Where leaders lead...
Where leaders lead, others follow:
Canadian troops will spend two extra years fighting to bring democracy and security to Afghanistan’s most perilous corner after Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a tense political showdown over his divided opposition rivals.
A motion to extend the deployment barely passed 149 to 145 Wednesday night. The NDP, Bloc Quebecois and most Liberals, including key leadership candidates such as Stephane Dion, Ken Dryden and Joe Volpe, voted against it.
Other leadership candidates, Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison, voted for the longer commitment in perilous Afghanistan, as did interim Liberal leader Bill Graham.
Former prime minister Paul Martin was absent.
Put aside, for a brief moment, the strategic issues of Canadians holding off the Taliban, and by extension, Al Qaeda (Canada as a target for terrorists, our relationship with the US, etc, etc) and consider the political implications.
Stephen Harper and the Conservatives in a weak minority situation put forward a motion that is roundly opposed by all three opposition parties on a topic that for many Canadians represents the deepest held misgivings about where post-9/11 Canada is going...and Stephen Harper wins!
The vote is a political victory for Harper, who can characterize the result as an indication of the will of Parliament, while exposing divisions within the Liberal ranks.
Coming out of the House, Harper took a few shots at the opposition.
“I think the truth of the matter is support for the mission is a lot stronger than the vote,” Harper said. “There were a lot of people in there who just wanted to vote against the government. But certain Liberals took a principled position and Canada is much better for it.”
For the Liberals, a split is forming. Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison for the extension. Ken Dryden, Joe Volpe, Stephane Dion, Hedy Fry against. With the Conservatives achieving another parliamentary victory, there will be bitter recriminations lobbed during the Liberal leadership race. The party itself will crack violently along this fault line, and it's anyone guess what will be the end result. Meanwhile, any "Unite-the-Left" push to merge the Liberals and the NDP will be shelved until the Liberals sort this out. The NDP will not easily forgive the Liberal Party for allowing a free vote for the Liberal caucus.
For the Canadian left in general, a panic will start. If Stephen Harper can win this vote, what other votes can he win? Joining the US in developing a ballistic missile defense system? Redefining marriage as a heterosexuals-only institution? Property rights? For the left, there has been an assumption that Stephen Harper would be hobbled in a minority government. Bide their time, and at the next election in a year or so, the left would win again. The Conservatives could do little lasting damage -- lower taxes a modest amount, for example, which would be hard to increase, but most things could be rolled back. Instead, to the horror of the left, who have assumed that though they lost the election they still ruled the country, Stephen Harper is succeeding at far more substantive and transformative changes, and might continue to do so.
For the Conservatives, more headlines tomorrow about another parliamentary win. More comparisons of the accomplishments of Stephen Harper versus the ineffectual run of Paul Martin as prime minister. And the hard work of making sure this new commitment in Afghanistan is a success. But if anyone can make this work, this government can.
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Comments
Noticable by his absence, where was ex-PM Paul Martin for this vote tonight? Could it be that the Guite trial is having repercussions in the back rooms of the Liberal party? As the Finance Minister during the period in question he and Chretien should be brought to account.
Posted by: Antenor at May 18, 2006 12:09 AM
Downtown Jack was a particularly annoying speed bump on the highway of life but then what can you expect from him.
Enjoyed the statement by Mr. Harper about Duceppe making a mistake and that Quebecers wanted leadership to make them proud in both french and english. Gotta like it.
Martin not being there...so what's new. If he had of been there he would have dithered anyway. I can see why he stayed away, he would have had to make a decision. Can't have that.
Posted by: Pat at May 18, 2006 01:03 AM
You are quite out to lunch on your take on the debate today.
Nothing was solved.
Harper said he couldn't care less about the vote, he'd do things his way regardless.
So, he divided the country.
Canada means nothing to him but a stepping stone to greater glories. He'll do to/with Canada as he pleases as long as he can.
Today, he got shown that he has divided the country almost 50/50. He's probably celebrating, though Canada is not.
Today, people were told that they can and should disobey the standing law of the land, and forget about registering their long guns. Harper jumped the gun on this, and he jumped the gun on his pretend-vote.
Reality is gonna hurt him, unless Bush comes to his rescue.
How many times has Canada needed America to bolster its sovereignty? Hasn't it been the other way 'round?
We're like poor cousins; we're still family, and we're still okay... as long as we go along with big daddy and dubya. Shee-it!
My mixed blood cheers Duceppe. He had the best reasons for opposing Harper's parlour game, but will get the least respect.
Still, there is 46% of Canadians who will oppose, and after hockey season, likely more.
Canada will not be played for a fool, no matter how stupid Harper thinks the average Canadian is.
Posted by: Ionno at May 18, 2006 02:34 AM
Ionno, written like a true fiberal. The long gun registry is 1 billion dollars over budget. There was obvious fraud by the fiberals. Someone should go to jail.
The country is les dividd than you think. If we had your attitude in WWII, you would be in some German concentration camp.
Posted by: Roy Eappen at May 18, 2006 02:48 AM
Do you think Paulie's constuents care if he represents them or not? It seems he has been more absent than present.
Posted by: morison at May 18, 2006 07:02 AM
Even as another one of our Military is killed, the Liberals play politics--shame. Is nothing but stolen money holy to these criminals? Much as I disagree with the deployment to Afghanistan, the CPC voted on moral and ethical grounds--the Liberals played with numbers for their own gain. Despicable
Posted by: George at May 18, 2006 08:43 AM
Ionno....
"Canada will not be played for a fool".
Are you sure?
They were for the entire reign of the Liberal. Everything from misleading surplus forcasts all the way to the gun registry proves that.
