I wonder if the Conservatives will ever bring in income splitting for families.

Unlikely in this budget I'm afraid. They should have done it when they had more wiggle room, and I'll never understand why they didn't.

One hopes Dion will follow advice from his Power Corp marionnette Johnny Critter and bring down the Conservatives over the budget...But with new polls coming out daily that favours Harper on most everything, I won't hold my breath...Especially from a power at all cost party like the Lieberals. They'll wait for a recession or other: I say, at their own peril...The longer PM Harper leads the country the more Canucks seem to like him...Even a majority want more tax cuts if needed to stimulate a slowing economy even if a small deficit results: Wow!...I think they forgot to poll Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver on this one.

Canadian Dollar is up 2 cents today. Cant find a headline on it. Markets are all up. Seems investors aren't biting on the negativity that the media has been pumping in the runnup to the budget. Perhaps a big surplus on the way.

Things that bug me:

Regarding the grocery store, why do people with forty items stand in the line for ten items or less?

ATM machines: Idiots who spend twenty minutes putting their purse in order after making a withdrawl. Like I don't mind standing there waiting while some chick cleans her purse out, it's not as if I have a life or anything.

Four way stop signs: Drivers who think it's always their turn, even if it isn't. Is ramming into them justified?

Dogs: People who exclaim oh he/she's friendly as they are hanging off you or your dogs leg by their teeth.

Harper: He's a closet leftard. He is.

More money for Quebec is the only thing I care about.

atheist quebecois separatiste "More money for Quebec is the only thing I care about"

You and a lot of others from Quebec. For what it's worth, you can take out Quebec, and substitute most other provinces though. The difference is, Quebec already gets far more than its fair share.

Things that bug me:

Standing in line at the convenience store counter while the cashier spends 10 minutes exchanging tickets and game cards with a lottery player.

People who claim to support tax cuts, but really want tax cuts for themselves, their interest group, or for their friends and family, as opposed to tax cuts for the general population. Like people who always argue for income splitting or who whine about the taxing of income trusts in the same way as other mutual funds or who want tax cuts for one region and not others, or who want tax cuts for some industries and not others. There is always a million and one reasons why their group deserves special treatment.

Rose - people at any checkout who react with astonishment when informed that they have to pay for their purchases and then begrudgingly search through wallets, pockets, bags for means to pay.

Probably dippers, all of them

is this the general BITCH blog?

This column portends a very difficult time ahead on equalization.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=333897

What was basically a squabble when Danny Chavez was beaking off is about to go nuclear.

Why?

Because the truth will finally be laid bare:

The only provinces that will be left as haves - BC, AB, SK, and NL - are all significant Oil and Gas producers. Equalization will be simply a confiscation of Oil and Gas income (12 billion or more per year in AB currently).

"The longer PM Harper leads the country the more Canucks seem to like him."

Posted by: Grind a Grit

Hmm, let's see about that. Three recent polls:

The Strategic Counsel/CTV poll showed support for the federal parties at:
Conservatives:39%
Liberals:27%
NDP:12%
Green:12%
Bloc:10%

A Harris-Decima/Toronto Star poll showed support at:
Conservatives:35%
Liberals:33%
NDP:13%
Green:9%
Bloc:8%

And, the latest Nanos poll:
Conservatives:34%
Liberals:34%
NDP:14%
Green:8%
Bloc:10%

Yup, getting more popular by the day.

no that's something to BITCH about!

I don't think the Toronto Star wrote this with the intention of making me laugh so hard I almost pissed my pants, but you got to to do something with this.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/306896

Premier's fan accused of death threats

******************

I said, `If she didn't give it to you, I'll kill her.' It's just slang," Vir said. "I use this term all the time with my husband and my kids. In Hindi, it's, `Mein tumarhi jaan nikal dungi.'"-Neelam Vir

She sent the first of about 200 rambling emails to McGuinty last July. "In India, you can't even approach a politician. Here, they're accessible and open to hearing from constituents, so that's what I was doing," Vir says

She sent the first of about 200 rambling emails to McGuinty last July

Shalini Konanur, the clinic's executive director, calls the incident an overreaction to an honest mistake.

"I never meant to harm anyone," says a tearful Vir, 40. "My Canadian dream is shattered. I just want to go back to India."- Neelam Vir

********

Yeah all they do is kill each other in India, who knew it was their way of affection.

