What do the PEOPLE want?
All this talk about whether or not Stephen Harper wants a majority government is a little ridiculous. Of course he does. Stephane Dion likely wants a majority Liberal government too. What leader wouldn’t want to win a majority?
The real question is what does the population want? A recent Ipsos Reid poll shows that Canadians seem to be fed up with minority governments:
…Sixty-three per cent of Canadians would prefer that the next government hold a majority of seats in the House of Commons, according to the Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by Canwest News Service and Global National…
(Alternate Gazette link with same story here. )
However, realistically they expect another minority.
What do you think? Do you think it’s time for a majority government in Canada? I have a new poll up, just waiting for your answer.
Thanks in advance for your participation.
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Update: I’ve left comments at both SDA and Cherniak’s asking for folks to participate in this poll. So far, my request to Jason is awaiting moderation.
Noon Update: Well, so far Jason hasn’t let my comment past moderation so I can only guess that he doesn’t want any Liberal supporters to vote at the poll.
I tried.
Evening Update: This will be a site to keep an eye on - LISPOP: Seat projections (WLU)
September 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
By the way, somebody tell Jack that Barack called. He wants his platform back.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
If people are tired of elections then give PMSH a majority. A minority will just keep Dion threatening to make the decision, and sit on his hands, and dictate to his caucus, don’t vote. If the media plays to much on the fixed election date, watch for ads showing all the opposition leaders saying the govt must fall, or showing bloc and ndp voting against the govt 44 times.
I am sure there are many jobs that all those biased reporters could get when they are finally dumped, for their hate of the govt.
The strange thing is, if McCain wins in Nov, he will have the media to thank. He has a 10 point lead in likely voters.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Fearless prediction: an increased conservative “minority” going from 123 to 148 with gains in all regions. Holding the balance of power will be the NDP who will see gains in Ontario. Liberals and Bloc will loss support.
Fearless Wants!! a CPC majority in the range of 160-170.
WCT Reports (later)
September 8th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Joanne:
Did you see Peter Donolo on MDL last night? They’re going to be polling the 45 closest ridings from the last election in Que, Ont, & BC every day. The sum total difference between the winner and 2nd place candidate was 15,000 votes. This should be interesting to follow.
Peter also said they had done some polling in these ridings already as to who Canadians see as Prime Ministerial. Both Harper and Layton polled in the 60’s% as favourable and 30’s% as negative. Dion was the polar opposite. 30’s% positive, and 60’s% negative.
Dion is done like dinner.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:10 am
somebody tell Jack that Barack called. He wants his platform back.
Caveat, no kidding! What a shameless copycat.
A minority will just keep Dion threatening to make the decision, and sit on his hands, and dictate to his caucus, don’t vote.
Mary T., that would be a horrible scenario.
WCT, thanks for the report. I concur with your prediction and ‘fearless wants’.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Dion is done like dinner.
Reid, thanks for the tip about the polling. I remember hearing something about that, but I didn’t quite get the significance until now. Very interesting indeed.
I don’t think we should write off Dion yet though. Don Martin said some very flattering things this morning:
Yet it was a knock-me-over-with-a-feather glimpse of a leader showing flashes of charisma. He had them laughing and cheering as he did self-deprecation of his lousy English while taking pointed jabs and mocking shots at his opponents. The obvious question: Who is this guy and what have they done with Liberal leader Stephane Dion?
The old story about low expectations, I guess.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am
60% think Layton is Prime Ministerial??, are these people smoking pencil shavings?
September 8th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Here’s a link to the poll results in the G&M
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080907.welxnpolls08/BNStory/Front
September 8th, 2008 at 10:24 am
“Yet it was a knock-me-over-with-a-feather glimpse of a leader showing flashes of charisma. He had them laughing and cheering as he did self-deprecation of his lousy English while taking pointed jabs and mocking shots at his opponents. The obvious question: Who is this guy and what have they done with Liberal leader Stephane Dion?”
