So, here is the new face of the Conservative Party of Canada. Wajid Khan, elected as the Liberal member of Parliament in Mississauga-Streetsville, just down the 401 from Halton, in 2004, and re-elected in 2006. Muslim, veteran of the Pakistani Air Force, a 22-year resident of Canada, former car dealer and now political defector.
Mr. Khan agreed last summer to be an advisor to PMSH on all things mid-eastern, at which time I fully expected him to be sucked into the Tory caucus. Prior to yesterday’s cabinet shuffle, I thought Khan, not Jason Kenney, would be the junior minister for multicult. More than 24 hours before the actual defection itself, the news was being broadcast over the Internet. So, all in all, today’s announcement was no surprise.
Once Khan accepted the PM’s offer, it was just a matter of time, since a lot of Liberals viewed him as a spy within caucus and since, clearly, the new leader wasn’t going to put up with one of his soldiers playing footsie with the enemy. Mr. Khan had to choose. He chose power.
Some will wonder if the defecting Liberal should now go back to the people of his riding and have his decision ratified. I would say yes, except we are probably within 16 weeks of a general election, and it’ll cost the taxpayers $2 million or so to have a single run-off in Mississauga-Streetsville. Don’t know about you, but I think that’s a stiff price to put on principle, when the folks there will be voting again within a couple of weeks. Mr. Harper has six months within which to call any by-election, so odds are he wouldn’t even bother. But I am sure the two of them discussed all this.
Another issue is whether Mr. Khan should have to stand for, and win, the Conservative nomination in the riding. The answer to that one, of course, is yes. If the Tories try to skate around that little democratic detail, well, shame on them.
Now, the key issue we all have to reflect on is the nature of representation in our system. When Canadians vote, they have only one ballot but four choices – the local candidate, the party, the leader and the specific platform. It’s a poor system, but the only one we have, and our choices are screwed up totally when the local MP then decides to change parties on us.
Some may say I am a fine one to talk, having been elected a Conservative and now sitting as an independent. And they’re right. I, too, have some explaining to do – which I’ve been trying to accomplish with seven Town Hall meetings since my ouster as a Tory, local newspaper columns, mailers, personal visits and every other tool I can find to communicate with people. So far, it appears I have been granted space within which to figure out what to do next. My choice to sit as an independent until it becomes clear how best I can serve my constituents has won respect. Not from everyone of course, but most.
Besides, my party left me. Twice, actually. First by turning out to be a hard-right, theo-con movement which was not the centrist, modern and mainstream group I’d told voters it would be, and, second, by physically giving me the boot after I talked with you about the first point.
With Mr. Khan, as David Emerson, well, not so much. I guess they came to feel they made the wrong choice by being Liberals when they really wanted to be Conservatives – in two elections. Emerson left two weeks after the voters put him in as a Grit, and Khan has left now just over 11 months after winning a 7,000-vote plurality as a Liberal.
All of this – these two defections and my ouster from the Conservatives for being a differing voice from within – have to give voters pause about the nature of our system. It’s dominated by party machines who, during elections, pound each other to a pulp, telling Canadians they have totally different visions for the country. But once the voting is done, it’s all about power and position. Mr. Khan is useful for Tory inroads and votes in the GTA, and the Muslim community. Mr. Emerson was a pipeline into Vancouver and the lumber industry. Garth Turner had not drunk enough Stephen Harper Kool-Aid.
Feeling cynical? Man, you have cause.
59 comments ↓
Mr. Emerson still hasn’t spoken to his constituency in Kingsway, Vancouver. Power corrupts – doesn’t matter what party. Same old, blah, blah, blah! Mr. Khan needs to get rid of the rug on his head – such a turnoff to women – he looks old fashioned which he his! I thought they got rid of these things 30 years ago. Surely he could afford a better toupe having been a successful businessman.
So Garth, do you still oppose federal recall legislation?
