Is there any principle now that Harper hasn't betrayed?

[Barts]

With Harper's Senate appointments, I'm wondering if there is any principle left that he has professed that he's not now betrayed? I can't think of any. Fixed election dates? Lifting third party election spending limits? Greater role for committees? More freedom for Members of Parliament? Increased government transparency? Greater Access to Information? No deficits? Cutting government spending? Telling the truth? Keeping election promises. Etc.

As I pose this question, I'm aware that Harper's Kool Aid drinkers will whine, "The Liberals made him do it! The Liberals made him do it!", that it's all the Liberals fault, but that's to be expected.

So, I wonder, is there any principle you can name that Harper once championed that he hasn't betrayed?

[eyeball]

So, I wonder, is there any principle you can name that Harper once championed that he hasn't betrayed?

Didn't Harper suggest it was unreasonable for people to expect politicians to keep their promises? He sure seems to be sticking by that particular gun.

[Goat Boy©]

They delivered on all 5 of there big election promises in the previous election. The current one, parliament was only in session for a few weeks, I'll wait and see. I don't particularly like the guy, but I don't care about means, I care about ends.

If you believe that a Liberal PM would have avoided a deficit, well, mores the fool. I can scream and throw mud at Paul Martin if you want, but what's the point?

[Barts]

I can scream and throw mud at Paul Martin if you want, but what's the point?

Please do, if it makes you feel better. Harper, on the other hand, rode into Parliament on a Reform's White Horse of moral superiority. Turns out that, if anything, Harper is the moral inferior of most Members of Parliament and past Prime Minister's.

[madmax]

With Harper's Senate appointments, I'm wondering if there is any principle left that he has professed that he's not now betrayed? ...............

So, I wonder, is there any principle you can name that Harper once championed that he hasn't betrayed?

It only matters what hardcore Harper supporters think. The Reform Element have given up on Senate Reform, just like they caved in on those Gold Plated Pensions. Now the CPC are in Power, and can do something about those pensions, nothing will happen.

I don't believe that Harper has any principles, short of power. That doesn't put him in any different category then a Liberal. It just seems that the Right are happy with this version of Big Government, Big Spending, and Big Patronage.

Brian Mulroney should be proud. IF only they were on talking terms

[Barts]

They delivered on all 5 of there big election promises in the previous election.

Perhaps, Goat Boy, you could remind us what the "5...big election promises" were, and what Harper did about them.

[Oleg Bach]

Harper is a nice enough guy I'm sure. Just like the accumulation of great wealth and power come with the absense of principle - so does Harper - He represents big buisness and a few very private and powerful individuals...so what else is new - democracy? There has never been any real democracy any more than there has been real Christianity. Welcome to pagan land.....and don't forget to get some rum and nog - and forget all of them for the day...To wonder about our poiticals at this time of year is the waste of valuable real estate in the mind.

[ToadBrother]

Harper is a nice enough guy I'm sure. Just like the accumulation of great wealth and power come with the absense of principle - so does Harper - He represents big buisness and a few very private and powerful individuals...so what else is new - democracy? There has never been any real democracy any more than there has been real Christianity. Welcome to pagan land.....and don't forget to get some rum and nog - and forget all of them for the day...To wonder about our poiticals at this time of year is the waste of valuable real estate in the mind.

Yeah, that Harper, a real pagan he is

Man, you are one crazy bugger.

[Oleg Bach]

Yeah, that Harper, a real pagan he is

Man, you are one crazy bugger.

Harper is just a hockey player wanna be who fit the role and trained well. Just like Bush wanted some fun and needed to impress his dear old mum...all George really wanted to do was have fun - maybe snort coke and take a drink with the guys - then rip around the back forty in the pick up. I know one thing for certain when you have a close long study of the system...plus mix it with the unpleasant adventure of having dated a senators daughter in my youth...I saw a lot...there is one word to describe the powers that be - COLD....They are not like us - they think love is some sort of emotional mental illness...and has no part in buisness. Harper was put in because the banking guys in Toronto wanted the liberals out...they had become irritating and were costing them money...simple stuff my friend.

[Smallc]

I can honestly say that I will never again vote for the Conservative party as ling as Mr. Harper is at the helm.

[punked]

He promised he would consult with the public before making appointments to the supreme court. Wait he betrayed that today.

[Moonbox]

We're better off with Harper than the bozos the Liberals have lined up for us. I'm not a hard core Con. I voted Liberal provincially in 2007 and I voted for Martin in 2004. Liberal leadership today has nothing different to offer Canadians right now. Period. Go back to the 2008 election platform. Take a look at what the Libs are saying they want to do that the Cons aren't. There's really nothing but a lot of crying and whining.

[gordiecanuk]

Could it be that Harper realizes that the writing is on the wall? Of course he'll continue to have the support of the born-again evangelical crowd, but they don't have the same demographic strength here in Canada as compared to the US.

He couldn't form a majority with 4 parties on the left, and with his chief rivals saddled with an incredibly ineffective leader. Now the Liberals have Ignatieff (like him or not he'll sell A LOT better than Dion) and he's burned all his bridges in Quebec.

So why not pay off all his political debts while he's still in the PMO, before he gets turfed?

[Mr.Canada]

Could it be that Harper realizes that the writing is on the wall? Of course he'll continue to have the support of the born-again evangelical crowd, but they don't have the same demographic strength here in Canada as compared to the US.

He couldn't form a majority with 4 parties on the left, and with his chief rivals saddled with an incredibly ineffective leader. Now the Liberals have Ignatieff (like him or not he'll sell A LOT better than Dion) and he's burned all his bridges in Quebec.

So why not pay off all his political debts while he's still in the PMO, before he gets turfed?

