2010 is Going to be Harpers year!

[wulf42]

Obviously there really is no alternative Harper is very likely to get his Majority this year.....lets all keep the fingers crossed shall we!!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1160594.html

[BrassTax]

Obviously there really is no alternative Harper is very likely to get his Majority this year.....lets all keep the fingers crossed shall we!!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1160594.html

Good god no! were far better off with a minority. Until at least we get a real leader. Regardless of party, we need a change here badly.

[madmax]

Lots of praise for someone who just booked off for the 1st quarter of 2010.

[Moonbox]

Lots of praise for someone who just booked off for the 1st quarter of 2010.

Even I'm a little confused by why we need to prorogue. I'm pretty unimpressed. I'm going to ask my Board of Directors to prorogue my office...and still get paid. Surely there's no problem with that right?

It at least kind of made sense last time. This time it smells REALLY bad.

[punked]

Obviously there really is no alternative Harper is very likely to get his Majority this year.....lets all keep the fingers crossed shall we!!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1160594.html

Someone is sad there MP is NDP and always will be.

[ZenOps]

Skipping class once - slap on the hands.

Skipping class twice - send him to boarding school.

[William Ashley]

I can only hope Canadians arn't dumb enough to give someone a parliamentary majority in both houses allowing him to pass legislation without debate - it would allow right wing social policy to be in there.. no need for baiting the populace with tax favors and slush funds, and 4 years due to election law unless a bunch of MP's die and bielections change that. It means MacKay can extend the Afghan mission and a whole bunch of other things, like the sale of public trusts like crown corps, etc..

I'll have to shed a tear that election night should Canadians sell out the public.

"night of tears"

Edited January 4, 2010 by William Ashley

[wulf42]

Good god no! were far better off with a minority. Until at least we get a real leader. Regardless of party, we need a change here badly.

The problem with a Minority Government is that nothing is or will ever get done, the Government just flounders! No its time for Harper to make his move and finally take control and we will all be far better off!

Edited January 4, 2010 by wulf42

[wulf42]

Someone is sad there MP is NDP and always will be.

Maybe so but he is a small fish in a big ocean, Nova Scotia will hardly make a difference in an Federal election it is and always has been Quebec,Ontario and out west that decides..! Harper is closer to a majority now then he ever was.

[Smallc]

Yeah...that might just be enough of a reason for me to vote for another party. I like the Conservative minority government. I don't think most Canadians will like the majority version.

[punked]

Yeah...that might just be enough of a reason for me to vote for another party. I like the Conservative minority government. I don't think most Canadians will like the majority version.

I keep reading in between the lines and you are voting NDP NICE!!!

[daniel]

Obviously there really is no alternative Harper is very likely to get his Majority this year.....lets all keep the fingers crossed shall we!!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1160594.html

He's done everything he used to criticize.

[blueblood]

Yeah...that might just be enough of a reason for me to vote for another party. I like the Conservative minority government. I don't think most Canadians will like the majority version.

How would you know?

[Smallc]

I'm guessing....unless you think that the Conservative partly likes acting like a bunch of liberals, running deficits and spending money on all kinds of social programs...more than any other government in history. If they had a choice, it wouldn't be like it is now (this is not me buying into scary Harper either). Since more Canadians identify as liberal than conservative, I would imagine that they would dislike the change that would come.

[Bugs]

I'm guessing....unless you think that the Conservative partly likes acting like a bunch of liberals, running deficits and spending money on all kinds of social programs...more than any other government in history. If they had a choice, it wouldn't be like it is now (this is not me buying into scary Harper either). Since more Canadians identify as liberal than conservative, I would imagine that they would dislike the change that would come.

I know what you're talking about, I have many of the same feelings. I used to have a passing interest in politics, after the sports page, if you know what I mean. When I had my epiphany from the NDP, there weren't that many people who saw things the way I did. And, in truth, I was probably a sputter of frustration half the time, and not very coherent -- starting about 1980. Political correctness was coming in, and it was heavy. Bob Rae's government was on the horizon. I found that the NDP was no longer the champion of ordinary working people. It was becoming tartars of human rights and feminism, and all the other groups demanding more, and I had turned into a white male. The new class enemy.

