tml12

I don't know if I would call Harper an intellectual (whatever that means). And I certainly wouldn't say he's like Trudeau. It seems to me that he is a thinking man, and clearly he has thought about Canada. That makes for the comparison with Trudeau. (This idea is not original and comes from William Johnson's book.) I agree that that is both good and bad. In the case of Harper, we'll have to wait and see. Harper is a scholar in the field of Canadian studies and economics but he is not an intellectual. Intellectuals are truly genious individuals. Clinton, Trudeau, and Ignatieff--like their policies or not--they are brilliant men. What we have in this election in the Liberal and Conservative camp are individuals who are scholars in their field: Martin (Philosophy/Law) and Harper (Economics/Canadian Studies).

Fine with me as long as those seats leave the Libs. Agreed but I wouldn't bet on it. The Liberals always do better than expected on voting day... :angry:

Me neither.

Conservatives 134 Liberals 84 Bloc 60 NDP 30 That is my final answer (and only one recently I think...)

Eureka, Your posts become more sardonic as each day goes by. Yes, Harper is hell-bent on destroying this country and we have the greatest Supreme Court appointment process in the world. When did the line between fact and fiction become so blurred for you? Are you that left-wing? I mean, I am open to honest debate and, at least according to some test posted here, I agree with 6 NDP and Liberal and Bloc platforms compared to 6 for the Conservatives alone (which means I am pretty moderate) but I can't even find quotes from your post that makes me think we can talk about the possible good things that will happen in a Harper government. Are you absolutely convinces this man is that awful? Can you not find any common ground with the CPC on ANY issue?

It will most likely be in the first budget, which will have to be released very soon after (I wouldn't be suprised if they have a working draft in progress already). The Provinces need to know whats going on, so a budget within a month of the throne speech wouldn't be unlikely. I can't wait! I mean, I know it is not one of the greatest economic moves in the world and with the 7.5% sales tax we already have in Quebec it won't be extremely noticeable, but hell...it'll add up...

I'd ride out on my horse and lasoo (spelling??) you tml. I have always respected the West Geoffrey. I believe it to not only be Canada's heartland, but also home to many wonderful people and places. Maybe I'll make it out there one day. At any rate, I hope Harper makes it to 24 Sussex Drive tomorrow.

It is hard to remember a Conservative in my lifetime who got good press. Mulrooney, wow, as I recall he got awful press.

Which "race" was it intolerant towards? I think it was an anti-Western comment. If I went out West and I started saying "you people...what planet am I on? What century am I in?, etc." I think people would not react in a positive way toward me. Furthermore, I think it is a comment said by someone who was looking for attention and is quite desperate.

Bubber, HA! You got me on that one...

I hate to pull a Scott Reid, but the Bloc can blow me. When questioned about the surge of Conservative support in Quebec, Réal Lapierre, a Bloc MP from south of Quebec City, said "I had the chance to see Conservative MPs from the West in Ottawa...I had to ask myself several times whether I was on the right planet or what century I was in." First, WTF??? Second, I have seen plenty of Western MPs. They dress not much differently then Eastern MPs. Third, even if they came to Parliament in bathing suits, what's the point? Trudeau wore sandles. I should also add, Quebecers should base their voting intentions on their own Conservative candidates, not Western ones. Fourth, it was just a racist comment...simply put. :angry:

Yes, a Quebec reporter, obviously not a Tory fan and making no bones about it. I considered her actions shrill, crude, and ill-mannered. This is a television reporter? I thought they were supposed to have some measure of dignity and professionalism. Then again, nerves are fraying on the left at the advent of a conservative government, and she was probably desperate to get some kind of dirt she could throw onto the airwaves. I read that in the paper today too. Shame, they are begging for a Conservative candidate to say something pro-life for the cover of tomorrow's paper. The first day in Parliament, PM Harper should, as a joke, introduce some extreme social right-wing legislation and then be like "just kidding." That would be funny...

RB, You seem to feel guilty about voting Liberal tomorrow. Look, I know most people on this board know I do not like the Liberals and that I support the Conservatives. However, I think people should vote for the party they feel will serve their interests best. The Liberal Party has done good things...no doubt about it. There are parts of their platform that I favour over the Conservative platform. Namely, I usually am left-wing on issues such as childcare (even though I have no children, I think there needs to be oversight from the government), education (for the future of any children that I hope to have someday), employment insurace, etc. Yet, there are five issues that drive me more than anything else: foreign policy (more specifically, relations with the U.S.), health care, national defence, intergovernmental affairs/federalism, and the environment. The Conservatives offer the best plan for me on all of the above issues. Even on the environment, where I hope--perhaps naively--they will create a plan to combat global warming. This election also brings to mind government corruption. I have always said, history will not remember Paul Martin as a great PM or a good, clean guy. That is too bad, because I blame Chretien, not Martin. Martin was probably a fool for not knowing more, but I have always believed Chretien to be corrupt. Hopefully, Martin will be remembered as a better, cleaner guy than Chretien. I hope that whichever party wins, they will put everyone in this country first with their agenda. I hope they will make Canada strong and well respected again. And I hope that they will work to make all regions of Canada equally as strong and vibrant, with a renewed sense of federalism and personal responsibility.

