Hey, do we need a laugh today? You betcha. The news is shocking (see below). So, fortunately, we have the Conservative Party of Canada to remind us of what dweebs and dipsticks are actually capable of.
Word has just filtered in that the lawsuit filed against Stephane Dion and the Libs by PMSH has been ratcheted up by a million bucks. The governing party is now seeking $2.5 million in damages over a dispute which started with allegations relating to the Chuck Cadman affair. If they win, I’m told our caucus will be holding a muffin, carrot cake and used Hansard sale in the East Block courtyard.
But get this: the additional mill is because Stephen Harper is alleging “misappropriation of personality” by his Liberal accusers. Not that he had one to start with (in fact, he’s been heard to say he studied to be an economist because he didn’t have the personality to be an accountant). But how can he be so hypocritical? Not a day goes by that the personality, image, words, policies, reputation, integrity and political persona of Stephane Dion are not sliced & diced by the pimply PhotoShop losers who inhabit the digital hell known as Conservative.ca.
Dion has been purposefully slaughtered for months by the Con media machine – in TV and radio ads, on gas pumps, online, in videocassettes and CDs, in print and in tens of millions of taxpayer-funded flyers stuffed into every mailbox in the nation. The Lib leader has been pilloried and ridiculed. His pooch has been abused and made to turn against him in an anti-Dion dog blog. The bullying is without end. And through it all, the guy has kept plugging away, stayed on course, ignored the onslaught and sued no one.
As an email from a reader of this blog said: “Here’s what I don’t understand.. It seems to me that the Conservatives “misappropriate” Stephane Dion’s personality every day. They “misappropriate” his words in those ridiculous ads. They “misappropriate” his image when they flip it to its mirror opposite (setting the part of his hair on the opposite side of his head, which makes him look subtly different and unfamiliar). They “misappropriate” the Liberal’s platform when they comment on the Green Shift before it’s even been made public.
And that doesn’t begin to address how they “misappropriate” the rest of the Liberal Party. I understand that Harper wants only to destroy his opponents—he doesn’t want ideas, debate, openness, accountability, or progressive values. Maybe you can explain it on your blog.”
Explain what? That winning’s more important than governing? That no opponent should ever be left standing? That smear and slash are routine? That ideas are the enemy of tactics? That intimidation, bullying, belittling, misinformation, distortion and deceit are okay? No need to explain that here. It’s on this blog every hour of every day.
If Stephen Harper wins this lawsuit; if he wins another election; if he stays on as the leader of our country, his brand of politics may be seen to triumph. And what a misappropriation that would be. Tough guy, my ass.
* * *
Not to belabour yesterday’s post, but the disintegration of our beloved economy continued apace on Wednesday. The Toronto stock market took a 430-point dive, while the price of oil bounced to a new high of $144. General Motors stock slumped to below $10 a share for the first time since the mid 1950s, and rumours are rife the company won’t survive. Chrysler, too.
Banks took a hammering. The worry is now that runaway energy costs will goose inflation and spur higher interest rates which will further crunch real estate and choke off corporate borrowing. Economists fret for consumer confidence and, I’d say, with much reason. The middle class is now an endangered species, and political parties cannot ignore the fact.
The signs abound. Over the last few weeks my political volunteers have delivered information to several thousand suburban homes, where most families have two vehicles. A few months ago the SUV or the van was out on the daily commute, and the little beater car stayed home. In the last two weeks, it’s the big one that’s parked.
Harbinger.
Update:
Toronto-area auto parts firm closes, 2,000 jobs lost
Oil hits new record price of $145
Ontario’s economic outlook is grim
169 comments ↓
How could you guys steal Harper’s personality. Give it back. Right this minute.
Yeah, that Harbinger is known as Peak Oil dude. You should google it, read about it, talk to oil geologists, etc. Then you’ll come to the realization there is squat you or anyone else can do. You can drill a bore hole every 3 feet but you’re not going to pump more oil
I find it amazing that Mr Dion, a so called “Green” guy has made little mention of Peak Oil. If you think those parked SUV’s are bad, wait till you start seeing rationing for fuel.
And doesn’t your government (and Harper) stupidly support ethanol from corn? EROEI of 1 to 1 if that & ya’ll think it’s a good idea.
Read up Garth. Google this term “Peak Oil”.
Here’s a link you should read, when you’re done pass it on to Dion. Great thing about declining oil reserves is we won’t have to worry about greenhouse gas emissions till we desperately start to burn coal or oil shale.
Word has just filtered in that the lawsuit filed against Stephane Dion and the Libs by PMSH has been ratcheted up by a million bucks
posted by Garth Turner
Garth, I just had to throw in one of Rick Mercer’s rant in case you or some of our friends may have missed it.
He pretty much nails it.
But if I had to pick my favourite scandal it would have to be the Cadman affair. Did the Conservative party offer Chuck Cadman, a Member of Parliament who was dying, a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote? Because that’s what his widow says. But you don’t have to take her word for it – Stephen Harper is on a tape saying yes, financial considerations were offered to a dying man. Well, if you buy the adage that where there’s smoke there’s fire, there’s so much smoke coming out of this sucker, you can see it on Google Maps.
And so what’s the Prime Minister say now? Forget my voice on the tape, the only thing we offered Chuck Cadman was a chance to join the Conservative Party. Stephen, no offense, but that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Could you imagine if you were on your deathbed and a couple of Tories came over to your house to try to buy you off, and they offered you a membership in the Conservative Party? Because, apparently, a lot of people on their deathbed think, “I wish I spent more time with the Tories.”
And so what’s Harper’s reaction once the opposition started asking questions? He’s suing. He’s suing the leader of the opposition. Never before in the history of Canadian democracy has a Prime Minister sued the leader of the opposition. But that’s what Harper’s doing. Suddenly he’s like that guy on TV from upstate New York who will sue anyone anytime for anything. His coffee’s too hot – he will sue. Ask him a question outside of Question Period – he will sue. A lawsuit by the way that’s gonna cost taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. Our money being spent to ensure the Prime Minister won’t answer any questions that should be answered.
Yes, it’s been a crazy week and it could also be a tipping point. Because Stephen Harper has always had one ace in the hole: his reputation as a straight shooter. Well you can wave that goodbye; because when it comes to preserving reputations, Conrad Black had a better week.
Rick Mercer
In regards to “irvine’s comment” the fact is that there is no shortage of oil—reserves yes (storage) and the reason for this is why create more storage and deflate the price.We are at the mercy of the oil companies and our countries leader (harper) is their man!There is a shortage of natural gas which the tar sands are consuming at an alarming pace.As for harper’s lawsuit its just another example of his ignorance and stupidity.Attempted bribery is a criminal offence and i don’t think anyone with an ounce of common sense could possibly believe that harper wasn’t involved. Above the law i guess! Stupid –for sure!!
Garth, there is a difference between accusations of criminal activity and condemning political ideas and leadership.
If I say Dion’s green shaft is bad because it will take $6B from Alberta and Sask and redistribute it to central Canada just like the NEP. That this is a deliberate strategy to transfer wealth from a region of no political significance to where the liberals hope to make gains. That Dion is a poor leader and does not deserve to be PM. All that is part of political discourse. The activity of the plan is not illegal (though it should be) nor is it illegal to condemn it.
However, if you print and distribute accusations of criminal activity that are proven to be false and the intent is defamation, that is against the law.
All the libs had to do was retract and apologize for those statements that the RCMP had proven to be false and all would be well. You guys refused so the libs should be sued and made to pay big time.
Next time you might realize you aren’t above the law anymore. At least until the libs gain government again.
How could you guys steal Harper’s personality. Give it back. Right this minute.
By Blah Blah on 07.02.08 11:20 pm
What personality?
I am not in favour of the “not a leader” attack ads, but it is still a far cry to say that somebody is “not a leader” and to say that somebody is a “criminal,” or into “criminal” activities. There is no moral equivalent there.
Having said that, I still think that it would be a great day for Canada if there could be an apology from both sides for deepening the partisan nature of our system.
We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.
Once again Chicken Little is saying the sky is falling.
Btw, who really cares if Harper’s lawsuit is 1 mil or 2 mil or even a 100 mil if you think Harper doesn’t have a case then it doesn’t really matter the amount of the lawsuit. On the other hand if he does have a case then the Liberal party had better be shi-ing bricks because they will be bankrupt then you can really start yelling that the sky is falling.
Parliament hill and all the parties are becoming a joke and both the Liberals under Dion and the Conservatives under Harper are the two biggest jerks oops I mean jokes of all.
A play on words:
“Stephane Dion IS a leader”.
“Stephen Harper IS a liar”.
Both proven and true, but again, talk is cheap. Actions and examples speak louder than words.
CRAP has now thoroughly destroyed itself and blown their one big chance at a majority — they KNOW it, too.
By virtue of their tried and failed economic policies, harpo’s continuing attacks on Dion; let them vent all they want, because as peoples’ fiscal situations deteriorate further and faster, voters will be more than willing to say good riddance to bad rubbish when the time comes, and it will.
Wasn’t it the Big Bad Wolf who threatened to huff and puff and blow the Three Little Pigs’ house down?
****************************************
Charles Oxley — Seek help .. fast .. you deserve the best …
horrifically henpecked humzinger hairy, 8:47 pm
As long as you pay for it, I agree. Freud and Jung couldn’t hold a candle to you, hairy so what doest thou recommend? For myself, I am speechless, amazed at the sheer brilliance of your prose.
Enlighten me. Bring me up-to-date with all the latest ideas you know of.
Or, in the truer spirit of the night . . .
hairy hairy hairy, how do I count thee? Let me love the ways.
Ummmmm . . . that about wraps it up for another night, so in the immortal words of the famous and highly talented two English comedians, The Two Ronnies, ‘It’s Goodight From Me — And It’s Goodnight From Him — GOODNIGHT!”
garth you should repeat the same statements that Dion did and you can go to court and defend yourself.i’ll be very surprised if you do.
Rod
The Libs are being sued because they claimed that Harper committed a crime. You may remember that Dion sued Duceppe for claiming that Dion was involved in Adscam. In that case Duceppe apologized and the suit was dropped, the Libs refused to apologize so the suit wasn’t dropped, this isn’t rocket science.
“The worry is now that runaway energy costs will goose inflation and spur higher interest rates which will further crunch real estate and choke off corporate borrowing.”
And your solution is to raise energy costs with a carbon tax right?
It’s a penis size competition with only one team, the Conservatives. I say let them play with themselves, it’s a solitary occupation and pleasure is derived by the individual not onlookers.
This ’suing’ business only reminds Canadians how ideologically equivalent they are to NeoCons/Bush.
Canadian taxpayers have to pay for it. The judges, clerks etc….Harper certainly knows how to spend and waste taxpayer money.
GM may have to file for protection if they don’t get an influx of cash. What is this going to do to pensions?
Pensions in England have been greatly affected over this subprime fiasco. I imagine it will have the same effect on this side of the pond.
“Fleeced by harpo, but done according to carney’s whims, who carries out DC’s orders without question, which is why Canada is in a downward spiral now.”
BY CHARLES OXLEY 07.02.08 10:00PM
Hi Charles,
I’d found these interesting stats, NY Times 7/2006 …harbinger indeed. We can see the effects of what you mention.
And Garth, a term for responses to trolls “dialogue of the deaf”
Left Behind Economics by PAUL KRUGMAN
I’d like to say that there’s a real dialogue taking place about the state of the U.S. economy, but the discussion leaves a lot to be desired. In general, the conversation sounds like this:
Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?Informed economist: “But it’s not a great economy for most Americans. Many families are actually losing ground, and only a very few affluent people are doing really well.”?Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?To a large extent, this dialogue of the deaf reflects Upton Sinclair’s principle: it’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.
But there’s also an element of genuine incredulity. Many observers, even if they acknowledge the growing concentration of income in the hands of the few, find it hard to believe that this concentration could be proceeding so rapidly as to deny most Americans any gains from economic growth.?..Yet – that’s exactly what happened.?.. What’s happening now is the same as what happened then: growth in the economy as a whole is mainly benefiting a small elite, while bypassing most families.?…U.S. economy grew 4.2 percent, a very good number. Yet last August the Census Bureau reported that real median family incom—the purchasing power of the typical family—actually fell.
Meanwhile, poverty increased, as did the number of Americans without health insurance. So where did the growth go??The economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, whose long-term estimates of income equality have become the gold standard for research on this topic — show that even if you exclude capital gains from a rising stock market, the real income of the richest 1 percent of Americans surged by almost 12.5 percent. Meanwhile, the average real income of the bottom 99 percent of the population rose only 1.5 percent.
In other words, a relative handful of people received most of the benefits of growth.
…growth didn’t just bypass the poor and the lower middle class, it bypassed the upper middle class too.
