This just crossed my desk this morning. Everyone should read this to hear the real story. Don’t believe the anonymous sources, believe this directly from the leader of the Liberal Party to the Leader of the Conservative Party. Open letter to Stephen Harper Dear Mr. Harper: I am writing about
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Confessions of a Liberal Mind: Open Letter to Stephen Harper, from Michael Ignatieff
This just crossed my desk this morning. Everyone should read this to hear the real story. Don’t believe the anonymous sources, believe this directly from the leader of the Liberal Party to the Leader of the Conservative Party. Open letter to Stephen Harper Dear Mr. Harper: I am writing about the one-on-one debate that you challenged me to two days ago. You will recall that when you issued your challenge, I immediately responded, accepting it with enthusiasm. As you stated, there are only two people who can be Prime Minister after May 2nd: you or me. Canadians truly deserve to see us go face to face in a contest of ideas, values and very different visions for our country. That is what democracy is all about. Like many Canadians, I was disappointed and puzzled when you reversed your commitment, and tried to back out yesterday. I don’t understand why you have gone back on your word, or why you would wish to disappoint Canadians. However, it is not too late for you to rectify the situation. Since our original exchange on Wednesday, many invitations to host the debate have come in from prestigious organizations across Canada. So there are any number of venues and times to choose from. Perhaps I can make this easier for you. I will meet you at the time and place of your choosing. There is no need for complicated or convoluted debate formats. Just two podiums – and you and me. A true, honest-to-goodness battle of ideas and visions. This is the kind of contest that Canadians are yearning for. I know because I have been meeting ordinary Canadians of all ages, backgrounds and political allegiances at events across Canada. It’s absolutely exhilarating. In fact, I would recommend that you try it. In closing, I urge you to reconsider your reversal and stick to your word. I strongly believe our fellow Canadians deserve this chance to see the different visions of leadership between the only two people who can become prime minister of this country at the end of this election. Sincerely, Michael Ignatieff Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Continue readingConfessions of a Liberal Mind: Open Letter to Stephen Harper, from Michael Ignatieff
This just crossed my desk this morning. Everyone should read this to hear the real story. Don’t believe the anonymous sources, believe this directly from the leader of the Liberal Party to the Leader of the Conservative Party. Open letter to Stephen Harper Dear Mr. Harper: I am writing about
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Do You Really Support Stephen Harper
Are you a lifelong conservative, perhaps going back to the Progressive Conservative Party. Do you assume Stephen Harper represents you because he is the leader of the Conservative Party.Find out which party really represents your views by taking the Vo…
Continue readingMadLibMadLib: Harper: The Campaign Answer Express Lane
There’s nothing worse than seeing a really great price on an item in the weekly flyers that includes that worst of the small-print caveats “limit 5″ per household or some-such. In this election cycle we have found ourselves with exactly that, in candidate form. It’s no surprise that Mr. Harper
Continue readingPample the Moose: Debates, Debates, Let’s Have More Debates!
Most of my current students are too young to remember the now infamous election debate clashes between Brian Mulroney and John Turner. So I like to show them the Free Trade Clash from 1988 or the patronage kerfuffle of 1984. Both debates were widely …
Continue readingMadLibMadLib: Election Campaign Gets Electric
Gilles Duceppe has jumped into the ring this morning with a great sound bite. He said that Stephen Harper “wants to regain the hearts of Newfoundlanders with Quebeckers’ money”. Hydro-Quebec is a source of huge pride among Quebeckers and it was built without federal money. It is a net exporter
Continue readingHarper and Ignatieff receive invitation for two-man debate
Decision Canada is carrying this:
OTTAWA — While the Liberal and Conservative leaders exchange barbs through Twitter over the prospect of a two-man debate, a public policy centre has made an earnest offer to host the two men.
“We believe that t…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Bubble-boy Stephen Harper chickens out of his own debate challenge
If you thought that Stephen Harper’s move Wednesday to challenge Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to debate mano-a-mano was an odd play by the Conservatives, it will soon make a little more sense. After the news that the shadowy “broadcast consortium”…
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Who cares what the "broadcast consortium" says?
Following up on my post Wednesday about Stephen Harper challenging Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to a one-on-one debate, and Ignatieff telling him he’ll debate Harper “any time, any place” the secret cabal of media executives known as the shadowy “m…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber Pushing for Two Party System
It started with Ignatieff joining Harper’s anti-coalition bandwagon, the common message being that the big boys don’t share power with the little guys and it’s extended to the push for a debate between just Harper and Ignatieff because they think that …
Continue readingMadLibMadLib: Democracy Debated? Or Democracy Debased?
So the boys have thrown down. The Conservative Leader, Mr. Harper, issued the challenge this morning to Mr. Ignatieff, the Liberal Leader, that they should have a one-on-one debate between the two candidates who, at least in the words of John Baird, are the only men running to become Prime
Continue readingHarper was quick to dump Carson
But the man’s connections to our Prime Minister are quite tightly bound.H/t The Mound of Sound
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: The Coalition is Dead – Someone Tell Stephen Harper
The idea of a coalition government is dead for the simple reason that it is not in Michael Ignatieff’s political interest to enter into a coalition that would require him to share power. Although it is in his political interest not to contradict Stephe…
Continue readingMadLibMadLib: The Four Cs: Coalition, Coalition, Coalition and Coalition
In the House of Commons on Friday when the historic contempt motion was being debated Deputy Liberal Leader Bob Rae shouted across the aisle that it was the “four Cs”: Contempt, Corruption, Carson & Conservatives! On the second day of the election campaign it seems that the four Cs have
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Too Smart For Canada
I am not a big fan of Michael Ignatieff but this is brilliant.
Continue readingNo Coalition? Don’t worry about it. Here’s how the Liberals can get power
Short of Harper getting a majority, if the Liberals truly know what they are doing, Ignatieff will be our PM within six months.
Ignatieff has ruled out a coalition. Good for him. This election can not be about whether we should be governed by a coalit…
Continue readingCrazy Bitches R Us: Too funny – Who really had a hidden agenda on Coalition – Stephen Harper.
1) Coalition governments are legit. in Canada, we’ve had them before and it’s a political reality in most other parliamentary democracies.2) Coalition governments offer the best option for stability in our post 1993 5 party system.3) Parties who form g…
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