Wow. Great debate here. I'd love to make a monster posting, but don't have time right now. I certainly agree with many of you and disagree with others.
Quick hit that hasn't been discussed yet: The biggest betrayals of the past 2 years have been Peter Mackay and Stephen Harper to the true Progressive Conservatives. HANDS DOWN! There is no-where for us now.
Scott Brison is a political star. Visionary and intelligent. Harper forced him out with his intolerance and unilateral way of dealing with things.
Joe Clark could not support anything Harper.
Belinda needs more grooming, but is clearly an up-and-commer. A couple of years ago I had hoped, like her, that the Tory-Alliance union would result in flushing out the religious zealots and western seperatists and make room for moderate candidates with great ideas and a love for the country as a whole.
When you consider Belinda's vs Harper's views on same-Sex, Abortion, Over-Throwing the government, and concern for Urban policies...was it really any surprise that she felt compelled to leave? Harper left her no choice. Life behind the scenes for her must have been hell. As it was for Brison, and I'm sure it is for the few "Good" PCs left in caucus. (Jim Prentice being one of the best).
I think in Calgary we over-look everything social and just see the fiscal. We hate wasted dollars and status-quo...but I don't think many Calgarians really believe in what Harper is trying to do. He's forming an alliance with the BLOC for CS!! Talk about power-hungry! How many of you as Albertans really support a party that wants to tear the country apart?
And his decisions are too religously based.
Calgary was the only Urban riding to really support the Conservatives. They ARE a regional / niche party. And they are not getting better (as I had hoped) but are getting worse. The moderates and future stars are leaving, and Harper really just leads the Reform Party. They have betrayed blue Tories horribly...far more than any woman walking across the floor today did.
And the fact that Harper can not take all the anger Canadians have for the government of the day and translate it into a majority is HIS fault and proves that he is truly out-of-touch with the majority of Canadians. They do not like him in Vancover or Winnipeg or Toronto or Montreal or Halifax. Even Edmonton had a hard time swallowing him. Harper is a huge problem to the right-wing initiative in this country. I agree 100% with the electoral reforms FDW is preaching, but Harper must go well before I even funnel one ounce of energy into anything else.
Some people spin it as saying Canadians are voting for Anger over Fear. But maybe they're actually voting for what is REALLY important over dollars.
Seriously, 120 million is NOTHING. I am PETRIFIED to find out where some-odd $2 Billion has went with the gun registry. But in the end, I don't need to be hated by the world and I don't want to be represented by bigots and people who don't have a love for the country as a WHOLE.
I live in Calgary and have NEVER voted Liberal.
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