Thursday, August 2, 2012

So... Who are You Voting Against?

It strikes me that more than in any election before, voters are faced with choosing the best of a bad lot.
When it comes down to it, most of us will vote against somebody rather than vote for somebody, a rather cynical act in what should be celebrated as the most important element in our democratic process.

Of those of us who will be voting PQ, Libeal or CAQ, exactly how many of us have faith in the leader we are voting for?

Do federalists really want Jean Charest back as leader if they had their druthers?
Do sovereigntists really want it to be Pauline Marois leading them towards the promised land?
And who the heck knows what exactly François Legault really is?

So for many Anglos it's hold your nose and vote Liberal or take a shot with the CAQ.
That being said, simple demographics indicate most Anglo ridings will remain Liberal, with the rest of the province a two or three way fight.

The CAQ remains of course the wild card, its twenty percent support more important than one would expect, with a disproportionate base in Quebec City and up the Gaspe peninsula.
With Quebec Solidaire ripping support from the PQ, it's anyone's game to win or lose.

I wondered how long it would take one of the politicians to tell a whopper and of course it took less than an hour after the call of the election. Here it is;


Perhaps she will next seek an endorsement from the Editor of this blog or perhaps even bring in  Howard Galganov as an adviser, in a good will attempt to prove her inclusiveness!

WOMAN!!!! HAVE YOU NO SHAME!

Now for something I didn't expect.
This from the controversial Dr. Gaétan Barrette, the head of the Quebec Specialists Association. He's decided to run as a member of the CAQ, with an eye to becoming the Health Minister.


Is somebody telling the truth, or is it just another ploy?

And so Anglos for one month every four years seem to be treated as equals.
Mr. Charest is promising a new road in Anglo western Montreal. How generous.
Not even flowers?  Boy are we a cheap date!

Looks and feels remarkably like a booty call.

I expect  Mr Barrette will be just about the only candidate addressing French/Anglo from a sympathetic view of us.
We're certainly not gong to get anything of the sort from the anglo sheep in the Liberal party.

And so it seems Anglos for one month every four years at least, are treated with a modicum of respect.

Readers I'm not going to bore you with predictions, it's anyone's game to win or lose.
The likeliest scenario is that we'll end up with a PQ or Liberal minority, but there's no guarantee the Liberals or the PQ can't pull off a miracle.

Remember one thing, Charest has a big advantage because he is so much the better campaigner than his opponents.
When it comes to blowing smoke...well he is unparalleled! 

I promise not to bore you readers with idle chitchat during this campaign, truthfully I'm already bored and impatient for it to be over.

What will be will be.

Later on, I'm going to publish a list of those candidates whom I wish to see elected, from all political parties, people who actually try to remain as ethical as possible.

One last note.
There are some backroom rumours about Pierre Paradis, the sitting Liberal from  Brome-Missisquoi and whether he'll return under the Liberal banner.

Charest and Paradis hate each other with a passion and he's been kept out of the cabinet for this reason. He'll also remain a back bencher as long as Charest rules.
He might take his seat over to the CAQ or bide his time, waiting to take over the party in the event of a Liberal election debacle.....to be continued.

Don't look at the polls, they mean nothing. The Quebec electorate is volatile and can shift positions over a few days.

If I was an organizer again, I 'd start renting buses and planning to drive every committed voter to the polling station followed by a beer or a pizza party.

Yup, getting out the committed vote is what is going to make the difference in many a riding.
There's an old rule in organizing...
"It's ten times easier to drive a committed voter to the booth, than to convince an uncommitted voter to choose your candidate"

Preach to the converted and drive them to vote. That's all it takes. Anything else is a waste of a candidate's time.


A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS

SO OUR GREAT EXPERIMENT WITH JUST ALLOWING FOLLOWERS TO COMMENT FAILED, AS MANY WERE STILL BLOCKED.

TOO BAD.

I'VE OPENED UP THE COMMENTS BACK THE WAY THEY WERE BEFORE,  EXCEPT:

NOBODY CAN POST USING THE "ANONYMOUS" SCREEN NAME. 
(For the first few days I'll send reminders.)
YOU MAY USE JUST ONE SCREEN NAME, SO PLEASE DON'T FOOL AROUND BY PROVIDING VARIATIONS. (For the first few days I'll send reminders)
(This is of particular importance to OQLF/S.R./Anon who must choose one screen name alone. And yes I know your style.. ONE NAME! that's it)

YOUR SCREEN NAME CANNOT BE THAT OF ANOTHER PERSON'S NAME, DEAD OR ALIVE, OR SOMETHING CLOSE, IT CANNOT BE AT ALL CONFUSING, OR ATTEMPT TO CONVEY A FALSE FLAG.
BE CREATIVE.

ONE LINERS AND CRACKS BETTER BE FUNNY OR INTERESTING, OR THEY WON'T BE PUBLISHED.
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PLEASE, NO TEDIOUS QUOTES FROM SEPARTIST PERSONALITIES, TAKE IT TO VIGILE.NET.

READERS ARE ALLOWED TO POST IN FRENCH AS A COURTESY, BUT REMEMBER, THIS BLOG IS ABOUT THE ENGLISH EXPERIENCE IN QUEBEC. 
IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEBATE, EVEN IF IT GOES AGAINST GENERAL OPINIONS, YOU ARE WELCOME.

IF YOU ARE COMING TO DISRUPT OUR BLOG BY TROLLING, CONSIDER OTHER AVENUES TO VENT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.

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REMEMBER.... THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE READ YOUR COMMENTS EACH DAY!


Remember readers, the theme of this piece is whether you are voting for a party or a leader, or are you voting against a party or a leader?

I'd like to hear your opinions on that question or a general critique of the three leaders, their strengths, weaknesses and suitability for premiership.

And by the way, tell the truth, if you are planning not to vote!

159 comments:

  1. I‘ll be voting Liberal, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
    The PQ is just a disgusting racist party and Francois Legault is there just to split the vote for his old friends.
    While Jean Charest dirties himself with the politics of appeasement, its pretty hard to stay clean in these Quebec sewer waters.
    No more PQunt, go away racists!

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  2. Sort of agree with James John.

    Generally in favor of Liberal electoral outlook (though not a fan of some of the back-room corruption and ineptitude). Also not a fan of their politics of nationalist appeasement at the expense of their own voter base, but it sorta makes sense when you consider the very volatile Quebec electorate in question. "Nationalist" outlook aside, it's refreshing that Charest was able to bring the Liberal party to an unabashedly pro-federalist stance, something that closet separatist and polyanna Bourassa never had the intestinal fortitude to do. I shudder at the thought of what the political landscape would look like today had we been ruled by péquistes, uninterrupted since 1994.

    Finally, decidedly against the PQ. The "progressive" legislation they like to take credit for over and over again could and would have been passed by any other center-left party in power in the same time and place. I speculate that a non-separatist and less anglophobic party in the same timeslot would have potentially done better for our economy.

    Québec Solidaire, CAQ, Option Nationale, all three are necessary vote-splitters to either help or harm the PQ and Liberals in this election.

    The more interesting question in my view is whether we're likely to have a coalition if a minority government is elected.

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    1. So if I understand you correctly, A, JJC is the best of a bad lot? I certainly don't see him, to cut and paste your words, as "unabashedly pro-federalist". In all fairness to you, however, and again cut and paste your own words, you did write of his "politics of nationalist appeasement at the expense of [his] own voter base". I find that unacceptable. If "nationalist appeasement" is required to win votes in Quebec, then I'm right that the ilk of the majority is tyrannous and pro separatist. Their attitude is "the rest of North America is English, so you don't like it, move out".