Don't let the gate hit your ass on the way out Neelam.

Ontario as a have not province... brought to you by the McGuinty Liberals, Liberal ideals and progressive mismanagement.

iberia,

Funny thing about polls is that Tories always poll at rates below what they normally score on the day that counts.

The opposite is true for the Liberals.

Do that math.

According to Mothercorp. radio (who would probably know) Dion will likely assume his familiar paws-up position on the budget. Waiting till May to force an election on the issue of who has the biggest weather control plan.

Harper's probably ten moves ahead of Dion on that as well.

You know what bothers me about those polls, lberia, is the variation.

The NDP seems pretty fixed; the Bloc seems pretty fixed. I won't count the Greens. But the variation in the three polls between the CPC and Liberals is too great to be ignored. I'd have to wonder about their questions and their sample.

What is interesting about this budget is that its acceptance or not, has zilch to do with the well-being of Canadians and everything to do with the well-being of two political parties: the Liberals and the NDP. Their reactions to the budget will be based on only one value: their political agenda.

On the CTV National News Feb 25, Liberal Party of Canada spokesman Robert Fife accused the Conservative Party of stealing Liberal policies on:

1. help for auto sector

2. job creation for infrastructure

3. permanent gas tax transfer to cities

Liberal spokeman Fife was clearly upset, mentioning the word "stolen" three times!

http://tinyurl.com/24hjhc

Watch LPC spokesman Robert Fife at the video link "CTV News: Robert Fife with exclusive budget details 3:31"

Not until there is a Conservative majority will we see taxes affected in the proper way.

anyone have a website/source for the national deficit / debt by year for Canada for the period 1960ish to current ?

HA! that whole once we get a majority schtick STILL makes me laugh. Once you get it you still gotta pander to keep it.

haha...12 people have already voted on whether this is a good budget for them over at cbc.ca

4 for, 8 against

Since when is a policy 'genetically bound' to a political party? Bob Fife seems to make such a conclusion.

atheist quebecois separatiste - I understand your indifference to the well-being of the rest of Canada and your focus only on Money For Quebec. What puzzles me is your sense of entitlement to this money. After all, you want MORE money returned to you, than Quebecers pay in taxes. Why do you feel entitled to more than your taxes?

After all, doesn't that mean that Quebec is taking money from the tax funds of people in the ROC (rest of Canada)? Do you think that Quebec is entitled to these funds?

Right on!!! $10.2B against the debt. The biggest bitch against this item will come from the NDP who wanted a smaller debt payment and money for social programs.

From what I see so far, a prudent budget and the right type at this time.

Matt,

"HA! that whole once we get a majority schtick STILL makes me laugh. Once you get it you still gotta pander to keep it."

Correction: In year one you do whatever good you're going to do by instituting all of the unpopular stuff. In year 2 through 4 you undo what you did in year 1 trying to get a year 5.

ET,

"Why do you feel entitled to more than your taxes?"

That's what makes them french and quebecors and it's why I can't stand them or their sh*ty pathetic province. They can separate - the quicker the better - and when they do they can take NFLD with them.

Below is the Toronto Star's lead:

"The Conservative government’s third budget sets the stage for a possible election, with promises of tax-free savings, a new passport valid for 10 years, help for the ailing auto sector and transit as well as funding for ... "

In other words - good things in the budget. Yet the Star's only interest is in an election.

Dion says on CBC we will not defeat the government on this budget - Goodale says caucus will meet to decide course of action - support or abstain
Jim

OMG, all the noise of the nattering in the background pisses me off. Why don't they all shut up!!

Ugh!

The Grope and Wail not surprisingly calls the budget "stingy" as they're commies and think we should be running trillion dollar deficits while taxing the eeeeevil corporations at 99% of gross sales.

Why doesn't the rest of Canada hold a referendum on whether Quebec should be kicked out of Canada, I mean, secede?

I'd vote to boot them out. Vote early, vote often...

"What puzzles me is your sense of entitlement to this money"

If the province of quebec was a panhandler, would it be the guy that sits passively with a cup and a sign, or the guy that gets in your face?

Ottawa unveils tax-free savings plan
(reuters)
For all Canadians! From a Conservative government.
Long live Canada.
Vive le Canada.

