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From: "Ron Gladstone" Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe
I have never read such unadulterated BS in my life.
Happy "Thanksgiving
Ron Gladstone
===================================
From: Mike Coleman
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I have a problem with Dion. His carbon tax will hit western Canada, a lot more then eastern Canada…….why not add a tax on oversize cars and trucks made in Canada. I live in Saskatchewan, we don't have much for hydro, what we do have is we have mostly coal, oil and natural gas. ……..we are at last a "have province"… for now…that could change at any moment. I don't see any new taxes for power made with uranium which does have to be "buried" for many years. We do not have any hydro taxes for the land that was flooded out in Quebec. If Dion "cares" about the fairness across Canada, he should drop the carbon tax and tax all energy ACROSS Canada.
All forms of energy has its bad points.
Mike Coleman
Regina
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Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
From: B Pooles
Give me a break!
This person has never voted Conservative.
I shudder to think of Dion representing Canada at the G8
If Dion is elected tomorrow, there will be as Nick Nanos alluded to, a new wave of Western alienation.
Ciao
B
===================================
From: "Garry R. Holland"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe;
The writer, Anne, seems terribly confused and, in one or two of her assertions, is patently mistaken.
I'm heartened that the lady has decided to vote.
The central issue tomorrow, and for several years, is and will continue to be the global economy. We desperately need to look beyond our borders, when considering how we vote.
I could only suggest to her that we know what Mr. Harper has accomplished; we have absolutely no idea what Mr. Layton or Mr. Dion think of doing except to establish taxes to spend monies in uncertain and unproven remedies.
We know Mr. Harper has a strong background in economics; we don't know if Mr. Dion or Mr. Layton has any kind of an intellectual grip on this issue. They certainly have only made suggestions of huge and precipitous change.
Now is not the time for sweeping changes, nor for the inauguration of greater National Debt.
We know that less than 10 days ago, the International Monetary Fund and the World Economic Forum BOTH, independently, asserted that Canada, our country, has the most secure National Treasury and the most sensible Monetary Policies.
Both those same world organizations also stated that Canada, our country, has the strongest, safest and most prudent banking system in the world.
We need to keep things that way: and thank you Anne for continuing to believe in the value of a single Canadian vote. We need more people like you.
"Garry"
===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: reply
Joe,
Since you opened the door to EXTRA EXTRA
a rebuttal should be allowed.
In response to Ms.Dickenson assessment why she is voting
Liberal to maintain Central Canadian control of the country
my reply its rather simple, welcome to more racism in Canada.
Suan H.Booiman
White Rock BC
===================================
From: Caspar Davis
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Hi Joe,
I agree wholeheartedly with almost everything Anne Dickinson says so well, except that I would prefer Elizabeth May who is I think the best informed and most able of the leaders, and who heads a party that carries none of the baggage of the others. But sadly the Greens have no hope of forming government, and (due to our archaic and insane voting system) little hope even of electing an MP.
Having said that, I think this election is too important not to vote strategically. For the reasons Ms Dickinson has stated, I think Harper is very dangerous and must be stopped. Under our electoral system, voting Liberal - or Green - where it will help a "Conservative" beat an NDP candidate is tantamount to voting for Harper. Fortunately, we now have a website - http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/ - that lets us see the approximate state of affairs in every riding in Canada, enabling everyone to vote intelligently. I urge everyone to use it and try to make their vote really count.
Caspar Davis
Victoria, BC
I forgot to add that Harper's scare ads should be illegal. He should not be allowed to repeat the blatant lie that the carbon tax shift is an additional tax rather than a sensible and long overdue shift of taxes away from things we want - like employment and income - and onto things we don't want, in this case global warming. The economic and social and humanitarian costs of global warming are incalculable but (as Sir Nicholas Stern and hundreds of economists have shown) will surely dwarf the cost any measures we might take to prevent them.
