This was in my mailbox.
One week.
Five mailers.
In Halton.
We’re not making this up.
Election, anyone?
August 14th, 2008 | Canadian Politics
August 14th, 2008 | Canadian Politics
This was in my mailbox.
One week.
Five mailers.
In Halton.
We’re not making this up.
192 comments ↓
Well, now I’m really steamed. Why am I the only person in Canada who has not received one of these things? What? I’m not worthy or something? Talk about a blow to my self-esteem.
How much have the CPC (the taxpayer, of course) spent on these flyers thus far?
Harper says he may call an election. Go ahead, here’s one for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqnibJckyg
How can this possibly not be deemed a flagrant abuse of taxpayer dollars? Really. Something’s gotta be done.
Obviously you are being targeted by the Harper Conservatives for any next election for:
1. Dion pulling the plug after September 15th
2. Harper pulling the plug between August 29th – September 2nd (my guess).
If Harper did go to the GG in that time frame, a general election would stop the 3 by-elections and spare those ridings from an election debacle.
By the looks of all those pamphlets you are receiving, my bet is that Harper will pull the plug sooner than later … and leave Dion holding his dick and complaining in futility.
ARE YOU READY, GARTH … THE FIGHT IS ON !!!!
CUPIDS, N.L. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged all democratic countries Thursday to speak out strongly against the “Soviet-era mentality” displayed in Russia’s military aggression against Georgia.
“I must tell you that I am deeply troubled by a notion I see developing in Russia and that is a notion that Russia somehow has a say or some control over countries outside of its borders,” Harper said during a news conference in Newfoundland.
Then why did he support Bush going into Iraq?
You should show the front of the second last one Garth.
Swing, kid, soccer ball…used needle on the ground. The politics of fear.
I got 3 this week.
Read Dr. Paul Craig Roberts.
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts08132008.html
This article shows us the folly of Canada’s Afghanistan policy.
A must read for Stephane and Garth.
A vital read for all MPs and Senators.
Who is Paul Craig Roberts; what experience has he??
See end of piece.
I have not recieved the junkie flyer yet. I have recieved the other ones and then some extras, as I believe I have recieved 15 since mid March. Lately I have been getting them compliments of some M.P. Barry Devolin. His riding is in Ontario somewhere, and I am in B.C. He must really want to get the word out as he must be mailing these across the country. I cannot see all this being in any way helpful for the local Conservative candidate. I asked her if she supported our taxdollars being spent this way, and her responce was that the other parties have sent out 10%ers as well. Not the answer I was looking for, but whatever works I guess.
Do the M.P.s know there name is being attached to all this junkmail?
You should see if these 10%er should be declared election material and force the Cons to have to repay the tax payers for all the mailing costs. Man, the Cons really like to abuse those 10%ers.
Are the Liberals planning to put forth anything to limit the 10%ers to a MP’s local riding only?
“REAL ACTIONS
REAL RESULTS”
i.e.
WRONG ACTIONS
WRONG RESULTS!!
E.U. Inflation @ 4% Economy contracts 0.2% = Stagflation
U.S. CPI up 0.8% double the expected…
House forclosure up 55%
Home seizures up 184%
Canada home resales down 11% year over year. Housing prices fell 3.6% nationwide…
Think Harper wants an election before it gets really bad…you bethcha!!!
Yeah – I’ve been getting this crap too.
Let’s list them:
1) “Carbon Taxes” – Fails to mention that Harper has got the exact same plan – minus the income tax cut, of course. Plus cutting the GST was stupid (vs cutting income taxes) – oh, and did I mention that the Liberals DID cut income taxes several times between 1993 and 2005?
2) Product safety – tough new regulations? Like letting companies montor and test their own products, and cancelling the BSE testing in food? Yeah, super stringent – cause a business would NEVER hoist a dangerous product on an unsuspecting public…
3)Senate reform? You mean, the unconstitutional reforms that Harper is suggesting, that no province supports? Or the “tinkering” to the system, that actually puts MORE power into the PM’s hands (because essentially ALL serving senators would appointed by the sitting PM if term limits were 8 years?) My definition of “fixing” something in not “make it worse” What about HoC reforms? Or term limits for the PM?
4)Drug reform – keep them in rehab? I thought we were closing down Insite, etc..? Or by rehab, do you mean jail? You know, lock up the victims, so we don’t have to deal with the problem.
5) Thank god someone is finally tackling youth crime. Let’s thow those kids away for wearing hoodies.
All garbage. The first one I received, I asked my wife – what is the plan? Where are the details? All this is a sound bite with no substance.
Actually, now that I think about it, it is very descriptive of the Conservatives under Harper – great sound bites – no substance.
And I and every tax payer is paying for this travesty.
If you think I will support these jerks you would be as stupid as their blind supporters.
PS: EVERYONE I have talked to is as mad about these “Mail outs” as I am. even “Conservatives”. Jokes on them.
We got the last one in your list recently. I was pretty damn offended to be receiving what, IMO, is electioneering materials (a) when there’s no election going on, and (b) costs the Conservative party NOTHING to produce.
I’m sorely tempted to send it back with everyone checked except Mr. Harper – even Jack Layton would be a marginally better leader for this country!
Thank you for posting those Garth!! I was going to find an image link to one yesterday to attach to a comment about the dust mask featured on the chemical flyer – Harper’s idea of a chemical pollution mask?!?! (Ha! The kid wearing the dust mask looks like he was about to saw wood – Harper’s people are SO dumb!)
Considering 300 zillion of them in recycling bins and landfill, I’d like to know how to have more images of them copied somewhere so we can point a finger to it, say how many we’ve received, where, etc. Maybe someone can start a website so we can begin the tallying?
Thanks Garth.
Yep. We had 2 last week.
There pushing for an election at tax payers expense.
Hope the voters educate themselves this time around.
Welcome to Halton & the Sunshine Coast
Yup Garth
You and I have quite the extension collection of “householders”.
Has anyone noticed that the little arrow for “check here” points to Jack Layton???
I asked the PM if that was a sublimal message or a mistake??? ( I get my mailers from Steve and Chuck Strahl.)
Please M. Dion, YES a fall election suits me fine even if we don’t have a liberal candidate. There’s a rumour that David Emerson may run here or in Joyce Murray’s riding Vancouver Quadra.
Seems he is afraid to run in Vancouver Kingsway. Hmmm wonder why? Maybe because he did not cross the floor – he just croseed the road to Rideau Hall to remain in cabinet.
Garth,
You are missing at least one more, but they came in over a 2 to 3 week period.
Phony ballots that ignore Les Bloc Quebecois and elevate an unrepresented one issue party? What do the mailers delivered in Quebec look like? Are they uni-lingual French like ours are only in English? Do they cover the same alleged issues or are there different strokes for the Francophone Folks?
Finally, I don’t get bent out of shape over cheap advertising since the blue recycle box at our house resides just below the mail box and it accepts much fancier, better planned and prepared promotionals! All advertising contains some sort of come on that distorts reality, and beckons the consumer to try that brand. It is second nature for our sub-conscious mind to reject the erroneous premises and spurious schpiels from much smarter schmucks and hucksters!
From a commentor on an article by Radwanski:
Stephen J. Harper, May 27, 2006. “Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage. Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar. They level the playing field for all parties.
….again, Harper is a liar!
By the looks of all those pamphlets you are receiving, my bet is that Harper will pull the plug sooner than later … and leave Dion holding his dick and complaining in futility.
ARE YOU READY, GARTH … THE FIGHT IS ON !!!!
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 1:34 pm
Harper has no choice, he is history either way but if he waits it get worse..LMAO…he’s dead meat!!!
By Truth B Told on 08.14.08 2:36 pm
That is great, and I suppose you don’t mind paying for them as well!!!
Do the M.P.s know there name is being attached to all this junkmail?
By Marc on 08.14.08 1:44 pm
The only 10%er that I’ve rec’d is one this spring from the NDP. IIRC, it only put down the Libs – no mention of the neocons. What does that say!!!
This sets it out better – the “lie” I mean:
By Aaron Wherry | August 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Filed Under: Capital Read • The CommonsTags: Stephen Harper
Stephen J. Harper, May 27, 2006. “Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage. Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar. They level the playing field for all parties. The rules are clear for everybody.”
Stephen J. Harper, August 14, 2008. “I think, quite frankly, I’m going to have to make a judgment in the next little while as to whether or not this Parliament can function productively.”
Again, he lies. Getting too hot in the kitchen for him? Looks like it.
Is junkie a politically correct term to use for drug addicts? What do Conservatives call alcoholics, drunkards, boozers, red nosers? What is the plan to force “junkies” into rehab? What about the rights of who chose not to get clean, or do not remain sober? Throw them in jail? There are no drugs in Canadian jails right?
Well, now I’m really steamed. Why am I the only person in Canada who has not received one of these things? What? I’m not worthy or something? Talk about a blow to my self-esteem.
By eastofeden on 08.14.08 1:17 pm
I don’t get them either.
You either live in a riding that is considered a “safe” riding for the Conservatives or a riding in which they don’t think they have a chance of winning. I live in a riding that is considered to be a secure Liberal riding because the MP is well liked. He has received a clear majority in the last two elections (more than 50 per cent of the vote).
Goldman Sachs says U.S. dollar has bottomed…isn’t that where Paulsen and Carney came from? Do you think there could have been some arm twisting here? Wasn’t it Paulsen and Bushie just about three months ago telling us everything was okay, and then we have seen 3 months of bad news? What did Dim Jim have to say about our economy? Wonder if any of these people are believable?
Was Jim Dim the one who ran Ontario into the ground while maintaining there would be no deficit?
History repeat?
slg on 08.14.08 2:48 pm,
Harper’s flip-flopping on this issue reflects the kind of pragmatism he always decried before he achieved power. He is looking after his own perceived interests rather than following the “principles” so touted by so-called “principled conservatives.” It reflects the contradictions inherent in his personal ideology.
A few blogs ago, the issue of the payment for these mailers was raised. Did somebody say that all MPs can send out these mailers and that they would be paid out of their regular operating budgets (taxpayer dollars)?
If that is the case, it is something which is permitted and the only way to stop it would be to change the policy. Until that happens, there is nothing to stop them from being mailed.
If and when I ever receive one of the mailers, I’ll do with it what I do with all other junk mail which appears in my mailbox: I’ll put it in the bin. It’s not something that would cause me to react in any way. I get all sorts of junk mail and, to be frank, I wish there was no such thing as junk mail…or telemarketing calls, for that matter…or spam e-mail.
But, as long as people respond to junk mail and telemarketing calls, it will remain a viable marketing tool.
As far as it concerns reaction to the governing party’s mailers, if the reaction were vehemently opposed to it and recipients wrote to their MPs in droves, it would cease. Evidently, there has not been much negative response, except on this blog, to the mailers.
I have yet to receive one of them.
And I and every tax payer is paying for this travesty.
If you think I will support these jerks you would be as stupid as their blind supporters.
PS: EVERYONE I have talked to is as mad about these “Mail outs” as I am. even “Conservatives”. Jokes on them.
By A.R.Wainwright on 08.14.08 1:54 pm
I wish we rec’d them so they’d tick off more m’timers.
Anyone notice how stevie is spreading the monies around lately in anticipation of an election. Hold off Dion.
See how considerate Harper is he even puts the greens on his little ballot.
That is a strategic decision to encourage vote-splitting which Con strategiests think will bleed environmental support away from Dion. Nothing considerate about it. — Garth
What if the PMO threatened that if they showed up they would lose their jobs?
