Apparently I am too much. Too much for a successful career in Canadian politics, anyway. As you may have heard, last night I lost my seat in Parliament in the first elections in the world to be held in the immediate wake of the financial and economic mess enveloping us.
Being Canada’s only blogging MP (my political site played a key role in having my butt kicked out of the Conservative party) was bad enough. But being with a political party which seemed to offer people no better safe harbour in this storm was likely the kiss of death. I’d urged my leader to adopt an immediate policy of guaranteeing all private bank savings, but that commitment was blown.
In any case, my own damn fault. If you want to know more, you can buy my book (the new one). More on that in future days.
This morning I am off to Nashville to give a speech to a few thousand realtors at an industry convention. My topic: What comes next. My thesis is that what’s happening right now bears an uncanny resemblance to what transpired in the months following Nine Eleven. I mean, look – traumatizing major event making people feel helpless. Inappropriate, incompetent government response. Major mistakes in monetary and fiscal policy. Volatile markets scaring the crap out of investors. Sudden perceived value in real estate. And the consuming preoccupation with where money’s safe.
So, are we sowing the seeds of the next housing boom, even as we sink faster into the current rubble?
I think that might be a plausible argument for the American market, while here in Canada we are destined to go through the next phase of decline.
In any case, more later.
In the meantime, send canned goods.
121 comments ↓
Come on Garth, as hard as it may be, we learn the most when we lose. If we are smart we learn from our mistakes and try not to repeat them.
I am hopeful, your blog is still here the morning after and people will still come here to read your words.
There is new found freedom here, you do not have shackle and chains you had before, and now is the time to starting walking again.
You still have my vote and always will!
Go Garth Go!!!
Send canned goods ?
Garth – I suspect your retirement fund is set! And well diversified to weather this crisis.
The average income of your riding’s constituency is much lower than your annual income. And you ask them to send canned goods to you cause you’re out of a job ?? puh-lease!
You run for re-election in the hopes of winning, and then you plan a trip to “moonlight” on the side, on your boss’ time ? (Your constituents are your boss, incidently).
I’m so bleary eyed this morning I missed the link to your Tues Comments. One of my buddies last night called you Canada’s Lou Dobbs. Our very own Mr. Independent.
Hope you’ll keep up your commentary.
Bekker
So sorry that you didn’t make it but I have no doubt that next time you will. It’s no time to give up. Your predictions re the meltdown were uncanny, and your support for we seniors who lost big on Harper’s income trust betrayal was invaluable. Thank you for representing and informing many many Canadians beyond your riding. Hope you stay with the Grits; they can use your wisdom. Mr. Dion is a gentleman and in the future he will be credited with being the only leader who offered a rational approach to Climate Change. Looking forward to October 29th when you restart your blog.
But being with a political party which seemed to offer people no better safe harbour in this storm was likely the kiss of death.
The liberal bloggers–Zorpheous, aka The Wingnuterer excepted–abandoned you to the conservative wolves. Join the NDP and I’ll savagely kick Janke’s ass if he even looks at you.
Dear Garth:
I was surprised at the results, but then again many people do not vote for their local rep, but for the part (I know, probably more shocking).
We, many of us, not just in Halton but throughout Canada, hope to see you run again as part of the Liberal team. My congratulations to you and your team for a very hard fought campaign.
It will only be a short two year time out, and I hope to see you back for the next go round.
Sorry to see you go, Garth. I think we’ll all suffer for your loss in the long term.
Anyways, I can’t say I’m surprised that the Liberals lost. They ran such a poor campaign that most people I talked to had no idea that they even had a platform, let alone what it was. Most people’s understanding of the Liberals seemed to come from Conservative propaganda.
I just hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for the Canadian Experiment.
So terribly sorry for your loss Garth.
I sincerely hope you will not abandon politics & will return, with a vengeance, in the future. We need you.
Wishing you the best in wherever & whatever you do for now!
Garth I am suprised you lost. Always enjoyed the blog even though I disagree with most liberal views. All the best in the future.
Garth – so devestated to hear you lost. You fought a good battle & the war is not over. Unfortunately, the big money machine and the conservative controlled media, I believe, played a big part in this election.
I’ll be anxiously awaiting to see the results of the Cadman & Election Canada results.
Its a sad day for Canada.
Have a great trip. Hope you’ll continue blogging.
Are you serious Garth? Perceived value in real estate? Isn’t the whole reason this mess started is that property values had ballooned to unreasonable proportions due to artificially low interest rates, and now the market is flooded with the homes of people who can no longer pay their mortgages? Where do you get this “perceived value in real estate” from?
Too much? You sound as if you’ve just been dumped by a girlfriend and now you’re telling yourself that, “I was better than her anyway”.
As to guaranteeing bank savings…what? Is Scotia Bank suddenly going under? Is Royal Bank stopping customers from withdrawing their money? Not a chance…I don’t know where you’re getting the notion that our financial institutions are insolvent. It’s incompetence and a complete lack of understanding of the financial system that lost the Liberals this election. Calls to “save Canadians pensions” by Stephane Dion are beyond ridiculous. Is the Prime Minister simply supposed to mandate that the stock market go up, and not down? Those pensioners get to choose their RRSP’s, and if they decided to go with more equity rather than fixed income in their portfolio, that’s their fault. Greedy people need to suffer the consequences and not come crying to the government about that.
Garth,
Maybe this will humble you somewhat. Your arrogance over the past few years has been sickening. There is no questioning your passion; however, your personality is unpalpable to everyday Canadians
Mr. Turner,
When I read your post a couple of days ago, “Will anyone dare?”, I suspected that you may have seen some bad numbers. I was still shocked last night, when I saw that the citizens of Halton preferred a Stephen Harper ‘puppet’ over someone who would actually fight for them.
Mr. Dion has to go – this was among the top three worst political campaigns I can remember in forty years of voting. The weight of this defeat rests squarely on his shoulders, for a whole range of reasons – not just the economy.
Indirectly, this election may have been Stephen Harper’s downfall, too. If he only managed a minority win in a campaign against the pathetic performance of Mr. Dion, he likely would have lost to a competent Liberal leader.
I’ll miss your daily commentary, I’ll miss this blog and all its regulars (even Greg with his tin foil cap, railing about fluoride, etc), and I’ll miss the opportunity to make a comment that will likely be read by ‘people in high places’. This blog has been a special era in Canadian politics – hopefully someone ‘will’ have the nards to dare carry on with a successor.
Thank you for making Canadian politics so much more accessible to the ‘great unwashed’.
So long, all….
In all my years of observing politics here in Canada, you rose above the greats who preceded you in several areas.
It’s too bad that party politics has become so powerful.
Good luck with everything Garth.
Garth Canada would be a better country if we had more MPs like you. You brought a new level of accessibility and democratic openness to our Canadian government that even your staunchest critic would have to admit to.
Re-elected or not you may not have instantly changed how MPs interact with their constituents, I know for a fact you changed how they should interact with their constituents. And I believe that will forever direct and improve our system of government.
Thank you Mr. Turner,
and of course Esther
Scott Ross
(A Young Liberal Campus Club president in Kelowna who had the extreme pleasure to host you at UBC Okanagan last year)
I’m really sorry.
The people of Halton should be sorry, too. They lost someone who would represent them in government, not the government to them.
At least the Cons didn’t get a majority. If that sounds Pollyanna-ish, believe me, I’m no Pollyanna.
Wow them in Nashville.
What kind of canned goods do you need?
Garth
Digital democracy did NOT speak yesterday it only watched and commented on the 57% that took the time to vote. You only lose if you fail to get back up to fight another day.
Stay with us Garth we need you!
All the best in Nashville -Give my regards to Rita, Hank and Slim
All the best to you always!!!!
go fuck yourself…you are a piece of shit……
Well done!
I am truly sorry you lost but the biggest loss is to the people of Halton and your many friends across this great country of Canada. You have done so much for democracy in this country and though you may no longer be blogging as an M.P., we will still need your voice and insights in the days ahead. I still feel this country is in danger of being weakened by Mr. Harper and his far right friends. You have the knowledge that we need to be continually on guard for this wonderful country and as long as we have a man in power who considers Canada to be a ” second class socialist state” we NEED to be on guard. Thank you so much Garth and thanks to your wonderful wife who has shared her time with you so we can benefit from your knowledge and expertise. And thank you Esther who has shown us the true face of dedication and loyalty. I hope you will all have a well earned rest after that truly magnificent fight to help the people in Halton. Looking forward to meeting you all again on line and exchanging information and ideas with the many bloggers who have contributed so much of value. Thank you all.
Even after a scathing defeat, your arrogance will not allow you to think you did anything wrong. Why don’t you quit blaming other intelligent human beings for your failures and go back to giving marginal advice to a select few investors who still trust you.
Paper money is never safe. That is why Woodroe Wilson your liberal ancestor scrapped the gold standard and gave the printing to a certain type of people who tend to have big noses and ears.
Will that be included in your speech?
I’d urged my leader to adopt an immediate policy of guaranteeing all private bank savings, but that commitment was blown.
In any case, my own damn fault. – Garth
I don’t think this would have made any difference in the election outcome.
The issue boils down to one, Green Shift.
M. Dion did what he thought was the right thing, releasing the platform early so that Canadians could take a serious look at it. It is the right plan, unforyunately ahead of its time.
Most vote based on emotion and sound bites, not rational thought and research. Hence Harper fromthe moment Green Shift was announced was on the offensive. Lies or half truth, doesn’t matter, people heard it and no matter how much we protested, the population had already made up their minds.
Harper’s record was not brought up, except from Elizabeth May’s attempts at the leaders debates where she was cut off due to time contraints.
There was no pressing issue for the electorate, and therefore no need to change government. Turn out sucked, always good for the governing party.
But there’s always a bit of silver in the clouds. The people of Quebec gave their judgement, kicking the appointed senator and unelected cab-min, Fortier, out. Harper would be a fool to bring him back as is being speculated. If he does, he will once again misjudge the people of Quebec and the 10 seats he has will be in jeopardy.
And in Edmonton, a tiny spot of orange. Is this the first of many spots in the Alberta sea of blue?
Anyway, Garth, I think the way the CBC showed your riding was telling; a hold for the Conservatives. You ended up a Liberal in a Conservative bastion, the cards were stacked against you.
But don’t let the buggers get you down. If you’re passing through Chatham-Kent on a Thursday morning, I know where you can get a bowl of good soup and a sandwich!
