Our latest national poll shows that the Conservatives continue to hold a comfortable lead over the Liberals.
Looking at which of the party leaders Canadians believe would make the best Prime Minister, Stephen Harper now leads by a significant, 17 point, margin over over Michael Ignatieff. This represents the widest gap since Ignatieff was elected leader of the Liberal Party.
Factoring the advantage in the ballot box and on the best PM front, the Conservatives currently have the upper hand. The dilemma they face is that their numbers are strong but it is difficult to take advantage of it politically because of the Harper communications mantra that “this isn’t a good time for an election”.
Likewise, with a defeat in parliament at the hands of the opposition parties not imminent, it is hard for the Tories to plead the instability or unworkability of parliament.
Methodology
Nanos conducted a random telephone survey of 1,005 Canadians, 18 years of age and older, between November 7th and November 10th. A survey of 1,005 Canadians is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20, for 814 committed voters, it is accurate to within 3.5 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. Margins may be larger for smaller samples.
Ballot Question:
For those parties you would consider voting for federally, could you please rank your top two current local preferences? (Committed voters only - First Preference)
The numbers in parenthesis denote the change from the last Nanos National Omnibus survey completed between October 10th and October 18th, 2009.
National (n=814)
Conservative 38.0% (-1.8)
Liberal 28.8% (-1.2)
NDP 17.9% (+1.3)
BQ 9.3% (+0.4)
Green 5.9% (+1.3)
Undecided 19.0% (+1.5)
Best PM Question:
Of the following individuals, who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? [Rotate]
Stephen Harper 34.8%
Michael Ignatieff 17.7%
Jack Layton 14.9%
Gilles Duceppe 6.5%
Elizabeth May 4.5%
None of them 9.0%
Unsure 12.6%
What do you think?
Cheers,
NJN
Remember to rate the views of others - to allow us to recognize the opinion leaders in our national conversation.
Individuals with the top ratings make it to Nik’s Leaderboard
Most Read Comments
Highest Rated Comments
It's worrisome that 38% of those polled would vote for the Conservatives. That's... more
Bernie (Ontario) 14 Nov 08:32
At this stage it appears that all Harper has to do is to continue with his progr... more
Tom Good (British Columbia) 14 Nov 04:18
Harper may have put himself in the no election box because he had no idea that I... more
hollinm (Saskatchewan) 14 Nov 09:59
Yes, excellent observation! Frank McKenna has all the qualities to move the Li... more
Laurie58 (Nova Scotia) 14 Nov 13:05
Ronald: AGREED. Bet you cannot get past the dinosaur gatekeepers in Ottawa. G... more
Tom Good (British Columbia) 14 Nov 22:25
Polls Dont Count, I will not defend Ontario's record. That's McGuinty's job. On... more
RonaldODowd (Ontario) 14 Nov 23:12
Comments
Tom Good
At this stage it appears that all Harper has to do is to continue with his programme as it is the only programme that is on the table. Unfortunately, Ignatieff has been Harper's best helper since he caught the D1ON1 virus and has been unable to articulate a Liberal platform giving a choice for Canadians that they understand and may want.
Harper has rather boxed himself in with his "not time for an election" and parliament is "not working"-------parliament is sputtering along quite nicely. But Harper is the tactician. If the Conservative numbers move comfortably into the majority territory of the 40%s, then I would not be surprised to see a bold political move. Harper has called an election defying his own legislation and he pulled "prorogue" out of the hat for new political meaning. Harper is not to be underestimated.
I believe the outcome of the next General Election has been determined in the greater part by the Liberals and not the Conservatives. The Liberals have not learned how to be an effective opposition and now they have a few "in-house" squabbles to further diminish their creditability with the electorate. In the heart of Conservative country, Alberta, the ascendancy of the Wild Rose Party provincially may spill over into the federal camp but I am not too sure of this----need an Alberta observation here.
The Liberal brand name still retains good recognition across the land but CREATIVE leadership / thinking seems to have gone to hell. Their time in opposition, in my opinion has been badly squandered as they have had many opportunities to put forward many original-thinking proposals / propositions for Canada. They have fallen into the trap of becoming pseudo-conservatives thus they are deliberately making themselves politically redundant-----think they have well mastered the art of Hari-Kari. There is nothing wrong with supporting a good government policy and further offering what they would do should they be government. For example, the Liberals should have been shouting their support for Harper's proposal to increase the seats in the House of Commons for the under represented areas of Canada and, at the same time they could have tabled the Liberal target agenda for the governance of Canada for the next 10 or 20 or 30 years----equal representation by population ? ? ? ----Senate reform ? ? ? Council of First Ministers ? ? ? status of the Monarchy ? ? ? and the list goes on and on.
[updated Sat Nov 14 04:18:53 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 04:18
40 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Bernie
It's worrisome that 38% of those polled would vote for the Conservatives. That's dangerously close to a majority. As long as Harper leads the party our country will be going backward. I would still have to vote Green.
We have never had a leader of our country or a party in our history who has done as much damage to our country or party as Harper. There maybe some other in the Conservative whom I would vote for but Harper won't allow them to speak for themselves we will never know what they stand for so I don't know one of them that I might vote for under different circumstances.
I would vote for Peter Stoffer if he were leader of the NDP, or Bob Rae if he were Liberal leader.
I know Harper can't be a good PM. I don't think Ignatieff would be either. Layton, maybe, would better than either of them, but still not quite good enough. So that leaves May as the best of a bad lot.
For the most important issue, the environment, Harper has not done one thing for four years. He does not care about young Canadians dying for no good cause in a far off land.I does not care about a 15 year old Canadian boy illegally held in another country, deprive of all his human rights. He disobeys the laws of the land. (even his own law) his is concerned and generous to the rich and powerful but is uncaring and does little for the disenfranchised. He has the destroyed the good image of Canada abroad. He continually lies to and insults Canadians.
Just his attitude toward that poor kid down in Guantanamo reveals what a despicable excuse for a human being he is. How could anybody vote for that.
[updated Sat Nov 14 08:32:22 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 08:32
52 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
brusmit (Suspended)
I see that Bernie is still having a hard time with the numbers and why they are so bad for the Liberals and his post is void of reasoned debate and he has relied on insults and poorly formed points of view once again .
Bernie writes,
"We have never had a leader of our country or a party in our history who has done as much damage to our country or party as Harper.
Did you miss the Mr. Trudeau years.
"There maybe some other in the Conservative whom I would vote for but Harper won't allow them to speak for themselves we will never know what they stand for so I don't know one of them that I might vote for under different circumstances. "
Spin the spam, it still is not working.
"I would vote for Peter Stoffer if he were leader of the NDP, or Bob Rae if he were Liberal leader. "
That says volumes as to your knowledge and understanding of politics in general
.
"I know Harper can't be a good PM. I don't think Ignatieff would be either. Layton, maybe, would better than either of them, but still not quite good enough. So that leaves May as the best of a bad lot."
That says volumes as to your knowledge and understanding of politics in general.
"For the most important issue, the environment, Harper has not done one thing for four years. "
By doing nothing he has stabilized Green House Gases, after the Liberals had allowed GHG to rise by 35% during their time in Government.
"He does not care about young Canadians dying for no good cause in a far off land.I does not care about a 15 year old Canadian boy illegally held in another country, deprive of all his human rights. "
If only the Liberals had not sent them there without equipment and not to one of the hot zone in Afghanistan.
"He disobeys the laws of the land. (even his own law) his is concerned and generous to the rich and powerful but is uncaring and does little for the disenfranchised. He has the destroyed the good image of Canada abroad."
It would be interesting to see something to support this, as you have failed once again to provide any supporting facts for your statement.
"He continually lies to and insults Canadians. "
Spin the spam, it is not working.