Even people at the 95th percentile of the income distribution — that is, people richer than 19 out of 20 Americans — gained only modestly. The big increases went only to people who were already in the economic stratosphere.? The other revelation is that being highly educated was no guarantee of sharing in the benefits of economic growth. There’s a persistent myth, perpetuated by economists who should know better—like Edward Lazear, the chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers—that rising inequality in the U.S. is mainly a matter of a rising gap between those with a lot of education and those without. But census data show that the real earnings of the typical college graduate actually fell.?In short, it’s a great economy if you’re a high-level corporate executive or someone who owns a lot of stock. For most other Americans, economic growth is a spectator sport.
But don’t expect this administration .. to do anything to limit the growing concentration of income. Sometimes I even feel sorry for these people and their apologists, who are prevented from acknowledging that inequality is a problem by both their political philosophy and their dependence on financial support from the wealthy. That leaves them no choice but to keep insisting that ordinary Americans — who have, in fact, been bypassed by economic growth — just don’t understand..
“Fleeced by harpo, but done according to carney’s whims, who carries out DC’s orders without question, which is why Canada is in a downward spiral now.”
BY CHARLES OXLEY 07.02.08 10:00PM
Hi Charles,
I’d found these interesting stats, NY Times 7/2006 …harbinger indeed. We can see the effects of what you mention.
And Garth, a term for responses to trolls “dialogue of the deaf”
Left Behind Economics by PAUL KRUGMAN
I’d like to say that there’s a real dialogue taking place about the state of the U.S. economy, but the discussion leaves a lot to be desired. In general, the conversation sounds like this:
Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?Informed economist: “But it’s not a great economy for most Americans. Many families are actually losing ground, and only a very few affluent people are doing really well.”?Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?To a large extent, this dialogue of the deaf reflects Upton Sinclair’s principle: it’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.
But there’s an element of genuine incredulity. Many observers, even if they acknowledge the growing concentration of income in the hands of the few, find it hard to believe that this concentration could be proceeding so rapidly as to deny most Americans any gains from economic growth.?..Yet that’s exactly what happened.?.. growth in the economy as a whole is mainly benefiting a small elite, while bypassing most families.?. the Census Bureau reported that real median family incom—the purchasing power of the typical family—actually fell.
Meanwhile, poverty increased, as did the number of Americans without health insurance. So where did the growth go?? The economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, whose long-term estimates of income equality have become the gold standard for research on this topic show that the real income of the richest 1 percent of Americans surged by almost 12.5 percent. Meanwhile, the average real income of the bottom 99 percent of the population rose only 1.5 percent.
In other words, a relative handful of people received most of the benefits of growth….growth didn’t just bypass the poor and the lower middle class, it bypassed the upper middle class too.
Even people at the 95th percentile of the income distribution — that is, people richer than 19 out of 20 Americans — gained only modestly. The big increases went only to people who were already in the economic stratosphere.? The other revelation is that being highly educated was no guarantee of sharing in the benefits of economic growth. There’s a persistent myth, perpetuated by economists who should know better—like Edward Lazear, the chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers—that rising inequality in the U.S. is mainly a matter of a rising gap between those with a lot of education and those without. But census data show that the real earnings of the typical college graduate actually fell.?In short, it’s a great economy if you’re a high-level corporate executive or someone who owns a lot of stock. For most other Americans, economic growth is a spectator sport.
But don’t expect this administration .. to do anything to limit the growing concentration of income. Sometimes I even feel sorry for these people and their apologists, who are prevented from acknowledging that inequality is a problem by both their political philosophy and their dependence on financial support from the wealthy. That leaves them no choice but to keep insisting that ordinary Americans — who have, in fact, been bypassed by economic growth — just don’t understand..
“done according to carney’s whims, who carries out DC’s orders without question, which is why Canada is in a downward spiral now.”
BY CHARLES OXLEY 07.02.08 10:00PM
Hi Charles, some interesting stats, NY Times 7/2006 …harbinger indeed. We can see the effects of what you mention.
And Garth, a term for responses to trolls “dialogue of the deaf”
Left Behind Economics by PAUL KRUGMAN
“I’d like to say that there’s a real dialogue taking place about the state of the U.S. economy, but the discussion leaves a lot to be desired. In general, the conversation sounds like this:
Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?Informed economist: “But it’s not a great economy for most Americans. Many families are actually losing ground, and only a very few affluent people are doing really well.”?Bush supporter: “Why doesn’t President Bush get credit for a great economy? I blame liberal media bias.”?To a large extent, this dialogue of the deaf reflects Upton Sinclair’s principle: it’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.
But there’s an element of genuine incredulity. Many observers, even if they acknowledge the growing concentration of income in the hands of the few, find it hard to believe that this concentration could be proceeding so rapidly as to deny most Americans any gains from economic growth.?..Yet that’s exactly what happened.?.. growth in the economy as a whole is mainly benefiting a small elite, while bypassing most families.?. the Census Bureau reported that real median family incom—the purchasing power of the typical family—actually fell.
Meanwhile, poverty increased, as did the number of Americans without health insurance. So where did the growth go?? The economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez, whose long-term estimates of income equality have become the gold standard for research on this topic show that the real income of the richest 1 percent of Americans surged by almost 12.5 percent. Meanwhile, the average real income of the bottom 99 percent of the population rose only 1.5 percent.
In other words, a relative handful of people received most of the benefits of growth….growth didn’t just bypass the poor and the lower middle class, it bypassed the upper middle class too.
Even people at the 95th percentile of the income distribution — that is, people richer than 19 out of 20 Americans — gained only modestly. The big increases went only to people who were already in the economic stratosphere.?
?It’s a great economy if you’re a high-level corporate executive or someone who owns a lot of stock. For most other Americans, economic growth is a spectator sport.
But don’t expect this administration .. to do anything to limit the growing concentration of income. Sometimes I even feel sorry for these people and their apologists, who are prevented from acknowledging that inequality is a problem by both their political philosophy and their dependence on financial support from the wealthy. That leaves them no choice but to keep insisting that ordinary Americans — who have, in fact, been bypassed by economic growth — just don’t understand..
He is suing the Liberals for stealing his personality?
Ha!!
Oh that is political gold.
By Irvine on 07.02.08 11:23 pm
You’ve probably provoked some response already but bloggers like Greg from Oakville, myself and others have assured the masses for a good 2 years now that peak oil is for real, undeniable and unstoppable. It would actually shock me dumb for someone like Stephan Dion to not know about peak oil… but anyways, this is what compelled me to respond to your comment.
“Great thing about declining oil reserves is we won’t have to worry about greenhouse gas emissions till we desperately start to burn coal or oil shale.” – Irvine
There is such a thing as a “tipping point”, a place in time where the pendulum swings too far and once that happens, its essentially too late. Most scientists that have been to this point credible have the timeline of the “tipping point” or “place of no return” at 10 to 20 years from now assuming we do not change course and if we do something about C02 emissions and at that point, it will have to be dramatic. Of course I’ve been saying that drama will find us anyways with shortages in other areas including energy around the same timelines, but I guess my point is (and its been gnawing at me) we should be extremely worried about it right now. Climate change is bigger than peak oil, bigger than Chrysler/Chev woes, bigger than a predicted 4 year U.S. real estate led recession. Its got more uglies than most people want to face and its got me wondering whether or not the Greens really have a better carbon tax strategy and most of us (including myself) are too gutless or selfish to really admit it.
Won’t have to worry about it til we desperately burn coal or oil shale… the canary in the coal mine will have died long before then, Irvine. Its worth the worry right now.
Well where was Stephane Dion and the Liberals when tens of thousands of high tech workers lost their jobs in Ottawa between 2000 and 2002?
Yeah – Garth, remember Nortel? JDS? Mitel? Newbridge? and a host of other smaller firms.
It was the Liberal’s watch and the Liberals didn’t seem to care back then. And the Liberals had Billions of our tax dollars as “surplus”.
Mr. Garth TurnerMP, FYI
A friend sent me this link today,
http://www.investigate911.se/
I clicked on ‘The Ripple Effect’ 1:26min, because I haven’t seen it yet.
It covers the main stuff well.
I’ve already seen the shows ‘Loose change’ and ‘Zeitgeist’.
I’ve also seen other shows and video footage of the 9/11 job.
When I got home from work the day of 9/11, I remember seeing the BBC report say that Building 7 had collapsed, but you could still see it standing in the background. She wasn’t heard from again.
Building 7 had the computers with the stock market trading records inside it, and a CIA office.
Are you a critical-thinker?
Were do you get your information from,
Just from the corporate run mass media?
If you haven’t hear that 9/11 was an inside job, and seen the evidence yet, then you should take some time to get yourselves informed.
Check out the link above and some of the shows/information that’s there.
Use your own brains, and think about it.
When might Canada be open it’s own investigation into the murder of the Canadians in the twin tower?
The murderous criminals need to be found out and brought to account, or our society will simple keep fall further into the dark chasm, that is being made for us by the madmen with there hand on the switches, and control of the paper money. They thing nothing of killing human beings for their own ends. You might be there next victim if we allow them to keep ‘screwing us all’, there’ insane’.
PMSH seems to now about insanity and screwing us all.
What do PMSH and his buddy Bush have in common? They are both liars for a star,
And most likely there much worse!
You have been paying attention haven’t you?
What kind of world do you want to live in, and make for your families future???
Never vote on a machine, or have your votes counted by a machine. Or we will all be F****D like the people in the USA.
You have heard of hackers and subversive powers?
Only vote on paper, that is then counted by hand, by us, the people.
I don’t need to have results instantly. I want to know the results are legitimate!
Why has PMSH order electronic voting machine for Canada? Spending more of our money.
Who is he working for? Not you or me!
He doesn’t even care about his own kid’s future; do you think he cares about your family, really?
Hi Irvine on 07.02.08 11:23 pm,
Peak-oil!
Have you seen this movie yet?
A Crude Awakening The Oil Crash. 2006
http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/
The extra stuff on the DVD is worth seeing also. I rented the DVD.
I cracked up with I first read about this on CBC.ca. The phrase ‘misappropriation of personality’ is certianly one for the ages. Talk about your frivolous lawsuits!
Without hearing of this foolishness before, I googled it and whoa, there is actually a law directed at this exact term. The following link seemd to have a fairly good description and examples of what is being alleged here:
http://www.sportlaw.ca/articles/intellectualprivacy_collectionpicturesimages.php
As far as I’m concerned, the Conservative.ca website is far more guilty of breaking this law than liberals based on the premise of PMSH’s lawsuit.
Here’s a suggestion. Countersuit. Take a half dozen of the more obvious instances of this contrived behaviour and sue for twice the amount PMSH has filed against the Liberals. Not saying I like the idea because it simply condones this childish and stupid behaviour (not to mention, costs the court systems, i.e. taxpayers money), but the media would sure get a kick out of it!
“The worry is now that runaway energy costs will goose inflation and spur higher interest rates which will further crunch real estate and choke off corporate borrowing. Economists fret for consumer confidence and, I’d say, with much reason. The middle class is now an endangered species, and political parties cannot ignore the fact.”
Hey Garth, the obvious solution to higher prices destroying the economy and killing the homeowner is increased consumption taxes that lead to higher prices that increase the CPI to make the Bank of Canada increase interest rates… right?
Press Releases
The High Price of Gasoline and Home Heating
October 14th, 2005
Usually, when there is a situation that government can influence, the government makes a proposal and the opposition criticizes their action.
When it comes to the cost of gasoline the government has done nothing and it is that inaction that we must criticize.
Given the seriousness of the situation, it is disappointing to hear the government’s response to date. I am running to be your next M.P. As such it will be my job to represent your views to the government, not to tell you what someone in Ottawa thinks is in your best interest. My opponent has quoted statistics that show that the percentage of taxes in a litre of gas have gone down since the prices have risen. Liberals seem to have forgotten that the statistic that really matters here in Parry Sound-Muskoka is the one that shows the average salary earned. No matter what statistics say, as gas prices rise the federal government continues to take more and more money from the already low average pay packages of the people of this riding.
We are all aware of the international factors affecting the price of oil, but governments shouldn’t profit from those rising prices.
The Minster of Finance claims that oil companies would absorb any tax decrease. Perhaps then, he could explain why a survey a year ago found our gas prices about 19% higher than in the United States where taxes are 16% lower.
My party has pledged to do something about high gas prices upon election: when a certain level of gas prices is reached (and we’re certainly there now), a Conservative government would cut the GST charged and make sure that saving is passed on to consumers.
And how much is the government racking in now??????????????????????????????????
Tony Clement Out right lied in this press release twice
What is Stephen Harper afraid of?
Dion challenges PM to carbon-tax debate
Says Harper uses ‘low blow politics’; Liberal leader wants to hold duel in Calgary but Tory chief dismisses rival’s challenge
JULIET O’NEILL, Canwest News Service
Published: 4 hours ago
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=71c7dc8f-e7c0-421b-af30-8bd1b942eb28
Let’s take the CPC trash out of our political system and go back to being the kind of Canadians I saw in the tens of thousands milling around the core of Ottawa on Canada Day: friendly, considerate, and proud and happy in a quiet, unpretentious manner.
