geoffrey

Ooo Ooo!! Vote me! Vote me! I just need to help out Martin a bit and maybe he'll appoint me by election day?

No time tml, start stocking up on canned goods and bottled water. There is little time left! Don't watch Oprah either, she's one of them, and brainwashing you.

I think I just died laughing. I wish the CPC would raise these issues, and they might actually gain some TO support. But I'm sure the Liberals would spin it into 'locking up terrorists is a violation of someone's entitlement to spread terror'. So maybe its best that they don't. P.S. Just watching Broadbent tear a strip into the Liberals... gooo Eddie!!!

Are you the reincarnation of River_God? Do you have a degree in conspiracy theory? http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4828 tml, I hate to say it, but Chris Parker is brilliant. He's completely right, just read the last post of his. We need not fear the terrorists, but the Galactic Federation. Chris, I am very concenred about this? Does the Galatic Federation have the same agenda with Canada? Are they going to take over our national bank and switch us to the gold system again? Since I can order attacks now a days, can I get my next one with a coke?

I know I'm neither of the above, and I know alot (definately most) of people here aren't, on both sides of the debate. There is alot of people that go into the knee-jerk "it's American so it must be evil" stance that have kind of entered the debate in recent weeks.

Good call. The Supreme Court is already full, to the best of my knowledge, and at the end of the day thats the only one that matters.

Who was the PM at the time? I actually don't know TLFB, he was first elected in '97 so it was either Chretien or Martin? I don't think it matters? I critize all parties equally for their false support of human rights issues, none of them do enough in my opinion in actually attempting to fix this problems. Don't take that as a partisan attack, but just in support of an MP that actually took a stand.

Got it, my bad. Makes sense, I thought you were in the booth, so I assumed.

Your a customs agent Hicksey? Either way... Canada needs to start taking more responsibily for our border security, in both our interest and the interest of our neighbours. Not only that, but kicking out these terrorists, or at least locking them up. Having the Khadr's around saying they love Osama and the jihad isn't really the sterotypical Canadian image now is it? We have to be careful and not hurt those immigrants in our country that are contributing to our society and have a real interest in being patriotic, peaceful Canada. And that is probably 99% of them. But that doesn't mean we have to be light on those that aren't in that group. The Khadr's ruin it for the rest of them. I'm sure most immigrants to Canada would love to see them gone. Without people like them around, tolerance towards immigrant groups would go way up.

I love how I became a relgious fanatic in all of 2 minutes. Exciting. It's not 'meanness or self-interest' that any of us are advocating anyways. This isn't Adam Smith capitalism, this isn't another industrial revolution. Stop fear mongering.

I love how you changed vinegar to crap. How appropriate! Hicksey has it figured out though. There is a way to politely decline an invitation. If Canada doesn't agree with something, we shouldn't be dragged down that path. Calling George Bush an 'idiot' or 'jerk' and stepping on a doll of him isn't polite, and its a huge embarassment to all Canadians. Those evil Americans, better on pollution than us, but that doesn't stop us from lecturing them on how to run their country. If the Americans did the same (even thought they are more justified) to us, we'd be horrified and insulted. Why would we wish that on our neighbours? Building fences between two neighbours never encouraged better co-operation. And throwing the dog crap on his lawn never helped either. That foreign policy doesn't fly with me. Time to shake it up.

I honestly don't think it will work anymore. The voters know better. I've always said there are two principled choices in this election, the Conservatives and the NDP. Both parties, in my opinion, honestly believe the message they are putting out and want to make a difference. The Liberals just want to hold on to power and don't actually agree with anything they do. It's been this way for 13 years, why would it change now?

Agreed Hicksey. It angers me that they liberals promote tolerance, yet are the last to actually show it. Apparently in Canada, your either with them, or American. And thats just not fair. There are plenty of us conservatives that don't agree with whats happening the US and are very devoted to seeing a better Canada. It's too bad that the Liberals are gaining back momentum due to their intolerant attacks.

Lock 'em up!! I can see why the yanks would be concerned considering we have these Khadr's on the loose and we are trying to 'liberate' a Canadian terrorist from Gitmo. Terrorism is an acceptable practice under our government if it buys votes (I'd bring up the Madela argument, but I know it'll hijack the post so just ignore it please ), and this is unacceptable. The greatest threat to the environment in Alaska isn't oil development, but these terrorists.

If someone wants to say God bless Canada, by all means do it. We need a bit of divine intervention here. Though I guess I shouldn't really comment, I'm apparently an American out here in Alberta, even though I've lived in and been to most likely far more of Canada then Chuckman. His 'Canadian' tolerance and knowledge of his country shows when he comes across with such disgusting anti-Americanism and lack of respect for critical issues based political discourse. Sorry Chuckman, this isn't the way Canada does things, especially in Alberta. And by the way, Calgary has an awesome night-life. It's no Toronto I agree, but thats due to the fact its about 4 times smaller. I enjoy going to clubs and bars not thinking I'm going to get shot (even though this is kind of changing recently). I spend at least two nights a week in downtown Calgary enjoying the social scene and its not "a colony of dangerous Dallas." The difference between you and me Chuckman is two-fold. I too am concerned about American influence. The differences come in the fact I've met people like Harper and Flanagan personally, and the fact that I live in the most conservative area in Canada. This isn't America though, this is Canadian conservatism, and its not at all comparable to the Republicans. And once you realise that these people are real people, like you and me, you'll stop assuming that they are the fourth reicht.

