Blue Like You

Archive for September 14th, 2007

And in another case of shooting the messenger…

A reader at The Maple Three nailed it:

Dion is probably a nice man . . . like John Turner . . . he is just in the wrong job!!!!!

Update - Lemon: Dion with Mansbridge on Afstan.

Mutiny?

900 CHML is reporting that the Caledonia construction site where a homebuilder was seriously injured is now being treated as a crime scene by police.

CHML also reports that the native protesters are claiming that they didn’t start the fight, which ended with 52-year-old Sam Gualtieri being rushed by ambulance to a hospital that ironically couldn’t even handle him because there was no room. Lots of background in previous posts.

According to the Spectator, Gualtieri’s condition is still very serious:

Gualtieri’s family reported this morning that a CAT scan showed no brain damage. But the 52-year-old man has a badly broken nose and bruised skull and is still unable to communicate.

Doctors are still trying to determine what other injuries he may have suffered.

More details will be posted as they become available.

Star - Homeowner injured in confrontation with Indians. The updated story reports that Gualtieri’s brother wants perpetrators charged with attempted murder:

“When the one nephew found him unconscious, the individual had just finished striking him again . . . beating him over the head, when he was already unconscious,” Joe Gualtieri said.

“When he’s unconscious, do you still have to prove a point? To prove a point that you have a problem with the government?”

Spectator - Six Nations Confederacy Chiefs Condemn Violence. (with photo of injured man)

Globe - Tory Blasts McGuinty on Caledonia.

A Step to the Right - Details, Pictures on Caledonia Beating.

CTV - Homebuilder hurt in clash on Caledonia site. Hurt? That could very well be the understatement of the year.

Good for the National Post. The aggressive thuggery of McSlimly’s handlers have been exposed in black and white for the world to see - Gagging the Messenger.

Today’s editorial chastises McGuinty’s communications adviser Ben Chin for attempting to intimidate Hamilton’s CHCH-TV from running a clip showing Ontario citizen and developer Mike Quattrociocchi asking the Premier a very legitimate question: “What are you going to do about the natives occupying my site?”

I guess that Ben Chin doesn’t like it when the Premier looks foolish and unprepared, because he accused the station of setting up McGuinty and proceeded with various threats.

The Post concludes:

Such thuggish tactics are not the way to manage the media. Freedom of the press is a key right in a democracy, one that is especially important during an election. It should not be trampled on by backroom political flacks seeking to censor legitimate political commentary. Mr. McGuinty should apologize for Mr. Chin’s over-zealous behaviour and assure CHCH-TV that he will not boycott the station.

It would also be nice if he answered Mr. Quattrociocchi question, too.

Exactly. Instead of trying to blame the Feds and run for cover every time an Ontario citizen asks a legitimate question during the rest of this election campaign, I suggest that Dalton McGuinty actually try to deal with this issue rather than passing the buck to the federal government at every opportunity.

Both levels of government have a role to play, and Dalton’s isn’t simply to ‘keep the peace’.

And BTW, he’s not doing a very good job of that either.

Earlier in the day, Sam Gualtieri, 52, was found unconscious on the floor of the home he is building for a daughter. He was taken to hospital where he is in serious condition…

…Gualtieri, 52, of Caledonia, was found unconscious on the floor and rushed to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville. Gualtieri’s brother, Joe, said last night his brother was in serious condition with a broken nose and bruised skull. Carter said the victim was to be transferred to a hospital in Toronto because Hamilton hospitals were unable to take him.

“He’s barely conscious,” said Joe Gualtieri. “He can’t communicate right now.”

Joe said Gualtieri’s wife, Sandy, and his three daughters were at his bedside and described his brother’s face as “all smashed in and cut and bleeding.”

Ontario deserves a real leader.