I sure hope this message is sent to the CPC. The Liberals have the nerve to raise the Hart/Day issue while condoning this?

I am curious as to what exactly the "taking care of people who agree to step aside" means?

And how can one get in on this action? My carbon credit offering is not exactly bolstering up my "freedom 55" plan the way I had hoped..

Skal!

Kate, thanks so much for making sure everyone sees this.

It is kind of sad to see an idealist who's head has been in the clouds all this time, being cruely brought back to reality. Welcome to the Lieberal way, Michael. I guess Adscam was too far east for this lad to take seriously but this hits right in the breadbasket. Chances are he might find that being a tory "light" would suit his desire to proceed in politics that encompasses honesty and democracy.

BTW: Just how is the Lieberal party rewarding it's faithful step aside gang? Senate is out and so is the mint, CN Rail...

"Just how is the Lieberal party rewarding it's faithful step aside gang?"

Well we don't seem to know.

Fortunately, we have a bit more insight on how the Conservatives do it.

Currently, the market rate for a Conservative to step aside so a bigger name can run in your riding is apparently at about $50,000: http://canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-resignation-was-contingent-upon-this.html.

"He advised that the Liberal party has a "good record of taking care of people who agree to step aside."

Ahhh yes, brown envelope democracy Librano-style ;-)

In Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock the previous Lib candidate, who had publicly avowed many times, to "run again", has now stepped aside for "business & family" reasons. This opens up the riding for a "sacrificial" female candidate, to help fulfill "Steffie's" committment re one third women.I'm sure this strategy will prevail, in a lot of "unwinable" ridings

I'm thoroughly enjoying this. I can't imagine too many liberals actually support this process, but some of them have a rather broad authoritarian streak under all their moral posturing.
One more gift from the ambivalently citizened dion. They needed a leader, they elected a thin book of bad poetry.

Perhaps he should join the Clown Party of Canada. [Just jesting]

Seriously though, this is what I said would happen with the LIEberal government by overlooking the grassroots LIEberals. DeYawn wants to place a women - even if well qualified - into riddling and forget democracy.

“Mr. Young then offered a variety of incentives to persuade me to step aside.” This is nothing new, all parties do this, but the difference here is that it is gender based decision and not necessarily based upon qualifications. The problem that the LIEberals face is that the support of the LIEberals grassroots may drop thereby no financial backing. If they do not support her then the federal funds will have to be used - aren’t the LIEberals broke? DeYawn will place a women into areas where he will know they’ll loose, and then will blame that ridding as sexist.

Unlike the Green Party whose leader is running against a high profile Conservative. Even though she has s a slim chance I respect her for trying and working for her position. The only question I have for her is, “Do you live in the ridding?” If she doesn’t live there how does she know what the grassroots want from their representative. This would just be a publicity stunt on her part.

“He advised that the Liberal party has a "good record of taking care of people who agree to step aside." Someone once showed a list of federal judges and only one was a lawyer, the rest were patronage positions - no wonder our criminals are getting off the hook while the LIEberals say that victim’s are just a “side show.”

“I have advised him that I have no interest in anything of this nature.” To bad he picked the wrong party, such honesty and consideration for the grassroots have no place under DeYawn’s LIEberals. He should consider running, in his ridding, under the Greens, NDP or Conservatives. Though he would not represent the LIEberals, he would do his best to represent his ridding. At least he will know that it was a process and not a dictatorial placement of candidate by DeYawn.

Typical Conservatives.

The Liberals may or may not have done something questionable, and everyone jumps up and down screaming.

The Conservatives get caught actually paying off someone to do the same and....

Jean Harper indeed.

Oh yes, Ted et al, let's be fair. In fact, let's get the RCMP to investigate this one too. When there is a case against Day, which there isn't right now, then he will be held accountable. Ted, will Liberals adhere to the same standard? Let's reopen the Dosanj case; you know, the one where recordings weren't altered, where a clear (criminal?) benefit was offered?

Didn't think so. Liberal hypocrisy knows no bounds. I bet it really sucks to be you.

Several years ago there was a sitting liberal MP from Quebec. Chretain wanted an unelected person from quebec to be in his cabinet. He appointed ths unelected man to his cabinet. Then, suddenly, the sitting quebec MP was appointed to the Senate. I think that this guy gets his senate salary till the age of 75. Hart might have got paid once. Oh, guess who ran to fill the new senators seat, some idiot named Stephane Dion. That is one way liberals take care of those who step aside. Wonder if Holland knows that. Strange the liberals and the msn sort of forgot all that when Emmerson got a cabinet seat, as did another quebec person who was appointed to the senate, and then to cabinet.

