I have a busy weekend, so don’t expect too much by way of new posts. A few quick reader tips, and you can drop your own in the comments.
While the media arm of the Liberal party worked itself into a lather over issues that would have been of only passing interest and nodding approval for a Paul Martin government, Canadians tuned them out post election. A National Post poll shows pretty respectable approval ratings;
The survey’s findings suggest Mr. Harper’s first week in power might not have been as bad as some of the negative headlines made it out to be, said Darrell Bricker, president of the polling firm.
54% approval. Which means people are weary of politics after a grueling election and not paying attention, or they’re consciously tuning out the over the top media hysteria for what it is. I suspect it’s a combination of both.
I mentioned to someone last evening at the SaskParty warm up that there was something missing in last week’s coverage – Stephen Harper looking like a deer in the headlights. That’s good. Instead of getting sucked into putting out brushfires, he’s letting them burn out on their own. Let them froth and fret and chase down attention-seeking backbenchers. (Note to Garth “so indignant about floorcrossing I’m thinking of crossing the floor” Turner – you look bad. Media hound bad. You need to look in a mirror and figure out whether this is about principle – or just about you. And that’s coming from someone who has been cutting you a lot of slack.)
Update – Turner seems to have come to terms with himself, in a post on his blog that finally makes some sense.
Now, on to other stuff:
Firetruck set sold separately
Bill Greenwood in the Red Deer Advocate, Muslim extremists lack perspective (for which there is no direct link, so I’ve copied his piece in the extended entry.)
Ya gotta love the Danes. Those quaint, unassuming Scandinavians are going to be the ones credited with causing the ground to shift under Western liberalism’s failure to come to grips with the rising tide of Islamofascism.
A few months back, I wrote about the seeming lack of desire among the mainstream, Western media to cast as critical eye towards the Muslim faith as they do a wide swath of Christianity.
As it turns out, at about the same time, a Danish newspaper was sponsoring a series of editorial cartoons aimed at poking the Islamist bear. Judging from the firestorm that has erupted, the stick was a tad sharp.
Initially, the response was somewhat muted, and generally limited to the small Muslim population of northern Europe. The paper was criticized by several “human rights” groups, and was threatened with lawsuits for publishing hate literature.
The editors dug in their heels and reminded the public that Denmark, like all secular democracies, had freedom of speech laws that protected it. It also, rightly, pointed out that there was nothing in those cartoons that differentiated them from any of the lampoonings of public figures that had been done in the past.
I first saw the cartoons early last fall. There is nothing particularly outstanding about them. They are certainly no more vicious than any of the pillorying we have routinely seen from North American editorial cartoonists, and I have yet to see one published in a major mainstream paper that I find genuinely offensive. And, I will admit, many of the ones that have been drawn regarding the Catholic Church’s ongoing scandals regarding priestly sexual abuses have been pretty harsh, for example.
I recall that there have been a few particularly nasty ones aimed at Pope Benedict. Yet, I haven’t seen too many Catholics marching in the streets and threatening to torch the Boston Globe or the Chicago Tribune building.
What is intriguing about this issue is the sudden emergence of a spine amongst the European press. Newspaper editors all across Europe have elected to defy the increasingly militant Muslim populations within their borders and re-print the cartoons.
The Islamists have reacted with tres faux outrage because the cartoonists have dared to depict an image of the Prophet Mohammed.
God forbid the Islamists let freedom of speech rear its ugly head when it comes to modest criticisms of their faith. It’s an easy sidestep of the very racist sentiments towards Christians and Jews that routinely get published on the editorial pages of Muslim newspapers.
Let’s get some perspective here. Since Sept. 11, 2001, Islamofascists have committed more than 4,000 documented acts of terrorism worldwide. In Iraq alone, the insurgents have killed more citizens since the end of active military operations than were killed in the actual war, and many of those were victims of Iraqi anti-aircraft fire returning to ground within Baghdad.
Yet you can count on one hand the number of prominent progenitors of Muslim thought who have expressed actual condemnation of Muslim terror. All of them have been threatened with violent and painful death. At the same time, Muslims want the rest of us to respect their religion, not subject it to such humiliations as depicting the “Prophet” with his turban fashioned into a bomb.
