rabble.ca - Coalition babble discussions

Babble Coalition!?

Unionist — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:08:37 -0500

Have you noticed that in the past few days, since coalition talk began, babblers who are usually at each other's throats have suddenly begun agreeing with each other, supplementing each other's comments, dropped some of the personal attacks and cynicism... Not always and not everyone, but IMHO it's a dramatic change.

Discuss.

Harper: "Electoral reform might well revive the left"

rfugger — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:00:25 -0400

This pesky coalition business

Michael Cumming — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:35:16 -0400

One of the most prominent issues of the current Canadian election campaign is the idea of coalitions. Stephen Harper, the right wing Conservative leader, presents them as an affront to Canadian values and all that is right about our democracy. The absurd position, which has no historical foundation, is not countered in any substantial way by the other parties.

Just in: All 3 opposition parties to vote against Conservative budget

Rob8305 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:43:30 -0400

The government is on the verge of collapse. Layton on right now has unequivocally rejected this budget on the heels of the other 2 opposition leaders announcing their opposition.

Off to the races.

Progressive Leaders Urge Opposition Parties to Form Coalition Government

kim elliott — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:21:26 -0500

This just in:

"For Immediate Release

Harper Using "Coalition" To Hide Lack of Ideas

Ryan1812 — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 02:55:43 -0400

Taken from my blog at: http://progressforcanada.blogspot.com/:

The Coalition's coming!! Quick, tell all Canadians to be on the look out for those nasty parties who want to take down the government. No, this isn't hyperbole. Actually, it's the message that the Harper government has been relentlessly pounding away at over the summer and looks to use with increased vigor in this new session of Parliament.

How the Conservatives will win their majority

Barts — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:23:45 -0500

The Ignatieff Liberals have given Stephen Harper and the Conservatives a clear route to a majority government. Here’s how it will happen, unless Harper does something stupid again.

To achieve a majority, Harper needs to win seats in Quebec. He failed to get his majority in the last election, in part, because he alienated Quebec voters who then supported the Bloc.

Unite the Left: NDP, Greens, Bloc

Chris Borst — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:10:05 -0400

"Unite the Left" talk always seems to revolve around the NDP and the Liberals, which routinely founders on the fact that the Liberals have always been a party of the Centre, not the Left. Anyone who wants to consider a partisan re-alignment on the Left should give serious thought to the prospects of uniting Canada's three broadly social democratic parties - the NDP, the Greens and the Bloc Quebecois.

Coalition by the Numbers

AntiSpin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:02:10 -0400

Dumb, dumb and dumber....this accurately describes Michael Ignatieff's Just Say No approach to a pre-election coalition with the NDP.

Will the NDP/Liberal Coalition's Foreign Policy have Canadian Troop deployed to the Congo?

Webgear — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:50:17 -0500

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2008/02/c5714.html

A book coming....

Brian Topp — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:39:42 -0500

In case you didn't get enough on this: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/How-We-Almost-Gave-Tories-Brian-Topp/9781552775028-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527James+Patterson%2527

Impressive and important demos this weekend, not incidentally. I wrote a few words about 'em here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/brian-topp/a-turning-away/article1442519/

The Future of the NDP

robbie_dee — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:26:23 -0500

Quote:

The NDP staggers from election to election, becoming less relevant each time. Why? Because, I suggest, it has become less associated with the ideas that appealed to its base from the beginning, and less successful at selling them to the electorate at large.

Since my dust-up with Bob Rae back in 1993, the entire relationship between labour and the NDP has changed. Many of the unions that disagreed with my criticism of the party and my support for strategic voting have come to recognize that the old model of strict affiliations to the party is out of date, and even the attitude of the Canadian Labour Congress toward the NDP has cooled noticeably.

If We Had Proportional Representation....

old_bolshie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:57:30 -0500

No doubt the issue of proportional representation has been batted about here a time or two.

But if we did have PR would we not have to go through a similar process every time there was an election?

I don't mean identical to what's happening now I mean the deals and promises between opponents-how else could things work?

In a similar vein do you think this ongoing drama is a positive development for the PR idea or not-I think not, based on Canadian's dislike of change.