To coin a phrase, ERASE THE DISGRACE – ÉCRASEZ L’INFÂMIE!
It will be interesting to see how the Conservatives on this blog spin this one. Will Janice, Leasa, Catherine or Harry defend this latest travesty, and if so, will they do so by saying it’s okay because someone from another party did it?
Or will they use offensive tactics as a defense? As Garth says, (and I paraphrase) “smear and slash are routine (on this blog)…ideas are the enemy of tactics…intimidation, bullying, belittling, misinformation, distortion and deceit are okay..It’s on this blog every hour of every day.
Stay tuned.
Hmmmmmm. . . I wonder if Dion would have been suing if the roles were reversed?
Oh wait. . . We don’t need to wonder. Do we Garth?
http://www.personalinjurylawyernews.com/2007/06/01/9775/duceppe-will-apologize-to-dion-to-settle-lawsuit-canadacom/
I don’t know, I’m starting to lose patience with the whole “not a leader” non-response.
The more Mr. Dion ignores this BS, the more he appears to live up to the ads. I find myself wondering when he and the party are going to grow a pair and do something to fight back.
I’m sure the Harperites are just laughing themselves silly trying to top each ad with the next one, knowing that all they get back is silence.
More bad news, unfortunately.
Auto parts maker closes plants, 2,000 jobs lost
The Canadian Press
July 3, 2008 at 5:51 AM EDT
TORONTO — Another 2,000 jobs in Canada’s auto industry have been gobbled up with the shutdown of 11 small plants operated by a Toronto-area company that makes plastic instrument panels.
Progressive Moulded Products Ltd., confirmed early Thursday that it had ceased operations at the plants in Concord and Rexdale during the last two days.
“As a result of a number of major customers electing to move their business elsewhere, we are undertaking immediate and drastic reduction in our operations and workforce,” said company official Michael Daniher.
The company filed for court protection two weeks ago and was in ongoing discussions with major customers and lenders to find solutions to its financial problems.
Mr. Daniher says those talks failed.
“The vast majority of the company’s employees have been terminated in recent days,” he said. “There are still hundreds of employees on the job working to complete a number of other existing production assignments.”
He said those employees “tying up loose ends” will also be out of a job soon too.
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.wshutdown0703/BNStory/Business/home
Garth, or anyone, I seem to recall that the rules for those who qualify for EI benefits are different in Ontario than in some other provinces. I tried a few months back to research this, but to no avail. Can someone please clarify the regulations re Ontario. TIA.
How about Harper’s misappropriation of the reputation of Elections Canada, Linda Keen, Dalton McGuinty…and on and on.
I am so sick of a PM that is so petty, destructive, hateful and a total embarrassment as a statesman and so disappointed that there are Canadians out there that think this is okay.
Harper should be spending the money for the legal suite of mental health care for himself – he surely needs it.
Totally OT but fascinating.
First the stroke, then a Newfoundland accent
ANNE MCILROY
From Thursday’s Globe and Mail
July 3, 2008 at 12:22 AM EDT
Rose Doré has lived her entire life in Southern Ontario, but, after a debilitating stroke two years ago, she started talking like a Newfoundlander.
“I don’t know where it came from. I guess I’m lucky. A lot of people can’t talk at all after they have a stroke. Lord Almighty,” she says, with an East Coast lilt to her voice. “My family thinks it’s cute, but I don’t.”
Mrs. Doré, 52, has an extremely rare condition called foreign accent syndrome. In fact, hers is the first documented case in Canada, says Alexandre Sévigny, a researcher at McMaster University in Hamilton.
The syndrome occurs when neurological damage, usually a stroke, causes patients to speak with what others perceive to be a different or foreign accent.
There is no single part of the brain responsible for foreign or regional accents. But strokes can damage a number of areas involved in instructing the muscles in the mouth and tongue to move during speech. Researchers who study the syndrome say this can subtly alter the way patients form sounds: They can lengthen their syllables, alter their pitch or change their pronunciation in ways that can sound like a distinctive accent.
In one case in the U.K., a woman woke up after a stroke and started talking with what sounded like a Jamaican accent, says Dr. Sévigny, an associate professor of cognitive science in McMaster’s department of communication studies and multimedia. Another patient in Britain developed what sounded like a German accent, he says.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.waccent03/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home
If Harper wants to sue for misappropriation of his personality, then its time for Mr Dion to launch a counter suit.
Given that the Libs may be having a hard time financially, I’m sure there are plenty of Lib. MP’s and at party headquarters capabable of fighting this case pro bono!
GARTH;; My oh my how ugly you are today….the bitterness is so evident.
Happy 400th anniversary Quebec. Love Quebec City. We might pop in for a short visit on our way to or back from Mtl. this summer.
Will had it right ‘Kill ALL the lawyers!’
What a disgraceful act by a PM!
As to the auto sector. Well, it has been a long time coming. All those Stockholder dividends and extravagant offices are going to have to go as well.
As to GM, I will not weep for them one bit, nor the unions who together have pushed car prices to the sky.
The people have run out of money between fuel, cars, housing and medicines. Think it is bad? It will get a lot worse because our so-called goobernment will DO NOTHING but twiddle dee and twiddle DUMBER!
Garth, I for one do not like to see M. Dion’s CONseratives misappropriate picture posted on your site. I understand its lead…perhaps many would like to see more pic’s of his heart warming, sincere and dedicated smile, he does have quite a sense of humour. I have been used car shopping and I am can not make up my mind, comfort or gas mileage, that is question, all on fixed budget, oops did I sad fixed? The new term should be “All on a declining Conservative Budget”…. but I digress, things are not good even if we few who made it into safe retirement (whatever that is) still have family members who are being socked by Jungle Jim’s lack of understanding how to run a countries finances and a very poor excuse for even a Bully to think of anyone but himself. Too bad, so sad from Ottawa will just not do, time for real change, out with the short lived “Accountability Clowns” and let’s give Dion a solid mandate with an overwhelming majority, as it appears three years of Harper have given us nothing but grief and depression!
Yeah – Garth, remember Nortel? JDS? Mitel? Newbridge? and a host of other smaller firms.
It was the Liberal’s watch and the Liberals didn’t seem to care back then. And the Liberals had Billions of our tax dollars as “surplus”.
By Catherine on 07.03.08 5:14 am
Anyone who knew anything about phone networks could see the tech bubble was going to burst. You can only make so many phone calls, or surf so many web pages, or send so many emails at anyone time. These firms were built on roviding the infastructure to do so. Once its was built, with the rapidity in which it happened, the bubble was going to burst. And the stuff they make last for decades, or until the next great technological advance replaces them.
Thats not true of the automobile where they have built in obsolescence and are replaced every 8 to 12 years.
As for the big 3, soon to be the big one maybe, they too have to take responsibility for continuing to push the gas guzzlers, even though for the past 20 years, it has been known that our reliance on oil would have to change.
Interesting to note that the new (not, it been around for decades in Europe) fuel eficient Saturn (Vauxhall/Opel) Astra is being brought in. GM isn’t building them in NA., are they. Why?
Bottom line, its not governments responsibility to bail out failing comapanies or industries. I don’t think the Libs should have helped Nortel or JDS, nor do I think the Cons. should bail out GM, Ford or Chrysler.
What is the Government’s job is to govern, setting the condition in whch the economy will grow; and in a downturn, will reduce the negative impact. It is also a governments job to have regulations in place that protect the environment.
As a government, this government is an oximoron.
It will be interesting to see how the Conservatives on this blog spin this one. Will Janice, Leasa, Catherine or Harry defend this latest travesty, and if so, will they do so by saying it’s okay because someone from another party did it?
Or will they use offensive tactics as a defense? As Garth says, (and I paraphrase) “smear and slash are routine (on this blog)…ideas are the enemy of tactics…intimidation, bullying, belittling, misinformation, distortion and deceit are okay..It’s on this blog every hour of every day.
Stay tuned.
By Lana on 07.03.08 7:40 am
I submitted the above post before reading Janice’s post. In the immortal words of Leasa, “told ya so”.
Garth, maybe James has a point–sue back–you have lots of evidence. What is good for the goose….
Hairbinger:
My haircut went up $3.00 yesterday.
That’s 20% in one fell swoop.
I got clipped.
Oil at $145. Are you listening you government 2% inflation statisticians?
Again OT but a current topic today in the news.
Leaving the fringes behind
Adam Radwanski, 02/07/08 at 2:58 PM EDT
The links are my own.
This column,(http://www.adamradwanski.com/column080705.html) written shortly after a previous Canada Day, earned me a polite but fairly sharp rebuttal by Monte Solberg which I would throw to if it were still online. (Now that he’s a minister, the Alberta MP’s blog has been scrapped.) Not having thought about it in quite a while, I was reminded of it by Ian Hunter’s screed (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/07/02/ian-hunter-on-henry-morgentaler-s-order-of-canada-a-symbol-of-moral-decay.aspx) in today’s National Post.
While ostensibly about Henry Morgentaler, the retired professor’s piece is ripe with more exaggerated versions of the sort of drive-by attacks on his country for which I criticized Solberg. Canada, Hunter informs us in his opening sentence, does not “have much of a reputation to tarnish.” In case that’s too subtle, he offers later on that “the greater story — even in as pathetic a country as Canada — is not his, it is Humanae Vitae (1968) and the final triumph of life over the culture of death.” (Emphasis added.)
You might reasonably wonder what this has to do with anything. Hunter is a marginal figure – a habitually cranky occasional contributor to another newspaper’s comment pages, possibly deployed in this case because it was hard to find anyone else to write on short notice on Canada Day. But if he’s irrelevant now, he was much less so a few years ago – back when members of the Official Opposition, even relatively moderate ones like Solberg, were prone to sounding very much like him.
For the record, the headline on my piece – “Do conservatives dislike Canada” – might have been a little more provocative than the argument probably merited. But the basic point, I think, holds up.
No party that appears disdainful or contemptuous of the nation it wishes to govern, particularly a country with as much going for it as this one, is going to have much electoral success. So long as Conservatives responded to everything that didn’t go their way with petulant broadsides against Canada – as Solberg did by responding to gay marriage with “The new Canada. You can have it” – they were going to keep running into a version of the same problem that’s plagued Democrats south of the border. Canadians may not wave as many flags as their neighbours, but many of them are still patriotic enough to recoil from parties that are actively hostile toward their country.
Fortunately, the Tories seem to have recognized this. Solberg’s objections at the time notwithstanding, they succeeded in running a much less peevish campaign a few months later – one in which they leaned on everything from hockey to Tim Horton’s to demonstrate their passion for Canadian icons and traditions. Sure, it was hokey. But it wasn’t angry – the characteristic that had defined and undermined the Canadian right in several elections previous.
The bigger test, perhaps, came this week with Morgentaler’s honour. And unlike Hunter, no large-c Conservatives can be found fulminating about Canada going to hell in a handbasket. That may have something to do with message control, since the Tories are clearly eager for their caucus to avoid the Morgentaler topic entirely. But even those MPs who’ve popped up (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08070202.html) lamenting Morgentaler’s new place in the Order of Canada – which is perfectly fair game – seem to have resisted the temptation to issue sweeping indictments of the country while they’re at it.
No doubt, such restraint comes more naturally in government than in opposition. But restraint it remains. By leaving the fringes to the likes of Ian Hunter, the Tories have made themselves a much more serious party.”
I’ll let you decide if this is just another example of what the cons think of Canada.
BTW, to me Dr. Morgentaler has been a champion of women’s rights.
In the same C.P. article Harper adds $1 million to $2.5-million lawsuit against cash-strapped Liberals it is stated that “The detailed returns show the Tories are an incredibly efficient fundraising machine adept at the art of getting regular, small amounts from thousands of donors. The party spent only $41,000 on fundraising in 2007, meaning it spent less than a penny for every dollar it raised.”
In 2007 a number of telephone solicitations were received at my ‘phone number 905-356-3901 from the Conservative Party of Canada. Through conversation with the callers it was ascertained they were ‘phoning from call centres in several different locations. As well a fund raising letter was received.
Not knowing the wording of the Election Act with regard to fundraising, nor as yet having perused the “detailed returns”, it may be that creative book keeping has been employed that is as justifiable as placing national ads through candidates expenses or minimizing expenses of airplane flights by cabinet ministers.
Ryan Sparrow is undoubtedly accurate in stating “We’re a big, member-driven party,” “People respond to strong leadership and clear ideas.” but even True Believers must be contacted.
Call centres and mailing both have a cost. Both were employed.
Do you find it credible the $41 000.00 covered the cost of outreach to the membership let alone others?
Obviously I do not, based on personal experience – for which, having no proof, writing this may be at the risk of suit for libel.
Joe Hueglin
Did I hear correctly? Is my home natural gas providers bill going to increase by 35% in the near future for this fall/winter?
