Dear Doug:
Now I understand you and I have not been the closest of political allies. In fact, during that last election campaign I hear you, the supreme commander, considered me to be a potential problem. Maybe you were right. I did not always seek, or gain, permission to speak my mind. I wrote my own election materials. I championed the middle class. But I won.
You are a brilliant tactician. I am a populist demagogue. You are already plotting the next Conservative election win. I am a lowly backbencher – just an MP, and yet curiously proud of it. You are blessed by the party, and I probably am not. But it’s still my party, and I have been a Conservative my entire life – an MP twice, minister once, hell, even a national leadership contender.
My parents were everything the grassroots of this party stands for – workers, donators, constituency organizers. My brother and sister both sought Progressive Conservative nominations. My brother was an advance tour guy for Bob Stanfield. I bummed a ride to Ottawa and ate lunch with John Diefenbaker when I was twelve. I grew up, mobilized thousands of people, and led them to Parliament Hill two decades ago to take on Trudeau.
And today I am an MP again. This time with an agenda steeped in conservative values but topped with two simple promises I made a few months ago, when you were on the airplane leading the troops. I told people I would work for them first, party second. And I said I’d do the right thing, as I saw it, every day.
I hear you are planning things. So, I think you should return my call.
Garth
20 comments ↓
C’mon Garth…you have to give us more than that. Just what is Doug planning, and more importantly, just how will it impact you?
Garth
Plans plans plans … Sounds a bit sinister! Keep doing what you are doing and don’t worry to much about the “Dougs” of the World. They tend to “come and go.” It sounds like Doug works for the machine …The machine always gets tired and bored of the “Dougs” and eventually spits them out.
Dear Mr. Turner:
I totally agree with you about the inappropriateness of politicians diverting their meal allowance to pay their mortgages. It appears to me, if politicians have bought a home in Ottawa, they should not be getting any meal allowance, since they have a primary residence in Ottawa and I would think this would not qualify them for a meal allowance. I would go a step further, I would eliminate all meal allowances. Whether you are in Ottawa or elsewhere, you have to feed yourself. Most people who work do not get the opportunity to go home to eat. They do not get a meal allowance. Likewise, Politicians should not get a meal allowance. I commend your stand on this issue and I support your position in calling for the elimination of this “gimmick” where politicians are enriching themselves.
Well, IMHO, even if Finley is a great tactician, I would not have hired him. If and when the time comes that he has to be let go, you have not only made one political enemy, but two. And with the press just waiting to find a few dissidents (former insiders) to use as sources, this could be extremely unmanageable.
Let’s just hope Finley will last.
I hear you are planning things. So, I think you should return my call.
You have certainly aroused my curiosity with this statement. I’ll look forward to your next entry on this issue.
Garth, sometimes…somethings…….are best kept personal and confidential……
John G,
Keeping it personal and confidential is how we ended up with Adscam, the Income Trust scam and Reloscam.
You are wrong and Garth is right. Expose everything to the light of day and let what will, whither up and die!
Oh here we go again with John G. He is getting worried that you are going to do something to disturb “his” lttle Conservative world. Keep teasing Garth
What’s wrong Garth. Did you find someone who thinks you are less important than you think you are. Guess what….Doug is not alone in that estimation my friend. Not by a long shot.
Did you run out of flies to pull the wings off? — Garth
After working for the Feds, you cannot claim for meals if the event is in your City/Community.
Why are the rules always different for politicians? And a ridiculous amount of $75!! I thought this was what was going to change… but some things never change.
“I told people I would work for them first, party second. And I said I’d do the right thing, as I saw it, every day.”
Integrity is everything. Keep up the good work, Garth.
Garth, excellent move on your part to contest the MP population re using tax money to pay for their Ottawa housing.
Thanks for bringing it up and letting people know.
I think it is sad that this type of thing does happen but most people, even MP’s who are making a very good living will take advantage of a situation if it is offered. It is human nature!
The general public work very hard for every dime as you have said, if they do not cross the t and dot the i they are shot down at tax time for items not allowed such as the business man who is taken to task for claiming too much business luncheon money on his expenses. I have seen it happen and it was less than $1500.00 in a year.
I am not a conservative simply due to Harper but you have had the guts to contest stuff like this. Keep it up please.
Marty
Burlington On.
But it’s still my party, and I have been a Conservative my entire life
No it isn’t and no you haven’t. You’ve been a Progressive Conservative your entire life and the party you’re in now isn’t the Progressive Conservative Party.
And your party? — Garth
Would it be unprofessional of him if he responded via skywriting?
Can anyone here tell the difference between paranoia and populism?
And your party? – Garth
After the `04 election I wandered over to the NDP after finally accepting the Progressive Conservative Party was pretty much gone.
Garth, maybe he is on vacation?
I work in sales phoning dozens of people a day and I am inundated with people on vacation, most of whom do not put there voicemails onto vacation alert mode.
After the `04 election I wandered over to the NDP after finally accepting the Progressive Conservative Party was pretty much gone.
Gee Robert,
Thanks for reminding me that there was somwething good about the 2004 merger.
Robert McClelland, you shouldn’t be showing your face anywhere after supporting Deborah Frisch’s death threats shown here:
http://www.stevejanke.com/archives/185515.php
I think Doug Finley – whomever (or is it whoever?) he is – has probably arranged to take over Garth’s EDA en route to having a replacement candidate ready for the next election.
Since Garth is so incredibly popular, he could run as an Independent and still win.
Somewhat like Joementum in Connecticut. But, we’ll probably call it Garth-o-Rama instead.
Since Garth is so incredibly popular, he could run as an Independent and still win.
True. Or he could join the good guys on the NDP. As I’ve discovered, they are quite compatible with Progressive Conservative values.