Michael Ignatieff was effective when he said Prime Minister Harper

[applegrove]

Didn't trust canadians during Tuesday night's Canadian electorial debate but it didn't quite punch through to Canadians. viewers like their own leaders performances but there was little game changing going on.

How can we canadians label Harper as the secretive, information hoarding, control freak that he is? What words would you get Ignatief to use? Ignatief is the only one who has a chance at a minority government.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/debate-a-feisty-showdown-that-likely-changed-few-minds/article1983147/?cmpid=nl-news1

[Dawson Leery]

1. Why is Harper and his Neo-Con "Reformists" ahead in the polls still?

[applegrove]

2. There are two newspaper chains that print neocon pulp every day. One of them, the National Post,

doesn't make a profit. But they still are in a minority situation. They are about to start a Sun News Network that will be like Fox except for the outright lying (which isn't allowed in the news in Canada, so they have to be much more subtle with their neocon bullshit).

That main problem is that the left is split into three different parties. If they united the left would have a clear majority. The Bloc Quebecois, a separist party, takes most of the seats in quebec and they are also lefties. So you could say the left in Canada is split 4 ways.

[Dawson Leery]

3. I am aware of the split. I do not understand why Harper & Co are near 40%.

They are by no means the Progressive Conservative Party of the past.
How effective will this strategic voting arrangement be?
Also, I have been told by a few sources that Harper and the Cons are ahead in the polls in Alberta and some of the Prairie (inflating their numbers) provinces while there is a tie in Ontario and the Libs lead in the maritimes.

Any comments on this?

[applegrove]

4. I have not been paying attention to the poll numbers this election. You have informed me!

Except to say that at this time in an election the Liberals are usually well ahead of the neocons in cities in Ontario.... it looks like the neocons are ahead in Ontario except for Toronto. So that is not good if that is true.

[Dawson Leery]

5. The last three polls I saw had the Libs tied with the Cons in Ontario.

Which polls are you looking at?

[applegrove]

6. I can't remember. It was in past elections. I'm saying that if what you are saying

is true then that is bad news cause the Liberals are usually ahead in cities in Ontario. So your news is really bad. It was probably election results in the last election that gave me the information on Liberals being ahead in cities in Ontario. I can't remember where I heard that Ignatief was ahead in Toronto only this time around - it may come to me in a couple of days...my long term memory is better than my short term memory.

[P. Galore]

8. Liberal opinion is split between two parties, just as it was in Britain. nt

[P. Galore]

7. There are a lot of political ads during the hockey. One on Iggie's bad attendance as an MP. nt

[applegrove]

9. I just saw an ad that talks about Harper's plans to dismantle parts of health care and it was

fairly effective. Was a Liberal ad. I hope they say something about Harper's claim that he has helped the economy. He hasn't. Canada had great banking regulations because of finance minister Paul Martin, a liberal. Plus Harper had to be embarrased into the spending plan during the recession.

[Dawson Leery]

10. It will be unfortunate if the Cons get a majority.

[applegrove]

11. I would hazard to guess that if the neocons win a majority they will

start with the social engineering right away. Just like Mike Harris did. And lose some members (he has brought some small c conservatives into his party). And lose their majority. And lose the right to form the government. That is likely why Harper wants a firm committment from Ignatief that he would never form a coalition. IMHO. Thankfully Ignatief didn't fall for it in the end.

But the thought of it makes me sick. I don't think the neocons will get a majority.

[Dawson Leery]

12. Harper must be denied a majority.

[applegrove]

13. Yup. But I hear the NDP are doing well in British Columbia and the Liberals not so much. And what we

talked about yesterday. If the NDP takes votes from the Liberals and not the neocons we are ****ed! Thank you for your concern.

[Dawson Leery]

14. kick