I Love Canada

[FarmRanger]

F_S we’ve had non businessman PMs before, so where’s the problem? Is this a new prerequisite for a good PM? Will it be the next time we have a lawyer leading the Liberals?

The whole “I love Canada” stunt looked like it was orchestrated not to shed any light on Harpers love for Canada. It looked very much like a stupid question designed to catch Harper off guard for the Liberals to exploit. Or are we supposed to believe that anyone who isn’t Liberal, doesn’t love Canada?! To point out this hypocrisy was the reason for my post in the first place. I'm not surprised at the avoidance of the issues and running a smear campaign. Is there anyone who can’t guess what they are trying to imply by using the term “Neo Con” to describe the conservatives? Kudos to the NDP for not using the “scary hidden agenda” smear campaign this time around though.

I’m a lot more impressed with Harper so far in this campaign though; he sure seems to be trying to stick to the issues.....except for some reporter asking him the gay marriage question. He didn’t bring it up, but what’s Harper supposed to do with the gay marriage question, yet again? If he doesn’t answer, then it’s the “hidden agenda” smear campaign all over again. So he says he’ll put it to a free vote IF it comes up (according to Conservative policy). Gee, what a radical concept, a free vote in a democracy. The main stream media says that Harper brought up Gay Marriage, the Liberals claim he’s going to reverse the charter, and all he’s done is given a reasonable answer to some reporter’s stupid question. Is this fair?

It seems to me that reducing the GST was a pretty smart move on Harper’s part. The Liberals previously campaigned and won on the later broken promise of scrapping the GST because it was such a bad tax. Now they’re arguing that it’s a good tax? This is hilarious! Harper sure has them scrambling on this one. The main stream media is beating the bushes looking for expert economists to say what a good tax it is, after vilifying it and the Progressive Conservatives when it was created. The hypocrisy is priceless.

[cowman]

Also Farm Ranger, Harper also said he will have personal tax cuts. Haven't heard any numbers on that?
The Liberals say $30 billion in tax cuts, but that was promised in the days when they were struggling to survive so who knows if that is really on? They have a proven track record of not keeping their promises!
Martin takes great pride in bringing in balanced budgets and actual surplusses. Now how did he achieve that? Did he cut the federal government waste and spending? Well we know he downloaded the costs onto the provinces without a doubt, but did he really cut down on anything? I don't know. I do know his government blew massive amounts of money on a totally useless gun registry and spent huge amounts of money on their buddies in Quebec! Those are the ones we know about!
This is a good businessman?

[silverback]

Good points.

Just thinking about the CBC's favorite PM, Trudeau.

Was he a business man??

[farmers_son]

Farmranger: Obviously having a business background is not a prerequisite. Diefenbaker was a lawyer, so was Trudeau, Turner and Chretian. Joe Clark’s background is academic. Stanfield had a business background and I think would have made a good Prime Minister. MacKenzie King had many degrees and did work for the Rockerfellers when he was not in political office but I see no indication of a business background.

It is my preference that a leader has a business background. Others might look for someone who is a good dresser but I think a business background indicates a proven ability while it is hard to evaluate someone who is an academic or lawyer. It is my impression that the gun registry was in place before Martin was Prime Minister.

Even Belinda Stronach has a pretty remarkable business resume. Too bad Harper could not keep her in his party. I personally like to see strong business experience in our federal politicians but of course the lawyers and academics will always be there. It is the peoples choice if they prefer to have the country run by academics.

Without checking into the facts, I bet a President of the U.S. would have to have business experience. Bush does.

[FarmRanger]

Yes, it probably is good business to register your ships with flags of convenience to avoid Canadian taxes and labor laws. I don’t think it gives Martin the right to say he loves Canada any more than anyone else. If the main stream media was unbiased, someone among them might have pointed this out?

[silverback]

Yeah, Belinda is a shining example of someone who built a company on her own knowledge and expertise. She had no help whatsoever.

She is also a shining example of someone who won't jump to something just because it might benefit her somehow.

