geoffrey

Fine with me as long as those seats leave the Libs.

I doubt it. Most bureaucrats don't like the system as it is. Ask our local federallie Argus.

You can hardly hold Harper responsible for what others said about him. They dropped the sanctions (other than the weapons importation ban) once Saddam as removed. Iraqi people now have the choice to improve their living standards, before they were oppressed, tortured, raped... and exposed to numerous other human rights abuses. Your right, this is still occuring. However, now this is all illegal, where as before it was state sanctioned. The US has way more freedom of speech than Canada. Most legal and political experts would agree with me. In Canada your not allowed to speak against any minority group, not even in a constructive criticism sort of way, without risking a lengthy hearing and possible charges in front of the 'Human Rights Commission'. Add into that our gag laws that prevent third-party advertising during elections. And publication bans constantly on government hearings until 'all the details come out'. We ban certain radio stations and programming, we ban certain TV. How is that free speech? Don't even go there. Now we are back at NAFTA... the agreement that created our strong economy and job market as it is now. We don't give away resources, we sell them. Canada is based on resource markets, and we are extremely profitable because of both our access to US markets and development of these resources within the country. NAFTA benifets Canada way more than the US. 80% of our exports go south, the US exports much less to Canada. NAFTA is completely responsible for our auto sector. America has never had a fascist government. Live in Nazi Germany and then tell me how bad it is down there. What a farce. Latin American problems are because of corrupt governments there, not because of the US (I might give you credit in Panama). The area is poor because of lack of economic development. Where is this development magically going to come from?? The US and Canada perhaps? But nope, your against NAFTA so we should just let them starve. Well he was always evil, it was a matter of supporting the lesser of two evils at the time. The Cold war era was all about buying favours to prevent the spread of communism. You can't look at the US support of Iraq or Afghanistan without looking at it in that context. Halting the spread of communism and eventually defeating it was a great accomplishment, even if we had to rest on less than moral people at the time. Now the US is cleaning up the mess they made, that is their responsibility after all. All intelligence from many nations pointed to it. They were wrong, get over it. That doesn't change the situation now. I didn't support the war at first, I didn't believe the crap. Now that the US is there though, its important for us to support them in order for Iraq to grow into a free and prosperous nation. This will be a light for democracy in the middle-east all together. The elections have gone well due to international support. The US already controls much of our resources through their companies, its been this way for many years. We also get rich off this control. Just because your government in whatever part of the country your from has been ineffective in promoting growth, don't take it out on Alberta. We are rich because we've earned it through many years of suffering. Harper doesn't stand to gain economically from selling off Canadian resources (other than that all Canadians will benifet). Maybe you should do some research into his background. Without Alberta leading in economic growth, Canada would be very different right now, much more poor anyways.

My apologies.

Is this the speech you are referring to? CBCDid the Globe publish that speech too? The CBC has had it posted on their web site for ages. (The CBC and the Globe are both based in Toronto, I note.) I found Harper's speech interesting, and thought-provoking. It lacked elegance. The reaction to it in English-Canada reminds me of the reactions to many of Trudeau's essays written in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before he became PM. At various times, people were always digging up quotes of Trudeau. In Harper, Canada will once again have a thinking prime minister. August, if Harper is another Trudeau I just started voting Green. I see your point, Harper is an intellectual, and this is both good and bad, either way, when this type of person gets into power, real changes are made. Lets see what he's up to. Just watch him.

The Toronto Sun now Supports the CPC, you say? Hmm. And which major Canadian newspaper doesn't, may I ask? Besides that Toronto Star rag, that is. I eat the Star for breakfast.

Hill and Knowlton based on Jan.21 Ipsos Reid: LPC 46 CPC 157 NDP 42 BQ 62 IND 1 NDP support is obviously too high, shift some of that to the Liberals and what do you get?? GEOFF'S PREDICTION!

So apparently in the lovely Quebec riding of Jonquiere-Alma, the Liberal candidate, Gilles Savard has endorsed the CPC candidate Jean-Pierre Blackburn. Add another CPC steal from the Bloc to the tally (I won't change my prediction, I feel its still accurate +/- 1 seat.) Is this the first anyone else has heard of this?

Alright folks, the bets are in, here's the list in descending order of optimisim (or pessimism from the left): Conservative Joe - 160 Geoffrey - 158 (Bloc in Opposition) Harare - 158 (Bloc in Opposition) Biblio Bibuli - 156 Willy - 155 Hicksey - 149 Canuck E Stan - 146 (Liberal Opposition) Sparhawk - 140 (Liberal Opposition) Betsy - 140 (Liberal Opposition) Slavik 44 - 136 (Liberal Opposition) tml12 - 134 (Liberal Opposition) Biggunner - 125 (Liberal Opposition) Apollo 19 - 118 (Liberal Opposition) Bubbermiley - 114 tied with 114 from the Liberals Any mistakes please correct. Add your prediction in there if you haven't yet, I'm looking at Kimmy, eureka, Leafless and I miss Trudeau, what slackers eh?

