Fortunata

Yep, secretive is really his first name. Along with controlling. Another example is at the press conference after the Montebello conference - once again he showed his complete lack of class attacking opposition leaders because of their speculations about the agenda. If the talks hadn't been so secretive there would not have to be any speculation. Oh, but jelly beans must be kept secret beforehand? It must be another one of those national security issues.

I agree. Steve brings a lot of baggage with him which most people are aware of. His recent "liberal" face brings up even more mistrust. Who is he really? What does he believe in really? If we elect a Steve majority what face will he present next? How are we to have a democratic government when we don't even know what his Ministers think about issues in their own portfolios. While people like someone taking control people don't like someone so over-controlling.

Did Alberta make people buy and use their oil? User pays. After all they are fully aware of the consequences of using the product. Do tobacco companies pay full costs of the "clean-up" for smokers and others affected by cigarette smoke? Do alcohol companies pay to unaddict those who become addicted? Do car manufacturers and petroleum companies pay to clean up all environmental damage their products cause? Do gun companies have to pay compensation to victims of gun violence? IF this government does have an agreement as the article suggests is it ok with his supporters?

Thanks for that AngusThermopyle. Quite the world isn't it? I have no problem with that. Children first.

Well, you got us. That's what we care about, ranking highest in the Global Happiness Index. We live, breathe and vote that without giving two twigs about anything else. Oh, it's just another barb by jbg II? Carry on.

Doesn't resemble any English any-other-where at all. Uh-huh. If American is it's own language, why can any english speaking person around the world understand "American"? You may have morphed words but don't think you are original in that - any region, even within a country, will do that. It's a natural progression. LOL, your own language. Take all english out of American and see what kind of language you have. Ohhh, ouch. Another barb. Because we care so much about your opinion.

Yes sirree, winning hearts and minds and bringing democracy to Iraq.

They should have the best tools to do what they are asked to do. We, here, should also have the best tools, such as real icebreakers. We know the need is there yet we don't do it and it's not because the Cons aren't on a billions of dollars spending spree.

You have a better idea? Let's hear it.

Obviously the USA's eradication program isn't working so well. They can't destroy all the crops; the money that comes from opium helps buy weapons that kill Canadians and other NATO soldiers, it drives people to fight against us and people will starve without income of some kind. Better let them grow it legally and sell it to us than the alternatives. When things get better there and there are other ways of making a living then gradually wean them off the poppy crops.

Glad you got back safe and sound. This summer I ran into a far cousin who is in the British army. He was also in Iraq; said he loved the people especially the kids but it was heartbreaking how poor some of them were. He figures he'll be sent next to Afghanistan where the people are REALLY poor. Is that just in the countryside or do you find that in Baghdad as well?

That isn't the argument that I was making. We can do nothing about government bureaucrats, we must do through elected officials, that's the only place we have power. Those elected officials can do to bureaucrats. The police, crown prosecutors and all others in the justice system should be given notice that there can and will be consequences to cover-ups, manipulations and lies. I feel bad for the Harpers. Once, when the system found Truscott guilty, they bought into that system; now when Truscott has been found otherwise they cannot buy in. The Harpers seem to want to direct their anger at Truscott instead of that system that deliberately went after an innocent boy letting a killer walk around free.

Should we even bother having elections if the reigning government can appoint "liaison" persons? We got the point with Emerson and Fortier but this is undemocratic even for the Cons. Our Steve is a sneaky wily unethical guy - no wonder he's in politics.

They had a hand in their father's actions? Only if it's naive to think that elected officials from any level of government act upon issues important to the public and demanded by the public without their jobs (i.e. getting re-elected) being on the line. The best way to get people to act is letting them know if they don't they will be unemployed.

The incentive is for the public to keep demanding and acting for justice; not letting the police get away with manipulating evidence or manipulating situations such as at Montebello and the Mahar Arar case. It's the public that has to keep ourofficials honest and accountable. It's our justice system even though we seem to have no control over it. The miscarriage of justice by Harris was nothing to do with his children. They had no say and therefore, should have no penalty. To penalize them would be another miscarriage of justice. The public should let all elected officials know that we find this unacceptable and we want accountability from them, from the police, from the justice department. If they are bombarded by enough outraged voters and find their seats in danger, they'll do something. Otherwise --- not. When a jury doesn't get all the information it cannot make an informed verdict.

Obviously you haven't been to my Timmies. In fact every Tim Horton's I have had to line up in someone is having a conversation. And I know that the Cons like to claim Tim's as their own, but other than maybe Alberta, it's pretty much everyone who goes there. Coffee has no partisanship.

Or he gets elected because you didn't like the other guy. I didn't say you elected a leader because of fitness. However it does play into the whole scheme of things and it certainly does once they become leader and you watch him become even more slovenly. Appearance counts, don't kid yourself.

I think times have changed since FDR and Churchill with respect to awareness of personal care, including fitness. Nobody votes on fitness alone, just as most of us don't cast a vote on any other single issue. But impressions of who has enough self-respect to present a good appearance does have an effect overall. Harper does not consider himself a plain vanilla middle class meet you at Tim Horton's. He might try to present himself as such but it is quite plain to me that he would hate to have to stand in line for a coffee and actually have to make conversation with people around him (unless he is looking for votes). The way he talks in question period and to the press is very sarcastic and superior, suggesting that he either feels you or your questions are beneath him. Sad really.

Who would benefit the most by having the protesters dispersed?

Physical attributes that we have no control over should be off limits. It is in extreme bad taste to criticize these things (Chretien's face, Layton's face and baldspot). We are not doing that here. This man is a leader; his clothes and appearance is important. His fitness level says, bring on the bacon and his clothes at the summit said Salvation Army. He needs to do better. There is just no excuse.

I've seen the musical ride; money well spent imo. We happen to like our maple leaf with or without sweat dripping from it. You don't ... too bad. We don't care.

In order for the public to feel confidence in a leader he must look like a leader, not someone who doesn't appear to care about his appearance, including fitness. During the election there was much ado about the policy for fitness for kids; you can now get a tax rebate for enrolling your children in sports to promote fitness. Another one of Steve's do as I say not as I do. If he wanted believability he would show that he takes fitness seriously and get into a program himself. As it is now the optics is one of bribes for votes. Not sincere. One of his big problems is that he comes across as calculating instead of caring. He is an elitist but one without the common touch. I think he figures if he says something that should be enough - he doesn't have to show it. His crime bill is not because he feels for victims of crime it purely political - an area that he knows people get upset about so it will get him votes. His previous stance on environment and health care prove his uncaring. The environment is a nuisance to business and health care should be a personal choice and he doesn't care whether poor people can afford private health care or not. The safe injection site in Vancouver is another example of his indifference to human life and his elitism. IMO this man cares not for humans or humanity, he cares about policy and how his policies should work. He cares about the upper crust and hopes the lower crusts will just go away; he doesn't care that it shows he doesn't care.

The Green Party does have more than environmental policies. www.greenparty.ca

I betcha even Steve's smart enough to carry a Tide pen. No? Oh well.

In the video I saw the undercover cops were being asked by another demonstrator repeatedly to put down the rocks. They wouldn't. They were asked repeatedly to take off the face coverings. They wouldn't. It didn't look quite as innocent as what you portray it as.