PM’s Priorities
Here’s is a letter sent to the Parliamentary Press Gallery by Stephen Harper’s spokesman Dimitri Soudas,
Today the Prime Minister was in Ontario to promote Canada as an attractive place to invest and a great place to do business. The occasion was the landmark decision by Tim Hortons to reorganize as a Canadian company.
Michael Ignatieff has criticized today’s focus on the economy, claiming that the Prime Minister should be at the United Nations talking about climate change – not back home focused on the economy.
In synchronized attacks, the Liberal Party issued a press release denouncing the Tim Hortons visit, while MP Bonnie Crombie and a handful of Liberals carrying United Nations flags protested outside the PM’s announcement – essentially picketing a Canadian economic success story.
Our priority is the Canadian economy. Nothing takes precedence over the economy.
The decision to picket the Canadian homecoming of Tim Hortons is shameful: further proof that the Ignatieff Liberals care more about political games than the Canadian economy.
The Prime Minister’s speaking spot at the U.N. General Assembly (Friday, 5:00 p.m.) conflicts with attendance at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh. The PM is attending the G-20 summit because our priority is the economy.
The Ignatieff Liberals feel that speaking to the United Nations is more important than working on the economy with other G-20 leaders. We disagree.
Nothing is more important than the Canadian economy
By the way, the Liberal attacks conveniently omit key facts: Prime Minister Harper and other world leaders worked on climate change at a U.N. meeting last night, and today Canada’s seat in the General Assembly will deliberately be vacant during the speech by Holocaust-denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
(It’s also worth noting that if Michael Ignatieff had his way, this week we would be in the middle of an unnecessary, opportunistic election. So much for his concern about attendance at the U.N.)
Dimitri N. Soudas
Associate Communication Director/ Press Secretary
Directeur des Communications associé/Attaché de pressePrime Minister’s Office
Cabinet du Premier ministre
Yesterday, the Liberals (Bonnie Crombie’s office) picketed Tim Horton’s.
Also yesterday, we saw the Liberal line appear unattributed on Elizabeth Thompson’s blog.
Michael Ignatieff is trying to differentiate himself as an internationalist who wants to “regain Canada’s position on the world stage”.
Unfortunately for Ignatieff, while he was away Canada’s international role has matured from peacekeeper and “honest (nuanced) broker” to peacemaker and a country that is heard. We’ve earned our role and found our voice to act and speak with moral clarity, without ambiguity or hedging, on middle eastern policy particularly when it comes Israel and Iran. Canada is a country that is doing the heavy lifting and is now at the sharp end of the spear when it comes to taking a leadership role in rebuilding and securing Afghanistan. While Mr. Ignatieff insists that we need to “regain” our place on stage, he hasn’t noticed that we’ve earned our spot at the table.
Instead of making waffles with other “middle powers”, we’re grilling steaks with the US and the UK.
And while Mr. Ignatieff would have us pass the syrup and listen to some more feel good speeches at the UN, the Prime Minister is at the G-20 working for everyone that balances a chequebook in this country rather than just those that tut tut and pass the cheque.
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.
September 24th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Canada has led the world on the denunciation of the hatred at the UN. The US and others followed Canada's lead in boycotting DurbanII. The Libs I suspect support some of these initiatives but are too envious and bitter to show strong approval.
A Lib. gov't would not have boycotted Durban II for fear of being isolated by the UN. The Libs are too concerned about approval from the UN rather than guiding it.
On a different note I spotted a slight change in Ignatieff's complaints. He recently stated that the economy is not enough. Before Iggy was happily focusing on criticizing Harper's economic record. There is clear acknowledgement from the Libs, though very subtle that the Cons. are gaining traction on their handling of the economy so the Libs. have been forced to change gears on their attacks.
“We can do better”
September 24th, 2009 at 8:19 am
“Instead of making waffles with other “middle powers” such as Holland and Japan …”
This part is perhaps uncalled for, IMHO. Holland and Japan have been contributing to the Afghan mission in their own way. Accentuating our own contributions need not belittle the real contributions of other countries.
September 24th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Does this silly woman and her cohorts not realize the message they are sending? The Liberal party in their desperation to become relevant again is now boycotting Canadian companies. This has shades of what Judy Sgro and John McCallum did in the 2006 election. It wasn't pretty then and it isn't any more pretty today.
I watched Ignegative in his press conference this morning and he opened up with this beaut….we are standing in this field doing our jobs. What in the hell does that mean? Does he think Canadians are going to buy this kind of tripe.
If Ignegative had had his way we would be in an election today. Doing his job? I don't think so and Canadians just ain't buying the hyperbolic rhetoric of the Czarist Count.
September 24th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I echo Gabby in QC's reaction that your petty comment about making waffles with Holland and Japan is completely uncalled for. The Netherlands has been one of the few NATO nations that has been doing the heavy lifting along with Canada in Afghanistan. Moreoever, Japan, despite its anti-war constitution, has been activley providing military assistance in the Gulf. Next time you should choos more appropriate examples.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:05 am
There is no shame in being a middle power. I'm saying that Canada has just matured beyond this.
Holland's parliament has been reluctant in their role in Afghanistan. They've recently stepped it up.
I'm argur that Iggy would keep us to a middle power role and would call this a reclamation of our “role” on the world stage.
I agree though, it's not good form to call out nations like that. I'll make a change since the dutch and japanese deserve credit.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:12 am
the Prime Minister is at the G-20 working for everyone that balances a chequebook in this country
(rather than just those that tut tut and pass the cheque).
Ya..Pass the cheque….That pretty well sums up how Liberals live.
They expect the taxpayer to pay for any expenses incurred by the Liberal party of Canada.
Dalton in Ontario has been working hard to perfect the scheme,
IE: …millions to cricket clubs, eHealth, and the latest tendering flap comming from the Hospital in London On. , that particular group are empowered with the power to self-investigate, self-prosecute, self-judge and self-correct the situation they created themselves.
Carry On….
September 24th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Once more you hypocritic reformatorts suggest Iggy is wrong to say the tories are un fit to govern and push for an election but you all go quiet when the subject of Harpo aka Mr. angry doing the same thing last year comes up.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I think it's really great that you won't post any comments that disagree with you.
Just gives me another reason to disregard anything you say since it's clear you have no interest in rational debate, just partisan smears.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Nice direct (10 out of 10) hit Stephen…what makes it a worthwhile hit more than its truth factor is that these folks(the LPC) have been busy digging the ground out from under themselves for so long now (read that as things like “soldiers in our cities, crosses in Prince George,wafergate etc) that the ground is caving under them. Ah! It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.
Yep…the Liberal ship has run aground & is taking on water upon the reef of disingenuity.
I do believe Cdn's are awakening .
September 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Ignegative can push for an election all he wants but until Jack Layton decides to vote non confidence he will have to bide his time. That's quite alright given everytime Iggy speaks his polls numbers gone down. The trends are there parnel and you know it.
You talk about us with our talking points but look at you spouting the same Warren Kinsella talking points. So sad Parnel.
Read Liblogs this morning. They are trying to resurrect Trudeau. How desperate the Liberal party has become. So continue to ridicule the Conservative supporters all you want. We know we are on the side of the angels.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Heather, you've been roamin' in the gloamin' a tad too long perhaps.
