shoop

Dude, he can't because they don't exist. As long as 'tards like that have such an anti-CPC mindset there is nothing that the party can do. All Harper can do is what he has been doing. Meet the people on the streets. Build an effective campaign team and maintain his integrity. Maybe it will work, maybe not. No better solutions out there for him.

Ahh, the Quebecois spirit of compromise. Gotta love it.

eureka where's the love? Does "less than intellectuals" mean that you too consider yourself to be an intellectual? I went after mikey on an issue that is pretty weak. Conspiracy theories aside most pollsters are reputable and work to deal with question order problems and other issues in their polls. If somebody wants to state an opinion that is cool and the gang. If they are talking about "ample evidence" to support their opinion then provide some. I was asking for some of this evidence so I could read it and form an opinion on my own. Hell, it doesn't even have to be a link. I have access to libraries. Let's see I have been called a dickhead and childish by kneejerk defenders of mikey. Oh no, should I run to the moderator? Admittedly I called mikey on referring to himself as an urban intellectual. That is pompous, and childish if you look at it closely. (Counting off the minutes before Mikey's stormy return...)

I heartily apologize for my incivility. wtf? Don't let the door smack you in the ass on your way out. Running another one out? Mikey, you were the first. (A boy always remembers his first time.) You appeared to be a worthy adversary for the verbal sparring, alas it was only an illusion. I'm giving 6 to 5 odds, mikey sneaks back in.

Absolutely. Most of them don't get very much exposure. The biggest name I could point to is Frank Luntz. He worked for Bush I in the U.S. but has been exposed as being really shady. Conflicting reports, but he was involved in the Contract with America back in 1994.

I don't think Quebec will separate. Because there is so much downside to the issue. Quebec receives more than it pays into confederation. Would Canada want to keep subsidizing an independent Quebec? Never mind Quebec's provinicial debt, could it survive with the added burden of its fair share of the national debt? (Or any reasonable share for that matter?) How much will Quebec have to pay for federal buildings, Canadian Forces installations? My favourite quote was from a separatist who said that he thought the Quebec-Canada relationship after independence would be like getting a divorce but you still sleep with your ex every now and again. Quebecois have to understand. If Quebec decides to separate, you will not be able to f*ck the rest of Canada anymore!

There is the difference between short-term and long-term thinking on the issue. In the short-term a higher canadian dollar has a mixed impact on Canada. In the long-term it is overwhelmingly in the best interest of the country. Exporters are forced to be more competitive to sell abroad. Those who can't fail. Those who can compete gain larger market share back home and increased efficiencies that help ensure their long-term sustainability. Plus the strengthening dollar helps with debt repayment. Simply put a stronger Canadian dollar means our goods and services are more valuable. Tough to argue with that.

If you are truly looking for a quality discussion poll why not provide one link to the "ample evidence" of how polls are manipulated in order to advance a goal. If you view it as an attack then maybe the issue lies with you. Should be easily to find this ample evidence and could actually spark a debate. Nobody is taking issue with your opinions being unconventional, your being 'educated' or defending the interests of the gay community. Issue has been taken with your pomposity, lies (i.e. you didn't call yourself an intellectual, but wait ... you did) and childishness. As an intellectual you should recognize the sociological underpinnings of message boards. The anonymity of this board allows for many members to avoid the social norms of maintaining a veneer of civility. Your pomposity on the board is an example of this. To some people this pomposity is allowed in "polite society". In reality it has probably been the cause for many awkward situations and feelings of isolation on your part. Given that you probably behave the same way in public. If you really want to change things get a thicker skin and take an objective look at these so-called flames. Or you could start your own board, requiring people to post with their real identities and adhere to the Mikey code of behaviour. Would probably be as exciting as your personal life...

Let's have a toast to Quebec independence, and film it. Michaelle Jean's Boy the PMO must have done a very thorough background check on her. Mr. Dithers head must be near explodin'. You gotta know in his heart and soul he wants to dump her at this point, but can't appear dithering, can't anger left-wing of party....

Does that apply to when you called me a dickhead on the western separation thread? pot. kettle. black. Oh wait, my 'attacks' actually dealt with the substance of his posts. Merely pointing out the flaws in his reasoning. As an 'intellectual' should be used to.

Why? Do I need to post a bibliography for the sources of my own opinions? That is silly, tedious and tiresome. If you don't like my views, ignore them, but I'm not going to play google games for everyone who disagrees with me. 90% of my information comes from printed sources, not the web. Mikey, it's such a hassle to do these multiple quotes in a thread so your desire not to play 'google games' appears to be a cover. 10% of ample is still ample. Just calling you on the bullsh*t that is apparent throughout your posts. I have no problem disagreeing with your views, but if I would like to see the 'evidence' you provide so I can decide for myself. Perhaps I'd change my misguided ways. See Mikey, on top of being arrogant and self-deluded you are also utterly full of baloney. Evidence, with respect to your not identifying yourself as an intellectual. (From the Should Harper be replaced? thread) Or maybe you were referring to a theoretical "urban intellectual from Toronto" and not really yourself. Nothing quite sadder than somebody threatening to 'leave a message board'. Where you the kinda kid who would take his ball and go home if you didn't like how the game was going after school?

Shakeup is good. Harper is creating his team and making sure he can go ahead with the new direction for the party. A lot of it is getting rid of the old Alliance dinosaurs. The Taxpayers Federation can f**k off. Just an anchor around the neck of the CPC (Conservative Party of Canada). Having those guys go after the party is a sign they are moderating.

Huh? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My bad. s/b with unproven accusations.