BY BONNIE N BC 08.14.08 9:30 AM
I was just thinking the same thing after reading that comment about the reporters. If Canadians at the least, start digging into Harper’s background and his actions so far, and: become vocal about their conclusions – that will give high profile people the courage to talk about the pressures they have been under.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Bonnie and others, I noticed something: I see similar-but-not-the-same ‘commenter’ names crop up on Garth’s blog that look like someone else’s name, after a good point or credibility is attained by a poster. It’s just a little thing I noticed, and a reminder to check the name twice if we think a post stinks. I also have taken to reading the name first, as someone else suggested.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper sees it all as an information war. His ongoing battle plan is the best offense is a confusing barrage of offensive offences. Harper feels lying is a good ‘going forward’ tool – he encourages it.
Well, now I’m really steamed. Why am I the only person in Canada who has not received one of these things? What? I’m not worthy or something? Talk about a blow to my self-esteem.
By eastofeden on 08.14.08 1:17 pm
I don’t get them either.
You either live in a riding that is considered a “safe” riding for the Conservatives or a riding in which they don’t think they have a chance of winning. I live in a riding that is considered to be a secure Liberal riding because the MP is well liked. He has received a clear majority in the last two elections (more than 50 per cent of the vote).
By C. B. Innes on 08.14.08 2:53 pm
Agree CBI. I don’t receive the con 10%ers either. My seat is a`safe Lib one & I’m doing what I’m able to to ensure it stays that way.
Harper says he will call an election because “OUR” not his government is dysfunctional……hm is this the same guy who stood on a soap box on National TV and said: give me a minority government and that Canadians had nothing to worry about because the Liberal Senate would keep him honest. Then ladies and gentlemen he spent each day taking Canada apart and produced a book on how to shut down everything that did not have his approval. Yup and he and clones even found in and out taxpayer scams and flooded mail boxes with junk mail again paid by the taxpayer, hey then there is his personal Winds of War selected spending to which only heaven only knows found many more inside supporters, ACOUNTABILTIY MY FOOT” and yes then there is his be brouhaha fixed election date bill….
I want my Canada Back! I love those words, yes Ladies and Gentlemen, the Canada that we grew grew up in, the Canada I was raised in with all it faults, the Canada I was proud of, the Canada where we had leadership not “Dictatorship” not where the Bully on the Hill is more concerned about the “White House” rather than “Our House”". I want my children and grandchildren to have at minimum the standard of living I enjoyed. A Canada where I turned on a TV and the PM of Canada was talking to Canadians, not talking down to Canadians. My Canada is unique not in the image of George “Dubya” Bush but in the memories of gallant men and women who came to-gether from coast to coast to coast and fought for freedom of speech and for the right to be heard via there elected representative in Ottawa. Not a controller, who has trained his sheep to sit and listen, spells out rules of what to say, where to say it and to whom to talk to. Dam it I want my Canada back, the question is do you?
This is not a democracy. Harper using our taxpayer dollars for this is called propaganda. I do not recall making a contribution to his election campaign, so why is my tax dollar going toward his election campaign?
Did anyone just see Harper on the news saying yet AGAIN more dribble about the Liberals being the ones who should call an election. Is Harper INSANE? I mean, this guy has got to be nuts. Really. Not kidding.
Let’s go ! Ding Ding Ding !
The Neo-CONS are underestimating the Liberals , big time.
In fact, I think Harper is on his way to Michaëlle Jean right now.
Hi Garth. I’m in a safe seat (I’m assuming, DT Toronto and all). My fear is that an election will be called, the seat count will be almost the same as before (maybe a few traded seats in Ontario, PQ and BC. But what will it accomplish? Neither side seems to have any momentum to win a majority. After all, the PCs cant win any more seats in Alberta where they already have them all, for example. Believe me I hate Harper as much as the rest here, but I’m worried it would be another waste of money.
As a Halton resident as well, I was the unhappy recipient of one of these mailers as well, the “Age is no excuse” message.
I found it interesting that PMSH would approve sending this out while his own party is trying to act “above the law” with their funding scandal. I hope they receive a tougher sentence that sends a message!
Calgary Centre got three in the past week, one repeat from the first one we got months ago..
“Canada’s Back”, “Breathe” and “Senate”.
We have received approximately a dozen, maybe more.
Idea:
Keep the flyers to re-use them. Collect them from your neighbours. Then black magic marker on them, a note with the outcome of the In and Out Scandal, or Cadman, or others, and put them in your neighbour’s mailboxes.
Just recently got the Senate one here in the boonies of Grey Bruce, the 5th such mailing in that number of weeks purportedly coming from Larry Miller, but as one astute blogger here pointed out addressed back c/o the Conservative Research Group! I will ask again has anyone found a way to find out who paid for the printing and who paid for the mailing, we know who pays for any return mailing as it clearly says “no postage required”. Even IF the CPC paid for the printing and distribution of these highly partisan pieces of mail spam the use of free return mailing for such garbage is clearly outside the intent of such privileges.
The printing and mailing is paid for by the House of Commons, a.k.a. you. The current budget is more than $10 million a year, and while most MPs use these “ten per centers” in their own ridings, the Conservative MPs are the only ones with a caucus-wide mandatory program to use all MPs to blanket non-held ridings with this material. Increasingly this has become electioneering propaganda, and the abuse of Parliamentary privilege by a party that can well afford to pay for its own flyers, is distressing. — Garth
By Bonnie N BC on 08.14.08 2:13 pm
Has anyone noticed that the little arrow for “check here” points to Jack Layton???
I asked the PM if that was a sublimal message or a mistake??? ( I get my mailers from Steve and Chuck Strahl.)
…………………………………………………………..
Right on, Bonnie … they want you to either vote for Harper or Layton ..LOL
As you know there are no mistakes in advertising, and the direction of the ‘little arrow’ points between Harper and Layton. Ya think that the ad agency wants you to vote NDP if you don’t vote Conservative …LOL
Btw .. the mailer I got was “CANADA’S BACK” .. internationally, but unfortunately our Olympic athletes are not doing too well internationally ..!!!
I can’t believe the amount of money the Conservatives are stealing from us to produce and send these illegal adverts for their party !!!!
I think it is starting to backfire on them as people are bright enough to see it for what it is.
If PMSH does pull the plug, and call for an early election, this is EXACTLY what Garth promised to vote for, and which he is pressuring Stephane to do who has been hesitant and vacillating.
We should all be in favour of getting behind what Garth has been advocating for some months–the earlier the election, the better for all. Let’s bring it on!
Unless Stephane steps up to the plate immediately, and takes charge, his image will only weaken, as he has been trying to look like a strong leader by suggesting that he alone (not the NDP, the BLOC or the CONS) will determine the timing of the next election.
Now it looks like even that semblance of leadership might be taken from him.
When and as an election is called, Stephane will be daily in the public limelight, and under the fine-tooth comb of public scrutiny. Either Canadians will have to see a side to him that they have not yet seen, or else he stands to drag the Liberal Party down with his low popular image which is running at about 1/2 of the popularity of the Liberal Party of Canada. (Stephane Dion at 15% and the LPC at 30%).
Stephane is going to have to pull off a corker of a stellar performance at the TV debates if he is to improve his image. Only an election campaign will prove how well he performs under pressure and under daily cross-examination.
Stephane now has a choice of two things:
1. Either face PMSH head on in an election campaign, and in public TV debate in the near future.
2. Or face PMSH head on in the court case over the Chuck Cadman debacle.
Either case does not look promising for Monsieur Dion, and the stakes are high.
However, at this point, he has no choice but to press for an early election, come hell or highwater.
The more he procrastinates, the more forces beyond his control will take over, and his vacillating image will be even harder to shake.
It is time for the Captain of the Liberal forces to rally his troops, and to issue the command, “Charge!”
That is a strategic decision to encourage vote-splitting which Con strategiests think will bleed environmental support away from Dion. Nothing considerate about it. — Garth
I know just checking to see if you knew too! You know Garth there are 2 types of Liberals. Stupid and misled or smart and crooked. Well your not stupid and not crooked so you are a hard one to label.
Forget if and when the election comes, focus on big Liberal wins in those by-elections!!!
That’s all that counts right now!!
New York Times is now reporting Inflation now at 1991 levels…..5.6% no wonder Harper wants an election before winter with this added to all his other worries. Let the Blame game begin with the Reform Republicans Canada addition.
By eastofeden on 08.14.08 2:59 pm
So we can safely assume you do not object to your tax dollars going to support these CPC flyers…the other parties combined I understand have not issue 1/2 of the number the CPC has issued…somewhere I heard the figure of $87 million the CPC has spent, and it is quite obvious these are electioneering flyers…glad you are so rich you support this kind of abuse.
More problems for Harper.
This out of the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia.
http://news.smh.com.au/world/canadas-pm-sued-over-guantanamo-inmate-20080809-3slf.html
The more he procrastinates, the more forces beyond his control will take over, and his vacillating image will be even harder to shake.
It is time for the Captain of the Liberal forces to rally his troops, and to issue the command, “Charge!”
By Mel on 08.14.08 3:32 pm
Don’t think so Mel…he should let Harper destroy himself…let Harper pull the plug…maybe get the ear of the GG to have a coalition government takes over…I am sure the Bloc does not want to go with the Libs one point ahead of them in the polls in Quebec, they might be open to a coalition government with the Libs…all kinds of possibilities. The longer it takes, the worse it gets for Harper especially when the economy really tanks…the 400th manufacturing jobs lost are not returning according to a RBS analyst, so waiting only benefits Dion. Harper doesn’t want either the “in & out” scheme to come to a head before any election and “Cadscam” because he is dead meat on both.
One other thing, the expectation is very low for the performance of Dion in the debates, he might just surprise…and if he does…you can forget Harper forever…
I would suggest that people save these ugly flyers, bundle them together and then when their conservative volunteers come to the door, invite them in and say ‘I have a present for you’, then hand them the package of flyers. I wonder what they would do with them!
I don’t get them, I am in a very safe Liberal seat
By Truth B Told on 08.14.08 2:36 pm
That is great, and I suppose you don’t mind paying for them as well!!!
By wjp on 08.14.08 2:43 pm
No, I don’t like paying for them with all the various taxes that we have no choice but to pay! But I will put a little dividend into the advanced pole ballot box in the form of a properly marked ballot for the candidate that appears most likely to knock off the Regressive Preservative knuckle dragging chiropractor turned politician.
This riding has had much better representation in the past, namely David Lewis, Ed Broadbent, and even Micheal Starr from the Diefenbacker Cabinet. We also had a former convicted bank robber, who was the only one to be a professional portable pay toilet proprietor! Ivan Gross could at least haul the p*ss/sh*t away for disposal!
“I want my Canada Back!”…
Folks, I hate to break it to you, but it is not “MY Canada!” it is “OUR Canada!”
It is unity within diversity that has made this country great, and for Canada to survive, we are going to have to rise above the narrow, individualistic, parochial vision of “my Canada” to a larger, broader, more generous vision of “OUR Canada.”
Canada belongs to all of us, even those whose viewpoint differs from mine.
Without that larger vision, any nation built only on the self-interest of “my” instead of the generosity of “our” will crumble and gradually disintegrate from within as competing factions conflict with and demonize one another, and assume to speak for the whole with no thought of reconciling with other human beings whose point of view is also valid and legitimate in their eyes as your beliefs and opinions are in your eyes.
Interesting Note, David Wolk of Merrill Lynch just said that housing prices are factored into the CPI in Canada but not in the U.S. So the U.S. 5.6% increase in prices this year is not tapered by the housing situation where the 3.1% in Canada thus far does….so seniors, who own their own homes will get it both ways, lower values on their homes and lower indexing on their pensions due to the decrease of the value their homes. Maybe the new Liberal government will change the basis on which the CPI is computed, how about the necessities of daily life, and take out one’s home. While it may be an investment for some, for most of us, it is somewhere to live.