"The Liberal party is not a democratic organization."

The truth is out... finaly

"I am curious as to what exactly the "taking care of people who agree to step aside" means?"

Probably just more of that same "comfy fur" that they were recorded offering to Grewal.

Shamrock:

So let me see if I understand correctly your principled stand.

Stronach: switched parties, was investigated, cleared... THEREFORE, evil Liberals.

Michael Mulligan: asked to not run and told he won't suffer for it, declines any benefit... THEREFORE, evil Liberals.

Stockwell Day, former leader of the party: pays off incumbent nominee to step aside, possibly $50K, stepping aside was made "contingent" upon satisfactory "negotiations"... THEREFORE, evil Liberals.

Folks, no need to meet the New Boss. The Old Boss never left the building.

And with a budget that increases spending more than any other government in the history Canada, and now the introduction of a new federal sponsorship program (yes you read that right!), the transformation is complete.

Canada's New GovernmentTM isn't the Conservative Party of Canada. It's the Frankenreformaservativeberal Alliance of Canada!

The link there doesn't seem to be working.

The Frankereformaservativeberal Alliance of Canada: http://canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/sponsorship-program-completes.html

Sorry Ted, my list is way bigger than yours.

I think ted thinks people like me would actually go to his website. I also think he thinks liberanos are not thievs and liers and general all around scum. What a dolt!!!

The beat goes on with the Liberals, they simply don't get it, need a hit with a Mac truck, it's coming, the people of Canada get it.

Governments spend money,that's how the country is run and it's our money. If we don't like how our money is spent we turf them. The Liberals got turfed for losing our money on the brown bag circuit, no accountability. We turfed them, still no sign of our lost money.
The kicker is they can't get over the fact the Conservatives get to spend their 'surplus' which they planned to use to buy a majority government.

Recall Martin on his last desperate election stump, promising the moon from East to West. No
Party enjoys another party spending their Booty.
Harper has done a better job with it so far, more people are happy. Well some are never happy, witness Blowhard Williams and Calver to name two.

"The beat goes on with the Liberals, they simply don't get it"

Um, no, I think it is the Conservatives who don't get it yet.

They don't get that they are actually in government now. For over a year in fact. Canadians don't have to buy into "the Liberals were bad so it doesn't matter how bad we are" line.

Corruption under Chretien matters as much as the Pacific Scandal under MacDonald.

Canadians deserve a corruption-less, responsible government. Not in comparison to anyone else, but as an absolute.

It was only 14 months ago that Conservatives actually still believed that.

You have to love the grass roots Liberals like Ted. They're like the steerage passengers on the Titanic. We're seeing retirements from old time elected Liberals on an unheard of scale, like rats deserting the ship. We're seeing the party brass running around in circles flip-flopping all over like fish out of water. We're seeing the leader of the Liberal party dictating how the party is to be run, right down to who gets to be "selected". And last but not least we see the grassroots members like Ted who have been indoctrinated so long that they don't realize they've been used for ballast. Like the steerage passengers on the Titanic, Ted and his cohorts, will only discover how they have been deceived when the Liberal ship hits bottom.

Well if they make me put up with it bout time it came back to haunt politicians.

The libs should go 150 yrs without allowing a white male to be leader too, There's probably someone living in timor right now whose traditionally disadvantaged and if she got off an airplane tomorrow she would qualify for affirmative action jobs why not the PM's?

One of the many reasons that Martin lost the last election is because the only reason he put forward to voters as a reason to vote Liberal was because... they weren't Conservatives.

Only 14 months later, all we still see from Conservatives and their supporters as a reason to support the Conservatives is because... they aren't Liberals.

The problem is that the Conservatives are acting out all of the worst parts of the Liberals - corruption, vote-buying with our money, use of government resources for petty partisanship, divide and conquer, policy favouring only your supporters or to win new votes but not for all Canadians, lies about budget estimates, completely unacceptable behaviour and un-Prime Ministerial conduct in the House, directionless government aimed only at winning more power - with none of the good.

The sad thing is that Jean Harper will probably have bought enough votes with our money to stay in government.

"Just how is the Lieberal party rewarding it's faithful step aside gang?"

“Well we don't seem to know. Fortunately, we have a bit more insight on how the Conservatives do it. Corruption under Chretien matters as much as the Pacific Scandal under MacDonald.”

