The federal Tories and Liberals continue their neck-and-neck race in the latest Nanos tracking poll completed April 9th, 2008.
Of note, NDP support is down five points nationally since February. Support in Ontario for the Liberals is up and support in Ontario for the NDP is down. Regardless of the Dion leadership perception problems, the past few weeks have seen the Grits win the Ontario by-elections, former Ontario NDP leader Bob Rae enter the House and the Lukiwski comments.
For more written analysis…select…read the full piece.
Video of analysis and stats
It’s important to remember, this poll was conducted at a time of media focus on the Lukiwski anti-gay comments made 17 years ago. It’s quite possible that some soft Ontario New Democrats have strategically parked with the Liberals to block the Tories.
Tory support is up in the West - no negative fallout from Lukiwski there. The increase in support may also be part of a post by-election halo effect in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Methodology
Polling between April 4th and April 9th, 2008. (Random Telephone Survey of 827 Canadians, 18 years of age and older). The Nanos Research Survey of 827 Canadians is accurate to within 3.4 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. The subset of committed voters is accurate to within 3.4 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.
Question: For those parties you would consider voting for federally, could you please rank your top two current local preferences? (Committed Voters Only - First Choice)
The numbers in parenthesis denotes the change from the previous Nanos Research Survey completed in February, 2008.
Canada (N=827, MoE ± 3.4%, 19 times out of 20)
- Conservative Party 36% (+5)
- Liberal Party 36% (+3)
- NDP 14% (-5)
- BQ 8% (-2)
- Green Party 6% (-2)
Ontario (N=251, MoE ± 6.3%, 19 times out of 20)
- Liberal Party 50% (+7)
- Conservative Party 32% (+1)
- NDP 13% (-6)
- Green Party 6% (-1)
When one combines the Lukiwski comments, the addition of former Ontario NDP leader Bob Rae to the federal Liberal front bench, the focus on Afghanistan and the Ontario Flaherty-McGuinty flare up - do you think some NDP voters are strategically parking with the Grits to block the Harper Tories?
What do you think?
Cheers,
NJN
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Most Read Comments
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What the polls say and what the electors do in the next election, I believe, is ... more
Tom Good (British Columbia) 11 Apr 04:06
Frankly, I was surprised by these numbers. Some of the polls were showing Harpe... more
Bernie (Ontario) 11 Apr 08:17
This confirms my beliefs that the politics played by Harper and his gang of inco... more
parnel (Ontario) 11 Apr 01:54
"Jesus would be overturning tables.." I would have categorized you as an atheis... more
westerner (Alberta) 11 Apr 18:01
Dion is failing his party as a leader. If he ever becomes PM he will fail the co... more
MRM (Manitoba) 13 Apr 08:53
The "joke" is the once mighty Liberal Party that has now been reduced to a laugh... more
MRM (Manitoba) 13 Apr 11:12
Comments
parnel
This confirms my beliefs that the politics played by Harper and his gang of incompentents are not resonating with Canadians. Many of them are withholding support for Dion due to his negative press.
I also believe that Flaherty's attacks on the Ontario government have backfired in the polls based on the Liberal party growth there and the gains do come from disaffected NDP voters as suggested by Nick. The fact conservative voter intentions are stagnant is telling.
The Conservative "halo" effect out west,particularly in BC, is a result of the close by election in BC which is not reflective of how people will vote in another election when major issues are on the table. The Sask. riding could go either way in the next election.
All in all a good poll for the Liberals and must be disappointing for Harper who is probably preparing his next series of lies in his attack ads.
The green party may also be losing "parked" votes back to the Liberals. .
[updated Fri Apr 11 01:54:34 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 01:54
125 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
hollinm
Take note that the Conservative support has not stagnated as you suggest. It is up 5%.
The people of Ontario will need to make a decision in the next election and that will be do they want a PM with proven abilities or a leader who has not be able to unite his own party and who has abstained and flip flopped on the major issues of the day.
Dion's caricature has been defined by the Conservatives and the media and while the Lib brand is still strong in the GTA and the Maritimes support for the Liberal party is very soft and very soft in deed nationally.
