Posted on 11/08/2005 7:58:24 AM PST by NorthOf45
Let's vote already!
Instead of griping about a Christmas election, we should relish the chance to dump the sleazy Grits
By Peter Worthington
Toronto Sun
November 8, 2005
When it comes to chutzpah, Jack Layton takes a back seat to no one.
When the federal NDP leader told the combined membership of the Empire and Canadian clubs yesterday that the Liberal government's health care compromises were "unacceptable," it indicated a possible Christmas election -- which no one wants, but is long overdue.
He said "this Parliament's life is likely limited -- not by the choice of any Opposition party, but by the unethical behaviour of the Liberal party."
Of course Layton is correct.
But why did he prop the unethical Liberal party up when the Conservatives wanted an election last spring?
It's unlikely Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will call for a vote of confidence a next week (the first Opposition chance to do so falls to him a week from today), so it'll have to be Layton who calls for it -- supported by Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois (their chances come later).
In reality, there's been no reason for confidence Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals ever since they formed a minority government.
What's got Layton in a knot (finally) is Martin's apparent unwillingness to adjust health care legislation to suit NDP wishes. In other words, if Martin capitulated to the NDP, they'd continue preventing an election that might remove this corrupt gang that has run the country for a dozen years.
But by using his minority status to wield power that voters won't give the NDP, Layton has indulged in another brand of corruption -- one that he can no longer sustain.
A Christmas election is not a sure thing, unless Martin himsefdecides to pull the plug rather than come up within another deal for the NDP.
Of course, Christmas is a lousy time to hold an election, but Martin's has been a lousy government, with a lot of lousy characters who've defiled Canadian democracy.
So let's get on with an election.
We're a strange country. It's hard to think of any other "free" country where people would tolerate the sort of shenanigans that have gone on for years inside the Liberal government.
Embedded corruption
The Gomery report is the fuse for an election -- proof of embedded corruption in the Liberal party. Even so, polls shows Liberals might still win -- Conservatives are only three points ahead in the latest survey (31% to 28%).
How can that be? In any other democratic country, the Liberals would be so far behind they'd be out of sight, thanks to scandals stretching back to 1993. What does that tell you?
The fact that the Liberals are still in the race is an indictment of the Opposition -- primarily Conservatives, whose leadership doesn't enthrall voters.
That in itself is curious.
Stephen Harper may not have the common touch, but there's nothing in his record or demeanor to suggest he's a crook, or that he'd tolerate the fraud and sleaze that Liberals apparently consider normal.
Many Canadians say they'd find it "scary" if Harper headed the government. How mindless can one get?
What's "scary" is more of the sort of corruption - moral and physical - that's been rampant ever since Chretien reversed the original helicopter deal in 1993 at a penalty cost of $500 million to taxpayers.
We've had the billion-dollar scandal in Human Resources, the two-billion gun registry boondoggle, payoffs and bonuses to officials who've been caught in monkey business, and the floundering of Paul Martin who tries to persuade the country that as finance minster for most of the mischief years he was unaware of collusion and corruption.
Canadians know better. But it's Jack Layton who's kept the Liberals in office as long as they pandered to the NDP. That far overshadows any failings of Harper, and may be about to end. One hopes so. About time.
Peter Worthington Ping
Canada Ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.
"Well, some do."
Yes, but we tend to live out of the urban core. (On the west side of 905 myself) Don't discount how many votes the Liberals have already purchased through immigration policies and then the other shoe, namely fear mongering over healthcare.
I don't know that Canadians have allowed themselves to get really, really angry yet. It's hard when the Libs own the CBC and force feed propaganda constantly. They have entirely downplayed the significance of Gomery. When in doubt, there's always blaming the US for the mess in our own back yard.
Still, in every single poll I see I may sure they know I want a Chanukkah vote!
Valentine's Day might be an wonderfully allusive and apropos Election Day for Canadians.
Not for hearts and flowers - for the Massacre.
I know I'm repeating myself when I am reminded that the first person to call me up on 9/11/01 to see if I was all right was a friend of mine from Windsor, Ontario.
Where were my "so called" friends in Maryland?
I can't seem to make anyone here understand that if you are a "Hyphanated" American, you can love both the country you were born in as well as the country your mom or dad were born in.
Just like you love both of your parents.
I'm proud to be an American but I'm just as proud of my Canadian relatives, so I fly both flags even if it looks like I'm not being "Patriotic"
To some of these Freepers I'd like to say, I'm part-Canadian and 100% American so deal with it.
Worthington preaching the word. He's right. I just hope the Liberals don't recover from this one, like I know they will.
And Pippin, thanks for that. Conservatives in Canada are surrounded, and it's hard when everyone lumps us in with the rest of Canadians. We are more than a third of the population, and fighting hard, but a lot of FReepers just ignore that.
The Liberals should have been defeated last election. They are in a stronger position now than they were then. That dip in the polls is back up, with the Libs at a 7% lead over the Conservatives. We are basically waiting for the Libs to screw up larger than they already have, and then hoping our party can capitalize on it. It doesn't give me great hope for our current leadership, but maybe I am wrong.
If we lose the next election, I'd prefer to replace Harper. I like him, but I don't like him more than I like the thought of having a Conservative government in power.
Peter MacKay, Mike Harris, Bernard Lord, Ralph Klein would be good, if they actually chose to run. The latter three especially are proven winners with broad positives. Of course, faced with a decision like that of between Harper and Clement...
You're welcome :o)
Thanks! :o)
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