Thanks for that, Kate. I just finished reading the newspapers and the same thought came to me. Thought maybe I'd send off a few emails to the editors.
Now if someone could just yell it from the rooftops.

He's a what?

Don't they ALL have to be crooked french lawyers by some act passed by Louise Real or something?

As an economist I do support higher consumption taxes vs income taxes as being less harmful to the economy. But lets be clear they harm poor people more.

As to do all the economists agree equate to do they all support the Green Shift? NO. Read the last line in the article.

And read this article that shows even the economist who wrote the Green Shift, Jack Mintz, doesn't think it will work.

Oh and Lipsey is well remembered by most of us Canadians who studied economics in Canada. He's also remembered by us for getting his rear end handed to him by libertarian free market nobel prize winning Economist Milton Freidman, and never recovering since.

(I even had Lipsey around when I was studying).

thank you. i've been wondering the same damn thing!

thank you. i've been wondering the same darn thing!

And my brother who went to Ryerson Polytechnical at the same time Taliban Jack was teaching there sent me this anecdote: "I had Jack Layton as a teacher at Ryerson U. and even in a class dominated by Liberal and leftist types, Jack was never taken seriously. The height of the year was when Jack showed us a Marxist cartoon reel (30 minutes) with a communist rat explaining to us how bad capitalism was and how great Marxism was. We roared with laughter every 15 seconds, and a much-embarrassed Layton gave us all shit at the end of the class for not considering other views; to which we all laughed again. Much hilarity, esp. in the pub later."

Let me first say I support Steven Harper before someone uses that attack line.

One thing you must realize is that economists can only think in terms of dollars and cents, NPV, rates of return, etc.

They have no ability to include human factors in any of their reasoning. If I got mouths to feed, bills to pay, etc, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Therefore, I'm cashing out immediately. Makes no difference if the market goes up again (it may not) and i have to preserve what i have left.

This is why you have runs on banks, stock markets crashes, etc.

The left opposition parties have been having some success in convincing voters from the dummy community that Harper is responsible for a credit mess in another country. Unfortunately the inaccurate and inflammatory spitballing of Dion/Layton/Duceppe/MSM from the sidelines is now reflecting in the polls.

Kate, your are totally dead on in your contention that the CPC tall foreheads have, for some incomphrensible reason, been underplaying Harper's strong cards as an economist and decision maker.

Dear Tory War Room: Release the platform and take the gloves off! Your guy has huge creds to deal with just such a situation as this. And if not now, when?

To paraphrase Kate, when this election is over, Harper should go into his war room and fire them all.

As someone who has contributed financially to the CPC, I'm more than annoyed that they've wasted my money in the way that they have.

Harper has a degree in economics but he is no economist. In fact, Harper has a very lacklustre resume with very little real world experience. Most of his working life has been spent in political office. He's never had to make payroll or be an enterpreneur. That is probably why he doesn't get what is happening to Canadians.

So as far as the platform goes....with the current economic crisis south of the border, what do people think it will consist of (broad strokes, of course)?

JCL

Well, aa... Dion and Layton are university profs who also have a lacklustre resume and absolutely no real-world experience, Elizabeth May who has been little more than an activist for her entire life, and Gilles Duceppe who was not much more than a union organizer. I guess you could say Duceppe has a little real life experience.

All in all, I'll take the economist, thank you.

"He's never had to make payroll or be an enterpreneur. That is probably why he doesn't get what is happening to Canadians."

Well, that applies to Dion and Layton as well. It also applies to me, and millions of other Canadians.

So your comment really is absurd and illogical. You've just stated that he's exactly like most Canadians, and then come to the conclusion that this means he doesn't know what is happening to Canadians.

Think it through next time, aa.

Save your breath. As one liberal ex-friend explained to me when I tried to get him to read some economics (esp. of the Austrian variety): "economics is merely the science of exploitation ...." (or words very close to that).

Sadly too, modern economics is not your grandfather's economics. It has fallen under the sway of faux-science -- econometrcis; the delusion that human behaviour can be quantified and predicted by numbers.

There is a good thing going at CTV, ‘Campaign promises so far from 4 major parties’ they show the good economical promises of the Conservatives, which should appeal to the grassroots ‘kitchen table’ kind of people. The ‘buy me’ price tags of the ‘Deep Pocket’ (now that’s your pocket folks) Liberals are in the hundreds of millions with some billions thrown in as good guesses; but it’s billions all the way with the NDPs

Unfortunately, the average retard which makes up the group we refer to as the "swing voter" doesn't care about facts. They don't care about talent. They don't care about results.

What these half-wits want is a warm fuzzy. They want their leaders to stand up with crocodile tears in their eyes and make a believable showing of empathy. That's why we have so many sociopaths as prime minister. They can fake empathy better than honest people.

The "swing voting" retards don't want cold, hard facts thrown at them. It just makes them feel like the morons they are - and even morons don't like to feel like morons.

I don't think pointing out that Harper is an economist will have any positive effect. If you care that your leader is an economist and not a sociology professor, you are already a conservative supporter and are not going to change.

Kate:

Agreed, but it's irrelevant.  Most Canadians know almost nothing about economics, but are simultaneously convinced that there isn't an economist alive that knows more than they do.  This explains why people like Suzuki can get away with utterances like "Stop listening to the godd*mned economists!" and the only feedback they get is smirks of approval from an adoring audience.

Disclaimer: I have a degree in Econ and another in Finance.  I stopped interacting with people who wanted to talk to me about either of these areas a decade or so ago.  There was no point.

Garth

I am just wondering where all the coin from the war chest is going, because it sure ain't ads!!

