Well, I guess the wars have started. The Halton Con candidate’s signs finally started to go up yesterday, about the same time ours went down. Amazing how the wind blows so much harder on red stuff.
Amazing coincidences
September 15th, 2008 | Canadian Politics
107 comments ↓
Yea, kinda like how God hates trailer parks .
They always seem to gt it the worst in any hurricane .
If they can snap pictures of an okapi using a motion-activated-camera… my guess is it wouldn’t be too hard to catch some people trying to interfere in the election.
Just a thought…
Are you planning to put them back up?
I think the residents of Halton know that the wind is colour blind. If they see the big blue signs standing erect, while the red ones have been knocked over, they’ll figure it out that they were vandalised. I also believe they can put 2 and 2 together and figure out just whose supporters did it. The big blue signs standing off to the side will give them all the clues they need!
I wish I lived anyway near your riding, Garth.
I am off today and would be out helping get your signs back in order despite the “onslaught.”
Hope you and your team have it under control despite the damage.
Take care.
On my ride around London this morning the win took its toll on all party signs. However, some remained erect. I guess it is how they are stated. The one erect had steel pickets. Where most of the blown over ones were attached to wood.
A picture tells a thousand words.
Garth, I sent your campaign $50. on Friday to help you with those signs. I was just checking my tax receipts so far this year. I figure I’ve donated half my allowable contribution.
I hope others will contribute what they can. It’s unfortunate that money plays such an important part in an election campaign. BTW, its the first time in my life I’ve ever contributed, but am doing so because I truly fear for the destruction of the majority of Canadians’ values should Harper achieve majority status. We’ve seen what he’s accomplished with a minority govt., declaring every proposed bill a confidence one.
Thank you, sincerely. — Garth
I just received the most telling of emails in my yahoo account.
It is from
it is a video called “Who’s afraid of Elizabeth May” It is very well done and really shows well a political truth.
If any of you can find it it is worth the effort.
Sorry to have to place this on your blog space Garth but I found it interesting as well as informative.
Election 2008
View larger image View larger image
Strategic Counsel poll Sept 14
View larger image View larger image
Strategic Counsel poll Sept 14
* Stephen Harper (Conservatives): 29 per cent
* Stephane Dion (Liberals): 18 per cent
* Jack Layton (NDP): 11 per cent
* Elizabeth May (Greens): 2 per cent
* None: 9 per cent
Thousand words indeed. It’s pretty clear the reason the Liberal signs are down is due to only having two stakes rather than the three on the other sign.
The other sign is actually two signs, on three stakes. Nice try. — Garth
Garth – Dion is going to have to FIGHT harder, get tough and nasty. There’s no choice. Obama, who also wanted take the high ground has to do the same.
The Replublican machine in the US is tough, dirty and liars and smear experts….the Canadian Republican party is the same.
Maybe the liberal signs were up before the wind storm and the Conservatives put theres up after the storm. Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story!
It shows the true mentality of the Harper followers…same as in QP…childish, selfish, and immature beyond the pale.
People need to ask themselves if they really want cowardly spoiled brats running our country? This Canadian does NOT! ABC
By David Halfkenny on 09.15.08 12:15 pm
In the picture, all of the signs, standing and knocked down, are on wooden stakes, so Mr. Halfkenny, your comment on steel pickets appears to be irrelevant in this case, although a nice try at trying to change the channel.
Same thing happened in our riding only it’s NDP signs that seem windproof while Liberal signs are dropping like flies.
In honour of such petty thuggery, we made this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfrJBna6qsg
Garth,
I know that oil company executives have a powerful influence over governments. With the price of oil falling they have convinced those governments that control gas prices to increase prices up to $.13 a liter here in Canada and pushed prices up elsewhere in the country by a similar amount.
Gas regulation does not seem to work for anyone because provincial governments are easily blackmailed because of the gas neo-monopoly. I remember some time ago the oil companies threatening the PEI government that if they did not get the price they wanted they would cut supply.
Should a sector be able to set price at all the traffic will bare and at the same time be given tax breaks, incentives, and allowed to externalize costs onto tax payers just because they can with the support of a federal government that uses “free markets” as an excuse to allow price gouging and private market control?
“Amazing how the wind blows so much harder on red stuff.” – Garth
And that would be as credible an explanation as I have heard from the Harper Government on any matter.
The answer is simple, but only the Liberal Party can do it :
ERASE THE DISGRACE – ÉCRASEZ L’INFÂMIE!
Some issues simply won’t go away. The Libs/Greens have a plan to fight climate change. The Cons have a plan to prevent any kind of meaningful plan to fight climate change. (I’m surprised quite frankly, that CTV still covers stories on climate change/global warming since they are owned by the same huge media giant that owns Fox news … but thats likely to change)
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080915/melting_ice_080915/20080915?hub=SciTech
And stories like this but it’s just the tip of the iceburg:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080911/freshwater_fish_080911/20080911?hub=SciTech
Harper’s Dictatorship & Propaganda Machine
Conservative Messages Undergo ‘Severe’ Editing
‘New quotes’ even added to better reflect Harper’s stance, documents reveal
Margaret Munro, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, September 15, 2008
The Privy Council Office has such strict control over the Harper government’s messaging that it pre-approves and revises comments attributed to federal ministers, does “severe” edits on departmental press releases and even vets words that are to come out of the mouths of university officials, according to documents obtained by Canwest News Service.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=b86dd2cb-18aa-436c-bb33-76900d27a0bd
Hey I stand corrected, just saw an NDP sign where you ask? On the lawn of Darrel Dexter, Nova Scotia’s next premier when Rodney moves to the fiddle circuit in Harper Land.
“Canada’s not in the same situation as the United States,” he told reporters in Ottawa.
“Our household sector, our government sector, our financial institutions have solid economic fundamentals. The Canadian economy’s fundamentals are solid.”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Holy Mary, I’ll be able to sleep well tonight knowing that our PM has assured me that our economy is SOLID.
Stevie, you can re-write the myth, but you can’t re-write the fact. Perhaps you are unaware of the fact that Canada catches a cold every time the US sneezes.
CAPITULATION OR MELTDOWN ?
Either way you and your dim wit Jim didn’t see it coming.
Sparrow Will Stop At Nothing
The London Free Press
By Chip Martin
Monday, September 15, 2008
Ryan Sparrow, the Conservative communications chief who made headlines in Ottawa last week, did his best to help shape headlines not so long ago in London.
Sparrow worked behind the scenes to make former mayor Dianne Haskett the Conservative member for London-North-Centre. He had trouble in that job, too.
It’s all been part of the job for the political operative who has been described as so loyal to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he’d take a bullet for him.
Sparrow, 26, will do anything to advance the cause of his party and his leader.
But last week he went too far in remarks he made about the father of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan. Sparrow said the father was a Liberal supporter, suggesting the father being upset about Harper wanting to end the Afghanistan mission in 2011 was perhaps understandable.
Sparrow caused a furor, embarrassed his party and angered his leader, who said the remark was “unacceptable.” Sparrow was suspended from his duties for the balance of the election campaign. He apologized to the soldier’s father.
