[EyeBrock]

You are right there Derby. And I'm not after scoring any partisan points on this one.

These partisan appointments are just the same as the Liberal ones, maybe a bit worse from the optics of Harper said he wouldn't do this, but I think politically he had no viable choice.
Realistically nobody from either side can claim the moral high ground on the Senate.

[poquas]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I don't think I'm being partisan on this, and I agree, reform on this seems impossible.

What is Harper to do instead though? Wait until he loses an election and let Iggy stack it with more Libs? Because that's what will happen.

Tough choices and come on poquas, your views on Harper are pretty well known and hardly non-partisan.

I'm no cheerleader here and I'll slag him on other issues when I don't believe a prudent choice has been made.

I don’t like Harper, and this is exactly the reason why. He’s dishonest. He's doing exactly what he's entitled to do. That's all. It’s patently dishonest to represent this in any other way than as it is, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Fill the senate vacancies but stop the bullshit about the 8 year term crap. They’re going to be there until they’re not. PERIOD!

[PluggyRug]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

You are right there Derby. And I'm not after scoring any partisan points on this one.

These partisan appointments are just the same as the Liberal ones, maybe a bit worse from the optics of Harper said he wouldn't do this, but I think politically he had no viable choice.
Realistically nobody from either side can claim the moral high ground on the Senate.

EyeBrock...dear dear....using the words 'moral' and 'high ground' when making reference to a Liberal senate.

[leewgrant]

Proculation Proculation:

Jacques Demers, ex-coach of the Habs, will be appointed. That's great for him but the problem is that he is illiterate. He can't read or write.

Sounds like a suitable Senator to me.

[Scape]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

I don't think I'm being partisan on this, and I agree, reform on this seems impossible.

I don't think it is impossible but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Harper may make a promise not to appoint and say that they will step down after 8 years but the fact remains that if his gambit fails because he doesn't have the votes everyone knows the senators are not going to step down.

He will have done what he has accused the liberals of doing all along and that is the same tired politics all sides have become sick of. It is easy to point fingers but it requires more to enable change. The only way this is going to resolve is if both sides really work together instead of sabotaging each others efforts and demanding all or nothing measures which never had any intention of passing to begin with. That's the REAL reform everyone is looking for and yet no one is providing.

[poquas]

After requesting to be removed from the Conservative party list, I just got a call from the party with some young thing saying “Mr. Harper could really use your support”.

Like a gentleman, I just hung up without comment!

[kenmore]

Oh... but he doesn't want an appointed Senate! what an asshole!

[PluggyRug]

kenmore kenmore:

Oh... but he doesn't want an appointed Senate! what an asshole!

He doesn't????

[poquas]

PluggyRug PluggyRug:

kenmore kenmore:

Oh... but he doesn't want an appointed Senate! what an asshole!

He doesn't????

Elected. Remember the Reform/Alliance/Conservative mantra? Elected.

[ridenrain]

What do you bet that if the Liberals get in power in 8 years, they replace these temporary hacks with their own hacks for life?

[bootlegga]

In your world two wrongs make a right do they?

What people are pointing out is that he campaigned against this very action (deficits too), but because the other guy might do something, it's okay to renege on promises and your own ideals?

[kenmore]

Sure they will... don't think the Libs ever said they wanted an elected senate.. did they? but heir harper has.. many many times...

[poquas]

ridenrain ridenrain:

What do you bet that if the Liberals get in power in 8 years, they replace these temporary hacks with their own hacks for life?

The only difference is that they won't be hypocritical doing it.

[Zipperfish]

26 in 8 months? Business as usual on the Hill. Meet the new boss / same as the old boss.

[ridenrain]

poquas poquas:

ridenrain ridenrain:

What do you bet that if the Liberals get in power in 8 years, they replace these temporary hacks with their own hacks for life?

The only difference is that they won't be hypocritical doing it.

No. They've never pretended to be more than power hungry crooks who will say and do anything to get and stay in power.

.. but somehow that's better..