Strengths and weaknesses of Conservative government

No doubt a new round of attack ads is on the way trying to define the Liberals as worse than than the Tories. This game of lowest common denominator can effectively be countered by Iggy and his party by highlighting the stupidity of Tory acts. Warren Kinsella and his war room team have a pretty good arsenal and there is now enough money in the till to go toe to toe with the Harpecrites.

I also believe that further negative ads by the Reformatories will simply worsen the views Canadians have towards them.

[updated Sat Jun 13 00:43:24 -0400 2009]

Ho Ho Ho-----A tiger that changes its spots is still a tiger and no more trusty in the sheep's pen.

[updated Sat Jun 13 02:18:24 -0400 2009]

What a concept! Instead of another failed negative TV campaign aimed at Iggy, how about soft and fuzzy commercials telling us what a big teddy bear Harper really is.

We all know he hasn't a mean bone in his body and since the msm has failed to get that message out it's imperative the Conservatives draw on their millions to feature the truth. He is, afterall, harmless as a puppy.

[updated Sat Jun 13 02:42:55 -0400 2009]

Dear Nik,

In this Poll we asked Canadians during the Global recession, Raitt-gate, balloning deficit, several negative stories spun by the MSM fresh in their minds who do we blame?

Perhaps the timing of the survey just before a confidence motion/report card is just a coincidence.

I believe you already ran another Poll that those who don't like Harper REALLY don't like Harper.

"Canadians prefer Mr. Harper to Mr. Ignatieff by a wide margin on issues of vision, trust and ability to lead during tough economic times, said the poll of 1,001 adults conducted Wednesday and Thursday for Canwest News Service and Global National."

The poll suggested 43% of Canadians believe Mr. Harper would make the best prime minister, compared to 33% for Mr. Ignatieff and 23% for NDP Leader Jack Layton. Those numbers were unchanged since December.

Meanwhile, 46% said they see Mr. Harper as the best manager for tough economic times, up two points since December, compared to 32% for Mr. Ignatieff and 17% for Layton, who was down two points.
http://www.nationalpost.com/most-popular/story.html?id=1555166

I enjoy reading the analysis of a Liberal who strongly opposed to the CPC but is capable of cutting through the MSM and party spin to expose some harsh political realities.

The folly of the Liberal default choice -Wednesday, June 10, 2009
http://puzzledcat.blogspot.com/2009/06/folly-of-liberal-default-choice.html

....

"At the moment, without any comprehensive Liberal set of policies announced and laid before the voters, the party, under its new leader, seems to be banking on becoming the next government by default. If you don't like Harper and his Tories, try us."

"This default-choice strategy relies on voters thinking that they have been presented a blank cheque, which voters can fill in. It relies on voters – having tired of Harper's political mean spiritedness – deciding that the devil they don't know is better than the one they do."

"But this is really an insult to voters, and courts disaster because, as the pollster pointed out, the Tories have still maintained a 30% grip on the electorate nationwide, and have the luxury of time because the NDP is unlikely to decide to (voluntarily) transform themselves into lemmings."

"For us to regain power, we need to place before the voters a comprehensive, liberal set of policies and programs, so that Canadians may know what we stand for, and what they will get if they decide to change from the Tories to another government. "

[updated Sat Jun 13 08:23:34 -0400 2009]

They Must Pay Dimitri Soudas Big Bucks!

I must say that I find it so comforting to be able to count on Stephen Harper's Press Secretary, Dimitri Soudas, to clearly articulate government policy...that must be why we elected him to the House of Commons!

Call me old-fashioned but it would be nice if the Prime Minister and the Human Resources Minister could get their act together and sing from the same song book over Employment Insurance -

ergo, a few golden nuggets from Bill Curry in The Globe and Mail:

"We're considering changes", Finlay said. Ditto from the PM. But then she went on to say that EI modifications were not carved in stone: "No. We are considering them based on how the economic events roll out and how workers are affected. If the economy improves, there may be less vulnerability. But we're still looking at every option that we possibly can to make sure we are supporting Canadians as they need it."

That's where Dimitri chimed in with a correction: that cabinet is actively working on more options for the fall -- including working on EI proposals.

I don't know about you but I tend to believe Diane Finley. Perhaps she should have also commented on the pace of the flow of economic stimulus money as well. Sounds like a deliberate double-pronged strategy to me.

Ah, there's nothing quite like the soothing reassurance of competent economic managers...

[updated Sat Jun 13 10:19:56 -0400 2009]

Informed1,

Are you up for a chat on U.S. mid-term elections? I realize you may have to be somewhat guarded in your responses.

[updated Sat Jun 13 11:40:23 -0400 2009]

Even Harper's conservative mentor Tom Flanagan (Liberal spinmeister to all Haroer lovers) is trashing him, again. The guy is going down fast.

"If this glum assessment was written by any columnist in the land, it would be vilified by party faithful as the predictable rantings of a Liberal-loving mainstream media."

"The University of Calgary political scientist served in all of these roles to this prime minister, yet he's come to the startling conclusion his star student and political protege is battered, tattered and almost beyond repair as a going-forward force in federal politics."

"The way Flanagan sees it now, Harper is adrift in a vacuum of policy and principle, conniving to retain power while hemorrhaging respect as a flawed political strategist. Harper's greatest gaffe was inserting the elimination of public financing for political parties into last fall's economic update-- "his single worst mistake, not just as prime minister but in his career as a party leader," Flanagan writes."

"He had perfected the art of keeping political opponents squabbling among themselves, but that move united all three parties under a common survival strategy that gave the Conservatives a near-death experience at the hands of the short-lived coalition."

"It dealt a mortal blow to Harper's vaulted reputation as a brilliant tactician."

"Before the fall fiasco he wasn't exactly loved by the public, but he was widely respected by political observers as a competent manager and a shrewd strategist. But after his misadventure with the political subsidy issue, many are saying that his strategic sense has been overrated. This is a dangerous development for if you are not to be loved, you must at least be respected."

"What's worse, Flanagan lists the reasons the once-principled leader has "tattered" his credibility by embracing corporate subsidies, violating his own fixed election date law, diving into deficit and breaking election promises on income trust taxation and equalization calculations."

"Taken together, along with other less publicized reversals, they have created a widespread impression that Harper stands for nothing in particular except winning and keeping power. This is a major loss for a political leader who was once seen as a man of conviction."

New leader, new CPC.

[updated Sat Jun 13 14:47:43 -0400 2009]

Why The Attack Ads Aren't Working.

Our Prime Minister is nothing if not consistent -- by releasing attack ads against Michael Ignatieff last month, he has telegraphed his intention to follow the exact same political strategy he used against Stéphane Dion.

Conservatives go out of their way to point out how Dion got a short bounce post-convention (even in his home province) and how CPC tactics quickly reduced the "next" prime minister to the status of political weakling.

For his part, Dion unwittingly played into the PM's hands time and time again, wary of a voter backlash in an unexpected and unappreciated election.

Sound familiar?

That is precisely the dilemma facing Michael Ignatieff as he prepares to announce his decision tomorrow. He has to contrast the wishes of the Canadian electorate versus what is in the country's best interests.

