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Toronto StarWhy is it that when Martin makes major changes in staff, it is presented as "housecleaning" whereas when Harper does it, it is perceived as evidence of incompetence. Am I wrong in saying that is how the media presents this? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Now that the Conservatives are no no longer in contention for government, welcome to the NDP media experience.

Maybe that score one for Harper needs to be retracted. He just can't seem to succeed no matter, what he does. Only a Liberal could turn Gomery into a positive for the Liberals: Harper's MPs don't share their leader's ardour for early election

I think it was quite effective strategy on Harper's part. People were talking about some staffing changes, and now they are talking about his election challenge to Martin. The Liberals can't call an election now, and Harper knows it. It was a good bluff, and it got the media onto another topic. Score one for Harper.

By-the-way the latest information about the Tories being only at 26%, which sound like Bush's ratings in the US these days, came from the following link. Link Here are two other seat projections, based on another political seat forecaster, the UBC election forecaster

Kimmy What with the Tories at only 26% in the polls presently, it appears to me that democratic space seat projections for the Tories is probably right on the money. I read through his material on what his formula is for deriving his seat count, and it seemed reasonable without of course as you say examining the dynamics for every single seat. But who does that? What was it he gave them, 71 seats, and that was based on the last Ipsos Reid polling, several weeks ago now. I think Ipsos Reid had the Tories at 28% then, so the seat projections now are probably a few less than the 71 seats that democratic space forcasted, and I would say presently the Tories are in the 60-70 seat range. Of course Tory supporters will be disappointed with these figures which is quite understandable, it's human nature, but I think they are reasonably accurate based on the latest poling results.

Perhaps ma could elaborate because his comment could be taken either way although it was probably a sincere appreciation.

Hurricane fallout hurts Bush, could hurt Republicans Obviously Hurricane Katrina is turning into a serious political nitemare for Bush and the Republicans. And now there are going to be Congressional investigations as well. Americans know their geography and they know that Katrina covered at four Gulf states, so who else who be looking after four states except the federal government. I mean who else but the federal government deals with an incident covering four states. Of couse it is the federal government.

That Canada-U.S. chill It's good to hear the US Ambassador give Canada an appreciation once in a while, as Americans too often take us for granted. Americans seem to have difficulty grasping the fact that we love Americans, but we don't necessarily love this current US Administration. And no we haven't forgotten about it, we are going to get our $5-6 billion back.

'Katrinagate' fury spreads ' Katrina timeline Our homegrown Third World This article about the US's third world which has been kept well hidden has become exposed by the US media not just to Americans but to all people on our planet. Once again the US admiistration is trying to hid the bodies, just like the bodies coming home from Iraq, but I think Katrina's memory, and the many tragic scenes are going to staying with us for a very long time. For Bush, a Deepening Divide

For several years now there has been this deafening silence coming from the USA media. It seemed like all critical political investigative journalism had been shut down in the US, since 9/11, and media became part of Disneyland - the Entertainment industry. Last week's Hurricane Bush according to some media experts, has awoken the sleeping giants. Have the USA political investigative journalists got their groove back? OUR OPINIONS: An open letter to the President

Harper says he has the money, the candidates, and dared the Liberals to call an election now if the Liberals think they have the votes. Harper dares Liberals to test poll popularity with election call

Dear Argus I'm sure you have probably posted it before and please just PM mail me the URL for your post if you know it, but I would like to know what is your rationale for encouraging Canada to explore a public-private heath care system. I mean where are the overall benefits for Canada and who loses compared to what we now have? In other words what are the pros and cons to switch from our supposed single-tier publically funded heath care system? Thanks.

Before this smozoola the last forecast I saw for the Conservatives was 71 seats. Forecasters must be revising their forecasts downwards again after this. I think this means that the Bloc could well become the official opposition again. Jeez!

Daer Sparhawk MLW web polls are even more suspect that regular polls. Nationalizing oil and gas companies is not only a bad idea politically - it is also a bad idea economically. If the gov't wants to discourage people from making better choices when it comes to energy consumption then it can lower taxes on gas. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Of couse they are, as apart from maybe you and a couple of others, there are hardly any Liberals here. But the Decima Research poll is as scientific as any national political poll we have been exposed to here. 1,500 people surveyed, margin of error + or - 2.6%, 19 times out of 20. Very close to 50% want nationalization, and we don't even know what percentage is opposed so far as those details have not been released. And that ain't whistling Dixie, my friend. Cheers,

Dear moderate american I have trouble following your posts so please try to use the quotes system if you can. Thanks. Woe is me, my poor fragile big American ego is brused. Stay with your denial but please don't ask yourself why when something else bad happens to America. And BTW it is in no way something that I wish to see happen. But the reasons are so plain for the entire rest of the planet to see. But what do we matter right - this is America land of the proud and free. Free my, well we won't go there, but certainly not very free for the people who perished in a preventable situation in NO had the Bush Republicans organized, managed, and staffed FEMA federal governemnt agency, figured out how to function in a crisis. All you are doing iunfortunately is shuffling the chairs on the Titantic. I honestly believe you cannot see the forest for the trees. Cheers,

