Home › Leadership Tracking - Harper personal image unt...
Leadership Tracking - Harper personal image untouched by controversy (Analysis with video)
The latest tracking from CPAC and Nanos Research indicates that regardless of recent controversies in the media faced by the Harper government, there has been no impact on the Prime Minister’s personal image. However, an increasing number of Canadians are unsure or select “none of the above” when it comes to chosing the federal leader who is the strongest on trust, competence or vision. Stephen Harper continues to rate strongly on competence.
Select read the full piece to watch the video with the stats and Nik’s analysis.
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
Nik: a "new" electorate appears to be forming with a "major apolitical swing gro... more
Tom Good (British Columbia) 09 May 03:47
Nik's polling shows that Harper (the teflon PM) continues to be consistently per... more
hollinm (Saskatchewan) 09 May 10:21
Nick, some good points there and there are some things the Liberals and others a... more
parnel (Ontario) 09 May 04:40
This was not parnel's comments but somebody on the Globe thread. However, Parnel... more
hollinm (Saskatchewan) 14 May 15:33
parnel...you ar so full of s..t. Who asks the questions day after day in QP abou... more
hollinm (Saskatchewan) 15 May 17:28
So you think Dion is a fair and decent man and by contrast I assume you think Mr... more
hollinm (Saskatchewan) 19 May 00:37
Comments
Tom Good
Nik: a "new" electorate appears to be forming with a "major apolitical swing group" outside the traditional party fold. That group is very fluid. Where they may place their votes possibly will depend upon a political courtship ritual like we have never seen before. It looks like Harper is in the lead but with almost a third of the electorate in the "swinger's" group, that is like trying to hold quick silver in your hands----difficult and dangerous. As you say, to gain the non-committed's attention, it will require a good dose of vision for the future that we have not seen too much of lately with the antics in the House.
[updated Fri May 09 03:47:31 EDT 2008]
09 May 03:47
47 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
parnel
Nick, some good points there and there are some things the Liberals and others are doing to move away from the condemnation approach they have been using which while not being direct hits apparently have stalled his numbers. Harper though, has the advantage of being the PM and should be even more solid in the polls using that office, and he isn't. His numbers have stalled and may even be trending down a little and with the undecideds having more weight than his overall popularity I see great openings for the others to define themselves. The carbon tax shift is probably only one of the initiatives the Lberals will roll out over the summer.
If the Liberals can dent Harper though the overall Tory support will fall like a rock and your poll indicates that vulnerability by the large numbers of undecideds.
[updated Fri May 09 04:40:41 EDT 2008]
09 May 04:40
82 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
westerner (suspended)
The only support that will fall like a rock will be Liberal support on the heels of a proposed carbon tax. Dion wants $2.00 a lt. gasoline--that should be a winner!
[updated Fri May 09 09:17:47 EDT 2008]
09 May 09:17
Georgine
westerner, I'm paying over $1.30 per litre in the Vancouver area already. Campbell's weak carbon tax plan will make little difference to the great scheme of things except for the fact that he is actually making this first step (it's far to low). $2.00 a litre is in all our very near futures no matter what Stephan Dion proposes. Harper has nothing in his bag of tricks to address the hard choices that must be made soon. Even Alberta (65%) agrees that a carbon tax on the worst polluters is a good idea. I expect us to reach close to that magical figure of $2.00 per litre right around Thanksgiving weekend.
" Respondents in every province and age category expressed support for the idea [carbon tax], including oil-rich Alberta where 65 per cent of those surveyed backed the notion.
Support levels grew significantly – to as high as 80 per cent – when respondents were asked a variety of questions about tailoring the tax system to broader environmental causes."
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/422643
[updated Mon May 12 20:42:35 EDT 2008]
12 May 20:42
MRM
Georgine - I know the poll that you refer to and the numbers are accurate. That said, I doubt that if the average Canadian were to see the actual costs that they would be so eager to opt for a carbon tax. Any tax will be passed on to consumers regardless of their income bracket and would hurt those who can least afford it the most. This would be passed along not only through a direct increase in gas to consumers but also to our non energy producing industries. It will in turn raise their costs and the associated loss in jobs and higher costs for goods will further harm those who can least afford it. I think that a better solution is tougher legislation on emmissions that are strictly enforced with substantial penalties for those who fail to follow them.
[updated Mon May 12 21:08:03 EDT 2008]
12 May 21:08
parnel
Tougher legislation with government goons running around to do smell tests. That's really brilliant thinking...add more overhead to government with virtually no return
[updated Mon May 12 21:55:18 EDT 2008]
12 May 21:55
MRM
The return is that everyone pays less tax and keeps their jobs. Not that a Liberals would care about that.
Did you check with Tom before you sent this to make sure that this is actually your opinion?
[updated Tue May 13 01:04:52 EDT 2008]
13 May 01:04
Georgine
MRM, we are already paying higher prices for food and gas and products. We are the consumers and never have what we paid out ever dropped. The only interesting thing to have happen in a while was that when we buy a book now, the price is at "par" to the US. For once they are paying more, while we pay the same.
The problem is and I believe that Dion understand this far more deeply than the Soup Nazi (Gordo Campbell in BC) does, that a carbon tax can work if it's applied properly. It is not a simple: tax the big polluters and the world is saved. There is more to it than that.
If we continue with the status quo we will continue to shed good paying jobs. We will replace them with poorly paying service sector jobs. But that just the beginning of the slide. I'd rather start thinking about how to stop the inevitable slide by encouraging eco-friendly technologies, renewable energy development, research and education to help people and business make the right choices with what we have available now. It has to looked at as a long time, life time commitment.
From the same Toronto Star article:
"Three provincial governments, in B.C., Quebec and Manitoba, have introduced carbon taxes and none appear to have suffered any negative political consequences.
In Ottawa, all major federal parties have expressed varying degrees of support for a price on carbon emissions.
Even the most hesitant among them – the Conservatives – are promising to slap penalties on companies that fail to meet government-set emission targets.
The federal government's own National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy has urged the government to adopt a carbon tax. It says the measure would slice greenhouse gas emissions in half by mid-century and have a negligible impact on the economy.
The body is run by headed by the former chief of staff to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, David McLaughlin, and includes prominent environmental economist Mark Jaccard.
Environment Minister John Baird dismissed the NRTEE proposal, saying it sounded like a "Liberal idea."
What are the CONs afraid of? What is it in Dion and the Liberals that cause such fear?
[updated Tue May 13 03:15:01 EDT 2008]
13 May 03:15
parnel
Georgine, The fear instilled in Tories is one where they know they cannot really cave in on the envirionment issue because they never really subscribed to GHG warming and acted like most good conservatives do. They simply deny it exists and then give it some token address to make it seem like there is an interest in the subject. Intellectual dishonesty is the fact here.
The fact someone above suggested there be air monitor police set up is absloutely ludicrous and could only be thought up by a tory in denial. They cannot understand the ground is shifting beneath them in terms of the environment. The immediate attack on dions sauggested plan that has not yet been finalized is proof positive of their fears. Dion will have refined Campbell's plan into something that makes imminent sense byt he tme he formally unveils it in June. In the meantime he is at least out getting suggestions and proposals from interested parties and unlike the Tories will not try and ram something down out throats to suit a particulaly narrow base of support.
You must remember one thing. Tories of the ilk like harper do not govern for the people but for a very narrow right wing audience. They will smear lipstick over everything else to give it that fresh looking perspective but in the end they are simply populist idealogues who will leave us in serious debt and fully frustrated over their type of government .
[updated Tue May 13 06:06:43 EDT 2008]
13 May 06:06
MRM
Parnel - Ludicrous you say! There already are "air monitor police", they are called called Environment Canada Inspectors. Put in place by the ludicrous Liberals I believe? The "deny it exists" line is old and tired and mainstream Canadians know that it is not true so find some new stuff, this crap is not working anymore, which is why the Liberals are so low in the polls. The rest of your rambling rant is typical left wing gibberish and not worthy of further comment.
