SpankyMcFarland

He wanted us to fight with Bush in Iraq. You do remember that, eh? The paradox about Harper has been explained by Wells. He loves power more than policy. So all that Reform talk of openness and accountability has been binned and MPs now describe themselves as performing seals who might as well go home after the election. In Iraq we have six fighters trying to do their best. Canada's military spending is a national embarrassment. You'd think the leader of such a country would stay pretty quiet.

Go argue with the scientists, guys. There's no point scoring points against random loons like myself about 50 year averages of sea levels in Vancouver. The debate has moved on to protecting ourselves from the damage we have already caused and trying to minimize further problems.

I Well we're not talking the end of the world here, I'll grant you. My life will go on exactly the same whoever wins. However, I think he's had some effect on the atmosphere in the country e.g. CSEC, the census, the rows with the Supreme Court, robo-calls, the silencing of government scientists, the 'fair' elections act, the antics of Calandra et al in the House of Commons, the foreign policy lurches trashing Canada's traditional role as peacekeeper, the persecution of critics of Canada's so-called environmental policy, the opposition to needle exchange programs, the neutralizing of MPs and their committees and the hostility to dual citizenship. On internet surveillance, we don't have proper parliamentary oversight of what the spooks are getting up to and have to rely on people like Snowden and reports from the US and the UK to fill us in on what is going on. Of course, I don't know if the Liberals would be an improvement but I believe it's time for a new bunch of scoundrels and their cronies to have a go. On the other hand, I like getting angry and Harper certainly provides that.

The Liberals tried sensible leaders and they got beaten. I would have preferred Garneau but the Harper attack machine would have gone after him just as hard as they hit JT. I'm a fiscal conservative who would have preferred MG. I have voted for the Liberals and the PCs in the past. I would consider the Conservatives with a different leader but I just cannot stomach Harper - too authoritarian for my taste and too much of a phoney tough guy in foreign affairs. With a few exceptions, his MPs are just performing seals now, barking out the same tedious talking points We haven't had a significant change in economic policy in Canada since Michael Wilson's time. I'm more worried about Harper's effects on our freedoms than Justin's damage to our wallets.

Mulcair nasty? What is Harper then? Who are his friends? He's a Nixonian figure - calculating, paranoid and vindictive.

Unfortunately, I fear he can. Canadians have largely given up on federal politics and don't seem to care about robo-calls, scientific liberty, the Dufster, carbon emissions etc. etc. Jason Kenney has worked a minor miracle in the 905 among new Canadians and has broken the Liberal stranglehold in Ontario. Like JP in 95, I fear money and the ethnic vote will win it for the enemy. The anti-Harper vote is much bigger but is split and the primitive FPTP system favours Harper and his hardcore believers. And then there is the Trudeau factor. He just doesn't seem to accept that the main priority is to run a tight ship and avoid ANY departures from the script. Certainly, he cannot afford another year of dreadfully inappropriate impromptu remarks and cringeworthy 'jokes' as he will be eaten alive in the campaign.

They would still have lost badly but not THAT badly. For no particular reason, I would give them 30 seats under BM.

Whining quietly or pretending to buttonhole him amount to the same thing without big changes on policy. If Harper was as keen on the military as he claims to be, he would have increased spending to British or French levels. That has not happened. Canada does not pull its weight in NATO. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/harper-isolated-on-nato-defence-spending/article20307815/ On Ukraine, we were slow to be tough on Russian oil companies in Canada. http://globalnews.ca/news/1579979/canada-three-times-softer-on-oil-when-it-comes-to-russia-sanctions/ And, oddly enough, despite the bellicose speeches, Canada's official policy on the Occupied Territories has not changed very much in the Harper years.

Even Harper admits climate change is real. It's over, guys.

Is this a joke, Mr. Canada? What a grotesque idea. I love Canada just the way it is.

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.