Anyway, I was looking for a political saviour. When the Reform Party became visible in the big smoke, I got excited. My point is that, ever since 1990, at the latest, I've been anticipating a party gaining power that would free us from all this collective guilt that the abstract people want to lay on us. You could say I've been waiting for 20 years! And now close are we?

But the problem is ... what else are you going to do? I already vote NDP -- strategically. (I live in Dovercourt riding, in which the Conservative candidate doesn't stand a chance, and where the Liberal member -- Mario Silva -- is so unredeemingly slimy -- that I would gladly do my bit by helping the NDP guy unseat him. The same way you'd help a neighbour get rid of a skunk. (Actually, the NDP candidate wasn't bad, an intellectual environmentalist ...)

It isn't like there's a lot of choice.

[Oleg Bach]

When you can refere to hopefuls as unredeemingly slimy..then you are a realist - you had better run because it's just going to get slimmier as time goes on..we are in the era of high slim.

[msdogfood]

The problem with a Minority Government is that nothing is or will ever get done, the Government just flounders! No its time for Harper to make his move and finally take control and we will all be far better off!

I don't think so

all he wants is power he does not work for the people at all!!!!!

http://pcneedtogo.blogspot.com/

[BrassTax]

The problem with a Minority Government is that nothing is or will ever get done, the Government just flounders! No its time for Harper to make his move and finally take control and we will all be far better off!

I don't think it's ever time for Harper to make his move unless it's him leaving office. I'd rather have nothing happen then see power fall into Harp's hands. Hence my reasoning to wait until we get a real leader; that is if it's still possible in this day and age...

[BrassTax]

I don't think so

all he wants is power he does not work for the people at all!!!!!

http://pcneedtogo.blogspot.com/

Yup that's what i was thinking. His interest lies in those of his backers: those with money and lots of it. (not an uncommon occurrence)

[Topaz]

I think minority government can work it all depends on the personality and character of the PM and his attitude, is it about ME or what's best for the country? It's seeme its all about Harper, on the most part and I don't think it wuld be a good thing for Harper to have a majority and so far Canadians don't either.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

I don't think it's ever time for Harper to make his move unless it's him leaving office. I'd rather have nothing happen then see power fall into Harp's hands. Hence my reasoning to wait until we get a real leader; that is if it's still possible in this day and age...

Harper represents the reality of the unite the right scenario. He is no fool, but many of those that oppose him are. The obvious answer to Harper is a unite the left scenario.

For all of his huff and bluff, Harper is all about the realization of political power in Canada. He has done an about face on very nearly everything he has ever stood for in the quest for power. All of the things he says the opposition is doing wrong, he had already done in their position. He should be easy pickings for an astute bunch of politicians in the opposition ranks. Yet he has eluded them for a number of months and at least one set of opposition leaders. This proves that he has some political skills, enough to let him remain where he is.

To return to my point, a unite the left scenario is what represents a no lose situation for the opposition should they be wise enough to partake in the operation. The worst case scenario is that they lose the election and that Harper retains a minority position once again. That being the case Harper would come under internal fire. The best case scenario is that they win and in that case Harper would likely be fired by his own party. There is simply nothing to lose when uniting the left. Give the citizens a clear choice Harper or not. I think the answer to that question would be not. Yet the only way to do that is by running a campaign of a united left, running only against Conservatives and not each other. They should all keep those seats they already have, and contest only the Conservative seats. All the united left needs to do is put the number two candidate on the ticket against Harpers Conservative candidate in that riding and have all opposition guys in that riding get behind the guy that came in second to help them get in first and displace the Conservative. Done deal. When you add up all opposition votes they will usually out number the Conservative votes and that applies just about everywhere in the nation outside of Alberta.

[nicky10013]

Harper represents the reality of the unite the right scenario. He is no fool, but many of those that oppose him are. The obvious answer to Harper is a unite the left scenario.

For all of his huff and bluff, Harper is all about the realization of political power in Canada. He has done an about face on very nearly everything he has ever stood for in the quest for power. All of the things he says the opposition is doing wrong, he had already done in their position. He should be easy pickings for an astute bunch of politicians in the opposition ranks. Yet he has eluded them for a number of months and at least one set of opposition leaders. This proves that he has some political skills, enough to let him remain where he is.

