My own feeling all along is that Harper has been pinging Dion on calling an election because he knows no matter what he suggests, Dion and the rest of the opposition parties will be against it. I believe this is PMSH's way of making sure we make it to October 2009 before we have an election. It will be pretty hard for Dion and the Liberals, not to mention Layton and Duceppe, to have spent the last two weeks talking about how Canadians don't want an election, Harper is breaking his own law, parliament is working, etc., etc.; and then pull the plug in a non-confidence vote. I think this is what is happening and I also think it's brilliant. Harper plays chess while Dion is still learning checkers.
Posted at 2008-08-24 17:47:36 [PermaLink]I find it amazing how many people in the press can speak for Mr. Harper.
Of course he hasn't mentioned actually calling an election himself, everything is implied and mentioned through secret sources.
We have had the press telling us for nearly 3 years now that Harper is going to call an election and it hasn't happened yet.
Perhaps one should hold of ones criticism of an election until one is actually called.
My theory is that Harper is engagin Dion in a massive game of Chicken and it has been amusing to watch so far.
Personally I was under the impression that the whole fixed election thing was a notion that really only works or has meaning with Majority Governments (or Minority ones that last the full tenure somehow).....but that's just that nagging common sense thing in the back of my head...
heh we're almost at the big 1000th day of being Liberal Free too :)
Gee, I missed it. What date did he call the election for? How soon do we go to the polls?
Posted at 2008-08-24 19:11:27 [PermaLink]I’ve seen at least three articles to date where it is stated Parliament is working.
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In addition, on Sunday's QP, Liberal MP Dominic Leblanc and NDP MP Paul Dewar also said Parliament is working, as well as “Conservative-loving” columnist Lawrence Martin, all of it of course in order to contradict the PM’s musing that it is a dysfunctional Parliament.
What this illustrates is the hypocrisy of the official and unofficial opposition (the MSM).
Up until now, they have been saying the Conservatives have accomplished nothing, have been taking the country in the wrong direction, have nothing further on their legislative agenda, blah blah blah.
NOW that it is convenient for them, they say Parliament is working just fine, and Mr. Harper would be going against his own fixed election legislation.
Unlike many in both camps, I do not want/need an election.
I do want/need a working government.
And that is what we have now.
Dion was practically hyperventilating on the radio this morning calling Stephen Harper a law breaker for "calling an election" (I must have missed the call). He said that parliament was working fine and Canadians do not want nor need a fall election.
Hmmmmm - Do you think all those who were giving Dion kudos for pounding his chest about calling a fall election might have been had by Stephen Harper.
Funny.
It's called a MINORITY stupid!
The law can only be applied to a MAJORITY and would only work in a MINORITY if Government accomplishes things with all parties willing. Under this current MINORITY it would be as irresponsible for Harper to wait another year with a dysfunctional parliement the exact same way as it is currently irresponsable for Dion to keep the Government alive because he's waiting for better polls in his party's favour.
Every Conservative supporter whom I've read that says we should wait because we promised a fixed election date is a bit naive and because if we break this promise (But in reality are not) might loose votes is almost as coward as Dion waiting for his poll: Oppertunistic and self serving.
Most Canucks (Swing voters) don't even know about this fixed election date. The only ones complaining about Harper breaking is own law are Liberal supporters for life = WHO CARES AND WHY GIVE THEM AN ADVANTAGE!
It's the election campaign that truly determines the end result. Right now, team Harper have the most to gain. Dion is a leaderless moron, his tax shaft a disaster, his party's broke and devided.
Chretien would go now if he was Harper.
Time to show some balls Conservatives!
Grind a Grit, please allow me to rephrase your ... salutation:
"It's a stupid minority."
That is what we have now, and that is what we would probably wind up with once again.
As to your "Chretien would go now if he was Harper" - I'd rather let Harper BE Harper, let him make up his own mind, without listening to the gung-ho prodding of people who're itching for an election.
I said the same thing elsewhere that Alberta Girl did in her comment here: PM Harper, by musing about an election, has elicited the "Parliament is working fine" mantra from idiots who have been railing against the government, saying it has no legislative agenda, no big projects, no vision, blah blah blah.
I've even heard some Liberal (who ?) mention 29 pieces of legislation passed easily through the House.
In other words, THIS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING.
If that's what your critics are saying, why argue? ;-)
"That is what we have now, and that is what we would probably wind up with once again."
As Gabby notes, what we're actually talking about is a gong show that we'll pay for.
Stephen Harper already spends too much of a Prime Minister's time on Stephane Dion, there's no need for him to do it full time.
As the bills passed through government show, the difference between the Reds and the Blues isn't that significant on the major issues. When one side finally comes up with a decent issue or policy, then we might see Ontario agreeing with the West enough to have a majority government again.
Harper is a politician in the 'run the country' sense; Dion is simply an academic.
The prevailing opinion on this thread is that Harper has BOTH Dion and Layton flopping on the riverbank...hooks still firmly embedded. I agree!
If they could bottle smarm, Layton would have the market cornered (saw him on CTV Sat. night(?)...the man's his own worst enemy)