Sorry for the silence

Yes, it has been a busy week, and to summarize:

1. I am really disappointed. And rather drained. But hopeful.
2. Imagine this was released the first week of the election campaign????
3. Donc on va avoir des élections provinciale avant le fédérale?
4. Denis Coderre's visit was a grand success.
5. La semaine de relâche est arrivé - on y va en ski!
6. Spaghetti in Stanstead anyone - Wednesday the 5th, GranitExpo, 18h30, 10 bucks.

Cheers,
William

When will they stop?

The Conservatives and Harper are getting rediculous - no more clemency sought, pull out of backing a UN moratorium on the death penalty, and now this - deporting a man to face the death penalty. Really, we can't call this a hidden agenda anymore. We now have to call this an agenda!

Colour me impressed.

We all know that true friends don't let friends read the National Post. But there is a very positive and insightful piece in today's issue on the sensibility of Dion's new infrastructure plan. Kudos where kudos are deserved...

Can you say boondoggle?

It sounds a lot like this.

Excellent analysis

Bothwell is an author that I frequently refer to in my Canadian foreign policy classes. His Globe and Mail piece is excellent. Read it!

J'adore

Ça c'est les sortes d'histoires que j'aime - quand un organisme n'est pas capable de prendre les décisions eux memes - aux sondages (et aux $$$)!!!

Interessant

Hélène Buzzetti, dans Le Devoir, décrit la stratégie conservateur au Québec pour la prochaine élection. Si ces sources sont bonne, je ne comprends pas. Mais c'est peut être pour rien, vu les sondages dans la belle province...

Ça c'est très interessant...vraiment...

The little boy...

As I told Juliet O'Neill today, I am tired of crying wolf, and so are my volunteers and my election team. If this could be read as a plea to Stéphane, given the numbers (and yes, take out Alberta and Saskatchewan and things don't look all that good for Harper), the policies, and my mood, please, it is time to go.

Bon

Il y a quel q'un qui m'a dit que à TVA, M. Dion a clairement dit qu'il va voter contre le budget. Les rumeurs courent que les conservateurs sont en négo avec le Bloc pour faire passer le budget. D'après le discours de Duceppe, ca ne sera pas facile, ni faisable. Donc est-ce qu'on va finalement avoir nos élections???? À suivre!!!!!

Sheesh

They never give up!

Les hauts et les bas...

Ça va faire bientôt un an que je suis candidat officiel pour le PLC. Je suis rendu à ma 5e crise électorale depuis avril. Je suis tanné!!!

I am also hoping for a snow day tomorrow. I need the sleep!!!

Warren Kinsella

Congrats. Now all we have to do is get him back fully in the Liberal fold...

A little bird...

explained to me why it might actually be the crime omnibus bill, and Harper's confidence motion on it, that will bring on the election, and I really liked the logic...not that I will spill the beans or anything...

Est-ce qu'on va se rendre à l'Afghanistan?

Il y a possibilité d'avoir au moins 4 votes de confiance avant que la motion de Harper sur l'Afghanistan soit voté - criminalité, et le budget (plusiers votes). J'ai bonne impression que le projet de loi sur la criminalité va passer, mais moins sûr pour le budget, beaucoup moins sûr, beaucoup beaucoup moins sûr....

Excellent nouvelle!

Faut ramener les conservateurs à leur place, plus d'agenda caché sur la peine de mort!

Canadians don't fight elections over foreign policy?

I commonly see academic articles and text books on Canadian foreign policy make the argument that Canadians don't generally fight elections on foreign policy issues. Foreign policy usually does not grab the attention of the electorate, as it is usually far from their hearts, minds, and wallets. But Canadian history actually proves the pundits somewhat wrong - 1911 and Reciprocity, 1917 and conscription, 1926 and the King-Byng Affair, 63 and nukes, 88 and Free Trade.

Harper wants to take Canadians into an election on a foreign policy issue - Afghanistan. I guess he is assuming that the Manley report gives him a mandate to seek an automatic extension of the combat mission until 2011. He is of course wrong on that, given the conditions that Manley stipulated need be met before - including the oft-talked about 1000 NATO troops and heavy transport capacity, but also development of benchmark measures of efficiency and effectiveness (the latter requirement will be very difficult for him, much more than the first two). Until those conditions are met, the discussion of an extension of the combat mission based on the Manley Report is, IMO, moot.

But nonetheless Harper insists on making this into a confidence matter, and is seeking a mandate from the Canadian population. So I say, as do others, bring it on Steve.

Il est malade ce gars!

I guess the conversation between Dion and Harper didn't go all that well. Oups. Now, does he really want to go to the polls when he is in tie with us Liberals, on a downward trend, and on an issue that 60-70% plus do not agree with him on?

Hmm, j'imagine la conversation entre Harper et Dion.

As for Super Tuesday, a couple of nice pick-ups for Obama - Connecticut for one. But besides that so far no big surprises. Still would have liked to have seen more pick-ups for Huckabee - the best hope for a Democratic victory.