We know Liberals don’t like police.
I looked up from my desk in the House of Commons when I heard that one, and exchanged a disgusted glance with my seatmate, Ujjal Dosanjh. It was the prime minister, Stephen Harper, at it again during QP – making a statement which was dishonestly false. But because there’s no requirement to be either honest or truthful in Parliament, Mr. Speaker let it pass.
Liberals hating police, not supporting our troops or being soft on crime – those were three of the most bogus and oft-repeated themes of PMSH in the last session of Parliament. Ironically, these were weeks in which I saw precious little in the way of new anti-crime legislation was passed, thanks mostly to the actions of the government itself, not the opposition.
So, what are the differences in the law-and-order agendas between the two major parties? Do the Conservatives have the corner on making our streets safer, or just most graphic speech writers?
I took some time to ask such things of Montreal MP Marlene Jennings, the Liberal justice critic and a politician whose frankness and determination are themselves arresting.
To view the video, click here.
101 comments ↓
Garth,
It was the prime minister, Stephen Harper, at it again during QP – making a statement which was dishonestly false. But because there’s no requirement to be either honest or truthful in Parliament, Mr. Speaker let it pass.
If there is a thing called perjury in our courts, then why should there not be the same standard in the HoC that write the laws of nation?
I think it is high time to bring the HoC into the reality of 2007 and civilized behaviour.
There is a Private Member’s Bill you can write. Call it the ‘Open and Honest Government Mandate’ Bill
–Chief Joseph, NEZ PERCE–
The truth shall set you free. This is the truth. When we speak the Truth, we do not need to be defensive. Truth needs no defense. When we speak the Truth, we do not need to attack because Truth cannot be attacked. It is so easy to want to manipulate or to be deceitful or dishonest. My head tells me I can get away with doing these things, after all everybody does it.
Garth, perhaps these words should be posted on the walls in Conservative rooms and Canadians just might get accountabilty from PMSH & Co.
Hmm, ironically, I think the Lib. justice critic also pointed out that on 3 occasions, the LPC had offered to ‘fast-tracl’ 3-5 of the CPC’s major anti-crime bills.
Of course, the CPC decided to reject it because they’d prefer to play politics with the issue and try to portray the LPC as being ‘soft on crime’. For once, I just wish the Prime Minister and many other politicians to just grow up and stop getting on with behavior that most parents wouldn’t even tolerate from people in junior high school!
Garth –
You may like those accusation’s to be bogus but we know better.
Liberals love to “hug a thug” when they can. Poor things, those misguided violent punks.
Why else do we have killers, rapists, and other creeps running around our cities and towns. Serving little to know time for crimes.
I decided long ago, that if one of my daughters is to ever raped in a brutal way, I personally will kill the rapist.
My metal bat will bash his brains out.
I may let him do his couple months in jail, but in the end he will die.
Pull your head out of the sand Garth.
Hundreds of Canadians have been murdered by creeps that should have been in jail in the first place.
Liberals suck.
Burlington Post
Letters To The Editor
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Resident takes issue with Turner
The following letter, addressed to Halton MP Garth Turner, was submitted to the Post for publication.
We recently received in the mail a flyer — issued by you — addressed to Burlington taxpayers announcing your upcoming public meeting at the senior centre regarding income trusts. However, you also decided to take some shots at Mike Wallace, our elected representative in this riding.
I want to state at this point, that I am NOT a member of any political party.
Question: What gives you the right to come into our riding, the MP from another riding and bad mouth our elected MP?
I would never think of going into your riding and comment on your actions. You are entitled to make any comments you wish about Mr. Harper and his government but not tell us we were stupid for electing Mr. Wallace unless you are willing to come into this riding and run against him.
I used to admire your independent position on many issues, but that admiration disappeared when you switched parties (like opportunistic politicians from both major parties) without giving the voters in your riding a choice in the matter.
I also remember the years you railed against the Liberal Party and their policies and now you have joined them. What hypocrisy!
Jack Bentley
Burlington
First, let me say that I did not write this letter personally.
However, there are valid questions and concerns here that must be addressed.
I thought I would send this letter to you first to see if it would be posted/addressed/ignored.
Well, the Ciy of Burlington is in my riding – at least, half of it. Second, if Mr. Wallace had a public meeting to face up to those constituents who lots bundles of money because of his government’s income trust decision, I wouldn’t have to. Third, I was invited to come and speak to people by local residents, since they know of my backghround as a financial guy. Fourth, if you’d been at the meeting, you would have heard no direct criticism of your MP, and certainly no suggestion anyone was “stupid” for supporting him. Fifth, I did not choose to switch parties, I was thrown out of the Conservative one. If you have a problem with that, write PMSH. Lastly, I will go anywhere, anytime, to talk with Canadians. Get used to it. — Garth
FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION ” RELEASE BLACKED OUT DATA”
Now we are talking!! See the ticker. Good job!
http://www.caiti.info/initiatives_caiti_to_do_list.php
I’d argue that the Conservative blind trust in handing over absolute power to any security organ is more problematic than any perceived Liberal softness on crime.
The Federal Liberals do tend to get slammed because over the years, certain judges, which do not fall under federal control, were incredibly lenient on certain sensational crimes.
The Federal Liberals did have control over minimum sentences and sentencing guidelines, and some of those are set low so as not to outrage justice by charging a mother for spanking her kid by giving her the 5 year minimum sentence for assault against a minor in a specific case. Could you image the public outrage then?
I think all the public is really asking for — mainstream Canadians, is that if somebody commits a particularly awful crime, like streetracing that kills and maims, that they actually be punished…no merely given probation and such. I happen to believe that some judges are idiots, and they ought to be removed…but you know, most judges are under provincial jurisdiction.
Oh yeah, and we have this whole ‘hands off an independent judiciary’ doctrine we got going on in Canada too.
I think we need more prison spaces for violent and repeat offenders. There are all these studies about recidivism (sic?), and the Canadian system is very good, compared to the United States, of keeping people from reoffending through rehabilitation, and I think that’s really important. More jails doesn’t necessarily mean less crime — but if we could at least keep the people who clearly won’t be rehabilitated behind bars…if the parole boards didn’t feel so pressed to free up space in the prison.
You know, that would be really great.
Do the Conservatives have the corner on making our streets safer, or just most graphic speech writers?
No…they’re just taking a page out of the Rethuglicans: ‘Tell a lie, and repeat it often … it will become a truth’. {This same tactic has been used by a number of despots and wannabe despots over the years}
The really sad part is that the CON$’ “Law-and-Order” agenda is an outright attack on civil liberties and freedoms guaranteed in the Charter. From abandoning the principals of presumed innocence and equality before the law to arbitrarily restricting mobility without due process, the CON$ are systematically attacking Canadians’ legal rights.
Garth, I’m sure your familiar with this, but it’s worth repeating … Tom Flanagan has stated that:
“Conservative Policy should be set so that it is far enough to the right of the Liberals so as to be clearly distinguishable from them, but not TOO far to the right, so as not to be seen as scary” (approximate quote).
