tml12

That's a fair statement...I completely agree.

Yes I am familiar with that article. It came from The Dominion Institute's 5-Part Series "American Myths: What Canadians Think They Know About The USA." I don't know about in the rest of Canada, but in Quebec schoolchildren are taught that Canada is a nation that is loved by every country in the world because we leave everyone alone, because we stand up to the Americans, and because we never fight in combat wars but rather mediate peace between nations. When one challenges this, they are told it's "not part of the curriculum." The myth that Canada is a peacekeeper was fabricated by the Liberal government of Pearson and Trudeau. Although it is historically not accurate and a completely "sugar-coated" version of Canadian history, apparently it is very hard to get people to read and study the historical facts of the situation.

Right, or if they don't want to vote for a dysfunctional Bloc.

No, you seem to be missing the point, the CPC cannot even mention the environment by way of chastizing the Liberals. How quick it seems the CPC are forgetting their miserable Clean Air Act, which was by far worse for the environment than the Liberals EPA. If not for the NDP calling them on it, they would've done nothing. The Liberal media was fixated with the Clean Air Act's date of 2050 but in fact, their plan called for short term and long term targets to be announced early in the new year. They are still on target for doing that and until they are announced - people can't really evaluate the Clean Air Act. Here's an excerpt from Rona Ambrose's speech in Nairobi from November: We are acting immediately to ensure Canadian industry meets short, medium and long-term emission reductions targets. Our plan recognizes the importance of a long-term commitment to reducing emissions. We will continue to take into account the well-researched advice of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, and will work to reduce Canada's absolute emissions by up to 65 per cent by 2050. But our plan also recognizes the need for urgent action so that we can finally make progress towards our 2012 international obligations. Early in the New Year, Canada will finally have short term targets and timelines for all major industry sectors. Link: Link is at http://www.ec.gc.ca/minister/speeches/2006/061115_s_e.htm There were parts of that plan that were noble for sure...I agree with you about the Liberal media and the 2050 target though.

That's very debatable...appearing strong is about doing both.

I'll agree with you that politicians break promises...no doubt about that one. So far, Harper is not in the Liberal league although I'll admit he screwed up the income trust thing.

I know I have already done this for you before Geoff, but here you go. Six 'realistic' seats.... Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine Chicoutimi—Le Fjord Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean Québec Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier (Assuming André Arthur doesn't run again. Cancer will do that to you...) Richmond—Arthabaska I'll take your word for it...with the implosion of the PQ/BQ alliance, anything is possible.

Now THAT is funny...

Good leaders must appear confident and strong at all times. That's what made Pierre Trudeau a good leader and what made his opponents, Robert Stanfield and Joe Clark, look bad. It's also how Brian Mulroney dethroned a Liberal dynasty (remember the "you had a choice sir" line in the 1984 debates). Chretien didn't appear too strong but he had a fractured opposition. Martin looked like a dithering fool. Not admitting your faults and appearing strong is what makes a good leader. Trying to compare this to totalitarian dictators is ridiculous because the context in which they govern is completely different.

Yeah that's funny...he's probably frothing at the opportunity to shop at Home Depot with Dion. I can still remember the Martin exchange. "Mr. Prime Minister, what is your favourite section at Canadian Tire." "Umm, well, uhhh... THE POWER TOOLS!!!" (whilst making a drilling motion) I've never seen anyone look more out of place than Paul Martin fixing a drafty window. Because we all know Paul Martin busts his ass carrying groceries home like the rest of us.

tml is CEO of a major environmental corporation... well I suppose I'm only kidding (well, he might be?). But seriously, it's not like Dion makes the plans! Are you crazy? John Baird is not an biologist, Gary Lunn is not an oil exec, Stockwell Day is not a cop and Tony Clement isn't a doctor. Most took Political Science in University and therefore believe they are experts in everything, but they aren't. The job of a minister is to outline the goals of the government and set guidelines for department. If Dion can't do that, he shouldn't be a minister, let alone outlining the priorities for a nation. He's an academic, never experienced a day in the real world outside of that, and therefore has no freaking clue how to plan strategically. He's incompetent and clearly not someone that should be running a country. Bring Martin back or something. Thanks geoffrey...in reality, I am CEO of my apartment but that's about it... I completely agree (like I seem to be doing on a more or less every day basis) with your post. Dion is completely incompetent, running on the environment though it seems clear it's all political (naming your dog, Kyoto, etc.) If Dion really cared about the environment, why does Canada rank 28th out of 29th in environmental ratings? Why does George Bush have a better record on the environment than the Liberals? Why did Canada's greenhouse gas emissions rise 25% AFTER signing Kyoto? And now that Dion supposedly cares so much about the environment but doesn't know how to set priorities, how do we know that he'll make the environment a priority? I agree with you about Martin...I actually didn't think the guy was that bad before he sold out to the NDP/East Coast/anti-American establishment.