I oppose the clumsy, unworkable proposal the Reformers came up with, but not the principle. Do you have a better model? — Garth
Don’t Drink the Kool-aid Garth!- remember Jim Jones and Jonestown? – you don’t want to go there. LOL
Defections happen all too often. It becomes less of a surprise to voters as time goes on.
Democratic reform seems more of a concept than ever – for elections and political party nominations. If parties don’t change, then how do we expect to want to embrace change?
No party has the guts to propose change because they are all guilty of floor crossing. They do not elect all their candidates democratically, some hand pick candidates and force others out (right, Garth?). Liberals will no doubt “socially engineer” their candidate pool by hand picking people based on gender, ethinicity or “star candidate” qualities. Conservatives and NDPers do that too. Chuck Cadman’s wife wants to run for the Conservatives…there’s a rubber stamp nomination process waiting to happen.
Except for the Bloc, they never jump ship – not interested in power, just independance.
One would have to say that the voters of Mississauga were “Khanned” … excuse the pun … just like the voters in Vancouver Kingsway. Whatever happened to integrity !!
Cynical? With cause? You bet, on both counts. And the disgusting thing is that the new boss/CPC operates just like the old boss/LPC and there is no end in sight.
I feel sorry for those who voted CPC for reasons other than getting rid of the Liberal Government. Since I voted CPC to get oust the Libs, I look forward to the chance to change that vote.
He is my MP, though I didn’t vote for him. I don’t feel betrayed, just cynical about the whole process.
Last election, for the first time, I felt like my vote wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. What a choice! Khan – a “Liberal” against same-sex marriage (I am gay), Gill – a Conservative against same-sex marriage and member of a party I will never, ever vote for (I have voted PC in the past, so it’s not that I am anti-Tory), some non-entity of an NDP’er, and Otto Casanova of the Green.
Otto got my vote, uselessness of the gesture notwithstanding.
Garth,
Just keep your integrity and things will come your way…the people are watching!
We have had recall legislation in BC for some time now. I think the odds of anybody being successful in recalling any MLA is really low. A few years ago it was tried but failed in at least 3 ridings. I believe there needs to be at least 55% of registered voters who need to sign. This is a much harder task to achieve then people might think. We need to get some ethics in our Parliment so that elected MPs cannot party jump when it suits them. I think that the reson Mr Kahn was not given a cabinet position is it being so close to an election the the PM didn’t want the contraversy to follow him. By Mr Kahn announcing his move today the PM can look like this was Mr. Kahn decision entirely but I would expect to see Mr. Kahn in the next Conservative cabinet if he is re-elected and the Conservatives win anothe minority. If Mr. Kahn is not re-elected we will probably be seeing the new ambassoder of Pakistan being announced shortly after if the Conservatives win again. My thoughts
I will tell you one thing that is for sure, George Bush was a much better environment minister than Stephane Dion
Thanks for the Memories! courtesy of Dr. Dawg’s blog!
One of many reasons government must be transparent and publically accountable with integrity!
I oppose the clumsy, unworkable proposal the Reformers came up with, but not the principle. Do you have a better model?
This is a good report on the recall process in B.C. Elections BC Report (Warning PDF)
There are a few problems imho with the B.C recall legislation, not the least of which is that a member cannot be recalled during the first 18 months following their election.
This provision is included as a type of sour-grapes condition but should be exempted under certain conditions like a) floor crossing or b) resignation or outster from their party.
Some people (not you) are kicked out of the party with good reason; and the people in their riding should get a chance to petition for their recall.
It also requires WAY too many signatures (40% of the registered voters).
I’d rather see it be like 25% — and having that force a bi-election in conditions where a) the member has left his party and b) the party whom was left wishes to run another candidate in a bi-election.
It’s not about getting rid of the member for their unpopular descisions — its about ensuring that the electorate is fairly represented.
I do agree with this report though, that recall should not be an electoral process, and the member should not lose his seat in the interim until a bi-election can be properly held.