And I will disagree with "Nothing was solved". Sure there was. We have another 2 years doing our country proud overseas as we route the Taliban from their left-supported foxholes as well as seeing a rip form in the Liberal party.
It was a GREAT day.
Posted by: Ownshook at May 18, 2006 09:05 AM
I love how the lefties like to say they don't want the US influencing our political decisions, and then they are the only people obsessed enough about the US to bring them into EVERYTHING.
Notice how Ionno had to bring Bush into this? And why? Because he has no traction. A person with traction in an argument doesn't need to bring the "boogeyman" into the equation.
Ionno... if you ever feel like making a real statement based on facts and reality instead of paranoia and Anti-Americanism, please feel free to come back. The rest of us will point out what is really going on and will focus on Canada (what a concept!) which is what you might want to try out sometime.
Truthfully, when even the Toronto Star is coming out and calling this a victory for Harper, you gotta know it is. But, just like many lefties, you will keep on walking around muttering, "the sky is falling," and hoping that somebody is listening.
As for Canada... considering the polls, you know that those Canadians who are not tied to any party are starting to see that Harper is 10 times the Prime Minister that Paul Martin ever could be. After all, only 100 days in office and Harper has already surpassed what Martin did in 2 years.
And THAT is reality.
Posted by: Surecure at May 18, 2006 09:26 AM
For the past number of years I have despaired at the direction that this once great country was taking in world affairs. The MSM, press, radio, and television have learned well at the footstool of Dr. Goebbels, "Tell something often enough and it becomes the truth". Ionno is one of the many examples of this process, we have been running this country into oblivion by the leadership of the liberals for the better part of 50 years. We have two generations that have grown up under the banner of the 'Red' Maple Leaf flag. We have begun to see the collapse of institutions that all Canadians once held dear, Health care, Education, National police force, and a strong Military. After decades of corruption, theft, negligence etc. etc. we have finally found a leader that still retains some of the virtues that helped create this country. I am thankful that we have this venue and others on the internet that hasn't been corrupted. From the comments above I can now say that there is hope, I am not alone in my line of thinking. Fortunately the Halifaxes, and Chamberlains of today, (Layton and Duceppe) cannot control this media. The climate of politican unrest in Iraq and Afghanistan today so closely resembles the Germany of the twenties that it is unthinkable that leaders of the opposition parties could counsel a withdrawl of troops. Under Harper's leadership and through the internet we can all make a difference. I urge all of you reading this to keep up the dialogue and the intelligent discussion until the majority of Canadians learn that they have been led down the garden path by Liberals and NDP alike. There are issues that we all hold dear, truth and freedom. Despite the lies and restrictions that have been foisted upon us in the last few decades these principals are once again coming to the surface, they will always come to the surface for without them, what are we doing here?
Posted by: Antenor at May 18, 2006 11:11 AM
Another reason that I'm glad I voted for PM Harper.
Look the lefties in the eye and they blink, every time.
MCpl (Ret'd) J Keane
Posted by: JasonK at May 18, 2006 12:08 PM
"You've seen what Stephen Harper has done. And you've seen how much he's tried to do. And how he's been frustrated by a Parliament with a majority that does not speak for Canadians. It's time to change that. On [insert date here], vote to let an honest government govern. Vote Conservative."
Of course, that's why I don't work in advertising, but you see my point.
Posted by: ebt at May 18, 2006 03:45 PM
Somewhere along the 401 on my way to Toronto I am greeted by a most beautiful sight. A large Canadian flag flapping in the breeze peacefully. I have watched in dismay as this country has been torn by almost criminal politics, yellow journalism, and a false vision of democracy in a socialistic state. I actually cheered when Harper and the CPC wrenched the government away from the Liberals.
Ionno, you are so wrong. This vote was a great victory for Harper. The Isolationist position that Martin and the Libs were moving is wrong headed. Maybe some Americans do see Canadians as poor cousins, but not all. Many see them as their friends and allies. Different, yet similar.
If you look in the U.S., the left is trying unsuccessfully to do what Ionno is trying to do. Proclaim doom and gloom and a horrible foreboding of evil because (gasp!) the Conservatives have taken over. MY GOD! Get over it. Stop being the problem and start looking for answers to problems. That is what the Libs forgot, and why they lost, Ionno, not because Harper is some scuzzy politician who took advantage of a silly mistake. The scuzziness was all Liberal. They caused the their own problems and forgot the people. The election proved it.
Canada is great and could be greater still, but it must decide to do so. That decision is yours to make, not mine. That flag I talked about is on my way to see family that emmigrated to Canada. While I follow your story, I also have my own decisions to make.
Posted by: cincimaddog at May 18, 2006 05:07 PM
It's becoming very apparent that Ken Dryden should be with the NDP.
Posted by: Frank Mench at May 18, 2006 05:10 PM
No - Dryden should still be with the Leafs.
Posted by: Deaner at May 18, 2006 10:31 PM
Steve Janke, your second-to-last concluding paragraph is very interesting and encouraging. Given the Liberal leadership race (how long till that is settled?), what other issues do you think will come to a vote and for which the Liberal caucus (if not the cacuses of other parties) will be freed for votes of conscience rather than votes of party line?
Do you think that the issue of marriage is a prime prospect for a free vote amongst Liberals as well as Conservatives? How do you think that might play in Quebec where the Bloc have taken the SSM side en bloc?
When C-32 was held to a final vote last summer, the No side included about half of the ordinary Liberal MPs (excluding Cabinet members and secretaries). If the current elected Liberal MPs are free to vote like ordinary MPs (which I am guessing they will be) and the party remains in a leadership race, what are the chances -- good and bad -- of the vote to revist the marriage issue actually winning a majority in the House?
Posted by: F. Rottles at May 19, 2006 12:50 PM
 
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