Ndp wins

And so they should. With the ndp smearing Hugh all campaign, and the pcs running a left wing platform, was there any doubt?
I see the rural urban divide is as great as ever. Wpg might not care but times are tough outside the peg
I guess I can root on the sask party next door and hope they continue to grow sask and lower taxes. Maybe then we will get some relief here

But wait... despite poll numbers...

Some ndpers think they are in trouble.
From Rabble... a poster comments on the ndp...


First off, how was that post a contradiction of my preference that local ridings be allowed to choose their own candidates?
Secondly, if there is anything the federal election taught us, it's that there is no such thing as a "safe seat." Elmwood-Transcona, held by the NDP in 1993, was a "safe NDP seat." If you go a couple hours down the road to Brandon East, that seat was also held by the NDP in 1988, but there is a realistic chance that it could fall out of the NDP column this time around. Besides, maybe Elmwood residents will get tired of Maloway (nobody on the public news boards seems to like him, if that is any indication) but at the same time, maybe some of the southern MLAs, like Kerri Irvin-Ross and Erin Selby have worked hard enough that they will win their seats. Who knows?

Election prediction

First off, blues rods blog or whatever, you're going to whine about fake websites? your political masters created one about hugh, as did you. sounds like the ndp can dish it out but can't take it
now, onto business.
I am looking forward to the weekend polls, but i've been reading the globe and sun and wfp and i think we can all agree this will come down to a few votes in a few ridings.
so if you're a big ndper in the north end, or a PC by Winkler, sorry, the election wont' come down to you. South Wpg is where it will be decided.
Which is why I don't put much stock in the polls. The sample sizes have been small and they are notoriously wrong at the provincial level. Look at the last civic election or federal election for proof pollsters are idiots.
This will be all about getting out the vote. Whoever does that best will win.
The PCs have the federal machine behind them, they are out-fundraising the NDP, their base is motivated... the NDP base is motivated too, but after 12 years, it can be easy to go meh.
The weak Liberals hurt the PCs no doubt.
Could be the NDP in a squeaker. I hate to say it but that's how it looks like due to the weakness of the Liberals. No doubt the NDP will lose votes and seats. Heck they could even form gov with fewer votes than the PCs. That's how close it could be.
I'd like to say this bothers me but it doesn't. Every column I read says the same - the NDP and PCs are virtually the same. Whoever wins, we all lose. The only major difference is the bipole and frankly the electorate won't care about this until it starts hurting us in the pocket book.
Wpg might be doing OK but MB is not. In Canada we are now a weak sister akin to PEI. We have little weight at the federal level. I can almost assure you our equalization payments will shrink as Ontario sinks further into deficit.
Everyone's talking how great things are right now. Wait four years. Sponging off Sask and Alberta, losing young people, chasing away investment, it's going to hurt MB. And the spending is not sustainable.
Frankly, I can say we've already lost and we just don't know it.
I think the PCs can still win, but it's looking like the NDP in a squeaker. And that means more interprovincial losses, higher taxes, and the rural urban divide getting worse.
That's Today's NDP. If you're in a union and buddy buddy with the NDP enjoy. The rest of us? Yikes.

Blues rods blog - a waste of cyber space

OK not posting much, but I will post on this dolt. All this guy is is a NDP staffer or some U of W student who's proficient with photoshop. Instead of engaging in reasoned, educated debate, he resorts to name calling and silly posters. He's also likely been banned by the WFP and had to change his name more than once. Much like that spoiled brat in the senate, he's likely a silver spoon socialist. Frankly he's a waste of time and every time he posts something,  you can be sure he did it giggling like the imature child he really is.
The left want to save the world - he should start by not wasting energy on his useless posts, or bone up and bring some facts to the debate. Right now all he is is a kid wasting everyone's time.

The reason for the lack of posts

It's election time. I should be blogging away like crazy. But I'm not.
Why?
Well the parties are virtually indistinguishable, that's why. Every day it more spending, more spending, and no explanation of how we're going to pay for it. The MSM media keeps telling us how well we're doing, but that's really only applicable in and around Winnipeg. I'm extremely disapointed the PCs or even the Liberals are not trying to be different from the NDP, but it appears as though this really is becoming a nanny state. I keep waiting for a chicken in every pot pledge.
Don't get me wrong the NDP are out to lunch with their bipole III plan (which I suspect is their way to give the unions even more cash through a larger and more expensive project). But outside that, what is there? What's supposed to excite me? More debt? Continued reliance on Sask and Alberta?
As we continue to lose our youth to inter-provincial migration, how am I supposed to be excited about these choices?

Crass NDP too opportunistic

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Selinger-dedicates-re-election-drive-to-Layton-128638048.html

Personally, I feel this "dedication" is crass opportunism. Using Layton's death to try and get a bump at the polls feels extremely tacky, especially when you consider the federal NDP and provincial NDP don't see eye-to-eye on a number of issues - crime and gun control being the two most obvious.
This could backfire.

