Well it must have been a grim scene in the PMO bunker last night. For years the Con propaganda machine has tried to brainwash Canadians into believing that Stephen Harper is a Great Economist Leader.
The steady hand on the wheel, steering us to prosperity, the only leader who knows ANYTHING about economics.
Even as he put all our economic eggs into one oily basket, decimated our manufacturing sector, flooded the country with foreign workers, drove down wages, and failed to come up with an industrial strategy, or create enough jobs.
But today that absurd myth finally fell apart, after the Great Helmsman's boat collided with the hard rock of reality.
The Harper government was slapped with grim reminders about the broad economic and political implications of low oil prices Tuesday as experts delivered a fresh round of dire warnings about the potential fallout. The bad news included a projection by one of the country’s biggest banks, which predicted the rapid fall in oil prices would transform the federal government’s long-promised 2015-16 surplus into a deficit.
His oily gamble has failed catastrophically. His tarry love affair with Greater Alberta is now threatening to drag the whole country down.
And to make him look even more incompetent,if that's possible, he's also the genius, or the Con artist, who blew the surplus before he had one...
As well as blowing a giant hole in his chances of winning the next election.
Politically, the red flags threaten to complicate the Harper government’s efforts to present itself as a stable steward of a strong economy in the leadup to a federal election that’s currently scheduled for October.
Whatever Oily Joe Oliver says:
“While threats to the global economy loom — including falling oil prices — our Conservative government’s plan for the economy is working,” he said in a statement.
And must either think we are fools, or be suffering from dementia.
But of course Stephen Harper is now desperate, and probably quaking in his boots as much as he did when he hid in that closet.
Because he MUST balance the budget, even if he has to fill his bribe bowl with the blood of jobs killed and services slashed to the bone.
And he will try to buy the next election, as this ad released last night by the Con propaganda machine makes only too clear...
Because now it's come down to this: he may have led us to economic disaster, but he will pay Canadians to vote for him.
And it's not too hard to figure out where this one is going...
And the question is does that mean, as John Ivison suggests, an early election?
Certainly, the temptation to break the October fixed election date must be nearly irresistible. Stephen Harper’s pitch to Canadians is that he is best positioned to provide them with physical and economic security, at a time when threats to both are on the rise.
But it is the tumbling oil price, along with the economic uncertainty it heralds, that has persuaded me that the Great Opportunist will risk the charge of rank hypocrisy and break his own election law again.
Before things get even worse. The stock market tanks, or the housing market implodes.
And the good news is that it doesn't really matter when that election is called, as long as we are ready.
Because the myth that has sustained him for so long has finally been shattered.
He was no economist.
He was no Great Leader,
And the mad emperor had no clothes...
He's walking around in his underwear. He's never been more vulnerable.
And we are going to destroy him...
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23 comments:
Watching Justice Minister Peter this morning was enough to turn me from my breakfast!
Desperate people do desperate things........and the Cons are DESPERATE! Watch out!
Great summary Simon as usual! One thing I would call this smarmy douche bag is predictably unpredictable and I what is coming next is full-on support of Ontario's manufacturing sector that's been on life support since the Alberta-Interior-of-BC reformers swooped the conservative brand. Witness yesterday when Lisa Raitt portrayed herself as the great saviour for the automotive industry with their $50-million loan shark "grant" to LInamar. The interviewer didn't approach the elephant in the room about the few hundred jobs here and there that disappear on a weekly basis. But rest assured, dear closet organizer will come out as the great economist who saved manufacturing, fewer words will be spoken this year about our energy superpower status. That's my prediction for 2015. Happy New Year.
Simon, you did not mention that the Cons friendly Conference Board of Canada has just predicted that Alberta is headed for a recession. And to top it all, Prentice was quoted this morning as saying he is open to the idea of a sales tax. Sounds really interesting to the ears of the "eastern bastards", eh?
