Dave “I want the truth” Rutherford. Not so much.
Girded against what trouble might come, I made the long and lonely trek through the mountains, and down onto the unforgiving Albertan plain. The final leg of my journey had begun. Many had warned me these would be the days of ambush, unanticipated attack and venomous opposition. I checked my ammo, pulled my brim down, my poncho up, pointed my boots into the wind, and listened.
Whack! Westjet Flight 12 landed with a grindy thunk on the tarmac in Edmonton. Thirty minutes later I was standing in front of a room full of people for my first Town Hall meeting in the province of booming expectations. We talked politics, money and oil. Coming from that group, and another at my second public event a few hours later on the other side of the river, was theme I did not expect.
Yes, I was told, the Albertan miracle is taking place. Yeah, people are making big money and most believe the oil-fed excess will continue apace. But the boom is not translating into middle-class riches. Families may have fatter incomes, but the price of almost everything has increased, and nothing moreso than real estate. House values may be rising, but so is the level of mortgage debt required to get one. Family savings in many cases are non-existent. Wealth, since it is tied up in homes people are not selling, is largely illusionary.
Alberta, as it turns out, macho, confident and often condescending these days, is much at risk from those government evils I am preaching against. Higher income taxes squeeze households more. Higher mortgage rates stemming from increased inflation and spending in Ottawa gobble up oil-fed pay hikes. And a real estate-induced looming recession in the US could dampen energy demand, depress volatile prices and send the price of a barrel of that stuff coming from Fort Mac skidding. With that, home prices – as is happening now in back in the 905.
So, people in this province might want to talk about such things. And at my meetings today, they did, along with the income trust betrayal, which plainly is a huge issue. Many Albertans I met also decried their Conservative MPs, saying they cannot gain meetings with them. Those who have, report their members simply state taxing income trusts is party policy, and they are helpless to speak against it.
That, as you know, is why I am here. It’s about democracy. Alberta has no opposition MPs, no politicians to champion income trust investors. Or to speak out for those caught in the hyperventilating oil boom who cannot find affordable housing, or are appalled at the lack of progress on curtailing gas emissions. Since Conservative MPs are not allowed to set or influence government policy, or argue their points in national caucus, or to differ in the slightest way from PMSH, there is no dissent here. Without that, more risk.
Wednesday I travel from here to Red Deer, then by motorcycle to Calgary. In the petro capital, the Harper heartland, I have tried to arrange opportunities for dialogue on the economy, the challenges of living in a boom economy, real estate, climate change and our growing democratic deficit. But aside from the extremely worthwhile public meetings, there are few takers. Especially among the media.
Chief woof among the Calgary poodle press would be jockster Dave Rutherford, who fashions himself as a soldier in the army of truth, but lately has turned Harper apologist. His website promo screams, “I want the truth… I have biases like everyone else and I don’t hide them. I think my listeners want to know where I come from on an issue. This doesn’t mean I shut down debate, far from it.â€
Well, not so much. When my Lost Tory Tour was announced, Mr. Rutherford used it as an excuse to rip me up on his Calgary radio station. Fair enough. But when Esther asked if I could come on his show and rebut, this was his response: “I have talked with Garth Turner many times, when he was a Conservative and then a Liberal and then an independent, I see no need to talk with him again just because he’s on some kind of national tour.†Hmmm. It was a good enough reason to criticize, but not enough reason to explain? So much for wanting the truth. So much for debate.
Income trust investors, those who oppose Mr. Harper’s do-nothing enviro strategy, folks torn up about social conditions or Albertans worried what government spending will do to mortgage rates and house values experience this every day. No champions. No debate. No poodles with the brass to do their jobs.
So, we’ll ride. It may be symbolic. It may not make MPs here care. It won’t score me a radio gig. It won’t get people their money back. It won’t move the prime minister or Jim Flaherty. But it’s something. Like my meetings, this trip.
Let’s roll.
40 comments ↓
Um… Cowtown on Thursday? Or Wednesday, as previously advertised?
Wednesday. Arrival, 2:30 pm. — Garth
Wow… forgotten before you’ve even arrived:)
Welcome to Calgree!!!
Like all CONS Dave Rutherford is a coward.
Thanks for the Edmonton showing today, Garth. I appreciate being heard by an MP, even if one has to come from the other side of the country.