"Just his attitude toward that poor kid down in Guantanamo reveals what a despicable excuse for a human being he is. "
That is before the SCoC and we will see if your stated position is correct
"How could anybody vote for that."
Because they are informed, educated and engaged - three things that you are not.
[updated Sat Nov 14 09:28:29 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 09:28
hollinm
Bernie.....here we go again.
Only people like you and the rest of the Liberal sycophants in this country would think
" It's worrisome that 38% of those polled would vote for the Conservatives. That's dangerously close to a majority."
Given the trend in the polls you guys are in the minority and unless Iffy/Donolo makes some dramatic changes the polls will continue to see the Libs running significantly behind the Conservatives.
As usual you make outrageous allegations with no supporting facts. Its all opinion based and not based on any reality. You need to put forward some rational points. I would refer you to the exchange between Tom Good and Brusmit in the opening posts.
[updated Sat Nov 14 09:38:32 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 09:38
Tewchip
What country are you watching. Harper has made good steps to revive our military. The Economy is slowly recovering from a global mess. Canada's voice on the world stage is secure. None of the previous Liberal wishywashy fence sitting at every global decision. As for the 15 year old boy as you put it. He is a POW. He stands accused of tossing a grenade that killed several allied soldiers. He is a Canadian of convienience. Putz.
[updated Sat Nov 14 09:47:05 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 09:47
Bernie
There are people who needs food and shelter and a livable situation. The Military doesn't need it. The military is for defense. No one is or going to attack us. Four years in office and Harper is still wasting money on the military while people are still living in deplorable condition. Do you support that?
Canada used to be looked up by many of the smaller and poorer countries. There are few who timidly support our position but many have turned away and are sad to see Canada lose its elevated standing. If you don't believe that then you are not communicating with the grassroots of those nations. Some of their leaders diplomatically say they still have high regard for Canada. In private they say something differently.
Khadr is accuse of killing one American soldier. The grenade came from inside the compound . No one saw who fired it. The military generals were not a witness. George Bush was not a witness. But two soldiers at the scene were. They said Khadr was shot and partially buried under rubble when they entered the compound. It was most likely the other one who was still alive who did it.
Even if those soldiers are wrong. First he was not a soldier he was the son of a despotic father who forced, coerced , brainwashed him into believing he was fighting to defend his country. I'm sure Ben Harper would do the same thing under the same circumstances. Given all that, is that the way you would want your "soldier" treated if he was fighting for his country. The Americans would not bring him to their own country because their own constitution would have seen that he was treated justly. Any civilized justice system would have dealt with it in a few years. Not resolved after eight years. No civilized country would use torture for one minute.
And Harper should be screaming at the Americans to send him home. Since they don't apply justice in their country. When he doesn't care about one citizen, I don't trust him to care about any.
What the Liberals did has no bearing on it now. That was then and they were just as culpable. I'm concerned with now. Only I'm honest enough to blame the Liberals . you on the other hand will not blame the Conservatives.
[updated Sun Nov 15 07:48:21 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 07:48
RonaldODowd
Bernie,
It's clear that Ottawa does not want the whole story to come out for national security reasons. We are too busy protecting the intelligence operations of a foreign government. To my mind, that is the gist of it.
Ask yourself why the Khadr family is in Canada given the alleged actions of the late father. Also ask yourself who in that family was invaluable to a foreign government. Finally, look to the circumstances surrounding a certain intelligence operation overseas and you may find some highly revealing answers...
[updated Sun Nov 15 09:07:19 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 09:07
Bernie
I have no fear for our national security. I am sick and tired of our politicians using that . It's a cop out for not dealing openly and honestly with the people. I am much more concerned about my freedom than with security.
Ben Franklyn said if you sacrifice freedom for security you end up losing both. And I subscribe to that wholeheartedly.
[updated Sun Nov 15 09:23:22 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 09:23
RonaldODowd
Bernie,
I prefer a Canadian trial. What will happen in front of the military tribunal is anyone's guess. I'm not comfortable with that highly dubious venue. Khadr should be returned to Canada to face justice bearing in mind attenuating circumstances IF he is in fact guilty of lobbing the grenade.
[updated Sun Nov 15 09:31:54 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 09:31
brusmit (Suspended)
RonaldODowd, Bernie.
Good set piece between the two of you, it needs work though,
Have a nice day
[updated Sun Nov 15 09:54:23 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 09:54
RonaldODowd
Brusmit,
I will concede one point to you. No matter if the Lord or Jesus came down and asked this government to repatriate Khadr, the answer would still be no.
In that sense, you're correct. No matter how much work we put into it, we can forget it because Harper will never be on board with the idea.
Regrettably, so far the Canadian people don't give a tinker's damn. Makes a mockery of the Charter.
(Have a good day.)
[updated Sun Nov 15 09:59:02 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 09:59
brusmit (Suspended)
RonaldODowd,
I will have to request that you concede another point and that it is that the Liberals really do not have the high ground on this matter, given their involoment in the past while in Government.
If one is to take the Liberals at their word that the actions of the Conservative is in violation of the charter and it has not been proven as yet.
The Liberals were and are (past and future tense) equally guilty of the same infractions while in power as they now accuse the Conservatives of.
Is this a matter of do as I say, but not as I do as it would appear to be that I my opinion.
The other point that I will bring to the table, is your insistance that it is Mr. Harper and Mr. Harper alone in this matter and that is not factually correct, therew are a very large segment of the Canadian populatrion who feel the same way.
Your calling of Mr. Harper as being the sole source on this issue is really nothing more than an attempt by the Liberals to control the narrative and place Mr. Harper and not the SCoC as the focus point.
Be seeing, you - my wife and I are taking the dogs out for a walk.
[updated Sun Nov 15 10:19:38 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 10:19
RonaldODowd
Brusmit,
OK - read this later.
If you mean past Liberal governments, of course you're correct. But Michael is not yet in government. A minor distinction but an important one. You can't have guilt by association just because a Liberal is a Liberal. You can't apply a future tense to a government that does not exist. Michael has said what his position is. That may or may not be the position of an Ignatieff government. We can't judge him on it until we a) see him form a government and b) articulate an official government position on the matter.
Secondly, yes, I agree that many Canadians support the Prime Minister's position. But that is beside the point. What I'm saying is that despite cabinet government, the PM has not only taken the lead here in articulating government policy, but for all intent and purposes is the sole decision maker as regards the government's position. In other words, theoretically speaking on this one, if cabinet said A and Harper said B, B would be the end result regarding Khadr.
Call me on it if you don't consider this paragraph a fair representation of political reality.
As for the SCOC, I'm not up to speed but I will hazard a guess: if government lawyers present "in camera" evidence, Harper is in for a win. If on the other hand, submissions are of an entirely public nature, it's dicey for the PM, IMHO.
The old legal saying goes: any lawyer who knows how the judge will rule is an idiot...
[updated Sun Nov 15 10:45:07 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 10:45
hollinm
Ronald....one minor point. Iffy did agree to the extension of the war while a sitting MP.
[updated Sun Nov 15 13:51:28 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 13:51
brusmit (Suspended)
RonaldODowd writes,
"If you mean past Liberal governments, of course you're correct."
I will take that.
"You can't have guilt by association just because a Liberal is a Liberal."
I will have to take you on with this one. As the actions of Mr. Martin and Mr. Dion prior to their assuming the leadership is well known to have been in support of the actions of the sitting Liberal Government of the day.
Factor in the many current sitting Liberals who were in cabinet with Mr. Chretien and Mr. Martin as well as those that sat in Mr. Dion`s and Mr. Ignatieff shadow cabinet and the position of the Liberals is very clear and with so many Liberals having that position, I can say with a degree of reason that there is guilt by association.
RonaldODowd writes,
" But Michael is not yet in government. A minor distinction but an important one."
