Garth Turner: A Big Bundle of Contradictions from ThePolitic - Canadian Political Weblog
Garth is now considering bolting his party just weeks after being elected because he is coming under fire for criticizing Emerson for…..bolting his party just weeks after being elected. What does credibility sound like while it’s swirling d... [Read More]

Tracked on February 11, 2006 3:53 PM

More idiocy from Garth Turner from Black Sheep Press
Apparently we Conservatives actually like Liberal governments and all our work to get rid of them was a fucking sham. Now he wants to be an independent? That'll really boost his influence. Small Dead Animals Instead of getting sucked int... [Read More]

Tracked on February 11, 2006 5:55 PM

Harrison has lost the judicial recount by 68 votes. Does he have any legal options left? (He still hasn't played the fraud card yet.)

This just in:

Garth Turner has announced he is leaving The Conservative Party and is throwing his hat in
the ring as the first declared leadership candidate for The Garth Turner Party.

When asked if this was hypocritical on his part, given his recent comments on floor-crossing, Turner replied, "Not at all. I've been very consistent on this. It's always been about me. Besides, I as Garth Turner, being Garth Turner, am best qualified to advance the ethics and goals of Garth Turner and The Garth Turner Party. Having Garth Turner and The Garth Turner Party in charge isn't just a Garth Turner value, it's a Canadian value. So you can pretty much conclude that when Canadians voted Conservative, they were really voting for Garth Turner. And that's me, Garth Turner."

I agree. Hang it up, Garth Turner. You've got your "day in the sun" (watch it, you might get a bad burn) while the other CPC caucus members wisely stay in the shadows, refusing to play the media game: the self-same media who have whipped this David Emerson thing out of all perspective and into an absolute feeding frenzy. Good on all the Conservatives who refuse to give the entitled media insiders any food for either thought or other more malevolent uses. I, for one, am glad to see the MSM finally out of the loop. And I suspect that if the CPC keeps their cool, this storm will pass. As it's largely of the media's own making (did anyone see on The National the "Young Liberals'" (sic) demonstration in Vancouver against David Emerson's crossing the floor? It smacked of having been organized by either old Liberals or the CBC itself...) I think they'll finally wear themselves out when they realize that all of their histrionics are impressive only to themselves. In the meantime, I am praying for strength and perserverence on the part of the CPC while the storm rages overhead...

Did anyone else see Julie Van Deusen, on CBC's Politics on Thursday, fire flaming out of her flaring nostrils because David Emerson had not participated in a conference call he had announced he would (probably not the best move on his part). She was literally sputtering with rage and spat out that Emerson should "have got his tush over" to the media scrum she thought he should have been part of. Get "his tush over..."? David Emerson is a Minister of the Crown; I wouldn't use this language with my own children or in a classroom (I'm a teacher)--or anywhere, actually. Who does she think she is? Well, obviously Princess Julie of the Court of CBC. In Canada. And I'm not making this up.

It's obvious that things are going to get worse before they get better. When a principled and disciplined caucus shows up on Parliament Hill you can be sure that all of the unprincipled, undisciplined, dishonest, lusting-for-power demons are going to begin to howl. What a racket! But they are, essentially, just vapours and need to be paid no attention. They will cause a lot of confusion (are we not told in Scripture that confusion is not of the Lord?) but if the CPC can keep its cool, and not be dragged under by the cacaphony of lies, putdowns, and slanders, the howling will dissipate because there is, in fact, no substance to them.

Garth hasn't changed from his days in the Muldoon cabinet. It was all about Garth then too.

I also posted the following comment on the moosie thread.

What is the interest with Coyne?

I think he is overrated, But I must confess I was banned off his blog after one post. :0)

I cannot even recall why or when I was banned as I never read him anyways and promptly forgot about it until this latest election.

I still do not read him but now I understand that he is joining the dog pile on the Conservatives and PM Harper.

What is the problem with Canadian Conservatives?

What is it about triangulation they do not get?

The Liberals have been dividing and conquering the Conservatives for so long one would think at some point the Conservatives would figure it out.

I want them to practice teamwork and loyalty, something PM Harper has every right to expect.

Turner needs to toe the line too.

If he feels he cannot play by the current rules then he should do his team a favour and take his ball and go home, i.e., quit.

PM Harper deserves a team player in that ministry and IMHO Turner knows that or should know that.

Turner was an insufferable twit when he was in government before. He is an insufferable twit as a "financial advisor". He was a "hold your nose candidate" for Milton in this last election, and it looks like he'd better not plan on a long career back in government (unless he plans to cross the floor just before it ends, which I predict) because he won't be invited back. Make him a second string parliamentary assistant for defence. Send him to Afghanistan to report to the Minister. We can get somebody new on the sympathy by-election.

Garth Turner's judgement appears to have been swallowed by his ego.
Sadly he is playing into mainstream media's hatred for conservatism in this country. I repeat here what I posted at another site, Turner AND Myron Thompson are missing a great opportunity to keep their mouths shut. Stop playing into media's hand to divide a new minority government.
My advice for Garth is move and sit as an ND, Lib or at best independent.
He is a divisive entity.

Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy

Montreal school teacher tapes students' mouths
...The teacher warned him to calm down. When Jordel didn't do so, she taped his thighs to a chair. Jordel then started licking the door when she untaped him a few minutes later....
...The teacher, who has been teaching for 4 1/2 years, is now on indefinite sick leave from the school. The principal, Johanne Provost, said the teacher is devastated by what happened.
In the meantime, the school board is investigating the incident. It hasn't decided if the teacher will suspended or fired...

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/montreal_teacher_090210/20060210?hub=Canada

steve...
re sweden and a oil free economy. read a couple of weeks ago that argentia is 100% biofuels having developed many processing plants etc. i might be wrong but my understanding was they were the first. now that may relate to automotive use only. can't remember.

I to saw Juile Van Deusen (WICKED WITCH of the CBC) trying to goad every conservative MP that walked by, into making a comment, that would fit her liberal, socialist, left leaning story.

We can only hope, that when they bring down the first budget, other then Hockey Night in Canada, there is a $0.00 for any CBC programing in it.

Kate, the percentages are irrelevant. The important thing is whether or not we as individuals can judge right from wrong, regardless of political partisanship.

Stronach and Emerson's defection are equally wrong, and you shouldn't be attempting, as you are, to minimize the latter, searching the web for anything you can find -- news articles, columns, other Tory blog postings, and polls, etc., and anything else you can find - to spin this as being "not so bad" in a sad attempt to minimize the significance of this, hoping it will all just go away.

Actually, Emerson's defection is worse than Stronach's for two very important reasons:

1. In the 2004 election, the Liberal candidate came very close to beating Stronach in Newmarket-Aurora, whereas in Vancouver-Kingsway, the CPC was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters.

2. Because we are supposed to be better than the party we just booted from government, whereas with the Liberals, such underhanded, sleazy, backroom tactics are to be expected, and met with us by a collective yawn because such behavior is the norm for that party and should come as a surprise to no one.

And if you're thinking of defending Emerson's crossing in the way so many other Tory bloggers are doing - by saying that people vote for the candidate and not the party and its platform, as well that Emerson can get things done for his constituents as a cabinet minister as opposed to an opposition MP - then you haven't a leg to stand on.

Remember, many conservatives - you and me among them - didn't accept Stronach's arguments for defending her move to the Liberals when she stated that she could best serve her constituents as a member of the government as opposed to sitting in opposition. We were very clear: the people of Newmarket-Aurora voted for a Conservative candidate in the 2004 election and were now (then) being represented UNDEMOCRATICALLY by the candidate who finished second (worse with Emerson because, as stated, the CPC was obliterated in Vancouver-Kingsway … at least Stronach's Liberal opponent came a close second).

Kate, you know what you remind me of? Some of my family and those among my circle of friends who are loyal Liberal supports and who, in the weeks, months and years after the '93 election, couldn't bring themselves to criticize their party for things such as promising to scrap the GST, the FTA, and to renegotiate NAFTA, instead choosing to sell out their principles (assuming they had any to begin with) by rationalizing and ultimately defending the very things they so despised when they marked an X on their ballot for the Liberal Party.

