does anyone want to be Liberal leader?

not Manley, McKenna, or Tobin...

Craziness

McKenna is not going to run for the Liberal leadership.  What?  I was sure he was going to, and that he was the front runner.  Coyne has more, including what I was thinking:

 

I'd be willing to bet that as of last Wednesday, when he announced his resignation as ambassador to Washington, he was all set to go. Something changed in the last five days. What, I wonder?

 

Maybe Coyne sabotaged him.

 

The only blog you need

Andrew Coyne.  He has it all - the speculation on Liberal leadership, election analysis, cabinet speculation.  You must read.  He really is that good.

Steyn on Canada

As I said, Scary Stephen's no Ron or Maggie. But as a young man in the '80s he was spurred into politics by his clear understanding - unlike most so-called Canadian "conservatives" - that his country had missed out on Thatcher-Reagan economic liberalisation. Essentially, he's a political economist with a libertarian streak: he thinks that if you leave taxpayers with more of their money they're more likely to spend it in ways that do more social good than letting the government disburse it.

And here's where I think Harper could prove Howardesque. He shares two of the Australian Prime Minister's great qualities: he's very secure in his sense of himself, and he has a very shrewd sense of what's politically possible. If he plays those cards right - and I'd bet he will - he could be, as Howard has been, one of those unflamboyantly transformative leaders who leaves the political landscape significantly altered. -- Mark Steyn

And this from his election night blog (which I didn't read until today!) sums it up exactly:

In other words, I overestimated the appeal of the right, the left and the separatists and underestimated the appeal of a party of floundering discredited kleptocrat incompetents who fought one of the most staggeringly awful campaigns in modern political history. Truly, the resilience of the Liberal Party of Canada is amazing.

Al Gore: Mind your own business

Who cares what a former VP and current has-been thinks, anyway?

"The election in Canada was partly about the tar sands projects in Alberta," Gore said Wednesday while attending the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.  "And the financial interests behind the tar sands project poured a lot of money and support behind an ultra-conservative leader in order to win the election . . . and to protect their interests."

Gore believes the issue of the oilsands and the sway he contends the industry holds with Harper didn't garner news coverage during the election because "media concentration has taken a toll on democratic principles around the world, and Canada is no exception."

 

Never mind that what he says ISN'T POSSIBLE under our election law.  Or that the issue wasn't raised once by the Liberals who were desparate to throw anything they could. 

 

Moron.

Day 2

So here we are in a new era - a new Prime Minister, who shakes hands with his kids when dropping them off to school.  How lame is that?  I know he's reserved, but please.  Hug 'em before you leave the house, or hug 'em when you get there. 

 

CTV is reporting that his cabinet will only be 28 (only? PM's was 38).  No question it will be a challenging process.  A Prime Minster has the following considerations, not necessarily in this order: ability, experience, gender, ethnic origen, province, debt (as in the people who got you to this point).  We'll find out a little more about the new chief by who he does and doesn't pick. 

 

The new conservative government will allow border guards to carry guns, which makes sense, don't you think?  Especially when 40 left their post yesterday because armed fugitives were heading their way.  Yup, that border is secure.

 

Frank McKenna resigned as ambassador to the US today.  Gee, I wonder what his next gig will be?

 

Oh, and there was a congratulatory phone call today from our favorite President.  This picture is worth a thousand words, or at least a couple hundred campaign ads.

 

Drama

It looks like the one riding to flip to the Liberals in Saskatchewan is being disputed.  There is a recount going on, and likely an investigation...

Worth noting - SES was right on

Via Bourque: 

 

SES MAKES POLLING HISTORY

As regular readers will know, Bourque provided daily polling results from all major polling houses in Canada throughout the election. It is worth noting that one particular polling company, SES RESEARCH hit the nail on the head in its polling results. Note that while final percentages may vary by minute amounts, as of 1 AM this morning, SES's January 22 results (CP 36.4 Lib 30.1 Ndp 17.4 Bq 10.6) matched the results on Elections Canada's official website (CP 36.4 Lib 30.1 Ndp 17.4 Bq 10.6).