How can it be so high? Is this an gas or delivery increase cost?
Are we subsidizing Alberta where there is no provincial sales tax?
You heard right, at least from observers who think this is the likely result of recent commodity price hikes and corporate pass-throughs. And not a cent can be blamed on a carbon tax. — Garth
Since no Conservative supporter responded to my question yesterday – I am reposting it
——–
1) I thought the complaint was that the producers were just going to tack the green tax onto their goods. If that’s the case, and the industry will be taxed $6 B – won’t they just pass that $6 B onto the consumer? So if their costs go up $6B, and their price to us goes up $6B – how is $6B going to be “lost” by Sask and Alberta?
2) Let’s say the producers aren’t going to tack the $6B onto their price, and just take the hit – this hit would be after income taxes – so how does that cost the provincial governments, if there income lines aren’t dropping?
As far as I can see – there is no cost to the provincial income line from this green shift, so the provinces aren’t out. As it’s only a 2.6% increase to their bottom lines, I don’t see massive layoffs of people, so the people will be keeping thier jobs. As I understand, this $6B would reduce corporate earnings (where most are foreign owned – so the capital isn’t staying in the provinces in question) or shareholder earnings (see parathensis above). As the $6 billion is NOT coming out of the Provinces pockets, nor the population’s pockets – please explain how this is screwing the people of Alberta and Saskatchewan?
Also – as I asked a couple of days ago, it seems the Conservatives are leaning towards a Cap and Trade system – please explain to me the benefits of this system over the proposed Liberal system.
By Tim N on 07.02.08 11:28 am
BTW, to me Dr. Morgentaler has been a champion of women’s rights.
By kpn on 07.03.08 9:01 am
I have no problem, unlike the Cons. of blogging on this issue.
I am against abortion. However, I can see that Dr. M has helped provide safe surgical methods for women who would have turned to backstreet practitioners to solve their social needs.
What I would like to see is those people, who have provided women an alternative to abortion, also to be honoured in the same manner. Because of them, I have two wonderful kids (and a lot less hair!)
The RCMP did not find enough evidence to press charges in the Cadman affair… nothing more and nothing less. They did NOT vindicate the Conservatives. There simply was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges. Please get your facts straight.
Every day Herr Harper confirms that he is nothing more than a brutal little tyrant with his actions. While this may appeal to his mindless zombie followers it does absolutely nothing to swing over the other 65% of the Canadian population.
This is for Leesa and Catherine. I’ve just heard that Mr Harper will be speaking in Quebec City today about our close ties with France,. Where are the comments about how the PM is in conflict of interest when he speaks of such things, where is the high moral questions or is this something he is sayingon this celebratory occassion just to buy Quebec votes and he doesn’t actually believe it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEBEC
Is Harper really that stupid? Maybe he is trying to make up for some of that money he has spend on the attack ads and 10%’ers.
It would appear that as the Conservatives escalate their attack ads and lawsuit they appear less and less credible in the eyes of Canadians. They are an embarrassment to this country and have been since Emerson defected. So far he has been their ‘ace in the hole’, staying under the radar and doing a reasonably decent job for Canadians.
Meanwhile Dion, the ‘not a leader’ leader has been working and collaborating on a plan that makes sense. Sure it might need some adjustment and many of us need to learn more, but it is a start. We are still waiting for the Conservatives to start leading the country.
Harper has done nothing but bully, threatened and abuse the privilege of being PM.
Give him one more year in office and it will take years to gain back respect for Canada on the world stage and in this country.
He is a disgrace, an embarrassment and a liar. Why don’t we offer him one or two million to leave office? It would be worth every penny.
Hey Turner,
Nice to see you are finally on side with the idea that Dion is not a leader. That’s the first thing you see when you arrive on site this am. Nice touch. Here, put this in your pipe and smoke it. RBC suggests very strongly today (NP Headline)that Canada will not slip into a recession and will recover early in 2009. Even the US economy will not show negative GDP. So stop the fear mongering about the economy. Actually, speaking of “personality misappropriation”, where did you put yours?
I’m sure that headline will help families with $1.40 gas, GM workers losing their jobs, house prices wobbling and stocks markets eroding. I’ll pass that on for you. — Garth
You want to talk about oxymoron, how about “Liberal Opposition”?
By TS on 07.03.08 9:47 am
Indeed. Why aren’t the widow, the daughter, the son-in-law, the author, or the publisher being sued? After all, they are the source of the story and the accusations.
By A Spencer on 07.03.08 10:01 am
It is interesting how people choose which experts they want to listen to, isn’t it?
There is certainly a lot of doom and gloom to choose from so far this year, and not so much silver lining.
It sure appears that we are in the midst of an energy crisis, manufacturing jobs are melting, major automotive industries are in danger of collapse, and the real estate market is a disaster waiting to happen.
But hey, look, someone saw a rainbow. How pretty.
I shudder to think how my RSP investments are doing this year.
And not a cent can be blamed on a carbon tax. — Garth
That’s correct Garth. But, it does give one pause to think what the corporate ‘passthroughs’ would be with Mr. Dion’s carbon tax.
I hope Mr. McGuinty is working very hard on a plan to keep our elderly on fixed incomes and our working poor warm this winter. Also, those who need their cars in the rural areas for essentials.
I won’t hold my breath though.
Leasa
Spencer: Aren;t you the one lamenting his 20 minute drive to work, your poor parents and your deprived children?
If this is your idea of a rosy economy for your family, I hate to think of your situation in a year or so—under Harper’s watch your standard of living has declined steadily. (or is that fallen?)
Thanks Greg W. for your writing.
Thanks Garth, for allowing Greg his say.
When are we going to have an investigation
into this crime??? 24 Canadians murdered.
Stop Cons and Libs fighting each-other over trivia while covering up the crime of the century.
New poll shows the Conservatives down.
Yipppppppy….Yahooooo!
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/453359
It’s all about the economy boys and girls.
Stick with the most important stuff that everyone in the world is watching.
Don’t get sidetracked.
Hold the Conservatives accountable.
“Why aren’t the widow, the daughter, the son-in-law, the author, or the publisher being sued?”
Easily answered, no PPA (potential political advantage.
Harper is not a “real” Prime Minister but a political stratgist who happens to have become the leader of a party with a minority of members in the House of Commons. A “real” Prime Minister would not have claimed that the government of Canada intentionally took actions to harm a particular part of the country or claimed to be a provincial “nationalist” rather than a Canadian nationalist. It seems that having Harper in the role of Prime Minister is not much different than having Duceppe as Prime Minister.
Harper does not understand or care much about the country as a whole or the statesmanship required of a Prime Minister. He is not a humanist and cares little about people.
A self-interested individualist cannot make a “real” Prime Minister because he does not have the personal qualities to act as first among equals.
There simply was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges. Please get your facts straight.
By TS on 07.03.08 9:47 am
Would I be correct in saying that in a civil law suit, such as the one Harper has brought, the onus of evidence does not have to be beyond reasonable doubt, but in all probability?
Seems to me Harper must be stupid to bring the law suit if that is the test!
G M deserves to die they spent 5 billion, in three years advertising’s the Yukon so they could make $20,000 per unit instead $ 4.000 per unit for a small compact.
GM is a great company made up of hundreds of thousands of workers and billions of dollars a year in contracts to suppliers, employing vast numbers of others. Do not be so cavalier. This death would impact us all. — Garth
“Would I be correct in saying that in a civil law suit, such as the one Harper has brought, the onus of evidence does not have to be beyond reasonable doubt, but in all probability?
Seems to me Harper must be stupid to bring the law suit if that is the test!
By James- Chatham on 07.03.08 11:08 am”
This is PRECISELY why Harper’s lawyers are trying to get Harper’s infamous quotes on tape regarding the Cadman arrangements thrown out as possible evidence for the lawsuit.
I won’t hold my breath though.
Leasa
By Leasa on 07.03.08 10:36 am
________________________________________
If you acknowledge the environmental/health challenges we all face and embrace the change, you won’t have to hold your breath.
Hmmm…. Herr Harper is upping his claim for damages. Looks to me like Harper is starting to figure out he’s not going to win the next election, and he’ll be booted out of the Conservative leadership.
You think he may be trying to build a retirement fund for himself? Interesting strategy if he is…. bump up the lawsuit to try and get a better out of court settlement – get beat in the next election – then slink back under a neoCon rock.
Perhaps Conservative ‘grass root’ supporters are used to ‘giving on a regular basis’ since the majority of them probably ‘touch their television screens to feel God’ and send money as a result.
Being duped one way or another is nothing to be proud of.
Where is the taxation money going to come from if all these people are losing jobs in the automotive sector?
These jobs may never be seen again and quite possibly any jobs that replace them will be at a considerably less rate of pay.
What is the Harper government doing to secure our economic future?
Don’t you think it’s time we found out?
Harper had a personality? Who knew?
This is a great opportunity for Stephen Harper to explain the tape! What did he mean when he said, the offer to Chuck? What was he talking about when he said, financial considerations? What was the case when he said, make the case? Who were the people who were, legitimately representing the party?
Will Dona Cadman still be running as a Conservative even though Stephen Harper is intimating to Canadians that she is a liar? That her family are liars?
Good thing the taxpayers have big pockets to pay for the search for Stephen Harper’s personality!
By TS on 07.03.08 9:50 am
Every day Herr Harper confirms that he is nothing more than a brutal little tyrant with his actions. While this may appeal to his mindless zombie followers it does absolutely nothing to swing over the other 65% of the Canadian population.
………………………………..
Since you call Harper “Herr” .. then it must be okay to say Frenchman Dion .. in accordance with your bigoted values ..!!!
Here is why we need Dion to lead our country right now.
We’re 2nd last on climate scorecard
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/453358
Jul 03, 2008 08:44 AM
Comments on this story (3)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BERLIN – A new study suggests Canada ranks second to last among G8 countries when it comes to addressing global warming. Only the United States scores lower on the Group of Eight Climate Scorecard, released Thursday by the World Wildlife Fund.
The study also found that none of the eight countries are making improvements large enough to prevent drastic temperature increases.
The World Wildlife Fund say none of the G8 countries are even half-way to meeting ideal emissions targets.
It says Britain has done the most to reach emissions targets set out in the Kyoto Protocol, with France and Germany close behind. Following in order are Italy, Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States.
The scorecards were released ahead of next week’s gathering of the Group of Eight on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
Regine Guenther, director of the World Wildlife Fund Climate Change Program in Germany, told reporters in the German capital that G8 leaders should commit to reducing emissions in their countries by 40 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.
“If we don’t achieve that, the world’s climate will change in ways that we can’t even imagine today,” Guenther said.
The scorecard was compiled by Ecofys, a Dutch consulting company, and commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund and insurer Allianz SE.
Joachim Faber, an Allianz board member who helped compile the scorecards, said a global emissions trading market is important to fighting climate change, and that the EU should lead its development.
“The EU-specific trading system we have at the moment must serve as model system for one that we can found outside the EU, for the world economy,” he said.
The study also analyzed – but did not rank – five of the world’s fastest growing economies: Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.
“These countries cannot be measured with the same ruler as industrialized countries,” the study said.
Here is one of the comments with which I agree:
Alberta and Saskatchewan
Carbon emissions in most of the country have been relatively flat. Sure they should and could do quite a bit more but I’m getting really tired of everyone in Canada taking the rap for Alberta and Saskatchewan. These two provinces have reaped enormous profits by greatly increasing their carbon emissions. Alberta in particular has done everything possible to stop Canada from taking any serious action on slowing carbon emissions. Per capita emissions in these two provinces greatly exceeds all others. It’s time the media woke up and put more focus on these two provinces.
Posted by peterw at 11:45 AM Thursday, July 03 2008
Harry, that would be Monsieur Dion. TS didn’t call Harper a German or Austrian, but used the formal address. I think Harper is more Frau than Herr, but that’s just me.
“Since you call Harper “Herr” .. then it must be okay to say Frenchman Dion .. in accordance with your bigoted values ..!!!
By Harry S on 07.03.08 11:48 am”
You hero has earned the formal recognitioin as a dictator with his history of undemocratic behaviour.
When Harper is defeated do you think we could encourage Stephane Dion not to move into 24 Sussex until all the much needed repairs are done?
With all the lay offs at G.M. and other maunufacturers, when will we start to see dealer ships closing up? If less cars are being produced, would that not be cause for dealers to go under.
I can see the Liberal campaign ads now – the cowboy getup shot of Harper with the caption, those durned Liberals rustled my personality, and I aims to git it back pronto.
Harper’s antics just get sillier and sillier. It would be hilarious, if it wasn’t so damned terrifying that this pathetic little clown is in charge.
That’s correct Garth. But, it does give one pause to think what the corporate ‘passthroughs’ would be with Mr. Dion’s carbon tax.
I hope Mr. McGuinty is working very hard on a plan to keep our elderly on fixed incomes and our working poor warm this winter. Also, those who need their cars in the rural areas for essentials.
