SpankyMcFarland

So many unknowns. A military coup would have been impossible in the 'good old days' but Putin may have opened the door with his brand of amoral authoritarianism and the wee taste of prosperity that has trickled down to the lower orders. I'd say assassination would be the best first step for any plotters. He wouldn't be as slow to react as Gorby was.

This sort of thing used to be merely spoken. Now, through a miracle of modern technology, young people can ruin their lives by documenting every depraved idea they have for posterity (and don't most of us entertain some unspeakable thought at some point or another?). I just don't get Facebook at all. Nobody under 40 should be trusted with it.

In answer to the original statement, timidity is not a problem that Netanyahu suffers from. He has always been brash and he seems to make a point of pushing the boundaries with Obama. Leaks like this happen with every administration. They don't mean anything in themselves but I'm sure a lot of US officials are exasperated with Bibi.

There's always a junior partner in the real world. Canada and the UK are definitely in that category.

..I will want to talk to some real Ontarians and ask them why, why do so many of you turkeys vote for Christmas? I meet very few Harper fans offline in Atlantic Canada, or at least very few who are willing to admit they voted for him.

It's an enormous city but the famous sites are fairly close together. The Hagia Sophia is up there with the Pantheon in the top ten intact masterworks of the Roman Empire. We felt there was a good atmosphere, friendly to foreigners, although the calls to prayer take a bit of getting used to.

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that I too would make an appalling politician. I wouldn't vote for someone like me.

Well, yes but it's what they portend for the GE. You wouldn't seriously expect the Liberals to win in Alberta?

She behaved badly here. Politics is a tough game but there are accepted ways of doing things. Leaders of the opposition don't cross the floor. She should have resigned and made her position clear first.

Back to the main topic for a second...Danielle Smith's behaviour has been extraordinary. Can anybody point to a previous example in Canadian history of a leader of the opposition crossing the floor under similar circumstances? If it has happened before, it must be a very long time ago.

I didn't bring up any secret agenda. Harper has definitely moved closer to Canada's centre to keep power. His main agenda is staying in power.

The emotion you bring here is similar to Harper's and shows your support for a kindred spirit. Harper has pursued a personal agenda on Khadr for some reason. Again and again, on small issues he distinguishes himself and sends a message to the base. His stance on prisons isn't small and his approach to emissions has ben fairly clear. The Liberals muddled along on that file whereas Harper has been more strident. I think a Prentice govt. would be less confrontational than Harper - not much different in substance but softer in tone. On the economy, Canada has had a broad consensus since Michael Wilson's time, so I don't see big changes comng in that area no matter who is in charge.

Hold on. This is about where Harper is on the spectrum not whether his position is correct or not. Harper created something new in Canada, an Office of Religious Freedom. I can't see any of his predecessors doing that. Actually, they didn't. His speech to the Knesset and his many statements on Israel have changed Canada's perceived position on the ME. Really, I can't see how one can conclude otherwise. He's not Jean Chretien.

I would put Harper definitely to the right of Prentice on the Christian issues spectrum and I think he would have a less confrontational style with the Supreme Court and would harbour grudges less intensely. I don't see Prentice seeking a photo op confrontation with Putin either.

He TALKS like a hardcore right winger on religion, Israel, Ukraine, Khadr, the Supreme Court.

That's a bit ambiguous. He's a lot better than the original.

Erin O'Toole has been doing excellent Fantino impersonations on Power and Politics for weeks now. He strikes the right note, not too cocky, and does not depend entirely on annoying talking points.

A New Year's resolution for Mr. Baird - stop telling us to 'listen' in every second sentence. And if Harper could cut down on 'look', that would be a nice bonus. Listening to Baird and Kenney back to back today on CBC, I couldn't help noticing that Jason gets through a lot more content per minute.

And I don't want to think what I'd be prepared to do or say to keep my pension.

In fairness, every MP must be tempted to do this in the heat of battle. Not the worst of political crimes.

In Canada, people don't seem to be nearly as focused on the swing in elections as they are in the UK. In the last two by-elections, for example, there was a big swing to the Liberals. That's what matters.

King ruled in a more deferential era. His weirdness was well concealed. If he had even been forced to face the occasional TV interview like Harper, he would have struggled.

Simples. Pay down the debt every chance you get.

Mr. Vickers was brave but there are some operational and administrative questions for him to answer. This could be awkward.

If Marc Garneau had won, something tells me he wouldn't be getting any softer treatment from our friends on the Right.