Thursday, April 21, 2011
BCRail: Three western premiers form a COALITION to support the Harper agenda
.
BC Mary comment: What does Health Care or even the May 2nd federal election itself have to do with BC Rail? Well, today I found the answer stated clearly in an article copied below. Title: Why Canadians must say no to Harper.
Also: This morning's news is that the western premiers have formed a coalition to fight against the federal Liberal Party in the May 2, 2011 election. Hmmmm. Would they go to all that trouble, just to please us? Ha.
Answers to another question are added, below too. This is the first election campaign I can remember, which so brazenly tries to achieve their goals by keeping the voting public confused, or completely uninformed. Maybe it's time to seriously ask what those goals are. So, if the current election campaign (as it's fed to us on TV) is hurting your brain ... I hope this helps. First, the Dobbin article:
Quote:
... Harper’s first policy efforts regarding health care were undertaken on behalf of the Reform Party ( I [Murray Dobbin] wrote a book on the party and published a Reform Watch Newsletter for four years in the mid-1990s when Harper was the party’s policy director).
Harper said then what he believes now: that the Canada Health Act gives the federal government too many powers and, crucially, that the funding should recognize “different levels of economic development in the provinces.” That’s code language for opening the system to user fees, extra billing, erosion of the number and kind of services provided and the end of “portability” – the transferability of care across provincial boundaries, and different standards of care between rich and poor provinces.
After developing the death knell policy prescription for health care for the Reform Party, Harper quit politics in frustration and joined the most viciously right-wing lobby group in the country and the source of many Reform policies: the National Citizens Coalition. The NCC was founded by Colin Brown, a wealthy insurance broker, in the aftermath of the advent of national Medicare in 1967. Its raison d’être was, at the time, exclusively to fight Medicare and open it up again to private insurance. But it became much more....
The full article is at http://saltspringnews.com/
Source:
Why Canadians must say no to Harper
By Murray Dobbin
Salt Spring News - April 20, 2011
______________________________________
BC Mary comment: Remember a few short years ago: Preston Manning as Leader of the federal Opposition -- with his new hair-do, his new contact lenses, his Hollywood approach to parliament? It didn't work, did it. So they got Prester's right-hand man, Mr. Keeps-his-hair-in-the-frig. We seem to have forgotten that Harper started off as Reform Party. Then Alliance. Then as the guy who killed the old Progressive Conservative Party. Harper was even in the well-named Canadian Reform Alliance Party for a while, until one of their rocket scientists noticed the acronym.
As for Gordon Campbell, I've always thought that Gordon Campbell was aligned with the Harper Gang. They have a style of thinking, a smell, which in their minds, makes it OK to give away BC Rail, or BC Ferries, or BC Hydro, or the Alberta Tar Sands, or whatever can be peddled for whatever reason.
And that, I'm afraid, is what today's Harper news has to do with the loss of BC Rail. Like the loss of that major public asset, it's the harbinger of things to come.
I agree wholeheartedly that Canadians must say no to Harper, and to all his partners. But ...
Today's headlines tell us that Gordon Campbell, Brad Wall, and Ed Stelmach formed a coalition last year, to achieve certain personal goals. Click HERE.
http://www.canada.com/news/Three+Western+premiers+meet+discuss+year+West+Partnership/4647740/story.html
and that they met again, the other day (with Christy Clark instead of Gordo) to review their strategy which includes supporting Harper and giving Michael Ignatieff a hard time:
Three Western premiers meet to discuss year-old New West Partnership ... um, ahem: wouldn't that be a COALITION?
THE CANADIAN PRESS - April 20, 2011
VANCOUVER - The premiers of Canada's three westernmost provinces are in Vancouver today to talk about a year-old agreement to combine their purchasing power on everything from textbooks to health-care supplies.
The so-called New West Partnership was signed in Regina in April of last year, between Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and then-B.C. premier Gordon Campbell.
Campbell has since left office, and taking his place at the meeting will be Premier Christy Clark.
The provinces agreed to create joint agreements to get cheaper prices on government purchases.
They also pledged to reduce trade barriers between provinces, work together to market the region internationally [Alberta Tar Sands for Sale, cheap!), and co-ordinate research and development activities in Western Canada.
{Snip} ...
For a closer look at these political figures:
Ed Stelmach, outgoing premier of Alberta, from Wikipedia: Stelmach is a Progressive Conservative ... his premiership has been heavily focused on management of the province's oil reserves, especially those of the Athabasca Oil Sands. He has rejected calls from environmentalists to slow the pace of development in the Fort McMurray area, and has similarly opposed calls for carbon taxes or other measures designed to discourage oil consumption. Other policy initiatives have included commencing an overhaul of the province's health governance system, amendments to the Alberta human rights code, a re-introduction of all-party committees to the Legislature, and the conclusion of a major labour agreement with Alberta's teachers. His government has also attracted controversy for awarding itself a 30% pay increase shortly after its re-election, and has enjoyed strained relations with Calgary, one of Klein's former strongholds. Despite this, Stelmach increased the Progressive Conservatives' already substantial majority in the 2008 election.