Kate, if you ever decide one day that you want to support the Liberal Party, it should be a very easy transition for you. Changing parties (selling out principal) shouldn't come as a moral dilemma for you. You see, that party welcomes with open arms unprincipled, unethical, integrity-challenged people like you. And my party - the CPC - will be a lot better off without your support … even if that results in my party being in opposition with faux conservatives (like you, Ananologue, Angry, among others) now in the Liberal ranks, all becuase your goal is grabbing that brass ring ... at ANY cost!

At least I'll have my integrity intact.

Please, somebody post the rules on having a byelection. How soon does one have to be called?
Cabinet ministers must have realized that Harper giveth and Harper can taketh away. Myron, shut up. Garth, get on with it, become an independent as you will never get any posting in Harpers government. Maybe he will appoint you ambassador to Iraq. Harper has many qualified (and some unqualified) MPs from Alberta, so any openings will go to them. Will the Vancouver liberals and NDP pay for election costs if they lose in a byelection. And will they be happy if Emerson decides not to run. And, what if the conservatives decide not to run a candidate, on the grounds Vancouver does not want a voice at the table, does not want the SWL deal completed, does not want Fed help with the 2010 games. Maybe they will elect a Green MP. Would serve them right. Those protesters just want to vote against Emerson again, so what will they do if he doesn't give them a chance. Maybe he will be appointed US ambassador. What if he decides to move all his businesses and jobs to the US or China. Just heard on the CBC, Gagliano is in trouble again, re the Space Agency, seems 7 million is missing. With the new minister in the Senate he will not have to answer questions in the House, and can really dig up all the dirt just waiting to be found. Can't be good news for Brisson, Gagliano or Martin and his sleaze bags.

The respectable approval ratings from a National Post poll are hardly the point. For years conservatives have been wagging their fingers at everyone else, lecturing one and all about the superiority of their "priciples",that they were pure, everyone else was corrupt. The point is that conservatives are phonies. You are phonies on ethics and accountability and the coming months and Stephen Harper will demonstrate that you are phonies on every issue of principle, from equality to personal liberty to small non-interventionist gov't.

First major foreign meeting for the new Finance Minister. Flaherty is in Moscow for the G8 talks. Funny though, in the MSM, I've been unable to find anything about it. Only saw a 15 second bit on CBC. Amazing how when the government gets to the business of governing, the media sees no good, hears no good, and reports no good. Instead, they are still whining about how they had to be "huddled on a wind-swept highway seeking comment from ministers in limousines that didn't stop" - CTV.ca Apparently that is newsworthy. Somethings are never going to change.

Garth: have you not noticed yet that the liberals are keeping relatively quiet, but then again why should they say anything when you & thompson are doing all of the yapping. "loose lips sink ships" you dumbass shit, when will you learn that the party that stays together plays together, now if you decide to leave or sit as an Ind. what will that accomplish, you will still look like an idiot, your constituants will not have any greater representation & you will be dusting off Carolyn's old seat. So cool the jets, duct tape the mouth & lets build toward's a better government with a possible majority next time around. Oh BTW the liberals are loving this for another reason too, why? Because we are not talking about Adscam, Income Trust, David Dingwall or luxury trips etc......

no bozos allowed:
What is the problem with Canadian Conservatives?

Much thought about that this end. I think it's an excess of moral purity of which I have myself been been guilty in the recent past (after seeing the rot and corruption of a political mafia that ran Canada fo 75 out of the last 100 years). Moral purity is a kind of vanity!

I woke up though to realize that there's no level of moral purity that will satisfy the totally immoral/hypocritical left (which is most of Canada) because they have no real understanding of real morality, being the party of collectivist coercion, looting and re-distribution.

And as some wise posters have pointed out here, politics is not a philosphers club, and if I may be permitted to coin a phrase a constituency is not a congregation.

Rod, not all conservatives are that way.

Not to worry, if Stephen Harper becomes Stephen McGuinty (the dynamics are different because Harper only has a minority ... but just for the sake of argument) then Kate will be their to spin things, suggesting that Harper - er, McGuinty - is "not as bad" as Martin or Chretien, using that "glass half full" (of Kool-Aid) technique she's currently employing.

to the other Bryan, You make some very valid points, however I still believe that there is a difference between Stronach & Emerson, She left for the simple reason of greed, Limo, raise in pay, no leadership hopes, & propping up a dying, corrupt filled government. Emerson is a straight shooter, he said he felt this would be better for his riding, Stronach never once said it would be better for her riding until the election came along. PS I will start using BryanR

Certainly a load of trolls oozing out of the woodwork. It appears to be a novelty to the left to see the concept of political pragmatism return to the Candian parliament. Harper said during the campaign, that depending on the numbers, he might invite members of the opposition to participate in cabinet (he actually said that, in our cities. I'm not making this up). The purpose of parties is to form a goverment out of an election. After the election, it is the purpose of MEMBERS to represent their constituents. EVERYBODY KNOWS party politics gets in the way of this. So why is it such a shocker that Harper a) did what he said he would do b)appointed a man having PREVIOUSLY demonstrated an ability to resolve a sticky problem (and was in fact doing so)to continue solving the problem Martin gave him solve, and c) still be the MP of choice of the riding that elected him. He's one vote. If Kingsway's upset, they need to grow up. If liberals are upset, well who gives a ... Some of the airheads showing up here need to decide if its good government you want or vacuous ideology. The DIFFERENCE between Stronach and Emerson is that when Stronach crossed the floor she took nothing with her (except maybe poor Peter's heart). When Emerson crossed he brings with him the program respected by both the Conservatives and the Liberals. To the trolls - THESE are new days... maybe you need another hobby...

Breaking News from CTV...

"A new sponsorship scandal has been uncovered, this one involing Michael Fortier in Public Works ... $50 million gone to conservative-friendly ad agencies with little or no paper trail ... more details to follow."

Soon-to-be headline on Small Dead Animals:

"LESS MONEY STOLEN THAN UNDER THE PREVIOUS LIBERAL GOV'T"

Follow-up headlines from Small Dead Animals

"DON'T JUDGE AN ENTIRE PARTY FOR THE ACTIONS OF A FEW"

"$50 MILLION ONLY REPRESENTS 0.039% OF THE GOVT'S BUDGET"

We have a minister at a G8 meeting in Moscow, and minister in Turin. Will we learn more about the 7 million missing under Gagliano's watch re the Space Agency. What does the media focus on, Emerson, Gretsky, and the cry baby libs and ndps in Vancouver. Emerson was questioned on CBC at the airport. HE WILL NOT RESIGN. Get over it.
Have the libs really paid back the stolen money re Adscam. All this fuss is the medias way of keeping liberal sleaze out of voters minds. They have lots of help with Myron and Garth. Both of them are losers. Next election even conservatives will vote against Myron if he tries to run again. There has got to be a better choice out there. Maybe Garth likes to think he is a darling of the media, but they will turn on him, just like the MSM has turned on McCain. Bets on how long Garth stays in caucus. Will he be happy with the libs and their Islamic supporting lib. Will he walk or be kicked out.
What do his voters think.

"Emerson is a straight shooter," writes BryanR

David Emerson stated that voting Conservative “would be like going down a black hole.” And it would result in “crappy policy.”

Of course he's a straight shooter.

Do you play online poker, BryanR?

I can smell a flush.

"Don't judge an entire party for the actions of a few"
I think ENRON used that line before you!
"$50million only represent's 0.039% of the govt's budget"
Tell that line to the father or single mom that has to work more hours than ever to heat the house this year, feed the kids, pay the hydro bill etc.... & still has to pay there ^%$#%#@ Taxes this year!

bryan: Since you have mentioned 'adscam',(which I call 'adscum'): three tiny paragraphs on Page 23 of today's Toronto Sun Newspaper-
Montreal-Lawyers for companies and key players in the federal sponsorship scandal want Quebec Superior Court to prevent the federal government from using testimony from the Gomery Inquiry in a 57 million dollar lawsuit. (The case isn't expected to be heard until 2008)! Duh?

Bryan, You used up a lot of type to convince everyone that the Emerson shift was wrong.

When Emerson expedites a softwood agreement and enables mill workers to go back on shift in numerous communities all over BC and Alberta, the move will have been correct.

