In Flanders Fields

Political Animal 162 Comments

 In Flanders fields the poppies blow 
 Between the crosses, row on row, 
  That mark our place; and in the sky  
 The larks, still bravely singing, fly 
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw,
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

–John McRae, Ypres 1915

Stephen Harper
actually announced
he wants to
increase
military presence
in our cities.�
Canadian cities.�
Soldiers with guns.�
In our cities.�
In Canada.�
We did not
make this up.

– committee to re-elect
Paul Martin, 2006

 

Choose your Canada.

162 Replies to “In Flanders Fields”

  1. Yup I’m choosing my Canada it’s the Canada that would honour our own “spartan sacred band” of Dieppe. A Canada that would remember the aphorism that “if one would desire peace they should be prepared for war”, “Arms keep peace”, and “the price of freedom is eternal Vigilance”
    This is the Canada I would choose, and it’s a damn sight short of Pinochet’s Chile’ or Hitlers Germany as PMPM would have us beleive the Conservatives have in mind. Or is he perhaps projecting his own agenda… makes you think when you remember the gun registry thing and the close association with known Criminals etc.
    Daryl Haaland

  2. Sorry to go a little off topic here but who had the primary sources on that court case that happened last May or so abouts: regarding one of Paul Martin’s CSL ships getting halted in Vancouver Harbour, after a search revealed a smugglers hold containing shipping containers full of cocaine. PS I know at the time there was a publication ban on the incedent but rumours had gotten out and this seems to have been the gist of them. I’ve been speaking to some very interested parties who would like confirmable sources to use.
    Daryl H. go ahead and send links here or to my private e-mail I’m pretty sure these primary sources had been discussed here but have forgotten when or where, in the archives to
    look.

  3. What a firestorm!-and rightly so.
    I watched the debate in French and saw Mike Duffy give it to John (smirk face) Duffy. I could not believe my ears and eyes, but enjoyed it immensely.
    Kate has the issue nailed with her first post on this issue.
    So glad to see our military posting. We owe you our lives and you get very little recognition for what you do to protect us and fight for our way of life anywhere in the world and in the cities of our country when you are needed.
    The libs are so used to lying they just can’t stop and think that this will work again.
    Fortunately for us the blogs are making a difference and the people of this country are finally paying attention.
    The libs deserve to go down and they are going down HARD.
    As for ‘all the parties do it’ ..NO they don’t nor should it ever be condoned.
    The Conservatives should and I think will get a majority government, from which mandate they will govern honestly and sincerely. They deserve that mandate after the yoeman’s work they have done in parliament these last 17 months. What a frustrating exercise that had to have been.
    And to hear Layton chirping inanely about ‘getting into bed with the libs’?? After our interest rates shot up on that ‘deal’ he made with Martin to prop up crime and corruption??
    I sure do not want to see Layton as official opposition. I would much rather see the Bloc if it comes to that and it would not be the first time the Bloc formed the official opposition.
    Gilles may be Bloc but he is an honest man. Much more than I can say about Layton. He’d get in bed with the devil if it would advance his agenda one iota.
    With Martin’s announcement last night that he intends to dismantle the NWC and now these ads… they deserve to be obliterated and in the wilderness for a very long time!

  5. The Liberal Party just pulled the French ad referring to soldiers in the cities.

  6. I was wrong. The Liberal Party has the French ad defaming the Canadian Forces still on their website as of the time of this posting – just on the French side of their website only.

  7. As the granddaughter of 2 retired Canadian Air Force personnel, the daughter of a retired Canadian Navy personnel and as someone whose life was literally saved by the fine men at CFB Comox, allow me to say that I am disgusted beyond belief at the depth to which the Liberals have fallen.
    It is absolutely insulting that Martin would demonize our Armed Forces in any light, but especially in a last gasp attempt to save his own pathetic political career.
    What a mind blowing insult to all service men and women and to every citizen of this nation which they have volunteered to protect with their very lives.
    I thought the notwithstanding clause was as low as it was going to go but it is abundatly clear I have afforded them far too much credit in having one last shred of decency.
    I want to weep for my nation that this, the Liberal Party of Canada under Paul Martin, has been the best we have been able to offer ourselves and one another for so many years.
    S.O.S Stephen!

  9. The LPC are going to wish they never have to deal an an ad agency again. First Adscam and now Ad???any good ideas for a title?

  11. First “Adscam” and now “Adsplat” (I like it EBD).
    Adsplat and Mike Duffy’s dressing down of John Duffy will be what people talk about today, and every time one of the other neg ads are run, my thoughts will go back to the disgusting military ad….if this is true of most people, then I can’t see how the LPC can recover.

