Canadian Politics - Blog. Polls. Information.

Moderate Union Returns!

2011-03-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

The Moderate Union is back!

The blog has now been renamed "The Canadian Politics Blog". This title change reflects a new approach to the blog -one that focuses on informing the Canadian citizen through a "one-stop" site for everything to do with Canadian politics.

This site's goal is to become the place for Canadian polls, statistics, and top news stories.

With blog posts from the Moderate Union!

Keep you eye on the site as it will be undergoing heavy construction and will soon house a great deal of juicy political facts n' stats for you to chew on during your work break or whenever you choose to indulge yourself in thepolitical "crack" you crave.

My hope is that you'll eventually come to include The Canadian Politics Blog into your "fave' sites" portfolio.

Keep posted.

Canadian Political Party: Liberals Soldier On or Merge?

2009-12-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

For a certain Canadian political party, the Liberal Party of Canada, the future is unclear.

More and more every day on t.v. and radio news programs and in print publications chatter is centering on the political future of the Liberals. It's hard to believe that it was just half a year ago that they were deadlocked with the Conservatives in the Canadian political polls.

Since then leader Michael Ignatieff has seen his popularity drop along with that of his party. Canadians didn't seem to take too kindly to the possibility of another election so soon.

So what's next? Luckily for Ignatieff a new year is right around the corner. A new start, a new and possibly last chance to turn the poll numbers around. Liberal supporters need to feel enthused about their party and their leader -a feeling that generally lacks as 2009 comes to a close. He is on notice and you cannot attribute all the party's problems to him alone.

History is not on Ignatieff's side.

A lot of the talk in the media lately (including Canadian political blogs) has focused on the idea of a Liberal-NDP merger. Such an idea is unthinkable to many Liberals but I seem to remember a similarly "crazy" idea back in 2003 when the Progressive Conservative Party and Canadian Alliance merged into one super-party. The right of centre was united as one entity while the left-of-centre was still fractured into several parties.

It's a simple numbers game.

In the current political context the numbers do not favour the Liberals. Many members of the Canadian political party believe that if they just have the right person to lead the party everything will be o.k. and they can go back to the good ol' days of seemingly endless rule. This view is incorrect. It would take a "perfect storm" of circumstances and events that would lead to the Liberals winning the next Canadian federal election if it comes in 2010.

The Conservative government would have to make some serious mistakes (serious, not trivial) and the NDP would have to lose some support (it has been gaining support over the last 6 months) and the Liberals and Ignatieff would have to run a near-perfect campaign. Could it happen? Possibly? Yes. Unlikely Yes.

I'm not a pessimist, just a realist.

As I looked into the issue of a Liberal-NDP merger I examined the provincial politics to see how such a merger would affect politics in the provinces and I call tell you that such a merger would not change the provincial Canadian political system generally. In B.C. however, things get a little tricky as two parties in action there are the NDP and the BC Liberals who are not affiliated with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The BCL's membership is derived from federal Liberal and Conservative supporters.

As a centrist who favours relatively conservative fiscal policy and moderately liberal social policy I personally identify best with the Liberals as my Canadian political party of choice; no party in Canada represents my political views more accurately. I want us to win. If we could avoid a merger that would be ideal but I just don't foresee that happening given the historical and current political context.

It just does not add up.

The average Canadian voter needs a clear choice. Voters from the centre to centre-left are splitting their vote between the the NDP and the Liberals, diminishing the possibility of either party forming a majority government. Times have changed. We might have to swallow our pride and change with it. I always liked the fact that we had a multi-party system and with a merger that system would remain.

It takes bold and tough choices to achieve great results. Stephen Harper understood that well in 2003.

I'd like to hear some input from Liberal supporters on this so post a comment and let me know what you think about a potential Liberal-NDP merger.

see related: Ally the left-of-centre?

Canadian Political Blogs: The Different Types

2009-12-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Canadian politics there are three types of Canadian political blogs out there. The first two types are mostly opinionated while the third is mainly informative.

If you're interested in a political blog on Canadian government or Canadian politics you should always keep in mind a blogger's goals and intentions for writing what they write. Everyone has a bias and sometimes that bias is intentionally manifest while at other times it is latent and needs to be "found" or "discovered".

Here are the main different types of Canadian political blogs:

Type #1 is a party-centered opinionated blog. On these blogs, the writer acts as a partisan political hack defending and supporting their political party of choice while attacking opposing parties' stances on issues. These blogs can sometimes offer information (i.e. news) but will almost always use information selectively -adding and omitting data based on how it makes their political party look.

