tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post7287640951302843163..comments2024-03-27T21:12:31.654-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: Responses To My Previous PostLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-52654355160142124702014-08-15T08:58:20.527-04:002014-08-15T08:58:20.527-04:00Thanks again for your contribution, Scotian, Your ...Thanks again for your contribution, Scotian, Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-16149959935944091482014-08-15T01:56:58.212-04:002014-08-15T01:56:58.212-04:00As I said before, I don't disagree, but I unde...As I said before, I don't disagree, but I understand why it didn't happen either because of the realities domestically that exist. I wanted a strong condemnation too, but at the same time I understand politics too well to not understand why what happened (or didn't happen) is what we got. I would also love to have much clearer and definitive policy positions from our parties, ALL of them, whether foreign or domestic issues, but we don't see all that much from any of the big three when you get right down to it.<br /><br />I know for some I place too much emphasis on removing Harper to the exclusion of all else but I am not going to apologize for it, and I believe over the past decade I've made consistent arguments that he eventually backed up by his actions as to why I am so focused. I'm also focused on the Libs as that vehicle and have always been primarily because of how I read the demographic voting patterns of the electorate as shown by actual voting results in elections. Again, as I have explained in exhaustive detail for a decade now. <br /><br />This time out though I am finding myself additionally motivated by Trudeau himself, because I think he may actually be something closer to what we used to have in our leaders in this country, and he clearly shares values that I define as traditional Canadian ones. I've heard him speak live, and he does come off as more substantive than he has in the media from time to time, but even so I recognize that he is still fairly young and inexperienced, but he also has demonstrated with his results with his party rebuild that he can run a large organization effectively, he can delegate to competent people and is not threatened by the capability of others, and he appears willing to listen to other voices aside from his own. That makes him far better than what we have, and politically speaking his brand is one the plurality of voters have shown they will tend to get behind unless they really have reason not to.<br /><br />I also want the next government that comes in to have some real background in running government in its pocket because of the utter disaster awaiting the next government from the systemic warfare the Harper Government (tm) has spent the past decade waging. And to be blunt about it, at this point having Trudeau and/or Mulcair come out for evenhandedness in the ME and about the dead is not going to do us any good internationally, and domestically given the factors I've mentioned in prior comments it is potentially very dangerous to give Harper et al the opening.<br /><br />In closing, I know Lorne gets this but I hope the other people reading what I've been saying get this, I am *NOT* happy about what I saying, under normal circumstances I would *NOT* be making such comments/arguments, but the harsh truth of the Canadian reality these days leaves me with little choice otherwise. Indeed, if I thought May and the Greens had anything near a real chance I might well be persuaded to go there were we talking about other than a Harper Government, but not when so much is on the line already. No, this time we HAVE to remove Harper, and the only realistic way I see that is with the Libs, personally I would prefer a slim majority, enough so they can work without pressure all the time to campaign, but not so comfortable that they feel they can ignore everyone else, a 3-5 seat majority would be my preference, although I know many other would prefer a minority Lib with a NDP partner, but given the recent bad blood between the two sides thanks to the attempt by Layton to exterminate and replace the Libs instead of fighting first against Harper and the traditional distrust/contempt of Libs from Dippers who see the Libs as con artists and policy thieves, given the work ahead I don't want that kind of instability if it can be avoided.<br /><br />Sorry if this was a bit disjointed Lorne, I'm writing this right before calling it a night.<br /><br />ScotianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-31477718929244160912014-08-14T21:44:09.789-04:002014-08-14T21:44:09.789-04:00Without question, Salamander, a clear and clean al...Without question, Salamander, a clear and clean alternative to the mud the Conservatives fling at all of us is badly needed. The onus is on the opposition parties to provide some real choice.