HARPER WINS - MARTIN RESIGNS
Since I'd rather not make this blog "Calgary Grit...Live From Drumheller Penitentiary", I won't be blogging the election results tonight until the BC polls close at 8 pm Mountain time. But, rest assured, I'll have a draft of thoughts on the election results ready to post come 8:01. I'll also turn comments off before the polls close in Newfoundland. Andrew Coyne is of the opinion that you can get around this by simply saying stuff like "The early pages of Anne of Green Gables indicate that three quarters of the roads in PEI are red", but I somehow doubt that will work. If you're starved for the early results, just visit a US blog or, you know, call someone who lives out east.
Until then, I'll have random musings throughout the day. And, come 8:01 pm, tune in to see how Belinda, Lapierre, landslide Annie, and the rest of the bunch did. It figures to be an interesting night - I know I'll be up late.
11:15 am: Did you know that the Elections Act gives you three hours off work to vote? My plan for my three hours is to vote, then catch Brokeback Mountain, since I have a feeling it may be banned in Canada very soon, if you catch my drift.
11:20 am: They're canceling the West Wing? Those bastards! While it would have been interesting to see Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits at the helm, it's somewhat fitting for the show to go out with the end of the Bartlett Administration.
4:03 pm: I'm just checking in with the Calgary Grit decision desk...what's this? Yes! We are prepared to call the riding of Crowfoot for the Tories in a shocker! I know it's a bold move, but the early exit polls look very promising for the Tories...
4:12 pm: I'm about to head home and vote. Yes, I will vote Liberal and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it. I'm closing down the comments now until 8 mountain (10 eastern) so be sure to check back then when 3 hours of random thoughts and results get posted all at once. And stay here throughout the night for the most in depth election coverage on the net (which will involve writing down what I see on CBC and occasionally adding a snarky comment).
5:53 pm: Highlights from the Rick Mercer Report:
"Every rally, Harper has his aids bring the prettiest girls in the audience backstage and Harper tells them to "save themselves for marriage".
"It's a great chance to celebrate nature before the Conservatives outlaw it"
6:33 pm: I've been surfing on US blogs, and the early returns are very favourable for the Liberals. (Note to self: Come back to this before I post, and add insightful comment about "what this means" for rest of country...based on how rest of country votes)
7:20 pm: Don Cherry and Ron MacLean are on providing political analysis. Uh-huh. Still...more insightful than Jim Travers or Link Byfield.
7:33 pm: Scott Brison wins and is on CBC now: "Harper doesn't support multiculturalism, bilingualism, or the Charter." Someone should tell this guy the polls closed two hours ago - he can stop campaigning now...
7:37 pm: GASP! We're down in Algoma! Shocker! OK, it's a 3-2 edge in votes (reminds me of rural Alberta Liberal nomination meetings). I love this part of election coverage.
7:44 pm: Snowshoe guy is up in Interlake, one poll in! I knew my endorsement would make the difference.
7:50 pm: Tories jump by 6 seats in 5 seconds. My guess is Alberta is reporting. As an aside, I remember back at the leadership convention when the Martinites were calling it "Paulberta". Sigh
7:57 pm: Global and CTV have called it as a Tory minority. CBC still hasn't made the call yet.
8:07 pm:Jack Horner Belinda Stronach is down early on...
8:08 pm: CBC calls it and the crowd in Calgary goes wild. The biggest surprise? They're watching the CBC at the Conservative Calgary party.
8:16 pm: Bernard Lord on CBC trying to look happy...John Manley on CBC trying to look sad...
8:27 pm: Tories leading in 10 Quebec seats - very impressive. Still...Liberals are leading in 94 so it's not a complete wipeout.
8:37 pm: The Quebec numbers have the Bloc with 43%, the CPC with 27%, the Liberals with 18%. So we won the referendum election - Jean Lapierre should be proud.
8:50 pm: Tony Valeri loses. What goes around...
Rob Anders wins handily. Democracy sucks...
9:01 pm: Early thoughts:
Winner: NDP. 30+ seats.
Loser: Bloc. Their seats drop and their popular vote plummets.
Chuck Cadman 2.0: Andre Arthur. If things hold up, he'll be the balance of power. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Peter Miliken back as speaker.
Oh. And for the second straight year SES and the Election Prediction Project prove to be the best predictors.
9:16 pm: Jean Lapierre wins Outremont. Phewf! This guy doesn't take losing well so it's a bit of a relief.
9:23 pm:Jack Horner Belinda wins! This bodes well for the hospitality suite situation at the next Liberal convention.
