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Labrador By-Election
March 14, 2013 - 9:44pm
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http://www.theaurora.ca/News/2012-12-17/article-3141825/NDP-Atlantic-Cau...
Previous Election Results
Year / NDP / N-cg / Cons / C-cg / Libs / L-cg
2011 / 20% / +2% / 40% / +32% / 39% / -31%
2008 / 18% / +9% / 8% / -32% / 70% / +19%
2006 / 9% / 40% / 51%
Here's a review of the riding.
http://www.punditsguide.ca/2013/03/second-labrador-by-election-in-eight-...
It's an interesting analysis, but fails to raise the question of whether a "cheater" (as mentioned in the article) can be re-elected in that riding. Maybe Conservatives in Labrador are embarrassed by Penashue, who knows.
I'd rather be voting for someone who wants to represent me, and the others in my riding, rather than someone who is there primarily to ensure collection of their gold-plated pension.
Reaction Flowing after Penashue Resigns
The article suggests there maybe a few liberals interested in the seat as well as the NDP.
I'm with Cleary on this and glad to hear the the NDP will be agressively seeking NDP representation here. Noted in the article that no Liberal who expressed interest in the seat mentioned "why" they want to run or what it should mean. It was about their interest rather than representing the interests of the riding.
I heard the Lib on CBC As it Happens last night. The interviewer asked him directly four times if he was running, and he kept saying about how he was thinking about and wanting to do the best thing in the interests of the people of his riding; it was the Lib who ran the last time. Man, did he ever sound like a same-old-same-old, LPC politician. I hope Cleary goes after him and uses this. I thought to myself how insulting it was he wouldn't admit it. This is after he had slagged the Tory for not be honest and forth right. Things never change. What a clown that guy is.
The former Liberal MP for Labrador Todd Russell only needs to be an MP for another 22 days and he qualifies for a lifelong pension. He probably wants to run in the byelection just to get in his 22 days so he can then goof off for the rest of his term.
Already the former NL Liberal leader Yvonne Jones says she wants the federal Liberal nomination in Labrador...its worth noting that right now the NL Libs have 6 seats and the NDP has 5...if the she runs federally, she has to quit provincially and if the NDP (now riding very high at 39% across NL) were to win the byelection in her provincial seat, the NDP would instantly become official opposition in St. John's!!
Nice an NDP supporter attacking pensions for politicians. I don't know the man well enough to know how crass he is and whether that would be his primary motivation but I find the line of attack to be very Reform minded. What about his policies are they important or only the fact that he'll get a pension? Damn those politicians and their gold plated pensions hardly seems like a progressive stance or argument against a persons candidacy it just sounds to me like more right wing talking points.
Of course he has nothing to offer the Inuit of Labador as an MP. After all what would he know anyways about the riding and its people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Russell
How many people get a LIFE LONG pension just for doing their job for just six years? I just think that voters in Labrador should know that if Todd Russell serves for just 22 more days, he will instantly hit the jackpot and if he lives to the national average of about 82 for a man he will cost the taxpayers several million dollars. He could even sit in the house for 22 days and then resign and cause yet another byelection and there will be no way to get back the money from him.
The NDP used this issue quite effectively in 2011 in the Quebec riding of Portneuf-Jacques Cartier. The incumbent was that horri ble rightwing crackpot Independent MP Andre Arthur who was first elected in 2006. He had not uttered one single word in parliament and was doing NOTHING as an MP and his NDP opponent made an issue of the fact that he was a total do-nothing MP but was only running again in 2011 so he could qualify for his life long pension. He lost. She won!
Conservative MP Penashue had to resign - I don't recall Liberal MP Todd Russell ever had to resign. It's no surprise that an NDP supporter wants to throw mud at Todd Russell. He's been critical of the Muskrat Falls development, by the way - one reason progressives should embrace him.
Let's see what the Liberal Party position is on various developments - last i hear Justin is 100% pro-oil sands and pro-Keystone.
I don't know if Russell was a good MP or a lazy one...if he was any good, how did he manage to lose to Penashue in the first place? Its worth noting though that he only needs 22 measly days to get his pension. Maybe that is what he should base his campaign on "I just need 22 more days as an MP and i get a pension for the rest of my life. Please HELP ME!"
I think you sound like this man in your comments. I never voted for his party and you are making your party just as attractive with your right wing talking points directed against an MP of Inuit descent.
Stockholm's out to lunch. I compared Todd Russell to Penashue, and all of a sudden I've embraced Justin Trudeau.
Stock - get a fucking clue!
