Reader “John” writes;
People can disagree on the “dual citizen ” debate.
However the MSM is fronting the ideal that Mr. Dion received his French citizenship at birth.. The G&M editorial Dec 8/06 keeps this myth going. It is not possible. Mr Dion was born in Canada.
His French citizenship was applied for under a category for children of people who were born in France. It is a multiple step, non trivial process.
Under normal circumstances, I might not care very much whether the leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal opposition were a dual citizen of France. Or Poland. Or the United States of America. Under normal circumstances, I might look at the record before me and judge his loyalty to Canada on the merits of the individual’s record of public service.
But, these aren’t normal circumstances.
“Choose Your Canada”. That was the campaign slogan Paul Martin rode to a minority government in 2004. And with that, the natural governing party served notice. Those who were not prepared to vote Liberal were, by default, unCanadian. And that most unCanadian of all, Stephen Harper, was just a hairsbreadth from being an American himself, if not a covert agent for both the CIA and the National Rifle Association.
In 2005, the patriotism of Conservative supporters was again an election issue. A vote for Stephen Harper was no less than a vote for a sitting American president.
“Canada may elect the most pro-American leader in the Western world. Harper is pro-Iraq war, anti-Kyoto and socially conservative. Bush’s new best friend is the poster boy for his ideal foreign leader. A Harper victory will put a smile on George W. Bush’s face.’ Well, at least someone will be happy, eh?”
The Liberal Party of Canada spent the last decade deliberately painting the politics of envy in red, white, and blue. From Carolyn Parrish’s boot heel to Paul Martin’s missile defense flip flops, exploiting the cancer of anti-Americanism to forward their own political interests became the central feature of the Liberal brand.
Stephane Dion was among those who rode that lathered Hate America First pony right onto the stage at the leadership convention.
“Canada has a prime minister who thinks that the United States is not only our ally, but also our model,” Mr. Dion said, accusing Mr. Harper of “mirroring” U.S. President George W. Bush.
His political “father figure” hovered over him approvingly, hours after demeaning both himself and the office of Prime MInister with this lip-curling mockery, to the roaring applause of delegates;
“Can I call you Steve, like George W.?”
It does not matter to Mr. Dion and his party that their political expediency alienates a significant number of western Canadians, fans the flames of separatism on both sides of the French-English divide, and insults Canada’s most important trading partner and closest ally .
Those indignities pale when placed next to the personal one currently being suffered by our sensitive Stephane. He aspires to hold the most powerful office in the land, to take command of our armed forces, to represent Canada on the world stage.
To take his place in history beside MacDonald and Laurier.
But when it comes to setting aside his French citizenship – a nation that once sent its President to stand on a balcony in Montreal to declare “Vive le Québec libre!” – Stephane Dion must refuse. Out of respect for his mother, for his “multiple” identities. Because holding dual citizenship is a sign of the true, sophisticated Canadian in the finest internationalist tradition. And holding fast those principles – Canadian principles, Liberal principles – Dion will continue to refuse right up until the moment “it’s a liability for our winnability”.
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do to get elected.
To Mr. Dion – if you sting from suggestions that your loyalties are uncertain, that your open respect and admiration for another nation makes you “unCanadian”, if the public criticism you suffer feels like an attack on your patriotism, I have only this to say – welcome to the club.
So, time to suck it up, Mr. Dion. Time to “Choose Your Canada”.
Mr Dion did choose which country he wants to be a citizen of, so why he needs to rethink his issue I do not understand.
I am sure he will do well in France and if he wants I will take up a small collection to help pay his airfare.
bon voyage stephane.
I wanted to say “get lost”, but that would have appeared rude!
Right on Kate. Dion/Chirac joined at the hip. It is really too late for him now, the damage has been re citizenship. Then he lets his dictator side come out by saying he will appoint 103 women candidates, to hell with what the riding assoc want. Sort of like Iggy in Ont. People of Canada, wake up, or after the next election there will be no Canada as we know it. We will be a 3rd world country with a 3rd world dictator if liberals win. Of course, we could always wonder if the US would invade us for our oil and to spread democracy. How could liberals, who have said they would clean up their party, be so stupid to elect this man.