If Emerson fails to contribute to the duties settlement, then the move will have been an error, but not for the reasons you suggest. TG

Ya I seen that one Dave, if that was you or me they would have us Tarred & feathered by now. Did you read the other one off topic here but that scuzz bag molester only got 7yrs with good behavior out in 4 or less, PM Harper & Vic will hopefully act soon on there criminal reform platform.

Re: Emmerson:

Apparently he was approached by John Reynolds more than a year ago , just before the Belinda thing. Emerson was considering not running again - as a Liberal or otherwise.
The Conservative candidate in his riding had even offered to step aside to allow Emerson to run as a Conservative - a better fit for his values - he is in no way a Socialist and was most likely dismayed that the former Conservative-lite finance minister Martin had strayed so far left.
Plus - Emerson was being pressured to do a lot of heavy lifting in Liberal fund raising.
Martin convinced him to run again this time for the Liberals and it would appear Emerson was/is loyal to Martin if not the party.
Reynolds contacted Emerson the day after the election after Martin had said he was stepping down. I am sure Emerson's loyalty to Martin and not the party was well known.
Emerson did not make his decision for almost two weeks. It was not until the Sunday before the Monday cabinet announcements.
In those two weeks heavy weight leadership candidates had bowed out and there became a "draft Emerson" movement to run for the Liberal leadership.
A rudderless corrupt party without a leader, with a huge debt...
Parliamentarians are free agents and can choose whatever party they want or even no party to represent constituents.
Who reading this would not have done the same thing?
Pressured to run for a leadership he did not want.
Pressured to carry the heavy fund raising load yet again for a party mired in scandal and corruption that has become the disdain of honest business. Corruption that paints every Liberal as themselves corrupted.
Abandoning his passion and commitment to work on important files for Van, BC and Canada.
And, floor crossing is a parliamentary tradition - prefectly acceptable.
I applaud Emerson and just say the Liberal media war room is alive and well on the issue.
In my opinion this is being orchestrated to scare the 20 or so Liberal MPs who are themselves disgusted with their own party from crossing the floor.
Bravo Liberal war room. Propaganda, fear and smear is alive and well in Canada. In our cities. In Vancouver. In Montreal.

Consider the conservatives, how they bob,how they weave, how they spin, spin, spin....DELICIOUS

bryanr: Yeah- the diddlers are still getting off.
(but I am more interested in how many members of our 'justice' department are getting sent to places like Cancun, via the public works department. (Anybody out there have a link on this?)

I have been away from the blogosphere for a week or so due to a sudden illness and death in the family. Upon returning I find the uproar over Emerson to be childish navel gazing.

Good Lord folks it's politics not the friggin semenary!

I shared a flight back through Calgary with one of my uncles who worked for 17 years for Canfor in Prince George and we had a chance to discuss the current political events. He had nothing but good things to say about Emerson as a business mind and a competent manager. Emerson is a self made man and apparantly a top level talent. This is a lot more than can be said for some other recent defections from the CPC to the Libs.

I say lets see what kind of results Emerson gets. I could really give a shit about what political stripe people claim, I'm more interested in results.

Grow up folks, when Martin makes a deal to prop up a corrupt regime it's brilliant political strategy. When Harper snags a top level talent from the other side it's a crime. that's how the game is played. If you can't stand a little bloody nose you might as well mind your knitting.

Now where is all the frigging money that was stolen???

Syncro

Think about it, why is it that none of the high profile liberal's want to run, pretty well all of them say a ten year committment is the reason. But if you were parly to info about how top programs were run & these had no accessible info up until now, would you want to be around when the shit hits the fan. It is easier to play dumb & stupid from your lawyer's armchair than the seat on the hill?

Thanks Lakota for a very good synopsis of events.

Thanks Pedro. The CBC has left wingers CONVINCED that they represent the only true Canadian values. Since the Liberals are suffering now from rampant crime and corruption your point is a valid one.

I want the Conservatives to be a hard working team that protects and is loyal to the PM.

I do not think that is too much to expect from MPs like Turner but apparently he just cannot manage even that.

His time is already up as far as I am concerned.

Emerson is an experienced politition with a skin that is Liberal thick.

This pained act of the moment can be tolerated, but he owes it to us not to bow out until the softwood question is solved and shifts go back to work in the mills.

After that he can retire in supreme wealth.

Why we don't skewer roast and tar Shapiro I'll never guess. He looked the other way and failed to protect our interests to the tune of $billions.

He deserves a 50 year jail term or at least a long dunking in Ottawa*s Rideau canal. TG

I don't know why people are mentioning Mr. Thompson with Garth Turner, Mr Thompson said he knew that Stephen knew what he (Stephen) was doing and that he (Mr. Thompson) trusted the Prime Minister's judgement. Myron Thompson is a rancher and an independant man, his words are in NO WAY comparable to the showboat Garth Turner's. Myron Thopson is one of the kindest people you could ever meet and one of the most honest; he was reacting in his normal way - HONESTLY. Mr. Thompson would not loose ONE vote in Wildrose, MaryT -except maybe yours if you live there - and he will never lose Stephen Harper's respect either. So put that in your pipe and smoke it - if you live in the only civilized province in Canada - Alta - where you can still smoke without having the silly servants lock you up!!

Garth the business man.

http://www.cbc.ca/disclosure/archives/0229_paying/media.html

I agree, Myron Thompson should not be lumped in with GH. True, they both initially said by-elections should be held for floor-crossers, but MT then said he trusted PMSH. And he didn't continue talking to every reporter about it. And he didn't go on a blog and whine about things said in private. M. Thompson is a straight-shooter, so he was honest. But he's also an MP who supports his party and PM. Good for him.

As for GH, don't let the door hit you on your way out.

anything can be justified when viewed thru the prism of political pragmatism. Put your money where your mouths are. What is YOUR understanding of real morality, Pedro?...What true Canadian values do YOU represent,no bozos? How they spin,how they spin, how they clumsily spin. I love it.

I agree with Ipsos Reid's Darrell Bricker in the National Post's article that people are tired of federal politics. I'm a news junkie and have started to tune out. I read a few blogs but I stopped listening to talk radio this week. I watched only 2 national newscasts this week on CTV and Global. (The CBC has been banned in our household for years). I need time to de-stress and I can only hope that the quiet we hear in Ottawa is the sound of government getting some work done and ignoring the MSM that are used to having a circus to entertain them and write about.

No Adler, No Rutherford, just some nice classic rock to work by.

Ahhhhhhhhhh........ :)

Bill in Calgary

I'm sure it's very cosy with your head in the sand,BillD. Enjoy.

As posted on Andrew Coyne's site:

Andrew Coyne is, himself, a chess master of the highest order. Shall we look beyond what at first glance appears to be a Garth Turner personal self-righteous "I don't like it so nobody else should either" mission by Mr. Coyne.

Perhaps his motive to continue flogging this so called issue is, in reality, an experiment in how the Blogsphere is now controlling the mainstream media?

Coyne writes - the media researches their stories on Coyne's Blog - other Bloggers link to Coyne- party war rooms react to the Blogs adding fodder from their stashes of quotes and old news to make them new again, powerful propagandists and story spinners rally- - more links - the media write the stories they research on the Blogs - presto - more links to the media stories....

And the circle widens...and voila! the story has legs. The story cannot die! The Blog will not let it. The Blog has power. The Blog controls the message. The Blog controls the media. The Blog rules Canadian politics. The Blog is master. Andrew Coyne controls the message and the MSM!!

The Blog will topple those who dissent. The Blogs will lead the media to the troughs of blue, red, orange, green or even pink Koolaid. And the media will link to the Blogs...and the people will believe all that was spawned by the might Blogs.

Andrew - this is brilliant. I doff my Olympic toque to you sir.

Rod--- Polotics is about pragmatism not idealism. Anybody who believes different is either naive or just plain stupid.

F#$k the spin. What's the net result over time??

Are they getting the job done? Are they stealing from us? Are we getting our money's worth? Are you a big enough boy to live in the real world?

Syncro

I am indeed big enough.i.e. I pay my own way, unlike a lot of conservative voters. So the conservative ethos is the end justifies the means? All that talk about the grassroots, democracy,accountability etc. is just bulldust? How refreshing. I've been robbed blind by conservatives enough in the past to fear and loath their re-emergence from the rock they slithered under.It's got something to do with remembering your past and not dooming yourself to repeating it.

Rod,

"It's got something to do with remembering your past and not dooming yourself to repeating it."