Debate on wednesday

Selinger, mcfadyen and gerrard do battle on cjob Wednesday morning. Looking forward to seeing how each do. I'm sure the union folks will be calling in with questions. Pcs and liberals better do the same

NDP candidate not allowed to run

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/NDP-disallows-Mangat-to-be-candidate-in-St-Norbert-127889198.html

There's more to this story and I'm certain Mangat will speak publicly about it. All I'll say for now is that I'm sure the NDP don't want this story in the papers.

Heather Mallick goes too far

I enjoy great debate and great points from both the left and right, even if I don't always agree.
Then there's Heather Mallick. A man-hating extreme lefty. She probably thinks the NDP is too right wing.
If you don't know who she is, read this. And know that you can go too far when writing columns. Personally, I was glad to see her get sued and the Toronto Star forced to apologize on her behalf.

http://www.melaniephillips.com/apology-to-me-by-heather-mallick-and-the-toronto-star

Today's NDP looks a lot like yesterday's loser

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Maloway-wins-NDP-nomination-for-Elmwood-127521248.html

Even if he wins, he loses.

Orange and Hi there

I see Orange Rod popped back, getting ultra-feminist and asking for flags to be lowered. A silly, NDP-type request. Yes it's sad to see Mrs. Asper pass away, but that's hardly a reason to lower the flags. That should be left for things such as military and prime ministers and such.
As for Hi There, has anyone noticed he's not posting on the FP anymore? I wonder if he's one of these people who have been banned by the paper for posting. I would not doubt it, based on some of his idiotic posts.
The NDP are sure turning into a mean-spirited party as the election draws near.

NDP supporters getting desperate

Oswald's toast this fall. Struthers to. Lots of NDP incumbents are jumping ship.
So what can the NDP do to counter all this?
http://bigphart.blogspot.com/2011/07/hughie-mcfadyen-hydro-promise.html

That's the best they can do. Spam photoshopped junk on the Winnipeg Free Press.
Hi There hasn't brought an intelligent talking point to the debate in years. Because he can't. All he can do is lie and call people names.
How mature. How NDP of him.

Wpg crime central

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/City-tops-violent-crime-severity-index-125954753.html


Something else that doesn't play well for the NDP. People don't feel as safe in this province, and stats are proving we are crime central. Me thinks the NDP will have a hard time spinning these stats come election time.

Another NDPer jumps ship

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Blaikie-wont-seek-re-election-125348123.html

Not much bench strength left with the NDP. Lots of MLAs are getting out while the getting's good. Blakie wasn't much of a cabinet minister anyway - way too long in the tooth and not up to date on his files. He just wanted to say he was a cabinet minister, and not a career opposition politician.

Wowchuk is not running

The finance minister is not running. That puts what was a safe NDP seat into play. The next election just got that much more interesting.

Big news coming out today

Someone's retiring. Can't say who yet, but it's a big name. Stay tuned.

More support for the east side

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/First-Nations-voice-east-124747764.html


First Nations leaders are now standing up and supporting the shorter route on the east side. When will the NDP clue in and reverse their decision?

Deadline almost up for spending announcements

I don't know why governments spread the cash around right before elections, but the deadline for the NDP is quickly coming up. Then it will be a straight up election fight, not a spend our money fight.
I have heard a few rumours of more than one surprise to expect in the next couple of weeks. One would be a huge shocker for the NDP. Stay tuned.

What seats the PCs will target

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/06/20/interlake-down-the-drain-for-ndp

I think the NDP will for sure lose Dauphin. Stan Struthers is as feeble a MLA as I've ever seen. He's wishy washy and would be on the back bench if the NDP were not so weak in rural Manitoba.
Swan River, though, might be tough, as they keep making that riding less rural and more northern, which clearly benefits the NDP. Swan River also stole some NDP-friendly polls from Dauphin in the last reallocation. Sorry about that Stan.
In Winnipeg, I think the south part of the city is ready to abandon the NDP. Those people are itching for balanced budgets and real tax cuts. They're not going to get that from the NDP.
The flood, as the story indicates, will also be a factor. It all makes for a really interesting fall election.

Stupid looters

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/turn-stanley-cup-riot-photos-into-evidence-blogs-and-facebook-groups-urge.html

Great Facebook pages out there. I hope every single one of the people who rioted are arrested and their names are made public. Not really Manitoba news, but we're all hockey fans and I'm sure we're all sickened by this crap. What did they think, this was a G20 summit?

NDP sinks to a new low

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/NDP-releases-123126813.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments
Does the NDP plan to run on their record? Would you if you were the NDP?
No, they plan on smears and lies. There's no honour in that NDP party.

No more big acts?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/union-drive-raises-ire-of-u2-123008293.html

It takes a special sort of mentality to piss of a pro-union, left-leaning band such as U2. But Manitoba did it, apparently, with their over-the-top, pro-union antics.
Great job unions - you've likely scared other big acts from coming to Winnipeg.

Selinger a big fan of "Mark Keane"

We all heard it. What a NHL phoney. And that stupd grin on his face on the WFP site today.
People know a phoney when they hear and see one Selinger. And you, sir, are as phoney as it gets when it comes to the NHL.