Ted my uncle always has an opening for salesmen like you. Bate and switch is a special gift. Don’t squander it at a failing franchise.

Ted is defiantly not Clown Party material. He seems to have a LIEberal denial syndrome. He lived in his own LIEberal world so long he has lost touch with reality. Even a clown has to take off his/her makeup once in a while. For short, step into the real world and see what the LIEberals have done before complaining about others.

Doesn’t the Bible say something about taking the log out of your own eye before taking out a splinter out of your friends eye? Once you acknowledge the LIEberals are scum, LIErs, corrupt, and leaderless then you can point your fingers at other parties such as Conservatives, NDP, Bloc. and any others - like mine - yet until then Ted, you need help.

You said, “ Canadians deserve a corruption-less, responsible government” that is what the above blogers are trying to tell you - the LIEberals are not perfect. There is no perfect political party. For every one point you state, the above blogers can reply with five examples that top anything you think is corrupt. By the way, DeYawn still wants an election - I hope he gets it. Remember what happened to the Conservatives under Brian - well hopefully the same will happen to the LIEberals and then they can join the NDP and call themselves the LIEberal Deposed Party {LDP}. This would mean the Green Party would be the official opposition party - since the LIEberals are not doing a good job under DeYawn.

“The sad thing is that Jean Harper will probably have bought enough votes with our money to stay in government.”

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...

Actually Ted, for the first time ever, I'm going to have to agree with you. It is not good enough to campaign on a platform of "Hey, at least we're not...those guys." And you are right in pointing out that there has historically been enough shifty behavior (when it comes to the riding nomination process) to go around. No party is exempt and none are angels.

BUT...it is worth noting that while the questions about Stockwell Day's nomination are getting significant media attention (which they should - so that the proper questions are asked), the media has not picked up this Liberal one...which I have a hard time believing they are not aware of. I also can't believe that the media is not "exposing" Dion's policy of ignoring grass-roots Liberals and legitimate riding candidates simply to try to fulfill his feel-good arbitrary 30% female quota.

When Conservatives do something that ticks of their base and goes against their stated principles, attention is immediately and dramatically drawn to it - which is fine. But why isn't that knife cutting both ways?

You are 100% correct in saying that it is not right for Conservatives to make a big deal about the Young/Mulligan affair without taking a serious look at their own party. But, that should not be a one-way position.

Oh, and by the way, I don't think it's right to say that the CPC is still riding the "We aren't the Adscam Liberals" wagon anymore. They've shifted to, "Vote for us and Dion won't be your Prime Minister."

"taking the log out of your own eye before taking out a splinter out of your friends eye"

Oh, that's a good one.

Lecturing someone like that all the while ignoring a VERY REAL payoff by Day to get his seat. It's not the Conservative Party of Canada; it's the We Exist to Bash Liberals and Have Nothing to Stand for on Our Own Party of Canada.

But, because I didn't vote Conservative (didn't vote Liberal either by the way), I'm told by this government and by the kool-aid drinkers here that I don't matter and that my criticisms of Liberals matter but my criticisms of Conservatives don't.

You guys, with your 36% voter support in the last election, are the government. I would argue you have a higher standard to reach than the opposition parties since you are controlling my tax money now, but at the very very very least you have to be held up to the SAME standard you hold the opposition parties to.

I thought the Libs were bad. These guys have done in 14 months in terms of arrogance, hypocrisy, principle abandonment, corruption, etc. what it took the Lib gang 13 years to accomplish.

We need real change from Stephen Chretien, Paul Mulroney and Jean Harper.

And to think I was getting worried my blog name was becoming stale.

On a related note: check out CTV 'OPP probing alleged Tory link to mayoralty offer', http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070326/opp_mayoraltycharge_070326/20070326?hub=TopStories . Hopefully it will come to nothing.

I think Antenor has it exactly right. It is as though the Liberals are using Liberal tactics on themselves for a change . They may self destruct and I didnt have to do a thing .... I'm just watching and enjoying it......Go Liberals GO !!!

Sorry, Libs, you still need more time in the penalty box. So, CPC is just as bad as Liberals after only 14 months? What a pathetic argument - projection at it's finest. Maybe they should try "I know you are, but what am I." Liberals sound like schoolboys who have just been bested by other schoolboys. As far as the "you're just as bad as us" argument - maybe when we actually steal taxpayers' dollars and don't give them back, maybe when we truly blow $billions, maybe when we politicize the entire government process and install our buddies in the senate, judiciary and bureaucracy, maybe when .. then the argument won't sound so self serving. I know, when Harper gets a majority, let's discuss this again in 13 years!

