tml12

Gerry, Your posts get more delusional as you go along. And I find your arrogance appalling. Is is possible to make your point without personal attacks?? I apologize...although I stand by the arrogance part of the comment...

Leafless, Your link does not work...there were Canadian troops fighting in Iraq along with the U.S.

Don't count out Stephane Dion...

Gerry, Your posts get more delusional as you go along. And I find your arrogance appalling. As a moderate conservative, I don't doubt the U.S. went to war for oil. Iran used to supply the U.S. with oil, the Shah fell. Then it was the Saudi Royal Family...but the problem with them was they are starting to decline in their influence. So the U.S. went in and now has the oil and hopefully soon a democratic government in the process. And Iraqis are getting a better life because of it. Now, France and Germany want in. I say: the heck with them. Canada sent troops to Iraq anyway and dumped the Libs so I think we should be able to get some oil. France still has Chirac so they can wait awhile until a more friendly government comes in. Now that Merkel dumped the foamy Schroeder, hopefully she can help the U.S. in Iraq.

Layton needs to reform some of his policies. He doesn't understand a lot of the economics behind things. He is a good man and I believe his sincerity...I just don't think I would hand him the reigns of Canada just yet...

The two of you need to relax a bit. Shoop: Your contributions to this site are amazing. You debate issues fair and square...don't let Drea pull you off the clean track... Drea: I admire Tom Friedman and like his Middle Eastern politics. When I was working in New York, I used to read his New York Times columns. He knows the Middle East in and out...you can access him columns on nytimes.com (I think Thursday and Sunday). If you like him, we can definitely find common ground for agreeable debate. As for the argument about outsourcing, the left's solution is giving unions more power. I can't speak for outside of Quebec, but in this province unions bitch so much if I were a CEO I would just get out of the country altogether. My uncle is a retired union lawyer and he says the unions when they ask so much just end up hurting themselves in the end. I have been in unions and I understand better working conditions are necessary. But we need to put things in perspective...

Without China and the U.S., Kyoto never would have worked. Not that Chretien ever had a plan anyway... The U.S. administration, definitely with the Democrats and even with a moderate Republican like McCain, will help the environment. As for China, their air quality is so bad it will kill (sadly due to their apathy) such a significant portion of their population in the next 50 years that it will hopefully wake their self-serving government up. If Martin had won, what would have happened? I admire Stephane Dion...he works hard in whatever ministerial portfolio the Liberals put him in. It was a shame neither Martin nor Chretien had any interest in giving him any support in the initiatives the very nature of his ministerial position asked him to solve...

Agreed. He was a dead man walking until January 23 though. Duceppe and Boisclair must be experiencing major migraines ever since. Things have gobe from perfect to 'I have a sinking feeling' for them in just two months. Anybody know if Goodale speaks French? Goodale does not speak very good French that I understand. Charest winning the next election here is extremely unlikely, even if sovereignty is a dead issue (which it won't be anyway). The ADQ has gained strength and will likely take a lot of support away from the Quebec Liberals. Struggling as they may be, I would never rule out the PQ just as I would never rule out the federal Liberals. These parties have incredible support among their respective bases which just won't go away.

Thank you Sage...you are correct that that was my original point...

You sir are the one who sounds like a fool. If anyone wanted to bomb anything in Canada, they could easily do so , right now. There are NO security measures in place. You want to know why we are still safe? Do you really? Then look at this cold truth. We are safe, because the terrorists can use us. They can use Canada as a base of operations, as an access point to the US. So by attacking Canada, what do they gain? Nothing. Increased security and immigration tightening, therefore causing them to lose a valuable base. So there may be terrorist cells in our cities, but they arent planning to attack us, they are planning to attack the US. And just because your post made me want to smash my head into the wall of ignorance it built and make it crumble, I'm a NDP left wing 19 year old, beer drinking flag waving Canadian, who is in the Army Reserve, ready to "defend" this country, (if taking a gun and driving around in APC's can be called a defence). In closing, after viewing your posts in this thread tml, the only thing i can say, is you sir, are a certified asshat. You are defending the right of terrorists to use Canada as a base to attack the U.S.? Because I find that revolting... And I respect your (minus the insults) response to my post. I was incorrect to generalize that all left-wingers are anti-military but even you, as a university student, must admit there are many around and you know who they are...