On top of the puffin-poop Conservatives applied to Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s shoulder in an advertisement, the incident showed the sort of stunts the Conservative pit bulls use to advance their cause.
Sparrow will be remembered for slamming a hotel door in the faces of unwanted journalists back in April at a briefing session limited to reporters the Conservatives deemed sympathetic to them. If there was a dirty job to do, Sparrow was more than willing to it.
London saw plenty of Sparrow during the November 2006 byelection, prompted by the resignation of Liberal Joe Fontana in London-North-Centre.
The Conservatives saw the departure of the region’s senior Liberal MP as an ideal opportunity to capture a seat in London.
Federal operatives, you may recall, helped nudge aside another candidate and orchestrated the nomination of Haskett as the Conservative candidate.
Elected twice as mayor, Haskett had the appropriate right-of-centre views and appeal to Christian fundamentalists that appealed to the tall foreheads at Conservative party headquarters. Heck, she had even been fined by the Ontario Human Rights Commission for her steadfast refusal to issue a gay rights proclamation.
Sparrow was picked to oversee Haskett and ensure the former mayor, who made a hasty return from Washington to contest the race, didn’t get out of line.
This was a tall order because Haskett, a bright and rather spontaneous individual, had been known to speak her mind, a trait that endeared her to supporters but could enrage her opponents.
Sparrow arrived to ensure the orderly transition of London-North-Centre from the Liberal camp to the Conservatives.
Driving a gus-guzzling SUV with Alberta plates, Sparrow went about his London assignment with vigour. He inserted himself between Haskett and reporters with whom she’d had an easy rapport during her time as mayor. He wanted to vet questions, brief the candidate and help craft her answers.
It was obvious Haskett chafed at the level of control that was placed on her. And it’s doubtful she ever knew of Sparrow’s highly partisan e-mails that went out to reporters behind the scenes slagging her rivals and their campaign teams. Haskett would never have approved of Sparrow’s bag of dirty tricks and smear tactics.
In the end, Liberal Glen Pearson won the byelection. Green party Leader Elizabeth May, seeking the first seat for a Green, placed second. Haskett, shaken and unhappy at losing her first campaign, placed third in the race and soon afterward returned to Washington.
Sparrow packed up and headed back to Ottawa to take on any assignment that might come his way.
The loyal Tory attack dog just kept climbing up the party ladder.
The incident last week tells much about Ryan Sparrow. But also about the people who gave him increasingly important responsibilities.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Columnists/Martin_Chip/2008/09/15/6766901-sun.html
The following CTV website shows “profiles” for the leaders, if you can call it that. It shows an amazing lack of depth and respect for many of them, and it should be updated and corrected.
http://www.ctv.ca/mini/election2008/Racebook.html
The one on Stephane Dion is particularly misleading. Under “experience”, it leaves out his time as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and also refers to him as having “took the bait”, when we all know it was Harper who called the election. CTV is now heading into the negative integers of credibility.
C. B. Innes on 09.15.08 1:02 pm says:
“Should a sector be able to set price at all the traffic”…
Where on earth did you get it that “a sector”controls the price of any free trading commodity, including crude oil and gasoline C.B.(in the USA?) This is simply not true. Now read this slowly: Due to a natural phenomena called a hurricane that was so large in aerial extent that it virtually could cover all of the oil producing platforms in the US Gulf of Mexico and the huge petrochemical industries present in and around Houston, (the largest such complex in the world), there was understandably concern that major damage to those facilities could occur. Furthermore,should this occur, it would result in a considerable gasoline, crude oil and shortages of all other petroleum derived products. As virtually all of the offshore oil platforms in “the Gulf” were shut in as were the petrochem plants (incl oil refineries) this had the instantaneous result of a gasoline shortage. Now as the results of the hurricane are being appraised it appears that severe damage to any of the petroleum facilities did not take occur. The result is that gasoline futures in the US are already down 50 cents per US gal., and oil is down several dollars per barrel.
And for the rest of you ’sour pusses’, this little tidbit: Due to another phenomena called frost in many of the citrus growing areas of the world where evidently global cooling was the problem, there is now and has been for months a world wide shortage of lemons. Those price gouging growers of lemons have brought about a 300 percent increase in the price of lemons by the case in the Toronto market in the last year. Maybe we should have price controls on lemons too. One little kicker though is that if we were to do so, instead of getting a few lemons at a high price in the market once in a while, we would get zero lemons if the price was artificially reduced below the world market. I suppose Canadian lemon growers could sell below world price to Caanadian markets although I doubt it especially since there aren’t any lemon growers in our country.LOL Gee, the price of lemons works the same way the price of oil does.
Lewis
Lewis
By RSandi on 09.15.08 12:31 pm
Agreed. Dion does need to fight and get tough. But he doen’t have to get nasty. All he has to do is tell the truth about the Harper record of promises broken.
After all, isn’t telling the truth one of the values we teach out kids?
IT’S A SIGN !!!!!!!
I suppose Canadian lemon growers could sell below world price to Caanadian markets although I doubt it especially since there aren’t any lemon growers in our country.LOL Gee, the price of lemons works the same way the price of oil does.
Lewis
Lewis
By Lewis on 09.15.08 1:50 pm
Lewis, I don’t eat or drink lemons. My car doesn’t run on lemons. Does yours?
Hey Garth , My husband and I drove up to your campaign office yesterday afternoon and the only signs we saw on from Burlington to Milton were yours , on the was home we noticed that ‘BLUE’ signs had been put up beside yours on HWY 5, this was about 6pm , so I know the other signs were up before the storm hit in Burlington. Anyways we will be at your campaign office Wednesday night doing whatever is necessary to keep you as our MP and if you’d like we’ll load up the car with new signs to replace any damaged ones we come across in Burlington .. we also plan to put one of your signs on our lawn to show support but for a little added security we are going to have a webcam watching the sign to see if anyone comes on our property and damages it.
Not related to the signs, but something to remember…. If Harper had his way some years ago, we’d be in Iraq. Not something to forget at election time.
In my riding, I noticed a lot of red signs (Paddy Torsney’s) knocked over – right next to bright shiny blue ones, still erect (Mike Wallace’s).
I want my Canada back.
Lewis
Lewis
By Lewis on 09.15.08 1:50 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRHHHH! LEWIS LEWIS LEWIS
‘Tis as sad, sour and bitter reality!
Holy Mary, I’ll be able to sleep well tonight knowing that our PM has assured me that our economy is SOLID.
CAPITULATION OR MELTDOWN ?
By Ron p on 09.15.08 1:38 pm
He was just on TV talking about the `solid economic fundamentals.
Just a quick peek at the fundamentals.
Most Cdns feel they are on the verge of bankruptcy.
0 savings
over spent, credit cards maxed
the 40/0 is unwinding
years of public service hires to make the employment numbers look good
global demand for our resources falling with commodities no longer a hedge against a falling US dollar
Working Cdns using food banks
No point in going into our social fundamentals.
Where on earth did you get it that “a sector”controls the price of any free trading commodity, including crude oil and gasoline C.B.(in the USA?)
By Lewis on 09.15.08 1:50 pm
Of course it does. Who else sets the price in an oligopoly?