Election thoughts

This morning I'm cautiously optomistic.  I like Harper, think he's smart, and hope he can be a great PM. I was hoping for more from Atlantic Canada and from Ontario, but it was not to be.  Negative advertising, fear, and outright lying seem to really work in certain areas of the country.

 

The NDP are up from 18 to 29, which is ok and reflects a decent campaign.  If we've learned anything about Jack, it's that he is pragmatic.

 

There are some areas of common ground in the new parliament, like accountibility and mandatory minimum sentances, and maybe something can be done on the environment.  The GST cut will probably pass too - which party wants to be on record opposing that?

 

The tougher issues will be around childrcare, corporate taxation, and maybe healthcare - although the Bloc and the Liberals might support something moderate or middle of the road.

 

Martin retiring is not a surprise really, although it seems a little sudden.  His speech was very gracious and avoids an ugly internal fight.  But all the same it's a little sad.  A man who only 3 years ago held such incredible promise has come to such a disasterous end.   Majority, minority, now opposition and retirement.

 

I'm also surprised that all the turncoats got re-elected.  Brison, Stronach, Martin...it seems voters are fickle that way.  On the one hand no one lin the public seems to like it when an MP crosses the floor, on the other hand, they aren't punished either.

 

All in all, I think we are still digesting the results .  Don't miss Paul Wells (could he be more mysterious?) and Andrew Coyne.

A Conservative Minority

So a small Conservative Minority is where we have ended up.  My initial thoughts, in random order:

• waiting for results until 8:30 sucks.  Sucks.
• Ontario is coming along, but still isn't ready to take the plunge; same for Atlantic Canada
• Quebec was a pleasant surprise, including the only independant member.  The Bloc vote faded down the stretch, as Paul Wells said it would
• Once again, the Liberal vote was a couple of points higher than the polls said.  Maybe some people are ashamed of telling pollsters they'll vote liberal...
• Stephen Harper will be a good PM, and hopefully cautious.  No one, and I mean no one, wants another election in the next year or two.
• The west voted for significant change (other than Goodale in Wascana); Landslide Annie even lost her seat.
• The trend is interesting: Liberal majority, minority, opposition.  But they salvaged over 100 seats, which is more than most people thought.  Who knows if they will keep going down, or recover, in the months ahead.

More tomorrow...

best election site

canada.com.  No doubt.  I can't even get to CTV.

Go time

Early results show Libs still strong in Atlantic Canada.  I'm watching 2 tvs and using 2 laptops, plus the radio...

I can't believe the ban is working.

interesting poll

While we are waiting, this is an intersting and totally unscientific poll on ctv.ca:

 

Did you change your voting decision over the course of the election campaign?

Yes - I was undecided but made my decision during the campaign		5300 votes	(21 %)
No - I always knew which way I was voting		20024 votes	(79 %)
Total Votes: 25324

Why you should vote

Why should we vote at each and every opportunity?

I'm not going to bore you with bromides about civil duty. Vote because if you don't, at some point some miserable cuss will take the right away from you. Or some pompous I-know-better-than-you type will decide you're not interested enough or well-informed enough and -- wait for it -- take away your vote in the name of preserving democracy.

Don't think it could happen? Elections Canada and our benighted political class have already taken away your right to speak out during an election, the right of organizations you belong to speak out (except for registered political parties), your right to donate as much of your money to whomever you want in an election, and your right to spoil your ballot in protest -- all in the name of preserving freedom and democracy.

So just get up right now and go vote, while you still can. -- Lorne Gunter

Sites I will be checking all day long

Bourque, Neale News, Andrew Coyne, Paul Wells, Small Dead Animals, and The Shotgun (Western Standard)

 

And tonight I will be on this blog like never before, given our, how shall we say, interesting election laws...

 

the lighter side of the campaign

Image you'd rather not dwell upon:

"This is like a live grenade has just been thrown down Paul Martin's pants." Frank Graves, president of EKOS Research Associates, describes the RCMP investigation's impact.

