Ind. Senator Pitfield resigns TONIGHT
Another Ontario seat will be open for Mr. Harper to fill as of midnight TONIGHT, as Independent (though appointed by Trudeau) Senator Michael Pitfield has announced his immediate retirement, though his term was not up for another two years.
He has cited declining health as the reason for his sudden departure. I certainly wish him a speedy recovery, as I would not wish ill towards anyone, regardless of their political stripe.
His retirement will now put us at 52, but giving us 51 votes as the Speaker does not vote. With one of the 49 Liberals in near permanent exile, the magic number for control comes down to 52... which means if ALL the other Senators vote against us, we're only down by TWO VOTES.
But it also means that come November 29 (Happy B-Day sis!), we'll be tied at 52 vs. 52. BUT, then just a week later on December 6, it swings to 53 vs. 51... SENATE MAJORITY.
So, who's it going to be folks? Any names come to mind?
He has cited declining health as the reason for his sudden departure. I certainly wish him a speedy recovery, as I would not wish ill towards anyone, regardless of their political stripe.
His retirement will now put us at 52, but giving us 51 votes as the Speaker does not vote. With one of the 49 Liberals in near permanent exile, the magic number for control comes down to 52... which means if ALL the other Senators vote against us, we're only down by TWO VOTES.
But it also means that come November 29 (Happy B-Day sis!), we'll be tied at 52 vs. 52. BUT, then just a week later on December 6, it swings to 53 vs. 51... SENATE MAJORITY.
So, who's it going to be folks? Any names come to mind?
Labels: Senate
posted by Christian Conservative @ 1:49 p.m.
14 Comments:
At Tue Jun 01, 03:00:00 p.m. EDT,
Anonymous said…
If Harper picks a local Ottawa Senator, he should pick Brian McGarry. He is well known in the community through his funeral home business, his work as school trustee, and he ran unsuccessfully for the Ottawa Centre seat.
Having helped him during the campaign this man is a real gentleman, and is respected by people from all political strips in Ottawa.
Therefore I submit to you, that Brian McGarry be appointed to the Senate.
At Tue Jun 01, 03:08:00 p.m. EDT,
Anonymous said…
No names come to mind although I think it will be a female.
At Tue Jun 01, 03:10:00 p.m. EDT,
Anonymous said…
Whatever will you do without the handy excuse of being outnumbered in the Senate?
At Tue Jun 01, 03:26:00 p.m. EDT,
Christian Conservative said…
Anon@3:10, maybe finally get some things done around Ottawa for a change! Here's to a Senate Majority!
But then Canadians will see that it's really the Opposition in the House that's the problem, and will give us a majority there too, so we can get things done for CANADIANS.
But let's face it... you're REAL fear in our getting a Majority is not that we'll do terrible things with it... it's that we'll do AMAZING things with it, and Canadians will like what they see, and give us ANOTHER MAJORITY as a result. One or two more years of wilderness you can stand... but EIGHT? Cause you know full well that if we get one, WE'LL ACTUALLY END UP GETTING AT LEAST TWO.
At Tue Jun 01, 03:55:00 p.m. EDT,
Anonymous said…
If you want a majority so badly, why don't you start convincing us by doing something useful?
What happened to accountability?
Open government?
Honesty?
Telling the truth?
Working with parliament to achieve something, anything?
Fiscal responsibility?
Respect for, and adherence to, the law?
You've done absolutely none of that. You certainly haven't earned a majority.
At Tue Jun 01, 04:58:00 p.m. EDT,
maryT said…
Anon, when did the liberals ever do any of your suggestions. And they had 13 yrs of majority. And if Martin's ego hadn't got in the way, he would have gone into the next election with a majority, after his mandate was completed, not 2 yrs early, just because he thought/wanted a larger majority than JC got.
At Tue Jun 01, 04:59:00 p.m. EDT,
KURSK said…
..like the above poster would EVER vote for the Conservatives!
At Tue Jun 01, 05:06:00 p.m. EDT,
Sandy Crux said…
Well Anonymous, you might want to look at some of the honest to goodness "accomplishments" the Harper gov't has -- with a minority. Just imagine what they could do with a majority.
http://theretirededucator.ca/?page_id=14885
No gov't is perfect which is why your whining about accountability is just that, whining.
At Tue Jun 01, 05:43:00 p.m. EDT,
Anonymous said…
I say Lewis McKenzie.
At Tue Jun 01, 05:48:00 p.m. EDT,
bertie said…
Anonymous,why don't you start by being honest.Tell us your name.Are you fiscally responsible?Do you respect the law/Prove it. Can,t do it well get lost idiot.
At Tue Jun 01, 09:21:00 p.m. EDT,
Anon1152 said…
maryT: I think that the liberals under Chretien were better one the "fiscal responsibility" front. That seems fairly obvious. Well. Maybe not here...
As for being open, honest, and accountable... I can't defend the liberals there. Though I certainly can't defend the conservatives.
kursk: we don't know who the Anonymous at 3:55 is. He could be a disgruntled Conservative. S/he didn't say anything pro-iberal... And the issues they raised are issues that Harper et al campaigned on... accountability, fiscal responsibility, the law, etc. I don't detect anything there like, say, a concern for Canada's reputation on the world stage, or climate change...
Sandy Crux: You say "No gov't is perfect which is why your whining about accountability is just that, whining."
As I said to kursk, it's possible that anonymous is a Conservative.
No government is perfect. But... that wasn't what Harper campaigned on back in 2004, 2006, etc. As time goes by, I get the feeling that when he talked about the need for honesty, openness, accountability, etc, he was only upset because his side hadn't had the opportunity to be dishonest, unaccountable, etc.
bertie: being honest is good. But your criticisms of anonymous@3:55 don't really address the honesty of his or her comment. Why should they prove they are personally fiscally responsible in order to legitimately ask about whether or not this government has been fiscally responsible? Why do you need to know who they are? I guess knowing more about the commenter would help you fine tune the ad hominem attack...
I think Sandy has the right idea when it comes to responding. The claim that Harper hasn't worked with parliament to achieve something is best countered by pointing to cases where he has worked with parliament to achieve something.
The claim that the conservatives have done "absolutely none of that" could be easily disproven.
Though in general, I think I share anonymous's concerns...
CC: I have not yet answered your question about who should be appointed Senator... If I were a Christian Conservative... I think I would nominate... Michael Coren. What do you think?
At Wed Jun 02, 09:26:00 a.m. EDT,
Ally D said…
Happy birthday to me indeed! It would be exciting to see what a Conservative senate/house would accomplish. But it would be the ONE shot-mess that up and Canadians wouldn't be in a hurry to give them another such chance.
At Wed Jun 02, 12:25:00 p.m. EDT,
maryT said…
So ADSCAM and the Sponsorship scandal are examples of fiscal responsibility by liberals. Then, look at how fiscally responsible the leadership candidates are, not paying their debts. Guess they haven't got the EI fund to steal from to pay them.
That is a great reason to vote them in as PM when they refuse to pay their own debts.
At Wed Jun 02, 12:43:00 p.m. EDT,
Anon1152 said…
They brought Canada's budget into the black. Something that hadn't happened in decades (including two terms under Mulroney majorities). Shortly after Harper came to power... the surplus was gone. And it was entirely predictable considering the changes their tax policies. And it was exactly what they wanted.
They want to shrink the size of government. They can't do so honestly. So they will raise the debt and deficit to such heights that they or any future governments will have to cut spending. The strategy has been used in the USA for decades. It works.
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