There are many factors to take into account, which often are diametrically opposed: some counsel waiting until the numbers project future political stability via the probable election of a Liberal majority government. Others argue that the Harper government is now at its weakest point politically and should be despatched as quickly as possible before circumstances or strategy can effect a turnaround.

That brings us back to the ads -- they aren't working because in this round, Canadians are prepared to let Michel Ignatieff define himself and his party. But they have given Ignatieff a short window. Much will depend on the preparation state of the party platform. Michael has a delicate balancing act to project: he must come off as decisive, deliberate and determined but not opportunistic or self-serving.

He has said he will put the best interests of Canada and Canadians ahead of any other consideration. We eagerly await the end result of his political deliberations.

[updated Sun Jun 14 09:03:24 -0400 2009]

Nik - this is very interesting...
Almost as if the consequences of going negative come back to bite the "Negativees" in the tush!
It would have been very interesting if you pollers had posed one additional followup question to the first one - i.e. Can you recall one specific action or event that caused this impression to form?
While recognizing that the question doesn't require a binary choice answer or a short list of predetermined choices - analysis of that response would have been VERY interesting.

[updated Sun Jun 14 09:30:43 -0400 2009]

CIA Up And Running!

They're scared...fecesless.

I can report that the CIA (Conservative Intelligence Agency) is up and running and furiously dialing for information on what might potentially happen tomorrow. The person closest to me on this planet even got a call. Naturally, that individual did their best to keep them guessing -- and as Maxwell Smart would say: was "loving it".

Interesting state of affairs in Conservative circles these days. And I thought desperate probing was strictly a medical matter...

[updated Sun Jun 14 12:41:32 -0400 2009]

Accountability And Getting Answers.

As I said previously, the Prime Minister will cave on Employment Insurance -- and the other three issues which are priorities for the Liberals.

The Conservatives have been effectively stimulated...

[updated Mon Jun 15 11:25:48 -0400 2009]

The mocking of Iggy begins:

The man who cried wolf

Liberals say they don't want summer election

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/blogolitics/the-man-who-cried-wolf/article1182441/

The media do not like being played, and Iggy is following in the footsteps of Paul Martin, Dion strategy of not providing a concrete answer to a clear question.

This may be the end of "professors" becoming party leaders for the Liberals.

[updated Mon Jun 15 16:00:27 -0400 2009]

Let the mocking of weakling Harper begin as the slow cave-in by Harper rolls out:

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is willing to meet Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to discuss his demands to avoid triggering a summer election, including further changes to the country's employment insurance system."

[updated Mon Jun 15 18:09:49 -0400 2009]

Monday, June 15, 2009 04:48 PM
Don't call him chicken

Adam Radwanski

The best explanation I've seen so far today for why the Liberals might force an election comes from Rob Silver. That says something about Rob, but it says a lot more about Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff's ongoing flirtation with bringing down the government stems, by many accounts, from his determination to prove he's tougher than Stephane Dion. There's no word if Ignatieff is actively trying to prove he's just as lousy as Dion at articulating a coherent vision for the country, but he's doing a damn good job of it either way.

Dion's problem was that he had a vision; he just couldn't find the right words to sell it. Ignatieff has managed to flip things around; time after time, he articulately ties himself into knots trying to get around the fact that he has very little to say.

If you're going to threaten to bring the government down five months after you voted in favour of its economic plan, you'd better have a good reason for it. More to the point, you'd better be able to explain what it is that you'd do differently, and why what you want to do is so important that it merits a second election in a nine-month span.

So far, the only significant policy difference Ignatieff has been able to articulate is on the number of hours Canadians should have to work in order to qualify for employment insurance - hardly the biggest issue when it comes to the country's economic recovery.

On everything else, Ignatieff falls back on opposition complaints so vague and unconstructive that they sound like they're from the middle of a majority mandate, not the cusp of a campaign.

He accuses the Conservatives of lacking a plan to deal with the deficit, but presents no plan of his own. The same goes, more or less, for his complaint about the management of medical isotopes. His biggest gripe of late, about the speed with which stimulus dollars are going out, seems contrived to paper over the fact that his party endorsed the stimulus plan itself.

Five months ago, Ignatieff didn't want to chance an election because he knew his party wasn't ready for one. The Liberals have since made great strides on the organizational side. In terms of policies, and the manner in which those policies are communicated, there's much less evidence of progress.

Backing his party into an election he's neither prepared for nor able to justify to the public would certainly be gutsy. But the line between gutsy and foolhardy is a pretty thin one.

[updated Mon Jun 15 19:23:09 -0400 2009]

The Harper cave-in begins. Harper is a disgrace to the CPC. First massive deficits and spending, then nationalizing a car company and now publicly caving in to Ignatieff. Loser.

"PM willing to meet Ignatieff

Prime Minister Stephen Harper leaves a news conference in Ottawa on Monday. Harper stated he's willing to talk with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff about Liberal demands to avoid a general election.
Harper responds to Liberal Leader's demands with suggestion his government will attempt to bring self-employed Canadians into EI program."

[updated Mon Jun 15 20:49:09 -0400 2009]

Ronald,

"At his own press conference this morning, Ignatieff warned that a summer election can only be avoided if Harper introduces reforms to employment insurance by this month. Liberals are willing to give extra time if necessary, he says." -Iggy

Harper said flatly that the timing is impossible; that the soonest any EI changes could come would be in the fall.

"They cannot be done on the back of an envelope in a few days," he told reporters. EI benefits will be expanded to include self-employed people by fall, he said, but Harper didn't hold out any hope for anything to happen sooner. -Harper

(It was an idea floated in the last campaign by the CPC btw)

Clearly they can have a chat and Harper will listen to Iggy demand, request, beg to give him something to avoid looking like Dion again.

Will Harper make him suffer or put him out of his misery. Stay tuned.

The other demands are non starters and attempts to give Iggy in his some escape clauses.

Are Canadians really asking him? Why has he not called Harper in 5 months to have a face-face meeting? Why did he not raise those demands in Question Period?

Ronald lastly, why does Harper have my support and respect? A SOB would make Iggy suffer and force an election. Harper will try to help Iggy save a little face because he cares about the EAP helping Canadians and it would stop. Sorry to burst the haters of Harper but this person does care enough about this country he has lived and is raising his family in it. Iggy not so much.

My darling wife who in not politically inclined found out through those attack ads he has been away for 34 years. She is very upset, she thinks he should not be allowed to run for PM. BTW she is left leaning!

Another person who was informed by facts about Iggy. Iggy will be much better than Dion in driving away support for the liberals as more information is made public about his views.

[updated Tue Jun 16 00:02:42 -0400 2009]

Harper falsehood and fear monger. BS supreme:

Didn't Stephen Harper just say on Mike Duffy Gong Show the money is already 80% committed?
Which is it?
Is it spent or not spent?
Spent money that they now need a vote of Parliament to approve?
How do they Un-spend it if the vote fails? How do you Un-ring a bell?

This is BS to scare everyone off an election he will lose.

New leader, new CPC.