Sorry to interject, but with respect to the budget... I noticed that some nit wits on the ctv website were complaining that the Tories were spending so much attention to crime reduction. I suppose they would like further gun control and social workers to solve the problem. God bless Harper!

How many of you have ever been to QC? Experienced the warmth of the people, seen the delights of the Charlevoix, the majesty of the Chic-Chocs, the splendour of the north.

C'mon, guys:

It's the 400th anniversary of Kweeebec ciiity
Eeevrybooody sing.

All in all, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in Canada.

Hey Separatiste - can't you at least get off the teat long enough to take a deep breath? The next time you province (country) decides to have another referendum (neverendum?) I say that the rest of Canada has one too. Just to see if we want to keep you. I will campaign my heart out to let you go. And this, Quebecois is coming to you from one whose all four grandparents came to Saskatchewan as pioneers in the early 1900's. And someone who could have a conversation with you in your first language. C'est le temp que vous partiez! Bon debaras!!!!

I've just read through the budget notes.

WHERE. ARE. MY. ENTITLEMENTS?!

I'm in TORONTO. It is SNOWING at the moment. I expect some ENTITLEMENTS!

Humph.

Perfect image, kate - The Liberal reaction.

That's what makes them french and quebecors and it's why I can't stand them or their sh*ty pathetic province. They can separate - the quicker the better - and when they do they can take NFLD with them.
Posted by: Warwick at February 26, 2008 4:23 PM

Warwick, I thought you supported national unity? Oh well, it doesn't matter - in just a few short years, NL will be a have province while it appears Ontario will not. The difference is, we probably won't be bitching about having to share with our countrymen.

But what about the climate emergency? Is it not a matter of great urgency to defeat this government which is ignoring science?

'Watched Puffy Duffy a while ago on MDL, interviewing the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance (who acquitted himself admirably). This was the CTV headline:

FEDERAL BUDGET FALLOUT

'Negative spin?

Why not:

REACTIONS TO FEDERAL BUDGET or just FEDERAL BUDGET

?

WRT polls:
I've heard enough blather from Nanos to know he's a cheerleader for the Libs, so I don't trust his polls.

So Dion backtracks again. Wimp.
Duffster wonders if they will vote for the budget or abstain, and laughs heartily.

G&M is all about Dion...

Quebec City is beautiful. My wife and I went there last year for our 30th anniversary. It was the first time we felt any interest in visiting Quebec. The people were warm and friendly. All in all a great experience.
Montreal was a dump and a disappointment.
I would go back to La Belle Province again.

So let's get this straight...you get to keep the interest off of a $5K savings account tax free?

Hmmm...you're very lucky to get 5% interest on a savings account these days, which means that at best you'll be "saving" the tax on $250. Hell, the banks don't even issue T5s until the interest reaches $50!

And encouraging saving in a time of economic slowdown? We want consumers out in the malls spending, and driving the economy upwards...

You're right about Nanos, bluetech, he's starting to show his colors. He's a fav of the Liberal MSM.
One of theses days he'll have a poll question that will give Dion a majority, it's closing in now.

If all quebecers were like atheist quebecois séparatiste, Québec would have separated a long time ago,

please do not think all quebecers are like him,
at least more than half of French speaking quebecois do not hate the rest of Canada and do not want to separate from it.

Believe me I know, I am a French Speaking quebecois.

I second that Friend of USA.

Well thank you very much, Friend.

I have to admit, that is one reason I detest "seperatiste" is because I lost all faith in the French as there was overwhelming evidence that they are so uniform and predictable and march in lockstep with the other Utopian Fascists of the world.

You are a refreshing exception to the rule.

It' appears that Dion realizes that he gone as far as he is going in politics. He will likely hang on to his job to the bitter end then lose the next election, then after he gets all the knives out of his back, either Boob Ray or Iggy will take over.

Since the other will remain in the back, the knives will remain out and ready.

Liberals are ugly, brutal, arrogant, power mad and not all that bright. However, you don't need to be too smart to pull on over on the Canadian people, we are gullible lot and respond well to generous lies.

I was born in Alberta, and courtesy of a career in the Canadian Forces, have lived in every province. One of the weaknesses we have in this nation is a lack of knowledge of the country as a whole. We tend to rely on MSM for impressions of other regions, which tend mostly to be negative and incorrect - which is a pretty good reflection of the rest of the information we get from the MSM. Most Canadians, whether from Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, or TROC, are tremendous people who just want to live their lives and enjoy life. We would be a hell of a lot better off if we stopped focussing on nit-nat stuff like where we are from, and started paying more attention on where we are going - we have the potential to truly be the best country in the world.