Here are some of today's stray predictions: BigGunner ..... 125 Tml12 ............ 134 Hicksay .......... 149 Geoffrey ........ 158 http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/index.p...t=0entry90663 Whichever one of you assumes red faced August1991's responsibility of tallying up the predictions , please make sure you include these. Thanks! I'm tallying them now... I'll either edit this post or reply if someone else gets here first.

All taxes hurt the economy - we don't have a good balance between income and consumption taxes. We should raise the GST and lower income taxes. Sillyness, we shouldn't have consumption taxes. Lower income taxes are nice too, but you shouldn't punish purchasing. Reduce both equally, I think the balance isn't too off right now. The taxes that really make a big difference in attracting investment and growth is corporate taxes (don't let the NDP hear that). These also need to be reduced considerably. Lets not start another GST economics debate.

Actually this is the first campaign where I'm not complaining about CBC interference. If anyone here watched the 'Your Turn' segements, you would have seen that Martin got the roughest ride, and Harper pretty much had no questions that were too difficult. I was expecting some abortion, same-sex marriage, or even American influence questions... none. It was all accountability and tax reform, the topics that conservatives do best on. Maybe this helps the Mansbridge/Harper friendship theory.

Stephen Harper and Peter Mansbridge are long time personal friends so the the most important media outlet ought to be fair and friendly. I didn't know this, where'd you find out about this? I just personally can't see Stephen and Peter having a beer around the BBQ.

It will most likely be in the first budget, which will have to be released very soon after (I wouldn't be suprised if they have a working draft in progress already). The Provinces need to know whats going on, so a budget within a month of the throne speech wouldn't be unlikely. I can't wait! I mean, I know it is not one of the greatest economic moves in the world and with the 7.5% sales tax we already have in Quebec it won't be extremely noticeable, but hell...it'll add up... It's a great economic move, I stand behind this, even if eureka will flip out about it. Consumption taxes always hurt the economy. I'm never one to complain either if someone is going to make everything 2% cheaper.

My last prediction, version 4 I think... I'm sticking by this one. Conservatives 158 Bloc 63 Liberals 60 NDP 25 Ind 2

Harper in 24 Sussex Drive is good for both of us. The West will be represented and the seperatists will be thwarted. Can't have the best food in Canada leaving. I don't know how well an attack like that will work in Quebec. From my limited experience in Quebec (Quebec City, Montreal and some other smaler places) I find that most Quebeckers/Quebecois are the most tolerant people in Canada. I don't expect the non-sepertists having too much of a problem with Harper being from Calgary.

Ya sorry eureka, I already have the secret police on you. I think we are ready for the commission for anti-Canadian activities now right?

It will most likely be in the first budget, which will have to be released very soon after (I wouldn't be suprised if they have a working draft in progress already). The Provinces need to know whats going on, so a budget within a month of the throne speech wouldn't be unlikely.

I'd ride out on my horse and lasoo (spelling??) you tml.

It is hard to remember a Conservative in my lifetime who got good press. Mulrooney, wow, as I recall he got awful press. I wasn't coherent enough in the Mulroney days to remember it that clearly. From my understanding Clark also got awful press.

Agreed, the Liberals won't be asking for an election anytime soon. They have $34mil in bills to pay first (that was at the end of last election). It really does show the Liberals lack support of ordinary Canadians. The Conservatives get a huge portion of their financing from small donations by many people. The Liberals are based a big donations from a few select groups now. Very few people interested enough to donate in politics are donating to the Liberals.

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then. We'll be back to those crazy redneck religious Albertans in a hurry.

Sorry, that nice round number has already been taken. 161 is still unclaimed as far as I know, and ever since Geoffrey bumped his prediction to 163, 159 is too. Good luck! Can I take 159 back?

The western race of course. Whether it was racist (which it isn't technically) or just disrespectful, I expect the Bloc to apologize. Though really we've been saying the same thing since confederation.

I'm semi-self employed (I manage a project in the oil and gas support industry as an independant consultant) and at university. I post at both. Nothing like some of those ridiculous required computer science classes to sit in and post. I work out of my house most of the time, so alot of posting gets done then too. When at the office, I try to pretend to be a good role model and the such, but when no ones looking, definately sneak off a few posts there too. I'm only screwing myself out of money... or just creating longer working hours for myself. Though if I'm not working or at school, you probably won't see me posting much. I like to feel like I'm getting paid for it anyways.