Liberals agree not to run candidate against Green leader

[TenPenny]

how? by neutralizing May and forcing MacKay to watch his back?
yeah
really stupid :roll:

Well, I was thinking it was stupid, because MacKay doesn't have to fear May, and now doesn't have to worry about a Liberal opponent either. Also, the Liberals are going to face a lot of criticism, skepticism, and comments for their decision to abandon one riding, when traditionally they consider themselves a "national" party. Finally, he's going to spend a lot of time explaining why he loves the Green Party, and therefore he'll be wasting time on this issue.
But that seems to be what he wants, so go for it, Stephane. I expect it will result in gains for both the NDP and the CPC in Nova Scotia, because they've given the impression that Nova Scotia is not important to the Liberal Party. It's all positive to May, and in no way positive for the Liberals. How did she convince him to do it?

 

[BitWhys]

...But that seems to be what he wants, so go for it, Stephane. I expect it will result in gains for both the NDP and the CPC in Nova Scotia, because they've given the impression that Nova Scotia is not important to the Liberal Party....

What remains to be seen is how many Lib to CPC swing votes are left after the last fiasco. I don't think 3 dips to 1 con is outside the realm of possibility. If that's the swing and a third or less of last election's Liberal voters either turn green or don't vote all Peter won't like it.

What Dion's done is rattle up the old PC backbench.

 

[darkbeaver]

That was before they shut down Trenton Works....now there's a couple hundred guys with nothing better to do.

Let's face it - if the libs can't find anyone to run (something I would dispute, based on the visits I've had there), that means they know they don't have a chance; so what hope does May have? Even less.

There's no differance between can't and won't in this case.There are three hundred and eighty layed-off Greenbrier employees I think, many of them will be heading west after a bit I suspect.Michelin has announced a three dollar an hour decrease in starting wages, that will affect permanent employees and that's not popular, and that should trigger a union drive.

On the surface it seems a no winner for either the Liberals or the Green and can only hurt the NDP which do have a chance at a win. Something isn't right about this arrangment. I can't help thinking the plan is to save McKay.

 

[westmanguy]

You know McKay could lose his riding...

What happens if the second place NDP in that riding get a good chunk of the deceased Liberal votes.

I mean we all know May is not going to win it, but the NDP in that riding could kick McKay out.

This Stephane Dion has ruined himself, the Liberals are probably rocking in their chairs with nervousness, they could very well be handing the country over to a majority conservative win.

And now bimbo Belinda has left.

Dion will be forced out within a year or two anyways...

The NDP will begin to surge.

 

[BitWhys]

...What happens if the second place NDP in that riding get a good chunk of the deceased Liberal votes...

All that matters is that it turns into a horserace. Dion will be vindicated and the PC backbenchers will get the ReformaTories all worked up pushing policy to save MacKay. That's the part that oughta be good for a few laughs.

major doubts about the whole surge thing. a serious look here and there would help the cause, though.

 

[unspoken]

This kills credibility for both the Liberals and the Greens all over the country. Both have talked at great lengths about how they are national parties running candidates in every riding...not so much anymore. It also takes a lot of the Greens argument away over why they should be allowed in the televised debates.
And if the Greens and Liberals main motivation behind this is as they say it is, which is to get rid of Stephen Harper, then why don't they:
a) Both drop out of the race and endorse the NDP candidate who is clearly the biggest threat to Peter Mackay
b) Come to the same type of agreement with regards to the riding of Calgary Southwest if they want to challenge Harper himself.

This is going to cause big issues within both parties guaranteed, and I won't be surprised to see a "caucus revolt" in both parties like what happened a few years ago with the Canadian Alliance members vs. Stockwell Day.

 

[unspoken]

In other news:

NEW GLASGOW, N.S. (CP) - Green Leader Elizabeth May says she is giving the "benefit of the doubt" to a party candidate in Vancouver who described the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9-11 as beautiful.

If that is indeed true, it's just another example of how pathetic of a leader May really is. And Dion's going to have to answer to the policies of the Green party and it's leader now with this endorsement of May and this alliance.

