Possibly the darkest...
Some cynical individuals would claim that the Liberal Party of Canada is trying to make political hay by attacking PMSH for merely mentioning that just because two people are Greek, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy.
Yet others would claim that the mere mention of anyone's ethnicity, particularly by conservatives, is a significant attack on that culture, brought on by political correctness gone amuck.
But not me...
When I heard Harper's statement, I tore open my shirt and ripped the hair and gold chains off my chest. I tried to console myself by drinking Ouzo, breaking plates and yelling "Opa" in anguish.
I tried playing a soulful tune on my bouzouki, but as everyone knows, every Greek song starts off slow but speeds up near the end, so you can't help but form and line and dance around the restaurant.
All kidding aside, the LPOC has always been big in ethnic communities, and this righteous indignation might be a way to show Canadian Greeks that the Liberals are still right behind them. But in reality, this faked outrage means nothing.
Greek Canadians do deserve an apology, but not from Stephen Harper.
We deserve an apology from a fellow Greek, Liberal John Cannis, trying to manipulate the opinions of hard working Greek Canadians on a comment from the Prime Minister that meant absolutely nothing.
To paraphrase Kate's motto,"Liberal MP John Cannis, you don't speak for me!"
Update (by Kate) - The pilaf thickens! A darker day for Stephane Dion...
Posted by The Greek at January 31, 2008 2:05 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/6362
Greeks are conspiratorial?
Am I missing something? Is there some story about two greeks and a conspiracy?
Posted by: thats greek to me at January 31, 2008 2:46 PMI think it's that when two Greeks get together, they open up a restaurant... :)
Posted by: The Greek at January 31, 2008 2:51 PMJust a note. I left a comment at the CTV site asking why this is even remotely considered a story, let alone a front page/site link. They haven't allowed my post to go through on their site, yet.
Not sure if they ever will.
Posted by: postscript at January 31, 2008 2:52 PMUpon close analysis of the remark, it would take some pretty fancy stretching (not to mention some hysterically active cognitive gymnastics) for someone to call it offensive. (I explain further here.
Then again, these are Liberals we're talking about . . .
Posted by: PhantomObserver at January 31, 2008 2:57 PMOy vay.
As a fellow Canadian of Greek descent (1st generation) I heartily agree! And, pour me another glass of retsina while yer at it :d
Liberals trying to find "outrage" in everything. Yawn.. move it along now.
Posted by: Annie at January 31, 2008 3:00 PMwho is that guy wandering around with Bill Clinton in Khazakstan? do former presidents' shill themselves for uranium?
what about the tragedy of two children dying in the cold. does mentioning "reserve" taint the object?
Harper's comment was to make light of the objections to a meeting of the parties involved to reach some kind of settlement. Yipes! Guess they shouldn't do anything
or fire anyone
Posted by: puddin and pie at January 31, 2008 3:05 PMGreek chicks are hot. And don't get me started on the food.....
As for the LPC, well, they continue to blur the line that differentiates them from the Dippers.
I'm really starting to believe Dion is really Jack Layton in drag.....
Posted by: Shere Khan at January 31, 2008 3:06 PMI thought he said 'GEEKS' ...in which case there very well could be a conspiracy...
Posted by: Agent Smith at January 31, 2008 3:09 PMThose Liberals are beyond thick - you'd think people that stupid would at least know enough to try to think before they speak.
Posted by: Joanne at January 31, 2008 3:10 PMWhat was that line the old Greek father in the movie "My Fat Greek Wedding" used,"My kind was civilized when your kind were still swinging from trees" or something there other.
Time for the childish Liberals to grow up.
Posted by: Shawn at January 31, 2008 3:12 PMGuess Harper can't use the word "Canadian" either.
Posted by: Shaken at January 31, 2008 3:27 PMIt all reminds me of when the Liberals went into their faux outrage and Ralphie was venting his spleen over Peter McKay calling Belinda Stronach a dog.
He never called her that at all, he only answered "you've already got her" to David McGuinty's question "but what about your dog?"
Its all a smokescreen to keep the focus off of Dion's utter incompetence....scream loud about absolutely everything and don't give the Conservatives a chance to catch their breath and get back on the beam.
The unfortunate thing is that it seems to be working.
