When the guys from CPAC came to do a profile on Halton on the first day of the campaign, the shoot finished with some door-knocking. The crew insisted that was the visual they wanted, and asked my campaign to set it up. I objected, since showing up on doorsteps with a camera crew in tow is intrusive and upsetting to people.
So, my campaign arranged for this to happen on a street where my manager’s adult son and his family live – at least that way there would be one person unafraid of the camera, the reasoning went.
This was a mistake. I did not pay enough attention to what was going on, and was too distracted by the confusion of opening day. I did not grasp the potential for conflict of interest.
At the time of the shoot, it was raining and everyone was anxious to get it over with. I canvassed a block, and sent a volunteer ahead to warn people of the camera. Nobody was home in a row of 15 homes, except my manager’s son. He later insisted that while walking his dog five minutes earlier, he had informed one CPAC member that his mother was on my campaign.
In any case, I carried on with my process, being stopped twice during the block to be asked further on-camera questions. When we arrived at the one home where the door was answered, the encounter was brief, since I had never spoken to this man before and, although he was a ‘friendly,’ he did not endorse me or the Liberals.
Immediately afterwards, getting wet, the CPAC crew departed.
Sadly, I did not think clearly about the implications of what had happened. While I believed CPAC wanted viz to pad their story, and was told disclosure had been made, that was apparently not the understanding shared by the reporter. It was a mistake on my part to assume so. In fact, to assume anything. The campaign has my name on it, and I’m responsible for everything.
Yesterday I saw a YouTube of this brief doorstep episode which was put together by a Conservative blogger to show that I am not selling the Green Shift hard enough. Then the identity of the homeowner was published on another Conservative site. Then CPAC was alerted, as was the CBC, by Conservative supporters.
I was asked to explain, and received written statements from my campaign and the homeowner, which said the identity of the man had been disclosed by both. Therefore, I defended them. That was a mistake. I should have just folded immediately, accepted blame and moved on.
Susan Ormiston of the CBC called for an interview, but I declined. Instead I tried to explain to her on the phone what I knew at the time. That was a mistake, because she was taping me without revealing it. Peter Van dusen from CPAC called and was much more professional. He asked for a taped comment, which I gave – based on what I knew then.
Meanwhile, ironically, the Conservative candidate in the CPAC piece had been filmed in an encounter with “voters” in a store owned by the partner of a director of the Halton Conservative association. But that received no scrutiny.
In any case, this burned up an entire day of the campaign and has left the impression I tried to stage manage a fake interview, which is damaging and regrettable. Clearly I did not handle the situation as I should have, since I felt the episode began as a political assault being engineered by my opponents. That was a mistake.
In conclusion, let me apologize to CPAC for having compromised their effort. As I told Van dusen, they were delightful and accommodating people to work with. Let me also apologize to anyone who felt betrayed by my knock on the door of a friendly.
As I said above, there is only one name on my campaign, no matter how many enthusiastic people form it. My name.
I’m Garth Turner. I’m sorry. Now I’m going back to kick ass.
190 comments ↓
May I suggest that all income trust investors, and indeed everyone else, send an e-mail or letter to Premier Danny Williams, praising him for his efforts in regards to his new Anything But Conservative website.
http://anythingbutconservative.ca/
See sample e-mail/letter below.
———————————–
September 16, 2008
Dear Mr. Danny Williams:
I would just like to offer my personal gratitude to you and your government of Newfoundland and Labrador for this excellent and impressive effort.
Please forgive the blatant accolades, but you are truly one of a kind and the only Canadian premier with the mettle to tell it like it is.
As a fellow Canadian from Ontario who has also been a victim of one of Stephen Harper’s broken promises – specifically the one concerning income trusts – I soundly applaud and wholeheartedly support your determination concerning this matter.
Here’s hoping it has the intended effect – countrywide!
Many regards and thank you.
Sincerely,
Robert Gibbs
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.
By Truth B Told on 09.15.08 8:15 pm
Thanks Truth – I’ll check into that. I’m off to see Dion and gather that Bob Rae will be with him. That lady from This Hour has 22 Minutes will be showing up as well. Apparently she got a much better reception from Layton yesterday than she got from Harper – handcuffs
Garth:
That whole ‘thingy’ was such a non-issue.
It’s just that freak Wanke thinking entirely too highly of himself.
Garth, it is done and over with, now please to get on with telling Canadians more of the true facts and how you and your team are willing to help Canadians. The Future is what counts Sir and many like myself want action albeit we understand that Harper’s mistrusts and out-right lies must to told to reference his personality and convictions. The meat and potatoes sir we know you have have the beef and Harper does not even know where the farm is.
Garth, I saw that piece this am with Ormiston. She also showed the Conservative candidate in the CPAC piece had been filmed in an encounter with “voters” in a store owned by the partner of a director of the Halton Conservative association. However, it was much shorter than the piece on you. Forget it. Go kick ass.
Another point to all MSM who read here and we know you do. Garth Turner told everyone that the election we be fought on the “ECONONEY” remember? well it is about you took your pad and pens sharpened your short hand skills, (Remember the ones you were taught in journalists school) talked to him and took meaningful notes. Wake up this is world wide news….and what the heck did Harper say? basically who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Chronicle Herald’s Editorial thia am. It starts off negative, but ends up positive.
Sense and sensibility
Tue. Sep 16 – 4:45 AM
WHEN Stéphane Dion began pitching his carbon-tax concept earlier this summer, he was hoping Canadians would see green. But they are seeing red instead.
At the best of times, it’s hard to sell any kind of tax hike to the electorate, no matter how noble the cause or how much you try to soften the impact.
(At its peak in Year 4, the Liberal Green Shift plan would levy $15.4 billion in extra taxes on fossil fuels and return an equivalent amount in income tax relief and credits to consumers.)
But these are now the worst of times. Double-Whammy Weekend has left Nova Scotians bewildered.
On Saturday, one bad surprise followed another: Motorists were hit by a 12-cent-a-litre bombshell at the pumps and Nova Scotia Power struck a tentative deal to hike homeowners’ electricity rates by 9.4 per cent, effective Jan. 1. All this comes just as heating season kicks in and the average oil-tank fill-up costs $1,000.
The Green Shift is not gaining traction for the simple reason that people want tax relief now more than ever, not a tax shuffle that would, at best, leave them no further ahead.
The irony is that the Liberals are, in fact, the only major party whose green plan proposes to cushion the blow for taxpayers. The Conservatives’ strategy, for example, would also hike the price of fossil fuels, yet with no commensurate tax cuts.
But that may be beside the point. Everybody knows Mr. Dion is earnest about bringing in his Green Shift.
On the other hand, few voters take the Tory green plan very seriously and dismiss it as election window-dressing. Therefore, they are not particularly concerned about Prime Minister Stephen Harper going out of his way to implement it.
And so, Mr. Harper gets away with pandering while Mr. Dion appears to be floundering.
Take last week’s Tory promise to cut the excise tax on diesel fuel by two cents a litre – a move that is primarily targeted at truckers, farmers, fishermen and, of course, folks who make a living in rural ridings with Liberal incumbents, as is the case in much of Atlantic Canada.
In making this announcement, Mr. Harper claimed his party was all about cutting taxes while the Liberals were all about hiking them. (Under the Green Shift, diesel taxes would, in fact, go up seven cents a litre in Year 4.)
Yet the reality is this: Mr. Harper’s diesel tax cut would be a mere drop in the bucket, especially in light of price surges like this weekend’s.
The cost of diesel has gone up 35 per cent over the past six months, and the Tory pledge represents less than a two per cent savings on fuel for an average trucking firm. But it’s a measure that would cost the federal treasury $600 million a year.
Under Mr. Dion’s new Green Shift – revised in early September at the behest of nervous Atlantic Canadian MPs – $1 billion would be invested in helping farmers, foresters, fishermen and truckers make the transition to more environmentally friendly technology.
Now, which sounds like the smarter use of taxpayers’ money to you?
A tax cut that will be out of sight and out of mind tomorrow and that will have little, if any, trickle-down effect on the consumer?
Or an investment that will ultimately help energy-intensive industries cut down on their diesel-guzzling?
Mr. Harper’s election gimmick may sound better to the untrained ear, but Mr. Dion is the one with the sounder policy here.
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1079070.html
Since I posted here looking for more answers to my questions about Green Shift, I feel I should post here again to acknowledge that Mr. Turner was true to his word and showed up on my doorstep the very next day for an honest conversation. His answers to my questions really did help me think through this plan more carefully.
These are the stories that we should be hearing about….not this kind of ridiculous made-up stuff to fill air time.
Go get ‘em Garth!
Considering all the vandalism, threats and all going on – Janke was really foolish to reveal where a ‘citizen’ lives, especially given they may be a Liberal supporter – totally irresponsible.
One hopes that nothing happens to this guy’s house.
Is Janke paid by Harper? Do you not think there’s something wrong with a guy who spends all his time on investigating negative nonsense? He should be investigated.
Hi Garth, Dion needs to focus on delivering a simple message: Wealthier, Fairer, Greener Canada. The Green Shift is the way to get there but not the destination itself…
Focus on the objective the rest of the campaign….. Wealthier, Fairer, Greener Canada!
Susan Ormiston of the CBC called for an interview, but I declined. Instead I tried to explain to her on the phone what I knew at the time. That was a mistake, because she was taping me without revealing it. Peter Van dusen from CPAC called and was much more professional. He asked for a taped comment, which I gave – based on what I knew then. Garth
Garth I saw that video the other day,and thought at the time that you must not have known the audio portion would be used. Otherwise you would have used the opportunity to be your usual informative self. You actually looked a bit embarrassed by the whole thing. The CPAC reporters should have made it clear that it wasn’t just a visual. Also, to interview someone over the phone and not reveal you were being taped is very unprofessional. The whole thing sounds like you were set up.
Not à propos of Garth’s mistake but right on topic:
That is Duff Conacher’s modest proposal for cleaning up Canadian politics in a LTTE to-day, and something we all can do to for real democracy.
At http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/letters/story.html?id=d1183784-c2d8-4350-a689-38299c217dda
You should apologize (and it was good you did). You KNEW whose door you were knocking on. It was your campaign manager’s son. You were trying, through CPAC, to lead us to believe that this was just an ordinary constituent. Not nice.
With apologies to the Poet, here is hope that the LPC has the grace to see itself as others see it, and is prepared to meet the challenge –
Randall Denley, at http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=84c6f016-be96-4526-8bde-d59dd46a28a4&p=1
You should apologize (and it was good you did). You KNEW whose door you were knocking on. It was your campaign manager’s son. You were trying, through CPAC, to lead us to believe that this was just an ordinary constituent. Not nice.
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 7:50 am
What’s not nice about it? Garth didn’t know there was audio, and he didn’t want to put anyone in an unplanned, awkward position. You are reaching. If you truly are the Truth Squad, why not speak to the lies being repeated by Harper and his minions through their ads and their interviews?
The criticism that is being leveled at the Liberal campaign with regard to explaining the Green Shift is fair. I asked for information from my Liberal MP months ago and was promised material as soon it was available from the central office. I have received nothing.
It is one thing to tell people to go to the web page but there are many people who do not have access or are on dial-up. My browser crashes when I try to access the site (the video ad that is on this site also crashes my browser). I have not had this problem with other sites.
The Liberals need to get a good, understandable summary of the concept and make it available to both its campaign and the general public.
It is also crucial for the party to get people like Bob Rae and Ken Dryden out there because they are far more articulate than Dion. Rae was interviewed on Newsworld this morning and he is an impressive communicator.
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 7:50 am,
Garth’s apology shows more class than the Conservatives who have been allowed to get away with doing the same thing and even when caught refuse to acknowlege what they did.
You mean to tell me that a politician staged a media event,… well color me surprised and shocked,… I have never heard of such a thing happening before ever in the history of man.
~yawn~ Wake me when you make a real mistake that really matters Garth. Let the “We hate Garth Turner Club” have their day, if this the best the ever get on you it isn’t very much to worry about. Keep hammering home the truth about Harper and his lies, they are bigger.
So, when Harper suddenly appears in an “ordinary Canadian family’s” backyard, pitching his policies, shouldn’t he have to reveal that they are Conservative supporters?
If, like me, you missed The National last night, you can eatch the broohaha starting at the 47:20 time mark at http://www.cbc.ca/national/latestbroadcast.html.
All I hope is that, if the neo-Republicans are that desperate, they actually have reason to be so.
There is a big difference between a staged, political event (the Harper one you refer to) where everyone knows it is staged, and a documentary outfit, like the CPAC crew, who are trying to capture a genuine, non-staged canvass. I don’t know why people are having so much trouble with this. Garth knows it is wrong and has apologized. His campaign manager could not bring herself to apologize, and neither are these commenters.
Personally I think it is much ado about nothing. TV crews stage everything all the time, which is why I totally ignore their so-called ‘candid’ segments. I have dealt with them and they have NO integrity whatsoever. You can sit for several hours detailing a situation and without fail they will edit it to fit their agenda, totally missing any relevant points you made.
You were being thoughtful of others and some CRAP Schmuck wants to make an issue of it. I say invite him for lunch. Menu: Knuckle Sandwich!
Good on you regardless for owning up, heck we might even put you in for the Harry S. Truman (Not the other Hairy) Award for political Balls and honesty!
