I’ll be tied up in the paint booth today, so you’re on your own. Post your tips here, and I’ll be back later.
66 Replies to “Reader Tips, Open Thread”
A little joke for everyone… not sure what the velocity of email is these days so it may be old…but here goes:
A man enters a bar and orders a drink. The bar has a robot bartender.
The robot serves him a perfectly prepared cocktail, and then asks him, “What’s your IQ?”
The man replies “150” and the robot proceeds to make conversation about global warming factors, quantum physics and spirituality, biomimicry, environmental interconnectedness, string theory, nano-technology, and sexual proclivities
The customer is very impressed and thinks, “This is really cool.” He decides to test the robot. He walks out of the bar, turns around, and comes back in for another drink. Again, the robot serves him the perfectly prepared drink and asks him, “What’s your IQ?”
The man responds, “about a 100.”
Immediately the robot starts talking, but this time, about football, NASCAR, baseball, supermodels, favourite fast foods, guns, and women’s breasts.
Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the robot one more test. He heads out and returns, the robot serves him and asks, “What’s your IQ?”
The man replies, “Er, 50, I think.”
And the robot says… real slowly… “So…………… ya gonna vote for the Liberals again?”
Get a load of this from Wednesday’s Ottawa Sun: http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Election/2005/11/30/1329802-sun.html
“Farnworth expects voters will be cynical of the fact her opponent has long lived in the “lofty” world of politics with little experience in the grassroots community. Baird represents a “very narrow” constituency of white Anglo-Saxon males, she said.”
Lee Farnworth is the Liberal, and John Baird is the PC candidate and former cabinet minister in Mike Harris’s government.
Can you imagine the uproar if a CPC candidate had said something like this about a Liberal representing a narrow ethnic constituency?
Good one Craig!
Kate, below is the email sent last night to Canadian Press.
I had two choices to address the email to either the guy in “Sales”
or a the other name on their site.
I chose name #2.
FYI:
Mr. Woods,
With the election underway Canadians are inundated with news, much of it emanating from Canadian Press.
The growth of internet blogging is changing News disseminating in Canada, as you surely know.
Biased news coverage prevalent in Canada was pointed some time ago out by Peter Kent and very recently by Lorrie Goldstein at the Sun chain.
The Canadian blogging community is currently focusing on the slanted and biased coverage favouring Liberal Paul Martin, even at this early stage of the election.
Ezra Levant’s Western Standard is a breath of fresh air but the blogging community is now very definitely in watchdog mode on Canadian news disseminating mainstream media.
This of course would include CP in that biased coverage.
So it is with interest to see how coverage of Stephen Harper’s plans to revamp how parliament will operate and whether his “Office of an Independent Prosecutor” will get fair coverage in a country rife with government malfeasance. Malfeasance which mainstream media up until now appears content to accept with an editorial shrug, rather than outrage..
I am enclosing a copy to one of Canada’s most visited blogs, Kate MacMillan at “Small Dead Animals” as I know much has already been posted there by many of her readers on the bias issue.
Like Fox News in the U.S, lets get Canadians news that henceforth becomes more
“Fair and Balanced” so Canadians can make rational judgments based on honest and unbiased reporting.
Respectfully,
Joseph Molnar
Woodstock, Ont.
Holiday Ideas
The O’Reilly Factor Christmas Ornament –
Put your holiday tree in “The No Spin Zone” with this silver glass O’Reilly Factor ornament.
Holiday tree?
The title of the Gomery Report is “Who is Responsible?” This was said/written by Judge Gomery himself.
Who/whom has the Liberal Party of AdScam Martin nailed as being responsible for the crimes/fraud/bribery/money-laundering & etc.?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jean Chretien >>>>>>
The Gomery Inquiry/Report is a sham/deception committted by Earnscliffe/Martin & the Liberal cabal>>>>>>>> a whitewash of Martin & his gang
Chretien wants Martin & gang to accept their share of blame in the AdScam Sponsorship Scandal. Go for it Jean, ole ami, ole Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Excerpt from Judge Gomery’s statement:
“Another theme that seems to preoccupy everyone is the question of the accountability of deputy ministers and senior officials. The title of my first Report released today is “Who Is Responsible?” If Ministers of the Crown do not accept responsibility when government expenditures and programs are mismanaged, then on whose shoulders should responsibility rest? Should it be public servants? Should ministers be forced to accept responsibility and suffer the consequences of faults in departmental management? Should deputy ministers, the public service heads of departments under ministers, be held responsible for financial management and be held accountable for departmental maladministration?
The Commission’s mandate directs me to address these questions of the respective responsibilities and accountabilities of ministers and public servants. The issue is not whether to get rid of the principle of ministerial responsibility, but whether the interpretation of this principle needs to be clarified or modified to ensure that someone will be responsible to ensure that laws and rules are observed. We also need to examine the role that should be played by Parliament and parliamentary committees in ensuring that public servants observe the rules. To whom should they be required to account for their actions, and in what ways should public servants be protected from undue political influence in carrying out their duties? This issue requires me to give attention to the role of the political staff in each Minister’s office and in the office of the Prime Minister, and its relationship with public servants.” http://www.gomery.ca/en/phase1report/statement.asp
Oh, this is a good one! http://talkcanada.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_talkcanada_archive.html#113345014484960542
Mr. Scott Brison:
Mr. Speaker, my second question for the newly minted member for Saskatoon�Rosetown�Biggar is a very simple one.
One thing I do respect about the New Democrats is their consistency and sense of values and commitment to those values over a period of time.
That stands in stark contrast to the Liberals. The hon. member was quite right in pointing out that while he is opposed to the GST and would like to reduce the GST, so were the Liberals of similar persuasion before 1993. Let me suggest that a potential replacement for those revenues may be gained from a hypocrisy tax. If we were to have a hypocrisy tax that would be levied on politicians who break red book promises, perhaps that would be one way to help replace revenue from the GST.
I would appreciate his erudite views on my proposal for a hypocrisy tax which would serve two functions. First it would force Liberals to keep their promises for a change. Second, it would raise those revenues to reduce the GST, as the hon. member feels is important.
“Christmas proclamation under fire from Jewish group” http://sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/01/christmasoxford051201.html
I especially like the following quote from a representative of the Jewish group: “As I’ve said a number of times, we have no objections to the celebration of Christmas,” Goldberg said.”
I guess we should be grateful we’re still allowed Christmas I guess…
I read over at LGF that the Green Party of The United States has adopted a resolution to divest and boycott Israel.
I posted over at the Green Party of Canada’s blog asking if they had the same policy. No answer yet.
Anyone know?
Yesterday in Vancouver Dosanjh was erecting a lawn sign when he was asked/told by a reporter that if he knew the address he was at had twice been raided for a “Grow Op” all he responded was its a new house here.
