Stephen Harper has come a long way on deficits in less than two months.
October 7, 2008:
He also ruled out running a deficit during any years of a Conservative mandate, a day after appearing to soften his stance on emergency spending.November 22, 2008:
"I think I was asked one question whether I would run a deficit and I said no. That's my answer," he told reporters after his speech.
“...budgetary deficits are essential.”
In the second article, Harper goes on to tout his credentials as an economist. One wonders what kind of economist would, a month and a half after declaring no deficits and touting good buying opportunities on the markets, would compare this economic crisis to the Great Depression:
"The financial crisis has become an economic crisis, and the world is entering an economic period unlike, and potentially as dangerous, as anything we have faced since 1929," Harper said in an address.
Not a very good economist, I think. Or maybe just one who was running for re-election at the time.
Still, lots of bargains on the markets these days.
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6 comments:
Oh what about this guy does he get a pass hey? I thought so.
Dalton McGuinty hey? I must admit, I'm not a provincial Liberal and I don't follow provincial politics that closely, so perhaps you can help me out. Did McGuinty run for re-election last month promising never, ever to run deficits? And did McGuinty turn around mere weeks later and say deficits are essential, while touting his skills as an economist?
If so, then by all means revoke any passes he has been issued hey.
It seems to me when a Liberal runs a deficits they do get a free pass on the liblogs.But when the Conservatives say that they may run a deficits the liblogs are all over them. When McGuinty was elected the economy wasn't the way it is today. If the Conservatives would have said that they may have to go into a deficits during the during the last election campaign we all know what would have happened. The liblogs,Liberal party of Canada,Bloc and the NDP they would all put the fear-mongery in hyper drive scaring people left and right putting the fear of God into them. You know it and I know it that,that would have happened.Tell me I'M wrong!
I for one I'M glad that we have a Conservative government in power today going around the planet signing free trade agreement.Not to change the subject here,but how many free trade agreements have the Liberals signed in the past 13 years of power much of that majority governments,expect for maybe one? I thought so.
Hey TRIWIA, your "I joined the Conservative Party and I lost my shirt but still maintained high-horse deluded feeling of satisfaction" t-shirt is in. For a small subsidized fee, Bev Oda will drive it over in her limousine.
Did McGuinty run for re-election last month? Otherwise, all you're doing is bringing-up unproven alleged parallels to distract from the debate.
And you raise hypotheticals of things that haven't happened, where you say all Liberals would act such a way as decided by you, and use our hypothetical decisions that you've made to raise some sort of point of equivalence to attempt to excuse Harper's actions. It's all a very amusing house of cards.
For example, you hypothesize had the Cons not said "deficits no way" last month, they'd have been pilloried by the Libs and media et al. Perhaps. But here's something that isn't hypothetical, that actually happened: Dion said a deficit if the economy worsens may possibly be short-term necessary. And guess what? He was pilloried...by the Conservatives, until he backed down.
Oh, and free trade agreements? The Liberal governments signed many. Maybe you should do a little research and you'll find that out. Although what that has to do about budget deficits, I don't know.
Back, after all your off-topic distractions, to the point. Irregardless of what Dalton McGuinty or Paul Martin or Wilfred Laurier might have done in another dimension. Do you feel Stephen Harper deserves a "free pass" for abandoning his no deficits election promise after mere weeks?
To ABC:
To answer your question on whether Mr.Harper should get a free pass! The answer to this question is definitely "NO"! My point is when I look around on the liblogs yes you're right the same goes on the bt's in favor of Mr.Harper,is to at least be balanced about it. Because it is false to say what ever this government has or is doing is always bad. This is the impression that i get when I read these blogs. Like I've said the same goes on,on the bt's.
You said:
"For example, you hypothesize had the Cons not said "deficits no way" last month, they'd have been pilloried by the Libs and media et al. Perhaps. But here's something that isn't hypothetical, that actually happened: Dion said a deficit if the economy worsens may possibly be short-term necessary. And guess what? He was pilloried...by the Conservatives, until he backed down."
You just proved my point ABC.You don't think that the same thing would have happened to Mr.Harper humm?"Please give me a break!"
All of this said lets just agree to disagree,because I'm not about to go on for ever on this subject.
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