Another MB Hydro Leak

The NDP supporters continue to rally behind the west-side for Bipole, but leak after leak show the NDP have known for a long time it's the wrong decision. They have been lying to Manitobans for years and they have no credibility on this issue whatsoever.

SECRET 2005 HYDRO REPORT –

HYDRO’S REAL THOUGHTS REVEALED, NDP DENIAL EXPOSED

Denial - an unconscious defense mechanism used to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings, or facts that are consciously intolerable.

Important excerpts from a secret report from 2005 to the Manitoba Hydro board are below.  The report was obtained by the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives.

·         “Investigation into the technical implications of the far west routing for a BiPole III transmission line has revealed significant problems and, as such, cannot be recommended for development at this time.” (Pg. 3 BiPole III Alternative Routing Implications - Report to the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board, January 20, 2005)

·         “These technical and timing implications for BiPole III lead to serious concerns about the viability of future development of our proposed northern hydroelectric projects and associated north-south outlet transmission.  Our ongoing negotiations with Ontario for a significant sale of power will be compromised by the delays, and our profitable participation in the US export market will be affected in our firm price sales are downgraded due to interruptible reliability concerns.” (Pg. 4)

·          “A western routing for BiPole III would provide an outlet for future northern generation under normal operating conditions.  However, any major new northern generation development would be subject to reliability risk in that a portion of northern generation would be stranded under a BiPole corridor outage situation dependent upon loading conditions. Full development of the remaining northern generation will require three additional corridors or north-south transmission, which would be extremely difficult to site if the east side is excluded.” (Pg. 7)

·         “Additional rate increases would be experienced as a result of requirements to implement a much costlier Western routing and due to costs that would be incurred through the advancement of future requirements to address reliability.” (Pg. 8 )

·         “A Western routing corridor would impact upon similar areas of boreal forest and similar numbers of First Nations communities as the originally planned east side routing.  This routing option would provide no advantage in terms of physical or environmental impact upon the land and by virtue of its greater length, would have a larger physical footprint.  The Western route would also traverse a significant area of private developed lands, adding complexity to routing selection and land acquisition.” (Pg. 8)

·         “Investigation into the technical implications of the far west route option has revealed significant problems and, as such, cannot be recommended for development at this time.  This option would cost significantly more, would require BiPole III converters (as well as the line), would not be capable of parallel HVdc operations (thus would limit the amount of power transmitted to southern Manitoba during corridor outages and advances the need for a fourth north-south transmission line), would have significantly decreased loss reduction benefits, would increase complexity of line routing in the Winnipeg area and would delay a possible in-service date for BiPole III by three years.” (Pg.9)

·         “A BiPole III transmission line far west routing would lead to serious degredation of the normal day-to-day and emergency operation of the critically important Manitoba Hydro HVdc system and therefore cannot be advocated as technically viable.” (Pg. 1 –Technical Analysis of a Western Routing for the Bipole III Transmission Line prepared January 13, 2005 by Manitoba Hydro)

·         “This report, along with the attached companion report by Transgrid Solutions Consultants, identifies significant technical issues with the far west route that would be attempted to be resolved through new and modified equipment and controls in both Bipoles I and II.  Such additional complexity would raise the probability of valve  group, pole and bipole outages in both existing bipoles, thereby threatening not only the Manitoba load serving function of the HVdc system but also threatening export sales through degraded product reliability.  Further, to attempt such a technical resolution in a heavily utilized HVdc system which will, at that time, be more than ten years older than today cannot be professionally advocated and is the basis for the technical non-acceptability of the far west routing.” (Pg. 1)

Sask has lowest taxes in Canada

Great story on the National Post today. As you can see, Manitoba's provincial taxes are much higher than Sask, Alta, BC or even Ont. And we are really lagging behind Sask when it comes to overall taxes paid. Lower Hydro rates can't make up for that big a gap between provincial neighbours, no matter what the NDP spins.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/25/nova-scotians-the-most-taxed-in-canada-provincial-report/

The indirect route

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Manitoba-connects-with-Minnesota-on-power-deal-122577419.html

So Manitoba signed a deal with Minnesota. Which is to the south east. So or course bipole is headed south west. The longer route will waste how much clean power? Power that will need to be made up elsewhere with dirty, carbon-burning energy, likely coal. But that's OK to the enviromental crowd, right?

Goodbye Orange

The Orange Rod, the very reason I created this blog, is leaving for four years to accomplish nothing in Ottawa. She's packing her bags and taking her, er, expertise to the nation's capital to aid the federal NDP. Which is great if you're a fan of the federal Conservatives.
That's because Orange was wrong more times than I can recall. She was wrong about the Coyotes coming - on several occasions. She was wrong about the federal byelection. She was wrong about the federal election here in Manitoba. She, for some reason, thinks there could be an NDP or PC minority while at the same time saying Jon Gerrard, the only Liberal MLA in the province, could lose his seat. I'm not sure what sort of math classes she took, but if I'm a political operative, I really want someone like Orange opposing me. It's hard to find someone who's wrong that often.
I will miss Orange - she was great at giving me blog ideas, such as the time she called anyone who doesn't vote NDP stupid. She was the gift who just kept on giving.
Should I keep on posting? Maybe not so much as summer approaches, but I'm sure I'll keep it up, especially until the election.
It just won't be the same without ol' Orange around.

