Harper looking good; Martin looking frazzled

[Montgomery Burns]

1) Stephen Harper is on a roll. I watched his rallies in Markham and Oshawa. He looks confident and enthusiatic. He is using phrases like "this is our philosophy". Good. Be proud to state your philosophy. The CPC is not as conservative as the Reform Party or the Alliance, but they are more conservative than the Liberal-Lite Progressive Conservatives. There's lot of people out there who favor conservative values. Don't be afraid to toot your horn.

Harper also did well when he said that "there are millions of Canadians who are experts in childcare" and that it was insulting to claim that the state knew better than the parents when it came to childcare.

That's just a couple of instances, but there are more; Harper is saying all the right things. Say what you want, but Harper is the one who is offering choice for the public. His message is, "The Liberals won't trust you with $100/mth, but we do trust you." I hope that resonates with Canadians.

Latest survey: Conservatives 36.2%, Liberals 30.4%

2) Martin seems to be struggling lately. His Captain Canada act is wearing thin. His quip about the US getting a "global conscience" regarding Kyoto was embarrassing to Canada, and the crowds at his rallies don't seem overly enthused, especially compared to the Conservative rallies. He tries to portray himself as a patriotic Ronald Reagan, but yet his ships fly the flags of other countries and avoids paying high Canadian corporate tax rates. Reagan seemed sincere; Martin doesn't.

He again, tonight, said that Canada is great friends with the Palestinian Authority. Is that supposed to make us look good?

He's looked desperate the last week or two.

Hot off the presses: RCMP investigating referendum handout

3) Kudos to Jack Layton for defending his woman. He did it just right. You could tell he was ticked and emotional, but he didn't blow his cool. He got my sympathy and I would never vote for the NDP. And Olivia Chow is hardly a dog; she's attractive. Way to go Liberals. Insult the looks of a national leader's wife.

4) Anybody else sense that the MSM election coverage is changing? It's almost like even they are getting tired of the stink coming from the Liberal Party--and thinking maybe a Conservative minority wouldn't be so bad...

I've seen Martin questioned about flying the flags of different countries on his ships, the income trust scandal, and I even saw CBC's Peter Mansbridge go after Ralph Goodale (about the tradition of stepping down while a criminal investiagation is going on).

The MSM seems to be warming up to Harper and cooling off towards Martin.

[tml12]

1)  Stephen Harper is on a roll.  I watched his rallies in Markham and Oshawa.  He looks confident and enthusiatic.  He is using phrases like "this is our philosophy".  Good.  Be proud to state your philosophy.  The CPC is not as conservative as the Reform Party or the Alliance, but they are more conservative than the Liberal-Lite Progressive Conservatives.  There's lot of people out there who favor conservative values.  Don't be afraid to toot your horn. 

Harper also did well when he said that "there are millions of Canadians who are experts in childcare" and that it was insulting to claim that the state knew better than the parents when it came to childcare. 

That's just a couple of instances, but there are more; Harper is saying all the right things.  Say what you want, but Harper is the one who is offering choice for the public.  His message is, "The Liberals won't trust you with $100/mth, but we do trust you."  I hope that resonates with Canadians.

Latest survey:  Conservatives 36.2%, Liberals 30.4%

2)  Martin seems to be struggling lately.  His Captain Canada act is wearing thin.  His quip about the US getting a "global conscience" regarding Kyoto was embarrassing to Canada, and the crowds at his rallies don't seem overly enthused, especially compared to the Conservative rallies.    He tries to portray himself as a patriotic Ronald Reagan, but yet his ships fly the flags of other countries and avoids paying high Canadian corporate tax rates.  Reagan seemed sincere; Martin doesn't. 

He again, tonight, said that Canada is great friends with the Palestinian Authority.  Is that supposed to make us look good? 

He's looked desperate the last week or two.

Hot off the presses:  RCMP investigating referendum handout

3)  Kudos to Jack Layton for defending his woman.  He did it just right.  You could tell he was ticked and emotional, but he didn't blow his cool.  He got my sympathy and I would never vote for the NDP.  And Olivia Chow is hardly a dog; she's attractive.  Way to go Liberals.  Insult the looks of a national leader's wife.   

