[Firecat]

This is the time for people who hold Liberal principles to step up to replace the creaky old guard that repelled me in the first place and reinvigorate the party with new members.

It is our responsibility first to select a leader who espouses values we can support wholeheartedly but who is not afraid to lead. Stephen Harper has achieved that in his own party (albeit by firmly enforcing strict muzzling of his caucus to keep the more extremist opinions that might alarm the public and tear away from that ability to support "wholeheartedly"

We must then achieve credibility and trust by listening carefully to the public; not by polls but by re-engaging people like me and my neighbours. Convince them to talk to us and take that back to our candidate.

Practice a rational partisanship. "Rat-Pack" buffoonery impresses no one.

Presumably one who can get elected is not stupid: let's see that in the House.

That said, collegiality may work in Caucus but the House is a show. The real work is in committee, with power in Cabinet.

We must select a leader who is an easily acknowledged equal at the least to Stephen Harper.

Harper is likely one of the smartest leaders the Conservatives have had in decades. I also think he's fundamentally verey honest and rather idealistic (if not an idealogue - it is easy to be so when one is new to power)

The next Liberal leader must match or surpass that in public opinion.

Michael Ignatieff offers that. Bob Rae does too but Ontario would be a really tough sell for Rae. I'm liking Gerard Kennedy. A lot.

[Zipperfish]

I'm seriously considering joining the Liberals. We have a good MP here in Don Bell. I used to be more inclined to the Progressive Conservatives, but these new Conservatives have an unpleasant socialist streak in them now, and are too preachy for my tastes.

[TheGup]

Firecat Firecat:

I am no longer active within the party and do not feel inspired to become so again. I live in a safe liberal riding.

I find it is quite the opposite of his/her assertion. Liberal minds are more open than Conservatives who prefer to "discuss" trhings by making wildly hysterical accusations. Just my opinion based upon what I've read here.

A) There is no safe Liberal riding in Ottawa. The only two seats that used to be considered strong Liberal are now held within 8 - 10%. Next election, only Ottawa - Vanier has the chance to stay Liberal.

B) You talk about how Liberals are open minded, and then slag the Conservatives, in the same breath that you say we make hysterical accusations. A bit hypocritical.

What thread was it I debated with you about that? I lost track of it, and it was only about one or two days ago..

[Arctic_Menace]

How does one become a member, and can you run for office?

[Canadaka]

Maggiemygosh as well as others, you can screw off. This topic is in the "Liberal Party" forums. That was a secondary reason for making this topic, to see who the real assholes are around here, and to see who isn't reading or following the rules.

But that aside, thanks for all the other on-topic comments, and don't worry nothing will change on CKA, lol I have always been a Liberal supporter but I try not to let that affect how this site is run.

and Clogeroo, what have the Conservatives done for BC or Vancouver?
Living in a city center, the Liberals are more likely to affect me anyway.
But things that might affect my day to day life really are not Federal issues, they are handled by the provincial government, as they should be. On the federal level I am less concerned what happens in my backyard compared to the whole of Canada & our society, thats where I support the Liberals.

Provincialy I voted Liberal, which kinda makes me a quasi conservative, since they are pretty center-right here in BC.

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

I'm seriously considering joining the Liberals.

You should you have nothing to loose. I am surprised that it seems not many people here are a member of any political party, yet they have such stong opinions. This may not be correct but from my observation in the US it seems people are more likely to be a member to a party than here in Canada... I wonder why... I think our politics is much more interesting.

You can become a member online now, rather than snail mail
https://www.liberal.ca/join_e.aspx

[Arctic_Menace]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

I'm seriously considering joining the Liberals. We have a good MP here in Don Bell. I used to be more inclined to the Progressive Conservatives, but these new Conservatives have an unpleasant socialist streak in them now, and are too preachy for my tastes.

They scare me even more now than they did when they were still the PC Party.


I'd join either the NDP or Liberal Party. Green is a little too left for me, but I like alot of what they plan to do.

