tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post4139211245610872754..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: Stephen Harper, The Duffy Trial, and the Lost SummerSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-36345826445165126582015-05-14T07:11:44.274-04:002015-05-14T07:11:44.274-04:00hi David...as in everything he does Harper is look...hi David...as in everything he does Harper is looking to appeal to niche voters. So it isn't the number it's the kind of voters he is interested in...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-63521967225155523162015-05-14T07:10:18.795-04:002015-05-14T07:10:18.795-04:00hi David...yes you're right, we are heading da...hi David...yes you're right, we are heading dangerously into vote splitting territory. My only consolation is that I'm pretty sure Canadians will look closely at the polls as the election approaches, and then vote massively for the progressive candidate they think has the best chance of winning. But if neither candidate is a clear winner, that will be difficult, and of course a vote split could be fatal. I've warned about that for so long, I hardly have the energy to repeat it...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-70149257261649844172015-05-14T07:06:12.915-04:002015-05-14T07:06:12.915-04:00hi anon...no I don't remember that cartoon but...hi anon...no I don't remember that cartoon but I will look it up and if I can't find it, I might try making one myself. Although I might have to replace the Con lectern with a bird house or a monkey house... ;)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-85509767460465142012015-05-14T07:04:02.448-04:002015-05-14T07:04:02.448-04:00hi e.a.f...yes that's another reason why the D...hi e.a.f...yes that's another reason why the Duffy trial could be so devastating. During the summer news coverage on TV is usually quite boring. So a scandalous trial would liven things up and would have even more of an impact. So instead of campaigning on the BBQ circuit, Harper could find himself being grilled wherever he goes...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-53786807976910139362015-05-14T07:00:23.137-04:002015-05-14T07:00:23.137-04:00hi anon 12:04...I honestly believe that at this po...hi anon 12:04...I honestly believe that at this point Harper is capable of anything. And with the RCMP and the military apparently under his thumb under his thumb anything is possible. But of course if that happens we will be living in a police state, and will need to act accordingly...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-61708311292605655312015-05-14T06:57:55.647-04:002015-05-14T06:57:55.647-04:00hi Noah...I think his strategy is to show that Duf...hi Noah...I think his strategy is to show that Duffy was wallowing in a sewer of corruption, so why pick on him and not on others? As for the polls, and I'm thinking of all of them, they are not as bad as you thin k they are. Harper's polls may be a lot better than they were only six months ago. But they are like a bicycle race, where nobody has broken away from the pack. The Liberals and the NDP are still in the race, and time is Harper's enemy. I'll keep monitoring them closely to see if anything changes. But I suspect what we are seeing now is pretty much what we will see later. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the NDP moves up after Notley's victory in Alberta....Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-55272704129105852072015-05-14T06:51:32.679-04:002015-05-14T06:51:32.679-04:00hi anon 11:20am...yes you're right, anything c...hi anon 11:20am...yes you're right, anything could happen before the election. And if Harper does manage to provoke an attack with his belligerence and his big mouth, it could be disastrous for democracy in this country. But as for PKP I don't at this point anyway see him going anywhere. According to what I've seen on TV and in the French papers, his meetings are attended only by the old guard of the party. He is their messiah, their last hope for separation. But the young are staying away so unless that changes the future will not belong to the PQ...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-51851515918529700052015-05-14T06:46:50.620-04:002015-05-14T06:46:50.620-04:00hi Kathleen...There are some politicians with inte...hi Kathleen...There are some politicians with integrity but none in the Harper cult. Say Harper and integrity in the same sentence on a cloudy day, and you might be hit by lightning...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-31717380438834909582015-05-14T06:44:57.299-04:002015-05-14T06:44:57.299-04:00hi steve...I honestly give up trying to figure out...hi steve...I honestly give up trying to figure out what the Cons are doing. They are turning everything in our country upside down. And to make matters even worse I see the Con spokesman on the debate question is Kory Teneycke the former head of Sun TV News, now back in the PMO. How low have we fallen...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-85118425999135736542015-05-14T03:21:39.019-04:002015-05-14T03:21:39.019-04:00harper might get what he wishes for with his versi...harper might get what he wishes for with his version of debates and blow it. wouldn't that be fun. e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-11302867235499133562015-05-14T00:07:47.543-04:002015-05-14T00:07:47.543-04:00A debate organized by the Canadian media consortiu...A debate organized by the Canadian media consortium would allow for the greatest number of people to watch.