Canada
Related: About this forumHarper’s attacks on Trudeau will be vicious
For Stephen Harper, losing to a Trudeau would be the ultimate humiliation. It was his visceral hostility to Pierre Trudeaus attitude to the West, exemplified by the national energy program, that propelled him into the Reform Party in the first place.
So you can imagine how Mr. Harper felt when a poll came out last week showing that the Liberals under the leadership of Justin Trudeau would defeat him handily. And you can imagine his relief when, right on the heels of that poll, the storm emerged over an interview Mr. Trudeau gave some time ago in which he spoke of how the country would suffer with Albertans at the helm. This was almost in a league with Mr. Harper once saying that Albertans, owing to their treatment from Central Canada, should build a firewall around the province.
The two men are polar opposites. Their deep differences mark a time of unusually deep divisions in our politics a time of contrasting ideologies, regions and visions, making the stakes extraordinarily high. Mr. Harper wants to further his dismantling of the house Trudeau built and cement a conservative ethic. Progressives are of the hope that if George W. Bush could make a Barack Obama possible in the United States, Stephen Harper is making a new force for liberalism possible here.
Mr. Trudeaus reckless remarks will link him more closely with his father. Given the lingering animosity toward Pierre Trudeau on the Prairies, his son had been trying to distance himself by disowning the despised NEP.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/harpers-attacks-on-trudeau-will-be-vicious/article5701699/
KT2000
(20,588 posts)I usually listen to Canadian radio so this gives me a hint as to what to expect.
Believe me - the politics in British Columbia can get pretty nasty too.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)Let the dinosaurs fight it out for the centre-right vote. The rest of Canada is clearly tired of the status quo and moving leftward.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Just out of the blue, radio stations started airing the standard ominous-music growly-voice ads talking about how Mulcair must be stopped. They're sad even by attack ad standards; at one point one of them just starts saying "Taxes!" over and over.
riverbendviewgal
(4,254 posts)Justin's father is one of my heroes.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)But the "Patrick Swayze" of the re-branded LPC insults my intelligence. If they came up with some new policy that changed has over the last 20 years with respect to their destruction of organized labour, graft and cronyism, and deferring on the environment, I'd give them some consideration.
But, at this point all I see is a dim hope that 'rock star' status gains the same sort of leverage a Sarah Palin and co. tried.
riverbendviewgal
(4,254 posts)When Jack layton came to lead the NDP.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)while screaming "ROADHOUSE!"
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)If you really want to get the Cons out, you should back the NDP. You have no good reason to waste time trying to bring the LESS-progressive opposition party back from the grave.
The fact is, Justin has nothing to offer...he's well to the right of his dad and he's an intellectual midget. A pretty face and a stylin 'do don't make up for all that.
arikara
(5,562 posts)because that's the only way he has a hope of winning again. He does not represent Canadian values, is dismantling the country and giving it away to China. I detest the man.
MAD Dave
(204 posts)Hopefully Mulcair and the NDP can overcome the attack ads and chase Uncle Stevie out of 24 Sussex Drive.