[updated Tue Jun 16 02:23:32 -0400 2009]

Ronald,

Another fan of Iggy making the obvious statement on the threats of an election by the Liberals.

Jeffrey Simpson-Monday, Jun. 15, 2009 07:06PM EDT

"It's not issues, therefore, that produced this Liberal brinksmanship, but rather the sense of political advantage today and an accompanying sense that perhaps the fall or next spring would not be as advantageous."

Is that a fair comment by this fan?

[updated Tue Jun 16 06:56:26 -0400 2009]

Tom Clark tonight:

"Ignatieff will get something so he does not look like Dion and Harper will look like he did not cave. By next September no one will remember this."

Then we will be back to Harper the failure loser and sellout conservative that no one likes. The CPC will still need a new leader to win.

New leader, new and winning CPC.

[updated Tue Jun 16 21:29:54 -0400 2009]

Blue-Ribbon Panels.

Interesting concept. No problem coming to terms on its composition. Reasonable assurance that its mandate can be clearly defined. But then comes the hard work -- so it doesn't end up like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Round One)...

I would hate to see either side lose its conciliatory approach as it gets underway. Clearly, Canadians do not want the panel to be a forum for hidden agendas or eventual stifling intransigence -- or worse yet, political deadlock, preconceived or otherwise.

By all means, roll it out and watch it carefully, very carefully.

[updated Tue Jun 16 22:55:12 -0400 2009]

Harper cannot stop himself from stating false information with the intention of deceiving the public. It occurs nearly on a daily basis. His whole career is based on deliberately deceiving the public with false information and it continues today:

"Harper said earlier this week that his priority was acting on an earlier campaign promise, to extend EI benefits to self-employed workers who are not currently covered under EI."

"The thing is, this "campaign promise" is made-up. It never existed. It wasn't in the 2008 Conservative platform. It wasn't in the 2006 Conservative platform. In fact, I'm pretty sure the first time the Prime Minister ever floated the idea of fully extending full, voluntary EI benefits to the self-employed was this week. "

He also is saying today that all he ever wanted to do is work with the opposition and not engage in brinksmanship. That is rich. And a bold faced falsehood and he knows it as well as everyone else. Why does he say such stupid things that no one could believe.

Time for a new leader who will breathe new life into the CPC.

[updated Wed Jun 17 18:33:42 -0400 2009]

Interesting Flashback.

"I think they are just signing their own death warrant...(T)his is the kind of behaviour a government does when it is scared to death of the electorate. It is not up to the government in our system to decide whether an opposition motion is [in] order or not. It's up to the Clerk and the Speaker. Our motion was in order. We don't have to get the approval of the government to express dissent. When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid assent is frankly when it's rapidly losing its moral authority to govern."

Care to take a crack at who said the above?

[updated Wed Jun 17 21:38:22 -0400 2009]

Based on yesterday's agreements I revert to my former prediction that Harper will resign this summer. He has simply bought some time so he can transition out by August I would suggest.

[updated Thu Jun 18 12:50:13 -0400 2009]

Harper cannot stop himself from stating false information with the intention of deceiving the public (as it seems, his followers also do). It occurs nearly on a daily basis. His whole career is based on deliberately deceiving the public with false information and it continues today:

"Harper said earlier this week that his priority was acting on an earlier campaign promise, to extend EI benefits to self-employed workers who are not currently covered under EI."

From Harper's own platform document:

"Extending maternity and parental benefits to self-employed Canadians
September 15, 2008

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that a re-elected Conservative Government will give self-employed Canadians the opportunity to access maternity and parental benefits."

Not a word about self-employed workers being eligible for unemployment benefits.

"The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition today agreed to form a working group to develop proposals for Employment Insurance eligibility reform that will:
(a) allow self-employed Canadians to participate voluntarily in the Employment Insurance system"

I posted this a second time with a statement cut and pasted from Harper's platform as proof. Spreading false information is a dishonest tactic to cover up the fact he has caved on EI to stay in power.

[updated Thu Jun 18 12:50:38 -0400 2009]

Harper is tanking the CPC

Ekos poll June 18 2009

"For the Conservatives, one serious problem is Stephen Harper’s negative approval rating. Substantially more Canadians disapprove of the job he is doing than approve; Michael Ignatieff, in contrast has an essentially neutral rating."

“The recent trends certainly favour the Liberals over the Conservatives, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, where most of the seats are,” said EKOS President Frank Graves.

Harper is a failure and a sellout to conservatives and must go for the CPC to win.

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Thu Jun 18 15:41:08 -0400 2009]

From a strong and biased Liberal who saw this week accurately, admitting when you make mistakes is critical if you are going to fix and repair the damage done.

Pretending or spinning Liberal fairytales, won't cut it. We need a much stronger OFFICIAL OPPOSITION Party.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Once more to heel

Harper cut Ignatieff off at the knees with a few rather insulting 'concessions', and now the Liberals will support the Harper report card even though it is full of half-truths, misleading definitions, and vagueness.

It is time for Ignatieff to fire his advisors and get new ones; perhaps some who actually have some political sense, an appreciation of what politics is about, who know what framing means, and who are prepared to fight battles rather than recommend retreats.

Harper made Ignatieff look foolish and in turn the Liberal Party looks foolish.

http://puzzledcat.blogspot.com/2009/06/once-more-to-heel.html#comment-form

[updated Fri Jun 19 18:50:47 -0400 2009]

Harper caves and looks foolish. What a stubborn idiot. Failure and sell out of Canadians.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/abdelrazik-versus-harper/article1189757/

[updated Fri Jun 19 19:19:05 -0400 2009]

More phoney hollow governing from Harper. Failure and sell out.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/radwanski/

[updated Fri Jun 19 19:22:37 -0400 2009]

When this stuff starts hitting the fan Harper is doomed and there's more where that came from.

Trading stimulus for votes in Nova Scotia Posted: June 19, 2009, 3:00 PM by NP Editor
Filed under: Full Comment

Parker Donham, who operates a communications consultancy in Nova Scotia and runs the Contrarian blog site, has posted a fascinating map detailing paving projects approved for stimulus funding by Ottawa.

The province put forward 39 paving projects, he writes, of which 20 were approved (with no obvious reason for ther other 19 to be rejected). Of those approved "projects in ridings held by Conservative MPs were almost four times as likely to receive federal approval as those in Liberal-held ridings." Donham compiled a map of the projects, which you can see on his site. The greatest success rate was in a vacant riding the Tories hope to capture in a byelection next fall, where seven of eight projects were approved, worth $5.2 million.

Peter MacKay does very well; poor Scott Brison not so good.

Obviously, all just a coincidence.

[updated Fri Jun 19 19:29:42 -0400 2009]

Are Canadians tired of the "constant" threats by the opposition to topple the minority gov't?

Do we want stability or another election this year given that the Liberals have not offered ANYTHING to contrast how they would act differently in handling the global recession. Anyone see a Liberal Platform lately or any real differences besides the NDP 45 Day EI proposal they just walked away from?