 

[BitWhys]

...
b) Come to the same type of agreement with regards to the riding of Calgary Southwest if they want to challenge Harper himself.
...

There's no touching Harper, but putting his lid in the furnace is going raise a lot of previously avoided loyalty questions internally. It has to.

 

[BitWhys]

If that is indeed true, it's just another example of how pathetic of a leader May really is. And Dion's going to have to answer to the policies of the Green party and it's leader now with this endorsement of May and this alliance.

easy there, fella. if the riding association doesn't care by definition it'll be a dead issue to the party.

 

[unspoken]

There's no touching Harper, but putting his lid in the furnace is going raise a lot of previously avoided loyalty questions internally. It has to.

Possibly, but that would only come after another election. May and Dion are both facing loyalty questions internally now, before an election, which is going to hurt them more now then it will Harper later.

 

[unspoken]

easy there, fella. if the riding association doesn't care by definition it'll be a dead issue to the party.

Maybe to the party, but not to voters. Extreme statements like this aren't easily forgiven, and if the Conservatives, NDP, and to a lesser extent the Bloc, can tie the Liberals to the Greens well enough, some of the radical non-environmental policies of the Greens could damage the Liberals greatly. And it only takes one or two, as some of the extreme right members of the Reform/Canadian Alliance have proved in the past.

EDIT for spelling.

 

[BitWhys]

Possibly, but that would only come after another election...

you kidding?

that'll come as soon as the backbenchers figure out a way to run a poll through the area without pissing off der Furher.

 

[BitWhys]

Maybe to the party, but not to voters...

I was talking about your caucus coupe remark. If DB is right its most likely Dion had already checked with the riding association and kept the okie dokie under wraps as a follow up.

The chances of any swing voters outside the riding giving a rat's ass about this by this time next week are slim to none unless someone wants to drag it out. Harper's taken his shot. So has Layton. The only other thing Layton can say now is "thanks" and if Harper is smart he'll shut up about it until he's sure he's not going to highlight a trouble spot.

 

[MrNose]

Hi Everyone! I'm New! Anyway, I wanted to check and see if anybody else was as confused as I was about this move. The green party received a whole 2% of the vote last time, the Liberals 25%. If Dion was being truthful about wanting to do anything other than hurt the NDP he would have supported them, since they got 33% of the vote last time and came the closest to beating MacKay.

 

[Toro]

All that matters is that it turns into a horserace. Dion will be vindicated and the PC backbenchers will get the ReformaTories all worked up pushing policy to save MacKay. That's the part that oughta be good for a few laughs.

major doubts about the whole surge thing. a serious look here and there would help the cause, though.

As long as we win a majority, who cares?

 

[BitWhys]

speak for yourself, moneybags.

 

[BitWhys]

Hi Everyone! I'm New! Anyway, I wanted to check and see if anybody else was as confused as I was about this move. The green party received a whole 2% of the vote last time, the Liberals 25%. If Dion was being truthful about wanting to do anything other than hurt the NDP he would have supported them, since they got 33% of the vote last time and came the closest to beating MacKay.

would you mind explaining how this hurts the NDP? I can't see how they would do anything but welcome the dichotomy. Dion dropped his spoiler and pegged May into a riding she can't win.

the best hustles ALWAYS look like mistakes.

 

[Toro]

speak for yourself, moneybags.

I wish!

 

[BitWhys]

I wish!

that's too bad

jealousy is good for my digestion.

oh well. just speak for yourself then.

 

[vishliberal]

It wont be a piece of cake for MacKay to win again...from what I remember he didnt exactly get a sweeping victory last time...and with Atlantic Canada's reaction to the budget...They may very well lose votes. After all, as one constituent said, hes a "home-town boy" or something like that. Now enough votes for May to get a seat? Im not sure about that. I dont think this deal was really a big deal or that profitable for either leaders. Really, even if May ran a candidate in St. Laurent-Cartierville, do you really think Stephane would lose the Liberal stronghold? And then theres Central Nova, the amount of Liberal votes can help her but she would have to still sweep out the NDP before even comming in second...so this doesnt ensure her victory at all. It would be profitable if there was a real guarantee that May could win for Dion.