C'mon, BCL...linking to anonymous comments, even at a Premier Wingnut blog like Gerry Nicholls's?
Anwyay, ol' Gerry refers to this development as a "constitutional coup." I didn't realise our constitution guaranteed coups. Canada really is a progressive nation.
True but this was merely the most forceful expression of a sentiment I've read in a couple of places this morning. Trust me, there is a tremor on the Conservative side of The Force.
I suspect that saner heads in the Conservative party will exert some muscle before we get to a confidence vote. Everyone except the most rabid right-wing ideologue wants a stimulus package. And the case against removing party subsidies is rock solid. Harper is in panic mode, with no defence but repeating the statement that the opposition "has no right" to form a coalition government. Excuse me, no right?
Everyone except the most rabid right-wing ideologue wants a stimulus package.
Actually, the underlying issue is that vested interests are not really sure what the best approach would be right now, since everyone believes Flaherty is lying about the state of the country's finances.
One thing elites want, eventually, is accurate information. Then, they all decide how they'll lie to the rest of us about it.
The thing I like about a coaltion right now is that the vested interests it represents oppose each other. This might provide for clarity and useful compromise. It also threatens to be unstable. But I don't think that can be any worse than this gang of liars and crooks who are currently at the helm.
Frankly, I think there's nothing Harper can do right now to stave this off, short of resigning and asking the GG to see if any other party has the confidence of the House.
No matter what he says or does, he can't stop them from voting no confidence. And no matter what he says now, it would be the coalition with access to the media, to government advertising, to the levers of power.
Harper has already proven himself to be a remarkably poor leader of the opposition (a thankless job, granted). And he'll have enough problems dealing with a furious caucus with no need to fear him anymore, and a socon base to whom he's delivered precisely nothing.
The Libs and NDP would have to be fucking crazy to not bring him down.
To be honest, my favorite outcome would be the opposition forces a humiliating back down on ALL the relevant issues, and then lets them live, neutered, for a few more months. But this is far more exciting, in a roll the dice with the nation kind of way.
To be honest, my favorite outcome would be the opposition forces a humiliating back down on ALL the relevant issues, and then lets them live, neutered, for a few more months.
Nope, this can't work. You can't poke someone like Harper and walk away. You have to finish him off.
BCL I might be OK with that outcome if Harper had ever - even once - shown himself capable of leading a minority government.
Let him live, and a week or two later he's back to "this is our agenda, and if you don't like it, it's a confidence vote and I'll call another pointless election.
My final straw with Harper started shortly after he came to power in 2006. I thought the Harpies would be "in yer face" open and accountable like they promised; telling Canadians exactly what lube they would be using, how deep the penetration would be, how severe the pain would be, etc. etc. I thought they enjoyed doing that.
But then they started closing off all lines of communication, imposed new rules on the civil service, muzzled the MP's, disenfranchised the Press Gallery, *disappeared* information from government web sites and turned government communication unidirectional from official sources only.
That was it. I wrote the fascists off then for good.
In any case, it's obvious they're unfit to govern and must be turfed out now.
Careful what you wish for Ti. If you think Canadians would welcome the toppling of the government two months after an election, you might want to consider.
I can't see how Harper can survive this mess he created if a coalition government happens. I agree, he is probably done like turkey dinner.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, BCL...linking to anonymous comments, even at a Premier Wingnut blog like Gerry Nicholls's?
ReplyDeleteAnwyay, ol' Gerry refers to this development as a "constitutional coup." I didn't realise our constitution guaranteed coups. Canada really is a progressive nation.
Will the wingnuts ever, ever, ever stop lying?
Tiguy,
ReplyDeleteTrue but this was merely the most forceful expression of a sentiment I've read in a couple of places this morning. Trust me, there is a tremor on the Conservative side of The Force.
Flaherty? Flaherty?
ReplyDeleteStéphane Dion has a better chance of becoming Conservative leader.
I suspect that saner heads in the Conservative party will exert some muscle before we get to a confidence vote. Everyone except the most rabid right-wing ideologue wants a stimulus package. And the case against removing party subsidies is rock solid. Harper is in panic mode, with no defence but repeating the statement that the opposition "has no right" to form a coalition government. Excuse me, no right?
ReplyDeleteEveryone except the most rabid right-wing ideologue wants a stimulus package.
ReplyDeleteActually, the underlying issue is that vested interests are not really sure what the best approach would be right now, since everyone believes Flaherty is lying about the state of the country's finances.
One thing elites want, eventually, is accurate information. Then, they all decide how they'll lie to the rest of us about it.
The thing I like about a coaltion right now is that the vested interests it represents oppose each other. This might provide for clarity and useful compromise. It also threatens to be unstable. But I don't think that can be any worse than this gang of liars and crooks who are currently at the helm.
Frankly, I think there's nothing Harper can do right now to stave this off, short of resigning and asking the GG to see if any other party has the confidence of the House.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what he says or does, he can't stop them from voting no confidence. And no matter what he says now, it would be the coalition with access to the media, to government advertising, to the levers of power.
Harper has already proven himself to be a remarkably poor leader of the opposition (a thankless job, granted). And he'll have enough problems dealing with a furious caucus with no need to fear him anymore, and a socon base to whom he's delivered precisely nothing.
The Libs and NDP would have to be fucking crazy to not bring him down.
RB,
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, my favorite outcome would be the opposition forces a humiliating back down on ALL the relevant issues, and then lets them live, neutered, for a few more months. But this is far more exciting, in a roll the dice with the nation kind of way.
"Trust me, there is a tremor on the Conservative side of The Force." - BCL"
ReplyDeleteI think you mean convulsions of laughter BCL. The left entertaining delusions of forming the government is the funniest political story of the week.
And for a textbook example of delusional thinking, read RB's post above (or any of his previous posts. :) )
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, my favorite outcome would be the opposition forces a humiliating back down on ALL the relevant issues, and then lets them live, neutered, for a few more months.
ReplyDeleteNope, this can't work. You can't poke someone like Harper and walk away. You have to finish him off.
The left entertaining delusions of forming the government is the funniest political story of the week.
ReplyDeleteAnd what exactly have you ever been right about, Paul S?
BCL I might be OK with that outcome if Harper had ever - even once - shown himself capable of leading a minority government.
ReplyDeleteLet him live, and a week or two later he's back to "this is our agenda, and if you don't like it, it's a confidence vote and I'll call another pointless election.
He needs to go.
My final straw with Harper started shortly after he came to power in 2006. I thought the Harpies would be "in yer face" open and accountable like they promised; telling Canadians exactly what lube they would be using, how deep the penetration would be, how severe the pain would be, etc. etc. I thought they enjoyed doing that.
ReplyDeleteBut then they started closing off all lines of communication, imposed new rules on the civil service, muzzled the MP's, disenfranchised the Press Gallery, *disappeared* information from government web sites and turned government communication unidirectional from official sources only.
That was it. I wrote the fascists off then for good.
In any case, it's obvious they're unfit to govern and must be turfed out now.
Careful what you wish for Ti. If you think Canadians would welcome the toppling of the government two months after an election, you might want to consider.
ReplyDeleteUpset the electorate at your own risk.
Have you ever said anything that mattered, Paul S.?
ReplyDeleteAll you do is seem to make these vague claims than can never be right or wrong. Or interesting or humourous, but I digress...
Do you go through life that way? If so, how?