Parliamentary Press Gallery Crybabies from The Canadian Sentinel
The MSM brought the new protocols upon themselves with their incessant, infantile, unprofessional behavior towards conservative politicians in the past. Wish they'd toughen up, stop bawling and accept their just consequences. [Read More]

Tracked on March 9, 2006 6:07 AM

It is indeed fascinating to study the behaviour of the parliamentary press gang now that the tables have been turned. Have you ever been press ganged Billy? No, but I've been blown ashore.

Apparently Mr. Harper is more interested in trimming Canada's sails than puffing up the punditry, thus leaving the apparatchiki scurrying for glow worms. It will be interesting to see how this strategy unfolds.

On the "culture of entitlement", I have been astounded at the incredible level of arrogance and "sense of entitlement" that his royal highness PMSH has shown thus far into his weak mandate.

One can see the disgust and dismissiveness on his face when anyone dares to question him on any matter, as if it is his divine right to run the country as he sees fit, because he is infallible, and those who do not see that are of lesser intellectual stature. He makes Mulroney, who I actually quite liked, and Chretien, who I didn't, look humble by comparison.

I had hoped for better and mark my words that Canadians at large will not react well to this incredible arrogance and apparent lack of respect for the fact that his mandate is a weak one.

I find it preposterous that the Press gallery gang seem to think that they should make all the rules.It seems to me that their job is to conduct interviews and be available for press briefings when it is appropiate for the government... not the other way around.
I see nothing wrong with Mr. Harper setting up a set of new rules as to how the press scums will take place.I am surprised that one of the Parliment Hill press gang has not tried to spin this as a Western right wing attempt to move the centre of power from the East. After all he did win this election and I am sure he will have to make decisions much bigger than this. I like the fact that this Prime Minister has actually put some thought into these things. The fact that the press is bitching and moaning, actually makes me feel like maybe something worthwhile may be coming down the pipes. Is it too much to ask this group of self proclaimed experts on how and what should be happening in our country, to actually have to work for a story. Surely they are capable to adjusting to a minor change like this. If they can't, I am sure there are a group of young eager beaver reporters quietly awaiting the deaths of some of these old cronies on Parliment Hill, so that they can take their places. Horray for Mr.Harper.. for having enough testicular development to do things the way he thinks will work the best.After all, isn't that how this is supposed to work. The guy with the most seats gets to make the rules. I sincerely hope the press will take some pills and give this guy a chance. Whether you voted for him or now, he did win.. so suck it up and let him develop his own game plan. There will be lots of time to complain.. or applaud.

My earlier comment on Harper's incredible arrogance neglected to agree that the media in this country is beyond a joke, but not in the way that most of you believe.

As someone who travels the world frequently, I always field questions about what the hell is going on in Canada when a government is turfed out while the country leads the world in virtually every economic category.

The answer is a lazy and by and large stupid press who like others (in recent times the conservative war room) to do their job for them and write the easy story about supposed scandals and the minutiae of expense account dining.

Yes, that is what our public policy debate has become in Canada, and you should be thankful it has, as it has delivered you a government.

Just don't be surprised when the same idiots do the same thing to you, as it looks like your royal PM and his churlish and self-important media flacks (Francie Ducros II?)is stoking the fires enough to have that heat up much, much sooner than would otherwise be the case.

Enjoy.

Any PM that doesn't jump to the command of the exhalted press gallery will forever have my vote. Since when did the MSM dictate to the PM and other members of the government (or opposition for that matter) when and where they should be interviewed? I'd say the Ottawa press gallery should give their heads a shake and stick to reporting the news not being the news.

Bunch of spoilt brats.

Grant has said it well , I think.
Just as the Washington press seem to think that the WH is obligated to answer any question their vacuous and self-centered minds can muster, often couched in terms aimed at either embarassing the president or otherwise maligning the man and his administration, ( more often than not exceedingly successful in embarassing themselves)so too, the Canadian media betray their own sense of entitlement to have constant and priviledged access to the PM and Cabinet Ministers, and for that matter, anybody they wish to either embarass or paint in less than a favourable light.
They do not have right of access anymore than the WH press corp does, but they think they do and insist that the distinction be recognized.
High time they were put in their place and were it up to me they would not even have a lower floor from which to shine their lights , poke their microphones in faces willing and unwilling and hawk their own wares in most unseemly ways.
I have had quite enough of them all. We do not need to hear from them. We only need to hear from those we elected to do jobs they must do. More often than not, the press only gets in the way.
With their obvious partisan axes to grind, they more than get in the way, they are undermining the proper process.
They have their place and PMSH just put them in close proximity. I hope it is close to the back door of the building and that door is open!

Canadian2 seems to have missed a great deal regarding the last decade of Liberal rule. Quite an asset, for sure, to be ignorant of just why the Liberals ended up having to fight an election after suspending democracy and ignoring totally a non-confidence vote in the house.
They carried on in any event , and when, eventually after shenanigan after shenanigan, also bordering on, if not criminal, were brought down. Their behaviour during the election campaign was reprehensible to say the least and they succeeded in offending not only Canadians but Americans as well who had nothing to do with the election whatsoever.
It amazes me that anyone who has the capacity to get the information needed is so very lacking in it.
The press, for all it's sins, and there are many are not responsible for the liberal fortunes. Contrarily, they were responsible for them hanging on for so long in their desperate attempt at clinging to power at all costs.
If it were NOT for the press all Canadians would have known much more much sooner and would have turfed out the miscreants with an enormous saving to the taxpayer and those who appreciate and revere democracy.
So, Canadian2 seems to me to be casting about for blame for what should have ended much sooner for the fortunes of all Canadians and now that things do not go the way he thinks they should cannot still blame the liberals. Interesting to know which pocket of his they were picking while
he continues to make excuses for them.
That he blames the press is ironic and quite comical in that the press have done all they could to keep that miscreant government in power.