It would have more of a distinction, if Mr. Igantieff would refute the previous actions of the Liberal Government and those members of his party that did support those policies.
RonaldODowd writes,
"You can't apply a future tense to a government that does not exist. "
With regards to attributing an action to a person who is not yet in Government, well Mr. Kensella has a fine track record on doing actually that, first with Mr. Day and then with Mr. Harper.
Is this just one more example of "Do as I say, Not as I do" - I would be interested to hear how you show the difference between the two.
RonaldODowd writes,
"Michael has said what his position is. That may or may not be the position of an Ignatieff government."
Say one thing and do another, run on this policy but put in another one in, Mr. Ignatieff main issue at this moment is his credibility and that of his party - not a very telling argument from my perspective.
RonaldODowd writes,
" We can't judge him on it until we a) see him form a government and b) articulate an official government position on the matter.
Mr. Ignatieff has been in the public domain for decades now and his views are out there and are well documented and articulated by Mr. Ignatieff himself.
There is a great deal on which to judge Mr. Ignatieff during that period of time prior to his straying into politics all of which has been used by the Liberal party - so there is a great deal information to be judged, most of which has been brought forward by Mr. Ignatieff and the Party themselves.
[updated Sun Nov 15 14:53:47 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 14:53
RonaldODowd
Brusmit,
Neither you or I happen to be Warren Kinsella. In other words, neither of us will follow the course of action which you CLAIM Kinsella previously followed. Nice one, eh!
[updated Mon Nov 16 09:32:16 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 09:32
brusmit (Suspended)
RonaldODowd writes,
".... CLAIM Kinsella previously followed."
Of course, they will learn how Kinsella derailed the Canadian Alliance campaign in 2000, lampooning Stockwell Day’s alleged creationist belief’s with a purple Barney dinosaur and the inspired line, “I just want to remind Mr. Day that The Flintstones was not a documentary.”
In Mr. Kinsella own words, you can read his book, The War Room: Political Strategies for Business, NGOs and Anyone Who Wants to Win it is a good read for you if you chose to do so.
Pages from the Liberal Handbook, Conservative strategist critiques a Grit’s modus operandi. By Tom Flanagan Published January 1, 2008
http://reviewcanada.ca/reviews/2008/01/01/pages-from-the-liberal-handbook/
And the phrase should have been "neither of us will follow the course of action which you CLAIM Kinsella previously and is currently following.
I will note again, that you duck my counter points in your reply.
[updated Mon Nov 16 12:09:19 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 12:09
Bernie
Ron I agree.
[updated Sun Nov 15 10:02:54 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 10:02
hollinm
Ronald.....yeah sure let the liberal judges in Canada have at it.
When will the pacifists get it in their heads. This is a war crime not a civilian crime. They need to be tried by the military judicial system. Putting them in front of a civil court system particularly in Canada which operates under different rules of evidence i.e. miranda rights etc. could see him go free on technicalities and not whether he is guilty or innocent of the crime alleged.
[updated Sun Nov 15 13:48:46 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 13:48
RonaldODowd
Hollinm,
Let me ask you a question. Do you consider what is likely to be proved as a terrorist act on 9-11-01 a war crime? I know I do. And yet the masterminds and principles are on their way to trial in civil court in New York City thanks to the Obama Administration. (By the way, you don't exactly sound impartial as to Khadr's possible innocence or guilt. You might want to reconsider that.)
Sort of contradicts your argument doesn't it. Signed, The Pacifist...
[updated Mon Nov 16 09:13:11 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 09:13
Bernie
Ron I agree. That would be best. Being tried in civilian court in the US is a second choice. I have no faith in any other method.
[updated Mon Nov 16 07:40:10 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 07:40
Tewchip
Are you really saying the Military dos'nt need food and shelter? They have been starved of resorces for years under Liberal management. As to your question, YES I support the military. Thinking no one will attack Canadians is foolish. Harper was the only leader to chide Palistine while they bombed Isreal. Stood up in front of the U.N. and said they were wrong, on the Isreal/Palistine file.
They found Khadr under the rubble because they bombed the shelter in response to the grenade. This was a "so-called" Canadian fighting against Canada/U.S, I have no sympathy for him what-so-ever. So you are right I will not blame the CPC, in fact I applaud them.
[updated Sun Nov 15 11:42:12 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 11:42
Bernie
Tewchip
Of course you know I didn't say the military doesn't need or shelter. And I can't recall asking you a question. But I support the military too. In fact if you remember previous posts you may recall that I said I supported a substantial increase soldier salaries.
What I do object to is sending them to fight in others countries at this time. Wasting money keeping them in Afghanistan, allowing them to be killed or damaged for life. Yes, I support the soldiers and want them to be protected from death or harm for a useless cause.
What I object to is spending $20 + billion on that which is not making our country safer.
And what I said was I don't want to spend extra money on the military until we make sure that all Canadian citizens has food and shelter and basic necessities. After that is done first I done care if they give the military gold guns and gold-plated tanks.
It's the priorities I want set straight.
You said "Thinking no one will attack Canadians is foolish."
I can bet any amount of money you like to name (if you are willing to pay up if you lose) that no country will attack Canada in my lifetime or yours. And if it were to happen, however remote that may be, the first country likely to do so is the US. And then our military would not be much of a deterent to them.
[updated Sun Nov 15 17:28:50 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 17:28
Tewchip
First off, let me be clear. We are in Afgan as a support to a NATO mission. Chretien put us in the province we are in. We will do our part to fulfill our commitment.
Second, if you can walk and talk you can work. So I dont want to hear about the homeless. I too have been under the so called poverty line. The only way up and out is to work your way out. Government handouts is not the answer.
As for your comment about someone attacking us... seems like you mean the USA would be the only one to do so. Never happen. It is the wave of Islamic extremists bent on concouring the world that worries me. Political correctness in the U.K. has them hamstrung and you can take that to the bank.
[updated Fri Nov 20 19:23:20 -0500 2009]
20 Nov 19:23
hollinm
Bernie.......Khadr and his family are jihadist terrorists and support Al Quaeda and the record is clear on that.
He needs to be tried for his alleged crime in the U.S. and when that process has been completed then the government can consider its next steps. However, there is no love lost on the Khadr family with most Canadians. They have no use for the family and the polls suggest that they could care less if he ever comes back. This is simply the lefties of the country thinking they have a wedge issue and are trying to exploit it.
I know you don't like to be reminded but it was the Liberals who committed us to the war in Afghanistan and it was the Libs who put us "into the killing fields of Kandahar" as Jean Chretien put it in his autobiography.
There was no way Harper could have pulled us out and still maintained Canada's credibility on the world stage and you know it. Faced with that choice he had to ensure that our soliders were in the best position to do their jobs and to defend themselves. As the old saying goes you can't be half pregnant. Either your in or your out. There is no in between.
We will pull out in 2010 and then the lefties of the country can breathe easier and then urge the government to intervene in Africa etc. Because they believe that is a war worth fighting. Right.
[updated Sun Nov 15 13:43:15 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 13:43
Lex Llewdor
No one is going to attack us?
Denmark already captured an island. The US doesn't recognise our waterways. Basically the entire world disagrees with our claim on the north.
I'd say we're a prime target. They won't attack our cities or our people, but they seem pretty keen on taking our islands.
[updated Sun Nov 15 14:57:52 -0500 2009]
15 Nov 14:57
Anti (suspended)
Isn't that great, Liberals continue to beat a dead horse multiculturalism and protecting the Governor General when others want something different which Conservatives are offering. Will the Liberals ever catch on , your not going to win with Denis Corderre to much baggage from the Sponsorship Program which Canadians have not forgotten about
[updated Mon Nov 16 00:45:25 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 00:45
Edmonton Jim
If you vote Green Bernie, you may be responsible for a Harper Majority. I truly hope you will reflect on your choices in the next election
[updated Wed Nov 18 15:33:17 -0500 2009]
18 Nov 15:33
Tewchip
Alright.. go Bernie, vote green. There would be no better cure for what ails this country than a CPC majority, and a big one at that.