9:27 pm: Is it just me, or did Goodale and Belinda sound a little bit too happy in their victory speeches. I know they won but, still, the party lost. In other news, there's some speculation that Martin might not concede defeat. I'm sorry, but even for Martin, this is too far fetched to be plausible. However, the results are close enough that I don't think Paul will resign as LPC leader willingly.
9:33 pm: Clement by 21 votes. Bring on the recount!
9:57 pm: Funniest headline of the night on the CBC scroll: "Galloway demands Martin resign". Galloway may be the defeated MP I'm most happy to see go.
10:01 pm: Well, Martin certainly looks like he's in a good mood. His concession speech hit all the right notes and was probably the most genuine thing he's said in a long time. Honestly, it may have been his best speech as Liberal Party Leader.
And I wrote that before he announced his resignation. Wow. I always felt Paul would do the right thing and I applaud him for putting the party first.
11:47 pm: I can't believe we just elected a Prime Minister who lets his kids stay up past midnight on a school night.
Until then, I'll have random musings throughout the day. And, come 8:01 pm, tune in to see how Belinda, Lapierre, landslide Annie, and the rest of the bunch did. It figures to be an interesting night - I know I'll be up late.
11:15 am: Did you know that the Elections Act gives you three hours off work to vote? My plan for my three hours is to vote, then catch Brokeback Mountain, since I have a feeling it may be banned in Canada very soon, if you catch my drift.
11:20 am: They're canceling the West Wing? Those bastards! While it would have been interesting to see Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits at the helm, it's somewhat fitting for the show to go out with the end of the Bartlett Administration.
4:03 pm: I'm just checking in with the Calgary Grit decision desk...what's this? Yes! We are prepared to call the riding of Crowfoot for the Tories in a shocker! I know it's a bold move, but the early exit polls look very promising for the Tories...
4:12 pm: I'm about to head home and vote. Yes, I will vote Liberal and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it. I'm closing down the comments now until 8 mountain (10 eastern) so be sure to check back then when 3 hours of random thoughts and results get posted all at once. And stay here throughout the night for the most in depth election coverage on the net (which will involve writing down what I see on CBC and occasionally adding a snarky comment).
5:53 pm: Highlights from the Rick Mercer Report:
"Every rally, Harper has his aids bring the prettiest girls in the audience backstage and Harper tells them to "save themselves for marriage".
"It's a great chance to celebrate nature before the Conservatives outlaw it"
6:33 pm: I've been surfing on US blogs, and the early returns are very favourable for the Liberals. (Note to self: Come back to this before I post, and add insightful comment about "what this means" for rest of country...based on how rest of country votes)
7:20 pm: Don Cherry and Ron MacLean are on providing political analysis. Uh-huh. Still...more insightful than Jim Travers or Link Byfield.
7:33 pm: Scott Brison wins and is on CBC now: "Harper doesn't support multiculturalism, bilingualism, or the Charter." Someone should tell this guy the polls closed two hours ago - he can stop campaigning now...
7:37 pm: GASP! We're down in Algoma! Shocker! OK, it's a 3-2 edge in votes (reminds me of rural Alberta Liberal nomination meetings). I love this part of election coverage.
7:44 pm: Snowshoe guy is up in Interlake, one poll in! I knew my endorsement would make the difference.
7:50 pm: Tories jump by 6 seats in 5 seconds. My guess is Alberta is reporting. As an aside, I remember back at the leadership convention when the Martinites were calling it "Paulberta". Sigh
7:57 pm: Global and CTV have called it as a Tory minority. CBC still hasn't made the call yet.
8:07 pm:
8:08 pm: CBC calls it and the crowd in Calgary goes wild. The biggest surprise? They're watching the CBC at the Conservative Calgary party.
8:16 pm: Bernard Lord on CBC trying to look happy...John Manley on CBC trying to look sad...
8:27 pm: Tories leading in 10 Quebec seats - very impressive. Still...Liberals are leading in 94 so it's not a complete wipeout.
8:37 pm: The Quebec numbers have the Bloc with 43%, the CPC with 27%, the Liberals with 18%. So we won the referendum election - Jean Lapierre should be proud.
8:50 pm: Tony Valeri loses. What goes around...
Rob Anders wins handily. Democracy sucks...
9:01 pm: Early thoughts:
Winner: NDP. 30+ seats.
Loser: Bloc. Their seats drop and their popular vote plummets.
Chuck Cadman 2.0: Andre Arthur. If things hold up, he'll be the balance of power. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Peter Miliken back as speaker.
