Why was the Duffinator singled out?
Well maybe because he is a very high profile and popular Canadian Senator that also happens to be a fellow Maritimer that Stoffer wishes to silence and crush from further sweeping momentum in the upcoming bi-election. Stoffer received a fair amount of assistance I would say from the usual envious, media types.

Whatever the motivation, whatever the party, it was dirty politics and now with the additional scrutiny on Stoffer that the Duff equally exposed, hypocritical.

High profile for Stoffer and to single him out from Stoffer's POV makes sense (despite the matching budgets), but for CP? Why would CP single him out?

As in Canadian Press, right?
I think that he has clearly hinted at it several times. He has openly criticised the media as a whole and their bias positions. I'm just guessing here but I would suspect that creates a pack mentality in a large segment of the industry.

The Duff, has become a sort of folk hero, imo and other than maybe Barbara Frum and a handful of others, who else is recognisable at this level?
He has the golden egg and they all wanted it.

We are talking Bruce Cheadle of the canadian press here!! He is always critical of Conservatives. Nothing new here.
I am looking forward a tell all book about the National Press Gallery written by Mike Duffy.

Me too! It must be like a breath of fresh air for him but I do agree with Stephen that Duff, does seem to get far more scrutiny than what is fair or warranted. When was the last time we heard anything at this level about a Senator?

Maybe it is exactly what you suggested Fay, the possibility that some dirty laundry may be aired.

I am a Conservative supporter but Duffy embarassed himself and the party. I did not feel comfortable watching that interview and I suspect lots of other people felt the same way. Duffy being from a communications background could have maintained self control and argued his points with facts rather than name calling.

Now ,that would be the biggest Prize for Duffy. I am so tired of the whole Pack of Propaganda Journalists. It boggles my mind what they are all hoping to get out of this Liberal/NDP propaganda.
If Tom Clark is hoping for a Senate seat from the Liberanos, he'll have a long time to wait.

Is there a score to settle here with "Wafergate"? The media took a huge shot with their credibility ( in the Maritimes) with that butchered piece of journalism. People were fired.

OTOH
It seems that Duffy came out looking a bit of a bully in the eyes of many.

Mike Duffy wasn't elected, he was appointed by a PM who swore to stop this nonsense. Doesn't pass the sniff test Taylor. Sad thing is, you know it.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. If you're a Liberal, get on side and let's change the Senate already...

The Conservatives don't need the Liberals. They could abolish the Senate tomorrow with the NDP if they wanted to. But obviously the Cons would rather have a Senate that they can stuff with hacks like Duffy. Its a game they've chosen to play.

Can you explain how the senate is abolished and can your provide the links regarding the legal framework and constitutional support you are talking about. Thanks.

Dream on my man. Where is the legal possibility? All provinces agree to change the constitution?
Yea, right.

It's fair to raise Harper on his own petard Iguess. However, we all know the game plan here and while you can criticize we will see how supportive you are when he starts making changes in the Senate in the not too distant future.
To leave all those Senate seats vacant with a potential election would have been irresponsible of Harper and you know it. The Libs would have no problem feasting on all those senate appointments.

Perhaps that's just what's worrying Duffy's former media friends turned foes, he's got a wealth of information to tell, he knows who's who , knows the game and the players.
The sheer jealousy and anger at his appointment among the media is palpable, they can barely bring themselves to utter his name.

Very very true. The liberal national media 'ARE' afraid of Duffy, afraid like you said, what he will reveal and for that they the media have stayed for away from him.
The media 'IS' afraid of the NDP, have you noticed the way TOM CLARK and others like him treat them,Ndp, with kid gloves, why, because if the media treated the NDPers the same way they treat the Conservatives, a backlash from the NDPer will be heard lambasing the likes of Tom CLARK for his non reporting of the E.I. scandal, the millions of dollars still missing which CLARK refuses to ask the liberal for it. etc etc.
Tom CLark and others like him also have to respect the NDP and the Bloc since they both signed a COALITION AGREEMENT with the LPOC.

