Surprisingly candid columns this morning from pundits who usually support the Liberal POV
Chantel Hebert – Would Flaherty’s foes do any better?
Paul Berton – Grit twits and rhetorical fits
Globe Editorial – Much what the Liberals asked for
They seem to agree that the opposition likely wouldn’t have fared any better, whether in a coalition or not, but they do see the GST cuts as a mistake. Well at the time they were proposed, I doubt anyone could imagine the economic tsunami that was about to hit us. Oh, and BTW the GST cuts somehow got passed by a minority Parliament.
Funny that.
And the other parties are strangely quiet on the auto bailouts. Why aren’t reporters asking them tough questions on what they would have done? Do they support it?
Busy day ahead, but please weigh in. I’ll check the comment moderation queue frequently throughout the day. Thanks.
* * * *
Related: Liberal boast over budgets rings hollow, ex-rival says - Star
Just answer the question, Iggy – Globe
Wow, this is strange, the liberal toadies actually digging at his Iggy’ness.
However, they’re correct, given the world situation we should be happy that 50 billion all it is.
One comment struck me funny at the Mop & Pail, we should give Iggy a list of programs and let him suggest which ones to cut.
Liberals Ignatieff and Dion: Schizo-Loyalty.
Liberal leader I-Iggy said:
““You have to decide what kind of America you want … It’s your country just as much as it is mine.””
Previous ex-Liberal leader Citoyen Dion said:
“”Having “multiple identities should be seen as an asset,” Dion explained.”
…-
“If citizenship is reduced to feelings, it ceases to be true loyalty and obligation
Ezra Levant – January 15, 2007
In 1990, Norman Tebbit, the British Conservative politician, came up with the “cricket test” of loyalty. Observe an international cricket game, he said: “A large proportion of Britain’s Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”
If cheering for your home country is a test that can be put to cricket fans, surely it can be put to the man who would be Canada’s Prime Minister, Stéphane Dion. Dion, the new Liberal leader, was born in Quebec, but actively sought out French citizenship as a young man, swearing loyalty to a foreign country at the same time that he dabbled in the separatist Parti Québécois. It’s unclear just what team Dion would have cheered for back then, but it’s safe to say it would not have been playing cricket.
Dion is no longer a Quebec separatist, but he continues to be a French citizen. That in itself is odd, especially for the leader of a party that has made a political fetish about the moral supremacy represented by “Canadian values,” especially the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Obviously, Liberal nationalism is designed to demonstrate Canada’s moral superiority to the United States–our medicare system, our peacekeepers, et cetera. But it seems that, to the Liberal party, French values are equal to Canadian values.
Or superior, if Dion’s excuses are taken at face value. Having “multiple identities should be seen as an asset,” Dion explained.”
http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic=55955.0;wap2
If I remember right, the coalition boasted about a plan for $34 billion in stimulus spending, as awell as screaming that we were already in deficit.
So one can safely assume that the coalition would have a minimum $34+ billion deficit to start, add in the unforeseen declining revenues Flaherty alluded to, and the extra funds for the auto bailout, and voila, $50 billion.
Go figure.
That’s the problem with the credibility of Girlie Man, all critique, no solutions.
How dare that Canadian of opportunity sashay into Canada after decades away, profess his true patriot love in book form, then criticize the government on anything. What would he do? That he can’t answer, he has no clue.
He has no base to draw his qualifications to be PM from including no leadership or political experience. What leadership comes from professorial musings? If he is elected he will be the front man, the puppet, the country will be run from behind the curtain of advisers. So, who will be running the ship really?
If we recall, the Unions were a HUGE supporter of the Coalition of Idiots.
I think this auto bailout would have been a knee jerk reaction and was likely to be negotiated and implemented by the NDP, with some assistance from the more left MP’s. Rae, would have been involved and this thing would have been a financial disaster.
We also cannot forget the billions that was promised, Gilles.
The coalition spending would have been outrageous. We only need to look back in history to the Trudeau/NDP, smooch-erama to find a historical example of what was very probable. With the self interest of the Bloc thrown in the mix, the NDP and Bloc would have held the balance of power.
Argggh, the nightmares I am about to have again!
Oh no Joanne not the dreaded “what would you have done differently had You been Prime Minister” I can tell you it’s enough to make a Liberal drop his “entitlements” The Media now can only ask “fair and balanced” questions of Liberal Candidates, actually asking questions in the language of the vast majority of the population may well get you a reprimand.
