tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post2821360917609605875..comments2024-03-01T06:01:21.087-05:00Comments on A Blog By James Curran: Lessons Learned By Bob Rae and Moving ForwardJames Curranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064830948270604331noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-68803277389290334682008-11-24T16:17:00.000-05:002008-11-24T16:17:00.000-05:00Clearly he is mocking Harper in some parts. But he...Clearly he is mocking Harper in some parts. But he is clearly letting him off on the most important and effective weapon we have against Harper: the economy.<BR/><BR/>Not to compare Rae to Pallin in any way whatsoever, but choosing Rae would be like McCain choosing Pallin. McCain's greatest weapon in the election was his experience vs. Obama's lack of experience. Instead, he couldn't make that argument stick because he chose someone with even less experience than Obama.<BR/><BR/>Similarly, we lose the ability to hold Harper to account for gross mismanagement of our finances and of our economy by picking Rae. And instead of fighting that impression, Rae let's him off the hook and says its ok.<BR/><BR/>Holy perpetual Conservative minority, Batman!<BR/><BR/>Instead of giving Harper an easy time on the most important issue, Rae should tell us what he thinks he did wrong last time, why he was wrong to attack Chretien and Martin then, and what he would do differently this time. That way he can show us all that he won't be like Flaherty, making the same mistakes all over again, but that he has in fact actually learned from his mistakes. He does that and Liberals, Ontarians and Canadians will start easily start to forgive him for his years as Premier.<BR/><BR/>Instead we get 'Harper's not so bad on the finances because it's hard don't you know' and 'just trust that I learned something because I said I did'.Ted Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223729391428982448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-73327298602870650052008-11-23T23:37:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:37:00.000-05:00Ted, I hope you're not reading the same article as...Ted, I hope you're not reading the same article as me. He is clearly mocking Harper in the article I'm reading. <BR/><BR/>Can't wait for Michael to defend his carbon shift. Looking forward to it.James Curranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064830948270604331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-43137724427649365432008-11-23T16:52:00.000-05:002008-11-23T16:52:00.000-05:00And as for his article, I like Rae as you know, bu...And as for his article, I like Rae as you know, but I cannot for the life of me understand why he would let Harper off the hook on two of his biggest blunders that give Canadians the most concern and the Liberals their biggest opportunity.<BR/><BR/><I>"• First, it is essential to understand the speed with which a falling economy can cause the revenues of a government to evaporate. Just four weeks ago, Stephen Harper assured Canadians that our economy was fundamentally strong. Today, he openly speaks to a potential deficit."</I><BR/><BR/>Are you kidding me? Harper outright lied about this. Dion was right as you point out in your very next post. Deficit Steve knew this was coming, as his budget chief shows us, and it was caused by his own fiscal imprudence as his budget chief also shows us. <BR/><BR/>Why let Harper off the hook for this? This was foreseen months and months ago both from analysist of the economy and Harper's own reccord spending combined with tax cuts imprudence. This wasn't just a quick drop in the economy. And nor was the recession in the 1990s.<BR/><BR/><I>"• Second, times of crisis teach us the importance of being practical, and show us the folly of ideologies and theories. It was a great British Conservative, Edmund Burke, who reminded us that “there is nothing more dangerous than to govern in the name of a theory.” Mr. Harper is finally taking note. It’s about time."</I><BR/><BR/>Again, praise for Harper is going to help the Liberals? How can we go out and claim he's a right wing ideologue if we say "he gets it"?<BR/><BR/>The article as a general statement, while saying nothing anyone doesn't know about and hasn't been saying for months, is still an encouraging step to see. In 2006, Bob really avoided giving us any detailed sense of what kinds of priorities and policies and actions we'd see under him. So it is encouraging to see him a bit more engaged and not just relying on his name, and following in Michael's footsteps with some detail, however minimial this is. ;-)Ted Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223729391428982448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-79845024935898246472008-11-23T16:43:00.000-05:002008-11-23T16:43:00.000-05:00Thanks for quoting me, Jim.That doesn't going anyw...Thanks for quoting me, Jim.<BR/><BR/>That doesn't going anywhere near my question. It is still not clear what he thinks his mistakes were and what he has learned from them. Or why he attacked Chretien and Martin then and in 2006 for the way they eliminated the deficit. Or what he would do about deficits today. I asked him in 2006 if he would ever allow a deficit; his answer then "there is no appetite for deficits right now". So does he think there is now or not? How will he pay for these economic stimula he refers to? If we are in deficits would he cut spending and if so what? or would he pass deficits on to future governments and taxpaying Canadians.<BR/><BR/>For certain, Iggy and LeBlanc absolutely have to answer these same questions. The difference is that we have seen once before how Rae would answer those questions so it is incumbent on him to come forward and explain how and what he would do things differently, not simply tell us that he would.Ted Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223729391428982448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-23455390373081544832008-11-22T15:01:00.000-05:002008-11-22T15:01:00.000-05:00Well, no, I don't actually know that. I'd like to ...Well, no, I don't actually know that. I'd like to believe that a politician such as Bob Rae with his socially conscientious history would indeed be the great emancipator of the poor, but I think you and I know better than that. Granted his background is the prime motivator for my preferring him over Ignatieff, but I certainly remain skeptical of his ability to deliver the progressive societal goods.sjwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425560486235905508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-5665869276316087212008-11-22T14:49:00.000-05:002008-11-22T14:49:00.000-05:00I think you know Bob will act on his social agenda...I think you know Bob will act on his social agenda.James Curranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064830948270604331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-66531310283013331432008-11-22T14:47:00.000-05:002008-11-22T14:47:00.000-05:00Fifth, governments must ensure everyone benefits f...<EM>Fifth, governments must ensure everyone benefits from the opportunities prosperity creates.</EM><BR/><BR/>It pains to see this oft repeated (but never acted upon) social initiative rolled out and presented as something to be actually considered by a prospective government when in fact it is but grand illusion sited by someone who wishes to lead. As someone leaning towards supporting Bob Rae a large part of me just wants to shout, "Just the facts, Bob. Just the facts". The poor and disadvantaged of our nation have heard all this type rhetoric before and it impresses not.sjwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425560486235905508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-90280970662958702962008-11-22T12:55:00.000-05:002008-11-22T12:55:00.000-05:00Just re:sent the email James. Please let me know i...Just re:sent the email James. Please let me know if you get it or not.<BR/><BR/>Thanks.penlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830912393649649485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-1084406659357851942008-11-22T12:08:00.000-05:002008-11-22T12:08:00.000-05:00Nope. No gots. ducky7777@yahoo.comNope. No gots. ducky7777@yahoo.comJames Curranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064830948270604331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865994732097663473.post-66522043020139781072008-11-22T11:37:00.000-05:002008-11-22T11:37:00.000-05:00James I emailed you yesterday, as you said, but ha...James I emailed you yesterday, as you said, but haven't heard back from you. I sent it via the email addy in your "view my complete profile" section. Just wondering if you got it?penlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830912393649649485noreply@blogger.com