Now that Remembrance Day is over, Thomas Walkom reminds his readers that a day that was set aside to honour the sacrifices of many is now being used by one man to pave his way back into office:
Patriotism is powerful tonic. The wanton killing of W.O. Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo reignited the militant side of Canadian patriotism, a side that — following the disaster of the Afghan War — had been in abeyance.
The prime minister understands this well. It explains his decision to abruptly interrupt a long-planned trip to China in order to make a cameo appearance at Ottawa’s Remembrance Day services Tuesday.
To miss the chance of publicly honouring military sacrifice would have been to miss a crucial political opportunity.
Harper will use the murders of two Canadian soldiers to whip up domestic fear of terrorism and to present himself as a "steady hand." He claimed that it was his steady hand that guided the economy. But that line began to ring distinctly hollow. He needs the same line with a different context. Recent events have provided him with that context.
Walkom warns that we could be in for an early election:
His announcement that he will increase the baby bonus is a classic example of bribing voters with their own money. To ensure Canadians understand who is bringing them these cheques, the government is running non-stop ads that trumpet the new goodies.
The effort appears to be working. Over most of the year, Trudeau consistently outpolled Harper in popularity. Yet in the latest Nanos tracking poll, the two were in a statistical tie.
Harper understands that he has to act before his new claim about being a steady hand begins to ring as hollow as his claim to economic clairvoyance. He is a phony economist. -- and a phony warrior.
20 comments:
I have to confess to being pessimistic these days about our political future, Owen. The aspects of Harper's politicking pointed out by Walkom are power inducements for the unreflective, of whom there are many, to re-elect the Conservatives.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong advocate for public education, Lorne. He knew that democracy wouldn't work if the public wallowed in ignorance.
We have public education. But we have not banished ignorance.
That is right Owen sadly the general public wallows in ignorance that is how the "Harper Machine" , which is anti human by definition operates and succeeds....
We know that Harper will use every trick in the book to get re-elected Owen. Be it an early election, non stop advertising of his 'accomplishments' on our dime, electoral fraud and manipulation, intimidation of groups that oppose him or a myriad of other questionable things, the one thing that will not be high on his list is the well-being of the average Canadian.
I agree with Lorne about his pessimism. I am actually getting to the point now, probably from despair, that the mere sight of Harper or the thought of his re-election makes me ill. I get very nervous when I think that I live in a country where the populous could be that blindly stupid as to give these liars another mandate. False warrior indeed. Hiding in closets and wearing flight jackets does not instil confidence.
George Armstrong Custer was reportedly taken with his own image, Mark.
He spent so much time looking in the mirror he couldn't recognize the box canyon that came to be known as Little Big Horn.
Even though,six members of my family served in WW2. I chose to stay at home, with the TV off and have my own Remembrance Day. I gave special thoughts for Carillo and Vincent. I could not bear the sight of Harper's face. Poking through the internet? I was astonished to see, many people did the same as I.
I know our young Canadian boys did not go to war for, Harper to sell Canada to Communist China. They went to war to fight against, such as Harper.
Our Veterans loathe Harper and I don't blame them one bit. Harper has no right, to even live in this country, let alone govern.
It would appear, Anon, that Harper has turned Canada's veterans against him.
So, unless we take the time and trouble to enlighten ourselves, Mogs, we will get more of the same.
If our veterans hate Harper so much why are they so willing to march around before him, to salute him, to wave their flags and hail the dogs of war? I don't know a single vet who wouldn't vote for Harper in spite of how badly he treats them. Do vets like to be kicked?
Certainly their wives don't, Toby. Consider, for instance, the wife of the vet who struggled from PTSD and who asked Julian Fantino for a hearing.
You'll remember that Fantino scuttled away.
I was sure our prime ministerial greaseball would ditch APEC to get his mug before the cameras at the war memorial. Have you noticed how our TV channels have become saturated with various government of Canada ads lately? Harper squandering a fortune in tax dollars to pimp his government.
I don't know, Owen, but maybe the Canada we knew and grew up in is a thing of the past. To be honest, if that Canada is dead, I'd rather see my British Columbia go it alone. You might feel that way too if you had Alberta on your doorstep.
I feel that way now, Mound. And I'm further from Alberta than you are.
It's interesting, Rural, how Harper has billed us for his advertising tab.
And he has made a career railing against freeloaders.
"Angry veterans call on serving soldiers to help defeat Tories in next election" http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2014/11/12/angry-veterans-call-on-serving-soldiers-to-help-defeat-tories-in-next-election/#.VGPeHBGVusw
So where were these angry vets yesterday? Why didn't they boycott Harper when given the opportunity?
The truth of the matter will be evident at the ballot box, Toby.
Veterans don't attend Remembrance Day ceremonies at cenotaphs in obedience to Harper, but rather to honour the fallen, to reassure eachother that they are indeed survivors and they are not alone. They specifically asked politicians to refrain from photo ops and refused to take part in them. He has lost support in the Military, watch the next election.
I have reached a point when footage of Harper comes on TV. I change the station. I literally can't stomach looking at him, let alone listen to him. I found this years lead up to Rememberance Day (I didn't by choice watch The Remembrance Day ceremonies) with the Con's Ads of pseudo patriotism and the publics response in kind disturbing.I agree with Toby that the angry vets should have
boycotted Harper yesterday. We're they afraid of making a scene in public? If any group deserves to protest against Harper it's the Vets.Against real warriors they may even have exposed him as "The Phony Warrior". A missed opportunity.
I suspect that there are lots of Canadian veterans who also know that Harper is a phony warrior, Pam.
I suspect you're right, Kim. Vets know Colonel Blimp when they see him.
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