So it was Rutherford after all. The only other loud mouth in Calgary I could have considered was Sterling Fox. Tools one and all. I’ve considered Rutherford to be nothing more than a bag of hot air spouting off at the mouth anything and everything to make Calgarians feel all warm and fuzzy inside or to invoke the fear of god in them to keep them in line. Got to love propagandists with an open mind. My ass…
Dave Rutherford does not want the truth, God Dave hope you are a single man with no children. One of the greatest gifts is to keep an open mind.
Well I am just a poor Senior Boomer living here in the defeatest East in a modest bungalow so Dave continue to stick your chest out and tell all who care to tune in just how great cowboy land is and y’all are better people. Hard to be humble when y’all are so perfect and know everything. Good luck and when y’all need help, we here in the East will help y’all once again. No thanks needed partner as you seemed to have forgotten about the last time the dust rolled through. Take Care Dave, not to worry the West is in with Harper. Right?
So little Davey won’t even try and debate…did he pout and stamp his little feet too?!
Rather gutless don’t ya think? It would have been great for the locals to hear you spar with him Garth…but then again you may have been up against an ‘unarmed man’.
Hope your motorcylce ride goes well and you attract some attention from the national media as you wrap up.
How many folks showed up in Edmonton? Would love to know more details on how it went.
At Rutherford’s expense, you just had a ‘gotcha’ moment!
It is hard enough to get your foot in the door for a Federal job, but once you are in, you can put your foot in the sink.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070912.ACCOMMODATION12/TPStory/Front
His website promo screams, “I want the truth…”
Now how did Jack Nicholson put it.
“You can’t handle the truth!”
So the poodles do what poodles do, nobody stoops and scoops, and this particular radio poodle has his head in the oils sands!
And Mike Duffy wonders why people think he totally Conservative bias – when he has radio talk jocks on his show – Adler, Rutherford and Sherman (now running for the Conservative in Thornhill). Duffy gets a glint in his eye whenever these big mouths trash Liberals and beat up on them. CTV is now flooding its airwaves with Harper, Mulroney – constantly. I’m tired of seeing Harper all the time so now will not watch CTV anymore – I’ve had it. I’m trying Global (I know they lean conservative) but truly they are a little more balanced.
CTV is a joke – very little news and a lot of boom, boom pizazz – cheap and garbage.
Rutherford, whenever I’ve seen him on Mike Duffy live always looks like he’s hopped up on something – twitching with that nervous chip on his shoulder – what’s the guy on?
Partner
Welcome to the land of boot-lick chicken-shit wanna-be-an-amerikan loosers!
Garth,
Dave has spoken about you on his show and indicated that given the issues that you apparently represent, they have been covered previously and sees no need to provide a liberal MP with more publicity. As well, Dave fully acknowledges that he is of a conservative bent – a fact that he has indicated over and over again. Of course those who don’t listen to his show wouldn’t know that he fully discloses his personal ‘political’ bias.
Ed the Hun
In my face and gone with the push of a button.
I don’t know about the rest of you bloggers, but I can’t stand Politicians on TV reading to me from a teleprompter at a fast pace like a used car dealer. Dalton McGuinty ads in Ontario raise my blood pressure. You have to love the internet and Town Halls to get to the truth.
Japan PM resigns
Russian PM resigns
…next!
How about New Democratic Poodles!
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/
Garth,
Yesterday afternoon, the highlight was the older gentleman who ranted against Albertans for always voting Tory. It was very nice that we all applauded. Well, not quite; two people got up and left. Perhaps they had a plane to catch.
Garth, you make a very good point about the media. It’s very disappointing that the Canadian press is made up of note takers. Do they even teach investigative reporting in Canada? For example, why has the Department of Finance placed business development restrictions on businesses owned and controlled by Canadian public trusts, but have not placed similar restrictions on businesses owned and controlled by private trusts or foreign investors. That seems to be a breach of the Charter of Rights, and yet no Canadian reporter has investigated. The examples are many.
I suppose there are two bits of good news in this. Only 30% of Canadians would vote for the Tories. So 70% are not fooled. The really good news is hypothetical: what if Harper and Flaherty and acted Canadian during their minority, and fooled us into giving them a majority. Saints alive, banish the very thought!
