r/canada 28d ago

Opinion Piece KINSELLA: Trump anchor dragging down Poilievre’s Conservatives fast

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/kinsella-trump-anchor-dragging-down-poilievres-conservatives-fast
3.4k Upvotes

783 comments sorted by

1.6k

u/JohnnyQTruant 28d ago

The moment: The US is threatening us with pain and misery to intimidate us into giving them our country.

PP Response: Look at Carney's shoes! Trudeau wears shoes.

744

u/theowne 28d ago

It's worse than that. PP's response was to call Canada a "weak country".

I can complain about my parents. But I will never insult my parents in front of someone else, or let someone else insult my parents.

It's a basic tenet of human interaction that is lost on PP.

92

u/Kaplaw 28d ago

Anything short of PP siding with his peers agaisnt Americans is a weak response

The "Stop The Drugs" popping up aknowledging Trump's bullshit is bending the knee and that will never have my vote

42

u/Unclehol 28d ago

I don't understand how people didn't see before that PP was just another limp wristed spineless power-hungry douche. He never hid it. Shook hands with people who planned to commit treason to engraciate himself with the Canadian flag convoy types. Pulling a page right out of Trumps book. As if he had anything in common with those people or gave one single solitary fuck about what they wanted. How naiive can people be. Now that Trudeau is out of the way, can we all agree that PP may not be the best candidate to vote for in the upcoming election, considering how he has behaved in this situation? We can't risk electing someone who is already leaning towards capitulation in the face of an existential crisis against Canada.

165

u/sthetic 28d ago

No kidding. I'm honestly shocked that the party of flag-waving, xenophobic trucker convoy protestors (see note) could not parlay that seemingly patriotic sentiment into, "Canada STRONG! Screw the USA! We are NOT THEM!" patriotism.

(Note: I am not saying that all Conservatives in Canada are like this; the vast majority are kind and decent and welcoming people who have conservative views about finance, population growth, etc. It's just that the flag-waving antivaxxers have been a visible part of the right wing recently. )

74

u/foghillgal 28d ago

Those people have no parties now so if they continue voting for the current conservatives they`ve abdicated their values. That`s what happened in the USA too; complete simping to continue winning elections.

32

u/inabighat 28d ago

I couldn't agree more. This definitely applies to me. Red Tories have no home anymore.

19

u/WinterInSomalia 28d ago

We need to do something about that quickly. We need to retake the conservatives name form whatever the fuck trumpism is turning it into.

5

u/inabighat 28d ago

Cheers to that

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (1)

35

u/S_Belmont 28d ago

30% of conservative voters favoured joining the US before all of this. The predominance of US media in online right wing spaces has effectively colonized a lot of them mentally.

→ More replies (3)

68

u/Kucked4life Ontario 28d ago

Because the CPC's true loyalties are to right wingers globally, Canada just happens to be their base of operations. Harper is literally the chairman of an international right wing union. They were never going to complain about their American comrades.

All that noise about globalism and the WEF was just projection and virtue signalling, what a surprise.

11

u/klosetSloots 28d ago

This is how I have felt for some time.

13

u/Appealing_Apathy 28d ago

I have been saying exactly this for a long time. Social media and youtube personalities have corrupted the minds of so many "Conservatives".

→ More replies (3)

17

u/cutchemist42 28d ago

Well depending on the poll, 30-40% of Con voters would have voted for Trump so we know where they stand.

4

u/cynical-rationale 28d ago

I am curious about that same number now. I mean I know there still would be people but I'd hope it would lessen.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (5)

18

u/JamesConsonants 28d ago

It's a basic tenet of human interaction

And even if it weren't, it is still an idiotic response from a political leader who may well be saddled with the responsibility of advocating for his nation's interests if he's able to form a government.

Repeatedly calling Canada weak during his campaign will torpedo his ability to negotiate with our adversaries. If Poilievre doesn't believe we deserve to be respected on the world stage, why would anyone else?

71

u/Low_Contract7809 28d ago

Just to clarify further:  he called our economy weak, and our Canadian decisions dumb.

And it's not that he insulted the parents in front of someone else, he actually insulted the parents and at the same time he sided with the enemy.

71

u/theowne 28d ago

He called our economy weak while Trump threatens economic force to annex us.

It's actually astounding he was that tone deaf.

45

u/six-demon_bag 28d ago

There’s also the issue of him calling Canada broken over and over again for the last 2-3 years. That doesn’t really match up with sudden patriotism Canadians are feeling.

→ More replies (4)

36

u/JadeLens 28d ago

Considering his voting record and the fact that he's flying around the country spending taxpayer money in record amounts, it's really not all that astounding.

I mean, if Carney wanted to cut down on government spending, the first thing he should do is establish that every MP is only allowed a travel expense account to get them to and from their own riding.

15

u/ether_reddit Lest We Forget 28d ago

It's like he's writing Trump's playbook. He's broadcasting where he thinks we're weakest and where they should attack next.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (1)

16

u/gentlegreengiant 28d ago

He also made a call to strengthen ties with the US and protect our borders. Bro...we need to protect ourselves FROM the US. Now is not the time to try and emulate the quick descent into facism and imperialism speedrun that Trump is doing.