Are the knives are out for the unelected Liberal leader, after this dismal performance. Their biggest support the Toronto Star has spent nearly a full week allowing their writers to chastise Iggy.

In the private taped conversation of Raitt and her forgetfull ex-aide, she alluded to Canadian Banking Execs warning the Liberals of going to the polls prematurely.

Interesting how more information is coming out about the Liberal state of affairs in Finances and Preparedness

1. Are Canadian Banks threatening Liberals of witholding loans for a campaign?
2. Why are Liberals incapable of submitting expenses to Elections Canada in a uniformly or timely manner?
3. Tom Clark also referred to the lack of nominations 2% Libs vs 50% CPC.
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/power-play/wednesday-june-17/#clip184183

Why has the Toronto Star aka Liberal star written so many scathing attacks on their official party, do they realize Bob Rae or a real race would have resulted in a leader with a spine?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/654000

"Liberal leader lucky this week was only a rehearsal as he proves himself not yet ready for prime time"

Here's what Glen Pearson, MP for London North Centre, wrote on his blog after the election was averted.

"Mr. Ignatieff took something of a drubbing in the media this week and it shows. ... He has aged years in a week."

Many Liberals who dislike Harper have pointed out the Dionesque moves by their annointed leader.

Many more Liberals are visibly upset about their shift to the right to prop up the CPC and their lack of platform or vision.

How will this play out during the summer?

Iggy has done a wonderful job in comparision to Dion in regards to fundraising. Some argue his first test was his inability to whip his NFLD MP's over a budget Bill.

To my knowledge a MP has always been let go for such a significant decision.

The summer will see the other parties focus on the Liberals to slow and reverse the momentum they have gained by dumping Dion.

Will those ads also assist in framing Iggy and will the Liberals be capable of ignoring them or another Youtube response because they don't have the ability to respond with a national tv response?

[updated Sat Jun 20 07:47:50 -0400 2009]

Trekking To The Heart Of "La nation québécoise".

Want further proof that the Prime Minister is not even remotely in pending retirement mode?

The PM will be in Quebec City on the 24th to celebrate Quebec's national holiday. He will meet with Conservative Party faithful.

I don't know about you but that seals it for me: the guy is working on a political turnaround. Translation -- he's sticking around and willing to do whatever it takes to try and reverse his party's fortunes in my province.

I feel sorry for Jack. He may as well throw in the towel right now. Harper is here to stay and eager for his showdown with those of us who are Liberals. Like him, I await the eventual clash to determine Canada's political destiny.

[updated Sat Jun 20 14:26:00 -0400 2009]

Dear Ronald,

I understand and appreciate the loyalty you have given to the Economic Update Liberals. The benefit provides us with an ability to have opposing views without resorting to small and silly issues that plague each party.

Assumption #1
Momentum, Spinning

To a very large extent the MSM and it punditry are Liberal biased. I have noticed a significant undercurrent, blowback by them and several Liberal bloggers who agreed on the failure of this week in Ottawa.

Do you think it is a result of this week and is only SHORT TERM in nature?

Do you agree with the idea that the future of the CPC lies in the economic recovery and their ability to deliver results through the EAP?

Do you think 'larger forces' are at play and regardless of economic conditions this fall, the Liberals will need to pull the plug this Fall?

Assumption #2

Mutual self-destruction.

As I have said the numbers are not significant to encourage the opposition to act in any united manner against the CPC. I have yet to see an opportunity for the two fringe parties to suggest a weakened federal gov't would make long term sense if they increased support for the liberals at their expense.

The NDP gained the most from the Liberals drop in October. They risk losing their only Quebec seat if they go early without framing the Liberals.
The Bloc stand to make gains around Quebec City as the economy recovery stalls and they continue framing of the Liberals.

Assumption #3
Campaign Catalyst

We can all remember in past campaigns what they were: scrap the GST, NAFTA, Liberals corruption, scandals ADSCAM etc. They shared one thing in common. Stopping and reversing the current gov't in their policy or direction. We as Canadians put on our boots and kicked each Federal Party out for a timeout.

Foreign War:

The War overseas would have been it, but the Liberals are split. Harper used the Manley inquiry to keep the opposition divided. You agree it worked?

EI:
We now have a Blue Ribbon Panel who will make recommendations to reduce the number of zones and include concerns of Western Provinces regarding fairness. How does the findings benefit the Liberals who risk losing seats out EAST? What region would see their benefits be reduced to equalize the program nationally? What party holds those seats?

Chantal Herbert views this as a trap for the Liberals and an escape for Harper to again adopt "centrist" policy regarding transformation of EI from the Liberal EI program in the 90's.

Cooperating with the Liberals in tackling EI fairness was brilliant tactically. In the Fall without Bloc/NDP input, they will be forced to be against the CPC-LIB Plan.

Conclusion for reasons why the CPC have survived over 1200 days longest in any minority: They are pragmatic and are making incremental gains at the expense of their opponents.

It may not be a 'sexy' government solving big problems delivering their RIGHT wing HIDDEN agenda as others may keep reminding us, but they are governing with their base in support. Something that does not happen when "boots" are required for a substantial change in government.

[updated Sun Jun 21 09:16:22 -0400 2009]

Harper has had a very bad year and more is to come says Question Period panel.

3/4 Best political moves were in favour of Ignatieff. Harper only had the Obama visit. EI panel was the one they picked as best for Ignatieff.

3/4 Worst political moves went to Harper. Economic update was by far the worst move of the year. The worst move for the Liberals they picked was was Dion's performance, not Ignatieff's. Very bad for Harper.

Bottom line from QP: Ignatieff's weak performance paled in comparison to Harper's weak performance. So much so, that they will not be running on his name in the next election but running as the Conservative party instead.

A sure sign of a popular leader.

As for the future? Harper has to pass a flood of socialist policy for Jack Layton in order to survive. If he does, bye, bye base support. Unanimously, they said Harper had sold out every principle he had and was about to roll over and become Layton's best friend.

I am not promoting the Liberals, but simply pointing out the damage that Harper is causing and how he is assisting Ignatieff.

Overall, very bad news for Harper. Harper is dragging the CPC down and here is the proof.

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Sun Jun 21 12:58:22 -0400 2009]

In Search Of The Art Of Quebec Seduction.

Seduction can be an extremely subtle thing -- or one's intended can quite literally be seduced by a bold well executed technique. What are we to make of the latest CROP poll?

The numbers reveal a rather troubling trend: dropping poll numbers for the Bloc, Liberals and Conservatives -- and more ominously among francophones for the BQ.

This is a gift to the New Democrats who are rising...another NDP bump but this time, can Jack Layton make any headway? The party is supported by 17% of Quebecers.

In two months, Liberals have dropped ten points to 35%. The Bloc is four points behind. As for the Conservatives, they are at 13%, one point behind the personal popularity of the Prime Minister. Dissatisfaction with the government is at 62%.

This brings us back to the art of seduction: is more accomplished by words or deeds? Honing one's technique is more than a matter of art -- it must border on science if it is to be truly effective and long-lasting.

Confidence building measures must by necessity be the order of the day. We saw during the coalition crisis how most of the country went left while another part turned right. But this doesn't have to turn out like our two conscription crisis or the repatriation of the constitution.

