The Tories Back in the Lead
It seems to me that the electorate is terribly uneasy. In the span of six months we’ve seen massive swings in popularity between Conservatives and Liberals.
And I certainly can’t blame the voters of this land. It’s daunting, indeed, to make the decision: Hand the country for four full years to a Prime Minister who shows a breathtaking capacity for self-injury through devil-may-care policy chess, or an aloof, opportunist from the elitist end of the political spectrum.
Regardless, the encouraging sign for the Liberals should be that Mr. Ignatieff has not dipped any further in popularity, although, an argument can easily be made that he has not much more well depth to plumb. As well, that the Conservatives can take heart, in that their numbers in vote-rich Ontario seem to be rebounding, to the extent that they are now leading the Liberals there–although by a very slim margin.
Here, you will find the details in the Angus Reid poll.
I’d like to think that once back to work in March, the Conservatives will outshine the Liberales and their poll numbers will increase.
Over the past several years when the Conservatives are at work and showing Canadians there is nothing to fear, their numbers climb.
I may be wrong but it seems to me the most damage done is usually over periods of break, where the electorate is fooled into believing the Liberales have some sort of a plan.
Then when they return to parliament and open their mouths to the same shit they’ve been spewing for decades, Canadians say to themselves, “oh yes, that’s right, that’s why I can’t ever vote for those bastards again”.
Why Harper ever takes any time off is beyond me.
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Who the hell in their right mind would ever, ever vote Liberal out here. They have been the worst stewards of democracy that we have ever suffered through.
Especially Trudeau but that Jean Cretien was nothing more than a dishonest political thug.
Brian Mulroney, for all his political faults (and they were numerous) at least did some practical good (think free trade).
But Cretien governed for his own financial gain (and that of his benifactor Demarais) at the expense of the country in general.
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Your comment should be required reading for any and all voters. As much as I have great friends who are Liberals, no other party has done as much damage to this country, and, as you’ve quite rightly written, not just as a result of that infernal Trudeau.
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Way, way too close for anyone to call, and whoever does force an election at this time is like to get a real ass-kicking from the electorate. People do not want an election, and when they do they will want a government that has a majority. I can’t, for the life of me, see anything encouraging about Ignatieff, and while Mr. Harper appears bored or boring, he is seen as a serious man and the voters are beginning to, if not warm to him, feel somehow comfortable with his decisions thus far.
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Well, yes, most of his decisions. Not all. And sometimes it’s the way he makes decisions that people find uncomfortable, more than anything. Proroguing parliament wasn’t the issue. It was the way he did it. If it could have waited a little or he could have explained the decision better, the polls might not have collapsed on him as they did. Nevertheless, the Tories sure rebounded quickly enough. And notice how this happened after Ignatieff boxed himself in over fanning the flames of a false abortion issue and bringing back Dion’s childcare nonsense–that Canadians have rejected numerous times prior…
It sure doesn’t take much to lose the public in such volatile times. I think that over the course of the last month, both Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff have learned this the hard way.
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Sorry to bust up the Harper love-in here, but his record is nothing to brag about either. When the Liberal party imploded after the Chretien/Martin power struggle and ensuing corruption revelations, the Conservatives had a perfect opportunity to grab a majority. But, twas not to be..two straight minorities, and still no majority in sight. The Liberals might well need a new leader, but the Conservatives need one also….one who can actually win an election.
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Hey Angus, great to hear form you. It’s hardly a Harper love in, as he gets lots of criticism from many quarters on this blog. I beg to differ slightly though, Harper can in fact win an election, just not quite the majority he needs. I think if he can’t do it this time around, you’ll definitely see calls for his departure. The last election against Dion should have been a guaranteed majority against the worst leader in Grit history. Now, with Ignatieff, the second worst leader in Grit history, he should have as good a chance. Frankly, if the tories play the safety dance of the last election, you’re going to see a wholesale shift form the old Alliance members being in control to the Progressive Conservative end take over. Some Tories don’t get it: THe country is largely Progressive Conservative. They fundamentally don’t like the Grits, but what did the Tories offer over the years. Hate Brian or not, he was our best modern day PM. But the arrogance got the best of many of them and it was all over. Harper might finally be getting it. And it may be too late.
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I think Harper should come clear on GW and forget about CO2 reduction, concentrating on the economy. He now has enough facts to back that position.
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Within reason, yes. I still think we do what we can to keep a clean environment, but the insanity of the measures, IPP in BC, cap n trade, C02 reduction measures that are bloody Draconian. That’s all nonsense.
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I am a voter who has had it with all of them to be honest i went from a 6 figure joblost to a severe injury in my 40s as a single dad and im about as screwed as you could get harpers platforms reduced what help i get from feds about 3000 a year and his BC counterpart more and im trying to re educare be productive and its not easy ,id like to see laws that make political leaders responsible to constituents and lies and deciet met with jail no more crap , i will say i saw my best days of making money when Libs were in power but i was always far more a conservative supporter ,
todays ultra polarized politics have become enough from all sides Harper included he plays to his oil money supporters and truth is peopel like me who paid dues to his party can die off and get lost its not about the people anymore its about corporate support and greed at all levels in this country and simply a sad state of affirs from every party stripe the poor are becoming more angry than i have ever seen in my region leaders better wake up .
I could at this time care less every politician we have had lead us , and Mulrooney as well have ben guided by their own arrogant personal agendas i will attempt to support anything not mainstream until i see some real attempts to clean up the dirty games .
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You are certainly not alone in the way you feel. I agree with you that any politician must come to the table with more sense and compassion that ever before. People are quite tired of the status quo. Many blessings to you and your family. Hang in there. If you think there is anything I may be able to help you with, don’t hesitate to send me a note through the private comment section. Take care of yourself my friend.
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If Harper is prepared to truly slay the dragon of public sector pension plans he will have my vote for life.
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Alas, do you think that he’d get elected if he campaigned on this??? Be careful with you’re answer it’s a trick question.
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I don’t know how Harper has accomplished anything at all, what with having to deal with Iggy, the Separatists and Jack in the Bean Stock. But he has. And he continues to be a real PM, unlike Mr Dithers who had a majority.
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No argument from me, although I wish the PM would get his advice straight. He, personally, wanted a 10 day break and not a full-on prorogation–favoured by his Chief of Staff Guy Giorno (who I must say, does not impress me in the slightest) Thx for stopping by BC! Always good to hear from you.
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