I’m on the border of Saint John, NB. In Saint John there is an incumbant Liberal who is expected to be in a tight race with the Conservatives. In the neighbouring district, Rob Moore is the incumbant, a Conservative. In Mr. Moore’s districe, the NDP candidate is the only real contender to knock Mr. Moore out.
Now, I know it isn’t going to happen, but wouldn’t it be wise for the Liberals and NDP to team up in these two ridings? The NDP could drop out in Saint John and support Mr. Zed. Likewise the Liberal in Mr. Moore’s riding could drop out and support the NDP candidate.
This would reduce vote splitting, show a historic level of cooperation between the two parties (potentially laying the groundwork for futher cooperation), and give us all the best possible chance of not only keeping one seat, but taking the other from the Conservatives.
The candidates that I propose drop out are fine people, but realistically, they have no chance of winning these ridings. So it wouldn’t be like either party would be passing up the chance to get both seats.
Now I know it will never happen for many reasons, but hell, it’s nice to imagine!
Any thoughts on if such ideas could ever take place in Canada? Would any of the parties ever consider it?
The N.D.P. and Liberal party are going to join forces in the future. Why else would the Liberal party feature lifelong N.D.P. voters and campaign workers in a Liberal ad? Look for a title of N.D.L.P. or something to that effect.
Garth, this video is a little too one-dimensional to be fully credible.
What we need is to assess the strengths and weakness of every party, including your own. We get into error every time we put one party on too high of a pedestal, or every time we disparge others as having nothing good about them at all. Both are errors to avoid.
It looks now like another Conservative minority government, with the upsurge of the NDP and the Greens, the Liberals are still faltering. The Greenshift balloon has not taken off, and may have to be discarded.
Some kind of a coalition between the Liberal and the NDP may be necessay in order to defeat the Harper Conservatives, if Harper economics is more detestable than Layton economics. Politics does make for some strange bedfellows.
Jack Layton is becoming more believaable and credible as the potential next leader of the official opposition.
Dion will now either have to set his sites on Layton to keep official opposition leader status, or else work out a compromise to work with Layton to defeat the Harper Conservatives.
Some kind of amalgamation may become inevitable.
In short, Dion must now decide whether his main enemy is from the left or from the right. It is not an easy decision to make, but Dion must now decide one way or the other.
Either the main enemy for the rest of the campaign must either be Harper (in which case Dion helps the NDP in seeing Harper as the real enemy) or Layton (in which case he can maintain official opposition leader status by recognizing the surging movement from the left which is threatening to overshadow the Liberal Party of Canada).
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
Some of my favorites where left out like how they canceled vetting of appointed positions by MPs because the opposition didn’t like his first selection.
And of course, ignoring his own fixed date election law.
Just received my “Trash” e-mail on Dion’s plan and told to pass it on…only thing that was not included was the request for my password and bank account numbers…….no what does that tell you? As far the video, sounds correct to me, perhaps a little kind as there are many other things that Canadians do not know about.
Dion deals a crushing blow to Harpo’s dream of majority .
Unprecedented is how the TV station,manager, described the reaction to Monsieur Dion’s debate performance .
Quebecers re-discover a native son and will feel safe voting Liberal once
again .
I have been predicting for weeks that the Clones will be shut out of Quebec and only get a handful of seats in Ontario .
They will be reduced to their hillbilly origins, rump of Alberta and BC .
Mr. Dion crushed Harper and will do so again tonight .
Pay no attention to the polls as they are simply a form of entertainment for the media to indulge themselves in .
They have no meaning whatsoever and bear no resemblance to reality .
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
So long as this Tim (quoted above) isn’t confused with me.
PS – I caught about 5 minutes of you on CTV this AM. Looking good.
It was a mistake. Like the story says. I presume you read it? — Garth
I didn’t believe the Liberal party was able to make mistakes.
Is Ontario officially in a recession now? Ujjal says we need a Liberal government to make sure Harpers Ontario recession does not spread to B.C. Is that ad a mistake as well, or is Ontario currently in a Harper recession?
He repeats his unproven allegations that another government would raise the GST or end child care payments. He’s good at fear. But no plan. – Garth
Isn’t this ad kind of the same thing? I hate negative ads for this reason, they show you why you shouldn’t vote for the other guy while giving no reason (other than fear) to vote for the person making the ad.
It would be cool to see more political parties take the high road and display their plan for the country in a series of ads with no mention of the other guy. I know, it’s crazy
Dion was asked last night to say something nice about the person next to him, and instead used it to make a partisan attack.
May was asked to say something nice to the person next to her and used it to make a partisan insult.
Layton was asked to say something nice to the person next to him and used it to self promote and make a partisan attack.
Harper was asked to say something nice about the person next to him…and did without partisan attack or self promotion. Just a sincere nice comment at length about the person next to him.
Thanks Garth for that video. I sent it to my niece in P.Q. and I know she’ll be sending it on to all of her friends. She’ll vote in advance this weekend in her parents’ riding.
BTW, I’ll be taking people to the polls on the 14th. Better get my tank filled up!!
Was permission sought for using that song in the Liberal campaign?
Who says Libs made that vid? — Garth
By Blue Skies. on 10.02.08 1:28 pm
The “You Tube” video will be seen by far more people than any Lib. sponsored campaign ad. And I didn’t see any small print saying that it was authorised by the offical agent fot the Liberal party.
There are some parts of it though, broken promises, lack of environmental concern, lack of global leadership that might have made a good “negative” tell the truth ad two weeks ago. But now’s the time to pull apart what the Cons are proposing going forward.
I’ll be doing my part tonight at the all candidates meeting. I trust M. Dion will be doing the same at the leaders debate. Instead of defending, get Harper to explain his alternative. You know what it is, and you know where the holes are to pull it apart…. Just Do It.
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
He’s trying to go sweet – like his warm & fuzzy Leader.
Harper was asked to say something nice about the person next to him…and did without partisan attack or self promotion. Just a sincere nice comment at length about the person next to him.
I love you. — Garth
By Sugar on 10.02.08 1:41 pm
Well I am sold, one nice comment makes up for three of Partisan Negative Attacks. yup! all is forgiven.
Ask the kids who are picked on by the schoolyard bully to say something nice about the bully or even one and another. I is had to nice when you have been pounded for for a few years.
Stphen Harper, the Eddy Haskle of Canadian Politics.
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
So long as this Tim (quoted above) isn’t confused with me.
BY TIM N ON 10.02.08 1:14 PM
Yes,
Good reminder that the CPC Trolls watch this blog and make up names similar to regular bloggers and in some cases they downright impersonate the exact same name.
What an appropriate new name for the CPC since they dropped Progressives, they are simply CONS.
Tell me, is there something in the mental makeup of “Conservatives” that only allows them to express themselves in distortion and/or invective? Can they perceive reality, or only that which they can express between these limits?
Geezers! Do you remember when Flaherty said that he didn’t want a nation of coupon clippers after imposing the Income Trust surprise tax. He didn’t like those interest payments that you were getting every month. He said it was stunting the growth of the country.
At the time, someone here told you that seniors now only had one gate left open to them for their investments – that gate was the to the Big Casino of the stock market. Like cattle, they were being herded into the abatoir.
It’s tragic, truly tragic, but not unforseen.
_____________________________________
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”
Thomas Jefferson
___________________________________
“Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank.
You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin!
You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.”
Now – for tonight – could someone, ANYONE (at the debates) PLEASE point out that Harper HAS NO PLATFORM!
I take my vote very seriously. I have READ all 3 platforms (Liberal, NDP AND Green) – and try to make an educated decision when I vote. Yes, I use my gut, and my personal biases too, but I DO research before I vote as well.
The fact that there is 1 1/2 weeks to go before the election, and the Conservatives still have no platform (and that they are leading in the polls) sickens me. How can anyone vote for a party, when they won’t tell you what they will do?
Dear readers, please be aware of the reality that CTV Globemedia, the Globe and Mail and CHUM an organization of 35 radio stations across Canada are owned by Thompson Reuters which is family run and owned by the Woodbridges.
Please be aware as well, that Can West Global is also run by the Asper family from Israel, Zionists who also support the privatization of the CBC for greater market share. Both Woodbridge and CanWest own well over 60% of Canada’s mainstream media and daily newspapers. Who owns the remaining 40%? CBC clocks in at 23%. Quebecor, operating under Chapter 11, runs all the Suns except the Vancouver Sun (Can West), and the Toronto star. As well, Canada has weekly’s in rural areas.
If Quebecor/Osprey disappears quietly into that good night and CBC is privatized, we are looking at just two families, Woodbridge/Asper owning and controlling 85% of Canada’s mainstream media and if they take over Quebecor, these same two families would own virtually all mainstream media in Canada except for the Toronto Star.
Scary huh?
If the alliance between the Asper/Woodbridge families continue, after reaching their goal to achieve close to full market share of Canada’s mainstream media, they would effectively control the media message in Canada, putting themselves into the position of kingmakers that change CRTC regs to their satisfaction.
Folks… we could kiss goodbye objective news coverage on any and all future elections and election issues in this still fine nation.
Its spelled PROPAGANDA!
One thing that would be predictable at that point would be that the quality of news in general in Canada would also take a big hit as is almost always the case when media becomes this concentrated.
Keep in mind how serious the allegations truly are of polls that have been cooked 4 weeks ago in the province of Ontario grossly in favor of Conservative support over Nano’s polls which should be considered as unbiased and accurate. Cooked poll numbers and the opinion pieces that follow is a method of Propaganda that is as old as print itself. (All three contract pollsters Strategic Council, Angus Reid and Decima/Harris are under contract and controlled by Asper/Woodbridge) This election has seen a major share of propaganda to this respect.
