Harper has 'crazy way' of running democracy: Ignatieff

[ConcernedCanuk]

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Harper has 'crazy way' of running democracy: Ignatieff

By CBC News, cbc.ca, Updated: January 8, 2010 2:52 PM

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff called the decision by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to prorogue Parliament and muzzle the opposition "a crazy way to run a democracy," but he stopped short Friday of threatening to bring down the government.

Instead Ignatieff said all of his party's MPs and senators plan to return to work in Ottawa on Jan. 25, the date Parliament was set to resume before Harper shut it down until March.

/snip/

Ignatieff said the suspension of Parliament reflects a tendency by the prime minister to shut down or muzzle the opposition and government watchdogs when they criticize the government."Each and every time he seems in difficulty, each and every time he feels the pressure of democracy, he tries to have the work of this House behind me stop," he said.

"We think this is a crazy way to run a democracy."

/snip/

A Facebook group against prorogation has attracted more than 100,000 members, while an EKOS poll released exclusively to CBC News on Thursday indicates Canadians, after the decision to prorogue Parliament, were nearly twice as likely to oppose the move as favour it.

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Wake up fellow Canucks - kick this Bushwannabe outta our hair

please!

[HeresyLives]

1. Democracy isn't what Harper has in mind.

[Spazito]

2. The Liberals need to start playing hardball, imo...

They need to show the parallels between the Harper cabal style of government and the Bush style.

Subvert the democratic process (prorogation of Parliament re Harper, the use of Presidential signings re Bush).....Check

Privatization of health care.......................................................................................Check

Reduce taxes on the richest 1% and on Corporations.................................................................Check

Causing the country's international reputation to be seriously eroded..............................................Check

etc, etc, etc.

Add in Harper's dependence on these Bush acolytes:

OTTAWA - A former spokesman for George W. Bush received a second sole-source contract from the Prime Minister's Office for American communications advice, according to filings with the U.S. Justice Department.

snip

Canadian news consumers, who this week are seeing their first limited interviews with Harper about his Christmas holiday decision to suspend Parliament, might aspire to the access provided for conservative American opinion-leaders - eight of whom enjoyed dinner with Harper in Washington last Mar. 29 at the invitation of Fleischer.

The guest list included newspaper columnists Charles Krauthammer, David Frum, Peggy Noonan, David Brooks and Anne Applebaum, senior editors Fred Barnes and William Kristol, and conservative syndicated talk-radio host Laura Ingraham.

The following day, Fleischer arranged a lunch meeting between Harper and the president of Fox News Channel, Roger Ailes, and with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Documents-show-PMO-hired-Ari-Fleischer-a-second-time-for-US-media-advice.html

Finish off with the many polls citing Canadians' intense dislike of George Bush and then ask Canadians if we REALLY want a Bush clone like Harper to be in control in Canada.

[daleo]

3. I think Ignattief has decided to let Harper defeat himself

I think we may have reached one of those tipping points where the accumulated impressions of a politician add up and people re-evaluate. This prorogation reinforces people's worst impressions about Harper - arrogance, ignoring the rules and putting politics ahead of governing. I believe Ignattief probably senses the same thing, and is keeping a relatively low profile, so that the Harperites can't deflect attention via "Iggy bashing".

For the short term that's probably a sensible strategy, but he will have to raise his game in the near future to keep the momentum up.

[CHIMO]

4. Looks

Like the strategy. But, I attribute it to the new people behind Iggy.

I think the Steve will soon become a loose cannon.

[Lucy Goosey]

5. I hope that works, if that's what he's going for.

But it's a gamble. Harper isn't stupid or reckless enough to completely implode on his own though, I fear. He's expecting people to forget this by the time we go to the polls, and that might not be an unreasonable expectation.

[Spazito]

6. I don't think a 'play it safe' strategy is what's called for at this time....

it leaves the impression, mistaken or otherwise, of weak leadership and Canadians are not fond of weak leaders. The Liberals have to win back those normally Liberal voters who left and voted NDP as a protest vote against the Liberal party and simply standing aside in hopes Harper will implode on his own will not do that, imo.

Harper's actions of late should be a call to action, the time for an 'in your face' strategy of calling him out at every opportunity, imo.

[ardenv]

7. yes, the liberals really are fools if they waste this opportunity...

I'd really like to see more letters to the editor from folks like you Spazito.. at least that way the public will stay engaged and outraged. My local paper (Victoria TC ) buried this latest prorogie debacle on page 8! It would appear the only hope some of us have for journalistic integrity is to do it ourselves.

[Spazito]

8. I am heartened by the scathing editorials/columns that have and are...

appearing in major newspapers but letters to the editor are certainly something we can do as well. I am drafting one for the Globe and Mail and will send it when it might work best re timing. I am not sure if sending one, assuming it even would be published, during the Olympic Games is the best timing and possibly one right after the closing of the games reminding Canadians of what the Harper cabal did, the similarities to the Bush regime, etc, might have more influence.