Fuck!

[shadowspar]

What have we learned tonight, my friends? That you can be the only Government in a Westminster Parliament ever censured for Contempt of Parliament, that you can defend to the death Ministers who lie and present misleading documents to the House, that you can refuse to disclose the costs of your most expensive and controversial programs, that you can run the most secretive Government in memory, prevent Canadians from criticizing their Prime Minister, refuse to answer their questions, scorn our Constitution and Charter, and in return, you will be rewarded not just by being sent back to Ottawa, but returned there with a majority government.

At least there are a few bright spots. The NDP took a record number of seats, forming the Official Opposition for the first time, though they won't have much in the way of leverage faced up against a majority Government. Elizabeth May won her seat in the House, a fact about which I am thrilled. She's extremely intelligent and articulate, and is easily the party leader for whom I have the most respect.

Time to cross our fingers and see what happens in the next four years. Believe me when I say I'll be remembering which of the local pundits were stumping for the Conservatives when we see policy changes coming down the pipes. If worse comes to worse, as I fear it will, I suppose civil disobedience is the silver lining to the cloud of Conservative rule.

Comments

[libskrat]

I'm sorry. I know that gut-sinking feeling well.

[shadowspar]

Thanks. Wish neither of us had to.

[laughingrat]

Ugh, sorry to hear about your election results.

[shadowspar]

Thanks, it's appreciated.

[zulu]

I only found out this morning, and it's been getting more depressing the longer I think about it. And I know if I write my MP about electoral reform, he won't even take the trouble to laugh in my face: the perils of living in Calgary Southwest.

[shadowspar]

Hot damn, that sucks. I'm sorry. The bright spot for me in Alberta is seeing Linda Duncan hanging onto Edmonton-Strathcona, denying Harper a Conservative sweep yet again.

I'm hoping that these election results set the stage for something good to foment in the coming four years. Four years is a lot of time for the NDP to consolidate its newfound strength, the Greens to build, the Liberals to rebuild, and the Conservatives to make deeply unpopular changes or just flat-out fall on their faces.

[serendipity8791]

I was very pleasantly surprised at seeing the map of Quebec turn decidedly orange last night. I had never seen this much orange on TV. I was even more surprised when my Liberal stronghold riding showed up in... orange!

Quebec decidedly voted for change, last night, and showed the Bloc the door.

I am, however, scared of a 4 year Conservative term. What will happen now?

[shadowspar]

Yeah, it's sadly ironic that the NDP put in a record showing, nearly tripled their seats, but may have less influence on the Government now than before in the minority parliament. Also, that Quebec voted overwhelmingly for a federalist party, but is still in Opposition instead of in Government.
IMHO, two things restrain the Conservatives now. First, they won't want to do anything that will damage them in the next election. However, this means that the only real restraint on them is the whims of the most conservative 40% of the population. >_<
The other is the Charter and the Supreme Court, which I think has done more to protect human rights than any Government since the one that enacted it.

[serendipity8791]

Whatever will be, will be, I suppose. There's no going back, now. *shrugs*

But, oh, boy, the slap in the face of the Bloquists... I really should be feeling bad for them, but I can't bring myself to. I'm French-speaking, but I'm Federalist to the core.

[shadowspar]

Heh. Kind of ironic, but I'm a soft-Federalist anglo, so I'm probably easier on the Bloquists and Pequistes than you are. Then again, I don't live in a province where I have to worry about them getting elected locally. >_<

In any case, I just really hope that this can be the beginning of the end of this ridiculous "Quebec vs the Rest of Canada" mentality. I grew up in and live in Sault Ste Marie, so believe you me, there's lots of people around here whose empty heads I'd like to (metaphorically) knock together.

[pinesandmaples]

I'm sorry. I know it hurts.

[shadowspar]

Thanks. Your sympathies mean a lot, especially given that they're coming from someone who had to deal with Bush for eight years.