Layton wants a leaders conference

[Argus]

Can you imagine what that would be like? First, Harper would have to explain to Layton and Dion what an economy was, then how it worked, then try and explain financial mechanisms in really simple language, and how they impact the lives of ordinary Canadians. I imagine Layton and Dion frantically trying to take notes, confused looks on their faces, and Layton continually interrupting by asking why they couldn't just print more money.

[capricorn]

That's funny Argus. What about Elizabeth May? You can bet she would insist on being present at that meeting. After all, she will be participating in the debate. Given May's bouts of verbal diarrhea, a two day seminar would be required to hear her out.

Whether or not Harper accepts Layton's invitation to a meeting, he will be criticized for whatever decision he takes.

If he accepts to meet the opposition leaders, it will appear as if he is incapable of handling the repercussions of the US economic downturn and cannot go forward without the opposition leaders' input. The meeting's outcome would be twisted and used against him by Dion and Layton to gain political points in the election campaign.

If he declines, it will look as if he doesn't care about the economy and the country or is not willing to accept whatever advice the other leaders will offer.

If I was Harper, I would decline. Harper should respond that such a meeting should be held in full view of the Canadian public and not behind closed doors, and that the debates will provide that opportunity.

Edited September 29, 2008 by capricorn

[blueblood]

This looks like something Layton would try and use as ammunition in the debate, if Layton is serious there is ample time after the debate and election to hold this kind of meeting.

[betsy]

Didn't Obama call McCain to talk about the Wall Street bail-out?

Maybe Layton is still on copy-cat mode?

Edited September 30, 2008 by betsy

[Cameron]

What does Jack Layton know about the economy that is worth listening to?

Nothing.

"Thanks for you views Jack, please take a seat over there on the other side..."

[kengs333]

This looks like something Layton would try and use as ammunition in the debate, if Layton is serious there is ample time after the debate and election to hold this kind of meeting.

The theory is that all the leaders would happen to be present for the debates, which would make coordinating the discussion easy. If by "ample time" you mean there is no crisis at the moment, most economists would probably disagree, but it's not like economists really know more than you do...

[kengs333]

Can you imagine what that would be like? First, Harper would have to explain to Layton and Dion what an economy was, then how it worked, then try and explain financial mechanisms in really simple language, and how they impact the lives of ordinary Canadians. I imagine Layton and Dion frantically trying to take notes, confused looks on their faces, and Layton continually interrupting by asking why they couldn't just print more money.

LOL... not!

Argus, if you could raise yourself above your usually domain of petty juvenile behaviour for a moment, maybe it would occur to you that it makes sense to have the leaders of the parties discuss the issue. If only for the simple reason that it would probably ease concerns among Canadians to see that our PM can function in a non-partisan manner in difficult times that are now being referred to as "historic".

[blueblood]

The theory is that all the leaders would happen to be present for the debates, which would make coordinating the discussion easy. If by "ample time" you mean there is no crisis at the moment, most economists would probably disagree, but it's not like economists really know more than you do...

it's also convenient that the debate is the next night. layton would use the meeting to flaunt his communist agenda. the crisis has already hit, whether it gets discussed by party leaders now, or in two weeks is redundant.

[blueblood]

LOL... not!

Argus, if you could raise yourself above your usually domain of petty juvenile behaviour for a moment, maybe it would occur to you that it makes sense to have the leaders of the parties discuss the issue. If only for the simple reason that it would probably ease concerns among Canadians to see that our PM can function in a non-partisan manner in difficult times that are now being referred to as "historic".

They don't need a non-partisan manner, its going to be a tory majority, why does Harper need the peanut gallery??

[capricorn]

If only for the simple reason that it would probably ease concerns among Canadians to see that our PM can function in a non-partisan manner in difficult times that are now being referred to as "historic".

I agree with you it would be nice if our fears were laid to rest about the economy. Problem is we're in an election and non-partisanship is not in the equation at the moment. We're 48 hours away from the first debate. I can't think what our politicians could do within that timeframe that would save us from the unnamed and unknown catastrophy that's supposedly waiting for us around the corner. At least in the debates we'll get an idea of what each of the leaders intends to do to weather this storm.

BTW, Harper has turned down Layton's invite to a meeting.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...9/BNStory/Front

[Vancouver King]

You can tell forum participants who have tiny equity portfolios. They are the ones spewing the usual nonsense about govt having no place in the economy - despite the world's largest "free" economy about to make a trillion dollar intervention - and these right wing believers are unable to connect the dots between neo-conservative policies in the US and todays record plunge on the TSX.

