If an opposition MP speaks an anti-Harper comment, will the MSM hear it? Only if they can connect it to a Bush bash.

I see they used a Dipper as jean Cretien's homeless buddy has moved on.

Good golly - they ARE getting desperate!

Mind you talking of silly little things for liberals to worry about - PETA just had a demo (naked ladies!!!!!!!!!!!) in front of St Paul's in London to protest the Guards' bearskins. So let's see - 20,000 bears culled in Canada each year of which around 80 skins are sold for bearskins. And naked ladies in front of a place of worship is meant to STOP that?

Perhaps Mr H could run a few down 'accidently' and let us have the skins? Two birds One stone.

The Yukon is a superior vehicle. Theres a reason why security types use them.
I doubt That the Prime Minister went to the RCMP and instructed them in what vehicle to buy, lol.

Continuing from a few threads down,if the libs can't find a way to hang the racist tag on you,American-style is their next favorite method of dismissing you as un-Canadian!...An A+ for consistency.

I've seen those motorcades and it's really not all that intimidating. Everyone around the guy is an armed RCMP officer. Do they think he should be driving around in a pastel colored Smart Car or Volkswagen Golf ? The Darth Vader references are hilarious though.

At least they true to form. Bush bashing has become the new Godwin's Law. What a bunch of clowns.

Shame on all you people that drive big black SUV's and tread all over "Canadian Values". :)
Nice to see my:
"SUV's don't ruin the world liberals do" bumper sticker finally has more meaning north of the border.

Now if the Prime Ministerial motorcade were NDP-approved, they'd be driving a fleet of VW Vans, all in paisley pattern, with bumper stickers like "You can't hug your kids with nuclear arms" or "Peace is patriotic".

If it were a Bloc-approved motorcade, it'd be composed of Citroens, all with bumper stickers that said "Pensez francais".

If it were a Liberal-approved motorcade, it'd be all Cadillacs, but with Chevy sheet metal bodies and logos; with all sorts of special compartments inside in which to stuff cash-filled envelopes; built-in heavy duty document shredders; cow catchers from old railroad engines fitted to sweep aside any peasant taxpayers who hadn't gotten out of the way of the "natural ruling motorcade".

Have I left anything out? :-)

Why is Martin slamming union workers? The Tahoe is made by scabs in Texas?

CAW...CAW...Buzz...CAW...CAW...

uaw.org
Full-Size SUV
Highest ranked: Chevrolet Suburban – UAW Locals 594, 598 and 2209
Second: Chevrolet Tahoe – UAW Locals 95 and 276
Third: GMC Yukon – UAW Locals 95 and 275

The RCMP should realize that most Canadians are too poor to drive SUV's - the only reason Canadians don't drive them in greater numbers like their American counterparts.

If this poor excuse of a reporter had done his job ,he would have found out that black SUV's have been used in Presidential motorcades since before Clinton .

But of course he knew that, but it doesn't seem as scary if Clinton used them.

infidel:
I dont know the numbers, but i see a lot of those SUVs out here in B.C.
BTW, I was in error earlier, dont know why i thot it was a Yukon. Oh well, they both are superior vehicles.

This is the latest in what I've been calling the "George Bush fetish" for those who intone the name of Mr. Bush as sufficient argument against whatever topic they are opposed to, instead of advancing a cogent, coherent, and cohesive opinion. What will they use once Mr. Bush is out of office?

Alan

Alan, they'll still have the good old generic fallback "American-like". Maybe we'll even have "Condi Ricelike"!

"Maybe we'll even have "Condi Ricelike"!"

We can only hope. Condi against Hillary "Stand By Your Man" Clinton. It would be the best of all worlds.

We all know the first step is black SUVs. Then before you know it Canadian skys will be patroled by black helocopters, the thought police will screen our blog posts and Canada will be annexed by the US. The veil has been lifted people!

What a joke! I'm surprised the NDP would even comment on this, what a bunch of clowns. Nice to see the media staying consistent by explaing to Canadians how anything the Conservatives do must be wrong.

MP Pat Martin has launched a partisan attack against Canada's greatest symbol - the RCMP. She should not be allowed to get away with it.