      As you well know, I did and I don't regret it one iota. In fact, I now realize Quebec is nothing but an expense to RoC...just one big, fat expense. Vote for John James "Goldilocks" Charest and choke on it!

      Personally, I hope it's a 3-way minority government that will bankrupt Quebec in short order. Minority governments ALWAYS cost money money money.

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  3. Omg I hear you on Bourassa, probably the biggest villain for me.
    If Charest wins it will be crushing for the seps, and then his appeasement will come to fruition.
    Seriously, Marois‘ hatred and opportunism knows no limits!

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    1. Agreed. I'd rather Liberal-mafia-business corruption than péquiste-union-thug-moralistic corruption. But as you seem to say, corruption is corruption and everything about politics in this province is filthy.

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    2. "Liberal-mafia-business corruption than péquiste-union-thug-moralistic"

      One and the same. Let's not forget that the FTQ has already been found guilty of helping Tony Accurso funnel $45M away from Revenu Québec.

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    3. To the three of you: Take a die into the voting area, roll it and vote according to the number you allocate to the three major parties. In terms of corruption, it doesn't matter how the die falls, Tony A et al will still be greasing palms accordingly and the result will be pretty much the same. As mentioned elsewhere, the election is deciding if you don't want a referendum, but there is an ever-so-slight chance you could have one, then one that is waiting for the ducks to line up accordingly, and finally one that is asking you to wait a decade.

      Ceteris paribus (Latin for all other things being equal), it's all about how you like your referendum cooked and then to be served to you. There's low and slow (CAQ because you'll have to wait a long time for the referendum), chef's choice (PQ, because they'll gage whether a referendum is feasible or not), rare (PLQ because they don't really want to worry about a referendum unless they absolutely have to) or flash cooked in a pan (SQ and that other separatist lunatic fringe party as a vote for them is a vote for separation). Pick your method on what you like best or dislike the least. Very simple.

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    4. OK, so you're for a mob-run and built infrastructure that within 25 years will have the same problems you're having now. If a new South Shore bridge is built, it will collapse by 2040 while the antique Victoria Bridge keeps on ticking...

      Oh...and Goldilocks will have hired another 126 tongue troopers...

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  4. An interesting article on macleans.ca about the whole situation:
    http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/08/01/what-to-make-of-charests-election-call/

    "And while this black/white, for-or-against model has been fascinating from a journalistic point of view, it has made it so that anyone wanting an end to, say, a decade of mostly unpopular leadership must also endorse the separation of Quebec from Canada, which they simply can’t bring themselves to do. So we’re stuck."

    As for me, I'm quite honestly tired of hearing about how corrupt the current government is. It seems like everyone now a days is crying about corruption simply because it's the popular thing to do. For example, if you think the Liberals are corrupt, but you support the labour unions (specifically the ones that have a large influence in the construction industry), perhaps you should look into the situation a bit more closely. When you consider the historical ties between the unions and the separatists, you've got to wonder how many of these people are just sheep who can't think for themselves.

    Even though I'm quite certain there's some questionable things done by our government, I sincerely can't imagine a government without corruption. What, do you think Pauline and her PQ are really thinking about the little Québécois first? Ha...

    So, putting all that aside, since they're all out to rob us, I'm left with this:

    I think back to the PQ rule from 1994 to 2003: an entire decade during which our education and healthcare systems were destroyed (courtesy of Ministère de l'Éducation and Ministère de la Santé Pauline Marois herself), large job-creating projects were cancelled (Jacques Parizeau cancelled the Great Whale hydroelectric project), our relationship with the rest of the country was damaged, our economy was heading downhill, and maintenance of our infrastructures was non-existant. Quite a legacy the PQ left us with...

    I'm not going to pretend that the Liberals even made a decent effort to solve all these problems. What I have seen though, are some small improvements, and investments for the future of this province. We're seeing large projects once again, new highways, new bridges, new hospitals, and our provincial roads are starting to look somewhat decent once again.
    Some of you might tell me that with bridges crumbling, they didn't have much of a choice, but hey, at least it's something. I keep thinking that maybe we wouldn't be in this position today if the previous PQ government had been more responsible.

    To me, separatist or not, a vote for the PQ means you want this province to stop moving forward. You're not going to get your separation, continuing to dedicate all our resources towards a futile goal is a waste.

    As for the CAQ, I think they killed any chances they had when they took in Rebello (notice how you don't hear about him very often anymore). Might as well get Parizeau to promote the party among ethnic voters.

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    1. As for the CAQ, I think they killed any chances they had when they took in Rebello

      Wow, you're generous.

      They killed any chances they had with me when they said "moratorium" on the referendum issue. The correct answer to get my vote is "zero".

      I keep thinking that maybe we wouldn't be in this position today if the previous PQ government had been more responsible.
      Woulda coulda shoulda. We'd be in a different position if Quebec history didn't repeat a pattern of the general public being cannibalized by the elites whose values it fanatically and unquestioningly makes its own until things get so lopsided and desperate that a new paradigm becomes not just necessary but long overdue.

      Quite a legacy the PQ left us with...
      Mark my words, we'll be saying that with the same resentment as we currently do when looking back at Duplessis in two or three generations' time. Maybe even in English.

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    2. "As for me, I'm quite honestly tired of hearing about how corrupt the current government is. It seems like everyone now a days is crying about corruption simply because it's the popular thing to do. For example, if you think the Liberals are corrupt, but you support the labour unions (specifically the ones that have a large influence in the construction industry), perhaps you should look into the situation a bit more closely. When you consider the historical ties between the unions and the separatists, you've got to wonder how many of these people are just sheep who can't think for themselves."

      --Perfectly said.

      But that's what makes politics, politics in the end. The vast majority in ANY society is idle in nature and can't be bothered to read up on history and current events to form even the simplest personal opinion.

      They rely on people such as Nadeau-Dubois and the like to do their thinking for them, which is of course why we keep getting saddled with the governments we deserve.

      If I had my way, the NDP would come into La Belle Pro and turf QS while the CAQ should sit down with the Conservative Party of Canada about establishing a fully-recognized provincial version of the party.

      But hey, that's just me.

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    3. Wrong party pretending to go in the right direction.

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  5. In my riding, per ThreeHundredEight.com, the Liberals are leading, the PQ is in close second place and the CAQ is a distant third, so definitely voting Liberal. (Federally, we’ve elected 3 different parties in the last 4 elections, so voters here are relatively volatile.)

    If you’re interested in seeing how your actual views on the issues jive with the actual positions of the different parties, CBC has rolled out their Vote Compass once again for this election. Give it a try, if you haven’t already! It only takes a few minutes and it gives you a graph that shows where you fit relative to the different parties’ positions. You might get a surprise! I thought I was voting Liberal reluctantly but it turns out I’m actually Liberal so even if the PQ weren’t anti-anglo and the CAQ weren’t chock full of pequistes, I would vote Liberal anyway.

    CBC’s Vote Compass at www.cbc.ca/quebecvotes

    And here’s a funny, very succinct voting guide for anglos:

    Fuck Yeah Quebec’s Anglo Guide to the Quebec Election 2012

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    1. Give it a try, if you haven’t already! It only takes a few minutes and it gives you a graph that shows where you fit relative to the different parties’ positions. You might get a surprise!
      I wasn't surprised. I'm in a quadrant that contains no party. The closest to me is the Liberals, but only on the outer edge of my own shaded area...

      Sounds about right.

