Wednesday, January 18, 2006

The Fat Lady Still Has Too Sing

And today's polling reveals that the Conservative's pending Majority is a myth. As I said Strategic Counsel wears rose colour glasses when it comes to polling. And predicitons. You have been warned. It is now E-5. And the Fat Lady is still has only now arrived in the Green Room there are days left before she hits the stage.

National

View Trend Graph

SES Research

DATE

CON

LIB

NDP

BQ

GRN

MOE

LINK

01/17/06

36.9

31.5

17.6

10.0

4.0

±3.1


Ekos

DATE

CON

LIB

NDP

BQ

GRN

MOE

LINK

01/17/06

36.9

27.2

19.6

11.0

4.8

±2.2


Strategic Counsel

DATE

CON

LIB

NDP

BQ

GRN

MOE

LINK

01/17/06

42

24

17

12

5

±2.5




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Democracy Watch Report Card

Democracy Watch has released the following documents relating to the Canadian federal election to be held January 23, 2006 (in reverse chronological order):

Report Card on Government Accountability

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Hey I'm A Heretic

A tip o the blog to NorthWestern Winds for this quiz. Since I am a heresiologist this was just to tempting to take. Being a Panthiest this christian based test was biased, so I ended up being this;



You scored as Docetism. You are a Docetic. You believe that since matter is evil and corrupt, God (who is pure Spirit) could not possibly have taken human form, and so Jesus only appeared to have a physical body. Condemned by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

Docetism


100%

Gnosticism


100%

Monophysitism


100%

Socinianism


67%

Albigensianism


67%

Donatism


33%

Apollanarian


33%

Pelagianism


33%

Adoptionist


33%

Arianism


33%

Nestorianism


33%

Chalcedon compliant


0%

Modalism


0%

Monarchianism


0%

Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com


So I figured I would take their Which Religion is Right For You Quiz. And Damn look what happened.















You scored as Satanism. Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Satanism! Before you scream, do a bit of research on it. To be a Satanist, you don't actually have to believe in Satan. Satanism generally focuses upon the spiritual advancement of the self, rather than upon submission to a deity or a set of moral codes. Do some research if you immediately think of the satanic cult stereotype. Your beliefs may also resemble those of earth-based religions such as paganism.

atheism


100%

Buddhism


100%

Satanism


100%

Paganism


79%

Islam


67%

Hinduism


67%

Judaism


58%

agnosticism


50%

Christianity


25%

Which religion is the right one for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com

Is This Faster?

Thanks to all of you who emailed me or left comments on how my page was slow in loading and had strange pop up ads showing up. I deleted a couple of items in the sidebar to resolve this and I hope it has. Leave your comments here if it has or hasn't. Thanks. We now return to regular programming.

Buzz the Putz

Well the Liberals token Trade Union Boss, Buzz Hargrove has finally flipped his lid. It may have been because the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has endorsed Bloc candidates in Quebec in order to oppose both the Liberals and Conservatives.

Public service union endorses Bloc

Canada's largest public service union is urging its members in western Quebec to vote for the Bloc Québécois.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada is endorsing Bloc candidates in the ridings of Gatineau, Hull-Aylmer, Pontiac, and Argenteuil-Papineau-Mirabel.

"We're recommending individuals in each riding. It just happens they're all from the same party — it's the Bloc," said Daniel Charron, the president of the Outaouais regional chapter of PSAC.

Ed Cashman, vice-president for the national region chapter, commended the choices.

"Obviously, not all PSAC members will vote for the Bloc Québécois," said Cashman in a press release. "However, in the Outaouais, Bloc candidates are better prepared and more willing to co-operate with PSAC in furthering our causes."

The national president of PSAC, Nycole Turmel, also approved the local chapter's decision.


Interestingly this story didn't get much play. That was until Buzz picked up on it as a strategy. So he did a me too. But Buzz being Buzz went even further. He attacked Harper as a Seperatist and he supported the Bloc in Quebec. He said it at a Rally with his buddy Paul Martin. Opps. That just blew up in Martins face.