Interesting post over at thepolitic.com:
“Mr. Dion, does it cause you concern that you are a citizen of a country that is opposed to the conflict that the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia find themselves fighting in?”
. . .
the same Mr. Dion who was a card carrying member of the Parti Quebecois before he became a Lieberal skank ??
A small fact, over looked by the MSM.
Judging by the events of the past few weeks, the Liberal party seems completely unable to accept any responsibility for what has gone wrong with this nation over the past several years. Dion’s re-examination of his dual citizenship was done grudgingly and only because polls indicate it might damage him politically; the way Dion approached this issue is symptomatic of a Liberal Party that cannot fathom why anyone should think in terms of principles instead of the expediency of the moment.
The Liberals’ reaffirmation of policies like Kyoto, nationalized daycare and the CWB monopoly continue to demonstrate a total lack of desire to re-examine their policies to determine if the principles behind them are right or wrong. I suggest that most Liberals believe that the concepts of right and wrong are relative, fluid terms that can be changed on a whim.
During the entire convention, there seemed to be no perceived need to atone for the chaos caused by adscam. Judging by how much time Liberals spent debating this issue, one would have thought that the whole sorry episode had never happened. To be fair to the convention organizers, however, there would have been an open riot had there been such a debate. But maybe an open, raucous fight is exactly what is needed to cleanse the expediency mentality from the Liberal Party and instill some sense that principles actually do matter.
Instead, they chose to paper over these fundamental flaws. In doing so, they virtually guaranteed that this corruption will reappear should the Liberals regain power.
Uhh why chose his Canada can’t he chose his France?
: )
So long as the MSM remains in deep love and fascination for all things Eurabian (especially Fwench) and completely rotted to the core, this issue will remain framed the way they have already done so.
It’s up to the CPC to grab ahold of this issue the way we are discussing it here and shoving it in the face of the MSM until they have no choice but to “repeat after me……”
What is it about the neo-liberals of the West, the Liberals, the Democrats and “New” Labour? They all have this presumption of their intellectual and moral superiority; they all refuse to change. They continue in the same mindset and choose leaders who also continue in that old mindset.
Why is it that Stephane Dion reminds me somewhat of the equally unlikeable John Kerry, who also gets all huffy if you question either his record or his patriotism.
It does appear that you don’t automatically receive French citizenship by virtue of a French parent.
According to GoFrench.com here is the criteria for becoming a French Citizen. (My bolding)
You may well wish to obtain French nationality for various reasons – for example to be allowed to vote, or to avoid complicated procedures when getting married.
As always there are various criteria that need to be met if you wish to obtain French nationality. Dual nationality is accepted so you needn’t worry about losing your original nationality.
According to the Civil Code, you may acquire French nationality in the following circumstances:
> one of your parents is French
> you have been married to a French person for more than one year and are still living together
> you have not lived in France for over a year, but you are married to a French person and have had a child together before or after the marriage, and you are still living together
The way I see it, Dion can only claim to be 1/4 Canadian now. He’s also 1/4 Quebecois, and 1/2 French. Not good ’nuff to be PM.
unlikeable John Kerry
John Kerry is very French, even if not a citizen. He skies there and likes brie.
How did Citoyen Dion evade military service for France?
Does Dion not know of La Gloire,
the Glory of the French military?
Has Dion no knowledge of the little Corporal, aka Napoleon, of Marechal Petain, of General Foch, of General De Gaulle? Impossible.
Surely Dion studied the life and times of Jeanne D’Arc, the warrior of Rouen?
Military conscription was the law in his country,
France, until the year 2001.
…- …-
Bourque asks:
Foreign Legion ? France abolished conscription in 2001.
How did Citoyen Dion evade his military service in France ?
Bourque’s link goes to:
Military of France
Manpower:
Previously, France relied a great deal
on conscription
to provide manpower for its military,
with only a minority of career soldiers.
Following the Algerian War of Independence, the use of non-volunteer draftees in foreign operations was ended; if their unit was called up for duty in war zones, draftees were offered the choice between requesting a transfer to another unit or volunteering for the mission.