The RCMP makes the decisions as to which vehicles to purchase. The RCMP makes the decision as to how to protect the PM. An attack on their choices, to imply that the government of the day has a particular desire to look "Presidential" is, in reality, an attack on the RCMP.

That fact is not allayed by the reality that for the RCMP to have an SUV in Harper's protection detail, of any colour, means the decision had to have been made well over a year ago. That's how long the procurement of a specialized piece of equipment makes. That means (gasp!) that former Prime Minister Paul Martin wanted to look like Bush!!!!

Pat Martin, you have entirely too much time on your hands. Go do something for your constituents rather than making things up for partisan purposes.

The Dipper's and the Lie-beral's would have the RCMP all driving around in Lada's.

After rereading this item,I am not sure which is more disturbing.
That Naumetz actually thought this silly little tidbit would become news if he spun it to make Harper look bad,or that his editors could even consider it worthy of print.
All naysayers of the MSM anti-right bias,please explain away this obvious exercise in CREATING a story to fit an AGENDA.

Oh My God!! Soldiers in black boots, in our cities, with guns!

Hey, if it sells newspapers, why not print it? Timmy has to make a living, too, ya know! :)
Patrick.... MP Pat Martin is actually named Patrick, not Patricia.
He's really a well respected, long term MP who has done quite a lot of good for this country....(check his work on the Public Accounts Committee) and I'm not a NDP supporter. I think Pat was just having some fun at Mr. Harper's expense with this stupid reporter.

Imagine, quasi americans adopting an american posture. It's a good thing we don't depend on you tools to defend our interests/ sovereignty.
This nation exists despite the tendencies of your ilk.

the MSM just keeps digging their hole deeper & faster. Give them more shovels & let them have at it.

Then just smile at them as they convince themselves of how important ans smart they are

I suppose your typical conspiracry theory, Chavez-slave, lunatic leftist could never, ever consider that Harper's security detail has chosen to do this beacuse of all the death threats from the left?

Timmy would probably be interested to know that paule, the ex prime minister, and his followers rented EVERY Yukon and Tahoe in the Yukon territory for a visit to the outback; the village of Watson Lake, in the Yukon Territory - population about 3000 souls - last Aug 1 long weekend. Many of these vehiles have the blackened window mafia type look. Where was Timmy? Missed a good photo op!!

O/T Caledonia, sitution is getting serious there, citizens have put up blockade 100m from native's. Again, CBC and CTV bias on reporting is showing through. The government better do something soon, its getting ugly.

Shouldn't the RCMP be on horseback, armoured horseback if necessary.

Watching CBC coverage of the Caledonia stand-off and there is more car news....

A red SUV has hit a non-native protestor.

Police are concerned about non-native protestors reactions.

What the heck PC talk is a non-native protestor? Would that be.....in hushed tones....a white person?

Just wondering.

One of my grandparents was named Cheney. When will Tim Naumetz write a story about me and the threat I pose to Canadian values?

Mark
Ottawa

It's okay Mark, I have a German last name. As such, I am a threat to the Canadian socialist utopia also. And, as an owner of a car, I am not only a capitalist, but a closet Texan. When someone knocks on the door, I place my Stetson in a secret drawer and wear my Che t-shirt.

I hope its not a hybrid. You wouldn't want to send a mixed message to the voters.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon's_Razor

«Hanlon's Razor, a corollary of Finagle's law, is an adage which reads: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity ... Also worded as: Never assume malice when stupidity will suffice."

And found this quote at http://www.persichilli.com/2006/c302-e.html

«God made an idiot for practice, then he made some journalists.”

I'm glad to see that the RCMP has made the move to a more appropriate VIP protection vehicle. With the mass and HP available, they can stuff our PM in it, if need be and probably make it out of most any ambush. Not to mention that they can clear the way of many road blocks with a vehicle like that. Good on the Horsemen!!

Shame on people for suggesting that the Mounties shouldn't do their very best for our PM. Like I've said before, it really seems that some of the dippers and libs are really enemies of Canada.

Pat

steve d and artifact - did the CIA make the RCMP buy this SUV?

Wow. Still waiting for the investigative doc on the sponsorship scandal and gun registry. I guess it will never happen with all the time being spent on hunting down hard hiting black SUV stories.

