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Archive of entries posted on 2nd January 2009

Where’s the bump?

Posted by Joanne on 2 January 2009, 5:06 pm

Where’s the bump that the Liberals should have been getting in the polls after Iggy’s coronation? Shouldn’t he be enjoying a honeymoon right now? What went wrong?

According to Conrad Winn, president of COMPAS Research, the Conservatives are well into majority territory at 43%, and the Liberals are where they were in 2006 at only  30%. (H/T to Calgary Junkie in comments from previous post. To listen to the audio file see CFRA Tuesday, December 30, 2008 – Ignatieff in the Polls.)

Discussing the results of the poll done for Canadian Business online, Winn suggests that one of the reasons that the Liberals didn’t get that expected bump may be the way Iggy was parachuted into the leadership position.

He also says that Canadians are not happy with the coalition and don’t see a great difference between Iggy and Dion based on policies.

Winn says Harper is more trusted when it comes to the economy.

Ignatieff is between a rock and a hard place right now. He can’t shake the coalition loose for fear of alienating the left wing of the party, but if he doesn’t do it soon, he risks alienating the majority of Canadians. Things should get very interesting indeed towards the end of January.

Oh, yeah. And remind me again Lawrence Martin, why Stephen Harper would want to quit?

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Update: H/T to Alberta Girl in comments for this Ipsos poll result, which confirms that Stephen Harper is still Canada’s favourite!!!

“Is there Ignatieff-mania breaking out across the country? The answer is no,” Bricker said. “Harper hasn’t crashed and Ignatieff has not taken off.”

More at Capital C.

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Saturday Update: Welcome SDA Readers!!!

A big welcome also to Jack’s Newswatch readers!!

Filed under Canadian Politics, Liberal arrogance, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Too many Fools on the Hill, grassroots power.
49 Comments

More wishful thinking from the liberal pundits

Posted by Joanne on 2 January 2009, 8:39 am

Check out Lawrence Martin’s column in this morning’s Slop and Pail – The Smart Money says Harper Exits this Year. The comment section is worth a chuckle too.

Here is another example of fiberal MSM trying to stir up the pot and attempt to create a wedge in the Conservative Party. Is anyone inside the party suggesting that Harper should step down? Not that I’ve heard.

Basically he’s saying that Harper should quit while he’s ahead. This is not a sitcom like Seinfeld or Corner Gas, Larry!! (Although sometimes the antics on the Hill are a bit of a sideshow, I must admit.)

And Martin is crediting Harper’s accomplishments with luck!

…What has strongly contributed to his political success over the past many years has been a remarkable streak of good fortune. The quick collapse of Stockwell Day opened the Alliance Party leadership to him. Peter MacKay’s backdoor dealings with David Orchard then paved the path to the Conservative Party crown. No strong opponents came forward. Then Mr. Harper was given the gift of the sponsorship scandal and the Gomery inquiry; then came the RCMP commissioner’s calling of an investigation into the Grits in the middle of an election; then came Stéphane Dion.

Mr. Harper is a leader who has sucked the well of good fortune dry. He should bear it in mind. The gods owe him nothing more. Which is reason No.5 for not plowing forward…

Well, guess what Lawrence Martin? The ’smart money’ says that intelligent people will stop buying the Globe and Mail.

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Update: H/T to HD in comments for this Den Tandt column tip:

…That said, Ignatieff will continue to outshine his predecessor and the other opposition leaders, for the simple reason that he’s a more skilled and smarter politician than they are. If he can personally impress Quebecers and westerners, he will be the next prime minister…

Might be a bit of a problem wooing the west with Kinsella at the Spinmeister helm. (“The Reform Conservative Party of Parts of Western Canada“?)   But at least that way W.K.  wouldn’t be irrelevant.

And Ignatieff is smarter than Harper? Time will tell. First step would be to cut himself loose from the Coalition.

Trusty Tory does his take on the Lawrence Martin article here – Creating A Wedge.

3 pm Update: Tim Powers has a response to Lawrence Martin!

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Saturday Update: More wishful thinking here.

Filed under Canadian Politics, Harper smartest PM ever, MSM bias.
81 Comments