Hi wjp on 08.14.08 1:35 pm,
Well said.
Don’t forget it was Georgia that started the killing outside of its own
borders.
If I was Russia I would also like to get ride of the criminal muderous governmnet in Georgia before they kill more people in other countries.
The Bush, neo-con, USA has set a good example, and shown others what is is capable of doing/killing human beings. Putin is simple standing up against the world’s biggest bully in there own back yard, as I see it.
By Jody on 08.14.08 3:14 pm,
It totally amazes me how difficult it is to get across to people that the federal PC Party and the Conservative Party are two totally different parties.
I can only assume that by consistently confusing the two that you are a supporter of the new Conservative Party because it is a common Conservative strategy to confuse voters.
The current budget is more than $10 million a year, and while most MPs use these “ten per centers” in their own ridings, the Conservative MPs are the only ones with a caucus-wide mandatory program to use all MPs to blanket non-held ridings with this material.-Garth
I really wonder then, why do they mostly attack Mr. Dion and the Liberal party specifically? Our riding is currently N.D.P(Dawn Black). Our riding has only once in 20+ years breifly been Liberal. The attacks should be based on what is the best chance to win the riding I would think. The Conservatives would be better to attack Jack Layton here as it would be more strategic to try to sway the higher numbers of N.D.P. voters over to the Conservative, then to try to sway a few Liberal voters to the Concervatives.
Stephen J. Harper, August 14, 2008. “I think, quite frankly, I’m going to have to make a judgment in the next little while as to whether or not this Parliament can function productively.”
Again, he lies. Getting too hot in the kitchen for him? Looks like it.
By slg on 08.14.08 2:48 pm
Parliament can’t function productively is a direct result of Harpie’s inability to manage parliament to the benefit of the citizenry.
He has only himself to blame and we all know that he won’t admit to it.
Somehow he is so delusional, that he thinks it’s the opposition parties(who by the way make up the majority of parliament, hello?)that are to blame and somewhere in that pea brain of his is the notion that the Liberals are threatening to call for an election that nobody really wants at this time.
We’ve got fish to fry and time on our hands… let Harpie call for an election that nobody wants, that alone will put off Canadians and that alone just might make the difference at the polls.
Harper has become the biggest flip flop PM of them all. Come to think of it, don’t fish flip flop around before they go in the frying pan?
I think it would be fair game if the MP’s were targeting their own ridings, and mailing to prospective constituents. It would make sense to try and get your message out to people you may potentially represent.
I really would like to know who thinks up their strategy on communications, as this has “disaster” written all over it. By sending these out all over the country, it will do more to “tick” the average person off. People hate JUNKMAIL with a passion. They really have poor, inexperienced communications people running the show if this is how they run a campaign.
I know that if I got a Liberal flyer from Garth here in the flatlands I’d seriously be wondering what is wrong with the local Liberal candidate.
Think Harper wants an election before it gets really bad…you bethcha!!!
By wjp on 08.14.08 1:48 pm
It won`t make a difference if he does or even who wins. There is no plan by any party.
on the flyers I just write `none of the above` and mail them back
I have a plan. — Garth
Hi Tim N on 08.14.08 1:53 pm,
Try writing the truth on the 10% and send them back. Maybe you can help get through to a few people that aren’t seeing what is going on, that are working for the Harper gang.
Your don’t actually think that PMSH see these things do you? But someone looks at them. Maybe they will wake up!
See how considerate Harper is he even puts the greens on his little ballot.
That is a strategic decision to encourage vote-splitting which Con strategiests think will bleed environmental support away from Dion. Nothing considerate about it. — Garth
By gary v on 08.14.08 3:00 pm
The ommission of Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe from the phony ballot is both an affront to Franco Canadians, and rank discrimination against the Bloc. For his part, Gilles should convince his party to sponsor candidates in predominantly French speaking areas of New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, etc. That would cut into both the Conservatives and Liberal ranks, and make them more mindful of the will of We the People, plus make these parties review their attitudes and tactics. Harper has more to lose than gain with his current methodology. Let’s make him pay for his insolence and his “grease spot” dirty mind! ERASEZ LE CHARPER
Hi Matt on 08.14.08 1:54 pm,
You should!!!
I have a plan. — Garth
By got rope? on 08.14.08 4:04 pm
The Flintstones is not a documentary
Dean Del Mastro thinks he’s Perry Mason now!
By Bonnie N BC on 08.14.08 11:54 am
—————————————-
Hilarious!
And Further In Entertainment News:
After having seen Dean Del Maestro’s performance as Perry Mason at recent HOC committee hearings, movie executives have taken note.
As the Conservative MP for Peterborough is not expected to be re-elected in the forthcoming federal election, he will be looking for “alternative” employment.
So, Montreal movie-heads are proposing that he take over the roll of well-known, but retiring, movie star Ron Jeremy.
But, as the usual form of financing for these “straight-to-video” films is expected to be tight in the future, “non-traditional” funding is also being sought out.
As a result, friend and fellow Conservative-supporter Charles McVety of the Canada Family Action Coalition has decided to “take action” and personally help with the financing.
The entertainment world is abuzz!
Idea:
Keep the flyers to re-use them. Collect them from your neighbours. Then black magic marker on them, a note with the outcome of the In and Out Scandal, or Cadman, or others, and put them in your neighbour’s mailboxes.
By barb the proofreader on 08.14.08 3:20 pm
That’s a GREAT IDEA.
And it cost’s nothing.
Damn! I’m still missing the Senate one.
If we collect all five and send them in, do we win a prize? I think we should win a Harper bobble-head doll. Or some John McCain campaign buttons. Or maybe a copy of “The Wrecking Crew” so we can see what four or five more years of Conservative rule is likely to do to this country (heres a hint: look south).
Hi barb the proofreader on 08.14.08 3:20 pm,
That a good idea also!
BREAKING NEWS ALERT
680NEWS.COM
Funnel cloud reported in north Oakville
A funnel cloud has been reported in north Oakville near Dundas Street and Bronte Road.
Garth and Esther, head for cover, Harper is really mad and having a brain storm!
Hi AToryNoMore on 08.14.08 3:45 pm,
Thank for that.
Remember if they can do it to ‘them’,
they can do it to you and your family.
CB: I’ve never been so insulted in my life. I wouldn’t vote Harper or any Conservative sounding brand if it was the ONLY choice.
Always a liberal, and always will be!
Obviously you are being targeted by the Harper Conservatives for any next election for:
1. Dion pulling the plug after September 15th
2. Harper pulling the plug between August 29th – September 2nd (my guess).
If Harper did go to the GG in that time frame, a general election would stop the 3 by-elections and spare those ridings from an election debacle.
By the looks of all those pamphlets you are receiving, my bet is that Harper will pull the plug sooner than later … and leave Dion holding his dick and complaining in futility.
ARE YOU READY, GARTH … THE FIGHT IS ON !!!!
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 1:34 pm
Harry get this through your thick skull, Harper pasted at law that stops him from dissolving Parliament. He can’t go to the GG, the Harper Pasted stops this. PERIOD.
The only way Harper can fail is if the the all the Opposition parties vote NO-CON in Canadian Government. Or maybe Harper can put forth a law that will aloow him to kill kittens (evil grin, where’s Halton John?)
Hi got rope? on 08.14.08 4:04 pm,
You should run for office!!!
You can’t do any worse that this harper gang.
You might even have the brians to fix a few things and be smart enought to seck out the best and brightest for ideas of what should be done.
At the very least you can tell people what PMSH gand has been up to, so more can be informed before they vote next.
Stevie’s Tax Trick:
Have you been tricked by Stevie’s double-tax on every income trust?
These 10%’ers are thing but pure 100% political CPC Party Propaganda, and we the TAX PAYERS should not be paying for it.
Harper broke the Election Canada act with his “in and Out” criminal scam to defraud the Canadian Tax Payer of monies while allowing the CPC to exceed spending limits, and now this bullcrap!
Oh the Harry-Harper-Bots must be so proud of Crooked Harper,… it is so, so, so Jean Cretien of him. Why Harper has even wasted more money than AdScam cot Canadian Tax Payers.
Clap, Clap, Clap,
Marc on 08.14.08 4:02 pm,
They must think that the Liberals have a chance in your riding. They would prefer to have the riding stay NDP for strategic reasons and hence focus their attack on the Liberals.
Have you ever considered the possibility that there is some kind of a secret agreement with the NDP? Remember that Layton comes from a Progressive Conservative family and he has exhibited sympathies with the new Conservative Party. Politics has been known to make strange bedfellows. Take for example Scott Brison who said he preferred to destroy the Progressive Conservative Party than have the Orchard supporters become the dominant element in the party and now Orchard and Brison are both Liberals as well as Garth. LOL, Brison, Orchard, MacKay etc. do have one thing in common: they are all back-stabbers.
Nobody Is Above The Law…
…Except us Conservatives.
An election?
For Harper it’s like walking across a sea of fire. Regardless of what his winged monkeys tell him, he’s in a big doo doo.
I can’t see him pulling this off although I am sure there will be lots fireworks as he goes down.
It’s like watching an ugly monster go through the death throws before they finally cave in!
R.I.T. Conservatives
(Rest In Torment until you dump your so called leader)
Harper hints at triggering election
August 14, 2008 | CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted strongly Thursday that he may do something to trigger an election because Parliament is not functioning anymore.
Speaking in Newfoundland and Labrador, Harper said Parliament is becoming increasingly dysfunctional, laying most of the blame on Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and his party.
“Quite frankly, I’m going to have to make a judgment in the next little while as to whether or not this Parliament can function productively,” Harper said, without elaborating on his plans.
He said legislation is being stalled in the Liberal-dominated Senate and obstructed in the House of Commons “principally by Mr. Dion.”
Harper added that the committee system is “increasingly in chaos,” an apparent reference to bickering taking place at an ethics committee probe into Tory election ad spending.
Opposition MPs have complained that senior Conservative witnesses have refused to appear while Tory members have accused the committee of being partisan.
He said Dion keeps threatening to force an election. But he said Dion should let Parliament work; otherwise Canadians will have to decide who should have a mandate to govern.
“Two of the three opposition parties don’t support the government and say we should be defeated. Mr. Dion says he doesn’t support the government but won’t say, you know, whether he will defeat us or not,” Harper said.
“I don’t think that’s a tenable situation.”
Last month, in a speech to Conservative party members in Quebec, Harper said Dion should “fish or cut bait” on a fall election. But he appeared to go one step further with his comments on Wednesday.
“This is an important message that he sent today because he is really for the first time himself opening the door to the idea that he would be the one to go and dissolve Parliament and provoke an election,” CBC’s Rosemary Barton said.
There is legislation that sets a fixed election date, the next one scheduled for October 2009.
But Harper could go to the Governor General, explain why Parliament isn’t working and dissolve Parliament himself, Barton said.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/14/harper-election.html
Mr Garth TurnerMP, FYI anyone
Fluoride is not a nutriant. The human body does not need it.
Drinking fluoride does not prevent cavities.
Fluoride is a very toxic chemical, and has many bad effect on the soft tissue of the body, even at very very low consentartion.
Babies do not have a fully formed blood brain barrier, and person with poor kidney funtion are being harmed if we keep putting this poison into evryones drinking water supply. It need to be stopped NOW!
Get the latest good sceince facts about fluorides effect on the whole human body and the brain.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/
Don’t we want more smart people and less retarded people in our society?
Don’t we want people to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible?
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 3:32 pm
Dude or Dudette
I guess your do not understand irony or wit..
You are not a real person but a composite from the Death Star.
Don’t be too condensating I do vote…
Shoo, go away, I will not respond again.
