Blue Like You

In today’s National Post, Michael Coren exposes some interesting tidbits about Stephane Dion’s character - Stephane Dion finds God.

First of all, ‘his people’ apparently (and erroneously) told him that the majority of viewers were faith-based, so Dion dutifully mentioned God several times in the opening segment of the interview. Later Dion admitted to Coren that he had done so based on his handlers’ assumption about the audience makeup.

…He was, for example, anxious to "reconcile people with God’s environment" and was committed to the planet "given to us by God." Which is somewhat surprising. The deity is not a popular debating point for Liberal leaders. Actually, the Supreme Being is mentioned by ambitious Liberal politicians about as often as Brian Mulroney’s good points. So I was rude enough to ask Mr. Dion if he was doing this — sounding religious — because he had been told that the station on which my show appears each night, CTS, was faith-based. Frankly, I expected him to deny, obfuscate or simply lie. It says a great deal about the man’s integrity as well as his innocence that he replied on air with a simple, "This is true." A pause, then, "I have been told that this is important to the people who watch this show…"

So Dion doesn’t mind using God when it is politically expedient to do so. Unlike Coren, I don’t see how this could possibly show that he has integrity, but whatever.

Dion seems to parrot Obama with his ‘Hope’ references:

…I pushed a little further. Is this God of whom you speak an important factor in your life? "It is part of the hope I have" was the reply. "A creator who is full of love. I hope this is true. I am a man of hope. I will play hope but Stephen Harper plays fear."

Well, I have news for you, Stephane. A true Christian doesn’t ‘hope’ that God exists. A true believer knows.

Dion sees the Catholic vote as a slam-dunk:

…After the show, Dion asked about the denominational breakdown of those of our viewers who are Christian. "You see, the Catholics can be relied on to vote Liberal, always, but the Protestants much less so ," he explained. "It’s very difficult to get them to vote for us. I am a Catholic." As were Trudeau, Chretien and Martin. Men who championed abortion, same-sex marriage and many other policies that ran counter to basic Catholic teachings. In other words, they were Catholic by birth but Liberal by belief and works…

So the Catholics can be relied on to vote Liberal - Is that not something like Jennifer Wright being expected to be grateful for the mix-up with her website?

But Coren rightly makes the point that many ‘Catholic’ Liberal politicians seem to have a problem following the rules of their faith (including Dalton McGuinty) . That could be seen as a positive attribute since church & state are supposed to be separate in our society, but then why bring it up at all?

And why bring up the subject of abortion out of the blue?

Is Dion trying to say that he listens to God on the subject of the environment, but not when it comes to abortion?

And what about his hero Obama who voted for infanticide or a derivative thereof? Where does the true Christian draw the line? How long should babies be allowed to languish outside of their mother’s womb before medical help must intervene? And when do we call it infanticide? Or murder? What is the defining difference?

Is the whole point to flog yourself as a Christian and then take the glory for how far you can allow yourself to stray from the fundamentals of your faith?

Sorry, but I don’t see that as an example of integrity.

My point here is that if you really believe that church & state should be separate, please stop pretending to be so holier than the rest of us.

And please drop the ‘God’ routine, Stephane. It’s offensive.

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Update: Tories abandon ‘unborn victims’ bill’ - Globe.

Yet, Canada.com states that Ken Epp has "no intention of abandoning his bill…"

Freedom is my Nationality - The Great Big Liberal in the Sky.

Halls of Macadamia - The God Card.

Stephen Taylor - What of the Liberals and abortion?

A Step to the Right - "I don’t need you, God…"

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Tuesday Update : MP won’t retract unborn crime bill - Edmonton Sun.

Isn’t Jennifer Wright making an unnecessarily huge deal out of the LPC’s rather liberal use of her company’s name, "Green Shift "?

I mean, we’re talking about The Natural Governing Party here - not some rinky dink little company. Shouldn’t Jennifer Wright be bending over in humble gratitude? Isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery?

[sarc off]

The Blue Zone has a post up about Jennifer Wright’s excellent piece in today’s National Post - The real Green Shift.

Blue Zone finishes his post with:

…Best wishes to Jennifer Wright and GreenShift.ca. My wife’s parents are small business owners so I can understand the frustration she is feeling at having her business’ identity stolen by Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party of Canada.

So is this identity theft? Identity highjacking?

Or did The Liberal Party of Canada just decide to hear ‘o.k.’ when the victim firmly shouted "NO!!!"

Jennifer Wright tells her side of the story:

…I was beyond livid when I realized that, despite my very vocal objections, during the coming general election, 308 Liberal candidates would be promoting an election platform whose environmental tax program would carry the hijacked name of our company …

…When first warned of the planned hijacking, we immediately told them that we objected and would do our utmost to protect our rights. Nonetheless, we woke the following morning to find our name on their tax plan and splattered in papers and broadcasts from coast to coast. We followed up with a formal cease and desist notice, which also failed to elicit a response. Accordingly, we were left with no choice but to sue them …

Does this sound like a lady who is willing to give in, Stephane?

Or when she said NO, did you hear "Mais, oui!"?