Big Lies of the Canadian right-wing echo-chamber

Lard Tunderin Jeezus — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:05:47 -0500

I just saw James Moore on Newsworld, going unchallenged on a series of mendacious talking points:

"To become Prime Minister of this country, don't you have to win an election?" No, you don't actually. Many Canadian Prime Ministers have been appointed to the position - (Progressive) Conservative Kim Campbell, most recently. I'm certain I heard Stephen Harper giving his party credit for having brought the first woman Canadian Prime Minister to power in history. Was that illegitimate?

Laying Odds: Predict the next week

Taliesan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:46:14 -0500

What do you think is going to happen? Lay out your predictions below:

I'm probably ignorant of all the procedural limitations, but my guess is:

1.) The coalition is going to try to bring down the government regardless of any appeasements the Conservatives try to make over the next few days.

2.) Harper is going to ask the GG to call an election. She'll refuse.

3.) Harper will use the GG as a scapegoat to prorogue parliament, stating he is working to 'protect democracy and the will of Canadians.'

3.) The Conservatives will develop a throne speech and a budget over the break and have it thoroughly vetted by the opposition parties.

4.) Parliament will resume and the revised budget will pass.

More Coalition News and Comments

oldgoat — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:49:04 -0500

So I just admonished people to not engage in thread proliferation and
direct their comments to threads already open, then I went and closed
most of them for length. So I guess I should start this one.

Is the federal Liberal party controlled by a secret society?

Brian White — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:02:32 -0500

The coalition hatched by Layton and Dion would have seen a Liberal PM but the Liberal appointed GG rejected it as an option when she porogued.

Then Dion was dumped super quick, (without any kind of in party election) and his replacement Rejects the idea of being PM in January 2009!

Well, I have seen politics in a lot of countries, but I have never seen this before. Nothing remotely close.

The coalition is dead...long live the coalition!

enemy_of_capital — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:07:13 -0500

The Coalition is dead… Long live the Coalition!

What to look for in the budget

Sean in Ottawa — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:38:15 -0500

I was surprised not to see a thread dedicated to the budget itself. While I have not written here for a bit I figured this might be worth de-lurking. Since the Conservatives are the authors of the budget let's consider their objectives.

In the long run they believe in smaller government. To assume that they have seen the light and are now adopting Keynsian economics is naive. To assume that this budget does not serve a neo-conservative purpose, that they have somehow given up, is dangerous thinking. So what then is the end game?

NDP produces ads attacking Ignatieff for propping up Conservative government

Centrist — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:29:24 -0500

Quote:

OTTAWA — New Democrats have produced a series of scathing radio ads lambasting the Liberals for propping up Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jsvBway8JiRLDQG2xa2REc4Cq80A

Are Canadians currently too pre-occupied with their own economic circumstances and tuned out of politics altogether or will these ads resonate and be effective? Thoughts?

Canada now has a Liberal/Tory grand coalition gov't

Stockholm — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:49:52 -0500

Let's continue the discussion here.

Budget erases funding for key science agency

Snuckles — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:22:05 -0500

CAROLYN ABRAHAM

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

January 29, 2009 at 3:21 AM EST

MEDICAL REPORTER

*****

Stéphane Ignatieff and the Liberal-Conservative budget

V. Jara — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:21:52 -0500

Discuss.

Confidence vote on Wednesday: Will the government fall?

NorthReport — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:51:48 -0500

So with Parliament resuming tomorrow, a newly chastised and humbled prime minister (ha! ha!) will supposedly be proving Canadians with a stimulus budget on Tuesday. On Wednesday there will probably be a confidence vote, which will decide whether or not the coalition will move one step further towards taking over the reigns of power in Ottawa.

There is almost no one who agress with the Bank of Canada's rosy economic forecast, so is the Bank of Canada Governor just another one, in a group of many paid lackeys, belonging to Prime Minister Harper?

How much and what percentage of our federal debt has been paid off by the Conservatives?

