The reason why theres a Bloc Quebecois is to defend Quebec's intetest at Ottawa because the rest of Canada clearly dont give a damn about little french canuck with weird accent like us. But i do agree that Gilles Duceppe make us look like a bunch of complaining french... Kinda happy rhat he quit
Holy shit Buds! I've been reading the comments here and I'm thinking: You really know how to make friends! ;-) Obviously, conservatives are butthurt that their supporting a douche, liberals wished their had a lesser douche, neo-dems would love to be the douche and the bloc exists because of all these douchebags! I say fuck it.... I'm voting for Rick Mercer or Peter Mansbridge, whoever makes me laugh first! Hahaha Good commentary btw, Smiley! Now, let's do one on how to solve this D-bag crisis!
@metalskinstudios lol thanks. I can't wait for the election results tonight, if for no better reason than to watch the Ignatieff and his Liberals cry in their faux beer.
@SmilingSkeptic Yeah, looks like the NDP has gone up in the polls! I just hope Harper doesn't get a majority! It would almost feel like a rectal exam with sandpaper gloves! Not fun... ;-)
@metalskinstudios So far the vote seems split here in the maritimes between the PC and Liberals with the NDP making up ground. I think the NDP will do well through Quebec, and then maintain through Ontario. Sask, Manitoba and Alberta will favour the PCs, and it's up to BC to play it out. Going to be a late night.
@ToxSikk And if you watched my video, you'd see I said nothing will change, and we'll have a conservative minority government... again. Thanks for playing, you right-wing intellectual midget.
I watched the video. You seemed to take pleasure in insulting our prime minister, also clearly assirting your hatred for the conservative party. If harper is a shape shifting monster, you cant at least be a hippie? No matter my height, the right will onne again prevail and lefties will most likely be mad. The fact that i pointed out your madness, made you more mad. You realizing this, just made you even more mad. Go be mad. You mad left wing mad man.
@ToxSikk I do take great pleasure in insulting your reichminister. That's because he takes great pleasure in insulting Canadians. Pro-roguing parliament insulted the people who elected him. According to him, Atlantic Canadians all have a "defeatist attitude" and are nothing but deadbeats. This is not someone who believes in national unity. He's a douche, head to toe, plain and simple, and I have no problem recognizing and stating that.
@ToxSikk - you don't care that harper circumvents the rules? leave the political shit out and what you have is a criminal in parliament the RCMP should be investigating ASAP. votes shouldn't make one immune to the law.
Why are you so scared of the Greens? Could it be that we have been correct for more than 30 years. Nothing grows forever. If the economy "grows" by 2% a year until 2050, then we only need the resources of 13 planet Earths. Thats right. Do the math. So who actually are the raving loonies of Canadian politics? People voting for old parties who insist that by doing the same things over and over again they will somehow get a different result. Greens have a plan on how to move forward with new ideas
@BWyrostok ...scared of the greens? What on earth makes you think I'm scared of the greens? They're a waste of time and energy. I don't respect them, their ideas are lunatic, their leader is ineffective, their platform is a joke. This makes me scared of them?
My biggest problem with Stephen Harper was his attempt at trying to push american-style hate media onto our airwaves, and make us all pay for it.
He tried to create a "Fox News North" to mimic the kind of hate-filled propaganda with which Fox News has poisoned U.S. politics. The channel would have been run by Harper’s former top aide, and funded with money from our cable TV fees. Asswipe.
But at least he is in top of trying to secure our sovereignty in the arctic.
You said Harper has caused us an expensive election?? That's total bullshit and you know it. Iggy and his two patsys Jack and Jill are the reason we're going to the polls. And how do you expect anyone to take you serious when you never even mentioned The Beaver Party Of Canada? We support the legalization of prostitution. I DO love your laid back delivery but instead of making this video you could have been having a good healthy crap for yourself.
@SmilingSkeptic you lied about Ignatieff and the Liberal Party, you misrepresented the no-confidence vote, you lied about the necessity of this election, you made it seem like the 19 parties have some sort of Federal candidacy when they are mainly just provincial, and you spent the whole time giving Harper a big ol' Christmas present of a video. It might as well have been a CPC ad.
if this was presented as your personal opinion, that would be one thing - but it wasn't.
My understanding is that the non-confidence motion had nothing to do with the budget. The Government was brought down before the budget was introduced. The motion said that the Government had lost the confidence of the House because they were found in contempt of Parliament. In other words, they ignored the law as laid down by the highest court in the land.
funny how, even thought the governments and cultures are different, we can have the same problems, not many good canidates for the many offices of politics here either I think its a world wide issue but I can't be sure
The biggest thing going for the other parties is that (unlike Harper) they're unlikely do put a creationist in charge as minister of science and technology. No wonder science funding in Canada is dropping.
I feel like Harper is a little boy who doesn't want to let anyone else play with his toys. The other kids try and get him to share and instead he forces another election, in effect trying to take his toys and go home. He's treating our political system like a game of Yahtzee; he thinks he can just keep rerolling until he gets the Conservative majority he so desperately lusts for and we keep letting him get away with it. If I could, I would punch that douchebag in the throat until his eyes bled.
@ApprenticeCatLady And I take the Green party waaaaay more seriously that those fucking Bloc assholes. How in the hell did we end up with a federal political party that only runs candidates in one province and who's main platform is centered around tearing apart Canadian culture in favour of Quebec being recognized as a "nation within Canada", whatever the fuck that means.
Truth is, I wouldn't trust a single one of these fuckwits to watch my cats for the weekend, let alone to run the country.
One teensy problem with your "Harper is a little boy" theory:
It was the liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition that FORCED an unwanted election, not Harper and the conservatives. They tried the same thing two years ago around Xmastime, and failed.
a good clear exposition of Canadian Politics today. I have to say that there are some striking similarities with the UK, right up to and including the soviet east block satellite relationship with the US. We too have 3 principal parties and 2 national parties: Plaid Cymru in Wales and SNP in Scotland. These last 2--both left leaning--are accused of letting in conservatives from Thatcher to the even more right wing Blair. Time for anti-conservative parties to join forces in grand alliances?