 

 

more...

The leaders

Faith Today has a response from each of the party leaders to the following question:
 

"What role do you think faith should play in developing public policy, and what is the place of religious institutions in contemporary Canadian society?"

Very, very interesting.  Harper and Layton are both very good, I couldn't really understand what Martin was trying to say, and Duceppe had a communications person respond that they wouldn't be responding.  Nice.

Another election round up

It will be interesting to see how I feel on Tuesday.  No more polls to watch, no more election news...but there should be lots of other speculation, like, oh, say who should be in cabinet. 

 

Ok, back to election coverage.  The Toronto Sun has compiled 218 reasons not to vote Liberal .  It is an interesting look back at the last 12 years.  A few highlights:

 

127 Gomery summed up AdScam: "A story of greed, venality and misconduct" featuring "a complex web of financial transactions among Public Works ... Crown corporations and communication agencies, involving kickbacks and illegal contributions to (the Liberal) party."

 

138 Gun registry: Supposed to cost $2 million, now at nearly $2 billion (even AG can't fathom it), with gun crimes rising.

141 HRDC boondoggle: $1 billion blown on dubious job-creation projects (including a fountain in Shawinigan).

142 Helicopters: Cancelling contract to replace aging Sea Kings in 1993 cost $500 million and put troops at risk. New contract finally issued in July 2005.

145 Shawinigate: Chretien lied about intervening to secure a federal business loan for an associate in his riding. Later said such interventions were "the normal operation."

161 Tax Freedom Day in 1993: June 6. Last year: June 26, according to Fraser Institute.

170 Encouraged Corrections Canada to release inmates as early as possible -- prisons boss said goal was 50% release rate.

173 2005: Established $3.7-million pilot project to set up tattoo parlours in prisons.

178 2002: Senate Committee on National Security and Defence said Armed Forces were so overstretched they should step down from all peacekeeping operations for two years.

193 2001: [Jean Chretien] Did nothing for 25 Canadians killed in 9/11, delayed visiting attack site. 194 Blamed U.S. "greed" for terrorism.

216 Peacekeeping: [Canada is] 36th, according to UN.

217 Personal income tax burden: Highest in G-8, says OECD.

218 Marginal tax rates: [Canada is] Second only to China, says C.D. Howe Institute.

Seat projections and endorsements

Micky over at electionpolls.blogspot.com has a prediction for every seat in the country based on all the polls.   He has it at C 141, L 79, N 30, B 58.  AC has even more predictions.

 

Via NealeNews, 10 candidates to root for. 

 

Via the Shotgun, the Montreal Gazette and Vancouver Province have endorsed the Cs, as have the Globe and Mail, National Post and La Presse.  CBC has a good wrap up of endorsements here.  Who knew Don Cherry endorsed Gille Duceppe?

 

"I always liked that Gilles [Duceppe]", said Cherry. "He wears snappy suits. Nice hair. I'm right behind Gilles and everything you're trying to accomplish."

no election results until 10PM Eastern????

The CBC says we wont know anything until 10PM Eastern. Can anyone confirm that? As if that will hold in the Internet age... MINUTES LATER: Ok, simmer down. I actually read the whole thing.

CBC Radio and CBC TV live election specials will begin 30 minutes before the polls close in each broadcast area. CBC Newsworld's live election special will begin across the country at 9 p.m. EST. To conform to the law, a blackout will be in effect in B.C. and the Yukon from 6:30 p.m. PST until the poll close there at 7 p.m.

So the results wont be available on news websites, but TV is ok because of blackouts. Unless you have digital cable or satellite...I think.

The Daily Show on our election

Check this out, about a third of the way in.  Hold down the ctrl key when you click the link if you have a pop up blocker...
 

polls

Ekos: 37-27-21-10-4

 

Strategic Counsel: 37-28-16-12-7

You must read Andrew Coyne

I mourned when he stopped blogging. I even sent him email. But he came back with a vengeance and has been the best in Canada this election season, and you MUST READ his blog every day, many times a day, almost as much as you read this blog. You read this one lots, right? Hello? Anyway, best posts today are the ones on polls (which are tightening), and the one on the campaign stunt in Martin's riding.