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 7:50 am
Why don’t you run off to the restroom there at the Death Star and hold a Circle Jerk with your friends? You, like the Moral Majority, are neither.
David Bakody – Are you going to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at 11:30 this am to hear Dion? Sorry that I ask at this late time.
Garth,
Garth, we know that you are going to kick butt.
But when is Harper going to be put on the defensive for the:
-RCMP raid of Tory HQ
-40 year nothing down mortgages
-spend spend spend deficit policies
-the Cadman affair
-Breaking his own election legislation
-Sparrow’s comments to the father of a dead soldier
-Bernier affair
-NAFTA gate and hiring a republican to work in the Canadian embassy in the USA
-Assassination ads of Dion and the puffin poo affair
-purposely disrupting parliamentary committees
lots more….
Common Liberal national campaigner wake up.
Daryn
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 7:50 am,
If you read carefully, Garth originally said “No” becaue he didn’t want to put the members of the general public in an embarrasing situation in front of the camera. (Bring the camera to my door, I won’t be embarrased to rip Harper, but that’s me!)
If Garth made any mistake, it was in trying to accomodate the CPAC reporter.
Now what about the Con. candidate being filmed with the partner of a director of her riding association. If there was an attempt to “doctor” the CPAC report, both did it.
We know Garth has done the right thing and apologised for his mistake; has Ms. Raitt or does she not realise she made one?
By Judy on 09.16.08 8:21 am
No. Would you expect a Lib. supporter to allow Harper to campaign in their backyard?
But if these so called “ordinary people” are related in any way, by blood, marriage to any part of the Con. campaign… most definitely.
Garth, could you not have informed the Camera Crew before walking up to the house. “I know the guy who lives here, he’s my campaign managers son.”
Shame. All your excuses make it a gaffe. We’ll see what kind of legs it gets, I suppose.
I explained the situation, and apologized. Would you like my intestines now? — Garth
There is a big difference between a staged, political event (the Harper one you refer to) where everyone knows it is staged, and a documentary outfit, like the CPAC crew, who are trying to capture a genuine, non-staged canvass. I don’t know why people are having so much trouble with this. Garth knows it is wrong and has apologized. His campaign manager could not bring herself to apologize, and neither are these commenters.
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 8:34 am
Thruth Squad – Why should commenters here apologize. Why should his campaign manager? Garth did. The CPC disn’t.
By Herb on 09.16.08 7:56 am
Exactly the real question going through my own, and many others minds right now. I can only conclude it was becaise Dion is from Quebec. I like the man as a person, but he definitely does NOT instill a sense of WOW in any manner or form for me.
He spearheaded the Montreal Protocol, which led to Kyoto, which was a First Step only in bringing nations together. For that I applaud his efforts. He had the guts to stand up to the Seperatists in Quebec, which they will never forgive him for, and think of Canada. I also applaud him for that.
Beyond those two points he is a nice man, honourable, but his Green Shift Plan is NOT my idea of dealing with the problems, nor a solution. Making pollution a Criminal Offense is what it will take, because the hard liners that refuse to be socially or environmentally conscious will not respond to anything less. The law should also include their legal counsel who say ‘Do this and you can pass through the loophole unscathed.
You cannot approach such a serious issue by academic thinking, you have to face the reality that the people who are the worst polluters simple don’t give a damn about laws or plans, only profits and their presonal freedom to do as they want. Just like any other hard core criminal.
A good old fashioned Tar & Feathering is still their just due in my opinion. Maybe that would ’soak in’, eh?
Ha Ha – Garth, it is soooooo funny to see that the ONLY comments here are supportive ones.
I guess setups aren’t the only thing you do to massage your ego.
Don’t try to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes on this, Garth. To say you didn’t know the person at the door is disingenuous. You cannot say you do not know the family of your assistant – it doesn’t wash. You were trying to get some good press out of your door knocking and it is a dismal failure. For you to then turn it back on your Staff says alot about you Garth.
Given the lack of comments which are telling you this was wrong, I assume this will not make the on-line comment list, or it will be edited so that you can put one of your snarky comments after.
Good luck Garth, you really are going to need it.
Off topic, but perhaps a small chuckle is needed.
Aislin’s perspective on US vs CDN political women…
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/aislin/index.html
Truth Squad,
it either was an honest misunderstanding, or it was not. If it was not, it hardly amounts to a hill of beans in view of the mis- and disinformation served up in this campaign and well before it.
I will watch your future comments very carefully to see if you are in fact a truth squad of one, or merely a troll patroller under a disingenuous monicker.
Should the latter turn out to be the case, will you apologize?
Truth Squad,
and while you’re pursuing truth, let me know what you think of Wherry’s exploration of Harper as “Everyman” at http://blog.macleans.ca/category/blog-central/national/the-commons/
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 9:14 am,
I agree with you entirely but I don’t expect either Liberals or Conservatives to take that kind of a strong position. Even the Greens will not go that far.
Because they are so caught up in the concept of “free enterprise, free markets, free trade” that they are not ideologically prepared to take really tough action. They might prohibit small or intermediate sized business from doing certain things to the environment but they are either in the pocket of or too scared of the major corporate exploiters of our environment to take really firm and effective action.
Hi Garth and Lisa,
I was shocked last night on my 5 minute drive around Burlington to find four instances where Lisa Raitt signs had been place and Garth Turner signs knocked down. So not only were conservatives of Halton denied the opportunity to elect a candidate, but now it seems this fly in candidate’s campaign is knocking down Turner signs (very childish). Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe it was the wind, but it is quite the coincidence that this happened in four locations (along Dundas street and on Appleby Line, the latter I stood back up on my bike ride to work today). Garth, maybe you need stronger hammers, or Lisa maybe your campaign should grow up, who knows?
Happy campaigning, best of luck Garth.
For you to then turn it back on your Staff says alot about you Garth.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 9:16 am
Please read a little more carefully..
A lot of comments have said the mistake was a non-event.
Others, including myself, have said it was wrong but Grath, unlike his Con opponent who pulled the same trick, has made amends by being open about it and apologising.
But, nowhere did Garth blame his staff. A little grammar lesson for you, the word “I”, which Garth uses exclusively in his apology, is the first person. That refers to the writer, and only the writer himself, namely Garth. No way can this be interpreted as blaming anyone other than himself.
BTW this incident was just on the CBC’s “The Current” as part of an article on how the web is being used. In particular the name a blogger by the name of Janke was mentioned as the one who exposed Garth’s mistake. What they failed to mention wa Janke’s ties to the CPC!
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 9:16 am
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
James – do you have proof of Steve’s “ties” to the CPC.
i thought not.
Obviously you did not listen to the interview as Garth certainly does throw his staff under the bus when he says it was all set up by them.
Now James – even you should admit that it is a little strange that Garth goes to the door of his assistant’s son and makes no indication that he knows him.
And please enlighten us as to how the “con” opponent used the “same trick”.
Yeah, Blogging Tory Steve is not a Tory. Of course. — Garth
“Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?”
and the degrading, namecalling, snarky comments begin.
Oh, I notice that the reply to Bill’s comment didn’t show up – how convenient, Garth/Esther.
This comment queue is moderated. Thought you’d know that. The comments are approved as they are read. Sometimes it takes a few minutes. Maybe you should go out for air or something. — Garth
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 9:16 am
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 10:07 am
Bill crawls in the gutter.
Gord.
The facts Mr. Turner are as follows.
Our producer called you around 11 a.m. Monday morning. He identified himself as calling from CBC News. You spoke with him for a time, and then the producer asked if you would speak with me.. and said we’d like to call you back from a studio where we can record. You agreed.
We called you back within 10 mins. We were delayed a few more minutes as we tried to connect the phone call with the record booth, which we told you.
Then you and I began to talk. I started by saying we were trying to “drill down on the bloggers claims” and you responded as I reported “well I hope you are going to drill down on the kind of gutter politics that creates this crap”.
We talked for roughly 10-15 minutes. At one point you said and I am quoting from the interview transcript:
Garth Turner: “It’s one thing to have it on YouTube, you put this on CBC… ahh, I can’t prevent you, and you can do it if you want and I’ll do your little interview here.”
It is clear to us that you knew you were speaking to a CBC journalist and agreed to do so, and that you acknowledged you were doing an interview.
I might remind you when I tried to further clarify further the events of the doorknocking , you hung up on me.
At the end of the day, Mr. Turner, in your email to Peter Van Dusen of CPAC, copied to us, you were still putting blame on CPAC.
“The bottom line seems to be that CPAC was informed, prior to shooting, that the home in question was that of the son of my associate.”
CPAC has categorically denied that claim. We represented both your side and CPAC’s rebuttal, on our story Monday night.
Regards,
Susan Ormiston
CBC News
Well, Susan, there are two sides to all stories and I’m flattered you feel it necessary to use my blog to get your message out, when a national TV network is insufficient. Actually, I was asked if I wished to be interviewed by you, but before agreeing, I wanted a conversation. When you became argumentative, the futility of speaking with you further was apparent. So, I did something useful. I went door-knocking. At no point did you indicate our words were being taped. You did not ask me, as Peter Van Dusen did, if you could record. In fact, I sent you the following email after our encounter, “Re: Our Conservation. It was not on the record, as you did not indicate so. Regards, Garth.” I copied Keith Boag, which he confirmed. BTW, you never offered an on-camera interview with me, as you did with Conservative blogger Janke and CPAC’s Stringer. But, whatever. You win. Now can we talk about issues affecting Canadians? — Garth
“Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?”
Why do you allow this comment to remain on your site Garth?
Do you think it is appropriate to speak to a woman this way?
=
Another Harper Lie
http://www.liberal.ca/story_14592_e.aspx
Harper claims National Citizens Coalition was self-owned and operated “business”
Stephen Harper pointed to his own experience of “running a business” as an example of the need to allow self-employed Canadians to voluntarily pay to receive access to Employment Insurance.
“You know, I’m from a household where before I got back into politics, both my wife and I were running small businesses. I was running, I suppose better to say a medium-sized business, and she was running a small business, and we’re aware of these difficulties.” (Stephen Harper, CTV NewsNet, September 15, 2008)
I cannot believe this man. He has got to be a sociopath to blatantly lie like that. Absolutely no conscience. The NCC is a rather secretive organization started to stop our universal health care so just guess what else it is about. –Not caring for Canadians for sure.
Here are some descriptions of sociopath
Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Extreme narcissism and grandiose
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
I seem to remember Harper had all the pictures of previous PM’s removed from a room in the House and replaced them with photos of him.–grandiose? I could go on with matching up some of these characteristics with Harper.
By Bonnie L on 09.15.08 10:52 pm
Because they are so caught up in the concept of “free enterprise, free markets, free trade” that they are not ideologically prepared to take really tough action. They might prohibit small or intermediate sized business from doing certain things to the environment but they are either in the pocket of or too scared of the major corporate exploiters of our environment to take really firm and effective action.
By C. B. Innes on 09.16.08 9:54 am
That is because the word ‘RESPONSIBLE’ is never added to the terms. Just like the gross mismanagement and profit stealing of innocent people’s investments by Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch (they should be…lynched), et al, the lawyers get them off free and clear using the ‘Oh, we are a corporation excuse.’ Same goes for this government who’s list of abuses and offenses against the nation and people has become too long to even remember, but WE DO!
There are seldom any real harsh penalties. The U.S. is far tougher than Canada where feel good is the penalty du jour. No wonder Conrad Black wishes he had his Canadian Citizenship, eh? LOL
Hope he like the baloney they serve as much as the brand he served all those years. The U.S. still needs to toughen up the penalty and take them from Club Fed to the Rock Quarry where, for once, they can make a ’striking’ contribution to the rest of society.
There is a good example of what we have become especially when it comes to corporate or government accountability.
Hey? Who ran on that very word the last election?
Oh, and condolescences to the late Mr. Common Sense posted yesterday. Everyone wants the spotlight today, which is why Common Sense and ethics are both deceased. The extremists always miss the point and go for the glory, not the substance of the issue. The MSM promotes them like it is their life blood.
Read any news article and see if you cqan find any sentient FACTS that allow the public to make informed decisions or opinions? What I see is maybe one or two simplistic facts, and then the diatribe of columnist opinion. Hey, everyone has one, but not everyone has a printing press , microphone, TV studio, or broadcast capability.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 9:16 am
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 10:07 am
Why bill were you out there looking for someone.
http://www.progressivebloggers.ca/
Coyne: The Harper leadership cult
Andrew Coyne writes in Maclean’s about the Stephen Harper’s leadership style. He mentions that Harper is more or less a one-man cabinet who bullies people within his own party, his opponents, and bureaucrats. I strongly recommend that you read his column and make comments on his Maclean’s blog. I liked the following quote that TVO’s “The Agenda” displayed on screen:“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”–Bill Gates.Being a boss where someone tells other people what to do is not the same as being a leader. Leadership requires someone to trust the people who work with him, to let them make important decisions. I don’t see Harper trusting his cabinet, fellow MPs, and the Canadian people. If Harper cannot trust us Canadians, why should we trust Harper with the power of being prime minister? Canadians, including the other party leaders, need to challenge the cult of the bully Harper.
I guess Bill Gates was talking about Stephane Dion. We need to spread this far and wide.
http://www.anythingbutconservative.ca/
Danny Williams’ website
http://www.anythingbutconservative.com/global-warming.html
THIS ELECTION could not be more important. Our choice will shape Canada’s future.
