Prime Minister Stephen Harper is adopting a strategy to gradually persuade voters they have a "stark choice" in the next campaign: a "stable" majority Conservative government, or a "coalition" government of Liberals, New Democrats and Quebec separatists.According to Tom Flanagan it could be a gamble though because you don't know whether it will work.
"Any time you change strategies it's a gamble because you don't know if it will work," said Flanagan.Nelson Wiseman from Uof T believes a majority for PM Harper is quite possible and within his grasp.
"He has had success ... saying he'd be happy to accept whatever the voters give him. So the gamble is that, after four years of being in power, Canadians would be more open to considering a majority government. It's kind of like you've been on probation for four years."
At the same time, it appears the Conservatives believe they are on strong footing as they try to persuade Canadians a vote for the Liberals is actually a vote for a coalition.
They remember how support for Harper's Tories spiked to unprecedented levels in December 2008 when the Liberals and NDP attempted to form a coalition government with the parliamentary support of the Bloc Québécois.
"You've got to persuade people that you can't take the Liberals at face value," said Flanagan. "There's a big payoff there. Of course, if you're going to do that, it's smart to start early
Nelson Wiseman, associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said Tuesday that he thinks a majority is within Harper's grasp.I personally am looking for a Conservative majority and believer it is possible. We as conservatives though cannot take for granted that we would get one, we need to work hard. We need to convince all those who are sitting on the fence. Forget the hardcore liberals, it would be like beating your head against a brick wall and a waste of time. We'll never win them over.
"They know that their best card is playing the coalition. The strategy is to trap the other parties on that hook. You don't have to convince the whole electorate. What you have to do is swing over maybe one out of 20 voters."
There are tough decisions that are going to have to be made on deficit reduction, immigration and security. A Conservative majority government is the most competent and would be more stable and able to make those tough decisions much better than a minority or a coalition of the losers.
Don't believe what the Waffle or Jack Layton will tell you. Before and during the election they are going to tell you that there will be no coalition. Don't let them fool you. I believe the coalition of the losers has never really died. It will raise it's ugly head again if the Conservatives don't get a majority. Don't forget also, the Waffle signed his name on that coalition document. There's no way he can get around that.
They are going to have to be transparent and admit from the get go whether or not they will be willing to form a coalition and not try and sneak it up on us like they did before in 2008. If they are willing to form a coalition after an election then they should campaign as a coalition during the campaign. The only way to prevent the losers from taking power is to elect a Conservative majority government.
You up for it, kids? A majority is in within reach. Yes we can do it. Remember one in twenty is what we have to win over. It is possible. You ready?
The libs can't get enough votes to form a majority government. So it is a stark choice: a Conservative majority government vs the Coalition of Losers and Separtists.
ReplyDeleteA majority is even closer than 1 in 20 votes. Iceman had a good post on tge exact numbers a while back. Look at the 12 ridings where Tories finished second with the narrowest margin. If I remember right, we're looking at under 5000 votes. It could even be closer to 1000.
ReplyDelete'a "stable" majority Conservative government, or a "coalition" government of Liberals, New Democrats and Quebec separatists'
ReplyDeleteis stating the obvious more than a change in strategy.
Canadians are not stupid.
Iffy held the coalition of losers threat over PMSH for months, stating he would lead a coalition if He didn't approve of the stimulus budget.
Jack and Iffy will BOTH have to assure Canadians they will not include the separatist Bloc in their next coalition,
and even if they do, combined LibDips have to gain over 40 seats.
Iffy economic policy:
reverse GST cuts (increase taxes on the poor),
delay tax cuts to business (kill the potential of new jobs)
and starve the military (we don't need no stinking fighter jets), again,
to pay for promises of more structural (long term) social program spending.
I would love to see a conservative majority but we sure won`t see it with Harper and his collection of pretend conservatives. The last time we had a conservative in parliament was the last day Preston Manning was there. The CPC are barely to the right of the Libs who are slightly to the right of the NDP whom I consider what some wise sage once called them Liberals in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteYeah well, Bob, Preston Manning was in opposition for his whole career. If his right-wing conservatism won him a maximum 60 of seats (under 20% of the vote), do you honestly think moving the far right is going to help Harper win a majority? No. When the Conservatives won in 2006, it was because they offered a moderate platform. "Pretend" conservatives or not, it's what we have and it's what we must work with. 15 years of right-wing conservative opposition will get us nowhere, but 15 years of moderate Conservative government will be good for the conservative movement in Canada.
ReplyDelete