[updated Fri Apr 11 10:24:55 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 10:24
Those attack ads have worked. Not on policies. On personalities. I wrote this a while back but no newspaper would publish the sucker. Hmm. Is it that bad?
It's delivered in two parts. Part 2 to follow.
Is Stephane Dion Getting the “Joe Clark Treatment?” (Part 1)
The Conservatives have vilified Stephane Dion’s leadership for over a year now, everything from repeated and vile attack ads to ongoing, talking point slurs from the chosen few who are allowed to speak to the media. Most pundits in the mainstream media have succumbed to this smear job, even many of Canada’s most seasoned political commentators.
“Not so,” I’m certain their response, “Mr. Dion earned our displeasure.” But let’s look at the facts.
Sure, the Liberals lost Outremont, and another seat on March 17, but by-elections are politically meaningless when the balance of power is not at stake.
In fact, despite negative press and the huge disadvantage of being in opposition and competition for centre-left votes from the NDP, the Green party and the Bloc, Mr. Dion’s Liberals have hung tough with the Conservatives in the polls to this day. Nanos Research, consistently the most accurate political pollster in Canada, has the Liberals in a slight lead!
Yes, Mr. Dion’s English is imperfect and there are about 20 words his speechwriters should never use. But otherwise his English is quite decent.
The media also criticizes Mr. Dion for not bringing down the Harper government. Come on. Four of five Canadians don’t want another election. If the Liberals had caused one last fall based on an innocuous throne speech of all things, or relatively minor bills, the electorate would not have been kind.
Many pundits predicted an election over Afghanistan and/or the recent federal budget. Instead, Mr. Dion has been widely praised (myself excluded) for brokering a deal with the Tories concerning the war mission that nudges us towards more peacekeeping and reconstruction. The Liberals also quite wisely refused to force an election over Mr. Harper’s do-nothing budget.
So, the same pundits with egg all over their face now accuse Mr. Dion of “flip-flopping” and of being a “wimp.” Mr. Dion is not getting the “Joe Clark” treatment quite yet, but it’s surely gotten out of hand. The “wolf pack mentality” has set in.
In Part 2, I argue 5 reasons the MSM is wrong about Mr. Dion.try
[updated Fri Apr 11 13:59:30 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 13:59
Here is why the mainstream media have got it wrong about Mr. Dion.:
1. Restoration of Trust and Unity within the Liberal Party:
Mr. Dion won the Liberal leadership race fair and square, marked by civility and open debate with many excellent candidates. He has since overcome the fractious Martin-Chretien years, drawing all of his former opponents to his team. Despite the odd flare-up in Quebec, he has restored trust and unity within his party, which is surely a remarkable feat and leadership goal number one.
2. The Liberals have Better Policies
Leaders are also only as good as the direction they’re heading. Mr. Dion has it all over Mr. Harper on this count too. Mr. Harper’s singular purpose is to emasculate the federal government except for defence and security, while most Canadians favour the Liberal vision of Canada – an activist government on a whole slew of policy issues, including Afghanistan, the environment, Aboriginal and women’s rights, childcare, fighting poverty, progressive taxation and fair trade.
Mr. Harper’s enthusiastic support for all things American is another clear distinction in Mr. Dion’s favour. No reasonable person still supports the Bush administration’s disastrous wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and on terror generally, further “deep integration” with a sinking ship and so on. With the political demise of Mssrs. Blair and Howard, Mr. Harper is arguably the last Bush poodle.
3. The Liberals Have a Better Team
Good leaders surround themselves with competent people and empower and support their team. Most Canadians surely prefer Michael Ignatief, Bob Rae, Ralph Goodale and the other Liberals, including much higher female representation, over Mr. Harper’s all-male pit bulls and poodles. And the Liberals are free to speak while the Tories, even Ministers, have been muzzled, so much so it seems his PR people are running the country!
4. Mr. Dion’s Leadership Style is in fact Superior
Leaders vary from autocratic to democratic and it is clear to which camp Mr. Harper belongs. He’s an arrogant, dismissive and secretive control freak who doesn’t trust his own team. He has centralized power in his office to ridiculous degrees and, when criticized, he resorts to smear tactics and name-calling.