In theory it is actual supply and demand that affects price but in practice that is not how it works. The system uses every trick in the book as an excuse to rise prices but use “feathering” on the other end to bring prices down much slower and to increase profits.
If they system was working properly Canadian refineries, which import their oil or use Canadian resources, would not let their prices be affected. That is because the impact on one region would not be adequate to have such an enormous effect on others.
If the orange crop is lost in California it has little impact on our prices because importers bring in the produce from other areas of the world such as South Africa.
Once a sector begins to operate on neo-monopolistic terms there the market in that sector is highly controlled by sector operatives. That is what globalization is all about: giving control over the marketplace, at first to those who control specific sectors, and eventually bringing about further consolidation of private control across sectors.
The current problems in the financial sector will continue to concentrate capital control in fewer and fewer hands until a very small number of CEOs will control virtually all of the global money supply.
Ideologically you may be happy to pay speculative prices but just remember as this system becomes more concentrated you will end up paying far more for far more necessities not just oil and gas.
“I have set a tone and expectation for this campaign and I’m going to make sure it is followed all the way to victory.” — Stephen Harper
Yeah – we know, sweater guy. It has your fingerprints all over it.
Carbon tariffs pose risk of trade war, OECD told
Green Shift Plan
Paul Vieira, National Post Published: Monday, September 15, 2008
OTTAWA – The leading economic organization of the industrialized world is being advised to condemn attempts by countries to impose carbon tariffs on certain imported goods — an initiative that the Liberal party advocates in its key election-campaign policy, the Green Shift plan.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has been told that tariffs aimed at punishing countries — mostly from such emerging markets as China — that emit high levels of greenhouse gases carry “significant” risks, including sparking a global trade war. It is advised to “speak out strongly” against such levies.
Carbon tariffs “will neither improve the global environment nor strengthen the competitiveness of OECD industries, companies and firms,” the OECD was told in a briefing dated Sept. 10.
The advice was from a coalition of 36 business associations that includes the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“Unilateral measures are likely to be considered a violation of international trade and climate-change commitments, could trigger trade protectionism, could damage the integrity of international environmental treaties and make it more difficult to achieve a much-needed global post-Kyoto agreement on GHG emissions reductions,” the association said.
The advice to the OECD was contained in a briefing stamped “draft,” a copy of which has been obtained by the National Post. …………
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=790969
The ramifications of this report are huge if future trade rulings bear this out!
All of our Party Leaders need to fully address this in the upcoming debate.
Dear Janine,
I hope you have time to read this as I know that there was a lot of criticism that Stephane had a rocky start because he didn’t jump on a plane on his first day? The MSM is so cynical. I thought it was funny that Don Martin who was surprised by a birthday cake and then wrote about goodie bags from young Conservatives on the arrival of the plane back to Ottawa on Sunday – hey it’s the National Post.
Truth be told, Mr. Harper is so scripted I think this a weakness that Stephane can capitalize on the Liberal brand of economic stewardship. I mean seriously, Mr. Harper is so over his head in this spiral of economic recession – the guy never held a position as an economist but he was a political strategist and supporter of the NCC.
It’s a fable that should be revealed to Canadians.
This whole premise that the Blue Sweater control freak would make a better P.M. than someone who would ask for opinions from his colleagues and then make a decision is how every successful business works in our country.
It’s a hard sell to tell the truth but I admire you both for your dedication to our country and Canada’s future generations.
Warmest greetings to you and yours on the hustings!
CRAP is running scared, no doubt of that. One of the last acts of a doomed govt. is to loot the country of it’s resources (financial and otherwise), and make life as miserable as possible for its citizens.
Signs like yours are being trashed, and here in Kelowna, more and more folk — people who lost a bundle in the IT swindle, veterans, middle-class and lesser people who have seen social services eradicated are venting their frustrations first hand in the KDC, The Capital News, on the ‘net — harpo’s actions having having a reverse effect — For each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I have had one letter published, and am working on another — not by saying who’s at fault which accomplishes nothing, but pointing out out the lies and deceptions which CRAP are clearly full of.
Ron Cannan may / may not be re-elected again, but Diane Cabott (whom we will vote for) has an excellent shot as the Lib. candidate — people have seen the writing on the wall, so they won’t get mad, they will simply get even by voting CRAP out.
BTW, the housing market has stalled here — took approx. six months for our friends to sell their place and they would have had to drop their price, but it’s now sold and gone. Eighteen months ago, it would have sold with three – four weeks.
****************************************
For the poster whose name I can’t remember who enjoys Pink Floyd, today Rick Wright, the keyboardist and one of the original members, passed over after a short fight with cancer.
David Gilmour and Wright finished a Floyd tour and now there is a new live CD (containing a 25-min. version of “Echoes”) which was recorded in Gdansk, Poland.
Good on yer, Rick!
****************************************
Four friends, four sons . . .
Four friends, who hadn’t seen each other in 30 years, reunited at a party.
After several drinks, one of the men had to use the rest room. Those who remained talked about their kids.
The first said, ‘My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a successful company at the bottom of the barrel. He studied Economics and Business Administration and soon began to climb the corporate ladder and now he’s the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his best friend a top of the line Mercedes for his birthday.’
The second said, ‘Darn, that’s terrific! My son is also my pride and joy. He started working for a big airline, then went to flight school to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where he owns the majority of its assets, He’s so rich that he gave his best friend a brand new jet for his birthday.’
The third said: ‘Well, that’s terrific! My son studied in the best universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave away something very nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday: A 30,000 square foot mansion.’
The three friends congratulated each other just as the fourth returned from the restroom and asked: ‘What are all the congratulations for?’
One of the three said: ‘We were talking about the pride we feel for the successes of our sons. What about your son?’
The fourth man replied: ‘My son is gay and makes a living dancing as a stripper at a nightclub.’
The three friends said: ‘What a shame . . . what a disappointment.’
He replied: ‘No, I’m not ashamed. He’s my son and I love him. And he hasn’t done too bad either. His birthday was two weeks ago, and he received a beautiful 30,000 square foot mansion, a brand new jet and a top of the line Mercedes from his three boyfriends.’
Looks can deceive!
More CON Pretzel Logic
———————-
Mayencourt’s Tax Stand Questioned
Candidate for federal Conservatives supports Campbell’s carbon levy, but not Dion’s
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, September 15, 2008
VICTORIA — In switching from provincial to federal politics, Lorne Mayencourt has gone from a party that unapologetically embraces the idea of a carbon tax to one that vehemently opposes it.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=dac0cd99-89c3-4dbd-9c2a-4a8321bdd883
You know the old habit of hunters wearing red….no matter what it can be seen everywhere.
‘Tis as sad, sour and bitter reality!
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 09.15.08 2:43 pm
Is Lewis Leasa’s brother? Sure sounds like her.
Today’s Globe and Mail has some balanced articles regarding the election. Nice change from the Sun, which is so one-sided.
As far as the picture you posted, Garth…I again suggest you leave the destroyed signs as is–you can still read them, and people will figure out what is going on.