Now, taking for granted that I do not watch CBC, CTV or Global I may be missing them, but on History, Space and Discovery there is a NDP ad EVERY commericial segment during prime time. I notice them as I fast forward through (h/t to the inventor of the PVR).

Not that the ads are very well thought out. Kind of pointless for Jacko to be attacking Harper. The CPC is not taking votes away from him. The libs and tree huggers are.

I sent 3 emails to the CPAC Goldhawk show stating that harper was an economist...none got read. Guess Harper supporter emails are on his throw away list.
He prefers to read the red-necked neocon Harper bashing views on air.

AtlanticJim:

Yeah, I've noticed the NDP ads too.  Discovery Channel's being absolutely saturated with them — I guess it's all the AGW crowd that watches the channel and which the NDP war room thinks are a naturally receptive audience for the NDPs.

As my 14-year-old niece would say, whatever.

read what Preston Manning wrote in mondays G&M
Economist VS Academics

He tags each leader extremely well & points out at the end of his article who do you want leading your country into an economic downturn.

"He's never had to make payroll or be an enterpreneur. That is probably why he doesn't get what is happening to Canadians."

This is such Bullcrap, I had a beer with dearest Steve in Winnipeg years ago, he seemed very down to earth. He was in charge of the national citizens coalition for years they do have a payroll to make.

Does Dion who doesn't even know how to eat a hotdog know what Canadians ie "we the people" are like. Who uses a knife and fork to eat a hotdog Dion thats who. Can you see him having a beer? Out of a bottle? Like real Canadians would.

bryanr without a link probably not. Can you tell us how it ends?

It isn't the best time to admit you're an economist.

I've been "making payrolls" for quite a few years, a couple of times by not exactly "legal" means. It gives a person a much different outlook on the economy. That's why I supported Belinda Stronach during the leadership race. She had some great ideas for small business, and tax in general.

Can you imagine the disaster if Stronach had won the leadership? I ask myself often how I could have been so blind. You just can't use one issue to define a leader. It's a job that requires leadership skills, not specific job skills.

DP,

Even Belinda's dad couldn't bail the whole economy out.

What's your point? That a silver-spoon underacheiver who has a very similar pre-government CV to GWBush would have done better? Come off it. Having Daddy put you in charge of the family business (while letting the VP's actually run the place) doesn't make you more qualified to run a soup kitchen.

Unfortunately, the 'chicken littles' who don't have a clue about how our system works and the very ones who would ensure we hit rock bottom are always out fanning the flames to make a few points. ...And the one guy who understands we have (along with Australia) the most stable 'Central Banking' system in the West, get's blind sided by the paranoia. Maybe by election day people will understand that ABC equals the FOUR CLOWNS with Duceppe (massive corporate welfare), Layton (punitive corporate taxes), Dion (Carbon (NEP) Tax), and May (Massive Carbon (NEP) Tax) ready to sink us with their ignorance.

Unfortunately, unless you are a conspiracy theorist who happened across the silly film Zeitgiest and believe 9/11 was an inside job, most people haven't got a clue how our banking system works. I recommend the Bank of Canada site to study their history and then you can go to www.mises.org and google 'gold bugs' to get some stinging analysis. Basically the central bank prints 'fiat (out of thin air) currency' laundered by the banks who then print additional money by 'fractional reserve banking'. In the US we had unregulated 'investment banks' leveraging out with goofy structured debt to ridiculous levels and their banks weren't only somewhat constrained by regulation. ... And you had false price signals in Real Estate with 'deductable interest' and a pseudo-government agency underwriting (owning) mortgages in a loose manner due to pressure from politicians (as seen on youtube and posted here) since at least the Clinton years. None of that sillyness occured here. Our mortgages are insured by a government agency and our banks have a conservative culture and are regulated more closely.

I guess that Harper and the CPC are now reaping the rewards of turning their backs on their supporters (the west) and sucking up to Quebec.

I am conservative and was a reform supporter. Harper managed to alienate me his first day on the job.

He put the future of the CPC and Canada in the hands of Quebec and look what it got him.

As I said in an e-mail to the Weasle Martin when he lost. " BYE_BYE ASS HOLE"

"enterpreneur"

Not sure what that is, aa. Is it a person who invents new ways to enter a room?

Tony W

So you're a Dion supporter then? Reform didn't get to impliment its agenda cause it didn't get elected. You have to win to pass your laws.

To win, you MUST compromise. You can't FORCE your agenda down on the public. You have to run policies which are popular enough for you to win with. That is why Harper has done what he has done.

If you think a fire-and-brimstone conservative would be PM you're delusional. Even Alberta is run by the centre-right - not the far right.

The stupidity and infantilism of Canadian voters has always been extraordinary. But now, with the world economic ship sinking, most Canadians apparently think the best policy is to pump water into the bilge. It truly beggars the imagination.

postscript:

I just caught the tale end of a piece on CTV's news channel of Layton with the 'Deer in the Headlights' look unable to answer hard economic questions related to his ridiculous platform.

Did anyone catch this clip? I think it was after a function in Vancouver.

warwick- read the whole thing. I admitted I was wrong in thinking stronach was a good choice. The point is that Harper's background as an economist is not a good selling point, especially now.

It's been proven time and time again that technocrats should not govern. They're too close to the issues. Leaders need an overview, and the ability to listen to opposing views. An economist could face some very tough questions right now, and would have no way to deflect them without looking guilty.

Sorry dp, took that the wrong way. I'll learn to pay more attention (especially as I've been known to slag the reading comprehension of others...)

Mea culpa, mea culpa!