Mr. Harper’s astounding censorship of the federal bureaucracy is so unbelievable that one wonders what all those communications people are doing these days. I suspect mostly preparing talking points for Ministers in advance of forced disclosures of the embarrassing kind under the Access to Information Act.
Wrong on critical policy issues and unwilling to admit mistakes. Obsessed with control and secrecy. Disrespectful of political opponents and even his own team. Is that leadership or is it dictatorship?
In contrast, Mr. Dion is a proven healer with an empowered team and has a vision most Canadians prefer. When it comes to the human side of leadership, building consensus based on right vs. wrong and making choices to help the disadvantaged the most, Mr. Dion is the clear winner.
5. Women and Ontario Will Vote Liberal, No Matter the Media
Finally, when push comes to shove, it is a given that the 52% of the electorate who happen to be women prefer Mr. Dion over Mr. Harper by a considerable margin. The Liberals’ superior position on issues of war and peace, human rights, representation of women in Parliament and child care will keep that margin wide into the foreseeable future. Women aren’t fond of old boys’ clubs and they don‘t vote for bullies.
For someone who is widely reported as a cunning tactician, Mr. Harper has been unbelievably stupid in his treatment of Ontario (the Maritimes, etc.). Coming up with legislation that shortchanges Ontario by fully ten federal ridings is a gift to the Liberals whenever the next election. And allowing the Finance minister, Jim Flaherty, to run off at the mouth trashing Ontario’s business environment is the height of political folly.
So, Mr. Dion and the Liberals bide their time. The Conservatives are embroiled in an increasing number of scandals that are showing their true colours. The economy is heading south but, because they’ve squandered the budget surplus on useless measures such as the GST cuts and offensive military weapons, the room to take action is limited.
The time for an election is growing on the simple grounds that the Harper government will keep shooting itself in the foot. They’ve only got so many toes.
Now, if only the mainstream media would do their job!
[updated Fri Apr 11 14:01:38 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 14:01
hollinm
Thanks for the propaganda.
I could go through your points and take issue with a lot of them. However, it is not worth it because it achieves nothing.
Dion is not forcing an election because he thinks he can win it.
If he thought he could win it he would have defeated the first budget and we would have had an election. I think Dion and the party knows the shape they are in and are electing to sit things out waiting for winning conditions.
Its interesting that you put forward a thesis which is contrary to all of those people who work on Parliament Hill i.e. the media and other politicians.
If Canadians don't want an election why is that? It would seem to me to be a satisfaction with the status quo.
If the policies of the Harper government were so outrageous as you are quick to point out, Canadians would be demanding an election.
[updated Fri Apr 11 15:10:15 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 15:10
Well then, hollinm, the debate is over. But let me reply to the few points you chose to make.
Mr. Dion knows that 80% of Canadians don't want another election so soon. This is because, other than Afghanistan, Kyoto, Kelowna and a few other Harper negatives, he's actually been a do-nothing PM in the finest Chretien tradition. He's leashed in his extreme RW, although a few appear to have gotten away, of late.
As I challenged you before, which particular Liberal MP has disavowed Mr. Dion? This man has healed the fractious Martin-Chretien years, despite the odd (and relatively minor) flare-ups in Quebec. You say Nanos has the Liberals and Conservatives even at 23%
What I said was that the MSM is patently biased in favour of Mr. Harper, and Canadians still don't buy it. They are the propagandists, not me.
[updated Fri Apr 11 15:32:47 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 15:32
westerner
The MSM is blatantly Liberal or NDP in orientation and are very much anti Conservative. I doubt you could go into journalism today with a known bent to the political right.
[updated Fri Apr 11 16:57:45 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 16:57
In which newspaper? The Torstar. which is even-haned as you can get? On which network.
Look around, my man. The MSM is owned, lock, stock and barrel by, surpise, corporations, aka Big Business.