I posted this comment on another blog in answer to a commenter who also criticized the PM's trip to Oakville. I believe it also addresses your comment, Heather.
Despite Al Gore's now near-billion dollar business of selling carbon-footprint erasers to the gullible (in the Middle Ages they called them indulgences: “An indulgence, in Catholic Theology, is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven.” Wiki), the US did not ratify Kyoto because it too refused to transfer money to developing nations who were not doing anything to cut down their own GHGs.
The following article is evidence that what PM Harper has been arguing all along is a valid point:
http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/21092009/24/...
“… Falling industrial output is largely responsible for the plunge in emissions, but other factors also played a role, including shelving plans for new coal-fired power stations because of falling demand and lack of financing. …”
Whenever the PM has said the government has to balance environmental concerns with economic ones, that is, that introducing some measures to supposedly help the environment could have an adverse effect on the economy, he has been widely criticized.
However, that AFP article shows that lower economic activity does equate with lower GHGs.
Are developed nations and their citizens willing to make that trade-off?
Are developing nations (esp. China, India) willing to slow down their own growth rate in order to improve their own carbon footprint?
If it’s a global problem, it requires a global solution. That has been the PM’s argument all along. Even President Obama has adopted the PM’s POV (cf. Obama’s UN speech). Aren’t you glad our PM has had that effect on him?
End of previously posted comment
Addendum:
Heather, you state derisively “airplanes don't emit much carbon, right” in reference to the PM travelling to Oakville.
I suppose Gaddafi rode into New York on his camel, Ahmadijenad on his magic carpet, and all the other world leaders swam across the Atlantic, right?
The same thing for all the activitists who yearly descend on climate change conferences, and who are sure to congregate next in Copenhagen. I'm sure they'll all feel so good for having made those trips abroad “to help the environment.”
September 24th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Bang on. Our international voice diminished to a whisper under Chretien and Martin. The numerous articles in the foreign press lauding Stephen Harper and his leadership at the G8 & G20 clearly indicate that the world has noticed the clear-headed, direct and statesmanlike approach that he has taken. I am once again proud of the Canadian presence on the international stage.
Under Ignatieff we would once again fall back into the same tired old banalities that that exuded from Chretien and Martin like air from an old tire going flat.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
You're right, Gabby. All the other world leaders live close enough to have travelled by other means. They also all chose to stay in New York instead of taking a side trip to Oakville for donuts.
My point less about his disrespect for the environment and more about Stephen Taylor's assertion that Harper is “grilling steaks with the US and the UK.” As far as I know, Obama and Brown STAYED in New York when Harper headed to Tim Horton's.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Nice try. The Cons. would be happy to go to the polls on the issue of international reputation at the UN.
There was not much done at the UN on the climate change. It was a sideshow that Canada refused to take part in.
All of the big players have moved on to Pittsburgh including Harper. The Libs holding UN flags could ask Gaddafi what he'd do for GHG's.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Heather, having watch the circus of the United Nations last night, I am gratefull that Steven Harper was not there. I would have been imbarrassed. In my books the United Nations has become a trash bin of hate mongers and c0rruption. We should get out of it all together. The UN has done nothing to eleviate the slaughter of innocent civilians in Uganda, Somalia, Serbia and many other places.
It has become a trash heap of hatemongers.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Well, Heather Obama needed to be seen and applauded. His performance in the US is failing. With the dropping approval rating in his own country he needed the accolade of the UN>
Besides he is completely in LaLa Land.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Vimy, let me add to that. The G20 and G8 have become much more important than the UN.
UN. has accomplished nothing, absolutely nothing, The Leadership there and the speakers last night are certifiable.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I wish harpo would finally grow some real cojones and force an election like he did last year. Polls not withstanding the Libs really do want to meet him on the hustings.
But alas, harpo the bully plays dirty with government sponsored party ads and stupid coffee clatches at Timmy's in a bellweather riding he will surely lose.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
“All the other world leaders live close enough to have travelled by other means.”
For example?
“My point less about his disrespect for the environment …”
So why bring up the airplane ride to Oakville?
“They also all chose to stay in New York …”
Maybe the other leaders did so to take in a show at Radio City Music Hall. I hear the Rockettes' show is a must see.
Or maybe they decided to take in David Letterman's show.
Or maybe they wanted to see where The Sopranos was filmed.
All within the realm of possibility.
In any event, had the PM stayed in New York, the anti-Harper gang would be saying he wanted to bask in the golden aura surrounding Obama.
Don't get me wrong. Unlike some of my fellow conservatives, I believe the US did a good thing in electing Obama, because they needed to renew America's presence and prestige abroad. But if you look beyond the undisputedly great oratorical skills of President Obama, you will find that he often echoes the same policies our PM has been pursuing.
Hmmm, just thinking to myself … I wonder if the reaction from some quarters would have been different if the PM had gone to a Starbucks or a Fair Trade coffee shop. Or maybe a Ye Olde Tea Shoppe?
September 24th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Gabby, the rockettes are very good……harpo is no rockette. After all he is a reformtort.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Wow. I am so much smarter for reading that.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Gawd, how stupid are these people? Picketing Tim Hortons?
Needless to say, Harper had a very very good day yesterday. Not only did Canada lead the world at the UN, but we the return of a Canadian icon is a big score on the economic front.
What's next? The triumphant return of Hudson's Bay Company? http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016494...
September 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Terry – are you guys every getting rocked in the polls. Trailing the CPC in Toronto? Who would have thought!?
It's almost like your projection that Canada would be goverened by a Dion / Liberal government after last election.
You can bet that Canada would have checked its backbone at the door with that government at the UN conference.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
“..harpo is no rockette..”
Yes, he doesn't have the legs for it.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
That cannot be true Beer, Terry1 has been telling us for months now how the Conservatives were going to get there asses kicked across the country, I mean if they meaning the LPC are starting to trail in their home port of TO, does that mean the rest of Terry1's posts are BS too. LMAO
September 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
The best part is the Q&A afterwards (on youtube) where he addresses Iran. At the end he receives a long, sustained applause from the audience.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I agree fully. I think what is happening is that Al Gore, Obama and those of their ilk are using the discredited issue of climate change as a means to transfer sovereignty from nation states to international bodies controlled by left-wing coalitions. That they are becoming immensely rich in doing so is almost co-incidental.
You see the same theme in the moves of the Obama administration to use the economic collapse as an excuse for international bodies to control private corporate decisions and compensation etc. That's what's going on with Obama's shadow government and it was acknowledged and articulated by Van Jones.
If we hope to maintain any shred of liberty of conscience, freedom of expression, economic freedom or individual rights we had better stand up and be counted, not now but right now!
September 25th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Here's something for you reformatort cheerleaders to crow about:
Friday, September 25, 2009, 05:26 AM
There's been a lot of poll droppings, of late, about the elusive concept of “leadership.”
From dan Lauzon, Liberal party of canada
…
20 things everyone should know about Stephen Harper and his Reform-Conservative government
1. They rigged a self-serving and politicized infrastructure stimulus program so that most of the money could land in Conservative-held ridings, delaying projects so much that only 12% are in construction and creating jobs.
2. He called Canada “second-tier socialistic country” and a “Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term.”
3. They put Canada on track for a deficit before the recession hit and now holds the record of the largest deficit on record at 56 billion (and climbing).
