Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

‘Five wrongs do make a right honourable’

by Aaron Wherry on Monday, July 11, 2011 9:37am - 41 Comments

Touted by his party as a man who proved all the expert prognosticators wrong, Stephen Harper continues to make predictions of his own about his opponents’ chances.

“Quebec’s honeymoon with the NDP will pass. As many provinces know well, no honeymoon passes as quickly and as completely as one with the NDP…

“I believe the long Liberal era is genuinely, truly ending. As with disco balls and bell bottoms, Canadians have moved on,” Harper said to laughter and applause.

Tags: election, liberals, NDP, Quebec, Stephen Harper

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Anonymous

I don’t know what they serve at the Stampede, but Harper certainly had too much of it and got completely silly.
Anonymous

I don’t know what they serve at the Stampede, but Harper certainly had too much of it and got completely silly.
TonyAdams

“Quebec’s honeymoon with the NDP will pass …. ”

NDP and Quebec are made for one another. Both believe in Big Government, State in charge of everything. NDP and Que are both welfare queens, match made in heaven.

I agree that Que and NDP might not last for next century or somesuch but there is no reason to believe Que will turn off NDP within a few years. Depending on separatist issues, of course.
TonyAdams

“Quebec’s honeymoon with the NDP will pass …. ”

NDP and Quebec are made for one another. Both believe in Big Government, State in charge of everything. NDP and Que are both welfare queens, match made in heaven.

I agree that Que and NDP might not last for next century or somesuch but there is no reason to believe Que will turn off NDP within a few years. Depending on separatist issues, of course.
TonyAdams

“Quebec’s honeymoon with the NDP will pass …. ”

NDP and Quebec are made for one another. Both believe in Big Government, State in charge of everything. NDP and Que are both welfare queens, match made in heaven.

I agree that Que and NDP might not last for next century or somesuch but there is no reason to believe Que will turn off NDP within a few years. Depending on separatist issues, of course.
TonyAdams

“Quebec’s honeymoon with the NDP will pass …. ”

NDP and Quebec are made for one another. Both believe in Big Government, State in charge of everything. NDP and Que are both welfare queens, match made in heaven.

I agree that Que and NDP might not last for next century or somesuch but there is no reason to believe Que will turn off NDP within a few years. Depending on separatist issues, of course.
TonyAdams

“I believe the long Liberal era is genuinely, truly ending. As with disco balls and bell bottoms, Canadians have moved on,”

Maybe the Liberal Party era is ending but Trudeaupia lives on and Cons now embrace it. I agree with Harper that Canadians have moved on but elite – Harper et al. – are still entangled and enamoured “with disco balls and bell bottoms … ”

Coyne – Hard Right? Hardly:

Under the Conservatives, spending, which conservatives once promised to cut, has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent a year. The budget, which conservatives once aimed to balance, is now in deficit to the tune of $54-billion, with literally no end in sight.

Corporate subsidies, which conservatives once vowed to eliminate, continue to be doled out by the billions every year; much of the auto industry has been nationalized; the number of regional development agencies has increased by one.

Tony Clement: “Governments are doing their part. Universities are doing their part. Where’s business? When is business going to do its part?”

Virginia Postrel:

Technocrats are “for the future,” but only if someone is in charge of making it turn out according to plan. They greet every new idea with a “yes, but,” followed by legislation, regulation, and litigation. …..

Accustomed to technocratic governance, we take for granted that each new development, from the contents of popular entertainment to the latest in medical equipment, deserves not only public discussion but government scrutiny. Every new idea seems to spark a campaign to ban or control it …..

Most political arguments thus take place between competing technocratic schemes. Should there be a mandatory “family viewing” hour on TV, or ratings and a V-chip? Should the tax code favor families with children, or people attending college? …..

http://dynamist.com/tfaie/index-excerptB.html
TonyAdams

“I believe the long Liberal era is genuinely, truly ending. As with disco balls and bell bottoms, Canadians have moved on,”

Maybe the Liberal Party era is ending but Trudeaupia lives on and Cons now embrace it. I agree with Harper that Canadians have moved on but elite – Harper et al. – are still entangled and enamoured “with disco balls and bell bottoms … ”

Coyne – Hard Right? Hardly:

Under the Conservatives, spending, which conservatives once promised to cut, has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent a year. The budget, which conservatives once aimed to balance, is now in deficit to the tune of $54-billion, with literally no end in sight.

