"Stephen Harper said most Liberal leadership candidates were 'anti-Israel.' What do you think of this?"
Vote on the main page at CTV.ca.
As one commentor remarked a few days ago, let's see another online media poll go "horribly horribly wrong"!
Related: "The wife of prominent Liberal MP Irwin Cotler has quit the party in a fury over leadership front-runner Michael Ignatieff's assertion that Israel committed war crimes.
(link fixed)
Steve Janke has more.
UPDATE - it's getting lonely on the Ignatieff campaign bus.
Friday, October 13, 2006
My ResignationAs President of the Thornhill Young Liberals and as a delegate from the riding of Thornhill, I stand by Susan Kadis MP in her decision to resign as GTA Co-Chair of the Michael Ignatieff Campaign. I do believe Michael to be a strong leader but unfortunately at this time, I cannot reconcile his recent statements characterizing Israel's action in response to the kidnapping of its soldiers as a "war crime". As a matter of conscience, I, like Susan, am resigning as Director of Strategy and Operations for Ontario.
posted by Michelle Oliel @ 12:46 PM
Oct.14 morning update

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4566
Which airline(r) will Iggy and Denis Coderre use?
Challenger I, II, III,...? El Al? Air Hezbollah-Katyusha? ...
IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, IGNATIEFF SAID HE WOULD BE TRAVELLING TO ISRAEL TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM THE JEWS IN ISRAEL .... NOW WILL HE ALSO VISIT THE HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON TO BE FAIR TO BOTH SIDES .... ???!!!
Ignatieff has pompously declared: BOTH SIDES HAVE COMMITTED "WAR CRIMES" IN THE ISRAELI-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT...!!!
Regardless what Iggy now says and does ... he has told French Quebecers and the muzis of Canada that the Israelis committed "war crimes" ... and by uttering those words that is enough for them to support the Ignatieff Liberals ... and that is what the Iggy camp intended to accomplish .... win back and hold on to the French and muzi vote .... so obvious .... !!!!
voy forums
They will probably pull the poll if the desired result does not quickly emerge.
Just like the Grope and Flail did with their little push poll on SSM. Looks like the current Grope and Flail poll on the 3 strikes proposal isn't going well either.
Posted by: Bart F. at October 13, 2006 2:10 PMCanada Am has a similar poll, it has been holding steady 55-45% agree with what the Prime Minister has said, since 7am now 2pm est.
The one i like is the photo of Iggy Clenching his fist condemming the Pm's comments, (wow that should get Mrs. Cotler back in the party)
Give me a break Iggy & what you said don't count?.
The other thing is why has Taliban Jack been so quiet lately, I guess it is the old, Well if they are picking on him they are leaving me alone.
current standing on the CTV poll
Fair political dialogue 905 votes (56 %)
Unfair attack on opponents 711 votes (44 %)
Total Votes: 1616
Iggy is attempting to do today what Bob Rae did better yesterday.
My personal opinion is that Mr. Harper committed the gaffe on purpose to give Rae a boost in the race. Anything to have a Rae-led Liberal Party.
Posted by: molarmauler at October 13, 2006 2:28 PMAmazing spin (even for Pravda) on the National last night.
1. They report Iggy’s statement.
2. They show PMSH’s statement condemning all of the Lib contenders for their lack of support for Israel.
3. They then show the other Lib candidates all complaining about what PMSH said, not what Iggy said.
Poor Iggy, left out of his own party’s “party”.
Speaking of spin .... The headline on the CTV.ca story says, "PM's anti-Israel comment disgraceful: Ignatieff".
Harper made an anti-Israel comment? Don't think so, but apparently that's what CTV wants the headline-skimmers to think.
"The wife of prominent Liberal MP Irwin Cotler" link leads to the NK monolith.
Posted by: one of the other greg's at October 13, 2006 2:49 PMTaliban Flap-Jack has will have difficulty putting the ND's onside with Israel. Svend took care of that issue for them (ND's) a few years back.
Iggy is done like dinner as far as Lib leader.
My guess it will be Rae.
That would make crypto-communist Rae fighting for the left vote with Taliban Jack.
CPC up the middle with a majority.
Stay the course Stephen, the internet community is well into discrediting many of the MSM pundits because of their pro-left bias to boot!
your right about that doug: Just the twisted headline catcher is viewed, People do not read the whole article anymore.
It's like they all took the Evelyn Wood Sped Reding course.(early SNL days)
So if you happen to get into or overhear a conversation in the local coffee shop on a current political topic it is totaly misconscrewed therefore detest for the PM is circulated successfully by the left media.
I think it's important to consider what each person said.
Ignatieff said, in Quebec, that the Qana attack was a 'war crime', which is to say, it deliberately targeted civilians. He did not say that any international agency had declared it a war crime nor that such a conclusion required an international agency to make it; he said that he was himself a professor of the laws of war, and he himself stated that Qana was a war crime.
Harper said that his statement was consistent with the anti-Israeli position that has been taken by virtually all the candidates for the Liberal leadership, and that such a perspective wasn't 'helpful', that such a charge is a serious charge and he, Harper, didn't agree with the charge (war crime).
Then, Ignatieff replied that Harper's statement was playing crass politics with the issues of the Middle East and that this was disgraceful. Now wait a minute, wasn't that what Ignatieff was doing when he made the statement? Playing to the anti-war and anti-Israeli Quebecers?
Now, Ignatieff is saying that it's up to international agencies to declare a war crime. He didn't refer to that requirement in his original speech but defined himself as the expert in such international law.
Ignatieff is now saying that 'both sides' committed war crimes, based on Amnesty International and Human Rights Org.
And Ignatieff is also reworking what Harper said, and stating that Harper's critique of Ignatieff is a 'disgrace' and that the PM has no right to say that anyone who criticizes Israel is therefore an enemy of Israel. But Harper didn't say that. Harper said that he disagrees with Qana as a war crime, and that he found the Liberal candidates biased against Israel. Bias and criticism are not the same.
ET: That is correct in what you have pointed out as to what was said. I feel that doug is also correct as this is how the media can manipulate a rebutal to a question, by twisting the headlines just enough that no one will remember what the PM was elating too however they will remember the headline.
No different then the Lawand twist a few months back on CBC.
newsonline@ctv.ca
Write them to complain about their miswording.
Posted by: Kate at October 13, 2006 3:09 PMFrom the video footage, the Prime Minister's comments re: Ignatieff were in response to a reporter's question during the Tough On Crime press conference. Has anyone seen enough of the press conference footage to know who asked the question, and from which news organzation?
Posted by: Steeve J at October 13, 2006 3:15 PMET, do you mind if I borrow your statement for an argument in another forum? You have put the facts much better than I could hope to.
Harper's comment was way over the top, like something Bush would say about Democrats supporting terrorists. Shameful.
Posted by: Saskboy at October 13, 2006 3:24 PMDidn't the liberals disregard the jewish people back in WW11, when they refused to let boatloads of jewish people to disembark in Canada, and sent them back to Germany to be sent to the gas ovens.
Harper did not back down today when questioned. Soon we will see the stmts all lib contenders made on TV and in print during the conflict posted on the blogs. How many libs were at hezzie rallies. The question for cdns next election is, Do you want a party supported by terrorist sympathizers in Canada, to govern Canada. Are you prepared for sharia law. If you answer yes, vote lib or ndp.
If you want to take back our country, end political correctness, regain our standing in the international community, vote Conservative.
Iggy is going to Isreal, will he be allowed to enter the country, will he get a tongue lashing, will he survive. He made a very stupid stmt and the msm refuse to condemn him.
If Iggy wins then he has a divided party
If Iggy loses then the CPC faces Rae or Dion....
Harper wins in all three cases
Iggy is such a clever squirrel....got to like Paul Wells, take on him.
