Scotty

Funny thing is if the tories are worried they're sure not acting like it. In fact, said on the news today that they were pulling in and would just as soon sleepwalk quietly to the election with little additional coverage. Now that says to me that the tories own internal polls have put them in a very good position, and if they could, they'd just as soon have the election today.

Like expanding Bill 101 to please Quebec nationalists. Like expanding the federal human rights act to give it broader powers to prevent offensive speech. Like putting in place a massively expensive environmental policy even worse than what McGuinty has done in Ontario. Like bringing in national daycare, regardless of cost. Like bringing in quota systems for hiring and promoting their preferred constituency (ie, minorities) Like accepting the credentials of the new embassies from Hezbollah and Hamas, and declaring Canada a safe haven for American draft dodgers. Like expanding immigration to allow the easier immigration of elderly foreigners, and widening the acceptance of refugees for almost any reason. Seriously, can anyone imagine that a person arriving in Canada from anywhere who says he was persecuted because he was gay being turned away under an NDP government?

WTH are you talking about? It was Chretien and Martin who got us into Afghanistan. And last I recall Layton was once demanding we deploy troops to Sudan. And neither he nor Iganatieff had any problem with us going to Libya. You have a rather bizarre view of what 'fine' is. Business isn't paying for those things now. The taxpayer is. Carbon emissions are not going to be lowered. End of story. If we're all set on the idea that global warming is going to cause certain problems we should put the money towards dealing with those problems. I may not be a westerner but I bet any strong moves against western oil and the wealth it generates is going to be like throwing jet fuel onto the flickering embers of western separation. But then, you guys don't give a shit about western separatism, even though you're willing to sell your soul to keep Quebec from heading in that direction.

But the job wasn't at DFO it was in the minister's office. It was a political job, not a public service job, and ministers and MPs pay their political staff whatever they choose to. BTW, a CR4, a clerk, in the federal government is currently paid $50,000 (annual) at the top level. I assume this person was being hired at a level above that, junior officer type equivalent. Again, this is immensely petty compared to the real issues people ought to be basing their votes on.

Well, he's promising to expand Bill 101 into federal jurisdictions. I'm sure that'll make the french nationalists happy.

So what's your answer? What do you suggest we do. Rely on the Americans to take care of air defense for us?

Why? Here's as good an idea. Get the Liberals and NDP to flat out state what they intend to do and how it will save us as much as one penny. As far as I know both are committed to buying new jets, and there are no cheaper jets unless you want to equip the Forces with second rate aircraft. Is that what you are proposing?

I grew up in Quebec, lived there for many years. I now travel back and forth between Ontario and Quebec almost every day, and half the people I deal with are Quebecers. Never met one yet who cared a fig for Canada beyond commercial or economic interests.

There is no question they do. They're simply too smart to leave as long as Momma Canada is paying so much of their bills. Don't pretend there is any love of Canada amongst these people. There is only a love of federal transfers.

And one of the candidates in Quebec works in a coffee shop, has never had any evident interest in politics, and is away on vacation now. NDP candidate on vacation Not the first NDP candidate we've heard about going off on vacation instead of bothering to campaign either. Mind you, since she works three hours away, in an Ottawa pub, it's hard to say the people of the riding would notice her absence.

I've been watching parliament since Diefenbaker was in there, and it's been the Liberals who have driven the antipathy and rudeness of parliament for the last thirty years. It's been them who have continually lowered the tone and atmosphere. Mulroney was no great shakes, mind, but he was better than Trudeau, and far better than Chretien or Martin in terms of respect for the opposition. As for Harper, he's no better than Chretien/Martin, but then, the Liberals, and now also the NDP start every question with a sneering accusation, so it's unsurprising the Tories are no more polite in response.

They wouldn't be punishing themselves. The banks make money off the poor and lousy credit risk because of those high interest rates, despite the high number of defaulters. Lower the interest rates, and you lower their profit cushion. That means they'll start being a lot more choosey in who they give credit cards to. That sort of mentality is, in fact, one of the issues I have with socialists; their belief - I'd call it a God given belief except they're mostly not religious - in their own right to control other people's lives and what they do - FOR THEIR OWN GOOD.

Why don't you try and not act like an asshole when you answer people? This is an aircraft which has been under development for over thirty years and has had masses of problems and cost overruns. According to Wiki the cost per plane is 90 million pounds ($142 million). I don't see that as a particular cost saving - and cost seems to be the big complaint about the F35. As to which is the better aircraft, I leave that to the experts we pay - in our air force - and they've selected the F35.

