Not looking good

[ninepointer]

A Conservative candidate said to me that even if Harper is elected with a majority, they figure he has 2 years left at most.

There's a long time left in the campaign, more than enough time for one of the leaders to pull a "Hudak" and take himself out of contention.

[Waftrudnir]

certainly true.
but you also need to make a candidates mistakes public enough to impact the final outcome.
Look at the CBC and how they favour the Duffy case over more serious ongoing issue and you know what I mean

[trimmer21]

A Conservative candidate said to me that even if Harper is elected with a majority, they figure he has 2 years left at most.

There's a long time left in the campaign, more than enough time for one of the leaders to pull a "Hudak" and take himself out of contention.

That's as long as it's not Harper. So far,the Conservative campaign has been a slo-motion train wreck. Harper needs to really jerk the re-election committee silly. The attack ads against Trudeau are getting tiresome. I mean,is that all they've got in such a target-rich environment? The Liberal's Del Mastro ads where he's in handcuffs and being hauled off to jail are right on the mark and then the two mooks that the Conservatives canned yesterday didn't help,either,along with the hype and horseshyte over the Duffy trial.
We need to remember that from where we,as retirees and mostly upper income types who really don't need to worry too much about where our next paycheck may or may not come from,it's really easy to lose sight of the fact that the average Canadian family's income is well below the magic $50K and they're getting pounded by job losses,high credit card debt and carrying mortgages that are two payments away from foreclosure. These folks are pissed and who can blame them. There's a very rich breeding ground for leftist governments when this happens.

[TPM]

This one is way too tough to call. Polls have been all over the place and if you rembember the last Federal election the pollsters weren't even close to what the actual outcome was.. Our last Provincial election was all about ousting the Liberals and look what happened there. Insiders I've talked to still say Conservative minority.

[terrym]

I think a Conservative minority also, and a slim one at that. I also am convinced they will vote the government down at the first confidence vote.

[sawbill]

I can't imagine 4 years of looking at Mulcair and that pasted on smile. Its the same smile a guy wears when his wife tells him the mother-in-law is coming to visit for a month.

[Bushmoose]

I can't imagine 4 years of looking at Mulcair and that pasted on smile. Its the same smile a guy wears when his wife tells him the mother-in-law is coming to visit for a month.

I'd take the mother-in-law any day rather than the dipshyte spoiled rich kid or Mulcair?

[MarkB]

So, can anyone tell me if my recap below is correct:

Conservatives - Harper has been somewhat of a bully in parlament, pushing some policies that a lot of people didn't support (Bill C51 for instance), has covered up senator expenses and seems two-faced, and ever so controlling. Has stripped environmental protection laws to nothing, and very little motivation to protect our lakes/fisheries. On the other hand he has reduced taxes, and tried to improve business environment to increase employment.

Liberals - have a very young party leader with very little experience. Wants to spend billions to prop up economy (Harper did this as well in round 1 of the financial meltdown in 2009/2010). Not sure if that is good or bad. I'm also not sure if they'll reinvest in protecting our environment, our lakes, our fisheries and wildlife programs - or will they remain at the same anemic levels (collapse of the salmon fishery in the west end of Lake Ontario - MNR WAKE UP)??? Liberals are proven to be corrupt (I still am pretty mad about the provincial parties +$1 billion scandal on the Oakville Gas Plant). He also supported Harper in a few key bills (C51 - takes away our constitutional right, only works in a perfect ALL ethical government and we have far from that, so expect abuse). Wants to tax the so called "rich" (I have a problem with that - let me explain - someone works hard, is smart, invests wisely, and now we penalize them??? That's a sure way to have someone say, screw it, it's not worth it, I'd rather be reliant on social support). I get curbing tax EVASION, but penalizing someone that earns more due to hard work and intelligence is a no go for me.

NDP - say they will balance the budget, but are promising to spend money left, right and center on various social initiatives. Doesn't add up. Taxes will likely go through the roof. We are ALL on the brink of unaffordability (house prices, food prices, taxes, gas). Party leader has some experience, and seems to be a pretty serious guy, but social policies and the spending as a result is a very scary thought. Where will it lead in terms of taxes, and the financial state of Canada?

Coming back to Bill C51 - so is this very conversation being monitored by government who will then ultimately alter their communications (not actions) to suit themselves, or even worse, do we end up in a draconian state, where they identify you and suppress you, in order to ensure they encourage their voter base? That's why I don't like C51 and Harper and Trudeau were both behind it. The control they want is WAY too much, and in the wrong hands, will be very dangerous. C51 is a great law in a perfectly run, ethically estute government. But we all know there are bad apples, who will abuse this power, for their own selfish good. This is my main hesitation voting for either Conservatives or Liberal. That leaves NDP - and they will probably bankrupt the country. Awsome choices, not.

[trimmer21]

So, can anyone tell me if my recap below is correct:


Coming back to Bill C51 - so is this very conversation being monitored by government who will then ultimately alter their communications (not actions) to suit themselves, or even worse, do we end up in a draconian state, where they identify you and suppress you, in order to ensure they encourage their voter base? That's why I don't like C51 and Harper and Trudeau were both behind it. The control they want is WAY too much, and in the wrong hands, will be very dangerous. C51 is a great law in a perfectly run, ethically estute government. But we all know there are bad apples, who will abuse this power, for their own selfish good. This is my main hesitation voting for either Conservatives or Liberal. That leaves NDP - and they will probably bankrupt the country. Awsome choices, not.

You've pretty much got it nailed except for this last paragraph. These kind of "controls" are specifically designed to uncover covert communications by radical terrorists already in the country and protect us from "home-grown" radical terrorism. The saving grace in this omnibus bill is the severe penalties for any form of abuse. There is also stringent and strict oversight built into it. The media would have us believe that we sold our first unborn children,but,I believe the only reason they're whining and ing is that they see it as an attempt to stifle free speach because it could curtail their use of "informants" or "reliable sources",if you will which,to me,is a crock of BS.

[rick_iles]

I don't get where the Conservatives have "covered up " senate expenses as mentioned in a previous post. The Conservatives are the only party in my memory, that has gone after and rooted out improper senate spending !!!! As far as C51, if you think the government is monitoring all our conversations, you need to tighten your tinfoil hat !