BC Political Discussion - BC Election 2017 May 9th

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by csbvan

To be fair, you seem to have lots of information about the past, which is great, but I seem to remember you being the one who kept posting ad nauseam in the Canada section's election thread about how wrong the polls were in BC and that the Conservatives would win the province handily. Not only did that not happen, but there was no greater implosion in Conservative Party of Canada support than in BC. That's not a missed prediction, that is a fundamental misunderstanding of what was happening. The loss was not surprising either if you were keeping track of the popular opinion on the ground.

I am not saying that you don't know what you are talking about. I just think that you like to overstate the legitimacy of your predictions, when the track record may not be so good. I doubt that this is an error in the facts that you use, but more an error in your ability to read populist sentiment, or perhaps an overstatement about historical precedent in a province that little resembles what it once was, demographically and economically, in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Or perhaps it is due to an attitudinal pre-disposition to inflate the support of right leaning parties through cherry-picked or spun data.

Haha. Now you've gone wayyyyyyy over the top. Either negligent misrepresentation or just plain ignorance of my 2015 fed election postings in the Canada Forum. Hopefully not willful.

During the fed election numerous opinion polls came out from various pollsters that included CATI, IVR, and opt-in online panel pollsters. I posted on numerous occasions therein that one should just follow CATI pollster Nanos's "daily tracking poll" - very expensive and very accurate with an excellent track record. BTW, their final numbers federally in 2015 were "bang-on" again... even their small sub-sample size for BC was almost dead-on for both 2011 and 2015.

As a matter of fact, the poster "Bcasey25raptor" herein also posted consistently in the fed election thread in the Canada Forum. Still recall him stating that if the Cons won that he might move to Australia as a result. I advised "Bcasey25raptor" to only keep looking at 2 figures in the daily Nanos tracking poll: "Best PM" numbers as well as the trend-line for the Libs. JT was surging ahead in the "Best PM" number during the ~final 10 days of the campaign, which is always a precursor to party preference levels. I'm sure that "Bcasey25raptor" will corroborate same (if he even remembers anymore). BTW about 7 - 10 days before the fed election, I already confidently predicted/posted about a fed Liberal majority gov't.

And I also predicted that the fed Libs would take all the North Shore seats (inclusive of North Burnaby-Seymour), all Van City proper seats (excepting V-K and V-E), both Richmond seats as well as the 2 North Surrey seats at a minimum (Surrey Centre/Surrey-Newton). 'Twas difficult to ascertain how far out the "red" tide would flow therefrom hitting against traditional "blue" poli turf without a much larger Nanos sample size for BC with regional break-outs. Nobody saw the extent of the fed Liberal majority across Canada or BC... went all the way to Kelowna ... 1968 redux mostly as a result of "blue" liberal/red tory vote switchers.

And yes, I also predicted the 2013 BC provincial election about one week before e-day due to 4 material matters, which I have already previously described in detail up-thread.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Haha. Now you've gone wayyyyyyy over the top. Either negligent misrepresentation or just plain ignorance of my 2015 fed election postings in the Canada Forum. Hopefully not willful.

During the fed election numerous opinion polls came out from various pollsters that included CATI, IVR, and opt-in online panel pollsters. I posted on numerous occasions therein that one should just follow CATI pollster Nanos's "daily tracking poll" - very expensive and very accurate with an excellent track record. BTW, their final numbers federally in 2015 were "bang-on" again... even their small sub-sample size for BC was almost dead-on for both 2011 and 2015.

As a matter of fact, the poster "Bcasey25raptor" herein also posted consistently in the fed election thread in the Canada Forum. Still recall him stating that if the Cons won that he might move to Australia as a result. I advised "Bcasey25raptor" to only keep looking at 2 figures in the daily Nanos tracking poll: "Best PM" numbers as well as the trend-line for the Libs. JT was surging ahead in the "Best PM" number during the ~final 10 days of the campaign, which is always a precursor to party preference levels. I'm sure that "Bcasey25raptor" will corroborate same (if he even remembers anymore). BTW about 7 - 10 days before the fed election, I already confidently predicted/posted about a fed Liberal majority gov't.

