Were those chocolates left on Gilles’ desk, or just a few blue pills? Has the relationship already been consummated, or is it merely Parliamentary foreplay we’re hearing about? More importantly, how can a guy go from being cock of the walk one moment, to cuckold the next? My, but this frozen hill does strange things to people far away from home.
The stone halls in Ottawa have been buzzing with news of the latest romance – an instant affair between Harper and Duceppe hammered out in the face of a few new realities that have some people wondering if the Cons have lost their election horniness. Face it. The Libs moved into the centre ground on Afghanistan. That goofy Tory confidence motion telling the Senate to pass crime bills was discredited. Stephane Dion walked and talked like the leader Conservatives fear he is. And the latest polling numbers had Flaherty’s back pocket bulging with his Tums bottle. Canadians’ confidence in the economy, it said, has plunged in the last 90 days.
In fact, as the auto sector fades daily, as the ‘new’ Tory tax cuts slide by unnoticed by families and as all western countries are warned to expect a big slowdown, the odds of anyone being impressed with the coming budget move closer to zero. Except, of course, if you live in Quebec.
Word is that the BQ, in exchange for propping up the Conservatives once again, will let the budget pass when crucial votes are taken Feb. 28, and March 3rd and 4th, and carry on being Mr. Harper’s love toy during some critical confidence motions to follow.
The reason? New billions promised for the struggling manufacturing and forestry sectors of that province, in addition to the region’s share of the $1 billion national fund announced last month. Once again, Stephen Harper, who as a Reformer campaigned against any special deal for any province and helped scupper the Charlottetown Accord and Meech Lake, shows his affection indeed has a price. He gets to stay PM. The BQ gets bragging rights to new cash. Laid-off industrial workers in southern Ontario get dick.
How do you spell hypocrisy? Try C-r-ê-t-e.
BQ finance critic Paul Crête sits right beside me on the finance committee, in fact he’s always whacking me with his chair. On Monday I asked Paul if he’d support a motion for the committee to look into why Jim Flaherty paid $122,000 for one partisan speech, and why the minister (who is in charge of our money) did so illegally, failing to tender the work as required by federal law. Sure, M. Crete said.
That came up today, and as I entered the room, my colleagues told me the BQ members had suddenly changed their minds. I turned to Paul, and asked if it were true. He nodded. I said, “pourquoi?” He turned his head and his shoulder, refusing to answer or return my gaze.
The Conservative members snickered. The Harper-appointed chairman ruled my motion a failure. The separatists puffed and smugged.
And I departed the brothel.
171 comments ↓
I’m sorry to hear that. But, if the CPC are making deals with the BLOC,a party whose aim it is to seperate Canada,I suspect that will not bode well with too many of their supporters.
They are indeed sinking themselves.
Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe on Flaherty’s “post facto policy rationale” mindset
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/02/jeffrey-simpson-of-globe-on-flahertys.html
Hypocracy – Thine name is Harper!
Principled Conservatism???? – Whoah, I must of fallen asleep and I’ve woken up and its April Fools Day!
Bloc Québécois bloc transparency, thereby supporting veiled voters
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/01/bloc-qubcois-bloc-transparency-thereby.html
Garth
Where you come up with these ideas is beyond me. I love your creativity and way with words. This column is great.
Sooooo true……………
Without your blog I would have had no idea how sick the game of politics really is. I know two politicians, both liberals who I know are honest and care about Canada and humanity– Glenn Pearson and yourself. That gives me hope that there are a few more.
I had a friend who was in provincial conservative politics as a worker and he left it because he could no longer stand “the dirt”. He was high enough in the heirarchy to get to meet the Queen when she came.
I give you credit for your courage and persistence. Thank you.
When it is time to donate for the election, please let us know and put a link on your website.
I normally like Crete, he’s a big digital-democracy kinda guy and you two probably have a lot in common.
The motion is a partisan shot — ya he admittedly broke the rules, and they sure have it coming seeing as how much they (you at the time =P) shafted the liberals for the same exact types of things, but at the end of the day, its 122k, not exactly income-trust-disaster amounts.
That said, lets not act like Paul runs the BQ. Clearly there’s a bigger french fry pulling the strings on this one.
If you guys want to pull the govt, there’s confidence motions left n right, what motion defeats the govt really doesn’t matter. There’ll be another vote on the crime-bill-nonsense, and on the war too, unless harper totally caves. If you guys want this govt gone, even if the BQ votes for the budget, you guys can defeat the govt the following week on the senate-nagging act.
“Laid-off industrial workers in southern Ontario get dick.”
All it takes to save Ontario is investment. It`s a lot closer to Wall street than Afghanistan and the Liberals don`t need the Cdn government to bring in investors.
Reposting because it really bothers me that business can get away with it and Canada as a country loses tax money it could use for women’s shelters, the mentally ill whom our society throws away, and the homeless. They would rather spend money on Aphganistan. What is wrong with looking after our own as well? My god, in my opinion, we need Stevie, who I see as a pimp and his protitutes gone asap. That business about telling the senate what to do when he was the one who caused the delay was assinine. How juvenile to make it a vote of confidence.
Any PM who would take down the pictures of past prime ministers and fill the walls with only his pictures is an egomaniac and needs to be taken out of power before he completely destroys Canada. I can’t understand how a thinking human being can want to support a man such as that–a man who has to control his peons to the enth degree. That should scare anyone with half a brain in my opinion.
You have got to see the second half of Marketplace on CBC tonight to see all the profit Stevie’s and Flaherty’s one percent drop in the GST has brought to many businesses who either raised their prices or didn’t change from the 6%. It is criminal. You can see it on this site
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/
By Bonnie L on 02.13.08 8:46 pm
Whats that statement about “Strange bed FELLOWS”? I thought that the Neo-cons where against “Fellows” sleeping together.
I wonder if Paul will confess all to his priest. If one will take his confession that is.
Disgusting behavior. What?
Also, The mass media sure is defining in their silence don’t you think?
I can smell the rot even out here on the wild west coast.
Betcha Harry has some wild spin for us today.
Go ahead Harry, tell us all about those sneaky libs and their underhanded deals.
You see that Leasa, John G, Harry S et al…A true slap in the face of democracy…An honest question about illegal funds being distributed was asked, and it gets squashed by your precious CONS and the Separtists…I hope you like eating crow, because when Harper is done sending all your tax dollars to Quebec, you won’t ever be able to whine about Liberals again….IN BED WITH THE SEPARTISTS, STAND UP FOR CANADA INDEED!
Steve sure has you guys spinning! It’s really comical to watch.
Garth I’m surprised to hear your new idea of leadership. Martin, Rae and Iggy smack Dion around in the back room to changing his position on Afghanistan and that’s called leadership?
Harper may be many things to many people, but clearly the guy is a brilliant strategist…but that’s not new….everyone has known that for 20 years..
Whether the Bloc vote for or against the budget at least they will vote. If it’s true that they will support the budget then the Libs can feel safe to vote again knowing that there are no consequences. I’m sure it will feel good for you to stand and be counted again.
Gee, sounds to me like I should use Randy Quaid’s line from ‘Independence Day’ ‘What did I tell ya?’
BQ better watch out, because McSquinty might just a tad PISSED over this, and Ontario does have some serious clout. A fact Harper has yet to realize.
Translated ‘Its our MONEY arsheoles!’
Garth … your wet dream of being part of a Dion Liberal government is now only a flaccid fantasy. No matter how much you rub your head or stroke your beard, you Liberals just don’t have a hard enough leader who can cut the mustard .. he’s soft and has ED … Electile Difficulty …. just not enough mojo to make it happen.
Now will the Liberals all rise in unison and take a hike outa the HoCs before knowing that the BQ will be supporting the Budget …. ??!!
No Canadian leader will ever earn my respect by playing footsie with séparatistes be they hard, soft, par-boiled or candy-coated.
Sure way to earn my undying contempt though.
Well nothing surprises me anymore. We have found out that our Provincial government is encouraging civil servants in our province to volunteer for the 2010 Olympics. For Volunteering these government workers will receive 1 weeks paid leave and 1 week unpaid leave or vacation if they chose to use their holidays. I have always thought that paid volunteers was an oxymoron until today. Glad I have got straightened out.
Looks like the Conservative dream of a majority is rapidly fading into the distance only to be replaced by a desperate attempt by Harpo-crite to cling to power.
This cannot end well for Harper and I am happy to see it that way.
Harper gets no love in Quebec no matter how much money he throws at it. Good!
“I departed the brothel”
You mean the puppy mill.
How utterly depressing.
Great cartoon, and fits harper to a ‘T’. BTW, I thought the blue pills were to clean toilets with, to clear out all the CRAP!
Doesn’t matter. Money can only buy harper a small amount of time before he tries to really screw Canada; by then, the vast majority of Cdns. will be so angry at CRAP they will give Dion et al a clear majority.
C’est la vie!
Gee, Garth – maybe you guys should have stuck to your guns on Afghanistan after all, huh? Not much chance on the BQ or the NDP caving on that issue.
I’ve still got twenty bucks riding on a spring election here. Don’t let me down.
If this is correct, then all sides would have roughly the same capacity to wipe each other out; accordingly, nothing will ever get done.
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/02/navy-research-p.html
My, my, my my!!!! And these are C(c)onservatives that you are writing about???
Lease et al…. what are the talking points from the PMO on his screwing over Canadians once again? And with the Bloc backing them no less.
Did y’all know that this will bite Harper in the big butt? And for crying out loud, someone tell his make up artist that she is putting the eye liner on all wrong. Too much of the whites of the eyes are showing. It’s weird.
I’ll make a deal with this PMO. For $50,000 I’ll show this make-up/psychic how to apply that eye liner for the greatest effect and it will not be obvious.
screw it.
if the RCMP can’t press charges against whoever signed the check we may as well just plow the whole damn thing under. serve whoever its right for being such a toady anyways.
no justice for the people
no people left to care
When Canadians think of Deceivin’ Stephen, Flim-Flam Jimmy and the CON Corrupterate many words and phrases come to mind, including:
“sold out Canadians again”
“dysfunctional”
“bozos”
“larceny”
“nonsense”
“incompetent”
“the truth is not important”
“facts are just an annoyance”
“ignore the science”
“dispense with logic and reason”
“vodoo economics”
“treacherous and treasonous”
“being elected is the only priority”
“willingly buying Bloc silence or/& support”
The last two phrases illustrate the depths to which Deceivin’ Stephen will go in his neverending pursuit of pompous power by his countinuing courtship of a bunch of traitors who only care about creating their own dominion, serving their own interests and continually squeezing every last drop of coin from the rest of the federation in the meantime.
Additionally, what surreptitious back-room deal did the corrupt CONS offer the Bloc when the latter reversed their promise and then voted against Mr. Turner’s previous motion concerning an investigation into Flim-Flam Flaherty’s fraudulent income trust tax?????
LIE. CONCEAL. FABRICATE.
You Guys had your chance and blew it – the dice roll your way only when you take a chance and play the game at the right moment in time.
It’s a game that takes balls which i see you guys have none.
Damn its hard to be a LIBERAL and see such gutless leaders trying to show a great lack of the above.
When you wait to log to pick the cherries there are one of two things happen: 1) the birds beat you to lunch
2) the damn things are rotten
When you take a space shot the window is only so long, it appears ypur guys cant see windows of opportunity.
I guess the big fat pay checks and our deep pockets as tax payers are still to pump so you all keep picking our cherries.
Well as the maiden said once the cherry is gone you’ve missed your chance so might as well throw away your balls to.
So how did your Lib fund raising go last night?
Get any sky is the limit bids?
Surprises, surprises. Liberal unity one day and now Bloc New Con unity the next.
If its what I think it is and it be true, Gillis should think long and twice about his choice to back Harper. If there is no election, Gillis will have to live with propping up a Conservative government the next time we go to the polls and that might not be for some time if an election isn’t called over Afghanistan.
Theoretically, if the budget and Afghanistan bills pass, there will be few reasons for a confidence vote this year coming up meaning its potentially next year country for an election.
My guess is that Gillis feels he can remain popular by brokering a deal for $$$$ for Quebec in the next budget and will be unloved in Quebec if he doesn’t take it. Its really something that he has to support when anyone cares to think about it. Bloc support has been and likely will continue to be strong for Gillis no matter what happens. The problem Gillis could face is that if the New Con government continues to remain in power until next year and the Cons remain at or below 24% in the polls and continue their streak of awful blunders, the Bloc could be facing blowback for propping this Con government and the beneficiary will be the Libs. The Libs would no longer be the corrupt adscam party of old in Quebec as time goes on, but with fresh candidates that are better screened by the Liberal organization, particularly with all eyes on Dion to make it so.
Either way, Gillis pretty much has to support the budget and that means its up to Dion to force an election over Afghanistan if he so chooses and if Dion does not, Harper can choose to keep power by avoiding non-confidence votes to the polls until next year and you all know what that means whether you love or hate Harper… it means more of the same. More bad U.S. dictated foreign policies from Canada, more bad economic policies, M & A’s, a destroyed wheatboard and more ministerial blunders.
