The Big Blink

Minus the Gallery was quite pleasant, I sure don't feel I missed anything. Anyway, it was like listening to a bunch of children yelling louder and louder to be noticed and pulling silly little antics to one up the other. You weren’t missed and to be quite truthful I had forgotten you had even left until it was mentioned here.

I saw the loss of the press gallery as a return to the principles of "peace , order and good government"

It would be sad to see them back to

"piecemeal, disorder and left government"

I too, never missed the press gallery. Until these so called reporters grow up and report the new insteed of trying to make the news, please keep ignoring them!(Peter Mansbridge should be put on top of the list!)

It was a quiet and rumor-free Summer with the press gsallery scribblers on strike...too bad it's over.

What press gallery? I suspect that the owners of the newspapers and some editors were tired of seeing paychecks being given to journalists who sat on their asses inventing stories based on stories from the local media outlets etc. It was a silly fight which the gallery lost, rightfully so. Sign the damn list and if there is favourtism then you may have an argument. Treating Harper different than Martin is hypocritical to say the least. Wells has it right and the rest of the tribe better start doing their jobs. Unfortunately then we will have to read Delacourt and Travers spewing their venom even more.

What the isolate members of the PPG Press Gang ignored was that a centralist, top-down mode of governance, whether within a government or within a news media, is no longer viable.

The PPG wanted to control all informational access to the PM's office; they alone wanted to control the information that went out to the public. Harper showed them that such a centralist, authoritarian mode is untenable. He simply went out to the rest of the newsworld in Canada, the locals everywhere, the non-Ottawa crowd. That larger group, the ones who don't live in Ottawa, were quite willing and ready to have one-on-one interviews with Harper, to inform the public, to ask questions which Harper answered in detail. Then, there are the blogs, which the Ottawa Gang, the PPG, ignore - the blogs are equally ready to inform the public. We've had more information, more detailed responses, than we've ever had.

The old elitism, of a central authoritarian Press Gang, located in Ottawa, and which has assumed, by itself, the 'right' to control all news from Ottawa - is over. Harper has given informational power back to the people.

But-what the central Press Gang has moved into, is a constant, never-ending attack on Harper, along with their constant anti-Americanism. The CBC, with its endless interviews with Liberals, NDP and others, against Harper. Same with CTV. The PPG has wide tentacles and their buddies are working hard against Harper.

"Some failed to show even the most rudimentary grasp of how journalists do their jobs."

I'm not interested in how journalists do their jobs. If they don't, I won't read them. I'm interested in how PPG journos do their jobs. I'm surprised that it takes 150 people to cover a news conference, for example. Do they do anything else?

When their isn't a news conference, what do they do?

What would Miles Davis do?

Perhaps if Harper had Herlin Riley playing drums in the background, we could get something decent from someone.

It was really just a matter of time before they returned, without their platform to attack the CPC they were nothings. They discovered their public ego's and importance were deflated just by being ignored. Parasites without a host.

"What the isolate members of the PPG Press Gang ignored was that a centralist, top-down mode of governance, whether within a government or within a news media, is no longer viable."

I have to disagree with you on this part of your post, ET. I think the nanny state mentality is a lot more deeply ingrained in our society than we'd like to admit, although with the freedom of information available today, it may not be viable in the news media.

We now have a generation growing up who've been supplied with every comfort, don't know adversity, and have been told what's right, wrong, acceptable, trendy, and how and what to think.

When times get tough, a great many people will cry for "Big Govmint" to come to the rescue. We're one PR crisis from another round of Liberal governance, (if they ever decide on a leader.)
Harper has returned professionalism and dignity to the office of PM, I hope the great unwashed appreciate it enough to re-elect him to a majority government.

I always enjoy your posts,ET, keep up the good fight.

The peace and quiet was nice while it lasted.

Back to the regular program - get Harper.

Paul Wells' rant about burning houses and baby carriages was quite revealing.

The media is being democratized.
The Senate is about to be democratized.
SC appointments will be a bit more transparent.
All this will lead to the feudal PMO fortress being democratized.

Will there be insurgencies against change? Yup.
It’ll be given a rally call “ we don’t want US style democracy”.
But these insurgents aren’t the Taliban; they just shoot their mouths off, nothing serious that can’t be quelled.

Harper is doing a great job incrementally changing things one plank at a time.

PPG BLINKS, FIZZELS. Hey Harper, we'll give you another 30 days !! And then, then..