@agentm83 Yeah, it's a distinction that's lost on a lot of people and I find it's easier to just say "socialist" and get the point across. It's a bit lazy, but I wasn't planning on explaining what a social democrat is.
@SmilingSkeptic Haha, fair enough then. Being a social democrat and a new NDP member I get nitpicky about what the NDP actually are. Since a lot of right-wingers do go around calling us socialists, which is inaccurate. But as long as you know about that that's good enough for me. :-)
I think we will have a majority Conservative gov :) You blame the election on Harper?!?!? Blame the cunts like the commy Layton.
I know who I am voting for .... AGAIN.
If you look a to recent poles, Harper is m ore popular than ever. The trouble makers are the forever losers (as usual). The NDP and the Libs are the ones costing us for this dog and pony show.
@Lagolop maybe harper should tell us what he is doing with our money ..maybe he should tell us how much is has and is spending on the was.what about the multi billion$ order for stealth fighters????for what!!!If you look at the polls he at around 40% in care your keeping score that means most of the people in Canada don't want him as the leader.Harper and his lies are costing us this dog and pony show.
@Lagolop Heh. Actually I just thought it was ironically funny that you misspelled witty when you were trying to be witty. It's called a sense of humour, you should look into it.
@Lagolop so saying Harper is a dick is desperate? gloat all ya want it won't change the fact he is a BAd leader..hell bush got elected twice.ad populum will not make him any better.
Yes, it is. And would you like to see run this country? Another barak hussein obama equivalent? We all see what a great job a non "conservative" does at leadership ;)
@Lagolop LOLOLOL ya under Chrétien five consecutive budget surpluses were recorded, $36 billion in debt was paid down, and taxes were cut by $100 billion (cumulatively) over five years.harper pissed that away and we are back in debt.
"Almost half of Canadians think Stephen Harper would make the best prime minister of Canada, while Michael Ignatieff, ironically, is viewed as the leader with the hidden agenda, according to an exclusive poll for Postmedia News as the election begins."
@Lagolop Almost half of Canadians are fucking morons then, willing to let that fucking douche Harper sell our futures to corporations while jamming his head so far up the Conservative American ass that he can't see daylight anymore. If you seriously vote for him, you are either not paying attention or you have no empathy for the people he is fucking over on a daily basis. Move to Texas, why don't you.
Why thank you ever so much for the national compliment. Well, THIS "Canadian moron" likes living in Alberta so will not contemplate a move to Texas any time soon.
@Lagolop Who should you have empathy for? How about all the people who are having their social services cut because of Harper's government? How about the lower and middle classes who have seen their tax rates soar while corporate tax rates have gone down? How about students, who's tuition costs have nearly tripled thanks to deregulation brought in by Harper's conservatives? I could go on but you wouldn't care anyway, so I won't bother. Enjoy Alberta once they start raping the oil sands!
@Lagolop A poll conducted by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail and CTV reveals a sharp drop in the past month in Mr. Harper’s leadership index score.A poll released Friday by Abacus Data suggests the federal Conservatives are now first choice of 38 per cent of decided voters and that the Liberals have slipped to 23 per cent in popular support. The same survey put the New Democrats at 19 per cent, the Bloc Quebecois at 11 per cent DO THE MATH
"If the polls are accurate Harper could win by a landslide, never mind a majority,” said Wiseman, who is an associated professor at the University of Toronto’s department of political science."
If you think conservative government isn't that bad, let them reign for a few years. They'll fuck Canada up faster than you can say "Austerity measures".
Oh come on...the non-confidence vote has nothing to do with the budget, and you know it. It has to do with politics, and with clutching at power by any means necessary.
Canadians had already rejected the idea of a coalition two years ago (when Dion was still the liberal leader), remember?
I agree that Harper is a douchebag, but sadly, he is the most competent douchebag out of a horrendous lot of douchebags. Do you honestly think Ignatieff or layton would do a better job?
@boskinator Okay, what about this video makes people think that I think Ignatieff or Layton would be better? You did watch the video, right? You know the non-confidence vote would not have happened if the budget successfully passed. The opposition parties would have gotten no political leverage for the vote, and it would have been a BLATANT power-grab. ...and the only person talking about a coalition gov't is Douchebag Harper with his fear-mongering campaign.
1) I ASKED you a question "Do you honestly think Ignatieff or Layton would do a better job?" - you didn't answer. You're spending so much time + energy ripping on Harper and all conservatives, for that matter, but you're not offering any possible alternatives. I want to know who you think would do a better job.
2) The coalition is clutching at straws, and the budget was a perfect way to force an election. Period. If you think differently, you are either naive or a liar.
@boskinator You're spending so much time + energy ripping on Harper and all conservatives,you know like Harper does in all his ad's I guess when you have no real platform your running on all you can do is slam the opposition.If you think differently, you are either naive or a liar.
I wasn't actually ripping Harper and all conservatives. As a matter of fact, I like them the best out of the three main parties - I like where Canada is right now (unlike most of you lefty whining bitches).
Did I piss you off by pointing out the truth regarding the 'coalition' playing politics by using the budget as their excuse to gang up for the non-confidence vote?
ps, try using YOUR OWN WORDS in your next post...plagiarism is a sign of intellectual laziness.
The politically correct left will ruin this country. Layton should be hung drawn and quartered OR sent to saudi arabia. The trouble with cunts that dislike a conservative gov, is that they ARE lazy as you point out. Gimme gimme gimme; that's all they want. They want to assume ZERO responsibility for themselves.
The non confidence vote is pure politics but the polls show Harper is more popular that ever. Hopefully we will get a majority Conservative gov this time :))
@boskinator LOLOL its called quoting ya moron LOL you can't be that stupid.Harper is the one that wanted a 'coalition' with the block when the Lib were in power..why was it a good idea for him and not for anyone else.So when Harper said that "the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority," that included the Bloc Quebecois. He could not have formed a minority coalition government without the 54 Bloc Quebecois seats.
