tml12

I agree weaponeer. It is exactly why I think we need the Conservatives to be in power for a LONG time to change the national myths of Canada to include a strong armed forces as part of the national dream of Canada.

Dude I wish Quebec had as many conservative parties as Alberta did! I suppose. The Alberta Alliance is fairly autonomous. Being said, I'll remain a PC supporter as long as Stelmach protects our economy from further incursion from the East. Although I've never been to Alberta (though I was in Montana a long time ago), I consider myself an honourary Albertan and on that not I'll agree with you. Was Stelmach your preferred candidate for the Alberta PC race?

When did Paul Martin want Canada in Iraq? http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/ Make a logical conclusion for yourself. http://www.conservative.ca/EN/2459/35145

I am trying to find some indication that Bush's policy on the environment has been model of excellence. I already know the Liberal one was piss poor. Unlike the U.S., Canada has no EPA and no Clean Air Act and as such, Canada (under the Liberal government of which Dion was a cabinet member of) allowed greenhouse gas emissions to rise 25% vs. Bush in the U.S.

Dude I wish Quebec had as many conservative parties as Alberta did!

Don't you mean emissions rather than pollution? Look at the Liberal environmental record vs. President Bush's record and you'll know what I mean.

The right would have had us in Iraq. Don't forget that. It is where Harper thought Canada should be. Do you still think we should have gone and should be in Iraq now? It is where BOTH Harper and Martin thought we should be. It is also where (although Chretien claimed he kept us out) the Liberals thought Canada should benefit from all the defense contracts.

It was done with the approval and support of the Taliban who made up the government of Afghanistan at the time and are the people our troops are fighting. Our presence there is more like self defense but those who attack us and our allies should fear retribution. What organizations? As opposed to the Taliban who took power by force and have never held or taken part in an election, ever? A government that brutalized women, anyone and anything else which didn't conform to the letter of their vision of Islam? A government which was recognized by only three other countries, the Emirates, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia? Human Rights Watch Amnesty Inter. RAWA UN Afghan Observer Read RAWA, wilbur find out how the Karzi government abuses women, and read how the elections were corrupt. Reaf Human Rights Watch see the autrocities occuring even now against women and how the elections were corrupt. This government and its puppet masters are doing worse Afghans think. It doesn't matter if the world recognizes the government so much, as the actual people in the country recognizing it. Now you do remember that al qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who are being blammed for 911, are NOT the Taliban, don't you? Though they were sympathetic to one another it is alleged. Canadians reallly aren't about retribution and retribution for what? Being there is self defense? Hardly! Also, O'Connor doesn't even have the guts to say we are there for the women and people of Afghanistan, if you read his words he said the Karzi government wants Canadians there. And exactly what do you prescribe we do in the future?

I tend to agree with that.

Does the United States? Other than fried gator maybe? Apple pie!

I completely respect your committment to both Canada and Afghanistan. We need more people who are as brave and loyal as you. The left would have us cut and run. But run where? The Canadian left (Dion/Layton) would assure this is an American problem and that the enemy knows we are a more sophisticated nation. I call major BS. Our freesom isn't free. I hope that you remain safe and secure when you leave weaponeer and know that you (and all the soldiers) are in my thoughts and prayers.

War against the environment? What do you mean? War against environmental pollution was what I meant.

So far the polls say no change from a minority government. Could be Liberal, could be Conservative. I realize this is the truth although it keeps me up at night.

Bjorn Lomborg himself doesn't debate. Check it out. Reputable scientists have gone up against him and he doesn't reply. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bjorn_Lomborg You know, Gore has done more on the environment than most other politicians in North America. If he were president, my guess would be the U.S. would be leading the war against the environment and Canada would be in the position it is in now (as polluted as ever after years of Liberal neglect).

My hope: a majority government.

I think it was , and likely will be soon enough , so in fact I agree with you. But the anti sentiment has to go. Ok, I dont agree with you on the last sentence. I don't dislike Toronto as a city and if I were judging it against Pittsburgh, I would rank it fairly high. The only problem is Torontonians judge their city against New York, a city that is just way out of their league.

CTVPeople were (and still are) upset with the Charest government but not enough to vote them out. (Les Québécois sont parfois chialeux.) In the second mandate, I'm curious to see how it works out between Couillard and Charest. (They're like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.) I do not share your optimism. While I dislike Boisclair immensely, I think he will ride the strength of the unions in. I also will not vote Liberal this time around because Charest abandoned his conservative credentials after giving in to the unions time after time. While he's better than Boisclair, I think Dumont will get my vote this time.