Gimme a break. Islamic religious law doesn’t apply to the rest of us. If we concede to this contrived blasphemy, what’s next? Am I to give up barbecued pork chops because that may offend Muslims? Edit “Piglet” out of Winnie the Pooh?
This boils down to the issue of freedom. Muslims who choose to live in secular, democratic nations must be willing to live with both the freedoms and restrictions of those societies.
Just as we are free to criticize many aspects of mainstream western religions, we can criticize Islam. We allow artists the freedom to depict Jesus in unflattering ways as criticisms of Christianity. We allow and protect unflattering portrayals of Jewish political leaders as commentary of the Mideast conflicts.
To outlaw depictions of Mohammed in order to protect an overblown sensitivity undermines the very freedom that allows the practice of Islam in the West.
If the Muslims of the world want to protest injustices, let them protest the unlawful displacement of Christians and Jews from their homes and businesses in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the mid 1960s. Better yet, protest the unending violence against Israel. You guys do that and maybe we’ll take your religion more seriously.
Bryan, you’ve wasted a lot of electrons. Perhaps you should become more familiar with what I’ve actually written, before replying to phantom quotes of your own making.
Rod–That’s it?? Farmers?? You must have had your arts grant cancelled fer sure because your head is up your ass as far as real world economics go.
The reason that farmers are subsidized is because this is a world wide phenomeon. Canadian farmers can’t compete against socialist european subsidies and survive with todays input costs. The price of diesel fuel in Sask is now higher than gasoline. Most farm equipment is run on diesel. The price of fertilizer is through the roof. The price paid by the CWB for #1 red spring wheat is about the same as mt grandfather got in the 40’s. Western farmers are not allowed to sell their wheat on the free market. Your food supply is in jeopardy.
The fact is that they are robbing farmer Joe to feed city Rod.
What are you going to do when the Safeway closes it’s doors???? Starve?? Do you want Monsanto controling the land as well as the seed?
I bet you have no idea what I’m talking about. Don’t embarrass yourself so.
Syncro
Goebbels was loyal and no doubt enjoyed being part of a team and found it fun and profitable,for awhile anyway. Being loyal and a teamplayer are not bad, in and of themselves, but that don’t make them good.
NEWS FLASH: Trolls Claim Their Farts Don’t Stink! “Twelve Years of Spouting Liberal Praises Out Our Butt” Cited as Main Reason Claims Ron.
Remember what Kate said about feeding trolls gang. They will keep coming back.
Are Rod and Ron one and the same?? Lack of imagination? I guess Ron/Rod will starve when the local Safeway closes.
Point taken Texas. No more food for the moonbats.
Syncro
Rod,
I have been reading the crap that you’ve been spouting here. You need a time out. Go down to the Bistro, order up a Latte and drown your sorrows with all your left leaning friends.
The Conservatives won the election and are governing. PMSH has been given a small mandate for change so the Canadian electorate are going to get just that… small change. If a majority of seats were won, there would be no need to ask anyone to consider crossing the floor. It is all about numbers. Even with Emerson’s vote they are still one vote short of working with any single party. You can be sure that they are aggressively canvassing the Libs and the Bloc for others who might be able to work together with the government. This is not illegal. It has been done for decades in Canadian politics. If what has happenned has you upset, then you should get in touch with your MP and let him or her know about it. The Reform Party had for years advocated for “recall” legislation like they have in California which has Governor Arnie in power. Perhaps this is what is needed but in the meantime we work with what we have and sometimes we hold our noses as we carry away the corpses of the dead rotting rodents.
Enjoy the Latte!
Maranatha
Does anyone see the irony here?
Garth Turner was a member of the Mulroney-Campbell PC Party whose behavior in power gave rise to the Reform Party, of which, I’m sure, Kate, as a westerner, supported back then.
Now it’s Garth who is standing up for Reform Party principals and for doing that he is being trashed by Kate – and others who I wouldn’t describe as Red Tories – who herself has all of a sudden become like those she once claimed to despise.
Fascinating!
