Budget Poll

116 Replies to “Budget Poll”

1. Erik,
   The answer is ‘no’ to conservatives being able to ever build a majority government.
   But not for the presumptions you’ve made; again its externalizing the problem.
   Conservatism as an iedolgy has got its head so far up its own ass that failure is gauranteed. Its literally choking on its own odour. To succeed it has to reinvent itself and set itself up for success not failure.

2. My naivete is gone, bud, evaporated with any pretense that the Conservatives can call themselves prudent fiscal managers of the nation’s finances. You have anything constructive to add or do you just want to make more excuses for the Cons?

3. Hands up those who think very little of this money will ever be spent….with conditions on the province and municipal govt’s to chip in, what are the odd???

4. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. To bring in a conservative budget at this time is a waste of energy as everyone knows it would not pass and never be implemented. I believe PM Harper is trying to walk the fine line for the good of the country whether the country realizes it or not.
   Being at home today, I’ve had the (mis)opportunity to see Mr Puffin on CPAC and I must say that this dude is merely a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The man’s quest for the throne of power is obvious as is his contention that Canada is a Liberal nation and it is time to return the Lieberals to their rightful place at the top of the heap.

5. Way up at the top, ET talked about decentralized government. I believe that may be Harper’s principal goal as Prime Minister.
   He’s been gradually taking fiscal power away from the Federal Government.
   This budget actually goes indirectly toward that objective. Three or five years from now the Feds will control even less revenue for foisting “national” programs on the country where the program in question intrudes on the constitutions provincial responsibilities.

6. After the Dippers propped up Trudeau, didn’t we get 8 years of easy Conservative victories?

7. Harper needs to call Ignatieff’s bluff. Now is the time to take the Liberals out. The alternative is a passed budget, followed by constant uncertainty of photo-op, sound byte “updates.”
   If Mr Ignatieff is unhappy with government conduct (and his words, if they are to be believed, say that clearly), then he needs to vote against budget and jettison this stupid idea of another level of navel gazing.
   This is a time for action. Let Canadians speak on this budget. Please, Mr Harper, state budget will be put to vote as is, given no substantive amnendment proposals (navel gazing does not count).
   Call Ignatieff on his bluff; who knows, he may actually present some policy ideas. That is not likely though, given the man hasn’t won anything he wasn’t parachuted into, who couldn’t even beat Stephane Dion, despite being the next heir apparent philosopher king Liberal PM.
   Frankly, I’ve had enough of the whining of the opposition, and many of these posters. Offer some alternatives, or stop bitching. Do any of you know, for instance, that over half the budget deficit is due to drop in tax revenues?
   Frankly I’m sick of this pure laine ideological crap about what conservatism is, or should be. Most of you have no idea what that is, and true small-c conservative supporters could fit in a phone booth. There is no national consensus for your viewpoints.
   Face it (ie-grow up) – Liberals aren’t liberals, Conservatives aren’t conservative and NDP surely aren’t democratic. This should be self-evident.

8. The gov’t is on probation?.What a farce. To put someone on probation you must be able to control that person in some way. The dippers have stomped their tiny pink feet and declared the coupalation dead,leaving the option of an election. Do Iggy and the rest of the natural governing party want to try their hand at an election from their current position? I hope so.Bring it on.

9. I find Ignatieff’s arrogance – well, there’s only one word for it; it’s disgusting.
   The arrogance of this individual, who has never been in an executive position, never had to come up with a budget, gone only to places where his rule was pre-determined and secure – the arrogance of him declaring that the Conservative government is ‘On Probation’.
   Who the heck does he think he is? Ahh, we know. He’s the Sovereign. And we are his minions, under his Stern Gaze and he will require constant updates on our performance in running His House.
   After all, he’s told us that we are, by natural law, His. The Liberals are the Natural Governing Party and He is Its King. And we are his peasants. And our government that we elected isn’t ours. It’s his.
   Our government isn’t answerable to us. It’s answerable to Ignatieff. The Sovereign.

