Thought I'd try and take a monthly temperature reading at ehMac on how Harper fares in your eyes.

Figure I'd keep it simple then repeat it every once in a while for comparison.

' Loose Lips Sink Ships '

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/lslips.htm
SILENCE MEANS SECURITY -- If violation of protective measures is serious within written communications it is disastrous in conversations. Protect your conversation as you do your letters, and be even more careful. A harmful letter can be nullified by censorship; loose talk is direct delivery to the enemy.

I will await the budget next week to start to form an opinion on what is really to be expected from Harper and his government. Great he struck a deal on the softwood lumber, but then he dropped the ball on the media coverage for the fallen soliders return to Canada. But the budget will be the governments first real test I think.

About as I expected - and that's not a compliment....

I voted too early to tell, but I'm leaning towards worse than expected. After the budget next week I'll probably have a stronger notion.

I had low expectations but I didn't expect them to act like the same-old so fast (from day one); but there have also been one or two good things.

About as I expected - and that's not a compliment....

Ditto.

Yes, the budget shall be the telling mark of the direction in which Harper wants to steer our country. We shall see.

garth turner and many sources have already warned of massive cuts in the upcoming budget

It seems like all three parties in opposition are playing a game of Chicken with their threat to sink the budget.

I had low expectations but I didn't expect them to act like the same-old so fast (from day one); but there have also been one or two good things.
I think that they have been worse than the same old. For two reasons.
The first is that they ran on promises of accountability and openness. They done the exact opposite of what they promised.
The other is that the repressive steps they have taken are more aggressive than any before. Truly a couple steps backwards and sideways...

I think that they have been worse than the same old. For two reasons.
The first is that they ran on promises of accountability and openness. They done the exact opposite of what they promised.
The other is that the repressive steps they have taken are more aggressive than any before. Truly a couple steps backwards and sideways...

Mulroney, Chretien and Martin all ran, in part, on variants of accountability/less patronage/etc. However, because Harper made it a central theme (beyond the famous Mulroney-Turner debate) and for so long, I would agree from that perspective that they're worse, not because of their lack of accountability, but because of how far they are from their angry rhetoric.

As simple and, in at least one case, wrong, I consider the '5 priorities', Martin's governance was more problematic, in my opinion, even if I preferred his stated policies. Martin didn't govern so much as he talked. And talked, and talked. As much as I would have liked a focussed Martin with real and considered follow-through, and even though I disagree with Harper, the governance, to date, is better. But it is early and there is a lot of 'very very important' stuff to come. We shall see. I don't think Martin seemed too bad in his first couple months, although he did have his cross-country 'mad as hell' tour. ;)

As I expected.... no compliments here...

I am a bit amazed that he has the balls to, IMHO, appear to be governing as if he has a majority...bit of a smart move. Until the Liberals have a new leader in place, (or until Jack thinks he could from a government} the Cons do not really have to fear a convidence vote. As long as they do not go nuts, they should be able to pass a fair bit of thier agenda...

However, (and I have not read enough on this yet), this agreement with the US on Norad sounds like a huge long term commitment to make without debate or the will of parliment...there could be a significant backlash that might set in motion a loss of confidence immediatly following the liberal convention....

It seems like all three parties in opposition are playing a game of Chicken with their threat to sink the budget.

I say bring it on! :lmao:

If the opposition shoots down this budget, the electorate will return the Conservatives to power with a majority. They are polling at 41% right now. Recent polls of Liberal voters show that a high percentage of them approve of Harper's performance.

immediatly following the liberal convention....

A very important thing, in my opinion.

Right now it's status-quo opposition complaining, sometimes credible, sometimes not, always loud and sometimes ridiculous. When we get shown a real alternative (not just 'I hate this', as Harper was known to do and is common now) we will have much to declare.

Harper may be less scary (maybe most voters don't agree with some here; is that conceivable to them?), but we don't know. The Liberals must be more impressive and run on ideas. Running twice in a row on 'Boo! Scared you didn't I?' was shockingly stupid. Whether or not I agree with where the Libs end up, I want a clear alternative, from which I may once again choose 'other', but the pragmatist in me may say otherwise.

Running twice in a row on 'Boo! Scared you didn't I?' was shockingly stupid.

3's a charm. I think they will try it again.

3's a charm. I think they will try it again.

If they get some of the old non-elected expertise back, be careful. It wasn't called the 'Big Red Machine' because it was brightly coloured. ;) If they truly unite, the expertise is deep.

All personal politics aside, despite most anti-partisan complainers being wedded to their hatred, the Liberal party's political (as different from policy) expertise is deep. It will be difficult without their usual fear factor, but the competition should be fierce.

All the better if it is idea-based, all the worse if it is smear-based. If ehmac is a litmus, do you think it will be idea-based or smear-based or a combination or something else entirely?

And, just so that I fit in with conventional wisdom amongst some around here: shut your trap you neocon. :D

All the better if it is idea-based, all the worse if it is smear-based. If ehmac is a litmus, do you think it will be idea-based or smear-based or a combination or something else entirely?

I think it will be a mix. The Liberal strategy in the last election was almost completely smear based and Canadians saw they had no real agenda. The next time around, the Liberals will know that they need to have some substance, but I still think they won't be able to resist smearing. The good news for the Conservatives is that the old 'hidden agenda' slander won't work. They will have to base their smears on actual Conservative policy. You know... big issue things... such as Harper shaking hands with his son or wearing the wrong outfit.

They will have to base their smears on actual Conservative policy. You know... big issue things... such as Harper shaking hands with his son or wearing the wrong outfit.


yeah,
• not allowing cdn. media into an air force base to film cdn. coffins returning home
• a transparency act that actually allows the gov't to hide more easily than before
• warning a gov't employee to not discuss his fictional book
• giving away a billion dollars to the u.s. in a trade dispute and capping cdn. companies market share of the u.s.
• hand picking which reporters will be allowed to ask questions during a press conference
• not allowing media to ask questions of cabinet ministers or cover cabinet meetings

not to mention the soon to be slash and burn budget
just a few pesky things

if harpo doesn't succeed in buying the votes of quebecers again, he may be in for a surprise
someting i'm sure that gilles duceppes is acutely aware of