In 1996, President Jacques Chirac’s government
announced the end of conscription;
in 2001, conscription was ended.
However, young people must still register for
possible conscription
should the situation call for it, with the change that now females must register as well. (wiki)
…- …-
Problem of electing the untested person in a leadership contest.
As for his citizenship, yup turnabout is fairplay. The Liberals should know it, but their tactic will be to play the victim.
Your article was an excellent reminder on the perpetual criticism, do you love your country etc etc…which reporter asked that question and why wasnt that question being asked by that particular reporter of Mr Dion?
The French draft story seems to have disappeared? Did he get a deferment?
It is a distraction but it keeps him off balance and pinned in the short run. Makes it hard for him to be Captain Canada.
As I have said, none of the traditional Lib tactics will work with this guy, no canoeing up north, no water skiing, no hockey games…thats Harpers already….
Dion, while being an ehtical guy (we hear) is a real problem choice for the Libs….he will help on in the Montreal ridings. I forget who said it on QP this weekend but someone thought he could pick up 40 seats in Quebec, based on native son bona fides.
I nearly choked. Absolutely not, not when there is a true native son, Gilles Duceppe, for Franco Quebecers to vote for. I am sure they are lining Dion up now. Might even help elect more CPC’ers….most interesting poll will be in a month or 6 weeks.
But M. Dion has screwed up any chances in midsize Ontario and Manitoba. Might have damaged the Libs down east as well. This isnt even good for Belinda…..although “star power” may carry her through.
Good to see the COC has developed a go for the jugular, lets just hope they dont become so enamoured with tactics that they lose sight of why they were elected.
Dion is now willing to give up his French citizenship, ‘if that’s what it takes to get elected PM.’
A lot of conviction shown there. Sounds like a true ‘power not principals’ Liberal.
Former member of the separatist party. Current citizen of France, with obviously no moral conviction about it.
Damian Penny has shown that of all politicians with dual citizenship, Liberals account for 75%.
Enjoy your bounce now Dion. But bring on the elections. Let’s expose and demolish the Euroweenie Party of Canada.
Liberals are saying: Choose Our Leader?
Impossible.
MacLeans mag says so. Check out the pic of Dion and what’s-his-name on the website front page. Arrrghhh…
The list includes…. BS, the male stripper, and …
The race to replace Dion
macleans.ca/topstories/national
On a daily basis, Kate & sda is providing the most important need in Canada today; AUDITING THE MEDIA. Exposing the blatant double standard.
The very fact that Dion supports a Hoax like Kyoto is proof enough that he is unstable.
Dion’s bud Jacques Chirac, Nov 2000, refering to the UN’s Kyoto Protocol, “For the first time, humanity is instituting a genuine instrument of global governance.”
But our beloved Media says ‘Liberals get convention bump:poll’ .. Has anyone ever seen raw polling data and a list of those polled ??
Yup.
I like how he and the Fibs tried to say that this was a non-issue. Seems like it has more legs than calling Belinda a beeyotch.
Sorry, Kate.
The “dual nationality” issue is now getting very silly. We’ve transcended legitimate debate about the Liberals’ political shenanigans.
This is rather trite xenophobia at best.
And, right on cue, there’s “maryT” – an avowed separatist – ranting away again. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
Very unbecoming.
Canada, with Multiculturalism and Charter rights to compound it, is at great risk of Balkanization.
Tony Blair of great Britain has ditched Multiculturalism, come to Britain and integrate with British society. So too Howard of Australia, and other European and Scandinavian Countries.
If Canada does not quickly act, those who are turned away from EU countries will be coming here, creating the worst quagmire of nightmare proportions.
There cannot be a cohesive society in a country made up of ghettos, indeed there cannot be a country period.
Still havent seen any calling to account of the people who wrote those nasty flyers on Rae?
So much to write about and so little time to do it in…..that and go to Ottawa christmas parties with girlfriends, boyfriends and spouses intemingling between political staffers, media hounds and political analysts….
I mean what do YOU get the political staffer who used to have it all, access to a ministerial driver, accolades from all around, good salary, expense account….the poor dears have to make it on such smaller opposition salaries now….cant we change this somehow?