There are also a lot of other good ideas in this report and it explains a lot about how other jurrisdictions handle recall.
In the end – it’s time for voters to be represented – especially in floor-crossing situations.
Wajid was effectively kicked out of caucus by Mr. Dion, he was told to either discontinue helping his country by being the special envoy on Middle Eastern affairs, or he could leave, and Mr Khan chose principle over partisanshipship, something you should learn a little bit about.
One thing I am not sure is whether it was Khan that changed or the Liberal party that changed. The Liberal party lead by Martin that for which Khan was elected as an MP is different from teh Diaon lead Liberal party of today. That’s omething to be considered too.
To be true to my criticism to Garth, while as a Conservative platform supporter I am happy Khan switched, I still am against floor-crossing. Once you are elected under a party banner, you either stay under that banner or resign, no floor crossing, no going independent.
Mark,
He can tell it to the voters. I don’t believe it, I don’t buy it. Just because you can’t work with the Liberals you don’t just turn Conservative. The two are polar opposites.
He could very well have done as Garth did and decided to remain independant if he didn’t like Dion’s leadership.
Instead, he chose to defect and for this he’ll be outta the HoC after the next election.
Garth – something really smells here. I have to wonder, if Harper is rewarding loyalty and good work why has James Moore been left out?
There are only a few Conservative MP’s I could respect or tolerate and none of them get positions? Why?
It would look good on Harper if James Moore crossed (dreaming I am) but I’d love to see it.
Garth,
Here is a good idea for legislation…call it an ‘Accountability Act’
Chase the thrill, but pay the bill
It brought to mind the idea that people who cross the aisle have violated their committment, and should there be such a violation, rather than staying with their party of election or going independent, until the next election, and finding some real kahunas of speaking their own mind, they, too, should have to pay the bill for the thrill. Maybe make the party that takes them pay for the bi-election?
I doubt there would be many more Belindas, Emersons, or Wajid!
As to Dion’s ultimatum, he was right by the current standards, but wrong in the long run. I would truly like to see more bi-partisanism in Ottawa…that is how good ideas get put into use.
“First by turning out to be a hard-right, theo-con movement which was not the centrist, modern and mainstream group I’d told voters it would be….”
Now you’re just makin’ stuff up.
I think Khan is done next election. He won’t get the Muslim vote due to the realtively pro-US (and aggressive supporters of Israel) stance of the Conservatives. The Libs will put another Muslim in and take it again.
As for by-elections, I agree that the timing right now doesn’t make sense. Also, I agree with garth that becasue he was kciked out of the party (as opposed to quit) he has no obligation to resign and seek a by-election, especially since he has been so engaging with constituents since that time.
Mr Khan was kicked out by Dion??? LOL, now there is a stretch of the truth if I ever heard on. No, Mr, Khan was ask to make a choice for which party he was going to work with, and he CHOOSE to cross the floor, willingly. While Garth was most definately kick out. See the difference Mark, and I don’t think partisanship had anything to do with it. Also to accuse Garth Turner of choosing partisanship over principle is insulting. It was Harper that partisanship over principle when he had Garth removed.
Stupid kool-aid drinker.
“Wajid was effectively kicked out of caucus by Mr. Dion, he was told to either discontinue helping his country by being the special envoy on Middle Eastern affairs, or he could leave, and Mr Khan chose principle over partisanshipship, something you should learn a little bit about. ”
WHAT are you insane!
That is why Garth is an independent! Sheesh do you not read. Even if you don’t agree with how Garth looks at stuff you can agree he went with his prinicipals as an MP to Halton over being a party member….
To be true to my criticism to Garth, while as a Conservative platform supporter I am happy Khan switched, I still am against floor-crossing. Once you are elected under a party banner, you either stay under that banner or resign, no floor crossing, no going independent.
I don’t buy that in the least. I completely agree with the idea that no MP should be able to change parties, but to not be able to go independent? And FORCE a new election to a riding because they MUST resign? No. Thats a bunch of crap.
