Of course, it's a crock of first rate bull.
Harper is Bush's kinda guy.
- He is opposed to gay marriage, abortion, even civil unions.
- He is opposed to trade unions, in favor of tax cuts, and wants a bigger Canadian military.
- Harper opposes the Kyoto Protocol on global warming (taking the chill off George Bush's cold, cold cockles).
- He opposes "death taxes," the same Bush euphemism for the inheritance tax (let's not even hint at any classism or inequity in either American or Canadian society).
- He supported US President George Bush's war in Iraq, calling the Canadian position "abrasively neutral."
- He supported George Bush's US Anti-ballistic defence shield.
Harper's words and positions on a whole host of issues is scary and revealing.
The Conservatives have won 120 seats (36% of the vote) in the new Parliament, the Liberals 104 seats (30% of the vote), the Block Quebecois has 51 seats, and the very progressive New Democratic Party (which actually saw a gain) has 29.
The Conservatives do not have a majority and need to find a coalition to rule.
Let's hope that any coalition partners extract commitments from Harper that will rein in his most extreme ideas and policies.
2 comments:
Oddly, I think there's a real parallel between the two elections this week. I don't think most Canadians agree with most of Harper's policies, and I don't believe most Palestinians believe in the hardline elements of Hamas' policies either. It's a vote of frustration with the current corruption in hopes of cleaner goverment.
Let's hope in happens here in the Fall.
I agree. I think we can attribute the Hamas win more to the Arafat/PLO/Fatah corruption than Palestinian support for terrorism. The Palaestinian people want food, education, health care, jobs and a responsible leadership. I believe the reality of leadership will moderate Hamas.
I think Bush's approach to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, one of benign neglect, has also contributed to the Hamas win. His "roadmap" has become a dead-end.
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