The verdict: Visit this type of politics blog if you share the writers' worldview and political party preference. Avoid them if you are looking for an objective source of news and information. These blogs do not engage in real journalism.

Type #2 is an opinionated blog that doesn't commit itself to a specific political party. These blogs may come from either side of the political spectrum (i.e. left or right) but they don't actively blog in support of any of the various Canadian political parties on a daily basis. Like type #1 these political blogs have a bias so the key thing to understand when reading them is to find out "where they are coming from". These blogs are the most philosophical in nature.

The Verdict: These sites are ideal for readers who are open to new ideas or for ones who know the politics game and want to hear how the different political actors including bloggers are reacting to current political news and issues.

Type #3 is an information blog. It's main goal is to inform like an online newspaper. The aim of these blogs is to provide a one-stop place for news and information. These blogs can be Canada-wide but they can also be regional (e.g. Western Canada, BC, Northwest BC). These blogs try to gain credibility by being objective.

The Verdict: Visit these blogs if you want your daily dose of political news. Remember: all news has some bias in it -even major newspapers are not free of politics. You can get the most out of these sites if you crave data (Canadian political polls, Canadian election results, social/economic statistics etc.)

There you have it!

Best Political Quotes of 2009

2009-12-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

Here are two versions of the Best Political Quotes of 2009.

The first is the best Canadian political quotes of 2009 and the second is the best American political quotes of 2009.

You have to admit that the U.S. quotes are much more, let's say, "out there". You can't attribute that solely to the fact that they have ten times our population...I just believe that they generally have a lot more "eccentrics" (that's as nice as I can put it).

Let me know your favourite! Enjoy!

Best Canadian political quotes of 2009

Best American political quotes of 2009

see related: Political words of 2009

No Love for Don Cherry on CBC.ca

2009-12-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

If you live in Canada you've probably heard about the MD who criticized Don Cherry for his support of "aggressive, lack-of-respect hockey". Grapes has since used an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada to respond to the criticism.

Make sure you read some of the readers of the story's comments. It seems many of the people either don't watch HNIC or don't watch hockey at all and have probably never played the game.

For years Cherry has been very outspoken in support of increased safety measures regarding headshots, no-touch-icing, and gear like shoulder pads. Clearly, many comments made on cbc.ca were made by armchair critics of Cherry who have no idea what they're talking about.

As we speak, outsiders and interest groups who have nothing to do with hockey are trying to ruin the modern form of the game we created. If you think that Don Cherry has a disregard for safety in the game you are ignorant and incorrect. Watch one or two segments of HNIC and you will be proven wrong. He has always advocated safety in the game, especially for children.

Bodychecking is a part of the game and (love it or hate it) so are the occasional fights. Unfortunately, many bleeding hearts want to do away with those aspects of our game outright, instead of targeting and eliminating rules that make the game less-safe (see above examples).

I most certainly do not agree with everything Don Cherry says, but I will defend him (or anyone for that matter) when they are erroneously and unfairly criticized.

With respect to Canadians and our hockey, 'safety first' has always been our creed and that will never change. Don Cherry, as a Canadian, is not "promoting violence in hockey", Dr. Charles Tator.

Conservatives Hold Lead in Polls: EKOS

2009-12-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest Canadian political polls:

It was just this past July when the federal Conservatives and Liberals were deadlocked in the Canadian political polls. That seems a million light years away now, doesn't it?

Like the rest of the world, generally speaking, Canada's economy is turning around and is recovering -modestly, but still recovering. Naturally, team Harper will be credited as least to some degree for this turnaround. Time is not on Ignatieff and the Liberals' side.

This is a guy who clearly understands the regional aspects of Canadian politics. I personally believe that many moderate and centrist Canadians' current philosophy can summarized as: trust but verify with a microscope; we're not interested (yet) in risking our economy with a new government.

While Harper has the intentions of moving this country to the right he knows that over the last few years he simply can't. Hence the practical nature of governing in a minority with a centre-left opposition. I know I sound like a broken record here, but the centre to centre-left needs a kick in the ass. The kicks can come from two sources: Leadership or a Conservative Majority.

Which one seems more likely?

Don Cherry Drops F-Bombs [VIDEO]

2009-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

Love him or hate him, here's Don Cherry: UNLEASHED.

see also: Canada exempt from buy-American

Al Franken Shows How to "Call BS" [VIDEO]

2009-12-14T20:58:00.000-08:00

As a longtime fan of Al Franken, I couldn't have been more excited when he was elected to the U.S. senate. Here, I thought, is a guy who tells it like it is, a guy who's going to point the liars out and "call BS" on the many arguments and talking points that would classify as such.