In this campaign, you will hear many promises.
But promises are not on the ballot. People are on the ballot.
And the promises are only as good as the integrity of the people who make them.
In this election, it is our responsibility as voters to serve as judges of character.
Let’s first of all remember that Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party was built on a broken promise. Peter MacKay promised David Orchard he would not merge the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada with the Canadian Alliance. That promise was swiftly broken.
And the broken promises have not stopped since.
Stephen Harper, in the last two election campaigns, traveled to Newfoundland and Labrador bearing a promise.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians fully expected Stephen Harper to live up to his words and repeated written promise.
He did not.
He broke his promise after he got his votes. His own MPs and candidates confirm his promise was broken.
http://www.anythingbutconservative.ca/harperteam.htm
Stephen Harper’s actions raise important questions of trust. Of integrity. Of character.
In this election, Canadians have the opportunity – and the obligation – to judge Stephen Harper and his Conservatives by their record.
• They have also broken other promises to Canadians.
• They have imposed deep cuts on some of the most vulnerable people in our country.
• They have mocked provincial premiers.
• They have discouraged businesses from investing in Ontario.
These Conservatives are certainly not “Progressive” Conservatives. Their agenda is regressive.
And now the Conservatives are seeking a mandate and a majority government to continue to implement an agenda that is not fully revealed
Canada deserves better than this.
This election truly is about making Canada strong. Strong and progressive. A country in which values like integrity and trust actually mean something.
The power to shape our future is in our hands.
And the first step is as easy as A-B-C. Anything But Conservative
Bonnie adds: Vote Liberal for a greener, fairer, wealthier Canada.
I just saw my first NDP television ad last night and it was quite typical. It criticized everything Harper does without adding how the NDP would be different. Is it just me or do negative ads simply make the party sponsoring them look dumb.
From the ad I saw it tells me the NDP has no ideas but know that the conservatives aren’t doing a good job. I hope other political parties don’t follow suit otherwise we will only know the ways each party will hurt us and not hear any good ideas at all.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 9:16 am
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 10:07 am
How exactly would you know what goes on at that intersection? Been shopping there Bill?
It’s nice to know if you’re a Garth-bot Garth’s civility policy doesn’t apply.
and the degrading, namecalling, snarky comments begin.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 10:12 am
Well Alberta Girl, just on your past few posts I would say you are an expert on “degrading, namecalling, snarky comments”.
Or should we call you ‘Lessa’? Because your post sure do come off like her’s used too.
I saw the interview Dion gave in Halifax yesterday and it was the first time that I heard him quantify the average tax increase due to Green Shift. It averaged it at about a buck a day which would mean somewhere between 160 to 460 CAD a year (.51 to 1.49 all average to 1). Now my calculations from the Green Shift web site show that a family with 100K a year will get about 1,200 back a year, meaning a gain of 800 average. I would assume that since 100K is above average income for average Canadians, the average Canadian will get more. Imagine, even someone making 1 million a year will get over 1000 back.
Without adding the money to support rural and northers residents, and any administrative costs, the program already pays out in tax benefits far more than it brings in.
Garth, can you please tell me where my arithmetics are wrong?
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 10:07 am
Shame on you Bill !
And please enlighten us as to how the “con” opponent used the “same trick”.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 10:12 am
“Meanwhile, ironically, the Conservative candidate in the CPAC piece had been filmed in an encounter with “voters” in a store owned by the partner of a director of the Halton Conservative association. But that received no scrutiny.” – Garth
I wonder why the Con candidate chose that particular store. —huuummmm!
Now I will admit I haven’t seen the said CPAC segment, but who did CPAC interview in this store, the owner perhaps?
We still love you…
Or should we call you ‘Lessa’? Because your post sure do come off like her’s used too.
By The Man behind the curtain on 09.16.08 11:40 am
Exsctly my thought. Lessa/Leasa has her own distinct way of needling and picking away at small slivers in other people’s eyes, while ignoring the huge log in her own and her party’s. And she is well known for using various handles.
Anyway, let’s get back to the important stuff–life the future of Canada!
Is Janke paid by Harper? Do you not think there’s something wrong with a guy who spends all his time on investigating negative nonsense? He should be investigated.
By RSandi on 09.16.08 7:36 am
Yep! It’s plain to see that he is very much working for Harper. I do not believe Jenke knows the meaning of the word “Investigate’ let alone how to investigate. Not only should he be investigated over the shenanigans he continually pulls, he needs to be charged with slander.
Cheers
http://tinyurl.com/6f3wfa
The Hill Times, September 15th, 2008
LETTERS
Not a Harper voter here
Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has lost hundreds of thousands of quality jobs in manufacturing and lumber. On health and safety, ignorance and denial escalated a nuclear safety issue into a world-wide medical crisis. Several Canadians died of listeriosis because of deregulation. Environmentally, Mr. Harper has become the world’s pariah.
Military deaths in Afghanistan escalated radically. The war is mismanaged.
Rather than governing well, Mr. Harper spent two years and millions in character assassinations and suing his opponents, including Elections Canada. Elections Canada ruled that Mr. Harper, 67 Conservative candidates, plus their financial agents violated election law. Mr. Harper says he is a law and order guy, but he did not play above board with our most fundamental institution—democratic elections.
Now, Mr. Harper is spending millions to tell us he is a man who loves his children. However, in public life he has proven he does not love the truth, does not think the law applies to him, and is utterly incompetent at managing a government.
Mr. Harper is a misleader.
Eugene Parks
Victoria, B.C.
Dan on 09.16.08 11:22 am
Cdns politics is all about voting against the worst.
Here`s what Scott Reid had to say.
Obviously the system is broken.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.wstrategistsdion0916/BNStory/politics/home
Scott Reid is a former director of communications for Paul Martin and is a co-founder of the speechwriting firm Feschuk.Reid.
The first week featured an admirable but not terribly thematic series of policy announcements. The second week must tell a more coherent story of who the Liberals are and what they stand for
less policy and more message.
Hi Garth;
I looked at the CPAC story on-line and I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Everything we see in the media is staged to some extent. When Rick Mercer “talks to Americans” for example, he’ll likely go through dozens of interviews until he finds the “awkward” moments he is looking for. To approach a persons home with a camera crew to record some visuals of you “campaigning” seems to be a situation which requires a certain amount of “co-operation”, so again, they’re just looking for anything to embarrass you – that’s my opinion.
Again, I can’t say that I’d support anyone campaigning on the liberal ticket, but to go after you over this CPAC thing seems to be a bit sleazy.
I saw a CPAC overview of the candidates from West Van/Sunshine Coast/ … recently and was surprised that the CPC (cons) refuse to let any of their newbee candidates speak to the media as stated by a local radio personality in Van. Because of the blow to democracy in Vancouver-Kingsway when Emerson decided to ignore the voice of the riding constituents, I watched the whole episode to see if Harper could steal something in West Van. I was intrigued with the other candidates that are running there and their interviews. Loved the Squamish ex-mayor, Ian Sutherland; he is a Lib threat. What’s with the muffling of CPC Canadian candidates? I hate that our government is responsible for killing freedom of speech and can’t figure out how their candidates allow themselves to be muzzled???? I really would like to know how a Canadian allows his views to be axed when he is in the position of trying to land a job to communicate the citizen’s voice to Ottawa. I guess Harper doesn’t want to know anything the citizens of this country have to say about Canadian political life; he just wants your vote and the power to do whatever the heck he wants in order to shut you up. This has been apparent to me over the past couple of years when I haven’t had my emails to him responded to at all; but, I’ve received intelligent, personal responses from the other parties. AS a Canadian, I’m allowed to want the best Canadian government we can get, be critical of what we have, and voice my opinion to the government or anybody who will listen. This is a free country right now and we need to be on guard for these anti-democratic CPC moves.
Go Garth, go!
Mr. Turner,
Your attempt to minimize damage in your CPAC scandal, is not playing well. IMO it shows you to be disingenuous in your attempt to spin the story rather than showing some humility and admitting that it was just a mistake by you. Not telling the truth is certainly a mistake. It is shown clearly in Ms. Ormiston’s comments on the issue, that you were not telling the full truth in the matter. For someone who has severely criticized others including the Prime Minister for supposedly not telling the truth, how are we now expected to believe anything that you say? Now please do not do as you have done to some other postings wherein you have been criticized,and then do not allow it to be posted on your weblog (censorship in a digit democracy?) but show a little bit of courage and humility, and allow this post to go on your blog.
I believe that as a lawyer, you have a professional and moral responsibility to be fully up front with us.
Thank you,
Daisy
I’m not a lawyer. Can’t lie well enough. — Garth
Garth, could you not have informed the Camera Crew before walking up to the house. “I know the guy who lives here, he’s my campaign managers son.”
Shame. All your excuses make it a gaffe. We’ll see what kind of legs it gets, I suppose.
I explained the situation, and apologized. Would you like my intestines now? — Garth
…….you are presuming that this guy is a Liberal supporter…..maybe he’s not. He wouldn’t be the first kid to not follow and vote like daddy and grandpappy.
saw harpo on TV last night, the lies are catching up with him, his nose is growing.
Well first off – greetings from Africa to Garth and my fellow bloogers. I can tell you, getting any news (let alone internet connection) has been challenge (I’ve been here now 14 days, and it’s my first time to visit Garth’s blog, and for some reason, they are more interested in the US election, than the Canadian one).
Being here, really puts things into perspective – I really recommend it to everyone – make a trip to Congo, or Chad, or Central African Republic, and you will gain a new perspecive on our life in Canada. We complain about the price of gas at being $1 plus – when here it takes a full day to make $1 (and gas is $2 a litre – when you can find it).
Any-who, I am disappointed to see the Conservatives are ahead in the polls, but continue the fight. I can’t wait to get home (one more week!) and catch up on your blogs, and the comments.
There is another “Anything but conservative” website of interest
http://www.anythingbutconservative.com
Susan Ormiston of the CBC called for an interview, but I declined. Instead I tried to explain to her on the phone what I knew at the time. That was a mistake, because she was taping me without revealing it. Peter Van dusen from CPAC called and was much more professional. He asked for a taped comment, which I gave – based on what I knew then.
posted by Garth Turner on 09.16.08 @ 6:18 am |
Taping any telephone conversation without the express knowledge and consent of the other party(s) without a court ordered warrant to do so is a violation of the law. The CBC and Susan Ormiston both know that and should be called to account for that action.
That aside, I accept your apology, Garth, but will everyone else?
There are times when even the best of intentions and motives tend to work against the better good of democracy. That is just when the better judgment of We the People must be relied on for proper assessment and assimilation of the facts. Remember Chief Justice Willard Estes words re: Juries. They get it right 97.7% of the time. My question is why don’t the politicians?
Mr. Digital Democracy is practising censorship in not allowing some comments that are critical to him to be posted. When will Mr. Turner make a full a straight out apology for not telling the truth rather than attempting to spin his way out of the scandal that he created himself? If this criticism does not get posted I will send it on to Susan Ormiston who I am sure will be pleased to her of all of of the posts that are being restricted by Mr. Digital- non -Democracy.
Oh, a threat. Maybe you should start your own blog, because you’re done here. — Garth
By Susan Ormiston on 09.16.08 10:41 am
If I may add my 2 cents worth.
She said, he said. She said some more, so naturally he did too.
Should we call Judge Judy?
Respectfully Ms.Ormiston, have you heard the NEWS about Lehman Brothers and all that?
I watched CPAC election coverage the other day. The guy hosting the show was very busy agreeing with the merits of everyone’s point of view, yet missed few opportunities to inform that Dion was sunk before he got out of the harbor.
BTW, I am non partisan. A Spade is a Spade to me.
Talk about getting pizzle in a twist. I laughed when I heard it was Janke getting all bothered.
Go Garth!!!
It is a shame that the media has become arrogant and has lost its purpose.
Instead of providing thought-provoking, objective presentation of facts, it would rather misuse its purpose as something that can make or break people.
No wonder the TV has lost its point. TV journalists seek to glorify themselves and make themselves celebrities, engaging in spectacle and spin and calling it “gritty”, instead of doing their job. Or worse, to curry favours from the powers that be to keep their job.
I think the take home point from this is that we should all forget the media, and rely only on face-to-face interactions to get the message out.
A shame this kind of crap had to happen to a guy like you, Garth.
Austin
http://tinyurl.com/63tk9e
Dion answers Liberal critics with Rae at his side
HALIFAX — A feisty Stéphane Dion said he will ignore published criticisms of his leadership and campaign from unnamed Liberals, insisting he faced the same kind of thing when he pushed the Clarity Act and he won’t be deterred by it………………….
……………………………..
“I’m not an anonymous Liberal. I’m Bob Rae. I’m the member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, and you can quote me and write this down: I am tremendously proud of our leader, Stéphane Dion. I’m tremendously proud of the campaign that we’re running. And I think Canadians are going to see in the days and weeks ahead that nature of the choice we have as Canadians,” he told reporters who asked about the criticisms of Mr. Dion’s campaign………………Mr. Rae said the Liberals are presenting a strong team with “our great leader” who are speaking about issues of substance, while Mr. Harper is a “one-man band” offering ideology, negativity, personal attacks, and “Herbert Hoover in a blue sweater.”
