Harper Interview

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070128/...harper_election

Harper told The Canadian Press, there's little imminent prospect of a Conservative majority government.

"What would be the point of an election, especially if it would just result in another minority anyway?" the prime minister said in an interview.

It would seem that some Conservatives here who are predicting a majority if an election were held shortly should look to Harper's thoughts on the matter.

[fellowtraveller]

And some posters should examine their belief that you should believe everything you read in the paper or hear on the Imternet.

[jdobbin]

And some posters should examine their belief that you should believe everything you read in the paper or hear on the Imternet.

You are saying he is ready to go and the Conservatives believe they can win a majority? You're on the Conservative election committee? You believe they would win a majority if Harper called an election on Monday?

[tml12]

And some posters should examine their belief that you should believe everything you read in the paper or hear on the Imternet.

You are saying he is ready to go and the Conservatives believe they can win a majority? You're on the Conservative election committee? You believe they would win a majority if Harper called an election on Monday?

Could the Conservatives win a majority tomorrow? Probably not...my call is a fall election.

Harper needs some time to give this new cabinet some experience so Canadians can warm up to its new ministers.

Keep in mind Dr. Harper is still detoxing Canada after a long experience of Liberal governments. I don't think he wants those Canadians more prone to vote Liberal to be tempted by the intoxicating effects of Dion and his elite and power-hungry Liberal machine just yet.

[geoffrey]

We'll see what the success of the attack ads are.

[fellowtraveller]

And some posters should examine their belief that you should believe everything you read in the paper or hear on the Imternet.

You are saying he is ready to go and the Conservatives believe they can win a majority? You're on the Conservative election committee? You believe they would win a majority if Harper called an election on Monday?

Have you ever considered that you are asking the wrong questions?

Consider these realities:

- the Liberals, Bloc and NDP don't really want an election soon for a few reasons, money being a big one.

- the Liberals can't really campaign on much. They did almost nothing the last few years in power except run from scandal. Dion simply does not have a record that he can be proud of, and win a campaign on.

- despite your fervent wishes, the Tories have accomplished quite a bit with a minority in 12 months, and have not had any major scandal. Canadians may note the refreshing change on both fronts.

You are focusing on a Tory majority only. Do you think Harper sees that as the only possibility in a snap election? He is now living on borrowed time. The Libs have now found a leader, and the Opposition attacks will become more and more coordinated and more focused. Here is another reality: since the Libs cannot run on their record, they will have to run on Tory mistakes. The longer the Tories cling to this minority, the more certain that they will make major mistakes.

Which brings us back to 'asking the wrong question', which assumes that a majority is Harpers only good outcome for a snap election. Isn't another minority in a few months better than a defeat in Spring 2008? If nothing else, he'll be back in charge of an agenda that will be his, safe in the knowledge that his renewed minority must be unchallenged for another year.

In order of preference, harpers choices are : 1 majority, 2. another minority, 3. losing .

Each of the first two options already has a CPC plan and a timetable.

I see what is happening now with the ads as possibly a gambit under option 2. Pursuing option 1 right now may be a direct route to option 3. Pursuing option 2 may be safest.

[jdobbin]

Have you ever considered that you are asking the wrong questions?

Consider these realities:

- the Liberals, Bloc and NDP don't really want an election soon for a few reasons, money being a big one.

- the Liberals can't really campaign on much. They did almost nothing the last few years in power except run from scandal. Dion simply does not have a record that he can be proud of, and win a campaign on.

- despite your fervent wishes, the Tories have accomplished quite a bit with a minority in 12 months, and have not had any major scandal. Canadians may note the refreshing change on both fronts.

You are focusing on a Tory majority only. Do you think Harper sees that as the only possibility in a snap election? He is now living on borrowed time. The Libs have now found a leader, and the Opposition attacks will become more and more coordinated and more focused. Here is another reality: since the Libs cannot run on their record, they will have to run on Tory mistakes. The longer the Tories cling to this minority, the more certain that they will make major mistakes.

Which brings us back to 'asking the wrong question', which assumes that a majority is Harpers only good outcome for a snap election. Isn't another minority in a few months better than a defeat in Spring 2008? If nothing else, he'll be back in charge of an agenda that will be his, safe in the knowledge that his renewed minority must be unchallenged for another year.

In order of preference, harpers choices are : 1 majority, 2. another minority, 3. losing .

Each of the first two options already has a CPC plan and a timetable.

I see what is happening now with the ads as possibly a gambit under option 2. Pursuing option 1 right now may be a direct route to option 3. Pursuing option 2 may be safest.

I have said, if you had looked, that the Liberals were not going to force an election unless the issue was right. Harper might provide that issue in a budget. No telling what it might be.

The idea that the Tories have a plan for a minority is uncertain at best. Harper is controlling his party on the promise of an election majority.

My initial response to all this was some of the Conservative party members here are chomping at the bit to go to the polls and charting out their victories on a riding by riding basis already.

My own personal feeling is that the Liberals will pick an issue they feel they have to vote no to Harper on. It will be the NDP who will feel the pressure to join that vote. The Bloq will vote for an election because they feel they have everything to gain from it.