Have some fun hopefully in the Music city. If you get a chance, Nashville Predators game could be worth watching. Likely following this financial mess, they will be moved to Kitchener with Jim Balsillie as owner. Canadian teams are more successful at the gate then American sun belt teams. Thanks for being Canadas only blogging M.P.! You should be proud of your acheivements.
Mr Turner
I followed your blog throughout the election and from the content I was led to believe it was a slam dunk. It appreared the person who won cannot be all that bad. Personally, I do not believe in the winners and losers theory as each has their following.
But it is a shock to see that you were out performed by a sizeable margin. It was this green shift that did you in. Our MP here in London West went down due to the same reason. The green shift was never clearly explained to get any traction. Also, you can not run on spreading fear of what is taking place as we speak without measures to solve the problem.
It appears that we will now navel gaze until we get a new leader. I believe Mr Dion is too fragile, thin skinned and stubborn to accept constructive criticism.
The end result is we have Mr Harper and the conservatives for at least two years. The question remains are the other parties going to get behind the government to make the country work better or are they going to snipe. On listening to the leader of the NDP they are going to push their agenda.
God, Garth, I’m glad that you rose to fight again.
Now for something to make this grown man cry:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081014/election2008_harper_dayafter_081015/20081015?s_name=election2008
And
I have an observation about your “digital democracy,” Garth.
I quit reading your blog a number of months ago after you allowed your lemmings to say whatever profanity and slurs they wanted. Then you would delete comments that were not in support of you, though they were sincere questions or comments worthy of debate.
I have just returned today to see what you have to say in the wake of the election. I read a couple of your latest postings and the comments on them. Of the hundred or so comments there is usually one comment not supporting you.
Garth, that is not a true representation of those that comment on your blog. Moreover, you have either banned dissenting opinion or facilitated your followers to intimidate and gang up on those.
Democracy is not censoring dissension, it is debating it. Your “experiment” did not work because to manipulated the variables. That’s what makes you a good liberal.
Too bad, Garth. I really thought you would pull it off. I hope we haven’t heard the last of you, especially on this blog. Always good to read a thoughtful dissenting opinion on a blog even if you sometimes go over the top. At least you get people thinking.
Hey Garth! I am really sorry and surprised that you were not re-elected. Your message and medium were really appreciated.
Maybe now you can enjoy a break from dealing with all of the political lunacy. Then you can come back and hold all of the politicians feet to the fire, regardless of party. A national “for-the-people” political blog.
Garth – sorry to see it didn’t work out. I made my X, but unfortunately the big blue cash & spin machine snowed too many of my neighbours.
Best of Luck.
Good call on the guaranteed bank savings by the way…
Garth: Years ago I was a subscriber to your newsletter. The book is great, but the immediacy of a newsletter could be helpful to people now. It could be distributed through the internet to effect cost savings. Email me if you ever start it up again. Your newsletter’s guidance was worth thousands to me back in the day. (I even wrote a letter to the Star pointing that out, and praising the potental of the Liberal response to the economic crisis with someone of your intelligence and expertise on ‘the team’. They chose not to publish it.)
I truly despair for my precious country with dinasaur-brained Harper again able to mire us in horse-buggy thinking. Oil is so last century! Renewable energy and pollutionless technology could have made Canada a dynamic, thriving world leader. With Harper we will have nowhere to go but down. So sad.
Garth,
In the meantime, send canned goods.
What flavour, and have you tried those fine culinary delights known as MRE’s?
Regarding the election, here is my take, non-partisan and from the heart and mind.
(Reposted from Garth truner Will return October 29th)
I just want to know what we did to deserve this.
By Jim on 10.15.08 5:51 am
Here are few things I can think of the people did:
1. Xenophobic and judgemental over Dion’s place of birth and speech, and anti-intellectual.
2. Wanting to be like ‘Americans’. Oh, will they regret that scheme.
3. Apathetic with a sad and insulting 59% voter turnout, the lowest in Canadian History.
4. Hateful towards the Liberals for past deeds. Vengeful and petty.
And here are few, IMHO, things the Liberals did to themselves.
1. Failed to be the Official Opposition REPEATEDLY choosing politics over principles.
2. Chose another leader from Quebec. Sorry, that will no longer fly with English Canada because of the Separatist’s attitude towards the rest of Canada. The French brought this on themselves by being insulting and rude to Canadians who, otherwise, care about their rights and heritage, but not by demeaning their own.
3. The Green Shift. It is far too complex as an election issue. They negated the KISS principle and it bit them in the arse.
4. Having Ignatieff (Whom I have yet to meet a Canadian who even likes, much less trusts him) as the Deputy Leader. Hint for the next Leadership Convention. Find a English speaking LEADER, and dump Ignatieff FAST.
5. Too little too late. The Liberals seem to believe they hold a ‘right’ to leadership. Canadians differ, especially after JC’s arrogance before the Gomery Comission. JC should have been sequestered to the dark shadows and remained out of the campaign.
6. Again, and foremost in my own mind, the repeated ABSTENTIONS on votes that should have brought Harper DOWN. Inexcusable and cowardly to be kind.
7. Playing politics with Elizabeth May. That hurt both the Liberals and the Greens.
8. Pre-election decisions to NOT form a cooperative liason (coalition government) with the other opposition parties, much less a government. Most Canadian want to see real cooperation for THEIR benefit, not any party’s benefit. It is known as DEMOCRACY. Try it and watch how the people respond is my suggestion. A good idea is a good idea regardless of where it comes from. That should be the motto of each and every MP who actually comprehends why they are in Oddawahaha…to serve their constituents FIRST and FOREMOST.
Bottom line. The People responded with their feelings and all the crap about ‘voting strategically’ was a sad and desperate attempt at whining to win.
That pretty well sums up all the highlights of my opinion, yet there are a thousand points of Darkness that contributed.
A few more would include.
1, Lax penalties for violent criminals.
2. Running on promises rather than record.
3. Too much mud slinging and too little real leadership, other than what Dion wanted people and his party to believe in. Harper merely spoon fed his far right base FUD and lies and the Sheeple followed right along mindlessly as usual.
4. Too many years of ‘Not getting it done’ as Ignatieff said. at least he was right but not smart in that statement.
Have a good day.
Should have read (Reposted from Garth Turner Will return October 29th)
OOPS! Garth, very sorry about mispelling your name. Typos get all of us.
Mr Turner.
I am not affiliated with any party, and often enough didn’t agree with you…:)
But I always thought that you were accesible, and at least talking to us rabble.
Sorry to see the loss last night.
Sorry for all of us.
“Democracy is not censoring dissension, it is debating it.”
Janice, would you also happen to have any ideas about how lies like those in your 1:28 pm comment can be fought in a democracy? Or why anyone would want to propagate them in a democracy if they believed in that form of government?
You and your ilk are unreal, Lady, or rather, should be unreal but sadly are not in the CPC.
[...] famous father’s footsteps. Garth Turner, a former Conservative, then Liberal, MP, has been defeated in his Ontario riding – too bad for his constituents, but certainly a boon for the fans of his [...]
[...] famous father’s footsteps. Garth Turner, a former Conservative, then Liberal, MP, has been defeated in his Ontario riding – too bad for his constituents, but certainly a boon for the fans of his [...]
Send canned goods ?
Garth – I suspect your retirement fund is set! And well diversified to weather this crisis.
The average income of your riding’s constituency is much lower than your annual income. And you ask them to send canned goods to you cause you’re out of a job ?? puh-lease!
You run for re-election in the hopes of winning, and then you plan a trip to “moonlight” on the side, on your boss’ time ? (Your constituents are your boss, incidently).
By Larry on 10.15.08 8:38 am
Laary – U must be a Harper con troll. Garth’s not saying to send him canned goods. For Christ’s sake, he talking about all the lower & middle classes who’ll be screwed by Harper.
In less than a mere 24 hours Harper is back at it. He is incapable of learning how a democracy functions.
Harper targets Senate reform
CALGARY — Newly-re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper today served notice that he will stack the Senate with Tory appointments if necessary to push through democratic reforms of the chamber.
Notice he made the announcemnet on Safe Ground…Calgary. Had he said that elsewhere people might have grabbed a rope and used it.
Congrats Canada, you have given the keys to the Kingdom, again, to Caesar Disgustus. FOOLS!
Oh, and now Danny Williams wants to be Buddy, Buddy with Harper. What a bunch of BLOWHARDS!
The liberal bloggers–Zorpheous, aka The Wingnuterer excepted–abandoned you to the conservative wolves. Join the NDP and I’ll savagely kick Janke’s ass if he even looks at you.
By Robert McClelland on 10.15.08 9:13 am
I don’t know what bloggers you’re referring to Robert. So much for Layton applying for the PM position. The NDP will never form a govt. in Cda. Your party may have some good points, but Cdn companies create jobs & need tax incentives to compete globally. Layton is out to lunch.
Honestly, the only thing that could have made your loss more enjoyable to me would have been if Fry, Goodale and Coderre went with you.
Oh well, next time!
[...] famous father’s footsteps. Garth Turner, a former Conservative, then Liberal, MP, has been defeated in his Ontario riding – too bad for his constituents, but certainly a boon for the fans of his [...]
By Editorial: A stronger minority on 10.15.08 4:19 pm
Ah another con troll posting under different names. How many names have you used in the last several years?
I watched Ujjal Dosanjhs speech last night. That guy has to be the biggest sore loser who won a riding ever in Canadian politics. He said he will not support the Conservative government, and blamed Jack Layton for the Liberals misfortunes. He said if this government is going to survive, it is because Jack is working with the right wing Conservatives. What a clown that man is. Jack owes it to Canadians to work with what our democratic system has chosen. We didn’t want a majority government, but we wanted to have a government that works. Hopefully this one will. I was surprised when Stephane Dion said thanks to his voters for the 6th time in 12 years. Too many elections, too costly, lets work together for the betterment of all of us.
Most people’s understanding of the Liberals seemed to come from Conservative [Reform-Alliance] propaganda.
BY MWJ 10.15.08 9:27 AM
Unfortunately MWJ, that’s exactly 100% true.
I found every Duped Reform-Alliance “Tory” who I listened to.. were all stupid enough to only know “Harper Lies” about the Liberals.
Reform-Alliance “duped Tories” — ignorantly — believed Harper’s Lies, and so, they’ve thrown Canada under the bus — they ignored their duty to seek the truth.
We will all suffer.
Harper will soon be abolishing universal public healthcare, shutting down public tv, and banning women’s choice altogether. Prepare yourselves, young women will once again begin to die as abortion is outlawed from their choices.
