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Downing Street is still reeling from the devastating impact of General Sir Richard Dannatt's recent stark comments warning that British forces are making security problems in Iraq worse and should leave the country 'soon.' The latest blow is likely to be felt even more keenly coming from Lord Guthrie, a commander who forged such a close friendship with Tony Blair during his time in office that he was dubbed a "crony general" and heavily criticised for politicising his job through his staunch defence of Labour policy.

Those not drinking kool-aid know this. -------------------------------------- Tony Blair faced a devastating attack yesterday as one of his most trusted military commanders described Britain's mission in southern Afghanistan as 'cuckoo'. General Lord Guthrie, former head of the UK armed forces and a close confidante of the Prime Minister, poured scorn on his recent pledge to give army chiefs in Afghanistan 'anything' they needed. He said that Britain is, in truth, "reaping the whirlwind" from cutting the armed forces to the bone following the Cold War. He pointed out the foolishness of going into Afghanistan with such few numbers given the country's inhospitable terrain and the fearsome history of its warrior people. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770

Canadians should be able to expect the truth, even from conservatives. The trumped up allegations against Goodale have no basis is fact and have never been proven. And they never will be because there was no insider trading. This crapola will not work in the next election either. The RCMP have blown their credibility with the Arar case and will not be interfering in the next election campaign.

They say that Canada uses more energy than other nations. Well dud.... Canada has a colder climate.

Bob Rae promised that he would not speak a negative word against the other candidates.... not other parties.

Good that the voters did not trust Harper with a majority so that he must keep his real agenda hidden. His catering to Quebec will be bothersome to the ROC. Changes are coming to Alberta and that may reflect on just how many Tory votes Harper gets to implement his Quebec agenda in the next election. Of course Harper is not so scary now because he knows he can't reveal his neo-con policies and has to muzzle his caucus, his MPs and his party. He who laughs last laughs best and the show hasn't not even begun. The agenda is still behind the curtain.

Well Harper better hope that he gets to call an election before people have to file their 2006 taxes. Besides he hasn't delivered on anything yet. Doesn't matter what he says.

Well, well, well.... Stephen "wanna-be" Bush just had to say a few words and all of a sudden he is the savior without having delivered on anything. In 2000 the government brought in tax cuts worth $100 billion while fixing our CPP fund for many generations. Last year I saved almost $400 in income tax thanks to Ralph Goodale. With the Harper "savior's" planned GST cuts, I would have to SPEND $40,000 in GST taxed goods to save the same $400. Not to mention thousands of low income Canadians that will be added back onto the tax rolls with the cancellation of Goodale's $500 exemption and increasing the tax rate to 16% from 15%. Wait until that hits the pocket books of Canadians and they will realize who really does have their hands in their pockets. And then there is the family allowance being passed off as child care spending with the recycled promises of the Harris government to provide grants to businesses to create child care spaces, which never materilized in Ontario. The spin doctors are in charge but he who laughs last laughs best and so far this government has deliverd on nothing. Nada.

Oh for heavens sake..... Chucky is pulling the wool over everyone. The Liberals have had the biofuel strategy in the works since 2000 and provided the funding to get the industry started. So now Chucky Cheese comes along and makes like this Liberal biofuel strategy is his very own idea. Seems like all this present government has are warmed over Liberal policies and ideas with a slight twist to make them sound different. Take note of the following: Seven projects from across Canada will receive funding to build the country's ethanol future. The Government of Canada selected the companies' proposals for construction of new fuel ethanol facilities as part of a competitive process under the Ethanol Expansion Program. The recipient companies are as follows: Commercial Alcohols, Inc., Varennes, QC Husky Oil Marketing Company, Minnedosa, MB Husky Oil Operations Ltd., Lloydminster, SK NorAmera BioEnergy Corp., Weyburn, SK Okanagan Biofuels Inc., Kelowna, BC Seaway Grain Processors, Inc., Cornwall, ON Suncor Energy Products Inc., Sarnia, ON. Expanding the availability of fuel ethanol will help address climate change and create new economic opportunities for Canadians. Ethanol produced from grain reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change by up to 40 percent compared to gasoline. All gasoline vehicles manufactured since 1979 can use ethanol blends of up to 10 percent. "These contributions will help provide the capital and confidence needed to make these plants a reality," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "By working together with the private sector to increase production of ethanol-blended gasoline, the Government of Canada will ensure that our transportation sector will reduce GHG emissions that contribute to climate change." "This is a very exciting time for the ethanol industry in Canada," said the Honourable Bob Speller, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. "This is a positive announcement for Canadian agriculture, as these plants will create new markets for our farmers, boost our rural communities and support regional development." The 750 million litres of annual fuel ethanol capacity planned by these projects will more than quadruple Canadian production (currently about 200 million litres per year), increasing supply to almost 1 billion litres. There are currently more than 1,000 retail locations selling ethanol-blended gasoline in Canada. The seven projects will produce fuel ethanol from grain (corn or wheat) using proven technology. The Government of Canada is also actively working with industry to research and develop new technology that would produce ethanol from agricultural residues (including straw and corn stalks) and forestry byproducts. Ethanol produced with this technology is expected to result in even greater GHG reductions - from 60 to 80 percent compared to gasoline. The funding under the Ethanol Expansion Program is part of a larger bio-fuels strategy that also includes the extension of the National Biomass Ethanol Program, research and development under the biotechnology component of the Technology and Innovation Strategy, and an investment in biodiesel. The first round of the Ethanol Expansion Program has a total allocation of $78 million. Funding for this program is part of the $2-billion commitment to climate change action made in Budget 2003. The Government of Canada has committed more than $3.7 billion to climate change programs and to the development of leading-edge technologies over the past five years.