I wonder if it is a property he owns. It was reported when he was Premier of BC that one of his rentals was busted as a Grow OP house.
Still reading http://www.canadafreepress.com and saw this today:
By Judi McLeod
Thursday, December 1:
MARTIN’S FORMER ADSCAM COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR TO COSTA RICA
The 100-million Canadian tax dollars, with which the federal Liberal government floated its Adscam sponsorship program, may be lost forever in faraway Costa Rica.
A popular playground for well-heeled Canadians with Liberal connections, Costa Rica is home to the United Nations University for Peace. Prime Minister Paul Martin mentor Maurice Strong, being litigated against by the Costa Rican government over a land deal, is still listed as president of the UPeace council.
Canadian Adscam legends, who washed up on Costa Rican shores, include the flamboyant Jean Lafleur, a key figure in the Adscam scandal, whose communication firm executives raked in $15-million in government expenses over a four-year period.
More..
Harper just announced reduction in GST – 1% in first year and in five years another percent. CBC allowed him enough time on TV for the announcement, then to Jack, Paul and Ralph. As a bookkeeper it’s to bad that they didn’t axe the tax totally. The cost of bookkeeping for 7 cent on a dollar is crazy. But, every Canadian will feel this right away, gas, groceries, cars building homes. With the cost of supplies rises so quickly anywhere there can be a savings of 1% will be good right across the board! I am glad to see that Mr. Harper is coming to the people of the country with his vision, not slinging mud. Positive!
From William Hazlitt’s The Spirit of the Age (TOC)
“This tone of impartiality and indifference, however, did not at all suit those who profited or existed by abuses, who breathed the very air of corruption. They knew well enough that ‘those who are not for them are against them.’ They wanted a publication impervious alike to truth and candour, that, hood- winked itself, should lead public opinion blindfold, that should stick at nothing to serve the turn of a party, that should be the exclusive organ of prejudice, the sordid tool of power: that should go the whole length of want of principle in palliating every dishonest measure, of want of decency in defaming every honest man: that should prejudge every question, traduce every opponent: that should give no quarter to fair inquiry or liberal sentiment: that should be ‘ugly all over with hypocrisy,’ and present one foul blotch of servility, intolerance, falsehood, spite, and ill-manners.”
William Hazlitt (1778-1830 ) http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/Hazlitt/SpiritAge/Jeffrey.htm
Hazlitt had the likes of The Liberal Party of Canada in his sights.>>>>
Let these words stand as a tribute to Stephen Harper : “Treat voters with respect”. >>>
Treat voters with respect (Editorial – Ottawa Citizen)
The Ottawa Citizen ^ | Thursday, December 01, 2005 | Ottawa Citizen Editors
Posted on 12/01/2005 8:03:12 AM PST by fanfan
Although we support the right of same-sex couples to marry, we welcomed Stephen Harper’s candour when he said he wouldn’t obstruct efforts to repeal legislation allowing gay weddings. This should mark the beginning of a frank debate on the future of the country.
Mr. Harper said this week that if elected, he would permit a free vote on the same-sex marriage law that Parliament passed this year. Prime Minister Paul Martin had commanded his cabinet to support the law, but Mr. Harper promises that he’d issue no such order to his own members of Parliament. And if the House of Commons voted to maintain same-sex marriage, Mr. Harper said, he’d consider the issue closed.
The law has been formally changed, it is true, but for many Canadians same-sex marriage isn’t a dead issue. Given a yes-or-no choice, a slim majority of the populace would probably support it, but some are skeptics and would prefer a civil-union arrangement. The question is complicated and electorally perilous.
Mr. Harper has made a firm, clear and honest statement where vagueness might have been more politically convenient. If the other party leaders follow his lead, as they should, we’re in for the most meaningful election campaign in modern history.
Maybe Mr. Harper is considering the lessons of the 2004 campaign. Back then, his opponents convinced many voters that he and his Tories had a hidden agenda to drag Canada back to feudalism, or maybe the Inquisition. If he were to stay silent or equivocal on the same-sex marriage question, he’d be inviting more of the same. So now we know what his policy is, as we do Mr. Martin’s (leave the new marriage law as is) and Jack Layton’s (ditto). Good. Let’s put them aside and begin considering their views on other matters.
Such as health care. Does Mr. Martin look at hospital waiting rooms and consider the publicly funded health system fixed for a generation by the $42-billion health accord he signed? Exactly what role does Mr. Harper see for the private sector? Would Mr. Layton invoke the notwithstanding clause to “protect” the existing system from the Supreme Court, which says too-long waiting lists jeopardize patients’ personal safety? These are hard questions, but real people’s lives depend on the answers. Generic promises to improve Canadian health care aren’t enough.
Of course, any chance for a real public discussion this election could easily be scuttled by strategists and partisans who choose to distort each other’s views to demonize their opponents rather than challenging them.
Mr. Martin’s team is off to an especially bad start, insinuating that Canadians who are uncomfortable with same-sex marriage — and there are many — are extremists. However, what earned Mr. Martin the cheap-shot-of-the-day award was his silly suggestion that Mr. Harper doesn’t love Canada as much as he, Mr. Martin, does. This is schoolyard stuff, and it’s tiresome.
The first duty of a professional politician is respect for the voters. In the first days of the campaign, only one major-party leader has shown any. >>> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1531968/posts
Compliments of today’s Winnipeg Free Press, here’s a good laugh to start the day:
CBC postpones Douglas movie over election
TORONTO — The Tommy Douglas Story, a two-part CBC-TV miniseries about the late politician regarded as the father of Canadian medicare, has had its air dates moved from January to mid-March.
CBC spokeswoman Ruth-Ellen Soles says the decision was made by the CBC and was not the result of any guidelines issued by the CRTC that broadcasters should ensure fair and balanced programming during the current federal campaign.
“We did make the decision,” says Soles. “Our goal in any of our election coverage is, of course, to be able to be as fair and balanced as we possibly can, and we work very hard at that. And we were concerned that there would be a perception of partisanship if it ran during the campaign.”
Naturally, the CBC didn’t find it necessary to postpone their Mulroney special.
Oops, I should have said ANOTHER good laugh … Craig started things on just the right note!
Sir Paul McCartney, fresh from his outrage over animal suffering in China (quite how he overlooked the human suffering there is beyond me), has now sent a missive to Uncle Paulie issuing a cease and desist order for the seal hunt.
The un-dead ex-Beetle threatens to visit the floes hisself if his wishes are not carried out.
To the best of my knowledge, Sir Paul is not someone to whom the Liberals can pander for his vote, so I�m betting on his letter going into the wastepaper basket tout suite.
Joe Molnar.
