The Canadian election………….
- Thread starter Socrates the Greek
- Start date
It will be a minority with even more non-government - provided Lib support doesn't just stay home. Harper is geared for command - not co-operation and that's what makes him a poor prime minister.
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Over the last little while, some of my compadres here at Relentlessly Progressive Economics have intuited and sometimes even insisted that while Stéphane Dion’s socially liberal bona fides are not in question, his economic policy proposals place him well to the right of centre.
Well, now we have proof from none other than Mr. Dion himself. Witness (see below), for your consideration, a rather fawning column by Lawrence Martin, the master of Liberal insider knowledge. Relevant sentence in bold.
Now Mr. Dion’s predispositions in the economic realm should not come as a surprise given that there is a seemingly strong prevailing consensus amongst the chattering classes, of which he — and Lawrence Martin — are charter members, that it is not only fashionable but proper and intellectually rigorous to be “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.”
That fine little bit of phrasing phrase veritably rolls off the tongue, creating the sensation of an invocation and incantation of Billary Clinton’s buoyant presidential spirit tinged perhaps with a melancholic note for the Paul Martin that maybe once was but never became, the unfortunate soul who was enraptured with and encaptured by the good folks at Finance, and the absence of whom, incidentally, created that most bizarre of paradoxes: the prime minister as the truly free man in a cage of freedom. In any event, we the chatterers in class, all now pay homage to the refrain: Deficits bad, inflation-targeting good; income-trust taxes bad, corporate income tax cuts good; interest-deductibility bad, surpluses-as-far-as-the-forecaster-dare-see, good. Right, left, centre.
Well, now we have proof from none other than Mr. Dion himself. Witness (see below), for your consideration, a rather fawning column by Lawrence Martin, the master of Liberal insider knowledge. Relevant sentence in bold.
Now Mr. Dion’s predispositions in the economic realm should not come as a surprise given that there is a seemingly strong prevailing consensus amongst the chattering classes, of which he — and Lawrence Martin — are charter members, that it is not only fashionable but proper and intellectually rigorous to be “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.”
That fine little bit of phrasing phrase veritably rolls off the tongue, creating the sensation of an invocation and incantation of Billary Clinton’s buoyant presidential spirit tinged perhaps with a melancholic note for the Paul Martin that maybe once was but never became, the unfortunate soul who was enraptured with and encaptured by the good folks at Finance, and the absence of whom, incidentally, created that most bizarre of paradoxes: the prime minister as the truly free man in a cage of freedom. In any event, we the chatterers in class, all now pay homage to the refrain: Deficits bad, inflation-targeting good; income-trust taxes bad, corporate income tax cuts good; interest-deductibility bad, surpluses-as-far-as-the-forecaster-dare-see, good. Right, left, centre.
There are other reasons why Harpo wants an early federal election: First there are three by-elections coming in the next week or so that the conservatives would likely lose. Another thing is that Harper and his cronies appear to be headed for a deficit that voters will not like.
It is not that the Harper mob has particularly good polling numbers either. An Ipsos Reid poll issued on Saturday put the Conservatives only 2 points ahead of the Liberals -- 33 percent to 31 percent -- and a Nanos survey the day before had them 2 points behind. This election call sounds like desperation.
It is not that the Harper mob has particularly good polling numbers either. An Ipsos Reid poll issued on Saturday put the Conservatives only 2 points ahead of the Liberals -- 33 percent to 31 percent -- and a Nanos survey the day before had them 2 points behind. This election call sounds like desperation.
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On the eve of an election call….
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Conservatives (37%) now hold a substantial lead (8 percentage points) over the Liberals (29%)
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The Conservative lead is powered by their strength in Southern Ontario (but not 416), lower mainland BC, and
Quebec outside Montreal
Quebec outside Montreal
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The Tories have benefited from a relatively quiet Summer – a reprieve from being on the defensive in the House of
Commons as they were all Spring.
Commons as they were all Spring.
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Conservatives also benefit from a gender gap with men while drawing comparable levels of women voters as the
Liberals
http://www.thestrategiccounsel.com/...ion Baseline - Sep 1 (with second choice).pdf
Aug 29
LP 35, CP 33, NDP 17, BQ 8, GP 7 - Harper leads as best PM (New Nanos Poll)
567 comments Latest by MRM
The latest Nanos poll completed Wednesday night shows that the Liberals and Conservatives are gripped in a deadlock (LP 35%, CP 33%, NDP 17%, BQ 8%, GP 7%).
Of note, in the province of Quebec, support for the Bloc has decreased by nine points in the last quarter, with the NDP picking up most of that support.
On the best Prime Minister front, Stephen Harper still enjoys a significant advantage over Stephane Dion.