Is that true in the 10-riding area near Quebec City, sort of balloon shaped, that the CPC holds? Yeah that is where most of their seats are. What I was asking is if it's " hard being a true blue Tory" in the 10-riding area near Quebec City, sort of balloon shaped, that the CPC holds? I don't know...the last time I was up there was in 1995 and it was hard to be anything that wasn't separatist at that time. Friends of mine has told me that the climate up there has changed...if their hearts have warmed to people they do not consider their own then I would find this a positive example of climate change.

Seriously you need to lose this "Liberal media" paranoia. Are CanWest and CTV "Liberal Media"? CanWest is a company that has bravely separated itself from the Liberal establishment...the National Post, for example, is a fair and balance counterbalance to the elite Liberal media (a la CBC, Toronto Star, etc.)

Why would you trust a poll from a website that openly declares itself "conservative"? The Toronto Star is a paper that openly declares itself "liberal."

But you keep missing the point that the Liberals didn't get it done on the environment. And for a leader that swtiched to green to supposedly emphasize the issues, it doesn't look good if in response to a question about why you didn't get it done you "didn't set priorities straight." If my boss asked me why something wasn't done right and I responded: "do you know how difficult it is to make priorities?", it probably wouldn't look so good for me at work.

Is that true in the 10-riding area near Quebec City, sort of balloon shaped, that the CPC holds? Yeah that is where most of their seats are.

...and for every one year of Harper rule in which to find broken promises, there has been 13 Liberal. It's more or less a better track record, wouldn't you say?

Your last point certainly illustrates Martin's tenure as PM. Good leaders never admit their faults. The fact is, as Ignatieff makes it clear in those ads, the Liberals didn't get it done. They signed on to and promised to be everything to everybody but in the end delivered little or nothing. For Dion to literally whine: "you know nothing what you speak of" and "it is difficult to make priorities" makes him look pretty bad as a PM. Harper, meanwhile, may have been a bit strict with his team but so far they have ultimately performed admirably.

I think the Star is trying to give Dion a boost. If the Liberals really were credible on the environment they would be in majority territory. They aren't. I suspect the next round of Conservative contrast ads will point that out. Check out this interesting poll from proudtobecanadian.ca: http://www.proudtobecanadian.ca/index/webl...he_environment/ Perhaps good news for us going into the next campaign.

Thought you had me on ignore.... Ah the good ole days. Seriously, though, leaders are the ones who are supposed to set priorities. If I were to give Dion anything, it would be that Martin perhaps ran one of the most uncoordinated and disorganized governments in recent memory.

He's a good public speaker...he's a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister.

The easier answer is that it is difficult ultimately to set priorities. That being said, if you make the right adjustments and keep a competent staff around you, it will be easier to set priorities. Bottom line: do real leaders admit it's never easy to set priorities? No!

Has the growth in their support been concentrated or is it spread throughout the province? One of the things they are trying to do (and I don't necessarily like it as an anglophone who is not French at all) is they are trying to appeal to the more xenophobic francophones in the more rural regions of Quebec on a kind of xenophobic sentiment (Quebec has considerable control over provincial immigration policy...someone who wants to immigrate here must get approval by the Quebec government before Citizenship and Immigration Canada will review their application). He's been pretty successful with that so far as I understand. Economically, he's close to Harper so I'm cool with that even though he might be a bit too xenophobic for me.

Getting rich by working to save the environment isn't credible Stéphane. Try again. I know seriously...the Star is just trying to give Dion a boost. I still think Harper's ads are a brave attempt to bring his message to the Canadian people free of indoctrination by the Liberal media.

*Right wing* for Quebec. The last Léger poll had them at 24% in the nation within our nation. Considering they only got 18% in the last election that looks like it *should* get them more seats. All depends if the support is concentrated or spread out through the province. Yeah right-wing for Quebec (dude it's hard being a true blue Tory here)... They run as like the right-wing third party version of the NDP. Hopefully, they'll get more seats this time around. They're not in favour of holding referendums like that so they are less divisive on that issue.