Something Interesting Happens in Canada - Page 2

Yes.

He's an intellectual, but he's a black hole of charisma.

Gotta say I'm quite disappointed with the G.G.'s decision. I knew she wasn't going to send Canada to the polls again but I was really hoping she'd kinda be wise and realize that Parliment is fed up with Harper and that he has a record of not really caring about what the opposition thinks.

He's not a crowd-winner, but he's bright...charisma is really not that essential to Canadian politics. A plus in my book.

Ok, here's my updated wishlist for Xmas:

1. Harper is airlifted and dropped into the snow around the Quebec National Assembly. Passersby cover him in poutine and sugar pie.
2. Ignatieff and Rae fight to the death for the Liberal leadership over Dion's blurry corpse.
3. Jack Layton is revealed to be the clone brother of Kiefer Sutherland which freaks him out into thinking he's Jack Bauer. He immediately starts hunting down Western Separatists.
4. Duceppe is discovered to be a Cylon.

Please, Santa?

You guys have a pretty crazy, yet entertaining, political system.

The PM shuts down Parliament and he has to technically have approval from the Queen of England! It's how I would imagine a typical government in Alice in Wonderland to function.

No, we got approval from the Queen of Canada

I'm confused, isn't Queen Elizabeth II effectively the Queen of Canada?

I thought that was Enza Anderson.

Seriously, this all sounds quite interesting. I just have to ask, though, where is this Canada again?

Its easy to miss, all tucked away down there.

How's this federal uncertainty playing in Quebec, what with the election on Monday?

Not much actually. The Liberals were pretty much assured of a majority, and they'll get it.

The PQ tried to prove that the crisis is a sign that we need to separate, but no one gave a fuck.

The ADQ, the retardo-right wingers wannabes, are kinda dead in the water after nearly winning it last time. People kinda found out that they're an empty shell filled with nobodies.

The PQ would use a solar eclipse as a sign that they need to separate.

Also: the queen rules. Deal with it. Crown-prince Obama aint got shit on her.

Oh and she's the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Not just England.

And for those who wonder about it, if Canada wanted to be a republic, they can do that whenever they want, the Queen isn't going to send an army to occupy Ottawa or anything.

Look who's talking.


The PM isn't head of state, just the leader of the party in power. The Queen is head of state, her representative is the Governer General. It's how parliaments work, although this is a rare situation.

I love ElCaptain. He sees things in a completely fucked up political prism.

I know but not strictly accurate since Elizabeth the 1st 400 years ago, not a big deal but I just wanted to make it clear that she's Queen of lots of places not just England.

Being queen is just a ceremonial position, it doesn't affect british political affairs let alone commonwealth affairs.

Well of course not - but (AND THIS IS A BIG BUT) I do genuinely believe that the position of figurehead of the nation(s) should not be some power hungry, jumped up little shit lawyer or accountant. I've never seen a politician who was worth more than a fart or who genuinely put the country's welfare ahead of their own. Kings and queens used to die for their country in battle, no politician has done that to my knowledge.

The head of state, be it queen, or president or whatever spends most of their time visiting or entertaining other heads of state, talking to the press, opening schools & hospitals, making stirring 'yes we can' speeches and doing that sort of stuff. Asking them to run the country too is a bit much. Why not have someone who can do this shit; Someone who is basically taught from birth where all the countries are, who their heads of state are, all the protocol and waving to the people bullshit and leave running the country to those who are qualified. Better than having some fucking pea brain puppet who couldn't find their own country (or ass) on a map of the world. If you want to call them king or queen so fucking what, it's just a word.

(Cue outrageous point-missing from ElCapitan) And before any Americans start on about how it's bullshit to pass on the title through blood, i would remind them that 2 sets of presidents have been father and son. Co-incidence? Bollocks.

If it aint broke don't fix it, this system has worked largely without a problem for 500 years or so (cromwell be damned) - the US system failed horrifically in 2000, so if the US system goes without a flaw for the next 500 years, I'll consider it an option.

Also I would have thought that if Canada became a republic nary a tear would be shed in the UK, indeed most Brits are unaware of Canada's status. I would also have thought the queen would write a polite letter congratulating the country's new leader.

I said "Queen of England" on purpose, due to the "Queen of Canada" comment.

I do find it funny how people can see nothing funny and absurd about having Kings and Queens play any part in a modern political system, in the 21st century.

I admit it's pretty absurd, even if the said Queen has no political power at all in Canada, but I guess it's tradition.

Now, how's the shining beacon of democracy of yours doing with the Electoral College and the total lack of coherence in the electoral process?

I kinda like that our guys have the balls to question the leader of the country (on a daily basis mind you) and remove him from power if they feel he's doing a poor job aside from sitting on their asses for eight years bitching and moaning and not doing anything.

Brendan, remember that ours is an inferior democracy. Even if ours average citizens are miles ahead of an American one in nearly every social factor, we apparently don't have enough nukes.

Canada will never become a Republic without a military coup. The Constituion is near impossible to change.

Also Both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles are some of the most widly read and intellegent people in politics. I mean Charles has spent 20+ years pimping green and everything else.

*edit*
who would you rather have as you Head of State...them or George?

Bob Rae has dropped out so it looks like Michael Iginatieeisnjdfojrwegju9r4gujor is gonna take over as leader of the Liberal Party.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/...-liberals.html

Ok, I'm a Canadian who 5 years ago got married and moved away so haven't been fully following the political scene but must ask this question.

How the hell is Bob Rae in leadership talks of anything? This is former Ontario Premier Bob Rae correct, I mean if its another Bob Rae then I don't know, but I recall the Bob Rae years. I didn't like Mike Harris but the one thing I would of said about him is he isn't Bob Rae.

Anybody catch the Daily Show last night?

Daily Show: Provinces in Peril - Indecision Oh-Eh?

Rae has shifted towards the centre politically. Still a very decent guy, though. One thing people forget about Rae is that he was premier during some tough years - not the best time for an NDP politician to make his mark; everyone is gunning for him.

Yeah, um, Harris was pretty much evil incarnate. Rae was trying to make the best of a lousy situation, sometimes less than competently. I don't see how you can prefer the former over the latter.

Actually I always thought of Rae as just a non-effective Harris.

Rae had his own idiological issues that he pushed on us like an iron fist. Hell, how long did he personally fight so Ontario couldn't shop on Sunday. Even after Rae lost this fight he went after one of the store owners that started the battle, not exactly a noble politican in my books.