1) 39% for PC is a higher percentage than any other party. That's why they're in power, and that's why this election is useless (to the tune of $300M out of our pockets).
2) why pipe in and comment here if you're not willing to offer your political position? wuss.
3) read the "two wrongs don't make a right" sentence again, genius. (pointing and laughing)
@boskinator Harper received a 36 per cent approval rating, followed by Layton (34 per cent) and Ignatieff (29 per cent). Conversely, 47 per cent said they disapprove of Harper’s job performance,the poll showed Harper’s approval rating is 38 per cent, compared with Ignatieff (32 per cent). But Harper’s disapproval rate is also higher than Ignatieff (46 per cent versus 38 per cent)In Quebec, Harper’s disapproval rating is higher than in any other region, standing at 58 per cent.
@boskinator Layton proposed a $2.3 billion job-creation plan that would lower taxes for small business and provide a tax credit for companies that take on new hires.
He'd pay for the package by reversing Conservative cuts to the corporate tax rate.
@TheMadShangiOwnz I agree. Chretien got MAJOR respect from me when he made that decision. Then Paul Martin happened and the liberals have been wallowing in mediocrity ever since.
If they plan on changing the government so many times, I think they should let in the marijuana party for a year. It couldn't hurt, and it just might be fun.
So, where would the money for senior's programs come from? What would benefit me more as a Canadian is to be taxed less, which means less money available for social programs. People need to be more financially responsible, exercising more self-restraint when it comes to what they want and what they need. To not be so frivolous in their spending and so delinquent when it comes to managing dept and their investments. Especially, when it comes to planning for retirement.
@helical4 You have a problem with seniors programs? You know you're going to be one some day, if everything goes well, right? ...and you know you're going to need some of those plans if your own retirement planning goes tits-up, huh? Would be nice to know that some help is there, but you'll probably feel better knowing you voted that assistance away.
@SmilingSkeptic - No, I am not against seniors programs. What I am against is dumping more and more of our tax dollars into all these social institutions. If people know that they will get money for nothing, then they will not work very hard to secure it themselves. And where is the reward for the individuals that do work to secure their own savings, retirement, etc. I don't plan on being one of those who will rely solely on social security.
@SmilingSkeptic then you would know Ignatieff is the first to unite the Liberal Party of Canada, and as for being "wishy-washy"... well... any glance of footage from parliament would show Ignatieff as anything but. I'd say more like a python who will not let go until we have a better government. Also, Ignatieff has taken this election by storm online opening himself up and being unashamed about how he has put Harper in his place under 140 char. but, you know that.
@williamcardno I disagree. In every interview I've seen Ignatieff comes off as a pompous ass at best and a deluded elitist at worst. "Wishy-washy" is being overly kind.
@ApprenticeCatLady This. I'm not a fan of the word "elitist" because of the way it's overused in the American political arena, but man, does it ever describe Ignatieff. And the Liberals say Harper is out of touch...
@williamcardno The FIRST to unite the 150-160 year old party. Hyperbole much? CatLady here is correct, I was beign generous in calling him "wishy-washy". No leader better personifies his party. Not even Harper. A python, huh? You sure a snake is the imagery you want to use for your candidate? And as far as the Twitterverse goes, being Champion of teh Internets won't get you far unless you can move teh Internets to the polls. The microwave generation is less and less interested.
I wish Canadians would vote for any independants that are in their riding. That is my choice if possible. No party........no loyalty to a private corporation. Those who vote them in are where the loyalties must end.
thank you for summing up your government process/parties, SSkeptic.i am woefully ignorant of other forms of government, and i appreciate this presentation.
Very good synopsis. there is one other option. Assuming another Harper minority, the opposition could move for another nonconfidence, when parliament resumes. This takes courage. The GG would then ask the opposition if they could form a government that has the confidence of parliament. If the answer is yes, they would be given the mandate to govern. Not much chance this would happen, unless Harper is emboldened enough to continue to piss on parliament.He may even try the same budget.We can hope.
In Canada, they too elect the lesser of 2 weasels. In Amerikkka we now have government of by and for the corporations. At least in Canada politics is driven by the people. Nowhere in Amerikkka are the elected representatives speaking for the people, they speak for their money masters, the corporations, for as you know, corporations in Amerikkka are people. Yes, for profit corporations, actually non-entities are by Supreme Court rulings, actual live people and they have the same rights as people.
@journeyer58 Yet these self-same corporations pay not one dime in taxes. BP, Exxon-Mobil, GE, and all the major corporations in Amerikkka, pay nothing in taxes and also receive money back from the government. Besides which they are given tax breaks to come into cities and towns and pollute the hell out of the local environment. We in Amerikkka are faced with the loss of the voice of the people in our political system. I would much rather have the system like Canada has then the one we have now.
Sounds a bit like Sweden. Thanks (?) to the Sweden democrats as newcomer we now have a minority gouverment, but I would say it has bouth ups and downs. Do you in Canada have any immigration-critic parties like the Sweden democrats?
@hafssol82 No, we don't. Every once in a while the conservatives (the governing party) make noises about tightening immigration "loopholes" but there hasn't been much done. In fact, there are quite a few advocacy groups pushing for immigration reform that seek to streamline the process and make things less difficult.
@SmilingSkeptic Yes, here, the (sort of) right wing gouverment recently agreed to expanded health care and school for illegal imigrants, together with the green party. This has got a lot of critics to say that it is only going to increase the alenation and create parallel societies. However, many in Sweden look at Canada as a model for good intergration, why do you think that is? Would you say its easy to get into the canadian society as a newcomer?
