Should Harper be replaced?

[Big Blue Machine]

I think he should. His lack of personality/unknownness is too big a liability for us. Hopefully we need a leader from Quebec or Ontario (I know Harper was born in Ontario but he's still a westerner). A leader from Quebec would also be good because then Quebeckers can relate to him/her more and understand him/her more.

[Melanie_]

I'm not a Conservative, but I think its too early to replace Harper; more change at the top would mean more perceived instability. What they really need to do is project confidence in their leadership and convince non-Cons that they are a viable alternative. This will be accomplished more by changing policies than leaders; and if the East can't accept a Western leader for a party, that is the sign of a bigger problem.

[mirror]

Why? both Martin and Harper are disapproved by more than 50% of the Canadian population. Harper took a new party and almost won the last election, winning 99 seats, quite a good showing when you think of it. So he has some growing pains, who doesn't. Layton had growing lessons as well. Remeber how it backfired on him when he accused Martin of being personally responsible for homeless deaths. Look at all the mistakes Martin has made around ethics and integrity - Shapiro and Sgro. Everybody makes mistakes.

I disagree with where a leader is from should have any bearing on a national party leader. He or she is supposed to represent all of Canada, not one portion of it. The Liberals have alternated between French and English leaders for some time now, and that strategy seems to work for them. At some point though some other representation is needed such as First Nation, Jewish, Muslim, etc. Because of our regional tensions it is good to have a deputy leader such as MacKay & MacLellan, although neither one of them is any shinning beacon of intelligence. Hang in there with Stephen he may surprise you in a positive way.

[Canuck E Stan]

Big Blue Machine,-to big of a liability for us? Who the hell is us? Canadians ,Those east of Manitoba,from Ontario,Maritimes? I sense that a lot of posters feel that anyone that does not come from where they are ,are not "us". Westerners are "us" and deserve to be included in "our" government . Why do people reguard westerners as outsiders. For God sake they're not from Alabama as some may think. Ninty-nine percent are true blue Canadians and want whats best for Canada.Open up a little.

[Big Blue Machine]

"Us" means us conservatives. I feel that we as conservatives could actually win an election, if we had a better leader at the helm.

[mirror]

Who would be a better leader than Harper?

[Canuck E Stan]

this is not Canadian Idol. We should try to vote for the party that has the best answers and policies to the problems we face. I would care less if the media thinks this is a grumpy white guy or a millionaire who who doesn't have to worry where the next buck comes from. Canadians have to stop listening to the stuff the media is feeding us and start looking for the solutions by doing some homework. The democratic deficeit in this country can be corrected if those who are concerned get after their parties to do something about the problem.We need change in this area so we actually have a democracy instead of a dictatorship with one man rule.

It's not the man it's the message.

[Renegade]

Absolutely, replace the man. As long as party policy is primarily dictated by its leader, we cannot ignore the direction the leader sets.

Harper is alienating his potential support in the population. When he pushes government intervention in social issues which should be best left to personal choices (eg his stance on same-sex marriage), he narrows his support base to those on the "religious right"

Harper would have stood a much better chance had he stuck to fiscal issues, and efficient running of government. Alas, it is too late for him to backtrack and for the Tories to have a chance, it will take a new leader to set the direction.

[Toro]

Harper will not become the Prime Minister. The Conservatives will have to find another leader. Bernard Lord is someone they should look at.

[crazymf]

I will have to defer my statement until I become up to speed on issues. Frankly I have ignored Canadian politics most of my life and have only recently taken an interest. I'll get back to you.

However, anybody is better than Paul Martin and I would like a chance to actually vote in the federal election before it's over for once...

[Argus]

I think he should. His lack of personality/unknownness is too big a liability for us. Hopefully we need a leader from Quebec or Ontario (I know Harper was born in Ontario but he's still a westerner). A leader from Quebec would also be good because then Quebeckers can relate to him/her more and understand him/her more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When did it become a law in this country that all leadership has to come from Quebec? :angry: Furthermore, it won't do a damned bit of good. Quebecers are quite happy with the combination of the BQ and Liberals (contrary to popular opinion even many non-seperatists are perfectly happy voting BQ). You can put in a Quebec leader and focus all the Tory efforts at appeasing Quebec and you might, if you're very lucky, get half a dozen seats in Quebec. Meanwhile you'll lose forty or fifty out west.

And frankly, I'm sick of Quebec leaders and I will not vote for a party which has a Quebec leader and which focuses all its efforts on Quebec.

[Big Blue Machine]

There are 75 Quebec seats and 106 Ontario seats compared to 94 seats in the West. There's more to be gained when we have a Ontario or Quebec leader.

[Canuck E Stan]

Interesting bit by Worthington on Canadian political Leaders.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/...16/1134860.html

[Argus]

There are 75 Quebec seats and 106 Ontario seats compared to 94 seats in the West. There's more to be gained when we have a Ontario or Quebec leader.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And more to be lost. Much more. If you turn your party into a mirror image of the Liberals and suck up to Quebec, as Mulroney did, then the West will abandon it, as they abandoned the PC party, and another new protest party will form out west.

There is little enough to discern the "conservative" party from the "liberal" party even as it is. The Tories have abandoned the old hot button issues of opposing bilingualism, immigration, and the vested interests of Quebec. They stopped harping on crime and punishment since the media succesfully portrayed them as barbarians after Art Hanger suggested caning might be a possibility in Canada.