Election update #78987678890

Liberal candidate withdraws from race in Quebec throws support to the Conservatives

 

Liberal campaign in SK falsely accuses Tory of sexual abuse.

 

Premier Calvert kind of endorses the Conservatives

Bin Laden offers truce

Is it a sign of weakness? Or is it something else?

Election update

Buzz!!! What a great story - champion of the NDP, Liberals and the Bloc, depending on the day...

And in other news via AC, CTV is burying its own polls:

The first night, maybe they were worried it was a rogue poll. But two nights in a row? It was 42-24 on Tuesday night. It's 41-25 this time. Sixteen points. The largest gap of the campaign, in two consecutive polls. Majority territory. THAT'S BIG NEWS. Isn't it?

The next morning: here's that poll: C: 41% L: 25% NDP: 17% Bloc : 12% Green: 5%, and 2/3 of Canadians want a change in government

Would someone explain to me how SES can say it's 5, EKOS 10 and Strategic Counsel 16?

18 points?

CP 42% Lib 24% Ndp 17% BQ 12% GP 5%. AC thinks it may not be... In any event, that projects to 178-33-31-65-1...

Choose your PM

Politics watch (finally) has it's PM picker back.  18 questions to figure out where you stand in relation to the parties...h/t to AC.

Pigs are flying

The Bloc Quebecois remained the favourite among Quebecers with 45 per cent support but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will no doubt be buoyed by the 28 per cent recorded by his party.

Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals, the traditional voice for Quebec federalists, stood at 14 per cent, five percentage points ahead of the NDP. -- Toronto Star

UPDATE: A realignment in the making?

Canadian soldiers

We take a back seat to no one.  Courageous, cool under fire, serving their country, and the people they are helping.

 

Oh my

Conservatives 40 Liberals 26 NDP 16 Bloq 11 Green 6 --Strategic Council/CTV

And they are up in Quebec and close in the GTA. Wow.

Update: Coyne has more, including this: More than half of all voters - 52% - think the Tories will win and "that this would be good for the country."

Harper biography

The Globe is running an interesting biography of Stephen Harper.  Well worth reading, and fairly balanced. 

 

...the drift of Mulroney conservatism away from any semblance of a libertarian agenda brought Mr. Harper to the Reform Party, and ultimately to a seat in Parliament; his impatience with Preston Manning's populism sent him fleeing to the ideologically more comforting National Citizens' Coalition; the disarray of the Canadian Alliance party under Stockwell Day lured him back into politics; the threat of unending hegemonic Liberal government under the then-popular Paul Martin spurred him to negotiate the union of the Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties, and the implosion of the Martin government and its troubled re-election campaign now has Mr. Harper on the cusp of real power.

We interrupt election coverage

For the tale of a very, very luck Brit.  Kidnapped in Iraq, he was rescued by American troops by accident.  You see, no one knew he was missing...

campaign update

The NDP are going to be making direct appeals to Liberal voters, with a blitz in BC starting this weekend.

 

"But the Liberal party under Paul Martin isn't what it was. Paul Martin's Liberal party needs a time out -- to heal itself, clean itself up, decide what it believes. I'm asking you to change your vote."

 

I'm not making this headline up:  Fun money flows more freely in Liberal ridings

 

A little more than 79 per cent of the $7.5 million provided since the last election through Canadian Heritage's Celebrate Canada program funded projects based in Liberal ridings, the newspaper says.  As well, projects based in Quebec received more than half of the total amount spent by the national program.

Here's a shocker:  Off-reserve natives to back Tories
 

The Conservative party will today receive an official endorsement from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, a group that represents off-reserve natives, sources have told CanWest News Service.