Why exactly do you think harper is a douchbag? Do you think Ignatieff can lead this nation any better then harper? Harper isnt the best leader that much is obvious. The liberals non confidence motion coupled with the NDP shooting down the budget (even though its a fairly decent budget in which ndp favored progams are funded) Was not the correct thing to do. Liberals even said they would vote down the budget even before it was outlined. Harper will stil lbe the best option for us i think
@Candabraxis Why do I think Harper is a douchebag. Let me count the ways. 1. He's a Conservative. 2. He's a "big C" Conservative. 3. He's the leader of the Conservative Party. 4. He has a typical "western" attitude, especially toward Atlantic Canada. 5. He's a douchebag. 6. Constant proroguing. 7. Cutbacks to science research funding 8. Can't make up mind on Afghanistan 9. INCREDIBLY wasteful with spending 10. Takes "American" approach to Canadian politics and on and on. In short, DOUCHEBAG
@SmilingSkeptic 11. He willfully shut down parliament repeatedly with absolutely no respect for the democratic process (what of it we have, anyway) for no better reason than because he felt like it. 12. He tried to change the CRTC to make the definition of 'TRUTH' more flexible in order to create a Canadian version of the Fox News program as a conservative party mouthpiece, legalizing the ability to LIE AND CALL IT NEWS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO!
@SmilingSkeptic You know people out west think the liberals will screw them over just as people in the east assume the cons will screw them over. But i still wonder, do you think Ignatieff can lead our nation any better then harper can? lets face it, NDP and bloc wont win I do agree thiselection will have us voting for the lesser of two evils.
@Candabraxis ...what makes you think that I think Ignatieff can do a better job? Did you watch my video, or are you just reacting to my "Harper's a douchebag" comment?
@SmilingSkeptic well i assume based on your comments you are from the east, thus i assume you will vote liberal. Sad fact is, a vote for any party thats not liberal or conservative is more or less a waste of a vote. Personally I dont think either party can do a good job, but alas they really are the only two options. I could be wrong. Yes i did watch the video and i do agree that its semi irritating to have yet another election with no decent partys but will that ever change? I doubt it.
@ooolikujy ...aaaaand why were they in contempt of parliament? The contempt motion would have fallen dead in the water if Harper had cooperated and the budget had passed. At that point the contempt motion was just a formality, some pre-campaign posturing.
My brother's, fiance's mother has tried to explain the Canadian political process to me. She lives in Victoria and as far as I know will be voting Green.
Honestly, looking at other places, I am happy to have the system we have in the US... not saying it's perfect or that it's the best... and it doesn't mean I LOVE it or anything.
@tattooskin72 Canadian politics is essentially the same as the US's. We elect a talking head based on being the lesser of 2 evils or who's the most charismatic, and regardless of who wins, contributors come before constituents, wedge issues remain and every election promise is eitherbroken or warped in some way that makes people go "That's it! Next year I vote for the other party!"
Modern democracies are not much more than elected dictatorships repackaged for public approval. :/
your a good man smilingskeptic
MyDormantSoul 3 months ago
The reason why theres a Bloc Quebecois is to defend Quebec's intetest at Ottawa because the rest of Canada clearly dont give a damn about little french canuck with weird accent like us. But i do agree that Gilles Duceppe make us look like a bunch of complaining french... Kinda happy rhat he quit
MitchieeP 10 months ago
A Conservative majority :)))
Lagolop 10 months ago
I voted NDP. We need NDP for Canada, too bad Harper got in again.
m1up 10 months ago
@metalskinstudios ready for your exam?
youlickturds 10 months ago
Holy shit Buds! I've been reading the comments here and I'm thinking: You really know how to make friends! ;-) Obviously, conservatives are butthurt that their supporting a douche, liberals wished their had a lesser douche, neo-dems would love to be the douche and the bloc exists because of all these douchebags! I say fuck it.... I'm voting for Rick Mercer or Peter Mansbridge, whoever makes me laugh first! Hahaha Good commentary btw, Smiley! Now, let's do one on how to solve this D-bag crisis!
metalskinstudios 10 months ago
@metalskinstudios lol thanks. I can't wait for the election results tonight, if for no better reason than to watch the Ignatieff and his Liberals cry in their faux beer.
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic Yeah, looks like the NDP has gone up in the polls! I just hope Harper doesn't get a majority! It would almost feel like a rectal exam with sandpaper gloves! Not fun... ;-)
metalskinstudios 10 months ago
@metalskinstudios So far the vote seems split here in the maritimes between the PC and Liberals with the NDP making up ground. I think the NDP will do well through Quebec, and then maintain through Ontario. Sask, Manitoba and Alberta will favour the PCs, and it's up to BC to play it out. Going to be a late night.
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic
I always thought stephen harper was a robot.
DanMichaelSoul 2 months ago
The conservatives will win the next election. Deal with it you left wing hippie power nuts.
ToxSikk 10 months ago
@ToxSikk And if you watched my video, you'd see I said nothing will change, and we'll have a conservative minority government... again. Thanks for playing, you right-wing intellectual midget.
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic
I watched the video. You seemed to take pleasure in insulting our prime minister, also clearly assirting your hatred for the conservative party. If harper is a shape shifting monster, you cant at least be a hippie? No matter my height, the right will onne again prevail and lefties will most likely be mad. The fact that i pointed out your madness, made you more mad. You realizing this, just made you even more mad. Go be mad. You mad left wing mad man.
ToxSikk 10 months ago
@ToxSikk I do take great pleasure in insulting your reichminister. That's because he takes great pleasure in insulting Canadians. Pro-roguing parliament insulted the people who elected him. According to him, Atlantic Canadians all have a "defeatist attitude" and are nothing but deadbeats. This is not someone who believes in national unity. He's a douche, head to toe, plain and simple, and I have no problem recognizing and stating that.
