Thank You Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper and I

Stephen Harper has been the best Prime Minister of Canada in my memory.  These have have been the best 10 years of my life.  It wasn't Stephen Harper that made them great but I must acknowledge the man who created the conditions for that to happen.

The GST cuts alone have put thousands of dollars where they belong: in my pocket.  If you bought a house, car or some other big ticket item you can count your savings in the thousands as well.  I'm thankful for the TFSA and the UCCB.  These are things that affect my family directly and I will always respect and appreciate the consideration the Harper Government has shown us.

If Stephen Harper were a monarch I would have called him Harper The Trader.  I'm still amazed at the deals Harper's team was able to reel in.  A trade deal with Europe and another with the nations of the Pacific as well as many others are golden geese that the Harper Conservatives can be most proud of.

Canada's position in a world of turmoil and evil demonstrated courageous morals and emotional discipline.  We can be proud of our clear support for Israel and against Russian aggression.  I'm proud of our humanitarian efforts in the world despite opportunist claims to the contrary.

I used to think of Harper as the accidental Prime Minister.  It seemed so unlikely.  Here we are after almost 10 great years.  How unlikely that he turned out to be the best of them all.  I'm glad he didn't take a walk in the snow.  Stephen Harper ended his tenure as Prime Minister the same way he started it and practiced it; fighting all the way.

 The Economist PM was always a hard sell.  It was never about him honestly.  Conservative voters wanted policies based on values and economics.  Stephen Harper was the delivery man, never the package.  Yet. after all the Minority Years, the Coalition Crisis and even terrorist attacks, I've come to both love and admire this unlikely hero Stephen Harper.

That democratic pendulum has swung ferociously back to the natural governing party now.  There is an eerie symmetry in the accidental Prime Minister being replaced by someone who was born to be one.  These are silver linings of a very dark cloud, but I see hope in Trudeau's easy win.  If Trudeau was aiming at Harper he's managed to hit Mulcair between the eyes.  That's where strategic voting gets you.  Liberals with their shiny pony PM and their majority will have no excuses now.

Conservatives may have lost the mantle of power but Stephen Harper's record is one we can all be proud of.  The Conservative party never had a divine right to govern.  The privilege Canadians have assigned them is of the Loyal Opposition.  It's a job Conservatives, including lowly MP Stephen Harper, are ready and eager to do.

Justin Trudeau is Afraid of Foreign Policy

Its a glaring example of media bias that last week Trudeau's Liberals started making excuses on skipping the Munk Foreign Policy Debate there was barely a squeak.

Trudeau's cowardly excuses were presented at face value when reported at all.  The Liberal War room's "demands" were repeated verbatim by the media and would have been labeled plagiarism if it occurred outside of an election.

Their excuses were:

1. The debate was not french enough.
2. The debate had ticket prices of $90 and are not available to the public.

That's it.  The Liberals will pull out of an important and prescient foreign policy debate just 21 days before a federal election and those are the reasons.

Should have blamed the dog.  I'm serious.  The dog ate my foreign policy debate would only be slightly less credible an excuse.  At least call in sick.  "Sorry Justin has a nasty hair-ache and won't be able to make it tonight."

Let's take a minute to dismantle these flimsiest of evasions before we tackle the real reasons Justin doesn't want to be in this debate.

First, the debate is not french enough.  The original press release mentions "french components" on stage and full french and english live video online and through CPAC nationwide. So this obliterates both objections right off the top.  100% of the debate is available to 100% of Canadians in both languages.  

Of course the former substitute drama teacher Trudeau wants to play his Dartanion role in the "on stage" french components as much as possible.  It's really about Justin.  A french language translator of english Justin just doesn't have the same screen affect as Dartanion.  The Liberals are desperate to take a bite out of the NDP in Quebec or they are hopelessly lost.  Trudeau absolutely needs to be seen in french or he's already lost the debate if not the whole election and the leadership of the party.

Next we have the ticket price.  The same Munk debate press release says the tickets are from $30 - $90, not $90.  The nose bleeds are probably $30 and the front row is $90, similar to any hockey game or concert.  You can also watch for free at home.  Who do the Liberals think they are fooling with this?  Even the biggest Trudeau fan knows that $90 for a front row seat to a potentially historic debate is a steal.  The Munk Debates aren't planning to break even according to their response to the Liberal dodge.  Its a charity funded event.  Nobody is making a profit from this.  Tickets went on sale to the public on Friday.  What is the problem?

The problem again is Justin.  Let's face it, Justin Trudeau is weakest on foreign policy.  From his flippant jokes about the invasion of Ukraine to the juvenile wise cracks about our mission against ISIL Justin consistently underscores his incompetence on this file.

When an ISIS inspired terrorist attacked parliament and killed a soldier, Justin (and I hope he was joking in poor taste here) implied he would run to the terrorist unarmed instead of running away. When terrorists kill children, athletes and spectators and then go on a rampage across Boston Justin's biggest concern is for the poor little terrorist who might have had some sad feelings.  We see this again and again from Trudeau from every angle.