Finally a leader who has figured it out. The media in this country have actually been ruling this country-especially with Paul Martin.
The media writes headlines and broadcasts slanted stories to influence public opinion;

then they undertake a public opinion poll with weighted questions;
then they make headlines of the public opinion polls and then second guess and try to bully every decision the PM's try to make citing that "the public is for or against it".

Remember, Paul Martin's backroomers were pollsters - his decisions depended on which way these dishonest polls were skewed by the media.

Finally, a leader who makes a decision based on research, strategies, long term planning, reality and with a plan who won't blow in the media hot air depending on their various temper tangrums or inner circles.

This is the first PM in my lifestime (and I was born during Dief) who I trul truly respect already after just one month on the job.

Thank God the internet is keeping some of the media honest. And bloggers appear to be doing the heavy lifting on researching the stories for them.

It's all good. I went to journalism school yers ago myself. it did not make me God. But in my day we were taught there are at least three sides to every story and my opinion did not matter 0 just the facts.

Canadian2 prefers a corrupt dictatorship.

The MSM will now have to move a little to get a story, they might wear off the free donuts and coffee they've been sucking off the liberals all these years..

Snowbunnie gets it all wrong - no surprise.

The last government deserved to be defeated for many reasons, reasons which could have been analysed, debated and discussed in the media but were not. The last thing I would say is that they deserved to be re-elected.

My point is that the Conservatives won largely on anti-government sentiment arising from peripheral issues (at least to this last government) that were not or at least would not be viewed as significant in most mature western democracies, and that, further, the attitudes espoused by our current little PM -which quite frankly have surprised me a little as I though he had more politicl savvy than that - will serve to write his political obituary much sooner than expected.

Some observers are correct that the just-former PM wa far too driven by the media and felt the need to be in Canadian;s faces every day of every week, and Harper is correct in not playing that game, particularly with what passes for journalists in our current environment.

However, you can cheerlead all you want, but the public will not warm up to the current arrogant and disdainful posture towards all who dare question him taken by our newly-minted Executive.

In a "corrupt dictatorship" the all powerful Prime Minister would feel free to tell an officer of Parliament that he is disinterested in cooperating with something so mundane as an examination of an issue that has been raised by an MP, as he is obliged to by statute - oh wait... never mind.

And had it not been for this same 'media'-many of whom were probably PAID by the same pondscum who have robbed this country blind, Stephen Harper would now have the power to put them all where they belong! (That may still happen- it will just take longer.)

Canadian2, you're grossly overstating the nature an extent of Harper's actions, and you are mistakenly equating the continuation of a small tribe of journalist's particular habits with "freedom of the press".

Harper, along with conservative voters, has been savaged for years by particular, well-placed, sometimes taxpayer funded groups of journalists whose editors and producers were more interested in the enjoyment of their involvement in this dominant Liberal culture than in exposing its reality. That's been pretty obvious. Harper managed to fight through that, and won a hard-fought, deserved and indisputable mandate.

So now, when a small group of displaced-partisan journalists think disruptions to their habits are nationally newsworthy, it's actually laughable.

I mean, just look at Kate's link. You couldn't make this sort of thing up: "The Parliamentary Press Gallery"...(note the capitals).."is accusing the Prime Minister's Office of impeding the freedom of the press...after a decision to move the location for scrums".

Yes. Down one floor.

PS Amusement: in the linked photo, just look at the pacing, Liberal outrage of the guy with the glasses. "This surely cannot go on..."

Good for Stephen Harper instead of moving them down one floor he should move them out of the building all together. I for one have a hard time some of the media types get paid to ask some of the dumb questions that they get away with. I would like the media to just give me the news not attempt to tell me what I'm suppose to think.

Canadian2: There are a couple of great ways to hide (sheild) a country's true economic performance. One of them is too just go out and kill all the unemployed. Another is to shove them out of the country. So far, the Lieberals have chosen just to shove us out of the country. There are now nearly ONE MILLION CANADIANS BORNS WORKING IN THE USA, and that's just the USA. These statistics are from American sources, not Canadian. There are so many Canadians working outside of Canada that the Canadian government has had to downsize it's estimates of Canada's actual population.

So where is the economic success story???? Get real. What is going to happen to Canada if the USA decides to get fed up with us and kick us all out of the country and we all come home? Then you will see the real story about Canada's economic situation.

And then there are all the Canadians working all over the rest of the world. Who knows how many there are. CANADA HAS THE WORST EMIGRATION PROBLEM IN THE WORLD. I'ts only because Canadians are willing to leave their home, and to date, are able to get jobs abroad, that the lying Liberal snakes have been able to lie to the world about Canada's economic performance. It's time for ALL CANADIANS TO STAND UP TO THOSE LYING LIBERAL BASTARDS. You were fooled by them.

The so called Canadian main stream, moderate media has become like some gas town junky only intent on its next fix!
http://warhammersforge.blogspot.com/

Of bloody course the PPG brought the changes upon themselves! They're a bunch of blowflies looking for shit to eat and who usually end up fabricating it out of thin air when they don't find any.

Wish they'd quit crying over the poo in their own pants and just go take a bath!

No means No. At long last, a politician who says, No.

Blue-Eyes says: NO. Get it right: No.

The cold, dry, west wind is blowing out the marijuana fumes from Parliament Hill. The drug-addled brains are in denial. It is the first time in their lives they have collided with No. They cannot comprehend the meaning of No.

No does not mean Yes.

Look westward, the land is bright. +

Potheads Beware: Conservatives Won't Be Relaxing Marijuana Laws

A spokesman for Justice Minister Vic Toews was brusk when asked if the Tories would resurrect Liberal efforts to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. "It is a very short answer and the answer is No," said Mike Storeshaw. "We have no plans to bring any bill forward." +
via nealenews

Recall AdScam Martin/Chretien ( & Gagliano ); they will stop this ASAP. Rush $100,000,000 to Lapierre for "distribution" in swing ridings.

Get that G-G off ther butt & into those ethnic Haitian ridings.