It will be an egg in the face of all Canadians if Harpers New Con government is allowed to continue its ways. Gillis should think long and hard about this choice. Its just so unfortunate that Gillis has never seen himself as a Canadian but as a founding leader of a new nation in French history books. Gillis could very easily be percieved as being someone who is seen to benefit of the misery of others, in this case Canadians, if Harper remains in power and continues to recklessly run this nation he way he has and if the worst case scenario of Harper governance unfolds into next year, the Bloc will most definitely lose seats.
Conservatives Caught In Ignoble (Dishonorable, Disgraceful) Moment
Stephen Harper ignores Parliament Hill tribute for scientists who won Nobel Prize
Don Martin, National Post (Edit)
Published: Thursday, February 14, 2008
OTTAWA -For ethnic or religious minorities, Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to send you a special holiday greeting card. Anyone turning 100 can request and receive a signed birthday card. If you donate 10 bucks to the Conservative party, it’ll mail back a calendar lovingly plastered with photos of the party leader in monthly poses.
But if you’re a leading Canadian scientist who has just won the Nobel Peace Prize for documenting the impact of the greenhouse gas buildup on climate change, this government gives you…nothing. No card, no call, no certificate–no official or unofficial acknowledgment of any kind.
And when all other federal party leaders unite to salute your heady accomplishment in a committee room a mere ‘seven-iron golf shot’ from the Prime Minister’s Office on Parliament Hill, the Conservative government responds with…a boycott.
Incredibly, the Conservatives refused to participate in an afternoon reception yesterday saluting Canadian scientists who shared last year’s Nobel Prize with former U.S. vice-president Al Gore for their role in researching and writing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s massive final report.
University of Victoria research chairman Andrew Weaver, one of the winning scientists, declined to attend the reception because of the “deeply disturbing” Conservative government no-show.
“It’s almost like a war on science is going on in this government, which is very sad,” he told me. “There’s a disrespect and distrust for science.”
Dion is not the boss.Rae and Iggy pulling the strings.No budget defeat….
Garth: Is there anything out of order for any member to mention this (Bloc support of the $122K in re-tort when the usual smart ass answer comes from selected loud mouth of day?
Thanks for the well composed and constructive Valentines Post, even those who are not supporters must be shaking with anger as they read.
This for young who do not remember Reform/Alliance…..they (From the West) bashed screemed and yelled about and special status for Quebec even to point of putting “X’s” across their faces in a Federal Election! Now Alberta and Co are on their hands and kness licking and polishing their shoes, “Give me a break” !!! Roy Rogers and his rodeo clowns must by laughing in their graves at Western Cowboys and gals….for this latest Super Suck Up extraordinare….
Well Garthy pooh, it would appear to me the negative chatter just might be toned downed…For those who care to know, I am not against Quebers getting a break, matter of fact I encourage it, but as fair share of one country. Time for Tim’s and I plan to shake the few Tory hands for all in place to see telling just what I read….
So it’s the Bloc’s fault if we don’t get an election. Got it. *burp* Excuse me, that was a bit rich to swallow.
Pathetic
What can one say?
That’s nothing new, same old, same old.
Canadians don’t have much of an appetite for a winter election. Voting will be difficult for many seniors and disabled who rely on city transit or don’t have any means of transportation other than their candidates office. It’s just too much work.
Quebec will get what it wants. The rest of Canada just isn’t rich enough in votes to matter. It’s starting to get tiresome.
C’est la vie.
Garth, nothing that the BQ does would surprise me. They are opportunists just like Harper. Special financial deals for Quebec may keep Harper in power a little longer, but actions like this will only serve to alienate other parts of the country, including Western Canada.
Given Harper’s personality none of this is surprising. He is a power-hunger little man who will do anything to stay in power. As the pressure continues to mount on him with a declining economy we can expect many more short-term, ‘it’s all about me and saving my ass’ decisions. Canadians will soon see Harper for what he is….a bully who lacks vision and commitment to the public good.
Dion needs to keep bringing forward well reasoned, intelligent solutions that have been created through his inclusive leadership style of the Liberal caucus. The contrasts between the two men is becoming more and more obvious every day.
I just hope we still have a country left by the time Harper is thrown out of office.
Add some more lead to Mr. Harper’s Zeppelin.
The only constant in this is that an election will take place at some point in the future. Maybe sooner, maybe later.
But while Mr. Harper continues his do as I say, not as I do hypocracy, the rest of Canada continues to see him as he really is, a man who will not do what is right for the country, but what is need to stay in the corner office.
The Kim Campbell PC massacre will look like a square dance when the election eventually comes. The fed’s pockets aren’t deep enough to pay us all off!
OoOoH, Garth this post should have come with a rating and a warning for your more sensitive reader. LOL Really, I don’t know if I should respond to the content or light the candles and pour the wine. LOL
I told ya he wasn’t engineering his own train wreck.
Surely the government will fall said they. Why there’s the Senate thing today, the budget of the morrow, then the hum, the drum and the battle cry!
Like you couldn’t see it coming.
First was the smoke, then the shadowy figures; lastly, the betrayal. Shakespeare it’s not, but it is no less a theatre production. “Oh what a tangled web ye weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
O Knight, brave Knight; your sword taken by the beggar in the night
Your armor chinked and worn.
Mighty Stead laid silent, his heart pierced and torn.
Were they friend or were they foe?
Or just Larry, Moe and Curly Joe?
More of the con hyprocisy.Now they will never be able to govern.Harpers very weak leadership strategy depends on those polls.
Tories promise less spending on gov’t polling
Updated Wed. Feb. 13 2008 10:16 PM ET
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — The federal Tories are promising to spend $10 million less on government polling in the next budget year.
The decision by Public Works Minister Michael Fortier and Treasury Board President Vic Toews comes a few weeks after the Conservatives were criticized for their spending on public opinion research.
“Our government is continuing to take action to implement expenditure controls which demonstrate our progress toward improvements in (public opinion research) as well as our commitment to ensuring better value for taxpayers,” Fortier said in a statement.
While in opposition, the Tories routinely attacked the Liberals for the number of polls conducted by federal departments.
In December, an independent investigator reported the Conservatives spent $31.2 million on public-opinion research in the 12 months leading up to a government-commissioned probe
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080213/tories_polling_080213/20080213?hub=Politics
By Robert Gibbs on 02.14.08 1:54 am
“being elected is the only priority”
“willingly buying Bloc silence or/& support”
The last two phrases illustrate the depths to which Deceivin’ Stephen will go in his neverending pursuit of pompous power by his countinuing courtship of a bunch of traitors who only care about creating their own dominion, serving their own interests and continually squeezing every last drop of coin from the rest of the federation in the meantime.
…………………………………
So come the next election, Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, Goodale will condemn Harper’s treatment of Quebec??
Go ahead and split the country again, as Dion did in Quebec and only has a 10% polled approval rating there.
Why should Ignatieff and Rae support Dion’s sorry arse in Ontario and the RoC knowing that is the only way he is going to be the next prime minister .. and from Quebec too …???!!!
If the RoC outside of Quebec want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec, while Liberals are attacking Harper’s treatment of Quebec, don’t you see a contradiction and conflict in your position ?!
EDITORIAL
TheStar.com | comment | Flaherty’s tight times
Feb 13, 2008 04:30 AM
Announcing Monday that he would table a new budget on Feb. 26, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty added the caution: “You don’t throw money around when times are tight.”
Too bad he didn’t think about that several months ago when he broke the bank by throwing $7.4 billion at a cut in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the remainder of this fiscal year and next, and another $6.8 billion at personal and corporate income tax cuts.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/303019
Stephool walked and talked like the leader they fear?I sure would fear someone who has gotten so tired of sitting on his hands that he decides to run away instead.Backbone like a wet noodle.As for Afghanistan,the Lieberals don’t even have a position,just ask Stephool,or Iggy,or Boob Rae,or whoever else is speaking for the party at any given moment.Lets hope you raise some money at your illegal fundraiser so your party and Elisibeth May can keep supporting our Christian Crusaders overseas.
Harpler trying to BUY votes with YOUR tax dollars, from a party that wants to rip apart Canada as a separatist state…says it all about the CON-BORGS.
Shameful
And for crying out loud, someone tell his make up artist that she is putting the eye liner on all wrong. Too much of the whites of the eyes are showing. It’s weird.
I’ll make a deal with this PMO. For $50,000 I’ll show this make-up/psychic how to apply that eye liner for the greatest effect and it will not be obvious.
By Emilie on 02.14.08 12:37 am
I agree he is starting to look like a wax museum piece.I guess she is using more foundation to hide the stress in his face.
Flaherty CONTRACTS QUESTIONED
Opposition points to hiring of minister’s `friends,’ but spokesperson says taxpayers got good value
Feb 14, 2008 04:30 AM
Richard Brennan
OTTAWA BUREAU
Feb 14, 2008 04:30 AM
Richard Brennan
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA–A number of people with close ties to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty during his Queen’s Park days have received federal contracts and appointments from him, government documents show.
They are mainly people who worked for Flaherty when he was an Ontario cabinet minister or who supported his two failed bids to lead the Ontario Tories.
Chisholm Pothier, Flaherty’s press secretary, said those hired were eminently qualified and their familiarity with Flaherty gave taxpayers further value for money.
“The people who were hired on contract were skilled professionals who did good quality work for the money,” Pothier told the Star in an email statement.
Critics aren’t buying it
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/303484
If you like that kind of horse-trading between parties in the interest of self-preservation, you would just love proportional representation, mixed or pure.
Right now it’s the exception and sticks out like a sore thumb. Under proportional representation, it becomes the rule.
What they got was a large one on the hook and another chance to prove their worth.
If Poilievre thinks he’s some sort of shark he better catch on quick because so far he’s shown that he can’t even smell bait.
Think he even ASK his people (he IS PS for the Treasury Board, after all) if they thought they were political donations before he scampered off to the Elections Commisioner? Think if he did he can be accountable (as in able to demonstrate due diligence) for it in Parliament? He’s got a document to table.
By Harry S on 02.14.08 7:40 am
Didn’t Harper campaign on fair treatment for all Provinces? – Yes.
Didn’t Harper campaign against the preferential treatment of Quebec by the Liberals? – Yes.
So come the election, Mr. Dion won’t campaign against the treatment of Quebec, he’ll campaign on the non-treatment of the RoC. If Quebec, see that as anti-Quebec, that’s their problem.
Campaigning for fair treatment for all of Canada didn’t seem to hurt Harper in Quebec. Why would it hurt Dion?
Bottom line, Harper needs Ontario to win a majority. Not a chance!
To see the CPC trolls use name-calling like grammar school kids make you wonder if they are qualified to vote. They think they’re clever? Any kid can do this – obviously their level of thinking.
Wonder what Harper has promised the BLOC, because this $122,000 contract is normally the kind of stuff they use when campaigning – must be something big time.
Again, I think CPC troll comments like Harry S who show their bigotry should be forwarded to Quebecers just to show them how CPC supporters feel about the French – would that damage Harper or what.
Catherine – do you read or pay attention to anything? Really, your comments are constantly CPC rhetoric – do you not think for yourself? Imagine paying $500. to meet Flaherty – ugh.
And the latest polling numbers had Flaherty’s back pocket bulging with his Tums bottle.
did you mean the latest Leger numbers?
CPC 37%
LPC 32%
NDP 16%
I found it pathetically funny yesterday when Flaherty (in response to Tory time are tough times) saying the Tories balance budgets – huh?
Fact is Conservatives haven’t balanced a budget since 1920 and Flaherty certainly messed up Ontario – is this guy for real?
I do hope people don’t believe his lies – because that’s exactly what they are – or he’s truly dillusional. The only reason he’s got money to play with is because the good economy was sent to him on a silver platter.
Flaherty is such a fool.
By Bonnie L on 02.13.08 8:46 pm
“Stevie, who I see as a pimp and his protitutes gone asap.”
Careful on that line Bonnie, the Libs were auctioning off time time with some of the most influential names in the party last night. I don’t care to bid until Belinda is up for bids.
failing that this guy should at least be able to direct the loyal opposition to the public guideline document that denotes such determinations to be the exclusive domain of Elections Canada…
“Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to illegal fundraising, the Liberal Party refuses to change. Although individual contributions are limited to $1,100 and corporate contributions re now banned, the Liberal Party is trying a way around that, an auction for lobbyists.
Tomorrow night here in Ottawa with the Liberal leader it is possible to buy special access, lunch with the deputy leader, the industry critic and more. How much? It says that the sky is the limit, that a successful bid will not affect one’s annual political contribution limit, and that corporations are free to bid as high as they want.
The party of the sponsorship scandal is alive and kicking. The Liberal Party just will not change.”
Ralph’s call, I guess.