Boru, "TML, you are a complete and absoltue liar. You did not prove that Canadians support the death penalty. You just said it as if it werefact,and that, apparantly, is enough." Ah, no I am not...you asked for a link, I responded with one, and you just ignored that post (you only like to respond with insults...I have noticed that). "You say rights violations are different from corruption. Thatis a matter of your opinion, and a very warped opinion it is. Human rights abuses are the worst kind of corruption, and the only reason you downplay them is becauyse it is your government that is most guilty of them. Your government is guilt of human rights abuses that have been settles for decades. WOmen and racial minorities." Human rights violations are a form of government that is being run poorly but it is in a different league from corruption. I agree that they are wrong but you have not provided me with any cases like I asked you to where the Alberta government has violated numerous people's rights so I will say to you...in your own words..."you are a complete and absoltue liar." "I do not twist facts, you do. Wrse than that, you simply lie through your rotten yellow teeth, and that's the worst kind of twisting. You have proven I am full of it? How so? Because I dare to object to your ramblings and rants? You are pathetic, and continue to paint yourself as such wth every passing day, with such nonsense as Canadians supportign the death penalty, complete fiction, and then your idiotic wet dreams of you going out on the streets and debating down those nbasty leftwing hippies that plague Canada. Grow up, get out of your basement and get some fresh air. It smells good, and it'll clear your head. Your delusional sense of self grandeur is truly sad." Since you clearly don't liike to debate issues or read my links which verify EVERYTHING I have posted here (I attack my opponents with facts, unlike you who attack your opponents with insults). I won't respond back because I am above all that but I will not only provide you with the link AGAIN I will even quote the part of the link where it is clearly stated that 70% of Canadians support the death penalty. LINK: http://www.religioustolerance.org/execut3.htm QUOTE: "Public approval of the death penalty is currently about 70%. Public support is essentially the same in Canada, a country which abandoned capital punishment."

Charest would probably have been PM if he lead the CPC to an election in June 2004. He gave a passionate speech during the 1995 rally that put Chretien's speech to shame and he has a moderate, federalist approach throughout Canada. Now he has too much baggage from Quebec City and has run a generally listless government here. His main flaw has been doing things without explaining why he feels the need to do them. He also has a terrible communications team. Sad as it is, I am going to have to go with Brison or Dion as next Liberal leader. It would be too much for Belinda right away but I am sure she'll jump in in about 8-12 years depending on how many big majorities Harper keeps getting...

That is true but keep in mind the business community is right-wing and votes Liberal in spite of the NDP...

For sure I have... I respect the NDP and NDP voters (like you Bubber) and I think I have mentioned that I met Jack Layton and thought he was a pretty cool guy. I just don't like the Liberals and their anti-American propaganda and I don't like the state Canada is in today...

Ah, Americans in like Mississippi use the term like it is dirty, not your average American...

LOL excellent! And so he should. All you conservatives frothing at the mouth because there's no current leader... pfffft. Be patient -- it'll happen. You never know, the left and the centre could unite.... Layton as Liberal leader? Can you imagine the debates? I can just see Prime Minister Harper looking at Layton in shock after Layton thought there was a difference between the principal-agent theory and agency costs. You know, it says a lot that NDP voters want Layton to bail to the Liberals now... On second thought, Layton waited years to be opposition leader...if he becomes Liberal leader, he can be on the opposition benches for years... You forget that if Layton became Liberal leader and took his party with him, Harper wouldn't be Prime Minister anymore. Layton would. I don't think so...no one in the business community of any country would vote for Layton...

Well said...good posts!!!

"Uh, yes they do have to "behave"(be-neutered) They have to be centrists because most Canadians are." Any stats to back that up? Because unless you live in left-wing Ontario, I think not. "Now, if they had a majority, they could act like a dictatorship ala GW Bush (ala Martin, according to the rants of rightwing posters -- "Waaaah! We've been living under a liberal dictatorship!") LOL." You Libs really like to compare Harper to Bush when there is no evidence of the kind, eh? "Re: Marijuana -- that American fellow that was extradited to the US, he got what, 4 months for smoking pot. Just try it Mr. Harper." Ah, he was acquited for smoking pot. He was put in jail for peyote and magic mushroom possession (bad move, even I tried them back in the day). "Re: Roe vs Wade -- The US is on the verge of overturning this verdict. Just try it Mr. Harper." Ah, I don't think so but OK. "Re: Iraq -- just try it Mr. Harper." Canada is already in Iraq, about as much as our depleted military can handle but OK. "Re: religion, ie the Lord's Prayer in public schools -- Just try it Mr. Harper." Now you're really pushing it... "Re: renegging on SSM -- just try it Mr. Harper." Most Canadians that don't live in Toronto don't support government defining SSM... "We (the centrist majority) don't want someone's "idea of morals" shoved down our throats. Did you notice how "liberal" your once ultra-rightwing, conservative Christian leader has become over the past 6 months? Did you notice how quickly he dropped the religious fanatics? Why is he no longer pandering to them (at least in public)? Because the majority of us centrists want nothing to do with misguided religions and misguided "morality"." Ah, Harper is very conservative and pro-Canada and pro-family rights. He became more mainstream unfortunately because in this country you need to suck up to Ontario to win seats. I, for one, say screw Ontario. They have been living off Alberta and the West and other productive areas of Canada for years while only complaining in return. I hope Harper gets a majority and makes Canada a real country soon enough. I hope Harper calls an election while the Liberals are leaderless and vulnerable, much like Chretien did in 1997 when he won a majority by fixing the election here on the Island of Montreal (shows you how bad his government was, having to fix the election to win a majority when the Leader of the Opposition is nonexistent) but whatever... "We see what is happening with our southern neighbour and we don't want to go there." Yeah I really hope we never have lower taxes, a strong army, and the best free market government in the world... "Do you know that there is a HUGE billboard in the Grand Canyon that reads: "The Grand Canyon is 4,000 years old"? Did you know that they are teaching creation in schools in the southern states. They are teaching it as science, not theology -- to grade school students, not university students... They are teaching it as though it's actual proven fact. Which it isn't." Ah, the U.S. is not Mississippi so I would just calm down. Of course, to your average far left-wing Canadian it is and that is why anti-Americanism is prevalent in this country. Who cares what is done in a Mississippi schoolroom...that is neither mainstream U.S. nor mainstream Harper government Canada... "It's well known that Harper admires the US and it's ideals. Will he try to make us over "in their image"? Perhaps, perhaps not, but I am not willing to give him the power to do so." So am I, I hope we are a strong country again... "So run your neutered govt, Mr. Harper, glad to see you are being so "liberal". We centrists thank you. We don't trust you, but we thank you. " Harper will, unfortunately, have to appease the left-wing opposition for a time but I am a string believer he can get the string majority Canada needs to get itself back on track soon because, unfortunately, it will take a CPC majority to bring this country kiciking and screaming into the 21st century...