Liberals scramble after Hargrove calls Harper separatist
Toronto Star, Canada - 8 hours ago

Toronto Sun
Liberals in damage control after union boss's endorsement goes ....
Liberals in damage control after Hargrove comments Global National
Hargrove urges Bloc vote Toronto Sun
Harper a 'separatist,' Hargrove charges Toronto Star
all 5 related »

The Liberals were in damage control mode Wednesday after a high-profile campaign endorsement by the head of Canada's largest private-sector labour union turned disastrous.

Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove used a campaign stop in nearby Strathroy to call Conservative Leader Stephen Harper a separatist whose Alberta-born political principles place him outside mainstream Canadian values.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin issued a retraction on Hargrove's behalf as soon as the comments hit the news wires, and was forced to praise Harper's patriotism in an effort to quell the controversy.

"I have large differences with Stephen Harper but I have never doubted his patriotism," Mr. Martin said at a news conference in London.

Buzz is the exploding cigar of this election for the Liberals. First he claims his strategic voting campaign to support the Liberals is to the LEFT of the NDP. Leaving Layton and the NDP as his second choice. That coloured the campaign from the begining, which of course was Buzz's intention, he wants to be king maker. Ego the size of a mountain that lad has.


Martin rubbed his hands with glee and joined Buzz at the hip. Even going so far as putting his picture up on the Liberal website as one of their desktop wallpapers for your computer. Martin made sure they traveled together whenever he toured Southern Ontario and the Eastern Townships. They were like long lost brothers.


But now they are scrambling to distance themselves from another Buzz shoot from the lip comment. Too bad soo sad. What was that about laying down with dogs?

Laytons response to all this. Well there is only one social democratic party that cares about working people in Canada that's the NDP and as he said to reporters today; "We have the support of nine out of ten union leaders in Canada." Buzz is no great loss.

As the Liberals are finding out now. This is just too funny. Buzz with his ideological blinders on; turns Anybody But the Tories into Anybody that is but the NDP. His personal dislike of Layton has translated into supporting the Bloc in Quebec and the Liberals in the ROC.

This says it all;
Buzz Hargrove: Quisling, hypocrite. Buzz claims to be a card carrying member of the NDP. Well that's one member that the party should rid themselves of immediately. And no welcoming him back after January 23 either. Buzz has shown his colours, blushing Liberals, red.

The NDP has strong CAW support including candidates like Peggy Nash, Buzz's old executive assistant. They have Sid Ryan of CUPE as well. After they are elected there will be a real trade union caucus amongst NDP MP's. And Buzz will be out in the cold again, alienated from those he supposedly supports. Now if only we could fob him off on the Tories. The irony would be delicious.

More of my Buzz Stories

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Attack On Blogging Tories

Stephen Taylor of Blogging Tories has written an eloquent response to the attack on his news aggregator site, (see my earlier comment on this; Stupid Complaint,) which was launched by disgruntled ex-Conservatives claiming he was a front for the Conservative Party and thus in violation of the Elections Act. What stupidity.

Blogging Tories being charged with political manipulation?

Jason Cherniak who runs the Liblog also defended the BT and Stephen. As should anyone who runs a blog association or aggregator for blogs. Such as; Progressive Bloggers, Blogging Dippers, Green Blogs, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, B.C. blogs, etc. etc.

This is an affront to free speech. None of us get paid to do this. And we sure as heck are not frontmen for the political parties we support or give critical support too.

With the exception of some bloggers like Paul Wells, Warren Kinsella, Colby Cosh, etc. who are professional journalists and writers whose blogging is incidental to their work. The rest of us do this with no renumeration just the fleeting fame of being mentioned in the press occasionally. Or asked to blog for them.

The rest of us blog for the sake of blogging. For the same reasons I have been doing webpages for years, and running news aggregators by hand, hardcoding stories in HTML,such as Canada and Alberta Labour News. Which are now defunct, too much work and they served their purpose between 1997 and 2000.

I now find it easier to add Canadian labour news to LabourStart. Which is an amazing project of Eric Lee, who does get paid to do it, but relies on hundreds of volunteers to maintain it.

