old_bold&cold

A quick look, gives quick answers, seldom does this give real answers or even true answers. But yes the report is looking bright for as far as training goes, but that probably is no where near the size of military that Afghanistan needs to be seld sufficient. Roughly 80,000 troops were quoted before as being the minimum for the army alone.

I followed the links in your posts and It was nothing even near taking your side on this. Perhaps you have been smoking something harder then pot ? The fact that the one link was talked about the 681 people charged driving while on pot, is not as high as those who drive on legal alcohol, but that is the whole point Pot=illegal and alchol=legal. But in this case they are both illegal because they were driving with more then the law allowed. You just seem to always forget that point don't you? You say "if we make it legal then it will not be illegal", Brilliant, and how many reefers did it take for you to think that one out? There are good reasons that we as a society do not want the use of pot to be legal, The build up of toxins in those who smoke over the long term do cause health risks and also risk to pregnant women. While alcohol also has these same issues, it is legal, only if you do not abuse it. That is the main thing called abuse. If you abuse alcohol you will quickly find that you end up breaking laws e.g. DUI, Drunk in public. The green party you run for, does not even come close to what your views are on this, and they quickly say that you are rogue to their platform. That should not surprise you. You rant and rave here, how more CPC people will vote green for the greens pot policy, and you really can not think that will fly with any weight. Here is a link about health and pot http://www.doitnow.org/pages/126.html

I think Harper did set the tone for the throne speech and in a way that said let me govern, and it you can not agree, then either call and election or get out of my way. It is the Liberals who have made such a mess of their job of official opposition, that has done the most harm in all of this. They know that going to the polls will be suicide, for their party. Never mind the polls, even the liberal party does not believe them, and with good reason. They know that if any scutiny was given to what the party stands for, and there will be a flood of voters running from thier party. It is not just the infighting, but the very background and make up of it, that will scare voters away. They need lots of time, to sweep the party clean and renew. It may well take decades. If they had called an election last night, you may well have seen the liberals dropping to third or even fourth party staus, and that is why crow was on the menue and they all were taking second helpings of it. I think though that they will have to call an election sometime soon. Even with all the massaging they do, it still will not be able to run a proper election call. First off I do not think the liberal party has the money to put the call forward for now. Second, Dion needs to be made to look like a leader in some way or another, or he will have to resign and have a quick convention, before they can call an election. This will meand that for the next 2-3 months Harper can pretty much do anything and it will pass the HOC. As for the senate, I do not see them holding things up too long again, as this will feed Harpers plans to have triple E senate, and the peope will vote that way, if this senate is seen being obstructionist. I really do not see a down side for Harper and he will only get much stronger the longer it takes the liberals to agree on what direction they will go with all of this. Dion, is toast either way, and I do not see him staying leader for any time longer then 6 months at most. I think it is only a matter of time before Harper gets his majority, and I do not think the voters will be swayed by any scarey CPC tactics anymore, but it will be scarey Liberals, they will now see. Like a man having a fit and you do not which way he will strike out at.

Dion can rsign as leader and appoint Iggy as interm leader and then wait for the leadership convention to happen. He can do this by supporting the CPC for another 1-2 months and after that, the liberal can force an election, which yes they will probably lose any way. There is no magical formula that will give the liberals power for atleast the next decade or so. That is why party big names stayed awy from the last leadership race.

You forget that Canada and the voters saw real value in going into Afghanistan. It was not a thing where we were going they to deprive people but to free people from oppression. It was a good fight and it was wrapped into aour support for NATO. All that has not changed. If we were lead by the NDP, we would be thrown out of NATO and shamed by the rest of the world. That is the world Jack lives in. It is a very good thing that the NDP will never be a power in out country and will remain a fringe party at best. The average Canadian if they have been informed of all the facts about what we are doing in Afghanistan, would support our mission and I think you will find that is exactly what Harper is doing with this committee, and I believe that he is on the right track, with this. If you look at the support for leader, Harper is doing very well and this will eventually also bleed over for much of the things the government is doing. The very fact that the government is looked at by the voters as not wanting an election, says the voters are not all that aginst the things and the day to day running of this government. We are happy with pretty much all that is going on. The day will come when an election is called, and it will probably be that the CPC will get more seats and possible majority. I do not fore see and scenario where they will lose seats or the government, and I do not think the polls have ever hinted in that direction either.

