Vancouver Island Recount Result: Liberal celebrity wins by a nosehair
Wow, that was fun. After looking at ballots all day, I’m off to watch paint dry.
A full recount did not change the outcome in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca substantially. The media is reporting that the number of disputed ballots exceeded the number of votes separating the Conservative, Troy DeSouza, and the Liberal, whatshisname. They also reported that the official recount request was withdrawn, presumably because the outcome would be the same in any case.
Sigh.
What made election night such a ride was that we actually won most of the areas in the riding. So we saw this momentum building all night – to the point where we were winning by 700 votes at one time. Then results for the Esquimalt part of the riding arrived, and we got hammered.
For number fun – if the Esquimalt part of the riding (about 13% of the overall population) was in the neighbouring Victoria riding instead, this seat would have gone Conservative by well over 1000 votes. Of course, the missing 68 could have come from anywhere, but it is interesting that the riding can overwhelmingly vote one way only to have a tidal wave of votes from 1/8th of the area go the other way to result in the opposite outcome. Maybe this happens all the time, I’ve just never seen it (and experienced it on election night) firsthand, so I find it intriguing.
Anyway, we went from third place to an “almost win” running against the godlike celebrity Liberal maverick, so I’ll consider it a small victory.
I’m off to cry now (I never got a chance on election night).
Somebody write a comment about something other than how great whatshisface is, like the last time I blogged on this topic.
Are there any real “conservatives” in Newfoundland and Labrador?
All this Danny-bashing, while tremendously appropriate and overdue, strikes me as a wee bit fatalistic.
Anyhoo, I suspect ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have seen (or are about to see) the fruitlessness of following their Dear Leader, Kim Jong-Will.
So, what’s next?
Danny leads a party called The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is that “Conservative” word in there, but I wonder if there are any “conservatives” in this party? If so, why did they elect a liberal (or, it seems, a “Liberal”) as their leader?
If there are any conservatives, perhaps they should take steps to remove the liability. If there are not, then perhaps it is high time that somebody start a conservative party in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In British Columbia, we have a fringe “Conservative Party of British Columbia” and a center-right “Liberal Party of British Columbia”, the defacto “coalition of the non-NDPers”.
For Albertans that find the “Progressive Conservative Party” just a wee bit too “Progressive”, there is the “Wildrose Alliance”, seemingly an affordable luxury in true-blue Alberta.
And the provincial “conservative” brand in Saskatchewan remains scathed because of a long-ago – but all too fresh – scandal, so the center-right started the successful “Saskatchewan Party”.
Perhaps conservative Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should consider their options. Take (back?) the PC party? Start a new conservative party? The “Newfoundland and Labrador Party” – is NLP too close to NDP, or the old Natural Law Party?
In any case, seriously, something should be done.
The current leader is to “conservative” what “Hugo Chavez” is to “Bush-Loving GOP Republican”.
Newfoundland and Labrador
It’s dated, but read the comments on this one. This is the funniest stuff I’ve read in years.
‘Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca – Troy DeSouza vs. Keith Martin
Three weeks ago I said that this was going to be the closest race in the country. Worst of all, I was responsible for GOTV – so, please, heap all blame on me.
UPDATE: The numbers are now verified and we are the closest riding in the country.
What a nail-biter evening. At one point during the night, we were up 700 votes on TV. Nothing like getting calls from Ottawa at 3am their time.
UPDATE: On the recount, Bruce Hallsor is the media contact on this, so expect to see him make an announcement in the next few days.
There are also a few more details to come on this story. Stay tuned!
I just can’t believe Guy Ritchie and Madonna are breaking up, though!
Stephane Dion is not evil.
Nobody I know personally has ever questioned Dion’s credentials as an intelligent, loyal, and well-intentioned Canadian.
In fact, Stephen Harper was very clear during the debate that he didn’t question the motivation of any of his opponents. His position was that he simply disagreed with their plans.
