shoop

It is very interesting how the Harper government is mirroring the 2006 campaign. The *appearances* of a brutal start. SSM talk, not being able to find Gordon O'Connor on the stage and forgetting candidates names from Quebec City all within the first 48 hours. However the SSM talk was brilliant in hindsight and all the minor things were forgotten. First weeks in government were slow. Emerson looked like a *brutal* decision but it has turned for the better. The Government's performance in Question Period has been excellent so far. No questions about that.

Why exactly is it unsustainable? We have had the "agricultural power" to feed the world for years. However, supply issues internationally has caused many of the problems with global starvation. Why are we going to begin feeding the world in the "not so far away" future? Who is saying anything about "burning it all"???

Dude, I think my views represent the move to the centre that helped us win in January and will help us win a majority next year. The hardcore neocon views are pretty out of date. We have proven that the best way to deal with welfare is growing the economy. Pushing needless hot button issues like that is just outta date, and better suited to a party forever destined to be in opposition. We are in government now! Let's push the PMs agenda. A smart agenda that won't help the Liberals run on *scary, scary, scary* again.

People starving??? The people who do go hungry in Canada are not going hungry as a result of limited supply. Biofuel is a winner on so many levels. More demand for Canadian Wheat, more income for Canadian farmers and less consumption of petroleum reserves.

A rightward shift in the Canadian population is definitely a possibility. The CPC has moved close enough to the centre that the Liberals *scary, scary, scary* just won't work anymore. From the sounds of the LPC meeting in Edmonton the Liberals will likely move to the left. This will only create more opportunities for the CPC.

You gotta provide some support for your wild assertions. Actually no you don't, just get a job on the campaign for the Liberals next election and provide them with your *insights*. Which *old Tory party* is the CPC a complete 180 from? Seems like these guys would fit in pretty well with the 84-93 gang. Maybe use facts that make sense, re your GST ramblings. GST is not payable on residential rents. *All* economists agree that the GST brings in far more than the old MST (that *old hidden federal tax* you didn't know the name of.) *Exposable income* doesn't make sense. Do you mean *disposable income*???

Good point. I don't know how naming a group that is as shady as the Tamil Tigers would lead to a "terrorist announcement a week". Thanks for the solid contribution Gerry!

What do you mean re: accountability? People in Quebec were happy with Fortier's appointment. Emerson has blown over. *If* he can arrive at a solution to softwood lumber it will be a master stroke. (That's a big if and unlikely to happen.) If not, a tempest in a teapot. Emerson doesn't run again and Vancouver-Kingsway is a battle between the Liberals and the NDP again.

I think you are dead on with that one. Here's why. For four cosecutive elections the Liberals ran on *scary, scary, scary*. Worked in 97, 2000 and less well in 2004. Almost worked in 2006 - with Adscam the Liberals should've been below the bloq in seats. But enough people bought scary, scary, scary that Harper was held to a minority. Fulfilling the election promises and calling an election before the new Liberals leader has too much time to get comfortable with that role could lead to a win pretty quickly.

Do you have any purpose for being here other than to attack Stephen Harper? The Conservative Party of Canada? Supporters of either?

A man who got *trounced* in a leadership race by Stockwell *worst OLO ever* Day.

Fair enough. But there is no way Dateline would do a story on racism against white people. Man, Dateline has done some f*cked up things. I remember in the 90s they rigged a truck with explosives as part of a story on a faulty gas tank that *could* lead to a fire in some circumstances. Time to put the show out of its misery.

I don't know if he *can't* run for leader. Here are a few questions that may need to be asked. Limited time in the party? (Add to that - are Rae and Brison kidding themselves about having a serious changing of winning?) How many Toronto candidates is too many? Anybody know how good his French is? Perhaps, the rumours of him being gay are true. Obviously, Brison is running, so it isn't an issue in and of itself. But he has remained married - to a woman, which could lead to "double-life" issues. Does he have access to financial backing to pay for a campaign? All valid questions...

I have liked the Democratic Party candidate for as long as I can remember and was interested in politics. Going back to Dukakis. However, Gore and Kerrey both made such bonehead mistakes that I will look at the Republicans this time around. *IF* they learn some valuable lessons from their upcoming arse-kicking in the midterms, and nominate somebody reasonable. That being said I really think Hillary will be a hell of a candidate.

Goes to show how mainstream NASCAR really is now. Whoever came up with Dateline idea was probably some New York liberal who had never been to a NASCAR even. NASCAR is clearly a major sport in the U.S. now with more than just *southern hicks* as fans. Man, crap like this just goes to hurt the left and the Democratic Party in the U.S. Moderates see crap like this and feel more comfortable voting Republican. tsk tsk Dateline. Good work shooting yourself in the foot.

Dryden may end up as the winner. I personally subscribe to the view that whoever takes the job will do so to keep the OLO occupied till 2011 after a Harper majority when a new leader will come in to try and take back the reins of government. Is this a prize that is really worth winning? McKenna, Manley, Rock, Belinda have all seen the writing on the wall and said no.

If y'all really want to start a party with any aim of electoral success maybe a little realism in your policies is in order. What would replace the revenues generated by income tax? Why is it unconstitutional? Not a big fan of Klein, but Alberta teachers are the best paid teachers in the country. There are a lot of jobs out there with similar pay rates and the same, if not more, stress involved. There isn't much public support for teacher's strikes in that environment. Klein made the cuts that were necessary to elminate the debt and deficit and restored funding when the fiscal situation allowed it. *No province* was running surpluses before Klein. Now the Feds and everybody except Ontario, IIRC, is running a surplus. There needs to be credit given for that. The Canadian public will not accept deficit financing anymore.

What ever would make you think Rene Levesque is popular in English Canada? He killed a woman drunk driving. Oh yeah, he almost tore our country apart. Not popular at all in English Canada.

wow, only ten minutes for gerry to prove my point. Thanks for helping big guy! somehow *geoff* missed the point when he pointed out Gerry's logical inconsistencies clouded by obstinance and venal hatred for Harper. sad, sad, sad

You will always be misinformed if you don't read the report and instead try and brush off a clear trend that emerges from it by misusing terms like "margin of error". Or how this trend is ignored when it doesn't confirm the result the organization paying for the report wants. All this report really does is allow the silver-spoon socialists who support the CBC to feel confident that they are behaving *fairly* to the plebes who don't support their social views while paying to fund the CBC (Noblesse oblige my arse). *AND* waste more taxpayer money while doing it. Oh yeah, for the answers to your question. Question 1 - read page 21 of the report. Question 2 - read an actual definition of the term margin of error

They wanted Western hostages? As it happens the easiest targets for them to grab were Canadians...

They plow a lot more in Edmonton than Calgary. One interesting thing though. Here in Ottawa they actually put sand down on the sidewalks. In Edmonton you get a ticket if you don't clear your freakin' sidewalks yourself. Yet another reason taxes are lower in Alberta...

You are kidding right? Ho couldn't have kept up the fight without the Soviet's help. He had the people, but that is it. Without the Soviets help Ho couldn't have kept up the fight. Were the VCs supposed to attack with rocks and slingshots?

geoff, The problem isn't really yours. Debating with gerry is a pointless endeavour. He makes wild pronouncements - like Harper breaking a promise on discussing deployments in Parliament when Parliament hasn't even sat since he got elected. You find yourself frustrated by Gerry's obstinance. Just let it go. He clearly makes no sense and will never give up attacking Harper ever. For whatever reason he is out to attack, attack, attack. Logic, common decency or humanity be damned. best to just ignore the types of gerry...

Do you actually think they picked those hostages specifically because they were Canadian???