There have been studies by experts on the run up to the Iraq war. Of all commentators and comments that made the press or airwaves, 99% were in favour of attacking. The same up here.
You don't read or hear the news everyday. It's propaganda. Maybe a bit more subtle than Goebels. But hardly.
[updated Fri Apr 11 17:17:02 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 17:17
westerner
The Red Stars' Susan Delacourt openly admits the Star is a Liberal friendly paper. If you are of a Liberal (left) persuasion I can see how you would see it as "even-handed". Conservatives see the partisan reporting everyday but that is OK because it has declared it' bias, unlike the CBC.
Like I say, we all hear things differently based on our biases.
I am not nearly as skeptical as you. You see many negatives in life.
[updated Fri Apr 11 18:10:51 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 18:10
hollinm
You are absolutely right about the Star. I saw the program where Delacourt clearly admitted they have a Liberal bias. For anybody to say that the Star is even handed is not in touch with the reality of today political environment or chooses to see things differently despite the evidence.
[updated Fri Apr 11 21:02:00 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 21:02
hollinm
You keep repeating the same losing arguments. Nobody believes them. It's time to move on.
[updated Fri Apr 11 18:16:42 EDT 2008]
11 Apr 18:16
parnel
Hollinm, your arguments are equally repetitive and without merit and nobodt believes the things you say and even a poll by the besy National polster out there has you questioning the logic.
Quit drinking the koolaid and come to your senses.......HARPER IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT A SECOND TIME AROUND.
[updated Sat Apr 12 12:43:47 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 12:43
hollinm
I will repeat it for you parnel. Regardless of what you say actions speak louder than words
I repeat:
IF DION THOUGHT HE COULD WIN THE ELECTION TODAY DO YOU THINK HE WOULD STILL BE SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
I don't think so. You can continue to argue until the cows come home about what a great leader Dion is and how the party will be ready when they feel they want to bring down the government but the proof is in the pudding.
[updated Sat Apr 12 21:37:25 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 21:37
parnel
hollinm, maybe you should drink some of this koolaid that much pretty much sums up why I'm a liberal and not a Tory with no vision.
http://www.liberal.ca/story_13794_e.aspx
[updated Sat Apr 12 12:47:10 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 12:47
hollinm
Sorry my spam filter blocked access to the link.
[updated Sat Apr 12 21:41:05 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 21:41
parnel
Hollinm, I wonder if you have read this piece about the dysfunctional stuff going on within your beloved party.
Harper will have them taken out and shot at dawn....LOL
That's one of the reasons the Tories can't grow in the polls...thye keep on screwing up and the Liberals are standing by and laughing all the way to an eventual election with guns loaded.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080411.wverner12/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview
[updated Sat Apr 12 13:00:49 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 13:00
hollinm
I copied and pasted the link but could not find the document.
Oh the Libs are laughing are they? Doesn't look like it when you watch Goodale on TV. He looks like a spastic idiot who can't control his mouth. Pompous ass that's what he is.
I was very disappointed to see Bob Rae, after an absence of almost 30 years in the House, lead off with a smear tactic. He surely is a Liberal now. I was looking for better questions from him.
The Libs are so desperate they are resorting to smears tactics everyday in the House. People like you may love it might the regular folk who care to watch the farse just yawn. What a shame for the once natural governing party of Canada.
Parnel do you not see what is happening here. Harper is stripping away the Liberl brand layer by layer. First it was the budgets, then Kyoto, then crime, then the Quebecois nation declaration, Afghanistan mission, now he is forcing the Libs to support the immigration changes. The latter is the heart of the Liberal party because they bought immigrant votes over the years focusing on family reunification rather than the needs of the country. Layer by layer.
If Dion allows Harper to govern until 2009 there will be nothing left for the Liberals to sell to Canadians because they will stand for nothing.
[updated Sat Apr 12 21:57:51 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 21:57
parnel
So you are telling me Harper is a Liberal now? If that's the case people will elect the real Liberals to ensure social justice and surpluses are maintained
[updated Sat Apr 12 22:11:59 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 22:11
parnel
Senator caught saying Verner hates Bill C-10
GLORIA GALLOWAY
Here's a snippet from the article:
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
April 12, 2008 at 12:54 AM EDT
OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Josée Verner secretly opposes a government bill that Canada's entertainment industry has decried as censorship, says the Conservative chair of the Senate committee that is examining the legislation.