And I also predicted that the fed Libs would take all the North Shore seats (inclusive of North Burnaby-Seymour), all Van City proper seats (excepting V-K and V-E), both Richmond seats as well as the 2 North Surrey seats at a minimum (Surrey Centre/Surrey-Newton). 'Twas difficult to ascertain how far out the "red" tide would flow therefrom hitting against traditional "blue" poli turf without a much larger Nanos sample size for BC with regional break-outs. Nobody saw the extent of the fed Liberal majority across Canada or BC... went all the way to Kelowna ... 1968 redux mostly as a result of "blue" liberal/red tory vote switchers.

And yes, I also predicted the 2013 BC provincial election about one week before e-day due to 4 material matters, which I have already previously described in detail up-thread.

Well, let's not forget your misses, like the Vancouver civic election in 2014 where you got the mayor wrong but got 8/10 of the councillors right. You're not infallible despite what your long posts try to imply.

[Bcasey25raptor]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Haha. Now you've gone wayyyyyyy over the top. Either negligent misrepresentation or just plain ignorance of my 2015 fed election postings in the Canada Forum. Hopefully not willful.

During the fed election numerous opinion polls came out from various pollsters that included CATI, IVR, and opt-in online panel pollsters. I posted on numerous occasions therein that one should just follow CATI pollster Nanos's "daily tracking poll" - very expensive and very accurate with an excellent track record. BTW, their final numbers federally in 2015 were "bang-on" again... even their small sub-sample size for BC was almost dead-on for both 2011 and 2015.

As a matter of fact, the poster "Bcasey25raptor" herein also posted consistently in the fed election thread in the Canada Forum. Still recall him stating that if the Cons won that he might move to Australia as a result. I advised "Bcasey25raptor" to only keep looking at 2 figures in the daily Nanos tracking poll: "Best PM" numbers as well as the trend-line for the Libs. JT was surging ahead in the "Best PM" number during the ~final 10 days of the campaign, which is always a precursor to party preference levels. I'm sure that "Bcasey25raptor" will corroborate same (if he even remembers anymore). BTW about 7 - 10 days before the fed election, I already confidently predicted/posted about a fed Liberal majority gov't.

And I also predicted that the fed Libs would take all the North Shore seats (inclusive of North Burnaby-Seymour), all Van City proper seats (excepting V-K and V-E), both Richmond seats as well as the 2 North Surrey seats at a minimum (Surrey Centre/Surrey-Newton). 'Twas difficult to ascertain how far out the "red" tide would flow therefrom hitting against traditional "blue" poli turf without a much larger Nanos sample size for BC with regional break-outs. Nobody saw the extent of the fed Liberal majority across Canada or BC... went all the way to Kelowna ... 1968 redux mostly as a result of "blue" liberal/red tory vote switchers.

And yes, I also predicted the 2013 BC provincial election about one week before e-day due to 4 material matters, which I have already previously described in detail up-thread.

Yes I do remember this well. I knew the NDP didn't stand a chance and that the Liberals would surge. What I didn't know was how well the vote spread would flow for the Liberals. I only new it would be a Trudeau majority 2 days before the election, I won a 6 pack of beer on it.

A week before the election I knew Trudeau had the election, prior to that vote splitting appeared to be a factor so I saw a weak minority, be it either Tory or Liberal.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Well, let's not forget your misses, like the Vancouver civic election in 2014 where you got the mayor wrong but got 8/10 of the councillors right. You're not infallible despite what your long posts try to imply.

Damnit I should have taken the bet(!)

My response

I think the Greens will only get 1.
I think Rob McDowell will make it in for the NPA.
And I still think Gregor will be mayor.

