[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Hard to believe that time has gone by that fast. I am just wondering what people's opinions are of Harper now that he has been PM for 5 years.

My position of bias is someone with a socially liberal and economically centrist perspective. I tended in the past to support the Liberal Party, although I typically abstain from voting or vote for a fringe party.

I would basically say that I'm socially and fiscally small c conservative, but I tend to vote for the main two parties even though I haven't really voted for the Liberal's since the election that swept Paul Martin to government.

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The Pros:

Personally, I like Harper as a person. I think he generally wants what is best for the country from his perspective. I don't necessarily agree with it, but as far as politicians go, I don't think he is as self-serving as many are. I appreciate that he seemed to take criticisms to heart. I am not a very advanced French speaker, but from what I have heard from people who are, he really improved at that. I think that shows dedication and a desire for national unity. Although I think past governments set up Canada to weather the recent economic situations, I think Harper was cool headed and his responses were reasonable.

I don't doubt at the end of the day that the three major leaders don't want to do good works for their country. I will state that Ignatief seems to be more of a election based entity then anything else as his platform or lack of is all over the map.

I think that Harper has been more balanced in terms of his policies, I appreciate his support in rebuilding the military instead of letting it rot and putting it into bad situations. Fiscally, I think that he gave in a little too much on the stimulus packages and was cornered on the auto industry stuff. But I think thanks to governments in the past he knew that for the most part we were set up to get through the mini recession.

For the most part, I've liked his stronger stances on foreign policy and has thrown out the concept of weak suggestion based foreign policy that previous governments put into place.

He's never going to excite you with his speech making abilities, he's never going to come across as warm hearted.

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The Cons:

I never cared to vote for him mainly because I have heard that he is socially conservative and I wouldn't want to vote for him if I thought a majority government would give him a platform to institute a social conservative policy. I am not sure if I should be over this yet. He tried to govern a minority government as a majority with bullying (at the same time though, the opposition tried to govern as a minority). It just doesn't seem like he works well with other parties. I also don't appreciate the attack ads, especially while stating that he isn't going to call an election soon. It seems a little dirty to me. It was like he wanted the Liberals to blow their budget defending themselves so he could call an election a later time.

I honestly think that the whole conservative hidden agenda thing gets over played by the opposition. I can't see the Convervatives ever opening the abortion issue, or the death penalty issues or the revocation of gay rights issue because they would never ever see a majority again and would hand the opposition the next majority where those changes would be stricken.

I like the fact that he knows he's got a weak leader in Ignatief to deal with and a Liberal party that really shouldn't be pushing for an election, however he has met with leaders of the opposition parties this week or last week to talk about the budget.

I don't like the attack ads, but we've seen it from both sides. However since the Liberal's can't afford it they're doing it through the press by attacking absolutely everything good or bad for the point of just getting their names in the press.

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If you are a supporter of the Conservatives, do you think a fresh face is needed to get a majority? Harper still seems a little divisive. While I don't think he has been terrible, he seems to be treading water at best. Who would you rather have?

I really don't think that change is needed in the leadership position, the polls based on Harpers image as Prime Minster and the fairly major lead over the other parties tell me that. I just don't think that Majorities are ever going to happen unless you get a Mulrooney style knockout of John Turner in a debate, but as long as you have a bloc party majorities are next to impossible.

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

For supporters of other parties, do you think the leaders can be better than Harper, or at least win a popularity contest against him? The polls show the Conservatives with a big lead, but much of it is in areas where they already hold seats, so it might not make a huge difference after an election.

I don't think the popularity contest against Harper works because he dosen't play that way. If he did he would have pushed Elizabeth May out of camera in the last election, and told Duceppe to cram it with Walnuts.

The Conservatives in the poll are hovering around the majority area because Ignatief has done a terrible job of leading his party, and everyone knows that the NDP are not a realistic option, and I think Layton's act wears thin.