4)  Anybody else sense that the MSM election coverage is changing?  It's almost like even they are getting tired of the stink coming from the Liberal Party--and thinking maybe a Conservative minority wouldn't be so bad...

I've seen Martin questioned about flying the flags of different countries on his ships, the income trust scandal, and I even saw CBC's Peter Mansbridge go after Ralph Goodale (about the tradition of stepping down while a criminal investiagation is going on).

The MSM seems to be warming up to Harper and cooling off towards Martin.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Canadians are getting tired of Martin's and the Liberal's ridiculous slander...

I just wish the Conservatives would move 10+ points in the polls...

[shoop]

10+ points is far too much. It allows the Liberals to try and use their Harper is Satan strategy.

The CPC is still in solid minority government territory, which is good enough for now. Fear mongering won't work against a CPC minority as the public has warmed to that point with Harper. No need to start thinking majority though.

Canadians are getting tired of Martin's and the Liberal's ridiculous slander...

I just wish the Conservatives would move 10+ points in the polls...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[tml12]

10+ points is far too much. It allows the Liberals to try and use their Harper is Satan strategy.

The CPC is still in solid minority government territory, which is good enough for now. Fear mongering won't work against a CPC minority as the public has warmed to that point with Harper. No need to start thinking majority though.

Canadians are getting tired of Martin's and the Liberal's ridiculous slander...

I just wish the Conservatives would move 10+ points in the polls...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

SHOOP I was kidding...

But yes I agree with you...

[Montgomery Burns]

Shoop:

No need to start thinking majority though.

No one is talking majority, but why not think about it? Positive energy. The CPC is on a roll and if they continue and get 40%, they could get a majority govt.

I am partisan but if an election were held today, it would likely be a CPC minority govt.

There are possibly 4 scenarios for the election:

1) CPC minority

2) Lib minority

3) CPC majority

4) Lib majority

#4 looks unlikely at this time.

#2 and #3 could be a toss-up, but the CPC has the momentum now. No doubt about it.

[tml12]

Shoop:

No need to start thinking majority though.

No one is talking majority, but why not think about it? Positive energy. The CPC is on a roll and if they continue and get 40%, they could get a majority govt.

I am partisan but if an election were held today, it would likely be a CPC minority govt.

There are possibly 4 scenarios for the election:

1) CPC minority

2) Lib minority

3) CPC majority

4) Lib majority

#4 looks unlikely at this time.

#2 and #3 could be a toss-up, but the CPC has the momentum now. No doubt about it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And why not??? The Liberals are a party of hatred and hypocrisy...

[shoop]

Just thinking about 2004. Harper scared enough nervous nellies over to the Libs when he started talking about a majority.

Given that anything over five CPC seats in Quebec is really unrealistic, why send people to the Liberals when a majority is almost impossible...

I do not see how #4 could come about at this point. If Martin could manage to pull that off he would deserve a majority.

No one is talking majority, but why not think about it?  Positive energy.  The CPC is on a roll and if they continue and get 40%, they could get a majority govt.

I am partisan but if an election were held today, it would likely be a CPC minority govt. 

There are possibly 4 scenarios for the election:

1)  CPC minority

2)  Lib minority

3)  CPC majority

4)  Lib majority

#4 looks unlikely at this time. 

#2 and #3 could be a toss-up, but the CPC has the momentum now.  No doubt about it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Montgomery Burns]

Another thing I like about Harper is when he signs off from his speeches at the CPC rallies:

"God Bless Canada"

I'm not religious, yet his send-off sounds heartfelt and patriotic.

If someone said to me, "God Bless You", I would be impressed even though I am not religious. It's got more "oomph".

[tml12]

Another thing I like about Harper is when he signs off from his speeches at the CPC rallies:

"God Bless Canada"

I'm not religious, yet his send-off sounds heartfelt and patriotic.

If someone said to me, "God Bless You", I would be impressed even though I am not religious.  It's got more "oomph".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada. After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government. They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values. The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division.

I hope Harper continues on a roll and God Bless Canada...