Call Boulay & Claude & Jean what's his name from da Shawinigan.... blh blah bleat..... That maudit Harper, it's his fault. Librano$$$$$$$$

Quebec, Ottawa have entered a 'new era': Charest
CTV.ca - 1 hour ago
Following a meeting with the prime minister, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said his province has entered a "new era" in its relationship with the federal government. The Liberal premier met with Prime Minister ... +
googlenews

Canadian2 refers to Mr. Harper's arrogance in refusing to "cooperate" with Mr. Shapiro's investigation. Here's my take on this issue:
1) Mr. Shapiro's mandate is to investigate actions that go against the parliamentary Code of Conduct - this does not! He has no authority to be investigating this at all.
2) Even if he could investigate, all of the pertinent facts are public knowledge, there is no further information required from anybody for Mr. Shapiro to be able to make a ruling on this. It has been all over the front pages for months now (why??).
3) Mr. Emerson has already advised Mr. Shapiro that he received NO INDUCEMENT for his floor crossing. (If he can believe Belinda, why not David?)
The fact that the headlines have been screaming about ethics breaches is a joke - Mr. Harper has done nothing unethical (distasteful, maybe) since being elected and he is right to stand up to the press and the opposition! Good on him!!

Does anyone remember the arrogant Knowlton Nash on his retirement?? His words were to the effect, The CBC is setting the agenda for this country. Well thats about to change. The stories will no longer come to the media, instead the governement has decided that reporters will have to earn their keep. Gotta love it.

I don't understand "canadian2"'s problem with the new press rules. I'm sure Harper knows the power of the press to mis_inform, mis_shape, and skew/slant anything in print. It is the MEDIA that has chosen our governments for the last few decades. By not reporting Liberal deceipt and corruption, by using the press to present very biased/slanted "news" causing doubt about Conservative intentions etc etc. The press is responsible for pushing/pulling people in a given direction. With having to work harder AND longer to pay for all the Liberal programs foisted upon us, the average working person has little time let alone inclination to pay attn to the news or commentaries. The press knows the average working person, especially in major urban centres has the attn span of a fruitfly. No wonder, when the same filter is in place yr after yr, it all sounds the same....all the time. So now the Press ISN'T running the show, and they're pissed. Awwwwww. Isn't that what the whole "bitch" is about? About NOT having "control" anymore?! Not being "fed", not being able to "spin" to their hearts content every lil thing that they hear? To bad for them the internet has come of age. Now they can't filter everything and expect people to swallow it as truth. I'll filter my own... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
As for PMSH's apparent arrogance, I see a man at work. NOT joking around, NOT goofing-off... He's "at work", therefore, he should be business-like. Besides, I'm sure there's more than just a few in the PPG that did a great many hatchet-jobs on him, and the Conservatives, whilst ignoring obvious Liberal follies. After 12 yrs of that, who wouldn't feel that the PPG needs to be put back into their place. In short, Harper's driving the bus, and the PPG doesn't like it. Too F'ing bad, I say. If they had done their job properly, without bias, they wouldn't be where they are now... on the outside looking in!

Easter inv's Shapiro; Shapiro inv's Shapiro; RCMP inv's Easter; Xmas inv's Brison; Joe Who inv's Brison; no, Brison is inv'g Joe Who; Blackbery is invtgatn Halloweeny; Easter is on Sunday, too; and now a word from da Jeancula/Martin SdScam PR Dept;

Listen gars, da proof is da prooff: get $$$$$$$$$$ Plug dat leak, dat leak. Gotta a leak, easter? +

Liberal MP wants RCMP to look into leak about Brison
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch Updated 6:10 p.m. March 8, 2006]

OTTAWA — EXCLUSIVE: A Liberal MP says he is "extremely concerned" about a leak to the Globe and Mail that Liberal MP Scott Brison was interviewed as part of the RCMP's income trust investigation.

Wayne Easter, a Solicitor-General in the Chretien government, is now saying the RCMP should look into how that information got out to the media, whether it was politically motivated or if it came from the office of Public Security Minister Stockwell Day.

The RCMP is one of six agencies that reports to Day's department.

"The real issue here now is how could the minister of public security allow either out of his office or the RCMP's offices a leak that could undermine the credibility of a potential leadership contender," Easter said in an interview with PoliticsWatch.com. +
http://www.politicswatch.com/brison-mar8-2006.htm
via nealenews

Down with pressocracy! Up with democracy!

Oh the shoe hurts when its on the other foot! Now that the conservatives are no longer in opposition and actually have to be accountable for their decisions and statements, its not as easy.

Moving the press? Not a big thing really. But the optics are bad. Looks like Mr. Harper doesn't want to be bothered by pesky things like explaining his moves and motives to the people of Canada.

Oh yeah. The press are all lefty liberals. Hey lets move the bloggers up to the PM's floor. That way, the conservative propoganda machine will be more efficient.

I ask you - who is more partisan, SDA or the National Post? Who should have ready access to ask the PM about his actions?

Canadian2 you're not 2 Canadian if you accept scandal & corruption. It's obvious that you're a card carrying liberal looking for converts. Have you checked the prisons yet?

I for one am starting to hate the word 'optics'.
It's pretty obvious that Mr. Harper couldn't give a rat's shiny butt about it. Frankly, I don't think it'll hurt him.
If you don't like the optics, get off your own shiny butt and look at the facts.

"Switching the location of the availability of ministers would roll back decades of tradition and impede the freedom of the press to have access to our country's top decision makers"

Besides this being a misdirect statement where the elite gaggle of Ottawa scribblers whine about having to hump it down another flight of stairs,and having their ability to misquote and disinform curtailed, it betrays the self-important mindset of these elites.

Kate I don't know if it's as much a matter of them feeling part of the entitlement cult as it is them feeling "EMPOWERED" (by some nebulous rationale) as an unelected level of government.