All has been revealed, “we Built this Country” and “don’t you forget it” I don’t know what the penalty for forgetting it would be, A C D of the “American Icon Eniggma” singing “Yankee doodle dandy” a’cappela perhaps
This Inigma wrapped in a riddle cloaked in mystery ( apologies to W Churchill) has gone way, way out on a rhetorical limb to define what constitutes a “true Canadian” I apparently am not, even though I can trace back to the first man to farm in Quebec, (Grandmothers side)I am not however bilingual. Mr Ignatiff does not like farmers, I am guessing here, but it has probably got something to do with his ancestors fleeing an outraged Russian Pesantry bent on dressing them up in a nice traditional Russian costume of feathers, held firmly in place with hot tar.
I have come to the conclusion that as Mr Iggnatiff won’t answer the question about his self professed “American” identity, we can go ahead and take it as a given. Not that that is any disgrace, I just wish he would shut his “pie-hole” and go home. If he can define “Me” well I can certainly return the “favor”. I can only believe that Mr Ignatiff wants a summer election so if his “parachute” fails to open he can always go back to Haaarvard, don his tweed jacket and once again be one of his “fellow Americans” Perhaps he could sell autographed copys of his photo op with POTUS.
This guy has written all these words, mostly fiction? With him it is all about the “drama” I recall that he was holding forth on his first sexual expierence, in a campground, he focused on “the excruciating pain of the gravel on his knees and elbows” none of my business of course, way too much information, but begs the question . Was he “pitching or catching”?
I made this point yesterday at Chucker Canuck’s as well.
Seeing as how we were forced into deficit by the Coalition of Idiots, YES FORCED, they should be thrilled at the size of the deficit. They were screaming for more spending then and they are still screaming for more spending now (EI changes being just one example). So it is a bit rich of them to complain about the size of said deficit when they wanted one so badly.
With Jack as a partner in the Coalition of Idiots, we could safely assume that this deficit would be twice what it is now if he had his hands on our money. And I don’t think Gilles or Stephane would have been particularly frugal either.
It is to laugh if anyone thinks this troika would have been easier on our pocket books.
Springer made a great point as well when he said that if Harper had a majority we certainly wouldn’t be looking at a deficit this size. I completely believe that.
’nuff said.
Made the same point a couple nights ago…albeit in not so politically correct terms.
Had Harper not chopped the Coalition of the Damned off at the knees, this country would be an utter train wreck by now.
And a $50 billion deficit would seem like chump change.
Harper said it himself in his year end interview with Mansbridge remember?
This isn’t the budget he would have liked but it was the Coalition’s budget.
Nice day. Don’t dwell on what the media didn’t do for our side, because there’s lots more who did side with the PM today.
Go outside and enjoy the nice day.
It’s all good. Harper’s still solidly in charge….and Michael Ignatieff….isn’t. Thank God for that otherwise we’d be on the receiving end of a green shift and headed to a place we need to be very afraid of.
It disturbs me that journalists, so-called experts, and other assorted arrogant know-it-all types all say that reducing the GST was a mistake. How about asking us, Canadian taxpayers, what we think. How about asking us which programs should be cut. How about asking us and actually acting on our replies.
Gee, no, we are too stupid and we need to rely on “experts” to tell us how much more we need to be taxed for useless programs.
Am I the only person getting tired of Iggy’s self centered sniveling.
He can’t come up with an alternative, but chooses to criticize.
He missed his calling, he should have been a talking head for the CBC.
Soccermom…
I’m sorely tempted to add…
It’s worth noting which part of this country deprived Harper of that majority, and their pathetically inane reasons for doing so.
Which now has come back to haunt the entire nation (as usual), and cost us kabillions (as usual).
Just sayin’…
Don’t forget some are saying Mr Harper lost support in Quebec because he went after the coalition for including the Bloc in their Troika.
If that’s the case, Quebec is really a lost cause.
Layton as part of the coalition will want to have a say in the matter. he wants higher taxes on businesses-of course, most businesses will leave canada. leaving behind donuts shops etc to pay for the 3mths work and 52wks of E.I.
Tom CLARK, TABER CBC CTV etc will have to start on real work to help pay for the libs ndp and bloc idea of 3mth works and 52wks.
‘we should give Iggy a list of programs and let him suggest which ones to cut.’
Thing is, Iffy had his chance to do that already,
he went thru the budget ‘line by line’ and passed it 4 months ago.
And Jack shud remind Iffy of that repeatedly.
Iffy gets another chance on June 27.
”So, who will be running the ship really?”
Iffy’s experts!
And those experts and their projections, including Kevin Page, were wrong, so far.
Page says it’s is a ‘humbling experience’
in this interview, meaning you think you are right and them time tells you you are off the mark:
http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7&bpn=779519&ts=2009-05-25%2020:00:35.0
”I recall that he was holding forth on his first sexual expierence, in a campground, he focused on “the excruciating pain of the gravel on his knees and elbows”
Was that at Algonquin Park? lol
”With Jack as a partner in the Coalition of Idiots, we could safely assume that this deficit would be twice what it is now if he had his hands on our money.”
