Surprised poll results

[Topaz]

In one latest poll, which I saw on the TV, it had Canadians would choose as PM Harper and then Layton and followed by Dion. I always thought that Layton should at least be given the opportunity to have a minority government as Harper has had. I was also surprised by Layton being the #2 guy because we don't heard alot of good things about Layton or his party. Maybe he's our "Obama" in this election. I would think it would do Canadians and the Conservatives and the Liberals some good. Right now, the Cons and the Libs think they are the only parties that ever will be in the PMO and I would like to see a "wake-up call" to those parties, don't take anything for granted!!

[Bryan]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.ht...15-a34c8a722ef4

Asked who would make the best prime minister, 49.9 per cent chose Harper, followed by NDP Leader Jack Layton at 30.5 per cent and Dion at 19.6 per cent.

I'm not a fan of the NDP, but I'm always surprised that they don't ever even get a sniff at the opposition.

Not surprised at all with Dion coming in third in the poll though.

[capricorn]

The reason Layton scores high in the leadership poll is because he looks like the Video Professor. Come to think of it, I have never seen them in the same room.

[Drea]

The reason Layton scores high in the leadership poll is because he looks like the Video Professor. Come to think of it, I have never seen them in the same room.

I would like the NDP to get the opposition this time 'round. Just maybe then the Liberals will finally understand the huge mistake they made with Dion and find a new leader.

[Fortunata]

Maybe he's our "Obama" in this election.

Jack Layton is no Barack Obama!

[White Doors]

The reason Layton scores high in the leadership poll is because he looks like the Video Professor. Come to think of it, I have never seen them in the same room.

[kimmy]

In one latest poll, which I saw on the TV, it had Canadians would choose as PM Harper and then Layton and followed by Dion. I always thought that Layton should at least be given the opportunity to have a minority government as Harper has had. I was also surprised by Layton being the #2 guy because we don't heard alot of good things about Layton or his party. Maybe he's our "Obama" in this election. I would think it would do Canadians and the Conservatives and the Liberals some good. Right now, the Cons and the Libs think they are the only parties that ever will be in the PMO and I would like to see a "wake-up call" to those parties, don't take anything for granted!!

How on earth could Layton be an "Obama" in this election? Obama is a figure whose arrival has energized voters of all stripes and has changed the dynamics of the election. Jack Layton? This is his 3rd? 4th? federal election as NDP leader, and he has never been able to energize anybody (aside from former MLW member Maplesyrup, of course.)

We used to hear more positive things about Layton. He used to have a higher profile, and he used to fare better in this sort of poll. Layton had a bit of a profile at the time when the Liberals had a majority and he was free to speak boldly on any issue he wished. He had even more profile when he was the guy Paul Martin needed to keep his minority government afloat.

But for the past 33 months, he's just been one of 3 guys afraid to make the decision to bring down the Harper minority.

You'd think that with a right-leaning party in power, the leader of the left wing would be at his most vocal... but for almost 3 years Layton has been laying low, perhaps reluctant to remind people that he's been standing on the sidelines and allowing Harper to do his thing.

Agreed with others about Dion, though. The Liberal party decided that Ignatieff was too something, Rae was too something else, Kennedy was too some other thing, and the only choice left was a guy who wasn't much of anything.

-k

[White Doors]

and the only choice left was a guy who wasn't much of anything.

??? He has a dog named Kyoto Kimmy!

That has to count for something!!

[fellowtraveller]

But for the past 33 months, he's just been one of 3 guys afraid to make the decision to bring down the Harper minority.

Not really, Layton has been very vocal and very consistent in voting against Harper. He may gain spine by knowing that the NDP vote doesn't matter unless Dion was willing to take down Harper, but still he has been persistent and consistent.

The problem for Layton is the old one for the NDP, nobody pays much attention.

It will beinteresting to see if Jack survives as leader.

He managed to increase seats from 19 to 29 last election, but I'm betting that unless he has the same increase again his days are numbered. Pat Martin wants his job, bad.

The NDP has a mahjor problem with votesplitting Greens. I think many folks will vote Green in protest, though it won't elect any MPs.

