[dan e 1980]

the liberals should be (what's a more cleaner term for assraping) the conservatives over this. i hope they don't become like the spineless american democrats.

so much damage can be done to harpers image now that it's not even funny, well, yes it is actually. on the fist day he shot himself in the foot. who knows? maybe tomorrow he'll commit suicide.

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

If the Liberals had a leader they'd use this as an opportunity to show that the Conservatives are just as bad as the, err... Liberals.

In other words it ok to attack other parties when MP's cross the floor, but when the same thing happens to the benefit of Conservatives

Winner sets the rules.

I think we can be assured that Dan e 1980 and Antiloop would not be voting CPC regardless of how Harper manages his government. You're not the target audience for Harper.

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

"We don't go out of our way to romance MPs to get them to cross the floor. Liberals will do anything to win.

Do we have evidence that the CPC romanced Emerson? I suspect it was more push (Emerson pushed by lib failure) than pull (romancing by Harper).

"We are trying to create a principled party where people act in a principled way, and obviously we're fairly cautious about encouraging party jumping, because that's the kind of thing that generates cynicism.

Nothing wrong or hypocritical here. Harper's not saying that he wouldn't support party jumping. Instead, Harper's taking a very pragmatic approach, in that he's careful about it, and cogniscent of the appearance such jumping gives. A sound approach in my opinion.

"And frankly, when someone jumps, once you're not sure you can trust them the next time, so I would always handle that with an extraordinary degree of caution."

So, Harper will review Emerson to ensure he can be trusted. We have no evidence that Harper did not stand by his word and handle Emerson's defection with "an extraordinary degree of caution"..

New Brunswick Conservative Premier Bernard Lord: "This is just another action, another moment, that breeds cynicism of electors."

Who care what the premier of some backwater thinks? Are you going to quote Paul Okalik next?

Harper never said he would refuse party jumpers. Instead he said they must be handled cautiously. We have no evidence of the contrary in this case.

 

[dan e 1980]

Harper never said he would refuse party jumpers. Instead he said they must be handled cautiously.

yes, and that means giving them cabinet positions on the very day they decide to be BI-political.


he is a FLOP! F L O P!

 

[MetroMan1000]

I think Harper and Layton together now control the house, with a total of 155 seats between them.

^Incorrect. With this defection from the Liberals, the Conservatives have 125 seats and the NDP 29. That's one short. At best, we have an identical situation as before where the ruling party + the NDP + 1 independant hold a collective majority. With help form that radio show host from Quebec, the NDP can push their agenda once again.

 

[dan e 1980]

I think we can be assured that Dan e 1980 and Antiloop would not be voting CPC regardless of how Harper manages his government. You're not the target audience for Harper.

ya, we support people who actually don't change their position on such issues every other day - especially when they cange those positions to benefit their needs. for all we know, harper could say he's gay someday and i pray for the day it happens so i can hear the sound of every conservatives head across the land exploding simultaneously.

 

[Antiloop33rpm]

Winner sets the rules.

At least that response isnt just politiking and is closer to what the Conservatives are really thinking. Your right. Winners set the rules. Winners decide what they are going to do. Winners also break election promises, act in hypocritical manners, and, errr, act just like the Liberals did during their time in power.

I think we can be assured that Dan e 1980 and Antiloop would not be voting CPC regardless of how Harper manages his government. You're not the target audience for Harper.

Speaking for myself, your right, I have not, nor will I be voting Conservative. I also find it interesting that you refer to me not being part of Harper's "target audience". I am a Canadian and isnt the Government of Canada suppose to act in the interests of all Canadians and not just one specific target group? This is the same party that spent 2 months campaigning and telling voters that it is not scary, that it is not a slightly radical right wing party with just western interests in mind, selling themselves as a party that all Canadians can believe in. Isnt referring to those who didnt vote for the government as not part of the 'target audience' just reinforcing the very notions that the party spent so much time trying dispell?

 

[Canuck 36]

Winner sets the rules.

Do you see anything wrong with the Conservatives, after going through the entire eletion and the period before trashing the liberals on their ethics and the way they run government, doing the same?

Are they not entitled to their entitlement too?

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

You're equating the economic heartland of Canada with 17% of Canada's population to a province with 137,000 people? What silliness indeed.

The comparison is valid, neither region voted for any Conservative MPs, and thus neither region should expect to be at the cabinet table. Economic heartland Toronto is, but they voted for the losing side, and should expect to be treated accordingly.

Montreal and PQ are political imperatives, whereas Toronto will never likely vote in a Conservative MP. If not during the last election, with the Liberals under multiple inquiries and criminal investigations, with millions stolen in Adscam, Torontonians will never rid themselves of the Libs. Layton stands a better chance winning Toronto ridings.

 

[Canuck 36]

Maybe it's the Conservatives fault for not getting elected in Toronto.

 

[Antiloop33rpm]

The comparison is valid, neither region voted for any Conservative MPs, and thus neither region should expect to be at the cabinet table. Economic heartland Toronto is, but they voted for the losing side, and should expect to be treated accordingly.

It is exactly this kind of attitude which will prevent the Conservatives from making any headway into Toronto. And other urban centers for that matter too. I would hope the Conservative strategists (for their own sakes) don't adopt this method of governing and electioneering (reward those who voted for you and punish the rest) or they might find themselves burning down bridges they might need to cross if they ever want to get a majority government.

 

[Observer Walt]

The Liberals won't be able to complain too loudly about Emerson, as long as their front bench is decorated by Stronach and Brison. This is too bad IMO. I think when a member decides to cross the floor, they should resign and run again in a byelection. Unfortunately we do not have a tradition of this.

People who do this can talk all they like about their principles, and it may even be true. However, in our system most people definitely vote for the party, not the individual. Crossing the floor looks too much like people selling themselves out and betraying their voters.

 

[dan e 1980]

The Liberals won't be able to complain too loudly about Emerson

they don't have to. all they gotta do is point out harpers hypocrisy.

 

[FutureMayor]

I didn't think I would see the day.

Louroz

 

[Canuck 36]

Either did I. I mean who REALLY thinks they're living in the End times?