I'm happy to report that so far at least, he's doing just that. He'll be great to watch during the 2012 presidential election for sure.

Al Franken - Defender of Facts.

Trouble Ahead for Conservatives Re: EKOS Poll

2009-12-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

An EKOS Poll conducted between December 2-8 shows the vast majority of respondents believe
some prisoners that were handed off to Afghan authorities by Canadian Forces were subjected to torture.

The key thing to keep in mind here is that poll was concluded on December 8, one day before Gen. Walter Natynczyk, Canada's top military commander said a suspected Taliban fighter abused by Afghan police in 2006 had been detained by Canadian soldiers, which contradicts the statement he made just one day earlier.

The polls can only get worse for the Conservatives on this issue as a result. We might have to expect that Canadian support for the war to drop as well. With the question of will Canadians support Obama's Afghanistan strategy, this EKOS poll suggests that no, they will not.

related: Canadian political polls.

Charge More for Alcohol in B.C.?

2009-12-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Apparently we like our booze in B.C -an interesting slice of Canadian politics.

The McCreary Centre Society and five B.C. universities reported that the consumption of alcohol has increased in B.C. 16 per cent over the last decade. Comparatively, consumption increased by nine per cent in the rest of the country. That puts B.C. second in alcohol consumption behind Nunavut.

These researchers are now imploring the B.C. government to raise the price of alcohol and possibly make them less available.

The research also showed that teens are now smoking and drinking less while the availability of harder drugs like crack and Ecstasy has risen.

I was expecting the research to mention something about an increase in DUI's, alcohol-related car accidents or alcoholism.The price of alcohol in B.C. is already high and if low price was the key factor in a high provincial consumption rate Alberta's would be astronomical.

But it isn't...

With the HST on the way and a shaky job market, British Columbians don't need any more taxes. I don't foresee the BC Liberals implementing this but you never know. Give the NDP a crack at governing and you could bet they would follow suit on these recommendations.

Is anyone else tired of being treated like a child?

Related: B.C.'s texting while driving laws

Hey Canadians, Remember Iraq?

2009-12-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

We've been hearing for months now that the situation in Iraq has greatly improved since the most violent years of 2005 and 2006. That is true, but as our focus has shifted to Afghanistan we sometimes forget that Iraq is by no means peaceful -no war has been "won" there.

Insurgents still exist in Iraq and terrorism is still a manifest reality as exemplified by a suicide bomb attack that killed at least 121 people today in Baghdad. Even after U.S. forces withdraw from the country, the Iraqi Security Forces are going to have their hands full to say the least. No one should expect the violence to cease once the Americans leave and it may even get worse.

You would be hard-pressed to find politicians who believe today that the invasion of Iraq wasn't a mistake. But conclusions are easier to make in retrospect than they are in forethought. Great credit must be given to those elected officials who possessed the judgement to oppose this war.

Barack Obama opposed the war while most the Democratic party supported it. I find Canadians don't give Jean Chretien enough credit for opposing this war and not committing our blood and money to it. At the same time, we don't seem to be holding Stephen Harper to account for supporting the invasion of Iraq.

The bottom line is that if Harper had a majority government in 2003 we would likely still have our soldiers fighting in Iraq today. Harper has since admitted the invasion was a mistake. Here's a link to a CTV news article that cites an interview that Harper did with (duh) Fox News in 2003.

I support many of the CPC's fiscal policies but the rest of their ideology...well let's just say I could never stomach being lumped in with people who don't believe in diplomacy, science, or anything based on a thorough understanding of the world. This is not the PC party of old -they are now the Republicanucks.

The Canadian political system needs leaders who possess sound judgment. The only reason Harper and the CPC didn't burn for their ignorant position of supporting the war is because they weren't in power at the time.

But what if they were...

Canadian Political System and Protesters

2009-12-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

The Canadian political system allows its citizens the freedom to protest peacefully. People across the political spectrum in Canada have differing views on protesting and the methods employed in making a political statement.

Even if you disagree with the political opinions of an individual or group protesting one issue or another, you should be able in principle to agree that they have the right to state those opinions.

What you don't have to agree with is the methods.