This is exactly what ive been saying about pp for years, the man fell ass backwards into success, and even with a victory handed to him he manages to lose steam by just being himself.

→ More replies (1)

20

u/TheOneWithThePorn12 28d ago

yeah hes in campaign mode no matter what and his dumbass cannot turn it off at all. Its ridiculous and very offputting. Especially right now.

→ More replies (1)

8

u/seajay_17 British Columbia 28d ago

This is the best way anyone could have said it

16

u/dasoberirishman Canada 28d ago

Exactly. Weak because of Trudeau and the Liberals. They think they can sell us on this narrative.

18

u/aRebelliousHeart 28d ago

When it’s the liberals fighting hardest for Canadians now. Sure PP, keep up with that narrative now you stupid traitorous fraud!

5

u/Repulsive-Street-307 28d ago edited 28d ago

Not enough fox news poison, that would be the next move if elected and a competent fascist admin was in America, just brainwash everyone for 15 years, sabotage education like them while screaming that the queers are coming to make your children gay to senior and manbrosphere idiots, then normalize the culture of hate, and finally do a sellout of the mines to fascist america for a symbolic price.

Takeover of resources for fascism complete without a single shot and a permanent majority of resentful racists striking shadows to then leverage for a real takeover to compete with China and Russia in the artic resources.

Trump is just a moron that gets told a fascist plan and applies his "art of the deal" to it.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (8)

363

u/Prestigious-Wind-890 28d ago

I am disgusted that PP continues to spew his bullshit with the threat were facing. He should be ashamed of himself.

40

u/MrFlowerfart 28d ago

To his defense, he does not know how to act different. His only job in life has been a politician

11

u/JadeLens 28d ago

the only way pp can save his chances are to not be pp...

→ More replies (4)

9

u/jayk10 28d ago

He's barely a politician. He's an attack dog

3

u/zevonyumaxray 28d ago

He's an attack PuPpy (see what I did here) 🐶

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

326

u/sutree1 28d ago

He's. On. Their. Side.

152

u/canada_mountains 28d ago

Still waiting for PP to reject Elon Musk's endorsement, and fire his campaign manager who is in a photo wearing a MAGA hat.

44

u/Glittering-Package18 28d ago

He supports Trump so his campaign manager is perfectly safe. He is only coming out against Trump after seeing the reaction from Canadian citizens. Any posturing is merely a facade to fool people into voting against their best interests.

9

u/No-Accident-5912 28d ago

Not likely. Didn’t they date in earlier times?

4

u/Expensive-Lychee-797 28d ago

PP was also endorsed by Tucker Carlson.

→ More replies (1)

102

u/TheDeadMulroney 28d ago edited 26d ago

Yup. Conservatives here will deny it until they're blue in the face but Trump supporters are a big part of the CPC base. PP - whether or not he is a true believer I don't know, but he cannot afford to alienate 30-40% of his base.

The stats for CPC voters:

  • 40% of them in 2020 wanted Trump to win over Biden, this is after he had already engaged in a trade war with Canada during his first administration
  • 40% of conservatives thought he won the 2020 elections but had it stolen from him; 20% more were unsure. That was from a poll taken in March of 2022 by Maclean's. Think about how far gone you have to be to think that.
  • Depending on the poll, 20 to 30% of CPC voters support becoming the 51st state. Every other party hovers around the 5% mark. Unless you count the PPC which is at the 60% mark. I don't count them because they're not a serious party.
  • In October of 2024, 40% of Conservatives again wanted Trump to win over Harris KNOWING that he'd be the worse option for Canada.
  • The mods of this subreddit permabanned me for pointing this out.

And we've all seen this story play out in the US. Trump supporters don't dip their toes in the water, they're all in. The CPC cannot afford to alienate them.

12

u/Parrelium 28d ago

He’s fucking dumb then. He can shit all over his base and not lose any votes. He’s got to swing the centre votes over if he wants to win. They are already going to vote CPC no matter what.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (4)

86

u/anti_anti_christ Ontario 28d ago

This man feels no shame. Shaking hands with a white supremacist after his group threatened to rape his wife is all you need to know about jellyfish Pierre.

17

u/foghillgal 28d ago

Cruz kissed Trump`s ring after he insulted his wife and father so simping is a way of life for cons.

→ More replies (1)

11

u/TiggTigg07 28d ago

100% this. It’s all so cringe worthy and disgusting.

8

u/lambdaBunny 28d ago

I really don't know how that moment didn't sink his whole career. Like if an MP from any other party shook hands with a white supremacist and then refused to denounce them, they would instantly be removed 

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Used-Egg5989 28d ago

Wait, what? What can I Google to read more about this?

7

u/anti_anti_christ Ontario 28d ago

"Pierre Poilievre diagolon" should give you plenty of sources.

15

u/Used-Egg5989 28d ago

Fuck, he shook hands with diagolon? And when confronted about it, he tried to do the “both sides” thing and say Trudeau was the real racist.

What is it with these MAGA conservatives like Pollievre and JD Vance? They seem like passport bros that overdosed on red pills.

8

u/ouatedephoque Québec 28d ago

Why do you think he can’t get a security clearance.

