It's all Greek to me!

CRA already propositioned me to liquidate my son!

Hey they might as well have the house, car, two daughters and whatever else I possess.

Or maybe as Ezra Levant says:

FIRE. THEM. ALL.

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

Would that Harper or Prentice would give a speech like that recently given by New Jersey governor Chris Christie . What's depressing is that I hold out absolutely zero hope of such ever occurring, even if the Tories gain their coveted majority.

CINO = Conservative in name only???

I can't vote for anyone anymore.

The CPC wants to spend like a 14 year old given a credit card and sent to the mall.

If it's the Liberals; it's the same thing, but the "limit" would be much bigger.

If it's the NDP; well they'd be like a 5 year old with "no limit" in a candy store.

We have nowhere to go but into debt.

Was that kid trying to act like Glen Beck? Didm't work.

I think the Conservative Party should be brought before Gail Vail-Oxley on Till Debt do us Part. Give them some jars and they can only spend cash, no credit cards, no debit cards and must make a real plan to pay back their debt before they can spend anymore.

I think i read that 10% of the people pay 80% of the tax in the usa. And 50% pay no tax at all.
We are probably close to those numbers in canada as well.
Now can you imagine what is going to happen, when you tell the 50% who pay no taxes, your cutting off their candy?
Remember they still get to vote...

Maybe we should make it mandatory, that in order to vote...you have to be paying income tax.
That might stop this pork barrel **** and we could then actually vote out the crooks.

Liberals in Conservative clothing!

I find it hilarious when around election time the "so called", "fiscal" conservatives want the social conservatives to shut up. Such principled men.

Like the Romans...now we have the Sask Party flirting with a covered "coliseum"...that should deflect attention. Why we could brag eh...Calgary and Edmonton don't even have one.

And Stephen Harper is a conservative?

... oh that's right, I'm supposed to "trust" him ... he's being a chess player ... ragging the puck ... setting up the LPC for a fall ... he's got that nasty media to fight off ... and let's not forget, voters are too stupid to vote CPC without faking them out.

At what point do the apologists face up to the fact that their man has only one thing in mind ... power. How he gets it doesn't matter because he is like the former LPC ... completely bereft of any core political values except one ... beat the other tribe.

For me, the last straw is that Harper, while expanding spending, actually CUT military spending from a military budget that is already one of the most paltry in all of NATO. It's amazing what a man will do to grovel for Quebec and GTA votes; while taking his base utterly and totally for granted.

I learned long ago that when someone says "trust me", it's time to head for the exits if you don't want to get any on you.

All of the above. The bureaucrats put you in your place pretty quick if you make noises that you might deviate the plan.

I don't profess to know the insights of the political rangling and positioning that goes on no matter who own the hammer. What I do now is the CPC, who I am a current card carrier for, is straying further every day from what I consider core planks. As Cjunk echos I to do not like the direction PMSH is steering the ship.

Wow. The CPC suckers are late. Maybe they've come to their senses and now reali-HAHA can't even finish it. It's over people. There is nothing left. Harper is a disaster who can't even clear majority territory for longer than a month. He's got no real political skills. The CPC MUST lose the next election so we can get back to rebuilding. That may mean a new party to re-establish the Right at a fed level. We were better off in the '90s with the so called 'divided right'.

Mark my words Harper is going to suffer the same fate as Mulroney by trying to mimic the liberals. Why can't these bastards that call themselves conservatives act like conservatives? One more bit of groveling to Quebec and these "liberal lites" plus Gary Lunn can kiss my vote goodbye. Hello Lizzy May. I would sooner vote for a dizzy bitch than a traitor.

Cytotoxic: We were better off in the '90s with the so called 'divided right'.

_____________________________________

No. We weren't. Cretin had free reign to carry out the social deconstruction of Canada.

Financially, though, I think Martin did a better job than the CPC has done, presumably because the Liberals were so unassailable that they were actually able to make hard decisions. Now, every hard decision is avoided because of the fear it will lead to electoral loss.

If Harper loses, and is replaced as leader by someone else, it will be someone who is selected because they are perceived as more "friendly and approachable" than Mr. Harper. And what that will usually mean is someone even more of a CINO that Mr. Harper.

There is no doubt that Mr. Harper has let a lot of people who supported him down. Myself included. I actually canceled my CPC membership last year and have joined the Libertarians, thereby nullifying my vote.

I wonder how long "vote for me because the other guys will destroy this country faster" will be good enough for the base.

PM Harper's Canada: Leader of the pack.

Owning the podium.

More, please.
...-

"Dollar pushes Canada ahead of the pack

Surging loonie, 10-month low in unemployment have foreign investors betting on Canada

As the rest of the developed world trudges through a fragile recovery, Canada is pulling away from the pack.