…………….. Read the whole article
Personally I am very happy with this since I happen to believe 2 heads are better than one. I think the Liberals have a great team headed by a most inclusive man in direct contrast to the dictatorial misleadership by Harper. Stephane Dion sets an energy of decency, respect, inclusion, fairness and oneness in his leadership and I believe we will see a new kind of governance with this Liberal team all to take us to a greener, fairer, wealthier Canada.
Thanks for this blog Garth. To me you are a most amazing man to be knocking on doors, talking to people, doing interviews and moderating this blog and constantly giving us new topics. I have hope you are taking good care of yourself and taking lots of Vitamin D3 and B complex:>)
Sneaky ain’t I? Tacking on vitamins at the end of a juicy post:>) Nurses can’t stop taking care of people even when they retire. Then they just get worse:>)
I explained the situation, and apologized. Would you like my intestines now? — Garth
………………………………….
Yes you did, Garth, and to your credit it should be considered a closed matter. What is of more concern is Dion’s appeal to his Dream Team to come out nationally and back his Green Shift campaign.
So far only Ignatieff and Rae have made token cameo appearances, and their statements could not be taken as encouragement for the Dion national campaign.
Now we hear rumours in the press that Liberal candidates in the 416/905 are intimating that Dion’s leadership is dragging down the Liberal party.
I think a reality check is needed now, and I conclude that Dion is not communicating or clicking with Canadians. He is not the leader some Liberals and Canadians want as prime minister, and the polling confirms that.
You are now on your own in Halton because Dion’s leadership has become a big negative for your election campaign.
Garth,
First, let me say that it is really great that you reply to some of the messages on your blog. This is a really nice thing. We are so lucky we live in a country where people such as yourself are so accessible. Bravo to you, Sir. I just wanted to mention that I really thought you were a little harsh to Daisy, above. It is going a little too far to suggest that all lawyers are liars, no? (To recap, you said “I’m not a lawyer. Can’t lie well enough.”) There are some fine lawyers – in fact, many are your caucus members, right? You didn’t mean to insult all of those fine people called to the Bar, did you?
It is a shame that the media has become arrogant and has lost its purpose.
Austin
By Austin So on 09.16.08 1:58 pm
Journalists have lost their way Austin.
When I see them all gathered around an elaborate breakfast table with Harpoon, I can’t help but wonder. Is it that easy to buy off the press, provide a setting so comfortable not one reporter dares to ask any serious questions. What is this, a love-in?
Don Martin of the Calgary Herald said it best.
“Let there be no doubt Harper’s chummy charm will end the minute positive media relations are no longer necessary which, if he’s re-elected, means Oct. 14 around 10 p.m.”.
So to all you press out there and I know you read this blog, I would suggest that you get your act together and do your job. After Oct 14, you will become irrelevant.
http://redtory.wordpress.com/
Two Cheers for Economic Sovereignty
James Bagnall has quite a good article
http://tinyurl.com/63kqo2
in The Ottawa Citizen this morning that provides a concise summary of the current state of the Canadian economy. One of the interesting observations made was how stubborn resistance over the years to foreign ownership of the financial sector has served as a “firewall” effectively insulating the Canadian economy from the great unraveling south of the border.
There are a number of explanations for this state of affairs, but a key one is that Canada’s bankers have resisted copying the more aggressive U.S. financial institutions.
This stance might have been much more difficult had Canadian trade negotiators not consistently opposed the idea of opening up our financial services industry to greater foreign ownership.
For instance, had Lehman Brothers acquired control of a major Canadian bank under relaxed ownership rules, the ripple effect of its demise yesterday would now be a scary thing.
As it is, less than a handful of Canadian firms with direct links to Lehman have been caught short by the investment bank’s troubles. These include: Sun Life Financial, which said yesterday it holds more than $300 million worth of Lehman’s bonds; and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which owns $25 million worth of Lehman securities.
This counts as relatively minor exposure, especially in relation to CIBC’s market capitalization of more than $23.3 billion.
No foreign individual or institution can acquire more than 10 per cent of a major Canadian bank, without the blessing of Canada’s minister of finance.
As of June, the single biggest investor in Canada’s big banks has been a mutual fund owned by one of the other banks — usually no more than five per cent of total equity.
It’s a family compact, in other words. And while this cozy reality has driven free traders to distraction, it also created a risk-averse culture.
While I would argue that free trade has been something of a necessary evil in the context of globalization, that’s benefited Canada on the whole, the way in which we’ve been spared the reckless shenanigans and speculative mismanagement of American lenders and investment houses, and the fallout resulting from that, perhaps offers a critically instructive lesson about the vital importance of exercising our sovereignty in key areas of the economy.
With attention now shifting more to the economy, maybe foreign ownership and economic sovereignty are the kind of emotionally-charged issues the Liberals should be raising and in the process casting doubt about the sort of key changes to our system that might be effected under a Harper “dynasty” (as imagined by some) most likely to be driven by the same sort of right-wing ideology that’s wreaked so much havoc south of the border.
Update: Ha! Elizabeth May just said almost exactly the same thing on CPAC while speaking with talk-show jock Tom Young at News 88.9.
I attending Dion’s event at noon at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The place was packed. There were lots of NS MP’s and nominees as well as past NS Premiers and our future Lib Premier. I think even Dion was surprised to see so many people there. Bob Rae introduced Dion, but before doing so he gave a fabulous speech without notes. He is quite the orator. Dion did very well, stating that he knows his English isn’t as good as Harpers, but at least he tells the truth in both offical languages. I didn’t get to see that gal from This Hour has 22 Minutes with Dion, but if I heard correctly there were handcuffs involved and either she put them on Dion or he put them on her.
My hands are still sore from all that claping. Somehow I doubt the enthusiasm from the audience will be on display on TV.
BTW, I was in various parts of the both Dartmouth & Halifax today. Saw 4 NDP signs, 3 on municipal property and one Con sign also on municipal land. Did see lots of Lib signs, mostly on private properties. My sign has been up for a few days.
If this is the best the Lisa Raitt campaign can come up with, they raised the white flag pretty darn quick.
If Lisa Raitt were the captain of Titanic, she would have hit the iceberg while still in Southampton Harbour.
http://tinyurl.com/5rolqa
Harper on bended knee wooing women voters
By GREG WESTON
Look out, ladies. Steve is on the hunt!
As the federal election enters its second week, Stephen Harper is out to woo women voters by showing he’s more than a pretty pullover.
Last week, it was hard to find a place on the television not featuring fireside ads of the prime minister sporting his extreme makeover — the baby-blue sweater, a family man talking about his kids, tinkling the piano.
The week begins with Harper promising self-employed Canadians — read: Almost a million women voters — they will be able to collect maternity and parental benefits from the Employment Insurance program.
The self-employed currently don’t pay EI premiums, and can’t collect any benefits.
That means the couple running a small business have to sock away a pile of cash to take unpaid time away from their biz to have kids.
In short, Harper’s announcement is bound to be a hit both with self-employed women and their families.
The courting of female Canada isn’t going to end with maternity leave for all.
A Conservative spokesperson said we can expect a new promise a day this week, all of them measures “to make working life easier for people.”
Polls have consistently shown that no matter how hard Conservatives have tried to show their feminine side, the nation’s female electorate has remained largely turned off by the party’s policies and its icy autocrat at the top.
In the last election, Harper sent the ladies a mixed bouquet of tax cuts for hockey moms, and $1,200 cheques for child care.
This time, the Conservatives are again on bended knee to tie the knot with female voters, a marriage they believe is essential to produce a majority government.
Under the Conservative plan, a self-employed woman will be able to join the EI program up to six months before her baby is due, and be eligible for full maternity and parenting benefits.
By our calculation, a self-employed woman would be able to pay a maximum $833 in premiums over six months to collect up to $21,750 in benefits over 50 weeks.
Under existing rules, the last 35 weeks could be shared with her stay-at-home husband if she decided to get back to her self-employment.
The Conservatives estimate the program will cost about $147 million a year from the EI fund, based on a similar Quebec plan that has been running since 2006.
“Self-employed Canadians shouldn’t have to choose between starting a family and starting a business because of government policy,” Harper said yesterday.
A Conservative background document points out a federal task force recommended the proposed changes in 2003, but the Liberal government “chose to ignore it.”
Apparently, that’s not the same as Harper’s government ignoring it for the past 30 months until the middle of this election.
Like most of Harper’s election tour, yesterday’s announcement was executed with military precision and enough corny stage-management to earn the Conservative campaign the moniker Props ‘R’ Us.
Reporters were bused to a suburban Ottawa office building that houses the fabled Conservative spin central, known as the “war room,” and the appropriately labelled “studio,” home to some of the best talent and technology in the political spin biz today.
Cue: Background for announcement, a five-metre projected image of typical white suburban family on front lawn.
Enter: Props Left and Props Right, two local candidates with wives and young kids, positioned statue-like on each side of the speaking podium.
Cue: Harper for announcement and questions from the media.
Pan away from Prop Left: PM speaking when four-year-old tugs at mom and has to go.
Fade to black.
Of course this jounalist failed to mention Harper’s lie of running a medium business when in fact, he was President of the National Citizens Coalition (not a business) for five years. NCC one of the most right wing organizations in Canada.
Garth, who is running the Liberal campaign??? Where is the strategy? Since Oct 31/2006 you have been slamming Flaherty on the income trust fiasco, however it hasn’t come up once on the national stage during the first week of the campaign?
Are not you supposed to be standing on the corner of Jasper and 104th looking for business?
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 10:07 am
Shame on you Bill !
By AD on 09.16.08 11:46 am
Well apparently times have changed since I lived in Edmonton. That would have been 97th street and Jasper ave. 50 years ago, or maybe 118th ave. Regardless, this kind of invective amidst an election campaign shows how far our personal standards have sunk. How far will it go before the body politic revolts?
The intellectual caliber of remarks and rebuttals leave testament to the degree of credibility and integrity of the authors. Cheap shots may give one a personal feeling of one-up-man-ship or revenge, but does not sell the idea(s) proposed and in fact may actually destroy any traction previously gained with fellow voters.
What is needed is clear, clean, factual presentation of the principles and values for the assessment of the electorate.
The level of past lack of participation in our electoral process is proof of the disaffection for the political arena in Canada. The sad part is that too much of this rancor is now blatantly intentional to gain an unfair advantage. Corrective actions often come when far over due and go too far in the other direction.
How will the unexpected, unpredicted events shape the end result? Stay tuned as they say!
Interesting poll result!
http://www.ekoselection.com/index.php/2008/09/daily-tracking/
Garth, what do you think?
Why the conbots are making a big deal out of a minor gaffe is because they DO NOT want Canadians to be making a big deal out of this:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=794615
Sixteen dead Canadians (and counting) and an ineffectual government. They don’t want you to know who’s fault it is.
Hang tough, Garth, like you can!
Have a great day everyone!
Garth,
I’m a Tory. I’ll be voting Tory and I’m not your biggest fan. But you stepped up and took responsibility and that’s a huge sign of integrity and the ability to admit mistakes made.
Kudos to you.
I just love it when the CPC trolls take the high-road on honesty, transparency, and ethics.
Garth, you did no wrong. They are just pissed since you screwed up their spin.
Honesty seems more and more a thing of the past. Apology is even rarer.
By So many questions… on 09.16.08 2:39 pm
Shame on you Bill !
By AD on 09.16.08 11:46 am
Here is my Harperized response. “Shame on me for what? I said nothing but she should be out looking for business, but your mind apparently twisted the meaning. Therefore, Shame on you!’
Corrective actions often come when far over due and go too far in the other direction.
How will the unexpected, unpredicted events shape the end result? Stay tuned as they say!
By Truth B Told on 09.16.08 2:39 pm
More commonly referred to as ‘The Pit and The Pendulum’, eh?
Tory = loser, Murdoch = winner
http://www.meafordexpress.com/meafordexpress/article/116311
Hi, I’m Bill Murdoch and I surely wavered very early in the ‘06 Professional Criminals’ Party Campaign.
The nerve of some people, to suggest that it might be something in the water up here!
Harper latest Kitchener announcement of his closing fee credits makes less common sense than his 2 cent a litre on diesel in four years. Think? up goes the price of homes and up go interest rates but in the interim the price is falling which sounds good except for the sold sign behind Steve, dare he show a reduced price sign that is more like the truth. oh yea and there are all those job that have gone south and mortgages need impossible to get for first time buyers.
Since you want to campaign on the Liberal green shift plan, maybe you could answer a few questions for me. I will have to pay a much higher tax than the average Canadian because my power comes from a coal fired power plant. I have no control over the source of my power as there are no other options, short of spending $100,000 or so to become solar self sufficient. If you want to tax me because my power is generated from coal, that is fine, but then that money should go back to where it was collected to give consumers there cleaner alternatives to choose from. The Liberal plan which you support, takes my money and gives it to someone else who has access to cleaner sources of power. From an enviromental policy point of view, this doesn’t really make a lot of sense now does it? If you were really interested in enviromental change you would use that tax collected to replace coal fired power plants across the country. Ironically, the one area where most people can easily make changes to reduce consumption is with gasoline consumption. Yet your plan excludes this, why is that? The Liberal green shift is supposed to be about reducing GHG output so the obvious question is then, how much will this program reduce our GHG’s by and will it be enough to make us Kyoto compliant? The Liberals do plan on meeting our Kyoto commitments do you not? I will not pretend to be a Liberal supporter, but if your party promised to collect the new green tax and put that money back where it was collected to offer cleaner power alternatives, then I might actually support it.
