Dion thinks there maybe a MAY election

[Topaz]

Well, he could be right, Harper is showing more of those ads against Dion against on TV. If this doesn't show that Harper is nervous that he may not win a minority or majority I don't know what does!! You can also tell about a person character and Harper has shown his. He refused to lower the flag to soldiers come home in caskets, he broke more promises that affect more Canadians in our life time, he's spending more money than even Mulroney or Trudeau did! I don't think this government is NOT good for Canada and I hope someone calls an election, I don't think Harper will get back in and then he can stand on the other side and try to bring down the government again because its good for HIM!!!

[jbg]

And what good things did PMPM do for Canada?

It seems refreshing that you don't have the aroma of people like Guite and Gagliano floating around. Isn't that, itself, a benefit?

[Borg]

And what good things did PMPM do for Canada?

It seems refreshing that you don't have the aroma of people like Guite and Gagliano floating around. Isn't that, itself, a benefit?

C'mon - don't you miss those guys?

Borg

[betsy]

Well, he could be right, Harper is showing more of those ads against Dion against on TV. If this doesn't show that Harper is nervous that he may not win a minority or majority I don't know what does!! You can also tell about a person character and Harper has shown his. He refused to lower the flag to soldiers come home in caskets, he broke more promises that affect more Canadians in our life time, he's spending more money than even Mulroney or Trudeau did! I don't think this government is NOT good for Canada and I hope someone calls an election, I don't think Harper will get back in and then he can stand on the other side and try to bring down the government again because its good for HIM!!!

Actually I think Dion is desperate. From what is being bandied about on MDuffy, the Liberals are far from being united. Dion does not want an election....but some Liberals do, so they can choose a new leader again. Dion has to show and prove some leadership skills to his own party....and to the public.

[Canadian Blue]

He refused to lower the flag to soldiers come home in caskets

This happened during Korea and World War 2 as well.

If this doesn't show that Harper is nervous that he may not win a minority or majority I don't know what does!!

Well, according to the recent polls, he is in the lead.

he broke more promises that affect more Canadians in our life time, he's spending more money than even Mulroney or Trudeau did! I don't think this government is NOT good for Canada and I hope someone calls an election

No more than Chretien.

I haven't seen the negative effects yet, and so far I'm somewhat happy about the Conservatives willing to compromise on issues. I won't vote for Harper in the next election, but he hasn't destroyed Canada.

I don't think Harper will get back in and then he can stand on the other side and try to bring down the government again because its good for HIM!!!

So, are you saying that Harper wants to get into government because it's good for him. How is it not good for a leader of any party to become the Prime Minister.

[Canuck E Stan]

If this doesn't show that Harper is nervous that he may not win a minority or majority I don't know what does!!

The only nervous Nellie is you and Dion.

Dion is done, now,May,or whenever,Dion can stand in line right behind Boisclair as a has been leader.He was the wrong pick for the Liberals and it will show when the election occurs.

Too bad,he was the best Liberal environment minister ,the environment never had.

[Michael Bluth]

Actually I think Dion is desperate. From what is being bandied about on MDuffy, the Liberals are far from being united. Dion does not want an election....but some Liberals do, so they can choose a new leader again. Dion has to show and prove some leadership skills to his own party....and to the public.

Dion is very desperate.

The Liberals are desperate. On their Web site they are encouraging Harper to implement fixed election dates. Despite fighting it in the House...

[jbg]

It seems refreshing that you don't have the aroma of people like Guite and Gagliano floating around. Isn't that, itself, a benefit?

C'mon - don't you miss those guys?

Great group of fellows. Would have been good for a few episodes of the Libranos.

[weaponeer]

Libs really blew it with Dion, they would have had a chance with Iggy I think. I may have taken a good hard look at him.

