Conservative Minority

[Barbara Moulton]

Presently Conservatives have more seats than anyone (elected and leading) but it's not more than 50% of the seats. I am happy that Harper won, wished he had a stronger mandate.

I am tired, having worked all day for Elections Canada.

More tomorrow.

[Gina Stevenson]

Thanks for reporting in on this, Barbara.

G'nite.

[Barbara Moulton]

Working the polls yesterday, it was a 14 hour day. As I said in my post when I got home, I am disappointed that Harper didn't receive a larger number of seats. It will be hard to rule without a majority, he will have to work with the other parties and that might mean compromising some of his platform.

But when I consider what he has accomplished for the Conservative movement in just a few short years, I am impressed.

Remember the red/blue map after the US election. If you looked at a map of Canada, you would see that the Conservatives are distributed across the country far more than any other party. Harper represents the party to have the most seats distributed across Canada. He made headway in Quebec, something that nobody thought an Anglophone from the West could accomplish whent he campaign started.

What held the Conservatives back, ultimately was the cities. MOntreal, Toronto and Vancouver went overwhelmingly Liberal. Since they have a larger population, they represent more seats. So there is obviously a real split between the values of large urban centres and those outside those areas.

But having said all that, for now I am glad that we have a new Prime Minister. It's a start.

[Alisa Stoll]

It's the same in the US - the large cities are usually Democratic and "the rest of the country" Republicans.

Alisa

[Brad Mercer]

From what I've read, it sounds like a reasonable hope for Canadian Conservatives is that he'll be able to push one or two broadly popular changes through parliament, like a reduction in the national sales tax, play it safe otherwise, to prove to those who didn't vote for him that he's not as scary as Martin tried to make him sound, and then call another election in a year and hope for a majority.

Brad

[Mark Doble]

The smaller bedroom communities voted for the PERSON that helps them the most and the big CITIES voted for the party.

[Bob Woolley]

Sorry Harper didn't do better in Atlantic Canada. He scared them a bit when he made some comments in the past. He is not the bad guy they made him out to be and just an ordinary joe.

In his victory speech, one thing I did note that might give a bit of insight into this man, Harper, is that his last words were, "God Bless Canada!" ... and I truly hope He does with some promising stable, honest government now!

I am sure Harper will be a bit more congenial to our neighbours in the south. His appearance reminds me a bit of JFK. Watch for him when he travels your way and we'll see if he goes over well with you folks which will make a difference here as well.

[Bob Woolley]

:fav18
PS - According to the Toronto Globe and Mail, his wife Laureen, will be going to the local SPCA looking for some new cats to nurse back to health!

His wife loves cats!! and I do too! :basic05

[Mark Doble]

two reasons I voted Conservative:

one, i wanted to keep my guns and thought the Liberal's plan on violent crime was crap.

two, they are morally corrupt with the changing of the definition of marraiage and the upcoming two wives thing they wanted to change...

I could go on, but I said just the first 2...

[Barbara Moulton]

Sorry Harper didn't do better in Atlantic Canada. He scared them a bit when he made some comments in the past. He is not the bad guy they made him out to be and just an ordinary joe.

In his victory speech, one thing I did note that might give a bit of insight into this man, Harper, is that his last words were, "God Bless Canada!" ... and I truly hope He does with some promising stable, honest government now!

I am sure Harper will be a bit more congenial to our neighbours in the south. His appearance reminds me a bit of JFK. Watch for him when he travels your way and we'll see if he goes over well with you folks which will make a difference here as well.

He says "God bless Canada" at the end of every speech.

[Bob Woolley]

I also heard that he prays and reads his Bible every morning. Is that true?

It's hard to know fact from fiction here with the Liberal news reports and the media.

[Barbara Moulton]

I also heard that he prays and reads his Bible every morning. Is that true?

It's hard to know fact from fiction here with the Liberal news reports and the media.

I wouldn't be surprised. One column says about him:

Stephen's strength

Harper, a Presbyterian by background, finds himself spiritually 'at home' in Christian and Missionary Alliance congregations in Calgary and Ottawa. Those who know him attest that he listens carefully to what his pastors and some Christian mentors have to say and finds strength in his understanding of the gospel he hears. And that helps to inform his faith.

One Sunday, I happened to attend at the Harper home church, an east end international congregation in Ottawa which is a part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination.

The Harper children, Benjamin and Rachel, were very active in that particular worship service. The occasion was 'Shoebox Sunday,' which, to the uninitiated, is an annual event organized internationally by Samaritan's Purse (SP), a Christian relief and development organization run by Franklin Graham, son of Billy. Every year, thousands of churches throughout North America, under a program developed by SP, lead their families through a process of packing shoeboxes with gift items for pre-Christmas distribution to children in less developed countries.

