Canadian General Election, Live Thread (UPDATE: Conservatives Win!)

Elections Canada ^ | N/A

[GreenLanternCorps]

If JimRob, etc. approve this is the Live Thread for the Canadian General Election, on January 23rd, 2005.

We have a while to go before the returns start coming in, but I thought the thread needed to get up and running.

[GiveEmDubya]

For those of you out there who are going to follow the cabinet ministers in their ridings tonight:

The Liberal Cabinet (those standing for re-election) and their seats:

Paul Martin (Prime Minister, LaSalle--Émard, QC)
Anne McLellan (Deputy PM, Edmonton Centre, AB)
Andy Mitchell (Agriculture Min., Parry Sound--Muskoka, ON)
Liza Frulla (Canadian Heritage Min., Jeanne--Le Ber, QC)
Joe Volpe (Citizenship/Immigration Min., Eglinton--Lawrence, ON)
Stephane Dion (Environment Min., Saint-Laurent--Cartierville, QC)
Ralph Goodale (Finance Min., Wascana, SK)
Geoff Regan (Fisheries/Oceans Min., Halifax West, NS)
Pierre Pettigrew (Foreign Affairs Min., Papineau, QC)
Ujjal Dosanjh (Health Min., Vancouver South, BC)
Belinda Stronach (Human Resources Min., Newmarket--Aurora, ON)
Andy Scott (Indian Affairs/Northern Dev. Min., Fredericton, NB)
David Emerson (Industry Min., Vancouver Kingsway, BC)
Lucienne Robillard (Intergov. Affairs Min./Privy Council Pres., Westmount--Ville-Marie, QC)
Aileen Carroll (International Cooperation Min., Barrie, ON)
Jim Peterson (International Trade Min., Willowdale, ON)
Irwin Cotler (Attorney General, Mount Royal, QC)
Joe Fontana (Labor/Housing Min., London North Centre, ON)
Bill Graham (Defense Min., Toronto Centre, ON)
John McCallum (National Revenue Min., Markham--Unionville, ON)
Scott Brison (Public Works Min., Kings--Hants, NS)
Ken Dryden (Social Development Min., York Centre, ON)
Jean Lapierre (Transport Min., Outremont, QC)
Albina Guarnieri (Veterans Affairs Min., Mississauga East--Cooksville, ON)
Stephen Owen (Western Economic Diversification Min., Vancouver Quadra, BC)
Reg Alcock (Treasury Board Pres./Wheat Board, Winnipeg South, MB)
Tony Valeri (Gov't Leader in the House, Hamilton East--Stoney Creek, ON)

It appears only one (John Efford) is standing down this time.

[fanfan]

Appreciate the kind words- I am just setting up the browser to view as many sites & blogs as I can manage without locking up the bloody thing- will update that old post as news moves across the 'net.

Backhoe, if we win this thing tonight, it will be due, in no small part, to your work, and the work of countless other posters and bloggers.

On behalf of all Canadian Conservatives, let me thank you once again for your work.

[badgerbengal]

How many of those are beatable?

[goldstategop]

If most of them lose their seats, it will be a good night. It would be sweet to say good-bye to turncoats Scott Brison and Belinda Stronach. And of course can forget Alberta's sole Liberal Anne McLellan? Tonight she's histoire.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[kanawa]

Quick Thread Bump before heading back out to help get the vote out...

[GiveEmDubya]

I just scanned through the list...at least a half-dozen of them are in big trouble. A few more could lose under the right conditions. The seat previously held by John Efford (Natural Resources Minister from Avalon, NL) has a good shot of going Conservative as well.

[Heatseeker]

I've followed Canadian politics since the 1970's so I have a moderately good feel for it. Though this is a simplification, in general Conservatives from the western provinces (mainland British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but especially Alberta) are more like what we think of as 'conservative' down here. Tories in the eastern provinces and Ontario used to tend towards what we'd here today call RINO's.

However due to a split and then a recombination of conservative parties, the new CPC (Conservative Party of Canada) is as much like our brand of conservatism as political practicalities throughout Canada will allow, than was the old "red Tory" party (formal title: "Progressive Conservatives") of Brian Mulroney's days.

Again, that's a simplification - there are any number of rural Ontario ridings, for example, where the voters are if anything more conservative than most of us are.

[goldstategop]

Music to my ears. How do you betray your principles, your party and your colleagues for a Cabinet post? What comes around goes around. No one will ever remember them again after tonight is over.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[plushaye]

What's Harper really like? Just curious about the [God willing] next PM of our country.

[GiveEmDubya]

Personally, I'd be surprised if the Tories didn't go 28 for 28 in Alberta. They've got 27 in the bag already as far as I'm concerned. Landslide Annie is mere hours away from getting the bum's rush.

I expect Barbie Billion$ (er, Belinda) to lose to Lois Brown by a decent margin. Of course, if these predictions are wrong, well, a lot of people are going to guess wrong with me.

[mitchbert]

A very astute summary.

[Beagle8U]

"rural Ontario ridings" Sounds like humping a country gal?

Can someone explain exactly what a riding is?

[goldstategop]

A nice guy and intelligent man who likes policy and ideas. He's not a backslapper but he's a straight shooter. And he's the kind of conservative who will do the party proud as Prime Minister.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

Alberta will go 28 for 28. The Republicans in the states have never achieved that in Texas. Its true you can't find any Liberals in Alberta!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Heartofsong83]

Here are my predictions on the cabinet ministers:

Likely to be defeated: Carroll, Frulla, Lapierre, McLellan, Mitchell, Pettigrew, Stronach

Should be close - could go either way: Alcock, Brison, Dosanjh, Emerson, Fontana, Goodale, Martin, Scott, Valeri

Should easily be returned: Cotler, Dion, Dryden, Graham, Guarnieri, McCallum, Owen, Peterson, Regan, Robillard, Volpe

[fanfan]

I'm just hoping for Stronach to get thrown out on her ear. : )

Did you hear what happened?

At an all candidates debate late last week, she was asked "How will you deal with being on the opposition benches"? . She replied with resulting howls of laughter.... "The same way I did before."

She was also stupid enough to ask at one point, "Who do you trust?"

That resulted in a roar from the audience...."LOIS BROWN!"

[goldstategop]

I second your take. Its never good when your leadership team is being decimated by the voters.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Canadian Outrage]

AMEN Preston!!

[Heartofsong83]

Unfortunately, some of the biggest idiots in the cabinet should be re-elected (they represent safe Liberal seats)

[plushaye]

Thank-you. Nice to know that. His policies and attitude will fit far better with the US. That aspect alone is better for Canada. The Liberals have been such an embarassment on the world stage for years.