As I had said some time ago here, the layoffs are coming to Oilberta. Well, Suncor just laid off a thousand workers, mostly contract workers but some non contract workers as well. Next to come will be the fall in the property prices and the pain as laid off workers lose their houses because of overleveraging as they believed Great Closet Leader that the good times would never end. Why, he would make Canada. meaning Alberta, into a global energy superpower, remember?
While my heart goes out to these people, my head tells me that they got the governments (Harper, Prentice) they voted for. So they should congratulate themselves for their voting choices, eh? Meanwhile, we hope they notice that the Ontario economy is taking off.
the only Canadian economy of the last 100 years
that was worse than the harper governments current performance
was when model As were pulled by horses called bennet buggies
under the bennet conservatives
of the last ten governments economic preformances
top five were liberal
top conservative was sixth
liberal seventh
conservative eighth
harper ninth
and pulled by horses conservative bennet tenth
That Harper video/ad made me sick I almost heaved if I shared an elevator with Harper I'd push the emergency stop button and slap him silly across both cheeks for wasting Canadians taxpayer money. The fool on the hill Parliament Hill Steve Harper...
If wishes were horses, Simon, then all us beggars would ride...
I don['t know if Emperor Steve will call an early election, declare himself lifetime Prime minister, or sing and chew bubble gum at the same time, but looking around, I see no evidence of either the NDP or the Libs being ready for an election ..no word on nominees, no talking points at all, no PLAN, something that Canadians dearly love to chatter about...
If the Cons do declare an early election, then I doubt if anyone other than the Cons will be ready...
7 massive budget deficits in a row since 2008.
Adding over $100 billion to Canada's Federal Debt.
Not really super financial budget management I'd say.
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/
This just puts the debt burden on future taxpayers, who will have to pay the interest.
stevie slime ought to have listened to his late finance minister, Jim Flaherty. Flaherty said there was little economic benefit to income splitting. Now that the money has been spent favouring the "entitled to begin with", the others aren't going to be happy. Stevie will most likely direct various government dept.s to lay off staff, cease spending money except on him and el gordo, etc. He may even cut the military budget some more.
The one thing which won't happen is an increase in corporate taxes.
Did get a good chuckle though, read somewhere the NDP had filed a complaint against the con ads for false advertising. Now that you gotta love.
B.C. will be hit harder than Alberta with the lay offs. Prentice is smarter than "Premier sparkle pony" over here in B.C. they have already forecast there will be a decline in truck sales in some parts of B.C.
Its interesting that Canada's economy may tank, while the American economy is improving. American companies are feeling good enough to even raise salaries.
If the Canadian $ continues to drop it will improve manufacturing, but that works for Ontario and Quebec. B.C. not so much.
Last evening on the CBC, it was interesting to note Amanda Lang suggested what was needed in Canada was in increase in workers' wages.
So lets see if there is any exit of foreign workers from Canada if unemployment increases. meanwhile in B.C. the B.C. lieberals have their travelling dog and pony show extoilling the virtues and benefits of all the LNG projects. of course the entertaining thing is about 5 big corporations have backed out for the time being.
With all the oil prices dropping the upside is and oil companies cutting back, perhaps the environment will have a chance.
stevie slime doesn't know the first thing about economics as it pertains to the real world. the guy never held a real job. he has relied on oil and that only worked for a few. it gave the illusion of wealth, but nothing concrete. While he was cutting taxes for his corporate friends and donators, he ought to have created a few jobs improving the infrastructure of Canada.