Corporate subsidies, which conservatives once vowed to eliminate, continue to be doled out by the billions every year; much of the auto industry has been nationalized; the number of regional development agencies has increased by one.

Tony Clement: “Governments are doing their part. Universities are doing their part. Where’s business? When is business going to do its part?”

Virginia Postrel:

Technocrats are “for the future,” but only if someone is in charge of making it turn out according to plan. They greet every new idea with a “yes, but,” followed by legislation, regulation, and litigation. …..

Accustomed to technocratic governance, we take for granted that each new development, from the contents of popular entertainment to the latest in medical equipment, deserves not only public discussion but government scrutiny. Every new idea seems to spark a campaign to ban or control it …..

Most political arguments thus take place between competing technocratic schemes. Should there be a mandatory “family viewing” hour on TV, or ratings and a V-chip? Should the tax code favor families with children, or people attending college? …..

http://dynamist.com/tfaie/index-excerptB.html
TonyAdams

“I believe the long Liberal era is genuinely, truly ending. As with disco balls and bell bottoms, Canadians have moved on,”

Maybe the Liberal Party era is ending but Trudeaupia lives on and Cons now embrace it. I agree with Harper that Canadians have moved on but elite – Harper et al. – are still entangled and enamoured “with disco balls and bell bottoms … ”

Coyne – Hard Right? Hardly:

Under the Conservatives, spending, which conservatives once promised to cut, has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent a year. The budget, which conservatives once aimed to balance, is now in deficit to the tune of $54-billion, with literally no end in sight.

Corporate subsidies, which conservatives once vowed to eliminate, continue to be doled out by the billions every year; much of the auto industry has been nationalized; the number of regional development agencies has increased by one.

Tony Clement: “Governments are doing their part. Universities are doing their part. Where’s business? When is business going to do its part?”

Virginia Postrel:

Technocrats are “for the future,” but only if someone is in charge of making it turn out according to plan. They greet every new idea with a “yes, but,” followed by legislation, regulation, and litigation. …..

Accustomed to technocratic governance, we take for granted that each new development, from the contents of popular entertainment to the latest in medical equipment, deserves not only public discussion but government scrutiny. Every new idea seems to spark a campaign to ban or control it …..

Most political arguments thus take place between competing technocratic schemes. Should there be a mandatory “family viewing” hour on TV, or ratings and a V-chip? Should the tax code favor families with children, or people attending college? …..

http://dynamist.com/tfaie/index-excerptB.html
TonyAdams

“I believe the long Liberal era is genuinely, truly ending. As with disco balls and bell bottoms, Canadians have moved on,”

Maybe the Liberal Party era is ending but Trudeaupia lives on and Cons now embrace it. I agree with Harper that Canadians have moved on but elite – Harper et al. – are still entangled and enamoured “with disco balls and bell bottoms … ”

Coyne – Hard Right? Hardly:

Under the Conservatives, spending, which conservatives once promised to cut, has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent a year. The budget, which conservatives once aimed to balance, is now in deficit to the tune of $54-billion, with literally no end in sight.

Corporate subsidies, which conservatives once vowed to eliminate, continue to be doled out by the billions every year; much of the auto industry has been nationalized; the number of regional development agencies has increased by one.

Tony Clement: “Governments are doing their part. Universities are doing their part. Where’s business? When is business going to do its part?”

Virginia Postrel:

Technocrats are “for the future,” but only if someone is in charge of making it turn out according to plan. They greet every new idea with a “yes, but,” followed by legislation, regulation, and litigation. …..

Accustomed to technocratic governance, we take for granted that each new development, from the contents of popular entertainment to the latest in medical equipment, deserves not only public discussion but government scrutiny. Every new idea seems to spark a campaign to ban or control it …..