And another thing, PM has asked provinces to elect their own senators which they refuse except for Alberta, until such time the provinces do select/elect their senator, PM has no choice but to appoint senators himself.
BTW, when alberta selected their senator, Paul Martin chose another. Remember that one.

I think you are hitting the nail on the head here.

Duff tells it like it is, no beating around the bush, that's probably why he gets a hard time. Duff got that Don Cherry confidence thing going on. Duff's not going to leave it alone either. My bets are on Duffy.

Wink for mom.....

How many of those complaining re the PM appointing Senators have writtentheir premier to hold senate elections in their province. Bet not one of them.
How many wrote their senator and said, agree to term limits.
How many have written or called their MP or prov member to insist changes be made.
Bet not one of them, as they are waiting for libs to get back and put their pals in the senate.

ALBERTA is the only province to have selected their own SENATOR, BURT BROWN.
Unfortunately, Burt Brown was ignored completely by Paul Martin who appointed his own senator from alberta.
It was not until 2008 that the PMSH appointed our Albertan senator BURT BROWN into the Senate.

Recently, SASK, has passed into law a bill for their 'senator election'.

Duffy is arrogant and it showed lat night. He deserves to be fired

Parnel...you can't fire Senators unless they do something illegal. Get real.

Lob balls? The msm appears to specialize in presenting any low balls thrown at Tories as game highlights... hehe It appears to be getting old for many Canadians :-)

Duffy was singled out because the taxpayer is being forced to pay his salary and expenses when he's little more than a Conservative Party fundraiser and PR man. He's done nothing for Canadians since being appointed to the Senate other than waste our money.

As far as I know the Senate is part of our Parliamentary system, we are paying for all Senators not just Senator Duffy. The Senate is not one unified body, it's members represent the party they were appointed under. It happens the Liberals were in power long enough to stack it with their own brand resulting in that UNELECTED body making it difficult for the elected Conservative government to get legislation passed in a timely fashion or even at all.

What's most dumbfounding is all the yelping about PM Harper appointing Senators to fill the vacancies, it's his duty to do so,it's not his preference, he wants an elected body but it's his only option under the present system and he's certainly not going to put more Liberals in that already stacked deck.

The system needs to be revamped. It can be done without constitutional change if the provinces will co-operate and elect senators-in-waiting for the PM to appoint. This is what PM Harper has been trying to do but with little co-operation from the provinces. Only elected people can be called to account.

Blah, blah, blah, he-haw. The Senate has rubberstamped Conservative legislation just as fast as they rubberstamped Liberal legislation.

Of course, none of this addresses my point. Duffy has done nothing for Canadians since being appointed to the senate.

Please tell us what you think he, as one new Senator,should be doing for Canadians? Is it not enough he's working for the government the people elected to govern according to our system?

There's little chance any Socialist like yourself would agree with much of anything in our system of governance but it does give you the freedom to speak against it.

Mike Duffy is not working for the government the people elected to govern. He's working for the Conservative Party of Canada on my dime.

Like it or not, he is.

The Conservative Party is funded by those who support it. The Conservatives won the election and as per our system they get to govern and if you have a job,and/or pay taxes ,you support it.

Would a commie state be more to your liking?

Here's a question Liz. On all those trips Duffy took on our money, how many of them were to speak at CPC fundraisers?

Don't know and don't concern myself with such a matter. Duffy is a Conservative Senator, it shouldn't be any surprise he supports the Conservative government and that might include speaking at fundraisers. Given the attention he's been getting from the Opposition and their flank in the media he's going to be following the rules.

In our system all MP's and Senators are on our dime, even the Separatist BQ.

One would think the Liberals and their supporters would have much more pressing things to concern themselves with than one Senator given their state of affairs .

Shall we talk about ADSCAM? Where's the money?