Keep in mind that its not the first time Ontario polls have been juiced to try to create this effect. All three pollsters under contract to Asper/Woodbridge controlled media entities predicted a John H. Tory majority when in reality, a McGuinty majority was the outcome.
Folks… its spelled PROPAGANDA!
And keep in mind what seriously could happen if a majority Harper government is elected. If Harper truly does form a majority government, I’d say that Canadians would have a tremendous fight on their hands to keep the CBC and that would mean major pressure on elected Conservative MP’s to defect and/or possibly even a general strike… but this is, well, future speculation at this point. My point is that it is plausible that Canada could be headed there if Harper gets the majority he seeks.
Be well aware of these extremely important facts as the election moves on into the final two weeks.
Folks, its called propaganda, its coming through 60% of our mainstream media, and its all for greed and increased market share of two family owned (Asper/Woodbridge) media entities and Harper is their puppet.
Be well aware, Ontario… and if I was you all, knowing this information I’m telling you to be true, I’d be seeing red… if you all know what I mean.
Canada’s BNN has a suit from “KCM Wealth Management” on saying that this Bailout is just the start. He says countries from around the world will have to contribute.
They used to stampede the buffalo off the cliff by herding and spooking them towards apparent blue skies. What you are seeing is the modern day Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump.
And like you’re beloved leader you’ve twisted the facts.
I caught Jack Layton’s comments on M. Duceppe. The only thing he did say, which could be taken as partisan (in a pig’s eye) was that while he could accept and even agree with some of the Bloqs goals, they had a difference of opinion on how to achieve them.
I guess to Harper supporters, not giving unconditional agreement means your being partisan!
BTW. Harper wasn’t fooling anyone with his sweeter disposition.
Bill Moyers recently discussed with a guest that President Carter could see this all coming. The long term plan may yet haunt us still if North Americans don’t wake up.
Re: Harper’s New Conservatives, their plan, the clone plan of the Republicans, and the former Australian leader Howard — it’s roots go back many, many decades, well before 1980. But here’s thoughts on that moment in time too:
“President Carter says in that speech, oil, our dependence on oil, poses a looming threat to the country. If we act now, we may be able to fix this problem. If we don’t act now, we’re headed down a path in which not only will we become increasingly dependent upon foreign oil, but we will have opted for a false model of freedom. A freedom of materialism, a freedom of self-indulgence, a freedom of collective recklessness. And what the President was saying at the time was, we need to think about what we mean by freedom. We need to choose a definition of freedom which is anchored in truth, and the way to manifest that choice, is by addressing our energy problem.
He had a profound understanding of the dilemma facing the country in the post Vietnam period. And of course, he was completely hooted, derided, disregarded.
BILL MOYERS: And he lost the election. You in fact say this speech killed any chance he had of winning reelection. Why? Because the American people didn’t want to settle for less?
ANDREW BACEVICH: They absolutely did not. And indeed, the election of 1980 was the great expression of that, because in 1980, we have a candidate, perhaps the most skillful politician of our time, Ronald Reagan, who says that, “Doom-sayers, gloom-sayers, don’t listen to them. The country’s best days are ahead of us.”
BILL MOYERS: Morning in America.
ANDREW BACEVICH: It’s Morning in America. And you don’t have to sacrifice, you can have more, all we need to do is get government out of the way.”
…. And so it went, the Neoconservatives persevered and lied and cheated their way through the next 28 years, yelling laisez faire, free markets, free trade, small government, unbridled free enterprise. And they marched into Canada on a well set out course in the guise of Mr. Harper. And here we are on the precipice.
Will Canada wake up and toss out the NeoConservatives junior Partner who are wreaking havoc for their own delusional purposes.
………
“President Carter says in that speech, oil, our dependence on oil, poses a looming threat to the country. If we act now, we may be able to fix this problem. If we don’t act now, we’re headed down a path in which not only will we become increasingly dependent upon foreign oil, but we will have opted for a false model of freedom. A freedom of materialism, a freedom of self-indulgence, a freedom of collective recklessness. And what the President was saying at the time was, we need to think about what we mean by freedom. We need to choose a definition of freedom which is anchored in truth, and the way to manifest that choice, is by addressing our energy problem.
He had a profound understanding of the dilemma facing the country in the post Vietnam period. And of course, he was completely hooted, derided, disregarded.
BILL MOYERS: And he lost the election. You in fact say this speech killed any chance he had of winning reelection. Why? Because the American people didn’t want to settle for less? ………
By Barb the proofreader on 10.02.08 5:02 pm
Barb, it should be noted here that while Jimmy the peanut farmer was derided, he was several other things of note:
-graduate engineer specialized in nuclear physics
-nuclear submarine Commander USN
-the specialist called into Chalk River to clean up the partial meltdown of a CDN research reactor. He personally took some doses of radiation! He directed the operation to pour a concrete sarcophagus that was lifted out by 2 Sikorski Skycrane helicopters with a yoke and flown up to Northern Quebec where it was dumped in a lake that has no inlet or outlet. It is “Off Limits” for ever! This is verifiable but much has been done to cover up these facts. [The truth will always out]
IN MY OPINION JIMMY CARTER IS A TRUE LEADER, HE WALKS THE WALK AND HE ALWAYS TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MEN. Too bad his efforts during his term in the White House were sabotaged by many, not the least of which were the Iranians. That is an unsettled score in their books [the Iranian Hostage Crisis]
your 3:22 pm mentions a truth “that shall not speak its name” (Wilde). The fact that the Aspers are from Israel or Zionists adds nothing to your argument except to open you to immediate charges of being antisemitic.
First, some political clap-trap, then joke of the day . . .
****************************************
The Long(hair) And Short(hair) Of It All
A young boy had just received his driver’s permit and asked his father if they could discuss his use of the car, so his father said he’d make a deal with his son.
‘You bring your grades up from a C to a B Average, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.’
The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he’d settle for the offer and they agreed on it. After about six
weeks his father said,
‘Son, I’ve been real proud. You brought your grades up and I’ve observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I’m real disappointed you didn’t get your hair cut.’
The young man paused a moment then said, ‘You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of
the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.’
To this his father replied, ‘Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?’
****************************************
The Buzzquote and the WW from today’s KDC bear similarities, so the Buzzquote leads off:
“The vision of Mr. Harper is the vision of the Bush Republicans — more guns in circulation and more people in jail.” — BQ leader G. Duceppe during the French debate
– AND –
“The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.” — Art Spander
It is widely-known that harpo spoke of putting 14-year-olds in the slammer (not sure if he backtracked on that), but it is also clear that harpo and dubya are in cahoots with one another.
So Duceppe is right. There is a reason why Ms. May and Duceppe have spoken of Strategic Voting, to confound CRAP at every opportunity.
Continue ignoring polls, the msm and speak wih undecideds what harpo CAN do, and what Dion WILL offer as an alternative. If in doubt, vote for Rhinos!
If nothing else, the final outcome will be very interesting, because a change in voters’ consciouness is happening — they are noticing what CRAP actually stands for.
Small CP report buried away, which further indicates where this country is headed:
“Economic growth forecast to slow
“VANCOUVER — The economic boom in Western Canada, the oil, mineral and grain-rich region that has driven growth in the national economy for years, is expected to drop off to a quiet buzz as the housing market cools and commodity prices fall off, experts say.”
Etc., etc. One question remains, however:
Was this fiscal downturn a convenient excuse for dubya / harpo / fox(y) to can their currencies and bring in the Amero?
Supposedly, the US printing presses are well underway in printing the Amero.
This is probably a strategy. They may not have one or release it so close to the election that there will be no time to evaluate it.
How can you tell the public that your economic plan, during difficult economic times, is not to have one?
The Conservatives and the media have convinced the public that Harper, as an economist, is best suited to handle the economy in difficult times. What they don’t tell us is that there are different kinds of economists. Harper is from “what will be, will be” school of economics. It is the simpliest concept of economics: don’t do anything and let the invisible hand of the marketplace rule (some refer to this as the law of the jungle school of economics).
“Dion said his party is committed to the Atlantic Accord and that a Liberal government would be a willing partner for megaprojects such as an Atlantic Energy Corridor, suggesting support for the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project.”
Layton is also supporting the Churchill project. That is a big issue for Atlantic Canada because it would allow this region reduce dependence on dirty coal for electrical generation. It would mitigate any potential negative impact of a carbon tax.
I wish you could see the picture the Orillia Packet and Times ran of Harper from last night. The Angry Bully came out in full FURY! So much for Sweater Man and fireside photo ops.
TSX… Garth, now that wall street can not do any short term selling, I am wondering if they can do it here in Canada. Also had Harper not broken his Fixed Election Date I am sure the opposition would be holding Steve & Co. feet to fire big time.
Please be aware as well, that Can West Global is also run by the Asper family from Israel, Zionists who also support the privatization of the CBC for greater market share.-Brain
Are the Aspers really from Isreal? I thought the family was based in Manitoba? I am pretty sure Isreal Aspers parents immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine. Does being Jewish make one Isreali now? If so, does being Roman Catholic make one Italian as well?
Hey Dan it’s not crazy. My father tells me that the rivalry between Cambridge U and Oxford does just that. In fact they have this ‘thing’ whereby they don’t even mention the rival school’s name and refer to it as “the ‘other’ place” as if it is undignified to even speak the name.
Aren’t the British quaint eh?
Don’t know if it’s ‘high road’ or high- brow snobery, but it seems to work nonetheless.
Northern PoV, thanks for the historical reference. Don’t think they had the mass media and blogs back then that would play such a huge factor in parties decisions over such bold actions. Look at the reactions to the Libs and Greens not challanging each other’s party leaders.