You should try to remember the last 13 years.

Do you have any facts anywhere that conservative voters don't pay their own way?

What planet are you living on Rod?? A lot of Conservative voters don't pay their way? where? You got screwed over by a conservative regime? Where? When? How? Did your Canada Arts Council grant get cut off??

Or maybe I'm way out of line. enlighten me.

syncro

"I'm sure it's very cosy with your head in the sand,BillD. Enjoy."

Rod, I've worked in elections since 1968 in Windsor Ont. for the NDP. That was a stupid comment you made about someone wanting to take a break fom all the hype.
I've done more political work for this country than you'll ever do unless your last name is Love. But from what I've read here I think your last name is TROLL.

Bill in Calgary

Bill--I'm with you CJay and 107 on the dial this week. A little rock a little work!!

syncro

I remember Mulroney, I remember Devine.Putting aside all the entitlments that reward wealth and the business community thru the tax system, the most obvious example of conservative voters not paying their way is agriculture. Here we have your classic cycle of dependency with it's attendant culture and mentality of entitlment. The billions pissed away down that black hole have resulted in what? Each year is worse than the year before, the year before worse than anything since the Great Depression,and all we hear is the call for more and more of everyone else's hard earned tax dollar for what APAS calls an "investment" in agriculture. I'm sure when Peter is robbed to pay Paul, Paul calls it an "investment". I guess my fundamental point is that if conservatives want to live by the sword of their rhetoric, then they should have the guts to die by it, or have the sense to shut up.

Well maybe these aren't true Canadian values in your little red book rod, but I am loyal and I enjoy being part of a team, especially when that team wins.

Winning can be fun and profitable and and moral.

PM Harper has broken no rules and anyone who thinks that he should have to govern by nonexistant rules is just wrong.

Bryan, you've wasted a lot of electrons. Perhaps you should become more familiar with what I've actually written, before replying to phantom quotes of your own making.

Rod--That's it?? Farmers?? You must have had your arts grant cancelled fer sure because your head is up your ass as far as real world economics go.

The reason that farmers are subsidized is because this is a world wide phenomeon. Canadian farmers can't compete against socialist european subsidies and survive with todays input costs. The price of diesel fuel in Sask is now higher than gasoline. Most farm equipment is run on diesel. The price of fertilizer is through the roof. The price paid by the CWB for #1 red spring wheat is about the same as mt grandfather got in the 40's. Western farmers are not allowed to sell their wheat on the free market. Your food supply is in jeopardy.

The fact is that they are robbing farmer Joe to feed city Rod.

What are you going to do when the Safeway closes it's doors???? Starve?? Do you want Monsanto controling the land as well as the seed?

I bet you have no idea what I'm talking about. Don't embarrass yourself so.

Syncro

Goebbels was loyal and no doubt enjoyed being part of a team and found it fun and profitable,for awhile anyway. Being loyal and a teamplayer are not bad, in and of themselves, but that don't make them good.

NEWS FLASH: Trolls Claim Their Farts Don't Stink! "Twelve Years of Spouting Liberal Praises Out Our Butt" Cited as Main Reason Claims Ron.

Remember what Kate said about feeding trolls gang. They will keep coming back.

Are Rod and Ron one and the same?? Lack of imagination? I guess Ron/Rod will starve when the local Safeway closes.

Point taken Texas. No more food for the moonbats.

Syncro

Rod,
I have been reading the crap that you've been spouting here. You need a time out. Go down to the Bistro, order up a Latte and drown your sorrows with all your left leaning friends.
The Conservatives won the election and are governing. PMSH has been given a small mandate for change so the Canadian electorate are going to get just that... small change. If a majority of seats were won, there would be no need to ask anyone to consider crossing the floor. It is all about numbers. Even with Emerson's vote they are still one vote short of working with any single party. You can be sure that they are aggressively canvassing the Libs and the Bloc for others who might be able to work together with the government. This is not illegal. It has been done for decades in Canadian politics. If what has happenned has you upset, then you should get in touch with your MP and let him or her know about it. The Reform Party had for years advocated for "recall" legislation like they have in California which has Governor Arnie in power. Perhaps this is what is needed but in the meantime we work with what we have and sometimes we hold our noses as we carry away the corpses of the dead rotting rodents.
Enjoy the Latte!
Maranatha

Does anyone see the irony here?

Garth Turner was a member of the Mulroney-Campbell PC Party whose behavior in power gave rise to the Reform Party, of which, I'm sure, Kate, as a westerner, supported back then.

Now it's Garth who is standing up for Reform Party principals and for doing that he is being trashed by Kate - and others who I wouldn't describe as Red Tories - who herself has all of a sudden become like those she once claimed to despise.

Fascinating!

Remember "Recall" that was made popular by Reform and the CA? Boy, whatever happened to that! Was Kate a supporter of that? Does anyone know? Hmmm. I wonder what she'd say on that issue and how it shouldn't relate to present circumstance? Probably that Recall as a policy was not adopted by the Conservatives at their party's convention and therefore Harper, and Emerson, have done nothing wrong here and if they've done nothing wrong, well then why should a by-election be forced? That kind of explanation is almost as laughable as some who say there's nothing wrong with Emerson's defection, and Harper bringing him into the fold, by saying, "it's not illegal, you know."

You don't need a policy to do the right thing!

Anyway, it's all clear now.

Kate, and those not demanding a by-election be called immediately, doesn't have a problem with unethical, unprincipled, undemocratic behavior per se. No. Not at all. It's now apparent that they, in fact, determine right from wrong based solely on the political stripe of the individual and/or party that stands accused of wrongdoing.

Of course, if the Liberals won the election and someone like, say, Jim Flaherty, John Baird or a Tony Clement defected to become a Liberal cabinet minister, we all could expect that Kate would be emphasizing the positives here, that even though 80% of the voters in each respective riding voted against the thoroughly defeated Liberal candidate that there should be no by-election and the constituents should be happy with the defection because they would be well represented at the cabinet table … even if it is in a Liberal government.

Yeah right!

Yeah. I honestly think Kate and those conservatives not demanding a by-election would be more comfortable shifting their support over to the Liberal Party. They share each other's, um, principles.

Good one Rod/Ron the first nazi reference on this thread. Breaking new ground eh??

Syncro

Wasted---yer monicker says it all.

Syncro

That's rich - a lecture about ethics, principles, and democracy from the Canadian left.

kate - the Liberal war room fear, smear and jeer gang is alive and well in the Blogsphere.

Pretending to be dismayed Conservatives.

To where people like David Aiken says on TV, even Conservatives are upset.

The MSM is truly being controlled by the BLOG-Master.
I read a story on a blog; it gets linked around; a few comments and a few more links and lo and behold - Mike Duffy and Newman are "breaking" the story.
The print media even often uses the same phrases.

True fact checking is not required. If it BLOGS it has legs.
Power to the bloggers...

Rod - Goebbels? Who are you talking about? Belinda??

Texas - sorry for feeding here, couldn't help it.

Syncro - I'm calling it "whiny winner syndrome".

Syncro...I thought conservatives worshipped the market. What you are saying is the market will not generate a reasonable return on investment for farmers. Anybody else in any other economic endeavor would be told by cons. to find something more finacially worthwhile, and rightly so. But farmers are coddled into believing that the rest of society should subsidize them from cradle to grave while entertaining the delusion that they are pick themselves up by their own bootstraps indepndent and voting for conservative hypocrisy that will rob me blind. I know farmers who vote conservative, and drive to their $80,000 a year jobs in their subsidized 4x4s with their subsidized Fplates and collect every subsidized dollar shovelled into the trough. Never had a grant,born,bred in Sask. farm country for many years and I've heard your kind of jive my whole life. I don't eat beef, I don't eat canola or wheat or canary seed. I will confess to consuming more than my share of barley, but contrary to the dusty old farmer myth, food ain't cheap and there is no cheap food policy. What I consume I pay for. Farmers want choice? Give me choice.

Speaking of Mike Duffy, I've got a great idea.

Why don't you enlist the services of Liberal strategist (fmr.?) John Duffy and you can have him theaten and intimidate Mike Duffy because the ol' Duff is still talking about Emerson affair ... you know the way J Duffy reacted to the ol' Duff's persistence on the military ad?

