Prime Minister-elect Harper's beliefs run in step with Bush, GOP

[ECH1969]

Strained relations between the world's largest trading partners were expected to improve after the election of Conservative leader Stephen Harper as Canada's next prime minister.

But while his ideology runs parallel to that of the Bush administration, Harper failed to win a majority and will be constrained by the need for an alliance, which could limit his ability to move Canada to the right.

The 46-year-old economist, who arrived in Ottawa from his constituency in Calgary, Alberta, on Tuesday, briefly addressed supporters at the airport. He canceled a press conference and said he would hold one Thursday instead.

"We had a good sleep, we're all excited and we're all feeling pretty upbeat, as you can imagine ... to start rebuilding this great country of ours," Harper said, with his wife, Laureen Teskey, and young son and daughter at his side.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/01/24/canada.election.ap/index.html

[Brundle_Fly]

1. OUR COUNTRY ISN'T BROKEN ASSHAT!

not yet anyways.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Does this mean that there's no longer any point in defecting to Canada?

I was thinking of sneaking across the Rainy River in a stolen canoe, but if I'd be leaving one Bushazoid only to be subjected to another, what's the point?

[niyad]

3. a canadian friend of mine, currently living down here, has said she will

not go back as long as harper is in office

[PDJane]

4. Well.........

Bush Lite or not, ALL of the federal parties are to the left of this guy...see, the centre is in a different place up here. There is an appointed senate too, which will step on the most egregious abuses. And minority governments usually last about 18 months......

Please note, however, that the Bush bunch spent a fair bit of money trying to get a conservative majority, which simply didn't happen. Harper will have to watch his actions.......he can't simply drag Canada to the right, because it has no intention of going there.

[Mojambo]

5. The guy on Al Franken's show today said he was closer to Joe Lieberman.

His point being that the Canadian and American conservative do differ some.