Posted on 10/14/2008 10:38:44 PM PDT by goldstategop
Conservatism may be a busted flush south of the border (as the experts assure us), but up north Stephen Harper has survived as Prime Minister and modestly improved his position by some 20 or so seats. He was on course for a Tory majority government until the global financial Armageddon hijacked the news cycle halfway through the campaign. Still, he's an incrementalist and he'll be reasonably satisfied not just with the Conservative gains but also with the vote-splitting among the opposition. After all, one unstated goal of his campaign was to weaken Canadians' assumption that the Liberals are the country's natural governing party and that any spell out of office is therefore little more than a long weekend off from their hammerlock on power. After tonight, the once mighty Liberals are reduced more or less to downtown Toronto, the Yukon and the Atlantic provinces, which means they're going to be consumed by leadership contests and anguished debates over the direction of the party.
In a parliamentary system, incidentally, there's an argument that a strong minority government is better than a weak majority government. The former puts the pressure on Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition: They have to figure out with every important bill whether it's really in their interests to oppose it lest they accidentally precipitate an election they're not ready for.
On the other hand, from my own point of view, Mr Harper's failure to sweep the land probably means that this inherently cautious politician will be unlikely to champion any serious reform of the country's ghastly "human rights" commissions that consumed so much of my time and money this last year. He was awfully non-commital when I spoke to him about it back in the summer, and I'd imagine he'll be even more so now.
The bigger lesson is that the Euro-Canadian social democratic states continue their modest right-of-center trend. No "community organizers" from the William Ayers school seem to be tickling the public fancy in Canada, Britain, Japan, or the Continent. Obama is thus a peculiar example of American exceptionalism.
"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
Oh lucky us! </sarc>
Of course, it doesn’t hurt Harper that the Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, is a dufus, who speaks english worse than Chico Esquela.
"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
"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
Or perhaps, a prime example of American spoiled brat-ism.
"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
The patriotic Europeans and Canadians are trying to save their countries and cultures. They are further down the road of Islamo-domination. This may be their last gasp.
With the 20,000+ crowds every single place she speaks, you'd think Sarah Palin's jaw-dropping enthusiasm machine would begin to make those rusty gears in McCain's head turn a bit.
There's a reason people are excited about Sarah, Mr. McCain, and it's not just because she's pretty.
"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
“Mr Congeniality” is the prize McCain and Co. seek to win in November.
That does it. I'm moving to France.
Yep, just ask Pete Coors, Rick Santorum, Conrad Burns and George Macacca.
more bump
Or perhaps, a prime example of American spoiled brat-ism.Obama is thus a peculiar example of American exceptionalism.
Socialism is simply the demand by people of no accomplishment that their ability to criticize and second guess, and their self-proclaimed good intentions, be counted as credentials which require that they be given power over those who merely get things done.IOW, " spoiled brat-ism."
The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing . . .It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity,
and they very seldom teach it enough. - Adam Smith
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