At least Stingray had the decency not to edit/delete hundreds of inflammatory posts in that thread like a certain other member who mysteriously "disappeared".

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Well, let's not forget your misses, like the Vancouver civic election in 2014 where you got the mayor wrong but got 8/10 of the councillors right. You're not infallible despite what your long posts try to imply.

Woah there cowboy!

Off the bat, BC provincial elections are the easiest to predict with the "lesser of two evils" voting habits of BCers... provincial election after election historically in terms of the key narratives.

And ya must remember that there are now 87 provincial ridings heading into 2017. And ya must also comprehend each and every riding in terms of demographics and historical voting patterns in order to come to a logical/analytical conclusion politically. Have done same since Grade 7 myself. Yep. Am a poli junkie.

The 2nd easiest to predict is fed elections... I have also always had a good sense of each riding across Canada. But the Lib/Con/NDP/BQ/Green mix also begins to complicate things.

Now we come to municipal elections. Frankly, these are the toughest to predict. Too much political cross-pollination. To wit, Van City proper. Vision Vancouver's head fundraiser is Bob Rennie... one of the same head fundraisers for the BC Libs provincially. Developers are major contributors to VV. Not a secret. And VV has many federal Liberals involved thereto... albeit mostly "red" Liberals.

Gregor is a nice guy and has the "looks", which always matters in politics (whether ya like it or not). And I would categorize Gregor as a "red" federal Liberal with a bit of a green tinge. Actually wouldn't be surprised if Gregor seeks the fed Lib nomination in Vancouver Centre when Hedy Fry finally retires.

Now back to the 2014 Van City muni election. When I post it's always in "real time" involving "real time" political matters as I did back in November, 2014. Not after the fact. In any event, ya do realize that Vision Vancouver's own internal tracking polls had Kirk LaPointe slightly ahead of Gregor, on both their Wednesday/Thursday night results, prior to e-day on the following Saturday?

And public IVR/opt-in online polls (which are considered to benefit the centre-left due to various factors) also had a very close race between Gregor and Lapointe. Let's face it... Gregor faced major backlash from some of his decisions and the left-wing COPE ran Meana Wong as its mayoral candidate, which would have obviously drained some "left-wing" NDP support from Gregor.

Obviously Vision Vancouver panicked with their internal tracking polls showing a Lapointe lead in the final few days:

Robertson Makes Public Apology, Pleads For Strategic Voting
FRANCES BULA
VANCOUVER — Special to The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 10:18PM EST

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...ds-for-strategic-voting/article21569484/

Not to hard to ascertain why I came to my conclusion back in the day in terms of Gregor... albeit he won by a 5.5% margin after the fact. As a matter of fact, VV also internally ascertained that Geoff Meggs would also lose his council seat. So did I. Final count:

Meggs (VV): 56,831

Robertson (NPA): 56,319

A marginal ~500 vote win.

I can go on and discuss the 2014 Van City muni election in even more detail ... as well as the more complicated 2014 Surrey mayoral contest, for example, with similar political cross-pollination. But I will abide by the KISS principle here (Keep It Simple).

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by csbvan

If you still blindly support this type of cynical government due to some partisan purity, then I believe that says a lot about one's moral compass.

Alright. Off the bat, this thread is about objective and analytical political analysis heading into the 2017 provincial election... no matter what your political colours.

So your prime objective is obviously one's "mortal compass" politically. That's good.

Remember that all reading this thread are political junkies. And we are all able to separate the political wheat from the chaff. No dummies here.

So ya now also post the same stuff here, about the BC Lib provincial leader stipend, as well as into the Canada section in the "Provincial Economies" thread. Now what the hell does that have to do with BC's provincial economy or any Canadian economy at all? I am all ears.

Are you that "wet/green between the ears" politically that ya can't even discern the difference between a provincial economy in the Canada section and a localized political matter in the Vancouver/BC section?

Or am I missing something here?

Alright. I'm gonna smoke ya out here. And ya will eventually find out that ya can't play silly partisan poli games with me.