Shifty Calhoun, You do realize that regardless of whether or not the financial institution issues a T5, you are required by law to declare all interest income.

I was born in Quebec and still consider myself 'pure laine' French Canadian.

Don't buy the nonsense from 'atheist quebecois separatiste' or whatever he calls himself.

For you conservative Westerners here, rural Quebec folks are your closest friends in this country. We're only separated by language. We agree on all the rest.

Harper does a great job, in a minority situation.

How many of you have ever been to QC?

I've visited. It's a lovely place - but that doesn't mean I like being taken advantage of.

QC,yes been there, done that , got a t-shirt.

also been to the walls of Brugges , Rome , Luxembourg, Jerusalem, London, across Berlin,and a whole $hitload of others but I didnt have to subsidize whiners to do it.

In theory, Montreal should be an unhappy city. Not a great economy, much nanny statism, big-city bustle, and many minorities attempting to co-exist in a way that has never been done before.

In reality, the people seem happy and friendly as compared to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, etc. Just my conceited opinion.

As for the budget: $37 billion paid down on the debt in two years, while cutting taxes and overseeing a growing economy. That is the bottom line, literally, an accomplishment that exceeds my expectations from the Conservative government. Among the tiny, tiny minority of Canadians who understand national accounting and economics at a better than freshman level, we're happy, because we understand the alternative (Dion) would be disasterous.

Preston Manning correctly predicted two years ago that the Harper government would be minimalist in nature.

Why we pay for those people:
Commie and terrorist sympathizer – Jack Layton
French citizen - Stephane Dion
The one who wants out of Canada - Gilles Duceppe
Can somebody explain to me?
Why the great citizens of this country want to pay for those traitors?

I live in Quebec City.

Please don't think all quebecers are like "atheist quebecois separatiste"

These folks are becoming a minority and mostly concentrated in Montreal (See last Quebec provincial election). Unfortunatly, since most "separatists" are leftards, they are over-represented in the local mostly left-leaning, mostly from-Montreal mass medias.

Like GreenNeck said, there is a silent, mostly rural majority who are conservatives and agree with you folks from the west. You can count me in.

Can anyone think of a single issue the Libs have traction with?

A single major issue?

I look back at the predictions of the "brutal Afghan winter" being devastating to our troops and thus to Harper,

and Dion being the big "green" candidate who'd "own" the issue,

and just chuckle.

Each potential issue for Dion just fades away as he fumbles, and stumbles, while Harper plays the issues like a concert pianist plays the notes.

Thank you too, Christian quebecois federaliste.

I had given up on the French but maybe there is hope.

Dion. Not the kind of man to send back for ammunition. The man is in the last leg of a ferocious bear market. One of these days he is going to cave his skull in stepping on his last rake. Please not before I see him on the campaign trail. Puhleezze.

Green neck: what town in Quebec holds a rodeo event every year? I hear its a hit with the wannabe cowboys. Saw a good plug for the event last year. I lived in Montreal for 14 years 64-78, great place to party despite the politics. Rural Quebec, like Green neck says for those who've never been there, are your kind of people. There should be more exchanges between rural ALberta and rural Quebec (with translators if needed), you'd be surprised by the similarities in outlooks.

Warwick

.....They can separate - the quicker the better - and when they do they can take NFLD with them.

I'm in for starting the campaign immediately.

CRB

Thanks, RLP. A sane voice in a wilderness.

Stephane Dion:

"He looks like a deer caught in your headlights, after the 5 guys in front of you just ran him over."

Honey Pot,

Jeezus, get a life. Neelam Vir sounds like a doofus but, a threat?

Have you never used the expressions like, "I'll kill you" or, "I'll break your arms" in friendly jest. I certainly have, and I'm as Waspy as they come.