If the Libs and NDP worked together to win neighbouring districts from the Cons it would really cause a firestorm…. though it would be well worth it for both parties in my eyes!
I’d actually like to see the Libs,NDP and Greens all work together to determine a number of seats giving the Libs a strong minority with the NDP and Greens each gaining 10 – 25 seats over what they have today though strategically placing candidates to not oppose each other, only oppose the Cons (and bloc).
It would be a win-win-win for the three partys, a non-factor for the bloc in most of the country, and a huge blow to the Cons… but they deserve it!
Yes, it will never happen, but in theory, it should work, shouldn’t it? Would non-Conservative voters support/understand it?
Sugar: That was not a nice sincere comment that Harper made about Layton. It was a self-congratulatory, I’m the greatest speech about aplogies to First Nations and the Chinese Head Tax.
Even Steve could not stop at a simple thank you to Layton–
Interesting post, that made me consider the present credit melt-down, and why the bail out just might not be such a good idea.
Maybe I am wrong, but this kind of acquisition strategy – regardless of industry – is really what is behind the present global difficulties. You see, these families definitely do not have cash on hand to make these purchases of companies. Instead, they leverage their existing assets, and use them as collateral for the additional credit. When you think about it, that means the SAME asset is likely to have been the basis for other loans and financing, and as the collection grows, the “first in” are probably leveraged more than once.
So, if you remove “easy credit”, it makes it much harder for families such as these to continue to concentrate their wealth by leverage of assets that they still owe money for. I highly doubt that such a concentration of wealth could be due to spending profits made by each corporate entity.
This is likely part of what is kicking the CRAP out of the housing markets. The speculators leveraged their other properties that were likely not all paid for, so when the market topped, they had to unload fast, or go totally broke. So, rather than making the housing affordable for those spending their savings and salaries, the gap between asking and affordable became just too great. Now the bubble burst, and sure, lots of folks are getting hurt, but I wonder if those 40 year and sub prime mortgages that were “supposed to be” for the common family, were encouraged so the speculators could grab a lot of property, and as long as prices went up, everything was just hunky-dorey. If credit was not so available, this would not have happened.
So, probably the same can go for those who are buying up independent companies, bleeding off the wealth, and then profiting while the market loses options.
How do you stop all this financial leverage without killing off common folk who also need available credit? Obviously the “free market” is incapable of self governance as it is focused on individual greed, and simply one big Monopoly game. Problem is, the game is not too fun as for every winner, there are legions of losers.
I really do not know if the bail out is such a good idea. Personally, aside from a mortgage almost paid, I find living debt free is the ONLY way to go.
The answer lies in CRTC regs and regs concerning percentages of foreign ownership in specific economic sectors of our economy.
As an example, banks are regulated to have foreign ownership of our chartered banks to no greater than 10%. The same should hold true for our media corporations.
Currently, Quebecor is going down as a result of their international exposure to world markets. With Can West media concentration and power they hold within the boardroom concerning Canadian/international news content, the problem could be solved with foreign ownership restrictions placed on the media sector and so it should.
Restrictions on foreign ownership of Canadian economic sectors isn’t new by the way to Canadians. Airlines have ownership restrictions of no greater than 30% of our Canadian airlines. I believe we have a percentage restriction placed on our railways as well (but don’t quote me, I’m not sure about that one). Commodities are wide open, but even there, we should consider the effects the largest market capitalization M & A’s have on our currency when they are taken over by foreign M & A’s and that works both ways… if Canada was ever one to buy instead of “sell”.
Last year, our GDP was boosted by a whopping 7.75% coming specifically from the hollowing out of our corporate board rooms and bought out Canadian corp market caps through foreign M & A’s and a major chunk of this was from the M & A’s of just two corporations (Alcan & Tech Cominco).
Can we do a repeat? Only if Canada wants to privatize its crown corps or loosen foreign ownership of specific economic sectors that are currently protected to a large degree like our banks and this, sadly, is the failed way Harper wants to go. The effect is a one timer boost to GDP and the Canadian dollar but the taxbase shrinks and Canadians will pay huge this type of tax “leakage” down the road. Its one of the clearest forms of tax “leakage” I can think of.
Increasing the foreign ownership of our highly profitable banks as an example from 10% to 30% to 49% the way Harper wants would lead the way to our banking industry to becoming fully foreign owned and controlled, not to mention once again that this kind of thing artificially inflates our dollar and makes us far less competitive with exports globally. Deregulating or increasing foreign ownership of our most profitable economic sectors is hardly what one would call good fiscal policy, but its the Conservative way. Bushian, Big oil first and let everything else deteriorate around it.
And what was the devestating effect of the sale of Alcan & Tech Cominco on our dollar and all other increases of ownership of our economic sectors, be it a one time op? Foreign takeovers of our Can corps will juice the Canadian dollar if its substancial enough, but the real GDP is falsely inflated as its a temporary one time effect and the tax base continues to shrink as our corps get bought out and while a high dollar has been good for oil revenues, its been horridly terrible for our manufacturing and forestry and when one thinks hard about it, such blind eye policies of not looking for other alternatives to the Foreign M & A’s of such large market caps like Alcan & Tech Cominco were inexcusable by this Harper government. Didn’t happen… they never even remotely tried. One of many fiscal failings, like Harper’s IT fiasco but… y’know.
Its like the GDP figure we see in July, “oh, the economy is growing!”… well, no, its mostly generated from Prentices selloff of our wireless capabilities to the tune of 4.25 Billion. Take this out of the equation and we are barely treading water with the ugly numbers yet to come.
Harpers fiscal failings are so long, I really don’t know where it begins, never mind ends. One thing is for sure. Whether its Harper or Dion forming the next government, this next government will be inheriting a major hangover from Harper/Flarehty failed economic policies thus far.
While watching the Canada AM’s Halton election showcase, I heard you roundly denounce proportional representation, advocatinh the 1st past the post. Besides being told by your leader what to think, on what information and research did you form your opinion?
You stated that 1st past the post has worked for us since Confederation. Horse transportation also worked for us then. Will you and your party actively work to allow everyone to have our personal horses on our properties whereever we live in Canada?
With global warming and energy crises, not mention our failing US based economy, it is more important then ever for all of us to produce our food locally.. The UN stated that 16% of the world’s food is grown/produced in LARGE CITIES. This includes not only fruit and vegetables but our meat as well. Would you and your party allow all of to raise chickens and other food animals on our properties whereever we live in Canada? It worked at Confederation, indeed until only a few years ago.
Garth
Mr.Harper does not care about the future of the average Canadian.
After watching the first 10 mins of the Debate he has no plan for the Canadian meltdown that is on our doorstep.
I’m not willing to take a chance on giving my mortgage keys back to the bank.I’am a small business owner today i had to lay off two employees because my business is down by 30 %.
Mr.Harper is out of touch with the avearage small business owner.
It’s time to TERMINATE the C>E>O> for Canada.
And hire a new vision for the future of every Canadian small business.
Mr.Harper don’t tell me we are not in a Economic crisis.
Your so out of touch with small business.Garth you can count on all of my small business friends to VOTE LIBERAL.At least you have a plan.
Thanks George
Watch those silly polls folks, the numbers are going to change!
Stepahne Dion was Brill!!!
He looked voters right in the eye and won their hearts and their minds.
The ‘Other’ bloke just lost his lala land majority. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, yet he hardly ever looked at ours. We could see his though, and he knows the tide has turned significantly tonight. No matter how the spin doctors weave.
Layton, nice try bud but you won’t be PM. He had some wonderful slices and curve balls though. His quotes will be remembered I cheered loudly and scared the dog a couple of times. Performed his role to attack both parties in self-interest but in the end I think he helped Dion rise up and ate SH in one bite.
Eliza, Eliza, your flow’rs have bloomed. What an absolute pleasure to have you at the table. Hell, someone make that woman an associative Cab Minister or something. Party Whip, Critic of anything. I like that lady even if she can’t have my vote. I almost thought her right hand was going to fly out farther and slap the Big Head across the cheek. T’wouldn’t that have been something! Well done g’friend.
and last but never least, the BLOCK. Ya, know, my op on that fella has changed somewhat. Still a self-centred jerk at times but he ‘does’ have many useful things to add to the table.
Bravo to the up coming NEW Liberal gov’t. I can see 4 parties working together. The Con bullies will be sour grapes for some time and oppose everthing, but they will come around hopefully and work productivly while they search for a new leader.
Our Canada is coming back.
Go Garth Go! (hey did you notice some of the fine answers contained virtual ident statements from posters here? Ironic eh? Such clever posters and strategists on this blog)
I totally agree. Stephane did a great job tonight. So did Elizabeth May. What a gutsy, intelligent, informed woman she is. I loved the way she called out Harper.
That silly smile/smirk he has sure is sickening to me. I liked the way the other debaters called him out as well.
It is so sad the Harper is so mean and devious to use those denigrating ads against Dion for two year. I am sure that since the “Dion is not a leader” affirmation costing millions was burned into Canadian’s psyche and will have a negative effect on the number of votes Stephane and his team will get. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to vote for a man who would approve of those ads. Stephane is great and would make a wonderful PM for Canada. I have not voted LIberal since Chretien did not erase the GST. I only looked at the Liberals because I wanted Harper out. I found in Stephane Dion and his team an integrity, intelligence and creativity with a plan that I think is great. I am voting Liberal this election.
I have many thanks to Garth for this blog as it helped me to become political. Another sadness is that the general population does not have the time to pay enough attention to know what damage Harper has done and how dishonest and dictatorial he is.
I am with you there dude. The effect of M&A on our economy and overall market health is something folks forget about. Not only does it concentrate wealth, it removes options from the marketplace. Those of us who want an option are prevented from having one.