Kate, I think the lip curling mockery you are referring to is found here:
http://defend-canada.blogspot.com/2006/12/chretiens-speech-pathetic.html
JJM: what if PMSH were a dual US/Canada citizen?
Your foaming at the mouth would be both xenophobic and unbecoming. I can see it now. Better go shoot yourself in the head already.
JJM – Obviously a double agent from the dark side.
“In new PS, ‘I don’t know’ doesn’t cut it”
In the old PS
(Public Service (?)), run by the Librano$ of AdScam Chretien-Martin-Dion, the mantra was:
I know nothing..nothing.
Dion sat at the AdScam table with the above and others, e.g., Gag Gagliano. Dion was named Unity Minister by Chretien;
the Unity office was the central clearing house for the disbursement of tens of millions of AdScam $$$$$$$$$$$$ on the orders of AdScam Chretien.
Dion’s testimony at the Gomery Inquiry enabled Gomery to “exonerate” Paul Martin, Jr., of any wrongdoing/malfeaseance.
Dion: I knew nothing.
…-
Ottawa Citizen | Kathryn May::Called to account –
In new PS, ‘I don’t know’ doesn’t cut it
Take a moment to ponder the fate of Richard Goodfellow.
The obscure young mid-level bureaucrat was at the centre of a political firestorm last week when angry parliamentarians plucked him from the audience and called him to the committee table for a grilling on the bungling of a $1-billion relocation contract.
MPs wanted answers on how incorrect information that favoured Royal LePage Relocation Services got into tender documents for a contract to relocate 15,000 bureaucrats across the country every year.
Unable to get answers from half a dozen senior bureaucrats and lawyers at the table, frustrated MPs changed their tack and demanded to hear from the bureaucrats who did the work — the ones who wrote the request for proposals and handled the bids. Suddenly, Mr. Goodfellow, the manager of project delivery services division-ZL PWGSC, found himself in the hot seat.
It’s every bureaucrat’s nightmare in the new rules-bound age of accountability in which MPs feel they must question everything bureaucrats do and won’t take ‘I don’t know’ for an answer. …-
jack’s newswatch
The vast majority of Canadians really don’t see this as a big deal. It’s not going to be trumpeted in the mainstream media because the market will not bear it. This post and most of the comments that I’ve seen here only serve to underscore the fact that Dion is not as easy to attack as Ignatieff or Rae might have been, though I expect that attacks against either of the latter two, while a certainty, would have been similarly frivolous.
Until the flag destroyer pearson liquidated our glorious reality as “British Subjects” M. Dion like the rest of us was both Canadian and thank God a “British Subject”. I delighted in my double stasis then, and M. Dion at that time, rejoiced in 3 subject identities, a situation that seemed not to hinder his development in any way ‘tho vastly preferable to the truncated double position he is reduced to to-day. Perhaps we could do a national reversal re-claiming our former rights as British Subjects and thus returning all of us to a minimum 2 identities thus joining our doughty oppositio leader while allowing him to maintain his lead of 1 over the rest of us (of course this would be a charter right for all “Quebecois”).
Crabgrass,
It’s in the MSM everyday – in the Star again today.
“…not as easy to attack.”
First of all, who needs to? The guy’s his own worst enemy. Everytime he opens his mouth he only reminds the “vast majority of Canadians” that he can’t speak English.
As a so-called francophone academic, do you really think he has the ability to connect with the average Canadian?
Now he’s going to personally pick over 130 women to run as Liberal candidates. Not that there’s anything wrong with women running as candidates, but whatever happened to merit, non-discrimination and experience?
Oh, and the big one – the goofus is running on an environmental platform, regardless of the fact that he and his party were abject failures at doing anything about the environment for 13 years – in fact increasing polluting emissions by 30%. And now Kyoto is becoming more questionable according to recent UN reports.
I won’t even bother getting into the rest, like Quebec support (where caricatures of him during the 90’s depicted him as a rat – as in ratting them out), let alone Alberta support.
