Comments on: Confidence

By: Chris Tindal

Chris Tindal — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:07:33 +0000

It’s almost as if our current electoral system produces unstable minority governments….

By: Erich Jacoby-Hawkins

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:10:56 +0000

You say: “those of us who are directly involved in party politics have been in perpetual election mode for the last two years”

Ah, a newcomer. Those of us from the original 308 have actually been in perpetual election mode for the last FOUR years, ever since Martin won his Liberal minority. Let me tell you, it’s hard on parties, on candidates, and on people in general. (Great for media, on the other hand).

Assuming the big election holds off until after March 17, I suppose we can consider you caught up.

By: Harper Conservatives favour assisted suicide « My journey with AIDS

Harper Conservatives favour assisted suicide « My journey with AIDS — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:55:16 +0000

[...] What really ticks me off is the prospect of byelections (including one in my own riding of Toronto Centre) being scuttled before their March 17 date – not that this had not crossed my mind from the start – meaning the need to pay again the start-up costs of an election campaign, which my Green candidate Chris Tindal explains better here. [...]

By: Kenn Chaplin

Kenn Chaplin — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:48:24 +0000

One of the SEVERAL reasons I left the NDP and joined the Greens was this kind of fundraising/bush-whacking bull from the party – all with Jack Layton himself front and centre. His chest-beating seems childish. Once the party that wanted to “make Parliament work”, the NDP has been smelling Liberal blood for a long time (although the scent may be weakening now) and it would like nothing more than to have another Conservative minority and a few more stern-looking NDP heads to nod in Question Period. And, yes, I too have engaged here in partisan vocabulary. A couple of peeks in at the rabbe babble are enough to whip me into campaign mode – hopefully only after the St. Paddy’s Day byelections. (I live in hope.) :)

By: Chris Tindal

Chris Tindal — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:03:52 +0000

Hi Ryan,

It’s true that I’m decidedly more partisan during election campaigns than in-between, which I think is appropriate. With specific reference to the email, I honestly think the headline “We’re ready to take on Harper”, the photo of Layton in a tough-guy pose, and the use of words and phrases like “fight” and “beats the election drums,” as well as the framing of Dion as a wimp (not like the manly Layton) help to contribute to a toxic, confrontational political culture that is turning people off and lowering the discourse. The whole thing is made more rich by the fact that the email’s author simultaneously claims that the NDP isn’t playing politics (“while others electioneer,” “these parties are treating the lives of Canadians like some kind of chess game”).

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:00:39 +0000

Oh come on Chris. I used to think you were the most non-partisan blogger on the web, even though you’re running for a political party. You’ve normally been quite fair when it comes to challenging the NDP, but “(the NDP just sent out a testosterone-charged email that amounts to Jack Layton challenging Stephen Harper to a fist fight)” was a childishly partisan jab.

“* NO to a Conservative budget that rewards Harper’s corporate friends while leaving ordinary people behind; and
* NO to a failing war in Afghanistan. It’s time for a new approach and a peaceful solution.”

That sounds like it’s challenging Harper to more than just a fist fight and “posturing.” In fact, it sounds curiously like something the Green Party would support.