But when Stephane Dion was told by the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge that he was certain that Harper was doing what “he thought” was best for the country, Stephane Dion interrupted Mr. Mansbridge to insist that Stephen Harper was doing bad things, knowingly and intentionally, to harm Canada.
I used to think elections in America were far dirtier than in Canada. Now we have John McCain defending Obama as a great American. We’ve had Obama recognizing John McCain as a war hero. Both urge their supporters not to “boo” their opponents. They have polite debates.
But in Canada we have a Prime Minister who is doing evil things to our country for the sake of evil alone.
And as we know from horror movies, “evil” is much stronger than “good” and must be stopped no matter what it takes! Sounds dangerous, eh. Sadly, it has become so.
Today, locally, we had a supporter’s tires slashed.
John McCain was right to tame the rhetoric of his most extreme supporters, but Dion is doing the opposite – encouraging hatred.
It’s high time that Stephane Dion come out and admit that Stephen Harper is a loyal Canadian who is doing what he thinks is best for the country. Obviously he disagrees with what is right, and that’s what election campaigns are supposed to be about.
Ignore this post!
Shhhhh!!
This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler. This is filler.
I’m going to predict a Conservative minority m@j0r1ty tomorrow.
Why?
First, I’m an undying optimist.
Secondly, if I’m actually correct then people will look to me as a guru of great predictions (I did call that Sarah Palin thing, oddly enough, and feel that sufficient praise has not yet been heaped upon me).
Third, I think it is a distinctly possible outcome.
Fourth, if it happens, I am assured by my good friend Andrew that we will drink ourselves stupid in celebration.
Think of the headline in Wednesday’s Globe and Mail: Media Predicted Minority, Paul Holmes Knew Better.
If I’m wrong, please ignore this post. I may even quietly delete it.
So, after careful scientific calculation and considering all the odds (for you gamers, I rolled 5d6 repeatedly until I finally got a Yahtzee), I have come up with the numbers that follow.
Conservatives – 156 (37.4172351%)
BQ – 55 (7.96247%)
Liberal – 54 (24.946691%)
NDP – 41 (20.8961%)
Other/Independent – 2
Green – 0 (6.87214%)
Hey kids, SCIENCE IS FUN!
Elizabeth May
CTV is reporting that the Green Party candidates out there who have worked so hard during the campaign are being tossed aside after Elizabeth May is endorsing the Liberal Party.
It appears the September 27th Torstar article was bang on.
Update – October 13, 3:00pm: I’m sorry, I’m so confused by this. If I was a Mayist (not Maoist, Mayist), I would be sooooooo confused right now. Help me out Chairman May – what the hell am I supposed to do here?
Full Text of Dion-Murphy Interview
Steve Murphy: Thank you. M. Dion, thank you, good of you to come again.
Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve.
Steve Murphy: M. Dion, the economy is now the issue in the campaign, and on that issue you’ve said that today that Mr. Harper has offered nothing to put Canadians minds at ease, and offers no vision for the country. We have to act now you say; doing nothing is not an option. If you were Prime Minister now, what would you have done about the economy and this crisis that Mr. Harper has not done?
Stephane Dion: If I would have been the Prime Minister two and a half years ago?
Steve Murphy: If you were the Prime Minister right now.
Stephane Dion: Right now.
Steve Murphy: And had been for the past two years.
Stephane Dion: OK, now, if I am elected next Tuesday, this Tuesday, is what you are suggesting?
Steve Murphy: No I’m saying if you hypothetically were Prime Minister today?
Stephane Dion: Today!
Steve Murphy: What would you have done that Mr. Harper has not done?
Stephane Dion: I would start the 30-50 plan that we want to start the moment that we have a Liberal government. And the 30-50 plan, uh, the 30 … in fact, the plan for the first 30 days, I should say. The plan for the first 30 days, once you have a Liberal government. Can you start again?
Steve Murphy: Do you want to?
Technician: Sure
Stephane Dion: Ya.
Technician: Ya.
Steve Murphy: Ya, I’m OK to start again. Because I…
Stephane Dion: Ya. Because I think I’ve been slow to understand your question.