Most political arguments thus take place between competing technocratic schemes. Should there be a mandatory “family viewing” hour on TV, or ratings and a V-chip? Should the tax code favor families with children, or people attending college? …..

http://dynamist.com/tfaie/index-excerptB.html
Anonymous

Funny how Wherry doesn’t post about how the opposition had a fit over this. Harper has been blessed by the opposition he has had, including some in the “media” who resent him so much. If you were to read National NewsWatch, or Wherry’s blog, you’d think the Conservatives would have been chased from office years ago. Instead, a big majority mandate. Imagine that.
Anonymous

Funny how Wherry doesn’t post about how the opposition had a fit over this. Harper has been blessed by the opposition he has had, including some in the “media” who resent him so much. If you were to read National NewsWatch, or Wherry’s blog, you’d think the Conservatives would have been chased from office years ago. Instead, a big majority mandate. Imagine that.
Anonymous

Stephen Harper, election night: “We are grateful, deeply honoured — in fact, humbled — by the decisive
endorsement of so many Canadians. We shall be faithful to the trust that
you have reposed in us”

The “humbled” part certainly didn’t last. To quote Dan Gardner on Twitter:

“”Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Or to put that another way: people who talk like this poke Fate in the eye”
Anonymous

Stephen Harper, election night: “We are grateful, deeply honoured — in fact, humbled — by the decisive
endorsement of so many Canadians. We shall be faithful to the trust that
you have reposed in us”

The “humbled” part certainly didn’t last. To quote Dan Gardner on Twitter:

“”Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Or to put that another way: people who talk like this poke Fate in the eye”

Anonymous

No, now Harper imagines the Libs and NDP will disappear and all of Canada will become like Alberta and elect Cons forever. Our ‘dear leader’ is dreaming in technicolour.
Anonymous

No, now Harper imagines the Libs and NDP will disappear and all of Canada will become like Alberta and elect Cons forever. Our ‘dear leader’ is dreaming in technicolour.
Anonymous

No, now Harper imagines the Libs and NDP will disappear and all of Canada will become like Alberta and elect Cons forever. Our ‘dear leader’ is dreaming in technicolour.

sharon.wilson

The CPC won more seats in Ontario (73 out of 106) than the 4 Western provinces combined (71 out of 91) Emily.
Isn’t it about time for Lib supporters to move on from the Reformatory talking points…

Put another way, the Harper Conservatives won 161 out of 233 seats in the ROC.
Outside of Quebec, PMSH won 69% of the seats.
Dreaming in technicolour?

Anonymous

Isn’t it about time for Cons to get a grip?

We’ve had majority govts for most of our existence. They are not novel, they do not eliminate all other parties, and they are not permanent.

Harper Cons could just as easily return to Opposition ranks next election….in fact he could be reduced to 2 members again.

sharon.wilson

A majority government without Quebec….. oh yah, that’s novel, likely an historic win too.
Anonymous

So that’s your claim to fame?? LOL

What is novel is Cons winning in Quebec….Mulroney did it, Harper didn’t.
Anonymous

I’d like to encourage this level of hubris. It will help in 4.5 years.
Anonymous

LOL well that’s certainly true!

Didn’t take the Cons long to get arrogant, that’s for sure.
Anonymous

What do you mean, “get” arrogant?

Anonymous

My Canada includes Quebec.
Anonymous

Why don’t you just send Quebec a memo telling them how little they matter and that they should drop off their key and get out of the country. You blatantly claiming that ‘real Canada’ voted for Harper, and only that aberrant appendage Quebec voted otherwise.

Anonymous

No, now Harper imagines the Libs and NDP will disappear and all of Canada will become like Alberta and elect Cons forever. Our ‘dear leader’ is dreaming in technicolour.