Whenever I see videos of PETA people throwing red paint on innocent people my blood boils. When I see groups like the Anti-Poverty Committee in Vancouver crashing city budget meetings and throwing chairs and overturning tables I get a little peeved. These actions are self-defeating and have the opposite effect on what they are trying to achieve.

If anything, these protesting methods only act to galvanize and aggregate support around the issues the protesters are protesting. Canadians engaging in childish behaviour...

Newest Poll on Afghanistan Plan Support

2009-12-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

As promised, here's the first poll out of the United States post-Obama's speech at West Point. I think you're now going to see a toning-down of the sharp rhetoric by elected officials on both sides.

The day after the speech, many Democrats were upset that the war was being escalated while many Republicans thought it wasn't being escalated enough.

We are still waiting for Canadian political polls on the same subject so as they come out I will post them here. Here's the aforementioned Gallup poll:

The Afghanistan Stability Plan [MAP]

2009-12-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a pdf of the Afghanistan stability plan.

Apparently war is complicated.

Someone should tell that to Bill O'Reilley's, Sean Hannity's and Karl Rove's of the world who just want more, more, more and don't want to pay for it. Instead of being pleased with Obama's recent decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, these clowns are upset that he is not sending more and for an indeterminate amount of time of course.

At the same time, the left is equally displeased with the president's decision.

Obama is the meat in an anger sandwich. He can't win the left or the right on the issue but has gained the support of many congressional moderate Republicans and Democrats. Since America is apparently a centrist nation overall, it will be interesting to see the polls on what the public thinks.

I'm guessing they'll be the fury sauce in that sandwich...

Will Canadians Support Obama's Afghanistan Strategy?

2009-12-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

The political environment in the United States has been turned on its head after president Barack Obama announced his plans to send 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan on a temporary basis.

Congressional Democrats are either against the presidents plan or are skeptical at best. Republicans on the other hand are mostly supportive of the president's new strategy although many of them disapprove of a withdrawl date.

No, we are not living in a bizarro world.

What I want to know is whether Canadians will be supportive of Obama's plans or not and whether they would support sending additional troops and/or resources to the NATO mission. Readers: Let me know what you think by posting a comment.

You can bet that there's a lot of polling be done on the issue as we speak. As polls are released out I will post them here.

Obama's Speech To Focus on Exit-Strategy

2009-12-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

More and more information is coming out just hours before U.S. president Barack Obama is set to deliver a grand speech at West Point Military Academy on Afghanistan.

According to two senior administration officials, the Huffington Post has reported that Obama is sending 30,000 extra U.S. troops to Afghanistan on an accelerated timetable that will have the first Marines there as early as Christmas and all forces in place by summer. But he'll also declare Tuesday night that troops will start leaving in 19 months."

One source said that soldiers will begin leaving Afghanistan in July 2011 but Obama will not set a firm deadline for the end of the war.

Obama is working with NATO allies to get an additional 5,000 to 10,000 troops to the cause. The U.K. and Australia have already pledged more troops for what now can be accurately dubbed "Obama's War".

Canada's military mission, however, will end as planned in 2011 according to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. I'm curious as to what Harper might have done if he had a majority. Politically speaking, I think that extending the combat mission now would mean defeat for Harper and the CPC.

Tonight the entire world will be focused on Barack Obama.

Glenn Beck's Old Job [VIDEO]

2009-11-28T09:26:00.000-08:00

Check out this video of Glenn Beck in his old gig.

He should have stayed put. A cheesy radio host is as far as Glenn Beck's carrer should ever have gotten.

The guys at Y95 must be so disappointed as unfortunately, Beck's new show is nothing but gimmicks.

"If you rearrange the letters in OBAMA you get AROMA....and I don't like the way that smells".

Dana Perino Claims No Terrorist Attack in U.S. Under Bush [VIDEO]

2009-11-26T15:18:00.001-08:00

Today must be the day (along with 364 other days of any given year) of selective perception from people in the GOP who used to be relevant.

Sore loser syndrome maybe. More likely it's ignorance and plain stupidity.

In this clip former Bush administration press secretary Dana Perino claims no terrorist attacks took place under Bush. Something about that just doesn't seem right...I seem to recall something....it's a little foggy...wait, I'm starting to remember something....

Oh, right. F***ing 9/11 !!!!!

Remember that Dana? Imbecile.

John McCain's Selective Perception

2009-11-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

John McCain is clearly having a hell of a time trying to make sense of his disaster-of-a-choice running mate Sarah Palin.