Michael Ignatieff announces new critic line-up

Webgear — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:00:23 -0500

http://www.liberal.ca/story_15591_e.aspx

"Liberal Leader assumes role as Intergovernmental Affairs Critic

OTTAWA - Liberal Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff today announced a new, streamlined roster of critics that will see Bob Rae, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, assume the role of Foreign Affairs Critic and John McCallum (Markham--Unionville) become the Finance Critic. Reflecting the importance of positive relations with the provinces and territories, Mr. Ignatieff will take on the critic's duties for Intergovernmental Affairs.

Theory: Conservative MP Mike Allen was accidentally "invited" to the NDP caucus conference call

Sara Mayo — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:31:41 -0500

Someone will probably skewer me for staring a new thread, but here goes...

The caucus tape controversy created by the Conservatives is more evidence of their boneheadedness and is a much more negative story for them than anyone else. Their claims that they were "invited" and therefore it wasn't illegal or unethical to participate or record the meeting is pathetic when they obvioulsy any "invitation" they received was in error and the NDP only wanted their own caucus members and staff to participate.

If the Coalition is dead, why are the Conservatives buying ads to kill it?

ottawaobserver — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:16:41 -0500

I guess the subject line says it all, but here are some relevant links:

http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/1/16/4059453.html

http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/1/16/4059479.html (on the CLC ads)

http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/01/17/227903.html

http://blog.macleans.ca/2009/01/16/language-watch/

Guess who said this coalition quote..

Daniel Grice — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:19:52 -0500

"Yet voters on the left are as much entitled as voters on the right to effective elected representation. Electoral reform might well revive the left. It could, for example, lead to cooperation between the NDP and the left-leaning wing of the Liberals, perhaps producing a national social democratic vehicle with a genuine chance of governing, or at least participating in a coalition cabinet.

Anglo-Canadians' are terrified of the Bloc

Le T — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:57:40 -0500

This whole coalition thing has awaken the sleeping dog of Anglo-Canadians' fear of the Bloc. The outrage and terror expressed at "giving the SEPARATISTS" who want to "distroy the country" such "power" is really interesting. It shows that many Canadians are francophobes who can't read French and therefore have no idea what is going on in Quebec politics or what the Bloc stands for or the platfrom they were elected on. I have heard many people (including people on babble) claim that separatism is the "major plank" in their policy, etc. Anyone who even saw a Bloc ad in the last election knows this is not the case. There is probably more popular support for separation in Alberta than Quebec at this moment in history.

19 January, The Hill Times full page ad -- Please Mr. Ignatieff, do not appease Harper.

Barts — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:50:39 -0500

Please Mr. Ignatieff,
do not appease Harper.

Mr. Ignattief, there is only one reason, worthy of dignity, for you to give Stephen Harper your vote of confidence and allow him to remain as Prime Minister. The reason is you’ve judged that, in these times threatening all Canadians, they will be safer led by Stephen Harper than by you. Is that your judgment?

Democratic Coalition ideas

Uncle John — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:30:19 -0500

I think the Democratic Coalition should be branded as such. There is a lot of good will for the Democrats and Obama in the States even on this side of the border. So the Democratic brand is something that the Coalition people should latch on to in order to make the idea of a Democratic Coalition permanent and a concept of unite the (centre) left against the united Right.

NDP wants names: Cons recording NDP caucus meeting

thorin_bane — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:44:59 -0500

The NDP wants the names of "any and all individuals" involved in the Conservative decision to record and distribute copies of a New Democrat caucus meeting, and it is threatening legal action to get them.

A letter from NDP counsel presses the Conservatives for the information and strongly suggests litigation will follow unless the names are forthcoming.

"Our client will, if necessary, take appropriate measures to protect its interests," says the Dec. 23 letter from lawyer Steven Barrett to Arthur Hamilton, counsel retained by the Conservatives.

Should the left split from the NDP?

Jacob Richter — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:43:11 -0500

Before I continue with the topic at hand, I would like to express my lack of surprise at Harper's Nixonian machinations (political funding, bans on strikes, and especially eavesdropping) coming back at him, in the form of political machinations from the other side.

That being said, now that the NDP has formally "sold its soul" to the coalitionist devil (as opposed to less formal class collaboration in the post-war period), and given the surge in the interest in class politics resulting from this financial crap (Die Linke and the class-based third parties in the U.S. come to mind), should the left split from the NDP and finally form a politico-ideologically independent class party?