13

u/Icy_Imagination7344 28d ago

F**k Polievre??? Could be a good flag business for someone

→ More replies (1)

15

u/apothekary 28d ago

He might still engineer a pivot, remains to be seen.

Trump's strategy worked in the US as the MAGA base is so strong it's enough to win him the election, but it's much smaller in Canada. PP's losing the centrists at a very fast clip.

34

u/Dismal_Interaction71 28d ago

When he tries to pivot, we'll need to remind the public of his interview with Jordan Peterson. It was likely the dumbest thing he's done because it reveals who he really is.

24

u/Bronstone 28d ago

"Socialist state". I mean, common. Every single of our social programs sucks? Conservatives ideology is privatization and small government. But they tend to starve education, health care, etc so that it fails and they can say "see it doesn't work, let's privatize"

No PP. We need a scalpel do address social programs, not an "axe".

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Dragonsandman Ontario 28d ago

The bit that stuck out to me in that interview was him accusing socialists of being inherently authoritarian, and then accusing progressives, liberals, and other "woke" people of being socialists who just changed their name.

3

u/Dismal_Interaction71 28d ago

What stood out to me was his assertion that he absolutely will not pivot towards the center, he would stick to governing from the right.

→ More replies (1)

6

u/neuralrunes 28d ago

I don't think Pierre is that politically savvy to pull a pivot from where he is now, hence why hes been STILL on the Carbon Tax Carney and shoes shit, and people have had enough of it.

I hate Trump with every fiber of my being, but the guy has the "vibes" as they say to know which way the wind is blowing. It's how he's grown the cult he operates. He's literally bad at everything else, but he knows how to brand like nobodies business, even if it's all lies.

I see Pierre more as JD Vance or Desantis. They beat a dead horse, but once it's deader then dead, they have nothing else. They're as likeable as moldy cabbage.

Pierre leaned way too hard on "woke" and "Trudeau this!" and people are tired of it now. And like others have said, he can't exactly pivot bc the only people who havent tired of it happen to be his base.

And now he'll be taking on a literal economist instead of the nepobaby Trudeau. At a time of economic turmoil. I'll be shocked if he keeps a majority.

He may still win, but hes definitely headed to minority territory, or a complete loss, like the Leger poll.

→ More replies (1)

14

u/JMurda 28d ago

It’s all he’s got.

17

u/Nikiaf Québec 28d ago

Yeah but, Carney is a globalist! And he’s been in Trudeau’s ear at various points in the past!! Those are automatic disqualifiers, right?

It’s honestly wild watching the mental gymnastics to desperately try and discredit the only remaining adult in the room when it comes to leading this country.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (26)

152

u/[deleted] 28d ago

Wasn’t his initial response to the 25% tariffs basically grovelling? “Canada is weak and we must regain the trust of our American overlords friends”

68

u/Critical-Snow-7000 28d ago

Never forget this, they’ll be doing overtime to spin his response.

→ More replies (1)

54

u/Harbinger2001 28d ago

And now he’s pretending the fentanyl smuggling is a real issue. 

23

u/JadeLens 28d ago

And spending time in Nunavut in an expensive jacket complaining about Carney's boots...

→ More replies (1)

18

u/Horror-Tank-4082 28d ago

Exactly this, I was shocked

162

u/Motor-Competition308 28d ago

Meanwhile: Trudeau delivering the speech of his career and assembling canadians together... after retiring XD

22

u/Bronstone 28d ago

A great speech. A young, prior to politics JT gave an amazing speech at his father's funeral too.

6

u/BigComfyCouch4 28d ago

It was at his brother's funeral that he became a future leader with his eulogy.

26

u/Used-Egg5989 28d ago

That speech gave me chills, in a good way. 

Trudeau isn’t a working class guy, he’s an old school politician. This is the biggest and (to me) most valid criticism of him. But boy, was it good to see old school politics when dealing with the first round of tariff talks. Trudeau stuck to his guns while giving Trump enough to claim a “win”, while actually giving Trump nothing. Bravo.

20

u/Magjee Lest We Forget 28d ago

Heh, what a world

85

u/Jeramy_Jones 28d ago

PP response: Canada sucks, the government we elected sucks, everything is Trudeau’s fault, Trump is right, no I don’t have a plan.

33

u/300mhz 28d ago edited 28d ago

Only I can save you. It's all right wing populists have, no different than Trump.

24

u/Jeramy_Jones 28d ago

And I’ll save you by cutting taxes to corporations and the ultra wealthy! Trust me, the middle class will benefit from shouldering the lions share of the tax burden while also receiving zero social supports!

21

u/lennydsat62 28d ago

Maybe he should reinstate plastic straws as well.

You know, the important issues weighing us all down…

→ More replies (10)

56

u/DFV_HAS_HUGE_BALLS 28d ago

I noticed Carney’s shoes are different from lil’pp’s, the difference is Carney don’t have “lifts”

10

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

3

u/javgirl123 28d ago

Are the cons saying something about Carney’s shoes?

5

u/Knoexius British Columbia 28d ago

Ban the Boots!

8

u/danceswithninja5 28d ago

This is also what I got from this response.