I like Harper because he is a strong leader, Dion is not. I am sure Dion is a nice man, but he comes across to me as a wimp. He reminds me of the kid who would run home crying when he fell and scrapped his knee, instead of sticking around to keep playing. He is not the man I want to see runnin this or any country.

Iggy is stronger, he would be a much better leader. The prob here is that the Libs have moved from the political center to the left, they are becoming the NDP. As well, we have had French Canadian Libs running this country long enough, it is someone elses turn. We need another perspective.....

[Michael Bluth]

Libs really blew it with Dion, they would have had a chance with Iggy I think. I may have taken a good hard look at him.

I like Harper because he is a strong leader, Dion is not. I am sure Dion is a nice man, but he comes across to me as a wimp. He reminds me of the kid who would run home crying when he fell and scrapped his knee, instead of sticking around to keep playing. He is not the man I want to see runnin this or any country.

Iggy is stronger, he would be a much better leader. The prob here is that the Libs have moved from the political center to the left, they are becoming the NDP. As well, we have had French Canadian Libs running this country long enough, it is someone elses turn. We need another perspective.....

Iggy is probably sticking around to see what the deal is with the coming election.

If the Conservatives pull off a majority Dion is toast. The next leadership would be in 2008 at the latest. It would come down to Iggy vs. Rae. With Rae Iggy having the advantage as the party would probably see the need to swing to the centre.

[weaponeer]

Libs really blew it with Dion, they would have had a chance with Iggy I think. I may have taken a good hard look at him.

I like Harper because he is a strong leader, Dion is not. I am sure Dion is a nice man, but he comes across to me as a wimp. He reminds me of the kid who would run home crying when he fell and scrapped his knee, instead of sticking around to keep playing. He is not the man I want to see runnin this or any country.

Iggy is stronger, he would be a much better leader. The prob here is that the Libs have moved from the political center to the left, they are becoming the NDP. As well, we have had French Canadian Libs running this country long enough, it is someone elses turn. We need another perspective.....

Iggy is probably sticking around to see what the deal is with the coming election.

If the Conservatives pull off a majority Dion is toast. The next leadership would be in 2008 at the latest. It would come down to Iggy vs. Rae. With Rae having the advantage as the party would probably see the need to swing to the centre.

Rae, center, your kidding. Rae would go down in flames in Ontario (I hope). I doubt the folks there will forget him. I see Rae no different that Dion, nice guy I am sure, but comes across as a wimp. He looks and acts weak.

I like Iggy, I think he would be a good PM. You can be Liberal and a strong leader, but I do not see that in either Dion or Rae. Just my humble opinion.....

[Michael Bluth]

Rae, center, your kidding. Rae would go down in flames in Ontario (I hope). I doubt the folks there will forget him. I see Rae no different that Dion, nice guy I am sure, but comes across as a wimp. He looks and acts weak.

I like Iggy, I think he would be a good PM. You can be Liberal and a strong leader, but I do not see that in either Dion or Rae. Just my humble opinion.....

My bad that was a typo. I meant Iggy.

I definitely agree that Rae is a leftie, but think he could be a good leader. Don't think he would be able to win. Far too much baggage to ovrcome.

[weaponeer]

Rae, center, your kidding. Rae would go down in flames in Ontario (I hope). I doubt the folks there will forget him. I see Rae no different that Dion, nice guy I am sure, but comes across as a wimp. He looks and acts weak.

I like Iggy, I think he would be a good PM. You can be Liberal and a strong leader, but I do not see that in either Dion or Rae. Just my humble opinion.....

My bad that was a typo. I meant Iggy.

I definitely agree that Rae is a leftie, but think he could be a good leader. Don't think he would be able to win. Far too much baggage to ovrcome.

I don't think Rae could overcome Ontario. As for him as leader, that would confirm my previous point about the Libs big left turn towards the NDP.

I actually met PM Harper a few weeks ago in Ottawa, I do like him. He comes across to me as the boss, in charge, a leader. I just don't see that in Dion or Rae. I am a soldier, so I like decisive, no BS leaders.