Several commenters have already zoomed in on the dismal campaign being offered by the Conservative party.
I'd follow up and suggest that the campaign itself is chasing voters away in that it's so limp and uninformative. The last weeks worth of drivel has had even ME questioning what we're letting ourselves in for; damn good thing I hate the Liberals...
Harper is coming across as someone who really doesn't have his heart in it; sleepwalking, in fact. Where are all the Cabinet ministers?
In campaigns past, they'd have been out on the campaign trail boosting local candidates, promoting the party platform (we have one?!), engaging the electorate. My compost pile has more appeal than this campaign.

I would agree that other than running aggressive (and in my opinion fairly cheesy) ads criticizing Dion, whoever has handled the campaign so far has done a dismal job.

The message of calm competence, of sound planning, of an intelligent PM who is aware of all issues and making reasoned decisions, is not getting through.

My only question is why? If Stephen Harper is as smart as we all believe he is, does not not see that his message is not getting through? Is he not smart enough to hire the right people?

I believe this is a symptom of the same idiocy that led to the disastrous Conservative Party web site. It's like a bunch of amateurs are running the show.

Why not buy tons of TV time (with all the money the CPC apparently has has) for a 1 minute commercial to combard the airwaves with Harper talking about the current crisis, his vision, his experience, and the ludicrous notion that Elizabeth May can quote OECD reports to him that criticize his handling of the Canadian economy.

DaninVan you are right.

Example: during the debates Harper spent most of the time staring and answering to the table, and I was amazed that none of his so-called advisers told him to look at the camera after the French debate.

He went and did the same thing in the English debate.

Such an incredibly obvious thing yet no-one on his team spotted it.

I have always maintained that Harper's biggest weakness is his lack of good advisers and good handlers.

It is possible that the CPC's internal polls are getting different results? After all, for the last couple of elections, the mainstream polls have been quite inaccurate.

Regardless, I hope that the CPC will attempt to more forcefully push their message in this final week. Maybe a blitz of advertisement combined with a strong statement regarding the current economic problems.

The Tories should revive the pre-election ads where Iggy tells Dion "We didn't get it done."
and Dion says "Dis is not fair."
It's time to take off the gloves.

Exactly, Kate. The CPC should have an ad that basically says: The Economist, The Socialist, The Political Scientist... which one do you want to govern the economy? Vote Stephen Harper.

I also saw this interview last night and I couldn't believe that finally someone did in depth research about the association of Ayers and Obama and concluded that there is a lot more to the story that Obama is claiming. What was incredible is just ten minutes before on the same channel, the 'truth squad' looked into the 'terrorist' claim and declared that there was nothing to the story. If Obama wins the election, there are going to millions of people who are going to be disappointed to find out that Obama doesn't walk on water or perform any other miracles. I see a lot of trouble happening there because of his inexperience and shady past. I can't believe that people can be so blind. That's scary.

The Conservative economic platform sounds really promising. It's based on tax sheltered savings as an investment base. What a concept.

And the liberals countered by promising jobs and investment NOW. yap, yap, yap.

I think Harper is going after the center votes. How many of us out their that are thinking that in this downturn economy that it is wise to wait it out. We see the panicky attack "the sky is falling" syndrome. They already know they have been had on the GHG bs. The cost of living has rose dramatically in the last 2 years.

They do not want higher tax's, they do not agree with what the US has done. 850 billion dollars added to their national debt. This is what the last bailout, what about before.

Harper has run the minority government, has payed on debt, has run surplus, has cut tax's. Harper is going to cut excess programs.

Harper is going to reach these people by voting day.

Merle- If it has time to sink in.

Warwick
You should read and comprehend before responding. I assume from your response that you think religion plays a part in my comment, I don't believe in religion.
I believe that Canada died on 28 June 2004 when they elected a known thief.
Harper had a chance to resurect Canada from the ashes, all he had to do was keep his word.

Canada RIP

didn't say anything about religion.

i merely ascert that expecting a perfect government only helps the liberals.

From down here in PA it is evident that the Republicans, excepting Sarah Palin, are bone-stupid and lazy. Not surprised to hear the same about the Conservatives. Stephen Harper is the only competent person they have.

We can rail and rant all we wish, nobody's listening. The MSM have control of this election and it's all about how the Liberals can get to power. To accomplish that they will play gotcha games with the balls tossed to them by assholes like Bobsy Rae. He's running in a riding where they vote brain free Liberal, he has time to dig the depths for dirt. They love him. They love to also trot out Buffoon Williams as they did yesterday to tell Canadians to vote for anyone but a Conservative. If that's not meddling in our democratic process, I don't know what is.

Harper will be lucky to get a minority because of all the lies being spread by all the Opposition which the MSM proliferate with sneers.
If that happens we know for sure the people are as Lizzy May said, stupid.

If Harper doesn't make it, Canada is in for one hell of a ride. Can anyone seriously imagine McCallum being finance minister? Or Rae who bankrupted Ontario? Or Ujal Dosange who buggered up BC as NDP Premier?

DaninVan hit it on the head. This has been a lifeless, uninspiring CPC campaign, and their poll numbers keep slowly drifting downward as a result. It doesn't help when they do mind-bogglingly stupid things like (a) announce the arts cuts so close to the election and (b) turn around and reverse them with a week to go!

I'll echo the sentiment that if I didn't hate the Liberals, I'd be damned to figure why I should bother voting Conservative based on this sorry excuse of a campaign. Their entire strategy seemed to be "Dion's a wimp and the Green Shift sucks." The Liberals adapted by getting the likes of Rae out there and shutting up about the Shift. The CPC has looked flat-footed ever since.

The war room needs a major cleanout after this debacle.

