Liberals "Energized" by Harper Missteps--Toronto Star

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


3//The Toronto Star, Canada Feb. 12, 2006. 06:08 PM

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1139747045377&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News



LIBERALS ‘ENERGIZED’ BY HARPER MISSTEPS

Joan Bryden, Canadian Press



OTTAWA — Liberals are dreaming about a speedy return to power after watching the disastrous opening week of Stephen Harper's new Conservative administration.



Only three weeks after suffering a humiliating defeat, Liberals are musing openly about whether Harper's shaky minority government can survive the year.



And Liberal officials are being urged to hasten the selection of a new leader so that the party can be ready as soon as possible for an election.



"We are, I would say, reinvigorated and energized," interim Liberal leader Bill Graham said in an interview at the end of Harper's controversy-plagued inaugural week.



He said the opening week has stiffened Liberals' resolve to oppose the Conservative agenda, even if it means toppling the government.



MORE
"We're going to oppose those measures that we find are not in the interests of Canada and Canadians and we'll oppose them all the way," Graham said.

[domlaw]

1. yeee hah

I think that's how you spell it.

[marmar]

2. I didn't think the Harper govt. would last long...

I don't think all of his dogs are barking!

:crazy:

[Amonester]

3. Looks like we're gonna have a...

"real" opposition!

Who's goona go down 'n away first? Bu$h, or Harper? :rofl:

[Mnemosyne]

4. Already talk of a possible new election?

Not fair! We've had to put up with bubble boy since 2001!

Canadians are so lucky.:hi:

In peace and hope,
Still,
V

[applegrove]

5. Thanks for posting. It will be so "interesting" to see exactly what

Harper decides. Because it will inform us so much on what neocons are about.

Will they take some sorts of governance and infill it with incompetents?

How will they use the media and tame them?

Will they triangulate with policy (be it not so much policy but choices that magnify differences within the greater Canadian community)?

Will they force "Sofie's Choices"?

And on and on.

This is a lab (unfortunately). But just as Mike Harris attack on shelter allowances told us much about the neocon love of social experiment in crisis, what patterns will will see?

So - buckle up. Tis not representative that we have neocons in power. But it will be informative.

And give us such great information of the details.

Sad really. Sad and informative.

[Chevy]

6. Despite what the media

or Liberal party says an election is out of the question for at least 2 years. A poll recently taken
shows Canadians do not want another election soon and are willing to give Harper some time to govern.And any opposition party who brings down the government down to soon could pay a serious price at the polls.The Liberal Party is showing as much arrogance as the Republicans do.
:shrug:

[enigma000]

9. I agree

The Liberals are financially insolvent and are looking for a new leader (so far few want the position). The Bloc went down in seats and popular vote; they know the Tories will be a greater challenge next election.

If the Tories can get the budget through, they are safe for 18-24 months minimum.

[Catch22Dem]

7. What are some of the missteps?

I must admit, I haven't been following since the election.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. biggest missteps were cabinet appointments

Harper broke several promises by getting a Liberal member of Martin's former cabinet to cross the floor and join his cabinet, and by appointing an unelected party official to the Senate to serve as Minister of Public Works. A lot of disillusioned Conservative voters. (Liberal voters too, in David Emerson's riding of Vancouver Kingsway, after jumping to Harper's cabinet after having said he'd be "Harper's worst enemy" before the election.

The Star's a Liberal paper, so I'm not surprised by the spin, but I think the most energized is the NDP, which gets to say "I told you so" about Liberals and Conservatives with Emerson's crossing.