I think you're dreaming. PM Harper gets the job done. The Liberals didn't get it done as Ignatieff says. Ignatieff hasn't done squat either besides hold cushy teaching seats. Let's see if Ignatieff will do anything in the next term of government.

The Senate had too many vacancies to be useful and Harper has made it useful again. I like a PM that takes action. Canada doesn't need another arrogant Liberal PM.

[punked]

I think you're dreaming. PM Harper gets the job done. The Liberals didn't get it done as Ignatieff says. Ignatieff hasn't done squat either besides hold cushy teaching seats. Let's see if Ignatieff will do anything in the next term of government.

The Senate had too many vacancies to be useful and Harper has made it useful again. I like a PM that takes action. Canada doesn't need another arrogant Liberal PM.

You are right it is so easy to teach at Harvard, and write articles for the New York times, infact you are doing both right? I am no cheerleader for Ignatieff but when you say things like that you look stuipd.

[Topaz]

I think you're dreaming. PM Harper gets the job done. The Liberals didn't get it done as Ignatieff says. Ignatieff hasn't done squat either besides hold cushy teaching seats. Let's see if Ignatieff will do anything in the next term of government.

The Senate had too many vacancies to be useful and Harper has made it useful again. I like a PM that takes action. Canada doesn't need another arrogant Liberal PM.

Why would you when you have a very arrogant smart-mouth Alliance(hiding as a Conservative)PM. BTW, Merry Xmas!

[Mr.Canada]

You are right it is so easy to teach at Harvard, and write articles for the New York times, infact you are doing both right? I am no cheerleader for Ignatieff but when you say things like that you look stuipd.

Questioning a mans credentials and political experience who wants to lead my country is making me look 'stupid'? That's your opinion guyser.

Why would you when you have a very arrogant smart-mouth Alliance(hiding as a Conservative)PM. BTW, Merry Xmas!

That's what I was waiting for, thanks Topaz.

Edited December 22, 2008 by Mr.Canada

[punked]

Questioning a mans credentials and political experience who wants to lead my country is making me look 'stupid'? That's your opinion guyser.

No saying something like "he has accomplished nothing accept teaching" makes you look stuipd. He has worked at 3 of BEST schools in the world in top position for those schools. He has also acted as a consultant and writer for many of the top and well known media in the world. I am talking the CTV either like Harper's Mike Duffy, I am talking New York times and the BBC. Dismissing this as if any bum on the street could something like that makes you look stuipd. How about you write the times and see if they publish your stuff. I bet they write you back saying "you look stuipd."

[Martin Chriton]

With Harper's Senate appointments, I'm wondering if there is any principle left that he has professed that he's not now betrayed?

I guess you lack common sense. If senators can't be elected, there is no point to leave the seats empty, senators cannot currently be elected. Once the legislation is in place, then future senators would follow the new procedure.

Similarly, those fighting for proportional representation don't stop running for office until it's changed, they work within the system to get things changed.

Harper's decision here was a pragmatic one.

[gordiecanuk]

I think you're dreaming. PM Harper gets the job done. The Liberals didn't get it done as Ignatieff says. Ignatieff hasn't done squat either besides hold cushy teaching seats. Let's see if Ignatieff will do anything in the next term of government.

The Senate had too many vacancies to be useful and Harper has made it useful again. I like a PM that takes action. Canada doesn't need another arrogant Liberal PM.

Mr Canada....like I said, he'll still have the support of fundamentalist Christians, thanks for proving my point.

[punked]

I guess you lack common sense. If senators can't be elected, there is no point to leave the seats empty, senators cannot currently be elected. Once the legislation is in place, then future senators would follow the new procedure.

Similarly, those fighting for proportional representation don't stop running for office until it's changed, they work within the system to get things changed.

Harper's decision here was a pragmatic one.

Harper promised he would never appoint a senator. And I quote.

“I will not name appointed people to the Senate. Anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.”

I am just going to through in a Bush quote that sank him.

"Read my lips no new taxes!"

[Martin Chriton]

Harper promised he would never appoint a senator. And I quote.

“I will not name appointed people to the Senate. Anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.”

Interesting. I might have said the same thing if I was in his shoes. Unfortunately, with a minority government you have to work with the other parties and don't get everything done that you want. It's hard to fault him for that.

[punked]

Interesting. I might have said the same thing if I was in his shoes. Unfortunately, with a minority government you have to work with the other parties and don't get everything done that you want. It's hard to fault him for that.

How about his promise for consultation before making Supreme court appointments which he broke today? Why is he doing this all so close to Christmas ask yourself

[Martin Chriton]

How about his promise for consultation before making Supreme court appointments which he broke today? Why is he doing this all so close to Christmas ask yourself

Reading http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home it looks like the Supreme Court recommended the appointment. It doesn't sound like it was a partisan decision.

Hopefully the process will be refined so such long process delays won't be present in the future.

Again pragmatic decision. I don't think anyone should expect a transition such as electing senators or supreme court appointments to be binary.

[punked]

Reading http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home it looks like the Supreme Court recommended the appointment. It doesn't sound like it was a partisan decision.

Hopefully the process will be refined so such long process delays won't be present in the future.

Again pragmatic decision. I don't think anyone should expect a transition such as electing senators or supreme court appointments to be binary.

They recommended he make an appointment before January, he knew they retiring was coming for close to a year. Yah right now we need someone in that seat I will agree to that. I will not agree however becuase Harper did not do the consultations over the time period he had we should let him off the hook. It is not like there was a sudden death or anything this was a planned retirement and Harper knew about it. Yes the appointment had to be made and maybe there was not enough time to do consultation from now until the court sits again but than again Harper knew about this for a long time and did nothing. This is like parliament, becuase Harper does nothing he hasn't done anything wrong? THAT ISN'T THE WAY IT WORKS!