[Laurababora]

Originally Posted by *Ledi* (View Post) This debate might just be more interesting than the Presidential debate, though. Everyone seems to be looking forward to this one the most.

Well, I honestly don't know anything about the VP candidates aside from Palin's daughter being pregnant and her being extremely conservative. Other than that I don't know anything about them. Therefore, the debate (no matter how interesting the topic) is not something I'd look forward to. The president candidates however, I know more about so I'd be more interested in seeing that. But as sunnykerr said, I want to see something that's going to have an impact on my life. The VP debate won't.

[Raonaild]

Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post) Considering how much more important it is to understand the candidates in our election... I don't know, call me weird, but it's not even a contest for me. I'd rather watch a tedious prime ministerial debate than the most entertaining gaffe-filled VP debate. Not to mention that this is my life they'll be talking about. So, to me, it's a no-brainer. Yeah, it's TV, but this one of them things that has nothing to do with the classical interpretation of entertainment value. The entertainment is in the impact these men and woman will have on my life. I mean, I'm dying to find a way in which Harper doesn't deeply creep me out. And I keep hoping for moment where either Stephane Dion or Jack Layton says something that truly reflects their actual character and brilliance (I'm a fan of these men). I want to see if Gilles Duceppe will say something that makes any sense to me. And, honestly, I've never heard anything come out of Elizabeth May's mouth that didn't profoundly interest me. So I am looking forward to this debate immensely.

Seriously though ... what can you learn about these people's positions within the context of the debate that you couldn't find out by following their campaigns? If there's anything new or there are any big surprises, the news folks will point them out afterwards. And do you really want to base your opinion on single moment of brilliance? Isn't it better to base it on a longer term pattern of behaviour - like how these people behaved before the election campaign even started?

And, looking at the record drop on the TSX today, I think one could reasonably argue that what is happening in US politics right now will actually have a much bigger impact on Canada in the near term than any of our own political parties.

Personally, I think we're going to exit this election campaign the same way we entered it, with the Conservatives forming a minority government. The main question is how the opposition parties will split the rest of the vote - if we're very unlucky, they will split the vote so much that the Conservatives manage a very slim majority. Hopefully that does not happen, and as soon as the Liberals lose again, Dion will resign and the party will choose a stronger leader, so that they'll actually be a credible opponent to the Conservatives when we do this all again in a few years.

[stumps101]

Originally Posted by Raonaild (View Post) Personally, I think we're going to exit this election campaign the same way we entered it, with the Conservatives forming a minority government. The main question is how the opposition parties will split the rest of the vote - if we're very unlucky, they will split the vote so much that the Conservatives manage a very slim majority. Hopefully that does not happen, and as soon as the Liberals lose again, Dion will resign and the party will choose a stronger leader, so that they'll actually be a credible opponent to the Conservatives when we do this all again in a few years.

That's exactly what I think will happen as well. Well said.

[sunnykerr]

So, I'm way late (I've been under the weather), but did anybody watch the debate (s). I totally spazzed and missed the French one, and a large part of me feels really, really terrible because of that.

But I did catch the English one on Thursday night and I am so glad I did. First of all, Gilles Duceppe speaking English is, as it turns out, some sort of doppelganger for my dad. Pretty creepy.

And Stephane Dion really needs to do an English-imersion thing. Of course, that wouldn't necessarily help him with the media as he tends to require a couple of minutes to form and express his thoughts and that just doesn't happen nowadays. But for a man that smart to mangle one of our two national languages that badly... it's just a real shame.

And Elizabeth May? Who knew. I mean, I'm sorry. I like the environment, so I always supported the Green Party in theory. But there's like a whole economic and industry platform with this woman. I did not know that and I quite enjoyed the discovery, I must say.

Harper has yet to say anything that doesn't deeply creep out, whether in the actual content or in its delivery. Having said that, I thought (and my mum dies a little every time I say this, so bear that in mind) he make a couple of good points about the limitations of the federal government apparatus. He's PM, so it makes sense that he'd be the biggest target for criticism, but he wasn't wrong in certain spots when defending his record. Mind you, he'd be a lot more credible doing it if he had followed up on a few key of his promises and if he'd freaking kick W to the curb, but, all in all, I was surprised at how little I despised him.