The jobs market is healing after the brutal recession, following the path of other economic indicators. Canada's fiscal position stands out among its peers, its banking system is strong, and the dollar is moving ever closer back to parity with the U.S. currency.

The economy churned out another 21,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate dipped to a 10-month low of 8.2 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday. That compares with the peak of 8.7 per cent in the summer of 2009, and is well shy of far gloomier projections made at the height of the crisis.

The jobs report in turn drove the dollar past the 98-cent U.S. mark, welcome news to many Canadians heading to the United States for spring break, where they now have more buying power. Analysts believe the dollar will reach parity with the greenback within months.

While there are quibbles in Ottawa over just how quickly and smoothly Finance Minister Jim Flaherty can shrink Canada's biggest budget deficit, the books are in such good shape compared with many other governments that foreign investors are being drawn in, buying a record amount of Canadian bonds last year.

That keeps borrowing costs down for Canadian governments, allowing the country to benefit from stimulus spending that is helping to bring back the 400,000 jobs lost in the recession without having to fear big tax hikes."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/dollar-pushes-canada-ahead-of-the-pack/article1499480/

So what's your point lance!

Is it that you’re in love with Count Iffy, because you feel in your heart that he’ll do everything you want him to do?

What a crock this video is. I don’t believe a word of it. This is a classic example of “fun with numbers”. Then theirs the unmistakable Liberal Party narrative that wafts off of their disingenuous guff. Wonder why that is?

These are the same people who waste bucketfuls of taxpayer’s money by instigating bogus non stop ATIP requests like the one they did regarding government advertising of stimulus spending.

They could have shown some responsibility and initiative by putting some numbers together themselves, but no. Instead, they put on a big spectacle to show everyone how much taxpayer’s money they could waste. It would appear that “Good for the Goose, Good for the Gander” doesn’t apply to them.

I’m guessing that they were hoping that we wouldn’t notice that glaring hypocrisy. Maybe that’s why their “Blogging Tory” man went AWOL after that outrageous post of theirs.

Some “Taxpayer Federation” they are!

old Lori, the phrase "vote for me because the other guys will destroy this country faster will be good enough for the base" does have a shelf life and is tied in with what Western Canadian said at 3:07.

However, to fair, at least until the shelf life runs out, is as discussed on the Jaffer thread below, the media would scream blue murder if the CPC started acting like real conservatives. The media thinks any party other than the LPC forming a government is an aberration.

Blame Crash - I think it more than a bit of a stretch to think of the CTF as Liberal party supporters.

Ken - I am thinking that there is a critical mass of voters in this country who would respect a leader that told it like it was, and made real changes to the budgets, not tinkering around the edges. Some of the core votes that are at risk of being lost would come back, and some social liberals / fiscal conservatives might swing to the CPC from the Liberals.

As for the media, I am not sure it's as bad as all that. The National Post and Macleans and a good number of western papers would support fiscal conservatism. The Globe also might. The Globe actually endorsed Mr. Harper fairly strongly in the last election.

The CBC and the Toronto Star and the Quebec papers of course would not, but never will anyway.

What Cjunk? Not agreeing with your narrative makes one an “apologist” now? I don’t think so, you’re obviously stuck on your ideology.

We’re realist who knows we’re not always going to get our way. Sometimes the winds in your face, and sometimes it’s at your back.

Meanwhile, theirs some folks who always want to face the wind when they take a leak, no matter what!

Go ahead if you want, but count me out.

No matter what, no matter what Harper does in gov't, what we will get under the Liberals will be far, far worse. No we're not happy with Harper right now and we need to send him a message. But putting the Liberals back in power? Are you INSANE?!

old Lori,

It was the “way” they said what they did.
And what about that red jersey? !LOL!
Only a coincidence perhaps? Hmmm!?!?
Have another look and listen Lori.
Then let me know if I have lying eyes or not!

Blame Crash ... "realist" is simply an excuse for becoming the new LPC. With each penny of bribery that Harper spends, he is vastly increasing the bureaucracy ... the progressive disease. There is no backing away from that.

Only problem is, Harper is incapable of getting a majority because of his appalling lack of communication skills, and all it'll take is a new LPC leader with a hair of pulse and the wilderness will once again greet conservatives.

It's strange though, how the very same people who were savaging Paul Martin and the LPC, now aplaud the same spending and tactics. Isn't tribalism grand.

Grok: I beg to differ ... Harper is moving left of Martin.

Governments are getting too big everywhere. In British Columbia we have the same problem. Some public servants are paid more than private-sector CEOs of large companies.

Don't know how we fix the problem, but there must be a way.

Maz2
Great points and all true.
But unfortunately some folks will only be satisfied with perfection.
These “Perfectionistas” will never be happy because of they’re demands of perfection can never be attained by all us un-perfectionists. You’d think they’d know that, wouldn’t ya!

