Stephen Harper Makes a Great Ventriloquist’s Dummy

[Nocrap]

When I read Mr. Harper’s speech to our troops in Afghanistan, I immediately picked up

on the ‘cut and run’, since it was a favourite of George Bush when discussing his

occupation of Iraq.

Most recently, in a speech to marines (United States Naval Academy, Annapolis,

Maryland November 2005) he justified his reasons for not giving a timeline for withdrawal

from Iraq, stating that it “would send a signal to our enemies -- that if they wait long

enough, America will cut and run...”

However, after rereading the Bush missive, Mr. Harper may have plagiarized more than

that one simple line and may have been doing so for sometime.

Harper March 1, 2006 - “...important not just for global security but for Canada's role in

the world to stay the course” . Bush November, 2005: “Some critics continue to assert

that we have no plan in Iraq except to, "stay the course”

Harper: “Of course, standing up for core Canadian values” Bush: “The terrorists do not

merely object to American actions in Iraq and elsewhere -- they object to our deepest

values...”

Harper: “We don't make a commitment and then run away at the first sign of trouble. We

don't and we will not as long as I am leading this country”. Bush: “America will not run in

the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your Commander-in-Chief.”

Most of the points made by Mr. Harper to validate our new role as ‘Peacemakers’, were

the same as those outlined by Bush in his ‘Strategy for Victory in Iraq’, so just pick a

speech - any speech. Nothing new here.

Of course he doesn’t just quote his new best friend, but obviously hangs on the words of

all Republicans.

Harper: “Your work is also about demonstrating an international leadership role for our

country. Not carping from the sidelines” :, Pat Buchanan at the Republican Convention-

“...the carping critics who sat on the sidelines of history...Rumsfeld, “carping from the

sidelines does not prove your superiority” and “its conviction that it is right despite

unfortunate carping from the sidelines”

Harper “You can't lead from the bleachers”...this one has been done to death, just as

“served as an incubator for terrorist organizations”. However, I prefer the context used

by Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer "The military actions kindle the

frustration, hatred and despair and are the incubator for the terror to come" Of course

you’d never hear a Republican or Reformer using that line.

And then in closing...Harper: “Thank you very much. God bless Canada” Bush:

“...may God continue to bless the United States of America”.

Since the Reform Party of Canada (or whatever Harper is calling his party these days), has

never governed our country, how can he expect to lead us into war with rehashed

Republican rhetoric.

I guess he says it best at the press conference with the Afghan president. First: he claims

that unfortunately he doesn’t have a majority and Canada has a parliamentary

system.....We will not have a vote...we will have to first have a vote..... Hmmmm...Maybe

you’d better stick to the script Stevie, because when you try to ad-lib you just can’t pull it

off.

[margrace]

These two men are so scarry. They would willingly take away our rights. How can we justify putting people in jails and ignoring our own laws about the rights to justice. How can we rekindle the claim that women have no rights i.e. abortion. Everything that we have taken for granted can and will be taken away from us. Canada is paying a huge price right now in the lose of American freedoms, the right to easy access to Canada.

Don't you see what is happening? Wake up Canadians.

[cybercoma]

These two men are so scarry. They would willingly take away our rights. How can we justify putting people in jails and ignoring our own laws about the rights to justice. How can we rekindle the claim that women have no rights i.e. abortion. Everything that we have taken for granted can and will be taken away from us. Canada is paying a huge price right now in the lose of American freedoms, the right to easy access to Canada.

Don't you see what is happening? Wake up Canadians.

How much a year do you spend on tinfoil?

[Argus]

You know what's really scary? George likes toast... and so does Harper! Ahhhh! Ahjhhhh!

It's like they're twins!

[Argus]

These two men are so scarry. They would willingly take away our rights.

Oddly, they have not done so.

How can we justify putting people in jails and ignoring our own laws about the rights to justice. How can we rekindle the claim that women have no rights i.e. abortion. Everything that we have taken for granted can and will be taken away from us. Canada is paying a huge price right now in the lose of American freedoms, the right to easy access to Canada.

Perhaps you'd like to list for us the many kinds of freedoms the US and Canada have lost, and how.