4. They failed to plan for the H1N1 flu by delaying the order of the flu vaccine and sending body bags to remote communities instead.
5. They spent 5 times more on self-promotion than informing the public on how to protect themselves from H1N1?
6. In the past two months, he has twice failed to defend Canada’s healthcare system against outrageous attacks from ultra-right Conservatives n the United States.
7. He kept Ministers in his cabinet who called the medical isotope crisis they helped create “sexy” and made jokes about the listeriosis crisis.
8. He broke his promise not to raise taxes with a $13 billion EI payroll tax.
9. They pick and choose when to protect the rights of Canadian citizens at home and abroad.
10. He called women, minorities, the disabled, and gays and lesbians “left-wing fringe groups” and Canada’s independent judiciary “left-wing ideologues.”
11. He keeps a Minister in his cabinet who openly mused about putting 10-year-olds in jail.
12. He denied that the country was in a recession and failed to plan for it, and only agreed to provide economic stimulus after causing a constitutional crisis.
13. He said he doesn’t care if “Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement.”
14. He holds the record for unelected Senate appointments for a single year — 27, more than any Prime Minister in Canadian history – after saying he would never appoint Senators.
15. He has presided over the loss of nearly a half million high quality fulltime jobs since October, with no plan to replace them with the next generation of jobs.
16. He has pushed for amending the Canada Health Act to allow for-profit-pay-as-you-go Medicare in this country and abdicated any federal role in ensuring its guiding principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.
17. He said “There will be no special status, formally or informally, for Quebec or any other province.”
18. He pushed for further deregulation and less oversight over banks and financial institutions.
19. He has done nothing to address the hollowing out of corporate Canada due to a weakening in foreign takeover rules.
20. He bragged that he was opposed to government programs to eliminate child poverty and promote cultural identity.
-30-
Contact:
Liberal Party of Canada Press Office
613-XXX-XXXX
dlauzon@XXX.XX
September 25th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Mervin (Hollimn) There will only be an election when harpo gets truly embarrassed about being in a coalition with socialists and separatists.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:04 am
stephen, they dance in radio city music hall all the time………..get out of Ottawa sometimes. LOL
September 25th, 2009 at 5:10 am
They are desperate people. So flauntingly desperate it hurts.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Parnel….once again you are being partisan. Do I have to explain to you how minority governments work. Does this mean that the Conservatives were in a coalition with the Liberals for three years?
Oh, there will be an election sooner than you think. I suspect that Jack will phone up Iggy and say I will not support the EI reforms because they do not do enough and so it will be up to you (Iggy) to support the government. That will be when the rubber hits the road.
If Iggy goes into an election with the polls and the media against him not to mention the problems in Quebec he could lose more seats than Dion.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Mervin, you must be a pig farmer to be so in love with the pork barrel politics of the Harpercrites. Neither lib party nor myself are in fear of an election because we know the real poll is the one on election day.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Iggy will be tossed under the bus before Christmas, he's an empty suit, a vacuous windsock and only now the real grassroots Liberals are waking up to the fact that they've been sold an empty bill of goods with Iggy.
And the Chretien/Martin war rages on.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Parnel….now you are just grasping at straws. Of course the real poll is on election day. On that we will agree. However, your guy is looking pretty bad these days.
I see he caved and gave Outremont to Cauchon. The next foot to fall is Coderre resigning as the Quebec Lieutenant.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Vinyl watching the US news is almost as seeing the shades of 1930 Germany. It is frightening. I am
glad that some of the US people are waking up to this underhanded game Obama is playing. If he is successfull it means freedom and liberty in the US disappears and we won't be far behind, if the Liberonies get their wish. Yes ,we better stand up and be counted for now.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Bruce do you think it was an accident that Martin was interview at Power Play. Frankly, he looked more like a statesman than Iggy ever did.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I remember when all the knuckle draggers were Conservatives what a refreshing change!
September 25th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
No, big difference is last year Dion was begging for an election and Harper obliged (because he could not pass further legislation with the Liberal roadblock) Whereas he isn't willing to olbige Ignegative so quickly because it's only been ten months and you red blockheads still don't get that you didn't win last time!
September 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Mr. Dithers has certainly been outdone by Iggy with the latter's flippin 'n' floppin gymnastics.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I also remember the days when tories were tories and not right wing creeps like we have now. Speaking of knuckle draggers, should you not be referring to to the knuckle busters Harpo wears on his fist every morning.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Mervin, I see you only fall for the MSM BS when it affects the Libs but is garbage otherwise. You're not a reformatort partisan by any chance are you?
September 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Mervin, just for you on the “merits” of your party:
20 things everyone should know about Stephen Harper and his Reform-Conservative government
1. They rigged a self-serving and politicized infrastructure stimulus program so that most of the money could land in Conservative-held ridings, delaying projects so much that only 12% are in construction and creating jobs.
2. He called Canada “second-tier socialistic country” and a “Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term.”
3. They put Canada on track for a deficit before the recession hit and now holds the record of the largest deficit on record at 56 billion (and climbing).
4. They failed to plan for the H1N1 flu by delaying the order of the flu vaccine and sending body bags to remote communities instead.
5. They spent 5 times more on self-promotion than informing the public on how to protect themselves from H1N1?
6. In the past two months, he has twice failed to defend Canada’s healthcare system against outrageous attacks from ultra-right Conservatives n the United States.
7. He kept Ministers in his cabinet who called the medical isotope crisis they helped create “sexy” and made jokes about the listeriosis crisis.
8. He broke his promise not to raise taxes with a $13 billion EI payroll tax.
9. They pick and choose when to protect the rights of Canadian citizens at home and abroad.
10. He called women, minorities, the disabled, and gays and lesbians “left-wing fringe groups” and Canada’s independent judiciary “left-wing ideologues.”
11. He keeps a Minister in his cabinet who openly mused about putting 10-year-olds in jail.
12. He denied that the country was in a recession and failed to plan for it, and only agreed to provide economic stimulus after causing a constitutional crisis.
13. He said he doesn’t care if “Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement.”
14. He holds the record for unelected Senate appointments for a single year — 27, more than any Prime Minister in Canadian history – after saying he would never appoint Senators.
15. He has presided over the loss of nearly a half million high quality fulltime jobs since October, with no plan to replace them with the next generation of jobs.
16. He has pushed for amending the Canada Health Act to allow for-profit-pay-as-you-go Medicare in this country and abdicated any federal role in ensuring its guiding principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.
17. He said “There will be no special status, formally or informally, for Quebec or any other province.”
18. He pushed for further deregulation and less oversight over banks and financial institutions.
19. He has done nothing to address the hollowing out of corporate Canada due to a weakening in foreign takeover rules.
20. He bragged that he was opposed to government programs to eliminate child poverty and promote cultural identity.
-30-
Contact:
Liberal Party of Canada Press Office
613-XXX-XXXX
dlauzon@XXX.XX
September 25th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Heather I read a report in the National Post that Canada's green house gas emissions were at 26%, when Mr Harper became Prime Minister, he inherited from the Liberal Party of Jean Chretien and Paul Martin GHG emissions of 35% over 1990 levels which with the Kyoto protocol was supposed to be reduced to 6% below 1990 levels. So since 2006 the Prime Minister has reduced the GHG emissions, and continues to push climate change.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Terry it is your leader that needs to grow some cojones; seems like the LPC has anointed another weak leader a la Stephane Dion. All he has done since his coronation has been to bluster and threaten, then back down.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Omanator; you are quite right, the UN has been taken over by tin pot third world dictators thumbing their collective noses at the industrialized world and should be disbanded. It serves no useful purpose any more.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Terry words from a prominent liberal insider printed in the G&M if we cause an election now, we would get massacred. Does this sound like a party united behind the Count
September 25th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
LukeN, Do you by any chance have the link – to the Q&A?
