A return to sanity: 2007

[gerryhatrick]

Tory support sliding, poll shows

SUE BAILEY

Canadian Press

Ottawa — A new poll suggests Tory support is sliding over voter concern that Canada has become too cozy with the United States on Middle East policy.

The latest results by Decima Research, released to The Canadian Press, put the Conservatives and Liberals in a virtual tie nationally.

The Tories had 32 per cent support compared with 31 per cent for the Liberals and 16 per cent for the New Democrats.

But the Liberals widened their Ontario lead to 42 per cent of voter support compared with 33 per cent for the Conservatives, and have pulled in front of the Tories in Quebec for the first time since last winter's campaign.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home

This is good news for Canada.

It's good for the world also. Canada will return to being the voice of peace and reason. The environment - in need of particular attention at the moment - will also benifit.

[jbg]

Tory support sliding, poll shows

SUE BAILEY

Canadian Press

Ottawa — A new poll suggests Tory support is sliding over voter concern that Canada has become too cozy with the United States on Middle East policy.

The latest results by Decima Research, released to The Canadian Press, put the Conservatives and Liberals in a virtual tie nationally.

The Tories had 32 per cent support compared with 31 per cent for the Liberals and 16 per cent for the New Democrats.

But the Liberals widened their Ontario lead to 42 per cent of voter support compared with 33 per cent for the Conservatives, and have pulled in front of the Tories in Quebec for the first time since last winter's campaign.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home

This is good news for Canada.

It's good for the world also. Canada will return to being the voice of peace and reason. The environment - in need of particular attention at the moment - will also benifit.

Defeat of Hezbollah and Islamic warriors would be good news for Canada.

[gerryhatrick]

Defeat of Hezbollah and Islamic warriors would be good news for Canada.

What a bizarre comment.

[geoffrey]

My support of Harper has dropped too... but my support for the Liberals hasn't increased. I honestly don't know who I can vote for next election. Harper still has time to turn it around in my books.

[Bakunin]

My support of Harper has dropped too... but my support for the Liberals hasn't increased. I honestly don't know who I can vote for next election. Harper still has time to turn it around in my books.

i feel just like you do

[Guest Warwick Green]

Tory support sliding, poll shows

SUE BAILEY

Canadian Press

Ottawa — A new poll suggests Tory support is sliding over voter concern that Canada has become too cozy with the United States on Middle East policy.

The latest results by Decima Research, released to The Canadian Press, put the Conservatives and Liberals in a virtual tie nationally.

The Tories had 32 per cent support compared with 31 per cent for the Liberals and 16 per cent for the New Democrats.

But the Liberals widened their Ontario lead to 42 per cent of voter support compared with 33 per cent for the Conservatives, and have pulled in front of the Tories in Quebec for the first time since last winter's campaign.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/National/home

This is good news for Canada.

It's good for the world also. Canada will return to being the voice of peace and reason. The environment - in need of particular attention at the moment - will also benifit.

We are a long, long way from an election. Who knows - by next Spring the Tories could be 10 points ahead in the polls. And foreign policy won't be the campaign issue.

[gerryhatrick]

We are a long, long way from an election. Who knows - by next Spring the Tories could be 10 points ahead in the polls. And foreign policy won't be the campaign issue.

Things are looking pretty good though. Harpers domestic issues are far from being winners. If anything, that would drive him further down.

[Guest Warwick Green]

We are a long, long way from an election. Who knows - by next Spring the Tories could be 10 points ahead in the polls. And foreign policy won't be the campaign issue.

Things are looking pretty good though. Harpers domestic issues are far from being winners. If anything, that would drive him further down.

Anyone who is anti-Harper must get pretty depressed looking at the Eleven Dwarves. I don't see any of them capable of beating Harper.

I'm not sure I agree with you on domestic policy - child care allowance, cut in the GST, crime bill, denutting the gun registry. There is a fair degree of public support for these. Because the support for Harper is going down - at least right now - I can see the opposition yahoos voting down the softwood lumber deal. Harper would win if he is forced into an election on that.

[jdobbin]

Anyone who is anti-Harper must get pretty depressed looking at the Eleven Dwarves. I don't see any of them capable of beating Harper.