[updated Tue May 13 09:15:08 EDT 2008]
13 May 09:15
MRM
Georgine – The notion that because we are already paying more for goods and services that it makes it OK to pay more is not one I can agree with. Particularly when it hurts those on the lower income end the most. While the article you quote states that the tax introduced in BC, Man and Que have had no negative political effects, they were all introduced only this year so it is a bit to early to gauge the effects on the electorate at this point. As for the effects on the economy, there are plenty off studies out to show that the effects will be far more than “negligible”. I agree with the Feds approach of placing penalties on companies that fail to meet government set emission targets rather than a tax on all consumers. I also agree with your views on the need to develop new technologies and renewable resources, I think we only disagree on how to go about it?
Not sure why you place so much confidence in Dion. In my view he is a proven failure. As Environment Minister he had plenty of opportunity to address the issue and did nothing. He signed the incredibly bad Kyoto Treaty and thankfully failed to implement it. Beyond naming his dog Kyoto he has done little else for the environment.
[updated Tue May 13 09:32:41 EDT 2008]
13 May 09:32
Georgine
Dion rather than Harper?
Insomuch as I do not vote for either of them but rather for the MP in my riding:
Edmund Burke:
"We must all obey the great law of change," he wrote. "It is the most powerful law of nature, and the means perhaps of its conservation. All we can do, and that human wisdom can do, is to provide that the change shall proceed by insensible degrees."
as quoted by Tom Flanagan on Incrementalism
"...the change shall proceed by insensible degrees". Part of the noble lie. Part of the great disrepect that Harper holds for Canada as she is and all her people as they are.
Geo
[updated Wed May 14 13:51:14 EDT 2008]
14 May 13:51
parnel
Georgine....Harper is THE lie, the big one at that
[updated Wed May 14 19:17:58 EDT 2008]
14 May 19:17
MRM
Interesting response? Off topic but interesting none the less.
[updated Sat May 17 02:28:39 EDT 2008]
17 May 02:28
Georgine
Not off topic at all MRM. Have you read Tom Flanagan's book yet?
Are you at all familiar with the philosophies of the Calgary School?
It's the long weekend, Queen Vicky's B' Day. The traditional day of jacking gas prices up for summer no matter what a barrel of oil is going for. I say (again) it will hit $2 a litre by Thanksgiving. Dion will have nothing to do with it. Roughly 1/3 of the price we pay is is taxes. One level of gov or another could give some up, but none of them want to without a higher level of gov giving them something in return. Oh yeah, Harper was going to cut some slack when gas hit .85. Then he reneged on that pre-election promise, remember? We were just going to have to get used to higher prices is all. That was soon after he and Flaherty pulled off the IT massacre after promising that he would never, NEVER, touch seniors, hard earned savings. You do remember that one too don't you? But I digress.
It is easy to do. Digress I mean. You and the others that are so tickled that Harper has scored in the 30's in trust, and stuff should really step back and think about it a little bit. Say there is a general election this fall. A reasonable supposition. A second minority government for the Cons is a real possibility. A minority for the Libs is also a very real possibility.
Harper has laid on some unattractive baggage and his cabinate and caucus has not exactly helped either. Baird, Flaherty, Lunn, TTTony, Fortier, Pollievre, Emerson, Blackburn, Finley and the backroom gang. On the other hand the Libs do not have the most charismatic leader with faults of his own. Little real baggage, little in a real track record except what the Cons have bestowed on him. Untried team, maybe too many chefs stirring the pot. They may not all play nice.
But the way the game is played, Harper has only one more kick at the can. He's lost one election already. The one where Tom Cadman would not sell his vote. The party may not feel Steve's the man if he does not bring home a majority. I see knives already coming out of their sheaths. Dion on the other hand has not had his first election. He is allowed two.
So rather than losing yourselves in 30%'rs, you should maybe think about the future through the lens of the recent past. It is not rosey at all.
I wonder how that private investigation company is coming along with the NAFTA bull$hit presidential primary interferrence thing.
[updated Sat May 17 05:34:58 EDT 2008]
17 May 05:34
MRM
Georgine – I am quite familiar with the Calgary School and in particular Tom Flanagan’s work. I say that this is off topic because it has nothing to do with whether a carbon tax is a good thing or not which is what I thought we were debating but now you are all over the map and into virtually every topic relating to the current political scene in Canada so I will address each topic that you raise:
You are correct about the VDay weekend. Dion will have little to do with the increase in gas prices but neither will the PM. In fact it was the Liberals that have allowed the oil companies to engage in this practice unchecked for decades so to blame the Tories for this practice now is unfair and disingenuous. You overstate the current amount of gas tax levied. While amounts collected vary by prov, the avg is 12.25 cents per litre. The feds levy a further 10 cents per litre. There are further municipal levies in the cities of Montreal and Vancouver of four and 1.5 cents per litre respectively as well as the recently announced prov carbon taxes that are not factored into these figures. This makes the actual amount of taxes levied at about half of what you state or about 1/6th, not 1/3 of the avg national cost per litre of $1.30. It is important to note that this is the lowest level of gas taxation in the industrialized world.
Here is where I get confused on the point you are trying to make? Are we debating whether or not gas prices are too high or over taxed at the moment or are we debating whether a carbon tax will add to those costs? On one hand you advocated that the two levels of government lower gas taxes and then you advocate Dion’s plan which will increase taxes? So you seem to be arguing against your self? The taxes currently levied pay for programs and services. If current gas taxes are lowered there will be a negligible effect at the pump (pennies per litre) and the money will need to be raised somewhere else or the programs cut so I’m not sure if you have thought your position through to it’s logical conclusion? Once again, regardless of the current situation this is not substantiation for further taxes, particularly on those who can least afford to pay them.
On the issue of Income Trusts, I agree that this was clearly a broken campaign promise. That said it was one that needed to be broken and I commend the gov for having the courage to do the right thing as opposed to the most politically expedient thing as the Liberals would have surely done. The tax loophole of Income trusts was allowing corporations to avoid paying taxes thereby increasing taxes for working Canadians. The situation was getting out of control and had the real potential to do serious harm to the treasury. Again the Liberals have wanted and tried to fix this problem in the past, most recently under Martin when Goodale was FM but did not have the courage to see it through and rescinded the changes.
On poll numbers, no one is “tickled” as you put it about numbers in the 30s but when we constantly get bombarded with how well Dion is doing when he is in the mid teens one cannot help but point out the lack of logic in this position. I can get into the long and distinguished list of “unattractive baggage” that the Liberals have accumulated if you like but it has all been said before. You are quick to forget the Liberal record and in particular Dion’s record. Specifically on the Cadman issue as of yesterday we now know that it all amounts to nothing and the RCMP have found no evidence of wrong doing and have exonerated those wrongly accused and ended the investigation.
I will remind you that Harper has not lost an election, that is why we call him PM Harper today and if you think that Rae and Iggy are going to give Dion two chances at an election I have some land in Florida you might be interested in?
Lastly, not sure where the NAFTA leak investigation is but I am willing to bet that it will turn out to be a liberally appointed bureaucrat who leaked the info in an attempt to embarrass the gov.
[updated Sat May 17 09:46:37 EDT 2008]
17 May 09:46
parnel
How Tory of you to make those answers so impartial. All idiot talk and fantasy island stuff.
Dion has not lost an election either.
Income trusts for one needed to be changed but old ones should have been grandfathered....even the midget FM knows that now and is looking for a way to back out of that. The ret of your stuff is simply too dumb for me to respond to.
[updated Mon May 19 03:11:21 EDT 2008]
19 May 03:11
MRM
parnel – Maybe you should actually read the post that I was responding to before wading in and looking like a moron again. Better yet maybe you should get someone to read them to you and explain what they mean? Then the "ret" of my "stuff" would not be so over your head and you could offer one of your famous left wing ideological, factually challenged, incoherent rants for our reading pleasure? I am sure that I am not the only one who enjoys the comedic relief. By the way, I never said that I was impartial nor that Dion has lost an election but I am glad that you agree with me and disagree with Georgine that Harper has not done so either. Thanks for the support.