Posted by: clair voyant at January 31, 2008 3:28 PMLet's just hope the Canadian public can see the forest for the trees in these non-issues the opposition continues to bring up.
I can't believe nobody questions the incredible waste of taxpayer funds and resources this kind of BS politicing puts on our system. If this is the best they can do, bring on the election! We have much more serious items that need to be addressed before the Liberals hoodwink their way back into power again.
With each passing day the LPC is sounding more and more childess and idiotic but the MSM just beats the drum. It truly is embarrassing that this is even being discussed. Much ado about nothing but when your trying to divert attention away from your leader I expect more of the same. They know they have a train wreck at the helm who can't go two successive days without inserting foot into mouth so they will try their version of the hokey pokey. Really rather embarrassing..
Posted by: daverbonz at January 31, 2008 3:44 PMJimmy the Greek, (he stated he was of Greek descent), Karygianis(sp) stood in the House and did his little fake outrage rant, calling on the Prime Minister to stand in his place and apologize.
Apparently Jimmy wasn't in the House yesterday to hear the "offensive" statement first hand. Wonder where he heard about it?
It's time the Liberals get over the fact they're in Opposition and grow up, start getting to work on matters of importance, like getting their Senators to pass the Bills important to all Canadians.
These gotcha political games played by the Opposition is not what they've been elected to do.
The Greek, that was wonderful! better than wonderful, but I can't think of a word.
Posted by: Honey Pot at January 31, 2008 3:50 PMIts the liberals that always act like the old ladies stealing everything when Mdme Hortense dies.
The thought of Greeks scared me for yeats because of that scene, plus I thought they were cruel to the kids in Sparta. never imagined that winter in Sparta was warmer than summer in Alberta.
Posted by: cal2 at January 31, 2008 3:53 PMI will now bring all manner of scorn upon me from every ethnic group:
- just because two people are Italian, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- just because two people are German, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- just because two people are English, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- just because two people are Russian, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- just because two people are South African, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- just because two people are Indian, it doesn't mean there is a conspiracy
- ad nauseum
Anybody want to report me to the HRC?
Liberals! They're like demented versions of "the Knights who say Ni"!
Posted by: Eeyore at January 31, 2008 3:58 PMA Liberal is never happier than when he is calling someone else a bigot.
Posted by: Joan Tintor at January 31, 2008 4:00 PMThat's right. Everyone who isn't a Liberal is a racist. They've been screeching racism at everyone they don't like since the year dot. And for a long time it seemed to work quite well. Lately, not so much. =P
Posted by: Bob in Ontario at January 31, 2008 4:09 PMMSM the enablers of the decades of Liberal government malfeasance are still at it, full bore.
Pimping for the Libs with non-stories.
MSM - Liberal lickspittle.
Wasn't it Jesus Christ himself who said "Blessed are the Greek, for they shall inherit the earth"? Who is PMSH to stand against that - Astothialou I say to you.
When 2 Greeks get together, then the goats should become nervous.
How do you seperate the men from the boys in Greece?
With a crowbar.
Any yes, my Mom's maiden name ended in opoulus.
Posted by: holdfast at January 31, 2008 4:22 PMAfter QP today, I left on the TV while I set up a laptop, and suddenly became aware that a grating, nauseating whine was emanating from the set.
Looked up, saw Penny Priddy waving her limbs hither & yon complaining about the CPC's law & order agenda. She's agin it! The woman is demented, and other PMPBs like Alexa McDonough & Carolyn Bennett, just illustrate how dismal the general Canadian electorate is, in voting them to parliament.
God Save Us!
Posted by: Alienated at January 31, 2008 4:25 PMLet's see how Canada's leftist media is responding to the constant charge of being beholden to petty partisanship attacks against the conservatives, shall we?
Ridiculous anti-Greek charge by the opposition:
HEADLINE NEWS
The secretary general of the UN issues a forceful communique advocating for Canada's continued military presence in Afghanistan, at a time when the Afghan debate is front and center in our political discourse:
NOT A MENTION.
Just another week in the world of Canadian media.
Posted by: biff at January 31, 2008 4:41 PMbiff at 4.41 pm
Exactly right, perfect description of the current media coverage.
However,Lorrie Goldstein pointed out the Banky-Moon Afghan issue.
MSM are still gatekeeping.