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    2. Incidentally, Yannick, the same tool exists for Alberta:
      http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/albertavotes2012/features/votecompass.html

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  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  7. I'd like a non-liberal minority government, but I don't know who to vote for to obtain that, I might give a try with CAQ... I think a minority government would force everyone to work (more) together.

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  8. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*mmmmph*YAWN! Gee, has it been four years already? YAWN*mmmmph*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ......

    Translation: Soooo...what's new? Nothing? Quel surprise! Shockingly, this Quebec election to me sounds like it's going to have the same interest as an Ontario election...they're about as interesting as watching paint dry on a wall, but here in Ontario, I'm thankful for that.

    Maybe I'll actually get a chuckle out of it...probably several as Pawleen Mahwad so artificially claims she has "respect" for English...suuurrre she does, about as much respect as Hamas has for Israel.

    Candidate John James "Goldilocks" Charest (thanks to the anonymous contributor above who adopted his given nickname) is stumbling out of his cave in a stupor to say "hi" to the minorities before stumbling back in after Labour Day. Gee, maybe he'll come out with a few ridiculous false promises like his predecessor, Robert Bourassa, like easing up on entry laws into English schools, proportionately increase representation in the civil service to more correctly reflect the demographics, ease the strictures on sign laws, and then tell us to scan the skies for flying pigs, because pigs will fly before he keeps any "English" promises. Then he'll drag his lethargic ass back into his cave on September 5th and claim he was in a stupor when he made any promises...

    As for the other crackers vying for office? YAWN*mmmmph*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ......Let 'em work as ticket vendors for the CTCUM and telephone agents for RAMQ. [Place Bronx cheer here].

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    1. We have a party in Red, Blue, Orange or Green. The red guys are spendthrifts, then have to turn into tightwads; the blue guys are tightwads; the orange guys are superspendthrifts; and the green guys will never win.

      We had a referendum in the election before last: The choice was to maintain the status quo, i.e., the first-past-the-post style of voting where in each individual constituency, the candidate with the most votes wins and the party with the most candidates governs. The alternative was a combination of the status quo with fewer constituencies and the rest is based on proportional representation.

      Personally, I voted for the revised formula, but I was only amongst the 37% who voted that way. You should also know the referendum was held in conjunction with the election, so no duplicate costs of holding a referendum separately from an election.

      Both formulas have drawbacks: (1) Under the current system, you can have the same percentage of the popular vote, but one party wins if its votes are spread out and/or the other party has too many votes concentrated in certain regions (as was the case in Quebec in 1994). (2) Same as (1), but the party with the highest popular vote still loses because the concentration is even higher (as Charest lost this way in 1998. amd this also happened, I think, during the 1950s where the UN had fewer votes than the Liberals, but still won). (3) Where elections are based on proportional representation, there is almost never a majority government (like Italy and Israel).

      That, fellow readers and contributors, is as close to excitement as we in Ontario have had since my first vote in Ontario back in 1985.

      Yannick, when you're voting for the color of the ties the candidate wear during a campaign vis-à-vis voting for federalism (or at least no referendum) vs separatism (referendum required), don't you think elections outside Quebec pale in comparison to Quebec elections?

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    2. Isn't that what all elections are? Either you like the status quo, or you vote for change.

      Delete
  9. Did Jean Charest wrong you in a previous life? You seem to have some deep seeded and personal issues with him. Your unwillingness to see that he is better than the racist alternative is astounding.
    But then again you want to break up Canada, so of course you hate “Goldilocks“

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    1. I don't know if I'm reincarnated from a previous life, J.J. I like to think the world began with me «wink!» I never met the mouse....err...man! I think he's one of the worst hypocrites in politics, although 99.9999% of them are as well, but first he plays Captain Canada in the 1995 Referendum, runs for the doomed Progressive Conservatives, wins one of the measly two seats the PCs won in '93 and then, à la Benedict Arnold, changes teams and disses Canada like every other political patriot standing under the fleur-de-lys.

      He politically beats and batters the minorities just like racist péquistes and other anti-minority-istes as much if not more. 26 more language police enforcers to antagonize the small business owners who are most vulnerable and don't have big corporate lawyers on retention to chase the bullies away, replacing Bill 104.1 with Bill 104.2, and turning the other cheek when a child with learning challenges is denied English schooling when it's his best chance to succeed in education, yet the law provides for such cases.

      The reason Goldilocks hates Paradis is because the latter, like Thomas Mulcair (another opportunistic hypocrite), isn't afraid to put the puppet in his place. Charest surrounds himself with yes-men, yes-women and other assorted Quislings. That's exactly what his Anglophone minions are, as well as the others who get their shots in cabinet - Q-U-I-S-L-I-N-G-S!

      I only wish I could vote in this election to put a péquiste in who will further antagonize us real Canadians to the point we'll perhaps start pointing to the Atlantic Ocean ordering Quebec to jump into it and leave OUR great country alone once and for all. Let the monetarily and fiscally challenged mamaland with the tricolore take care of you. Too bad they can't!

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    2. I have to admit, I share the same vitriol towards Jean Charest, if not more so. Mr. Sauga sums it up quite well, only he forgot to add a few little nuggets...

      Charest fully supports, funded and restarted Quebec's deadly asbestos mining (Quebec is one of the ONLY regions left on planet Earth that is still killing people with this outlawed deadly substance). Charest has allowed Quebec to continue to be THE worst offender in the civilized world towards the mistreatment and abuse of animals. How about hiring animal inspectors, or toughening up laws to prevent animal cruelty in this province to match the rest of the world? Nope, couldn't give a shit. Not one tiny ounce of concern. And for that, the man is lower than scum. Perhaps the Quebecois enjoy abusing animals and much as they do minorities? Ah well, don't want to lose any votes, better keep things as-is in the Belle Province. Come on, it's not rocket science to change the laws to protect animals, but clearly he DOES NOT CARE. Bastard.

      Funny you should mention STM ticket vendors. Yesterday I went to the Lionel-Groux metro station to exchange my expiring OPUS card, but the service booth has closed 3 hours early (apparently some STM worker felt it was a good time to nap or go home early. Seriously!). So went to the regular ticket booth for assistance and addressed the agent in English. Big mistake. He blows up in a rage, yelling back at me in French and waving me away. Keep asking questions, he keeps rudely barking responses in French. At one point I failed to understand him, asking if he could PLEASE explain in English...nope, just keeps yelling at me in French. An English woman in a line behind ended up helping to translate (ridiculous, as the agent was clearly capable of speaking English I would later find!). I thanked her but mentioned this is poor customer service, and so she replies "Well, he is doing nothing wrong, he is only obligated to speak French. That is THE LAW in Quebec". I ended up walking away disgusted, at both the agent and the sheep-like attitude of English speaker in line with me. I don't know what's worse about this place, the abuser or the abuse-es's.

      I am seriously toying with the idea of voting PQ on September 4th. I rather let the separatists get back in power, the quicker Quebec is kicked out of Canada, the better! Defeatist attitude? Nope, I just think it is time to put an end to this cycle. As long as Quebec is what it is, it has absolutely no business being even remotely associated with Canada. Anymore than Iran, or China.

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    3. Harvey and Joseph: Apple IIGS's reflex reaction went one way, yours went the other. It goes to show there are two schools of thought on this, and I suppose they're both equally valid. Joseph, you share Harvey's sentiments, I share Apple IIGS. I guess it's one of those things that is split right down the middle, just like separation itself.

      In the 1980 Referendum, as Lévesque said on a 60 Minutes segment, (in the early 80s before the Safer-Richler segment in 1998), the Francophone vote was split right down the middle. The minorities resoundingly and unequivocally voted against separation, or in this case, a mandate giving the PQ the go-ahead to negotiate separation.