It really does not matter which way Dion wants to go, it has all been pretty much been fore told by Iggy, that the liberals will support the speech. The rest is just all for show and tell type news. If Dion has not understood yet, that his own party is trying to oust him, it should be clear to him now, and he can not really go on leading, without realizing that the true powers of the liberals are not with him any more and he should probably resign as leader, if he really has any real objective, for helping the liberal cause. The timing for him to do this would have to be fast, as the first order of the day will be the crime package and that will get passed mostly because it already was past before. This would give the liberals a very short window to have a leadership convention, and then try to unite the party before the CPC can get even more powerful with the next budget. If they miss this window or choose to go to election now, ir will be disasterous for the party, and the natural following leadership convention, will be one where it once again will be a game of hot potatoe. Those who were disposed to sit out the last race, will see little value to come forward at this time. Manley was groomed by Chretien to be leader and it still is not ready for the party to accept that insight from their past leader. And the voters will not be ready yet for that to happen. Interesting times are awaiting us, and I am glad to be an observer in all of this, as the players will be sure to get roughed up alot this time round.

Well the speech did not hold out any real surprises, and while being more confrontational then some would have liked, it did cover all the things that Harper has really said all summer. The packaging of the crime bills into one and have it a confidence matter, will not be a big deal as most already voted in favour of those bills already. It will be an interesting night for the Liberal cacus, as they really are in no position to push anything and also in no position for an election, with resignations today of some key people, and others threatening not to run Liberal, if an election was called. That sounds like the knives are out for Dion and now they do not try to hide this, even from the public.

Polls are pretty much useless and I know I never really care that much for them. But when the numbers are given, and you really do not see and sense to them, then you knpw the polls are no good. I do not think that anyone would really think that if an election were called today that the CPC would only get the same minority. Most people would easily see that they would get a much higher number of seats, and with Dion and Duceppe at their helms will lose seats big time. That is almost a given, no matter what the numbers in the polls say. If Dion does not think that is so, he can have that election call made before this next few days have gone by. The polls where the CPC are in 40% areas are probably closer to the truth then those saying 36%. I would guess that in all honesty the real numbers would be closer to 47% in most areas, but like I said I do not put any faith in polls. If any election was called today it would be a slaughter to Dion and the liberals. That is why I do not think that an election will be called at all, no matter what is in the speech from the throne.

You telling me to use spell check that is funny. Your posts that are mis-spelled and unreadable for the topic you babel on about, make my spelling a small thing. Plus if you see my mistakes you will see it is not because I can not spell, but rather I type things sometimes too quickly and yes typo's are then there. Even Elezabeth May would not want to have you or your posts here come to lite of being put foward as part of their platform. Only you can not see this and wonder why. That is why you will never win a seat for them. Oh, I forgot, you are not trying to win but rather are just educating the people

I think Harper is doing exactly what he said he always did with polls and that is not to put much faith in them. He laughs when people mention his high standing as leadership, so that says to me, that he really does not put hard fiath in them right there. Just because he smiles and chuckles, does not mean he thinks they are accurate.

I noticed that Elizabeth May did not ever mention anything about legalizing pot in her platform today. Now why is thta not surprising. I think maybe we should make sure some reporters call her out of this amd make it a well known fact as to just where they stand on it. That would delete and green votes coming in from the protest votes.

Harper can not stop Casey from running, but he can stop him running under the CPC banner if he wishes. I do not see him having to do any of this as there are many lower levels that can just toss Casey from running for the CPC, before it gets to Harper. I think if it were to go that high up Casey may well be allowed to run for CPC. but he would never even be consideed for anything more then a place holder inthe party. He would have to really go beyond the expected to once again be given a chance to be back where all was forgiven, but I would think that is how it should be.