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/toon.php
Bruce MacKinnon’s latest cartoon.
Harper does not care about Canadian unity. He will let the country split apart, and try to get the western half to elect him.
This kind of thing is what enrages western voters – and rightfully so. It is not right that Harper’s obsession with power will damage any goodwill for unity there is out there.
This does not bother the BLOC, as their goal is division and separation anyway. It is likely they know what this will do for their cause. It will mean more than the dollars they can bring in; it will also lower the desire from the rest of Canada to keep Quebec.
Not a good day for Quebec, in the long term. Short term gain for long term pain.
BTW, a major reason why the federal parties do not do well against this regionalist party is exactly this type of thing. This is the kind of crap you can expect should we try tp assemble a provincial elected federal system. Canada can do better.
Today is not a good day for this “proud Quebcois”. Too early to hit the homebrew… more apple juice!
Minority governments are all about deals and compromise. Say what you will the Conservatives have worked with all the parties on different issues and as a result are still governing.
The Liberals have moved from what Dion appeared to be saying publicly as a strict non combat mission to one that pretty much falls in line with the Conservatives.
All this ridiculous childish playground name calling that Garth and other politicians engage in is all show. Judge them on their decisions and where they cast their vote.
Garth’s noble Liberal party thus far is
ABSTENTIONS – 3
WITHDRAWALS – 1
Now there is a record to get excited about!!!!!
No surprise here.
Mul-ruin-ey almost ruined Canada – by inviting rabid separatists (Bouchard et al) into the ferderal cabinet where they unleased all kinds of Meech Lake nonsense.
It took Chretian (and Dion) to unravel that mess.
Harper tries for the separatist vote himself … and his fall back strategy is to rely on the BLOC.
Top of the morning to you all. Seems we have a few more clues in the news?
Exxon Mobil cut off from Venezuela’s oil
Venezuela’s state oil company said Tuesday that it has stopped selling crude to Exxon Mobil Corp. in response to the U.S. oil company’s drive to use the courts to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.
Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross declined to comment on the move by Venezuela but said that “it is our long-standing practice to take appropriate steps to meet our customers’ needs.”
Exxon Mobil is challenging the Chavez government’s nationalization of one of four heavy oil projects in the Orinoco River basin, one of the world’s richest oil deposits.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan state television has begun airing short anti-Exxon segments, with a message appearing on the screen in red text reading: “Exxon Mobil turns oil into blood.”
Seems the way the game is played by countries, other than Venezuela, is to support a puppet dictator, and then the Big EXXON-MOBIL OWNS the country. Hey, it seems to have worked just super fine here in Canada. We got Harper, they got the Alberta Oil Sands under contract.
Can you say Iraq? Kuwait? Viet Nam? Soon an attempt for Iran. Not to worry about those fine fair minded Saudis, now they are the Sopranos of the Middle East…Nice family, along with the Bin Laden Group…Great Bush friends you know? Why they even got a Free Pass on 9/11 to fly their private jet out of the U.S.. I wonder how much those Sky Box tickets were in NYC for the Big Show?
Anyone feels like Connect The Dots this fine morning?
Think about who your government really is Canadians?
British royal defends comments on colonialism
Britain’s Prince Andrew on Wednesday defended comments he made suggesting the United States might have been better off had its leaders learned from the British experience with colonialism before invading Iraq.
Duh! Ya think?
Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing
What’s so scary about the right? Well, seeing that it was opposed to all social programs, from pensions to humane working conditions, and even to the Maple Leaf flag and to having a Canadian as governor general, I think there’s plenty to be scared about when it comes to the far-out right, especially the ones in moderate clothing.
Sums it up quite nicely for me, always has.
By Robert Gibbs on 02.14.08 5:25 am
Glad to see I am not the only one who caught that article. No surprise as Harper can’t have anyone smarter than his Love Toy Baird being heard on OUR environment. What would Harper’s Master (Exxon-Mobile) think?
Dot…..dot…..dot…..Truth!
It seems ethics and principle are lost on all the conbots who remain focused on their Heil Harper! mantra to the exclusion of all the evidence of corruption and dishonesty by Flim Flam Baird and the PMO.
It is why a truly decent honest MP like Bob Mills has left the Harper goobermant to their own consequences.
If Quebec is getting Jane then Ontario must be getting Dick.
Reality check: (From BNN)
Canada’s trade surplus with the rest of the world shrank to a nine-year low of $2.35 billion in December as weakening U.S. demand and a strong Canadian dollar hurt exports.
Statistics Canada reports exports fell 3.1 per cent overall to $36.7 billion, with declines in every sector except energy products, especially industrial goods and automotive products.
Soaring energy demand helped boost imports by 0.7 per cent in the month to $34.35 billion.
You should check out the latest MP’s report from Michael Chong just north of Halton in the Halton Compass.
THAT is how a report to constituents should be written. Notice he doesnt bash liberals, or Dion or anyone for that matter.
Hes classy, eloquent and a true non partisan Member of Parliament.
You should take some lessons from him. It actually might help you get votes.
Sadly, though … you’ll never change.
Michael does not bash Libs because he wishes he were one. Harper showed him his true nature. — Garth
Re James: Harper doesnt need Ontario to win a majority. Western Canada and rural Quebec would be sufficient
By James- Chatham on 02.14.08 8:17 am
Didn’t Harper campaign on fair treatment for all Provinces? – Yes.
Didn’t Harper campaign against the preferential treatment of Quebec by the Liberals? – Yes.
So come the election, Mr. Dion won’t campaign against the treatment of Quebec, he’ll campaign on the non-treatment of the RoC. If Quebec, see that as anti-Quebec, that’s their problem.
Campaigning for fair treatment for all of Canada didn’t seem to hurt Harper in Quebec. Why would it hurt Dion?
Bottom line, Harper needs Ontario to win a majority. Not a chance!
……………………………………………………………..
Good points, James ….. but Ontarians will have to decide if they want another Liberal prime minister from Quecec … while good Liberal Ontarians such as Rae, Ignatieff, Kennedy, Martha H-F, Ken Dryden were all rejected, in favour of Dion who is despised in Quebec.
They say as goes Quebec so goes Ontario. This may not hold true in the next election because the GTA is flooded with Liberal-only multicultis who did not even live in Canada 13 years ago. The only hope that Harper has for a majority government is if the NDP rise and split the Ontario vote allowing the Conservatives to win up the middle.
The next election will be quite the balancing act for Harper, but I’m willing to bet the most of Canada will not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec, particularly after they see him and hear him speaking his ruptured English and convoluted logic in leadership debates. That, plus Liberal lack of money will swing the vote towards the Conservatives, because it’s quite obvious that the Liberals led by hapless Dion will certainly not form a government.
What you don’t seem to appreciate is that Canadian voters don’t remember things like how Quebec was treated, or Liberal corruption during Sponsorship. They will most likely make their voting decision several days before going to the polls … and the issue of leadership will be paramount in their thinking.
Do you seriously believe that the mass of Canadian voters will prefer Dion over Harper or even Layton, to represent them nationally and even internationally. Dion is a pod and has absolutely no leadership charisma.
Revenue Canada Agengy
IT-110R3
…
3. A gift, for purposes of sections 110.1 and 118.1, is a voluntary transfer of property without valuable consideration. Generally a gift is made if all three of the conditions listed below are satisfied:
(a) some property-usually cash-is transferred by a donor to a registered charity;
(b) the transfer is voluntary; and
(c) the transfer is made without expectation of return. No benefit of any kind may be provided to the donor or to anyone designated by the donor, except where the benefit is of nominal value (see ¶ 11 below).
…
11. For the purpose of 3(c) above, where a charity offers an item, privilege or other benefit in return for a donation, the benefit is considered to have a nominal value where its fair market value does not exceed the lesser of
(a) $50.00, or
(b) 10% of the amount of the gift.
…
12. For the purposes of 11 above, *a benefit is not considered to have a nominal value* where its fair market value cannot be determined for reasons such as:
(a) the benefit is not readily available on the open market, for example, the benefit is the right to individually meet a famous personality;…
******
What that all adds up to is that according to Revenue Canada’s interpretation of the law as of June 20, 1997 that golf game with Martin CAN’T be claimed.
of course, for me its just a hobby.
Is there any media outlet reporting the BQ/CPC deal that’s in the works Garth? Checked a few papers online today and didn’t see anything.
HA HA HA The anti-Quebec sentiment here is astounding today! As though the Liberals would hesitate to cut a deal with the Bloc, NDP or even the CPC to get what they want at any given time. Heck, they even let Jack write the last Liberal budget. LOL…I love it.
We know Bob and Iggy are begging Dion not to defeat the government, but so far he’s got his fingers in his ears and yelling “I can’t hear you!” Yes, let Mr. Dion bring about an unwanted election on a budget that is sensible and tell Quebec at the same time that they are not ‘special’.
Be still my heart. Leasa
This is ridiculous. Although I can recognize that the BQ is only there for Quebec’s interests, first it was “we will vote against the budget” and then “we will only vote for the budget if X, Y and Z are in it” and now “we will vote for the budget”? Such hypocrisy will drive the BQ into a (may I say?) well-deserved irrelevance, and that may give the CONs what they want: more votes in Quebec, and there’s no way we can allow that to happen, not so much for Quebec as for the ROC. Bending over backwards for the BQ may also end up costing the CONs their votes. As far as I can see, the BQ has lost its relevance and will likely pay for its mistakes in the next election.
Government Bootstrapping
The modern fallacy and moral hazard is the prevailing impression that The Government can solve all problems. That they can pull the economy up by its own bootstraps.
The Government has no money. We, the taxpayers are their only source of funds. George Bush’s economic stimulus injection is a shot in the arm. But, the infusion to fill that needle will just have to be withdrawn from another part of the same diseased body. It’s like the hospitalized patient on an IV that’s connected to his bladder.(Catch 22)
The moral hazard arises when the government intervenes in the free market system. Who ultimately pays the lower, government-suported mortgage of a defaulting homeowner? It will be the homeowner slaving at two jobs whose mortgage does not get reduced. To top it off, his tax dollars will support the person in default who should never have been given the loan in the first place. After the Bush stimulus plan, that person is now also paying for the Jumbo mortgages of the rich. Now there is pressure for the government to take up the risk from the bond insures. The government is taking away all risk and encouraging individuals to walk away from their obligations.
I hear that Municipal Bonds will never default. Utlilities will just raise their rates. Cities will just raise their taxes. Who will be at the paying end of that? You. Is your wallet unlimited?
When our government buys support from the PQ, they are using your money. When the Bank of Canada gives cheap overnight loans to Banks they are using your money. When the government gives money to private industry they are using your money. The Afghanistan war will go on for decades, financed by your money.
You are the lender of last resort. For taking on that risk, will you ever get compensated during the good times when these financial and industrial corporates are raking in the money?
When the economic graphs dive into the red, Harper gonzo and no one in any of the opposition parties has to do anything. In two years the Harper government managed to go from soaring surpluses to being in the netherworld of deficit financing! Just think what Steve, the master planner…smartest guy in the room, could have done had he been in office for four years with a majority government!
Garth thank you–Valentine’s Day for me is usually heralded with delightful Spring flowers my hubby gets for me…you however, supplied the gift of laughter which is infinitely more precious than fading blooms. Yuck, yuck, yuck! I’m printing this blog post out as I speak and will show it to hubby putting a smile on his face too. We really don’t mind pinching our pennies for a while in order to get that jerk to vacate the Prime Minister’s office! He can take the pictures he plastered all over the walls with him when he leaves. Say the word and I’ll come to Ottawa to ensure none of the glass gets broken packing them for his exit!
Canuck
Here’s another reason Harper and his cons should be kicked right out of Ontario; I repeat, at the risk of being a bore…
Attention Ontario voters! Bill C-22 is once again being presented. Remember? The one that short-changes Ontario by 10 or 11 seats? I just witnessed van Loan telling the House that with the new formula, lucky Ontario will have the MOST SEATS!! YAY!!!!
He ignores the fact that we have even MORE population. He does lament the fact that the formula is not perfect, but heck, it’s better than what we have. Never mind that Alberta and BC will be topped right up to their correct numbers; we in Ontario are just greedy. If I owed van Loan and two of his friends money, and I paid back his friends full measure, but short-changed him by 50%, do you think he’d be happy? This is what’s happening to Ontario.
A Liberal MP from New Brunswick spoke in the House and stood up for Ontario, but you can bet my Ontario MP, two-tier Tony Clement, will not vote against this unfair bill.
I urge ALL Ontario residents, all Canadians, in fact, to call, write or email their MP and demand fair representation for ALL provinces.
As the New Brunswick MP stated, today Ontario, tomorrow, maybe your province.
The saddest commentary ever on the Harper Government.
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=eb4f79c9-ff66-40d1-9091-3d561623d9dd&k=53574&p=2
I Want My Canada Back
Well this should free up even the reticent Liberals to vote against the budget. Dion can look strong without looking too eager or defensive.
