Blue Like You

Geesh - According to the Liberals, they have been ready for an election for months - they wouldn’t have been lying, would they?

what I am intrested in is how the liberals are going to Pay for there Campaign. like taking a Bus or flying. remember the liberals have no money and are in debth. so how can stephane dieon even leave ottawa and even put adds on the T.V he has no money. every one said he was broke. they owe us still from the sponsership scandal to. there Broke. they have no money and i think people should check up on this because the liberals could be getting special treatment from the CBC and the CTV. and that is illegal.

Vancouver Island candidates as of today - Liberals will finish their nominations today or tomorrow. 3 NDP, 2 CPC and 1 Lib.

■ VICTORIA Liberal Anne Park Shannon, Conservative Jack McClintock, NDP Denise Savoie (incumbent), Green party (to be nominated tomorrow)
■ SAANICH GULF-ISLANDS Liberal Briony Penn, Conservative Gary Lunn (incumbent), NDP Julian West, Green Andrew Lewis
■ ESQUIMALT-JUAN DE FUCA Liberal Keith Martin (incumbent), Conservative Troy DeSouza, NDP Jennifer Burgis, Green Brian Gordon
■ NANAIMO-COWICHAN NORTH Liberal Brian Scott, Conservative Reed Elley, NDP Jean Crowder (incumbent), Green Christina Knighton,
■ NANAIMO-ALBERNI ) Liberal (to be chosen this weekend), Conservative James Lunney (incumbent), NDP Zeni Maartman ,Green John Fryer
■ VANCOUVER ISLAND NORTH Liberal Geoff Fleischer, Conservative John Duncan, NDP Catherine Bell (incumbent).

And off we go - as it is just 8 am on the west coast, I had the good fortune to miss all the speeches - a blessing.

WCT Reports

I honestly don’t think I can take five weeks of Jack Layton and Stephane Dion speeches. I found myself pressing the mute button this a.m. already. We have Jack! trying to come off as a Canadian Obama (and failing miserably). Stephane Dion sputtering on about this and that, making no sense and sounding like his English has actually gotten WORSE. Lord help us all! May God Bless Canada and save us from the likes of those nitwits. I mean, really! I want to throw up after listening to either fool.

I’m going to keep my TV on Fox, thank you. I’m tuning this crap out and showing up on voting day.

Karol I know what there trying to do but there Broke they have to Pay back there debts first. I know if I were broke with no money I couldn’t rent a thing or even lease a thing they just wouldn’t let me and I would have to pay it back first. they would freeze my assets. they have no money they can’t run this campaign they. shouldn’t be able to put adds on t.v cause you gotta pay for the spots U want. and they can’t have the leader traveling around. they have no money there Broke sorry to be a broken record but people should be keeping on this. why R they able to put adds out and why are they able to lease or rent busses things like that? the one thing they can do is get rid of there million dollar jets they got when they were in the last election. check this out people

p.s. - noticed too how Taber and co. were trying hard to squeeze something positive from Dion’s unconvincing performance this morning.

Dion simply looks backed into a corner and he’s lashing out at Harper on a personal level rather than on his record, WHICH, Dion can’t do because he has no positive record to speak of.

I agree Joanne.That’s the first time I’ve seen taber actually be objective, in particular noting how well-spoken and relaxed the PM is.

What was the deal with Dion? Regardless of who asked a question, he immediately turned to the camera to answer, almost like he thought he already in the debates. And when will he be taking “the high road” in campaigning as he promised to do just last week.

Layton looks well prepared for the election as well, already has his talking points down and also looks relaxed.

Duceppe looked the worst of the bunch. His body language looks like someone ready to be beaten down.

keep up the great work for us Gayle, it just proves that Dion, despite him suggesting otherwise is intending on going personal and negative. Why?
Because he has nothing else.

Wow! Richard, my only hope is that they haven’t peaked too soon.

“If you want to make Harper your big selling point you cannot complain when the parties focus on the same thing.”

Dear Gayle, you have totally missed the point I made.