The Orange Hush?

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/05/04/manitobas-orange-hush

Orange Purge? NDP has not been doing well in Manitoba of late as Tom points out. Interesting column.

Conservative majority!

The splits did in opposition, who called this needless election. Can't help but think the NDP won the battle but lost the war as the Conservatives now have their majority. As for the Liberals, this is what arrogance gets you. Mulroney said it best - first they pissed off the West with the NEP, then they pissed off Quebec, and when people got tired of the Bloc, they turned to the NDP.
Looking forward to the new Quebec NDP MP who can't speak French. Lots of joke MPs for the NDP now... I will enjoy the gong show!

What do Liberals think of the Manitoba NDP?

Jack Layton and the NDP may keep using the Manitoba NDP as an example for party’s accomplishments for the rest of the country, but their claims don’t stand up - not on education, balanced budgets or democratic reform -  says Dr. Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Gerrard says the NDP claims of balanced budgets in Manitoba are cherry picking from a time when the Federal Liberal government was steadily increasing transfer payments, and leave off the last two years - where the NDP has run deep deficits.

“The NDP's so-called balanced budgets in Manitoba were achieved by riding the coattails of a Federal Liberal government that increased funding for health, education and infrastructure, and they still couldn’t balance the budget, ” said Gerrard. “They've fudged the books by raiding Crown Corporations for their surpluses, or forcing crown corporations to take on debt and deliver programs."

In 2002, the NDP took over $200 million from the provincially owned electric utility, Manitoba Hydro, to balance the budget, claiming a “dividend” would pay for it. Ultimately, it only increased the corporation’s debt - which doubled under the NDP without a dam being completed.

The Manitoba NDP also:

       •       Used funding from the state-owned auto insurance, Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, to pay for NDP political staffers and police officers
       •       Tried to use auto insurance profits to pay for programs for university students, until they reversed themselves after a public outcry.
       •       Broke their “tuition freeze” policy after starving post-secondary education institutions for years.
       •       The tuition policy only applied to undergraduate programs, and tuition in professional programs was allowed to increase to $10,000 a year for Law and over $20,000 a year for dentistry or medicine

Gerrard said the NDP in Manitoba “Conservative” budgets also came with a “Conservative” approach to social problems.

“The NDP under Gary Doer walked away from its progressive roots,” said Gerrard. “Manitoba has two of the poorest Federal ridings in Canada, but the NDP’s social assistance rates have been basically unchanged for 20 years.”

       •       After 12 years of NDP governments, Manitoba has the second worst high-school dropout rate in the country
       •       The number of children in the care of Child and Family Services has risen under the NDP, to over 9,000, many of them warehoused in downtown hotels.

Gerrard also said that the NDP’s promises of “democratic reform,” are nowhere to be seen in Manitoba. As an MLA, Kevin Lamoureux - now MP for Winnipeg North - presented a report recommending alternate voting options for the province, all of which were dismissed by the NDP.

“The NDP in Manitoba has totally rejected the idea of proportional representation in Manitoba, because it might actually make the legislature more democratic,” he said. “There’s a reason there is no NDP surge in Manitoba, and it’s because we’ve lived the reality. The rest of Canada should take heed.” 

Wither Liberals?, part 2

Nanos: CPC 38 % NDP 29.6 % LPC 23.3 % BQ 5.2 % GP 3.1 %
Angus: CPC 37 % NDP 33 % LPC 19 % BQ 6 % GP 4 %
Ipsos: CPC 38 % NDP 33 % LPC 18 % BQ 7 % GP 4 %

Nanos has the Libs coming back and the NDP sliding back a bit. Second thoughts? All the pollsters have teh Cons creeping up a bit - fear of a NDP minority?
One thing looks certain - Jack's going to get a new place to live - and not cheap social housing with his mother-in-law in Toronto. Zing!
Monday's sure to be fascinating. Who would have thunk it.

Wither, Liberals?

Nanos: CPC 37.8 % LPC 26.1 % NDP 23.7 % BQ 7.4 % GRN 3.5 %
Ipsos: CPC 43 % NDP 24 % LPC 21 % % BQ 6 % GRN 4 %
Forum: CPC 36 % NDP 25 % LPC 23 % BQ 6 % GRN 6 %


I don't generally comment on federal politics on this blog since it's not usually very interesting in Manitoba... not too many seats are generally up for grabs. But how about that Jack Layton? An "Orange Wave" is sweeping Canada, or so we're led to believe.
I think Jack Layton is just destroying Iggy and the Liberals. It's a no brainer. Iggy is too busy looking down his nose and lecturing Canadians to see just how out of touch he is.
Layton did well in the debates, and had the best line with his jab at Iggy about his attendance.
The best part? Outside of BC, when the NDP goes up, it's the Liberals who go down, not the Conservatives. If this trend keeps up, look for a Conservative majority, with the possibility of a NDP official opposition.
Liberals would just about die, but it's always been the NDP dream to replace the Liberals.
Federally, the Liberals are starting to look like what's happening in Manitoba - they're getting squeezed out.
Should be an interesting dash to the finish.

