CalgaryGrit: The Elite Eight

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

The Elite Eight

After a spirited first round of voting, we're ready to narrow the field to the final four. One of this blog's readers, who is clearly way more computer savvy than me, agreed to write up the html code for the poll. This will allow the poll to copy the voting format for the Canadian Blog awards, where you can vote once every day. This will be the format for the remainder of the contest - promise. (This was my original idea for the poll so that the momentum could be sustained over the full week of voting but due to my limited computer skills, I went with the double vote format instead)

Voting will close Tuesday at noon Mountain time and, once again, I'll post comments and blog entries about the PMs involved over the weekend since the point of this is to get people talking about Canadian History and our PMs.

Now, the second round matchups, with their first round winning percentage in brackets:

(1) King (89.5%)
(9) Diefenbaker (66.3%)
It's the all crazy clash! At least King kept his insanity private and didn't let it affect his job. After seeing the right mobilize in round 1, King has to be somewhat worried that he's in the only Liberal/Tory battle.

(2) Macdonald (92.0%)
(7) Mulroney (70.9%)
BlueGrit said it best: "Then we've got Macdonald in round 2 of his "get revenge on the people who killed my party" campaign"

(3) Trudeau (50.1%)
(11) Pearson (50.2%)
Do these two have anything left after bloody first round battles? It's PET versus the man who brought him to Ottawa.

(4) Laurier (75.8%)
(5) Chretien (75.7%)
Laurier ushered in the 20th Century and Chretien ushered it out. The Century may not have belonged to Canada, but it sure belonged to the Liberal Party.

BlueGrit has also posted a very good preview of the four matches that I encourage everyone to read. And now, the voting. Remember, you can vote once a day so vote early, and vote often. A seat in the Final Four is up for grabs!

65 Comments:

It's a relief to see Diefenbaker being so handily spanked by King.

By Clear Grit, at 2:31 PM
CG...this exercise is very cool. Ignore the critics. They're just wannabes. Think we'll see the same thing begin to pop up on CPC blogs?
I wonder how democratic their structure will be?
Don

By Anonymous, at 2:46 PM
I was planning on voting for Laurier (as any sane person would) but that picture of Chretien appealed to the authoritarian in me.

By Martin B., at 2:49 PM
Yeah seriously, that's the best picture of Chretien ever. I think my favourite version of it is the one I've got up on my site right now.

By Clear Grit, at 3:14 PM
Great concept and perfect execution.

By jaycurrie, at 3:48 PM
Come on! Chretien deserves more votes...

By Anonymous, at 7:17 PM
Chrétien against Laurier? Man, that's cold. Even *Chrétien* would vote for Laurier. This won't be pretty.

By Paul Wells, at 8:24 PM
Trudeau and Pearson, neck-and-neck.

Best joke I told my wife when we were in Ottawa - "You know, they named Pearson after the airport."

And she thought about it for a minute before I started laughing.

By Jim, at 9:06 PM
I think even most Chretien Liberals will have to vote for Laurier on this one.

By Toronto Tory, at 9:12 PM
It's impossible not to feel sorry for Chretien. If he was up against Macdonald or Mulroney he would win hands down. Instead he is up against one of the best.

By Anonymous, at 9:16 PM
Who's this 'Don' guy that keeps posting places under my name?

By Don, at 10:26 AM
That would be Don in Winnipeg. You Ottawa snot.
Don

By Anonymous, at 12:05 PM
"If (Chretien) was up against Macdonald or Mulroney he would win hands down."

Against Mulroney, it'd be close. I'd vote for Mulroney, given that he never had an idea Chretien didn't try to steal, but I'd understand why so many people would vote against him.

But Macdonald? The man who founded Canada? What are you smoking? Chretien did absolutely nothing -- at best -- for ten years, and is remembered for strangling a protestor. Macdonald, on the other hand, was in power for nearly two decades and arguably did more to shape this country than anyone since. Get your facts straight -- Chretien's only in the second round because of the weakness of so many other PMs, not because he did anything worthwhile on his own.