I hope his hands are tied regarding Quebec autonomy. I do not think Quebec should have a greater voice in international affairs because it undermines Canada as a whole. I also hope Harper stands up for Quebec anglophones.

This rise in crime under the Liberals is due to money misspent and a "soft on crime" attitude. I was referring to gun crimes. Gee Eureka, someone seems nervous...thinking about PM Harper giving you the creeps?

I know that 14 and 15 year olds have sex but I wouldn't want them to have sex with anyone over someone in their early 20s. A 15 year old with another 15 year old is OK. A 15 year old with a 40 year old is something I have issues with.

I think Harper will be well liked. Few have written more on the future of this country and on federalism than he has. He could really be the next "Tory Trudeau." He is a man of integrity and one that I just simply like. Let's hope he can get the job done.

Good post, but Martin is stumbling along asserting that 'the Liberals will win' maybe he knows something about the voting irregularities in Edmonton Martin is a disappointment, I had thought he would be a better leader, and his duplicity is stunning. I'm guessing most people saw through his notwithstanding clause manipulation. All I can say is the shenanigans and low down tactics from the liberal camp has hit an all time low, not the kind of people I want representing me. Here's hoping for some accountability and ethics finally. Hard to disagree with that. Martin is like one of those big potato chip packages...then you open it up and find that its half full of air... Here is to hoping Harper is a man of his word...

You seem to be adhering to established stereotypes here. The fact is Canada has a gun culture and the U.S. has a gun culture. You also seem to refer to Canada as a "humble" country, while insinuating that the Americans are gun crazy. The fact is, it is the Canadian who is shooting with a gun that may or may not be from the U.S. My take? We need to overturn the federal gun registry and replace it with something that will cost less. We need to create a "Made in Canada" gun control plan in this country that will take into consideration other parts of the country that have different cultures and attitudes in dealing with guns, and finally we must impose mandatory sentences on those who have used guns inappropriately. Heck, I'd even bring back capital punishment...which most Canadians are in favour of. This rise in crime under the Liberals is due to money misspent and a "soft on crime" attitude.

If true, at least Harper has the decently to admit he'll be biased...

You can't possibly expect me to believe that anyone at any lever of government would go soft on e-coli???

I am supportive of social programs as long as they are delivered to those who deserve them. BTW Eureka...did you know that most Canadians favour capital punishment? I hope at some point a Harper government brings it back...

He has??? Wasn't it less than two months ago thatr Harper announced in Vancouver that he would not reintroduce the decriminalization of marijuana legislation favoured by the NDP, BQ, Liberals and two thirds of the Canadian population? In other words, Harper still favours permanent criminal records and jail time for possession of a few grams of marijuana. You don't think this zero tolerance US social policy is extreme? How about Harper's opposition to C-250? Most Canadians I suspect view killing a man merely because he's gay as a hate crime. But not Stephen Harper. He fears that will result in the Bible being banned. Now that's extreme even by religious nut standards. Other than no longer speaking publicly about his extremely conservative social views, what evidence is there that he has changed his position on any of them? He has to be more mainstream otherwise he'd lose. He's not gonna walk into parliament and reneg on the gay marriage issue, nor is he going to make the bible required reading in public schools. He knows that these things just won't wash with the Canadian public. OMG I can't believe I'm actually defending Harper!! LOL And, not all US states have a zero tolerance policy regarding pot. California and Alaska are just two that come to mind, they have decrim laws. tml12 said LOL I'm over 40. Anyone over 40 grew up in the 60's and 70's and yessiree there was pot around. Many boomer still smoke it. I don't think anyone should have a criminal record for smoking pot. Actually they should hand it out free at public events to keep everyone mellow and happy. When I was your age I was SURE that by the time I reached 40 those antiquated laws regarding marijuana would be long gone. I guess we have to wait a while yet, till all the old buggers are dead. Drea, Marijuana kills brain cells and destroys lives. I have smoked pot many times in my life but quit forever when I realized how much it was affecting my everyday life and burning me out. There is a reason why pot is a controlled substance. I know 40 year-olds still smoke today...it doesn't make it right and, you surely know, they are not the most intelligent people around...