The DO feel that so called tradition meas they are entitled to stage partisan ambushes in the halls and make scandalous accusations through caustic questions...they actually feel this inaine press scrum is the REAL question period.

The arrogance just drips from our 4th estate elitists.

Ok - won't use word optics. How's this - It looks shitty to those of us non partisan Canadians.

Unbloggled,
You may want to note that PM Harper talks to the press far longer than Martin did and he gives real answers to real questions.

Or is this to be overlooked too?
enough

Mr. Harper is mainly interested in one thing. His priority is majority.

He obviously thinks Emerson, Fortier, the rest of his cabinet, the diminishment of the press, the battle with Shapiro (which is mainly insurance against Emerson's promise to resign if he is found to be unethical), his meetings with Charest (especially) will get him that majority.

He's survived all the bad press so far and is making the gains he needs. I'm going to be watching Flaherty today to see if he thinks they have the room to deliver on the 5 priorities. Hopefully the Liberals weren't hiding a fiscal mess. If Flaherty says the room is there to bring in the 5 priorities, watch for a quick Senate election in Quebec and the Tories calling an election in June 2007.

I actually have noted that and like it. But now this move with the press. Will the real Stephen Harper please stand up? (No pun intended on the Stand up for Canada campaign slogan)

Prime Minister Harper makes JC and PM look very bad. Her is a man that is quite capabible of working without all the "fan fair". He speaks in clear english and from what I see is doing a good good in french. PM Harper can answer questions without using "fundamentally speaking" or "actually". It is so refreshing to listen to him give good clean answers. As for the press, they can just get over it! Until we see unbias "Lib spin" on ever story send them to the basement.

Stephen Harper,along with any western conservative,knows all too well the MSM(there's those dirty letters again)have been for years complicit in trying to stop their movement.

Countless slurs,insults and accusations of racism,extreme views,hidden agendas,cross-burnings,war-loving,redneck views,Bush idolizing,etc,etc,etc,Oh,and don't forget no more abortions in Canada.

They proudly trumpeted these "stories" for years while rarely bothering to dig for any truth or even fairness.Meanwhile,they let many stories just fade away to be hopefully forgotten.(Anyone remember Chretien's million dollar napkin?)

As far as I'm concerned they're damn lucky Harper even let's them on the hill!A partisan press corp is a disgrace in a free country.

It will be very interesting to see how Harper deals with a hostile press that ultimately he will have to rely on to get his messages to the people.Interesting times indeed.

Stephen Harper obviously despises the public "kissing of babies" and sucking up to various interest groups that were an integral part of Liberal governance. I suspect you are also unlikely to find him at fundraisers that involve Tamil Tigers and their ilk. Good for him.

As for the press, who bring us all sorts of 30 second puff pieces about cute pets and germs in your kitchen... let them call 1-800-CRY-BABY.

Canadian2 is a troll....likes to fish.

harper's supporters are not the same as harper voters. It's not a majority but the result of enough people showing up and voting in disgust of the Liberals and wanting some change.

To have a rolling campaign with press support against a hack of a party like the Liberals and yet not crush them is not a mandate.

He got a free pass and the likes of duffy were in his lap. This helped to get him elected by influencing and attracting new voters. The press is pissed and the country will listen.

What seats are the Cons going to lose next election?

What seats is he going to gain?

The press is pissed and the country is listening. But they aren't hearing what you are.
The mandate is coming.

"As Prime Minister, I will lead by example," the Conservative Leader promised. He vowed to "strengthen the role of the Ethics Commissioner" and, in particular, to "prevent the Prime Minister from overruling the Ethics Commissioner on whether the Prime Minister, a minister or an official is in violation of the Conflict of Interest Code."

Signing off - apparently to be a true conservative you must absolutely 100% spout the party line on every single issue 100% of the time.

How uninteresting and intellectually bereft.

There are many thinking conservatives, many of whom I count among my friends, but I guess I understand why they are not found anywhere near this grade-school level partisan shill-fest.

Have fun.

And I believe he'll do just that. Anything else Stephen Harper say that you want to take out of context?

It is the Stockholm syndrome again!
The new rules are different I want my blanky back!
The press would rather have Paul Martin doing Jean Chretiens' party piece of new money old money announcements, although Martins schtick was not to actually spend the money.
perhaps the real problem is that there are too many reporters assigned to parlianment hill and the Tories have cut back on the pablum for everyone and the real news like real food takes a bit of getting used to.

Did anyone notice on Mike Duffy yesterday when he said he had trouble getting anyone from the Liberal Party to speak to the Brison issue?
Most of them said they wouldnt touch it
LMAO

I'm with Snowbunnie, Stephan is finally putting the press back where it belongs, in the trenchs learning how to do it's job, instead of licking the ass of some press manager and rearing up on it's hindlegs like a dog after a bone.

Stephan Harper only says something when he has something to say, instead of saying something to hear himself speak.

How novel.

Fundamentally, I would have,/... Look fundamentally I would,/ Look let me make one thing very,... very,.. very clear here...

Nope you lose 'f' off!

Can2 sounds like a fat libaron$$ not happy that his entitlements are about to be shutdown.

I would much more prefer seeing the liberal apologist MSM who supported, and activly ran cover fire for the the most corrupt government in Canada's history be, PUSHED down those stairs, just for a very, very, very, well deserved laugh!

Can2 WTF
"supposed scandals and the minutiae of expense account dining."
The disgraced priminister (Chretien) under oath, admitted to stealing millions of our tax dollars!

You are the problem with Canada!
You are a liar just like our MSM hacks who create shit out of wholecloth and nobody calls them on it.
"Canada does'nt want a spring election"
"Canada wants gay marriage"

Next time you are travelling internationally don't come back.
Canada has had 40 years of total bullshit flatout lying passing for the news.
Harper and the majority of Canada have punted the crime family liberals and by extension their snivelling lapdog media sycophants into the wilderness.
Enjoy your flight!

richfisher:

Hurry up and get back to your minimum wage job - your boss is getting pissed.