Having looked at the polls today, I'd have to say that a Dion government with Jack Layton holding the balance of power is a real possibility. Momentum is in Dion's favour now, and there's only a week to go.

For the most part, Harper's team screwed this one up royally. Harper spent most of the campaign denying that he's a conservative and agreeing with every major point of principle that his enemies put forward.

The MSM did their part to throw so much mud that no one could tell where the PM was anymore.

Ian; I'd go farther and suggest the same for the PMO. That's gotta be where the dead wood is(?)...
Why is the taxpayer being asked to pay, house, and feed 317 people whose input is obviously not valued enough to allow them free rein in talking to their constituents, and the Public at large?
Why do we even bother with this electoral charade?
We could save MILLIONS by just cutting out the middlemen/women and turning the governance of the country over to the folks who manufacture opinion./sarc off

The CPC announced the platform today and the NDP receive the airtime on CBC at noon. The CBC minions have entered the beyond stupid territory. Also, Bush goes on the exposed CFR MSM minions to calm the market over the green shaft sections of the bailout-spending bill. All those credits will have to come from the USA economy (i.e. taxpayer), I presume Sherlock.

Does anyone have a good tonic to recommend to Harper to put some energy into this Campaign?

He has to fight four Lefty Parties and the MSM so he really needs whatever powerful concoction we can dream up.
He certainly made an error in judgment to cut Arts in an election campaign. That is one group who are always looking for money and any excuse to protest lack of it.
If this keeps up, we will have Dion and Layton running the country. Hold onto your wallets and prepare for a recession or worse.

Liz I agree with you. I think Canada's toast.

Harper blew it.

Time Sask, Alta, BC went alone

CBCpravdas AM1010 offering today, no I didnt listen. the one riding in Alberta that the liberals might have a chance in, somewhere in Redmonton.

CBCpravda All Lieberal All the Time.

any comments on the www.BushHarper.com adverts that were on the Globe and Mail home page yesterday, but not today?

If the CPC doesn't make Kate's last point a campaign ad, they're missing a golden opportunity.

They've got the wrong people working in the war room. Conservative supporters should work hard to make that known to their MP's when the dust settles.

Liz you are exactly right the pm has had to fight the left & msm in an uphill battle all the way.
This country has been on a downhill slope for many years as the Looney Left/ Socialist/enviromental activist/unionist have infiltrated every corner of government right from your local town councils to our federal governments.
Look at the liberal party as an example in my granfathers(iam 52) day the liberals were more of a centre party. But look at the members they have now that have driven the liberals to the far left, former NDP'rs that could not get to the highest level of the land in their Fed party, But did succeed in their provinces in acheiving leaders positions running their prov. or cabinet etc.. but also look at what they did to their provices before they did leave. And a leader of their party that is a socialist academic.
This country became a socialist state many years ago(with the exception of a couple of prov.)& what the PM is trying to do is bring it back, However like you said he is fighting 4 socialist parties & a left media. That is why i have said it is & was a uphill battle right from the start, Will he succeed? In time i believe he will but it takes all of us that are going to be critized at every turn & people like Kate, SteveJ stephen T & many more to defeat them.
Stand strong Liz don't lose the Faith we Will Win in the End.

Nice how you weasel around a rather interesting fact. Harper has a "graduate degree" while Dion has a degree from a European university. What you leave out -- shurely by axxident -- is the fact Harper's highest degree is a Master's while Dion holds a PhD. There is a world of difference between an MA and a PhD. It's really as big a gap as that between AAA ball and the majors.

anyway congrats Kate.

the war room was reading you.

Yeah Lloyd. A PhD in sociology. That doesn't mean much.

I've got a bad feeling about all of this. On both sides of the border I'm afraid the sheeple will only hear the blame the Captain on the bridge of the sinking ship and forget the rest of the crew that have been taking advantage of the rough weather to skuttle the ship.

Without thinking it through, lemmings will vote for the one with the biggest promises of money in their wallets while ignoring the fact that those pipe dreams are just that.

I hope to heck I'm wrong.

Lloyd- Totally meaningless, other than maybe, one decided to go earn a living a couple of years earlier.

One of Canada's worst prime ministers fiscally was also an economist: Trudeau.

It really means nothing, sadly.

I found this quote from Dust My Broom today that I really liked:

"It is fascinating to note that our next government [The Liberals] could possibly be a thinly tied together coalition of freaks with their only togetherness constant being a somewhat variable hatred of right-wing Bill Clinton ideology. Can we say a naked, muddy mass of slithering disambiguation?"

Whether they form the next government or not, this is the kind of coalition that Dion has set out to build from day one: a gaggle of whining second-handers who will viciously turn on him when they sense he will not deliver the goods, and cripple the Canadian economy in the process.

Shut down the tar sands and make more films like Young People F___ing. That's a friggin' great thought for the future of our country.

Well, at least the Conservatives wake up when you kick them in the ass. Try waking up a Liberal sometime. Or a Dipper, if you want a real work out.

In 1988 the Conservatives went over the head of the MSM* and the Liberals with a series of hard hitting adds that completely turned the ship around over CAFTA. The biggest thing about those ads, created under the guidance of Allan Gregg, is that they were the TRUTH. And John Turner was a businessman for heavens sake, not a sociology prof.

Harper has done well and is being affected by the poopstorm in the markets which, to say the least, is out of his control. What IS in his control is the ability is drop the gloves, make some strong speeches, and get some ads crafted around the release Kate received.

And get them out soon.

(* CTV's Craig Oliver, not a friend of the CPC, in a way "gets it" in his latest blog entry)

It's been said that the MSM is behind the Liberals. There behind Harper too.... holding one arm behind his back.

