Support for a Coalition Goverment Now at 50%

[Oleg Bach]

He will do the same thing Canada is doing about the "huge disparity in the numbers" of Natives in prisons. Still, one should never have "written" a foreign head of state "in" to begin with, as it only telegraphs a domestic "leadership" inadequacy and neurosis.

Pretty fancy talk and very uppity dialogue for an almost white guy Cheneybush. How come you know so much about us? Neurotic and inadequate leadership is the Canadian way - the only people who run for public office in Canada are the same ones that peed their pants in public school and the same nerds that had such low self esteem in high school that they joined the drama club...It's those that have no leadership abilities what so ever that enter public life in Canada - the real men and woman have nothing to prove. Just like the movie stars that I have met..all of them are tiny little men who need the low camera angle to appear full grown - It's not the strongest and smartest that walk on to the public stage - but the weakest and the most mundane.

[bush_cheney2004]

So what's your country's excuse?

We don't know (or even care that we don't know) about someone else's pretend "Obama".

[madmax]

He will do the same thing Canada is doing about the "huge disparity in the numbers" of Natives in prisons.

Touche.... Brilliant reply.. 3 pointer at that

Edited January 24, 2009 by madmax

[Progressive Tory]

Pretty fancy talk and very uppity dialogue for an almost white guy Cheneybush. How come you know so much about us? Neurotic and inadequate leadership is the Canadian way - the only people who run for public office in Canada are the same ones that peed their pants in public school and the same nerds that had such low self esteem in high school that they joined the drama club...It's those that have no leadership abilities what so ever that enter public life in Canada - the real men and woman have nothing to prove. Just like the movie stars that I have met..all of them are tiny little men who need the low camera angle to appear full grown - It's not the strongest and smartest that walk on to the public stage - but the weakest and the most mundane.

Since when does getting a PHD at Harvard, being captain of a varsity soccer team and political commentator for BBC, make you weak and mundane? This is either stereotyping based on Stockwell Day, or clearly the musings of someone who has not read any resumes of sitting politicians, from all parties. Read Iggy's. If that's weak and mundane, we need more weaklings like him.

[Progressive Tory]

I didn't raise Obama because I cared what Americans think of him. I raised Obama because the Left in Canada seems to be almost universally infatuated with him. He's practically a God to them. Yet they despise, loathe and fear Harper for some reason, even though, for the most part, his political and ideological beliefs are either the same as Obamas or to the left of Obama. I'm pointing out, because I like to do so, the hypocrisy, and ignorance of much of the Left.

You can't be serious. Harper is to Obama what the coyote was to the roadrunner.

Obama's strength is in bringing people together. No red states, no blue states, only United States. He is able to cross party lines and reach out to all Americans. He speaks with intellect, not rhetoric, and while he warns of tough times ahead, gives hope.

On the other hand, Harper is by far the most partisan PM we've ever had. He never stops campaigning. 2/3 of Canadians simply don't like him and never will. He does not inspire hope, only hopelessness; and by design.

[normanchateau]

I didn't raise Obama because I cared what Americans think of him. I raised Obama because the Left in Canada seems to be almost universally infatuated with him. He's practically a God to them. Yet they despise, loathe and fear Harper for some reason, even though, for the most part, his political and ideological beliefs are either the same as Obamas or to the left of Obama. I'm pointing out, because I like to do so, the hypocrisy, and ignorance of much of the Left.

Hypocrisy and ignorance are not the unique domain of the Left. Some would argue that hypocrisy and ignorance exist among the Right, the Left, Centrists, Atheists, Agnostics, Religious People, and along the many other dimensions which differentiate and divide the human population.

Do you think it is helpful to divide Canadians politically into two groups, the Left and the Right, as opposed to acknowledging that many if not most Canadians are centrists and view themselves as neither exclusively Left nor Right?

If one does accept the notion that all Canadians can be pigeon-holed as members of the Left or Right, where's the dividing point and who determines it? In theory, a Christian Heritage Party supporter might argue that all Canadians to the left of CHP are "the Left", a Liberal supporter might view all Canadians who support the Greens, NDP or Bloc as "the Left", and paradoxically, a CPC supporter might view more than 60% of Canadians as members of "the Left".

Is a fiscal conservative a member of "the Left" if that individual rejects social conservatism? Are Brian Mulroney and Michael Ignatieff members of "the Left"?

[Progressive Tory]

Hypocrisy and ignorance are not the unique domain of the Left. Some would argue that hypocrisy and ignorance exist among the Right, the Left, Centrists, Atheists, Agnostics, Religious People, and along the many other dimensions which differentiate and divide the human population.

Do you think it is helpful to divide Canadians politically into two groups, the Left and the Right, as opposed to acknowledging that many if not most Canadians are centrists and view themselves as neither exclusively Left nor Right?

If one does accept the notion that all Canadians can be pigeon-holed as members of the Left or Right, where's the dividing point and who determines it? In theory, a Christian Heritage Party supporter might argue that all Canadians to the left of CHP are "the Left", a Liberal supporter might view all Canadians who support the Greens, NDP or Bloc as "the Left", and paradoxically, a CPC supporter might view more than 60% of Canadians as members of "the Left".