The picture from two years ago with Harper and Duccep shaking hands is now quite significant.
Happy Valentines Day Garth! I feel I represent many Canadians when I tell you how much we appreciate your taking the time to keep us so well informed,and are giving us the priceless opportunity, to make our votes meaningful.
Also, appreciate the time & energy you put out in the House of Commons, & everywhere on behalf of Canada & Canadians.
Don’t sweat the ‘deal with Duceppe’ he’s old news. He & Harper are has beens.
Just keep your stick on the ice & keep shooting the puck to achieve your goals.
Better days are coming Garth.
By maggie on 02.14.08 10:44 am
Here’s another reason Harper and his cons should be kicked right out of Ontario; I repeat, at the risk of being a bore…
Attention Ontario voters! Bill C-22 is once again being presented. Remember? The one that short-changes Ontario by 10 or 11 seats? I just witnessed van Loan telling the House that with the new formula, lucky Ontario will have the MOST SEATS!! YAY!!!!
………………………………..
Those extra 10 or 11 new Ontario ridings would most likely be in the GTA where all the multiculti immigrants are packing in at 15 people to a house. High density Toronto ridings would be divided thus giving Liberals even more seats due to their faithful multiculti new immigrant voters.
Meanwhile the rest of Ontario is not gaining seats, and may be in fact losing population. This would skew the influence of the GTA and disadvantage the rest of Ontario.
McGuinty wants the extra ridings in Toronto because he has established Toronto as his power base in the province.
Only the Liberals and Torontonians want the extra ridings, but the rest of Ontario doesn’t want to give Toronto that extra leverage on government to their obvious disadvantage.
Toronto is fast becoming a foreign nation where according to StatsCan, 52% of the population did not live in Canada 13 years ago. Surely this is a dangerous situation for all of Canada.
Thoughts for today, and tomorrow: (Quoted from Jim Wallis’ book “The Awakening”-Highlighting is mine)
[Feeding the Wolves
Our culture is in the business of feeding the wolves-unfortunately, mostly the bad ones. In fact, some have observed that modern advertising directly appeals to (and feeds) what have historically been known as the seven deadly sins-pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
Gandhi incorporated a version of the deadly sins in his instructions to his young disciples in the ashrams of India. Gandhi's seven deadly social sins are politics without principle, wealth without work, commerce without morality, pleasure without conscience, education without character, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. Gandhi's list of sins resonates deeply with people's experience today and diagnoses accurately our modern moral morass.
What are we feeding-the evil or the good? Are we focusing our minds and hearts on destructive habits or are we nurturing and reinforcing the virtues? Whatever occupies our thoughts and gets our attention will shape our choices and, therefore, our lives. Values must be reinforced by habit, by discipline, and even by ritual if they are to have real power in our lives. We must always keep in mind that the consumer culture is also actively reinforcing its values-often in direct contradiction to the values of our faith or conscience.
Most of us still believe that we think our way into new ways of living, but the truth is that we live our way into new ways of thinking. The former is indeed what we learn in school and are taught in most of the other settings of our lives. But I don't think that reflects genuine reality. We need to focus on our habits, choices, disciplines, and decisions, rather than just on our thoughts. What are we feeding?
We have inherited a particularly Greek way of understanding the truth-that we simply master a body of material and then repeat it back on cue or merely implement the things we have learned. In contrast, the Hebrew way of understanding suggests that we really don't know the truth until it has affected our lives in some way. For the Greeks and for most of us, thinking precedes living; but for the Hebrews, living was meant to change thinking. The latter is both more biblical and more revealing of how most of us really do learn and change.
The Question of Leadership
What we look for in ourselves and in our leaders comes back to the issue of integrity-saying what we mean and doing what we say. Integrity is what people most long for in their leaders and in their own lives. At some level, at some time in our lives, most of us will provide "leadership" in some circle of people or activities-in our workplace, in our congregation, in civic organizations, in community activities, in political action, or just in our own families as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Perhaps the leadership we demonstrate as parents is the most important of all. Parents are the chief example of moral authority and integrity for their children, either for good or ill, and the principal role models for the young. Questions of leadership are not just for the elites; they affect us all.
The alternative to bad leadership must not become no leadership; it should rather be good leadership. As obvious as that point should be, the massive and very public failures of so many leaders, who have misused or abused their authority in almost every sector of our society-political, civil, business, and even religious-has helped create a powerful antileadership culture. The popular bumper sticker QUESTION AUTHORITY says it all in its encapsulation of the cultural antagonism toward leadership. But without leadership-good leadership-we are in serious trouble. Leadership can appeal to our best or worst values and instincts, take us backward or move us forward, further divide us or bring us together to accomplish important things. Without leadership we are unlikely to act together to fulfill our best impulses and values.
There are many fine books these days about leadership skills and techniques, particularly from the business world. But while knowledge is important to the development of good leadership, wisdom is even more crucial. We need to learn not just the skills of leadership, but also the spirituality of leadership. We will learn the latter less from books than from people who are effective leaders. Good leaders need good mentors, and mentoring may be the most important thing a good leader can do to raise up the next generation.
Leadership comes with action. Whether it is leading a meeting or an organization, drawing diverse people together or helping them clarify a unified message, resolving conflicts or offering a prophetic word when one is necessary, we lead by action. But we cannot be effective leaders unless we are always seeking to develop our own moral and spiritual integrity.
We need nothing less than a new ethic of leadership in today's climate of corruption. Encouraging others to mistrust leadership may be a crucial corrective, but what we really need is a deeper social quest for a genuinely trustworthy leadership. Accepting our vulnerabilities rather than denying them is central to good leadership, as is the formation of character as a lifelong pursuit. We need a style of leadership based not only on talent but also on integrity.
Leaders must learn how to identify values, build integrity, and sustain vision, says Granberg-Michaelson. He stresses that listening for one's calling is essential for good leadership, as is a self-definition that is not just about the work. Freedom from inner needs requires a spiritual selfawareness that can save us (and others around us) from our unresolved issues. Don't try to be a well-rounded leader, says Granberg-Michaelson, but rather know your own gifts and strengths well enough to match them with what your co-workers can bring. In the end, it is better to understand yourself than to force the others around you to keep trying to figure you out! And self-knowledge requires a spiritual journey.
Leaders can change organizational cultures, instill new values, and get people to decide how they will decide things, not just what they will decide. Good leadership should not focus solely on the "techniques" of effective leadership but also on how to see the "big picture" and "cast the vision." But, Granberg-Michaelson says, "Vision without strategy is like faith without works." There is no best leadership style, as some would suggest; different styles of leadership are called for in different situations, at different stages in an organization's life, or even at different periods of a leader's life.
The challenge of organizational growth is enormous, and even more so is what Granberg-Michaelson calls the "arduous journey of transformation" for leaders. "Charisma alone in a leader is not enough, for inspiring people is not the same as leading them," he says. I will testify to the fact that leadership often feels, as Wes says, like "driving by faith." His book is full of good driving lessons for leaders. But what he and all the most insightful authors on leadership tell us is that leadership is vitally connected to spirituality.
The Personal and the Public
Some say that leaders should be judged only on the basis of their policies, that personal moral failures, although regrettable, are not really relevant to their jobs. Those who focus incessantly on personal morality often end up looking like the Pharisees who were ready to stone the woman taken in adultery (John 8: 1-11). But what can we learn from the Washington-produced dramas of the combustible mix of sex, money, and power? What lasting wisdom about leadership is left after the curtain is drawn and the individual morality plays go off the air? How can the nation's moral scandals become "teachable moments" on the nature of leadership that the country can reflect upon? We quickly learn that these are not left or right issues, and that they have little to do with either side's political agenda.
First, effective public leadership cannot be severed from the trustworthiness of personal character. Ethics and integrity do matter, and not just superficially. Leaders need to be believed. They have to engender trust not only in their policies but also in their judgment. They must create a climate of faithfulness to shared commitments among colleagues and supporters. Thus, leadership derives credibility from example, and not simply from pronouncements. In times of crisis, people follow courage rather than charm.
"Successful" leadership has sometimes meant skillfully segregating public policy from personal integrity. But morality in politics is not defined solely by the pragmatic effectiveness of policies. Conversely, morality cannot exclusively be seen in terms of personal moral behavior that turns a blind eye to the sins of social injustice. A firewall between the personal and public dimensions of our lives is a secular fiction, and it is dangerous to both people and politics. Faith nurtures a healthy congruity between one's inner and outer lives. Its understanding of sin and vision of wholeness weave together the social and the personal. Any discerning ethic of leadership does the same.
Second, a poll-driven politics lacks a moral foundation and vision. Political leaders should not trust their pollsters more than they trust their pastors. Some leaders have the moral and political authority to shape, and even change, public opinion. For that, a moral compass is needed-a compass whose needle points toward where we, as a society, should be heading, rather than simply toward the next election. Too many politicians today try to govern by engaging in perpetual campaigns. As a result, their overriding principle becomes satisfying 51 percent of the voters rather than serving a compelling moral and political vision for our society. Style is not more important than substance; despite the commercial slogan, image isn't everything. While on a horseback-riding trek with my family in Colorado, I got an insight about leadership. I was focused on my two young boys riding horses for the first time, as the expert high-school horsewomen gave us instructions. They said to watch carefully where we were going. "Don't the horses do that?" I asked. "Well, actually, horses don't look ahead very well," one of them replied. 'They just keep looking from side to side and have little forward-looking vision." Wow, I thought, as the revelation hit me. We've got all kinds of political leaders just like that in Washington, D.C.!
...
The question "What's more important, a leader's personal morality or his or her public policy?" may be the wrong one. The more important issue may be the connection between the personal and the public. The idea that public leadership can be partitioned off from personal integrity is a dangerous illusion. The fact that several past political leaders have gotten away with doing so hardly establishes a reliable pattern of leadership for the future. Old styles of leadership are now passing, and new models are already in formation.
The information revolution has subverted our systems of hierarchical authority, transforming our institutions and the imperatives of leadership. The task of leaders today is to articulate vision, build trust, and create an open climate of integrity that facilitates decisions. Anyone who wants to be a leader in the twenty-first century needs to sustain values, nuture community, and clarify our common mission. That is equally true for a pastor, a principal, a president, or a pope.]
Somebody please explain the strategy to me: wouldn’t it make more sense for the government to fall over something Canadians all have strong feelings about: ie the Afghan mission? Are you telling me Harper has out-strategized the Liberals by making everything a confidence motion and then making his infamous little side-deals all around? Isn’t it better to go the polls on an issue that resonates with emotion for Canadians — the economy won’t do that.
I suppose if the economy continues to weaken as expected, then it will be tougher for them to keep governing. I was all set to go over the war and am frankly disappointed to see the Liberals change their stance.
And also disappointed to hear that Pablo Rodriguez is once again whispering in the ears of the media about the Liberal leader.
I for one have respect trust and admiration for Mr Dion and he’s the leader. I wish those waiting in the wings would realize that it hurts the party to have them backstabbing each other through the media.
And as a Canadian, I really want harper out — no I don’t want to wait for years longer while Ignatieff takes out Dion.
Frankly, Dion is the better man.
I have taken a few days to read the comments after Mr Turner asked our opinion and how we would vote for the conservative Motion on the war before responding.
There were some responses that supported the mission and offering some suggested amendments. However, there were more people against the extention of the mission.
In addition, my comments on here about let the government formulate policy and leave the operations to the Grnerals in the field were roundly critized.
I have read both motions. If you take out the historical background in the Liberal motion the only difference that I can see is the mention of curtailing combat opertions in 2009. This was mentioned but very wishy washy. Mr Dion left the decision to the military leaders in the field the same as I was saying.
Both motions indicated a some form of change in 2011. I stated in an earlier post that the review of the operation should be in 2010 and not 2011. This would give NATO sufficient time to respond if we completely withdraw from the mission.
I also mention the cost of re location of the troops if the mission was changed in 2009. Guess what Gen MacKenzie on CTV “Duffy” made the exact same statement.
I also stated there would not be an election over the budget. I indicated that the budget will have measures that address the economy and to defeat it is at the other parties peril.
In this post Mr Turner states there will be goodies for Quebec and nothing for Ontario. This is an assumption and nothing more than a talking point.
Mr Hargroove has been meeting with Mr Prentice. He was very quiet after the meeting. If there was a real divide between the two he would be screaming.
Mr Rea has advised Mr Dion he would not like to see the government fall over the budget. He obviously knows something that Mr Turners is not aware of.
I am not an expert but I believe Mr Dion’s push for an election is to keep his MP’s in line who do not want to go to the polls.
Personally, I would like to see an election and hope one of the paries gets a majority so we can get some political peace in this country and move forward.
As for the Bloc supporting the Conservatives. If you check the record I believe they have supported both parties over the years. In a minority parliament is this not what the voters want their parliamentarians working together. The MP’s and supporters of the Bloc live and pay taxes in Canada as we all do.