Harper’s handling of justice issues is probably the best example of how the CPC are doing this. Countering Flanagan’s strategy has got to be difficult for the LPC. If you move righwards, closer to Harper, then Layton moves in on your left flank. And if you move closer to Layton, then Harper moves slightly leftward, still staying a safe distance on your right, say by throwing out some announcement about a program to help urban youth.
Strange how crime came up as topic, perhaps Halton John statement of his thoughts of an illegal use of a baseball bat, that would throw him in jail. Speaking of jails was there not an article in the news that PMSH wants to lay off up to 300 prison guards to pay for his tough on crime plan.
For those who are intersted it costs 80-120,000 per year for incarceration and 46% is born by provinces. Our jails are now near full and our courts are back logged. Perhaps crime prevention is a better choice.
Mental John,…
“My metal bat will bash his brains out.
I may let him do his couple months in jail, but in the end he will die.”
Oh and what happens if it turns out that man you murder turns out to innoscent (don’t think wrongful conviction do not happen) What will your excuse be then Mental John?
Garth, I normally don’t go for banning people, but this Halton John guy is seriously give me the creeps, anyone who openning admits he would murder is not stable.
Lastly, I will go anywhere, anytime, to talk with Canadians. Get used to it. – Garth.
That’s cool…
By the way, we are currenly trying to recruit an MP to talk to Halton residents on a topic you have by-and-large ignored, specifically “proverty in Halton”.
I hope you don’t mind…
Not at all. But, as I said in my email to you today, I do not believe you have contacted me before this. Strange you would do it on the blog, but that’s okay. I am very pleased to speak with you, or your group or colleagues on this topic. My personal cell: (905) 399-5114. Or call Esther to set it up: (905) 693-0166. — Garth
HJ You need to take some anger management courses before you end up behind bars with all these creeps and thugs. Or maybe you’re just angry because you’re a conservative? LOL
The problems of crime go back to the home, and to the abandonment of children by men and dead-beat Dads who are out pursuing their own selfish pleasure without regard to the consequences to family.
Fatherlessness is a curse, and the next generation repeats the sins of the fathers, only worse.
Check the cards sent out by inmates. Many will send a card to mother on Mother’s Day, but nobody will send a card to father on Father’s Day.
A true father’s love has been absent in too many of our homes.
By David Bakody on 07.05.07 10:34 am
Excellent point. Like in the States the ‘Lock ‘em up and throw away the key’ mentality has this inconvenient truth attached…it costs more to incarcerate than to assist and prevent.
I have long held the belief that prisons should be reserved for the truly violent criminals who are unwilling or incapable of fucntioning peacefully in our society. They should be under the most stringent of rules of examination before being considered for parole or release.
For non-violent repeat offenders put them on work details that actually do some positive contributions back to society. Ideally the Sweat Lodge should be instituted and make them face their victims and the real consequences of their actions where it counts in the hearts and minds.
The Dangerous Offender label is needed, and must be enforced. Three times convicted and that is it…your life then belongs to Corrections Canada for the duration.
A review of the CAS anti-spanking attitudes needs serious consideration as well. I see young (under
kids today that are absolute terrors in their own homes, their schools, and communities, and the parents are scared to death to discipline them in a manner than is memorable and effective (fear does still work).
Maybe the key is requiring a license with proper training on parenting before people can bear the next generation of miscreants? As much as I hate to say it, when I look at many ever so sad cases of poor parenting, child abuse, dysfunctional families, I have come to believe that pre-licensing is the only answer for many of them. As the warning goes ‘I will visit your sin upon the thrid and fourth generation.’ Geez, think about that!
(under
LMAO! I never knew that parentheses and an 8 made that emoticon?
I will go anywhere, anytime, to talk with Canadians. Get used to it. — Garth
I believe that Garth’s right to talk to with Canadians is protected by the Charter.
Failing any attempt by Harper, by use of an enabling act, to dampen that right.
Lastly, I will go anywhere, anytime, to talk with Canadians. Get used to it. — Garth
When are you planning on coming out west?
Being planned now. — Garth
“The problems of crime go back to the home, and to the abandonment of children by men and dead-beat Dads who are out pursuing their own selfish pleasure without regard to the consequences to family.”
By Izzy on 07.05.07 11:04 am
What a crock of ****.
9 out of 10 contested custody issues result in mother sole custody. Where`s your evidence that 9 out of 10 fathers are good enough before divorce but not good enough to be a father after divorce.
As to the dead beat issue the stats clearly state that few are dead beat, most are dead broke with the highest percentage of defaults going to mothers, not fathers.
Furthermore where the most child support is collected the youth crime rate is also the highest. How do you explain that?
What happened top the 1999 report ` For the Sake of the Children? Just another `didn`t get it done`.
On a separate topic, one I’m sure Garth will cover, did you see Harper, Mackay and O’Connor making the announcement to upgrade/refit our frigates?
Point 1. Its probably overdue and is the right thing to do, assuming of course, Harper and O’Connor know what the plans are for these upgraded frigates, and that the upgrades will serve the purpose intended.
Point 2. Did you notice that Mr. Harper reeled off a whole litany of active engagements these ships and their crews have been on, not acknowlegding once that it was the “Old Government” that sent them.
Point 3. Enough of Canada’s New Government already. Either you’re the government or you’re not.
Point 4. Everytime PMSH sat down, he crossed his arms and legs. I believe this is a subconscious defensive posture. So what did he have to be defensive about? (see end of point 1.)
Point 5. Watch out for the cost overruns!
Halton John has admitted openly that he’s willing to brash someone’s brains out – hopefully, he never gets in any trouble because this pathetic statement could come back to haunt him.
Perhaps preventative medicine is required here – jail him “before” he hurts someone. Halton John you need serious help.
Typical liberal saps.
I understand liberal weak fools,
,,,and if your 14 year old daughter is violently raped and the rapist serves a couple months in jail,
you will be satisfied. Right ??
You can hug your thugs all you want, but I hold the right to avenge my family from violent crime.
It makes me wonder about you. The way you want to protect violent offenders. Are you protecting yourself ??
You are sheep,,,weak sheep.
By slg on 07.05.07 11:54 am
Minority report comes to be a reality then?
That is why we have psych evaluations, unless you get a moron doctor like they have in the Emerg at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital who lets the loonies go.
Oh, sorry, I forgot to add the liberal view to my post -
It is the young women that are to blame. Shame on them for being violently raped. The poor violent thug could not control himself.
Oh, pity the poor criminal.
Naughty girl, dirty thing.
Tisk,,,tisk.
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.05.07 11:24 am
Fully agree.
What else I would loke to see is some kind of process to remove some of the judges that regularely release on bail repeat offenders of violent crimes or accused of guns involving a firearm.
The crime rate is symptomatic of the greater ill in our society. Authoritarian figures from our top politicans down have proven themselves unworthy of trust.