I'm not sure I agree with you on domestic policy - child care allowance, cut in the GST, crime bill, denutting the gun registry. There is a fair degree of public support for these. Because the support for Harper is going down - at least right now - I can see the opposition yahoos voting down the softwood lumber deal. Harper would win if he is forced into an election on that.

You probably forget the yawner that was the Conservative leadership campaign and then even bigger yawn that was the merger. People could barely identify Harper and McKay.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Anyone who is anti-Harper must get pretty depressed looking at the Eleven Dwarves. I don't see any of them capable of beating Harper.

I'm not sure I agree with you on domestic policy - child care allowance, cut in the GST, crime bill, denutting the gun registry. There is a fair degree of public support for these. Because the support for Harper is going down - at least right now - I can see the opposition yahoos voting down the softwood lumber deal. Harper would win if he is forced into an election on that.

You probably forget the yawner that was the Conservative leadership campaign and then even bigger yawn that was the merger. People could barely identify Harper and McKay.

But then the Conservatives haven't got a Sponsorship Scandal (that was in the news for months thanks to Gomery) to bring them down.

The only Lib who looks anywhere promising is Igantieff - he's not associated with the previous government and he is not soiled goods like Rae.

[cybercoma]

This is good news for Canada? This is terrible news for Canada. Supporting a leaderless party that unabashedly stole millions from the taxpayers shows just how stupid people are.

[Kiraly]

The only Lib who looks anywhere promising is Igantieff - he's not associated with the previous government and he is not soiled goods like Rae.

From what I've seen so far, I would have to agree...

...but then I'm a small "c" conservative so I'm not sure if liberals would want him to lead their party.

[jdobbin]

But then the Conservatives haven't got a Sponsorship Scandal (that was in the news for months thanks to Gomery) to bring them down.

The only Lib who looks anywhere promising is Igantieff - he's not associated with the previous government and he is not soiled goods like Rae.

The Conservatives have Afghahistan. It is going to have around their necks like a millstone.

Martha Hall Findlay is looking more and more credible. Perhaps not as leader now but as a strong member of the party. Kennedy might be a fine addition too and Dion has shown some strength. It is too early for Rae to be leader of a party that he has no history with. Having said that, he might be a strong front bencher in opposition or cabinet. Volpe has to redeem himself over time.

[jdobbin]

This is good news for Canada? This is terrible news for Canada. Supporting a leaderless party that unabashedly stole millions from the taxpayers shows just how stupid people are.

It might be preferable to some Canadians than a party committted to staying in Afghanistan long term when the situation might worsen substantially.

[margrace]

Anyone who is anti-Harper must get pretty depressed looking at the Eleven Dwarves. I don't see any of them capable of beating Harper.

I'm not sure I agree with you on domestic policy - child care allowance, cut in the GST, crime bill, denutting the gun registry. There is a fair degree of public support for these. Because the support for Harper is going down - at least right now - I can see the opposition yahoos voting down the softwood lumber deal. Harper would win if he is forced into an election on that.

You probably forget the yawner that was the Conservative leadership campaign and then even bigger yawn that was the merger. People could barely identify Harper and McKay.

But then the Conservatives haven't got a Sponsorship Scandal (that was in the news for months thanks to Gomery) to bring them down.

The only Lib who looks anywhere promising is Igantieff - he's not associated with the previous government and he is not soiled goods like Rae.

No there's Martha Findlay, hope women are following her campaign, the only one with any sense.

[margrace]

This is good news for Canada? This is terrible news for Canada. Supporting a leaderless party that unabashedly stole millions from the taxpayers shows just how stupid people are.

It might be preferable to some Canadians than a party committted to staying in Afghanistan long term when the situation might worsen substantially.

Yes how long will it take to send all our soldiers home in body bags?

[jdobbin]

Yes how long will it take to send all our soldiers home in body bags?

I think a lot of Canadians are worried that Afghanistan might have insurmoutable problems. The pourous border with Pakistan that shields al Qaeda and the international drug trade put Canada in the firing line.

The dug drealing Taliban can pay more to a fighter than the government can to a soldier.

[jdobbin]

No there's Martha Findlay, hope women are following her campaign, the only one with any sense.

I'd like to see how well she does in the convention. I think a woman leader of the Liberals might go over well, especially if she brings something new to the table.

