I miss Reagan

How about that eh. Good ol' Tony wins what was supposed to be a referendum on the Iraq War. Now I'm sure the story has changed and there will be a lot of back peddling by the anti-war left. In fact I remember some on this forum predicting his demise in this election based on the war. In fact it seems the British people overwhelmingly support Blair in his decision to stick to supporting the US, although the media spin would have has believe something different. The pro-war conservatives gained on both the Labour and most notably the anti-war Liberal-Democrats who only gained 2 seats. How's that for a message. yahoo

August pretty much summed it up. Great points August! I think Black Dog, and his ideological friends, use the term fascist and fascism as an anti-euphamism to describe conservatives. It's another part of the hyperbolic schtick of the radical left. He'll use some remote similarities as a tool to critisize us conservatives and the US. But when it comes to people like Saddam Hussein and the Taliban somehow there is no comparison . I find his selective use of the definition interesting. For instance Mussolini's facism included progressive taxation, separation of church and state, used techniques of propaganda and censorship to forcibly suppress political opposition, engaged in severe economic and social regimentation and concentration of power. Hitler's included socialized medicine. To me this sounds more like the direction Canada is headed rather than the direction the US is headed and the conservatives want to take us.

You are right about that, but they aren't acting like their socialist cousins. They've finally realized they have to provide incentives to encourage exploration and development. I'm sorry but this isn't typical NDP behaviour. If you really want to know why Saskatchewan doesn't have wealth, cities, roads and infrastructure that Alberta has you need to look at the NDP instituted Oil and Gas Conservation and Stabilization Act of 1973 where the government of Saskatchewan actually STOLE producing lands away from individuals and companies. Great idea right? Right in line with all the socialists on this board who continually cry out for higher corporate taxation and higher taxes on the rich. In reality it just screwed Saskatchewan. The big investment money pulled out and vowed never to return. So now you have a Saskatchewan without infrastucture like gas plants, refineries and company head quarters locations. And they're far to behind to ever catch up. They'll always be Alberta's 'lapdog' as you would say.

Now you're just going insane. Get ahold of yourself man!! What company has this lax work policy!? I wanna go there! You really don't have a clue do you. You obviously don't work in the oil and gas industry. And FYI there are hundreds of entrepreneurs in Alberta running small/micro-cap oil companies.

You're right again! Man oil does all the work doesn't it. Look how great it's worked for Saskatchewan, Venezuela, Iran, and Nigeria. And even more sadly it works...

Oh ya that was just a one time thing, there are no more threats, history never repeats itself. See this is what I can't understand, you guys seem to think that just ignoring the problem will just make it go away. "If we close our eyes they'll just leave us alone". I'm not sure what your solution is. In fact I've never heard any decent alternative from the left aside from sitting down and talking things out over tea as if you can reason with these people. Oh wait "weapons inspections" right? That's working real well right now in Iran isn't it. LOL. Ya know why? LOL BECAUSE WE"RE IRRELEVANT! Damn it! you got me. We want to make the poor suffer so we can arm everyone to the teeth and raze villages like Huns.

At least that's how he's portrayed by the liberal media. That's exactly what we want *tapping fingers together*. Perhaps we'll sell Canada for one.... million....dollars *evil laugh* Perhaps you guys should take a lesson from the "Calgary School". We lead the country in almost every respect...

Then you have to ask yourself why companies in the US are not flocking to Canada in droves and why there is a one way brain drain going South. Is it because the employees of those companies don't want to lose half their income to taxes? Why does our PM ( ) locate his company off shore? You want to tax corporations an legislate unreasonable protection of unions then you get mad when the company relocates to Mexico . And you're right we care about the individual because we've learned that is the individual that drives the country not a matrix of robots on life support. Ireland has learned this too and is now booming because of it's own common sense revolution. See this is where you guys miss the message. As long as I can remember Harper has been talking about aleviating the tax burden on the middle class. I don't think we do. We want to let the market work. Why can't Air Canada just die!? Corporations provide jobs...

I think you're not giving the conservatives a chance. It seems you're reciting the CBC version of the Calgary Conservatives rather than the real version. None of this matters if you don't compete with what other countries are offering. The left doesn't seem to understand that 10% of a $1,000,000,000 pie is far better than 21% of a $1,000,000 dollar pie. You'd think with all the environmentalists on the left that they'd understand sustainability. Totally agree. The vocal left would have you believe that conservatives want the poor to suffer and starve. Sometimes there are better solutions to problems than taxing and throwing money at them.

I agree with you number. Paying our soldiers more should be a top priority. You're right they have been exploited by both Cons and Libs. I'm sorry I've offended you but I'm not sure I want to die for a people who wouldn't value my sacrifice. Nearly 50% of our people can't even make the commitment to vote! That's offensive to the memory of those who died. I wrote and passed the tests to become a pilot for the RCAF but in the end I decided I didn't want to be assigned to a Sea King and die because some liberal wants to spend the money on some useless social program.