Remember “Recall” that was made popular by Reform and the CA? Boy, whatever happened to that! Was Kate a supporter of that? Does anyone know? Hmmm. I wonder what she’d say on that issue and how it shouldn’t relate to present circumstance? Probably that Recall as a policy was not adopted by the Conservatives at their party’s convention and therefore Harper, and Emerson, have done nothing wrong here and if they’ve done nothing wrong, well then why should a by-election be forced? That kind of explanation is almost as laughable as some who say there’s nothing wrong with Emerson’s defection, and Harper bringing him into the fold, by saying, “it’s not illegal, you know.”
You don’t need a policy to do the right thing!
Anyway, it’s all clear now.
Kate, and those not demanding a by-election be called immediately, doesn’t have a problem with unethical, unprincipled, undemocratic behavior per se. No. Not at all. It’s now apparent that they, in fact, determine right from wrong based solely on the political stripe of the individual and/or party that stands accused of wrongdoing.
Of course, if the Liberals won the election and someone like, say, Jim Flaherty, John Baird or a Tony Clement defected to become a Liberal cabinet minister, we all could expect that Kate would be emphasizing the positives here, that even though 80% of the voters in each respective riding voted against the thoroughly defeated Liberal candidate that there should be no by-election and the constituents should be happy with the defection because they would be well represented at the cabinet table � even if it is in a Liberal government.
Yeah right!
Yeah. I honestly think Kate and those conservatives not demanding a by-election would be more comfortable shifting their support over to the Liberal Party. They share each other’s, um, principles.
Good one Rod/Ron the first nazi reference on this thread. Breaking new ground eh??
Syncro
Wasted—yer monicker says it all.
Syncro
That’s rich – a lecture about ethics, principles, and democracy from the Canadian left.
kate – the Liberal war room fear, smear and jeer gang is alive and well in the Blogsphere.
Pretending to be dismayed Conservatives.
To where people like David Aiken says on TV, even Conservatives are upset.
The MSM is truly being controlled by the BLOG-Master.
I read a story on a blog; it gets linked around; a few comments and a few more links and lo and behold – Mike Duffy and Newman are “breaking” the story.
The print media even often uses the same phrases.
True fact checking is not required. If it BLOGS it has legs.
Power to the bloggers…
Rod – Goebbels? Who are you talking about? Belinda??
Texas – sorry for feeding here, couldn’t help it.
Syncro – I’m calling it “whiny winner syndrome”.
Syncro…I thought conservatives worshipped the market. What you are saying is the market will not generate a reasonable return on investment for farmers. Anybody else in any other economic endeavor would be told by cons. to find something more finacially worthwhile, and rightly so. But farmers are coddled into believing that the rest of society should subsidize them from cradle to grave while entertaining the delusion that they are pick themselves up by their own bootstraps indepndent and voting for conservative hypocrisy that will rob me blind. I know farmers who vote conservative, and drive to their $80,000 a year jobs in their subsidized 4x4s with their subsidized Fplates and collect every subsidized dollar shovelled into the trough. Never had a grant,born,bred in Sask. farm country for many years and I’ve heard your kind of jive my whole life. I don’t eat beef, I don’t eat canola or wheat or canary seed. I will confess to consuming more than my share of barley, but contrary to the dusty old farmer myth, food ain’t cheap and there is no cheap food policy. What I consume I pay for. Farmers want choice? Give me choice.
Speaking of Mike Duffy, I’ve got a great idea.
Why don’t you enlist the services of Liberal strategist (fmr.?) John Duffy and you can have him theaten and intimidate Mike Duffy because the ol’ Duff is still talking about Emerson affair … you know the way J Duffy reacted to the ol’ Duff’s persistence on the military ad?
I’m sure that you’d all get together and back the younge Duff in a display of your unabashed consistency … you know, just like your consistency when it comes to Stronach and Emerson.
O/T: How about that Canadian Gold, eh. Tied with the US, Italy, France, etc.
Garth who ?
Attention Liberal Candidates; Get Your Ass Licked, er, Kicked. >
http://www.vijaysappani.com/myblog/
You know, at first I really didn’t like Stephen Harper. I was, in fact, like many others, very scared.
But now, seeing as how they’ve betrayed their fundamental principals — and did so right out of the chute — I have to tell you, as a guy wanting to get into politics (the backroom stuff, that’s my calling), Harper is scratching me right where I itch.
