Murphy's Pit

Dear Quebec, Your New NDP MP May Not Speak French or Even Visited Your Riding

2011-04-27T13:22:00.001-07:00

Pylon candidates are nothing new. Usually they are party insiders that put their name on a ballot with high expections they will return to their normal routine once the election is over. Previously the NDP was a master at this. They would usually move their resources and volunteers to ridings they had a chance of winning, including those who are on the ballot in other ridings. The NDP has always ran candidates in Quebec with franco sounding names, who are busy in Manitoba or Ontario getting out the vote. Think the Conservative Candidates are hard to find? Try to find an NDP candidate in Quebec. They won't even register their URL names, all you can find is an ambigious e-mail on the central website that may or may not connect to their campaign.
The NDP has long sought proportional representation, and now they are getting it. If their numbers hold you will have forty or fifty new Quebec MPs who can't speak a word of french and only experience in Quebec is making the 10pm run across the river to Hull when the LCBO closes in Ottawa.

Jack Mulroney and another Reckless Coalition

2011-04-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Jack Layton is looking for power. He will do anything to potentially become Prime Minister, and feels justified in lies and reckless campaigning because he feels the most vunerable Canadians will be better off if he succeeds. Sorry Jack, it's been done and the country is not better off as a result. In 1988 Canadians went to the polls to what would be unbeknownst at the time, but the last election with the 2 1/2 party system. Four years earlier Brian Mulroney couldn't be content with a comfortable majority, he literally thought he could make the PCs the naturally governing party and ran two campaigns, one appealing to western populists and the other to nationalist Quebecers. The result was the largest seat total in Canadian history. He wasn't done. In order to stick it to his predecessor, Pierre Trudeau, he sought to succeed where Trudeau had failed, by bringing Quebec into the Constitution. The result was the Meech Lake Accord in 1987. This odd couple would stay together through the next campaign as Mulroney swept Alberta and maintained a comfortable plurality in Quebec to become the second Progressive Conservative Leader to form two consecutive majority governments despite dropping in every other section of the country. The ink wasn't dry Chief Electoral Officer's sanctioning of the 1988 results when this marriage went straight to divorce court. An upstart movement called the Reform Party led by Preston Manning, son of former Alberta Premier Ernest Manning was formed on the eve the 1988 vote in protest to the Mulroney Government's obession with Quebec. After finishing second in several ridings in Alberta in 1988, they shocked the world by winning a by-election in 1989. This would give them the clout required to fight the next election. Things were not all so rosey in La Belle Province. The Meech Lake Accord was ready to die a slow death as the 80's turned into the 90's. Well known separatist,Mulroney confidant and futue Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard would abruptly resign from the Mulroney Goverment over protest to concessions made in the accord from another future Quebec Premier, Jean Charest. All it would take was the wave of an eagle feather in the Manitoba Legislature and the accord was dead. The result, a $300 million egofest for Mulroney to salvage his tatered place in Canadian history called the Charlottetown Accord, followed by the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada being moved into a vegetative state until its death in 2003, a western protest movement whose solidiers would eventually come to power in Canada in 2006 on lies and slander, then destroy the very fabric of this country, a resurgence of separatist movement in Quebec with a referendum in 1995 that nearly broke up the country. So Mr. Layton, you want play both sides of the coin to gain more seats and possibly come to power. History has taught that more seats and power can come at a cost.

Nordique Nation, the NHL's Teaparty Movement

2010-12-14T08:28:00.001-08:00

A funny thing happened on the way to the Nassau Colieseum on Saturday night. Over one thousand fans of a team that no longer exists showed up for the game. These band of rebel rousers were taking a grassroots approach to securing an NHL franchise for their city. One could ask why they choose Long Island as the launch of their cross continent campaign? The Islander's play in a grossly outdated building and two amateur hockey teams, the London Knights and Quebec City's own Ramprants both outdraw them. Which would lead one to believe that is crew was set on poaching the Islander's from their forty year home. Well that was not the case as many of these die hards told the Islander fans that they had no interest in their team and simply were looking for other NHL team's fans, particularly American teams to support their cause.

All I can say it won't be easy. It is safe to say that the newest NHL city will be in Canada. With the Canadian dollar at par with the American dollar and all six Canadian teams selling out every night, the NHL has no choice but to have a team move or expand to Canada. Winnipeg has gone as far to take the "Field of Dreams" approach and have already built an NHL ready facility. Clearly though the Southern Ontario market is where the league has set its eyes on. Even the powerful Detroit Redwing franchise has endorsed a new team in Southern Ontario going as far as insisting that they play in their division, hence lowering their travel costs.

The old Nordiques were truly a sad story. Part of the WHA-NHL merger in 1979, they were closest thing the NHL had to the Green Bay Packers. Nords fans would fill Le Colissee to the rafters despite spending most of the late 80's and early nineties in the cellar of the Adams Division. The beginning of the end happened when first round draft pick and next superstar, Eric Lindros refused to report to the club. With a low Canadian dollar and a new threat of Quebec Separatism in the air, the Nordiques were doomed no mater how many people went through the turnstiles. To make matters worse their incarnation in Denver Colorado would win the Stanely Cup in their first year. A second one would follow in 2001. All of these factors alone should make Quebec City the "People's Choice" for the newest NHL city.

Clearly one set of hockey fans have decided that enough is enough and they are taking it to the streets. Half empty arenas in the Southern United States could be the next target of the NHL's Teaparty movement. No longer will Canadian hockey fans tolerate Stanley Cup parades in shopping mall parking lots, hokey on ice promotions and consistently seeing their heroes sign with clubs simply so they can play golf in the afternoon. Will this movement go as far as dumping the original architect of this fiasco, Garry Bettemen. The same man who never saw a hockey game until he was forty years old has been at the forefront of two labour stoppages and no network television deal in the US. Perhaps during their time in New York they could storm his plush office and take over the league and see that true hockey fans have the right to see the best of the best play, not just the corporate suits currently occupying most of the Canadian NHL arenas.

The Home Team Super Bowl Curse?

2010-12-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

Last weeks Grey Cup was special because for the second year in a row the league's most passionate fans' team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were in the final. Not to mention that those fans had only an eight or nine hour drive to the host city, it made for an interesting partisan crowd, almost a home game for the green riders. Home teams at the Grey Cup are nothing new. With only eight teams there is bound to be a team that makes the final in the year their city hosts the big game. Which lead to another question? Why has a team never played in their home stadium at the Super Bowl?

Two examples come to mind in which the designated host team did in fact make it to the final game, but didn't play in their home stadium. Both the Los Angles Rams in 1979 and San Francisco 49ers in 1984 were the designated home team, yet private boxes had not become the big business that they would eventually therefore those games were played at college stadiums to maximize attendance and revenue. The NFL has since abandoned this practice, going as far to recommend to cities like Miami and Atlanta that they must upgrade their luxury boxes if they want to host any future Super Bowls. The last college stadim Super Bowl game would happen in 1993 as a last minute back up after the game was pulled from Phoenix Arizona.

The NCAA finals last year had the improbable happen when the designate host team made it to the final, not in their home building though, but still an astonishing feat in a field of 66 playoff contenders. Why can't a team in a field of 32, with only 12 in the playoffs make it to the final when their city is hosting the big game?

Back in 1971, it was learned that the NFL was about to award a Super Bowl to Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, but the bid was blocked by a group of owners lead by Al Davis claimng the Cowboys had a good chance of playing in that game. Instead the game was moved to New Orleans, where the Cowboys faced off against the Miami Dolphins. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come. From 1974 to 1982 the NFL rotated from New Orleans, Los Angeles and Miami. This could have been seen as simple math given those cities infastructure as tourist towns, but also 2 of those teams did not enjoy allot of success in the 7o's. Miami on the other hand would play in three Super Bowls in a row, but none would take place in their home stadium, the Orange Bowl, fueling curse theories. The Los Angeles Rams would shock the football world by making it to the big game in 1979, ironically after not hosting any playoff games. As far as the New Orleans Saints, that would not have a winning season until the late 80's.

The three city rotation would end in the 80's as Super Bowls would be held in Tampa Bay, Detroit and San Diego, but still no host team. Miami would leave a bad taste in the mouth of NFL with the 1979 game, with hotels charging high fees and cocaine dealers attending the festivities. The game would not return for another ten years when the new Joe Robbie Stadium was built. The absence also could be looked on with the arrival of Dan Marino in 1983, making Miami look like a perenial contender, thus a pontential host team. By the time Super Bowl came back in 1989, the Dolphins weren't even a playoff team and Marino had not lived up to his earlier successes.

This season it looks as though the curse will continue as the Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to make the playoffs, the first year they have ever been the host team. With the league's desire to balance between domes and outdoor venues the curse may come to an end. Although the Colts look shaky this year, next year they host the big game and could very well be playing in it. New Orleans will be next, but this time the Saints will be three years removed from their own Super Bowl victory, unlike in the past. With the decision to play in New York in 2014 and both the Jets and the Giants loaded with young talent one of them or maybe both will play in the first cold weather game. Traditional Super Bowl teams like Pittsburgh and New England may never see the big game held in their cities, other up and coming franchises like San Diego, Houston and Arizona may have short bus rides to their date with destiny.

Jaffer Looking Like Elvis in his Final Days

2010-03-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Well forget the fact that the judge used to be the Chief of Staff to the former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding in which the trial took place, or that the judge was appointed by the current Attorney General when he held the same post for the Ontario Government, or the sentencee's push for tougher impaired driving charges as an MP or that his wife was the regional Minister, lets look at Mr. Jaffer's resemblence to another well known pill popper that indulged in strange behaviour when his career was in decline, the King himself. Perhaps that played a role in this favourable ruling. As this country moves towards a two tier justice system, at least we can see a future for Mr. Jaffer and in the riding of his wife nonetheless, as Collingwood Ontario located in the riding of Simcoe Grey is home to the largest Elvis impersonator festival in the world.

Look Mom, I am on TV

2010-03-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

http://torontoist.com/2010/02/jack_layton_wants_you_to_make_sure_you_see_him_celebrating.phpIt looks innocent i real time, but in slow mo it looks like passive assault. Will this man do anything to get on camera?

Since When are We Followers?

2010-02-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

When Stephen Harper was president of the National Citizenship Coalition, he referred to Canada has second class, and a failed social experiment. Now he is trying to govern on that theory by catoring to big oil and having one of his flunkies Jim Prentice say "We will follow the American model on Climate Change". So this country must not take the lead on climate change or anything for that matter.

We certainly won't take the lead on fiscal responsibility like we once did. Also, we will not take the lead removing government corruption and cronyism, like Harper promised four years ago. Instead we will take it to new lengths and go to great strides to cover it up.

Harpocrits, gotta love'em.

Harper's Cheques

2009-10-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

I Have Sinned!

2008-06-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Could a similar scene occur in the House of Commons when either the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs come clean with their leadership donors.
For those of you to young to remember, Jimmy Swaggart was a major religious right figure in the United States in the 1980's. He preached about the dangers of casual sex and denounced pornography as the devil's tool to seduce. Later on he was caught with a prostitute, completley destroying his creditabilty.

I ask Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay to come clean with their leadership donor lists before they pass the accountability act, and supposely clean up government.

We are still waiting for Mr. Harper to come clean with his 2002 donors list in his campaign for the Canadian Alliance Leadership. Since he is currently the Prime Minister of Canada, he makes several appointments and awards several contracts. Canadians have the right to know if any of the people on that list have been awarded any of these distinctions.

As for Minister MacKay, he should come clean with whether or not his leadership debt from 2003 has been retired, and how and by who? Of course the Minister is subject to
many important decisions regarding appointments as well. Could some of these names be subject to plush appointments at Foreign Affairs.

Of course these individuals can argue that their actions did not fall under the 2003 Federal Elections Act, proposed by the then Liberal Government. Since their Accountability Act will apparently go further, they should set an example and release all the names of their donors. Of course if they are running a squeeky clean government, they should have nothing to hide.

"The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation.", Apparenlty Not the Case According to the Harpocrits

2008-05-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

When the Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau made this famous quote, I am sure he didn't mean the wiretapping of a woman's mattress. One has to wonder whoever planted the bug, why did they choose the bedroom? Did they think that the bedroom was the best place to hear confedential information? or perhaps they were hoping to hear something else? Whether or not the Harpocrits planted the bug is still a mystery, but if it was planted by someone else could lead to an even larger security breach. Therefore the Harpocrtits should just fess up to planting the bug, and claim it simply a peeping tom type tactic.