Steve Murphy: I don’t…
[Break]
Technician: OK, I’m recording.
Steve Murphy: M. Dion, good of you to come again.
Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve.
Steve Murphy: M. Dion, you’ve said today that Mr. Harper has offered nothing to put Canadians minds at ease during this financial crisis, and you go on to say that he has no vision for the country. You say we have to act now; doing nothing is not an option. So I’d like to begin by asking you: If you were Prime Minister now, what would you have already done in this crisis that Mr. Harper hasn’t done?
Stephane Dion: I can’t, I don’t understand the question. Because are you asking me to explain sir, at which moment, today, or since a week, or 60 weeks or s…
Steve Murphy: No, if you were the Prime Minister during this time already.
Stephane Dion: We need to start again. I’m sorry, I, if I was the Prime Minister starting when? Today? If I was the Prime Minister today?
Dion Aid: If you were the Prime Minister when, since Harper’s been Prime Minister.
Stephane Dion: Ya, two years and a half, ago.
Dion Aid: At any give time.
Stephane Dion (speaking over aid): Two years and a half, ago.
Dion Aid: What would you have done differently between, between the time that Harper’s been there, to change the country.
Stephane Dion: Ya, but if I had been Prime Minister two years and a half ago, we’d have had an agenda. Let’s start again.
Steve Murphy: OK.
Stephane Dion: We’ll go there.
Technician: I’m rolling. Still recording.
Steve Murphy: M. Dion, thank you for coming.
Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve. Let’s start again, I’m …
[Laughter]
Steve Murphy: It’s a good job that tape is cheap.
Stephane Dion: But give me, give me a first date where I am Prime Minister that I can figure out, but, what your question is about.
Picture This Man
Negotiating for the future of our country? At a G8 Summit? Representing Canada on the world stage?
Five different ways of presenting the same question: “now”, “right now”, “today”, “during this time already”, “at any given time”. Let’s hope “never”.
“It depends on what the meaning of the words ‘is’ is.” –Bill Clinton
Prime Minister Dion
Here’s something we haven’t had to think too much about during the campaign. But as the latest poll numbers appear closer, it’s something I’ve just started thinking about: Prime Minister Dion.
I find this truly frightening.
Seriously. What if Dion won? What if he was the “leader” of Canada?
I wonder if some Canadians who support Harper are thinking of strategically voting otherwise to “hold the Conservatives to a minority”. If this is the case, I would encourage them to consider what they are really doing.
First of all, your vote is a vote for the leader of the country, not a vote for second place. The ballot question is (and really always is): who do I want to be Prime Minister?
Secondly, if too many small-c conservatives vote strategically to “hold the Conservatives to a minority”, they might accidentally elect Dion and the Liberals.
Consider the consequences. It’s not the economic “living large” times of the 1990s anymore – our largest trading partner, the world’s largest trading partner, is in peril like we haven’t seen in 70 years. While I never supported Chretien, I always felt reasonably comfortable that he wouldn’t leave the country in total ruin, and he didn’t – although we came close a few times, like during a certain referendum. But people must realize that the stakes today are much higher than they were in 1995.
So why would a Liberal government be so detrimental now?
You can start with the fact that Dion is the least inspiring political leader in my lifetime. I wonder about his abilities to govern, make reasoned decisions, react appropriately – in short, his ability to lead. If it was 1998, this wouldn’t be reason enough to worry.
But it’s not 1998 – it’s 2008, and the global economy is teetering.
Despite this, Dion seems hellbent on imposing some pretty radical transformations to our country during an economic period that is defined by instability. While Dion tests his theories on the Canadian economy, there is a geopolitical transformation underway: the decline of America, and the rise of regional conflicts (Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, Russia and, seemingly, everybody else).
Is Dion the Prime Minister we want dealing with these issues? While I’m sure Dion is a “nice guy” in person, and certainly very book-smart, I can’t imagine anybody thinking he’s the right leader for this day and age.
Aggregators