Shamrock:

What about the 50% of voters who voted neither Conservative nor Liberal? What does that translate into... 70% or so of all Canadians? WE don't matter because the Liberals were bad?

How does that work?

Canadians deserve better than the Liberals but instead we got the Conservatives.

I'm all for the Liberals paying people to back out of elections. So long as the payments are notorized and the monies paid are taxed.
How many candidates can the Liberals afford to pay off considering their financial situation?
If I was Wappel et al...I wouldn't have resigned, rather I would have waited for my entitlements.

Give it a rest Laugh. What about the 75% of eligible Canadian voters who didn't vote for Chretien? What's your point?

The point, Shamrocks-for-brains, is that the Liberals screwed us and, while a huge majority of Canadians didn't vote for the Conservatives, many of us non-Conservative supporters at least held out the hope that the Conservatives under Harper would make an effort, go through the motions at least, in trying to live up to their own rhetoric about accountability, corruption, and good competent government.

We were naive. Obviously.

We were naive about the Conservatives.

But we were also naive about Conservative supporters like you. When you types were criticizing the Liberals, we thought you meant it. Instead, it turns out you just wanted your guys in power and the others out.

As you've stated again and again here, you don't give a crap about the rest of us.

OK, so in the span of one week, we have:

1. a significant Conservative cabinet minister accused of buying off a riding nominee: http://canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-resignation-was-contingent-upon-this.html

2. a court order requiring the Conservatives to hold another nomination meeting after the party screwed around with its own nomination rules and riding residents (let's call them real conservatives/Conservatives) had to fight back: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070316/anders_nomination_070316/20070316?hub=Canada

and now...

3. The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating another Conservative candidate buy-off/bribe accusation, this time possibly caught trying to buy-off an Ottawa mayoral candidate with the help of John "I'm not a lobbyist, I just help businesses get what they want from Conservative governments" Reynolds: http://canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/ontario-police-investigating.html

But a while back (almost a decade now), some Liberals stole a few million dollars in a corrupt scheme to win votes, so it doesn't matter one wit how corrupt the Conservatives are already proving.

OK, so in the span of one week, we have:

1. a significant Conservative cabinet minister accused of buying off a riding nominee: canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-resignation-was-contingent-upon-this.html

2. a court order requiring the Conservatives to hold another nomination meeting after the party screwed around with its own nomination rules and riding residents (let's call them real conservatives/Conservatives) had to fight back: www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070316/anders_nomination_070316/20070316?hub=Canada

and now...

3. The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating another Conservative candidate buy-off/bribe accusation, this time possibly caught trying to buy-off an Ottawa mayoral candidate with the help of John "I'm not a lobbyist, I just help businesses get what they want from Conservative governments" Reynolds: canadiancerberus.blogspot.com/2007/03/ontario-police-investigating.html

But a while back (almost a decade now), some Liberals stole a few million dollars in a corrupt scheme to win votes, so it doesn't matter one wit how corrupt the Conservatives are already proving.

Out with the old way of doing things... in with the old way of doing things.

Ted, you've gotta be kidding when you say, "Only 14 months later, all we still see from Conservatives and their supporters as a reason to support the Conservatives is because... they aren't Liberals."

Haven't you noticed all of the policies the CPC have put forward and the legislation they've passed? In just 14 months? THAT'S what different about the Liberals and the CPC: The CPC actually GOVERN and get things done, instead of just talking about what they're GOING to do, while spending and stealing taxpayer's hard-earned dollars, which is what the Liberals did FOR 13 YEARS.

As for Mr. Mulligan and his disillusionment with the LPC ('sad he didn't know what a bunch of us have known for years: Never trust a Liberal), I figure the only recourse for him is to join the CPC to find out what it's like for a political party to value its grassroots.

and exactly who do you think is going to govern if not the lieberals or the Conservatives? The NDP or the Green Party? It is to laugh.

Love it.

The Liberal Pit-for-Brains (sorry, that should be Pit-Bull) Mark Holland re-opens a case that's been closed and dismissed for six years.

Then, a mayoral candidate says he was promised something by someone, and says the conservatives are to blame.

This stuff suddenly springs after the Liberals were unable to topple the government after the budget. You know, the budget that not everybody loves, but no one really hates.

Funny timing. I almost can say it with a straight face.