Why we need more prisons

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Knifepoint-rape-results-in-6-year-term-120132799.html
The left whine about wanting more prison space. Seems to me keeping a rapist in prison for more than 6 years is a great reason to build more prisons.
I'm sure Count Iggy feels this never would have happened if only he went to university...

Sask blowing past us

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/columnists/tom_brodbeck/2011/04/12/17973791.html

That's a big difference in taxes. Probably explains why Sask is attracting people from across Canada, while Manitoba is bleeding people to other provinces.
The NDP will have a hard time defending this in the next election. Who would have ever thought Sask would blow past MB?

Brian Oakley needs to study if taxing the poor is a good idea

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/119533634.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments

The NDP's biggest cheerleader this side of Hi there and Orange isn't sure if lowering taxes for the poor is a good idea or not. Oh, and Hugh is bad.
Given a chance to answer a direct question, Oakley did what he always does - ducked for cover.
Here's the simple answer - lower taxes for the working poor is a great idea. More money in our pockets, more for the economy, less for the bottomless pit that is NDP social spending.
And the great property tax credit? Tell that to everyone who doesn't own a house.
Taxing the poor - the NDP's great legacy.

Awish Aslam a NDP insider?

http://leoknight.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/as-always-there%E2%80%99s-more-to-the-story/

Well, her email is sure included in a list of NDP insiders...
One wonders if she was just a mole send in by the NDP?
Feel free to speculate...

NDP supporter - people in general are stupid

http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/03/polls-sigh.html

I can't make this stuff up. This is what the NDP think of the people of this province. They think you're stupid. They don't want you here if you don't vote NDP. They tell you to leave. They insult you.
Is that the kind of people you want running this province.
Oh, and apparently the best the PCs can do is a minority... yet the Liberals are likely to get wiped out.
That would leave only the PCs and NDP with seats. A minority with only two parties holding seats?
Hey Orange, if you can explain how that's possible, please let me know.
After all, I'm stupid, right?

Bribing us with our own money

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/its-time-to-audit-mpis-books-119048029.html

Shame on the NDP for trying to spin MPI ripping off Manitobans into a positive story. Their high rates amount to legalized theft, and the NDP trying to time the rebates for the election is just crass.

NDP slumping in the polls

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/provincial-tory-support-rises-118730729.html
In the wake of their Hydro lies, more tax cuts in Saskatchewan, watching our youth move to Sask, and preparing for five years of deficits while the economy is growing, it's little shock to me that the NDP are flailing in the polls.

Manitobans leaving

Despite high immigration numbers, Manitoba continues to shed residents to other provinces. And the trend isn't looking any better down the road.
I suspect that if the NDP can bring in vote-friendly immigrants and lose people from regions that don't vote for them, they probably could care less.
Meanwhile, when your kids move to Saskatchewan, try not to miss them too much. I'm sure they'll come home to visit ... they'll for sure be able to afford it with all they money they'll save in lower taxes.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/columnists/tom_brodbeck/2011/03/24/17747221.html

Sask gives people another reason to move west

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110323/Saskatchewan-budget-110323/

You can make even more money in Sask before you pay a provincial income tax. You can also claim more for your kid. Oh, and they're paying down their debt, giving them more money to spend on the people and less on interest.
Orange has already told anyone who doesn't agree with her to move. Sask is giving people a reason to do just that.
Let's see what sort of budget the provincial NDP can come up with.

NDP supporter tells people with a different opinion to leave province

Proof positive on how intolerant the extreme left really is.
http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/03/if-you-dont-like-it-move.html
Orange, a self-admitted NDP insider, tells anyone who doesn't agree that running the BiPole III line down longer, less effecient route should leave Manitoba.
I guess that would include the WFP editorial board, who rightly point out the true benefits of running the line down the east side vs. the west side.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/hydros-logo-broadways-fingerprint-118349069.html

They also point out how the NDP is blowing hundreds of thousands of dollars on pre-election campaigning dressed up as Hydro advertising. Did you know that in Ontario those sorts of ads have to be approved by the Auditor General? Not in MB, where the NDP clings to power and uses every dirty play in the book.

Who else does Orange want out of the province? I guess the Association of Manitoba Municipalities needs to go, as they oppose the line going on the west side. So too does a group of former MB Hydro engineer. I guess we can't have educated people in Manitoba who oppose the NDP.