[updated Fri Nov 20 19:27:50 -0500 2009]
20 Nov 19:27
Bernie
Who do you think I should vote for;
1. The worst government we've had in 55 years of political memory.
2. The Liberals , tho better than the Conservatives, who don't know what Canadians want, who don't show demonstratively had bad this government is, and a leader who doesn't exhibit good judgement.
3. The NDP, who have some good policies but don't know how to sell them, and who has a leader who seems more interested in himself or his party, than in Canadians
4. The Greens, who I don't know exactly where they stand on some issues, are spot on on the most important issues like the environment and the plight of our poorest citizens.
I know for certain that my vote will not affect the outcome of the election. The Liberal will certainly be elected in my district in the next election. However if it should occur that the Conservatives under Harper had a chance of winning my district and getting a majority I would vote Liberal to stop them. I have no hesitation of using strategic voting when the need arises. What's best for Canada come first. I am not interested in parties or individual politicians
By voting Green I am telling the other parties that they are not doing their job. They are not representative of me or what's best for Canada. Until they do they will not receive my support.
So, Edmonton Jim, try harder to beat some sense into fellow Edmontonians and the rest of Albertans. We will get better governance when they vote for anyone but Harper.
The George Bush of Canada.
[updated Sat Nov 21 07:49:20 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 07:49
Bernie
Edmonton Jim
The post below, addressed to Tewchip was meant for you.
PS Do you want to swap hockey teams?
[updated Sat Nov 21 07:52:45 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 07:52
elf
Bernie - it will come, little bit by little bit issues are arising that appear to be chipping away at Harper's credibility - not that I ever thought he had any !!
But problems are arising on a fairly regular basis now and I am sure there is a limit to what the Canadian people will accept and forgive -
this "shoot the messenger" attitude regarding the torture allegations is proof that they are pig headed and arrogant -
All the lies and deceit and broken promises have to stick at some point.
The media have got hold of this story now and I have heard McKay and others stumbling and blubbering about how the issue is an opposition ploy and how Canadians are not interested in the issue - trust me there is a change coming - this nasty man will meet his political demise soon, of that I am certain.
[updated Thu Nov 19 15:32:37 -0500 2009]
19 Nov 15:32
brusmit (Suspended)
elf writes,
" Bernie - it will come, little bit by little bit issues are arising that appear to be chipping away at Harper's credibility - not that I ever thought he had any !! "
Please que the music for sent in the clowns as one of them would appear to have arrived on this board and such a sad clown is he.
With key talking points such as, " trust me there is a change coming", "this nasty man will meet his political demise soon, of that I am certain.", "not that I ever thought he had any !! " and "and I am sure there is a limit to what the Canadian people will accept and forgive" it will be most difficult to refute such strong talking points, but I believe that I am up to the task.
Be Seeing You
[updated Thu Nov 19 16:31:13 -0500 2009]
19 Nov 16:31
elf
brusmit - you appear to be lacking in something very basic - like most CONs you seem to lack the ability to connect on a purely human level - you seem unable to understand that we can relate in an intangible manner that is based upon feelings and emotions. Daydreaming about better times is a pefectly normal and acceptable way to deal with stress and many of us are suffering right now from distress caused by Harper and his goons -
I was not aware that the only posts allowed were those that quote irrelevent polls and numbers - my political feelings follow my perspective on life - I live as a liberal and I follow the party that is closest to my philosphy so pardon me if I don't mindlessly quote the headlines - I do live with optimism and I hope that when we feel down sombody is there to remind us that there is a light at the end of this dreadful tunnel and that intelligence and gentleness will once again be qualities that Canadians admire and that Canada will once again be the great country it once was under a Liberal government. .
[updated Thu Nov 19 18:11:23 -0500 2009]
19 Nov 18:11
brusmit (Suspended)
elf writes,
"you appear to be lacking in something very basic - like most CONs you seem to lack the ability to connect on a purely human level"
It is the very common practice by leftist and Liberals to dehumanize other individuals in order to try and gain what they perceived to be an advantage after all if one is not considered human, then there is no harm in taking the points to the extreme.
As you should know there are many belief system that have its own special ways of dehumanizing other people and most people such as yourself freely participate in this dehumanization without of realizing that that is what they are doing.
Hopefully, you will learn in time that there is a difference between sarcasm and dehumanizing other human and that you will be able to show the maturity to be able to take a step back and look critically at your beliefs and figure out what your method is to attack another's particular belief system by dehumanize those individuals.
[updated Thu Nov 19 18:23:00 -0500 2009]
19 Nov 18:23
Bernie
"It is the very common practice by leftist and Liberals to dehumanize other individuals in order to try and gain what they perceived to be an advantage after all if one is not considered human, then there is no harm in taking the points to the extreme."
You have it backweards.
The experts at this are these Conservatives and the US Republicans. Of course everyone knows that these Carl Rove tactics were brought up here by Ton Flanagan and implanted in Harpers people.
[updated Sat Nov 21 08:05:21 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 08:05
brusmit (Suspended)
bernie,
Still not smart enough to come up with your own comments, I however am somewhat flatter that you did choose my post and words to reply and that I am confident that you will continue to always aim above your station and abilities, otherwise how you will learn.
Time to up your education again and I would direct you to Mr. Kinsellas two books, "'Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics" and "The War Room: Political Strategies for Business, NGOs, and Anyone Who Wants to Win" as the two examples.
Your statement that the "War Room" was brought to Canada Ton Flanagan and that they were Carl tactics does not pass the test.
Mr. Kinsella was a fan of Mr. Carvell who was the former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s original war roomer and you can get more on this in a Hill Times interview and he himself takes the credit for bring these tactics to Canada in the election of 1993, which as you should know predates Mr. Flanagan`s entering politics as Mr. Harpers campaign manager in 2001 you can confirm this and I will do the math here for you 2001 - 1993 and that means that Mr. Kinsella was at this eight years prior.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Flanagan_(political_scientist)
You can further valid this by reading Mr. Flanagan`s review of Mr. Kinsellas book at,
http://reviewcanada.ca/reviews/2008/01/01/pages-from-the-liberal-handbook/ where he states,
You now have two sources, one from Mr. Kinsella that disproves your contention that " Of course everyone knows that these Carl Rove tactics were brought up here by Ton Flanagan and implanted in Harpers people.
Your problem as with the other Liberals who troll these board, are that you rely on the principles of the "'Big Lie" to try and move forward your agenda and not facts and in particular facts that can be supported.
From the two sites that I provided you
" I wish I’d had the chance to read The War Room before I became Stephen Harper’s campaign manager; it might have saved me from many mistakes and months of painful learning on the job. It is too late for that, of course, but I will definitely put the book on the list of assigned readings for a course on campaigning that I will teach next term (there are only 20 students, so the author should not plan to dine out more than once on the royalties). "
And
" What will students learn from The War Room? To mention only a few highlights, they will read how the American Democratic consultant James Carville originated the war room, or “quick response,” concept in 1992, and how Kinsella brought it to Canada for the 1993 election."
[updated Sat Nov 21 09:19:36 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 09:19
Tewchip
If by "when the lieberals ran the country" you mean empty promises, unfullfilled dreams, then by all means bring back the crooks. What a pantywaste remark. Somebody has to protect your candy ass. Exactly what reality do you live in? The world is a nasty place and I for one am glad we have a man like Harper to stand up to the bandits of the world. As opposed to the fence sitting lieberals we had for nearly 40 years. I hope they never return.