All the French citizenship thing does is glaringly remind us of how alien Dion is to the majority of English speaking Canadians.
He also has as much magnetism as a stick of wood.
Which all goes to show, Dion is the best reason for a Conservative majority in the next election, regardless of the bump at the polls created by the liberal convention love in with the media.
Frivolous?
Again, Kate, your prowess at the keyboard excels. You’re a genuinely talented writer, and it’s a pleasure to read this blog when you’re really on your game. Kudos.
my family lineage is part Irish.
my sister in ottawa whom I respect immensely despite earlier differences, has dual citzenship Canada-Ireland.
but she isnt booting for elected office or any other sensitive conflict of interest prone position.
dion needs to wake up and toss the foreign passport because he renounces french citizenship ergo no passport.
but he wont and in fact I hope he doesnt because by the time its an election issue it will be too late to submit to the common opinion and would look like desperation anyway.
the GG’s former dual citizenship isnt at issue; she was appointed so she was guaranteed the job, plus much to her credit she saw how sensitive the question was and then did comply even though she didnt have to. she did it for the integrity of the non-elected ceremonial position and on that I respect her far more than I have any GG since Schreyer and thats only because Lily(?) Schreyer was such a nice first lady.
wakey wakey lieberals. wakey wakey deeon.
maz2 points to a new culture at the PS called ‘accountability’
tqvm M. Harper for a change in the direction of the political winds, tacking is time consuming.
I hate to break it everybody, but I saw a poll on CTV news last night thst shows the Liberals with a ten point lead over the CPC. I don’t have a lot of faith in polls, but if an election were held tomorrow we would probably have a Liberal majority.
mbaron
I don’t think that we need to completely overhaul dual nationality policy, like Andrew Coyne does, but there are limits. One should not be involved in politics, especially as the Leader of a Federal Party that is one of two plausible governmental options (BQ and NDP will NEVER provide a PM for obvious reasons), when you have not completely dedicated yourself to Canada. Part of the oath of office for MPs should be a formal renunciation of all other allegiances. Many of us have an unalienable right to pursue citizenship in another country (Great Britain, Germany, and Israel are but three of the possibilities) thanks to the vast number of people with Grandparents who were born abroad. There is a difference from the potential of pursuing citizenship, a fairly arduous process that involves personal risk and possible mandatory military service, and holding another citizenship.
Dual-citizens who return to their ancestral countries shouldn’t be able to call on Canada to evacuate them (you’ll notice that we’re never arranging sealift to rescue Canadian Israelis… funny that). Citizenship is a two-way street, we can not allow Canada to be just a hotel and a convenient launching pad for attacks on the US and other allies.
Dual citizenship is not a problem. The country you chose to be a citizen of and the optics are the problem. Many Canadians have dual citizenship for a variety of reasons. I have it for my daughters’ sake so that they could study or work in “fortress Europe” if that ever materialised. Do I have real ties to my motherland? – not really.
However, France has proven not to be a trusted friend of Canada. The Quebec libre comment by Degaul, the fact that they would be the first country to recognise a separated Quebec and the fact that they support the PQ makes them – in reality – Canada’s enemy.
Unfortunately, in Quebec, having French citizenship is highly valued. A holiday to Europe is not complete without a trip to France. There lies the threat. Quebecois will favour their hometown boy because he was forced to give up his French citizenship. I hope Mr. Harper is sharp on this issue.
Off the topic for my last point, I understand that the Vandoos from Quebec City are taking their turn in Afghanistan. They will be assigned to guarding the compound and not in the war theatre. Are we to sacrifice just English Canadian boys in this war?
“JJM: what if PMSH were a dual US/Canada citizen?”
Well Doug, I love the way you automatically assume you know my political leanings.
For the record, I couldn’t care less if Mr Harper* were a US citizen – or a Greek one for that matter.
It’s what he does as a Canadian citizen I care about.
* A man whom – you will doubtless be shocked to learn (due to your preconceived tiny world-view) – I most heartily support.
“Off the topic for my last point, I understand that the Vandoos from Quebec City are taking their turn in Afghanistan. They will be assigned to guarding the compound and not in the war theatre. Are we to sacrifice just English Canadian boys in this war?”