Being independent allows one the ability to serve his riding without giving up his dignity by going from one big party to another.
Floor CROSSING is bull, but leaving a party because you are no longer happy with their direction? I’m all for it.
Ya-But! Yabitty-Ya-Butt! Emerson provided the opportunity to give a $520 Million subsidy to the US lumber lobby to help defray their legal fees. Does that make you feel ‘reely-reely-good?’
But, and another Ya-Butt, there’s more!
We were also given the opportunity to contribute to the N. Orleans Katrina rebuild foundation to the tune of another $500 Million US. Charity, without a government-to-government receipt.
Now, let’s all review the bidding of the crossover guy. What did he sell out
for? Will we be entertained by another Musharref visit during which he claims that he has lost 700+ military personnel to the Taliban insurgency … and, if ‘you, meaning Canadians, are really serious, you should expect similar losses, because that is the nature of the conflict. That statement was made despite the fact that Musharref had made favouring arrangements with the Taliban vis-a-vis
border crossing arrangements from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
I’m not a ‘theo-con’ but I don’t have my head on backwards … EITHER!
Mark Johnson, I agree!
Since when does a MP’s party affiliation disqualifies him/her from working with Canada’s government?
Mr. Dion is not interested in working as a parliamentarian. The Liberal party and its leaders have shown that it’s not interested in working for the betterment of Canada – example – the Clean Air Act and the Accountability Act and now this. Mr. Layton at least rolls up his sleeves and puts some of his partisanship to work out the details of the Clean Air Act and and the Accountability Act. Shoot, in a minority, isn’t that what we, Canadian citizens and taxpayers, ask of our Canadian governmental administration.
Shame on Mr. Dion! Please don’t think of your selfish goals.
FYI: Poster Mark Johnson has an axe to grind – He was a young CPC’er that was drinking McVety’s kool-aid and trying to get Darcy Keene nominated in Halton. (Meethinks he’s had enough Kool-aid to sink a ship!)
Sara – you’re right, Garth stuck to his principles:
1. if it doesn’t feature Garth, it’s no good.
2. when in doubt refer to principle #1.
Stephen Harper is an economic liberal just as Paul Martin so there is no contradiction about Khan switching parties. He believes in “free” or capital controlled markets and enforcing capitalist values through the use of hard power. Harper is ideologically more of a liberal than Dion.
The main difference between Liberals and new Conservatives comes in relation to the role of government in society. New Conservatives believe that the prime role of government should be coercive in order to protect the “free” or capitalist market. The Liberals (and traditional Progressive Conservatives) believe that there is a positive role for government in society because capitalist controlled markets are not perfect and can create unnecessary hardship for society by concentrating wealth in the hands of a self-serving elite.
What has happened over the past three decades or more is that the new Conservatives co-opted liberal economic ideology and advocated the return to a new form of economic liberalism. Their anger at Liberals is that they believe that the Liberal Party has not been true to their ideology by trying to govern for other levels of society rather than the controllers of capital.
In what I do I have to seek out publicity and yet I’m shy as hell but I do know what a good reporter can do for my cause, in the end it makes it about the cause not me. From what I see Garth is doing the same thing!
Politics is a hard game to play and unless you have supporters you can’t play. The best way to get support is the media, that way everyone wakes up, has a coffee and reads about who you are in the morning. What would you rather Garth do knock on everyone’s door across Canada?
By Catherine on 01.05.07 4:19 pm
So bloody obvious as a CPC party hack!
You tried the same damned thing when discussing the Canadian troops in Afghanistan. You are SO READY to pledge the blood of our innocent sons and daughters without a public debate.
I’m onto you, sister!
Or, are you a sister/imposter?