Liberals Lost the Moral Authority to Govern; Conservatives Never Had it in the First Place

2008-04-21T20:05:00.001-07:00

I am quite sure that the Conservative Party received the proper information about the large percentage of rabid NFL football fans that live in the diverse urban riding of York South Weston when they used riding funds to air negative, personal and slanderous ads of then Prime Minister Paul Martin during every single television timeout around the clock during the AFC and NFC Championship games on the eve of the 2006 vote. Or did they receive information that Global Television affiliate that airs across the province to 109 ridings has exceptional Nielsen numbers in York South Weston. Well it didn't work, the Conservatives lost York South Weston despite this incredible modern demographics targeting. I would have recommended a different programming choice, perhaps a soccer match, which I know is quite popular in that area, or a more local television affiliate, CityTV at least. Maybe the add should have aired in an affiliate in Lasalle Emarde, since the individual who was solely featured in the ad was running in that riding. Several weeks earlier the same Conservatives pasted a motion that the Liberals have lost the moral authority to govern, then managed to form a government with the smallest plurality in Canadian history when a police investigation was launched against their main opposition mid campaign. How they were able to do this by spending all that money in York South Weston, a riding they lost. By forwarding all that cash into a riding they failed miserably to win begs the question, how they managed to win the election in the first place? Harpocrits gotta love'em!

Harper's Conservatives: Scum of the Earth

2008-04-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

Three House of Commons Committees are in political stalemate because the governing party is trying hide their corruption through fililbustering. For the first time in Canadian history a warrant was issued to search one of the official party's headquarters, let alone the governing party. What happened to cleaning up government? They had to cheat to get the smallest plurality in Canadian history, even when their opposition was subject to a police investigation mid campaign. Too bad the Liberal Party didn't try to sue the RCMPs.

The Harpocrits and Canada's Malaise.

2007-12-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

Brian Mulroney once referred to Harper as "Ronald Regan like". Recently we have seen the ill effects of Mr. Mulroney's own personal judgement, and this comparison is no exception. First of all Ronald Regan was patriot, Harper is not, but they do love America so it may be true. Sorry Mr. Mulroney but Mr. Harper has now shown signs of another one term wonder, Jimmy Carter. In his last year before the election year, Carter made the famous malaise speech telling Americans to expect less. Now Harper is telling Canadians to do the same. We will run budget surpluses while cities crumble with crushing deficits and rising costs. Public transit upgrades are desperately needed, but we need to use that money on our Challenger jaunts and limo rides. Expect less Canadians, but you can expect we will spend more on ourselves. Well Mr. Harper, Carter's "Malaise Speech" didn't work out for him, so telling people the same won't work out for you.

Oh Conrad Black, We Never Knew You

2007-12-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

RERUN from 2005.

With the melody of "Bye bye Birdie" ringing in my head, I decided to ctrl-c, a piece I wrote now a couple of years ago. Now that Conrad's networth will now be measured in Marlboro cigarettes, I thought it deserved a new posting

When we think of evil and wealth we generally turn to fictitious names such as C. Montgomery Burns, Ebenezer Scrooge, Gordon Gekko and J.R. Ewing. Conrad Black has proven that evil and wealth are not pure fiction.

The Dark Lord himself has made his mark by purchasing newspapers and firing three quarters of the staff, and then branding the publication as a soapbox for his own twisted views.

In truth, underneath the shield of the malevolent character lies a man who just wants to be loved. Who else would hold upscale parties in his Kensington Home in London, and host the cream of the crop of British high society, and then clamours to his advisor like an adolescent girl, wondering if everyone “liked him”.

Well public opinion of Mr. Black is very low in the land of “The Great White North”. Perhaps he could improve it by welcoming a bunch of over ambitious young people into his boardroom, verbally deride them, and then utter the words “You’re Fired!” I’d pay money to see that.

Parliament is for Porn

2007-12-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

A light take on this stupid situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ4tRq9jiwI

How the Harpocrits Would Like Schreiber to Appear Before Committee.

2007-12-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

Spare us Your Brown Envelopes and Non Issue Comments Harpocrits, We Deserve to Know the Truth about Schreiber-Mulroney.

2007-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

When the Harpocrits first took power, any kind of criticism of them on this blog was quickly spammed with “brown envelope” comments, and taunts of prolonged years of opposition and perhaps slipping behind the NDP. When a new scandal erupted in the government, this blog was quickly spammed, “If this is your top issue, enjoy opposition for a long time”. I later found out that it wasn’t anti-Liberals surfing pro-Liberal blogs, but a thing called the “Canadian Blog Exchange” an olive branch from “Blogging Tories” encouraging their supporters to spam and insult Liberal bloggers. Now the taunts are few and far between, which leaves me wondering; A. Did this Gestapo operation shut down? or B. Harpocrits are in so much trouble now, that only the true fanatics participate in this concept?

Now the Mulroney-Schreiber incident is being hailed as a non-issue in these circles. Well $2.1 million was given to Mr. Mulroney from the taxpayers on the grounds he didn’t know Karl Schreiber. That is now false. That $2.1 million, just like the brown envelopes was taxpayers money, stolen. As far as the brown envelopes are concerned, the Harpocrits had the chance to take the Liberal Party to court on those payments in hopes of creating a sequel to Gomery and calling an election when the hearings reached a boiling point, but pulled the plug when they found out that the Conservative Party could be sued for their convention cheque swapping scandal, and the case was more iron tight. Funny, the Conservative Party’s coffers are endowed enough to pay off that debt, but won’t due to their own arrogance. Harpocrits, gotta love em!

Liberal Smear Campaign, Harpocrits Have Short Memories.

2007-11-30T17:10:00.000-08:00

Liberal smear campaign. Perhaps the Harpocrits have just managed to fumble this one because they were so paranoid into being tied directly to it. Why does a millionaire like Elmer MacKay not own his own fax machine? We never heard the end of the sponsorship program from the likes of Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay. MacKay went as far as to call it "Canada's Watergate". They did everything in their power to implicate Paul Martin to the program, including questioning him on a birthday card he signed. They tried to force an election on one day of testimony in the Gomery inquiry.
The truth is that most Liberals will like to see Mulroney get what is due to him because of his abusive tone towards Liberals while he was Prime Minister. Once he received the government settlement, he and Mila purchased a home in West Palm Beach Florida. The could have purchased all of West Palm Beach by launching libel suits to every journalist and publisher that connected him to the Airbus scandal, so he clearly has something to hide and Canadians deserve to no.
As for the Harpocrits, they will be defeated on their own arrogance inepitude

Frankie Pentangeli and Karl Schreiber

2007-11-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

Who can forget the famous scene in Godfather II when Frankie Pentangeli retracted previous sworn testimony to the Senate Committee on Organized Crime at the mere sight of his estranged brother from the Committee gallery. He then responded with "I don't know no Godfather". The Committee than scrambled through its briefings and then adjourned abruptly. That was Hollywood, not to mention that Watergate had reached a boiling point the same year the film was released. Could such a Hollywood scene be played out in our Canadian Parliament. Could either Mulroney or the Harper Government produce a long lost relative of Schreiber's, and at the mere sight of him cause Karl to break down and state that everything his said before was lies. Of course we want to see the truth come out in this case, but I for one could spare the truth for such a dramatic scene in Canadian Government that we would all never forget.

Harper Passing the Corruption Buck.

2007-11-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

I don't follow German politics that much, but I do know they have a "Grand Coalition" aka "shaky coalition" when the governing party teams up with the official opposition to form a government, and it can fall apart at anytime. The governing party is the Christian Democrats, which Schreiber has had a long storied relationship with. His arrest warrant in Germany is directly tied to the Christian Democrats, and could remind Germans of the corruption in government the last time the Christian Democrats were in power under Helmut Kohl. Sound familiar. By doing everything in their power to send Schreiber back to Germany, the Harper is not only obstructing justice, but he is passing the problem over to his German counter parts, so they will have to deal with the humiliation of having been tied to Schreiber, that is if the German media enjoys sensationalism as much as we do in Canada. Sure let Angela Merkel be defeated by this individual, while you walk around with a halo of clean government on top of your head. Since the Christian Democrats are Canada's version of the Conservatives shows that the Harpocrits will even stab their friends in the back in order to keep power.

Forget Confederation, Let's Go Electoral College

2007-11-27T12:24:00.001-08:00

Having lived in Ontario my entire life, or the small "c" in confederation or "Blue State North", I took our last federal election results and determined what the House of Commons would look like under electoral college. First unlike Mixed proportional, all the members will be picked from elite party lists. We here in Ontario love anything that involves the word elite, we do border New York State, Michigan and the bluest of the blue states, Minnesota.

2006 Canadian Electoral College Results:

Liberals 142
Conservatives 92
Bloc 75

Unworkable Liberal Minority
Conservative-Bloc Coalition

So we have the same thing we have today in the House of Commons except we are sparred Jack Layton's ramblings (I hope they build a Walmart in his riding) and we don't have to stare at all those ugly faces in the House because the party lists will surely be prioritized by physical attractiveness. CPAC's ratings will go through the roof. To me Electoral College works.

Something Doesn't Add Up.

2007-11-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

There is a striking difference between the Prime Minister's Offices biography of Peter MacKay regarding his career path circa 1991-1993, and Wikipedia's. Allow me to table both.

Wikipedia's:

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Acadia University in 1987, MacKay then studied Law at Dalhousie University and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991. He worked as a lawyer for the law firm of Thyssen Henschel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in Düsseldorf and Kassel, Germany. For those of you unfamiliar with these companies, they both have heavy ties to Karl Schreiber, who by the way was bailed out of jail in 1999 by two former cabinet Minister's, Marc Lalonde and Elmer MacKay, Peter's father.

Here is how the Prime Minster's Office sees it:

After graduating with an arts degree from Acadia University in 1987, he went on to study law at Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991.

With strong family ties to the local area, he returned to New Glasgow to open a private law practice specializing in criminal and family law. In 1993, he accepted an appointment as Crown Attorney for the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He prosecuted cases at all levels, including youth and provincial courts as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.

Isn't that nice, instead of being a hired consultant to international defence contractor (Not a bad piece on a resume for a Defence Minister), he had an store front law firm with a little bell ring when you opened the door, and helping old ladies in slip and fall cases. Not really what you would expect from a future Minister of Defence. Could it be that he got the job with the defence contractor from an individual who is in some hot water right now, Karl Schreiber.

Harpocrits, even on their government websites they need to shield the truth.

Hearings and Testimony are Polling Gold, Not Reports and Conclusions.

2007-11-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

It was a warm spring day. Canadians were about to enter into an election based on one day of testimony of individual who was trying to play the role of the victim, because he was facing criminal charges. That testimony was in the Gomery Inquiry, and thanks to Chuck Cadman and Stephen Harper (stripping Belinda of her critic post so she would leave the party and join the Liberals) we were spared of entering into an election on one persons account or a set of circumstances far more complex. The first Gomery Report then exonerated Prime Minister Martin, but that didn't stop the opposition by laying the blame completely on him.
Harper is doing everything to prevent the Mulroney-Schreiber case from coming to light because it will make him fall victim to what he has built his political career on up to this point, messing with people's emotions. He even went as far to have his mistress in the Press Gallery, Chantal Hebert say this case is not Gomery II, because Paul Martin and Stephane Dion were directly involved in the sponsorship program, and Harper was promoting western separatism when Mulroney received the alleged payments. Well Ms. Hebert, Paul Martin was vindicated by the report, and Stephane Dion was even mentioned in it.
Will the government be defeated on damaging testimony that doesn't even pertain to them, most likely not, therefore they have nothing to fear with a full public inquiry. The problem is voters have short memories, and if something is in the news, no matter how old it is, it will effect the polls, and deny majority winning conditions for the Conservatives. "Winning conditions" was also a term used to describe the separatists in Quebec when it came to calling a referendum. No wonder the Harpocrits and Bloc get along so well.

Runaway Harpocrits

2007-11-15T01:27:00.000-08:00

A Tribute to Checkers.

2007-11-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

When Richard Nixon was accused of receiving kickbacks the nation was treated to an hour long review of the Nixon family's assets. Television was in its infancy, and this charade did little to give some creditability as an entertainment medium. This all changed at the end of the program when the nation was introduced to Checkers, the only gift the Nixons accepted from political supporters.

As former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney begins to face questions about similar kickbacks, could we be introduced to a beautiful pure bred German Sheppard, compliments of Mr. Schrieber.

The current Prime Minister has a fondness for the felines species. Could our nation be treated to the new edition to the Harper family that was part of 2002 Leadership contributions that we have yet to be privileged to the sources.

Who can forget Mr. MacKay. A dog lover and Schrieber former employee. While he was playing "Boy loses Girl" we met a beautiful canine on his father's farm in Nova Scotia. Was that dog part of a package that retired his $500,000 debt, which he still refuses to name the sources.

Sadly, we have no version of Checkers in Canada. Mr. Dion has Kyoto, but that's not the same. It is well documented that Mackenzie King claimed to be able to verbally communicate with canines, so close enough.

Mulroney Could Be Exonerated

2007-11-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

But that won't stop current Defence Minister Peter MacKay to have to testify in a public hearing. Such and embarrassment could produce a political nightmare on MacKay's employment with the Schrieber operation. Embarrassing public hearings were what the Harpocrits used against the Liberals, then ignoring the final reports, sounds like things could backfire on them.

