I agree. This is the first time in my nearly 60 years that I have been proud of the leader of my country. I enjoy watching and listening to him speak. he exudes confidence and makes me feel like the grownups are in charge and that they have me, my family and my country's best interests at heart NOT solely their own political fortunes.
IN fact, as the various pundits try to figure out the political "ploys" or interest groups or motives behind PM Harper's announcements I realize just how corrupted this country has become. How about finally a PM making decisions because they are the right thing to do.
Good management; ethics, good communications, the occasional mis-step as in any organization but a man who even his opponents have to grudgingly admit is a fine Canadian and a respected leader. Thanks for letting me brag about my PM on your site.

Posted by: Lorraine at March 6, 2007 06:43 PM

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Excellent Interview/colour commentary.Mr Harper is catching his stride .
This country's a tough nut to crack for all the reasons I'm sure most bloggers know.The fact that PMSH and his party are making a go of it and in style speaks volumes.
We've a long way totravel and it feels reassuring to see a wee light in that tunnel.

Posted by: Simon at March 6, 2007 07:57 PM

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The man is hilarious. "Its one sport I've never had the chance to be really bad at."

Self-deprecating humour is the best!

Posted by: chuckercanuck at March 6, 2007 08:31 PM

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I can almost believe that Stephen Harper would be a reasonable and effective Prime Minister for all of Canada as leader of a majority government. Any contrary thoughts I have had about him are more about style than content. Thinking that he is a scary right wing extremist as some claim is amusing to someone old enough to realize how far to the left we have drifted. He appears to me (joe voter) to be what a liberal should be and more effective at liberaling than the party with the TM version of the name. Good strategy.

Posted by: doug newton at March 6, 2007 09:38 PM

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Here, here, Lorraine! Very well said!!

Posted by: Proud Albertan at March 6, 2007 10:43 PM

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I saw the interview this afternoon, and I was thinking that I couldn't imagine Dion in the same scene. Harper comes across as Joe Canadian who can laugh at himself and likes common things like curling, his kid's hockey and chatting over coffee at a Tim Hortons.

Posted by: Bill Borlase at March 6, 2007 11:22 PM

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When he's done in politics he has a career for colour commentary on TSN. He did a great job on the hockey commentary last time, in fact the sportscaster looked so surprised to hear effective commentary from a politician that he looked like it was the first time he heard something intelligent...

Posted by: langmann at March 7, 2007 03:12 AM

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Go, Steve, Go!

Definitely a leader, and as Lorraine so eloquently says, he comes across as a grownup, who's concerned about ALL Canadians, not just his own power base and bank account.

He's not a lawyer, he's not from Quebec, he's not a multi-millionaire, like too many of the former LPC PMs, and so in my view, he's the perfect guy to continue being our PM. His views and opinions are much closer to "real" Canadians across the country than those of the so-called other "leaders" Canada's been saddled with for far too long.

'Love his self-depracating humour, which shows confidence and the fact that he's really hitting his stride as PM. I think the guy's brilliant and am delighted that both his opponents in the HOC and the Canadian MSM continue to underestimate him, to their great detriment. I sense that they're beginning to wake up to what a lot of us PMSH supporters have known for a long time: He Da Man!

Posted by: 'been around the block at March 7, 2007 07:52 AM

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I have been curling for over 30yrs now, I never made it to the show came close a few times but it always eluded me, my knee has given problems the past few years so have backed off alittle. Anyways the thing is this, I do not ever, ever recall a PM being at the briar let alone commenting on the briar, Curling is a sport that Canadians follow even if they do not curl & this Prime Minister is demonstrating to Canadians that he is a No Nonsense Leader while also showing that he is also for the people. This is why his numbers are consistly on the rise.
Good Curling

Posted by: bryanr at March 7, 2007 10:26 AM

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He looks more relaxed in front of the cameras all the time. I think appearances such as this, as well as the Rick Mercer Report may begin to make people see that he doesn't have a tail and horns.

Posted by: Dagny Taggart at March 7, 2007 01:35 PM

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A great interview with an intelligent man. What a treat to hear a PM speak without sounding like he is a used car salesman making his pitch on a Lada.