      In the 1995 Referendum, Francophones clearly gave the separatists their mandate. Again, the minorities saved the day for federalism, and Parasite unequivocally let everybody in the whole wide world know it. The question this second time was far, far more ambiguous than the one in 1980; nevertheless, Parasite's sour grapes came through deafeningly loud and clear, and he qualified this several weeks later at a political junket in Calgary, specifically blaming the Jews, Greeks and Italians for his lost shot at Quebec's first coronation of its new king of the new country. Parasite was a one-trick pony, the pony failed at performing his trick, and before long was usurped from the mantle of leadership. Boo-hoo, boo-hoo, boo-hoo!

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    4. Well Sauga, I‘m glad you finally see our side (which is almost the same as yours btw) is just as valid as yours. We all call the separacists what they are so theres no need to fight.

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    5. I'm just being factual. It's similar to stating that babies grow into adults, tree saplings grow large and broad and they bear fruit, the grass is green and the sky is blue. Need I go on? Too, I figured we were on exact opposite sides of the spectrum.

      Think, too, of political preferences like pouring water on a level, hard and impervious surface. The water is going to run in infinite directions, much like flood waters in flat low lying areas. That to me is how political loyalties are. Simple as that.

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  10. Editor "And so it seems Anglos for one month every for years at least, are treated with a modicum of respect."

    Not only Anglos, but also Allos.

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    1. Outside an election window, would Luc De Larochellière address us as "amis allophones, anglophones ou juste fédéralistes"? No way.

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  11. I can’t believe the spinning around the same axis we are subjected to by these damned politicians. My reaction? A repeat of a previous post because for a wound to have a chance to heal, the bandages must be cleanse at least a little:

    _____________________________________________________
    We can put all the pros and cons in the perspective columns for each of the main parties and almost all the points will look the same except for one important factor, RACISM!!

    Living here all our lives and found the political machine is designed to favor the politicians, not us. The insult is bad enough, but when you add the injury to our soul that is racism, you know there’s no way the disgusting Partie Québécois, political wing of the FLQ can ever get the vote of anyone who wants to live with some measure of humanity!!

    Of course we need a change, and the only way to get it is to dismantle the racist parties so that we can have competition between parties. The way for this to even have a chance of ever happening is another five years of Jean Charest.
    ______________________________________________________

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    1. Living here all our lives and found the political machine is designed to favor the politicians, not us. [...] Of course we need a change, and the only way to get it is to dismantle the racist parties so that we can have competition between parties. The way for this to even have a chance of ever happening is another five years of Jean Charest.

      Much agreed. I'd like for the anglo/federalist posters on this blog who think they have "options" to imagine what this province would have looked like today if the PQ had been in power since 1994...

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  12. Oh for the love of God...

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/chief+Marois+campaigns+m%C3%A9tro/7030649/story.html

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    1. Either those were all separatist sympathizers assembled for massive photo ops or many very very polite citizens.

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    2. Pourquoi elle est passée tout droit devant mon kiosque de tomates?

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    3. Peu-être elle a vu tes tomates rouges et ça lui aurait rappelé une certaine tendance vestimentaire récente qu'elle tente désespérément à nous faire oublier...

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  13. I wonder if good old Stevie will bestow 700 million upon Quebec like he did prior to the last election to help out good old Johnny Boy Charest. I was in Quebec at the time and Charest wanted to use the money for tax cuts. That didn't fly as people wanted the money spent on more programs.

    Oh I forgot, that is before , Johnny Boy and Quebec sold out the Conservative in the federal election. This, after have equalization, raised by a paltry 40% from 4.2 billion to 7.2 billion to correct the 'fiscal imbalance" as windy Flaherty conconcted.

    Whatever, will be intersting. I do believe the old broad has cooked her own goose but time will tell. Perhaps the CAQ will split the vote enough to allow Mr. Saugas dream of a PQ majority government headed towards another referendum. Oh no...not another one !!!!! :)

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    1. I published your missive because you put a lot of effort in to it.

      That being said, you must choose a screen name in the future to be published.
      "Anonymous" pots are not permitted

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    2. Anon: First of all, I agree with the Editor's policy on identifying yourself. Secondly, I'm of the school of thought to get it over with. I can see how separation will hurt Quebec far more than RoC, so let's get it on.

      Delete
  14. Dear editor, thanks for ditching the "Followers" nonsense. I couldn't bring myself to go there. Too much like the Chinese Communist Party, the Trotskyites (there are still cadres around ...) or, dare I say it ?...Quebec Solidaire.

    But, hey, I love Quebec elections. The drama...oh...the drama !! With a big dash of Juste Pour Rire in prime time, every day. It doesn't get any better.

    ReplyDelete
  15. For my part, my vote will be against Charest. I don't want anymore to hear about corruption with this guy. I'm not getting my fair share with him!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    2. So Tony's a "racist seppie" for opting out of "Team Charest?"

      Last time I checked, most of us federalists are sick of Charest too. He's impotent and unwilling to make truly controversial moves (with the exception of the student conflict, which was engineered to lead us to where we are now)...

      It's not Tony's fault we're out of viable Federalist options.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous postings are no longer permitted.

      Delete
  16. GD: R U kidding? If Goldilocks wins again, he'll only get bolder and cockier; on the other hand, it would postpone his Quebec golden parachute pension by another 4-5 years. He can start collecting the federal one next year when he's 55 [talk about FREEDOM 55!]

    I must say he does seem to like what he does having made a career of it for the last 28 years.

    What do you mean by "competition between parties"? You have that right now! You can vote for the Unlikely ever (but Maybe) a Referendum Party, the Referendum under Winning Conditions Party, the Wait Ten Years for a Referendum Party, and the lunatic fringe including the Commie and Referendum Party and another Referendum No Matter What Party and finally the environmentalists. Looks like there are lotsa choices! As far as I'm concerned, however, they're ALL the lunatic fringe. HEY...ya can't be of sane mind if in the demographic minority and vote for ANY of these guys, but as the Editor put it, be democratic and vote for who you perceive to be the best of the worst as opposed to the worst of the best...tough choice, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  17. I feel good: How a wingbat, who got his ass fired last year for being an over-the-top extreme separatist, Jocelyn Desjardins, tries his best to rally the troops:

    http://blogues.journaldemontreal.com/elections2012/mes-elections/mes-elections-jocelyn-desjardins-porte-parole-du-nmq/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tony is the same troll who was posting as The Westmounter yesterday. Hes a seppie that pulled the link off twitter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Charest is to be believed, referendums and divisiveness.
      If Duceppe is to be believed, our existential death.

      Delete
  19. i seriously have no idea who to vote for. i think at this point im just gonna scrap my ballot and see what happens.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Why do Anglophones keep getting screwed over by the government?

    Because they keep voting Liberal.

    It's like that old adage: why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free?

    So what's the solution?

    Stop.Voting.Liberal.

    If you want politicians to do what YOU want them to do, stop giving away your vote for free.

    Otherwise, you will always be collectively screwed over.

    Vote something else, or just hand in a blank ballot. If you don't think Charest is the best choice, then why are you voting for him?

    Makes me think of the girl in high school who is only able to pair up with the one guy, and is always with the same guy even though he's such a loser. She thinks she can't get any better. She doesn't realize that the reason she doesn't get anyone better is that she never makes desirable behaviour a requirement instead of just an ideal.

    If it is a requirement for you that a politician act in the best interest of Anglos, then make it a requirement.

    There are times when strategic voting is a necessity. This is not one of them.