Covering up Corruption: It's the Harpocrits Way

2007-11-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

The Gomery inquiry was called to get to the bottom of the Sponsorship Program by the government of the day, knowing that they could face political implications as a result. The Liberal Party could of covered up those envelopes going across restaurant tables by appointing an independent adviser, perhaps stayed in power or been defeated on a real issue that directly pertained to the running of the country In 1997 a RCMP investigation was considered a witch hunt against the a former Prime Minister Mulroney. Two million dollars of taxpayers money was settled, and the investigation called off. Now that more facts are present, don't Canadians deserve to know if there was any wrong doing in the Prime Minister's Office, and should the 2.1 million be returned to the taxpayer. The current Prime Minister Harper will not call a full judicial investigation because he promised to clean up government, as long as it wasn't his friends. To make matters worse he could lose his pathetic 125 minority that survives on the support of a party that's sole mandate is to break up the country, due to the publicity surrounding such an investigation, not to mention his own Defence Minister may be called as a witness, then on the payroll of Mr. Schieber while the alleged payouts were made. Good thing they dropped that P in their party name. He also risks the notion of reminding people that not only Liberals can be corrupt and all you have to do is look to the Mulroney government's serial corruption during their time in office. Maybe Harper doesn't want to release his 2001 donors list because Mr. Schieber's name could be on it as well?

What Happened to our Spring-Summer Election?

2007-06-12T21:21:00.001-07:00

The late Right Honorable John Diefenbaker said "Polls are for Dogs". I personally believe they belong in our nation's gentlemen clubs.
Over the past couple of months a trend has been happening. The Conservatives can't get into majority territory with their inability to gain support in urban areas. Now it looks as though that their chances of holding onto to their pathetic minority is in jeopardy. Journalists that predicted a massive majority in the Mulroney and Diefenbaker range, are now retracting their statements.
Their solution. Continue to give the balance of power to a party that's sole mandate is to have Quebec separate from the rest of the country. That way they can continue to bill taxpayers limo rides, challenger jaunts and five star hotel rooms right through to the fall.
Ontario has a fixed date election with a writ dropping shortly after Labour Day Weekend, buying another five weeks of splurging for the Harpocrits. They sure won't mess with voter fatigue in riding rich Ontario, so that means more power for the separatists.
Like a true bully, Harper is a coward. Both Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark entered into elections down in the polls. Harper clearly sees that his hold on power is fragile, and he is going to milk it for all its worth.

If Harper were a pro wrestler, he would be Adrian Adonis.

2007-04-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

If you were going to compare Stephen Harper to a
pro wrestler, you would compare him not to Black Jack Mulligan or
Cowboy Bob Orton, you would compare him to the effeminate, overweight diva, the late great Adrian Adonis.

Of course you wouldn't compare him to the Adrian Adonis who was a hard nose grappler who teamed up with future governor Jesse Venture in the early 80's, but the georgeous George tribute that Gen Xers will all remember from our Saturday morning wrestling cards.

Adonis in his prime, and Harper now, have three things in common;

1. They both like to wear makeup, and also you can put make up on both of them and they still look like men.

2. They are both a little pudgy.

3. They both walk around with an undeserved sense of accomplishment.

I Don't Recall Dion Receiving A Letter from Kennedy saying "No Cooperation with Greens".

2007-04-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Bravo to Elizabeth May who has knows how dangerous Harper is for this country, and instead of playing partisan games with other parties, has managed reach a deal with another party that benefits both in the long run. Of course the fifth party is up in arms, only because they want Harper in power has long as possible so they can hold power is some post-apoctolyptic Canada. The NDP claims there is no difference between Conservatives and Liberals, so who is in power doesn't matter.
Deals between the NDP and Liberals go back to the days of Douglas and Pearson, with most of them falling through. On the provincial level they are even more common. In Ontario, the McGuinty Liberals proposed not running candidates in certain ridings in an attempt to defeat Mick Harris, only to have the Hampton NDP back out at the last minute, causing the Liberals to scramble to run candidates.
Good to see two parties working together on the election front, and instead of bickering back and forth on who is more rightious and allowing a third party to sneak up the middle.

"Did Noah Build the Ark, and Say Gee I Hope it Doesn't Rain?"

2007-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Conservative Party spent millions of dollars on a campaign headquarters and launched attack ads in Quebec, and then they have the nerve to say "We don't want an election".

I am sure the municipality of Hamilton didn't build Copps Coliseum and say, "We don't want an NHL franchise".

I am quite sure nobody in the Conservative Party watched "Field of Dreams" before they began construction with the fine "If you build it, they will come!"

Tory Spy Paid for by the Taxpayers: This is a Corrupt Government.

2007-03-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

Spies are a common practice. They are usually always on the "Party Payroll", not the House of Commons. That's the way the Liberals have ALWAYS done it, and I know that for a fact.

Paul Martin kept his 2004 Election Team on the party payroll six months before the election was called. He could have put them on the House of Commons, but chose not to. So if any blogging Harpocrits has proof otherwise, I would like to see it.

The only other political party that practiced such acts was Mike Harris' Progressive Conservatives, which were famous for using taxpayers money on partisan projects.

Harper is following the same formula. Use taxpayers dollars to boast your partisan interest's to the maximum, then you have your party funds left over to use on slanderous U.S style attack ads.

Turner Situation; Government Bully Politics At Its Best.

2007-02-28T10:53:00.001-08:00

This has been a new phenomenon brought about by the current government to bully the opposition, particularly the Liberals.

During majority governments, it is common courtesy to allow opposition members to have first pick of offices to avoid any conflict. A block of offices is offered, and the party distributes them based on seniority and level of responsibility.

There is no such thing as a Liberal or Conservative office. The governing party is entitled to the multi suite offices that are reserved for ministers, and the government can really only claim ownership of those. If one were to visit Parliament Hill for the first time, one might be shocked to see that very few members have their fellow party members as neighbors. For the most part, very few offices have members of the same party adjacent to one and other. The Bloc Quebecois enjoy having offices near each other, but also many of them enjoy the West Block, which is popular with Members who smoke, thus spreading them out. There are 308 members of parliament, thus 308 offices. With the government removing a member from his office, they create an unoccupied space (wasting taxpayers money), and HOC will have to procure a new office (Once again wasting taxpayers money) or make Mr. Turner share with another Liberal, hindering that member and the party's resources and space.

The government will argue that in 2000, P.C. Member Jim Jones was not allowed to access his parliamentary office because he announced he was joining the then new Canadian Alliance. An election shorty followed, and Mr. Jones was defeated, so that story really has no ending. Also, the conflict was between two opposition parties, and if anyone knows how HOC ruled in that case,I would appreciate the information.

The bottom line is the Conservative Party's bully tactics. When they took power, they removed several Liberals from their offices, some of which had been in them since 1988. When Dalton McGuinty took power in Ontario in 2003, he allowed all P.C. backbench members to keep their existing offices. There use of intimidation in their lust for power has been clearly exposed in this case with Mr. Turner.

Let's Compare Tastes

2007-02-23T20:36:00.000-08:00

This could be one of my last pokes at the Harpocrits, as I will resume my myspace and facebook addiction this weekend, not to mention that celebrity lookalike site.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has taken the liberty to post Mr. Dion's expenses while he was Environment Minister. Meanwhile why haven't they posted Brian Mulroney's expense claims so both Conservatives and Liberals can throw up. If there is a little ounce of stomach fluid left, the Trudeau expense claims will quickly dispose of them.

Alright, two Ministers on business, let's look at their choice in accomodation.

Stephane Dion

|Dion's choice for the Climate Change Conference. Also the only hotel connected by tunnel to the conference, but Mr. Dion does reside in the Montreal area, and there are also cheaper hotels within the neighborhood.

InterContinental Montreal, Montreal

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$122 We will assume this Lowest Average Rate. Dion choose $300 range Canadian.

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Hotel Class:

360 Rue St Antoine West

Montreal, QC h2y 3x4 Canada

InterContinental Montreal's Victorian Nordheimer building is an Old Montreal landmark located within walking distance of the city's downtown core and approximately... more

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Swimming Pool, Pets Allowed, Wheelchair Accessible, Spa/Massage, Meeting Facilities, Babysitting, Broadband Access, Restaurant in Hotel, Fireplace, Shopping...... see all

Chuck Strahl

hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. Lowest avg rate C$464.40 American

5.0-star Washington, DC Area: Dupont Circle/Kalorama

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Prominent hotel with health club in chic West End

Located where downtown and the West End converge, this 11-story hotel is 5 blocks from Georgetown, 6 blocks from Dupont Circle, and 3 miles from the National ...

Mr. Strahl does not live in Washington, but this hotel has no direct access to any of the business he was attending. To his credit, it is not the most expensive hotel in Washington. He could have shacked up with London North Centre Candidate Dianne Haskett, who does live in the greater Washington area. Next time choose the Watergate Chucky, not only chic but alot of history and heritage.

A Little Look at the Numbers

2007-02-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

As per a blogger's request, I will submit government figures available to the public.

I will admit, I have never watched the Junos, but let's compare the last Liberal Minster's spending at the ceremony, compared to the current Conservatives.

Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Oda, Beverley J. - Minister
Purpose: JUNO Award Ceremony
Date(s): 2006-03-31 to 2006-04-03
Destination(s): Halifax
Air Fare: $1,976.39
Other Transportation:
Accommodation: $1,090.92
Meals and incidentals: $175.45
Other:
TOTAL: $3,242.76

Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Frulla, Liza, Minister
Purpose: Gala Awards of the 2005 Juno Awards
Date(s): 2005-04-01 to 2005-04-04
Destination(s): Winnipeg
Air Fare: $2,020.68
Other Transportation:
Accommodation: $666.90
Meals and incidentals: $182.85
Other: $54.94
TOTAL: $2,925.37

Alright about three hundred dollar difference no big deal. That is until the Treasury Board got caught covering this up.

Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Oda, Beverley J. - Minister
Purpose: Crystal Cab and Limo Services (original revision: February 9, 2007; latest revision: February 13, 2007)
Date(s): 2006-03-31 to 2006-04-03
Destination(s): Halifax
Air Fare:
Other Transportation: $3,249.34
Accommodation:
Meals and incidentals:
Other:
TOTAL: $3,249.34

Wow, remind to visit Winnipeg instead of Halifax, apparently there is some kind of monopoly being run by Crystal Cabs, and their rates are very high. If I have to go to Halifax, I am taking the bus.

Of course we are still waiting for Minister Finely to show a note from her doctor that a person that suffers from Graves diesase the need to ride in Crown Victorias commissioned by a Limosine Company. Harpocrits, gotta love'em!

Bains Situation Just the Tip of the Iceberg

2007-02-21T20:54:00.000-08:00

Stephen Harper is not a statesman, and for that matter isn't even a decent human being. He hates liberals and anyone else who disagrees with him. He is a monster and the most vindictive party leader, let alone Prime Minister in Canadian history, and does not deserve a minute more in power. Let's take a look at his record over his political career.

1. Never has had a real job. Was a political staffer, then a Member of Parliament, and an unregistered right wing lobbyist for an organization that was originally formed with the mandate to end public healthcare.

2. He goes on and on about Liberal corruption, and preaches about government transparency, yet he still refuses to release his donor list from 2001-2002 when he ran for the Canadian Alliance leadership, under the weak argument "It wasn't the law at the time". Well if he is such a squeaky clean fundraiser, what does he have to hide?

3. Accused Paul Martin of supporting child pornography, because he didn't a support an opposition motion which is standard parliamentary procedure. If had to defend his voting record against government motions and bills while he was in opposition, he would have some explaining to do. We can spend all day on how he doesn't support prescription drugs for seniors.

4. Accused Paul Martin of strategic votes on the 2005 Budget along with cancer treatments of members of the opposition. I hardly think that the Liberals Whip office has all the oppositions medical charts posted in order to ensure that opposition members won't be there.

5. Recalled former Ontario Liberal M.P.P., Alvin Curling from his diplomatic posting with an e-mail through an account he hadn't checked in over two years. Curling found out when his replacement phoned him for details on the turnover.

6. When his party got caught ripping off taxpayers with their policy convention, he used taxpayers dollars to launch an investigation into the Liberal Party's convention financing.

7. His encouragement of unparliamentary behaviour in the House of Commons, which has resulted in a decorum that would make grade school class with a substitute teacher look subdued.

8. While in opposition he made personal attacks against Liberals for lavish spending on taxpayers expense and abusing the challenger jet. Since taking power his cabinet members lavish spending of taxpayers money on limos, hotels and meals has dwarfed the previous governments, and Harper himself used the Challenger Jet to arrive in time to fund raise for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives.

Of course there are a band of Harper lovers that will read this, (I don't know why, it appears only on progressive and liberal blog posting sites) taunt the Liberals about a long stay in opposition and demand an apology for the G.S.T., sponsorship program and the gun registry. Yeah, yeah yeah, so I saved you the typing and you can just cut and paste into the comments section.

Hey Harper, Apologize for the Pacific Rail Scandal!