[updated Fri Nov 20 19:37:23 -0500 2009]
20 Nov 19:37
Tewchip
Golly gee elf, are you hidding under a blanket from the Harper bogey man? Harper is the best thing to happen to Canada in 40 years.
[updated Fri Nov 20 19:29:54 -0500 2009]
20 Nov 19:29
Bernie
elf. I hope so. I knew that McKay was despicable when he reneged on an agreement with David Orchard. He has done nothing to change my mind since. Now the way he has responded to Colvin's revelations shows he has gone off the deep end. This is the worst I've ever seen. He must be stupid not to know how much his reaction is hurting his cause.
[updated Sat Nov 21 07:59:26 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 07:59
brusmit (Suspended)
Bernie,
I wrote this reply to one of elf`s post and your current comments are much the same and I therefore will just copy that reply to you as you really are not worth the effort to compose another.
It is the very common practice by leftist and Liberals to dehumanize other individuals in order to try and gain what they perceived to be an advantage, after all if one is not considered human, then there is no harm in taking some of the points to the extreme.
As you should know there are many belief systems that have its own special ways of dehumanizing other people and most people such as yourself freely participate in this dehumanization without of realizing that that is what they are doing.
Hopefully, you will learn in time that there is a difference between sarcasm and dehumanizing another human and that you will be able to show the maturity to be able to take a step back and look critically at your beliefs and figure out that it is your method to attack another's particular belief system by dehumanizes those individuals.
[updated Sat Nov 21 09:21:57 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 09:21
Bernie
brusmit You should know al about sarcasm, ridicule and dehumanizing another human . You are an expert at it. Maybe I should take the next course you teach. On second thought , no , I am not into that.
[updated Sun Nov 22 07:21:44 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 07:21
brusmit (Suspended)
Bernie,
I am an expert at this only because I have been forced to deal with individuals such as yourself who rely solely on insults and personal attacks and in closing because of the frequency of those attacks from you and your friend I have in fact become very adept at it.
PS did you get a chance to read Mr. Kinsellsa books yet.
[updated Sun Nov 22 08:05:51 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 08:05
Bernie
brusmit
Unlike you I never deal in insults and personal attacks.
No! Did you read Winnie the Pooh? It's just as authoritative.
[updated Sun Nov 22 09:14:59 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 09:14
brusmit (Suspended)
Bernie writes at 22/11/2009 09:14,
"Unlike you I never deal in insults and personal attacks."
Bernie had written at 21/11/2009 7:59
"I knew that McKay was despicable " and "shows he has gone off the deep end." and " This is the worst I've ever seen." and " He must be stupid not to know ."
And these are to be considered compliments, your own words show you to be what I had written about you.
So little grasshopper have you ever read, The Ant and the Grasshopper, An Aesop Fable retold by Rose Owens
One summer day a grasshopper was singing and chirping and hopping about. He was having a wonderful time. He saw an ant who was busy gathering and storing grain for the winter.
“Stop and talk to me,” said the grasshopper. “We can sing some songs and dance a while.”
“Oh no,” said the ant. “Winter is coming. I am storing up food for the winter. I think you should do the same.”
“Oh, I can’t be bothered,” said the grasshopper. “Winter is a long time off. There is plenty of food.” So the grasshopper continued to dance and sing and chip and the ant continued to work.
When winter came the grasshopper had no food and was starving. He went to the ant’s house and asked, “Can I have some wheat or maybe a few kernels of corn. Without it I will starve,” whined the grasshopper.
“You danced last summer,” said the ants in disgust. “You can continue to dance.” And they gave him no food.
It's just as authoritative, so little grasshopper, be seeing you.
[updated Sun Nov 22 09:30:23 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 09:30
Bernie
brusmit
So sorry, I thought you were talking about humans. I was talking about inanimate objects, statues with wooden heads and stone hearts.
Do you think it's human to send fellow citizens to die for political ambition or gratification or carry forward an agreement made for those purposes.
Because they have names like Martin, Harper or McKay doesn't fit what I define as human. Besides their deaths, the heartache of families and friends, and lifetime of suffering the effects. And in McKay's case the character assassination of a fellow government worker who had the audacity to tell the truth.
No, I don't see any requirement apply the same standard such creatures.
PS. I agree either or both are as authoritative as Kinsella's books
[updated Sun Nov 22 14:50:00 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 14:50
brusmit (Suspended)
Bernie writes [updated Sun Nov 22 09:14:59 EST 2009]
"Unlike you I never deal in insults and personal attacks."
and writes [updated Sun Nov 22 14:50:00 EST 2009]
"...and dehumanizing another human."
He then writes, [updated Sun Nov 22 14:50:00 EST 2009]
"So sorry, I thought you were talking about humans."
and
"I was talking about inanimate objects, statues with wooden heads and stone hearts."
and
"Because they have names like Martin, Harper or McKay doesn't fit what I define as human"
and
"No, I don't see any requirement apply the same standard such creatures."
For an individual who has stated that they do not debase and dehumanize others, those statements that you made and your choice of words "creatures", "doesn't fit what I define as human", "talking about humans" and others, does show your true character.
Do you not understand by taking this position that you shared the same traits that you would assign to Mr. Martin, Mr. Harper and Mr. McKay? and that you are guilty of the very same traits that you so despise in those individuals.
In closing, the reference to Mr. Kinsella`s books was to show that your uninformed comment that it was Conservative brought the "war Room" to Canada was incorrect as is most of your posts.
[updated Mon Nov 23 09:01:49 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 09:01
Bernie
brusmit
No I am not the same as those I describe. I only called some one's actions inhuman. I could have used inhumane, but it's the same thing to me.
I did not send fellow Canadians to be killed, or damaged for life, or have their families or friends traumatized and saddened probably for life; all for no good reason. Martin and Harper did.
I only called someone inhuman; a big difference.
I suppose you would object to a Jew calling Hitler inhuman. It's only a matter of degree.
BTW. I never mentioned the "war Room". I don't know what that is :-)
Anyway, enough of this nonsense. Over and out.
[updated Mon Nov 23 10:22:51 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 10:22
brusmit (Suspended)
bernie writes,
"I only called someone inhuman; a big difference."
now you are trying to qualify and rationize your statements, the best way is to treat everyone with equal respect.
And you are quote correct as that your comments are nonsense.
[updated Mon Nov 23 12:45:49 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 12:45
elf
brusmit - you are argueing semantics - get over it
[updated Mon Nov 23 16:42:47 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 16:42
brusmit (Suspended)
elf writes,
"brusmit - you are argueing semantics - get over it "
So says the elf, what Bernie cannot stick up for himself.
[updated Mon Nov 23 16:47:22 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 16:47
Bernie
elf
He's known for playing word games instead of a engaging in a sensible discussion.
He said, "the best way is to treat everyone with equal respect."
Using his example McKay should treat Harper as he treated Colvin and we should treat Mother Theresa as we treat Hitler.
Sheesh! As I said before I don't continue responding to fools.
[updated Tue Nov 24 08:22:10 -0500 2009]
24 Nov 08:22
brusmit (Suspended)
Bernie,
good night little one - I see that you still cannot play with the big kids, time to go back to the CBC board.
[updated Tue Nov 24 09:44:01 -0500 2009]
24 Nov 09:44
Logical
Based on your comments you are clearly part of the 'disenfranchised', meaning - a financial failure looking to live off of the hard-working taxpayers who have achieved modest success. You should go back to school and get a real education that includes economics so you can learn what makes the world go round. Elizabeth May and every other tree-hugger need to learn that socialism and is a failed financial system that hasn't worked anywhere on the planet. Environmentalists are living in a dream-world - people will choose personal lifestyle and jobs over saving the planet any day of the week. By the way...I don't cry for terrorists in Cuba - let them rot.
[updated Tue Nov 24 23:20:30 -0500 2009]
24 Nov 23:20
Jan from Whitby
It seems to me that PM Harper is smart enough to not try to trigger an election.He has show to be a good PM for Canada.
