The polls now say the majority of Canadians support the mission and th

[watching&waiting]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this, but that is the problem will polls. They change like the weather. Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view. I do not like to use polls but I will this time just to show that it is not something you can bet your house on. Polls are very unreliable and change with the winds.

At least this time the polls look to be more in keeping with what I had thought, but maybe they will change again. But for now they are encouraging. As expected the smallest support was in Quebec, but the Atlantic Provinces were over 60% support and 66% in Alberta, 56 in BC and 59% Ont.

Now maybe people will realise that polls are something not to govern by or even run a leadership race with.

[betsy]

Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view.

I'd like to think that the most recent proofs (happening in Europe involving the Pope and Germany) that the western world is fighting for the right to preserve their own way of life and democracy had waken up more folks to the reality.

[M.Dancer]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this, but that is the problem will polls. They change like the weather. Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view. I do not like to use polls but I will this time just to show that it is not something you can bet your house on. Polls are very unreliable and change with the winds.

At least this time the polls look to be more in keeping with what I had thought, but maybe they will change again. But for now they are encouraging. As expected the smallest support was in Quebec, but the Atlantic Provinces were over 60% support and 66% in Alberta, 56 in BC and 59% Ont.

Now maybe people will realise that polls are something not to govern by or even run a leadership race with.

link?

[M.Dancer]

Nevermind....found it

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...a6-e70002a38817

[Ricki Bobbi]

Gerry's silence on the issue is symbolic of his ignorance and obstinance.

When he finds *any* information that goes against goverment policy he hammers it over and over and over again.

However, too obstinate to admit mistakes...

[Figleaf]

[q

Edited July 22, 2007 by Figleaf

[August1991]

I'll stick this in here:

Les militaires de Valcartier aimeraient compter sur l'appui des Québécois à un mois de leur départ en Afghanistan pour la mission «la plus dangereuse» de leur carrière.

«On a tous très hâte de quitter. C'est certain qu'on a besoin du support des Québécois et des Canadiens, qu'on représente d'est en ouest. On veut qu'ils soient derrière nous. C'est très important, pour nous et pour réconforter nos proches qu'on laissera derrière», ont fait valoir, hier, le major Richard Collin, le sergent Éric Arsenault et le caporal Vincent Hallée, en entrevue téléphonique.

Journal de Quebec

Soldiers from Valcartier will go to Afghanistan in November. This will become controversial in Quebec and while there will be noisy, anti-war criticsm, there will also be a quiet pride. The family names and accents will hit home. It is a long time since we have seen our soldiers involved in such a way.

[M.Dancer]

I'll stick this in here:

Les militaires de Valcartier aimeraient compter sur l'appui des Québécois à un mois de leur départ en Afghanistan pour la mission «la plus dangereuse» de leur carrière.

«On a tous très hâte de quitter. C'est certain qu'on a besoin du support des Québécois et des Canadiens, qu'on représente d'est en ouest. On veut qu'ils soient derrière nous. C'est très important, pour nous et pour réconforter nos proches qu'on laissera derrière», ont fait valoir, hier, le major Richard Collin, le sergent Éric Arsenault et le caporal Vincent Hallée, en entrevue téléphonique.

Journal de Quebec

Soldiers from Valcartier will go to Afghanistan in November. This will become controversial in Quebec and while there will be noisy, anti-war criticsm, there will also be a quiet pride. The family names and accents will hit home. It is a long time since we have seen our soldiers involved in such a way.

I've known soldiers from the 12e Régiment blindé ( Which humorously are an armoured reconnaissance reg't....."we need to see...send in the Blinde?!?!) ....and they were tough bastards....while their accent was French, and their homes were in Quebec...they were tough Canadien Bastards.......

http://www.12rbc.ca/

[Borg]

Another poll will be taken and the question changed slightly and the result will be different.

