We had a saying around our schoolyard – bad mouth all you like, but o­nce challenged either back up your assertions or be labeled a chicken. Harper is avoiding the loud calls coming from Jack Layton to meet him in a head to head debate so he may counter the muck being racked by Harper and his team of lemmings. As of today, Harper and his handlers are refusing to go head to head with Layton. Now, why could that be?

By Ricardo Rant
March 30 2004

So, Stephen Harper has been crowned king of the conservative movement – like that was a surprise. There was little doubt as to the outcome, although, pleasantly Belinda Stronach at least made it a contest. Unlike the Liberal nomination, at least there is an outward appearance of democracy at work. Although Bay Street’s new poster boy was not going to be defeated, they have too much invested in him.

The bone of my contention with Mr. Harper comes in his post-crowning attitude. o­ne would think that Harper would come out gunning for Paul Martin and the Liberals. Could there be an easier target for Harper than the dog and pony show that passes itself off as a democratic party in the Liberal Party of Canada? Well it seems Harper has had enough of the Liberals and is going after Jack Layton and the New Democratic Party.

Fresh from his stunning win, Harper has come out clucking against Layton and the NDP. Why do I keep eluding to chickens? Simply this – Harper is trying to say that Layton and the NDP policies would be worse for Canada than Martin and his track record! Content to just throw muck, but not back it up, Harper is coming across as a blowhard.

We had a saying around our schoolyard – bad mouth all you like, but o­nce challenged either back up your assertions or be labeled a chicken. Harper is avoiding the loud calls coming from Jack Layton to meet him in a head to head debate so he may counter the muck being racked by Harper and his team of lemmings. As of today, Harper and his handlers are refusing to go head to head with Layton.

Now, why could that be?

I would like to float this – Harper is afraid of what Layton would say, and how Harper and his far right policies would be exposed in relation to the pro-Canadian stance of Jack Layton and the NDP. From Jack Layton, “It’s time for Stephen Harper to tell Canadians why he finds peace or equality so bad… Given his derision of Ms. Stronach for not debating, I’m sure he’d welcome a debate o­n why fighting climate change, building better public health care or stronger communities are bad for the future of Canada.