[updated Sat Nov 14 08:50:48 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 08:50
1 reply so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
hollinm
Harper may have put himself in the no election box because he had no idea that Iffy could be as bad as he has turned out to be.
However, while he cannot be seen to force an unwanted election I do think he believes that this is not the right time to go to the polls. While the Conservatives are outpolling the Libs 10-15 pts the Conservative vote is inefficient as the pollsters like to say because of the high support in Alberta and the relatively few seats that the Conservatives can win. So I think Harper has made the calculation that it is better to bide his time and allow the chips to fall where they may.
In the meantime he has the opposition parties stymied. The Libs don't want to support the government because it makes them appear weak. The NDP know they could lose seats if the public decides that a majority government is better than what we have now and decide to move their votes to Conservatives to ensure a majority.
However, I would not be surprised to see Parliament called back in mid January where a budget is presented prior to the Olympics. Despite the budget constraints there will be taxpayer friendly "goodies" and the opposition parties will be forced to make a decision. Included in the budget will be the HST enabling legislation (needs to be passed by March 31st) and the NDP will bail based on their opposition to it. So the Libs will be back in their ever shrinking box and may well have to support the budget if the polls remain as they are.
In the meantime the Conservatives continue to build their brand across the country taking full advantage of the stimulus spending, ensuring Canadians understand that the Conservative government is working hard to minimize the impact of the recession and beginning to tackle some of the thorny issues that the Libs avoided for so many years i.e. immigration.
In the meantime the Libs have once again built up the arrival of Donolo as the next saviour of the Liberal party. Like Iffy who they recruited from Harvard to save them and is failing it needs to be pointed out that Donolo was simply a Director of Communications in the Chretien government, has not been in partisan politics since 1999 and it is quite different being a Cheif of Staff where you are in charge of the whole thing. The skills sets are not necessarily transferrable.
There is no doubt Donolo will bring some organization to the OLO but can he change the image of Iffy? That is the big question and one the Conservatives will be watching closely.
[updated Sat Nov 14 09:59:32 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 09:59
23 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Eternally Optomistic
I wonder if it is time for Donolo to start looking at replacing WK as the war room strategist. Seems to me that everyone WK has hung his hat with since Chretien has dropped off the end of the earth.
[updated Sat Nov 14 11:04:53 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 11:04
29 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
RonaldODowd
Harper: In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time!
Poor Prime Minister. Out in Singapore, India and China when he should really be in the U.S. preparing to sit down for American Thanksgiving.
After all, it could be either turkey or goose both of which have been sufficiently cooked. Sound familiar?
What to do? Dipping in the Nanos poll as we slowly make our way toward the traditional polling benchmarks. Trouble ahead for that long anticipated Conservative MAJORITY.
Nothing quite like the sound reasoned judgment of the Canadian people. Look at the undecided - it's a case of back to the future with a substantial chunk of voters clearly saying that Harper isn't the man. They prefer to park or yoyo between the NDP and the Liberals.
As the number one Conservative on this board might say: "I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N--G. Sort of gets you where you live, doesn't it? Bye, bye Conservative majority. The voters regard this PM as competent but they don't TRUST him enough to bestow the keys to the kingdom. Again, back to the traditional perception of Harper.
Sooner or later, people will take a stand. Theoretically, at least, that means either a massive shift to the NDP, or more likely, the Liberals. When that happens, someone will be well on their way to a majority but their name won't be Conservative.
By all means, bring on your budget in January. I for one, can't wait. It can't come before Parliament soon enough for me. I'm willing to wait until spring, if necessary but look forward to taking you guys on anytime, anywhere.
Watch for more Conservative dips in subsequent polls. Happy Holidays!
[updated Sat Nov 14 12:24:49 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 12:24
27 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Laurie58
Well, looks like the Libs actually gained 0.6% on the CPC over
the last Poll numbers. :) It amazes me that the Libs can hang
around 30% in suport even in the worst of times. It goes to show
what an amazing base they have, and that one major slip by
the CPC could turn the game around. Also noteworthy is the
fact that 19% are undecided. I would think that while the numbers
should cheer the CPC, they must be nervous in the realisation that,
remarkably, the Liberals remain within striking distance.
Mr. Nanos, I think you should do a survey of both the general public
and the CPC party members, on the following question or one like
it: "Do you think Stephen Harper can ever lead the Conservative
Party to a majority government?"
[updated Sat Nov 14 12:46:05 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 12:46
14 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
RonaldODowd
The Pleasures Of Singapore.
A tale of two guys -- one stuck in boring meetings while the other is free to roam across the countryside, blading to his heart's content.
The latter continues to stay in shape -- he's fit and trim and ready for his political future. Who knows, after the next election, he may get his chance.
He would be an interesting opponent. He's tough, without a mean bone in his body. Time will tell whether we meet on the battlefield.
[updated Sat Nov 14 13:05:45 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 13:05
52 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
twiens
Stats, stats and more stats. Having worked with stats for a good part of my life I am well aware of how they can be used. You can give the same set of numbers to five different statistical analysts and get five sets of outcomes based on the philosophy of the analyst. That is why I don't pay a lot of attention to polls. What is most obvious to me is the type of results that comes out of the different areas of our country. To me, that just re-enforces the need for political change...not in politician but in the structure of our political system.
We have become to diverse a country for a centralized political system. We continually hear from all political parties about making changes to our system and to date I have seen little. Personally I really don't care for any of the current leaders but am very happy to have a minority government right now. From my point of view that helps keep a political balance right now which is what we need. My support for a Prime Minister will go to the first leader who takes real steps to change our structure and not to someone that talks up, as an example, Senate reform and then appoint as many Senators that he can. There has to be a middle ground between the American system and the British parliamentary system. The first leader to do that has me.
[updated Sat Nov 14 13:08:10 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 13:08
33 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
RonaldODowd
Brusmit,
Since you are in unusually fine form today, I have a question for you concerning Remembrance Day:
I understand why Viet Nam is not inscribed on our cenotaph in Ottawa. Undeclared war, Canada not officially part of it, etc.
But why did we not commemorate our veterans from the Boer War? Surely, that was a Canadian war with volunteers fighting for King and Country. Didn't Laurier play at least a semi-active role regarding same?
Thanks in advance for your time and your opinion, if proffered.
[updated Sat Nov 14 22:24:35 -0500 2009]
14 Nov 22:24
7 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Non-aligned in Toronto
I am delighted to see that both Nik's poll and the Ekos poll earlier this week show the Conservatives edging away from majority territory. I can live with a Con minority government, but like most Canadians, as indicated by the trend of the Con tide retreating each time it comes close to a majority, I don't want a Conservative majority.
Also heartening to me as an unreconstructed dipper, is to see the NDP edge back to the 18%they received last election.
[updated Mon Nov 16 09:42:54 -0500 2009]
16 Nov 09:42
No replies yet. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
brusmit (Suspended)
With the Liberal preoccupation with H1N1 one has to wonder why the Liberals continue to try and play this story into a major issue as the headlines from across Canada are showing a clear trend that Canadians are moving on and the media hype has slowed to a trickle on this file.
Time for the Liberals to move on to the next big issue facing Canadians as this one was a non starter from the get go and no matter how they try to spin it, the only political capital that they will receive is if a large number of Canadians start to die.
So for the Liberals are reduced to being cheerleaders, with individuals such as Mr. Rae, Ms. Bennet and other Liberals at the request of Mr. Ignatieff new COS are out there leading the cheers and fear mongering about Canadians dying.
The Canadian Press, Date: Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009 9:05 AM ET
Headline - H1N1's true toll may take months to become clear.
From the piece,
"Are you confused by the H1N1 numbers? Wondering why public health officials are making such a fuss about a virus that has so far killed so few people? You aren't alone."