Brad Wall, premier of Saskatchewan, from Wikipedia (recommended for the chuckles, e.g., how about that $15,000 worth of government alcohol which Brad accidentally consumed but thinks the experience is a valuable asset; he also started his own business called The Last Stand Adventure Company. No I didn't make that up.)
Seriously, here's his biography from Wikipedia: Bradley John Wall became Leader of the Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party on March 15, 2003. In 2007 he led the Saskatchewan Party to a majority.
Prior to his election, he was the director of business development for the City of Swift Current. In 1999, the Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association (SEDA) had presented him with the 1998 Economic Developer of the Year Award. In the early 1990s, Wall also managed a country music museum that was relocated to Swift Current from Kitchener, Ontario, following a significant grant from the Grant Devine government. The facility went bankrupt in 1995. Wall has also sat on a number of boards including being a founding member of the Southwest Centre for Entrepreneurial Development. Wall also started his own business, The Last Stand Adventure Company.
After becoming leader of the Saskatchewan Party, Wall committed to a review of Saskatchewan Party policies. This policy review process reached its culmination at the Saskatchewan Party's annual convention inFebruary 2005 and resulted in a complete revamping of policy and the replacement of old resolutions, including a resolution that called for "boot camps" for young offenders. New policy resolutions included calling for treatment for crystal methamphetamine addicts, a patient-first review of the health care system, the development of a comprehensive plan to recruit and retain health care professionals, the development an integrated addictions strategy for young offenders who are incarcerated, a comprehensive review of the justice system to restore trust and confidence in the system, the establishment of a provincial youth justice board to address youth crime, rehabilitation and restitution measures, support for victims of crime, the establishment of a university research chair in occupational health and safety, and a review of the Workers' Compensation Board.
His political roots are in the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, working as a ministerial assistant to Graham Taylor, Minister of Public Participation, Tourism, Small Business, Co-operatives and Health, and John Gerich, Associate Minister of Economic Development. Wall ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative nomination for Swift Current in April 1991.
Christy Clark, the unelected leader of the BC LINO party (Liberal In Name Only), (from Wikipedia):
... Her campaign faced questions regarding her involvement in the sale of BC Rail due to her cabinet position and family connection to people "mentioned prominently in court documents, including search warrants", with opposition members stating that she "wants to shut down the public's questions about the scandal". It was in the wake of the controversial Basi-Virk guilty pleas that ended the trial proceedings that she [felt it safe to?] declare her candidacy for the party leadership on her radio show. Clark had called for more questions to be answered about BC Rail, but since then has said that there is no need for a public inquiry, as have the other Liberal Party leadership contenders. - quoted from Wikipedia, [except for the BC Mary comment].
Oh. And Gordon Campbell, the guy who saw nothing wrong in breaking an election promise, or in creating a semi-secret deal under suspect circumstances to strip away the transportation lifeline of the province of B.C. giving it away to foreign interests ...
We didn't really think Gordo would support Michael Ignatieff (federal Liberals), Jack Layton (federal New Democrats), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois) or Elizabeth May (Green Party). But ...
why exactly did those 4 people believe that a special COALITION -- the New West Partnership -- was necessary?
A worthy comment, cross-posted:
Ignatieff said his Liberal party was given a bad name, but not by me. The BC Liberals are nowhere near the true Liberal party. They are a nothing phantom party who gives allegiance to Harper.
Harper and Campbell work very closely with China. We know China bought a huge chunk of the tar sands. Harper and Campbell have the full intention of forcing the dirty oil tankers from China and the Enbridge pipeline on us.
The three provinces signed this agreement, far before Campbell left. The pipeline has to go through Saskatchewan, that's why the cahoots of the three provinces. Saskatchewan, will get its pound of flesh too. The people of BC will gain nothing, as usual.
BC people don't understand. When the pipeline is finished, so are the jobs. And BC has the most danger and will bear the brunt of the oil spill.
BC is foul with corruption. Even if Christy did order a criminal investigation of, Campbell's corrupt sale of the BCR. We have corrupt courts and corrupt judges. Did we not see that? The trial of the corrupt sale of the BCR, was a blatant farce.
There is nothing in this province, that isn't corrupt. We have to first run this rotten, corrupt BC Liberal party right out of BC.
If Harper wins, we can bloody well count on becoming Canada U.S.A., America's brand new state.
BC Mary comment: What does Health Care or even the May 2nd federal election itself have to do with BC Rail? Well, today I found the answer stated clearly in an article copied below. Title: Why Canadians must say no to Harper.
Also: This morning's news is that the western premiers have formed a coalition to fight against the federal Liberal Party in the May 2, 2011 election. Hmmmm. Would they go to all that trouble, just to please us? Ha.
