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Originally posted by OFKU0
1. Then where does that leave the NDP and why aren't they scary.
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If you look at the results of the popular vote, both the Liberals and the Conservatives lost votes... the Greens, NDP and Bloc... all left-leaning Socially Democratic parties gained votes... Clearly the people of Canada (about 70% of those who vote chose centre left policies over those of the Conservatives).
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Originally posted by OFKU0
2. Can't comment on the death penalty, but as for abortion and gay marriages he stated that is more provincially bound than federally. And what was Paul Martins platform on abortion, gay marriages and the death penalty? I heard nothing of those from him.
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Harper supported a free vote in the commons rather than support for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms... and threaten with the Notwithstanding clause. See point one... most Canadians support choice and gay marriage.
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Originally posted by OFKU0
3. That's because the party is 6 months old. Perhaps Paul Martin could have extended them time to have a convention but was to afraid, so he rushed an election.
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The Conservatives knew the election was going to happen in the Spring... almost everyone did. They just didn't get their shit together in time. Some in the party are blaming the LIberals for "fear-mongering" about the so-called "hidden agenda" but at the same time placing blame on some back-benchers who couldn't keep quite about things like abortion... Which is it? If it isn't a hidden agenda why get upset when their members speak aloud?
The fact of the matter is that the Conservatives are still populated by a large number of former Reform and Alliance members who's points of view do not agree with many Canadians...
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Originally posted by OFKU0
4. O.K. it's fine for Quebec to do that but not Alberta. I guess that's the difference between a have not province and a have province.
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Actually it isn't OK for Quebec to do it with the Bloc, bit that said the Bloc wasn't running anywhere outside of Quebec. They don't position themselves as a "big-tent" national party. In the last couple of days, Harper fell into old patterns when he said something to the effect of, "at last Alberta will be in the driver's seat". People outside of Alberta don't want that in a national leader.
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Originally posted by OFKU0
5. Bilingualism. He is not interested in scrapping Official Bilingualism. He simple wants some accountability since no one seems to know where the annual 1 billion Quebec receives yearly
goes. And it was Martin who started that rumour. Somehow it went from changes to the Air Transportation Act or something like that to Official Bilingualism, I don't know. Fooled alot of people though.
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I don't have enough information to comment on this point.
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Originally posted by OFKU0
6. First of all, it wasn't his comments but a press release from someone within the Consevative Party. None the less, as stated somewhere else he should have followed Martins leads and hid all the mouthpieces. Worked for Martin ( re McGuinty) He just should have stuck with the message that Martin doesn't give a shit about our kids when it comes to sexual predators or that would have been a Liberal party policy years ago.
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Doesn't matter who said it, it was spun in such a way to make him look bad... played right into the fears of the Centre Left voting block (see point one)
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Originally posted by OFKU0
7. What about Ralph Klein? What about Dalton McGuinty?
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Again, what about McGuinty? The Conservatives never managed to capitalize on McGuinty... Klien should have kept his trap shut.
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Originally posted by OFKU0
8. Well then what is worse? Rendering the military useless, destroying healthcare through health transfer cuts, increasing taxes just to balance a budget?
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These are the differences that make two parties unalike...
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Originally posted by OFKU0
9. And how credible is a Liberal wing in Quebec right now? Seats are what wins the day, but credibilty is another story. But how does this make Stephen Harper scary?
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At least the Liberals have some seats in Quebec... The Conservatives only had 8.8% of the popular vote in Quebec...
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Originally posted by OFKU0
10. What's wrong with a two tiered system. Everybody still pays the same but if you can afford it, go privately. It's not like those who go private won't have to pay like everyone else. They actually are paying twice.This is something that people fail to understand. The more people who go private, the sooner those who can't afford it get treatment quicker.
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I don't want to debate this here... suffice it to say (under the terms of this thread) that the people have chosen what they want... if two-tiered is a better system then the Conservatives failed to convince me (and many others).
Ultimately Harper's vision for Canada was quite clear: remaking Canada in the American image, with lower taxes, smaller government, fewer services but a more muscular army and perhaps higher deficits and debts; stronger provinces at the expense of Ottawa; populist free votes and referenda, the antithesis of parliamentary democracy; politicization of the courts; and general obeisance to America.
Not surprised, given most Canadian's political preferences, that they didn't choose Harper.