Harper has broken trust of Canadians, says Dion

[Azure]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...ub=CTVNewsAt11

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion continued to attack the honesty of the Conservative government, saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Tories can't be trusted.

At a news conference following his party's caucus meeting in St. John's on Wednesday, N.L., Dion used the examples of apparent aid problems in Afghanistan and whether the Conservatives did an end run around election spending restrictions during the 2006 federal election.

Other Liberal MPs echoed the same message, suggesting the Liberals see trust as a wedge issue they can use against the Conservatives.

For example, New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc said: "The real story is why is Mr. Harper not able to convince Canadians that he's someone they can trust."

Talk about a quick way to give the Conservatives a majority government.

[Thunderball]

Accusations of trust issues from the Liberals? Hah, that's a good one.

Everyone knows that neither party lives up to their hype, but the Liberals have had a lot more time and have a lot more scars to prove their untrustworthiness.

Pot calling the kettle black...

[ken0042]

Well, thank goodness for the Liberals. Without them I would have never known that Harper has broken my trust.

Actually these days I tend to not notice very much what is going on with the federal gov't. And to me that's an indication that for the first time in many years they aren't pissing me off on a weekly basis. And that's a good thing.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, thank goodness for the Liberals. Without them I would have never known that Harper has broken my trust.

Actually these days I tend to not notice very much what is going on with the federal gov't. And to me that's an indication that for the first time in many years they aren't pissing me off on a weekly basis. And that's a good thing.

I second that point. But it makes me wonder....if no one is noticing these things then what scandals are brewing/festering behind closed doors. I don't say this in a pointed/partisan way either....for years everything seemed about the same with the Liberals and we know how that came to bear!

[octothorp]

I'm no big fan of Harper (though he's really grown on me during his time as PM), but the Liberals really need to move beyond criticisms of Conserservatives and start to deliver a clear and powerful vision of what their Canada is. This should be their strongest angle, but so far they've completely ignored it.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, thank goodness for the Liberals. Without them I would have never known that Harper has broken my trust.

Actually these days I tend to not notice very much what is going on with the federal gov't. And to me that's an indication that for the first time in many years they aren't pissing me off on a weekly basis. And that's a good thing.

That sums it up perfectly. It's been a very long time since I haven't had to cringe every time I picked up a newspaper in anticipation of seeing saw our PM doing something to either piss me off or embarrass me (or both!).

[CaptainCrunch]

You know that the best position for Dion is tied up and gagged in a dark closet away from the media. I'm still waiting for the proof that his claim that Harper is negotiating to sell fresh water to the U.S. is anything but another lie from a party that's made it an art form.

I also have some questions about the apron where they either point to Harper or the Conservative as pigs.

It would be nice to see the Liberal's actually fight for thier party based on issues.

I joined the online Liberal community to get thier news letters and they are the worst type of hypocrisy. but I need the laughs so I continue the subscription.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I may be alone here, but I have been rather pleased with Harper. He aint perfect, no politician is, but he just seems better than PM's we have had in the past. Like someone else said, I don't cringe when I hear him talk on the world stage.

I dunno, of all the past PM's I can remember, I really don't think Harper is all that bad.

And I agree, why do opposing parties have to resort to attacking each other in childish ways trying to smear each others names instead of building a solid campaign?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I'm no big fan of Harper (though he's really grown on me during his time as PM), but the Liberals really need to move beyond criticisms of Conserservatives and start to deliver a clear and powerful vision of what their Canada is. This should be their strongest angle, but so far they've completely ignored it.

Absolutely. A lot of people I've talked to who normally vote liberal have said that.

[kermitology]

I'm so frustrated with politcs these days. It's not about policies, it's about attacking the opposition.

Why don't the Liberals focus on developing some good policies to try to get back into power?

I assume it's easier to make people hate the opposition than to actually do something that would make you worthy of my vote. I wonder if voters can do anything to change this?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

While I don't particularly like Harper (and Flaherty even less), Dion certainly hasn't done anything to earn my trust.....

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Azure

Absolutely. A lot of people I've talked to who normally vote liberal have said that.