This is something I really doubt the mainstream even think about. If they can get something that “appears” to put a little more coin in their jeans – in the short term – they rarely consider the long term ramification for their personal long term health and well being. This is why I rant about the foreign owned stores like Wal Mart, that in the short term, provide economic benefit. However, medium to long term they destroy the local economy. Not only that, once total control is gained through elimination of competition, the economic benefit they provide in the first place, quickly disappears.
Personally, this is one of the ONLY benefits of globalisation, particularly in the banking sector. For a brief example, a foreign bank like ING can help keep our “controlled” banking sector “honest” by providing an option.
That, to me describes the microcosm, and when extended into the macroeconomic area on a national basis, is a real problem.
We need to keep the marketplace healthy by providing freedom of choice. In relation to the MSM, it is even more critical to encourage and nurture free choice in speech, perspective, and objectivity. Concentration of media is extremely dangerous. From what I see, our only option is presently the internet, blogs like this, and the individual initiatives such as this fine blog provided by someone who happens to be a politician.
Information is power. He who controls the information has the power to mould public perspective. Something Dr. Goebbels proved to disasterous effect.
And that, my friends, is exactly what Harperites is trying to do to our freedom.
Ask any lady what they look at first in a man, and it will probably be the eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul. For some strange reason, it is hard to trust someone who will not look you straight in the eye, and speak his truth clearly.
Harper had a great deal of difficulty responding directly to the person while looking him/her in the eye. He seemed to prefer answering the question while looking at the mediator – or directly into the camera – rather than the source of the tricky questions. Almost like QP eh? But, this was not the Speaker, and he did not have Van Loonie to take his hits.
And, I might add, the smirk did not hide the fatigue in those eyes. The smirk did not hide the anger and frustration either. The smirk did not hide the occasional reddish flush of the cheeks, and ears.
Supposedly, the US printing presses are well underway in printing the Amero.
By Charles Oxley on 10.02.08 5:58 pm
Chas, do you know yet what animal will be the logo on the Amero? My guess it will have the head of an Eagle on the body of a Donkey with a Beaver Tail. That will allow the tail to slap the head when it squawks instead of the ass dumping! [Americans call pay day the day the eagle craps!] If you are involved with some clever graphic artist, you might just be able to get me a copy of that out onto the internet!
And it was at the time when the Neoconservative movement moved from “not just Nixon dirty tricks”. Half a decade earlier a future supreme court judge had suggested to his fellow neoconservatives that they implement the chambers of commerce to push their propaganda… those were his words. And they also opted to fund fake right wing think tanks to falsely influence public opinion. They have “their” universities and teach their warped economics. And they have their ultra right wing support groups.
But the kicker was that on election day, Rev. Moon’s Washington newspaper published a headline that Ronald Reagan had won, but the election was still going on, and it helped him win.
Here in Canada, Harper’s Neoconservatives use a heavy hand to illegally raise and funnel party advertising and push voting and funds via third parties. Their followers are not encouraged to use reason, nor think for themselves. How could they, there’s no honesty from the neoconservative leader Harper and his silent men. How do voters make a decision with nothing to go on?
It’s the complicit media who stands to benefit from Harper’s party’s favours they’ve made a deal with the devil for greater market share by axing public tv. We’ve really and completely lost democracy because of the Bush friends. Harper will win two more majority, slap Canadians in the face, sell out Canada and devastate us, just like Bush did, to please the corporations who rule him. And Harper’s prize will be forcing his narrow and backwards social agenda on us. Can you imagine what it will be like when young women have no choice and begin to die again, just like the old days, from illegal abortions, all because of Harper.
My take. Elizabeth May was #1, followed by Layton. The others tie for third place. Dion would sometimes say something that would have profound implication in its meaning, but then did not follow through and expound. Missed the two in the one-two punch. With such fast pacing, it would be lost a moment later. For example, missed some potentially good supporting statements, like on the medical front, he should have brought forward the plan for supporting foreign-born doctors get Canadian accreditation. Can’t be too critical though, I suppose, when debating under pressure. Also, all of the Opposition missed opportunities to expose falacies in Harper’s statements, letting him get away with white lies.
While Layton was feisty, he still has to be considered in the context of his full platform and its corporate scapegoating. As would the revolution of May’s, but damn she’s a good patriot. (Got that feeling from Layton and Dion too, very earnest). Again in my view the clear winner was Elizabeth May.
To me Harper looked like a cardboard placard with a picture of himself wearing a forced smile. A tape recorder that had someone behind him pushing the appropriate buttons with the same old non-answer lies& prodding him when he showed signs of agitation. I’ll bet he was clenching his teeth a lot too. Btw, did anybody notice a hidden ear piece telling him what to say? On a scale of 1 to 5, one being the best, I rate his performance # 5
Duceppe won some points on his debating skills though. He would have scored a lot better had he not implied that what ever handouts he can get for Quebec is all he cares he about, the hell with the rest of Canada or something like that. He pretty much confirmed to Canada that he still dose not consider Quebec part of Canada. His demand to know about the seat Harper promised him showed him up for the opportunist he really is. He displayed the attitude that since I didn’t get that seat like you promised when you courted me so go win your own election without my help. # 4
Layton simply played to the cameras with his practiced lines & his plastered smiles. He looked like an actor playing a role to a full house. His being Harpers partner in crime didn’t help win points for him either. # 3 on his acting skills.
Ms. May was priceless, quick witted, added a whole new prospective to debates, a good debater by the way. She would get my vote if I thought she could win enough seats to have a chance to win the PM’s seat. Maybe next time Elizabeth. It’s a toss up between a 1 a 2 so close means a tie with Mr. Dion for # 1
Mr. Dion made it very clear that he has the credentials as a great leader & deserves to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. He made some very strong points when he had the floor & had he been given more time in rebuttal to explain himself, he would have scored big time to the Canadians audience. He has already proven himself worthy on the world stage that he has the smarts & the ability to connect with the world leaders by his input in Bali & Montreal with the world leaders on Global Warming. Btw, If Canadians do not vote for him & his platform simply because he is French & has an accent, I am ashamed to part of the Canada we live in today as should all of you who show such disrespect for him & all French Canadians. I rate him a definite # 1.
Why is that NOBODY seems to listen in the Liberal Party? Dion is simply NOT a public figure. He does NOT have presence. Sure, he may be a great PM, but he is NOT selling itself.
Sure, he did great in French, but miserably in English. I don’t know if you have noticed, but Canada is primarily English. See where I am going with this?
GEEZZ!!!
By Name_Required on 10.03.08 9:04 am
Where are you going with this did you ask? With that attitude, grounded for a month, a slap on the backside & straight to bed I would imagine. Wait! You couldn’t possibly be an adult or could you?
Canada is a country made up of many races speaking different languages besides English & you have the nerve to insinuate Canada is primarily English? I think you had better stick to facts & while you’re at it, take a course in English because your English skills are not something to brag about either.
Since when did the criteria for being a PM become a language issue? Where does it say that you must be English with no accent to become a PM? Mr. Dion has made it very clear by his campaign that he loves Canada, that he is a great leader & deserves to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. Btw. I would love to see Harper & Dion in an hour debate. There would be no contest by the time Mr. Dion was finished with him.
Mr. Dion has already proven himself worthy to Canadians & to the world, that he has the skill, the passion, the respect,& the ability to connect with their leaders by his input in Bali & in Montreal when he brought the world leaders together & signed on to the Kyoto Accord.
If Canadians do not vote for him & his platform simply because he is French & has an accent, that would be a great injustice to all Canadians & to this country. I am ashamed to be part of the Canada we live in as should all of you who show such disrespect for him & all other nationalities simply because English isn’t their first language & they have an accent.
FYI, Mr. Dions French is a lot better than your English.
66 comments ↓
… So what exactly is the Liberal position on legal protection for digital locks?
Thanks for the link Garth. I put it up on my facebook account.
Cheers,
Hi Garth,
I’m on the border of Saint John, NB. In Saint John there is an incumbant Liberal who is expected to be in a tight race with the Conservatives. In the neighbouring district, Rob Moore is the incumbant, a Conservative. In Mr. Moore’s districe, the NDP candidate is the only real contender to knock Mr. Moore out.
Now, I know it isn’t going to happen, but wouldn’t it be wise for the Liberals and NDP to team up in these two ridings? The NDP could drop out in Saint John and support Mr. Zed. Likewise the Liberal in Mr. Moore’s riding could drop out and support the NDP candidate.
This would reduce vote splitting, show a historic level of cooperation between the two parties (potentially laying the groundwork for futher cooperation), and give us all the best possible chance of not only keeping one seat, but taking the other from the Conservatives.
The candidates that I propose drop out are fine people, but realistically, they have no chance of winning these ridings. So it wouldn’t be like either party would be passing up the chance to get both seats.
Now I know it will never happen for many reasons, but hell, it’s nice to imagine!
Any thoughts on if such ideas could ever take place in Canada? Would any of the parties ever consider it?
By Joe in NB on 10.02.08 12:00 pm
The N.D.P. and Liberal party are going to join forces in the future. Why else would the Liberal party feature lifelong N.D.P. voters and campaign workers in a Liberal ad? Look for a title of N.D.L.P. or something to that effect.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=a2e04e32-dd1a-498a-9f20-049cecd1ee84
It was a mistake. Like the story says. I presume you read it? — Garth
Garth, this video is a little too one-dimensional to be fully credible.
What we need is to assess the strengths and weakness of every party, including your own. We get into error every time we put one party on too high of a pedestal, or every time we disparge others as having nothing good about them at all. Both are errors to avoid.