Caspar
===================================
From: Tom Brewer
We will have a new/old political party after Tuesday night! The Regressive Party of Canada. Harper will be its leader. To suggest pure cockiness? I can hear the chest thumping already. Behind the scenes they will dress down the voter who failed to give them a majority.
We Canadian voters have been duped and while Harper will not get a majority he will continue to be retrogressive! Just watch, I mean we will have little to do but watch and listen to more of the same.
Harper may not be a devil in a cowboy hat… he's worse. It is his way or the highway I am sorry to say. He has proven his metal time and time again. He demands his cabinet to be pure clones. They are incapable of answering questions on their own and as we have seen tongue tied and incapable of compassion unless it is their own backside caught uttering words most of us would think of. Oh yes, the members of Harper's Party have all attended Apologies 101. They are bloody good at apologizing but are they good elected reps?
I am sorry to say Harper will still be the PM come Tuesday night. Humbled? I doubt it, he in my opinion is too bloody arrogant to be anything less.
PS: What will Harper do once his friend leaves the White House. I don't think McCain will make it as President thus Harper will be like a lost puppy, in my opinion.
Brewt
===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: RE: [On-Guard] C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe--no matter how tightly you hold your nose and vote for the 'least evil'
you still end up with evil.
Just what we need--a strong central voice--I think that is called a
dictatorship, is it not? The EU has proven to be so democratic(NOT), so I
would really care what they want us to be. Just ask the Irish how the EU
dealt with a strong voice of the people after their last vote. When I have
to base my decision on what the EU wants that will be the day I hang myself.
This is Canada. In a democracy the end does not justify the means.
Either we are a democracy or we are not.
I do not see any one worth voting for in this election. No matter where we
place our vote it will be expediency that wins the day. Until we realize
that we are nothing in the greater scheme of things we will be incapable of
making the changes needed to take our country back from the bullies that are
currently vying to control us. Governing has nothing to do with this
election--it is all about power.
becky
===================================
From: "Henry Ligas"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Dear Joe
re Anne Dickinson and her reasons for voting Liberal
Such muddled reasoning is nonsense. Is an idea to cause damage and injury to our personal economic situation creative? Is creative the only criteria and label to put on nonsense ideas? Are all new ideas good? No, they are not and all it takes is some unemotional and informed thinking to separate unworkable and stupid ideas from practical and good ideas.
Yes, Dion is creative but God help us all if his ideas prevail. This also includes Layton's ideas on economics. Any student of economics 101 knows better than Dion and Layton.
Henry LIgas
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From: "Nancy Clarke
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I do agree with Anne. Two points that were left off, is Harper's refusal to meet with all the premiers of the provinces or known as First Minister meetings. It certainly does not promote a feeling of cooperation between both levels, when the individual problems of each province are not treated equally by the federal government. The second point is related to Harper and making every vote in the House of Commons, a non-confidence vote. All this does, is to promote more agnst, frustration and leads to further divisions at all levels. The spirit of cooperation has left the building of the House of Commons since Harper became Prime Minister. I don't want an autocrat for a Prime Minister who would rather be the court jester for big business, than lead the country through the economic hard times with a helping hand from the government.
===================================
From: "Paul Lewis"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe:
Aside from Mr Harper's ambition to destroy the country, he has no vision to share with the rest of us. Throughout this election, the media have been chattering about leaders and leadership. It seems they don't know the difference between "boss" and "leader". For some reason most of the mainline media believe Mr Harper to be a strong leader. Piffle! Mr Dion has on the other hand shown a willingness to consult not only those around him in his party but also those outside. That . . . is leadership.
Unfortunately for me. I have seldom (never) voted for the "winning party" in any election at any level. I've always cast my ballot for the person who I assessed as being worthy of my vote. So I've never had the quandary of voting for a party rather than the candidate. Seems to me that our Parliament was originally meant to be a meeting place of equals with the leaders selected from among them. Ah well . . . tomorrow is our day!