[betsy]

Whoever shot this frame on film should be deep-fried by the NDP.

There was Layton surrounded by all sorts of women, doing his campaign speech. I think this was in Winnipeg...and I think the place and the women were somehow involved in healthcare or something along that. It is a women's group I think judging from what was written on a huge backdrop poster.

Now, the humorous part is this. This is what I, as a tv viewer, saw.

One side of the poster sez "Jack Layton"....and the other side sez "Hazardous to Women's Health."

[shoop]

No party can govern forever. Excessive arrogance is common. Look how arrogant the Liberals were in 1984. The Conservatives in 1993.

A loss can cause a realistic examining of why people are in politics and what they hope to achieve.

The Martin *brain trust* is so blinded by their ambition that they can't stop and think. Politics can be honourable. MPs should have friends on both sides of the aisle.

It is time for the Liberals to sit on the sidelines for a little while. For how long? Who knows.

Hopefully a CPC government will remember the people that elected them for a long, long time.

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada.  After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government.  They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values.  The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Wilber]

No party can govern forever. Excessive arrogance is common. Look how arrogant the Liberals were in 1984. The Conservatives in 1993.

A loss can cause a realistic examining of why people are in politics and what they hope to achieve.

The Martin *brain trust* is so blinded by their ambition that they can't stop and think. Politics can be honourable. MPs should have friends on both sides of the aisle.

It is time for the Liberals to sit on the sidelines for a little while. For how long? Who knows.

Hopefully a CPC government will remember the people that elected them for a long, long time.

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada.  After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government.  They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values.  The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well put Shoop

[scribblet]

No party can govern forever. Excessive arrogance is common. Look how arrogant the Liberals were in 1984. The Conservatives in 1993.

A loss can cause a realistic examining of why people are in politics and what they hope to achieve.

The Martin *brain trust* is so blinded by their ambition that they can't stop and think. Politics can be honourable. MPs should have friends on both sides of the aisle.

It is time for the Liberals to sit on the sidelines for a little while. For how long? Who knows.

Hopefully a CPC government will remember the people that elected them for a long, long time.

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada.  After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government.  They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values.  The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your right Shoop, it doesn't hurt to change a gov't which has been in power for so long, no matter which one it is. It is time for a change

[tml12]

No party can govern forever. Excessive arrogance is common. Look how arrogant the Liberals were in 1984. The Conservatives in 1993.

A loss can cause a realistic examining of why people are in politics and what they hope to achieve.

The Martin *brain trust* is so blinded by their ambition that they can't stop and think. Politics can be honourable. MPs should have friends on both sides of the aisle.

It is time for the Liberals to sit on the sidelines for a little while. For how long? Who knows.

Hopefully a CPC government will remember the people that elected them for a long, long time.

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada.  After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government.  They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values.  The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We can only hope so Shoop.

[BubberMiley]

Forums sure are boring when everyone agrees with one another.

[shoop]

I will have to keep my devastatingly insightful comments to myself.

Have the Liberal posters become discouraged and walked away? Who knows, but it seems like the smell of defeat isn't far off. That is for sure.

Forums sure are boring when everyone agrees with one another.

[tml12]

I will have to keep my devastatingly insightful comments to myself.

Have the Liberal posters become discouraged and walked away? Who knows, but it seems like the smell of defeat isn't far off. That is for sure.

Forums sure are boring when everyone agrees with one another.

Again Shoop, I hope so.

(Where are you the morning before I give a presentation at work or a final exam at school...you speak my mind... )

[BubberMiley]

They might be getting tired of repeatedly being called hating, corrupt, entitlement-presuming idiots who will never concede defeat (even after 12 years).

[tml12]

They might be getting tired of repeatedly being called hating, corrupt, entitlement-presuming idiots who will never concede defeat (even after 12 years).

They might get tired of the criticism but they certainly never get tired of the fact...

[Montgomery Burns]

Another thing I like about Harper is when he signs off from his speeches at the CPC rallies:

"God Bless Canada"

I'm not religious, yet his send-off sounds heartfelt and patriotic.