And the Bloc demands too.!
In fact, one of the biggest reasons the coalition of losers your point was shot down was exactly ‘Finance Minister Layton’ and ‘Bloc writting cheque to Quebec’.
Bourque has up this…
Maybe Harper was right (re: arts/culture funding in Quebec)
“I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see … a bunch of people at a rich gala … all subsidized by the taxpayers, claiming their subsidies aren’t high enough, when they know their subsidies have gone up, I’m not sure that’s something that resonates with ordinary people.”
Remember those words? …In fact, that quote has been cited as one of the major reasons for the disintegration of Conservative support in Quebec during the last federal election campaign. Can’t slag our “artistes” and get away with it.
But maybe Harper wasn’t that far off. …”
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2009
http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/viewpoints/story.html?id=10b5b134-96d4-4288-8f65-8696c0c86349
oops #9 shud read
And the Bloc demands too.!
In fact, one of the biggest reasons the coalition of losers was shot down was exactly that ‘Finance Minister Layton’ and ‘Bloc writing cheques to Quebec’ scared us all.
Iffy doesn’t have the balls to cut any programs. He wants to add programs (national daycare) and TAX US EVEN MORE. First thing he’ll do is raise the GST.
Last night my husband and I were laughing at the old memory of Chretien getting elected on scrapping the GST. (Maybe we should have been crying) IT’S WHY HE GOT ELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE! Remember Sheila Copps and her embarrassment? The Liberals LOVE the GST!
Springer – great point about the fat elephant in the room who denied Harper his majority – Quebec.
Yes, a handful of rebels within the liberal media are attempting a new level of honesty about MI. Perhaps the conservative ads shook them up a bit too. After all, it must be kinda embarrassing to be “scooped” by the CPC. My (slightly) left-leaning parents watch Canada AM and CBC news daily. They are somewhat annoyed that they did not know MI had been out of Canada for 34 years until seeing the CPC ads. Their apprehension about MI is matched only by their disappointment with the media for covering up this inconvenient information. Incidents like this and the old-news media’s AGW obsession are forcing them to be more critical and skeptical. From there it is only a short walk to seek out alternative news and a explore other political viewpoints.
Great Job and Thanks, MSM. You have now proved what my brother and I have been telling my parents for many years … don’t trust the MSM.
Could be some of the Editors and Liberal supporting media hacks and shills are starting to realize they’re taking down their own credibility by supporting any and all things Liberal.
The Liberals right now are as close as it gets to rudderless and leaderless. It’s a cabal cobbled together after all the Big Boys left the ship.
The Harper government has to get going with some explanations about the present situation we’re in and stop the Liberal lies in their tracks. We saw an example of the venerable,(in his own mind)Goodale in the HOC trying to rearrange what the PM said, that’s the stuff that goes getty-up in the media, the truth never catches up. Liberals count on that.
Can anyone imagine what a good Liberal like John Manley could do to bolster the Liberal fortunes?
There’s got to be a reason he’s not visible.
The coalition would have brought in a worse budget and added new programs such as National Daycare. The budget the CPC were forced to table did not make government any bigger.
Re: GST cuts – this is not a Made in Canada recession – it’s the result of a global financial meltdown. How can any government be expected to predict something they have absolutely no control over?
I-Iggy and I-IggyMeToo.
Iggy’s Schizo-Loyalty; another Citoyen Dion.
…-
“Just answer the question, Iggy
Why did he claim he was an American, repeatedly?”
“In the current avalanche of Conservative attack ads against Michael Ignatieff, one theme is that he’s “just visiting” Canada, because he lived elsewhere for 34 years. I do find that kind of humiliating, but in his defence, it probably wasn’t his idea to return and run the country; it came from a cabal of Liberal Party heavies. There’s always been a self-putdown component among Canada’s elites. Linda McQuaig says when she interviewed Moody’s bond rater for Canada, he told her with surprise that the only national business leaders who regularly demanded a down grade were the Canadians. At any rate, the guy’s been back for a few years and besides, some humiliation is good for the soul.
But there’s another element in the ads that sticks better, and may be responsible for this week’s levelling-off in Liberal support: Mr. Ignatieff’s past claims that he was an American. The ads show him in a clip: “You have to decide what kind of America you want … It’s your country just as much as it is mine.” This is not an isolated aberration. In a New York Times article just five years ago, he wrote “we,” meaning Americans, six times in a single paragraph, and throughout.
That’s pretty blatant misrepresentation and raises the question: Why did he do it, repeatedly? The answer matters to voters who have to choose.