Quite from Garth: “First by turning out to be a hard-right, theo-con movement which was not the centrist, modern and mainstream group I’d told voters it would be….â€
Well, Garth, as much as I am one of your supporters, we will have to dissagree on this one. I don’t think they are “hard right” and I definitely don’t see them being guided by any theocratic principles. I do, however, like they way you have a knack of poking the big guys in they eye with that sharp stick of yours. Keeps ‘em on their toes…
Best wishes.
The most ignorant post I have read here or elsewhere
“I will tell you one thing that is for sure, George Bush was a much better environment minister than Stephane Dion”
Must be some Yank without a clue about who is who or where!
You say the CPC is “hard right” and “theo-con?” Good grief, Garth! What planet have you been living on? For someone who claims to support Conservative principles, you sure do take a perverse delight in parroting the ignorant bile that the liberal press establishment continues to hurl our way. I’ve always thought you were a bright fellow with a lot of ability, but one of your biggest weaknesses, other than hubris, is your continual desire to pander to the prejudices of the media and the left-wing chattering classes, rather than acknowledge the great work that continues to be done by Canada’s Conservative Party and our new government under Prime Minister Harper. Of course, it’s not perfect–no party ever is, and neither is any government–but it’s not hard to see why Prime Minister Harper threw you out. At the end of the day, you’ll only get so far in representing your constituents if you refuse to be a team player. Happy New Year, and I wish you luck. At the rate you’re going, you’ll need it.
Well, same to you! In actual fact, I’ve sat in caucus, and you have not. I’ve spoken with Stephen Harper in private, you likely have not. I have knowledge of the backroomers who formulate policy and control the agenda, you do not. And I have seen first-hand the influence of religion on the Harper team, and I suspect you haven’t. So don’t lecture me. As for the “liberal press establishment,” I suggest you loosen the tin foil a bit – because there is no conspiracy. Finally, I have been a Conservative all my life, a two-time MP, cabmin and leadership guy, so no lessons to be learned from you on what a Tory is. And a Conservative does not just equal a Stephen Harper party member, believe me. This is not the party I asked people to vote for. And I regret saying that. — Garth
Anyone who denies that we have an impact on our environment would see George W. Bush as a better environmentalist than Stephane Dion. That is because Bush sees himself as being directed by God.
There is a major division within Christianity on predestination. Those on the hard right of social conservatism believe that everything is predestined. We cannot affect our environment and we cannot even be held responsible for what we do, if we are a person of faith, because our actions are predestined by God. The head of ENRON, for example, took no responsiblity for what to the company and ENRON shareholders because he had “faith” that the collapse of the company was God’s will.
These persons of “faith” see the hand of God in their actions (e.g. God told George Bush to invade Iraq). This kind of “faith” in predestination opposes another religious concept and that is the idea that God gave us free will and that we are stewards of our environment.
Mr. Turner
1)Wajid Khan elected as the Liberal
or elected because Mississauga-Streetsville respect him and know he will do the job for them
2)Mr. Khan stated that he consulted his riding before making up his mind
3) Mr. Khan respects The Rt Honorable The Prime Minister Stephen Harper
4)Garth Turner has not show one iota of respect for Stephen Harper
Florence, exactly who and when did Mr. Khan consult with in his riding?
Maybe Mr. Harper hasn’t shown any respect for those who don’t always agree with him either.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Conservative
Published by Shae January 5th, 2007 in Canadian Politics.
As is so often the case, we see the Conservatives enjoy masquerading as the moral standard-bearers in both Opposition and Government, but see a complete double-standard. I guess when Conservatives talk about values we should be asking if such values apply explicitly to Liberals or includes Conservatives, as well.
Today, the Conservative caucus welcomed Wajid Khan, the second defector they have accepted since forming government almost one year ago (maybe it’s an annual thing?). The first was, of course, David Emerson, who received a Cabinet position and made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t crossing for moral reasons, only to stay in Cabinet. They already made Wajid a special advisor to Harp last year in an attempt to begin the courtship process.
