Ricki Bobbi

Starting? I think a lot of us on here take ourselves far too seriously. Such is life, eh?

It would require, and be part of, a massive shift of the Federalist vote to the Conservatives from the Liberals. Two seats that would go Conservative before going Bloq are Mount Royal and Westmoutn - Ville Marie. Not likely, but how likely is a Conservative majority?

You have to wonder about how important Afghanistan will be in a lot of people's voting decisions. Anybody who is going to make their choice on that issue isn't likely to be a swing/moderate decision maker. i.e. where a CPC vote is a realistic possibility. My guess is Harper will pick up much more support in Montreal's Jewish community with his handling of the most recent Mid-East crisis than he'll lose over Aghanistan. The Conservatives will still have the upperhand for the Federalist vote in Quebec *unless* the Liberals pick Stephane Dion....

CPC so far get a B+ to A-. Harper has made a few choices that make you wonder but, like talking about SSM early on in the election, he has proven that he has a keen strategic mind and knows how to think long term. Has fulfilled most of the election promises, but has to get aggressive in fulfilling the rest in the fall session. Not everybody likes him, but here is a pretty good question to judge how he has done so far. Has anybody who voted Conservative in January/seriously thought about it/ or would seriously think about it changed their votes because of the way they have governed? Probably not many... BQ get a B to B+. Pretty low profile in english Canada but they appear to be hitting the grassroots hard. NDP a B. Not sure what Layton is doing, knee jerk anti-Israel stance is a strike against but he was preaching to the converted. (bah!) Liberals a C-. Looking back at the strong, effective opposition of the Rat Pack in the Mulroney era you really have to wonder what the Liberals are thinking right now. They have had many chances to mount an effective attack but haven't capitalized. Look for Harper to pull a Chretien, let the Liberals pick a new leader than call an election shortly afterwards. Day was leader for a little more than four months before the election in 2000. Let's say Harper is a little more generous and gives the Liberal leader five or six months. That would put the next election May/June of 2007.

Yes, the party did change the rules for nomination meetings. I don't really think it was as a direct result of the Cadman incident. Probably more attributable to a party that is still in its infancy and didn't have time to get its organizational act together in advance of the last two elections. If you look at the changes they aren't really designed to keep people from challenging sitting members. More directed towards making sure that anyone who is going to challenge for a nomination is serious about it. Guidelines on number of memberships sold, a bigger deposit those sorts of things.

Are people actually trying to say that the Conservative Party should have to answer for posts on Free Dominion as if they were party policy? Even when there is no connection between FD and the party? Does that mean the NDP should be responsible for any postings on Rabble? Or should the Liberals be? But wait there are some Liberals who would be more comfortable on FD than on Rabble. Hmmm, very confused...

It's a matter of principle. Nobody gets protected. Why didn't Cadman go out and sell more memberships? You gotta wonder if the Cadman thing really bit the Conservatives in the butt. Would they have won a spring 2005 election? Nobody knows, but it is fair to say the were more likely to have lost that election than to have won a majority.

If Garth can win his riding so be it. Sort of a tradeoff for moderates in the party. Nobody really wants to see SSM foes beat a moderate. But in this case the moderate is Garth Turner who puts the I in team player....

Hmmm, so what is your issue with Harper missing this event? Harper was doing much more than going on a fishing vacation. He was on a trip to promote Canada's claim over Arctic sovereignty. Seems like a pretty good thing to be fighting for.

That is a great point. There are so many ways to look at this issue it really is a tough thing to do. Harper's response may not have been nuanced enough for some. That is the only valid objection to his response. The knee-jerk anti-Israel response is just symbolic of the left's lack of ideas and ability to look at both sides of an issue.

Khan's decision to step aside and not attend Liberal caucus meetings is a good sign for the Conservatives. Leaves open the option of Khan crossing the floor, and giving the Conservatives a toe hold in the GTA. Further alienates the Liberals on the issue. The only potential issue internally with the Conservatives is with Deepak Obhrai who has been rumoured to have already voiced his displeasure with the move. Obhrai doesn't have a lot of friends in caucus or much support on the issue.

Harper's handling of this latest Mid-East crisis will prove to be another master stroke. Jewish voters will move in large numbers to the Conservatives due to his strong support of Israel on the issue. Sad, sad day for the Liberals. They have looked lost and rudderless. Ignatieff's absence in the early days of the debate will come back to haunt him.