To return to my point, a unite the left scenario is what represents a no lose situation for the opposition should they be wise enough to partake in the operation. The worst case scenario is that they lose the election and that Harper retains a minority position once again. That being the case Harper would come under internal fire. The best case scenario is that they win and in that case Harper would likely be fired by his own party. There is simply nothing to lose when uniting the left. Give the citizens a clear choice Harper or not. I think the answer to that question would be not. Yet the only way to do that is by running a campaign of a united left, running only against Conservatives and not each other. They should all keep those seats they already have, and contest only the Conservative seats. All the united left needs to do is put the number two candidate on the ticket against Harpers Conservative candidate in that riding and have all opposition guys in that riding get behind the guy that came in second to help them get in first and displace the Conservative. Done deal. When you add up all opposition votes they will usually out number the Conservative votes and that applies just about everywhere in the nation outside of Alberta.

I think there's too much animosity between the Liberals and the NDP. Most of the Liberal caucus looks upon the NDP as dirty socialists just like the Conservatives. It never made much sense to me but that's the way it is. On top of that the dippers look at Liberals like they're no different than Conservatives. I think a smaller and more simple step for the time being is a possible merger between the Greens and the Liberals. The Greens are fairly conservative economically as a lot of Liberals are and the Liberals have been looking to carve out a sustainable and leading Green policy which would obviously appeal to the Greens. The Greens poll between 7-10% and would boost the fortunes of the party just enough. Theoretically of course. Who knows if that 7-10% would carry over or break to another party.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

I think there's too much animosity between the Liberals and the NDP. Most of the Liberal caucus looks upon the NDP as dirty socialists just like the Conservatives. It never made much sense to me but that's the way it is. On top of that the dippers look at Liberals like they're no different than Conservatives. I think a smaller and more simple step for the time being is a possible merger between the Greens and the Liberals. The Greens are fairly conservative economically as a lot of Liberals are and the Liberals have been looking to carve out a sustainable and leading Green policy which would obviously appeal to the Greens. The Greens poll between 7-10% and would boost the fortunes of the party just enough. Theoretically of course. Who knows if that 7-10% would carry over or break to another party.

The Liberals need more than single digit support. They need everything that is not right of centre to win and dislodge Harper. Iggy knows that, and that is why he hasn't made a move because he has no desire to lose. Iggy has issues with a coalition, but he knows there is no other way. The thing will have to work itself out, but do not discount the idea of a coalition just yet. Iggy will either figure it out or become the second Liberal leader never to become Prime Minister.

[blueblood]

Harper represents the reality of the unite the right scenario. He is no fool, but many of those that oppose him are. The obvious answer to Harper is a unite the left scenario.

For all of his huff and bluff, Harper is all about the realization of political power in Canada. He has done an about face on very nearly everything he has ever stood for in the quest for power. All of the things he says the opposition is doing wrong, he had already done in their position. He should be easy pickings for an astute bunch of politicians in the opposition ranks. Yet he has eluded them for a number of months and at least one set of opposition leaders. This proves that he has some political skills, enough to let him remain where he is.

To return to my point, a unite the left scenario is what represents a no lose situation for the opposition should they be wise enough to partake in the operation. The worst case scenario is that they lose the election and that Harper retains a minority position once again. That being the case Harper would come under internal fire. The best case scenario is that they win and in that case Harper would likely be fired by his own party. There is simply nothing to lose when uniting the left. Give the citizens a clear choice Harper or not. I think the answer to that question would be not. Yet the only way to do that is by running a campaign of a united left, running only against Conservatives and not each other. They should all keep those seats they already have, and contest only the Conservative seats. All the united left needs to do is put the number two candidate on the ticket against Harpers Conservative candidate in that riding and have all opposition guys in that riding get behind the guy that came in second to help them get in first and displace the Conservative. Done deal. When you add up all opposition votes they will usually out number the Conservative votes and that applies just about everywhere in the nation outside of Alberta.

There are many centrist voters out there. I think a united left is what Harper wants. A llot vote Liberal not because they just don't like Stephen Harper (well that's a big part of it), they also don't like Jack Layton and what he offers.

A united left could send some people over to the tories, and have some people stay home. And for what, smaller gains than anticipated.

[wulf42]

It simply comes down to choices...and there is only one that Canadians

have and that is Harper,with Parliament prorogued until March the silly Afghan detainee nonsense will quietly go away and the economy is getting better day by day......Harper chances as a sitting Majority PM later this year have never been better!!