Depending on the canadian liberals' personalize media to tell canadians-wait a minute-just came to mind that we 'don't have a national media.
LukeN, the americans like our prime minister, some say why he PM is not their president instead of OBAMA.
And another thing, think very hard; isn't it odd that the PM has no canadian national media to his name(let's say) but the liberals do right across this nation and yet PM seems to walk right through them, for us and, without the media's help, he (PM)has managed to remain in government for 4 years-hopefully longer.
I do not blame canadians but do blame the national media for the daily manipulation.
Canadians do need another national media besides the ones we have.- Like they do in the STATES like FOX NEWSNET.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Hollinim. how true, but I think Iggy would back down and vote with government should that happen. Mainly because there are many in the liberal party who are not ready for an election, and they know that should one happen that the LPC would get creamed at the polls.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Parnel it is not worth my time to counter each of your points. Obviously you are getting your talking points from the Liberal party. I would just point out Nanos new poll today shows that Iggy is failing miserably. So as much as you try to malign Harper with distortions the fact is your guy looks like more of a fool each day.
Watch when Coderre resigns as his Quebec Lieutenant. He is not going to put up with being made a fool of.
Another day and your leader flip flops.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I agree. However, after today's spectacle with Coderre and Cauchon virtually all of his credibility as a leader has been flushed down the toilet.
The Nanos poll issued today shows the intent of the Canadian electorate. Iggy falls way behind Harper in vritually every area tested and in every area of the country. The Count must be having nightmares these days. Don't they know how important an intellectual I am? Canadians don't take kindly to people who are full of themselves and try to lord it over them.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Mervin, as blindly partisan that you are, and as usual, you fail to understand the underpinnings of those numbers. The reformatorts went on a propaganda splurge all summer and even used taxpayer money to highlight their cover up of the real facts with reformatort party ads hidden in government notices. They have done nothing to help this economy and have pork barreled what little money spent so far into strategic ridings. The liberals deliberately let Harpo have his summer of lies and propaganda to himself. Now the chickens will come home to roost or should I say that the pork barrel pigs will get slaughtered.
The polls coming up in the next little while will start to show that the Libs know how to play this game and give them back their deserved lead.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Phil, I think its the opposite…harpo is ussing lies, propaganda and support from socialists and separatists to keep afloat.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:45 am
Of course you think differently Terry I have read enough of your posts here to understand that you have no interest whatsoever it offering any comment that isn't patisan. You attack everyone on this medium rather personally and the message doesn't change.
I GET that YOU think the conservatives are the devil incarnate.
If anyone is really spoiling for an election it is conservatives but we recognize and accept that only twelve months ago the people of Canada spoke and continued to give us a mandate but not a blind mandate. It's the people of Canada who overwhelmingly said they wanted a conservative and more importantly MINORITY government that would cooperate. Though they did not use the words “With Socialists and Separatists” (my ballot didn't have room for that) that condition is implied based on the butt kicking they gave your first of two visiting professors.
Instead of recognizing two facts a) that there was an election with a rather decisive result only one
year ago and b) that partisanship cuts two ways. You and the current liberal leadership are both hell bent on power at all costs. It wasn't after the election that the Liberals constructed the coalition. It was AFTER giving the green light to a new conservative government that the Liberals flipped and flopped like a fish out of water, when a weak and neutered leader cosied up to those same separatists and socialists to attempt a coup of sorts to wrest away power.
There is one difference between the Harper “cosying” to separatists and socialists and the Liberal approach to similar cooperation.
That difference is something very hard for most of you liberals to understand so I will type very slowly so you get it.
T h a t d i f f e r e n c e i s H O N E S T Y.
Harper doesn't deny calling the NDP socialist and the Bloc separatist where as the Libs very conveniently put those words aside when they are looking for a one night stand.
Even after smiling Jack agreed to vote with the government this month on ways and means and BEFORE the vote happened Harper said outright that the opposition parties seem to be taking turns at withdrawing or supporting the government.
You liberals speak out of both sides of your mouth ALL THE TIME. Little baby Trudeau did it after Iggy's public anouncement withdrawing support. He stood up and said no we aren't spoiling for an election (lie) we are saying we no longer have confidence. BUT he then said it was up to the NDP or Bloc to avoid the election. They on the other hand had opposed the government all along so rather than say we are spoiling for a fight and hope to have the NDP and Bloc support us they all challenged the NDP and Bloc to make the decision and were dissapointed when their coalition partners didn't see fit to crown Iggy king.
You have McCallum prasing HST and Dosangh using it as bad conservative policy in his campaign literature. If there is anything you can't trust a liberal on it is the whole concept of GST right?
On every issue you have Liberals doing their best to attack anyone (much like you do here) without any consideration of whether it is good policy or not but only measuring (or hoping to measure) how it will fly in their own riding on the basis of re election.
So yes, I get it, I understand that you think Liberals are good and Conservatives are bad no evil. It's a very divisive strategy employed by Jean Chretien. Scorched earth served his personal ambitions very well but divided not only this nation but the liberal party that I in fact used to carry a membership card for. If you love Jean Chretien you need not say so it shows in your attempts to emulate him with a very tired and worn story line.
With respect to divisiveness you could learn a lesson or two from history as could conservatives who a century ago used similar strategies which handed Laurier and the Liberals the long reign of power they held. Laurier was loved across the country because he built fences and worked with others. Out of nowhere he crafted a message that sold to french and english, catholic and protestant, east and west and yes Indian and White (I am using the language of the day). The conservative hold on power was broken. An alternative to arrogance was recognized and accepted.
Today's Liberals have a very simple formula. It looks like the original conservative party formula of last century – Rule or Campaign to rule. There is no room in Liberal Party of Canada for compromise or cooperation or even for Canada at present. Not as long as they can spew venom and retort.
The Liberals were handed a time out in 2004 they haven't served it yet. They didn't even accept that defeat they simply assumed that the leader was the problem. Same thing in 2006. Why do you think Ignatieff managed to gain the party leadership? Because there were no leaders left in the party. I doubt very much if the Liberals were reduced to fourth place in seats that they would accept that kidn of a licking. If you were reduced to two seats like Mulroney was you would think that the problem was the conservatives not yourself. It's okay to take a hit and restore your past glory. It's a weakness to ignore your faults need correction and we conservatives are only too happy to exploit that weakness. We conservatives were wiped out and rebuilt into two warring factions. We eventually made peace. I suggest Liberals could avoid a similar fate if the Martin and Chretien camps would work hard together to recraft a message that people who don't drink the kool aid could accept.