[Hardy]

Canadaka Canadaka:

This may not be correct but from my observation in the US it seems people are more likely to be a member to a party than here in Canada... I wonder why... I think our politics is much more interesting.

It's because in the US, party membership means almost nothing. You check a box when you register to vote, and that typically lets you vote in that party's primary. And that's it, zero committment. At times, people have even registered the opposite of the way they thought, so that they could vote for unelectable candidates in the primary of "their" party. It's sad, really.

[Tman1]

Congrats. Nice of someone to make a conviction and stand up to it and post about it (of course being the site owner might give one a feeling of power to post whatever he wants ) Standing by a party with hard times is a good monument of characterization.

Seems sad some on here need to insult people of a certain political alignment not of their own.

[Ripcat]

Congrats Trev.

I hope you didn't use BartSimpson and ridenrain's member donations to pay for your Liberal party membership.

[Clogeroo]

$1:

and Clogeroo, what have the Conservatives done for BC or Vancouver?
Living in a city center, the Liberals are more likely to affect me anyway.
But things that might affect my day to day life really are not Federal issues, they are handled by the provincial government, as they should be. On the federal level I am less concerned what happens in my backyard compared to the whole of Canada & our society, thats where I support the Liberals.

Provincialy I voted Liberal, which kinda makes me a quasi conservative, since they are pretty center-right here in BC.

Last time I checked a member of parliament represented the riding you live in I don’t vote for people to just cater to Ontario or other parts of Canada.

For federal issues let’s see historically the liberals take more from B.C. and give it to the ROC and we get less of our tax money in return. The softwood lumber dispute instead of trying to get our border working again they promote anti-Americanism and hurt relations, which hurts our province and also offer know alternative plan for dealing with it. Not to mention cutting security and our armed forces here and leaving people unemployed and less safe also reducing our clout on the world stage. Even arming the border guards they put no effort to address that situation either. Also electoral reform something many people here would like to have which the liberal’s never even address or acknowledge our federation has a problem. Actually there are dozens of issues I have with that party and what it has done to our province. I was against them before even this sponsorship scandal for that just tops the list of a long list of empty promises and little or no action to deal with the challenges we face. Maybe Canadaaka you may address these issues within the party you are now a part of because right now they are no option for me to even consider voting for.

Besides that paying the debt thing, which Mulroney really started with GST that the liberals promised to revoke, what does this party do? Does it have any policy or just does the opposite of the “big bad” Tories?

[ridenrain]

Clogeroo: Nice start.
Ever since the west got the finger from Trudeau, the Liberal solution to western alienation has been elect more Liberals. The last person who was going to fix western alienation was Belinda.
Maybe a comparison between the federal support of the Montreal olympics and the one Vancouver is trying to hold would be a good example.

[Clogeroo]

$1:

Clogeroo: Nice start.
Ever since the west got the finger from Trudeau, the Liberal solution to western alienation has been elect more Liberals. The last person who was going to fix western alienation was Belinda.
Maybe a comparison between the federal support of the Montreal olympics and the one Vancouver is trying to hold would be a good example.

Well Belinda was originally a Conservative so I actually was going to mention the Olympics too even when the Tories first took office they gave Vancouver more money for projects. That’s a liberal solution exactly create more liberals and for fixing the federation is just give everyone flags to wave (Made in China).

[Mr_Canada old]

Holy shit, You can join at my age? Sweeeet.

Now, to get money.....

[hwacker]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Holy shit, You can join at my age? Sweeeet.

Now, to get money.....

Join, I'm sure the package they send you will tell you how to find it in a brown bag

You can't set that up and not hit it out of the park. I had to

[TheGup]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Holy shit, You can join at my age? Sweeeet.

Now, to get money.....

I really encourage you to. Being a member of the youth association is excellent. The party really brings you in, and you get front row at all the events.

I'm the VP of Youth in my riding. It's quite an experience - you should join, even if it is with the wrong party.