That Sunday, Benjamin and Rachel, along with a couple of dozen other youngsters, were carrying armfuls of shoeboxes from the back of the church to the altar area so that the minister could dedicate them to God before dispatching them to the Ottawa Airport.

Harper looked on with some satisfaction.

I feel this is a man I can relate to. WHen I saw him getting off the plane and walking towards "Hanger 11" where important people disembark from the plane in Ottawa, holding the hand of his little girl (who had a pink backpack), I had a strong reassurance that something good was going to happen in Ottawa.

I don't see him as "God's man" for this hour in Canada's history. That's not my theology. But I do see him as someone that can be used by God this hour in Canada's history.

Conciliation and the ability to bring sides together ares his strong points.

I will be praying for him.

[Bruce Carriker]

Heard him talking on NPR today. He sounds like a U.S. Republican...we'll cut taxes AND increase defense spending.

One thing I'm finally understanding. The conservatives are not really AGAINST big government OR AGAINST government spending. They just disagree with liberals on whether the governments growth and finances should be directed towards the defense industry and big business, or people.

[Barbara Moulton]

Heard him talking on NPR today. He sounds like a U.S. Republican...we'll cut taxes AND increase defense spending.

Perhaps it might sound like a US Republican but our circumstances are different.

Firstly, unlike the States, our government has recorded a surplus and has paid down its debt for nine years. I am glad of that. It's better to be decreasing the debt rather than increasing it (especially at the rate the US is). But its also nice to give a break to the people who are making those surpluses possible with their taxes.

Secondly, unlike the States, our defence spending has been inadequate for a long time. We won't be building up the kind of armed forces the US has but we do need to be able to continue to provide so I agree we need to send some money that way. We aren't talking about pouring trillions of dollars into defence spending...we are talking about catching up.

Thirdly, Harper also promised improvements to our national health care system, help for working families in child care subsidies given directly to parents, rather than institution, accountability and increased ethical standards for governments (inluding the lobbyist restrictions). Are those types of things routinely in the platform of US Republicans?

[Lee Branum]

Sounds like you have a good man for your new PM! And he's from the Province of Alberta. I'm so thankful for Alberta! Their natural gas keeps us warm in the winter here!
As an outsider, I hope that your new PM is just the man for the time.

LeeB

[Alisa Stoll]

Here's something I got in email concerning determining if you are a republican, democrat, or southern rep.:
What's your political status?

Are you a Democrat, Republican or Southern Republican?
Here is a little test that will help you decide:

Question: How do you tell the difference between
Democrats, Republicans and Southern Republicans?
The answer can be found by posing the following
question:

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife
and two small children. Suddenly, an Islamic
Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner,
locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises
Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are
carrying a Glock cal .40, and you are an expert shot.
You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your
family. What do you do?
Democrat's Answer:
*Well, that's not enough information to answer the
question!
*Does the man look poor! Or oppressed?
*Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire
him to
attack?
*Could we run away?
*What does my wife think? What about the kids?
*Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock
the knife
out of his hand?
*What does the law say about this situation?
*Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?
*Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind
of message does this send to society and to my
children?
*Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
*Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be
content just to wound me?
*If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my
family get away while he was stabbing me?
*Should I call 9-1-1?
*Why is this street so deserted?
*We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weed day and
make this happier, healthier street that would
discourage such behavior.
*This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with
some friends for few days and try to come to a
consensus.
*Is he gay?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Republican's Answer:
BANG!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Southern Republican's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
click . . . (sounds of reloading). BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click . . .

Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the
Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?"

[Mark Metcalfe]

Heard him talking on NPR today. He sounds like a U.S. Republican...we'll cut taxes AND increase defense spending.

Notwithstanding Barbara's serious answer, I had to laugh at this because
my notion of Canadian Defense spending means that it wouldn't hurt them
to double it - like buying TWO cups of coffee in the morning instead of
one. But Canada isn't into global domination like the US is, so they don't
need to spend a whole lot.

My second thought was "defense from whom?" The Mexico-touching
Bush-whackers? Nah.

Mark

Thanks for the photo, Barbara; looks like you have a Barbie and Ken winner!

P.S. Funny bone on overdrive - hope this comes across more funny than not.

To make any amends that I need to make, you can check out this Geo. Bush
spoof at: www.wimp.com/bushcomedy/
(President Bush (in the form of a look-alike comedian) proposes to pay down the deficit by selling Canada.)