2007-02-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

A BCer in Toronto and a creative youtube user influenced me to release this petition. If Ralph Goodale has to apologize for things that he had no knowledge and involvement in, then Harper should do the same.

"We the under signed believe that Prime Minister Stephen Harper should make a formal apology to Canadians for the Pacific Rail Scandal".

The clip off youtube is is currently down, looks like the Harpocrits are trying to block the truth.

Not Rona: Harper You Monster!

2006-12-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

First Belinda Stronach, now Rona Ambrose. Mr. Harper plans on tossing her from her senior cabinet post. Can't the young men of this nation have something to stare at in the first two rows during question period. Unfortunatley the previous government failed in this area as well, but I am sure Pierre Trudeau or even Brian Mulroney wouldn't make such as costly mistake. Premier McGuinty makes sure Ms. Pupatello is close by. Why can't Harper so the same. Word is she will be replaced by Joe Clark look-alike Jim Prentice. That's not right. If he dumps her completely and then elevates Diane Ablonczy, this man truly doesn't care about the youth male demographic. Humour aside, I think it is safe to say that after the Belinda affair and now this one, Harper is nothing but a mysongist.

Back in Time.

2006-12-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well of the communications strategies that the the Conservatives had planned for the eventual Liberal Leader, their campaign against Dion surely had to have been their weakest. Reports came out that they had a massive attack ad campaign if Rae was successful, and would hammer Ignatieff on the fact that Canada is not home to Harvard and Oxford. "Back to the Future?" I can't see why the Conservatives would choose a movie like this one other than it starred Republican punching bag, Michael J. Fox. Marty McFly travels back in time to change the present and future, not the future repeating the past. As a matter of fact Harper does kind of look like Biff Tannen. Don Boudria has some resemblence to Doc Brown, he just needs a little more hair. Clearly Clement, Baird and Flaherty can qualify as Biff's goons, we just need to reach into a cereal box and get Clement a cool pair of 3D glasses.

The Cause Endures: Ingatieff Campaign

2006-12-03T23:19:00.000-08:00

For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy - August 12, 1980

Begining to Look Alot Like Christmas.

2006-11-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry Edmonton Oiler fans but the Blue and Orange was completley rejected in London North Centre last night. It was a festive atmosphere as Red and Green dominated the results that came in.
Both the NDP and the Conservatives ran negative campaigns attacking the Liberals, and the NDP went as far as to attack the Greens. Both finished very poorly and deserve the results they received.
Obviously Mr. Layton's man crush on Mr. Harper is not selling well. We all know Jack wants to bring down the Liberals to so he can be Prime Minister is some post-apoctolypic Canada.
As for Mr. Harper, take Karl Rove off your speed dial or else you will have to find your cats a new home.

Harper Poised to Become His Worst Enemy; Joe Clark.

2006-11-16T21:47:00.000-08:00

In 1985, a young innocent man made his way to his first full-time job full of zest and optimism. Unfortunately that experience went sour quickly when that individual met a good friend of his boss, who was an arrogant, obnoxious senior minister of the government of the day. That little boy went running back to the prairies, absolutely crushed by the behavior of that big bad Ottawa Minister. He was a big bully, and that little boy was going to have his revenge. He would dedicate the next ten years to bringing down this person. He began with running against the person who first made the introduction, while his new best friend ran against that arrogant minister.

The little boy grew up. When it was time to make amends with the arrogant minister to fight the real bullies, he couldn't come to grips. Instead he waited for the arrogant Minister to retire, so he could inflict the ultimate revenge against him and his little dog.

Stephen Harper likes to be compared to John Diefenbaker. The Chief ended a Liberal dynasty with a minority government, and returned the next year with the largest plurality in Canadian history. (Only Brian Mulroney would have a larger seat count).

According to the latest polls Diefenbaker and Mulroney comparisons may not be in Mr. Harper's immediate future. Instead he could become like the same individual that he holds so much contempt for, Joe Clark. When Harper was part of the Reform Party in the lead up to the 1988 election, Joe Clark was the party's first target. So much was that true, that party leader, Preston Manning ran against him. Harper's comments about his distaste for Mr. Clark are well documented, and many people in both the Reform and P.C. parties believe the merger was delayed over Harper's personal dislike of Clark.

Well Stevie, it looks as though you could become your worst enemy. Latest polls show that you may have knocked off the Liberal dynasty, only to blow it all in a matter of months later. Dief was ridding high in the polls at this point, and you are not.

Could be a fall vote.

2006-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Unfortunatley for the Harpocrits, they have peaked in the polls. The next set of polls will be after the Liberal Convention and the blue paint brush that sweeped the U.S will most likely put the Liberals in the lead, if not in majority territory. It will most likely take until February for the Liberal numbers to level off, too long for the Harpocrits to get a microwave majority. A fall election will allow them to look to Ontario, now that they have tanked in Quebec. Too bad Ontarians with be going to the polls in October.
It could still be a spring vote. Harper's lust for power could make him roll the dice and try to go when the Liberals have no money and still are still fresh from there leadership vote. He will then try to bring up Gomery, or have something else in the news to mess with people's emotions, which is all the Harpocrits ever do.

Prediction, Jack Layton teams up with Harper to hold onto his pathetic 29 seats. This will let him think that he could still become Prime Minister in some post-apoctolyptic Canada.

Let Your Hate Flow From Within: Vote Conservative.

2006-11-07T07:42:00.001-08:00

Visit www.diannehaskett.ca

The sitting government has decided to take the low road in the London North Centre. Instead of posting on their website what they have accomplished in their first eight months, they simply have vague newspaper headlines made by journalists and editors that they have in their back pocket, and most of them attack the Liberals.

It gets better. They say the Liberal party is divided. Hello, it is in middle of a leadership race, one that registration begins less than 48 hours after the polls close on November 27th. It then makes fun of the Liberal candidate for not attracting a donation from Bob Rae in last year's election.

Furthermore, those squeaky clean Harpocrits got caught red handed with a staffer on paid leave from Rona Ambrose's office working on the campaign.

So let's look into my crystal ball into the next election:

"He hasn't lived in Canada for the past couple of years"

"He wants to do for Canada, what he did for Ontario"

Dianne Haskett hasn't lived in Canada for six years, and completely destroyed the city of London's finances by creating record deficits and doubling the debt. She's a two-four.

Further into my crystal ball.

"New Prime Minister opens up windows to get cat smell out of 24 Sussex"
"Harper Blames Bush for Loss"

Harper a Devil with a Crucifix.

2006-11-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Ah the taxing of income trusts. It seems that Mr. Harper needs to encounter the very issue that gave him the keys to 24 Sussex to begin with. Not to mention the fact that he his raising taxes, which would make him a "Liar". If those individuals who would degress with this statement, Mr. Harper called Dalton McGuinty that very same name during the 2004 Election, when Mr. McGuinty inherited "Enronesque" books from Eves-Harris and had to put through the health care premiumn. Also how convinient, that the individual who was mostly responsible for those voodoo books, now has the same job in Ottawa, Mr. Flaherty.

Of course my wonderful musings appear on a Gestapo type of page called "Canadian Blog Exchange" that lump all comments that do not show Mr. Harper in a positive light into one bundle, so his supporters can flood the page with comments defending their hero.

I am sure those comments will include that the Liberals were corrupt, and we are better off with Harper, or Liberals promised to cut the G.S.T. A little review. The cutting of the G.S.T. was never a major platform in the 1993 campaign. Furthermore the government was about to scrap the G.S.T. when a report came out that it would create a massive budget short fall, and the consumer would be gouged by the retailer and not receive any savings. The solution was the "G.S.T. Credit" that put money directly in people's pockets, instead of going to the retailer.

And of course almost identical reports told Harper to just increase the G.S.T. credit instead of cutting the tax, because it would create again "A budget short fall". They were ignored in favour of keeping the cheap carnival side show promise, and low an behold what did it create? A budget short fall.

And where is Judy Wasalewhatever with her jumping up and down on an airport runway calling the Conservatives corrupt for misleading Canadians???????????????

Gilles' Quebec in 2015.

2006-10-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

While Harper is defending his Foreign Affairs Minister for referring to his former former flame as a canine, and the Liberals continue to decide who their new leader will be, it is nice to see that Gilles Duceppe has vision of Quebec that may have come from watching Empire Strikes Back too many times. It seems Mr. Duceppe has wants to be Lando Calrissian, and maybe Andre Bosclair will be Luke Skywalker. By 2015 Quebec will have high speed trains that travel to New York, and perhaps beyond. A new NHL franchise will begin play in orbital arena that will be suspended in mid air. This technology will make Quebec a new Athens, that embraces the spirit of the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, forget the one that followed three years later. The possibilities are endless, and most of it will be funded by the Canadian Federal Government, to build a new sovereign Quebec. I think Mr. Duceppe should lay off the sci-fi films, and don't forget that the Empire moved in and took over Cloud City at the end of Empire Strikes Back. Harper's Empire could try something the same.

Conservative Candidates Wanted: Free Thinkers Need Not Apply

2006-10-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

In the world of Stephen Harper you are allowed to express obscene gestures to the opposition in the house, use four letter words in committee, but if you dare critize the current government or show any form of independent thoughtl, you are thrown out into the cold. Now I am not condoning Mr. Turner's actions, but unlike Carolyn Parrish, his dismissal from the Conservative Caucas was not based on single issue, but several different issues which for the most part critized the leadership of Stephen Harper. Caucas renegades are nothing new in Canadian politics. Did Bob Rae kick Peter Kormos out of the Ontario NDP caucas when he fillibustered his own party's legislation? That was okay, but posing as a Toronto Sunshine Boy wasn't. He got kicked out of cabinet for that. Oh Bob, if you become Liberal Leader I hope you change your ways and allow the male members of your caucas to show off their pecks.
Alright, off topic, the citizens of Halton elected Mr. Turner as a Conservative Member, and they deserve to be represented by him in that fashion. Simply because he expressed his concern for some of the governments actions does not constitue his removal from the caucas. I do not know if Mr. Turner has left willingly, but it clearly shows the type of leadership Mr. Harper wants to bring to this country.

Hey Harper, Stay Out of the Liberal Leadership!

2006-10-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

Never has a sitting Prime Minister interfered more in an opposition party's leadership process. The various party's that Mr. Harper has been a part of had no less than three leadership races under Liberal Governments, and at no time did the Prime Minister make any comments or moves until after the process was completed. This included the last Conservative Leadership race where the Liberal Government accommodated the party by exempting them from the new legislation that was passed right before they were about to choose their leader.

Whether it be creating wedge issues with Afghanistan or Israel, or passing legislation that would put Liberal delegates in violation of Canadian law, this government has gone out of its way to mess with the Liberal Leadership race, when it should be focusing on governing the country. Furthermore the government was going to sue the Liberal Party in name of cleaning up government, but we all know it was a move to dwindle the party's resources. Funny, Harper immediately back peddled on this when he learned his own party could be sued for their own convention fiasco.

Stockwell Day was attacked more by his own party than he was by the Liberals. The Liberal attacks came mostly at election time, when all is fair in love and war.

Harper himself has complained about a press release that the Liberals released shortly after he was elected Conservative Leader calling it "A partisan attack from the sitting government". What it was, was a list of his quotes. If he felt that was unfair, maybe he shouldn't have said those things. Furthermore, the release came after he won the leadership, a common practice by any party when one of their opponents chooses a new leader.

That's right Stevie, change the rules so they benefit you. In that case why don't you just unilaterally proclaim the Bloc Quebecois the Official Opposition.

Harper the Most Vindictive Prime Minister of All-Time.

2006-10-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Stephen Harper fears Michael Ignatieff. Ignatieff's platform for the leadership of the Liberal Party, and possibly the platform he would use in the next election if he became leader clearly dwarfs Harper's pathetic vote grabbing five priorities. As of today it is now four priorities, with a complete denial of any promise to shorten waiting times.
The very fact that Harper has the nerve to critique Liberal leadership candidates before the party comes to a decision clearly shows his hatred to towards the party, which is extremely immature behavior, and not the least bit proper for the Prime Minister of the day.
Harper is clearly meddling in the Liberal Leadership to get his candidate of choice, Bob Rae. I would recommend Stephane Dion, because he is from Quebec, Mr. Harper. That way you can continue your broken record diatribe about the Sponsorship Program. By stating that the Liberals are "Anti Israel", Harper is simply trying to move Liberals to support Rae's leadership, by attacking Rae' opponents. It is well known that Bob Rae is the most pro-Israel of the front running candidates, and Harper knows this. He wants to create a wedge issue in the leadership race. Well the great strategist made a huge blunder, because all he did was move negative attention his way, a fitting penalty for a meddling in partisan attacks.

Harper should concentrate on governing instead of meddling in partisan attacks, which should be reserved strictly for election periods. Otherwise his narrow minded partisan attacks will be his undoing.

Ignatieff Clearly the Anti-Establishment Candidate.