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
@ToxSikk - you don't care that harper circumvents the rules? leave the political shit out and what you have is a criminal in parliament the RCMP should be investigating ASAP. votes shouldn't make one immune to the law.
sinephase 10 months ago
Why are you so scared of the Greens? Could it be that we have been correct for more than 30 years. Nothing grows forever. If the economy "grows" by 2% a year until 2050, then we only need the resources of 13 planet Earths. Thats right. Do the math. So who actually are the raving loonies of Canadian politics? People voting for old parties who insist that by doing the same things over and over again they will somehow get a different result. Greens have a plan on how to move forward with new ideas
BWyrostok 10 months ago
@BWyrostok ...scared of the greens? What on earth makes you think I'm scared of the greens? They're a waste of time and energy. I don't respect them, their ideas are lunatic, their leader is ineffective, their platform is a joke. This makes me scared of them?
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
My biggest problem with Stephen Harper was his attempt at trying to push american-style hate media onto our airwaves, and make us all pay for it.
He tried to create a "Fox News North" to mimic the kind of hate-filled propaganda with which Fox News has poisoned U.S. politics. The channel would have been run by Harper’s former top aide, and funded with money from our cable TV fees. Asswipe.
But at least he is in top of trying to secure our sovereignty in the arctic.
TheJamesrocket 10 months ago
Wow you know what you're talking about! VOTE CPC!! EVERYONE VOTE CPC! FOR NATIONAL EQUALITY!
leshittalker23 10 months ago
You said Harper has caused us an expensive election?? That's total bullshit and you know it. Iggy and his two patsys Jack and Jill are the reason we're going to the polls. And how do you expect anyone to take you serious when you never even mentioned The Beaver Party Of Canada? We support the legalization of prostitution. I DO love your laid back delivery but instead of making this video you could have been having a good healthy crap for yourself.
CanadianBeaverBand 10 months ago
Thanks for the Canadian civics lesson. I appreciate the info.
discoverybg31 10 months ago
@discoverybg31 very little of what was said here was true.
williamcardno 10 months ago
@williamcardno Hyperbole much?
SmilingSkeptic 10 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic you lied about Ignatieff and the Liberal Party, you misrepresented the no-confidence vote, you lied about the necessity of this election, you made it seem like the 19 parties have some sort of Federal candidacy when they are mainly just provincial, and you spent the whole time giving Harper a big ol' Christmas present of a video. It might as well have been a CPC ad.
if this was presented as your personal opinion, that would be one thing - but it wasn't.
so, no. no hyperbole.
williamcardno 10 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic The only things that were true that you said were:
1) we are in another election
2) harper is a douche bag
3) the bloc come off as spoiled brats
4) the story about the CRAP.
williamcardno 10 months ago
My understanding is that the non-confidence motion had nothing to do with the budget. The Government was brought down before the budget was introduced. The motion said that the Government had lost the confidence of the House because they were found in contempt of Parliament. In other words, they ignored the law as laid down by the highest court in the land.
univacbill 11 months ago
Sadly, Australian too is currently rife with woeful political choices.
OccamsView 11 months ago
i like the pirate party
jmm1233 11 months ago
funny how, even thought the governments and cultures are different, we can have the same problems, not many good canidates for the many offices of politics here either I think its a world wide issue but I can't be sure
madamecrystal 11 months ago
fatty mcdaddy
erdal0 11 months ago
Very informative.
KenpoMike2011 11 months ago
The biggest thing going for the other parties is that (unlike Harper) they're unlikely do put a creationist in charge as minister of science and technology. No wonder science funding in Canada is dropping.
apfejes 11 months ago
@MrWizardWithin (rolls eyes) Whatever.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
I feel like Harper is a little boy who doesn't want to let anyone else play with his toys. The other kids try and get him to share and instead he forces another election, in effect trying to take his toys and go home. He's treating our political system like a game of Yahtzee; he thinks he can just keep rerolling until he gets the Conservative majority he so desperately lusts for and we keep letting him get away with it. If I could, I would punch that douchebag in the throat until his eyes bled.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@ApprenticeCatLady And I take the Green party waaaaay more seriously that those fucking Bloc assholes. How in the hell did we end up with a federal political party that only runs candidates in one province and who's main platform is centered around tearing apart Canadian culture in favour of Quebec being recognized as a "nation within Canada", whatever the fuck that means.
Truth is, I wouldn't trust a single one of these fuckwits to watch my cats for the weekend, let alone to run the country.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@ApprenticeCatLady
One teensy problem with your "Harper is a little boy" theory:
It was the liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition that FORCED an unwanted election, not Harper and the conservatives. They tried the same thing two years ago around Xmastime, and failed.
boskinator 11 months ago
ReeeeFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORM party.
had to be said.
Darkfirebrand 11 months ago
I wish we could just up and purge the entire congress.
TheRedneckAtheist 11 months ago
OMG Its Father Grigori!
Vire70 11 months ago
a good clear exposition of Canadian Politics today. I have to say that there are some striking similarities with the UK, right up to and including the soviet east block satellite relationship with the US. We too have 3 principal parties and 2 national parties: Plaid Cymru in Wales and SNP in Scotland. These last 2--both left leaning--are accused of letting in conservatives from Thatcher to the even more right wing Blair. Time for anti-conservative parties to join forces in grand alliances?
CobinRain 11 months ago
Quick correction: The NDP are social democrats, not socialists.
agentm83 11 months ago
@agentm83 Yeah, it's a distinction that's lost on a lot of people and I find it's easier to just say "socialist" and get the point across. It's a bit lazy, but I wasn't planning on explaining what a social democrat is.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago 2
@SmilingSkeptic Haha, fair enough then. Being a social democrat and a new NDP member I get nitpicky about what the NDP actually are. Since a lot of right-wingers do go around calling us socialists, which is inaccurate. But as long as you know about that that's good enough for me. :-)
agentm83 11 months ago
I think we will have a majority Conservative gov :) You blame the election on Harper?!?!? Blame the cunts like the commy Layton.
I know who I am voting for .... AGAIN.
If you look a to recent poles, Harper is m ore popular than ever. The trouble makers are the forever losers (as usual). The NDP and the Libs are the ones costing us for this dog and pony show.