As per normal

Borg

[Higgly]

Isn't the Citizen a Can-West paper? What we really need is a polling process untarnished by advocacy. Seems every one of our pollsters is associated with either a newspaper or a political party. And no, we do not have a neutral press. Press neutrality has become a thing of the past in our country; quite honestly, I question whether it has ever existed.

We need something completely agnostic. Until we have it, polls are only marketing as far as I'm concerned.

[M.Dancer]

Isn't the Citizen a Can-West paper? What we really need is a polling process untarnished by advocacy. Seems every one of our pollsters is associated with either a newspaper or a political party. And no, we do not have a neutral press. Press neutrality has become a thing of the past in our country; quite honestly, I question whether it has ever existed.

We need something completely agnostic. Until we have it, polls are only marketing as far as I'm concerned.

Who would pay for the poll? You think they do it as an hobby? DO you think the client tells the pollster the result they want?

No...the question determines the answer......

[M.Dancer]

And no, we do not have a neutral press. Press neutrality has become a thing of the past in our country; quite honestly, I question whether it has ever existed.

No such thing as a neutral press...except for the news page. A neutral press is like a steak ithout flavour. Might nourish you but it won't satisfy you. Could you imagine an editorial page or a columnist without an opinion?

[Higgly]

No...the question determines the answer......

Well that's my point. As for who would pay for it, well, that's my question too.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Why concern yourselves with polls? The only relevant issue is how the elected representatives conduct themselves in Parliment. The only votes that are counted are those of the MP's, their positions determine foreign and domestic policy.

The Harper government pays for a lot of polls, just as the other political parties and media outlets do. Sadly the system of gauges the government and media uses to ascertain public opinion is flawed and does not reflect the reality of the majority of citizens. As much as the pollsters try, they target an audience that may or may not participate in the democratic process. Unless the person being polled actually votes in a general election then their opinions are not supported by their democratic actions and they can therefore rightly be discounted from the process. So what is the point of the poll?

The true problem in this nation is public apathy. The citizens are bombarded with media that is spun to produce a specific desired effect, ususally outrage, and that is more often than not detrimental to resolving the issues at hand. The evolved process has lead citizens to believe that society is so fouled up that they can't possibly make a difference themselves and therefore simply cease to participate in what they belief is a flawed system.

Until this nation can produce some leader that is willing and able to provide a vision of the future that is bright and beneficial to the public there will be a lack of will on the part of the citizens to participate in the democratic process. After all, whats in it for them? Negative politics, or attack politics serve the purposes of partisan affiliations but do little to format the benefical support of the majority. Once a political system has degenerated to this level it is extremely difficult for a positive approach to be successful. That is where we now find ourselves, lacking a visionary leader and engaged in negative politics.

[geoffrey]

Gerry's silence on the issue is symbolic of his ignorance and obstinance.

When he finds *any* information that goes against goverment policy he hammers it over and over and over again.

However, too obstinate to admit mistakes...

Give the guy a break RB, he's only had a couple hours to respond. Sheesh.

The poll is good news for both Harper and the troops that want to see the mission through. I'm happy to see some Canadians are changing their minds.

[watching&waiting]

I am surprised by many of the answers to this, but there is one thing that I think I may be seeing in this, and that is polls should not be relied upon. Especially if they are about any issue that has controversey. Maybe this will hit the right balance of showing this. Because soon we are going to be bombarded will polls of all kinds from all levels of goverment, and it would be nice to see people look at them and pick apart what the real meaning is, without having everyone jump on it because it now shows your side etc.

Yes I am sure gerry will be doing some scambling before he answers, but really the right answer is polls are snap shots of mements in time, and just as time changes so do the polls. We should weight them accordingly.

[jdobbin]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this, but that is the problem will polls. They change like the weather. Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view. I do not like to use polls but I will this time just to show that it is not something you can bet your house on. Polls are very unreliable and change with the winds.

At least this time the polls look to be more in keeping with what I had thought, but maybe they will change again. But for now they are encouraging. As expected the smallest support was in Quebec, but the Atlantic Provinces were over 60% support and 66% in Alberta, 56 in BC and 59% Ont.

