Keepitsimple

There are always bumps in the road on the way to the PMship. It's not so much who's behind the Manifesto - and whether they represent a good chunk of the NDP view......it's more that the NDP will be beating a nuanced, tactical retreat. They don't want to alienate this very prominent group of "supporters" but they have to maintain that "moderate" posture. There should be some interesting questions coming Mulcair's way. Link: http://globalnews.ca/news/2221312/manifesto-backed-by-prominent-ndpers-calls-for-overhaul-of-economy/

No, there isn't a misunderstanding. It's really a question of whether a government has honest aspirations to run their operations within the framework of a balanced budget. Here's where we stand: 1) The Conservatives have a track record which makes their "aspirations" more believable. With the Global Recession, they said, were encouraged, or forced to (depends on your point of view) inject a huge stimulus package into the economy - leading to multiple deficits. That said, they promised to balance the budget and did it one year early.....and unless the Global Economy rocks us again, they plan to live within a balanced budget. Is that good or bad? That's up to voters - but at least you know where they stand. 2) The Liberals have not put any importance on balancing the budget (it will balance itself).....and have promised to go into deficit at the rate of $10 billion each year for at least three years. By their own words, they do not aspire to living with a balanced budget. Deficit spending inevitably leads to cuts at a later date. No talk of that of course. Is deficit spending with a new party (we've been told this is NOT the same old Liberal Party) and an unproven leader the way to go? Again, that's up to the voters - but do we really know how this new Liberal Party would run things - and exactly who would run them? 3) The NDP - they "sort of" aspire to a balanced budget philosophy but heavens - there's lot of promises out there. But Mulcair said he'd balance the budget in his first year. Is he to be believed? Well, I'd feel much better if he said he aspired to balance the budget in the second - and every year (Why don't reporters ask the right questions?). Will he make it part of his governing philosophy? I think there should be a big, fat "Buyer Beware" sign around Mulcair's neck.

Makes perfect sense. People with some level of affluence put their money in managed portfolios with real investment advisers - they don't fiddle around with the small stuff......but to the little guys - the micro-investors, these TFSAs are a big deal.

What's your point?.....that someone who goes to church shouldn't be Prime Minister? Do you have one shred of substance that indicates Harper has mixed religion and politics? The irony of the Left's prejudice........

......and if they don't? If most of the extra support the Liberals seem to have collected scrambles back to the Conservatives in the voting booth - and Libs are once again relegated to third party status with a Conservative majority......what then?

He's changed his "plan" several times already - so I think you might be onto something.

As I said - if it was somebody other than Trudeau, Conservatives would at least kick the tires.......and no, I don't underestimate how much Albertans detest the Trudeau name.

Generally speaking, Conservatives will not vote NDP - but many, like me - would consider voting Liberal. That ship sailed when they put Trudeau as captain of the ship - instead of Garneau. So yes, you're right - at this juncture, the vast majority of Conservatives don't give a crap about the other parties - in spite of the government's warts.

You don't have to be a Conservative partisan to understand that almost all of what you say is bang-on! Thanks for taking the time to provide the deaf and blind with more facts to ignore.

Yes - I was being generous in addressing Cyber's claim that we had "9 points of room" to move. As I asked him, I wonder if these facts will alter his plan to agreement that it's OK to raise taxes. I'm not holding my breath on that one.

If I showed you that the average Corporate Tax Rate in the US was less than 15% - instead of 40%, would that make any difference to the way you look at things?

Not one comment yet about Trudeau's performance - or Mulcair's. Trudeau: first thing he'd do as PM? Climate Change - get to Paris. Pathetic. Mulcair: on ISIS - bring all our troops home. No training, no airplanes. Leave it to others. At least you know where he stands.

Same here - and so true. A lot of it is insecurity - afraid to actually take a position of substance for fear of becoming a target and actually having to defend that position. Hence the tiresome, droning anti-Harper rhetoric and drive-by smears - if not fabrications.

Can you explain why federal revenues have consistently gone up as both personal and corporate taxes have gone down?

If only it was that easy - leave them alone to dominate their own lands .Listen to their own words - they won't stop until Islam is Global - until the infidels bow to Muhammad - or are beheaded. Their words. Leave them alone and the "rule" the Middle East......and all those "refugees" become a staging ground for a country=by-country assimilation - and as they say - it may take 100 years but that's their goal. Choose to not believe it at your own naïve peril. I know it's difficult - difficult to think in irrational terms - like these zeolots.....but until people accept the reality of the extremist elements of Muslim fundamentalism - until we accept that this growing scourge plays by no rules, has no conscious, and is for all intents and purposes - and irreconcilable, deadly menace to mankind - then we will slowly disappear into the quicksand of submission or anarchy. Purge this filth from the earth - there is no other answer.

But you now believe that "this time round", it's justifiable to put Western boots on the ground, right?

So......as the guy who scoffs at the "bomb trucks", you're now in favour of putting Western boots on the ground? And if that becomes a reality, you're OK with putting Canadian soldiers into the battle? Is that what I'm hearing?

How many times do you have to be told to stop making things up? First of all it's OAS. Secondly, the eligibility age remains at 65 until 2023 and does not fully rise to 67 until 2029.

So - is your argument that Canada should never host a G8 or G20 conference? And why do you tie security to an INSANE and FISCALLY RECKLESS Ottawa? Clearly you didn't understand that much of the security money did not come out of the treasury....... but what you also fail to understand is that the majority of security spending was actually done by municipal and provincial law enforcement. Where is your venomous blathering towards Bill Blair and the McGuinty/Wynne gang? But back to Springer's topic......

...and you're one of the worst offenders. At least Springer was open enough to give his reasons. Would you be bold enough to tell us in such thorough and thoughtful terms why you would vote for "your guy"......? Here's a little helper.....if you'd care to contrast Stephen Harper with Justin Trudeau - just watch the Mansbridge interviews for substance and leadership (Harper) versus platitudes and naivitee.... Trudeau: Harper:

Gee - what's wrong with that stupid Harper.....why isn't he throwing the doors open to all these Muslims? After all, they are all Conservatives. Doesn't the cunning Harper want all those votes? Why is he so anti-Muslim? I don't understand. Can you explain it?

Typical of Canadian politics - it's never enough. We've already taken in 25,000 refugees from the area and are committed to 20,000 more. We've almost reached our initial target of 25,000 for Iraqi resettlement - so why is it so hard to fathom that we'll do the same for Syria? In a couple of years we'll have resettled almost 50,000 people from the region.......and they will likely settle primarily in Montreal or Toronto. That's a pretty big number.

Not sure what you were arguing but Nazis were extreme Left Wing - Nazis is an abbreviation of the National Socialist Party.......and as far as religion, Nazis were predominantly atheists.

Ya.....but looking real good for the NDP and Liberals. Get ready to pop those champaign corks! This election is a forgone conclusion for those nasty CPCers. Out you go!

Gee, wasn't it your previous post that pointed out that Canada was #5 in the world for accepting refugees in 2010? See what happens when you cherry-pick data to further your own agenda?