[Freakinoldguy]

Curtman Curtman:

$1:

He touted former Liberal prime minister Lester Pearson, who endured similar political uncertainty to Harper, but had far more to show for his tenure, including medicare and the Maple Leaf flag: “You can do big things — even if you have a minority Parliament. Witness what happened with Mr. Pearson, who achieved great things with minority status.”

Since we're on the quote game here's one that illustrates the difference between our Current PM and Lester Pearson.

$1:

Two Liberal governments were defeated in the Commons (1972-74 and 2004-06). The remaining Liberal minority governments (1921-25 and 1963-68) were able to govern with the support of the third parties until they could call elections at a time of their choosing

If you'll note the last line you'll see that they lasted because of support from third parties, ie, the NDP and Tommy Douglas, hence our medicare. If Pearson had passed anything other than programs the socialists approved of, he would have been out of office quicker than crap through a goose, just like Harper is now.

So basically you can see that the biggest success in Pearson's minority tenure isn't a Liberal invention at all but an NDP one that he had to pass or face having his government defeated. All things Harper won't do or can't do.

[kenmore]

Isn't Mulrony still calling the shots? I think after todays news you can add harper to the biggest crook list!

[ShepherdsDog]

just like Iggy and the inner cabal of the Liberal party have opened a portal to the ninth level of hell so PET can call the shots for the Liberal party.

[GreenTiger]

I may be wrong but isn't Brian Mulroney discredited as a lying thieving weasel? If that is the case who cares what he thinks?

[martin14]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

I may be wrong but isn't Brian Mulroney discredited as a lying thieving weasel?

He is.

$1:

If that is the case who cares what he thinks?

The leftoids who think he is somehow relevant, and post this nonsense in an attempt
to score political points.

[Regina]

kenmore kenmore:

Isn't Mulrony still calling the shots? I think after todays news you can add harper to the biggest crook list!

Your village called.

[ShepherdsDog]

Really?? I thought he was wondering from village to village in search of a home. Seems most villages set their standards too high.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

[bootlegga]

Mulroney really sounds like a bitter old man who still can't admit that he single-handedly destroyed the PC party.

Still, his point about other minority governments is apt;

$1:

He touted former Liberal prime minister Lester Pearson, who endured similar political uncertainty to Harper, but had far more to show for his tenure, including medicare and the Maple Leaf flag: “You can do big things — even if you have a minority Parliament. Witness what happened with Mr. Pearson, who achieved great things with minority status.”

Harper's been in office for a long time and really doesn't have much to show for it, and if he doesn't get a majority this time around, both his party (and history) will toss him in the same bin as Joe Clark, Stanfield and all the other leaders who failed.

[Freakinoldguy]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Mulroney really sounds like a bitter old man who still can't admit that he single-handedly destroyed the PC party.

Still, his point about other minority governments is apt;

$1:

He touted former Liberal prime minister Lester Pearson, who endured similar political uncertainty to Harper, but had far more to show for his tenure, including medicare and the Maple Leaf flag: “You can do big things — even if you have a minority Parliament. Witness what happened with Mr. Pearson, who achieved great things with minority status.”

Harper's been in office for a long time and really doesn't have much to show for it, and if he doesn't get a majority this time around, both his party (and history) will toss him in the same bin as Joe Clark, Stanfield and all the other leaders who failed.

Exactly.

In politics you're only relevant as long as you win and so far Harper hasn't been able to do that so, it may be his last hurrah before they replace him. But on the plus side for those former politicians who've been relegated to the bin, they at least aren't placed alongside:

Trudeau and Mulroney, two of the most reviled Leaders in Canadian Politics.

[Lemmy]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

Trudeau and Mulroney, two of the most reviled Leaders in Canadian Politics.

But why are they reviled? The answer is that both leaders did what was best for CANADA even though, in both circumstances, what was best for the country wasn't necessarily best for regionalists. You can be an Albertan and pissy about Trudeau's NEP, but from a national perspective, it was the right thing to do. The same goes for the Canada-US FTA and the GST. While unpopular among some, they were the right things to do for the country as a whole. That sort of big-picture federalist is what the country needs. We need someone with balls enough to do what Trudeau and Mulroney did: tell interest groups to fuck off and suck it up for the benefit of the country as a whole.

Personally, I think Mulroney is a maggot piece of shit. But I view the AirBus kick-back scam as a personal failing that doesn't, IMHO, tarnish the accomplishments of his administration.

[andyt]

I thought the NEP was a disaster for the country?

[kenmore]

GreenTiger GreenTiger:

I may be wrong but isn't Brian Mulroney discredited as a lying thieving weasel? If that is the case who cares what he thinks?

You are right, he is all the above. But he is the tory godfather!

[kenmore]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

just like Iggy and the inner cabal of the Liberal party have opened a portal to the ninth level of hell so PET can call the shots for the Liberal party.

[kenmore]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

just like Iggy and the inner cabal of the Liberal party have opened a portal to the ninth level of hell so PET can call the shots for the Liberal party.

Ya ya and ....