gretag

A member since September 11, 2008 20:42

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Comment History

Liberals and Conservatives still close - Trend favours the Liberals at the expense of the NDP (2009-03-21)

• Interesting that the NDP did so well when the Liberals had a leader who championed the environment and shifted the Liberals to the left, whereas under Ignati...
• I doubt Nanos leans to the Liberals but that is irrelevant, in any case, as he is running a professional polling company. I assume he does polls when people...

Nanos Poll - Ignatieff still unknown, Harper too well known (2009-01-18)

• Harper's popularity may further decline as we see more of Obama. Harper just doesn't seem capable of being open and of bringing people from different politi...

New Nanos National Poll - Lib 34, CP 33, NDP 19, BQ 7, GP 7 (completed Jan 7) (2009-01-09)

• I agree on the Quebec analysis. Quebec will enjoy sticking it to Harper and won't trust any promises he makes. A new CPC leader before the next election...
• The Israeli Palestinian conflict is a divisive issue, but the number of people who will choose their Canadian political party and vote according to that issu...
• No I don't agree. Again, I see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as unique in the emotions and politics it stirs up and connects to. I don't see this spread...

CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking CP 34, LP 31, NDP 18, BQ 11, GP 6 (ending October 6) (2008-10-07)

• And the scientists! I thought the scientists really exposed the misinformation on comparing a carbon tax to cap and trade in their own open letter release...

CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking CP 34, LP 30, NDP 19, BQ 10, GP 7 (ending October 4) (2008-10-05)

• This is so different than the narrative running in the media, which is more along the lines of C:38-40, L21-23, N20-22. I notice Angus Reid has a new Toront...

CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking CP 35, LP 30, NDP 18, BQ 10, GP 9 (ending October 2) (2008-10-03)

• Perhaps you are right. We will see. I can't judge because Dion won me over months ago and Harper turned me off even earlier. Through my lens, I saw Harper...
• Yes, but that same poll had more people whose opinion of Harper dropped than people whose opinion rose. He was the only leader who had a drop in support, ev...

CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking CP 37, LP 26, NDP 19, BQ 10, GP 8 (ending October 1) (2008-10-02)

• Ipsos-Reid got a different response on the effect of the french debate: --------- Overall, the effect of this debate on voters’ intentions has not been insig...

Chat about the Leaders' Debate Live (2008-10-02)

• Layton interrupting bothered me too. I also thought his sweater comments were inappropriate under the circumstances. I tend to mainly focus on content, b...
• I'm glad to hear you want to look into the Green Shift. The Economist had an article on carbon taxes in 2007 and the Congressional Budget Office has many do...
• Foxer, I hope I have time to come back and address your points soon, but I don't have the time right now. I'll just say that I've studied carbon pricing ext...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 36, LP 27, NDP 19, GP 9, BQ 9 (ending September 27) (2008-09-28)

• The press has been incredibly disappointing. I notice the Toronto Star had to issue a "correction" on a "news" article describing Dion's speech in Winnipeg....
• mpetch, do you know that Harper has promised to implement cap and trade without any corresponding tax cuts and credits? He hasn't revealed the cost yet, and...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 35, LP 30, NDP 22, BQ 7, GP 6 (ending September 21) (2008-09-22)

• H and K: CON 115 (-11) LIB 104 (+3) NDP 49 (+20) BQ 39 (-11) IND 1 (0) Seat predictions are notoriously faulty, but it is interesting that today's Nanos num...
• sorry for garbled editing, 1st para should read: Seat predictions are notoriously faulty, but it is interesting that today's Nanos numbers put the Liberals ...
• Skoblin, sorry, I just pulled that off a blog which posted seats for Nik's numbers, so I don't have more info.
• Actually, that is easy to explain and is common to all carbon pricing schemes. You set initial prices/refunds based on estimated emissions and adjust as nee...
• rsharp, you can't quite conclude that, because each day averages 3 numbers and your formulae are using the averaged values for 2 numbers and an actual number...
• No, that is not what I am saying. I'm saying in order to keep it revenue neutral and neither run a deficit or collect too much money, the price of carbon is...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 29, NDP 18, BQ 7, GP 7 (ending September 19) (2008-09-20)

• There are still 18% undecided, but I guess it depends whether people in this category vote or not. Also there is still more than 3 weeks to go -- too early ...
• KRB, you appear to be very tied to the party system. Since I never know from one election to the next which party I will vote for, I have a different view. ...
• Actually, a few of the family members are speaking out and don't like the way Ritz has handled things. It is not just his crude jokes at their expense, but ...
• Thanks for posting that, Hope. There is also lots of great, well researched information on the US Congressional Budget Office website, which shows that a ...
• It was the CBO which won me over to the Green Shift, because they are nonpartisan and are intent on optimizing the benefits to the economy in any environment...
• Well Layton just cut loose his more flamboyant marijuana activists hoping to capture the middle ground. :-)
• Foxer, how do you imagine Harper's Turning the Corner cap and trade to work? Do you think it will do nothing, despite Harper saying it will? If that is the...
• Foxer, carbon pricing, which is one environmental tool, is also directly connected to the limited resource of fossil fuels. Oil and gas prices will rise on ...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 39, LP 28, NDP 18, BQ 7, GP 7 (ending September 18) (2008-09-19)