  16. I want to expand on previous posts a little.
    When the LPC caused millions of taxpayer dollars to disappear into Liberal friendly ad agencies it became known as Adscam.
    Now that the LPC has caused an ad that really wasn’t an ad to disappear from their website, can we call it Adscram??
    Probably not since John Duffy ensured that it isn’t going to disappear any time soon.
    Do you think he’s the mole???
    LOL!!!!
    Syncro

  17. From Not-withstanding Martin, Willy Graham, & Paul Hellyer : UFO’s Are Us Liberals>>
    Liberals to ban weapons in space
    MONTREAL (CP) – Canada would seek an international deal to permanently ban weapons in space under a re-elected Liberal government, according to a leaked copy of the party’s platform.
    via cnews >>>
    Liberal Red Book leaked!
    Waiting for the Liberal Red Book? Wait no longer! Here’s an, ahem, “advance copy”.
    Please credit the Western Standard and our blog, The Shotgun!
    LATE NIGHT READING UPDATE: Use the word search function to see what’s important in the Red Book and what’s not, measured by how many times a word appears in the 85-page document. For example:
    “notwithstanding clause”: zero … >>
    http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2006/01/liberal_red_boo.html#comments

  18. St. Crispen’s Day Speech
    Shakespeare’s HENRY V
    C. 1599
    Excerpt:
    We would not die in that man’s company
    That fears his fellowship to die with us.
    This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall live this day, and see old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian.’
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
    And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.’
    Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
    But he’ll remember, with advantages,
    What feats he did that day. >>
    http://www.chronique.com/Library/Knights/crispen.htm

  19. In the latest round of Liberal attack ads there is one which is nothing more than an insult to the proud men and women of the Canadian Forces.
    The ad which talks about the Conservative plan to place military units closer to major cities, insinuates that the Canadian public should fear their very own military. The ad is designed to attack the conservative plan but is nothing less than an affront to every single man and woman who has ever served this country.
    The point of this blatant Liberal smear appears to be that the Canadian military can not be trusted, that Canadian Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force personnel are jack-booted, sub-human slime that must be kept, at all costs, from the company of respectable civilians. Do the Liberals honestly believe that average Canadians have something to fear from their Canadian Forces?
    The government of this country owes the people of its armed forces a debt of gratitude, not insults and slander. These Canadians which Mr. Martin and his Liberal Party have seen fit to vilify are the same people who traveled thousands of miles to shore up the Red River. They left their own loved ones without power and heat in Petawawa during the Ice Storm to provide aid and comfort to average citizens in Ottawa. They regularly leave their families for months at a time in the service of peace at the request of the same government which now insults them.
    The serving members of the Canadian Forces both Regular and Reserve are the inheritors of a proud history of self sacrifice. We serve this nation both at home and abroad without regret, without hesitation and sometimes without recognition. It is this ad�s betrayal of our legacy of service which makes the implicit threat of it so revolting, so demeaning and so disheartening.
    This ad is a nauseating attack on the pride, dedication, compassion and integrity of all who have ever worn the uniform of this great nation.
    Warrant Officer Martin Gasser,
    Petawawa Ontario.

  20. Take heart, the little people of this nation admire and appreciate your dedication and service. This gang of sorry thugs will soon be banished from the halls of power like the pariahs they have proven themselves to be!!!
    Better days ahead!!
    Syncro

  21. Kate, not sure if anyone mentioned, why with the Duffy thing and all, but,
    your post comparing the two, was excellent.

  23. I saw the now imfamous ad last night and almost went ballistic. I also added a comment last night but it must have gotten lost in cyberspace.
    Now that I am a bit calmer I would like to say to those arogant *ssholes… awe, never mind. It would probably go right over their pin heads.
    I too, am a retired airman with 23+ years dedicated to Queen and country. Besides being able to tote a rifle (like all military personnel are trained and expected to be able to), I have helped evacuate northern Manitoban communities from forest fires, spent countless hours looking out aircraft windows, looking for lost/downed aircraft. I’ve helped clean up after tornados in Barrie and even searched for a lost north pole explorer up at the pointy top of Canada.
    While serving, I have lived with my family in Port Arthur, Comox, Borden, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Calgary, … you get the idea. Mr Prime Minister, these are all Canadian cities and all of them had a military presence and all have added positively to the social and economic fabric of their communities.
    The Liberals have to go and now. To let them back in would only justify their criminal like behavior. And with regards to the Duffy v Duffy b*tch slap: Way to go Doughboy!
    Per Ardua Ad Astra, eh

  24. Name the scandal?
    How bout “adscam….no not that adscam…..the other one”.
    A little long yes but it sorta makes a nice point don’t you think.