It looks now like another Conservative minority government, with the upsurge of the NDP and the Greens, the Liberals are still faltering. The Greenshift balloon has not taken off, and may have to be discarded.
Some kind of a coalition between the Liberal and the NDP may be necessay in order to defeat the Harper Conservatives, if Harper economics is more detestable than Layton economics. Politics does make for some strange bedfellows.
Jack Layton is becoming more believaable and credible as the potential next leader of the official opposition.
Dion will now either have to set his sites on Layton to keep official opposition leader status, or else work out a compromise to work with Layton to defeat the Harper Conservatives.
Some kind of amalgamation may become inevitable.
In short, Dion must now decide whether his main enemy is from the left or from the right. It is not an easy decision to make, but Dion must now decide one way or the other.
Either the main enemy for the rest of the campaign must either be Harper (in which case Dion helps the NDP in seeing Harper as the real enemy) or Layton (in which case he can maintain official opposition leader status by recognizing the surging movement from the left which is threatening to overshadow the Liberal Party of Canada).
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
Some of my favorites where left out like how they canceled vetting of appointed positions by MPs because the opposition didn’t like his first selection.
And of course, ignoring his own fixed date election law.
Just received my “Trash” e-mail on Dion’s plan and told to pass it on…only thing that was not included was the request for my password and bank account numbers…….no what does that tell you? As far the video, sounds correct to me, perhaps a little kind as there are many other things that Canadians do not know about.
Dion deals a crushing blow to Harpo’s dream of majority .
Unprecedented is how the TV station,manager, described the reaction to Monsieur Dion’s debate performance .
Quebecers re-discover a native son and will feel safe voting Liberal once
again .
I have been predicting for weeks that the Clones will be shut out of Quebec and only get a handful of seats in Ontario .
They will be reduced to their hillbilly origins, rump of Alberta and BC .
Mr. Dion crushed Harper and will do so again tonight .
Pay no attention to the polls as they are simply a form of entertainment for the media to indulge themselves in .
They have no meaning whatsoever and bear no resemblance to reality .
No cost report for Afghanistan mission yet????
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
So long as this Tim (quoted above) isn’t confused with me.
PS – I caught about 5 minutes of you on CTV this AM. Looking good.
It was a mistake. Like the story says. I presume you read it? — Garth
I didn’t believe the Liberal party was able to make mistakes.
Is Ontario officially in a recession now? Ujjal says we need a Liberal government to make sure Harpers Ontario recession does not spread to B.C. Is that ad a mistake as well, or is Ontario currently in a Harper recession?
Was permission sought for using that song in the Liberal campaign?
Who says Libs made that vid? — Garth
He repeats his unproven allegations that another government would raise the GST or end child care payments. He’s good at fear. But no plan. – Garth
Isn’t this ad kind of the same thing? I hate negative ads for this reason, they show you why you shouldn’t vote for the other guy while giving no reason (other than fear) to vote for the person making the ad.
It would be cool to see more political parties take the high road and display their plan for the country in a series of ads with no mention of the other guy. I know, it’s crazy
Right on, Garth! Thanks for posting the video.
Dion was asked last night to say something nice about the person next to him, and instead used it to make a partisan attack.
May was asked to say something nice to the person next to her and used it to make a partisan insult.
Layton was asked to say something nice to the person next to him and used it to self promote and make a partisan attack.
Harper was asked to say something nice about the person next to him…and did without partisan attack or self promotion. Just a sincere nice comment at length about the person next to him.
I love you. — Garth
Thanks Garth for that video. I sent it to my niece in P.Q. and I know she’ll be sending it on to all of her friends. She’ll vote in advance this weekend in her parents’ riding.
BTW, I’ll be taking people to the polls on the 14th. Better get my tank filled up!!
I love it, I love it, I love it. This should be shown around the country – over and over again…
Was permission sought for using that song in the Liberal campaign?
Who says Libs made that vid? — Garth
By Blue Skies. on 10.02.08 1:28 pm
The “You Tube” video will be seen by far more people than any Lib. sponsored campaign ad. And I didn’t see any small print saying that it was authorised by the offical agent fot the Liberal party.
There are some parts of it though, broken promises, lack of environmental concern, lack of global leadership that might have made a good “negative” tell the truth ad two weeks ago. But now’s the time to pull apart what the Cons are proposing going forward.
I’ll be doing my part tonight at the all candidates meeting. I trust M. Dion will be doing the same at the leaders debate. Instead of defending, get Harper to explain his alternative. You know what it is, and you know where the holes are to pull it apart…. Just Do It.
Now how much do I owe Nike, Steve?
I love you. — Garth
By Sugar on 10.02.08 1:41 pm
Well, “Tim”, I see you are not posting today as Jake, Slim, Mel or any of your other troll personas, so congrats on the makeover. Sadly, you still have the same aroma. — Garth
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
He’s trying to go sweet – like his warm & fuzzy Leader.
Harper was asked to say something nice about the person next to him…and did without partisan attack or self promotion. Just a sincere nice comment at length about the person next to him.
I love you. — Garth
By Sugar on 10.02.08 1:41 pm
Well I am sold, one nice comment makes up for three of Partisan Negative Attacks. yup! all is forgiven.
Ask the kids who are picked on by the schoolyard bully to say something nice about the bully or even one and another. I is had to nice when you have been pounded for for a few years.
Stphen Harper, the Eddy Haskle of Canadian Politics.
By Tim on 10.02.08 12:17 pm
So long as this Tim (quoted above) isn’t confused with me.
BY TIM N ON 10.02.08 1:14 PM
Yes,
Good reminder that the CPC Trolls watch this blog and make up names similar to regular bloggers and in some cases they downright impersonate the exact same name.
What an appropriate new name for the CPC since they dropped Progressives, they are simply CONS.
Sugar, Baby, I loves ya too.
Tell me, is there something in the mental makeup of “Conservatives” that only allows them to express themselves in distortion and/or invective? Can they perceive reality, or only that which they can express between these limits?
A Den of Vipers and Thieves
Geezers! Do you remember when Flaherty said that he didn’t want a nation of coupon clippers after imposing the Income Trust surprise tax. He didn’t like those interest payments that you were getting every month. He said it was stunting the growth of the country.
At the time, someone here told you that seniors now only had one gate left open to them for their investments – that gate was the to the Big Casino of the stock market. Like cattle, they were being herded into the abatoir.
It’s tragic, truly tragic, but not unforseen.
_____________________________________
“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”
Thomas Jefferson
___________________________________
“Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank.
You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin!
You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.”
President Andrew Jackson
By Barb the proofreader on 10.02.08 2:33 pm
Too true.
Now – for tonight – could someone, ANYONE (at the debates) PLEASE point out that Harper HAS NO PLATFORM!
I take my vote very seriously. I have READ all 3 platforms (Liberal, NDP AND Green) – and try to make an educated decision when I vote. Yes, I use my gut, and my personal biases too, but I DO research before I vote as well.
The fact that there is 1 1/2 weeks to go before the election, and the Conservatives still have no platform (and that they are leading in the polls) sickens me. How can anyone vote for a party, when they won’t tell you what they will do?
Joe in NB:
It has been done, right here in Canada. And it worked (defeated the Tories)
Google the “1926 election, McKenzie-King, Progressive Party”
Dear readers, please be aware of the reality that CTV Globemedia, the Globe and Mail and CHUM an organization of 35 radio stations across Canada are owned by Thompson Reuters which is family run and owned by the Woodbridges.
Please be aware as well, that Can West Global is also run by the Asper family from Israel, Zionists who also support the privatization of the CBC for greater market share. Both Woodbridge and CanWest own well over 60% of Canada’s mainstream media and daily newspapers. Who owns the remaining 40%? CBC clocks in at 23%. Quebecor, operating under Chapter 11, runs all the Suns except the Vancouver Sun (Can West), and the Toronto star. As well, Canada has weekly’s in rural areas.
If Quebecor/Osprey disappears quietly into that good night and CBC is privatized, we are looking at just two families, Woodbridge/Asper owning and controlling 85% of Canada’s mainstream media and if they take over Quebecor, these same two families would own virtually all mainstream media in Canada except for the Toronto Star.
Scary huh?
If the alliance between the Asper/Woodbridge families continue, after reaching their goal to achieve close to full market share of Canada’s mainstream media, they would effectively control the media message in Canada, putting themselves into the position of kingmakers that change CRTC regs to their satisfaction.
Folks… we could kiss goodbye objective news coverage on any and all future elections and election issues in this still fine nation.
Its spelled PROPAGANDA!
One thing that would be predictable at that point would be that the quality of news in general in Canada would also take a big hit as is almost always the case when media becomes this concentrated.
Keep in mind how serious the allegations truly are of polls that have been cooked 4 weeks ago in the province of Ontario grossly in favor of Conservative support over Nano’s polls which should be considered as unbiased and accurate. Cooked poll numbers and the opinion pieces that follow is a method of Propaganda that is as old as print itself. (All three contract pollsters Strategic Council, Angus Reid and Decima/Harris are under contract and controlled by Asper/Woodbridge) This election has seen a major share of propaganda to this respect.
Keep in mind that its not the first time Ontario polls have been juiced to try to create this effect. All three pollsters under contract to Asper/Woodbridge controlled media entities predicted a John H. Tory majority when in reality, a McGuinty majority was the outcome.
Folks… its spelled PROPAGANDA!
And keep in mind what seriously could happen if a majority Harper government is elected. If Harper truly does form a majority government, I’d say that Canadians would have a tremendous fight on their hands to keep the CBC and that would mean major pressure on elected Conservative MP’s to defect and/or possibly even a general strike… but this is, well, future speculation at this point. My point is that it is plausible that Canada could be headed there if Harper gets the majority he seeks.