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop maybe harper should tell us what he is doing with our money ..maybe he should tell us how much is has and is spending on the was.what about the multi billion$ order for stealth fighters????for what!!!If you look at the polls he at around 40% in care your keeping score that means most of the people in Canada don't want him as the leader.Harper and his lies are costing us this dog and pony show.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
"What is clear though is that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives entered this campaign with a virtual majority."
-National Post April 1-
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop ...you didn't notice that was published on April Fool's Day?
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic
So whitty ;) We'll see who the fools are on election day.
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop You spelled witty wrong.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@ApprenticeCatLady
How big of you (and infantile) to quibble over a typo. Pathetic.
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop Heh. Actually I just thought it was ironically funny that you misspelled witty when you were trying to be witty. It's called a sense of humour, you should look into it.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@Lagolop the fools on election day will be people who voted for Harper .win or lose won't change that fact.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
You are now demeaning urself by acting desperate. Let's regroup after the election so I can gloat :))
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop so saying Harper is a dick is desperate? gloat all ya want it won't change the fact he is a BAd leader..hell bush got elected twice.ad populum will not make him any better.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
Yes, it is. And would you like to see run this country? Another barak hussein obama equivalent? We all see what a great job a non "conservative" does at leadership ;)
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop LOLOLOL ya under Chrétien five consecutive budget surpluses were recorded, $36 billion in debt was paid down, and taxes were cut by $100 billion (cumulatively) over five years.harper pissed that away and we are back in debt.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
"Almost half of Canadians think Stephen Harper would make the best prime minister of Canada, while Michael Ignatieff, ironically, is viewed as the leader with the hidden agenda, according to an exclusive poll for Postmedia News as the election begins."
-PostMedia
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop Almost half of Canadians are fucking morons then, willing to let that fucking douche Harper sell our futures to corporations while jamming his head so far up the Conservative American ass that he can't see daylight anymore. If you seriously vote for him, you are either not paying attention or you have no empathy for the people he is fucking over on a daily basis. Move to Texas, why don't you.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@ApprenticeCatLady
Why thank you ever so much for the national compliment. Well, THIS "Canadian moron" likes living in Alberta so will not contemplate a move to Texas any time soon.
Exactly which ppl should I have empathy for?
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop Who should you have empathy for? How about all the people who are having their social services cut because of Harper's government? How about the lower and middle classes who have seen their tax rates soar while corporate tax rates have gone down? How about students, who's tuition costs have nearly tripled thanks to deregulation brought in by Harper's conservatives? I could go on but you wouldn't care anyway, so I won't bother. Enjoy Alberta once they start raping the oil sands!
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@ApprenticeCatLady
"How about all the people who are having their social services cut because of Harper's government"
Get a job and develop some self responsibility. It is "social services" that are the ruin of us.
Spoken like a true leftist. Ya, we'll get the oil out of the oil sands. Better than buying filthy arab oil. Where do you live, which province?
Lagolop 11 months ago
@Lagolop A poll conducted by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail and CTV reveals a sharp drop in the past month in Mr. Harper’s leadership index score.A poll released Friday by Abacus Data suggests the federal Conservatives are now first choice of 38 per cent of decided voters and that the Liberals have slipped to 23 per cent in popular support. The same survey put the New Democrats at 19 per cent, the Bloc Quebecois at 11 per cent DO THE MATH
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
Oh I see, YOUR research counts but mine doesn't. LOL. We'll see :))
Lagolop 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
"If the polls are accurate Harper could win by a landslide, never mind a majority,” said Wiseman, who is an associated professor at the University of Toronto’s department of political science."
-Daily Planet
Lagolop 11 months ago
If you think conservative government isn't that bad, let them reign for a few years. They'll fuck Canada up faster than you can say "Austerity measures".
Pseudologic 11 months ago
"Harper has caused us an expensive election"
Uhm, wasn't it the non-confidence votes of the liberals, ndp and bloc that CAUSED this useless election?
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator And if Harper had cooperated on the budget, those motions would never have come forth.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic
Oh come on...the non-confidence vote has nothing to do with the budget, and you know it. It has to do with politics, and with clutching at power by any means necessary.
Canadians had already rejected the idea of a coalition two years ago (when Dion was still the liberal leader), remember?
I agree that Harper is a douchebag, but sadly, he is the most competent douchebag out of a horrendous lot of douchebags. Do you honestly think Ignatieff or layton would do a better job?
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator Okay, what about this video makes people think that I think Ignatieff or Layton would be better? You did watch the video, right? You know the non-confidence vote would not have happened if the budget successfully passed. The opposition parties would have gotten no political leverage for the vote, and it would have been a BLATANT power-grab. ...and the only person talking about a coalition gov't is Douchebag Harper with his fear-mongering campaign.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic
1) I ASKED you a question "Do you honestly think Ignatieff or Layton would do a better job?" - you didn't answer. You're spending so much time + energy ripping on Harper and all conservatives, for that matter, but you're not offering any possible alternatives. I want to know who you think would do a better job.
2) The coalition is clutching at straws, and the budget was a perfect way to force an election. Period. If you think differently, you are either naive or a liar.
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator You're spending so much time + energy ripping on Harper and all conservatives,you know like Harper does in all his ad's I guess when you have no real platform your running on all you can do is slam the opposition.If you think differently, you are either naive or a liar.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
I wasn't actually ripping Harper and all conservatives. As a matter of fact, I like them the best out of the three main parties - I like where Canada is right now (unlike most of you lefty whining bitches).
Did I piss you off by pointing out the truth regarding the 'coalition' playing politics by using the budget as their excuse to gang up for the non-confidence vote?
ps, try using YOUR OWN WORDS in your next post...plagiarism is a sign of intellectual laziness.
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator
The politically correct left will ruin this country. Layton should be hung drawn and quartered OR sent to saudi arabia. The trouble with cunts that dislike a conservative gov, is that they ARE lazy as you point out. Gimme gimme gimme; that's all they want. They want to assume ZERO responsibility for themselves.