…
One good thing.. thankfully my nephew got married within the window of opportunity before Mr. Bigot gets his way.
…
Unfortunately in the hateful new country we live in, where opposition and homes are targeted and lawn signs vandalized, I fear for everyone.
To quote Jennifer’s blog: “For a terrifying glimpse into the future of Canada, I strongly recommend “The Wrecking Crew” by Thomas Frank.”
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2008.09-walrus-reads-book-review-the-wrecking-crew-thomas-frank-izida-zorde/
Wake up.. 1933 indeed.
Where can I sign-up to fight for us.
“Janice, would you also happen to have any ideas about how lies like those in your 1:28 pm comment can be fought in a democracy?”
By Herb on 10.15.08 4:15 pm
My lies? What lies might those be Herbie? Maybe before you call someone a liar you should have some sort of evidence of such.
Anyway, yes indeed I voted for Stephen Harper. I was disappointed he didn’t win a majority but with the state of the liberals we won’t be seeing another election any time soon. That was a victory.
We also won’t be experiencing the green shaft. Very thankful for that.
Hey, Herb, did you happen to see the interview with Dion on ATV? He criticizes Harper’s inaction on the economy. When asked what he would have done differently, he didn’t understand the question. Maybe his hearing, maybe his language, whatever. It was very comical and really revealed the substance of this guy.
Did you also happened to see how he responded to Roger Smith of CTV last night? He showed his true colours again.
You gotta admit, we dodged a bullet with this guy.
Here are few things I can think of the people did:
1. Xenophobic and judgemental over Dion’s place of birth and speech, and anti-intellectual.
TOTALLY AGREE. TOO BAD MOST CDNS GO FOR CHARISMA INSTEAD OF INTELLECT.
2. Wanting to be like ‘Americans’. Oh, will they regret that scheme.
AGREE. MOST CDNS ARE AS IGNORANT AS AMERIKUNS.
3. Apathetic with a sad and insulting 59% voter turnout, the lowest in Canadian History.
AGREE FOR MANY REASONS. I BELIEVE THE LIBS HAVE TO REACH OUT TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AND YOUNG UNIVERSITY KIDS – OUR NEXT GENERATION – AND HAVE TO REDUCE TUITION FEES OR PROVIDE MAJOR TAX CREDITS.
4. Hateful towards the Liberals for past deeds. Vengeful and petty.
AGREE. ALSO VINDICTIVE AND HARPER IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD BETRAY HIS BEST FRIEND IF IT MEANT HE’D GET A MAJORITY.
And here are few, IMHO, things the Liberals did to themselves.
1. Failed to be the Official Opposition REPEATEDLY choosing politics over principles.
THEY COULDN’T BILL AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. DION & THE LIBS HAD A MAJOR DEFICIT TO PAY OFF. PEOPLE FORGET THAT. I HELPED PAY OFF DION’S LOAN. HOW MUCH DID LIB SUPPORTERS HELP THEIR PARTY FINANCIALLY?
2. Chose another leader from Quebec. Sorry, that will no longer fly with English Canada because of the Separatist’s attitude towards the rest of Canada. The French brought this on themselves by being insulting and rude to Canadians who, otherwise, care about their rights and heritage, but not by demeaning their own.
I’LL LET THAT COMMENT GO FOR NOW.
3. The Green Shift. It is far too complex as an election issue. They negated the KISS principle and it bit them in the arse.
ACTUALLY ITS NOT. I THINK MOST CDNS, OTHER THAN THOSE IN AB & SK, ARE IN FAVOUR OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. BUT, THEY ARE HYPOCRITS. THEY JUST DON’T WANT IT TO TOUCH THEIR WALLETS. WELL IT WILL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED. I VERY MUCH DOUBT HARPER WILL DO A DAMN THING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. HE’S A DENIER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE’S PROPOSED – INTENSITY BASED PLAN.
4. Having Ignatieff (Whom I have yet to meet a Canadian who even likes, much less trusts him) as the Deputy Leader. Hint for the next Leadership Convention. Find a English speaking LEADER, and dump Ignatieff FAST.
YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
5. Too little too late. The Liberals seem to believe they hold a ‘right’ to leadership. Canadians differ, especially after JC’s arrogance before the Gomery Comission. JC should have been sequestered to the dark shadows and remained out of the campaign.
DISAGREE
6. Again, and foremost in my own mind, the repeated ABSTENTIONS on votes that should have brought Harper DOWN. Inexcusable and cowardly to be kind.
SEE ABOVE. YOU’RE REPEATING YOURSELF BILL.
7. Playing politics with Elizabeth May. That hurt both the Liberals and the Greens.
BILL, NOT THE FIRST TIME APPARENTLY THAT A LEADER HAS AGREED TO NOT HAVE A CANDIDATE IN ANOTHER LEADER’S RIDING.
GEE, YOU SOUND LIKE A HYPOCRIT BILL. DIDN’T YOU VOTE GREEN?
8. Pre-election decisions to NOT form a cooperative liason (coalition government) with the other opposition parties, much less a government. Most Canadian want to see real cooperation for THEIR benefit, not any party’s benefit. It is known as DEMOCRACY. Try it and watch how the people respond is my suggestion. A good idea is a good idea regardless of where it comes from. That should be the motto of each and every MP who actually comprehends why they are in Oddawahaha…to serve their constituents FIRST and FOREMOST.
ARE YOU BLAMING THE LIBS BILL? OTHERWISE PLEASE ELABORATE. DO YOU THINK THE NDP WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE LIBS?
Bottom line. The People responded with their feelings and all the crap about ‘voting strategically’ was a sad and desperate attempt at whining to win.
YEP, BILL YOU’RE RIGHT. INSTEAD OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN WITH DION, WE HAVE NADA. HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY. WE HAD A CHANCE FOR A NON-CORPORATE, DEDICATED, VISIONARY, HONEST AND TRUST WORTHY LEADER WHO ACTUALLY HAD CANADA’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART BUT YOU GUYS LET HARPER HAVE ANOTHER MINORITY GOVT.
That pretty well sums up all the highlights of my opinion, yet there are a thousand points of Darkness that contributed.
A few more would include.
1, Lax penalties for violent criminals.
2. Running on promises rather than record.
3. Too much mud slinging and too little real leadership, other than what Dion wanted people and his party to believe in. Harper merely spoon fed his far right base FUD and lies and the Sheeple followed right along mindlessly as usual.
4. Too many years of ‘Not getting it done’ as Ignatieff said. at least he was right but not smart in that statement.
Have a good day.
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.15.08 4:01 pm
Should have read (Reposted from Garth Turner Will return October 29th)
OOPS! Garth, very sorry about mispelling your name. Typos get all of us.
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.15.08 4:05 pm
SO VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU BILL & OTHERS WHO KNEW THE GREENS AND NDP WOULD NEVER FORM A GOVT. YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE ENVIRONMENT IS, BUT WOULD RATHER THROW YOUR VOTE OUT THE WINDOW RATHER THAN SUPPORTING A PARTY WHO COULD REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I’M DISGUSTED BY THE IGNORANCE AND APATHY OF THE AVERAGE CANADIANS.
I REST MY CASE.
Garth,
I would vote for you deleting profane comments like the one from G and the racist one by Spencer. It is a shame that people feel the need to be so rude. I would like to have my kids read a blog like this, to learn more about Canadian politics, but I don’t want them to see crap like that.
BTW: To any of you who didn’t get the “send canned goods” comment by Garth, get a grip. Try looking up humour, irony, sarcasm, etc. and then look up fired and canned and you may understand what he was trying to say.
I take your point. I included those as a representative sampling of the 126 comments received from Conservative supporters which I decided not to post because of their inane, profane, adolescent, taunting, vindictive, juvenile and idiotic tone and content. Use your imagination. — Garth
Hi Garth.
Sorry to see that you lost your seat and by such a margin. Here in Kitchener Center and Kitchener Waterloo, Liberal incumbents lost their seats as well.
I think that the split of votes on the center left is letting the Conservatives make gains right now. Hopefully, things will change.
I liked Dion’s determination and love for Canada and I agree with him that we need to move taxation off on income and onto carbon and pollution. Unfortunately, Dion is not a politician. He told us what he believed in, instead of what would get votes.
Good luck in all your future endeavours!
By barb the proofreader on 10.15.08 5:36 pm
Barb, if you are seriously holding up Jennifer’s blog as opinion worthy of respect (http://runesmith.blogspot.com/ wherein she opines “fuck Ontario”) then you need help almost as much as she does.
Or maybe just a hug.
I promise you the sun will continue to rise in the east each and every day. And Canada will continue to be the great country it always has been.
No one will miss “John Hamilton” or whatever his tiny tory alias is.
“John Hamilton”, probably a pimpled faced tiny tory who lives with his parents, is an unbalanced, insecure hack who has no class to pay Garth at least a courtesy in defeat – which Garth’s oppenent Lisa did.
“John Hamilton” – please, where the sun don’t shine if you please.
Class act Garth.
People often don’t know what they have until it is gone.
You made adifference.
You will be missed.
Don’t go too far.
SO VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU BILL & OTHERS WHO KNEW THE GREENS AND NDP WOULD NEVER FORM A GOVT. YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE ENVIRONMENT IS, BUT WOULD RATHER THROW YOUR VOTE OUT THE WINDOW RATHER THAN SUPPORTING A PARTY WHO COULD REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I’M DISGUSTED BY THE IGNORANCE AND APATHY OF THE AVERAGE CANADIANS.
I REST MY CASE.
By Go Green on 10.15.08 5:45 pm
I voted N.D.P. and Dawn Black specifically. I suggested to my wife to do the same, which she did, as her Green vote would not help electing the candidate in any way. I do not see how that was throwing our votes away at all. We helped win a riding for the best candidate that was not a Conservative. Our riding has been represented by a Liberal for 2 of the last 20 years, that I have lived here. It is probably worse then that. Voting Liberal would not have helped the Liberal candidate, as she finished a distant 3rd. N.D.P. to Con. was about 2K vote difference. I like to think that our votes went to an effictive opposition, and hopefully this parliament can work, unlike that last one.
I agree with Bills statement that the Green Shift is confusing. Our Premier imposed it on us, not the same but similer. If it was a ballot question, I believe our province would be run by N.D.P. right now. Carbon tax shifting is something that should be done by a majority government. With the Bloc, I don’t think we will see a majority government again, as they take too many seats from all other parties. Imagine if there was no Bloc, and the seats were allocated evenly among Liberal, Conservative and N.D.P., Mr. Harper would be at the helm of a majority government now.