[updated Mon May 19 09:13:31 EDT 2008]
19 May 09:13
parnel
Maybe you should offer to be Bernier's speech writer as he's about to get dumped for saying things that bother the Fuhrer.
Another Quebecer who can't cut in it Harper's Censorship prison. His girl friend was hot though.
Harper has lost an election but not as PM. And you have never won anything. He's also never had a regular job in his life so he'll need the pension when he loses the next election.
[updated Mon May 19 14:03:26 EDT 2008]
19 May 14:03
MRM
Like I said, good comic relief. We'll call you the Blog Jester from now on.
[updated Tue May 20 01:33:42 EDT 2008]
20 May 01:33
hollinm
Only the feckless leader of the Liberal Party would decide that campaigning on raising taxes is a winning strategy.
Harper will tear the carbon tax proposal to pieces arguing that there will be no tax shift for the poor and working poor because they pay little if no tax.
As well, reports suggest a reduction in taxes, both corporate and personal, of 10%. So the cost of living of all Canadians will go up say 30% as the carbon tax bites into all sectors of the economy and they can look forward to maybe a 5% reduction in taxes (5/personal, 5/corproate). Doesn't sound like much to me and Canadians will not buy the proposal.
One other point if carbon is priced high enough and it must be to effect change by companies and the public what happens when behaviour modificiaton kicks in and carbon tax revenue begins to decline. We all know taxes will be increased so that Liberals can continue to fund their pet projects.
Parnel will never give Harper any credit but the fact is Canadians are not buying into Dion and in an election Harper will show he is the better candidate to manage the country in the future.
[updated Fri May 09 09:58:13 EDT 2008]
09 May 09:58
parnel
Well Hollimn I'm prepared to let the people decide. A bunch of red neck tories will not dissuade me or the Liberals from going forward. Keep on trying.....putting lipstick on harper is a nice trick but if Dion is so weak and harper so good why isn't he running away with things? Simple question
[updated Fri May 09 10:09:02 EDT 2008]
09 May 10:09
westerner (suspended)
Harper IS "running away with things"! First in Vision, first in Trustworthiness, first in Competence. Not bad given the Liberal slander tactics.
[updated Fri May 09 10:38:38 EDT 2008]
09 May 10:38
hollinm
parnel...the opposite could be said as well. If Dion is so popular and Harper so disliked why isn't Dion kicking Harper's ass. We both know why.
Support for the opposition parties has declined which shows that Canadians are not buying what the opposition parties are trying to sell. This should be a real message to the Liberals. However, they are such hypocrits and arrogant that they will continue on their path to destruction in the next election.
I will also let the people decide. However, I would rather be in our position going into the next election than your party is today.
[updated Fri May 09 11:16:42 EDT 2008]
09 May 11:16
MRM
Parnel - To bad Dion did not agree with you and let the people decide!
[updated Fri May 09 19:03:58 EDT 2008]
09 May 19:03
hollinm
parnel you have once again spouted the Liberal line.
What this poll is saying is that Harper's support is rock solid. It is the opposition leaders and particularly the Liberals who need to be concerned. Those people polled have chosen to take their support from the opposition parties and park it in the undecided category for a reason.
This should be a message to the Liberals. If you continue with the attacks and suggesting everything is a scandal, continue to abstain on voting in the House on serious matters and until you get a more credible leader we are moving away from supporting you.
With the musings about a carbon tax Dion has opened up the party to attacks from the Conservatives and the NDP. How will dramatically increasing the cost of living for seniors, poor and working poor who pay very little in income tax help make their lives better.
Talking about it being revenue neutral is not a winning strategy from Liberals who Canadians no longer trust given the penchant for higher taxes and wasteful government spending.
[updated Fri May 09 10:38:11 EDT 2008]
09 May 10:38
parnel
How you can say that Harper's numbers are rock solid tells me you can't read. He hasn't destroyed Dion and Dion has other agendas than to be popular right now. Soft support is what I call harper's numbers when undecideds are higher than a PM who has all deck supposedly stacked on his side. There's no love in there and he not is polling like a popular incumbent.....that would take north of 55% to be dangerous for the LIbs.
[updated Fri May 09 12:30:47 EDT 2008]
09 May 12:30
hollinm
parnel...look at the numbers again. Harper's numbers haven't changed but poor Dion his numbers keep going south. You can delude yourself into thinking you guys have momentum but it is a desperate thinking.
Send Dion across the country this summer and you will find out how Canadians really feel about him. When you talk about sending him across the country it will be to the GTA and Maritimes. Nobody else will listen to him.
[updated Fri May 09 12:53:30 EDT 2008]
09 May 12:53
parnel
Hollimn, Dion's numbers have not gone south but are stable and that's good in my opinion. The Harris poll on the same day as Nick's said much the same thing but had Dion as much more liked than Harper but still considered the weaker leader. If he manages to change the "weak" issue and he will then his numbers should soar.
The likeability thing has been something he's worked at in his small gatherings and he is developing a style that will be PM material.
Sticking to basics early will help him later.
[updated Sat May 10 08:28:35 EDT 2008]
10 May 08:28
hollinm
I thought you were only interested in Nik's numbers. You kept saying any time I mentioned a different poll that it was only Nik's numbers that you paid attention to.
Decima polls always has the Cons low no matter what issue they are polling on.
However, the bottom line is the Cons and Harper are consistently seen to be the choice of most Canadians. Dion is way below.
Another poll this morning suggests that 43% of the public trusts the Harper government on the economy. Only 23% trust the Liberals and Dion.
Canadians aren't looking for a nice guy to run the country. While it may be an added bonus they want somebody who works for the whole country and is a capable leader. Your leader fails on all of those measurements. Once again refer to Nik's latest poll.
How will Dion change his personality? What you see is what you get. We all can be great in a small group but that isn't what PM's do. They are suppose to be able to talk to the country and more importantly be able to convince the country that they are what the country is looking for. Writing long winded columns in the papers is not real leadership.
Have you watched Dion make a speech to a large gathering. If we are not asleep we are walking out of the room. This man does not have the ability to inspire anything including his dog Kyoto.
[updated Sat May 10 11:04:59 EDT 2008]
10 May 11:04
parnel
Hollinm...go back to the polls just before the 2006 election and the reverse was true on the economic confidence. In good times it is easy to project confidence. We are on a very short string to a recession and a deficit both of which will spiral Harper's confidence level south. That's all it takes.
In fact Harper's government has not been good economically. He screwed up the income trust file with his lies and in the opinion of several good economists and the finance mandarins he cost the treasury a lot of money and the taxpayers got screwed. He increased the income tax then cut it back to where it was;that's stupidity. His GST cuts are going to probably drive us into a deficit when serious income tax cuts would have been much better and much more effective for the economy.
Flaherrty's attack on Ontario,Harper's attack and fight with the provinces on Equalization... all dumb moves for nothing.
These will be brought out in due time in highly publicized Liberal ads
[updated Sun May 11 13:12:36 EDT 2008]
11 May 13:12
hollinm
parnel you are really going to have to find different arguments. These are getting tiresome. I know the more you say it I guess you feel it will help convince you that you are right.
You ignored the lastest poll which shows that 43% of Canadians believe the Conservatives are the best ones to handle the economy while only 23% believe that the Libs are. Read it and weep.
Once again you are wishing a recession on Canada in order to score partisan points. The economy continues to do fine with the exception of exports. No policy will solve that unless we begin sending 85% of our goods to some other country enjoying better economic times.
Tax cuts are tax cuts parnel and you can argue one type of tax cut is better than another . However, if you guys ever get back into office then you can show how committed the Liberals are to tax cuts.
Libs love those big surpluses because they can hide them in foundations etc and then spend the money on their pet projects which ultimately fail.