I like Iggy as well, he seems to be more on the ball than the other two. We do need a change in Canada, enough with the French Libs, I would like to see a westerner, or maritimer run Canada. There is more to Canada that Quebec....

[geoffrey]

We do need a change in Canada, enough with the French Libs, I would like to see a westerner, or maritimer run Canada. There is more to Canada that Quebec....

We have the Westerner of all Westerners in the PMO today, a leading author of the Alberta firewall letter. And he's giving it all up for Quebec. So really, it doesn't matter. Canada is a concept of betrayal to much of it's population, they are just too naive to see it.

You see, I actually believed that electing a Calgarian would change things. It didn't. How could I have been so stupid?

[weaponeer]

We do need a change in Canada, enough with the French Libs, I would like to see a westerner, or maritimer run Canada. There is more to Canada that Quebec....

We have the Westerner of all Westerners in the PMO today, a leading author of the Alberta firewall letter. And he's giving it all up for Quebec. So really, it doesn't matter. Canada is a concept of betrayal to much of it's population, they are just too naive to see it.

You see, I actually believed that electing a Calgarian would change things. It didn't. How could I have been so stupid?

Hi geoffrey,

I agree with you 1000%, however there is a part of me that wants to believe that Harper did what he did to get the majority. A Harper majority would not give in to QB, I want to believe that. Minority gov't work differently, as I am sure you know.

I am doing a course on Canadian Military History right now, I know what you mean about a concept of betrayal. It is amazin we have lasted as long as we have...

[Canadian Blue]

My preference still is Gerard Kennedy, I think he has the best qualifications, and seemed to be the most compassionate of the last leadership contenders. If Gerard Kennedy had won I probably would have become a member of the Liberal Party. However Dion isn't terribly impressive, I've found that his policy announcements often seem to be nothing more than talking about how the Conservatives have reinstated previous Liberal programs. Ignatieff would have probably been more effective as leader, however I wonder if their isn't going to be a movement within the Liberals to elect a new leader if Dion fails to win over Canadian's.

[Michael Bluth]

Hi geoffrey,

I agree with you 1000%, however there is a part of me that wants to believe that Harper did what he did to get the majority. A Harper majority would not give in to QB, I want to believe that. Minority gov't work differently, as I am sure you know.

I am doing a course on Canadian Military History right now, I know what you mean about a concept of betrayal. It is amazin we have lasted as long as we have...

I wonder how much of it is people on either side falling for the Liberals *scary* *scary* *scary*.

I know that my fellow Westerners who are openly hostile to Quebec felt that Harper would represent their views once elected. He never campaigned on "not giving in to QC." He hasn't acted on that.

That would be a surefire recipe for a one term Prime Ministership.

If you read the firewall letter Harper hasn't betrayed anything. Harper has presented a plan for Senate reform. Everything else in the letter must be addressed by Provincial leaders.

On a basic level I agree that QC has unfortunately held Canada hostage for a long time.

It's like a bad business deal. We aren't getting a fair deal, but our only other option (telling QC to piss off and having them separate) leaves us worse off.

Geoffrey, the economic decision is clear. We are better of economically with the way Harper would be than we would be if QC left.

It sucks but life isn't always fair.

[geoffrey]

We are better of economically with the way Harper would be than we would be if QC left.

Depends on who 'we' is. Canada, maybe, likely not though IMO. Alberta, not a chance, we'd be much better off without Quebec, we'd be much better off without Canada as repeated Western and Conservative PM's have proven.

You can't get into Ottawa with a conservative agenda without selling to Quebec anymore. Can't be done. I'm not willing to sell to Quebec forever. So either Alberta or Quebec has to go. Canada has to make that choice I suppose, I think eventually it will come to that.

[weaponeer]

We are better of economically with the way Harper would be than we would be if QC left.

