- The Game Changer - Canadians Stand Up, Be Counted and Give Harper the Boot

1:04 PM on December 13, 2010 The Globe and Mail
What are the chances of a federal election in 2011?, JOHN IBBITSON, Globe and Mail Update, December 13, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/what-are-the-chances-of-a-federal-election-in-2011/article1835161/comments/

The fundamental problem is:

Stephen Harper is a right wing extremist, with all the trappings and implications that go along with such, and always has been. He is kept in power by a core of like minded people that provide the funds and blindly support that keep him in power much to the detriment of Canada and all Canadians (apparently they don't like to be identified as a well distinguished group - go figure - so I refer to them as the 'Silent Minority'*)

Harper and the Con's know this and take the approach that they can do pretty much what they want, 'Canadians be dam[redacted]d', as long as they don't precipitate a consolidation of the Moderate Majority (66% Canadians that do not buy into the political extremism of Harper and his Con's) that don't want him or subscribe to what he stands for.

As long as the Harper policies, and his misleading Canadians, do not consolidate the opposition then Harper can, and continues to, mislead - 'Canadians be dam[redacted]d'.

'Consolidate the Opposition' is the 'game changer', as you phrase it.

It is not necessarily a single event it can be a build up of a general overall theme.

It is possible that an election, in itself, is the 'game changer', the thing that makes people direct their minds to the political situation and decide Canada has had enough of Harper and his Con's.

Or the forcing of an election where Ignatieff and the Liberals say "enough of Harper and his Con's" thus allowing people to see that he is leadership material and a 'good' replacement for Harper, could be the game changer.

I am not sure Ignatieff and the Liberals waiting another year is a game changer, although it might be for Ignatieff. However, Ignatieff and the Liberals do have a responsibility to Canada and all Canadians not to force an election where Harper could get a majority. Otherwise, if there is a reasonable chance the Liberals could form a minority without the chances of the Con's forming a majority perhaps that is the game definer.

The real game changer:

All Canadians ask themselves if they want their country run, and shaped, by extremist politics then, if not, they, stand up, be counted and consolidate against this extremism.

excerpt: Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html

*The Silent Minority:

I used to phrase it:

"die-hard core of right wing extremists, epi-centre in Alberta - responsible for 33% in support - that keep Harper in power, and the Con coffers bulging, and to which Harper and the Con's policies cater".

However, I kept getting my posts to Jane Taber's articles pulled - go figure. I changed it to the above and it didn't (not yet anyway). I guess Ms. Taber, or some with influence, does like people referring to them as "right-wing extremists", given that those I am referring to are, I wonder why.

Apparently some have an issue with my using 'extremist' - go figure.

They are extremist, both in their views and their acting upon their views, and I would be surprised if you asked them, they would not be proud of it and actually quite please with the results so far.

That Stephen Harper and the Cons have views based on right wing ideology that lies at the extreme of Canadian social and political views is manifest and very well documented. People who give die-hard, unquestioning support to Harper because of these ideological views, as opposed to whether Harper is good for Canada and all Canadians, can only, and Rightly, be described as 'extremist'.

On the other hand, being silent but working towards their goals in the background, underneath the radar, denying everything for the media, and hiding your true intent and purpose from the rest of the population is certainly a tried and tested political strategy.

It is used by extremists so that the majority are not awakened and, shocked by what they see, give the extremists (Harper) the boot.

Besides denying their roots, another of the methods, is, of course, keeping a tight muzzle on MP's. This creates a serious strain, since a hallmark of extremism, especially right wing who view it as a moral issue, is to be very vocal about their beliefs and how others have failed and how only they have the answers. With Harper and the Con's there are many examples.