The non confidence vote is pure politics but the polls show Harper is more popular that ever. Hopefully we will get a majority Conservative gov this time :))
Lagolop 11 months ago
@boskinator LOLOL its called quoting ya moron LOL you can't be that stupid.Harper is the one that wanted a 'coalition' with the block when the Lib were in power..why was it a good idea for him and not for anyone else.So when Harper said that "the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority," that included the Bloc Quebecois. He could not have formed a minority coalition government without the 54 Bloc Quebecois seats.
wow your dumb
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
1) try using quotation marks then, you illiterate buffoon
2) coalition: two wrongs don't make a right, and as we saw in December 2008, Canadians DON'T support a liberal, ndp and bloc coalition.
who's dumb?
who are you voting for? who do you think is best qualified? tell us why.
imo, the conservatives are the best of a horrible lot.
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator as a matter of fact Canadians don't support PC's that is why there is a minority gov.
as of now they only have the support of around 39% of Canadians.It's none of your bizz who I vote for.
and what are you the grammar police?"two wrongs don't make a right, and as we saw in December 2008," there should be no "and"
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@alltiedup217
1) 39% for PC is a higher percentage than any other party. That's why they're in power, and that's why this election is useless (to the tune of $300M out of our pockets).
2) why pipe in and comment here if you're not willing to offer your political position? wuss.
3) read the "two wrongs don't make a right" sentence again, genius. (pointing and laughing)
4) shit or get off the pot, son.
boskinator 11 months ago
@boskinator Harper received a 36 per cent approval rating, followed by Layton (34 per cent) and Ignatieff (29 per cent). Conversely, 47 per cent said they disapprove of Harper’s job performance,the poll showed Harper’s approval rating is 38 per cent, compared with Ignatieff (32 per cent). But Harper’s disapproval rate is also higher than Ignatieff (46 per cent versus 38 per cent)In Quebec, Harper’s disapproval rating is higher than in any other region, standing at 58 per cent.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@boskinator Layton proposed a $2.3 billion job-creation plan that would lower taxes for small business and provide a tax credit for companies that take on new hires.
He'd pay for the package by reversing Conservative cuts to the corporate tax rate.
alltiedup217 11 months ago
@TheMadShangiOwnz I agree. Chretien got MAJOR respect from me when he made that decision. Then Paul Martin happened and the liberals have been wallowing in mediocrity ever since.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
If they plan on changing the government so many times, I think they should let in the marijuana party for a year. It couldn't hurt, and it just might be fun.
bubbarmybubbarmy 11 months ago
So, where would the money for senior's programs come from? What would benefit me more as a Canadian is to be taxed less, which means less money available for social programs. People need to be more financially responsible, exercising more self-restraint when it comes to what they want and what they need. To not be so frivolous in their spending and so delinquent when it comes to managing dept and their investments. Especially, when it comes to planning for retirement.
helical4 11 months ago
@helical4 You have a problem with seniors programs? You know you're going to be one some day, if everything goes well, right? ...and you know you're going to need some of those plans if your own retirement planning goes tits-up, huh? Would be nice to know that some help is there, but you'll probably feel better knowing you voted that assistance away.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago 2
@SmilingSkeptic - No, I am not against seniors programs. What I am against is dumping more and more of our tax dollars into all these social institutions. If people know that they will get money for nothing, then they will not work very hard to secure it themselves. And where is the reward for the individuals that do work to secure their own savings, retirement, etc. I don't plan on being one of those who will rely solely on social security.
helical4 11 months ago
I've been voting rhino for years. didn't know they were still in business, though.
pirbird14 11 months ago
You are wrong, sir. Pretty much everything you said about the liberal party is false. have you even followed this election or read the LPC platform?
williamcardno 11 months ago
@williamcardno I've been involved in politics at all levels since I was twelve years old. I think I know a thing or two about the Liberals.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic then you would know Ignatieff is the first to unite the Liberal Party of Canada, and as for being "wishy-washy"... well... any glance of footage from parliament would show Ignatieff as anything but. I'd say more like a python who will not let go until we have a better government. Also, Ignatieff has taken this election by storm online opening himself up and being unashamed about how he has put Harper in his place under 140 char. but, you know that.
williamcardno 11 months ago
@williamcardno I disagree. In every interview I've seen Ignatieff comes off as a pompous ass at best and a deluded elitist at worst. "Wishy-washy" is being overly kind.
ApprenticeCatLady 11 months ago
@ApprenticeCatLady This. I'm not a fan of the word "elitist" because of the way it's overused in the American political arena, but man, does it ever describe Ignatieff. And the Liberals say Harper is out of touch...
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@williamcardno The FIRST to unite the 150-160 year old party. Hyperbole much? CatLady here is correct, I was beign generous in calling him "wishy-washy". No leader better personifies his party. Not even Harper. A python, huh? You sure a snake is the imagery you want to use for your candidate? And as far as the Twitterverse goes, being Champion of teh Internets won't get you far unless you can move teh Internets to the polls. The microwave generation is less and less interested.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
I wish Canadians would vote for any independants that are in their riding. That is my choice if possible. No party........no loyalty to a private corporation. Those who vote them in are where the loyalties must end.
buddcinder 11 months ago
And I thought the American Government system was a mess.
slicingwater 11 months ago
@slicingwater nope. ours is just as fucking stupid...just differant.
buddcinder 11 months ago
haha!ANY day is a GOOD day when you can quote a keanu reeves movie, my friend:I WILL be excellent to those around me! Party on, dude! :D
practicalmagic9 11 months ago
thank you for summing up your government process/parties, SSkeptic.i am woefully ignorant of other forms of government, and i appreciate this presentation.
practicalmagic9 11 months ago
Very good synopsis. there is one other option. Assuming another Harper minority, the opposition could move for another nonconfidence, when parliament resumes. This takes courage. The GG would then ask the opposition if they could form a government that has the confidence of parliament. If the answer is yes, they would be given the mandate to govern. Not much chance this would happen, unless Harper is emboldened enough to continue to piss on parliament.He may even try the same budget.We can hope.