If you want to complain about liberal bias at CBC and Liberal bias at other MSM outlets, you have a valid point. But at least be frank enough to admit that you don’t mind bias that leans your own way. To call Fox News and Western Standard and the Sun objective or “Fair & Balanced” is silly. At least call a spade a spade.
Prime Minister Paul Martin was speaking to the gathering of Aboriginals at Kelowna
He spoke
for almost an hour on his future plans for increasing every Native’s
present standard of living, should he be re-elected. He also referred to his career as Finance Minister.
Although the Prime Minister was vague on the details of his plan, he seemed
most enthusiastic about his future ideas for helping his “red sisters and brothers”.
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribes presented him with
a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name – Walking Eagle. The proud
Prime Minister then departed in his motorcade, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later inquired of the group of chiefs as to how they came
to select the new name given to the Prime Minister.
They explained that Walking Eagle is the name given to a bird so full
of shit it can no longer fly.
Poor CBC got caught with its bias down. Interviewed a well-known financial analyst Dale Orr about the proposed cut in GST and he had nothing but praise for the move, saying its effects will be felt immediatley AND those on social assistance will really feel the benefits. Poor Nancy Wilson could only sit there and nod. Don’t you hate it when you’re forced to be fair?
Where do you stand on the pay for press issue. Do you or would you take some cash?
CTV promotes their election blog as ‘unfiltered’. They then proceed to pre-read and filter all posts. I’ve noticed almost all the comments on the CTV blog are pro liberal and especially anti Harper. Any comments I have attempted never made it to the blog and they were very considerate. Liberals win again I guess. Shame on CTV. Write them and let them know what you think about their ‘unfiltered’ blog.
Excerpts from a letter from a retired Military Officer No.29/05 FRENCH ENGLISH CONFLICT
I can’t answer for young, serving members. A commissionaire friend of mine who was in the Toronto Scottish Rifles militia for a long time told me a couple of years ago that the military were beginning to issue orders to English language units on the parade square in French. Maybe when I was young and fresh out of high school I might have thought it all a big lark.
The only other thing I can suggest is that Anglophone public servants are launching a class action suit against the government language policies and you can be assured that whatever discriminatory moves the government makes that affect the public service are being made to the military, the exception being that military members are told to shut up. It’s part of the old familiarity breeds contempt psychology. The reasoning is that if they are allowed to complain or balk on the language issue and they get away with it, they might be tempted to refuse an order from a superior in a wartime situation.
I have been gone from the military for 15 years. You can tell from my “Story of a Military and Public Service Career that things were bad. Since then, the federal government has tightened the linguistic screws and become more brazen. Conclusion?
Dyane Adam recently suggested that federal guards on the Saskatchewan/US border could be fired if they were not bilingual. What does that say about the government’s attitude toward its employees and why should their stance on the military be different?
You might recall that A highland regiment was to have formed the honour guard at the pepper spray conference in Vancouver, and crouton said they didn’t look “Canadian enough,” so the Vandoos were flown out to BC to replace them.
From: Tanya C. Hsu
To: Catherine McMillan
Subject: Re: Flamer Rips Mensan
You stupid fool. You stupid stupid fool.
I work with a government department in Washington DC. You have *no idea* of what and who can make life very difficult for you.
You ought to rethink fast. http://muttawa.blogspot.com/
The Haiti connection, money laundering, drug trafficking, our government, CIDA, regime change, blood on Canada’s hands, missing taxpayer’s dollars.
More on this later.
LYING LIBERAL LOOOOSERS
TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE � I think this is the Ukrainian orange revolution flag for Conservatives in this election. A simple non-threatening gesture that says it all.
The liberal salute for this election could be the loser sigh where you hold your fist up to your head like you were saluting with the thumb and forefinger extended to make the
L
for Loser sign, or better still, Lying Liberal Loser, Lying Liberal Larcenist Etc. It�s not vulgar, it�s not impolite, it�s not loud, but believe me when I used it on my liberal friends in the middle of discussion recently smirked then gave them a dismissal flick of the wrist it drove them crazy. Do it throughout their side of the argument as well as yours to make a point, and they turn apoplectic. They can�t do anything to counter, and in one instance it infuriated one loud-mouthed liberal supporter to the extent that he gave me the finger. This you�ll like, I gave him a big smile, opened my arms wide and said, ahhh a long time liberal supporter, did you know trudeau? As I excused myself and walked away he was actually yelling. Could you imagine the cBc and other TV networks trying to edit out all the LIBERAL SALUTES? Regardless of the circumstances, whose is being interviewed or the topic we�ve had our say in that interview. In front of any camera anywhere over the next while our �orange flag� against anything liberal will have been waived.
SIMPLICITY being the key
Pass this to Harper�s Headquarters someone
Scrap AdScam I-Love-Canada’s-Gross-Taxation ( we Librano$$$ worship taxes & your money; this is a stick-up) Martin & the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Take the Liberals down to Zero, 0.0000 %%%%%%. Scrap Martin. >>>>>>
Martin: Reducing GST not the path to follow
Liberal leader Paul Martin listens to a speaker at a breakfast meeting on international relations in Montreal. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)
MONTREAL (CP) – The GST tables have been turned on the Liberals.
They won power 12 years ago promising to eliminate it and have suddenly been transformed into champions of the unpopular consumption tax. Prime Minister Paul Martin was flooded with questions about a Conservative plan to slash the goods and services tax to five per cent from seven per cent – and he repeatedly defended the levy. “I don’t believe that is the path to follow,” he said of the Tory plan.
“Canadians have been down this road before. They’ve heard this story.”
They heard it in 1993 – when Martin himself co-authored the Liberal red book that promised to scrap the tax. The Liberals backed away from the promise once they took office, and now find themselves swapping roles with the Tories. >>>
via cnews
Jaymeister
How about an almost complete lack of non liberal biased media?
Sun media…. not available in BC.
Fox news….. american. ! channel out of how many?
Western standard…… very mainstream. Circulation of how many?
Go through the media in canada and there is one viewpoint. That is the problem.
You are just a symptom of the problem.
enough
Actually Paul, I think if you search the archives here, you’ll find mention of the delightful Tanya Hsu.
Jaymeister:
There are survey results (Pew Research, I think) that suggest that of all the news networks, FoxNews is indeed the most fair and balanced. The one I’m thinking of found that one had to watch CNN for about twice as many hours to be exposed to conservative “think tank” opinions as one did Fox to hear viewpoints from liberal ones.
Secondly, the Western Standard does not pretend to be anything but what it is. As I do on this blog, the political position of the magazine is worn on its sleeve.
Enough,
Please explain to me how any of what you said addresses the point I brought up. When you say “non liberal biased media” what you really mean is “conservative biased media”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But just tell it like it is instead of pretending that these media outlets are any more objective and impartial than the other ones.