Jack Layton, as usual, I enjoyed. Sometimes, he'll press a point a little further than I'd like him to, but he made a couple of good jokes and he had some good ideas. So, yeah.

Mind you, they needed a better moderator. The free-for-all style of debate does nothing to enhance anyone's debating abilities. I learned that in elementary school, but I guess some of us have a steeper learning curves than others.

[Mio]

This is my third federal election and as much as I love to vote... I am getting tired of going to the polls every two years.

Yes... we get it. You have a minority government, but if you keep making us vote every two years you just might not get that majority. People are going to get tired of voting.

Oh and get this... when Manitoban's go to the polls for the provincial election next year (I think it's next year) we now have to PAY $1.25 to vote.

WHAT THE HECK?! I am not PAYING to vote.

What happened to a free democratic society?

[johnnya2k8]

I want to know how many of us Americans are following the Canadian elections as well, because what happens after Tuesday could translate to either an Obama or McCain victory before we even head to the polls ourselves next month.

I am following both because with everything going on (especially the economy), North America's future is at stake.

Note: C-SPAN here in the States will be simulcasting CBC's election night coverage Tuesday night at 9:00 Eastern.

[Mio]

Voted!

[Laurababora]

I voted as well!

ETA- I would be interested in knowing the number of Americans who have been following the Canadian election as well.

[Cathangel]

I just voted as well.

[*Catherine*]

I voted today too.


Looks like no Conservatives won here. I'm not really surprised. There is alot of Harper/Federal Conservative hate around here. I thought Manning might be able to, that seemed like the only realistic hope for the Conservatives here, but it wasn't so. The support for other Conservatives in other ridings is virtually non-existent.

In my riding NDP won, it wasnt even close..there was a big difference of 24,000 votes.


I seriously hope the Conservatives dont get a majority

[sm_love_dc]

I voted too. I hope I do not have to again for at least three years. I am in the west and they are not ariring the results yet.

[sheridon]

So did I!

They don't have the results yet for here either. The polls just closed 15 minutes ago. But being in Alberta, I think I can guess which way a lot of the vote is going to go...

[*Ledi*]

Originally Posted by sheridon (View Post) So did I! They don't have the results yet for here either. The polls just closed 15 minutes ago. But being in Alberta, I think I can guess which way a lot of the vote is going to go...

... in the wrong direction, of course!

Anyway, I'm sad that the Conservatives are going to win, but not surprised. At least it's going to be a minority Government. I hope it's even worse than the one that they had before the election, because I can't wait for Stephen Harper to be kicked out. I can't even stand to look at him.

[*Catherine*]

hmmm....I dont think its going to be worse than before, sadly. But still too early to really say right now. Lets hope so though.


You know, it never fails..over all these years, whenever I watch a federal election I look at the BQ and think why the hell do they so many seats when they are just a party from one province. I can't stand it. And it never fails. Everytime.

[Cathangel]

Originally Posted by *Catherine* (View Post) hmmm....I dont think its going to be worse than before, sadly. But still too early to really say right now. Lets hope so though. You know, it never fails..over all these years, whenever I watch a federal election I look at the BQ and think why the hell do they so many seats when they are just a party from one province. I can't stand it. And it never fails. Everytime.

Well, first of all, Quebec has a significant portion of the Canadian population (almost a quarter of it), which is why they have a significant amount of seats to fill in the House of Commons. Also, in Quebec, you have a lot of separatists who feel the need to defend Quebec's interests on the federal level as long as Quebec will be a part of Canada and they want to rely on a party who will only have that one province's interests to worry about and not all the other provinces and territories altogether so that's how the BQ was created back in 1993. They have a lot of similar positions to the NDP on numerous issues, except that they support/reject ideas based on the logic of how those will either help or go against Quebec's interests.

If you ask me, they're not really the problem as to why the Conservatives almost got a majority: if anything, they're the ones who prevented Harper from getting that clear cut majority, as Conservatives have lost a seat or two in that province. And the Liberals wouldn't be able to make significant gains in that province either, as Stephane Dion is not liked at all among Quebecers.

If anything, it's Ontario we should be looking at, where the Conservatives have gained 10 seats, which is where the biggest portion of their gains lie.