Desperate old busybodies
Again we are witnessing the thinly-veiled symbiotic relationship of MSM and two of the opposition parties as they work together to smear this Conservative government. The only question is which one is actually the instigator here.
CBC’s Keith Boag reported on last night’s National (right-click on link and choose ‘open link in new tab’) , that the opposition parties knew about this for weeks , so why did they wait so long to raise an issue that supposedly relates to national security? He says that the opposition parties encouraged the media to report it before they dared bring it up themselves.
Why? Did they already know this story had no substance and they needed the media bandwagon to justify the invasion of privacy of the Minister and his ex-girlfriend?
Chantel Hebert confirms the conspiracy:
..But the inside story is that, behind the scenes, the Bloc (and the Liberals) had been actively lobbying the media to break the news for weeks…
To its credit, the NDP party does not feel that this is any of their business, which would tend to support the view that the Bernier’s relationship with Couillard hardly represents a breach of national security.
Or as Don Martin pointed out, "Julie Couillard has never been charged nor convicted of a crime, except falling for a political figure in a Parliament where guilt by association overrides the presumption of innocence."
But considering the lack of substantial policy offerings in the Bloc and Liberal parties, one can understand (but not forgive) their desperate attempt to grasp at any straw as they glumly watch their polling numbers stagnate if not decline .
And some members of the media are only too happy to assist.
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Update : Steve Janke continues investigating the conspiracy angle here .
Saturday Update : Gerry Nicholls has a great letter in today’s Post :
The Liberal Party of Canada has officially hit rock bottom. With all the important issues facing this country — war in Afghanistan, possible economic recession, soaring gas prices — the Liberals have chosen instead to focus public attention on the sex life of Cabinet minister Maxime Bernier. How sleazy. How sad.
It seems the once proud party of Laurier, King and Pearson, the party some have called the "most successful political machine in Western democracy," is now simply the political equivalent of The National Enquirer.
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Sunday Update : The Chronicle Herald has a cartoon that I feel is in really bad taste. I don’t even want to link to it directly, but you can view it via National Newswatch. I wonder how many other past Cabinet Minister’s names could be inserted in that cartoon? I can think of one Liberal cabinet minister for sure. Oh, that’s right. Liberals keep their mouths shut. Uh-huh.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am
The Libs want to fling poo … ?
Here’s three names I say are guilty by association and more ..
Chretien, Guite, Gagliano !
May 9th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
It is the “scam-flavour” of the week. I think it was alberta girl who predicted the pattern of a smear-a-week from the silly people. No wonder the Libs have no policy to offer Canadians…they are too busy wasting time with this stuff.
Hey…my real estate agent has a history with bikers…so what?
May 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
And I’m thrilled with PMSH for calling them ‘gossipy, busybodies.’
Wish I could have seen Iggy sputter when he heard that!After all isn’t he the ’sophisticated intellect’ of the crowd? Ha!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Maybe the MSM are finally becoming wise to how the Liberal party have been using them and how their bias is becoming blatently obvious to ordinary Canadians.
Maybe, just maybe????
May 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
it sounds like the libs had the press do their dirty work. that being said, bernier’s girlfriend travelled to a top-secret military base on the public dime. the opposition has the obligation to ask.
i don’t think it will come to much in the end. nonetheless, it does speak to bernier’s judgement. is he the right guy for the job?
if i’m stuck with a conservative govt, i’d rather see the top MP’s in the key roles. IMO, prentice would be much better suited in foreign affairs. bernier’s part of the old boys club. all flash no substance. his english is terrible. ( yes i know, so is dion’s )
finally, and be honest, if the shoe was on the other foot, you wouldn’t expect the conservatives to be all over this?
i seem to recall harper suggesting that a Lib MP might have terrorist connections drawing from a tie in this member’s private life. alot of conservatives had no problem focusing on dion’s private life, his birthplace no less, in order to smear the man.
this is petty politics to be sure but don’t prtetend the harper conservatives are above it.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
The difference Jeff, is that when the Conservatives raise something, it is a one day story, when the Libs do, it is a three week story and dominates our governments time when they should be debating the actual BUSINESS of the government.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The problem for the Liberals is that they are not bringing anything of substance to the debate.They have created a new image for themselves which is that of malcontent mudslingers, I do not think it is an image that appeals to the Canadian public
May 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I find it disappointing to see what Michael Ignatieff has become as a politician.
He has gone from being a renowned historian, author, and professor to a simple politician playing gotcha politics on the lowest level.
Gone is the sum and substance of a public intellectual, replaced by a man who improperly delves into the private lives of an opposing politician. A man who insults and condemns Israel for protecting and defending itself - then goes before the congregation at Holy Blossom temple to say that he is indeed a friend of Israel without actually apologizing for what he said. A man who throws as much mud as possible towards all the other federal parties to see what sticks. A man who has simply become a retail politician, with the singular goal of building his own power.
Lately, and seemingly since the Liberal Leadership convention, he has become what many aspiring Liberal leaders have become - a thorn in the side of the actual Liberal leader - carefully planning his putsch.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Sorry folks but…Jeff makes a good point. Its petty and should have been handled better by the Liberals, but, this should be changed asap. And by the way…the opposition is supposed to fling poo, thats their job, as unpleasant as it is, my only suggestion to the Liberals is that poo flinging can sometimes get you arm deep in it as well….find some real issues that matter deeply to Canadians.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Even Liberalista Kinsella thinks the Libs are doofuses on this.
http://tinyurl.com/3fshkl
May 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Steve Janke has just added an interesting twist to the Bloc-MSM conspiracy theory.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I can’t believe I’m agreeing with jeff davidson … except when he says “bernier’s girlfriend travelled to a top-secret military base on the public dime.”
