Harris-Mulroney Love Child Blinked

[maplesyrup]

Harper finds his feet, but too late

But last night, during the English language federal leaders debate, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper couldn't make eye contact.

When he averted his gaze Monday night during the French-language debate, he could be forgiven. After all, he wasn't operating in his first language, and it had to be tough debating policy matters when you're struggling through the subjunctive.

But there was no excuse for his shifty-eyed look last night.

Combined with his tight little smile, which often appeared at the most inappropriate times as if he was enjoying a private little joke with himself, and a reluctance to join the fray, at least in the first hour of the debate, the man who would be prime minister delivered a less-than-commanding performance.

What's more, too often he spoke only to deny what the others charged.

It made him look defensive.

I noticed that as well. It made him look shifty. I wonder how many others noticed it.

[Reverend Blair]

When Harper was making his cloisng statement, especially at the beginning of it, he sounded to me like a man getting ready to put his fist through a wall. I think he realised that didn't do well.

He wasn't pounded on as hard as Martin, but came off looking more defensive. Daycare hurt him, so his non-stand on gay rights and abortion.

[maplesyrup]

Rev Blair.......what about Harper's stand on Iraq.

Apparently he wrote a letter to the Wall Street Journal saying basically that Canada should be defying the United Nations, and complaining that Canada was not taking the law into its own hands by participating "shoulder to shoulder" with the United States.

Do you know anything about that?

[maplesyrup]

What is Harper's position on Kyoto?

He does not support Canada's position on Kyoto.

Great, just do nothing, and global warming will take care of itself.

[maplesyrup]

More bad news for Stephen Harper

Al Qaeda got no help from Iraq, says 9/11 panel

[Slavik44]

I think stephen harpers weakest position is Iraq. Gay marrige is a split, so he will not be affected by that, not to many people will belive the liberal scare tactics on aobrtion, except already decided voters. Sot eh position that will hurt Harper and a position that the other two should have jumped on is Iraq.

[maplesyrup]

If I were Harper I would call a press conference and say: "I was wrong on Iraq".

We are all human, there is nothing wrong with admitting one is incorrect. It actually might be refreshing for a politician to do so.

[Reverend Blair]

Rev Blair.......what about Harper's stand on Iraq.

You have to understand that I was sleepy this morning, Maple. He got whipped on Iraq too, by everyone present. His attempts to back away from it, not admit that he was wrong, even while he proposes massive military spending is going to hurt him.

My conservative brother sent me an e-mail today:

"Blair,

After watching those morons last night I'm voting for the Greens. They should be happy they didn't get into that mess.

You were right, Harper is scary. I have kids.

Quit sending me your communist propaganda."

The "communist propaganda" is actually NDP stuff, and he will continue to get it because he's my brother and I know I can make him use that tiny brain of his..

This is a man who still argues for the policies of Brian Mulroney though. He openly rejoiced when the Alliance took over the PCs. He thinks Bush is doing a decent job (except for Iraq). He's voted Conservative, Reform, or Alliance ever since he could.

That shows you how well the debates went for Harper.

[BQSupporter]

It sounds to me your brother was kidding with you. If he couldn't bring himself to vote for the NDP why would he vote for the Green? Doesn't really make much sense.

[willy]

This is a man who still argues for the policies of Brian Mulroney though. He openly rejoiced when the Alliance took over the PCs. He thinks Bush is doing a decent job (except for Iraq). He's voted Conservative, Reform, or Alliance ever since he could.

I am all these things and yet I thought Harper did well last night.

He has clear positions and you might not like them, but I do and many others are like me. Note it is the Conservatives are likely to form the next government and not the NDP.

What is your justification that the NDP has not caught on RB? Are our minds just not as good as yours (too small)? According to Jack last night we should put our blind support in him and his mind. Now I don't only find that arrogant but scary. When he thinks the provinces are wrong, well the Feds should fix it, when he thinks the cities are wrong the Feds will fix it, when he thinks you don't run your business right the Feds will fix it, if you are not green enough don't worry the Feds will fix you. This type of Jack knows best mind set is what is really scary.

Harper is a bright guy but he does not insult those who do not agree with him this way. Have a little faith in your fellow Canadians, and don't erode our freedom and democracy.

[Argus]

I think stephen harpers weakest position is Iraq.

And on the general list of things which are important to the everyday lives of Canadians that places, where? Not in the top 100, surely.

[noelandmero]

What is your justification that the NDP has not caught on RB? Are our minds just not as good as yours (too small)? According to Jack last night we should put our blind support in him and his mind. Now I don't only find that arrogant but scary. When he thinks the provinces are wrong, well the Feds should fix it, when he thinks the cities are wrong the Feds will fix it, when he thinks you don't run your business right the Feds will fix it, if you are not green enough don't worry the Feds will fix you. This type of Jack knows best mind set is what is really scary.

I agree entirely this kind of thinking is why I voted with my feet 8 years ago and moved to the US. As the current liberal, NDP, former conservative party and probably the new conservative party could not run a whore house and make money. Why would any one want them to try and get more involved in there lives?

Harper may not be perfect but his stand on all the issues was pretty clear last night, including same sex marriage which if you missed it was let canadians decide. He has also not screwed canadians yet either provincially or federally which all the other parties have. Maybe just maybe if given the chance he will be different than the rest of them. He certainly showed this could be the case.

[Reverend Blair]

It sounds to me your brother was kidding with you. If he couldn't bring himself to vote for the NDP why would he vote for the Green? Doesn't really make much sense.

He doesn't kid about things like that, BQ. What he's really saying is that he will not support Harper, always votes, so will vote for somebody who cannot win. His version of spoiling his ballot.

I am all these things and yet I thought Harper did well last night.

Sorry, I'll trust my brother's judgement on that. I know that he is extremely far right. I also know how bright he is and how he thinks. Not that you are or aren't bright, Willy...I have no way of knowing that...but I do know my brother.

Note it is the Conservatives are likely to form the next government and not the NDP.

Actually, given the history of minority governments, it is the Liberals that are likely to form the next government.

What is your justification that the NDP has not caught on RB? Are our minds just not as good as yours (too small)?

I'm sorry, perhaps I shouldn't make fun of my brother by referring to his brain as tiny. I was being facetious, just as he was when he called the NDP stuff I send him "communist propaganda."

Can you justify Stephen Harper's haircut, Willy? No, nobody can justify that.

You are misrepresenting what Layton and the NDp have said, by the way. Perhaps you should have a look at the NDP platform and the history of the NDP. A history they haven't actively worked to destroy and deny, by the way.

Noelandmero:

Since you "voted with your feet" eight years ago, I have trouble taking you seriously. You disliked Canada enough to move to another country and now are interjecting into a debate about the Canadian election with a view to making us more like the country you moved too? Hey, here's an idea...if you like the US system so much, stay there.

From the way your post is worded, it doesn;t sound like you've even been following things very closely. Why try to give us advice now?