1. Off the bat, the BC NDP, during the 1990's and previously, siphoned $millions from BC charities into BC NDP coffers. Criminal charges were laid with subsequent criminal convictions;

2. BC NDP leader Horgan signed off, in the 1990's, on Adrian Dix's generous taxpayer payout, after his fake "Memo to File" incident.

3. BC NDP leader Horgan recently misled/deceived G & M columnist Gary Mason (Mason publicly wrote about same) about a $2,000/person breakfast fundraiser in Toronto of all places. Organized by a lobbyist for Bruce Nuclear Power. Imagine that.

4. Over the past week or so, the Toronto Star has been running numerous articles about internal Ontario NDP shenanigans concerning deceit and cover-up in their internal financial affairs after an ON Lib gov't announcement on a future ban on corporate/union donations. Kinda unreal actually,

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2...ny-sold-party-headquarters-building.html

I can go on and on. Now ya imply on here that everyone should have a political "moral compass" in terms of voting intentions. Well, with your definition, ya obviously can't vote BC Lib. Ya obviously can't vote BC NDP. The only alternative is the BC Greens. Right?

If ya are unable to confirm the foregoing... then spare everyone with your highly partisan political BC NDP BS. Anyone with half a brain can read through same herein.

Obviously ya have absolutely no credible/objective political analytical skills (irrespective of your political leanings).

[ssiguy]

How BC votes federally and provincially are very different.

BC is very stratified politically, socially , and economically and the provincial results reflect that. The division is not only the socio-economic but also regional. The Island usually goes NDP, the Interior, North, and Fraser Valley go Liberal {although the BC Liberals are anything but and BC has arguably had the most Conservative governments in the country for the last 15 years} with Vancouver being a bit mixed divided more along socio-economic factors than actual cities.

The Green vote in BC helps the Liberals immensely as they split the centre/left vote.

The Liberals and SoCreds before them also seem to successfully put fear into the electorate with the 'socialists at the door' inferences to the NDP. The Liberals are also benefiting from the large Chinese influx as they tend to be more socially conservative and far more capitalistic than the population at large which is made even more potent by their heavy wallets.

Certainly there are divisions in the federal context like everywhere else but not to near the extremes.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Eby is doing a good job so far.

Atta boy Warren. Ya never disappoint.

Still recall, during the 2010 Van Winter Olympics, when Eby was head of the Civil Liberties Society, which opposed same. As a matter of fact, they had "monitors" on the streets of downtown Van City to protect those that opposed same.

When Eby caught wind that the criminal anarchic Black Bloc would protest same, Eby pulled his monitors in order that they could not be able to provide evidence against the Black Bloc for criminal conduct.

I saw the criminal conduct of the Black Bloc on downtown Van City streets. So did everyone else on TV. As a matter of fact, I still recall poster/moderator JLousa posting on here, viewing same in Yaletown with buds, and got so fed up with the live TV visuals that they were gonna head onto local streets to do something about it. Hell, as a former non-league hockey player, I woulda done same myself. Have zero tolerance for that scum.

Then, during the 2013 election, Eby proudly told his campaign team (reported in the media) that he would "fight the moderates in the party". Those moderates are federal "red" liberals.

Again. Atta boy Warren. Now I finally know where ya lie politically.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Atta boy Warren. Ya never disappoint.

Still recall, during the 2010 Van Winter Olympics, when Eby was head of the Civil Liberties Society, which opposed same. As a matter of fact, they had "monitors" on the streets of downtown Van City to protect those that opposed same.

When Eby caught wind that the criminal anarchic Black Bloc would protest same, Eby pulled his monitors in order that they could not be able to provide evidence against the Black Bloc for criminal conduct.

I saw the criminal conduct of the Black Bloc on downtown Van City streets. So did everyone else on TV. As a matter of fact, I still recall poster/moderator JLousa posting on here, viewing same in Yaletown with buds, and got so fed up with the live TV visuals that they were gonna head onto local streets to do something about it. Hell, as a former non-league hockey player, I woulda done same myself. Have zero tolerance for that scum.