G&M endorses the Conservatives

Three reasons for a change:

1. While the past 12 years have been relatively good ones, the law of diminishing returns has been eroding Liberal effectiveness since at least the 2000 election. A change of leadership in 2003 has failed to reverse the process.

2. Then there is this matter of the culture of entitlement that has taken deep root within the Liberal Party.  C. D. Howe may have been arrogant in invoking closure before debate even began on the pipeline bill in 1956, but at least he didn't hold up his chewing gum and announce he was entitled to his entitlements.

3. Change is essential in a democracy.  A perpetual lease on 24 Sussex Drive fuels the sense of entitlement that blurs the line between private gain and public good. Just as bad, a perpetual lease on Stornoway discourages the discipline and moderation required of an alternative government.

New Liberal strategy, just like the old Liberal strategy...

"Harper is just like American social conservative right wingers"

 

Or something like that.  I heard both Maude Barlow and Paul Martin say just about the same thing this afternoon.  Martin indicated that this would be a major theme from now until the end.  But the best part was that Barlow, at a press conference highlighting how scary the Conservatives are, said Harper is a "social and fiscal conservative just like Bush" or something like that.  That's right.  George Bush, fiscal conservative.   Uh huh. 

Platforms

The Conservative platform, unleaked, is here.  Total cost is $60 billion over 5 years, with $45B for tax cuts, $30B in new spending, and $22B in savings. I know that doesn't add up, but that's what the CBC says.  All the fiscal details are here.  Yuck, they want to ensure the CBC continues to play its vital role...

The Liberal platform is here, NDP (released on the same day) is here.  Compare and contrast, as they say.

Another

Sorry, but AC is outstanding too. Bribing candidates, flipping houses for profit, and hindenburg comparisons...don't forget Paul Wells taunting NDP voters on his blog.. Update: The Liberals have dumped the supposed briber...

Must read on the Canadian election

I know, you're thinking, who is this guy telling us what to read?  It's more of a suggestion really, but Lorne Gunter's blog is awesome lately.  There is lots there, but this iparody s outstanding:

 

There are a lot of bleeding hearts around who just don't like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is, go on and bleed, but it is more important to keep law and order in the society than to be worried about weak-kneed people.  —Pierre Elliot Trudeau, October 13, 1970

We declared martial law in a Canadian city after terrorists kidnapped two people.

Not even George W. Bush did that.

After 9/11.

After al Qaeda killed 3,000 Americans.

But we did.

Choose your Canada.

Polls solidifying (via Bourque)

CPAC-SES Jan 9-11: CP 38 Lib 29 NDP 16 BQ 12 GP 5
Ekos Jan 10-12: CP 37.6% Lib 28.3% Ndp 18.1% Bq 11.6% Gp 3.7%
Gregg Jan 10-11: CP 39% Lib 27% Ndp 16% Bq 12%

 

All of which looks very close to a strong Conservative minority or small Conservative majority.  Thus, the Liberals have already begun the post mortem and leadership preparations...and the media seem to be making up their mind.

Interesting campaign headlines from NealeNews

Liberal MP blames military attack ad on 'some idiot'...
PM: I APPROVED MILITARY ATTACK AD...

NDP LEADER HAD HERNIA SURGERY AT PRIVATE HEALTH CLINIC..

 

Make polygamy legal, says Justice Dept. study...

Election roundup

Both Paul Wells and Andrew Coyne comment on the recent poll showing an 11 point lead for the conservatives, who are also ahead of the Liberals in Quebec. And Harper is more popular than Martin. In Quebec.

Even the Toronto Star has turned against the Liberals :

What's wrong with a Liberal campaign now free-falling toward a jolting landing is what's wrong with Paul Martin as prime minister. Contradictory, inconsistent and still searching for a focus, this Liberal tour and Martin's leadership reflect the dangers of power exercised without discipline.

In other news, there is a BC Conservative candidate headed to trial for smuggling. You think that might come up in the vetting process, no? Anyway, the Tories are sticking by him.

Both the Libs and NDP officially released their full platform yesterday; Conservatives were going to and then thought better of it.

