Blue Like You

Archive for the ‘Please vote at poll page’ Category

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)

Since the chances of a fall election seem to be increasing, I’ve decided to take a few weeks off to relax, refresh and rejuvenate. (Quiet in the Troll-gallery!)

Anyway, I’m leaving you with a new poll - Will there be an election this fall? If so, who do you think will win? I realized after setting up the poll that maybe there should be a ‘None of the above’ choice, but you think it’s easy making polls?

It’s just for fun anyway.

Please feel free to leave comments. I’ll check in from time to time.

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Sunday Update - Harper’s future will be decided in Ontario by Angelo Persichilli;

The way Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is talking this summer, it looks like the next federal election is around the corner. The problem is that the Grit leader can’t find that corner yet. Nonetheless, the fatigue of keeping this Parliament alive, for no other reason than that nobody has the courage to put an end to it, is mounting. Of course, there is still the possibility that this will be the first federal minority government to go the full term in a long time, but the chances of an October vote are increasing.

What are the ingredients for a Liberal or Conservative victory? The list is short: money, organization, a program and a strong leader able to sell it ….

I love that line, "The problem is that the Grit leader can’t find that corner yet."

Read on and see how Persichilli figures that money won’t be an issue for the LPC.

Thoughts?

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Alternate Poll added for the ‘Spring’ people.

Update: Harper may ‘make a judgment’ about Parliament - Globe

Poll results: Contrary to MSM punditry, most respondents don’t seem to believe that we will have an election til next October!

Thanks for your participation.

Dr. Roy stole my thunder this morning when he highlighted Jonathan Kay’s summary of Joseph Ben Ami’s case for coming up with an abortion law or some kind of legal restrictions here in Canada. As anyone who has been following the debate knows, there is no law at all concerning abortion at the present time - nor is there any legal reason not to have one.

Some people make the argument that Canada’s abortion rates are going down, so why bother?

I guess my answer to that would be if crime rates in general are going down, should we therefore remove existing laws? Maybe we don’t need them anymore.

But the item that really caught my attention was #6:

6. Given the manner in which social revolutionaries are changing the face of bioethics, it is only a matter of time before an enterprising lawyer or activist judge is able to get an infanticide suspect off the hook on the grounds that (as described in point #1, above) what he did was little different from late-term abortion, a perfectly legal practice.

In Guelph a precedent-setting case is unfolding, and the judge is clearly perplexed . A woman has been accused of killing her seven-week-old son in Kitchener in 1998 and nine-week-old son in Guelph in 2002:

...Defence counsel Craig Parry is arguing his client is instead guilty of the rare charge of infanticide because her mind was "disturbed" by the effects of childbirth at the time of each killing…

The Crown is pushing for a murder charge, but Justice Cas Herold is unsure and is now wrestling with the "legal definition of infanticide."

Parry is urging a wider interpretation of the law, saying that for example breastfeeding can lead to sleep deprivation and this could alter a woman’s state of mind.

All this makes me wonder what would have happened if the woman had killed someone else in her ‘disturbed’ state, rather than just her infant sons. Should the charge then be lessened too?

Or do infants that have less value than older human beings?

And if we have a sliding scale of human value, then who’s next?

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More background on the Guelph case - Disturbing letter shown at trial for mom accused of killing sons (Record.)

Luca weighs in here.

And Morton from Liblogs muses on the usefulness of the summary, which causes the fake Cherniak to utter some amusing comments.

New Poll up! - Does Canada need some kind of abortion law?

What I’ve been hearing an awful lot from the Liberal camp and apparent supporters of Dion’s Green Shift, is that at least he has a plan, so therefore it’s better than nothing, right?

But is it really?

The assumption with that logic is that no matter what we do to try to solve an existing problem, the effort to do so outweighs any tendency to sit back and study the problem further. In other words, the result doesn’t matter, as long as we’re doing something.

So if someone has a an infected finger, should we therefore chop it off instead of seeing if antibiotics might solve the problem first?