So that leaves no real reason to support them except to punish the Liberals. And frankly, while Harper has no charisma and can't seem to reach ordinary Canadians I can't see how replacing him with a "dis dat, an da uder ting" guy will be any more attractive to Ontarions. I CAN see how it would be less attractive to a lot of people, though, in Ontario and the West.

[mirror]

July 14, 2005

Is this the real reason why you think Harper should be replaced?

First of all is his hat really on backwards?

I think politicians should do the things they are good at when they are in the glare of the public. Harper has a lot of strengths but this surely is not one of them. Will this pic be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back? They say a pic is worth a 1000 words!

[Fortunata]

Harper should absolutely be replaced. To many voters, putting an X next to a CPC candidate is a no go as long as he is leader. Leaders (PMs) have too much power to go electing a former ranting NCC radical.

BTW, Harper DID NOT just about win the last election. And he won't win the next one either unless the Liberals cut their own heads off, which they seem to be too politically savvy to do, UNLIKE the CPC.

Harper needs to go.

[THELIBERAL]

Oh god don't replace Harper he is one of the Liberals best chances for a majority.

Ya gotta keep Harper!

[shoop]

Harper deserves another shot.

Say what you will be he almost got 100 seats in the last election. An election that started with Liberals talking about beating the PC record of 211 seats in 1984.

I think Harper has been very quiet on a lot of issues this summer for good reason. Now is the time for him to take stock and build his image in the grassroots.

He is starting to appeal to Canadians as the leader of a reasonable alternative government. Dumping the leader and bringing in a new one would do nothing for the CPC before the next election.

[August1991]

Replace Harper? God save us all, sort of.

In Charlottetown, while other tourists with me bought that damned Harry Potter novel, and Dan Somebody's novel about the Mona Lisa, I saw the name of William Johnson, and the face of Stephen Harper. I thought, "If Europeans can waste money on such names as Harry and Dan", then I can give money to a good Canadian journalist about an intriguing Canadian subject.

Oh god don't replace Harper he is one of the Liberals best chances for a majority.

Ya gotta keep Harper!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Keep Harper?

On the boat from North Sydney, and then back from Argentia, I read Johnson's book about Harper. General opinion? ROC, English Canada, westerners, Toronto, Alberta, Ontarians, Maritimers - call it what you will - really, really needs someone to speak for it.

[Anecdote. Very young, in Canmore Alberta, I met Richard Gwyn and told him that he's the best anglo journalist after William Johnson. Gwyn shook my hand limply. His nose seemed red. Later on the same field, without removing his sunglasses, Trudeau kissed Canmore's French high school teacher and then signed my copy of Le Fédéralisme et les Canadiens français after checking the book's cover to ensure what he was signing.]

No, ROC is not boring. Older and wiser, I understand that William Johnson is a Federalist, capital F. If William Johnson prostitutes himself for Harper, Canada is in a very, very bad way.

Harper is no Trudeau. Reading Johnson's book, I realized that Harper is a Hall-Dennis Canadian, and Johnson and Harper are honest Canadians who want to do good.

[shoop]

On the boat from North Sydney, and then back from Argentia, I read Johnson's book about Harper. General opinion? ROC, English Canada, westerners, Toronto, Alberta, Ontarians, Maritimers - call it what you will - really, really needs someone to speak for it.

I realized that Harper is a Hall-Dennis Canadian, and Johnson and Harper are honest Canadians who want to do good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't really get the Hall-Dennis reference, but I agree that Harper is honest and does want to do good.

He just has to keep the course. If people will actually listen to him, then he will be fine. But it will be a slow process.

He has been demonized by the Liberals for their own political gain. Hopefully the NDs realize how badly they got jerked around by the Liberals in the 2004 election.

[Guest eureka]

Like "The Old Dope Peddler", Harper does want to do good. He wants to "do good by doing well."

That is to do well for himself and that class of Canadians that he wishes to belong to.

[canadian_conservative]

No one can replace Harper in my oppinion. Yes Conservative leaders will come and go as the years go by but Harper is Harper if you know what I mean! He is just very inteligent. I am a conservative backer a year a way from voting so I can't say I vote for him yet but I believe in all of his policies. He is trying to change his image around like if you have read the news he actually put a smile on his face when he was being interviewed by a telivision reporter. I think by the end of summer and the new session of parliment ahead you will not see somone replaceing him but a new Harper an improved and better one than he used to be.

[hiti]

Harper would not allow Johnson to interview him for the book. So why should anyone spend money on just another scribblers take on a wanna be PM?

But I agree.... keep Harper

[canadian_conservative]

Harper would not allow Johnson to interview him for the book. So why should anyone spend money on just another scribblers take on a wanna be PM?

But I agree.... keep Harper

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Because his chances of being primeminister are better than yours will ever be.

[shoop]

I think by the end of summer and the new session of parliment ahead you will not see somone replaceing him but a new Harper an improved and better one than he used to be.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think there is a GREAT potential for a new and improved Harper to emerge after Labour Day.

The issues are breaking the right way for him and he does appear to be making steps in the right direct.

Bad news for the Liberal hegemony.

Poor Paul Martin, all his superb work as Finance Minister over shadowed by his dithering as PM...