This loss of faith in those that supposedly lead and guide us eventually comes down to the child/parent relationship.
Reflect a moment on the way people have been betrayed by their politicans, religious guides, civic leaders, financial establishmnets, corporate heads and police.
Distrust breeds contempt. Betrayal begets retribution. Frustration and injustice leads to violence.
The prison system in Canada,same for the US, is BIG BUISNESS.Salaries,food,clothing,supplies for trades,doctors,dentists,prescription drugs for inmates,parole boards,parole officers,halfway houses,the list goes on.
These fine institutions have more crime per capita on the inside than the outside.Drugs ( all of them),some guns,violence,murder,rape,arson(burning another inmates cell and sometimes with him inside it).If it,s doable it’s done.
Hope your great at handling stress.
Anyone who would entertain the thought of retribution (HJ) to get him/her self inside of of these madhouses should indeed seek professional help.Cuz once you’re there,you’re going to realize and at lightning speed you screwed up BIG TIME.
Loh_Numa,
Failing any attempt by Harper, by use of an enabling act, to dampen that right.
Remember Loh, it wasn’t Harper that put the notwithstanding clause in the Constitution. It was Trudeau and the Quebec gov’t used it to suppress freedom of speech.
Time for a new entry, Garth. Sadly, this thread has turned into something out of The Simpsons, except not funny.
Oh, sorry, I forgot to add the liberal view to my post -
It is the young women that are to blame. Shame on them for being violently raped. The poor violent thug could not control himself.
Oh, pity the poor criminal.
Naughty girl, dirty thing.
Tisk,,,tisk.
By Haltonjohn on 07.05.07 12:22 pm
You are sick and deeply deluded and in all probability off of your meds .
Go ahead and attack someone with a ball bat and when they take it away from you and cave your stupid head in don’t cry to us .
That is a ,very,real danger as any cop will tell ‘ya .
You use a weapon in all likelihood it is you who will end up the victim .
Tough guys don’t need ball bats to make a point .
HaltonJohn……total ASS!
Garth, I think it’s about time to show HJ the door. Thanks
Oh, sorry, I forgot to add the liberal view to my post -
It is the young women that are to blame. Shame on them for being violently raped. The poor violent thug could not control himself.
Oh, pity the poor criminal.
Naughty girl, dirty thing.
Tisk,,,tisk.
By Haltonjohn on 07.05.07 12:22 pm
Garth, this person is sick, very, very sick. Time to have this pathetic soul sapped into the delete pile quickly.
Miltonjohn, you have a very serious problem & should seek professional help immediately.
You can hug your thugs all you want, but I hold the right to avenge my family from violent crime.
I couldn’t find that ‘right’ in the Charter.
I believe that we have a justice system for a reason. If you don’t happen to agree with the minimum sentencing, tell your MP…that would be the legal thing to do.
But we can’t have a bunch of vigilante’s running around avenging crimes and picking up where the justice system didn’t satisfy.
That’s just not a civil society.
haltonjohn, the new observer. How wonderful.
I think I hear the clock ticking away until his most anticipated removal.
“liberals suck”
“I understand liberal weak fools”
“You are sheep,,,weak sheep.”
Not to mention slightly unbalanced. I anticipate a pretty severe breakdown.
On topic, mr.harper has made it his mission to copy the US regime, slogans and all. I would like to think we, as Canadians, are not as easily fooled as the american people seem to have been (or were at least).
‘Getting it done’
‘Didn’t get it done’
‘Turn the corner’
‘Soft on terror’
These are all catch phrases that simple minded people pick up on and run with. Let’s hope, come the next election, our education system has not failed us in keeping our citizens learned enough to see past the utterly glossy outside, and into the devastatingly ugly inside that infests the con party.
Hmm, ironically, I think the Lib. justice critic also pointed out that on 3 occasions, the LPC had offered to ‘fast-tracl’ 3-5 of the CPC’s major anti-crime bills.
Of course, the CPC decided to reject it because they’d prefer to play politics with the issue and try to portray the LPC as being ’soft on crime’. For once, I just wish the Prime Minister and many other politicians to just grow up and stop getting on with behavior that most parents wouldn’t even tolerate from people in junior high school!
By Jordan Lester on 07.05.07 6:53 am
Why is it, that there was so little media attention regarding this issue? I think party should be discredited when they deserve it and wish the press would make better use of their power.
Halton John,
I understand liberal weak fools,
,,,and if your 14 year old daughter is violently raped and the rapist serves a couple months in jail,
you will be satisfied. Right ??
No John, I would not be satistifed, but that does give me the right or you the right to commit premeditated murder. Please show one single civilized nation where this is allowed.
You can hug your thugs all you want, but I hold the right to avenge my family from violent crime.,/b>
Again John, you do not have that right, you never did and never will. Let me ask you a question John, do you currently own a firearm?
It makes me wonder about you. The way you want to protect violent offenders. Are you protecting yourself ??
You are absolutely right John, we should protect ourselves from protential violent offenders,… I think maybe calling the RCMP about to have any firearms removed from your procession would be your best interest and in the interests and safety of the community that you live.
You are sheep,,,weak sheep.
Make sure you tell that to the RCMP.
To maintain any warship for an extentend period of time it must continue to have modernization refits, this announcement saw it’s groundwork start under Jean Cretien’s goverment. the fact PMSH mentioned 2010 and nothing about the moth balling of submarine means as much as a holliday visit to Afghanistan, nothing>
Muskoka Bill… Thanks, The US has more people incarcerated than the rest of world combined and still has the highest crime rate in the world. Our friends in Europe maintain a better system of helping first time ofenders using family intervention. Our proud 1st Nations have used a smiliar system, your point on exposure is well taken, I have always noticed it when those arrested cover their heads and the few who mock the press (Watch out for them, much like those who openly speak of violence)
A word of caution to Mr. HJ I hope you never have the cause to act on your words nor encourage anyone, because you will find it will not matter how much money you gave the CPC or how mamy hours of your time you gave the CPC, they will make an example of you and justice will be swift and sure. Your family will suffer even more and you will not be there when they need a strong father in their time of need and bankrupt them in the process.
I like you would have feelings of revenge but! I pray my friends would rally alongside in comfort to see me through justice process as I hold my family close. That sir is what many brave Canadain soldiers fought & died for in WW II and did not seek revenge after the defeat of Hitler, I have met many vets over the years and many told me they fell on thier knees in sickness at the sights but stood tall and acted in professional manner and arrested and detained prisoners in custody under the Geneva Convention.
You can hug your thugs all you want, but I hold the right to avenge my family from violent crime.
Okay HJ…Okay. Then I get to exercise my ‘right’ to secure the future for my family and society.
GENE POLICE!
YOU! Out of the pool!
GGF wrote:
Loh_Numa,
Failing any attempt by Harper, by use of an enabling act, to dampen that right.
