Canada Conservative forever? Hahahahaha!

[jacee]

A new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argues that our countrys population has undergone a seismic shift toward the political right,a situation that will make Stephen Harper and his heirs perpetually dominating. The Big Shift ...

Canadian conservatives are giddy with the notion that Canada is moving in their direction. A new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argues that our countrys population has undergone a seismic shift toward the political right,a situation that will make Stephen Harper and his heirs perpetually dominating. The Big Shift inoculates itself against critique by asserting that anyone who doesnt recognize this new national order is part of an out-of-touch clique they call The Laurentian Elites.

At the risk of seeming to fall into this category, Id say that its actually the books authors who are missing the larger trend.

Canadian conservatives have a lot in common with their American counterparts: They seem to think that if they make twice as much noise they must be twice as numerous. Youd think they might be chastened by the hubris of U.S. strategist Karl Rove,who launched a plan 10 years ago to create a permanent Republican majority, and is now shunned by the party he ran into the ditch.

Bricker is a pollster,so heres a number he may find compelling: Only last week,an EKOS poll found that just 37% of Canadians feel the country has been moving right. Not coincidentally,that is precisely the same percentage of Canadians who would vote for the Conservative party. That leaves 63% of the electorate favouring the centre and left. You can make the boughs of a tree creak in a new direction with a mighty wind,but the roots are not so easily moved.

But ... are we sheeple enough to let it happen?

But wait! The neo-Liberal hero to the rescue!

Theres a reason an under-qualified,mop-haired Liberal boy-king from Montreal is a threat to Harpers Conservatives: Nostalgia for Pierre Trudeaus left-wing utopianism is still a powerful force.

Groan ..

Edited February 27, 2013 by jacee

[Newfoundlander]

We could only be so lucky.

[Boges]

When a Canadian Liberal compares a Canadian Conservative to the Tea Party Right of the US they lose some serious credibility in my eyes.

It's the same type of fear-mongering Conservatives in the US partake in when they label President Obama a Socialist.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Boges

[roy baty]

When a Canadian Liberal compares a Canadian Conservative to the Tea Party Right of the US they lose some serious credibility in my eyes.

It's the same type of fear-mongering Conservatives in the US partake in when they label President Obama a Socialist.

lol..While I agree with your first statement, I have to say that if you don't think Obama is trying to Socialize the US you have been asleep @ the US politico wheel. He may not be a Socialist as per se, but he sure does behave like one.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

When a Canadian Liberal compares a Canadian Conservative to the Tea Party Right of the US they lose some serious credibility in my eyes.

It's the same type of fear-mongering Conservatives in the US partake in when they label President Obama a Socialist.

There's plenty of tea party supporters like Tim Hudak kicking around, and you support him... sooo.....

[segnosaur]

A new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argues that our countrys population has undergone a seismic shift toward the political right,a situation that will make Stephen Harper and his heirs perpetually dominating. The Big Shift ...

Canadian conservatives are giddy with the notion that Canada is moving in their direction.

Why exactly is this worth posting about? The book wasn't written by leaders in the conservative party. There was nothing in the article that suggests Harper and company actually believe that there's a "right wing shift".

[segnosaur]

lol..While I agree with your first statement, I have to say that if you don't think Obama is trying to Socialize the US you have been asleep @ the US politico wheel. He may not be a Socialist as per se, but he sure does behave like one.

I wouldn't necessarily label him a "socialist". (Of course, technically it does depend on your definition of the word. In historical terms "socialist" implies people that want complete government economic control, although the term is often tossed around to imply someone who favors more government spending/social programs.)

Yes, he did bring in "Obamacare", but the plan still involves a lot of private insurance providers.

Yes, spending is high, but then Bush also brought in certain spending measures for stimulus.

Yes, he does want to increase taxes on the "wealthy", but I do think its a far cry between that and complete government economic control.

[shortlived]

=--

Edited February 28, 2013 by shortlived

[shortlived]

Yeah I read this too. I didn't laugh.

I'm really concerned about the intelligence of Canadians.

Its like having a son who is a chronic that you have hopes for to become a lawyer or doctor, you have that urge to move them on to cocaine or percocets so atleast they can be in the zone. (or atleast create a drive to earn high income)

And the last three elections being ones involving electoral fraud.

Edited February 28, 2013 by shortlived

[Bryan]

We could only be so lucky.

No doubt. It's the best government this country has had in almost half a century. They've taken trenemdous strides to undo the damage that Liberals have done over the past several decades. Canada is now one of the best places in the world on a whole whole host of markers (health, happiness, affluence). We've got some of the lowest taxes in the world, and one of the best business environments. Interest rates are low, real estate is strong, unemployment is low. We're not following the enviro-sheep like the rest of the planet, instead doing what's right for us. I've never been more proud to be a Canadian.