Answers to another question are added, below too. This is the first election campaign I can remember, which so brazenly tries to achieve their goals by keeping the voting public confused, or completely uninformed. Maybe it's time to seriously ask what those goals are. So, if the current election campaign (as it's fed to us on TV) is hurting your brain ... I hope this helps. First, the Dobbin article:
Quote:
... Harper’s first policy efforts regarding health care were undertaken on behalf of the Reform Party ( I [Murray Dobbin] wrote a book on the party and published a Reform Watch Newsletter for four years in the mid-1990s when Harper was the party’s policy director).
Harper said then what he believes now: that the Canada Health Act gives the federal government too many powers and, crucially, that the funding should recognize “different levels of economic development in the provinces.” That’s code language for opening the system to user fees, extra billing, erosion of the number and kind of services provided and the end of “portability” – the transferability of care across provincial boundaries, and different standards of care between rich and poor provinces.
After developing the death knell policy prescription for health care for the Reform Party, Harper quit politics in frustration and joined the most viciously right-wing lobby group in the country and the source of many Reform policies: the National Citizens Coalition. The NCC was founded by Colin Brown, a wealthy insurance broker, in the aftermath of the advent of national Medicare in 1967. Its raison d’être was, at the time, exclusively to fight Medicare and open it up again to private insurance. But it became much more....
The full article is at http://saltspringnews.com/
Source:
Why Canadians must say no to Harper
By Murray Dobbin
Salt Spring News - April 20, 2011
______________________________________
BC Mary comment: Remember a few short years ago: Preston Manning as Leader of the federal Opposition -- with his new hair-do, his new contact lenses, his Hollywood approach to parliament? It didn't work, did it. So they got Prester's right-hand man, Mr. Keeps-his-hair-in-the-frig. We seem to have forgotten that Harper started off as Reform Party. Then Alliance. Then as the guy who killed the old Progressive Conservative Party. Harper was even in the well-named Canadian Reform Alliance Party for a while, until one of their rocket scientists noticed the acronym.
As for Gordon Campbell, I've always thought that Gordon Campbell was aligned with the Harper Gang. They have a style of thinking, a smell, which in their minds, makes it OK to give away BC Rail, or BC Ferries, or BC Hydro, or the Alberta Tar Sands, or whatever can be peddled for whatever reason.
And that, I'm afraid, is what today's Harper news has to do with the loss of BC Rail. Like the loss of that major public asset, it's the harbinger of things to come.
I agree wholeheartedly that Canadians must say no to Harper, and to all his partners. But ...
Today's headlines tell us that Gordon Campbell, Brad Wall, and Ed Stelmach formed a coalition last year, to achieve certain personal goals. Click HERE.
http://www.canada.com/news/Three+Western+premiers+meet+discuss+year+West+Partnership/4647740/story.html
and that they met again, the other day (with Christy Clark instead of Gordo) to review their strategy which includes supporting Harper and giving Michael Ignatieff a hard time:
Three Western premiers meet to discuss year-old New West Partnership ... um, ahem: wouldn't that be a COALITION?
THE CANADIAN PRESS - April 20, 2011
VANCOUVER - The premiers of Canada's three westernmost provinces are in Vancouver today to talk about a year-old agreement to combine their purchasing power on everything from textbooks to health-care supplies.
The so-called New West Partnership was signed in Regina in April of last year, between Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and then-B.C. premier Gordon Campbell.
Campbell has since left office, and taking his place at the meeting will be Premier Christy Clark.
The provinces agreed to create joint agreements to get cheaper prices on government purchases.
They also pledged to reduce trade barriers between provinces, work together to market the region internationally [Alberta Tar Sands for Sale, cheap!), and co-ordinate research and development activities in Western Canada.
{Snip} ...
For a closer look at these political figures:
Ed Stelmach, outgoing premier of Alberta, from Wikipedia: Stelmach is a Progressive Conservative ... his premiership has been heavily focused on management of the province's oil reserves, especially those of the Athabasca Oil Sands. He has rejected calls from environmentalists to slow the pace of development in the Fort McMurray area, and has similarly opposed calls for carbon taxes or other measures designed to discourage oil consumption. Other policy initiatives have included commencing an overhaul of the province's health governance system, amendments to the Alberta human rights code, a re-introduction of all-party committees to the Legislature, and the conclusion of a major labour agreement with Alberta's teachers. His government has also attracted controversy for awarding itself a 30% pay increase shortly after its re-election, and has enjoyed strained relations with Calgary, one of Klein's former strongholds. Despite this, Stelmach increased the Progressive Conservatives' already substantial majority in the 2008 election.
Brad Wall, premier of Saskatchewan, from Wikipedia (recommended for the chuckles, e.g., how about that $15,000 worth of government alcohol which Brad accidentally consumed but thinks the experience is a valuable asset; he also started his own business called The Last Stand Adventure Company. No I didn't make that up.)
Seriously, here's his biography from Wikipedia: Bradley John Wall became Leader of the Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party on March 15, 2003. In 2007 he led the Saskatchewan Party to a majority.