One doesn't necessarily need Poirot's "little grey cells" to work some electoral magic. This poll is continuing evidence that standard federalist and sovereignist pablum just doesn't cut the mustard anymore. Time to think out of the box. The party that does that first, will reap the rewards at the polls. It could quite conceivably make the difference between forming government or not. Long gone are the days when meaningless tinkering on the margins was sufficient to get the electoral job done.

[updated Sun Jun 21 18:43:43 -0400 2009]

From an infamous Harper supporter and NP blogger, well known for her dogged right-wing support of master Harper. Seems that more than Flanagan and I think Harper is a loser and sell out:

Sassylassie, Sunday, Jun 21, 2009

"We have people lying on gurnies in our hospitals because they lack the beds or funding to treat these patients, that's a priority. We've done our job in Afghanistan when our mandate is up it's time to come home. Harper is a tyrant, a socialist bully using his PMship to take our liberties from us one by one."

Now that is grassroots support. Wait until Harper starts sucking up to Layton this summer, then you will really see the grassroots melt away. Harper the left wing socialist sell out.

As Question Period panel unanimously stated: "Stephen Harper has sold out on every one of his principles."

[updated Mon Jun 22 01:35:33 -0400 2009]

Looks like all is well for Harper over at his homefield at the NCC. Here are a selection of the blog comments at Harper central. Seems a few have seen the light there too.

"The longer we wait for an election, the greater the chance of a Liberal majority! "

"If the government was prepared to go into a $50 billion deficit to stimulate the economy, a far better way would have been a four- tp six- month, across the board tax holiday that included both personal and corporate income."

"They are conservative in name only….expediency is the name of the game…..stand up Mr Harper, and do what is right, and ignore the weak arguments of the other parties and the media…..will the NDP in Nova Scotia be more conservative than the Conservatives?? Remember, big-spending governments in the long term make a weak nation….. "

"Suicidal lunacy is official government policy on both sides of the aisle. Harper the pragmatist has now pronounced conservatism dead and buried."

"I liked Harper the Reformer. I liked Harper when he was President of the NCC." Who is this guy who is PM? He LOOKS like the Harper I knew, but that’s all."

"The Winnipeg Convention voted for repeal of S13, I am still waiting."

"I have already stopped donations to the CPC.
If S13 is NOT scrapped before the next election I will NOT vote for the CPC and I will NOT work for the CPC under Harper. "

Wow seems all is nothing but roses for Harper. Cheer up, he will be gone soon.

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Mon Jun 22 02:55:31 -0400 2009]

A smattering of blog comments from The Wesern Standard published by Ezera levant a conservative activist. Harper has no internal dissent. All is well with the grassroots.

"And a friend of mine who was at the Manning Institute for this gathering tells me that there is huge dissent within the CPC. Things are looking up! :)"

"Not only libertarians but fiscal conservatives will be dropping out rather than getting on board a bus that is now irreparably damaged."

"Harper believes that "conservative values" of fiscal prudence apply to everyone except central banks and government regulators, who are free to create financial bubbles whenever they please, and to blame the victims for the mess when they pop.
He won't be so smug when the fundraisers notice that the well is going dry."

"Harper hasn't only abandoned libertarians, he has abandoned all those that consider themselves fiscal conservatives. He has apparently joined the ranks of Keynesians, a discredited and illogical set of beliefs. So I guess now we have party of social conservative Keynesians."

"Christ, we might as well support Iggy. Same policies, less disappointment."

"The latest poll has them neck and neck with the Liberals. He could not win a majority when he ran against Dion and earlier against Paul Martin despite ALL the Liberal scandals. What a political farce this guy is!!"

"Harper is a huge disappointment to libertarians and fiscal conservatives. I would seriously consider voting for Iggy just to send a message to future Conservative leaders that they can't ignore their base, that being unprincipled will not cut it."

"There is huge dissent within what's left of the Conservative party and it shows.
Is Harper's idea of "responsibility" getting on the Socialist bandwagon he seems to be promoting?"

"Funny, he was a very different man not so long ago....and that was the man we elected. Not this cheap socialist imitation.'

Glad to see Harper has everything under control with the grassroots.

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Mon Jun 22 03:20:30 -0400 2009]

Canadians are fair minded and will not tolerate more games in Ottawa. We have repeatedly sent messages to every party to compromise and find some common ground, we don't want an election every year.

The MSM have a "pack" mentality and like sharks participated in a feeding frenzy on the on their criticism of the Liberal Party and their leader, the same thing happened when the move to remove Dion was made by internal forces.

The same thing happened with Nanny-gate and Raitt. Silly partisan games on everyone's part.

Those feeding frenzies do move Polls and sentiment. The truth is secondary.

"The days of winning by not being Dion are over" Scott Reid Globe & Mail
Tuesday, June 23,2009

"Last week demonstrated that the Liberals are simply not ready for an election. If they had been, the line Mr. Ignatieff drew in the sand on Monday morning would not have been so rapidly erased by Monday afternoon. Clearly, there was never an appetite for taking the country to the polls."

-------
Rough times for Ignatieff - Andrew Potter, The Ottawa Citizen, June 23, 2009

"The Liberals have now lost virtually all of the momentum they had built up since Ignatieff took over as leader, and as some wag had it, he's gone from being "lionized" to "Dionized." Oof.

-----------------

Rookie MPs say Parliament needs to change

Jun 22, 2009 Alexander Panetta THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – Disturbing. Disappointing. Harmful. Infuriating.

These are just some of the adjectives used by rookie MPs to describe their first impressions of Canada's Parliament.

As they begin their summer break, Liberal Justin Trudeau, Conservative Shelly Glover and New Democrat Megan Leslie offer a remarkably similar assessment of the place.

In interviews, all three cited frustration with an environment they described as unnecessarily nasty and counter-productive.

Clearly Canadians witnessed the games and grandstanding from all parties. Harper took a big hit during the Economic Update.

The Opposition took a hit for overplaying their hands.

The Free Ride is over for the Liberals as Polls start to reflect the negative ads from the Bloc and CPC.

It is time for the Liberals to get their house in order and stop playing games and threatening an election at every political advantage.

If the Liberals decide this FALL to draw another line in the sand, they MUST not back down again or the "Wimp" title and "in it for himself" will stick permanently.

[updated Tue Jun 23 09:40:43 -0400 2009]

Here's the true face of western reformatory politics and why Harpo and his cadre can never be given the full (or any) reins of power;
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Life/City+flamed+blog+posts/1723560/story.html

A Tory MLA is under fire for online comments in which he advises girls to smile to attract men, scolds them for seeking equality and alerts his Twitter followers to a bikini car wash where "girls look cold."

Edmonton-Calder MLA Doug Elniski conceded Monday that his comments, posted June 13 on his blog and through Twitter, were "inappropriate" and "over the line."

