Molly

LOL Oh yes, Devine is well and truly branded as the worst of the worst of the worst. Low shot: the same folks who rabidly supported him now rabidly support Harper, and govern the province, too, as the Sask Party. He was not really elected as a (small c) conservative, but as a populist. His message was that the province could be in control of it's own fate and it's own prosperity-- that it could seek excellence; that it's people were very very capable, when not hamstrung and herded by government. The 'open for business' concept was adored. The resentment of 'the family of crown corporations' was very high indeed. The Regina-centrism of the NDP had pushed folks to a state of exasperation, and they were tired of the collectivist/'feed the beaurocrats first'/victim approach to everything. Some very costly initiatives went seriously to Hell in a handcart, and the social conservative element made blood enemies (Graham Taylor with his rabidly anti-abortion stance), but Devines essential message (that 'we' could do any danged thing we set our minds to) remains close to the hearts of the citizens. He's vilified/pilloried/banned from participation because no one wants to answer for how badly things went wrong, but he is very far from hated, or even disagreed with. Punked would like to make him into the Great Satan. He wasn't. He was sincere, and he was naive. The reaction to him is completely unlike the reaction to Rae. Folks would still vote for him, but they wouldn't want to have to explain their vote.

The Romanow approach was intensely partisan, and downright vindictive. They weren't 'across the board' cuts, but rather cuts to all things rural. Urban ridings were actively pitted against rural ones, and rural ridings, especially those that were disinclined to vote NDP, were cut off at the knees. The pattern of votes tells all: no rural NDP seats, for very nearly 20 years. For some of them, another 20 won't be close to long enough. The fact that the province was broke can certainly be blamed on Devine, but if that is done, then one must also credit that administration with some of the very positive investments that, once given a chance to show a return, made Romanow look good. The vilification of Devine is apt but overdone; the honoring of Romanow is inapt and overdone.

Yeah. I lived in Saskatchewan under Romanow's 'fiscally responsible' government. That has a lot to do with why I don't live in Saskatchewan any more. I well remember the wholesale closure of hospitals, (particularly in non-NDP-voting areas), at the same time as highway maintenance was withdrawn so that the highways became untravelable, at the same time as urban protocols were enforced on rural ambulance services. It's easy to balance books if you tax everyone, but only provide services to half the people.... but I wouldn't call it good government.

Fair enough..... but is she right? Yes. Even if you chalk it up to 'Takes one to know one', she's still spot-on.

Let's see the lawsuit. I don't think "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" would cut it in a courtroom

That's a very, very tough call. If it was this conservative party, with no signifigant changes in personnel or standard practice, I'd have to down a couple of shots of tequila, and give my X to the NDP. However, if the Liberal presence safeguarded against the worst of the nasty, ill-considered intentions, put a lid on some of the worst of the smarm, and firmly reminded them that the money they are handling really does belong to the people of Canada... then I'd still need the tequila, but I'd vote conservative.

But the way some of these people are going off the rails about it looks just as bad in the eyes of average people I guess I need you to cite someone 'going off the rails about it' , so that I can see what that term means to you, and perhaps to others. I see it as typical, dispicable, fundamentally dishonest..... serious weasel conduct, and I freely express deep disgust about it, and a sincere belief that it exemplifies this government. Is that 'going off the rails about it'?

'The Liberals'... I find myself unfamiliarly, even uncomfortably one of 'the Liberals'. The thing is, I don't think stuff like this is a big deal because I'm a Liberal. I'm a Liberal because I think stuff like this is a big deal.

Fiddling while Rome burns...

Several people seem to be under the impression that it was 'just one'. News reported quite a bunch of them with CPC logos, pictures of MPs, pictures of Harper, signatures of either the MP, or of Mr. Harper.... ..so it's NOT just a one-of. It 'appear(s) to be party policy'.

That's a completely stunning comment. I am challenged to think of a single instance in which the Conservatives have paid more than the most cynical and insincere lip service to 'integrity and honesty'. Income trusts are the least of it. How much 'honesty and integrity' was involved in the recruitment and appointment of David Emerson, for instance? In the commitment to transparency and to de-politicize appointments? How many senators have been appointed since the last time Mr. Harper climbed on a pedestal to insist that he would never do it? How much integrity is involved in the current branding of infrastructure grants? How much honesty in the about-face wrt deployment of our forces? On and on and on... Where is there any evidence whatsoever that the CPC has even remote familiarity with the concepts of integrity and/or honesty?

