tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post4575490129844503544..comments2023-10-14T05:50:19.314-04:00Comments on Making Sense with Nicholls: The Decline and Fall of the Liberal EmpireGerry Nichollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496716615185797501noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-73951471082010324922011-02-08T04:20:25.578-05:002011-02-08T04:20:25.578-05:001) Stephen Harper's not stiff himself? Since ...1) Stephen Harper's not stiff himself? Since when? Talking about bad leaders - care to be reminded about Stockwell Day? Insulting liberals because of small-town politicians - hello Prestion Manning.<br /><br />2) Hmm, what were the issues in the conservative election victory? GST cuts, child tax benefit of $100/month and whistleblower protection were all in the 2006 PC platform and two out of three were implemented. Were these not harped upon along with "accountability" during the entire election period?<br /><br />3) The tories have been working hard lately to alienate Quebec voters but yes, you are correct on this point.<br /><br />4) Hmm, social program spending (like child care) is popular in Quebec and with opt-out clauses for provinces that want to deliver the programs there's not much to object to. In fact, Harper's expansion of the federal government on prison building, rehabilitation-cutting (bye bye successful prison farm in Kingston that taught useful skills and fed inmates), and the military is quite unpopular in Quebec.<br /><br />5) Aside from the swipe at the CBC (really, come on?) I'd have to agree that the Liberal party does much better in the big city and connects better with urban voters (not limited to the cities you mentioned) than to rural dwellers though not with the gun and bible prejudice (of course some Liberals think like this just as some conservatives hate gays and blacks - doesn't make it right or mainstream in either party).<br /><br />6) The subsidy isn't going to be scrapped anytime soon but if it is it will be a good issue - Harper gets enough support from wealthy Canadians that he feels he can cut off other parties funding for political gain (which it will look like - and likely be - unless he gets a consensus). Liberal grassroots support is strong when there is a rallying cry - the Jean C-Paul M wars brought out droves of people (I remember party meetings where we barely used to get quarum overflowing with hundreds during the regrettable infighting in my party) - we just need a clear message.<br /><br />7) Pot meet Kettle - How many Reform policies disappeared when in power? How many Senate appointments were made when the promise was to make none? Can you say there aren't power-hungry people in the Cons. ranks? Of course not. So what's your point?<br /><br />8) Current generation? Some past PCs (John A McDonald comes to mind) were brilliant. Willing to go as far as Harper - nope - dislike Brian M as much as you want (or Lady Thatcher) but he (and she) respected constitutional conventions.<br /><br />9) Just because Mark Holland isn't well known doesn't mean he's not strong. Who is to say some of the Liberals you mentioned won't come back in if there's another leadership race. <br /><br />10) Liberals should have to work for their votes (as should members of all parties). I'd rather religious and racial group members voted as individuals rather than as blocks (which means all parties need to practice respect).Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231673502029402930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-28048807464408543562011-02-06T03:15:56.412-05:002011-02-06T03:15:56.412-05:00No he isn't. He's done more than any other...No he isn't. He's done more than any other to expand government. He's a great PM-for the left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-62525731613039846392011-02-05T18:54:02.107-05:002011-02-05T18:54:02.107-05:00Perhaps not a genius..but a damn good Prime Minist...Perhaps not a genius..but a damn good Prime Minister!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-41205587790733183962011-02-05T03:52:15.757-05:002011-02-05T03:52:15.757-05:00A good post, but as one Liberal Party falls anothe...A good post, but as one Liberal Party falls another rises under the leadership of Harper. The flaw in you article is the mischaracterization of Harper as some political genius. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-67427337966110000722011-02-04T21:15:29.809-05:002011-02-04T21:15:29.809-05:00Well done. More complex than I have read in the me...Well done. More complex than I have read in the media and many of these are also why Ford got Toronto. And they do not see that.<br /><br />I was raised an Italian/French Catholic and voting Liberal was what my family did. Biggest argument my family had growing up was when my brother rebelled and voted for Mulroney in the 80's.<br /><br />After I went to university in the early 90's and saw how much anti-Catholic bigotry there was in the new younger Liberal ranks I never voted for them again and convinced my mom to do the same.<br /><br />Seems it is finally catching up to them as they finally lost this demo to the Consevatives in the last election.<br /><br />The Conservatives are flawed, but that the Libs do not want to see why they have lost so many demographics show they are not ready to do true soul searching yet.<br /><br />Good post!Nicol Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-45739895796777256272011-02-04T19:47:59.532-05:002011-02-04T19:47:59.532-05:00The Liberals Keep Picking Bad Leaders.
