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I’m just throwing this out there

Posted by Joanne on 10 March 2010, 8:21 pm

…and I may be way off base but it just struck me that perhaps all this crazy focus on the Rahim Jaffer and Afghan detainees might be a diversion from the fact that the Liberals let the budget pass.

I mean if this government is so bad, why didn’t the opposition parties take it out?

And why no amendments or even a speck of interest?   Why aren’t the Liberals doing their job? [Please join this Facebook group!]

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Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose:

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Also please also check out Alberta Ardvark – The Iffy Alternative.

Filed under Accountability, Canadian Government, Canadian Parliament, Canadian Politics, Canadian economy, Iffy, Iggo Waffles, Liberal Party of Donolo, Michael Ignatieff, Peter Principle, Too many Fools on the Hill.
33 Comments

Checkmate 2010

Posted by Joanne on 30 December 2009, 8:57 am

Yesterday we mused on the possibility of the coalition still being alive, but today rumours are circulating that would preempt any such move in the near future.

According to QMI Agency, sources say that “the Conservative government will ask the governor general to suspend Parliament today, delaying the return of MPs until the beginning of March.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Harper is expected to fill five new Senate seats in January of 2010 which would give the CPC a “working majority” in the Senate. [Translation by Google]

Prorogation would end the stalling of Liberal-dominated Senate committees that have been responsible for holding up so many Government bills – thereby stopping Liberal Senators from undermining  legislation passed by elected representatives in the future.

Personally I don’t see a downside in this strategy and it will begin that long road towards Senate reform.

My only concern is that Iffy might get bored waiting for the keys to 24 Sussex and decide to go home to Harvard.

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Update: Tories planning new Parliament, to begin March 3 - CTV

Stephen Taylor – The case for prorogation. (Cross-posted at the National Post)

Stephen Harper, renegade in power – John Ivison:

…fury at the unelected Liberal Senate was not faux outrage. Mr. Harper was particularly upset when the Senate amended the government’s consumer protection legislation, which had received unanimous consent in the House of Commons. The Conservatives are set to become the largest party in the Senate with the appointment of five new senators early in the new year, yet the Liberals would still have dominated the committee structure. This would have allowed Grit senators to continue to bog down government legislation for months on end. Instead, prorogation will mean that those committees are reconstituted to more closely reflect the make-up of the Senate. For the first time since he came to power, Mr. Harper will have a plurality in both chambers of Parliament and in the committee rooms...

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Thursday Update:


Parliament on hold – National Post:

…Far from being undemocratic, the Prime Minister is seeking to eliminate an artificial log jam in the Senate, where unelected Liberals have been deliberately slowing legislation approved by the Commons. Conservatives will soon match Liberals in Senate seats, but Liberals could continue to block legislation by manipulating committees. Once Parliament returns, the committees can be reconfigured and delayed bills reintroduced and swiftly passed without Senate interference…

And in case you missed it, Sandy has reposted a link to the CTV interview with PM Harper.

Filed under Canadian Politics, Canadian Senate, Coalition of the swilling, Harper smartest PM ever, Iffy, Liberal entitlement, Michael Ignatieff, Senate reform.
54 Comments

Scott Reid’s directive lives on

Posted by Joanne on 15 December 2009, 8:38 am

The official Liberal Party of Canada’s website displays some of its brilliant strategy and great taste.  (H/T Liz J and Maz2)

I assume Peter Donolo has seen all this. Perhaps he was the one that suggested they remove an image of our Prime Minister being assassinated. Clearly your party needs a bit more adult supervision, Peter.

And is this the light you’ve been hiding under your bushel, Michael Ignatieff? You can keep it. Even your base seems to think it is disgusting. How will our Canadian media friends react, I wonder?

BTW – Merry Christmas. Peace on earth and all that.

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Update:

Here’s a blast from the past. And another.

But it’s all in good fun, right? Nobody would take it seriously.   Guelph woman arrested in Harper threat case – Guelph Mercury.