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.15.08 4:31 pm
Now lets be fair, Bill. The Liberals did the same thing, appointing Senators and stacking the deck.
However, the Libs had a long time to do it. So is Harper planning to do to the senate in the next 2 1/2 years what he did to the surplus in the last 2 1/2?
He screwed up the latter, and in his haste to get his agenda through (so much for incorporating the ideas of other parties’ into his legislation; promise made, promise already broken on day 1), he’ll do the same to the senate. He appointed incompetant ministers, now he’ll appoint incompetant senators.
If there is senate reform, first thing appoint them based on their merit and remove party allegence and interference.
If the senate is to remain unelected (I have no problem with it being so), it must not be partisan. Leave that to the nursery called the HoC.
Hey Garth,
I am sorry to hear that you lost your seat. You were a breath of fresh air in the House of Commons. Please run again. I am an NDPer but I have been reading your blog everyday. You’ll get it next time. Chin up!
Take Care,
Keith
Janice, Dear, do consider what you posted against verifiable reality.
We didn’t dodge a bullet with Dion, we caught one with Harper. Did you happen to notice how the derided Dion 5-point “plan to plan” reemerged to-day as a Harper 6-point plan to plan? Next, we’ll see the Green Shift re-knit as a Blue Vest, but after that we’ll have to wait to see what Harper does for an initiative.
BTW, I didn’t vote for him this time, trying hardly ever to make the same mistake twice.
I love this from Barb the proof reader…
“I found every Duped Reform-Alliance “Tory” who I listened to.. were all stupid enough to only know “Harper Lies” about the Liberals.”
LMAO, and you wonder why you lost Garth..
Good riddence..
How could this happen? Has anyone checked on the veracity of the voting system in Halton? Who is Lisa anyway? Something smells fishy with the way the US Conservatives are known to steal elections, has anyone checked that the same does not happen here? How can anyone in Ontario believe that the Conservative agenda is good for Ontario.
By Go Green on 10.15.08 5:45 pm
In a DEMOCRACY, people get to vote for whom they believe in, not based on defeating another party. I cast my vote from my conscince, not the political lobe which is as dumb and corrupt as the politicians who failed to energize myself and others with a solid platform for the future.
Your attitude is the reason that Canada is a second rate example of a true democracy.
Too many people voted out of hate or FUD. I refuse to lower my ethics to that gutter level as a Free and soveriegn Citizen.
Sorry to hear of your loss Garth. Hopefully you’ll be around for the next go-round. Just don’t make the mistake of hoping to take Halton Liberal. Too much self-serving greed in that region to want anything but self-serving greedy Cons to run the country. I’m sure that you knew you were fighting an uphill battle right from the beginning. You fought the good fight, and for that you deserve all of the credit in the world.
As for me and in large part to answer those who ask “what’s next?”. Both my wife and I joined the Liberal party today for starters. May I be so bold to recommend that anyone reading this who isn’t a die-hard (and ignorant) Con supporter do the same. I intend to have a voice this time around. I’d strongly suggest that anyone who wants to have a voice in the next federal election seriously consider doing the same. It’s one thing to sit on the sidelines and hope that others get the job and a far different matter to make the decision to get involved and work hard for what you want. No more sitting on the sidelines for us. May the Progressives of this great country unite and put the Cons back where they were in the Kim Campell days.
Item #1 on my agenda – Seeing Dion put back on the bench as a future Cabinet member. Don’t get me wrong here. It’s not that I don’t admire Dion. He is a very intelligent and dedicated person who deserves our full support as a sitting Liberal MP. But do I think he has what it takes to be seen as a leader? Not for one second. Gerrard Kennedy did the Liberal Party a great disservice when he threw his support behind Dion at the last leadership convention. That said, I see Kennedy in the same light that I see Peter McKay. McKa sold out the Progressive Conservatives to the Reform Party after he swore up and down that he wouldn’t. Friggin self serving rats..
Item #2 on the agenda – Seeing Justin Trudeau become the next leader of the Liberal Party. This young man has all of the qualities required to kick Harpo’s ass right back to Calgary where it belongs. He is young, bright, handsome, intelligent, well spoken in both official languages and has the charisma to win over not only the youth and women voter but also the average everyday voter who sees Harper for being the self-serving moron that he is. As for those who don’t fit into my above models, go stick your heads in the tar-sands, would ya please? Over time I will find my time and place to put forward my logic on this, but in the meantime suffice it to say that I see and honestly believe that Justin has what it takes to reunite this great country of ours. As for the old farts club (of which I am a member) who would dare say that Justin is Pierre’s son and will aspire to ride his father’s coat tails, don’t be fooled. Justin isn’t his father.
Item #3 on the agenda – work to unite the left. How will I do this? Beats the hell out of me, but rest assured I’m going to start making a lot of noise in an effort to get it done. The left is so badly fractured now that any idiot could lead the Cons to a minority to victory, as Harpo just did. All that is required is a promise to not do anything innovative or radical and the Cons will win by default. And we all know that Harpo is the master of coming down on the wrong side of an issue and never having an original idea in his head. Harpo is an egotistical moron who takes Liberal ideas, modifies them to suit, embraces them as his own and then takes credit for being an innovative leader. I’ll give Harpo credit for being a leader, but he’s leading a bunch of self-centered idiots.
Item #4 on the agenda – getting the environment back on the table as a major issue in our country. Sure, we are facing financial woes in the days ahead but to simply think that we can shove the environment off of the table due to the financial issues of the day is suicide. The Cons make think so, but the rest of the world won’t stand for it. I can assure you that the Cons will do nothing in the name of the environment. They are too concerned about their own greedy wallets. The be all and end all of the environment for the Cons is carbon-sequestration. Well, I’ve got news for dumb (Harpo) and dumber (Blair). The rest of the world is watching Canada and with each passing day the tar-sands are gaining strength in being known as “dirty energy”. Wake up folks!! The time has come to do something serious to become environmentally friendly. If we don’t do so of our choosing, the rest of the world will force the issue. The tar-sands will be seen as an acceptable form of energy supply, but only if Canada is seen to be proactive on other fronts. I can’t begin to speak for all Canadians but to my own way of thinking we’d be much farther ahead to be proactive rather than reactive.
Again Garth, I’m sorry to see you lose your seat in the house. Your “insider voice” will be sorely missed in spite of how much some may have seen you as a “Maverick”. You were a refreshing breath of honesty in politics, no matter how distasteful that may have been to some who would prefer to keep us (the sheeple) in the dark. Hopefully you’ll not venture too far away. Who knows, maybe the Liberal party may be able to parachute you in somewhere to ensure you can be a part of the future.
If the senate is to remain unelected (I have no problem with it being so), it must not be partisan. Leave that to the nursery called the HoC.
By James- Chatham on 10.15.08 9:00 pm
I have no problem with the Senate being as it is in accord with a non-partisan, merit based appointment.
Harper has an obsession with stacking the Senate, and that is NOT democratic, it is 100% PARTISAN. So who is the Bad Boy, eh?
As to the HoC, I expect reform of their conduct or the government to be brought DOWN asap. I waited for 2-1/2 years for the Official Opposition to do just that and they ‘Didn’t Get it Done!’ because Dion was after power and playing politics as usual. I still think we need Da Arnold as Kindergarten Cop. The first QP will tell whether I am correct in that assessment.
Regardless, we just BLEW $300 MILLION to achieve absolutely NOTHING! No CHANGE, NADA, NON!
THEY COULDN’T BILL AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. DION & THE LIBS HAD A MAJOR DEFICIT TO PAY OFF. PEOPLE FORGET THAT. I HELPED PAY OFF DION’S LOAN. HOW MUCH DID LIB SUPPORTERS HELP THEIR PARTY FINANCIALLY?
By Go Green on 10.15.08 5:45 pm
In my world ethics does not have money as a deciding principle. If you helped pay off Dion’s debt that was your Freewill choice. Why bother me about it?
As to the rest of your diatribe of blame and regret. Get Over It!
Being as obviously anti Green Party as you are, who is the Hypocrite? Look in the mirror. You use the ‘Green’ label, but have no adherence to the Green Party Platform which I based on a sustainable economy, not fast and dirty fixes to gain votes.
Here, take this large gauze bandaide for the chunk you find missing out of your arse.
BTW, the gloves are OFF around here, so buckle up!
By Go Green on 10.15.08 5:45 pm
Now, how about a drink?
Garth, BTW, you look like the Terminator in that pic. I LOVE it! I would love to see that look during QP as well. I want to see Baird, Van Loan, Flaherty, and Harper piss their panties.
You really should be the Liberal Leader. The Back Room Boys and Girls need to get a grip.
You gotta admit, we dodged a bullet with this guy.
By Janice on 10.15.08 5:41 pm
Congrats Janice, you are an entirely new category and entry in the DSM-IV. What an achievment! Almost like a Nobel Prize.
Where can I sign-up to fight for us.
By barb the proofreader on 10.15.08 5:36 pm
You are there NOW Barb, mas ami. I give you a rank of Major, at the least.
Paper money is never safe. That is why Woodroe Wilson your liberal ancestor scrapped the gold standard and gave the printing to a certain type of people who tend to have big noses and ears.
Will that be included in your speech?
BY SPENCER ON 10.15.08 12:13 PM
Spencer,
Your bigotry was thinly veiled, just like all the Harper henchmen whom I’ve had the misfortune of meeting.
Would you care to explain to everyone whom you targeted with the description of ” a certain type of people who tend to have big noses and ears” just so everyone can mark you down for your specific hatred — or are you just too much of a coward?
GEE, IT ONLY TOOK ONE DAY FOR THE HARPER CLAN TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE CLEAR AND ARROGANT ABOUT WHO THEY REALLY ARE. FLANAGAN DID A SIMILAR THING ON THE NEWS TONIGHT. MORE TO COME, THAT’S FOR SURE. CANADIAN’S EYES WILL SURE TO BE OPENED SHORTLY.
Garth,
I am sorry voters in Halton did not get you and what you believe in and your strong ethics – you know, outspoken people always take a hit for telling the truth.
As a campaign newbie I was shocked by the dirty tricks and simply dismayed at the antics and lack of respect until this morning.