[silverback]

In my view the Conservatives are better off without the simpering ms Stronach. Hopefully her constituants get the message as well, that she didn't change her spots to help their interests, only her own.

[cowman]

Now I don't know if Belinda was a real good business woman? I do know daddy Frank, knew how to make a buck! Quite often the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree! But on the same thought, sometimes daddys money can make ayone look pretty good? And you know how fathers are...
I don't think Belinda Stronach should ever be held out as an example? For months she blasted the Liberals(and Martin in particular) and then suddenly she sees the light? Come on!
She is a poor little rich girl who couldn't get even her personal life in order? She actually deserves our pity in spite of daddys billions? She is one messed up girl! I bet old Peter wonders how he ever got involved with this dingbat!

[cowman]

That is one reason I would question his ability to be Prime Minister. If his judgement was that poor in his personl life, who in hell would want him running the country. He has pizazz and is young but he did double cross Orchard and that would likely prevent him from ever being the Leader of the Conservatives.

[farmers_son]

Regarding Stronach: Stronach will have to win her seat in Newmarket-Aurora this time as a Liberal. Last election Stronach won her seat by 689 votes which is a smaller margin than Anne McClellan won her Edmonton seat in the last election. In 1988, Frank Stronach, Belinda's father and the chairman of Magna Corp., ran as a Liberal in the riding, then called York Simcoe, and lost to PC John Cole. Manufacturing is the major industry in the riding, with auto parts maker Magna International the largest manufacturer.

Fortune magazine ranked Belinda Stronach No. 2 in its 2002 list of world's most powerful women in business. The National Post named Stronach as the most powerful businesswoman in Canada; and, in the same year, the World Economic Forum named her a "Global Leader of Tomorrow." In April 2004, Time Magazine ranked her as one of the world's 100 most influential people.

The “simpering Ms. Stronach” gathered 34% of the vote for the Conservative leadership in March 2004 coming second to Stephen Harper and well ahead of Tony Clement, a distant third at 9%.

Before Stronach crossed the floor to the Liberals she made it clear she did not support Harpers plans to align the Tories with the Bloc to force an election in the spring of 2005.

[FarmRanger]

And O.J. Simpson was one heck of a good football player!

[silverback]

Yes, she said it very clearly, Clearly written for her by Paul Martin's speech writers. It was also "clearly" evident that a cabinet post would look great on her resume and might just get her, or her dad, a senate seat one day. Thanks for the research f_s.

[Horse]

And Ralph was and is a hell of a good front man for Rod Love and I dont know who else is pulling his strings ,but when he is out he is out and gone.

[ivbinconned]

Yes Belinda's excuse for crossing the floor must now keep her up a nights...don't you think?

What with paul martin naming a "sepratist" as GG!

Whats a girl to do.

[cowman]

Well whether Belinda wins or loses I wouldn't worry too much about her...I don't think she'll be going to bed hungry? She obviously never was a Conservative.
I doubt she'll ever go too much further, she comes across as arrogant! Sort of a Marie Antoinette attitude!
The exciting thing is today we have a chance to change the vision of this country and try to get some reality back into federal politics. I believe the Conservatives under Harper could take Canada to a place it needs to go if it is going to survive as a nation? A devolution of power back to the provinces is a good thing...in my opinion?
Martin likes to try to portray the Liberals as the only party that can save Canada...but think who is the party that has done more to alienate the regions(including Quebec) than the Liberals? Harper has always been a strong supporter of provincial rights? After all he was one of the authors of the firewall thing for Alberta?
The vision of two nations, two distinct societies within Canada just isn't going to wash? Charlottetown showed that? We need the concept of ten distinct societies within one federation. If the status quoe remains where every province has to cater to Quebec the time will come when some region says to hell with this? And I would suggest to you that region will be the west and in particular, Alberta?
If the Liberals get back in this time, especially with a majority, I think you will see the rise of a meaningful seperatist movement in Alberta! Time to say adios!