I won’t hold my breath though.
Leasa
By Leasa on 07.03.08 10:36 am
In a free competitive market companies should not be able to pass down all of their extra costs to consumers and maintain extremely high profit margins at the same time. That is because supply and demand, not corporations, in a free market economy, is supposed to set the price.
The admission that corporations can pass all such taxes on to consumers is evidence that there is no free market and that somewhere within the system someone is able to control the market.
It seems that the “In and Out” scheme didn’t provide adequate funds to make enough ’slag Stephane ads’ so now they’ve increased the amount of their law suit. Very clever–lower the Liberals’ funds so they can’t advertise and raise the CPC coffers so they can! Kills two birds with one rock, doesn’t it?
Seriously, this law suit would be pretty ridiculous if it really went forward. If it did, I hope Garth will send today’s post to the judge–along with a bit of elaboration and some additional bits about Harper’s drive-by smears in the House against Mr. Bains and lies about Marlene Jennings and the other female M.P. getting jobs for their husbands in the government services. (They didn’t of course–their husbands were working for the government and ended before the women even got into parliament.)
What hypocrites!
Since you call Harper “Herr” .. then it must be okay to say Frenchman Dion .. in accordance with your bigoted values ..!!!
By Harry S on 07.03.08 11:48 am
C’est Monsieur Dion, Harri!
By Johnny on 07.03.08 12:02 pm
Second thought, I wonder if Harper is going to dump his Calgary home as they sales there are in decline too?
A self-interested individualist cannot make a “real” Prime Minister because he does not have the personal qualities to act as first among equals.
By C. B. Innes on 07.03.08 11:07 am
Harper’s antics just get sillier and sillier. It would be hilarious, if it wasn’t so damned terrifying that this pathetic little clown is in charge.
By orlebar on 07.03.08 12:17 pm
Great posts. Thanks
If anyone has a right to take legal action it is Mr. Dion. His public image has been misappropriated and intentionally defamed by a number of foul con blogs, and of course by Herr Harper his own self.
If it was me, I would immediately launch a massive 20 million $ suit against Harper & the CRAP party. A number of other suits would be launched against the blog site owners who have posted ignorant defaming statements about Mr. Dion. I truly believe that these people are just unable to understand anything but the blunt force trauma of legal action slapping them.
On an unrelated note, how about this? Canada is now the second from the BOTTOM on the “climate scorecard”.
You can thank the CRAP party for that.
Monsieur Dion will have a long hard road when he turns this around.
And he will.
The main reason I am willing to listen to Barack Obama is because he has not resorted to the bludgeoning style of politics found on this blog and which has become the character of our two major political parties.
I have said this before. Canada needs a champion to elevate the values and quality of politics.
Frankly when I read Turner’s reports and read some of these comments – I see people who are not only contributing to this toxic environment but who are making it worse.
If you are content with throwing spears at your opponents and nothing else – then there is nothing else to say.
You don’t defeat a spear thrower by throwing spears back at them which is Garth’s approach. You give people a reason to listen to you. You present a vision, a message, a plan and policies that make sense and give people hope.
Sure you will still get attacked. There are many self serving interest groups that care only about their own agenda. It takes more character to not take up a spear and throw it back then to fling it in frustration or anger.
But – people will then listen to you, and people on the sidelines will come out and take an interest because they see someone different. In federal leadership in Canada I don’t see that person. We don’t vote for – we vote against. Sad don’t you think??
If Harper has lost whatever personality he had, what is he now? A zombie? Who or what is running his mouth, what is motivating his body? Is Canada being led (down the garden path) by a pod person???
I’m scared.
The question that arises is: What’s the rush with Dion’s Green Shift … what is Dion’s hidden agenda..??!!!
By Harry S on 07.03.08 11:39 am
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2008/07/01/endangered/#comments
Sadly, I see Garth has not blocked you from posting as he said he would the other day. Maybe he leaves you on to show people the attitude and mentality of the neocons. Sure helps people to vote ABC.
As usual you are mixed up Harry. It is the neocons you worship who have the hidden agenda.
At least Dion, a professor is not a lawyer or a business owner like Martin who registered his steamships outside the country he led – a real patriot. I believe Dion has a lot more integrity and honesty than some previous Liberal leaders and certainly some Conservative leaders. Was Lyin’ Brian was one of those Conservative leaders without integrity? Maybe Harper really did sanction “the bribe”?
Dion has the courage to state what needs to be done when times are tough, suggest how it might be done and it is done with co-operation and compassion. Your leader is far from being co-operative or compassionate IMHO.
The leader, Stephane Dion is setting a new paradigm for leaders in integrity and forthrightness. Maybe we will begin to be able to trust politicians in the Liberal party more than the Liberal politicians of the past and of course the past Conservatives and the present neocon leader and his gang of sheeples.
It just might be that Dion is bringing us the change in style of governance that we have needed for a long time. Hopefully he will inspire the members of his team who need that particular inspiration to value their integrity and honesty and make choices for the highest good and not their greed or need for power. Stephane Dion is the leader for the times.
Is Harper really that stupid? Maybe he is trying to make up for some of that money he has spend on the attack ads and 10%’ers.
By Sherm on 07.03.08 9:58 am
Sherm,
The Conservative Fund Canada is paying for Oily the Splot radio ads BUT we the taxpayers paid for all those 10% ers. I even wrote to the Speaker of the House asking how it is possible to send partisan advertising out through the Queens Printer. It is a technicality, allowing MP’s from outside a riding to send notifications for things such as redistribution of riding areas. It’s a gray area that the Death Star used to discredit M. Dion.
The only way to change the loophole is to amend House and Procedures franking privileges. However, since the Conservatives shut down the House and Procedures Committee last March there is no way to stop them. That’s my rant about 10% ers.
So is it only me but do you think it was a co-winky-dink that Harper upped the anty the same day as Quebec City’s 400th birthday celebration?
I expect there was an awkward moment between the PM and M. Dion who were both there….
Food
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12596&Itemid=376
http://www.producer.com/free/editorial/opinion.php?iss=2008-07-03&sec=opinion&sto=0018
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/453122
There simply was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges. Please get your facts straight.
By TS on 07.03.08 9:47 am
Perhaps you should try to get your facts straight. The RCMP said there was “NO” evidence… not “insufficient evidence” or “some evidence but not enough to lay charges”…. they said “NO EVIDENCE”.
That’d be none. Roughly equivalent to the odds of Dion ever being seen as a leader by the majority of the electorate, or roughly the same as Dion’s carbon tax ever becoming the law.
Yesterday CNI & Tom from NS wondered why HFX Municipality only accept Pete 1 & 2 recylables. Here’s what our municpality says:
Plastic Container Recycling
HRM collects only those plastic containers where a viable, sustainable market exists. At present, this includes the hard/rigid plastics # 1 PETE , # 2 HDPE containers. These markets are well established, materials are processed in North America and there is a viable revenue opportunity. The markets can be valued at between $450/tonne and $600/tonne marketed separately.
An asessment was conducted to determine the viability of markets for other hard plastics including # 3, # 5 , # 6 and # 7 . In municipalities where # 1 through # 7 plastic is accepted in the blue bag program, the materials are baled together (#1 – #7) and shipped to China. The value of the product, is typically between $20 to $80/tonne, in comparison to HRM where # 1 and # 2 plastic is valued between $450/tonne and $600/tonne and are marketed separately.
The addition of other hard plastics to the blue bag recycling program would result in a significant loss of revenue for HRM , in the range of $200,000 annually, plus additional capital and operating costs for changes to the sorting line at the recycling facility.
To date the manufacturer/producers of hard plastic food container packaging are not responsible for the cost of the management of the container after the contents have been consumed, resulting in the HRM (and other municipalities) bearing the costs. In other jurisdictions, primarily outside of Canada, a non voluntary stewardship program, often referred to as Extender Producer Responsibility (EPR) exist where the manufacturer/producer/distributer is responsible for the cost of the management of the empty container.
No such EPR program for plastics and packaging exists in Nova Scotia. This matter was discussed at the April 11,2006 Regional Council meeting and a letter was sent from HRM to the Honourable Marc Parent, Minister of Env & Labour advising of HRM’s concerns, and specifically requesting that the Minister enact non voluntary EPR programs for plastic food containers. Although no Provincial legislation has been adopted as a basis for EPR programs, in December 2006 the Province set a new target of 300kg/per capita for waste disposal for NS by 2015.
The 2005 disposal current rate for NS is 520 kg/per capita. Although this is the lowest disposal rate in Canada, and significantly less than 725kg/per capita in the late 1990’s, there remains more to be achieved in the reduction of packaging.”
Well I’ll be damned, I thought our plastic container recovery system also included #4. I couldn’t believe it when Tom said only
#;s 1 & 2 and just checked our latest ‘Naturally Green’ edition from the HRM which confirmed what he said. BTW, does anyone have a hard time reading the numbers on the bottom of the containers. I now have to get out my magnifying glass, even tho I wear progressives. Ain’t older age great
Stephen Harper: Opponent of democracy.
Anyway, I’m off to scream at some hapless individual answering the phone at Porky Van Loon’s constituency office for blanketing Don Valley West with another poop-o-gram.
By TS on 07.03.08 11:58 am
You are wrong. It is odious to make any reference that suggests or compares Harper to Hitler.
Hitler was a monster responsible for a major war and genocide.
These stupid and constant references are beneath contempt. There are better ways to express contempt for Mr. Harper than reprehensible and direct comparisons to Hitler.
I wish all posters would read what they post, and think twice before they “Say It!”
Can you imagine what the people who try to have meaningful discussions think of these contributions?
By Joe Sixpack on 07.03.08 1:23 pm
All we have are the words of the people involved, Mr. Harper and various Conservatives versus Dona Cadman, the daughter, and the journalist.
People will choose to believe whomever they want.
You choose to believe that Dona Cadman is a liar. Others, don’t.
Garth,
You are spot on Garth, it takes one to know one and the ultra-dorks at the CPC office only need look amongst themselves to conceive ads like the one above.
A simple remedy for many red meat conservative geeks or acne crusted screwballs as Garth suggest, is to: GET A GIRLFRIEND.
It really is pathetic that the conservatives paid 4.2 million dollars to assassinate Stephane Dions character. That says a lot about the sorts of people and principles the Conservative party has; They know they cant win on policy so they have to resort to character attacks.
As for this libel chill episode, we all know that Harper is a hypocrite, and I hope all of the evidence in the Cadman affair is fully scrutinized by the courts; Harper can assassinate his own character when this libel suit blows up in his face.
Kaboooom!
It’s time for another donation at http://www.liberal.ca
BY SHEILA ON 07.03.08 1:14 AM
She wants “an apology from both sides for deepening the partisan nature of our system”
An apology from Harper, who personally imported ‘deepening partisan nature’ from the U.S. Republicas, would be a “Harper-impossibility”.
J’étais né un Français.
J’étais né un Quebecois.
J’étais né un Canadien.
Qui suis-je ?
Quel suis-je ?
Je suis Monsieur Dion !!!!
Flashdream News:
President George Bush schedules surprise trip to Iran. Peace, Middle East autonomy and trade treaty rumoured. He is also meeting with world elite in agreement to guarantee energy, food and water for all.
At the tipping point, one man could change the world. All it would take is a bit of vision to nudge us onto a new future. If he was serious about his religious belief, about his hopes for democracy and peace.
The War President could be transformed from a lame duck, humping the pantleg of history, to a World Hero.
But that’s not what human beings are about is is? It’s survival of the fittest. In today’s society, wealth is power. The wealthy will survive. They are arranging it.
I find Ottawa, the city, loses its charm when the Conservatives are in power. Everthing seems so mechanical, but when the Liberals are in power it a happenin’ town!
You hero has earned the formal recognitioin as a dictator with his history of undemocratic behaviour.
By TS on 07.03.08 11:58 am
Undemocratic behaviour? The conservative government has held numerous votes in the HofC to let democracy work. It is the liberals who are undemocratic for their utter failure to represent their constituents and actually vote.
Harper upped the amount to get it back in the press again, upping the ante in his pokey game of threats.
Here’s proof of global warming. The north pole ice has melted.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/07/north_pole_ice_melting_fear_mo.html
Yeah, Garth, the harpercracy abounds! A lot of chuckles today from the piece to the posters. The “RCMP have proven Cadman allegations to be false” line was good for a laugh. The Conservative parties frugal $41 G’s only, spent for fund raising, almost spilled my coffee on that one lol. The hypocracy of the Harper party is so absurd, if it wasn’t actually really happening, it would be good entertainment.
The Rick Mercer rant (snickers) And yes, the 2.5 million dollar law suit (chuckles). Ranks right up there with Mulroney’s 2.1 mil settlement for $300,000 brown paper bags of cash. Harper smears the opposition as bigoted Jew hating anti-semites as an example of the long list of smears and now sues for personal defamation… hyocracy abounds! What a Harpercrite.