"There is a world of difference between an MA and a PhD."

I'll say! If it makes you feel better to have a PhD in Sociology and experimenting with economics. Hey! just like a PhD in Arts doing rocket science.

Brian Mulroney was a lawyer; he accepted bribes which is criminal behaviour,

So Stephen Harper is an economist; let's elect him and see if he is as incompetent as he seems to be.

Texas Canuck

I hope you're wrong but I have the same sinking feeling....time to go back to the farm me thinks.

Syncro

"One of Canada's worst prime ministers fiscally was also an economist: Trudeau."

That's a stretch by any standard -- the economist part, I mean.

Lottsa PhDs around here, I bet.

It's the NDP and the Liberals that are mimicking GWB, calling for government $$ into the economy.

How many of your dogs did a Conservative run over?

Tony W

Patience Tony:)

Things are more than likely to stay the same, a Conservative minority government slowly moving us in the right direction. PMSH has said that decentralization is one of his priorities, that's what you want isn't it? As mentioned by others, these things take time and need to be negotiated( he only has a minority), your apparent strategy has a 0% chance of successes. In the event of a Liberal/NDP government, these parties will not be able to resist alienating westerners. That should fan the flames of the movement many in the west are waiting for; but, all things considered, a strong west in a united Canada is still my first choice.

How do we get the Conservative war room gang to inject some fire and passion into this campaign?

The media will not report major plagiarism by Dion but make it front page news when Dipper turned Liberal, Boob Rae trotted a five year old example of Harper delivering a speech written for him by a speechwriter. Where's the fairness? Where's the neutrality in this election?

Who among us can do a damned thing about it?

Isn't David Emerson campaign co-chair? Might this be related to the bush-league performance of the war room? why would they put an ex-liberal in charge of their campaign?

Letting up on the fact that Dion could be one of the 12 or so liberal Quebec MP's that took stolen Adscam money to fund their elections and totally leaving out any mention of the corruption and ongoing criminal investigations of liberals was a really good war room decision.
Shhhhh, don't mention Adscam or any other criminal investigations.

How about running old clips of closed gubmint offices and hospital floors back in the day when Boob Rae-Days was walking Ontario over an economic cliff?

Talk about obvious bait. Jimmy- do you really expect someone here to start supporting domestic terrorism?

I was wondering what happened to the roger/new/real experiment.

Just a couple of things.
1) Going against the polling #'s I have this observation.
Joel Denis Bellivance has consistantly said the Libs are no where in Quebec, and that a lot of poeple will be casting a vote for the CPC . Even the funding cuts for Porno have'nt resonated in Quebec outside of Montreal. So that being said...

2) As for Tony W 's comment that the west should secede. I would say this. CPC minority= election in less than a year. At which point Iggy or Rae will be running the show. = possible Lib minority/majority. At which time it is Adios Canada. As soon as the LIbs are back in power, particularly major power it is game over for Alberta Sask. B.C. well I don't know. We will need a port.

Interesting to note that as soon as analysts determined that the "Green Shift" was hurting the Liberal Party, the media has used it sparingly since. But when analysts determined in the last two elections that the "hidden agenda" charge by the LPC was hurting Conservatives, the MSM continued to use the term and did so right to the finish line. Double standard?

The release of Canada Savings Bonds has been delayed by Harper's Government.

That is not a confidence-inspiring strategy; a real leader would have been the first to sign up and to encourage all Canadians to do the same.

"I would say this. CPC minority= election in less than a year. At which point Iggy or Rae will be running the show. = possible Lib minority/majority."

It'll happen sooner than that if NDP and LPC combine for over 155 seats (worst case scenario, yes, but possible too). If that happens, Dion and Layton will legally seize power by defeating the government on confidence and then telling GG that can run parliament. She will have no choice but to call on them to govern.

This is not some wild eyed scare tactic. When the Ont provincial government (Miller) won a narrow victory over David Peterson't Liberals, he went to LG and combined with NDP to form minority government, without the electorate being consulted. Guess who the NDP leader was - that's right - Bob Rae.

I swear these thoughtless twerps who vote other than CPC, even though they want Harper as PM, are taking us to a train wreck, at a time when we need sober reasoned government. Instead we will get Jack Layton, as Deputy PM and Finance Minister, will demand many concessions out of Liberals, such as shutting down the oilsands projects, most certainly a moratorium on any new oil development.

Even if they can't quite pull of 155 seats between them, don't worry, the Liberals will decide "Canadians" want another election.

Many people blame Trudeau for enacting socialist policies. Quite often during his reign, he was beholden to the NDP who forced left wing crap down their, and our, throats.

Think carefully in the polling booth; this is turning out to be the most crucial election of our generation.

Kate:

People don't vote with their brain, they vote with their emotions and their heart.

If you really have a link to the CPC war room, tell them to go and see what Kinsella has to say. He is dead on, and maybe it is not too late.

Who in their right mind would buy a Canada Savings Bond. They are absolutely useless. Put the money in a CDIC guaranteed high interest account. Probably twice the interest rate with none of the hassle.

Dion's single largest amount owing from his leadership bid as at October 10th, just who are the principles of this corporation called Stop Harper?

From Elections Canada

39 Oct. 10, 2007 Stop Harper B - Corporations 99,350.00

Didn't Dion have an Elections Canada deadline to meet on Oct 3rd regarding the Liberal leadership debts? Anyone hear anything about it?

Oct. 14 will be a happy night.
Your going to die from bad living, not poverty.
Kate will have 20 million hits by 2010.

