Maybe it's just yesterday's fifteen hour day in a tie and black shoes but the impeding battle of the D-graders against the C-graders is already looking really messy. Not only do we have the embarrassing specter of the "Tory war room" which is just a communications center slash celebration of the Prime Minister's control freak obsession with ensuring only his words are uttered by every single person waving a blue pin and placard - the UniMindCentre. Now we have this:
The Liberal Party has declared an "electoral urgency" in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan, ordering workers in the three provinces to nominate candidates as quickly as possible in case there is a spring election.That's inspiring. Because you know the best people are attracted "as quickly as possible". I'd care if it weren't that both of these parties have established by their own track records that each will race to download services and disassemble the Federal Government in its own way leaving the civil services as no more than one guy called Luc with a call centre and another guy called Vic with a cheque book. Unnation making. The National Undream. Next thing you know we are going to have a plan to the return to "traditional regiments" in the form of Provincial militias representing local values and local standards. Or maybe different provincial central banks with different prime rates and fiscal policies.
Once again I wonder - who the heck am I going to vote for?
Comments
gorthos - April 4, 2007 10:00 AM
re: "That's inspiring. Because you know the best people are attracted "as quickly as possible". "
Oh you are more than right.. I fought this attitude so many times on teh two executives I sat as a director on.. they end up finding party faithful who are usually boring old unelectable smiling hacks who have put in their years volunteering for the party, can afford to run and/or win and be away from home for 4 years more or less in Ottawa, and party folk like.. problem is, to the masses who do not show up for AGms, they are nobodys... and often semi if at all electable..
When I was 27 and no-one wanted to run provincially, they approached me.. I said an emphatic "NO, I am too young".. what did they do? find a 26 year old guy, run him and see him die at the polls.. It started the conservative run in my former riding that lasted a few parliaments..
ugh.
Hans - April 4, 2007 10:48 AM
1. I wish Stephane could stop the Liberals from posturing which would ironically give them the upper hand. He should say we are not trying to create an election, the budget is barely acceptable to us, in fact they stole our ideas, but we will oppose the government when they do something really bad; this budget is not bad enough to bring the government down. Harper now has to focus on governing and bringing in his supposed agenda. The Liberals look reasonable and sincere and avoid an election which they are clearly not ready for and will look 100% more credible when they do bark about issues they don't like.
2. With respect to the Unnation Project, I would like to advocate the separation of Quebec from the rest of the country. The preoccupation of accommodating Quebec into Canada takes away from nation-building and identity formation.
3. Gorthos, I hear you. I think party's should stop trying to orchestrate every district and let democracy run its course. Those party insiders don't do any better than the common folk who sincerely think they could do some good in public office.
Chris Taylor - April 4, 2007 11:21 AM
I think all of Hans' points are sensible. I wouldn't want all of Quebec to separate, though. If anything they should get the Quebec of 1867, while we retain the rest to ensure a proper air/land corridor to Newfoundland and Labrador. In our hearts we all know that in some future trivial disagreement, Quebec's version of Danny Williams will get angsty and deny Canada overflight rights in a fit of pique. So we may as well ensure we don't need their overflight approval to reach other parts of the country in the first place.
Hans - April 4, 2007 9:35 PM
Agreed Chris. I believe in heresy against the gospel that says the borders of the Province of Quebec are untouchable.
WCG - April 5, 2007 11:43 AM
Me! Vote for me!
Alan - April 5, 2007 11:45 AM
Please advise as to the date of your nomination to the WCG party as well as the platform you are running on.
WCG - April 5, 2007 12:05 PM
I'm running on a modified socialist platform: healthcare for all except my enemies, who will receive stiffer prison sentences (I'm tough on crime, see). Also, universal access to childcare, except where those children were screaming and throwing popcorn at me in the middle of a movie. Those children shall be sent to the schools who ranked 0 in the Fraser Institute report. I support biodiesel and wind farms, particularly if those wind farms block Stephen Harper's waterfront views. Less snowfall in April - I will set those layabout Environment Canada guys to the task of diverting all snowfall towards Quebec, which I will then blame on all the hot air coming out of Stephen Harper's opposition. I will run a benevolent government, and will open an office to rescue kittens from trees.
But seriously, folks, I'm here all week.