Oh, and I guess the Conservatives have said they would undo the income tax reduction the Libs announced in November. I know I said they wouldn't but I was wrong. And that's a dumb policy by the way.

Finally, this is the best quote I've seen in relation to the ad the Libs released and then pulled:

I know! Let's imply Harper would impose martial law! No -- let's make the soldiers the bad guys, even as they're being shot at in Afghanistan! I've got it! Let's do both!

Update: This is even better:

New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton ridiculed Liberal scare tactics saying Martin is resorting to "threats" and "manipulations" in debates and TV ads.Martin "has nothing left to say to Canadians other than to tell them that unless they vote Liberal, the sun will not rise, spring will not come, and volcanoes will destroy the Earth" if Liberals aren't re-elected, Layton said in his written speech. "I don't think that's going to work this time Paul."

Liveblogging the debate

A much better effort on the debate is over at Marturia.  Very impressive...

Liberal attack ads

As almost everyone has noted, the Liberals have unleashed fury.  The ads are pretty good, in a desparate, "don't vote for satan" kind of way.  And there is a terminator-esque music in the background that I kind of like, too.  We're about to find out if a fear campaign can move the numbers significantly...again.

French debate

Right. Like I watched it.  Read Ian's summary here.  Way to go.  Puts me to shame.  Yes, I like short sentences.  Coyne's live blog is here.

Liberal platform leaked

Via AC and found on the Western Standard blog, the shotgun: the Liberal platform.  Is it the work of "the Liberal Mole"?

 

Also at AC and Paul Wells, and many other places, the Liberal ad controversy.  Among the ads released online yesterday was one that talked about Haper putting armed troops in our cities.  Then they pulled it.  And don't want to talk about it.

 

Polls continue to show a substantial lead for the Cs, anywhere from 4 to 12 points...you have to love polling...

Debate wrap up

A post debate poll finds Harper squeaks out debate win, mostly because he was expected to win and then did.  Someone last night (the Ipsos guy I think) said these debates are always about beating expectations.  Oh, and Harper wins easily on the Toronto Star web poll.  Now that is a clear sign...

 

The TorStar also finally runs their bombshell poll (overshadowing what I thought would be the big headline): Tories headed for a majority.

 

But the bigger news in my mind is that the media thinks Martin bombed.  They think his "amend the constitution" routine smacks of desparation, which it does.  The CBC panel (Coyne, Hebert) thought so, and the CTV panel, wow - Bob Fife was pretty blunt.  But here's a better summary:

 

You don't amend the constitution of Canada because you're nine points back. A prime minister who valued the parchment of the constitution above his own hide would understand that. -- Paul Wells

 

On his blog, Andrew Coyne says it's basically over now: the polls are huge: Ipsos: 43-31. Ekos: 43-29.  And that's before the debate, which he think Martin lost.

 

Martin was simply ghastly. I've never seen him worse. Blustery, shouting, waving, wildly off-topic. Most important, in the entire night, he never gave me a single reason to vote for him.

 

A huge night, and two weeks to go.

 

Debate headline

Martin would seek a constitutional amendment to eliminate the not-withstanding clause - so the Supreme Court would be the final word on anything charter related.  Other than that it was a good debate...

 

Oh, and Neale has the polls:

 

GLOBAL NEWS: Conservatives 40%, Liberals 34%...
EKOS: CONSERVATIVES 43%, LIBERALS 29%...(Developing)  (btw that projects to about 170 seats) 

Polls

Via AC

• Decima has it 36-27, which if it held would be the worst popular vote for the Grits ever, eclipsing even the 1984 rout.
  
• WORSE: Ekos apparently has numbers that are so shocking they won't release them -- they had to go back into the field to make sure. (Thanks to YadaYada for the tip. Follow the thread for other commenters' reactions.)
  
• WORSER: Global National (via Springer) apparently puts the Tories up by 11.

Polls show Tory lead; debate tonight

An eight point lead?  Wow.  And the values issue doesn't belong to the Liberals anymore, apparently. 