I noticed that many Conservative MPs use Blackberries. You may not be aware that virtualy all US senators and congressmen use the Blackberry.

i think this is a repugnant situation. We are becoming way to American.
enough

steve d.: Quit while your ahead. Your "mixed messages" comment was witty indeed. Never equalled by you before and perhaps never again.

I suggest you do much more substantial research on Afstan.

Mark
Ottawa

"you're ahead".

Mark
Ottaw

My take on that story:

"Moonbat Spotlight: NDPer Pat Martin"

http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2006/05/moonbat-spotlight-ndper-pat-martin.html

In that post I give the moonbat his just desserts for being a silly poophead!

I wonder when Pat Martin and the MSM will realize that Harper breathes in air and CO2 out, just like Bush.

Could it be possible that security and car for Harper has had to be beefed up because of nut cases who have threatened him? Remember how desperate and mean-spirited the rhetoric was during the last election campaign, and it only makes sense. Our Prime Minister deserves the utmost in security and protection.

Back a few decades, open-car motorcades were used by politicians until ...

But, this could not happen in Ottawa, Canada. ...

John F. Kennedy: Biography and Much More From Answers.com
Kennedy was shot to death by sniper Lee Harvey Oswald during an open-car motorcade in Dallas, Texas on 22 November 1963;

A possible solution the fear Tim Numbnuts has around big trucks
http://tinyurl.com/agfqx

Turn your next fart into cash.

Here's how ... maybe ...

http://tinyurl.com/kzbh4

Hey enough - you are an idiot.

The BlackBerry is a CANADIAN invention.

Moron.

Really? Actually NTP gets credit now. Thanks to the big patent case.

So are the Americans becoming too Canadian? Poor US must be protected from the imperialistic Canadians.

Electricity invented by Canadians too? The internal combustion engine?

Silly argument. Thanks for walking into it.
enough

You really aren't that bright, are you enough?

The fact that virtually all Canadian MPs and Senators from every party (yes, even Jack! uses one...) use blackberries and most of the US Congress as well is supposed to be some sort of pro-American conspiracy?

Why don't you go hang out at rabble? I'm sure you will find lots of anti-US conspiracists to entertain yourself with.

Morpheus,You misread me.
The silliness of the left and their "we are becoming too american" obsession is just that. Silliness. Following their logic, it is like the 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon game. Anything can be connected if you try hard enough.
I like my sanity, I will avoid rabble.
enough

If the NDP and lll's are so upset by Canuckistanian use of large black vehicles, why have'nt they forced the 1,253,421 (or so) log trucks thundering through the far northern woods to be converted back to horse-drawn drags and sleds? Coming across some of them suddenly is REALLY like running into Darth Vader's minions. Talk about failing to support so-called "worthwhile" Kyotoian principles!

Morpheus - I believe you're interpreting enough's humor incorrectly.

Over the last few years, the Canadian MSM has lost its credibility. This article just proves my perception.

I don't why anyone even pays any attention to them or even reads anything they print. The Canadian MSM does not have any credible reputation left.

it's funny how idiots read!

was there as much outcry when PMJC unveiled that very presidential plane so he could attend the G7 summit along with Airforce 1(yanks), Blairforce 1 (brits) and his own Airfarce 1???.they were all parked in Calgary whilst very black presidential looking helicopters ferried them back and forth to Kananaskis. except for Scooter Brison and uberhomo Bill Graham who were fairy-d.Svend was hiding in the trees with the rest of the protest movement.

Mark
I don't have to study Afganistan I already know how its going to end. :(

Ural
The NSA had it made up "special" for Harper or occupant at 24 Sussex.

Ural,

don't think we needed the CIA for that - we're pretty good at "playing the toys for boys" game ouselves. The Darth Vader version is super-cool.

By the way, anyone know what happened to Mulroney's airplane?

To all: This is what steve d. had to say about being completely unaware of Canadian media coverage last November of our troops' changing role in Afstan:

"I am not saying the media didn't cover it. I am just saying I missed it."
steve d. at May 21, 2006 10:21 PM

And today he writes:

"I don't have to study Afganistan I already know how its going to end."
steve d. at May 22, 2006 07:30 PM

Truly we are face-to-face with genius.