Frank McKe...The Liberals Keep Picking Bad Leaders.<br /><br />Frank McKenna, John Manley or Brian Tobin didn't run for leader after Paul Martin stood down. All three would have made a plausable leader.<br /><br />Their decision not to run speaks volumes.Whisky the Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-84486605608969806862011-02-04T17:05:44.754-05:002011-02-04T17:05:44.754-05:00Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of my ...Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of my favourite pre-mediaeval history books. A great read and very approachable.<br /><br />(oh and the Liberals are screwed)Hugh MacIntyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06158826826289942031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-92110135345290166932011-02-04T16:40:27.739-05:002011-02-04T16:40:27.739-05:00"The Romans faced off against Germanic Barbar..."The Romans faced off against Germanic Barbarians and Huns. The Liberals have a bigger problem. They must face Stephen Harper."<br /><br />LOL loved that line - better get it trade marked. I'm very happy that Harper - the big meanie - is 'intelligent, ruthless and calculating..' I hope he's around for a long time. He's only around 50 - if he stays like this i hope he's around for another 15 years as PM.<br /><br />Agent SmithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-61824606416395409532011-02-04T16:20:54.422-05:002011-02-04T16:20:54.422-05:007. Out of Power, Out of Luck
When Libs were in po...7. Out of Power, Out of Luck<br /><br />When Libs were in power,<br /> Dippers depended on Libs making them relevent by stealing their ideas.<br /><br />Now Dippers don't like their ideas being snapped up by the Libs,<br />illustrated by the NDPers calling the unelected Lib leader <br />"Iggy come lately"<br /><br />If Jack could get rid of the kooks and moderate their message.....wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03589410224972050999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-67081049135254102732011-02-04T16:20:14.893-05:002011-02-04T16:20:14.893-05:00Nice piece, imagine if you had done 30 seconds of ...Nice piece, imagine if you had done 30 seconds of research!Allen Smallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13663655836753638994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-88887331209784053962011-02-04T16:10:12.978-05:002011-02-04T16:10:12.978-05:00In support of your thesis I shall add my long held...In support of your thesis I shall add my long held humble opinion.<br /><br />The old style Ontario Liberal was rarely a left leaning politician. They were more a middle of the road party than they are now.<br /><br />I suspect that all changed with the influx of Quebec style Liberals from the Anglophone diaspora that became a rout in the 1970's.<br /><br />The Liberals forgot that they were merely an alliance for power between rural Ontario Grits and Quebec social Liberals.<br /><br />It seems socialist policies have become too strong within the Liberal party changing its character utterly.<br /><br />The modern Conservative Party has morphed somewhat closer to what the old Liberal party once was.Hoarfrosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07851698479761235428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-7221325286541269222011-02-04T15:55:17.249-05:002011-02-04T15:55:17.249-05:00Bravo on your "The Decline and Fall of the Li...Bravo on your "The Decline and Fall of the Liberal Empire" piece!<br /><br />Can't happen quick enough for Canada and ALL Canadians best interests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-755343272061681682011-02-04T15:38:29.174-05:002011-02-04T15:38:29.174-05:00Liberals might be gone but their Trudeaupian legac...Liberals might be gone but their Trudeaupian legacy will live on in our dysfunctional Charter and HRCs.potatonoreply@blogger.com