Paul Lewis
Ottawa, ON
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From: "Glenn Harewood"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe:
I agree totally with Anne. I don't think that I could express or expose Harper any better than she has. I may add that I saw these symptoms of "Harpoonism" -- Harpooning of all that the Fathers of Confederation built --- when he was angling to absorb the PCPC into the Canadian Alliance. I do not know if anyone recalls the nasty character assassination of David Orchard's,[by the way, David Orchard is running as a Liberal in this election, 2008], and the demeaning of Joe Clark previous to Joe's stepping aside from the leadership of the PCPC.
In my opinion, the take-over of the PCPC by Harper and the Manning Reformists still has its shady and slippery past. Those so-called PCPCers who gave-in to Harper were/are power-hungry, cold-blooded technocrats whose only interests are to seize, and stay in power. Everything that Harper has done during the 2 1/2 years that he's headed the government of Canada, has been clearly designed to weaken the Canadian federation, and to maintain himself and the win-at-any-cost "Van Loaners" in power.
As I said in in a previous posting, in three years, Harper is the most litigious PM we have had. Witness the present number of Court cases that Harper has going at the same time: at least three -- the Cadman case; the Elections Canada case; the RCMP present gathering of evidence for the Maxime Bernier lost classified documents.
Harper does not have the temperament for the brinkmanship that is necessary for democratic parliamentary governing. He does NOT understand that governing, even with a majority, means that you must be prepared to listen and incorporate some of the ideas of the Opposition in his legislative proposals. When a bill comes back from the Senate with suggested alterations, one does not call for the abolition of the Senate, or for having an elected Senate, but accepts some of the Senate's criticism in the interest of doing the BEST for the Country as a whole -- not only for his Neo-con party. His modus operandi is " what I propose is right; it is the only way... and anybody who criticizes me is wrong; and I will smother my critics by legal or other mean in order to maintain my position." Example: is there any doubt that Harper's stance on the Environment is WRONG? But he continues to insist that he is right, and all other critics are WRONG. He does not grasp the connection between the economy and the environment. He has no long-term vision for Canada's welfare. His gaze is just long enough to take him to the NEXT ELECTION.
The question I ask all Canadians -- irrespective of your political suasion: Is this the type of mean-spirited, vindictive person that Canada needs at the head of its government? (Note that when Harper smiles ( manufactures a smile) one does not ever see his teeth! This may not be scientific, but I submit that one can tell a genuine smile when one can note the happiness in the smiler's eyes and parted lips eth).
Does anyone think that if Harper is were returned with a smaller minority than he had before dissolution that he would l not resign? Or should he get a minority of seats equal to what he had before dissolution, does anyone think that he will not interpret that mandate as a mandate for him to rule as if he had a majority? He doesn't seem to understand that there is a valid reason why, after 2 1/2 years as PM, Canadians STILL DO NOT TRUST him and his neo-con ""harpoonists" enough to give them a majority. Further, he does not, or refuses to understand that he cannot have everything his way in a minority government. And if he doesn't like what the electors have done, he must resign and let his Opposition form the government. After all, there is no one right or wrong way to run the Canadian government; and surely, Harper's way is NOT the only way!!!
Harper MUST GO -- now or later!!!
Glenn Harewood
===================================
From: Ray Strachan
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I agree with Anne 100% .I have never voted Liberal either but I think Dion
is an HONEST man. And thats what I want some semblance of HONESTY not just a
POWER GRAB......Ray Strachan Alberta
===================================
From: "Derek Skinner"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
re: Anne Dickinson.
Dion is a gentleman, Harper is a thug. Agreed.
However, both are in favour of a North American Union and erasure of Canadian sovereignty. Not acceptable.
NDP and Greens are weakly in favour of renegotiating NAFTA and opting out of the SPP but Layton is shifty and May is not established.
If there is no Canadian Action Party candidate available, pick the most trustworthy of your local NDP or Green candidate and let the chips fall where they may.
Sad but true. "Any electorate will elect the government it deserves."
Derek Skinner
===================================
From: "Ian Gartshore" <iangarts@telus.net>
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Joe,
Anne's piece is the most beautiful, and (I believe) true statements I've read during this election time. Thank you.
