Come on now, attack ads are another MOOT point. All politicians use attack ads, not just Harper. You should hear some of the Iggy radio ads running in my area right now. This is the reason the leaders don't go there - because they're all guilty. The leaders don't go after the Conservatives for being Republican style because they and the rest of Canada knows there are vast differences between the Conservative Party in Canada and the Republican Party in the USA. Any slander in this direction would only make the other parties look foolish. In my opinion, if Iggy wants to make some ground, he needs to focus more on communicating the Liberal agenda to Canadians instead of simply putting down the Conservative agenda. I know of many areas where the Liberals disagree with the Conservatives, but know little of what the Liberals would do differently. Aside from reviewing the figher jet purchase, giving free money to anyone who wants to go to university, and raising taxes, I'm not sure what the Liberals are planning to do.
I was in a draft last night so i missed it. Was it on CBC or CTV? do you have a link? I have always enjoyed watching Canadian debates alot more than U.S. ones because its less flash and more substance. Most people find Canadian politics incredibly dull, but in my opinion they are alot better because they arent turned into a movie. (yes i made that word up but you know what i mean.)
I refer to the earlier attack ads against Ignatieff personally, and not only his politics. There is a difference. The way that Republican ads painted their opponents as not being quite as patriotic over and above any political differences. I find that slimy.
The fact that IGGY neever lived in Canada was good grounds for the atttack. If somene pulled the shit Ignatieff is trying to pull in the states they wouldnt have even been considered a contender in the primary, let alone a contender for the presidency.
To me, the principal difference is that the Liberals are not slavish adherents of an economic "theory" that simply does not work and is no more than an excuse to benefit the mighty at the expense of the vulnerable. Apart from that, there is also the question of environmental and other regulatory control, and a more comprehensive social conscience. Although I like Layton, I think he veers a bit too far to the left. I think that the more centrist Liberals are a happy medium. In life, as in all things that matter, it comes down to balance.
Ah. We did our draft Monday. Another one tonight. I love playoff time. cbc.ca should have some video. I watched the debate on TVO. I loved the new debate format. It gave the leaders a chance to debate each other 1-on-1 without a bunch of yelling and screaming and interrupting.
But the Liberals are slavish to their own economic "theory". Tax and spend. This theory is no more proven than any other theory, and is no more than an excuse to benefit the unproductive members of society at the expense of the productive members. I agree with you on the Liberal agenda regarding more environmental awareness. Although I don't agree with Iggy's carbon tax scheme. Not sure what you mean by a more comprehensive social conscience. If you are referring to abortion and gay marriage, Harper has already insisted he won't touch it.
Read the platform: http://www.liberal.ca/ You are playing a game of false equivalency and conclusion, either intentionally or because you are misguided, and I choose not to participate in such a game. In any event, neither you nor I will change our respective viewpoints any time soon, so let us just leave it as it is. We each know where the other stands.