By matthew, at 5:08 PM
May be a little late, given the way the voting is going, but predictions/reasons:

1. King vs. Diefenbaker
Both nuts but they did some good things. The Chief brought in the Human Rights Code and was one of the few Conservatives (Macdonald and Mulroney being the only others) to articulate a grander vision for Canada (or at least one that wasn't strictly tied to the UK). Like Borden, Canadians should learn a lot more about the Chief beyond his, let's be kind, eccentricities. But there is no contest here. King was there for the Great Depression and WWII. However you define "Greatest Prime Minister", a big part of that has to be rooted in the establishment of a sovereign nation. Macdonald will be hard to beat because of that, but same goes for King who did more in the 1936 Commonwealth conferences and during WWII than most of the other PMs did on the list. Vote/Prediction: King by a lot.

2. Macdonald vs. Mulroney
Time is increasingly kind to Mulroney and justly so. The FTA has created more jobs, generated more wealth that becomes available for more jobs or more social programs, and given us more say in cross-border trade matters (it's true: imagine fighting the US over softwood or any other trade issue without NAFTA). The GST was a necessary clean-up of an archaic commodities taxing system. He tried to and really did make it a priority to bring Quebec into the fold. None got him votes but he was a great leader because of them. By contrast, our historical distance from Macdonald allows us to gloss over his vicious partisanship and if you think the current Liberals or Mulroneys Conservatives were corrupt, my GAWD, but this drunkard was. So our history books gloss over a lot of bad stuff with Macdonald and our memories won't let us forget a lot of bad stuff about Mulroney. HOWEVER, the man founded the nation and his National Policy created the architecture of business and government partnerships that have defined the growth of the nation. Vote/Predition: Macdonald by a lot, but it should be closer.

3. Trudeau/Pearson
Tough one. Both deservedly into the second round and maybe the third, but I don't think either should be in the final. Pearson started the redefinition of the Liberal Party as centre-left, and Trudeau brought it even further. Pearson: a dithering, no-majority, technocrat who caved to the NDP demands to stay in power. Trudeau: an arrogant, my-way-or-the-highway snob of a socialist who couldn't care less about certain parts of the nation or certain of its traditions. My barometer for this competition, as set out above, though, is to compare what they did for the sovereignty of the nation, how they defined or redefined it. Pearson gave us important policies - welfare, medicare - and symbols - the flag, the national anthem, but Trudeau gave us the legal foundation of modern Canada and, really, nothing else matters for me in this competition. Don't like the way it's been interpreted so think that's a detriment? Would you say the same to Thomas Jefferson? Plus, he was tough with those (separatists) who would try to tear the country up, especially separatist terrorists. So between these two, Trudeau. Vote/Prediction: Trudeau but he generates too many negative memories so my prediction is Pearson.

4. Laurier/Chretien
I would say that Chretien is actually underrated as a politician. Over his career he held many portfolios and served the country well, including as Attorney General when the Charter came in. But after 11 years in power, he doesn't leave much of a nation-building legacy and he almost lost the referendum. The Clarity Act was nice but it seems like the 1990s, especially the late 1990s with the economy booming, was a lost opportunity decade and he was in charge. Laurier is my prediction to go all the way: he spoke of a vision of a united, growing, independent Canada. He did in fact unite the country - French, English and previously ignored Western farmers - until the British war disrupted everything. He had foresight about where Canada's future lay - in North America - and advocated reciprocity (a sort of freer trade). Vote/Prediction: Laurier.

(And for the record, I started putting those thoughts together as soon as the first round opened up on Wednesday and the voting started coming in, but got busy with work.)

~TB

By Cerberus, at 6:18 PM
1. King all the way because he should win the contest. King made Canada an independent country, held Canada together through WWII and a second conscription crisis, began the creation of our social safety net and retired with Canada as one of the strongest countries in the world.