Night Before Christmas (24 Sussex Edition)

theleftyinvestor — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:40:14 -0500

I hope you will enjoy this little poem.
Night Before Christmas (24 Sussex Edition) If you would like to copy this poem elsewhere, please message me and ask for my real name so that you can give me proper credit.
Twas the night before Christmas, with Harper shut out Dion and his family were milling about; Stone carvings were placed on the mantle with care So that Chrétien could guard against burglars there;
Layton and Bob Rae were spooning at last Old NDP battles long-gone in the past; Ignatieff in bathrobe, Dion with backpack Were settling down for a nice midnight snack;
Broadbent had put up lights earlier that day

Canada's quagmire: The war in Afghanistan

Hoodeet — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:33:13 -0500

Couldn't resist adding my 2 cents to a discussion that had closed after I read through it.

Several people commented on Sweden, the social-democratic model. Look/listen to Amy Goodman's interview with Swedish pacifists, December 10 or 11, democracynow.org, to get a better understanding of the degree of involvement of Sweden in the global arms manufacturing and exporting sector. It is No. 2 producer of weapons, on a per capita scale, i.e., proportionate to its population). (I assume Israel is No. 1.)

The domestic peace and economic well-being have a dirty price tag, it seems.

Text of Coalition agreement

kim elliott — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:24 -0500

hey all - i'm not sure where to find this on-line, but this text was sent out to the media, and I thought folks would want to see the full text. I'm sure Michelle or oldgoat will tell me I've violated some babble rule by publishing such a long post... but I hope you'll make an exception!

A Policy Accord to Address the Present Economic Crisis

Preamble

The new Government is supported by parties that share a commitment to fiscal responsibility, a progressive agenda and a belief in the role of Government to act as a partner with Canadians and Quebecers. Where appropriate, these goals should be pursued in full partnership and consultation with the provincial and territorial governments.

Fiscal Principles

Canadians really don't understand the political system, it turns out

Doug — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:50:48 -0500

A new survey for the Dominion Institute taken in the aftermath of this month's political crisis suggests a woeful ignorance when it comes to our system of government.

For example, results of the Ipsos Reid survey show 75 per cent of Canadians asked believe the prime minister, or the Governor General, is head of state. Bzzzz — wrong

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081214.wdohcanada1214/BNStory/politics/home

Talking to people you know about the coalition

The Bish — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:48:09 -0500

I'm curious what experiences other posters here have had with other people they know since the fiscal update was first announced. I haven't talked to anyone, not a single person, who is against the coalition. Every single person I've talked to has been angry about Harper's games. Even people I know who don't normally follow politics were angry when they heard about things like proroguing government. My experiences obviously don't line up with the story the media is giving us. Have other people had similar experiences? Have you talked to people who are backing the Conservatives on this, and if so, how frequently?

Coalition: Iggy going around it

KenS — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:47:12 -0500

There is still a general coalition discussion thread. But its moving pretty slow, and is long enough to give me a problems. Given the new turn of events I'm going to do what is intended as a replacement thread. There is a thread about Iggy and his intentions. This follows discussions from there, but is more focused on the where goes the Coalition.

Ignatieff consults political brain trust on economy

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081211.wignatieff_economy12/BNStory/politics/home

Good looks, nobel lineage, spineless

somecanuckchick — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:20:07 -0500

Linda McQuaig's reputation for challenging the establishment is clearly unfounded.

Linda McQuaig proves—with articles like these—that she tries too hard to be controversial, or thought-provoking; coming across as ignorant, and spineless herself.

NDP MP's Speech at Coalition Rally

jgill066 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:54:34 -0500

For one MP's take on the coalition government, check out the video below.

Has the GG ruled out coalition government forever?

Brian White — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:51:12 -0500

In many countrys coalitions are quite normal and they are an easy way of preventing the type of political stalemate we now have. I believe the GG decision holds the leaders of the 3 opposition partys in contempt.

It shouts LIARS to their ndp liberal coalition (supported by the bloq for a known time period).

Having seen how politics works in other countries I find her decision extraordinary.

