There are no longer any Liberal Senators

[lone wolf]

He hasnt said anything like that while in office. Every proposal he has put forward on Senate reform are fairly small. Better than nothing but not a very big change, certainly nothing as radical as scrapping the whole thing. If he were to go that route Id be totally fine with it. Even the NDP would go along with that which would give a huge majority in the House. Of course that would mean opening the constitution and I dont see him doing that.

You're right.... Not while in office. Not since he patched over into Conservative Party colours either. He's one of the Tories who know when it's best to shut up. He sure did in Reform colours - and no doubt in oil company boardrooms too. In theory, Senate is supposed to be a place for sober second thought. Power hungry don't like challenges. A Contitutional debate would certainly be one....

 

[damngrumpy]

The Harper government was hoping the polls would show them well over forty percent
consistently by now and its not happening and it is no longer likely. I am starting to
rethink this though and perhaps Harper is dumb enough to stay around. He needs a
much bigger majority to quell the noise in Tory ranks and he needs well over forty five
percent to do that. A minority renders him defeated so either way his days are numbered.

 

[Machjo]

Dumb enough or egotistical enough. Power can blind even the brightest. Not that Harper is a genius by a long shot, but in this case i think it still has less to do with his intelligence and more about poer hunger blinding him to the truth.

 

[Goober]

The Harper government was hoping the polls would show them well over forty percent
consistently by now and its not happening and it is no longer likely. I am starting to
rethink this though and perhaps Harper is dumb enough to stay around. He needs a
much bigger majority to quell the noise in Tory ranks and he needs well over forty five
percent to do that. A minority renders him defeated so either way his days are numbered.

Where did that 40 number come from. Harper has been down in the polls for a year.

 

[WLDB]

A minority renders him defeated so either way his days are numbered.

Just like everyone else.

 

[taxslave]

Do you think those 32 are now suddenly non partisan.

Probably not but I bet they are rethinking their Liberal connections. Or possibly rethinking just-in's.

 

[BornRuff]

Dumb enough or egotistical enough. Power can blind even the brightest. Not that Harper is a genius by a long shot, but in this case i think it still has less to do with his intelligence and more about poer hunger blinding him to the truth.

If things were different Harper might be facing a lot more pressure to step aside, but as of now there doesn't really seem to be all that many better options.

For starters, while there is considerable frustration within the party about tight control from the PMO, none of the party brass really want to see that changed. Most of the stuff that back benchers are upset about not being allowed to talk about are issues that would hurt the party(gay marriage, abortion, etc).

Secondly, they don't really have a stable of worthy successors. Jason Kenny might be the only guy who would really seem like an actual change, but who knows if he is even interested in taking the top job, if the party wants him.

 

[Goober]

If things were different Harper might be facing a lot more pressure to step aside, but as of now there doesn't really seem to be all that many better options.

For starters, while there is considerable frustration within the party about tight control from the PMO, none of the party brass really want to see that changed. Most of the stuff that back benchers are upset about not being allowed to talk about are issues that would hurt the party(gay marriage, abortion, etc).

Secondly, they don't really have a stable of worthy successors. Jason Kenny might be the only guy who would really seem like an actual change, but who knows if he is even interested in taking the top job, if the party wants him.

Jason- Nope- nada- He want to and will be one of the kingmakers- money from Ontario is flowing in large amounts to his constituency. has been for years.
Prentice is the one, in my opinion.

 

[BornRuff]

Jason- Nope- nada- He want to and will be one of the kingmakers- money from Ontario is flowing in large amounts to his constituency. has been for years.
Prentice is the one, in my opinion.

He definitely could serve as kingmaker, but he has more than enough clout to make a run at leadership for himself.

Prentice would have a good shot, but does he really want to leave a seven figure salary at CIBC for more work and lower pay in Ottawa?

Peter McKay is the favorite at this point, but it is hard to really see him as an improvement over Harper. Seems like someone who they would be fine with if forced to choose, but would not be in any rush to crown him.

 

[mentalfloss]

smoke & mirrors.

As my grandad once said, smoke n mirrors is better than s hit and moon.

 

[Locutus]

 

[SLM]

Yup.

 

[El Barto]

This is all a game , don't get fooled by it... if there is any senate scandal , the libs have washed their hands of it , and at the same time it say to harper , ha ! we did something before you did ... it is all show , but then again that is what politics is all about , a show.

 

[Ron in Regina]

....& on that note, when is the Auditor General's report on the Canadian
Senate due anyway? In a Week? A month?