2. Macdonald created Canada. He brought English and French together. He built a railroad that connected the West coast. He started our equalization program by giving money to the Maritimes. He was a true statesman who deserves praise for keeping all of British North America out of the United States.

3. Pearson brought us a flag, healthcare, international prominence, the bi-bi commission, Expo '67, and bicentennial celebrations. In a relatively short time as PM, he got a heck of a lot done.

4. Laurier cemented what Macdonald started. He made French-Canadians truly part of the nation. He built a second railroad to expand on what Macdonald started. He began the process of asserting an international role for Canada. He oversaw one of the greatest times of growth in Canadian history. He ensured that the conscription crisis in WWI was a political issue so that Quebecers had a political outlet for their frustration. He ensured that Canada's foundations remained strong.

By Jason Cherniak, at 1:09 PM
Trudeau v Pearson has been the only race worth watching. After trailing all week the madman finally inches ahead. Can he hold on?

I'm hoping for a Trudeau win. He is the defining figure of modern Canadian politics. Without him Canada would be indistinguishable from its southern neighbor...

By Anonymous, at 4:59 PM
It appears that the voting ended just as Trudeau was about to fall behind.

Dodgy.

By Toronto Tory, at 2:29 PM
Re: Toronto Tory's 'dodgy'.

Yup. Announcing a week in advance that voting would close at noon Mountain Time on Tuesday and then following through with said announcment is pretty dodgy.

There were, perhaps, some legitimate complaints regarding the process of round one. Clearly, however, everything has now been set in order.

Now we'll see how Trudeau fairs against a heavy-weight.

By Matthew, at 3:01 PM
This conspiracy theory stuff is getting old. The fact that Trudeau beat Clark shouldn't be a surprise, and the fact that he beat Pearson fair and square... well... get over it?

By Clear Grit, at 4:37 PM
Just as I was about to vote for Chretien, the poll closed. It must be a conspiracy. This site is dodgy...

;-)

By Anonymous, at 4:51 PM
Apparently Liberals are far too dense to grasp a joke.

By Toronto Tory, at 5:50 PM
PS - Blue Grit - the eighties called. They'd like their hair back.

By Toronto Tory, at 5:52 PM
It's hard to know when humourless Tories are joking.

And Toronto Tory, PS: The 1800's called, they want their social views back.

By Clear Grit, at 9:31 PM
Why don't you do a little background checking before you label anyone who disagree with you a so-con.

You're ignorant... and you're late for class. Hurry along now.

By Toronto Tory, at 12:58 PM
Geez, are all Tories constantly PMS-ing like this, or is it just a bi-product of the fact that you constantly lose?

By Clear Grit, at 1:47 PM
No really, you're ignorant.

By Toronto Tory, at 4:45 PM
Hey, if that's what you need to say to make yourself feel better.

By Clear Grit, at 5:25 PM
Actually, this is stupid. I never thought I'd end up in a pissing contest in the comments section of a BLOG for godssake - though I also didn't ever expect to have my physical appearance insulted in the same. This is just bizarre. o_O

By Clear Grit, at 5:49 PM
Nice Blog!!! I thought I'd tell you about a site that will let give you places where
you can make extra cash! I made over $800 last month. Not bad for not doing much. Just put in your
zip code and up will pop up a list of places that are available. I live in a small area and found quite
a few. MAKE MONEY NOW

By TS, at 6:06 AM
You have an incredible blog here! I really enjoyed the topic you chose to write about. I'm definitely going to bookmark you! I have a business business business directory directory directory marketerslist.com opportunity opportunity opportunity site. It pretty much covers business business business directory directory directory marketerslist.com opportunity opportunity opportunity related stuff. Come and check it out if you get time :-)

By Marketing man, at 2:17 AM
This is an outstanding blog here! I really enjoyed the topic you chose to write about. I'm definitely going to bookmark you! I have a home based business opportunity seeker site. It pretty much covers home based business opportunity seeker related stuff. Come and check it out if you get time :-)

By cash at home, at 2:49 AM
home insurance in california
Information => home insurance in california

By Anonymous, at 10:01 PM
How would you like to own a custom-built house at a 42% to 100% discount? Find out how today by visiting Get-A-Free-House.com

By Get-A-Free-House, at 2:25 AM
Looking forward to reading more great information on laser hair removal info on your blog, I added you to my favorites and will be checking back often.