This statement reaches an all-new low even by the standards of “maryT’s” ludicrous babbling.
When the Van Doo Battle Group deploys in August 2007 to Kandahar, and if or when this unit takes casualties, I do hope Fiumara will have at least some remaining shred of remorse about such a trite remark and hang his/her/its head in shame.
Comfortable, rear-echelon shame – but shame nonetheless.
Dion will French fry us all. In this bath of corrupt grease of Socialism , heated in Anti-American hate. The very skin of this Nation will be sloughed off, in the fires of there bigotry.
In the end we will loose all of our economy in this attempted coup by this evil faux Party of mobsters pretending to be civilized9 Not to worry we can still trade with North Korea . This fellows ideological fellow traveler.). With eyes only on power & your money.
Already Ontario cannot compete with the third world. If we lose our largest trading partner we will be Haiti.
Albertans are ads good as gone if this anti-human foreigner takes control, than advances his plan of deconstruction. Absolute socialism.
Cretin always said the plains of Abraham should have been won by the French. To any other National leader that would listen. Its just taken them a might longer.
English Canada is finished with no one to blame but themselves . There love of socialism & lies has overcome basic survival. Or any caution.
Ontario & Quebec. The lands of the narcissistic opportunists ,none productive thieves, chitterling for more power. Always more manipulation.
He has no idea about the West in general, or the absolute fidelity Albertans hold for personnel Liberty & privacy, nor our work ethic. Not even the fact we all took a pay cut of 4 % to make sure our Children had no debt. I ask. Who on this continent would do the same in these day’s of self interest? By the way no sales tax. Direct Democracy.
Unlike Quebec we DO have an ambassador to America. Instead of crying about being a Nation , Alberta as usual acts instead of puffs like a blow fish on pot. Unlike the rest of this semi feudal quilt of envious, haters in this patch work confederation. We admire achievement with praise for there accomplishments, not curse it or them.
We out produce BC double with a million less people. You people have call display, voice mail & surround sound. All created in Edmonton research labs. We broke the Education Monopoly, & if a lone country would be first world wide.
We have given loans to just about every Province. None of which have been paid back, we fully expect them to not pay it back.. We bring people over to Saskatchewan from other countries in an attempt to repopulate, for future economic reasons, & because so many of us have parents who came from there. We plant vineyards in BC. Build schools In Newfoundland.
Albertans wish the best of luck to what was Canada, if this puppet of pomposity becomes PM. We will know change is impossible in this Country . We are not Quebec. We will just go. Period. No fuss & pay our debts. Than a hearty adios. We will not become a lawless, nepotistic, immoral, criminal, money black hole for anyone, in this deranged Dominion ever again. No one can say we did not stick it out beyond belief for this Country to our very big detriment.
We have given this Nation 225 billion in revenue. We have supplied jobs for many other provinces children. We even allow refineries to be in American States for many reasons. One main one, is friendship. Spread the wealth. They appreciate it.
Not so Canada.
We get nothing but bile & hate spewed our way. Just like America.
mbaron – those polls were a reaction to the three days of intense MSM coverage of the Liberal leadership extravaganza. They are ‘windmills’,i.e., automatic mechanical reactions to the wind blowing.
AND – what is really interesting is that the CPC vote ratio stayed the same. The increase in the Liberals didn’t come from the CPC; it came from the NDP – who lost percentage points.
That’s what is happening now, the Liberals are attempting to swallow the NDP and get their big city and feminist and latte-crowd votes. That’s also why Dion is glowing about The Environment – which is a cause celebre among the socialist crowd(without a glimmer of knowledge about the climate of course). And that’s also why he’s equally glowing hot about ‘feminists’ and dictatorially imposing women candidates for parliament.
Dion and the Liberals are NOT interested in the climate, in ‘warming’, in pollution. Not in the least. Their long record of nothing proves that. And Dion and the Liberals are NOT interested in the real issues of gender. They have, and have always had, only one agenda. Winning. They are open about this. Chretien himself, at the convention, said it. ‘It’s all about winning’. That is all that matters.
