Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 07/04/2008 4:44:11 AM PDT by Clive
It somehow seems right for Stephane Dion to hold his Liberal leader's Stampede breakfast at the Calgary zoo.
And if the dorky Quebec politician dresses up like a real Alberta cowboy, things will only get more bizarre. More ludicrous.
Heck, Stephane even decided to man up for the occasion. He's challenged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to a rootin' tootin' western debate.
The slugfest would be over his brilliant Green Shift economic boondoggle, which he claims will not only "make real progress in the fight against the climate change crisis" but also "make our economy more competitive.
"We need leadership that will be honest with Canadians," Dion blasted.
All apparently said with a straight face -even though it's obvious that when Dion's "good, bold idea" is put under an Alberta microscope, it quickly becomes the Green Shaft.
After it's revealed that the Ottawa Liberals - if they ever get back in power - will slap a carbon tax on Alberta's hydrocarbon industrial heartland that will syphon at least $7 billion a year out of the provincial economy, making Pierre Trudeau's national energy program look like a parking ticket.
This week, Premier Ed Stelmach tried to pound a little sense into the eastern egg- head's noggin, with a little good old Alberta political philosophy.
"The political reality, fortunately, is the wallet," Stelmach winked. It's something he learned at the U.S. Western Governors' meeting in Wyoming last weekend.
"They were really concerned about the high cost of energy," he said. Something that's high now and will only get higher if Dion gets a chance to impose his $40-per- tonne carbon tax, then nickel and dime it back to folks through a few minor tax tweaks.
'Tax on everything'
The pesky federal PCs have already branded it Stephane's "tax on everything."
"The era of cheap oil is over," Dion bragged in his document.
Then he deliberately exempted gas pumps from his tax grab to appease the southern Ontario soccer moms and Toronto commuters who will once again call the shots in the next federal election.
Because Dion's trip to the hostile West has nothing to do with turning heads and changing minds in Canada's energy province.
If the Liberal leader gets booed off the stage or pied, so much the better for his eastern media entourage. Alberta rednecks are what they've come for.
"I do not support a carbon tax," Stelmach told Dion. "I want to put our dollars into technology," he warned. "Also, to ensure the money stays in Alberta."
Dion, like his predecessor, Trudeau, wants to strip as much of that money as he can - so he can win crucial eastern votes with his tax cuts.
He also knows what Liberal numbers are like in Alberta.
Angus Reid Strategies released a poll earlier this week on which prime minister in recent memory was the country's "best".
In Ontario, Trudeau topped the survey at 49%, while in Alberta the number dropped to the Liberals' traditional 32%.
In Quebec, where P.E.T. called out the troops, his "best" rating slipped to 26%.
Brian Mulroney topped the "worst prime minister" charts at 37% in Alberta. Memories of the GST in a sales-tax-free province are etched in stone.
Jean Chretien, who slapped us with the Kyoto Accord, was the worst PM for 20% of Albertans.
Wallet politics is now hard at work in British Columbia after Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell stiffed his voters with a 2.4 cents a litre "carbon" tax on Canada Day. But softened the bite with $100 rebate cheques.
"We Liberals want to be at the head of the parade," Dion beamed when praising the Gordie Gouge.
But now the B.C. NDP - proving anything is possible in politics - are branding Campbell's pump tax "the wrong approach at the wrong time.
'Unfair'
"The new tax is unfair, it's hurting consumers and public services, and it won't reduce greenhouse gases," the NDP attack added.
With BC gas prices projected to crest $1.50-a-litre, Ed Stelmach's wallet politics suddenly become serious.
Meanwhile, Dion's Liberals are meeting at the zoo.
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Just an evil statement. The era of cheap oil is over, so we're going to take advantage of it by raising taxes on energy.
Going to the Stampede this year ?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
That's what the problem is! They've never been this far down in the ratings game and they have blown a gasket. Their mental stability is rearing it's ugly head.
Canadians aren't stupid, well the west isn't any way, and we know what value for dollar is and this Mr. Dion has no value.
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