Anonymous

Stephen Harper, election night: “We are grateful, deeply honoured — in fact, humbled — by the decisive
endorsement of so many Canadians. We shall be faithful to the trust that
you have reposed in us”

The “humbled” part certainly didn’t last. To quote Dan Gardner on Twitter:

“”Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Or to put that another way: people who talk like this poke Fate in the eye”
Anonymous

Stephen Harper, election night: “We are grateful, deeply honoured — in fact, humbled — by the decisive
endorsement of so many Canadians. We shall be faithful to the trust that
you have reposed in us”

The “humbled” part certainly didn’t last. To quote Dan Gardner on Twitter:

“”Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Or to put that another way: people who talk like this poke Fate in the eye”
sharon.wilson

Both of PMSHs statements are true:

The Harper Conservatives won a majority without Quebec,
rendering the the NDP (Quebec) toothless.

The LPC won only 27 out of 233 seats in the ROC.
.
sharon.wilson

Both of PMSHs statements are true:

The Harper Conservatives won a majority without Quebec,
rendering the the NDP (Quebec) toothless.

The LPC won only 27 out of 233 seats in the ROC.
.
sharon.wilson

Both of PMSHs statements are true:

The Harper Conservatives won a majority without Quebec,
rendering the the NDP (Quebec) toothless.

The LPC won only 27 out of 233 seats in the ROC.
.
sharon.wilson

Both of PMSHs statements are true:

The Harper Conservatives won a majority without Quebec,
rendering the the NDP (Quebec) toothless.

The LPC won only 27 out of 233 seats in the ROC.
.
Phil King

Well what did you expect?

Surely after all this time no one is under the delusion that Harper aspires to anything more than power for his favoured demographic?

No one interested in bringing people together and seeking the greater good speaks this way. Its petty and small minded and frankly embarassing for Canada.

Oh well, he’s not the first ego-maniac we’ve had to deal with as PM eh? LOL

Anonymous

Are you saying that Harper is only in it for himself?

Phil King

Nice irony there eh? LOL

In all seriousness though I think he’s worse than that.

I think he honestly confuses hyper-partisanship with taking a principled stand, and believes that his opponents really don’t represent a valid perspective (no matter their support), but rather are misled adherents to a dangerous ideology.

In other words I don’t think he’s just using political tactics, he’s an actual crusader for his own set of ideological values. Which is why he views his opponents this way.

I don’t know if an analysis of former PMs would reveal the same type of psychology, but I find the current situation disturbing.

Personally I think our current and historical version of democracy is running itself out and needs to be updated.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Cameron-R-Fitter/704575518 Cameron R Fitter

Whats all this talk about liberals being finished? The pattern for Canadian federal politics is for the liberals to run the government for 12-15 years or so then they are defeated and the conservatives hold power for 8ish years with 4 of those normally being as majority government.

All we are seeing now is a continuation of the pattern and even then due to questionable choices in leadership and very aggressive attack ads against those leaders the conservatives it seems were only reluctantly given a majority government by Canadians after their 3rd try for such.

In 4-5 years from now the pattern will continue with the liberals more then likely being returned to power for another 12-15 years.

Many liberals for a time there were arrogant, saying the liberal party made Canada when the truth be known Canada has made the liberal party. As time goes on the natural instincts and views of Canadians will lead them to once again return to the liberals for leadership.

I also expect that in time the conservatives with have to respond to the general liberal bias of the average Canadian and return to being progressive. I also hope that the liberals upon their return to power likewise adjust and become more responsible in their liberalism and not so blindly liberal/tolerant.

Beware the politics of hate…it leads to the darkside, but have hope as the sith can’t rule forever. The Liberals will return to power and the CPC will return to being the PCs and will take their turns as a balance to the Liberals during their time of leadership in the pattern.
Anonymous

I was a little disappointed that Harper chose a Stampede pancake breakfast to include those two comments.

Hopefully I’ve been misinformed, and the event was actually a CPC party event.

Anonymous

Aha, it WAS a party event……should be a non-issue.
Anonymous

Aha, it WAS a party event……should be a non-issue.

Anonymous

I was a little disappointed that Harper chose a Stampede pancake breakfast to include those two comments.

Hopefully I’ve been misinformed, and the event was actually a CPC party event.