It could be because he’s a liar or delusional – neither of which would necessarily disqualify a person from leading his country and even leading it well. But citizens have a right to know what they’re getting. Is he forgetful, or on some medication that makes him go in and out of a foreign identity?”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/just-answer-the-question-iggy/article1158499/
I remember Manley, when asked about running for the leadership again, he replied, to paraphrase: “The job description isn’t what it was three years ago.”
He’s the one Liberal who, as leader, could have been doing serious harm to the CPC.
(I didn’t say that, and please don’t repeat it!)
”This isn’t the budget he would have liked but it was the Coalition’s budget. ”
When the coalition of losers failed,
the losers were bragging that
‘oh well, at least we forced Harper to spend billions on stimulus, so the cialition exercise was not a waste’
Isn’t it the role of the media to shed light on our potential leaders?
So why is it that we didn’t hear of any of Iggy’s past opinions through the media?
I would say the media have let the Canadian public down on this one.
Liberal Iggy’s News Service has another free attack ad attacking the Conservative Truth ads.
The spinner is Yaffe/MSM on behalf of I-Iggy.
Here is the evidence: Yaffe flogs the dead-horse cliche she/it has garnered from Liblogs: >>> “The Harperites,”.
Yaffe’s efforts have “backfired” on I-Iggy.
…-
“Attack ads seem to have backfired on Conservatives”
urlm.in/cnlh
Re the GST cut, my take is that the main economic motive was to spur the sale of big ticket items like houses and cars. Take a look at the ads Harper was running in the 2006 campaign.
The political motive was to take away roughly $12 billion in gov’t revenue that the Libs would otherwise spend on social programs. The indirect result was Dion’s Greenshift. Dion couldn’t find enough revenues to pay for his “30-50″ poverty reduction plan and other programs, and so concocted his tax shifting scheme.
Rob Anders, writing in the Calgary Herald about a year ago, said that he could see the GST being reduced to 3 %, and eventually to zero. I’d like to see another 2 % cut, combined with reduced transfers to the provinces. As Ian MacDonald says, this kind of “tax point transfer” is what Duceppe has been calling for. I hope Harper trys it, and gets BLOC support for the 2010 budget.
Okay, off-topic but hilarious in terms of irony. Take that all you green maniacs:
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/Thankfully+irony+dead/1639043/story.html
Yes, Malia #28, the media have let the Canadian public down. It appears they know the truth isn’t helpful to Ignatieff. If that’s the case why in heaven’s name should anyone be kept in the dark on someone who want’s to take over the country?
Can the media in this country be that much better than those in Banana Republics controlled/in bed with one political faction, in this case the Liberals. Scary stuff when you think about it.
Two national anthems for MPS and the LMSM to sing
IGNATIEFF- AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
PRIME MINISTER- OH CANADA
Between Iffy, Rae and Domie,
it is Domie that would not have any negatives for the CPC to attack.
Unlike Iffy and Rae, Domie is a true Liberal, held government positions, earned his way to the leadership.
The American and Dipper can not say the same.
IMO, it was the real possibility of Domie coming up the middle, that the Lib exec arm twisted Rae and Domie to back out.
So why is it that we didn’t hear of any of Iggy’s past opinions through the media?
Malia, this is the same question most americans are wondering about OBAMA. Yet strange, they know more of Joe the plummer and Sarah Palin life history than they do of OBAMA’s. and he is the president.
When it comes to the liberals, you are not to know their past; a sceret agenda the national media cbc ctv etc have made a deal with the liberals. How come you have not heard much of anything of the liberals’ corruption and millions of dollars still missing-it’s because of the liberals and their media secret pact. DON’T TELL.
#35:
Exactly Jen. OH, don’t touch out dear squeaky clean Liberals. Conservatives, anything goes even what a conservative did or said as far back as twenty years ago or so. Hypocrites.
# 36
don’t touch out dear squeaky clean Liberals.
fmgrl, that is why we can see right through them. Remarkably isn’t? but for some odd sudden blindness the MSM can’t make head or tails what the liberals really are. CORRUPT.
Bubba Brown #6
Pitching or catching is the post of the day. ROFLMAO. Makes you wonder though. What is on the tapes?
“The Accidental Tourist bites nationalist Liberals on their Achilles Heel
Liberal Achilles Heel
Ignatieff’s lack of Canadan authenticity really rubs up against the Liberal Achilles heel in the worst way. In the Globe and Mail today even Rick Salutin is putting the boots to the accidental tourist Liberal leader.
Ignatieff simply doesn’t want to answer the basic question.