Is this an example of how you plan to respect the rights of all Canadians if you become Prime Minister?

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Related: Liberal Party of Canada accused of Identity Theft - NB Tory Lady.

And Ralph Goodale speaks out about Jennifer Wright’s company Dion’s carbon tax - Green Shift for a Warming Planet.

Nicely debunked here. H/T SDA.

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Friday Update: Blue Zone - How dare she? Now the Liberals want to control Jennifer Wright’s travel plans and who she talks to!

NB Tory Lady has done a great job critiquing Michael Den Tandt’s op-ed in today’s Sun, so I will let you read about his unique view on Dion’s performance there.

Certainly his perception differs sharply from Don Martin’s, whom as you may know is not usually one of Harper’s cheerleaders - Dion Green as Campaigner.

The problem as I see it is that when Stephane Dion is faced with a specific question, he refers everyone to the website or the voluminous Green Shift document itself. He even does that with his own candidates.

Does he even know the answers himself?

Or is he just expecting us to blindly trust him and buy his green pig in a poke?

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Please don’t forget to vote in the latest poll. Thanks.

Update: 900 days in office today! Congrats, PM Harper!!

Interesting related links : Liberal MPs still undecided on carbon tariff - Globe.

Stephane Dion’s wife rallies local federal Liberals - Observer. (Did you know that she also picks out his clothes for him?)

Tories to take aim at carbon taxes in buildup to race for BC seats - Globe.

Greener than thou - Herald.

I find it so amusing how Stephane Dion has the power to discern whether or not Canadians want an election. (Dion: Canadians hungry for an election.)

Up until now, he was sure that we didn’t, but apparently he foresees that we very likely will have an appetite for an election in the fall - unless of course the by-election results are not favourable to the Liberals.

And I love those references to ‘appetite’ and ‘hungry’ for an election.

The way food prices are going up, that may be all we end up with on our plates.

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Update : The Phantom Observer - Summer By-Elections: The CBC is running Candidates.

And Alberta Ardvark has a great post up: Dion confirms what MHF said about the greenshift.

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Update: - Stephane Dion’s midsummer night’s election dream, by Kelly MacParland.

Peterborough Politics: When communication goes wrong.

Steve Janke: Stephane Dion selling the carbon tax.

I was googling news stories about the cute little ‘joke’ that St. Catharines Riding President Jane Cornelius had included in a newsletter, when I came across this item from Newstalk 610 CKTB:

…The author of the joke, Riding President Jane Cornelius, has issued an apology.

Really?

Or did they mean this? -

But St. Catharines Liberal Association president Jane Cornelius, who included the joke in the association’s spring newsletter, fired back saying Dykstra’s timing was a "purely partisan attempt to embarrass" Dion before he visited Niagara Region yesterday.

"I would have expected more from the MP," she wrote in a statement. "In no way did I mean to offend anyone and I apologize if I did."

Garth Turner’s non-apology apologies must be rubbing off. Is this an example of what you mean by "honest and respectful’, M. Dion? If so, I think I’ll stick with Harper.

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Update: Well, I’m going to take a bit of a break. Be back in a few days. Comment moderation may be on, but I’ll be checking in from time to time.

Feel free to comment on any stories that get your blood boiling. It’s safer to sound off here than resort to road rage or something.

Don’t ya just love the rhetoric?

First Stephane Dion decries Jennifer Wright’s legal action as ‘DEPLORABLE’, and that he is "willing to fight in court to keep the "green shift" policy name that is attracting attention to the Liberals." (Gazette)

Then he turns tells reporters that "in a practical way we are ready to work with this businesswoman."

So which is it, Mr. Milquetoast?

I think I agree with Warren here. Making jokes about assassinating our Prime Minister is not funny - especially in official Liberal newsletters.

Who’s responsible for approving this garbage anyway?

Sandy has the background story which made it onto the National Newswatch frontpage today.

Also please see David Akin’s report - Tories demand apology over Grit joke:

…Liberals accused Dykstra of feigned outrage timed to coincide with Dion’s visit Wednesday to St. Catharines…

…”Dykstra has not conducted himself in a manner I would expect from an elected official,” said Jane Cornelius, the president of the Liberal riding association in St. Catharines. “An elected official who had concerns would have contacted me. I think this is further evidence of the ongoing maligning of people and their character…”

This is just so vile and disgusting I can hardly believe it. She should be fired.

More at NB Tory Lady.

Thanks to Sammy for this one. Jennifer Wright has issued a press release regarding legal action proceeding against the Liberal Party of Canada. News conference to begin shortly.

Developing.

* * * *

11 am Update - CTV’s Robert Fife to Kate Wheeler just now - "It could be more of a publicity stunt than anything to be taken very seriously…"

11:04 News conference begins.

11:08 Jennifer Wright asks who the hell does Garth Turner think he is to launch a personal attack against her on his website?

11:11 - Jennifer is taking questions.

She is coming across (to me anyway) like a very down-to-earth, regular person who got sideswiped by the Liberal Entitlement Machine.

11: 14 - The Robert Fife and The Kate Wheeler are now discussing Wright’s "The Macdonald’s" comparison.