Then, during the 2013 election, Eby proudly told his campaign team (reported in the media) that he would "fight the moderates in the party". Those moderates are federal "red" liberals.

Again. Atta boy Warren. Now I finally know where ya lie politically.

Way to take one line of my entire post and ramble on about it. I know all about what the BCCLA did during the Olympics, and I didn't support it then and don't defend it now.

That doesn't change the fact that Eby is exposing the BC Liberals for the dirty politicians they are. The party under Clark has gone so far down the corruption hole it's disgusting. You should defend them if you take an issue on what Eby is saying now, in 2016. You deflect every argument against the current BC Libs with rhetoric and random stories from the past with no relevance to current events.

Your internet tough-guy routine about what you woulda coulda shoulda done 6 years ago is hilarious to me. Please tell me more about what you might have done in some alternate reality. You can talk all you want about what you think you know, but really it's as valuable as what I pay to read your posts, which is jack —.

I've voted for Liberals provincially more times than NDP. I've only voted for the NDP once. That doesn't change the fact that Clark is a — show, and the 2016 BC Libs are a far cry from the 2000s under Campbell.

Your political stripes are far too obvious. You support whatever — they shovel out to the masses. Please go on about how triple-deleting emails is ethical, or support the BC Minister of Finance who claims not to use email. Sounds like scum to me.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Way to take one line of my entire post and ramble on about it. I know all about what the BCCLA did during the Olympics, and I didn't support it then and don't defend it now.

That doesn't change the fact that Eby is exposing the BC Liberals for the dirty politicians they are. The party under Clark has gone so far down the corruption hole it's disgusting. You should defend them if you take an issue on what Eby is saying now, in 2016. You deflect every argument against the current BC Libs with rhetoric and random stories from the past with no relevance to current events.

Your internet tough-guy routine about what you woulda coulda shoulda done 6 years ago is hilarious to me. Please tell me more about what you might have done in some alternate reality. You can talk all you want about what you think you know, but really it's as valuable as what I pay to read your posts, which is jack —.

I've voted for Liberals provincially more times than NDP. I've only voted for the NDP once. That doesn't change the fact that Clark is a — show, and the 2016 BC Libs are a far cry from the 2000s under Campbell.

Your political stripes are far too obvious. You support whatever — they shovel out to the masses. Please go on about how triple-deleting emails is ethical, or support the BC Minister of Finance who claims not to use email. Sounds like scum to me.

Oh fer chrise sakes Warren. See ya too many times on here accuse others to be "drunk" when ya disagree with 'em. And then when I utilize colloquialisms ... ya call me a "hillbilly". That's your clear modus operandi on this site.

BTW, quite obvious to me that the term "colloquialism" is not even within your lexicon.

Just off the bat... do me one favour, eh? Please vote BC NDP in 2017. Your combined mindsets are made in political heaven!

No secret where my political leanings lie... have already posted several times that I am a "blue" "federal" Liberal and am centre-right politically. To dumb it down for ya... ya — up the economy... every thing else goes to shite. Wayyyy over your head. Obviously.

And ya know Eby's complaints to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner? Well tonight he ruled:

Premier Not In Conflict On Party Fundraising or Stipend, Commissioner Rules

ROB SHAW

Vancouver Sun

Published on: May 4, 2016 | Last Updated: May 4, 2016 7:48 PM PDT

VICTORIA — Premier Christy Clark was not in a conflict of interest for hosting exclusive party fundraisers or receiving an annual stipend for leading the B.C. Liberal Party, the province’s conflict-of-interest commissioner has ruled.

Commissioner Paul Fraser issued his ruling late on Wednesday, dismissing complaints filed by NDP MLA David Eby and Democracy Watch Canada leader Duff Conacher.