My site is about information on laser hair removal

If you have an interest in information on laser hair removal I would love to hear what you think of my site.

By Anonymous, at 12:36 PM
Hi i am totally blown away with the blogs people have created its so much fun to read alot of good info and you have also one of the best blogs !! Have some time check my link to !!home based party business

By Anonymous, at 12:41 PM
Thanks for the info, I added you to my favorites.
If you are interested in home improvement business
, I have a home improvement business
site.
Feel free to drop by and tell me what you think.

By Anonymous, at 12:50 PM
Hey, you have an interesting blog here! I'm definitely going to visit often!
I have a debt consolidation solution site. It pretty much covers debt consolidation solution related stuff.
check it out if you get time :-)

By credit6sec, at 6:26 PM
Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!

I have a Free site Free Article Search. It pretty much covers author of real estate book related stuff.

Come and check it out if you get time :-)

By Anonymous, at 7:12 PM
Your blog is excellent - keep it up! Don't miss visiting this site about health man problem sexual
. It pretty much covers health man problem sexual
related stuff.

By Tom Naka, at 10:24 PM
Hey I was just blog surfing amd I found your blog! Looks Great!

I also have a cincinnati airport
It deals mostly with cincinnati airport plus other stuff,
You can save up to 50% your next flight!

You should check it out if you get a chance!!

By freestuff2, at 2:53 AM
Wow what a cool blog you have here! I am impressed. You really put a lot of time and effort into this. I wish I had your creative writing skills, progressive talent and self- discipline to produce a blog like you did. Your blog really does deserve an honest compliment. If you have some time, stop by my site. It deals with stuff like, click here: home business network marketing and then feel free to e-mail me with your words of wisdom.

P.S. I'll sure put the word out about your site and I would appreciate any business you may send my. way... Later, Scott.

By Scott A. Edwards, at 10:29 AM
I was searching blogs,and I found your site.Please,
accept my congratulations for your excellent work!
If you have a moment, please visit my site:
loans center
It pretty much covers loans center related issues.
Have a good day!

By Paul Adams, at 9:01 AM
Hi Friend! You have a great blog over here!
Please accept my compliments and wishes for your happiness and success!
If you have a moment, please take a look at my site:
loans center
It covers loans center related subjects.
Have a great day!

By Joe Berenguer, at 11:04 AM
Here it is... FREE advertising, FREE download. No cost to you! Get your FREE download NOW! Make money and get FREE advertising! This is a great program for you to take advantage of... Check this out now for FREE!

To find out more visit: idea for home-based business site. It successfully exposes FREE information covering traffic and idea for home-based business related stuff. Don't forget, FREE, FREE, FREE!!!

By Scott A. Edwards, at 8:59 PM
Join NOW for FREE...

The Quick and FREE Way to Get a SWARM of Visitors to Your Site!

To find out more visit: high profit free to join high profit low cost low cost business opportunities make money while you sleep partners in home-based businee free on-line business advertising free website targeted traffic online residual business income payments free to sign-up in home based business sites of interest benifitial business marketing website corporate america not working as net-working takes the momentum the greatest industry in the world is here better marketing plans and financial goals the system that can turn dreams into reality make money on your computer with a home business make money while you sleep earn money on your computer earn money while you sleep click here for cutting edge technology in on-line home business now you can operate a money machine mlm multi-level marketing network marketing power house income generator Automated lead generating system prospects trains sponsors partners in Multi-Level Marketing low cost high profit potential free movies free test drive period mlm multi-level marketing high profit low cost money business opportunities partners wanted site. It successfully exposes FREE information covering Traffic and high profit free to join high profit low cost low cost business opportunities make money while you sleep partners in home-based businee free on-line business advertising free website targeted traffic online residual business income payments free to sign-up in home based business sites of interest benifitial business marketing website corporate america not working as net-working takes the momentum the greatest industry in the world is here better marketing plans and financial goals the system that can turn dreams into reality make money on your computer with a home business make money while you sleep earn money on your computer earn money while you sleep click here for cutting edge technology in on-line home business now you can operate a money machine mlm multi-level marketing network marketing power house income generator Automated lead generating system prospects trains sponsors partners in Multi-Level Marketing low cost high profit potential free movies free test drive period mlm multi-level marketing high profit low cost money business opportunities partners wanted related stuff.

