tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post5272329571194881774..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Road to an Early ElectionSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-59422237277555557342014-11-13T07:59:41.480-05:002014-11-13T07:59:41.480-05:00What you really mean is that the attack ads won...What you really mean is that the attack ads won't work... on you, and the already convinced. The undecided however may well be another matter all together.<br /><br />A fun fact is that Canadians decry attack ads as being "mean" and "nasty." Okay, I can see their point of view. BUT, when pressed Canadians themselves effectively if not explicitly admit that attack ads do in fact, work. Reportedly, many people would say in one breath that they hate attack ads, and in the very next breath reported that they couldn't vote for Ignatieff because he was "just visiting."<br /><br />You might be correct, but I think it's a stretch; the facts just don't support your point of view. The exception to the rule is if the Conservatives get desperate, they try too hard, and it comes back around to hurt them, like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMsqEph7a8I. Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMjdp3TTTyk<br /><br />Whether that happens or not is likely to be a function of poll numbers, and whether or not any attack ads can cast a negative light that isn't fear-mongering on Justin Trudeau. For the latter, I think it was Ray Heard who said that the best attack ads against Justin Trudeau, feature Justin Trudeau. As such, you can take the latter as a given. The former probably has too many moving parts to get an accurate read on at this time. You're focused on Duffy, and other dramatic scandals while ignoring the bread and butter criticism of the Harper government which may resonate far more with Canadians. As such, you'd better hope that leftists start donating. A lot. A lot more than they have been. Good luck, because it's always been in the leftist nature to want someone else to donate on their behalf.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-2075945030788188232014-11-13T06:46:47.572-05:002014-11-13T06:46:47.572-05:00hi anon...I certainly hope it's the struggle o...hi anon...I certainly hope it's the struggle of our lives, because I sure wouldn't like to fight another one as long and as depressing as this one. And it does pain me to see how some Canadians can be bought so cheaply. But as I always say, we will keep on fighting them, and sooner or later we WILL defeat them...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-19123060057268338262014-11-13T06:46:46.887-05:002014-11-13T06:46:46.887-05:00actually Simon I commented on the wrong blog, this...actually Simon I commented on the wrong blog, this one would make sense under the Ezra previous/Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-45025597652420204872014-11-13T06:44:20.801-05:002014-11-13T06:44:20.801-05:00hi Blue Grit...like you I feel the Cons are desper...hi Blue Grit...like you I feel the Cons are desperately searching for an excuse to call an early election. I don't see one myself at this point, but as I pointed out his window of opportunity threatens to be a narrow one, so who knows what he might do. I certainly will never stop fighting him, and I'm still confident that sanity will prevail. Because as you point out, if it doesn't, the country we love will be unrecognizable...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-60315736234531780652014-11-13T06:39:24.133-05:002014-11-13T06:39:24.133-05:00hi Steve...I do like to play the role of the clown...hi Steve...I do like to play the role of the clown or court jester sometimes. I find it a good way to get some simple truths across right under their noses. In this distracted world, the simpler the message, the more powerful it can be...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-65481672251148213192014-11-13T06:35:53.963-05:002014-11-13T06:35:53.963-05:00hi anon...I'm glad I make you laugh, in this g...hi anon...I'm glad I make you laugh, in this grim land that is no easy accomplishment. But I think you're wrong about Harper. If he can go early he will, and he won't care a damn about breaking his own law. Being the only Prime Minister to have been found guilty of contempt of Parliament, the law is small potatoes. But unlike you I don't think his attack ads will work, he's cried wolf and played dirty too often. I think that when they come to vote Canadians will decide they had more than enough of him and will vote him out. But you're right about something, the left really does have to open its wallets...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-47320720895804359062014-11-13T06:30:34.066-05:002014-11-13T06:30:34.066-05:00hi anon...yes it is a frightening thing, and it do...hi anon...yes it is a frightening thing, and it does speak to how easy it is to fool some canadians and lead them around by the nose. But this great fear and war fever should prove short-lived as it always has before, so I'm still confident that we will defeat him and that sanity will prevail...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-47904775383134446452014-11-13T06:28:02.828-05:002014-11-13T06:28:02.828-05:00hi anon...to me the red poppy is a symbol of peace...hi anon...to me the red poppy is a symbol of peace, not a way to glorify war. Harper may try to make it so, but the dead speak for themselves...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-90875045147856922792014-11-13T04:44:46.241-05:002014-11-13T04:44:46.241-05:00Pollster Allan Gregg calls it “an unholy alliance ...Pollster Allan Gregg calls it “an unholy alliance with journalists who routinely misconstrue data and ignore margins of error.” And he warns us about putting too much stock in polls. When asked who among the pollsters we should believe, he says:<br /><br />“Nobody,” says veteran pollster Allan Gregg, an outspoken critic of his own industry and chairman of Harris-Decima, which conducts polls for The Canadian Press. As far as Gregg is concerned, the election campaign has magnified problems with political polling: methodological issues that are skewing the results of both telephone and online surveys; commercial pressures that are prompting pollsters to over-hype their surveys.<br /><br />http://unseatharper.ca/wordpress/2011/04/im-sorry-but-i-dont-accept-that/<br /><br />…………………….