You are whistling Dixie folks, Why are you downplaying this? There is a lot more support for nationalization that you realize. Take a gander so far! Yes for both [ 3 ] [42.86%] Yes for petroleum resources [ 0 ] [0.00%] Yes for gas companies [ 0 ] [0.00%] No for petroleum resources [ 0 ] [0.00%] No for gas companies [ 1 ] [14.29%] No for both [ 3 ] [42.86%] Undecided [ 0 ] [0.00%]

Dear renegade No that is absolutely INCORRECT! I don't think government should be operating most business however when it comes to essential services and products, or where something is essentially a monopoly, that is open for discussion. Governments have the power to control all corporations primarily via taxation legislation however corporations are often secretly in bed with governments and that frequently becomes problematic. Businesses can often be more efficient than governments but not necessarily more profitable for the citizens, taxpayers, whatever you wish to call them. I prefer the term citizens as taxpayers is a bit of a misnomer and often can give a misleading impression. Cheers,

Dear Moderate American. Of course he doesn't but he certainly has been very closely connected with the current Bush Republican administration, who btw has enormous amounts of power and influence. Are you denying that? I think it is important to be specific. If someone here mentioned they wanted to kill someone, point out the person by username so we all don't get tarred with the same brush. And as well it is important, essential actually, to say in what context those comments were made. It was a nice drive by smear IMO. BTW there's no we here posting like we are some sort of close knit family. We are like any group, we have the good, the bad, and the ugly. I do not know anyone else here, I speak only for myself, and nobody else speaks for me. No I'm not going to generalize about all Americans but you after all pride yourselves on such a wonderful democracy you have, your (American) words, not mine, as I think your democratic system is seriously flawed. Do you disagree? I mean you Americans elected the Bush Republicans twice, and although I have my doubts as to the election win legitimacies, both of them, a lot of Americans can't be left off the hook so easily. The reason I mentioned the war is that was based on pure deceit, so why in the world would I want to believe one word coming from your president now.? First of all this is a thread about US politics and we are talking here about the US. Secondly I purposely used the term "a bunch of" to avoid suggesting the entire US population. As far as bringing Canada into the equation: Two wrongs don't make a right. And also on top of that we elected Mulroney twice, who was probably the most destructive prime minister Canada has ever had. Unbelievable. I know exactly what I wrote. And when did I ever say that our current Canadian government would handle things any better. As a matter of fact although I would like to hope that they would do a better job, but realisticaly I seriously have my druthers. But it would be impossible for Canadians to do any worse, don't you agree? Anyway I prefer if we tried to raise our standards in both countries, as opposed to the constant lowering of them. Why don't we compare ourselves with the best instead of the worst? But denial is never going to solve anything and unless, and we're talking US here, Americans grab the bull by the horns, so to speak, and seriously change your system, and the people that are running your show, you are going to wallow in the mud forever. America's blind obsession with greed and capitalism is destroying the US from within. What I find most disturbing is that fundamentalists seemed to have a huge amount of power both in the US and in a lot of Muslim countries. Quite frankly, I really wonder if a lot of people around the world see much difference between a Pat Robertson and a bin Laden. Do yourself a favour, lose your denial, stop listening to your propaganda filled media, and please start thinking for yourself. I don't know you but you do sound to me that you have potential to be a decent human being. I hope I am right. Cheers,

BG Thanks, I was not aware of this feature.

Dear Renegade Au shucks, didn't you see those polls that showed that Canadians were some of the biggest complainers in the world? Those complaints don't mean dick otherwise they would not be using the services, they would go elsewhere but they don't, do they, the ppor and the middle class that is. I thought we were supposed to be reading each other's posts. You must have missed the part where I said you have been programmed, brainwashewd by way, way too much Fraser Instute propaganda. There is not much more that I can say to someone who believes everything what she or he reads or sees, in the MSM except: Have you ever been involved in a car accident with private insurance? Well I was involved in a car accident, I was rear-ended, and insured with government-run ICBC in BC a while back. ICBC paid me, with absolutely no hassle, and I had the cheque, physically in my own hands, within four days. There is not a private insurance company in the world that matches that kind of service. And the rates or taxes, whatever you wish to call them, are much less expensive for government-run auto insurance than any private insurance. Go do a comparison anywhere in Canada! Now do you get my drift? Cheers,

Would you care to elaborate and also suggest whose projections are worthwhile and why, in your opinion?

Slinger is one of Canada's journalistic icons, and a favoutite with many Canadians. I usually enjoy his column.

Do the poor and the middle class like using public transit to travel on, using public roads to drive on, using public hospitals when they are sick, using public schools to send their children to school, etc, etc, etc, and all the other government services that are provided from our governments by them paying taxes? Of couse they do like using all these government run services paid for with their taxes. Canadians, contracy to the absurdness spewed out by organizations like the Fraser Institute who front for the rich, and a lot of the MSM, actually do like their governments quite a lot. Then please give Canadians a little credit for some intelligence.

Repeat note to self: Ignore this thread!

I believe I said most Canadians, I did not say rich Canadians. There's a very big difference between the two, in case you hadn't noticed.