“The premier’s private interest is not advanced by any particular donor or group of donors at these events,” wrote Fraser. “She cannot, therefore, be in an apparent conflict of interest in relation to those donors.”

He said any funds raised were benefits to the party and “any such benefit the premier might derive from the donations is of an indirect, general and political nature, rather than of a direct, particular and personal nature.”

Fraser said he realized the issue of party fundraising is one of significant public debate, but “it is not appropriate for me nor within my purview to set parameters for the scope and scale of party fundraising events. Ultimately those decisions must be made by the legislature.”

Eby had complained that donors are paying more than $20,000 to attend private B.C. Liberal Party fundraisers that effectively sell access to the premier. As well, he said the $50,000 annual party stipend for the premier placed her in a direct conflict because it was like a commission payment that was dependent on the party fundraiser.

Fraser dismissed the commission argument, citing evidence from the party that Clark received the stipend even in 2012 when the party was in a deficit.

The commissioner also noted the leader of the B.C. NDP, John Horgan, holds similar exclusive fundraising events. He said that, with an election in one year in which Horgan may become premier, any restrictions on fundraising that Eby argued should apply to the premier ought to apply to the Opposition, too.

Eby said he was disappointed with the ruling.

Eby said he would be writing to the commissioner to complain.

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/...undraising-or-stipend-commissioner-rules

And from the same political front just today:

Gordzilla in the City: NDP Attack On Salaries Is a Cheap Political Stunt

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/05/04/...-on-salaries-is-a-cheap-political-stunt/

BALDREY: Scandals Don’t Stick To B.C.’s Teflon Liberals

Keith Baldrey / North Shore News
May 4, 2016 09:07 AM


The NDP continues to try to find its political footing, and don’t seem the most confident or contented group of people. They continue to give the B.C. Liberals plenty of angles of attack when it comes to talking about economic issues.

No matter what the NDP throws, the B.C. Liberals seem to laugh it off, apparently convinced their opponent’s brand is a broken one.

Then there’s the electoral math: the NDP needs to steal about eight ridings from the B.C. Liberal column in the next election to win. It means convincing more than 2,000 people who voted for the B.C. Liberals in 2013 in those particular ridings to make the switch and vote NDP next spring, a daunting task.

And so the B.C. Liberals add it all up, and think it points to an election decision that has favoured its side in 15 of the last 18 contests. People vote with their wallets, so they believe, not with their emotions.

As I have noted, they’d be quite right.

http://www.nsnews.com/opinion/columnists...-liberals-1.2246442#sthash.YDeTSCUG.dpuf

PS. Ya may now wanna ask ... why? 'Cause the BC NDP is the most incompetent (historically very corrupt in gov't to boot) political entity in Canada and is simply no longer electable in most BC ridings, which are centre-right demographically. Period. Common knowledge. Unless the BC NDP is crushed in 2017... we will see repeat BC Libs wins into the 2030's.

Need a federal Liberal type party in BC to usurp the BC NDP in opposition as the BC NDP is no longer relevant to most BCers... and simply just not perceived as a "government in waiting". But, of course, ya will never be able to figure that one out either.

[WarrenC12]

So we have the commissioner ruling that this is not a conflict of interest.

The commissioner's own son works in Christy Clark's communications office.

And somehow this report was leaked to the Liberals before it was released.

Yep, all sounds legit here.

And for the record, numerous posters to this here forum think your hillbilly communication style is dumb. You've been told same on many of the national forums.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

So we have the commissioner ruling that this is not a conflict of interest.

The commissioner's own son works in Christy Clark's communications office.

And somehow this report was leaked to the Liberals before it was released.

Yep, all sounds legit here.

And for the record, numerous posters to this here forum think your hillbilly communication style is dumb. You've been told same on many of the national forums.

No doubt about it. You are an intransigent "hard-core" BC NDPer. Why don't ya just fess up? Spare the " I voted BC Lib meme.

