Harper unplugged, or unhinged?
"The prime minister spoke at a conference sponsored by the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, a conservative think-tank run by former Reform Party leader Preston Manning.
The prime minister's office did not signal beforehand that he was giving the speech, and refused to make his remarks available afterward.
In a recording obtained by The Canadian Press, Harper goes after the Liberals in a election-campaign style attack, saying the current situation would be much worse had they been in power.
. . . .
He twice pointed disdainfully to tax hikes U.S. President Barack Obama introduced for the highest tax brackets.
. . . .
He went on to deride the spendthrift culture in the United States and the recklessness of Wall Street. Harper, who has been described as a libertarian in the past, surprised some in the audience by critiquing those same ideals.
"The libertarian says, 'Let individuals exercise full freedom and take full responsibility for their actions.' The problem with this notion is that people who act irresponsibly in the name of freedom are almost never willing to take responsibility for their actions."
Mike Brock, a Conservative blogger who attended the conference, called the speech bewildering.
"The treatment to classical liberals and libertarians - of which I consider myself - was nothing short of stunning," he wrote.
"The condescension was literally dripping from his mouth. Was this his response to the disillusionment that libertarians across the country have had to his government and its policies of late?
"If it was, it did not build any bridges. Rather, it burnt them right down.""
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/harper_conservative_speech
Yeah, and after sucking up to Obama last week, it's probably not going to do much for his relationship with the Obama administration. Heh. What is a Canadian Conservative without a US President to worship? :D
The real Harper has emerged from his shell.
Come on STEVE we know you can shit on Obomba a little more and sour our relationship to the point of maybe splitting the party again. Eventually the crazies will be let out. 3 years is a long time to keep ones mouth bound. Even harper the lead lunatic is having a hard time resisting.
Oh, it will get much worse if he sees defeat in the polls coming out.
Hey Remind,
Do you think Harper's mentality is "If I go down, I'm going to take as many with me and cause as much destruction as I can."?
I've always thought (concerning Harper's career): "This can't end in a good way."
Is it over yet?
He twice pointed disdainfully to tax hikes U.S. President Barack Obama introduced for the highest tax brackets.
You know, I don't think I've ever heard of a Canadian prime minister criticising a US president's domestic economic polcies in an open forum before this. Not even Trudeau had the gall to do that, and he had five US presidents to choose from.
Harper's sefl-importance is incredible. And this will get back to Obama, I'm sure.
Oh, please, God, make it happen!
The thing is, he's not just a far-right wacko constrained by the party to move more to the centre (as they define it) than he wants to be. He's a control freak, with, frankly, abusive tendencies. thorin, you said it, he's been required to be silent about his real positions. Now it's leaking (pouring?) out. Sure it was a closed door meeting. Did he forget the press was there?
And more, did the Liberal forget this, in all their propping up and supporting bullshit? Sure the Libs are centre-right, but I don't see them as far right as the former Reform/Canadian Alliance party. Am I wrong?
Dissing conservative libertarians? So who's right-wing enough for him? Bush? Attila the Hun?
<snip> <snip> <snip>
So who's right-wing enough for him? <snip> Attila the Hun?
Bingo!
Nah Hun had to think of his all his people. That is why the romans feared him, oh and for sucking the blood out of their horses.
Actually we do have ceasars(nero for harper) they are more interested in the noble(read business) class then about the commons or plebs. Some helped the commons with baths and public works like the aqueducts but many where nothing more than petty tyrants given the keys to the kingdom.
Here is another moment when the true Harper reveals himself:
"I cannot fire the Leader of the Opposition (and with all the tapes I have on him, I do not want to)."
Sure Stevo, although you cannot fire him, you sure would like to. Wouldn'tcha?
His anti democratic tendencies have always scared the hell out of me.