2006-10-07T20:14:00.002-07:00

As my previous post stated, of the front running candidates, of the leading candidates, Michael Ignatieff has the least support from individuals who have long made the Liberal Party a closed shop to its grass root supports. The very fact that Ignatieff attracted more Liberal Party members this past weekend than any other candidate is proof that a large constituency in the party supports his leadership. This was not done by taking over riding associations one by one, promises of cabinet posts or giving people a free trip to Montreal. Michael Ignatieff has stated that he has made no promises to those who have supported him, and no people who he courted have claimed they were promised something if they declared their support, even those who haven't endorsed his campaign. The Ignatieff team is not subsidizing any of their delegates, unlike other candidates. Of the 1,000 delegates going to Montreal, they will all be going on their own dollar or their riding associations.

Furthermore, if Ignatieff is defeated, it will be by backroom maneuvering, where promises are made and deals are cut. Hopefully the delegates that initially support those candidates will be independent of their candidates decisions, and seek out what is best for the party.

If Ignatieff is elected leader it will bring forward a new era in the party's history. In the event he is defeated, the party will continue under its old ways and face more difficulty in forming a government.

Party Could Become More Grassroots with an Igantieff Victory.

2006-10-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

One problem that has plagued the Liberal Party since Trudeau was Prime Minister more so than leadership infighting, was the lack of influence the party's grassroots members had in decision making. This culminated in a blow up on the floor of the party's 1982 policy convention, and was instigated by individuals who are now major decision makers in the party today. All respect to those individuals who took part in 1982, the party never learned from that experience.

There is an exception. Prior to the 1993 election, the Alymer Conference took place, followed by the 1992 Biennial Meeting in which the party's grassroots voted on what became the "Red Book". The "Red Book" would catapult the party to victory in 1993, and set the standard for future campaigns. This concept was short lived, as the policy for the next four elections came directly from the leader's office.

The problem that the party has had is concentration in the leaders office, too much power in the hands of unelected officials, and a general intolerance to the party as a whole. It began after Trudeau nearly lost the 1972 election, and future leaders vowed to remove this system, but instead it got even worse.

Of the front runner leadership candidates, Michael Ignatieff enjoys the most support among the party's rank and file, but not necessarily among the old guard. That title belongs to Bob Rae. Rae is strongly supported by the party's decision makers from the Trudeau, Turner, Chretien and Martin years. Stephane Dion also enjoys support from these individuals as well. Even Gerard Kennedy and Scott Brison have supporters from these camps. Ignatieff has these people in his campaign, including Ian Davey the son of Keith Davey "The Rainmaker" and Liberal Party backroom legend, but for the most part Ian has not followed his father's path until now, and has only become involved in Liberal politics in recent years. Francis Fox and Denis Coderre have long been major forces in Quebec Liberal politics, but for the most part Ignatieff supporters are life long back bench M.P.s, riding presidents and organizers that have long been shut out of the major decision making in the party. It is far more likely that they will be more involved in the make up of policy and direction under his leadership, while a Rae or Dion leadership could simply return decision making back to the smoke filled rooms. (Several cigar aficionados support Rae, but that is no coincidence)

Now concentrating power in the PMO and Leader's office has produced electoral success for the most part, but in the end the party has suffered in the long term. With politics changing, and the Harper Government adopting a closed door approach to governing, an Ignatieff leadership will not only give more power to the Liberal Party , but for ordinary Canadians as well, and encourage more people to get involved in their political parties of all stripes.

Defeated Candidates Support May Not guarantee Victory.

2006-10-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

With Super Weekend now behind us, the shift now moves to what will happen on the convention floor in Montreal to determine the new leader. Political pundits across the country have predicted that a gang up against Ignatieff could happen in Montreal, and make either Bob Rae of Stephane Dion leader of the party. If the trend that began when the first three candidates dropped out continues, who will be the next leader will be uncertain until the last second. When Bevilacqua, Bennett and Fry all dropped out of the race, the media was quick to announce that they were backing Rae. What the media failed to recognize that individuals who supported these candidates did not follow them to the Rae camp, and nearly all of them immediately declared support for Ignatieff. If this trend continues, a Dion or a Kennedy could take their support to Rae, but their delegates may go to Ignatieff.

A famous story about this type of occurrence took place in 1968. Allan MacEachen dropped of the ballot after the first ballot and took his support to Trudeau, with him came a couple of good friends and relatives. His delegates went to support fellow Nova Scotian, Robert Winters, giving him the support he needed to place second on the following ballot.

Who Will Run in the Next Election?

2006-10-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

If there is one legacy that the Paul Martin leadership will be remembered for, it was their ability to attract star candidates. Ken Dryden, Ujjal Dosanjh, Tina Keeper and Marc Gagnon all decided to make the jump into politics because of the Martin leadership.
The new leader will have big shoes to fill in this department, but of the front runners, Ignatieff, Rae, Kennedy and Dion, there is alot of potential to attract big names. Bob Rae would most likley have the most potential to attract star political candidates, while Ignatieff could do very well in attracting distinguished academics and celebrity candidates. Both Dion and Kennedy could manage to attract notable activists in poverty and the enivornment.

Here are some of my thoughts on star candidates. None of these names have been confirmed in any way, or courted by the party. They are simply names I personally feel could look good on a Liberal ticket.

Roy Romanow- The old member of Chretien's kitchen cabinet has long been an advocate of strategic voting at the federal level. His work on the Romanow Commision and eight years as Premier of Saskskatchewan make him pure cabinet material. Most likely could be attracted to run under Rae's leadership, but could also want to run under his fellow slavic's ticket, Ignatieff.

Stephen Lewis- Most likely a long shot. Unlike Romanow has never advocated for strategic voting, but could run under a Rae or Ignatieff ticket. Has to be displeased with Harper not showing up at the Aids Conference in Toronto, and would like to see him defeated. Well into his 60's, but could advance his causes in a senior cabinet post.

Maureen McTeer- You can't tell me that her and Joe are going to stay out of politics forever. Higly critical of the merger of the P.C.s and the Alliance, running as a Liberal could solidfy that displeasure. Her home riding of Ottawa-Orleans is in the Conservative's hands, and could easily go back Liberal. Has many issues and projects that could be brought to the table from a cabinet post.

Really Long Shots:

Every single time before an election there are a list of the hockey players considered as potential candidates. The Conservatives have faired poorly in their attempts to court them, perhaps by annoucing in the media first and then approaching the individual. Oh well, here we go: Mark Messier, Patrick Roy, Ray Bourqe, Wendel Clark and yes, Tie Domie. Don't hold your breath on these characters.

Bret "The Hitman" Hart- Alright, don't laugh or call him our version of Jesse Ventura. When he was a wrestler, he cut promos supporting universal healthcare and gun control in Canada. Is very patriotic and passionate about the country. Could run in the vunerable Calgary Centre riding and give the Liberals a good chance of scoring an Alberta seat. I would also recommend him has a replacement for Gary Betteman, because of his views regarding our national game.

No Denying Ignatieff's Popularity

2006-09-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Whatever happens in Montreal, there is a significant contingent in the Liberal Party who supports Ignatieff's leadership. If the current trend continues through to Sunday, it will be clear that Michael Ignatieff enjoys the most first choice support among Liberal Party members. The next question will be who will be going where once the first ballot is counted.

As it stands it is a three and half way race:

Ignatieiff (Front Runner)
Rae (Strong Second counting ex-officio support)
Dion (Third)
Kennedy (Gerard wins the darkhorse award, although I am sure he wanted to do better, not to threat, Joe Clark and Dalton McGuinty managed to come from similar positions and eventually became the winner)

Dion's poor performance in Quebec could raise questions about his ability to carry the province.

Brison carries his own province and will be a hot ticket for support. An old Red Tory, I can't see him going to Rae. It will be either Dion or Ignatieff.

Dryden didn't do as well as expected, especially in Quebec. Still will carry a lot of ex-officio support when he makes his decision who to back.

The other candidates will examine their options and will very well play a big role in the outcome in Montreal.

Scenario:

Ignatieff will need at least one of the candidates to go to him and bring their delegates as well to win the convention.

Rae will need two candidates, and they will have to bring a substantial portion of their delegates to win him the convention.

Dion will need something similar, and also needs ex-officio support as well.

Kennedy will need to press hard to get anyone who drops off the ballot. If he can pull it off, he stands a good chance of sticking around.

The New Liberal Leader Will Have the Historic Numbers on their Side.

2006-09-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Who will be the new Liberal Leader will not be known until December, but one thing
that the new leader will have on their side is the historic odds. Liberal leaders who are chosen while the party has been in opposition are generally more successful than party leaders who are chosen by the party while in power. With the first three leaders being disqualified as they were chosen by the caucas, and not the party faithful, throughout history the Liberal Leaders who were chosen while the party was in opposition have enjoyed far greater success at election time, than those picked while the party was governing.

Now one can argue that the parties were old and tired when they chose their leaders while serving in government, but Mr. St. Laurant and Mr. Trudeau managed to form majority governments directly after they were elected leader, and Mr. Pearson gave up a majority to the P.C.s in his firsts election. Overall Liberal Leaders who were picked while the party was in opposition have produced more majority governments and electoral victories.

Here is a little look at the numbers:

Chosen by Party while in opposition (Victories to elections)

Mackenzie King 6/7

Lester Pearson 2/4

Jean Chretien 3/3

Chosen by Party while in power:

Louis St. Laurent 2/3

*Pierre Trudeau 3/4

John Turner 0/2

Paul Martin 1/2

*1972 considered a tie

Eletoral winning rates:

6/11 54% In government when picked leader winning percentage.

11/14 79% In Opposition when picked leader winning percentage.

Majority Rate for governing Leaders: 5/12 42%

Majority Rate for opposition leaders: 8/14 57%

Condolezza getting Belinda's Sloppy Seconds.

2006-09-14T21:57:00.000-07:00

Poll: a) Condokay b) Macleeza

The warm Atlantic winds seem to have brought more in than the tide. Looks like a beautiful relationship is in the air. One half is the Secretary of State of an Administration that to turned to the war on terror into pure imperialistic incompetence, and the other Canada's golden boy, who may have had carnal relations with a reptile according to Norm MacDonald.

Oh Condoleeza, if a marriage is emminent I don't recommend a prenup agreement. This individual has had trouble living up to written agreements, particularly ones written on dinner napkins.

What is the future? I hope it is a bright one. Also, I hope we don't have to experience boy loses girl, boy loses vote. We will asume that later will happen so the potatoe fields in Nova Scotia remain bare.

Proposed Name Change: The Regressive Conservative Party

2006-09-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Regressive Conservative Party is a term coined by Allan Fotheringham in his 1983 book "Look Ma, No Hands", and I think it is an excellent name to apply to Social Credit/Reform/Alliance/Neo Cons/Harpocrit Party of today. The name is perfect, they will now have an acronym, the RCs and finally have a name that truly applies to their way of thinking. This new name fits in so many ways.

1. Harper not attending the Aids conference. Somebody found a memo from the White House from 1985 from now Supreme Court Justice John Roberts saying that aids can still be transferred from casual contact. Makes sense now not to attend the conference.

2. Reneging on green house gas problems. The world is not fragile, and we need to allow our own people to save ten cents on a coffee, so we can't give 1.5 million to a third world nation to help them improve their emissions standards. By the way we will have to continue to destroy your ecosystems, because now that Canadians are saving ten cents on their coffee, they are going to need more of it.

3. Copying economic formulas that have proven to have failed. Why does this government think that we need to mimic everything the United States does? The way the U.S's fiscal situation goes, in about ten years Bob Geldof will host a charity concert with proceeds going to their treasury. Reganonomics and Thatcherism were pure failures, and any right wing economist would tell you that. The Bush Administration is currently applying these policies to no avail. They are still running and huge deficit, and the debt doesn't seem to be going away, plus their education system is a mess and they are showing no signs of moving forward with technology. It is time to look to Ireland, Germany, France and China, where government investments in education and infrastructure are turning them into economic power houses. The elephant is looking old and grey, and yes it could still roll over and squash us, but I would look out for the several cheetahs that are brushing past us.

4. Ending government cronyism. Appointing an unelected Senator to cabinet. Using a political convention to rip off taxpayers. Cabinet Ministers who still have financial interest in companies that pertain directly to their portfolio. M.P.s taking in hockey games in corporate boxes. Former staffers receiving $300,000 government contracts.

So as you can see this party's record in government truly deserves the name Regressive Conservative Party, and I feel at their next policy convention in which they rip off taxpayers, they bring this name change to the floor and make it official.

Does Harper Do Anything that Isn't Trying to get him Cheap Votes?