Yet, all of this is going on while Stephane Dion is forcing his hand-picked candidates, based solely on their reproductive equipment, into unwilling ridings.

Gotta love the hypocrisy and friendly media coverage.

I see a pattern here. Whenever the Liberals are in deep trouble, Ted from "Cerberus" comes on and tries to help them.

Good little Liberal, that Teddy. Keep it up, man! Good for a laugh... rather like Baghdad Bob. ;)

By the way, Ted, nothing the Liberals are throwing at the Conservatives is even hitting. All the accusations are unsubstantiated.

*Violin music*

Oh, and... it's clear that the Librano$ have unleashed the vicious-hellions-in sheeps'-clothing. They're going to be nastier than ever. And I predict that Gerard Kennedy, with his innocent-dork looks and relatively calm, poker-face demeanor, is going to be at the forefront, along with Mark Holland.

All of this all of a sudden. I believe they have a desperate, grasping-at-straws, hail-Mary "shock-and-awe" strategy in the early stages of implementation.

I predict, however, that it is going to backfire on them spectacularly. Much as it did in the last Federal Election.

It's going to be exciting, nevertheless.

Let's roll!

And Ted said

"Even though the Liberal party stole all our money, ruined the country and is not a democratic oganization I'm still going to vote for them 'cause I'm a f**king moron.

Horny Toad

The LPC-Stepping aside for equality.

Ted,

I'm not sure why I'm even bothering, but your regurgitated and partisan tripe has to be adressed.

You said:

"So let me see if I understand correctly your principled stand.

Stronach: switched parties, was investigated, cleared... THEREFORE, evil Liberals."

Ecroyable. A political deal, brokered by a former Liberal Premier, on the eve of a non-confidence vote which, by the way, was enabled by Paul Martin and the Liberal party *spitting in the face of centuries old Parliamentary democratic tradition*. I cannot think of a more egregious example of disdain for the electorate, unless it is stealing their money to fund their re-election, but we won't go there.

But she and the Liberal party were investigated and cleared. Okey dokey.

You say:

"Michael Mulligan: asked to not run and told he won't suffer for it, declines any benefit... THEREFORE, evil Liberals."

Told he won't suffer for it? Are you for real? Truth is, I don't care *how* riding politics is resolved in *any* party, provided no laws are broken. I don't see this as "evil Liberals", just "stupid leader".

You say:

"Stockwell Day, former leader of the party: pays off incumbent nominee to step aside, possibly $50K, stepping aside was made "contingent" upon satisfactory "negotiations"... THEREFORE, evil Liberals."

You're introducing a whole lot of hearsay as sustainable evidence. Regardless, I've stated my opinion on riding politics, and it stands in this instance. If criminal wrongdoing is uncovered, Mr. Day will have to face the consequences.

Therein lies the difference between Liberals and Conservatives. I'll say this to you and any other Liberal lickspittle that pisses me off enough to actually post:

I can live just fine under Liberal government. There's always enough spillage for a reasonably intelligent person to get by on. What I, and *many, many* Canadians are slowly realizing though, is that we can live *just as well* under a Conservative government, and that a capable alternative is vital to a healthy democracy.

It's your worst nightmare though--actually having to recognize the legitimacy of your political opposition. Your party of the past 13 years made this tact their stock in trade, but that time is over. Your party of the present hasn't yet realized it, given their zeal to attack as many Conservative ministers as possible, but it is coming.

Unless you're part of the "comfy fur club", this is a good thing for Canadian democracy, regardless of personal political affiliation.

Canadian Sentinel

Good little Liberal, that Teddy. Keep it up, man! Good for a laugh... rather like Baghdad Bob. ;)

Now that is funny! I love it.

When I put this to Mr. Young he retorted that "The Liberal party is not a democratic organization."

Did not think so from simple observation.
More of a socialist Diktat of the French citizen Dion

Ted the difference between what your gang claims are sins of the Conservatives and the sins of the Liberals is that the Liberal sins are documented facts and the conservative sins are partisan witch-hunts un-proven by your gang of Kyoto nuts.
See the difference? Fact VS. fabrication.
By the way, how can Canadians trust the Liberals not to invade our personal papers like they did with the Confidential boxes they "found"(probably hid from the Tories)belonging to the Conservatives?
Thieves in the night.
Perhaps a Name change would help Liberal chances, might I suggest "the Canadian thieves guild of politicians".

They truly earned the name LIBERANO. Even the Hells Angels say the are far to corrupt to deal with.