Perhaps this isn’t the best example, but the fact remains that many of the kneejerk reactions to AGW and climate change are proving to be ineffective and causing other problems. Biofuels spring to mind here because this was first seen as a panacea for our oil dependency, but now we’re seeing the effects which include higher food prices and increased world hunger due to crops and fields being converted to grow corn and other grains for fuel.

I just finished watching Stephane Dion being interviewed by Robert Fife on CTV’s Question Period. Dion was saying something to the effect that since almost half of all Canadian goods are exported, then the tax on carbon will be paid by both foreigners and Canadians, while the benefits would be enjoyed by Canadians alone in the form of tax deductions.

My question for Stephane Dion would have been to ask what happens when people in other countries stop buying our goods because they are too expensive? And what good is a tax deduction if you don’t have a job because the products you manufacture are no longer competitive in a global market? (You blew it there, Robert.)

Lorrie Goldstein points out the flaws in other so-called solutions, including cap-and-trade, carbon credits, carbon trading markets, etc. in today’s column, Carbon Credits’ dirty secret.

He mentions allegations of "corruption, profiteering and ineffectiveness" regarding Kyoto , and that it guarantees that "future emission increases, not decreases" - not exactly the result we’re looking for.

So I sent Lorrie an email asking him exactly what did he see as a viable solution to the problem of man made global warming?

In his very prompt and thoughtful reply, he directed me to one of his recent columns, Carbon Quacks - Canadian politicians in denial about real solutions to climate woes. The answer lies near the end of the column:

…Don’t you think that government would focus like a laser on the development of renewable and nuclear energy and carbon capture technology, which will reduce carbon emissions (and deadly air pollution, a separate issue), plus contribute to global stability by reducing the world’s reliance on Mideast oil, which happens to be located where most of the terrorists are?

Wouldn’t fiscally responsible politicians, instead of pretending a new tax or stock market will save us, finance this necessary research and development by redirecting to it the billions of dollars we’re wasting subsidizing mega-rich fossil fuel companies and disastrous ideas like bio-fuels?

They would … if they weren’t reality deniers.

In his email, Lorrie summarized by stating that "the only thing that will actually reduce carbon emissions is a massive and co-ordinated effort to develop nuclear and (practical, affordable, reliable) renewable energy, along with carbon capture technology."

"Last week’s column on politicians being in denial about global warming essentially said, in the negative, what I would do…

…Beyond that, responsible programs to encourage citizens to conserve fossil fuels (which I would do through financial incentives rather than higher taxes) should be expanded, instead of introducing new carbon tax and/or cap and trade carbon market, neither of which will do anything to lower carbon emissions…

He had some other great ideas too, but asked me to refrain from publishing them yet. You’ll just have to wait for one of his future columns! Ha-ha-ha!!!

I wish to thank Lorrie Goldstein for his continual mentoring on the issue of global warming. He has done an incredible amount of research. I find his columns to be very non-partisan, objective and educational.

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Somewhat Related : There is a new question up on my poll page - What is the most serious issue facing Canada right now? Your participation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sunday Update: Lorrie Goldstein - The hole in Kyoto’s ‘cap’:

…The most gaping hole in the roof of Kyoto is that 143 of 180 member countries have no cap on their emissions until at least 2013 (if ever), including China, the world’s largest carbon emitter.

Only 37 countries, and, only a handful of major industrial ones, including Canada — but not the U.S., the world’s second-largest emitter, which has refused to ratify Kyoto dating back to when Al Gore was its vice-president — are required to reduce emissions by an average of 5% between now and 2012. (For us, 6%.)

However, as the Christian Science Monitor reported after researching the issue in 2004, up to 850 new coal plants planned by China, India and the United States alone over the next few years — none covered by Kyoto — will put up to five times more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, than Kyoto is designed to remove, even if every country required to reduce emissions hits its targets. Many, if not most, including us, won’t…

Steve Janke’s latest post on the trials of Dion was picked up by National Post’s Full Comment - Oops: Liberal nominee Gerry Samson can’t sell green shift (except to Stealth Liberals). (Well done, Steve.)

It seems that the Liberal candidate in Cornwall openly admits to Dion in a Town Hall meeting that people aren’t buying it.