Lets not kid ourselves folks. If Harper had a majority instead of a minority spending would be lower and taxes would be lower.But when the only way to stay in power is to cowtow to the opposition demands you will get more spending.

Gotta love Blame Crash types. They'll blame anyone for Harper's actions other than Harper himself! Their 'realism' is failure pure and simple. Harper is pushing Canada to the left and inflicting far more damage than any post-1990 Liberal ever could. The '90s Liberals weren't that bad, there was no 'social deconstruction' (whatever the Hell that means), and they actually did cut the civil service a great deal and privatized the rest of Petro-Canada. Bring back Fincance Minister Paul Martin!

Cjunk
What’s “being to the left of Martin” have to do with anything? That’s all ancient history, from a different time and place. Attempting to place what Martin did and didn’t do, in to today’s situation doesn’t make any sense.

Grok was right. The liberals would have massively larger deficits if they were in power. All the wishing otherwise ain’t ever going to change that trueism.

Well said, well reasoned, Blame Crash.

The CPC are a minority in a parliament with a united opposition; they call themselves the coalition. I call them the Troika (as defined by Stalin in his traveling Tri court outfit sent out to get rid of problem prisoners in the Gulags). We are one goosestep away from having card carrying Communist Ducippe as the de facto Prime Minister of Canada! I have very little patience with the CTPA, they must have been brushed off by PMSH because the behave like some 'hurt feelings' high school kids.

You know, the opposition has shown such a lack of testicular fortitude over the last year that I have to admit, I think the CPC could (should) have been governing as though it had a majority. So why no actual conservative policies and belt-tightening? Maybe all those who were warning us that Harper was "scary" were right for the wrong reasons.

I'm not totally sure yet, but I may end up having to park my vote. The CPC certainly hasn't gotten any money out of me in quite a while, and they have been told why. And I couldn't stomach voting for anyone to the left of the CPC either. Are you listening, CPC? We're getting very tired of you being CINOs!

The guy reminded me of Uncle Fester from the Adams family. All he needed was some more ghoulish eyeshadow and he'd be a match.

Harper has to win over the entrenched Ottawa mandarin bureaucracy first. The liberal lawyers and policy wonks that infect every corner of federal government that think the only way Canadians will be "nice" or "fair" is with more rules and regulations (ie ala CHRC)and big government.

That takes time and trust.

JMHO

Rule #1: Politicians are liars, never trust any of them!

That being said, I do feel that if I'm picking between liars, I'd prefer Harper to Chretien. Chretien was arrogant, elitist, and way dirtier than any other PM in Canada's history. Plus I also believe that Harper at least believes in some of the conservative values he's supposed to be standing for, even if he's not following them very well right now!

Quick Consucker Survival Guide

In your quest to help Harper destr-err, incrementally implement conservative ideals, you will be faced with many challenges, including Harper skeptics.
When faced with one of these skeptics, start by blurting our the word 'realism'. You don't need to include it any supporting context. If this skeptic has the gall to actually point out this governments large deficits, just claim it could be worse by moving some arbitrary goalposts. However large the deficits are, just add X billions and claim that's how bad it could be. Remember, realism has nothing to do with reality! If they point out previous governments of any kind at any time or country having implemented the policies we aren't, just say words like context, minority, troika, and Green Shift at random intervals. And most importantly, end with COALITION (TM). Because if you beat a dead horse hard enough, twitching can make it look alive! The skeptic may point out that our poll numbers suck. Point out that every major newspaper/TV station/civil servant/organization that's ever existed is united in an anti-conservative front we will call SPECTRE, and it irreconcilably hates us cons. So we have to make it love us...even though that's impossible. But if we didn't claim to be attempting the impossible, we couldn't excuse our inability to achieve the perfectly possible.
Feel free to add your suggestions humble supplicants. Love, CPC Overlord Admin.

Crash:

PM Harper and the CPC had their chances after the election when the Libs were leaderless for 18 months. They had their chance when Dion was playing stupid bugger to avoid an election. They had their chance last year and copped out. They had their chance with this budget and _again_ blew it.

The people knew it was going to be tough love and were prepared for that. Everyone expected cuts. I could hear CBC's knees knocking from way out here. Gun Registry funding? Still there. HRCs? Mustn't cut that, no, no. The numerous green initiatives? Can't have them thinking we're deniers now, can we? But we sure gotta kow-tow to the MPAA and RIAA to punish those dastardly teenagers and their tape-recorders.

Where's the 10% staffing cuts across the board? The 20% budget cut across the board? Are the unions that powerful? Where's our damned Thatcher in this pigsty of a "conservative" party?

The CPC lost my vote in a tight riding against the NDP last time around...they lost 5000 votes here with no appreciable gain anywhere else.

