tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post3991113799574484951..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: Last ResortSteve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-61028978152812859962009-04-16T01:39:00.000-04:002009-04-16T01:39:00.000-04:00Oh, even I think that's a little easy, Northern PO...Oh, even I think that's a little easy, Northern POV. Everyone knows in this day and age, EVERY political figure will say something they regret - typically when trying to express an honest opinion. That's true even if every move is staged and scripted, as even the great Harper could attest.<br /><br />This hardly qualifies as gaffe-prone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-26028002451865685902009-04-16T01:24:00.000-04:002009-04-16T01:24:00.000-04:00Layton can promise anything he wants - he will nev...Layton can promise anything he wants - he will never be asked to deliver.<br /><br />All he is trying to do is alienate Iggy, probably because the LPC are eating into NDP support these days.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112657859825911939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-69689570897084015152009-04-16T00:16:00.000-04:002009-04-16T00:16:00.000-04:00gaffe prone - he just can not seem to keep his tra...gaffe prone - he just can not seem to keep his trap shut<br /><br />he forgets he ain't a journalist or teacher any moreNorthern PoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04670080478290108536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-78635213080141411992009-04-15T19:58:00.000-04:002009-04-15T19:58:00.000-04:00Mushroom, you'll note the absurdity in Layton's co...Mushroom, you'll note the absurdity in Layton's comments. Jack said we need to invest more in green initiatives, instead of raising taxes. Great logic Jack, increase government spending, that's the solution here. What a tool.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-50979428402578745492009-04-15T19:49:00.000-04:002009-04-15T19:49:00.000-04:00Note also that Baird and Layton are hammering Iggy...Note also that Baird and Layton are hammering Iggy now by promising that there will be no new taxes. If Baird wants to portray the Harperites as Harrisites or John Mc Cain wannabes, then that's fine with me. There is enough ammo for Kinsella's boys to run against.<br /><br />I find it puzzling that Layton is also promising no new taxes. A party that is renowned for defending Canada's social safety net is believing that green incentives through federal government initiatives can do the trick in raising revenues. This is a replay of 2008 all over again!!!<br /><br />Iggy has said that revenues will increase through a cap and trade. Will Jack reject this too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-32616701264102228642009-04-15T19:23:00.000-04:002009-04-15T19:23:00.000-04:00I don't disagree in one sense, but it is noteworth...I don't disagree in one sense, but it is noteworthy that honesty in this climate is considered a gaffe. And people wonder why politicos are so scripted all the time...Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-32692243523142027262009-04-15T18:51:00.000-04:002009-04-15T18:51:00.000-04:00I agree with Ottlib that it is a gaffe, and one wi...I agree with Ottlib that it is a gaffe, and one will hear of again (and again). I think Ignatieff got ahead of his own self-image as a straight-shooter. Anytime a politician finds himself venturing into tax discussions, a bit of a warning should go off in his head.<br /><br />I am not advocating taxes shouldn't be discussed, and I think honest discussion about taxes and budgets are needed - always. I certainly do NOT want to see Canada fall into the US model, in which both parties eschew taxes to the point of sinking the economy and exploding the deficits. On that level, I applaud Iggy for "keeping it real."<br /><br />But any caveats during responses ("last resort" language, etc) regarding tax policy need to be expressed in the statement itself, not in clarifications the next day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-26232647968645667352009-04-15T18:33:00.000-04:002009-04-15T18:33:00.000-04:00An unfortunate fact in politics. Most people tune...An unfortunate fact in politics. Most people tune into the first statement and ignore the clarification. <br /><br />Mr. Ignatieff can expect to have this question dog him for awhile and as you said yesterday we will see an attack ad with his statements about tax increases prominently featured in the future.<br /><br />Mentioning tax increases, even hypothetically, during a recession is just plain dumb from a political standpoint. <br /><br />We can mark yesterday's statements as Mr. Ignatieff's first major gaffe as Leader of the Liberal Party.ottlibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12695135535019042279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-49403217075035751872009-04-15T16:18:00.000-04:002009-04-15T16:18:00.000-04:00Good point . . . I hadn't thought of that, but I s...Good point . . . I hadn't thought of that, but I suspect they do, everyday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-54738353559839324752009-04-15T16:10:00.000-04:002009-04-15T16:10:00.000-04:00Probably doesn't want to rock the boat, with all t...Probably doesn't want to rock the boat, with all that government advertising in play ;)Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-21485418791565992712009-04-15T16:05:00.000-04:002009-04-15T16:05:00.000-04:00I find it somewhat incongruous that John Ibbitson ...I find it somewhat incongruous that John Ibbitson was waxing on in his editorial today in the Globe and Mail that Obama needs to be more honest and forthright NOW about the fact that the US will face tax pain in the future:<br /><br />http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090414.wcoibbi15/BNStory/specialComment/home<br /><br />Yes, John, worry about how the US President will handle that thorny issue. Say, don't you write for one of those Canadian papers? Are there any relevant recent Canadian analogies that might be made?<br /><br />Nah, guess not. Carry on.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />P.S. I am not comparing the situations as directly relevant, but in light of the Conservatives jumping all over the answer to a single hypothetically specific question (some would say "loaded question"), it seems as if some relevant associations might have at least been referenced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com