I doubt Ms. Couillard’s presence there was a threat to state secrets, although it may have been distracting to some of the staff stationed there, given her uninhibited display of her generous attributes.
As to her travelling “on the public dime” I believe MPs should lose all expense allowances, so that they would have to travel on their own dime, but their salaries should be raised to compensate for those perks.
Then let them decide whether to fly economy, business class, or flying carpet, whatever, but at their own expense.
Mind you, there may be rules re: travel for ministers I may not be aware of (security reasons ?).
———-
In any event, I believe the language used in the House of Commons is WAY over the top, with wild unsubstantiated accusations and personal attacks flying in all directions and coming from all sides.
One of these days I expect either Gilles Duceppe or Ralph Goodale to have an aneurysm right there in the House, judging by the redness of their faces.
Although I like Speaker Milliken, I find his handling of hecklers really ineffectual. The pinch hitter, NDPer Bill Blaikie, is much more forceful and would probably be less forgiving of unparliamentary behaviour.
Heck, in the Quebec National Assembly the word “girouette = weathervane” was declared unparliamentary, whereas in the House people can practically be called murderers under the shield of parliamentary privilege.
That’s another change I would welcome - remove the protection of parliamentary privilege & institute a system of heavy fines for unparliamentary language.
Whoa … I’m really ramblin’ today. My apologies.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
It’s despicable what the Bloc and the Liberals have stooped to. It speaks of desperation.
I do however give kudos to the NDP for not participating in this gutter like behavior. They stayed away from the Cadman affair as well. They do have principals. They do act like the official opposition.
At least they ask question that pertain real issues.
I sense the next election, whenever that may be is going to be the nastiest yet.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Whoa … I’m really ramblin’ today. My apologies.
No rules against rambling here.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Regarding Jeff’s comment… “i seem to recall harper suggesting that a Lib MP might have terrorist connections drawing from a tie in this member’s private life. alot of conservatives had no problem focusing on dion’s private life, his birthplace no less, in order to smear the man.”
Um, Dion was born in Quebec and has a duel citizen ship via Mom and Dad out of France… why would a man aspiring to the highest post in Canada want to maintain a duel citizenship when the Governer General (largely a PR Figure Head) has renounced her own to take the post??? I guess like all good Liberals he’s keeping his options open…
Also, Galiano was involved in orginized crime, with connections which is established, he was an actual MP…not a significant other…and found directly guilty…not guilty by association…
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2006/01/gaglianos_crimi.html
This was an interesting read…
http://www.election.toomey.ca/archive/01232006.htm
And I was crying I was laughing so hard after I watched this love story by Paul Martin
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6171900275672739075&q=gagliano
As for connections with MP’s involved in the Tamil Tiger fan club…why is it in every country but Canada people recognize that group for what they are??? I guess 12 years of fund raising, vote buying, and paraides/party’s were a Liberal entitlement we just had to adopt into Canadian pop culture???
May 9th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
off topic, forever I hope, but guess who has just been granted full parole, just announced as breaking news on cbc.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Mary T, thanks for the tip. Let’s hope this is the end of that saga. However, something tells me we haven’t heard the last of her…
May 9th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
one question - what about Bill Graham ????
May 9th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Cash - Exactly. Funny how the media covered up that one.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Who has an apt in Paris that he visits yearly, and got clearance for his driver.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
“..But the inside story is that, behind the scenes, the Bloc (and the Liberals) had been actively lobbying the media to break the news for weeks…”
The BLOC??? Aren’t they MORE of a security threat to Canada?? They’re worried about security in Canada when they want to split it apart? ROFL
What a bunch of maroons.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Who has an apt in Paris that he visits yearly, and got clearance for his driver.
Oh, yeah.. The guy with the hair…
May 9th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
“The guy with the hair …”
On his head, right?
That would be Pierre Pettigrew, I believe.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Gabby. I knew it started with a ‘P’.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
And the story widens…..
“Photo sparked RCMP question”
I wonder how many people in a crowd walk up to MP’s and shake their hands while a camera snaps. I would be interested to know who took that photo and who released it to the press. This whole thing is smelling like months old garbage left to rot.
Given what Steve has uncovered, given that we have this new story, one wonders if it was a random photo taken at a random event or if it was staged.
I await the left’s cries of “conspiracy theorists”. Could be but it sure does seem “coincidental” now doesn’t it?
May 10th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Alberta Girl - Yeah, it continues to evolve… I saw the link this morning too, but haven’t had time to follow up yet. I hope Steve Janke has some insight.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:49 am
“I wonder how many people in a crowd walk up to MP’s and shake their hands while a camera snaps. …
Given what Steve has uncovered, given that we have this new story, one wonders if it was a random photo taken at a random event or if it was staged.”
Actually, courtesy photos may be something that politicians are “forced” to do whether they like it or not.
On April 24, the PM was in Montreal, and I was lucky enough to attend that gathering (the hall was full). After his speech, it was announced the PM was going to stay for 30 minutes for those who wanted pictures of themselves with the PM.
We stuck around for about 10 minutes but gave up because of the heat and the crush of people.
So, anyone - including shady characters - can get his/her picture taken with MPs, and they’re not necessarily involved with them.
In today’s “fauxtoshopping” world, where photos can be so easily altered, it’s advisable for politicians to record their every move, so that they have something to counter whatever accusation is hurled their way.
What have we come to? And is there still anyone who envies a politician’s life?
PS: Joanne, I’m glad there’s no rules agin’ ramblin’ …
May 12th, 2008 at 9:05 am
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