Ian Gartshore, Nanaimo, B.C.
===================================
From: "GG SCHRAMM"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
C/C/NET EXTRA
Hello Joe:
Prime Minister Steven Harper is exactly what our country needs, he keeps his hair short and given the opportunity
he concentrates on social issues and moral values. He knows either we make the muster or it's back to boot camp.
===================================
From: "Claudia Hudson"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I am voting for the Lib incumbent in Brant as I do not want the nearest contender a Neo Con to take the riding
C
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Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
From: Archbishop Lazar.
I am with you, Joe. But unless the Progressives rise to the top again in the "c"onservative Party, I may never vote blue again either.
===================================
From: "Anthony Silvestro"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
After reading this piece from Anne Dickinson, I have come to the conclusion that she is a typical uniformed stunned Canadian. Her arguments arte beyond adolescent just like Dion's… This country is in deep trouble. Ask her if she really wants another anti-English language bigot from Quebec running this country again.
T
" Bill 101 is a brilliant piece of legislation" - Stéphane Dion, Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2001), President of the Queen's Privy Council and newly appointed watchdog over official bilingualism (2001) Now leader of the liberal party, leader of the official opposition.
Quote - " ....Given these facts, should French-speaking people concentrate their
efforts on Quebec. or take the whole of Canada as their base? In my
opinion, they should do both; and for the purpose they could find no
better instrument than federalism", Pierre Trudeau, Page 31 "Federalism"
(1968). The King of all bigots
"My roll as Secretary of State of Canada is first and foremost to ensure that my French compatriots in Canada feel with deep conviction, as I do, that this is their country and that it reflects their image". "I too had some difficult years as a politician; I'm still having them, in fact, because everything we undertake and everything we are doing to make Canada a French state is part of a venture I have shared for many years with a number of people". "You know the idea, the challenge, the ambition of making Canada a French country both inside and outside Quebec -- an idea some people consider a bit crazy, is something a little beyond the ordinary imagination". - Serge Joyal, Secretary of State - Page 2 'ENOUGH' by J.V. Andrew. – Serge Joyal - Now in the Senate.
===================================
From: "Phyllis Wagg"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I agree with Anne Dickinson reasoning but my conclusion is different, probably because of different circumstances.
Since I have started to research Stephen Harper's views over five ago I have found his philosophy and ideas largely contradictory to mine. I do not believe in the neo-liberal/conservative "free enterprise, free markets and free trade" ideology. I believe this ideology is behind the current crisis and I have seen it coming for years.
Harper has supported the idea of a fragmented Canada, economic deregulation, privatization, and a tax system that strips government of the ability to act in an emergency. The Conservative Party has followed Harper's leadership like a flock of sheep, never questioning his direction on any issue. Those who have challenged him have been punished either with a demotion or expulsion from the party.
Although I think that Dion is basically honest and I like him, I will not be voting Liberal. Instead I will be voting for my Green Party candidate.
There are a number of reasons that I have selected that option. I live in what is considered a safe seat for the incumbent so that a few votes for the Green Party will likely be insignificant.
My main reason relates to the absence of democracy within the other parties. While the Green Party is not perfect in that regard and I am not a party member they are preferable to the other parties running candidates in my riding.
The Green Party was the only party receiving public funding per vote that supported the challenge to what I call the "second class voter" law. That denies the right of an individual to direct public funding to the party of their choice, through their vote, if they vote for one of the small parties or an independent candidate. It creates two classes of voters. The Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP have fought to retain the "second class voter principle."
It is unfair for Dion to ask Green Party voters to vote for him when it would challenge their ability to access public funds for their party if they dropped below the status of an "entitled" party. At the same time he has refused to re-consider the "second class voter principle." This is only one of the issues related to internal democracy that turns me away from the larger parties. I plan to use strategic voting to express my displeasure with the lack of democratic principles within the old guard parties.
Phyllis Wagg
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Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
- Anne posted what follows for the Digest.
