Is it possible that "Steve" is a victim of the Peter Principle? It basically asserts the following:

"The Peter Principle is a theory originated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter. It states that successful members of a hierarchical organization are eventually promoted to their highest level of competence, after which further promotion raises them to a level at which they are not competent."

There is no need to elaborate further, but the "job" of a Prime Minister requires some basic personality qualities, one of which is being comfortable rather than awkward when dealing with the public and when confronted by the press with unrehearsed questions.

Not everybody has an outgoing, gregarious and sharp-witted nature. Robert Stanfield always looked as uncomfortable, unsure and "lost" as PM as "Steve" does - to me anyways, sorry.

They have Bush and we have Shrub. It would not be good for business if the Canadian Prime Minister stood up against the Americans. There is about as much a chance of that happening as Shrub using this issue to tear up the NAFTA agreement which is bad for Canada to begin with. Don't expect this Prime Minister to suddenly switch his priorities from supporting the (American) economy to supporting Canadaian society. He is as Neocon as they get.

I think one sentence Bush used to describe his meeting with 'Steve' says it all.

I'm paraphrasing because this was a week ago, but when asked how things went Bush replied, 'well I can't wait to see the belt buckle everyone tells me Steve got me for my birthday, and (looking at Harpers belly) I hope it fits'.

Basically my read of that is Bush thinks Harper takes too much credit with out actually comming through with the delivery, and that harper has a fat rump. Its a nice way of saying thanks, but no thanks when it comes to dealing with Harpers issues.

I read that Harper sold out for Bush and played it up as if he and Bush were on the same page and Bush slapped him down. Harper was left with his tail between his legs in the end.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is dealing with a powerful country. And he is new to the job. Wouldn't he perform better with your encouragement and support, rather than criticizing him and making fun of him.

Why not help him develop a powerful lobby group who can begin strategizing how to regain some of the control and authority that previous governments have given up?

He doesn't have all of the answers. He doesn't have all of solutions to make everyone happy. He sure isn't perfect, but he is our Prime Minister and deserves our respect, our support, our encouragement.

He holds the highest office in the country and yet our citizens feel the need to rant and rave their criticisms about him. I can only hope that each of you don't live in glass houses.

Anybody know what grace is? Chester

Every politician's fondest wish: Docile adoring citizens, afraid to notice shortcomings, in awe of the importance of the office.

Grace?

Ask ex-Prime Minister Paul Martin if he was treated with "grace" before and during the recent election campaign.

Considering that he had nothing to do with the sponsorship scandal he was treated rather disgracefully, in many peoples' opinion.

How does docile enter into an issue about respect?

I understand how difficult it can be when a person or a party gets elected that does not represent your views.

I also understand how disappointing it is when your elected representative isn't doing what you had hoped.

I am however, more hopeful of our future prospects with PM Harper at the helm than the previous Honourable Members.

I don't adore PM Harper, but I understand what he stand for and I respect his values. I don't necessarily agree with everything the PM, his party or our government decide. But I have a renewed sense of hope since PM Stephen Harper has taken office.

I can't say that I had much hope or faith left for our previous corrupt government.

And Grace? The most difficult thing to do is to extend grace, especially when it is undeserved. Chester

Take a deep breath and count to 10. This Softwood Lumber Problem was inherited by the Conservatives, because it was never handled properly by the irratic Liberals, who were in power for the last 15 years or so.

Any Prime Minister when dealing with the Americans has to take a back seat, this applies not only to Canada but to other Countries.

You soft headed Canadians acutally beleive that you can push the Americans around, when in fact they own 80% of our industry and we would grind to a halt if they stopped trading with us.

I dont think that their is any doubt that Prime Minister Paul Martin cooked a deal with Bush that allowed Canadian Forces to go to Afganistan, which in turn frees up American soldiers to fight in other areas (ie; Irag) If this is true we will not know for at least 20 years because it will be considered ***secret documents*** and held in Archives.

Try this one on for size all you great American bashers. When Prime Minister Lester Pearson critized the American War in Viet Nam and suggested that the Americans withdraw, the next time he visited President Johnson, Johnston grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and lifted him off his feet and told him **Dont you ever piss on my parade again**. This little episode was filed away in the Archives and only came to light to the general public last year, however it was common knowledge among the upper echelon in both the Canadian and American Governments. This should give you some indication of what goes on behind the **Green door**.

If business doesnt like the Lumber Deal then they can reject it. Thats what Emerson said and thats what they should do, however I suspect that they probably like it, and are saying otherwise for reasons we are not privy to.

Dont forget that you are paying GST on everything you buy because big business convinced the Government of the day to get rid of the 7% manufacturing tax so that they could compete with the Americans, and the Government made up the loss of revenue by implementing the GST. Oh' Sorry, I forgot that most Canadians were asleep, or watching TV when this happened.

**A vistor to the USA asked his host what was the noise that sounded like a thousand jet engines howling to the North. His host replied **Just the Canadian whining in unison as usual**

We should start up a new club called the *Whiners and Snivlers** we would have no shortage of people who could join up.

Canada's involvement in Afghanistan:

"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is an international stabilization force in Kabul, Afghanistan consisting of about 9000 personnel. Authorized by the United Nations Security Council in December 2001, the ISAF was charged with securing Kabul and its nearby Bagram air base from Taliban and al Qaida elements and factional warlords, so as to allow for the establishment and security of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai."

The ISAF has troops from a number of countries, including Britain, Germany, Canada etc. For a number of years (during the Chretien/Martin era) the ISAF troops did not venture outside of the Kabul area but since the recent return of the battle ready Taliban the role of the ISAF has changed dramatically from a peacekeeping role to that of being engaged actively in a fully fledged combat war.

It is the responsibility of the Harper government to ascertain that Canadians are indeed supporting the new reality of Canada being at war, rather than just helping to maintain an existing peace (which has already evaporated).

Recent polls indicate that there is not much support for any such war amongst Canadians.

It is of little use, in my opinion, to start a sniveller and whiner club since the total integration of the three countries of Canada, the USA and Mexico is going to happen within just a very few short years anyways.

A trilateral commission (headed by John Manly from Canada) is working round the clock and has been reporting on its considerable progress periodically.

It is going to be sneaked upon us the same way NAFTA was: we are not going to get a vote on it, it is just going to be implemented by an act of parliament.

The left wing candidate in the recent Mexican presidential election ran on a platform of cancelling NAFTA within six months and preventing a union such as the one mentioned above.

All necessary strings were pulled to ensure the election of his conservative opponent who abides by the wishes of the Bush administration, whatever they are.

Buena suerte, good luck!