>>>SNIP
>>SNIP
SNIP
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>>>Can you give examples?
>>
>>Here's some:
>>Visiting air base at Trenton ON: "Conservative leader Stephen Harper today announced that a new Conservative government will significantly increase defence spending as part of a “Canada First” defence strategy. Part of the new strategy will involve enhancing Canadian sovereignty by acquiring strategic lift aircraft, creating a new airborne battalion, and doubling the size of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). "
>>Visiting an arena in Buckingham PQ:"In a campaign promise targeted toward young Canadian families, the Conservatives are saying they will extend tax breaks for parents who register their children in sports and other physical activities "
>>Visiting Petty Harbour NL:"Harper said the Conservative party supports custodial management, which would see the federal government extend its jurisdiction over parts of the Grand Banks that lie outside Canada's 200-mile limit."
>
>You're giving these as examples of "lack of principles". Do you think these policies are wrong or do you just object to when they were delivered? Should Harper announce military spending during child care conferences? What is the "principled" way to do this?

Did you hear Mr. Harper mention either the 200 mile limit or tax breaks for kids sports in the "debate" tonight? I didn't.
Like the Liberals, he's telling them what they want to hear when he's at some place.
I would think that the principled way to announce platform details is when you announce the platform, then stick with the platform as stated. Not just say what might interest the current gathering and then forget all about it 20 minutes later.

>
SNIP
>
>That qualifies as a "fine whine" :)

My specialty. < s >

I must disagree with your statement that the east seems to forget all about the west (in your reply to RodP of Montreal).
I would say that as far as recognition/power in Ottawa, amongst the politicians, you have a point. I attribute that (not that I think its right at all) to "the east" being largely, even today, the place where business is concentrated and so the lobbyists' (who are there for business purposes to get favours for themselves) "wins" favour the east.
BUT when it comes to "the people" forgetting about the west I'm feeling quite sure that you're way way off.
Why wouldn't I forget about Quebec or New Brunswick or little old PEI more easily, or at least just as easily. No, I feel comfortable that virtually all eastern Canadians feel that BCans and ABans and YTers etc are every bit as much part of the family as NLders or NStians etc.

Basically the system is broken. Every election we get the pretense that we are listened to and right after the election the same old crap happens in Ottawa. NOTHING tangible is done FOR THE PEOPLE. They're still talking about setting standards for health care wait times, more than a year after it was first raised, for god's sake!!! My roads are getting worse. The post office is out of control. UI is no longer UI. School is putting grads into debt for years to come. The military gets promises that are forgotten. We have a pretend Kyoto commitment. Our citizens abroad get virtually no support. Immigrants are qualified on bases that have no relationship to reality. CRAP all around.