Gee - talk about brainwashing the electorate. If you get told something long enough, pretty soon you come to believe it.
Remember “Scary Harper” - this is the media doing the same thing in reverse to try to put Dion in a “leadership” role in the minds of the Canadian voter.
Will they believe it - Given the gullibility of the voter and the media’s left wing bent - I believe that many will.
It is up to the Tories and their supporters to call them on it.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I wonder if those 60% that think Layton is PM material also think Libby, Pat Martin, and a few others are cabinet material. Can’t have one without the other.
43 MPs are not running again, mostly liberals, so whatever the results there will be a lot of new faces on the backbenches, or on the front bench. Is Garth’s riding one of those being watched closely.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Re: fearless prediction CPC currently has 127 members at dissolution not 123 as I stated - “but it’s still so early out here!!”
Liberals = 95
BQ = 48
Green = 1 (this could be challenged!!)
NDObamas = 30
Independent = 4
Vacant = 4
WCT Reports (awake and at work)
September 8th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Just watching some cbc coverage and on hot topic is the influence of Blogs this election to get gaffs and goofs and messages out there. An example they used was the Plane fiasco. It is all over the blogs.
Then they covered dion’s scrum. Seems dion has a hearing problem and can’t get it when everyone is talking at once. (his words, paraphrased)
He is calling PMSH a liar re the carbon tax, and raising the gst. Anyone got the clip of dion stating that he and liberals would undo everything PMSH has done. That would mean raising the GST back to 7% and perhaps 10%.
Re the blogs, also mentioned is that they lead the media stories, by the time it hits the newscycle thousands of eyeballs have already read and discussed the topic. (and made up their minds)
On Drudge is a story that MSNBC has removed a couple of anchors, Mathews and Oberman. Too biased.
Could it happen at cbc.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Thanks to WCT, our Pacific correspondent here at Blue Like You. I appreciate the correction and update. You may now go for your coffee break.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Just now on cpac (french program with Pierre Donais,a Bloc pundit,a PQ pundit and Sheila Copps…hmm,no bias there,no Cons,member)The question to the panel was how Que.would figure in election.What I found most telling,was in the wrap up comments,Copps said…I think Mr.Dion will LIKELY be able to pull it off.(win) Faint praise I would say.
BTW Mary,I saw the scrum with Dion,and nice of Roger Smith and Kate Wheeler on ctv to make huge issue out of Dion’s so-called hearing problems and reason for his poor command of Eng.language!If there ever was a pathetic attempt to ‘cover’ for a poor leader it was there in spades.If PMSH had used this for poor French,he would have been denigrated,and mocked to no end.And so it starts.Apparently Smith has blogged about this as well.MSM once again carrying the Lib.luggage in another election.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I was cruising the Liberal party candidate websites. Has anyone noticed that many of the candidates don’t mention the Green Shift plan, some don’t even mention Dion, have a photo of him, and a couple don’t even identify the candidate as Liberal. A few candidates don’t have sites up yet.
Odd indeed for a party claiming they want to unify Canadians. They can’t even unify themselves.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Joanne,you have to read the latest post over at Dust My Broom on Dion’s appearance on Mtl.radio station..it has link as well to Nat.Post blog.Seems Mr.Dion “eats very little meat” beacause of the environmental toll of livestock production.
So,it seems that not only will the Green shift hurt farmers in increased carbon taxes,is this not a slam toward the farmers to cut back on livestock farming?
Oh yeah…cow farts are BAD for the environment.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Joanne, it seems Mr. Dion is showing signs of getting more ‘religion.’
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/09/08/stphane-dion-makes-a-leafy-green-shift.aspx
He’s going to be eating more salads and less meat - you know, like Catholics used to do on Fridays.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Thanks Gabby & Sammy! That’s hilarious.
DMB link here.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I think any fair minded Canadian would have to admit that Stephen Harper has done a competent job as Prime Minister and deserves a chance to run a majority government. He’s smart, he’s trustworthy and he’s decisive. In my opinion he represents the best of Canadian leadership.