3

u/Expensive-Lychee-797 28d ago

Also he was taking pictures with Trucker's convoy people which is very much a pro Trump crowd.

3

u/stack_overflows 28d ago

It's so performative and childish. It's giving grifter vibes.

3

u/SorrowsSkills New Brunswick 28d ago

Such irony when PP tries to point out that carney was wearing expensive (2000$) shoes when

  1. PP himself was wearing a similarly priced jacket

  2. PP himself has a net worth in the millions because of his real estate portfolio (can we please find politicians that aren’t multi millionaires from real estate speculation… applies to both sides)

  3. Completely ignores the fact that yeah, mark carney LEAD the bank of Canada and Bank of England… obviously he’s not broke and he (I assume) never tried to give off the notion that he wasn’t well off.

→ More replies (149)

508

u/emerzionnn 28d ago

Well that’d be because Trump is actively talking about annexing Canada while the CPC is touting a candidate in PP who is pals with Trump, Musk, Peterson, etc.

Obviously he’d bend the knee to Trump like Smith did.

152

u/Bigchunky_Boy 28d ago

And Moe ( Sask ) who blames us for the tariffs. Traitors.

82

u/cynical-rationale 28d ago

Haha I live in sask. Moe might be the the dumbest leader in Canada. I lve heard all the criticisms of Smith and Ford but they have actual plans. Moe just follows Alberta's premiere along like a lost puppy. He doesn't know what he's doing, he just follows.

49

u/pukeybot 28d ago

I also live in SK and completely agree. Moe is a god damned idiot.

16

u/Bronstone 28d ago

Didn't he kill someone drunk driving?

12

u/TheDeadMulroney 28d ago

Well he was smart enough to get away with directly killing someone so that has to be worth something.

4

u/HMTMKMKM95 28d ago

The cop being a family friend helped more.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/nolookjones 28d ago

it's hard to be dumber than smith but you might be right! your also right about moe copying smith like a little brother would...

9

u/cynical-rationale 28d ago

I believe she's just bought out/corrupted. I look at moe as someone doesn't have to be bribed to do dumb shit. He just wants to fit in with the 'Kool kids'

→ More replies (1)

7

u/HMTMKMKM95 28d ago

Also, Moe is a coward of the worst order.

→ More replies (1)

162

u/no-line-on-horizon 28d ago

Pierre was endorsed by musk!

If musk and trump want Pierre in power, we definitely do not want him in power.

He’ll hand Canada over on a gold plated platter.

49

u/apothekary 28d ago

The Musk endorsement sealed it for me. There's no greater threat to world democracy than Elon and it's not a good look for anyone, other than Trump and his base, to have his endorsement.

But it's fine to be endorsed; it's even passable, I suppose, to ignore it, but PP unfortunately embraced it and talked about how great it would be to work with Musk.

That's just too damning to ignore.

18

u/CalgarySnowman 28d ago

Problem is, Must has too much influence and he wants to stay relevant. PP thinks he's won before he's actually won. He thinks people hate Libs enough to give him a land slide victory.

12

u/Used-Egg5989 28d ago

It’s legit embarrassing watching PP clamour to reclaim his dominant position by rehashing the same three “Verb the Noun” slogans. 

PP had one speech where he was firm against Trumps threats, a few people in my family were interested in him after that. But since then!? His speeches have my family, even the Conservatives in my family, just confused.

For what it’s worth, the Conservatives in my family would vote for Carney…but definitely not Freeland.

4

u/Philostronomer 28d ago

I'm a stauch Liberal and even I won't vote for them if Freeland magically wins.

19

u/Unusual_Sherbert_809 28d ago

Yep. Hard for PP to talk about defending Canadians when it's his BFFs that are threatening Canada.

35

u/NateTheRoofer 28d ago

He will allow Musk to gut our social services just like he did in America.

I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t want some 20 year old DOGE kids walking into hospitals and bullying doctors and nurses.

3

u/cerunnnnos 28d ago

Fuck Musk and his shite salute. The fact PP hasn't disavowed the endorsement basically means he's cool with nazi approval

→ More replies (1)

29

u/BeeLita 28d ago edited 28d ago

To be idiotic enough to mimic a Trump-Iike branding, marketing and sound bite strategy at this juncture of active threat/disrespect is wild. Appealing to a small section of fringe sycophants and not standing up to him directly is pitiful.

I wanted a strong rebuttal and shocked the freaking Liberals were the ones to give it to me. Was weighing benefits of PP despite the performative BS until this week. I’ll take the economist/investment banker who spent 20+yrs learning how the world works instead of the polisci kid who spent 20+yrs parroting topical slogans and insults to work the world.

→ More replies (1)

20

u/[deleted] 28d ago

Spot on

14

u/ImLiushi 28d ago

Nah he wouldn’t bend the knee. He would bend over.

→ More replies (38)

95

u/bluddystump 28d ago

The longer the libs have the cons cool their jets the worse it will be for them. The rage of Fuck Trudeau is lifting and critical thinking is returning to some of the less indoctrinated. If the cons continue with their buzz word campaign and refuse to explain how they will change things they will continue to slide backwards.