I'm sure that you'd all get together and back the younge Duff in a display of your unabashed consistency ... you know, just like your consistency when it comes to Stronach and Emerson.

O/T: How about that Canadian Gold, eh. Tied with the US, Italy, France, etc.

Garth who ?

Attention Liberal Candidates; Get Your Ass Licked, er, Kicked.

There can be only one solution, fundamentally, in fact, it is a fact, clearly ,uh, er, a proof, a factor is that Mr.Moi is right,left'n centre. Recall Moi,Paul,it's not a farce. Moi, Paul, has tons of principles, ethics, accountability, your $$$$$ to dish out, eh Gag? Da proof is da proof, Boss.

Moi, Paul, Moi wants to take a dip in the race and get my ass licked, to put it in Vijay's words, er, kicked. Moi's motto is: Kiss My Grits.

However,Vijay is not tupid; isn't he. Iggy is the one, says Vijay. Iggy, Iggy, Iggy... VJ says vote for his buddy, Iggy. (WTF, is Iggy?)

Crowd of Liberals testing the waters for leadership bid
February 11th, 2006

All those who thought I was stupid to give high ratings to Iggy, think again. Sources say several key organisers including a few MP’s and Senators from the west have quietly agreed to support Iggy. As MP’s meet him in the caucus, some are asking for private meetings with him to discuss ‘other’ things. My biggest question is, will Bob Rae and McK will come out to support buddy Iggy in this race?

So I hear that now Volpe is getting aggressive in his approach and making calls. Dion is seriously considering to run but his people are having trouble identifying the right organizers in Ontario and they have had little head way there.

Martha will be a strategic candidate. She is the only one who has earned the right to attack Belinda. She will serve the Liberal party by bringing the dirt of Belinda to the table and making the grits aware of her. She will be supported by Liberals who want to stop Belinda if she plans to run.

This race is getting interesting with many teams starting to make calls to MP’s and organizers. The next two weeks will be crucial as a few candidates will decide if they want to take a dip into the race and get their ass kicked or stay on the sidelines and support a better candidate. >>
http://www.vijaysappani.com/myblog/

You know, at first I really didn't like Stephen Harper. I was, in fact, like many others, very scared.

But now, seeing as how they've betrayed their fundamental principals -- and did so right out of the chute -- I have to tell you, as a guy wanting to get into politics (the backroom stuff, that's my calling), Harper is scratching me right where I itch.

You see, betraying your principals (saying one thing in opposition, and doing another once elected to government) and acting with a culture of entitlement is the dream of those wanting to get into politics.

I didn't like him before, but I have to tell you, I'm really starting to like this Harper guy.

Where do I sign up?

I found out what the problem with Garth is - check out the bottom of his blog - it say's:
"Copyright © Hon. Garth Turner, P.C., M.P. - Member of Parliament for Halton, Ontario"

Notice it says P.C not Conservative - Garth still thinks he is in the Mulroney/Cambell Government.

Or did he fool us all and is a Progressive Canadian plant?

There seems to be many new 'names' appearing on SDA and Andrew Coyne these days. Could it be that we are seeing the reckless rants of 'former' Liberal insiders that are now forced to work for a living rather than invent schemes to defraud Canadians and insult Quebecers? If it's true, insult us all you want. I like it.

I am also enjoying the 'fact' that many Liberals like Garth are suffering from withdrawal symptoms. It's tough not having access to all that power, eh? Keep writing girlie boys, the latest news from Quebec is that the Liberals are dead and it will take a decade or more for recovery - if ever. Have you tried hillbilly heroine? I hear it works.

Harper betrayed his principals? Oh for shame. By creating a cabinet in exactly the same way Prime Ministers have done for more than 140 years?

That's a principal- to follow parliamentary tradition? What's next? Arn't you upset that he swore on the bible? Or that the oaths of office quoted the supremecy of God? That they sang Oh Canada which also invokes God?

Why arn't you screaming blue murder that Harper has not separated religion and the state?

One of the last Cabinet Ministers appointed by Chretien who was not elected, in fact, who was not even appointed a senator was LaPierre.

Just a commoner. Just the co-founder of the BLOC. In charge of an entire Canadian cabinet with no accountability in either house.

The horror of it all!!! Chretien should have been whipped and stripped of his title for this shocking betrayal to Canadians.
And the blah blah blah could go on.

Sheesh. You people are fellow canadians so I have to love you - but I really don't have to like you.

Just one last before the night shift. Gonna have to work a whole lot harder and be a whole lot poorer with Harper's yahoos in control. ...let's put it country simple Syncro: Ag subsidies is but the most glaring example of many special interest entitlments conservatives approve of. Your argument is that farmers are entitled to their entitlments. Those who sit on their arses using money to make money thru income trusts feel entitled to their entitlments. Income trusts only have value because working people pay tax at twice the rate of so-called "investment" income. So much for equality. But oh so pragmatic. Oil patch executives can write off their skyboxes at the Saddledome and their meals and entertainment. They feel entitled to their entitlments. Which leads me back to my first point: conservatives are phonies.

Martin/Graham shove/push/stuff Ignatieff, aka Iggy, aka Mikhail, into the vermin-infested dungeon cell where Garth Tunrer is coweringly haunched over his qwerty keyboard.

Recall Ignatieff. Recall Graham. Martin is waiting for a recall.

Call: Recall Ignatief-800$$$$$$$$-libranos$$$$; or e-mail :recalliggy@libHQmamateresa'sristorantegag.orgmafia

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I tell you people that Martin still has a tight hold of the Liberal party and nothing gets done without going through him first .... something suspicious brewing within the Liberal party ... what could it be .... Resurrection ???? .. Paul Rising Like the Phoenix from the Ashes ..... ???!!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ignatieff bows out of major speech
Liberal MP cites 'various political reasons' for cancellation

Feb. 10, 2006. -- CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — Michael Ignatieff, the Harvard academic who was one of the few Liberal stars to win a seat in last month's election, has bowed out of what would have been his first major speech as an MP.

Ignatieff had been scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the Conference of Defence Associations this month, but he cancelled the date this week.

Alain Pellerin, executive director of the association, said Ignatieff told the group "he could no longer honour his commitment for various political reasons."

The association, which represents defence-oriented organizations, invited Ignatieff last summer. He agreed tentatively, but the commitment was put on hold during the election campaign.

Pellerin said he thought Ignatieff had confirmed his attendance after the election, but a spokesman for the new MP said the date was never solid.

"It was tentative," said Jim Maclean. "Now that he is an MP, one who has not yet been assigned a critic responsibility, he decided it wouldn't be appropriate to speak."

It was rumoured within the association that Ignatieff was told to cancel by Bill Graham, the acting Liberal leader, but both Maclean and a spokesman for Graham denied that.

"He did not check with Graham nor was he asked to, nor was he asked to submit his text," Maclean said.

Pellerin said he's disappointed Ignatieff will not be speaking, saying he's having a hard time finding a replacement on two weeks notice.

Ignatieff, a well-known, author and academic, was elected in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Lakeshore.

The 59 year old was brought in as a high-profile Liberal candidate despite having supported the Iraq war and continental missile defence — both opposed by the party.

He is also seen as a potential Liberal leadership candidate, especially after a well-received speech he made at the party convention last March.

Ignatieff is a scholar with degrees from the University of Toronto, Harvard and Cambridge.

He has written widely on democracy, human rights, security, and international affairs and has been a regular TV commentator in Canada, Britain and the U.S.

He has written a number of books, including The Russian Album, a memoir of his family's history from Czarist Russia to Canada, which won the Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction in 1987.

He has also written plays and novels, one of which was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1993.

http://www.voy.com/178771/132530.html

Kanadar does not subsdize agriculture unless it is COLLECTVE farm type agriculture. Rod, you should read up on what the disenfranchisment of the farmers in the old USSR did in that place - mass starvation. In the country. In the cities. Nothing to eat. I'm not making this up. Canada will support Farmers and ranchers, I hope, in the next mandate so we will have food to eat. In the cities. In Canada.

Rod, Please do not resent big spenders being able to write off entertainment expenses.

At least they are out there keeping waiters and restaraunts going and splashing some wealth about.

Would you prefer investments be restricted to income trusts and bonds only? Get real. Canada exacts a healthy return from winning enterpreneurs and risk - takers. TG

Wow, this is very good news indeed, viz. "respectable approval ratings from a National Post poll"
This and the gold medal by Ms. Heil makes my day.