Posted by: Joe Molnar at January 31, 2008 4:59 PMA copy of my email to the PMO:
Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Below, a Mop & Pail report, on a supposed apology owing to Greek Canadians, for your perusal.
One might pose the rebuttal that the Liberal Bloc plan for Canada would represent a Greek tragedy for democracy.
Leading the charge would be Karen “we won’t observe confidence vote losses” Redman and Anthony “overthrow the government” Rota.
I think the LIEberals owe Canada an apology for insulting the Greek tradition of democracy.
Meanwhile back on the Bema, Pynx, Acropolis…the demagogues have resorted to sophistry.
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht BGS, PDP, CFP
Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Posted by: Hans Rupprecht at January 31, 2008 5:54 PMEeyore....
" Liberals! They're like demented versions of "the Knights who say Ni"!
Spiced Rum and Tonic on my Keyboard!
Dammmit!
Well, as the old joke says....
Ari wanted to emigrate to America but he couldn't leave his brother's behind.
Posted by: Ralph R. at January 31, 2008 6:08 PMJohn Cannis Stood up in house today, and in one of the best act's of moral outrages I have ever seen demanded that the Prime Minister , say that he was very ,very sorry for insulting the whole Greek community and also called the PM a racist.
As it turns out he was not in the house for question period yesterday.
Another Fiberal monment!
Posted by: bart at January 31, 2008 6:15 PMI guess it's easier to feign moral outrage and call the PM a racist than to actually offer alternative programs and policies, which, besides assisting the government in passing legislation, is the job of the Official Opposition.
That would involve letting Stephane Dion actually speak. Silly me.
Posted by: Shamrock at January 31, 2008 6:23 PMGreeks are a race?
All this time I thought they were just a restaurant culture.
Posted by: Kate at January 31, 2008 6:28 PMDavid Akin and Brian Laghi on MDL let it slip that Dimitri's name is well known among journalists and this situation is pay back for his keeping of the "LIST" where journalists had to put their names on the list to ask questions.
Laghi said that while it appears nothing was going on, there was nothing given, nothing asked, nothing offered, it gave the impression of trolling for votes in Quebec.
Let's see - nothing going on, nothing given, nothing asked of, nothing offered - this was repeated a couple of times and yet, they intend to pursue this angle as a way to "get" the CPC for their media relations.
How mature of our Ottawa media.
Posted by: Alberta Girl at January 31, 2008 6:32 PMhttp://www.stephentaylor.ca/archives/000943.html
Breaking at Stephen Taylor, Dion to be sued for defamation as he suggested in the Ottawa Citizen
"That means that there was an ATTEMPT TO EXTORT taxpayers funds to benefit a party supporter and therefore change the decision process and (they say) it's not important because it didn't succeed. I think the prime minister has a lot to explain." -- Stephane Dion
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht BGS, PDP, CFP
Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Posted by: Hans Rupprecht at January 31, 2008 6:32 PMSorry bart, that was Jimmy the Greek Karygianis who was on a rant today and Van Loan pointed out he could not have been present yesterday, at which point the Speaker informed Van Loan he could not mention who was or was not present in the House.
Cannis, the Greek made the original feigned outrage rant accusing Harper of racism yesterday.
ZORBAHHHH!!!!!
Posted by: Liz J at January 31, 2008 6:43 PMHey Alienated,my sentiments exactly re:Ms.Priddy.To me she always seemed like a mini wind-up doll on steroids,that just doesn't shut up,and her constant eye blinking is a major distraction.I as well find a lot of these women a negative to the parties they represent,like screeching haridans.And no,I'm not sexist..I am also female.
Posted by: Sammy at January 31, 2008 6:45 PMOn Stephen Taylor's site is the Soudas lawyer's letter demanding a full apology from Dion as his statements to the press are actionable. What happen when you accuse somebody of extortion.
http://www.stephentaylor.ca/
Posted by: john at January 31, 2008 6:54 PMJust saw on NNW, From Stephen Taylor. Dimitri Soudas has served notice on Dion to apologize or face legal action.
Posted by: Rob R at January 31, 2008 6:55 PMWonder how Steffi would like his crow served up ??
Posted by: Fred at January 31, 2008 7:01 PMUploaded/published doc here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2024195/DionNotice
Posted by: maz2 at January 31, 2008 7:41 PM
With regard to the letter to Stephane Dion, of today's date, accusing him of defamation against Dimitri Soudas - it asks for a public apology, outside of the House of Commons, by Wed. Feb 8/08.
