Fortunata

I'll get right on the phone to Dion. I'll tell him he can make a break-through.

I don't agree with your opinion. Everyone knows that we need to upgrade our navy. At least it wouldn't be money pandering to Harper's interest areas trying to buy him votes on our dime.

Would Dion have a choice? Wasn't it the Libs who first put this together? Layton? Who cares?

Now Harper says that the port to go into the Arctic and other infrastructure all hinge on the pipeline going through. Native groups have held up the pipeline due to environmental concerns and concerns that the pipeline could interfere with their communities in less than positive ways. But good for Harper - he'll have someone to blame if the port etc. doesn't go ahead. It won't be his fault.

If the bids were that significantly over I would suggest that the budget wasn't enough to start with. Did the government know this beforehand or did they think dollar store ships would suffice?

Because Harper is an opportunist as we have never seen before (ergo the term "harpertunistic" as coined by a journalist). He would do anything to stay in power and more above that for a majority. I know that I sound like a broken record but the fact remains that it is true. He has forgone any ethics and principles (which should be what we vote on, not promises that are easily broken) that he may have had in the past and a vote for Harper is a vote for the unknown. What will he be today?

There is no way that you could define this government as fiscally responsible. They are blowing our money left, right and center on everything from propaganda to pandering. How is something so vital fiscally unresponsible to you yet giving Bombardier millions responsible?

Yep, he's a weasel alright.

This is all about being Harpertunistic even though it was his "fixed election date" bill. He knows that if he doesn't go now, once Parliament reconvenes his numbers go lower as Canadians pay more attention to the CPC's antics. Chretien didn't put into place a fixed election date, Harper did just so the PM couldn't call an election at his own advantage. Oh the flip-flopping hypocrite!! He should be. But the hypocrisy of the herd knows no end to what they'll justify no matter how against what Harper preached last election or when in opposition or as part of the NCC. How about his bullying? His mean? His changing stance on pandering to Quebec, abortion, health care and other social programs from what he preached from the NCC pulpit? And we know damned well his mind isn't changed, he's suspended his beliefs and ethics for votes. He's a whore. He'd sell his ethics, sell his principles and sell out his own mother for another seat. Perhaps Dion is a joke. But that joke will keep Harper from a majority. How funny is that?

Because of Mulroney's spending habits ALL departments within the Federal government were cut. You guys so should remember that and put it into perspective. As far as the Harpers going overbudget? Why not? They seem to have plenty of my money to burn on everything else. If they are spending like drunken sailors maybe they should give the sailors something out of it. I'm literally amazed at how the herd will justify anything this hypocritical government does.

Twice cut you mean. First off he reneged on his promised ice breakers and downsized them to patrol ships and now not even that. He's playing political games hoping that it will get him through this coming elections.

I'm not much of a movie person but there are some I love. I don't watch movies according to genre; it's whatever mood I happen to be in I guess to what I'll watch. All time favourites (happy childhood associations maybe) and ones I will watch whenever they come on tv: Space Balls Princess Bride Willow Gremlins (scared the hell out me first time I saw it) Fav musicals: Fiddler on the Roof Oliver War: Kelly's Heroes (no matter how many times I see this Donald Sutherland makes me laugh) Memphis Belle More general: Dead Poet's Society The Fisher King Lord of the Rings series (the books were better) Steel Magnolias Cold Mountain Comedy: What About Bob The Ref Animal House That Old Feeling And what could become my new fav. war/comedy: Tropic Thunder (freakishly funny)

Here you go Wild Bill - this is why people don't trust the "new" Harper

This we can agree on.

It's not difficult to figure out Harper. He's so eager for an election he's peeing his pants in anticipation despite his conveniently forgotten "fixed election dates." Dion, if he's smart, will let the HoC reconvene and bring down the government when it is right for him, not right for Harper. The country should see a little more of the Harper melt-down that will inevitably happen when thrown off script.