Michael Ignatieff’s Targeted Assasinations – ChuckerCanuk

Liberal photo contest takes macabre turn – Globe (H/T Jad)

Kady (H/T Jad) rightly points out:

…AFTERTHOUGHTDATE: As pointed out by Commenter Beachcomber, this particular web offence would seem to merit a more direct apology — as in, one directed at the prime minister, personally, from the Liberal leader than an update to the webpage. Also, comparing the kerfuffle to “Attila the Hun complaining about the Romans’ table manners,” as A Senior Liberal Official did this morning, according to the Globe’s Jane Taber? Not really helping sell the sincerity.

So when are we going to hear from the rest of MSM about the outrageous, U.S -style attacks? (H/T Frmgrl)

Canadian Sense has a dynamite post up with links to other bloggers following this topic – and they’re not all conservative.

Liberals post assassination photo to mock Harper – Kelly MacParland, Post

The Libranos: The Photo Contest – SDA

And they call this an ‘apology’???:

“Though we do screen the pictures before posting them, it appears the Lee Harvey Oswald picture slipped through the cracks – it has since been removed. We apologize to those who took offence to the image.”

The author of the blog that appears to have discovered the photo, rjjago.wordpress.com, called it “ignorant” for the Liberals to post such a depiction so soon after the bloody attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who suffered a broken nose and lost teeth this week after a man threw a statue at him at a rally.

The Liberals have also removed a photo depicting the prime minister with his hand up the rear end of a cow.

“It was considered a joke on methane emissions from cattle. But since it can be misinterpreted, it was taken down as well,” said Lauzon…

Then & Now: Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition – Dan Cook:

‘…We don’t do that kind of politics in the Liberal party.’

Canadian Liberals post assassination photo - UPI

Liberals apologize for fake photo of Harper assassination - Star

Liberals remove faked PM assassination shot – Reuters

Tories may be close to mood of populace on climate change - Vancouver Sun

Filed under Canadian Politics, Iffy, Iggo Waffles, Iggyssiah, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Peter Principle, Stephen Harper.
126 Comments

Let’s end the ten-percenters

Posted by Joanne on 1 December 2009, 7:08 am

I have to agree with John Ivison when I preface this post by saying that I too would like to see the end of the ‘ten percenters’. However, this morning Ivison points out an inconvenient truth about Durban 1 which is worth noting.

According to Ivison, the facts are that the Liberal Government had already decided to remain in Durban and since the Canadian delegation couldn’t be persuaded otherwise, it was then asked to ‘work from the inside’. Cotler of course contends that Canada was asked to remain there by the Israeli government:

…That is when we stood up, that was when we were asked to remain, and that is what we did. We were praised for having been the party that most condemned anti-Semitism at that Durban 1 conference.”

However, that is not the recollection of Alan Baker, Israel’s former ambassador to Canada who was head of the Israeli delegation in Durban. In an interview from Israel, he said that his government asked Canada, the U.S. and a number of European countries to pull out of Durban but the Canadian delegation was directed by Ottawa to stay. Led by Hedy Fry, then the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, and Paul Heinbecker, then the ambassador to the U.N., the delegation was told to attempt to ensure the text of any final declaration was devoid of anti-Israel language.

Mr. Cotler himself seems to have been less than impressed with the Canadian government’s decision. On his return, he gave a speech in Montreal in which he said he felt that by remaining at the conference until the declaration was adopted by consensus, Canada had made itself party to it, despite subsequent attempts to disassociate itself...

According to Ivison, Mr. Cotler’s recollection of events seem to differ sharply with others:

…It all suggests that there is some rewriting of history in Mr. Cotler’s assertion that Canada stayed in Durban at the request of the Israelis. The decision to stay seems to have been made before any such request was forthcoming, which validates the claim that the Liberals were “willing participants” in Durban…

The Liberals are happily playing the victim card now, all full of self-righteous indignation and outrage.   Andrew Coyne said it so well:

…there is nothing a politician lives for more than to be unjustly accused of something—even if he has to levy the charge himself. The opportunities to play the victim are too tempting.