Kinda like being able to find out your address just from looking at your phone number, eh? So what does your average joe have to fear about this? Again, kinda like the telephone companies... Click! "Hey, is that you listening in again, Steve?" Certainly true of work. Actually, they save everything for years. Why do you imagine the government would have the slightest interest in any of this UNLESS you were involved in something criminal? Why do you imagine, given the tight budgets of the RCMP and other policing agencies, they would show the slightest interest in any of this except for people suspected of being involved in organized crime or terrorism?

This message brought to you by the Jack Layton for President commitee.

Your fantasies don't scare me at all. Electronic eavesdropping is ever present. Just ask Apple. Why should I be scared given I'm not breaking any laws? On the other hand, who knows what laws an NDP type government would put in place. As I said, there are laws in Europe which can lead to your arrest if you insult or offend a minority, even in private conversation. Add in the affirmative action quotas for all business that the NDP is so fond of, their anti-business agenda, their penchant for big social programs regardless of cost (hello Canada-wide daycare at $20 billion a year), and the resulting huge tax increases and I have a lot more to fear from the Left than the Right.

Nothing wrong with this thread. It's pointing out what kind of flakes are not only in the NDP, but very influential within the party. Stockwell Day believing the world was 6,000 years old has no influence on my life. Libby Davis wanting to make human rights commissions stronger, with much more sweeping powers, very well might. Hers is the kind of thinking we've seen in certain European countries which criminalize public and even private statements which offend certain protected groups. These people don't have any respect whatever for freedom of speech and have a broad sense of entitlement to pass any law to stop people or organizations from doing anything they consider to be immoral, unfair, unjust, offensive, or just not in the interests of entitled groups.

Davis represents a strong segment of the NDP which is about to get stronger with the inflow of a lot of very left of centre Quebec MPs.

Duffy is prettier and smarter. They both like the chicks tho...

Layton has said Canada needs fighter jets, so he will be buying some, and despite what you may have heard, there really aren't any much cheaper than the F35s. As for 'saving' money on corporate tax cuts, even they estimate it at only $6billion, and that forgets that most of that money would have come back to us anyway in the form of taxes on shareholders, or on additional economic activity. So where are your savings now?

Yah, okay, and also confirmed it was a junior summer internship and meant as a chance for young people to gain some experience. Big scandal!

Oh, I doubt that. There's only so much a party can do before the next election, especially in a minority. And a left wing government need not be a disaster if it's a practical, common sense outfit. Look at the nordic countries, as an example (though they have their ideologically stupid flaws). Problem is, the NDP has never struck me as a common sense bunch. Layton and his brethren are holdovers from the 'eat the rich' class warfare fifties, lost in the past, with ludicrously naive beliefs about business and the economy. Look at their promise to force the banks to drop interest rates on credit cards to 5%. First thing that would happen, everyone without a really, really good credit report would get their cards revoked. No poor people would be able to get credit. Does Jack think about that? Nope. Punish the banks! It sounds good, right? Simplistic and stupid, like most of the NDPs economic policies.

Prostitution and assisted suicide are illegal in Sweden, and so is grass. Do you think they're a regressive right wing nation ruled by conservatives?

Do you know anything about the creation beliefs of Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Jews? Do you know that none of them believe in evolution and that they're much more observant and religious than Canadian Christians? Are you saying that the Sikh, Hindu and Muslim MPs and candidates are all nut jobs?

Apparently you need to take lessons from me in what party you voted for... And by the way, why is it okay to mock Christian beliefs but not okay to mock the goofy religious beliefs of Sikhs or Hindus or Muslims? Does anyone ever laugh at Sikh MPs because they believe that God insists they never cut their hair? Do people mock Muslims for believing Dogs are impure, or Hindus because they think Cows are sacred? Can anyone imagine a panel of liberals on the CBC snickering and chortling about a Muslim woman thinking she needs to cover herself in a bedhsheet wherever she goes? Now don't get me wrong. I mock lots of religious beliefs. But it strikes me as pretty hypocritical when you see mockery coming from knee-jerk liberals who get all self-righteous whenever anyone mocks Muslims or Sikhs. Did you know that Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Sikhs also don't believe in the theory of evolution? And generally speaking, these communities are far more observant and religious than the Christian community.