That is a strategic decision to encourage vote-splitting which Con strategiests[sic] think will bleed environmental support away from Dion. Nothing considerate about it. — Garth
………………………………..
Wanna bet that Harper will agree to including Lizzie May in the election leader’s debates too ..??!!!
Now wouldn’t that p!ss off the Liberal strategists, watching May rip into Dion in head-to-head debates … because May thinks Dion’s Green Shift Tax (GST) on carbon emissions is too low … and Dion having given his word as a gentleman not to run a Liberal candidate against her in Central Nova …LOL
Goldman Sachs
BY WJP 08.14.08 2:53 PM
There is more to the Goldman Sachs connection. Those boyz get placed.
Also, great suggestion about the CPI – take out the home. Senior retiree’s home value is like factoring in their jobs skills.. duh, if you can’t (sell your shelter) why is it factored?
Finally, a poll that reflects the ballot question in the next election. So..looks like there will be no fall election.
The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey suggests 43 per cent of Canadians think the Tories, with Stephen Harper at the helm, have the best leader to be prime minister.
Only 22 per cent of those polled picked the Liberals, led by Stephane Dion.
the Conservative MPs are the only ones with a caucus-wide mandatory program to use all MPs to blanket non-held ridings with this material.
Once again Garth your full of it. The Liberals did the same thing with your western looney toon tour and are still doing it. Another thing I believe the NDP use 10% more then any other party, but you are strangely quite about them. I just read someone referred to you as the jolly Green idiot, it fits.
There is no caucus-wide Lib equivalent. Trust me. I organize stuff like that. And I also have access to the charges each party makes against the printing budget. The Cons outspend everyone by a huge margin. Who’s full of it? — Garth
By rural on 08.14.08 3:28 pm
The printing and mailing is paid for by the House of Commons, a.k.a. you. The current budget is more than $10 million a year, and while most MPs use these “ten per centers” in their own ridings, the Conservative MPs are the only ones with a caucus-wide mandatory program to use all MPs to blanket non-held ridings with this material. Increasingly this has become electioneering propaganda, and the abuse of Parliamentary privilege by a party that can well afford to pay for its own flyers, is distressing. — Garth
Thank you Garth, whilst I believe SOME of this crap has come through under the 10% rule I found it hard to believe that all of them did, it is so clearly electioneering! Either the Cons have total disregard for the rules (not much of a stretch) or they are setting a trap so that they can say in the future “look here are the invoices”. Is there a way of seeing or asking “the Queens printer”? and or Canada Post to define EXACTLY the extent of this travesty. Sorry but ALLEGATIONS (I mean no disrespect for your post) are not good enough, I believe you, but can you (we) prove that these particular mailings are paid for by other than the CPC!
If as you say, we the taxpayer have paid for this crap then this government has clearly moved from a democracy to an oligarchy and is headed for dictatorship given that they currently refuse to answer to parliamentarians for their actions in this and other matters.
By Man with Asshat on 08.14.08 4:52 pm
Good for you, and in spite of that the Libs lead the CPC by a point nationally, and 7 in Quebec, so good luck!!!
Now wouldn’t that p!ss off the Liberal strategists, watching May rip into Dion in head-to-head debates … because May thinks Dion’s Green Shift Tax (GST) on carbon emissions is too low … and Dion having given his word as a gentleman not to run a Liberal candidate against her in Central Nova …LOL
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 4:48 pm
And May will point out the dishonesty of Harper and nail him to the wall to the benefit of all Canadians!!!
But Harper could go to the Governor General, explain why Parliament isn’t working and dissolve Parliament himself, Barton said.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/14/harper-election.html
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 4:37 pm
Maybe Harper would like some cheese with that whine…he doesn’t stand a chance in the next election…
By Man with Asshat on 08.14.08 4:52 pm
Finally, a poll that reflects the ballot question in the next election. So..looks like there will be no fall election.
The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey suggests 43 per cent of Canadians think the Tories, with Stephen Harper at the helm, have the best leader to be prime minister.
Only 22 per cent of those polled picked the Liberals, led by Stephane Dion.
…………………………………
This poll again confirms that half of those who vote Liberal don’t want Dion as their prime minister. In fact, the dislike for Dion is more pronounced in Quebec amongst francophones.
One of the gut issues in any next election will be: Do you want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec? … and we know that half of those voting Liberal don’t want Dion.
By C. B. Innes on 08.14.08 4:28 pm
That is an intersting angle that I did not think of. I just searched and found out that the Liberal party has a Michelle Hassen as their candidate for this riding. At least with 3 female candidates for the big 3 parties, there should be some civility shown during the campaign. Not the pissing contest that has been done priviously. I am thankful Paul (old age pensions are welfare for the aged) Forseth is not running this go around. He was a very religous Reform, Allience Conservative, who sent out mailers to all the evengelical churches titled Dear Christion Sheppard. At least I can keep an open mind before voting this go around as the candidates the last few times were not worth considering.
You are a sexist man-hater. — Garth
One of the gut issues in any next election will be: Do you want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec? … and we know that half of those voting Liberal don’t want Dion.
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 5:10 pm
Apparently 33 % to 32 % do nationally, and the Liberals hold a 7 point lead in Quebec over the CPC…so good luck Harry, oh you will get a few seats in Alberta …LMAO…
Harper hints at triggering election
The longer Harper waits the worse things get for him and his bunch of cronies,[ i would have said liars but that would not have been nice ]
By Archie on 08.14.08 4:56 pm
Thanks for dropping by and making an ass of yourself….
OMG
So watching the Ethics Committee – it’s just a tryanny of the not so majority.
Dean and Gary and Rick? (jeepers nice sub) and the sloth of a Cranky Man – Mr. Tilson.
This is so wrong and goes to the respect of our institution. It’s a fun trip through the three ring circus of Conservatives but not a win for our democracy.
Yup…more real adult, mature behaviour from a Conservative.
Now, now. Wait your turn!
No hissie fits allowed, or you’ll have to go sit in the corner.
Glen McGregor , Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
At the end of the morning session, the committee room erupted in shouts from one former Conservative candidate who is slated to testify later in the day.
Sam Goldstein, the defeated candidate in the Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina, was angry he couldn’t testify when he appeared at the beginning of the session.
“One other thing, the expectation is very low for the performance of Dion in the debates…” –By wjp on 08.14.08 3:47 pm
wjp, I hear you, but this is a double-edged sword, and it could easily backfire. It could go either way. What if Dion is a bust in the debates? We have to face that possibility.
I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I hear some on this blog overly optimistic to the point of being unrealistic. For example, some assume that the government will get hammered in the Chuck Cadman court case, but it could just as easily go the other way.
We are making some assumptions here before we know all of the facts, and at this point in time, we just don’t know what will happen.
My perspective is, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” and “he who hesitates is lost,” but let’s not be too dogmatic about the outcome. At this point, the sides are relatively even, and during an election campaign, anything can happen.
In all fairness, it could go either way.
By Don Bool on 08.14.08 5:17 pm
Oh hell Don, you can call a spade a spade!
By wjp on 08.14.08 5:03 pm
Good for you, and in spite of that the Libs lead the CPC by a point nationally, and 7 in Quebec, so good luck!!!
………………………………….
Yes, but you ignore the reality that after almost 2 years, Dion has failed to boost the Liberal party brand above that of the Conservatives .. and even after all the Harper failures you constantly list. Why aren’t the Liberals at least at 50% in the polling? What’s holding back Liberal popularity?
It’s obvious that the problem is Dion’s failed leadership dragging down the Liberal brand. Let’s not forget that amongst grassroots Liberal party members that Dion is not popular at all … and amongst those Canadians who prefer the Liberal brand, half of them don’t want Dion as Canada’s next prime minister.
I’m betting that half of those who would vote Liberal in any next election will not bother to show up to vote because they are turned off by Dion and his Green Shift Tax (GST).
Can’t you read the numbers on the wall ..???!!!!
In all fairness, it could go either way.
By Mel on 08.14.08 5:20 pm
Of course, it could but it won’t, to many factions pissed off with Harper, this divide and conquer mentality is quite offensive, he has lost most income trust votes, he has lost a lot of Maritime votes with the Atlantic Accord broken promise, he has alienated Quebecers by trying to buy their votes, and having no environmental plan, he is seen in Quebec as a Bushie puppet and the war is not popular there, and in Ontario and Quebec some 400,000 jobs losses on his watch, yes he wasn’t responsible for all those losses but sending Flaherty into Ontario to bad mouth McGuinty while all that was happening certainly hurt. I would be very surprised if he gets a minority, I think Dion will win the next election with a minority…all those Liberals who voted to punish Adscam will return home, they have seen Harper is no better. People in Canada historically vote governments out and not in. If you look at Ontario, John Tory had the election in the bag until he went with the faith based school idea, McGuinty’s lie had him done like dinner until John let him off the hook.
So bye bye Stevie…
By Robert Gibbs on 08.14.08 5:19 pm
Oh Robert
Go see Kady’s blog (Macleans) it is the funniest thing I have ever read – Mr. Gold”Steam” ran away and forgot his Mum.
See:
http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/08/14/liveblogging-the-post-ethics-committee-ad-hoc-screaming-scrum-of-one-sam-goldstein/
I’m betting that half of those who would vote Liberal in any next election will not bother to show up to vote because they are turned off by Dion and his Green Shift Tax (GST).
Can’t you read the numbers on the wall ..???!!!!
By Harry…
Yes I can Harry, see my 5:33 to Mel…
and they will turn up to throw Harper out…you still don’t get it…Canadians do not vote parties in, only out…
Great article in le Devoir
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/08/14/201453.html
Why merely OBSTRUCT the government when you could BRING IT DOWN?
In the words of the current Prime Minister, the parliamentary process has “stopped working” over the past few months.
“We have important legislation that is stalled in the Senate by the Liberal party, we have other legislation that is obstructed in the House of Commons, principally by (Liberal Leader Stephane) Dion. We have a committee system that is increasingly in chaos and we have Mr. Dion regularly threatening to force an election, so I think you have to make up your mind pretty soon.”
The Government House Leader added,”What we are saying to Stephane Dion is make up your mind for once and stick to it, either force that election or co-operate and allow us to govern, stop the delaying and obstruction tactics.”
Last month, Harper dared Dion to send Canadians to the polls.
“Either let the current Parliament work and let us get on with our mandate, or the voters themselves will decide,” Harper told a crowd of 1,500 supporters in the Quebec community of St-Agapit in July.
“Mr. Dion must decide to fish or cut bait.”
What I don’t understand is those who are emphastic that this government must go now, and see the present Parliament as dysfunctional, and yet they want it to continue. I just cannot see the logic in that.
Procrastination does not establish an image of decisive leadership that is needed at this hour.
A bit off topic, but an important issue related to climate change….
“Dead zones” in oceans linked to climate change:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/20/MNQNV50EU.DTL
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080214144547.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080501-dead-zones.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15329993/from/RS.1/
Yes, but you ignore the reality that after almost 2 years, Dion has failed to boost the Liberal party brand above that of the Conservatives .. and even after all the Harper failures you constantly list. Why aren’t the Liberals at least at 50% in the polling? What’s holding back Liberal popularity?
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 5:22 pm
If Dion is such a failure, and the Liberal party is helpless and hapless…why isn’t the Conservative Party polling much higher? Could it be that Harper is a total loser and complete failure of a leader?
a few campaign flyers which illustrate the position of the current government on contentious issues is far less costly than the $7 billion Canadians spend on “culture” every year – funding of which is administered by anarchists and liberal bureaucrats
Canada is a secular progressive socialist country with excessive government and punishing taxes and worrying about a few leaflets in your mail isn’t exactly looking at the big picture (with respect)
By Mel on 08.14.08 5:20 pm
In all fairness, it could go either way.