This attack on the BT aggregator and Stephen is despicable, he said in his best Sylvester the Cat imitation complete with spittle.

It offends my Libertarian values and principles, which are Canadian values. As someone keeps reminding us during this election.





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Election Prediciton- Jaffer Defeated

The Truth Hurts who has been doing the thankless job of compiling riding by riding predicitons makes these about Edmonton. Very interesting. Puts Edmonton Centre and Edmonton Millwoods Beaumont as Liberal. It shows a close race in Edmonton East as I predicted.


And shows Rahim Jaffer defeated in Edmonton Strathcona. I don't think it will be the Liberal though that defeats him. But it does show Edmonton Strathcona is a race to watch.

As TTH says we are free to disagree with his predictions. So far though his has been the best of the predicition sites for tracking polling data. Most others just predict a big blue 28 Conservative seats in Alberta. Not TTH.

Thanks TTH. We won't know how accurate you are until the Fat Lady sings.


Riding Prediction





Edmonton LIBERAL CPC NDP Bloc Green Other Hold/Lose
Edmonton-Beaumont 43.9% 38.2% 12.2% 0.0% 5.3% 0.3%
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲




þ
Edmonton Centre 48.7% 33.7% 10.4% 0.0% 5.1% 2.2%
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲




þ
Edmonton East 37.7% 38.2% 17.0% 0.0% 5.9% 1.1%
▲▲▲
▲▲▲



þ
Edmonton-Leduc 35.1% 47.0% 11.2% 0.0% 6.8% 0.0%
▲▲▲
▲▲▲



þ
Edmonton-St. Albert 29.2% 49.7% 13.9% 0.0% 7.3% 0.0%
▲▲▲
▲▲▲



þ
Edmonton-Sherwood Park 29.6% 49.9% 13.2% 0.0% 7.3% 0.0%
▲▲▲
▲▲▲



þ
Edmonton-Spruce Grove 31.1% 52.5% 10.8% 0.0% 5.6% 0.0%
▲▲▲
▲▲▲



þ
Edmonton Strathcona 33.1% 32.1% 27.0% 0.0% 6.7% 1.2%
▲▲▲ ▲▲▲




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CANADIAN ELECTION 2006 2006 PREDICTIONS 2006 2006 2006 PREDICTIONS

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Rahim Jaffer Opposes Same Sex Marriage

Vote Marriage Canada the third party lobby front group for David Manse has outed politicians who will support a free vote to over turn Same Sex Marriage if elected. Anti-same-sex marriage candidates outed Here is their endorsement for these candidates. And Edmonton Strathcona Conservative Candidate Rahim Jaffer is one of them. We have a large gay community on the southside here.

But Edmonton Centre has an even bigger gay and lesbian community, and of course Laurie Hawn, the Conservative Candidate who failed to show up at a Pride Edmonton Forum got their endorsement too. Laurie Hawn Chicken Hawk

"TBC" (To be confirmed)

RIDING
CANDIDATE
Calgary Centre TBC
Calgary Centre-North No endorsement
Calgary East Deepak Obhrai
Calgary Northeast Art Hanger
Calgary--Nose Hill Diane Ablonczy
Calgary Southeast Jason Kenney
Calgary Southwest Hon. Stephen Harper
Calgary West Rob Anders
Crowfoot Kevin Sorenson
Edmonton Centre Laurie Hawn
Edmonton East Peter Goldring
Edmonton—Leduc James Rajotte
Edmonton--Mill Woods--Beaumont Mike Lake
Edmonton--Sherwood Park Ken Epp
Edmonton--Spruce Grove Rona Ambrose
Edmonton--St. Albert John Williams
Edmonton—Strathcona Rahim Jaffer
Fort McMurray—Athabasca Brian Jean
Lethbridge Rick Casson
Macleod Ted Menzies
Medicine Hat Monte Solberg
Peace River Chris Warkentin
Red Deer Bob Mills
Vegreville--Wainwright Leon Benoit
Westlock--St. Paul TBC
Wetaskiwin TBC
Wild Rose Myron Thompson
Yellowhead Rob Merrifield


And rules are made for some folks and not others. Such as the Vote Marriage Folks. Must be cause they only follow G*D's rules.

