In the upcoming federal election how would you be likely to vote?

[Kevin Pacey]

This is a summertime poll of chesstalk members to see how respondents are likely to vote in the upcoming federal election at this time.

[Paul Bonham]

Re: In the upcoming federal election how would you be likely to vote?

This is a summertime poll of chesstalk members to see how respondents are likely to vote in the upcoming federal election at this time.

You left out an option for "I would spoil my ballot" (for example, voting for Silly Party).

[Kevin Pacey]

Re: In the upcoming federal election how would you be likely to vote?

You left out an option for "I would spoil my ballot" (for example, voting for Silly Party).

I thought of offering 'I'll probably spoil my ballot', but decided 'I probably won't vote for anyone' would cover that possibility. I was motivated to do so, too, because a chesstalk poll offers only a maximum of 10 options for a respondent to choose from, and I thought the ten options I offered would be satisfactory enough for most viewers (e.g. some members I know have had Libertarian leanings in the past at least).

[Gary Ruben]

Re: In the upcoming federal election how would you be likely to vote?

I like the Cons but the reality is I have to vote for someone who will deliver my mail. So I'll wait for the polling to tell me who has the best chance of beating the conservative incumbent and park my vote there.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Now, if only some others felt the same way...

... I'll wait for the polling to tell me who has the best chance of beating the Conservative incumbent and park my vote there.

If enough Liberal and NDP voters felt that way, then the result would probably be a given.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

If enough Liberal and NDP voters felt that way, then the result would probably be a given.

The answer to that one is simple. They should merge. I doubt that will happen.

This riding has been mostly liberal the last few decades. Federally, the conservatives won twice during Mulroneys years and once during Harpers terms. Provincially the NDP won once during Rae's years and I think twice during Harris's years. All the rest liberals. Before that I don't know who won.

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

I'll probably vote Libertarian again but it is tempting to vote Conservative to preserve the 10K/year contribution room to the TFSA.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: In the upcoming federal election how would you be likely to vote?

You left out an option for "I would spoil my ballot" (for example, voting for Silly Party).

Clearly there is an option for this: Green Party.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

Don't count Justin out. Like the guy in the attack ad says, He has a nice hairdo.

Voters like that.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

The answer to that one is simple. They should merge. I doubt that will happen.

That's only one solution and it is based on the claim that there is no substantive difference between the two parties. This is incorrect, I think. There are real differences, even if some of them are cosmetic.

There are more sophisticated versions of this argument, however, without a merger required. If they worked together and, depending on who had the higher numbers, which could be objectively measured, each riding would have a favored candidate. So, riding by riding, as you have outlined in your potted history.

Liberals supporters have, in the past, tried a bait and switch technique in which they claimed to support some joint efforts but it amounted to nothing more than folding the NDP into the Liberal Party. That ain't gonna happen. There is also the matter of how the Liberals have sided too closely with the government on a number of occasions, such as prorogue of Parliament, Bill C-51, etc., so there is some genuine bad blood. Besides, the NDP is thumping the Liberals federally right now, despite the media's habit of treating the Liberals as the "natural" opposition and giving them the spotlight over the NDP [despite the much superior numbers from the latter]. i don't wish to insult Trudeau but he isn't in the same league as Tom Mulcair. Just watch when they get a chance to speak in Parliament and critique the government. No contest.

It should be interesting. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that there is a groundswell for "anything but Harper" but whether that translates into seats remains to be seen.

[Mathieu Cloutier]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

Don't count Justin out. Like the guy in the attack ad says, He has a nice hairdo.

Voters like that.

Guy's a total wacko. You can tell just by listening to him for 5 minutes. Canada bla-bla-bla, my father bla-bla-bla, Canadians of all horizons bla-bla-bla.

The liberal party totally missed the boat. The game has changed. You're now fighting against a right-wing, 100% pragmatic government - i.e. if it works, it goes. You won't beat them with a wacko who's still talking about his father's vision of Canada of 40 years ago.

[Kevin Pacey]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

For a pragmatic guy, Steven Harper seems to me to be making some election strategy errors that may hurt the Cons chances in the upcoming election. Off the top of my head these would include Harper not participating in some major debates, the Cons planning to do away with door-to-door mail delivery, and the annoying Environment Canada interruptions on all cable channels for TV watchers (at least in my area, for some time now) caused by occasional extreme weather alerts that are especially overdone with sound effects - I thought the Cons philosophically were opposed to the idea of a nanny state.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

For a pragmatic guy, Steven Harper seems to me to be making some election strategy errors that may hurt the Cons chances in the upcoming election. Off the top of my head these would include Harper not participating in some major debates, the Cons planning to do away with door-to-door mail delivery, and the annoying Environment Canada interruptions on all cable channels for TV watchers (at least in my area, for some time now) caused by occasional extreme weather alerts that are especially overdone with sound effects - I thought the Cons philosophically were opposed to the idea of a nanny state.

The Conservatives did not do away with door to door delivery. Canada Post which is independent of the government did so. I predict promises to reverse the decision with a huge subsidy to Canada Post to do away with this plan but once the cost gets tallied the winning party if Liberal or NDP will find better priorities for its money.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

Don't count Justin out. Like the guy in the attack ad says, He has a nice hairdo.

Voters like that.

There have been studies that indicate that the most attractive candidates win around the world though you wouldn't know that from the Canadian election results.

[Mathieu Cloutier]

Re: Now, if only some others felt the same way...

For a pragmatic guy, Steven Harper seems to me to be making some election strategy errors that may hurt the Cons chances in the upcoming election. Off the top of my head these would include Harper not participating in some major debates, the Cons planning to do away with door-to-door mail delivery, and the annoying Environment Canada interruptions on all cable channels for TV watchers (at least in my area, for some time now) caused by occasional extreme weather alerts that are especially overdone with sound effects - I thought the Cons philosophically were opposed to the idea of a nanny state.

Harper knows who vote for him. And he knows how to take care of them. If it means not taking part some debates, so be it.

Most Harper haters just don't understand how he's running circles around them.

Pragmatism.