Ultimately Flaherty will be shown to be right. The table has been set and if Ontario goes into a recession McGuinty will have to explain what he did to generate jobs and bring new industry to the province.
I would remind you that only one province is upset over equalization and that is Nfld. However, now that Danny Williams is managing a have province the argument is a mute point. So bring on the ads.
You say people got screwed with the income trust decision. I acknowledge that happened but lets remember there was a four year grace period and the income trust market has improved since the announcement a year ago. We were one of the only countries that allowed the perverted income trust product and now it is over. The American investors will have to find another investment vehicle.
[updated Sun May 11 16:50:54 EDT 2008]
11 May 16:50
parnel
So hollinm please read the latest poll results from today's G&M and see if I'm still wrong about my theories.
The Country is in major distrust mode of the Tory agenda or lack of one.
I am plagarizing here and freely admit it but this guy says it all in a blog on the G&M poll article in today's on line edition.
---------------------------
"Oh please. Harper has by now established himself as a devious control freak with a stiff pole up his rectum, surrounded by terrified sock puppets. They spent the first two thirds of their stint in government whining constantly about the Liberals. They have spent the latter third trying to look as if they've never heard of Brian Mulroney. They unleashed that Hillier maniac who promptly took the casualty rate in Afghanistan from one death every six months to one every two weeks. Their communications strategy consists of posting talking points on the party website for their minions to regurgitate on radio talk shows or newspaper online comments columns. Their environmental policy is based on a visceral hatred of the environment because it stands in the way of oil profits. Their Quebec strategy consists of laughing at Dion's French accent. Their Foreign Affairs minister proudly refers to a biker lady as his "spouse", and can't even succeed in getting the illiterate drug-dealing swine governor of Kandahar fired. Their Finance minister deftly manages to piss off investors, and the province of Ontario. Their minister of Public Safety believes the Earth is 6000 years old, and can only be controlled by stomping firmly on his foot every time he is about to open his mouth.
Frankly, and speaking as someone who is not particularly enamoured of the Liberals, I don't blame them for just sitting and waiting. It can only get better."
[updated Wed May 14 04:45:56 EDT 2008]
14 May 04:45
hollinm
Somehow after reading the Globe report I thought I would hear from you.
I thought Nik was the most reliable source for your polling results. Oh I forgot as long as he confirms what you are thinking. Then you will take the results of any other poll.
Needless to say I don't agree with the comment you quoted. You and whoever wrote it are entitled to your opinions and the ony poll that counts is the one on election day.
[updated Wed May 14 13:47:33 EDT 2008]
14 May 13:47
Georgine
Oh come on hollinm, you have to admit there is a lot of truth in what parnel posted. Especially the bit about Day!
I will now open the GlowBall and read it all for myself.
Geo
[updated Wed May 14 14:09:05 EDT 2008]
14 May 14:09
hollinm
This was not parnel's comments but somebody on the Globe thread. However, Parnel raves about so many things trying to convince himself that the Liberals will win the next election it is hard to keep track of his rantings.
Sounds like you may be one of those kool-aid drinking Liberals with rose coloured glasses on as well who is dreaming of a Liberal win in the next election.
[updated Wed May 14 15:33:05 EDT 2008]
14 May 15:33
parnel
Our dream is becoming your nightmare Hollinm
I will leae you to fret over Dion for the enxt week or so while I bask in the real civilization of Italy.
[updated Wed May 14 19:19:40 EDT 2008]
14 May 19:19
Georgine
Yes hollinm, it was parnel's posting, where he admits to freely plagarizing a blog on the G&M poll article in today's on line edition, of the G&M.
And no, I am not a liberal, but more importantly I am not a CON. I have met and spoken with Dion once for a short time, listened to him more often and I can swear with all honesty he is not the boogy man that the CON koolaide drinkers (the left coined that term you know... the blue koolaide) make him out to be. His english is fine and his french is delightful. He is a fascinating speaker, his eyes actually sparkle, and his sincerity comes thru. He has some interesting ideas. Not at all what I got from Steve. And Steve has no good ideas.
And the other hand, Harper has not kept many of his promises. Be it the most important ones of honest, transparency and ethically. He came out with a platform of five things. But they were not the five most important things that Canada wanted fixed. Sure, all needed fixing be it crime or wait times or child care or whatever. He did not even meet those five.
Nothing on Kyoto. Canadians want Kyoto, poor Rona, hung out to dry like that, that was cruel wasn't it. His accountablity act is a joke, only partially accomplished and they still break those rules too. Now we are being treated to libel chill on the Hill...say what? And now Harper doesn't want to try for the Security Council seat against Portugal because he is afraid he'll lose. Because we are not a world leader the way he makes us out to be. He has sullied our reputation 'round the world. The list goes on and on.
No, I'm not a lib, but I am amazed that anyone can be a Harper Party apologist? I simply do not understand it at all. But I do crack up when he referrs to Dion's libs as that government or his government. They are not, they are the loyal opposition. But Harper regularly does it. He still has an opposition mind set and he can't get past it.
[updated Thu May 15 04:37:05 EDT 2008]
15 May 04:37
hollinm
I could go through and deconstruct your comments because they are full of misrepresentations and fabrications.
However, you can vote for Dion and watch his eyes sparkle as he rapes and pillages the economy for his envirofacist platform. Fortunately for most Canadians they will not buy the smoke and mirrors.
Obviously you belief all the propaganda in the newspapers.
The trouble is for people like you, you know Harper is a formidable foe and so you attack him.
Nik's last poll on vision, trustworthiness and competence suggests you are not in sinc with the population.
[updated Thu May 15 04:49:24 EDT 2008]
15 May 04:49
hollinm
I could go through and deconstruct your comments because they are full of misrepresentations and fabrications.
However, you can vote for Dion and watch his eyes sparkle as he rapes and pillages the economy for his envirofacist platform. Fortunately for most Canadians they will not buy the smoke and mirrors.
Obviously you belief all the propaganda in the newspapers.
The trouble is for people like you, you know Harper is a formidable foe and so you attack him.
Nik's last poll on vision, trustworthiness and competence suggests you are not in sinc with the population.
[updated Thu May 15 04:49:26 EDT 2008]
15 May 04:49
Georgine
hollinm, I suspect you enjoy deconstructing people's comments. You say my comments are full of misrepresentations and fabrications! Please expand and give me some of SH's explainations of things in return. I probably read exactly the same newspapers, blogs, watch the same tv stations, as you do. I may even read a few more. Blogging Tories can be quite funny for all they are very very young for the most part. Difficult to actually have a conversation on SDA tho.
Dion is going to rape and pillage for his envirofacist platform? Please, tell me more. I've not heard any of it yet. Not even in the papers. Not on the liberal site. I know they don't like to release details because the CONs have ripped off lib stuff in the past and just renamed it and called it their own. But maybe I don't read the same ones you do. Can you give me a link?
Ummm... Harper a formidable foe? I didn't know he was supposed to be one. I thought he was my PM. I thought he was PM for all Canadians. I don't have to like him. I don't have to like his policies or his ideology. It was my responsibility to learn as much as I could about him. His past experience prior to becoming PM. Little life experience really. His policies at the NCC. His falling out with Manning. How he was a liberal in his youth. The Calgary School. His spiritual awaking and how he deals with it now. His temper, his ego, his vanity. His willingness to lead a party that was born out of a broken promise. That says a lot about a man in my books.
Hollinm, why do I all of a sudden feel that you are very young? You flail about so quickly. That must be it. Are you from Alberta? I have found that people from Alberta are rather more angry than the RoC.
Nic is head and shoulders by far the finest at what he does. But that said, a poll is still just a snap shot of a moment in time. Which is why Nic very wisely lets at least a couple of weeks go by between polls and very carefully frames the questions asked. Few are near so sophisticated or trusted than Nic of the Numbers and how he translates his findings. Thank you Nic! But that does not mean that I must take his findings as a gospel of truth every time.