"Volpe is getting aggressive in his approach and making calls"

When that guy gets in, watch out. He'll let the whole Near East into Canada to bolster the liebrano vote.

Rod: I read this somewhere on a blog and I liked it, seems fitting to what you are complaining about - "In order to distribute wealth you must first create it".

Rod ------ Ya gotta start thinking a little bigger than that!!!!!

bullet: There are some programs at the CBC I actually enjoy
1. Canada Reads
2. The many classical music programs they provide
However, having said that I think I would be tickled to death if Mansbridge, van Dusen, Nancy Wilson et al get the boot. Ofcourse that would have to include all the high positions in the CBC that set the leftist and unbalanced tone.

P.S. and Off Topic: in 2004, the winner of "Canada Reads" was an author from Esterhazy, Sask for the book he wrote called "The Last Crossing". If you have not read this book, you should. It is a very, very, very good read. The author's name is Guy van der Haeghe and last I heard was that he was a visiting professor (I think) at STM College at the University of Saskatchewan. Enjoy.

Thanx

Harper just lost my vote in the next election.
I guess I'm not one of the 54 pecent that think he's doing a good job.(think green next time)

"Montréal is renowned the world over for its innovation and creativity."

Mauditdamn: the prize winner for worst sour grapes

ever seen since Bacchus was a sot: Liberal Party is over.

A Garth Turner Production: "Recall Paul Martin",

starring P. Martin, Jr., as a corrupt Liberal PM.

Directed by Jean Chretien (wait till ya see da proofs).

Bookkeeper/Bookie: Alfonso Gagliano.

Gum/Gum/Gum courtesy Dingwall Caterers.

In living red Liberal colour, aka da canadian values.

Sponsors below are flush with your tax $$$$$$$$$$

Flushed, bien sur/for sure.

Barely a year old, Montreal FilmFest folds
CBC Saskatchewan - via cnews >>>>

Partnerships:
* Governement of Canada
www.canada.gc.ca
* Canadian Heritage
www.pch.gc.ca
* Canada Economic Development
www.dec-ced.gc.ca

Canada Economic Development signs $1.1 million partnership agreement with the New Montreal FilmFest

* Téléfilm Canada
www.telefilm.gc.ca

* Québec Governement
www.gouv.qc.ca

Le gouvernement du Québec favorise l'accès à une culture cinématographique ouverte sur le monde
* Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca
* Ministère du Tourisme
www.bonjourquebec.com
* Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions
www.mamr.gouv.qc.ca
* Ville de Montréal
www.ville.montreal.qc.ca
* Tourisme Montréal
www.tourisme-montreal.org

Montréal is renowned the world over for its innovation and creativity.
* National Film Board of Canada
www.nfb.ca

The National Film Board of Canada enthusiastically salutes the latest arrival on the Montreal film scene ? the New Montreal FilmFest.

http://www.montrealfilmfest.com/partenaires_en.aspx

Peter.

"Harper just lost my vote in the next election."

Your in Harper's riding?

Peter,

Who will be the Green candidate in your riding when the next election is called?

Re: Note to Garth...
I think the magnitude of the "about principle - or just about you" factor is much higher for defectors. I agree with Garth Turner's position on the issue 100%, and I'm glad it was raised. Why is this "all about Garth Turner" again?

"I'm not backing down on my principles,"

Gagliano/Chretien/Martin are members of the Privy Council of Canada: Get them out; throw the book at them; turf them out.

Martin was Prime Minister; Gagliano was $$$$$$$$.

Chretien hired/endorsed Gagliano:

"Bookkeeping proves to be a sensitive business for a politician. When the matter was discussed in Parliament after La Presse disclosed the facts, Premier Chrétien declared: "This Parliament would be much better off if we had more Gagliano's."

http://www.tni.org/archives/tblick/aruba.htm

How many RCMP investigations now? 39, 40, ???

How many Chretien/Martin corrupt scams now? 200+++

RCMP to probe space agency contracts

Former scientist lays complaints. Claims projects worth $7.3 million were never carried out

MIKE KING, The Gazette
Published: Saturday, February 11, 2006

The Montreal RCMP's commercial crime section has opened a file on the Canadian Space Agency concerning potentially millions of dollars in suspect contracts approved by the federal Public Works Department while Alfonso Gagliano was its minister.

"An investigator will be assigned (to the case) as soon as one is available," Sgt. Jocelyn L'Heureux, of the local RCMP fraud squad, told The Gazette yesterday.

"We will give our full co-operation if there is an investigation," spokesperson Nicholas Girard said from the space agency's

St. Hubert headquarters.

Samir Elomari, a former CSA scientist who successfully sued the space agency for falsely appropriating one of his inventions, submitted a formal complaint to RCMP headquarters in Ottawa last month.

Evidence that at least $7.3 million worth of contracts have never been publicly accounted for was presented during the 2004 Quebec Superior Court hearing for Elomari's $14.375-million civil lawsuit against the agency.

In his complaint to the RCMP, Elomari also accuses high-ranking agency officials of having fabricated and used false documents during that hearing. As well, he claims he received threats and reprisals from new space agency president Virendra Jha - who was vice-president of science and technology programs at the time of the court case.

As for two contracts awarded by the agency in June 2000 to Tecsult Eduplus Inc., a 50-per cent subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, it was revealed during the two-month hearing that the required monthly written progress reports were never submitted.

One of the deals was a $5.2-million pact to develop a training program and a simulator as well as virtual-reality-based multimedia learning software for astronauts. The other deal, worth $2.1 million, was to produce computer-based materials for use in International Space Station projects. Elomari claims no work was done on these projects.

Elomari testified before Justice Danielle Grenier he was denied his request under the Access to Information Act to see copies of those reports, leading the judge to order the agency to produce them or other documents showing the contracted work had been done.

When agency officials admitted such documentation didn't exist, recalled Elomari's lawyer, Bruce Johnston, Grenier declared in court: "We should signal this fact to the auditor-general of Canada."

The federal funds were awarded through the agency

by the department run by Gagliano, one of the men

at the centre of the multimillion-dollar advertising and sponsorship scandal [AdScam] that rocked the federal Liberal Party. >>>

http://www.rapp.org/url/?FDDQQAQR

My apologies to MT, I know he is an honest and straight shooting person. I think he was caught off guard when questioned. I know he will support Steven to the fullest. Like most of us Albertans we tell it like it is. After so many yrs in opposition, I think all our MPs have to learn things are different now. The press will never be kind to them or Harper's government. The further they stay away from Don Newman, Question Period and other shows the better for all of us. As for smoking in AB, only in bars due to the new law recently passed. An org I belong to in Edmonton, that runs bingos and casinos has had a drop in income of over 60% since last July. Lots of programs cut, and I tell the Board of Directors, sorry, those smokers will not be back. Too bad non smokers don't play bingo and visit casinos that much. Talking to waitresses, tips are way down. Just wish all those non conservative voters outside BC would get a life. Also wonder how many at the protest meeting today actually voted, or voted anything but Conservative. Steven made a very brilliant move, appointing a senator and making him a minister. Sure brought his dream of an elected senate a step in the right direction. Emerson, along with his credentials, gets rid of a potential leadership candidate, and forces the opposition to be against floor crossing. If Emerson resigns, Harper does not have to call a by-election for months, and he can appoint DE to be chief trade negotiator. He does not lose any house votes, and has one less lib vote to worry about. We know Martin will seldom be in the house, and if BS & SB run, they will be away campaigning. Win Win for Harper. Anyone know where Scott Reid is or what he is doing. Word of advise to all conservative MPs. Don't trust any former staff member of the libs and watch out for the civil servants, and the media. Stay away and get things done. BTW, my daughter lives in Myrons riding. My grandson lives in Anne Mc riding and I told him if she won by 2 votes, he and his wife were out of the will.

Nice Mary... Nice...

Mary is right - the media is reporting the huge numbers demonstrating against Emerson, signing petitions against Emerson - my biggest question is that no one but the people of Vancouver Kingsway - and only those people who actually voted in that riding - have any right to complain.

Specutlation about Garth Turner; No doubt, if he decides to leave the Conservative party, either to sit as an independant or join another party, he will adhere to the principles he so clearly enunciated and immediately resign his seat and seek re-election in a by-election, won't he????? He will, won't he???????????