Posted by: Stephen at October 13, 2006 3:30 PMHarper's comments were dead on and the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts. I think the liberals got caught in there usual preach what the voters want to hear mantra. The anti-isreal anti-war croud would eat it up, but Isrealies might see the liberals for what they are now.
By supporting no action, you allow good people to die and terrorists to win. Iggy sure didn't come out in the last couple of years blasting Hezbollah and the Palestine government for allowing all the rockets launched at Isrealy civilian targets.
Posted by: RagingKozak at October 13, 2006 3:34 PM"Harpers comments were way over the top".
So that would mean that Liberal MP's marching with a declared terrorist group is OK or Layton's NDP calling our troops terrorist is OK.
No i do not think the PM's comment's were over the top after the digracefull acts & comments we have seen over the past summer that were ignored by the left leaning mindset in Canada.
It seems to me that PMSH was only stating the obvious. Of the Liberal leadership contenders only Brison and Volpe supported Isreal in the recent conflict.
Incidently Saskboi, sitting Liberal MP's marched in a pro Hezbolah rally and not one LPC leadership candidate had word one to say.
BTW Hezbolah is a recognized terrorist organization so you make your own conclusions.
What I find most shameful is ignorance.
Syncro
Posted by: syncrodox at October 13, 2006 3:43 PMJust checked and the headline now reads "PM's comment on Liberals disgraceful: Ignatieff"
SDA gets results!
Posted by: Kate at October 13, 2006 3:49 PMI saw that!!! Poll is up to 61% now too!!
Posted by: Hunter at October 13, 2006 3:55 PMBell Globe Media has a love affair with the LPC.
Anything a Liberal does can be justified by the muttonheads at BGM and will be.....
ON the other hand criticism of any LIberal Sacred Cow .... will net a Conservative the full spin cycle of righteous indignation from the BGM bunch...witness the caterwalling over PM Harper's comments on Liberal anti-Israel BIAS.
Today Ignatief tries to defend his comments on ware crimes by stating that "International Bodies" will decide what is or is not a crime!
How the sophist squirms in the light of day!
So today it's "international bodies" while yesterday it was "I'm an expert" Iggy who makes the call!?
Right Iggy keep squirming.
Gee, looks like Iggy is trying to bring back Vaudeville. There is more tap dancing and juggling going on in the Lieberal hopefull's camp than an Ed Sullivan special. Comedy too!
Posted by: Texas Canuck at October 13, 2006 4:05 PMHere's Harper's rebuttal to Iggy's little indignation fit:
But an unabashed Harper has refused to back down on his assertion that "virtually all'' Liberal leadership hopefuls are anti-Israel.
Speaking to reporters Friday after reading to students at his daughter's Ottawa school, Harper said only Scott Brison and Joe Volpe condemned anti-Israel comments that were made by various Liberals during last summer's Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.
He said it's hypocritical of other contenders to criticize Ignatieff now when they kept mum last summer.
"I think it's a bit hypocritical for them to show their faces now. They should have done it before.''
Well said PMSH. Nothing to add.
Posted by: Bart F. at October 13, 2006 4:12 PMzip - sure, borrow what you want.
I'm glad CTV's headline changed; I took Kate's advice and wrote them, about the nature of English grammar. The possessive (Harper's) possesses what follows, ie, 'anti-Israel comment'. But that wasn't true; he didn't make an anti-Israel comment; it was Ignatieff who did that.
Ignatieff is not stupid; I like his books, his support for the war, his analysis of the role of the US in the world. I certainly wouldn't want him, ever, as PM, because, in a strange way, he lives almost totally in some cloud, the realm of ideas. Formless floating ideas, unconnected to daily reality. I wonder if that's why he makes such gaffes. In the academic world, you can get away with that type of contradictory and ungrounded talk because you can debate, clarify, interpret - and go out for a coffee. None of your words matter a damn.
Harper is just as smart as Ignatieff, just as aware of ideas, but he is firmly grounded in reality.
Posted by: ET at October 13, 2006 4:17 PMI don't know why Bob is getting his shorts in a knot afterall the PM is calling it the way it happened, Yes Bob he defended Israel when everyone else was condemming them.
Yes Bob iam sure he also knew that your family is jewish, so why the tirate.
BTW: way to go there kate, SDA does get results.
Re: Iggy saying International bodies should decide, Maybe his advisors finally got through to him....Ig, if you say one more time I am/was a professor of
1) Human Rights
2) Law of War
3) Political Philosophy
4) ethinic minority rights
therefore I am
1) an expert
2) smarter than everyone else
3) not to be questioned
4) not required to be consistent
I will smack you upside the head.
I said from the beginning that Iggy's candidacy was all about him, his knowledge, his growth, his ability, his thoughts, this questions, his potential.
Liberals, save yourself the trouble and elect someone with less potential to absolutely devastate your party.....Ignatieff is a Liberal Kim Campbell or a smarter Paul Martin....at least elect Dion so you can stick to your tradition of electing an English guy next time.
Even the press is starting to think this guy is an arrogant bonehead rather than the 2nd coming.
Elect Iggy and you lose and continue the infighting. Iggy and Belinda should get along real well. If she thought Harper didnt value her....
Posted by: Stephen at October 13, 2006 4:19 PMHey, Saskboy, the Dems sure don't make it any harder for terrorists here - close Gitmo, no to the Patriot Act, no to wiretapping, ignore the military, appease Iran, censor any criticism of the enemy's fascist religion in the lefty MSM, etc.
It's pretty obvious that, if polled, the vast majority of terrorists, when given a choice between the Democrats or Republicans, would choose to register as Democrats. Just change the names for Canadian parties. Ask yourself one question, if I am a ME terrorist and want to keep my lifestyle as unfettered as possible what parties in NA, if I was obliged to chose, would I register with?
I rest my case.
Posted by: penny at October 13, 2006 4:23 PMJust checked the g&m poll, still 68% for the 3strike law. Also read the comments re iggy and harper. You have to go to #15 before you get someone supporting iggy. Many pro Harper comments and lots of anti iggy. What happened, has the g&m discovered their overthetop coverage of dream boy is backfiring big time.
I put it down to Friday the 13th., and a black cat must have escaped.
SDA kicks sycophant ass!
Posted by: richfisher at October 13, 2006 4:30 PMCTV just got their ass handed to them by a girl. Speaking of which, Steyn just handed Wells' ass to him in a sidebar smackdown.
Its Twofer Friday!
Posted by: Jack Nicholson at October 13, 2006 4:33 PMIs it just my computer? When I click to vote at CTV, I get a blank screen...
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 13, 2006 4:37 PMI was watching CTV on the TV at the gym this morning at 6:30 a.m. (it was a tossup: CBC or CTV?) and they reported that the Prime Minister had said that virtually all of the Liberal candidates were anti-ISRAELI.
Did he not say they were anti-ISRAEL. Huge difference. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
If I'm right, then the CTV or more than usually scummy in their reportage. What jerks.
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 13, 2006 4:41 PM"SDA gets results!"
Hey! It just stopped raining in Toronto, too!
You DO get things done!
Posted by: Ayn at October 13, 2006 4:49 PMSorry about the three in a row comments. But I've discovered something interesting.
I can't get onto the CTV site from the link at SDA.
But I can access the CTV site by doing a Web
search of the CTV on my own, and, voila, I
was able to vote.
Are these guys getting smart or is "smart" and "CTV" an oxymoron?
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 13, 2006 4:54 PMIn the comments one guy summed up the Lieberal party "om M from Canada writes: This guy has a strong set of principles and if you don't agree with them he has another set."
Posted by: alan at October 13, 2006 4:56 PMPoll Result
Stephen Harper said most Liberal leadership candidates were 'anti-Israel.' What do you think of this?
