tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post7182817649333174908..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Are Charest and Harper Both Past Their "Best Before" Dates Already?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-85395957116545262182007-05-28T21:30:00.000-06:002007-05-28T21:30:00.000-06:00Wake up Call for ERIC. Harper fading fast on conf...Wake up Call for ERIC. Harper fading fast on confidence ranking as a leader in recent Angus Reid Poll - here is the link - read 'em and weep. <BR/><BR/>http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/15896<BR/><BR/>Yes I know Dion is no better but he is new and not the PM with all the power that conveys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-90735835989995856082007-05-27T20:33:00.000-06:002007-05-27T20:33:00.000-06:00Ah Eric!!! the LPC of Canada as to learn to connec...Ah Eric!!! the LPC of Canada as to learn to connect with Canadians an individuals and not corporations. they have to get them to believe in a political party under the new fund raising rules before they can match your fund raising prowess. <BR/><BR/>The CPC is masterful at this and offers a good model all other parties will have to learn from.<BR/><BR/>Owing money is not a sign of corruption - buying an election might be though! Ever thought you may be seen as having too much money and that you use is in abusive ways? <BR/><BR/>Like how do think Canadians view the attack ads the CPC did on Dion but done by your party outside of the writ period. That way the money would not have to be part of the spending limits in the election campaign laws but the political mileage would be achieved? <BR/><BR/>They were still pure political campaign messages...is that the kind of corruption that only money can buy? <BR/><BR/>Never underestimate your opponent or the potential for the unforeseen to happen in life or politics. The Blue Machine is formidable but are your policies, practices and candidates equal to the "machine" you have?<BR/><BR/>Harper is double Dion rating on leadership. Name recognition is a wonderful thing in such superficial matters. When the chips are down and there is an election going the real decision then has to to be made on issues of leadership perceptions of character and competence. That is when leadership criteria issues really matter...not now. <BR/><BR/>As for Afghanistan, we have to commit for at least a generation. I was pleased to see Harper floating the idea that we may renew and perhaps revise our commitment past 2009. I asgree with him. <BR/><BR/>I for one believe we need to stay past 2009. This is not so much a war as it is a rescue and rebuilding of a people and a nation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-28411655184834410582007-05-27T17:54:00.000-06:002007-05-27T17:54:00.000-06:00Ken, a reality check - your party is fiscally bank...Ken, a reality check - your party is fiscally bankrupt. In fact, not only is the LPC not raising money, there are huge loans from a lot of the leadership contenders. If they are not paid (which I am assuming will be the case), it will become a huge issue in the election. Just another corruption storyline.<BR/><BR/>You underestimate the strength of the Blue Machine. Going into an election tied in the polls would not be a bad thing (and this is the reason why I supported going to an electino earlier this year).<BR/><BR/>Harper's rating on leadership are double that of Dion - says something doesn't it?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, a week in politics is a very long time and predicting results is futile. Let's have some policy decision. Should we be in Afghanistan? Why do the libs want a 2009 deadlien set? Etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-2338311994357122292007-05-27T15:08:00.000-06:002007-05-27T15:08:00.000-06:00Eric - I expect the LPC to be in second place but ...Eric - I expect the LPC to be in second place but not such a strong second place. Especially given the continuing fallout of Adscam and the wall to wall media coverage of the Gomery inquiry and the trumped up Income Trust RCMP investigation that continue to dog the LPC.<BR/><BR/>Then we have the internecine war for over a decade between Chrétien and Martin and the debacle that we saw in that transition of leadership. That does not engender confidence does it?<BR/><BR/>Given that Dion was a distant third in the December 2006 leadership and yet came up the middle (or the muddle as the case may be) to win it is not without its problems. <BR/><BR/>Dion had to pick a cabinet and exert power to establish himself as the leader while healing wounds in the post-leadership period. <BR/><BR/>Then he had to face the prospects of a very real threat of an engineered election after only a few weeks in office with a tired and broke party - both physically and fiscally.<BR/><BR/>YES I am very surprised the LPC has stayed at the same level of popular that they had in the last election. It is a miracle that the Dion Liberals are still within striking range of the Harper Cons. <BR/><BR/>It is ironic that it is Harper who is now too afraid to govern and running scared of the next election too. It was suposed to be Dion in that pickle wasn't it Eric?<BR/><BR/>Harper should be the hands on favourite of the country right now and he is far from it. Nobody is doing any better than he is but he has had all the advantages of power to strengthen his position. <BR/><BR/>So far he is showing very little real results and nothing in terms of improved popularity or personal trust...and the reasons for this are becoming shamefully obvious to everyone.<BR/><BR/>Eric the pessimist in you must realize every political leader always has previous and potential new players always waiting in the background if (hoping?)they would fail. <BR/><BR/>The fuse of leadership is lit on the day of your selection and it always burns down and out over time. You only hope you can accomplish something meaningful before the fuse runs out and you blow up or blow away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-20761006293657908022007-05-27T13:36:00.000-06:002007-05-27T13:36:00.000-06:00I can tell you that most members are quite happy w...I can tell you that most members are quite happy with the leadership of the government and, as a result, have been steadily increasing their level of donations to the party. <BR/><BR/>Dion has gained absolutely no traction and, in every single poll given, the public does not see him as a leader. Since you did no research, I will not either - but suffice it to say there are many articles and commentary about previous leadership candidates waiting in the background for Dion to fail (this includes the Director of the LPC!!!). <BR/><BR/>I find it odd that you are so estatic about the LPC being in second place - personally I would be fine if the CPC won another minority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com