  25. AdScam Martin’s War on Canadians$
    US to Cover Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan
    Josh Pringle
    Wednesday, January 11, 2006 6:19 AM
    The United States will provide air cover to Canadian soldiers heading to Afghanistan next month.
    Reports suggest the military scrapped a plan to send Canadian CF-18’s to Afghanistan at the 11th hour.
    The National Post says the high cost of sending the fighter jets to Afghanistan and logistics are the reason for the cancellation of the plan. >>>
    cfra.com

  27. Ujjal has an interest in seeing Paul Martin go down in flames. He’s revered by the Indo-Canadian community here in Vancouver. When, as NDP Premier several years ago, he took a ‘team Canada’ entourage to his native village in India, he was described as being the Prime Minister of Canada, and said nothing to correct those who introduced him that way. Much merriment among the press travelling on that junket. Now, who would you prefer as the new Liberal leader, Joe Volpe or Ujjie-Goojie? And Brian Tobin has that tan that makes him look like George Hamilton. Glad I’ve got a REAL leader to vote for.

  29. Every single Canadian that relish’s there freedom should be outraged by this arrogance & slander. As iam sure many Canadian’s have family buried oversea’s as I do should be outraged that their family gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom just to hear this kind of nonsense. This is an insult to every armed forces personal today that VOLUNTEERED in today’s forces, & this is an outrageous insult to every single new Canadian that was persecuted & escaped regimes around the world. We cannot know what these people sacrificed to escape & come to freedom only to leave many a family member behind.

  31. THE ATTACK…well the Military has its orders and will always follow them..The political view is not a question…but the TACTIC is..When has any party done any outstanding thing for the Military. The public sector has more rights..more benefits..they have rights to EI and the military does not! But the military pay big $$ for them anyhow…Not a one political party, had addressed these. I do not agree with the tactic of the “Soldiers in the city” but then again…what are the parties doing about Gangs, police forces or even Govt officials who are been investigated…hmmmm by their own police force who gets more benefits than the military…and dont forget about Base closures which have happened during the past 10-20 years…These closures have taken out Tons of monies from the local economies and put some in the welfare stream.
    Come on….you know whos vote YOU wont Get with this type af action..

  32. We used to have soldiers here in my city. Proud soldiers with real guns. Ready to protect us. Here in Calgary. A Canadian city. Then the Liberals moved them to Redmonton. I’m not making this up.
    40 Below Tory

  33. I’ll keep saying it until every person in this country understands it. When an ad says “Authorized by the Registered Agent for the Liberal Party of Canada”, it means that the ad was “authorized”.
    There is no taking it back.
    It was APPROVED by the Liberals.
    This is the age of the internet. If you release something online, it is as good as releasing it on TV. There is no distinction. The Liberals DID release, for all the stuttering ignorance they are displaying now.
    They made their bed. They can sleep in it.

  34. Makes all 13 years of liberal wreath laying ceremonies and services for our military personel who fought and died for our country seem kind of illigitimate.
    My brother was killed in the service 25 years ago at Petawawa.
    On behalf of his wife and my family, thank you liberal Canada, for shining a light onto your dishonorable values.
    Your honesty will be justly rewarded.

  35. We used to have a military presence in our town.
    A Canadian Forces Base. With soldiers and airmen. Jobs for civilians on that base. real jobs. More kids in our schools. Now the housing is empty. the base is almost a ghost town. Oh for the good old days.
    I’m not making this up.

  36. Morning Glory

    …enough of the metrosexualization and safetymomification of Canada. Yes, we do have a choice, and I choose a that Canada honours Smokey Smith and the rest of the men with penises and guns to whom we owe a great debt.

  37. Nothing to add that hasn’t been said already, but I note the Liberal website now only has 4 of the original 12 attack ads. Did they backfire quicker than anyone expected? CTV still has all 12 on their website, and by default it plays the ‘pulled’ ad when you open the link ‘Liberal TV ads’. Free airtime for the Liberals there; I hope they appreciate it. I do think that ad should have as wide a circulation as possible.