rollsthepaul 11 months ago
In Canada, they too elect the lesser of 2 weasels. In Amerikkka we now have government of by and for the corporations. At least in Canada politics is driven by the people. Nowhere in Amerikkka are the elected representatives speaking for the people, they speak for their money masters, the corporations, for as you know, corporations in Amerikkka are people. Yes, for profit corporations, actually non-entities are by Supreme Court rulings, actual live people and they have the same rights as people.
journeyer58 11 months ago
@journeyer58 Yet these self-same corporations pay not one dime in taxes. BP, Exxon-Mobil, GE, and all the major corporations in Amerikkka, pay nothing in taxes and also receive money back from the government. Besides which they are given tax breaks to come into cities and towns and pollute the hell out of the local environment. We in Amerikkka are faced with the loss of the voice of the people in our political system. I would much rather have the system like Canada has then the one we have now.
journeyer58 11 months ago
Sounds a bit like Sweden. Thanks (?) to the Sweden democrats as newcomer we now have a minority gouverment, but I would say it has bouth ups and downs. Do you in Canada have any immigration-critic parties like the Sweden democrats?
hafssol82 11 months ago
@hafssol82 No, we don't. Every once in a while the conservatives (the governing party) make noises about tightening immigration "loopholes" but there hasn't been much done. In fact, there are quite a few advocacy groups pushing for immigration reform that seek to streamline the process and make things less difficult.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic Yes, here, the (sort of) right wing gouverment recently agreed to expanded health care and school for illegal imigrants, together with the green party. This has got a lot of critics to say that it is only going to increase the alenation and create parallel societies. However, many in Sweden look at Canada as a model for good intergration, why do you think that is? Would you say its easy to get into the canadian society as a newcomer?
hafssol82 11 months ago
Lets hope the Marijuana Party get elected, after a few days no one will remember anything.
123backinyerface 11 months ago
The liberal non confidence motion is really what caused the fall. Budget really wasnt part of it.
Candabraxis 11 months ago
Why exactly do you think harper is a douchbag? Do you think Ignatieff can lead this nation any better then harper? Harper isnt the best leader that much is obvious. The liberals non confidence motion coupled with the NDP shooting down the budget (even though its a fairly decent budget in which ndp favored progams are funded) Was not the correct thing to do. Liberals even said they would vote down the budget even before it was outlined. Harper will stil lbe the best option for us i think
Candabraxis 11 months ago
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago 6
@SmilingSkeptic 11. He willfully shut down parliament repeatedly with absolutely no respect for the democratic process (what of it we have, anyway) for no better reason than because he felt like it. 12. He tried to change the CRTC to make the definition of 'TRUTH' more flexible in order to create a Canadian version of the Fox News program as a conservative party mouthpiece, legalizing the ability to LIE AND CALL IT NEWS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO!
That pissed me off quite a bit.
Etimos 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic You know people out west think the liberals will screw them over just as people in the east assume the cons will screw them over. But i still wonder, do you think Ignatieff can lead our nation any better then harper can? lets face it, NDP and bloc wont win I do agree thiselection will have us voting for the lesser of two evils.
Candabraxis 11 months ago
@Candabraxis ...what makes you think that I think Ignatieff can do a better job? Did you watch my video, or are you just reacting to my "Harper's a douchebag" comment?
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
@SmilingSkeptic well i assume based on your comments you are from the east, thus i assume you will vote liberal. Sad fact is, a vote for any party thats not liberal or conservative is more or less a waste of a vote. Personally I dont think either party can do a good job, but alas they really are the only two options. I could be wrong. Yes i did watch the video and i do agree that its semi irritating to have yet another election with no decent partys but will that ever change? I doubt it.
Candabraxis 11 months ago
govt. fell on a different motion. fell on a liberal non-confidence motion over cons. being found in contempt of parliament.
oops.
ooolikujy 11 months ago
@ooolikujy ...aaaaand why were they in contempt of parliament? The contempt motion would have fallen dead in the water if Harper had cooperated and the budget had passed. At that point the contempt motion was just a formality, some pre-campaign posturing.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
So you've got the Canadian version of George Bush, now? My condolences.
GoblinXXX 11 months ago
@GoblinXXX Well, he's not quite that bad. Our Bush can say "nuclear" correctly 9 times out of 10.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago 4
@SmilingSkeptic And apparently your version hasn't declared any "crusades" on anyone, yet.
GoblinXXX 11 months ago
@GoblinXXX No, not yet.
SmilingSkeptic 11 months ago
Chrystal clear! Thanks so much!
It's amazing how similar Israeli and Canadian politics are on so many issues.
Thanks again, i really appreciate it.
Joniversity 11 months ago
My brother's, fiance's mother has tried to explain the Canadian political process to me. She lives in Victoria and as far as I know will be voting Green.
Honestly, looking at other places, I am happy to have the system we have in the US... not saying it's perfect or that it's the best... and it doesn't mean I LOVE it or anything.
tattooskin72 11 months ago
@tattooskin72 Canadian politics is essentially the same as the US's. We elect a talking head based on being the lesser of 2 evils or who's the most charismatic, and regardless of who wins, contributors come before constituents, wedge issues remain and every election promise is eitherbroken or warped in some way that makes people go "That's it! Next year I vote for the other party!"
Modern democracies are not much more than elected dictatorships repackaged for public approval. :/
TheHigherVoltage 11 months ago
@TheHigherVoltage That's actually a very nice way of putting it :)
tattooskin72 11 months ago
I should do one about Dutch politics in the future.
viscountxero 11 months ago
@viscountxero Haha, you're absolutely right! It's just as confusing as the Canadian system.
Timeticker 11 months ago
For a moment there i thought that Retard TheAngryCanuck had returned to youtube...thank God i was wrong
Coughlan000 11 months ago
@Coughlan000 WHY DIDNT YOU SAY FIRST!!!
Segmeta 11 months ago