Mr. Turner is staying with the party. This recent post was, in my opinion, a very brave and honourable one.
He has my respect for weathering this like a gentleman. Hopefully his passion can be more productively channelled

http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/11/no-quitter/

Alberta Girl, lots of posters here have told them they have nothing to complain about.

So, they have any right to complain but so what?

Robert Bedet...

I like CBC radio2 but I liked it much more during the strike...no talk, no organs...no obscure "new music".

And "The Last Crossing" was great...make a good movie...well, maybe not the transvestite thing.

Steve in BC:
Yes I meant the radio FM programs; with regard to the "Last Crossing" I agree with you that the transvestite thing was not really all that necessary to have in the story, but perhaps if you had to beat the stalwarts like Margeret Atwood (who continually was licking the boots of the then Governor General, Adrien Clarkson) he had to put something like that in the equation.

lakota has an excellent link above ... it's at:

http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/11/no-quitter/

I, for one, am willing to give him more rope.

To the left folks - I'm I supposed to be a proud Canadian or not? Just asking.

I've never been here before, but as I life long conservative I thought I would check it out.
Interesting.
Has Harper moved closer to a Mulroney in the past three months?
You say the issue isn't Harper it is Turner?
He won't appoint an unelected Senator then he does? And you western Reformer who fought for that for so many years are now silent?
Reform was started because of the Mulroney toadie and Reform said let the MPs speak, and now you say toe the line?
What I hear is power at any price as long as it is ours.
You guys are a bunch of patetic hyprocrits.
The converted talking to the converted. Do you guys all still live with your parents, and are so nerdy that you can't get a date so this is your life?

Rock on Garth. Power to the MP. Screw the unaccountable and un-elected PMO.
Thank you.

One more thing you rocket scientists.
If Garth did resign, what do you think would do the Harper's credibility that he loses an MP in the first week? Plus the spectical of a by-election?
Be thankful Garth doesn't want to resign, that would more permanently hurt Harper's credibility on Parliamentary reform.
Yes Garth did a lot of media. When PMO cracked down he pushed back with the weapon he knew best and they found they messed with the wrong person who wasn't afraid of him. But then Doug the Thug Finley only has one gear. (Hmm, I wonder what he is over compensating for)
Sorry guys, but PMO messed this up from day one, dropped a bomb shell by surprise that sent everyone scattering and instead of slinking out the back door of caucus or stumping in front of the media, Turner said that he believed it six months ago and he believed it today.
Waht I am writing isn't new. Just really read his web-site.
Cheers

Two good pieces with excerpts:

1) "Losing bin Laden:A CIA veteran explains a new kind of warfare -- and how America's nemesis survived it", review in Washington Post Book World, Feb 12:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020901687.html

'The U.S. campaign in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda will certainly go down in history as a brilliantly executed military victory in an entirely new age of warfare. But its glory was a bit marred, just as in Operation Desert Storm, by the failure to kill or capture Dr. Evil...While not intended to be a comprehensive history of the campaign, Gary Berntsen's Jawbreaker provides a valuable new account by a major participant that fills in many blanks.

Berntsen was a top CIA field commander in the most critical sector of a new kind of war. What made the Afghan campaign a landmark in U.S. military history is that it was prosecuted by Special Operations forces from all the services, along with Navy and Air Force tactical airpower; operations by the Afghan Northern Alliance and the CIA were equally important and fully integrated. No large Army or Marine force was employed...

The success of the Afghan campaign makes all the more heartbreaking the unnecessary failure to kill bin Laden during its endgame. Contradicting Bush administration denials, Berntsen writes that his teams discovered bin Laden and the remnants of his entourage in the now famous Tora Bora Mountains along the lawless, rugged Afghan-Pakistani border. U.S. operatives under his direction were able to call in precision strikes 24 hours a day and pulverize the remaining al Qaeda forces. Berntsen recounts very credibly how he and others pleaded with Gen. Tommy Franks and the Pentagon brass to put in blocking forces so that bin Laden and the remnants of al Qaeda's leadership could not flee into Pakistan. But for reasons that remain unclear to Berntsen (and, indeed, to this reviewer), the Bush administration or Franks decided to depend instead on local Afghan warlords rather than put U.S. forces on the ground to block bin Laden's escape...'

2) "Selling Out Moderate Islam: Washington's misbegotten campaign to be loved in the Middle East", by Reuel Marc Gerecht, Weekly Standard, Feb. 20:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=6700&R=EB3336275

'...Far more than most Middle Eastern Muslims and politically correct Western scholars of the region and Islam would like to admit, Western standards for individual liberty, curiosity, personal integrity, scholarship, and the political relations among men have become the defining benchmarks for Muslims everywhere, however resented or admired. If our standards collapse and give way to fear, theirs in the long-term have no chance whatsoever. The psychology of victimization--surely one of the worst gifts the Western anti-imperialist left has given the Muslim world--can only be made worse by Westerners who treat Muslims like children unable to compete and to defend their religion.

In the Middle Ages, Christian theologians said vastly worse things about the Prophet Muhammad than the Danish cartoons implied. Back then, Muslims cognizant of what the Christians were writing usually took it in stride, not too perturbed by the ruminations and calumnies of a superseded faith. Non-Muslims living beyond the writ of Islamic law were not expected to respect a prophet not their own. That is, after all, what it means to be benighted infidels.

To be healthy, Muslim pride and political systems need to be based on real accomplishments, where the average believer can feel that he is participating in a larger, productive enterprise. (In the classical and medieval Islamic eras, when Muslim armies usually defeated their non-Muslim enemies, manifestly fulfilling the divine promise that Muslims were God's chosen people, maintaining both collective and individual pride was much easier.) Western indulgence of supposed Muslim outrage over these cartoon insults to the prophet is pretty demeaning. It can only fortify the destructive, self-pitying impulses that all too often paralyze Muslim conversations and thought. (One of the more bizarre facts of the modern Middle East is to see the ruling Muslim elites of these countries--men and women of considerable influence and privilege--bemoan their powerlessness owing to the hidden, omnipresent, all-powerful machinations of the West, in particular, the United States.)..

What we have seen happen in the Islamic Republic of Iran under clerical dictatorship--the conversion of the most anti-American holy-warrior society into the least anti-American, probably most pro-democratic culture in the region--will likely happen elsewhere but even more rapidly if Sunni fundamentalists are given a chance to gain power democratically and demonstrate to their fellow Muslims how their interpretation of the Holy Law and Islamic history will improve their lives.

Correctly understood, anti-Americanism when it accompanies the loosening of political controls in the Middle East is a sign that the status quo that gave us bin Ladenism and 9/11--the perverse marriage of autocracy and Islamic extremism--is coming apart. Under dictatorship, Muslims cannot evolve politically. They will not be able to confront the "baggage" that all Middle Eastern Muslims have with the West, especially the United States, and come to a livable consensus on how they are going to absorb Western ideas, influence, and money...

Like Christendom before it, the Muslim Middle East will have to work out its relation to modernity. The faster democracy arrives, the sooner the debates about God and man can begin in earnest. It will probably be for both Muslims and Westerners a nerve-racking experience...'

Mark
Ottawa

Freedom of speech is just fine--until you damage the interests of the state.

"ALY HINDY `Freedom of expression is not free'", Toronto Star, Feb. 12.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139699409920&call_pageid=968350130169&col=969483202845

'Aly Hindy is the imam of the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, of which he is a co-founder. He is also a civil engineer with a PhD from the University of Western Ontario...

If you could speak with the Danish publisher, what would you say?

Sorry, this is a very stupid thing you've done. If you don't know and you're ignorant about what you're doing, then learn.

I don't think he knows anything about Muhammad.

The enemy, when he is educated, is much better than a friend. So, knowledgeable people in the West are also fair to him.

But this person should be tried, because he hurt the interests of Denmark.

What if he'd published military secrets? He would be tried, right [not in the US]?

He should be tried from the Danish point of view because he hurt the national interest of Denmark...

Muslim leaders in Montreal have called on the government to pass a law recognizing racism against Muslims as a hate crime. They've said if the government agrees to meet with them, they'll discourage the demonstrators. What do you think?.."

