You are Harper. What will you do to get your majority?

[betsy]

You are ahead at the polls. But will that really mean a majority? Some are saying you'll only end up with a minority because people still don't warm up to you. The continuous gaffes and distractions plague you to this day.

You are slipping in Quebec.

Starting today on the English debate to the 13th of October, what will you do to ensure a majority? What will be your strategy?

[blueblood]

You are ahead at the polls. But will that really mean a majority? Some are saying you'll only end up with a minority because people still don't warm up to you. The continuous gaffes and distractions plague you to this day.

You are slipping in Quebec.

Starting today on the English debate to the 13th of October, what will you do to ensure a majority? What will be your strategy?

Call the Bloc a father knows best party and explain the basic principles of fiscal conservatism to Quebecers. Rinse and Repeat.

[eyeball]

Starting today on the English debate to the 13th of October, what will you do to ensure a majority? What will be your strategy?

Pretend he's not scary and declare everyone else will destroy the economy if he isn't elected.

Pump the fear and hype the loathing - meat and potatoes for conservatives but will the so-called center buy these in sufficient amounts to translate into a majority? I sure hope not.

Is it possible Harper could win a majority with even less votes than he won his minority with? If so perhaps there's more than one way to bring about some sort of proportionally representative government in the event of a less than satisfactory minority or even a majority based on something truely flimsy like 35% or less of the popular vote. Are candidates allowed to throw their numbers towards another party at the conclusion of an election? You won't hear me crying foul if a bunch of candidates tried to cross the floor and take their votes with them. More power to them I say.

[August1991]

You are ahead at the polls. But will that really mean a majority? Some are saying you'll only end up with a minority because people still don't warm up to you. The continuous gaffes and distractions plague you to this day.

To win a majority, the Conservatives have to improve among one or both of two groups: Quebec and women.

In Quebec, the votes are concentrated in specific ridings outside of Montreal. The Conservatives stand a good chance of winning as many as 10 more seats than they have now. Keep in mind that every thing reported in English Canada is filtered first through a Montreal (Plateau) centric French media and then through a Toronto centric English media. For a WASP, Harper has done very well in this campaign. He is well advised.

In the case of women, potential Tory votes are dispersed across the country and these votes will show up as marginal ridings going Conservative. I think on this score that Harper's reliability in the face of uncertain economic times will help him. Bland works.

I would expect Harper to sleep walk through the English debate as he more or less did in teh French debate. And if the French debate is any guide, Elizabeth May will be a big turn off and many people will simply stop watching. (Admittedly, her inability in French made matters much worse last night.)

[BC_chick]

Start buying sweater vests in non-conservative colours - yellow, green and maybe even pink with a nice grey tie. Practice smiling in the mirror so it doesn't look so forced. Change that hairstyle, and oh! Stop being such a conservative when 51% of the nation identifies as liberal and only 42% identify as conservative.

http://communities.canada.com/shareit/foru...ead/219225.aspx

[capricorn]

Harper has to play nicey nicey with May tonight to show women he's a gentleman. He did it once last night when he graciously gave May the floor. I think that was noticed by women.

He's got to wipe that stupid grin off his face that we saw in the French debate. It's a turn off.

As I suggested for Dion, Harper should go around kissing babies and patting kids on the head. That sends a soothing message that he likes little people and he is a family man.

He should continue driving the message that the economic fundamentals are strong. Also, that now is not the time to introduce major changes i.e. the Green Shift that could negatively affect the economy. Geez, even I believe that.

[Argus]

Pretend he's not scary and declare everyone else will destroy the economy if he isn't elected.

Well let's see, during these dangerous economic times the NDP wants to drastically hike business taxes, while the Liberals want to drastically hike the cost of doing business in Canada by increasing energy costs and taxing manufacturing and mining industries. So I'd say Harper isn't entirely wrong.

Pump the fear and hype the loathing - meat and potatoes for conservative

Soldiers in the streets - in Canada. Right, that didn't bother you one bit, of course.

I bet the current ads by the NDP - which feature shots of soldiers, and the sounds of goosestepping doesn't bother you either, or the one the Libs are showing in black and white featuring Bush and Harper. Of course that's okay, right? Hypocrisy is the major stock in trade of the Left.