Vote Marriage meeting breaks election rules
Last updated Jan 17 2006 10:19 AM AST
CBC News
Same-sex marriage opponent Elsie Wayne spoke to a group of Baptist ministers and parishioners in a Moncton community centre that also holds an advance polling station in a gathering that broke federal election rules. About 70 people attended the meeting at the Lions Senior Citizens Centre to hear the former Conservative MP, who also serves as the Atlantic co-chair of Vote Marriage Canada, a group fighting same-sex marriage. "God does not endorse that and we do not," Wayne told the group. "But we do not hate people. You have to straighten people out. We don't go around hating people."

A tip o the blog to ObstiNation for this

Also see my blog articles on this.




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Stupid Complaint

Apparently some disgruntled Conservatives and Liberals are claiming the Blogging Tories were funded and set up as front for the Conservative Party. Gimme a break. Complaint filed against Blogging Tories

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CTV/G&M Showing Conservative Bias

The Blogging Tories have been strangely quiet on the issue that they were ranting about for weeks that is the apparent CTV Liberal Bias

The occasional
complaint arises but for the most part the blog orgy of attacks on CTV and the Globe are now muted.

With the Globe and Mail, formerly pro Liberal, now converted on the road to Damascus into true blue Conservative backers, they and CTV, and their polling company Strategic Council continue to come up with unbelievable polls indicating an overwhelming Conservative majority. Do you think this may be editorially driven? Or is it just wishful thinking.

This poll shows national party support.

Conservatives take 18-point lead, poll shows

The Conservative Party has an 18-point lead over the Liberals in a new poll, giving them 42 per cent support nationally and possibly setting the stage for a major electoral shift. more...

This is a major misleading headline. By their or any current polling.

Strategic Counsel's polling numbers are always suspect when you compare them to other polls. They are off by at least 3% and have been sonsitantly polling higher for the Conservatives than any other poll.


Because they are the CTV/Globe pollsters they make the news. They are the news. But are they accurate and true. I would say not. I prefer CPAC/SES polling it has remained consistant and far more 'true' in numbers than the Strategic Counsel polling.


SES Research

DATE

CON

LIB

NDP

BQ

GRN

MOE

LINK

01/16/06

37

30

18

10

4

±3.1

01/15/06

37

29

18

11

5

±3.1

01/14/06

38

30

17

10

6

±3.1

01/13/06

38

29

16

11

7

±3.1

01/12/06

40

31

14

10

6

±3.1

01/11/06

38

29

16

12

5

±3.1

01/10/06

39

30

16

12

4

±3.1


Ekos

DATE

CON

LIB

NDP

BQ

GRN

MOE

LINK

01/16/06

35.8

29.6

19.4

11.6

3.4

±3.7


At least CTV's long time political reporter Craig Oliver has remained objective in the media orgy to declare a Conservative majority. Well there has to be one spoilsport at every party. Which is why at least one Blogging Tory is upset.

However, Craig Oliver, CTV's chief political correspondent, said Tuesday night that other polls -- including, according to what he's been told, the party's internal polls -- show the Conservatives short of a majority. According to his conversations with party officials, "they expect they could be in for a bit of a dip, as Canadians wake up in shock to find they've supported Harper so significantly," he said.

As I have shown, BCE Inc. the parent company of Bell Canada, and Bell Global Media owners of CTV and the Globe and Media was a big donor to the Harper Leadership campaign.

The sudden cheerleading of CTV's Mike Duffy for all things Harper and Conservative might be influenced by the new polling/ editorial direction of this media congolmerate? Do ya.

Mike Duffy

video: Harper responds to Quebec support

Tue. Jan. 17 2006 6:58 PM ET

Mike Duffy asks Conservative Leader Stephen Harper about French newspaper endorsing him in the 2006 federal election campaign.



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