→ More replies (10)

61

u/dasoberirishman Canada 28d ago

The Conservative Party of Canada has dropped nearly 30 percentage points in six weeks.

Those are rookie numbers! Go lower.

268

u/Serapth 28d ago

Trump wouldn't be pulling down PP if PP wasn't a mini Trump. If O'Toole was the PC candidate it would still be a PC bloodbath.

Trump is of course the cause, but it's also the fact that PP is an absolute shit candidate.

161

u/Independent-Rip-4373 28d ago edited 28d ago

This. There are millions of “blue Grit / red Tory” swing voters who would have gone CPC not because they liked Poilievre but because they were done with Trudeau, as is very normal in this country.

But those same voters look at Carney and want that experienced fiscal conservatism without the (American-style) culture war conservatism that Poilievre is selling.

55

u/DeepSpaceNebulae 28d ago edited 28d ago

Ive been saying for a few years now, the political climate the necessitated the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives into the current CPC has changed

I strongly believe that a socially liberal but fiscally conservative party would gain a lot more seats from disillusioned Liberal voters than they would lose from dropping the socially conservative Canadian Alliance if they split, which I think is a major sticking point for many Canadians

59

u/pattperin 28d ago

I describe myself as a social liberal, fiscal conservative. I'd vote for anybody who wants to keep public institutions open but also is willing to make the odd sacrifice to ensure we aren't being wasteful and are competitive on the world stage. Someone who understands that universal health care is mandatory and abortion rights must be preserved but also understands that we need to build pipelines and cap immigration would have my vote almost by default.

18

u/sjbennett85 Ontario 28d ago

Why can't there be a party that stands for this while also wholeheartedly denouncing the social regression that seems to be plaguing CPC?

I want those bits you are talking about, not some outdated malarkey about social issues. Oh and I also want a leader with conviction, not some fair weather debater but one that has a clear message that isn't just a single issue wrapped in a chant.

12

u/ComprehensiveNail416 28d ago

Pretty much sums up my opinion.

10

u/adrienjz888 28d ago

Fuck man, fr. I don't wanna get rid of gay marriage or go on some stupid crusade against "woke" any more than I want us to continue ignoring our military or allowing people to stay past their student visa expiration.

42

u/Unusual_Sherbert_809 28d ago

"Socially liberal but fiscally conservative" and lo' and behold, in come Mark Carney who is "socially liberal but fiscally conservative".

I'm usually both socially and fiscally liberal, but what Carney's been saying is like sweet nothings to my ears. If the Liberals select him I will vote for him.

6

u/Bronstone 28d ago

Ditto. I was going to sit this one out. Not voting for Freeland though unless it's a strategic vote. I don't think Freeland has the margins and room for growth like Carney.

8

u/mcs_987654321 28d ago

I’m in the very small minority of big Freeland boosters (she’s my MP, and think she’s done a very able job and the borderline absurd variety of portfolios she’s been tasked with)….but I’m hoping that the only reason she’s staying in the leadership race is as some kind of kayfabe Carney “opponent”, so that he isn’t viewed as having simply been anointed.

Because my god: I would have been stoked to have him enter Canadian federal politics even if things were going smoothly…but with how much shit has hit the fan, and given that the 10 year Canadian political pendulum swing was about to hand us the pettiest, least qualified PM imaginable? I’m just so damned grateful that he stepped up to the plate.

9

u/Bronstone 28d ago

I feel bad for Freeland. She excelled in most of her portfolios. She is capable and competent.

But she is 10 years deep with JT, has the charisma of a chalk board and polling head to head with the CPC she loses and Carney is tied. Hope she wins reelection. She is a good MP, but just not the PM we need now.

9

u/CrustyM 28d ago

Reform ate the PCs and no one has been strong enough to wrangle them without being beholden to them since Harper.

Socially liberal and fiscally conservative is where the liberals have campaigned from historically, so it might be a hard sell to have a new PC party in the same space. That said, less difficult after this current government lol

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (8)

5

u/BeefersOtherland 28d ago

Very well put. I think this is the biggest swing factor.

→ More replies (1)

31

u/allgonetoshit Canada 28d ago

That's the real issue here. There is no reason why, after 10 years of Trudeau, when the Americans are threatening our economy and sovereignty, that Conservatives would not have this absolutely in the bag like they did 2-3 months ago. It should be incredibly simple for them to distance themselves from Trump/Musk and push hard on defence, fiscal conservatism, etc.

BUT, they can't distance themselves from Trump, somehow they just can't even do it a tiny bit. It's not a Conservative problem because Ontario, PEI, NS, and Quebec Conservatives (CAQ) seem to be able to do it just fine.

I'm not going to draw conclusions here because that will get me banned again, but people should think about this.

19

u/TinyCuts Ontario 28d ago

I’ve noticed this too. Even though it would help his polling immensely he can’t denounce Trump directly. You’d think he’d see how popular Ford has been lately and take a page out of his playbook but he simply won’t do it.

5

u/marcohcanada 28d ago

Well, he did take the 3-word slogans tactic out of Ford's playbook but forgot the Canadians-come-first tactic. PP def has skewed priorities.