Trudeau is not up to this debate on foreign policy.  He's afraid he's going to look exactly as he is: unready, and unfit to lead a country.

That is the real reason why the Liberals seek to pull out of the Munk Debate on Foreign Policy.  There is more downside for Liberals to showing up than dodging.  There is so much downside that looking like an inept coward is preferable to his marketing team. That's seriously bad.  One way or another, this debate could be what finally breaks the Liberal Party forever.

*h/t to Terry LaPlant for the community sourced photo of SAY NO TO THE LIBERALS AND NDP facebook group.

**UPDATE: With only minutes left before the deadline the Liberals have accepted the Munk Debate.  NDP has also committed.  Harper committed a long time ago.

In the wake of first Canadian casualty to ISIS, ugly politics ensues.

The only reason we are fighting ISIS today is because of Stephen Harper's "ego" according to Justin Trudeau.  This as Canada suffers its first casualty from an ISIS inspired terrorist.

Patrice Vincent was coldly targeted and killed for nothing more than wearing the uniform of  the Canadian Forces.  Details are starting to emerge that the man had been radicalized into a deadly Muslim extremist and was known to RCMP.  His passport had already been seized before he could fly to join ISIS, so instead he brought the war to Canada. 

Poppies overlook the murder scene

It's absolutely disgusting to see a terrorist tragedy used for political mudslinging.  That hasn't stopped opposition parties of course.  At a time when Canadians should be banding together against a serious threat the opposition is trying to blame the RCMP and Stephen Harper for the attack.  If only Trudeau could have given the terrorist a warm hug it might never have happened.

Instead Trudeau and his sidekick insist that lack of funding for CSIS and the RCMP is what led to the attack.  How ridiculous.  The RCMP clearly stated that they did not have a sufficient law to charge the terrorist with.  Given more money, what would the RCMP have done differently?  Nothing.  Given the correct law against radical Islamism the RCMP would have arrested the fundamentalist. Again.  In fact the terrorist was previously detained, but could not be kept locked up.

On top of that, once radicals are arrested and charged the left as one congeals together to make the would be murderers into heroes like Omar Khadr.  How can you blame the RCMP here?  The left are responsible for turning our streets into a battlefield.  This time they have inadvertently made the case for more anti-terrorist measures. 

The RCMP has had an immaculate and exemplary record of snatching up terrorists so far.  It's pretty obvious that police need a pretty solid case if they want to bring someone to trail.  Nobody could know when or how the killer would snap.  We are lucky there was only one casualty.  If the RCMP hadn't been doing such an excellent job already this terrorist could have killed many more people.

Meanwhile Trudeau uses every opportunity to disparage the armed forces and ridicule our contribution to ISIS annihilation.  There is a constant stream of insults towards the RCAF and our Prime Minister.  Whether its "our aging warplanes" or "whipping out" CF-18s like they are just a phallus and nothing more.  Or whether its the latest insult that the mission is nothing but the Prime Minister's "ego".  Justin Trudeau goes out of his way to beat up on Canadians and defend people who hate Canada.  The Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau is a disgrace to this country.

Opposition and media parties are playing shameful games while the reality is so tragic for the family of Patrice Vincent.  The departed should be given full military honours for giving his life in the service of his country.  Our troops face danger from ISIS simply by wearing the distinguished uniforms of our military.  We all stand behind our brave armed forces and we wish our pilots good hunting and a swift defeat to ISIS.

Patrice Vincent

By-election Results Confirm Conservative Fortunes

A bias can include many things but one of those things is a model of reality kept in your mind.  These models are commonly called paradigms or a worldview.  Nothing is more satisfying than having one's worldview born out by events.  You could argue this is an example of confirmation bias.  If it is then I would say that I prefer to have my worldview confirmed rather than shattered.

Monday, our views were confirmed. 

Here are results from ThreeHundredEight.com:

You don't have to be a glass half full person to appreciate what actually happened.  Conservatives won their two seats no matter how you cut it.  It's a burn on the media party.  Their frantic spinning now only proves it.

Yesterday's by-election results have confirmed a few things for Conservatives.

1. The so-called Senate Scandal, pushed hard by media and other malicious actors, is not as important as advertised.  Its a parking ticket.  A parking ticket venomously written up by nasty little pin heads with petty chips on their shoulders.
2. The Liberals and Justin Trudeau are the primary threat to the Conservatives.  People who brush off the third party (or the "turd party" as Chretien liked to say) are deluding themselves.  Romney should be President.  Smith and Hudak should be Premiers.  Don't think any election is in the bag.  The next election is as serious as the coalition crisis of 2008 itself.
3. Layton's NDP was a flash in the pan.  Of all the analysis, the most stark is the NDP in marked decline from 2011.  Largely ignored by the Media Party, this is the most powerful conclusion to be drawn from any of the by-election contests.  Mulcair dramatically played Matlock for the parking ticket Senate affair in parliament and where did it get him?  Down.  Thanks for wasting everyone's time angry Tom. 