On November 23rd, 2005, the House of Commons voted on the second reading of Bill C-251, an Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act. The summary of the Act reads as follows:
This enactment provides that a member’s seat in the House of Commons will be vacated and a by-election called for that seat if the member, having been elected to the House as a member of a political party or as an independent, changes parties in the House or becomes a member of a party in the House, as the case may be, at any time during the term for which he or she was elected. A member’s seat will not be vacated if the member, having been elected as a member of a political party, chooses to sit as an independent at any time during the term for which he or she was elected.
So someone like David Emerson or Wajid Khan – the only members to have crossed the floor since – would have to face his constituents and get re-elected before sitting in the Conservative caucus. Voting in favor of this motion were:
* Rona Ambrose, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council, and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
* Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
* Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Secretary of State for Sport
* Jay Hill, Secretary of State and Chief Government Whip
* Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
* Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue
* Rob Anders
* David Anderson
* James Bezan
* Garry Breitkreuz
* Gord Brown
* Rick Casson
* John Cummins
* Barry Devolin
* Ken Epp
* Gary Goodyear
* Gurmant Grewal
* Nina Grewal
* Richard Harris
* Russ Hiebert
* Brian Jean
* Randy Kamp
* Gerald Keddy
* Daryl Kramp
* Tom Lukiwski
* James Lunney
* Rob Merrifield
* Larry Miller
* Bob Mills
* Charlie Penson
* Pierre Poilievre
* Joe Preston
* James Rajotte
* Joy Smith
* Myron Thompson
* David Tilson
* Bradley Trost
* Maurice Vellacott
* Jeff Watson
* Lynne Yelich
That’s forty Conservative MPs. Anyone think that these people won’t all be applauding when Wajid gets announced at the next caucus meeting? As Darren reminds us, Helena Guergis and Joe Preston even co-sponsored a bill to accomplish the same thing. And let’s not even talk about how many Conservative MPs (including Harp, himself) have railed against the unelected, inefficient and unaccountable Senate. He of course appointed Michael Fortier to the Senate, handed him the Ministry of Public Works, and then yesterday added Secretary of State for Seniors to the portfolio of unelected, unaccountable, and inefficient Senator Marjory LeBreton. They supported income trusts before they opposed them. They have completely forgotten about the promise they made on health care waiting lists. We’re still not entirely sure what they did on the 2005 convention financial books. Canada’s New Government – As good as their word.
http://www.lemonchicken.ca/?p=188
My comment:
I would say watch what they do, not what they say!
I so agree with Chris’s post…and your vitriolic response Garth should be a wakeup call to your constituents as to your “Me, Me” tendencies and how non-conservative you really are!
Vitriolic? I was hardly getting warmed up! I spent ten months watching the party I thought would proudly carry the moderate, mainstream banner of Conservativism turn into something quite different. Sadly, the thin-skinned leadership cannot tolerate debate, even behind closed caucus doors. Do not fool yourself into thinking this is a ‘Garth Turner’ problem, as many of my former colleagues are completely disillusioned. I lament for a great, lost opportunty for a great party. — Garth
Garth, PLEASE explain: “So, here is the NEW FACE of the Conservative Party of Canada.” DOES this heading mean that a dark-skinned person DOES NOT BELONG in the Conservative party?? Because, that is precisely how you come across using such terminogoly in your opening line/description/caption. I’m surprised that nobody commented on your continuing and open-faced bigotry. Instead of an Independent, you could join the KuKlux clan. SUCH A WASP. BTW, I felt so uplifted when a letter to the National Post was written by a “white-sounding-named” reader yesterday. He was upset about an article which accused tons of Lebanese who’d supposedly returned to Lebanon after taking advantage of the free trips back to Canada during the month-long summer war last year. The gentleman understood that the rescue cost $120 million. He said that he had calculated a cost of $3 per Canadian resident (taxpayer money), to rescue these people. He said it was the BEST $3 he had ever spent. Hats off to him. Yes, I hate it too, when people overdo our country’s generosity, but Canada has spent far more on gun registries, sponsorship, pig-barrel politics, politicians who steal and misuse govt money, blah, blah, so what’s a few more dollars. Guys like you HAVE TO accept the CHANGING FACE of Canada, due to the Asian influx. If you don’t like it, you CAN EMIGRATE like they did! Sorry….