Also, to those following this debate, more than half think the west side is wrong. So I guess Orange really wants to reverse the population gains by kicking out anyone who opposes the NDP.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/those-who-care-back-east-side-route-for-hydro-line-poll-98007739.html
The truth is, this is all about union dues. At the end of the day, the longer the route, the more money for the unions, who will in turn funnel that money back into the NDP to help them fight elections.
Shame on Orange for telling people who don't vote NDP to leave Manitoba.
We can have differing opinions. I call on Orange to publicly apologize for her ignorant comments on this blog and to retract her comments on her own blog.
Or leave it up - and have your words used against you in the upcoming election.
You call.

Another leaked document for the NDP to defend

If the NDP is so sure the west side is the best no matter the cost, why don't they say as much? Why not be up front about the cost?
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Leaked-Hydro-document-shows-Bipole-cost-jump-opposition-118255464.html

An oldie but a goodie - why high taxes don't work

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for dinner and the bill for all comes to $100.If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing like they do now with the present income tax structure.

The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59 of the bill.
So that is what the ten men decide to do.

The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you all are such good customers I am going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20”. Dinner for the 10 men now costs just $80...

The group still wanted to pay the bill the same way that they paid their taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat for free. But what about the other six men -- the Paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everybody would get his “Fair Share”?

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth and sixth man would each end up being paid to eat their meal…So, the restaurant owner suggested it would be fair to reduce each mans bill roughly the same amount; and proceeded to work out the amounts each man would pay.

The fifth, like the first four now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth man now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings)
The seventh man now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings)
The eight man now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings)
The ninth man now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings)
The tenth man now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings)

Each of the six was better off then before. And the first four continued to eat for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings…

“I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man “but he got $10”…“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. Its unfair that he got ten times more than me!?”“That’s true”, shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploit’s the poor!”The nine men surrounded the tenth man and beat him up…

The next night the Tenth man did not show up for dinner, so the Nine sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half the bill!

And that Boys & Girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just might not show up anymore. In fact, they might start eating overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier…

Blues Rod Blog shows how desperate the NDP really are

http://bigphart.blogspot.com/
Given all the "Rods" on here, I could only chuckle when I was parodied by an eager beaver socialist, since I did the same thing to Orange, who did until Black, and so on.
Except I'm pretty proud of the traffic and the debate on this site.
Blues Rod Blog, who could just be Orange under a different name, I don't know or care. is just garbage though.
He only attacks, childishly at that, and never talks up his own party. That's what you do when you've been in power 10 years and don't want to run on your record.
He (she?) also got rid of comments. Not that there's any reason to go there. Nothing of substance. No way to post your thoughts. I guess you're supposed to show up, be amazed at how "funny" Blues Rod Blog is, and keep coming back for more.
I only caught the sight while reading through those few posts Orange the censor deems fit for her sight.
You have to hand it to the left - power at any price.

Bracket Creep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTmKQ7HQSU
Canadian Taxpayers Federation spells this out fairly clearly. Compared to our neighbours, the MB provincial government is pounding people with low personal exemptions and bracket creep.
Thanks for the heads up on this video to one of the followers of this blog.
I doubt we can expect much in the way of tax relief in this coming budget, but this video sure tells you how to tell the government what you think of their high taxation rates.

More on Elections Canada

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=b92b618d-d777-4539-b553-c34b3a5b0376&p=1
This column seems to indicate that Elections Canada has proof other parties do the "in-and-out" thing, but refuse to do anything about it.
Do they have an axe to grind against Harper?
Regardless, the rules need to be applied fairly. If what the Conservatives are doing is wrong, then so be it. They will have to pay back the money.
But if that's true, Elections Canada better apply the same rules to every party.
Same thing here in Manitoba. How did the NDP get such a soft landing for their union scheme?

Split enviro personality

Hmm, the NDP can't seem to decide what they want to do about the enviroment.
Be it hunting, fishing, forestry or Bi-pole III, their stance always seems to be what's political.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Province-letting-Tolko-lumber-in-sensitive-caribou-area-117155778.html

Now, government's take it on the chin all the time from enviro groups. Most people don't even pay attention to them.
But our old friend Orange did, and she's on there defending jobs on the west side of the province. It's people first for Orange.
Except on the east side, I guess. Can't cut down that pristine forest for the Bi-pole III line. Over there trees and bunnies trump all.
I think this is called talking outside both sides of your mouth.
Actually Orange makes some sense on this one - we do need to worry about jobs.
That said, the province also needs to worry about caribou. And moose. And a lot of other issues their urban base has no idea what to do about.
But when I see the NDP twisting themselves the way they do... I find it very amusing.

NDP don't want to get off equalization

From BrianOakley, noted left-leaning commentator, via the WFP


"Of, over time Manitoba is no longer eligible for Equalization, fine. However, this can not, nor should it be the goal of a government."

I'll tell you why it's not a goal of the NDP government. They saw the Sask. NDP relent and lower taxes. They encourages more development of natural resoruces. They saw Sask. prosper.
And they promptly got the boot.
The NDP really is only effective when the populace is poor, down and out. When things are going well, it's much harder for them to stay in power.
The Manitoba NDP isn't stupid, and they saw their cousins in Sask get the boot for doing the right thing.
Don't expect this government to do anything to make things better for this province - they're content to deficit spend other people's money.
As Rosie says "Running a deficit is a good thing sometimes".
Yah, when you want the keep the population down and out.