Prior to his election, he was the director of business development for the City of Swift Current. In 1999, the Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association (SEDA) had presented him with the 1998 Economic Developer of the Year Award. In the early 1990s, Wall also managed a country music museum that was relocated to Swift Current from Kitchener, Ontario, following a significant grant from the Grant Devine government. The facility went bankrupt in 1995. Wall has also sat on a number of boards including being a founding member of the Southwest Centre for Entrepreneurial Development. Wall also started his own business, The Last Stand Adventure Company.
After becoming leader of the Saskatchewan Party, Wall committed to a review of Saskatchewan Party policies. This policy review process reached its culmination at the Saskatchewan Party's annual convention inFebruary 2005 and resulted in a complete revamping of policy and the replacement of old resolutions, including a resolution that called for "boot camps" for young offenders. New policy resolutions included calling for treatment for crystal methamphetamine addicts, a patient-first review of the health care system, the development of a comprehensive plan to recruit and retain health care professionals, the development an integrated addictions strategy for young offenders who are incarcerated, a comprehensive review of the justice system to restore trust and confidence in the system, the establishment of a provincial youth justice board to address youth crime, rehabilitation and restitution measures, support for victims of crime, the establishment of a university research chair in occupational health and safety, and a review of the Workers' Compensation Board.
His political roots are in the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, working as a ministerial assistant to Graham Taylor, Minister of Public Participation, Tourism, Small Business, Co-operatives and Health, and John Gerich, Associate Minister of Economic Development. Wall ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative nomination for Swift Current in April 1991.
Christy Clark, the unelected leader of the BC LINO party (Liberal In Name Only), (from Wikipedia):
... Her campaign faced questions regarding her involvement in the sale of BC Rail due to her cabinet position and family connection to people "mentioned prominently in court documents, including search warrants", with opposition members stating that she "wants to shut down the public's questions about the scandal". It was in the wake of the controversial Basi-Virk guilty pleas that ended the trial proceedings that she [felt it safe to?] declare her candidacy for the party leadership on her radio show. Clark had called for more questions to be answered about BC Rail, but since then has said that there is no need for a public inquiry, as have the other Liberal Party leadership contenders. - quoted from Wikipedia, [except for the BC Mary comment].
Oh. And Gordon Campbell, the guy who saw nothing wrong in breaking an election promise, or in creating a semi-secret deal under suspect circumstances to strip away the transportation lifeline of the province of B.C. giving it away to foreign interests ...
We didn't really think Gordo would support Michael Ignatieff (federal Liberals), Jack Layton (federal New Democrats), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois) or Elizabeth May (Green Party). But ...
why exactly did those 4 people believe that a special COALITION -- the New West Partnership -- was necessary?
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A worthy comment, cross-posted:
Ignatieff said his Liberal party was given a bad name, but not by me. The BC Liberals are nowhere near the true Liberal party. They are a nothing phantom party who gives allegiance to Harper.
Harper and Campbell work very closely with China. We know China bought a huge chunk of the tar sands. Harper and Campbell have the full intention of forcing the dirty oil tankers from China and the Enbridge pipeline on us.
The three provinces signed this agreement, far before Campbell left. The pipeline has to go through Saskatchewan, that's why the cahoots of the three provinces. Saskatchewan, will get its pound of flesh too. The people of BC will gain nothing, as usual.
BC people don't understand. When the pipeline is finished, so are the jobs. And BC has the most danger and will bear the brunt of the oil spill.
BC is foul with corruption. Even if Christy did order a criminal investigation of, Campbell's corrupt sale of the BCR. We have corrupt courts and corrupt judges. Did we not see that? The trial of the corrupt sale of the BCR, was a blatant farce.
There is nothing in this province, that isn't corrupt. We have to first run this rotten, corrupt BC Liberal party right out of BC.
If Harper wins, we can bloody well count on becoming Canada U.S.A., America's brand new state.
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Comments:
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Ignatieff said, his Liberal party was given a bad name, but, not by me. The BC Liberals, are nowhere near the true Liberal party. They are a nothing phantom party, who gives allegiance to Harper.
Harper and Campbell work very closely with China. We know China bought a huge chunk of the tar sands. Harper and Campbell have the full intention of, forcing the dirty oil tankers from China, and the Enbridge pipeline on us.
The three provinces signed this agreement, far before Campbell left. The pipeline has to go through Saskatchewan, that's why the cahoots of the three provinces. Saskatchewan, will get it's pound of flesh too. The people of BC will gain nothing, as usual.
BC people don't understand. When the pipeline is finished, so are the jobs. And BC has the most danger, and, will bear the brunt of the oil spill.
BC is foul with corruption. Even if Christy did order a criminal investigation of, Campbell's corrupt sale of the BCR. We have corrupt courts and corrupt judges. Did we not see that? The trial of the corrupt sale of the BCR, was a blatant farce.
There is nothing in this province, that isn't corrupt. We have to first, run this rotten, corrupt BC Liberal party right out of BC.
If Harper wins, we can bloody well count on becoming, Canada U.S.A. America's brand new state.
Harper and Campbell work very closely with China. We know China bought a huge chunk of the tar sands. Harper and Campbell have the full intention of, forcing the dirty oil tankers from China, and the Enbridge pipeline on us.
