Walkom: Harper’s curious hidden agenda talk

[CHIMO]

Stephen Harper’s accusation that the Liberals harbour a secret agenda is cute but dangerous. Cute because it turns back on the Liberals a charge they have often levelled against him. Dangerous because it is a tactic that could easily backfire.

The reason is that Harper’s Conservatives remain vulnerable on this front themselves, particularly in the area that pollsters say is the electorate’s top concern — health care.

In last week’s budget, the Conservatives pledged to cut $17 billion more in government spending over the next five years. They very carefully didn’t say where these cuts would be made.

My own view, incidentally, is that Harper’s agenda isn’t hidden. To anyone who cares to pay attention, he has been clear about his ultimate aim — which is to get the federal government out of the business of virtually everything except banks, prisons, the military, foreign affairs and interprovincial commerce.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/962899--walkom-harper-s-curious-hidden-agenda-talk?bn=1

In his moving eulogy to Mr. Batters, it was noteworthy to see that Mr. Harper issued a caution regarding people who reveal too much of themselves. “Dave was a very human politician,” Mr. Harper said. “He opened himself to others. It strengthened his hand in representing his constituents, but it rendered him vulnerable to depression, as it can to any of us."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/a-family-tragedy-that-stephen-harper-has-not-forgotten/article1211219/