Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[PrairieFella]

i think Carney will pull the trigger immediately. Take advantage of the momentum and situation. 37 day election. Previously the other parties said they were going to bring the government down when it got back anyway

Fair point. This election is going to suck, either four more years of the Liberals with what I hope is better management or PP as PM. Yikes.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Fair point. This election is going to suck, either four more years of the Liberals with what I hope is better management or PP as PM. Yikes.

Or a minority government where Team Orange does not hold the keys to the empire and Team Red needs to govern by general consensus.

 

[suffolkowner]

Fair point. This election is going to suck, either four more years of the Liberals with what I hope is better management or PP as PM. Yikes.

I await more info on the various policy disagreements. What was once a firm CPC vote is now mushy

 

[IKnowNothing]

How much damage will this Brookfield thing do to Carney?

Depends on how receptive the Canadian middle is to Poilevre's messaging. Which in turn depends on how receptive they were to it the first time around (vice JT's unpopularity being more organic) and how much they'll appreciate the same story again rather than tuning him out.

 

[PrairieFella]

Or a minority government where Team Orange does not hold the keys to the empire and Team Red needs to govern by general consensus.

I think the Bloc hold the keys to the kingdom this time around. I've been pleasantly surprised with their conduct during the post-inauguration period so maybe that won't be a bad thing.

 

[PrairieFella]

I await more info on the various policy disagreements. What was once a firm CPC vote is now mushy

I want to see fully costed platforms with actual plans. If I was King for a day I'd make the parties generate one and have elections Canada mail a copy to every household. The more info, the better. Low info voters are a scourge.

 

[QV]

I want to see fully costed platforms with actual plans. If I was King for a day I'd make the parties generate one and have elections Canada mail a copy to every household. The more info, the better. Low info voters are a scourge.

This all fine and nice until promises made are not promise kept. Carney was already talking out both sides of his mouth regarding pipelines to two different audiences. Carney's plan for the carbon task suggests it is just going to be renamed and moved around - same impact. Carney has a history of advising the current government on the economy which he now characterizes as a disastrous five years. Carney doesn't walk his talk, his private business activity includes big investment in foreign O&G while advocating for that to be shut down in Canada (I was going to say "at home", but I'm not sure he considers Canada his home). He is well dressed, talks slow, and has credentials that look impressive. But if you listen to what he actually says, learn about his history, understand his policies, then you would likely conclude he is the wrong PM for Canada, ever.

 

[PrairieFella]

This all fine and nice until promises made are not promise kept. Carney was already talking out both sides of his mouth regarding pipelines to two different audiences. Carney's plan for the carbon task suggests it is just going to be renamed and moved around - same impact. Carney has a history of advising the current government on the economy which he now characterizes as a disastrous five years. Carney doesn't walk his talk, his private business activity includes big investment in foreign O&G while advocating for that to be shut down in Canada (I was going to say "at home", but I'm not sure he considers Canada his home). He is well dressed, talks slow, and has credentials that look impressive. But if you listen to what he actually says, learn about his history, understand his policies, then you would likely conclude he is the wrong PM for Canada, ever.

Fine, politicians lie. But a costed platform that is only sometimes followed is better than nothing at all for transparency sake.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

I want to see fully costed platforms with actual plans. If I was King for a day I'd make the parties generate one and have elections Canada mail a copy to every household. The more info, the better. Low info voters are a scourge. essential to winning an election in most if not all Western Democracies....

FTFY

 

[IKnowNothing]

Very thought provoking piece on Poilievre from Paul Wells
Why Poilievre Is Always Looking for a Fight | The Walrus

I thought these excerpts particularly interesting (emphasis mine)

In private, he was unfailingly courteous. ....

In public, it was often a different story. He can be belligerent, pompous, contemptuous of politicians from other parties. Again, that’s hardly rare. But for years, reporters who knew him often preferred not to interview him, because any recorded conversation with Poilievre would quickly become show business. Political speech always has an element of theatre, but anyone interviewing Poilievre had the disorienting and not entirely pleasant sensation of watching the private man disappear for a few minutes while a persona came out to speak.

At some point, the private man disappeared entirely, at least from me.

At times, it seems there’s nobody he won’t pick a fight with. But that’s not quite true. He is patient and generous with the people who come to his rallies. He often stays for more than an hour after an event finishes so he can chat and take photos with anyone who wants to. He was friendly with all the other passengers on the Porter flight where he didn’t see me. And I’m told he consults with select MPs, and even with candidates who haven’t yet been elected to Parliament, before making important decisions.

What explains the difference? Simply this: Poilievre is full of studied and theatrical disdain for the sort of people whose lives seem impossibly distant from those of ordinary Canadians: business executives, government leaders, anyone with membership in any exclusive club. For the people who are left out, he has all the time in the world.

Gut reaction to this article, applied to my overall thoughts and impressions- if Poilievre loses this election it will be because he did not do enough to convince Canadians that he's the right guy (as opposed to convincing Canadians that the other guy is the wrong guy). I've previously ascribed a lot of weight in that failure to not spending enough time detailing and selling his vision. But reading this, if he does not win it will be because he made an incredible miscalculation- that being in not letting Canadians know "the private man" referenced above. Swing voters don't see you being solicitous to your supporters at rallies, or thoughtful behind closed doors with MP's and advisors. Whereas by their very nature as swing voters- they don't wholly agree with your policies, and don't wholly disagree with the person you're engaging. So that "other" (politician from other party, media member etc) that you publicly treat with belligerence, disdain, etc. becomes an avatar for the swing voter, and they feel that treatment projected on to them.

 

[dapaterson]

FTFY

Voter suppression, both direct and indirect, is also important. Discourage your opponents from voting.

 

[dapaterson]

Very thought provoking piece on Poilievre from Paul Wells
Why Poilievre Is Always Looking for a Fight | The Walrus

I thought these excerpts particularly interesting (emphasis mine)





Gut reaction to this article, applied to my overall thoughts and impressions- if Poilievre loses this election it will be because he did not do enough to convince Canadians that he's the right guy (as opposed to convincing Canadians that the other guy is the wrong guy). I've previously ascribed a lot of weight in that failure to not spending enough time detailing and selling his vision. But reading this, if he does not win it will be because he made an incredible miscalculation- that being in not letting Canadians know "the private man" referenced above. Swing voters don't see you being solicitous to your supporters at rallies, or thoughtful behind closed doors with MP's and advisors. Whereas by their very nature as swing voters- they don't wholly agree with your policies, and don't wholly disagree with the person you're engaging. So that "other" (politician from other party, media member etc) that you publicly treat with belligerence, disdain, etc. becomes an avatar for the swing voter, and they feel it projected on to them.

OTOH, appearing in public as a decent man got Jimmy Carter a single term.

 

[Kirkhill]

I see the CPC still holding on to 40% of the vote.
The LPC is gaining ground but that is largely from the NDP.

338Canada Canada | Poll Analysis & Electoral Projections

338canada.com

 

[PPCLI Guy]

Very thought provoking piece on Poilievre from Paul Wells
Why Poilievre Is Always Looking for a Fight | The Walrus

I liked this quote / passage:

Resentment of ... “the cosmopolitan liberals who claim to know . . . better than you” can’t become rocket fuel until a critical mass of voters feel they are governed by . . . well, by cosmopolitan liberals who claim to know better than you. A year’s worth of polls suggest that, in the eyes of voters enough to give Poilievre’s Conservatives a majority, that condition has been satisfied.​

​

And thanks for the reminder that I used to subscribe to the Walrus....and have just renewed it thanks to this article!