…………………………………………
Quite right Mel … and Harper may be willing to go early to Canadians and ask them who they want to govern Canada for the next 4 years …. Go back to the Dion Liberals or 4 more years of a Harper Conservative majority government.
I believe Harper will be asking, urging Canadians to elect a majority government so that strong and decisive action can be taken to meet the looming challenges that will face not only Canada, but also the entire planet.
Economically, there will be uncertainty, even recessionary forces requiring prudent government action.
Environmentally, there will be decisions that must be taken not to destroy Canada’s economy just to satisfy some who are overly concerned about Canada’s 2.3% GHG global emissions.
Socially, the next government must be able to revamp and strengthen Canada’s social network so that Canadians get optimal service for money spent.
Internationally, Canada must strengthen it’s position that was allowed to deteriorate so badly under previous governments.
Above all, Canadians will have to decide who will best represent their aspirations and lead Canada proudly into the future … Liberal Dion or Conservative Harper.
Harper is taking leadership control away from cowering, abstaining Dion on the way Parliament is functioning so abysmally now under the control of the opposition parties … and making Dion look like the political coward that he is.
Harper is willing to put the interests of the country ahead of political partisanship as Dion is doing by talking big but acting small. I have no doubt which way Canadians will go …!!!
“I’m betting that half of those who would vote Liberal in any next election will not bother to show up to vote because they are turned off by Dion and his Green Shift Tax (GST).
Can’t you read the numbers on the wall ..???!!!!
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 5:22 pm”
Harry S., once again you prove yourself to be completely delusional. A better question to ask yourself is why your hero Harpo has lost support since the last election in spite of spending millions of dollars on cheap smear ads against Dion, lying to the Canadian public at every opportunity, and bullying through his neoCon agenda.
Only neoCon zealots still support Harpo. The rest of Canada can’t wait to see his backside.
“And May will point out the dishonesty of Harper and nail him to the wall to the benefit of all Canadians!!!
By wjp on 08.14.08 5:05 pm”
When it comes to a meaningful debate on climate change Harper doesn’t stand a chance against Dion or May.
And, I agree totally with you, May will crucify Harper in a debate.
Any bets that Harper will do his best to make sure May is not allowed in the debates?
Hi Garth, I see that 4 of the 5 10% are from Rob Anders. I guess he didn’t like being the subject in one of your posts. So he’s using even MORE tax payer money to take shots in your riding. What an ass.
Any wonder why they want to get out of here with all the bad financial news about our country.
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Business/2008/08/14/6452666.html
“CANADA’S BACK” . . . — luscious hairy legs, 3:32 pm
Drooling slobberchops, again you are right on the money, except Canada never went anywhere to begin with except down, with CRAP at the helm.
This (formerly) glorous ratshit terrorist country — and you ARE a ratshit terrorist — used to be a country where all citizens could enjoy freedom of speech, ideas to share, thoughts, where one could have differing viewpoints yet still be true to one’s own self.
Not any more, as this is close to being a police state — thus a CONtrolled dictatorship — where everyone lives under one law — “Do As I Say, Not As I Do.”
Obviously, you do like to be controlled, to let someone else make all your choices for you, and that’s fine.
I prefer to enjoy my own freedom of choice, to choose to do whatever I want to do, I like freedom. You don’t.
Personally, I feel that Dion, Duceppe and Layton should let that two-faced snivelling sonofagun self-destruct completely; prior to xmas or spring, the public will have had MORE than enough of CRAP, and rightfully so.
****************************************
“. . . Harper is really mad and having a brain storm!” — Truth B Told, 4:15 pm
Hmmmm. A brain storm; sexually, it sounds . . . weird!
****************************************
The following is a link to an e-mail financial update I receive everyday — Pyotr also receives the same magazine.
Today is different — it looks more at what is happening throughout the world, the proliferation of nukes, global food and energy prices, a lot of stuff which has begun to heat up, and now, there is no turning back.
Don’t bother reading the fiscal stuff at the end, just get a major dose of the reality for nearly three bln. people, their deteriorating conditions, what they have to live with and what will happen here.
http://tinyurl.com/5n8hv2
Actually, now that I think about it, it is very descriptive of the Conservatives under Harper – great sound bites – no substance.
By Tim N on 08.14.08 1:53 pm
Hey Tim….great post!
It’s obvious that the problem is Dion’s failed leadership dragging down the Liberal brand. Let’s not forget that amongst grassroots Liberal party members that Dion is not popular at all … and amongst those Canadians who prefer the Liberal brand, half of them don’t want Dion as Canada’s next prime minister.
I’m betting that half of those who would vote Liberal in any next election will not bother to show up to vote because they are turned off by Dion and his Green Shift Tax (GST).
Can’t you read the numbers on the wall ..???!!!!
BY HARRY S ON 08.14.08 5:22 PM
I wouldn’t get too confident. Not too many people are thrilled with the behaviour of the Conservatives. You just never know how regular Conservatives are going to vote once they have that little piece of paper in front of them.
Liberals shouldn’t get overly confident either. No party should.
They’re really turning up the rhetoric on the Georgia-Russia thing. Wish Harper would shut up on the topic. He’s only expert at sucking up to Bush.
Geez, he’s embarrassing.
Went out to the mailbox the other day and got my 2nd 10%er from Anders the Alberta MP the only saving grace Garth’s NEWS Letter was also there so I dumped Anders for Garth for he is so much more informative and a Hell of Lot Smarter and Cuter.:>)
Hey, all you people getting these flyers. Don’t sit on your ass. Take them into your local newspaper and ask to speak to the editorial dept. Express your views. How else will they know? If you’re outraged, ask the editor to have your local MP comment on them.
THE BARRIE EXAMINER (last week)
Political flyers crash and burn
Deluge of mailers from MPs raise concerns
Posted By MORGAN IAN ADAMS AND BOB BRUTON
Tomas Nimmo admits he had a ‘bad reaction’ when he opened his mailbox last
week. Like a number of other area residents, he received not one, not two,
but three pieces of literature from Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis last week.
Each flyer, or ‘mailer’, boasts of a Conservative Party accomplishment– one
on standing up for Canada’s interests, one on air quality, and one on
product safety — and asks the recipient to choose, on a mock ballot,
between four party leaders (Stephen Harper, Stephane Dion, Jack Layton and
Elizabeth May), whom he or she believes is on the “right track” with that
particular issue.
The return address is to the Conservative Research Group — Government
Caucus Services, the Conservative Party’s parliamentary research arm.
The three Nimmo received are on top of the two he got the previous week.
“It’s my tax dollars being used here,” he said. “If it was something about
government programs, that would be fine.”
The flyers are also known as ‘10 percenters’; they can go out to 10 per cent
of the homes in an MP’s riding as often as three times a week. Ten
percenters can also be sent into other MPs ridings.
The cost of printing and mailing — and return postage for those who send
the so-called ’surveys’ back — are paid for by tax dollars, as long as the
leaflets are used to inform the public about parliamentary issues. The rules
ban the use of free printing and mailing privileges to produce
campaign-style literature that urges people to vote one way or another.
Barrie MP Patrick Brown continues to get his message out by mail, despite
complaints that other Conservatives are skirting Commons mailing rules.
Liberal MP Mark Holland has filed a formal complaint accusing the
Conservative party of misusing taxpayer-funded mailouts, an allegation the
Tories call unfounded.
Holland has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons, saying the
Tories are breaking its bylaws by mailing campaign literature to people in
his Ajax-Pickering riding at taxpayer expense.
Brown says he’s not one of them, but acknowledges it does happen.
“Some MPs of all political stripes have got into a habit of mailing things
into each other’s ridings,” he said.
Brown says mailings are sent by all MPs, and that he has samples of mailings
Liberal MPs have sent into Barrie– even though they don’t represent this
area.
The Barrie MP says his July mass mailings have been on his government’s
crime reduction strategy, on his community barbecue — which supported the
Navy League of Barrie and his physician recruitment scholarship — and on
his charity hockey game for Royal Victoria Hospital.
“I believe it is my job to communicate and consult with constituents,” Brown
said. “I ask for feedback on a regular basis via mailings because I believe
strongly it is my job to represent Barrie to Ottawa, and not Ottawa to
Barrie.
“Any elected official that attempts to represent his community on
legislative votes, but doesn’t bother to ask his or her constituents their
opinions on such votes, is doing an inadequate job in reflecting their
wishes.”
Simcoe-Grey Liberal candidate Andrea Matrosovs says she has a stack of
similar flyers sent by Guergis’ office, and has heard from residents in
ridings such as Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and Newmarket-Aurora who have also
received flyers from Guergis.
“All parties can use the 10 percenter approach, but this is a different
approach,” Matrosovs said. “This is not information; it’s more partisan than
an MP’s news report.
“These are not something to purely communicate with constituents.”
A spokesperson for Guergis’ constituency office said the local office only
has input into the newsletters that get sent out four times a year. Val
Knight said the local office would not know about the 10 percenters that
were sent out unless one was received in the mail, or if the office fielded
phone calls about them.
She did acknowledge that receiving three in a day would be a “problem with
distribution.”
Guergis was not available to comment.
In a letter to Holland from the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary
Counsel, the flyers distributed in Ajax-Pickering could be considered
“outside parliamentary matters and makes it, in our view, a document with an
electoral intent or objective,” mainly because it asks the question, “Why
vote for Mark?”
“Consequently, we are of the opinion that the content of this 10 percenter,
considered as a whole, seems to contravene the bylaws of the Board of
Internal Economy,” states the letter from Parliamentary Counsel Louis Mac
Habee.
However, the “who is on the right track” statement falls within the bylaws,
and “could be viewed as a ’survey’ of Canadians, which members are allowed
to do in a 10 percenter,” states Mac Habee’s letter. “One would face an
entirely different situation if the accompanying question were, “Who would
you vote for?” In such a case, the content would be considered electoral in
nature.”
“It’s gotten out of control,” Holland said.
Holland said the “tremendous ramp-up” in the distribution of material by the
Conservatives is putting the opposition parties in a position to churn out
their own material.
“There’s a feeling of a need to respond in-kind, and all of this is costing
an ungodly amount of money,” Holland said.
Article ID# 1144081
Oh Garth your NEWS letter saved me from having to unfurl the damn Propaganda and have to look at that Harper’s ugly mug.See how much you help your supporters in Halton.We’re so Blessed.Now to work on getting more like YOU in the HOC.
You are a sexist man-hater. — Garth
By Marc on 08.14.08 5:15 pm
Even though you have a vested interest, don’t you find that riding campaigns with 3 men are much more of a distraction from the issues then a campaign with 3 women would be? I find it to be a good thing to be living in a riding with 3 female candidates for the 3 main parties.
I guess that is why the men called me names, and the women called me often. And then I got married and ended it all.
Can’t you read the numbers on the wall ..???!!!!
By HARRY S on 08.14.08 5:22 pm
So you are the digital graffiticator! What’s the problem, did you fail potty mouth posting 101? You must either be retired, or under-employed to be polluting Garth’s digital Etch-a-Sketch all day and half the night! What business is it of yours what Liberals think of their leader? Unless you have a fully paid up membership in good standing in the Liberal Party, you have no traction with any and all of your remarks about Mr. Dion et al. In fact much of your assumptions about the majority of Canadians is off base, warped, and basically bully bash bravado, too. Anytime you want to get re-educated you are welcome to meet me out behind the empty freight wagons, the horse barn, the billet yard, or down on the docks, where ever! I guarantee to make a lasting impression on your limited intellect! If you can’t mind your manners, then you should wear the results of your mouthiness. You failed sand pile, and now you fail to meet a modicum of any debate decency. Come on make my day! Admit it, you are a nobody looking for nothing but a rumble because you are bored, and ignored. You alone are reason enough never to vote Conservative, never mind all the other reasons identified here! Go slither back under your keyboard where you were hatched from.