What RLP wrote at 7:13 PM

Actually I love visiting Quebec. I was raised in the culture (Gravelbourg), read and write the language but more than that I identify with being Quebecois. So, why do I want to see them go? Basically they are a society of whiners and complainers. I was born in BC and raised in Saskatchewan. My country is Canada - the best damn country in the world. If those separatist asshats can't realize that and they want to continually have referendums until they get their way - then fine - let them go. Won't happen though. Just stuck to thightly to the Canadian teat. That is why I say that the next time those Europeans wanabe's have another referendum, I say let the rest of Canada have one too and the overall majority wins. Once that is done - the discussion is OVER!!! - never to be discussed again. Can you for a minute imagine one of the States -as in USofA - wanting to break away? Like a lead balloon.

here's some trivia: quebec holds fully 20% of the planet's fresh water reserve.

i moved back to montreal (where i grew up) after 20 years in trawna - the best move i ever made. and yes you should visit because this year marks 400 years - quebec city is awesome.

i posted this before and did not get a response so i'll throw it out again:
in the last federal election quebec sent 10 conservatives to parliament. this is nothing short of a miracle. the conservatives have been shut out of quebec since 1920.

if harper is going to take a majority in parliament - it is going to happen because of quebec. maybe you'll lighten up a bit when the pendulum theory plays out in la belle province.
duceppe and the bloc is going to be relegated to an ignominious demise. finally.

"why we pay?"
Because like comments above – ignore and spit.

"Waiting till May to force an election . . ." -- Libs may not have the option to go to an election in May. Gille Duceppe indicated that if Afghanistan and the Budget pass he is not playing any more "games" and is simply going to wait for the 2009 date -- of course, better polling might change his view, but for now he seems to be backing off of the idea of an election.

Hey!! Isn't that the flag the Cons are going to hoist in Afghanistan in 2011? What happened to "we won't cut and run"? Oh...the Liberals...

I love visiting Quebec.

I really believe people outside Montreal are much like western Canadians in the way they view life ... fun-loving, would like the busybody utopian socialists out of their faces and understanding the value of hard work.

I have never judged the ordinary Quebecker by the idiot seperatists that sound like a bunch of selfish whiners in Parliament every day.

If our federal politicians would just give up the Trudeau tactics of divide-and-conquer and quit funnelling so much money to Quebec, the average Quebecker would appreciate it.

I believe they despise getting clubbed over the head for the greedy games the politicians play and resent the politicians for the hatred that comes their way.

But, that could be just me.

Born in the west ... the farthest east I have lived was in Edmonton. I have been to Quebec City 4 times. For me, absolutely nothing makes me feel more like a Canadian than visiting Quebec City. It's our history.

johnnyonline-- canada has fully 6% of the fresh water, quebec does not have 20%

http://www.worldwater.org/data.html

they dont have enough to float their sorry a$$es away . and you cant transport enough of the stuff anywhere for cheap enough to matter.

FREE THE WEST

Shifty Calhoun, Re your question: "encouraging saving in a time of economic slowdown? We want consumers out in the malls spending, and driving the economy upwards..."

Savings (unless they put under no-return bedroom mattresses) go to work in investment vehicles that are used to finance economic growth and prosperity for the longer term.

Savings, when invested judiciously, also return profits to the investors through dividends and growth in the valuation of stock prices from productivity gains and consumer/business demand - money that can be used for future expenditures, retirement, or a "rainy day."

When Jack Layton decries the profits of corporations, he is in fact blasting the small investors who put their savings into those companies so that they can share in the prosperity that these corporations create.

Consumer confidence in their economic future spurs consumption expenditure. A rational person who is concerned about their economic future will do the smart thing and invest what they can of their discretionary income rather than spend it all on short-term trinkets.

cal2,
your figure seems to hold more water than mine - and i would retract except that i have a large dry foot in my mouth...
for my own piece of mind - i will try and track down where that 20% came from. my thanks for pointing it out -

I, for one was very pleased with the budget. I hope that silly sal Ont. has for a premier gets some more lectures from Jim Flaherty. Ont. is whining steady and refuses to take responsibility for the Ont. voters own stupidity in how they allow their province to be run into the ground. All Ontario people who did not vote for that talking puppet in power have my sympathy. I know what it is like to be in a province run by fools - I have lived under the Dippers in Sask., B.C., and the Yukon. It is a nasty experience. We all had Puffins for years Federally. Thank Heaven we crawled out of that hole and elected a Prime Minister and a government that is on our side; Stephen Harper is proving to be the best Prime Minister we have ever elected in this country. Congratulations Canada!

The LIEberals get the jellyfish award!!

