Rex Murphy’s All Politics, No Government is a worthwhile commentary to give perspective on the current grandstanding partisanship on display in Ottawa.
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Layton’s Machavellian grab at power seems to have been a long time in the making, longer than he’d like you to think. Robert Fife has a excellent report available on CTV.ca about early meetings with the Bloc to trap Harper and form a coalition. In an ironic turn, Layton’s latest would see Stephan Dion as Prime Minister in a coalition with the NDP.
Politics certainly makes strange bedfellows. Remember the debates when Layton stared a demure Dion in the eyes and slammed him for his leadership credentials? If you don’t, check out the video below. Remember a few weeks ago when Canadians clearly reflected their thoughts about Dion’s leadership cred when the Liberals and NDPs saw the Conservatives gain a stronger minority?
If at first you don’t succeed, Jack…
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Here’s the (un)official results… as some ridings are still too close to call.
Conservatives - Gain
Liberals - Flop
NDP - Advance
Greens - DOA
Bloc - Block
A lot of people were watching politicians go at with the second consecutive Leaders’ Debate in as many days in Canada, and the much anticipated Vice Presidential Debates in the US.
Unfortunately they occurred at the same time. I flipped between the Canadian and American coverage, but spent most of my time watching to see how Palin would do. At times it was hard not to confuse the debates with episodes of Royal Canadian Air Farce or SNL. I must say I was surprised by the difference in tone between the two debates. While the MSM has been throwing around the muck at the candidates in the US, Palin in particular, both Palin and Biden were above the frey, and were stately and respectful.
Some impressions (of the candidates I saw) in four words or less:
US VP Debate
Palin - folksy, intelligent, repetitive, composed
Biden - clear, vague, slightly impassioned
Ifill - balanced
Canadian Debate
Duceppe - one trick pony
Dion - wimpy, ineffective, funner
May - argumentative, unprofessional?, scrappy, whatever
Harper - attacked, composed, prime ministerial
Layton - cocky, pointy, articulate
- Canadian Election Series -
toward a more Conservative Majority?
That’s what Canadians will find out on October 14, if, after more than a decade and a half away, Canada’s party on the Right will step fully into power.
Stephen Harper, liked by many on the Right and vilified by many who are not, called the election on the premise that Canada needs a stable government as the nation and others around the world enter tough economic times, despite the fact that he pushed for legislation that would set elections to every five years.
The clearest target for the four parties on the left fighting it out for more representation in Parliament, Harper is often criticized for being a heavy handed, top-down leader. Often painted with the same brush as George W. Bush and denounced for being a few shades away from Green, his handlers have introduced the Harper Canadians don’t know on his website with 10 things you didn’t know about SH (he plays the piano, for instance).
Harper and the Conservative Government came to power in 2006 after Canadians lost confidence in Paul Martin’s Liberals after a sponsorship scandal that ravaged the party. He is the youngest leader among all the official party heads and has a young family (two children aged 12 and nine). He also sits in the rare position of being a PM with a minority position in Parliament.
- Canadian Election Series -
After over a decade in power, the Liberal Party fell from grace after an embarrassing sponsorship scandal that deeply damaged their image among Canadians. Then Liberal leader Paul Martin handed over keys to 24 Sussex Drive and the Prime Ministership to Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.
Since then, the party has scrambled to regroup under the leadership of Stephan Dion who surprised many by acquiring the party’s leadership nomination in 2006. After placing third on the ballot after the first vote, he won party leadership with a majority of votes on the fourth ballot (with some help from Gerard Kennedy).
Since 2006 Dion has struggled to convince many in his party and across Canada that he is a decisive leader, something the Conservative Party, his greatest rival to power and the office of PM, have used to their advantage, often leading in a game to undermine his credibility, framing him as incompetent, indecisive, and weak. Most notable among the Conservative ads is the “Not Fair” ad taken from a live leadership debate between Dion and party rival Michael Ignatieff. To combat the negative press and spin on Dion, the Liberal Party designed a website to introduce Dion to the voting public in anticipation of the October 14 election.
this blog, believe it or not, isn’t a political blog. but i have been quite attentive to the 2008 election in the US. and who can blame me (the press, and campaign seem to be in overdrive and overkill on the subject).
but the US election isn’t the only election taking place this fall. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election for 14 October in Canada.
the disimilarities between the systems of government between our two countries are striking, especially when you look at the time, energy, and money thrown at the two elections. what is being toted as the billion dollar election in the states that has taken 2 years from candidacy announcement, grueling primaries, and now the actual 50 day sprint to the electoral finish line in the USA is much more low-key in Canada - a multimillion dollar affair that will last just over a month.
although i’ve been eligible to vote for more than a decade, it’s only the second time i’ll be able to mark up a ballot federally (i’ve been out of the country for every other election that has taken place).
i thought i’d dedicate some posts to the election campaign, to help expat or out-of-country friends busy and perhaps disconnected from the political process in NA (you lucky people!) stay informed, give friends like nicole (hi!) links that might help inform voting decisions, and as a way to do some electronic diplomacy for some of my USAmerican friends who want to know more about a multi-party system (because we can select from 5 parties, not just 2).
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