Dumping Harper before the next election only plays into the hands of the Liberals. A new leader would give the Liberals the opportunity to call an election before he/she could introduce him/herself to the Canadian public. The only unpopular social policy left is SSM. I completely agree it should be dumped. They have dumped the abortion plank. They have committed to saving medicare. They have a workable plan for a national daycare program. The key to the next election for the CPC is to make it all about medicare. They are the only credible national governing party that will invoke the notwithstanding clause to save medicare. A brilliant move which wins them the election. Will they do it though?

Credit for having a sense of humour. The reputable pollster, by definition, has a vested interest in providing credible results. Textbooks don't teach you about real life. If you had ever actually seen a poll constructed, performed or analyzed you wouldn't come off so misinformed. I am one of the rare people who could give a rat's ass one way or the other about SSM. I honestly don't care. So I dunno, does this poll support my personal view? As a supporter of the CPC I honestly wish Stephen Harper would just let the issue die because it is helping to keep him stagnant and reinforces the Alberta, redneck stereotype. One link to one piece of this ample evidence you talk about? As I stated I am a supporter of the CPC and don't like the 12 percent lead the Liberals have in the most recent strategic council poll. But, Allan Gregg is a reputable pollster. So while I don't like those results I accept them at face value. Ahhh, see that's where we disagree. I would call myself an 'intellectual' only if I worked in academia or a think tank perhaps. But denial ain't just a river in Egypt...

Holy crap you are an arrogant prick Mikey. From the sounds of your reply you think you know a lot about statistics and polling. An 8% swing is pretty big, and any reputable pollster will tell you so. Your urban intellectual spin on the possible misuses of polls comes straight out of a textbook. In reality very little money is spent 'to construct polls in just the right way'. All pollsters use the same basic type of questions, for ethical and cost reasons. i.e. it is a lot cheaper to just use the same standard questions. Reputable pollsters use randomization programs to eliminate question order problems and the potential to actually drive public opinion with poll results is little to none. I expected better from a self-proclaimed urban Toronto intellectual. btw, you still haven't answered the question. Do you work at Starbucks or Chapters?

Yeah, no doubt. Woo hoo. Stephen Harper's aide bought a couple kids some blizzards = snappy answer about how weak Harper is????? Only for a Liberal.

Hey, if it is an organization that is offensive to the left there is no problem with their elite deciding what is good and bad for people. Also gotta remember fascist analogies are only allowed to be used about the political right.

And we know that it is easier for Mr. Dithers to attack America rather than actually institute a progrm of democratic reform.

James Bartleman would have been an inspired choice. First Aboriginal GG. Would have done more to try and shore up the base in Ontario. Bob Rae would have helped with Ontario voters too. Don't really get why people in Ontario cared if Trudeau or Mulroney were connected in Quebec.

Are you this much of a freak in real life?

It is definitely the conventional wisdom that Martin needs to bolster support in Quebec. There is the potential for a backfire on him though. If you look at that environics poll the Liberals big drop in support would only cost them four seats at this point. But the three points they have slipped in Ontario have the potential to cost them far more seats. Appealing to Ontario voters might have been a shrewder move for him at this point. Hopefully taking Ontario for granted will come back and bite him in the ass.

I love Wal-mart's reply to the unionization. If working here is soooooo bad why do so many people apply whenever we open a new store? Unions are being dumbass in targeting Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart does everything to be ultra-low cost. They fly their execs coach and make them stay in budget hotels. They encourage suppliers to lower costs as much as possible (still thousands of new suppliers breaking down their doors trying to get in.) The union movement is wrong-headed in targeting Wal-Mart for recruitment drives. The company cannot compete with a unionzed labour force. That is why they fight any attempts at unionization tooth and nail.

Martin is stuck in a pretty hard place over this issue. The selection of Jean in light of her separatist leaning leaves only three possible conclusions about his actions before making the final decision to appoint her and one delighful conundrum for him. 1. He knew about her past but was arrogant or foolish enough to think that the optics of Jean's race and gender would over-shadow her questionable commitment to Canada. Evidence of terrible political judgment. 2. He didn't know about her past because his staff didn't perform the appropriate background checks. Evidence of incompetence in his administration which he is responsible for as he decides who his advisors should be. 3. He didn't know about her past because the RCMP hid it from him. (For all the conspiracy theorists out there.) Evidence that the Martinites have gone so far in the arrogance and pomposity that they have pissed off official Ottawa to the point where they are actually gunning to get him as viciously as possible. Regardless of which of the three you choose, they all add up to one thing. Time for Mr. Dithers to go. Mr. Dithers' conundrum. Should he dump Jean, stand by her or let her dangle in the wind? If he dumps her, he adds to his well-deserved reputation for dithering. Yet, it is the best thing for the country in this case. (Oh that's right. What's best for the country is soooooo far down the list it never really enters into consideration.) If he stands by her he takes the risk of looking bad if public opinion continues to grow against this questionable nomination. (Can't look bad in the public eye.) If he lets her dangle in the wind he takes the heat off himself. Sure she is in a rough spot, but he isn't. If outrage goes she is gone. If it cools of she stays and he was behind her all the way. Bye bye Mr. Dithers.

The cons will never be able to control the media. That is pretty much irrelevant though. They need to win overwhelmingly in the grassroots and on the issues. The Liberals are so absolutely desperate these days they are trying to make a story out of one of Harper's aides buying a couple kids a blizzard in order to downplay a story about a convicted felon, whose acts were committed for the FLQ 'cause', building a storge unit with gun rack for the future GG's personal residence. Sadly for the Liberals, no media outlet bought this bait and switch. The CBC basically ignored both stories. Thankfully the Toronto Star, CTV and Globe and Mail exist as viable options for Canadians looking for news. Harper is making headway in the grassroots these days. The Environics poll is solid evidence of that. Keep up the good work Stephen.