    And I think voting for independents or smaller parties is an honourable choice that is too often overlooked. If we really believe in competitive politics, i.e. not monopolies or oligoplies, then look at who's running in your riding and see if any of the other candidates deserve your vote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The alternative is RACISM. Give your head a shake.

      Delete
    2. Has the caq displayed any racism? Or is it just assumed?

      Delete
    3. Caq has no chance at winning. I might as well vote for the Conservative Party of Quebec and enable vote splitting for the racists to win.

      Delete
    4. Ideal situation is an implosion of the PQunt

      Delete
    5. I would agree with Suzanne if we had a Proportional Representation (PR) voting system, however what we have instead is a First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) voting system, which is well-known to encourage tactical voting (in fact, it’s a necessity and Suzanne doesn’t explain why she thinks it is not this time). Tactical voting means supporting a candidate other than one’s sincere preference in order to prevent an undesirable outcome. This can be summed up as "All votes for anyone other than the second place are votes for the winner" because if you don’t vote for one of the top two candidates most likely to win in your riding, your vote will be a wasted vote and have no impact whatsoever on the outcome. This is why I have never understood what people who spoil their ballots think they are accomplishing.

      Thus, if you’re mad at Charest for taking anglos for granted, you’re helping Marois to get in and screw anglos even more. One may as well just vote for Marois directly rather than indirectly; it has exactly the same effect. If you like Green Party’s environmental policies or if you’re interested in QS but don’t live in one of the two ridings where they have a chance of winning, your vote is completely wasted. Personally, I wish we had PR instead of FPTP so that everyone’s vote would count (i.e. one could vote honourably for smaller parties and they all would have their number of seats proportional to the votes received), but we don’t.

      These videos explain the different voting systems in a quick and humourous way:
      The Problems with First Past the Post Voting Explained
      The Alternative Vote Explained
      Mixed-Member Proportional Representation Explained

      That guy makes a whole bunch of explanatory videos about all sorts of totally different topics that are really interesting and worth watching. I highly recommend watching them!

      Delete
    6. "Has the caq displayed any racism? Or is it just assumed?"

      In most cases it's just assumed. It can only be assumed these days from behavior. No politician will ever spell it out. We do live, after all, in an age of PR, where every major politician's word is carefully per-determined by teams of PR "experts".

      Many people claim the PQ and its offshoots to be racist. Racism is a loaded word, and people have their own criteria in qualifying someone as racist. I never use this word in relation to QC politics. I use franco-supremacism, and whether that is racism or not is up to everyone to decide.

      It is more interesting to observe how QC franco-supremacism is justified, usually as "normalite mondiale", a type of "normality" of the world in which (allegedly) every "majority" always asserts some sort of "supremacy" or "dominance", or what not, and enacts laws to assure its preeminence. This may be true to a certain extent, although the levels of coercion do vary, and even if they didn't, is something justified just because something is reproduced in some other regions in varying degrees? Is harassing a store owner in NDG justified by the fact that Latvia or Ukraine also enacted a version of a language law?

      I see QC franco-supremacism (or any supremacism for that matter) differently (i.e. I don't buy the official creed). To me, it is primarily an expression of vanity and hubris of the local population, not the other way around, namely some sort of a natural occurrence that (naturally) produces entitlement and normalizes absurdity and even abuse.

      Delete
    7. I use franco-supremacism, and whether that is racism or not is up to everyone to decide.

      It is more interesting to observe how QC franco-supremacism is justified, usually as "normalite mondiale", a type of "normality" of the world in which (allegedly) every "majority" always asserts some sort of "supremacy" or "dominance", or what not, and enacts laws to assure its preeminence. This may be true to a certain extent, although the levels of coercion do vary, and even if they didn't, is something justified just because something is reproduced in some other regions in varying degrees? Is harassing a store owner in NDG justified by the fact that Latvia or Ukraine also enacted a version of a language law?


      Replace "franco-" with "White" and tell me whether it's really up to individuals to decide whether that constitutes racism.

      Seen the opposite perspective and taking it up one more notch, Canadian anglophones would be justified in demanding some pan-Canadian law (a Federal one to top it all off!) that not only renders our French Language Charter completely inoperative but also codifies anglo Canadian social, economic, and cultural dominance.

      To me, it is primarily an expression of vanity and hubris of the local population, not the other way around, namely some sort of a natural occurrence that (naturally) produces entitlement and normalizes absurdity and even abuse.
      Not sure I follow you. Does that suggest that Jim Crow laws were merely an expression of vanity and hubris on the part of Southern Whites?

      Delete
    8. "Does that suggest that Jim Crow laws were merely an expression of vanity and hubris on the part of Southern Whites?"

      Absolutely. Generations of people who were raised to think that they're better on account of their skin, and entitled to "protections" that the Jim Crow laws offered.


      "So what's the solution? Stop.Voting.Liberal."

      Suzanne, do you think we like voting Liberal? Of all the people who cast their vote for Charest's party, how many do you think are his admirers, and how many do it with gritted teeth? If we are to stop.voting.liberal, what do you suggest the alternative is? Please share, and I'll try not to laugh.

      Delete
    9. Of course you‘d encourage a vote split so you can spend the next four years bending yourself into a pretzel making excuses for racist PQunt policies.

      Delete
    10. The CAQ has conspicuously just removed all of the English pages from their website.

      Delete
    11. *sigh* easy to call for a vote split when you don‘t have to live with the consequences. The PQ is a way bigger problem then the PLQ.

      Delete
  21. Hey Editor,

    Great blog by the way. It's very insightful and it shows you've done your research. It also shows by the dumb comments, usually by the anti-english block, that they can't twist the facts. Even moreseo it shows how if you put yourself out their to point out their bigotry how they can swarm and attack you. Good job at continuing to dig away to keep bringing out the truth.

    What happened to vacation by the way??

    ReplyDelete
  22. La communauté anglo semble avoir de moins en moins de pouvoir poltique.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ils doivent donc s'en remettre a la bonne volontee (inexistante) de la majorite, helas!

      Delete
    2. Un peu comme la minorité francophone du Nouveau-Brunswick.En passant avez vous toujours le droit de parler français dans les endroits publiques?Les anglos ne vous font pas les gros yeux lorsque vous discutez entre vous dans cette langue bizarre qu'est le français?

      Delete
    3. Its obvious that the average anglo doesn‘t have the same low opinion of french that you have, Sebastien.

      Delete
    4. "J'ai eu besoin de me faire faire des points de souture à l'hôpital George-Dumond cet été..."

      Tu as rencontré un certain Galganov ?

      Delete
    5. avez vous toujours le droit de parler français dans les endroits publiques?Les anglos ne vous font pas les gros yeux lorsque vous discutez entre vous dans cette langue bizarre qu'est le français?

      Est-ce que S.R. n'est pas un vrai séparatiste, mais quelqu'un qui se moque des caricatures des séparatistes?? Difficile a croire que personne n'est tellement naive que ça.

      On a le droit de parler français dans les rues et cafés a Toronto et a Vancouver; tout le monde le sait. Pourquoi Moncton?

      Moi, je n'ai jamais rencontré quelqu'un qui a fait les gros yeux a entendre le français en haut voix… la majorité sont en fait bien heureux entendre la langue française. Je le sais très bien personnellement.

      Delete
    6. Les S.R. de ce monde doivent croire que les anglophones de l'extérieur leur sont hostile pour pouvoir se donner raison de se séparer.
      ça se comprend facilement lorsqu'on constate que la stratégie populiste du Parti Québécois consiste à repérer et ensuite à taper sur tous les points de chicane possibles avec Ottawa pour pouvoir dire aux Québécois "vous voyez! Ils sont contre nous!"