Oh, oh! Lyin’ Brian may be CAUGHT?
Mulroney was to get share of Airbus proceeds: accountant
A one-time accountant for Karlheinz Schreiber says the German arms dealer told him a quarter of his proceeds from the sale of Airbus jets to Air Canada would go to former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
But the payment was never made, Giorgio Pelossi told the House of Commons ethics committee looking into Mulroney’s dealings with Schreiber on Thursday.
Speaking by video link from Europe, Pelossi told MPs on the ethics committee that another 25 per cent of the funds was designated to lobbyist and former Newfoundland premier Frank Moores.
…
Pelossi was Schreiber’s accountant and money manager from 1969 until 1991, when the two had a major financial dispute.
He said he opened Swiss bank accounts that Schreiber told him were intended for Mulroney and Moores.
Pelossi became the star witness for German investigators in a government bribery scandal that tarnished longtime chancellor Helmut Kohl and his party, the Christian Democratic Union.
But did the money go to the PC or CPC Party instead would be my question? $1.8 BILLION of our money Canada! If YES, then no wonder Steve wants an election NOW, and BADLY!
Elmer MacKay can’t take stand
Former federal cabinet minister Elmer MacKay has had a fall and won’t testify today before the Commons committee looking into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair.
Mr. MacKay’s wife called the committee Tuesday night to tell them that her husband, a longtime friend of Brian Mulroney and Karlheinz Schreiber, recently took a tumble and had to go to the emergency room, Liberal MP Paul Szabo said Wednesday.
“He’s not in good enough shape to fly to Ottawa tomorrow, nor to go to Halifax for a video conference,” Mr. Szabo said Wednesday.
As he was telling reporters about the news, Mr. Szabo rolled his eyes, suggesting he was suspicious of Mr. MacKay’s story. Asked about that, he joked, “I just said it’s unfortunate. I mean, rehearsal time. You know.”
…
Mr. MacKay was the key minister in Mr. Mulroney’s cabinet pushing the armoured car project planned for Bear Head, near Port Hawkesbury. Mr. Schreiber paid Mr. Mulroney $225,000 to $300,000 in cash in the early 1990s, apparently to help promote the project. Over the years, the two men fell out but Mr. MacKay continued to be on good terms with both.
Nobody has ever suggested wrongdoing by Mr. MacKay, the father of current federal cabinet minister Peter MacKay.
My, my, this should be tracked and full disclosure had.
If I was Dion, I would remove Denis Coderre as the Liberal Defence Critic. He is causing more confusion over Afghanistan. Personally I wouldn’t let this man walk my dog. I have yet to hear him put any kind of consistent logical thought together.
I ask again and wonder out loud why on this earth we allow the Bloc’s to have any say in how we run this country. Do we honestly think they will contribute anything that would benifit Canada? Do we remember the debates two years ago when duceppe made the case to separate so they could have a hockey team in the next olympics. These hypocrits will never leave Canada as long as we continue to feed and shelter them.
They are like little children who constantly say they’re leaving but never do because mommy and daddy can’t bear to see them off.
Well, I for one would love to see them leave and the sooner the better.
In the meantime, let’s start charging them rent.
“This is Nazi brutality,” bears a striking resemblance to the hooded Abu Ghraib detainee photo.
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/govinfo/collections/wwii-posters/img/ww0207-03.jpg
Beware the Ides of March !
Careful Garth, Duceppe and Harper may just be playing with your collective heads. Ambiguity on the BLOC position, right up to the crucial vote, is just what Liberals won’t like.
What is the Liberal budget rhetoric going to be, when you can’t be sure what the BLOC will do ?
More news of import:
Defeat a ‘real possibility’ in Afghanistan
NATO is in disarray and the West faces defeat in Afghanistan unless it overhauls its counter-insurgency and reconstruction strategy, Britain’s Paddy Ashdown wrote in an article published in Britain’s Financial Times.
Mr Ashdown, who was rejected last month by Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the post of senior UN envoy to the country, called in the Times for renewed efforts to win Taliban moderates away from the insurgency.
“With fighting in Afghanistan now entering its seventh year, no agreed international strategy, public support on both sides of the Atlantic crumbling, NATO in disarray and widening insecurity in Afghanistan, defeat is now a real possibility…” he warned.
“We have not lost in Afghanistan … But we will lose if we do not start doing things differently.
Mr Ashdown said the consequences of failure in Afghanistan would be appalling.
“Global terrorism would have won back its old haven and created a new one over the border in a mortally weakened Pakistan,” he said.
Mr Ashdown called for more cooperation between international military and civilian efforts and a greater focus on governance and the rule of law across in a country where corruption and lawlessness is widespread.
When a wise man speaks Truth! Who will listen?
Rae urges Dion to hold off on election
Former leadership rival Bob Rae urged Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion yesterday to wait until spring to pull the plug on the minority Harper government rather than forcing an early election over the Tory budget.
“He made a good case,” one MP from Southern Ontario said. “He said we shouldn’t let Harper choose the date.”
…
“There are some of my colleagues who would rather have their kidneys harvested without anesthetic than go to an election, but I think that’s kind of normal,” Ontario MP Garth Turner said.
As usual, our Garth can state it point blank and rightfully so! Way to go Garth!
By Harry S on 02.14.08 9:49 am
You raised an interesting point in your post, Harry, about the NDP splitting the vote in Ontario, allowing the CPC to win…
This could be possible, considering the Liberals’ move toward the CPC’s position on Afghanistan. There’s no denying that a majority of Canadians want us out of there (used to be 2/3), asap. If Afghanistan somehow becomes an issue in the next election, Mr. Layton could very well attract some of those voters that the Liberals lost, recently, as his position is much more in line with that aforementioned majority than are the CPC and the Liberals.
This could have been Mr. Harper’s plan all along.
-R
Oh, and back at ya, dude, if M Dion is a pod, then Mr. Harper is a dialtone.
US Set to Use Spy Satellites on US Citizens
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/13/2331224&from=rss
America’s Creeping Fascism (pic)
http://thegoodargument.com/2008/02/13/from-freedom-to-fascism/
To see the CPC trolls use name-calling like grammar school kids make you wonder if they are qualified to vote. They think they’re clever? Any kid can do this – obviously their level of thinking.
By slg on 02.14.08 8:41 am
As if only Conservative posters resort to name-calling. Why are you singling them out?
There are posters on both sides that feel that namecalling some how adds to the debate. It is pointless to single out one side, when all sides are guilty.
Happy Valentine’s Day. For all Jim Flaherty’s protestations in the house yesterday about how wonderful his tax cuts have been. Ive just calculated my taxes and they have gone done by 35.50 although fuel cost have gone up by a lot more than that foood prices are going up, property taxes are going up just where is the tax fairness we were promised?
Bush Administration Hides More Data, Shuts Down Website Tracking U.S. Economic Indicators
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/13/economic-indicators/
What’s the point of bleating repeatedly about the travesties of the Harper government and why it must be brought down?
The Team just had their chance to set it up, and they fumbled the ball. On purpose. Didn’t ya notice?
Unless Der Leader does another about face, pronto, you might as well get used to Harper Rule for a while.
That’s the sound of the Man, workin’ on the chain…gaaang, that’s the sound of the Man, workin’ on the chain…Gang! Huuh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLD2iZWHLAM
The party of the sponsorship scandal is alive and kicking. The Liberal Party just will not change.”
Ralph’s call, I guess.
By Brian Dondo on 02.14.08 8:58 am
Brian! One Question if I may. Do you really believe everything you hear especially from where the Sh*t is flying from?
Regards,
Clinton Superdelegates Coordinate “Screw Democracy” Message
http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3914
Depression risk might force U.S. to buy assets
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGOR27660220080212?sp=true
Good to see Boob Rae urging Stephool not to go to the polls.The longer they keep their hands glued to there butts,the longer they can gourge at the Lieberal trough.Iggy the hawk wants us in Afghanistan,and at least he admits it.One backbone out of three is better than nothing.The Lieberals should have stolen a quick 500 from the taxpayers and gone to see Flaherty,then they may have learned how to do a proper budget,if they could ever learn to listen instead of constantly whining and complaining.
Do you seriously believe that the mass of Canadian voters will prefer Dion over Harper or even Layton, to represent them nationally and even internationally. Dion is a pod and has absolutely no leadership charisma.
By Harry S on 02.14.08 9:49 am
Yes sir! Absolutely! Are you saying Harper has charisma? That’s so funny. I would say he comes across more like a bully, control freak, temperamental,& dictator. Only his wife would think he has charisma. Ummm Harry, are you by any chance that person?
Cheers
White House to veto Senate ban on waterboarding
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080214/pl_afp/usbushcongressintelligenceveto
Ultimate end of a Government Manipulated Free Market Economy – all the good bits are owned or banked offshore and the toxic remains are owned by the government (we the people).
America now wants to split the Bond insurers into the good and bad bits. I’ll give you one guess as to who gets left holding the bad bits. The population has to wake up and demand that this stop.
The picture from two years ago with Harper and Duccep shaking hands is now quite significant.
By Jim Trechek on 02.14.08 11:11 am
Interesting you mention them shaking hands. Since a number of years, I have watched leader’s debates in both languages, each in their original language, and I have noticed something peculiar the last time around: if I’m not mistaken Harper did not shake Duceppe’s hand after the English-language debate (Duceppe was waiting for the handshake yet it never came, it was pretty sad), as if to appease mostly anglophone western voters, yet they shook hands after the French-language debate. (Jaysus, the things you get to see when you’re bilingual like me!)
I watch the news and read the Globe every day and I missed this one. How is it that the TV news missed this one.
Republicans walk out on Congress as Democrats try to uphold the laws against Contempt of Congress and the use of Illegal Wiretapping
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/house-gop-stage.html
Re James: Harper doesnt need Ontario to win a majority. Western Canada and rural Quebec would be sufficient
By Liberals Suck on 02.14.08 9:41 am
Maybe. But Harper hasn’t got western Canada, he thinks Canada stops at the rockies. And as we saw, Quebecers don;t like being made the fool by politicians bribing them for their votes.
Harper’s lost Atlantic Canada, he’s lost Ontario, he’s forgotten about BC., Quebecers can see what he’s up too and won’t put up with it. And even in Blue Alberta, after Sir Ralph’s departure, there are winds of change.
So he could win with Western Canada and Quebec, but he won’t.
Harrty S writes: “This may not hold true in the next election because the GTA is flooded with Liberal-only multicultis who did not even live in Canada 13 years ago.”
You sir, disgust me….My parents and family have been here for more than 13 years, and we’re “multicultis”…My father even went out west to Alberta and broke his back building for those red-necks out westin the 70′s and 80′s….How dare you assume that other cultures have no concern for this country…It our country too!!!
You are a racists bigot, and I hope that Garth bans your IP…You represent all that is wrong with the right-wing in our country….The reason people like Stephen Harper will NEVER by a majority PM in this country…..
Here is some great insight into what Flim Flam is really all about
Minister of lower expectations tells us
We don’t expect tax cuts because we were told not to
Terence Corcoran, Financial Post Published: Friday, February 08, 2008
According to Mr. Flaherty — continuing his campaign to eliminate any hope that taxes and/or spending might be cut — Canadians should not expect “large tax reductions” in his next budget. And why not? Mr. Flaherty has recently offered at least four reasons why tax cuts are not on the table: (1) The cupboard is bare. (2) Canadians don’t expect tax cuts. (3) Tax cuts during an economic slowdown are a bad idea. (4)We’ve already had big tax cuts.
The cupboard is bare: Not really. For one thing, Ottawa is sitting on at least $10-billion in cash, a surplus from the current fiscal year that ends next month. Instead of distributing that money to taxpayers– a clear option–the Tories will pay down the debt. The effect on the economy of paying down the debt is negligible to nonexistent, and possibly negative. For politicians, the impact is hugely positive: they continue to collect $10-billion in surplus revenues that can be spent over the next election year on vote-buying schemes.
Even more baffling, Mr. Flaherty said his stimulus package is bigger than the Bush-Congress tax stimulus package for the U.S. economy, relatively speaking. Therefore, Tory tax cuts are more stimulative. So here we have Mr. Flaherty boasting that his past tax cuts will help the economy during the coming slowdown, even though he has already said that Canadians are not so stupid as to think that tax reductions are a good idea during economic slowdowns.
Since Mr. Flaherty’s $190-billion in tax cuts are spread over five years and most will not kick in until later, his claim to having a better stimulus package than the U.S. package doesn’t hold water either.
All of this budget talk, of course, might get overtaken by an election call — an election into which we will all head with our expectations lowered about Conservative tax policy.
Please bring on the election -make my Valentines Day truly special.
$90,000 payment appears to contradict ex-Mulroney aide’s testimony: documents
Last Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008 | 1:31 PM ET
CBC News
Documents revealing that a former senior adviser to Brian Mulroney received $90,000 from a company controlled by Karlheinz Schreiber in 1988 appear to contradict sworn testimony he gave earlier this week.