By focusing on Harper, all the other leaders are doing is:
a. engaging in something they said they would NOT do
b. showing how fearful they are of Harper’s strengths
c. how bereft they are of their own achievements and/or policies that they have to resort to focusing on what they think are Harper’s negatives.

“Perhaps you have not noticed all the CPC ads that focus on Harper …”
Saying that is beyond laughable.
Frankly, I expected better from you.
How is the CONSERVATIVE party focusing on the CONSERVATIVE leader talking about CONSERVATIVE positions the same as the other parties’ attacks on Mr. Harper’s person, hmmm?

Of course CONSERVATIVE ads are going to feature Harper’s plusses.
Did you expect them to say how great the opposition leaders are?

sorry, it`s just provided by CTV.

peaked too soon?
Dion and the Garth haven’t been talking much yet.
the peak is yet to come.

Gabby - I got your point. I was just pointing out how silly it is.

Moby - surely you realize the LPC cannot afford me?

Oooh! I’m so hurt! Gayle said “Gabby - I got your point. I was just pointing out how silly it is.”

What’s the matter, Gayle?
Don’t have any coherent rebuttal, that you have to resort to insults? Sooo liberal and tolerant of you.

You are a laugh and a half, dearie.

Umm Gabby? Perhaps you cannot read. I have already pointing out how silly your point is in my first posting.

Unlike you, I see no point in repeating myself.

Uh, you guys still having fun here or do we need a referee?

Gabby - I hope you noticed the CPC released attack ads against Dion personally today.

It seems like just yesterday when Harper was suggesting the opposition would release attack ads, and that he did not think the public would like that.

Oh wait, it WAS just yesterday.

I am sure you are disappointed.

Gayle Says: September 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am

No hits, no errors.

my definition of attack ads are ads that are designed to give an impression of the individual without any factual basis.

I think I could agree with that definition - i.e. negative ads that are not based in fact. (Like ’soldiers in the street’ for example)

I think we’re going to see attack ads from all parties.

Sadly, they work as long as they are truthful. But they shouldn’t be mean.

That’s funny, Gayle, because Harper just addressed that very question right now in a presser.

He said something to the effect that the Liberals not only voted against the GST reductions, but said at the time that they would reverse that legislation once back in power. I don’t have any links at the moment.

Gayle, I’m not going to try to defend the ad because

1. I didn’t write it and
2. I’m not a big fan of attack ads in general,

but I have to ask you if you don’t think that thought might cross Dion’s mind if he had a huge majority, somewhat the way McGuinty stuck us with the health tax here in Ontario?

Re: Stephen Harper’s positions on certain issues:
I have highlighted pertinent parts by enclosing them in ***.

Instead of listening to other people’s distortions of what he said/did not say, I prefer to go to the source whenever possible.

http://www.vcn.bc.ca/~dastow/harper-wtimes.txt
“The Washington Times
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
December 11, 2005

Stephen Harper, for the record

Patrick Basham of the Cato Institute calls me “pro-free trade, pro-Iraq war, anti-Kyoto, and socially conservative” (”Gift from Canada?” Commentary, Dec. 2). While I certainly consider myself to be a friend of the United States, I am afraid this greatly oversimplifies my positions.

For the record: While, unlike the current Liberal government, I have always supported free trade, there is a deep concern in Canada about the commitment of the current U.S. administration and Congress to free trade. The United States is withholding some $5 billion in duties held from Canadian softwood lumber producers, despite the fact that a NAFTA panel has ruled that these duties are illegal.

In a recent speech, I stated that Canada must determine “the willingness of the United States to strengthen the dispute resolution mechanism and to subordinate domestic political pressures to a shared system of rules” and that “if this is not a direction in which the United States wishes to go, then Canada will have to make other long-term choices in its economic infrastructure,” including expanded trade relationships with Asian countries such as India, Japan, and China.

