Majority Approve of Harper

[Kiraly]

Found this visiting an American blog...

...I'm sure the Canadian media will report this story soon.

Ipsos Reid

Majority Approval For Harper Government

Harper Conservative Government Approval (54%) Well Above Party’s Support in Recent Election (36%)

61% in Quebec, 57% in Saskatoba, 49% in Ontario, and 45% in B.C. approve.

[geoffrey]

Well done Stevie. Why did I ever doubt the Emerson move?

[betsy]

That's good news!

I stayed away from Mike Duffy today since Jane taber (who's filling in for Duffy) seems to want to insist on dragging the Emmerson case...even after some talk radio guys said that their listeners had already moved on.

[shoop]

I still doubt the Emerson move. But I think the Canadian public have shown their wisdom yet again.

Despite the best efforts of the NDP in BC and the CBC. The Emerson story has blown over and Canadians are giving their support to the Prime Minister.

[newbie]

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

[shoop]

Hmmm, pretty convenient how the percentage of BCers who disagree with Emerson's appointment pretty much exactly match the percentage of BCers who voted against the CPC in the last election.

So I guess you also shouldn't be too excited about *evidence* in this link you provided.

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

[newbie]

Hmmm, pretty convenient how the percentage of BCers who disagree with Emerson's appointment pretty much exactly match the percentage of BCers who voted against the CPC in the last election.

So I guess you also shouldn't be too excited about *evidence* in this link you provided.

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

I quoted from the same site as Kiraly. And that poll doesn't say anything specific about the % of people who disagreed with Harper re his appointments.

[sharkman]

At any rate, we'll be waiting a good long while before this shows up on the main stream media. Now if Harper and Layton were to go hunting, that would be covered with 1/2 hour updates!

[na85]

At any rate, we'll be waiting a good long while before this shows up on the main stream media. Now if Harper and Layton were to go hunting, that would be covered with 1/2 hour updates!

Yeah cause Harper would 'accidentally' snipe Layton in the head with his rifle.

[geoffrey]

At any rate, we'll be waiting a good long while before this shows up on the main stream media. Now if Harper and Layton were to go hunting, that would be covered with 1/2 hour updates!

I strongly doubt Layton has ever left downtown Toronto. He's probably never seen wildlife or trees!

[betsy]

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

Well, the media is applauding the the rest of Harper's appointments. Some are even pointing out that until the new rules on Ethics are in place...Harper had not broken anything by doing what the other parties had been normally doing.

And they couldn't get enough of Wilson's being the ambassador to the US! Especially when Washington pundits say Bush administration actually wants Harper to succeed in his endeavors....so they're counting on positive results on Softwood, and border crossings. That should alleviate some depressions over rising job loss rate.

[margrace]

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

Well, the media is applauding the the rest of Harper's appointments. Some are even pointing out that until the new rules on Ethics are in place...Harper had not broken anything by doing what the other parties had been normally doing.

And they couldn't get enough of Wilson's being the ambassador to the US! Especially when Washington pundits say Bush administration actually wants Harper to succeed in his endeavors....so they're counting on positive results on Softwood, and border crossings. That should alleviate some depressions over rising job loss rate.

It sure will when the Americans control all our lumber, get rid of the unions and relegate Canadians to minimum wage jobs or lower.

[shoop]

How will Americans control our lumber?

The U.S. has no desire to *get rid* of Canadian unions.

Don't even see it in the U.S.'s advantage to relegate all Canadian jobs to minimum wage. (Or lower )

Do you have any support for this rhetoric? Support, we don't need no stinking support...

It sure will when the Americans control all our lumber, get rid of the unions and relegate Canadians to minimum wage jobs or lower.

[Hicksey]

Considering all Harper has done is name his cabinet and have a couple of meetings with Charest and asked a bunch of his friends to get together for dinner at taxpayer expense to talk about abolishing the gun registry, what is there to approve of again?

Polls like these are just stupid. Why bother until he has at least convened parliament?

[shoop]

Hmmm, two cabinet ministers and the former critic for the gun registry sitting on a committe to plan how to abolish the waste of cash. You dismiss it as *getting together for dinner* at taxpayers expense? Any actual proof they are meeting for dinner? Never mind whether or not it is on taxpayer's expense.

asked a bunch of his friends to get together for dinner at taxpayer expense to talk about abolishing the gun registry, what is there to approve of again?

[Hicksey]

I admit, it is a use of stereotyping what people view committees to be. The point is, why do we need to form a committee to facilitate this unless they're considering not doing it at all. Just abolish it period. Now, I know it wouldn't be keeping in tradition not to form a committee to achieve it so they can justify paying themsevles extra for doing something they promised to do as a part of the job they are already getting paid for ...

I'm just so frustrated because people get so excited over nothing. Harper hasn't achieved one thing yet and conservatives are already patting him on the back. The reality is that if we don't hold him to account for his promises, nobody will. The other three parties of note don't want to see him succeed so they won't do it. In fact they're gearing up to undermine him wherever possible. Let's stand back and not applaud at him saying "Hi!" to Canadians and wait until it's appropriate to cheer.

I want for there to be reason to cheer as much as the next CPC supporter, but there hasn't been anything but steps made--no achievements yet. Hell, he hasn't even presided over a single day of parliament yet!

