Anti prorogue rally in Toronto

[Narrow Back]

I went there for about 30 minutes and walked around. The crowd consisted of liberals, NDP, socialists and communists - at least judging from the signs and propaganda that was being handed out.

There is no doubt this was a great success for the anti conservative crowd. Dundas Square was filled to capacity. I live near there, Queens Park and Toronto city hall. I have seen countless demonstrations over the years. This was by far the biggest I have seen for this group. If I were a Liberal I would be very happy about today.

I will say this, today marks a change in the complacency the left has been mired in for the last few years. The details or the truth about this proroguing are now entirely moot. The left now has the 'Big Mo' on their side. Harper's assumptions about the reaction of the public have proven disastrously wrong. If the Libs find a more appealing candidate than Ig, they're looking at a majority come next election time.

One point I want to make, which may seem petty, is that I have noticed that when conservatives or Republicans or the Tea Party crowd gather someone always mentions how white the crowds are. As the pictures and videos come in for this event, take note of the crowd's make up. Looks like a very white crowd to me. I would even say that the conservative rallies I have attended have a more diverse group that this lot. I see more Asians and Hindus at conservative rallies than I saw at Dundas Square today. There were as few black faces in the crowd today as any conservative rally I have ever attended.

[RedDog]

No "Anti-debt and pay your bills first" rally planned in Toronto?

[JLS]

From what I have seen on the news there were also a couple of thousand people in Ottawa and even around 200 people outside Harper's own constituancy office. I really wasn't expecting this kind of turnout.

I think politcians of all sides should take note. The old antics of the past are not going to fly anymore! People are FINALLY getting fed up and will speak out about it. Things better start to change.

[RedDog]

I don't mind them taking an additional month off - and that's all it is. That's a month there are no new bills to steal more of my money to divert it to complete strangers.

Why do I need them in Ottawa again?

[One Truth]

Wait... so you think there's a chance Toronto might vote liberal?

[styky]

And the big question is........How many of them know who their MP is. If they do was it something they just recently became aware of. And of course where were they when the Liberals did it by the drop of a hat.

[Connie Fournier]

There were thousands of people on Parliament Hill. I would guess about 5000.

We went there half expecting it it to be a crowd of freaks wearing terrorist garb and masks like the group that was in Ottawa protesting Bush that time, but we were surprised by the people who were there.

They were a bunch of normal looking Canadians.

That said, we did leave early because the speakers were crap. One thing that we learned when we were organizing rallies is that you have to get your speakers to stick to the message. We left because we were sick of hearing about "climage change". A guy behind us was saying he left because he didn't want to listen to someone talking about some problem with Nortel.

Anyway, I agree with Narrow Back. Harper is in trouble.

[hoarydragon]

Anything the left is champing, I will go the other way.
I wish that parliament be prorogued indefinitely, tired of all those flapping heads.

[RedDog]

Anything the left is champing, I will go the other way.
I wish that parliament be prorogued indefinitely, tired of all those flapping heads.

Exactly. Suspend salaries as well and save a bundle. Why do we need them again?

[Kate Shaw]

I stayed uptown in the Village today, as I do not like to get mixed up with people yelling HEY HEY! HO HO! [FILL IN THE BLANK] HAS GOT TO GO! From what I have seen on the News, besides Jack Layton et al. the speakers were mainly talking about the usual Left Liberal causes and the signs lacked originality.

Would someone please clarify for me the proper definition of the Canadian form of government? Is it called a Parliamentary Democracy? I did not think it is strictly speaking a democracy, but I confess I do not know.

[Dogpatch]

I will say this, today marks a change in the complacency the left has been mired in for the last few years. The details or the truth about this proroguing are now entirely moot. The left now has the 'Big Mo' on their side. Harper's assumptions about the reaction of the public have proven disastrously wrong. If the Libs find a more appealing candidate than Ig, they're looking at a majority come next election time.

I gotta disagree with you on that.

Only the media claimed that Harper assumed Joe and Jane Q Public would not react.

In fact, any reaction is a big bore. It really isn't an important issue.

Unless you want to see countless opposition demands for public inquiries on: Afghans torturing afghans; why Harper's government is spending too much money (after the opposition parties demanded he spend those monies); and whether Omar had cigar smoke blown in his face while visiting Gitmo.

So what is so pressing that Harper should not have prorogued Parliament?

Well, the country is at war. OK But that will wrap up next year. Even the dippers and E. May can't score points on that.

There is the global recession - we had nothing to do with that, but listening to some people, sheesh!

The Toronto 18 - Wow. 'Nuff said about that.

Guns and hosers - OK - crime is rampant. Wait a minute - Harper wants law and order acts to be passed and the raging grannies burn his effigy. Besides, all the commentariats claim crime is on the decline.

Stephen Hume of the Vancouver Sun says it best - "As for we citizens, only 58 per cent of us bothered to vote in the last election, so lighting our collective hair on fire while playing the violated virgin is a bit of a stretch."

[RedDog]

Kate - You're of the impression there's democracy here? Look up Senate seats province by province and compare them to population. The CITY I live in has nearly as many people as PEI and I expect we pay more taxes per day than they do per month.

They set up a pretty slick system for their benefit down east.

[Kate Shaw]

Kate - You're of the impression there's democracy here? Look up Senate seats province by province and compare them to population. The CITY I live in has nearly as many people as PEI and I expect we pay more taxes per day than they do per month.

They set up a pretty slick system for their benefit down east.

Oh, I am not talking about what EXISTS, I am talking about what the paperwork says. America is a Republic, but nothing about the current government (or the last dozen, for that matter) reflects that in any way, shape or form.

[Connie Fournier]

Is the CPC telling people to say that it is better to not have Parliament than to have it? It seems to be quite the theme here lately, and I find it quite disturbing coming from people with populist Reform roots.

I'll put this as plainly as I can. Any country that is being run by one person is a dictatorship.

I know that none of you would be dismissing this if a Liberal had sent everyone home to run things himself. You'd really be better off to just say that you don't care than try to justify it.

[Narrow Back]

I will say this, today marks a change in the complacency the left has been mired in for the last few years. The details or the truth about this proroguing are now entirely moot. The left now has the 'Big Mo' on their side. Harper's assumptions about the reaction of the public have proven disastrously wrong. If the Libs find a more appealing candidate than Ig, they're looking at a majority come next election time.

I gotta disagree with you on that.

Only the media claimed that Harper assumed Joe and Jane Q Public would not react.

In fact, any reaction is a big bore. It really isn't an important issue.

Unless you want to see countless opposition demands for public inquiries on: Afghans torturing afghans; why Harper's government is spending too much money (after the opposition parties demanded he spend those monies); and whether Omar had cigar smoke blown in his face while visiting Gitmo.

So what is so pressing that Harper should not have prorogued Parliament?

Well, the country is at war. OK But that will wrap up next year. Even the dippers and E. May can't score points on that.

There is the global recession - we had nothing to do with that, but listening to some people, sheesh!

The Toronto 18 - Wow. 'Nuff said about that.

Guns and hosers - OK - crime is rampant. Wait a minute - Harper wants law and order acts to be passed and the raging grannies burn his effigy. Besides, all the commentariats claim crime is on the decline.

Stephen Hume of the Vancouver Sun says it best - "As for we citizens, only 58 per cent of us bothered to vote in the last election, so lighting our collective hair on fire while playing the violated virgin is a bit of a stretch."

I think I made it clear, whether it is justified or not, popular opinion has spoken. That's what it is. Check the polls.