Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Will Stephen Harper Really Take a Walk in the Snow?



When I first heard the rumours that Stephen Harper was about to go for a walk in the snow. Or whatever. 

And announce that he planned to step down in the New Year, I must admit I was stunned. It just didn't seem to make sense.

His fear campaign is boosting his polls, the unemployment rate is down, he's planning to spend billions of dollars bribing voters.

He's just launched this new Porky Action Plan campaign...



Aimed at brainwashing Canadians with OUR money.

And of course, he was the abominable star of the recent G20 summit...



So why would he choose to quit NOW, and give his job to Jason Kenney?

On Friday, Stephen Harper surpassed Brian Mulroney, becoming the sixth longest-serving prime minister in our history. On Jan. 24 he will begin his 10th year at 24 Sussex Drive. There’s reason to wonder if he will have an 11th, or if he will step aside to let someone else lead his party into next October’s election.

Some say that Harper can’t abide the idea of losing to Justin Trudeau, and needs to avoid the next election. Others say he won’t back down from a fight.


But I think he might leave fairly early in the new year, handing the reins to somebody who has a better chance of winning the next election: Jason Kenney.


But then Stephen Maher does have a point. It probably would be easier for Harper to quit now, rather than risk being humiliated by Justin Trudeau.

Harper is enjoying a bump in the polls — the first in a long while — which actually might make it easier for him to declare victory and announce a succession contest.

Before his polls start tanking again, along with the price of oil. Or before the global economy crashes.

Or before Canadians realize that his latest Porky Action Plan campaign is practically fraudulent and definitely SHAMELESS.



To avoid confusion, this bilious affair states it was brought to you by the Government of Canada, and the measures are “subject to parliamentary approval.” 

A more honest assessment would have been the disclaimer: “This message is for the benefit of the Conservative Party of Canada; paid for by the taxpayer; and, we don’t give a flying fuddle-duddle what parliament thinks about it.”


The bottom line is this kind of taxpayer-funded messaging is unfair, undemocratic and should be illegal. If these ads were being pushed by the Liberals, Stephen Harper would be first to say so.


Or before his position on climate change becomes even more uncomfortable...



Or even more embarrassing.

And of course, before Jason Kenney gets tired of waiting for him to quit, and takes full control of HIS party:



The party is his for the taking, and his former staffers are in key positions throughout the Harper government. They are often the smartest people in the room, small-c conservative intellectuals who aren’t afraid to grub for votes.

Kenney may have a story to tell, but he can’t get started until Harper takes a walk in the snow.


Because Kenney is hungry for power, and I haven't seen him running so hard and so fast since the temporary foreign workers scandal broke...



Which is of course great news as far as I'm concerned eh?

Because as you know I'm a strong supporter of Kenney's leadership campaign...



In the firm belief that if he becomes leader, the Cons will be gone for a GENERATION.

And the best news? If at a time when Harper is doing better than he has for years, his Con candidate could only win a narrow victory in Whitby-Oshawa. 

In a riding where the late Jim Flaherty used to rack up record numbers.

You know the writing is on the wall.

And it doesn't matter whether Harper or Kenney leads the party into the next election. Neither of them can win.

The Cons will be defeated.

And they're all going down for a very long time...



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17 comments:

lagatta à montréal said...

What a dreadful ad. Obviously aimed at the most traditonal type of family, in an upper middle-class suburb infested with large cars. I think a couple of children had a bit of colour, but most everyone is white, straight and affluent.

e.a.f. said...

Simon it is cruel to keep toying with us in this manner. I know you mean well and it raises spirits to think, hide in the closet might leave, but really not so much. this is the best gig this idiot ever had and he is going no where. how else will he get private jets, security, nice cars, nice hotels, first class accomodation, and not have to see his wife too often He is not giving up the gig. He will stay in office until the voters toss him out. He does not care about what is good for the .party.

as to Jason Kenny. o.k his new outfit is funnier than hell, but trust me the boy is not ready for prime time. perhaps his ambitions are greater than his talents and his ability to know who he is. He will first have to find himself, unless he decides to be the first priest of Canada and I have heard the Pope is going to the U.S.A. but I have not heard he is coming to Canada. He would be electable if he were gay and had a decent platform, but he will not be elected p.m. running as politics longest running virgin. oh pray for us lord

Steve said...

Vote splitting in Whitby wins for the cons. Stop the madness!

Anonymous said...

They only had a 10% turn out in Whitby. There must be a message in that for someone but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is. I(t was so incredibly hyped.
AND as for Ukraine and ISIS and Harper. Well 64 Mexican students were shot and their bodies burned in a trash pit and hardly any Canadian media mentioned it and no conservative politician brought it up. No Baird roaring around about it. Makes me sure they don't really care about any of those folks in Ukraine or Iraq. Only the ones that will garner them votes.

Grant G said...

Voter turnout was low, but not that low..30% ...And the public is still feeling patriotic...Check out John Ivison`s national post article ....There was only 1 winner last night...And it wasn`t the HarperCon party.

Good Day

Anonymous said...

Harper is sick and rabid to be a power house, on the global scene. For this Harper will again cheat to win and I also read Harper's speech, on global governance for Canada.

