Politics in 2016

[jollyjacktar]

Just watch him try to sue for millions now. 

 

[ModlrMike]

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/tasha-kheiriddin-in-the-2015-election-the-millennial-moment-arrived

The much ignored youth vote finally showed up on election day.

Perhaps going forward, they/we cannot just be written off because we don't vote.

And who knows, maybe the selfie voters will be courted by future leadership of all parties, not just the liberals.

I wouldn't worry about this becoming a long term trend. By the next election the youth vote will be too stoned to make it to the polling station.  >

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Glad this shyte show is over.

Don't forget Max Harb!

 

[Rocky Mountains]

Don't forget Max Harb!

Max Harb sold his house retaining a fractional ownership and claimed expenses on it.  Looks bad.

They might want to look at dropping the charges against Brazeau and any minor charges against Harb.  Given the outcome of the Duffy trial things would look just a bit malicious.  The judge used a wonderful expression - "there was no oversight to avoid."

 

[Brad Sallows]

Awesome outcome for the Duffy trial.  Many critics have had to flip the message 180 from "the self-serving greedy criminal underling Duffy, protected by the arch-fiend Harper" (a few months ago), to "the noble and honourable Senator Duffy, victim of ambiguous Senate policies and persecution by the arch-fiend Harper" (today).

 

[Kirkhill]

"Family Compact"

"Chateau Clique

Plus ca change...

 

[jollyjacktar]

Awesome outcome for the Duffy trial.  Many critics have had to flip the message 180 from "the self-serving greedy criminal underling Duffy, protected by the arch-fiend Harper" (a few months ago), to "the noble and honourable Senator Duffy, victim of ambiguous Senate policies and persecution by the arch-fiend Harper" (today).

He's still that in my eyes.  Just another self serving Hill life form that will back at the trough with a vengeance.

 

[Altair]

I wouldn't worry about this becoming a long term trend. By the next election the youth vote will be too stoned to make it to the polling station.  >

I'm sure I saw a Simpsons episode to that effect.

That said, should another party try to overturn legalized weed, I trust that those voters will be back in force, stoned or not.

 

[ballz]

The judge seems to believe that Mike Duffy made genuine attempts to do the right thing, and was stopped by the PMO and more senior senators, even the Prime Minister himself. Personally, I'd like to see another trial, this time Mike Duffy would just be a witness... Is Nigel Wright charged with bribery yet? Not that I think he'd be convicted but I'd bet some interesting stuff would come to light.

 

[a_majoor]

Still waiting for the five Liberal senators under investigation to be charged and sent to trial....oh wait...

 

[RedcapCrusader]

Still waiting for the five Liberal senators under investigation to be charged and sent to trial....oh wait...

That's my biggest issue with the RCMP involvement: it was all political.

There's no backbone left in the service, the first thing out of the OIC or Commissioner's mouth should have been "No."

The RCMP fell to media pressure for the sake of political correctness and, instead of enforcing the law - Maintiens le droit "maintain the right"/"defending the law".

Theu should have then arrested and charged Nigel Wright, and every other MP, Senator with questionable expense claims regardless of political affiliation, regardless of who gave the order.

 

[Brad Sallows]

The investigations and inquiries and trial were never about political correctness or justice.  Each was always just a point from which to fling mud at Harper, particularly in the lead up to the federal election.  The senator best positioned to serve that purpose was Duffy.  If people were incensed about the Senate, or senators in general, more senate heads would have been demanded more strongly.  The biggest "tell" is the near-death of interest when the trial resumed with Harper no longer PM.  The only thing left to chew was the verdict, which was always fated to be spun to take parting shots at Harper regardless of conviction or acquittal.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

The investigations and inquiries and trial were never about political correctness or justice.  Each was always just a point from which to fling mud at Harper, particularly in the lead up to the federal election.  The senator best positioned to serve that purpose was Duffy.  If people were incensed about the Senate, or senators in general, more senate heads would have been demanded more strongly.  The biggest "tell" is the near-death of interest when the trial resumed with Harper no longer PM.  The only thing left to chew was the verdict, which was always fated to be spun to take parting shots at Harper regardless of conviction or acquittal.

Which probably explains why Senator Mac Harb's trial, which was supposed to take place In August 2015 during the election run-up, mysteriously got postponed until later a later date after the election.  And with the recent Duffy verdict may never take place.

 

[AgentSmith]

Let's see if they show up for the next election. Once they get their dope and free university, they'll go back to not caring until someone mobilizes "evil Tories" memes again.