[Nocrap]

These two men are so scarry. They would willingly take away our rights. How can we justify putting people in jails and ignoring our own laws about the rights to justice. How can we rekindle the claim that women have no rights i.e. abortion. Everything that we have taken for granted can and will be taken away from us. Canada is paying a huge price right now in the lose of American freedoms, the right to easy access to Canada.

Don't you see what is happening? Wake up Canadians.

How much a year do you spend on tinfoil?

I don't use tinfoil, but if you could send me a little garlic. LOL

[Nocrap]

These two men are so scarry. They would willingly take away our rights.

Oddly, they have not done so.

How can we justify putting people in jails and ignoring our own laws about the rights to justice. How can we rekindle the claim that women have no rights i.e. abortion. Everything that we have taken for granted can and will be taken away from us. Canada is paying a huge price right now in the lose of American freedoms, the right to easy access to Canada.

Perhaps you'd like to list for us the many kinds of freedoms the US and Canada have lost, and how.

The freedoms that the US lost are far too many to list here (see the Patriot Act) , but Canadians have lost the right to choose whether they wish to remain in Afghanistan on a Peacekeeping mission, or follow the US Offense Department lead. History has revealed the Vietnam war for what it was, and will do the same with Iraq. Canadians should have the right, through their MP's, to keep our name out of the War Crime Tribunals that will follow. Don't make be ashamed to be Canadian.

[Argus]

Perhaps you'd like to list for us the many kinds of freedoms the US and Canada have lost, and how.

The freedoms that the US lost are far too many to list here (see the Patriot Act) ,

How about just a few then?

but Canadians have lost the right to choose whether they wish to remain in Afghanistan on a Peacekeeping mission, or follow the US Offense Department lead.

The Chretien government chose to send troops to afghanistan, negotiated their role, and had a debate in parliament. Nothning has changed since then.

Try again.

[crazymf]

God bless Canada and America and thank God we're finally on the same political page. Maybe now our two countries can be more productive and cooperative and work towards common goals instead of trying to have the tail wag the dog.

It's about time.

Iraq is no Vietnam. Only time will tell what it is.

[scribblet]

Perhaps you'd like to list for us the many kinds of freedoms the US and Canada have lost, and how.

The freedoms that the US lost are far too many to list here (see the Patriot Act) ,

How about just a few then?

but Canadians have lost the right to choose whether they wish to remain in Afghanistan on a Peacekeeping mission, or follow the US Offense Department lead.

The Chretien government chose to send troops to afghanistan, negotiated their role, and had a debate in parliament. Nothning has changed since then.

Try again.

Right on, the only rights we have lost are those made up as they type.

BTW, how about sticking to thread titles that properly reflect the content, and not malicious smears.

[geoffrey]

The freedoms that the US lost are far too many to list here (see the Patriot Act) , but Canadians have lost the right to choose whether they wish to remain in Afghanistan on a Peacekeeping mission, or follow the US Offense Department lead. History has revealed the Vietnam war for what it was, and will do the same with Iraq. Canadians should have the right, through their MP's, to keep our name out of the War Crime Tribunals that will follow. Don't make be ashamed to be Canadian.

Agreed with the US. But I don't see how that affects us here??

We can leave Afghanistan if we wanted to. We also haven't followed any offense department? And we won't be.

[stignasty]

To the original post in the topic, the rhetoric used seems to be aimed at polarizing the debate. I don't think the choice of "cut and run" doesn't accurately describe the opinions of the majority of the prime minister's opponents. However, by using that and the "support the troops" strategy, the Conservatives are stealing a page out of the Bush administration's handbook. Unless someone can show me a quotation by an opposition member clearly stating that they want to "cut and run," I can't take it as anything but a political posturing.

Anyway, I was surprised to read that the public support of the Afghanistan mission has dropped.

One survey by Strategic Counsel indicated 62 per cent of respondents were against the deployment. Another poll by Ipsos-Reid, with questions framed differently, found 52 per cent support for the mission, but that was down from 66 per cent in 2002.

link

A Strategic Counsel report released this month (here on pdf) states that 55% of Canadians support the mission.

My personal opinion is that we should honour our committment there, but that we should open the floor to debate on what our future committment is. So I guess you could say that I agree with the prime minister there. On the other hand, I don't think that Canadians who question our role there are not supporting the troops.

