RoadWarriorFromLP

Yes, I also really appreciate it when politicians take strong stances about things that they don't have the authority to change.

FlaviusAetius

Those who are Republicans cannot understand Democrats, and vice versa. I suspect one's political leanings are similar to being right-handed or left-handed - one just is.

Republicans in this country consider that liberals are authoritarians, and see in "political correctness" an urge to control thought similar to Orwell's 1984 - shutting down thorough discourse by demonizing their opponents as racists, homophobes, etc. They also see the modern Democratic Party as the spiritual successors of fascists, who were national socialists as opposed to international socialists. The Democrats in this country simply dismiss Republicans as racist, homophobe nut cases. Both parties are hypocritical in the extreme.

Perhaps Canada is better run, by pragmatists. In this country, ideology trumps reason.

londonboy450

Most with the Dems but as I am not a permanent alien, I am no right in voting. Mostly Dems but sometimes GOP

scrubbedexpat091

Depending on who you ask, the current government here in Canada runs more on ideology then reason. The current government is conservative by Canadian standards, and not well liked at the moment, and may lose control next year at election time.

But we have 4 national parties I think (NDP, Liberals, Conservatives, and Green) as well as a party from Quebec so they have 5 to choose from.

Conservatives made good grounds to get to majority power, but once in power they started to lose popularity pretty quickly.

Probably revert back to a liberal minority/majority next election, NDP is not likely to win a majority, but they might be able to keep their status as official opposition.

Bnet36

I think the same would be true in the US if there was a good republican candidate.

Election time is painful here it's so drawn out and over the top ....

orly

Not allowed to vote so it's all a bit academic. Not sure who I'd vote for even if I was allowed to.

Political Compass puts me at the intersection of socialism and statism. I'm rather left wing economically but more traditional when it comes to "societal" matters.

So I guess no one

SultanOfSwing

More or less. It puts me socially libertarian and economically centre-left, right where I expect to be. I don't think any political parties exist today in that region, apart from maybe the green party

FlaviusAetius

It's funny. I have a lot of Canadian cousins and although they don't like Harper, they seem to feel that Justin Trudeau would be a very poor choice - but as you say, he may well be the next PM. Perhaps if he gets in, the Canadian dollar will sink further, and Canadian oil will be even cheaper when the next President approves the Keystone XL, as he or she most certainly will once that incompetent boob - our Maximum Leader - has finally left the world stage.

orly

Kind of my assessment of the situation. I don't dislike Harper as a man. Some people find him staid or grey. Compared to Trudeau he's clearly not got the "appeal" with the young or with women for example. But being Prime Minister isn't about appearing trendy or hip. It's about getting stuff done. While I don't necessarily agree with a lot of the Conservative policies (as mentioned above I'm rather more left wing) I don't see any record from Trudeau. He's in his position merely because of his surname and anyone who doesn't see that is in some sort of Steve Jobs-esque reality distortion field. He doesn't strike me as a "leader" of the country let alone his own party.

Hard to say how any election would go. I get the impression there may be no clear winner and it'll be some sort of minority govt or a coalition.

RoadWarriorFromLP

I am presuming that the US president is not excited by the prospect of Americans paying higher prices for oil, which is exactly what will happen if Keystone XL is built.

Alberta oil is landlocked, which forces shale producers to sell at a discount. Move it via a pipeline to Houston, and the price goes up.

Michael

They could build a large 700 mile pipeline to Vancouver to get Canadian oil to the international markets but BC environmentalists and government have stopped most of the plans.

In 2013, a proposal was made by Kinder Morgan to triple the pipeline capacity to Vancouver and we'll see how long, if ever, that will take to get approval even though the economic benefits for Canada are great.

Poll finds rising opposition in B.C. to Kinder Morgan mega-pipeline proposal

I guess is Obama is an incompetent boob and if the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion proposal is rejected, then BC residents and politicians must be completely stupid.

cranston

looking forward to 2016, all the on-line betting shops have Hillary to win.

scrubbedexpat091

I expect another Liberal minority government like in the past, they lost so many seats in the last election, so not sure they can win enough back to get majority.

scot47

Hilary is going to win ? NO ! I rather like this guy - who most Americans will see as a left wing looney

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/

robin1234

I agree with you about Bernie, he'd make a good president, but I don't think that most Americans see him as a left wing looney. He commands wide spread respect after a long career in Vermont politics, and in the US Congress. He has high profile committee responsibilities, and has worked with Republicans and Democrats on important issues. One example, he's worked with John McCain on Legislation to improve the lot of veterans.