Of course I couldn't be happier if Conservatives had swept every riding, but realistically I'm glad to see my expectations for the by-elections fulfilled. 

Our political maps are good.  The shallows and hazards are well marked.  Our course to victory is sound so long as we stay on it.

Trudeau Jr. Enthroned as Liberal Leader

Justin Trudeau received the crown of Liberal Leader today.  Exclusive footage of the moment Shiny Pony was selected:.


 ;)

Hidden Agendas

What better way to mask a hidden agenda than to point to someone else and cry "Hidden Agenda!"  I'm referring of course to the Liberal/Media desperation tactic that has been occurring post debate.  The debates didn't go well for Iggy and so we have this odious tactic.

First it was Health Care.  "Its the end of Health!"  That's about the size of it.  No facts.  No evidence.  Nothing but the usual raft of lies that make up to sum total of everything Liberals have to say.  They lie.  Then they lie about the lie.  They cover up the fact that the worst attacks on Health Care came form the Liberals themselves.  Meanwhile we have a promise from Stephen Harper to keep the health funding and transfers topped up.

Next Iggy dropped his coalition bomb in his interview on CBC.  Possibly a fatal mistake.  The tone of the desperation gets that much worse.  We hear now that "abortion will be illegal."  Sure.  After 5 years we hear this again.  Its not true now, just as it wasn't true for the last 3 elections.  The Liberals obviously view this little lie as a their secret weapon.  We see it come out only in their darkest hour.  There is some credibility cost to making these unfounded allegations but their credibility is shot anyway.

This type of scaremongering is simply an artifact of failure.  The Liberal Hidden Agenda is poorly hidden indeed.  The Carbon Tax and Green shift are hidden on page 46 of the Red Book.  The Coalition is hidden in the scenarios that every Liberal can answer detailed questions about.  The "Corporate Tax Cuts" were written into law with the help of the Liberals in 2007.  They are promising Tax Hikes.  The scale of their lies and contempt for the average person is breathtaking.  How can they call a Tax Hike anything but?  They will raise taxes. 

A party that can so boldly lie about their own plans and about the plans of their competitors is dangerous.  We as a people cannot reward this kind of politics.  It encourages the kind of politics we all hate, and weakens this country. 

I urge you to make the best choice.  It's important.  Please vote Conservative on May 2nd.  Vote for Canada.

Liberals: Yeah we lie, suck it up.

The Liberals have admitted that they have been lying to Canadians.  This is not about all their lies through the years about the GST and cutting health care and Adscam and all that.  These lies are more recent than even their latest red ink book.  They have been running the basest of all attacks; ones that are completely fictional.  They have even admitted it and have pulled the ad.

Here is what Count Ignatieff had to say about it: "They dish it out but they can’t take it."  Hows that for an apology?  What Conservatives "dish out" are Iggy's own words.  A lot of it is on film for all to see.  Take a look at this:

See what I mean?  Explain that away Mr. Ignatieff.  Was it your evil twin? 

We aren't going to take it.  Canadians don't have to take anything from a sniveling pretender like Count Iggy.  Just because Iggy feels ill used by his own words doesn't give him the right to make stuff up.

It's exactly in character for Iggy.  Facts aren't a concern.  He'll say anything at all to get your x on the ballot.  That's all a Liberal ever needs.  They think you are stupid.  They don't think you'll remember the lies they told 20 years ago and so they lie today.  Give them your vote and they will lie tomorrow and 20 years from now.

Here is a quick run down of major recent lies:

• No Coalition.  It will be an agreement.  He thinks these weasel words excuse him, but we know that he wants to overturn the government and take power without an electoral mandate from the people.  He did it in his own party and he tried it once before.
• No Carbon Tax.  Page 46 of the red ink book sneakily includes the Green Shift.  Iggy wrote the greenshift.  What make you think he wouldn't implement it?  He'll be bankrupting us with growing bureaucracies at the same time.
• No Jets.  He'll buy the damned jets only they'll buy less and pay more.  Its the EH-101/Cormorant fiasco all over again.  That's why we are even talking about it.  Because it worked 20 years ago.  The same Liberals he had on his arm last weekend that picked the F-35 in the first place.  Its the only Jet available. There is no alternative and even if there was, would we buy it from China or Russia?  Don't talk about drones either.  They can be helpful, but they aren't a replacement for pilots.  That's like replacing the Navy fleet with torpedo's.  Its not going to work in a serious fight.  

I could go on but what is the point.  Come May 3rd and the ballots are cast, the Red Ink Book and the promise pamphlets of the NDP will be in the trash.

The Conservative Party is serious about its platform and will deliver the goods.   Most of it was tabled as a Budget for the Government of Canada but the oppositions greed and gamesmanship stopped that.  Its time you stopped the opposition.

Vote Conservative.  Take Stephen Harpers platform to the bank.