10. Why the hell would I do a home reno for a 15% rebate from the feds when I can at least 25% off from an underground economy company for cash and no GST and any PST.
    And that is available all the time with no time limit. Also, the rebate is instant. I don’t need to apply for anything. Another spin off is that my any increase in my home value doesn’t get registered so my property tax is unaffected.
    So much for that part of the stimulus scam.

11. ET: Iggy of course will get to ‘road test’ that theory at the next election; which he can trigger at the next vote.
    But then some ‘election roads’ also contain some road hazards as the last Liberal leader recently discovered.
    As to the “Natural Governing Party” that is the party selected by voters, when they aren’t being lied to through stolen federal dollars like “Adscam”.
    If anyone is ‘on probation’, they Liberals are decidedly still in the voters ‘doghouse’.
    Cheers
    Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
    Frankenstein Battalion
    2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
    Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
    Knecht Rupprecht Division
    Hans Corps
    1st Saint Nicolaas Army
    Army Group “True North”

12. This type of crap has been tried again and again & has failed every time. It will only prolong the agony. It’s another scam to endear Big Bro’ to the public. I say they stick it where the sun don’t shine.

13. Best Whaaaa of the week goes too…
    “we have a new coalition now on parliment hill, It’s a coalition between Mr.Harper & Mr. Ignatieff”
    Jack Layton
    ctv.ca jan27.09
    “Mr Ignatieff has made his choice, he has decided not to support the coalition and the positive change that it would have brought”
    “Instead he has formed a relationship with Mr Harper and this could last for a very long time”
    jack layton

14. “Another spin off is that my any increase in my home value doesn’t get registered so my property tax is unaffected”
    And John – that statement shows just how stupid you are.
    Do you really believe that a municipality doesn’t know what you have done. You do know that you will be found out during a general reassessment and then you face fines for not taking out permits.
    That statement is a ludicrious as those who think that if they don’t put doors in their basement rooms or attach their deck to their house, it doesn’t affect their assessment.
    Urban myths John, urban myths.
    But good luck to you on that.
    Oh and in case you don’t think I know what I am talking about – my background is in property assessment.

15. Harper should say to Ignatieff, “Of course we will provide updates, we always have, and those who are familiar the functioning of a Canadian parliament would know that.”

16. Kelly McParland has a comprehensive list of stimulus gems in today’s National Post.
    Some of my personal favourites include $25 million for snowmobile and ATV trails, and $100 million for a new federal sponsorship program for “marquee festivals and events”.
    I am, however, deeply disappointed that there is no money for the recreational ice-fishing community!
    http://tinyurl.com/b7nxed

17. One positive of all this is the end of the strutting, puffed-up performance of Mussolini Jr., who only yesterday was snapping that the GG would have no alternative but to appoint the coalition as the government, following a budget defeat. I think he can see his Cabinet seat gone forever. Also of greatly diminished importance must be Ellie May. Yesterday the CBC stuck a microphone in her face to get a reaction to the budget. This woman has never been elected to any public office, has no members of her party in Parliament, and has no background in complex monetary-fiscal policies. Still the MSM insist on treating her as a major player. Why?