Copies of invoices and cheques obtained by The Fifth Estate show that Fred Doucet received the money less than three months after he left the Conservative government and before he registered as a lobbyist for the German-Canadian businessman.
It is unclear what services Doucet, who formally advised Mulroney from 1983 to 1987 but stayed in close touch with him afterward, provided for the money.
Doucet was contacted by The Fifth Estate Wednesday night, and when told the CBC had the invoice he sent to Schreiber for the $90,000, Doucet replied, “Why do you have that? What right do you have to have that?”
Although Doucet agreed to review the invoices and provide CBC News with a comment on Wednesday night, he did not reply.
The documents obtained by The Fifth Estate originated from sources in Germany, where more than a decade ago authorities raided Schreiber’s business and residences just outside of Munich.
Doucet had testified to the federal ethics committee investigating the dealings between Mulroney and Schreiber that he first met Schreiber in the fall of 1988 and later registered as a lobbyist for Schreiber’s company in the fall of 1989.
Lobby registry documents show that Doucet did register as a lobbyist for Schreiber’s company Bitucan on Oct. 10, 1989.
Doucet also testified that he began working for Schreiber in the winter of 1990.
“I believe I got on the payroll in February of ’90,” Doucet told the committee.
But the invoice obtained by The Fifth Estate shows that Doucet’s lobbying company, FDCI, billed Schreiber’s company Bitucan “for professional services” on Nov. 2, 1988, for $90,000.
The money Doucet apparently received matches the same amount paid to four other lobbyists the same month.
On Nov. 15, 1988, Bitucan Holdings wrote cheques to: former Newfoundland premier Frank Moores, Gerry Doucet, Fred Doucet’s brother, and Gary Ouellet, a former chief of staff to a Conservative transport minister.
The lobby firm Government Consultants International, GCI also received $250,000 from Bitucan on the same day.
From what I can figure out as things stand right now there are tax deductions for celebrity auctions by political parties but not by charitable organizations.
this ought to turn out well.
For someone who claims he never had any profits from the Airbus deal (paid for by Canadian Taxpayers) it seems rather suspicious that there were Swiss bank accounts were for Mulroney and Moores, Schreiber accountant says
Karlheinz Schreiber’s former accountant says he was present in 1986 when bank accounts were opened in Switzerland which he was told were being set up to eventually receive Airbus commissions intended for Brian Mulroney and Frank Moores, a parliamentary committee was told today.
Giorgio Pelossi testified by teleconference from Europe to the Commons ethics committee, saying he knows now that the Airbus commission money, which was estimated at about $20-million, was never funnelled to the Swiss accounts.
“I have no knowledge of what happened to the [commission] money,” he said at one point.
Mr. Pelossi said he accompanied Mr. Schreiber and Mr. Moores to the Swiss bank when the accounts were opened. Mr. Pelossi recalled that Mr. Schreiber told him that Mr. Mulroney, the prime minister at the time, and Mr. Moores, a lobbyist and former premier of Newfoundland, would each receive 25% of commissions meant for Canadian officials involved in the Airbus $1.8-billion sale to Air Canada.
more follows…
Sure looks, walks, talks, and waddles like a DUCK IMHO!
Could it be what financed Bush’s campaigns, John Howard’s in Australia, and the CPC?
Follow the money AND NEVER STOP THE SEARCH! Hello Houston? We have a LIVE ONE!
Bernanke warns the US Economy is worsening, but has no real plan how to fix it
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/congress_recession_threat;_ylt=AoN4EPrC78OEfqEscuPNHYGs0NUE
Maybe he should ask the Aussie PM how to apologize to the Natives in our country.
Harper talks to Australian PM about Afghan mission
The Canadian Press
February 14, 2008 at 1:45 PM EST
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080214.waustralpmafg0214/BNStory/National/home
Also an election is coming Harper is trying to solidify his base.Sneaky.
Private member’s bill would protect unborn crime victims
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Conservative MP Ken Epp is seeking support for a private member’s bill that would recognize the unborn as separate victims when their mothers are killed or harmed in an attack.
Epp says the Unborn Victims of Crime Act has nothing to do with abortion but is meant to fill a major gap in the law.
But critics say that’s a backdoor effort to reopen the abortion debate by sneaking a recognition of fetal rights into Canadian law
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2008/02/14/4847080-cp.html
Private member’s bill would protect unborn crime victims
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
I believe if I worked on The Hill these days wouldn’t waste new shoes stepping around all the sandbags that are getting tossed around. That’s enough to go on right there.
Doucet is lying?
$90,000 payment appears to contradict ex-Mulroney aide’s testimony: documents
Last Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008 | 3:52 PM ET
CBC New
Documents revealing that a former senior adviser to Brian Mulroney received $90,000 from a company controlled by Karlheinz Schreiber in 1988 appear to contradict sworn testimony he gave earlier this week.
Copies of invoices and cheques obtained by The Fifth Estate show that Fred Doucet received the money less than three months after he left the Conservative government and before he registered as a lobbyist for the German-Canadian businessman.
It is unclear what services Doucet, who formally advised Mulroney from 1983 to 1987 but stayed in close touch with him afterward, provided for the money.
Doucet was contacted by The Fifth Estate Wednesday night, and when told the CBC had the invoice he sent to Schreiber for the $90,000, Doucet replied, “Why do you have that? What right do you have to have that?”
Although Doucet agreed to review the invoices and provide CBC News with a comment on Wednesday night, he did not reply.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/02/14/doucet-schreiber.html
By Robert Gibbs on 02.14.08 3:00 pm
Hey, Robert I hear that next week will be really exciting, that they will call in the Mulroney pizza delivery boy from that time! Followed by the garbage pick-up guy, Mila’s hair dresser, all the kids who used to play with their kids and a friend of Brian’s second cousin’s wife. Enjoy. Leasa
Michael does not bash Libs because he wishes he were one. Harper showed him his true nature. — Garth
By Off Topic on 02.14.08 9:36 am
As you would say Garth…do you have proof that Michael Chong MP for Wellington Halton Hills and CPC caucus member wants to become a liberal?
I happen to know that statement of yours is false.
It’s a secret, you goat. — Garth
By Harry S on 02.14.08 9:49 am
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. This Ontarian doesn’t care which province the PM comes from.
This Ontarian believes that a PM should keep all his election promises, but recognises that situations change. If a promise has to be broken, the PM must show why? If he does not then the promises he made were lies to gain votes.
PMSH has broken so many promises without justification, he no longer has any credibility.
Given the choice, I’ll pick a PM from Quebec over PMSH anytime. It maybe a case of better the devil you know (PMSH) than the one you think you know (Dion), but I’ll take that risk, and I suspect the majority of Ontarians agree with me.
. . . because Charles has a Spock like mind! LOL!
By Bill-Muskoka on 02.14.08 12:02 am
Logical!
————————————————————————–
Before the serious parts of life occur, this is part of an e-mail a friend sent this a.m.
Was reading that Spam is still the choice of survivalists because it’s one of the few foods that has a shelf life of 50 years . . . so the North American lifestyle is imploding . . . buy some Spam and stockpile tins and tins of Tim Horton’s coffee . . . Mosstradamus has spoken.
Yours in tubfulls of Spam . . . Biggles
Other than society screwing itself royally, which it is doing presently, barbecued on medium heat until lightly browned, sliced spam (which can replace hot dogs) is a delightful delicacy, and washed down with extra-strength mochas, it is to die for!
———————————————————————
This CP report today is the one thing — more than IT’s, broken promises and any other — that harper & thugs will be remembered for.
It seems, after combat, a number of Cdn. troops now suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, and are unwilling to seek help.
Why? Help is available to all who want it, so what are the reasons behind their reluctance to get help?
Don’t forget (now where have I heard that before?), the members of our Armed Forces did not CHOOSE this mission — they were SENT there by someone who craves attention and is hell-bent on becoming another dubya (god help us).
What have Bill Clinton and dubya done for America lately? They have kept the good stuff for friends and themselves, and spent the rest. So much for good leadership! It seems that liars and cheats continually prosper.
One other report from CP concerns David Emerson, the former Liberal who, as soon as harper got a minority crossed the floor (no election was ever called for him) with amazing speed in order to keep his job — and thereby pension — going strong. He already knows he is gone when the election is held.
Emerson has said that “. . . automakers (and workers) will need to adapt . .”. Adapt to what? The autoworkers shot themselves in the feet with shoddy workmanship. We used to have a GM Suburban; the transmission fell out three times.
Last time, we traded up for a Mazda, which is a very efficient vehicle, because it actually works.
We will never buy North American again — it’s not worth the hassle.
I ask again and wonder out loud why on this earth we allow the Bloc’s to have any say in how we run this country. ~ Ron
Hey Ron, Have any say? Did you know, it is unlikely, but not impossible that after the next election we could have Prime Minister Duceppe! Wouldn’t that make your jaw drop!
Leasa
Duceppe, 64, May, Harper, Layton & Dion 61 each. Prime Minister Duceppe! LOL
Liberals on this fine forum seem to be united behind Dion … reject Ignatieff as a possible future leader … and don’t really want Bob Rae the failed NDP premier of Ontario anywhere near the Liberal leadership.
Once Bob Rae is elected on March 17th and enters the Liberal caucus as a full MP, the Liberal party will become fully polarized between Ignatieff and Rae … with Dion waffling in abject desperation to hold on to his failed leadeship.
Dion must somehow precipitate an election on the Budget and hope that the BQ doesn’t support the government. If he is unable to force an election on Canadians, I personally believe that Dion will have no other option than to resign as Liberal leader.
Dion is NOT a leader now … but just imagine what will happen within the Liberal caucus with Ignatieff and Rae fighting … and fighting they will do ..!!!
If i may ask? now that Quebec has Steve Harper in it’s back pocket and the West is in will Alberta become the first Western Bilingual province. Bonjour Partner….Bonjour little doggie….y’all remember to come to this years Le Galgary Stampooh, yeepee ding, the west is in.
By James-Chatham on 02.14.08 4:18 pm
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. This Ontarian doesn’t care which province the PM comes from.
This Ontarian believes that a PM should keep all his election promises, but recognises that situations change. If a promise has to be broken, the PM must show why? If he does not then the promises he made were lies to gain votes.
PMSH has broken so many promises without justification, he no longer has any credibility.
Given the choice, I’ll pick a PM from Quebec over PMSH anytime. It maybe a case of better the devil you know (PMSH) than the one you think you know (Dion), but I’ll take that risk, and I suspect the majority of Ontarians agree with me.
…………………………………
If Ontario espouses Dion in any next election, that will rejuvenate the Quebec separatists … because most of francophone Quebecers despise Dion.
Ontario backing the Dion Liberals will be the equivalent of Ontario stuffing despised Dion down Quebecer’s throats.
What is so incongruous is having Ontarians Ignatieff and Rae promoting Dion as Ontario’s answer to Canada’s prime minister.
Nice thoughts … eh ..??!!
Just keep your stick on the ice & keep shooting the puck to achieve your goals.
Better days are coming Garth.By Andrea Timmons on 02.14.08 11:13 am
Garth is like Wayne Gretzky “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been. ”
You are a racists bigot, and I hope that Garth bans your IP…You represent all that is wrong with the right-wing in our country….The reason people like Stephen Harper will NEVER by a majority PM in this country…..By Nelson on 02.14.08 2:45 pm
I was also offended by this statement. New Canadians should be welcomed with open arms. Except for the aboriginals, we are all descendants of immigrants or refugees. Harry, are you of aboriginal heritage…because, if not, you are out of line, once again.
By Robert Gibbs on 02.14.08 3:00 pm
Hey, Robert I hear that next week will be really exciting, that they will call in the Mulroney pizza delivery boy from that time! Followed by the garbage pick-up guy, Mila’s hair dresser, all the kids who used to play with their kids and a friend of Brian’s second cousin’s wife. Enjoy. LeasaBy Leasa on 02.14.08 4:09 pm
Boy do you ever live in La-La land. Your posts are a joke…like Harry’s. Oh, look…shiny thing over there…
Rumours are Harper attended the big Canwest shindig.Has anyone heard about this? It seems strange that the biggest con-media source was allowed to expand so much this year. It would be pretty brazen of our PM to show up to their event.
Also;
Leaked report on the Great Lakes is a wake-up call
High levels of pollution pose a health threat. U.S., Canadian decision-makers keep public in the dark for fear of lawsuits, expensive cleanups, scientist says
WILLIAM MARSDEN, The Gazette
Published: 14 hours ago
At least 9 million people living on the United States side of the Great Lakes basin may be in danger from high levels of chemical pollution, according to a secret study that has been withheld from the public.
The study was kept secret from the public for seven months until this week when it was leaked to the Centre for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=79fc6bff-2fb2-4603-a510-f539db342a51
Doucet replied, “Why do you have that? What right do you have to have that?”