So spineless they can only gelatinously sit in their seats mounting another version of SITZKRIEG!!

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht BGS, PDP, CFP

Commander in Chief

Frankenstein Battalion

2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)

Knecht Rupprecht Division

Hans Corps

1st Saint Nicolaas Army

Army Group “True North”

How, on freaking earth, does Ontario keep polling for the Liberals ahead of the Conservatives? Do they have some sort of disease?

It just makes my head hurt.

incredulous out west,

no it's comfort - smug comfort. imho.

**************************
and cal2,

2 minutes for sniping with bravado. the trivia stands - 20% of the world's fresh water. look a little closer at the site you cited.
while it's true this water has the same value as the oil sands in alberta had 35 years ago - one mustn't be too short-sighted. anyway, as i said - it's just trivia - no big deal.

i'll keep my head up next time and maybe not end up with your foot in my mouth. thanks for that and if you could: try to keep your finger off the trigger - i'm perfectly capable of shooting myself in the foot.

aek:

"Consumer confidence in their economic future spurs consumption expenditure. A rational person who is concerned about their economic future will do the smart thing and invest what they can of their discretionary income rather than spend it all on short-term trinkets."

So why did the Tories reduce the GST, then?

Given the Sword of Damocles that is the fiscal debt, why not then RAISE the GST, reduce the debt far more swiftly, and create even greater consumer confidence? Last budget looked like a Liberal vote buying scheme. This one looks like the morning after...

I support Quebec separation.

But... but... as long as Quebec is within Canada, I fully support sucking as much money as we possibly can from the federal gouvernement.

It is not about entitlement. Nobody is entitled to anything in life. It is about Quebec's interests to have more money.

Warwick, you can get away with that when the Liberal media lets people forget. Harper can't count on that advantage.

atheist quebecois separatiste - You state that it is in Quebec's interest to have more money. That money comes from non-Quebecers. Could you explain why you think that Quebec is entitled - and the word has to be used - to the money of other people?

Don't they have interests as well? Don't they need their own money? Isn't it in their interests to have their own money?

You can't hide the fact that it is Other People's money by calling it 'federal money'. Its the tax money from other provinces. Why should Quebec have it? Could you explain?

Can anyone get me the closing quote of Bob Fife from CTV news last night - where he said that Dion was now just hoping for an economic downturn to pin on Harper?

Kate:

At the 2:20 mark (the end)of "Fife summarizes", Fife makes that comment.

Here.

"The New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois say they will vote against this budget. (insert dumbass yipping from Duceppe and Layton here) The Liberals say it's the wrong to time to defeat the government. They hope to win 3 of 4 byelections in March and they're praying the economy will tank and the Conservatives will get the blame." - Robert Fife

Bud - I can't open CTV videos. Can you obtain the precise quote for me? Another reader said something about his mention of the Liberals hoping for casualties in Afghanistan as well.

Kate: The quote you're looking for:

"The Liberals say it's the wrong to time to defeat the government. They hope to win 3 of 4 byelections in March and they're praying the economy will tank and the Conservatives will get the blame." - Robert Fife

I didn't hear anything in that report about casualties though

Greenneck....I agree,it's not voters from Quebec who we cons should be concerned about,it's the stupid maritime voters who think Danny Williams is their hero.

Kate,

There is a segment on CKNW on Monday am called Monday Morning Quarterback, or something like that. On Feb 18 (IIRC about 10am) there is a discussion about what the liberal war room is looking for to trigger an election ... both the economy and casualties were mentioned.

ET
Quebec should have other people's money because they want it.

"Greenneck....I agree,it's not voters from Quebec who we cons should be concerned about,it's the stupid maritime voters who think Danny Williams is their hero.

Posted by: h.ryan. at February 27, 2008 12:35 PM "

Seeing as Newfoundland and Labrador is not part of the Maritime Provinces, I think you will find Danny Chavez(and his 7 seats) is as popular in NB, NS and PEI as any other blowhard who spouts epithets that plainly are more appropriate for the spouter than the spoutee.

Don't remember who said this in this tread,

Unfortunatly, since most "separatists" are leftards, they are over-represented in the local mostly left-leaning, mostly from-Montreal mass medias.

But whoever it was you are right!

No, Kate; you might have shared the sentiment, but you could not have written that analysis. Your writing is pointed but thoughtful, reasoned, and eloquent.