Fair political dialogue 4324 votes (63 %)
Unfair attack on opponents 2489 votes (37 %)
Total Votes: 6813
ET said:
"Ignatieff is not stupid; I like his books, his support for the war, his analysis of the role of the US in the world. I certainly wouldn't want him, ever, as PM, because, in a strange way, he lives almost totally in some cloud, the realm of ideas. Formless floating ideas, unconnected to daily reality. I wonder if that's why he makes such gaffes. In the academic world, you can get away with that type of contradictory and ungrounded talk because you can debate, clarify, interpret - and go out for a coffee. None of your words matter a damn.
Harper is just as smart as Ignatieff, just as aware of ideas, but he is firmly grounded in reality."
---------------------
That, my dear, is a very fine analysis. Brava! Slight quibble: Harper is therefore "smarter" considering the more expansive meaning of the word.
Remember the anti Kerry ad, showing flipflops. Does iggy have any of kerry's experts helping him on his campaign. He looks like Kerry, talks like him, acts like him and changes positions like him. Lets hope he loses like him. Wonder if he has received pkgs of flipflops like Kerry did.
Lets give him the same nickname Rush gives Kerry, the lurch. Does he have a rich wife like kerry, is he married, does he have a family, is he a closet gay. Why nothing about his family life.
Israel? Who gives a crap about Israel? It's a tiny little Asian nation of 6 million that depends on Canadian foreign aid and is located halfway around the world. Seriously, who cares if a Liberal leadership candidate is pro or anti Israel, Myanmar, Congo, or any other crappy third world nation dependent on Canadian aid?
I care about Canada, and question the patriotism and committment to western civilization of those who are obesessed with Israel. And here's a handy metric: if over half of your comments and blog posts over the past 6 months are about Israel rather than CANADA then you might be obsessed with Israel and are neither patriotic nor a supporter of western civilization.
Let's forget about the CanWest Israel meme for a moment and talk about taxes. And EI. And healthcare. And affirmative action. And immigration. And political correctness. Because some people are, conveniently, obsessed with Israel to the exclusion of any and all of the challenges facing Canada. Maybe they should move there, unless of course Israel has already met it's "goyim" immigration quota...
Posted by: Bob at October 13, 2006 5:13 PME-mail I just sent CTV:
I was watching your television news coverage this morning at 6:30 a.m. at the gym, and was deeply disturbed and, frankly, disgusted by your misquoting of what Prime Minister Stephen Harper said about the Liberals. Your reporters, more than once, referred to his saying (sic) that Liberal leadership hopefuls were "anti- Israeli."
Even I know that he said "anti-Israel." I saw him on television saying it. So did you, and you have purposely and maliciously misquoted him. I think this is pernicious and totally unprofessional and guess what? It's transparent. We can see what you're doing. We know you are pro-Liberal and anti-Conservative, and by misquoting our Prime Minister you have shown your true colours: unprincipled and lacking in journalistic integrity.
Is this a reputation you're happy with? If so, continue to spin the news for the Liberals. But your viewership will suffer, as will your reputation. Too bad you're willing to drag journalistic integrity through the mud.
Not a proud moment for CTV.
Sincerely (disgusted),
Att: "Low income Canadians": Iggy needs you.
Would you buy a "social housing" from Iggy?
Would you buy an "economic security plan" from Iggy?
Would you buy a "post-seconday education" from Iggy?
Would you buy a "low-income" from Iggy?
Would you buy a "vowing" from Iggy? ...-
Ignatieff sets out economic security plan for low income Canadians
TORONTO (CP) - Michael Ignatieff is vowing to improve access to social housing and post-secondary education for low-income Canadians
c news
A Kewpie doll to Ariela Cotler . For seeing what her husband & most Socialist Liberals don't these day's.
The left has been radicalized beyond political redemption. By pandering to the Jihadists while making common cause against Jews.
How anyone today can be Jewish, than stay with the liberals. After Harpers stance time & again for Israel. At the UN & every summit he's been too including the g8& francophone conference. Even going so far as to bully the rest into recognizing Israelis innocents as well.
Set against the Liberanos with there record of voting against Israel at the UN with the Islamofacists. If not at every turn denouncing them with the other Anti-Semites.
Is a deep mystery to me.
I salute this Women who has woken up. I wonder how hubby will do now, with no backup? Half the time its the Lady that’s has the real influence. I only hope more folks start to see the real circumstances as it is. On this sad rattled world.
Two quotes from the CTV story.
Have fun with this from Bob Rae "I just think it's absolutely appalling to lie and smear in this way," This from a lieberal!
Or this from Ignatieff "But being a friend means speaking honestly and this week I did that,...." and so did Steven Harper.
I love the sound of lieberal bleating in the morning.
Good analysis above regarding the potential results for the lieberal leadership race.
Now that Hedy is gone, I have to support the next most incompetent. Go Bob go, you and your buddy Buzz are a match made in heaven to drive Ontario voters to the CPC.
Posted by: Cascadian at October 13, 2006 5:23 PMAriela Cotler is an Israeli citizen who once worked in the Israeli PMs office, similar to the dual-citizenship Lebanese-"Canadians" who we airlifted.
Based on her actions it is logical to conclude she is a pro-Israel extremist who clearly cares more about Israel than Canada. If Israeli-"Canadian" Ariela Cotler were to renounce her Israeli citizenship then I will cheerfully withdraw the above comment.
Posted by: Bob at October 13, 2006 5:26 PMWhy is everything about Israel and her people?
Posted by: Real Conservative at October 13, 2006 5:35 PMDon't count on the Sheeple of Ontario to change their wool!
They are for the most part totally indoctrinated into the culture of complaint and entitlement that the Lib/Left love to foster. As CBC and CTV are well aware the constant drip of anti-conservative garbage will have a cumulative effect on the ovine majority.
"Why is everything about Israel and her people?"
No kidding. It reminds me of a "Stuttering" John Melendes skit from the Howard Stern show where Stuttering John, posing as a reporter, asked some politician: "D-D-Do you think the Academy of Motion Pictures has an anti-Buffy St. Marie bias?". Who cares?
Posted by: Bob at October 13, 2006 5:44 PMCTV poll: Fair: 5254 for 65% Unfair 2859 35%
Man, this is funny to watch CTV poll hit them in the face. The Lib's are have a hard time when a spade is called a spade!
Bob says “who gives a crap about Israel?”
Bob, the Liberal Party is about to find out.
I’ve never understood why Jewish people have Liberal signs on their lawn during an election. I’ve asked some of my Jewish neighbors this and I don’t think they know either. Maybe as the song in Fiddler on the Roof goes, it’s … “Tradition”.
Anyway, the “tradition” is over for many. It is now obvious to many in the USA and now Canada that conservatives are more likely to spend their political capital on the concept of freedom against the forces of fascism than liberals are.
Why do conservatives spend this poltical captial? The short answer is that throughout history Jews have been the canary in the coal mine. If we don’t defend Jewish people from the fascists, then when will the fascists come for me?
It must be near winter. I can hear the nuts falling to the ground in abundance.
Posted by: Revnant Dream at October 13, 2006 5:56 PMRead the Book, R.C. Read the Book.
Posted by: gellen at October 13, 2006 6:01 PMAhh, bob's back. On another thread, he refused to substantiate his many opinions, provided us with many examples of illogical tactics, accused me of graft..and disappeared. Now, he's back, with more of the same.
bob- what we are discussing on this thread is the political tactics of Ignatieff in Quebec, Harper's response, Ignatieff's further response and so on. Let's get into some facts.
Israel is not an 'Asian nation'; it is geographically located in the Middle East.
The fact that it is tiny is irrelevant.
No, it is not dependent on Canadian foreign aid.
No, it is not a third world country 'dependent on Canadian aid'. It's a high technology, highly industrialized modern economy. Oh, and it's a democracy as well.
No, bob, your statement that it isn't part of western civilization is quite wrong. It is. Again, it's a modern industrial economy, with high technology, extremely high levels of research in science and technology, grounded in the 'western' infrastructure of logic, reason and science.
