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I really believe that. Despite all the twisted excuses he comes up with to not go to an election. Anything from potential advanced polling dates falling on Passover to the Japanese earthquake. However, everybody knows he wants this election. All the polling numbers point to him getting that precious majority he seeks. His base is just ga ga giddy over being on the cusp of that neo-con utopia for Canada that they’re willing to overlook any transgression their king and his flunkies commit and demand under no uncertain terms that others do the same.
An election is really the only way to stop these scandals in their tracks. Why wait for the budget, knowing none of the opposition parties will float it and why wait for Friday when we pretty much know what the outcome will be? Harper can frame the ballot question himself and the campaign would be on his terms.
As for how he’s been telling voters that he doesn’t want an election, I’m sure most are smart enough to not believe him. Anyhow, all he has to do is point a fat finger at Iggy and Jack and scream “They made me do it!” That would resonate amongst the Jane and Joe Six-packs who clearly not only don’t want or care about democracy but who embrace a dictatorship, particularly run by one Stevie Spiteful.
In fact, I bet Guy Giorno and Jenni Byrne from the Harpercon war room are probably pestering him to pull the plug himself.
I mostly agree with you. I don’t think Harper will let the contempt thing drag until Friday. I do think that Flaherty will present the budget as it will probably full of targeted goodies. Harper will probably pull the plug on Friday morning. People are less likely to pay attention to the news on the weekend. He won’t get the negative flack in pulling the parliamentary plug early. He’ll state that the opposition were likely to vote in favour of the contempt motion which would include non-confidence in the government, the opposition would be opposing the targeted goodies for Canadians.
Can he really go to the GG and say that parliament is dysfunctional? It would be quite the moment for David Johnston to grant him an early election without putting his budget to the House. Harper may believe that HE is justified in calling an election to save face, but will the Governor General?
ck Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM
If the GG likes his job, he will. After reading Lawrence Martin’s “Harperland”, I learned that even the GG can be expendable under the Harper regime. From Pg 187-188, Chapter 14, “Surviving the Coalition”: This from John Baird: (Paraphrased), when Harper decided to go to then GG Michaelle Jean to prorogue parliament upon the threat of the coalition take over in 2008, they had a plan B if Jean didn’t grant the prorogation. According to Baird, with all the polls saying how the majority of Canadians were vehemently against the coalition, Harper was going to make his case to all the way to the Queen herself that Jean would have to be replaced with someone more ‘compliant’. Some of my friends have argued that the Queen wouldn’t have granted this to him when I mentioned it, but they’re not pundits or experts in Westminster parliamentary rules. Either way, Steve Harper’s actions have proven unprecedented and it wouldn’t have surprised me to learn that, thanks to his pioneering efforts, a sitting GG who doesn’t give him what he wants could also get canned, just like all those public servants like Linda Keen, Richard Colvin, Pat Stogran, etc.
No, Harper does not want an election. He is busy meeting all of the opposition right now, trying to negotiate his budget plans with them. Harper had to change his mind, because, of the two Conservatives that are held in contempt by the House of Commons. People have to remember, Harper uses dirty tactics to get his own way. He prorogued Parliament, to avoid a non-confidence vote. He again prorogued Parliament in the same year, to avoid the tough detainee questions. Harper is a snake in the grass. I have no doubt, he will get away with his manipulating, of the opposing party’s. Even though the Conservatives are held in contempt, by the House of Commons.
ck Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:47 PM
Budget’s out now. It borders on austere and no self respecting social democratic party would support it. That last bit of negotiations was all for show. Harper wants to go down on the budget. If Jack props it up, then, like Skinny Dipper suggested, watch Steve pull the plug himself before Friday’s non-confidence motion.