Anyone else notice that the ones ‘complaining’ about NOT getting a Flyer are nearly ALL HarperCONS? Or is it just me thinking that they must live in a VERY safe riding?
Hey wouldn’t it be an Ass kicker If Lord Prick did go to the GG and said “I can’t get Parlinment to Work” and the3 GG says “Well Ok I’ll see if the Other Parties want to Form a Coalition until 09″ Could she do That??
I know just checking to see if you knew too! You know Garth there are 2 types of Neo-cons. Stupid and misled or smart and crooked. Well your not stupid and not crooked so you are a hard one to label.
By gary v on 08.14.08 3:33 pm
Now that’s more like it Gary. Your certainly not hard to label.
Confused . How can Harpo call an election before the fixed date of October 9/09 ?
That was his whole reason for fixing dates because Chretien went to the polls three years into a four year mandate and pulled another majority government .
The only way he can go to the polls ,to my understanding ,is of the opposition parties vote non-confidence in the government (?)
Harry and you continue to fail to see that even in all the so called Dion failure to raise the Liberal numbers Harper has done just as badly by not raising, as a matter of fact his party is doing worse than the Libs nationally after 21/2 years. I would call that pretty pathetic leadership on Harper’s part. But of course you won’t see. or admit that part. Carry on with your mindless rants though.
Bring on the election . . . NOW!!!
Polls are for losers . . . even I don’t think that most Canadians are dumb enough to vote for higher prices accross the board from groceries, gas to air travel and home heating. Dion’s plan is just plain NUTS!!!
The cons in Britain are leading the lefties by 20% because they are speaking the truth about the Gorebull Warmins scam.
The UN science body on this matter, the IPCC, is a political body composed mainly of bureaucrats. So far it has resisted acknowledging the new evidence. But as Lord Keynes famously asked, “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
New ice cores shows that in the six global warmings over the past half a million years, temperature rises and falls occurred on average 800 years before the accompanying rises and falls in atmospheric carbon. The carbon rises could not have either started or ended the temperature rises. So there must be natural influences on global temperatures that are more powerful than atmospheric carbon levels.
With the reversal of the ice core evidence, there is now no evidence that carbon emissions cause significant global warming. None.
Evidence is a set of observations by people of events. The scientific method demands evidence—theory, politics, and vested interests are all trumped by evidence. The scientific method evolved as our best method for obtaining reliable information, precisely because it was immune from forces such as power and superstition.
Western governments have spent $50b on global warming since 1990, yet have found no evidence. We are constantly bombarded with evidence that the world has warmed. Don’t you think we would have heard all about any evidence that carbon emissions cause global warming, if there was any?
Satellite data is the only temperature data we can trust, but it only goes back to 1979. The satellites go around 24/7, measuring the temperature across broad swathes of the world, everywhere except the poles. Three of the four world temperature records use satellite data partly or exclusively, and they all say that the world stopped warming in 2001 and that temperatures have recently dipped.
We looked for the greenhouse signature and could not find it. Each possible cause of global warming heats the atmosphere in a different pattern. Increased greenhouse warming causes a hotspot 10 km up over the tropics. The hotspot is central to our understanding: if there is no hotspot then either there is no significant increased greenhouse warming, or we don’t understand greenhouse and all our climate models are rubbish anyway
I know just checking to see if you knew too! You know Garth there are 2 types of Liberals. Stupid and misled or smart and crooked. Well your not stupid and not crooked so you are a hard one to label.
By gary v on 08.14.08 3:33 pm
You’re not . You are a blithering idiot.
I guess my problem is that I watched to much CBC “Country Canada”.I could never afford to travel West of Ontario so I got to know the peoples of the West from that program. I think Harper and his Gang Underestematie the Alebertans.Just because they’re a PC Province doesn’t mean they will put up with Bullshit of a FED government.Didn’t they prove that when they helped slay the Mulroney Gov? There’s alot of pissed of PC seniors and if they can’t see passed voting Liberal will go Green or just stay Home. The only bad thing with the PC Party losing so many Seats we Lost Alot Good MPs like Garth and Liz May.I glad that Garth won even if I did’t Vote for him.I so glad to have gotten to know him and I Respect Garth for sticking to his Beliefs and for doing such a Great job of Representing Our region of Halton.Garth You,Dion and all off the hard working MPS have set the Standard for people to judge their future MPS.The CONs are What you Avoid like the Plague.:>)
Just a thought…
Do you think Mr. Harper simply doesn’t like being PM?
Perhaps he completely deluded himself as to the nature of the position.
It almost seems like he’s trying to find a ways to not get re-elected.
He invariably does things that annoy and irritate most of the electorate.
And even the blog trolls seem to go out of their way to make the CPC look like its filled with a bunch of, well, whackos. Please pardon my descriptive, I’m just at a loss for a better term.
Maybe there’s a far more insidious plan for the CPC. Like, ‘well if Canada doesn’t want me, then I’ma gonna take my ball home and play in my own backyard all by myself’ and then start fuelling up the promised firewall.
Justa thought…
the Green Shift Tax (GST!)
Canadians need a national energy strategy – one that puts citizens’ interests ahead of multi-billion dollar oil companies. Right now, our country does not have a national energy strategy that addresses where our energy comes from, where it is going, or the high price of environmental devastation that comes with producing it.
Even though our country is rich with energy resources, Canadians do not have control over them. Governments have signed this control away through multilateral agreements such as NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).
Canada has been without a national energy strategy for more than 20 years. Since the early 1980s, our political leaders have not even considered policies such as export limits, strategic reserves and restriction of foreign ownership. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney declared Canada “open for business” in 1984 when he signed the Western Accord with the three western-most provinces. Since then, Canada has functioned with a “free market” approach for the oil and gas industry. This “free market” is dominated by a small number of very large transnational corporations, working together with strong support from provincial and federal governments.
Even the United States, a net importer, has a national energy policy. Mexico also has a national energy policy. The two countries Canada is most closely tied to through NAFTA and the SPP have protected their energy interests. So why hasn’t Canada?
Council of Canadians
http://canadians.org/energy/action/
Would someone ask Dion next Wed if he has plans for a national energy policy, a policy that would compliment or even included in the Green Shift Plan.
We are in the middle of August.
Students are getting ready to go back to school in a few weeks.
Wouldn’t have been nice to have those educational trusts in place for the students this year and for all the kids over time to have benefited from.
As we near the new school year, and getting ready ourselves for Thanksgiving and later Christmas, I wonder just what this time holds for people.
We haven’t seen these times in 19 years, so it will take some getting use to.
Sure we will have an election, some politicians will only be concerned about their wonderful pensions, but for the rest of Canada it could be bleak.
Don’t let the politicians take us for granted. Never let them turn us into nodding heads in pure support for them.
We just can’t afford another Conservative government.
Every time I think of the Harper and Flaherty I think of the Grinch song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui_wA3al8GM
You are the MAN Garth your
DELETED
Canada pulls out of military exercise with Russia
Jack Branswell, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
FREDERICTON – Canada is pulling out of a joint NORAD-Russian exercise to protest the Russia’s occupation of Georgia, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday.
“As a result of recent events in Georgia we have formally taken a decision not to do that, not to participate in an operation that was known as Vigilant Eagle, which would have involved Canadian, American and Russian forces,” MacKay said.
“It would be clearly inappropriate under the circumstances based on Russia’s breach of territorial integrity in Georgia.”
Oh so we follow Bushie once again…
but we could not pull out of a NATO exercise…and we have our troops as sitting ducks in Afghanistan because we have to follow Bushie’s agreement with Pakistan…seems a bit hypocritical…
Harper would have joined Bush in Iraq and invade a sovereign nation but when the Russians do it…it’s all wrong…
Sure….we used to be a country admired the world round for our peacekeeping forces, now we are seen as Bushie’s lackies…
When even your patron saint of the MSM, Craig Oliver says in his report (http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/trouble-ahead/#clip73935)that Stephen Harper would win an election this fall; you now understand why CPC supporters say “bring it on”.
I got one from Peter Goldring. He’s from Calgary, I live in Kitchener… so I sent him an email telling him to stop. If I get another one, I’m calling his office.
Harper the fat faced
DELETED
What’s in a flyer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why Harper does it 101: Bash Break Borrow
Bash
Bashing is the process of identifying your enemies with ideas or groups that the mainstream are repelled by — ie: identifying the left with very far from acceptable groups. The first part is the most visible: bashing is simply the demonization of any political opponent. Identify the political enemy with objects of political fear and loathing with false and misleading ads and accusations. This means that for any one who is liberal or progressive, bashing is the part they feel every day and very directly. This is because it is most directly aimed at bombarding people into silence. Bash is the strategy of making discourse more vicious, more polarized and more partisan. Bashing had been used deliberately and fervently by the U.S. Republican conservatives in a highly organized effort, haunting the left until Democrat Howard Dean was the first major politician to stand up and state, bluntly and honestly, that the Bash strategy was working and that his Party could not simply act like an abused spouse.
And if you wonder about media consolidation and reporting failure don’t. Control, lawsuits, and whatever means explicit or implied are all valued tricks in the Bash kit bag. So the first part is to relentlessly Bash, but Bashing would not work if there were not people in fear for their being able to hold on economically, and bashing by itself is of only short-term effect. Which brings us to
Break
Breaking is destroying the way by which decisions are made, as in, why would many people vote against their economic interests in favor of such shallow bashing? It’s a disconnecter. Breaking is undermining the idea that getting the numbers and facts right matters. It is about undermining the connection between public statements and the evidence to back them. The WMD claims, Swiftboating, charges of being anti-soldier, disinformation campaigns and lots of scary flyers.. the process of Breaking. The strategy is the most visible political effect because it makes In and Out schemes seem like good “strategies” that everyone does, or bribery to seem like an innocent pursuit.
Borrow
You fill in the blanks. Hamstringing, puppet strings, who will benefit comes to mind. But the net of it is that you forget that you are not supposed to sell out your children’s and grandchildren’s world, and you shouldn’t just shrug your shoulders. There’s some serious economics going on and it’s up to each person to try and figure out what Harper is up to. What he wants to do has actually been written about for decades, so you can find the same books Harper takes his ideas from. And his tactics to get there are also not new. In several countries, the obvious of which is the U.S., the right wing has been up to no good, it’s deliberate, they are wrong, and they have a good chunk of people in economic straight-jackets. Snap out of that natural denial.
In all, Bashing creates polarization, Breaking destroys people’s ability to resist that polarization, Borrowing means that ultimately people must fall into line behind where the money is.
So it works. Why do they do it? The new Cons have some really boned-headed and very naive economic ideas, adjoined to those of U.S. it seems ..and they are very smugly self-convinced of their powers to effect it. Harper’s U.S. born, long term top advisor and close friend, and the guy who would have run if he didn’t have that darned U.S. born thingie, the professing Professor Tom Flanagan’s favourite reading for his class was about chimpanzee politics. Using bio-politics – studies of the scheming, coups, and…
http://tinyurl.com/b26ra
Ezra Levant, then still a student, remembers being riveted by Flanagan’s lectures on the subject. “It was the most radical class I ever took,” he says. “If a series of young males were fighting for power, a thoughtful chimpanzee would make alliances with all the losers and eventually take over the group.”