Due to another phenomena called frost in many of the citrus growing areas of the world where evidently global colling was the problem…
By Lewis on 09.15.08 1:50 pm
Lewis
I guess you meant cooling – gosh your lemon story is true but not relevant as the extremes of worldwide weather is not the point but a result of climate change.
Are you serious or just another climate change denier trying to change the channel? I guess you get paid for such drival.
Why don’t you go back to your riding and work for your candidate instead of polluting Garths’ blog.
By Truth B Told on 09.15.08 2:21 pm,
Not many people understand the difference between a “free market” and a “competitive market.” They are very different concepts and are usually contradictory.
In a free market, which merely means the absence of government intervention, private interests are given the freedom to control the marketplace in their own self-interest.
Competitive or “fair” markets usually require government regulation to prevent this kind of market exploitation. As long as government is not co-opted by special interests (unfortunately too often they are), this system provides a stable economic environment. Enterprises know and understand the rules and that there will be real consequences for violating them.
The problem with “free markets” is that greed becomes the ruling principle and when greed gets out of control there are what most of us would see as extremely negative social consequences.
By Lewis on 09.15.08 1:50 pm
Lewis, you can’t compare lemons to oil any more than apples to oranges.
Canada needs a Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The US and Mexico have theirs, why not Canada.
CTV is now heading into the negative integers of credibility.
BY STRAITTOHELL ON 09.15.08 1:48 PM
If I’m not mistaken, CTV is a part of the Canwest Group who also own Global and other Canadian news media. The owners are strong right wing supporters and their news outlets demonstrate this consistently. Unfortunately, in this country, they own own the majority of news media so we won’t see any favourable reporting for the Liberals, NDP or Green from them.
I just received the most telling of emails in my yahoo account.
It is from
it is a video called “Who’s afraid of Elizabeth May” It is very well done and really shows well a political truth.
If any of you can find it it is worth the effort.
Sorry to have to place this on your blog space Garth but I found it interesting as well as informative.
By A.R.Wainwright on 09.15.08 12:19 pm
Please send us the URL. I was unable to find it on google. Not to say it isn’t there.
The one on Stephane Dion is particularly misleading. Under “experience”, it leaves out his time as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and also refers to him as having “took the bait”, when we all know it was Harper who called the election. CTV is now heading into the negative integers of credibility.
By Straittohell on 09.15.08 1:48 pm
They’re so unbelievably biased its incredible. Stopped watching puff puff Duff & his sidekick a long time ago.
It seems to me that Harper radiates and attracts to himself very negative energy. That is the same energy that would have had us in the Iraq war and will keep us in Afganistan. Who trusts this man who behaves in as a liar, deceiver, betrayer and dictator?
It was amazing to me after I suggested my friend in Calgary read the Scandalpedia website, that she wrote me back with these words: “I feel so passionately in support of Stephen Harper for his honesty, integrity, strong leadership ability and no amount of slander will change that. I can pull out of the slander files as much dirty tricks etc against Dion that you can against Harper.?”
I am totally blown away that this most intelligent woman after reading the referenced Harper scandals would send me that reply. I guess we have to deal with closed minds. I am thankful I was not a committed member of any political party until I became aware of what Harper has done and will do to Canada.
This election, I am committed to evicting Harper and that means becoming a member of the Liberal party, donating and working for them. All of which I am doing.
John McCain may want to refine his economic message a bit more during this potentially disastrous week for the financial sector.
On the campaign trail in Jacksonville, Florida, the Senator declared this morning that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong,” despite what he described as “tremendous turmoil in our financial markets and Wall Street.”
Who else says “the fundamentals of our economy are strong,” ?….well Jim Flaherty of course.
My riding, London Fanshawe – passed several sign groupings today. NDP with Liberal and Cons signs all together. The Cons put their sign in the middle and in every instance, kicked the Liberal signs. They’re bent in half. All three candidates are women. If this is how the Cons intend to run their campaign, it’s only going to turn more people off.
The Ultimate Wall Street Nightmare
Martin D. Weiss Ph.D. MONEY MARKETS 09-15-08
Pretty Charts–Horrible Financials
I met a Halton Con Ass. member whom had just quit in dusgust over the Raitt fly in.
But that person still hates you Garth.
Keep up the good work Garth
September 15, 2008
NDP’s Thomas Mulcair cares more about political gamesmanship than the environment
MONTREAL — NDP star candidate Thomas Mulcair has debunked the myth that he represents the party of integrity and truly cares about the environment after media reports show he put partisan politics ahead of the fight against climate change.
According to documents obtained by media outlets in Quebec, as provincial Environment Minister in 2006, Mr. Mulcair played a key role in stopping a $2-million contribution from going to a climate change group because of the political leanings of its board members.
A series of e-mails released between Mr. Mulcair and his then Chief of Staff, Stéphane Gosselin, show that Mr. Gosselin pushed for the subsidy to Centre québécois d’actions sur les changements climatiques to be halted. The e-mails reveal that Mr. Mulcair pressed to stop the subsidy, and even offered to make an urgent call to Quebec Premier Jean Charest’s chief of staff.
To this day, the centre, which advocates for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has not received the funding.
Mr. Mulcair has been playing a pivotal role for Jack Layton’s NDP in pushing its environmental platform. But clearly he cares more about playing politics than actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It was reported in Le Devoir today.
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/09/15/205648.html
Good advice, from a GOOD MAN
You can donate on line at:
https://www.liberal.ca/donate_riding_e.aspx?riding=35099
Brent Foulard President and CEO Canadian Association of Income Trust Investors http://www.caiti.info 647 505-2224 (cell)
The aforementioned gentleman, along with The Hon. Garth Turner, his blog, and his predisposition to democracy, have enabled me to direct my determination properly.
Touch my G-D Lawn Signs and you’re gonna be sorry.
Here’s a video of the latest Liberal ad…hint “Harpernomics’:
http://j-rad.ca/2008/09/liberal-attack-ad/
Enjoy!
Er, Lewis -
So what did a shortage that had not occurred last Thursday have to do with an instantaneous price hike? Lemons got reduced by frost before prices went up, but petroleum? Just because all of these nice, independent oil companies can raise prices simultaneously by the same amount – without consulting each other, of course, because that might make it illegal – does not justify their doing so on a commercial basis. The stuff that went up in price had been in the pipeline for weeks. The more expensive stuff that would have replaced it in due course had not yet been refined. So what is the justification for the immediate hefty increase? Well, just the fact that they can do it, and it is to the benefit of their bottom line that all of them do it. They even might give part of it back, but very slowly, and never the whole amount. (I have watched this closely since 2001, when gas was 49 cents/ltr.)
The robber barons of old eventually were put out of business by governments strong enough to subdue them. That’s what it is going to take to subdue our contemporary robber barons in the oil industry – the voting villains forcing governments to control their enterprising operations.
‘Harperspeak’: after throwing money at anything that moves, and some things that don’t, before the election – by some accounts almost $20B, plus the promises he’s made during the election, he tells us dumb-as-a-bag-of-hammers Canadians that this is not the time to be taking risks.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080915.welxnmarkets0915/BNStory/politics/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail
Total savings a Canadian family could receive from Mr. Harper’s two-cent-per-litre diesel tax cut if it fully “trickles down” to consumers and is not absorbed by suppliers or transporters: $15 annually or about 25 cents per week.
