Apolitical Staples

There is no “possibly” about the box both are in.

I think Harper should call a big press conference with Handsome Jack - shaking hands, patting each other on the back, etc - explain how the NDP helped the big dumb-dumb Conservatives figure out the environment. Introduce a modified “Conservative-NDP Clean Air Act” to Parliament. Then let, Rona & Handsome Jack travel the country selling the plan.

We’ll all have to hold our barf bags, but it would be good political strategy. I think Harper’s thrown enough red meat to his base that they won’t think he’s trying to “be more Liberal than the Liberals” …

I may be giving waaaaayyy too much credit here but the path this issue has taken could be the result of some seriously kick ass political strategy as opposed to desperation. Come out with weak legislation knowing it won’t go anywhere (goal 1 - don’t piss off Western base too much). Allow the NDP to take the lead role on redrafting (goal 2 - keep issue out of Liberal hands and allow the non-threat NDP take it). When a tough new plan comes out, the NDP can hold it over the greens, the Liberals are still left with nothing but a sad 13 year record and the Tories come out with some major legislation built through cooperation with the other parties. Not a bad outcome for either the NDP or Tories.

On the other hand, they might all be incompetent…

Here’s the latest “revision” on climate change:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/10/nclimate10.xml

Wonder what the next one will say.

Reg is right. I don’t think this is desperate. I think this is choreographed, which is why Hebert has it only half right.

What I wrote on the topic a few weeks ago:

http://secondthots.blogspot.com/2006/11/green-wars.html

Though this may sound very outrageous to many enviros out there, I believe Harper has purposely left himself open [tanked] on the environment file.

Why?

This is just a theory, but I believe he has done so with the intent of raising the ire of the other three parties who are attempting to champion this issue. I’m sure the tories have numbers somewhere that tell them what the top five priorities their voting base want to see from them. Methinks “the environment” is not on the top of that list.

In other words, what does he have to lose if there are three parties [on the centre left] fighting over one major issue? The answer is nothing because that’s how you win elections. Ahhh, that Harper is one hell of a chess player, isn’t he?

Two separate issues —

1. Figuring out what Harper is up to.
2. Figuring out whether he’s right.

In other words, what does he have to lose if there are three parties [on the centre left] fighting over one major issue?

To answer your question, he has an election to lose if voters decide to coalesce around the one party seen to have the best chance of knocking off the Tories, come election time.

I’m with Dennis & Reg; this is a strategy, not an “oops.” Jack Layton gets to look “relevant” and PMSH won’t have to cut a cheque (keeping his base very happy).

Besides, all the environmental groups were very happy with the chemical management plan announced last week (Jane Taber was having a hard time interviewing them and commented on it). “Greenhouse gasses” are intangible and pretty much outside of any one person’s control. Dangerous chemicals, particularly those that react with saliva, in your toddler’s sippy cup or teething ring, are not.

So having more choices on the left is an advantage for the left? That is news to me Greg. Not to mention, that strategy didn’t seem to work very well for us wherein the Liberals were able to form three straight majority governments on the backs of vote splitting.

Like I said, as long as Harper makes it appear that he is bungling the environment file [a slight bit], then there will always be room for that voice on the left (i.e. Green p[arty). And with a weakened and split opposition, the tories can sit back and watch the three parties maneuver, fight and position themselves against eachother. In reality, they are [four] parties fighting for one title, that being Your Majesty’s Loyal Official Opposition. I see no party, besides the tories, who is ready to govern the country at the moment. They all seem to be acting like they are content on being opposition parties. And as they say, “perception is reality in politics”. ;-)

The “box” the CPC can’t get out of is the one in which the LPC can promise “this time for sure” on any particular issue and the voters will believe them.

Plastic chew toys - the silent killer.

Thank heavens we now have a government that doesn’t cynically invent fake environmental bogeymen in order to scare the public and buy votes from noisy, government-teat-hanging activists.

We scare, because we care.

So having more choices on the left is an advantage for the left? That is news to me Greg. Not to mention, that strategy didn’t seem to work very well for us wherein the Liberals were able to form three straight majority governments on the backs of vote splitting.

The only problem with that scenario Scott, and it is something conservatives often forget, is the pool of centre left voters is much larger and so can stand up more spltting. Besides if the Liberal numbers remain in the high 40’s in Ontario, the election is over before it leaves the province. If they take 100 plus seats here, that’s all she wrote.

“If they take 100 plus seats here, that’s all she wrote.”

And if this were 2000, that would be possible. Alas, time passes. Things happen. Parties merge.

If their levels stay at 48% in Ontario your merger won’t matter.

Anonymous:

“Plastic chew toys - the silent killer.

Thank heavens we now have a government that doesn’t cynically invent fake environmental bogeymen in order to scare the public and buy votes from noisy, government-teat-hanging activists.”

Spoken like a non-parent. Or maybe a smoker in denial. Or…

the list goes on.

You’re probably right, though, we should bring back DDT and screw the baby eagles.

Oh, sorry, I forgot for a moment I was a conservative & shouldn’t care about those things. My bad.