Mackenna wouldn't take the job, Tobin would have none of it. Ignatieff came “home” to take it after but couldn't even prove his leadership to a Liberal convention that chose the previos leader, the ARCHITECT OF COALITION WITH SEPARATISTS AND SOCIALISTS. Yet Liberals blindly adore him without any understanding of his very right wing stands on many issues (in print I might add).
It's kind of like alcohol Terry, if you can have a drink now and then that's okay but if you can't live without it you have a problem. For you I would suggest the word alcohol being replaced by Liberal sort of carries the same weight.
That's a lot from a mouth breathing rednecked nuckle dragger like me but maybe before venting again you can come up with at least one salient point that is productive. Quite a challenge for you based on past posts.
I eagerly await your personal attacks based on nothing more than your desire to slam anything that isn't (yet) taken as gospel by liberals around the nation.
Thank you!
September 26th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Phil, you reformatorts always seem to forget that the last election was illegitimate and probably illegal. It was certainly immoral as they were not defeated in the HOC.
The complete and utter mishandling of the economy confirmed by the recent ads that completely ignore any truths are also a factor in our need for an election. Remember it was this same gang of thugs who porogued parliament because they completely lost the economic realities in place back then. They have yet to be judged on that ignorance.
Make no mistake Liberals want an election because they have facts, figures and a program, imagine that to announce.
See my post above for a list of partial failures of these reformatort thugs.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
September 26th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Not bad, two words in before you went for the thoughtless insults and outright lies.
Your rebutall delivered what I expected – no further comment.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:57 am
I see Terry has discovered cut and paste!
September 26th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Bravo Stephen how very refreshing to see someone step back and take a comment back while standing by the principal you set out to make in the first place.
September 26th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Its amazing how you try and spin good dialogue that baffles your small reformatort mindset. You're the reason we don't need your type of government.
September 26th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Phil, cut and paste saves me from reinventing the wheel and allows me more time to refute your garbage……I think your twin might be east of eden.
September 26th, 2009 at 6:48 am
You forgot to call me a sexist racist. neo con pig farmer
September 26th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Mervin, have the canadian people given harpo the the right wing nut bar masquerading as apopulist or socialist depending on your timeframe a majority after one try that was legitmate and one where he should have had 175 seats. give your head a shake, he is more a dead man walking that Iggy.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Philip, The troll is so out to lunch, I rarely get involved and answer his trash.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Jen, I am with you on this one. The national media i.e. CBC is a national disgrace. For years now it has been the Liberals propaganda mouthpiece. It is absolutely shameless. The fact they are being paid from my taxdollar, is even more agrevating.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I figured he was trying to find some policy to steal but when someone pisses on your shoe in your own bathroom it's hard not to slap them down a bit. You are right though no more attention to that child from this corner
September 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Jen, this is all I saw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BZbkzcgn0o;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrL-PrAM96w&feat...
I haven't read a transcript or anything. You might be able to find it at http://www.pm.gc.ca
September 26th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Omanator how's life in your double wide? LOL
The insults are a replica of how your favorite leader plays politics……seems you don't like those things unless its your side dishing them out. That makes you a narrow minded reformatort
September 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Phil, you would not know a policy if it hit you in your lower cranium where your brain appears to be. quit the holier than thou garbage and try to say something intelligent. At least hollinm, as badly misguided as he is, does say some thing worth debating.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Phil, it seems the tourism minister is almost as smart as you:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/wh...
September 26th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Phil your revisionist hostory lesson is not worth discussing. does not Harpo slam the Liberals every hance he gets. Mr. angry is noted for his vitrolic language when not in public. typical for a hypocritical right wing AH. Let us also remember which party created the BQ with the stupid Meech Lake deal. let us not forget which party was decimated in 1993 after going into an election as favorites. I really like where the Libs sit today as it satisfies me that Harpo and his gang of geographically stupid ministers are soon to be gone.
May I repeat the sins of the party you so love and admire and these are only the top of the iceberg:
20 things everyone should know about Stephen Harper and his Reform-Conservative government
1. They rigged a self-serving and politicized infrastructure stimulus program so that most of the money could land in Conservative-held ridings, delaying projects so much that only 12% are in construction and creating jobs.
2. He called Canada “second-tier socialistic country” and a “Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term.”
3. They put Canada on track for a deficit before the recession hit and now holds the record of the largest deficit on record at 56 billion (and climbing).
4. They failed to plan for the H1N1 flu by delaying the order of the flu vaccine and sending body bags to remote communities instead.
5. They spent 5 times more on self-promotion than informing the public on how to protect themselves from H1N1?
6. In the past two months, he has twice failed to defend Canada’s healthcare system against outrageous attacks from ultra-right Conservatives n the United States.
7. He kept Ministers in his cabinet who called the medical isotope crisis they helped create “sexy” and made jokes about the listeriosis crisis.
8. He broke his promise not to raise taxes with a $13 billion EI payroll tax.
9. They pick and choose when to protect the rights of Canadian citizens at home and abroad.
10. He called women, minorities, the disabled, and gays and lesbians “left-wing fringe groups” and Canada’s independent judiciary “left-wing ideologues.”
11. He keeps a Minister in his cabinet who openly mused about putting 10-year-olds in jail.
12. He denied that the country was in a recession and failed to plan for it, and only agreed to provide economic stimulus after causing a constitutional crisis.
13. He said he doesn’t care if “Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement.”
14. He holds the record for unelected Senate appointments for a single year — 27, more than any Prime Minister in Canadian history – after saying he would never appoint Senators.
15. He has presided over the loss of nearly a half million high quality fulltime jobs since October, with no plan to replace them with the next generation of jobs.
16. He has pushed for amending the Canada Health Act to allow for-profit-pay-as-you-go Medicare in this country and abdicated any federal role in ensuring its guiding principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.
17. He said “There will be no special status, formally or informally, for Quebec or any other province.”
18. He pushed for further deregulation and less oversight over banks and financial institutions.
19. He has done nothing to address the hollowing out of corporate Canada due to a weakening in foreign takeover rules.
20. He bragged that he was opposed to government programs to eliminate child poverty and promote cultural identity.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
here's another good item to make you reformatorts choke on your pablum:
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin's dream of a global steering committee for the world's advanced and emerging economies is becoming a reality — and he couldn't be happier.
An announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Korean President Lee Myung-bak yesterday morning in Pittsburgh cemented the G20's status as the new economic summit for world leaders.
Canada will host both a G20 leaders summit and a previously announced G8 summit next June in Muskoka. It is not clear what topics the G8 will cover, but the G20 will focus on economic matters, Harper said.
“I just feel very good about this,” Martin said from Montreal. As finance minister, he led a campaign in the 1990s to create the G20 so that emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil could have a voice.
“Canada really was the initiator of the G20 and we fought very strongly for it at the leaders level and I believe it is absolutely crucial that if the world is to have a global steering committee that Canada is there,” Martin said.
He said it was especially important for Canada as a small-market country to be at the forefront so “we can punch above our weight.”
Harper said he would be “crazy” to deny that a larger tent would mean a loss of influence but he said Canada has a lot to offer.
“We are the one major developed country that no one thinks has any responsibility for this (economic) crisis,” he said. “They look at our policies as a solution for the crisis.”
September 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Parnel…are you actually suggesting that the Libs sat around all summer and were not even trying to convince Canadians that they deserved to be elected in the next election? If so, its unbelievable. On the other hand you don't know what you are talking about.