This is in the PMO block that is across from the hill, it on its south side has the Sparks St mall, which is where the shoe store was. The PMO part of this takes up about 2/3 of the whole block between Elgin and Metcalfe St. with Wellington to the north. There is a tunnel between the center block of the hill to Lauvign Block (PMO) so security for people is a given. The PM has offices on the second floor of the Center Block west side end, and also more offices for his staff and the PMO is mostly in the block across Wellington St.

I do not fear elections and I do nto think the Canadian people do either. These elections for the senate can be done every second federal election, as a seperate issue and only for an 8 year terms. If that is all that is stopping us from having a say in how we get represented in the second house, then lets go for it. But the fact that we have to elect senators would be a pleasure more then a task.

I disagree that the government should not control the press to some degree. In this senario the cameras will be taking pictures and distribute them and it will stop the ones where they wait for someone to rub their nose or an embarassing moment. to catch them off guard. This will be better and yes it will make for better newspeople. Not everything has to be taken to its most extreme meaning. Just as the press does not have to send people to catch those moments which we all have, and put them beyond the reach of those yellow jounalists, who will then actually have to work to get the story and their comments to it. Why is the pres always whining like a pathetic child, who does not get their way. You are supposed to be adults who have jobs reporting news. So do your job and do it with dignity, and you will find that nothing will bite you for it. You know Harper can if he wishes just let news releases come from one press secretary source, and never be available at all. He does make himself available to people who conduct themselves in a quality manner. If all you are doing is yellow jounalism, then why would he or should he ever let you into the room. Behave and there will be no problem. I do not ever see Harper get mad if a reporter takes a different side. But if the reporter then takes what was said and skews it to their own purpose, I do not think it bad, that he never speaks to that reporter again. It is his choice.

The senate should be changed because it has long been an outdatedand political pork barrel of appointed people for life. These will interfere with governments just for political purposes and it does not haev the best interests of the people in their present make up. No one should ever get a lifetime appointment to any political body. There has to be a way to get rid of the old party oriented senate and get somethingmore modern, that can address the issues of today to the betterment of the people and not the political party they belong to. If the want sober second thought on bills then it should be done without partisan members and be elected by the people, not political appointments. It is obvious that the present senate is obstructing laws on toughening crime and others that the vast majority of Canadians wanted past. Time to turf all these old farts and provide a better method of doing things.

While I may curl my tongue at the cost of this, I do see it as being a better way for the government to handle the press and yes it means that things will not be as open to critism at the time of announcements, but it does then make for more thoughtful questions and answers at later gatherings, in stead of the raw edged gut reactions. Is it a form of Media control? Of course, but that is the right of the PM to choose this, and the press will just have to get used to it, as Harper will be around for quite some time to come.

That was posted actually in another thread started by Topaz, that has now been removed. I guess I double posted this by mistake and have corrected this. By the way please keep the "Dumbass" type of remarks to a minimum, as I could easily take offence at this, but I do know that sometimes people get heated in their posts, and I have done worse probably, but the admin here will call you out on these, even if it is not reported.

I will say that over the next two weeks, with all the news giving the juicier Chretian quotes etc, that those long term Liberal supportters will start to show up in the polls as now voting CPC. I still do not think that there will be an elction this fall, but if there is, it will be the Liberals who will take the fall big time, and that would happen even if the other parties gave them a pass completely. They just are not very party like, just ask Julius Ceasar Dion is by now wishing he could just hand the leadership over and run from the room, I bet. I do not see this getting any better soon. But then again I support the CPC, so I can enjoy watching this happen, from the side lines.