18. Jim Stanford praising Harper is actually worth many billions.
    Liberals accuse Harper and Conservatives of corruption. First HOC Question Period of new Harper government. This meme was played for 2 years(ably stimulated by , well…you know who). For political reasons, don’t ya know. Millions lost their naivete.
    Harper uses Economic Statement to explain how his $31 billion dollars in tax cuts, beginning in 2009, are an even bigger stimulus than the Favoured One’s from down Southy.Imagine what that should have done to your average journalist’s leg. Alas, neither tingles nor Name-Dropping could save Mr. Harper from a country wide, Liberal blast from the past. STIMULATE! It’s MSMnanimous! If we can’t have Obama we want money!
    And millions of Canadians shake their head, see the Usual Suspects( not a one that supports Harper or the Conservative Party) doing the usual thing, and know the die is cast.
    Harper has a minority. Almost all intelligent Canadians(just in case, Ian) understand this very, repeat very, important in the scheme of things.
    Harper committed Canada to the G20’s agreed upon 2% of GDP stimulus. Millions applaud a politician keeping his word.
    Harper and the Conservative Party have the support of some of the National Post and the Sun, Don Cherry and Conservative Party members, unlike the Opposition which can reliably count on the support of the Star,G+M,and pretty well every other newspaper; all the TV stations, particularly and most vociferously , the people’s CBC; all the Unions including the huge Public Service and Teacher’s; gaggles of letter writing, lawyers, Judges and Professors(sadly I never saw IaninNS’s refutation letters) ; and of course, the 225 pages of Organizations that know how to spend your money better than you do. Millions of Canadians realize that sometimes he has to compromise. Heh.
    Due to above, Harper has explained many times to Conservatives(some even heard) that change will be slow(too easy), incremental, and around the edges. He even explained how he would have to govern just like the Liberals, until the slow learners(too easy) caught up. Millions understood that a minority, 2 years and a possible Depression don’t make Ayn Rand a pop star.
    Canada has the lowest debt to GDP of the G20 and is generally acknowledged to be in better shape than others to handle a deficit in pursuing a worldwide stimulus that has been agreed upon worldwide(did I mention it’s a worldwide agreement?) to handle what has generally been acknowledged as a once in a century financial crisis. Millions understand this.
    As Monte notes:
    “The middle class tax relief is a healing balm for those of us who feel bruised by this spender bender. By reducing taxes Prime Minister Stephen Harper also wisely ensures the Liberals can’t credibly make big spending promises in a future election campaign.
    This budget isn’t a conservative document so much as it’s a political document; a document that will give the Conservative government the room necessary to craft a compelling conservative vision for the future.”
    I also think it’s smart politics to let the Liberals share the recession. Nothing like a nice Liberal stimulus budget to hide the deficit you were going to have by yourself.
    Now, if I had more time, I could probably think of a whole bunch of more reasons why this was a good budget that Ian in NS misses due to his extreme youthiness.
    However, denying the Liberals a return to power is certainly more than good enough for me. And always will be.

19. Yes, Martin is quite a piece of work. He speaks about coalitions, about who can’t trusted, about “what Canadians want.”
    Yeah, Jack 14% of them. This guy is easily the most incompetent federal party leader in at least a generation. He has simultaneously managed to fail become leader of the opposition, and turn NDP voters into Conservative supporters.
    Jack, your application for the job of PM (or any executive position) has been clearly rejected by the electorate. Why his party keeps this loser clown around is beyond me.

20. Harper just handed the next election to Ignatieff. I know I won’t be voting for the lying s.o.b.

21. Cool, more pandering Quebec in the budget too. What trash. This was way over-the-top. A deficit was expected, and the libs need to be placated. So placate the libs, but don’t spend like you’re Jack Layton. Totally unnecessary and completely disgusting.

22. John @2:45. (Wake up time) Without permits for any electrical, plumbing or Gas fitting projects Good luck with your insurance company paying up if something goes wrong with your house (fire or flood).

23. I see the dreaded “I’ve had enough and will never vote for Harper” syndrome is back. I swear the Liberal War Room minions can all be easily identified by their short memories, repetitiveness, and constant crayon stains on their fingers.