You’ve flipped. I was referring to his Liberal face. — Garth
Irene
1) i believe what garth tells me
2) i do have a TV
3) i watched Mr. Khan state he consulted with his riding
4) i don’t call people liars
5) i admire the love and admiration that i see in the eyes of the Prime Minister’s children when they look at their Dad
Garth
really which door was closed and who was behind it?
Thanks. So, please describe how YOU think Liberal and also Conservative faces should look. Maybe also the NDP and Bloc. I am puzzled…..and you will help me decide which party to vote for. Is that fair? I need to “fit in.”
VICTORIAMACDONALD
thank you
isn’t it interesting if you call Garth on something he turns around and insults you “you’ve flipped”
when we know it is Garth that flipped or is it his fingers fly across the key board so fast he turns his brain off
Sorry Garth I forgot you are GOD
you have all the answers to all the problems and you don’t even need to cosult with anyone especially behind closed doors
your door is always open
Yes, on this blog I am omnipotent, omniscient and omnivorous. — Garth
victoriamacdonald,
How about the face of honesty, integrity, accountablity and Good Government. Garth may have his flaws, but he has been more honest and transparent to the people who elected him.
Oh and by the by, the Law in Ontario regarding Defamation are rather draconian, suggest Garth is a racist could land you in court and here in Ontario is assumed defamation and damages were done and it would be up to you to prove otherwise.
Of course Garth has more class and thicker skin than to worry about your slander. Now if he Warren,… well you be in court so fast it would make your head spin.
You just gottalove the CPoP party trolls, lol
Barbara,
the Garth “Me, Me” tag is a CPC talking point. It isn’t there, forget it.
I continue to be amazed at the double standards that Harper plays. For a man running a government elected to “do things differently”, he’s done damn near everything he ever bitched about the Liberals doing, and in spades. From promoting floor crossing MPs to cabinet, to implementing the TheoCon agenda by the back door or firing government officials he finds “inconvenient”.
Mr. Harper has shown us that he has two standards – the ones he claims to support, and the ones he applies to his own actions.
Yesterday it was the ‘Harper Shuffle’,and today the Kahn Khan. There may be a lot of dancing around the issue, but there’s an election coming.
There should be some mechanism, where instead of crossing the floor right away the MP would instead be forced to sit as an independent for a time- consult with their constituents, and then cross the floor.
-Laura
Garth,
I don’t think you should consider eating Florence. I think she would be terribly bitter!
I wonder how Garth was veiwed maybe just like ->
Once Khan accepted the PM’s offer, it was just a matter of time, since a lot of Liberals viewed him as a spy within caucus and since, clearly, the new leader wasn’t going to put up with one of his soldiers playing footsie with the enemy. Mr Khan had to choose. .
Well Mr. Turner he made the right choice for Canada, Mr. Turner maybe its time for you to make the right choice, as your environmental concerns have been addressed with a progressive Minister appointed, if you do we’ll probably vote for you again.
thank you Garth
you know i appreciate your hard work
glad to see you can take a joke
i can’t always agree with you but that would be boring if i did
i believe Stephen Harper is a great leader
not easy to be a leader and of course you invariably are not very popular
just watched the documentary on Louie St. Laurent one of the greatest Prime Ministers
he wouldn’t alow you to speak unless he asked you to
Garth because i care for you would you do a challenge for me?
Dr. Phil is big on this
Take this idea Stephen Harper is a competent Leader run with this for 15 minutes stress all the positives and only the positives
try to lose the negatives
if you still don’t agree o.k.
