Federal money exhausted - Impact on promised DND funds?

[dutchie]

Do you honestly think they're that stupid?   First of all its a minority government and there is NO WAY IN heck any of the other parties would come to defence of Martin if he reneged on that promise.   Secondly, if Martin did that I suspect that the liberals would end up after the following election with only a modicum of seats, perhaps only two like what happened to the PCs back in 1993.

Who would have thought this Government could survive after discovery of theft of public funds going to the Liberal party and their cronies? If they can survive that, they can survive a broken promise of an election. We aren't getting rid of these thieves anytime soon. Why would Layton push for an election? He's in a great position right now, he's getting his way with Martin, who has no choice but to do his bidding. Layton will not push for an election to disrupt this over a broken promise of an election, and definately not over a broken promise of defence spending.

As far as Cadman goes, his job is to promote the interests of his riding, and despite their wishes, the best way he could have done that is by helping oust these thieves. That would have been true leadership. Instead, he chose 'weathervane politics', to quote someone here.

Either way, Harper is the only one of the three other leaders who will cry foul if CF funding goes south. And despite Martin's inclination towards a greater voice in the G8, he is still a Liberal with a 'big L', so don't fool yourself.

 

[Brad Sallows]

>they, like the rest of the nation, didn't want an election right then.  We'll get early in the new year

How could you possibly know that?  AFAIK, none of the MPs have yet polled their constituents to determine whether people want an election early in the new year.

 

[Brad Sallows]

>Do you honestly think they're that stupid?

I honestly think the Liberals are sufficiently opportunistic to draw out this minority government as long as they can or until they believe they can win a majority in a general election.  The Liberal record for keeping commitments has been piss-poor in the past few years, not that I expect anyone to demand from the political leadership what he would not demand from himself.

 

[dutchie]

How could you possibly know that?   AFAIK, none of the MPs have yet polled their constituents to determine whether people want an election early in the new year.

Ha-ha. Good point. 'Governing by TV Newscast polls', how quaint!

 

[sheikyerbouti]

Both sides of the argument seem to gloss over the reality that Canada is in a minority government situation. Since there is no true coalesced power base, the Liberals must accomodate the wishes of the opposition parties. Mr. Layton and the NDP must be commended for having the 'testicular fortitude' to extract concessions from their parliamentary partners. There is no reason that the Conservatives or the Bloc could not do the same save for the opposition of their own leadership.

Let's face it, as long as the BQ can maintain its' hold on Quebec's parliamentary seats we will continue to see Minority power situations. If the Conservatives in particular cannot adapt themselves to such a reality, then who is to say that they would govern more effectively.

As long as Liberals are enamoured with the concept of 3D (development,defence and diplomacy) the DND stands a good chance of getting its fair share. The challenge is to appropriate the funds in a manner that is feasible,relevant to todays security climate and accountable to the Canadian taxpayer. Provided DND does its' share of advocacy and lobbying thenthe issues of the Canadian military will not lose their spotlight.

 

[Vigilant]

He is a back peddler heck he is a ploitician plain and simple. Ever shake the guys hand?  I had the opportunity when I took him off his airbus in Halifax during george W.s visit. The guy has soft hands. To be politically incorrect it was like shaking hands with a tit. Really it was that soft and creepy. He never worked a day in his life and he is very much a schmooser. BUT.....he is Better than Cretien.

Maybe he was tired. When I shook his hand it had a good firm grip.

What WERE you thinking of when you were shaking his hand?

 

[Brad Sallows]

Reminds me of a good technique for off-putting someone you don't like which I read, IIRC, in a Clive Cussler novel.  On meeting the Evil Overlord for the first time and facing an imminent handshake, Our Hero makes a snap decision to let his hand go flaccid and exclaims, "My, you're a very strong man!".