24. The Gazette reports that the “Quebec arts community” is not satisfied with their share of the budget booty.
    Apparently “a total of $530 million for arts, culture and heritage, including $276 million in new money” is not enough tax-payer funded pork to feed their gaping maws.
    They may have a point. After all, $530 million is only about half of the annual tax-payer subsidy the CBC scarfs down every single year.
    Why not just put every wannabe artist that can’t sell their wares on their own merits on the permanent government payroll, complete with travel and expense accounts?
    Not only would it provide badly needed “stimulus” for this permanent victim group, it would also buy badly needed votes for the Conservative Party in Quebec.
    http://tinyurl.com/b7lojz

25. Danny Williams is crying over the budget. Oh boo hoo Danny, after one shits the bed, one must sleep in it.

26. RE: “We will never see as weak a liberal leader as Dion in our lifetime.”
    True but the election was four on one, not counting the media. And PMSH still won.

27. yes but don’t like it.
    It’s the best we could hope for with a minority.
    If it also smacks Danny Williams and the welfare deadbeats in NFLD, all the better.
    1/3 of the deficit is collapse in revenue, 1/3 tax cuts and the other third is the objectionable part. But it’s 1/3. It would be 95% of a much bigger number if the commie coalition was writing it.

28. I guess the Liberal War Room must be doing all the voting in this poll, right bud? Small-c fiscal conservatives have been betrayed by Harper. I wish we could have the Reform party back. If I’d wanted a Liberal budget I would have voted for the twerps. It’s unbelievable to me that the Conservatives have completely turned their backs on sound government finance. The historical record is clear. Government stimulus spending during a recession doesn’t work, and will just make the situation worse.

29. Harper should take no sh*t from the Liberals or anyone else. Stick to his guns. No further alterations to the budget. Then if Iggy wants to take him down, so be it. Let the Liberals “wear” the financial shit*y end of the stick. Whoever governs through this will go down. Even Kiss ella gloats about that. So let them have it. Conservatism is completely off the rails anyway, if not dead. Time to regroup.

30. As far as I’m aware, whenever governments enact tax cuts, it invariably leads to MORE money flowing into government coffers, than before the cuts.
    This happens pretty much every time.
    This economic reality seems to be beyond the grasp of most people.
    This fact generally makes the left and the far left’s heads explode.

31. sounder
    Sticking to your guns hasn’t worked out too well for the federal NDP or the Alberta liberals.
    To do ANYTHING you must be in power. If the ONLY thing you have accomplished at the end of it is to slow spending in relation to the other guys, that’s at least something.
    Someone above noted that Mulroney came after the NDP supported Trudeau. Well, yes, but look at the incredible amount of damage the scumsucking weasels did before Mulroney went part way to cleaning it up. That one will take GENERATIONS to fix – if ever.
    I get the frustration of looking down at a huge deficit but look to the rest of the world. We’re still doing OK.

32. As far as I’m aware, whenever governments enact tax cuts, it invariably leads to MORE money flowing into government coffers, than before the cuts.
    This happens pretty much every time.
    This economic reality seems to be beyond the grasp of most people.
    This fact generally makes the left and the far left’s heads explode.

33. Any budgets that makes Danny Williams, Jack Layton, and arts groups from Quebec unhappy can’t be all bad.

34. “Probation”
    WTF.
    How the hell does the party of adscaming Librano$ stand up and say that word without being shouted down as thieves and grifters?

35. Belisarius
    Facts schmacts, that’s what I say!

36. Lori – as my mom used to say “Be careful or I’ll give you something to really cry about”.
    Those groups you mentioned would never be happy.
    I’m sure they have their “shocked and outraged” press releases are ready to go months in advance.
    One time – I’d like to see a “you’re not going to vote for us anyways, and we can’t see how this is good for the country – so – just watch us”

37. “By their deeds you shall know them”.
    Congrats Paul Harper! I think you even made Jack Layton blush.

38. When I voted Conservative, I didn’t realize I was voting for Trudeau’s Liberals.
    Put this budget (and my ‘leader’) out of their political misery.

39. Dear Taliban Jack- No coup for you, you scum sucking son of a bit*h.
    Dear Iggy Puffin- You arrogant ass, talk to me when you’ve actually done something useful except live elsewhere for thirty years, then try to dictate to me what Canada should be. F*ck you.
    Dear Prime Minister Harper- I admire you for your unwaivering support for Israel but am disappointed with this spending frenzy. It shows weakness to me. Never, ever, give in to liberals or commies. They will not return the favor and would never vote for you no matter what you do. See Quebec.