Not much. Was "The Life of Brian" racism against Christians? Category confusion again. Aly Hindy's views seem more at home in Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Iran than in Canada.

Mark
Ottawa

That dank cellar infested with vermin now has three (3) denizens : Turner, Ignatieff, & Buzz/CAW. NDP blows Buzz off his perch: Buzz dumped by NDP. Buzz croaks away: CAW, CAW, CAW.... as he flaps away to the Liberals. Wiil Martin sell a membership to Buzz/CAW? At what price? >>>>>

Commenter: Nash and Martson

Two CAW members who are now NDP MPs. Appearing on Bulte's website was the final nail in the coffin for Buzz's membership. >>
http://www.voy.com/178771/132878.html

Commenter: Bugs

Wow, that's real treason. The opposition was a CAW woman organizer.

It isn't hard to see what Buzz was about. He was using the NDP to advance his own strategic plan. But he isn't pretending -- where did he transgress? Are there 'party rules' here? I am only curious if this is being evenly applied.

Buzz's strategic plan did not have to be negative to the NDP is those seats where they don't compete with the Liberals for the seat ... but the whole of Toronto, and other cities, are now contests between Liberals and NDP. There's a lot of seats, and in fact, the main electoral movement of voters is between these two.

But it blew up in his face this time.

If I were the NDP, I would have my eye on becoming the official opposition, by cannibalizing the Liberal Party. An early election would help.
http://www.voy.com/178771/132888.html

Facts? What are facts? Do not confuse the left liberal socialist/NDP camp with facts. >>>

"One man who spoke in defence of Emerson, who is now the international trade minister, was drowned out in a chorus of angry boos at the event,

organized by the New Democratic Party."

Emerson called a traitor [By Libby Davies & NDP]
By ELIANNA LEV

VANCOUVER (CP) - Hundreds of people [NDP] angry at David Emerson's defection from the Liberals to Conservatives chanted "traitor" at a [NDP] protest rally.>>>
via cnews

And then there is this:

"British imam praises London Tube bombers", Sunday Times (London), Feb. 12.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2036538,00.html

Excerpt:

'A LEADING imam in the mosque where the July 7 bombers worshipped has hailed their terrorist attack on London as a “good” act in a secretly taped conversation with an undercover reporter.

Hamid Ali, spiritual leader of the mosque in West Yorkshire, said it had forced people to take notice when peaceful meetings and conferences had no impact.

He also praised the bombers as the “children” of Abdullah al-Faisal, a firebrand Muslim cleric, who was convicted of inciting murder and racial hatred in 2003.

Ali revealed that the leader of the London suicide bombers had attended sermons in Yorkshire by al-Faisal and tapes of al-Faisal’s teachings were still circulating within his mosque.

Al-Faisal, who has branded non-Muslims as “cockroaches” ripe for extermination, is serving a seven-year prison sentence but is eligible for early release next week.

Evidence of continuing extremism and terrorist sympathisers in the bombers’ community has been exposed by a six-week investigation by The Sunday Times. It contrasts with the public statements of condemnation by community leaders — including Ali — in the immediate aftermath of the July 7 attacks...'

I wonder if the Canadian media have any undercover reporters?

Mark
Ottawa

Note to Pale who commented above.

The P.C. after Garth Turner's name refers to the fact that he is a member of the Privy Council as a result of being in Kim Campbell's Cabinet.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with the late, unlamented Progressive Conservative Party that was run into the ground by Joe Clark.

Why isn't Garth the Speaker of the House or Leader instead of hairboy?

Posted by : Anonymeme

Oh Oh ... the muzi shit is gonna hit the fan in Calgary now ... censorship for religion or freedom of Canadian press ... choose Canadians wimps ..... !!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cops called in cartoon flap

Religious leader complains to police over publication of Muhammad caricatures
CALGARY SUN - February 12, 2006

Muslim protesters gathered outside the Danish consulate in Toronto yesterday to protest caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. People also rallied in Montreal. (CHARLA JONES, CP)

A local Muslim leader has filed a police complaint and will be seeing a lawyer over the running of controversial political cartoons in two Calgary-area publications.

Alaa Elsayed of the Muslim Council of Calgary (MCC) said he will also be asking The Jewish Free Press, which published the cartoons Jan. 9, and the Western Standard, which is expected to feature them in tomorrow's issue, to apologize for the slight.

But Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant said he and his editorial staff have nothing to be sorry for.

"This is the story of the month," Levant said last night. "We think our readers would want to know what all the fuss is about ... It's simply a news call."

Levant added he's worried about any move by the religiously offended to bring the police and the courts into what's simply a freedom of the press issue.

"It troubles me that the leadership of such an important community as the Muslim community is so out of touch with Canadian values," Levant said.

"In Canada, we don't call the police when our religious sensitivities are offended -- we write letters to the editor."

The cartoons, some of which depict Islam's Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, have sparked violent riots around the world.

Levant said in light of that, extra security measures are in place at the magazine's offices, but Muslim leaders here are asking local believers to refrain from violence.

"Two wrongs don't make a right, so I'm going to ask the Muslims to restrain themselves and deal with this in a civilized manner," Elsayed said.

Syed Soharwardy of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and Muslims Against Terrorism said he encourages people with questions about the furor to attend an information session today.

But, Soharwardy said he hopes to use the cartoon flap to educate people about Islam, and why the images of the Prophet Muhammad are so offensive.

"People can ask me any question they want, even offensive ones, and I will answer them with patience," he said. "There are many reasons and people in the western world, they still don't fully understand what Islam is."

People wishing to discuss the cartoon controversy are invited to the Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, 5700 Falsbridge Dr. N.E., at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, MCC has two discussions on tap which will touch on the cartoons and their impact, one an information session still in the works, and the other, an inter-faith round-table planned for next Sunday. >>>
http://www.voy.com/178771/132945.html

The Emerson affair will quite likely result in early (earlier) election, followed by Liberal majority for another 12 years.

What was Harper thinking?

Vijay's Blog: >>>

Britney Spears Among Least Intelligent 2% of Americans
February 11th, 2006

I couldn’t resist putting this here. My buddy Eric from Blogcritics went a little further here.

It just suggests that wealth has nothing to do with intelligence and reminds me of someone in Canada who is stinking rich but dumber than dumb!
>>>>

Question: Who?

Answer: Paul Who? (Martin, Jr.).

If Harper were to introduce a bill that would call for a byelection now how do you think the people would vote Ibelieve it was a perfect way to back everyone into a corner also senate elections

On Question Period today, (CTV) Ian Wadell admitted that it's the NDP, and not Libs, organizing all the protests in Vancouver. Didn't know that Jason Kenny is the grandson of Mark Kenny, who died this wkend. Loved to dance to that orchestra. Garth Turner was also on and promised to support the Conservative party line. Seemed a little contrite. Craig also stated that Emerson has received huge support from the business community etc (of all parties) to stay the course. Buzz has been kicked out of the NDP, they kick members out and Harper gets them in. Buzz will now run for the lib leadership. Where is Paul Martin. With Iran and Cuba now friends, will Canada change its policy.
Ian got about 15000 votes and only some 200 turned out to protest. Where were the rest. This would go away if the media would leave it alone and report on serious news and situations facing us. Were all the riots the next action promised by OBL in his recent tape. Who makes Danish flags and where. Trace this and see who received a mass order for the flags, and when and where they were shipped. Could answer some questions, about whether these protests were planned or spontaneous.

That dreaded Kold, Klear, Killer Wind from the West has arrived in Ottawa/Hull/Gatineau. The Red Star is aghast; the KKKWind zaps the $200/wine bottles/$130 pizzas & etc. The George Radwanskis have bled/fled.

The KKKWind slays the expense accounts.

More, and faster. >>>

Big spending days over for Ottawa
Civil servants tighten their belts
Posh eateries closing their doors
Feb. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA—Adel Ayad smiles as he fondly recalls the "good old days."

The two-martini lunches. The $200 bottles of wine that flew from the wine cellar. The days when the capital's finest restaurants were the place to be seen, where tables and booths became the outposts of Parliament Hill offices, when government business was done over lazy lunches and long dinners. >>> Red Star

Mr.Harper ain't a thinker. He'll be remembered as the most boring uninspired Tory leader Canada has had. We need a government like Harpers so we ca appreciate the other parties.