CTV has broken the story that the NDP and the Bloc have had talks for a "considerable period of time" about a coalition. CTV is taking the angle that this means there are "political motives" to bringing down the government. That is, CTV and their favourite commentators (I'm listening to Ezra Levant right now) are implying that they were not really motivated to act by Flaherty's financial update.
I disagree. In a minority parliament, when minority governments are likely to be the norm in the foreseeable future, and when we've just had an election, I believe that opposition parties should be ready to present an alternative should the governing party try to act unilaterally to do something which the opposition thinks is harmful to Canada. The alternative can't be an election at this point in time, and so the opposition should be ready to govern, if necessary.
Even though the Conservatives have now retreated on public funding of political parties, and on taking away the right of civil servants to strike, and are moving up the date of the budget, the organization of an alternative, coalition government should continue. It is needed to keep the government honest and focused on the important issues of the day.
Prepare the coalition and keep the engine running to, at the very least, keep the party in power honest and focused on governing.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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CTV is taking the angle that this means there are "political motives" to bringing down the government.
Gosh, politicians reacting to a political situation in a political manner. Hand CTV the smelling salts.
LOL! I caught the CBC coverage.
Pierre Poilievre just made a total ass of himself on CBC Newsworld. The desperate conservatives have released "news" regarding an NDP caucus meeting that they were invited to listen in on. Oh the scandal? That the Bloc (or should I say SEPARATISTS) and NDP have been conducting "secret shady meetings"to reverse the election results in their quest for a MASSIVE power grab.
I sure hope it was caught on YouTube because it is so over the top you can't help but laugh. What a weasel.
Also go vote for coalition:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Chet: Hmmm, yes, I suppose that was a weak bit of writing on my part since, strictly speaking,anything a politician does could be political. I should have written something like 'CTV was implying that they were motivated purely by the desire to gain political power rather than out of concern for the harm the Conservative party would do to Canadians'.
Beijing:
It looks like the Conservatives were not invited to the NDP conference call. They spied on it and then they (Stephen Harper's staff according to the Canadian Press) gave the tapes to the news media. The Canadian Press reports that the NDP may pursue criminal charges.
Even if the NDP pursue an investigation, this should not be the media story for the next five days. That would play into Harper's hands. He is much more adept at handling accusations of scandal than those of lack of substance.
Already the poll I linked to has 69% supporting a coalition government.
The opposition parties have been coming across as calm, cool and collected. They need to maintain that image and focus on Harper's failure to provide any substance in his economic plans.
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