Harper called Russia and Putin evil Communists then, he sold Canada to Communist China. Now, China is financing Putin. Every time Harper insults Putin, he scoops another trade deal with China. Then it is said, Russia and China are going to share our High Arctic.

Communist China commit many atrocities and Harper embraces, China's evil human rights. Nor, does Harper say anything of, Communist China menacing and threatening, other countries around the globe.

Russia and China are laughing all the way to the bank, no doubt about Harper's stupidity. They certainly outsmarted Harper. China can trade Canadian resources to Russia and Harper locked Canada into the evil FIPPA deal with China, for 31 years.

Harper shot his big mouth off again, at the G-20. Wonder what trade deal, Putin will take from Harper this time? All Putin does is, laugh at Harper.

Rural Roots said...

Given the paucity of frontline contenders, I can see some suggesting Mr. Kenney as a potential contender for the leadership of the rump party - the CPC. Just curious as to why the pitbull Baird is not considered a potential candidate for the office of Supreme Leader?!?

Rural Roots said...

The cons got out there vote, the liberals did very well (most encouraging) and many dippers chose to either stay home or likely switched to the libs this time around - really don't believe a split vote effected the outcomes here. If Celina has the wherewithal to hang in there and maintain community activity and the strong pleasant disposition she exudes, she will likely prevail in the next fed election - keep up the hope and hard work Celina!

e.a.f. said...

because Baird if half way out of the closet. that is not acceptable to the con base.

David said...

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2&DocId=6778393

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

[snip]

Government Advertising

Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, since 2009 the Conservatives have spent over $100 million of taxpayers' funds in self-promoting advertising while telling seniors and veterans that the cupboard is bare. Canadians are not hoodwinked. The government's own polling shows that taxpayers are sick and tired of this money being wasted on partisan self-glorification. Now the Conservatives are turning the taps on again, doing ads to promote their income splitting scheme that would only benefit the wealthy.
I have a simple question. Will the minister tell the House how much money is being wasted on this pre-electoral partisan binge?

Hon. Jason Kenney (Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, only the NDP could refer to a massive tax benefit for working Canadian families as a binge, a benefit that would provide up to $2,000 of direct tax relief for families, treating families as an economic unit, that would increase the universal child care benefit provided to children between the ages of 7 and 18 from $1,000 to $1,700 a year. Together these constitute a total net benefit of over $1,200 for the average family. Four million families, 100% of families with kids, are going to benefit from this government's package.
(1430)

[Translation]

Mr. Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives can rattle off whatever excuses they want. The ads promoting their election gimmick, income splitting, are partisan ads paid for by taxpayers. What is more, the Conservatives do not even want to tell us how much the propaganda cost.
Come on, that makes no sense. Much like the Liberals with their sponsorship, the Conservatives are trying to buy Canadians with their own money. It is appalling.
Will the minister finally tell us how much these useless, partisan and misleading ads cost?

Hon. Jason Kenney (Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the hon. member is absolutely wrong. We clearly need to inform Canadian families that they can receive a new universal health care benefit for children between the ages of 7 and 18. This is one of many changes which, together, will provide $1,200 in tax relief for each family. Every family with children under the age of 18 will receive tax benefits because of these changes. Canadians need to be informed of the significant benefits they will receive as a result of all these changes.

Simon said...

hi lagatta...yeaj the ads are aimed straight at their demographic, traditional white families who live in the suburbs. Although if you notice the ethnic neighbours make a brief appearance near the end. And all that money to promote a fraudulent plan that hasn't even been approved by parliament. Because they may look simple, but you know they aren't cheap....

Simon said...

hi e.a.f...I admit I like to be playful at times with my readers, but I am not toying with you. I have other sources of information that I cannot reveal lest the Cons guess where they come from. But the question of whether Harper will resign is a hot topic inside the Con regime. And some VERY interesting things are happening between the Kenney and Harper camps. My guess is that is his numbers hold up until Christmas Harper will decide to stay in office. But I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't...

Simon said...

hi Rural Roots...Baird has never expressed any interest in going for the leadership which explains why Harper trusts him so much. He is also not trusted by the Reform wing of the party, unlike their man Kenney. The good news though is that because Harper has been such a tyrant, he has no popular replacement, and that can only help us in the long run...

Simon said...

hi Steve...actually vote splitting wasn't much of a factor in the Whitby election, because the NDP vote faded away, with much of I suspect going to try to help the Liberals win, as it did in the election in my riding Trinity Spading. The greatest damage in the Whitby election was done by all those progressives who didn't bother to vote. And we're going to have to deal with that before the general election...

Simon said...

hi anon 8:33...the turnout was higher than that but not much higher, and it is a real problem. Because the lower the turnout the better the Con chances of winning. They are still able to turnout their vote better than we can, they had the PMO pitbull Jenni Byrne running the Whitby operation, and she will be running their election campaign again, so we're going to have to be really good to beat them...

Simon said...

hi Grant...the Liberal candidate did very well, and the trend is encouraging. But the Cons have been making inroads into Justin Trudeau's support, so everybody is going to have to do a whole lot better if the progressive side is to defeat the Harperites in the next election....

Simon said...

hi David...I saw how those Cons are trying to frame their latest porky ads as just a way to inform Canadians but that won't hold water. Canadians have seen too many of those ads, polls show they hate them, and if the opposition is smart they can extract much political advantage from them...