normanchateau

You must have some very powerful evidence to prove unequivocally that religion is in fourth place in importance in loyalties in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Last year when Abdul Rahman was sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for converting to Christianity, it was his family that denounced him and first brought his conversion to the attention of the government. Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2095263,00.html Although an international outcry to the Karzai government resulted in Rahman being exiled from Afghanistan, it remains a shameful tragedy, in my opinion, that Canadians are dying to prop up a country with an Islamic constitution and a corrupt government.

So voting against making it a hate crime to advocate the killing of homosexuals is not a socially conservative position? So wanting permanent criminal records and jail sentences for possession of a few grams of marijuana is not a socially conservative position? Harper's position on this issue is unequivocally socially conservative if not irrational.

Do more research into the issue and stop trying to push your far left, self-hating, Liberal Ignatieff agenda. So supporting bilingualism is a "far left, self-loathing, Liberal Ignatieff agenda"? Now what do you suppose would be the position on bilingualism of a far right, self-adoring, principled, social conservative? Here's the position of the Prime Minister before he decided to abandon yet another principle and declare that the Quebecois are a nation: "After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn’t mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It’s a dogma which one is supposed to accept without question.…Make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it is less bilingual today than it has ever been...As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions." Stephen Harper, Calgary Sun, May 6, 2001 Source: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stephen_Harper

Harper a social conservative? Surely not.

Some would argue that his vote against legislation making it a hate crime to promote or advocate the killing of homosexuals is a so-con position. But if you share Harper's vision, you'd see that as a weak argument.

Norman what are Reid's views on Global Warming, I haven't found any yet. I posted a link to the global warming views of Focus on the Family earlier in this thread. I've yet to hear Reid suggest that he differs with their views and he was the Canadian leader of Focus on the Family. But my views of Reid are more influenced by some of the other positions he has taken...against stem cell research for example. Stem cell research saves lives. Even the president of the CPC constituency which picked Reid as the Richmond BC candidate resigned after Reid got the nomination because he considered Reid too extreme.

The 64% of Canadians who voted for parties to the left of Harper's in the last election probably don't share this opinion.

There is nothing wrong with some religious values.

Best of the season to everyone. Late tomorrow I'm off to Asia where I'll spend the next 3-4 weeks in a Buddhist country. With luck, no one there will wish me a Merry Christmas.

Good points. Incidentally, not only is the Head of State position limited to Christians, it's limited to Anglicans. No other Christians can be Head of State even though Canada has far more Catholics than Anglicans. Time for constitutional change.

What does any of this have to do with David Orchard? Nothing, he's trolling - You still haven't answered the question of whether Churchill's switch from the Conservatives to the Liberals is evidence that Churchill was never a conservative. But I suppose it's far easier to avoid the question completely given your accusations against Orchard and instead accuse someone of trolling.

According to a story in Lapresse, the BQ will introduce a non-confidence motion on February 15th. The BQ sure is keen to recover those CPC seats in Quebec but they're ignoring that the Liberal rise in Quebec is even greater than the Conservative drop. And why would the NDP support this given that they're down in the polls across Canada? Story: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14186969.htm

Separation of church and state is an American concept isn't it? You think Canadians support mixing religion with government?

Who never spoke publicly of his faith and broke with the dictates of his church the instant it proved to be politically advantageous. Why should Mr. Reid be excluded from serving the Government at any level because you disagree with his views on global warming? His views on global warming don't disqualify him from serving at any level.

So Canadians of faith have no place in Government. Sure they do. Paul Martin was a church goer.

That conveniently ignores the fact that Christmas is much more diffusely celebrated than just practing Christians. Still a failure to separate church from state...

Tenuous at best. Feel free to answer the second question. Pastor of any ministry outside of government.

Do provide support... Which ministry would be appropriate for Mr. Reid? Or because you oppose his views does that mean he shouldn't be allowed to serve the Government at all? http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/162005d.asp

This obsession of yours is quite troubling. Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Welcome back RB. Suspension over?

You're absolutely right. I had forgotten that Canadians have adopted the American spelling for many words. For example, in Great Britain estrogen is spelled oestrogen.

True but I think the list would be much shorter for gender-based pricing. Sure there are establishments where women get in free but I don't think men oppose that policy if it gets women into those establishments.

No doubt a man of integrity like Harper would have shown Orchard the door if Orchard had endorsed him. Either that or he would have made him chief of staff to a cabinet minister as he did with nutcase Darrel Reid. Anti-abortionist Darrel Reid even opposes stem cell research.

I am Jewish and I can not imagine a Christmas display or tree being offensive. The only thing offensive about Christians is when they try put mayonaisse on bagels. I don't think Christian trees in government buildings are offensive, merely a failure to separate church and state. At least mayo on bagels doesn't mix church and state. And it's not as offensive as mayo on matzoh. Pheh!

Making Darrel Reid Chief of Staff to Ambrose shows what Harper thinks of this ministry...a place to park religious zealots who view the "theory" of global warming suspiciously.