Posted by: Robert at March 7, 2007 02:31 PM

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The views expressed here bring tears to my eyes.
I have waited a long time to finally feel like the Liberal and or left wing are being put in thier place.
We are headed for MAJORITY and PMSH is the best leader of our time. He may in fact prove to be the best ever. Canada as a country deserves HARPER. He defines who we want to be.
Go Stevey Go !
Has any one noticed that CBC seems to have lost its' Liberal bite?

Posted by: I have waited a long time at March 7, 2007 02:41 PM

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I agree that it's hard to imagine Dion in a similar situation.

As much as people — especially the same Liberals who bash Harper 24/7 — want to compare Dion to Harper, the latter has the ability to show his personal side every once in a while. I don't think Dion has that ability — at least not yet.

Dion has this tendency of trying to show humour by laughing even before his joke is done, hoping that you'll understand where he's coming from. Newsflash for the Dion people: it's lame.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thoughts) at March 7, 2007 10:44 PM

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I have followed Steven Harper since the 1990's and I always knew that he would be a Great Prime Minister. Reading the views here make me cry with joy. He is the best man for the job and I do hope and pray that he will have a majority when he calls the next election or IF the oppostion parties bring him down. We have needed a Prime Minister like him for a long time.

Posted by: Judi at March 7, 2007 11:16 PM

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Paul Martin lacked sincerity
Chretien looked, acted and talked like a small time crook
Mulroney always looked like he was telling a lie
Joe Clark looked and acted inept
Trudeau spoke like an arrogant ass.
I'm not old enough to remember Pearson

Harper is the first PM who looks, acts and speaks like a regular honest Canadian. Dunno if he'll ever get past the 'scary westerner' label, but here's hoping.

Posted by: rhebner at March 8, 2007 04:38 PM

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@ rhebner
"Dunno if he'll ever get past the 'scary westerner' label, but here's hoping."

The irony for us westerners is that Harper and his sidekick Flaherty are not really westerners; they're "scary easterners" !

Posted by: José Joseph at March 8, 2007 05:09 PM

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A prime minister who writes a book about hockey statistics, watches curling, is related to one of the Trailer Park Boys, is an economist, and has an impeccable sense of humour.

Finally, a prime minister that represents CANADA to the world.

Posted by: Ace at March 8, 2007 09:12 PM

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I read that some pathetic weasel from the Winnipag Free Press tried to "get something" on Harper by taping a private conversation he had with the Skip of the Alberta team....really slow news day I guess...anyway the best he could come up with to bash Harper with is he was "socially awkward"...like, as opposed to who?

So Harper's "evils" have to manufactured by the yellow lefty media...so far they got him for having middleaged spread, wearing a funny cowboy hat, being too controlled (socially awkward)....and of course the ringer is that he likes George Bush and Americans.

The more viral and petty the left media gets about Harper and his spotless personal life, the more his ratings seem to go up.....keep up the small-minded ad hominem media attacks and Harper will get his majority just as a backlash to this type of snot-nosed yellow journalism.

Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at March 9, 2007 11:20 AM

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So Dion says he's taking the high road. Not going to stoop to
attack ads and name calling, ya right.
Maybe he should check with the venerable Ralphy Brown Nose
Goodale who compared our Prime Minister to none other than
ATTILA THE HUN. That's of course typical of the over the top
ravings of Goodale, who never met a camera that didn't set him
off into a nasty and tiresome tirade.

The real reason Dion and his tiny group of minions aren't using
attack ads is THEY HAVE NO MONEY.

It was nice of them to provide the material for the Conservative
ads, they're priceless and right from the Horses' mouths, can't
get any better than that.
Iggy sure popped a boner when he repeated the phrase,
"But Stephane, we didn't get it done". Truer words were never
spoken.

Posted by: Liz J at March 9, 2007 11:59 AM

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Its' all been said, this PM is an honest individual who's not afraid of showing himself that way. Clrarly his platform is cut out for us as Canadians, together, and not a ladder rung for his personal political climb to destruction, as has been demonstrated by so many before. My confidence in "federal" politicsis is growing finally.

Posted by: Bill Bristowe at March 10, 2007 11:11 PM

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