Interesting stuff happening in the U.S.. They’ve got a full blown recession on their hands, the numbers are getting real nasty (and the Royal Bank says we’ll avoid one here, another gut buster. Incidentally, their share’s tumbled 2 bucks yesterday, guess its their form of damage control. “It isn’t going to happen here, were as invincible as the Canadian shield!” Yup, we’ve heard it all before).
People down south are getting in a foul mood. The worry is deepening. Politically, Republicans are headed for the same result Mulroney’s government faced in 93 (or was it 94?). At the moment, the Republican party is polling third, trailing independents now and smart money sez, don’t bet on losers and the losers who back losers. I don’t think its all that hard to extrapolate what this means.
Y’all have a good day and thanks for the laughs everyone. (good to have a bit of comic relief from time to time)
By kpn on 07.03.08 1:30 pm
For a long time, this Municipality on;y collected #1 and #2. Then they added #5.
But I have a question for the food industry. Why do you use a container made with #5 plastic only to put a #4 lid on it? And more to the point, why do you need to use anything other than recyclable, at a cost advantage, #1 and #2?
By Joe Sixpack on 07.03.08 1:23 pm
Just to revisit, yes the RCMP said they found no evidence that would allow them to lay charges. That is hardly surprising, really. If Mr. Cadman was offered inducements during a meeting with Conservative operatives there may well have been no written documentation and no recorded conversations. That would be hard evidence.
All we have are a dying man’s statement to his wife and daughter that said there was an offer of a financial consideration in return for his vote.
All we are left with is the credibility of the Cadman family versus the credibility of the PM and the Conservative Party.
Thinking people will have to make up their own minds as to who is more credible.
From CTV website:
Cadman’s daughter said her father told her, on his deathbed, about an offer of an insurance policy and other enticements in exchange for his vote on a 2005 budget vote.
“My father told me directly that he had been offered a million-dollar life insurance policy by the Conservatives,” Jodi Cadman said.
“He didn’t give me any more information than that. I don’t have names, dates, where it took place. I wish I did. I wish I had asked him more about it.”
Cadman said she believes her father was “offended” by the alleged offer.
Last month, the RCMP said they had examined the allegations against the Tories and determined that no charges will be laid.
The Mounties said they found no evidence to support the allegations of bribery laid out in the biography of Cadman, who died in 2005.
Here, a short great video by John Lennon.
For Greg Oakville and Garth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMpASSQAMk
BY BRAIN 07.03.08 3:32 AM
As far as green strategies, any tax shifting plan is a good one. But the first step in green shifting, is getting the maniac out of the PMO. The bonus – greening and economic sanity for Canada.
Dion very adamantly, and very seriously pointed out in an interview I saw with Don Newman a couple of months ago.. how very important the next election is for Canada. In every way he has put country first, not party, and I give him full credit for waiting for the right time.
I look around too, I’m very cautious, and bothering with politics is new to me, but I sat here for 30 years and watched what the cronies did to Alberta.. oh, sure, people have money, but the fund was looted, the profits roared out the country in incredible gobs.. the lies were told, and remain, regurgitated only by politicians and sheep.
Harper, as noted, is still working his old job as a corporate lobbyist, and The old boys in the west ‘are’ lobbyists by any other name.
Hope Green.. or Go Green? Just reminding.. Job One is to make it even possible.
[I emailed a post of yours, rebuttal to Troll-Cat's fear-smear, to a relative, because it was so well put!]
Garth,
Oops, I re-tried when your filter? kept saying it didn’t post. I see it posted anyway despite the message from your site to the contrary.. system error and not intentional.
I predict that Harper’s lawsuit will be thrown out of court, so get a pair of earplugs/muffs to protect against the deafening cheer from We the People!
Both Dona Cadman and the Conservative Party lack principle, in my opinion, from what I have seen on the video tape aired that also quotes Stevie Harper saying, “This is not for publication, of course!” That part of the tape was enough to indite him in the court of public opinion alone! Dona Cadman, if she is to be believed, should not be running as a Conservative and thus condoning what she alleged occurred. The Conservatives should not be accepting Dona Cadman as a candidate under their banners for what she has alleged to be the truth.
Now, in regards who is a leader, NONE of these current party heads are LEGITIMATE since they were only elected by the minority of those Canadians who were party members. If and when there is a proper amended election system in Canada that runs a primary election system similar to what Americans have, but run more honestly, then we will have REAL LEGITIMATE LEADERS!
What all Canadian politicos have failed to understand, is the Sponsorship Scandal changed the landscape for a long time to come. We do not trust any of you and none of you will enjoy a majority until you come clean with us in a genuine way.
All we have are a dying man’s statement to his wife and daughter that said there was an offer of a financial consideration in return for his vote.
By Ed Brooks on 07.03.08 3:14 pm
We also have Cadman after the vote on national television saying there was NO offer of any kind from anyone.
After describing Harper’s feinting act, I looked up the description. It gave me a chuckle, to realize just how apt that is for him!
feint
n.
1. A feigned attack designed to draw defensive action away from an intended target.
2. A deceptive action calculated to divert attention from one’s real purpose.
See synonyms at wile.
v., feint·ed, feint·ing, feints.
v.intr.
To make a feint.
v.tr.
1. To deceive with a feint.
2. To make a deceptive show of.
n. 1. a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement.
2. a mock attack or movement in warfare, made in order to distract or deceive an enemy.
v.
make a deceptive or distracting movement, typically during a fight: he feinted right, drawing a punch and slipping it.
[.. first item in the New Conservative National Citizens Coalition Lobbyist handbook of ruse$]
Garth
I think the saddest thing about Chuck Cadman and the “inducement affair” has been his integrity was dragged through the mud after his death.
I never agreed with his party but I thought he was a man of integrity.
The person the Conservative Party and by proxy Mr. Harper is calling a liar is none other than – Chuck Cadman.
Shame on Mr. Harper for attempting to enrich his own bounty on the good name of Chuck Cadman.
My question – who’s good name has been libeled? Not the Harper family but the Cadman family.
Hmmmm… post disappeared, so….
slightly off topic – sort of
Library Late Fees in Alberta Are 16 Times Bigger than Environmental Fines at the Alberta Tar Sands
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07. 3.08
“The Alberta Tar Sands are called by some the most destructive project on earth, and their toxic tailing ponds kill birds and are poisoning downstream native communities. It has the worst air quality in the country, and companies regularly run afoul of exceedance limits, but in 2006 all of the oil companies were fined only $ 249,000. Library patrons in Calgary and Edmonton, on the other hand, were fined $4 million for overdue books.”
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/library-late-fees-bigger-than-oil-fines.php
Since no one wants to respond to my questions earlier today, I’ll post another one.
I hear that Mr. Harper is considering a cap and trade system, with a carbon cost of $65 tonne.
If I understand a cap and trade system properly, the government will create a “cap” amount per industry, and then sell (or give) the permits to specific companies.
Under the permits granted, a company can pollute up to the limit of their permit, and afterwards must buy credits from other companies (in thier industry or not.
Also – for the cap and trade system to cut pollutions levels, the total of all permits must be at (or less than) the current carbon emmissions today.
So my questions are:
1)Is my understanding of this correct?
2) If a company buys these credits from other companies – will they not also just pass the cost onto the consumer?
3) Isn’t $65 a tonne MORE than $40 a tonne?
4) In order to ensure that the cap and trade system is working, won’t the government require “carbon auditors” or some such thing? What will the cost of this be?
5) Given that Alberta and Saskatchewan are large produces of GHG, would it not stand to reason that the companies located in these provinces be forced to by credits from companies located outside those provinces?
6) If #6 is correct, then the potential “cost” to Alberta and Saskatchewan would be $9.75 B (assuming that $6 B is the cost at $40 a tonne). Why are those that are lambasting the Liberals “NEP of $6 Billion” not critizing the Conservative of removing potentially $9.75 B from the economies of Alberta and Saskatchewan?
Thanks.
New poll shows the Conservatives down.
Yipppppppy….Yahooooo!
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/453359
By AToryNoMore on 07.03.08 10:40 am
I hope Stephane Dion takes the bait….
The admission that corporations can pass all such taxes on to consumers is evidence that there is no free market and that somewhere within the system someone is able to control the market.
By C. B. Innes on 07.03.08 12:21 pm
EXACTLY!!! We haven’t had a free, fair and balanced market in anything in this country for at least 15 years.
But, I sincerely do hope that Mr. McGuinty will see what is coming for our elderly on fixed incomes and the working poor. Especially in rural areas where their car is their safety net…their life-line.
I hope he is working very hard on a plan for these people.
Leasa
Oil prices.
Blame:-
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m45390&hd=&size=1&l=e
I saw this comment on the G&M site. I had to copy – because it is, IMHO, spot on:
Kirk . from Ajax, Canada writes:
I will never understand why Canadian politicians can’t figure it out. I have always called myself a Conservative (by Canadian definition) but have never voted conservative federally. I think I voted for Harris and Cretien in the same year – the same time period anyway. I want lower taxes – a focus on social programs with the most direct effect on the most vulnerable – environmentalism where it supports economic realism – I want the government to stay away from my rights to provide my current wife an abortion, divorse her and marry my same-sex lover – (since I don’t see where any of that is the governments business) – religious dogma has no ( I mean NO!!!) place in government policy – don’t involve a single dollar of my tax money in embarassing the other political parties – again I don’t see how that’s working for me – if you have a surplus in the billions you’re fired – that indicates you’re probably completely incompetent with the books – in fact if you have a surplus, give me my money back – leave me mostly alone – and for goodness sake if you say you’re going to endorse an open government – provide an open government – as elected ’servants’ you’re not special – the people that elected you are special – serve them. And conservatives and liberals alike – - make me feel just one time that the welfare of Canadians is more important to you than the prosperity of the political party you’re part of. Because I don’t believe that for one single moment right now. I’m off to the bar to wash down the froth in my moth with a tall cold one. If that’s OK with Ottawa.
The link is here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.wtorypoll03/CommentStory/National/home#comments
It will be interesting to see how the Conservatives on this blog spin this one. Will Janice, Leasa, Catherine or Harry defend this latest travesty, and if so, will they do so by saying it’s okay because someone from another party did it?
Or will they use offensive tactics as a defense? As Garth says, (and I paraphrase) “smear and slash are routine (on this blog)…ideas are the enemy of tactics…intimidation, bullying, belittling, misinformation, distortion and deceit are okay..It’s on this blog every hour of every day.
Stay tuned.
By Lana on 07.03.08 7:40 am
Well Lana, honey, we only have learned from the best of the best – the Liberals!
The Liberals have always smeared, fear-mongered, and called their opponents un-Canadians for years now. Even Stephane Dion is doing it now with his Green Shaft scam. Listen to what he is saying. Basically his message is “only real Canadians will do what’s right for the environment and will buy into Green Shift”. So basically, he is implying if one doesn’t agree with his green shaft, then, they don’t care about the environment and they are not Canadians.
O/T but of concern….
Canadian ISPs Plan Net Censorship
Concerns grow that Canada’s plan will wipeout alt news sites and spread to U.S.
rss202
By Mike Finch
A net-neutrality activist group has uncovered plans for the demise of the free Internet by 2010 in Canada. By 2012, the group says, the trend will be global.
Bell Canada and TELUS, Canada’s two largest Internet service providers (ISPs), will begin charging per-site fees on most Internet sites, reports anonymous sources within TELUS.
“It’s beyond censorship, it is killing the biggest ecosystem of free expression and freedom of speech that has ever existed,” I Power spokesperson Reese Leysen said. I Power was the first group to report on the possible changes.
Bell Canada has not returned calls or emails.
The plans made by the large telecom businesses would change the Internet into a cable-like system, where customers sign up for specific web sites, and must pay to see each individual site beyond a certain point. Subscription browsing would be limited, extra fees would be applied to access out-of-network sites. Many sites would be blocked altogether.
Click here for “the rest of the story”.
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/canada_net_censorship.html
“The admission that corporations can pass all such taxes on to consumers is evidence that there is no free market and that somewhere within the system someone is able to control the market.”
You’ve done cracked the code, C.B. Reading Gerhard Ritter 1953 study of Frederick the Great, I came across a sentence that gave me pause.
Describing Frederick’s break with former ways of governing, Ritter notes the old
“primitive exploitation of available capital and human resources to increase the power and wealth of the ruling dynasty (or even, as was the case in feudalism, of the nobility, the prince and his greatest vassals.)”
Delete “dynasty” and “nobility” and insert “political party” and “corporate elite”, and it does look familiar. Us villains are still being had.
All we are left with is the credibility of the Cadman family versus the credibility of the PM and the Conservative Party.
Thinking people will have to make up their own minds as to who is more credible.