Buy a new home, set up someone with $30k

Honestly, I couldn't make this stuff up.
http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/02/kerri-irvin-ross-has-great-idea-for.html#comment-form
In Orange's world, if you live in a house worth $275,000, you're rich. And if you're going to buy that kind of house, you need to pay $500 extra (a levy, not a tax) to give to people not to commit crime and for housing.
I know lots of places where people live in free homes and get money for doing nothing. And guess what, when people don't have to pay for their home and don't have to work for their money, they don't appreciate it, and it takes away their motivation to better themselves and care for their property.
Please, oh please, I hope this is in the NDP platform.

Election spending double standard

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/elections-canada-charges-four-senior-conservative-officials--116892963.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments

Federally, Elections Canada continues to go after the Conservatives for election spending, even after losing a major decision in a court (currently under appeal). Yet how many failed Liberal leadership candidates still haven't paid back their loans? How many more chances are they going to get?
Seems like a double standard - kind of like here in Manitoba.
Elections Manitoba went hard after Vic Toews for a provincial election spending issue, but when it came to the NDP, the whole issue was almost glossed over. And there are still issues surrounding this that the NDP and Elections Manitoba are not speaking to.
Kind of makes you wonder why it appears there is a double standard?

The NDP and their spin machine when it comes to who's not running

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Tory-MLA-Hawranik-not-running-again-116501548.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments

Well maybe it's not the NDP - just their supporters. So far five PC MLAs have opted not to run (and four of those came from safe seats). In fact one bowed out (Derkatch) to allow Rowat run in a rural riding after new boundaries destroyed her former riding.
That's a team player. Unlike the NDP, who are stacking nomination parties to get rid of incumbents (aka Brick). So far no dogs or entire First Nations have been sold memberships yet, as has been the case by the NDP in BC and Saskatchewan (in leadership races no less).
Keep yourselves dizzy with the spin my loveable NDP posters. You can't run on your record, so you attack. I get it.

I guess I'm doing something right

https://picasaweb.google.com/117854377038276842797/BlueRodBlog#5574854116711149874

One of the Orange Rod's posters (Mr. Anonymous) posted this. Kind of funny, I guess, if you're 19.
Of course they have to resort to stuff like this, since they don't really want to run on their record.
I won't mock up anything silly like this - I much rather prefer pointing out their short-comings and offering ideas.
I'll leave the silly stuff to the socialists

MRI wait times growing

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/some-wait-lists-getting-longer-116215609.html
How can we as a society condone a government monopoly which makes some people wait a year to get an MRI? You can drive two hours south and get an MRI today if you want. You get get one for your dog today in Winnipeg if you want. But you can't get one for yourself in Winnipeg unless the government says it's OK.
I love Canada's universal health care system, but there has to be a role for the private sector to play in health care. It's time to start allowing private MRI clinics, since it's clear the government monopoly will never be able to meet the demand.

Trouble within the NDP?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/challenging-odds-116056134.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments
Seems like some NDP MLAs loyal to Selinger are under unofficial attack from Steven Ashton supporters.
Very similar to what happened in Sask with their NDP - except Dwain Lingenfelter fled to Alberta to scheme from afar and came back after the NDP finally lost power.
But Ashton is still very close to Selinger... we'll see how much solidarity there is in NDPville in the coming months.

Another NDP MLA opts not to run

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/MLA-Hickes-ready-to-walk-away-from-politics-115754789.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments

This is the second NDP MLA to announce they are not running in a week.
Now, if I was a young, idealistic hyper partisan like my friend the Orange Rod, I would say something like "oh, looks like rats are jumping off the sinking ship"
But I won't. Hickes is 64. He's well past his prime. He deserves to retire just like everyone else.
It is encouraging to see some of the old guard stepping down (on both sides). Opens politics up to new people with new ideas.

NDP wants to regulate media

http://www.edmontonsun.com/comment/columnists/david_akin/2011/02/08/17203971.html

Great column. You know, the left in this country can't even tolerate a different opinion. That's why they go on the attack against "Fox News North", aka Sun TV (which I can't wait for).
Yet they have no issues with the slanted news put forward by the CBC. You Tube is full of CBC apologizing for slanted news coverage against the Conservatives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apctTk7ovWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJhFw4R5xx4
or their bias...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAjzoMW0xE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pshjUYOVnM

And the Toronto Star is nothing more than a PR outlet for the Liberals.
The day we let socialists in this country determine what is news and what isn't, we're in real trouble.
and BTW Sun Media won't get a billion from taxpayers like the CBC

Orange Rod gets it wrong again

http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-of-hughs-mlas-jumping-off-sinking.html

Proving once again how ill informed she is, the young,  ill-mannered Orange Rod is trying to make hay over a PC MLA not running.
She overlooks that Len Derkach is 1. 66 and 2. is making way for Leanne Rowat
thanks to the new riding boundaries
I actually think I'll release the worst of the Orange Rod post right before the election. people deserve to know what the NDP faithful think of the people of this province

And now words of wisdom from Brian Oakley

http://justdamnstupid.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/tory-emails-hacked/

Here's another Free Press poster who annoys me - Brian Oakley
I love debating points, but how can you have a debte with a guy who makes up fake passwords and dresses it up as some sort of interesting blog post.
Between Orange Rod calling people outside Rednecks with small IQs and Oakley resorting to childish name calling, you have to wonder what the upcoming election will be like.
Parties who have been in power too long tend to attack rather than run on their record.
Is this what we can expect from Today's NDP?