      Encore un autre exemple du fruit (très complexé) de 40 ans de conditionnement péquiste.

      Delete
  23. I keep thinking that it is time for us Anglos to find a charismatic community leader, someone with a head on his or her shoulders, and form an Anglo (more precisely a non Francophone) political party. This new party can’t be the one trick pony that was the Equality party – made up of old guard Anglo wasp malcontents but the new party should have clear policies on issues that matter to our community. With the division of the vote in Francophone Quebec maybe one day we may hold the balance of power. One thing for sure, this new party will certainly have the attention of the Quebec Liberal party amd I believe they will be more motivated to keep the Anglo community happy – just in case their political party is required to support a Liberal minority government.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just my two cents. This party would benefit from including Allos as well - there are more than enough immigrants that have nothing but contempt for what PQ stands for but also feel screwed over by the Liberals.

      Delete
    2. Agreed, I should have mentioned Allo's.

      Delete
    3. I would vote for that party!!

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  24. How can you vote for any of these people? I Plan to vote for the Green Party because all of the others are just feeding us the stuff that is used to help make your garden Green.... :-)

    Mr. Charest has always taken the English vote for granted and now he is quickly WARNING the English community that if we don't vote for him that there will be another referendum!!

    How dare you Mr. Charest! Either the English community matters or not and it has been very clear over the last decade that we don't matter to you and your party.

    Mr. Charest has done such a great job of ignoring the English community that he has even convinced the "English MNA's" that he has to not talk or make any peep that shows support for the English community.

    I have spent the last Decade trying to get Mr. Charest and his party to understand the value of the English School system in Quebec and I have been stopped at every turn. I wrote to Mr. Charest, attended the public talks to make the point on our school system, met with Education ministers and their attachees, wrote to our English ministers to get them to move.... all of this and all I got was a polite nod...

    So if Mr. Charest can answer the question in my blog

    http://moecitizen.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-is-difference-between-english.html

    He will get my vote. Otherwise it is the Green Party for me. Don't kid yourself folks, NOBODY in power in Quebec cares about the English community. We are EXPENDABLE.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sad but true, that is why it is time to form a separate political party.

      Delete
    2. I agree that Anglophones and Allophones should launch a party that defends their interests. They could call it the "Bloc Canadian."

      Delete
  25. If the numbers showed a clear leader in the election I would simply spoil the ballot. None of these clowns should be given a seat in the assembly. But, being that it is a tight race at this point I would rather have the do nothing about Anglos Lieberals. At least we know they have no real plan to finally end the debate on language. Many I speak with actually think that Charest is a closet supporter of separation. That the only reason the man claims to be a fed supporter is simple MONEY. the rest of Canada is paying for Quebec and Charest knows this. He is not going to bite the hand feeding him.

    If the gap between the leaders increase and show a Liberal win, then I will spoil the ballot but, if it goes the other way or is tied I will hold my nose and vote for the Libs. Charest is a hack he can't or could not make it on the federal stage but, is able to here because he knows it's the only place he can make a buck doing politics. No one else wants him around. So gang we are stuck with him until someone serous takes the over.

    Cliff T.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Now here's something I don't agree with - not allowing the other leaders to appear at the televised debates. I despise Amir Khadir and have just as little love for Jean-Martin Aussant, but I want them on TV.

    No, not because of some democratic need for free speech...but to let them shoot themselves in the foot live on TV. As much as I don't care for Charest, we all have to admit he always remains poised in debates and when he's surrounded by a gang of buffoons, it really won't be difficult for him to come away looking better than the rest.

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Three+debate+angers+underdogs/7033236/story.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Radio-Canada will be including Quebec Solidaire in the debate.

      Delete
    2. I have to wonder whether the QS podium will actually be specially constructed so it is wide enough to accommodate both Françoise David and Amir Khadir and whether they will be required to finish each other's sentences during the debate...

      Delete
    3. Ou peut-être qu'ils vont parler en même temps comme les Denis Drolet...

      Delete
    4. Ou encore en costume loufoque les permettant de se présenter en jumeaux siamois. ;-)

      Delete
    5. Peut-être un costume de Dupont et Dupond.

      Et comment ça Amir pourrait dire : "Nous allons augmenter le salaire minimum". Et Françoise pourrait ajouter :"Je dirais même plus, nous allons augmenter le salaire minimum."

      Delete
    6. Est-ce que dire "se gourrer" est courant en français acadien? Il me semble qu'on dirait "se tromper" en français québécois...

      Delete
    7. ou encore (plus familièrement) "se planter"

      Delete
    8. Eh bien! Je me coucherai moins bête ce soir... quoique d'après le Wiktionnaire, "se gourrer" est vieilli/désuet/archaïque tandis que "se gourer" est courant/familier... étrange!

      Delete
  27. L'agent officiel de la CAQ démissionne

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/03/01-4562001-lagent-officiel-de-la-caq-demissionne.php

    Ça commence bien...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Next week a former journalist will launch a book entitled "Le mirage François Legaul". It seems that guy will be in trouble.

      Delete
  28. I am an anglophone and have absolutely no intention on voting liberal. I am very interested to hear what Quebec Solidaire has on their agenda. I was very happy to hear that Radio Canada will be including them in the debates. We are entitled to hear all of our options.

    Charest is using a scare tactic right now because he is desperate. But his little tactic won't work for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vote for anyone you want, so long as it's not Jean Charest. Re-electing him is like giving a hug and kiss to the person that just beat you up and mugged you in hope that they'll be your friend.

      If you guys re-elect him, you deserve what you get!

      Delete
    2. And voting for the Parti Quebecois is like getting raped and then having someone piss and shit on your face.

      Delete
    3. And voting for the Liberals is like getting raped, having someone piss and shit on your face, WHILE THEY PAT YOU ON THE HEAD AND SAY THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOU.

      Delete
    4. And with the PQ, six months later you find out you have AIDS!

      Delete
    5. @Quackbecois... I so agree. hahaha

      With regards to the PQ, at least they have openly declared that they will acknowledge the anglophone community in Quebec, and include them within a sovereign one:

      "3.6 Relations avec la communauté anglophone

      La communauté anglophone, installée ici depuis des siècles, a fortement contribué au développement économique, social et culturel du Québec. Sa présence et sa force contribuent à l’enrichissement national et le Québec a tout intérêt à favoriser la vitalité de cette communauté.

      Un gouvernement souverainiste :

      a) Réaffirmera la garantie de la préservation des droits linguistiques de la communauté anglophone;
      b) Assurera le maintien du patrimoine institutionnel de la communauté anglophone."

      Delete
    6. Lisa-Marie: Surely you understand that by this, the PQ means that Quebec’s anglophone community will be permitted to stagnate until they hopefully they die out. You don’t actually think they want us to thrive, do you? This is another promise made during the electoral window that will blow away with the wind the day after the election. What in the world do you think the PQ has ever done to "foster the vitality" of the anglophone community, ever? Seriously??

      Delete
    7. I am an anglophone and have absolutely no intention on voting liberal. I am very interested to hear what Quebec Solidaire has on their agenda.

      You can't [expletive] be serious.

      Delete
    8. Don‘t be shocked. If you go on twitter you‘ll find anglos who think like this do exist. They hold those nuanced and a apologist positions on the PQunt, some even say believing in Canada as a country is the same as being an ethnocentric Quebec nationalist. I even had one send me a link from Mario Beaulieu to show that anglo schools are funded more than french ones. I believe they think their nuanced position makes them seem complex and open minded, but I also suspect they will throw all decency under the bus to promote their leftist ideas. Yes, they are ALL leftists.

