As I contemplate the meltdown of Dithers and Company I can't help but recall the M*A*S*H episode where Hawkeye and BJ stuck a toe tag on a sleeping Frank Burns and shipped him off to the front. Hands up everyone who remembers what the toe tag said.
Emotionally exhausted and morally bankrupt.
It's going to be a looooooong year.
But pogge: that's what the toe-tag said. You have already said it. I don't get a prize, do I. ;-)
This is difficult for me. I am a dipper, and I could never support a Liberal, and yet I think we could really be in serious deep trouble with Harper. I am a little bothered now by the NDP strategy so far, by the focus for so long on attacking Martin. I think things have now gone far beyond just resisting the strategic-voting lie. We have helped to tip the balance in general, and that is worrying me.
I don't believe that Martin is as bad as Harper. I remember some of the guys behind Harper, and I am scared.
Sell out Layton and the arrogant dipshit Liberals handing the PM office to the wingnuts is something that I have begun to obsess about to the point where I am losing serious sleep, can't function well at my job and am short-tempered with just about everyone.
I too am a dipper - but I would vote for a liberal if they had a chance in my riding. Thank god they don't, as Bill Blaikie is my MP (or at least he is until the 23rd).
I know why I fear the Reform and who lurks in the shadows and that it's legitimate, but I harbor a very real - and perhaps somewhat petty - resentment that someone like "Harper" and "Stockwell" will actually go down in the anneals of Canadian history as being part of an elected federal government.
I happened to have a conversation with a friend today. A dear friend, who although politically apathetic and more laid back during his live long day than I am in my sleep, has a way of getting through the clutter. After I dumped on him again about how are country is about to be turned over to the wolves, he essentially offered me this:
"You don't vote liberal, but you think they're the lesser of two evils. You think the liberals are morally bankrupt and have been in power too long, but it's better than the CPC alternative. You think that the CPC is rotten, and always will be, and you believe the liberals are closer to your values but they need a housecleaning. You've got a constant and a variable. And unless your hope is that the liberals hold office forever, then somethings got to give. The liberals aren't going to clean house while they're in office, and the CPC is going to be just as evil (if not more evil) 4 years from now as they are today. They're going to get in sometime. Why not now? The sun will still come up on January 24th, you'll still draw breath, and have a job, and a family and friends that love you. We'll still be going fishing for a week in June.... we're still going, right? So accept that it will happen, and accept that it's happening for a very good reason. And trust that you're right. Trust that you're right about the CPC and what they'll try and do. And trust that us apathetic masses will react in horror, and in 4 years we'll vote out the last CPC government that we'll likely see for the next 16 years. Above all, trust in our democracy - even when things aren't falling on your side."
True story. And while I don't wholly agree, I must admit, I feel more relaxed than I have in a month.
So on the 23rd I'm going to crack a brew and give a farewell salute to Dithers, and watch the wingnut give his victory speech. And maybe - just maybe - it'll all be for the greater good.
Ah, who the hell am I kidding....
Scott - You must be my next door neighbour to the west if Bill is your MP. If you are upset about the next four years, look one riding to the east and think about what I have to look forward to for the next 4 years. From what I have seen, it looks like Bill will be ok but I will check on the projections and see.
Ugggh... Towes. Sorry to hear that.
Bad enough that he's going to win, he apparently has the undying support of all the ditches, intersections, fields and vacant lots... if his signs are any indication.
I'd be interested to hear the latest projections... I have a bit info on that - clossssse.
Scott - special update for you, the projections have Blaikie winning again. Bill seems to running at close to 50%. Mind you these are only projections.
Thanks mahigan - I had some info indicating 51-35, but trending blue... *sigh*. Perhaps not an Art Miki finish - but close.