Jaymaster,
Perhaps my fairness observation was confusing to some readers. Western Standard is clearly conservative oriented and Lorrie Goldstein leaves no illusions for his readers where he is coming from, nor did I intend them to appear anything other than we understand them to be. However FOX News gives their viewers a balanced view which cannot be said for the other Canadian mainstream media, television in particular.
No tough questions for Martin and Layton from Liberal lickspittle journalists. And always, always slanted and pointed negative observations from the talking heads about Harper. Does that clarify my position?
And yes, I am delighted to have a biased conservative voice in the markeplace but even you Jaymaster, should be willing to admit the tilt is badly and sadly to the left. And in my view there is nothing “silly” about that, sad yes, but not silly.
I have to laugh at the Lie-beral’s for trying to spin the proposed GST tax cut by the Consevatives as the only tax cut the CPC is interested in. Pathetic little slimy creatures, that’s the LPC for ya!
Kate,
I’m not familiar with the survey and its contents, its criteria for judging quantity – and quality – of liberal and conservative thought (I don’t consider Alan Colmes to be an intellectual heavyweight). So I’ll defer to you on that point. My only point in this discussion is that bias is everywhere, and we judge bias in media through the prism of our own biases. (Where is the line between liberal and conservative anyway? Who defines that?) And anybody who complains about liberal bias would have no such beefs about coverage leaning to the right. So why can’t people just be honest and say they want to see more conservative MSM coverage, rather than “non-liberal”? I wish everyone on both sides would wear their political stripes in the open.
Joe,
I concede the point to you that the CBC leans left – no doubt about it. CTV I think is more balanced in terms of ideology (pro-business, pro-law & order issues, socially liberal) but seems toi be pretty soft on the Liberal scandals. Global I haven’t watched a whole lot, so I can’t comment. But I have to disagre about Fox News. As openly hostile as CBC seems to be towards Harper, that’s how Fox is towards Democrats and Europe.
I was watching CTV Newsnet’s broadcast of Stephen Harper’s policy announcement regarding the GST and his plans for it. As I was watching I realized that this was going to be a major plank in their campaign. I was anxious to hear the media’s questions (partly morbid curiousity…”Do you love puppies Mr. Harper?). After a couple of questions CTV broke away from Mr. Harper to get an update on Conrad Black’s trial. It was nine or so in the morning, earlier in Chicago, Black was scheduled to appear at FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. They talked about all aspects of the case, about bail, will he appear, where does he get his money….and then they cut back to the real news.
Have I grown cynical? The media demands a positive campaign and they demand Harper put forth some policies and not just AdScam talking points. Then they cut away the first chance they get during the first major policy announcement, to a non-news story about someone who is both notorious and of a conservative mindset. Am I making things up in my head? Could the update at the courthouse not waited until after the announcement? Is a proposed cut in the GST not a major policy announcement? Is the CTV hoping to hype the Conrad Black bail hearing to the level on Michael Jackson and “littleboygate”? Help me please, because I have no answers.
A large part of the problem with left-bias in Canadian media is that the public broadcaster is one of them. My taxes pay for that tripe.
Fox News is an American beast and so I see little reason to bring it into our little discourse here. Unfortunately, those that defend the media here in Canada (Jaymeister is not one of those, he is merely advocating disclosure and transparency…),always pull up Fox as their arguing point. They cannot come up with a Canadian rebuttal. I do suspect this will change soon, however, sooner or later someone in broadcasting is going to figure out that there is a large portion of the population that is crying for a change. I will applaud the first to make it.
I only brought up Fox because Joe brought it up as an example of, in his words, “honest and unbiased reporting”. I disagree with that. I can see how conservatives would find their coverage refreshing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not biased too. If there’s enough of a market for it, Canada will have its own conservative MSM channel, as NBT suggests, which would be great fodder for the lefty blogs.
I was watching TV last night when that Capital One commercial came on with the little ditty about “hands in my pockets” If someone has the expertise to take that commercial and paste Paul Martin’s face on the man who has his hands in the pockets, wouldn’t that make a great posting. If that parody is already available does anyone have a link to it?
Somebody posted about MacKay’s actions these days. I’m really worried that he is trying to undermine Harper and has become more than too cozy with the usual suspects. Yesterday, in Halifax, when Harper was talking and introducing everybody, he pointed to MacKay and introduced him at the pride of Pictou, and a good friend to him and his son Ben. And I can tell you as I sit here typing this, MacKay actually looked sheepish, got red and couldn’t even summon a smile. My intuition is on overdrive right now, and I think there’s something going on. So much good news coming out, gradually eroded by a petulant boyo who wants to be leader.
“the CBC leans left”
Why is it that conservatives are always “far-right” while the most any lefty can be is “left-leaning.”
The CBC has leaned left for so long that it fell over long time ago.
Over at Let It Bleed, Bob Tarantino inserted a cough into a article by Heather Malik when she described herself as “centre-left.” For cripes sake, the woman is an admitted socialist – what’s centrist about that?
Is it possible that MacKay will “cross the floor” DURING the election?
CBC has now pulled the Mulroney documentary as well
Hey wouldn’t it be fun if a reporter were to ask Paul Martin:
Do you love Alberta?
How about the follow up:
Which do you love more, Alberta or Quebec?
And finally:
Are you willing to take a polygraph?
Black humour (For G-G Jean, mais oui, non).$$$$$$
Protesters yelled “Martin lies, Haitians die”
Second bulletin: Martin recovered from bird flu. Pity.>>
In his address earlier this morning in front of the Council for International Relations in Montreal, Martin’s speech was briefly interrupted by hecklers.
Protesters yelled “Martin lies, Haitians die” — referring to Canada’s military presence in Haiti. Martin recovered and continued with his remarks on Canada’s global leadership in the battle against bird flu. >>> more http://www.rapp.org/url/?NVNG4VJZ
ctv.ca
Mississauga Matt: And Horrible Heather, without any self-conciousness, also writes a style column in the Globe about buying chic and expensive things she just must have to ease the misery of existing in a capitalist hell-hole so close to the Evil States.
Mark
Ottawa
A little joke for everyone… not sure what the velocity of email is these days so it may be old…but here goes:
A man enters a bar and orders a drink. The bar has a robot bartender.
The robot serves him a perfectly prepared cocktail, and then asks him, “What’s your IQ?”
The man replies “150” and the robot proceeds to make conversation about global warming factors, quantum physics and spirituality, biomimicry, environmental interconnectedness, string theory, nano-technology, and sexual proclivities
The customer is very impressed and thinks, “This is really cool.” He decides to test the robot. He walks out of the bar, turns around, and comes back in for another drink. Again, the robot serves him the perfectly prepared drink and asks him, “What’s your IQ?”
