August1991 Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) ... should he keep quiet, or say something. Of course, anything he says now will go through the usual political strainer/misinterpration - and play for/against any future possible play of someone else (Harper has no play now). Whatever. I suspect that like Martin (and unlike Chretien or Mulroney), Harper has little ego (by politician standards). OTOH, Paul Martin (like Clark) lacks the talent to write about Canada or even understand it - however much they travel hither and yon. Stephen Harper has a lot to say about our country. And I reckon that like Trudeau Snr, Harper has the canny sense to write something intelligent when necessary - but unlike Trudeau Snr, Harper is an honest player. Edited January 22, 2016 by August1991
ReeferMadness Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Hahahahahahahaha. Is Harper the smoking man from X-Files? You act like he's some super-intelligent chessmaster. Did you fall asleep and miss all the buffoonery in the election? Saving Canada from niqabs. A 1-800 number to report barbaric cultural practices. The rally with the Ford brothers. Oh, yeah - that Harper is a real genius. lolololol. You're almost as funny as Sarah Palin. Unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while preserving privilege, a fact that has not gone unnoticed among liberal economists. - Noam Chomsky It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. - Upton Sinclair
On Guard for Thee Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Hahahahahahahaha. Is Harper the smoking man from X-Files? You act like he's some super-intelligent chessmaster. Did you fall asleep and miss all the buffoonery in the election? Saving Canada from niqabs. A 1-800 number to report barbaric cultural practices. The rally with the Ford brothers. Oh, yeah - that Harper is a real genius. lolololol. You're almost as funny as Sarah Palin. Don't forget the F 35 boondoggle, the Duffster scandal, and oooh that crowning glory, Contempt of Parliament. There could be some writing to come out of the Harper "era", but others will probably be writing it. Comedy shows maybe.
CITIZEN_2015 Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Harper an honest player!!!!!! Ha ha ha. Thanks for the morning laugh. He ran the most corrupt scandalist government in the history of Canada and now he is honest!!!!!!.
PIK Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) Harper government scandals were nothing compared to chretiens.There was no scandals where harper was being accused of ever stealing anything. He was tough player ,but he was honest. I would say the same about trudeau, do not want him as PM,but I don't worry about his ethics. But I wonder did anyone ever hang up on harper like what did happen to trudeau? Edited January 22, 2016 by PIK Toronto, like a roach motel in the middle of a pretty living room.
Keepitsimple Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 ... should he keep quiet, or say something. Stephen Harper has a lot to say about our country. And I reckon that like Trudeau Snr, Harper has the canny sense to write something intelligent when necessary - but unlike Trudeau Snr, Harper is an honest player. I think history - and it's coming quickly - will be much kinder to Harper that our partisan Harper-haters on this forum. Back to Basics
PIK Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 So true simple, the hate is to thick for these people to see what harper had accomplished. Did he make mistake, of course, but he ran one of the cleanest government we have had in a long time. Toronto, like a roach motel in the middle of a pretty living room.
waldo Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Stephen Harper has a lot to say about our country. And I reckon that like Trudeau Snr, Harper has the canny sense to write something intelligent when necessary ya ya, after all, Harper is an accomplished author with that illustrious hockey book... the one with the "editorial consultant" who is adamant he wasn't a ghost-writer for the book!
waldo Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Did he make mistake, of course, but he ran one of the cleanest government we have had in a long time. the election is over... no need for more of the "he's not perfect" campaign ploy!
PIK Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Cite?? Toronto, like a roach motel in the middle of a pretty living room.
Topaz Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Who was more honest Harper or his party? Is it being honest when we hear Harper on tape saying that he told his people he didn't think Cadman would take a bribe for his vote, BUT they could try if they want. Yea, that's being honest. and the big one " I didn't know" statement about the cheque to Duffy and yet Wright said he had to check with the PM BEFORE writing the cheque.....OKAY its good to go!!! Harper is know as a control freak and therefore he knows everything going on in the PMO and Justin could be in the same situation if he doesn't keep taps in the PMO.
