My Point of View: Tories a distant 2nd to the “New Green Grits” party

This morning’s headline in the Free Press [Tories take charge] was way off base.

And the first sentence made me laugh when it said:

“... Stephen Harper (is) posting stratospheric leadership scores compared with his opponents.” (according to a recent NANOS poll)

“Stratospheric?”

Not a chance.

Even the 2nd sentence agrees with me when it said:

“With one in five Canadians surveyed saying they will cast their vote based on who’s the best leader the results give the Tories an extra edge.”

“Extra edge” from 20 per cent of voters doesn’t sound so stratospheric now, does it?

I mean, 30 per cent might vote for the leader with the nicest hair. Who knows?


[It ain't stratospheric: G. Harrison]

And the actual leadership numbers don’t favour the Tories at all - a story the Free Press missed completely.

(They don’t have my unique point of view. Or calculator).

Sure, the poll shows Harper with a slim lead over Dion and a bigger lead over the other leaders but when looked at my way, 54 per cent of Canadians - a stratospheric majority - would vote for a New Green Grits party any old day.

And it’s not because of Harper’s hair colour.

.

My Point of View: I have a few questions for Mr. Dion about CO2 numbers

I hope Liberal leader Stephane Dion not only continues his town hall meetings in Ontario as part of his effort to explain the necessity of a carbon tax and the fundamentals of his Green Shift program but makes it as far as my front porch.

And he might make it here to London - if he continues far enough west on the 401 after he’s finished answering questions in Belleville.

Though I agree when he warns “greenhouse gas emissions are threatening our relationship with the planet” I wonder if he and I agree with certain numbers.


For example, in a recent column I said CO2 emissions are not at the point of no return “unless industrialized countries such as Canada are unwilling to make unprecedented reductions in the burning of fossil fuels and stabilize carbon in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million, a point we’ve passed and are leaving in our wake.”

Is 350 a healthy goal?

Should we cut deeper?

.

It Strikes Me Funny: Mr. Dion is bringing his Green Shift to my front door

In my June 18 column I asked Liberal leader Stephane Dion the following:

“Will a carbon tax affect the price of bread, milk, eggs and cheese?”

I wanted him to explain the tax and Green Shift program as fully as possible because I eat hearty breakfasts on a regular basis.

To show him I’m just your typical concerned Canadian I also asked:


“What happens if I buy a new toaster, TV, CD, pair of jeans, shoes, underwear, T-shirt and new socks? Sure, I’ll look and smell better - but what else?”

Readers, it appears Mr. Dion not only read my article but in response to my brilliant questions is now holding town hall meetings in Eastern Ontario (e.g. Kanata, Cornwall, Belleville).

If he bears west another 300 kms. on the 401 highway he'll likely hit Deforest City in the next week or so.

Looks like I’m getting what I asked for.

I’d better go sweep off the porch.

.