Stephen Harper - the Reluctant Politician

[Keepitsimple]

Interesting article in the Huffington Post - admittedly not one of my favourite sources - about Cynthia William's new e-book. Williams was Harper's fiancée for a year back in the 80's. In spite of being accused of being a power-hungry dictator - I've always looked at Harper as a reluctant leader - someone whose personal make-up is not that of a "traditional" leader. Here's an interesting quote that supports the supposition:

"One of the fascinating things that many people told me over and over and over, including her, is that if you look at his career, which is what I've done in this e-book, decade by decade, is that he does not have that thirst for being a politician that many politicians have and that many segments of his career, he almost just accidentally stepped into the profession," Kennedy said. "Many people described him to me as, 'the reluctant politician.' He had to be pulled into the job."

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/18/cynthia-williams-harper-fiancee_n_3949019.html

[PIK]

Most of us knew that simple, but then we all know how the liberals hates facts. But then one of these days harper is going to release the evil hidden agenda, anytime now.

[poochy]

Most of us knew that simple, but then we all know how the liberals hates facts. But then one of these days harper is going to release the evil hidden agenda, anytime now.

Already has, i mean just last week they told my wife to stay home and stationed troops on the street in front of my house to make sure she did.

[eyeball]

How long have you been making her wear a bag over her head?

[On Guard for Thee]

Most of us knew that simple, but then we all know how the liberals hates facts. But then one of these days harper is going to release the evil hidden agenda, anytime now.

He does keep trying, and the SC keeps reining him in.

[Keepitsimple]

He does keep trying, and the SC keeps reining him in.

There's another one of those quips from the Deep Thinker....any original thoughts on the topic?

[ToadBrother]

Interesting article in the Huffington Post - admittedly not one of my favourite sources - about Cynthia William's new e-book. Williams was Harper's fiancée for a year back in the 80's. In spite of being accused of being a power-hungry dictator - I've always looked at Harper as a reluctant leader - someone whose personal make-up is not that of a "traditional" leader. Here's an interesting quote that supports the supposition:

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/18/cynthia-williams-harper-fiancee_n_3949019.html

The story of Cincinnatus holds great attraction; that of the reluctant and selfless hero who reluctantly stands up to save his people.

[Topaz]

One of her sentences was "If he care about you, he will be there for you" I believe that and by the way he runs his government we see which Canadians he cares about is nothing new. The list of those Canadians he doesn't, the list is longer. BTW, the news reported tonight that the budget coming up next week, the Tories are making seniors one of their main interest. They know seniors vote more than any age group.

[On Guard for Thee]

There's another one of those quips from the Deep Thinker....any original thoughts on the topic?

Doesnt take a screed of paragraphs to sum up.

[Smallc]

One of her sentences was "If he care about you, he will be there for you" I believe that

And we as conservatives, as a general rule, believe that you should take care of yourself, and not be dependant on anyone.

[Big Guy]

There is one political individual who knew Harper and was considered his mentor before and after Harper became PM. That person was Tom Flanagan who wrote in depth about Harper in ""Persona Non Grata: The Death of Free Speech in the Internet Age".

I found that too to be a very revealing observation of Stephen Harper.

[On Guard for Thee]

And we as conservatives, as a general rule, believe that you should take care of yourself, and not be dependant on anyone.

Good. Then lets kill that income splitting.

[Smallc]

Good. Then lets kill that income splitting.

Letting people keep their money isn't making them dependent, though I'd certainly prefer broader based tax cuts.

[On Guard for Thee]

Letting people keep their money isn't making them dependent, though I'd certainly prefer broader based tax cuts.

This program certainly does nothing to help those who need it. Just another appeal to Harpers base.

[Smallc]

This program certainly does nothing to help those who need it. Just another appeal to Harpers base.

Families with children never need money. Especially not middle income families.

[On Guard for Thee]

Families with children never need money. Especially not middle income families.

Check the actual facts. It benefits about 15% of families who have to already have a good income to qualify. And, it is extremely expensive.

[Smallc]

Check the actual facts. It benefits about 15% of families who have to already have a good income to qualify. And, it is extremely expensive.

I know a couple of families that qualify for this (one of them has a member that works for me). It benefits solidly middle class families.

[On Guard for Thee]

I know a couple of families that qualify for this (one of them has a member that works for me). It benefits solidly middle class families.

15% of them...

[Smallc]

15% of them...

Middle class families with children, yes.

[On Guard for Thee]

Middle class families with children, yes.

You seem to be flailing around, ignoring the fact of the small amount of those families this will help, who are much less in need, at a great cost to the taxpayer. Money not well spent at all, unless all you care about are votes.

[Smallc]

You seem to be flailing around, ignoring the fact of the small amount of those families this will help, who are much less in need, at a great cost to the taxpayer. Money not well spent at all, unless all you care about are votes.

The report said that it would have the most benefit for 15% of families, not that it would only help 15% of families. The PBO misrepresented his own findings.

[On Guard for Thee]

The report said that it would have the most benefit for 15% of families, not that it would only help 15% of families. The PBO misrepresented his own findings.

Harper and his minions did their usual switcho chango thing by saying the program would benefit such a huge number of families but based only on the fact they would up the rate of the already existing UCCB rate by 60 bucks a month. They tried to conflate that with the fact only 15%, who are already in excess of 125K would benefit fro income splitting. Typical smoke and mirrors, but some like the taste of kool aid I guess.

[August1991]

There is one political individual who knew Harper and was considered his mentor before and after Harper became PM. That person was Tom Flanagan who wrote in depth about Harper in ""Persona Non Grata: The Death of Free Speech in the Internet Age".

I found that too to be a very revealing observation of Stephen Harper.

I too.

To me, Stephen Harper is a modern day Mackenzie King.

=====

I once thought that Harper would be a Diefenbaker fox tangling with a Dion caribou. Instead, we have a Harper beaver, like King, who swims at night, never stops, takes small bites and changes the forest.

Edited April 18, 2015 by August1991

[Smallc]

They tried to conflate that with the fact only 15%, who are already in excess of 125K would benefit fro income splitting.

Neither family that I know who benefitted from it makes anywhere near that. You have to make $125K in a very specific way to benefit the most. Far more than 15% benefit in some way.

[On Guard for Thee]

Neither family that I know who benefitted from it makes anywhere near that. You have to make $125K in a very specific way to benefit the most. Far more than 15% benefit in some way.

Yep. 60 bucks a month. And that is nice. The people who wont benefit dont make 125 k in any way, specific (whatever that means) or otherwise.