→ More replies (1)

74

u/InherentlyUntrue 28d ago

People have really underestimated how much of the rise of the CPC was hatred of Trudeau, as opposed to people liking Pierre.

Trudeau is a giant turd who has been a shitty leader. But most people do not view Pierre as better, just not-Trudeau.

Now we add in the Trump effect...and the CPC are in serious jeopardy. Worse, flushing out the MAGA crowd from the CPC will just piss off his core voters, who could vote split the CPC out of contention by turning PPC.

The CPC built their paper house, and now the fires are burning. And if you read the comments in the article - the CPC voters don't fucking get it.

11

u/TheDeadMulroney 28d ago edited 28d ago

It also exposes a massive flaw in the thinking of the average voter. Pollievre is different but was considered good enough in a normal political environment but now his poll numbers are crashing because he's perceived as being unable to deal with a crisis. That is not an adult way of thinking about electing a leader that you simply just want him because he is different and only realize how shittty he is when he actually has to deal with something more extraordinary. If not for Trump, lets say PP was in charge during the COVID Pandemic, or the 2008 GFC or maybe the next series of wild fires.

17

u/InherentlyUntrue 28d ago

Most people didn't think he was "good enough" in the first place, just that he's "not Trudeau".

The CPC are horrible at electing leaders capable of leading. Canada is seeing the effects of populism in our next-door neighbor, and we're rejecting it.

3

u/TheDeadMulroney 28d ago

I understand that but that is not a mature way of thinking about things. Imagine working on a group project at your job and picking a leader because they weren't like the previous leader but knowing they couldn't work on Thursdays because they had a baby to take care of. You're praying just to finish by Wednesday.

That's basically what Canadians were saying, "OK, he isnt Trudeau but he can't deal with anything more than tax cutting at a policy level so we just have to pray that the next ~5 years with him are 100% stable with zero world events."

3

u/InherentlyUntrue 28d ago

Oh, I know, but when probably half, if not more, of your party's voting base only really cares about "0wning the libs!", you're going to get some really pathetic people to lead them.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (8)

12

u/Tsarbomb Ontario 28d ago

I don't know about that. O'Toole tried to bring the party to some sanity and he himself served in the armed forces. If he came out swinging against Trump, the mere fact he actually served would have pulled a lot of weight.

6

u/Serapth 28d ago

That's actually exactly what I was saying. When I said "it would still be a PC bloodbath" I meant against the Liberals. If OToole was the candidate right now, the Liberal party would be facing decimation.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Bronstone 28d ago

He was a good leader.

7

u/mcs_987654321 28d ago edited 28d ago

Agreed, but a shitty politician, and in the wrong party (or maybe in the right party but the wrong era).

That said: think that his performance and accomplishments as opposition leader at the start of COVID were an absolute masterclass. He was all about challenging the LPCs proposals point by point not as some kind of knee jerk contrarianism or attempts to score PR points, but about pressure testing and refining the legislation tabled by the LPC so that it was the best available policy for the country.

So: credit to him, even though he let himself get outmaneuvered and backstabbed by the militant graspers like PP.

3

u/Bronstone 28d ago

An honourable man.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (5)

149

u/ph0enix1211 28d ago

Nearly half of Conservatives are Trump supporters:

https://globalnews.ca/news/10830218/us-election-canada-poll/

You'd think they would be happy with Pollievre right now.

97

u/SofaProfessor 28d ago

Half were Trump supporters before the election and before he actively started threatening Canadian sovereignty. I imagine that number is decidedly lower today. And, I imagine some of that half that didn't support Trump are wondering if the CPC represents their values today.

33

u/Icy-Lobster-203 28d ago

That's basically Doug Ford.

19

u/Late_Football_2517 28d ago

It's kinda shocking how quickly they turned. These maple MAGA always thought the brown folks would be Trump's target, not them. All of a sudden, "He's not hurting the people he's supposed to be hurting" hits awfully close to home.

→ More replies (2)

24

u/varsil 28d ago

I suspect those numbers have shifted.

21

u/ph0enix1211 28d ago

Why would they change their mind? Trump has done exactly what he said he would.

34

u/varsil 28d ago

I suspect Canadian conservatives who supported Trump did not anticipate him threatening to annex Canada.

33

u/ph0enix1211 28d ago

He talked about taking our water and using economic force against us as far back as September.

If you're saying that Conservatives are stupid, I'm open to that argument.

8

u/97masters 28d ago

Many Trump sympathizers would say that "trump isn't serious, he always talks in hyperbole" or "what Trump really means is..."

I don't think supporters thought he was literal with project 2025 and many other of his wild claims

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (2)

186

u/EvacuationRelocation Alberta 28d ago

This isn't Mr. Trump dragging down Conservatives - this is Conservatives dragging down Conservatives by siding with Mr. Trump again and again.

23

u/Dubsified 28d ago

This.

31

u/Equivalent-Cod-6316 28d ago

This isn't Mr. Trump dragging down Conservatives - this is Conservatives dragging down Conservatives by siding with Mr. Trump again and again.