I used to find it honourable that John McCain would defend the part-time governor after he lost the election. Even after Sarah Palin released her whiny, excuse-filled novel "Going Rogue" -stuffed with score-settling cheap shots at people in McCain's team (including his campaign manager)- the senator from Arizona would stick up for her.

Recently, as the clip below shows, McCain says he's never seen anything like the "vicious" attacks on Sarah Palin. Hmm... I wonder if McCain has ever heard of a man named Barack Obama.

400% more death threats than any president in history, thousands of people at tea-parties equating him to Hitler or the devil, ammunition shortages after his general election victory, and an entire cable news network committed to criticizing and slandering him.

Apparently McCain is either unaware of these things (which might be true since he doesn't know how to use "The Google") or he is selectively choosing to ignore them. The relentless, vitriolic attacks on the 44th president of the United States is what McCain should have said he has never seen before.

The most shocking thing all? That a dimwitted simpleton like Sarah Palin could have been the vice-president of the United States.

Palin/Beck 2012: Democrats Salivate [VIDEO]

2009-11-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, here's the American Idiot herself in her own words saying "we'll see" about a possible presidential run with Glenn Beck as her running-mate.

No, seriously, this isn't a cartoon or SNL skit.

It would be a dream come true for Obama and the Democrats if Sarah Palin ran as a third-party Conservative candidate -especially with crybaby man-child education-lacking xenophobic Beck on the ticket.

No-Good Bastards: Eloquent Tory MP Gerald Keddy

2009-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Nova Scotia MP Gerlad Keddy shot himself in the foot big time. We'll have to keep a close eye on the Canadian political polls in his riding.

During an interview Keddy mentioned that local farmers need migrant workers because locals don't want the work.

He referred to some of his constituents as: "All those no-good bastards sitting on the sidewalk in Halifax that can't get work".

Nice one.

Obviously, Keddy hastily put out an apology statement. Good luck rolling back the ensuing criticism -not from opposition parties but from the people Keddy represents. Here's Keddy's full statement.

B.C. Offshore Drilling: Time to Lift the Ban?

2009-11-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a piece from the CBC that looks at efforts to lift the B.C. offshore drilling ban that has been in place since 1971.

What we're talking about is 9.8 billion barrels of oil — which would supply all of Canada’s domestic needs for four years. The oil is found in the waters of northwest B.C. between north Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlottle Islands).

If the B.C. forest industry and economy in general continue to struggle we could see the argument of lifting the ban gain some traction. At the same time, the Queen Charlotte's just had an earthquake that measured 6.6 on the Richter -an unsettling event to those who might be on the fence on this issue.

Given B.C.'s politics I think the economy would really have to be in the toilet for a lot of people to even consider lifting the ban on offshore drilling in B.C.

Dion's Wife Rips Ignatieff [VIDEO]

2009-11-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

This is exactly what the Grits don't need right now.

Stephane Dion's wife took some shots at Michael Ignatieff in messages on her Facebook page which have since been deleted. Mr. Dion said he was not aware that his wife had made the comments. A little more infighting, a little more fuel for the fire I guess.

A lot of Liberals are getting impatient or worse, and I think the Canadian political polls are showing that. Ignatieff needs to step up...

Here's what Stephane Dion's wife, Janine, thinks (or thought) of the Liberal leader:

Video - CBC: Dion's wife critical of Ignatieff

Canadian Political Polls: Holding Steady

2009-11-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

For the last several months Canadian political polls have shown the Conservatives have enjoyed a steady, slight increase in poll numbers while the Liberals have lost roughly the same proportion of support (sfu, hillwatch).

The thing to watch is obviously whether or not this trend continues. Liberal leadership must know that they need to do something, and quick. They are definitely having a hard time staying relevant nationally and are struggling to effectively articulate their vision for Canada as an alternative to the CPC.

And this is coming from a Liberal, mind you.

I believe that many a moderate are willing to hold their nose for the short-to-intermediate term and allow the Conservatives to try and strengthen the economy and get us back on track. How the next few months go are crucial however, as these constituents are keeping a close eye on the numbers and vote on the true state of affairs -they cannot be swayed by spin.

How the recovery plays out can be a game changer. A significantly weak or strong recovery can make the difference between electoral success and defeat for both the Conservatives and the Liberals.

Geithner and GOP Congressman Go At It

2009-11-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

Great video of Treasury secretary Tim Geithner and Republican congressman Kevin Brady getting into a feisty debate during a financial regulations hearing. What's Brady so mad about? Geithner is helping Brady's friends and donors get rich. Talk about biting the hand that feeds.