A potential election poses risks for both the Conservatives and the Liberals. Prime Minister Harper seems ready to risk his mandate while his party is tied with the Liberals. Liberal leader Stephane Dion has not been embraced by Canadians.
LP 35, CP 33, NDP 17, BQ 8, GP 7 - Harper leads as best PM (New Nanos Poll)
567 comments Latest by MRM
The latest Nanos poll completed Wednesday night shows that the Liberals and Conservatives are gripped in a deadlock (LP 35%, CP 33%, NDP 17%, BQ 8%, GP 7%).
Of note, in the province of Quebec, support for the Bloc has decreased by nine points in the last quarter, with the NDP picking up most of that support.
On the best Prime Minister front, Stephen Harper still enjoys a significant advantage over Stephane Dion.
A potential election poses risks for both the Conservatives and the Liberals. Prime Minister Harper seems ready to risk his mandate while his party is tied with the Liberals. Liberal leader Stephane Dion has not been embraced by Canadians.
I do think Harper will chew Dion up and spit him out......but the great tripwire for the CPC will be the 100th dead soldier in Afghanistan........not good, and it will probably happen during the campaign...
Never mind that the Liberals sent us there....
Never mind that it was, and is necessary.....
Never mind that the Liberal refusal to buy helicopters and heavy vehicles cost some of those soldiers' lives.
The CPC will pay dearly.
I do hope they get their majority, though.
Never mind that the Liberals sent us there....
Never mind that it was, and is necessary.....
Never mind that the Liberal refusal to buy helicopters and heavy vehicles cost some of those soldiers' lives.
The CPC will pay dearly.
I do hope they get their majority, though.
If Harper gets a majority he won't have to worry about deficits. He could just pile the deficits up like his buddy Mulroney.
Harper is still not trusted by a lot of Canadians.
Never have young Canadian lives been given away so cheaply as they have in Afghanistan. The reason we haven't pulled out of that stupid war is the threat of economic reprisals from the U.S.
The reason Chretien cancelled those helicopters was that Canada was broke after nine years of Mulroney. Who signed us into the God-awful penalty agreement? It wasn't the Liberals.
Harper is still not trusted by a lot of Canadians.
Never have young Canadian lives been given away so cheaply as they have in Afghanistan. The reason we haven't pulled out of that stupid war is the threat of economic reprisals from the U.S.
The reason Chretien cancelled those helicopters was that Canada was broke after nine years of Mulroney. Who signed us into the God-awful penalty agreement? It wasn't the Liberals.
Hey Juan good points, if I may add the Conservative ad on TV having these paid actors saying I am happy with the way things are going, is the most stupidest political advert today………..Harper needs smiling lessons, he starts to smile, he stops for 2-3 seconds and starts smiling again with a smile that insinuates wait until I get my hands on a majority. Keep dreaming idiot!!!!!
Harper’s smile is so disingenuous. The man is a disguised snake………….a majority mandate for these idiots will be the nail on the Canadian economy’s coffin.
True....but he won't. Unlike Mulrooney (a Liberal in a blue suit) Harper is a fiscal conservative.
Also true......and (unfortunately) with good reason, considering this election call.
Not true. Afghanistan must be kept out of the hands of the Taliban.....that simple. As well, I see no evidence the Yanks have used economic pressure on their allies.....you have something to back that up?
Completely untrue. Chretien cancelled the helicopters for the same reason he blew 100 million bucks of the military's money on a second luxury aircraft for himself.....because he is a vindictave, nasty little **** of a man that hates the military...and he knew full well the hundreds of millions the cancellation would cost.
Followed by the Liberals coming in to save the day by taxing us to death.... then when we get sick of being taxed to death and them not spending any of the suplus to make our lives better, in comes the Conservatives to save the day.... then when we hit the red line again, the Liberals.... then Conservatives..... Liberals, Conservatives......
anybody else see a pattern?
Quote: Never have young Canadian lives been given away so cheaply as they have in Afghanistan. The reason we haven't pulled out of that stupid war is the threat of economic reprisals from the U.S.
The Taliban's whole reason for being is American meddling in Arab countries. The Taliban see the Americans, and by association, the Canadians as corrupt and evil.
The Taliban's whole reason for being is American meddling in Arab countries. The Taliban see the Americans, and by association, the Canadians as corrupt and evil.
Isn’t it how it works?
Traditionally Canada has a hidden passion for liberal thinking, unlike the Conservatives whom they are nothing but heavy breathers down your neck telling us, “you can’t do this”, “you can’t do that”, “BUT we can do everything you are not allowed to do because we are the Gestapo Government of the day and we have a majority…...
I truly hope that Canadians will not allow the hidden Conservative agenda triumph…….