And Dion says the same thing. Winning. That is all that matters. He’ll give up his French citizenship IF and only IF it harms his capacity to WIN. He won’t do it for the principle, he won’t do it for the ethical integrity. He’ll only do it if it interferes with his WINNING.
The Liberals. They have only One Policy. Themselves. And, only one agenda. Winning for Themselves.
Now- watch the NDP fight being swallowed by the Liberal Monster. It’s all about Winning.
Duceppe threatens to topple Harper over Afghanistan
QUEBEC (CP) – Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe is threatening to topple the Conservative government over its Afghanistan policy …- …-
Meanwhile, back at the front…
French Citoyen Liberal Dion proposes:
a Poppy Farm Marketing Board for Afghanistan.
“What we are doing now is not working,” Dion said.
He added that he was interested in proposing a multi-nation approach comparable to the Marshall Plan, the U.S. strategy for rebuilding the allied countries of Europe and repelling communism after the Second World War.
This plan would focus on eradicating illicit crops that provided funding for warlords, Dion said.”
Dion is an idiot. The Marshall Plan worked because it was focused only on economic infrastructure development. Europe had already been operating for centuries, within a civic mode of government, within a democratic mode, and, over the last century, within industrialism.
Afghanistan is only now attempting to emerge out of a tribal mode of government; it has never had, until now, a civic mode. It has existed only as a morass of disparate and isolate tribes fighting each other. There was no sense of the citizen as a ‘civic’ member of the country; only as a member of a family kin group, a tribe, dedicated to hating and wiping out the other tribes. The economy was peasant subsistence, not industrialism.
First- you have to enable Afghanistan to move out of its political tribalism and into democracy. The military is trying to assist this. You can’t set up a Marshall Plan until you have a civic nation. You can’t set up a Marshall Plan until you have an industrial economy.
Dion is saying these things for one purpose only. Winning power. He’s not interested in Afghanistan. He’s interested in the peace-crowd NDPers in Toronto and Vancouver. He wants their votes. And to hell with the people of Afghanistan; Dion couldn’t care less.
Irwin, yes, frivolous in my view. Is the article in the Star about Mr. Dion’s dual citizenship or about certain of his opponents attacking him on it? (I couldn’t find the article in the online version.)
ET, you’re wrong about Stephane Dion.
Anyway, it strikes me as odd that so much time is spent here attacking this chap who has no charisma (disagree strongly), but who more importantly would be doomed even if he had the charisma of Trudeau, as a result of his dual citizenship.
Irwin, yes, frivolous in my view. Is the article in the Star about Mr. Dion’s dual citizenship or about certain of his opponents attacking him on it?
ET, you’re wrong about Stephane Dion.
Anyway, it strikes me as odd that so much time is spent here attacking this chap who has no charisma (disagree strongly), but who more importantly would be doomed even if he had the charisma of Trudeau, as a result of his dual citizenship.
Crabby , “you ain’t never been right.”
crabgrass – your comment that I am wrong about Dion is a conclusion. Could you provide me with the reasons that leaad to this conclusion? As you know, a conclusion without reasons is pretty weak, it’s just an unsubstantiated opinion. I’d appreciate your reasons. Thanks.
citizen – a native or naturalized individual who owes allegiance to a government
So our media should ask Mr. Dion “Do you owe allegiance to the government of France – Yes or No?”.
By the way, continuing on with Dion’s sole agenda – which is to win power – it’s interesting that Dion accused Harper of being a ‘control-freak’. That was one of the first ad hominems that Dion flung against Harper, along with a lot of other names – such as ‘neoconserviative’, ‘friend of Bush (that’s used as an insult), etc.
But it is Dion who is the control-freak. Notice what he’s doing about women. He is saying that he will insist that an equal number of men and women be in parliament. To achieve this, he won’t allow the ridings to select their own candidate; he’ll do it for them. How’s that for a control-freak? Taking the right of choice away from the grassroots?
And why? He’s not interested in merit. Not at all. He’s not seeking the best brains, the best experience, to get into the House. No, his only interest is in their gender. Quite insulting really. Why is he doing this? For votes. For himself. His stated agenda is singular. Winning.