Oh. And for the second straight year SES and the Election Prediction Project prove to be the best predictors.
9:16 pm: Jean Lapierre wins Outremont. Phewf! This guy doesn't take losing well so it's a bit of a relief.
9:23 pm:
9:27 pm: Is it just me, or did Goodale and Belinda sound a little bit too happy in their victory speeches. I know they won but, still, the party lost. In other news, there's some speculation that Martin might not concede defeat. I'm sorry, but even for Martin, this is too far fetched to be plausible. However, the results are close enough that I don't think Paul will resign as LPC leader willingly.
9:33 pm: Clement by 21 votes. Bring on the recount!
9:57 pm: Funniest headline of the night on the CBC scroll: "Galloway demands Martin resign". Galloway may be the defeated MP I'm most happy to see go.
10:01 pm: Well, Martin certainly looks like he's in a good mood. His concession speech hit all the right notes and was probably the most genuine thing he's said in a long time. Honestly, it may have been his best speech as Liberal Party Leader.
And I wrote that before he announced his resignation. Wow. I always felt Paul would do the right thing and I applaud him for putting the party first.
11:47 pm: I can't believe we just elected a Prime Minister who lets his kids stay up past midnight on a school night.
posted by calgarygrit at
1:24 p.m.
35 Comments:
You make the Drumheller Pen sound like a bad place. I heard the chain-gang dinosaur digs can be very educational. And rehabilitative.
By
Havril, at 2:06 p.m.
Bummer about "West Wing" getting canned. Just when I was starting to get into it. Late-adopter of the show, what can I say?
By
Red Tory, at 2:42 p.m.
maybe we could have a conservative candidate go off to Drumheller
http://politicsinbc.blogspot.com/2006/01/ontario-conservative-faces-possible.html
By
Anonymous, at 2:50 p.m.
WRT the West Wing, what did you expect, with Bush in the White House, they didn't want people thinking it was actually OK to have a Democrat in office, so they set up illegal wiretaps and listened in until they had enough adultrous evidence to blackmail someone into cancelling it... or maybe they just cancelled it because it was starting to get off track... I like my first idea better! ;-)
By
Anonymous, at 3:05 p.m.
4th season was ok. but only first two seasons are must-watch tv for everyone
By
Anonymous, at 3:32 p.m.
The first four seasons were definitely the peak, although I agree 1 and 2 were in a class by themselves.
Once Sorkin left the show, it really went downhill. Season 6 was a bit better once they started the primaries and this year has been OK, but TWW really hasn't been the same since Wells took over.
By
calgarygrit, at 3:42 p.m.
For those of you that have never been to PEI, the roads are paved red. The soil around the island is quite red hence the roads are as well! Now the question is, if the Conservatives are elected will they change the colour of the soil? Just wandering! Get out and Vote.
By
Anonymous, at 3:51 p.m.
Ya, my work was so F'in cheap they just changed my shift around os I had 3 hours off.
Cheap bastards.
By
Anonymous, at 4:10 p.m.
No Grit, Andrew Coyne has said very clearly that the Canada Elections Act must be followed because he has great respect for it, until it's overturned by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, and completely irrespective of the fact that anyone in Canada can easily get the the same information off of foreign websites because of, you know, the Internet.
By
Anonymous, at 4:11 p.m.
Geez, it's a good thing that the world of international espionage hasn't picked up on Supergenius Andrew Coyne's method of getting around the law that you can't communicate the election results to someone where the polls are open.
Who knows what Official Secrets might have been profitably communicated by cleverly disguising the records of troopship movements via selective quotations from HMS Pinafore.
So, to dump the lumpen and heavyhanded satire, no, you can't "get around" the law by speaking in code. Or in jive, for that matter, although I'm tempted by results like "Currently de Liberals seem t'be hangin' betta' dan 'espected in Newfoundland, lookin' safe t'retain all five seats. In Dartmoud, de bellwheda' ridin' in Nova Scotia, Mike Savage gots a 1,000-vote lead wid half de polls yet t'repo't. Man!"
By
Tybalt, at 4:16 p.m.
You definitely cannot get around the law by speaking in jive or code. Nor can you advise anyone to do so. The law is concerned with substance.
Andrew Coyne, however, has been quite open on his website that he expects the law to be followed to the tee in his absence.
Individuals are responsible for their own actions and Elections Canada is responsible for enforcing the Canada Elections Act, for example, in Deputy PM and Former Justice Minster Anne McLellan's riding of Edmonton Centre.