Sure, I’ll answer. Give me your annual power bill, your income, your location, number of kids, age and marital status, and I will give you the approximate financial implications of the Green Shift. — Garth
The whole thing sounds like you were set up.
BY LANA ON 09.16.08 7:45 AM
I felt the same thing — it looked like a photo op only — Ormiston was strangely lob-sided. So was the CPAC reporter who spoke on her show — he did not ring true, not at all. I was shocked Ormiston barely mentions the Halton Conservatives who’s taping was deliberately not an innocent confusion but rather was an actual set-up at the highest levels. Why the gaping, lob-sided and obvious hole in Ormiston’s piece? Looks deliberate.
Consider this, the Can’t-Servative Con-Dictate KNEW she was putting CPAC into a “set-up” yet is barely sniffed..
This is very bad for CPAC. They obviously have a reporter, one reporter, who showed lack of integrity. And CPAC is run by the broadcasters. They and Ormiston particularly with her undisclosed taping [!!!] were totally taken by Janke into his murky, muddy swirl, and in cahoots with him and the Neo Con Party War Room. That makes sense.
I look forward to seeing the follow-up when the Con appointee has to explain how she personally, knowingly, and deliberately set up people known to the director of her Halton Conservative association. Otherwise, the whole thing is an obvious Con set up.
I totally agree with Lana.
First, let me go on record as firmly being on Muskoka’s side in the “street corner scandal.”
When you undertake political whoring, as Alberta Girl certainly did with her comment, you’re a political whore. (Here I rely on that great Conservative PM, Mulroney and his “There’s no whore like an old whore.”) So, Bill, your comment was sly, wry and appropriate. And Leasa, suck it up.
Second, on what some now call the “CPAC scandal”, look at the video a couple of times and get over it too. As well as Garth’s comment about lawyers.
If we started to weigh the absolute truth of every comment on a gold scale, we would be out of business – which may be the aim of certain parties.
As to Janke, you may recall some super-CPC whip last year writing a book in which the utility of the blogosphere was praised, as well as the wisdom of the CPC in putting a few bloggers, such as Janke, on the payroll. If I get bothered enough, I’ll find a link.
Let’s get back on message: ERASE THE DISGRACE – ÉCRASEZ L’INFÂMIE!
I’m perplexed! I thought some of you were more creative in the thinking department than what it appears.
For any and all who shake their head at the lack of explanation of the Green Shift, wait… just wait. The debates are coming up and there will be few that don’t know whats coming next in terms of what the carbon tax will cost refineries with capital an maintenance costs and what the exact cost of a refined barrel of crude will be.
Why? Dion and May are both in the debates and they both have environmental policies that are very similar, except that Dion’s carbon tax takes a slower approach.
As for those who feel that a carbon tax won’t force polluters to clean up their C02 emissions at a refinery level, think again!!
$40 dollars a tonne is the equivalency of a $2.00 a barrel increase in the price of oil. Liz May herself suggests that a straight up carbon tax of $50 bucks a tonne is the equivalency of $2.50 a barrel at tarsands refineries (imported conventional crude oil costs are much lower, two to three times less depending on the grade of crude).
The Libs are saying that a $40 dollar a tonne tax will generate approx. 14 billion dollars per year. I challenge any one of you to tell me why you believe that the capital costs of piping C02 to underground storage sites (where once existed natural gas resevoirs) will cost in excess of 70 Billion… because it won’t.
Even if, for some reason capital costs are that astronomically high (and we’d better ask ourselves why we believe the Harper lie that this is an experiment to begin with. Norway has an excellent working model of C02 sequestering large scale with their largest refineries) I challenge you all to come back to me and tell me why you believe 10%+ savings on an investment isn’t worth doing. And the solution if for whatever reason capital costs are exhorbantly out of this world so much so that oil companies do nothing? Increase the tax. I basically know there isn’t a one of you out there who has any idea what the capital costs of sequestering C02 will be. If you did, you would know that the Green Shift plan, as is Liz May’s, is not drummed up by some child playing with sticks in the sand.
What will the projected capital costs be to upgrade all of Canada’s refineries to chop C02 emmissions in half? Within weeks all Canadians will know this number.
The only reason why oil companies won’t move on this that I can think of, is because they either believe that a Harper government bought by U.S. big oil will return to power so oil companies can do nothing about C02 emissions without penalty, or they simply cannot afford to even though most oil companies are flush with cash… or they can’t secure bank loans at a time of liquidity crisis and there is a very quick way around any type of liquidity crunch and that includes federal loan guarantees. If you all believed there was some truth to Bairds press release this morning, think again. Just another lie piled on lies.
By HARRY S on 09.16.08 2:09 pm
Have you ever told the truth in your lifetime? Do you not know that a victory won on lies is the worst kind of defeat? Even if you and your Ad hominem cheerleading cult brainwashed ways exemplified by your political brand of choice succeeds and so called wins returning Harper back to power, you will lose.
Even if you win, Harry, you lose. Are you so blinded by selfish wants that you do not know this?
4 out of 5 Germans believed Hitler was the best leader this world ever had. George W. Bush, the man solely responsible for America’s credit crunch and financial meltdown we see today, once had approval ratings in the high 70%’s. Everyone thought these “great” men were “masters” at leadership.
Ask the people of these empires what they think of their “God sent” leaders now. No one who wins elections based on lies “wins”, Harry. Sadly, I know why you don’t understand this.
truth be told I have to say your last post was right on what more can I say
Robert Gibbs
By Robert Gibbs on 09.16.08 6:40 am
Sent Danny a message .
re the market meltdown and our decent into recession
Obama champions government oversight and supervision on all regulated financial institutions and strengthening capital requirements at the centre of the financial crisis. He also proposes streamlining regulatory agencies as well as cracking down on trading activity that manipulates markets.
Here’s a new Obama ad — The fundamentals of our economy are strong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2uQWKD_psM
Where do the federal liberals stand on the market meltdown? What are there solutions?
Cue the crickets.
Taping any telephone conversation without the express knowledge and consent of the other party(s) without a court ordered warrant to do so is a violation of the law.
By Truth B Told on 09.16.08 1
Actually, TBT, you may have watched too much US television and confused the law in the USA with Canadian Law. I believe if you check with a lawyer or police officer you’ll find that a warrant to tape is only called for when investigating a real or potential crime. Otherwise, it’s perfectly legal to record any conversation as long as one of the 2 parties involved is aware of the situation.
Some advice Garth. You had better take some Garth time. If you burn yourself out you will make mistakes and these animals will pounce and whip it into a froth. It is pretty obvious the Cons have have targeted you for special consideration and are just waiting for a screw up. When things get out of control at work I remember a simple rule: “If you want to get done sooner go slower” Its a long campaign and yeah, there is lots to do but it is not a sprint, pace your self. You’ve done this before.
“. . . closer to a global depression or WW3. . . All this was evident when it was created and yet a minority government passed it.” — unintended consequences, 11:15 pm
which goes with
“. . . ps: I’m not an end-timer but I suspect we have MP’s that fit the description. I’ll leave it at that.” — Ron p, 12:17 pm
Gentle offsprings of the great white north, a pleasant day to you and all.
Remember what happened a century or so ago?
First, the stock market crash of 1929; second, The Great (worldwide) Depression, which led to a nutcase called A. Hitler leading most of the sheeple of the day to WWII.
Now, history is in the throes of repeating itself. My guess is that the Dow will settle around 3500, hover there for a while before starting it’s upward trend again, maybe in five to 10 years.
Re: the 0/40 mtgs., Credit card debts among others goodies. Tom Cochrane’s song, “Lunatic Fringe” comes to mind, as there are a bunch of egotistical schoolchildren running amok, and we have to live with what we elected in 2006, and maybe again in a few weeks time.
So, what will attract vinegar-based flies (CRAP) to killer bees (voters)? ‘Owzabout actually showing up at one’s local voting booth, voting, strongly encouraging others to do so and doing everything possible to publicize CRAP’s lies?
I agree, an ad agency change won’t solve much. But there is one thing: Get rid of these goddamned funnymennalists for once and for all.
They are doing more to change our lives to what THEY want us to be, and I, for one, don’t like it one little bit.
At least if Dion and the Libs. get in, either with a minority or, better yet a majority, they can act as a bridge leading to a better future for our children / grandchildren, etc.
Under CRAP and dubya, there will be WW3.
Here is a story that reflects the Conservative commitment to globalization even if it means sacrificing quality for price:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.welxnmayknife0916/BNStory/Front
The fact that the Chinese supplier was allowed to copy the design and simply put Made in China on it shows easy it is to counterfeit goods and at the same time harm the reputation of a Canadian manufacturer, all with the help of the Canadian government.
Otherwise, it’s perfectly legal to record any conversation as long as one of the 2 parties involved is aware of the situation.
By Linda Pearson on 09.16.08 4:46 pm
I believe that you will find that in Canada only one of the parties involved need to be aware of the taping. If you call me or I call you, I can legally tape that call. It is illegal for a third party to tape the call without judicial consent.
Today on Politics with Don Newman they are going on and on about Dion and needing Rae to back him up. Good god. The Harper goons have been broadcasting to the Canadian subconscious that Dion is not a leader for over two years. He needs some time to prove he is the leader that Canada needs after Harper’s deceit, betrayal and lawbreaking. Why did Harper have to broadcast those words? Because Harper is not the leader and thought he could counteract that truth by taking down Dion. It is interesting that Dion has not lied, deceived or broken the law, yet Harper has his dirty commercials. HARPER is a MISLEADER Think about it folks. Do you want Harper as a role model for your children?
It is very interesting that we don’t see any of the other Conservative MPs appearing on the news. It just emphasizes the fact Harper is a dictator and is exclusive.
We shall see on October 14, 2008. Stephane Dion and his strong, creative and “pro-Canada” team will lead us to a greener, fairer, wealthier Canada.
I’m a Tory. I’ll be voting Tory and I’m not your biggest fan. But you stepped up and took responsibility and that’s a huge sign of integrity and the ability to admit mistakes made.
Kudos to you.
By Josh on 09.16.08 3:12 pm,
In my opinion, are not a Tory and will not be voting Tory because there is no longer a federal Tory party. You are a new conservative voting for the party of “free enterprise, free markets and free trade.” That does not define “Tory.”
About flippin’ time you started using the team ( Bob Rae ) to prop up Dion .
I posted about this some time ago although it was never posted .
If Dion is perceived as week his team has massive strength .
I said to use the Liberal brain trust to full advantage .
The Con-clones only have a no-brain trust to rely on .A veritable echo chamber .
Show the team all together .
Sell “Team Liberal” and watch the polling numbers surge .
“If you want to get done sooner go slower” Its a long campaign and yeah, there is lots to do but it is not a sprint, pace your self. You’ve done this before.
By Paul Fist In Your Face on 09.16.08 4:53 pm
Garth is the ‘Energizer Bunny” of Canadian politics he keeps going and going and …
“Shame on me for what? I said nothing but she should be out looking for business, but your mind apparently twisted the meaning. Therefore, Shame on you!’
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 3:42 pm
Zzzzziiiiiiing !
I explained the situation, and apologized. Would you like my intestines now? — Garth
By Lore_Weaver on 09.16.08 9:04 am
The large one or the small ?
Yeah, Blogging Tory Steve is not a Tory. Of course. — Garth
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 10:12 am
Oh.just SHUT UP Leassa !
Thanks for your reply Garth:
“Sure, I’ll answer. Give me your annual power bill, your income, your location, number of kids, age and marital status, and I will give you the approximate financial implications of the Green Shift. — Garth”
I guess maybe you didn’t read my entire post, but I am not so concerned about the financial implications of the green shift to my family, but what I am really concerned about is the enviromental implications of the green shift. So far it does not seem to have any enviromental benefits, since no one has been able to quantify them. This is what I want explained. If this is not a plan to reduce GHG’s then stop trying to pass it off as that and just call it what is really is, a new tax. If I am wrong and it will improve the enviroment then please quantify the benefits for me since no one has been able to do that so far. I would support it if I can see how it would benefit the enviroment, but I, like many Canadians will not support another tax just for the sake of a another tax.
(censorship in a___digit____ democracy?) but show a little bit of courage and humility, and allow this post to go on your blog.
Hmmmmmm! A Democracy of fingers ?
Whoa! Tory dissenters ‘idiots, turds’
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=060d55a6-71be-4426-9188-f67987e472f9
If this is what the Con party brass call their own, still favoured people, I can’t imaging what they are calling you, Garth! Thank goodness there are some people like you in politics who refuse to do unethical and perhaps illegal things with supporters’ money.
Another story on the In&Out that Janke and the Conbots DO NOT want Canadians to talk about.
“He can speak better English than me, but … I can tell the truth in both official languages better than Stephen Harper,”
Monsieur Dion
Re: By C. B. Innes on 09.16.08 5:05 pm
The same was happening under previous governments (including the Libs). Here’s a good read as to why this type of business is very scary – Please, read “The Coming China Wars” by Peter Navarro.