I'm actually ok with how they've done so far. I fully admit I wish they would be smart and decriminalize weed first while they work on legalizing it. That's really my only gripe with them. This last election was the one that got me to care about politics and I think a lot of young people realize that their vote actually matters now. So I think we will see more people turning out to vote, especially if they keep up on their promise.

 

[Kirkhill]

As I watch Rachel Notley and Justin Trudeau work their way into their jobs and confront the realities of making decisions/compromises I am reminded of the old saw about the heartless youth and conservatism and the brainless elder being socialist.

If Rachel and Justin "grow up" while in office and find themselves becoming more "conservative", as seems to be happening, will they drag their cohort with them?

Already I see them adopting many of the policies and strategies they railed against when it was the Conservatives pursuing them.  Will those same strategies and policies become more popular just because of the presenters? 

 

[Altair]

As I watch Rachel Notley and Justin Trudeau work their way into their jobs and confront the realities of making decisions/compromises I am reminded of the old saw about the heartless youth and conservatism and the brainless elder being socialist.

If Rachel and Justin "grow up" while in office and find themselves becoming more "conservative", as seems to be happening, will they drag their cohort with them?

Already I see them adopting many of the policies and strategies they railed against when it was the Conservatives pursuing them.  Will those same strategies and policies become more popular just because of the presenters?

I really don't think Trudeau or Notley are becoming conservative in the least.

Notley has a price on carbon, emission limits on the oil sands, and did away with a flat tax.

Trudeau is moving to legalize weed, running deficits, has gender parity in cabinet, is pushing his climate chamge agenda, and is generally dismantling everything the conservatives have tried to achieve.

i think the term you were looking for was pragmatic.

 

[Kirkhill]

And in their pragmatism they are making decisions on pipelines and climate that are indistinguishable from conservative positions.

Marijuana reform?  Bread and circuses.

Carbon tax/price? It don't matter to me.  Call it a carbon tax, as gas tax, a sales tax, a sin tax or an indulgence - it is just money into the coffers.  If the tax were offset by dropping some other tax, or even by adjusting expenditures to eliminate the deficit I would be fine with a "carbon tax".  I'll ask for a rebate for every pound of carbon I am sequestring around my waist just now and every ounce of  plant food I am exhaling and supplying free to the farmers and lumber companies.

For me, in watching them, the intriguing bit is how much political capital the might have with their supporters before their supporters start calling them on their pragmatism.  I suspect that Rachel might have a shorter leash than Justin as her supporters, ill informed as I consider them to be, tend to pay attention.  They are all about the substance. Justin's supporters don't pay attention.  They are all about the show.

 

[Altair]

And in their pragmatism they are making decisions on pipelines and climate that are indistinguishable from conservative positions.

Marijuana reform?  Bread and circuses.

Carbon tax/price? It don't matter to me.  Call it a carbon tax, as gas tax, a sales tax, a sin tax or an indulgence - it is just money into the coffers.  If the tax were offset by dropping some other tax, or even by adjusting expenditures to eliminate the deficit I would be fine with a "carbon tax".  I'll ask for a rebate for every pound of carbon I am sequestring around my waist just now and every ounce of  plant food I am exhaling and supplying free to the farmers and lumber companies.

For me, in watching them, the intriguing bit is how much political capital the might have with their supporters before their supporters start calling them on their pragmatism.  I suspect that Rachel might have a shorter leash than Justin as her supporters, ill informed as I consider them to be, tend to pay attention.  They are all about the substance. Justin's supporters don't pay attention.  They are all about the show.

Let's be clear here.

Premier Notley was always for pipelines. She only thought that it would be easier to sell pipelines if alberta could show it was serious about climate change. While that message may have fallen on deaf ears within her own party federally, it seems to resonate with the federal Liberal party.

Prime Minister Trudeau never said no to pipelines either. Relatively early in his mandate when mayor Corderre was running his mouth off about pipelines trudeau flew in and talked him down from that position.

At the end of the day, trudeau needs to pay for all of the programs he's putting in place. If he doesn't want to raise taxes then he needs to hope for a economic growth. That doesn't happen with alberta oil remaining stuck in the ground.

This really isn't anything new.

 

[Journeyman]

At the end of the day, trudeau needs to pay for all of the programs he's putting in place.

This really isn't anything new.

Actually, admitting that there will  be a bill to be paid IS new.

I guess the term you're looking for, but struggling to avoid is...... pragmatic.

 

[Altair]

i think the term you were looking for was pragmatic.

Actually, admitting that there will  be a bill to be paid IS new.

I guess the term you're looking for, but struggling to avoid is...... pragmatic.

I suppose I'm a little too dumb to understand what is going on here.