Anyway, I'm off to scrutineer and do my part to keep the system honest.
By
Anonymous, at 4:34 p.m.
Speaking of cancelled shows, that Arrested Development link made my day!
By
Anonymous, at 6:05 p.m.
And...it...is...over!
By
Anonymous, at 10:13 p.m.
CG, not bad eh? Ontario and the Atlantic region saved our a$$es.
By
Anonymous, at 11:04 p.m.
Martin has to concede. It wouldn't surprise me if he tries to stay on as LPC leader, but he'd be absolutely insane not to concede the election.
By
calgarygrit, at 11:28 p.m.
I don't want to be paranoid here, but how do we know that Martin will actually leave 24 Sussex? If he can cut a deal with Layton, they would together have substantially more seats than the Tories.
We could well see another King-Byng scenario.
By
Anonymous, at 11:35 p.m.
I think it's quite likely that Paul Martin WON'T concede but will try everything in his power to get the NDP on his side. Heck, I can imagine him on the grounds of 24 Sussex tonight, waving an unregistered deer-hunting rifle at the movers ...
CalgaryGrit, you say that Martin would have to be insane not to conceede. I don't think Martin is sane, judging from the way he and his brain trust have run this election.
By
Anonymous, at 11:42 p.m.
"Ontario and the Atlantic region saved our a$$es."
Saved the a$$es of the Liberal Party. Too bad they didn't think about Canada. Keep Martin on as long on you like boys. He gave you over 100 seats after all. He's your future.
By
Anonymous, at 12:08 a.m.
Martin has conceded and resigned as party leader. I wonder if Ignatieff will step up...
By
Anonymous, at 12:20 a.m.
Finally the right decision was made by Martin. Where were these good decisions when we were in government? Had Martin's advisors conducted themselves better, we could have avoided such a situation. Farewell Martin, I had such high hopes for where you could have taken this country.
By
Anonymous, at 12:31 a.m.
The Liberal managed to hang onto more seats than I expected. Given this and Martin's past of playing the sore loser, I really thought he'd hang on (to Harper's glee). Instead he makes the first smart decision he's made in two years.
Could a Kinsella bid for the leadership be far behind?(heh...sorry Warren...I couldn't resist).
By
Anonymous, at 12:40 a.m.
After Harper's in power for a couple of years, and:
- he hasn't eaten any babies,
- no gays have been publicly been flogged
- we'll actually have disputes with the U.S. (albeit more respectful ones)
- the abortion issue will not even be raised by the CPC,
The CPC will win a majority.
Either that, or the West will seperate.
By
Anonymous, at 1:04 a.m.
I have to admit to being dismayed. As a Westerner now living in Ontario, i have seen my former party vilify and paint Western Canadians (particularly albertans) as somehow unrepresentative of Canadian values.
The Martin and Liberal tendency to scaremonger, vilify and play to the insecurities and fears of Ontarians and Atlantic Canadians leave a nation more sharply divided than what the election results would indicate.
This election, due to the likelihood of a short-shelf life, an inability to put into play the change agenda upon which the conservatives campaigned, and acrimony and parliamentary dysfunction, will, to paraphrase Rene Levesque, have incalculable consequences.
By
Anonymous, at 1:08 a.m.
Assuming the Conservatives hang on in Louis Hebert, we are looking at CPC 124 + NDP 29 + independent = 154, versus Liberals and Bloc = 154. That would depend on all the MPs staying healthy, the Speaker, and no by-election losses. Not to mention the Canadian equivalent of the Nazi-Soviet pact.
Or CPC 124 + BQ 51 = 175. That is a comfortable majority, but how much does the Bloc really want to cooperate with the party that just cost them ridings and votes in Quebec, and which now are their main electoral rivals in Quebec?
Add in the Liberals choosing a new leader relatively quickly and without acrimony, and things could get really interesting. Harper is now walking a tightrope.
By
Anonymous, at 1:29 a.m.
oh my god even when the Harper wins, whiners threaten western separation.
This is one of the reasons I am against trying to appease traitors.
Anyways congrads to Clar.. err Harper and the Conservatives, and best of luck boys. We'll see you boys in about a year and Tobin won't let you pin Gomery on him.
PM Harper, thanks for kick the BQ's butt. Those traitors got what was coming to them.
C.G time to work on the leadership campaign, I am hoping Tobin and Rock run.
By
Anonymous, at 1:41 a.m.