The above is from the Liberal web site. However, I know there was an organization that said that last week but I can’t find a link. Can anyone find a link to it? I’ve just sent an email to the Lib headquarters asking the same, but they may not have the time to respond in time for me to start distributing my doc in my neighbourhood.
Another question? I’m running short on paper & ink on the print cartridge so am planning on having my doc (?) printed at one of those national print outlets. Can anyone tell me which would be the cheapest? I’ve never done that before so have no idea.
TIA
Latest numbers from Nanos:
http://www.nikonthenumbers.com/topics/show/82
As far as I know, Nanos is the only polling company that publishes the critical information about what questions are asked.
My problem with polls is that ‘pollees’ may not have a clue about leaders, parties, issues, etc., but don’t want to appear stupid/uninformed, so they repeat what they’ve seen/heard in the news. Recent person-on-the-street interviews suggest that a lot of Canadians don’t have a clue about the parties or the issues. Maybe there should be some sort of pre-screening with questions like, name the current PM, or name 3 official political parties. That way those doing the polling would be able to eliminate from the numbers those who, in effect, fake their answers.
Ladies and Gentlemen what you are seeing on Wall Street are Republican/Bush and Co policies….and who do y’all think his northern mentor is Stephen Harper and Co….are 40% of Canadians blind or what? Tell them Garth in spades! Tell them Dion in Hearts and Spades, and the MSM mus tell Canadians also….or we are really in deep water. Think Harper think deregulation and let CEO’s run the show giving themselves million dollar bonuses.
Just another harperite hyprocit and lap dog.
Mayencourt’s tax stand questioned
Candidate for federal Conservatives supports Campbell’s carbon levy, but not Dion’s
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, September 15, 2008
VICTORIA — In switching from provincial to federal politics, Lorne Mayencourt has gone from a party that unapologetically embraces the idea of a carbon tax to one that vehemently opposes it.
But the newly minted Conservative candidate for Vancouver Centre says he has not had to change his position on the tax to make the switch.
“I support what we’ve done [with the B.C. carbon tax],” Mayencourt said, adding he is “proud” of what the B.C. Liberals have done for the environment.
At the same time, he said he is strongly opposed to federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s carbon tax because it will not be effective and may leech money out of B.C.
By supporting one carbon tax while opposing another, Mayencourt is walking a political tightrope that is emerging as a defining issue on the B.C. political landscape.
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Richmond to proclaim it is impossible that any carbon tax could be truly revenue-neutral.
“Everybody knows — especially in British Columbia — that that kind of a carbon tax is not revenue-neutral on the average working family,” Harper told reporters. His words hit Premier Gordon Campbell as hard as they did Dion.
Harper’s attack clashes with the promise Campbell has repeatedly made that his tax will be revenue-neutral, and that families can come out ahead if they move towards a greener lifestyle.
But Campbell has opted not to get into a public fight with Harper, saying he doesn’t want to get involved in the federal campaign.
Mayencourt, who recently resigned his seat in the B.C. legislature to run for Harper’s Conservative party, is trying a balancing act with both his former and current political platforms.
“It [the B.C. carbon tax] changes behaviour, so that’s good,” he said, supporting Campbell’s plan.
However, “I look at a national carbon tax much as though it’s like the GST — a tax against everything from soccer balls to corn flakes,” said Mayencourt, questioning the ability of such a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Plus, he said, Campbell’s carbon tax recycles the money within B.C., while Dion’s could see money from B.C. flowing into other provinces.
Mayencourt’s comments drew scorn from his former opponents in provincial politics, as well as his current opponents on the federal stage.
“Mr. Mayencourt doesn’t really have a clue what he’s talking about on this particular subject,” said Hedy Fry, Liberal incumbent in Vancouver Centre.
“He can’t pick and choose a carbon tax,” she said.
“Even [Green party leader] Elizabeth May has said the (federal Liberal) Green Shift is an excellent policy because carbon taxes are the only way to deal with the issue.”
Shane Simpson, the provincial NDP critic for the environment, who opposes Campbell’s carbon tax, was also critical of Mayencourt for trying to have it both ways.
“He’s obviously in a position where his last political master had a view he had to embrace, and his new political master has a contrary view,” he said.
“Fundamentally they are the same principles,” he added.
“I think it’s pretty hard to reconcile that one of them you can embrace, and the other you can reject.”
jfowlie@vancouversun.com
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=dac0cd99-89c3-4dbd-9c2a-4a8321bdd883
Here’s an interesting one for you.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and Chatham-Kent-Essex riding boarder each other.
The diving line is the Thames River with the exception of the former City of Chatham which is entirely in the southern riding, Chatham-Kent-Essex.
Now, the dividng line in the former city is Gregory Drive, anything to the south is Chatham-Kent-Essex. Anything north the other riding.
The main shopping mall is north of that dividing line, hence its in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
Question, can the candidates from the southern riding put their signs at the mall, that is in the northern riding?
Or to put it simpler, can a candidate put uop signs in riding other than their own?
‘Duffyspeak’:
“…in London North the Greens came in second in the by-election.”
What Duffy didn’t see fit to mention was that the Green Candidate was the leader of the Greens, Elizabeth May, and that Liberal Glen Pearson, who won, was the subject of the Macleans story, “The Last Honest Man in Ottawa”.
Just irrelevant details tho…
I just rec’d a call from Nanos and I answered the questions. It wasn’t an automated phone survey either. It asked a out the environment, who I thought was the best leader for now and into the future and who had a vision for this country. Oops, I think he started off asking me what was the number 1 concern. I said the economy. Of course, he didn’t ask me to rate various concerns. If he had, I would have indicated health care as the 2nd. We don’t have children, but even if we had, without a good economy families will suffer. Not sure, if the environment was even mentioned. The questions were so quick and I’m NOT – lol
It will be interesting to see what the next Nanos poll reports tho I know the only poll is on Oct. 14th.
Just rec’d the following:
London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun screen or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.’
http://anythingbutconservative.ca/index.htm
Whoops
I posted a link to the above audio file on the weekend. Since often a reader will bypass listening such links, or viewing a video file, I’ve listed a partial transcript below so that a feel for what was said can be gained:
____________________
“[ How does it feel to be right (about global warming) ] It’s good and bad. The scientific community has had a strong consern ove the issue for decades, and as you see in the book, for frankly a century or so. Within science we’re continually looking for that element of somethingthat will prove us wrong. And we just can’t find it. And so now, we’ve got to get a move on because we’re right, but that’s not good.”
“To me the single most in-your-face piece of evidence that anybody can see is to just go to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, a website out of the US, and look at the Arctic sea ice. This is staggering, and again this is far beyond the most pessimistic projection from the most pessimistic model in the group with the most sensitive climate model. This is unparalled to what we thought was going to happen.”
“We find that another one of Canada’s ice shelves has cracked away and this is happening everywhere, in our arctic, in the southern hemisphere. But at the same time, when we look at the policy responses, both nationally and internationally, we see that rather than dealing with the issue, which is global warming, what we see is a scurry and a flurry of activity to try to lay claims to resources that are being exposed in these new parts of the ocean that are opening up. It’s very sad.”