What is your greatest fear if the CPC does not get another minority? What if they drop to opposition status? Really, what terrible thing is going to happen. We may have to collectively grow up and take some personal responsibility for our immediate environment? A lot of people are willing to do that. They would like to see the big polluters do too. It will take some time to replace the blown billions that Flaherty tossed this way and that so irresponsibly. There is no money for much of anything right away. And Harper Co. is promising dollars for years down the road. That is irresponsible. But no untendered deals to buddies might be a start. And not suing everyone in sight might be another one. Lawyers make enough money as it is. What do you suppose Harper's lawyer is getting as a retainer? You could make an FOI request but after a year all you would get is a blacked out sheet of paper.
Did you notice hollinm, the big defence announcement? Besides the fact that Harper always has to make the announcements himself and the minister of whatever file, MacKay in this instance, stands to the side while the boss takes the shine. Did you notice that all this big "blow'em up real good" stuff has no price tag, just a vague timeline of twenty years. Hell, half of this stuff will be obsolete in 20 years. He said he wants to expand to 70,000 regular force and 30,000 reserve force. What have we got now? A sec while I check: 62,000 regular, 25,000 reserve plus 4,000 Rangers. His new numbers don't jibe with the DND page by the way. But why all the whining and winching to get those extra 1000 US troops? Why the faked out Manly report? Why not just come clean instead of all this mystery and bull??
Well, there is always conscription. That worked so well for Borden. Or maybe a couple of years mandatory military service, like the Israelis, or the Danes.
On rereading your comment to me this makes even less sense than before, please explain? "The trouble is for people like you, you know Harper is a formidable foe and so you attack him."
Not so much the formidable foe, that's silly in itself, but "the trouble with people like me..." this is what I'd like you to explain please. What about people like me? He's my PM, head public servant who works for me. We have a signed contract but it's coming up for review and folks are not so pleased with his overall performance. Close to 70% are not pleased with one thing or another. I told you I am not a Lib, just that I met Dion and was more impressed with him face to face than with Steve face to face, is all. At least Dion also has a sense of humour.
So tell me about people like me and why I'm out of sync with about 30% of the population. Geo
[updated Thu May 15 17:47:38 EDT 2008]
15 May 17:47
hollinm
Your whole previous thread was a partisan diatribe misrepresenting the government's position.
While Harper may be your PM it is in name only because you really don't think so because his views are not shared by you. There is nothing he could say or do that would win your support.
We will see if 70% of the people oppose Harper in the next election.
Glad you were impressed with Dion then you will want to change from the NDP or Bloc in the next election to support him.
The defence strategy was simply a vision of the future under a Harper government. The meat will come in due course.The peaceniks will never accept it but if we are to be a player in the world we need to come to the party with something. Rusted out equipment will not win us many friends.
If you want to embrace Dion's vision of a carbon tax you are free to do so. However, most Canadians will see it as more taxes which will destroy the economy, cost jobs and destroy the current standard of living for middle to poor income Canadians. Revenue neutral is just political rhetoric. If you want to believe the Liberals that's fine. We probably will meet at the front of the unemployment line.
If people are so dissatisfied with the government then why are Canadians not writing letters to the editor demanding an election. Why is that the Liberals, who have control of confidence votes, don't bring down the government? They know, from internal polling, they can't win.
Why is it in Nik's last poll Harper beats the other leaders on a two one basis for vision, competence and trustworthiness?
Do I believe that the Harper has not made mistakes. No. However, I would much rather have him than the corrupt Liberal Party who was found guilty of stealing taxpayers money.
[updated Thu May 15 21:42:17 EDT 2008]
15 May 21:42
MRM
hollinm. Looks like we have another closet liberal? They all start by saying that they are not liberals and then drone on about how great the LPC is and what a great leader Dion is. Why won't any of them admit that they are liberals? I was going to say that there was no shame in that but of course that is not quite true.
[updated Sat May 17 02:34:50 EDT 2008]
17 May 02:34
hollinm
I thought the same thing when I first got the thread,
He/she sure knows a lot about what they don't like about Stephen Harper but finds Dion's eyes sparkle when he talks to you.
Give me a break.
Now that the Cadman affair has been deep sixed by the RCMP will the Liberals have any class and back off the accusations in the House? I doubt it.
LeBlance said on Newman yesterday the RCMP found "insufficient evidence" when in fact their statement said "no evidence".
I still suspect they will continue to ask questions in the House because outside the House they will get sued. According to Poilievre the lawsuit against the Liberal party is still a go.
The Liberals keep asking Harper to explain. Why would he? That just keeps the story alive and further dissection of what he meant etc. It would be a no win. He may have to explain when he is deposed for the lawsuit but that's a different issue.
[updated Sat May 17 09:40:51 EDT 2008]
17 May 09:40
MRM
hollinm - I agree, well put. It will be interesting to see how the Liberals handle the lawsuit now. I suspect that they will be forced into removing the website content and making a public appology. If not they face a very costly lawsuit followed by an even costlier settlement. Neither of which they can afford at the moment.
[updated Sat May 17 09:56:11 EDT 2008]
17 May 09:56
hollinm
Agree.
However, Dion is stuborn and arrogant. He may hang in for the long haul until the suit is arbitrated and he finds out he can't win.
[updated Sat May 17 13:21:37 EDT 2008]
17 May 13:21
parnel
My my you two rabid dog tories like takling to each other.....I hope you both realize you are going to be losers if not already so.
[updated Sat May 17 18:18:32 EDT 2008]
17 May 18:18
MRM
Really, this from the guy who the guy that knew the law and steadfastly proclaimed that there would be charges laid in the Cadman affair and that Tories would be going to jail. The guy who knew all about hearsay evidence and how it was admissible in court. As it turns out once again you do not know what you are talking about and that hearsay evidence can not even pass the smell test at the investigation level let alone the court room. Pardon me if you have no credibility on this issue or any other for that matter. Next will be the issue of EC and that will also turn out to be a legal quagmire for your beloved Grits and put them even farther in the toilet with the electorate and their very nervous bankers.
[updated Sat May 17 21:41:02 EDT 2008]
17 May 21:41
hollinm
parnel your guy is going to promote a carbon tax which is already being discredited by columnists and pundits and even by Jim Travers of the Red Star.
Michael Harris had a great column on the weekend.
That will give Stephen Harper a majority government. Do you honestly believe that Canadians are going to buy this revenue neutral bull?
This from a party that promised a $2 million gun registry which has cost $2 billion + and still counting probably.
Mulroney tried the revenue neutral argument with the GST and we know where that got us. So Canadians will not be as guillible this time around.
For Dion to state your wallet for the planet shows his lack of political skill and invites attack. Him trying to sell higher taxes? He'll have us rolling in the aisels.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has already said there will be a $1 billion shortfall if Dion looks after the poor, the working poor, seniors and the huge administrative costs etc.
So if Dion, and he will, runs his next election on higher taxes there is no question that ordinary Canadians, other than envirofascists, will abandon the Liberal party in droves.
[updated Sun May 18 10:55:57 EDT 2008]
18 May 10:55
parnel
The only shame I know of these days is being a Harper supporter. Your comments about people being closet Liberals are disgusting. I am an open liberal and proud of it.
[updated Sun May 18 02:46:44 EDT 2008]
18 May 02:46
MRM
I wasn't talking about you but if my commnets had the added benifit of "disgusting" you all the better.
[updated Sun May 18 04:33:21 EDT 2008]
18 May 04:33
hollinm
What's disgusting about it. Anybody (Georgine) who says they are not supporters of the Liberal party and then go on to promote the party and its leader is being disingenuous to put it kindly.
I can understand if they are NDP supporters then perhaps they should be promoting the policies of the party they support.
Some Liberals are embarassed to admit they support the party given it weak leadership, the dissaray within the party and the ongoing leadership fight within the party.
[updated Sun May 18 11:01:02 EDT 2008]
18 May 11:01
parnel
Hollinm quit the BS about liberal party corruption.it was very few people taking advantage of a poorly designed program....plain and simple.