Remember Loh, it wasn’t Harper that put the notwithstanding clause in the Constitution. It was Trudeau and the Quebec gov’t used it to suppress freedom of speech.
If I remember my history correctly, it were the Premiers who put up the stink about the Notwithstanding clause. The best Trudeau could do was to protect the first 8 clauses of the Charter from that clause. If I remember completely, the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia put up an incredible stink. Oh yeah, and Newfoundland wanted a clause that said no Canadian could move to Newfoundland if the unemployment rate was above some percentage. (LOL!) How times change.
Quebec wanted the clause explicitly to limit language rights. Once Quebec got that, it was all over. Several provincial premiers backed Quebec on that front, in part to protect their pet concerns. If anything — in a way, you can blame everybody alive at the time from throwing Anglo-Canadians living in Quebec “under the bus”. So there. You’re all guilty. (Happy?)
If Trudeau had his way, there would have been no Notwithstanding clause.
If Harper ever wins his Majority though, you won’t have to deal with the current framework within the Charter that much longer.
The Calgary School is a big fan of the American slogan: “The Supreme Court has made their decision — now let’s see them enforce it.”
I’m not thrilled with the application of the Notwithstanding Act, which I see as a method for a majority to trample on inalienable minority rights.
That said, I think everybody ought to take another look at what the Charter actually says, and remind themselves what is a right (equal treatment under the law), and what is not (the right to wail on somebody who hits your car whilst talking on a cellphone,
or the right to park in a handicapped stall while getting milk for my baby. It’s my baby. Won’t somebody think of the children? Doesn’t my child have the right to milk?)
I love those people who are so quick to invoke their ‘rights’ when they are totally in the wrong. Just love it.
Liberal minded judge in action,
Recently a drunk driver hit and killed a 9 year old child on a bike.
He was charged with impaired driving causing death. This was the third time he had been charged with drunk driving.
Apparently the child swerved slightly on the bike, the drunk, unable to avoid the child, hit, and ran over him, killing him instantly.
The judge, in all his stupid wisdom, felt that the child was at fault and the drunk literally walked out of court that day, a free man.
Now that, is liberal justice.
All I know, is that if the drunk did not get into that car in the first place, that child would be alive today.
As well, the impaired reactions of the drunk, in my opinion caused the death.
This was not considered by the idiot liberal judge.
Liberals are not only soft on crime, they are soft on criminals.
Oh yes,
I know, some of you bloging liberal morons will ask me how I know the judge is liberal.
I ask you – Do bears $hit in the woods?
Irene,
Has Haltonjohn exposed you. Is your real name Karla?
“The prison system in Canada,same for the US, is BIG”
By Ted Browne on 07.05.07 12:35 pm
You`ve got that right, 80% of youth problems come from sole custody along with 80% of prison inmates. It`s the reason the justice industry as pushed sole custody to its highest historical level ever even after being told by the Liberal government of the day to decrease sole custody. It creates crime.
In response to Bill’s first post… Garth, why on Earth aren’t our MP’s accountable for what they say in Parliament? Our government officials acting in an official capacity darn well SHOULD be accountable for their own words…
Loh_Numa
But we can’t have a bunch of vigilante’s running around avenging crimes and picking up where the justice system didn’t satisfy.
True. That only works in comic books.
Loh_Numa,
If Trudeau had his way, there would have been no Notwithstanding clause.
When the provinces wouldn’t agree to a Constitution without the notwithstanding clause, Trudeau should have packed up the Constitution talks and went home.
If Harper ever wins his Majority though, you won’t have to deal with the current framework within the Charter that much longer.
What makes you think that Harper would do anything with the Charter? If he does reopen Constitutional talks, it will be to fix major problems with the Canadian gov’t such as Senators, not do anything with the Charter. Canadians see the Charter as a sacred cow. No one can touch it and win an election next time around.
If Trudeau had his way, there would have been no Notwithstanding clause.
Trudeau had his way. He wanted his place in the history books. Rather than walk away from a very bad deal, he did the only thing that could guarantee his name in the “Book of Canadian History”.
Ultimately, it was all about his ego.
I don’t know why the Liberals are opposed to increasing the age of consent to 16?? I don’t know why they resist so much against mandatory sentences. Even the NDP are prepared to go further than them. There is no question many – myself included reel when we hear some of the judicial decisions. I have always contended our judicial system is a closed system run by lawyers from which a few become judges. Their accountability is to the system and the public has practically no input or influence. Dare the politician to change it!
Rate Harper’s performance in Halifax.
http://www.hfxnews.com/index.cfm
Canadians see the Charter as a sacred cow. No one can touch it and win an election next time around.
By GGF on 07.05.07 3:45 pm
Harpo will never get the majority of Provinces to agree to re-opening the Charter / Constitution . Period .
It is safe from this fools hands .
It was high comedy watching this twit try and intimidate the Senate into passing his assine legislation of limiting the terms of Senators to eight years .
ROTFLMAO
Hey GGF, he would not do anything with the charter he would just ignor it, dam the the masses and do what he pleased, hell he is doing it now.
Ummm, and the rest of the story is? Didn’t the Libs in Senate water the anti-crime legislation down which caused the government to act? Or something like that? Can’t remember the details, sorry.
One of the young men who was racing in T.O. killing the cab driver last year, just a few days prior to his getting his CND citizenship was let off free by the judge with a conditional sentence. The man was doing 160 in a 50. One of the men charged in racing that killed the truck driver a couple of weeks ago, is already free on bail last week. Child porners still get house arrest. A man recently who pointed a loaded gun at a police officer, walked out of court free, the judge felt sorry for the multi-time offender because he didn’t know his father. Over the last decade Canada has become a safe haven for child rapists and violent offenders. Garth knows that.
L
Rate Stephen Harper’s performance to date as Prime Minister?
· Excellent (11%)
· Good (10%)
· Fair (15%)
· Awful (63%)
Results from Cappy’s link .
http://www.hfxnews.com/index.cfm
“The prison system in Canada,same for the US, is BIGâ€
By Ted Browne on 07.05.07 12:35 pm
You`ve got that right, 80% of youth problems come from sole custody along with 80% of prison inmates. It`s the reason the justice industry as pushed sole custody to its highest historical level ever even after being told by the Liberal government of the day to decrease sole custody. It creates crime.
By got rope? on 07.05.07 3:02 pm
You know what >>I
By Ken on 07.05.07 4:13 pm
I, too, am unsure what the Liberal’s objection to the age of conscent law is. Not having actually read the law, I would be very, very careful about the wording to protect against it becoming a Draconian, religious based law attempting to grant morality power to the State.
Teens are going to have sex regardless of their parents wishes…I did, almost everyone does, it is human nature.
The issue remains the age differential at which it become a crime. When it comes to laws I believe nothing I hear or read other than the law itself.