You state that it is located 'halfway around the world'. Doesn't such an opinion depend on where you start? They probably say that Canada is 'located halfway around the world. So, what's your point? Ahh, you are only interested in what's in front of your nose. But, the problem with such a short view is that our world, biologically, economically, informationally, is connected.
What goes on in one country, with regard to weather, pollution, rainfall, animals, vegetation, doesn't stay there; it affects other parts of the globe.
Economically we are all networked.
Informationally we are all networked. Take a look at any article in Science and you'll see that not only the authors are international collaborators but their research is linked to work done everywhere else.
That's why 'what goes on elsewhere' matters. Because we are networked.
Oh - and because of another more basic reason, which you ignore. Profoundly ignore.
We are all the same; we are all humans. So, what goes on elsewhere to some other human beings must affect us. Did you ever think of that?
To live only within the Cave, to focus only on local issues within that Cave - that's not enough, because it ignores that network. And it ignores that deeper commonality that we share - which you reject.
Posted by: ET at October 13, 2006 6:02 PMIggy Who? Now.... what about Denis Coderre, Hezbollah supporter, Iggy's co-chair? ...-
My Resignation
As President of the Thornhill Young Liberals and as a delegate from the riding of Thornhill, I stand by Susan Kadis MP in her decision to resign as GTA Co-Chair of the Michael Ignatieff Campaign.
I do believe Michael to be a strong leader but unfortunately at this time, I cannot reconcile his recent statements characterizing Israel's action in response to the kidnapping of its soldiers as a "war crime". As a matter of conscience, I, like Susan, am resigning as Director of Strategy and Operations for Ontario.
http://michelleoliel.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-resignation.htm
Clearly the liberal party and liberals in general have displayed a clear bias in towards Israel.
Time and time again, we heard the terms like Israeli war crimes, disproportionate response, Lebanese victims, I could go on and no mention of what Hezbollah was doing or the victims in Israel.
The statements of the Prime Minister have been consistent throughout, there are victims on both sides, Hezbollah is the instigator, and Israel has the right to defend itself. His comments to the Liberal candidates are quite legitimate given this.
It's ridiculous for Liberal to continuously make statements that are negative towards Israel and then turn around and complain when they're are called on it.
That being said, I don't believe for a minute that all the Liberal leadership candidates are 'Anti-Israeli', but as a party, the Liberals they have chosen to take a stance that it the polar opposite of the government in an effort to garner votes and now they are stuck in that position.
Posted by: Kitchener Conservative at October 13, 2006 6:10 PMHere is/are the #1, #2 Comments at the blog shown below. Liberal$, er Librano$$$$$$$$$
What a sad, pathetic performance; anti-semitism for all to see. ...-
At 1:05 PM, mezba said...
Are you resigning from the Liberal party, the Ignatieff campaign or from this position only?
Doesn't it seem a bit knee-jerk over-reaction to a comment made by a man who is not leader yet (and likely not be)?
If you are leaving from the Liberal party, are you willing to abandon ALL progressive values such as women's suffrage, minority rights, language rights, environment, social welfare issues, healthcare JUST for a single issue?
At 2:28 PM, Ottawa Liberal said...
I can't believe this. You Jews are unreal. Why can't we ever have a civil discussion about Israel's conduct without your tribe throwing a hissy fit. Grow up and stop acting like the world owes you everything. I'm not a big fan of "Iggy" but enough is enough. If Jews want to be opportunistic and abandon the Liberal Party while we're down, then so be it, leave. Maybe then Canadian liberals could concentrate on how to make Canada a better country vis-vis the environment and social justice, for example, rather than focusing on some foreign country in the middle of the desert. I'm so angry right now.....After everything the Liberal Party has done for Jews over the years, their conduct over the past few months has really left a sour taste in my mouth. The Lobby will probably come after me and destroy my professional career after this rant, but I really needed to get this off my chest.... Back to work.
-Dev
http://michelleoliel.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-resignation.html
“Isreal is half way around the world” .. "who cares"
That’s the tip off. Liberals have “positioned” Canada like a kept mistress. We’ve totally relied on the USA for our trade and for our defense. Quebec is even more sheltered from the reality of geopolitics. If it’s not a soft-woody problem next door, it’s too remote to warrant discussion by the kept mistress.
The Liberal leadership is tripping-up because they are in now in opposition and they cannot control the agenda. They simply talk about local subjects relevant to a Mayor:
offering “city” traffic and subway solutions,
offering day care and
offering tuition and Health Care solutions.
Liberals have encroached on provincial and municipal challenges because they are incompetent on geopolitics. Liberals are not engaged with the world. The USA keeps them safe. Therefore Liberals stumble when the talk about the more worldly matters.
Chrétien and Martin, the mistresses, were more suited to be Mayor of Come by Chance than PM.
Ditto Rae the next Liberal opposition leader, who failed as a provincial Premier.
Just read another Iggy insider quit in Ontairio - Michelle Oliel. There is a tremendous amount of support for her on her own blog. Check it out.
Kate, you rock!
Posted by: Jeff Drebit at October 13, 2006 6:39 PMI strongly object to the Liberal Party self-defining itself as 'progressive'.
Its ideology of a centralist gov't, state-run enterprises in health and education and business, are all 19th c regressive. Its self-definition of itself as 'the only party for Canada', its focus on power, have led it to tactics like media manipulation, constant propaganda (remember their ads?) and - corruption, corruption. That's not progressive.
The writer's list of current issues, eg'womens' suffrage' is wierd. None are the prerogative of the Liberals and none are current.
The point was that Ignatieff presented himself to a Quebec audience as an expert in international law and human rights, and therefore, his conclusion that Israel had committed 'war crimes' could be accepted as legally valid.
Now, he is saying that he is not The Expert. But that's not how he presented his opinion the first time. And 'war crime' is a very specific legal term. It's not meant to be used as a metaphor for 'bilateral nasty stuff'.
But the MSM are springing to the defense of the Liberals; I saw a 30 second Jane Taber (before I switched it off) interviewing a Muslim who affirmed that Israel was guilty of Many War Crimes. Interviewing all the Liberal candidates.
Ignatieff will apparently be on TVO's The Agenda tonight at 8.
Posted by: ET at October 13, 2006 6:51 PMNot the results CTV would have told us "Canadians want." 65/35 with nearly 10,000 in.
Maybe Harper is going to be PM for a long long time.
Of course 1 hour before the poll closes we could watch it go to 50/50 in 30 minutes.
See this before anyone?
I think the poll trolls are upto at CTV funny since my last post No is down to 53% and they are not showing the number of votes anymore. I am so glad that these guys (media polls )are being watched!!!
Posted by: MaryM at October 13, 2006 7:25 PMOkay I am not sure what happened It is probably my mistake so I am going to fix it be for I get in trouble. Went back to the poll (same tab???) and the results were 64% 36% and the total votes were there as well. Weird, (It is Friday the 13th Ha!) Happy weekend everyone
Posted by: MaryM at October 13, 2006 7:36 PMBob Rae said:
"I just think it's absolutely appalling to lie and smear in this way."
Oh really Bob Rae, well, I was just thinking the same of you and the NDP's implosion of Ontario's economy.
Never have so few allowed so many to live for decades without employment oportunities.
Posted by: missing link at October 13, 2006 7:39 PMAlthough I continue to prefer Stefane Dion as the next Liberal leader, and hopefully our next PM, yet clearly Mr. Ignatief has done the country a real service by breaking open a debate that has to be had. We cannot go on forever politically cowering under the imaginary lash of a tiny, tin pot imperialist state determined to bash a dependent population into submission.
And it is such a small state, Israel, and so hopelessly racist. Surely we have all had enough of its property grabs these almost amoeba like surges of expansion. Surely Cananadians can avoid being Jew baiters without putting up with the depradations of this middle east trouble maker state.
And look what a political harvest we have already from a few apparently conscience based words from Ignatieff. There is Harper, revealing in a really ugly light how he remains a small man , and Kennedy whose reach is no higher than a low level political insider.And just look at Rae, puffing away about his family, as if anyone gave a hoot. And , oh yes, look at Dion, the most unruffled and PMish of the lot. Dead center of the right thing to say.
