Bob Rae to end bid for Liberal leadership: CTV

[Argus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/magazine/05iraq-t.html

It is a good piece in that he acknowledges the difference between theory and reality. That was Trudeau's major failing. He was in love with his own intellect, and his own theories on how things should work. The small stuff, like how to pay for such things, only irritated him. Thus our massive debt, and other social problems traced back to his reign. One hopes that Ignatieff really has learned the difference between fascinating intellectual theories like those he debated with the rest of the ivory tower set, and cold hard reality.

The timing of his mea culpa could have been better, btw, as it seemed to come just before the situation in Iraq got vastly better.

[ToadBrother]

Uh huh. I have not seen a Liberal leader yet who would put the country's best interests ahead of his own.

I haven't seen a Conservative one that would either. In fact, as a general rule, a political leader is purely interested in the successes of himself and his or her party.

[Argus]

Is there anyone in the Liberal party that you think would have been good?

John Manley if he weren't a damned republican.

[Argus]

So, Harper was right to want to go in Iraq? Maybe he will bring that up in an election with Ignatieff.

Australia went to Iraq instead of Afghanistan. Would you care to compare the casualty and costs involved and tell me whether the Liberals made the right decision?

[Argus]

That's what I was getting at though. Its not like living here can make you in touch with the entire country.

It'd be nice to be in touch with SOME of it, though.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Argus, there are political realities unique to specific regions in Canada. Its what makes governing this country so difficult.

[Argus]

They have a leader that seems to know how to fundraise

Maybe we'll find out he's been working with the governor of Illinois. :-)

[Argus]

That means residential schools and schools for blacks only?

Schools for blacks only is a 2008 liberal lefty idea, Jdobbin. Where have you been?

Blacks only, but don't use the S word

Edited December 10, 2008 by Argus

[blueblood]

Or accusations of support for pedophiles or terrorists as we have seen from the other side?

Even when the Opposition let him get his political agenda, he makes the accusation.

Harper's window to get an election with Dion at the helm is pretty much closed. His desire to call an election while sitting high in the polls is uncertain. While he would love to be defeated, he has to weigh out whether the Governor General would send him back to re-work a bill as is her right or whether to ask the Opposition to have a crack at government.

Ignatieff is unlikely to accept the coalition as it now stands but he is unlikely to back down from selfish legislation either. Not all PR is ad campaigns. Ignatieff need only propose amendments that seem rational and the government will be at pains to explain why they have a take it or leave it attitude.

Moreover, the Governor General might not accept the government attaching confidence over all bills not related to economics so soon after an election. If the government is defeated on one, she can send Harper back to the House to re-work things.

In your mind, the only option the Governor General has is an election. It isn't. She has the power to tell Harper to get back to work and stop playing games.

Which is why Harper has to move quickly while Ignatieff is still tied to this coalition, which is grossly unpopular with Canadians. I believe this is Harper's only chance at a majority gov't. I also believe Harper only has one election left. The beauty of unprecedented times is that the GG has to rely more and more on public opinion. If she lets a coalition with seperatists take power without an election, her name is smeared for eternity, no person in the public eye wants that.

Harper cannot get a majority gov't the old fashioned way, he has come too far in his little game to stop when he has the opposition making a hail mary play. Harper needs an election with the coalition fresh in everyone's minds, otherwise the chance for another minority gov't on either side vastly increases.

I know the GG has other options, but I'm quite confident of the option she will choose.

[jdobbin]

Schools for blacks only is a 2008 liberal lefty idea, Jdobbin. Where have you been?

Yes, I have seen that it is happening in Ontario and Manitoba. This time it is voluntary segregation.

I don't know that I am completely in support of it but then I think how is it different that people wanting their kids going to religious schools.

Edited December 10, 2008 by jdobbin

[Smallc]

Yes, I have seen that it is happening in Ontario and Manitoba. This time it is voluntary segregation.

And its just as misguided as when it wasn't voluntary. I was unaware that it was happening here though.

[jdobbin]

And its just as misguided as when it wasn't voluntary. I was unaware that it was happening here though.

The Children of the Earth school has been segregated for years.

As I added to my last post, is it that different than sending your kids to Catholic school?

Edited December 10, 2008 by jdobbin

[Smallc]

As I added to my last post, is is that different than sending your kids to Catholic school?

I'm not sure I'm in favour of that either, but the last thing we need is to divide people along racial lines any more than they are now.

