Poll: 32% of Canadians Support Harper's Pro-Israel Stance

A Strategic Counsel CTV/Globe and Mail poll revealed on Tuesday that PM Harper only has the support of 32% of Canadians when it comes to his staunch support of Israel's military strategies in Lebanon. The numbers in Quebec are even lower, according to the Canadian Press. (The results have yet to appear on the Strategic Counsel's site).

Following a heated debate in the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday in which the minister, Peter MacKay, called Hezbollah a 'cancer' and 'cold-blooded killers' and took up so much time for his own blustering (23 minutes of self-congratulating for evacuation efforts, according to Alexa McDonough of the NDP) that (government-biased) invited witnesses didn't even have time to appear, the Conservative caucus announced that it will take up the Middle East issues on Thursday where Harper will formally address his minions.

The caucus meeting will also involve election preparation activities, although Harper would be an absolute fool to push for an election right now despite how some of his MPs would like to paint a rosy picture of the current climate.

Like anything else, all discussions are viewed through the lens of an election that could technically happen any time after Parliament resumes in September.

Conservative MPs look warily at the fact the Liberals have started to nominate candidates in the 308 ridings. The Conservative process is just starting this month.

Part of the caucus meeting will involve a media-training session to prepare for the next campaign, as well as an assessment of where the party stands on election preparedness.

"Because the response out there (in the ridings) is so good, some folks might be anxious to have one sooner rather than later," said Ontario MP Peter Van Loan.

Unlike a typical summer caucus where MPs meet for one social event and spend a day discussing business, this one has been extended into a full-blown, corporate-style retreat.

MPs have been encouraged to bring their families to Cornwall, where they'll have the opportunity to take boat cruises on the St. Lawrence River or take in a few rounds of golf. There will be long meetings of MPs from specific regions, and Harper is expected to visit each sub-group to hear their concerns.

So, while civilians continue to die in the Middle East, the Conservatives will be having one big party.

In between sessions, MPs will have ample down-time to socialize. The media is largely being kept away from the event, which is taking place in a government conference centre that has accommodations on site.

No wonder. The PR shots wouldn't exactly make for good electioneering material, would they?

Family members of the Lebanese Canadian family killed by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on July 16 were not even invited to appear before the Foreign Affairs committee. The death toll from that bombing is now 11 - 3 having died since the initial blast. In total, including the Canadian UN peacekeeper who was also killed in a recent Israeli airstrike at the UNIFIL post, the number of known Canadians killed in Lebanon is now 12. Not all Canadians have been evacuated from the country.

Note: CPAC will rebroadcast the Standing Committee's debate online on Wednesday, August 2 at 6AM ET / 3AM PT. Hopefully, they'll have the broadcast in their archives soon.

Update: Meanwhile, that other sockpuppet Tony is going on holidays on Friday despite the fact that his government is in the midst of an open revolt against his pro-Israel stance. Count on Bush to disappear in August as well. There's brush-clearing to be done in Crawford.