Who was that guy who gave that gracious concession speech? The guy who pulled the pin for the greater good of his party? The guy who conceded a mandate to the Conservatives when he could have pulled the dirty trick the media was praying he might try (the bizarrae NDP coalition gambit that the Tories and Boloc would have shut down 30 seconds later).
Who was that guy who made that compelling ad about his government being less than perfect but about how it tried to reflect Candian values? The one that showed up aboput 2 days before the election (after all of his other advertising had been discredited as unfounded fearmongering)
That was a guy who was supposed to deliver a 200 seat majority.
Hell, that was a guy I might have voted for if I had seen any of that in the last 8 weeks instead of a fearmongering hate filled maniac with a guitar.
If that guy had surfaced about 18 months ago, that guy would be governing with a strong majority.
Wow.
By
Anonymous, at 1:55 a.m.
Dear Blah
No-one is threatening Western Separation. The fact is that for the longest time the West has wanted in, and tonight there is a palpable and real view that they are in; but in an extremely limited or constrained way.
The fact is that Quebec and the West have opted for a government of change; one that likely has a shelf life of what is on average 18 months.
I guess everything is said in suggestion of candidates Rock and Tobin. Yep, old habits and paradigms die hard.
Well, welcome to the 21st century...
By
Anonymous, at 1:58 a.m.
Anon
read biff's comments
By
Anonymous, at 2:04 a.m.
LOL furry
By
Anonymous, at 3:17 a.m.
I guess your happy now.
By
Hishighness, at 8:18 a.m.
Whew
Its the worst result for the Liberal Party since 1984. But this time the seat spits are such, and the tory vote is so low, that we managed to eek out a respectable caucus. One more seat would have been ideal, but the closest vote is 21 votes and that's unlike to be changed in a recount.
But there is no time to fool around. There has to be a leadership by June or so, and then we can get to the real work of showing Canadians that we actually are the best choice for government.
Its a challenge, and it has to start now. Hopefully the Martinites who still hold positions of power will let go, forget the McKenna bandwagon, and let Liberals choose their next leader.
By
Anonymous, at 8:46 a.m.
"As a Westerner now living in Ontario, i have seen my former party vilify and paint Western Canadians (particularly albertans) as somehow unrepresentative of Canadian values."
All this has done is ensure that any future Liberal government will not represent the west. The Liberals have been incredibly divisive on the unity front and this will be a temporary relief for Canadians.
By
Anonymous, at 9:51 a.m.
CG -- I had a good laugh over your 9:23 pm entry. I wonder how many people caught the Horner/Stronach reference. Well done!
By
Right Ho, at 7:51 p.m.
Heres a reality check for those who says or thinks Duceppe is on his way out,these people are either misinformed or totall morons, (pardon my french).
Now that add scam and the rcmp's now famous foray into politics by anouncing the trust inquiries is gone for the bloq, duceppe made a calculated political move, (a brinliant one, I hate to admit)...
He knew adscam would be gone by the next election so he put his sight on harper(aka bush's beaver,lol,lol,lol, love that one), heres harper with his inexperience, falling into the old lions den full thrust, by promising to fix the fiscal deficit with the provinces, for anyone who can still add 1 + 1 = 2, his platform has a big deficit hole of 23 billions, the must cut social programs, and to top it off, the provicial deficits, whom economist say could cost up to 40 billion, Duceppe knew there is no way in hell(padon my french), harper cant make that promise without a deficit, if he does it will be political suicide, with an angry liberal opposition lookin for blood, and if he doesnt heres the bloqs next election topic, "you see, federalism doesnt work, they promised to fix the monetary imbalance and they lied to us again".To many people underestimate Duceppe, he is a wise old lion by now and well experienced in political savy, especially against the right, he is left, and in no way willing to work with them, thats the big mistake here, (the other is anyone listening to the canadians version of fox news,ctv). Mark my words, watch this carefully, and the next time you see Duceppe on tv, look at his expression, read between the lines, you will see what I mean.
Off topic is this; hand gun ban; if this ban prevents the death of one child, no one can say it is a bad thing, I dont care if ur right or left or purple, guns are made for killing people, plain and simple, its not the main problem, yes most are smugled from the states, but guns can be stolen from homes, but like i said, if it saves the life of one child,one elderly, or even a extreme right wing fanatic who only thinks of himself, then its worth it...
Now I dont mind and welcome inteligent comments, chalenges and debates, but remember I dont want or answer an intellectual battle with an unharmed person...
By
Red Tory exposed, at 10:56 a.m.
Very effective material, thanks so much for this post.
By
un sex shop, at 8:45 a.m.
Post a Comment
<< Home