All my life, in order to get the "news"(spin), I had to put up with the likes of, of. I can hardly remember the names. Used to watch CBC's "This week In Parliament", The House, on radio, What were their names, anyways? I honestly can not remember, oh ya, Bouque, was one. The "this week in Politics" guy ?? oh ya, Donnie Newman.

I now only laugh occasionally at the big gang of small minds at the so-called PPG. Take a hike Van Dusen and all.
I, and everyone else, now have at our finger tips a world of information, with out the spin that would make Pravda proud. The blogs do not have a monopoly and so had better provide HONEST information. Which many do. Like
sda
proud to be Canadian
norman spectator
warren kinsella
steynonline
angryinthegreatwhitenorth
junkscience

Paul Well's attempt at humour; commenter's are so hooked on the PPG that they write in all the time saying that they ignore it. He says people don't stop on the street and go tell the owner they don't like their house. Paul, Canadians think the PPG is DANGEROUS and had to go. The ugly house , although unpleasant, isn't bad for Democracy.

I have no need of the PPG, nor any desire to consume their product. The PPG is a distorting information filter that has lost its value-add. Let the shift of advertising revenue away from the biased MSM continue.

dmorris - I completely agree with you. I think that the nanny state mentality is deeply ingrained in Canada. What I meant by 'non-viable' is only that it doesn't work.

A centralist authoritarian gov't is extremely expensive because it relies on an enormous bureaucracy to maintain the control and supply services. This means that it is unable to adapt to any changes in the local realities; it has to rely on authority from the top to make the changes, and these are slow, expensive and the problem increases with the delays.

A major problem with the centralism is that it is the default position of governance in Quebec, which is protected from demands for change by its being a sub-nation within Canada. As such, Quebec exists behind a wall of protectionism; its economy guaranteed by various in-Canada trade agreements (eg milk production guarantees); by federal make-work projects in Quebec; bilingualism guarantees that its mandarins form the bulk of the Ottawa civil service; its failures as an economy locked into high wage unionism offset by enormous equalization payments. Since Quebec operates as this centralist governance, and since it dominates the federal civil service, judiciary and other key federal systems, then a centralist gov't is inevitable in Canada.

But, it doesn't work. Canada has become too large in population and is geographically too diverse for a centralist political and economic structure. This fault is hidden by the fact that Canada, economically, doesn't have to compete on the world market; it simply ships everything to one country, the US - and gets very upset if the US doesn't purchase its goods. Canada also hasn't contributed to the international security and well-being for a generation, reducing its military and being one of the lowest contributors in aid to disasters and poverty.

Harper is changing all of this, thank goodness, but, it's quite the fight - with the CBC, and other media systems all 'stuck on stupid' and braindead, repeating their attacks against him, and mourning for the 'old days' of 'peacekeeping' and a central gov't. It's like the old boys of the East India Club mourning for The Empire. Our Trudeaupian generation is similar, and doesn't understand, or want to understand, that new modes are required in this new world.

ET, 1:28PM Nail On The Head, again.

ET, how do you explain Canada so well, in so few words ?? You get right to the point. How can anyone seriously challenge them ?? It would be nice to know your back-ground.

Seems that true lefties, not the working types but the Latte types, would rather; instead of others making 50k and them 30k, they would prefer all only 20k. Like the former USSR. If it takes the MSM and Muslim terrorists to achieve it, so be it.

"The I-don't-care-about-journalists crowd, on the other hand, is vigorous and proactive in its apathy."

This analogy makes no sense. Just because people take the time to tell him they don't care, doesn't mean they do. They care about the issue of the boycott, not the PPG itself.
The correct house analogy would be: somebody with a house tells you constantly you should pay attention to it, because it's ever so special and you can't live without looking at it. Not surprisingly, some people disagree and tell them.

Funny about them waiting for PMSH to surrender. He doesn't look French to me.

I'm not interested in how journalists do their jobs. If they don't, I won't read them. I'm interested in how PPG journos do their jobs. I'm surprised that it takes 150 people to cover a news conference, for example. Do they do anything else?

miles...
they all convene at the national press club across the street and do some sipping. thats why there P.O'd because now they have to cross the street to get the stories. cuts into drinking time.

"We're one PR crisis from another round of Liberal governance..."

dmorris,I hope every single reader here burns that line into their memory.
This is no victory.The reality is the CBC and other influential pro-lib media outlets still own the airwaves and print in this country.THEIR version of events is what the average Canadian digests daily.How do we possibly spread news about the messenger when the messenger controls the news?
I believe we all have great respect for what Kate and her fellow bloggers have accomplished to date.To those paying attention,it is actually quite revolutionary.But they are still far from being mainstream.
Harper's new government cannot even move forward with any real reform until he has a majority.A great many here believe(rightly so)that the CBC MUST go.Hell,Harper doesn't dare say a word about closing the nationally beloved CBC.He would be politically slaughtered.AND,the fact most of us here think he's performed well does not change this sad reality.Poll #'s are relatively stagnant and about 2 of 3 Canadians will not support him.