2006-09-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Our current Prime Minister likes to mess with people's emotions. He simply picks simple little issues that cause people to react, and does it simply just to advance a hidden agenda. The funny thing is that he is so preoccupied with this constituency, that he fears looking moderate even though his core supporters don't really care, they just want to see him be successful. That or he is incredibly sensitive and worried that if he attends events like the Aids Conference, and gets heckled. Poor baby, takes you back to your days at North Toronto Collegiate when those progressive minded moderates teased you, or as they were called then "jocks".
If Michael Ignatieff wins the Liberal Leadership, Mr. Harper will be faced with an actual vision for the country, not one that saves 10 cents on a cup of coffee, or simply adding numbers to legislation released by the previous government. "But he lived in the U.S. for so long!" Well Mr. Harper, why don't you take a polygraph test saying that if you were offered tenure at Harvard, you wouldn't even have considered taking it. Sorry Eastern U.S. universities don't buy into your back woods U of Calgary crap, not even Yale where your hero Dubya brought academic incompetence to new levels.

Now his coalition with the separtists has backfired, as they will support him on the softwood sell out, preventing an election before the Liberals have their convention to pick a new leader. Maybe he can come up with something else before then to give him a microwave majority.

Oh yes, his supporters who love to surf these pages to pick a fight with progressive minds like myself, reminding me of the polls and the sponsorship program. Well your boy's approval ratings are at the lowest for any Prime Minister before his one year anniversary since Joe Clark, a person your boy holds nothing but disdain for. Perhaps this disdain could be his undoing.

Samuel Tells Harper to See His Movie!

2006-08-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

http://snakesonaplane.varitalk.com/receiver.php?key=1EA440834B8B423BEEE2950C2CDA2FA7

Bob Rae Will Save You From the Snakes!

2006-08-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Samuel L. Jackson just phoned me up and told me to support Bob Rae or else he was coming over to whoop my ass. Only Bob can save us from the "Snakes on a Plane". Ignatieff has no experience in fighting snakes. Dryden would just swing a hockey stick at them. Harrison Ford then called and told me the same. Now I have seen Harrions fight snakes and fight on a plane several times, so he is a creditable source. Only Bob will protect us from the snakes!

"Anybody But" Campaigns unusually turn out to be party cancer.

2006-07-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

As the Liberal Party of Canada prepares to pick it's new leader, it appears that an "anybody but" is present, and not even centered on one candidate, but three. Ontario Liberals feel that "Anybody but Rae" holds some zest because so many of them fought tooth and nail against him in the 80's and 90's. "Anybody but Volpe" because he managed to find a loophole in the donor rules which may not have been unethical, but in the end legal under current law. Finally, Michael Ignatieff, with "front runner syndrome".

Let's look back to any but campaigns, and what electoral result they produced.

Progressive Conservatives 1976- Anybody but Wagner, former Quebec Liberal, not another Prime Minister from Quebec, too right wing.

Results: Joe Clark emerges leader and becomes P.M. only to blow it all nine months later. Fortunately Mr. Wagner didn't live to see it.

Ontario Liberals 1976- Anybody but David Peterson- Too right wing, too Toronto (even though his riding is in London). Party settles on Dr. Stuart Smith.

Result:

Dr. Smith goes on to lose to Bill Davis twice, while Peterson delivers the first Liberal Government in Ontario in 42 years nine years later. Then of course he calls an early election in 1990, and we all remember the results. Peterson also faced a similar opposition in 1982 in his successful bid for the party leadership.

Progressive Conservatives 1983- Anybody but Joe Clark- Brian Mulroney arrives in Ottawa with less than a third of the party's support on the first ballot, and walks out the winner. Then goes on to form two majority governments for the Tories with a shaky coalition, but with a price. The party is reduced to two seats in 1993, and then dies ten years later. Also reinvigorated both Quebec and Alberta separatism at the same time, who would have thunk it.

Federal NDP 1995- Anybody but Svend Robinson

The second place candidate Lorne Nystrom drops out to support the third place candidate Alexa McDonough in an ultimate gang up. I have to hand it though to Ms. McDonough, she didn't allow for the reins of the government to be handed over to Stephen Harper during her leadership.

Ontario Liberals 1996, Anybody but Gerard Kennedy- Too Toronto, too left wing, not been a Liberal Long Enough.

Fast forward to 1999, Liberals under Dalton McGuinty are trounced but Mike Harris, sending the province back twenty years. Dalton eventually becomes Premier and proves to be an effective leader, but the damage has already been done.

Gang up campaigns that what if only they had succeeded.

Federal Liberals 1984- Anybody but Turner- Three dropped out leadership candidates would be in Jean Chretien box during the second ballot, but that wouldn't be enough to stop the "optionless", "bum patter" from becoming party leader.

Federal Conservatives 2003- Anybody but MacKay

Poised to become the official opposition in the next election, and possibly form a government thereafter, Mr. MacKay sells out the party of John A. MacDonald to the Social Credit leftovers who were already about to become extinct. Mr. Orchard tried and failed.

The 68' Leadership Race was Considered Boring at this Point Too.

2006-07-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

When Lester Pearson stepped down as Prime Minister in December of 1967, reports were flooded with which St. Laurent Era leftover would get thumped by the regenerated Tories under Robert Standfield. As the race began to shape it looked certain that the Liberals short time in power may come to an end. Trudeau was a stuffy intelectual, Winter's a cold hearted capitalist, Hellyer a Tory in disguise (later proving to be true), Turner a cocky opportunist, Martin Sr. a has-been followed by several other fringe candidates. Even the start of the convention weekend would prove to be bore, with a fringe candidate by the name of Joe Greene delivering best speech during the candidates night. Trudeau had yet to master the art of being a charismatic orator.

This all changed the next night when Canadians were treated to the most dramatic made for T.V. spectacle to choose the next Prime Minister. A gang up against Trudeau proved to be ineffective (only two candidates went over to Trudeau and were both considered fringe at best)and a shot was sound and a new era in Canadian politics began.

Oh and the Harpocrits that have nothing better to do between their internet porn surfing, I will once again save you the typing and you can cut and paste
"Liberal are going to lose and slip behind the NDP no matter who their leader is". Cntrl C Cntrl V

One can only speculate what events may unfold in Montreal.

Allen Cutler: Where's my Fruit Basket!

2006-07-13T18:46:00.000-07:00

It's truly sad that the Conservatives managed to resonate the problems associated with the sponsorship program with what they said to Mr. Cutler. If John Baird made promises to Cutler, he should keep them.

This government must not think much of civil servants. They think that doing your civil duty is not good enough incentive, so they throw in a $1000 crackerjack prize to report wrong doing. Too bad Mr. Cutler found only caramel corn at the bottom of his box.

The Conservatives have exploited the sponsorship program to death, and yes it was wrong, but their actions in response to hit have not made any difference in cleaning up government. They truly are just a bunch of "Harpocrits".

Anyone Who Paid an Observer Fee to the Conservative BGM Unwittingly Contributed Directly to the Parties' Coffers.

2006-07-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

Observer fees for a convention a meant to cover the costs of staging a convention. This may not be the case if you cook the delegate fees to create a fundraising scheme. The Conservative Party officially ripped off the dozens of Liberals, NDP, Bloc and journalists that had to cough up observer fees for the privilege of attending their convention in March of 2005. The party didn't need their money to stage the convention, so they ended up making donations to the party. That my friends is fraud. Every person who paid an observer fee to that convention should receive a refund, because they where not told where the money was going.

How do the Conservatives react to this situation? By bringing forward an investigation into Liberal convention practices, instead of their own. Well I can save you the couple hundred grand of taxpayers money this is going to cost by telling you all Liberal conventions finish in the red.

Wow they were in opposition when this happened. Just think how they can rip off taxpayers in government.

Well it Didn't Take Long for the Harpocrits to Show How Corrupt They Are.

2006-07-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well the chinks in the almighty political armour of the Harpocrits have now turned into gaping holes with this new scandal. Looks like squeaky clean neo cons managed to steal $2 million of Canadian taxpayers money, because they didn't understand the Election Financing Laws. Looks like they stole money. Corruption! I think they have lost the moral authority to govern. They won't let the Liberals hold their convention, but they can steal taxpayers dollars with theirs. I know that this posting is going to get a bunch of anonymous responses with "Liberals stole money too", so I will save you the typing and you can just cut and paste the quotations you Harpocrits.

How Convenient, the Conservatives and the NDP teamed up in Committee to Trip up the Liberal Leadership Convention.

2006-06-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

I hope the Conservatives or the NDP don't plan on holding any policy conferences in the near future were the delegates will be allowed to claim their fees under Elections Canada. Their tag team in committee not to exempt the 5,000 individuals who plan on attending the Liberal Leadership Convention from being in violation of federal law shows their personal contempt for the Liberal Party. Going after the grass roots of a party is the most antidemocratic and cowardly move any government can do, and the fact that the NDP supported it further proves that more interested in making life difficult for the Liberal Party, instead of holding the government of the day to account.

Excuse the Liberal Party for having a process that creates regional equality, and puts the decision making in the hands of the individuals who knock on doors, put up signs and financially contribute to the party. Since the Liberals are under attack from these two other parties, who is to say if they switch to one member one system, these two parties won't buy up memberships to ensure they face their candidate of choice in the next election.

There are two clear solutions to this case.

1. Exempt the Liberal Leadership contest from the new legislation, considering it was officially called before the new parliament started.

2. Have the legislation take effect on January 1, 2007, just like the Liberals did with the Elections Act in 2003.

If neither of these cases occur, I have no option but to declare the government undemocratic and opportunistic.

Elections Canada has confirmed any paranoia that the Liberal Party has felt regarding the Accountability Act. They have stated that delegates will be in violation of federal law if they add their delegate fees to any other contributions they have made during the year. I won't get into the fact that the Liberals allowed the Conservatives to go about their leadership in 2004, by giving them a window in which to declare their race. Liberal delegates will have to sign the names of their children so they don't break the law. We could have over 5,000 Joe Volpe cases. I think each member of the Public Accounts committee that voted against the exemption should all offer to sign on as a donor for a Liberal delegate.

Harper Should be Held Accountable for the Actions of his Caucus.

2006-06-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

The immature and vulgar behavior of Pierre Pollivere is a complete reflection on the kind of government that Stephen Harper is running. Harper encouraged this type of behavior as Leader of the Opposition, because it distracted the Liberals during Question Period and made for good news bytes. The problem now is that he is now in power, and the situation has gotten worse, not better. The same Stephen Harper demanded the ministerial resignations of Joe Volpe and Dennis Coderre for declaring their admiration for John Kerry, and called for Carolyn Parish to resign as an M.P. for stomping on a doll of George W. Bush. It looks as though Harper is more concerned with such a behavior as it relates to our southern neighbor, but even worse behavior is permitted within our own borders, let alone our sacred halls of democracy. Why doesn't Harper show some class, and strip Pollivere of his Parliamentary Secretary position? It is truly sad that our democratic system has been reduced to this obscene nature. How we long for a Parliament that shows dignity and respect for the people who elected it.

René Lévesque Would be Rolling Over in His Grave.

2006-06-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

The disgusting and immature of actions of Pierre Poilievre, M.P. in the House of Commons and at committee raise the question of House civility and parliamentary etiquette. Parliament has been reduced to a farce, and the current Prime Minister not only condones this shameful behavior, but encourages it. RenÃ© LÃ©vesque of course is the patron Saint of Quebec separatism, but aside from his political beliefs he is also known as the patron Saint of House Civility. Yes, the same man who was never seen without a cigarette in his mouth, (if someone more inclined with Quebec politics could confirm to me whether or not he actually lit up in the Quebec Assembly, it would be appreciated) as Premier of Quebec announced in the Assembly that the desktop thumping was neanderthalal and juvenile, and a polite applause would be more appropriate way to show appreciation. The concept was endorsed by the opposition, and desk thumping was all but extinct from the Quebec Assembly. Ottawa soon followed suit, as did other provincial legislations. Too bad such a concept seems a world way in Parliament today.

Question, Can the Conservatives Prove they didn't use 10 percenters and Paid Mailings to build a Fundraising Database?

2006-06-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Around this time last year one hot topic in the House of Commons was the notion of paid mailings and franking privileges. John Reynolds stood up in the House and expressed his concern for a franked piece of mail that arrived in his riding from a Liberal M.P. His concern centred around the envelope, stationary and delivery, and how much tax dollars were used regarding it? Although he made some vaild points, the entire issue would question Parliamentary franking and stationary privileges altogether. As it stands, an M.P. can deliver mail to anywhere in the country free of charge. During this time many of us remember receiving in the mail cards from Conservative M.P.s asking if we were opposed to the current Liberal Government, and then if we were, would we please foward our contact information to them. The pieces had a franking label in a very small font. I am wondering if I sent in that card, would I have received another letter from the party asking to donate?

No one is denying the Conservatives ability to fundraise. The old Progressive Conservatives prior to 1993 were very successful fundraisers, even during their lean years. Franking privileges and paid mailings are paid for by taxpayers. Where tax dollars used to fundraise for the Conservatives? Better yet, can the party prove that they were able to build a database by other means?

Canada Truly Goes the Way of the Darkside.

2006-06-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

By rejecting Canada's commitments to the Kyoto Accord, the government has issued a death warrant to our future generations. It is truly sad that the Rona Ambrose insists that the inability to meet targets is reason to abandon the entire concept of preventing global warming in Canada. They are all too concerned with the oil companies that contribute to their party, instead of the growing number of children requiring inhalers just to be able to breathe clearly.

