- Harper Slipping in the Polls? so the is Divine Intervention

Submitted: 7:22am, PDT, 22 Jun.'10
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1188309.html
The angry politics of stalemate in Ottawa, Dan Leger, 21 Jun.'10

Stephen Harper and the Con's core support is 33%, it seems to me. 30% is within the statistical margin of error. However, I would suggest that this may be one of those polls that is 'in error'.

On the other hand, if it really indicates a shift in core support for the Con's this would be quite significant and well worth the effort to track the cause.

For example, "at 42 per cent in Quebec, the Bloc is up five points from the last campaign."
(Hébert: Deadlocked polls are becoming the federal norm, Mon Jun 21
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/826165--hebert-deadlocked-polls-are-becoming-the-federal-norm)

The Liberal numbers seem to be the same, if not up a bit. The Con's losing traction in Quebec would be interesting. Of course, with Harper disenfranchising 1.4 million votes in Quebec, it would not be surprising.

On the other hand perhaps it is because of the outrageous spending on the G8-20 by Harper. In that case, what about the 16 billion for "next generation" fighter jets that Harper is spending (and leaving a corresponding increased debt of 16billion to be picked up by the "next generation" Canadians).

Or, how about the Kevin Page, Parliamentary Budgetary Watchdog, in his analysis of a single piece of legislation (ending so-called two-for-one imprisonment credits) that came into force in February, is expected to put the price tag at approx 10 billion. (Page is also expected to assert that the government blocked him in his attempts to secure data - surprise, surprise).
(New crime law expected to cost billions, By JANICE TIBBETTS, Canwest News Service,
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/crime+expected+cost+billions/3184933/story.html)
This is despite that Harper and the Con's apparently have not factual basis that such change has any positive effects on crime, but is simply base on their philosophy (Van Loans).

Harper and the Con’s have made “getting tough on Crime” one of their central policies.

However, as it turns out they have nothing to support their position to say that it is in the best interest of all Canadians. In fact, all the evidence points to the exact opposite. This is illustrated by the Report just released by Graham Stewart, Prof Michael Jackson, et al.

The response by the Con’s, “The professor has a different philosophy than us,” Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan (to CBC).

In other words, the report is correct, Harper and the Cons are totally disregarding the facts and basing their position on shear Ideology, extreme right wing at that.
That is, they are not basing it on what is best for Canadians, but on irrational fear mongering and self-righteous hypocrisy, dragging us back to the Dark Ages with hints of the Inquisition.

This was underlying the statement by Ian Brodie, Harper's former chief of staff, when he explained that

“Despite economic evidence to the contrary, in my view the GST cut worked … It worked in the sense that it helped us to win.”;

as well as, what Tom Flanagan, a former Harper adviser, said about the Harper attack ads on Ignatieff rebuilding the coalition after an election,

“It doesn't have to be true. It just has to be plausible and it strikes me as plausible.”

It is becoming more and more open that this is how Harper and the Con’s operate. No regard for what the realities are and what is in the best interest of all Canadians given those realities. But shear right wing extremist ideology.

‘Irrational Fear Mongering vs. rational, open debate’ - this is a fundamental wedge issue between Harper and his Cons and the Liberal Party.
(cicblog, 26Sep.'09)

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html