Ralph Klien, conservative Premier of Alberta, is at it again giving national conservative leader Stephen Harper a boost wherever he can:
Days before an expected election call, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said the country will probably be left with another Liberal minority, largely because Stephen Harper won't be able to muster enough support in Ontario. The outspoken Tory premier conceded his federal colleagues probably won't make significant inroads in vote-rich Ontario, where the party desperately needs to gain ground if it hopes to oust the governing Liberals.Just last week he was reviving the theme of private health care that did a fair bit to slash Harper's tires in the last election.
Despite Ralph's best efforts, I think I still have to watch myself. I am starting to find a soft spot for Harper. He has aligned his party finally with the NDP. He has accepted an apology without calling for the person's head in over reaction. Picking up a key civil service whistle blower, too. He has finally gotten relaxed enough to be caught, as in the cover photo of the Globe and Mail today above, with a saucey look on his face. That photo immediately reminded me of the 1988 Globe cover with Liberal leader John Turner with a big pitchfork (in reality a building far behind him) sticking out of his head. The photographer may have caught the moment and the mood of the nation in the postures of those two men above as we head into the Federal election likely starting next week. Click for a bigger version.
Let's just be clear. Not voting Tory. But Tory now higher up on list of parties not voting for.
Comments
Don - November 24, 2005 11:16 am
"Not voting Tory. But Tory now higher up on list of parties not voting for. "
Baby steps - baby steps.
'nee - November 24, 2005 2:30 pm
That's a great picture, and funny too. I still like the image of Jack the Pirate better, but possibly I'm biased. Plus, wouldn't it be funny if the NDP accidentally won?
SayNay? - November 24, 2005 9:48 pm
Even Warren Kinsella has a soft spot for Harper. Now we know WK hates (with a capital "H") Martin, but WK wrote on Harper, in June of this year:
"The main reason for liking him (Harper)is personal. When my Dad died, a year ago this past week, Mr. Harper called me and my Mom to express condolences. He talked about meeting my Dad once, and he talked at length about his own father, who had passed away not long before. There was no reason for the Conservative leader to call me in the middle of a hotly-contested election campaign. As one of those so-called political strategists, I had in fact written and said plenty that was critical of Mr. Harper and his party over the years. But he called anyway, and that call was something my family and I will never, ever forget. From my own party’s putative leader, Paul Martin? Nothing..."
I tried to find a better link but see: vote.bridgecity.net/2005/06/ warren-kinsella-on-stephen-harper.html
It's ironic (what an archaic term in this, post-modern/post-ironic world)that WK posted on Nov 8/05 that that the best thing for Harper would be if Klein endorsed Martin this time round. Pretty close.
SayNay? - December 6, 2005 2:55 pm
I assume Al, or presume, your "soft spot" for Harper is just a little softer today, after he has announced that he will put a few grand in your pocket to spend as you wish with respect to the care of your children (as Harper trusts you to know what lies in the best interests of your children, better than the State does - and the childcare "little minds control/manufacturing of liberal consent" warehouses the Liberals/NDP are proposing).
Alan - December 6, 2005 3:42 pm
My children will just leave the age group chosen by Harper if he wins the election. CONSPIRACY!!!