The letter is all over the net. What I'm curious about, is that this letter was delivered by courrier to Dion today - and has a header Personal and Confidential.
How did it get on the internet?
Posted by: ET at January 31, 2008 7:57 PM
CHIPS, CHIPS....No Fries, No Coke, just Pepsi!
hey, they're liberals don't forget. Anytime two people meet, there is an "exchange" or envelopes "appear". This is the way of their world. They cannot imagine anything different.
Posted by: RW at January 31, 2008 8:00 PMAagggh, those g*d*mn greeks again. I tell yer, givin' us civilisayshun 'n'all; who knows where it will all end?
Posted by: RW at January 31, 2008 8:07 PM"But Dion added" .... Here come da judge.
...-
Dion apologizes for remarks that Harper aide says defamed him
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper has received an apology from Stephane Dion, even as a lawyer's letter demanding a public retraction was on its way to the Liberal leader.
A lawyer for Dimitri Soudas says he was defamed by Dion and insisted on a public apology no later than next Wednesday. Dion had suggested the prime minister's spokesman was a party to extortion in August 2006.
After question period on Thursday, Dion said: "Yesterday I used an inappropriate word: 'extortion' attempt. I apologize for that, and that was not the apprpriate[sic] word.
But Dion added: "I will choose my words well this time: it appears like political interference."
Soudas declined to say late Thursday night whether Dion's apology was acceptable. http://tinyurl.com/2srj8n
Posted by: maz2 at January 31, 2008 9:31 PMFriggin' liberals wouldn't know a good souvlaki if it was shoved up their opas.... Damn, but this thread makes me hungry for a good Montreal Greek meal, topped off with a shot of ouzo.... I wonder if the Liberal idiots realize how much they're pissing off people by assuming they're "clients" of the multi-culti, let's buy ethnic votes corrupt cretins still following The Rat (tm) Dion.
Posted by: Caveman at January 31, 2008 9:32 PMIt's rather depressing to read the comments on the Globe and Mail article about this event. The total misunderstanding of the situation, betrayed by the majority of comments - is mind boggling.
Most of the comments are assuming that the complaint is coming from Harper, ie, that it is Harper who is stating that Dion defamed HIM, Harper.
Most of the readers don't realize that the interaction is between Dimitri Soudas (who happens to work as a spokesman for Harper) and Dion. Most of the readers don't realize that Dion's defamation was about Soudas.
So, the comments are all stupid and snarky comments against Harper.
Whose fault, apart from the basic stupidity of some of the readers? I think it's Canada Press and Liberal bias. The article constantly refers to Soudas as 'the Prime Minister's Spokesman', as 'a spokesman for PM Harper'..etc. So, since we ordinarily view the term 'spokesman' as akin to a mechanical bullhorn for someone else...it can be understood that most readers, moving quickly past the 'bullhorn' of 'spokesman'...think that the issue is about Harper.
It's about Soudas and Dion.
Canada Press and our biased MSM strikes again?
Here's the REAL story as David Aikin said on Duffy today. Soudas is HATED by the 300 or so members of the Ottawa Press Gallery. Nopt just HATED said Aiken but the number ONE hated guy by the ego maniacs in the PPG.
As Brian Langhi from the G&M even said - there is probably nothing here but by making a big splash it just erases the "sheen" on the Conservatives as being somehow more ethical. His words - drip by drip as he then said the Buckler incident last week, now a mass media slanderous gang up on Soudas and the PPG is using slander, innuendo, anonymous sources, tenuous affiliations, etc. to destroy their number one HATED enemies, the PM's communications staffers.
Motive? Methods? Defamation? As they sasy, first they came after the communications staffers.... this depraved pack of unethical preying liberal wolves can, and will, destroy any citizen who gets in their way.
I hope Soudas and the others linked to this media farce have lots and lots of lawyers. If they don't sue the axxes off these guys now this country is really really facing the depravity of having a bunch of egotistical journalists control the entire egenda of the people's government.
It has only just begun.
Posted by: lmf at January 31, 2008 10:23 PMAgent Smith wrote, "I thought he said 'GEEKS' ...in which case there very well could be a conspiracy..."
