[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by John Doe

He has the power in a majority to do pretty well whatever he wants, but he gets the "dictator" title from his strict control of his MP's, from cutting off debate on a multitude of bills, from refusing to submit to parliament documents (contempt of parliament issue), from appointing senators strictly on the basis of how well they will do his bidding, etc..

Let's not forget his omnibus budget bills.

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I really hope people out there don't just vote ideologically. I think that's very wrong. I was pleased when the NDP shockingly became the official opposition because Jack Layton killed it at the debate, instead of teaming up with the Libs to attack the Cons like everyone thought he would. He swung people's votes based on the issues and his plan, and this pleased me that people used their brains when voting.


I hope people think critically of the issues. I hear all sorts of rhetoric like "Harper is a dictator. Vote him out". Yes, but no. He's a PM and he didn't dictate anything. He's got a majority and majorities can get a lot of their platform through compared to a minority.

CroFlames (and other CPC supporters feel free to chime in), thoughts on the economy aside, I'm curious how or why CPC supporters excuse the 'improprieties' (electoral, senatorial), large and small, that have dogged the Harper government since the last election. The best possible spin you can put on his Senate appointees is that he completely misjudged their character. That's not anything to brag about.