"After all, we're told seasonal flu kills between 4,000 to 8,000 Canadians and between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide each year. Yet as of late last week, seven months into this outbreak, H1N1 had killed 161 Canadians and an estimated 6,260 people around the globe. "
[updated Tue Nov 17 09:32:39 -0500 2009]
17 Nov 09:32
1 reply so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
brusmit (Suspended)
Here is another Headline that I have not seen carried in the other Conservative friendly media outlets and one could question as to why it is not being carried as it is excellent news for the Conservatives and their form of Governing.
It speaks to the how well the Conservatives are handling the question of transparency during their terms as Government as their work on this file is described as being "inspirational" and it is clear contrast to the time under the Liberals were Canada`s standing fell to an all time low.
From the piece
"Canada's score, as high as 9.0 in 2002, slid steadily to 8.4 in 2005 as a result of the sponsorship scandal. It bounced up to 8.7 in the 2007 TI index, a level it has maintained in the two subsequent TI studies."
It is interesting that the Liberals, NDP and Bloc are attacking the Conservative on this file as they have been recognized by a world agency for their high quality and standards that they have set and that is reflected in the increase in Canada`s standing since the Conservative assumed power.
This yet one more example of the Liberals under the direct of Mr. Ignatieff and his COS choosing yet again lies over truth and the Liberals wonder why they are disconnected from Canadians and will remain so until they can find their values again and stop seeking power for the sack of power and try and bring new public policy to Canadians for debate.
Global News.
Canada least corrupt in the Americas:
Report by Peter O'Neil, Canwest News Europe Correspondent, Canwest News Service: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:02 AM.
"Canada is viewed as the least corrupt country in the Americas and is an "inspiration" for the U.S. and other neighbours in the hemisphere, Transparency International said in its annual report published Tuesday."
"The Berlin-based watchdog ranked Canada eighth globally, in a tie with Australia and the Netherlands, in its index that assesses internal perceptions of corruption in 180 countries."
"In first place was New Zealand while in second last place, just ahead of the failed state of Somalia, was Afghanistan, the largest recipient of Canadian development aid."
"Canada, with a score of 8.7 out of 10, "continues to be among the ten countries with the lowest perceived levels of corruption worldwide, serving as a benchmark and inspiration for the Americas," TI said in its report."
[updated Tue Nov 17 10:09:56 -0500 2009]
17 Nov 10:09
No replies yet. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
brusmit (Suspended)
Don Martin, National Post Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Headline: Liberals immune to flu facts
The observations that Mr. Martin brings forward in today's piece goes directly to the heart of what is wrong with the Liberals and why even with a new COS in the OLO, they are still flipping and flopping around the issues of the day.
"Scare tactics continue as public fears wane"
How Liberal no public policy but there seems to be no end to the fear mongering and lies.
From the piece,
"There's a palpable easing of the public health hysteria that was inflicting so much distress on the government for most of the last month -- although that was clearly news to the Liberals."
It was in all the papers, perchance Mr. Ignatieff new COS missed it while he was busy cutting all these Liberal staffers just before Christmas, what a nice Christmas present from Mr. Ignatieff to his staff.
"The Official Opposition may have been operating under new office management yesterday, but you would never have known it by their same old Question Period fear mongering laced with half-truths, a tactic perhaps more symptomatic of party desperation than anything dramatically new on the health file.
Well, that just about says it all, what is new is old again in a very short time and it only took one day, who would have thought.
From the Piece,
"For starters, they warned, the immunization completion date will be delayed by several months and could extend into February."
"This is patently false -- Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says the program is still on track for completion by Christmas and notes some jurisdictions will be finished their rollout this week -- and it does nothing but heighten anxiety among Canadians and add panic to the lineups of parents seeking to ensure their kids have the shot."
Patently false, what can be more straight forward than that - the Liberals are playing fast and loose with the truth and why does the truth scare the Liberal so much that they need to resort to lies to try and make a point.
From the Piece
"The Liberals also seem to be boosting flu figures for dramatic effect by saying there have been at least 41 deaths in the past week and 190 deaths in total. The latest information on public health agency websites indicate 20 deaths in the last week and 135 in total."
The Liberals are boosting the numbers of how many Canadians have died from H1N1, is the number of these tragic deaths not high enough for Mr. Igantieff and his new COS, that they have to lie about how many have died.
From the Piece
"They also forget to add context to statistics that are obviously tragic for the victims, but hardly worthy of panic in a country where weekly H1N1 deaths are now roughly a third of the average traffic fatality count."
We are back to the point where the Liberals are calling out fire in a crowd room where there is no fire, in the hope of creating panic and fear.
From the Piece
"If H1N1 has "overwhelmed many hospital ICUs," as the Liberals allege, that's news to the media although, to be fair, that could happen if the pandemic worsens."
"And as if to underline that their scare tactics are getting thin, the Liberals say ethnic communities could suffer from health-care ignorance because the federal government has failed to translate vaccine program information into many languages. Local health authorities, of course, handle that kind of targeted communication, and they are quite capable of doing so in many languages."
Straight forward fear mongering by the Liberals in the hope of reviving their faltering numbers among new Canadians, I really cannot see anything more debased than that from the Liberals, but the day is not over yet and QP is no line again today.
From the Piece
"It's time to downplay the spin doctors and concentrate on medical facts as this pandemic reaches what seems to be a weaker-than-predicted peak."
"Prevailing expert opinion is that the odds of dying from this H1N1 bug are the same as any run-of-the-mill flu and may indeed be considerably less by the time the mass immunization is done which, it's safe to predict, will happen earlier than predicted and probably by mid-December."
Mr. Martin`s words are very reasonable and the Liberals should be taking his advice on this and backing off the hype and lies as it does not serve Canada well.
[updated Tue Nov 17 10:52:50 -0500 2009]
17 Nov 10:52
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brusmit (Suspended)
Well, here is today`s newest Conservative scandal unearthed by the ever vigilant Liberal party of Canada and on reflection it is just more of the same nonsense that the Liberals have been parading in front of Canadians for the past year now.
It sounds good on the sound bit`s and the news cycles but it does not stand the smell test, so back to books for Mr. Ignatieff new COS as there is nothing new here.
Campbell Clark. Ottawa — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 10:22PM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 3:03AM EST
Headline: Tory MPs assailed over mailing costs.
From the piece and it is buried deep down in the piece and it is the most telling part of the article and how the Liberals and this writer have chosen to spin this issue.
"All the parties do it, but the Conservatives have taken to it with zeal: Adding up the costs, the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir found that MPs with the minority Conservatives spent $6.3-million on the mailers, while opposition MPs spent $3.8-million."
Now I am not sure what math the Liberals and this writer are using, perhaps it is the new math but my old math says that if there are 144 Conservatives and there are 77 Liberals, that means that there are twice as many Conservatives.
So the $6.3 million spent by the Conservatives is in fact proportionally less than the $3.8 Million that was spent by the Liberals, now my solution to Mr. Ignatieff and his new COS and the Liberal members of house is to force an election and receive more seats, that way they can have more money to spend on the 10% other wise - take a seat and stopm the whine it is getting old.
Good old new Liberal math as the numbers never seem to add up.
From the piece.
"Opposition complains parliamentary privilege is being abused for propaganda purposes."
" The Conservatives have made free mail expensive."
"Reports that Tory MPs ran up $6.3-million in costs last year by mailing out so-called “ten-per-centers” to people outside their ridings have opposition MPs calling for new limits on the free-mail privilege."
"The pamphlets are a parliamentary perk: MPs have free mailing privileges, called franking, that allow them to send information outside their riding. But Conservatives have employed them at twice the rate of other MPs – and used them to take more bare-knuckled political campaigns into opponents' ridings."