• The Toronto Star only quoted half of Dion's response (and didn't state the question he was answering). The other half of Dion's answer made it clear that he...
• So, Foxer, did you read the text of the question that Dion was answering? Did you read the entire answer? Dion and the Liberal party stand firmly behind t...
• I agree that issues and policy are most important, and the entire policy and commication surrounding this health and safety issue is important. However, the...
• Dion said it was the foundation, not the center. However I fail to see how this interchange means that Dion is not running the show. Here are further quote...
• FYI, this is what Dion said when he announced the Green Shift in June, explictly stating there would be other parts of the environmental platform, never mind...
• As to the CPC high polls, Canadians have been bombarded by Harper. Besides the multiple waves of attack ads over the past year, the heavy pre-writ advertisi...
• Surely you are joking on number 1 there. Have you not read about the huge lapses in accountability and the new revolving door with lobbyists? Harper is a m...
• Breaking news: Conservatives can calm down now. The press is now reporting this all arose because Dion used the words "very important" instead of "centra...
• Anyone who has ever assumed a leadership position, or even a managerial position, understands the responsibility a leader has for maintaining a respectful en...
• I don't vote according to party lines, so don't look to me to remember Liberal promises because I didn't vote for them. I am choosing between Harper and Dio...
• We disagree on Dion. I like his honesty, openness and determination. He also understands the big challenges facing humankind. Usually, the US assumes th...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 39, LP 30, NDP 18, BQ 7, GP 6 (ending September 17) (2008-09-18)

• Actually, in and out is under investigation, as is Mulroney, and the lawsuit which will determine the validity of the Cadman tape is ongoing, although now de...
• I am talking about people in Harper's cabinet or currently employed by Harper. I don't think any of them have been fired, although one has been suspended fo...
• I do not agree. Harper is dishonest and unethical and shows a lack of respect for people who hold different views -- all of which makes him unfit to be Prim...
• Here's just a couple to get started. Harper versus Riddell: Harper attempted to smear Riddell as a liar and said there was no financial deal. The court fo...
• Dion comes across as more sincere and open than one expects for a political leader. This will attract some people, while others will be put off by his imper...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 31, NDP 17, GP 8, BQ 6 (ending September 15) (2008-09-16)

• While the NDP may be a bit higher in other polls, it is the Liberal one that is way off (about 8 points lower). If Nik were willing to comment on that, I kn...
• Foxer, there is a lot of excellent information on carbon pricing. I particularly like the Congressional Budget Office reports because they are non-partisan ...
• I don't agree that cap and trade doesn't work. It is not as efficient, it takes longer to set up, and it can be abused. However properly administered and r...
• Foxer, the whole point to a carbon tax is to tilt the economic balance so it makes sense to look for conservation measures and alternatives to fossil fuels, ...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 37, LP 31, NDP 18, GP 9, BQ 6 (ending September 14) (2008-09-15)

• It is only to Harper's benefit to try to split votes between opposition parties as equally as possible to help him squeak through in some swing ridings, so i...
• Good list. I've been to one of Dion's townhalls, where you can ask him anything you want. Too bad Harper doesn't hold one. I have some questions for him.
• I don't agree. Anyone who might vote NDP isn't going to be turned off from the NDP by Harper saying something negative. In any case, if you look at what Har...
• I agree with Bernie. The NDP has been a positive force for social justice in the past under previous leaders. Their policies have eroded under Layton (oppo...
• Non-aligned, why do you favour the NDP cap and trade over the Green Shift? It was rated lower, simply based on environmental factors, by the Sierra Club and...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 30, NDP 17, GP 9, BQ 6 (ending September 13) (2008-09-14)

• Everyone I know is already voting Liberal and look at these polls! Okay, I exaggerate, but of the few dozen people I talk to (in real life) about voting, th...
• Neither of us think much of these "leadership" type questions, but probably there is a message in there. I've met Dion and think he would be a great Prime...
• Good questions and I look forward to Nik's answers too. Meanwhile, it does seem that if Dion could boost his leadership numbers the Liberals would likely ...
• Ronald, at some point this election may start to be about issues. Right now it is focussed on personalities, but I doubt Harper can keep it there for anothe...
• Nik, have you done a "nasty" rating on the leaders as well? CTV is reporting one from SC. I notice Strategic Council found a strong correlation between who...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 30, NDP 15, BQ 9, GP 8 (ending September 12) (2008-09-13)

• I agree with dahlcore's analysis. I certainly don't see a Liberal free fall in these numbers. Obviously nothing has jolted this campaign yet.
• Layton is going to have to change his approach with May in the debates. His campaigning for Prime Minister will look silly against May's down to earth appro...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 31, NDP 14, BQ 9, GP 9 (ending September 11) (2008-09-12)

• I am never willing to underestimate the power of the highly researched marketing strategy Harper is using. However, I do see the possibility for the NDP to ...
• I agree these polling questions are tripe and fit into a certain political agenda. However, Nik's polling is still better than most, although admittedly, th...
• I agree that Conservative MPs are highly constrained in representing their constituents. As to the carbon tax, it is important to realize that all five part...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 37, LP 32, NDP 13, BQ 9, GP 9 (ending September 10) (2008-09-11)

• What precipitous drop? Going from 35 to 32 is within the errors of the two polls. The more significant change is the drop in the NDP and rise in the Conser...
• rsharp, I agree with your comments. I can't imagine how one can consider Harper trustworthy, given his words then and now and so many things. But what I se...
• We have seen, for an example, very important democratic reform initiatives such as fixed election dates which is Bill C-16. It passed and has come into force...
• Nik is better than most. Polls aren't everything and a lot of people are in a lying mood these days. In my circles, admittedly a lot more Liberal, NDP and...