The three provinces signed this agreement, far before Campbell left. The pipeline has to go through Saskatchewan, that's why the cahoots of the three provinces. Saskatchewan, will get it's pound of flesh too. The people of BC will gain nothing, as usual.
BC people don't understand. When the pipeline is finished, so are the jobs. And BC has the most danger, and, will bear the brunt of the oil spill.
BC is foul with corruption. Even if Christy did order a criminal investigation of, Campbell's corrupt sale of the BCR. We have corrupt courts and corrupt judges. Did we not see that? The trial of the corrupt sale of the BCR, was a blatant farce.
There is nothing in this province, that isn't corrupt. We have to first, run this rotten, corrupt BC Liberal party right out of BC.
If Harper wins, we can bloody well count on becoming, Canada U.S.A. America's brand new state.
# posted by 
: April 21, 2011 at 12:36 p.m.
: April 21, 2011 at 12:36 p.m.
Anonymous 12:36,
Bravo! I totally agree with almost everything you've just said ...
except where you're suggesting that we do nothing about BC Rail. No, no, no, no, no!! We dare not let that matter rest; it will only continue to contaminate and degrade the province.
The very least we can do is keep watch, keep asking the questions, keep insisting that the public must have full information in order to fulfill our own duties as responsible citizens.
I do agree with the concept of running this rotten, fake BC LINO Party right out of BC ...
because the threatened loss of sovereignty is all too apparent. As with BC Rail, BC Hydro ... first they'll cripple us ... then they'll advertise us as worthless ... then they'll throw us on the auction block for small change while patting themselves on the back for their brilliant management skills.
Thank you for writing.
Bravo! I totally agree with almost everything you've just said ...
except where you're suggesting that we do nothing about BC Rail. No, no, no, no, no!! We dare not let that matter rest; it will only continue to contaminate and degrade the province.
The very least we can do is keep watch, keep asking the questions, keep insisting that the public must have full information in order to fulfill our own duties as responsible citizens.
I do agree with the concept of running this rotten, fake BC LINO Party right out of BC ...
because the threatened loss of sovereignty is all too apparent. As with BC Rail, BC Hydro ... first they'll cripple us ... then they'll advertise us as worthless ... then they'll throw us on the auction block for small change while patting themselves on the back for their brilliant management skills.
Thank you for writing.
Not only aRE "LES TRES AMIGOS/AMIGAS" a coalition BC Mary but Harper has been the leader of a coalition from the get go. I never could figure out why the general public didn't pick up on this? Here he is spouting doom and gloom under a fictitious coalition, all the while leading one himself.
And let's not forget about him wanting to for another coalition to gain absolute power.
And let's not forget about him wanting to for another coalition to gain absolute power.
Gary E,
I agree with you ... Maybe that nasty take-over of the old PROGRESSIVE Conservative Party from Peter MacKay and David Orchard has disturbed Harper's mind. It should.
From Day One of this 2011 election campaign, Harper has Harped incessantly about this terrible danger of a Coalition Government.
It isn't terrible -- it's part of the British parliamentary system. Would Britain have got through World War Two without a coalition government? If Churchill's Conservatives hadn't joined with Attlee's Labour Party to work together until the war ended?
Harper's stupid argument is based on a misunderstanding of parliamentary tradition; but Harper uses his ignorance for the toxic purpose of drowning out the sensible discussions we should have had about real issues affecting us right now.
That stand-up, eye-ball to eyeball interview yesterday on CBC Newsworld, showed Peter Mansbridge visibly repulsed by Harper's rant about HIS wishes being more important than the Governor-General's duty in the parliamentary tradition.
Harper seems only too willing to impose his own ignorance upon the population, if that's what it takes for him to get absolute power. It was left to Mansbridge to defend the people's rights!
B.t.w., what the heck does Harper mean when he declares that he WILL NOT form a government unless we give him LOTS OF M.P.'s. What's he gonna do, quit? sulk? walk off-stage? Abandon his responsibilities?? Yayyy, bring on the Governor-General ... !!
I think it's just another idle threat intended to scare people into voting the way Harper wants them to vote. It's cheating.
Also, we shouldn't forget that Harper is a quitter. Just check out his history.
I agree with you ... Maybe that nasty take-over of the old PROGRESSIVE Conservative Party from Peter MacKay and David Orchard has disturbed Harper's mind. It should.
From Day One of this 2011 election campaign, Harper has Harped incessantly about this terrible danger of a Coalition Government.
It isn't terrible -- it's part of the British parliamentary system. Would Britain have got through World War Two without a coalition government? If Churchill's Conservatives hadn't joined with Attlee's Labour Party to work together until the war ended?
Harper's stupid argument is based on a misunderstanding of parliamentary tradition; but Harper uses his ignorance for the toxic purpose of drowning out the sensible discussions we should have had about real issues affecting us right now.
That stand-up, eye-ball to eyeball interview yesterday on CBC Newsworld, showed Peter Mansbridge visibly repulsed by Harper's rant about HIS wishes being more important than the Governor-General's duty in the parliamentary tradition.
