UofGPolitico

Well whatever keeps him in check. Some of his ministers actions notwithstanding, Harper is a very smart and tactical man. He's one of the smoothest political operators this country has seen in a long time.

Lack of options? Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I'd personally like to see a more "centrist" leader next go around. Harper isn't as right-wing as the left would make you believe, but optics are everything. As long as he is in power, he will never fully shed the Reform/CA and NCC days.

Interesting. Presumably he is pretty in line with Harper's stances because he is Harper's pet project I think. Since 2006 he has moved up the most of any MP under him.

They are a majority government now. They got too comfortable and forgot how to be disciplined and organized. Happens to every majority PM. Harper will have this down like Chretien in no time A proof is a proof, and its a good proof when it is proven.... Harper needs to adopt this line.

I'd argue he's more right-wing than Harper, and you like him?

Yeah, he is fairly well respected both in and outside of Canada. He could also retire too. He will be 66 by 2015.

Their messaging I will admit has been very confusing. For a party that prides itself on "messaging" its been very sloppy lately, and not just with robocalls.

Quoting your own post is BEYOND tacky

The hysteria of the left continues I wonder if Tory researchers already have this ready for QP on Monday

Interesting list. I love Michael Chong, and he most certainly is destined to be a backbencher until Harper does go, but he is very popular both on the hill and in his riding and surrounding area. I've met many Guelphites who wish he was their MP and not Frank. Be interesting if he did one day launch a leadership bid.

If he does get re-elected with a majority mandate in 2015, if he were to serve the full term (until fall 2019) he would be Canada's longest serving prime minister (in terms of consecutive time in power) since Wilfrid Laurier.

Way to premature to know if 2015 will turf the Conservative government, but the possibility seems more likely now than it did at the end of 2011. At that point I would fully expect Stephen Harper to step aside. So, whether its 2015 or later, who really is a logical successor to him? I think Harper is clearly looking upon Jason Kenney as his "heir apparent", at least that is my impression. Would Jim Prentice come back in and run as a more centrist candidate? What about John Baird? Jim Flaherty? What do people think?

You are clearly an NDP partisan, so may I ask who you supported or will support in the leadership?

Exactly, I don't expect the investigation to be finished for a long while, possibly not even until after the next election. The opposition wants the inquiry, but I fully agree they'd attack him for calling one too even though the opposition has not been afraid to be critical of EC's power to investigate.

I think if Elections Canada confirms the investigation has linked this alleged voter suppression campaign to ridings OUTSIDE of Guelph conclusively, then I think Harper will have no choice but to call a public inquiry. At this point, there is no suggestion from EC or the RCMP that the investigation is focused on anywhere but Guelph. They are focused in on the Thunder Bay call centre, yes, but presumably though they were led there from the Guelph investigation. Update: RackNine makes good on their earlier threats and launches a defamation lawsuit against Pat Martin and the NDP. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/alberta-firm-at-centre-of-robo-call-probe-sues-bombastic-ndp-mp/article2357127/

If they want defamation lawsuits showing up at their door, then yes, by all means listen to this man

Becoming a threat, perhaps, but its going to take a long time. I mean, in some ridings in Saskatchewan the Liberals received under 1,000 votes. The Liberal Party should really focus in on Quebec the next election, especially if Rae does become permanent leader. I think Quebec really is up for grabs.

Muclair is this party's only hope of attempting to form a government. If any of the radical lefties win (Nash, Topp and to a lesser extent Dewar), its back to 3rd place and irrelevancy.

Yeah, I mean yeah, it certainly doesn't do the government any favours, coupled with their blunders in deflecting the issue, but we aren't to the point yet were we want to recall this government. I knew this would happen, but listening to some of those callers on Evan's "Powerline" yesterday was almost as sickening as some of the comments from opposition MP's in the HOC.

I think its safe to say anyone who reads a newspaper, turns on the t.v. news or has a social network chances are they have heard about this story. Whether or not it resonates with people outside this so called political crowd, that is a different story.

We were talking about a public inquiry, not a parliamentary committee. We can have a parliamentary committee when an actual Conservative staffer has been proven to be responsible for the robo calls. That has not happened yet. I do think the Carroll affair is a waste of time and is an obvious channel changing tactic by the Tories, but Carroll has been implicated.

Exactly, it may come to an inquiry at some point, but as it stand right now there is no real legitimate need for it. Oh well.

Haha, yes I know, I've been following politics long enough that the opposition will rarely come up for air, especially this one. Yes, I saw the Kingsley interview. The opposition claims Harper is changing the channel, well they are too with this constant rhetoric questioning Elections Canada in their ability to conduct this investigation.

The two are mutually exclusive, yes, but Adscam is not all of the sudden "nothing". The Robocall scandal has yet to be fully unearthed. It could turn out to be huge, or not. There is too much jumping of the gun in both the media, the opposition benches and in this forum. I will also say within the government too, especially Peter MacKay suggesting the individual who resigned (i.e. Sona) has put this issue to rest. Everyone just needs to take a deep breath and let the authorities do their job. Elections Canada if they feel they cannot handle this themselves are free to call into the RCMP.