Now let's see:

1. The BC NDP supported Paul Fraser's appointment as BC's Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner fully aware that his son worked for the gov't;

2. David Eby, after filing his complaints, again publicly stated that he he was not only fully aware of same but also stated that Paul Fraser's integrity was "beyond reproach";

3. Has now been confirmed that BC's Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner report itself was not not leaked to the govt, only the timing of it... from the media!

Now Warren, I will again re-iterate... is it any wonder why one poster here previously privately DMed me (with ya as my previous interlocutor on another matter) that ya "are not the sharpest knife in the drawer"?

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

And for the record, numerous posters to this here forum think your hillbilly communication style is dumb. You've been told same on many of the national forums.

Atta boy Warren!

[urbancanadian]

I try to keep things relatively formal on here, and stick to discussing the issues, but I just can't help myself on this one. And of course, it's none of my business, but I have to ask: Stingray, for the love of god, can you please tone down the over-the-top political posts.

I've said it before - you have a lot of knowledge with regards to federal and provincial politics, as well as some great insights into the current provincial government's views on several topics such as highways, and natural resource development. Obviously you're entitled to your opinions - and personally, I want to hear them out because I'm interested in hearing from all sides of a debate. BUT it gets to be so difficult to take your views into account when you take on this "arrogant yokel" persona. It's too bad because you often make some great points, but it gets lost in the rhetoric.

Before I joined this site, I remember reading many of your posts and taking many of them into consideration. Since then however, they've become a lot more polarizing and I've largely stopped reading your posts because of it. I suspect I'm not the only one. From a selfish point of view, I want to be able to read from one of the more knowledgeable people on the conservative side of things, which would be you. But FFS, how anyone can read through some of this... I dunno... I just picture someone slogging through the mud with their tablet in hand, struggling to make it to the end.

Okay, I'm rambling now so I'll end this here. Just tone it down so we can get back to hearing your actual points of view (on the actual topic).

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

I try to keep things relatively formal on here, and stick to discussing the issues, but I just can't help myself on this one. And of course, it's none of my business, but I have to ask: Stingray, for the love of god, can you please tone down the over-the-top political posts.

I've said it before - you have a lot of knowledge with regards to federal and provincial politics, as well as some great insights into the current provincial government's views on several topics such as highways, and natural resource development. Obviously you're entitled to your opinions - and personally, I want to hear them out because I'm interested in hearing from all sides of a debate. BUT it gets to be so difficult to take your views into account when you take on this "arrogant yokel" persona. It's too bad because you often make some great points, but it gets lost in the rhetoric.

Before I joined this site, I remember reading many of your posts and taking many of them into consideration. Since then however, they've become a lot more polarizing and I've largely stopped reading your posts because of it. I suspect I'm not the only one. From a selfish point of view, I want to be able to read from one of the more knowledgeable people on the conservative side of things, which would be you. But FFS, how anyone can read through some of this... I dunno... I just picture someone slogging through the mud with their tablet in hand, struggling to make it to the end.

Okay, I'm rambling now so I'll end this here. Just tone it down so we can get back to hearing your actual points of view (on the actual topic).

Sorry. Give it a rest. "Way over the top"? v. "actual rhetoric" by others on here? And the rest of your ramblings are also wayyyy outta whack. Sorry.

Now I remember who ya are... You are the fella who supported a troll who posted this in response to one of my posts last year:

“Can we get this guy suspended or banned?”

Sorry. I have been here for 12 years and I have zero tolerance for that trolling —. It is what it is.

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

I've largely stopped reading your posts

Please do. And kindly don't ever respond to any of my posts again. 95% of the folk on this site are great... both intelligent and analytical. It's the other trolling 5% on here, obviously including yourself, that most in society don't have tolerance for either that always willfully disrupts.

