[ridenrain]

Looks like some of the Libs are getting pretty worried.

$1:

Will Michael be known to history as the man who lost the Senate?
We know that Prime Minister Harper does not care much for a powerful federal government, and that he views Parliament as a place where federal power is exercised. Unable to win a majority government so far, Harper has set his eyes on winning control of the Senate, and so cementing the power of veto in the hands of his right wing Tory government:

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper has laid out his plan to draw even with the Liberals in the Senate.

With his goal the magic number of 50 Conservatives in the Red Chamber, he stacked nine vacancies with partisan nominations yesterday.

Four opposition senators will reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 by January. Assuming that the Tories are still in power then, appointing their replacements would give each of the two dominant parties the same number of seats. The new standings would help the Conservatives ease their agenda through Parliament."

What do these numbers mean?

Just this: Harper is within months of gaining control of the Senate, and thereby of blocking any programs which a future Liberal government (minority or majority) might have.

Will Harper use the power of the Senate to block Liberal programs?

You better believe it.

What can stop him?

Only one thing: his removal as the government of Canada. As long as he is prime minister, he has the power to appoint senators.

And every day that Liberals delay in removing the Tories from power is another day in which Harper can plot to gain control of the upper house.

If Michael Ignatieff does not move heaven and earth to replace the Tories as government, then the Tory veto over future Liberal government programs can rightly be laid at the feet of the Liberal leader. Not the Liberal Party. Not his advisors. Just Michael Ignatieff.

Because it will have happened on his watch, and he could have taken steps to vote the Tory government out of office.

http://puzzledcat.blogspot.com/2009/08/ ... s-man.html

[ryan29]

you have to wonder a bit if the fear of losing the senate is driving the liberals to want an election . but they could just as easy lose the election then lose the senate for an even longer time . its all a big risk really , my guess is there wishing they had supported the idea of elected senators instead casue then there's at least be a vote over this whole thing . there appointment idea only worked when they were in power now its coming back to haunt them .

[ridenrain]

So you say that the party that had the arogance to call itself the natural governing party should have thought ahead? That's not likely to happen.

[saturn_656]

I think its funny how some people seem to fear Harper and the Conservatives in general.

[Lemmy]

I fear Harper. I fear a certain breed of Conservatives, in general. What's funny about that? Randian idealogues should be feared.

[saturn_656]

Lemmy Lemmy:

I fear Harper. I fear a certain breed of Conservatives, in general. What's funny about that?

I've found scarier things living under my fridge.

Lemmy Lemmy:

Randian idealogues should be feared.

Because?

[Lemmy]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

Lemmy Lemmy:

Randian idealogues should be feared.

Because?

Because human compassion is not a character flaw.

[saturn_656]

Lemmy Lemmy:

saturn_656 saturn_656:

Lemmy Lemmy:

Randian idealogues should be feared.

Because?

Because human compassion is not a character flaw.

Who said that? Rand or Harper?

[Lemmy]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

Lemmy Lemmy:

Because human compassion is not a character flaw.

Who said that? Rand or Harper?

Harper. That's the problem with Randians. They don't even understand Rand. Rand would never say most of the shit her followers think she'd say. They get it wrong. But, this thread is about the Senate, so I apologize for dragging it off-topic.

[EdwardRI]

Lemmy Lemmy:

saturn_656 saturn_656:

Lemmy Lemmy:

Randian idealogues should be feared.

Because?

Because human compassion is not a character flaw.

It can be. If you want to show compassion to a person using your own person resources, it's not a flaw. When you want to show compassion to a person using somebody else's resources, it is.

Who is or is not deserving of compassion is a very personal choice. I don't want my resources taken to support somebody that I don't think deserves it.

[kenmore]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

I think its funny how some people seem to fear Harper and the Conservatives in general.

Well if you have concern for civil liberties then you should fear harper.. he is too right wing, too autocratic and too religous.. these philosophies make him a danger to civil liberties and public trust.

[kenmore]

So ridenrain.. how long are you going to cover harpers flip flop on the senate issue? so much for an elected one.. harper is the real one with the Pinocchio syndrome eh?

[Apollo]

kenmore kenmore:

saturn_656 saturn_656:

I think its funny how some people seem to fear Harper and the Conservatives in general.

Well if you have concern for civil liberties then you should fear harper.. he is too right wing, too autocratic and too religous.. these philosophies make him a danger to civil liberties and public trust.

Do you have any proof of these accusations or are you just venting?