You see, betraying your principals (saying one thing in opposition, and doing another once elected to government) and acting with a culture of entitlement is the dream of those wanting to get into politics.
I didn’t like him before, but I have to tell you, I’m really starting to like this Harper guy.
Where do I sign up?
More idiocy from Garth Turner
Apparently we Conservatives actually like Liberal governments and all our work to get rid of them was a fucking sham.
Now he wants to be an independent? That’ll really boost his influence.
Small Dead Animals
Instead of getting sucked int…
I found out what the problem with Garth is – check out the bottom of his blog – it say’s:
“Copyright � Hon. Garth Turner, P.C., M.P. – Member of Parliament for Halton, Ontario”
Notice it says P.C not Conservative – Garth still thinks he is in the Mulroney/Cambell Government.
Or did he fool us all and is a Progressive Canadian plant?
There seems to be many new ‘names’ appearing on SDA and Andrew Coyne these days. Could it be that we are seeing the reckless rants of ‘former’ Liberal insiders that are now forced to work for a living rather than invent schemes to defraud Canadians and insult Quebecers? If it’s true, insult us all you want. I like it.
I am also enjoying the ‘fact’ that many Liberals like Garth are suffering from withdrawal symptoms. It’s tough not having access to all that power, eh? Keep writing girlie boys, the latest news from Quebec is that the Liberals are dead and it will take a decade or more for recovery – if ever. Have you tried hillbilly heroine? I hear it works.
Harper betrayed his principals? Oh for shame. By creating a cabinet in exactly the same way Prime Ministers have done for more than 140 years?
That’s a principal- to follow parliamentary tradition? What’s next? Arn’t you upset that he swore on the bible? Or that the oaths of office quoted the supremecy of God? That they sang Oh Canada which also invokes God?
Why arn’t you screaming blue murder that Harper has not separated religion and the state?
One of the last Cabinet Ministers appointed by Chretien who was not elected, in fact, who was not even appointed a senator was LaPierre.
Just a commoner. Just the co-founder of the BLOC. In charge of an entire Canadian cabinet with no accountability in either house.
The horror of it all!!! Chretien should have been whipped and stripped of his title for this shocking betrayal to Canadians.
And the blah blah blah could go on.
Sheesh. You people are fellow canadians so I have to love you – but I really don’t have to like you.
Just one last before the night shift. Gonna have to work a whole lot harder and be a whole lot poorer with Harper’s yahoos in control. …let’s put it country simple Syncro: Ag subsidies is but the most glaring example of many special interest entitlments conservatives approve of. Your argument is that farmers are entitled to their entitlments. Those who sit on their arses using money to make money thru income trusts feel entitled to their entitlments. Income trusts only have value because working people pay tax at twice the rate of so-called “investment” income. So much for equality. But oh so pragmatic. Oil patch executives can write off their skyboxes at the Saddledome and their meals and entertainment. They feel entitled to their entitlments. Which leads me back to my first point: conservatives are phonies.
Martin/Graham shove/push/stuff Ignatieff, aka Iggy, aka Mikhail, into the vermin-infested dungeon cell where Garth Tunrer is coweringly haunched over his qwerty keyboard.
Recall Ignatieff. Recall Graham. Martin is waiting for a recall.
Call: Recall Ignatief-800$$$$$$$$-libranos$$$$; or e-mail :recalliggy@libHQmamateresa’sristorantegag.orgmafia
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I tell you people that Martin still has a tight hold of the Liberal party and nothing gets done without going through him first …. something suspicious brewing within the Liberal party … what could it be …. Resurrection ???? .. Paul Rising Like the Phoenix from the Ashes ….. ???!!!!
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Ignatieff bows out of major speech
Liberal MP cites ‘various political reasons’ for cancellation
Feb. 10, 2006. — CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA � Michael Ignatieff, the Harvard academic who was one of the few Liberal stars to win a seat in last month’s election, has bowed out of what would have been his first major speech as an MP.
Ignatieff had been scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the Conference of Defence Associations this month, but he cancelled the date this week.
Alain Pellerin, executive director of the association, said Ignatieff told the group “he could no longer honour his commitment for various political reasons.”
The association, which represents defence-oriented organizations, invited Ignatieff last summer. He agreed tentatively, but the commitment was put on hold during the election campaign.