My apologies for being a gloomy gus today.It must be the fact today is Vancouver's first rainy day in over a month.Anyways,I just believe that despite the constant gloating of many here on the LPC's woes,this country has made a fundamental(excuse my use of that term)turn to the left.Current demographics do not signal any abrupt shift back.Quebecers will not be protesting Adscam next election.Let's face it,15-20% of Canadians are delusional enough to think the NDP would make the best government.

So,how do conservatives get through to an electorate that would rather support a openly corrupt party than anything from the right?Especially when the messenger refuses to deliver your message.We do not have a great amount of time before the next election.

Oh,and one final thought...
If a good portion of the electorate is not particularly averse to supporting an obviously corrupt and self-serving party,why do you think they would have any concerns over claims of a biased media?

There was a boycott by the national press gallery?

First I heard about it.

"The I-don't-care-about-journalists crowd, on the other hand, is vigorous and proactive in its apathy."

Enough about me, what do you think about me?

I like FOX News' Motto: We report. You decide.
What a concept. Could you imagine the CBC, among others, attempting that?

I must say it was very pleasant not to turn on the news and see the likes of Julie Van Dusan 'reporting'; she has the ability to ruin any good will I have towards the 'news' , good or bad. The PPG has been 'on hold' for the whole summer and I don't believe most Canadians even knew that 'the snots' were 'cooling their heels'. If they are to resume squacking, flailing and spitting it will give our excellent bloggers more 'fodder' and us, the readers, more laughs - at the self proclaimed improtant reporter's expense. The PPG"s comming out should be viewed as an oppertunity ,IMO.

this is the kind of story we expect from CBCpravda, who gives a rats bahouki.Its a 10 hr headline like a Seinfeld episode, about nothing.

NDP backs Layton call to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

and who gives a rats bahouki about the press gallery.

ET hit that one was out of the park.

There is only one point that I would contend. "Canada has become too large in population and is geographically too diverse for a centralist political and economic structure."

The problem is not that Canada is too large or too diverse. The US is much larger and much more diverse. The problem is, unfortunately, fundamental within your system of governance. Parliamentary democracies are intrinsically weak and vulnerable.

I so wish all our allies had Presidential Democracies. At least I could know where you stand from one year to the next for x number of years. We could at least count on a comprehensible foreign policy.

Beyond that, ET points out the best hope for progress with Harper's leadership: free market economics within Canada. Good lord, let's at least start there. How insanse is it that any Provice shold have to pay for the priviledge of supporting any another?

I do hate that Harper has staked such credibility on softwood lumber. I really do, because if the US government COULD start selling "stumpage" on the trees within our National Park System, like you do with your "Socialist" trees on your "Socialist" land, we could actually have a NAFTA free market.

It is sad to me that this cannot happen because Canada is so entrenched in an UNFAIR/UNFREE Socialist economic system, that real free and fair trade is off the table. I don't give two shits what the Socialist WTO says. This is not a fair position, and I wish American's had understood this before NAFTA.

You know, Americans did not expect a trade advantage when we entered NAFTA. We didn't. We expected it would create a fair and level playing field. The next time I buy a floor it may very well be BAMBOO.

riiiight so now we're going to get people telling us what the prime minister just said again, sort of , maybe , kind of , maybe not quite exactly but i guess we'll have to wait and see. damn i really missed that .

Mr Penn, you apparently know less about your own country, then you do about ours. No matter for today. Today is a sad icon, for all of us. For all who die for blind, unknowing ideologies. Today is also my Dad's birthday, may he rest in peace, and the birthday of a friend's teenage son. What tears us apart, sometimes brings us together in the most incredible of coincidences. Love one another today. Tomorrow your world may be ripped, again.

How many members of the PPG were threatened with pink slips if they didn't start earning their pay. Yes, they caved, and like the CBC strike, nobody missed them. Just hope JVD took the time to get a decent hairdo. Has Christine Lewand been on since her hatchet job on our P.M. I haven't seen or heard of her. Did taliban jack attend any of the memorial services today. If so, I hope everyone turned their back on him and booed. Remember, ban him from wearing a poppy in Nov or attending any Remembrance Day services.