[jdobbin]

Australia went to Iraq instead of Afghanistan. Would you care to compare the casualty and costs involved and tell me whether the Liberals made the right decision?

Australia didn't appear to be on the frontlines as Britain and the U.S. were.

They contributed air and navy support.

The 500 combat forces were pulled in 2003. When ground forces returned in 2005, they were in the southern provinces assisting Iraqi forces where there was not a lot of attacks directed at them. Those troops withdrew in June of this year.

In terms of casualties they didn't suffer any hardship. However, their support of the mission didn't find any weapons of mass destruction either.

As I have said many times here, the country actually hosting and sheltering terrorists and was responsible for the attack on September 11 was Afghanistan.

Edited December 10, 2008 by jdobbin

[blueblood]

I'm not sure I'm in favour of that either, but the last thing we need is to divide people along racial lines any more than they are now.

they can build whatever schools they want and can take whatever students they want, just not on my dollar.

As far as public schools go, if I'm paying for it, which farmers do considerably, then no segragation. My tax dollars have no business funding racism.

[jdobbin]

Given your party couldn't even master a camcorder I don't see how you guys could put together a rush-rush vote using "new technology".

I agree. The potential for a screw up was great.

I do think that the delegate convention just doesn't work economically with the new rules on financing. It is also time consuming.

The two things led to the decision the Liberals made now which was to appoint a leader now and vote up or down on it at a convention.

[jdobbin]

As far as public schools go, if I'm paying for it, which farmers do considerably, then no segragation. My tax dollars have no business funding racism.

No money for religious or private schools?

[jdobbin]

John Manley if he weren't a damned republican.

I just don't know how he would appeal to people since he doesn't come across as charismatic nor do I know any policies that he proffers that draw my attention.

[Topaz]

Australia didn't appear to be on the frontlines in some of the hotspots as Britain and the U.S. were.

They contributed air and navy support.

The 500 combat forces were pulled in 2003. When ground forces returned in 2005, they were in the southern provinces assisting Iraqi forces where there was not a lot of attacks directed at them. Those troops withdrew in June of this year.

In terms of casualties they didn't suffer any hardship. However, their support of the mission didn't find any weapons of mass destruction either.

As I have said many times here, the country actually hosting and sheltering terrorists and was responsible for the attack on September 11 was Afghanistan.

Jdobbin, I usually agree with you and I'm not saying you are 100% wrong but I will tell you that I've come across reports that also say the Pakistani secret police, like the CIA, and Saudi Arabia were behind 9/11 along with the US insiders and again I've comes across reports that said Israel was part of it. The only thing that does make sense is there had to be US insiders and if not, then the US doesn't have a pray for the next one!

[blueblood]

No money for religious or private schools?

Why in the blue hell should I pay for schools that charge tuition and exclude people? That's garbage. If I'm paying high education taxes, I'm not having CBC having your cake and eat it to funding.

[jdobbin]

Why in the blue hell should I pay for schools that charge tuition and exclude people? That's garbage. If I'm paying high education taxes, I'm not having CBC having your cake and eat it to funding.

Why do you support the PCs then? They are the ones who think that private schools should get full funding.

[Mr.Canada]

Why in the blue hell should I pay for schools that charge tuition and exclude people? That's garbage. If I'm paying high education taxes, I'm not having CBC having your cake and eat it to funding.

We shouldn't fund them at all. However schools should be free to be created and fully funded by pupils and alumni, in other words, privately funded.

[blueblood]

Why do you support the PCs then? They are the ones who think that private schools should get full funding.

Because I'm not a hack. There are things I have to hold my nose for.

[M.Dancer]

Because I'm not a hack. There are things I have to hold my nose for.

Dobbin isn't being quite honest. What has been floated are ideas like getting a 100% tax credit for your childs tuition and transfering your own school taxes to a pribvate school if you choose to.

Some people you now, are just anti choice.

[jdobbin]

Jdobbin, I usually agree with you and I'm not saying you are 100% wrong but I will tell you that I've come across reports that also say the Pakistani secret police, like the CIA, and Saudi Arabia were behind 9/11 along with the US insiders and again I've comes across reports that said Israel was part of it.

I think it would have helped if bin Laden had been captured to find out more on the planning of September 11. Unfortunately, troops were unavailable for that as they were being deployed for Iraq.