He’s after the urban leftists, the women’s groups, the activist feminists, the academic humanities crowd who all focus around Women as Victim etc. The universities and middle class are filled with them. He wants their vote. That’s all he wants from them. Their vote. He’s not interested in any viewpoints; if he were, he’d want a mind regardless of gender – a mind that is intelligent, sharp, experienced.
Dion, the Control Freak. He’s into Social Engineering as a means to get himself into power.
DUAL-DION: OBFUSCATIONS, SPIN, & OTHERWISE
Lib MP Shawn Murphy: “I believe that he will have to renounce his French citizenship” …
Bourque: Lib MP Says Dion Must Dump France …
Lib MP’s aide Dirk Druet: “an irresponsible misrepresentation of a statement” …
…-
Headlines-links at Bourque
Conservatives Continue to Stonewall on Arar Case, says Dion
Liberal Party of Canada, Canada – 2 hours ago
“I’d like the Prime Minister to answer
when he learned
the changed version
of the RCMP Commissioner’s facts,”
said Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion. …-
Da proof is da proof… proven.*
*H/T Jean AdScam Chretien, who appointed both
Zaccardelli and Dion.
Dion gallumphs off in all directions, as Stephen Leacock would say.
The heart of this matter is simple , do you love Canada . There’s an election coming folks , if PMPM can ask such a filthy question of Stephen ,(can I call him Steve ? ) , during an election campaign , then tough shit Stephan ( not sure yet what to call your sorry ass ) Dion . The gears are spinning , this next one is going to be nastier than the last few .
Dual citizenship is allowed, legal and acceptable in Canada.
People with dual citizenship are also full Canadian citizens.
If you think it should not be legal, work to have it changed, if you think you can. In the mean time people with dual citizenship should not be made to feel like they are having their loyalties threatened.
This is reminiscent of some very dark chapters of Canadian history which I’m sure we would all prefer to leave behind us, like the past experiences of Canadians of Japanese, Italian and Ukrainian origin.
For my part, I am proud to live in a country that has the maturity and tolerance to allow dual citizenship.
Most people with dual citizenship have their other nationality because of family and emotional ties. Renouncing their other citizenship will neither lessen those ties nor will it increase their loyalty to Canada.
How far are you wanting to push this? Now that Harper has recognised the québecois nationality, do you suggest he complete the gift to the separatists by insisting that there cannot be dual nationality?
Dual citizenship is allowed, legal and acceptable in Canada.
People with dual citizenship are also full Canadian citizens.
If you think it should not be legal, work to have it changed, if you think you can. In the mean time people with dual citizenship should not be made to feel like they are having their loyalties threatened.
This is reminiscent of some very dark chapters of Canadian history which I’m sure we would all prefer to leave behind us, like the past experiences of Canadians of Japanese, Italian and Ukrainian origin.
For my part, I am proud to live in a country that has the maturity and tolerance to allow dual citizenship.
Most people with dual citizenship have their other nationality because of family and emotional ties. Renouncing their other citizenship will neither lessen those ties nor will it increase their loyalty to Canada.
How far are you wanting to push this? Now that Harper has recognised the québecois nationality, do you suggest he complete the gift to the separatists by insisting that there cannot be dual nationality?
The little dictator, (wasn’t that a frenchman called Napeolean) wants to appoint 103 women, or manipulate the riding associations to nominate them, but how is he going to manipulate the rest of us to vote for them. Imagine, 103 Hedy Frys with pms at the same time. Again today Newman let that liberal dominte the show, always interupting the other speakers. Most of the time she was babbling so you couldn’t understand her. Is that the new liberal tactic, don’t talk english to your audience. And, to think the french dictator wants to copy a US program, the Marshal Plan. And in question period today, some lib demanded Harper get Bush to remove Arars name from the no fly list. And why no outrage re Bill Clintons spying on Princess Diana, without authority to do so. If they spied and tapped her phone, who elses were they spying on, maybe Arars. Come on JJM, attack, I expect it, but somebody has to do something to get your brain working before it petrifies from non use, or blindly following the dictator.