shoop

What a difference 16 months makes! This election there has already seen a lot of bad news for Martin and things are going as well as could be hoped for Harper. Looks like Chretien is fighting back against the sponsorship inquiry. This quote pretty much sums it up^. Good work Jean. Thanks for the help!

How about enlighting us o arrogant one?!

Don't know if I agree. That was a mistake, but it wasn't a big mistake. So far the positives are outnumbering the negatives, pretty good for the conservatives.

Yet another good move by Harper. Making another positive statement about what his government will do.

Nobody cares Norman!

Lying won't get you anywhere Norman. You are lying about what Harper said and why we are talking about it. A promise of a free vote on the issue in the next parliament is just that. I wonder if Paul Martin would ever have the balls to allow his MPs to represent his constiuents on the issue .... Nah! We are talking about it because you are a one-note pony. Give it up.

Soooo missing the point. Just like Martin will be soooo missing the PMO come February.

You can't be both at the same time. Just shows the intellectual vacuity of Liberal supporters, throwing out terms without understand. Great point about anti-American sympathies.

The foundation of democracy is majority rule with respect for minority rights. For the small percentage of Canadians who will vote on the basis of this issue Harper is giving them a choice to decide. Unlike the Liberals who never mentioned the issue in 2004. As much as the CBC *says* a government would have to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the charter to return to the traditional definition of marriage, there is not gurantee that is so. The Supremes have been quiet on this and Harper said (in French so I might not have gotten this 100% correct) that he will not invoke the notwithstanding clause in this case.

Let's look at the numbers that really count. 1997 Election - 25 Reform MPs, 6 Libs, 3 NDs 2000 Election - 27 Reform, 5 Libs, 2 NDs 2004 Election - 22 CPC MPs, 8 Libs, 6 NDs, 1 Ind Hmmm, if the CPC stays at their mid 30s support level in BC they still have at least 60% of the MPs in BC. So much for the historic Liberal breakthrough.

Are we talking about Harper or Martin? Harper has publicly supported and opposed SSM, Continental Missile Defense, The GST.... What if Martin wins a majoprity and he than has the power he craves? Will his word then change again and become unbelievable or believable?

Show others the same respect you ask for yourself. Don't make personal attacks and they won't come your way. I guess given your earlier statements you are more frustrated than I am given that you said Paul Martin is less likely to earn a majority than Harper a minority you are more frustrated than I. As for the BC results. I point to the poll I posted that you ignored, the history of the Liberals losing support in BC over elections and the fact that they have never done as well as you are hoping they will in BC. Alas, Norman will cross a line soon enough...

True enough. Harper has presented a clear, legitimate alternative to the government. This is a page out of 1988 and will work for the Conservatives no matter what. The most optimistic estimates for the pro-SSM side was 55% of the country in favour of SSM. If this election becomes a referendum on the issue the Liberals, NDs and Bloc are left to fight over that 55% while the Conservatives are in easy majority territory with the remainign 45%. If it doesn't become the central issue of the campaign Harper has defined himself on the issue. Better that than the charge of scary, scary, scary. You may not agree with him on this issue, but his stance is far from scary. One-issue posters like normanchateau should really post links to credible sources if they want to be heard.

Your sad, sad attempt at painting Harper as an 'American' is lost. The latest Ipsos-Reid poll puts the Libs and Conservatives in a tie. Not a *statistical* tie, but an actual tie. 31% to 31%, which would translate into a Conservative govenment. Ipsos poll...

I feel he would have been better off leaving this alone. That being said, he has made a very strong case. For those people who are concerned about the issue let it be known they should ask their local candidates how they would vote in a free vote of parliament. When it gets down to it, would anybody whose most important issue in an election is favouring SSM vote Conservative? Ever? I can't get one thing though. Are the Liberals attacking Harper for not saying what he will do when governing OR for saying what he will do when governing?

It's that kind of condescension that is the reason the Liberals have to fall. You don't vote for us, so f**k you Alberta and anyone who comes from Alberta.

The CPC is more than a "little" to the left of the Republicans. Compare moderate, red tories, and moderate Republicans. There is no actual party that is the ND equivalent but Michael Moore and Ralph Nader best represent their views.

Hmmm, the Conservatives shooting themselves in the foot is so 2004. Neo-con is an ignorant insult and against the rules of the board. Pretty mature to attack a Premier on his physical appearance. What was the last advertising campaign you were a model in?

Enough of your partisan crap. The bar is much higher for Martin than Harper. Harper stays if he wins a minority, Martin gets dumped if he only wins a minority. Do you honestly believe Martin is more likely to win a majority than Harper is to win a minority? Let's have a debate. Instead of attack - attack - attack.

They are going to release a platform, probly in the next week or so. It will have a lot of thought put into it, like the Red Book in 1993. Give them time to release it...

The titles Conservative and Liberal are far, far different between the two countries. When I lived in DC I was a hard-core Democrat. Let's look at three critical issues in the U.S. Abortion - there are many, many members of the Conservative Party of Canada who are, as I am, Pro-choice. (Despite the fear-mongering of the Liberals who try to use it as a wedge issue.) Capital Punishment - a vast majority of Canadians feel it is barbaric. No one is seriously advocating for the return of the death penalty anywhere in Canada. Gun Control - the Canadian government's gun registry is a farce, but most people in Canada favour some form of registration. The NDs would be Ralph Nader-esque. The Liberal Party of Canada would be on the far left of the Democratic party. The Conservative Party would span 'moderates' from both American parties. The histrionics of the Liberals about the *scary* Canadian Conservatives is to preserve their own power, and the NDs - well like Nader supporters they are a little wacky.

It is a really good sign. No fighting or bad press. Just bye bye Grewal....

All partisanship aside, I think those numbers are slightly off at this point. With the vibe I am getting here in Québec I would boost the Bloc numbers to the 65 seats. I don't think the Liberals support will last in BC. I cannot see the Bloc getting any less than 60 under any circumstances. How do these numbers look: Liberals: 100 Seats Conservatives: 105 Seats Bloc: 65 Seats NDs:25 Seats 8 critical too close to call ridings: North Vancouver Liberal or CPC Toronto (Trinity-Spadina) ND or Liberal Edmonton Centre Liberal or CPC Chatham Kent Essex CPC or Liberal Newmarket-Aurora CPC or Liberal Ottawa-Orléans Liberal or Conservative Hamilton Mountain Liberal or ND Victoria Liberal or ND

Nope, she is running again.

So certifiable nutcase MP Gurmant Grewal will not be running again for the CPC. Random CBC Link Yet another potential embarrassment for the Conservatives dealt with quietly and efficiently. Yet another plus for Harper et. al. Getting worried (soon to be ex) PM Martin?