Elimination of financial regulation and oversight while turning Wall St. into a parasitic circus is now a legacy of Bush's neo-conservatism. Since this rot has now slopped over the border Canadians watching their retirement investments melting away can thank neo-conservatives, of which Stephen Harper is one, for the decrease in their net worths.

By all means lets have a public pow wow on the spreading financial fallout. The public deserves to hear Harper explain that all the dislocation is the fault of conservatives stateside.

[kengs333]

I agree with you it would be nice if our fears were laid to rest about the economy. Problem is we're in an election and non-partisanship is not in the equation at the moment. We're 48 hours away from the first debate. I can't think what our politicians could do within that timeframe that would save us from the unnamed and unknown catastrophy that's supposedly waiting for us around the corner. At least in the debates we'll get an idea of what each of the leaders intends to do to weather this storm.

BTW, Harper has turned down Layton's invite to a meeting.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...9/BNStory/Front

I never said it was going to save us from anything.

I know that Harper declined; it's typical of him, isn't it?

[kengs333]

it's also convenient that the debate is the next night. layton would use the meeting to flaunt his communist agenda. the crisis has already hit, whether it gets discussed by party leaders now, or in two weeks is redundant.

Layton, a communist? Well, isn't everything communist to your ilk?

[kengs333]

They don't need a non-partisan manner, its going to be a tory majority, why does Harper need the peanut gallery??

Well, seeing where the Liberals are now, and the fact that there will probably be an increase in support leading up to election day, I'd disagree. People don't care who's leading the Liberals--it's Harper that they're concerned about. And in the end the fact that the Liberals do know how to manage Canada's finances better will probably sink in.

But if thoughts of a Harper majority keep you warm and fuzzy while you're out on the field slowly harvesting your GM crops, by all means don't let me ruin it for you...

[Bryan]

The theory is that all the leaders would happen to be present for the debates, which would make coordinating the discussion easy. If by "ample time" you mean there is no crisis at the moment, most economists would probably disagree, but it's not like economists really know more than you do...

Which respected economists are saying Canada is in a crisis? Most of the ones I've seen are saying we are are in pretty good shape compared to the rest of the world.

[capricorn]

I never said it was going to save us from anything.

I know you didn't and I never implied you said it would save us. But if you would have said it wouldn't save us from anything, I would have agreed with you.

[blueblood]

Well, seeing where the Liberals are now, and the fact that there will probably be an increase in support leading up to election day, I'd disagree. People don't care who's leading the Liberals--it's Harper that they're concerned about. And in the end the fact that the Liberals do know how to manage Canada's finances better will probably sink in.

But if thoughts of a Harper majority keep you warm and fuzzy while you're out on the field slowly harvesting your GM crops, by all means don't let me ruin it for you...

And there's the Toronto arrogance coming through again.

I've been done for a week, I'm doing field work now. Those damn GM crops feeding those poor people all over the world and cheap cooking oil. Oh and your welcome so that your lazy ass can go to the store instead of producing your own food.

The thoughts of a Harper majority are keeping many many Canadians warm and fuzzy as well. The polls are looking good.

Alan Jackson and Sara Evans on my ipod keep me warm and fuzzy when I'm running the combine. Yee Haw!!!

[kengs333]

And there's the Toronto arrogance coming through again.

Not from Toronto.

I've been done for a week, I'm doing field work now. Those damn GM crops feeding those poor people all over the world and cheap cooking oil. Oh and your welcome so that your lazy ass can go to the store instead of producing your own food.

How do you know it feed poor people? It could end up in food served to some African dictator.

I grow some of my own food. Potatos, tomatos, beans, turnips, lettuce...

The thoughts of a Harper majority are keeping many many Canadians warm and fuzzy as well. The polls are looking good.

Well, if the feeling doesn't go away after he gets defeated, then you might want to head for the nearest ER.

[blueblood]

Not from Toronto.

How do you know it feed poor people? It could end up in food served to some African dictator.

I grow some of my own food. Potatos, tomatos, beans, turnips, lettuce...

Well, if the feeling doesn't go away after he gets defeated, then you might want to head for the nearest ER.

Harper is not going to be defeated in this election, care to read my signature coming from a card carrying Liberal.

Oh I get why you don't like modern farmers, it must be an inferiority complex.

[kengs333]

Harper is not going to be defeated in this election, care to read my signature coming from a card carrying Liberal.

