Posted on 01/06/2006 6:53:07 AM PST by GMMAC
Toronto Sun
Fri, January 6, 2006
Canadians want change
By PETER WORTHINGTON
With 17 days to go before the Jan. 23 election, Stephen Harper's Conservatives have taken a positive lead in the polls over the Liberals.
It's a first for the Conservatives in this campaign, and there's a giddy feeling of momentum building -- unless Harper commits a gaffe (always a possibility).
While it is as pleasant as it is unusual for Conservatives to be leading in opinion polls, the most significant poll in this campaign may be that 59% of Canadians feel it's time for change, as do 53% in Ontario.
That bodes ill for Paul Martin Liberals, as their guy continues to flail and stumble.
How important is the hunger for change? I'd argue it is very important.
A wise political observer once remarked that the only real difference between a benign dictatorship and a democracy, is that periodically people in a democracy have a chance to throw the rascals out, and this should be indulged in whenever possible.
It isn't a bad rule of thumb, given that the three major political parties share similar values about Canadian democracy. (The odd party out is the Bloc Quebecois, which believes only in Quebec and wants Canada disbanded. Paradoxically, Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe is the most dynamic of the leaders, but his goal is to destroy Confederation.)
Conventional and media wisdom that Liberals are likely form another minority government is shifting, albeit tentatively, towards Harper, who (so far) hasn't goofed this time around. Rather, it's Martin who is proving hapless, parroting cliches that fool only true believers, whose numbers are shrinking.
In the Globe and Mail, Anthony Westell, one of Canada's more knowledgeable political journalists, warns that using "corruption" to describe Liberals is overstatement, because Martin was cleared by Justice John Gomery in AdScam.
Yet it was Martin who initially supported Alfonso Gagliano as an honest public works minister before bouncing him to become ambassador to Denmark, and then firing him.
Martin also chortled and applauded when Jean Chretien mocked the Gomery inquiry by playing word games with golf balls.
And it is Martin who now sees no reason for Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to resign while the RCMP investigates a possible leak of his November income trust policy announcement.
None of this is evidence of corruption, but it surely reveals moral and ethical looseness, and a lapse of political tradition and responsibility.
After the Boxing Day killing of Jane Creba in a Yonge-Dundas gang shootout, Torontonians seem to be beginning to realize that re-electing a Liberal government means more of the same. Only Conservatives are likely to change the rules that give violent gun users bail and token sentences -- as the platform they announced yesterday shows.
The Toronto Star seems to be fearful for the future of their beloved Liberals. Columnist Jim Travers is pumping for Michael Ignatieff in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and recently wrote that Ignatieff should be elected because "there is urgency in attracting back to politics thoughtful people who don't need the job, pension or spotlight."
Read that again. "Urgency" to attract candidates who don't need a job or a pension? Is that not fatuous reasoning for electing someone to make decisions for Canada?
That could also apply to the fair turncoat Belinda Stronach, the former Tory now running as a Liberal in Newmarket-Aurora -- whose political career may end, if there's any justice, on Jan. 23.
Anyway, for those who want change, let's hope the "scary" Harper keeps his lip buttoned, and continues his fuzzball advance towards satisfying "changes" that Canadians want in Ottawa.
I hope the CPC wins. It will be interesting to see if they take an anti-american stance after they are in power. We shall see.
After 40+ years in Canadian conservative circles, I can assure you: independent when appropriate but anti-American never!
I been waitin since the 1970 LaPort Affair to see this.
Yeah ! Yeah ! Huzzah Harper!!!!
OMG!
The lib scandals are coming out hot and heavy now! More than one/day!
Conservatives are a pragmatic lot and see the value and need
to have amicable relations with our neighbour, friend and trading
partner. That also means carrying more of our weight when it comes
to mutual defense and security, etc.
That said, there will be differences of opinion and even arguments
over various issues (trade, etc) where our interests conflict with
your interests.
But there will be no mindless America bashing which typifies
or liberal and socialist brothers and sisters..
We have Center Ice on cable and get games from CBC. The liberal campaign commercials are hysterical and way too similar to the American ones. "I'm for womens rights, so I'm voting liberal." No strategy or platform or even, God forbid, and idea. They don't even show any candidates!
Ten minutes later a conservative commercial comes on and there is a candidate talking about his platform. What a concept! LOL
Yes!! That's the one that is on all the time during Hockey Night in Canada.
They need to get it off the air and just replace it with those cute Telus bunnies. :-)
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