Aperte.org Jeremy Handcock

I'm most excited about the upcoming federal election because I get to have an election night party.

I'm all registered to vote by special ballot in my old Edmonton riding. In the last election, I voted Liberal in Bill Graham's Toronto-Rosedale riding. I like Bill Graham a lot (I even shook his hand once), so I gave him my vote instead of the NDP. This time, however, I am guaranteed to vote NDP. There is no risk of vote-splitting issues in my old Edmonton riding, so I am free to vote as I please. Jack Layton is right: vote-splitting prevented the NDP from making any more major gains in the last election, and I was an offender. I don't care though. I'll vote for a Liberal any day if things look close between a Liberal versus Conservative government.

I couldn't believe it when Stephen Harper announced he is planning to campaign on reintroducing same-sex marriage into the House. Un-fucking-believable. I mean I know the Conservatives have to bend somewhat to satisfy the Reform-Alliance crazies, but same-sex marriage is, in general, a non-issue in Canada now and no one wants to see it become an election issue. It has zero traction. Perhaps the most stupid thing about the idea to re-debate same-sex marriage is that there is no way to come out victorious. Much to Harpers dismay, there is *no way* to put the stop on same-sex marriage without using the notwithstanding clause. I would like to see any politician just try to invoke the clause. His/her head would be served up on a platter. Harper and his cronies are fools if they think they can get away with it.

Perhaps the most entertaining thing I saw in today's campaign coverage was when a reporter asked Stephen Harper, "Do you love Canada?" That's the easiest question you could ever ask a Canadian politician, but he failed so miserably. It's kind of like asking a candidate in a job interview to work at Company X, "Do you love Company X?" Of course the candidate would say yes and list a few things about why he/she loves the company. Harper, why are you such a fucking fool? He mumbled something about how politicians travel a lot and about how there are things to fix. He got a bit red in the face, so at least he knows he sounded like an idiot. Incredible, I say. Paul Martin cashed in on Harper's slip-up almost immediately and said at a Liberal rally, "I love Canada! / J'aime le Canada!" Not entirely clever, but it was a great little jab.

I think I'll make the election a new feature in my blog. I'll even make a new category for it!