Oh I get why you don't like modern farmers, it must be an inferiority complex.

I never said that I don't like modern farmers. It would seem to me, then, that your misperceptions about what I think of you stem from your own deep seeded low self worth. You know that you have no chance of being anything other than a crude and crass country yokel making a living from toiling in dirt.

[Argus]

LOL... not!

Argus, if you could raise yourself above your usually domain of petty juvenile behaviour for a moment, maybe it would occur to you that it makes sense to have the leaders of the parties discuss the issue. If only for the simple reason that it would probably ease concerns among Canadians to see that our PM can function in a non-partisan manner in difficult times that are now being referred to as "historic".

Harper has a masters in economics. Layton and Dion studied political science. What do you imagine they have to tell him on this issue?

There's damn all the Canadian govenrment can do, anyway. This is a world-wide phenomenan with roots in the US, and it's really kind of beyond us to influence at this point in time. The best the government can probably do is make life easier on business by, among other things, cutting corporate taxes - which is the Tory policy, after all.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Argus

[blueblood]

I never said that I don't like modern farmers. It would seem to me, then, that your misperceptions about what I think of you stem from your own deep seeded low self worth. You know that you have no chance of being anything other than a crude and crass country yokel making a living from toiling in dirt.

It must bother you that this crude and crass country yokel has an income and expenditure sheet with a few more zeros tacked on the end than yours.

Dag gone, I done made the big times now!!!!

[kengs333]

It must bother you that this crude and crass country yokel has an income and expenditure sheet with a few more zeros tacked on the end than yours.

Dag gone, I done made the big times now!!!!

Not really. I don't care how much money you have or the amount that you have invested in your supposed farm, you have such a low-born personality that no amount of money will ever buy you the sophistication and intellect required to function properly in civilized society. You serve one purpose in this world: to do work that the majority of people in this country wouldn't degrade themselves to doing because the have the education and intelligence to pursue more meaningful and important endeavours. Farming has always been one of the least esteemed occupations, and the fact that it is now more mechanized and "efficient" doesn't change that fact. At least the Amish have the inclination to pursue their occupation in a manner which leads them to be more thoughtful and respectful, in general more balanced and all around good people. Unlike you, they don't lose perspective of what life is all about by zealously attempting to maximize profitability and assuming large operating costs which they have to devote all their time to paying back and living in fear of that one bad harvest that will ruin it all. Personally I don't buy your bravado; I've listened to enough farmers whining and complaining about the state of farming in this country to know things are nowhere near as good as you would like people to believe.

[kengs333]

Harper has a masters in economics. Layton and Dion studied political science. What do you imagine they have to tell him on this issue?

There's damn all the Canadian govenrment can do, anyway. This is a world-wide phenomenan with roots in the US, and it's really kind of beyond us to influence at this point in time. The best the government can probably do is make life easier on business by, among other things, cutting corporate taxes - which is the Tory policy, after all.

If it has its roots in the US then it has a connection to the way that the US allows its economy to function. In that case, why should we want a government that has the same neocon approach to our economy?

[blueblood]

Not really. I don't care how much money you have or the amount that you have invested in your supposed farm, you have such a low-born personality that no amount of money will ever buy you the sophistication and intellect required to function properly in civilized society. You serve one purpose in this world: to do work that the majority of people in this country wouldn't degrade themselves to doing because the have the education and intelligence to pursue more meaningful and important endeavours. Farming has always been one of the least esteemed occupations, and the fact that it is now more mechanized and "efficient" doesn't change that fact. At least the Amish have the inclination to pursue their occupation in a manner which leads them to be more thoughtful and respectful, in general more balanced and all around good people. Unlike you, they don't lose perspective of what life is all about by zealously attempting to maximize profitability and assuming large operating costs which they have to devote all their time to paying back and living in fear of that one bad harvest that will ruin it all. Personally I don't buy your bravado; I've listened to enough farmers whining and complaining about the state of farming in this country to know things are nowhere near as good as you would like people to believe.

I'm not in jail, I must be functioning in society pretty good.

I have enough intelligence to make a killing at what people like you wouldn't degrade themselves to doing and that must stick in the old craw. Their arrogance is my reward.

More Important and meaningful endeavors, lets see what causes more chaos, if all the people in my industry shut down or all the people in your industry shut down?

If you have that view of farming, you can take your hypocrite ass out of the grocery store and produce all your own food.

Geez you must be half way to China with that hole your digging

Score 2 for team cowboy yee haw!!!