They haven't done anything to earn my vote back and if there isn't a Western Separatist Party, or another Libertarian type of party on the ballot I will probably not vote.

Everyone says that the Liberals would be worse and I call horse-hooey on that. No one knows what the Liberals even think and that includes the Liberals. I laugh at the "Liberals would be worse" statement. What is that? A distorted echo of "Hidden Agenda" from 9 years ago?

Look at Canada's New Gov't, same as the old one.

Fess up guys. All is lost. It's all downhill from here 'cuz we've passed the point of no return.

The only decision now is how fast we want to be going when we hit the wall.

I know I don't want the bottomless pit of daycare. I know I didn't want the Green Shaft. There have been things done I'm not too fond of but on the whole I accept it. Dion during a recession? With a green tax? Folks I figure I dodged a bullet and I am happy with that for now.

Valencia said: "Harper has to win over the entrenched Ottawa mandarin bureaucracy first."

... so he created an even bigger and more entrenched Ottawa bureaucratic class.

Just to give an idea of what is out there I received a phone call last week. It was from a pension union type of thing. You pay 20 bucks and they represent your interest in the HOC. They are pushing for increases of $200-300 a month in CPP. I said we could not afford it. The reply was that the money was there. He also said 26% of the workforce was unionized. My reply was 20% were government. The money is not there. It is not easy to fire civil servants. I have seen cases drag on for years and be lost and that is where the union agrees on cause. At least from what I have read the gov't. is hiring mostly men in their mid 50's. They aren't going to get a pension out of that and it is hard to get work at that age so I don't have a major problem with that either.

The 'my way or the highway crew', as always, are funny. Being so mad at Harper's spending will only get you Iffy/Layton's spending. Now that's the way to prosperity!

There is no meaningful difference btw Harper spending and Iggy/Layton spending. DON'T make a rebuttal without objective proof. Just don't.

For those fans of Harper's style of "conservativism", would you be so kind as to point out five major "conservative" accomplishments of the CPC government since they took power?

Personally I can only name one, the introduction of the TFSA, a great tool to save money and more importantly keep it from being taxed.

Anyone know any others off hand?

pretty easy to see Harpers realworld conservatism in his intl stuff..but as a hot potatoe in Canadrr?
A better approach may have been to say: FU

a glitch pooched my comment.
Shoulda said, FU--and waded thru the swamp of derLiberal hooors and taken no prisoners..course i aint a polytishin

No matter which way you lean or which way you peel the onion, a 42% increase in government spending is NOT conservative.

Hence the reason I have not contributed to the CPC in over two years and haven't taken out membership in three.

I'll reconsider if or when the "Conservatives" start acting conservative.

I am starting to grow skeptical of the CPC. I used to sometimes vote for the PC's and Reform. Sometimes I would vote for some fringe or independent candidate because the cons were no different than the libs. I have been thinking that we are in that situation again for a while. We have to let the cons know that they don't automatically have our vote.

WOW that list makes me hate the CPC government even more. Way to go 'Sandy'.

Personally I can only name one, the introduction of the TFSA, a great tool to save money and more importantly keep it from being taxed.

Family pension income splitting! I know one family that pays fully $4,000 less income tax EACH YEAR. He, a retired public servant, had most of the income. This is a classic conservative "family values" item -- payback for the tax bias against single income, stay-at-home mom families.

Cytotoxic. EI forever with minimal contributions after Paul Martin looted the surplus. See the difference? Did the gov't take heat? Like I said before I don't approve of a lot of things but it's a minority gov't in hostile country with very limited rules of engagement, a hostile press, a sense that things do not ever get worse and it's someone else's fault.

Parking your vote achieves a vote for the opposition. Remember, if you do not vote you abdicate the right to complain because you opted out.

For me, the last straw is that Harper, while expanding spending, actually CUT military spending from a military budget that is already one of the most paltry in all of NATO.

This is abject nonsense. Military spending was about 15 billion in 2005/2006, is 18 billion now, and is planned to continue to grow.

Small Dead Animals, a Conservative web site! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!! Now that is funny!! Today it's the CPC, tomorrow it's the Liberals, next week it may be the Sardine Packers Union of Nova Scotia. Everybody gets it on Small Dead Animals.

I used to belong to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. They nailed me for a $55.00 a year membership to publish lists of government expenses that everyone in Canada has access to.
The sign says "join us." Just don't ask how much it costs! Conclusion: No thanks, I gave at the office.

surprise surprise surprise!
All you social conservatives sure fell for his bag o'tricks didn't you?

Y'all got played like a bunch o punks.

4 years ago this blog was awash with noting but props for yo boy Harper. now it turns out he just another pol who will do anything to get elected, including increasing the deficit while calling himself "conservative".