The man responds, “about a 100.”
Immediately the robot starts talking, but this time, about football, NASCAR, baseball, supermodels, favourite fast foods, guns, and women’s breasts.
Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the robot one more test. He heads out and returns, the robot serves him and asks, “What’s your IQ?”
The man replies, “Er, 50, I think.”
And the robot says… real slowly… “So…………… ya gonna vote for the Liberals again?”
Get a load of this from Wednesday’s Ottawa Sun:
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Election/2005/11/30/1329802-sun.html
“Farnworth expects voters will be cynical of the fact her opponent has long lived in the “lofty” world of politics with little experience in the grassroots community. Baird represents a “very narrow” constituency of white Anglo-Saxon males, she said.”
Lee Farnworth is the Liberal, and John Baird is the PC candidate and former cabinet minister in Mike Harris’s government.
Can you imagine the uproar if a CPC candidate had said something like this about a Liberal representing a narrow ethnic constituency?
Good one Craig!
Kate, below is the email sent last night to Canadian Press.
I had two choices to address the email to either the guy in “Sales”
or a the other name on their site.
I chose name #2.
FYI:
Mr. Woods,
With the election underway Canadians are inundated with news, much of it emanating from Canadian Press.
The growth of internet blogging is changing News disseminating in Canada, as you surely know.
Biased news coverage prevalent in Canada was pointed some time ago out by Peter Kent and very recently by Lorrie Goldstein at the Sun chain.
The Canadian blogging community is currently focusing on the slanted and biased coverage favouring Liberal Paul Martin, even at this early stage of the election.
Ezra Levant’s Western Standard is a breath of fresh air but the blogging community is now very definitely in watchdog mode on Canadian news disseminating mainstream media.
This of course would include CP in that biased coverage.
So it is with interest to see how coverage of Stephen Harper’s plans to revamp how parliament will operate and whether his “Office of an Independent Prosecutor” will get fair coverage in a country rife with government malfeasance. Malfeasance which mainstream media up until now appears content to accept with an editorial shrug, rather than outrage..
I am enclosing a copy to one of Canada’s most visited blogs, Kate MacMillan at “Small Dead Animals” as I know much has already been posted there by many of her readers on the bias issue.
Like Fox News in the U.S, lets get Canadians news that henceforth becomes more
“Fair and Balanced” so Canadians can make rational judgments based on honest and unbiased reporting.
Respectfully,
Joseph Molnar
Woodstock, Ont.
Holiday Ideas
The O’Reilly Factor Christmas Ornament –
Put your holiday tree in “The No Spin Zone” with this silver glass O’Reilly Factor ornament.
Holiday tree?
Kate – I think part of Chretien’s filing needs some attention:
http://talkcanada.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_talkcanada_archive.html#113337975007874642
Basically, Gomery stopped testimony on Martin when it wasn’t supported by evidence.
Should he have?
The title of the Gomery Report is “Who is Responsible?” This was said/written by Judge Gomery himself.
Who/whom has the Liberal Party of AdScam Martin nailed as being responsible for the crimes/fraud/bribery/money-laundering & etc.?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jean Chretien >>>>>>
The Gomery Inquiry/Report is a sham/deception committted by Earnscliffe/Martin & the Liberal cabal>>>>>>>> a whitewash of Martin & his gang
Chretien wants Martin & gang to accept their share of blame in the AdScam Sponsorship Scandal. Go for it Jean, ole ami, ole Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Excerpt from Judge Gomery’s statement:
“Another theme that seems to preoccupy everyone is the question of the accountability of deputy ministers and senior officials. The title of my first Report released today is “Who Is Responsible?” If Ministers of the Crown do not accept responsibility when government expenditures and programs are mismanaged, then on whose shoulders should responsibility rest? Should it be public servants? Should ministers be forced to accept responsibility and suffer the consequences of faults in departmental management? Should deputy ministers, the public service heads of departments under ministers, be held responsible for financial management and be held accountable for departmental maladministration?
The Commission’s mandate directs me to address these questions of the respective responsibilities and accountabilities of ministers and public servants. The issue is not whether to get rid of the principle of ministerial responsibility, but whether the interpretation of this principle needs to be clarified or modified to ensure that someone will be responsible to ensure that laws and rules are observed. We also need to examine the role that should be played by Parliament and parliamentary committees in ensuring that public servants observe the rules. To whom should they be required to account for their actions, and in what ways should public servants be protected from undue political influence in carrying out their duties? This issue requires me to give attention to the role of the political staff in each Minister’s office and in the office of the Prime Minister, and its relationship with public servants.”
http://www.gomery.ca/en/phase1report/statement.asp
Oh, this is a good one!
http://talkcanada.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_talkcanada_archive.html#113345014484960542
Mr. Scott Brison:
Mr. Speaker, my second question for the newly minted member for Saskatoon�Rosetown�Biggar is a very simple one.
One thing I do respect about the New Democrats is their consistency and sense of values and commitment to those values over a period of time.
That stands in stark contrast to the Liberals. The hon. member was quite right in pointing out that while he is opposed to the GST and would like to reduce the GST, so were the Liberals of similar persuasion before 1993. Let me suggest that a potential replacement for those revenues may be gained from a hypocrisy tax. If we were to have a hypocrisy tax that would be levied on politicians who break red book promises, perhaps that would be one way to help replace revenue from the GST.
I would appreciate his erudite views on my proposal for a hypocrisy tax which would serve two functions. First it would force Liberals to keep their promises for a change. Second, it would raise those revenues to reduce the GST, as the hon. member feels is important.
“Christmas proclamation under fire from Jewish group”
http://sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/01/christmasoxford051201.html
I especially like the following quote from a representative of the Jewish group: “As I’ve said a number of times, we have no objections to the celebration of Christmas,” Goldberg said.”
I guess we should be grateful we’re still allowed Christmas I guess…
I guess I’ll toot my own horn here:
The China e-Lobby (and its parent organization, the China Support Network) officially endorsed the CPC earlier this week, based on the party’s (very good) record on Communist China:
http://china-e-lobby.blogspot.com/2005/11/our-message-to-canadians-please-vote.html
I read over at LGF that the Green Party of The United States has adopted a resolution to divest and boycott Israel.
I posted over at the Green Party of Canada’s blog asking if they had the same policy. No answer yet.
Anyone know?
This is a good use of photoshop, as well ….
Oops, one guess too much.
Yesterday in Vancouver Dosanjh was erecting a lawn sign when he was asked/told by a reporter that if he knew the address he was at had twice been raided for a “Grow Op” all he responded was its a new house here.
I wonder if it is a property he owns. It was reported when he was Premier of BC that one of his rentals was busted as a Grow OP house.