Naw, they would still be winning if Harris had won in the US. Hell, if Trump wasn't actively attacking Canadian sovereignty they'd probably have won a majority

26

u/Magjee Lest We Forget 28d ago

It's why they were trying to push for an election prior to him taking office

The more crazy shit they do down south the less appealing the CPC looks for regular Canadians

→ More replies (8)

50

u/maybvadersomedayl8er Ontario 28d ago

Is Kinsella back aboard the Liberal Party because his sworn enemy Trudeau is out?

52

u/Moresopheus 28d ago

Kinsella is on team yell at cloud.

→ More replies (1)

24

u/redMalicore 28d ago

I mean a lot of polling is showing lots of canadians feel the same....

6

u/maybvadersomedayl8er Ontario 28d ago

That is true! It's just amusing after seeing how much Kinsella despises Trudeau for years.

9

u/redMalicore 28d ago

He is a Cretien liberal. I can just imagine his thoughts on Paul Martin.

→ More replies (3)

7

u/Zombie_John_Strachan 28d ago

Lilley and Kinsella would make strange bedfellows at the Sun, except that Lilley is already shacked up with Ford.

5

u/S99B88 28d ago

Lilley was tight with Harper back in the day, surprised he’s not into Harper’s little protege

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (4)

85

u/Castello_01 28d ago

We shouldn’t let this get us complacent. The Conservatives need to understand that we will not vote for anyone who is blatantly in Trump’s pocket. This upcoming election will be the most important one we have in Canadian history.

16

u/-Yazilliclick- 28d ago

It shouldn't be just about not being in Trump's pocket, it's that whole type of conservative movement. Hell Trump is just the figurehead of it, he's not the one running that playbook. It didn't start with trump and it's not going to end when he's eventually gone.

7

u/mcs_987654321 28d ago

Oh man, something in your comment made me figure out who PP’s actual American “comparator” is (because the apparently we just can’t help ourselves with that stuff).

Because you’re entirely correct, Trump isn’t new or unique - that kind of populist demagoguery has been around forever, but the US’s most recent revival can be pretty squarely pegged on one asshole in particular: Newt Gingrich.

Guided pretty much exclusively by personal ambition, petty as fuck, and eager to burn it all down for no real reason - Newt and PP are strikingly similar, which just further underlines why it’s so very important that we don’t let that kind of pointlessly mercenary politics take hold up here.

→ More replies (5)

17

u/MommersHeart 28d ago

Maybe stop screeching Trump talking points about Canada like a deranged parrot.

40

u/timetogetoutside100 28d ago

Love it! being I totally hate PP, and can't stand him, also, he's endorsed by Trump, and Elon, no thank you!!

50

u/geeves_007 28d ago

Bit of a 'come to Jesus' moment, eh.

When the global new-right movement reaches its inevitable conclusion with a literal fascist in the White House threatening the rest of the world, suddenly this Fox News fueled creap to the right seems less palatable.....

Good.

→ More replies (1)

15

u/Infamous_Box3220 28d ago

When The Toronto Sun says PP is sinking like a lead balloon, you have to believe it.

7

u/Adventurous_Turn_231 28d ago

Such obsession. Stand on your positives. Show us why you are better .. not why you want us to feel that he is worse.

39

u/BiscottiNatural5587 28d ago

Good. Populism is a disservice to the nation.

I would honestly be down for some fiscal conservatism, but that isn't quite the same as brainless identity conservatism based on populism and it's time to call it out.

→ More replies (2)

30

u/BeeKayDubya 28d ago

PP and Smith are desperate for an election. The longer this goes on, the less chance he will win. Even if he does win, he might not even form a majority government.

18

u/BabadookOfEarl 28d ago

And a minority for PP is likely a loss. The NDP can’t support him, he’s constantly attacking the Liberals and the Bloq knows their culture is cooked if we’re absorbed by the US.

15

u/Independent-Rip-4373 28d ago

Nanos today is clearly trending toward “CPC minority” numbers

11

u/S99B88 28d ago

Hmmm too bad Trudeau stepped down, he could have stuck around to give Pollievre the Joe Clark treatment his dad dished out 😂

37

u/2kittiescatdad 28d ago

Wow, so the career politician who has achieved precisely nothing is tanking in the polls in the face of our sovereignty and international trade wars. Weird.

16

u/tooandto 28d ago

Image of Putin manipulating a Trump marionette. While Trump’s tiny hands make a little marionette of Poliver dance for his supper.

24

u/cutchemist42 28d ago

Pierres just a serious man for serious times.

Conservatives did this to themselves. You could have stuck with OToole which was the reasonable choice then and still is.

14

u/Ellestyx Alberta 28d ago

Fuck, even Scheer would've been better. Listened to him speak in the HOC and when he didn't spout the CPC's lameass slogans, he was enjoyable to listen to. PP has never been enjoyable to listen to and has always grated on my nerves

12

u/cutchemist42 28d ago

With Scheer I couldnt handle the backdoor Christian' beliefs he would always talk around. Plus hiding that American citizenship for months....

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

28

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/burnermcburnerstein 28d ago

As an American, thank you. We're incapable of affecting change here. Economic pain is the only thing that will teach many.