This morning, I was driving to my few signs still left outside of the perimeter of Gibsons and I came to a point on the highway with a Green worker trying to literally pull up stakes from a Green biggish sign long ago vandalized. So I picked up our lawn sign and wire and walked towards him as traffic whizzed by us.
“Nice sign carnage!” I said over the traffic noise. He replied ”What?” so we walked towards one another and talked for a few minutes.
A detente on the shoulder of Highway 101 as I think we both needed to talk to someone to make sense of the senseless. We talked strangely not about his Green candidate or my Red candidate but Stephane and of course signs and the vandalism we had faced.
And in the end, we shook hands and exchanged first names. It is a sign of the times that in the aftermath of the Blue Meanie-Sweater machine there was mutual respect.
Garth, maybe the tent needs to be larger.
“WE HAD A CHANCE FOR A NON-CORPORATE, DEDICATED, VISIONARY, HONEST AND TRUST WORTHY LEADER WHO ACTUALLY HAD CANADA’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART”
~ GO GREEN
Hi Go Green,
Your comment was worth repeating. Mr. Dion could be one of the great Prime Ministers, but unfortunately for now, Harper controlled media and a greedy Reform Alliance Conservative Party of Liars has shamefully and disgustingly fooled Canadians again, as per their plan.
There is no “I” in Team Garth. You needed the help of the CPC to win in 2006 but you wanted all the credit for yourself. You should start the Garth Party of Canada and see how you do.
Barb, if you are seriously holding up Jennifer’s blog as opinion worthy of respect (http://runesmith.blogspot.com/ wherein she opines “fuck Ontario”) then you need help almost as much as she does.
Or maybe just a hug.
By RM, Oakville on 10.15.08 8:01 pm
Yeah, well, I need a hug.
In my defence, I posted that at about three in the morning after a very, very long and emotional day and more than one beer. I actually considered toning it down in the bleary light of day, but then I figured – screw it. It’s my damned blog, and that’s how I was feeling when I wrote it.
Today I’m feeling like I’ve been through the wars. Esther popped by and we went out for an extended lunch, and we both felt better for it. And then I ran into one of our young volunteers at the Loblaws, who called out to me and said “Hey, Liberal! What happens now? When do we go again?”
He cheered me up immensely.
I wouldn’t take this too personally Garth. I suspect you would have been better to actually sit as an independent…you got painted with the green shift brush. Also, i think it is really time to look at the problem of Quebec again. Why do we continue to let them bully the rest of the country. They hold the rest of the country hostage in the guisse of protecting their culture (more federal money merci). If you don’t have a leader from Quebec OR a leader who will roll over for them there is no hope of winning a majority in this country. The Bloc is the blunt instrument that gets used against everyone else and ensures no majority unless their cultural demands are met (more federal money merci). I would like to see rules on the televised debates changed so that a party must be running at least one candidate in each province.
Mr. Turner
Please Do NOT abandon us to a dictator sleazy sub prime minister.
It’s interesting, people often ascribe their values and insights onto others, but you can’t do that when dealing with the public.
Fact is, a HUGE percentage of the public are uniformed bumpkins, unable to think and reason. Unable to form rational opinion. Unable to see the facts before them. Simply not paying attention. lazy minded fools.
And Harper panders to them with lies, attack ads, and the worst that he can. Those lies pander to stupid people. People who are too lazy minded to think. They prefer being told how to think. It’s easier than thinking for themselves
Harper is and remains an utter disgrace to Canada and we know it and YOU know it.
If you decide to invest the energy, you can and will step on the slug. You scare him. The truth scares him.
Harper will destroy Canada if we let him and that is an absolute fact. The stupid people won’t even know it’s happening until it’s too late and Harper knows it.
The vote was not against you, it was a vote by the stupid against an intellectual leader. Sadly, Mr. Dion is not like them and that is his greatest weakness.
Take a break and then come kick ass with the freedom that you have no found.
with deep respect
Ben
By Cammer on 10.16.08 12:45 am
You should join the neo-Nazis as a solid ‘team’ player.
By Jennifer Smith on 10.16.08 1:12 am
I hope you were able to gain some perspective and have come to realize (if you didn’t already) that getting involved in the political process is NEVER a waste of time, regardless of what party you support and regardless of whether you win or lose.
And hugs are free.
Been digesting the past few days, and I’m just not a happy camper. It’s not that the end result wasn’t expected, it’s how it happened. Vote count, percentages, seats gained and lost and all that encompasses.
Canada’s subservience to the wounded US will increase and we will be tossed about trying to ride the storm. An overall synopsis finds me questioning many things.
On voting day I entered the local blue bastion, and was the only voter there at that moment. They didn’t recognize me and the place went into a tither. It took them about 20 minutes to get me situated and I was moved from ballot box to ballot box until they had me at the one in the back of the room, conspicuously separated from all the rest. While seated waiting for some official to come and deal with this unknown quantity, a remark was passed suggesting that I not draw cartoons on the cardboard voting thingy. Maybe it was nothing, but it sure made me feel like Blackbeard arriving in a room full of folks wearing funny wigs. And I didn’t even bring my pistols.
More importantly, I don’t think the big parties structure fits you well Garth. Maybe your calling is in a much more Revolutionary setting. Someplace where you can utilize the profile you have without being hindered by people who are either out of touch, or whose game is to deceive, manipulate or pander.
Personally, I can’t support either the sheepherders or those they intend to herd.
I want you to know that because of you, I voted in an election for the first time in 15 years. I would attribute that to your being the closest thing to a representative of Democracy I have discovered in this society of ours. In all likelihood, if you could move someone so disenfranchised as me to get out and vote, you could begin a Democratic Renaissance.
That old fella, is high praise given that it comes from one very crusty old Comrade.
Julian West of the Nude Democratic Party got over 3500 votes. Elections Canada will be paying $1.95 to the New Democratic Party annually for that. Over 7 K yearly to a party whose candidate resigned. God knows how or why he recieved so many votes when he was not in the race, but there should be little doubt why our democratic system is broken, and we recieved the lowest voter turnout. Hopyfully the NDP can donate the money to a good cause, or just flat out refuse the undeserved money.
The most obvious result of this election, is that we are in a dangerous state.
Harper lied intensely to the people. That’s how he won. Period. In fact, if we calculated how many lies he stated in his government-paid-flyers for the past 3 years, plus his campaign flyers (paid by big corporations and illegal third party slush money), the number of lies is staggering. An example, the insincere and devastating flood of complete lies by Lisa Rait that got her a win, is self-explanatory.
Unfortunately the voter is susceptible and Harper knew it. He said it. He has always said it. In fact His man, Tom Flanagan bragged it on the news just last night. He was proud of the lies. Their motto is to hide it in plain sight.
It wouldn’t matter who was running or what platform or how many opposition. The lies worked.
Harper targeted ridings with filthy-lie campaign material. Harper killed democracy. You should all be crying for your country. This isn’t petty politics, it’s fascism.
Remember the police agent provocateurs at Harper’s Montebello Summit? At the end of the video you see the documented footage of how Harper wouldn’t let the peaceful protesters demonstrate. Tear gassing crowds with the noxious substance is illegal especially if unprovoked, so the police illegally tear-gassed innocent people here in Canada. Their “excuse” was that a couple of disguised cops, who were later caught and proven to be police, wearing police-issued boots, were pretending to be protesters, and only those few men tossed some stones from the back of the crowd.
You and I can no longer protest. We’ve lost on of our basic rights to be seen and heard by our politicians.
This five minute clip is also shown at the end of a documentary. It shows the police line, the protesters, and then more cops, “provocateurs” trying to pretend they are protesters:
http://manlymedia.com/spp-tilma-montebello-and-the-council-of-canadians
But to put it in context, here is an excellent documentary that will show you the weekend, the peaceful protesters, and then what happened to them, because of the fake police protesters who were trying to create a riot so they could beat up the peaceful protesters. It means we can not protest anything anymore, no matter what.
Wake up Canada. Wake up North America. Wake up world.
You have the time for this. Please watch this 107 min. video which will give you a good start:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1429144751008474466
Click and please pay attention. We're in deep do do. Every gov. is being hamstrung by willing men.“Fact is, a HUGE percentage of the public are uniformed bumpkins, unable to think and reason. Unable to form rational opinion. Unable to see the facts before them. Simply not paying attention. lazy minded fools.”
By Ben on 10.16.08 6:32 am
Ben, this is why liberals are on their way out. Its that attitude of elitism and entitlement.
Because one does not agree with your politics then they are “lazy minded fools.”
You guys roll out a leader that can’t put together a coherent thought without teleprompters, cue cards and advisers. He has a convoluted economic/environmental plan that his own people are unable or unwilling to explain and defend. And Canadians are lazy minded fools for rejecting him.
Perhaps its the liberals that are the lazy minded fools. Selecting a lame leader, expecting he will be endorsed by the people, and then blaming Canadians for his shortcomings.
Put a little effort into the leadership selection and maybe you could come up with someone other than, say, a Trudeau.
go fuck yourself…you are a piece of shit……
By g on 10.15.08 11:44 am
Holy crap, how low class can you get! Ouch! There’s no need….but you know that don’t you, or you’d have left your real name…
I’ve heard lots of comments lately from people saying this economic crisis was unavoidable and that noone could have seen it coming. I keep saying, “but I knew about it, Garth Turner has been warning me about it for the past year”
So you keep rockin’ in the free world Garth. You inform us and it seems, lol, annoy some, but you speak the truth and that’s sorely needed these days. Oh, and your sense of humour cracks me up!
I’ve learned alot from you and I appreciate that.. thanks.
)
That’s too bad Garth….I wish you best of luck in the aftermath of all this….
Seems like Canadians have as corrupt a government as Americans do..they just don’t want to talk about it.
Re send canned goods:
I have a few cases that have been around since 2006, but I’m a little suspicious of them.
I think the labels have been changed.
They have “New Canadian Government” on them in big blue letters, with Conservative Spaghetti-Harp-O’s printed underneath.
Nearly 40% of the people who’ve eaten them say they taste just like the real thing, as long as you drown them in ketchup.
Funny. I opened a few. They sure didn’t look or smell either like Conservative or Spaghetti to me.
Hmmmm…..
Time for proportional government, I think. Ed Broadbent made a good case for it in the Globe this morning.
21st-century Canada, home of 19th-century democracy
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081015.wcocoalition16/BNStory/politics/home
“It was a bad day for Canadian democracy – more unstable, unrepresentative government.