Still reading http://www.canadafreepress.com and saw this today:
By Judi McLeod
Thursday, December 1:
MARTIN’S FORMER ADSCAM COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR TO COSTA RICA
The 100-million Canadian tax dollars, with which the federal Liberal government floated its Adscam sponsorship program, may be lost forever in faraway Costa Rica.
A popular playground for well-heeled Canadians with Liberal connections, Costa Rica is home to the United Nations University for Peace. Prime Minister Paul Martin mentor Maurice Strong, being litigated against by the Costa Rican government over a land deal, is still listed as president of the UPeace council.
Canadian Adscam legends, who washed up on Costa Rican shores, include the flamboyant Jean Lafleur, a key figure in the Adscam scandal, whose communication firm executives raked in $15-million in government expenses over a four-year period.
More..
Harper just announced reduction in GST – 1% in first year and in five years another percent. CBC allowed him enough time on TV for the announcement, then to Jack, Paul and Ralph. As a bookkeeper it’s to bad that they didn’t axe the tax totally. The cost of bookkeeping for 7 cent on a dollar is crazy. But, every Canadian will feel this right away, gas, groceries, cars building homes. With the cost of supplies rises so quickly anywhere there can be a savings of 1% will be good right across the board! I am glad to see that Mr. Harper is coming to the people of the country with his vision, not slinging mud. Positive!
From William Hazlitt’s The Spirit of the Age (TOC)
“This tone of impartiality and indifference, however, did not at all suit those who profited or existed by abuses, who breathed the very air of corruption. They knew well enough that ‘those who are not for them are against them.’ They wanted a publication impervious alike to truth and candour, that, hood- winked itself, should lead public opinion blindfold, that should stick at nothing to serve the turn of a party, that should be the exclusive organ of prejudice, the sordid tool of power: that should go the whole length of want of principle in palliating every dishonest measure, of want of decency in defaming every honest man: that should prejudge every question, traduce every opponent: that should give no quarter to fair inquiry or liberal sentiment: that should be ‘ugly all over with hypocrisy,’ and present one foul blotch of servility, intolerance, falsehood, spite, and ill-manners.”
William Hazlitt (1778-1830 )
http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Essays/Hazlitt/SpiritAge/Jeffrey.htm
Hazlitt had the likes of The Liberal Party of Canada in his sights.>>>>
Let these words stand as a tribute to Stephen Harper : “Treat voters with respect”. >>>
Treat voters with respect (Editorial – Ottawa Citizen)
The Ottawa Citizen ^ | Thursday, December 01, 2005 | Ottawa Citizen Editors
Posted on 12/01/2005 8:03:12 AM PST by fanfan
Although we support the right of same-sex couples to marry, we welcomed Stephen Harper’s candour when he said he wouldn’t obstruct efforts to repeal legislation allowing gay weddings. This should mark the beginning of a frank debate on the future of the country.
Mr. Harper said this week that if elected, he would permit a free vote on the same-sex marriage law that Parliament passed this year. Prime Minister Paul Martin had commanded his cabinet to support the law, but Mr. Harper promises that he’d issue no such order to his own members of Parliament. And if the House of Commons voted to maintain same-sex marriage, Mr. Harper said, he’d consider the issue closed.
The law has been formally changed, it is true, but for many Canadians same-sex marriage isn’t a dead issue. Given a yes-or-no choice, a slim majority of the populace would probably support it, but some are skeptics and would prefer a civil-union arrangement. The question is complicated and electorally perilous.
Mr. Harper has made a firm, clear and honest statement where vagueness might have been more politically convenient. If the other party leaders follow his lead, as they should, we’re in for the most meaningful election campaign in modern history.
Maybe Mr. Harper is considering the lessons of the 2004 campaign. Back then, his opponents convinced many voters that he and his Tories had a hidden agenda to drag Canada back to feudalism, or maybe the Inquisition. If he were to stay silent or equivocal on the same-sex marriage question, he’d be inviting more of the same. So now we know what his policy is, as we do Mr. Martin’s (leave the new marriage law as is) and Jack Layton’s (ditto). Good. Let’s put them aside and begin considering their views on other matters.
Such as health care. Does Mr. Martin look at hospital waiting rooms and consider the publicly funded health system fixed for a generation by the $42-billion health accord he signed? Exactly what role does Mr. Harper see for the private sector? Would Mr. Layton invoke the notwithstanding clause to “protect” the existing system from the Supreme Court, which says too-long waiting lists jeopardize patients’ personal safety? These are hard questions, but real people’s lives depend on the answers. Generic promises to improve Canadian health care aren’t enough.
Of course, any chance for a real public discussion this election could easily be scuttled by strategists and partisans who choose to distort each other’s views to demonize their opponents rather than challenging them.
Mr. Martin’s team is off to an especially bad start, insinuating that Canadians who are uncomfortable with same-sex marriage — and there are many — are extremists. However, what earned Mr. Martin the cheap-shot-of-the-day award was his silly suggestion that Mr. Harper doesn’t love Canada as much as he, Mr. Martin, does. This is schoolyard stuff, and it’s tiresome.
The first duty of a professional politician is respect for the voters. In the first days of the campaign, only one major-party leader has shown any. >>>
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1531968/posts
Compliments of today’s Winnipeg Free Press, here’s a good laugh to start the day:
CBC postpones Douglas movie over election
TORONTO — The Tommy Douglas Story, a two-part CBC-TV miniseries about the late politician regarded as the father of Canadian medicare, has had its air dates moved from January to mid-March.
CBC spokeswoman Ruth-Ellen Soles says the decision was made by the CBC and was not the result of any guidelines issued by the CRTC that broadcasters should ensure fair and balanced programming during the current federal campaign.
“We did make the decision,” says Soles. “Our goal in any of our election coverage is, of course, to be able to be as fair and balanced as we possibly can, and we work very hard at that. And we were concerned that there would be a perception of partisanship if it ran during the campaign.”
Naturally, the CBC didn’t find it necessary to postpone their Mulroney special.
Oops, I should have said ANOTHER good laugh … Craig started things on just the right note!
Sir Paul McCartney, fresh from his outrage over animal suffering in China (quite how he overlooked the human suffering there is beyond me), has now sent a missive to Uncle Paulie issuing a cease and desist order for the seal hunt.
The un-dead ex-Beetle threatens to visit the floes hisself if his wishes are not carried out.
To the best of my knowledge, Sir Paul is not someone to whom the Liberals can pander for his vote, so I�m betting on his letter going into the wastepaper basket tout suite.
Joe Molnar.
