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[suitablyemoname]

Here comes the abortion debate! Everybody got their popcorn?

Yes, Harper has been effective at shutting up his backbenchers--and some of his frontbenchers--when they step out of line. (I see you, Cheryl Gallant! You too, Diane Ablonczy! And how could I forget Maxime?!) However, I would argue that this is a special case.On issues of moral

Comments

[sourdick]

Is it possible this is just the proverbial "tossing the dog a bone" ? Where Harper lets a backbencher or two or three take this position, knowing full well the issue has no traction nationwide, during a quiet time of the year, just to appease the far-right? Most Conservatives are most likely moderate, and Harper needs women as much as he needs any major voting group. He's not dumb enough to alienate females everywhere just for some rubes in the Prairies who will vote blue anyway.

[sourdick]

Fund raising letters are always about scaring your side into thinking the other side is about to do something INSANE.

This is a hot news story because theres NOTHING going on right now as everyone settles down for the holidays. After the first week of January passes and the country gets back to business, this story will be a thousand news cycles passed.

[harry_beast]

Chretien, it must be acknowledged, isn't an entirely unbiased commentator, and he and his party have a well established track record of prophesying outlandish doomsday scenarios if people don't give them money and elect them.
On the matter of gay marriage, however, he is being an out and out hypocrite. As prime minister, he failed to legalize gay marriage, although as an iron fisted majority prime minister, he could have done it at any time. Chretien really can't take credit for legalizing abortion either. Taking concrete steps to bring Canada into compliance with Kyoto is another thing he could have done if he, you know, he actually gave a crap about the "Canadian values" he suddenly feels are in imminent peril.