  38. I work with Jaymeister and we see the ads before I would suggest anyone outside the Liberal Party. Of course we cannot and will not comment on them until they are released…suffice to say that when we were first viewing them there were four or five of us…and all of us regardless of political stripe were laughing and mocking them. I am the yang to Jay’s ying and am a Conservative. However, I do hope that Jack Layton does well and a) throws the Liberals far out into the wilderness and b) reinvigorates and purifies Liberalism in Canada (a necessary evil :P); and with his moves to the centre during this election he may even surplant the Liberals as the true voice of Liberalism in Canada, much the same way Harper is becoming the voice of federalism in Quebec.
    Can’t wait till the final batch of Liberal ads. Focus groups and internal polling will find out which of the twelve ads will stick (there is a reason there are so many…it shows that they have no idea where to attack), and the final batch of ads with zero in on those that show traction. It’s weak, but that’s what is going to happen.

  39. So, in light of:
    The “soldiers-with-guns-bad” ad, the “gun-registry-at-any-cost” fiasco, the ridiculous “gun-bans”, the “no-guns-for-border-guards” foolishness, even the UN “small arms” crap, maybe look at it this way:
    When a politician has arranged the system to destroy checks and balances, when all real power comes from his office, when the country can be kept divided to weaken any opposition, when lying is accepted as normal, when even the media can be kept on-side, what does that politician really have left to fear?
    An enraged citizen with a gun…
    Just a thought.

  40. Thank God, our military can now be rebuilt – if that money really is in the till.
    After visiting the world war one and two cemeteries this past year, I can imagine there is a sense of peace over there as the fellows who gave their lives for their country, their Canada, can again rest assured that it will be saved.
    The Libs had to implode, and we can be grateful to them for doing so. They weren’t pushed onto the sword, they stumbled and fell. Thank you, Paulie.

  41. Jack Bensimon and Peter Bern of Bensimon Bern, a Toronto ad agency, did the ads. They are the same people who work for McGuinty’s Ontario Liberals. They were also involved in an ad scandal that surfaced this past summer. They we’re given at least 7 million dollars worth of untendered government business for helping McGuinty win. Smacks of the sponsorship scandal. Martin can’t help himself – he’s a pathological criminal.

  42. The Liberals used the media to deliberately send out a trial balloon…regarding the ad about our soldiers.
    I have a story to tell…
    Christmas 1998…My husband and I were living in Winnipeg and our condo was behind the Princess Patricia Army Barracks.
    I drove past the main entrance and saw that a platform …about 10-15 feet high had been erected.
    There were two soldiers on the top waving at the passers-by and another soldier was on the ground with a bucket collecting money from the cars that were going by.
    I stopped and put in my little $20 dollars.
    I asked him who he was collecting for…
    He said…and I will NEVER forget it…
    We are collecting this money so that our children on this base can have toys and a good Christmas because we have poor families in our military here.
    For too long the Liberals have prostituted the media to get the message out.
    My husband and I were shocked when we saw this ad on CTV tonight.
    Paul Martin said at the beginning of this election that he wanted this campaign to be one of ideas…
    ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!…

  43. I Loooove the Freudian tag line at the end of these disinfo hatchet jobs….”we aren’t making this up”…no really…we’re not…would we lie to you?..hey wanna buy a used up PM?…got one cheap…like new..really …aww cummon , buy it…have we ever lied to you before?

  44. Just heard on the Rutherford show on QR77 that the French version of the military add is still running on Quebec TV.

  45. Clearly the Conservatives are EVIL! Fundamentally the Lieberals are GOOD. Lieberals love you, Clearly Conservatives want to kill and eat your children! Seriously Stephen Harper said that! Fundamentally Stephen Harper wants a Military with GUNS in your cities! Vote Lieberal and get the guns out of the military and save your children from the clutches of Conservatives. Clearly this is the Fundamental choice. Did we mention that Stephen Harper kills and eats children?

  47. Shouldn’t the “committee to re-elect Paul Martin” be change to “committee re-elect a Paul”?
    C.R.A.P.?
    Tired

  49. As a teenager in the 1950’s, in Oklahoma, I belonged to the Ground Observer Corps, a United States Air Force sponsored organization whose purpose was to track Soviet bombers if they came over the North Pole to attack us. (At the time I didn’t stop to think that if they got as far as Oklahoma we were well and truly screwed). Perhaps because I knew some of the history of WWII, I remember feeling reassured that it was Canadians who were holding the fort with us up north. Despite all the current political BS, I believe the true Canadian character remains alive and well.
    Jaymeister:
    The media both in the US and Canada spun like tops for Kerry. The Swift Boat vets were the real deal. You only received the propaganda. Like with Dan Rather’s TANG memo’s, only the blogs forced the media’s hand on that one.

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