National Newswatch Update: CP - Company seeks $8.5 million from Liberals for use of Green Shift name. As The Kate and The Robert said, that’s a lot of green!

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SDA - I Endorse Stephane Dions’ Carbony Green Tax Grab Plan.

Check this out at National Post Full Comment : Exactly whose Green Shift is it?

Dion calls ‘Green Shift’ lawsuit ‘deplorable’ - CTV. (Bad move, Stephane. Save the hyperboles for your political opponents.)

Climbing out of the Dark - Deplorable Behaviour? Look in the mirror, Dion!

Cadman widow denies author’s story - Citizen.

Dion’s Green Plan faces legal challenge - Star.

And don’t forget to support The Victory Fund!

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Update: If you examine that Star report by Allan Woods closely, it is quite the laugh in its bias:

EDMONTON–Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s carbon-tax plan got a friendly pass in the court of public opinion, but appears set to face a legal challenge from a firm that says the party swiped its name.

About 400 people turned out at a hall in the country’s oil capital last night that was decorated, campaign-style, with posters of Dion and flashy backdrops promoting the carbon-tax. One observer noted that the crowd represented the "who’s who" of the city’s left wing, including environmentalists and NDP members…

The court of public opinion? Well, I suppose in the Star’s world view, the only public opinion that really counts is that of the left. However, a recent Ipsos Reid poll indicates that other pesky voters may have a different opinon, and that Dion actually has a very rough road ahead.

And BTW, other than Garth Turner and Ralph Goodale, do you hear any other in-your-face Liberals championing this carbon shaft?

Also please check out Alberta Ardvark’s excellent first-hand account - Stephane Dion in Edmonton. Well worth the read.

Stephane Dion is having a tough enough time trying to sell his Green Shaft in Alberta. Don Braid of the Calgary Herald sums up the problem quite nicely:

…But Dion, with breathtaking gall, claims he’s doing it for Alberta’s own good. "It’s very important for the world to know how much Albertans care about the environment, how much you are green and you want to do the right thing," he said Saturday.

"I cannot accept that your reputation is damaged as it is now."

Premier Ed Stelmach isn’t saving us from this evil reputation, he suggests, so he must. (Never mind that Dion’s words hurt our reputation even more.)

So thank you, Mr. Dion, for fitting Alberta with a fiscal hair shirt so we might redeem ourselves…

I don’t think this kind of condescending, Nanny-State-knows-best arrogance is going to sit well with the folks out west. They may be too polite to ream him out right now, but if Dion were ever to become PM, they would likely be questioning the value to them of remaining in the confederation.

Then along comes Garth Turner with this caustic remark in his blog which has fueled all kinds of outrage in Quebec and in Alberta:

…As for Dion, he will move from Calgary to Edmonton, where he’s to have an open, Town Hall meeting on his climate change plan. You might not agree with everything the man says, but you have to admire this about him. He stood up once to the self-aggrandizing, hostile, me-first, greedy, macho, selfish and balkanizing separatist losers in Quebec. I guess he can do it again in Alberta.

Dion was not pleased to have to deal with the political fallout from this gaffe, but has assured us it is taken care of. The Liberal Leader says Turner has ‘retracted’. However, as far as I can see, he has only retracted the word ‘losers’, which is missing from his non-apology:

…The issue is a single sentence in my last post in which I drew comparisons between those who wish to separate from Canada, whether they live in Quebec or Alberta. I called such separatists, who put regional and self-interest ahead of the national cause, “self-aggrandizing, hostile, me-first, greedy, macho, selfish and balkanizing.”

…But there’s no way I, as a federal member of the Canadian House of Commons, am going to lay down before people who openly advocate ripping the country apart. Moan all you want about money, or lament those who don’t share your culture or language. But don’t expect me to roll…

Then in the next post he further ‘clarifies’ his position. It sounds like he’s really digging his heels in on this one:

…The fact I’m news, and under the gun by a bevy of leaders and political parties, for ripping separatists, is a sad thing.

I understand well this is all about positioning, power and votes. But it’s also about principle.

My choice is made.

That does not sound like a retraction to me.

And on one hand, I can see where he’s coming from (if I try really hard). Basically he’s saying that separatists are self-centered activists that have no concern or love for our country, which may certainly contain a kernal of truth.

However, aside from the possibility that some separatists may actually truly believe in their cause and are doing so based on strong principles, the fact remains that you just don’t defy the captain of your team if you want to stay in the game.

And even a ‘respectful’ leader like Stephane Dion eventually has to make a decision on how to deal with this nagging headache before it totally disables him.

* * * *

Update: Then there’s the Conspiracy Theory…

Nah.

More from ChuckerCanuk - "Damaged."

Lorne Gunter - Fault Liberals for regional resentments:

…This is an old Liberal tactic: Equate Liberal policy with the national interest so that anyone who disagrees can be portrayed as an enemy of national unity and not merely an opponent of Liberal ideas…

Lorrie Goldstein - Climate Spin Machine.

This is great! Via Stephen Taylor.

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Monday Update: Lorne Gunter - The obnoxious Garth Turner.