Christ you are such a complete idiot, and the wonderful thing about it is that you have absolutely no clue.

Perhaps some day you will win a lottery and learn about the outside world.

canadian 2
Thank you so much for showing up on this thread and proving what many have been saying here.

The left has no new ideas WHATSOEVER and can only lash out at others that dare have a different view.

Martin proved it the last campaign and you are doing same here.

I feel sorry for you,man.

Look y'all, The politicians lie to the Press, the press spin the lies and then lie to us.

Meanwhile the politicians the PMO in paricular is a totalitarian state unto itself at least until the next election.

There is no real control over what they do and no real control over what the press decides is newsworth.

This whole topic is more of the keep em busy yacking about this rearranging of the furniture while the PMO goes about their business.

You have all bought into the illusion that somehow we have a right know what time the PM took his last piss. And that the press has a right to hold his wiener while he is peeing.

Give it and yourselves a shake and get real. This is Canada. Where whining is a good career strategy. The PM and others just don't want to put up with so much of it. I don't blame them

After watching Sandra Jansen interview the two socialist MP's Chow (ND) and Bennet (lib) on child care last night, I emailed CTV .
Actually the piece was literally a lefty state "infomercial" . Nothing fair or balanced there.
Fox News would be a welcome change in this country.
I made CTV aware of there blatant bias, for all the good it might do!

MSM is where most of us get most of our information about government. What Harper has done has removed a certain spontaneity from the relationship between press and government. Now ministers can go to their offices avoiding those tough off the cuff question and answer sessions.
They may as well nix this kind of scrum and send down secretaries with handouts.
This Harper fellow is quite the control freak. His lists of reporter names with questions screened by his aids is a great way to avoid some tough questions and reward or punish those that want to ask anything embarrassing. Just think, this is only the beginning!

MSM is where most of us get most of our information about government. What Harper has done has removed a certain spontaneity from the relationship between press and government. Now ministers can go to their offices avoiding those tough off the cuff question and answer sessions.
They may as well nix this kind of scrum and send down secretaries with handouts.
This Harper fellow is quite the control freak. His lists of reporter names with questions screened by his aids is a great way to avoid some tough questions and reward or punish those that want to ask anything embarrassing. Just think, this is only the beginning!

"I made CTV aware of there blatant bias, for all the good it might do!"

Posted by Joe Molnar at March 9, 2006 12:14 PM

Joe,thanks for being someone who takes action when he sees a wrong.We could all stand to be more pro-active in this country.If enough of us take the time to point out these wrongs(remember we are ultimately customers)I'm sure change will EVENTUALLY happen.Don't lose hope!

Can I "fly internationally" to your "outside world" or can I take my pizza delivery car?.

Sore loser!
Don't let the door hit you in your fat entitled ass on the way out!

That last election just keeps on paying off!

steve d

Why is it most everyone criticizing Harper on this conveniently OMITS the fact that the press HAS expressed pleasure that he stays much longer and answers more directly these questions than his predecessors?
Ahhh...but that wouldn't be giving us the whole truth would it?

The MSM in Canada has long taken an adversarial position toward conservative thought and policy. The job of the media is not to act as a third party opposition or a wing of the Liberal party, their job is to present the news so Canadians can make up their own minds. As long as they continue to help the actual opposition to frame any Conservative action or policy as negative why should PM Harper reward them with interviews and photo-ops, that they will then in turn use to spin their own agenda?
The media seems content to pave the way for a future a Liberal government, that they are more than happy to work with.

I think that Haper is taking the position that "actions speak louder than words", and he'll let the actions of his party speak for themselves. Any other address will come via Question Period.

What Harper really needs though is a trusted, fair media outlet (ie. FOX News) that he can communicate through. Then he could really snub his nose at the CBC. If this were to happen I think you'd see the CBC show itself for what they really are.

harper ought to find and hire that iraqi misinformation minister , the guy who kept saying there were no americans within 300 mies of baghdad when you could hardly hear him for the sound of bombs and gunfire . i'd like to see duffy interviewing him . i can just imagine the spin .

The Nat. Post has a new weekly commenter on the MSM - Warren Kinsella! While I would be the last person to extol Mr. Kinsella, I make one 1. exception todays column in Nat. Post. Read if you can get it. He sides with HARPER VS. MSM and says his handling of media is a winner for a long term and probably a majority. Who knew?

Never any doubt in my mind Mike... the more you talk, the more you stand a chance of fucking yourself... Harper learned his lesson in 2004. He's not the kind of guy to make the same mistake twice.

Some more members from The Other Culture Of Entitlement,

Poets, said Anatole France, are "the unacknowledged legislators of the world."

........the CBC will invite a novelist to expound on, say, the Iraq war while rarely extending the opportunity to a sergeant with the Princess Patricia's to expound on, say, the Booker Prize short list.

What Harper really needs though is a trusted, fair media outlet (ie. FOX News) that he can communicate through.

Just how far has FOX advanced into Canada?

It has been a blessing here. Finally, a counterbalance to the leftist MSM's mindnumbing monopoly. Britt Hume's news hour is is the most honest, comprehensive and intelligent news on the airways.

There are trolls.

And there are verbose trolls.

That makes them still all trolls.

Don't feed the trolls.

Enjoy.

"Of bloody course the PPG brought the changes upon themselves! They're a bunch of blowflies looking for shit to eat and who usually end up fabricating it out of thin air when they don't find any."

ROTFLMFAO!! Great anology Sentinel!! ...I particularly think the metaphor of the "blowfies" in their allegoric endless quest for
"shit" (either real, immagined, or manufactured) is not only hilariously true but one of the most blunt observasions I have ever seen on the press gallery relationship with Conservative governments.

