tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post5436311378732546919..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: Thinking JUNESteve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-14672433870342320082009-02-17T06:19:00.000-05:002009-02-17T06:19:00.000-05:00"And, what you're failing to incorporate, the long..."And, what you're failing to incorporate, the longer we allow Harper to govern, the more we take responsbility"<BR/><BR/>You take responsibility when you provide no alternative solutions. This means allowing Harper to spend his way out of the recession while accumulating large deficits. Or propose major government cutbacks by laying off many civil service jobs.<BR/><BR/>One more thing. The Grits must think hard about raising taxes and saying this on the campaign trail. Economic prudence through manageable debt levels, is what I will call it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-82083154697223289692009-02-17T00:24:00.000-05:002009-02-17T00:24:00.000-05:00Rest assured Steve if Harper thinks the Libs are g...Rest assured Steve if Harper thinks the Libs are gonna pull the plug and he's not doing so great in the polls at that time, he will prorogue. GUARANTEE IT!<BR/><BR/>Harper could close the House up in May and just release the June interim report when the House is not sitting. Then he'll go on a summer tour in a desperate attempt to reboot his popularity. Or he'll just resign and the Cons will have a new leader in the fall. Depends how far Harper is down in the polls at that time but I'm sure many in his party are hoping he's not around for the next election because he is their biggest albatross.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-6308618159569063062009-02-16T22:21:00.000-05:002009-02-16T22:21:00.000-05:00anonThat's crystal ball stuff, which has no place ...anon<BR/><BR/>That's crystal ball stuff, which has no place in the nimble world of politics. I say you move when you're in the KNOWN, rather than playing future odds. I'm not sure I necessarily disagree, this downturn seems worse than what the pros have acknowledged to date, but nobody really knows. And, what you're failing to incorporate, the longer we allow Harper to govern, the more we take responsbility, if it goes on YEARS, you won't be able to distinguish. That's the big downside.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-56147936079091083042009-02-16T20:29:00.000-05:002009-02-16T20:29:00.000-05:00Nothing will be evident all that quickly - by the ...Nothing will be evident all that quickly - by the time the economy turns a corner (if it ever does) we will get all kinds of apocalyptic talk about a possible double-dip recession or of a dreaded "jobless recovery" etc... Even if the GDP starts to grow again - there is always a delayed reaction before the unemployment rate and family incomes start to recover. There will be PLENTY of ammunition for all the opposition parties to use against Harper for YEARS to come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-13897367022781534292009-02-16T17:02:00.000-05:002009-02-16T17:02:00.000-05:00True enough, but if there is a sense that worst is...True enough, but if there is a sense that worst is behind is, then Harper has an opportunity to argue his policies are working. Why take the chance?Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-9283164966957433602009-02-16T16:55:00.000-05:002009-02-16T16:55:00.000-05:00It can take YEARS before people start to see a lig...It can take YEARS before people start to see a light at the end of the tunnel from a recession. The recession of the early 90s was over by the end of 1991 - and yet two years later people were angry enough to reduce the Tories to 2 seats and by 1995 people were still mad at Bob Rae - even though the Ontario economy had already been recovering for over two years. Remember also how Bush Sr. was defeated in 1992 even though the recovery had begun six months before the election. Harper is going to be damaged by the reverberations from this for a long, long time. It can take years after a recession ends before unemployment starts to go down again etc...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-85617191604837719952009-02-16T13:13:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:13:00.000-05:00Asia is just beginning to be rocked seriously (at ...Asia is just beginning to be rocked seriously (at least being shown in the media) from the economic tumult, and that is just going to slam us again this time from the pacific side. With the Cons still sticking to their 'we'll match but won't spend unless there's a big benefit to us' policy re. infrastructure spending, there won't be many jobs created in the immediate future.<BR/>The CONs are aware of this so they are still trying to stoke the 'coalition' boogeyman; they've been making cold calls to fundraise with that as the overall message. They are worried; sometimes, there's nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal.burlivespipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18048415779214466831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-75582168097574461982009-02-16T13:08:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:08:00.000-05:00.. this would have to be an exceedingly well craft..... this would have to be an exceedingly well crafted & masterful Confidence Motion, as the Block & Dippers are needed for it to pass.JimmEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03703715618040666970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-75477711262173811502009-02-16T11:01:00.000-05:002009-02-16T11:01:00.000-05:00MushroomIgnatieff will always risk the opportunist...Mushroom<BR/><BR/>Ignatieff will always risk the opportunist tag while the economy is tanking, the only way to avoid it, wait until we start to rebound, and that's not exactly a positive.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-14275839063754963322009-02-16T10:59:00.000-05:002009-02-16T10:59:00.000-05:00There are two things about the recession.1) It may...There are two things about the recession.<BR/><BR/>1) It may get worse after June. This is a pretty long one.<BR/><BR/>2) Canada is riding this recession due to the weakness in the manufacturing sector and low oil prices.<BR/><BR/>Unless Iggy has a better solution to 2 than Harper, then he will emerge as an opportunist. It would be prudent to see how Iggy can force Harper to call an election. This can be done by either by demanding another stimulus package that would cripple Harper's political base if the Cons support it. Or promote more protectionist policies using environmental targets that would be used to goad Harper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-68779254163959129052009-02-16T10:42:00.000-05:002009-02-16T10:42:00.000-05:00anonAfter the convention is the perfect chance to ...anon<BR/><BR/>After the convention is the perfect chance to strike, I can't think of a more positive public relations exercise.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-69021613107158822082009-02-16T10:38:00.001-05:002009-02-16T10:38:00.001-05:00"However, unless the MSM is convinced of this, the..."However, unless the MSM is convinced of this, the Libs are in trouble."<BR/><BR/>Nobody is really taking the characterization seriously at this point. Like I said, that could change if these probation periods keep passing by, and the government still stands.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-10234460821153647352009-02-16T10:38:00.000-05:002009-02-16T10:38:00.000-05:00If there is a June election, it's Harper who will ...If there is a June election, it's Harper who will have forced it. Why would Iggy want it this soon, with the Liberal party barely having paid off its debt, and only a month or so away from their Convention?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-35186482968024420582009-02-16T10:29:00.000-05:002009-02-16T10:29:00.000-05:00Very good post and I agree with your assessment. O...Very good post and I agree with your assessment. <BR/><BR/>One other point to mention is that public perception will be critical to the Liberals. The NDP is "saying" there is a LIB/con coalition, which I know isn't true. However, unless the MSM is convinced of this, the Libs are in trouble. Also, the shortcomings of the "action plan" need to be revealed/hammered home to the public masses so they can make an informed opinion about the government.<BR/><BR/>If the Liberals can expose the government for what it truly is (a scam), they will stand a bnetter chance of defeating them soundly.Big Winniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396077232214728401noreply@blogger.com