Do you think Canadians are sitting around their kitchen tables looking at government websites and then falling for what you call “propaganda”. Somehow I seriously doubt it.
The part about the polls is simply wishful thinking. In fact I think the polls next week are going to be worse for the Count. Harper promoting the economy, on the world stage while your guy is standing in a field of weeds talking about stuff that doesn't make sense to anybody but him. By the way you do know he was in the wrong field. Don't believe me. See the quotes from the Mayor of Burlington.
Your guy WK has lost his touch. Nobody believes any of the sh.t he is spewing these days.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Mervin,
Where did I say the libs were sitting around all summer. All I intimated was that the libs did not try to match Harpos BS pork barrel summer. In fact Iggy had a very successful summer fund raising for his party and anecdotal news is that he far out did the reformatorts in raising new funds for his party. Difference is that he wasn't out spouting lies and garbage like harpo did in the one speech that may yet go down in Liberal history as a great gotcha…..it has marvelous attack ad appeal in an election campaign.
As for the polls I say let's go to an election now and see who wins and while you're cooking your pork bellies remember 1993 when JC apparently had no chance of winning and was way behind in the polls when the writ was dropped.
Guess who masterminded that campaign? Your good buddy and Tom Flaningan's favorite political strategist!!!!!
Keep squirming!!!!!
September 26th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
The average Canadian has now seen through the Liberal party's phoniness.this party is made up at the top of elitist who have baffled the public with the scary monster Harper and the Conservatives.We now see these phony Liberals who would do anything to regain power. This time I think it is too late.when Ruby took her guns to town and tried to do it to some decent hard workers from the Philippines that was the end.Most Canadians are glad to see us taking back our country from the elitists
September 26th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
September 18, 2009
“Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) – After getting assurances of support from Bloc Quebecois and the New Democratic Party, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper scored another victory on Thursday after the Federal Court of Canada declared the prime minister's 2008 snap election call as legal.”
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016438...
September 26th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Parnel…my point is still valid. To sit and allow the opponent to have his say all summer is crazy.
By the way in case you missed this on Bourque today:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/24/785769/...
There is lots there for soundbites in the next election.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Mervin the inveterate troll, here is an article that shows off some of Iggy's good qualities w/o the toxic poison coming from reformatort central. Pretty soon all canadians will see just how poisonous the Harpo style of opponents' public execution is. His lies and innuendos and unethical poractices are all for discussion in an election. The Kinsella ads will be sharp, accurate, and painful.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/27/mic...
September 27th, 2009 at 1:14 am
As usual with you reformatorts you forgot (HA) to post the key line in that article:
“Democracy Watch said it will appeal the Federal Court's decision
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016438...
You see democracy watch really has another agenda and had basically stated they would lose this round. their agenda is to get to the SC and get a full hearing on the constitutional issue at hand. Did he break his own law and was aided in that by the GG?
democracy watch will eventually demonstate that Harpo was unethical in his call.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:18 am
The average Canadian will soon see that harpo's attack ad method of running the government is the real phoney issue here. he uses ads to attack, gives out no policies and only advertises his party through publically funded ads.
Who is the phoney…you reformatorts need to look in a mirror.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
If you think Canadians are going to believe that crap that was spewed in this article you are dreaming in la la land. If somebody did take the time they would quickly come to the conclusion that this man is arrogant and a narcissist big time. There is nothing that Kinsella can dream up other than lies that has not already been said before. The Libs need to find a different way to win. The attacks on Harper are monotonous and really show the Libs are devoid of real discourse.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Talking about the K … did you see him today on QP? He looked like he'd just tumbled out of bed after a “hard day's night.” His hair looked like he's been using the same hair dye used by some other prominent Ottawa media people. Just my opinion …
Someone should check the ingredients in that dye … they seem to cause a certain aggressive incoherence in some people. It wouldn't surprise me to learn the Toxic Troll is a bottle blond too.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Has the conservative party now decided in their moral turpitude to pay for the stimulus ads that were really harpo photo ops…….those ads cost us $35MM. Your hypocrisy knows no ends I see.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Gabby,Iggy doesn't have a paid primper like Harpo does. He's more like all of us.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Mervin, dream on in your little world of narrow minded senseless attacks.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
So who was talking about Ignatieff?
I certainly wasn't.
To quote one of your soulmates … go back and reread my post …
September 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I sure did. My wife and I said pretty much the same thing. He didn't look happy and he sure didn't look very professional with the blahs, blahs, blahs, comment. If this is the best the Libs can put up against Powers and Lavigne then their case will not be very well presented. The puffy hair do doesn't really suit him but what do I know. He is probably trying to fit in with the elitist leader and his pointie toed shoes guys in the OLO.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
parnel….my attacks are small in comparison to the attacks Ignegative is getting in the press each day. Each morning I grab my coffee and can't wait to open up the papers and blogs to see what news there is about his munificient Count Iggy.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Mervin, remember the days when Harpo was getting the same treatment and he has survived…..think about that for a minute
September 27th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Absolutely true. I do remember those days well. However, this is now the third leader of the Liberal party being laughed at and considered a dud. There are changes taking place in the country Parnel and you just don't want to acknowledge them.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
The laugh will be on you I'm afraid. The Libs know exactly what they are doing and Harpo won't make mince meat of Iggy in a real campaign. That's where it all happens.
September 27th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
stephen, do you think Harpo has this priority right:
ANOTHER REFORM-CONSERVATIVE DISGRACE/MISSTEP
——————————————————————————–
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 01:42 PM
R.I.P. irony: tomorrow is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Don't hold your breath waiting for any repentance from Stephen Harper, however.
Here's a newsflash for the B Team in P.M.O.: Jewish reporters can't cover this announcement; other Jews can't even watch it on TV.
It's either a shocking oversight or a deliberate choice to put politics ahead of openness and accountability to all Canadians – including observant Jews.
What a bunch. If a Liberal had even suggested making such an announcement on such a day, the Refomatories would be likening us to Hamas.
September 27th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Parnel….I heard much the same from you prior to the last election. How Canadians respected Dion and hated that nasty man Stephen Harper. I mentioned to you in my previous post that there is a change in the mood of the country and it does not look good for Ignegative. You can bloviate as much as you want but we know that Canadians are by and large not convinced they want the Czarist Count as our next PM.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
mervin, perfect segway to my comment about harpo the mgnificent. after 5 years in the headlines as leader or PM he has barely reached 30% in the popularity ratings. He also remains personally untouched by any attack ads which will come. Let's see how the fat little dictator does then.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Parnel……and where is your leader after having been on the job for almost a year? I would seriously question your guy when the country has been in the worse economic recession since the 30's and can't beat the PM on any of the leadership questions. You see Parnel Harper has the job and it is Iggy who wants it. So the pressure is on Iggy to perform.
Bring on the attack ads. There is nothing you can say that hasn't been said before unless your buddy is going to invent things like wafergate during the election.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Why are you responding with another question? I asked you why Harpo cannot get his personal numbers higher than he has. Please answer the question.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Unlike you I am not clairvoyant. You want to make it all about Harper because you guys are terrified of him.
Did you see the Leger poll today. 36 Cons/30 Libs.
