the party look extreme and making me nervous," said one MP who asked that his name not be used.
But, the growing coziness between Christian conservative groups and the party should not be a surprise.
In April Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper addressed a rally on Parliament Hill organized by many of the groups now trying to take control of the Tories.
At the time he told the 15,000 people bussed in from across Canada that if his party is elected to govern he would would abolish the same-sex marriage law. (story)
Harper and the Conservatives have been receiving help from the Republican Party. GOP advisers and consultants have been working with the party for more than a year.
Earlier this month moderate Conservative MP Belinda Stronach left the party and joined the Liberals. Stronach, who supports same-sex marriage said she had become disillusioned with the Tories and accused Harper of pandering to extremists
Of course that's good news if you're a conservative christian and think your views should be the views of the entire government. However, one wonders if that would be the same if it were a national muslim party or a national buddhist party who were going to make sure their beliefs were the official government policies.
The story you have seems pretty accurate but it's no different than the NDP which has some militant gays calling the shots in some ridings IE: Svend Robinson. The Bible is technically hate literature these days thanks to Mr. Robinson although no one has tried a court case on it YET.
Personally I don't have a problem with either scenario. All of these folks, whether it be protesant Christians, Gays, or atheists have a right to have their voices heard and getting involved in politics is a smart way to do that. Usually by hearing all voices through thoughtful debate some middle ground is achieved. Marginalizing any group isn't the right answer, but the Christian Right is the #1 target of marginalization these days by the Left. Ex-gays and ex-lesbians are probably a close second.
A cheque sounds good but it should come from the Government of Canada not a private individual who's trying to buy off opposition to shut them up. I do however admire your loyalty to CBC. Millions like it but millions don't and that number is on the rise. We'll have to check out the coverage from CBC over the next 58 days to see where they stand. Personally I've been impressed the most lately with Global National's coverage. The Margaret Trudeau drunk driving coverage a week ago was outstanding on Global especially compared to CBC National which buried it as a 15 second voice-over.
Who cares about Margaret Trudeau drinking and driving? How is that news at all? Is your life so oblivious to what is going on in the world that 'celebrity watch' is your idea of news coverage?
That the NDP is somehow 'controlled' by 'militant gays' shows just another reason why 'conservatives' are berated for being close minded. The NDP had ONE gay member, and the gay legislation was brought in by LIBERALS. So do your homework. As we've said before, the legislation was NOT a proactive piece of legislation, it was simply recognizing what the SUPREME COURT had already upheld. I'm always amazed that so called 'christians' spend so much time on abortion and gay marriage, two issues which Jesus never even mentioned, and completely ignore poverty issues, which is almost ALL Jesus talked about. Jesus also had a word for those kinds of people, it starts with 'h'.
We KNOW that liberals were against same sex marriage until the supreme court ruled. It's one thing making legislation, it's quite another to make legislation that says you are are going against your own court's ruling.
So even if the NDP were somehow 'controlled', which is crazy, the NDP is nowhere near being in power.
So of course if you are on the side of taking rights from people, just like members of the nazi party were of course quite happy to rob others of rights, then the above scenario is quite acceptable.
However, for those of us not looking to bring in a taliban style government, it is good reason to support that other group of crooks-the liberals. However, check your own riding to see how close the vote is. Remember, each vote gives $2 to a party, so if you are in a riding where liberals are way ahead, the NDP could use some money.
I would suspect every person who has ever lost a loved one to a drunk driver would care anytime someone gets off on a drunk driving charge. It's a pretty devastating thing.
On the issue of Christians being involved in politics. Are they not allowed because of their beliefs? Seems kind of discriminatory to me. If they have influence on a party, so what? If they're that far out, people won't vote for them. I don't believe fundamentalist Christians are controlling the Conservative Party anyway but if for argument's sake they were clealry they have a message which resonates with a lot of Canadians - 30% or so. Not enough for a majority but that's a lot of voters and despite what I heard on CBC at noon today, they're not all over 90.
"Conservative leader Stephen Harper took less than an hour into the federal election campaign to confirm that, as Prime Minister, he would attempt to roll back the Charter rights of Canadian minority groups.