What did the Tory literature (“these vile flyers”—the Toronto Star), widely distributed in Liberal ridings with large numbers of Jewish voters, actually say? Not that the Liberal party was anti-Jew, or even anti-Israel, but only that it had not been as robust in the defence of Israel as the Tories have been…

And that does seem to be the truth.

But who’s right or wrong is really not the issue here. It’s about using these ten-percenters to wage political war against the rival parties at tax-payers expense.

There are other ways to do that, for example by using truth-ads on television and radio – and let it come out of the respective party’s own coffer.

However my biggest gripe with ten-percenters is that they’re just more unwanted mail to have to sort through and recycle.

I already get enough junk mail. I don’t want any more.

Ten-percenters, begone!

Filed under Canadian Politics, LPC, Too many Fools on the Hill, Truth ads, Voter cynicism, Your tax-dollars.
25 Comments

Well actually, Tommy…

Posted by Joanne on 18 November 2009, 11:33 am

He pretty much did say ‘Just visiting’:

From the Harvard Crimson;

Ignatieff’s future with the Kennedy School remains dependent on whether he is elected.

“If I am not elected, I imagine that I will ask Harvard to let me back,” Ignatieff said. “I love teaching here, and I hope I’ll be back in some shape or form.”

Canadian members of Parliament can serve for up to five years, but standard leaves of absence from the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) are limited to two years. Exceptions to the KSG policy may be made under “extenuating circumstances,” KSG communications director Melodie Jackson said in September.

“He is still affiliated with the Carr Center and will remain so,” said Executive Director Fernande Raine. “We hope he will come back at some point depending on how long this run in politics actually takes.”

(Thank you Bruce! And thanks to Sandy for reorganizing the Iggyisms so I could find that one.)

In any case, that sounds more like au revoir than adieu to me.

But CTV’s Tom Clark gets it wrong again – just like he gets his Conservative guest’s name wrong. (see update) Peter BRAID!!! Not Bain.

It’s a truth ad, Tommy. If the Conservatives had made fun of Iffy’s slithery tongue for example, that would be different.

But don’t let pesky facts get in your way.

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Filed under Canadian Politics, Iffy, MSM bias, Media Watch, Michael Ignatieff, Truth ads.
89 Comments

Shock and awe – or rage

Posted by Joanne on 17 November 2009, 8:37 am

There are two ways for the Canadian media to deal with the success of Prime Minister Stephen Harper – grudging admiration or venomous hatred. Let’s slot Michael Byers in that latter category.

The Ottawa Citizen labels his November 2 column as an example of ‘Harper Hatred‘. Byers obviously sees the Prime Minister as some kind of national threat.  The mission therefore is to get rid of the Conservatives. The only way to accomplish that objective is to unite the left. So forget good policies and trying to figure out what Canada really needs. It’s still all about the power, ideology and fear-mongering for Byers:

…The chances of the Liberals forming government appear to have slipped away. The future of the country is in the balance. Whether we like it or not, the parties of the progressive centre have reached a decision point.

Will we let an outdated electoral system deliver a majority Conservative government on the basis of the preferences of less than 40 per cent of voters – and less than 25 per cent of those Canadians who are eligible to vote?

Or will we seize the moment, pull together, and put the country back on course?

The Citizen calls him on out it:

...In media interviews, Byers suggests that a Conservative majority would be a tragedy for Canada. Basically apocalyptic. The end of our country as we know it, he seems to think. Now the Citizen’s editorial board has been as critical of Harper as anyone, but Byers’ fearmongering is so over the top that you expect him any moment to come out and call for the Conservative party to be outlawed…

(Yeah well, he’s not the first to suggest that.)

By way of contrast we see that Lawrence Martin at least attempts to conceal his contempt for all things Conservative and instead focuses on Stephen Harper’s gift of political acumen:

…Harper’s conservatism is making Canadians feel good, or at least not dismayed, about what’s going on. He’s been lucky, helped along by the ineptitude of the Liberals. But in part, it’s been the prime minister’s craftiness that has made them appear that way….

