The only way that the conservatives can get elected is if the liberals

[independent]

Every time the Conservatives hammer the Liberals they move votes over to the NDP. The majority of people will never support an ultra right wing party that conservatives are leaning towards. That will eventually put the NDP in power. Its only keeping the Liberals in the middle splitting the center and left wing votes that the conservatives have any chance of staying in power. If the Conservatives goal is to drive the country further to the left by eliminating the center they are doing a good job.

Conservatives<<<<<<< nothing in the middle >>>>>>>>>>>>NDP

The Conservative are trying very hard to divide the country in two. Harpers Legacy will be to fractionalize the country.

[Smallc]

The Conservative are trying very hard to divide the country in two. Harpers Legacy will be to fractionalize the country.

I sincerely doubt that. The only reason that the Conservatives and New Democrats are able to have as much support as they do is because they are close to the middle in this campaign. The Conservatives have made themselves into progressives in many ways and the NDP has said that they are modeling their campaign on the Gary Doer Government. That is why they are both doing so well. Many Canadians like the centre, and they are moving closer to it in order to get main stream votes.

[betsy]

Every time the Conservatives hammer the Liberals they move votes over to the NDP. The majority of people will never support an ultra right wing party that conservatives are leaning towards. That will eventually put the NDP in power. Its only keeping the Liberals in the middle splitting the center and left wing votes that the conservatives have any chance of staying in power. If the Conservatives goal is to drive the country further to the left by eliminating the center they are doing a good job.

Conservatives<<<<<<< nothing in the middle >>>>>>>>>>>>NDP

The Conservative are trying very hard to divide the country in two. Harpers Legacy will be to fractionalize the country.

FYI, the center is already staked, claimed and occupied by the Conservatives! All you need to do is listen to the media report and you will know. That's what they've been saying.

Harper had successfully shoved the LIberals (thanks to Dion) to the left, along with the NDP! And the NDP is boldly claiming the right to represent the Left....and by the looks of it, they might become the official opposition.

As of the poll on CTV today, the Conservatives are at 40% with the Liberals and NDP tied at 21%.

According to the pollster, the Liberals and the NDP actually both went down. But the bad news for the Liberal is that they're bleeding to the Conservatives AND the NDP.

[Radsickle]

Harper's neo-conservative, Reform, Canadian Alliance, Conservative-without-Progressive, anti-PC party only took the seat of power by amalgamating. It's time the Liberals realized their mistake in not choosing Iggy for leader and allow the NDP to carry the day, united with all left-of-center seeking citizens!!!

Actually, I'd prefer Elizabeth May and her Green Party. Even if it means Harper gets another minority... Majority though? Forget it. I'll fall in line with every good Liberal to avoid that; I've seen what the Mike Harris' of the world can do and I don't like it.

[OddSox]

I've seen what the Bob Rae's of the world can do and I don't like it.

[Vancouver King]

Every time the Conservatives hammer the Liberals they move votes over to the NDP. The majority of people will never support an ultra right wing party that conservatives are leaning towards. That will eventually put the NDP in power. Its only keeping the Liberals in the middle splitting the center and left wing votes that the conservatives have any chance of staying in power. If the Conservatives goal is to drive the country further to the left by eliminating the center they are doing a good job.

Conservatives<<<<<<< nothing in the middle >>>>>>>>>>>>NDP

The Conservative are trying very hard to divide the country in two. Harpers Legacy will be to fractionalize the country.

I think you are onto something. Harper apparently wants to annihilate the Liberal party into oblivion - literally removing it from the federal scene. This, of course, leaves only the NDP as English Canada alternative to Tories with the promise that eventually the priorities of middle class/working class Canadians will finally be addressed.

I never thought I would share a political belief with Stephen Harper - destruction of the Liberals is certainly one of them.

[Radsickle]

I'm not so mad at the Liberals as at Gerrard Kennedy for throwing his drunken support behind Dion instead of Michael Ignatieff. They deserve what they get from that bad decision.