In an entry that began with reflections on junior high school graduations, Elniski posted this advice to girls: "Men are attracted to smiles, so smile and don't give me that 'treated equal' stuff, if you want Equal it comes in little packages at Starbucks

[updated Tue Jun 23 10:28:36 -0400 2009]

Another dagger in Harpo's chest(he hasn't a heart) is the results of yesterday's by elections in Quebec where the most conservative riding in the province for the last 14 years just went Liberal with the ADQ finishing a very distant 3rd.

Charest is most likely going to lend Iggy his machine this fall as he would like to help beat the Bloc down and the Libs are the only credible alternative.

[updated Tue Jun 23 10:33:00 -0400 2009]

Heading For A Lazy Grouchy Summer...

Now that it's more than clear that Stephen Harper is going nowhere both as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, I thought I would lament the possibility of that party getting a new leader under present political conditions: grumpy Conservatives can be found far and wide and that mood lends itself to a new man at the top! Given a choice, I would stomp for Oscar The Grouch!

Isn't it bad enough that the CPC has just had to chuck "Plan B" right out the door -- how could Jack and the New Democrats be so cruel...after all, the Conservatives were already coming off the realization that Gilles and the Bloc Québécois would collectively rather eat nails for lunch than prop up the Harper government.

I thought Jack was pretty clear: if or when the Liberals present a non-confidence motion, the New Democrats will be there to say ready, aye, ready. Ditto for the Bloc.

That means the Conservatives are now trying to turn on a dime, strategically speaking. Welcome to the upcoming performance of the Improvisation Theatre...it's scrambling time boys and girls.

As I said before, watch the streets for groups of grumps. That's how you'll know the Conservatives are in town.

[updated Tue Jun 23 13:40:43 -0400 2009]

Again the Liberals are caught playing game in Ottawa. They went in camera to stop the gun registry changes, and are now delaying/holding up more Bills in the Senate.

"The auto-theft bill was passed by the House earlier this month and the other two bills were just introduced by the government in June. A bill to deal with organized crime was passed by the House in April and a bill to impose harsher sentences on drug dealers was passed in June. None of the justice bills mentioned by Mr. Nicholson that have been passed in the Commons have been approved by the Liberal-dominated Senate and been passed into law. The Senate is scheduled to sit until the end of this week."-Leaders start summer season of undeclared campaigning Gloria Galloway Ottawa — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

They did the same thing with the EAP in the Senate until the CPC exposed them showing them that they would delay the 5 week extension of EI benefits retroactively.

[updated Tue Jun 23 17:51:21 -0400 2009]

here's another scandal brewing to make Harpo's summer more pleasant:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harpers-snap-election-call-heads-to-federal-court/article1193606/

The Federal Court of Canada is to hear arguments against the election call last fall by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Democracy Watch, a citizens group that monitors ethics in government, is scheduled to argue before the court on Sept. 8 that Mr. Harper violated his own legislation by calling the election before he'd served four years in office.

A Federal Court prothonotary ruled Oct. 3 – in the midst of the campaign – that there was not enough time for a judge to hear the case before the election 11 days later.

Democracy Watch was seeking an order that the decision to dissolve Parliament and call an election violated new measures in the Canada Elections Act.

The group says Bill C-16 set fixed election dates every four years unless a minority government like Harper's is defeated by a non-confidence vote.

Democracy Watch is seeking a ruling that Parliament's dissolution and the election call were illegal in hopes that would prohibit future political manoeuvring and manipulation.

[updated Tue Jun 23 20:10:09 -0400 2009]

Another useless reformatory is leaving the loser Harpo behind:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Manitoba-MP-calling-it-a-career-48869272.html

[updated Tue Jun 23 22:36:11 -0400 2009]

Harper failure and sell out conservative is tanking the CPC, here is more proof.

Poll shows Harper in trouble
By Crawford Kilian

VANCOUVER - On a weekend when Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is reviewing the Tories' economic update to decide if it's worth supporting, a Nanos poll suggests Stephen Harper is in trouble.

Asked to define the Conservatives' main weakness, 65% named one (Harper was the top pick).

[updated Wed Jun 24 01:34:49 -0400 2009]

More fodder for the Liberal campaign:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/655018

"Last February, Marleau released a highly critical set of report cards on the performance of federal departments and agencies and blamed failure of leadership "at the highest levels" for denying Canadians information about government."

And obviously its getting worse.

[updated Wed Jun 24 06:02:13 -0400 2009]

the frenzied one will love this:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Federal-Liberals-ready-to-fight-fully-funded-campaign-48947531.html

WINNIPEG — The federal Liberal party is out of debt and financially ready to conduct a "fully funded (election) campaign," its national president said in Winnipeg Tuesday.

Alfred Apps said the party has raised nearly as much money in the first half of this year as it did all last year, when it took in $5.9 million.

"You can assume that we’re going to report somewhere over $5 million for the first six months (ending June 30)," Apps said in an interview following a speech to the Laurier Club of Manitoba.

He added that the past three months have been the best fund-raising quarter for the party in "many, many years."

Apps, in town for meetings with provincial Liberals, attributed the boost in fund-raising to the momentum generated by crowning a new leader in Michael Ignatieff and to "the recovery of the party generally."

He also argued that recent Conservative attack ads targeting Ignatieff have backfired and spurred Liberal supporters to open their wallets.

"People reacted very strongly to that," he said.

Meanwhile, national party membership, which dipped to 36,000 at the end of last year, is "closing in on 90,000," and the Liberals are shooting for 200,000 by the end of 2009, he said.

[updated Wed Jun 24 09:30:33 -0400 2009]

even more fodder the Libs:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/655625

OTTAWA – Parliamentary budget watchdog Kevin Page says the Conservative government is doing its best to put him out of business.

"This is a litmus test for democracy," Page, a veteran public servant, told the Toronto Star.

Sitting in his downtown Ottawa office, Page is reminded of a quotation from legendary Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward: "Democracies die in darkness."

"When you are in power it is less easy to want this kind of oversight," Page said.

Stinging from Page's report last October that put an $18 billion price tag on the Afghanistan war, among other embarrassing revelations, the government slashed his budget for this fiscal year from $2.8 million to $1.8 million.
..................................

This is stevie wonder,s answer to accountability!!!!! what a facist he is.

[updated Wed Jun 24 11:04:55 -0400 2009]

Why Liberals apologists are crying about the about the end of the honeymoon.

http://www.angusreidstrategies.com/polls-analysis/opinion-polls/tight-race-continues-ignatieff-fails-close-gap-economy

"In the online survey of a representative national sample, 32 per cent of decided voters (+1) would cast a ballot for the governing Conservatives, while 31 per cent (-2) would support the opposition Liberals."

"The Tories are barely ahead of the Grits in Ontario (37% to 35%), and are still leading in Alberta. The Liberals are still the main federalist party in Quebec, but the sovereignist Bloc now has a 13-point lead (42% to 29%). British Columbia has emerged as a key battleground, with the Conservatives now holding a three-point edge over the Liberals (36% to 33%)."

A third of respondents (34%) believe Harper is best suited to deal with the economy, followed by Ignatieff with 20 per cent, and Layton with 10 per cent. The bulk of support for Harper's economic management comes from respondents in the West.