I wish all our business/corporate and government leaders would read this. A huge eye opener for sure.
PM says he’ll govern as if he has a majority
ROFLMAO! Oh, please! Stop it Steve! Thatis EXACTLY how you have acted the past TWO YEARS. Here is a clue…YOU ARE A MINORITY (should be Moronity I think) GOOBERNMENT! Comprendi?
He obviously still DOESN’T GET IT! That means you have to work with the Opposition parties for the benefit of ALL Canadians. Need a picture?
By jeff mactavish on 09.16.08 5:36 pm
The Green Shift will take in 15 billion. 10 billion is going to tax cuts. There is a 1 billion contigency. I have not seen an estimate, so I roughly estimate 500 million going to childcare. Somewhere with the remaining 3.5 billion is rebates for farmers? So at best 3.5 billion out of 15 billion could go to pollution reduction programs, pending no new spending announcements with money allocated from the carbon tax…er shift. To me this is looking less and less as anysort of pollution reduction program, and the authors of the green shift must hope that due to the punitive cost of a tonne of carbon at 10$ per tonne and increasing, companies will take it upon themselves to reduce their carbon tax paid by taking pollution reduction measures. I suspect that polluting companies will do business as usual, and potentially increase GHG output, and pass the costs onto consumers or such products. We will be having this GHGs conversations 20 years from now. Nothing will change. Pollution will increase as jobs come before pollution. Why else exempt crude oil exports from the green shift?
It is very interesting that we don’t see any of the other Conservative MPs appearing on the news. It just emphasizes the fact Harper is a dictator and is exclusive.
We shall see on October 14, 2008. Stephane Dion and his strong, creative and “pro-Canada” team will lead us to a greener, fairer, wealthier Canada.
By Bonnie L on 09.16.08 5:09 pm
Bonnie, as you well know, all advertising contains misleading premises. This yada yada about strong leadership is just the red herring trying to distract attention from the vastly divergent leadership STYLES.
If Canadians want to be lead by an autocratic “my way or the highway” BOSS instead of a highly intelligent co-ordinator of a talented team then they will get the same in Ottawa as many of them do in their workplaces. How many times have you heard it at work, “this is not a democracy, and as long as I am in charge you will do it my way or leave!” It is not by accident that many of these people do leave later when or before there is a bankruptcy, merger, or buy out due to failing corporate performance.
We as a nation need to make an informed intelligent decision about the method as well as the style. The Japanese have long been ahead of us on the curve by employing CONSENSUS MANAGEMENT. I see Dr. Dion PhD., as a very good listener and team coordinator that has and is attracting superior minds and talent to the National Governance Table. He has shown willingness to modify and adapt proposed plans when and where they are shown to be less than perfect. That to me says a lot about his character and his commitment to a democratic approach to problem solving.
I personally asked him if this democracy of ours is broken or just badly bent. He did not answer immediately, but started to think about it seriously, and I am sure he is still reflecting on it! [Frankly he was startled by the question in the hallway!] I hope he gets the opportunity to respond from a position to do something about it!
Susan and the CBC should remember that we the Tax payer help to support her and the other Lapdog Lackies to REPORT the NEWS ,Not Distort and Propagate the CPC or any other Government Bullshit. Than she comes on Garth’s blog to plead her case. Well she would be more believible if the CBC hadn’t turned into a Government RUN Network from our supposedly PUBLIC OWNED Network. Don’t take my Tax Dollars you media whores and than treat us like Idiots. The National’s “At Issue” Panel stacked with Herbert the Lyin PQ Seperatist and Two Cons and sometimes another Guest CON. You got Don Newman on “Politics’ stating he can’t understand Dion in QP. You tell me who these Bastards are working for, the Public or the God damn harper party. Yeah I hope the Liberals win and I hope they start investigating some of the CBC and RCMP Actions since 2006. When it comes to who’s more believible in this “Scandal” I judge the truth by Garth’s Reporting on this incident for the CBC is too full of Distortions. Keep up the good Work Garth we need more people like you and less the likes of Lapdog “journalists’ like Susan. God! where have all the NEWS hounds gone???
Under CRAP and dubya, there will be WW3.
By Charles Oxley on 09.16.08 4:55 pm
To set the record straight.
The Democrats have put US troops in more armed conflict that the Republicans.
VPD are talking about an armed officer in every school. Gangs of youths are setting fires. Property crime is the highest in NA. Unreported crime is at a historical high, all from having the highest number of parent denied children in any free country. As the bulk of parent denied children come on stream and out into the streets over the next 5 years they might decide to burn down the whole city.
Is this your Canada you want back or saved from the CPC?
Hi Garth
You might want to read this.
I watched Harper who was in Kitchener today on Politics with Newman.
Harper is going to give first time home buyers up to $5000 tax credit on their closing costs. He says the prices of homes next year are estimated to be up 20% over the 2006. I haven’t purchased a home lately and I would think closing costs or $5000 would represent a pretty expensive home for a first time buyer. Opinions please.
Don Martin of the Calgary Herald said it best.
“Let there be no doubt Harper’s chummy charm will end the minute positive media relations are no longer necessary which, if he’s re-elected, means Oct. 14 around 10 p.m.”.
So to all you press out there and I know you read this blog, I would suggest that you get your act together and do your job. After Oct 14, you will become irrelevant.
By Ron p on 09.16.08 2:22 pm
A Harper majority will guarantee the closure of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. No surprises there!
This just in from 680News, second teen shot today in Toronto. This one shot in the head is dead. Politicians don’t get it. A hand gun ban or an assault weapon ban just does not cut it. It was not the fault of the tool used, it was the USER! The availability, legal or illegal, does not change the fact that the USER perpetrated the irreversible criminal act.
Until sentences for murder reflect how the We the People feel about this threat to life, liberty, and freedom then expect more of the same.
Permanent eviction from society sends the message, if you take a life, you forfeit your freedom. I recommend a self guarded Arctic prison on an island where escape is next to impossible, and fighting off hungry Polar Bears does send the message. Remember, dead does not hurt, getting there might, and in some cases, damn well should! None of the political parties nationally have handled this issue particularly well.
Acting like a warm up act, Rae, the former Ontario NDP premier known for his casual speaking style, roasted Harper, saying it’s time to throw the wolf behind the sweater out of 24 Sussex once and for all.
“We have what called the Little Red Riding factor at work. And that is we look at Mr. Harper and we say instinctively, ‘grandma what big teeth you have.’ And there is no way we are going to let that wolf stay at Sussex Drive any longer than past Oct. 14,” he said to the delight the crowd.
Rae said, in his lengthy political experience, “I have never seen a more secretive, a more right-wing, a more ideological, and a more completely controlled party in government as the one that I have under Stephen Harper.”
“He’s got a terrible agenda in mind for Canadians and then he comes on with that blue sweater and says ‘don’t worry Canadians you can relax’ … (but) we know why you are calling this election, you are trying to dupe Canadians into giving you a majority.”
Dion is a Team leader not a dictator. What a powerful, intelligent, honest, creative and compassionate team we have to lead Canada for the next four years through possible tough times to a greener, fairer, wealthier Canada. Just think of the great cabinet ministers we are going to have with Team Liberal!
Sorry. I forgot the link for the Rae story.
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/500125
By Liz on 09.16.08 5:47 pm
‘In and Out’ rears its very ugly head with perfect timing.
CPC will eat their own to gain power.
The topic for today’s Ontario Today phone-in was the economy. Many fiscally-conservative callers criticizing the Conservatives, GST cuts for example, and in reflection thinking favourably of past Liberals tenure; dismissing the announced $750 tax credit rebate on a new home that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars (referred to by the guest as “ad hoc” announcements); a small business owner in Tony Clement’s riding very worried about a Harper win and his short-term piecemeal programs, again a non-Liberal giving praise to Dion; etc.
One of the callers was particularly poigniant. The elderly retired woman called to discuss the Income Trust betrayal. She mentioned how she and her husband diverted their savings to that particular investment vehicle based on the strength of Harper’s promise, expecting it to sustain them with a steady income, and with the Harper government’s reversal, had as a consequence lost “big time”. When asked how she and her husband are fairing, she genuinely broke down as she said that they had to sell their home. After regaining composure, she said that they planned to protest vote: ABC
The entire call-in can be heard at the link below; the above-mentioned elderly caller can be heard at timestamp 32:02.
“Well Alberta Girl, just on your past few posts I would say you are an expert on “degrading, namecalling, snarky comments”.”
Really – please elaborate.
Also – please elaborate with regards to my “political whoring” remark.
Just for the record – I am not Leasa, Lisa or anyone else. My name – for the record is Donna.
I take offense to the remark by Bill about standing on the street corner, however i just have to chalk it up to the fact that that is all they have.
It is all any of the garth lovers have so they have to stoop to trying to put women down.
It is sad really and I feel sorry for them.
I saw the Peter Van Dusan – Garth Turner phone interview on cpac and it was like watching a witch hunt. You sounded very wary and guarded on the phone Garth and I do not blame you one bit.
It was obvious (to me anyway) that PVD and the gang wanted to create a potentially damaging (to Garth Turner) news story in order to score points with …. who knows.
All I can say is I hope it all back fires on you PVD and that present/future Parliamentarians just say no thanks to the CPAC election news crew.
It is all there on U tube. Just search for Garth Turner.
Mr. Harper, he speaks better English than me, OK. But I speak the truth better than him in English and in French,” he said.
This is what I have been waiting to hear from our Liberal Leader.
Bravo Mr Dion -Finally nailing Herbert Hoover(Harper) in a Blue Sweater.
GGG
It is sad really and I feel sorry for them.
By Alberta Girl on 09.16.08 7:21 pm
Who said you are a woman ?
By brain on 09.16.08 4:27 pm
Re: By HARRY S on 09.16.08 2:09 pm
“Have you ever told the truth in your lifetime? ……..
Even if you win, Harry, you lose. Are you so blinded by selfish wants that you do not know this?
4 out of 5 Germans believed Hitler was the best leader this world ever had. George W. Bush,……..
Ask the people of these empires what they think of their “God sent” leaders now. No one who wins elections based on lies “wins”, Harry. Sadly, I know why you don’t understand this.”
……………………………………………
brain … you need a transplant because your paranoia is making you unbelievable. How can you spew such vile vitriol revealing your unstable state of mind. How can you smearmonger a fine Canadian leader like Stephen Harper, and then pretend to present yourself as a sane commentator on the Canadian political scene.
I rarely attack the messenger, but your allusions to Hitler are over the top and you demean political discourse. You are not only wrong, you are irrelevant. Shame !!!
By SUE on 09.16.08 6:13 pm,
The CBC is the least biased media we have even if it is not perfect. If you want to get all of your information from “unbiased” sources such as the privately owned media just keep up your rants. The Conservatives are anxious to sell off the CBC to their cronies.
Give me your annual power bill, your income, your location, number of kids, age and marital status, and I will give you the approximate financial implications of the Green Shift. — Garth
Power, $250/y
Income, $11,000y
Fraser Valley, BC
0 dependents
single, and I will vacuum with the right incentive
Garth – don’t worry about it – YOU HAVE INTEGRITY
You promise truth and you show YOUR FIDELITY TO FACT. Be proud of that. That is what everyone wants from an employee!
Mr. Dion spoke of this same concept when he said in Halifax “mr. harper might speak better english than I, but I speak better truth”.
It’s nice to know if you’re a Garth-bot Garth’s civility policy doesn’t apply.
By Reid on 09.16.08 11:31 am
Yea, ain’t it great ?
Garth, all this says about you is that you are really too considerate of people. That is somehow bad in the Con books..
Sorry. I forgot the link for the Rae story.
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/500125
By Bonnie L on 09.16.08 6:51 pm
The wolf in sheeps clothing line was tried in the last Saskatchewan election, it didn’t work.
Gord.
Steven Taylor sure is doing a lot of crying again.
I agree looks like a set up. They are desperate to try and get Garth.
“… we are not a truly organized and disciplined political party.”
Get the implications and context of this interesting statement by an official of the CPC at http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=060d55a6-71be-4426-9188-f67987e472f9
I rarely attack the messenger,
By HARRY S on 09.16.08 7:37 pm
And I rarely make spelling mistakes,….
“PM says he’ll govern as if he has a majority” — Bill-Muskoka (not anymore), 6:09 pm
That heading is almost exactly what Joe Clark said in 1979 after winning a minority govt.
He lasted nine months, give or take!
****************************************
“Is this your Canada you want back or saved from the CPC?” — unintended consequences, 6:26 pm
To a large extent, it is far better to have a worldwide economic meltdown, leading to more and more wars and thus ultimately reduces the global population, probably to about three or four billion.
This would be the “unintended consequences”, which will be necessary to sort us all out.
“Alberta Girl”,
put women down? Never! Just trolls.(Smooch)
It was obvious (to me anyway) that PVD and the gang wanted to create a potentially damaging (to Garth Turner) news story in order to score points with …. who knows.
By conan on 09.16.08 7:23 pm
ROFLMAO enough already.
What is it that 57% of Cdns are concerned about the most, the economy.
Does the media work for or get paid the people, lol, no.
