Emerson Crosses the Floor!!!

[FiveParadox]

Disproportionate Power of Parties

thanks. You obviously did your homework. So why do people so gullibly choose to give parties so much power?

Perhaps some would choose to ignore the candidate because it is far easier to consider the party as a whole, instead of considering how a candidate might act within the context of party guidelines? In my opinion, our elected institutions should become far more flexible — where we know quite well that one's party is only a snapshot of their political view, that things can change, and that we as citizens are responsible for "getting to know" our Member of Parliament, through their campaign speeches and their own press releases, other than those of the parties, and to come to expect and respect such crossings as occurred with Ms. Stronach and Mr. Emerson as being valid options.

 

[Ted]

Personally, I always vote for the candidate, but this time round, the Liberals, including Emerson were urging people to not vote NDP and Green, but Liberal to stop the Conservatives, saying that if the vote was split the Conservatives could come up the middle and take the seat. Emerson himself campaigned on this logic and the sheeple bought it. Do I agree with voting for the party as opposed to the candidate? Hell no. But all three parties run their campaigns that way, not enough emphasis on the candidates, and too much on the party line, which at the end of the day doesn't mean much once they are elected.

Now Emerson has crossed the floor, before the house even sits. At least Belinda got herself re elected as a Liberal. Emerson should be forced to do the same. I think that anyone that is so upset with their party that they want to leave should sit as an independant until a bi-election can be held. The thing I have the most problem with is the blatent contempt for the voters. Emerson is a hypocrite that only cares about his own interests and the voters be damned. I hope they toss him out.

 

[Colpy]

Personally, I always vote for the candidate, but this time round, the Liberals, including Emerson were urging people to not vote NDP and Green, but Liberal to stop the Conservatives, saying that if the vote was split the Conservatives could come up the middle and take the seat. Emerson himself campaigned on this logic and the sheeple bought it. Do I agree with voting for the party as opposed to the candidate? Hell no. But all three parties run their campaigns that way, not enough emphasis on the candidates, and too much on the party line, which at the end of the day doesn't mean much once they are elected.

Now Emerson has crossed the floor, before the house even sits. At least Belinda got herself re elected as a Liberal. Emerson should be forced to do the same. I think that anyone that is so upset with their party that they want to leave should sit as an independant until a bi-election can be held. The thing I have the most problem with is the blatent contempt for the voters. Emerson is a hypocrite that only cares about his own interests and the voters be damned. I hope they toss him out.

Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I've got to tell you I'm a paid up, card carrying member of the Conservative Party of Canada.


A couple of points: yes, Stronach and Brison ran and won their seats as Liberals.........after serving in Cabinet for as long as they could get away with it. They only ran because they had no choice, it was a general election.

Turnabout is fair play.

As for Emmerson personally, he seems absolutely astonished at the uproar this has caused. Considering your comment on his campaign tactics ("stop the Conservatives"), and other comments he has made ("I'm Harper's worst nightmare") one has to wonder why he is surprized.

I guess he treats this from a business-like perspective......he has simply been head-hunted and changed companies, something done with no qualms in the business world.

 

[Jay]

"I guess he treats this from a business-like perspective......he has simply been head-hunted and changed companies, something done with no qualms in the business world. "


I think he thinks he's getting a good deal for his constituents....

 

[Machjo]

Personally, I always vote for the candidate, but this time round, the Liberals, including Emerson were urging people to not vote NDP and Green, but Liberal to stop the Conservatives, saying that if the vote was split the Conservatives could come up the middle and take the seat. Emerson himself campaigned on this logic and the sheeple bought it. Do I agree with voting for the party as opposed to the candidate? Hell no. But all three parties run their campaigns that way, not enough emphasis on the candidates, and too much on the party line, which at the end of the day doesn't mean much once they are elected.

Granted there is a point of hypocricy here if Emerson has not changed his opinion since the election. If he was promoting partisan politics to get liberal votes while always thinking of himself as an independant, than that ways dirty. If he sincerely beleived in partisan plitics during the election, but then had a phylosophical change, then fine. Hard to prove eitehr way since people do change and this is all in his mind, but I'll admit I have my suspicions. Being a fanatic about "giving the benefit of the doubt" myself, I thus tend to ignore this unless incriminating evidence should come out later.

Now Emerson has crossed the floor, before the house even sits. At least Belinda got herself re elected as a Liberal. Emerson should be forced to do the same. I think that anyone that is so upset with their party that they want to leave should sit as an independant until a bi-election can be held. The thing I have the most problem with is the blatent contempt for the voters. Emerson is a hypocrite that only cares about his own interests and the voters be damned. I hope they toss him out.

I suspect this too, but I'm still opposed to forcing a canadidate to lick hisparty's boots. Besides, people will have the option of booting him out next election if he did indeed just manipulate his riding for liberal votes.

 

[Jo Canadian]

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Emerson Crosses the F

This corporate pig has zero for ethics,and harper has zero for ethics and Canadas going to get phucked.

 

[FiveParadox]

I would agree that the ethics of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper can be deemed to be quite suspect, in light of recent events. However, the ethics of the Honourable David Emerson should, too, be considered — it takes two to tango.

 

[Kreskin]

The problem I have with people crossing the floor is this. Most voters have no idea who they vote for. They vote for, or against, an idealogy or Prime Minister. I'll bet 80% of those who voted for Emerson had no idea who he was.

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Emerson Crosses the F

He was what his bought media said he was, now he is what his bought media says he is, tomorrow he,ll be richer.

 

[FiveParadox]

While I would agree that there are certain circumstances where it could be deemed highly suspect to cross the House of Commons (in particular from the Opposition, to the Government), I would assert that we should continue to recognize the right of Members to do so; this gives our system a certain degree of flexibility — there are situations conceivable that would warrant Members crossing, and we should account for these.

However, I do not agree with the decision of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper to invite the Honourable David Emerson into his caucus, nevermind his Cabinet; I would have preferred, if the Member had not agreed with the positions of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, that he should have sat as an Independent for at least one session.