- As ever, I'm pleased to do so, Joe. Here goes ...
- ____________________
- From: "Anne Dickinson"
- To: "Joe Hueglin" <joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca>
- Subject: Re: Daily Digest October 12, 2008/Sorry this is so long/edit if you want
- Hi Joe-
- Tomorrow I may do something I've never done before; I may vote Liberal.
- Gaaaah! I LIVE in Mr. Dion's riding and even I wouldn't say that. I say that tongue in cheek, of course ... Mr. Dion's an honourable man whom I'd consider voting for if I weren't otherwise committed or under another influence (the $1.75-per-year subsidy to whichever party gets my vote).
- The reason that I might vote Liberal this time is not despite the fact that they are led by Stephane Dion but rather because
- he is the leader.
- All reasons are legitimate. Some are more crass than others (what goodies will he bring), but crassness is more of a US-style thing. And despite what anyone says, 'I like the guy' and 'I don't trust the guy' are perfectly legit.
- This morning Tom Clarke said that many of the big liberal hitters were sitting on their hands this campaign and are waiting for a post election convention when they will try to install Rae or Ignaiteff as leader.
- This is perfectly understandable. Some are committed to the Leader himself; some are committed to the institution (the Party); and some are committed to Canada, or a philosophy, in a broad sense. Those who aren't committed to the Leader are naturally-enough tuned in to shifting moods, party popularity, and there being blood in the water (as it were).
- It has to be said they have also been making spiteful and damaging leaks to Jane Taber and others who have been playing them in a never ending loop all campaign.
- And political-gossip journalists just LOVE that kind of stuff, don't they. Then again, so do their readers.
- But it is just those big liberal fixers, the win at all cost guys that have kept me from the Liberals all these years.
- Win-at-all cost guys are organic to all electoral politics. Winners lead, losers either go along or they oppose, c'est la vie. Winning is a prerequisite to getting done what one feels needs to be done. Mind you, in a well-functioning political system, political practitioners keep things from getting out of hand. In poorly-functioning ones (where naked power prevails) and designed-to-malfunction ones (like US-style presidential systems), things degenerate to gutter-level brawling. Witness the economic mess that the US has gotten itself in just recently. And in the dot-com bust. And in the Savings and Loan corrupto-debacle.
- If DIon is forced out and the usual gang gets back in, then it would be much harder for me to give them my vote again.
- OK, I'm being partisan here, but 'May it come to pass!'. Unless the Liberals shape up and start behaving more ethically, in which case voting for them will be fine.
- Why Dion?
- According to Doug Sunders in a couple of articles for the Globe, the European Union countries are finding it difficult to deal with Canada as
- there are so many voices, there is no strong central voice that can speak for Canada when it comes to trade and other matters.
- Which is actually a good reason to vote Conservative, these days. What with Conservatives being more open to listening and accommodating the provinces, dealing with Conservatives is actually easier than with Liberals right now. Case in point: the FTA and NAFTA were Conservative things, not Liberal ones. Provinces banding together to create local economic zones for labour (Quebec and Ontario, Alberta and BC) happened in Conservative times. Same goes for provinces joining the Western Carbon Initiative ... no blocking them by the Conservatives (although the CPC will likely add on its own measures ... draft policy has been circulating for a few months now). Compare the WCI thing to what the Liberals did: "negociate" the Kyoto Accord (shabbily ... remember in what public disaaray they were until the US committed to specific figures in 1997? The Liberals spent an entire week floundering around in the media back then), ratified it with little (if any) provincial input, and let the thing sit for years without doing anything.
- In another article this Saturday he discussed how Britain had been spendthrift with its oil wealth which came flooding in during the Thatcher years and was frittered away in spending and tax cuts,leaving nothing for the future in contrast to how things have been handled in Norway and other countries. He suggested a carbon tax was one way of dealing with both the oil money now and for the future.
- It is no surprise that they have also been pushing hard for deregulation of the banking and mortgage industry ...