“If Tuesday’s vote had taken place with an electoral system such as those in the vast majority of democracies, Canadians would now have the prospect of a stable centre-left coalition government, with a majority of seats in Parliament representing a majority of the popular votes. Instead, we will continue with a right-of-centre government rejected by a substantial majority of Canadians, elected by a mere 38 per cent of the people, with not a single MP from Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal. Federalist parties got more than 50 per cent of the votes in Quebec, but the Bloc Québécois received two-thirds of the seats.”
“…We need change, and we need it soon.”
Right on, Ed.
He pointed out that with 1% more of the popular vote the Cons got 14 more seats. With 10% of the popular vote, the Bloc got 50 seats, while the Greens, with 6.8%, got no seats.
The vote was down 2%, the lowest in history, I think.
I heard one columnist say that in a way, it was a method for voters to protest, since every vote gives $1.95 to the party voted for.
I’m not advocating not voting, but it’s a new way to look at it.
—
And good old Murray Dobbin on “The Real News” website (based in Toronto, I think) dishes on the Cons.
Canada re-elects Stephen Harper
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2580&updaterx=2008-10-16+13%3A10%3A51
Ignore him at your peril.
I hope there’s no “night of the long knives” for Stéphane Dion. He’s a good guy.
Too good for the likes of us, maybe.
The vote was not against you, it was a vote by the stupid against an intellectual leader. Sadly, Mr. Dion is not like them and that is his greatest weakness.
By Ben on 10.16.08 6:32 am
You’re spot on.
Did you know that the MSM aim at a grade 5 level? When you look at the grammar and spelling, that’s exactly where it is.
But why do they aim at such a low level?
Its so that most people can understand what they are trying to say, quickly and easily.
And that was the issue with the Green Shift plan, it needed more than a grade 5 level to quickly understand it. Since it could not be quickly understood, people fell back on being told by Harper what it meant. For many of them, with the excuse they couldn’t understand M. Dion’s French English, they only heard the Green Shift according to Harper.
Unfortuantely, M. Dion didn’t follow the KISS principle and pitched the plan at too high a level until it was too late.
THEY COULDN’T BILL AS THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. DION & THE LIBS HAD A MAJOR DEFICIT TO PAY OFF. PEOPLE FORGET THAT. I HELPED PAY OFF DION’S LOAN. HOW MUCH DID LIB SUPPORTERS HELP THEIR PARTY FINANCIALLY?
By Go Green on 10.15.08 5:45 pm
In my world ethics does not have money as a deciding principle. If you helped pay off Dion’s debt that was your Freewill choice. Why bother me about it?
As to the rest of your diatribe of blame and regret. Get Over It!
Being as obviously anti Green Party as you are, who is the Hypocrite? Look in the mirror. You use the ‘Green’ label, but have no adherence to the Green Party Platform which I based on a sustainable economy, not fast and dirty fixes to gain votes.
Here, take this large gauze bandaide for the chunk you find missing out of your arse.
BTW, the gloves are OFF around here, so buckle up!
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.15.08 11:55 pm
My Go Green moniker was chosen because I supported Dion’s Carbon Tax Plan. I did not support the Green Party as I don’t believe a cap & trade policy is the way to go in the immediate future. A C&T policy like the NDP & Greens proposed can take up to a min 2 years to incorporate and there are too many loopholes in it at the moment.
Sorry Bill, I don’t give a sh*t what you think of me. Unfortunately Bill, money does play a part in politics, as we’ve seen with Obama’s campaign. Hey, Layton just spent $18 Mil and what did he gain?. What a stupid comment you made Bill – “Why bother me about it.”
“In my world ethics does not have money as a deciding principle.” Neither in mine Bill, but in the real ‘political world’ it counts, much to my dismay. Contrary to what you think, I think Dion was not out to gain power for power’s sake. Rather, he was the most ehtical person of the leaders (save perhaps May) who had a vision for Canada. Yet, it seems that Canadians chose to believe someone in a warm fuzzy sweater vest who continually lies to the Cdns who are ill-informed and listen to 10 sec. sound bites on the con dominated MSM.
I love this from Barb the proof reader…
“I found every Duped Reform-Alliance “Tory” who I listened to.. were all stupid enough to only know “Harper Lies” about the Liberals.”
LMAO, and you wonder why you lost Garth..
Good riddence..
BY JDOT ON 10.15.08 10:26 PM
What’s wrong JDOT? Do you have a problem with the truth? When I spoke with Harper supporters in Calgary they kept going over the same mantra, a list of lies Harper had told them. A list of outright lies about the Liberals and Dion. They were like robots. In fact their faces reminded me very much of robots.
When I’d point out the truth, the real platform, and the real opinions of experts, the Cons looked like their brains were short-circuiting.
. . . faster than falling stock markets, little Johnny’s education continues at an astounding rate . . .
****************************************
A teacher in New York asked her 6th grade class how many of them were McCain fans.
Not really knowing what a McCain fan was, but wanting to be liked by the teacher, all the kids raised their hands except for Little Johnny.
The teacher asked Little Johnny why he decided to be different . . . again. Little Johnny said, ‘Because I’m not a McCain fan.’
The teacher said, ‘Why aren’t you a McCain fan?’
Johnny said, ‘Because I’m a Democrat.’
The teacher asked why he was a Democrat.
Little Johnny answered, ‘Well, my Mom’s a Democrat and my Dad’s a Democrat, so I’m a Democrat.’
The teacher asks, ‘If your Mom was a moron, and your Dad was an idiot, what would that make you?’
With a big smile, Little Johnny replied, ‘That would make me a McCain fan.’
****************************************
There are none so blind who will not see (what lies ahead).
News on the radio this a.m. said Cdns. had withdrawn $4.5 bln. in mutual funds and placed it in bank accounts. Fine. Take a loss on investments, and place into another which will also lose, once inflation is taken into account.
Continual evolvement of a pre-planned fiscal meltdown, at least on this continent, will lead to the two dollars and peso being eliminated with the Amero conveniently replacing them.
After all, the Euro is one currency shared by a dozen or so EU countries. The NAU / SPP and a re-written NAFTA also plays a role here.
A few days ago, the US Fed was told that “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to printing 24/7/365, they can lend any amount to any country as long as that country has the same amount in it’s own currency to pay the US back.
Essentially, nothing changes hands except lots of verbal diarrhea between Finance Ministers. For instance, China holds $1.4 trillion in US greenbacks (debt), so how will that be paid back?
Theoretically, China could take over part of the US’s land assets. Other than big, shiny nukes, the US doesn’t have much of anything left.
Besides, WW3 would be far more convenient, as it takes one’s attention off most other things.
Every cloud has a silver lining. It may be better for Garth to have lost his seat and instead, be preaching fiscal and responsible conservatism to folk who will listen.
Admittedly, if someone gave me $100 grand today, I would put that into a 30-day rollover GIC, not from one of the banks but a Credit Union here, or IPC, a smaller investment bank.
Today’s politics is so bad so no regrets.I learned a lot form your reports and I will mention you as one of the best Canadians.So again no regrets!I remember a picture where a man observe his business in fire and he still had the power to say “I will start again”.I think this is the life…We start again no matter what.
Keep going with us !
BTW. Garth, your return is scheduled for Oct 29th, a notable day as its the birthday of a number of my friends.
However, if you delayed it 2 days, that would be Halloween and the irony would not be lost, the anniversary of Flaherty’s Flip-Flop.
And the ghost of imagined tax leakage would rise to haunt the little guy!
“In my world ethics does not have money as a deciding principle.” Neither in mine Bill, but in the real ‘political world’ it counts, much to my dismay. Contrary to what you think, I think Dion was not out to gain power for power’s sake. Rather, he was the most ehtical person of the leaders (save perhaps May) who had a vision for Canada. Yet, it seems that Canadians chose to believe someone in a warm fuzzy sweater vest who continually lies to the Cdns who are ill-informed and listen to 10 sec. sound bites on the con dominated MSM.
By Go Green on 10.16.08 1:55 pm
Well, we agree on that. That is a lot better than what we see in the HoC where total partisanship is the RULE.
Consider, however, that ‘Go Green’ would be interpreted by most as I did, a Green party supporter. Thanks for the clarification.
I do have the satisfaction of knowing I was right about Dion, his Green Shift, and how Canadians thought about both…the same as I did.
My solution to pollution has been, and always will be ‘ARREST THE BASTARDS’, and take their assets to pay for the cleanup they caused to be a necessity.
Enough of the Pansy assed ‘plans’, it is time to pass real LAWS that make it a criminal offense to willfully pollute including prison time and payment of all costs. No one has the balls to write or pass that law, so bottom line is they are cowards and can only play word games with our future and environment.
Funny how the U.S. EPA just drastically reduced the air borne lead emissions levels, eh? Here we put numbnuts politcos like Clement in charge of things like our nuclear safety program and fire anyone who upholds the laws and standards.
Politics is basically ‘Not Getting It Done’, just yapping away about it making empty promises, and hoping the issue disappears. Tell that to the Aboriginals whose soil is contaminated by the DewLine PCB’s, tell it to the people in Athabasca, tell it to the people of Yellowknife where the abandoned Giant Mine is the world’s Arsenic Trioxide Mother Load, left over from the gold mining process, or the Potassium Cyanide that is used as a leaching agent for low yeild Gold ore in the Rocky Mountains, polluting miles of formerly fresh water streams, and leaving the ecology deader than the Dead Sea.
Tell it to people who live in heavy industrial areasw because they need the jobs and are too underpaid to move elsewhere because some real estate industry schmucks have run home prices thorough the roof.
Tell it to the families along the Rio Grande River between Mexico and Texas who give birth to babies without a brain from chemical pollution.
No, I am not a tree hugging environmentalist, (I despoise Greenpeace’s tactics as well) never have been, and never will be, but having worked in the environmental field cleaning up the messes left by the greedy, anti-social scum pond producing Scum Bags, I have a STRONG opinion regarding what will make them behave. I have been IN IT, literally, and when inert safety gear starts to melt or smoke that is a definite sign of some extrememly serious substances. When GLC’s (Gas Liquid Chromatagraphs) cannot even be calibrated to levels so high they are literally ‘off the scale’ that is serious pollution. Oh, and when people take a breath of gases like H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) and drop dead of respiratory and cardiac failure, then that is unaaceptable, especially in this day and age with the safety knowledge we possess.
We could start by feeding the lawyers a good dose of their client’s pollution and see how long they live? SHooting a deer or moose without a tag carries more serious consequences than the Tar Sands probably ever will. What a joke, and I am not laughing.