I look forward to the next gaffe from our temporary custodian of the office of PM, I mean this is really great theatre.
"Stephen Harper said most Liberal leadership candidates were 'anti-Israel.' What do you think of this?"
---Well, as a matter of fact, I have just done a very hard-hitting post, responding directly to Iggy's protestations against our Prime Minister.
This, IMHO, is some of my best work to date. I just got into it and lo and behold, I tear that so-called "intellectual" to shreds. My mojo is back, baby! I'm kicking Liebrano ass again!
Come check it out. It's a powerful blow I deliver to the Liberal Party of Canada as well as to Iggy Piggy himself. I once again feel on the roll I felt while the Liebrano$$$ were still in power. The Sentinel is again training the gunsights on the Liebrano$$$ in a focussed way.
Iggy the politician cannot sustain the Canadian Sentinel's attacks. What a disappointing man, that Iggy Piggy.
http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2006/10/iggy-protests-too-much-pm-has-no-right.html
Posted by: Canadian Sentinel at October 13, 2006 7:48 PMThose are very good points, nomdenet, the fact that the Liberals totally ignored the federal duties of gov't, such as defence, foreign relations and the economy, and moved Behind The Wall of Isolation, into provincial and municipal matters - such as education, health care, city transportation, etc.
Yes, Canada is a Kept Mistress. The Liberals moved us out of the world and into the economic care of the US. We are not competitive in the world market; 85% of our exports go to one country, the US. We insist they purchase our goods or we have a fit. We certainly don't compete with other countries to sell our goods around the world.
We have no investor class; we tax and tax our citizens so that no investor class can develop. We have to turn to foreign aid to build our infrastructures and develop our raw resources. We can't do it.
Quebec is even more insulated within the cocoon of Canada, with its socialist welfare goodies provided by 'equalization' funding from the Canadian taxpayer. Their day care can't fund itself, their health care can't fund itself, their unions and pensions can't fund themselves.
Their university tuition fees are the lowest in Canada, thanks to the ROC. Oh, and those low fees are also provided to any and all francophones from around the world, such as France and Belgium. But, if you are a student from Canada, then, you pay double those fees. The low fees are only for world francophones. Courtesy of the ROC. Ignatieff was speaking to this isolationist mentality when he made his remarks.
I agree with nomdenet, I think it will be Rae as the next leader of the Liberals. He's part of the PowerCorp, Desmarais Ottawa-Montreal Chretien Gang. Remember what he did to Ontario.
Posted by: ET at October 13, 2006 7:49 PMStrange that you prefer Dion garhane.
Given your comments I would have placed you squarely in Hedi Frys camp.
Stephen Harper said most Liberal leadership candidates were 'anti-Israel.' What do you think of this?
Fair political dialogue
6881 votes (65 %)
Unfair attack on opponents
3766 votes (35 %)
Total Votes: 10647
LIEBerals take a shellacing again.
Way to go SDA!
You know Michael Savage was right Liberalism is a mental disorder. Can't the Canadian Government declare a medical emergency and round up anyone who is suffering from liberalism for there own protection?
Craig Oliver said:
"But how can this be?"
"This is not what Canadians have been told to think!"
"This is not what we have been telling them to think!"
"Now I don't know what to think!"
Volpe trashing Flip-Flop Iggy on CTV....-
Apparently Harper identified Volpe as the only Liberal leadership candidate who is not anti-Israel ... and Volpe thanked him for acknowledging that fact.
Then Volpe excoriated Ignatieff on his flip flopping and string of clarifications on his positions from day to day. He called this a "defining issue" in the Liberal race .... !!!!
He also said he will fight back against those who have mischaracterized his campaign ... and he will appeal and be vindicated of all charges ... which some believe were initiated by the Ignatieff camp .... LOL ... !!!
Why do I think that Volpe will take out his vengeance against the Ignatieff campaign before they even get to Montreal in December ...!!!
GO JOE ... GOOOOOOO ..... !!!!!! ...-
Comment at voy forum
GO JOE! is right maz.
This has all the makings of a great trainwreck.
Well....Who would have thunk it....Joe Volpe holds the high moral ground in the Liebral leadership race.....LOL!!!!
Syncro
Posted by: syncrodox at October 13, 2006 9:09 PMI've been watching the Ignatieff debate with Steve Paikin on TVO's The Agenda. And my conclusion is that Ignatieff is a cross between Chretien and Martin. Dreadful thing to say, but my point is that he lives in an entirely rhetorical or fictional rather than factual world.
He began with the notion of Canada moving into a civil war unless Quebec was declared 'a nation'. The problem with this is that there is no factual evidence of a civil war; and that, as other commentators on the panel declared, this move to declaring Quebec a nation would open up other 'distinct nations' in Canada, such as Alberta, Newfoundland, BC. Why just Quebec?
Ignatieff is effectively 30 years behind the times in Canada. He doesn't realize how Canada has moved out of centralism and into a geographic spread of at least five 'regions'. BC and the West; North; Ontario. Quebec. Maritimes. Each is distinct.
If you can believe it, Ignatieff said that a Quebec complaint was that their health cards weren't recognized in other parts of Canada. Heh. Quebec doesn't recognize any other provinces health card either. AND, Ignatieff is ignoring that health care is a provincial matter. Ignatieff was talking about this as 'mobility rights for Canadians'. hmmm; sounds like a Charter Issue. Just like Martin's SSM.
Then, Ignatieff said that Quebecers are constantly asking 'when will we be part of the Canadian fabric'. Sure.
He was asked - how would you sell this 'Quebec is a nation' to Canadians? He didn't reply; he just went into academic rhetoric.
Then, Paikin asked him about the discrepency between this three statements on Israel, moving from "I am an expert and Israel committed war crimes' to 'I'm not an expert and international bodies define war crimes' to 'both sides carried out war crimes'. He didn't clarify this, other than to repeat and assert that there was no discrepancy.
This kind of talk can be done in the academic halls, but not in the real world.
Then, Ignatieff was asked how he felt he could govern a country that he had lived outside of for 30 years. Ignatieff, again, ignored the factual and moved into the fictional emotion of 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' (yes he really said that) which asserts that the expat is a better Canadian because they've left for 30 years. He also claimed that he could have had a successful career in Canada but again, skipped the facts about why he left. He also moved into that the expat has experienced what a Canadian hasn't - the experience of 'missing Canada'. My god. That's pretty disgusting.
Then, again, his concept of the divisions within Canada are a generation out of date. He simply isn't aware of the geographic and demographic and economic movt from the east to the west. He may be theoretically aware of it, but his focus on Quebec as a nation denies it. What are the divisions he sees in Canada? The focus on Quebec means 'language'; the other division is urban/rural. Note that both these divisions are centralist in focus. They are not the real divisions, which are geographic and demographic.
The real divisions are economic areas; the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, the West/BC and the North. These are not centralist divisions but regional divisions.
But Ignatieff is doing an academic 'class' style of division throughout the whole country. Urban vs rural. And 'Canada' vs Quebec.
Urban/rural is not unique to Canada but is a reality everywhere in the world.
My feeling about Ignatieff in all his comments was that he was living, thinking, working within a totally fictional, or rhetorical world. The practicalities of these ideas are completely missing, he was unable to answer questions 'what do you do about it'.
Compare Harper, with his practical applied tactics, of 'we do this, and then this, and then this'. Each one specific, each one particular.
Then, we get Ignatieff with a theoretical monologue of 'farmers, producers, consumers must all work together'. How? He can't answer.
There were no questions on foreign policy, defense, economic devt. Nothing to do with the federal gov't, only with the Liberal mov't over the past decades into the provincial and municipal areas - which wasn't acknowledged.