      Delete
    9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  29. I plan on voting for the parti conservateur du Kweebec ... at least I'll be able to sleep at night... if the worst should come to pass and the Nationalist/Separatists/Racists KKK wannabes get elected , it may spark the Anglo/Allos to start a new party or move out leaving the Pure laines to their economic. cultural misery.... "l'argent et la vote ethnique" remember that when your voting PQ, CAQ.. they all support that.. "Multiculturalism is bad for Quebec" ..... Francois Legault

    ReplyDelete
  30. More contempt towards anglophones from La Marois…

    Of course, commenters in French are all “Let them learn French!” and “Why have English debates in Quebec?” and “C’est la loi ! C’est en français que ça passe!". And the English press is all “Bilingualism is good everywhere except in Quebec” and “French-only is bad for Quebec”.

    Marois is embarrassed about her poor English so it seems like it was a smart move on Charest’s part. Legault was fine with the idea if the other two were.

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/quebecvotes2012/story/2012/08/03/pauline-marois-english-debate.html

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/a9cois+leader+Pauline+Marois+says+English+language+election+debate/7036673/story.html

    http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/08/03/pauline-marois-makes-clear-that-bilingualism-only-applies-outside-quebec/

    http://www.journaldequebec.com/2012/08/03/marois-ne-veut-pas-debattre-en-anglais

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. adski: I had corrected my post before you replied to the one I deleted. I don't know how that's possible but could you copy/paste it here and delete your original comment so that the Editor could tidy up/delete the deleted comments?

      Delete
    2. Oh well... never mind, Yannick replied to my deleted comment too. I wish the Editor had decided to use the Disqus commenting add-on so we could have avoided these awkward situations.

      Delete
    3. Gah! It happened again!! LOL... I'll copy/paste adski here:

      adskiFriday, August 3, 2012 8:41:00 PM EDT
      Sorry, where does she state that "bilingualism only applies outside QC"? Did she make this exact statement?

      Where the guy writes "Yet those same conditions apply to Canada’s other nine provinces when it comes to French, yet every federal election must include a French-only debate, no matter how bad a candidate’s French may be.", he's right about the federal election, but are the provincial election debates in both languages in ON, BC, AB? Or in English only?

      My reply: I never stated that she said that. I was referring to the NatPost article that stated that. I don't know which "guy" you are referring to but no, I'm sure provincial election debates in B.C. and Alberta aren't bilingual. Unlike those places, Quebec has had an English community since 1760. I think people are confused about what the OLA is all about. In any event, I'm pretty sure this was just a tactic to make her look bad if she were to become premier and have to deal with premiers and governors outside Quebec.

      Delete
    4. Duchesneau is a game changer. He takes the purer than thou corruption weapon away from the PQunt. Not to mention the Clown Racist Duceppe throwing a tantrum about Khadir, maybe there will be another seppie destroying wave.

      Delete
    5. It's a very wise political tactic by Charest. Win-win situation for him. Either he does the debate with Marois and Legault and comes out as the clear cut winner or Marois refuses it and she get trashed by the media, the anglo community and the federalists. It's also a good situation for Legault who can hide his lack of English skills behind Marois' refusal.

      For Marois, it's completly a loss-loss situation. She would have most likely struggled in the English debate. This would have gotten all over Youtube and people would have laugh of her performance for days, weeks and maybe even months. Refusing the debate was the best thing to do in the circumstances. The media talks about it for less than 24 hours and then we move on. Pauline would probably call it "the less bad solution".

      However, a debate in English and Marois' poor English are two different issues.

      As a Montrealer, I'm expected to speak English and French to perform simple tasks like selling soft drinks or making burgers. So it's quite obvious that a potential head of government should be at least bilingual, since she will have to negotiate with other politicians from everywhere in the world.

      As for the English debate! Was it an issue before today? I don't think it's a necessity. Like it was mentioned previously, other provinces don't hold french debate. Ontario had one during the last election but it didn't involve any of the three main political leaders. http://www.lapresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/ville-dottawa/201109/07/01-4432430-un-premier-debat-provincial-en-francais.php I'm pretty sure that we could hold a similar debate in Quebec, but would anyone watch it? Without Marois, Legault and Charest? I doubt it...

      I've never felt that there was a demand for an English debate in a provincial election in Quebec. Anyway, I'm sure most viewers would watch it just to mock Pauline's English.

      *If I'm wrong and there is, in fact, a "huge" demand, then I believe that the Franco-Ontarian and the Franco-Manitoban should be allowed aswell to watch a debate in French, involving the party leaders, during their provincial elections.

      Delete
    6. The best part is that those who are most critical of Pauline Antoinette‘s poor english skills are francophones. Stéphane Gendron posted on his facebook that she is “socially handicapped.“

      Delete
    7. Pauline Marois' english skills are a problem. Anyone has the right to point out this issue. However, if you are not bilingual yourself, you are not in the best position to criticize her(whether you are an anglo or a franco).

      Delete
    8. Pauline Marois is not even qualified to work as a cashier in a Montreal area restaurant or store yet she wants to make Quebec a country? Hahaha.

      Delete
    9. And yet she's in quite an enviable financial situation herself. I don't know whether I despise her or wish I could spontaneously forget one language and achieve her level of wealth paid for by taxpayers.

      Delete
    10. Madame Marois millionnaire sans savoir aligner 6 mots d'anglais?Mais quelle honte!

      Delete
    11. Is the bilingual Montreal area restaurant cashier qualified to hold the numerous jobs Ms Marois held?

      François Legault too made a million with minimalist english skills.

      Delete
    12. Is an english debate about knowing what the candidates thinks or about evaluating their english skills?

      If you want to evaluate Ms Marois's english skills, well, we already know. Having her struggle to tell her mind with a minimalist lexicon and syntax structures that are completely unnatural to her will help no one understanding her thinking.

      If you want to understand her thinking, you should have her speaking french and have simultaneous translation. You might say that listening to simultaneous translation is tiring, strenuous and unnatural. Which leads me back to a previous discussion about Supreme Court judges not having to be bilingual because of simultaneous translation (a Tony Kondak's argument). Yes, simultaneous translation isn't the real thing.

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    13. Totalement inacceptable dans une société moderne!

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    14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    15. Et depuis quand les anglos en sont une?

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    16. Madame Marois millionnaire sans savoir aligner 6 mots d'anglais?Mais quelle honte!

      Effectivement. Comment va-t-elle faire lorsqu'il sera question de négocier des accords bilatéraux avec d'autres provinces et pays environnant-e-s? Lui faudra-t-il un traducteur ou rendu là sera-t-elle spontanément en mesure de bien s'exprimer?

      Delete
    17. Je crois que les accords bilatéraux sont généralement négociés par une légion de hauts fonctionnaires. Lorsque les dirigeants se rencontrent, tout est déjà pas mal réglé.

      Quand elle discutera avec un unilingue anglophone, j'imagine que son interlocuteur va s'exprimer en anglais et qu'elle écoutera sans interprète, et elle s'exprimera peut-être en français avec un interprète pour traduira en anglais.

      Mon Dieu, mais j'y pense, comment faisait le pauvre Sarkosy, qui parle anglais comme un aphasique, pour discuter avec les dirigeants étrangers?

      Delete
    18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    19. Mon Dieu, mais j'y pense, comment faisait le pauvre Sarkosy, qui parle anglais comme un aphasique, pour discuter avec les dirigeants étrangers?

      Lui aussi faisait pitié à cet égard.