Garth,
Safe travels. Speaking of travels, yesterday as we jouneyed northbound on Hwy 11, just south of Gravenhurst and Walter Page’s Muskoka Store we saw, first, two brand new Black & White O.P.P. Motorcycles brilliantly illuminated with high intensity blue and red strobe lights on the front, and even more on the rear, zooming southbound. Then came two more, and then another two followed by 3 black limos, and then two more motors, and finally two stopping traffice from entering the road at one of the major gas bars.
So, as my wife and I looked at this motoracade of V.I.P. somethings (Vicious Ignorant Pissants is my definition BTW), we pondered who it might be?
We know it was not Bush because his entourage uses Cadillac Esplanades; Could it be the PM? No, he is in Australia; Maybe the GG? Probably not. The limos appeard to be Mercedes Benz’s.
So, I called a friend of mine who is retired from the O.P.P. and told him the tale. He said ‘Oh, that was McGuinty.’
It appears that McGuinty, if in fairness, that is who it was, now is wasting gobs of taxpayer money on police escorts for show as he campaigns? Then again, maybe he NEEDS police protection from the people he has pissed off so much here in the Great White North?
Regardless, the bottom line was to us…waste, and taking at least 10 Constables away from crime fighting to enable crime commission by a rather minor politician who really needs to mix with the people and get a dose of reality.
As to the radio jocks….their shows are all about them, and those who think they are hearing anything else, need to get a life. I stopped listening decades ago.
Japan PM resigns
Russian PM resigns
…next!
By Pecked to death by ducks on 09.12.07 8:15 am
Now, that is not nice to tease us with such a hope. LOL
Bill Muskoka – unfortunately it’s the times – nutcases out there – and so our political leaders have no choice – it’s not like the good old days.
Even the early PM’s used bikes, public transit, trains to meet and greet the people – it just can’t happen anymore. As much as we bitch about it, and as much as we may not like them, we certainly don’t want to see them hurt.
bearded MP on Hog
rare as a wet cloudy day in
blue sky country
…next!
Howard pledges to retire
(in the next three years)
By slg on 09.12.07 9:48 am
Gee, I wonder how things got that way? Couldn’t be our dysfunctional society, broken promises, outright lieing to the masses, abuse of power, graft and gifts, eliteist behaviour, unfair and wasted taxes, etc.
Oh, I know…it is Al Qaeda’s fault just like in the U.S., right?
For the rest of we pissant peons we have to face the consequences of our acts of stupidity. No wonder things are the way they are…no natural checks and balances left for phoney leaders. Just like at the SPP and APEC.
I am going to pray for the benefits of Mother Nature to render proper penalities. Attention all Seagulls. If you see three black limos with police escort feel free to ‘drop’ some in…aim for the windshield.
posted by Garth Turner on 09.12.07 @ 1:07 am
That, as you know, is why I am here. It’s about democracy.
……………
Another Liberal prime minister from Quebec is not democracy.
What the hell are you talking about? — Garth
The CON trolls including Rutherford can seek to dis-respect the messenger but the message you brought to us is clear. The policies the Harper Party has implemented and foisted upon us with the support of the Bloc-heads have put us at risk financially. By lying to us they have undermined our income trust retirement income and subverted our real estate values by raising mortgage rates.
These two things alone are enough in my opinion to get them thrown out of office because they are not Conservative(they lied about that too).
Now MSM is being manipulated to ensure there is no transparency or debate about issues like our environment or oils sands development or especially infrastructure here in Alberta but also in the rest of Canada. Fiscal debt is important to deal with but so is our large social debt which determines the strength of the fabric that binds us together as a country. Gangs seem to be replacing our lost youth programs. Families and the middle class are under attack because our market driven government doesn’t get it that multi-national corporations don’t care about people they only care about there bottom line and shareholder value.
We need a government that strikes a balance between the fiscal and the social debt, that protects the vulnerable and accomadates families and the middle class so that the values of our Canadian society are preserved and the fabric of our society continues to unite us as Canadians despite our differences.
Thank you Garth for coming to Alberta with humor and energy to warn us that if we are not vigilant we will lose what we have all worked for and have no legacy left for the people we love and should be mindful of, our children and grandchildren.
I don’t blame Rutherford for not wanting you back on that station’s airwaves, Garth. I recall Rob Breckenridge having to fill a bunch of dead air on that station after he asked you a question you didn’t like (and wouldn’t answer) and you hung up on him. It seems you only want to listen if you’re listening to someone stroking your ego. Your listening ears turn off whenever anyone strays from that message.