Posted by: ET at October 13, 2006 9:15 PMAll of the comments regrading the liberals wanting to get votes from the muslim community are correct..they hate jews. So did Mackenzie king.
I would hope that everyone would remember that Bob Rae is the candidate from Power Corp and as such has the best chance of leading this country.
This insideous control of our nations politics has been going on for quite some time.
Please don't be side tracked by little events. Rae and Power Corp must be stopped.
There were some vicious anti jewish posts in the g&m. Most saying we should not be swayed by any religious group. Wonder if those posters have ever paid attention to the libs and talibanjacks bending over backward when the terrorist supporters are offended. At least the jews are not out burning and rioting. Just withdrawing their moral and financial support from the libranos. Wonder how many jewish delegates there are, who might not cast that first ballot. We now have a racist campaign, anti Italian, anti jewish, pro muslim, anti christian, pro homosexual
and regardless of the winner, pro opposition for 4 years. Those stmts by iggy will follow him like dithers follows martin, and taliban jack folows the ndp. Has jacko made any comments on this issue or is he in hiding or in afgan negotiating with OBL.
Something very, very profound has happened to the Media in the last few months/years. I have been waiting all my life, it has arrived.
Actually, for centuries, the Media has been in control, of almost everything. For a very fundamental reason. They have always had a network, world wide, of reporters, agents, ect. AP, CP, ect. A news item would be reported from somewhere on the other side of the city, province, world. We would take it at face value. How could we research it ? Often we did not know anyone in the vicinity, phone calls were expensive, travel cost prohibative. But every one in a while a news story happened close to home. We knew all the details even before watching the news. Then the anchor would introduce the item, a few "selected" interviews and then the reporter on the scene would tell us how it was. I would often wonder where and the hell did they get THAT from ??? I was there !!Spin, spin. Most of us locals would be shaking our heads and saying "damned Media".
I always thought, maybe the stories on the other side of the country are being reported in a misleading way also. How could we ever know ?
Well, now we do know and the media is being caught red handed on a daily basis. (sda just forced CTV to change its headlines)(Chistina Lawand fiasco also) Before the Internet and blogs, the media could broadcast the spin and get away with it, at least for a few weeks months. Now they are caught virtually instantaneously. They can no longer tell-us-how-it-is.
Hence, the motto, "you don't speak for me"
I am afraid there will be an attempt to control the Internet's freedom. Could be from the United Nations, disguised as quality control. The MSM would be on side, of course, but their influence may already have weakenned too much. In the name of freedom and democracy, we can only hope.
Posted by: B. HOAX AWARE at October 13, 2006 10:26 PMThe Liberal leadership is one circus act after another, Volpe and the piggy-bank supporters, Volpe and the Dearly Departed, Bob Rae skinny dipping with Rick Mercer on National TV and Iggy-Pop offending the Jewish people with his outrageous statement.
BUT,THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF ALL IS OUR PM HARPER OFFENDING THE DELICATE SENSIBILITIES OF THE goddamned LIBERALS......mortification all around, how could anyone accuse Liberals of OFFENDING anyone?
The media are turning themselves inside out to make sure Harper gets the most of their attention from Ignatieff's stunning ignorance.
A bit of a reminder of that moment last summer that the veil fell revealing certain biases.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=518fea97-7b51-49c9-bad6-e38070739bae
"MPs want Hezbollah taken off terror list
NDP, Liberal members say designation hinders peace process"
""We are deeply ashamed that our prime minister had some incredibly irresponsible comments to make at the beginning of the war," Mr. Wrzesnewskyj told a group of Lebanese who had lost many relatives during the conflict.
"It was the Liberals, not the Conservatives, who placed Hezbollah on Canada's terror list and, while acknowledging this, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj said: "When you realize that a mistake has been made that does not provide for a solution, you don't entrench your decision."
Nope, can't see any reason why anyone would think the lib-left coalition has it in for Israel.
No reason at all.
BTW
If Iggy has lived in and taught in Israel he should be well aware of what life is like there. Funny how that time in Israel doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere on his CV, nor does it mention the school he taught at, or give a year. Of course that must just be an oversight, liberals would never embellish their resume to pander for votes...would they?
ronrob … heheheh.. Yeah, I shouldn’t wish Liberals that town. Actually, I really like Newfoundland, may move there (part time) especially if Danny Williams learns that oil capital is different than regulated cable TV .. ;>)
ET, if Iggy is “between Chrétien and Martin” that is indeed “dreadful”. I believe you’ve changed your mind about Iggy, as I have. I wonder how I was duped?
I’ve met him, heard him speak at a dinner, saw him rather courageously defend his Iraq position in front of a bunch of utopians from UofT. I was frankly impressed, as were others at my table. A month ago, I thought his discussion about Quebec, as a “nation”, was just an unfortunate choice of words but that Quebec and 4 other regions in Canada are distinct/unique/different and that he was courageous to start to get that out on the table against the Liberal tradition of command and control centralism.
Now, like you, I see a ditherer. It makes me wonder if the Liberals, like the Dhimmicrats, are so empty, lacking in spine and just plain hollow; can cause a kind of Stockholm Syndrome to set in .. has he gone native with the cult of Librano$ ?
I’ve seen that happen in the workplace. Particularly with foreign assignments. A kind of homesickness sets in and people start to lose their bearings. Maybe Iggy was a good Harvard Prof. and he should simply go back there to homebase for a rehab.
Maybe he’s like Plato who came into a messy world, was able to correctly analyse it as a chaotic series of trail and error but instead of applying realistic solutions to it, he mistakenly tries to arrest change by compartmentalizing, e.g. Quebec. I wouldn’t be surprised if he soon doesn’t suggest Quebec go back to the feudal Seigneurial system and that “Iggy the expert” will rule over these pockets of closed societies and we’ll all be happy like in his imagined good ol days.
I’m frankly puzzled by him. Thank goodness for the democratization of information with blogs, we’ll figure this out eventually.
A good day to be Conservative.
Thank you Mr. Harper for being a great leader.
And may the other parties wallow in their own filth just a while longer.
Posted by: Lew at October 14, 2006 12:09 AM"BUT,THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF ALL IS OUR PM HARPER OFFENDING THE DELICATE SENSIBILITIES OF THE goddamned LIBERALS"
The Liberals aren't offended. They just know that this Anti-Israel label is going to stick. They already lost support from pro-Israel members of their party. This reminds them why they left. Also, being labelled Anti-Israel leaves the impression that you are intolerant. Not a good thing when your entire campaign strategy is based on calling the other guy a bigot.
Posted by: Alex at October 14, 2006 12:23 AM"Unfair attack on opponents" C'mon CTV just say it is Iggy (or not) anti-Isreal. What a pansy question.
Posted by: wade at October 14, 2006 12:40 AMand yet the igster is front runner.
how can this be????? majority liberals agree Israel is committing war crimes ???? that seems to be the case.
where is this going to lead ?
I understand why Israel's Apartheid policies/militarism might appeal to conservatives but why all the love for a perennial welfare case?
Posted by: joebaloni at October 14, 2006 1:17 AM
A panel of female MPs on Question Period Friday with Giggles Taber... Judy Sgro goes on and on about how Harper is dividing the country when we should be working together and getting along with each other. Giggles interjects "So are you saying that Stephen Harper is intolerant?". What an insane question. The media is trying their best to turn this around as Harper's faux pas, not Ignatieff's. Makes me want to puke. Why not ask if Ignatieff is intolerant??
The Liberals are the experts at dividing the country. They always try to find a deeply divisive wedge issue to divide and conquer. How about their attacks during recent election campaigns on anyone who is an evangelical Christian, anyone who is not pro- same-sex marriage, and basically saying anyone who agrees with the Conservative platform is "un-Canadian"? That smug little Judy Sgro, I can still remember her popping out of the bushes at a Stephen Harper campaign stop during the 2004 election and making crap up about Harper taking away women's "rights". How about all the stupid lies they made up about soldiers in the streets, etc. during the last election. And they have the gall to stand there and act all hurt and shocked that they got a bit of their own stinkin medicine back for once.