You fell for the age old trick of pushing social conservative values but actually implementing policies that harm the social conservative voter. After racking up this record deficit, Harper has no choice but to raise taxes. The only reason he has not yet done so is because it will cost him the election if he does. SO he is now promising to pay down the deficit, without raising taxes or cutting spending. Right.

THis move be perfected in the US south. Get crackers to vote for segregationists, even while the segregationists enact policies that keep the crackers poor and ignorant.

Worked well for Harper in Canada. Get people to vote for the Cons because they hate gays, abortion, feminists, lefties, even though you Cons will now have your taxes raised!

Peeeeeeaaaaaace Ouuuuuuuuuut

Waterhouse: Military budget was just cut by 2.5 billion, including critical equipment purchases. As a percentage of GDP, we are the ugly duckling of NATO, spending less than virtually all NATO members.

So, wrap your head around that one ... Harper cut the military budget while expanding spending in other areas. Typical Liberal.

oh- one more ting ting

y'all be dissin the liberal arts degree like it aint for real

mattathefact yo, studying philosophy, history and polisci for years gave me the skills to be wise to these fools and their punk game

Never heard of Blame Crash, but I'm with him here; who the Hell you going to put in? Maybe Peter Leask will run for the Libs, I believe they appointed him. Or else we might bring back Joe Clark? You can't walk away from Harper that easy. so called conservatives on this site are like reeds in the wind, problem being they're all fiscal cons.

Cytotoxic

Now do tell us how in gawds name that YOU could know that: “There is no meaningful difference btw Harper spending and Iggy/Layton spending”

The fact is, you can’t. Not only that, it’s beyond a shadow of doubt that those two buffoons would go on a massive spending spree. And what’s with you forgetting these two clowns Separatist buddy?

You have some gall to nag at others about “making a rebuttal without objective proof.”

“DON’T” indeed!

larben:

If you "Harper" or grouse enough you may get away from 40 odd years of LIEberalism. You get sold the revolution, but it really winds up being evolution.

Other than that ya gets Reformed from being "Ottawashed".

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

Blame Crash said, "Not only that, it’s beyond a shadow of doubt that those two buffoons would go on a massive spending spree."

Cause, you know, the 56 Billion dollar deficit last year was from saving money?

Harper cut the military budget while expanding spending in other areas.

That's incorrect. They are expanding military spending. The rate of increase is lower than they planned last year. It is nevertheless still being expanded.

Typical Liberal.

Sure. Except the Liberals wouldn't be increasing defence spending at all, and judging by Iggy and Dion's hyperventilating last year, you'd be staring at a much larger deficit right now to pay for their much greater stimulus demands.

Not to mention Iggy's universal child care program and repeal of the GST cuts.

Hey, hey Rupert of the Rhine, us Jacobins gotta stick together.

@ Blame Crash: Harper is already on a massive spending spree and has been for most of his time in power. End of story. With Iggy/Layton it's just a minor magnitude change.
Oh, and to all those people who think not voting is the same as voting Liberal (as if that were soooo bad), I recommend grade 1, in particular grade 1 math. In this fabulous course you will learn the difference between increasing something like the Liberal vote tally by +1, as I will do when I vote Keith Martin, and not increasing it all, as not voting will accomplish. Oh wait, I forgot, education is elitist.
Lastly, I must ask why those who claim that they're not voting don't vote for a fringe like the Libertarian Party? You may not agree with them completely but it will send a clear signal to Harper and Co. where his support his going.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention your comment titled “Quick Consucker Survival Guide”

I’m sure you meant it to be biting commentary, but unfortunately it was all “gum and no teeth”.

[ Deleted. The rules are clearly stated below. This comment
violated both the profanity and the flame war rules. ~Vitruvius ]

As a percentage of GDP, we are the ugly duckling of NATO, spending less than virtually all NATO members.

On the flip side, of course, just spending is pointless if you don't actually use your force to uphold your NATO commitments. Canada actually uses its armed forces. In Afstan I don't think it's arguable that Canada is not pulling its fair share.

That's besides cjunk's point. Actually, it bolsters his case that we need to increase military spending more, a contention I don't necessarily agree with.

lance

What’s 56 billion when compared to what other western governments are spending?

The answer is “not much”.

[ Deleted. Off-topic Rule. ~Vitruvius ]

So apparently the logic is that we can turn back the ever increasing goliath that is bureaucratic government and deficit spending once clever CPC manoeuvring gains a majority.

Now where exactly is the precedent in recent political history that suggests to you that this is what will happen?

Reagan and Thatcher did their damndest, but they were truly mighty figures of modern politics who believed deeply in their own ideology, and made gains with only the greatest efforts. Harper is not in this league.

I think what was truly stunning about the recent speech by Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey was that he was actually preaching(in a most direct and eloquent manner) fiscal conservatism...when was the last time you saw that anywhere? When was the last time you saw that in Canada?