Joanne Laucius, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, October 07, 2008
More than 230 academic economists have signed an open letter to the leaders of the federal political parties, urging them to acknowledge that putting a price on carbon is "the best approach" to combatting climate change.

.... after being asked about the causes and consequences of climate change 230 academic economists had absolutely nothing useful to add to the discussion ....... except that taxing it is pretty cool .

Here's a question: What minimum difference in seats between Liberals and CPC would it take for the Liberals to have the gall to try and overturn the results, go to the GG, and ask to be given the go ahead to form a coalition gov't? If the Tories got 130 and the Liberals 115, would they seek to overturn who Canadians elected to gov't? And what pressure would Lizzie bring to bear on Layton if she wins her seat? Would that be a factor? If Layton doesn't capitulate, then can't the Liberals turn his arguments against him when he says the Liberals are the ones who propped up a Tory minority? With the Greens seemingly being a growing option, would the NDP not feel they might be squeezed in future elections and that there best choice is to have a voice within gov't?

Liberal MP Bob Rae dismissed Mr. Harper's platform as insufficient aid and comfort for a worried country fretting about retirement savings, jobs and homes.

“He doesn't do hope very well; he doesn't do empathy very well; he doesn't do understanding very well and frankly those are all qualities we expect in our leaders, particularly in a time of difficulty,” Mr. Rae said of Mr. Harper.

Tough times ahead and Bob Rae wants us to elect psychotherapist not an economist.

He wants PM to feed us with; "hope" (mother of all fools of this world), "empathy" (word most commonly used by crooks and psychopaths), and "understanding" (word most commonly used by liars and crooks).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081007.welxntoryplatform1007/BNStory/Front

Will someone in the war room catch the ball that Mike Duffy tossed last night?

Joann at Blue Like you has this:
(her rough trancript)

Mike Duffy:
"Well, I find it amazing that a week to go before the election, they feel it important to put this out at this time, and when one considers the political leanings of some of the people at the top levels of that bank, I wonder if it wasn’t done on purpose to help Liberals scare some of that NDP vote back to the Liberals. .."

The guest was a fearmongering 'expert' from Scotiabank.The look on his face was priceless..he didn't respond and Duffy moved right along.
Who was Duffy talking about?

Bill D Cat

Didn't Dion also get the endorsement of some 150 "academic environmentalists" today?

That coupled with the likes of Lloyd and NNW's spin.....well it just smells like Kinsella.

What better antidote for the Timmy's crowd than superior education and presumably intellect in desperate times.

Even Coyne is beating the professional drum.

As Kate noted and presumably the CPC war room heard....get Harper's shingle visible.

Syncro

I'm glad to see the lieberals have found SDA. Now if they could just stop smoking whatever they are smoking and look at the facts...

I'd rather have an Economist balance my cheque book than a Sociologist perfesser, even if it is Piled Higher & Deeper (PhD).

btw, calling someone a thief is pretty strong words there Tony.

love the MSM's consitency on the economy... attacking Flaherty for not inspiring investor confidence in Ontario... attacking Harper for not wanting to spurn investor confidence, wanting him to say that the sky is falling. Inconsistent reporting, but both consistently helping the Liberals.

Let the two idiots form a coalition govenment. They will defintely sink Canada into a recession/ depression. Apparently, the electorate have never lived through rough times or they would really hesitate at giving their vote to the Libs or Dippers. Watch this unfold and it is guaranteed after these two are finished with the mess they plan to create, their governance will be demolished for a good generation. It will just mean that a later CPC government will have to work harder cleaning up their mess. All because the electorate only can think of what a government can give them....free ride. Ha... that free ride is coming to an end. Maybe that is what's needed to turn this country around.

As I've said in previous post I have lived through some severe recessions am the offspring of depression kids.. Was taught well how to survive tough times. Now its up to you how to manage your lives through this. The trick is a victory garden, a stocked stock room, forget the toys for awhile and hunker down. Nothing last forever.

We had relief that folks could use between jobs - not a lifetime free ride that seems to get handed down from one generation to the next in this modern world. My mom would make sandwiches for men who came to our door hungry and out of work. We had no health insurance and children were brought into this world and their parents saved for their wondrous addition. Spoiled rotten Canaucks today. Won't understand what to do when the shyte hits the fan. Will look damn good on them, they get what they deserve.

syncro ,

Let me be the first to put the ACK into ackademia .
Goldstein put it well on Adler yesterday ....the GREENIES are getting everything they're asking for without even getting a vote . Canada , and the rest of the world are going to cut their GHG's like it or not ...... Recessions are good for that .

Richfischer, that's Louis Riel to you.

We as Conservatives keep thinking the same old logical thoughts. If we present a good program and keep our word and enact excellent legislation Canadians will reward us with a majority government to continue the good work. As many of you have commented on Kate's blog and I fully believe it, vast numbers of Canadians simply do not care about this middle class agenda.

Canadians are becoming more and more socialistic which each passing year and as shown when the most astounding and far-reaching corruption in Canadian history, even involving the PM Chretien, the Liberals still got 102 seats. With more immigrants and ever growing public employee unions I think it is almost impossible for the CPC to win a majority or even keep a minority government.

As ET has noted with the self-serving Quebecers voting for the treasonous Bloc and its communist leader Duceppe the available seats are cut by at least 25. Now the big unions like teachers are solidly in the Liberal camp.

Harper, though many of you are grumbling now, is the best leader I have seen in my lifetime and done great stuff. With the MSM almost solidly against us and pilloring him daily it is an uphill fight to say the least. We can say our ads are too strong for attacking Dion or now to weak but IMHO it simply doesn't matter.

When so many of the people I meet on my canvassing as well as personal friends say they will vote Liberal no matter what how can you react to that.