Respondents were also asked whether they would be better off or worse off under a federal government headed by Harper, Ignatieff or Layton. Once again, the momentum was negative for the three party leaders (-12 for Harper, -15 for Ignatieff, -23 for Layton).

Two-in-five Canadians (40%) believe the Conservative government has done a poor job, and that a new party should be elected into power, while five per cent criticize the Tories, but believe they should still be re-elected. In addition, 11 per cent of respondents commend the Tories but call for a change in Ottawa, while one-in-four (26%) unreservedly believe that the Tories should be re-elected.

Harper remains ahead of Ignatieff on being a strong and decisive leader (43% to 28%), having a vision for Canada's future (42% to 35%), managing the economy effectively (32% to 22%), and being honest and trustworthy (28% to 25%). Ignatieff leads on caring about the environment (28% to 21%). The two leaders are virtually tied on inspiring confidence, understanding the problems of Canadians, understanding complex issues, and generally agreeing with Canadians on issues they care about.

Harper managed to expand on his April numbers on the leadership and vision questions, while Ignatieff underwent a marked decline on inspiring confidence.

For the governing Tories, the economy remains a good file. The prime minister is clearly ahead of his opponents as an economic manager, and Canadians do not automatically assume they would be better off under a Liberal administration at this point. However, the party has lost its stranglehold on British Columbia and Harper keeps the worst momentum score of all leaders. Also, the level of strong support for the Conservatives (26%) is clearly lower than the percentage who express disappointment and call for change (40%).

For the opposition Grits, the situation is also murky. While support in BC is reaching one of the highest points in years, the party has dropped back in Quebec and Ontario. Ignatieff remains unable to wrestle the economic manager mantle from Harper, and continues to trail on this question

[updated Wed Jun 24 11:34:42 -0400 2009]

Latest Angus Reid poll June 24 shows:

CPC gains 1% in Ontario and 1% nationally from the last Angus Reid poll in June 1 2009.

Liberals lose 8% in Ontario and lose 2% nationally since the last Angus Reid poll.

7% of Liberal losses in Ontario must have gone to the NDP, Green or undecided, because the CPC did not get it.

June 1

Ont CPC 36 LIB 43
Nat CPC 31 LIB 33

June 24

Ont CPC 37 LIB 35
Nat CPC 32 LIB 31

[updated Wed Jun 24 13:11:41 -0400 2009]

C'est pas fort à la Baie de Beauport.

Just caught the Prime Minister's excellent speech in Quebec City as Quebecers celebrate their Fête nationale. In French Canada, it's also known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Things were moving along rather smoothly until the PM announced his holiday gift -- wait for it -- no, he wasn't announcing that federal land immediately adjacent to the Quebec National Assembly was being ceded to the province. Instead he told the crowd that negotiations are getting underway! Huh?

Talk about being half-pregnant. Perhaps it would have been wise if his Quebec "advisors" in the PMO had placed a call beforehand to my friend, Senator Michel Rivard, who still has some nationalist blood coursing through his veins. He would have set the PM straight on how to conduct public relations in his home province.

It's at times like this that I'm truly grateful that the talent pool in the PMO is as limited as it is...and these are the same guys who dared to label Michael Ignatieff an amateur...

[updated Wed Jun 24 13:51:38 -0400 2009]

Dear Ronald,

I think you it is fair to say we have been bantering back and forth before the October Election Results and I have not been glossing over or recycle the Disney workshops from any party.

I might be too much of an egghead who relies on public data and math to make my predictions.

The Hill Times, June 22, 2009
Ignatieff overplayed hand in political showdown, say Grits and Tories
Summer to play out like a pre-election campaign, but there's a limited number of times the PM and Ignatieff can take their brinkmanship to the edge and maintain credibility.
By Abbas Rana, Harris Macleod and Bea Vongdouangchanh

(Now for the funniest line in the entire article)

"Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Sask.) said Mr. Ignatieff won the battle last week. "

"It was a wash," said pollster Nik Nanos of last week's brinkmanship. "Most Canadians don't focus on what happened this week with the level of detail the political junkies do. All they know is that there was a possible election and that somehow Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper managed to work something out to avoid an election at this time. I don't think there was a big winner from the point of view of the electorate at large."

Nik Nanos is an excellent Pollster and has stated the majority of Canadians are not political junkies and have not factored in the BS last week.

So what would be the rationale behind the crumbling numbers of the Liberals in Ontario?

I think to a large extent is the problems in Ontario with the Provincial Liberals is going to be a very big drag on Liberals Federally.

To my knowledge we usually don't send the same party to Ottawa that we do to Queen's Park.

McGuinty is safe and in no trouble of losing his majority in the near future, but the frustration, scandals, job losses with taxes is biting in Ontario. Who are going to blame if we are sent to the Polls this Fall?

Canadians are giving Harper credit for handling of the ECONOMY and don't have any other party to compare with a Plan B.

Ronald without question to date I have never imagined the CPC polling this well.

[updated Wed Jun 24 22:25:44 -0400 2009]

Dear Ronald,

When Harper suggested he had "tapes" on Iggy and wanted him to stay, many Liberals including Iggy referred to it as Nixonian.

The big difference is Nixon used illegal methods to gather information of private information to attack his opponents. The Liberals implied the CPC are doing something illegal and below ethical moral standards.

The CPC have spent their time reviewing Iggy in his "public persona" as a journalist, human rights professional. That is FAIR GAME.

Some of us would like to believe Negative Ads don't work when used against their candidate. Sadly, I know they work and are very effective if executed well.

Chretien was very effective in painting the Reformers as un-canadian, and Day as a Barney loving religious wing nut.

Today with a massive warchest the CPC have begun framing Iggy as an outsider, elitist, grandstander who is out of touch with Canadians.

Last week in MY opinion and a few in the liberal biased MSM he proved it in spades. I would use his Monday Press Meeting in an attack ads to reinforce his 'crying wolf' routine.

His writings and speeches are in the Public Domain. They are not taped private conversations left by an aide in a washroom used by a reporter who never bothered to return it but chose to spend hours listening for damaging information.
----------------------------------
Ignatieff haunted by previous comments on North Korea
Wed, June 24, 2009- ALTHIA RAJ, National Bureau

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/CanadaWorld/2009/06/24/9916116-sun.html

I don't think it is necessary to expand on the story, but again in this campaign for the hearts and minds of Canadians, I am confident the tapes will have a significant impact in eroding support.

In the next few months we will see more attacks from the CPC, Bloc, NDP on Iggy and his 'record'.

I hope the Liberals with the recent success in fundraising will be able to REPSOND beyond Youtube. We need a healthy and vibrant Official Opposition.

Visible minority population in Canada have been a key demographic for the Liberals, but with Jason Kenney on a full frontal assault many groups that were traditional liberals are no longer supporting them.

I could list the ridings and MP's where demographics are now working for the CPC.
http://www.punditsguide.ca/2008/07/what-ridings-would-kenney-be-targetting.php
http://www.punditsguide.ca/2008/07/what-ridings-would-kenney-be-targetting_30.php

[updated Thu Jun 25 11:27:08 -0400 2009]

CBC News EKOS poll.