Then one lone voice supporting Dion turns out to be a member of the local Liberal riding executive. Well, there’s an impartial POV for ya!

And a few days ago, a student wrote a letter to the editor saying that she felt "used" by the Liberal Party.

And of course we have the story of Jennifer Wright, who also feels "used". (Or at least they "used" her Green Shift name.)

I suspect Dion truly believes in his plan, but his caucus members must be getting a sinking feeling when they talk to constituents in the real world. Dion’s credibility rests on this one policy, but he’s got to have plants to support it in media events?

I sense another poll coming on. Just need to tweak it.

Update: Please vote now at new poll!

7:30 pm - This poll is already getting lots of traffic. Thanks for your input.

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This is a must-read from Paul Wells at Macleans - Dion’s strategy: make yourself the target.

Not necessarily the best move, IMHO.

And here is a very quaint Dionesque quote:

"Paul, I want to have elections yesterday…"

Do you not wish this man was your Prime Minister right now????

And how’s this for arrogance?:

…Female voters, however, are smarter and more intuitive. They don’t like Harper; they can tell something is off…

Everyone o.k. with that one? Or did he just insult all men in Canada, and all Conservative women?

And check this out when Dion’s own candidate tries to get a straight answer!!!

Final Poll Results: Will Canadians accept Stephane Dion’s Green Shift plan?

Yes, the man’s a genius - 6%.
No, he’s delusional - 94%.

Total number of votes - 90.

Once again, thanks for your participation.

Lots of action on the poll page since this morning’s post. Thank you to all participants.

On the second poll, 21% are actually saying that Fantino should be given the Order of Canada. The majority (67%) are saying that he should be neither suspended, fired nor awarded.

Still time to vote, but the poll closes tomorrow. I’ll post the final results when available.

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9:30 pm Update - The Order of Canada choice is gaining ground! We’re up to 31%!! Who knew Peter Kormos could be so wrong?

Update @ Thursday 6:30 a.m. - Well, the polls must close at midnight. That’s fine. We’ll review the results tomorrow.

Meanwhile, if anyone has suggestions for a new poll, please let me know. I’d like the next one to be more national in focus, rather than just about Ontario issues.

Perhaps something about election speculation?

Related to the Fantino poll, please check out Joe Warmington’s It’s all about the water.

Thursday Update: The polls could write themselves here. I’m not going to do this one but it is intriguing - Should an undercover cop pretend to be a journalist?

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Friday Update : The two Fantino polls are now closed and the results are interesting.

The first one asked whether or not he should be suspended, and the answer was a resounding 93% saying NO!

The second poll showed that most people (63%) felt that he should be neither punished or rewarded, but votes for giving him the Order of Canada were 29%, with firing only drawing 8%, and suspension none.

Those statistics were consistent for the last several days of the poll, so future polls will only be a couple of days in length.

Thanks again for your interest and participation.

(From MacKay - May 31, 2006 )

Please visit my poll page and cast your vote at one or both of the two polls about Julian Fantino vs. Shawn Brant.

The first poll asks if Fantino should be suspended. Current results sit at 91% saying no and 9% saying yes, out of a total of 55 votes since July 20.

The second poll is more specific, asking whether Fantino should be suspended, fired, given the Order of Canada or none of the above? Only 9 votes have been cast here, but 78% of the respondents have voted for ‘None of the Above". 22% say he should be fired.

The National Post takes a shot at fellow MSM this morning with their editorial, Fantino’s Non-Scandal:

…The only "danger" at issue here is the risk of this country being overrun by native protests in the face of cops who have both hands tied behind their backs.

How exactly did this increasingly wimpy nation get to a point where it is considered "scandalous" for a police officer to use Bmovie tough talk to eject thugs from public property? More to the point: Why are our media colleagues cheerleading this embarrassing phenomenon?

Well, Shawn Brant, his lawyer and NDP MPP Peter Kormos certainly know how to use the media to their advantage. And to his credit, Dalton McGuinty has stood by Fantino on this one. I grudgingly give him a thumbs-up for that. The NDP’s action is shameless and irresponsible.