As I said yesterday, ‘The United States is a nation of laws, badly written and randomly enforced!’ Frank Zappa
Lets try that again:
“The prison system in Canada,same for the US, is BIGâ€
By Ted Browne on 07.05.07 12:35 pm
You`ve got that right, 80% of youth problems come from sole custody along with 80% of prison inmates. It`s the reason the justice industry as pushed sole custody to its highest historical level ever even after being told by the Liberal government of the day to decrease sole custody. It creates crime.
By got rope? on 07.05.07 3:02 pm
You know what I think the problem is? Potatoes! Yes, thats right, those damn potatoes. Did you know that at least 95%!! of all juvenile criminals have eaten POTATOES!
I personally think that everyone that has eaten a potatoe should be jailed before they commit a crime. No one is save in this country until we do so.
It MIGHT just be a coincidence, or perhaps there is SOMEthing else at work here, but I don’t think so.
Potatoes are the devil.
And water. Lots of criminals have drank water. That might be a problem too. Banning water is a good start.
I think I’ll start a website promoting that. Maybe do a study or two to see just how many criminals have drank water before. Then draw a vague correlation between the two and convince everyone to my way of thinking.
Or perhaps I should actually just read through SEVERAL studies and see what might really be the issue…. maybe not jump to conclusions? Perhaps think that there are SEVERAL problems at hand?
No. It’s water and potatoes fault. It’s quite obvious.
I’m no fool.
Here is what happens to the HJ’s of this nation when they act against the law.
Why don’t you sucker me now
Yeah, the perps really settled that score. Now the people get top waste thousands prosecuting the hotheads. Wonderful!
That only works in comic books…and films and video games. But, isn’t that exactly what the Timbit Generation was raised on? Every movie now is a comic book. Now they’re even making movies about the toys that they used to play with such as the Transformers.
Uncontrollable mayhem and blood, unstoppable Superheroes and instant gratification on the double-double.
Awful (63%)
By Hunter Mars on 07.05.07 5:13 pm
Hey! How about that? Harper is actually leading by a significant margin in a poll! I bet the Death Star is breaking out the Super Blue Kool-Aide tonight, eh? Bet they have cookies too!
Awful (63%)
By Hunter Mars on 07.05.07 5:13 pm
Hey! How about that? Harper is actually leading by a significant margin in a poll! I bet the Death Star is breaking out the Super Blue Kool-Aide tonight, eh? Bet they have cookies too!
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.05.07 5:41 pm
Yea, simply amazing the guy has a substantial lead .
Break out the ‘reality’ cookies .
LOL
HJ,Milty. Escaped lab specimens .
Lastly, I will go anywhere, anytime, to talk with Canadians. Get used to it. — Garth
When are you planning on coming out west?
Being planned now. — Garth
By GGF on 07.05.07 11:48 am
Yahooo!! Come and take a welcome walk on t’other side, and see how the rest of us enjoy the good life!
Actually Bill, Harper has been leading consistantly in the polls ever since Dion became the Liberal leader.
Sure doesn’t say much for Dion’s leadership. I wonder how long the Liberals are going to keep saying or maybe I should say convince themselves that that things will change once Dion gets out on the barbecue circuit. Humm I guess time will tell.
No. It’s water and potatoes fault. It’s quite obvious.
I’m no fool.
By SJ on 07.05.07 5:30 pm
That`s as good a defense of sole custody as I`ve seen yet. You could be a potential Minister of Justice for the Lieberals.
I understand liberal weak fools,
,,,and if your 14 year old daughter is violently raped and the rapist serves a couple months in jail,
you will be satisfied. Right ??
You can hug your thugs all you want, but I hold the right to avenge my family from violent crime. – HaltonJohn
Dear Mr. HaltonJohn,
I know just exactly what you’re saying has I have had a friend who was indeed raped. The feeling is one of “give me two minutes with the #%$$%, he won’t do that again.”
However, you have absolutely no right to revenge. That’s what it is, not justice. And to exercise revenge brings you down to the level of the original crime.
Justice is and has to be blind, as every case is different. But sometimes it screws up, especially when prosecutors don’t prove a case to a jury or judges don’t impose sentances to fit the crimes. You can’t blame Liberals for that, they don’t hand out sentances.
Its for the prosecution to make the case, and the judge to send the %^%&%& away for a good long time.
When politicans get involved you get the fiasco in the US. of George W. letting Scooter off for covering one of his aides butt. Politicans make they law, they don’t and shouldn’t be part of enforcing it.
Secondly, I suspect you subscribe to the “eye for an eye”? What that actually means is to set a maximum for any retribution. So unfortunately, if a man rapes your 14 year old daughter, you can’t commit murder!
Maybe you should try decaf!
Hunter Mars,
Harpo will never get the majority of Provinces to agree to re-opening the Charter / Constitution . Period .
Don’t be too sure. The provinces are sick of years of Liberals invading their jurisdictions on nearly every issue and creating expensive programs that the provinces have to pay for.
It was high comedy watching this twit try and intimidate the Senate into passing his assine legislation of limiting the terms of Senators to eight years .
Yeah. Having unaccountable, appointed buddies of the PM that serve 40 year terms and rarely show up and make $126,000+/year. Hilarious.
David Bakody,
Hey GGF, he would not do anything with the charter he would just ignor it, dam the the masses and do what he pleased, hell he is doing it now.
No matter what your impression is David, the gov’t must follow the rules set out in the Constitution. If Harper passes any legislation that it outside the Federal jurisdiction, the Supreme Court will strike that legislation down. As the ruling party, he has the authority to do what he pleases, within the framework of the Constitution.
As well, the impaired reactions of the drunk, in my opinion caused the death.
This was not considered by the idiot liberal judge. – Miltonman
Don’t get me wrong, drunk drivers, especially repeat ones need to be put away.
However, a few years ago, I was in an unfortunate accident with a child riding her bike. The child swerved in front of me. I was not drunk or impaired in any way. Yet there was absolutely no way to avoid her.
How many times have people walked between cars without looking and been hit because there was no way to avoid them?
I don’t know the exact details of the case you talk about, and I also ride my bike frequently. But I do know, whether a driver is impaired or not, if I swerve in front of them without warning, I have only myself to blame.
Just because the driver was drunk, doesn’t mean he caused the accident, or that the childs death could have been avoided.
What you’re saying is that if you run a stop sign, and are broadsided by a drunk driver who had right of way, the drunk is to blame. I think not! But he should be charged with DUI.
Actually Bill, Harper has been leading consistantly in the polls ever since Dion became the Liberal leader.
Sure doesn’t say much for Dion’s leadership. I wonder how long the Liberals are going to keep saying or maybe I should say convince themselves that that things will change once Dion gets out on the barbecue circuit. Humm I guess time will tell.
By Van on 07.05.07 6:31 pm
Your delusional . Provide the poll link or shut up !
Rate Stephen Harper’s performance to date as Prime Minister?
· Excellent (11%)
· Good (10%)
· Fair (15%)
· Awful (63%)
Results from Cappy’s link .
http://www.hfxnews.com/index.cfm
By Hunter Mars on 07.05.07 5:13 pm
Yea, he’s leading alright . In the wrong direction .