As I look over the EKOS results, I'm finding much to my amazement, that entrenched resistance to even the possibility of a federal election is far more potent than I would have imagined. That means that at least in this poll, the change factor has been effectively negated by voter resistance.

Voters and particular those 45+ want nothing to do with an election and have moved into the Conservative camp to drive home their point. To my mind, this complicates things for the fall: what do we know for sure? Most people don't like Harper, a growing number don't like Ignatieff and Ontario will call the tune if we ever end up in an election campaign.

My advice to all the politicians -- tread extremely carefully across this ground.

NATIONAL NUMBERS:

CPC: 35

LPC: 33

NDP: 14

BQ: 9

GPC: 9

46% of respondents disapprove of Harper's job performance while 37% disapprove of Ignatieff's. Harper's negative number is dropping while Ignatieff's is rising.

[updated Thu Jun 25 11:51:56 -0400 2009]

I think I found the New Liberal Campaign Song for September 2009
High Hopes
Words & Music by Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen
Recorded by Frank Sinatra, 1961
From the 1959 movie "Hole In The Head" (Academy Award Winner, Best Song)
Writer(s): cahn/van heusen

Next time your found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think hell move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, cant
Move a rubber tree plant

But hes got high hopes, hes got high hopes
Hes got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your gettin low
stead of lettin go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your backs to the wall
There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought hed punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin that dam

cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your feelin bad
stead of feelin sad
Just remember that ram
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon
Theyll be bursted soon
Theyre just bound to go pop
Oops there goes another problem kerplop

[updated Fri Jun 26 06:27:42 -0400 2009]

Here's another reason Canadians will overwhelmingly reject Harpo:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/657008

The information commissioner served formal notice on the Privy Council Office this week, warning that commission staff would use their legal powers to seize the documents themselves if the paperwork wasn't provided by today.

"I'm about to walk into PCO next week ... for files they didn't give us. We're going to take them and they can't stop us," Robert Marleau told the Star.

"I cannot be denied access. I can walk into any federal government premise without notice and take what I need."

Marleau, who attracted some criticism for not being more forceful in defending access to information rights, could end his tenure as commissioner with an extraordinary move on the highest bureaucratic office in the federal government.

While it's a rare step, a clearly frustrated Marleau says the Privy Council Office, which supports the Prime Minister's Office and cabinet, is blocking his efforts to ensure Canadians have access to information.

"The powers are there for a reason so that where there is ... stonewalling or deliberate obstruction, we can break that jam. By and large, I'm here to serve Canadians. So is the department that is being asked to give a response. We shouldn't have to have a struggle," he said.

[updated Fri Jun 26 09:30:08 -0400 2009]

here's another one for theLibs to play during the election campaign or just before:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/656993

CTV host Steve Murphy asked Harper a fifth time about his personal view. "Do you think that he is in any sense disqualified from aspiring to be prime minister because he has been out of the country?"

Harper stammered, and reluctantly disavowed the main thrust behind his national ad campaign, which just ended its broadcast run.

"Every, every, every, obviously every Canadian citizen's eligible to run for office," Harper said. "But obviously our records, motives, statements, all these things will be under scrutiny, they always are, of all party leaders in an election campaign."

[updated Fri Jun 26 09:32:56 -0400 2009]

Dear Ronald,

What advantages or benefits do you see in the actions this week of all the parties in Parliament is muzzling the PBO?

We know the bias in the Torono Star, diminished capacity of apologists posting fiction as facts regarding the CPC. .

Do you see this another example of a serious failing in our media to question the Political Parties in parliament? The other example MP expenses by all Parties.

I am suprised the Green Party leader is not screaming up and down attacking those parties for their actions on those 2 files.

The Hill Times, June 22, 2009
Parliament wants to gut first-ever Parliamentary Budget Office's independence, say observers
Joint Library of Parliament Committee's report on the PBO is a power play to keep Kevin Page in a box, says professor Jim McLean.
By Bea Vongdouangchanh

[updated Fri Jun 26 13:41:44 -0400 2009]

Harper is tanking:

"A good leader knows when he's in trouble. And Stephen Harper, on his 50th birthday, is in deep trouble. He's in trouble in the country, especially in Quebec; in trouble with the public service, which is putting down tools with his government; and increasingly in trouble with the Conservative Party, whose fault lines are cracking under the divisive and mean-spirited management style of the Prime Minister's Office.

But Harper is apparently oblivious to how much trouble he's in, because there's no one, other than Laureen Harper, who can tell him. He is a leader without confidants and without mentors. There is no one to tell him what he needs to hear, as opposed to what he wants to hear: not in the cabinet, not in the caucus, and certainly not in his own office.

In 1987 the Conservative Party sent two emissaries to see Prime Minister Brian Mulroney at Harrington Lake. Peter Lougheed and Bill Davis, having retired undefeated as four-term premiers of Alberta and Ontario, had unique standing to carry a message. They told Mulroney, then polling in the low 20s, that unless he made major changes to his office, he was headed for certain defeat at the next election.

That is precisely where Harper stands now."

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Fri Jun 26 21:44:40 -0400 2009]

More base erosion for the Harper government. Saying one thing to one group and another the the oposite side. This hypocrisy is really eroding the base now.

By Patrick B. Craine and Steve Jalsevac

TORONTO, June 24, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Maclean's magazine reported on June 18 that Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, previously supported by pro-family advocates, has indicated support for the homosexual movement in a congratulatory letter to Conservative strategist Jaime Watt. Watt, who has been Flaherty's campaign chairman, is currently on the election team of Flaherty's wife Christine Elliot and was one of the whiz kids in Ontario Premier Mike Harris's inner circle, was awarded Egale's inaugural Leadership award for homosexual rights at Egale's gala last week.

Then, when running for leadership again in 2004, Flaherty came out against same-sex "marriage," saying it should not have been sanctioned by the province. Flaherty told the Ottawa Citizen, "My policy is that I'm in favor of the traditional definition of marriage - one man and one woman. I think it supports the family which is the foundation of our society. I'm not opposed to the use of the notwithstanding clause in limited circumstances."

"Egale is the most active promoter of homosexuality in the country and they certainly are not pro-life," she stated, "they're pro-abortion. So for someone of Mr. Flaherty's stature to be praising Jaime Watt, another known homosexual activist, is not acceptable to people who are pro-life, it's simply not acceptable. And it certainly makes it very difficult for pro-life, pro-family people to understand how someone like Mr. Flaherty could possibly do this. It's very confusing. And they really can't expect our support if they continue to do this."

Flaherty's and the Conservative Party's support of the homosexual agenda took back pro-life leader Mary Ellen Douglas, of Campaign Life Coalition. Asked if she was surprised by Flaherty's support of Watt, she answered, "Yes, certainly. I'm surprised by the Conservative Party's support of Jaime Watt, or for Egale, or for being at the dinner, or for anything else involved. They just don't seem to understand that they alienate all of the people who are their true supporters by doing things like this."

New leader, new winning CPC.

[updated Fri Jun 26 21:54:04 -0400 2009]