Why do I give the Cons a hard time?
My general comments embedded throughout as I watch the BoSox nail biter.
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STELLARTON, N.S. (CP) - Stephen Harper says he wants Canadians to see beyond Liberal fear-mongering as the Conservative leader's image-makeover tour came to Nova Scotia.
Harper hugged babies and flipped burgers Monday during a stop in
Tory-friendly Stellarton, N.S., where he was joined by local MP Peter
MacKay and Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm. The federal Conservative
leader has been in the Maritimes since the weekend for the start a
cross-Canada tour designed to improve his image with voters. The image wouldn't matter if the Policies were from the right place.
Harper smiled non-stop as he posed for dozens of snapshots at an
outdoor barbecue attended by about 200 Conservative supporters. Its easy when your preaching to the choir.
"All we're asking of people is: don't believe the fear mongering," What alternative does Harper give us to the status quo Liberals other than "don't believe"?
Harper said. "This country and this region have tremendous potential
and we don't need to vote out of fear, we need to vote out of hope." Perhaps some facts to ease the "fear" and some facts to base "hope" on, versus the Liberal status quo.
Harper's style, described by some as aloof and stiff, has been a lightning rod for criticism as the Conservatives continue to trail the Liberals in public opinion polls despite a short-lived boost from the inquiry into the Liberal sponsorship scandal.
Harper has blamed Liberal demonization of his party for his ongoing difficulties in winning over Canadians. Yet
the Conservatives have no Policies that ease the demonization portrayed
by the Liberals, and some of their Caucus do not help - Grewal, White
with Harper doing nothing but supporting them.
But no doubts were expressed openly Monday during the Stellarton stop, where Harper - his shirt sleeves rolled up and his shirt collar open - stood shoulder to shoulder with MacKay, the party's deputy leader.
People shaking Harper's hand congratulated him on everything from
his opposition to same-sex marriage to helping Nova Scotia get a bigger
share of offshore oil and gas revenues. Of course they were supporting him, they are all Party members, not the average electorate.
"He's a fine Canadian, he's an intelligent Canadian," said Hamm, the
Conservative premier of Nova Scotia. "What he has to do is connect with
Canadians." He
can be intelligent and NOT have the Policies that connect with
Canadians. Its the Policies, not a Leaders IQ/EQ that connects.
Gerald Romsa, who recently moved to the Stellarton area from
Ontario, said Canadians will warm to the Conservative leader once a
significant number meet him in person. Trying to get several million to meet with him would be a challenging task.
"He's probably the most honest politician we have, but Canadians are
used to duplicity in their politicians," Romsa said as he headed to the
gas barbecue where Harper was doling out burgers. An honest politician with bad disconnecting Policies is still an honest politician with bad policies.
"I think it's hard because he's not going to mislead people, and that doesn't make it easy to win votes." Harper,
or anyone would not have to misleed anyone if they have Policies with
the electorate at heart. Unless they are lying.
Romsa said Harper needs to come up with a solid economic plan for
the Atlantic region if he is to win more seats in the predominantly
Liberal region. B-I-N-G-O, as long as its solid with the peoples blessing versus solid with ONLY the Conservatives blessing.
The Conservatives currently hold only seven of 32 federal seats in Atlantic Canada. And Harper only realizes this now?
But Harper didn't announce any new policies during his Stellarton stop. Does
he not have to go back to the grass with roots and have the Party
Member faithfull vote on it? Or does he have the authority to
change the Montreal Policy Convention Party Policies? Or can he
ignore those people that voted on them word for word, phrase by
phrase? Or can he add to the Policies as he sees fit?
He said he'll flesh out Conservative plans Or non-approved policies? during the coming federal
election campaign, which he expects to follow release of the report on
the sponsorship scandal in December. He
does not want the "new" policies shot down by the Liberals as they
would have holes in them anyway, so may as well wait. Harper
knows he would not be able to defend/counter them.
Harper has said he'll offer new ideas for health care, What
would be new about purchasing PET Scans, paying doctors more to stay in
Canada, giving hospitals more money to hire more nurses and other staff? , the
environment, child care, I guess Rona Ambroses' daily Question Period policy spars was for naught? Canadian federalism, Federalism by giving the Provincialisms more power? immigration Cut or increase? and
rebuilding rural economies. Won't say how until writ is dropped is a good excuse for remaining low in the Polls in the East.
On Monday, he repeated a promise to replace the fledgling national child-care program with tax credits for parents. Ah
ha, sorry about above Rona, but I still bet the tax credit will not
even cover one week out of every months child care expenses versus the
Liberals day care centers for the average daily worker.
"We don't believe in giving billions of dollars to advocates and
bureaucrats," he said. "That doesn't help Canadian families. Trying
to associate bureaucrat with a social worker in day care? Its
wording like this that can get you into credability troubles.
"We want to have a universal child care payment to every single family with children in this country." They
still won't say how much - ever - never. Why? Because the
dollar amount will not amount to much, as in votes if the voters ever
found out the dollar amount.
Harper and his family headed to Prince Edward Island after the Stellarton stop for a brief vacation. A beautiful place to visit.
He will be picking up the tour later this month in the West, but will return to Atlantic Canada in August. Why
return in August when you just stated you will not announce anything
until the writ is dropped next spring? More showmanship and no
substance again? Oh wait, your only talking to Party Members.