- Uuuuhhhh ... they have?
- because that is part of their long held policy as is deregulation of the food industry
- Uuuuhhh ... there is a stated policy concerning that?
- and we have seen the results of that in the listeriosis outbreak
- ... before such a policy was implemented (and anyway, it wasn't a question of no regulation, it was a question of pushing more responsibility down to the manufacturers' level; deregulation is an 'anything goes' thing, like deregulating the prices for airline tickets) ...
- and the Walkerton tragedy.
- Same thing again. The problem here wasn't that the Walkerton water supply wasn't being monitored, it's that it was monitored by a drunk who falsified the results of water tests. However, there may have been a follow-up issue too (did the Ontario Ministry do its own tests on occasion?), but it wasn't a deregulation one.
- As concerns Stan (?) Koeble having been hired in the first place ... that was a legacy issue. The Ontario Progressive Conservatives, when they changed the water-testing system, did so by making municipalities responsible for water monitoring, with provincial oversight to keep an outside eye on things. Any new water managers would have to pass tests (and take courses?) to get certified and authorized to test water ... except for those who had been doing before the changes took place. Stan Koeble had been elected as Utility Commissioner (or something) in Walkerton, so he got grandfathered as eligible to test water. The rest is history ... but the Walkerton deaths were NOT caused by deregulation.
- Mr Dion in contrast has proposed something new and positive to deal with both the ecology and for increased fairness in Canada's tax system. To support Harper is to pretend that things are always going to be the same now as in the past and then to follow a leader who has no plan and whose response to new ideas, or any ideas different from his own(discredited) ideas is to issue threats and to fire and smear government scientists,inspectors or civil servants..
- No plan ... this hasn't been discussed in the wide public, but the CPC released draft policy for comment. I know that it's been released to industry ... I presume that it must have been released to other institutions, too (economic research centres?). Whether it's been released to 'society' institutions is unlikely, I feel (no keeping Greenpeace, Maude Barlow, and Margaret Atwood quiet while draft policy is being discussed, I'd imagine).
- Plus, any reasonable policy (of which carbon-taxing is one, by the way) has to take what the US will do policywise. That's a simple fact ... the US is our neighbour, our main trading partner, and our main economic competitor. Plus, its economy is a lot bigger than Canada's, so whatever policy Canada implements will affect the US a whole lot less than vice versa.
- Now, despite this, and despite the Liberal Party's recent (and prolonged) dithering on air-emissions policy (Kyoto again, until 2006), Mr. Dion is running on a platform where the type of policy to be implemented has already been decided upon (carbon-taxing vs. cap-and-trade vs. hard emissions caps, etc.). Sad to say, Canada's policy can't be independent of the US' ... the two have to INTERdepend upon each other. But whatever happens, Mr. Dion's advocating a specific policy now is grossly irresponsible, that's it, that's all.
- The closed mind behind the iron hand is not a promising vision for steering this country through perilous times.And who is there to confer with him beside Tom Flanagan and other ideologues who follow the neo con doctrine? There are few grown ups in his past cabinets and the few there were have now left.
- There has been a gag order on Conservative candidates, now there is a gag order on Harper himself. And they wonder why people suspect their motives! No feedback. no questions from reporters or citizens in the last 2 or 3 days before the election, a dictate that has been swallowed meekly by Canada's not so fearless press corps.
- I'll buy THAT for a dollar! This no-communication thing was a bad idea from the start, but the CPC's committed to it and it can't readily drop it now. From this, I surmise that despite everything that's gone on a majority is a possibility and that Party Central doesn't want to blow it in the final stretch. That being said, the best that can be hoped for is a mediocre one ... no clear victory, just a limping across the finish line (though still first, mind you).
- That the Harperites have jumped on Dion for the interview "gaffe"is the height of hypocrisy . Mr Dion has been open and honest with the public and the press,meeting and answering questions through the media and in person many times and very well.