Awful means abominable, alarming, appalling, atrocious, bad, deplorable, depressing,got the picture oh foolish one ?
Of course Lieberals like the police, Mr Chretien did at least twice by my recollection: once in the grande mere Inn (Shawinigate) fiasco – where he used the good services of the RCMP to shake down the head of the BDC and once to pepper spray demonstrators in Peppergate. The police are useful, aren’t they – when you want to get your Lieberal point across.
The police are useful, aren’t they – when you want to get your Lieberal point across.
By jt on 07.05.07 7:35 pm
When you want to get your neo-rightest point across, don’t you mean ?
Oooo! How clever a Lieberal .
Grow up ‘ya stiff .
By Van on 07.05.07 6:31 pm
You know Van, were you not a Knight of the Harper Defense Table, you would be a pretty nice person. Choose your leader carefully.
Bill wrote,
>You know Van, were you not a Knight of >the Harper Defense Table, you would be a >pretty nice person. Choose your leader >carefully.
Bill it really is to bad you don’t know me because you would realize that I would defend anybody who I think is getting the shaft from those who write on this blog and have done so on several occasions. It just so happens that since this is a Liberal blog I accept that most of the Harper comments would be negative. But some of them are just way over the top. I do admit however that I feel Harper is the best leader of the bunch which really isn’t saying much about any of them. It seems that I am not the only one who thinks that because we have had successive minority governments.
Sorry, I truly feel that academics do not make good leaders for reason I have stated previously. Dion’s performance thus far is lacking and doesn’t seem have to have it as a PM. The May deal is one example and another is his “that is not fair comment” during the convention. His performance in the house has been lackluster although he is getting a bit better.I don’t like being ignored by politicians who wages I help pay which he did. All these really are not attributes I want in a PM. Personally I think any of the other Liberal candidates would have been a better choice.
Layton on the other hand is way far to left for me and I have seen what can happen to a country when a far left leader becomes a PM when I was stationed in the UK.
Duceppe what can I say. He is a separatist who wants to break up Canada and I wouldn’t support him if he was the last person standing.
Cheers
May, I don’t know too much about her but the deal she made with Dion didn’t impress me at all. This leads me to believe she would make a deal with the devil to advance herself or to try an manipulate the electorate..
Harper is not the best either. He must learn to understand the teamwork concept but I do respect his decisiveness which is needed in time of war.
Cheers
Hunter Mars wrote.
>Your delusional . Provide the poll link >or shut up !
Here it is just for you Hunter. Read it ands weep.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T230.pdf
It was taken in the first week of April but there hasn’t been much shift as far as I know. It is also my believe the latest poll in Quebec has Dion at around 12% support amongst Francophone voters which you also may find interesting. I have done some research for you you can do the rest yourself.
Hi Hunter Mars
Here is a more recent poll June 29th,2007 just for you. Proceed to question 7. It shows Harper as favorite leader at 50%, Dion at 17% which is even 2% less than what Layton received.
http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_395.html
That is two polls for you to read and enjoy.Now what were you saying about me shutting up.
Van: Yes, decisiveness is needed during a time of war, but we are not at war. War has not been declared that I am aware of. Our troops are on a “mission”.
And Mr. Harper has flipped many times in the past 17 months–so I would not call him decisive. I would call him divisive.
That only works in comic books…and films and video games. But, isn’t that exactly what the Timbit Generation was raised on? Every movie now is a comic book. Now they’re even making movies about the toys that they used to play with such as the Transformers.
Uncontrollable mayhem and blood, unstoppable Superheroes and instant gratification on the double-double.
By Charles on 07.05.07 5:40 pm
Ahem… Uhm, transformers was a cartoon as well. A damn fine one at that.
Even the newer ones for this gen was pretty good!
—-
Actually Bill, Harper has been leading consistantly in the polls ever since Dion became the Liberal leader.
Sure doesn’t say much for Dion’s leadership. I wonder how long the Liberals are going to keep saying or maybe I should say convince themselves that that things will change once Dion gets out on the barbecue circuit. Humm I guess time will tell.
By Van on 07.05.07 6:31 pm
I find that a bit perplexing…. ‘ever since Dion became the liberal leader’?
No, that is quite untrue. Before, during, and after the liberal leadership race the liberals were behind. Thanks to the previous governments indiscretions they were behind in the polls. Nothing to do with Dion. On top of that, the poll numbers actually ROSE AFTER Dion got nominated lib leader. The current numbers have been fluctuating, but the cons went from a rough 39% down to 32%(or so) in the polls recently.
This parties current standing has very little to do with (take that with the bad and good) Dion as leader. It has everything to do with ad scam, and the Gomery report. Throw in a government that probably had it to good for to long on each election day and you have the opposition no longer in opposing, but governing.
The simple fact is, the liberal party needs to spruce it’s image up, show that the past is just that, the past. Get everyone to understand that the “NEW” (god forbid they use that moniker) liberal party is ready to rule again. And they will, I have no doubt about that. Dion isn’t the issue. And I think with a little more time, people will come to see him as a good MP and a much better choice for PM.
Whatever the case, time shall tell us all what we are in store for. My hope is harper out ASAP. Anyone but him. His dictatorial style doesn’t jive with this cat. The sooner he is gone, the better we will all be. ( IMHO
)
Hunter Mars wrote.
>Your delusional . Provide the poll link >or shut up !
Here it is just for you Hunter. Read it ands weep.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T230.pdf
It was taken in the first week of April but there hasn’t been much shift as far as I know. It is also my believe the latest poll in Quebec has Dion at around 12% support amongst Francophone voters which you also may find interesting. I have done some research for you you can do the rest yourself.
By Van on 07.05.07 9:43 pm
Pick and choose as you may:
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T234.pdf
I can ALMOST guarantee people will be voting for the party or local MP other than the leader if another election came along…. could be wrong, but the numbers say two very different things when it comes to what party and what leader one would choose.
Somehow I cannot see the libs getting 16% of the popular vote. 33% however, I could see.
Maybe the key is requiring a license with proper training on parenting before people can bear the next generation of miscreants? As much as I hate to say it, when I look at many ever so sad cases of poor parenting, child abuse, dysfunctional families, I have come to believe that pre-licensing is the only answer for many of them. As the warning goes ‘I will visit your sin upon the thrid and fourth generation.’ Geez, think about that!
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.05.07 11:24 am
Bill, you are not serious? right? Please say you are not serious.
May, I don’t know too much about her but the deal she made with Dion didn’t impress me at all. This leads me to believe she would make a deal with the devil to advance herself or to try an manipulate the electorate.
By Van on 07.05.07 9:35 pm
Well, first I will say that as far as leaders go…I haven’t seen one rise to the level of leadership I expect.
Likewise, i will say that Dion is the best of the lot, albeit he is surrounded by backroom power with Iggy sitting next to him. I do not trust Iggy as far as I could throw a car. Talk about academics? Iggy is the consumate academic…Ivory Tower bred and born.