It is all the more extraordinary because the coalition agreement was written down. Civilation really began when writing made words much stronger. Now we have the GG discounting a written agreement and staying with the tried and failed Harper one man government

Ignatieff takes over as Liberal leader

oldgoat — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:45:28 -0500

Looks like the much anticipated poop-storm at Liberal Party Headquarters is finally hitting the fan. According to the Star, Dion might resign as early as tomorrow. LeBlanc is expected to step aside and support Ignatieff, and predictions are a quick caucus vote would favour Iggy.

NDP Embrace War in Afghanistan

Maddin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:23:00 -0500

The NDP has jumped at the chance to step into a pro-war government. And we must be plain about how explicitly it has done so. By all accounts, a de facto embrace of the war was preqruisite for the coalition ("Off the table")--and one Layton and crew didn't blink at. This is more than aquiesence; it is outright embrace of the war for parliamentary gains.

For many rank-and-file NDPers, Canada's illegal war and occupation of Afghanistan is not simply one issue among many, another pragmatic concern. Opposition to the war is based on fundamental commitments. It is ideological in the sense that opposing imperialist wars will always be part of a belief system with deep roots (one which opposes dispossession, slaughter, torture, dedgradation, etc.).

Bob Rae steps down, Iggy likely the new Liberal leader

KeyStone — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:31:54 -0500

So, it's Ignatieff who will be the new Liberal leader.
The guy who is great on paper, but not so good in person.

Every Iggy supporter I have talked to, has said they are supporting Ignatieff, not because of his leadership, or values - but just because they think he can win.

Now, the Liberals have bypassed the Liberal community completely and simply acclaimed Ignatieff - a battle of attrition to see who had money left over after the last leadership campaign. This should do wonders for Harper's message of the Liberals being undemocratic.

If Stephen Harper ever wanted to cement the mantle of the 'Canadian party' on the Conservatives, running against a guy who spent the last 20 years outside of Canada ought to do it.

A big tent Coalition Party would destroy Harper and the Conservatives

Center-Left Humanitarian — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:48:20 -0500

Think back to what the Cons were before they reconstituted. They were nothing, powerless, impotent. So, they formed an alliance and rejuvenated ... TWICE ... and with the help of a fractured opposition, they attained a 2008 quasi-majority, and attempted to eliminate the funding of their fractured opponents (even though Harper said, "oops, sorry, I reached too far", we all know his ultra-rightwing agenda lies beneath the deceptive surface).

Silence on Canadian Coalition Crisis in US Media

Slumberjack — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:39:25 -0500

Silence On Canadian Coalition on US Media

"I don't expect much international news from the myopic American media. But for goodness sakes we shouldn't be ignoring historically significant events in Canada."

Coalition government activism

Sara Mayo — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:41:31 -0500

The Conservatives are organizing rallies for Saturday December 6th in cities across Canada. The locations are here: http://www.rallyforcanada.ca/

(Most of the locations are City Halls and other seats of government, but some of the locations are very partisan and others just seem completely out of touch. For instance in Edmonton the chosen location is NDP MP Linda Duncan's office. In Hamilton, the location is a large park far from dowtown.)

What do you think of the Governor General's decision?

Rob8305 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:16:41 -0500

I am somewhat confused about just exactly how much power Harper has vis-a-vis the Governor General because I've heard conflicting things. So I'm starting this thread to try to get some clarity. Hopefully this will sort things out for me. Here are the questions in my mind:

1. Does the Governor General function merely as a figurehead and a rubber stamp of approval to whowever the Prime Minister of the day is? My guess would be clearly no.

Coalition: breaking news

JeffWells — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:09:14 -0500

Well, here's one:

OTTAWA — Frank Valeriote does not favour a coalition government and instead hopes Prime Minister Stephen Harper can work toward rescuing the Canadian economy.

“I believe in working toward a solution, not working toward a coalition,” Guelph’s Liberal MP said Wednesday.

Valeriote added he does not believe a Liberal-NDP coalition, with support from the Bloc Quebecois, will unseat the Tories.

“I have given no thought to that,” Valeriote said when asked whether he saw himself in a cabinet role under such an arrangement. “I am not, frankly, anticipating moving into government.”