By Scott A. Edwards, at 3:52 PM
Hello Friend! I just came across your blog and wanted to
drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with
the information you have posted here.
I also have a web site & blog about loans center so I know I'm talking
about when I say yours is top-notch! Keep up the
great work, you are providing a great resource on the Internet here!
If you have a moment, please visit my site loans center
Best success!

By Paul Adams, at 12:11 PM
Hey Fellow, you have a great blog here! I have a web
site & blog about insurance center.
Yours is top-notch!
If you have a moment, please visit my site
insurance center
I wish you all the best!

By James Baker, at 11:45 PM
I just came across your blog and wanted to
drop you, Blogger, a note telling you how impressed I was with
the information you have posted here.
If you have a moment, please visit my site:
make money
It covers make money related contents.
I send you warm regards and wish you continued success.

By James Baker, at 8:48 AM
Hi, Fellow!I like your blog!
I just came across your blog and wanted to
drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with
the information you have posted here.
I have a make money
site. It pretty much covers make money related subjects.
Come and check it out if you get time :-)
Best regards!

By Paul Adams, at 9:42 AM
I was just searching blogs,and I found your site, Friend! I like it!
Please accept my compliments and wishes for your happiness and success.
If you have a moment, please take a look at my site:
make money
It pretty much covers make money related issues.
All the best!

By Paul Adams, at 8:51 PM
I was just searching blogs,and I found your site, Friend! I like it!
Please accept my compliments and wishes for your happiness and success.
If you have a moment, please take a look at my site:
make money
It pretty much covers make money related issues.
All the best!

By Paul Adams, at 12:53 AM
Do you want to know everything about free home based internet business ? Then read all about it on www.bestinternetearnings.com and make money!

By make money online free!, at 9:11 AM
Debt Settlement
Debt Relief can help you reduce your interest burden by charging an interest rate lower than the rate on your existing loans. Debt consolidation loan can also allow you to make small monthly payments by extending the loan period
http://www.debt1consolidation.com

By Bayarealawyers, at 6:01 AM
It's not just a cliche'! You really can fire your boss! moneymaking at home business

By YourSimplerLife, at 1:00 PM
I understand what you are saying. But could it be a better way to get information on free Internet Advertising.Without all the Hype that come's with it.
http://www.mybusinessmarketingcenter.com

By Robert, at 2:50 AM
Debt Settlement
Debt Relief can help you reduce your interest burden by charging an interest rate lower than the rate on your existing loans. Debt consolidation loan can also allow you to make small monthly payments by extending the loan period
http://www.debt-consolidation.com

By http://www.debt-consolidation.com, at 12:17 AM
Hi Fellow! I was just searching blogs,and I found yours! I like it!
If you have a moment, please visit my canadian car insurance rate site.
Good luck!

By Joe Berenguer, at 2:53 PM
A fantastic blog yours. Keep it up.
If you have a moment, please visit my canadian online auto insurance quotes site.
I send you warm regards and wish you continued success.

By James Baker, at 1:18 PM
I've always belived in luck!!! Making money opportunity, Some popular casino games online you can find at web casino but the most gambling
casino games is fun to play, the news promoting how to play poker and another online casino games
so the world's population choosing play and search for online casinos and gambling news in www.borderlinecasino.com casino fun online games!! www.great-casino.org most popular casino sites!!!