I can relate to that attitude, because I have worked with hundereds of PhD’s in my career, and about 3% of them were worth anything. Filled with knoweldge, arrogance, and no experience in the real world. They cannot even effectively communicate outside their own field in many cases. Dion can, has, and is.
As to Elizabeth May. She is intellegent, well educated, well experienced, and able to communicate better than any of the other so called leaders. i suggest you do take the time to read what she says at the Green Party website.
She made a deal with Dion, and he with her, and MacKay has cast his own future in his own riding. I truly hope she defeats him by a landslide. The MacKay’s have held that riding way too long.
May chose that riding based on her desire to live there, which is where she really wants to be. Read about that please.
I sense you have strong opinions regarding certain areas, but do you have a clear vision? Just saying ‘Take a fresh look!’
I know I was happy and felt secure when JC was the PM. I did not feel I had to monitor what was going on. That was, perhaps, my error, and JC got away with things I would have been standing tall against. I do hold the Liberal PArty responsible for allowing him that much unsupervised power, but not all Liberals…just the top structure.
Then Martin came in and my confidence dropped some because, Darn, he was a Mr. Dithers. I think he is honest, just not well groomed to public speaking.
In the debates Duceppe was the most well spoken of them all.
As to Layton, he has heard the word and has changed, but they are still a tad out there for being the nation’s leader, yet they bring good ideas.
Harper, is simply too Americanized like Bush, and I will never support the Far Right Ideology and Funnymentalism. NEVER! I have seen first hand what it does…it destroys nations. Harper has earned every single bit of the criticism he receives, and more. He has LIED, over and over again. There is no way I will support the CRAP he and his Goon Squad represent. I have no problem with genuine Tories or Conservatives in many areas.
Getting back to how do I feel about Canada today, this morning? I am not feeling good about what has happened, nor where it is headed. I do not feel secure anymore. Why? Both Harper and McGuinty have proven to me they cannot be trusted.
I immigrated to Canada to get the hell away from such lieing bastards. Now, here they are again. Bluntly I am getting mad as Hell at the total lack of honesty, integrity, and truth day in and day out.
Bottom line? I am supporting the Green Party until they show me they do not deserve my support. As to the Liberals…as long as they have Iggy…they do not get my support. He is a Far Right Bushite in Red Dress to me, and should not be sitting where he is. I actually despise the man even more than Harper. Harper is a power pervert hick in my opinion. Iggy is a power pervert elitist.
So, I bet that will make the anaylists program crash…because Darn my hide, I think for myself, and it is impossible to put a label around my neck and say ‘Heal!’
GGF, on the Constitutional issue, about what Trudeau wanted etc, and whether he should have walked away…I think in light of the referendum and such, the fact of the matter is that Trudeau started moving Canada towards a Constitutional set of rights (Americanization) in 1976 (maybe it was 1972, I dunno, I wasn’t alive then, so my memory is a bit hazy) when he gave the Supreme Court of Canada control over its own docket. It was his plan all along to Americanize our judicial system at the highest level.
Frankly I’m glad he did, and beated the Brits and many Euros to the punch.
With respect to Harper and the Charter — they have a very different reading of Supreme Court decisions, and they won’t hesitate to engage the Court in a very different type of ‘dialogue’. The Charter isn’t sacred.
I’ve never gotten a straight answer out of the Calgary School about the Five Region Veto act that went through following the ’95 referendum. Harper et al know how it works (and I think Flannagan’s treatment of it is the only piece of academic work on the subject), so that ranks them among the few, and perhaps a couple of old Liberals and Atlantic premiers, who really understand what it means.
In effect, if Harper is going to respect that act, to amend the constitution, you not only need to follow the old ammending formula, plus the stated Atlantic side deal among the premiers at the time — the act effectively gives everybody, including PEI, a veto over any change. In fact, the only provinces without an outright veto are Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which, if the other one votes in favour along with Alberta, but one doesn’t consent, it denies either one a veto.
Interesting eh?
Probably not, but it means that Harper can’t revise the Constitution piecemeal. In fact, I don’t think there’s a single federal politician of any standing that could get every province except for Manitoba OR Saskatchewan to go along with anything.
—————-
I’ll posit, Van, that if academics don’t make for good leaders — then why is the PM run by Flannagan, Brodie, with consulting parter Ted Morton up in Edmonton?
Bill, you are not serious? right? Please say you are not serious.
By Catherine on 07.06.07 4:54 am
Okay! I am not serious. Then when I read some of your comments I am very serious.
Van,
Here it is just for you Hunter. Read it ands weep.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T230.pdf
Thanks for the poll results. What I find kind of funny is the results for decided voters. Even decided Green party supporters chose Harper over Elizabeth May.
SJ,
I can ALMOST guarantee people will be voting for the party or local MP other than the leader if another election came along….
People do factor in the leader of the party. If Jean Charest was leader of the PC party in 1993, the PCs wouldn’t have gone from 151 seats to 2.
As much as I dislike Chretien, he was a great leader and decisively beat Kim Campbell who was not a great leader.
It is interesting to note that the PC party had 43% of the popular vote in 1988 and they dropped to 16%. I don’t believe that drop in popular vote was expected either.
Bill-Muskoka,
Harper is a power pervert hick in my opinion.
How many ‘hicks’ do you know that grew up in Toronto?
Van,
Here it is just for you Hunter. Read it ands weep.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T230.pdf
Thanks for the poll results. What I find kind of funny is the results for decided voters. Even decided Green party supporters chose Harper over Elizabeth May.
By GGF on 07.06.07 11:54 am
Too funny can you even read . That poll is ancient as in the archives .
April / May .
Come on . You’re gonna have to do better than that . Nope 63% think Harpos is awful and that is a number I believe .
Hi Hunter Mars
Here is a more recent poll June 29th,2007 just for you. Proceed to question 7. It shows Harper as favorite leader at 50%, Dion at 17% which is even 2% less than what Layton received.
http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_395.html
That is two polls for you to read and enjoy.Now what were you saying about me shutting up.
By Van on 07.05.07 10:28 pm
Poll is meaningless . Let’s talk about Harpos numbers when he first took over .
Barely ,even, double didgits .
Nope you still need to shut up as you obviously haven’t a clue what you are talking about .
So what if his polling numbers are at 50% ?
Matters not one iota .
Maybe you are not aware the provinicial rightist party in Alberta has shed 19% of their support since last September .
This is indicative of Fed support as well .
They will not sweep Alberta this time .
Guaranteed .
Harpo may get elected but he will never,ever have the numbers to form a majority .
How many ‘hicks’ do you know that grew up in Toronto?
By GGF on 07.06.07 12:12 pm
Every hillbilly in the nation .
Today a clarification by the SCoC occured regarding road blocks, and I think it makes total sense.