msj Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 How do these type of threads even stand? The OP is nothing more than unsubstantiated insulting opinion. There is absolutely no substance to it unless one happens to agree with the ad hominem BS. If a believer demands that I, as a non-believer, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a secular democracy. Flemming Rose (Dutch journalist) My biggest takeaway from economics is that the past wasn't as good as you remember, the present isn't as bad as you think, and the future will be better than you anticipate. Morgan Housel http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/14/things-im-pretty-sure-about.aspx
Argus Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Harper an honest player!!!!!! Ha ha ha. Thanks for the morning laugh. He ran the most corrupt scandalist government in the history of Canada and now he is honest!!!!!!. I gather your 'history of Canada' only goes back to 2006 and only covers federal governments? "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Big Guy Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 The question of the role of a previous leader of a democratic government comes up very often. Their reactions have varied from the Bill Clinton very active approach to the Paul Martin disappearing into international activity. I believe that a previous leader should stay completely out of politics for at least three terms that follow his leadership. If the individual had stepped down on his/her own then wait two terms but if defeated at the polls then stay out for three terms. I would hope that any previous PM would be available for private advice to any current PM requesting such. They do have valuable insight into events and international personalities and after all, both current and previous PM's share a common goal - do the best for Canada. I would hope that Harper follows my advice. Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
Guest Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Even my Conservative friends have trouble listing Harper accomplishments. He was certainly ruthless and controlling, but I doubt being an obsessive, vindictive, micromanager counts towards a legacy. “I think Harper… can be vindictive, certainly not always grateful for what people have done for him in the past… So you can say he’s ruthless, which is probably true… Maybe that’s a personal failing.” – Tom Flanagan He managed to stay in power, though I doubt he will be remembered for that. People may remember his string of election fraud scandals that helped in that respect, but I doubt it. In short, I think Harper was a very smart, very angry man who managed to deftly skirt laws, dominate progressive cons and placate social cons to create a stable power base where one didn't exist before. And with that power, he managed to achieve almost nothing. Harper was a forgettable leader, that few will mention or dwell on in the future.
ReeferMadness Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 How do these type of threads even stand? The OP is nothing more than unsubstantiated insulting opinion. There is absolutely no substance to it unless one happens to agree with the ad hominem BS. That's a good point. There's nothing to this thread other than a whiff of conspiracy theory about how Harper has been held down. He held himself down with his secrecy and paranoia. In that way, this thread is a parody of itself. Unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while preserving privilege, a fact that has not gone unnoticed among liberal economists. - Noam Chomsky It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. - Upton Sinclair
capricorn Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Harper was a forgettable leader, that few will mention or dwell on in the future.I didn't know you had the power to foresee future history books and accounts. Do your psychic abilities also include foretelling personal conversations between citizens? "We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers
Big Guy Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 I didn't know you had the power to foresee future history books and accounts. Do your psychic abilities also include foretelling personal conversations between citizens? I knew you were going to post that. Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
capricorn Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 I knew you were going to post that. Hey, it's at a point we can even read each others mind. "We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers
The_Squid Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Bribing a senator, muzzling scientists, cancelling the census and ignoring scientific advice are enough for history to look very badly upon the Harper legacy. It won't be a pretty story.
Smallc Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Not to mention, he left the economy in shambles after inheriting a booming economy with a larger government surplus (it's not his fault, but that doesn't matter).
Guest Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Bribing a senator, muzzling scientists, cancelling the census and ignoring scientific advice are enough for history to look very badly upon the Harper legacy. It won't be a pretty story. Those are some of the reasons he is our lowest ranked PM in 50 years, but I suspect most will forget about his pandering to big oil in time. Then, since he has no legacy of accomplishments Harper will be forgotten.
Wilber Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Not to mention, he left the economy in shambles after inheriting a booming economy with a larger government surplus (it's not his fault, but that doesn't matter). He got the 08 financial meltdown two years into his mandate and the slowing global economy at the end of it. We'll see how the new miracle man does with the current situation. "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
The_Squid Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 Those are some of the reasons he is our lowest ranked PM in 50 years, but I suspect most will forget about his pandering to big oil in time. Then, since he has no legacy of accomplishments Harper will be forgotten. I disagree... I think Harper will be used as an example of how not to run a government for a long, long time. His clashes with the SCC will be taught in schools to show how not to craft legislation. His deceit and control of the Senate has already led to changes to how the Senate operates, at least with the current government. He won't be forgotten... but the examples will all be what not to do...
Bob Macadoo Posted January 22, 2016 Report Posted January 22, 2016 I disagree... I think Harper will be used as an example of how not to run a government for a long, long time. His clashes with the SCC will be taught in schools to show how not to craft legislation. His deceit and control of the Senate has already led to changes to how the Senate operates, at least with the current government. He won't be forgotten... but the examples will all be what not to do... He'll be a question in Trivial Pursuit in 10 years. He may spark all which you say but the reason will be forgotten.
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