If you didn’t fee[l] like an American why did you keep calling yourself one. And if you thought of yourself as an American, be honest about it. If your position has genuinely evolved, tell us how and why. But stop patronizing us with this b.s. about how close you have been to your family, your roots, your heritage. Stop impersonating a touchy feely guy which you aren’t and allow us into that big vault inside your big brain. Now I am of course just whistling passed the “tourist’s” political grave yard.
He is not going to allow us in. He will continue to blow smoke up the blow holes of the Liberal nationalist base. But he is making them visibly impatient. The author of True Patriot love, is a true phony. After several days of witnessing Mulroney at Oliphant, ordinary Canadians and core Liberals are more than ever craving something a lot more authentic than the “tourist.”
http://www.charlesadler.com/2009/05/the-accidental-tourist-bites-nationalist-liberals-on-their-achilles–heel.html
TORedStar has let Ezra Levant into its citadel.
Will Ezra be allowed out again?
…-
“Stephen Harper and Israel: Not crass political calculation
PM’s straight talk is in stark contrast to muddy thinking of human rights panels
Ezra Levant
At its convention this Sunday, the Canadian Jewish Congress will honour Prime Minister Stephen Harper with its Saul Hayes Award. It’s unusual for the CJC, many of whose members have long favoured the Liberals, to give an award to a Conservative Prime Minister.
But in Harper’s case, it’s well-deserved.
No world leader has been as clear as Harper has been in his support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Just weeks after becoming Prime Minister, Harper single-handedly stopped a surprise resolution at the Francophonie summit that would have scapegoated Israel for its war against the terrorist group, Hezbollah. And at the United Nations, Canada has stopped bowing to anti-Israel peer pressure. Now, we’re often the lone vote against anti-Semitic resolutions at the Orwellian UN Human Rights Council, while other democracies meekly abstain.
Here at home, Harper has been outstanding. He refused to accept the diplomatic credentials of the new Iranian ambassador, in protest of that country’s murder of Iranian Canadian Zahra Kazemi. Harper was the first world leader to cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza when it was taken over by the Hamas terrorist group. And he was the first to boycott the Durban II international conference in April when it became clear that it would be a replay of the Jew-bashing conference in 2001.
Harper’s support has impressed even lifelong Liberals like Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman, and has made many other Jews rethink their traditional support for the Liberal party.
But Harper’s views cannot be written off as a crass partisan move. Well-heeled donors are of no advantage under today’s strict campaign finance laws that limit donations from individuals and ban them from companies.
And in terms of sheer voting power, Canada’s Muslims are now twice as numerous as Canada’s Jews. When Harper expresses philo-Semitic views, he does so out of conviction, not because of some political payoff. So it’s proper that the CJC recognize his achievements.
The award the CJC will present to Harper is named after Saul Hayes, the late Jewish public servant and political activist. But Hayes was more than just a civic-minded Jew: he was a civil libertarian who understood the value of freedom of speech and clashed with his own community when they insisted on censorship.”
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/642192
Take note of this:
“Pollster Ipsos Reid said 52 per cent of Canadians believe the economy will improve in the next year, a level of confidence the firm has not seen in 18 years of tracking consumer confidence.”
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/5/29/4204391.html
BTW, are you folks aware that PMSH is going to receive another award on Sunday. Check out Ezra Levant’s blog.
Nothing from the MSM on this nada,zipo,nothing about it. If it were Iffy, a beamming Tabor and Fife and the whole CTV crew would be broadcasting it.
Well; who would you want to drive us through this global recession and onward into the future, PM Harper or Count Iggy? The Cadillac or the Lada?
Iggy keeps saying the PM must come down the hill. The trouble is Iggy (Lada) would never make it to the top of the hill.
Did you know that an Ignatieff is a REAL expert on human rights and has devoted more than 30 years of his life to international human rights mostly through Canadian agencies.
He lives in Canada and has been an active participant in Canada for most of his working life.
AND, he has the same so called “royal elite Czar bloodlines” as Michael Ignatieff.
Who is this all around good citizen of Canada?
Andrew Ignatieff – Michael’s BROTHER.
The brother Michael was ashamed of at college and the one he forbid to speak to him in public.
Andrew Ignatieff, the brother who looked after their mother when she had dementia and then Michael wrote a book as if it was HIM.
Andrew Ignatieff, the REAL expert in human rights and Michael then promoted himself as one to head the Carr Centre on Human Rights.
If we had to have an Ignatieff brother in Canadian government perhaps the Liberals picked the wrong one?
Read more about Andrew Ignatieff’s excellent service to Canada here and international experience here:
http://idrf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256&Itemid=139
Google International Development and Relief Organization.
O/T: “imveryho”= In my very humble opinion.