“It is a memoire of frustration. It’s really followed my interactions with the media over the last decade or so. There’s good and bad, of course, and I guess some of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had are delaing with ‘Astroturf Organizations’, as I call them, those manufactured grass-roots organizations that sew the seeds of confusion. It’s very frustrating when things that are just plain wrong. You see in the book one of my favourite examples that I really take to task is the sunspot one, and I show just how deceptive it has been and I call it one of the greatest dishonest things that’s been happening in the field of science in the 21st century.”
“With the issue of sunspots, as I show, there was a paper that appeared in the early 1990’s that showed what appeared like a stunnig correlation between the changes in sunspot cycles and the global temperatures of the earth. Wel in fact a few years later, it was found that there was an error in that curve. We know that the curve was wrong. Secondly, I ask the question, why in the year 2008 are you showing a figure that stops in 1980, and the reason why, of course, is there’s absolutley no correlation between sunspots and temperature post-1980. But if you show the full record, of course, it doesn’t serve the purpose of trying to confuse people by showing them this stunning visualization because it doesn’t work. There’s a reason for this of couse, the reason is not that people are trying to show new scientific advances to a broader community, what the reason is is quite clear. By conveying the sense that the scientific community still has a debate within it, the seeds of confusion are thrown out like a legal defence team that knows it’s lost its case.”
“Well I discuss some of these ‘Astroturf Organizations’, I’m very careful, I never mention any names, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to Google the word ‘climate sceptic’ or ‘climate denier’ as I think the term is now to find out who they are. And there’s a website I do refer to called ‘DeSmog Blog’ which has been set up in Vancouver to actually examine the background and the rationale of where these people are coming from. What you find when you look carefully is a lot of this traces back to public relations firms, and a lot them are the same public relation firms that talked about second-hand smoke in the cancer debate. You know they’re trying to sew the seeds of confusion.”
“We see throughout political history that there are leaders who have taken bold steps, and I do focus on the Province of British Columbia a lot because here we see a leader and a government that’s actually recognized the problem, recognized really the only means to deal with the problem which is to price emissions and is moving forward with such an agenda.”
“I spend a lot of time dealing with the car in the book, because that’s the icon almost of North American society. The car is a very simple example. Why is it that we actually drive cars that burn gas? There is no reason. Really. We don’t need cars that burn gas. In most applications, most cities, we could get by with an electric vehicle. The problem is you can’t buy them. You can buy hybrids, but you can’t buy electrical vehicles. It’s not that the technology doesn’t exist. I mean we have a commodity in the ground, we have a commodity with a huge infrastructure about it that has a value, and we have a commodity that’s distributed and a distibution network to a bunch of service places that give it out and sell other goods. There’s a whole big industry built around the car. So rather than try to prop up through subsidies, through handouts, and industry that’s not willing to change, this should be a catalyst for change. The idea here is that we have a global marketplace that’s literally like a sponge waiting to change, but there’s nothing there to feed that hunger. This is why I believe that by pricing carbon we’ll see a move to that much faster. … We need start to getting into the discussion of nuclear power again, we need to start talking about renewable energy, hydrogen power, solar power, in big scale. A lot of this stuff exists, some of its expensive, but again a lot of these technologies start to become more and more price effective as you price emissions.”
“… The other path is a world in strife, and I mean this in all seriousness. We will be having environmental refugees on a scale that won’t don’t know what to deal with. If look at where the biggest effects of climate are going to occur, it’s the subtropical regions, and those are some of the most impoversished regions in some of the most unstable regimes, and I don’t particularly want to be going down that route. is suepect my children won’t be wanting to go down that route as well.”
____________________
Well, maybe Liberal signs were hit by higher winds due to climate change, but the CPC signs were not blown over because they do not believe in climate change, so were not affected by the higher winds as there is no climate change…
NOT!!!
I want OUR Canada back. The True North, strong and FREE. We must rid ourselves of the CPC, their bully tactics, egocentric policies, and total disconnect with the MAJORITY of Canadians.
Talk about Amazing Coincidences!!!
Seems the REAL problems for the oil companies are not Home based Hurricanes but foreign nations FED UP with their pillaging.
Nigeria militants ‘raze’ Shell oil complex
A day after declaring war in Nigeria’s oil-rich delta region, the country’s main rebel group said Monday it was continuing its “destructive sweep” against oil facilities in Rivers State.
Globalization is a FAILURE, and the markets are reflecting that reality.
When will Canada standup for its own resources?
Oh, thanks for the info card in my slot describing the Green Shift plan.
Tell me, you use an example of a refund for a family with 2 kids earning $20,000 per year …
… really …
I don’t think a family of 4 could live under the Gardiner Expressway eating out of a bread bank for that amount a money.
There are many families in Halton making such a sum. Come door-knocking with me. — Garth
In Muskoka, too, the blue signs stand while the red ones have been smashed down. It was not the wind; one of the large signs was torn through the nails and ripped from the substantial wooden frame.
I called the local paper to suggest they might want to take a few telling pictures for their weekly publication, but alas, they are VERY busy right now, the editor informed me. Same chain of papers that consistently gives Tony Clement lots of positive coverage.
I’m beginning to feel like those who were targeted in Guelph. I am not the only person in my community who is musing about the similarities between a certain ruthless leader and his brownshirts, and another so-called “strong” leader and his minions.
But that person still hates you Garth.
..typical Tory thinking… you have to “hate”. Didn’t your mother teach you not to hate? Big Daddy Harper sure isn’t teaching you well either.
You can disagree and disapprove, but hated is a pretty strong word…hate leads to bad things.
Globalization is a FAILURE, and the markets are reflecting that reality.
When will Canada standup for its own resources?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.15.08 6:15 pm
Not as long as Harper is in Govt. or Alberta & Sask are provinces of Canada. Remeber the NEP? Too tired now to find my link, but Barb the Proofreader said it well. It was during a world wide recession, but Albertans blamed Trudeau for trying to create a NEP. The same lies are being promoted today via Harper and the Alberta PM. Wasn’t it Mulrooney, with his NAFTA agreement who ensured that we couldn’t reduce our oil resources to the US. And now they want our water!
Sorry, just on a rant, without quoting links I have bookmarked. Too tired tonight.
In my drive to the opposite section of town today, I noticed the campaign signs – not ONE conservative sign, not anywhere. There were two Green signs, three NDP signs (one was laying on the ground, broken from its support stakes) and all of the remaining signs – lots of them – were for the Liberal candidate. Not one of those signs was damaged. The two signs that I have on my corner property have not be touched. I wonder where the conservatives are – but I don’t miss them. I will report any changes that I notice in vandalism, especially if one party appears to be targeted. Perhaps some people aren’t as politically angry yet in Perth-Middlesex. Let’s hope it remains a clean race.