Hows about those upstanding, moral, honest, filled with integrity Harper Cons, eh? Candidates get a bad name Fake monikers on phony election ballot have scent of scandal, Earl McRae writes By EARL MCRAE, OTTAWA SUN Tue, January 17, 2006 http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/Election/2006/...397618-sun.html This is a shocker: Tory John Baird's political opponents in the riding of Ottawa West-Nepean have suddenly quit to be replaced by a bunch of wannabes we've never heard of. Bye-bye to Lee Farnworth of the Liberals, Marlene Rivier of the NDP, Neil Adair of the Green Party, Randy Bens of the Canadian Action Party, and Independent John Pacheco. I have the startling proof in my hand. A card dropped into my mailbox. From the Conservative Party of Canada. Signed by Stephen Harper and John Baird. The printed words at the top telling me: "Earl, this election your vote is critical. Please do not wait until Jan. 23rd to vote. Stand up for Accountability. Stand up for Canada. Vote Conservative." "Earl?"

I dare any Harper supporter to dispute that Harper will use the Belgium model to change Canada into his own image. '' BELGIUM: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch. Under the 1994 constitution, autonomy was granted to the Walloon region (Wallonia), the Flemish region (Flanders), and the bilingual Brussels-Capital region; autonomy was also guaranteed for the Flemish-, French-, and German speaking “communities.” The central government retains responsibility for foreign policy, defense, taxation, and social security.'' ( SOURCE: © 2000–2005 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease) That's what you can expect IF you were to ever elect HARPER and the Reform/Alliance/Conservatives!! But Harper does NOT tell you this in plain words. He just glibly suggests that Canada might adopt the Belgium model of federal government; that he would give more powers to the provinces/territories, and reduce the role of the federal government, without spelling out the details. His hidden agenda are in the details. Here are some of the details: Harper supports an elected SENATE highly influenced by the provinces. An elected Senate would trump the primary parliamentary function and responsibilities of the House of Commons -- just as it does the House of R. in the USA. You would be paying very large salaries to Harper and his caucus for doing little work-- (remember when Harper and his neo-con caucus refused to show-up in the H or C for one of the readings of Godale's finance bill?, or when they refused to show up for work in committees? and when Stockwell Day suggested that the H of C should shut down from Thursdays through Mondays? -- and for their vastly reduced responsibilities --four in total, ''a la Harper's Belgium model,'' expressed some months ago: (1) foreign policy, (2) defence; and Harper and his western group would only (3) collect your taxes to build up and maintain the Armed forces (to help George Bush); and his ''soc-con'' policies would probably make it very difficult for you to get (4) social security benefits (Harper and the ''soc-cons'' are promising you reduced taxes, but they don't tell you ( hidden agenda) that if they let you keep more in your pocket to spend, then you are going to have to look after yourself and families by paying much more than you are allowed to keep, for ALL the services and health benefits that you may/will need. The federal civil service would be drastically reduced since ALL other federal government services but these four areas, would be handed over to the provinces. Imagine Canadians having NO federal department of Justice, no Supreme Court of Canada (the SCC would be useless since each autonomous province would be administering and pronouncing on its own laws), of health, of immigration, of employment/unemployment insurance, of fisheries, of agriculture, of human resources, of public works, of communications and transportation, of language, culture/Arts and bilingualism, of security, RCMP, and CiSIS; and all the other federal departments now in existence!! When Harper and his Reform-Alliancers/Neo-cons went out last Summer trying to re-design and soften his ice-cold, angry, straight-jacket, stoic image, just remember what's behind the fake smile, the nice guy, the smoothe, it's-okay-to-trust-me image. Just recall the Harris ''common-nonsense Revolution, and the anguished legacy that that government left for Ontarians. Recall the Harris-Manning 'think-tank' report on Canada's health system, as opposed to the Romanov report!! If we elect (Harper to govern), we will deeply regret it!!!

