Good News - Donolo's Back!

Glad to see Ignatieff has finally realized there's a problem. I keep waiting for that spark, that f... you, I'm not going down - seems like it's there but he's afraid of it. I think Donolo will at the very least keep him consistent and maybe tell him how to use his strengths and lose the professorial approach.

It's the Economy Stupid

If the Liberals had allowed through their mismanagement a $58 billion deficit, the cons would be hammering away every day, frothing, ranting, hollering and all Ignatieff can say is that the Liberals will clean up the mess (like they always do). The cons gave away $10 billion annually in GST revenue - that's $30 billion so far, took an approximately $8 billion surplus and put it on the long-term debt, and passed a law requiring all future surpluses go on the long-term debt. Their economic stupidity caused the deficit. Lowest interest rates ever but the long-term debt is more important than people's livelihoods!

So let's look ahead if that's what Ignatieff wants to do - either way, the average Joe will suffer more as either the cons do a hatchet job on federal programs (their ideological intent anyway) or the Liberals do what? I know the Liberals don't want to reveal their plans (I am trusting they have some) because Mr. H. always steals them and calls them his own (because he doesn't know how to govern) but why not at least talk about increased revenue and not always cuts to spending - and I don't mean taxes - I mean a new way of looking at the economy, innovation - by the time this recession is over India and China will be even stronger and we'll still be thinking in the 20th century box.

When Chretien says something, everyone says "oh he promised not to say anything" but he speaks for a reason and he was on the mark in his recent comments about Canada's shrinking role in the world.

Where is the Opposition?

I'm going to have a go at a few posts that suggest to the Liberals (the ones I used to know and love at least) a few points they might want to make over and over again!! Why a $58 billion deficit??? One of two reasons: gross mismanagement or a massive ploy.

The cuts to the GST - unasked for and for all intents and purposes unwanted - are worth $10 billion a year. The cons have been in power for how long now - four years? That's $30 to $40 billion in lost revenue - that's most of our deficit. I would call that gross mismanagement of our economy - nothing to do with the recession!!

Or a massive ploy - create a deficit that can then be used as an excuse to eliminate all the good things the government has done for the citizens - create the famous smaller government, namely hand governing entirely over to big business.

Either way - is this the bunch we want running our country - into the ground?

Finally Some Fighting Spirit

If Ignatieff continues like this there will be many of us returning to the fold. If he's doing yet another threaten and retreat we're doomed. Someone needs to suggest retirement to that Smith guy.

Don Newman's Goodbyes

The last of Don Newman's "Politics" was a moving tribute (except for the uncouth Klein) and I couldn't help thinking of the difference between Newman and Duffy, one sells his journalist's soul and becomes Harper's hack, the other can look back on a career of journalistic integrity and the respect of a nation. Makes me think of Peter Gzowski - men who love their country from sea to sea and leave it a better place.

Ignatieff All Bravado No Delivery

Probation, Report Cards - then nothing - our country is being sold down the river and Ignatieff postures and then blinks - Canadian politics are now like BC's - no options. And where are Canadians? asleep at the switch!

Van Loan and Napolitano

What an image that was - two self-congratulatory dodos.

The selling off of Canada continues under harper and day's regulatory magic wand. Funny how smuggling cigarettes is so much more important than the American and the Canadian border patrol allowing Mexican gangs, hard drugs and guns galore into Canada.

Smirk on Van Loan, and Napolitano I'm not sure she has enough brains to know what a smirk is.

It's a Scam or Gross Incompetence

Either harper and flaherty are fictionalizing the numbers so that they can keep cutting all the things to which they are idealogically opposed, or they are so flaming incompetent that they should be impeached (oh right we don't have impeachment - too bad).

I am assuming the expenses are not the problem since the infrastructure money is not exactly rolling out and they're stingy as hell with the EI and all they do is talk about manufacturing and the auto industry and they continue to cut arts and culture and many other areas. They did spend quite a bit on the banks in the beginning, but it seems to me it's the revenue side. They are 100% responsible for a least half of the problems there: cutting the GST, expensive tax cuts that are so small for the middle class you don't even notice them, on-going tax relieve to the big corporations and a failure to sell our oil to anyone else but their buddies to the south, and a complete reliance on the US as well as continuing regulatory amalgamation with that failing economy and don't forget the self-righteous snubbing of noses to China.

It is time for Canadians to wake up, but I've said that before.