Yuppers. Ex-actly. I figure I'm going to give copies of 'Animal Farm' to all sorts of people, for Christmas.

It hardly matters why a greater susceptibility exists. In setting vaccination priorities. it only matters that an elevated susceptibility has been noted and confirmed.

LOL The nerve you touched was the absurdly partisan premise you laid out! There could be room for a conversation about the cheap points parties lean on, ... but then, much of the conversation here has both feet planted on that ground. If your mission is truly non-partisan, I'll start it off: 'lower taxes', 'soft on crime', 'coup', 'reform', 'democracy', 'gun registry'... all of which are/result in/ call on the support of/knee-jerk partisanship, yet require a lot more careful analysis. There are more, but there's your start.

Mild to whom? Some of those body bags were used! Apparently, it's a choice this year- either or- so I choose the H1N1 rather than the seasonal version. Either one could take an ugly piece of me, so that choice is mostly based on there already being lots of H1N1 around here, making exposure almost inevitable, and I'll cross my fingers that I have some resistance to seasonal flus.

Do you have two CPC party memberships, just out of plain enthusiasm?

That just demands comment 'to the absurd', Eyeball. If we are to be protected from all substances that harm us, then I must assume we will soon be prosecuted for possession and use of white sugar, trans fats, etc, etc. along with almost any sort of solvent or cleaning product, those nifty murcury-containing lightbulbs, and almost all over-the-counter drugs..... (the list is endless, but the drift is beyond obvious) Threats to other drivers by distracted smokers also suggest that neither pets nor children, nor really, any other passengers should be allowed in moving vehicles; no radio or sound equipment, nor, really, any other gadgets. Maps should only be allowed in back seats.... Definitely... what's up with drink holders? No one who is driving should be reaching for a drink, either hot or cold, that might spill in a lap to cause the 'funky chicken'... again, beyond obvious. "Butt out" needs a pendulum swing.

To the folks who are still unemployed, it ain't better yet. Good news, yes, but an awful lot more good news is needed before anyone can say the hard times are over.

From the link: Neil MacKenzie, the manager of tobacco programs for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, said his group has laid 10 charges for vehicle-related offences since the law went into effect, to taxi drivers and construction workers, among others. It is getting to be about time for a court challenge to this, and honestly, a few more, nanny laws. The purse-mouthed overlords, on their white hobby-horses are becoming more and more difficult to accommodate, more and more overstretched in their demands... (I'm reminded of the suggestion that helmets be required in order to legally slide down a snowy hill.) There does come a point at which knee-jerk, intrusive 'care' does more harm than good. Kids rarely now use bicycles for basic transportation. I do know one boy who biked daily to school, but stopped when he got a ticket for not having a helmet on. So... is the net effect of helmet law prevention of head injuries, or prevention of bicycle use? Smoking harrassment laws are of a different kind from that, but the push,push,push must at some point be questioned. At what point does it become no ones d***ed business?

No kidding! As I read this thread, trying to choose which of the 'GG is powerless' posts to reply to, I also wondered how many folks were completely sure as to what reply would be forthcoming last year, when Mr. Harper went hat-in-hand to beg for the privelege of continuing to govern. Sorry folks, but that's power! A danged inportant role, imo.

My classmates and I were each given small mass-produced flags during that run-up. They were lovely, with their red maple leaf, and blue bars. Lord, I wish I still had that flag!

Doesn't that answer most of your wonderings?

Or... they'll get used it again, since it is just a return to a normal relationship between government and offical opposition. It had to be done, short term pain or not.

That was your parameter.... so, uh, YOU said '83% effective'. I'd consider it well worth doing even with a dramatically smaller effectiveness rate, so it doesn't much matter to me whether the stat reflects some hyperbole. The fact is, we can't keep all offenders from every sort of crime locked up for life, so sooner or later they will be 'living across the street'. Far better there be some kind of treatment program than not.

I'd call you right, Alex. Dalton is a dufus, but he's unimaginative enough to avoid doing much. That makes him a safer choice than the alternatives. His government is a place to park the province until someone with good ideas comes along.