Well, there we have it. The Conservatives can't win in Metro TO, and lost again in Vancouver. Sure the Vancouver contest was closer than one would think, but in the end... well... just look up at the scoreboard. Some will say that these ridings were the Liberals' to lose, BUT one can also argue that these were fresh contests, with NO INCUMBENT - so really "brand new" seats.
Is this night a clear message for anyone? You would have to say that the Cons' hopes of a breakthrough in Metro Toronto are dashed. The Liberals bring a couple of high-profile stars to Ottawa - which cannot be too good for the "One-man Party of Canada". In Quadra, a loss is still a loss. The Cons got a little lucky, and the Liberal campaign wasn't what it could have been.
Is it time to pull the plug on this angry, corrupt government? Well, as a Liberal, things SURE DO FEEL GOOD tonight! Like the man said, "vive la Canada"!
4 comments:
If you can take comfort from these results, then you are sadly mistaken. But keep up the delusion, the Tories thank you Liberal supporters for that.
Funny how folks seem to go on about how the Cons can't seem to break into the urban vote.
How come no one asks why the Libs can't break OUT of the urban vote.
Sometimes delusional comfort is the best kind - to get a party machine up and working harder to ensure victory. Reform-Allia-Cons were "out in the cold" and in way worse standing than where the Liberals are now, but every little success gave them a boost. Keeping the troops morale up, and believing they would eventually triumph got them into a slim minority government...
So... it really depends how you look at it. Hey, if Liberals are celebrating, good on them. If they can take comfort and treat this as a big victory, good on them. If this is a big morale booster for Liberal troops - good for them and for Dion...
Thanks for the comment Jim. I guess the simple, honest answer is that political commentators look at what a party requires to win a clear majority. Some sort of "conservative" party has pretty much dominated "rural" areas in Southern Canada (only) for years. It speaks to the more socially conservative views of people in those parts. However, not ALL rural areas go Conservative either. Areas where a government "with a heart" is important (areas that need government help) do indeed go largely Liberal. See Northern Canada, for one, but also rural ridings in Atlantic Canada. As well, you can have a look at Northern Ontario.
The urban/rural split is very, very, real, and plays itself out provincially too - not just federally. Cities tend to be more "liberal-minded", if you will. This just plain fact. Doesn't matter which civilization you go to, or what modern nations, the open-minded thinking, research, experimentation, and political action that seems to impact nations most happens in urban centers. There are a variety of reasons for this - including the ability for people to gather more readily. When people are pretty much forced to live together they come to accept differences, and even to value assisting their fellow man more. This leads to the more socially liberal urban mindset in modern, cosmopolitan, liberal democracies.
When any party manages to spread beyond their main demographic - be it through populism, or a "national crisis" - that party can win a majority. If the parties can't appeal to the broader swath, they will sit in minority territory. There is an exception, however. A party that can win urban Canada (and that will require a strong presence in Montreal), Atlantic Canada, and much of Northern Canada - as well as some ridings in centers like Winnipeg, and Regina - can win a majority.
The Liberal Party is still very represented rurally - it's just that sometimes Conservatives forget to include the North, and Atlantic in their "rural riding count". Progressive people will remain progressive...
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