Junker,

You are overlooking the most salient fact about Reagan's attempts to cut government. In the US system, ALL spending is done by Congress. The President can only veto a bill, and congress can then over-ride the veto. During Reagan's entire time in office, the Democrats controlled congress, and thus ALL spending.

You can not shut down a government department by executive order, it takes an Act of Congress.

Harper stands up for Israel. That is enough to get my vote. He may not be perfect but I will never vote lieberal or commie. Ever.

And cjunk...now I know why I don't read your blog. You're a psuedo-intellectual whiner.

Folks, in Canada, we have a choice between 4 parties:

- socialist lite
- socialist
- communist
- howling moonbats

Pick one. If you waste your vote, you are indirectly supporting the socialists.

Whine, moan, bitch and complain all you want, but that's the fact of the matter.

I'll take "socialist lite" over "socialist" any day of the week.

Speedy and Terry Anderson mostly have it and Eyore .....
As for Cyto and Cjunk.....the dead givaway is the declaration....I'm a conservative...But....
Too many false flag commenters.

What I am grateful for is the support of Isreal, the quiet neglect of the KYOTO/AGW/CC hoax that the troika has emphatically pledged to sacrifice us for....

Yeah it's difficult to be impatient but in practice be patient,.....we must wait until the current crop of mandarins retire or drop dead.

Two words my friends: Green ... Shaft. How soon they forget.

I direct the attention of those calling for Harper's head (again) to A) the alternative, Count Iggula who -will- raise your already obscene taxes to even more soul crushing heights, and B) the post by EBD yesterday at 7:15 AM entitled "Now, leaving aside the facts, just for a few years..."

See my comments at 10:01 AM for the all-you-can-eat buffet of "WTF do you people think is going on here?"

Tax cuts are the only thing that is going to finally slay this dragon. The CPC has indeed already delivered a tiny, infinitesimal tax cut and I will remind you all it was received as a world ending event by the media.

New spending in the throne speech is the work of the Liberal Party who threatened to bring down the government if they didn't supply a "stimulus package" if you will recall. Same Liberal party who came within an inch of hijacking Parliament after loosing an election.

Try thinking about what can be practically attained when you see something like this video. I like the video, it makes the point powerfully and it needs to be made. This is holding Harper's feet to the fire, and that is what we need to do.

A 25% tax cut this year would guarantee rioting in the streets just like what they have in Greece this week, and the defeat of the CPC. The same reduction in spending snuck in over the next five years with trickery, smoke and mirrors will go completely unnoticed as the likes of Kady Omalley focus on communion wafers and who's screwing who's wife.

Trudeau didn't get single payer medicare passed in a year, and he didn't start the idea himself. It came after two decades of sneaking around in the shadows, lying and cheating and bribing people. Same goes for taking it apart again, don't you think?

Besides, are y'all a bunch of pussies? You want some knight on a white charger to come in, slay the dragon and sweep you off your feet like a swooning maiden? There is no knight. There is no great leader going to come and save you.

Get the hell to work. Pick up the phone, write a letter, or better yet write a check. Put up lawn signs. Start a blog. But for god's sake stop whinging about how government isn't giving you what you want.

/.rant./

F-in' A, Eeyore

Here are some facts for the Blame Harper and the CPC Class about Government Deficits in a Recession

Deficits in Recessions are unavoidable, commitments are made ahead of revenue.

All Governments subscribe to the "Spender of last Resort" economic philosophy that Governments spend their way through a recession taking up the slack in the private sector. This leads to higher deficits and would happen regardless of political party in power.

In a recession the demand for social assistance increases dramatically in proportion to the length of the recession, thus increases spending from Governments beyond any form of projected rate.

All politicians fear not providing extended social safety net funds because they think they will not be re-elected. Also appearing to not act to "save the economy" is a non-starter, so they spend money in an attempt to appear as they are having an effect.

The economy will do what the economy will do, all economic models for every form of economy show economic cyclicality. Boom and Bust if you will, it is unavoidable because of the one factor that has stymied economists for centuries and that is human nature, thus they use arcane constructs like consumer sentiment to try and model the societal response.

Governments cannot change the trajectory of the real economy the best they can do is change the velocity of the move. This means they can slow or increase the rate of change but not alter it's course. See USA for an example.

So lament all you want but nothing will change when it comes to recessions and deficits. Regardless of your political stripe accepting this is paramount to guage what happens next, and as far as I can see the Government of Canada is simple not being very innovative, and some would say ineffective in its handling of the deficit but that is no surprise.

2010 does not really matter in Canada because the Government will be judged on the Growth of the Economy and Unemployment and not the deficit, while fun to be all outraged at a budget simply keep the whole economy in context and remember a budget is a forecast.

That's besides cjunk's point.

