>>>http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/12/14/canada.martin.reut/index.html
>>>
>>>Stephen Harper, leader of the main opposition Conservative party...equated Martin's dealings with the United States on softwood to a kid who calls names but is afraid to fight. "He hasn't thrown a punch. He couldn't throw a punch to save his life," he said.
>>
>>You got that right, Dan. This one's particularly fractious because it was forced by the aforementioned Harper 3 months before one was to be called anyway.
>
>?? The government should have fallen last May 19.
>
>>I'm seriously thinkking of voting Green Party, since at least that ballot would be counted, as opposed to spoiling it.
>
>Harper's point is that there are people who act, and others who sound off about what they *might* do. You and Martin may have more in common than you think.
>
>In recent years I can't recall a better example than Paul Martin of someone who has "risen to their level of incompetence". Mr. Dithers was a good Finance Minister but he has been an abysmal PM and leader in general.

I have no use for Mr. Martin. That started with the way he and his henchmen went about displacing Chretien and continues to this day for even more reasons.
Harper, on the other hand, is now talking like every other politician - promising whatever he believes will get him elected. And you can bet that his first stated platform statement - to get rid of lawful gay marriages - will help him with his base but will kill his chances with those who might have been dithering.
I'd rather have a "none of the above" on the ballot. I used to protest "vote" by spoiling my ballot until I learned that those aren't counted at all.

Politicians have really done nothing for the average Joe for way too long now. Lots of promises that vapourize upon election. And we let them get away with it.