“They don't need to use our free franking privileges to carpet-bomb Canada with propaganda. It infuriates me,” New Democrat MP Pat Martin said.
"The dispute is not over the newsletters that MPs send free to their own constituents four times a year. Parliamentarians have another free-mail privilege that allows them to send mailers to a number of households equal to 10 per cent of the households in their own ridings. They can send them anywhere in Canada, as many times as they like, as long as they change them substantially each time. And parties can group batches of MPs together, combining their 10-per-cent numbers, to send bigger m
[updated Tue Nov 17 11:29:56 -0500 2009]
17 Nov 11:29
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brusmit (Suspended)
Well it would appear that H1N1 is no dead on arrival with the Liberals and just look at what they have chosen to hitch their wagon to this time.
CTV - Afghan prisoners were tortured, diplomat says.
"Afghanistan's intelligence service tortured every detainee handed over to them by Canadian soldiers in 2006-2007, a federal official testified today. "
"According to our information, the likelihood is that all the Afghans we handed over were tortured," he said.
"For interrogators in Kandahar, it was standard operating procedure."
CBC - All Afghan detainees likely tortured: diplomat.
"All detainees transferred by Canadians to Afghan prisons were likely tortured by Afghan officials and many of the prisoners were innocent, says a former senior diplomat with Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
"Appearing before a House of Commons committee Wednesday, Richard Colvin blasted the detainees policies of Canada and compared them with the policies of the British and the Netherlands."
Toronto Star - Canada ignored torture warnings: Diplomat.
"A former senior Canadian diplomat in Afghanistan has levelled bombshell allegations suggesting the military knowingly handed detainees to Afghan authorities where they were tortured.
"Richard Colvin, now an intelligence officer at the Canadian embassy in Washington, said Canada took six times as many detainees as coalition partners from Britain and the Netherlands, had no way to track their whereabouts, and ignored warnings they were being tortured with electrical tables, extreme temperatures, knives and sexual abuse."
Global and Mail - Canada handed over innocent Afghans to torture, diplomat tells Commons committee.
"All of the prisoners Canada handed over to Afghanistan's notorious intelligence service in 2006-07 were tortured and many of them were likely innocent, a federal official has testified. "
"Intelligence officer Richard Colvin, a former diplomat in Afghanistan, testified before a special House of Commons committee Wednesday. "
Well this should interesting, no proof and no facts and the Liberal friendly media being unable able to sell "that canadains are dying from H1N1 for the Liberals have now moved on to the next Conservative scandal, one can only wonder what it will be next week.
[updated Wed Nov 18 17:28:54 -0500 2009]
18 Nov 17:28
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Tom Good
FIVE YEAR STUDY blog---the latest one. If you wish to get access, into your favourites enter www.nikonthenumbers.com and enter the blog that way.
[updated Fri Nov 20 22:02:38 -0500 2009]
20 Nov 22:02
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RonaldODowd
Angus Reid and Ipsos Reid Polls: Something Bad For Just About Everyone...
What strikes me in general terms about Angus Reid, Ipsos Reid (and Ekos before them) is that Conservatives continue to have momentum -- but it's faltering. (Mind you, they won't be breaking into tears with a thirteen to fifteen point lead.)
But they do have reason to be worried if their eyes are still on the same ball: that of coming out of the next campaign with a majority Conservative government. I've been carping about this for an eternity and boldly predicted (some would argue foolishly!) quite some time ago that we'll never see the election of a CPC majority. (You will also recall my other gem -- namely, that sooner or later we will find ourselves smack in the middle of an election and that voters will give Michael a mandate to govern. Again, my own view is that people are itching for a majority, and for better or worse, Michael is the only leader that is even remotely perceived as a contender by most people who happen to vote anything other than Conservative. That's why I'm expecting an eventual Liberal majority.)
To my mind, Ekos, Angus Reid and most recently, Ipsos Reid are beginning to show the way. People are parking their votes with a whopping ten percent in the Green column (Angus Reid). Ipsos Reid has the NDP rising by six points while AR has them stable. That has happened to the NDP more times than I can shake a stick at, in the past, but the NDP has never been able in recent polls to make permanent significant headway against the Liberals. That is known as a pure, unadulterated fact!
Once again (and thank the deity for it), Conservatives have missed another open and now rapidly closing window preferring to "bide their time". Big mistake, IMHO.
Meanwhile, over at our bench, Peter has his work cut out for him. We know what we have to do. We've found the common resolve to do it. So let's get to work. Many of you know what direction I think we should head in. But that's not my call, is it...
So stay tuned as we head into spring for the inevitable showdown with this government. A week is indeed a very long time in politics (some longer than others!). But keep the faith, and keep smiling.
Think of it as In The Kitchen With Master Chefs...then enjoy the slicing and dicing as each party manoeuvers to get a significant strategic advantage over the others.
[updated Sat Nov 21 16:55:50 -0500 2009]
21 Nov 16:55
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brusmit (Suspended)
With Mr. Ignatieff at 23% in the polls out come the Liberal knives.
From the Toronto Star. Published On Sun Nov 22 2009, Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
Stéphane Dion's wife shares her disdain for Michael IgnatieffFacebook posting slams his ability to lead party.
Stephane Dion leaves with his wife, Janine Krieber, after speaking to the media following Prime Minister Stephen Harper's federal election announcement in Ottawa, Sept. 7, 2008.
"The outspoken wife of former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion has written a scathing letter in which she questions Michael Ignatieff's ability to lead the party out of its current woes.
In a note published on her Facebook page and subsequently circulated among party members, Janine Krieber wrote Friday that the party was in full collapse and the future appeared bleak.
A fellow university professor, Krieber said party members were duped by Ignatieff and would have recognized his obvious shortcomings if they'd only taken the time to read his academic writings.
She also said the party would pay for refusing to endorse a historic left-wing coalition in an attempt to oust the Conservatives last December.
She writes that her husband was working to rebuild the party after last year's disappointing election result but had those efforts short-circuited by Ignatieff, who first dethroned Dion without a leadership race and then dumped the idea of forming a coalition with the other opposition parties.
"Stéphane was ready to take the time and the shots (against him) in order to rebuild the party," she said. "But they (party members) didn't accept the 26 per cent (of the popular vote in the last election). Now we're at 23."
Sources say Dion, a Montreal MP, was not involved in producing the note and that people in his camp persuaded Krieber, who has never shied away from expressing her opinion, to delete the message Saturday."
[updated Sun Nov 22 09:36:55 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 09:36
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RonaldODowd
Open Season For Comments!
What do you think of CDS Walter Natynczyk's comments that Afghan prisoner transfers were stopped more than once -- contrary to what the government had previously put on the record?
Is it a "bombshell" as claimed on CBC News Network or less than that? Is it still trouble for the Harper government?
NOT RELATED: I can't resist this one. CBC NN is running Orgasm Inc. about the lack of blood flow to the female sex organs. Seesh. They don't need a pill to fix it, she just said. I agree. What don't they just STOP smoking! You would think women would know what that alone does to blood vessels...(But as per usual, I digress.)
[updated Sun Nov 22 22:13:12 -0500 2009]
22 Nov 22:13
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brusmit (Suspended)
Well considering that Liberals are now down another couple of percentages points to 23%, I guess it is time to close the book on H1N1 which was the one / two week wonder that the Liberals were banking on to improve their numbers.
Canadians were never impressed with the Liberal, Media hype on this file and have moved on as they did for the preceeding Chq Gate, the Torch, the 10% and other scandals
This has me wondering, how long the most recent one will last.
It is now into it`s second week and depending on how the committee plays out, it should be interesting to see whether or not the Liberals will get another bump in the wrong direction for attacking the Canadian forces through the Government on this file.
[updated Mon Nov 23 08:29:54 -0500 2009]
23 Nov 08:29
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