You shouldn't presume to speak for cjunk, but if that is beside his point, then his point is irrelevant. If you spend on armed forces but don't use them to uphold your treaty commitments when called upon, because someone might get hurt, then it's just another government jobs program.

Actually, it bolsters his case that we need to increase military spending more,

I don't see how. If we spend less than other countries and yet achieve more, it's a sign that other countries are doing something wrong.

Eeyore, sasquatch and Phantom, well said.

I don't believe any of us "CPC-apologists" (that label smacks of the same level of thought that produced "deniers", dontcha think?) actually LIKE the CPC or what they are doing. We simply recognize the difference between them and the alternative.

We, the people, want fairness and common-sense. We get served greed and politics. We must choose leaders who are the least-greedy and least-political. At this point, an intelligent, level-headed Canadian would say that the CPC are the least-greedy and least-political of our choices.

I for one refuse to twist myself in knots trying to justify supporting policies that run counter to my core political principles.

I will leave that to liberals and tribablists thank you very much.

Since when did demanding that our conservative party act more conservative become anti-conservative?

Since when did demanding that our conservative party act more conservative become anti-conservative?

Since never, in my opinon. But, since when did being pragmatic about our political choices in Canada become tribalist?

I am not sure what to think anymore. Glasnost sums it up I suppose, but I think we want the CPC to act like conservatives when they can and throw in a dash of liberty occasionally.

I think at the next CPC policy convention they should pass a member driven resolution to rename the party the CINO party seeing how they are conservative in name only.

"That keeps borrowing costs down for Canadian governments, allowing the country to benefit from stimulus spending that is helping to bring back the 400,000 jobs lost in the recession without having to fear big tax hikes."

Gawd, can we EVER puncture that erroneous balloon?

The government cannot "stimulate" anything by spending money. Money must come from somewhere; if it comes from taxes, then the government is yanking capital OUT of the private sector and then putting it back into select areas of the private sector it "feels" would "stimulate" the economy; usually this is just a discrete form of vote buying.

If the government borrows, this is like trying to bring more money into your household income by ringing up your line of credit or - shudder - your credit card. You are spending TODAY (again, per government vote buying aims) at the expense of paying the bill tomorrow. Plus, rampant government borrowing increases interest rates for the private sector (reducing capital for expansion and job creation) and for the rest of us, too: as govt demand for borrowed capital rises, prices must necessarily rise. This isn't quantum mechanics, Canada.

I tried to explain to my kids why stimulus spending doesn't "stimulate" anything. My analogy was that we siphon cash that we're spending on household items to give the kids more in their allowance (they cheered that idea). Yes, they can "spend" more, but it brings no new cashflow into the house; the kids need to go and get a job for that. Eventually, they got it. Pity the government doesn't.

I think next election the CPC will lose ground; the bogeyman of "the liberals will be worse" will get lesser traction, I believe. Harper & co have had an excellent chance to show fiscal leadership by tightening belts, or at least making at attempt at doing same; let the Opposition balk at reducing federal spending (CBC, reducing #bureaucrats and manpower cuts across the board) and show canucks why the government cannot reduce expenses the way a typical family does.

This is an opportunity lost, and the CPC will pay for it. Yes, I'll vote CPC next election, but will send my MP a blunt email on my thoughts and will no longer knock on doors for them.

mhb23re
at gmail d0t calm

I just can't believe that taking no stand what so ever against an ever growing bloated bureacratic federal monster is "pragmatic" anymore. And in fact, the CPC continues to grow government.

The CPC of late has not only stopped walking the walk, they don't even talk the talk. On "stimulus"(see mhb above), on bailouts, on Global Warming, on Afghanistan, on anything!

How do we know whether or not the Chris Christie strategem would work in Canada if the CPC is too cowardly to try it?

Got to love the apologists use of the word 'pragmatic'to describe a government that has increased spending by 42% and saddles us with deficits that aren't going away for several years (they will be much worse than forecast as Kevin Page has foreseen). I do expect a nuanced strategy to advance a smaller government agenda from a minority government, characterized by picking smart fights and convincing the people of the merit of our ideas. That is not what we're getting. The CPC just retreats at best or curls up in a fetal position or starts shooting for the other side. Then they do something stupid, like proroguing parliament and they drop in the polls.
@Phantom: The green shaft is real. We're getting it in the form of incandescent light bulb bans and biofuel subsidies. And what media outlet was outraged over the itty bitty tax break we got?

toxic, you don't remember the "how are we going to pay for this tax cut?!!!" rallying cry from the MSM when Harper started talking about dropping the GST one little point?

'Course you don't.

Could they do better? Oh yeah. Could it be worse? Repeat after me: Prime Minister Dion. See? It could be so much worse.