[Migrant_Coconut]

It does get irritating when anybody criticizing the BC Liberals is called an NDP shill or a troll, and is subsequently insulted and dismissed out of hand. Surely there's a less abrasive way of defending your party, or even of replying to anybody who disagrees with you.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

It does get irritating when anybody criticizing the BC Liberals is called an NDP shill or a troll, and is subsequently insulted and dismissed out of hand. Surely there's a less abrasive way of defending your party, or even of replying to anybody who disagrees with you.

Yeah well... look at your previous post herein:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Please, Christy's definitely the pimp. Just look at how often Stone and Fassbender get smacked until they behave right.

Now that's a comment by a — NDPer if I have ever seen one. Akin to one leaving their fingerprints at a crime scene.

Now... here in BC... at election time it's always the "lesser of two evils" at the ballot box. These days either BC Lib or BC NDP.

Or are ya a 3rd party BC Green party supporter? I am all ears! Lemme know!

PS. Gonna be a fun thread as we move toward May, 2017.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Now that's a comment by a — NDPer if I have ever seen one. Akin to one leaving their fingerprints at a crime scene.

Now... here in BC... at election time it's always the "lesser of two evils" at the ballot box. These days either BC Lib or BC NDP.

Or are ya a 3rd party BC Green party supporter? I am all ears! Lemme know!

PS. Gonna be a fun thread as we move toward May, 2017.

Please, I wasn't even old enough to vote (or in-country) back in the 2013 election.

If I come up with a joke about any politician, I'll post it. If somehow Horgan miraculously gets the premier's seat, then also cockblocks Vancouver's transit funding out of spite (or ignores the housing crisis, or decides to hold a yoga event on Burrard Bridge), I'll probably be mocking him too. More so, if the NDP keeps its promise to shoot the provincial economy in the foot.
AFAIK, you're right. Whoever wins 2017, BC loses.

Back to my point - and in hindsight, this goes to everybody - can this become more of a civil discussion (or at least a passive-aggressive snark fest) and less of a YouTube comment section?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

No doubt about it. You are an intransigent "hard-core" BC NDPer. Why don't ya just fess up? Spare the " I voted BC Lib meme.

Now Warren, I will again re-iterate... is it any wonder why one poster here previously privately DMed me (with ya as my previous interlocutor on another matter) that ya "are not the sharpest knife in the drawer"?

I actually voted for Clark last time around. I'm embarrassed to admit given the present day. I think you need to fess up to your disappointment that Harper got the boot.

Some nameless member PM'd you and called me a dum-dum? Oh boy, I better take some time and re-examine my life. This is serious business.

[Bcasey25raptor]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Way to take one line of my entire post and ramble on about it. I know all about what the BCCLA did during the Olympics, and I didn't support it then and don't defend it now.

That doesn't change the fact that Eby is exposing the BC Liberals for the dirty politicians they are. The party under Clark has gone so far down the corruption hole it's disgusting. You should defend them if you take an issue on what Eby is saying now, in 2016. You deflect every argument against the current BC Libs with rhetoric and random stories from the past with no relevance to current events.

Your internet tough-guy routine about what you woulda coulda shoulda done 6 years ago is hilarious to me. Please tell me more about what you might have done in some alternate reality. You can talk all you want about what you think you know, but really it's as valuable as what I pay to read your posts, which is jack —.

I've voted for Liberals provincially more times than NDP. I've only voted for the NDP once. That doesn't change the fact that Clark is a — show, and the 2016 BC Libs are a far cry from the 2000s under Campbell.

Your political stripes are far too obvious. You support whatever — they shovel out to the masses. Please go on about how triple-deleting emails is ethical, or support the BC Minister of Finance who claims not to use email. Sounds like scum to me.

100% agreed with everything you typed.

[Bcasey25raptor]

Stingray your data is accurate but the passive aggressive attacks on others for their political affiliation seriously needs to stop.

You are calling others trolls yet the only troll I see right now is you. The others posting above complaining about this were shot down by you but that doesn't change the fact they are right.

Please tone down the partisan banter and try and engage respectfully.

Thank you.