Martin Chriton

Nice argument. I could trivially manipulate the outcome of an election under the model you propose. You need a paper trail. Period.

You're obviously not a good developer. I don't believe you. Here's how it works. Anything without a paper-trail can be manipulated; regardless of what anyone says that's trying to market these type of products. The secure e-voting model is you'd walk into a voting station and select whomever you wish to vote for and a ballot would be printed off. You'd verify the name on it is correct and hand it in like normal. This model is secure and the initial count is instantaneous and we're able to do recounts when results are suspect (as we have the paper ballots). No there wouldn't be voting at home. A paper trail is a requirement for (1) anyone informed on the issues and/or (2) technology savvy.

Electronic voting is too easily rigged and manipulated. (This is coming from someone in the technology field. Graduated from Waterloo's computer engineering program and now working in Silicon Valley). BTW - CAMP how much are these guys paying you?

Just be glad we don't have a someone more leftist elected like Obama. We'd be in a lot worse shape debt wise.

Hah. And you wonder why the Conservatives can't make cuts? Almost any cut they could make would result in a least someone losing there job. If you cut Y jobs and create X (where X>Y) is that a bad decision?

Just because you're in a recession doesn't mean you have to manage your money unwisely. You can reallocate money to more effective programs.

That's not even that bad. I remember Dion was polling higher than Harper in the past as well. Anything can change in a week or even a day in politics. I wouldn't read too much into it.

It's true, when I first started reading here I found jdobbin to be much more level headed. These days it seems he's getting desperate and attacks the Conservatives with even the weakest of arguments :/ -- As for these attack ads, it's politics as usual. I haven't seen anything really bad since Paul Martin's run, e.g.: the soldiers in the street ad.

So in your opinion to have honest journalism you need a left leaning bias and when you have a right leaning bias it's dishonest journalism. I'm glad we got that covered.

I wonder the same thing about Fox. Apparently they've been having really good ratings since Obama was elected, at times beating CNN and MSNBC combined. We all know how fair and balanced Fox is right? But seriously, all news networks have biases, your ignorance is very transparent by claiming the Star isn't left leaning. Reference: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/rating...ined_115179.asp

You can stab someone with a pen too. We should have a pen registry. Had we had that the last time someone was stabbed with a pen we would've been able to solve that crime. 1 crime solved w/ pen registry vs 1 crime solved w/ long gun registry. With those data points I don't see how any can argue against it.

It's a minority government what do you expect?

So what you're saying is that one day Harper will no longer be leader of the CPC. Wow, genius prediction. I'm going to make one of my own: Iggy will quit the leadership of the LPC (one day). Now what do I win? --- As for those pondering whether this is all a ploy for Harper to get a job w/ the US media. How stupid are you people if you are you're serious about that? Having the citizens of your largest trading partner know more about you is a win win. This is one of the most innovative things I've seen Harper do.

Maybe. I don't think Harper ever thought he was going win that anyways. He succeeded in burning some Liberal cash, and got the issue dropped so his (real) objectives appear to have been met.

What part of minority is hard to understand?

I'd say it's more like the Bloc and NDP burned their bridges with the PM by not even considering to work with the CPC on the budget. They're both now irrelevant until the next election.

I doubt even the most hyper-partisan Liberal supporters would argue that. The coalition was founded on the idea that the Conservatives needed to spend more money.

It's not binary, they'll spend a lot less than the Library / NDP / Bloc trio would have. Their decision is a pragmatic one, not an idealogical one. That's what I expect from my politicians. optics != good policy

Exactly. This is why, it would've been in all our benefits for the Conservatives to have won a majority the last election. They're now forced to spend to get support from the spend-our-way-out-of-deficit socialist parties. Their original economic statement was much more apt. You get the government you deserve. Hopefully next election people will think twice before voting for the Liberals.

Exactly. This thread is kind of silly. I wonder who is going to replace Ignatieff after he leaves?

Exactly. He's not his farther, just as Mr. Bush isn't his father. Politicians should be elected on their merits not who they're related too. We don't need our own little Canadian version of GWB .

Ok, so what does trusting the PM have to do with voting on the budget? Nothing. More partisan politics from Jack.

He is being vague. Not once has he ever given a specific. He mentioned he wants money for middle class, never mentions how much. He mentions he wants money on infrastructure projects, again doesn't give numbers or specifics (e.g.: what projects, my preference would be on forward looking nuclear power plants). All hot air. We'll have to wait and see if he disagrees when it's time to vote. My gut sense is that he'll support it.

Not yet. We'll see if he votes for the budget. If he does vote for it he supports it. Politicians have done this since the beginning of time. I'd have much more respect for someone that actually says *something* and stands by it. Spewing hot air isn't impressive (at least to me but maybe to you).

At this point in time it would've better for Ignatieff if he wasn't already in place as the Liberal leader. If he votes for the budget he shares just as much responsibility for it as Harper. Anyone trying to blame Harper for "causing" a deficit and not also equally blaming anyone else who votes for it is a partisan hack.