Junker, did you know Christie announced last week he doesn't have the power to lay off unionized state employees? He did. He can't shrink the state budget because he can't fire anyone.

But he talks a good game.

There's no magic wand, guys.

Waterhouse: Here's a Canadian Forces dose of reality for you.

A major earthquake hits Vancouver ... hundreds of thousands are stranded in a severely damaged city, with thousands buried alive, dead, or injured. Can the CF come to the rescue in time?

Answer ... NO. Our rotary wing assets are too few, strategic lift assets too few ... and most are committed to Afghanistan. Without massive and immediate American intervention, Vancouver would become one giant morgue. I can picture 1 HQ and Sigs, along with other Edmonton Units (if they aren’t in Afghanistan) grinding their way through the mountains in old trucks while a handful of Engineers try to clear space in Vancouver to allow air assets in. It'd take days to muster the forces ... days to organize units across Canada, and even longer to get them there. By then the US National guard would be busy saving our own citizens.

Canada has the military she deserves ... great Canadian men and women doing their best with shit. The only real modern force is a tiny combat arm grinding it out in Afghanistan ... and when home, that force is spread out thinly across our vast and lovely land where it is warehoused on bases mopping floors or pushing paper. In the meantime, our NATO counterparts have the funds to equip their military and constantly drill and practice for all manner of happenstance.

Harper is a bloody fake when it comes to the military. He found out early on that the CF won't buy him votes in Quebec unless he award Quebec contracts, so all the raw raw about Afghanistan and overt troop support vanished. Cutting funding to the CF was completely unnecessary ... nobody in Canada (except Quebecers) would applaud cuts to the CF ... and even Quebecers might oppose cuts because they are the recipients of lavish military contracts. The CF needs massive budget increases simply to catch up to its peers ... not cuts; either that, or expect the US National Guard or Navy to come the rescue when needed. The cuts were simply bizarre ... but in the mold of the old LPC.

Phantom said: "doesn't have the power to lay off unionized state employees"

Completely irrelevant because Christie is introducing his budget on Tuesday this coming week, where it is rumoured the cuts will be massive.

That's another thing: cutting the GST was stupid. Does nothing for productivity but helps put us in deficit. Turns out the criticism was justified but for the wrong reason-no cuts, just deficits.

Cytotoxic - the GST is a slush fund tax - it is a transferred tax (or was!), once the GST was a hidden manufacturing tax which was passed on to the consumer without name. Brian M. thought it would be a good idea to tax services also, he lost the election to the Liebrals and the Reform Party who rejected the premise. Old Jeanie Cretin said he would scrap the GST - that did not happen, as you know; he made it into a Liberano slush account - buying votes in Quebec, secret trust funds, money to invest in the $$ for oil scam with Saddam Hussein... PMSH has reduced the tax on manufactured goods and services services - a tax that has no justification in this country. Would you rather just pay the manufacturer's tax? I would and it would rarely impact most Canadians today because Canada manufactures very little!

CJunk's 'comments':

"Harper is a bloody fake when it comes to the military..."

With respect, how many $billions more would it take to bring Canada's military up to the standards you, Cjunk, would be reasonably happy with?

Where do you propose those additional (to the $billions already spent since 2006) $billions should come from? Those billions handed over to bail out the Ontario auto industry should have really gone to the DND perhaps? The $8 to 10 billions handed over to Quebec in equalization annually should rightfully be given to the DND? I agree. As well as the millions - billions spent in propping up all of those other 'have-not' provinces too.

What? If the above is not satisfactory then perhaps you would enlighten me as to exactly how you would re-structure the budget so that the military/et al. would receive enough $billions to be the best it can be according to your standards.

Or, it may just be that this spring or fall Canada might have the government it rightfully deserves (according to some of the bitchers and whiners here and there): the new Liberal/NDP minority coalition. How many $billions would that government decide to spend on Canada's military do y'think?
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I would rather pay GST on both services and manufacturing than just services because the latter would distort the economy. If you don't support consumption taxes over income taxes then you don't understand economics.

Elizabeth: I'm not suggesting Harper bring the CF up to par immediately ... that can't be done. But, it will never be accomplished if you implement cuts; or only raise military spending a hair, as Harper did earlier. At the very least, we should be able to support the military at levels that our allies support their own militaries.

Don't forget, we are in better financial shape than any other NATO nation ... and that, makes Harper's semi-support for the military all that more pathetic.

By the way, Paul Martin was already ramping up spending. There is no evidence that the CPC has supported the military to a greater degree than Martin would've ... that's just supposition.

Blame Crash doesn't seem to understand the CTF can't waste the government's money on ATIP requests. After a certain limit, ATIP requesters pay for every hour of research and every photocopied page that the bureaucrats do. Don't worry about anyone breaking the federal pursue with ATIP requests!

Besides, the bank's already broken. That's the point of the video.