[Guest Warwick Green]

No there's Martha Findlay, hope women are following her campaign, the only one with any sense.

I'd like to see how well she does in the convention. I think a woman leader of the Liberals might go over well, especially if she brings something new to the table.

Women leaders in Canada have not done well - think Kim and the two female NDP leaders.

[jdobbin]

Women leaders in Canada have not done well - think Kim and the two female NDP leaders.

Kim Campbell was already dealing with the Titantic. The captain and most of the crew had abandoned ship and she took it down to the bottom.

As far as 2 female NDP leaders, they both came from the least populated areas of the country.

I don't know that Findlay will win in the leadership. What she has done is win herself a place on the front bench.

[gerryhatrick]

This is good news for Canada? This is terrible news for Canada. Supporting a leaderless party that unabashedly stole millions from the taxpayers shows just how stupid people are.

From the Gomeray report:

Mr. Chrétien to be exonerated from blame for Mr. Corriveau’s misconduct.

snip

On the evidence there is no basis for attributing blame or responsibility

to any other Minister of the Chrétien Cabinet, since they, like all members

of Parliament, were not informed of the initiatives being authorized

by Mr. Pelletier and their funding from the Unity Reserve. Mr. Martin,

whose role as Finance Minister did not involve him in the supervision

of spending by the PMO or PWGSC, is entitled, like other Ministers

in the Quebec caucus, to be exonerated from any blame for carelessness

or misconduct.

Let's see you back up your comments. You can't.

And of course, as per the advice of Frank Luntz, the Conservative party is engaged in Liberal bashing over this issue for another year. Perhaps instead they should concentrate on governing and responding intelligently to circumstances.

Perhaps then they wouldn't be sinking like a rock in the polls.

[jbg]

The only Lib who looks anywhere promising is Igantieff - he's not associated with the previous government and he is not soiled goods like Rae.

From what I've seen so far, I would have to agree...

...but then I'm a small "c" conservative so I'm not sure if liberals would want him to lead their party.

Bill Clinton would be the best analogy. He was relatively popular and successful as a President, but destroyed his party in the process.

Put simply, he should have dragged the party to the same center he occupied. If Ignatieff wins and does not do that, the Liberals will be history.

[cybercoma]

This is good news for Canada? This is terrible news for Canada. Supporting a leaderless party that unabashedly stole millions from the taxpayers shows just how stupid people are.

It might be preferable to some Canadians than a party committted to staying in Afghanistan long term when the situation might worsen substantially.

I'm ashamed to share the same country with Canadians who originally supported going into Afghanistan to help stabilize the region, but would tuck tail and run when faced with adversity.

Soldiers die in war. Canadians need a serious reality check. Their purpose is to help establish the freedom and democracy we enjoy in an area that has never had those things which we take for granted.

Anyone who says, "f*** it! Let them (Afghanis) fend for themselves," is heartless.

[rover1]

Afghanistan has been the graveyard of many over the years who tried to help establish a more stable government for whatever reason. It is a considerably more complex situation than many suppose. On the balance of probabilities, the present effort will fail for one reason or another.

As far as the next general election is concerned, I note that the NDP came out at 16% in the poll. Its present silence on just about everything, seems unlikely to gain it any votes. It is surprising that Mr Layton has not really pointed out weaknesses in the present government's performance, if only to get himself some needed notice, if for no other reason.

[jdobbin]

I'm ashamed to share the same country with Canadians who originally supported going into Afghanistan to help stabilize the region, but would tuck tail and run when faced with adversity.

Soldiers die in war. Canadians need a serious reality check. Their purpose is to help establish the freedom and democracy we enjoy in an area that has never had those things which we take for granted.

Anyone who says, "f*** it! Let them (Afghanis) fend for themselves," is heartless.

I think that might have been the attiude in Vietnam as well. The U.S. eventually became part of of the problem.

Something similar might be happening in Iraq where the U.S. might be part of the problem in a country that it itching to fight a civil war. Today, the Generals told Congress that a civil war might be a few months away.

There was talk about a quick pull out if that is the case. Cut and run? No. Common sense.

Afghanistan's situation is growing worse. If Canada can't attack one of the largest sources of the insurgency in Pakistan, it might not be able to win this fight. And that's not heartless. That's a reality check.