[Shakeyhands]

I wonder about the God Bless Canada stuff too... unnecessary IMO

I just sent an email to the PMO and I wonder if I will get a response.

[scribblet]

I wonder about the God Bless Canada stuff too... unnecessary IMO

I just sent an email to the PMO and I wonder if I will get a response.

Why, it was harmless, except it gives the leftwingers more ammunition for their BDS.

[Argus]

I wonder about the God Bless Canada stuff too... unnecessary IMO

I just sent an email to the PMO and I wonder if I will get a response.

And who would be complaining about it if a Muslim or Hindu or Sikh politician said "God bless Canada?"

[geoffrey]

And who would be complaining about it if a Muslim or Hindu or Sikh politician said "God bless Canada?"

Me.

[GostHacked]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

[geoffrey]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

[JerrySeinfeld]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

My goodness. bout time some of these lefties woke up from the trance the Liberals have put them under.

[August1991]

When I read Mr. Harper’s speech to our troops in Afghanistan, I immediately picked up

on the ‘cut and run’, since it was a favourite of George Bush when discussing his

occupation of Iraq.

IME, most Leftists are usually bad at math but they appreciate elementary logic. For example, Leftists understand that "correlation does not imply causation", and they often repeat the idea.

Well, "Harper and Bush said the same thing" does not mean "Bush caused Harper to say this".

----

Nocrap, because women too often earn low salaries, would you say that women are worth less?

[GostHacked]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

That is about all I came up with through initial searches, I am still lookin, but I really doubt I will find anything important.

[Nocrap]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

That is about all I came up with through initial searches, I am still lookin, but I really doubt I will find anything important.

You can try Hill and Knowlton, though my post was not to imply that they are joined at the hip, only that Mr. Harper is more of a Republican than a parliamentarian, so adheres to Bush principles (or lack thereof). By his own admission he is a big fan of Ronald Reagan. He just has to do better if he hopes to convince Canadians that we should get behind him.

[scribblet]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

That is about all I came up with through initial searches, I am still lookin, but I really doubt I will find anything important.

You can try Hill and Knowlton, though my post was not to imply that they are joined at the hip, only that Mr. Harper is more of a Republican than a parliamentarian, so adheres to Bush principles (or lack thereof). By his own admission he is a big fan of Ronald Reagan. He just has to do better if he hopes to convince Canadians that we should get behind him.

Not sure what kind of a 'link' you are trying to come up with, do a few phone calls between the two of the constitutute a 'link' or are you trying to come up with some nefarious monetary connection. Oh I know, the

Bilderbergers, Harper is out to rule the world. Sorry, it is just plain silly. Harper is more of an American Democrat than Republican, there isn't real left wing party in the U.S. Harper is a policy wonk, and doing quite well as a parliamentarian, we'll see how much better he will do when Parliament opens.

[uOttawaMan]

Umm.. we all post on this forum.. and we all post our ideas about politics.. so I guess folks.. there is some magical link connecting us all, because we commonly use terms like "left-wing, right-wing, rights" etc...

So I guess this is all one big sham, constructed to form the illusion that we are in fact democratic and have differing views, when in reality, we are all on the same page...

Hey ... where'd that roll of tinfoil go.. i need some...

[Spike22]

I am wondering if there has ever been some link between Bush and Harper. I would HOPE to think there is not. And the tinfoil really just makes it easier to read your mind (if it was possible to read some of your minds in the first place)

Is there a link? Where would someone start?

Well there isn't a link. The best chance you'll find would be the fact that there are some American's teaching at the U of C where Harper went to school.

There isn't a real connection though.

That is about all I came up with through initial searches, I am still lookin, but I really doubt I will find anything important.

You can try Hill and Knowlton, though my post was not to imply that they are joined at the hip, only that Mr. Harper is more of a Republican than a parliamentarian, so adheres to Bush principles (or lack thereof). By his own admission he is a big fan of Ronald Reagan. He just has to do better if he hopes to convince Canadians that we should get behind him.

Exactly we have a leader now, one that takes a stand on something unlike the "limp noodle" liberal leaders we have had the displeasure of heading our government that try and please every group under the sun never wanting to affend anyone. Way to go Ronald I mean Stephen.