Every vote for Green is one less for Layton and Dion, since Harper will lose zero support from Green voters.

It may be enough to give Harper a slim majority.

[normanchateau]

In one latest poll, which I saw on the TV, it had Canadians would choose as PM Harper and then Layton and followed by Dion.

These findings parallel those of political contributions as well. Not only did more Canadians contribute to the NDP than the Liberals in 2008, their average contribution was higher. In the first quarter 0f 2008, 68.7% of contributions went to the Conservatives, 15.5% went to the NDP and 12.2% went to the Liberals.

A Conservative majority is on the horizon.

[DrGreenthumb]

These findings parallel those of political contributions as well. Not only did more Canadians contribute to the NDP than the Liberals in 2008, their average contribution was higher. In the first quarter 0f 2008, 68.7% of contributions went to the Conservatives, 15.5% went to the NDP and 12.2% went to the Liberals.

A Conservative majority is on the horizon.

I'm not surprised at all, Layton is a principled man, and stands up for ordinary Canadians. If he were leader of the Liberal party we'd be getting a Liberal majority. I would definitely vote Liberal if Layton were the leader. Too bad the liberals and NDP couldn't join forces for this election and destroy the conservatives for good.

[HisSelf]

In tough times, the electorate swings left. Right now, tough times are what we are hearing. Harper picked a bad time to call an election.

[Argus]

In tough times, the electorate swings left. Right now, tough times are what we are hearing. Harper picked a bad time to call an election.

In tough times the electorate wants a man who understands economics and who can make tough decisions. That seems to be Harper to a T.

[M.Dancer]

In tough times the electorate wants a man who understands economics and who can make tough decisions. That seems to be Harper to a T.

At least that is what the latest polls show

Mr. Harper emerged ahead of Messrs. Dion and Layton as someone who is best positioned to manage the country through tough economic times (50%), who has "what it takes" to lead Canada (47%) and who "has a vision of Canada that you can support" (43%).

[guyser]

At least that is what the latest polls show

Its a question like.....who is best to play goal for the Leafs, Tugnutt, Healy or Corey Schwab ?

Are there Liberals who actually think Dion can win ?

[Shakeyhands]

In tough times the electorate wants a man who understands economics and who can make tough decisions. That seems to be Harper to a T.

According to the commercials anyway....

[WIP]

In tough times the electorate wants a man who understands economics and who can make tough decisions. That seems to be Harper to a T.

And what has Harper done for the economy besides blowing a hole in the Federal Deficit and spending money like a drunken sailor to buy his way into a majority government? Maybe things are humming along out in Alberta, where most of the true blue conservatives live, but here in Ontario, the economy is falling apart as manufacturing jobs are lost because of a higher dollar. What is Harper's economic plan besides turning Alberta into one giant oil sands project?

[M.Dancer]

And what has Harper done for the economy besides blowing a hole in the Federal Deficit and spending money like a drunken sailor to buy his way into a majority government?

WINDSOR, ONT. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Wednesday that Ottawa will give Ford Motor Co. of Canada up to $80-million in assistance to help it produce more fuel-efficient engines at a once-mothballed Windsor plant.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home

I don't agree with this kind of hand out but that what some Liberal supporters have been asking for. Personally I think if an incentive is needed it should be given to a company that actually makes money selling the kind of cars that people want, like Toyota, and then we have a chance to get the money back.

[AngusThermopyle]

but here in Ontario, the economy is falling apart as manufacturing jobs are lost because of a higher dollar. What is Harper's economic plan besides turning Alberta into one giant oil sands project?

Yeah, okay. So Dalton has nothing at all to do with the economy falling apart right?

The last part of your post is nothing but empty rhetoric. If you actually took the time to find out instead of just spewing crap you would know that the patch is in fact a very small area, not all of Alberta. So how can all of Alberta become one giant oil sands project when in fact it is merely a fraction of the available land mass?

[DanInOttawa]

The reason Layton scores high in the leadership poll is because he looks like the Video Professor. Come to think of it, I have never seen them in the same room.