I think its a leftwing talking point to show how Senators and MPs and other very highly paid elites are like pigs at the trough with their multiple six digit salaries and pensions - while the same people keep voting to cut pensions, EI and benefits for everyone else.
I don't have an issue with anyone running for Office. I just wish they would be honest about their intentions and willing to acknowledge the benefits they get. As for pensions for MPs, I don't have an issue with that either. But I wish they'd stop complaining about people using EI or wanting better CPP on retirement. I simply think that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I heard his CBC interview yesterday. I don't care how great he is, he offended the hell out of me simply because I KNEW he was going to run again. he should have just admitted it. I am tired of this kind of nonsense for these people, and that includes NDP MPs. It doesn't matter party, just be transparent for once, for crying out loud!
Very highly paid elite. I guess as soon as you join the Liberal party and run as a candidate you become part of that elite or are you complaining about his salary as a Inuit official?
Right wing talking points being presented by NDP supporters is still just right wing shit. Go ahead do the Fraser Institutes job for them by framing the issues in that manner, I know they love it.
There's two NDP sycophants on this board who constant refrain is "NDP right, everyone else wrong". Can you guess who they are?
A stopped clock is right twice a day, and if you don't think there is much public anger over what politicians make, then I think you need to get out a bit more. I think the situation is actually the reverse, in that people are legitimately angry with the benefits that politicians receive, and it was the right-wingers who capitalized on this legitimate anger for political benefits. It's that old populist dynamic, the powerful interests versus the ordinary people that is doing it, the same thing that used to work for the NDP, only the NDP defined powerful interests differently.
That said, if the people of Labrador choose to re-elect this MP knowing what Stockholm pointed out, then that is their decision to make.
Not at all. If he gets a good salary as an Inuit official I'm happy for him. maybe he should go on collecting that good salary rather than trying to go back to parliament just so he can work for 22 more days and then get his lifelong pension.
He currently has a good job as the elected President of the Nunatukavut but you KNOW for sure what he intends to do. Your bias are on full display one more time. Being an MP is maybe a better job but does he have to resign his present position? Since you know I guess you must have factored that into your opinion. So what happens if he chooses to run and loses does he get his elected position in Nunatukavut back or is this an all or nothing gamble? His term as President does not end until 2016 and maybe just maybe he might be actually weighing his options.
However if he does run in the by election I am sure his political opponents will decry him for quitting his elected position after only one year in office. No I guess you are right there is nothing for him to consider he is just lying when he says he is still making a decision.
http://www.nunatukavut.ca/home/presidents_biography.htm
Yeah, OK, so we are going to fight about this huh? Look, all I said was I heard him yesterday. All he had to do was deny it. He's thinking about it, and I say he's running. If you don't like how I chose to hear what he said with my own tow ears, that is fine, and I really have no issue at all with that. But, the bottom line is that is my opinion based on what I heard, K. I have been around the horn as have many of us, and I am pretty sure I can tell a snow job when I hear one. You think whatever you want. I also get your points about who this man is and his accomplishments You are welcome to view this as you chose. But so am I; no more, no less. That is all I am saying. There is nothing else to what I wrote. You ought to know by now I call it exactly as I see it. I will also apologize when I am wrong and have done it on this board before. This time around, there's nothing for which I feel the need to apologize.
Ari, bang on as always! That is the issue when its all said and done. I don't have any problem with it. All I want is a little honesty.
BTW. when Penashue loses the byelection, you can bet your sweet patootie that Harper will appoint him to the Senate so he can earn $150k/year for the rest of his life in exchange for doing absolutely NOTHING!
So Stock are all MP's of aboriginal descent just lazy assholes or only ones that are not NDP?
Once appointed to the Senate EVERYONE becomes a "lazy asshole" because they are guaranteed a lifetime $150k job with absolutely no obligation to do any work, Harper has already appointed a non-Aboriginal jackass named Fabian Manning not once but TWICE to the senate after he was rejected by voters in Avalon...and he has quickly sunk without a trace in the Senate alongside people like Mike Duffy. Based on the Manning precedent, it seems like a done deal that Penashue will get a lifetime Senate appointment if he loses and he will never work another day in his life...just like everyone else in the senate
MHA Yvonne Jones will seek the Liberal nomination for Labrador.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/15/liberal-veteran-joins-byelection...
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Former+Liberal+leader+Yvonne+Jones+want...
Yippee! that means she'll resign her seat in the House of assembly and the NDP can win the byelection and take over as official opposition in Newfoundland!