No, I'm not suggesting such discussions outlawed. Here is a perfect example of differences of acceptability. To you, perhaps capital punishment and criminalizing abortion is acceptable, where to others it would not be. Same thing between countries and cultures (do not confuse this statement with my acceptance of where China stands on various issues). To me, going back is unthinkable and regressive - I want to go forward. And China is slowly going forward. Berating them in public is not going to make things go faster. No, the (imo regressive) Harper government isn't as bad as the Chinese government, but in 20 years they have made leaps and bounds that you can't appreciate maybe because you don't know where they were. And the point is, we're not perfect either. In fact, that's the whole point. And in another 20 years will they be looking at us and our on-going record on aboriginal affairs,etc. and internationally denouncing stuff we have done? eta: I don't want to stick up for China actually but reading AW's posts I realize that they ARE moving forward. We can't expect a complete turnaround overnight. It won't happen in any society why would we expect it in a society of over a billion people?

When we come as far as China has in the last 20 or so years then we have room to talk. They are moving forward (maybe at a pace that is slower than we wish it to be) and we are trying to move backwards into capital punishment, anti-abortion and our government pays lip service to global warming and humanitarianism. China - secretive and dictatorial? Look at the Harper government! Quite the backward change from even out last government. Human rights? Oh yeah, let's hear about Khadr and Harper's "supporting" the Iraq war where it is US approved torture. Suppressing free speech? You mean like Harper's MPs not being able to say anything without clearing it with his office first? Childish? You mean like Harper's hypocritical stance on China?

This is the statement the Harperites always conveniently forget. Of course if they neglect this then there is no flip-flop in their minds either.

I agree with you on this as I have indicated before in this forum. Harper and the CPC represent the bad in conservatism. He is secretive, intolerant, mean; dictatorial and he spends like no other PM ever. He is everything for which Reform party was created to get away from. He has cast aside humanitarianism even though he preaches to countries like China; he has cast aside honest debate and discussion; he has cast aside respect; he has cast aside diplomacy. He truly does not care about democracy - his handbook on how to disrupt democracy in Parliament just one example. His handling of Chalk River; China; the Brenda Martin affair v.s. other Canadians convicted of crimes in other countries; his low-class derogatory remarks re: the Libs in international forums; Supreme Court (and other judiciary) weightings as noted by others here; the championing of Zaccardelli until even he couldn't anymore (imo he knew to whom he owed his minority), and by not taking responsibility for anything - is everything the Lib's fault? He is a failure as a man and a Prime Minister.

And those who champion him would vote for him no matter what he does or doesn't do regardless of the broken promises. They can justify those actions with the .... but the Liberals mantra that covers all the CPC action/non-action/gaffes/incompetences/more-than-Liberal spending.

He'll want to open the games and have us all stand there with our arms outstretched chanting, Heil Harper. eta: Hopefully Harper will not be PM anymore by that time. Can you imagine him standing up before the world at either the opening and closing ceremonies uttering his usual, anti-Liberal diatribe - how the games wouldn't be great if the Libs were in power? I can see it.

And if there were someone threatening us or our sovereignty? Do we say, please, can you wait three or four years so we can build some new ships? Our navy is small; it should be well-equipped. We are a rich country, why can others' afford their navy and we can't/won't especially in boom times. Harper made such a big deal out of Liberal spending cuts to the armed forces (every department was cut, not just DND) and yet he pulls this on a Friday night so hopefully it won't look so hypocritical on him? It must be for votes somewhere in someway - he'd prostitute our country in any way to get his majority.

The getting-to-be-regular Friday night releases of bad news by the Harper government now has cancelled the ships they loudly announced in broad daylight: New beginning? Committed? If we need the ships we need the ships. Harper needs to quit spending so much money mailing out propaganda and put it to use where we need it.

How about being so afraid to face the public it had the CPC ducking and running (slinking) down the back stairway after their "for invitees only" press conference to do with the Cadman tape? Brave, honourable bunch.

I think this is a great idea but disagree there should be any restrictions. As it stands now if it isn't on CBC then it is on a CTVglobemedia owned station, which, without CBC, really has a monopoly on sports in Canada.