But in the real world I sense that Canadians are by and large quite content with the way Prime Minister Harper has been competently managing the economy and other crises such as H1N1. (H/T Mary T)

People are not marching in the streets. There is no call to ‘throw the bums out’.

Rather than attempting to take down the Conservatives with desperate columns like Byers’, the Canadian media might try suggesting that the opposition parties try a little introspection and come up with a better vision of Canada – one that the average Canadian can relate to.

Of course, Stephen Harper is already doing that. So the best his enemies can hope for is that he stoop to their level of insults and anger.

But lately he has managed to stay above the fray. I strongly urge him to remain there.

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Update:

Dear Tommy Clark:  It’s Peter Braid, not Bain.  Did you not think that was a coincidence?  Was that intentional or just another amateur-hour goof?

P.S.  Memo to Peter: Total class. Well done.

Filed under Canadian Politics, Harper best PM ever, Harper smartest PM ever, MSM bias, Media Watch, Stephen Harper, Stephen Harper Rock Star.
52 Comments

Prime Minister Coderre?

Posted by Joanne on 23 September 2009, 8:21 am

Let’s hope L. Ian Macdonald is right:

…The interesting aspect of this unedifying spectacle is that both Cauchon and Coderre, for reasons known only to themselves, see themselves as contenders at the next leadership convention. And in the great Liberal tradition of alternating between English and French-speaking leaders, they could both be right, though neither has a hope of winning…

MacDonald also criticizes the inability of the Liberal Party to keep their disputes en famille:

…For the Liberals, who have been on a very bad roll of late, the latest round of intramural hostilities is more bad news. The voters are generally unimpressed with parties that wash their dirty laundry in public.

It’s quite simple. If a party can’t run itself, it can’t run the country.

And yet, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is constantly criticized by media and Liberals for being ‘too controlling’ with his caucus and demanding party solidarity.

Funny that.

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Evening Update: Big story developing at Bourque (H/T Frmgrl).  Lots of pressure on poor Iggo Waffles to change his mind or find a way to save face. Will he flip-flop once again???

iggyambition

Thanks Mike!  (Ardvark and I were on the short list of recipients.)

Filed under Canadian Politics, Harper best PM ever, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper.
67 Comments

Message for Michael Ignatieff from a life-long Liberal voter

Posted by Joanne on 3 September 2009, 11:19 am

“…I don’t know where he’s from, if he’s from France or down in the States… I mean, up here we care about our veterans, Sir   … So if you can put off this election until after Remembrance week . . .   I’m a lifelong Liberal voter and I won’t be voting for the Liberals if you take that week away from our veterans.  I say shame on you Sir, if you do that. Shame.

Source - CTV Video – starts around the 4:36 mark.

(H/T Frmgrl)

Story here about Randy Young’s stolen recording equipment (minus the warning to Michael Ignatieff.)

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Update:

Ignatieff hasn’t thought this fairy tale through – Steve Patterson, Globe:

…Actually, for someone with Mr. Ignatieff’s esteemed literary background, I would expect something more poetic. Something like: “We are primed to prune the Prime Minister’s pretentious pedigree on behalf of the proletariat.” But this probably goes against his recent training to seem more like a normal human being…

Filed under Canadian Politics, Iggyssiah, Liberal Party of Toronto, Liberal entitlement, Michael Ignatieff, Remembrance Day.
85 Comments

Ignatieff feels for the common folk

Posted by Joanne on 31 August 2009, 9:29 am

…And that’s why the Liberal Party of Toronto is holding a $550 a plate fundraiser in Sudbury tonight – they are going to  get rid of that mean old Stephen Harper for Norther Ontario (via Sudbury Star):

…Jack Braithwaite says the fact more than 500 people stepped up to pay $550 for a Liberal fundraiser demonstrates how badly they want to get rid of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government.