Depends on who 'we' is. Canada, maybe, likely not though IMO. Alberta, not a chance, we'd be much better off without Quebec, we'd be much better off without Canada as repeated Western and Conservative PM's have proven.

You can't get into Ottawa with a conservative agenda without selling to Quebec anymore. Can't be done. I'm not willing to sell to Quebec forever. So either Alberta or Quebec has to go. Canada has to make that choice I suppose, I think eventually it will come to that.

I do agree this pandering to QB has to stop. We need politicians with balls to say enough is enough. QB has a good thing going, they throw a tantrum and they get $$.

At some point Canada has to cut it's loses with QB. If they really want to go, then go. As a sudent of Canadian history I cannot see what they have brought to us. QB has been a thorn in our side since confederation. What does QB give us we cannot get somewhere else???

[jbg]

A Harper majority would not give in to QB, I want to believe that. Minority gov't work differently, as I am sure you know.

I am doing a course on Canadian Military History right now, I know what you mean about a concept of betrayal. It is amazin we have lasted as long as we have...

As Harper said, Canada is a country that works in practice, though not in theory.

I think the tradition of giving in to Quebec arose as a result of numerous countries gaining "independence" after WW II that had zero economic viability, and who have barely clung to life on the world's teet. I suspect that back when independence meant just that, independence, the Quebecs of the world knew they're standard of living would plummet if forced to operate without outside help.

Given the greater population of Quebec, and mild over-representation in Parliament, any government that aspires to a majority needs Quebec onside. A Liberal government theoretically could, I suppose, do it with just Ontario, but we learned from the Borden coalition days how horrificly divisive that result would be.

[Curiouscanuck]

Depends on who 'we' is. Canada, maybe, likely not though IMO. Alberta, not a chance, we'd be much better off without Quebec, we'd be much better off without Canada as repeated Western and Conservative PM's have proven.

You can't get into Ottawa with a conservative agenda without selling to Quebec anymore. Can't be done. I'm not willing to sell to Quebec forever. So either Alberta or Quebec has to go. Canada has to make that choice I suppose, I think eventually it will come to that.

I disagree. You can have both. Decentralize the government, which is the direction the conservatives have been going. Problem solved.

[leonardcohen]

1] Harper is showing more of those ads against Dion against on TV.

2] he's spending more money than even Mulroney or Trudeau did!

3] I don't think this government is NOT good for Canada

1]Yes , but the ads are significantly LESS negative then the ones

used against them in the last couple of elections,all he is doing is

using their own words against them,not the outright lies and innuendo

the Liberals resorted to ,NOW That was desperation!

2]What would you have him do with a larger tax base and economy,?

he is giving our money back to us,the taxpayers,isn't that what is he supposed

to do with it?

3]This is a double negative,you're actually saying it is,

on that point i agree with you:}

[geoffrey]

I disagree. You can have both. Decentralize the government, which is the direction the conservatives have been going. Problem solved.

No, your wrong. Decentralizing the government would mean cutting taxes and allowing provinces to raise their own revenues. I have seen NOTHING from Harper on decentralization. Nothing.

[Michael Bluth]

No, your wrong. Decentralizing the government would mean cutting taxes and allowing provinces to raise their own revenues. I have seen NOTHING from Harper on decentralization. Nothing.

In your view Geoff. A view which builds your anger at the Conservatives.

By transferring more money to the provinces to implement their programs in the way they want they are definitely decentralizing. It's just not as decentralized as you would like.

[BC_chick]

I agree with you 1000%, however there is a part of me that wants to believe that Harper did what he did to get the majority. A Harper majority would not give in to QB, I want to believe that. Minority gov't work differently, as I am sure you know.

So you admit that much of what we are currently seeing in Harper may be nothing but a ploy to get a majority and that once he achieves his task he may change his policies 180 degrees?

LOL

I agree btw... I just didn't think too many Harper supporters would admit it.