By Go Green on 09.15.08 5:04 pm
Gordon Campbells carbon tax definatly recycles money in B.C. It to some extent recycles money in Canada as well. Fly domestic, get whacked with the Carbon tax. Fly international, get exempted from the carbon tax. Buy local produce, costs increase due to supplier getting whacked with the carbon tax to get the food to market. Buy international produce, get exempted from carbon tax. All the while some of the provinces biggest polluters are exempt as well from the carbon tax. Alcan and Teck Cominco exempted.
I am still trying to find where the exemptions are listed on the Green Shift site. Anyone who can find the page can you let me know? Apperently Ralph Goodale says exported crude is exempt. Is it similer to B.C. carbon tax, where international flights pollute less then domestic, requiring exemptions? Does domestic crude pollute more then exported, and that is the need for exemptions?
It is time we take the environment portfolio out of governments hands. We have lost 2 1/2 years of getting any sort of pollution reduction system in place and with another minority we will most likely lose another 3. This partisan game of our plan is better then your plan, so we will have neither is not solving the problem. We need some sort of appointed environment agency that calls the shots. We will be discussing why emissions are so high 20 years from now if we continue down the partisan road of emission reduction.
I can’t imagine Peter McKay telling someone else they are unfit for Public Office for standing up to a segment of the US Industrial Military Complex.But he said it and he pissed off Scott Taylor.I’d love to see Elizabeth May take this guy out in this election.
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1079016.html
Please send us the URL. I was unable to find it on google. Not to say it isn’t there.
By Bonnie L on 09.15.08 3:25 pm
“Who’s afraid of Elizabeth May”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtQ4Qb-kNV8
Try this.
Go Green,
thanks. I had noticed the absence, and wondered what had happened.
R.I.P.
Here is some rather interesting news that should have the suits in a bit of a nervous twitch!!!
Wal-Mart files for Canadian banking licence
They plan to serve the common folks, not the huge depositors. We have had about all the Huge Deposits we can stand from the elite money barons. Espeically the Puffin ones.
I’ve seen a few folks out here replacing and resetting signs so it isn’t apparently a uniquely Halton issue.
What Duffy didn’t see fit to mention was that the Green Candidate was the leader of the Greens, Elizabeth May, and that Liberal Glen Pearson, who won, was the subject of the Macleans story, “The Last Honest Man in Ottawa”.
Just irrelevant details tho…
By AM on 09.15.08 5:17 pm
In case you did not also know, Glen Pearson is a London Fire Fighter and used to cleaning up other peoples messes! I know some of his constituents, and they are happy with him as their MP! It is more than just a tradition with the firefighters to be honest, it is their creed!
“The other sign is actually two signs, on three stakes. Nice try. — Garth”
That’s the point. Literally.
Harper is driven down the level of political discourse in this country to shamefully low levels. The sign issues are by no means isolated to Halton.
Alas, such is the tone Harper has cultivated in this country. This level of intimidation is something I thought we’d never witness in Canada. The whole “with us or against us” mentality that extinguishes any constructive debate.
The cut brake lines and trashed houses in the Guelph by-elections were just the beginning of these dirty tactics. Whether it’s an organized and systematic attack or groups of independent persons stimulated by Harper’s climate of divide and conquer politics remains to be seen.
This is Canada. Where did our freedoms go?
If I’m not mistaken, CTV is a part of the Canwest Group who also own Global and other Canadian news media. The owners are strong right wing supporters and their news outlets demonstrate this consistently. Unfortunately, in this country, they own own the majority of news media so we won’t see any favourable reporting for the Liberals, NDP or Green from them.
By Bill R on 09.15.08 3:24 pm
Bill, this is not true. CTV is part of the CTV Bell Globe Media group in competition with Can West Global. See the copied “claims trailer” below off the Globe and Mail online site.
globeandmail.com and The Globe and Mail are divisions of CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc., 444 Front St. W., Toronto, ON Canada M5V 2S9
Phillip Crawley, Publisher
Another question? I’m running short on paper & ink on the print cartridge so am planning on having my doc (?) printed at one of those national print outlets. Can anyone tell me which would be the cheapest? I’ve never done that before so have no idea.
TIA
By Go Green on 09.15.08 4:47 pm
Just look up both Wal-Mart and Staples Business Depot in google. You should be able to e-mail them documents just like we do digital photographs for printing and pick up the same day or next day for a cheaper rate.
I may speak for many Halton residents when I say I’m in a bit of a quandary for the first time since I’ve been old enough to vote. I’m a long-time (progressive) conservative but my preferred candidate in this election is a Liberal. And yet I want absolutely no part of Dion’s Green Shift plan.
So what to do? Decisions, decisions…
Thanks for considering me. Now, learn some more about the Green Shift. BTW, did you know the Conservatives plan to price carbon at $65 a ton, which will raise all energy costs, and not provide any tax cuts? Only the Liberals will do that, and price carbon at 50% less. I think we should talk. — Garth
I had my lawn sign either stolen or blown away this morning. I’m guessing stolen since the wire was gone along with the cover, but you never know. I got a new one right away.
My plan: cover the top with a mixture of bacon grease and fox urine. Mmm…
If anyone knows of any Conservative signs being destroyed or stolen, do let us know.
BTW, aside from my Garth sign, the only other lawn signs I’ve seen in my neighbourhood so far have been two for the Green Party. Interesting.
By DPat 12:41
I was not critizing the picture that Mr Turner posted. I was only making a comment as to my observation here in London after the storm. The wind took an effect on all party signs some were up and some were down. It appeared that the ones standing had angle iron pickets. Boy you are really thin skinned. Get a life.
Isn’t wind damage considered an act of God?..This may be vandalism or it may be something as simple as the placement of the signs in relation to the wind,or even maybe the three posts and the POINT. Nah,I think it is an act of God,I may have to start believing in him(or her).
By Truth B Told on 09.15.08 8:11 pm
Global National exposed the HUGE COST of Harper’s Afghanistan fiasco. There was a study done by intelligent, objective experts in cost accounting, but, like so many others this so-called government has ordered, it is not being released because it is ‘embarassing’ to Harper. The figure seems to be between 10-20 BILLION so far, with definite cost, less the addons like caring for our returned troops, at 8.1 BILLION.
Global National is doing real journalism, and people on the inside are starting to SPEAK! How DARE they! ‘Has Bigus Dickus heard of this?’
Open and accountable? Yeah so is Joey Soprano!
Thanks for that piece, Ted. Scott Taylor has more substance and credibility in his baby toe than McKay has in entire pathetic mass. Whenever I hear him on some radio program, my attention is completely undivided. His story about being taken hostage in Iraq at a time when captured foreigners were regularly being videotaped and decapitated was particularly compelling:
http://www.espritdecorps.ca/new_page_243.htm
“Dion is going to have to FIGHT harder, get tough and nasty. There’s no choice. Obama, who also wanted take the high ground has to do the same.”
In the U.S., they often leave the job of “attack and defend” to the VP candidate, giving the leader more time to focus on his positive message. (That seems to be what Biden is doing.) But we don’t have an equivalent role here. (Usually when a prospective MP gets on the national news, it’s because they said something offensive. Of course, Harper doesn’t let his MPs talk much anymore.)
One other idea I think we could borrow from the U.S. is the multiple debates. One is a bit too short when the time is split 5 ways.