Ignoring the impact of global warming shows this government's narrow vision, and the danger that this vision could have on this country.

Bravo to Paul Martin.

2006-06-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Paul Martin for having the courage to exercise his right as a sitting M.P. to save the Kelowna Accord. The fact that Paul Martin is presenting a private member's bill to save the accord is living proof that he believes in what the accord stands for, and did not use it as a pre-election promise, like the Conservatives claim. Even Progressive Conservative Premier, Ralph Klein called the accord "One of the most important things he was ever involved with as Premier of Alberta".

Of course as a private member, the only opportunity for Paul Martin to present this bill will be in a S.O. statement. During this time he will most likely be heckled to death by imature cat calls from the Government benches that the current Prime Minister not only condones, but encourages. True to his form, Paul Martin will ignore these factors, and stand up for what he believes in, assisting our First Nation's population. Has a former Prime Minister ever act in this fashion? The answer is no. This shows that Paul Martin is a true gentleman, willing to compromise on his own pride to protect something dear to his heart. It is a shame that our current government refuses to show such dignity and respect.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis Hasn't Filed Her Campaign Expenses Yet Either. Probe! Probe! Probe!

2006-06-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

After checking the Elections Canada website it looks as though Judy Wasylycia-Leis has not filed her campaign expenses yet, including the cost of her press conference during the campaign. I phoned the RMCPs and alerted them of this decrepancy. I then informed them that not only has she not filed, but no NDP candidates have filed as of today in the province of Manitoba. Are they hiding something? They have had four months.

The RCMPs did not hang up the phone right away, and told me "They will look into it". That's right, they are going to "look into it". That means those NDP candidates are all corrupt, because the RCMPs told me they are "taking a look".

Join me for my press conference when I uncover the corruption in the NDP party based purley on innuendo and a possilbe investigation, that I was not told would never occur.

Disclaimer* Dramatization, may not have happened.

Pat Martin Hasn't Filed His Campaign Expenses, I Demand a Probe!

2006-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

It looks as though Mr. Pat Martin has not filed his election expenses yet, while three defeated candidates in his Winnipeg Centre riding have.

The next thing I will do is once the RCMPs contact me and tell me that they will launch and investigation, I will hold a press conference and say "Look how corrupt Pat Martin is, the RCMP have launched a probe". Mr. Martin is clearly hiding something, otherwise he would have filed by now. He has had four months. I smell the "C" word.

I Have Sinned!!

2006-06-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Why Doesn't Pat Martin Call for a Probe of Harper's 2002 Donors?

2006-05-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

We live in magical times where an opposition M.P. decides to call for a probe of another opposition M.P.'s actions instead of focusing on the government of the day. If the Pat Martin and the N.D.P wanted to be real watchdogs they could request a probe into still missing list of donors from Stephen Harper's 2002 campaign for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance. It would make perfect sense. The probe into Joe Volpe will most likely come back saying that he did not violate any Election Canada rules, and the fact that he was abiding by those rules was the only reason this story was brought to attention.

Our sitting Prime Minister to this day has only released 54 names of contributors to his campaign for the Canadian Alliance Leadership in 2002, which would subsequently make him Prime Minister. Those 54 names account for a mere fraction of his donations, and Harper refuses to release the rest of the contributors, under the weak argument "It wasn't the law at the time".

Mr. Martin , we have a case which is pure gold. It is full of intrigue, controversey and possibly the big "C" word, corruption. The Prime Minister believes that the previous government should be held accountable for their past acts with legislation that he is bringing forward during this session. Well if we are going by those rules then he should be acountable for his acts in 2002 according to the Canadian Elections Act of 2003.

Anyway if Mr. Harper is truly running the clean and transparent government that he promised Canadians, he should have nothing to hide.

Don't Take Any Guff From These Swine

2006-05-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Leadership races can always be the source of great political monotony. Of course Canada entered a dark age in 1985 when the Partie Quebecois introduced the horrific "One Member, One Vote". Now I am not going to go through the corrupt nature that this process can create, but simply expose the fact that it fails to promote the greatest thing that could ever happen in Canadian politics, "The Convention Floor".

Of course the federal champions of this time honored tradition have been the old Progressive Conservative Party, and how fitting that their final act would exemplify this phenomena. Who could ever forget Mr. Orchard and Mr. MacKay's encounter on the convention floor. Forget what happened after, at the time it made for good t.v. The Progressive Conservatives were famous for these epic moments in history. It all began in 1967 with Robert Stanfield eating a banana as he was declared Leader of the Progressive Conservatives and potentially the next Prime Minister of Canada. Nine years later the Progressive Conservatives would entertain us again in one of the most dramatic Leadership Conventions in the history of this country. Seven years later they would release a sequel that arguably could have been better than the original. Both of these features starred Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney, both hall of famers in leadership convention folklore.

unfortunately the life time achievement award does not go to the old P.C.s. Instead it goes to the Ontario Liberal Party. Provincial Leadership races tend not to produce the kind of media exposure that they deserve, but the Ontario Liberals have managed to give us some barn burners, from their six ballot epic in 1967, to the four in morning fifth ballot upset in 1996. The Ontario Liberal Party takes the cake for capturing the imagination of convention junkies such as myself, unlike their federal cousins who only have one great race to their name, 1968. Of course this could all change come December, when the Federal Liberals assemble in Montreal. Convention junkies could be in for ride of their lives.

Harper Reaches New Low

2006-05-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Why did Stephen Harper cross the floor to shake Michael Ignatieff's hand after the Afghanistan vote? One reason, and one reason only. He wants to interfere in the in the Liberal Party's Leadership Convention, because he knows it is his biggest threat to keeping power.

Harper is trying to pin the Liberal membership against Michael Ignatieff, because he knows he is an electoral threat. Harper had the choice of shaking hands with over twenty Liberal caucus, and he chose to shake hands with one of the leadership contenders.

Harper believes that if he can turn Liberals against Ignatieff, it will create a leadership race that is full of division and discord. Well the master politician will most likely fail in this pursuit, as this race will most likely stay civil because of the need for subsequent ballot support. Again, Harper is focusing on the politics of division instead of cooperation.

Maybe Harper Could Sue the United Way

2006-05-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

Launching a suit against a not-for-profit organizaiton is exactly what Harper is doing by lanching civil action against the Liberal Party. "But they stole Money" my Conservative cohorts will say. Well the Gomery Commission established where the money went and to who.

Harper just wants to use Canadian taxpayers money to inflict turmoil on his main threat to achieving ultimate power. He knows the Liberal Party will have to hire out legal counsel, which will further erode their resources after the Leadership Convention with an election not far away.

Like a bad guy wrestler, Harper likes to kick'em when they are down.

The Liberal Party Should Counter Sue Harper for Slander

2006-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Since Mr. Harper knows that sponsorship program + media coverage * messing with the voting publics emotions = polling nirvana, it would be natural for him squander Canadian taxpayers money to keep this item in the news. Don't forget he wanted to fight an entire election in May of 2005 based one day of testimony in the Gomery Commission.

This is what Frank Luntz is telling him, the same Frank Luntz that tells Tom Delay that the "Jack Abramoff Scandal" has nothing to do with the day to day governing of the country, therefore it is no reason to vote Democrat in November's elections.

All we ever hear from our Prime Minister is "How corrupt the Liberals are". Come on. I am so sick of this. I believe the grassroot members of the Liberal Party should serve Mr. Harper with court papers for slander based on abuse of power. You would think that the Leader of our Government could show some class and go about his business nicely. No instead he chooses to play partisan politics.

Maybe the Harper Government could sue the Ontario PCs for all the money lost in the sale of Hydro One and the 407. He could move west and sue the BC NDP for "Bingogate". The possibilites are endless.

Harperceppe- Ottawa's most glamourous couple.

2006-05-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Rumours have been circulating in the nation's capital that the many red carpet appearances the couple have been making since May of 2005 have not been have not been idle speculation of a pending romance. That all became clear when the couple announced today that they were an item.

Could this all be for publicity? Harper is pushing his new film, Budget 2006- "Don't Say I Didn't Say I Told You So", and was seen arm and arm with Duceppe at the film's premiere. Could a couple be more different? One wants to break up the country, the other wants to destroy it from within.

Engagement? Marriage? A baby? Our last Ottawa power couple had a nasty split. We all remember MacKayChard. It started out so magically with the exchange of a dinner knapkin that had a simple little promise on it that was never kept.

Well if we do have a wedding, I would recommend that there be a pre-nup agreement. Harper could be more interested in the Duceppe family's estate then their beautiful son. We will wait and see.

Harper is a School Yard Bully

2006-05-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

Lynwood Barclay summed up Harper in today's Toronto Star, and his treatment of Dalton McGuinty. Unlike Mr. McGuinty, Haper inheritted a budget surplus from the previous government, yet he raised taxes for the lowest income bracket.

McGuinty inherited Enron-esque books, and his entire mandate has been hindered by Mike Harris corrupt practices. Mr. Harper has the nerve to call Liberals corrupt, when he just did a fundraiser where many in attendance became much wealthier by the sale of Hydro One.

He won't meet with the Premier, because he it is not in his best interest. He only cares about himself and power.

Summer is near, get out your Harper Flip Flops

2006-05-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Scrapping the gun registry, he had a chance to make it part of the budget. Instead he choose to cut spending by scrapping the Kelowna Accord and our Kyoto targets.

Fiscal Imbalance- No increase of transfer payments to the provinces.

Lower Taxes- Completley misappropriates $20 Billion Dollars in tax cuts, that are subject to claw backs. The Liberals promised $9 Billion dollars that would have come directly off their paycheques.

Also,

Triple E-Senate- Appoints a Senator immediatley. Michel Gauthier Public Works Minister, and non elected might I add. "In the virtual absence of the Minister of Public Works, I will address my question to the Prime Minister.

To my NEO CON friend.

2006-05-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

1. For someone living in Ottawa, you'd think you would know a bit more about budgets.

Since when is the National Capital Region a hotbed for economic thinkers.

2. First off, the retailers can't suck it dry because every bill you now get has the P.S.T. and the G.S.T. clearly shown.

Gas pumps, car payments, Tim Hortons, shall I go on. Many retailers can hide that one percent or 10 cents you will save on a hamburger.

3. The the people who will be paying
.5% more income tax are negliable because most will get the $1000. exemption. It's
This only affects less than 1% of the population of Canada so they didn't take that money to pay for any programs. When everything is said and done, the "working families" will be paying less tax than they are right now. That's not my calculation, that's the calculations of the experts.

What experts, John Williamson from the Canadian Taxpayers.

Wrong, it is more like 40 percent of the population that fall under this income bracket that will be paying more taxes. They have to have children under the age of six to get the $1000 winfall, not to mention the provincial clawbacks that are part of the constitution.

"You don't throw stones at a man with a machine gun"

Don't Forget, This Budget Has to Pass with the Support of the Bloc.

2006-05-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

Stephen Harper loves Canada. That's why he appointed Jim Flaherty Finance Minister, who made covering up budget deficits a pure art form as a Ontario Finance Minister. Oh that GST, one percent cut, we can all retire. Oh no, the retailers can suck that up dry. Increasing the lower income bracket's income tax over the next three years to pay for most of this crap proves Mr. Harper really cares about working families.

And now for the grand finale. Mr. Harper is going to team up with the a political party that is determined to break up this country to pass this smoke and mirrors garbage.

We're going to need a bigger boat-10 Candidates

2006-04-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

The party that has ruled this country for 75 percent of existence is now about to have the most wide open leadership race in its history.
This will be an exciting time chocked full of stimulating debate, new ideas and a general energization of the not only the party, but the enitre country as well.

I for one believe this will drive us to form the next government handily. In Montreal, we will see the biggest made for television event. Once candidates drop off the ballot, the drama unfolding about where they will be taking their delegates will grab the attention of the entire country.

Why I support Michael Ignatieff

2006-04-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Robert F. Kennnedy once told a group of University of Wisconsin students "We need your best and brightest".

This has never been so more true for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Electing Michael Ignatieff leader of the Liberal Party of Canada will totally echoe Robert F. Kennedy's great words.

In the information age where the globalization is not only a concept, but a reality, we as Canadians have the chance to be lead by one of world's greatest minds.

As Liberals, we need Michael Ignatieff to expose the policies of the Harper government as iniatives that have proven to have failed. The Liberal Party of Canada proved that government can serve the people's interest and protect the future generations from paying their elders debts. We can do it.

We will go foward and bring about a new era.

Blame Canada

2005-12-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

Or simply blame Tucker Carlson.

Well the Conservative pundit has reached a new low, not only denouncing Canada, but also taking a poke at those who are mentally handicapped. His behaviour makes Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly look fit to host a film premiere for Michael Moore.