Yea, now that you mention it I have never seen them in the same room either. In-fact this is the first time I have ever heard them mentioned in the same in the same post. Hummmmmm......

I wonder if Jack Layton will be given any "free" stuff out during the election?

[capricorn]

Dan, I'm not the first to see a resemblance. Here they are side by side.

http://totallylookslike.com/2008/08/19/jac...ideo-professor/

About free stuff, nothing comes free with Jack, another thing he has in common with the Video Professor.

[Bryan]

And what has Harper done for the economy besides blowing a hole in the Federal Deficit and spending money like a drunken sailor to buy his way into a majority government? Maybe things are humming along out in Alberta, where most of the true blue conservatives live, but here in Ontario, the economy is falling apart as manufacturing jobs are lost because of a higher dollar. What is Harper's economic plan besides turning Alberta into one giant oil sands project?

I don't know if you noticed, but our economy is very closely tied to the US. They, and much of the rest of the world, have been in deep economic yogurt for a few years now. Meanwhile, for the last couple of years our economy has been white hot. It's only just now that the US economic situation is starting to have a negative effect, and even there, it's mostly just a slow down in the increase rather than an actual retraction. Just the increase in the value of the dollar alone should have crushed us, and yet for the longest time it was just the opposite. For us to have fared so well compared to the US for the last two years shows that the country has been run incredibly well.

Try looking at the country as a whole aside from the decisions of American owned manufacturers (who we have no control over), and the bad management of Provincial Governments (especially Ontario). It's staggering how well we've been doing compared to other countries.

[DrGreenthumb]

I don't know if you noticed, but our economy is very closely tied to the US. They, and much of the rest of the world, have been in deep economic yogurt for a few years now. Meanwhile, for the last couple of years our economy has been white hot. It's only just now that the US economic situation is starting to have a negative effect, and even there, it's mostly just a slow down in the increase rather than an actual retraction. Just the increase in the value of the dollar alone should have crushed us, and yet for the longest time it was just the opposite. For us to have fared so well compared to the US for the last two years shows that the country has been run incredibly well.

Try looking at the country as a whole aside from the decisions of American owned manufacturers (who we have no control over), and the bad management of Provincial Governments (especially Ontario). It's staggering how well we've been doing compared to other countries.

It seems the Liberals are FAR better managers of the economy than conservatives. Every time the conservatives are in power in Canada OR the states the economy seems to tank, then the people wise up an elect a more liberal left leaning government and we get rich again. How long I wonder will it take the left to repair the damage done by these neanderthals THIS time? Harper is an authoritarian paternalistic dictator, who thinks he can treat Canadians like children. It makes me sick how the Harper lovers fawn over that smug serpentine sack of .....

The right wing war mongers waste our money pretending to try and save the world while they are really only lining the pockets of themselves and their lackies, and plundering the natural resources from around the world.

[blueblood]

It seems the Liberals are FAR better managers of the economy than conservatives. Every time the conservatives are in power in Canada OR the states the economy seems to tank, then the people wise up an elect a more liberal left leaning government and we get rich again. How long I wonder will it take the left to repair the damage done by these neanderthals THIS time? Harper is an authoritarian paternalistic dictator, who thinks he can treat Canadians like children. It makes me sick how the Harper lovers fawn over that smug serpentine sack of .....

The right wing war mongers waste our money pretending to try and save the world while they are really only lining the pockets of themselves and their lackies, and plundering the natural resources from around the world.

I am now stupider for having read that.

The general consensus on this forum is that the Liberals quite possibly are going to be decimated and we will finally get the tory majority. Whooo!!! Looks like it's off to Argentina for you.

It was Mulroney's GST that bailed us out, and Harper hasn't put Canada in the poor house. You can thank our financial mess to that left leaning ex NDP Pierre Trudeau.

Who is the we in getting rich. I am far better off under the tories than any left leaning government. Oh you want the left leaning gov't in to punish me for making money so it can fund your every whim.

As for leftists being better than rightists as far as economics goes, one only needs to look at Venezuela vs. Alberta.

Should lay off the pot, it's making you paranoid.