The west with its entrepreneurial base and sense of personal responsiblity is still a conservative base. The east has had generations of socialist thinking pounded into their heads and always looking to government as its saviour. It may take a devastating financial collapse to break this socialist hold.

I hope I am absolutely wrong and we win a majority.

I notice CTV has "technical difficulties" with the Duffy clip from last night where Elizabeth May tore him a new one for being biased and unfair. That's one piece of TV you'll never see.

I wonder why the Conservatives are not rebutting the attacks on the arts cuts by explaining that they are giving Canadians the opportunity to make the decisions on which art and culture they wish to support.
We have more money on our pockets now as a result of the tax cuts, so any of us who wish to use that loot to support the arts can easily do it.
Instead of having some bureaucrat deciding what our culture is, Harper has put that control back in our hands.
We can buy a painting, go to a play, give some money to a community theater or any number of other things.
Hell, they could even go see the monster trucks, some people consider that part of their culture, and who are we to argue?
Or why should anyone in an ivory tower decide what is and isn't art and culture?
I'll bloody well decide what my culture is, thank you very much.
Anyone who wanted to pay for many of the more ludicrous arts projects would have the opportunity to do so,after all, it's their money.
Nothing has changed, the money didn't disappear, it just is in our pockets now instead of the governments. We can spend it on beer and popcorn if we wish, or we can go to the symphony.
The critics attack the cuts as being censorship and controlling what gets funded when in fact the opposite is true.
We now have control instead of the government.
Not bad for the supposedly control freak Harper.

The CPC needs a new communications strategy.

I think that some of the panicking I am hearing on this forum (and the gloating from the liblovers) is premature. The core conservative base is not that fragile. A Lib victory cannot realistically be achieved without any seats west of Ontario,which is what they are headed towards. I also think the CPC will come up the middle in a significant number of seats where the NDP and Libs will fight it out. The Bloc will get more seats in parliament than the NDP, and they are hardly a Liberal ally.

We may, probably will, have another CPC minority. Disappointing, but not the end-of-the-world.

One thing for sure, though. I for one am very glad that in the past year I have not donated a cent to the CPC, as surely it would have been wasted money. All my money has gone to Ezra Levant (and to Kate when the lawsuit came up) and I think that was money far better spent.

Lloyd Fister

I can honestly say that I've never seen a " handle " and comments mesh as perfectly anywhere , ever .

It really does knock the suspense out of things when we have all the pollster tits yakking at us daily , telling us how we're going to vote.
It's also meddling because some people go with the flow and vote according to polls.

The way it's shaping up, we could be in one dandy mess. The idea of having the likes of Dion and Layton calling the shots should give thinking people pause for concern.

The problem lies with the Liberal/Left media who are bombarding the airwaves and print media with anti-Conservative rhetoric constantly. It's the worst ever in memory and it's very dangerous to think we are this close to Third world tactics by a media intertwined with a political party. Add to that, they're ignorant of the dire situation their choice will put the Country in.

Kate, what's your degree in? Painting Loony Tunes on motorcycle helmets?

Called common prarie sense there Jeff buddy, if a lot more people had this type of common sense we wouldn't have all these snot nosed Turdopians whinning from the rooftops that they are in financial trouble as the clowns have boat, rv, suv house quad snowmobile etc payments. This problem in the markets was not brought on by Harper, you have to be a liberal or a moron, one in the same, to think the conservatives had anything to do with this. Try 13 years of lieberal theiving and stealing the public treasury bare! Liz, these idiots in the MSM don't care about the country as long as they try to make Harper look bad, they have all been educated by people like Lenins little look a like E. Jack Layton from Ryerson, useful idiots all,

Right on Kate. I've been wondering for weeks why the CPC has given Dion a free pass on his leadership debts. The attack ad writes itself for Gods sake.

Am I just being overly optimistic but with his performance today and his stick handling around the delivery of his message for a couple of formats ... could this be another ... the polls didn't see this coming! ?

Majority, Majority.

OK, I was 'day dreaming' and thinking people are actually rational and .........

Jeez Kate, at least do a fact check before you post stuff. Even Wiki would tell you that his academic qualifications are not limited to sociology.

He studied political science at Université Laval in the department co-founded by his father.[4], and this was also where he met his future wife, Janine Krieber, a fellow-student in the same program. He obtained BA and MA degrees in 1977 and 1979 respectively (his master's thesis presented an analysis of the evolution of Parti Québécois electoral strategies[5])

The problem with never attending post-secondary education is a lack of knowledge about disciplines. Political science and sociology are distinct. Political science puts a heavier emphasis on economic theories - studying economists like Olson et al. Its okay - no one expected you to know any better.

Dion taught at the Université de Montréal from 1984 to January 1996, specializing in the study of public administration and organizational analysis and theory, and was a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

Public Administration is more economics than politics. There are political and sociological theories involved, but economics rules supreme. And teaching PA is a hell of a lot better than an undergrad in economics. Harper has helter skelter knowledge of economics - undergrad degrees, and you are pardoned for not knowing this, are very generalised. Knowing it through research is a whole different ball game.

Fact checks rarely hurt.

Dennis;

If your correct, you can kiss this Country goodbye. I cannot imagine a North America surviving both an Obama & Dion in these economic or political times. Canada is already a liberal fascist State. I sincerely hope your wrong. To be honest this Nation died the day we gave the Liberals our flag as their political symbol in 1965. We surrendered to this form of Totalitarianism, for a bowl of arsenic laced soup called socialism or Neo-Marxism. Cemented with a Constitution by lawyers & for lawyers, that means whatever the political wind of the days blows into it.