Mark
Ottawa

I am late to the party covering this one, due to unreliable dialup preventing my posting first thing this morning. However, I did manage to get the post up just now.

Mark Colins,
yup, the problem with having a discussion on a blog is, the same problem as sending nude photos of yourself to your ex-wife....

all your friends know it...

and on that note, didn't Duke say he's not coming back just 2 or 3 days ago?

"We've got this gas-guzzling behemoth touring around with the prime minister. It looks tough, it looks quasi-military. Is that the kind of image the prime minister wants to project?"

Does this pinhead realise that the armored Limo probably gets worse milage than the SUV? Add a couple of tonnes to a car with a V8 you could park a Smartcar in, and you tend to suck some gas.

Furthermore, an SUV is easier to get out of in a hurry, and can pack alot of useful gear for our RCMP bodyguard detail. Simple common sense is the reasoning behind thier use.

Again, what a pinhead!

For those interested, CPAC is showing a rerun of the following program on Tuesday, 1:00 pm ET (check your local times):
«Public Record: The Canadian Association of Journalists Annual Conference Panel : Managing the Message in the Harper Era»

I just caught the tail end of it. Panelists are Sandra Bruckner, the PM's Communications Director, as well as journalists Don Martin, Paul Wells, Keith Boag & another guy whom I did not recognize.

Also posted this notice at daifallah.com

I saw the "intimidating" motorcade the other day -- patiently waiting at an intersection for the lights to change.

I suspect a previous commenter who suggested the PM has better things to do than advise on security protocol is completely correct; he'd be quite likely just to accept whatever the RCMP recommends.

It must have been a slow news day. But there were reporters who invented stories on Martin's using a Cadillac with the Cadillac logo "removed" from the car -- even though most Cadillacs are sold without a written identifier. The lazy lot didn't bother to check this, however, and instead made a big deal about it.

You mean it's a Sports Utility Vehicle? And it's BLACK?

This is a scandal, I tell you.

Good catch, NDP.

Hot Cross Hedy must be so proud there are black SUVs driving here in CANADA .

Im not making this up.

Is our modern Canada based investigative MSM sharp and on their toes or what?

Amazing SUV related breaking news. Wow!

Wait til they see Harper*s dirty fingernails after a bit of weekend gardening.

Talk about scandal! TG

I'm baaaack! OK, for those interested in the relationship between PMs & the press, Paul Wells has a post up called "Amnesia: the reporter's friend", with excerpts from a book called "Scrum Wars: The Prime Ministers and the Media, by Allan Levine, 1993" re: Trudeau, St. Laurent, and Pearson.
http://weblogs.macleans.ca/paulwells/

Mark Collins

Just because I missed them getting on the plane doesn't mean I don't know anything about Afganistan.
Anyone going to Afganistan should make themselves aware of the history of the country and the futility of bringing democracy to a land with 96% illiteracy and a history of intolerance for outsiders. Combined with their religion, Fundamentalist Islam and their tribal way of being, it all adds up to futility. They have a 5 year plan called the Afganistan Compact which deals with everything except the things I mentioned.
I looked at Afganistan when the Americans went there in 01. I knew they would solve nothing and they haven't. They promised the moon and delivered nothing but five years of war. The war is apparently getting worse. I guess that is why we "volunteered".
The last superpower that attacked was Russia, 150years ago the great superpower was England what we have to remember their last visit was the poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade.

How do you spell futility? A f g a n i s t a n
We should know that by now.

actually, and speaking of illiteracy...

I spell futility... "A f g h a n i s t a n"

but, I suppose it's not so important...

I think the larger issue is, build a democracy where there isn't one. Maybe these people can then join the rest of the world.

If I wanted to provide security for the PM I would put 2 or 3 Humvees in the procession. The crews of the Humvees would have been armed, and I mean armed, and the rules of engagement would be: "Shoot first, and ask questions later". Now how un-Canadian is that? I'd cater to the Dippers by painting the Humvees UN blue. The same vehicles might be useful in Caledon, if McGuinty wasn't such a limp wrist.

marc in calgary,

Spelling mistakes are going to happen - if you have to type fast ... because the CIA is watching you. Turning on the radio doesn't help ... typing with your left hand doesn't help ...