Probably better that you didn’t go on the air with Mr. Rutherford, Garth.
He takes the Wolf Blitzer approach to interviewing by pretending to be neutral while framing his questions in a conservative point of view. He would like nothing more than to put you in an impossible situation in which you can’t control the dialogue, can’t present your case and are not accorded enough respect to be taken seriously. This is the new “debate.”
Oh, and is your new friend, Myron, really your old friend, Observor?
Just wondering.
-R
I am going to pray for the benefits of Mother Nature to render proper penalities. Attention all Seagulls. If you see three black limos with police escort feel free to ‘drop’ some in…aim for the windshield.
By Bill-Muskoka on 09.12.07 9:57 am
Anything but that…it takes the paint off the car….!!!
Garth, I want a really good profile shot of you on that hog, even better if you can manage a profile shot of you and your team riding and rolling. I’ves gots me a photoshop hackery idea-do-hicky in mind.
Please, please, please. PS, a good 6 to 10 mega pixel shot would be great to
Liberals Launch Their Plan to Protect Canada’s Fresh Water
quack,quack,quack…what are we waiting for Mr Dion? are we waiting for the courts to decide the issue for us?
I see no mention of groundwater and rivers. What’s the definition of “bulk” exports?
Mr Dithers got the flock out. Fluff and slippery, green verbal diarrhea will just further contaminate our waters. Get the job done.
Follow the jellybeans.
Bush administration allocates $66M to ‘NAFTA highways’
Garth,
Rutherford is a chicken-shit. He won’t debate anyone outside his own poltitcal sphere because he’s gotten his ass whipped many times over the years taking on humble people. Like all big mouthed wannabees he regularly mistakes the humility and silence he sees in others as a sign of stupidity.
Myron: Are you proposing that each successive P.M. be from a different province regardless of the voters wishes?
If the next 100 P.M’s are from P.E.I would that suit you?
What do you mean that another P.M. from Quebec is NOT democracy?
Anything but that…it takes the paint off the car….!!!
By pjw on 09.12.07 12:30 pm
You mean the government actually cares about ‘Assid Rain’?
Can you get me the address and time of your Calgary Town Hall meeting. See you. Thanks
Mount Royal College, 7 pm local time tonight. — Garth
Follow the jellybeans.
Bush administration allocates $66M to ‘NAFTA highways’
By Pecked to death by ducks on 09.12.07 12:52 pm
Wow Pecked,
That’s one badassed link you offered up to us there. It crashed Safari twice! So I opened it up in Firefox.
Ugly, ugly goings on for sure, tho not in the least surprising. I wonder how many other bridges, overpasses etc will “fall down” in the meantime.
“What we are doing represents a real break from past approaches that have failed to address growing congestion along our busiest corridors,” said Deputy U.S. Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett, in a statement.
No S**t Sherlock!
Geo
Rob Wiebe,
Actually Dave Rutherford does not pretend to take a neutral position. He very clearly states he is of the conservative bent. If you actually listened to his show you’d know that he gives no pretense to be any other than conservative.
Ed the Hun
Dave Rutherford must be a frightened Conservative given the way his recent show with Jim Flaherty went.
The one and only caller Dave allowed attacked Flaherty over his Income Trust decision and an emailer (read by Dave) called Flaherty a liar.
Poor Jim once again gets no respect. But then again he deserves no respect.
By Ed the Hun on 09.12.07 7:35 pm
Exactly, and that’s why I said it is prob better that Garth did not get a chance to talk on Mr. Rutherford’s show. A one sided, entrapment point of view does not consititute a “debate.”
BTW, I would love to listen to Mr. Rutherford’s show but I can only get into the audio vault.
-R
Rob,
Fair enough. I’m just trying to make the point that Rutherford gives no pretense to being anything other than a conservative. Being that he has a show (and gets paid to do what he does) to run anyone who comes onto his show is aware of that ‘preconceived’ position.
I obviously understand that Garth’s ‘point-of-view’ will be liberal (given the obvious) so I am not surprised (okay on some points a bit surprised) by his position or the fact that the vast majority of people who post here are of similar ilk. After all it is Garth’s blog.
What I do have problems with is some of our tax-funded programs portraying itself to be ‘neutral’ when in fact they are not (hint — the CBC). But that is for another discussion.
Ed the Hun