However, that this is even a story one year after the fact is symptomatic of our weak-kneed progressive attitudes when it comes to applying the law of the land to all citizens equally.

Or as Julian Fantino himself has observed,

"I find the whole thing ludicrous,” the Ontario Provincial Police commissioner said in an e-mail.

"It’s all utter shameful madness that under the circumstances . . . I and the OPP would be portrayed as the villains and Brant the victim. But, then again, some people have no shame,” he wrote.

"Ironically, only in Canada can someone basically usurp the rights and lawful entitlement of tens of thousands of people and obstruct commerce by leading a so-called blockade using criminal tactics (and have) such unlawful actions be made out to be legitimate and its mastermind then the victim. This is insane!” he wrote.

It is indeed insane.

But when you have an Ontario Premier with a long-standing policy of incremental appeasement and an apparent policing philosophy that involves merely ‘keeping the peace’ when laws are broken, then he shouldn’t be too surprised when an alleged perpetrator of a crime is made to look like victim.

It is a logical progression.

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Update: Thanks to Sol for directing me to this excellent commentary in today’s Sun - Apparently Fantino’s an o.k. guy. It seems that the Kangaroo Court comprised of MSM and left-leaning politicians has been less than honest with us regarding the context of Fantino’s comments:

…What you probably haven’t heard is the next thing Fantino said: "I don’t want to do that. I want to help you deal with the suicides (on native reserves) … I’ve travelled to … reserves. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve seen it. I’ve been to Kashechewan and some of these other places. I’ve been there … "

Shawn Brant himself seemed quite impressed with Fantino at the time.

If this is Peter Kormos’ way to get face-time before an NDP leadership race, I think he’s picking the wrong issue.

Neo has more - What percentage of Ontarians…

Another tip from Sol - Christina Blizzard: Shawn Brant vs. everyone.

Shawn Brant’s lawyer wants Julian Fantino suspended and investigated for comments he made to Brant during critical negotiations surrounding the Aboriginal Day of action at the end of June 2007.

Apparently the issue is the language that Fantino used in an attempt to discourage Brant from holding Canadian travellers hostage (CTV):

The wiretap documents suggest the OPP was minutes away from moving in on First Nations blockades on Highway 401 during the aboriginal day of action.

The phone conversations — recorded without a court order — indicate Fantino told Brant he would do “everything I can within your community and everywhere else to destroy your reputation.”

So how do you see this latest development? Has Fantino overstepped his jurisdiction? Or do you see him as some kind of hero, since he prevented any bloodshed?

I have a poll up here which I am still trying to perfect from a technical point of view, but please have your say there and in the comment section. Thanks.

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Monday Update: Excellent column by Joe Warmington in today’s Sun - Give Fantino a lot of credit:

… “There is danger in allowing this man to be left at the head of the OPP,” Rosenthal was quoted by the Sun’s Ian Robertson. “The danger is life and death … they should suspend Commissioner Fantino pending an inquiry.”

Of course, such words, and legal dancing over the legality of such things as a wiretap are going to gain attention in an attempt to get the best deal for a client. However, when I read this, it struck me how lost in all of this is the fact that protesters had blocked one of the world’s busiest highways and rail lines — both the lifeblood for commerce in this country.

Fantino was able to hastily negotiate peacefully an end to this blockade; he should be given a medal. It did not turn out to be another Ipperwash or even a long drawn out situation like the one at Caledonia. It was over in a matter of hours. As the province’s top cop, the guy did his job.

It’s interesting to me that on one hand the OPP are criticized and even sued for not doing enough to end native standoffs and now there are calls for inquiries for doing too much. With this one, instead of pats on the back for the OPP and its gutsy leadership, the ghost of Dudley George was trotted out as were the violins for some so called native protesters who, by the way, are not elected by their own band members, are not part of the Assembly of First Nations and are not sitting at the table of numerous legitimate land claims negotiations.

This was not a land claim but merely a bunch of protesters cutting off the country’s citizens from reaching each other by highway or rail!…

Exactly.