Harper seems only too willing to impose his own ignorance upon the population, if that's what it takes for him to get absolute power. It was left to Mansbridge to defend the people's rights!
B.t.w., what the heck does Harper mean when he declares that he WILL NOT form a government unless we give him LOTS OF M.P.'s. What's he gonna do, quit? sulk? walk off-stage? Abandon his responsibilities?? Yayyy, bring on the Governor-General ... !!
I think it's just another idle threat intended to scare people into voting the way Harper wants them to vote. It's cheating.
Also, we shouldn't forget that Harper is a quitter. Just check out his history.
This piece from the Economist illustrates just one more reason why the system does work.
In the bigger picture, democracy in America, and in a few other places, has seen fit to push the extreme for three decades resulting in political and religious polarization which had taken us to the Tea Party/States-Rights/Secessionist movement.
Just when we thought it couldn't get worse than the 2010 rebirth of the New Confederacy . . . we now have Hollywood lunatics the likes of Donald Trump and even Charlie Sheen talking about taking over 1600 Pennsylvania Drive.
Democracy may allow anyone to be a leader but do we have to prove democracy also supports pure stupidity?
The danger here is that society having pushed the extremes of polarization, hype and anarchy may ultimately snap back to an extreme law and order federal state.
In 1932 Germans tired and frustrated of living in a society and economy in total anarchy voted for a man who gave them total ... order, control and leadership.
http://www.economist.com/node/18586584
In the bigger picture, democracy in America, and in a few other places, has seen fit to push the extreme for three decades resulting in political and religious polarization which had taken us to the Tea Party/States-Rights/Secessionist movement.
Just when we thought it couldn't get worse than the 2010 rebirth of the New Confederacy . . . we now have Hollywood lunatics the likes of Donald Trump and even Charlie Sheen talking about taking over 1600 Pennsylvania Drive.
Democracy may allow anyone to be a leader but do we have to prove democracy also supports pure stupidity?
The danger here is that society having pushed the extremes of polarization, hype and anarchy may ultimately snap back to an extreme law and order federal state.
In 1932 Germans tired and frustrated of living in a society and economy in total anarchy voted for a man who gave them total ... order, control and leadership.
http://www.economist.com/node/18586584
# posted by : April 22, 2011 at 7:55 a.m.
: April 22, 2011 at 7:55 a.m.
"B.t.w., what the heck does Harper mean when he declares that he WILL NOT form a government unless we give him LOTS OF M.P.'s. What's he gonna do, quit? sulk? walk off-stage? Abandon his responsibilities?? Yayyy"
What a cheerful thought, during a week that has been mostly depressing whenever viewing the news and what passes for an election campaign. We can hope that Harper's inner quitter quits with the fear-mongering and stupidity promoting excuse for a PsuedoCon campaign and does what he does best, gives up his irrational assault on Canadian values and finally applies to immigrate to the USA, a country after his own heart!
What a cheerful thought, during a week that has been mostly depressing whenever viewing the news and what passes for an election campaign. We can hope that Harper's inner quitter quits with the fear-mongering and stupidity promoting excuse for a PsuedoCon campaign and does what he does best, gives up his irrational assault on Canadian values and finally applies to immigrate to the USA, a country after his own heart!
The thought of Harper moving closer to 'head office' brightens my day. Five bucks says he moves to Freehold, Iowa.
# posted by : April 23, 2011 at 9:28 a.m.
: April 23, 2011 at 9:28 a.m.
Hi Mary, you said:
"Harper's stupid argument is based on a misunderstanding of parliamentary tradition; but Harper uses his ignorance for the toxic purpose of drowning out the sensible discussions we should have had about real issues affecting us right now."
My reading is that Harper doesn't misunderstand parliamentary tradition at all, - he knows exactly what he is doing: that is making his pitch to the uninformed and ignorant folks who (sadly) make up the majority of the general public. *Sigh*
Cheers from your fan,
Ole
"Harper's stupid argument is based on a misunderstanding of parliamentary tradition; but Harper uses his ignorance for the toxic purpose of drowning out the sensible discussions we should have had about real issues affecting us right now."
My reading is that Harper doesn't misunderstand parliamentary tradition at all, - he knows exactly what he is doing: that is making his pitch to the uninformed and ignorant folks who (sadly) make up the majority of the general public. *Sigh*
Cheers from your fan,
Ole
Yes, true, true, true ... Harper does know that he's promulgating an absolute lie about the horrors of coalition government ...
but he's deliberate in his propaganda assault -- turning a good word (coalition) into a bad word (coalition) to achieve the primary goal of scaring people into protesting that kind of co-operation (coalition).
It's ugly. It's an abuse of the public trust. It's demeaning.
Did you see that segment of THE NATIONAL this evening (Sunday, April 24) in which a heavy-duty Law professor gave an accurate description of coalition governments in the British parliamentary system ... then flatly stated that Harper was knowingly ... knowingly lying about coalitions to the people of Canada ...
again.