Harper is the best thing that has happened to this nation in a heck of a long time. And it's great, because all that liberal slime was really stinking up the place.
There's my rant for the night. (Hey, it's not that late out here on the west coast). Sweet dreams!
Posted by: Soccermom at October 14, 2006 1:31 AMjoebaloni, ever consider what happened to the untold billions of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, others, and their progeny that used to populate the "Islamic world"?
Consider this: Mohammed was born in 640 AD. The entire ME, East Asia, West Africa, to the heart of Europe and beyond "used" to be inhabited by "others". Have you ever considered the obvious numbers of individuals expelled, compelled, or outright killed in the ever exanding "Islamic homelands" since 640 AD? Islam continues to grow by the same sword, Nigeria, Sudan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Iraq are only chapters in a long, long book.
You must be very ignorant, or have some real nerve, to talk about "Israel's Aartheid".
Posted by: Tom Penn at October 14, 2006 2:17 AMMichelle Oleil is an Israeli citizen who once worked in Areil Sharon's office. Again, all this proves is that some "Canadians" care more about Israel than they do about Canada. Maybe they should move there.
Posted by: Bob at October 14, 2006 6:07 AMBob - you have proven your ignorance about these matters when you called Israel an "asian nation". You are a true lefty - all blather and no substance - trying to prove you are tolerant - all inclusive - then you make comments like you have in this thread regarding Israeli - Canadians.
Now Bob - if conservatives said things like that about Israeli's or any other minority, the left and their media friends would have headlines, and polls and talk shows for hours on how this just proves what they have been saying all along.
Fact is Bobby, it is the left that is the true racists, they only pander to minorities when it serves them to get elected.
Oh and perhaps before you embarrass yourself with some more comments, you could pull out a map and have a gander at it
Posted by: Albertagirl at October 14, 2006 7:40 AMBigots? Where?
In the Liberal Party of Canada?
Anti-Israel bigots in the Liberal Party?
Liberal commenter on Liberal blog says there are
bigots in the Liberal Party of Canada. ...-
Anonymous said...
Catnip:
It is thinking like yours with your head in the sand thinking we are a party as pure as the snow without bigots or problems that has gotten us into the mess we are in right now.
Are you seriously suggesting there are no bigots in this party? Give your head a shake. ...-
cerberus
I also watched Ignatieff on TVO's "The Agenda." Thanks, ET, for the anyalysis.
Michael Ignatieff, as "polished" as his presentation may be, is totally out of his depth in this leadership race (if you can apply "depth" to anything the Liberals do). It was actually painfully embarrassing to hear him talk about how being away from Canada qualifies him for leading the Liberals and possibly the country.
He, frankly, doesn't know what the H*ll he's talking about. He's out of touch with the flesh and blood of Canada, the ins and outs, the thrusts and parries, the detailed nuances of the political landscape because he has observed them only from the outside, from the U.S. or Britain--and, then, through the myopic Liberal lens. He's pretending, as ET points out, that he's connected (heck, he spent summers at his uncle's farm in Quebec when he was young, "in the barns"), but it's clear by the barely perceptible fear behind-the-eyes that he's running scared.
If I was a mind reader, Micheal Ignatieff was thinking throughout this interview, "What the H*ll have I got myself into?" He comes from a genteel pedigree, his father, career diplomat and U. of T. Chancellor, George Ignatieff, the son of a Russian Princess and Count, and his mother, Alison Grant, a member of a family of Scots-Canadian intellectuals whose brother was George Grant, the Red Tory philosopher and author of "Lament for a Nation."
'Nothing wrong with Ignatieff's pedigree which, I believe, has made the idea of public service something he admires and thinks should be "done," but given that he has only been in the political bull ring in Ottawa for less than a year, it's more wishful thinking than reality.
And that's what's embarrassing about Michael Ignatieff's running for the leadership of the Liberal Party: He THINKS HE WOULD LIKE to serve his country of origin, which obviously, in his mind, justifies his having been parachuted into his riding (not, unfortunately, dealt with in the interview), but he's just not up to the job, something that is becoming painfully obvious to anyone who is not hiding their head in the sand.
As to Ignatieff's being "a second Trudeau": Even if he was (he compared himself last night to PET in all of PET's various global wanderings: ouch), that's not what the Liberals or Canada need at this point in our history. Ignatieff looks good: He's moderately handsome, he's well-spoken even if you can drive a Mack truck through the inconsistencies in what he says, he's "smart" (he's a Harvard professor, for Heaven's sake). But scratch the surface, and it's clear he's out of touch with what's actually been going on in Canada for the past 30 years.
Unfortunately, however, if Ignatieff doesn't clinch the leadership of the LPC, it looks too much as though Bob Rae will. With Paul Desmarais and Power Corps backing him, is this what Canada needs? More PMJC, PMPM, Mo Strong-(arm) tactics in Ottawa?
My vote is to scrap the LPC altogether. As a Party of integrity and principled policies they're way past their sell-by date.
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 14, 2006 8:49 AMBigots. In the Liberal Party. In the streets.
In the cities. In Canada.
I didn't make this up.
Choose your Canada.
Posted by: Canadian Sentinel at October 14, 2006 8:53 AMPoll Result
Stephen Harper said most Liberal leadership candidates were 'anti-Israel.' What do you think of this?
Fair political dialogue 11861 votes (68 %)
Unfair attack on opponents 5660 votes (32 %)
9:22 AM 10 14 06
"Contender Ignatieff appears to believe and accept
international media distortion of the so called bombing of the structure in Qana Lebanon. He unfortunately has advisors from the Toronto academic sector with Liberal Party links who are equally ignorant. The Liberal Party has never been anti-semitic, Jews were among it's founders, but the Pearson, Chretien and Martin governments were without question Anti Israeli, saw it first hand
one of the reasons Martin lost to PM Harper. Most Liberals associated with Martin in particular are considered scum in the Party, and Chretien backing Rae is the "kiss of death" for Rae. Ignatieff will
be elected Leader by Delegates in December. But he will grow old as "leader of the Opposition" MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | Oct 14, 2006 6:35:57 AM
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2006/10/israel_to_welco.html#comments
The above poster, a veteran Liberal, retired from the Party, confirms all the comments over the previous 3 years here at SDA regarding the Liberal Party, aka Librano$.
This man says he saw the anti-Semitism first hand. He must have been within the Liberal Party power [sic] hierarchy/structure. Is there regret/bitterness/sadness between his lines?
Furthermore, he says the anti-Semitism goes back decades to Pearson. No surprise there. Notice he does not include Trudeau in his indictment.
Is there any wonder why posters/commenters here posted their scorn/derision/ridicule of the Liberals, AdScam Chretien-Martin-Gagliano-Power Corp.-Maurice Strong, et al.
When a poster at Cerberus,a Liberal party member, acknowledges there are bigots, in particular anti-Israel bigots, who are voting members of the Liberal Party, what more can be said.
Yes, the Liberal Party is anti-Israel.
Evidence: Iggy's campaign co-chairman, Liberal MP Denis Coderre, is a supporter of Hezbollah. The stated goal of Hezbollah is the destruction of Israel.
The Liberal Party must remain out of office for years. Let the bigots flop over to the NDP party of Taliban Jack Layton and his socialists. ...-
Posted by: maz2 at October 14, 2006 9:44 AMnomdenet and been around - the thing about Ignatieff is that, regardless of the fact that he's been out of the country for 30 years, what has damaged him beyond repair is that he's spent those 30 years in an academic enclave.
I'm an academic; I know that it is, except within the sciences, a self-organized, self-created reality. It is entirely and completely fictional. There are no consequences to what you think and say. It is an entirely rhetorical world; you can write, say, read, talk - anything. And there are no real world, hard time, practical, material reality consequences.