<br />Why would Harper want that?<br /><br />http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/12/conservatives-turn-down-traditional-tv-debates-for-leaders.htmlDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-3081783288092108722015-05-14T00:04:36.726-04:002015-05-14T00:04:36.726-04:00Will Harper become so crazy desperate in the remai...Will Harper become so crazy desperate in the remaining days of the election campaign (if the Cons polling numbers are tanking) that he will attempt to get the RCMP and CSIS to do his bidding in some sort of...<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_operationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-77428744692947693802015-05-14T00:00:00.561-04:002015-05-14T00:00:00.561-04:00If it's a three horse race, then doesn't t...If it's a three horse race, then doesn't that favour the Harpercons who will split the vote again.<br />This election, Canada's youth need to step up and vote in record numbers. Make a commitment to ask and encourage a minimum of 10 people you personally know to become more familiar with the issues and then vote.<br /><br />http://www.votetogether.ca/<br /><br />http://www.leadnow.ca/Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-43402532570564987122015-05-13T19:19:44.658-04:002015-05-13T19:19:44.658-04:00Aren't we glad the present military didn't...Aren't we glad the present military didn't liberate Holland with what is allowed done by some. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-32753088867636287352015-05-13T19:18:37.221-04:002015-05-13T19:18:37.221-04:00And Mr. Harpers decision to debate only where he c...And Mr. Harpers decision to debate only where he can fix the debate is so cowardly. He doesn't do anything unless the scene is fixed. He will debate only in symbolic closet conditions. Cool cartoon and I can't remember where I saw it. Three lecterns with E. May on one and T. Mulcair and J. Trudeau on two others and at the end ---a closet. <br />Can you find it Simon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-44773441883900666242015-05-13T16:35:45.110-04:002015-05-13T16:35:45.110-04:00Oh, lets do hope the duffy trial goes on and on. ...Oh, lets do hope the duffy trial goes on and on. Its entertaining and there isn't much on t.v. at this time of year. Then if we add in some arrests of those who boycott Israeli products. This could be a really fun summer. If they give a tad more publicity to the Generals "real" thoughts on the investigation into sexual harassment and rape in military, we have a whole lot of stuff, which even the cons base might not be too happy about. Oh, to see the back end of Steve and his slimers. <br /><br />They haven't had Nigel testify yet. We haven't had Wallin and Brazeau charged yet. Perhaps that could be arranged for Sept.e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-69279702431500492422015-05-13T13:00:09.272-04:002015-05-13T13:00:09.272-04:00I suspect part of Bayne's strategy is to preve...I suspect part of Bayne's strategy is to prevent the PMO from crushing the court proceedings in order to make this all go away quickly. By drawing out the case it is clear that the trial is nowhere near over so any attempts to shut it down will be glaringly obvious. <br /><br />And I just cannot believe that polls show Conservative support rising. What on Earth is wrong with the Canadian electorate? I know Nanos polls tend to skew Conservative, but this is still absurd. Are we all really that callous or ignorant?Noah Pattersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-73255147393144362302015-05-13T11:20:03.743-04:002015-05-13T11:20:03.743-04:00Unfortunately 6 months is an eternity and the Harp...Unfortunately 6 months is an eternity and the Harper government is only one incident away from a fear driven resurgence in popularity. This could either be another home grown terrorist incident or the resurgence of the separation issue under the leadership of PKP who is as much a tyrant as Harper. Like the song "The times are a changing" there is a general uneasiness about the future and people seem to be looking for quick fixes through "leadership". Unfortunately there is no quick fix and although good leadership and reliance on our well established institutions is part of the answer we need the personal confidence to adapt and benefit from change in an inclusive manner.. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-930710572568679062015-05-13T08:56:58.880-04:002015-05-13T08:56:58.880-04:00Integrity.......now there's a word not many pe...Integrity.......now there's a word not many people actually address when it comes to politicians!<br /><br />I have no respect for anyone who lies to me or plays me for a fool.........Full Stop!Marmaladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01651890655542192076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-70139392153992198352015-05-13T08:49:08.397-04:002015-05-13T08:49:08.397-04:00Harpo not content with picking his own democracy, ...Harpo not content with picking his own democracy, voters is now picking his own debates. Where will this stop. Why do Tom and Justin not debate as usual with an empty chair.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.com