Bec, I figured out what the above meant after I posted to you. Like I said, I’m a little slow!! LOL
For the other part, I just wanted to be sure I understood what you meant. I just give my opinion about Quebec because I live here. Of course, there are other points of view.
The Gazette confirms my point that the PM begins his public announcements in French. We’ve noticed this for a very long time.
“Frankly, I don’t see him doing it consistently but I appreciate his respect,recognise his intentions and so should everyone,”
Ok, we’ll have to agree to disagree. To us, it’s the protocol he has decided on.
Respect? What about respect for the majority? In Quebec; speak French first, that’s a given. In the nation’s capital and the ROC and the world, speak English first. And this shows no disrespect and no discrimination.
His intentions? What are his intentions?? To pander, to suck up, to appease, to buy votes??
Do you think that they’ll respect us for that? The number of Conservative MPs in Quebec is the answer to that question.
We’ve been there, done that. It doesn’t work and, besides, we should never have attempted such methods in the past simply because it’s wrong. It’s not the way to win the hearts of the people.
One of my best friends is a separatist. As teen- agers, we argued long and hard but neither could convince the other. Today, he holds to his convictions. Me? I’ve made a 180 degree turn.
I no longer see Quebec in Canada viable. Believe me, we’ve lived through it all from day one. Mine is an informed decision. Do I like it? No. But, honestly, I feel it’s best for Canada.
ed @ # 45
o/t
I am referring to the ‘Me’s’ in the ROC. I don’t see it as political being an Albertan. I still see it as respectful.
I just see it as a fact of life and although my feeling are much more jaded about the whole subject because of the language laws etc, not all french speaking Canadians are from Quebec.
My kids all attended french immersion and at the time, THE PLACE, to send your kids. Not so much anymore likely because of the disinterest in Quebec for the ROC.
It really is a distressing state of affairs.
Btw, when I work 10 hours in my gardens, I really do quit making sense!! lol Thus the fewer comments. The fewer the better!
Joanne — Just to let your regulars know, SOR is in Ontario and on her way to Niagara-on-the-Lake as I write this. Several of us will be having lunch together. This is so exciting that we can actually become friends with those we meet on our blogs! I’ll let you know how things go but I am expecting to have a good time, just like when you and I have met up a couple of times in the last few years.
The good news is the weather is going to be lovely. The rain stopped during the night. Right now it is sunny and about 18 C. Should be in the early twenties by noon.
yet another Iggyism in the media:
‘NOTHING IS personal in politics, because politics is theatre,” Michael Ignatieff wrote in the New York Times in 2007. “It is part of the job to pretend to have emotions that you do not actually feel.”
Mahar concludes with:
‘… Conservative attack ads say Mr. Ignatieff is “just in it for himself.”
They are designed to make it impossible for Mr. Ignatieff to do what he wants to do — force an election — because he would be reinforcing their message, unless he has a good reason, which he doesn’t…’
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1124786.html
BINGO
O/T – I made a trip to Guelph yesterday and saw the following:
- improvements to 17k of Hwy. 8 in progress(to be completed Fall 2010)
- new housing developments mushrooming between Stratford and Woodstock (in prep. for Toyota maybe?)
- a bridge being fixed up
- a new pathology building going up at the U.of Guelph, plus an expansion (Phase 2) of a HUGE industrial mall on Hwy. 6
- a mall that was really busy with people actually making purchases. Was interviewed at the mall by a firm that has been asked to study what new stores should be added to the proposed expansion of the mall.
- heavy traffic and vacationers headed out of the city, but definitely on the move.
When I got home, a message from my son in Oshawa where he landed a summer job telling me about an annoucement that Flaherty made at UOIT re: a $75million for research and technology to the university.
From my perspective things are looking up, which is probably why Ignatieff’s got his shorts in a bunch today…it’s not about who said what in QP…it’s about the fact that the real party of doom and gloom is the LPOC who benefit from keeping the fear alive.
Oh, and by the way – mice ate our Canadian flag over the winter – we have very patriotic mice!
The only ones for sale were MADE IN CHINA so I grudgingly bought one. Sad that.
frmgrl @41 here is the poll Akin was referring to
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Ipsos-Reid-997111.html
and David’s article :
http://www.canada.com/business/fp/Canadians+optimistic+about+economy+despite+downturn+Poll/1644523/story.html
Did the media bury this story with the Tar Baby?
Funny how the media drops these polls into the news on a Friday, eh.
‘…The poll also provides fuel for those who argue Canada should have a majority government to steer it through tough economic times. Most respondents (58%) said the three successive minority governments in the past few years have weakened the government’s capacity to act.
Despite it all, 58% still believe Canada is headed in the right direction.”