More concerning for the Libs is the various other questions asked. Iggy does not do well.
As Chantal Hebert said this morning in her column if Iggy thinks that Francophone Quebec is going to abandon the Bloc he is in for a rude awakening.
Now you can reply to may comments and turning the question back at you. Why is Iggy not doing well.
There is big time trouble for Libs today. Coderre is holding a press conference and will resign as Quebec Lieutenant. So much for all the good things about Quebec in the next election.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:51 am
What was missed online national post, is the following paragraph which shows up in my daily newspaper:
“The seldom-used security-certificate regime has existed since 1989 and the government was successful in deportation proceedings in almost all of its cases until the program became a chief element of the federal “war on terror”
This second part is in the online report:
Mr. Van Loan said he is puzzled about the crash of the previously successful regime.
“It held up quite well until 2006,” he said. “We started getting different court decisions in the exact same facts.”
Another piece missing from the online version of the national post is as follows:
“It was in 2006 that the Conservatives formed government, replacing the Liberals.”
My questions is why is their two different versions one online and the other printed?
Also why is our court system being so partisan?
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.h...
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.h...
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.h...
September 28th, 2009 at 8:10 am
harper is unpopular, not because people fear him. 705 of the population detests him.
As for Iggy's popularity if you would take off your partisan glasses you woud note neither he nor the party is panicking. It looks as though he is finally replacing Coderre as Quebec lieutenant a move long overdue in my opinion. Iggy is not hogging the spotlight like harpo is and still building his war chest and doing so very nicely. The party, I beleive, feels its better to not overexpose him and save his strong suit for the election because Harpo cannot measure him until then. Strategies, my friend are how elections are won and you will admit the Libs have been masters of winning elections. That experience has not been lost.
So you can keep hoping against hope that Iggy will crash and burn because Harpo has said some nasties about him but unlike the election last fall Iggy is very well prepared and has a lot of money. Those are major differences that will come into play.
Lets hear the next whine from you.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Parnel I don't need to whine. The polls and leadership numbers are in our favour.
I could take your comments that you sent when you were supporting Dion and paste them into this comment section. They're exactly the same.
Keep believing what you like. Harper is an experienced campaigner while your guy bounces from guardrail to guardrail. Yep Libs are going to announc high speed rail but will only do it when the economy gets better. What kind of campaign platform is that? That's like me saying I am going eliminate income tax when we no longer have a need for them.
You may be happy that Coderre is out but you guys are in for a world of hurt. He also resigned his defence critic portfolio. I have no use for Coderre. He is a windbag but he is a proud man and I knew he would resign the day Iggy made his fateful decision. Who's running the show parnel? Iggy or Rae?
September 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I was unaware that this was this was an official outlet for the PM's press releases. I'll have to bookmark this entry under 'dribble.'
September 28th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Ummm, I doubt the resident troll known as Terry1 would appreciate your referring to his numerous posts here as “dribble.”
You progressives can be sooo unkind to your own people!
September 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Show me the post where this Terry1 fellow posts NDP press releases and I'll be just as quick to drop the d-bomb.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Gabby, being progressive is better than being regressive or even retarded.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I wonder what you reformatorts will do when the wild rose party decides to run candidates federally. I heard today, from a very reliable source in Edmonton, that is becoming a distinct possibility because people in alberta are fed up with both the provincial Tories and the harper reformatorts who are acting like socialists.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
So you were talking to Gayle were you? Or was it your alter ego Parnella?
September 28th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Ahem … the NDP is not the exclusive proprietor of the appellation progressives.
There's plenty of other parties that describe themselves as being progressive.
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol...
And since we're playing a “show & tell” game … show me where “this blog is an official outlet for the PM's press releases.”
Apart from the Dimitri Soudas letter sent to the PPG, what other PMO press releases do you see here? A bit of an exaggeration on your part, don't you think?
Would you level the same accusation at Susan Delacourt's blog? Or at David Akin's? http://thestar.blogs.com/politics/2009/09/answe...
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/20...
Finally, “Show me the post where this Terry1 fellow posts NDP press releases …”
Sorry, I can't do that … but you can read the kind of idiocy he's in the habit of spewing in a reply to me 38-40 minutes ago.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I'm well aware about the term progressive. You just seem to like disagreeing with me.
Here's two more examples of cut-n-pasting on Stephen's behalf;
http://www.stephentaylor.ca/2007/12/cpc-wants-a...
http://www.stephentaylor.ca/2008/06/many-libera...
Any journalist, myself included, will tell you that posting press releases verbatim is against any sort of reasonable procedure, regardless of what party it's from. The parties *want* you to post them, which is sufficient reason not to.
But this terry fellow should be careful how they throw around certain words, because it gives a bad name to actual progressives who are actually concerned about what passes for journalism these days. (hey, like, me!)
September 28th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Brucey, your intellect continues to shrink; being a reformatort dosn't have to be that painful.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I'm well aware of copyright law if that's where you are heading. If you think I'm also aiding and abetting other writers,etc so be it.
September 28th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
“You just seem to like disagreeing with me.”
Ahhh, congratulations, you've figured me out already.
Yes indeedy. I like to disagree with ANYONE who makes inordinately exaggerated statements.
I like facts, not overblown rhetoric and hyperbole, nor idiotic epithets.
Just read some of Terry1's scribblings to get an idea of what I mean by the latter.
“Any journalist, myself included, will tell you that posting press releases verbatim is against any sort of reasonable procedure …”
Ahem, have you spoken to some of your colleagues about that practice? Like the two I mentioned previously?
In any case, I don't know whether Stephen belongs to the journalists' union, or whether he would refer to himself as a journalist. A citizen journalist, maybe.
I recall he was asked by a member of the PG to leave the hallowed halls of the Parliament building because he was not considered a journalist.
So why should Stephen adhere to what you call “any sort of reasonable procedure”?
And if you are indeed a journalist, why are you slumming here, where “reasonable procedure” is so obviously not being followed, as you disapprovingly pointed out?
September 28th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Gabby, I must take exception to your ramblings and the ego boost you like to give yourself. This is primarily a forum, supposedly, for the debate of ideas from a conservative perspective. You seem to think it's a place of reformatort worship where everyone must heed the ideological drivel put out by the high priest(s) of that ecclesiastical hierarcy and simpy endorse their words.
Of course dissent,particuarly truthful stuff, is not truly allowed because it offends the high priest(s) of the movement.
As for my so called distortions of the faithful's gospel according to the high priest(s), I might suggest that the rest of the world within our national borders, at least 70% of them, do not buy their false and heretical ideology.
As for idiotic epithets I would not suggest you start rereading some of your diatribes. You use what YOU see as absolute fact and truth but it is simply the word according to you and your high priests with no blinders taken off.
In other words, in my typical “overblown rhetoric”, I say you are generally full of crap and/or you work for, or are hypnotised by, the high priest(s) propaganda machine. Or maybe its a combo of both.
To the journalist above, gabby is a champion (chump) of the right who believes that all dissent against her ideology is heresy and those journalists who challenge the ideology should be burned at the stake.
Amen brother!!! LOL
September 29th, 2009 at 5:04 am
More sophomoric dribble from a mental midget …
What's the matter? Your party's troubles getting you down?
Awww! cheer up, buttercup, there's more to life than writing prosaic posts on conservative blogs.