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-75324804401891799492014-08-14T20:29:01.834-04:002014-08-14T20:29:01.834-04:00.. is it possible to access a clear, concise &..... is it possible to access a clear, concise & honest statement of what the National Liberal Party, the National NDP and the National Green Party actually stand for? Something approx 2 - 6 lines maximum.. and gritty truth.. not glossed up stuff.<br /><br />I guess I'm looking for something genuine.. the opposite or contrary version of the mealy pap and complete deceit emitted by The Harper Party.<br /><br />Perhaps we can resolve the complete nonsense of the provincial Liberal Party in British Columbia at the same time. Is it not a franchise of The Harper 'Conservative' Brand? And if so, why is it called a Liberal Party?<br /><br />Transparency, Accountability, Honesty.. now appear to mean Secrecy, Denial, Duplicity in government.. tailings 'ponds' = 'stewardship' and election implies suppression. We have ideological buffoons telling us we are anti-semetic for questioning their motives.. which appear to be driven by Rapture mythology or vote pandering, or both. These same miscreants are now bolting Natural Resources - mining & energy information into Environment Ministry web pages along with happy bright news about our wonderful muskrat, weather and unprotected navigable waters.<br /><br />We have a government that thrives on lying outrageously to Canadians. Baird and Clement on G20. Harper's Defence Procurement is a complete FIASCO. They attack United Nations daily... DAILY! EI is another fiasco as is Disability, as is The Canada Pension.. every single file... a disaster, a cover up, a failure. Jason 'TFW' Kenney, Fatuous Fantino, Pierre 'the rat' Poilievre.. the ludicrous MP's a la Calandra, Butt, Del Mastro.. this is a government still pimping asbestos.. not just pimping for Israel.<br /><br />The Opposition parties better start speaking up loud and clear on facts and truth.. and how & how quickly they will clean up the disasters on every single file the Harper butchers got their slimy hands on.. And if it takes a coalition government to turf Harper and the rest of the slime like him.. out of power, then get on with it. We have no time to losethe salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-51579574049627480942014-08-14T17:51:10.100-04:002014-08-14T17:51:10.100-04:00Thanks for your contribution to the discussion, An...Thanks for your contribution to the discussion, Anon. Like you, I do feel that a non-inflammatory but strong statement from Trudeau was warranted, one consistent with our former reputation on the international scene as an honest broker. And yes, I agree as well that Canadians do deserve to know where the Liberal Party stands on this very grave and pressing issue. Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-58207053955761103252014-08-14T17:26:32.022-04:002014-08-14T17:26:32.022-04:00Several comments:
(1) Unquestionably, any one of...Several comments:<br /><br />(1) Unquestionably, any one of Trudeau, Mulcair or May, and their respective parties, would be better than what we have now,<br /><br />(2) While the points raised/suggested by both Scotian and Simon were undoubtedly correct that Harper and his cabal, and their supporters among the Press Gallery, are likely just waiting to pounce on Junior for any missteps, real or contrived, how wrong could Trudeau have been by condemning the loss of non combatant civilian lives on both sides? Granted the latter would have been an indirect indictment of the heavy handedness of the Israelis since the loss of civilian lives was disproportionately high on one side (the Palestinians), however, he could have explained that away easily as a parent being bothered by the images of dead babies and children, regardless of who was in the right or wrong. This would even have bolstered his image as a more compassionate leader,<br /><br />(3) Since then, Mulcair at least had expressed his strong opposition to the loss of civilian lives while May alone, among all the leaders, had been the only one who had been crystal clear where she stood on this issue. Mulcairs's action was undoubtedly only in response to the anger among his own NDP base and was likely a realization of potential vote loss if he had let the issue fester.<br /><br />No, I am not sure why Trudeau and the Liberals took such a one sided stand on this issue but I think we should not simply explain that away as saying that he is just being "bullied" into taking a stand that he otherwise would not have taken. Trudeau has actually so far shown that he has managed to give as well as he took. If one believes this week's EKOS' poll, one could argue that in fact Junior has given even better than he has taken.<br /><br />No, the question still stands: just what is the stance of the Liberals on this issue? What if it turns out that Trudeau and the Liberals actually believe in the apparent one sided stance they had taken. Don't we deserve to know before we vote?<br /><br />I believe, Lorne, that was the point you had raised in your original post (that Junior cannot keep weaving and bobbing all the time).<br /><br />I believe your question was a valid one.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com