Agreed. Though something to consider. I am very interested in the world but I've done no travelling outside North America. I haven't had the opportunity or money. I wouldn't say he is disinterested, also remember Harper has never been ridiculously rich (being an MP would be his highest paying job I'm sure). He definately isn't a Trudeau that could afford to spend years aimlessly wandering the world. And I'd argue that did little for him in foreign policy anyways. Harper is definately weaker on foreign policy. But if your going to say he has no international ability, then you've also got to stop saying he's going to work hand in hand with Bush. Can't really have both.

Thats a good point. Martin is running heavily on his 'leadership ability.' Anything short of a majority Liberal government (next to hell freezing over in my most recent list of unlikely events) will cost him his job though. How many people do you think would be voting for a Liberal government without Martin at the helm? What if Ignatieff or God forbid the Trudeau kid led the party (not saying thats likely, don't worry)? The inexperience would be there too.

I myself am concerned. But that won't change my vote (and I vote directly for Harper), like I've said, I'll take inexperience over ignorance. Martin isn't a good foreign leader, I don't know why anyone would take him over Harper. Harper sounds way more professional, concise and educated. Martin sounds emotional, defensive and brash. Harper would stand against the US on things like softwood lumber and BSE. Martin would stand against the US with anti-American attacks when politically convienient. Remember, Martin also supported Missile Defense and going to Iraq. No one believes a word out of his mouth on the world stage.

I could believe your story outside of this. I don't think anyone in the Galatic Federation has enough money to pay off the US Fed debt. Those aliens like the gold system eh? I was somewhat favourable to it as well until the Uguglondians kind of proved that as wrong. Actually on second thought, maybe the Galatic Federation couldn't afford it, but the Universal Federation might be able to? Either way, true or not, I'm sure Harper is in on it. That fake looking hair looks like it might be hiding an antenna!!!

I found the Passion of Christ very moving, excellent film. It wasn't watching someone get beaten to a pulp, but quite different indeed. I'd recommend it. I probably won't watch Karla. I feel like watching the portrayal of the murders of real people just isn't right. Making money of a murder is unacceptable in my opinion. I would consider watching it for free, if I heard it was extremely respectful of the victims characters. It's like that new 'Hostel' movie, vividly depicting torture. I can't see how anyone would be drawn to that? And I'm a youngin' brought up on video games and violent movies... still can't go watch torture. Sort of uncivilized eh?

Theres alot of Quebecois that disagree. Besides their share of the debt, they really already have alot of the institutions ready to go over there. They will be poor, economically depressed and in sad sad shape for awhile yes, but they can and will do it if they want to. Then they'll have a referendum to rejoin Canada 10 years later. And then we'll vote no to take them back.

Thanks Kimmy. Any relation between this Axworthy and the Lloyd? I think we also have to be fair, even to the Liberals, and say that because someone thinks that the voice belongs to one of Axworthy's friends, doesn't necessarily mean that. It could very well have been someone that snuck in. However, this means that someone saw the debate on TV, ran over to the office, placed the call. Pretty crazy. I'm willing to accept in the mean time though that it was an unrelated person.

King Ralph doesn't have to follow any rules, so removing the notwithstanding clause won't do much here. I don't know if the NDP voters will cross the floor, Layton is coming across very strong in these final days. I doubt it though. This also doesn't count the seats the NDP will take from the Liberals, and in those ridings the NDP voters will remain behind the NDP. There are no right wing parties in Canada, we have centre and centre-left. The CPC isn't even where the Democrats are in the US. The NDP is European style socialist.

So we should just stick to the Liberals forever because they will constantly be more experienced? How ridiculous. So when do we change? When we import a party that's been in power somewhere else?

So because Harper says he's a little inexperienced internationally and because you believe this is bad for Canada, there is now an underscoring serious concern among many Canadians? You have too much faith in yourself. What has Martin ever done for Canada internationally? Fix the softwood lumber dispute? No. Solve an easy to solve problem in BSE? No. Make us look like idiots in front of the world lecturing the US on a topic we utterly fail at ourselves? Yes. Harper knows he's not experienced, and he's willing to bring in help to fix this. Martin thinks he's effective, but in reality, is a poor stateman abroad. When you are so ignorant of your own problems that it hurts our country economically and socially, you have no advantage over an unproven candidate. I'll take inexperience over ignorance anyday. P.S. You still haven't answered Kimmy's question.