Take a course in remedial English, for instance.
Or go hobnob with your friends at the Laurier club.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:09 am
So you agree; you're merely a vehicle for the automated, thoughtless production of contradictions to whatever I suggest. Wonderful, the partisan system is alive and well in Canada!
It is not exaggerated to say that Stephen is merely a mouthpiece for the Conservative party of Canada. Posting their press releases, whether you fashion yourself a 'citizen journalist' or whatever, is just plain low. It basically reads “I can't even be bothered to fool you into thinking that I'm unbiased, so here's what the Conservative Party.” I would advise Mr. Taylor that he should ask to be on the payroll if he's doing any PR.
And I never said I was some world class journalist extraordinaire. I have some experience with small-time media as well as being a 'citizen journalist' and I know enough to not spew out whatever the parties want me to say.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:37 am
“So you agree; you're merely a vehicle for the automated, thoughtless production of contradictions to whatever I suggest.”
• No, I do not agree. If you recall my previous reply, I like to disagree with “ANYONE who makes inordinately exaggerated statements” – like the one you made, i.e. that this blog is “an official outlet for the PM's press releases.”
“… the partisan system is alive and well in Canada!”
• Did I claim to be non-partisan? I am a conservative and proud of it.
Are you suggesting you are completely free of any partisanship whatsoever?
Fine, if your mind is free of any opinion whatsoever, then you won’t mind if I refer to you as “an empty head.”
Now, don’t go getting all insulted … you did call me “a vehicle for the automated, thoughtless production of … blah blah blah.” Tit for tat, fair's fair, no?
“It is not exaggerated to say that Stephen is merely a mouthpiece for the Conservative party of Canada.”
• It may have escaped your notice, but this blog is part of the Blogging Tories.
There are Liblogs, NDP blogs, Green blogs, etc.
Are you suggesting those bloggers are non-partisan?
Are you suggesting they are objective and unbiased?
Are you suggesting those bloggers and their supporters do not promote their own party line?
You use the word mouthpiece.
More appropriate words would be supporter, fan, advocate, proponent … yes, even partisan. And what of it? I doubt Stephen has been hiding he supports the Conservative Party. So your entire premise and protestations fall flat.
“I know enough to not spew out whatever the parties want me to say.”
• But you apparently know very little about what the purpose of political blogs is. Reporters report, op-ed writers opine.
And bloggers?
From Wiki:
“Political blogs are considered to have a stated political bias. Although professional journalists covering mainstream media news are often pursuing objectivity, political bloggers openly peddle their personal opinions. But according to a book published by Oxford University Press, research by Brigham Young University political scientist Professor Richard Davis found that most people who closely follow both political blogs and traditional news media tend to believe the content on blogs is more accurate. The study also found that blog readers still get most of their news from regular news sources, but they suspect habitual bias. Data from this study is supported by the propaganda model. Stating political bias at the outset is therefore seen as being more honest.”
[my bolding]
And using a press release from a political party, an individual MP, the OLO, the PMO or whomever to illustrate a point is part of a blogger's arsenal.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:44 am
1. I suggested that Stephen had a habit for posting the PM's press releases. He does. He usually just throws them into a post. He uses Liberal and NDP ones, too, but he usually just mocks them. I said I took an issue with him posting press releases, and I still do.
2. I'm not non-partisan, however, I don't feel the need to wait around the internet until I find someone of a different party and just disagree with every single world they say.
3. I know there are partisan blogs; I write one. However, I certainly don't reproduce party rhetoric, I actually think for myself now and again. Having a right wing blog is fine, having a Conservative Party circlejerk is just stupid.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
“ I said I took an issue with him posting press releases, and I still do.”
• And that is your prerogative, of course.
However, the fact he uses them for whatever purpose does not make Stephen a “mouthpiece” of the PMO. Those press releases are available to the general public.
As I have indicated, journalists use them on their own blogs as well. That does not mean they have been directed by the PMO to use them, as you suggested by saying in your initial post “this blog is an official outlet for the PM's press releases.”
“… I don't feel the need to wait around the internet until I find someone of a different party and just disagree with every single world [sic] they say.”
• Sorry, but I hope you do not expect to go unchallenged when you make a provocative statement on a blog that does not share your POV.
Surely you must get some comments on your blog that disagree with you … unless, of course, you do not allow comments on yours.
“ I know there are partisan blogs; I write one. However, I certainly don't reproduce party rhetoric, I actually think for myself now and again.”
• I’m surprised you write one. You seem to be so thin-skinned that you cannot even accept a divergent POV, making such a big deal out of a press release.
• You say you “don’t reproduce party rhetoric.”
Why should I accept that on your say-so? I’d rather see for myself. Like you, I prefer to think for myself, and not just “now and again.”
However, the fact you use expressions like “a Conservative Party circlejerk” is already a sure indication that, far from thinking for yourself, you just repeat the same tired put-downs.
So long. It's been a slice.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
If you dislike Stephen and this blog so much why bother participating.?
September 30th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I never said I disliked the blog. I read it because occasionally I like an article or it points to an issue that I was unaware of. I do like to read material from all sides of the debate. I do, however, take issue with re-publishing press releases, regardless of political stripe.
September 30th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
It's noted as a press release. It's cited as content under discussion.
It's rare that I'll post a press release and when I do, it is because it sets up the topic (ie. the PM's position — which is to contrast with the Liberal position).
I posted some PMO text the other day (clearly labeled) the other day as an update to a blog post because it itself was part of the story's evolution.
If Ignatieff put out a release reacting to something I was talking about it I would post it because it is part of the evolution of a story.
I should note that Susan Delacourt posted the same release that I do in this post because she found it interesting and because it helps our readers understand the PM's direction as Canada's approach to foreign policy changes from that of previous administrations.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
But see, the issue is that you posted it verbatim and let it stand alone.
If there was a press release pertaining to something I was writing about, I would;
A. Paraphrase it
B. Post or link to it and properly explain it.
Press releases are, for lack of less inflammatory word, propaganda. They contain highly loaded words that should be filtered out when delivering news or opinion. By leaving in Harper's rhetoric and letting it stand, you are effectively just promoting his exact position which would make one wonder why you have a blog at all. Why not just post Harper's opinions? If one in a position such as your's does not think for oneself, then it's a sad state of affairs in the national dialog.
It is one thing to put your opinion in, which may or may not correspond to that of Mr. Harper's, but it's quite another to put Harper's in himself. We, the reader, trust your judgment because you have nothing to gain from using flowery rhetoric to deceive us. This is true and necessary of the political structure, but not in journalism.
Perhaps I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I find it is a rather serious issue.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I post it as a press release and mark it as such. If I paraphrased it, it wouldn't be transparent. I quoted from it. I am not “promoting” his position as you say just as Susan Delacourt did not “promote” the PM's words as she republished it too.
I am essentially putting it in a big quote bubble and saying “this is what he said”.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Well in essence, you are advocating his position. Whenever I have seen you post a Liberal or NDP press release, you usually accompany it with a mocking caption or the like. In other words; you qualify it.
Also, there's nothing secretive or sneaky about paraphrasing a press release. That's what most of journalism is based on.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Susan and I thank you for your opinions on journalism.
This is also commentary. And thankfully, still unregulated opinion.
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