“We will simply ask the House of Commons through a motion whether they want the government to table legislation on the marriage issue – to change the definition of marriage,” Harper said in a scrum in Ottawa on November 29, 2005. “If it is passed, we will proceed.”
Reinstating the traditional definition of marriage would require the use of the notwithstanding clause to override a Charter right.
No Canadian Prime Minister in history has invoked the notwithstanding clause to override a Charter right – Stephen Harper would be the first to take this radical step."
I have no idea what the drunk driving reference is about, but as the above quote shows, the conservatives are RADICALLY attaching themselves to the christian right. Nobody said anything about christians exercising rights, however, as said, if huge masses of muslims comprised 30% of the vote, could feasonably form government and had a policy of all women wearing burkas, then I think the arguments here would be quite different.
Nobody is saying that they shouldn't exist, we are talking about reasons not to vote for them, those are two very different things. Personally, I'd vote conservative in a heartbeat if it weren't for their social policies which are basically ripped off the old reform party. However, that's not the case, and I'd be telling people not to vote for the muslim party who want all women wearing burka's as well. Taking away charter rights is a VERY serious thing to be doing. Taking away rights is the FIRST thing fascist governments do, and is a cause for alarm. THAT clearly resonates with as many people-virtually nobody I know is voting liberal because they love Paul Martin-usually its quite the opposite. However, they DO believe in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
i do not understand the far left. tolerance and understanding is for all until someone disagrees with them then the insults fly. i have not seen spinks say anything mean spirited yet anonymous starts calling him oblivious and minimizes boozers on the road. i had a friend seriously injured because of a drunk driver. they should lock them all up including trudeau.
3:58 PM Listen Up Now - Who cares about Margaret Trudeau drinking and driving? How is that news at all?
The Only reason she got off this serious charge is because of Her Last Name:
The same as, a lot of people will do no time regarding the Ad-Scam deal.
Gezzzzzzz What a you know what.
Boy the Sgt told you 3:58 { LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL }
You're partly right Sarge. Maggie got off because of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms brought in by her former husband. I doubt back then that many Canadians thought it would be used to get drunk drivers off the hook, tie the hands of police to catch criminals or bestow special rights to some people (same-sex marriage). However that's what the Holy Grail of Canada has done.
Do you know how many drunk drivers are arrested every single day? How often is that covered on global or any news station? Heck, global hardly even covered the Premier of British Columbia getting pulled over for drinking and driving. Just because somebody is nominally famous (and VERY nominally), that is somehow newsworthy?? Half of the lobbyists and MP's on parliment hill are drunk most nights of the week yet we never hear anything about how many of them are pulled over.
What this has to do with the 'far left' is beyond me, I don't even know what the far left is. I clearly said that if it weren't for social conservatism I would probably vote conservative, so if THAT makes me 'far left' then there's going to be a lot of cheesed off NDP and Green party supporters (not to mention all the other parties and those who are so far left they completely ignore politics-which is almost half of canadians).
Nobody said Spinks was oblivious, so I don't see where the insults are flying, clearly some people are jumping to very strange conclusions.Drunk driving is a HUGE issue, dumbing it down to charter rights and one persons arrest is simply a way to avoid addressing the issue.
How is same sex marriage a 'special right" if its the same as with other marriages? Doesn't that make it LESS special?
7:54 PM & 7:55 PM
You Dudes should chill out. Like it sounds as if you dudes are going to blow a Rod or a Motor.
Wind out and listen to some Doobie Brothers Tunes, like Oh Black Water keep on shinin` on me.
Relax Hommie: Gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Doobie brothers? What are you...90??
9:08
I didn't even know you knew how to count that High. Did somebody type your message for you ?
Sorry, I guess that 90 wasn't your age, just IQ. Good comeback, glad your sober enough to come up with such quality wit. Perhaps a little more of the Doobie Brothers in the future and a little less of the doobies:)
11:18 AM
I admit you got me Big Time : I know my IQ is only 90 as you say.
But @ least I beat you by 20 points. Ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Thats Hottttttttt, Thats gottaaaaaaa Hurtttttttttt
Gotcha`, Gotcha` Didn't I :>)
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