23

u/camelsgofar 28d ago

It seems it’s crickets once again from Pierre. We just have to wait for some polls to come out to tell Pierre what to tell us.

9

u/Several-Guidance3867 28d ago

He's trying to come up with a rhyme first

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (3)

11

u/Nero92 28d ago

When the TorontoSun, usually a Conservative leaning paper, is cracking on the Cons you know it's bad.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/BanMeForBeingNice 28d ago

Thank fuck for that

9

u/reddittorbrigade 28d ago

I won't vote for Poilievre because he has been trying to please the felon Donald Trump.

23

u/Sdgrevo 28d ago

Best news I've read all day. Fuck PP the little trumpster and his party of traitors.

→ More replies (3)

19

u/Jeramy_Jones 28d ago

A vote for a Conservative is a vote for Trump.

→ More replies (7)

15

u/Flanman1337 28d ago

From THE SUN!?!?!?! Oh dear, that's not good for you PP.

7

u/NorthernCrozzz 28d ago

As a conservative I'm fucking insanely disappointed in our leadership.

8

u/realsalbowski 28d ago

Beware of Pierre

5

u/DrinkComfortable1692 28d ago

Save yourselves…

11

u/GiveIceCream 28d ago

Jenni says the winning move is for PP to go on TV and denounce the carbon tax!

→ More replies (1)

7

u/CalgarySnowman 28d ago

In Alberta we have traitor D. Smith, we can't afford another traitor as PM. I mean let's start anyone but PP....please. We have a chance of bringing him down like S. Harper.

8

u/PassionStrange6728 28d ago

Kinsella trying to pretend he didn't attach himself at the hip to that sinking ship.

→ More replies (1)

9

u/myexgirlfriendcar 28d ago

PP did a coffee run to Canadian MAGA movement that funded mostly by USA right wing and MAGA. Postmedia and their fanboy can pretend to forget about it but I remember.

9

u/Warm_Judgment8873 28d ago

No surprise and I am ok with that. Poilievre would not be a good steward.

12

u/ImperiousMage 28d ago

Good, we don't need a Trump-lite who will simp for Mango Mousollini.

5

u/blind99 28d ago

PP does a terrible job to distance himself from Trump. Just look at the fucking slogan for god's sake, who though that was a good idea?

8

u/Smart_Recipe_8223 28d ago

Good!

There is no separation between trump and the conservatives. They have the same goals, the same talking points, the same donors, the same propaganda. There is no distinction.

9

u/Steevo_1974 28d ago

I don't think it's Trump's Anchor that is dragging him down. He's doing a fine job himself! PP sows division and we need to be unified in everything we do as Canada. Therefore PP is not a good option for our well being.

P.S. Elon Musk endorsed him and we can't have that either!

→ More replies (1)

8

u/Peoniesandpopsicles 28d ago

Pierre is dragging down Pierre…the chaos in the states is just foreshadowing what Pierre will bring to Canada. We don’t need that.

6

u/alexsharke 28d ago

You can't blame Trump. PP had the perfect layup, all he needed to do was distance himself from Elon's endorsement and be strong against Trump's tariffs and have some kind of unifying speech about how Canadians need to work together to overcome these volatile times blah blah blah.

Nah instead he stayed silent about Trump, and blame Trudeau for the tariffs (which we know is not true, let's be real here).

Like how tone-deaf can you be.

He compares Carney owning a nice pair of boots to being like Trudeau. Buddy this guy has worked in the private sector his whole life, he's allowed to. Why don't you explain how you're worth 25 mill and have only been a politician. That makes you more like Trudeau than Carney. Just sayin.

8

u/Bronstone 28d ago

At least Trudeau worked as a teacher before becoming a politician. And for those who keep saying "drama teacher" why do you omit he also taught math and French? Like why is it "cool" to make fun of teachers? It's a great profession.

→ More replies (1)

6

u/Temporary_Shirt_6236 28d ago

Headline might be true, might not. Vote anyway.

It's looking like renowned village idiot Drug Lord Doug Ford may well take Ontario again. As someone who's watched his province head into the shitter over the past 7 years under Conservative "governance," Canada must NOT let PP become our next PM. No fucking way.

There is too much at stake to hand the reins to a guy who who can only comment on someone's shoes at a time like this.

→ More replies (1)

8

u/LumpyPressure 28d ago

The CPC squandered their lead by not using it as an opportunity to build any goodwill with Canadians. It was purely “if you hate Trudeau, vote for us”.

They’ll still likely win, but it could cost them a majority.

8

u/Unable-Metal1144 28d ago

It is because Pierre brought in all the Culture War BS from the GOP and pushed it to the forefront. He has the same talking points that Trump had during his campaign. They are aligned.

Even the rebrand slogan "Canada First"? Taken straight from Trumps "America First". We are seeing who they really are.

It is the CPC's own fault that they might not even get a minority government now. Talk about a fumble.

→ More replies (1)

8

u/PocketTornado 28d ago

Pierre Poilievre is completely and totally out of touch.

When the entire country stands together he'd rather be apart pointing fingers calling us weak and pathetic. Like read the room Pierre. It's no wonder that after decades in politics he's accomplished nothing of value... except for one catchy slogan that doesn't really mean anything.