JMO

I have always maintained that Harper's biggest weakness is his lack of good advisers and good handlers.
Posted by: TJ at October 7, 2008 12:41 PM

Not just Harper. IMO, this problem stretches right back into the Reform days, where you had a lot of good-intentioned folks running things, but were political amateurs, and it showed during a campaign. Up against the well funded, slick Liberals, it was a slaughter.

I thought the current incarnation of the Canadian political right was past that. The 2006 election was extremely well run by the Tories. They managed the message. They got off to a strong start. They had a simple, clear, published and measurable platform. It wasn't rocket science, but it was an effective and populist campaign.

This campaign has been almost the opposite. The Tories have not managed the message well at all. The campaign started weakly with highly publicized gaffes (pooping puffin, etc.). They are the last party to release a platform with only days left in the campaign. They've been left twisting in the wind by the turbulent economic winds, and haven't been able to (until today) point to a clear plan.

I'm frustrated with the average Canadian voter, yes, but I'm equally frustrated with the amateur Tory campaign these past few weeks.

When King in WW2 wrote in his diary that a post war majority was more important than Canadians dying then, before I was born, was when the Liberals lost my vote.

Anyone who eats a hotdog with a knife and fork... well goes to the back of the class....AT LEAST!

Knife and fork..can you imagine?

As for leadership debts, oh sure, you're JUST THE GUY we want to run our country!!

Oh yeah,.....right,....sure you are..........now run along!

Watched the whole Mansbridge interview with Harper. He came across as a good balance of "feeling our pain" (as per Kinsella's suggestion) and as a competent leader well versed on the issues. Harper even mentioned his mother's worry over her investments.

I thought he did great.

When the interview was over a lame, crude and amateurish Liberal "BusHarper!!!" ad ran. For g-d's sake, which party is supposedly out of touch with the stress we are feeling over the economic turmoil? Gimme a break!!

Jeff: Does not having a Phd make anyone more intelligent? well maybe in the field you are focusing on, but certainly not in general. If "painting Loony Tunes on a motorcycle helmet" had a Phd attached to it,Kate would have one. I would pay for Kate to do my motorcycle helmet,I would not pay anyone with a "social sciences" Phd for advice of any kind.

oops sorry,that should read: Jeff: Does having a Phd make anyone more intelligent? well maybe in the field you are focusing on, but certainly not in general. If "painting Loony Tunes on a motorcycle helmet" had a Phd attached to it,Kate would have one. I would pay for Kate to do my motorcycle helmet,I would not pay anyone with a "social sciences" Phd for advice of any kind.

when all is said and done I wish I was an American that could vote for Sarah Palin and that other guy.

Clearly, the CPC war room gambled that Dion was such a klutz that they would just have to sleepwalk to majority, letting Layton do the heavy lifting in his own cause, and allowing the Liberal vote to bleed out to the left.

Well that hasn't worked out very well. The NDP campaign has been so-so, and the Liberals have brought in every known asset and stuck them in full view while Dion does what only he can do (I don't know what that's called, but as somebody remarked on here earlier, even a sack of hammers could get 20% of the popular vote under the Liberal banner).

The one strategy the CPC war room seems to have is to drift Harper into the centre, sort of like turning a fully loaded oil tanker sideways into the waves instead of using the radar and heading for the right where some votes actually wait to be collected.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of talk on SDA about this, I'm rather new here so forgive my ignorance, but it's a well known fact that one or two million right-wing conservatives are probably unhappy enough with Harper's performance (mainly on the free speech file) that they might consider abstaining. Obviously they won't cast votes for anyone else unless it might be a meaningless protest vote. These people can still be induced to vote Harper by the simple procedure of having the PM pledge his support for reforms of Section 13 in the next term. If that drives away more than 200 votes from the centre, I'll eat my shorts because frankly, I doubt that there are 200 non-conservatives in Canada who ever heard of Section 13.

Another thing he might consider doing is manning up on climate change. Sew some doubts in the mass mind -- lots of people have private doubts about the Suzuki-Gore scientific breakthrough that has everything but verification going for it.

Get people talking about the nuttiness of the climate crisis while they are freezing at their cottages on Thanksgiving.

If you're gonna lose, lose like a man.

But you'll probably win. Otherwise, like someone was saying, it's probably full speed ahead for western separatism, I see another Trudeau in the wings. One was more than enough.

"when all is said and done I wish I was an American that could vote for Sarah Palin and that other guy."

I'll drive you to the border. If you are highly-skilled, it should be easy to realize that dream. If you are average-skilled, well, you could join those Mexicans and hope for amnesty.

All the same, good luck. And good riddance.

Just because Harper holds an economic degree doesn't mean much. Did he pass on a weak class curve? His advice is to buy low ,sell high...you don't need a degree to figure that out.

I guess harper won't be playing a violin while your portfolio's disappear but perhaps a piano.

SDA gets results! Yup. Congratulations Kate.

Dion is a French citizen, he would be forced to fight for France should there be a war in France. If French citizen Dion joined any foreign force (including an allie's force) and touched his tinkerbell toe on French soil; he would be shot as a traitor. French Law - it is still on the books. I know this because my friend's Dad barely escaped execution for landing in France in a Canadian uniform in WWII - he was 2nd generation Canadian. His rich relatives in France saved his life ($$ help - esp during war).

The Liberano war room must have a big loan from somewhere - the CTV and CBC are playing Liberano ads 24-7 even during regular programing. I hope the Liberanos are planning on reporting the free air time to elections Canada.

An economic degree is good for teaching economics. I've seen for myself that it doesn't make Harper any smarter. It's like philosophy. It looks impressive but is useless.