If you want to complain about liberal bias at CBC and Liberal bias at other MSM outlets, you have a valid point. But at least be frank enough to admit that you don’t mind bias that leans your own way. To call Fox News and Western Standard and the Sun objective or “Fair & Balanced” is silly. At least call a spade a spade.
Prime Minister Paul Martin was speaking to the gathering of Aboriginals at Kelowna
He spoke
for almost an hour on his future plans for increasing every Native’s
present standard of living, should he be re-elected. He also referred to his career as Finance Minister.
Although the Prime Minister was vague on the details of his plan, he seemed
most enthusiastic about his future ideas for helping his “red sisters and brothers”.
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribes presented him with
a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name – Walking Eagle. The proud
Prime Minister then departed in his motorcade, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later inquired of the group of chiefs as to how they came
to select the new name given to the Prime Minister.
They explained that Walking Eagle is the name given to a bird so full
of shit it can no longer fly.
Poor CBC got caught with its bias down. Interviewed a well-known financial analyst Dale Orr about the proposed cut in GST and he had nothing but praise for the move, saying its effects will be felt immediatley AND those on social assistance will really feel the benefits. Poor Nancy Wilson could only sit there and nod. Don’t you hate it when you’re forced to be fair?
Where do you stand on the pay for press issue. Do you or would you take some cash?
CTV promotes their election blog as ‘unfiltered’. They then proceed to pre-read and filter all posts. I’ve noticed almost all the comments on the CTV blog are pro liberal and especially anti Harper. Any comments I have attempted never made it to the blog and they were very considerate. Liberals win again I guess. Shame on CTV. Write them and let them know what you think about their ‘unfiltered’ blog.
Excerpts from a letter from a retired Military Officer No.29/05 FRENCH ENGLISH CONFLICT
I can’t answer for young, serving members. A commissionaire friend of mine who was in the Toronto Scottish Rifles militia for a long time told me a couple of years ago that the military were beginning to issue orders to English language units on the parade square in French. Maybe when I was young and fresh out of high school I might have thought it all a big lark.
The only other thing I can suggest is that Anglophone public servants are launching a class action suit against the government language policies and you can be assured that whatever discriminatory moves the government makes that affect the public service are being made to the military, the exception being that military members are told to shut up. It’s part of the old familiarity breeds contempt psychology. The reasoning is that if they are allowed to complain or balk on the language issue and they get away with it, they might be tempted to refuse an order from a superior in a wartime situation.
I have been gone from the military for 15 years. You can tell from my “Story of a Military and Public Service Career that things were bad. Since then, the federal government has tightened the linguistic screws and become more brazen. Conclusion?
Dyane Adam recently suggested that federal guards on the Saskatchewan/US border could be fired if they were not bilingual. What does that say about the government’s attitude toward its employees and why should their stance on the military be different?
You might recall that A highland regiment was to have formed the honour guard at the pepper spray conference in Vancouver, and crouton said they didn’t look “Canadian enough,” so the Vandoos were flown out to BC to replace them.
From: Tanya C. Hsu
To: Catherine McMillan
Subject: Re: Flamer Rips Mensan
You stupid fool. You stupid stupid fool.
I work with a government department in Washington DC. You have *no idea* of what and who can make life very difficult for you.
You ought to rethink fast.
http://muttawa.blogspot.com/
The Haiti connection, money laundering, drug trafficking, our government, CIDA, regime change, blood on Canada’s hands, missing taxpayer’s dollars.
More on this later.
It looks to me like the CPC will have to eject Mackay sooner rather than later. Here his is stabbing his boss in the back *AGAIN*:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051201/ELXNTORIES01/TPNational/Canada
…and now he has a taint of Desmarais about him:
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2005/11/the_new_conserv.html
LYING LIBERAL LOOOOSERS
TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE � I think this is the Ukrainian orange revolution flag for Conservatives in this election. A simple non-threatening gesture that says it all.
The liberal salute for this election could be the loser sigh where you hold your fist up to your head like you were saluting with the thumb and forefinger extended to make the
L
for Loser sign, or better still, Lying Liberal Loser, Lying Liberal Larcenist Etc. It�s not vulgar, it�s not impolite, it�s not loud, but believe me when I used it on my liberal friends in the middle of discussion recently smirked then gave them a dismissal flick of the wrist it drove them crazy. Do it throughout their side of the argument as well as yours to make a point, and they turn apoplectic. They can�t do anything to counter, and in one instance it infuriated one loud-mouthed liberal supporter to the extent that he gave me the finger. This you�ll like, I gave him a big smile, opened my arms wide and said, ahhh a long time liberal supporter, did you know trudeau? As I excused myself and walked away he was actually yelling. Could you imagine the cBc and other TV networks trying to edit out all the LIBERAL SALUTES? Regardless of the circumstances, whose is being interviewed or the topic we�ve had our say in that interview. In front of any camera anywhere over the next while our �orange flag� against anything liberal will have been waived.
SIMPLICITY being the key
Pass this to Harper�s Headquarters someone
Scrap AdScam I-Love-Canada’s-Gross-Taxation ( we Librano$$$ worship taxes & your money; this is a stick-up) Martin & the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Take the Liberals down to Zero, 0.0000 %%%%%%. Scrap Martin. >>>>>>
Martin: Reducing GST not the path to follow
Liberal leader Paul Martin listens to a speaker at a breakfast meeting on international relations in Montreal. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)
MONTREAL (CP) – The GST tables have been turned on the Liberals.
They won power 12 years ago promising to eliminate it and have suddenly been transformed into champions of the unpopular consumption tax. Prime Minister Paul Martin was flooded with questions about a Conservative plan to slash the goods and services tax to five per cent from seven per cent – and he repeatedly defended the levy. “I don’t believe that is the path to follow,” he said of the Tory plan.
“Canadians have been down this road before. They’ve heard this story.”
They heard it in 1993 – when Martin himself co-authored the Liberal red book that promised to scrap the tax. The Liberals backed away from the promise once they took office, and now find themselves swapping roles with the Tories. >>>
via cnews
Jaymeister
How about an almost complete lack of non liberal biased media?
Sun media…. not available in BC.
Fox news….. american. ! channel out of how many?
Western standard…… very mainstream. Circulation of how many?
Go through the media in canada and there is one viewpoint. That is the problem.
You are just a symptom of the problem.
enough
Actually Paul, I think if you search the archives here, you’ll find mention of the delightful Tanya Hsu.
Jaymeister:
There are survey results (Pew Research, I think) that suggest that of all the news networks, FoxNews is indeed the most fair and balanced. The one I’m thinking of found that one had to watch CNN for about twice as many hours to be exposed to conservative “think tank” opinions as one did Fox to hear viewpoints from liberal ones.
Secondly, the Western Standard does not pretend to be anything but what it is. As I do on this blog, the political position of the magazine is worn on its sleeve.