You clearly do not understand Canada. May I ask you if you are from the USA? It really does not matter but I think it does explain some of your reactions. First off, here in Canada if your protests are going to infringe on part of the peoples rights, you should first get the rules for a permit and see just where and how this can be done legally. Here we have municipal governments that will be the ones to issue permits and yes they will do so without any intervention, if the rules of the permit are followed. We have had a very large number of protests that have stopped traffic for marches and what I would call slow moving blockades, that were legal and within the permits given. It though will not allow you to have a stationary blockade, and have marches unannouced that disrupt traffic. It is a balance of the two differing rights, as to why and how this is done. I do not know what the USA has along these lines, but I would think it is near the same there, but I can not be positive on that point. It really does not matter how or where these people got their arrest record, but rather that it exists. If they had invitations to speak here about anti war efforts, that was not the government inviting them and when you come to Canada it is the Government that invites you here or blocks your entrance. We do not want to allow every pprotestor into our country, as we have more then enough home grown ones to fil that need. Just because these people were here many times before and nothing blocked them, it does not mean that they have a right to still keep coming here and be allowed in. I mentioned my father before who is married to a woman from West Palm Beach, and they for decades wintered there and summers here. One day dad was stopped and they found he had a DUI back when he was a teenager, some 60 years ago. He was denied entry and had to come back home and get a pardon and register it with the US embassy in Ottawa, before he was allowed into the USA again. That was just how it was. Even though I thought it stupid, those were the rules and if he wanted to go down south in winter he had to jump through all the hoops. He is dead now, but I am sure he would have said, that it was just what the rules said and yes that criminal record can and does follow for life if you do not get pardoned for it, and that is something you have to do on your own. No one tells you that it is available.

We now have what I call an elected dictatorship, where the leader of the elected party pretty much sets the stage for his own ends, and if the senate is a majority of his party then he really has a totally free hand till next election. If we have an elected senate, then there would be not stacking the deck in theory. But I would maybe like to see it be divided up where things would be more democratic. Maybe elections for 80% of the seats and the last twenty should be filled with people outside of the public life, but with some background in laws and ethics. Maybe then we would not see it leaning too far to anyone parties side, and be more leaning towards what the people would want. I know this is like wishing for world peace, but if we are going to reform the senate then lets do it so the people have a say and the terms for seats should be no more then two full elction terms, for each vote. Maybe other can say and see this better then I can.

double post

Equalization payments are supposed to be done in a way that distributes wealth evenly accross the country. So if the province is now making enough money thru natural resources, and can compete and be just as financially competative with the rest, does anyone think they should also get equalization money to then make them even better off? Lets call it for what this really is and that is a money grab by NL to try to take advantage of the rest of Canada, in a way they feel they are owed. It is sad, because yes they were on the receiving end for the most part ever since they became part of Canada. Now they have a shot to become a rich province with oil and gas revenue, and they are whining about getting less from the federal government. Just wait for the day when they have to actually pay out more money to help out the other provinces who will not be as rich as they are. They will really pop a cork then. I give NS credit for seeing the bigger picture and being able to work things out, in a calm demeanor. This goes to they credit for the day when they will be able to be a giving province in confederation, instead of a have not province. Lets face it, the tit is going dry for many of these coastal provinces, now that offshore resources have found their way to them. I would like to think that this is something to celebrate not whine about.

This is fiscally responsible federalism not cheque book Federalism. Times change and so do the ways to divide money that gets to balance out all of Canada to the best and most fair method. Harper is right to change positions if he sees a better way. It would be stupid to stick to a plan and never waver from it when it clearly is not working. This ame thing happened with income trusts. When it was seen that many large corporations were going to abuse all this and cost the tax payer money, thing needed to be changed. Yes it did cost many to suffer some but mostly those who were ready willing and able to screw over the taxation and therefore the voters. So different times call for different plans.

The position of Govenor General, is only a figure head position. There are no real benefits that go back the the Queen of England. So other then tradition there is no real issues on this. We also have the Keeper of the Blackrod, in parliament, which is only a really cool door knocker. Should we get rid of him as well. If there is no one interested in traditions we could let a whole lot of people go on and around the hill.