40. OK. So the budget stinks, but isn’t it ever so gratifying to witness the end of the coalition and, simultaneously, that of Jack Layton’s political aspirations? This insufferable clown will never be Prime Minister. He will never hold a cabinet post. He will never be a part of a governing party. How sweet it is!
    However, we can rest assured that Layton will continue to indulge in his fantasy that any positive steps as a result of the budget will be due to pressure from the NDP.
    Next logical step …. turf Layton as leader of the NDP. Of course, he’ll still hang around at the public trough but, at least, we won’t have to put up with his constant snivelling.

41. We’re getting screwed-over in Sask. Only 120M for infrac. Two reasons for this – we have provincial bucks – lots of them – earmarked for insfrac and – we have 12 of 13 MP’s already Conservative/ This allows PMSH to spend more where there are more votes. That is why the gov’t is doling out bucks the way they want rather than on a per capita to the municipalities which is the way it should be.
    I have supported the Cons faithfully for the last many years but they are really starting to piss me off. Maybe its time for Sask to send the PM a message.

42. Voted No. Its a disaster in the making. Harper just gave the Liberals a Paul Martin Budget. Enjoy the power Mr. Harper, because it aint gonna last. You sold out your principles, with your political base. What a legacy to leave. I guess Albertans are just dirt now, under your feet. You have become Entitled.

43. The budget seems perfect to me, you spend money that you don’t actually have, to fix problems that don’t actually exist.

44. Michelle Malkin calls the US stimulus package the Generational Theft Act of 2009 and this budget should be called that as well. BTW, every R House member voted “no” on theirs today; I hope the R Senators have as much sense.

45. Voted No. Its a disaster in the making. Harper just gave the Liberals a Paul Martin Budget. Enjoy the power Mr. Harper, because it aint gonna last. You sold out your principles, with your political base. What a legacy to leave. I guess Albertans are just dirt now, under your feet. You have become Entitled.

46. Maybe Jack’s idea to get Power through a coalitin is Still a possiblity.
    How about if the BLOC and NDP, who have more seats than the Liberals – join up to become one voting unit – sign some kind of coalition agreement and Jack would get to move into Stoneaway as the new Leader of the Opposition.
    This could happen – no?

47. On Adler show, John Baird admitted they don’t know what they are doing regarding the future, yet they think they make the best decisions.
    Notice to Libertarian Party: my membership form is in the mail.

48. It is laughable to say the budget has tax cuts for anyone when it increases the national debt by an order of magnitude and we will all be generations paying it off. This type of buy now, let the next generation worry about paying for it approach to fiscal management is what got us a huge deficit in the first place. Here I was thinking we were finally making a little progress getting spending under control and making some inroads into the national debt … and in one fell swoop all past progress is wiped away and we are deeper than ever in debt and bad old spendthrift habits have taken hold again. That the Conservatives did this to keep hold on power is frankly a big disappointment and relegates them in my mind to the (low) ranks of the other purely opportunist parties. Its all about power, not principles.
    To borrow from Ezra … Fire. Them. All.

49. Lorraine,that is brilliant.Jack would go for it because of his ego issues,and Gilles would have a marionette that speaks the language of the french gimme crowd.Iggy would end up crying into his zinfadel with steffi. I like it.I like it a lot.

50. Anybody else find it quite funny that there are all kinds of NDP/Liberal types posting all over the Blogging Tories saying how disgusted they are with Harper bringing in such a non-conservative budget and so they are not going to donate to them or vote for them ever ever ever again.
    Then they go back to LibLogs and quote themselves to show that Conservatives are now infighting and divided.
    Do you think Warren Kinsella and Scott Reid came up with this little stratgegy?