What about Vic Toews lobbying to get himself a Judgeship because he can't get reelected.....pretty poor ethics at play
[updated Sat May 17 18:16:47 EDT 2008]
17 May 18:16
MRM
So just a few high ranking Liberals stealing $100 M of taxpayers dollars makes it OK. Not nearly as bad as the unscrupulously honest and highly qualified Vic Teows getting appointed to the court. I see your point - having honest judges would not fit the Liberal mold.
[updated Sat May 17 21:49:46 EDT 2008]
17 May 21:49
parnel
Why not make Flaherty head honcho for the bank of Canada?
Vic Toews is competent? When did that start...Oh yea about 6000 years ago. I forgot about right wing religious truths.
[updated Sun May 18 02:44:27 EDT 2008]
18 May 02:44
MRM
parnel - If you translate this into a coherant thought I would be happy to respond.
[updated Sun May 18 04:34:58 EDT 2008]
18 May 04:34
parnel
You are as coherent as a drunken soldier and i'm trying to simply reach you down at your level.
[updated Sun May 18 18:56:26 EDT 2008]
18 May 18:56
MRM
Theres that wit thing again. Still not quite working for you I see. Oh well don't give up, I get a real kick out of them anyway.
[updated Sun May 18 19:20:02 EDT 2008]
18 May 19:20
hollinm
parnel I don't recall talking about Liberal corruption recently but since you mentioned it the RCMP are getting ready to lay the final charges against the ad men and now they are moving on to Liberal officials. Because the admen are singing to save their skins they will name names. That's not good for the Liberal party.
A poorly designed program. Parnel your party stole/misappropriated $250 million of taxpayer money over 5 years. You know government as well as I do. There are checks and balances and if you think that anybody is going to buy the fact that Chuck Guite operated indpendently and with immunity well you are one naive dude. Or could it be those rose coloured glasses that will not allow you to see the reality?
Typical... the Globe speculates based on opposition statements about a judgeship for Toews with no real proof and of course you are all over it. It must be so.
My God even the opposition says he is qualified but don't like the process. In other words the committee is so corrupt that they would appoint Toews over a more qualified candidate. I am not that cynical.
Anyway you guys had your kick at appointing your supporters and cronies. Now there is a new guy making the decisions and he will appoint who he believes is best qualified. There are other lawyers, beyond Liberal supporters, who are qualified to be judges. Let the process take its course. If Toews gets the nod then you can complain and bitch for not.
I am not going to even comment on Toews divorce other than to say after a 30 year marriage a break up must be very painful for all those involved (even Conservatives). However, a divorce does not mean he cannot get re-elected. I think his voters supported him not because he was married but because they felt he was a good MP. Of course, believing the hype fits in with your partisan agenda.
Pretty quiet on the Cadman issue eh parnel. Done, over, fini, that's all she wrote, that dog won't hunt anymore. Yet Leblanc says that Harper owes an explanation. In fact he even misrepresents what the RCMP said. They said there is no evidence. Leblanc quotes them as saying insufficient evidence. Sleazy Liberals will distort the truth to their own advantage. By saying anything Harper gives legs to the story so that the Liberals can keep asking more questions. It's over parnel and you guys lost.
Elections Canada will be the same thing. That court case will be expedited because clarity needs to come before the next election.
One by one the faux scandals will be exposed as that and the Liberals will still be left with their weak leader.
[updated Sun May 18 10:44:23 EDT 2008]
18 May 10:44
parnel
Good post Georgine!!!! Telling the truth to Tories is good business for liberals
[updated Sat May 17 18:23:12 EDT 2008]
17 May 18:23
MRM
Just like the Liberal "truth" about the Cadman affair.
[updated Sat May 17 21:50:50 EDT 2008]
17 May 21:50
parnel
Proof of criminal behaviour is not easy in his case but a bribery attempt was made and the liberals have made sure that impression sticks. They cannot get answers from the Tories who are in deny mode and they won't let Cadman's widow speak up any longer.
[updated Sun May 18 02:42:00 EDT 2008]
18 May 02:42
MRM
Yeah sure, whatever. Your tune has changed now that you have been proven wrong. The "impression" that is sticking is the one that I have seen every hour on the news today and will be playing for the next few days - The LPC and the PM have been exonerated and the LPC is being sued for libel.
[updated Sun May 18 03:21:38 EDT 2008]
18 May 03:21
parnel
I wasn't proven wrong. We have succeeded in planting doubt about Harper's ethics and more will come out.
[updated Sun May 18 18:57:38 EDT 2008]
18 May 18:57
MRM
The Liberals have succeeded in looking foolish in the eyes of the electorate and have now lost credibility. The result will now be that they are not trusted on the next time they cry wolf. Refusal to let the issue go will only further damage their already serverely bruised reputation.
[updated Sun May 18 19:16:25 EDT 2008]
18 May 19:16
Georgine
The liberal truth regarding the bribe to Chuck Cadman was exactly what Dona and Jodi said it was, $1million life insurance of some sort. Jim Moore was lying when he said he was a close personal friend of Chuck's. They knew each other because they were both from the lower mainland of BC but other than that they had little in common.
Of course neither of you have read the book. It's available at your local library ... if you have a card.
And you did hear the tape didn't you? Exactly what Steve said? Nothing about rejoing the party on it. You can listen to it at YouTube.
How many court cases have the litigious Harper Party have on the go now? How many have they claimed Parliamentry Privilege on? I know Steve did on that first case regarding Alan Riddell so he could avoid testifying. The libel case the CONs settled out of court so we'll never know if Steve lied will we. Except we know, don't we? So much for accountability, transparancy and that other thing.
If they continue with this libel charge it will be tossed out as frivolous. Of course they tried to bribe Chuck. Any thinking person knows that. They needed the one vote to bring down the Martin government. One vote. And they wanted an election so bad they could taste it. Too bad they had not stood by Chuck when he was in the party. He was the incumbent. But they turned their backs on him because they do not understand the first thing about loyalty. Chuck had no reason to come back to the party. He was highly respected and highly effective as an Independent. He knew he'd get nothing done within the Harper fold. He'd been there and done that all ready.
And before you go smearing Chuck with innuendo and slime. He voted as his constituancy wanted. He was not bought by Martin or anyone else. He was his own man.
All the RCMP said is that there was not enough evidence to make a charge. That does not mean a bribe was not made to a dying man.
But an offer to make him a loan so he could run in the next election! HA! when? Next year, the year after, in 40 days? All he had to do was except the bribe. So why did Dona and Jodi hear $1million? Plus other things, there was a list. Are they lying? Or is Finley and Flanagan? Or is Steve and Moore? The man died 6 weeks later. Chuck had skin cancer and was in the last stages. Steve knew that. everyone knew that.
This is the "truth" of this bit of BS:
"...The long process of litigation has begun in which Steve too will be up to his ears in questions (by the court). Prediction, this one gets quietly settled a few years from now and no one gets any win out of it, particularly not Mr. Harper."
http://impolitical.blogspot.com
Odd how no one sues Harper or any of his crew when they state bald-faced lies, smears and derogatory comments or implications. They never apologise either. Well, Tom did, but Steve never does.
You guys will believe anything won't you?
[updated Sun May 18 04:28:52 EDT 2008]
18 May 04:28
MRM
You can have someone read the book to you ten times and it will not alter what Cadman himself said - There was no offer made. He said this repeatedly in public and in private. Most notably in public on Mike Duffy Live and in private to Mike Duffy off camera. He then went into detail as to why he was supporting the Liberals. It had nothing to do with agreeing with their position. He did not want to bring the government down and risk dieing as a non-sitting MP and thereby lose his parliamentary life insurance policy. These are his words, not mine so if you dispute them then you dispute his version of events not mine but I guess you guys will believe anything won't you?
[updated Sun May 18 04:59:43 EDT 2008]
18 May 04:59
Bernie
georgine
The Conservatives didn't bribe Cadman! hee hee
O J Simpson didn't kill two people!