Well if there is anything that is destroying America it is the grab for ratings, and us Canadians are the same. It would send the viewing audience to sleep if CNN had Alan Greenspan on to discuss the merits of free enterprise. This is why Americans have Anne Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and Tucker Carlson. In Canada we have Ezra Levant and Tim Powers who are far from the top of the hierarchy of the parties they routinely endorse, but whenever the Canadian media needs a comment from that camp, they turn to them.

Why is this the case? This is true because it is highly likely they will say something outrageous, or controversial. So basically Canada is to blame for the “New Right” in America. We began this trend a long time ago, and the now our neighbours to the south have followed our lead by giving air time to loose cannons who came to represent a certain constituency. For years Canadians have given the podium to off beat characters. Liberal bias? Perhaps, but you can blame Canada for that as well.

Come on Beer Drinkers

2005-12-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

If anyone has not visited Rick Mercer's blog at http://rickmercer.blogspot.com/, I suggest they do. He has created an online petition www.beernotkids.com, in response to the Pro-conservative www.kidsnotbeer.com.

It is in no way anti-children, it just stands up for the rights of those who like to bend their elbow now and again.

The NDP is not perfect in this department either. When he was Ontario NDP leader, Bob Rae threatened to withdraw his party's support from then Ontario Premier, David Peterson, if he made the purchasing of beer available in corner stores. Ontario to this day is the most beer repressed jurisdiction next to Utah. "How come Brewer's Retail never has a sale, eh?" (Dave and Doug Mackenzie)

We have a battle on our hands. As this morning beernotchildren has a slim three digit lead over kidsnotbeer. Stand up for the rights of those who choose to sip, down, chug and shotgun a couple of cold ones.

It's the Canadian Way!

Don't let this Happen

2005-12-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Top ten things Harper will do as Prime Minister.

10. He will invoke the War Measures Act to protect the traditional definition of marriage.

9. Award every member of the “Trailer Park Boys” the Order of Canada.

8. He will make the film “Strange Brew” public domain.

7. He will turn Rideau Hall into NRA Headquarters North.

6. Award honorary Canadian Citizenship to the entire Osmond family.

5. He will redesign the Canadian flag with a picture of Alberta with fire walls around it.

4. Pass strict rules regarding the appointment of television hosts. No more Mulroney children.

3. Appoint the “Canadian Tire Guy” Consul General to Texas.

2. Merge all the Maritimes into one province and call it “Upper Defeatist Land”.

1. He will send Canadian troops to Vietnam.

Do they know it's Christmas

2005-12-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

Perhaps Bob Geldof could put together a compilation for Canadians who have listen to the nausating drone that is an election campaign.

It's Christmas time, there is no need for an eleciton, we let it all and we accept our shame.

But in our world of a minority there is a need to for oportunism.

But say a prayer for the volunteers, who are out in the cold not having fun.

There's a world outside our window, and it's world full tragedy, where the only tears are flowing are that of the NDP.

And the doorbells are ringing with the chimes of doom, well tonight the G.S.T. is going down by two.

There won't be an election in Africa this Christmas, if they're smart they have fixed dates.

Slam the door! Let them know it's Christmas time!!

Does Stephen Harper Think his Wife and Kids are "Great"?

2005-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Model trains are great! Ice cream is great! I am glad to see Mr. Harper is referring to Canada as "great" since about five years ago he thought the country was so great that it required fire walls around the province of Alberta.

I suppose Eastern Canadians are "great", being defeatist and all.

Fossil fuel emissions are also "great", therefore we shouldn't honour our Kyoto targets.

I would certainly think it would be "great" if Mr. Harper actually released his plans if he were to govern, and I would also "love" to see it.

My favourite pick-up lines.

2005-11-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

1. Girls night out eh?
2. What modelling agency are you with?
3. Can I buy you a drink? My E.I. runs out on Monday.
4. Write your phone number down here to win a free prize!
5. Men are pigs, and that’s why I consider myself a duck.
6. Cuddling is a misunderstood art.
7. Women live longer than men, so cut me some slack.
8. I was going to use a clever line, but I have trouble staying committed to things.
9. I think it is great that God allows angels to now and again have a night out on the town.
10. I have intimacy issues, but a hug could cure all that.

Rocky Balboa: One Great Fictional Character

2005-10-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

Unlike many, I felt general enthusiasm when I found out that they are making a sixth "Rocky" movie.

The first "Rocky" movies is my favourite movie of all time. It is a reminder that we can all achieve our dreams as long as we stick to them. Although we may experience despair more often then joy, it is essential not to let that despair take over our lives. Certainly the scene in the first movie where Rocky has an altercation with his boss, Gazo's driver and yells "I should have broke your thumb!" and turns sulkenly into flakes of snow is a shear symbol of the frustration the character was experiencing at the time.

Many politicians have sighted "Rocky" as an inspiration. Joe Clark has claimed to have seen the film several times shortly after winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1976. After Pierre Trudeau made his impressive comeback in 1980, he entered the Chateau Laurier to the film's theme song "Gonna Fly". Bill Clinton has mentioned the film helped inspire him after losing Governor of Arkansas after one term in 1980.

If you are cynical about sequels, (and for the most part I am) I highly recommend the first "Rocky" movie to anyone. The special edition DVD can be purchased rather inexpensively, and takes you into a journey of how the film was made.

Opposition for Hire

2005-10-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

General glee is the feeling that I have knowing that the government has moved opposition days to November, to spare Canadians premature election talk. It may be possible to salvage a year of what has been little progress in the House of Commons due to the partisan ambitions of the opposition. Maybe Stephen Harper can begin the Christmas party circuit by leading his supporters in a rendition of "Come All Ye Faithful".

Also, who can forget Peter MacKay. Looks like he will not be becoming Premier of Nova Scotia, where he could have overturned Premier Hamm's government to condemn Stephen Harper's comments referring to Eastern Canadians as "The Culture of Defeatists".

Well on September 26, 2005 was the "Great York Street Fire". It happened right across the hall from, and fortunatley I was already to go to work. I fled the building immediatley, and yes the alarm didn't go off. Since I cannot return to the building until November, I moved into a new place on Beausoleil Drive.

Oh Conrad Black, We Never Knew You

2005-09-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

When we think of evil and wealth we generally turn to fictitious names such as C. Montgomery Burns, Ebenezer Scrooge, Gordon Gekko and J.R. Ewing, Conrad Black has proven that evil and wealth are not pure fiction.

The Dark Lord himself has made his mark by purchasing newspapers and firing three quarters of the staff, and then branding the publication as a soapbox for his twisted views.

In truth, underneath the shield of the malevolent character lies a man who just wants to be loved. Who else would hold upscale parties in his Kensington Home in London, and host the cream of the crop of British high society, and then clamours to his advisor like an adolescent girl, wondering if everyone “liked him”.

Well public opinion of Mr. Black is very low in the land of “The Great White North”. Perhaps he could improve it by welcoming a bunch of over ambitious young people into his boardroom, verbally deride them, and then utter the words “You’re Fired!” I’d pay money to see that.

There's No Whore Like an Old Whore

2005-09-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

There’s no Whore Like an Old Whore

While chatting with a group of the journalists aboard his campaign bus in 1984, Brian Mulroney found the need to comment on Bryce Mackasey’s appointment as Canadian Ambassador to Portugal. It was then he referred to Mr. Mackasey as an “Old Whore”. The very same Mackasey was the first to console him immediately after losing the Progressive Conservative Leadership in 1976 to Joe Clark.

In Peter C. Newman’s new book, Mr. Mulroney is refers to himself as the greatest Prime Minister since John A. MacDonald. In truth, Mr. Mulroney may be the most vulgar character in Canadian political history, and utilizes crude language at Lyndon Johnson type levels.

In all fairness Mr. Mulroney did promise to clean up the patronage system that John Turner had “no option” to do so himself. He appointed a well known separatist as Ambassador to France, and shortly there after made him a senior member of his cabinet. This individual’s allegiance to Canada certainly came into question when he left Mulroney’s cabinet and went on to bigger and better things. That person, you guessed it, Mr. Lucien Bouchard.

As far as a legacy Mulroney can claim many. I am sure Shelia Martin is enjoying the closet space at 24 Sussex. The emergence of the Reform and Bloc as official parties in the House of Commons is another delightful entry into Canadian history. A Free Trade Agreement with the United States that they have seemed to forget to have signed, re: softwood lubber and BSE. Who could forget the rousing duet him and Ronald Reagan preformed at the “Shamrock Summit” of “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”.

I certainly hope his son Ben Mulroney doesn’t quit his day job as a karaoke judge and follow in his father’s footsteps.

Greetings from the Bluest of the Blue States

2005-09-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from the bluest of the blue states, Massachusetts, the home of some of the greatest American Liberal Leaders of our time, John Adams, Paul Tsongas, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, the great Tip O’Neil, and of course Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.

After a seven hour drive I arrived at the Wyndham in North Billerica. Then it was off to the commuter train right into downtown Boston. The Red Sox were in town so I ventured down to Fenway Park, couldn’t find any scalpers, but did find some fans with an extra ticket, so I actually got to watch a game from baseball’s cathedral. It was amazing.
Natural grass, the “Green Monster”, and rabid baseball fans, something I hadn’t seen since the Blue Jays in their heyday.

The next day was even more special as I visited the Kennedy Museum at the University of Massachusetts. What an amazing place, and I went crazy in the gift shop and now have no shortage of Kennedy memorabilia. Next stop was the New England Aquarium, and then off to “The Bull and Finch”, now “Cheers”. As you can see I am sitting at Norm’s seat.

Day three was spent in Cape Cod at Hyannis Port. I visited the Kennedy Memorial right on the beach, and enjoyed some delicious New England Clam “Chowdar” and fried shrimp.

Why didn't Helena or Diane get any lines?

2005-08-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Well I really enjoyed the advertisement I saw last night promoting the "O.C", with all the attractive people discussing child care. Oh wait a second, that was an add from the Conservative Party of Canada, mocking the government's universal child care proposal.

Bravo to Rona Ambrose, who "Just didn't understand why?". Although, I will say that the CPAC camera during Question Period gives a far more flattering display of her fine facial features. Oh Helena Guergis ! I thought you could say something intelligent or at least verbally express yourself in some way, but you did look beautiful. I hope the voters of Trinity-Spadina, ooops, Simcoe Grey remember this come election time.

Sorry Diane Finely, but your pathetic interaction with the children looked like you were auditioning for the cast of "Full House". Oh well, I am sure Bob Speller is not near as talented in the cutting and pasting department as you are.

And who can forget Bob Saget himself, Mr. Harper. "Hey kids, tax cuts eliminate debt for you." Perhaps next he could host "The Conservative Party Funniest Home Videos". It could include Stockwell Day visiting the Musuem of Civilization, or Myron Thompson taking in a poetry reading.

Oh boy, I hope we treated to more of these exceptional pieces of political advertising.

A Good Case for Pirating

2005-08-18T06:01:00.000-07:00

With the new Hollywood release of the film "Karla", many people in Ontario, including the Premier are calling on individuals to "boycott" the film.

Truly exploiting the unspeakable crimes committed by Ms. Homolka being for profit is deeply disturbing, I say take Mr. McGuinty's proposal one step further; pirate the movie.

By pirating the movie you will not contribute to the film's gross, and at the same time end any personal curiosity about the picture.

We here in Ontario still hold vivid memories of the horrible acts that were committed, and the trials that occurred as a result. Perhaps by more people viewing the film, less sympathy will be forwarded to Ms. Homolka as she attempts to live a normal life that she doesn't deserve.

Go ahead, pirate the film. Send a message to the producers that exploiting misery is not the Canadian way, and also send a message to Ms. Homalka that her unspeakable acts will never be forgotten.

Harper a Sith?

2005-08-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

It is extremely interesting that there are certain people who are comparing Belinda Stronach’s floor crossing to the conversion of Anakin Skywalker to Dark Vader, and comparing Paul Martin to Emperor Palpatine.

Clearly if you look into the entire political unfolding in “Revenge of the Sith”, clearly it mirrors Mr. Harper’s attempt to rise to power and a clear flirtation with the “Dark Side”.

Palpatine is a member of the Imperial Senate, and doing double duty as Darth Sidious who has aligned himself with the Republican separatists to continue to perpetrate war only so he can assume full power of the Republic. Strikingly similar to Harper’s alignment with the separatist Gilles Duceppe in order to topple the government and force an election. Further more Palpatine order’s separatist Leader Count Dooku death once he is no longer needed to carry out the separatist movement, look out Gilles.
During the theatre scene, Palpatine speaks of a Sith Leader who was killed by his own Sith apprentice. Ms. Stonach’s defection from the Conservative Party was prompted by a visit to Stornaway that ended with Harper stating “You will never be leader of this party,”. Harper is clearly showing signs of paranoia of being struck down from within in his lust for ultimate power, a sheer characteristic of a Sith as outlined by Master Yoda in the film.
The Sith Code: Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me. Clearly win at all costs attitude. By forcing an election that the majority of Canadians don’t want and voting down a budget that would benefit communities and many Canadians, Harper is acting all in the name of opportunism. The Sith Code seems to be stemmed in him.