Stephen Harper After 5 Years

[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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

[Traditional_Ale]

He's done an outstanding job. There is a reason why Canada fared better through the recession than a lot of other first world countries. It's times like these that regardless of social issues and opinions I really feel most comfortable with an economist in charge.

[Ark2]

Harper should just go out and tell Quebec to shove it if they expect any more special treatment. Sure, he won't win any seats in Quebec, but everyone else will love him for it and he'll get his majority.

[sa226]

I think he has done a better job than his image and other sources would have us believe.

[Azure]

I don't like the attack ads at all.

I think he has done an okay job. Right now I would vote for him again simply because the Liberals don't have an effective leader that I would like.

[troutman]

Insiders from PMO tell me he is a ruthless dick.

[Ashartus]

I have mixed feelings. I consider myself fairly centrist and have voted Conservative in the past (though not since moving to Calgary West since I can't stand Rob Anders). Overall I don't think he's done a bad job, and I don't think the other parties would have done any better through the recession.

I agree with FlamesAddiction that he doesn't seem to work well with the other parties. I also don't really like his centralization of power in the PMO office (though in all fairness that didn't start with him) and suppression of open communication.

There seems to be a shortage of major talent in all of the parties these days, or at least that's my perception. I don't think any of the current party leaders have a good chance of defeating Harper. The only name I can think of from the Liberal party among potential future leadership candidates who might be able to pull it off is Dominic LeBlanc; guys like Rae and Trudeau are too divisive in my opinion. I also can't think of any current federal Conservative MP that I think could win a majority. With the current political climate I think the only way someone will get a majority is with a charismatic, articulate leader whose policies appeal to a wide range of the population, and I don't see that person. Either that or someone who can convince Quebec to abandon the Bloc without alienating the rest of the country.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by troutman

Insiders from PMO tell me he is a ruthless dick.

Most political animals are, the day and age of consensus building is pretty much done.

I'm sure that behind closed doors Ignatief and Layton are full blown dicks to. Its just that Harper doesn't have the political facade.

[WilsonFourTwo]

He's played the game better than anyone in recent memory. Frankly, I admire some of the ballsy moves he's made in order to stay in power and move the agenda forward.

I like that he didn't panic during the economic downturn, and there always seemed to be a sense of "We're awake at the wheel". We can debate policy/direction all we like, but there's little arguing that the ship was being steered. I'm a guy that firmly believes that inaction is the greatest mistake of all, so having a plan and moving forward with it scores points with me.

What I don't like is the introduction of (more or less) American-style political games. Strong attack ads, the insistence that every issue must be a divisive one, and an overall strategy of "don't cooperate unless forced too". Gagging MPs and Cabinet really annoys me as well. All of this existed before PM Harper, but it's certainly been taken it up a notch over the past several years.

As for the future - I think he'll stick around for another election, and there's a strong possibility of a small majority. The next election won't have much to do with Harper though - it will have to do with Ignatieff being a total, absolute, unmitigated disaster.

[Azure]

OTTAWA — The federal government's fiscal position is improving dramatically and appears in position to easily beat its deficit projection of $45.4 billion for this year.

The Finance Department reported Friday it recorded a relatively small $1.4 billion shortfall in December, less than half the $3.1 billion shortfall it had in December 2009.

That means, with accounts in for the first nine months of the fiscal year that ends March 31, Ottawa's deficit stands at $27.4 billion.

Friday's report shows that revenues from personal, corporate and sales taxes were up across the board -- $12 billion more than for the first nine months of last year.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/201...eficit-110225/

Certainly one of his strong points. Doing quite well with the budget considering the recession.

I think at this point, the government should work together with the provinces to make sure Canada is the optimum country for businesses to invest their money in. Especially in the oil sands.

Tweaking with the corporate tax rates seems to have worked.

[Azure]

What I also would like is that he focuses on CPP and health care a bit more and makes sure its sustainable down the road.

We don't want to run into the problem the US has where both programs are creating a problem but the government doesn't want to touch them because the only true solution is one where the citizens will have to sacrifice a bit more.

One thing we should do for sure is start increasing the retirement age.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

There seems to be a shortage of major talent in all of the parties these days, or at least that's my perception.

I think you're seeing reality my friend.

I stopped working with/for political parties about 10 years ago, preferring instead to focus on volunteer organizations. The work is more interesting, the people are (BY FAR) more cooperative and conciliatory, and some great things get done as a result.

We all understand that "Idealism, Energy and a Cooperative Nature" will get you killed in politics. What kind of people must therefore be involved? Why would anyone want to be surrounded by that life - especially when they just want to make the world a bit better.

[ynwa03]

Pro: The economy is better than most places
Con: Same world view as the much loved Neo-Cons.

Apart from those ridiculous ads the Conservatives keep running, I don't like Harper's bipolar personality. It's a trait straight out of the American government handbook, and in my opinion very 'anti-canadian.'

[peter12]

Originally Posted by ynwa03

Pro: The economy is better than most places
Con: Same world view as the much loved Neo-Cons.

Apart from those ridiculous ads the Conservatives keep running, I don't like Harper's bipolar personality. It's a trait straight out of the American government handbook, and in my opinion very 'anti-canadian.'

Stupid post.

[ynwa03]

Originally Posted by peter12

Stupid post.

Stupider post.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

He's done an outstanding job. There is a reason why Canada fared better through the recession than a lot of other first world countries. It's times like these that regardless of social issues and opinions I really feel most comfortable with an economist in charge.

Although no one in Alberta would believe this, the reasons that Canada did so well through the recession were because of things that the Liberals did before Harper was in office. He basically didn't screw it up worse, but it wasn't any magic that he worked!

[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.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by ynwa03

Pro: The economy is better than most places
Con: Same world view as the much loved Neo-Cons.

Apart from those ridiculous ads the Conservatives keep running, I don't like Harper's bipolar personality. It's a trait straight out of the American government handbook, and in my opinion very 'anti-canadian.'

Stop reading pamplets printed at Kinko's and maybe do some of you're own research.

[Rathji]

I have always been a Conservative voter, but support many ideas of the other parties, most notably the Green Party during the past election.

My honest, and obviously a little bit biased, opinion is that Stephan Harper is just like every other politician. He does some things I don't like and some things I do. He does some things that might be bad for the country and some things that might be good. Like the OP, I have a good impression of him as a person, even though I know a few of his personal views on some social issues differ from mine.

That said, I can't think of anyone I would want to lead our country now, or in the near future. The options are really bleak. Layton is out of touch with what our country needs, but that is probably because he has positioned himself as a perpetual opposition, without any real ideas for the country that make sense. There is something about Ignatieff's personality that rubs me the wrong way, which could just be because of my anti-Liberal Party bias kicking in, but I think if it came down to it and he was elected I probably would be ok with it, as long as it wasn't in a majority position.

[North East Goon]

I just want the Bloc Quebecois to go away, seriously this party should be deemed illegal.