Some people will believe anything.
They will do anything to discourage Harper from calling a public enquiry into the RCMP.
After all it was Zaccardelli who put Harper in power. If the Liberals got a 16 point increase they would have a majority.
Killing a man at Vanc airport and blatantly lying about, tasering an eighty two year old in his hospital bed, allowing a detachment to be headed by a dictatorial drunk, messing around with pension money; are only a few of the "crimes" perpetrated by those who are supposed uphold law and order. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
`No Mister Harper, don`t allow a public enquiry.`
[updated Sun May 18 07:35:55 EDT 2008]
18 May 07:35
MRM
Your right, some people will believe anything. The Liberals count on it. Otherwise they wouldn't win any seats. There is always some moron out there ready to buy what they are selling. Like the great RCMP conspiracy.
[updated Sun May 18 15:00:59 EDT 2008]
18 May 15:00
parnel
Bernie you are correct...Tories don't bribe. Their PM's take the bribes in cash and do it while in office.
[updated Mon May 19 03:13:18 EDT 2008]
19 May 03:13
MRM
So this from the guy who is so appalled by the allegations against Martin? What a phoney hypocrite you are parnel. At least I have evidence to back up my allegations. Yours are just mindless gutter sniping without any foundation.
[updated Tue May 20 17:49:17 EDT 2008]
20 May 17:49
parnel
You have proof about Martin in only your own demented mindset...Mulroney has already acknowledged he took the cash. That's real proof.
The gutter sniping is your only attribute here.
[updated Thu May 22 04:27:17 EDT 2008]
22 May 04:27
MRM
Good comeback! Changing the subject to Mulroney, what a briliant defence. Martin is so lucky to have you defending him.
[updated Thu May 22 08:10:40 EDT 2008]
22 May 08:10
parnel
I still say Nick is the most reliable but this was not the same type of poll that Nick does and these other guys usually err on the conservatives side of the fence.
In any event the poll is potentially very good news for suffereing Canadians who don't like buillies and populists running their government.
[updated Wed May 14 14:42:16 EDT 2008]
14 May 14:42
hollinm
Dream on parnel. The biggest gift to the Conservative government and Mr. Harper is your Mr. Dion.
He will fall flat on his face trying to explain to Canadians why raising their taxes is a good thing.
The operative word in your comment was "potentially". Even you doubt whether the Liberals can win the next election.
[updated Wed May 14 15:27:21 EDT 2008]
14 May 15:27
parnel
Hollinm the word potential was used to give you some hope...Harper hasn't a chance next election if you want it straight up
[updated Wed May 14 19:21:13 EDT 2008]
14 May 19:21
MRM
parnel - I am so happy that you are a Liberal advisor. In my view they can't pay you enough. I sincerely hope that they listen every bit of advice that you give them.
[updated Sat May 17 21:54:33 EDT 2008]
17 May 21:54
MRM
Anyone who thinks that “Dion’s numbers have not gone south” or that he does not have a very serious image problem is out of step with reality. Here are two articles from this year from two left leaning newspapers:
Dion's approval rating down across country: poll
Updated Mon. Jan. 14 2008 11:00 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Over the past year, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's approval rating has plummeted across Canada, according to a new Strategic Counsel poll.
The survey, conducted between Jan. 10-13 for CTV and The Globe and Mail, shows that Dion is the only national party leader to show a significant drop in support.
When respondents were asked if they found the leaders favourable, less than half said they had a good impression of Dion (difference between a Jan. 11-14, 2007 poll in brackets):
• Stephen Harper, Conservatives: 58 per cent (+4)
• Elizabeth May, Green Party: 56 per cent (-2)
• Jack Layton, NDP: 55 per cent (-4)
• Stephane Dion, Liberals: 39 per cent (-20)
"He had a tough year and we saw that in the media coverage, and what we're seeing is that the public's gotten to that," the Strategic Counsel's Peter Donolo told CTV.ca Monday.
"It has to be an issue of concern for him that his negatives are as high as they are, particulary if you look at it more deeply. He's got a higher percentage of people saying he's 'very unfavourable' than Stephen Harper, which is surprising, given that he hasn't been in that government hot seat -- Mr. Harper has."
Dion's popularity sinks even lower
Liberal leader's voter approval rating stands at only 11 per cent, and Tory party has 10-point lead
Apr 01, 2008 04:30 AM
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF
Dion's "momentum" score is also on the skids, Reid said. In March, 36 per cent of respondents said their opinion of Dion had worsened, while just 4 per cent said it had improved.
The momentum score is the worst ever for Dion and "frankly, among the worst I have ever seen for an opposition leader," said Reid, who has been surveying Canadian attitudes for decades.
"That doesn't auger well for any kind of pre-election period. It probably suggests why Dion has been reluctant to go to the polls," he said.
Perhaps worse for the Liberals, Reid said, those negative attitudes about Dion could prove tough to turn around.
"I think that he and his advisers are going to have to really seriously consider a very significant radical change in his overall performance, communications and strategy," he said. "Everything this guy does seems to be creating more problems than it resolves."
More than a third of respondents – 36 per cent – prefer Harper as prime minister while just 9 per cent like Dion for the job.”
[updated Sat May 10 11:26:48 EDT 2008]
10 May 11:26
parnel
Stuff from five months and one month ago....garbage as usual
[updated Sun May 11 08:46:51 EDT 2008]
11 May 08:46
MRM
Once again, your response defies logic? You are the one that made up the comment about his numbers not changing over time. But as usual when you are proven wrong your only comeback is that his numbers over time do not matter? Once again you offer nothing to prove the inane things that you make up. Like I said if this is the best the Liberals can come up with a Harper majority is assured!
[updated Sun May 11 10:22:47 EDT 2008]
11 May 10:22
parnel
From the mornings Calgary Sun...read on hotshot.
"Pollster Nik Nanos said broad enthusiasm for all three men is waning.
Some 33% of people polled answered "none of them/undecided" when asked who was most trustworthy, 32% were undecided about who was most competent and 35% were either undecided or felt no leader had the best vision for the country overall.
"An increasing number of voters are parking," Nanos said. "They're not thrilled with any of the party leaders ... The fact that the tone in the House of Commons has been so negative, and fairly petty, automatically results in voters tuning out."
[updated Sun May 11 16:37:51 EDT 2008]
11 May 16:37
MRM
Yes there is a large percentage (about a third) of undecided or disaffected voters but the Tory numbers have stayed relatively steady at about 35% while the other parties, in particular the Liberals, have dropped. So those disaffected voters are largely former Liberal, NDP and in Quebec, Bloc supporters. With the PMs numbers so high on trust, competence and vision if forced to choose one candidate it will be him. Even if only one in three in the disaffected pool choose the Tories they will be in solid majority territory.
[updated Sun May 11 17:15:28 EDT 2008]
11 May 17:15
parnel
Undecided is not disaffected...just more BS you dream up.
Tom Good has stated quite nicely that the undecideds are far from disaffected and are really swing voters and those voters are generally on the left deciding on voting NDP or Bloc as opposed to liberal..the Tories have virtually no chance of winning those voters. As the left leaning voter does not want to see Harper go on any longer or get a majority they will swing to the Liberals as they always have in the past. The Liberal platform will be heavily weighted to get votes from the center to the left spectrum. Ontario is basically on side now.
[updated Sun May 11 17:57:05 EDT 2008]
11 May 17:57
MRM
Whatever. Call them whatever you want, disaffected or undecided. Who cares? Once again you have entirely missed the point. No matter, you and Tom have your opinions, or more accurately Tom has an opinion and you also have Tom's opinion and I have mine. We will only know who is right the day after an election.
