normanchateau

Might even get 30%

Yup, the closer to death, the more religious they are. Good news for Harper. More old people vote.

He'd do well in the US as well.

Yes, if the scenario were reversed, the US would certainly not quibble about us illegally holding 5 billion of their dollars. They'd just bend over.

How about Stephen Harper? See: http://cupe.ca/www/EqualityPride/4192

Approximately half of the MPs in CPC are religious conservatives. Unfortunately for CPC, most Canadians are not religious conservatives nor even attach much importance to religion. The Pew Research Center conducted a world-wide survey of nations and calculated the percentage of the population who considered religion important. Here are the results: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_impo.htm The numbers suggest that religion is important in many (but not all) poor countries with one exception, the US. Canadians, like most Europens, attached little importance to religion. Here are some percentages from the link: Indonesia 95% Nigeria 92% Pakistan 91% Bangladesh 88% Uganda 85% Honduras 72% Turkey 65% Venezuela 61% US 59% Great Britain 35% Canada 30% Italy 27% Germany 21% Japan 12% France 11% The 30% figure for Canada is interesting in that it approximates the percentage of the population who are CPC supporters. Coincidence?

I read it two years ago. If Harper believes that young people should be thrown in jail for possession of small amounts, he should read it. His position is irrational and inconsistent with the evidence.

I don't know either but I don't see why it would hurt him.

It won't be the defining issue for me either. Nonetheless, Harper's position is certainly not evidence-based and therefore his irrational opposition to decriminalization does not enhance his credibility with the undecided voters that he needs to capture. His position suggests that he never read the Nolin Senate Special Committee Report.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good for Harper!

Probably but if so they haven't read the Canada Senate Special Committee Report on Illegal Drugs. That committee was chaired by a Conservative Senator and concluded that marijuana was not a gateway drug and that marijuana should be legalized. See: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5285

McKenna?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Really? It didn't hurt Chretien. He couldn't speak proper French or English.

He's 29. He was first elected in 2000, making him at age 24, the youngest elected MP in the history of BC. Assuming he became party leader in 2006 and assuming an election two years after that, he'd be 32 when elected PM. Sure, it's unlikely that CPC would make him leader because in the next leadership race for CPC, unlike the last one, he'd be competing against some high quality candidates. I also think Chuck Strahl, were it not for health problems, might have made a fine leader but it's now a moot point.

See the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joual

I hope he does does the attempts of religious conservatives to unseat him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> I responded to your question about the poll on December 2nd. If you want to look at that response on the "phantom poll" thread, do so. If you don't want to, I will continue to assume you have no evidence.

Moore's the most impressive back bencher in any of the political parties and incredibly bright and articulate. I believe he's asked more questions of the government of any back bencher in Parliament. He represents the only BC riding with a significant number of francophones and is not only fluently bilingual but actually speaks with a Quebecois joual. He'd do well in Quebec which is essential for CPC. Also, he's neither a social nor religious conservative. Sadly, religious conservatives in his riding are so opposed to his voting for C-38 that they're running an independent in hopes that Moore will lose his seat to the NDP or Liberals. For someone like me to be willing to vote CPC with Moore running the show suggests that he has appeal beyond the usual Reform/Alliance/CPC supporters.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Because I sincerely believe that CPC can do better than Harper or MacKay by choosing one of their other current MPs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Like... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> James Moore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> If Harper is saying something and doing something about softwood lumber, please provide the evidence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Because I sincerely believe that CPC can do better than Harper or MacKay by choosing one of their other current MPs.

These are certainly better ideas than the Harper approach which so far amounts to saying nothing and doing nothing and hoping for the best.

Peter MacKay is tainted by his betrayal of the PCs. CPC can do better than Harper or MacKay.

Maybe he left the board.

I'm sorry to hear that.