First clue, Garth has yet to produce his plan that will save the environment and the economy. Second, Harper talk in pennies when there`s hundreds of billions at stake. Third, look at the first week going into the second, all distraction, the TSE is down 19% in days not months but we have solid economic whatever that we will weather the storm with. Fourth, with the economy on a major down cycle that he has said will unwind the 40/0 but this thread is all about a single sound bite. Why would he knock at a random door and get that put on the net? He wouldn`t so why apologize for making the same choice any smart politician would have chosen. The bad press is so minor it`s the old saying, any press is good press.
Does it sound like distract, dismiss, deny staged by some gang.
Does a few bandaids and parachutes now flying sound like they might make a difference to the economic situation, that was the fifth clue.
The distractions are entertaining enough but really folks, it`s a big fan.
Garth’s apology shows more class than the Conservatives who have been allowed to get away with doing the same thing and even when caught refuse to acknowlege what they did.
By C. B. Innes on 09.16.08 8:15 am
Oh how quick you forget that Harper apologized to Dion for the puffin add and to a dead soldier’s father and suspended the person who sent the email regarding the father. What you said is not factual.
Rae, the former Ontario NDP premier known for his casual speaking style, roasted Harper,
And many still remember Rae as one of the worst Premiers that Ontario has ever had. This may come back and haunt him if he goes on to attacks Harper too much.
Lest we forget the use of bloggers by the CPC in the 2006 election:
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/9/22/3246809.html
Why do I suspect that we ain’t seen nothing yet in 2008?
It was obvious (to me anyway) that PVD and the gang wanted to create a potentially damaging (to Garth Turner) news story in order to score points with …. who knows.
By conan on 09.16.08 7:23 pm
Harper has targeted small business by extending tax thresholds which he claims will put apx,$11,000 in the owners hands. I suggested slashed the tax rate to 0 for the first self employed $50,000 which comes to under $6000 using Harpers method. Garth suggested I was from another planet. Not that I minded, it gave me a great deal of pause as to why our economic expert would dismiss it with such prejudice. I`ve come to the conclusion that if any politicians or the media raise issues concerning little things like global consumer are broke, they might actually be expect to produce a plan that will save the environment and the economy but that`s just my thought.
distract, dismiss, deny
My last comment to-day (promise!) is a link to “Our friend the smear …” in Harper’s (no, the magazine!) It is about American politics, but sounds awfully familiar.
Change “November 2″ to “October 14″ in the first sentence to get that déjà vu experience -
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2004/11/0080288
It was obvious (to me anyway) that PVD and the gang wanted to create a potentially damaging (to Garth Turner) news story in order to score points with …. who knows.
By conan on 09.16.08 7:23 pm
“In conclusion, let me apologize to CPAC for having compromised their effort.”
Now on to the media.
Was the purpose of the camera to show what people get if they want to talk to Garth when he knocks on their door or is the intent to catch Garth in an embarrassing moment? The first is good use of the medium while the second is tabloid gutter reporting. If the second was the case then cpac should appologise to the viewers for sliming up their big screens.
Garth,
I received two more of those 10% (on top of a dozen or so I received in the past 2 months) last Friday! Can the Government still send these horrible things AFTER the election is called? I am seeing red at this colossal waste of MY TAX MONEY!
What pissed me off is that I am still surprised at the unethical behaviour of this Conservative government after the broken promise (IT), the Cadman bribe, the IN & OUT ELECTION SCHEME, kicking out Bill Casey simply for standing up for his people.
Not to mention that I am still pissed of for the funding cuts for Status of Women and the Court Challenge program.
But, the biggest blow is to listen Stephen Harper promised that he will make it easier for foreign take-over of Canadian company if he is re-elected.
Canada for sale…I am so angry I could have cried.
This coming election day, I will vote this traitor out and vote Liberal.
Grace
Bonnie,
That $5000 is a tax credit, not a deduction off gross income. With tax credits, you multiply by the percentage(s) from lowest tax bracket(s) to which the amount applies. In this case, the lowest bracket for 2008 ranges from $0 to $37885; with $5000 being less than $37885, its percentage of 15% alone applies. The actual amount refunded thus becomes:
$5000 X 0.15 = $750
So according to this link, the average house price in Canada in 2007 was $307265. So with that $750, the net price is now $306515. Like the Ontario Today callers suggested and Halifax Chronicle Herald article stated:
“Mr. Harper’s election gimmick may sound better to the untrained ear, but Mr. Dion is the one with the sounder policy here.”
See table on Page 6 for tax brackets:http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/t4127-jan/t4127-08e.pdf
I’m not a lawyer. Can’t lie well enough. — Garth
By Daisy on 09.16.08 1:05 pm
Bo and Luke want you in the outhouse,Daisy .
Harper came to Kitchener today and stood in front of a sold sign while offering his good for nothing promises. As a resident I can tell you the sold signs are few and far between. The overwhelming majority have just reduced or new price on them.
He was met by protesters ( see link)
http://news.therecord.com/sections/Election2008/article/415641
and had the nerve to say that Canada needs more skilled trades, especially out west. Well these skilled trades live in Ontario not Alberta and need help now. It’s amazing how out of touch he is.
This is Harper’s definition of a recession :
“Somebody said a recession is when people start losing their jobs, and when your neighbor loses his job. There are job losses, but overall employment is pretty stable,” Harper said.
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=753822
Well my neighbour is laid off, so to me it’s a friggin recession and Harper and his bunch of goons have done nothing to help. They sat idly by while Ontario’s economy fades away and made snarky comments about Ontario being the last province you should invest in.
That(insert your own curse words here) Harper can stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.
Garth you may not be my M.P. but please kick some ass for me too.
brain … you need a transplant because your paranoia is making you unbelievable. How can you spew such vile vitriol revealing your unstable state of mind. How can you smearmonger a fine Canadian leader like Stephen Harper, and then pretend to present yourself as a sane commentator on the Canadian political scene.
You are not only wrong, you are irrelevant. Shame !!!
By HARRY S on 09.16.08 7:37 pm
Why Harry, your alter-self speaks of you for a change! Amazing turn of events.
Oh God, you should go read EastofEden’s comments on Angry’s Blog. The guy is coming completely unhinged.
Ok so Garth tried to control the media message, and EastofEden believes this is grounds Garth’s riding no to elect him. I guess all of Harper’s lies means EastofEden will calling for Harper’s execution in the very near future.
The “We will not touch senior’s Income trusts: lie only cost 35 Billion
The Promises made to Atlantic Canada, another lie that cost Atlantic Canadians a few billion.
I could go on and on but what’s the point? Garth should be hung, drawn and quarter for media manipulation, I hate to think what EastofEden is calling for Harper,… of course we could talk about Harper’s “Dysfunctional Play Book for Government” and his attempts to control media encounters as well, but I’m sure EastofEden will want to go for the big stuff
~my tongue was bitten many times while writing this~
CB, CBC is supported with the help of my Tax dollars and I will bloody well rant about it all I want. I expect the CBC to be UNBIASed in it’s reporting no matter who the Hell is in the PMO. It’s time they started to do some Journalism and lay off the Punditry and SPIN.
Ah, a little reminincing. Back in Edmonton, on the corner of Jasper and 104th there was a kindly old lady named Quarter Alice. Now, granted, Alice was no Date du jour, but if you talked to her you realized that she knew a helluva lot more about finances and reality than Dim Jim or Harper (the alleged, and never really employed, self-acclaimed economist).
Even odder is that I had, and always will have the deepest respect for Quarter Alice. ‘Quarter, quarter, got a quarter?’ She probably made more than most of the CRAP trolls do per day. She merely asked, and people gave of their own free-will. Darn, imagine that, free will in Alberta? She had class. A class she made and could give lessons to the CRAP trolls that come here seeking to be recognized. She had a thing called dignity and a sense of honour.
She was/is a good Canadian.
I see Garth is sensoring his blog by removing posts that don’t puff his ego. Great Job Garth.
Never mind the bollocks on all this non issue Garth interview flap. I man as we all know is honest and straight. He stood up admitted the error, examples of which are sadly lacking from other people.
Garth what I want to know is where can I go to get an 85 billion dollar loan from the government?
No ethics no objectivity . News as entertainment .
We pay the salaries at the CBC and they are supposed to be,at the very least,neutral in any election .
Report the news. Not be a part of the story .
Ormiston inserted herself into the story by responding to Garth on this blog .
It should have been handled privately in emails .
Not shouted from the highest tower .
They are jealous that most people now go to the internet for their daily
news fix .
Now you know why .
Try and be ethical in your treatment of all people you interview .
That would be a start .
Don’t forget Harper has vowed to dismantle the CBC if he gets a majority.
You are not FOX news .
Shame on you Bill !
By AD on 09.16.08 11:46 am
Here is my Harperized response. “Shame on me for what? I said nothing but she should be out looking for business, but your mind apparently twisted the meaning. Therefore, Shame on you!’
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 3:42 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHH!
Lest ye be of the Scripters who employ the phrase “Two-Bit-So-and-So”to be struck with a bag of quarters, thee hast done abiding well!
By SUE on 09.16.08 9:45 pm
Sorry Sue, I want to hear all the spin from as many corners i can get. There’s no other way for me to figure out who’s lying the most.
Will Canada lead or follow?:
“For the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.”
“I’ll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.”
Barack Obama
i read on lisa raitt’s blog (i’m sure she at least receives briefing notes from the PMO on what she is supposed to have written) that harper is having a rally at the svcc. sounded kinda like dion’s visit, except the part where it says that if you’re interested, you absolutely have to pre-register with your name, address and phone number. sounds like they’ll be doing some screening.
To a large extent, it is far better to have a worldwide economic meltdown, leading to more and more wars and thus ultimately reduces the global population
By Charles Oxley on 09.16.08 8:22 pm
and the earth shall be green again, in a few millions years
Oh Dear the Preda-Tories have dropped a rather huge turd on their own shoulders!
“Workers on the campaign of a Conservative MP who declined to participate in the in-and-out advertising scheme in the 2006 election were denounced as “idiots” and a “bunch of turds” by senior party officials, who wanted to “put the fear of God” into them for not taking part in the contentious TV and radio purchases.”
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=060d55a6-71be-4426-9188-f67987e472f9
Goodness go read it all, the e-mails between those people, well I never….
Can someone please post the whole thing on Garth’s next blogpost tomorrow? I’ll be away mostly.
I would like to know exactly which branch of Christianity Cons profess to follow? Maybe a pagan ritual might help, no, I’m afraid they might like it. They’ve gone flat out nuts eh?
Conservative Campaign Against Ontario
By SUE on 09.16.08 9:45 pm
Go get em Sue, I hate supporting the CBC with my tax dollars. Finally some sense comes out.
By Truth B Told on 09.16.08 1:32 pm
Only one party in a conversation needs to know it is being taped for it to be legal. YOU can’t tape your two friends talking but you CAN tape yourself and another person so long as one of you knows. Obviously if you are taping yourself then ONE of the parties in the conversation has consented!
Supreme court of Canada has ruled it legal.
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=001069
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=320423
http://www.efc.ca/pages/law/cc/cc.183.1.html
Ah, a little reminincing. Back in Edmonton, on the corner of Jasper and 104th
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.16.08 9:51 pm
I was trying to remember the name of that hotel on the South West Corner that was totally gutted by fire years ago. It has long since been replaced as the land values along there are “prime”!
“I am not Leasa, Lisa or anyone else. My name – for the record is Donna
BY ALBERTA GIRL ON 09.16.08 7:21 PM
Three faces of Eve.
Did anyone else pick up on the fact that she threw in the name "Lisa" for no reason? Wasn't that an old moniker?I believe if you check with a lawyer or police officer you’ll find that a warrant to tape is only called for when investigating a real or potential crime. Otherwise, it’s perfectly legal to record any conversation as long as one of the 2 parties involved is aware of the situation.
By Linda Pearson on 09.16.08 4:46 pm
I did just that tonight when I picked my daughter up from the GoTrain….[legal clerk/sec'try]. She confirms what you all have just told me.
BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE MORALLY RIGHT!
This coming election day, I will vote this traitor out and vote Liberal.
Grace
By Grace on 09.16.08 9:14 pm
Dear Grace
Yes I know those stupid poop-a-grams are insulting but Mr. Harper has bigger fish to fry. The NCC is launching a campaign for third party advertising with billboards radio etc. etc. We need to watch these guys as there will be other third party advertising trying to seat King Harper.
My suggestion is keep track of the ads coming from these guys and other unknown shadows. I am sorry I sound well, paranoid but this man will do anything for his holy grail – a majority government.
Stop deleting all the negative comments Garth. It makes you look petty.
Garth Turner: “It’s one thing to have it on YouTube, you put this on CBC… ahh, I can’t prevent you, and you can do it if you want and I’ll do your little interview here.”
It is clear to us that you knew you were speaking to a CBC journalist and agreed to do so, and that you acknowledged you were doing an interview.
BY SUSAN ORMISTON ON 09.16.08 10:41 AM
Dear Susan Ormiston,
Do you call yourself a reporter?
Allow me to point out the ridiculous folly of your misunderstanding, and how clear it is that you owe Garth an apology.
Garth’s words, and you quoted him here yourself:
““It’s one thing to have it on YouTube, you put this on CBC… ahh, I can’t prevent you, and you can do it if you want and I’ll do your little interview here.””
It’s obvious as hell that first of all Garth is trying to let you know that you’d be making a fool of yourself to do such a trivial story because it’s youtube calibre.