We note that when there is a Liberal government, the "Blowflies" pupate into lethargic larval state who are in a domrmant stage... unconcious of the need to seek or find "shit"....only to hatch out as "shite"-obssessed blowfies when a conservative takes power. ;-)

canadian2:

Do my eyes deceive me, or did this:

"One can see the disgust and dismissiveness on his face when anyone dares to question him on any matter, as if it is his divine right to run the country as he sees fit, because he is infallible, and those who do not see that are of lesser intellectual stature."

come out of the same bodily orifice as this?:

"Hurry up and get back to your minimum wage job - your boss is getting pissed.

Christ you are such a complete idiot, and the wonderful thing about it is that you have absolutely no clue.

Perhaps some day you will win a lottery and learn about the outside world."

Can you spell "hoisted on his own petard" children??

BTW, when did freedom of the press come to mean that they had to get to ask their questions in a certain place? And when did politicians lose the freedom to avoid questions as they leave the house? Maybe they have a meeting to hurry to. Maybe they have to go pee. And when did politicians lose the freedom to look disgusted and dismissive of a stupid question? When the press corps comes up with gems like "Mr Harper, do you love Canada?", they deserve every dismissive look they get.

The trained seals are barkin' cause the new managers ain't making good with the herring.

"The real issue here now is how could the minister of public security allow either out of his office or the RCMP's offices a leak that could undermine the credibility of a potential leadership contender," Easter said in an interview with PoliticsWatch.com

Isn't that just rich?- Once again they assume their superiority and have the audacity to accuse someone in Day's office of 'leaking information that could undermine the credibility of a potential leadership contender' ...
Please!- Scott Brison, himself a cross the floor member of the liberal party, who, now apparently is the 'heir apparent' in a field of less than enthusiastically received possibles for the leadership and this guy has the nerve to complain of this. NOT the fact that Brison has been caught in a lie. That he lies again to cover the first lie and the e-mail in his own words nails him.
THAT isn't the issue with these people.
STILL that arrogant and 'entitled' attitude!
HOW DARE they make clear our crimes and corruption for all to see. WE HAD them in the palm of our hand and now we don't and it ain't FAIR!- That's what this all says.
Mike Duffy said as much from his perspective yesterday... how he bemoans how this is going to effect Scotty Brison, one of his FAV liberals.
Geez, you'd think ole Mikey would actually think that this was a move forward , but , no, he thinks it's too bad Scott got caught...

I cannot wait for this stuff to change for the better and for good and all. Stephen Harper and the new government are making it happen but a tad slower than I would like. Just keep at it folks.

penny:

I wasn't trying to say that PM Harper should speak through an American conservative news channel, just that we need our fair and impartial media source in Canada.

Snowbunnie:

I saw that installment of the Mike Duffy show. Its funny that even when you've got a media personality crying in his beer that one of his favourite guys, in his favourite party got busted, they still don't understand why people accuse them of being biased. As a political commentator I'd like to see Mike outraged at such a subversion of the public trust, but no instead he sends his condolences on national TV.

the flowers will be arriving shortly Scotty, hang in there buddy......jeesh

Not to disagree with the main theme that the MSM is biased, I think Mike Duffy was being tongue and cheek with the 'favourite Liberal' comment. He had just done a major slip of the tongue using Brison's name in a sentence by accident and was recovering.
I saw the grilling Duffy gave Easter earlier about Brison lying and I don't really think that Brison is Duffy's boy.

I did get a major chuckle out of the story where Easter wants the RCMP to investigate the Tories over the leak. What an absolute joke. Anything to deflect the media off the real story that Brison should go to jail.

"Finally, a counterbalance to the leftist MSM's mindnumbing monopoly. Britt Hume's news hour is is the most honest, comprehensive and intelligent news on the airways."

Finally, a post that explains penny.
It's all faux news now.

It is quite surreal to read the comments about MSM being Left. I am Left and my take is that it is Right!
In Toronto, from where I sit watching, listening and blogging daily. Yes, retired. But I love politics, all of it. Left, right and center.

On TV I see all (yes penny all) of the newschannels as being Right of centre. Fox of course takes the prize for MOST right of centre but not Fascist right. Msnbc is second and CNN is third and closest to the centre but still Right. Bottom line is that the USA has no Left. The Democrats are centrist.
In Canada, with our social-democratic tradition you would think there would be more moderate left of centre media but there isnt.
Newspapers: The Toronto Sun is Right; so is The Globe and Mail and of course The National Post
I think all three came out for Harper in the last election.
The Toronto Star is centrist and supports Liberals. ON THE LEFT...no newspaper
TV: CBC is centrist;Global is Right;CTV is Right and virtually all other stations are American which by definition are Right.
Radio: CBC is centrist and is kickass good
CFRB is Right; 680 all news is Right; 640 talk is Right
Except for the CBC and Toronto Star, ALL OTHER MEDIA IS RIGHT WING. But I have only been a student of media for 50 years so I may be wrong but I dont think so.

Well Steve, show's that 50 years of being a student of media have taught you little.

The probe and flail is considered center left, the Star is center left verging on stupid left, CTV has traditionally been center left, CBC is as left as they get, except for maybe Global news, most talk radio leans right, most televised news leans left, and other than the Post and the Sun chain, pretty much all print media leans left.

Well, McCleans is centerist, and the Western Standard is farrrrrrrrrr right.

Maybe Steve is confusing his right and left.
If you hold out your hands palm down and stick out your thumbs, the left hand is the one that looks like an L.
Now hold it up to your forehead.

Headline From Bourque: BROADBENT BLASTS HARPER OVER ETHICS COMMISH PUTSCH
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060308/broadbent_shapiro_060308/20060308?hub=Canada.

Does anyone know in what capacity Harper offered Broadbent this job? Was it to be the same terms as Shapiro's appointment; reporting ONLY to PM? Or was it to be reportable to parliment? Just wondering if there isn't something important being left out by the media and/or Broadbent. Also I can understand Broadbent's refusal under any circumstances, but couldn't he have even considered over-seeing the office?

Again not knowing all the facts, it still seems to me that Broadbent had the opportunity to put up... so what's missing?