Be well aware of these extremely important facts as the election moves on into the final two weeks.
Folks, its called propaganda, its coming through 60% of our mainstream media, and its all for greed and increased market share of two family owned (Asper/Woodbridge) media entities and Harper is their puppet.
Be well aware, Ontario… and if I was you all, knowing this information I’m telling you to be true, I’d be seeing red… if you all know what I mean.
Canada’s BNN has a suit from “KCM Wealth Management” on saying that this Bailout is just the start. He says countries from around the world will have to contribute.
They used to stampede the buffalo off the cliff by herding and spooking them towards apparent blue skies. What you are seeing is the modern day Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump.
Good videos here to
http://grossnationalproduct.ca/
No cost report for Afghanistan mission yet????
By PTDBD on 10.02.08 1:11 pm
Yes….Why… hey Garth was this not promised and are the Liberals demanding to see it. Seems like fair honest question.
Good Ad.
Looks more part of the ABC movement then a specific party ad.
By Sugar on 10.02.08 1:41 pm
And like you’re beloved leader you’ve twisted the facts.
I caught Jack Layton’s comments on M. Duceppe. The only thing he did say, which could be taken as partisan (in a pig’s eye) was that while he could accept and even agree with some of the Bloqs goals, they had a difference of opinion on how to achieve them.
I guess to Harper supporters, not giving unconditional agreement means your being partisan!
BTW. Harper wasn’t fooling anyone with his sweeter disposition.
Why have the Liberals not suggested raising CDIC insurance from 100,000.00?
Harper says there is no need but such a move would instil greater confidence and, IF, are banks as SO SAFE, then there would be no cost!
Bill Moyers recently discussed with a guest that President Carter could see this all coming. The long term plan may yet haunt us still if North Americans don’t wake up.
Re: Harper’s New Conservatives, their plan, the clone plan of the Republicans, and the former Australian leader Howard — it’s roots go back many, many decades, well before 1980. But here’s thoughts on that moment in time too:
“President Carter says in that speech, oil, our dependence on oil, poses a looming threat to the country. If we act now, we may be able to fix this problem. If we don’t act now, we’re headed down a path in which not only will we become increasingly dependent upon foreign oil, but we will have opted for a false model of freedom. A freedom of materialism, a freedom of self-indulgence, a freedom of collective recklessness. And what the President was saying at the time was, we need to think about what we mean by freedom. We need to choose a definition of freedom which is anchored in truth, and the way to manifest that choice, is by addressing our energy problem.
He had a profound understanding of the dilemma facing the country in the post Vietnam period. And of course, he was completely hooted, derided, disregarded.
BILL MOYERS: And he lost the election. You in fact say this speech killed any chance he had of winning reelection. Why? Because the American people didn’t want to settle for less?
ANDREW BACEVICH: They absolutely did not. And indeed, the election of 1980 was the great expression of that, because in 1980, we have a candidate, perhaps the most skillful politician of our time, Ronald Reagan, who says that, “Doom-sayers, gloom-sayers, don’t listen to them. The country’s best days are ahead of us.”
BILL MOYERS: Morning in America.
ANDREW BACEVICH: It’s Morning in America. And you don’t have to sacrifice, you can have more, all we need to do is get government out of the way.”
…. And so it went, the Neoconservatives persevered and lied and cheated their way through the next 28 years, yelling laisez faire, free markets, free trade, small government, unbridled free enterprise. And they marched into Canada on a well set out course in the guise of Mr. Harper. And here we are on the precipice.
Will Canada wake up and toss out the NeoConservatives junior Partner who are wreaking havoc for their own delusional purposes.
Mr. Garth TurnerMP,
I found this while cleaning out my e-mail box. Thought some might like it.
Subject: Wombat–a 53 second video for peace. Happy Solstice!
http://www.globalcommunity.org/flash/wombat.shtml
………
“President Carter says in that speech, oil, our dependence on oil, poses a looming threat to the country. If we act now, we may be able to fix this problem. If we don’t act now, we’re headed down a path in which not only will we become increasingly dependent upon foreign oil, but we will have opted for a false model of freedom. A freedom of materialism, a freedom of self-indulgence, a freedom of collective recklessness. And what the President was saying at the time was, we need to think about what we mean by freedom. We need to choose a definition of freedom which is anchored in truth, and the way to manifest that choice, is by addressing our energy problem.
He had a profound understanding of the dilemma facing the country in the post Vietnam period. And of course, he was completely hooted, derided, disregarded.
BILL MOYERS: And he lost the election. You in fact say this speech killed any chance he had of winning reelection. Why? Because the American people didn’t want to settle for less? ………
By Barb the proofreader on 10.02.08 5:02 pm
Barb, it should be noted here that while Jimmy the peanut farmer was derided, he was several other things of note:
-graduate engineer specialized in nuclear physics
-nuclear submarine Commander USN
-the specialist called into Chalk River to clean up the partial meltdown of a CDN research reactor. He personally took some doses of radiation! He directed the operation to pour a concrete sarcophagus that was lifted out by 2 Sikorski Skycrane helicopters with a yoke and flown up to Northern Quebec where it was dumped in a lake that has no inlet or outlet. It is “Off Limits” for ever! This is verifiable but much has been done to cover up these facts. [The truth will always out]
IN MY OPINION JIMMY CARTER IS A TRUE LEADER, HE WALKS THE WALK AND HE ALWAYS TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MEN. Too bad his efforts during his term in the White House were sabotaged by many, not the least of which were the Iranians. That is an unsettled score in their books [the Iranian Hostage Crisis]
Brain,
your 3:22 pm mentions a truth “that shall not speak its name” (Wilde). The fact that the Aspers are from Israel or Zionists adds nothing to your argument except to open you to immediate charges of being antisemitic.
Delete that and push the rest.
First, some political clap-trap, then joke of the day . . .
****************************************
The Long(hair) And Short(hair) Of It All
A young boy had just received his driver’s permit and asked his father if they could discuss his use of the car, so his father said he’d make a deal with his son.
‘You bring your grades up from a C to a B Average, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.’
The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he’d settle for the offer and they agreed on it. After about six
weeks his father said,
‘Son, I’ve been real proud. You brought your grades up and I’ve observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I’m real disappointed you didn’t get your hair cut.’
The young man paused a moment then said, ‘You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of
the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.’
To this his father replied, ‘Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?’
****************************************
The Buzzquote and the WW from today’s KDC bear similarities, so the Buzzquote leads off:
“The vision of Mr. Harper is the vision of the Bush Republicans — more guns in circulation and more people in jail.” — BQ leader G. Duceppe during the French debate
– AND –
“The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.” — Art Spander
It is widely-known that harpo spoke of putting 14-year-olds in the slammer (not sure if he backtracked on that), but it is also clear that harpo and dubya are in cahoots with one another.
So Duceppe is right. There is a reason why Ms. May and Duceppe have spoken of Strategic Voting, to confound CRAP at every opportunity.
Continue ignoring polls, the msm and speak wih undecideds what harpo CAN do, and what Dion WILL offer as an alternative. If in doubt, vote for Rhinos!
If nothing else, the final outcome will be very interesting, because a change in voters’ consciouness is happening — they are noticing what CRAP actually stands for.
Small CP report buried away, which further indicates where this country is headed:
“Economic growth forecast to slow
“VANCOUVER — The economic boom in Western Canada, the oil, mineral and grain-rich region that has driven growth in the national economy for years, is expected to drop off to a quiet buzz as the housing market cools and commodity prices fall off, experts say.”
Etc., etc. One question remains, however:
Was this fiscal downturn a convenient excuse for dubya / harpo / fox(y) to can their currencies and bring in the Amero?
Supposedly, the US printing presses are well underway in printing the Amero.
By Tim N on 10.02.08 2:55 pm,
This is probably a strategy. They may not have one or release it so close to the election that there will be no time to evaluate it.
How can you tell the public that your economic plan, during difficult economic times, is not to have one?
The Conservatives and the media have convinced the public that Harper, as an economist, is best suited to handle the economy in difficult times. What they don’t tell us is that there are different kinds of economists. Harper is from “what will be, will be” school of economics. It is the simpliest concept of economics: don’t do anything and let the invisible hand of the marketplace rule (some refer to this as the law of the jungle school of economics).
“Dion said his party is committed to the Atlantic Accord and that a Liberal government would be a willing partner for megaprojects such as an Atlantic Energy Corridor, suggesting support for the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project.”
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/10/02/williams-letter.html
Layton is also supporting the Churchill project. That is a big issue for Atlantic Canada because it would allow this region reduce dependence on dirty coal for electrical generation. It would mitigate any potential negative impact of a carbon tax.
Kudos to Dion and Layton.
I wish you could see the picture the Orillia Packet and Times ran of Harper from last night. The Angry Bully came out in full FURY! So much for Sweater Man and fireside photo ops.
Harper hammered on economy in debate
TSX… Garth, now that wall street can not do any short term selling, I am wondering if they can do it here in Canada. Also had Harper not broken his Fixed Election Date I am sure the opposition would be holding Steve & Co. feet to fire big time.
Please be aware as well, that Can West Global is also run by the Asper family from Israel, Zionists who also support the privatization of the CBC for greater market share.-Brain
Are the Aspers really from Isreal? I thought the family was based in Manitoba? I am pretty sure Isreal Aspers parents immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine. Does being Jewish make one Isreali now? If so, does being Roman Catholic make one Italian as well?
By Dan on 10.02.08 1:31 pm
Hey Dan it’s not crazy. My father tells me that the rivalry between Cambridge U and Oxford does just that. In fact they have this ‘thing’ whereby they don’t even mention the rival school’s name and refer to it as “the ‘other’ place” as if it is undignified to even speak the name.