[Argus]

You are ahead at the polls. But will that really mean a majority? Some are saying you'll only end up with a minority because people still don't warm up to you. The continuous gaffes and distractions plague you to this day.

You are slipping in Quebec.

Starting today on the English debate to the 13th of October, what will you do to ensure a majority? What will be your strategy?

I would propose that within 30 days I would form a commission of health experts, and they would study the better performing health care systems in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, France and Germany, and would report back within one year on what elements of those systems Canada should adopt to improve our health care system. We would then begin making those recommended changes within three months of the report being produced.

[eyeball]

Well let's see, during these dangerous economic times the NDP wants to drastically hike business taxes, while the Liberals want to drastically hike the cost of doing business in Canada by increasing energy costs and taxing manufacturing and mining industries. So I'd say Harper isn't entirely wrong.

Its certainly wrong to talk about tax-shifting without addressing the intent to reduce and eliminate income taxes for individuals and business'. I think the most important thing about tax-shifting is its recognition of the direct connection between our ecosystems and our economy. You can have the first without the latter but not the other way around. These dangerous economic times are at least partly a result of not making this connection in the past. Staying the course by maintaining the misperception that our environment exists outside of our economy will destroy both even faster.

Soldiers in the streets - in Canada. Right, that didn't bother you one bit, of course.

No not really, it amused me actually.

I bet the current ads by the NDP - which feature shots of soldiers, and the sounds of goosestepping doesn't bother you either, or the one the Libs are showing in black and white featuring Bush and Harper. Of course that's okay, right?

So am I to believe the sound of Canadian soldiers marching is more like the pitter patter of a ballerina? I guess you would know.

The thought of our soldiers marching into other countries streets especially with US troops in the lead does bother me, a lot.

Hypocrisy is the major stock in trade of the Left.

That's what they all say.

Edited October 2, 2008 by eyeball

[Argus]

Its certainly wrong to talk about tax-shifting without addressing the intent to reduce and eliminate income taxes for individuals and business'.

I'm sure those individuals who see their taxes go down - and then lose their job because their company went under or moved due to increased costs will be enormously grateful.

I think the most important thing about tax-shifting is its recognition of the direct connection between our ecosystems and our economy. You can have the first without the latter but not the other way around. These dangerous economic times are at least partly a result of not making this connection in the past.

Ah yes, I recognize this speech. It's the "You can have your cake and eat it too" speech that I see on my tv screen right now. All four of the midgets "debating" with Harper seem to believe you can tax the hell out of major companies, give billions away to the poor, and yet, not have any adverse economic affect. In fact, instead there'll be money raining from the heavens!

It's an argument aimed at economic illiterates, an argument crafted by either idiots, or liars. May neatly falls into the first group, Layton and Dion into the second.

[Bryan]

I don't think he wants a majority. I wouldn't want one if I was him. Much easier to wipe out the Liberal Party permanently if he puts them in a position of having no choice but to force another election right away that they cannot afford, especially if they are in the middle of a leadership crisis.

Edited October 3, 2008 by Bryan

[jdobbin]

I don't think he wants a majority. I wouldn't want one if I was him. Much easier to wipe out the Liberal Party permanently

I still the majority will be massive. The Liberals are in full collapse now. A fourth place finish is possible. The Tories can probably dream of having Harper as PM for a long as he wants the job.

[Leader Circle]

I still the majority will be massive. The Liberals are in full collapse now. A fourth place finish is possible. The Tories can probably dream of having Harper as PM for a long as he wants the job.

I agree with you for a change dobb. It will be massive. Dion comes off as a whiney punk and Layton was blasting him every chance he got.

[Bryan]

I still the majority will be massive. The Liberals are in full collapse now. A fourth place finish is possible. The Tories can probably dream of having Harper as PM for a long as he wants the job.

I just can't see it. Do you think the recent Bloc swing in Quebec will swing back to CPC again? That's a lot of seats that just don't look to be available anymore.

[Oleg Bach]

If I were Harper and wanted a majority I would express the fact that I am my own man and not a puppet..about time he spoke out and revealed his intentions in full - who knows..the average Canadian might be in full agreement with him on how to proceed for the benefit of all...IF he wants to be a dictator then let him be king but a loving benevolent one! All I expect out of a leader is love and I will follow.