Not only will we have unemployed oil field workers, we are going to have unemployed postal workers. what a lovely place Canada will be.
hi Kathleen...what a horrible way to start your day, but you're right they are desperate and they are capable of ANYTHING...
his bcwaterboy...thanks a lot. And yes, don't you love the way the Cons are now positioning themselves as the great champions of the manufacturing sector? After spending the last nine years reducing it to rubble. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. But I doubt it will work, their record is too foul and obvious. We'll hold it against them in the election campaign, so Happy New Year to you and all of us !!!
hi anon...yes I didn't have time to squeeze in the bit about Alberta heading for a recession, and that they might actually have to impose a sales tax. *Gasp* I only hope that more Albertans finally realize their Great Leader is a fraud and vote for some other party for a change. But sadly I'm not optimistic...
hi lungta...yes, there is that old saying Con times are hard times, but Canadians seem to forget that until they are reminded again. By any objective measure the Harper government's economic record is a total failure. They put too many eggs in one basket, they ravaged our industrial sector, haven't done anything to develop the greener industries of the future, and are leading us to the edge of disaster. Let's hope Canadians finally realize the Cons are just yapping ideologues, small little people with no big ideas...
hi mogs...I don't blame you. But what's interesting is that they were in such a hurry to put it up, they actually covered a radio ad with pictures, instead of producing a proper TV video. Which tells me that they are desperate and that they know that only by bribing the population can they hope to cling to power.
Hopefully Canadians won't let themselves be bought so cheaply...
hi mogs...what? Are you telling me there isn't a pony under all that manure? But seriously I am also a little worried. However, I have noticed that both the Liberals and the NDP have been showing more signs of life in the last couple of weeks. Mulcair has shaken up his office, Justin has been busy, so with our help I think we will be ready. Also, remember that if the Cons do go that early there will be a price to pay. The MSM thinks that will soon be forgotten in the heat of the campaign. But I think it would make the Cons look even less trustworthy, and that's the last thing they need...
hi Hugh....yes that's quite a record isn't it?And don't forget they inherited a healthy surplus, only to keep us in a deficit thanks to their poor management and their reckless spending. As Nigel himself said, they really are good to go...
hi e.a.f...yes poor old Jimbo Flaherty now seems like a Nobel Prize winner, and if the Cons think they can give tax breaks to 15% of Canadians, and ignore the other 85% I think they're deluding themselves. But of course that's why they are putting so much emphasis on the porky childcare offerings. Which amount to nothing on a monthly basis, but because the payments are retroactive means that families will be receiving a cheque of about $420 dollars for each child, in a lump sum in July. It's the most outrageous attempt to buy an election I have ever seen. And as I said above, let's hope Canadians can't be bought so cheaply...
Well Simon I personally believe Steve's dog and pony show is over. Historically speaking voter turnout increases when you want to rid yourself of rabid bad government. We are there now.
the "refund" may actually back fire on the Cons. while the working poor get the $420 the "better off" earning $70K and better, with income splitting will receive a lot more. if some smart person remembers to notify all Canadians of that fact, they might get a tad miffed about the difference.
Even if the price of oil goes down even further, and stays low for the balance of 2015, the Cons will STILL say Harper is the best person to be PM because we live in uncertain economic times, and Trudeau or Mulcair would probably raise corporate taxes (true, but they need to be raised!) and raise the GST (false!)
harper haters
you rock if you are a harper hater
HarperHaters
No, I do not think that if the oil prices go down that people will start to like harper better but if we get a new prime minister ( what happens if he or she is worse ) What are we going to do then!!!!
HATER OF HARPER
I think that having a leader of the hole contry is stupid because on man should not have power of the thousands
of pople in this contry. They say Canada is a great contry with good lives, I mean 1 in 7 kids live in a poor family thats to many for a develloped contry. There are so many bad things about Canada that nobody knows about. We get no say in what happens about the laws or the plan the prime minsterd makes and worst of all Harper askes other contrys about things and we get no say at all. I think if there is going to be a prime mister we should get more of a say of what happens in Canada DON'T VOTE STEPHEN HAPER FOR PRIME MINISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello friend hater of harper you make a good point we should get a say in the things that happen in the world we live in we should also know every thing that is going on in the world please reply and tell me (HarperHater) and HATER OF HARPER why you think harper is a bad prime minister or tell us how you fell about us not giving a say in what goes on in the world SPEAK UP CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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