Yeah Liz, where is the money, apparently the liberals are too scared to ask the liberals for it. I take from the media's silence that they are not interested in asking for you-you me even Gayle for that matter don't count.
Have you heard Tom Clark, Taber, Fife, Oliver, CBC, CTV, FIFTH ESTATE, G/M, T/S etc, etc ever utter- no- demand from the liberals answers to why Canadians had to repay the $54B E.I funds which the LPOC took from us to pay towards the debt yet never bothered to replace the money.
That's right Liz J, the LPOC raise the premiums on us so we have to repay the funds which the LPOC took from us. Meaning, WE paid twice to replace the first one.

The LPC did not "take" the EI fund from us - they used it on our behalf to pay down the deficit. You remember that, right? A big deficit that was paid down by the Liberal Government after it balooned under the previous Conservative Government?

Is that their story, they paid down the deficit? They did really well with that EI fund then, they also used it to bolster their surplus, it was in fact a huge part of it. The Liberals are masters of skimming and scamming, it's gotten them where they are today. People simply don't trust them.

We know you don't like to hear about ADSCAM but unlike Liberals, their apologists and their former leader, Chretien, we the people do take it seriously.

You do know using the EI money in the way the Liberal government did was both legal and open, right?

Of course you do.


PS - Adscam does not excuse the unethical use of our tax dollars by all subsequent governments, unless, of course, you are OK with Adscam. Otherwise you just look like a hypocrite, and I KNOW you do not want to be a hypocrite, right?

When being called a hypocrite one needs to consider the source, personally, 'really don't care. Some of the biggest hypocrites are the ones who yell it the most, it's the last refuge, right up there with "racist".

Adscam is a disgrace, it hasn't been resolved and Liberals don't want to hear about it or talk about it in hopes it will go away like "Shawinigate" and various boondoggles that happened during their reign.

Give us your list of "unethical use of our tax dollars by all subsequent governments...." that come close to Adscam.

So, if it is not as "bad" as Adscam, it's OK?

If Mike Duffy is using his tax payer funded allowance to travel across Canada to raise money for the Conservative Party, that is OK because it is not as "bad" as Adscam?

You should look up the word hypocrite if you do not want to take my word for it.

Though I suppose for you, covering your eyes and your ears and shouting "na na na. I can't hear you" means what I say is not true.

Condescending arrogance is again taking over your comments, there's no call for such an attitude when debating issues.

Hypocrite seems to be one of your favourite labels. When it comes to political discussions it's the end game, it's name calling and stifles debate, just as you like it.

Say what you will, the floor is all yours.

Calling your stance hypocritical is not "calling names". Calling you stupid would be calling you names.

The reason I point out your hypocrisy so much is because you are so often hypocritical. In fact, I noticed you have not even tried to defend yourself on that score.

Yes, when all else fails, scream ADSCAM!

Love how you do not think it is at all relevant if Duffy is spending your tax dollars on CPC business. I love it.

An unelected, unaccountable senator spending tax dollars to do fundraising for a political party.

Think about what your reaction would be if that were a liberal senator.

And no, I do not expect you to be honest about your reaction, but all your posts tell me that if it were a liberal senator you would be screaming about it.

Then if he is not working for the government then why does he sit in the Government caucus. Come on Robert get real.

So are all the Liberal Senators.

I don't think that will ever happen. Quebec and Ontario in particular are not interested. So we have no choice but to appoint. Just maybe we could get a time limit through. That would be some success.

I gues the Liberal Senator who spent his time living in Mexico was working for the Country ha.

Stoffer is the media darling in all of this while Duffy is where he was with the media the moment he became a Senator, more especially a Conservative Senator. If he were a Liberal Senator he would be given star treatment.

Right on Liz J.
LizJ, H ave you noticed that there is not one Conservative National Television nor host to speak to canadians to tell canadians 'the secrets of the LPOC ; deliberately lied about, ignored, and refused to discuss by the LIBERAL NATIONAL MEDIA.
Can you envision the people's reaction when they learned that the media they see everyday, have lied to them for decades. Man oh man, their reaction alone will demand the resignation of Tom Clark, Q/P gang (oliver and Taber)...............