“Their concern about their government is so great, they’re prepared to pay to this point,” Braithwaite said Friday.

Fifty dollars from the Liberal meal deal will go to the Caruso Club for the cost of food and the remaining $500 will be donated to Liberals…

Meanwhile NDP MP Glenn Thibeault will be holding a $5.50 a plate spaghetti dinner of his own to help support out-of-work miners.

CBC reports that Liberal MP Maria Minna defended the pricey LPT fundraiser with the following observation:

“We’re also going to be spending money, by the way,” she told CBC News. “I think we’re giving.”

And that my friends, is the elusive Liberal Policy in a nutshell.

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Update: And this is what the LPT is not:

…It’s not even clear that Canadians know who these Liberals really are. To listen to Ignatieff, you’d think he’d revived the Pearson Liberals: idealists and internationalists who spawned the Trudeau era, fought for national unity, wrote the Constitution and were rewarded with a run of mandates.

I knew those Liberals and, Mr. Ignatieff, you aren’t them. At least, not yet…

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Afternoon Update: Tim Powers – They really don’t get it:

…Yes, money is the mother’s milk of politics but when you stage an expensive fundraiser, for you, in a part of the country that has been pounded hard by the global recession you think someone might have some sense and realize that a few people are going to find it to be in poor taste. This could simply be a case of bad manners as Michael Ignatieff may have forgotten Canadian decorum while he was away. When times are tough, flaunting your desire for canapés and Cristal is offensive…

Indeed.

The Liberal Party of Toronto – completely out of touch.

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Tuesday Update: Ignatieff profile in U.S. magazine not much of a ‘bonus’ – Barbara Yaffee (H/T Maz2):

…The New Yorker article — in which Ignatieff is interviewed over a cappuccino in Yorkville and at a Stratford performance of Macbeth — probably won’t help dispel the snooty image.

Indeed, the Liberal leader himself reinforces it in a quote you’d never hear from Harper: “Seeing William Hutt do King Lear [at Stratford] in 1964,” Iggy recalls, “was one of the three or four shaping experiences of my life: I don’t think I’ve ever written a book without mentioning Lear.”

Ah yes.  Any Sudbury miner worth his salt could relate to that.

Ignatieff ‘villa’ ripe target for Tory ad campaign – Citizen. But everyone has a cottage in France, non?

Filed under Canadian Politics, Iggyssiah, Liberal Party of Toronto, Michael Ignatieff.
106 Comments

Just another human being

Posted by Joanne on 29 August 2009, 10:26 am

After reading Steven Chase and Daniel Leblanc’s Globe column about the awesome feature on PM Stephen Harper in the September issue of Prestige, I was left with the nagging suspicion that Libloggers would have a field day with it. And true to form, they didn’t miss the opportunity.

So how do we square that circle between Stephen Harper the quiet, God-fearing family man, and Stephen Harper the ‘totalitarian monster’ as one Globe reader referred to the PM at 8:04:42 AM?

According to the naysayers, Stephen Harper broke his election promises several times in the past, and most recently concerning Senate patronage appointments.

So how would he reconcile that with his higher concern for ‘God’s verdict’ on his life?

Prime Minister Harper explains his mission in politics:

“I’m there to ensure that the government acts responsibly, protects the population and meets its needs. I can take the criticism – it comes with the job – but my main preoccupation is not my personal image, but rather the country’s higher interests.”

So does the end justify the means? Or does it simply mean that he is human, and back when he made those promises he couldn’t foresee all the complications that might arise in the meantime.

I think the Prestige article will reinforce that side of Stephen Harper’s image that has attracted his many admirers and supporters.

But I also think that no politician should make an unqualified promise on the campaign trail.

Better to say, “This is our goal, and we plan to work towards it.”

And leave the rest in God’s capable hands.

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Update: Welcome, Newsbeat 1 readers!

Filed under Canadian Government, Canadian Politics, Canadian Senate, Harper best PM ever, Stephen Harper.
26 Comments
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