Enough,
Please explain to me how any of what you said addresses the point I brought up. When you say “non liberal biased media” what you really mean is “conservative biased media”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But just tell it like it is instead of pretending that these media outlets are any more objective and impartial than the other ones.
Jaymaster,
Perhaps my fairness observation was confusing to some readers. Western Standard is clearly conservative oriented and Lorrie Goldstein leaves no illusions for his readers where he is coming from, nor did I intend them to appear anything other than we understand them to be. However FOX News gives their viewers a balanced view which cannot be said for the other Canadian mainstream media, television in particular.
No tough questions for Martin and Layton from Liberal lickspittle journalists. And always, always slanted and pointed negative observations from the talking heads about Harper. Does that clarify my position?
And yes, I am delighted to have a biased conservative voice in the markeplace but even you Jaymaster, should be willing to admit the tilt is badly and sadly to the left. And in my view there is nothing “silly” about that, sad yes, but not silly.
I have to laugh at the Lie-beral’s for trying to spin the proposed GST tax cut by the Consevatives as the only tax cut the CPC is interested in. Pathetic little slimy creatures, that’s the LPC for ya!
Kate,
I’m not familiar with the survey and its contents, its criteria for judging quantity – and quality – of liberal and conservative thought (I don’t consider Alan Colmes to be an intellectual heavyweight). So I’ll defer to you on that point. My only point in this discussion is that bias is everywhere, and we judge bias in media through the prism of our own biases. (Where is the line between liberal and conservative anyway? Who defines that?) And anybody who complains about liberal bias would have no such beefs about coverage leaning to the right. So why can’t people just be honest and say they want to see more conservative MSM coverage, rather than “non-liberal”? I wish everyone on both sides would wear their political stripes in the open.
Joe,
I concede the point to you that the CBC leans left – no doubt about it. CTV I think is more balanced in terms of ideology (pro-business, pro-law & order issues, socially liberal) but seems toi be pretty soft on the Liberal scandals. Global I haven’t watched a whole lot, so I can’t comment. But I have to disagre about Fox News. As openly hostile as CBC seems to be towards Harper, that’s how Fox is towards Democrats and Europe.
I was watching CTV Newsnet’s broadcast of Stephen Harper’s policy announcement regarding the GST and his plans for it. As I was watching I realized that this was going to be a major plank in their campaign. I was anxious to hear the media’s questions (partly morbid curiousity…”Do you love puppies Mr. Harper?). After a couple of questions CTV broke away from Mr. Harper to get an update on Conrad Black’s trial. It was nine or so in the morning, earlier in Chicago, Black was scheduled to appear at FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. They talked about all aspects of the case, about bail, will he appear, where does he get his money….and then they cut back to the real news.
Have I grown cynical? The media demands a positive campaign and they demand Harper put forth some policies and not just AdScam talking points. Then they cut away the first chance they get during the first major policy announcement, to a non-news story about someone who is both notorious and of a conservative mindset. Am I making things up in my head? Could the update at the courthouse not waited until after the announcement? Is a proposed cut in the GST not a major policy announcement? Is the CTV hoping to hype the Conrad Black bail hearing to the level on Michael Jackson and “littleboygate”? Help me please, because I have no answers.
A large part of the problem with left-bias in Canadian media is that the public broadcaster is one of them. My taxes pay for that tripe.
Fox News is an American beast and so I see little reason to bring it into our little discourse here. Unfortunately, those that defend the media here in Canada (Jaymeister is not one of those, he is merely advocating disclosure and transparency…),always pull up Fox as their arguing point. They cannot come up with a Canadian rebuttal. I do suspect this will change soon, however, sooner or later someone in broadcasting is going to figure out that there is a large portion of the population that is crying for a change. I will applaud the first to make it.
I only brought up Fox because Joe brought it up as an example of, in his words, “honest and unbiased reporting”. I disagree with that. I can see how conservatives would find their coverage refreshing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not biased too. If there’s enough of a market for it, Canada will have its own conservative MSM channel, as NBT suggests, which would be great fodder for the lefty blogs.
I was watching TV last night when that Capital One commercial came on with the little ditty about “hands in my pockets” If someone has the expertise to take that commercial and paste Paul Martin’s face on the man who has his hands in the pockets, wouldn’t that make a great posting. If that parody is already available does anyone have a link to it?
Somebody posted about MacKay’s actions these days. I’m really worried that he is trying to undermine Harper and has become more than too cozy with the usual suspects. Yesterday, in Halifax, when Harper was talking and introducing everybody, he pointed to MacKay and introduced him at the pride of Pictou, and a good friend to him and his son Ben. And I can tell you as I sit here typing this, MacKay actually looked sheepish, got red and couldn’t even summon a smile. My intuition is on overdrive right now, and I think there’s something going on. So much good news coming out, gradually eroded by a petulant boyo who wants to be leader.
“the CBC leans left”
Why is it that conservatives are always “far-right” while the most any lefty can be is “left-leaning.”
The CBC has leaned left for so long that it fell over long time ago.
Over at Let It Bleed, Bob Tarantino inserted a cough into a article by Heather Malik when she described herself as “centre-left.” For cripes sake, the woman is an admitted socialist – what’s centrist about that?
Is it possible that MacKay will “cross the floor” DURING the election?
CBC has now pulled the Mulroney documentary as well
I’ll blow someone else’s horn here and suggest that you vist Joel at ProudToBeCanadian for a partial list of the past 12 years of Liberal scandals – only 206 separate items so far!
http://www.proudtobecanadian.ca/blog/index/weblog/comments/a_liberal_record_that_apparently_makes_liberals_proud/
I’ve “tiny’d” it as well in case it gets line-wrapped.
http://tinyurl.com/7s8gq
Hey wouldn’t it be fun if a reporter were to ask Paul Martin:
Do you love Alberta?
How about the follow up:
Which do you love more, Alberta or Quebec?
And finally:
Are you willing to take a polygraph?
Black humour (For G-G Jean, mais oui, non).$$$$$$
Protesters yelled “Martin lies, Haitians die”
Second bulletin: Martin recovered from bird flu. Pity.>>
In his address earlier this morning in front of the Council for International Relations in Montreal, Martin’s speech was briefly interrupted by hecklers.
Protesters yelled “Martin lies, Haitians die” — referring to Canada’s military presence in Haiti. Martin recovered and continued with his remarks on Canada’s global leadership in the battle against bird flu. >>> more
http://www.rapp.org/url/?NVNG4VJZ
ctv.ca
Mississauga Matt: And Horrible Heather, without any self-conciousness, also writes a style column in the Globe about buying chic and expensive things she just must have to ease the misery of existing in a capitalist hell-hole so close to the Evil States.
Mark
Ottawa