If It Clucks Like A Chicken…

[maplesyrup]

So, Stephen Harper has been crowned king of the conservative movement – like that was a surprise. There was little doubt as to the outcome, although, pleasantly Belinda Stronach at least made it a contest. Unlike the Liberal nomination, at least there is an outward appearance of democracy at work. Although Bay Street’s new poster boy was not going to be defeated, they have too much invested in him.

The bone of my contention with Mr. Harper comes in his post-crowning attitude. o­ne would think that Harper would come out gunning for Paul Martin and the Liberals. Could there be an easier target for Harper than the dog and pony show that passes itself off as a democratic party in the Liberal Party of Canada? Well it seems Harper has had enough of the Liberals and is going after Jack Layton and the New Democratic Party.

Fresh from his stunning win, Harper has come out clucking against Layton and the NDP. Why do I keep eluding to chickens? Simply this – Harper is trying to say that Layton and the NDP policies would be worse for Canada than Martin and his track record! Content to just throw muck, but not back it up, Harper is coming across as a blowhard.

We had a saying around our schoolyard – bad mouth all you like, but o­nce challenged either back up your assertions or be labeled a chicken. Harper is avoiding the loud calls coming from Jack Layton to meet him in a head to head debate so he may counter the muck being racked by Harper and his team of lemmings. As of today, Harper and his handlers are refusing to go head to head with Layton.

Now, why could that be?

Full Article

I think Harper is doing a lot of stumbling coming out the starting blocks. This has got to be probably his biggest blunder so far.

Instead of focusing on the Liberals, he goes after the NDP. All he has done by his attack is give the NDP more credibility.

[Dennis]

Yet more silliness from maplesyrup, who's more interested in name-calling and NDP campaigning than anything else on here.

[Moderate Centrist]

maplesyrup is right. Why is Harper focusing on the NDP instead of the liberals and if he is why won't he debate?

A similar mistake was made last year while everyone was waiting for Chretien to step down. Instead of attacking Paul Martin and ignoring Chretien they focused stictly on Chretien and Martin had a love affair with the country on his way to the PM's spot.

The job of the official opposition is to go after the governing party and not to waste energy on other opposition parties.

Instead of talking endlessly about how bad the liberals are why doesn't Harper spend some energy outlining his plans for the country and trying to ready himself seriously for the next election. I don't get the sense that he is.

[August1991]

1. Why no debate? Well, why should there be one now? I have no doubt there will be a debate with four leaders during the election campaign. There is no need for one now. (I suspect that Layton thinks all exposure is good exposure.)

2. Why is Harper going after Layton and not Martin? Is he? I didn't notice. In the House, Harper's questions seemd addressed to Martin and the Liberals. Harper's main criticsm of the NDP, it seems to me, is that a vote for the NDP is tantamount to a vote for the Liberals. I'm not so certain that's true - but I get the argument.

Why is the NDP always the little brother who wants to be taken seriously? If the NDP grew up, maybe it wouldn't always be an "also ran".