As Bevis said to Butthead:

Did John G. say "s**king off the liberals"?

HAHAHAHA.........snrk

Steve D says:
"TV: CBC is centrist"-
??
IF this is the result of 50 years of observation, it seems to me that there has been a lot of vacant daydreaming and somehow, somebody ( like Steve D) MISSED something!

Cheri, if I recall, didn't PM Harper, some weeks ago, mention something about having approached Ed Braodbent on working with the government in general, on their ethics and accountability policies?

It is unclear to me that Broadbent was tapped precisely for the Ethics Commissioner, at all.

It seems to have drifted into the media-talk though today, as this is the thing they seem to want to chatter about lately.

Hey steve d

Maybe its not that all the media is slanted to the right, its just to the right of where you stand! Sounds like maybe you've been hanging on the far left fringe looking back at the "not-left enough" (for yur taste) media. Toronto's a good place to do that. Enjoy.

>His lists of reporter names with questions screened by his aids

Learn to read. The article claims a list of names, not questions, is provided. If anything this is a more fair and orderly system, rather than the interviewee trying to sort out who to select (and in so doing, apply bias) from a sea of hands and shouts.

Ok. Would everyone that is tired of the "steves" hold up your hand.

This moron always poisons a good thread. He contributes nothing.

The only way to get rid of an annoying troll is to cut off his oxygen. Let's all stop responding to him.

I don't understand how you can pat a government on the back for freeing themselves of press scrums. They're not doing anything noble here by dodging scrums.

Fox News? You realize that the only reason you think they're fair and balanced is because they never let up telling you that they are, right? Don't feel bad; the reason they do that is because they've learned that it works. Just try not to believe everything they tell you to.

Harper understands that if he or his people talk to the media, his short reign would be over. If the Cons really talked, most Canadian people would see through their facade and realize we've got an American Puppet on the throne who is interested in keeping a very select and wealthy elite in power. You and I are the peons for their grist mill.

What happened to all the things Harper said about being open and accountable to Canadians? Yeah, he doesn't really want to be trying to talk about that.

I mean c'mon, the Cons made a huge deal about how the Public Works scandal showed that the government needed to be more open and now they've put Fortier in charge of Public works. He's a senator so he doesn't have to put up with that pesky "House-of-Commons" democratic process hooey.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty set some priorities today:

The federal finance minister says Ottawa won't be able to address all its election promises in its first budget. But...the Conservatives will slash the GST by one per cent "immediately."

Let's get a couple of things clear. Imposing the GST initially was a terrible idea and the Mulroney's Conservatives paid for it dearly. But cutting it (by an initial one per cent) is another terrible idea, especially if it results in income tax hikes on certain groups of Canadians.

Because, to put it bluntly, that penny per dollar will be long gone before it gets to Joe or Jane Canada. Everybody along the chain from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer is going to use the opportunity to hike fees, knowing that this hike will be concealed and cancelled by the cut.

Generally speaking, cuts to consumption taxes never make it to the consumer. And of course the Harper government knows this. They are eliminating income tax breaks for poor Canadians and sending the cash freed up to Corporate Canada. Robin Hood in reverse, but by more devious means.

Sneaky, but what will the Average Canadian say when taxes are cut and they notice no difference?

More on the Blog!

http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/

Black cats or white cats...what's the difference.
The joke is always on the mice who thought they voted for change.

My hand is up if we're ignoring pennys.

Harper is entirely unlike his predecessors, in that he actually answers questions instead of dissembling. The PPG of course would prefer to pepper him with scrummy "questions" that are really just shouted, thinly veiled attacks, rather than pose their questions in an more reasonable environment where their questions and the identity of their news organizations is open to examination as well.

The bottom line is, there's a bunch of fundamentally Liberal Ottawa journalists who are really just a slightly more elevated form of paparazzi. Their livelihoods depend on their right to swarm people leaving a room, but nobody else should equate that "right" with free speech.

The best writers and reporters don't get their information from shouting scrums, anyway. There's no need.

I for one think it is very refreshing that the Ottawa press gallery is finally being put back into its place in the heirarchy of parliamnet Hill.

Steve D, you should know that arguing with Cons is like wrestling with a pig. Everyone gets dirty, but the pig loves it!

I have yet to see any pro-liberal on this site offer up any new or fresh ideas.They all seem to still be stuck in Martin campaign mode..nary a single positive new idea to express so just attack,attack,attack.
It's a very sad thing to witness and I feel very sorry for them!

Funny how the view of who is the pig depends on rational thought and a real view of the the world ... both of which the left lacks.

I don't "love" discussing anything with the likes of you ... no challenge ... may as well talk with a gnat ... at least a gnat knows it's a gnat.

Canadian Observer says:

"I have yet to see any pro-liberal on this site offer up any new or fresh ideas.They all seem to still be stuck in Martin campaign mode..nary a single positive new idea to express so just attack,attack,attack.
It's a very sad thing to witness and I feel very sorry for them!"

RichFisher says (to Canadian2 earlier in this string):
"You are the problem with Canada!
You are a liar just like our MSM hacks who create shit out of wholecloth and nobody calls them on it.
"Canada does'nt want a spring election"
"Canada wants gay marriage"

Next time you are travelling internationally don't come back.
Canada has had 40 years of total bullshit flatout lying passing for the news.
Harper and the majority of Canada have punted the crime family liberals and by extension their snivelling lapdog media sycophants into the wilderness.
Enjoy your flight!"