As to Dion’s miracle plan, well, it created a miracle alright, the biggest loss of seats in their history. Yeah Rah Green Shift. HA!
Answer this ‘If Dion was not out to gain power, then why all the power plays, including abstaining from even voting?’
Thanks for the “rank” Bill-Muskoka (N.A.M.)
But Bill as regards your exchange with Go Green, I strongly feel you made an “oopsy”. That’s a very nice person you’re commenting to, who seems just like me, Pat G. and the Bonnies. We’re just ticked off middle agers and grannies trying to do the right thing, and I’m sure we’re all glad we can meet here. This Harper guy has suddenly changed our country. Politics is always rough, but this is a new breed. His lies are devastating. I never thought our ‘day and age’ would fall to what’s going on now, and what’s about to happen. Can’t we all just get along, or should I say, give peace a chance.
Everyone’s grouchy because of the election…. oh, duh, that’s right, and the loss of the free world. (Um. Was it ever free?)
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.16.08 4:40 pm
In a nut shell, human kind will always, and has always destroyed everything we have put our fingers on. It is a sad reality. We cannot have population growth, and a cleaner world. It is one or the other. If humans were to go extinct, the planets eco systems would hardly notice, and most likely thrive, save for a few parasites that live in our armpits and genital areas. If we removed all sharks from the oceans, which we have got about 90% of them so far, we put the entire oceans eco systems at risk by removing the top of the food chain. Animals and plants know far more about sustatinability then we do, yet we think we have the superior brain.
Bill-M, meant to say.. I showed up at an event in July in Calgary and was fortunate to meet Dion and spend a few moments — no security, no handlers, nothing. Just a chance encounter — asked him a question, talked for a moment, and walked in with he and Janine. He, without any doubt, is a very good guy. He is NOT a man seeking personal power. No way. Absolutely not.
…
Having showed up for two of Dion’s speeches, one at his Town Hall here in Calgary — Dion has amazing passion and honesty.
I was told by a disgruntled Conservative afterwards, that Harper, in all these years, has never done an Open Town Hall, and the set-up he did years ago as the Reform leader had just some scripted questions.
Harper’s lies vs Dion’s honesty and passion, got me to volunteer. I recently went to an election event and was glad to meet a senior Senator and talked and listened to him for more than an hour. He says Dion is a very honest man and an excellent negotiator. I have no doubts whatsoever about Dion.
If I could tell you what I’ve run into in Calgary you wouldn’t believe — from strong big-ott-tree amongst Harper’s Reform Party to the astonishing campaign of “Harper Lies” about the Liberals and Dion. Never, never did the NDP, Libs, or Greens do such terrible things as Harper does — this Harper set-up is bad — and he has quite a history.
Anyone who hasn’t done so, read the Tom Flanagan interviews, Harper’s long time advisor, as he BRAGS about Harper’s lies. Harper’s own people ADMIT to it, brag about it, and they think “lying 99.9 percent of the time” is just a lovely way to win.
Why does Harper have to lie? Because no one would vote for him if he told you the truth about himself, his funding and his plans.
My solution to pollution has been, and always will be ‘ARREST THE BASTARDS’, and take their assets to pay for the cleanup they caused to be a necessity.
By Bill-Muskoka (not anymore) on 10.16.08 4:40 pm
Before we use the draconian method, there are a number of questions to be asked:
1. Was emitting the polution illegal as defined in current legislation? I think we’ll agree, the regulations need to be tightened up just as the EPA did in the States.
And there in lies the major problem at the moment. Most of the pollution being dumped into our air and water is being done so because it isn’t illegal.
2. Was the illegal pollution caused by negligence or a willful act. I don’t
care which, throw the book at them, just as you suggest.
“ARREST THE BASTARDS”?
Hopefully only the ones who are/were breaking a law of some sort.
Inconvenient as it is arresting folks who haven’t broken any laws is a little dubious
Inconvenient as it is arresting folks who haven’t broken any laws is a little dubious
By Simon on 10.17.08 12:17 am
Whatsa matter Simon, are you worried you might be one of them? Are you a polluter? Talk about dubious!
By Barb the proofreader on 10.16.08 7:04 pm
Interesting about your encounter with Dion. Yes, I agree he is an honest man, as politicians come.
Having been closely affiliated with ‘academics’ I also see the mentality he operates under, so with my eyes wide open I see his ‘other side’ as well. There are few more politicized environments than academia. The difference is that one’s tenure is determined by the people out here in the real world, not by some department Chair behind closed doors. Dion failed to listen to his advisors and now is reaping the consequences. His public review board imposed the sanctions that his private review board (his caucus) warned him about.
Personally, I think the Liberals have no choice left but to form a coalition government with the NDP, Bloc, and Greens. the question will be ‘Are the other parties willing to form a coalition with the Liberals? I, likewise, see no one in line, other than the former Chief Justice, who would, as Charlton Heston said in ‘True Lies’ ‘Blow my skirt up gentlemen.’
Now, also interesting is how Barack Obama dealt with ‘Joe, the plumber’…he spoke to him at length, explained his plan regarding taxes, right there on the street. McCain, like Harper, only speaks to crowds of supporters. Then McCain tried to use ‘Joe, the plumber’ in the last debate as though Joe is a groupie of McCain.
I could say much more, but know I do not need to expand on the principles to you. You have a finely tuned mind that connects dots rapidly.
Everyone’s grouchy because of the election…. oh, duh, that’s right, and the loss of the free world. (Um. Was it ever free?)
By Barb the proofreader on 10.16.08 6:30 pm
Yeppers, because we all feel no one has been listening to what so many are saying, and have been saying. Dion’s Green Shift was a disaster to begin with as a primary campaign plank. It came across to me as too complex, and too tax based (Need I digress on how Canadians whine about their taxes?).
Face it Barb, if Dion could not sell me on his plan, then what chance did he have with less informed people. other than those who blindly supported him and it?
I gave it a fair hearing initially, but people are NOT going to play with their own, or an online calculator, when we have the worst financial nightmare in 70 years staring us all right in the eye, and a summer of fuel price gouging that has seriously affected our lives and finances, while the oil companies rake in outrageous profits..
Atop that was Dion’s repeated failure to bring down Harper with a vote of No Confidence. That was inexcusable to me personally, yet I, too, supported him on the basis that he ‘knew’ something, had a plan, etc. I like Dion as a person, and I am NOT a Liberal, I am a Centrist Independent (interestingly, there is an article (Chantel Hebert’s column ) today on me, and those who think like me, being the real target for the next election. who wants to see a real long term plan, not another attempt at bringing Kyoto out its grave, nor another Quebec based FUD over separation (which she points out has driven the Liberals for too long). Kyoto was a starting point to get people working together, it was not, and is not the Final Solution.
Atop that was the unjustified waste of $300 million of taxpayer’s money to have an election that was completetly unnecessary, and has, in the end, produced NO CHANGE, other than the party leader’s heads being called for!
Finally, the lat straw to me, in almost any situation, is the blatant lieing that has been accepted by my fellow Canadians. when someone openly, and repeatedly lies to me, then I write them off like a bad dream. It goes on their Permanent Record as far as trust is concerned. That principle I do not deviate from for any reason.
Harper has a very long Rap Sheet at this point, as does McCain, and their entourage of mindless supporters who support such liars. Then there is Sarah Palin, who the others ‘pale’ in comparison to when it comes to DUMB and incompetent! She is the feminine version of Bush, only dumber.
I can readily deal with a difference of opinion, and in fact, welcome it because ‘A Good Idea Is A Good Idea, regardless of where it comes from.’
Have to finish reading the other comments and then have a real work load for today.
Note: I also, after stating what I really felt to Go Green, said ‘Let’s have a drink!’ and meant it much as if we were face to face with each other.
When I’d point out the truth, the real platform, and the real opinions of experts, the Cons looked like their brains were short-circuiting.
By Barb the proofreader on 10.16.08 2:01 pm
LMAO! Visions of Robby The Robot (Forbidden Planet, not the stupid Lost In Space version))going into lockup; NOMAN from Star Trek going into self-destruct, all come flashing to mind.
Heck, let’s throw in Dr. Hans Blinker’s non brain from Abi Normal (Young Frankenstein, or is it Frankenstien?). LMAO!
In a nut shell, human kind will always, and has always destroyed everything we have put our fingers on. It is a sad reality. We cannot have population growth, and a cleaner world. It is one or the other. If humans were to go extinct, the planets eco systems would hardly notice, and most likely thrive, save for a few parasites that live in our armpits and genital areas. If we removed all sharks from the oceans, which we have got about 90% of them so far, we put the entire oceans eco systems at risk by removing the top of the food chain. Animals and plants know far more about sustatinability then we do, yet we think we have the superior brain.
By Marc on 10.16.08 6:45 pm
Marc, we have accomplished many wonderful things, but the problems are caused by politicians NOT being real leaders with a long term vision.
I hold the view ‘We can do better, because we KNOW better!’ I’d love to see that applied in our HoC.
Max DiMont said of the Dark Ages in his book ‘Jews, God, and History’ that the wealthy and poor shared three things ‘They were equally ignorant, illiterate, and superstitious!’ We still are, and in this day and age, by CHOICE!
We are still living in the netherland between an agrarian and modern society. Both have their benefits, and both have their detriments. We want leadership, but that is no longer the lone wolf playing Alpha Male, rather it requires a leader who can bring the best out of people by providing an amiable environment in which each can fluorish.
Weird, a double post all in one?
Why does Harper have to lie? Because no one would vote for him if he told you the truth about himself, his funding and his plans.
By Barb the proofreader on 10.16.08 7:04 pm
Barb,
You may be right about that.
However let’s not forget that this is the neo-con way. I am sure you are well aware of Leo Strauss’s principle of the “nobel lie”, one of the building blocks of the neo-con philosophy. It is well known that Harper and Bush are both disciples of Leo Strauss.
I believe that Harper lies because because he was trained that way.
By the way you deserve a lot credit for your knowledge and your well researched factual postings. I share your concern and dismay. Hopefully it will be a better day tomorrow.
On the lighter side, I pick up a cutie at a blog run by a guy called Red Canuck.
It’s a McCain Palin thing.
Grampy McSame and Winky Mainstreet.
Almost peed myself.