***On Iraq, while I support the removal of Saddam Hussein and applaud the efforts to establish democracy and freedom in Iraq, I would not commit Canadian troops to that country. I must admit great disappointment at the failure to substantiate pre-war intelligence information regarding Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction.*** (my emphasis)

***While I think that the Kyoto Treaty is deeply flawed, I support developing a plan, in coordination with the United States and other countries, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by developing new technologies and energy conservation.*** (my emphasis)

And while I have promised a free vote in Canada’s parliament to reconsider the recent change of law to allow same-sex marriages in Canada, and will vote myself for a return to the traditional definition of marriage, I have said any changes must protect the existing status of same-sex couples who have been legally married. As well, ***a new Conservative government will not initiate or support any effort to pass legislation restricting abortion in Canada.*** (my emphasis)

Despite my differences on many issues with some American conservative politicians, I look forward to a cooperative, constructive relationship with the United States as our principal trading partner and ally under a new Conservative government.”

HON. STEPHEN HARPER
House of Commons
Ottawa

====== end of letter

More to follow.
Gabby

Thanks for that Gabby. I appreciate having those links on hand.

Ah yes, the notorious “firewall” letter that probably very few critics have even read:
Once again, pertinent parts enclosed within ***.
My comments enclosed in ( ).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Agenda
“The Alberta Agenda is a loosely-organized political movement initiated by ***a letter written by prominent Albertans, including federal Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 2006 Alberta PC leadership candidate Ted Morton, urging Albertan Premier Ralph Klein to fully exercise Alberta’s constitutional powers.***
The letter was published by the National Post on ***January 27, 2001,*** in the wake of the Alberta-based Canadian Alliance’s defeat in the 2000 Canadian federal election.

***The letter has been referred to as the Firewall Letter from its use of the phrase “build firewalls around Alberta,” a reference to the computer software programs which block unwanted intrusions from outside sources.*** Its main recommendations were:
• Allowing the province’s contract with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to expire in 2012, ***establishing a provincial police force to take the RCMP’s place.*** Alberta had a separate police force from 1917 until 1932.
(Oh my! How subversive, like the OPP and the Sûreté du Québec!)

• ***Withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan and establishing a separate Alberta Pension Plan.*** Many Albertans believe that given the province’s youthful demographics, staying in the CPP makes little sense since a separate “APP” would provide higher benefits for a lower premium.
(Umm, would that be anything like this: RRQ - Québec Pension Plan?)

• ***Separate collection of the province’s income tax, as opposed to letting the Canada Revenue Agency handle tax collection.*** Alberta already collects its own corporate tax.
(Yes, I do believe Quebec has that right already!)

Klein personally responded to the letter, but rejected implementing the authors’ requests for the duration of his premiership.

***The Alberta Agenda should not be confused with Alberta separatism, as the Alberta Agenda’s proponents reject separatism and claim their policies, if enacted, would not weaken the Canadian federation but would strengthen it.***

“Citius, Altius, Fortius!”

So, I take it you agree with me on the attack ad issue then?

Your earlier post:

“By focusing on Harper, all the other leaders are doing is:
a. engaging in something they said they would NOT do
b. showing how fearful they are of Harper’s strengths
c. how bereft they are of their own achievements and/or policies that they have to resort to focusing on what they think are Harper’s negatives.”

OF course, what is actually happening is:

a. Harper promises NOT to go negative, and then does so…the very next day.
b. obviously he is afraid of Dion when he has to actually LIE in his ad to attack him
c. I noticed today the media took some care in pointing out the CPC had no policy announcements of their own today, and simply held a presser to introduce their ads (which apparently backfired in spectacular fashion when the media insisted on asking questions of a substantial nature).

“So, I take it you agree with me on the attack ad issue then?.

More comedy …
Hmm, I wonder if the Comedy Network has sent out headhunters …

Joanne, yes I already voted, and thank you for your patience.

And Harper can say Dion is further left than Trudeau?

Get over it Moby. There is a difference between that type of characterization and outright lying about their platform.

Or do you think the CPC should continue to run with the “scary agenda” thing, after railing against the LPC for doing the same thing? I guess you are nothing if not consistent in your hypocrisy.