There's something evil about Harper doing this, in a sick attempt to win total power. Isn't there something crooked/illegal too?
He already stands accused of Contempt of Parliament but says it's the Opposition's fault, and "only" an Opposition ploy. What kind of man is this?
but he's deliberate in his propaganda assault -- turning a good word (coalition) into a bad word (coalition) to achieve the primary goal of scaring people into protesting that kind of co-operation (coalition).
It's ugly. It's an abuse of the public trust. It's demeaning.
Did you see that segment of THE NATIONAL this evening (Sunday, April 24) in which a heavy-duty Law professor gave an accurate description of coalition governments in the British parliamentary system ... then flatly stated that Harper was knowingly ... knowingly lying about coalitions to the people of Canada ...
again.
There's something evil about Harper doing this, in a sick attempt to win total power. Isn't there something crooked/illegal too?
He already stands accused of Contempt of Parliament but says it's the Opposition's fault, and "only" an Opposition ploy. What kind of man is this?
A man in a panic - he's not accomplished all that has been set before him by the Bilderbergers.
It's not that Harper doesn't know how parliament works - it's that he doesn't like how parliament works..and when given his majority..it will no longer work at all.
And yes, I do believe he'll be given his majority this time around. People are electioned out, tired of political crap and will do whatever it takes to make it stop - including cut their own throats. Which is what a vote for Harper will do.
It's not that Harper doesn't know how parliament works - it's that he doesn't like how parliament works..and when given his majority..it will no longer work at all.
And yes, I do believe he'll be given his majority this time around. People are electioned out, tired of political crap and will do whatever it takes to make it stop - including cut their own throats. Which is what a vote for Harper will do.
# posted by : April 24, 2011 at 9:12 p.m.
: April 24, 2011 at 9:12 p.m.
Aren't we missing something very important?
Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of law knows that if, for example, a man in a crowded theatre shouts "FIRE!" when he knows there's no fire, that man has committed a criminal act. Even amounting to murder, if anyone was trampled and killed as a result of the lie which caused a deadly stampede for the exit.
So isn't it a serious crime for a prime minister to speak from a position of trust, telling a blatant falsehood like "coalitions are evil"? Telling the public that it would be a terrible thing if they allow anybody to form a coalition government?
Excuse the convoluted logic here, but things are seriously bad when CBC brings in a law specialist to tell us in unequivocal terms, that the prime minister is lying to us.
This is desperately not O.K.
Frankly, I don't know how Harper's coalition craziness has lasted this long ... where even the journalists didn't seem to understand that a Coalition Government can be a good thing. I kept expecting that somebody would slap Harper down, over that. But the days slipped by ...
Please -- will somebody activate this criminal charge against Harper? And make him stop this dangerous assault?
Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of law knows that if, for example, a man in a crowded theatre shouts "FIRE!" when he knows there's no fire, that man has committed a criminal act. Even amounting to murder, if anyone was trampled and killed as a result of the lie which caused a deadly stampede for the exit.
So isn't it a serious crime for a prime minister to speak from a position of trust, telling a blatant falsehood like "coalitions are evil"? Telling the public that it would be a terrible thing if they allow anybody to form a coalition government?
Excuse the convoluted logic here, but things are seriously bad when CBC brings in a law specialist to tell us in unequivocal terms, that the prime minister is lying to us.
This is desperately not O.K.
Frankly, I don't know how Harper's coalition craziness has lasted this long ... where even the journalists didn't seem to understand that a Coalition Government can be a good thing. I kept expecting that somebody would slap Harper down, over that. But the days slipped by ...
Please -- will somebody activate this criminal charge against Harper? And make him stop this dangerous assault?
Observation of Harper's optics:
With the glasses on and his hair done like that, he bears an immediate resemblance to Gordon Campbell. This is not going to help him one bit with the British Columbia voter. "Now who does he look like? - oh yeah...."
It was interesting to see him looking discomfited at not having the bustling crowd's attention in the scene in Burnaby too. "Why aren't you worshipping me?
With the glasses on and his hair done like that, he bears an immediate resemblance to Gordon Campbell. This is not going to help him one bit with the British Columbia voter. "Now who does he look like? - oh yeah...."
It was interesting to see him looking discomfited at not having the bustling crowd's attention in the scene in Burnaby too. "Why aren't you worshipping me?
I respectfully disgaree with you on this one, BC Mary.
For the PM to speak from his office that a coalition with a seperatist party, ie Bloc Quebecois, would be a terrible thing, is not a breach of trust, but is responsible thing to say.
For the PM to speak from his office that a coalition with a seperatist party, ie Bloc Quebecois, would be a terrible thing, is not a breach of trust, but is responsible thing to say.
# posted by : April 25, 2011 at 3:46 p.m.
: April 25, 2011 at 3:46 p.m.
Rosemary,
Harper keeps on about the Separatists but there's no runaway locomotive forcing us into that kind of linkage.
And the Governor-General isn't going to countenance that, is he/she??
No, Harper is fear-mongering ... those were virtually his first words after announcing this election.