Aren’t the British quaint eh?
Don’t know if it’s ‘high road’ or high- brow snobery, but it seems to work nonetheless.
Northern PoV, thanks for the historical reference. Don’t think they had the mass media and blogs back then that would play such a huge factor in parties decisions over such bold actions. Look at the reactions to the Libs and Greens not challanging each other’s party leaders.
If the Libs and NDP worked together to win neighbouring districts from the Cons it would really cause a firestorm…. though it would be well worth it for both parties in my eyes!
I’d actually like to see the Libs,NDP and Greens all work together to determine a number of seats giving the Libs a strong minority with the NDP and Greens each gaining 10 – 25 seats over what they have today though strategically placing candidates to not oppose each other, only oppose the Cons (and bloc).
It would be a win-win-win for the three partys, a non-factor for the bloc in most of the country, and a huge blow to the Cons… but they deserve it!
Yes, it will never happen, but in theory, it should work, shouldn’t it? Would non-Conservative voters support/understand it?
Cheers!
Great video
By brain on 10.02.08 3:22 pm
Most voters support public funding for CBC
Sugar: That was not a nice sincere comment that Harper made about Layton. It was a self-congratulatory, I’m the greatest speech about aplogies to First Nations and the Chinese Head Tax.
Even Steve could not stop at a simple thank you to Layton–
By brain on 10.02.08 3:22 pm
Interesting post, that made me consider the present credit melt-down, and why the bail out just might not be such a good idea.
Maybe I am wrong, but this kind of acquisition strategy – regardless of industry – is really what is behind the present global difficulties. You see, these families definitely do not have cash on hand to make these purchases of companies. Instead, they leverage their existing assets, and use them as collateral for the additional credit. When you think about it, that means the SAME asset is likely to have been the basis for other loans and financing, and as the collection grows, the “first in” are probably leveraged more than once.
So, if you remove “easy credit”, it makes it much harder for families such as these to continue to concentrate their wealth by leverage of assets that they still owe money for. I highly doubt that such a concentration of wealth could be due to spending profits made by each corporate entity.
This is likely part of what is kicking the CRAP out of the housing markets. The speculators leveraged their other properties that were likely not all paid for, so when the market topped, they had to unload fast, or go totally broke. So, rather than making the housing affordable for those spending their savings and salaries, the gap between asking and affordable became just too great. Now the bubble burst, and sure, lots of folks are getting hurt, but I wonder if those 40 year and sub prime mortgages that were “supposed to be” for the common family, were encouraged so the speculators could grab a lot of property, and as long as prices went up, everything was just hunky-dorey. If credit was not so available, this would not have happened.
So, probably the same can go for those who are buying up independent companies, bleeding off the wealth, and then profiting while the market loses options.
How do you stop all this financial leverage without killing off common folk who also need available credit? Obviously the “free market” is incapable of self governance as it is focused on individual greed, and simply one big Monopoly game. Problem is, the game is not too fun as for every winner, there are legions of losers.
I really do not know if the bail out is such a good idea. Personally, aside from a mortgage almost paid, I find living debt free is the ONLY way to go.
I do wonder….
I love you. — Garth
I know you do. Really…you…do.
I do wonder….
By maybe Rhino? on 10.02.08 7:45 pm
The answer lies in CRTC regs and regs concerning percentages of foreign ownership in specific economic sectors of our economy.
As an example, banks are regulated to have foreign ownership of our chartered banks to no greater than 10%. The same should hold true for our media corporations.
Currently, Quebecor is going down as a result of their international exposure to world markets. With Can West media concentration and power they hold within the boardroom concerning Canadian/international news content, the problem could be solved with foreign ownership restrictions placed on the media sector and so it should.
Restrictions on foreign ownership of Canadian economic sectors isn’t new by the way to Canadians. Airlines have ownership restrictions of no greater than 30% of our Canadian airlines. I believe we have a percentage restriction placed on our railways as well (but don’t quote me, I’m not sure about that one). Commodities are wide open, but even there, we should consider the effects the largest market capitalization M & A’s have on our currency when they are taken over by foreign M & A’s and that works both ways… if Canada was ever one to buy instead of “sell”.
Last year, our GDP was boosted by a whopping 7.75% coming specifically from the hollowing out of our corporate board rooms and bought out Canadian corp market caps through foreign M & A’s and a major chunk of this was from the M & A’s of just two corporations (Alcan & Tech Cominco).
Can we do a repeat? Only if Canada wants to privatize its crown corps or loosen foreign ownership of specific economic sectors that are currently protected to a large degree like our banks and this, sadly, is the failed way Harper wants to go. The effect is a one timer boost to GDP and the Canadian dollar but the taxbase shrinks and Canadians will pay huge this type of tax “leakage” down the road. Its one of the clearest forms of tax “leakage” I can think of.
Increasing the foreign ownership of our highly profitable banks as an example from 10% to 30% to 49% the way Harper wants would lead the way to our banking industry to becoming fully foreign owned and controlled, not to mention once again that this kind of thing artificially inflates our dollar and makes us far less competitive with exports globally. Deregulating or increasing foreign ownership of our most profitable economic sectors is hardly what one would call good fiscal policy, but its the Conservative way. Bushian, Big oil first and let everything else deteriorate around it.
And what was the devestating effect of the sale of Alcan & Tech Cominco on our dollar and all other increases of ownership of our economic sectors, be it a one time op? Foreign takeovers of our Can corps will juice the Canadian dollar if its substancial enough, but the real GDP is falsely inflated as its a temporary one time effect and the tax base continues to shrink as our corps get bought out and while a high dollar has been good for oil revenues, its been horridly terrible for our manufacturing and forestry and when one thinks hard about it, such blind eye policies of not looking for other alternatives to the Foreign M & A’s of such large market caps like Alcan & Tech Cominco were inexcusable by this Harper government. Didn’t happen… they never even remotely tried. One of many fiscal failings, like Harper’s IT fiasco but… y’know.
Its like the GDP figure we see in July, “oh, the economy is growing!”… well, no, its mostly generated from Prentices selloff of our wireless capabilities to the tune of 4.25 Billion. Take this out of the equation and we are barely treading water with the ugly numbers yet to come.
Harpers fiscal failings are so long, I really don’t know where it begins, never mind ends. One thing is for sure. Whether its Harper or Dion forming the next government, this next government will be inheriting a major hangover from Harper/Flarehty failed economic policies thus far.
Letter to Lisa Raitt, copied to me:
While watching the Canada AM’s Halton election showcase, I heard you roundly denounce proportional representation, advocatinh the 1st past the post. Besides being told by your leader what to think, on what information and research did you form your opinion?
You stated that 1st past the post has worked for us since Confederation. Horse transportation also worked for us then. Will you and your party actively work to allow everyone to have our personal horses on our properties whereever we live in Canada?
With global warming and energy crises, not mention our failing US based economy, it is more important then ever for all of us to produce our food locally.. The UN stated that 16% of the world’s food is grown/produced in LARGE CITIES. This includes not only fruit and vegetables but our meat as well. Would you and your party allow all of to raise chickens and other food animals on our properties whereever we live in Canada? It worked at Confederation, indeed until only a few years ago.
Most voters support public funding for CBC — Randy, 7:34 pm
I also support public funding for the CBC; as well I would like public interests to be free of any govt. interference, but that’s for another day.
My question to you Randy — what software program do you use to create a link from a sentence?
I have TinyURL.com and HTML URL Creator — I haven’t figured out the second yet — but your way of setting it up is neat.
Suggestions? Thanks!
Garth
Mr.Harper does not care about the future of the average Canadian.
After watching the first 10 mins of the Debate he has no plan for the Canadian meltdown that is on our doorstep.
I’m not willing to take a chance on giving my mortgage keys back to the bank.I’am a small business owner today i had to lay off two employees because my business is down by 30 %.
Mr.Harper is out of touch with the avearage small business owner.
It’s time to TERMINATE the C>E>O> for Canada.
And hire a new vision for the future of every Canadian small business.
Mr.Harper don’t tell me we are not in a Economic crisis.
Your so out of touch with small business.Garth you can count on all of my small business friends to VOTE LIBERAL.At least you have a plan.
Thanks George
Stephane Dion is our only hope! At least we know he will work with other parties to get things done.
Stephen Harper has NO plan…
Harper has no plan in these terrible economic times.
He has no ideas, no vision = no results!
Dion did a GREAT job tonight!
Dion did a GREAT job tonight!
By Cris on 10.02.08 10:51 pm
He did OK. Layton had the best zingers – The platform under your sweater one was priceless.
(golly gee, hurry up and post Garth!)
Bravo, Bravo, BRAVO.
Watch those silly polls folks, the numbers are going to change!
Stepahne Dion was Brill!!!
He looked voters right in the eye and won their hearts and their minds.
The ‘Other’ bloke just lost his lala land majority. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, yet he hardly ever looked at ours. We could see his though, and he knows the tide has turned significantly tonight. No matter how the spin doctors weave.
Layton, nice try bud but you won’t be PM. He had some wonderful slices and curve balls though. His quotes will be remembered I cheered loudly and scared the dog a couple of times. Performed his role to attack both parties in self-interest but in the end I think he helped Dion rise up and ate SH in one bite.
Eliza, Eliza, your flow’rs have bloomed. What an absolute pleasure to have you at the table. Hell, someone make that woman an associative Cab Minister or something. Party Whip, Critic of anything. I like that lady even if she can’t have my vote. I almost thought her right hand was going to fly out farther and slap the Big Head across the cheek. T’wouldn’t that have been something! Well done g’friend.
and last but never least, the BLOCK. Ya, know, my op on that fella has changed somewhat. Still a self-centred jerk at times but he ‘does’ have many useful things to add to the table.