Looks to me like the conservative side of this discussion is doing quite a bit of attacking. Like Canadian2 I've come to this blog to widen my perspective on the thinking behind the current conservative movement. I have actually had a few of those types of exchanges. But you sure have to get through a lot of barking dogs to get to any intelligent thought around here.

unblogged
Sorry,but I stand by my post.I've only been exploring the blogosphere for a couple of months and that HAS been my experience.
I'm glad to hear you are at this post to expand your horizons.That's commendable and I would like to hear some well-thoughtout ideas from the left.I'm afraid pretty well all I've witnessed from libs here is insults and attacks(not that a few of the cons I've read are any better).And when it comes to canadian2,his only reason for being here is to raise shit and get under peoples skin.That is NOT how you foster a dialogue.
Anyways,maybe you can refer me to a lib blog that does a good job(Sorry Kate).
Have yourself a good evening!(see people,civility is possible)

The MSM may not know it but Mr. Harper is repositioning the relationship with the press and the prime minister's office. They will not get 24 hour access to the PM and will not see him everyday spinning as the previous prime minister did. However, they are quickly learning that if they ask serious questions they will get serious answers. For them to quibble about where they inteview the prime minister is childish. The scrums after cabinet and caucus were embarassing. Reporters screaming and politicians looking like deer caught in the headlights. Little was learned from these screamfests. Now Harper is changing the location and in fact with the two press conferences I think more questions were asked and answers given than would have been in the old scrums. So the press gallery and MSM should get used to changes. Just because Liberals did it a certain way for 13 years doesn't mean there is no room for change.

Steve D....
if yer lookin' for a "left paper", read The Tyee, found online. It's as left as The WS is right. IMHO The Tyee is a waste of server bandwidth, and time. However, if one needs a lil amusement watching lefties set their hair on fire , it might do the trick. Oh BTW, don't read it within 2 hrs before OR after a meal ;o)

Unbloggled you said "Like Canadian2 I've come to this blog to widen my perspective on the thinking behind the current conservative movement."

Me too.
How you know what motivated canadian2, or why you feel he can't defend himself is between you2, I don't care.

I'm Not appologizing for calling someone who knowingly lies a liar.
"supposed scandals and the minutiae of expense account dining."
Lie.

Disgraced Liberal ex Priminister Chretien admitted under oath that the liberal party stole millions of our tax dollars.

Bark and I'll respond in kind, being sympathetic to shit flinging trolls is difficult for me to understand.

Perhaps you could BRING some "intelligent thought" instead of looking for it here and upon finding it, denouncing it.

So if the media is left which publication came out in favour of Fully funded daycare?
or even FULLY funded health care?
or the lack of investment by corporations in our economy after five years of record profits and a twenty-five percent reduction in taxes?????
how about a media campaign about homeless?
Those are just four issues off the top of my head that I have never read about in any MSM.
There are many other issues of humanity and morality that are "left" that are not dealt with on anything other than a once in a blue moon cursory look. As I said, there is no left wing media. It is all supporting the status quo. Either that or we are not giving up enough blood sweat and money to our corporate masters.

Canadian Observer:

Thanks very much for the response. I look forward to some intersting exchanges on other strings.

Richfisher:

Thanks for your response as well. I have tried to contribute intelligent thought in my posts, although I may have failed in your opinion. My thought is that some "trolls" are created. In my opinion you instigated the fight with Canadian2. I think you may not see so many trolls if you toned down the confrontational style. I look forward to some interesting exchanges with you as well.

Steve d
"how about a media campaign about homeless?"

The City of Toronto spends 1/3 of it's entire budget on the homeless, more than snow removal ,more than the police budget.
There are 283 organizations here in TO. that only administer and promote the homeless, all of them are government funded, usually three times.
The "homeless" employ thousands full time!

We give them everything including free money, wine and a hot breakfast on there pillow before they wake up and abandon their piss-soaked free sleepingbags.
It is the ONLY political topic in the centre of the universe.

Every single one of them resorts to crime to stay on the street.
Come to my neighbourhood and help me return the empty rifled briefcases, knapsacks, purses, and cashregisters that are abandoned nightly.
Watch out for the human feces on the streets and the broken glass though.

We can discuss the finer points
Lets go, I agree, we need a media blitz.

Has anyone thanked Mr Harper for reducing the size of his cabinet, thereby saving thousands of dollars in salary, staff, perks, stationery. Didn't think so, but those cost savings will pay for many of his programs. You trolls gave the libs 13 yrs to steal, lie, break promises, bribe floor crossers and fail to deliver on programs promised. Harper has been PM for about 2 month, the House has not met, and you are crying there is no debate on Afganistan, ethics etc. Can't debate or question till April 3, and after the Throne Speech. The media has always been anti conservative and will twist everything positive into a negative. Why should Harper put up with that. He has learned his lesson from Manning and Day. Only reason so many wanted a new leader was to start a new attack. We didn't bite, and Harper went into the campaign knowing the libs would get very dirty. Re the soldiers in our cities, it was mentioned then that an exercise was being planned for Winnipeg when troops with guns would be in the streets. I read one item stating the soldiers ad was coming true. And, maybe Harper is staying away from the press because he is taking lessons on arm waving, practicing how to say very,very and how many times, and also fundamentally. When will Easter request an investigation into Bisson being the leaker re ITs. He is upset the story was leaked to the G&M and wants to know by whom and suggesting it was Day. More likely a leadership wannabe did it. I really don't think hard core liberals, who vote, will vote Bisson or BS for leader. I hear Emerson is planning on running.
Also hear voters in V-K want him to carry the flag at the opening of the 2010 games.

Kate's observation;

*That was a signal that something was about to go desperately wrong, and it did. The Canadian people had already spoken as to what voices they wanted in parliament. The Ottawa press gallery weren't on the ballot, yet they declared themselves elected, and they've by and large behaved like pompous, entitled Liberal senators with a broadcast license ever since.*

Excellent, and to extend that attitude to the whole MSM would not be stretching it really.

They see themselves as all powerful, with no opposing media to speak of.

Well, just in time we see the impossible. A powerful opposition to self elected liberal MSM spinners who are not unbiased reporters as they once were. Media with BBC qualities.

Opposition stemming from the web with some digital press branching out to the newsstands in paper form. [Westrn Standard and more]

Mr. Thompson, how you seem to be wilting, sir. Oh how it suits you too. TG