[independent]

FYI, the center is already staked, claimed and occupied by the Conservatives! All you need to do is listen to the media report and you will know. That's what they've been saying.

Harper had successfully shoved the LIberals (thanks to Dion) to the left, along with the NDP! And the NDP is boldly claiming the right to represent the Left....and by the looks of it, they might become the official opposition.

As of the poll on CTV today, the Conservatives are at 40% with the Liberals and NDP tied at 21%.

According to the pollster, the Liberals and the NDP actually both went down. But the bad news for the Liberal is that they're bleeding to the Conservatives AND the NDP.

You are completely ignoring history. The conservatives are made up of reform and alliance members that did not think the PCs were to the right enough. The NDP candidates all feel the Liberals are too far too the right. You can not really believe that every single candidate has changed his thinking. During an election they can say anything they want. After the election the spots will change.

[Argus]

I think you are onto something. Harper apparently wants to annihilate the Liberal party into oblivion - literally removing it from the federal scene. This, of course, leaves only the NDP as English Canada alternative to Tories with the promise that eventually the priorities of middle class/working class Canadians will finally be addressed.

I never thought I would share a political belief with Stephen Harper - destruction of the Liberals is certainly one of them.

The difference, of course, is Harper is a lot smarter than you. The NDP has no interest in the needs of the working class and never has. In fact, it hates the middle class. The NDP sees the middle class, when it acknowledges them at all, as so many fat sheep to be sheered so it can take the wool and give to various social programs to help the poor, the disabled, minorities, gays and lesbians, natives, artists, and every other little niche group which are considered politically disadvantaged or acceptable in some way.

Harper knows that once the middle class gets to look at an alternative which consists of him, and the NDP who want to take away all their money, the middle class will vote solidly conservative.

[Vancouver King]

The difference, of course, is Harper is a lot smarter than you. The NDP has no interest in the needs of the working class and never has. In fact, it hates the middle class. The NDP sees the middle class, when it acknowledges them at all, as so many fat sheep to be sheered so it can take the wool and give to various social programs to help the poor, the disabled, minorities, gays and lesbians, natives, artists, and every other little niche group which are considered politically disadvantaged or acceptable in some way.

Harper knows that once the middle class gets to look at an alternative which consists of him, and the NDP who want to take away all their money, the middle class will vote solidly conservative.

Nonsense. In creating a new political dynamic the CPC - if they are half as smart as you think they are - must realize that in time they will be turned out of office in favor of the opposition. Or do you seriously contend Harper will rule forever?

[Radsickle]

Harper definitely wears more eye-liner than you. Don't know whether that equals smarts though...

[Topaz]

I've seen what the Bob Rae's of the world can do and I don't like it.

Again, when Rae was Premier, ontario was in a recession and Rae has said that he made some mistakes. I think for being the first time Premier under a recession he did what he had to do.

[capricorn]

Harper apparently wants to annihilate the Liberal party into oblivion - literally removing it from the federal scene.

That is most certainly one of his goals. He has been working to wrench the Liberals' stranglehold on the "natural governing party" crown. If the polls are any indication, he's getting a little help from Canadians.

This, of course, leaves only the NDP as English Canada alternative to Tories with the promise that eventually the priorities of middle class/working class Canadians will finally be addressed.

The NDP, as it is constituted now will never form the federal government. Jack Layton is trying to reposition the party by throwing out phrases like "kitchen table", "working for families" and "working for middle class Canadians". I see right through it. The NDP is a socialist party and unfortunately for Layton, Canada is making a right turn. I'm not saying that the country is turning right wing, but it is shedding some of its leftist ideology.

I never thought I would share a political belief with Stephen Harper - destruction of the Liberals is certainly one of them.

I'm with you.

[jdobbin]

The Conservatives have made themselves into progressives in many ways and the NDP has said that they are modeling their campaign on the Gary Doer Government. That is why they are both doing so well.