Bravo to the up coming NEW Liberal gov’t. I can see 4 parties working together. The Con bullies will be sour grapes for some time and oppose everthing, but they will come around hopefully and work productivly while they search for a new leader.
Our Canada is coming back.
Go Garth Go! (hey did you notice some of the fine answers contained virtual ident statements from posters here? Ironic eh? Such clever posters and strategists on this blog)
I totally agree. Stephane did a great job tonight. So did Elizabeth May. What a gutsy, intelligent, informed woman she is. I loved the way she called out Harper.
That silly smile/smirk he has sure is sickening to me. I liked the way the other debaters called him out as well.
It is so sad the Harper is so mean and devious to use those denigrating ads against Dion for two year. I am sure that since the “Dion is not a leader” affirmation costing millions was burned into Canadian’s psyche and will have a negative effect on the number of votes Stephane and his team will get. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to vote for a man who would approve of those ads. Stephane is great and would make a wonderful PM for Canada. I have not voted LIberal since Chretien did not erase the GST. I only looked at the Liberals because I wanted Harper out. I found in Stephane Dion and his team an integrity, intelligence and creativity with a plan that I think is great. I am voting Liberal this election.
I have many thanks to Garth for this blog as it helped me to become political. Another sadness is that the general population does not have the time to pay enough attention to know what damage Harper has done and how dishonest and dictatorial he is.
By brain on 10.02.08 8:53 pm
I am with you there dude. The effect of M&A on our economy and overall market health is something folks forget about. Not only does it concentrate wealth, it removes options from the marketplace. Those of us who want an option are prevented from having one.
This is something I really doubt the mainstream even think about. If they can get something that “appears” to put a little more coin in their jeans – in the short term – they rarely consider the long term ramification for their personal long term health and well being. This is why I rant about the foreign owned stores like Wal Mart, that in the short term, provide economic benefit. However, medium to long term they destroy the local economy. Not only that, once total control is gained through elimination of competition, the economic benefit they provide in the first place, quickly disappears.
Personally, this is one of the ONLY benefits of globalisation, particularly in the banking sector. For a brief example, a foreign bank like ING can help keep our “controlled” banking sector “honest” by providing an option.
That, to me describes the microcosm, and when extended into the macroeconomic area on a national basis, is a real problem.
We need to keep the marketplace healthy by providing freedom of choice. In relation to the MSM, it is even more critical to encourage and nurture free choice in speech, perspective, and objectivity. Concentration of media is extremely dangerous. From what I see, our only option is presently the internet, blogs like this, and the individual initiatives such as this fine blog provided by someone who happens to be a politician.
Information is power. He who controls the information has the power to mould public perspective. Something Dr. Goebbels proved to disasterous effect.
And that, my friends, is exactly what Harperites is trying to do to our freedom.
About Harper’s “smile”…
Ask any lady what they look at first in a man, and it will probably be the eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul. For some strange reason, it is hard to trust someone who will not look you straight in the eye, and speak his truth clearly.
Harper had a great deal of difficulty responding directly to the person while looking him/her in the eye. He seemed to prefer answering the question while looking at the mediator – or directly into the camera – rather than the source of the tricky questions. Almost like QP eh? But, this was not the Speaker, and he did not have Van Loonie to take his hits.
And, I might add, the smirk did not hide the fatigue in those eyes. The smirk did not hide the anger and frustration either. The smirk did not hide the occasional reddish flush of the cheeks, and ears.
He looked like prey… the hunted man…
Pool lil’ Harpo… NOT!!!
Supposedly, the US printing presses are well underway in printing the Amero.
By Charles Oxley on 10.02.08 5:58 pm
Chas, do you know yet what animal will be the logo on the Amero? My guess it will have the head of an Eagle on the body of a Donkey with a Beaver Tail. That will allow the tail to slap the head when it squawks instead of the ass dumping! [Americans call pay day the day the eagle craps!] If you are involved with some clever graphic artist, you might just be able to get me a copy of that out onto the internet!
BY TRUTH B TOLD ON 10.02.08 5:36 PM
And it was at the time when the Neoconservative movement moved from “not just Nixon dirty tricks”. Half a decade earlier a future supreme court judge had suggested to his fellow neoconservatives that they implement the chambers of commerce to push their propaganda… those were his words. And they also opted to fund fake right wing think tanks to falsely influence public opinion. They have “their” universities and teach their warped economics. And they have their ultra right wing support groups.
But the kicker was that on election day, Rev. Moon’s Washington newspaper published a headline that Ronald Reagan had won, but the election was still going on, and it helped him win.
Here in Canada, Harper’s Neoconservatives use a heavy hand to illegally raise and funnel party advertising and push voting and funds via third parties. Their followers are not encouraged to use reason, nor think for themselves. How could they, there’s no honesty from the neoconservative leader Harper and his silent men. How do voters make a decision with nothing to go on?
It’s the complicit media who stands to benefit from Harper’s party’s favours they’ve made a deal with the devil for greater market share by axing public tv. We’ve really and completely lost democracy because of the Bush friends. Harper will win two more majority, slap Canadians in the face, sell out Canada and devastate us, just like Bush did, to please the corporations who rule him. And Harper’s prize will be forcing his narrow and backwards social agenda on us. Can you imagine what it will be like when young women have no choice and begin to die again, just like the old days, from illegal abortions, all because of Harper.
My take. Elizabeth May was #1, followed by Layton. The others tie for third place. Dion would sometimes say something that would have profound implication in its meaning, but then did not follow through and expound. Missed the two in the one-two punch. With such fast pacing, it would be lost a moment later. For example, missed some potentially good supporting statements, like on the medical front, he should have brought forward the plan for supporting foreign-born doctors get Canadian accreditation. Can’t be too critical though, I suppose, when debating under pressure. Also, all of the Opposition missed opportunities to expose falacies in Harper’s statements, letting him get away with white lies.
While Layton was feisty, he still has to be considered in the context of his full platform and its corporate scapegoating. As would the revolution of May’s, but damn she’s a good patriot. (Got that feeling from Layton and Dion too, very earnest). Again in my view the clear winner was Elizabeth May.
To me Harper looked like a cardboard placard with a picture of himself wearing a forced smile. A tape recorder that had someone behind him pushing the appropriate buttons with the same old non-answer lies& prodding him when he showed signs of agitation. I’ll bet he was clenching his teeth a lot too. Btw, did anybody notice a hidden ear piece telling him what to say? On a scale of 1 to 5, one being the best, I rate his performance # 5
Duceppe won some points on his debating skills though. He would have scored a lot better had he not implied that what ever handouts he can get for Quebec is all he cares he about, the hell with the rest of Canada or something like that. He pretty much confirmed to Canada that he still dose not consider Quebec part of Canada. His demand to know about the seat Harper promised him showed him up for the opportunist he really is. He displayed the attitude that since I didn’t get that seat like you promised when you courted me so go win your own election without my help. # 4
Layton simply played to the cameras with his practiced lines & his plastered smiles. He looked like an actor playing a role to a full house. His being Harpers partner in crime didn’t help win points for him either. # 3 on his acting skills.
Ms. May was priceless, quick witted, added a whole new prospective to debates, a good debater by the way. She would get my vote if I thought she could win enough seats to have a chance to win the PM’s seat. Maybe next time Elizabeth. It’s a toss up between a 1 a 2 so close means a tie with Mr. Dion for # 1
Mr. Dion made it very clear that he has the credentials as a great leader & deserves to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. He made some very strong points when he had the floor & had he been given more time in rebuttal to explain himself, he would have scored big time to the Canadians audience. He has already proven himself worthy on the world stage that he has the smarts & the ability to connect with the world leaders by his input in Bali & Montreal with the world leaders on Global Warming. Btw, If Canadians do not vote for him & his platform simply because he is French & has an accent, I am ashamed to part of the Canada we live in today as should all of you who show such disrespect for him & all French Canadians. I rate him a definite # 1.
Cheers
Why is that NOBODY seems to listen in the Liberal Party? Dion is simply NOT a public figure. He does NOT have presence. Sure, he may be a great PM, but he is NOT selling itself.
Sure, he did great in French, but miserably in English. I don’t know if you have noticed, but Canada is primarily English. See where I am going with this?
GEEZZ!!!
By Name_Required on 10.03.08 9:04 am
Where are you going with this did you ask? With that attitude, grounded for a month, a slap on the backside & straight to bed I would imagine. Wait! You couldn’t possibly be an adult or could you?
Canada is a country made up of many races speaking different languages besides English & you have the nerve to insinuate Canada is primarily English? I think you had better stick to facts & while you’re at it, take a course in English because your English skills are not something to brag about either.
Since when did the criteria for being a PM become a language issue? Where does it say that you must be English with no accent to become a PM? Mr. Dion has made it very clear by his campaign that he loves Canada, that he is a great leader & deserves to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. Btw. I would love to see Harper & Dion in an hour debate. There would be no contest by the time Mr. Dion was finished with him.
Mr. Dion has already proven himself worthy to Canadians & to the world, that he has the skill, the passion, the respect,& the ability to connect with their leaders by his input in Bali & in Montreal when he brought the world leaders together & signed on to the Kyoto Accord.
If Canadians do not vote for him & his platform simply because he is French & has an accent, that would be a great injustice to all Canadians & to this country. I am ashamed to be part of the Canada we live in as should all of you who show such disrespect for him & all other nationalities simply because English isn’t their first language & they have an accent.
FYI, Mr. Dions French is a lot better than your English.
Cheers