By Ed Brooks on 07.03.08 3:14 pm
Ed, there is a certain amount of confliction within the Cadman family, afterall Chuck stated unequivocally that no offer was made from anyone and Dona says he told her of a million dollar insurance policy offer. How does one figure out this confliction now? I mean what was supposed to be a book about Chuck’s life and political life has turned out to only tarnish his image.
Gord.
Stephen Harper is AFRAID to debate Dion.
Between that and the new poll out , it must really suck to be a con today.Is that why they are extra bitter?
Dion to PM: Meet me in Calgary
Carbon Tax Tour; Harper refuses challenge to debate green plan
Juliet O’Neill, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=628488
I hear that Mr. Harper is considering a cap and trade system, with a carbon cost of $65 tonne.
By Tim N on 07.03.08 4:12 pm
Dear Tim,
Gosh you don’t really expect to get an answer do you? I once asked how many regulations for Environment Canada have been brought into to law by the Privy Council since January of 2006. “Lots” I was told. None, I reported.
Honestly, I have no idea why the Conservative right comes here to provide “information.” It’s not helpful for debate; it’s pap coming from the Death Star. I had no idea that people would be so caught up with winning that they would not present their own personal views.
But we digress, so the Green Shift plan is a living document – what would you think if the plan exempted people living above the 60th parallel of a carbon tax?
After all, we southerners are responsible for the carbon excess. Northerners cannot not switch to an alternative energy source for their diesel powered communities in an instant.
Any comments?
By kpn on 07.03.08 1:30 pm
For a long time, this Municipality on;y collected #1 and #2. Then they added #5.
But I have a question for the food industry. Why do you use a container made with #5 plastic only to put a #4 lid on it? And more to the point, why do you need to use anything other than recyclable, at a cost advantage, #1 and #2?
By James- Chatham on 07.03.08 3:08 pm
James – It baffles the mind. I know my DH & I have been upset for years about the over packaging of products, especially IT ones. We realize why – potential theft. But with all the security cams in shops today is it really necessary. I’m seriously upset about packaging a 1/2″ by 4″ product in an 8 X 12 inch plastic package. Maybe it appeals to some men.
Since you call Harper “Herr” .. then it must be okay to say Frenchman Dion .. in accordance with your bigoted values ..!!!
By Harry S on 07.03.08 11:48 am
There’s a major difference and you know it. You say bigoted remarks about Dion’s French backgroung – his ethnicity. Harper being called Herr is a result of his “actions” and treatment of people – very different indeed.
Nice try there – but it doesn’t work. You can’t worm your way out of all thos bigoted remarks you’ve made.
What can happen when one discovers his / her own creativity, not having to worry about being muzzled by thickheaded trolls.
Quite funny, and a little over a minute, so do enjoy . . .
http://youtube.com/watch?v=luVjkTEIoJc
****************************************
Barb the proof-reader, 2:17 am
Hello Barb.
The extra updates Garth supplied reeks of dubya-style economic failures, such as New Orleans, etc., and carried on here by carney, yet CRAP will campaign on what? Surely not fiscal policies.
This current lawsuit and hyperbole has again been purposely designed to turn voters’ attention away from the real issue, and now there is only one issue — the economy.
Everything else pales by comparison — we haven’t even reached late fall / winter yet.
****************************************
Today’s WW:
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.” — Andre Gide
Leave God out of this; all voters who want change, are up for a scrap will get off their duffs, make an effort, do some research and then, very silently vote CRAP out forever (Gandhi’s non-violence attitude, and the Brits were gonzo after that).
Shouldn’t be too difficult to do!
****************************************
A report from CP in the KDC is an astonishingly magnificent grasp of the obvious.
It is possible that TD Canada Trust has been snooping on this site to keep up to date with the changes in the economy.
“Spending party is over
“Growth expected to slow after Cdns. have been spending like drunken sailors: TD Bank”
“expected”: If folks are laid off and no longer have a major income coming in, is their spending party supposed to continue?
Hmmm, could be a trick question; after all, dubya, dimdum, carney and harpo have been on a consistent rampage to put us in the outhouse for some time now.
Quick! Fire those printing presses up, and print more money so we can spend more!
Different topic, but Jim Travers had one para. in his column yesterday which I found interesting:
“Contrary to conventional wisdom, and with the notable exception of pumping oil and gas south, Canada does not, in the traditional sense, trade with the US. We increasingly build things together.”
Further evidence that the NWO wanted carney parachuted into the BoC head honcho position, so the US would have unfettered access to all Canada’s resources (especially WATER).
Again, it will be mighty difficult, but Canada will soon have a new direction — for the betterment of Cdns. as a whole, not the ultra-rich and wealthy — once these present yahoos have been given their pink slips, much like those who are now, or soon will be, unemployed.
By Gord G. on 07.03.08 5:55 pm
Sadly, Chuck is not here to answer that.
We are left to decide between competing stories. Tell me, what motivation is there for Dona and Jodi to trample on Chuck’s reputation?
If you are suggesting that his wife and daughter lied, why did they do it?
“By telling the truth when they mention the propaganda, like the NEP or IT’s.
As for Albertans or Saskatchewans leaving Canada…. ROTFLMAO…. Not even 1% of the population is interested in separation.
My riding in Calgary elected a Liberal in the last provincial election so I know that it is not impossible to change the political landscape.
The TRUTH is what will do it.
Opec and the USA ruined the oil industry in the early 80’s with their high interest rates, etc and NEP was trying to keep the oil industry Canadian. Instead the CONS in Alberta allowed big oil to scew us all. Look at the billions of $$$ in oil every year and the QE is a disgrace, hospitals are mismanaged and not able to meet the needs of the people. We still pay income tax and health care premiums, and school taxes, plus our streets are pluggled with the homeless and the sick and those needing a hand up. Alaska has no income tax and better living conditions. When are Albertans going to get tired of bending over for big oil and the CONS? When they see the truth.
The tax leakage of ITs began after Harpo and his Dimdam ministers ruined ITs. Now the big ones are owned by pension plans that pay no income tax and foreign investors who also pay no income tax.
Nobody reads the Herald and barely the Sun.”
BY EMILIE ON 07.02.08 12:58 AM
_________________________________
Hi Emilie,
Great post! Agreed, when they see the truth.. just get the truth out there as much as the Cons put the lies out.. but we’ve got some catching up to do.
Black’s papers ran whatever they thought would sell.. which explains the difference in Edmonton’s and ours. I saw an interesting article on that, and hadn’t realized they were a bit more questioning in Edmonton, but not enough [we're in Dave's riding]
Juliet O’Neill, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
By keith phibbs on 07.03.08 5:58 pm
Be careful what you wish for;
“I’m confident we will have significant reductions. I’m not telling you specific numbers because you would not trust me,” he said.
Gord.
Ed Brooks 1:37pm
Have you ever read Hitlers book Mein Kempf? There was a copy in my high school library which I read many times being a fan of WW2. This should be required reading in every high school and we would see the extreme right wing parties dissappear once everyone could see through the propaganda what the real agenda is.
On the other side the book Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx should also be required reading to understand how moving too far to the left can be equally damaging to a society.
I find it encouraging that people openly quote these books and find it horrifying how governments are racing to censor anything but a narrow christian viewpoint and if we lose the knowledge to prevent sliding into the utopian dreams that both books present we are doomed to repeat the failures history has taught us that result from following them.
If you are suggesting that his wife and daughter lied, why did they do it?
By Ed Brooks on 07.03.08 6:47 pm
Ed, Chuck’s last days were difficult and he may have said things that were a result of pain medication.
Gord.
Brain
Did you read my reply to your post late yesterday?
Forcast is for three days of rain yet again oh yah it is the weekend so it has to rain.
Looking forward to your reply.
Dion to PM: Meet me in Calgary
Carbon Tax Tour; Harper refuses challenge to debate green plan
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=628488
………………………………
Harper’s response: “I would be pleased to debate anything you want to debate, provided it’s done during an election campaign. If you are too chickensh!t to put your neck on the line and let Canadians be the judges with their votes
Hi Ed Brooks on 07.03.08 1:37 pm,
Just some stuff to think about if you and others haven’t already seen it.
(Don’t waste your time look at it if you just don’t want to know.
Knowledge can be powerful if we use it to help everyone, for our long-term common good.)
Have you been paying attention?
PMSH & Bush are best buddies.
Have you had a chance to watch these shows?
Talk by Naomi Wolf author of “The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot” 48min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
Or read,
‘Fascist America, in 10 Easy Steps.’
http://www.alternet.org/story/51150/
YouTube-’ America: Freedom to Fascism’ 3min. Intro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K0z8q1prhA
‘America: From Freedom to Fascism’ (2006), (part 1 of 11)
By: Aaron Russo (1943-2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ueEfRXZCVA&feature=related
Or
America: Freedom to Fascism – Director’s Authorized Version 111min.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
Do you remember this WARNING!
January 17, 1961
President Eisenhower’s, Farwell address to the Nation. (Only few min. long.)
at the ‘why we fight’ movie, web site.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/main.html
This has some History that they don’t want you to know about!
YouTube – Robert Newman’s History of Oil (1 of 9) 45min. total.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQhhrzHKMhI
Are you still with me?
Watch first (Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”) before (“ZEITGEIST, THE MOVIE”)
Plato’s; “Allegory of the Cave”. 7min.
(The full text read to you, put to modern images.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ei7LqbYb8M&feature=related
“ZEITGEIST, THE MOVIE” 122min
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
What kind of world do you want to live in, and have your family grow up in?
What are YOU going to do to help make the changes that you’d like to see and need to do now? So the future will look better.
Maybe run for office, help someone else run, tell your friends and family why they need to all get involved NOW! VOTE! And know what the party leader is all about. Never vote or have your vote counted by machines! You have hear of hackers?
In Canada you are voting for a Party Leader. If the Party gets the most seat, there Leader gets to be PM until the Government falls. That our one vote system in Canada.
Some more important stuff to get up to speed on!
Why inaction is not an option regarding Global Climate Heating!
Best argument I’ve seen!
Click on; ‘How It All Ends’ (only 10min.)
http://wonderingmind42.com/
Do you know about Peak-Oil and gas?
With this PMSH non-plan Canada will be all out of natural gas by 2028.
How do you heat your home and water now?
The world will be all out of oil if we just keep going as is, by 2050-2060!
Last year the world burned 1 cubic mile of oil for the first time, as well as all other energy sources, like coal, etch. Do you really think oil is going to last for ever?
Do a web search of ‘peak-oil’ there’s lot of info.
This Movie is really good; you should rent it and watch the extra stuff, on the DVD. To find out about peak-oil.
‘A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash’(2006)
http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/index2.html
The Most IMPORTANT Video You’ll Ever See (part 3 of
10min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFyOw9IgtjY
The whole talk/show,
is called;
The Most IMPORTANT Video You’ll Ever See (part 1 of
‘Arithmetic, Population, and Energy’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY&feature=related
Nuclear Power is going to need to be part of the solution NOW!
Not tomorrow that will be to late,
To really ‘get the job done’ in time to stop the most BRUTAL effects of Man-made Global Climate Change. And keep the lights and web on, so to speak.
Great Books, to get up to speed with the facts about Western Nuclear Power plants;
‘Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy.’
By: Gwyneth Cravens
Watch the video at her site. 1:43min.
http://www.cravenspowertosavetheworld.com/
Or
http://fora.tv/2007/09/14/Could_Nuclear_Power_Save_the_Planet
This is another book with great information.
‘Kicking the carbon habit: global warming and the case for renewable and nuclear energy.’
By: William Sweet
http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=73556989381820&mkt=en-CA&setlang=en-CA&w=573c40d4,7f9db19b&FORM=CVRE
Get the facts!
To learn more about Canada’s World Class CANDU’s Nuclear Power Technology.
Try these sites below.
It only takes 4 years to build a CANDU! The last few were built on time and on budget!!!
http://www.aecl.ca/
http://www.cna.ca/
What is the hold up?
Why aren’t the Corporate run mass media telling the masses what we all need to now? So we can do what is necessary, ‘to save us all from or selves’ in time.
Why do we still allow the oil corporation to spread lies?
Like the cigarette corporation have done.
Corporations are NOT ‘human beings’! They’re only reason for being is to maximize there short term profits, even if it F**ks the future for all other human beings.
We need good Government to set in place the ground rules that are needed to protect the best long-term interest of all human beings. As information becomes available the rules may need to be modified or changed to keep us on the tracks.
We need to all be informed,and our Government can help with some planning.
We don’t need Governments the simple caves in to Corporations. For short-term profit driven needs/gread, at the expense of ‘the people’s’ human rights.
If they want to sell and buy stuff hear, they need to live up to the rules that hopefully are in everyone’s best short and long-term interests.
Perhaps they should have to make the stuff they sell to us hear, like the old auto pack required? This so-called NAFTA free trade is not fare trade, and is only free for the corporation bottom line.
The signing of the SPP secretive dealing is a Treasonous act! Where is the GG and RCMP?