By Keith Phibbs on 02.14.08 4:08 pm
Which, legally, is an admidtion that it is true and genuine. Not the swiftest kayak in the rapids, is he? LOL
They all think they can hide things away, just like Conrad Black (OOPS! Damn those survellience cameras!). I wonder how CONnie is doing? Just about time to check into the Hotel Conrad as I recall!
They all think they are so smart. Smart people do not commit crimes or cross the legal lines.
ATTENTION MR FLAHERTY:
Mattel has been calling.
They want to use your brain as silly puddy.
At the same time, REITs have been trying to fill all the vacancy in your head.
I hope you like eating crow, because when Harper is done sending all your tax dollars to Quebec, you won’t ever be able to whine about Liberals again By Nelson.
Where wee the liberal supporters slamming their own party when the Block propped up the Martin Government. How how quickly some people forget.
This change in Afghanistan rhetoric I hear about – could it mean an earlier withdrawl date for Canada?
Speaking of Love toy(s), here is one of dubya’s yes-men (like harper, sarkozy) jumping as high as he can, to please the White House.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Musharraf_Pakistan_more_important_than_human_0214.html
Stevie’s and Flaherty’s one percent drop in the GST has brought to many businesses who either raised their prices or didn’t change from the 6%. It is criminal. By Bonnie.
The fact is that it is not criminal as claimed when a company doesn’t pass down the GST cuts in a free enterprise society. You could argue that it is unethical but not criminal by any stretch of imagination. People have a choice to make they either buy their product at these businesses or they can boycott it them until they cut their prices. A good example is the brouhaha about Canadian vs American prices not being the same in relation to our high dollar. The prices in fact dropped after the public outcry about the Canadian companies ripping us off. That demonstrates the power of the consumer.
“One senior member of parliament said to me, either we’re going to get (Dion) to change his mind or maybe we’re going to have to push him off the ledge,” Fife said.
I wonder wo the senior M.P. who said that was. Only good thing to come out of all this is that the Green party might win some seats this go around. Politicians are so far removed from the regular Canadians it is no wonder there is such low voter turnout. Have an election to remove the pigs at the trough, and replace them with similer pigs in different colours.
LMAO! Seems our Liberals can even teach the American Rethuglicans lessons (Too bad they can’t learn our Liberal’s ethics regarding proper cause).
House GOP stages walkout over surveillance, contempt resolution
House Republicans just staged a walkout on Capitol Hill as Democrats considered a resolution that would hold some of President Bush’s former aides in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions before the Judiciary Committee.
…
The White House has cited executive privilege as grounds for not complying with the subpoenas.
We, of course, got it right as a protest for an illegal Bill, not to prevent a legal Bill from passing!
The White House has cited executive privilege as grounds for not complying with the subpoenas.
…
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the Republicans are exaggerating the need to pass a bill before the current version of the Protect America Act expires at midnight on Saturday. She quoted a Justice Department official who told The New York Times that the expiration of the law will not effect any of the intelligence community’s existing wiretaps, just new applications.
Mattel has been calling.
They want to use your brain as silly puddy.
At the same time, REITs have been trying to fill all the vacancy in your head.
By Robert Gibbs on 02.14.08 5:28 pm
Let’s send a sample in for testing. Obviously it contains lead!
Harpler trying to BUY votes with YOUR tax dollars, from a party that wants to rip apart Canada as a separatist state…says it all about the CON-BORGS.
Shameful By DXXXX
Did you say the same thing when Martin did the very same thing during his minority government? I rather doubt it.
The fact is that the Bloc are an approved party under our parliamentary system and they were democratically elected to parliament. If you believe in democracy then you have no option to accept this fact even if you detest their principals as I do. So to demonize this party and the Harper government is just plain stupid and without merit and undemocratic to say the least.. Why were the liberal supporters so silent when the Martin government solicited the Bloc support to remain in power.
The fact of the matter is that Dion and his Liberal party are not as powerful as he thinks. Lately he was talking about bringing down the government over the budget. The fact is that he can not do by himself but must have the support of the other two opposition parties. He had his chances but he chose instead to abstain or have Liberal Mps not show up for the votes. His mistake not the Blocs or any other party. That is the reality.
By Lana on 02.14.08 4:47 pm
Hey – no one really cares about Mulroney (except for maybe Garth, as he served as one of his MPs). We all know he was arrogant and wanted to live the life of riley. We get it. So why are we wasting millions of our tax dollars on this soap opera now?
So there’s “rumours” on the hill that the budget will be defeated. I told you so – Stephane Dion does not want to vote on the Afghanistan mission.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080214/confidence_matters_080214/20080214?hub=TopStories
The Kim Campbell PC massacre will look like a square dance when the election eventually comes. The fed’s pockets aren’t deep enough to pay us all off!
By James- Chatham on 02.14.08 7:20 am
From what I remember, Ms. Campbell — who was left to clean up Mulroney’s incompetent mess — won two seats. Less than two is one, then zero.
Any chance of CRAP receving zero votes? Talk about a wipe-out!
——————————————————————-
. . . Only his wife would think he has charisma. Ummm Harry, are you by any chance that person?
By Irene on 02.14.08 1:13 pm
Now the whole, sordid truth becomes clear — Harry no longer knows what he / she / it is!
Mind you, Harry does provide comical interludes for the rest of us.
By Lana on 02.14.08 4:47 pm
Hey – no one really cares about Mulroney (except for maybe Garth, as he served as one of his MPs). We all know he was arrogant and wanted to live the life of riley. We get it. So why are we wasting millions of our tax dollars on this soap opera now?By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:14 pm
au contraire. Lots of people care…probably just not those of the conservative bent.
You guys are all over everything Liberals or NDPs do, but are blissfully ignorant of anything that would possibly put a negative slant on your party of choice.
Just to be clear…I am NOT a Liberal, Conservative or NDP…I am one of those “undecided” (well, I’m not undecided about voting for Harper’s version of the conservative party).
It is important for us to know what goes on behind our backs, regardless of which party dishonest people come from.
I am unhappy with the Liberals new stance on Afghanistan, and it will probably affect how I vote. I will probably vote Green Party. They have not had a chance yet to be corrupt, unethical, or playing to the polls.
Just wanted to set you straight. You may not care about what is being revealed in the ethics committee hearings, but I do. And I’m not alone. Please don’t speak for others…it is a bad habit of the conservatives on this blog.
In relation to 1930s Germany, this clip is somewhat similar.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19347.htm
By Van on 02.14.08 6:06 pm
You do recall Harper’s campaign promises of an ‘Open, Clean, and ACCOUNTABLE government’, do you not?
PS: Do you have shares in the Black Marker industry, or the goobernment’s supplier? Who is that supplier BTW?
Did they meet the contract review requirements? Was the contract for more than $24,999?
Enquiring minds want to know! Get back to us when you have some real answers, eh!
Bernanke doesn’t mention dubya’s pointless and continuing wars, which run at about $12 billion per month.
Times that by 12 months per year, add in a few extras (like tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.) and the total is around $150 billion.
Think how many mochas and donuts one could buy with that each year!
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080214/D8UQ9KVO0.html
By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:17 pm
CC, there are a few rumours floating arounfd Garth’s blog as well. Want in on them?
Oh this is sooo funny. Stevie Cameron – just deals in the facts. Mila/Brian – toads that they are, entitlement pigs that they are. Read it and weep and wonder what the hell else has been going on all these years right up to the present. Get stuffed, the lot of you.
http://steviecameronblog.blogspot.com/
We all know he was arrogant and wanted to live the life of riley. We get it. So why are we wasting millions of our tax dollars on this soap opera now?
By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:14 pm
Is that an admidtion CC? Yes, Mulroney thought he had arrived at Nirvana, where the taxpayers, and foreign interests who could fund his lifestyle.
There is the reason we are going to spend money investigating what Canada’s Prime Minister REALLY DID while in an office of PUBLIC TRUST!!!
And when his cajones are caught in the bear trap, he is going to refund the money he illegally received, as is the CPC!
It’s a matter of ‘honesty, integrity, and JUSTICE, CC!
Catherine, Happy Valentines Day, your kind word do deserve praise, but I digress to election chatter. How many times has Stevie threatened an election then gotten cold feet. Let me count the ways, sorry ran out of fingures. The fact is most Canadians believe that his fixed election day Bill ment something and he really did paint himself in corner pushing that. And Catherine, his Senate bashing is dead in water because the Senators (Including his buddy bag man) know that even he is that foolish to open the consitution. So what’s left, nothing my dear, just plain ode running the country’s business exactly what he was elected to do….simple hey.
By Lana on 02.14.08 4:47 pm
Hey – no one really cares about Mulroney (except for maybe Garth, as he served as one of his MPs). We all know he was arrogant and wanted to live the life of riley. We get it. So why are we wasting millions of our tax dollars on this soap opera now?
By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:14 pm
Me thinks Harper & his blind followers(That includes you Catherine) care a great deal about Mulroney. If the real truth were to come out, the Sh*t will hit the fan & that might prove to be a tad messy Huh Catherine?
Cheers
English to English translations:
LOL
CONTROL: A short, ugly inmate.
Yep, that pretty well describes them!
That raises the question ‘Is the Death Star actually a Provincially, or Federally funded institution in Penetanguishene, or Kitchener?’
The US needs more, more and yet more energy, so they will play the big, bad wolf again.
BTW, it is well to remember that Sadaam was about to switch to the Euro just prior to dubya’s invasion, based on WMD.
Now Iran has already said that their new Bourse begins Feb. 27 so, watch for the heated rhetoric and osturing to start big time.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080214.IBENERGY14/TPStory/Business
Garth, what’s up with this ‘the gov’t. expects to fall with the budget’? I thought the Bloc was going to support the budget?
By Harry S on 02.14.08 4:33 pm
Question for you Harry. Why don’t people, like yourself, want another PM from Quebec?
Is it because they seem to concentrate too much on the Belle Provence? If it is, then PMSH must be a honourary member of that club.
But, IMHO, PM’s from Quebec get into problems with their Province because they are the opposite, they treat all provinces as fairly as possible, that is Quebec tends not to get preferential treatment. And yes the separatists love that because they think they should.
>>>>> FLASH NEWS <<<<<
Tories expect to be defeated over budget: CTV
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Thu. Feb. 14 2008 6:10 PM ET
CTV News has learned that the Conservative government expects that it will be defeated over the budget in early March. That means Canadians could go to the polls by early April.
The government has apparently intensified its election readiness, believing it may fall during a non-confidence vote on March 4, the day of the Liberal amendment to the Tory budget. That could set an election date for as early as April 7.
Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife told CTV Newsnet’s Mike Duffy Live that Dion has told people he is ready to pull the election trigger over the budget bill, even though some Liberals are against the idea.
“All the senior people, including the people who run the campaign … they don’t want an election right now. They do not want an election because they do not believe the party is ready to go into an election,” Fife said.
He said that the Conservatives have reacted by getting their election headquarters “up and running. They’re getting their planes booked. The campaign workers have been told to get ready for an election campaign.”
Fife noted, however, that the divisions over calling an election call run deep in the Liberal Party. He said senior Liberals such as Ralph Goodale, Michael Ignatieff, and Bob Rae don’t want an election right now.
“One senior member of parliament said to me, either we’re going to get (Dion) to change his mind or maybe we’re going to have to push him off the ledge,” Fife said.
…………………………………
Does he or doesn’t he …. does Dion still have a firm hold on the Liberal leadership or is he now getting boxed in by Harper, Layton, Ignatieff, Rae ..?!
It’s obvious that if the Liberals don’t vote non-confidence in the Budget that will finish off Dion ..!!
Here is what the Bloc represents:
The Constitution Act, 2007 (Democratic Representation)
PAQUETTE, Pierre, BLOC speaking on Feb 13’07
The House of Commons has recognized the Quebec nation. Canada and the Canadian nation have recognized that there is a nation that is called the Quebec nation.
“We have to ensure that the political weight of the Quebec nation is preserved over time.
I would remind the House that in 1840 the Act of Union brought together Upper Canada and Lower Canada, even though Lower Canada had no debt at the time—as I recall—and was much more populous. Lower Canada and its representatives agreed that Upper Canada, which had a large debt that was absorbed and a smaller population, would have exactly the same number of elected members. The people’s representatives at that time believed that there were truly two founding peoples who were coming together in a union.
I recall the speech I have read in which the representatives of Lower Canada, while recognizing that the population of Lower Canada was larger, agreed, in order to create this common political landscape, that Upper Canada would have the same number of representatives as they had.
That is the spirit that should guide all the parties in this House. They must recognize that within the Canadian political landscape there are at least two nations. In fact, there are more than that because there are also our first nations and, in my view, the Acadian nation. At present, they are not asking for any representation. That is their problem. But we feel that it is necessary to ensure that the representation of the Quebec nation, regardless of the distribution formula that may be used, is not reduced and is maintained at 25%.