Thanks, AS, I laughed and laughed.
In relation to this whole tempest in a bloody, @#$%^&* Liberal/MSM teapot, with no disrespect for any Greek anywhere, I say "Kyrie eleison."
Posted by: lookout at January 31, 2008 10:58 PM"Yesterday I used an inappropriate word: 'extortion' attempt. I apologize for that, and that was not the apprpriate[sic] word.
**newsflash** extortion means extortion in any language
Wasn't it a LIBERAL SOLICITOR GENERAL who, knocked up some broad, and then FORGED her husbands signature for the sluts ABORTION??
I GUESS THE GLOVES should come off!
Time for an INQUIRY!!!!
How about it STEPHANE???
Greeks are a microrace ... and should be protected by the libs.
Some of my fondest memories happened in Greek restaurants. I aspire to someday visit Greek and have some of their salad.
Posted by: ural at February 1, 2008 12:55 AMParliament... Its all Greek to me
Posted by: Tim at February 1, 2008 2:17 AMI think I actually heard one of those talking heads on Duffy state that Mr. Soudas was " Public Enemy Number ONE of the press gallery" and this was "payback" for the journalists having to put their names on a list. They seemed to be enjoying this immensely. Duffy at least pretends to be impartial but his replacements are so patently biased against the CPC that they are going to end up in legal trouble. They were laughing amongst themselves that even though it appeared that there was nothing to this story it was great fun to skewer this gentleman. I would also like to see the CPC go after the Globe and Mail for it's story about General Hilliar's " Outrage". Why are these types of stories allowed to see the light of day without some type of consequences to the perpetrators of these blatant lies?
The good news story is that the CPC party has at least 5 times as many financial supporters as the Liberals. When you look at those numbers the polls just don't add up. Is it just that Conservatives are more likely to put their own money where their mouth is rather than someone else's as is the Liberal modus operandi?
Posted by: Bigsister at February 1, 2008 7:11 AMI remember that abortion scandal, and didn't Dion bring him back recently to some position.
Liberals should remember there are those of us with long memories. And isn't there a Trudeau child out there whose mother is not named Maggie.
this has all the makings of a Greek tragedy. There, I said it since nobody else would.
The mind boggles at the pettiness of some people.
btw, I have to echo the feelings of many others here about Greek food. Opa!
Posted by: Texas Canuck at February 1, 2008 8:59 AMFrancis Fox - solictor general and forger. a martinite and iggy supporter not a dionese.
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC-1-73-1700-11717/politics_economy/political_scandals/
Retsina = Pine Sol
Oddly enough I enjoy the wine with lamb cooked on a spit.
you have to listen to the CBCpravda Francis Fox thing, it so sypathetic to Fox it almost drips honey.
they are trying to figure out a way for him to get out of it. what a slease
Posted by: cal2 at February 1, 2008 9:07 AMRetsina = Pine Sol
No truer words have ever been spoken...
Posted by: The Greek at February 1, 2008 11:01 AMThere's an open and deliberate scheme by the Press Gallery to destroy the government communications' team. Don Martin describes (and applauds) it in today's National Post.
When the media declares "open season" (Martin's words) on a duly elected and empowered government, democracy has been, in effect, abolished. The will of the people means nothing. The desires of the un-elected are considered to be more important.
Martin has turned viciously against Harper and his team. He continues to drip venom in the National Post. Of course, the paper is owned by the Aspers, noted Liberal supporters. Martin not only admits Erikson is a friend of his, he thinks she was hard done by. That an editor at the NP is comfortable with a columnist issuing a naked threat to the government is abominable. That he should still be given a pulpit to bray from is an affront to every voter in Canada.
Agent Smith:
I vaguely recall some admonition along the lines of "Beware geeks hosting Grits", or something...
Posted by: KevinB at February 1, 2008 11:38 AMthey say the Greeks added pine pitch to their wine to keep the Turks from drinking it.
I love the stuff with Greek food, but only with Greek food. It only goes with Greek food, I think its a conspriacy to get us to buy it.
Posted by: cal2 at February 1, 2008 12:30 PMDon Martin is a total Jackass. He certainly considers himself a comedian on occasion too, problem is, he's not funny.
Posted by: Liz J at February 1, 2008 1:13 PM