While I agree that many people were swayed by the negative ads and outright lies that Harper released, I would like to request that people please stop throwing random insults at anyone who voted Conservative in the last election. Yes there were lots who were swayed by the ads and lies but many informed voters cast their ballot for Harper and his Conservatives. Perhaps their MP is an excellent candidate or they found the Con program to their liking, or they just found the Liberal/NDP/Green platforms not to their liking. There are many brilliant people working with all of the parties and many great Canadians who voted for every party, there are also many idiots who voted for every party. By lumping all of the people who voted Con as idiots etc. we’re just being prejudiced.
I myself voted to keep Garth Turner as my MP for Halton and I would do so again in an instant, I also found the Liberal platform to be the most to my liking, but I don’t think that everyone who voted or thought differently than me is an idiot. I just disagree with their point of view.
Keep up the good work Garth, hopefully we’ll see you back on the campaign trail in a few years and we can get you back into parliament where you belong!
Good luck in the future Garth and thank you for this this blog. I have had a lot of fun here and hoped I made a few people laugh, (especially at the expense of my buddy Jim-Dog Flaherty).
Your loss was a huge disappoint for many people but not entirely surprising given the vagaries of Canadian politics. Take satisfaction that you did an incredible thing. That being the formation and continuance of this forum despite great personal cost to yourself. The fact that your ex-boss and the repeat PM of Canada would take such offense to how a sitting member chooses to communicate with his constituents speaks volumes about his character and nature. I hope more representatives grow a pair and follow your example.
Stay in the game. I wont say something as maudlin as Canada needs you. I will say stay because transparency in government and democracy needs more examples such as yourself. Actually, I am not that concerned with you fading from the scene as I really dont think you can help yourself.
In the mean time relax, put your feet up, put on CPAC, crack a cold one and watch Lie’n Brian’s protege try and stick handle around the coming train wreck.
Paul Fist In Your Face.
Grampy McSame and Winky Mainstreet.
Almost peed myself.
By comrade okie on 10.17.08 11:14 am
HILARIOUS! Thanks for sharing that jewel. Talk about on the money!
Why does Harper have to lie? Because no one would vote for him if he told you the truth about himself, his funding and his plans.
By Barb the proofreader on 10.16.08 7:04 pm
So very true Barb, except for his core base. But, they are also upset that he has not managed to pass all of the ultra-right wing legislation that he promised them. They continue to support him, however. As Flanagan said, IIRC, it has to be done a little step at a time, so as not to scare the non-hard right wing of his party. Sorry if I’m not making myself as clear as I’d like. I believe I read somewhere today that, in order to not go into a deficit position, he’ll have to ‘kill’ some social programs. Did any of we progressives ever think otherwise.
BTW, we saw our Fin Advisor yesteday. Apparently, since the last quarter we’re down 17%. He’s moving us in to more balanced funds with less MER costs and when the market picks up we can then choose to move elsewhere. It’s our fault as he had sent the papers to us in the spring. With my health concerns and other things that wre happening in our lives, we didn’t get the papers signed. But, because we don’t owe a cent, have cash, don’t need to touch our investments for more than 10 years, and I’ve an indexed pension, etc. he said we are in good shape in comparison to many of his clients. Apparently, against his advice, some of his clients insisted on some taking more risk and have lost half of their portfolio & took out loans to do so. We took out one of those loans where you can deduct the interest to purchase stocks, but we’ve quantrupled our payments in the last year or 2, just because we weren’t comfortable. Maybe not wise, but we don’t like owing anybody anything.
Barb the Proofreader – I too appreciate your well reseached opinions.
BY GO GREEN 10.17.08 4:24 PM
Hi Go Green,
Did you read “What’s the Matter with Kansas”? Actually, there’s a quickie summary on Wiki that will interest you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What’s_the_Matter_with_Kansas
Flanagan likes to be one of the inner circle who tips their hand once in awhile, and he and Harper even pretend they are on the outs, but it’s all fake, of course, all for show. Flanagan even explained that part too, that they make it look like they oppose each other, harrumph, harrumph like reverse psychology.
To add to your point about Harper’s “Base” here’s the real trick: As with Kansas, they’ve been shaped and entrenched over the decades to believe in false things, like that there ever was a liberal elite. It’s pretty obvious The elite are the Neo Conservatives and always have been. They are comprised of the wealthiest corporate owners, the elite who often use dishonorable measures to multiply their money. They found that they could persuade a class of underling politicians, sway public opinion, institutionalize this ridiculous unbridled market ideology — all to their advantage.
The trick was to constantly fool the little guy.
The Base you mention, never seems to catch on. They never get their anti-gay, anti-abortion agenda fulfilled, just promised. And like the Pavlovian dog, they are trained to hate a non-existent entity called the liberal elite, so they never suspect it’s the conservative elite who have all the power and money. Good trick, eh?
And the most obvious and easy to digest clue is, who ever heard of a wealthy liberal elite? Indeed, whoever heard of a wealthy intellectual?
It just shows you why the rich get richer. They have completely bought the right wing, bought the media, set up fake think tanks, they run the Chamber.. it’s just about perfect, but I think the long legacy will be the death of the new right wing, for a long time.
I really HIGHLY recommend tonight’s Bill Moyer’s segments. One was Mark Crispin Miller about how to steal an election. One of the tactics of VOTE SUPPRESSION is to legislate new voter identification requirements. Stephen Harper’s Conservative government brought in the regulation change, and it was predicted the Conservatives were the most likely to benefit from that change. I wish every Canadian would watch this 15 minutes. It illustrates the dire spot we’re in:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10172008/watch3.html
Hmm, that didn’t work, I’ll try it again:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What’s_the_Matter_with_Kansas
Go Green,
I posted several links on Garth’s main thread at 2 pm ET today (the 18th), but they are caught in the filter? Or perhaps my browser is just slow. So I’ll try that above link again in a shorter version.
http://tinyurl.com/2j82b6
I think Garth’s digital democracy — and time — will work in Canada’s favour.
…
I have hope for our future.
“I believe that Harper lies because because he was trained that way..
I share your concern and dismay. Hopefully it will be a better day tomorrow.”
BY GORD 10.17.08 10:45 AM
…
Gord,
I agree with you.
He came west just after I did. He obviously fell for the Neoconservative set up of the day.. “works for him” as they say. It gives you some perspective of how long this game has been played by them. It certainly started before his time, that’s for sure.
And by “them” .. there are the boys who are scooped up and playing along, like Harper; then the boy-underlings, drones, networkers, lawyers & lobbyists & thugs.. then the uninformed they misinform.. etc. And then there’s the good old Tories who have no clue they are voting for the Reform Alliance Neoconservative Party. But very time one of them figures out they’ve been had, they’re ornery. Which is good.
And so the wealthy corp. elites, the old boys and all their underlings all enjoy their forward movement, and they laugh, and snark and brag. But also… “there’s thems that realizes” what comes of it in the long run, of who’s really in charge, and that’s when they stop participating and drop out before their inevitable trouble catches up with them — the public eye.
The really dumb higher ups end up in jail, where some are already, on both sides of the border. More to come.
Anyway, thanks Gord. I think there’s much to look forward to. Like, the fact that I just switched another Tory to a Liberal. Oh, shit, the election’s over. Damn. Well, one by one, before the next election..
I put more info on the other thread this afternoon, see 18th at 1:46 PM and 3:11 PM
http://tinyurl.com/683b7z
Garth,
I enjoyed you as the Conservative MP I respected you as a Liberal MP and I am truly sorry that your riding didn’t know a good thing when they had it.
I truly just want to yell at the top of my lungs to every voter who cast a ballot for the Harper government what is wrong with you!! Why is it that you are unable to see that this man is dangerous and could spell disaster for the country’s health and wealth. I knew that we would be in a much better place with you in the house taking that party to task on all their misguided policies.
I wish you all the best in the next little while and will keep my fingers crossed that this is not the end of your political career the country needs you and just wait till the Liberals hold power again … we will need you in caucus helping rebuild the rubble that is left by Steve and his puppets.
Cheers,
Kate
I predict they will move even further left…to the extreme, to the point where they are emulating Castro because they will elect the Trudeau in waiting very soon as leader. It will be ‘like, wow, man I haven’t done a damn thing but now I’m the leader dude!’ Of course this will be followed with another writing of this liberal boy about how wonderful his life time family friend Castro is.
By Leasa on 10.17.08 8:53 am
So Lyin’ Leasa the hyper-partisan queen and KY “lady” rides again. This time, shedding her “nice girl” image and blatantly, once again, exposing her truly vicious nature. Obviously she can not even be gracious in victory.
Bad enough that she implied that Pierre Trudeau was a Nazi, now she would have people believe that Justin is a Communist.
She has apparently , for the moment, set aside her “nice girl”, victim and Tokyo Rose acts to show her true colours. Or had she completely abandoneded those pretexts with her filthy figurative inferences of sodomy directed at the attendees of Dion’s Oakville rally!
Was there ever a more despicable repugnant creature than Leasa?
Looks like Muskoka Bill is exploding with his trailer trash backwoods theories. Watch your blood pressure, it’s going to be a long couple of years for you folk in the backwoods.
Dear Gord,
Why call “Leasa” a “despicable repugnant creature”? A little harsh, no?
Garth, you did not loose, Canada lost. The bricks are about to fall has Harper and Co….must step to plate being thrust into the big leagues with minor players… the outcome is exactly as been told by those here who have watched this game from the start…Bush 44….nothing more really needs to said …but politics eats words and kills good ideas each and every day.
Have a good safe trip…enjoy
Sorry, but Dion was like watching a “B” movie. Low budget and quickly shot.
Hi Garth,
Thank you for all that you have done to champion democracy in Canada. My wife and I were deeply disappointed to see you lose in the election. Canada has lost a great MP. Hopefully that will only be on a temporary basis (i.e. would you consider running again in the future).
At any rate, it was a pleasure to meet you in person at your Oakville Town Hall and we wish you all the best for the future.
We plan on staying in touch through email.
Take care…
TS
Sorry Garth, the Joe Clark days are gone. The old PC school that you long for has disappeared, and even a red tory like me has seen the leadership of the Conservative party. You have to balance all the pros and cons to see that it’s not all that bad. Any party would have tossed you if you would have been rebellious. It’s politics unfortunately.
Leasa: You prefer Harper’s close ties to the right wing Republicans? You want Canada to degrade into a country with crumbling schools, health care for only the wealthy, profit over morality, higher education for the elite, and survival of the fittest (the fittest being those with the most $$$)??
That is where Harper is leading us. And you blindly follow along mesmerized by his boogey man tactics of fear and manipulation—
Garth,
Why don’t you try the NDP next time?
I’m my own party, dude. — Garth