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/canada/2009/05/30/9621291-sun.html
So does 2+2 = Canadians think PMSH should have a majority to get us thru this recession???
Hey, excellent rant this morning by Micheal Campbell, Money Talks show on the deficit and the Liberal’s disengenueousness.
Go May 30 at approx. 9:35 am.
http://www.am770chqr.com/Station/AudioVault.aspx
frmgrl @ # 52
I heard it too. He rocks!!
Sandy @ # 47
That is SOOOO wonderful and I one am very jealous! I for one, will be anxious to hear all about it.
What a great group and ‘dear family’ this has become.
Just imagine what it would be like under the coalition if the following is any indication:
From Ardvark’s blog: err, maybe not.
“Dawson said his bill has been in the works for months, well before the Tories’ latest ad barrage.”
I wonder about that. Somehow, there must be a way to verify this. On the other hand, I guess he didn’t like the Dion ads either.
“This is what this bill aims to (do). It wants to reduce the influence of money in politics.”
Should read: This is what this bill aims to (do). It wants to reduce the influence of FREEDOM OF SPEECH in politics.
“Dawson said the bill does not limit parties’ freedom of speech but simply forces them, “if they do advertise, (to) accept the consequences and put them in your expenses.”
Whoa!! What baloney!! This statement is contradictory. The bill DOES LIMIT parties’ freedom of speech.
The bill limits the amount of advertising and then the Liberals say it doesn’t limit freedom of speech. Unbelievable!! Is this not a lie??
frmgrl @ # 52
Thanks for the link, that was brilliant commentary.
I have to say the way this number on the deficit was rolled out, and the way PM Harper and Finace minster Flaherty handled the questions in QP, I think somthing is up.
The PM and Flaherty where so on point in QP, I think there is another shoe to drop in the coming weeks.
Sandy, that’s so cool about meeting SOR. Looking forward to hearing all about it!
So, there we have it, straight form the horse’s mouth: “It’s part of the job to pretend to have emotions that you do not actually feel”.
How far does that go?
How can we know for sure when he’s faking it?
Re my #47, well, I am back home now. We had a wonderful time. SOR was with a couple of companions. We hugged and it felt just like we had known each other for years.
We had lunch in a winery restaurant and my granddaughter served us — which was VERY special. She is just back to work following her maternity leave and is working Saturdays to begin with.
Following a long and leisurely lunch, I then took everyone on a whirlwind tour of the Heritage District/Old Town (what most people think of as Niagara-on-the-Lake although it actually consists of four villages and one town and a very wide rural area of fruit and grape farms and wineries) and to the top of the Queenston Heights lookout and the amazing view of the winding Niagara River.
One of SOR’s companions lives in Toronto and found it fascinating that from this side of Lake Ontario, we get to see sunsets! The lake was crystal clear today and they could see (what we call the celestial city — LOL) Toronto with the CN Tower in the distance.
So, a good time was had by all.
When I told her I had left a message here, SOR also asked me particularly to send my regards to the whole BLY gang!
Iggy, get out of Dodge.
Go home, Iggy.
…-
“Dodge Says Canada Deficit Is Right, Must Be Cut Later
May 30 (Bloomberg) — Former Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said today that the Canadian government’s deficit, which will exceed C$50 billion ($46 billion) this year, is right given the recession, though lawmakers must commit to cut it later.
“The Canadian federal deficit of 3 percent of GDP, in a year where the output gap is as large as it’s going to be, is certainly not inappropriate,” Dodge, a former deputy minister with the Finance Department, said in remarks at an economics conference in Toronto.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=a7sjoD0SQkV0&refer=canada
Sandy at #47, that sounds like so much fun! I wish I could have been there too.
In case SOR checks in here, hi right back at ya!
Maz2 @ #59 – Just catching up here after helping my sister celebrate a milestone birthday last night.
That’s really quite incredible, isn’t it? I mean David Dodge basically saying the Harper Gov’t is doing it right? Wow.
Frmgrl @ #52 and Bec @ #53: I heard Michael Campbell on the radio this a.m., on my way to work. I found myself saying “Hell yeah!” and nodding along to his brilliant commentary.
I wish we had HIM for premier instead of his bonehead brother.
Joanne: Re #s 59 & 61.
“David Dodge had a secret meeting with Michael Ignatieff just last week”.
Angry has more: Iggy’s Deficit Attention Disorder, aka IDAD.
Iggy the Fake Fury Fakir; Iggy tootles his pipe like a good fakir; the deficit cobra turns and bites him in the rear.
Go home, Iggy.
…-
“Michael Ignatieff’s questionable fury about the deficit
Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff is mad about the $50 billion deficit. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty must resign, or so says Ignatieff.