I am sure Harper told the RCMP to go out an buy a great big SUV so he can look like George Bush. It's silly beyond comparison. The Dippers have something to say about everything. Jack is a great teacher I guess. Pat Martin is looking even more looney these days.
Anybody see Susan Delacourt's column in the red Star today. It reinforces what she has been saying on Don Newman's program. By the way we have a 5th opposition party in Canada. It's called the Pity Party. It's members are the Parliamentary Press Gallery with Jim Travers, Susan Delacourt and Jane Taber as the chief cheerleaders. Duffy says a new poll is coming out this week which shows the Torys are in the mid 40s. Puts a lie to the Delacourt column no matter how badly she wishes it were true.

"By the way we have a 5th opposition party in Canada."

Love that line. But I think they rate higher - Greens would kill to get the press that the press gets.

Interesting, "steve d" has information that Balaklava is in Afghanistan. I'm awed.

Cheers

haha ural...
I am not the king of spelling.
I only mention it because of the context steve d uses it in.

It's at least as important as what PMSH's security escort drives... (not very)

When will the bushophobics realize that there will still be a USA in Jan 2009. Should we call all kyoto supporters gorelite and following the americans. Doesn't that mean we should be against kyoto. Yea, Harper is finally doing something anti-us and the msm still is against him. As for 49 libs boycotting Howard, remember when Martin spoke at the UN, and very few countries stayed to hear him. The msm are nothing but a buncy of hypogrits.

Well, folks, we're just getting the logical consequences of no-education, coming through loud and clear from members of the MSM.

Like I said in another post: say Rosie Smith paints her kitchen yellow and I happen to like the colour and the way the light reflects off those yellow walls.

Then, say, I decide to paint my own kitchen yellow and go ahead and do it.

Does that make me Rosie Lite?

I don't think so. We all have our own, and particular, reasons for doing the things we do, and if the RCMP feel that a black SUV is needed to protect PMSH, then that's what's needed.

'No need, actually, to even bring GWB into this conversation. What's Pat's and Tim's problem?

With Harper riding high in the polls the MSM will have their knives out even more if that's possible. Obviously their ranting isn't working. Maybe Canadians are not reading papers or watching the talking heads on TV. Do they not understand that we have an arrogant, petulant prime minister. All Canadians see is a whiney media and the facts speak for themselves. We have an activist government, a decisive leader. No spin, no nice words, just plain hard work. The population didn't know that's what they wanted but now that they have it they like what they see.

marc in calgary
Focus on the spelling not the substance. An old conservative trick. Just say you can't deal with the substance and be done with it. I understand.

By the way. There is no possibility of bringing Democracy beyond the joke stage unless and until you have a literate and informed population. But I guess you knew that...right? Speaking of jokes, Afghanistan Compact, the grand plan of progress, calls for three quarters of the population to be literate in five years.
How much will this adventure have cost in five years...or ten years..or whenever it is the naivete wears off.
I hear the Bush administration has a new term for their foreign adventures. The word "victory" is now being replaced by "containment", which will be replaced by..."monitor"?...then?

J.M. Heinrichs: At least there is baklava in Afstan--it's where I first ate it.

Mark
Ottawa

Steve D,
So what are the qualifiers for success in Iraq?
A constitution? A liberal constitution with civil rights enshrined?
A free election? How about 3 of them?
Iraqi army taking control? American troop reductions?
Just wondering.
enough

It is surprising that, with all of steve d's knowledge, he is not an international advisor to the US. Or the UN. Or somewhere. After all, as he says, he 'knew they would solve nothing'. He knew.

He also says that the Afghan people have 96% illiteracy; that's astonishing. How on earth could they have developed a constitution (2004), and presidential and national assembly elections (2005)?

To my understanding, the illiteracy is indeed high; it's about 65% total. About 20% of women are literate and about 50% of the men are literate. Frankly, steve d, that's enough for democracy.

As has been frequently pointed out, it's quite something to observe the left; their goal is not success for the 'undeveloped'. It's failure for the US and the West. If such failure includes failure of the 'undeveloped', that's just fine for the left.

I wonder how they envisage actual development if their requirements are that the nations that assist these countries, must fail?