During a break in Senate banking committee hearings on Thursday, Senator David Angus turned to a Conservative colleague and chatted about Bill C-10, which would, among other things, deny tax credits to productions the government deems offensive. The senator didn't realize his microphone was on and the camera running.
[updated Sat Apr 12 22:16:21 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 22:16
hollinm
Oh parnel you are really grabbing at straws now.
It was the Liberal bill from 2001 and was passed recently by the whole House.
Desperation my friend, desperation.
[updated Sat Apr 12 22:48:08 EDT 2008]
12 Apr 22:48
parnel
There's no desperation here except to get rid of these poor economic managers, liars and bribers in a hurry. Dion has a super team of experienced people who know how government works and will not need a kindergarten class.......one that Harper and co. haven't graduated from yet.
For the Liberals to be so close in the polls must be a nightmare scenario for Harper because all he has left now are hight risk projects while we wait for a possible further deterioration of the economy. I'd rather be a liberal that a right wing wacko supporter today.
The Liberals have poliies that once announced, they will own,and no amount of mud slinging and dirty tricks will pry those from the voters intentions and that is what really causes the dirty diapers inside the PMO.
[updated Sun Apr 13 03:44:58 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 03:44
MRM
Parnel. You are right! There is desperation to get rid of these poor econmic managers (liberal Party is broke), liars and bribers (Sponsorship, ShawinaginGate, Brison and Stronach). The problem is that Dion would have no "team" left. In Dion's case though I think no team is better than the one he has.
[updated Sun Apr 13 10:30:01 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 10:30
parnel
We could back to Muldoon's follies if you want to live in the past. I live in the present and this government is full of liars, bribers and an unbelievable amount of incompetence. Dion has purged and reorganized his party. Its called renewal and it's not without pain but its getting done with integrity and honesty.
And not one Liberal MP or senator was ever charged over any of the things you accuse them of. So, it's all in your mind from the brainwashing you get from HQ.
[updated Sun Apr 13 11:06:47 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 11:06
MRM
Who's drinking KoolAid now? If you honestly believe that Dion is a great leader with a brilliant plan and that all of that money went to Liberal Party supporters and the LPC coffers without any elected officials knowing then you are either incredibly naïve or it is you who have been brainwashed. The only thing that will be purged from the LPC soon is Dion and is ever smaller group of followers.
KoolAid, KoolAid tastes great, KoolAid, KoolAid can’t wait!
[updated Sun Apr 13 11:22:03 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 11:22
hollinm
You know Parnel calling people who you do not agree with just shows that you are lost for real arguments.
There is no party who has greater liars and thieves than the Liberal party. So be careful how you refer to others it shows your hypocrisy and that of your favourite party.
Canadians know the difference after adscam.
[updated Sun Apr 13 12:58:28 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 12:58
parnel
Canadians now know that none of their elected Liberal members were responsible but they also know that Harper was seen and heard on a tape giving the ok to bribe Cadman.
I call em as I see 'em;you guys have been calling Dion very similar names and now that the shoe is on the other foot you are suddenly holier than thou.
Canadians know the Harper gang are liars, bribers and thieves and will deal with them appropriately. It will all come out in an election campaign...remember the opposition has the upper hand on scandals in an election. Harper will have it tossed back at him for being unaccountable , a liar on income trusts and an attempted bribe of an MP.
There is more to come but I digress....the Jose Verner affair is the newest peice of stupidity to hit this useless government.
And the Libs are keeping tab.
[updated Sun Apr 13 13:12:29 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 13:12
hollinm
There were no MPs convicted i.e. Alphonso Gagliano because they covered their tracks so well. However, a judge named the Liberal PM, Jean Chretien, as responsible. Canadians believed Judge Gomery and chose to de-elect Paul Martin for that and other shortcomings of the Liberal government.