- Fair enough ... I feel that he's done reasonable well, given that the whole campaign's been the equivalent of a fireside chat where one's counterpart doesn't talk much. If the CPC had decided to press on policy ... whooooooa manny, Mr. Dion's would have come across as milquetoast. But then again, the CPC would have to deal with the sympathy aroused when a perceived weakling gets pushed around by some big guy. After all, that's was the whole idea behind the Charles Atlas ads in the comic books that I read as a kid (98-pound weakling gets sand kicked in his face by beach bully; pipes up, gets threatened; sends his 99 cents to get a Charles Atlas brochure; becomes well-cut Ubermensch by following CA's exercise regimen; punches out bully and gets girlfriend's respect back at the beach. A classic!).
- Harper has hidden behind scripted ,managed affairs,. But he still can't completely hide what he's all about.
- Hidden, agreed. As for what he's all about ... ?!? One can hear voices in the wind, if one's attentive and has a sense of what they mean (e.g. something's to happen at the Canadian Wheat Board). But for the 99%+ of us who don't give this enough attention and who don't bend their minds on what it means can't really know what he's up to.
- The Conservatives have cried foul when anyone has the temerity to mention the policies and beliefs Harper has espoused throughout his career.They call it demonizing and fear mongering when anyone dares to repeat the statements that he has made over the years.
- Conservatives just can't win for being nice guys, at least not in the other parties' rhetoric. When Mr. Harper isn't plotting some measure of colossal evil (and thus being diabolical, in an Evil Master of All way), his lust for wanton misery and destruction means he's demoniac instead. What to do, what to do?
- This campaign the Conservatives have shown everyone what demonizing and fear mongering is all about. Mr Dion has withstood, with grace vicious attacks on his character that have brought this campaign to a new level of ugliness and mean spiritedness. They have been even uglier than the attacks he withstood when he dared to propose the Clarity Bill.
- Truth is, the CPC campaign has been one of 'weenie-izing' Mr. Dion. The CPC hasn't tried to show that Mr. Dion is some sort of Archdevil. Quite the contrary, the CPC has presented him as an Archweenie who can't get anything done. Sort of a Joe Clark with academic credentials.
- Mr Dion has met with and taken questions from Canadian citizens and the press. Harper has appeared only in very controlled circumstance . He refused to go on Cross Canada Check up unless he could speak for 5 minutes and take no questions. He is the only candidate what would not take questions after the Mansbridge interviews,. That is why the Harper's playing up of the Dion interview "gaffe " was hypocritical and dishonest. Mr. Dion has not hidden from Canadians as Harper has.
- I don't know about the scripting things, but I agree that he's been packaged as an animated doll made of hard, cold plastic. Just pull his string and he'll say something that'll put abby to sleep. Which makes me realize that perhaps the CPC's whole campaign was about weenie-izing Mr. Dion while scripting Mr. Harper to subliminally evoke happy childhood moments and get voters' sympathy. The cleverness of it all! But the CPC really SHOULD have gone more for warm and cuddly than cold and kinda squishy.
- So I find Dion to be brave, honest, intelligent, open to new ideas and not afraid to be accountable to Canadian citizens.
- Yup.
- I consider Harper to be the opposite, dishonest, secretive, mean-spirited and unable to listen to any new ideas and most alarming, set on an ideological track that has been disastrous wherever it has been tried,
- I'll agree with the secretive part. As for the rest ... the whole problem is that we have nothing to go on when sizing him up.
- Of the options we have today, DIon is by far the best choice.
- To tell you the truth, I'd be inclined to drop in a blank ballot just out of sheer boredom. But I am committed to a party, which has some influebce on my decision ... I could vote blank or for another party in all good conscience this time around, except that then CPC wouldn't the $1.75-per-year government subsidy. I'm playing a long game this time.
- Harper is by far the most dangerous choice.
- Anne Dickinson
- Cheers, Anne! And remember ... a four-year term means $7 for your favoured party.
- P.S. Doone wi' the Leeberalls! Hahahahaha ...