Flanagan pressed copies of Chimpanzee Politics on Prof. Barry Cooper and his Calgary School confreres, who delighted in watching staff meeting for tell-tale signs of simian rituals- their favourite a trademark show of bluster that de Waal dubbed “pant-hoot.” “We’d look at each other: ‘Yeah, there it is — pant-hoot,’” Cooper recalls.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You be the judge.
Now it’s clear why harpo wants an election ASAP! Resales are sliding faster than CRAP on ice!
http://tinyurl.com/68j3a8
*******************************************
A Maxine cartoon came over e-mail a few minutes ago — type only, no pic:
“Personally, I think conservatives and liberals should move toward the middle of the road. Makes ‘em easier to run over!”
****************************************
Part of John Thomson’s report on castanet.net today:
“Ottawa’s advertising budget doubled to more than $80-million in the first full year of the Harper government. This is the first rise in marketing spending since the start of the sponsorship scandal in 2002, according to an unreleased federal report…
“Look for a continued decline in gasoline prices over the rest of the summer because it has hit the pocketbook of the producers. This is due to the folks south of the border not driving their cars as much and that is going to bring down the prices in Canada.
“Canadians worn out by sky-high prices at the pumps are buying less gas and leaving their cars behind, new Statistics Canada figures suggest. Curb your use and the prices will fall. If we all just put in $20 instead of filling up it would hasten the effect too. It is hurting and we are only beginning to see the “ripple effect” of high-energy costs.
“Softening of the U.S. market and prices should drop says MJ Ervin & Associates of Calgary. The Sheiks, Kings, the Generals in the oil producing countries do one thing with their profits – they invest them in North America and the price at the pumps is making things uncomfortable these days for the money men.”
Harper calls Green Shift “Green Shaft”
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/478666
What he fails to mention is that the CPC will be imposing their own carbon tax and have already hired a University of Alberta professor to work out the details. But he will not do it before the next election in typical deceitful Harper style…
As far as I understand, the NAU and SPP are two separate deals; a fortnight or so ago, someone said that the SPP was gone. Now, this.
http://tinyurl.com/5ghs6z
*******************************************
The west seems to have under-estimated Putin; the fact that dubya lives in a different universe may have something to do with it.
http://tinyurl.com/6en8zy
What do the contributers on this blog think should be done about the unelected Senate where the old-line parties have put old war horses out to pasture?
Is Senate reform not needed?
Democracy is a snowball: you can either stand around and watch it melt…….
Or you can walk into your local editorial office and get it rolling !
It looks like the talk with the Collingwood E-B Editor last week has paid a dividend.
•••••••
Letters to the editor
* Conservative flyers ‘arrogant’, says reader
Dear Editor,
The article by Mr. Adams (Take a Flyer,Aug 6) was much appreciated. These flyers are blatantly partisan. They are representative of the worst type of campaign literature and, I believe it constitutes unethical behaviour.
I have just learned that the Law Clerk of Parliament has given an opinion that these are an improper use of taxpayers’ money.
It is expected to come up when Parliament returns provided the government does not bury it in the Procedures and House Affairs Committee.
I would hope that Ms Guergis and her party will be punished for these arrogant flyers.
If they continue to be sent out, your paper could provide a public service by giving each party the opportunity to counter their simplistic messages with some thoughtful comments.
DK-XXX, Collingwood
Martin Weiss-MONEY MARKETS–08-14-08
“Just a few hours ago, RealtyTrac shocked Wall Street with the most explosive news imaginable:
U.S. home foreclosures skyrocketed an astonishing 55% in July …
One in every 464 American homes went into foreclosure last month alone …
A staggering 750,000 abandoned homes are now begging for buyers nationwide — a clear sign that prices will continue to plummet and that ever-increasing numbers of homeowners will walk away in the months ahead …
Plus, Moody’s has now warned that a mind-blowing 2.8 million MORE defaults are now in the pipeline!”
What do the contributers on this blog think should be done about the unelected Senate where the old-line parties have put old war horses out to pasture?
Is Senate reform not needed?
By Mel on 08.14.08 8:00 pm
After we replace the government, then we should tackle the senate.
By Windsurfer on 08.14.08 8:00 pm
Great letter…I’ll get on it…
What do the contributers on this blog think should be done about the unelected Senate where the old-line parties have put old war horses out to pasture?
Is Senate reform not needed?
By Mel on 08.14.08 8:00 pm
________________________________________
It means nothing does it? Wasn’t it the Reform/Conservayives that were going to have member recall by constituents?
No recall no elected senate.
What would you expect from at party fill of platitudes?
By oldschool on 08.14.08 6:48 pm
Your post is a typical piece of junk pseudoscience.
If you want your assertions taken seriously, you MUST list your sources; the authors, when and where they were published.
As it stands right now, your piece has absolutely zero credibility.
Go see Kady’s blog (Macleans)
By Bonnie N BC on 08.14.08 5:34 pm
—————————————-
Bonnie:
Thanks.
She is hilarious, y’all.
Oh yes, those lovely 10%Er’s. I’ve got plenty of those. I guess it’s the price I pay for living in a Liberal riding. These are the ones that I have received in the last three months.
Toxic: 2 Stephen Harper/ Bev Oda
Dion’s Tax on Everything: Peter Goldring
Above the law?: Bev Oda
Canada’s Back: Rob Anders
Time to clear the air: Harold Albrecht
Looking for the right tools?: Gary Schellenberger
And now the ones on smaller heavier weighted paper.
Preserving Canada’s environment: Gord Brown
Worried about climate change: not from anyone and actually has gov. web address
Less Talk. More Action.:John Baird
Action For Clean Air: 2 Stephen Harper
Protecting Canadian Families: Stephen Harper
Police line: do not cross: Stephen Harper
Action ON Gun Crime: Stephen Harper
A stronger,safer,better Canada:Stephen Harper
For those that don’t receive them, I’m willing to share. I have more then enough.
And If Harper wants an election tell him to go to the G.G. and do it. Enough alredy with the confidence votes. Let’s see how bad the Conservatives can fail.
As for Harry’s comments about Elizabeth May, I think you need to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbQPS0vfH0c
So who’s up for a little game of 10%’r Idol? And here’s my personal favourite to start you off. It’s the guy in the undershirt on the chesterfield holding a brewski. I call him Randy. He looks a little spacey. Could it be he’s had a little too much beer and popcorn? Send your votes to mp@garth.ca No campaigning, no advance poll, no talking. Voting ends at midnight, August 19th. Winning 10%’r will be announced on this blog on August 20th and will be sent to the Prime Minister, personally autographed by Garth Turner, MP for Halton. Tabulation will be done by yours truly with results blacked out. Trust me.
I can not believe there are still many who do not understand that an elected Senate means nothing! Who would control the nominations? who would want to run? how would you not know the fix was in? would we get good candidates who know the political system? would they run stickily for the cash? and yes could they be bought off or beholding to those who backed them like is the case south of the border? Canada with all it’s faults is still a good country to live in and we got this far without an elected senate. And do y’all remember all that chatter about fixed election dates? Accountability? Recall? and yes Transparency! By the way voter turn out is low for MPs just think how many would turn out for what’s his/her name.
It is rich that Harper sends out spam mail decrying an unelected Senate when one of his first orders was to put the unelected Fortier into the Senate??? Is this man for real???
Is Senate reform not needed?
By Mel on 08.14.08 8:00 pm
Absolutely the Senate needs reform. However, the Senate is only 1 part of 3 parts of the government that needs reform. To reform the senate, the HoC, as well as the judicary (or the selection process to the Supreme court) needs to be addressed. To criticize one part of the government, without addressing the other parts dis-services all of us.
I think the Tories are going to really turn off a lot of Canadians with their flyers.
Poor Rick Dykstra must have chosen the short straw today when he had to sit in on the Ethics Committee.
But his rote recital of PMO sound bites was predictable and delivered with robot like precisions. Well done Rick.
And Dean did not invoke the “I am a Catholic” precursor today. Instead he decided to use the “you’re either with us or against us” tactic. He is sad that not one of the opposition members ever votes with the 5 conservative members. Last time I watched, I don’t believe any of the 5 conservative members have ever voted with the opposition members.
Dean doesn’t like kangaroo courts—he says the whole committee’s agenda has been pre-determined.
Perhaps Dean would like to offer condolences and support for Omar Khadr who is indeed facing a kangaroo court-pre-determined and pre=judged. How about it Dean?
Mel 8:00pm
The answer is simple. Use the legislation already passed by Harper to choose senior government workers by all party committees instead of the governing party. No reason the same thing can’t be used to choose senaters, or a similar process.
As it stands right now, your piece has absolutely zero credibility.
By William Laidlaw on 08.14.08 8:28 pm
—————————————-
William:
It will always have zero credibility.
From what others elsewhere have stated, “OldStool” simply goes off spouting uninformed and intentionally false trash, just for the sake of rabble rousing.
The worth of his comments CAN be discounted to ZERO.
Latest election seat prediction is out based on intent to vote, main issue, and preferred leader:
171 CPC
77 LIB
35 BLOC
25 NDP
———
308 TOTAL
I can not believe there are still many who do not understand that an elected Senate means nothing! Who would control the nominations? who would want to run? how would you not know the fix was in? ……
By David Bakody on 08.14.08 8:45 pm
First, David, there can only be nominations and elections if the Constitution is amneded. Fat chance of that with Quebec blocking that.
Second, There are several good democratic models of elected Senates elsewhere in the World, Australia, USA, Japan? and France? It would be that our current political parties would be right in there demanding that they control nominations, of course. I would favor that our Senate have political parties banned, and that the nominations come from the jury duty rolls, eligible once in a life time, for a three year period, with 1/3 of the Senate elected each year for a gradual turn over. Your job/career be guaranteed afterwards, or you could be exempted if you are a sole proprietor, or academically unable to cope with such a role. All expenses paid while in Ottawa and a nominal salary in lieu of your usual earnings.
Nominate 6 people by random computer selection and let the media interview these candidates in a round table type scrum for voters to make up their minds as who would represent their interests the best.
Canadian Supreme Court Chief Justice Willard Estes from Sask. stated when he retired that, “Juries get it right about 97.7% of the time.” I suspect the learned justice keep a tally during his career for him to have stated such a precise number!
Can you think of a more democratic and responsible model? Would you serve if nominated and elected from out of the 6?
Could you spend 3 years of your life in Ottawa listening to testimony in hearings, asking appropriate questions and voting on proposed laws? It would be a career honor and resume plum for most, I would think!
CP—Harper hints he will engineer his government’s defeat, trigger fall election 2 hours ago
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hXoG-Df4HjgepNb80rlsiD1x-RXw
In Cupids, about an hour’s drive from St. John’s, a lone protester showed up at Harper’s low-key announcement, wielding a sign reading, “Harper Lied,” referring to Ottawa’s decision to change the federal equalization formula. Police escorted him away.
So, Harry S … What’s your POLYMORPH trying to do this time? Appear sincere?
Get your cypher to work on this cryptic
ELOHSSA
You should run for office!!!
At the very least you can tell people what PMSH gand has been up to, so more can be informed before they vote next.
By Greg W., Oakville on 08.14.08 4:24 pm
lol Greg, I`m an enemy of the state, a divorced dad which gives me the status of an escaped convict.
I have been telling everyone about what the government is up too though but it sounds like you`re still going to authorize this broken system with a vote. I can understand that, even though voting for this system is unpatriotic it`s the only shred of democracy we have left so I wish you well by it.
All I really want is to take the children out of the middle but the `powers that be` won`t let that happen, to much profit and votes at stake but thx.
R
There is no caucus-wide Lib equivalent. Trust me. I organize stuff like that. And I also have access to the charges each party makes against the printing budget. The Cons outspend everyone by a huge margin. Who’s full of it? — Garth
Hi Garth, can you post the 2007 and ytd 2008 expenses on 10% by parties?