Like his patriotism, Michael Ignatieff’s anger seems fake. Former Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said that the level of the deficit is appropriate under the circumstances. And David Dodge had a secret meeting with Michael Ignatieff just last week, lending his wisdom to Michael Ignatieff on questions about the economy.
The Liberals (presumably) leaked the details of this meeting, but it wasn’t reported that Michael Ignatieff gave David Dodge a hard time about what Dodge would have told Ignatieff was an appropriate level of deficit.”
http://stevejanke.com/archives/287944.php
Published: Thursday, November 20, 2008
OTTAWA – Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page told MPs Thursday that Canada’s deficit next year could be as high as $13 billion and that Conservative government decisions to cut the GST and raise government spending are to blame, not global economic events.
“The weak fiscal performance to date is largely attributable to previous policy decisions as opposed to weakened economic conditions,” Page wrote in his first report to parliamentarians on the government’s economic and fiscal position.
Kevin Page couldn’t have been more wrong could he?
We have an Auditor General so why do we need a Parliamentary Budget Officer who can’t get it right?
Add to that is that his obvious Liberal bias is enough reason to terminate his employment
I don’t know if this site will work but I’ll try anyway, it is to do with the PM and the award http://www.cjc.ca/bigpic.php?Rec=686
I hope other bloggers will have the photo as well.
CONGRATULATIONS PRIME MINISTER.
I take from the liberals bed friends their media will not show the PM on television.
A prescient commentary from Howard Galganov:
http://galganov.com/editorials.asp?id=1132
Howard demonstrates great foresight: here are some excerpts:
“The Tipping Point”
“A TIPPING POINT is best described by the old proverb: “THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK”.
“How much more do you think the working, law abiding and taxpaying class will take before we reach that TIPPING POINT?
How long will we accept a court system that is so far out of the reach of the common person because of obscene costs, yearlong delays, and ACTIVIST judges, that there is in fact no real justice?
How much longer will we in Canada tolerate a group of bureaucrats in the guise of Human Rights Commissions whose bloated salaries we pay, who tell us how much FREEDOM we should be entitled to have in order to express ourselves?
How much longer will the majority be willing to twist itself into a pretzel to accommodate every minority?
In Canada, we’re turning ourselves inside-out while denying Constitutional RIGHTS and jobs to the English speaking majority, while trying to accommodate less than 3% of our French speaking population (excluding the nation of Quebec) just so politicians can get elected, and keep the Ethnocentric Separatist Nation of Quebec within Confederation.
The best example of a society that reached its TIPPING POINT to the great detriment of the elitists, was the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799 when monsieur Guillotine delivered quick and satisfying justice on behalf of the masses who had simply had enough.”
IMHO, this is a must-read, brilliant, commentary. Please read it in its entirety at Howard’s website!!
It’s just another salary we have to pay for no benefit to anyone except putting out fodder for the Opposition to chew on and spew out. The job should be made redundant.
My comment @ 67 was in reply to Bruce @ 64.
Taliban Jack’s revenge.
Socialist Taliban Jack stiffs socialist Iggy.
The socialists are split.
…-
“Layton to prop up Harper government
Harper’s government will not be defeated this spring as NDP leader Jack Layton tells CTV’s Craig Oliver that the NDP will not vote to defeat the government… More to follow”
(National Newswatch)
“PM says they will be able to seek compensation from individuals, organizations and foreign states that support terrorism.”
“Harper: Terror victims will be able to sue in Canadian courts
Terrorism victims will soon be able to use Canadian courts to sue the perpetrators, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today in Toronto.
Speaking at a Canadian Jewish Congress 90th anniversary luncheon in Toronto, Mr. Harper said legislation will be introduced this week by Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan “to enable victims of terrorism to seek justice” and compensation from individuals, organizations and foreign states that support terrorism.
The new law will amend the State Immunity Act, Mr. Harper said, as a sold-out crowd of several hundred rose in a standing ovation.
Mr. Harper made his remarks moments after he became the first Canadian prime minister to receive the congress’s Saul Hayes Human Rights Award. Mr. Hayes, who died in 1980, served as national executive director of the congress from 1942 to 1959.
While introducing the award, Elizabeth Wolfe, a congress official, quoted extensively from previous statements by Mr. Harper, decrying anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
“These are the words of a true defender of human rights,” Ms. Wolfe said.
Mr. Harper, in his acceptance remarks, said he is “very troubled” that criticism of Israeli government actions in the Middle East “has become an intellectually respectable cover for anti-Semitic discourse.”
He further criticized the “doublespeak” of political opponents who say they support Israel and then denounce it for defending itself when “attacked for the umpteenth time” by anti-Israel militants.”
urlm.in/cnqz