<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-88857483326497784192014-11-13T03:34:37.516-05:002014-11-13T03:34:37.516-05:00The job stats are deceptive. Many of the jobs crea...The job stats are deceptive. Many of the jobs created in recent months are only part-time jobs and/or low paying jobs, so some families (both one parent and two parent families) have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to pay the basic bills. Putting food on the table is a higher priority for these parents than getting a tax credit to put their kid in a sport. Only the richer families (who have the extra income to begin with) can afford to enrol their kid in hockey and other organized leagues, and so can take advantage of the sports credit the Cons are offering.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-38401092777531029582014-11-12T20:14:10.717-05:002014-11-12T20:14:10.717-05:00Dear Simon, you say "the struggle of our live...Dear Simon, you say "the struggle of our lives." And it is the struggle of our lives. Unfortunately, not enough Canadians realize this. Too many have their heads buried in the sand and too many will be bought. And therein lies the danger. Things are not looking good because those who will be bought don't realize that he will give them candy with one hand and take away their health care with the other. Poor fools and those of us who have our eyes open will suffer because of their stupidity. Nevertheless, I and you and others like us will keep on fighting them to the end. What else can we do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-66274912256431747752014-11-12T19:55:40.107-05:002014-11-12T19:55:40.107-05:00Really hard to say if they'll pull the trigger...Really hard to say if they'll pull the trigger early, as they will need an event to rally on. They have already started their election campaign (TV and telephone). <br /><br />The way they been mouthing off to the Russians (like a little boy taunting a bully on the street, from the safety of his front door), I feel they are looking for additional threats to levy at us. (Christ! When have we ever practised this type of foreign policy?) If at all, they will at least wait until they need to extend/expand the military campaign in Iraq. Then tie the elction platform to external "threats" facing Canada ( and the all rhetoric that accompanies that). <br /><br />Regardless of when the election is, keep up your good fight, and continue to inform/remind people of what's going on. I refuse to believe that these "folks" share the same vision, or represent the values, of the majority of Canadians. <br /><br />If Canadians are going to the polls, let us spread the word and make sure they are reminded of all the crap pulled. If the people then decide to re-elect these Fascists, we will know that the Canada we once knew no longer exists. Four more years of this, and no one will recognize this once revered and respected nation. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04567555294832520698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-54190783552419458332014-11-12T12:59:54.612-05:002014-11-12T12:59:54.612-05:00There is a role for a clown to play in the Echo ch...There is a role for a clown to play in the Echo chamber. Something stupid and untrue is said, but then the big guys report it as fact and it becomes part of the meme. It works beautifuly in the US.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-90773147961108226752014-11-12T11:57:42.557-05:002014-11-12T11:57:42.557-05:00This blog never fails to make me laugh.
What kind...This blog never fails to make me laugh.<br /><br />What kind of job is a bad job? Any job created while Harper was Prime Minister! Good job numbers are a BAD THING because they HELP HARPER. <br /><br />Oh what a delight for me. Ideological purity to the nth degree, but every so often, you get dragged back into pragmatic considerations. <br /><br />I really don't think Harper will call and early election. He has entirely too much to lose by being thought of as a hypocrite for breaking his own law, again. Canadians gave him a pass when he was in a minority situation; his own justification was that the election law applied to majorities, and not minorities. Okay, well now he's in a majority. Whether you think the former was an outright lie, or a lesser distortion depends largely on your bias, the latter however will not be ignored, or go unnoticed. <br /><br />And, his ability to bring home seats just isn't there. Threehundredeight has him at 122 seats, vs Trudeau at 136. <br /><br />What you <i>really</i> should be worried about isn't an early election, but the CPC's ability to make Trudeau look very, very stupid. They will almost certainly go on an attack-add blitzkrieg. Given his penchant for gaffes, and stupid statements, it's exremely likely to be effective. In that situation, you'll just have to hope that either the anti-incumbancy sentiment in Canada is strong enough to overlook just how idiotic Trudeau is, something I consider unlikely. Or, that the Conservatives will swing too hard and hurt themselves, which is much more probable. <br /><br />Either way, the Liberals and the NDP have lost the initiative, and though Justin's fundraising numbers looked better through the summer, he was still beaten handily by the CPC.<br /><br />If you want the left to win, you'd better start opening your wallets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-8050883410963676922014-11-12T10:27:42.446-05:002014-11-12T10:27:42.446-05:00That Harper is advancing in the polls is unbelieva...That Harper is advancing in the polls is unbelievable. It truly shows what a bunch of fucking idiots there are in this country. I can only hope that people will take a long hard look at what he's done during his tenure and that saner heads prevail in the run up to what will be an early election. Harper wont wait with the senate court cases looming and as he has done in the past, he'll do what's best for he and only he. He is a cancer that can be beat by voting him out or even if it takes a coalition to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-8673543043725655782014-11-12T08:31:32.444-05:002014-11-12T08:31:32.444-05:00Here's an idea.Along with wearing the poppy fo...Here's an idea.Along with wearing the poppy for those who choose to do so, wear another symbol,the peace symbol right next to it.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com