Orange Rod Blog hits a new low

http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/02/susan-auch-brand-new-low-for-hugh-and.html

Apparently moving to Calgary to pursue your Olympic dream, and then wanting to move back to your home province is a no-no. In fact, it's a new low according to the Orange Rod Blog.
talking out both sides of her mouth, she says she welcomes more women in politics - just not this one. how dare she get a job in Calgary after her amatuer athletic career was over. how dare she move back home to run in the next election - against a tough incumbent no less
I guess moving to Alberta and working and living there disqualifies you from running from office, according to the Orange Rod
Hmm, maybe she should call her political cousins in Sask. turns out their current leader worked and lived in Calgary for 9 years before moving back home to claim the leadership of the NDP
I guess when the NDP do it, it's OK?
Orange, it's OK to be partisan. But next time, think before you post. You're not doing your cause any favours...

Orange Rod out to lunch - again

http://theorangerod.blogspot.com/2011/02/swan-river-alleged-animal-abusers-get.html

Somehow, in the Orange Rod's world, only the NDP will protect animals, and the bad, bad PCs don't care.
This blogger doesn't seem to realize the alledged animal abuser (and I use the term alledged quite loosely) was known about for months and even years and yet the province did nothing.
So were was the NDP for two years?
There were even photos and stories in the local paper.
So where was your precious NDP then Orange Rod?

Bipole III line now more than $4 billion?

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2011/01/31/17099976.html
The NDP haven't been saying much about the cost of this project. Now leaked documents claim this project could cost more than $4.1 billion, much higher than the original $2.2 billion quoted.
The route apparently doesn't have much to do with the increase, but the east side will obviously be cheaper.
One has to wonder why the cost has jumped as high as it has? And when did they plan to tell Manitobans - after the next election?

Health care debate the left doesn't want to have

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/premium/a-healthier-health-care-system-114855039.html?commentConfirmed=y#comments

I just spent the weekend trading blows with NDP apologists Hi There and Brian Oakley regarding health care
they of course resorted to their usual anti-America bashing
I can't think of one person I know who wants Canada to switch to USA style health care. even they don't want it (though it is great if you can afford it, as many rich Canadians do)
no, what we need in this country is a blend of public and private, just like progressive countries in Europe have
Canada is ranked No. 30 in the world for health care, while France is No. 1
why don't we switch?
One word - unions

BrianOakley and Orange Rod LIE

http://justdamnstupid.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/hugh-mcfadyen-to-slash-education-funding-and-fire-teachers/

Brian Oakley, famous poster, claims Hugh McFadyen is going after Manitoba students and teachers, and wants to cut education funding. That's not what he said at all, and I call Brian Oakley a liar.
Hugh said he wants the money spent better. He also said down the road before the next eleciton he plans to reveal how his party would fund education if they formed power.
The current NDP put school divisions between a rock and a hard place - they offer them meager tax incentives to not raise taxes, but usually it's not enough and so they have to take it and cut something, or raise taxes.

Orange Rod (incorrectly) predicting the future again

After (falsely) predicting the NDP would win the recent federal byelection, he is now predicting a massive win by the NDP even though their polling numbers are heading straight down and they are entering a deficit AFTER a recession.
He also goes on to insult rural Manitoba and the people who support the PC Party. Apparently people outside Wpg are "fringe"
Oh, and he's pulling a "Hugh" by claiming he has great inside knowledge on the Jets returning to Wpg. Four years ago that was silly, but now apparently it's a great idea.
The ol' Orange Rod sure looks down his nose at people who don't share his POV on life.
As a "NDP insider", it makes you wonder what Selinger and Co. think...

Iggy still Iffy

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/ignatieff-accuses-harper-of-imposing-conservative-ideology-on-canadians-114596449.html

Iggy plans to run against tax cuts and fighter jets his party previously supported. Talk about flip flop... Iggy wants us to think he's the next coming of the NDP...

MGEU vs. NDP

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/mgeu-workers-nix-austerity-deal-114443124.html
Does anyone really think these two chums are going to go to war in an election year?
Still, the comments section of this story is quite interesting... lots of NDP staffers - I think - and plenty of NDP friendly union types had some interesting posts, as did those who don't think much of unions...
A prelude to the next election I think.

Blue Rod Blog

Hey, if the colour orange blog can have a blog in Manitoba, so can the colour blue. Don't know how often I'll post, but if a provincial issue pops up, I'll sure make an effort to post something.