Mmm indeed. Fox urine? Not exactly a common household product. Say, Halloween wouldn’t happen to be a sacred holiday in your calendar, would it?
Fox urine !!!. Wow,if Garth can get some babes to pee on his signs,he’s got my vote.
No matter how you dress him (sweater) it still covers razor wire .
That is not to say he has a razor sharp mind .His mind is more like a lump of anthracite .
Try this.
By A.R.Wainwright on 09.15.08 7:21 pm
Thank you ARW. I enjoyed it very much. I love that kind of creativity.
In case you did not also know, Glen Pearson is a London Fire Fighter and used to cleaning up other peoples messes! I know some of his constituents, and they are happy with him as their MP! It is more than just a tradition with the firefighters to be honest, it is their creed!
By Truth B Told on 09.15.08 7:51 pm
Thinking of Glenn Peason as an MP helps me when I get very cynical about politicians again. He is a fireman yes. He started the food bank in London and his wife continues to work there. He and his wife volunteered in Sudan? I think. They have also adopted at least two children from Sudan?
He would have gotten my vote if he was in my riding. An honest politician and we need more. Garth has helped to restore my faith in politicians and Stephane’s honesty and integrity has gained my trust. Maybe having a honest and inclusive leader draws that type of members to his party. We all know what Harper draws to his party by his behavior.
Prime Minister Stephane Dion and his team will lead us to a greener, fairer and richer Canada.
Mmm indeed. Fox urine? Not exactly a common household product. Say, Halloween wouldn’t happen to be a sacred holiday in your calendar, would it?
By Dube on 09.15.08 9:26 pm
Thanks for the chuckle Dube I had somewhat the same thoughts.
Also thank you for all the time and energy you give in your valuable contributions to this blog.
Garth, I’d recommend leaving up your damaged signs. They will serve to remind voters of the ultra-partisan, win-at-any-cost, tell-any-lie, break-any-law, approach of the Harper Conservatives.
TS
If you are one of the 38% of Canadians who is prepared to vote strategically to help defeat the Harper Conservatives email me at strategicvoting@yahoo.ca and indicate whether you want a BC, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec or Maritime riding assessment.
Mmm indeed. Fox urine? Not exactly a common household product. Say, Halloween wouldn’t happen to be a sacred holiday in your calendar, would it?
By Dube on 09.15.08 9:26 pm
Not common, but useful when one is deer hunting. It’s in with our hunting stuff, along with the blaze vests and that nasty smelling ‘earth cover scent’.
And you brought up the Wiccan thing again because…?
Bonnie,
Can you imagine what it’s like to live here?
It blows your mind when you understand the depth of ignorance. That’s why my husband and I have never talked politics here, until this year.. But now, for our country’s sake, we couldn’t remain silent any longer.
But allow me to defend the people in Alberta for a moment — it’s big oil, government and complicit media. We’ve had unabashed, and unquestioned, right wing controlled media a long time.
The media here has gone along with whatever the oil and government want for as long as I’ve known, and I’ve been here 30 years. The media goes right along with big oil and gov… so if you’re an average family picking up one of local newspapers or watching the local news, it’s all hype. But so is the chamber and dozens of right wing phony ‘charities’, schools, etc.
I’ve run into many people who told me, that they were brought up… even politically influenced in schools by teacher’s ignorance, to believe only the Con side, and by rote memory a list of false talking points about the other parties.
So that’s the atmosphere that Harper moved to nearly 30 years ago. So did I. The difference is that he fell for the hype because he’s a nimrod.
Go Green,
I’m enjoying your comments today, great ones. Thanks so much for all the links and good info..
And I’ll get those links about the political spin in the aftermath of the National Energy Policy… amazing, looking back, the NEP amongst other things was brought about by the Federal Trudeau government to help all of Canada, designed to promote oil self-sufficiency for Canada, maintain the oil supply, promote Canadian ownership of the energy industry, promote lower prices, promote exploration for oil in Canada, promote alternative energy sources.. hmm..
If only the Conservatives hadn’t got in the way of good government — as usual.
A little secret about the New Conservative ultra cons: They just hate all the great ideas from the Liberals because the ultra cons never get any good ideas of their own. They have none.
Tell me, you use an example of a refund for a family with 2 kids earning $20,000 per year …
… really …
I don’t think a family of 4 could live under the Gardiner Expressway eating out of a bread bank for that amount a money.
BY DAN IN MILTON 15.08 6:27 PM
I know a lot of families in Ontario and Alberta living on $20,000 per year. Isn’t it just like a New Conservative punk to mock people’s income level.
Harper is completely out of touch, and so are his attack dogs. Maybe more of you “Dans” should be permanently suspended from paid trolling and planting phony attacks from the CPC Deathstar.
Again? It’s a first for me, as far as I can recall. If you are in fact a practioner, my apologies for the offense.
Sorry to see your signs got vandalized. There are lots of Liberal signs here in Calgary (for whatever good it does) and I’ve seen none that have been vandalized.
I know a lot of families in Ontario and Alberta living on $20,000 per year. Isn’t it just like a New Conservative punk to mock people’s income level.
Harper is completely out of touch, and so are his attack dogs. Maybe more of you “Dans” should be permanently suspended from paid trolling and planting phony attacks from the CPC Deathstar.
By Barb the proofreader on 09.16.08 2:39 am
You’d figure a “proofreader” would read what she comments on
Focus on the word “earns”. A family (2 adults + 2 children) would be extremely hard pressed to live and eat at the same time in this day and age on $20,000 in earned income. Factor rent, etc, etc, and $20K in EARNED income (not social assistance), or average of $5000 per year cannot exist, especially in many areas of Halton.
Instead, admit it for what it was – a nice try at making people think they are going to gain enough money back to offset the increases we will face under the Green Shaft plan. Maybe it should have been outted as being more of a tax on the evil rich people since their savings will be very little, if any? Either way, it was a nice attempt to flash a high number and hope that someone will be simple enough to see that 1) that figures apply to very few, if any, and 2) that they cant calculate what they will really save/lose.
Oh, nice Liebral fearmongering – “deathstar”??? Did you not realize that making Harper look like some evil being from a Texas Ranch did not work in the last election – you remember – the one that the Liberals lost with a likeable and saleable leader?
Tell you what – trusting the liberals to reduce my taxes (GST), manage my money properly, and spend it for what it was intended for is like asking the cookie monster to give you an accurate count of the number of chocolate chip cookies in a bag of 50 cookies.
BY DAN IN MILTON ON 09.16.08 8:34 PM
Don’t bother twisting my words again .. I despise immoral Harper trolls who do nothing but attack a plan that is highly thought of by most experts and will be very good for Canada.
Oh, and as I said, I know people at that income level and they are getting by just fine, in fact their income is less than that. Real people, actual real people, not snobby elitist Harper Neo Cons thugs like yourself, you drop in here to misinform people. I’m talking about family and friends in that area, who know how to live a modest life. They don’t need all the garbage that shallow, insecure people need.
And by the way, your implication of them being on social assistance is a low blow that only a troll would make.
It is disgusting and immoral that you would dump on an intelligent and highly admired plan that will benefit all Canadians.