Harper keeps on about the Separatists but there's no runaway locomotive forcing us into that kind of linkage.
And the Governor-General isn't going to countenance that, is he/she??
No, Harper is fear-mongering ... those were virtually his first words after announcing this election.
Rosemary, the person leading an evil coalition is Stephen the Queen of Spite. Two out of three Canadians disagree with Stevie's fundamentalism , warmongering, aping of the failing empire to our south, butt-kissing of Israel, and obstructionist policies regarding the environment. Unfortunately the 60+ percent of Canadians who envision a different Canada than Harper's nightmare ARE NOT a coalition or Stevie would be free to clean out stables in S.W. Calgary or move to Mississippi and we wouldn't have to think about him or cringe each time he represents us abroad.
He has moved what was once the conservative, right leaning Progressive Conservative Party to the extreme fringe reich wing by McKay's treachery and shotgun marriage to (or COALITION WITH) the SEPRATIST Reform, Alliance, CRAP party - making the new middle to the right of Richard Nixon.
As a result he has been able to rule like a tyrant with just over twenty percent of the votes of eligible voters, through voter suppression, attack advertising and running bubble campaigns.
So if coalitions are evil, Stevie is the Satan of Evil Coalitions.
BTW, elected members of the Bloc are either MPs or they are terrorists and if they are terrorists they shouldn't be allowed to run and/or take the oath of office. The last time I recall an elected MP being refused his seat, the MP was Louis Riel, and that didn't work out too well, except for the land grabbers/carpet baggers, both in the Red River Valley and farther west years later.
He has moved what was once the conservative, right leaning Progressive Conservative Party to the extreme fringe reich wing by McKay's treachery and shotgun marriage to (or COALITION WITH) the SEPRATIST Reform, Alliance, CRAP party - making the new middle to the right of Richard Nixon.
As a result he has been able to rule like a tyrant with just over twenty percent of the votes of eligible voters, through voter suppression, attack advertising and running bubble campaigns.
So if coalitions are evil, Stevie is the Satan of Evil Coalitions.
BTW, elected members of the Bloc are either MPs or they are terrorists and if they are terrorists they shouldn't be allowed to run and/or take the oath of office. The last time I recall an elected MP being refused his seat, the MP was Louis Riel, and that didn't work out too well, except for the land grabbers/carpet baggers, both in the Red River Valley and farther west years later.
Harper has involved Canada into two wars now. I just heard the cost on TV. So far these wars have cost $18 billion. However now, Harper has extended our troops time in Afghanistan, which will be billions more.
Canada has been a peacekeeping nation, since WW11. We assist people in war torn country's. Never has Canada bombed innocent civilian families, until Harper. We are not the U.S.A. War mongering, is not Canada's role.
The jets with no engines, are also going to be in the billions. The billion dollar fake lake, was the dumbest of all.
All of Harper's stupidity, we have to pay for. His $11 billion cut? What do we lose for that? Our health care?
Why is Harper giving the wealthiest corporations, billions of our tax dollars? Our tax dollars belong to us. Harper is losing absolutely billions upon billions, at Canada's expense. This country belongs to us, not to Harper.
Campbell and Harper have worked together to cheat BC citizens. They have worked hand in hand, to sell us to the USA. The pair of them, should damned well be tried for treason.
Harper should have to spend a long stretch in prison, for his theft and sale of the BCR. We don't forget Christy and her brother being implicated either.
Canada has been a peacekeeping nation, since WW11. We assist people in war torn country's. Never has Canada bombed innocent civilian families, until Harper. We are not the U.S.A. War mongering, is not Canada's role.
The jets with no engines, are also going to be in the billions. The billion dollar fake lake, was the dumbest of all.
All of Harper's stupidity, we have to pay for. His $11 billion cut? What do we lose for that? Our health care?
Why is Harper giving the wealthiest corporations, billions of our tax dollars? Our tax dollars belong to us. Harper is losing absolutely billions upon billions, at Canada's expense. This country belongs to us, not to Harper.
Campbell and Harper have worked together to cheat BC citizens. They have worked hand in hand, to sell us to the USA. The pair of them, should damned well be tried for treason.
Harper should have to spend a long stretch in prison, for his theft and sale of the BCR. We don't forget Christy and her brother being implicated either.
# posted by : April 26, 2011 at 2:51 p.m.
: April 26, 2011 at 2:51 p.m.
Can this possibly be true? To add insult to injury, I just heard, Bornmann will be allowed to practice law in Ontario? Mr. Bribe Bornmann himself, still gets to practice law. But, I guess Ontario is, Harper and Campbell land. Only in BC and Canada, do crimes thrive.
Campbell's theft and corrupt sale of the BCR. The corrupt court and judge. The farce of a trial, was stopped short, just before Bornmann was to testify.
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Campbell's theft and corrupt sale of the BCR. The corrupt court and judge. The farce of a trial, was stopped short, just before Bornmann was to testify.
# posted by : April 26, 2011 at 3:32 p.m.
: April 26, 2011 at 3:32 p.m. << Home