Now maybe people will realise that polls are something not to govern by or even run a leadership race with.

The pollster also indicated that there was a pretty firm opinion that Canada should be out of Afghanistan at the end of its comittment in 2010. Harper is already indicating that he thinking beyond that.

[Hicksey]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this, but that is the problem will polls. They change like the weather. Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view. I do not like to use polls but I will this time just to show that it is not something you can bet your house on. Polls are very unreliable and change with the winds.

At least this time the polls look to be more in keeping with what I had thought, but maybe they will change again. But for now they are encouraging. As expected the smallest support was in Quebec, but the Atlantic Provinces were over 60% support and 66% in Alberta, 56 in BC and 59% Ont.

Now maybe people will realise that polls are something not to govern by or even run a leadership race with.

The pollster also indicated that there was a pretty firm opinion that Canada should be out of Afghanistan at the end of its comittment in 2010. Harper is already indicating that he thinking beyond that.

All an 'exit strategy' does is tell the terrorists they will eventually win. We must judge our deployments on pre-set goals and leave when they are achieved.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Give the guy a break RB, he's only had a couple hours to respond. Sheesh.

The poll is good news for both Harper and the troops that want to see the mission through. I'm happy to see some Canadians are changing their minds.

Why give him a break? Has Gerry *ever* given PM Harper a break? Was anything I said incorrect?

It's now been half a day with no response....

[jdobbin]

All an 'exit strategy' does is tell the terrorists they will eventually win. We must judge our deployments on pre-set goals and leave when they are achieved.

Actually, all it tells NATO is that Canada is rotating off the front lines. This is something that has been done in every major conflict.

If there hasn't been some noticeable gains in security in Afghanistan in the next two years, I think we will legitimately have to ask how successful Canada and NATO is ever going to be.

[jbg]

Another poll will be taken and the question changed slightly and the result will be different.

As per normal

Borg

Another MLW thread will be opened on this subject with predictable results.

[gerryhatrick]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this

I have no problem with it at all.

Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view.

What view is that? You're being incredibly silly my boy, exposing yourself as being incapable of receiving information without becoming an emotional wreck and attacking the giver of the information.

One possible interpretation of these numbers is that Harper has been successful in his dishonest linking of the mission with support of the troops.

[gerryhatrick]

Gerry's silence on the issue is symbolic of his ignorance and obstinance.

When he finds *any* information that goes against goverment policy he hammers it over and over and over again.

However, too obstinate to admit mistakes...

What "mistake"?

Your post is nothing but a cheap attempt to bait another poster. Grow up.

Indeed it was. Good advice for that poster. Thanks.

[sharkman]

I guess Gerryhatrick is not going to like this

I have no problem with it at all.

Basically in the Ottawa Citzen today they published these new numbers 57% support the mission and it is almost the exact reverse of the polls Gerry uesd here to spout his view.

What view is that? You're being incredibly silly my boy, exposing yourself as being incapable of receiving information without becoming an emotional wreck and attacking the giver of the information.

One possible interpretation of these numbers is that Harper has been successful in his dishonest linking of the mission with support of the troops.

And I think you have experience with which to judge being silly and exposing yourself as being incapable of receiving info without becoming an emotional wreck and attacking the giver of information.

Another interpretation is that 57% of Canadians support the mission. Just attacking the Tories again is pretty weak, but that's self evident.

[Ricki Bobbi]

And I think you have experience with which to judge being silly and exposing yourself as being incapable of receiving info without becoming an emotional wreck and attacking the giver of information.

Another interpretation is that 57% of Canadians support the mission. Just attacking the Tories again is pretty weak, but that's self evident.

Shark, don't get worried about it. Gerry is allowed to attack posters here on MLW. But if you say anything back you'll get a *warning*. Life isn't always fair. But the vast majority of posters here see Gerry's attacks as mean-spirited and unfair.

He has insulted enough people, time and again that he should be gone. For some reason he has been given free rein to break the rules.