Maybe gaining power after being out of power so long has some of us just a little over-excited.

Hmmm, two cabinet ministers and the former critic for the gun registry sitting on a committe to plan how to abolish the waste of cash. You dismiss it as *getting together for dinner* at taxpayers expense? Any actual proof they are meeting for dinner? Never mind whether or not it is on taxpayer's expense.

asked a bunch of his friends to get together for dinner at taxpayer expense to talk about abolishing the gun registry, what is there to approve of again?

[Vancouver King]

There's a big difference between a party's support level and a govt's approval level. The latter number takes in members of all other parties willing to give a new govt additional time to prove itself and/ or rope to hang itself.

The one number that stands out is 61% approval in Quebec. Harper honoring Charest with the first premier's visit to 24 Sussex and his willingness to honor Liberal Martin's 5 year child care funding for Quebec should further enhance his stature.

Harper certainly knows where his majority can develop.

[Hicksey]

There's a big difference between a party's support level and a govt's approval level. The latter number takes in members of all other parties willing to give a new govt additional time to prove itself and/ or rope to hang itself.

The one number that stands out is 61% approval in Quebec. Harper honoring Charest with the first premier's visit to 24 Sussex and his willingness to honor Liberal Martin's 5 year child care funding for Quebec should further enhance his stature.

Harper certainly knows where his majority can develop.

Again, steps in the right direction, but no achievement. Why get all excited and start talking about majority when he hasn't done anything in this parliament yet?

This drives me nuts.

I'll stand beside you and give him credit when he actually achieves something.

[Michael Hardner]

Also - the incumbent gets a natural advantage over the opposition. He's the PM. He's Canada. He sets the agenda, etc.

I think a lot of people mistook the 'incumbent bump' for Liberal support over the last few years. Harper will recieve it next time around. People would rather stay the course than change governments. The opposition has to try a little harder to pull it off.

[shoop]

Maybe, being out of power for so long has some of us oversimplifying the way things get done.

What are the repercussions of *just abolishing* the Gun Registry? Could there be some unintended consequences from doing so?

There are a lot of reasons for forming a committee other than to consider not doing it at all.

btw, I don't think MPs get extra cash for sitting on committees...

I admit, it is a use of stereotyping what people view committees to be. The point is, why do weneed to form a committee to facilitate this unless they're considering not doing it at all. Just abolish it period.

Maybe gaining power after being out of power so long has some of us just a little over-excited.

[Montgomery Burns]

Well done Stevie. Why did I ever doubt the Emerson move?

Harper made a decision that he felt was right--even though it might be controversial with some of his base. One can't deny he has guts. And Harper is no dummy. He recently ran a near flawless 8 week campaign and he almost won in 2004--with a party that was only 4 months old.

Harper chose pragmatism over ideology. He threw an olive branch to Vancouver and left open the door for consideration of other "Blue Grits". No one has questioned Emerson's capabilities; he is unquestionably very qualified for his post. If he can solve the softwood lumber issue, which is likely, it will be a big political win for Harper.

I feel Harper is thinking long term--building for a majority win in the future. A combination of conservative former Canadian Alliance/Reformers, and centrist/centre-right/Blue Grits former PCs and Liberals (disappointed in the corruption, cronysim, social liberalism of the Liberal Party) has the best chance to win a majority.

The attempts by some to equate this with Belinda Stronach is grossly unfair. That was a non-confidence vote and Stronach was not qualified for her position. I predict the Emerson controversy will die down and eventually be a footnote. Certainly it is not uncommon for someone to cross the floor. Even Winston Churchill did it--twice.

[tml12]

Monty,

"I predict the Emerson controversy will die down and eventually be a footnote."

No doubt...agreed.

[shoop]

The comparisons with Stronach are pretty weak. Of course the Emerson thing will be a footnote. Although look for the Liberals to try and dredge up the issue once Parliament starts to sit.

The attempts by some to equate this with Belinda Stronach is grossly unfair. That was a non-confidence vote and Stronach was not qualified for her position. I predict the Emerson controversy will die down and eventually be a footnote. Certainly it is not uncommon for someone to cross the floor. Even Winston Churchill did it--twice.

[scribblet]

Don't get too excited. A good percentage of B.C.er's are still pissed about Emerson, and the poll doesn't seem to say anything about what the rest of Canada thinks about Harper's appointments.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2973

Well, the media is applauding the the rest of Harper's appointments. Some are even pointing out that until the new rules on Ethics are in place...Harper had not broken anything by doing what the other parties had been normally doing.

And they couldn't get enough of Wilson's being the ambassador to the US! Especially when Washington pundits say Bush administration actually wants Harper to succeed in his endeavors....so they're counting on positive results on Softwood, and border crossings. That should alleviate some depressions over rising job loss rate.

It sure will when the Americans control all our lumber, get rid of the unions and relegate Canadians to minimum wage jobs or lower.

Huh ! What planet are you on?

[shoop]

no worries scriblett. margrace appears to be a hit and run leftie loonie.

Wild assertions like that with no support are just plain sad. No wonder people tune out so many self-proclaimed socialists.

It sure will when the Americans control all our lumber, get rid of the unions and relegate Canadians to minimum wage jobs or lower.

Huh ! What planet are you on?