[Barbara Moulton]

Notwithstanding Barbara's serious answer, I had to laugh at this because
my notion of Canadian Defense spending means that it wouldn't hurt them
to double it - like buying TWO cups of coffee in the morning instead of
one. But Canada isn't into global domination like the US is, so they don't
need to spend a whole lot.

My second thought was "defense from whom?" The Mexico-touching
Bush-whackers? Nah.

Mark

Thanks for the photo, Barbara; looks like you have a Barbie and Ken winner!

P.S. Funny bone on overdrive - hope this comes across more funny than not.

To make any amends that I need to make, you can check out this Geo. Bush
spoof at: www.wimp.com/bushcomedy/
(President Bush (in the form of a look-alike comedian) proposes to pay down the deficit by selling Canada.)


In a way you got my point. A Canadian Conservative saying we need to increase defense spending (at this point in our history) is not like an American Republican saying they need to increase their defense spending because our starting points are far apart. However, we do have some present military committments.

From the DND website:

More than 1,400 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members - one third of our deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.

Since 1947, the CF has completed 72 international operations. That figure does not include current operations, or the many CF operations carried out in Canada.

"Barbie & Ken"? If by that you mean they are an attractive looking couple, I agree. But, since this man is the Prime Minister Designate I will speak of him with more respect.

As an aside, believe it or not, there are some Canadians who have real fears that one day America will decide it has the right to access the "continental resources" presently within Canada's borders by force. Energy and water...we have lots.

[Bruce Carriker]

Perhaps it might sound like a US Republican but our circumstances are different.

Firstly, unlike the States, our government has recorded a surplus and has paid down its debt for nine years.

Well, we hadn't done it for nine years. But we had done it for two consecutive years...until our "conservatives" took control, cut taxes, and increased spending...not just on the military, but on just about anything they could find to spend money on.

[Bruce Carriker]

Notwithstanding Barbara's serious answer, I had to laugh at this because
my notion of Canadian Defense spending means that it wouldn't hurt them
to double it - like buying TWO cups of coffee in the morning instead of
one. But Canada isn't into global domination like the US is, so they don't
need to spend a whole lot.


Canada has the 15th highest defense budget in the world. Perhaps their defense spending only SEEMS small, because the United States spends nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. (Actually, current projections are that sometime in 2006, US defense spending will actually surpass that of the rest of the world combined.) Exactly how much do we need to spend to be defended?

[Barbara Moulton]

Well, we hadn't done it for nine years. But we had done it for two consecutive years...until our "conservatives" took control, cut taxes, and increased spending...not just on the military, but on just about anything they could find to spend money on.

Well, since I have lived in Canada all my life and studied the issues and voted in more than one federal election...perhaps you could give some weight to what I say. I believe you are a reasonable man and wouldn't base your opinion of the Canadian Conservative Party soley on this one speech you have heard. :)

I mean think about it...after reading all my posts in the past, knowing my opinion on many subjects that have been discussed, do you really think I would have supported them with my vote if I believed that Canadian Conservatives were the same as US Republicans?

If NazNet has taught me nothing else it is this...a Conservative in Canada is still liberal to Americans :)

Blessings,
Barbara

[Barbara Moulton]

Canada has the 15th highest defense budget in the world. Perhaps their defense spending only SEEMS small, because the United States spends nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. (Actually, current projections are that sometime in 2006, US defense spending will actually surpass that of the rest of the world combined.) Exactly how much do we need to spend to be defended?

Yes but we are the ninth richest country according to GDP. US is the third richest country.

[Mark Metcalfe]

"Barbie & Ken"? If by that you mean they are an attractive looking couple, I agree. But, since this man is the Prime Minister Designate I will speak of him with more respect.

That is what I meant. As for respect, some people feel the same way about
our leaders, but many of us Americans don't. Politicians, even the best of
them, are after all politicians.

I am glad you got the person you want and hope he is the person you need.

Let's "talk" about your resources. ;-) (Just kidding!!)

MM

[Barbara Moulton]

Let's "talk" about your resources. ;-) (Just kidding!!)

MM

It is quite amazing. Alberta's oil sands deposits were described by Time Magazine as "Canada's greatest buried energy treasure," and "could satisfy the world's demand for petroleum for the next century." They are second only to Saudi Arabia.

The problem has always been that it was too expensive to process the oil from the Sands. But with the rising price of oil, that has changed.

Canada's TSX has been soaring lately...driven largely by all its energy stocks.

[Archie Hoffpauir]

Barbara, could you folks possibly see your way clear to offer Al Gore political asylum? It appears from a story I read today, taken from the Calgary Herald, that he is venturing into Canadian politics. The story focused on a speech he gave in Utah, so he may be at your border by now. And...congratulations on your new prime minister designate.

Archie Hoffpauir