That said, the notion of "perpetual domination" is silly. Even the largest of majorities have fallen away, and what was once the 'natural ruling party' has fallen further and further away with each election. If there's one thing you can always count on in politics it's change. While I firmly believe that the CPC will easily win at least one more majority, that's mostly based on what I see in the opposition. They have nothing of substance to offer that could change the present situation. But that's NOW. Anything can happen. A merger, a split, a new party, a new face that steals the hearts of Canadians, (all things that have happened before). Plus, you never know what Quebec is going to do. They've been king makers before for both the left and the right, and their allegiances can and do turn on a dime.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Why exactly is this worth posting about? The book wasn't written by leaders in the conservative party. There was nothing in the article that suggests Harper and company actually believe that there's a "right wing shift".

Do you not recall the claims that Canada is becoming more conservative - says conservatives.

[Michael Hardner]

He may not be a Socialist as per se, but he sure does behave like one.

You're proving Boges point.

It's not the 1930s, so we can update our terms, so that the political dialogue reflects that.

[Michael Hardner]

There's plenty of tea party supporters like Tim Hudak kicking around, and you support him... sooo.....

I'm not going to pretend that I'm familiar with Mr. Hudak's policies but I highly doubt that he's in line with the Tea Party.

[BubberMiley]

I'm not going to pretend that I'm familiar with Mr. Hudak's policies but I highly doubt that he's in line with the Tea Party.

Do you base this doubt on a hunch or a feeling?

[Michael Hardner]

Do you base this doubt on a hunch or a feeling?

More of a funch. Going through my mental filing cabinet - gun rights, religion in school, support for public healthcare. Not close to the Tea Party.

[jacee]

More of a funch. Going through my mental filing cabinet - gun rights, religion in school, support for public healthcare. Not close to the Tea Party.

Ernie Eves thought so:

Crap, how do I post a video!??

Edited February 28, 2013 by jacee

[Boges]

There's plenty of tea party supporters like Tim Hudak kicking around, and you support him... sooo.....

Define Tea Party Supporters?

Throwing out terms like Tea Partiers in Canada is akin to someone calling an NDPer a communist. It's just a dismissive label that does nothing to foster debate.

Sure Hudak is a Conservative and wants less government and wants to weaken public service unions, I'd image that's a sentiment across this province, why else would the Ontario Liberals go that way? The PCs just want them to go further.

No where in Hudak's policies will you find radical gun control views, a sentiment to completely eliminate public healthcare, a proliferation of religion in schools, wanting to debate abortions. Those are all things the Tea Party seem militant about.

Regarding taxes, Ontario's taxes are quite high already (They've gone up significantly Mguinty rule) so a view that we should see no new taxes aren't comparable to the Tea Party's refusal to discuss tax hikes at all, because taxes are at historic lows in the US.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Boges

[PIK]

Calling consevatives in canada teapartier's is nothing but fearmongering.

[Boges]

Calling consevatives in canada teapartier's is nothing but fearmongering.

It's like the Hidden Agenda BS that the Liberals went on about in 2006.

[jacee]

Calling consevatives in canada teapartier's is nothing but fearmongering.

Just curious ... What is it about Teapartiers that Canadian Conservatives don't like to be associated with?

[Topaz]

Perhaps Harper's hidden agenda is what he has/will do. He's gotten Canada more involved in wars, he's cutting social programs too deep, he giving away too much corp.taxes, he refuses to respect some of Parliament rules, or he's making too many changes within the government and most Canadians are uncomfortable with them.

[Boges]

Just curious ... What is it about Teapartiers that Canadian Conservatives don't like to be associated with?

It's the most extreme form of Conservatism. Ultimately it's a grassroots organization (which is laudable) but what it's proving to do in the US is forcing moderate republicans to the right and making any efforts at bi-partisan compromise almost impossible. Republicans fear being challenged in a Primary more than actually facing an election. And you have Tea Party candidates losing very winnable seats in the Senate because of their extreme views.

Obama isn't all that bad but because of the Tea-Party they can't even agree with Obama if he claims water is wet.

We don't see that here in Canada. Harper was able to govern with a minority for 5 years. Hudak's Conservatives worked with the Liberals with Bill 115 even though they didn't think it went far enough.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Boges

[Keepitsimple]

Canada accepts almost 300,000 immigrants and refugees every year and it's just a fact that the vast majority come from countries that have more in common with Conservatives. They've been in power for 7 years and counting so the "New Canadian" vote just keeps going up. The Liberals used to have a stranglehold on immigrants but they just took their vote and ignored them - and now they've lost them. So - immigration is a big part of any "shift".

[jacee]

Canada accepts almost 300,000 immigrants and refugees every year and it's just a fact that the vast majority come from countries that have more in common with Conservatives.

?? Can you explain or give examples?

Are you suggesting the Conservatives are ... um ... engineering or 'encouraging' it that way?

Edited February 28, 2013 by jacee

[Fletch 27]

Perhaps Harper's hidden agenda is what he has/will do. He's gotten Canada more involved in wars, he's cutting social programs too deep, he giving away too much corp.taxes, he refuses to respect some of Parliament rules, or he's making too many changes within the government and most Canadians are uncomfortable with them.

Well then hes not very good at hiding anything! This is exactly what he RAN HIS ELECTION ON! And Canadians wanted that.. and still do..