Of course not - Quebequers think they contribute more to Canada than they get back in services. They think Alberta oil companies are welfare bums getting big tax subsidies paid for by the lowly Quebec taxpayer. Now THAT is funny!

Soldier's in our streets, with guns. I am not making this up. BAH LOL my point exactly Ricki Bobbi!

I would never dismiss the Quebec separatists as a threat. However, what I reject is your characterization that Canada is breaking apart at the seams with numerous independence movements. There is only one and a that has been around for a long time. It is possible that an Alberta variant could appear in the future but that depends on a lot of things including the price of oil. Agreed...fair enough. Although I think you underestimate the importance of having a national myth of Canada to keep this country together.

Last I heard the PQ is looking to avoid another referedum because the polls show that they would likely lose. Federalist Quebequers will elect a PQ gov't if they are unhappy with the alternatives - the PQ or the BQ gaining power is not necessarily a sign of support for seperation.Also check you facts on the AAP: Not exactly something you would expect from a seperatist party.http://www.albertaalliance.com/ There no significant seperation movements outside of Quebec. There are pro-sovereignty people within the AAP. In terms of Quebec, do not count out the separatists. I am most certainly not a separatist but I do believe a future referendum would be very close.

You know what would happen then don't you? It would be something like "LOOK HOW THOSE CONSERVATIVES ARE TURNING TO AN AMERICAN STYLE SMEAR CAMPAIGN!!" "American-style smear campaign?" So true stignasty, Paul Martin's TV commercials had real class during the last election...

There are no growing independence movements in Canada. The Quebec independence movement is stalled and the so-called Alberta independence movement is just a bunch of loud mouths talking tough because they think they are better than everyone else because Alberta is sitting on a bunch of oil. Now, I might change my opinion on the significance of the Alberta whinging if a pro-seperation party actually elects some seats. The Quebec independence movement is not stalled. The PQ will form the next government here unless something radical happens with Charest. In Alberta, the movement is stalled because Harper won. If Dion wins the next election and some Liberal lite leader becomes head of the Conservatives Alberta's independence movement will again grow. Additionally, you might want to check your facts...the AAP currently has seats in Alberta's legislature.

Baird = bare. BAH, get the joke! Actually Bob you are the joke... Am I the only one here who thinks it is hilarious that the Liberals are running on the environment? If I were working for the Harper campaign, I would drill it into people's heads that WHEN THE LIBERALS WERE IN POWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ROSE 25% MORE THAN UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH IN THE U.S. Case closed.

Trudeau was right! We are not Americans because we believe that every province in Canada has the right to follow a different political path from their neighbour which means that the provinces often wind up negotiating to keep Canada together while keeping their independence from Ottawa. Americans do not seem to want that kind independence. Their independance was founded on the belief that the rights of the individual take priority over the rights of the state. We Canadians do not believe in individual rights to the same extent as Americans and this is how Canadians like it. Look at the gun issue for example. Americans have the constitutional right to bear arms. In Canada, we do not want or need such a "right". We would rather have safe streets and clean drinking water. There is also the American myth of the 'melting pot' vs the Canadian myth of the 'cultural mosaic'. The American myth goes like this: A person emigrates to the United States and becomes an American by adopting the culture and values of his neighbours. This is often at the expense of his original culture and values. The Canadian myth has the same immigrant coming to Canada to contribute his culture but keep his values. The American melting is starting to show cracks. There are small but growing independence moverments in Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii. Many Amercians of hispanic descent are calling Calixians, Texicans, or simply Mexican - American or Hispanics. The politicians in Washington are having a hard time understanding Americans who don't to be American anymore. The cultural mosaic works because even Quebec Separtists want to remain a part of Canada, they just don't want to keep the status quo. The politicians in Ottawa understand this and keep negotiating with Quebec. Do not worry, Quebec will never leave Canada. That is why Canada will last as country for many years to come. Where are your statistics to show that there are growing independence movements in the U.S.? I have polls and surveys to show about the same number of Canadians and Americans support a melting pot, rather than a multicultural view of Canada. Additionally, there are quite a number of Canadians who support banning the gun registry and creating a right to bear arms (I should add there are a number of Americans who support abolishing the 2nd Amendment for that manner). You seem to accept unconditionally the Liberal myths of Canada as complete truth. But it is indeed these myths that Trudeau tried so hard to create that have resulted in growing independence movements within Canada. Trudeau has all my respect for trying to create that dream, but the reality is that Canada has not accepted it.