You can interpret what Harper said on the tape but if you look at the context there are other interpretations that can be made. Instead of being judge, jury and executioneer why don't you let the police determine if there is any wrongdoing. No you want and the rest of the Liberal pack want to be the judge, jury and executioneer for their own partisan purposes.
I have never called Dion a thief, liar, briber and all the other names you call Harper and the Conservative government. It is sad when you can't forcus on the policy differences and discuss them. Oh, I forgot the Liberals have no policies. So there is nothing to discuss.
I have certainly pointed out what I see as shortcomings in Dion's leadership abilities and I believe that is fair comment. After all we are talking about who is best qualified to be the future PM of Canada. In my judgement based on the facts it isn't Dion.
It works both ways. The Conservatives have plenty to use on the Liberals such as sitting on their hands, absenting themselves from critical votes and walking out of the House.
Lack of policies is another issue. Trying to convince people of your policies during the noise of an election is not a winning strategy in my judgement.
You keep pointing out the broken promise on income trusts. I have acknowledged that it was a broken promise. However, if this is the only broken promise you can harp on then Harper is doing pretty well.
The issues that the Cons will use on the Liberals will resonate with people. Talking about faux scandals have not worked thus far and will not work during an election. Too many other issues come up.
The Liberals have still not got it. Trying to attack Harper personally is not the answer. They need to come out with policies that are centrist, not left wing and they need to have a leader who can speak articulately and with some credibility and that is sorrily lacking.
[updated Sun Apr 13 15:12:06 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 15:12
parnel
Covering up your tracks on name calling doesn't cut it with me. you have been umerciful in your attacks on Dion mostly unfounded garbage put out by the Tories and the press who can't get near Harper so they use Dion as their news. His fortunes inside the party are pretty sound and his caucus supports him.
Stop listening to stupid reporters and get some real facts. Iggy has gone out of his way to say he fully supports his leader and so has Rae and others. Kennedy is a strong supporter as well as is Dryden.
My attacks on Harper are pointing out things he lied about, like income trust taxes. He has not kept many promises except the stupid ones like cutting the GST. I personally lost a lot of money due to that stupidity. So do I personally hate Harper? You're damn right I do. So when your pocket book is as affected as mine was tell me you'll write love stories about the gang of incompetents who did it. The bribery story is not going away and your soft peddling of the nuances in that tape are simply astounding particularly after Cadman's family all reported what was offered.
I will defend my support of the Liberals to anyone and the fact is your biased remarks are so slanted as to make you unbelievable.
I didn't start the bad mouthing of the PM, I simply responded to attacks on Dion by you and others which I considered offensive; I was very critical of him for sure and that won't change. In fact my level of attacks on him will only grow as he worsens our economic position and his lies and other stuff gets out in the open. he runs a bad government that is covered up by the secrecy he demands. I think there are lots of scandals under the surface or he wouldn't cloak everything in that secrecy.
His poisonous attitude and attack ad promos are not things I consider as good for Canada and Dion has rightly taken the higher ground there.
[updated Sun Apr 13 15:58:44 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 15:58
parnel
You will also note sooner or later that the Liberals while apparently sitting on their hands have simply been following a strategy of not taking Harper's taunts. They simply won't let him control the election agenda and they will soon choose the issues they will force the Tories to squirm on.
The momentum is changing ever so slightly towards the Liberals as Nick's poll shows and you will see it more pronounced in the near future. There is a plan and it will be acted upon. The policy of not forcing an election will help build their case as a responsible government in waiting.
[updated Sun Apr 13 16:06:02 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 16:06
hollinm
With this post I just about gagged. You really are displaying a sort of zen like blindness to the realties of the real world.
If you have some inside knowledge then perhaps you can share it so I don't feel that you have lost touch with the reality of what's happening to the Liberal party as each day goes by.
[updated Sun Apr 13 23:11:20 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 23:11
hollinm
You stick with your weak, effete leader and I will stick with mine.
Parnel...it is obvious we cannot have a grown up conversation so this will be the last time I will communicate with you until after the next election.