Is a fiscal conservative a member of "the Left" if that individual rejects social conservatism? Are Brian Mulroney and Michael Ignatieff members of "the Left"?

Well said. I lived through the 'Cold War' days, and to be honest don't remember so much 'left' and 'right' propaganda, that I hear now. I laugh out loud when someone calls me a 'leftie' or a 'secular socialist'; and not because I claim to support socialism, but simply because I'm no longer voting Conservative.

On the other hand, I hear terms like 'Right-wing nutjob' to define the Conservatives, simply because they have a large Evangelical wing. There are a few who definitely earn the title, but most don't wear their religion on their sleeve.

When Jim Prentice decided that he would support same-sex marriage, he spoke to his pastor, explaining why and got permission to speak to the congregation, to discuss his actions. That took a lot of courage.

As I've said before, I may not agree with all of them, but respect that their constituents voted for them not in spite of their views, but because of them. They too deserve a voice.

[trooper]

As I stated before I support a minimal government to avoid such corruption. The only difference between me and you is that I don't buy into this cult that a politician will make all my dreams come true.

It's funny the so-called conservatives are gung-ho about limited government. Yet, the likes of Bush or Harper increase spending, increase the size of government and mess up, all of you support them.

Why?

You have the glee on your face when they do that and say "See!" as if to say that the leftist tendencies in them has failed but somehow they still represent the conservative point of you.

As BM would say "Conservative governments f***up and say see, we told you government does not work!"

[madmax]

The Irony of this thread is...

Yes Canadians Support for the coalition is over 50%.

However, in the same article.....

Canadians support for an election is higher then the support for the coalition.

In other words, Canadians are accepting the coalition, just don't let it happen

[normanchateau]

Well said. I lived through the 'Cold War' days, and to be honest don't remember so much 'left' and 'right' propaganda, that I hear now.

When Jim Prentice decided that he would support same-sex marriage, he spoke to his pastor, explaining why and got permission to speak to the congregation, to discuss his actions. That took a lot of courage.

I sometimes think that those who refer to everyone to the left of them, even people like Ignatieff who has criticized Chretien for his cuts to military spending and supported the US invasion of Iraq, as "the Left", are the same people who once fretted about the "Communist menace", seriously believed that the Soviet Union would invade North America and viewed Joe McCarthy as an American hero.

Someone like Jim Prentice, if he were bilingual, could hand CPC a majority. Unfortunately for CPC, by the time they figure this out, Harper will have one last kick at the can and Ignatieff will become Prime Minister.

[eyeball]

I sometimes think that those who refer to everyone to the left of them, even people like Ignatieff who has criticized Chretien for his cuts to military spending and supported the US invasion of Iraq, as "the Left", are the same people who once fretted about the "Communist menace", seriously believed that the Soviet Union would invade North America and viewed Joe McCarthy as an American hero.

Yep, and these are also the same sort of people who would nail Jesus up to another cross if he ever came back and started feeling sorry for hookers and junkies and attacking the monied classes in their churches.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yep, and these are also the same sort of people who would nail Jesus up to another cross if he ever came back and started feeling sorry for hookers and junkies and attacking the monied classes in their churches.

Yeah...especially if this Jesus was an American.

[Progressive Tory]

I sometimes think that those who refer to everyone to the left of them, even people like Ignatieff who has criticized Chretien for his cuts to military spending and supported the US invasion of Iraq, as "the Left", are the same people who once fretted about the "Communist menace", seriously believed that the Soviet Union would invade North America and viewed Joe McCarthy as an American hero.

Someone like Jim Prentice, if he were bilingual, could hand CPC a majority. Unfortunately for CPC, by the time they figure this out, Harper will have one last kick at the can and Ignatieff will become Prime Minister.

You're right. I've always liked Jim Prentice. Used to like Lawrence Cannon until he got involved in forging receipts and will wear the shame of the in and out scandal. Whether they want to believe it or not, I think Stephen Harper will either resign, or be asked to resign as leader of the Party. They deserve better.

However, as a Canadian, I don't look at who would be the biggest threat to Michael Ignatieff, but the best to represent Canadians either as PM or leader of the Opposition. To be honest, Harper was very good as leader of the Opposition. That's his forte. He just can't lead a country that includes people who don't vote Conservative.

The trouble is the disparity within the Party. The socons say they will never allow a non-socon to lead. The Red Tories don't want another Stockwell Day. It's a puzzle. Why couldn't Jim learn French? He's a smart guy.

[normanchateau]

Yep, and these are also the same sort of people who would nail Jesus up to another cross if he ever came back and started feeling sorry for hookers and junkies and attacking the monied classes in their churches.

Eyeball, we don't do that these days. It's sufficient now just to label Jesus or whoever in some negative way publicly, and try to create an association in the minds of the gullible public between that label and the person, either through advertising or word-of-mouth.

e.g., Communist, secular socialist, bacon eater.

[eyeball]

I'll give up socialism and even atheism before I give up bacon. That's were I draw the line.

[normanchateau]

I'll give up socialism and even atheism before I give up bacon. That's were I draw the line.

Yeah, I've often wondered how successful Jesus would have been in attracting followers if he didn't have bacon as a lure for those who had been denied it for thousands of years.

I think it's one of the first things budding Messiahs must learn when they go to Messiah School.