A large number of the liberals I know place a high value on intelligence in leadership (not saying that conservatives don't). And while I don't always trust Harper and find him to be at times hypocritical and generally uncharismatic, I think he's possibly the most intelligent PM we've had since Trudeau. Especially at a time when the supposed most powerful leader in the world is commonly cited as being of moderate intelligence at best, that really counts for something. I doubt it'll be enough to swing my vote to the right side of the spectrum, but I won't lose much sleep over it if he gets re-elected for another term.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I'm so frustrated with politcs these days. It's not about policies, it's about attacking the opposition.

Why don't the Liberals focus on developing some good policies to try to get back into power?

I assume it's easier to make people hate the opposition than to actually do something that would make you worthy of my vote. I wonder if voters can do anything to change this?

That's business as usual for any party in opposition, though. Don't think for one second that the Conservatives did anything other than attack the Liberals prior to the 2006 election. It's just the nature of parliamentary politics; the party(ies) in opposition attack the ruling party. Indeed, that's the very role of being an opposition party. All parties at all levels of government do this.

That being said, I would like to see some more cooperation amongst the parties, especially since we have a minority government and all polls show that neither Harper nor Dion are capable of winning a majority, so we really ought to demand less attacking and more working together from our MPs on both sides of the aisle.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

That's business as usual for any party in opposition, though. Don't think for one second that the Conservatives did anything other than attack the Liberals prior to the 2006 election. It's just the nature of parliamentary politics; the party(ies) in opposition attack the ruling party. Indeed, that's the very role of being an opposition party. All parties at all levels of government do this.

That being said, I would like to see some more cooperation amongst the parties, especially since we have a minority government and all polls show that neither Harper nor Dion are capable of winning a majority, so we really ought to demand less attacking and more working together from our MPs on both sides of the aisle.

Canadians are totally comfortable with this minority government. That's why we are seeing the polls see-saw between slight Conservative majority and parity with the Liberals. The degree of cooperation or at least civility among the parties is totally unprecendented in Canadian politics. Let's hope it stays that way.

It'd be nice if the parties could stop pretending it was otherwise. I mean, Dion has to make a fuss, you're right. But he doesn't have the personality to make a fuss, when he makes a complaint or an accusation against the Harper government, it comes across as a whiny, childish complaint and in my opinion, loses him respect among the voters.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by peter12

Canadians are totally comfortable with this minority government.

I think that there are no options that really grab people right now. So rather than make changes, most Canadians would prefer to just leave things alone. Most polls show that there would be no change in the number of seats won if an election were held today....that is not an endorsement of the current government, its voter apathy and general dislike showing through.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Well, thank goodness for the Liberals. Without them I would have never known that Harper has broken my trust.

Actually these days I tend to not notice very much what is going on with the federal gov't. And to me that's an indication that for the first time in many years they aren't pissing me off on a weekly basis. And that's a good thing.

Yeah my thoughts exactly. After years of watching and hoping I no longer hope for a party or a leader in power that has a 'vision for Canada' but rather I hope for the party that does the least to fata things up. So far Harper has done exactly that and for that I'm pleased. For awhile there during Chretien's 'legacy days' and Martin's days trying to impress lefties in Ontario I felt my blood pressure rise every time I picked up a newspaper and read about National politics.

[calculoso]

So, it's Harper and the conservatives, or the Liberals and their "excrement-hiding bird"?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

Great alternative!

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Yeah my thoughts exactly. After years of watching and hoping I no longer hope for a party or a leader in power that has a 'vision for Canada' but rather I hope for the party that does the least to fata things up. So far Harper has done exactly that and for that I'm pleased. For awhile there during Chretien's 'legacy days' and Martin's days trying to impress lefties in Ontario I felt my blood pressure rise every time I picked up a newspaper and read about National politics.

Not to mention the most damaging "vision for Canada" in our history, "Trudeaumania"...

[Nehkara]

Harper isn't trustworthy, but that's not news to anyone really.

I prefer anyone but the conservatives but as long as they do not get a majority I can live with it.

[flamingchina]

Originally Posted by calculoso

So, it's Harper and the conservatives, or the Liberals and their "excrement-hiding bird"?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

Great alternative!

This almost sounds like an Onion article...
"They flap their wings very hard"
I hope Ignatieff was joking with this...