But since it’s a free world, do what you want, etc., and he clearly states after telling you to do what you want, that he will do your little interview…
He will do it, not ‘doing it at that moment’, but the future reference…. that he will do it.. “I’ll do your little interview here” …
What kind of a bad reporter are you, or are you a sensationalizer? Or just plain tory assistant?
This is a blow to your segment on blogs, if you can’t figure out, or research first that you got played by Janke who is a low, perverse and sinister hand of the CPC. Maybe you’ll gain credibility if you return and apologize to Mr. Turner, who is very well known for being forthright and honest. Mr. Turner did not deserve the very poor treatment, and I think Ormiston you know it.
Oh, and Ms. Ormiston, when are you going to “balance” the story with a flashy segment on how his Conservative opponent had lied, and knowingly, and deliberately set up a false camera situation all by herself. Why was that not treated in a similar fashion?
It’s incredibly clear Ormiston should have handled this differently. It’s clear Garth did not give permission for the tape to start and thought they were having a personal conversation. It’s clear that Ormiston has made herself appear to be working with an eye to the CPC.
Ormiston truly made a stump out of a bump and she will forever be remembered for her huge gaffe and misunderstanding and failure to apologize for it.
Or will she apologize to Mr. Turner once she gets her hackles down and realizes her misunderstanding of the conversation?
brain … you need a transplant because your paranoia is making you unbelievable. How can you spew such vile vitriol revealing your unstable state of mind. How can you smearmonger a fine Canadian leader like Stephen Harper, and then pretend to present yourself as a sane commentator on the Canadian political scene.
I rarely attack the messenger, but your allusions to Hitler are over the top and you demean political discourse. You are not only wrong, you are irrelevant. Shame !!!
By HARRY S on 09.16.08 7:37 pm
LOL!! I’m not the nutter who keeps getting banned because he’s an obvious bigotted Ad Hominem bore. All you have ever done here on this site is attack Dion, oh… 10 times a day… when your not getting booted. Its laughable to watch you dare to try to defend yourself as “rarely attacking the messanger”.
You go on and on and on Harry, about how great of a leader Harper is without ever really saying why but we all know, don’t we? Its because he’s male, he’s English, he’s white, he’s panders to the selfish gun totin, oil burnin’, war mongerin’, religous nutter, superiority complexed, greeder bigotted sexist voter and he smears the truth like no other and birds of a feather flock together… don’t they Harry.
How many times have we heard Harper say in his wonderful town halls and campaign slogans, “vote for your own best interest?” Cause that’s funny. I thought that’s what municiple elections were for. Councillors, mayors, reeves, they are the ones that ultimately decide whether or not we get that condo developed across the way or aquatic centre built or increase property taxes or get that freeway built or not… or that quirky bylaw passed or erased.
Even so, I thought municiple elections were about voting for whats best for “the community”. You know, not about “I” but “we”.
And its funny but I thought a provincial election was the one where the voter puts the best interests of the province first before themselves.
And federally? Vote for my own best interests federally? What about… whats best for the riding/nation… Canada… hmmmm… why would anyone ever want to disagree with such a great leader as Harper over such a silly little thing as that.
The Hitler/Bush/Harper comparison is apt, by the way. The trio are excellent communicators who, in their time, were thought of as leaders “extrodinaire” because they were great orators and told people everything they wanted to hear… you know, that Germans/Americans/Canadians are all better than everyone else and have the right to rule the world and such… have the right to pollute “cause everyone else is doing it” or because “large gobs of C02 isn’t pollution” or because “climate change is a hoax” or “we are simply better than everyone else and we don’t have to answer to anyone else, everyone else must answer to us”. Yes, “we can make war and nation build wherever we like” (as long as they’ve got the resources we can steal to make our corps profitable… make that our corrupt corporate lobbyist government leaders and their favored corps profitable) and they had/have their brainwashed cult followers just like you, Harry. Nothing new here, same old boring repeat ad hominem bore.
By the way… are you detecting a pattern?
When will you ever learn, Harry, that the message trumps the messanger? When will you ever finally catch onto the fact that belittling others to build themselves up as you and your “great leader” do SO VERY OFTEN (lol), creates nothing more than legends within his/your own mind?
Harry, you can be that scapegoat bigot all you want and hate immigrants and French or anything that isn’t “Christian superior” and run down whatever else that you belittle including little old me to make yourself so much bigger and better but most people aren’t stupid. They’ve seen it all before as us regulars here have seen by yourself over, and over, and over again.
Yep, saw it with Hitler, had gross eyefulls of it with Bush, a man who, with the Republican congress of 2001, after deregulating the banking industry to the point where banks were loaning out money to kids for bubble gum never mind any Joe of the street with ID in his wallet for $300,000+ homes, is solely responsible for the subprime led world wide recession were witnessing now. Like Bush sez, corporate “banks know best”… don’t they? Just let them call the shots, no need for government to regulate or interfere… greed is good.
Sub prime didn’t just hit the U.S., it hit England, Germany, Canada, China, it hit everywhere Harry. And Harper goosestepped with Bush’s banking and morgage deregulation with 40/0’s the same way. Just like he would have with the lie based war on Iraq. Harper is a leader? He’s either grossly inept to have introduced such a loser subprime version of it in Canada or he did it intentionally (same thing, grossly incompetant only one can add traitor), or he’s a liar saying Canada’s economy is “OK” and unaffected by his dullard policies or he’s both. Either way, Harper/Bush sure isn’t giving two hoots for regular folk who are facing unemployment from decimated manufacturing, crashing commodites, along with personal negative equity and bankrupcy. Corporate amerika knows best.
And while were on the subject of the dullard so called “great” leaders who serve themselves, their God of money and their beloved CEO’s and largest shareholders for perks at everyone elses expense as the corporate lobbyist whores they’ve always been, “great leaders of vision” who genius know that corporate america knows whats best for the world so we should all just let them… you know… self regulate…
Such visionaries we have to openly invite the largest shareholders and CEO’s with little thought beyond the next “for profit” quarterly dictate the future of our world…
Do you have any idea what the percentage of people who bought homes in the U.S. in the last 2.5 years has since declared bankrupcy? Its half, Harry. America’s second largest bank and largest morgage brokers Freddy Mac and Fannie May didn’t go broke by accident. And it could happen here with the government/taxpayers picking up the ultimate tab. And you want such “great” leaders to dictate economic, environmental and consumer policy?
But lets not let little facts step in the way of your goose step support of such “great” leaders with such superwonderful “experimental” policies like subprime and 40/0’s as a small tip of this obscene iceburg.
YOu just keep on running down Dion and the Green Shift as you’ve continually done 10 times every day in the wake of the 5 most successful national economy’s in the world having gone Green in the 90’s and expect us to somehow believe that you “rarely attack the messenger” like the loser bigotted hypocrite you are. I’m sure you’ll get all kinds of wonderful sympathy and support on this site going forward with more of the same.
(shaking my head… Why did I waste my time with this loser? Right… bird of a feather)
[...] smallness of our politics when something as trivial as the identity of an individual at a televised door-knocking opportunity gets turned into he subject of supremely phony outrage by the Harper team’s volunteer online [...]
You people are lunatics.
If you want to start suggesting that people are posting under different names than the one they have had since 2006, then go ahead. But maybe you might want to ask Garth about “Milton John”. By the way, Garth loves to make “comments” after certain posts, he has access to all the IP addresses. Will he correct your misperception? I doubt it, he loves to see his supporters post false info about those of us on the right.
No friggin wonder I quit coming over here.
I notice though that I did not have an answer to my questions, which is typical as all you Garth lovers want to do is degrade and intimidate those who do not love Garth as you do. They have a name for that – its a CULT!
Let’s see if this gets posted???
I did just that tonight when I picked my daughter up from the GoTrain….[legal clerk/sec'try]. She confirms what you all have just told me.
BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE MORALLY RIGHT!
By Truth B Told on 09.16.08 11:21 pm
The LAW, not morality, controls such matters. The LAW allows anyone who is a party to a conversation to record that conversation. A warrant is only required for those NOT a party to the conversation.
You might note that virtually ALL Customer Service calls state ‘This conversation may be recorded for training purposes.’
We have laws to protect us, not moralistic platitudes. It has been that way since Hammarambi’s time.
There are those who want to inject ‘their’ version of morality’ on everyone else by making their ‘morality’ LAW. That is called a despotic Theocracy, i.e., Stephen Harper and his SSM Bill.
It has long since been replaced as the land values along there are “prime”!
By Truth B Told on 09.16.08 11:00 pm
I haven’t a clue. Moved from there in the last millenium. LOL
The land values are definitely PRIME, and The Bay store was a sad place to walk through, all empty and boarded up, but at least I could get from the LRT to the Sky Way and avoid the cold during the winter. That is a GOOD plan, and more cities need the same, like Toronto!
(shaking my head… Why did I waste my time with this loser? Right… bird of a feather)
By brain on 09.17.08 2:40 am
Damn fine piece of writing Brain.
Your time was not wasted.
Flora, I’ll be the one that decides what I believe in and what I “label” myself has, thanks.
In my opinion, are not a Tory and will not be voting Tory because there is no longer a federal Tory party. You are a new conservative voting for the party of “free enterprise, free markets and free trade.” That does not define “Tory.”
By Flora on 09.16.08 5:13 pm
No friggin wonder I quit coming over here.
I notice though that I did not have an answer to my questions, which is typical as all you Garth lovers want to do is degrade and intimidate those who do not love Garth as you do. They have a name for that – its a CULT!
Let’s see if this gets posted???
By Alberta Girl on 09.17.08 8:40 am
Doors open . Feel free to leave
anytime .You weren’t missed at all .
Redneck
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 09.17.08 10:05 am
Make all the excuses and platitudes you want, taping a phone call undeclared is entrapment, a breach of courtesy, and down right double dealing. The agencies that state they may be recording this call for “quality assurance purposes” are at least up front and in most cases just trying to protect their employees from unwanted, unnecessary abuse. Those organizations that keep phoning clients with “courtesy calls” are an out right nuisance and abusing the privilege of the private number of the home owner. Those that use auto-dialing equipment to cold call for marketing purposes only are a disease that needs to be poisoned off. That type of work is poorly paid for the unfortunate operator and kills any potential for sales. Why do I get inceascent calls asking if I want new windows and doors when I have renewed mine over the past 4/5 years progressively? The same operators call every 2 or 3 months and their boss can’t get past his ego trip to take me off their list. I do my best to drag them out for long conversations just to frustrate their objectives! A private telephone is just that, it is not a business, or a newspaper, radio station or video transmitter with a paid public license to pollute the airwaves with schpeil!
That hotel at the corner of Jasper & 104th, was it the Commerce or the Curtis, something like that? I left Emyntyn in 1964 and the fire was years after that!
They have a name for that – its a CULT!
Let’s see if this gets posted???
By Alberta Girl on 09.17.08 8:40 am
Doors open . Feel free to leave
anytime .You weren’t missed at all .
Redneck
By Men With Hats on 09.17.08 1:55 pm
Wrong, Wild Rose Brat, it is more like that restaurant table in Flin Flon, Mb. known as the “table of truth”, or that room in the Nisku Hotel Restaurant called the cubicle of truths!
“Cult” typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding population considers to be outside the mainstream.
A group’s cult status begins as rumors spread of its novel belief system, its great devotions, its idiosyncratic practices, its perceived harmful or beneficial effects on members or its perceived opposition to the interests of mainstream cultures and governments. Persistent rumors may follow relatively small and recently founded religious or non-religious groups when they are perceived to engage in excessive member control or exploitation.
This blog does not qualify on several counts, but does eliminate excessive foul language and slanderous statements but not innuendos. You seem to have a somewhat thin skin for this endeavour, so either toughen up or shut up!
I have had a couple of posts not accepted for highly specious allegations, but rarely a word for decorum.
This former Albertan recommends that you need to do some extensive traveling in order to broaden and open your mind to the rest of this big continent. It ain’t all what others claim it is, I have found. When I say travel, I mean among the real people who are working for a living on the highways and biways. In a decade and a half of hustling freight, I have met a cross section of America/Canada/Mexico/Cuba that have taught me many things over meal tables and on docks for which I should have kept a diary, but many a night or day that I laid my head down I was totally spent and barely capable of drawing those lines in the “comic book”. The list ranges from some very interesting, powerful, to well decorated, and some infamous. Name dropping is not in order, and some are now deceased, but every one you meet and talk with does influence your thinking to some degree, and in many cases both of you are the better for it.
By Truth B Told on 09.17.08 4:00 pm
Boy, is that spot on and true.
Hi Garth. I actually didn’t hear about this issue until I read your blog. I don’t think you did anything wrong but thanks for apologizing (for those that may have been bothered). You’re a different kind of politician and THAT’s a GOOD THING!
Thank you Garth and beat the CONS hard in this upcoming election!
As always, best wishes to you and yours!
There is a big difference between a staged, political event (the Harper one you refer to) where everyone knows it is staged, and a documentary outfit, like the CPAC crew, who are trying to capture a genuine, non-staged canvass. I don’t know why people are having so much trouble with this. Garth knows it is wrong and has apologized. His campaign manager could not bring herself to apologize, and neither are these commenters.
By Truth Squad on 09.16.08 8:34 am
Whatever you say Herr Goebbels .