Pellerin said he thought Ignatieff had confirmed his attendance after the election, but a spokesman for the new MP said the date was never solid.
“It was tentative,” said Jim Maclean. “Now that he is an MP, one who has not yet been assigned a critic responsibility, he decided it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak.”
It was rumoured within the association that Ignatieff was told to cancel by Bill Graham, the acting Liberal leader, but both Maclean and a spokesman for Graham denied that.
“He did not check with Graham nor was he asked to, nor was he asked to submit his text,” Maclean said.
Pellerin said he’s disappointed Ignatieff will not be speaking, saying he’s having a hard time finding a replacement on two weeks notice.
Ignatieff, a well-known, author and academic, was elected in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Lakeshore.
The 59 year old was brought in as a high-profile Liberal candidate despite having supported the Iraq war and continental missile defence � both opposed by the party.
He is also seen as a potential Liberal leadership candidate, especially after a well-received speech he made at the party convention last March.
Ignatieff is a scholar with degrees from the University of Toronto, Harvard and Cambridge.
He has written widely on democracy, human rights, security, and international affairs and has been a regular TV commentator in Canada, Britain and the U.S.
He has written a number of books, including The Russian Album, a memoir of his family’s history from Czarist Russia to Canada, which won the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction in 1987.
He has also written plays and novels, one of which was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1993.
http://www.voy.com/178771/132530.html
Kanadar does not subsdize agriculture unless it is COLLECTVE farm type agriculture. Rod, you should read up on what the disenfranchisment of the farmers in the old USSR did in that place – mass starvation. In the country. In the cities. Nothing to eat. I’m not making this up. Canada will support Farmers and ranchers, I hope, in the next mandate so we will have food to eat. In the cities. In Canada.
Rod, Please do not resent big spenders being able to write off entertainment expenses.
At least they are out there keeping waiters and restaraunts going and splashing some wealth about.
Would you prefer investments be restricted to income trusts and bonds only? Get real. Canada exacts a healthy return from winning enterpreneurs and risk – takers. TG
Wow, this is very good news indeed, viz. “respectable approval ratings from a National Post poll”
This and the gold medal by Ms. Heil makes my day.
“Volpe is getting aggressive in his approach and making calls”
When that guy gets in, watch out. He’ll let the whole Near East into Canada to bolster the liebrano vote.
Rod: I read this somewhere on a blog and I liked it, seems fitting to what you are complaining about – “In order to distribute wealth you must first create it”.
Rod —— Ya gotta start thinking a little bigger than that!!!!!
bullet: There are some programs at the CBC I actually enjoy
1. Canada Reads
2. The many classical music programs they provide
However, having said that I think I would be tickled to death if Mansbridge, van Dusen, Nancy Wilson et al get the boot. Ofcourse that would have to include all the high positions in the CBC that set the leftist and unbalanced tone.
P.S. and Off Topic: in 2004, the winner of “Canada Reads” was an author from Esterhazy, Sask for the book he wrote called “The Last Crossing”. If you have not read this book, you should. It is a very, very, very good read. The author’s name is Guy van der Haeghe and last I heard was that he was a visiting professor (I think) at STM College at the University of Saskatchewan. Enjoy.
Thanx
Harper just lost my vote in the next election.
I guess I’m not one of the 54 pecent that think he’s doing a good job.(think green next time)
“Montr�al is renowned the world over for its innovation and creativity.” >>>
Partnerships:
* Governement of Canada
http://www.canada.gc.ca
* Canadian Heritage
http://www.pch.gc.ca
* Canada Economic Development
http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca
Canada Economic Development signs $1.1 million partnership agreement with the New Montreal FilmFest
* T�l�film Canada
http://www.telefilm.gc.ca
* Qu�bec Governement
http://www.gouv.qc.ca
Le gouvernement du Qu�bec favorise l’acc�s � une culture cin�matographique ouverte sur le monde
* Soci�t� de d�veloppement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
http://www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca
* Minist�re du Tourisme
http://www.bonjourquebec.com
* Minist�re des Affaires municipales et des R�gions
http://www.mamr.gouv.qc.ca
* Ville de Montr�al
http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca
* Tourisme Montr�al
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org
Montr�al is renowned the world over for its innovation and creativity.