That was obvious in the TVO interview. The fact that Ignatieff's three statements about Israel and War Crimes were all contradictory to each other puzzled Steve Paikin who kept trying to get Ignatieff to, as we do in the Real World, select ONE. Ignatieff held to all three statements. You can do that in the academic world of semantics, the world of fiction, of postmodern relativism, where statements just 'hang in the air' but don't have to operate in concrete, material reality. Therefore opinions don't have to be consistent.
The fictional academic world can say three different perspectives, the fact that they are contradictory is irrelevant, for you can verbally, semantically, link them in an emotional surge.
Ignatieff uses this emotional underpinning to ooperate as the 'cohesion' in his opinions. Rather than logic, rather than hard core reality, he uses emotion to tie togther concepts which do NOT relate to each other.
So, he can define Quebec as a nation and use the emotional threat of 'civil war' to justify it. He can bring in trivia such that Quebecers are upset because their health cards aren't recognized elsewhere as a justification for their being 'upset' and wanting a nation. ?? The fact that this would open up the country to a set of at least five distinct nations (Alberta, Ontario, north etc)..he hasn't a clue, because he's not emotional about them.
His rubbish about 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' is another tactic of emotion. He's not running on practical agendas of fixing things, as is Harper. He's running on pure emotion. That's been teh Liberal strategy for years.
Remember Chretien and his emotional plea for 'da little guy from Shawinigan'? A lie of course. Chretien and his emotional plea for 'sponsorship funding'? Yet another lie; it was money laundering to retain Chretien in power.
Ignatieff is the same. No practical ideas, as we are getting from Harper. Instead, it's all rhetoric and emotion. The rhetoric is filled with contradictory opinions, which is the norm in the academic world, for there are no consequences to verbal spouting of your opinions in the academic world. The emotion is a tactic to woo the plebeian and ignorant voter - a stance basic to the Liberals, who view the voter as 'beer and popcorn' types who must be appealed to via their emotions.
As I said, I like Ignatieff's books, but, it isn't that he isn't a politician. It is that he cannot exist outside of the fictional make-it-yourself world of academia. He can't exist in the real world where you can't operate with contradictions, where you can't operate with a perspective that is a generation out of date. Ignatieff should go back to the safe rooms of academia.
Posted by: ET at October 14, 2006 10:02 AMET says “Ignatieff is going to have to go back to the safe rooms of academia”
Should we send Dion back there too? Since he apparently has duel citizenship with France, he could live chez Pierre (maybe Pettigrew will share his pied a terre on the Left Bank?). Dion could teach at one of the elitist Haute Écoles de Head in da Sand. Maybe attend a few soirées in the banlieues for a car-b-q.
Where can we send Rae? I think he should head up the TTC. He seems to have a passion for city congestion.. he’s got to be better than Howard Moscoe. Rae is the perfect guy to negotiate a single bid contract with subway cars from Bombardier.
I’m beginning to think the dark horse is Brison. He’s fiscally conservative, he voted to extend our mission in Afghanistan. I’m ok with gay marriage, that’s the least of our worries. Beam me up Scott! .. .errr maybe not.
Thanks, ET, for the academic angle on Ignatieff. His academic pedigree is just as damaging as his other myopic Liberal/fuzzily altruistic pedigrees are.
Iggy's just a bundle of contradictions. I think he sincerely wants to "serve his country," it's just that he's not up to it. And trust the Liberals to think that "image" is all that counts. On that score, Ignatieff more than fits the bill: attractive, articulate (within, as ET points out, "a self-organized, self-created reality"), affluent, 'cosmopolitan,' intelligent.
But he blew it, right off the bat, by allowing himself to be parachuted in to usurp the legitimate and duly elected Liberal candidate in the Lakeshore riding. That made it very clear, from the very beginning, that he is shallow and not at all above the usual dirty tricks the Librano$ pull off on a regular basis.
Character counts, and Iggy has badly compromised himself on this score.
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 14, 2006 11:12 AMRemember that kids game we used to play, getting blindfolded and then spun around a few times before you were told to pin the tail on the donkey, and we laughed when the person headed in the wrong direction. Seems iggy is playing it bigtime. His handlers point to a map of Isreal and Lebanon, with clear directions, but he spins around and forgets where he is going and attacks Isreal instead of Lebanon. Unfortunately for him, the lib party and the media, we remember the stmts made during this conflict. We remember what libs attended hezzi rallies. We remember how Harper was criticized for his MEASURED RESPONSE STMT by all the leadership wannabes. We remember all the vetoes or abstensions at the UN in regards to Isreal. Wonder how many influential and wealthy Jewish members of the libs are calling in their loans and closed their chequebooks. At least when the Progressive Conservatives sold us out, they were totally evicted under Kim. We had the guts to start a new party. Will the dedicated liberals have the same guts. I doubt it, until they are left with maybe 2 seats after an election. Iggy has said he might not run again, if he loses, so how deep are his liberal roots. Just maybe he is not so stupid, and after looking things over, he realizes that the libs will not win the next election, and he would rather lose this race and disappear, than win and be totally embarrassed in an election.
I am still shocked at all the anti-semitisim in this country, especially in Ont and Que. How much of that is the result of bending over to be nice to muslims, regardless of what they do, inspite of the fact that they support the terrorist acts and riots and carbques, bombings of civilians, bombing of infrastructure in cities, stoning women, beheadings and other unspeakable acts.
I'm still waiting for someone to tell me if iggy or dion are married. Volpe is still an unknown factor, what will he do or spill before Dec. and during the election.
Bob 6.07 am. Weak kidneys maybe to be up that early. You are wrong, it is Cotlers wife who worked for the Isreali P.M.
Posted by: maryT at October 14, 2006 12:41 PMVolpe will gladly accept any kudos tossed his way. He and little Scotty Brison escaped the anti Israel label. Scotty had a little blip with the Income Trust Email which he dodged with help from the usual sources, no doubt he's grateful too.
It appears Volpe can handle the Liberal hiearchy very well, they are running scared, not Volpe.
The Birdcage Liner is getting some big surprises with it's polling results,they must be hurting, but getting their eyes opened!
Posted by: Liz J at October 14, 2006 1:08 PM
There is a war going on. Israel is our ally on the front line. Liberals and a few of the posters here, like Bob, have great difficulty discerning right from wrong and friends from enemies.
The world's problems cannot be solved by these confused cowards and their morally equivalent and ahistorical basis in forming an opinion.
Because of this make believe world they inhabit, they are a real danger. Unpredictably, they could just as easily support an enemy as a friend.
Posted by: irwin Daisy at October 14, 2006 1:38 PMmaryT: I don't think that Dion is married, but Iggy is married to Zsuzanna Zsohar, his second wife, I believe. He is divorced from his first wife. Check out this site for a photo of Iggy and his wife:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=48bf8033-2b3a-42fc-863c-5d6941ca187a&k=17700
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 14, 2006 3:21 PMmaryT: I don't think that Dion is married, but Iggy is married to Zsuzanna Zsohar, his second wife, I believe. He is divorced from his first wife.
I tried sending you a link for a photo of the two, but the message got caught in the filter.
BTW: How do the rest of you get links into your messages without their getting filtered out?
Posted by: 'been around the block at October 14, 2006 3:25 PM...yawn...Libran$....yawn...."ysematic frod" ....zzzzzzz..hockspitbarf... Sachin is a Lib$$$..yawn...Raes days.. delete... national newszz.....deleted
"In the appeal, obtained by The Canadian Press, Ignatieff operations director Sachin Aggarwal accuses Rae's senior B.C. organizer of perpetrating "systematic fraud" during the sign-up of potential delegates in the province."
You can't criticize Isreal that's for sure. I don't hate Isreal and I don't think the Liberals do. They are hard on Arabs tho. But Harper is desperate to hold on to power at any cost. He'll say and do anything. He's scary. I hope he's done soon.
Posted by: ok4ua at October 15, 2006 11:41 PM