Cherniak live blogged the throne speech, and I watched/listened to about half of it. In brief, I think Jason's right, this is remarkably weak coffee from a demi-god who bestrides the Earth. Whole lotta nothin', in fact, as I predicted.
As to what is there,
1) You can't bring down the government over a big tax (GST) cut, no matter how stupid a policy it is.
2) Afghanistan will come back to the House, so there's no point making an issue of it now. Best way to get our troops out of Kandahar is to wait for that vote .
3) The promise re spending powers is quite minimal, if Cherniak is right (I missed that bit). Not enough to get worked up about, maybe even something to support.
4) As to the environmental stuff, I would prefer to look at what concrete actions emerge rather than react to the language about Kyoto.
Time to keep the powder dry, in other words.
My goodness I heard that enormous sigh of relief clear across the continent.
ReplyDeleteI'm don't think the Liberal powder is dry - it got wet when the Liberals starting with their leader peed their collective pants in anticipation of the Throne Speech.
Evening BCL. There were no surprises in this, I thought it would go down close to the center and it did. How the politicians spin it is another matter. Question thought, you curious why Mr.Dion disappeared so quick and left Iggy out there answering questions. Curious minds want to know.
ReplyDeleteMaybe letting the underlings deal with the press?
ReplyDeleteI'm don't think...
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
I love the irony of this.
ReplyDeleteNot so long ago many Liberals were blaming Layton and the NDP for defeating their minority Government and thus ensuring a Harper minority Government. And yet now the Liberals can't stand it when THEY are the ones under attack for propping up the very Government they condemn the NDP of helping come to power.
Hypocrisy - all Liberal, all the time.
This is, all in all a good throne speech and a good blue print for the country, much as it pains me to admit it. It will also give time for the Liberals to regroup from the current mess they're in, the Quebec wing of the party is in a complete debacle. Dion is not ready to govern the party let alone the country at this time. He needs a few years to grow on the job.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that have become clear this week:
ReplyDelete1. The Conservatives have become a party that knows how to govern.
2. At this time they are the only party in this position.
Sobering for us Libs but a reality we have to contend with unfortunately.
Ti-guy,
ReplyDeleteI think thats essentially it, but I am a little surprised about the Afgh. promise (to bring it back to a house vote). To me its clear Harper et al DON'T want to fall on this issue, despite their apparent advantages.
will Steffi now have to shoot his dog ?
ReplyDeleteOr just re-name it "Surrender monkey"
?
Best way to bring troops back from a fight is to MAKE SURE YOU KILL ALL THE BASTARDS YOU ARE FIGHTING.
ReplyDeletePeacekeeping the REAL Canadian way. THE most feared, most respected, deadliest, and toughest troops to ever fight anywhere.
Only a Liberal would put himself into a fight, and then say "I have to go home now, I hear my mommy calling."
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ReplyDeleteAnon 11:07, you're writing that in your pyjamas in your mama's basement, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteThis is, all in all a good throne speech and a good blue print for the country, much as it pains me to admit it. It will also give time for the Liberals to regroup from the current mess they're in, the Quebec wing of the party is in a complete debacle. Dion is not ready to govern the party let alone the country at this time. He needs a few years to grow on the job.
ReplyDeleteNot bad, fraud. But I wouldn't have been as enthusiastic in my assertions. Things change rather quickly...look at how Harper went from screeching anti-Canadianism and Bush-fellatio to aspiring Liberal Prime Minister in the course of a few years?
He'll never be a true Liberal Prime Minister though, because his only real skill are manipulation and low-cunning.
I mean...for God's sakes, the man has never had a real job in his entire life.
A used-car salesman who missed his calling.
BCL...if you thought that fraud was really me, then I have really failed to establish my presence here. I guess I'll have to go back to being appallingly vulgar to your trolls.
ReplyDeleteTi-guy, Whoopsie, sorry.
ReplyDelete(But be as rude as you feel you need to).
"You can't bring down the government over a big tax (GST) cut, no matter how stupid a policy it is."
ReplyDeleteYes you can. You could argue you would cut taxes better or spend it on programs Canadians want or need. Why so timid? If the Liberals have a better vision for Canada (and you obviously think you do), let's vote on it.
Yep, fairly weak but not-completely disagreeable swill. The key is how they now swing this axe. Will they be pretending that they are Terminator on all things CON, or will they be forced to act like a minority govt?
ReplyDeleteThis is where we outline our vision. Don't reveal the blueprints, but provide a serious glimpse into a Dion govt.
Harper has been a surrender monkey, not that long ago really. He is surrounded by incompetents and corrupt team players. If a majority doesn't start to look possible soon, let their boys in the backroom go at it for a while...
I guess I'll have to go back to being appallingly vulgar to your trolls.
ReplyDeleteSince when has your pea sized brain ever really stoppped you from doing just that?
"This is where we outline our vision. Don't reveal the blueprints, but provide a serious glimpse into a Dion govt."
ReplyDeleteHasn't Dion already tried this?
"Harper has been a surrender monkey, not that long ago really. He is surrounded by incompetents and corrupt team players."
Who's backing down on Kyoto again? Who is the leader of a party with constant in-fighting, and a power-hungry deputy leader? Pretty sure it's not Harper.
Since when has your pea sized brain ever really stoppped you from doing just that?
ReplyDelete"Stoppped?"
Type with both hands, dear.
oiXW6N Your blog is great. Articles is interesting!
ReplyDeleteIuh9ey Thanks to author.
ReplyDeleteGood job!
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ReplyDeleteWonderful blog.
ReplyDeleteactually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
ReplyDeleteactually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
ReplyDelete