      Delete
  31. Le Parti Québécois fera beaucoup plus pour nos anglos que le PLQ.Pas difficile à battre,n'est-ce-pas?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Entièrement d'accord. C'est le PQ qui leur refera une loi 101 encore plus draconienne ayant comme but officiel de les faire une vasectomie collective encore plus intense. Charest n'avait pas les couilles pour faire ça.

      En passant, es-tu vraiment Sébastien Ricard?

      Delete
    2. Non je ne suis pas Sébastien Ricard et libérez-nous de ces ragots.

      Delete
  32. To those who say Charest is corrupt, why just him. Corruption has been the lifestyle in Quebec since day one. I hark (love that word) back to the fifties when I started driving. Everyone knew you could usually buy your way out of a traffic ticket. If it was a French cop you knew it was safe to hand him your wallet with a five dollar bill sticking out. When he gave it back you were told to move on and the bill was gone. With English cops we were afraid to take a chance. He might take the five and give you the ticket anyway to teach you a lesson. Mostly they would ask "Are you trying to bribe me?" The construction industry in those days was led by international companies like Dominion Engineering or Beaver construction for houses. They gave a price and that was that. When Rene Levesque gave the Unions free passage to get their votes, they collaborated with the firms and the sky was the limit from then on. Charest is not responsible for the corruption , it's the Quebec way.

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  33. Editor, I know you don't want anonymous posts but I don't understand what the hell your system wants. Thhree times I tries to post under my name Ed brown it tell me my name has illegal characters. Tell me what you want, I'll do it but don't tell me use google it makes my posts disappear.
    Ed Brown edbrown@bell.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Certains Anonymous passeraient dans les mailles du filet de la censure de l'Editor?

      Delete
    2. S.R.,

      The Anonymous Saturday, August 4, 2012 1:47:00 AM EDT did sign his name, so he is not Anonymous.

      Delete
  34. Sweet!

    http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/08/03/lisee-sengage-pour-contrer-le-cynisme-des-liberaux

    Jean-François Lisée just made his jump official and I couldn't be happier. See, with candidates such as Lisée and Drainville, half the battle against the PQ is being fought from the inside.

    Drainville has some kind of congenital mental defect that prevents him from thinking about what he's going to say before speaking.

    In Lisée we have an arrogant, self-indulgent narcissist who is almost sure to alienate the average voter. Hell, right off the bat, he contradicted the PQ's party line on education costs (and even goes so far as to say he hopes to convert other members of the party to his line of thinking).

    So I'd like to say thank you Matante Popo...you're making things very easy...

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh, and I just noticed that the gap between the PQ and the PLQ is shrinking: http://www.threehundredeight.com/

    Guess Marois is just no resonating with the electorate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisee is an incredibly sick and twisted individual. Pretty much a Pierre Curzi in soft focus.

      Delete
  36. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  37. Enfin!De plus en plus d'amis anglophones se tournent vers le Parti Québécois et Québec solidaire.
    Merci John James Charessst de départager les honnêtes citoyens des tordus.Francophones et anglophones contre Charest,une première dans l'histoire du Québec.

    Vive les médias sociaux!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MDR ces mêmes médias sociaux dont le Parti Q doit payer à des tierces parties pour renflouer sa propre cote de popularité?

      Delete
    2. Peut-être sur FB mais impossible sur twitter

      Delete
    3. Bof à voir les tweets sur #ggi et #manifencours on croirait que l'écrasante majorité des Québécois soutiennent les carrés rouges alors qu'on sait que ce n'est pas du tout le cas.

      Vous jouez fort dans le biais de confirmation, vous autres...

      Delete
    4. Have you seen the stream of self loathing anglos? Incredible.

      Delete
  38. Hypocrisy 101 -- Will this video, released today by the Prince Arthur Herald succeed in showing the electorate what an immature, socially inept candidate they have in Leo Breau-Blouin:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwBqslhyZpc&feature=plcp

    How I would love to see opponents of the Parti Québécois interrupting their gatherings and depriving them the right to democratic assembly.

    If anyone on this thread was even remotely entertaining the idea of going PQ, no matter how disgusted you might be with the PLQ, just remember this...at least they don't behave like a bunch of monkeys.

    I for one simply can't live with the idea that a bunch of glorified street goons could be named head of state.

    Can't wait to hear what kind of rhetoric we'll see from Doug Nutt and S.R. to justify this shit.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "...dynamisme comparativement à la jeunesse Québécoise."

      The separatists have their own dynamic version of the Hitler Youth. They're called the "Jeunes Patriotes du Quebec."

      To the Editor:
      I thought we were only allowed to post with one name? OQLF, Doug Nutt and S.R are all the same jerk.

      Delete
    2. Seul un "jerk" peut si bien en identifier un autre.

      Delete
  40. I am sorry for my hurtful comments, I will now communicate in English to appease you all. I think English is a beautiful language and helps me to be more open and in tune with the rest of the world.

    Thank you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No worries little man.

      Delete
    2. Great effort, but why the sudden change of heart? And why call it appeasement if you think it's something that will ultimately help you?

      Seems a little incongruous at first glance but I'm sure you'll be able to explain it.

      Delete
    3. Certains ne trouvent rien de mieux que le vol d'identité afin d'assouvir leurs fantasmes les plus fous.

      Delete
    4. Fiou. Je commençais à avoir peur.
      Welcome back, Seppie.

      Delete
    5. I knew the comment from S.R at 5:41 PM was bogus immediately upon reading it.

      Delete
  41. Here's an interesting article and commentary from federalist francophones:

    http://blogues.journaldemontreal.com/marcotte/elections-2012/la-beaute-du-parti-quebecois/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some fun sites and pics for you:

      Démission de Pauline Marois Facebook group

      Marois has LBB well-trained (“Sit, Lie down, Gimme your paw!”)

      La Grande Dégauchisseuse Facebook group (strange… in other jurisdictions, I would be considered a leftie)

      Pauline Jamais

      Les faits sur le PQ et Pauline Marois, sa mauvaise gestion, sa corruption ainsi que ses gestes qui doivent être connus

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    2. Also, this guy is all about promoting respect for both francos and anglos in Quebec. Feel free to subscribe to his page if you wish.

      https://www.facebook.com/steve.theberge.9

      Delete
    3. Pas besoin de tous ces liens le félidé,nous connaissons bien notre petite droite peureuse et désespérée.

      Delete
    4. Did you guys know that both Marois and Legault received premiums of $128,000 in “transition allowance” for having quit their mandates in mid-term… and yet both are still there! The ever-generous millionaire Marois has informed us that she will renounce her second bonus of $128,000 for leaving the PQ once she leaves politics for good. Since she wishes to end this practice, Charest invited her to reimburse her initial bonus. He says she has a tendency to “do as I say, not as I do”. I wonder what she will do.

      http://tvanouvelles.ca/lcn/infos/national/archives/2012/07/20120726-074630.html

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    5. Have you heard the PQ's lovely new electoral theme song?

      http://youtu.be/t-fbzzlZ2gY

      http://levraigabroy.com/la-toune-theme-de-la-campagne-du-pq-jai-vomi-dans-ma-bouche-toi/

      Delete
  42. Je tiens à remercier au nom de Madame Marois et de notre Parti,tous les bons anglos qui se joingnent actuellement et se joingneront dans les prochains jours,nos troupes lors de cette campagne électorale.Pour ce qui est des autres,ils sera toujours temps de sauver votre âme jusqu'à la veille du scrutin.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Toni Truand is the same guy who posts as S.R, Doug Nutt and OQLF.

    ReplyDelete