The spelling is a joke steve d.
as I said, I am not the king of spelling.
It becomes noticeable (and funny) when you say, "96% illiteracy" where steve? in afgnanistan?

it's like saying, "all you peple are stupit" (I'm not saying you're stupid here)
but spelling abililty isn't indicative of intelligence either.
and abililty to read and write, isn't indicative of being able to support democracy.
1 vote = 1 person, equal law applied to everyone... is.

for Afghanistan literacy... U.S. LIbrary of Congress numbers...
http://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/72.htm

Intellectually vacant MSM quisling:

Oh Look! Look! Harper's driving and evil Bush look-alike car that destroys the planet thus proving his evil hidden agenda (ignoring the forest of trees that died to publish his own partisan whining)

ME:

Get stuffed airhead ;-)

The SUV's that the US Secret Service uses are Blue not Black. They are Suburbans not Tahoes.

They are used because they're powerful enough to function even with the extra weight of all that plate steel armour. That and the superior field of view and ease of exit (down instead of up.)

Thinking of extra weight, how fuel efficient do they expect an armoured limo to be? I bet it makes a hummer look like a smartcar.

This reporter has entered a whole different level of stupidity and demagoguery. What an idiot.

Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy*

Shock jock may join Tories
Former Quebec shock jock Andre Arthur says he's "impressed" with Stephen Harper and hinted he'd consider joining the Conservative benches, Sun Media reports. cnews

*CW McCall

"(ignoring the forest of trees that died to publish his own partisan whining)"

Interesting fact about the forests are dying argument, Newsprint is primarily made from Poplar pulp. These trees grow amazingly fast and are ready to cut for pulpwood in 30-40 years. Of course Greenpeace has made great hay about cutting down "Old Growth" and "rain forests" top make newspaper and toilet paper.

heh, anyways... Its a good illistration of the way Enviromental groups are warping peoples beliefs.

Scrums, crumbs and Crumbums.

I'm betting that with all of Paul Martin's spoon- feeding of the media in the past, the poor P.P.G. dears just never got around to much of the investigative reporting they seem to think they're very good at.

While managing to say very little to nothing at all, Paul ran the Press Room's dog and pony show, to the unbridled delight of the sound-bite freaks. All the while, Paullie's pals & cronies were pillaging the cash-boxes and store-houses of the nation.

I think that most of the media darlings are still smarting for not having scooped the Globe on Adscam.

They are now faced with the slim joys of taking things out on P.M. Harper, cause now they've got to hustle their fat and booze-addled little fannies around town to get even the slightest hint of a story. That kind of pressure has got to take a vicious toll on the former cream-puff school of P.P.G. journalism. Paul Martin, the Master of Diversionary Dithering, ably aided and abetted by the creme de la creme of Canada's finest representatives of the Fourth and Fifth Estates.

Talk about prissy-hissy-fitting weenies.

Scrums, crumbs and Crumbums.

I'm betting that with all of Paul Martin's spoon- feeding of the media in the past, the poor P.P.G. dears just never got around to much of the investigative reporting they seem to think they're very good at.

While managing to say very little to nothing at all, Paul ran the Press Room's dog and pony show, to the unbridled delight of the sound-bite freaks. All the while, Paullie's pals & cronies were pillaging the cash-boxes and store-houses of the nation.

I think that most of the media darlings are still smarting for not having scooped the Globe on Adscam.

They are now faced with the slim joys of taking things out on P.M. Harper, cause now they've got to hustle their fat and booze-addled little fannies around town to get even the slightest hint of a story. That kind of pressure has got to take a vicious toll on the former cream-puff school of P.P.G. journalism. Paul Martin, the Master of Diversionary Dithering, ably aided and abetted by the creme de la creme of Canada's finest representatives of the Fourth and Fifth Estates.

Talk about prissy-hissy-fitting weenies.

Please enough (literally) My mental thesauraus is burnt out.

I'm just going to make an assumption that steve d has never actually been to Afghan. Sure, like most of the defeatist left, he probably has a "friend" who was there and told him all about what a "quagmire" it is. Reading about it is no substitute for being there. I was deployed there 2 times for a total of almost 2 years with the 3/504 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division. Large amount of progress have been made. To say that the US and NATO aren't winning is laughable. Of course, you'd actually have to be there to see it, not just read the garbage that you're force fed by the media.