Jack Layton is no Gary Doer.

Doer can get even Stephen Harper to eat out of his hand. Remember how Harper announced that the museum would get funding the morning the election was called?

[capricorn]

Or do you seriously contend Harper will rule forever?

Even I as a Conservative supporter think this is a nightmarish thought.

[capricorn]

Again, when Rae was Premier, ontario was in a recession and Rae has said that he made some mistakes.

And this means what? That all should be forgiven? Not a chance as far as I'm concerned.

I think for being the first time Premier under a recession he did what he had to do.

So I suppose you would agree that with the mess Rae made of the Province, Mike Harris did what he had to do?

[Smallc]

Jack Layton is no Gary Doer.

I certainly agree, but he's trying to be.

Here's an idea. Maybe Gary Doer could lead the Federal NDP? I don't think he can speak French though.

Edited September 27, 2008 by Smallc

[Argus]

Again, when Rae was Premier, ontario was in a recession and Rae has said that he made some mistakes. I think for being the first time Premier under a recession he did what he had to do.

When Mulroney was prime minister Canada and the world were in recession. He ran the debt up by $300 billion - $280 billion of which were simply payments to service the debt that Trudeau had run up.

Nevertheless, the left despises Mulroney, and continually bring up his deficits without regard to what the money was spent on or the times during which he ruled.

[Smallc]

Nevertheless, the left despises Mulroney,

Many on the right despise him too.

[daniel]

Again, when Rae was Premier, ontario was in a recession and Rae has said that he made some mistakes. I think for being the first time Premier under a recession he did what he had to do.

Plus he turned one of the hardest hit economies into one of the strongest growing economies before he left.

[capricorn]

Plus he turned one of the hardest hit economies into one of the strongest growing economies before he left.

And single-handedly.

[betsy]

You are completely ignoring history. The conservatives are made up of reform and alliance members that did not think the PCs were to the right enough. The NDP candidates all feel the Liberals are too far too the right. You can not really believe that every single candidate has changed his thinking. During an election they can say anything they want. After the election the spots will change.

We can all look back at history....but you're talking what? 20 years? As far as I can see Harper is a centrist. Didn't some conservatives even think he'd shown some liberal traits with his spendings?

My point: reform, alliance....so that's where it all began. But it's a far cry from that now. Btw, I supported the Reform.

I'd say this party has evolved! It is central-right.

[craiger]

If what the NDP stand for is the disabled they got my vote. I am not disabled in essence i am handicaped, not like you think I can weld 600" inches of pipeline safely and efficiently. I also am a master of exotic metals my talets will make millions of moneys. the only thing that has stopped me is the conservatives and their agreement to discriminate for my disability Paruresis.

Edited September 28, 2008 by craiger

[independent]

We can all look back at history....but you're talking what? 20 years? As far as I can see Harper is a centrist. Didn't some conservatives even think he'd shown some liberal traits with his spendings?

My point: reform, alliance....so that's where it all began. But it's a far cry from that now. Btw, I supported the Reform.

I'd say this party has evolved! It is central-right.

The progressive conservatives were central-right. Joe Clark was central-right. Harper and most of his candidates are ex reform alliance members. Conservatives want you to ignore there history pretend that suddenly they have seen the light and suddenly became more central in their thinking. Harper wants you to trust that he and his candidates have suddenly changed. If people fall for his deception they deserve the bush like government they will get for the next 5 years.

[Vancouver King]

The progressive conservatives were central-right. Joe Clark was central-right. Harper and most of his candidates are ex reform alliance members. Conservatives want you to ignore there history pretend that suddenly they have seen the light and suddenly became more central in their thinking. Harper wants you to trust that he and his candidates have suddenly changed. If people fall for his deception they deserve the bush like government they will get for the next 5 years.

4 years...unless Harper decides to trample his fixed election date again.