Now? I hope the vote plays out like this:
- CPC - 124
- Grits - 103
- Bloq - 51
- NDP - 29
- Other - 1
You get my point, right? Dullsville. Could there be a duller election? How could that be? Hmmm...maybe all parties could declare we are getting out of Afghanistan, no change to health care, announce massive infusion of funds for sustainability and maintain fiscal prudence. Oh - that's what has happened. Well, maybe everyone would have to give a apology or fire someone for stunned racist remark. Hmm...that's happened, too. Well, how about not one party being able to enunciate a national vision. You got it.
So what are we really having an election for? Despite Harper's bleating of a few weeks ago, Parliament works fine as a minority and helps keep the feet to the fire. Aren't we really fighting for more minority? Hasn't it boiled down to that keeping things in check is to keep a check on things? Give someone an administrative role to make decisions but no one the clear right to claim leadership? That's it! We are finding our own way to make a "None Of The Above" legislature. It seems to work out that, in this decade, we all win when they all lose.
Other news for Day 13:
- Jean is back and telling truths!
- Robert is right - calling for a cull on humans is worse than calling them drunks.
- El Tigre points out a very weird set of statements by Stephen Harper about what Stephen Harper thinks. It's very odd as it still seems a bit like a man on an ice flow who wants to wish himself to actually be on dry land.
And outside of Canada's election, this is what is out there:
- I make fun of CFL sometimes but when I was a kid -and when to all us kids the Grey Cup was the equivalent of the Stanley Cup - Ron Lancaster was the greatest.
- One anti-Palin Republican speaks.
- I am going to use the word "exoplanet" in my everyday speech from here on out! Woooooooot!!!
- The Blue Jays have a master plan - spend more on what got them no where.
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - September 19, 2008 10:55 am
From the point of view of a Tory, Alan, you're improving.
At the start of this thing, you thought Dion would win a plurality...
By the end, who knows where you'll be? :p
sean - September 19, 2008 12:07 pm
I'm still having trouble seeing how what the guy said could be construed as "racist".. He wasn't making any sort of comment to the effect of saying that what he suggested shoudl have been done BECAUSE the people were native, but instead because they were armed thugs. Over the top, maybe, uncaring, maybe, inappropriate, to some, racist, nope.
Paul of Kingston - September 19, 2008 12:11 pm
Still very boring even with all the conservative feet getting rammed into their owner's mouths. A beer coupon for every voter stamped by the polling station. That would shake things up and get the apathetic crowd out.
Paul of Kingston - September 19, 2008 12:32 pm
Ooh here's some good stuff from the south. Democrats regain the lead and the Bush adminsitration is hinting at a financial bailout plan worth hundreds of billions. But what is being bailed out? The economy? The republicans, Both?
Hans - September 19, 2008 12:59 pm
The CFL has, this year, lost 3 leading figures: Bob Ackles, Lief Pettersen and now Ron Lancaster. Lancaster was a Canadian icon and saint-like in Saskatchewan.
Hans - September 19, 2008 1:14 pm
Also, good for Chretien: You know what his record was and its success. He points that out as a narrative Canadian voters should remember this election. Plus, he says he is Liberal and will naturally be voting Liberal. Notice, no sniping about the current campaign.
sean - September 19, 2008 1:45 pm
Hey Hans.. Cretien is still party leader in my eyes and calls the shots. I'm still voting Liberal, I still made the call for signs for my lawn. In the end we all know to do the right thing with the pencil.. The alternative (protest vote, splitting the vote etc) is nasty and in the end, sniping aside, unwanted.
sean - September 19, 2008 1:47 pm
Who's getting bailed out? The wealthy banks/lenders who chose to lend out vast amounts of money for huge oversized homes to people with shaky finaces. So, mostly Republicans.
Matthew Fletcher - September 19, 2008 2:40 pm
Yes Sean, suggesting that the government should have killed 150 of its own citizens simply to teach them a lesson is only "a little over the top."
And I'm sure the fact that the people under discussion for being culled by the state were all First Nations had no bearing on the comments whatsoever. Because, really, the government of Canada has a great history when it comes to dealing with First Nations people.
Yes, there is no direct evidence the comments were racially motivated. But your dismissive attitude is part of the problem with the relationship between First Nations and non-First Nations in Canada.
Renee - September 19, 2008 2:44 pm
Sigh - "Slitting the vote" or, as it's known in other countries, "representative democracy."
Renee - September 19, 2008 2:44 pm
Sigh - "Splitting the vote" or, as it's known in other countries, "representative democracy."
Alan - September 19, 2008 2:44 pm
Not to mention the historic fact of the wiping out of these same people in the past as state policy...once again I link to but one example...
sean - September 19, 2008 4:06 pm
Well, so far the only proof that has been put forward is that Canada has as a nation a bad track history when it comes to treatmet of native Canadians. Thats a given. But you have yet to show that the person who made the statements made them for another reason than as a person frustrated with the weak handed way of dealing with a group of armed protesters.
I do not know the man, neither do you. I cannot speak for him. For all we know he is as you say he is, but we don't so you shouldn't.
Alan - September 19, 2008 4:26 pm
I think you are done on this point, Sean. It's getting a little boring.
Alan - September 19, 2008 4:53 pm
Compare and contrast: Harper in theory and in practice.