Is Stephen Harper Planning a March Election?

In his scary year-end interview Stephen Harper claimed, from under six coats of pancake makeup, that he had no plans to call an early election.

But he wouldn't rule one out, as I'm sure you remember...



But if he is still planning for an election in October, why is he running campaign-style radio ads in JANUARY?

In which he personally claims that the Liberals and the NDP would rollback the porky payments he is giving families with children under 18.

And is he secretly planning, as Michael Warren suggests, a March election? 

Stephen Harper says he has no plans to call an early election. Despite these assurances, I predict he will call an election for late March.

He will be criticized for taking Canadians to the polls early. But that criticism will soon dissipate as the battle for the electorate’s hearts and minds moves into full gear. Next year is full of political pitfalls for the Conservatives. Facing the nation early has its advantages.

To back-up his prediction Warren cites the usual list of reasons: The bigger war chest the Cons presently enjoy, the sagging state of the economy, and the question of timing.

Timing is everything in politics. Even popular initiatives can become stale quickly. The Conservatives’ $3-billion “family tax cut” package can only be announced so many times before voters start saying, “What have you done for me lately?” 

Despite the dramatic drop in oil prices and the impact on federal revenues, the Tories will still be able to boast about achieving their goal of a balanced budget early next year. But if oil prices don’t rebound and the economy stalls, Ottawa’s books won’t look so good by October.

As well as the usual list of suspects: Brazeau, Duffy, and maybe even Wallin...



Then there is Wallin. Last November the RCMP alleged she committed fraud and breach of trust by submitting improper expense claims. She has since repaid the full amount. But there is still a chance she will be charged. If she does, her trial will be a fall media circus.

And since we know that Harper would do anything to avoid that, and that Great Economist Buffoon Leader and his hapless stooge Joe Oliver are in a race against time. 

“Oil is likely to hit hard,” said Charles St-Arnaud, a London-based economist with Nomura Securities, who also previously worked at the Finance Department and the Bank of Canada in Ottawa. “The budget for 2015-16 could well see a deterioration in the fiscal balance. So he [Mr. Harper] could be tempted to call an election before that,” he said.

And that Great Strong Closet Leader will soon have to decide whether to continue the air war in Iraq.

Harper is committed to re-assessing the air combat mission by February. This allows him time to judge how the war is progressing, whether other coalition members are considering committing ground troops and how Canadians feel about the war. If broad public support remains, Harper could make a measured expansion of the war against ISIS a major March election issue.

I can't help but wonder whether he will use the war as an excuse to call an early election. You know, in the name of national security, to send a message to the terrorists who would behead us in our beds.

And then broaden his appeal with this double barrelled approach...



And all I can say is that we have to assume the worst. We have to be ready for everything. Because our depraved would be dictator is capable of ANYTHING.

And the sooner we can get this movement up and moving or marching the better...



It may be too late to try to create a formal umbrella organization.  But at least we can ask all the progressive groups out there to try to agree to a short list or Charter of Canadian Principles and Values.

Agree that the next election is above all a battle to take back OUR Canada.

And hopefully agree that this should be our sign or slogan...



Because it's out there, it has a history, it's a symbol of resistance, it's easy to make. And getting rid of our would be dictator and his foul regime is our most sacred mission.

I'll try to come up with my suggestion for a Charter of Canadian Principles and Values in the next few days. And I encourage you to come up with your own.

But since it's the weekend, and it's important to keep our spirits up even in the face of great danger. I thought I'd leave you with a video my friend and research ace David sent me.

It's a spoof of Downton Abbey AND a spoof of that classic scene in the movie The Producers...



In which the cast performed a wild and hilarious version of a song called Springtime for Hitler.

And all I could say after watching this Canadian version is, let's hope that this Spring we won't be singing this song...



Yup. We better be ready.

Because he is capable of anything. 

He is crazy. He is dangerous.

And he would be our dictator...



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