By telaat, at 1:47 AM
Hello Friend! I just came across your blog and wanted to
drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with
the information you have posted here.
Keep up the great work, you are providing a great resource on the Internet here!
If you have a moment, please make a visit to my car insurance louisiana online site.
Good luck in your endeavors!

By James Baker, at 12:57 AM
Hi Fellow! I was just searching blogs,and I found yours! I like it!
If you have a moment, please visit my vision automobile insurance site.
Good luck!

By Joe Berenguer, at 9:45 AM
Student loan rates can fluctuate from the current low of 4.70% to a maximum of 8.25% for federal Stafford loans, 9% for PLUS loans. The current consolidation program allows students to consolidate once with a private lender, and reconsolidate again only with the Department of Education. Upon consolidation, a fixed interest rate is set based on the then-current interest rate. Reconsolidating does not change that rate. If the student combines loans of different types and rates into one new consolidation loan, a weighted average calculation will establish the appropriate rate based on the then-current interest rates of the different loans being consolidated togetherFederal student loan consolidation is often referred to as refinancing, which is incorrect because the loan rates are not changed, merely locked in. Unlike private sector debt consolidation, student loan consolidation does not incur any fees for the borrower; private companies make money on student loan consolidation by reaping subsidies from the federal governmentIn the United States, federal student loans are consolidated somewhat differently, as federal student loans are guaranteed by the U.S. government. In a federal student loan consolidation, existing loans are purchased and closed by a loan consolidation company or by the Department of Education (depending on what type of federal student loan the borrower holds). Interest rates for the consolidation are based on that year's student loan rate, which is in turn based on the 91-day Treasury bill rate at the last auction in May of each calendar year

By http://www.debt-consolidation.com, at 3:01 AM
Student loan rates can fluctuate from the current low of 4.70% to a maximum of 8.25% for federal Stafford loans, 9% for PLUS loans. The current consolidation program allows students to consolidate once with a private lender, and reconsolidate again only with the Department of Education. Upon consolidation, a fixed interest rate is set based on the then-current interest rate. Reconsolidating does not change that rate. If the student combines loans of different types and rates into one new consolidation loan, a weighted average calculation will establish the appropriate rate based on the then-current interest rates of the different loans being consolidated togetherFederal student loan consolidation is often referred to as refinancing, which is Debt Collection
Debt Collection Agencies
Debt Collection Agency
Debt Collection Law
Debt Collection Laws
Debt Collection Practices
Debt Collections
Debt Collector
Debt Collectors
Debt Consalidation
Debt Consolidation Companies
Debt Consolidation Company
Debt Consolidation Credit
Debt Consolidation Loan
Debt Consolidation Loans
Debt Consolidation Mortgage
Debt Consolidation Non Profit
Debt Consolidation Programs
Debt Consolidations
Debt Consolidation Service
Debt Consolidation Services
Debt Consolidator
Debt Consolidators
Debt Counseling
Debt Counselling
Debt Counselors
Debt Coverage
Debt Coverage Ratio
Debt Credit
Debt Crisis
Debt Elimination
Debt Financing
Debt Forgiveness

By http://www.debt-consolidation.com, at 3:06 AM
WATCH CAREFULLY...Here it is... FREE advertising, FREE download. No cost to you! Get your FREE download NOW! Make money and get FREE advertising! This is a great program for you to take advantage of... Check this out now for FREE!

To find out more visit: homebusiness site. It successfully exposes FREE information covering traffic and homebusiness related stuff. Don't forget, FREE, FREE, FREE!!!

By Scott A. Edwards, at 12:16 AM
Debt Consolidation
Debt Help can help you reduce your interest burden by charging an interest rate lower than the rate on your existing loans. Debt consolidation loan can also allow you to make small monthly payments by extending the loan period
http://www.debt1consolidation.com

By http://www.debt-consolidation.com, at 10:26 AM