 

English debate is tonight.  French tomorrow.  Both in Montreal...

Election update

Bourque is my first stop every day now - he's got all the news and increasingly links to blogs that are breaking news.  He's also got the polls:

CPAC-SES Jan 3-5: CP 34 Lib 33 NDP 17 BQ 11 GP 5
Ipsos: CP 35% Lib 31% Ndp 18% Gp 5%
Gregg Jan 3-5: CP 33% Lib 31% Ndp 17% Bq 13% Gp 6%

Tories are up in Quebec, taking votes from the Libs.  Several polls have not confirmed what looks like a trend.  Who would have thunk it?  And apparently Landslide Annie is in trouble in her Edmonton riding.

 

And of course the scandals keep coming.  Who knows what's next...The debates next week are going to be HUGE.

I had forgotten...

A reminder

that China is still a very dangerous place,for those who want to speak freely, or for that matter, even travel freely.

 

A blind activist in China and his family have been placed under house arrest for four months and he was beaten by thugs when he tried to venture out, after exposing forced abortions in his home province on the east coast.

When it rains

it pours...

 

The RCMP is looking into a controversial $4.8-million grant that was awarded to a pro-Canada group at the time of the 1995 referendum on Quebec sovereignty, officials have told The Globe and Mail.
 

Spend, spend, spend

The Liberals are going to announce a 7 billion education program that will give low-income students almost free tuition, among other things.  Quote of the day from AC:

 

That's over $7-billion. And there's still almost three weeks to go. What will they spend when they're really in trouble?

The tide is turning?

Polls seem to show that Canadians are turning toward the Conservative party, and away from the Liberals.  And Bourque thinks the Liberals are done:

  STICK A FORK IN MARTIN LIBS Forget what Don Newman and Mike Duffy are glazing you over with, the election has not just begun, it's just about done. Get out the four-pronged eating implement, the party's over for Paul Martin and his Liberal Party. Bourque has learned that a cancerous malaise has infiltrated the highest echelons of his braintrust, a leadership increasingly desperate to gain traction in the waning weeks of the campaign. Senior Martin Libs are privately telling Bourque that "the game is over". Not even "mega-billion dollar policy Hail Maries", as one lifer put it, is buying goodwill from an increasingly cynical electorate...

Sharon

Looks like things are pretty grim for Israeli PM Ariel Sharon.  Powers have been transferred, and Israel will certainly take a different course now.  The center party he was trying to create is almost certainly doomed.

Best election site

Andrew Coyne's blog.  Lots of good analysis, especially this election versus last - I've been think along the same lines...  It's good to have him back. 

On my mind today

How CPP is better than US social security - it actually exists (hey that's a start) and is independently invested.  At least that's the story

The Alberta healthcare story from a couple of weeks ago .  Reducing wait times and using resources more efficiently, a model that could be adopted accross the province and the country.  Maybe.  They're still looking at it.  BTW, anyone notice that healthcare hasn't been much of an issue yet?  Just wait...

Giving up organic food , because it's a silly indulgence of the relatively wealthy.  That ought to annoy a few people.

Election in full swing

Anyone else notice that most of the interesting stories are starting in blogs?  And Bourque is on the leading edge and breaking them.

• There's this one, about relocation contracts for public servants being awarded to golf courses and resorts. 
• This one, about the entertainment lobby paying for liberal fundraiser
• This one about Goodale's ministerial office being used for partisan business

Oh, and the latest poll shows the conservatives and liberals statistically tied.  Strategic voting might screw the NDP again  And Robert Fife was on CTV tonight saying he hasn't seen a campaign run this poorly since John Turner...

 

But wait, the ads haven't run, the second debates haven't happened, and there are still three weeks left.  LOTS of time left...stay tuned.

The NK nightmare

Not only does NK have the materials for nuclear weapons, they have kicked out aid workers trying to feed the hungary in the worst nation on earth.  What can be done to protect the downtrodden citizens of North Korea, or for that matter, what can be done to protect the countries around such a menace?

Happy New Year!