And still live? No. — Garth
See how considerate Harper is he even puts the greens on his little ballot.
That is a strategic decision to encourage vote-splitting which Con strategiests think will bleed environmental support away from Dion. Nothing considerate about it. — Garth
Does it mean that Harper will not oppose E. May’s participation in the Leaders’ debate?……..didn’t think so.
Just in time for the US elections, and Obama stands a good chance of winning, there may be a terrorist attack. Maybe.
When Princess Diana died “accidentally”, someone remarked: “How convenient.” Deja vu?
http://tinyurl.com/5mfy74
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If anyone thought that this is a free society we live in, think again.
http://tinyurl.com/6rxabg
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Seems Pakistan and India are headed for yet another scrap. Don’t both countries have nukes?
Courtesy WRH.com:
“Okay, Georgia fizzled out, Iran is a non-starter; let’s go play in Pakistan” — Official White Horse Souse
http://tinyurl.com/66qo8w
By Darlene on 08.14.08 8:29 pm
There has been no action on climate-change or clean-air except for claiming they have taken action through mailing 10%ers by this government.
1.Time to clear the air: Harold Albrecht
2.Preserving Canada’s environment: Gord Brown
3.Less Talk. More Action: John Baird
4.Action For Clean Air: 2 Stephen Harper
Consider:
NDP declares victory for clean air—
Layton and Cullen proud of
accomplishments on C-30—Thursday, March 29, 2007
Sun Media—Greg Weston—Sunday, October 14, 2007
Clean Air Act up in smoke—Tories look for new solutions to pollution
Champagne Jack [Premature Ejubulation]
http://forums.macleans.ca/uploads/1366/1176482061.2997.upload1.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2ArjWsNcg
Just watching the Olympics 100 metre mens freestyle as I type. All the guys coming out to the starting block are dressed in hoodies and baggy sweats, and look exactly like the “Young thugs committing crimes without fear of consequences” in mailer #5. I guess I better alert Dick Pound and get a surprise drug test, they must be up to no good. Tony Clement can cuff ‘em when he catches them at Insite when they return home.
Just in time for the US elections, and Obama stands a good chance of winning, there may be a terrorist attack. Maybe.
Charles Oxley on 08.14.08 9:51 pm
The conservative government in Spain was ousted by a terrorist attack just before an upcoming election. Up to the day of the attack the conservatives were considered well ahead.
As I recall the socialist promised to bring their troops home.
In this case of Obama leading there seems little need for a 20 ton nudge away from the conservatives.
no worries mate, enjoy the rest of the summer
By Dube on 08.14.08 10:11 pm
Watching all the world records being shattered in the swimming pool, I have to conclude that the water is juiced, and Dick Pound should be investigating and taking water samples.
By Esther Shaye on 08.14.08 8:32 pm ——-
Jeez Esther, I sure hope you aren’t referring to me in your post.
I mean I am a staunch Garth supporter even though I live in the PEG. I haven’t had a brewsky in 23 years or a smoke in 30. Jeepers I am offened..;-)
By Esther Shaye on 08.14.08 8:32 pm
Esther, in the trailor park where Randy is probably living, that is not his undershirt. That is his shirt!
Latest election seat prediction is out based on intent to vote, main issue, and preferred leader:
171 CPC
77 LIB
35 BLOC
25 NDP
———
308 TOTAL
By Man with Asshat on 08.14.08 9:18 pm
Where’d you get these numbers ? Out of ‘yer ass ?
Good name for you Asshole .What a joke .
Latest election seat prediction is out based on intent to vote, main issue, and preferred leader:
171 CPC
77 LIB
35 BLOC
25 NDP
———
308 TOTAL
By Man with Asshat on 08.14.08 9:18 pm
If this were true…. God help us all. Although harper would need divine intervention for that to actually happen.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 08.14.08 9:25 pm
So, Harry S … What’s your POLYMORPH trying to do this time? Appear sincere?
………………………………….
Liberal party popularity was higher when they had no leader … polymorph that doofus ..!!!
Hey Zorph Judy made a great point about the CONs crying “Kangaroo Court”.You should print up a Sign that we could all print out comparing the Poor Cons Ethics Cmt Kangaroo court to that of Omar khada.I can’t afford any money but I’m willing to Print them out and Paper the neighbourhood.What do you think?
Esther, in the trailor park where Randy is probably living, that is not his undershirt. That is his shirt!
By Marc on 08.14.08 10:56 pm
Marc, you missed the obvious. That is a Trailer Park Tuxedo! The wobbley pop is Trailer Park Champagne, and the Trailer is on top of two others so it qualifies as a Trailer Park Condo High Rise! Lets get the definitions straight before the voting is underway!
I prefer the one with the “Hoodies” running down the alley TOWARDS the Cops parked Hoosegow SUV! Must be going check to see if those “wheels” are for free!
By the way, what is an ASSHAT? Is that a cool new way to spell condom?
Naaaaaaaaaa… don’t call the election. Let’s just watch the Yo Harpo CONS grasping for air like fish outta the barrel as the economy crumbles around them. Twill be a sight like no other.
Hey, maybe we all can get ourselves a Bennett buggy? Save alot on gas, eh?
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 08.14.08 10:07 pm
I think you miss understood my post. I was only listing the 10%ers that I have received. The part that I find most hilarious is that most are about the environment and are outright fabrications of some perceived action. I don’t need to be educated about them, I do my own research and come to my own conclusions.
I will admit that I try to keep my posts as non partisan as possible and sometimes it’s hard to tell which side I’m on. I’ve always been a Liberal and plan on staying that way.
By Robert Gibbs on 08.14.08 9:13 pm Thanks for the support.
hahah thanks for the free earned media, garth! even i’d never seen those before coming here!
Hopefully Michaelle Jean is getting good advice about what her choices are if Harper walks across the street. My suggestion is to tell him to go back to Parliament and make it work. I figure we’re entitled to that much.
If we have to go to an election, then let Harper call it himself and quit hiding behind poorly written legislation that triggers a confidence vote. Stephane Dion has no guarantee that if he votes against this government that one of the other two might not just prop Harper up.
Any blustering by Harper about an election is showing him for what he is: either scared or so ambitious for power that he doesn’t care that he’s supposed to be making this parliament work.
Again this government is favouring the Liberals.I DEMAND MY ENTITLEMENTS.Where are my flyers.
Bwhaahaaaaaa! This is too funny! Liberals whining about the abuse of taxpayers money! Where’s the billion lost in the HRDC boondoggle, guys? Where’s the money from Adscam? I see. These mailouts are an abuse of taxpayers money while the aforementioned Liberal abuses are just the cost of doing business. I’ve gotten these sorts of mailings from the Liberals, too, so you can pack in your righteous indignation.
Harper blustering about an election? That’s rich. Every time he turns around Dion is threatening to bring down the government and here Dion is yet again threatening a fall election. And you want us to believe Harper’s the one who doesn’t want to make Parliament work? Sorry, not buying it.
Here’s a plan for you, Dion: keep your mouth shut and let the current parliament run its course until October 2009. You’re making everyone dizzy with your war dance and election spin. It’s amazing how brazen you Liberals become with a perceived jump in the polls.
10%ers – the facts (2006 – 2007)
From the House of Commons Individual Members Expenses prepared by corporate services May 2007 (which appears to be the most recently PUBLISHED report.)
Goods and Services Provided bv the House
The following costs are charged to House Administration central budgets: (my caps)
(7) PRINTING
(a) HOUSEHOLDERS – printed materials sent by Members, up to four householders per calendar year, TO INFORM THEIR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES;
(b) Ten Percenters (ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDERS) – printed or photocopied material reproduced in quantities NOT EXCEEDING 1O% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS in a Member’s constituency;
(c) Ten Percenter Regrouping (ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDERS) – some or all Members in a recognized party collectively submit, via their Whip’s office, an identical ten percenter request, up to ONE REGROUPING PER MONTH TO A MAXIMUM OF 1O% OF THE TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS represented by the Members submitting the request.
For the 2006 – 2007 fiscal year the PRINTING expenses for members ranged from $400 to $90,000 (for NDP member Hawn and CPC member Hawn)
(MY math says a POSSIBILITY of 3 in one month, 2 in three other months and 1 in the remaining months, total, but given only one in ten should recive any given mailer it is clear the rules are being abused)
See http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/GeneralInformation/MembersExpenses-2006-2007-e.pdf
Woops, thats NDP member Chow!
If this were true…. God help us all. Although harper would need divine intervention for that to actually happen.
By SJ on 08.14.08 11:17 pm
And a whole bunch of hanging chads al a GWB ,
By Deb Prothero on 08.15.08 7:29 am
Let’s get back to reality, and the three by-elections on September 8th.
If voters in Guelph, Westmount, St.Lambert vote Liberal, that gives Dion the support he needs to force a Fall election after September 15th resumption of Parliament.
If voters in the three ridings vote for the Conservatives, NDP and BQ, that will stop Dion cold, and Parliament will go to October 2009.
If Dion takes Harper’s bait before September 8th and declares he intends to force a general election after September 15th, how do you think the voters in the by-elections will feel about Dion and the Liberal candidates?? Not too kindly, I suspect …!!!!
That’s a good question. While reinforcement of nervous system synapses through repetition will yield one reality, one that I suspect that you may be victim of and have embraced, I believe a shift of the decimal place several positions to the left is in order, for the truth resides here:
I’d say an outstanding balance amounting to an $85000 oversight on a very large and complex program is quite laudable, when compared to say a $122000 oversight in but a single Budget Speech that exceeded the permissible untendered amount by 488%, for example.
Then there is the organized and orchestrated defrauding of the public purse not from a rogue element, but from the topmost levels of the Conservative Party, that the in-out scandal represents, and all the while the bald and brazen ethical fleecing continues in the form of these mailouts that are nothing more than partisan campaign propaganda that rightly should be coming from the Conservative warchest and not from my and 22 million other wallets in this country.
Fortuntately, many many people are watching and taking note.
One other thing, the expectation is very low for the performance of Dion in the debates, he might just surprise…and if he does…you can forget Harper forever…
By wjp on 08.14.08 3:47 pm
Yes and that is a huge if. Dion has a history regarding his debate performance and it is not good especially in English. He may luck out in the French debates and perform adequately but that is a long shot.
Dion is not very good without a prepared script or a teleprompter even in the house is can’t hold a candle to Harper, Layton or Duceppe.Go back to the Liberal leadership debates and his that is not fair comment and you will see how Dion will likely perform at any debates..
You have no idea what you are talking about. Come out and hear Dion speak unscripted. Go listen to Harper do the same. You man is lost without a tube in front of him. — Garth
“But Harper could go to the Governor General, explain why Parliament isn’t working and dissolve Parliament himself, Barton said.”
If Harper does go to the GG will he take his book on how to disrupt/stall/interfere with committees?
Will he have to explain the 10%ers, the economy, the Cadman affair, the in and out schemes and the disrespect shown to the opposition parties might be a contributing factor in his party’s failure to rise in the polls?
Maybe he has a good reason to call an election because he has been running an election campaign and not the country since he took office.
Frankly I don’t want to see an election. Why should the liberals inherit this mess? It’s only going to get worse. The US economy is getting worse, so let Harper flounder. Not even the best party can salvage the loss of jobs, or cool down the planet.
Maybe it’s time for all of us to change the way we live, drop our expectations that health care, jobs, and the state of the economy is the responsibility of the government. The Canada I once knew is gone forever. Change is good? Not this time.
If I had a choice of being in a room with Harper or being in a room with a teen in a hoodie it’s a no-brainer.
Being hood-winked by Harper is just not my idea of a good time. At least the teen would have something to contribute to a conversation.