Religious believers in government?!?! SHAME SHAME! Garth, you’ve uncovered a scandal – some Conservative members believe in God. Call the police and replace them with atheists!
Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, and put out a private member’s bill to take God out of “O Canada”
“Garth keep our land/glorious and free”
What a sad spectacle you have made of yourself, Garth. Attacking commenters, slurring Wajid Khan, making fat jokes about colleagues – it’s truly pathetic.
victoriamacdonald on 01.05.07 8:37 pm
For crying out loud, Garth didn’t say anything that could be remotely misinterpreted as racist. Unbelievable! I can’t believe you would say something like that.
Florence on 01.05.07 9:06 pm
This is Garth Turner’s blog, that is “WEBLOG”. Kind of like the Captain’s log on Star Trek. This is where Garth logs his opinions, thoughts, concerns, feedback, and input. Garth allows a lot of people with diverse opinions to post here. Just try posting on some other Conservative blogs. They want to read what you say before they will post. They will insult you and publish derogatory comments if they don’t like what you post. Garth has the most open and compelling blog I have seen yet. He reads everything and he responds to intelligent suggestions. What more can you ask from the man!?
Garth, I so much enjoy the comedy generated by your blog. Do you (j-u-s-t a little) write some of your comments to generate this out pouring of silliness???
This baiting of the party hacks is s-o-o-o-o effective that it cracks me up.
I do not miss a day.
Oh, When the election is called, I WILL be sending down a contribution to your war chest. Won’t be much but as they say, “Every little bit helps.”
Ah, so now it’s a bunch of Bible thumpers that are responsible, is it? The God Squad and all that?
That’s weak, Turner, and you know it.
You are the architect of your own demise. See it nor not.
Your sycophantic followers who can vote for you are your only solace. Pity for you there aren’t enough of them.
Ahhh, such short memories.
Emerson flubbed it his “election victory speech.” He stuttered “…Cons ahh..Liberal majority!” Emerson was huzzahing the people that night, no doubt about it.
Emerson was already in Harper’s pocket right then, not two weeks later when he showed up for swearing in with Fortier.
The fix was already in, same as the fix was in when Khan undertook his mission last summer.
Canadians are awaiting the report he apparently submitted on our behalf and certainly paid for by Canadian voters.
Garth, please use your parliamentary pull to get this report(s) out to the electorate.
And please don’t try to play the hockey card as a reason to slow down Khan’s news of a Report to Canada
Sincerely,
LE
An interesting move. I feel Dion did put Khan into a ‘you must leave now’ situation and Khan would’ve looked best going independent but felt he might as well go all the way over at this stage (with an election coming quick).
How best to deal with defections? I say adjust the system in a fairly simple way. Each election give us a double vote, one for your local rep and one for the party you support. Then the HOC votes will be held by the MP voting once, and the leaders of each party designating the party votes. ie: if the conservatives hold 33% of the seats and get 40% of the party vote then Harper gets to declare where 123 ‘non-MP’ votes go (40% of the 308 potential). That way people won’t have as much reason to complain if their MP defects, the cost for the HOC does not increase (ie: we don’t get a ton more MP’s to provide proportional rep), and now we can vote for the party we believe in and the local rep we think can win (ie: strategic voting cuts back). Give ‘party votes’ to all parties that get 1/308th of the national vote (48,200 votes last time) – the parties getting to be in the HOC then would include (other than the obvious) the Green Party (15 votes would’ve been placed there) and no one else. The Christian Heritage Party would’ve had a shot (28k votes, probably more if supporters thought their vote mattered) but no others were even 1/2 way there.
Nice, simple way to make it work.
Its funny, laughable and sometimes ridiculous what comes out of this blog. Garth claimed he is a Chrstian and yet if and I say again, if a government prides itself on following Christian values, Garth is up in arms about it. Yes folks, another Garth conumdrum.
Spit it out: What’s your problem? — Garth
I did spit it out, but as usual you don’t listen.