- As ever, I'm pleased to do so, Joe. Here goes ...
From: "Judy Lewis"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
How well Anne has said what I would have liked to have said!
Harper's beliefs and policies are what GOT the world into this mess! (The Monopoly game is OVER when the properties all belong to the same party.)
As the dust clears, we will find that another enormous chunk of the world's wealth has been transferred to the richest 1 % of the population. This well may bring the world economy to a standstill. We won't have much of a chance to work on the environment then.
Dion has had the courage to stand up to Harper and speak out against a powerful establishment. I would be proud to have him represent our country.
I implore all subscribers to read Anne's article carefully and thoughtfully. Tomorrow's vote might well be the most important we will ever cast.
Judy Lewis
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From: Matthew Clark
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Hello Joe
I think that Dion has shown far too much sensitivity this campaign. It is part of the adversarial aspect of Canadian democracy that an opponent puts the worst spin on your program, and the best face on his/her. Calling someone a liar because they claim the worst of your policy is juvenile, and counterproductive. Yet that is what Dion has done throughout the campaign. Whether he has a viable program in the green shift is open to debate because he has not been able to explain it in a coherent manner. It should be pointed out that the period of centralisation in Canada (roughly 1945-2006) saw the rise of Quebec separatism, western alienation and finally an increase in western separatism( as seen by the response to a 2006 poll where 42% of Albertans thought independance should be considered.). This direction has to be fought and increased centralisation, as constantly advocated by the liberals, would likely only result in accelerating the prevailing trend. In terms of foreign policy Canada is now unpopular with many who held us in esteem in the past. So what? I have no p[roblem with the chairman of the politburo of the peoples republic of China finding offense at the prime minister skipping an olympic appearance. More world leaders should have had such backbone.
Finally it should be mentioned that a constant criticism of the old Progressive Conservatitives was they were liberal party number 2, elected only when the Canadian public wanted to punish the liberal party. As a result political change rarely occurred in Canada. It is not a giant Leap for a PC supporter to vote Liberal. If you are really unhappy with the Prime Minister and want to vote left of centre, a real change would be to consider the NDP, or the Green Party.
Sincerely
Matthew Clark
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From: "Ken Fuhr"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
I think defeating the New conservatives this election is the most important consideration. Just as in the past, for the creation of this country, and getting us through WWI, the Conservatives and Liberals joined forces to get us through tough times. With the PC party gone, and us former Conservatives working with the Liberals, Green, CAP, Progressive Canadian, NDP, etc., we're risking the future of our Country by scattering our support, when what we need do consolidate it. For this reason I'm working on the Liberal campaign in North Sk. and hoping we can defeat the Harper Neo-Cons, and take our country back. The NDP, Greens, PC, etc won't form government, so if it is not the Liberals, it will be Harper's Conservatives. There is no room for protest votes this time!
Time is tight so that is all for now. Best to everyone.
Ken Fuhr
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From: "Mark Whittle"
Subject: RE: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
Holy smokes Joe, Dion's a dead man walking, that's for sure. Harper will win, it's just a matter of by how much. Playing on people's fears has had the reverse effect than the opposition intended. If the Conservatives get the vote out they will get a small majority, perhaps more. Switching governments now is like trading places with a good driver while the vehicle is still in motion. Not a safe or smart thing to do given the financial storm the world's economies are facing. Wholesale government change is not going to happen on the grand scale as seen by Dion and Layton. That's wishful thinking when Canadian's need to have faith in the government we already have at the helm. We have to avoid those icebergs at all costs to protect what Canadians already have and keep the economy moving forward, not stalled by panic. As always I appreciate all your hard work Joe. I always look forward to voting day, for democracy.
Mark-Alan Whittle
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From: "Bernard J Finestone"
Subject: Re: C/C/NET EXTRA: Response anyone?
This illustrates the wonder of democracy. It even allows room for misguided and illogical idiocy. And allows you to spew it out.
HCol BJ Finestone, CD, CdeG, (Ret`d)
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