That is so rich. When are the Alliance going to admit that they bought membership in the PC party just so they could flood the votes to merge the two parties? And when is Harper going to pay Orchard the $70,000 owed to him from donations to his leadership bid for the PC party? And let's not even mention Peter, pants on fire, Mckay.

From today's media: Estimates of the cost of a fiscal rebalancing go as high as $40 billion over five years, a figure that pushes the incomplete, $75 billion Conservative platform — already the most expensive — to a massive $115 billion over five years. But when asked this week how that promise would affect the likelihood of the Tories actually balancing the budget, Darby told reporters: "Talk to Harper. It is not in the platform I received from them." To add to the confusion, Darby said he feels the health-care guarantees and the fiscal rebalancing promises "are just under discussion," not something the party is committed to implementing. Harper says both are serious commitments. Voters certainly cannot take any comfort in Darby's assessment of an incomplete Conservative platform, especially when private sector forecasters, on average, estimate that the amount of available money that the parties have to dispose of over the five-year planning period is $54.5 billion. That figure is $20 billion less than the estimated cost of the promises to which the Tories have already attached a price tag. Worrisome, the figure could be up to $60 billion short of the cost of their complete platform. In turn, that means a Conservative government under Harper would either have to cut between $20 billion and $60 billion from existing programs, or run a budget that carries a deficit. Another option would be for Harper to break some of his promises in order to table a balanced budget.

And that is what Harper is going to do... steal my tax reduction that Goodale gave me.

The hangover is going to be termendous!!! God help us all and save us from the Mulroney/Harris/Harper government.

Boy are you in for a rude awakening. Harper is going to hit the low income with the cancellation of the Liberal tax cuts. His rich friends will be the ones he protects, especially with the GST cut cause rich people pay moore GST as poor people can't afford to buy stuff that is not food, rent, mortgage, etc. Harper would turn Canada into a combination of Mulroney/Harris/Bush. God help us if he gets in.

Options Canada was audited by the Auditor General 10 years ago. There is nothing but allegations and slime being thrown by the Bloc and now Harper. There was no leak in the Inocme trust announcement. It is all hype and allegations. And that will be proven.

That is horsefeathers. This latest Options Canada is not a scandal. Options Canada was already audited 10 years ago by the Auditor General and thee books have been balanced. Harper can try all he likes and he will not prove one of his allegations. And I hate that sneer on his face.

..."I know my friend(s) for so long. You're just hallucinating. Nothing wrong is going on." Is that what Harper has been telling you? As he cancels the $500 personal exemption and raised the tax rate back to 16% after Goodale lowered it to 15% and bumped up personal exemption by $500. Sorry lot that is going to be sorry for supporting Harper.

Tories silence candidates Pair told not to talk about same-sex meeting volunteer By STEPHEN MAHER Staff Reporter and Our Staff The Conservative party has told two Halifax-area candidates not to talk to reporters about a meeting of clergy opposed to same-sex marriage that they attended Wednesday. "We’ve been told by Ottawa that we don’t talk about that," Paula Henderson told The Chronicle Herald on Thursday. "That’s a dropped subject." Ms. Henderson is a campaign volunteer for Rakesh Khosla, the Tory running against Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan in Halifax West. Paul Francis, the Conservative candidate for Sackville-Eastern Shore, also attended the meeting and he too refused to comment. http://www.herald.ns.ca/Front/475500.html

Why then has Harper parachuted his picks into ridings. And why did Harper block Richardson from running in Atlantic?

Tory plan would scrap Liberal tax cut on low income earners Last Updated Sat, 07 Jan 2006 00:20:31 EST CBC News A Tory plan to raise personal income taxes on low income earners is part of an overall tax strategy that will result in more tax relief for Canadians, Tory MP Jason Kenney said Friday. Kenney was reacting to a CBC News story that revealed part of the Tory tax plan if they take power is to reverse a Liberal tax cut introduced before the election. http://tinyurl.com/865bl ============================================================ So under a Harper Con government we have to spend money to save money or have kids under the age of six year while under a Liberal government we save money by earning money. Neat trick, Harpo.

Now you are not being honest.

Can't refute the accucations again Harper so must must try and deflect. Posting facts is not another scare tactic. Being anti-american is not bigotry.

I agree, your argument is lame. Don't give up though I have heard of a talking dog that supports your position, maybe you two could hook up and create a blog with as much credability as the the one you have posted here. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Favorite Con trick...... when they can't address the issues, they attack the person. Now who has ....... promised tax cuts, promised not to alter abortion laws, pledged to make government “smaller” and pledged to increase the military???? Who??? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Uhm, Paul Martin has promised all those things... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Martin promised tax cuts and they came into effect Jan 2005, he NEVER promised not to alter abortion laws, he NEVER promised to make government smaller and he NEVER promised to increase the military.... just to buy more and better equipment. Guess again.