SpankyMcFarland

But Israel does not threaten Iran? How many times a day are we told that?

I presume this question can eventually be answered by the numbers people. My take is that Harper kept the hardcore vote solid at 30% but could not recruit potential Conservative curious centrists this time. Whether this was primarily a content or style problem is another matter. Kenney does give good answers which are worth hearing, certainly compared to common PandP performers like James, Calandra or Gill. He had a few missteps in Defence, for example over what a front line is, but he's an excellent performer. One big question is the single man issue. There is no such thing as privacy any more for a leadership contender. Are Conservatives ready for such a situation?

Conservative leadership hopefuls may be grateful Harper took the loss which was probably coming anyway. There's a right-wing 30% in this country. To win, that party needs a few more centrists and a divided opposition.

Lisa Raitt sounds like she is interested in the job. I presume that someone from Ontario, not too extreme, would have a shot. Doug Ford would be an utterly wacko choice. Liberal moles must be putting that man's name forward.

It doesn't have to happen if the Conservatives are reasonable.

Between gender parity and provincial representation, merit may have a hard time being recognized. And I hope Ms. Freeland, who would be a merit appointment, will remain as keen to sanction Russian oligarchs in Canada as she was before the election.

Harper is doing the right thing by staying on and providing continuity.

French supporters are still steaming over Joubert's many bad decisions at the last RWC final that handed the game to NZ.

OK but what about no more comfort up front? You've seen our last two finance ministers? Do you not think they are entitled to a LITTLE consideration given what they had to put up with otherwise? There seems to be this relentless desire to cut any public servant down to size. These guys suffer enough.

Scotland should be through. After playing ridiculously well, they are wrongly penalized and lose the game. Sickening.

Ireland were pulverized by the Argentinians. Only Luke Fitzgerald distinguished himself. They went wide quickly and broke through repeatedly on the wings. The SH forwards are leaner and faster this time and Argentina must be one of the most improved sides. I saw that they had beaten the predicted spread by the biggest aggregate point margin in the tournament. NZ look unstoppable but Oz will have to play well to make it to the final.

Because he is managing a much bigger business and may be looking at material that would one like to keep as confidential as possible in a little comfort. Your boss chooses to travel that way. Imagine forcing Oliver or poor old Flaherty to do that.

From 2 to 20 to 12 before disappearing entirely. Their vote share was actually lower with twelve seats than with two. The joys of FPTP. The combined right wing vote was something like 34% in 1993. Trudeau had name recognition but his achievement remains impressive by any standard. The importance of temperament seems to be underestimated here.

Any do's and don'ts in the prediction business? Many of the polls were quite different from what you came up with.

Thank you for trying to help me. Certainly, there are more female Premiers these days.

So where are the female PMs in the last twenty years in Canada?

It's not just about policy. Justin's got the perfect family photos. Kenney doesn't. Raitt and Wall don't speak French AFAIK. Leitch sounds weird. Women have a harder time as leaders. Just to argue with myself here, I think Raitt sounds reasonable if she could be taught a bit of franglais. Kenney is excellent, too. I'm surprised Moore bowed out because, like O'Toole, he's one of the least annoying Conservatives going and has wider appeal. Another possibility would be Rempel who is an excellent debater.

Give us a poll to answer.

All praise to the clever clogs who predicted a Liberal majority. I did not see that coming.

It was grotesque and distasteful.

Is this the most impressive federal election victory in living memory?

My brief career as a Jack Harris impersonator would appear to be over.

FPTP Is terrible. We can agree on that.

Jack Harris is an excellent MP. That's a big surprise.

Do swingometers work in Canada as reliably as the in UK? We get a much more regional return here obviously.