The Un-US Politics Discussion Scenario

[batmom]

British Columbia's recent election has been a wild ride and still has the legislature in flux. After all of the recounts were in (there were districts that were decided by hundreds of votes) the current ruling party, the BC Liberals, won more seats at 43. However, there are 77 seats in all. Yesterday the Green party announced that it would throw in its lot with the NDP for a bare majority of 44.

Now the fun stuff that had not even occurred to me. For power to officially shift from the Liberals to the NDP, the Liberal leader either has to resign and have the Lieutenant Governor ask the NDP leader to govern, but that's not happening. The next option is to reconvene the legislature and the NDP-Green coalition will pass a non-confidence vote to trigger the shift. That should happen. BUT... legislature can't convene without a Speaker of the House. The Speaker needs to be an elected MLA but is supposed to be impartial and only votes in the event of a tie. The NDP-Green can't spare an MLA and the Liberals have zero incentive to spare one. Nor is a Liberal likely to volunteer as they'd be seen as betraying the party. No doubt something will force someone to do something as we're Canadian and total anarchy is not our thing, but this situation is pretty wild.

Great article from the Sun explaining it better.

[Deleted]

Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny stepped down recently meaning a leadership contest(also will be taoiseach PM. If not blocked or contested by oppostion)in Fine Gael, well that's coming to its conclusion at the moment its been between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney at the start it was looking like Leo to run away with it, mostly likely still be Leo but its becoming a closer contest than at first Coveney has won the grassroots party membership vote, Leo has majority of Parliamentary votes which hold more sway also locally elected councillors also vote.
I'm watching it all unfold as I type

Whoever takes it I'm officially old, both contenders are younger than me...eek!

Edit. Leo Varadkar elected 11th Leader of Fine Gael and if uncontested by opposition our Taoiseach (PM)

[ladyboy]

I was looking for an article about the UK election to put here, on how Labour is gaining and may be a dark horse to win, but I found this article and the headline pretty much summed up the situation: The world has lost interest in British politics.

But I am interested in how Corbyn is doing well in the polls. What if he wins? What happens to Britain then? Brexit still a go? I think so - he's a pretty old school Labour, who needs Europe type. It's .. interesting times worldwide.

[Carolina]

Jun 2, 2017 13:04:55 GMT -4 @fitz said:

Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny stepped down recently meaning a leadership contest(also will be taoiseach PM. If not blocked or contested by oppostion)in Fine Gael, well that's coming to its conclusion at the moment its been between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney at the start it was looking like Leo to run away with it, mostly likely still be Leo but its becoming a closer contest than at first Coveney has won the grassroots party membership vote, Leo has majority of Parliamentary votes which hold more sway also locally elected councillors also vote.
I'm watching it all unfold as I type

Whoever takes it I'm officially old, both contenders are younger than me...eek!

Edit. Leo Varadkar elected 11th Leader of Fine Gael and if uncontested by opposition our Taoiseach (PM)

You buried the lede, fitz! I just googled Leo Varadkar and he is Ireland's first openly gay PM! I wish the US were making a lot of the strides Ireland seems to be managing.

Jun 2, 2017 13:40:16 GMT -4 ladyboy said:

I was looking for an article about the UK election to put here, on how Labour is gaining and may be a dark horse to win, but I found this article and the headline pretty much summed up the situation: The world has lost interest in British politics.

Theresa May isn't even bothering to show up for debates. The Lib Dem leader dropped the mic in his closing statement.

[Deleted]

Sorry I thought I'd said somewhere else around these parts yeah an openly gay leader of Fine Gael nearly (presumtive is the word I'm looking for) PM who also the son of Indian born father and Irish mother.

Quote from his speech earlier

When my father travelled (to ireland)… I doubt he ever dreamed that his son would one day grow up to become its leader and despite his differences, his son would be treated the same and judged by his actions and character, and not by his ardents and identity.
And so every proud parent in Ireland today can dream big dreams for their children; every boy and girl can know that there is no limits to their ambition, to their possibilities, if they are given the opportunity. So let that be our mission as Fine Gael, to build an Ireland – a Republic of opportunity. One which every individual is given the opportunity to meet their full potential and every part of the country is given its opportunity to share in our prosperity

His Father is a doctor, Leo himself also a doctor before politics and I'm unsure but think if not publicly known before Marriage ref he spoke of he sexuality nor his ethnicity defining him but his action..

It is ather amazing considering homosexuality was only decriminalized here in 1993 and we have Gay marriage only 2years. Now if attitudes to women's reproductive rights move on too we'd be thoroughly modern Ireland

Edit The international media are all omg Ireland voted First gay PM, son of immigrant and here, we are all, none of that matters what matters and what we will judge him on is what he does next?!

I'm just feeling here in the shallow end old, he's 38, Macron 39, Trudeau 45(3 months younger than me)

[ratscabies]

Neo-Nazis marched in Liverpool. The anti-fascist counter protestors gave them the respect they deserved.

Listen to the music!

[Ninja Bunny]

Jan 28, 2017 19:55:22 GMT -4 @fitz said:

Now if attitudes to women's reproductive rights move on too we'd be thoroughly modern Ireland

Pretty much this. Germany and France are killing it on the world stage, and Mayor Khan has become the face of Keep Calm and Carry On while Theresa May just seems anemic.

[jenm]

De-lurking to say Leo Varadkar may be the first openly gay Taoiseach of Ireland but he himself does not represent the progress we've made. He campaigned against civil partnerships and only became pro marriage equality when it was politically expedient, he's trying to curb worker's rights and thinks Tiny Tim should have gotten a job! Last month I would have dreaded a general election but now I'm hoping for one.

[chonies]

Thanks, jenm and fitz--that was the feeling I had as I read through the news. There was a tepid, "yay, social progress I guess," with a much louder, "but what about policy?" I saw a cartoon/comic on an Irish paper last week that had Theresa May asking Leo Varadkar how long he had been out, and he answered, "oh, I've always been Tory."

[Deleted]

The general public had no choice in part as to who would be party leader, I say in part Fine Gael members did and they voted in favour of Coveney, (tho only half of the membership voted).

The cynic in me says that Yes Varadkar appointment gives the world one view of us Gay Toaiseach Ireland all modern! Also gives Fine gael as a party the legacy of having the opportunity and taking it to elect "first gay taoiseach"...policy uhm yeah we get to that later .. too cynical!?!...

Im not Leo's biggest fan but He has the gig now and what happens next is what i will judge him on right now I don't want a GE but that doesn't say I wont be back here screaming for one in 6weeks/months or a year if needed.

I'm not sure if I've made much sense here to be honest.