If someone said to me, "God Bless You", I would be impressed even though I am not religious.  It's got more "oomph".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it is the sincerity present in his speeches, something that is missing in Canada. After 12 years of lies and Liberal hypocrisy, Canadians are warming up to the possibility of a sincere and honest government. They see Harper as a man who has morals, integrity, and values. The Liberals cannot attack this, lest they acknowledge they are a party of hate and division.

I hope Harper continues on a roll and God Bless Canada...

I think you're right. I just saw Harper on CPAC at another rally in Ontario and it was raucous. Harper hit a home run and the energy was electric. I know it is only a rally, but I think you can "sense" the momentum/confidence by watching them. The recent Lib rallies haven't exactly been electric, to be polite.

And we know that these parties do their own internal polling....

You mentioned an honest govt....Harper has repeatedly said that the GST taxcut is for every single Canadian and it is an open tax (The old MST, or sometimes called FST, was a hidden tax that started at 9% and was at 13.5% when it was axed) and a taxcut that a govt cannot easily take away. That makes Harper look honest.

The CPC is the only party that will not cripple our economy by signing on to Kyoto and they will put gay marriage to a free vote. My...that's so American.

It is extremely difficult for any reasonable person to portray Stephen Harper as "angry", "scary", or having a "hidden agenda". CTV's Mike Duffy said that Harper should not be labeled a "neocon", but as a Southern Democrat (if you follow US politics you will know what Duffy means...Your Jack Laytons and Howard Deans don't go over too well in the Southern US).

Oh, and an update on the $4.8 million referendum handout story in the OP:Montreal Gazette: An investigation into Option Canada was earlier conducted by Quebec's chief electoral officer Francois Casgrain

The report also states that Option Canada may have been a "bogus firm," set up by its parent organization, the Council for Canadian Unity, to avoid problems with Revenue Quebec and Revenue Canada.

I'm not pronouncing them guilty on this situation, but I am sick and tired of these scandals. It seems there is a new one every week.

[BubberMiley]

how can anyone, with a straight face, say Harper is not a neoconservative, unless they don't have a clue what a newcon is? The Reform Party is the Canadian definition of a neoconservative party. It may not be a popular term now with the neocon GOP in power down south, and the CPC may not be running on a neocon platform because everybody agrees it isn't presently electable, but Harper was clearly, uncategorically, undeniably and reliably a neocon until, oh, around two years ago. I'll concede the CPC may have members among them who actually believe in some of the moderate platform they've been running on, but I don't think Harper has changed his perspective on life completely. He's obviously just doing his job, being a politician, and shutting up when he has nothing to win by talking.

[tml12]

how can anyone, with a straight face, say Harper is not a neoconservative, unless they don't have a clue what a newcon is? The Reform Party is the Canadian definition of a neoconservative party. It may not be a popular term now with the neocon GOP in power down south, and the CPC may not be running on a neocon platform because everybody agrees it isn't presently electable, but Harper was clearly, uncategorically, undeniably and reliably a neocon until, oh, around two years ago. I'll concede the CPC may have members among them who actually believe in some of the moderate platform they've been running on, but I don't think Harper has changed his perspective on life completely. He's obviously just doing his job, being a politician, and shutting up when he has nothing to win by talking.

Harper is a Conservative Canadian trying to save Canada.

And what party are you voting for BM???

[BubberMiley]

Are you denying he helped found a neoconservative party back in the 80s? You don't think anyone should be interested that he was president of the NCS, an organization founded on working towards eliminating public health care?

And I'll probably vote NDP (but I'm strategizing).

[tml12]

Are you denying he helped found a neoconservative party back in the 80s? You don't think anyone should be interested that he was president of the NCS, an organization founded on working towards eliminating public health care?

And I'll probably vote NDP (but I'm strategizing).

You know who eliminated public care? The Liberals in 1995.

The NDP is so far left they don't even acknowledge the presance of investors or Bay Street. The deficit under an NDP communist government would be so high we'd drown in it...

Stand up for Canada...vote Conservative...

[BubberMiley]

You're willing to call the NDP communist, which few members would admit to being, but are unwilling to acknowledge that Harper is a neocon, which even he has admitted and never denied being.