Newf, I don't understand some of the critisism of Harper. The only strike against him I see is that he is branded as being 'from the west'. True he's dull but do we want an aggressive candidate to encourage conservative stereotypes the left use against us? However I do think a guy like Peter McKay would be a great leader.

Good points Kimmy but I am still cynical. If anything this just shows how fleeceable Canadians are, being swung every which way but what the media decides to hype on any given day. If we have to rely on the Canadian media, we're toast.

Sorry but I don't buy it. Mulroney wasn't the one who cut the military funding by 2/3's or the one who cancelled the new helicopters, or nuke subs... Totally agree Newf. I'd fight for my country... if my country actually cared.

Then sign up. You might get to fly a 40 year old helicopter that may fall out of the sky at any second, you could get stationed in a second hand submarine that could catch fire or fall apart at any moment, you could be sent to Afganistan wearing green camo in a dessert environment making you a great target to the enemy, you could be sent there to drive in possible mine fields in unarmoured jeeps and inadequate equipment. All while being payed just barely above the poverty line. Wooohooo sign me up!

I hate to say I told you so to my right wing associates. But I called it . Kimmy you have to much confidence in Canadians to think they will stand up to corruption.

Boost its reputation? We already had a strong reputation as a country which helped to liberate Europe. An honorable country which significantly contributed to peace keeping around the world. I don't think you lefties here realize how insignificant and ignored we are in the world presently. As far as Britain being a lapdog, it would have been a lot easier for them to join the anti-American bandwagon and stay out of it rather than fight. Integrity my friend. Ya, I wouldn't mind it actually...

I find it uniquely left wing to equivocate and reduce the respect for tens of thousands of dead soldiers to nostalgia. It is quite specious of you (as usual) to imply that myself and other right wingers "look back with fondness for the slaughter" of our veterans. As if we revel in the horrors of war. The truth is we believe in standing up against attrocities and the legitimate present day threat of fascism. For some strange reason the left has decided to side with the Islamo-fascists.

I hope not. I'd like to think he did something for the benefit of humanity. I'm jaded enough as it is. No one wants to see the 'Librano's' die as much as I do, but I think waiting an extra week or two for them to fall is worth getting the government to act in Sudan.

Attention Cameron: Good post. (Sorry everybody, I skipped your posts.) I'm glad someone posted this. I had the same feelings as I listened to the ceremonies in the Netherlands. It made me sad to hear the lip service our politicians give 'praising the sacrifice of our best citizens' while doing the complete opposite in their actions by refusing to live by the promise: "Never Again". It really is sad to see how this country has slipped into neutrality. Unwilling to stand for anything and opposing those who do stand for what's right. We are slowly becoming France.

I think this was an honorable move by Kilgour. When I first heard that he made a deal with Martin ( ) I was waiting to hear that he was being promised a Senate or Ambassador position upon retirement. I was happy to learn that there are still some politicians who want to do what is right. Not all "turncoats" are ethical weaklings *cough* scott brison *cough*.

Splitting the left vote? Didn't you just say that the Liberals were center-right? People don't vote for the NDP because Canadian's are still smart enough to realize that socialism doesn't work (although it seems they're getting dumber by the day) and that you can't tax yourself into prosperity. They've seen how the NDP has destroyed the economies of both BC and Saskatchewan. Compared to a prosperous Alberta. How's the ol' Churchill gem go... "We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. "

Statistically equal yes. But given the publicized hype about liberal corruption they should be no where near the conservatives. So when will Canada hit rock bottom and have an Irish catharsis? We've lasted so long because we have so many resources and the US next door. Sweden is still surviving with it's Robinhood mentality. Canadians are stupid. They keep a PM in power who uses private health care and keeps his money off shore safe from taxes. Yet it's the Conservatives who are "pro-corporation" and "anti-healthcare". It's hopeless. If Canadians don't choose the Cons now, they never will.

Well it's good to know I'm not alone. I think it's in the Canadian blood to just take it. We are after all the legacy of the UEL's, willing to take it up the @$$ from the King. What really get's me is that here in Alberta after the libs win again people will be outraged for about a week, threatening this and that but won't actually do anything about it. At least Quebecers are willing to stand for something. Pretty shameful. The funny part about that is putting the libs back in power will put Quebec on the brink. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It might be exactly what this country needs to reform itself.

The Libs are back up ahead in the polls over the good guys. You had to know it would happen. I think on this board I have always been more cynical of the Canadian people compared to the other righties on the board. So now I want to ask my fellow conservatives and libertarians: How can you have faith in a country that is so unbelievable tolerant of corruption? A country which is intent on taxing you out of most of your hard earned money. A country which is more democratically inline with Russia than our closest allies. What will be your reaction when the Canadian people choose the Liberals yet again? article

Great post Pateris, you nailed it. I think Newfie gave the correct answer, though I would've used a less positive spin. He was one Canadian Politician who actually had a little personality. He was strong and decisive. But he would best be described as, a great man once said, "a major league asshole" and remembered as the man who gave the west half of his country the finger.