Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled the plug on his own minority government on Sunday, setting off a national election campaign

[Sprailenes 47]

Screw them both and vote NDP.

[Emancipation 2]

Screw them both and vote NDP.

[naviomelo 0]

Great timing. Harper's been doing a great job so far, let's keep it rolling. As for the U.S. election, I can't believe of all the Republicans available, we had to nominate John McCain. He's sold conservatives out so many times and this is how we reward him? But given the circumstances, I might close my eyes and pull that lever.

[Carlawarla 1]

It'll be nice to read and see something other than US election. I think the Canadians called an election just to show the American's how a campaign can be run in 6 weeks successfully.

[thetreble 19]

2 years to run a campaign comes down to money, and not power. In my opinion it shouldn't take 2 years to get voter backing, so really it is just a #### show for a year and a half of how much money each campaign can display.

Nevertheless, this election should have happened a long time ago. I don't think Harper's government has done too badly thus far and even as a liberal I am a little sketchy about giving liberals power after the Chretien and Martin years of spending/blundering/secret deals.

Should be interesting!

[SpiritAlight 1]

The best thing about upcoming elections are the usual hilarious comedy acts that ensue.

Please listen to this

(hit the l'il area on the left that says, "How do you solve a problem like Maria")

http://www.cbc.ca/go/

Quote:

"It's election time Canada.

We're going to the polls.

All across the country people are asking the same thing, 'How do I vote for Barack Obama?' "

It'll be nice to read and see something other than US election. I think the Canadians called an election just to show the American's how a campaign can be run in 6 weeks successfully.

How precisely true!

Edited September 8, 2008 by SpiritAlight

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Yup, "Canada is the 51st American State!", as seen by Americans and some Canadians alike (though I personally think that Canada is a separate country, with two separate cultures, identities, and ideologies). In ways, Canadians are heavily influenced by the Americans, more so because of the border of these two countries next to each other. Heck, when we were apart I remember even getting the exact same television and radio stations in Canada as my husband did in the USA. So yeah, we had the same media and political influences in two separate countries.

So close yet so far, and separated by a painstaking process called "immigration"....

Maybe it's some sort of competitive spirit thing, where Canadians seem to feel as though they need to be better if not at par with their American counterparts?

So now the competition this time around is:

"Who can have the better election, the Americans or the Canadians?"

Oh the competition will never stop, will it? What will be the next competition between these nations?

Ant (On both sides of the Canadian/American competitions....)

Because the US has a lot of power over Canada, as they do the rest of the world, we of course hate to admit it as Canadians, but they do. When it comes to signing agreements and working together if a democrat got in, then more democratic decisions would be made, therefore giving the liberals more power. Of course, this is all speculation, but I think its fair to say that its accurate since its Harper we're talking about here.

It'll be nice to read and see something other than US election. I think the Canadians called an election just to show the American's how a campaign can be run in 6 weeks successfully.

Edited September 8, 2008 by AntandD

[Carlawarla 1]

Hi Everyone,

Yup, "Canada is the 51st American State!", as seen by Americans and some Canadians alike (though I personally think that Canada is a separate country, with two separate cultures, identities, and ideologies). In ways, Canadians are heavily influenced by the Americans, more so because of the border of these two countries next to each other. Heck, when we were apart I remember even getting the exact same television and radio stations in Canada as my husband did in the USA. So yeah, we had the same media and political influences in two separate countries.

So close yet so far, and separated by a painstaking process called "immigration"....

Maybe it's some sort of competitive spirit thing, where Canadians seem to feel as though they need to be better if not at par with their American counterparts?

So now the competition this time around is:

"Who can have the better election, the Americans or the Canadians?"

Oh the competition will never stop, will it? What will be the next competition between these nations?

Ant (On both sides of the Canadian/American competitions....)

Because the US has a lot of power over Canada, as they do the rest of the world, we of course hate to admit it as Canadians, but they do. When it comes to signing agreements and working together if a democrat got in, then more democratic decisions would be made, therefore giving the liberals more power. Of course, this is all speculation, but I think its fair to say that its accurate since its Harper we're talking about here.

It'll be nice to read and see something other than US election. I think the Canadians called an election just to show the American's how a campaign can be run in 6 weeks successfully.

Did you post the part I bolded in reference to my post that you've quoted under that? My comment was about remembering the short election campaign in Canadian elections...lots of my American friends wish the campaigning here was as short. It can be rather trying and irritating with the length it is in the US. I don't know what you think I was inferring, but the tone of your comment wasn't as "in fun" as mine.

[antda 13]

Hi Carla,

Sorry if I said anything wrong above. I was referring generally (not to anyone in particular) to the competitiveness of Americans vs Canadians, and how it seems to be endless there. Competition can be a good thing, though, despite how long it may seem to be at times...

I agree, campaigning or anything that is too long, can be shortened. As "too much of a good thing is not good at all"...

Ant

Did you post the part I bolded in reference to my post that you've quoted under that? My comment was about remembering the short election campaign in Canadian elections...lots of my American friends wish the campaigning here was as short. It can be rather trying and irritating with the length it is in the US. I don't know what you think I was inferring, but the tone of your comment wasn't as "in fun" as mine.

[thetreble 19]

Hi Carla,

Sorry if I said anything wrong above. I was referring generally (not to anyone in particular) to the competitiveness of Americans vs Canadians, and how it seems to be endless there. Competition can be a good thing, though, despite how long it may seem to be at times...

Here we go again...

[SpiritAlight 1]

Hi Carla,

Sorry if I said anything wrong above. I was referring generally (not to anyone in particular) to the competitiveness of Americans vs Canadians, and how it seems to be endless there. Competition can be a good thing, though, despite how long it may seem to be at times...

Here we go again...

Are you making popcorn TheTreble?

Hee, hee.

I believe Ant has her heart in the "right" place.

There is no reason to get excited.

Sometime people just need to ask for clarification.

Know what I mean, jelly bean?

[StaceyG 0]

I love the election, I get to vote as im walking out the door to the states... Its killing my mom, She and I quote says " Vote the right way cause its not you that will have to live up here through it "....

I agree the states take way to long in elections, why should making a decission on your country take two years.. Just vote already, is there really a need for 50 some odd debates, did anything really get said in the first debate that wasnt said in the last.. Its strange to me, guess its one of things that I will have to get use too.

[trailmix 77]

I say let the U.S. take their sweet time getting around to an election - just don't televise it

No competition, I'm a Canadian not in competition with the U.S. - I could care less what they do, in general, except of course now I am living here I would like them to do things right.

We sometimes make fun of our Southern neighbours....and I'm sure if they knew we were up North they would make fun of us too

[thetreble 19]

Are you making popcorn TheTreble?

Hee, hee.

I believe Ant has her heart in the "right" place.

There is no reason to get excited.

Sometime people just need to ask for clarification.

Know what I mean, jelly bean?

I was going to make it but I won't

[bradcanuck 1]

Harper is doing a real fantastic job. Anyone with political experience or schooling in political science can see he has done a real A+ job with a minority government. I hope he has the opportunity to take over with a majority.

I'll be voting absentee for Harper.

It's unfortunate Canadians just hate their government as something to do, without any real reason. I'd love to hear some intelligent arguments with SOURCES showing how terrible Harper is. No one can provide anything that I have had this conversation with before. They just have nothing else to be angry about so they hate this guy - and in fact Harper is kicking some real ### and making this country even better.

If you HATE Harper and are voting for Bloq, NDP etc just to do it... do some reading first.