By the way I leave you with one thought and maybe it will sink in:
If Dion thought he could win the election today he would call a vote of non confidence. The other opposition parties are waiting for him to grow some balls.
All the bunk about waiting until the time is right and all that stuff is pure sh.t. An election will be called when he thinks the Liberal party can win and in the meantime Harper will keep pulling the layers of the onion back until such time the Liberals have been stripped of all their principles and will lack any credibility going into the election.
[updated Sun Apr 13 23:08:31 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 23:08
parnel
Keep your wet dreams alive and have a good time.
Your theories are all absolute bunk and you are supporting a party of gigantic economic and social policy incompetence covered up by a shroud of secrecy in the PMO.
Effete as in snob? I love the way some people paraphrase their personal insults. Dio is very personable and likeable in the flesh but has yet to trnaslate that into the sound bite people of lesser intellects like for their political news and education. He will prevail thankfully.
[updated Mon Apr 14 03:50:51 EDT 2008]
14 Apr 03:50
hollinm
"Dio is very personable and likeable in the flesh but has yet to trnaslate that into the sound bite people of lesser intellects like for their political news and education. "
You admit he is a currently a loser and like all the party faithful have this unabiding faith that somehow his personality and his political skills will come to the fore in an election or with time.
You are probably right on a one on one basis he is a nice man but in politics he needs to have the ability to convince the masses that he is capable of being the leader of his party and the next leader of this country. You admit he hasn't done that yet. When parnel, when will he reveal his burning light to we mere mortals?
He is a professor through and through. He is not a natural politician.
[updated Mon Apr 14 08:15:07 EDT 2008]
14 Apr 08:15
I take offense to your name-calling. What do you mean by effete? Too much of his feminine side showing for you? Wimpy? Homosexual?
Of course, maybe you mean Mr. Dion feels and cares too much. Wants to share too much.
[updated Sun Apr 20 16:24:26 EDT 2008]
20 Apr 16:24
MRM
Dysfunctional is just another word for Liberal Party of Canada.
[updated Sun Apr 13 23:58:25 EDT 2008]
13 Apr 23:58
parnel
Dysfunctonal is a good word to describe the current government. Minister Verner has to bring a bill to the house that she detests. Does that fit your use of the word.
Harper is trying to cover up torture abuse by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Harper and co tried to bribe a sitting MP. Are these dysfunctional traits or simply gross incompetence?
You can pound on the LIbs all you want but we are not getting good government and the polls are continuosly indicating that. The Liberals have yet to start a significant move themselves but the fact remains that if Dion is as bad as some so called knowledgeable people are saying the Libs should be back in the pack with the NDP. Guess what? They aren't.
You can massage Harper and his incompetent crew any way you want but the word incompetence continually shows up for this government. Other cover ups that will eventually come out are, I believe, Tory killers.
The Libs are in a rebuilding phase and there will be objections to decisions made by some old guard remnants. The fact they are an open and democratic party possibly lulls some of the die hard Harper supporters, and NDP ones also, into believing there is a schism in the party.
Keep on drinking that koolaid and watch them pass you by.
[updated Mon Apr 14 03:43:48 EDT 2008]
14 Apr 03:43
MRM
Unless you know something that the rest of the world does not, which is highly unlikely, Canadian soldiers are not being accused of torture in Afghanistan. That is why the MP Complaints Commission is out of its jurisdiction. Their mandate is to investigate complaints against the Military Police of which this is not. The government is challenging this on Gen Hillier's request because it sets a bad precedent by allowing the opposition and organizations like Amnesty International to try and backdoor an investigation. It would ultimately go nowhere but would be another smear campaign against the military.
As for the polls the latest Ipsos poll done on 12 Apr shows a CPC lead of 5 points at 35%. The LPC is down 2% and the NDP are up 3%. So the gap is narrowing between the left wing parties. This is pretty good for a ruling minority government and terrible for an opposition. This coupled with the incredibly bad personal numbers for Dion and the riding by riding breakdown will make for a small minority win for the Tories if an election were called today.
[updated Mon Apr 14 07:56:25 EDT 2008]