Top Court backs Peel police
Also…Sylvester meet the Tough Judge…thankfully there are some left:
Sylvester’s sentence: No parole for 16 years
And will the Courts deal with this Bad Cop harshly? We will find out. I am already pissed he is out on bail, suspended with pay.
Constable accused of helping mobsters
GGF,
Seriously, how many current Senators will serve 40 years? Or is that a number you pulled out of your umm…. ass?
And no mention of what was really proposed by the opposition (a 12-year term as opposed to an 8-year term, was it? Look, I’m a not a Liberal or a Liberal supporter but you were being mighty selective (and disingenous) with your info.
There’s a very good reason to oppose the Cons Senate proposal – a two-term PM could completely, and I mean totally stack the Senate with their own partisans. Is that what you prefer? A Senate 100% comprised of members of one party?
This isn’t Senate ‘reform’. True Senate reform must begin with a re-allocation of seats. Then we can talk about ‘terms’. Of course Harper will do nothing on true Senate reform because he, the great ‘uniter’ , would have to open the discussion to the provinces.
To be honest, I was surprised at your comment about ’40 year terms’. Is that a new ‘talking point’?
http://tinyurl.com/3ytpgw
“Yup,me an my brother support Steve .
Wanna do sumtin’ ’bout it ? “
By Hunter Mars on 07.06.07 2:39 pm
ROFLAMO! Yeppers, they be the ones alrighty! Where is my Gene Police badge?
Here are their cousins at the CPC meeting in their home town
and Grandma has a few questions for Mr. Flaherty about those Income Trusts
Hunter Mars, You challenged me to provide a poll showing Harper’s popularity higher than Dions. I provided two for your enjoyment. Live with it. Quite frankly I could care less what you think or don’t think about the polls as that wasn’t the issue. I suggest that in the future that you do a little research before go off half cocked and say something.
Have a nice day just the same. Cheers.
Hunter Mars wrote,
>Maybe you are not aware the provincial
>rightist party in Alberta has shed 19% >of their support since last September .
>This is indicative of Fed support as >well .
It is a mistake to try and relate provincial politics with Federal. But the that is your mistake not mine.
Alberta support for the federal Conservatives is still massive when compared to the other parties.
>They will not sweep Alberta this time .
>Guaranteed .
I wouldn’t make a bet on it if I were you. For one thing by elections
usually a wake up call to the current governments. This could be the case in Klein’s old riding. On the other hands it could have been a back lash in the way King Ralph was treated by the Provincial Conservatives and the way the pushed him out. I will also put it to you that Ralph would likely have won the seat if he had run. But we will never know.
Personally I think your comments about the CPC downward popularity and demise in Alberta has more to do with wishful thinking then reality. The Liberals did hold 2 seats in Alberta up to the last election and they may regain them back. The Liberals success in Alberta, however will depend directly upon what Dion will say or do. Any mention of a carbon tax similar to the last one will be their downfall again.
As far as a majority government. I doubt that it will happen for a number of years yet for any party including the Liberals or Conservatives. All the polls thus far indicates a minority government once again. Unfortunately for the Liberals the Conservatives seem to have the edge. But the only poll that really counts is the one on election day and anything else is speculative as the other ones are only a snap shot at the particular time the poll was taken. Anything can happen on election day because the electorate is so volatile at the moment.
However, the SES poll was right on the money during the last election and was the only polling firm that was. This is why I place more credence to their polls then the from the other firms.
As far as a majority government. I doubt that it will happen for a number of years yet for any party including the Liberals or Conservatives.
By Van on 07.06.07 5:01 pm
Edgar Allen Poe comes to mind ‘Nevermore!’ I agree with you, it will be a long time before any party has a majority in Canada.
GGF wrote,
>As much as I dislike Chretien, he was a >great leader and decisively beat Kim >Campbell who was not a great leader.
Campbell made a few election boo boo but the main reason was she was the Conservative sacrificial lamb because of the voter’s hatred for Mulroney at the time. Personally, i would have like her be have won that year so she could prove to us what she was made of. I think she could have been a good PM. Lastly, she was up against an old pro and didn’t have a chance against the little guy from Shawinigan.
Jackie Chan’s Left Hand aka Hunter Mars,
Too funny can you even read . That poll is ancient as in the archives .
April / May .
Thought we had a truce Jackie. Or does it end whenever you decide to change your handle?
And the fact that the poll is old doesn’t change the fact that Green supporters thought that Harper was better than May. Isn’t this poll from around Dion’s big announcement that May and Dion will team up?
Frank Fink,
Seriously, how many current Senators will serve 40 years? Or is that a number you pulled out of your umm…. ass?
That is purely up to the PM. In theory, the PM could appoint 30 year olds to the Senate to serve for 40 years. But if you want actual numbers, to date, only one senator has ever served a term of 45 years or longer, 28 senators have served terms of 35 years or more. So no, I didn’t pull that number out of my ass. There have been senators who served significantly long terms.
And no mention of what was really proposed by the opposition (a 12-year term as opposed to an 8-year term, was it? Look, I’m a not a Liberal or a Liberal supporter but you were being mighty selective (and disingenous) with your info.
No I wasn’t being disingenous. Hunter Mars never pointed out the compromise either.
There’s a very good reason to oppose the Cons Senate proposal – a two-term PM could completely, and I mean totally stack the Senate with their own partisans.
Now you are being disingenous. You are forgetting about the second half of the senate reform where the provinces recommend the people for appointment. If SK decides to elect an NDP, then the PM will appoint that NDP senator.
Is that what you prefer? A Senate 100% comprised of members of one party?
Oh, like now? Where a majority are always Liberal cronies?
This isn’t Senate ‘reform’. True Senate reform must begin with a re-allocation of seats. Then we can talk about ‘terms’.
That would require full Constitutional reform. That is nearly impossible under the current formula as Loh_Numa has pointed out.
Of course Harper will do nothing on true Senate reform because he, the great ‘uniter’
Constitution reform under the current formula is impossible for ANY PM.
To be honest, I was surprised at your comment about ‘40 year terms’. Is that a new ‘talking point’?
No. It is a fact. Senators can serve for 40 years. If I was PM, I would be appointing 30 year olds just to show how broken the system is.
Van,
Campbell made a few election boo boo but the main reason was she was the Conservative sacrificial lamb because of the voter’s hatred for Mulroney at the time.
My point was that if Charest was in power, the damage wouldn’t have been as severe. I wonder how Canada would be now if Kim Cambell and Garth Turner as Finance Minister would have won that election…
I am not so sure about less damage with Charest. The public had such hate for Mulroney that I doubt anybody could have changed the outcome. The unfortunate mistake that Campbell did was to be truthful and that helped in her downfall. I am sure Charest have been thumped by the Liberals at the time and his political career would have been over just like Campbell’s..
Yes it would have been interesting with a Campbell Turner team. Unfortunately we will never know. Also I rather doubt if Garth would have a hope in hell of becoming Finance Minister under Dion’s leadership because his position on finance is way to far conservative for Dion and the current left Liberals of today..