* National Film Board of Canada
http://www.nfb.ca
The National Film Board of Canada enthusiastically salutes the latest arrival on the Montreal film scene ? the New Montreal FilmFest.
http://www.montrealfilmfest.com/partenaires_en.aspx
Peter.
“Harper just lost my vote in the next election.”
Your in Harper’s riding?
Peter,
Who will be the Green candidate in your riding when the next election is called?
Re: Note to Garth…
I think the magnitude of the “about principle – or just about you” factor is much higher for defectors. I agree with Garth Turner’s position on the issue 100%, and I’m glad it was raised. Why is this “all about Garth Turner” again?
“I’m not backing down on my principles,”
Gagliano/Chretien/Martin are members of the Privy Council of Canada: Get them out; throw the book at them; turf them out.
Martin was Prime Minister; Gagliano was $$$$$$$$.
Chretien hired/endorsed Gagliano:
“Bookkeeping proves to be a sensitive business for a politician. When the matter was discussed in Parliament after La Presse disclosed the facts, Premier Chr�tien declared: “This Parliament would be much better off if we had more Gagliano’s.”
http://www.tni.org/archives/tblick/aruba.htm
How many RCMP investigations now? 39, 40, ???
How many Chretien/Martin corrupt scams now? 200+++
RCMP to probe space agency contracts
Former scientist lays complaints. Claims projects worth $7.3 million were never carried out
MIKE KING, The Gazette
Published: Saturday, February 11, 2006
The Montreal RCMP’s commercial crime section has opened a file on the Canadian Space Agency concerning potentially millions of dollars in suspect contracts approved by the federal Public Works Department while Alfonso Gagliano was its minister.
“An investigator will be assigned (to the case) as soon as one is available,” Sgt. Jocelyn L’Heureux, of the local RCMP fraud squad, told The Gazette yesterday.
“We will give our full co-operation if there is an investigation,” spokesperson Nicholas Girard said from the space agency’s
St. Hubert headquarters.
Samir Elomari, a former CSA scientist who successfully sued the space agency for falsely appropriating one of his inventions, submitted a formal complaint to RCMP headquarters in Ottawa last month.
Evidence that at least $7.3 million worth of contracts have never been publicly accounted for was presented during the 2004 Quebec Superior Court hearing for Elomari’s $14.375-million civil lawsuit against the agency.
In his complaint to the RCMP, Elomari also accuses high-ranking agency officials of having fabricated and used false documents during that hearing. As well, he claims he received threats and reprisals from new space agency president Virendra Jha – who was vice-president of science and technology programs at the time of the court case.
As for two contracts awarded by the agency in June 2000 to Tecsult Eduplus Inc., a 50-per cent subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, it was revealed during the two-month hearing that the required monthly written progress reports were never submitted.
One of the deals was a $5.2-million pact to develop a training program and a simulator as well as virtual-reality-based multimedia learning software for astronauts. The other deal, worth $2.1 million, was to produce computer-based materials for use in International Space Station projects. Elomari claims no work was done on these projects.
Elomari testified before Justice Danielle Grenier he was denied his request under the Access to Information Act to see copies of those reports, leading the judge to order the agency to produce them or other documents showing the contracted work had been done.
When agency officials admitted such documentation didn’t exist, recalled Elomari’s lawyer, Bruce Johnston, Grenier declared in court: “We should signal this fact to the auditor-general of Canada.”