[updated Sun May 11 22:32:29 EDT 2008]
11 May 22:32
MRM
The Tories have to be very pleased with these numbers for three reasons: First, the opposition tactics of fabricating scandal after scandal has backfired on them and in fact has actually cost them support. Second, while the Tories core support has remained unchanged, there is now a huge undecided pool to try and draw that extra five to ten percent needed for a majority. This means that that pool is made up largely from the waning support of the other parties. And finally, I think that a lot of Canadians tend to vote more for the leader they most like than the party. With the PM out in front by a two to one margin or more on the issues of trust, competence and vision this positions the party very well to tap in into that undecided pool.
[updated Fri May 09 08:35:05 EDT 2008]
09 May 08:35
19 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
westerner (suspended)
This is very good news for the Conservaitves in the aftermath of intense Liberal mudslinging. The Liberals are devoid of new ideas except a carbon tax on gasoline. Given the Liberal attempts to denigrate and slander Conservatives at every opportunity the Conservative support has held firm.
[updated Fri May 09 09:25:13 EDT 2008]
09 May 09:25
3 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
hollinm
Nik's polling shows that Harper (the teflon PM) continues to be consistently perceived by the public to be better than all of the other leaders when it comes to trustworthiness, vision and competence.
The fact that the numbers for all the other leaders has dropped while the PM's numbers have remained consistent shows that Canadians are questioning their previous support for the opposition leaders/parties and electing to choose the undecided category. This should be of real concern for those leaders.
Dion continues to fail to impress the electorate and in fact his numbers are getting worse with each poll. The message to Dion and the Libs is that focusing on faux scandals, abstaining from voting and failing to put forward the Liberal vision for the country is going to continue to hurt the Liberal party big time.
This is a real plus for the Conservative government. It shows the government is on the right track and while Harper may not be lighting the house on fire the public recognizes he is the best choice among the current leaders' group.
With the musings about a carbon tax Dion has in fact handed Harper a majority government. Dion trying to explain the carbon tax and tax shifting idea will prove to be a disaster. With his broken English, lack of trust in the Liberal Party (adscam), the track record over 13 years of broken promises and the Libs desire to keep taxes the highest among the G7 this will allow the Conservative party to paint a very unflattering picture of Dion and the Liberal Party.
There simply will be no credibility with public when the Liberals promise a revenue neutal scheme which is code for higher taxes.
[updated Fri May 09 10:21:14 EDT 2008]
09 May 10:21
16 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
degres
What I find interesting is the PM rating is same (+/- 1). All the others have dropped. I think it is time for them to show interest in the country, not trying to score political point.
PLEASE stop calling a Royal Commission on everything but the dog. If A.G./RCMP bring up concerns I would support a Royal Commission; in most cases they have been a waste of time, resources, and tax dollars.
[updated Sun May 11 00:18:05 EDT 2008]
11 May 00:18
2 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Bernie
Who gives a rodents rear end about "personal image" or "leader"
I'd vote for a tasmanian devil if he presented me with a good policy platform
Stalin, Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, today's ruler of Burma, George Bush were/are "leaders of their people. No! Thank you! I don't want leaders.
Giev me someone who will follow the peoples' lead.
I don't propose to know what characterisics comprise a "leader" or a good "personal image". I would suggest it takes more than those three covered in the poll.
I find Harper the least trustworthy of the lot. Granted the others are not in a position whereby we have an opportunity to evaluate them as much. When you are not in power not as much attention is paid to what you say or do. So there is a different basis for evaluation. Harper has revealed his untrustworthiness before he became head of his party, while head of his party and even more so since becoming PM.
Nor do I give him a high competence rating. He has made many mistakes since becoming PM. Mistakes a more competent PM would not make.
Who knows what his vision is? I suspect what it is and it is the most reason that I would do what I can to see that he never gets a majority.
[updated Sun May 11 08:47:50 EDT 2008]
11 May 08:47
10 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
parnel
I think another issue has cropped up In Quebec for Harper..The right wing ADQ got hammered in each of three byelections there today doing significantly worse than in the last general election. That party is his alter ego there.
[updated Mon May 12 21:59:02 EDT 2008]
12 May 21:59
18 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Non-aligned in Toronto
Darn! I wish I was the leader of the "None of the Above Party"
[updated Wed May 14 09:42:20 EDT 2008]
14 May 09:42
203 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
parnel
Here's the biggest and most hypocritical piece of the accountability act as Harper has exempted a whole whack of people from the prying eyes of the Ombudsman:
"OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet have exempted contracts with Parliament and Canada's spy agency from oversight by a new ombudsman's post that was central to the 2006 Conservative election campaign.
The government slipped the exemptions through last week in regulations that empower the contract procurement ombudsman under the Accountability Act – flagship legislation the government introduced as its first bill soon after taking office.
Opposition MPs were taken by surprise at the exemptions, saying they were unaware the Senate, the House of Commons and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service would be excluded from the ombudsman's statutory duty to review contracts for "fairness, openness and transparency."
The exemptions also mean anyone who has a complaint about contracts to supply goods or services to Parliament – including contracts with offices of MPs, senators or CSIS, will be unable to have them reviewed by the ombudsman."
Now that's accountability!!!!!
[updated Mon May 19 18:16:30 EDT 2008]
19 May 18:16
12 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
parnel
Here's Nick's latest poll numbers actually showing the Liberals on top albeit by a very slim % much as I had predicted earlier in the week..
http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S08-T301.pdf
The days of Harper incompetence are coming to an end.
So much for personal popularity contests.......its the content stupid!!!
[updated Fri May 23 06:15:41 EDT 2008]
23 May 06:15
4 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
I read these numbers with disbelief, because they defy logical analysis. The Tory vision for Canada is virtually identical to the failed Bush doctrine. Support for America’s disastrous wars. Big on the wars against crime and terror, including steamrolling the rights and freedoms of citizens in clumsy attempts to watch everyone, everywhere. Anti-Kyoto, leaving the US and Canada as global pariah states. Deregulation, privatization and lower corporate taxes, because business is good and government is bad. In fact, other than the military, the police and penitentiary staff, who needs it.
Caring for the disadvantaged? Screw them.
I don’t trust Mr. Harper even for a minute. He is a cunning, secretive control freak who attacks and smears his “enemies” with Rove-like viciousness. If he was ever to win a majority, his extreme right wing ideology could wreck havoc on a slew of social programs, from health care to welfare. And say good bye to the CBC, the wheat board and Canada Post.
And I find the man to be entirely incompetent. Mr. Harper has jettisoned Canada’s proud 50-year tradition of peacekeeping in favour of making war. The Tories are on a military spending spree that defies logic. “Modern” weaponry is incredibly expensive and soon obsolete.
Despite our small population, we are 14th in the world in military spending and heading higher. For what? We haven't been attacked in almost 200 years.
Mr. Harper is indeed competent at muzzling his cabinet ministers and bureaucrats. At arming border guards and game wardens, but without an iota of demonstrated need.
[updated Sat May 24 14:13:30 EDT 2008]
24 May 14:13
31 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
MRM
The latest TO Star poll has the Tories (34%) with a seven point lead over the Grits (27%).
Given the other data in the poll one can only assume that if an election were called today the Tories may actually get into majority teritority while the Liberals may well slip into non-official opposition range. There is little doubt as to why Dion fears an election but he won't be able to dodge one past the fall without risking a palace coup. That data I spoke of is as follows:
Approval Ratings: Harper 32%, Dion 10%
Preferred Prime Minister: Harper 33%, Dion 11%, Neither 44%
49% do not want the opposition to force an early election
Harper defeats Dion on seven qualities and characteristics
One can only assume that if the undecided were forced to choose today the majority would not choose Dion. This fact will bode well for both the Tories and the NDP.
[updated Sun May 25 18:59:40 EDT 2008]
25 May 18:59
3 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
parnel
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429906
Here's the first of a series of articles by Canada's largest newspaper highlighting the secrecy Harper operates under. If one believes in democracy this stifiling of the freedom of expression has got to piss off people greatly and I'm glad to see the Star exposing this.
[updated Mon May 26 06:11:39 EDT 2008]
26 May 06:11
16 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.