PMSH is not a good leaded or long-term planner for us all. But he sure can lie and keep silent when he chooses too.
Who is PMSH really working for?
NOT You and Your Family!
How old are you?
Are you ready for peak-oil?
Where is your food and water and other stuff coming from now? Is oil used?
Could it be done another way? Is it really needed to live?
You can’t eat and drink our paper money.
Why did we stop using gold to back up the value of our paper money?
Will you and your family live, if we don’t stop adding greenhouse gasses to the air NOW?
Our oceans PH is being changed by all the added carbon it’s absorbing now.
If the PH changes much more the oceans will simple stop absorbing the carbon.
Then ‘we’ll all be screwed’!
And No thank to PMSH & gang and there oil friends like Bush.
Are they just all ‘insane’?
Has the overall IQ levels been lowered by giving a generation of our babies fluoridated water to drink?
More good up to date science information on this can be found at;
http://www.fluoridealert.org/
PMSH doesn’t seem to even care about his own kid’s future.
Do you really think he care about you and your family future?
What are you going to do to help?
We all need to pull together now or the only home we have Earth, will change to a point that we humans and many other creatures will go extinct! Sooner that you might think!
Is your Government doing anything to help us all, get the job done in time?
Time is running out very quickly!
We, and our so-called Leaders need to listen to the best and brightest for solutions and get on with it.
We are running out of time!
The longer we wait to take action the more it will cost us all, and we might just wait too long.
We need to take action now, for yours and your kid’s future, or else…
You could have the answer to some of mankinds big and small troubles,
Please let us all know what your positive ideas are to help make things in our world better for us all now and into the future. Hopefully we’ll get it done in time.
No idea is ‘dumb’; it might be what we need. Some ideas might be better than others, for one reason or another.
The solution to some problem may require choices to be made.
Your idea just might be what we need to hear, to help find the better/best idea, that will work and in time, to help us all make this a better world to live in for everyone now, and to come.
There is no one coming to save us from ourselves. Death is the great equalizer.
We all need to us our brains and work together, or else…
Just my two cents.
Hi Lana on 07.03.08 5:02 pm,
Thanks for the heads up.
It Sounds like by 2010/2012 our ability to ‘find out’ on the web
will be taken from us,
unless we the people demand to keep our right to know!
One reason that Ron Paul dropped out of the US presidential race is that he was too honest — he called a spade a spade; another was the msm deliberately ignored him.
If things begin getting topsy-turvy, politically, fiscally and otherwise, it may give dubya an ideal platform to introduce martial law and, as Putin has done, simply create a new label for himself.
It may also lead to the end of the dollar with the introduction of the Amero.
http://tinyurl.com/4zkxz6
****************************************
Cooling down or warming up?
http://tinyurl.com/5uh4rf
****************************************
Combined with rising everything (except for fixed incomes), now global inflation.
http://tinyurl.com/5q2dmu
Hi John Duddy on 07.03.08 3:14 pm,
Thanks. Hope he get elected.
Are they using electronic voting machines in his area? If so he won’t get in.
By Bonnie N BC on 07.03.08 6:05 pm
Honestly, I have no idea why the Conservative right comes here to provide “information.” It’s not helpful for debate; it’s pap coming from the Death Star. I had no idea that people would be so caught up with winning that they would not present their own personal views.
But we digress, so the Green Shift plan is a living document – what would you think if the plan exempted people living above the 60th parallel of a carbon tax?
Any comments?
……………………………………………………….
Well, Bonnie N BC … I have attempted to discuss the relationship between Dion’s Green Plan which contains no specific GHG reduction targets in the 4 years of it’s duration to 2012 … and the Rodriguez Kyoto compliance act which commits the Canadian government to our 2012 Kyoto targets.
Garth refuses to respond to my questions about Dion’s commitment to the Rodriguez Kyoto compliance act, which mandates that we must either reduce our GHG excess currently at 30% above our 2012 Kyoto commitment or the other alternative is to purchase Billion$$$ of Kyoto Carbon Credits from China, India, Russia.
Would you like to take a shot at clarifying the Dion Green Shift hidden agenda over 2012 Kyoto target commitments??
By slg on 07.03.08 6:34 pm
Explain the major differences to me, if you would be so kind.
Direct or indirect references between Mr Harper and the Conservatives as compared to the Nazis and their atrocities seems way beyond the pale to me.
To me, this is at least as inflammatory as bigoted remarks about any ethnic group, if not more so.
I really don’t think that what is said around here can be legitimately defended by either side.
But hey, if the consensus of opinion is to wallow in the muck, be my guest.
It’s so sad, really; far worse than Question Period.
GM is a great company made up of hundreds of thousands of workers and billions of dollars a year in contracts to suppliers, employing vast numbers of others. Do not be so cavalier. This death would impact us all. — Garth
Grom my experience of the company, I would disagree.
However, the question is all about market share as there are only so many vehicles that will be bought in any given year.
Since GM decided to stake its NA operations on the the high margin, gas guzzlers, they have put themselves and their suppliers in the position they now find themselves in.
Should they go bankrupt, some other car manufacturer will replace them. The question is then where will those vehicles be built. Honda and Toyota have plants in Ontario. The same cannot be said of other foreign auto companies.
And remember since NAFTA, the car pact no longer exits. So don’t consider GM, Ford or Chrysler as Canadian autos. The first two, fo sure, are transnationals based in the US. See Saturn Astra, how many parts come from Canadian Suppliers… let alone NA. ones? The European ones are built in Germany I believe.
Gord: You believe that Chucks last days were difficult and he was on pain medication. So, do you also believe that callous Conservative trolls solicited his vote in exchange for his vote during these last difficult days?
Gee Janice: Do you believe that what Harper tells his wife in private is the same message he gives to the Canadian public?
Hmmm–I wonder what Steve said to the wife about Bernier on that fateful day? I bet it wasn’t “he did the right thing”.
Or what he said in private about Tom Lukiwski–I’m sure it wasn’t “gosh darn that Tom sure can give an apology–hope he attends some of those gay pride events”.
I hope Stephane Dion takes the bait…
By Catherine on 07.03.08 4:26 pm
Catherine, Harper has been laying bait for months now. He must be getting pretty frustrated that Mr. Dion won’t bite. In the mean time, Dion is proving to be great Prime Minister material & a very smart man. It’s plain to see that Harper is scared silly of him by the amount of money he’s spending trying to discredit him. Btw, I hope he keeps it up. Canadians are seeing him for what he really is.
Harry, been writing any good books lately? Is it finished? Can’t wait to read it. LOL
Cheers
How could you guys steal Harper’s personality. Give it back. Right this minute.
By Blah Blah on 07.02.08 11:20 pm
Harper has a personality? When did this happen?
Harper has a personality? When did this happen?
Bill, 8:56 pm
False alarm — hairy masquerading as Tarzan. Normal service is now resumed!
Ed, Chuck’s last days were difficult and he may have said things that were a result of pain medication.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 07.03.08 7:06 pm
Yeah like “the cons never offered me any..”
And Harry do you understand english? THat article was Harper being a cowardly leader and refusing to debate Dion in Calgary.Where does it say any of the crap you said?Harper is AFRAID to debate Dion.
Who the hell is advising Harper on his lawsuits?
He leaves himself wide open for every “lack of personality” joke ever written.
The two words you will never see in a sentence are “personality” and “Harper”.
He has none.
That is why women shun him. And now they are shunning him even more.
It’s his lack of redeeming qualities.
Conservative trolls solicited his vote in exchange for his vote during these last difficult days?
By Judy on 07.03.08 8:39 pm
No.
Gord.
By Joe Sixpack on 07.03.08 1:23 pm
Joe 6 pack – You must be truly pleased you reached your potential in life – one of the Trailer Park guys.
Ed, Chuck’s last days were difficult and he may have said things that were a result of pain medication.
Gord.
By Gord G. on 07.03.08 7:06 pm
Yeah Gord G., and his wife, daughter and SIL are all liars.
I’ve seen this photo op so many times before; is there nothing SH can come up with that would me convinced that this picture or photo op, whatever, would convince me that this is a silly attak ad or whatever the ‘war room’ bully Harper gang wants Canadians to believe.
I agree. Harper is a ‘personality joke’. Just not sure what the polls are saying. How much will these poll cost us this time around.
I hope Stephane Dion takes the bait….
By Catherine on 07.03.08 4:26 pm
When Dion does, you clowns will wish he hadn’t!
By William Dahl on 07.03.08 7:06 pm
No, I never read Mein Kempf. I did read the “Rise and Fall of Third Reich”, by William Shirer when I was in Grade 9. It was a pretty brutal accounting of a terrible time in our world’s history.
By Gord G. on 07.03.08 7:06 pm
By the same token, Gord, he may have said things during that interview that were not accurate. Perhaps he was in pain and discomfort at that moment. Perhaps he was exhausted from the efforts of the day.
Perhaps he said something that he knew would make the media leave him alone. Perhaps he didn’t have the strength to deal with the attention that saying something else would attract.
Again, it is all hearsay, as Chuck is no longer here to explain.
You choose to believe that the PM and the Conservatives are more credible than his family. So be it.
I still have to ask you, though what makes them more credible than his family, and what did Dona and Jodi have to gain by making the statements they made?
By keith phibbs on 07.03.08 9:28 pm
And Harry do you understand english? THat article was Harper being a cowardly leader and refusing to debate Dion in Calgary.Where does it say any of the crap you said?Harper is AFRAID to debate Dion.
………………………………..
I’m quite sure PM Harper would be pleased to debate with Dion, but only in the context of an election where everybody puts it on the line. Dion wants to debate because he knows there is no election and he is safe from defeat. ..
Dion chickened out of having an election, and now he is desperate to gain credibility for his Green Shift .. so why should PM Harper stoop to save Dion from his ultimate demise??
Look folks .. Dion may not make it through the summer with his Green Shift scheme because Canadians do not want to listen to somebody peddling a Carbon Tax on Everything. Why help him survive .. the same with GM …!!!
Why debate with somebody who may not survive as Liberal leader … because he is most certainly a dead man walking .. and talking silliness too … I mean, come on, Dion is at 5% in the last poll and tied with McCain for personal popularity and credibility too ..!!!!
Dalton McGuinty has exacerbated the economic slump in LibOntario.
Do you find it credible the $41 000.00 covered the cost of outreach to the membership let alone others?
Obviously I do not, based on personal experience – for which, having no proof, writing this may be at the risk of suit for libel.
Joe Hueglin
By JOE HUEGLIN on 07.03.08 9:05 am -end quote
Hi Joe. Actually that would be the figure that was not charged to the government or our tax $$$$ paying for the fundraising. Pretty neat trick to use tax payers pockets to ask for donations.
By Barb the proof-reader on 07.03.08 3:16 pm
Thanks, Barb. Most excellent points once again. Yup, the sooner we get rid of the U.S. puppet plant lobbyist Harper, the better off ALL Canadians will be, even the ones that don’t know what’s good for them, lol.
By William Dahl on 07.03.08 7:11 pm
On it, William
Can the cons please do better if they want us to vote for them; what’s up with this silly photo op anyways? It seems to me this photo op was taken out of context because Dion seems to scare the Cons.
It looks like Dion is a leader and the cons are afraid of him! What do you think?
I’m not anti-Liberal, but when it comes to energy, I choose to take a “north American” outlook. Many Canadians are not comfortable with our energy development, forgetting that we must ship other oil in (very dirty) and protect those foreign sources with military presences (dirty, bloody). If you want world peace, start living in your own backyard. We could cut our greenhouse gases by shutting down the steel mills of Ontario and getting steel from Japan, but that is not responsible. There is solutions to cleaning up energy production such as Alberta’s tar sands, but we have to work through them….that is the job of a federal government….If you don’t have that outlook, you are a regional government.
“Dalton McGuinty has exacerbated the economic slump in LibOntario.
By StevieG on 07.03.08 11:39 pm”
I pointless post without substantiation. Provide factual and analytical support for your statement.
I’d imagine the appropriateness/validity of the Con lawsuit will be determined as it works through the judicial system. If it is inappropriate the Libs have nothing to worry about, right Garth?
go to hell, mother fucker! CANADA does not need a bastard like you, mainly in the house of community (common). You have change politic party, you should go to hell
with your stupid leader Stéphane Dion, who do not fit at all as a leader.
Jacques Pelletier a man of 70 y.o. who quit all the parties in Ottawa. Most of you are a bunch of theives…
By Jacques Pelletier on 07.04.08 10:03 pm
Did your meds quit working?
Fuck you bastard.
From CHICOUTIMI
Fuck you bastard.
From CHICOUTIMI
By Christine on 07.05.08 8:14 am
My mom was raised in Chicoutimi. If she were alive today, she would be disgusted with you. Grow up kid.
Your on the money, don’t know why your comment should draw so many negative reviews. You only told the truth.
By Jacques Pelletier on 07.04.08 10:03 pm
You sound like an American! Not a Canadian!