Well, boo hoo, that "Mike Duffy's ... working for the Conservative Party of Canada on my dime" (Robert McClelland).

The LPC (aka Losers' Party of Canada) and their patronage appointment senators were not only working on my dime -- or not working, as the case may be; they all partied a lot, spent time in Mexico a lot, etc. -- they were stealing money from me and my family, dissembling, and covering up a whole pile of scandals with the help of their lapdogs in the media, all through the '80s, '90s, and well into the first decade of the 21st century.

spent time in Mexico

The canadian liberal senator you are talking about lived in Mexico; he only made one appearance at the Senate Committee to show that he is still part of the liberal senate group even though he did absolutely nothing but only collect his paycheck to return to his home in MEXICO.
And the lapdog pathetic useless good for nothing liberal media kept their trap shut pretending nothing had happened.
You have a right to be upset, we all are, including liberal voters who finally woke up that they were screwed around- just like the rest of us.

Jen. I have been wondering about that too. There must be some decent people as members of the Liberals that are probably just as angry as we are. I wonder if that is why the Libs came in third in all the last byelections.

So Conservatives are no better than Liberals. I'll agree with that.

I'd like to see Mike Duffy run in the next election for one of the Commons' seats in PEI. He'd make a great Minister.

'Never said the Conservatives are no better than the Liberal$.

No party is perfect, but the Librano$ take the cake when it comes to crap and corruption. There's no equivalency between the CPC and the LPC. For one thing, Stephen Harper isn't becoming a multi-millionaire like a number of Liberal PMs either were to begin with or became after a few years in office.

Hmmm.

Regardless of the lack of merit for singling out Duffy the fact is Duffy acted like a boor and he should be ashamed of himself. Instead of taking the high road and explain why Harper felt it necessay to appoint Senators and that is still his intention to reform the Senate and that will begin in January when the Conservatives have a majority. No matter how partisan you are Stoffer is not the one on which one should vent their spleen. Duffy looked childish and emotional. He should have killed them with facts rather than calling Stoffer names.

Agreed his presentation could have been better. He did introduce some facts but clearly came across as upset at the CBC tabloid media, and the sleaze the opposition have been pushing.

The scripts regarding the sleaze and the lazy journalists is already written. Stay on script and issue a press release to respond and correct the lack of context and factual accuracy by the Media and the opposition.

It should be no surprise Duffy pulls no punches.

Recalling his on air tiff with Liberal strategist John Duffy over an a attack ad the Liberals had on their web site during the failed reign of Paul Martin as PM was a clue. Duffy was livid over the fact John Duffy tried to intimidate him off air into not mentioning any more about the ad.

That episode was proof the Liberals were used to getting their way with the media and calling the shots so assumed Mike Duffy would cede to his demand.

Duffy as a Senator is not going to tolerate any of their games and that's what's got them riled.

Duffy as a Senator is not going to tolerate any of their games and that's what's got them riled.

I wonder why, why is the media so afraid of ?? It must be of 'US' since thought that they can continue bluffing us in the same manner in using the " LIBERAL SCARE TACTIC POLICY' thinking that we and mostly 'immigrants' will fall for it.

Jen I agree, he was effective in telling the was not going to be bullied. I believe he was a great addition to the team and will be helpful in getting many CPC elected.

The presumption here that costing by Duffy is out of line, however, when you compare that with others, the obvious come to the fore. None is better/worse off than the others. So, what is the pitch here?
Today's (Monday) by elections around the province of NS, and none is more crucial than a hopeful win for the NDP. Just because they are a provincial faction now in power, you will find the reverse is true come next provincial election. Voters had to see with their own eyes, and will not be fooled again - guaranteed.
Look for big-time change, and tomorrow you will not be surprised by the outcome.

Well, judging by Puffy's reaction, he was the right target to go after. For an ex-journalist, he has a rather thin skin....

Well, judging by Puffy's rather lame attack on Stoffer, a very respected MP, he was precisely the right target for this.