The federal funds were awarded through the agency
by the department run by Gagliano, one of the men
at the centre of the multimillion-dollar advertising and sponsorship scandal [AdScam] that rocked the federal Liberal Party. >>>
http://www.rapp.org/url/?FDDQQAQR
My apologies to MT, I know he is an honest and straight shooting person. I think he was caught off guard when questioned. I know he will support Steven to the fullest. Like most of us Albertans we tell it like it is. After so many yrs in opposition, I think all our MPs have to learn things are different now. The press will never be kind to them or Harper’s government. The further they stay away from Don Newman, Question Period and other shows the better for all of us. As for smoking in AB, only in bars due to the new law recently passed. An org I belong to in Edmonton, that runs bingos and casinos has had a drop in income of over 60% since last July. Lots of programs cut, and I tell the Board of Directors, sorry, those smokers will not be back. Too bad non smokers don’t play bingo and visit casinos that much. Talking to waitresses, tips are way down. Just wish all those non conservative voters outside BC would get a life. Also wonder how many at the protest meeting today actually voted, or voted anything but Conservative. Steven made a very brilliant move, appointing a senator and making him a minister. Sure brought his dream of an elected senate a step in the right direction. Emerson, along with his credentials, gets rid of a potential leadership candidate, and forces the opposition to be against floor crossing. If Emerson resigns, Harper does not have to call a by-election for months, and he can appoint DE to be chief trade negotiator. He does not lose any house votes, and has one less lib vote to worry about. We know Martin will seldom be in the house, and if BS & SB run, they will be away campaigning. Win Win for Harper. Anyone know where Scott Reid is or what he is doing. Word of advise to all conservative MPs. Don’t trust any former staff member of the libs and watch out for the civil servants, and the media. Stay away and get things done. BTW, my daughter lives in Myrons riding. My grandson lives in Anne Mc riding and I told him if she won by 2 votes, he and his wife were out of the will.
Nice Mary… Nice…
Mary is right – the media is reporting the huge numbers demonstrating against Emerson, signing petitions against Emerson – my biggest question is that no one but the people of Vancouver Kingsway – and only those people who actually voted in that riding – have any right to complain.
Specutlation about Garth Turner; No doubt, if he decides to leave the Conservative party, either to sit as an independant or join another party, he will adhere to the principles he so clearly enunciated and immediately resign his seat and seek re-election in a by-election, won’t he????? He will, won’t he???????????
Mr. Turner is staying with the party. This recent post was, in my opinion, a very brave and honourable one.
He has my respect for weathering this like a gentleman. Hopefully his passion can be more productively channelled
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/11/no-quitter/
Alberta Girl, lots of posters here have told them they have nothing to complain about.
So, they have any right to complain but so what?
Robert Bedet…
I like CBC radio2 but I liked it much more during the strike…no talk, no organs…no obscure “new music”.
And “The Last Crossing” was great…make a good movie…well, maybe not the transvestite thing.
Steve in BC:
Yes I meant the radio FM programs; with regard to the “Last Crossing” I agree with you that the transvestite thing was not really all that necessary to have in the story, but perhaps if you had to beat the stalwarts like Margeret Atwood (who continually was licking the boots of the then Governor General, Adrien Clarkson) he had to put something like that in the equation.
lakota has an excellent link above … it’s at:
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2006/02/11/no-quitter/
I, for one, am willing to give him more rope.
To the left folks – I’m I supposed to be a proud Canadian or not? Just asking.
I’ve never been here before, but as I life long conservative I thought I would check it out.
Interesting.
Has Harper moved closer to a Mulroney in the past three months?
You say the issue isn’t Harper it is Turner?
He won’t appoint an unelected Senator then he does? And you western Reformer who fought for that for so many years are now silent?
Reform was started because of the Mulroney toadie and Reform said let the MPs speak, and now you say toe the line?
What I hear is power at any price as long as it is ours.
You guys are a bunch of patetic hyprocrits.
The converted talking to the converted. Do you guys all still live with your parents, and are so nerdy that you can’t get a date so this is your life?
Rock on Garth. Power to the MP. Screw the unaccountable and un-elected PMO.
Thank you.
One more thing you rocket scientists.
If Garth did resign, what do you think would do the Harper’s credibility that he loses an MP in the first week? Plus the spectical of a by-election?
Be thankful Garth doesn’t want to resign, that would more permanently hurt Harper’s credibility on Parliamentary reform.
Yes Garth did a lot of media. When PMO cracked down he pushed back with the weapon he knew best and they found they messed with the wrong person who wasn’t afraid of him. But then Doug the Thug Finley only has one gear. (Hmm, I wonder what he is over compensating for)
Sorry guys, but PMO messed this up from day one, dropped a bomb shell by surprise that sent everyone scattering and instead of slinking out the back door of caucus or stumping in front of the media, Turner said that he believed it six months ago and he believed it today.
Waht I am writing isn’t new. Just really read his web-site.
Cheers