I agree with Shoop in that I don't see how you can compare a "family doctor" with the clinic where Layton went.

Please explain to me where I've been 'disingenuous' or claimed to have 'altruism' on our side. I never said capatilism hasnt done me well, it has. Im saying the nature of capatilism is contradictory to democracy. If you would like to continue on down the path of the corporate state and consolidation, suit yourself. I, However, am trying to understand how we can evolve the system to serve a us and the rest of the world. Where theres a will theres a way. The orignal nature of capitalism was that it would not be counterproductive to democracy. Adam Smith, widely regarded as the father of modern economics, argued it should include "good Christian values." Looking at the U.S., the only time Bush feels the need to include "good Christian values" in his government is when he is campaigning. I think that otherwise, he is all about the big corporate (read: Enron) guys. Ya man. I dont think many would argue that society should be based on some form of "good Christian values" as you say. Although it should not be religion that dictates these values, finding common ground on the basic "human values" inwhich we would like to govern our society shouldnt be difficult. Its the implemintation thats difficult, being that we've strayed so far from these values(or perhaps never really valued them). Well, Adam Smith said "Christian" because he was writing in a time and in a society when Christianity was the dominant religion and there was no separation between church and state. We can incorporate "Christian values" in modern Canadian society without to them as "Christian." For example, having welfare programs, helping the less fortunate in society, and generally treating everyone with respect and dignity would probably be defined as "Christian values" by Smith but need not be solely about Christianity if we created a government like this in Canada or the U.S. today.

All of me thinks that Putin would change places with Bush in a Moscow minute. Wouldn't doubt it...what leader wouldn't???

Please explain to me where I've been 'disingenuous' or claimed to have 'altruism' on our side. I never said capatilism hasnt done me well, it has. Im saying the nature of capatilism is contradictory to democracy. If you would like to continue on down the path of the corporate state and consolidation, suit yourself. I, However, am trying to understand how we can evolve the system to serve a us and the rest of the world. Where theres a will theres a way. The orignal nature of capitalism was that it would not be counterproductive to democracy. Adam Smith, widely regarded as the father of modern economics, argued it should include "good Christian values." Looking at the U.S., the only time Bush feels the need to include "good Christian values" in his government is when he is campaigning. I think that otherwise, he is all about the big corporate (read: Enron) guys.

Another Trudeau to screw Alberta is your point fo view. To some, people say ALberta's greed does itself in. Interesting perspective about Albertas greed. Do you fell that Alberta gets more than its share of federal resources, is too greedy in that regard? Or do you feel that the amount that Alberta contributes to federalism is inadequate? I'm genuinely curious. I agree with that question. 80+ years of Conservative rule and Alberta has a great economy, minimal corruption, a great working ethic, and a stupendous degree of personal responsibility. After 12+ years of Liberal rule, Canada has loads os scandal, no armed forces, and no respect around the world. Sounds to me like Canada is doing itself in, not Alberta. No respect around the world? You must be blind. Or ignorant, but you've already proven yourself to be that on many occasions, so what's the point of beating that dead stick. AS for no corruption in Alberta, you are kidding me. It's not the same kind of governemnt corruption, granted, but there is a backlog of rigfs violations cases against the Alberta government that would put the State of Texas to shame. Whether it's same sex rights, racial minority rights, or women's rights, ALberta's government has complaints registered aginst it in all those areas. Again, you are full of it. Boru, 1) Most people around the world do not know what to think about Canada... 2) "Rights" violations are a thin line and not in the same league as the Liberals buying a majority in the 1997 election. "Corruption" is not an issue of the left or right, whereas "rights" violations could be nothing more than affirmative action cases the left uses with its imposition of these reverse discrimination policies on our society. If you have a specific case, I'd review it... I think you are full of it and you twist facts around. I have proven that a clear majority of Canadians support the death penalty, that "rights violations" are different from corruption, and that a majority of people in foreign countries have no opinion of Canada. I was wrong to state that that hospital had a sauna and I admitted my mistake. Do you admit it when you twist the facts around Boru?

You win...it didn't have a sauna. I was wrong to make such a statement.

Part of me thinks Bush would consolidate his power like Putin if he got the chance.