That is the gist of the remarks that we will be making in the next few days. We are not talking about a province. Quebec is not a province. The Quebec state and territory are the seat of a nation that must be heard in the House of Commons; that must also have a relationship of equals with the Canadian nation. That is the great problem of Canada. It is not relations between Quebec and Canada that are the problem. It is not Quebec that causes problems in Canada as a whole. The problem is that Canada was founded on the illusion that it was made up of 10 provinces that are all equal in law and all the same, which is not true.”
Is their view really “our” view of Canada?
Harry S.
What’s your problem with representation by population?
I live in NW Ontario, about as far from GTA as one be from Toronto and still live in Ontario. I find the idea of the Cons trying to screw Ontario out of 11 deserved seats disgusting and would vote against them just this issue. However, there is also the tax on Income Trust businesses which has also made me very angry.
From an ex-conservative who has learned you can only TRUST HARPER to LIE, CONCEAL and FABRICATE.
Regards
By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:14 pm
I dunno… because Mulroney is one of Harpers brain trusts? Because lobbyists really do have that much influence on governments and its time the average voter was made aware of it. And if you don’t think so, you should start asking what purpose the National Citizens Coalition serves and what Harpers role was there for the 5 years previous to his becoming Con leader. While you’re at it, you can start asking yourself where the NCC’s 2.8 billion dollar annual budget came from… it wasn’t from Can corps, I’ll tell you that much.
And the final question. How is it that a group of U.S. based mulinationals got into the position of having their lobbyist leader in Harper climb his way to becoming the PM of Canada? What you should be asking if you had any kind of an open mind and common sense, is how any political party of Canada could remotely entertain the thought of having such an obvious lobbyist of U.S. corps as the leader of any political party, never mind your beloved New Cons.
By Catherine on 02.14.08 6:17 pm
I’ll bet you a C note it won’t be on the budget. Hate to break it to you, but these New Cons aren’t the kind of shiny you can take their word on.
By Bill-Muskoka on 02.14.08 12:06 pm
Liked your post on leadership. I enjoyed the stuff about Gandi… made me search for what he has written out there with the local library online.
That thing with John Chapter 8 : 1 – 11, though. This whole passage doesn’t show up until the 4th century. There are about 20 earlier copies of the original that don’t have this copy. Its pretty much accepted that this entire passage in the bible was a 4th century add on. In other words, John didn’t write it.
Interestingly, stone or stones represents the stone tablets of the 10 commandments in the OT. Kind of funny how Jews take it so literal instead of taking it by Moses intended meaning… but then, constant mistakes in interpetation like this one for example, is why a good number of people think of the bible as nothing more than a collection of stories.
Man I come here to catch up on the news of the day to find out about Conservatives payola to Quebec MPs (no doubt in many ‘Blocks’ of $24K). Much as that is scandalous and worthy of media coverage, I encounter this posting, one that’s just plain loathsome. I await the Conservative supporters on this site to explain it away in the manner of the apologist, or for once recognize that a line of decency has been crossed, and show disdain by denouncing this small-minded behaviour. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know how these people can stand to look at themselves in the mirror.
Hi Keith Phibbs,
Thanks for the link to water pollution in the great lakes posing a health threat.
Do you have the facts about the toxic FLUORIDE waste they are adding to our drinking water. It’s a deseption that it’s helps our teeth if you drink it!
Tell your local Government to stop adding this toxic fluoride waste to our drinking water!
To get the fax and science on fluoride goto: http://www.fluoridealert.org
http://www.flouridealert.org/
But here’s the real coup de grace of this gift of less spending being so generously offered to the Canadian people by Messieurs Fortier (Public Works Minister), et Toews (Treasury Board President): $31.2M – $10M = $21.2M, which is still almost 20% more than the $18M that the Liberal governments were so chastised for by the Conservatives whilst in Opposition.
Please, don’t do me anymore favours!
Harry, you have been predicting the imminent demise of Dion for Months now, give it rest. Shit, you buffoons have also been predicting Garth was all washed up and would fade away and be muzzled by the Liberals,… ya that happened.
As for racist xenophobic screech about naturalized Canadians, it is obvious that you believe there should two different levels of citizenship in Canada, two sets of laws; One set of rights and laws of White Canadians who are born in Canada, and another set of laws, with few rights for non-whites and immigrants.
You’re a POS racists, but I’m very glad that Garth allows you to flap your racist sh*thole here, cause it clearly demonstrates the type of people who will support Harper.
Zorpheous
aka
Philip Qua
Toronto
Hi Charles Oxley, on.,
Thanks for this great links,
Worth seeing!!! ~3-5 min.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19347.htm
If they can do it to them they can do it to you and your family!
It’s important who your government is and who is making the laws.
When will this start in Canada with Harpers secrative SPP deal to harmanize our standard and military with the USA?
Are you a critical-thinker?
Remember they want to put biometric data in our ID’s, real ID card, RFID chip are getting very small. There as small as the period at the end of this sentance!.
What kid of world do you want to live in and make for your kids and family???
BIG BROTHER almost has full control, but there is still time to stop them.
Both the CBC and CTV are bascially lambasting Dion for wanting an election. There is no report of and deal between the BQ and the Conservatives. In fact, the word is that the BQ have already started preparing their campaign.
The Conservatives have fed their media puppet that they will be defeated on the budget on March 4 and we will be into an election.
Since they are claiming they will be defeated on the budget does that mean that the Senate will have passed the crime bill by March 1?
All the Senate has to do is delay the crime bill and force Harper to cause his own government to fall. While the this might be seen as a plus for the anti-Senate advocates it could also damage Harper because it would mean that he would be violating the intent of the fixed election legislation. He would be thumbing his nose at his own legislation. He would also be delaying the passing of the crime bill even longer and he would be totally responsible for the election call, not the opposition parties.
If the Senate passes the crime bill before March 1 it will be seen as being under the control of the PM and its independence will be compromised. It would be seen as bullied by Harper into not doing its job.
If they do not pass the bill and Harper does not immediately seek a dissolution he will be seen as dithering. It may be that Harper has boxed himself in and will not be able to wait for the budget vote on March 4.
In their attempts to “spin” the election issue against Dion they have ignored all the other implications.
By Harry S on 02.14.08 8:25 pm
Tories expect to be defeated over budget: CTV
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Thu. Feb. 14 2008 6:10 PM ET
I dont get it Harry. Canadians do not want an election and the tories admit they want one really ,really bad.Why is that good?
Thanks for the link anyway though.
Hi Charles Oxley, on.,
Have you see these.
Rockefellers “Joked” About Controlling The World
http://aftermathnews.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/rockefellers-joked-about-controlling-the-world/
America: Freedom to Fascism – Director’s Authorized Version
http://www.freedomtofascism.com
1 hr 51 min 16 sec
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
It’s fine with me that Ontario not get the extra ridings, provided that Alberta and BC get the same propotion less than what’s being proposed in Bill C-22.
Unfair:
======================== ========================
2007 2011
======================== ========================
Seats Pop Pop/Seat Seats Pop Pop/Seat
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
QC 75 7683.9 102500 75 7841.4 104600
ON 106 12821.6 121000 116 13374.7 115300
AB 28 3332.8 119000 33 3483.2 105600
BC 36 4350.9 120900 43 4545.0 105700
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
Fair # 1:
======================== ========================
2007 2011
======================== ========================
Seats Pop Pop/Seat Seats Pop Pop/Seat
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
QC 75 7683.9 102500 75 7841.4 104600
ON 106 12821.6 121000 127 13374.7 105300
AB 28 3332.8 119000 33 3483.2 105600
BC 36 4350.9 120900 43 4545.0 105700
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
Fair # 2:
======================== ========================
2007 2011
======================== ========================
Seats Pop Pop/Seat Seats Pop Pop/Seat
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
QC 75 7683.9 102500 75 7841.4 104600
ON 106 12821.6 121000 120 13374.7 111500
AB 28 3332.8 119000 31 3483.2 112400
BC 36 4350.9 120900 41 4545.0 110900
===== ======= ======== ===== ======= ========
Boy do you ever live in La-La land. Your posts are a joke…like Harry’s. Oh, look…shiny thing over there…
By Lana on 02.14.08 4:47 pm
No Lana the joke is that committee. The Liberal grilling of the chef was humiliating to watch. The fishing was relentless and more than one observer has said they were totally embarrassed by the liberals on this committee.
Mr. Mulroney looks like a choir boy compared the Chretien. There is still $40 million of tax payer’s dollars missing, where is it?
Some day, someone will fess up, probably in a book.
Oh, look Lana, the shinny thing is gone…LOL…you’ve got liberals. We’d call the CPC exterminators, but heck the critters are exterminating themselves!
Leasa
Dion desperately needs an election before the March 17 by-elections … because should Bob Rae become one of the Liberal ‘made men’ as an MP in the caucus, that is when Dion’s leadership will cease.
We all know that Rae is the Powercorp hitman being injected into the Liberal party caucus, and once he gets in, Dion’s day’s as leader are numbered and short.
Dion’s only recourse is to force an election on the Liberal party, and if the Liberal party refuses, Dion will most certainly resign leaving the Liberal party once again leaderless and quite impotent politically.
Dion must make his move asap, or else he’s viande morte ..!!!
Is anyone else getting the impression the same twist of logic that brought the CPC its victory over this applies to raffles and lotteries?
“Mr. Mulroney looks like a choir boy compared [to] the [sic] Chretien.” – Leasa, at 10:40 last night.
Yes Dear, of course Dear, anything you say Dear.
Mr. MacKay’s wife called the committee Tuesday night to tell them that her husband, a longtime friend of Brian Mulroney and Karlheinz Schreiber, recently took a tumble and had to go to the emergency room, Liberal MP Paul Szabo said Wednesday.
By Bill-Muskoka on 02.14.08 12:19 pm
Please Mummy, write me an excuse for the teacher, I don’t wanna go to school today. The bullies are picking on me!
Onkel Karl, Onkel Karl! Can’t we just stay home and bake cookies?
“Mr. Mulroney looks like a choir boy compared [to] the [sic] Chretien.” – Leasa, at 10:40 last night.
Yes Dear, of course Dear, anything you say Dear.
By Herb on 02.15.08 7:11 am
A choir boy? ROFL…Yup, must have been specially trained by one of those Priests that church would rather not talk about. When you see one them coming around the corner, best pull up your robe and run like hell. Otherwise somebody will be getting it, in the end!
Onkel Karl, Onkel Karl! Can’t we just stay home and bake cookies?
By Greg on 02.15.08 7:20 am
“Why of course we can. You go get the brown envelopes, and I will measure out the dough!”
LMAO! Good one Greg!
Has anyone asked Health Canada to run tests on the Blue Kool-Aide? I think it should be declared an illegal drug based on the mind altering effects it has on the CRAP Trolls! Far more dangerous than CRACK for sure!
OOps! Never mind Two Tier Tony is the Health Minister and is one of the main addicts of the Blue Kool-Aide. Another case of failed government oversight by the Harper PMO!
By brain on 02.14.08 9:20 pm
Thanks for the comment and the info. So much of what Fundamentalists think is the Bible was actually just man made ‘revisions’, additions’, or outright deception.
I have long held that that proves God is real, because despite the efforts of so many, and especially Constantine, to alter the meanings, the meanings still come through to those who spiritually seek them. For the religious they have everything as ‘rules!’ God is able to preserve what God said, because God also gave us a brain and the abilitiy to reason. Some use it, most seem not to.
Ghandi surely re-stated the ‘seven deadly sins’ in a much more meaningful manner for modern interpretation. Likewise, Hillel stated a century before Jesus the Golden Rule and Jesus merely gave us the other side of the same coin. Hillel said ‘Do NOT do to others what you would NOT have them do to you.’ Mohamed also reiterated the same principles in speaking on thought and action as being capable of good or bad.
Remember, that the ‘literal’ interpretation of the Bible did not begin until the 3rd Century C.E. The entire Bible (from the Greek bibylos meaning simply book) we have today is far from all that has been given to mankind. It is the result of the Pontifex Maximus (Holy Roman Emperor) carefully edited inclusions from that early era, and mostly by Constantine and the Vatican especially.
It must have been a horrid experience when Gutenberg started printing the Bible for the masses to read. Upo until that point no one had their own copy. Liekwise when Martin Luther posted his dictates the world changed, and is still changing. Finally, we may actually be entering into the true Age of Enlightenment? We certainly have been in the Dark Ages under the Religious Right’s almost three decades of influence.
You go get the brown envelopes, and I will measure out the dough!”
LMAO! Good one Greg!
By Bill-Muskoka on 02.15.08 9:46 am
Fond memories to warm an old Trolls heart.
Looks like Cheeky Pete has been spending a lot of time at the Cookie Factory, and Mulroney is having trouble hiding the crumbs.
In the words Homer…(Simpson that is) DOH!