Blue Like You

Randall Denley of the Ottawa Citizen is proposing a new party, and he says that unlike the LPC he has done his due diligence in investigating the name and its impact (All’s fair in the Name Game):

Fair’s fair. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion sees no problem with stealing the name of a company called Green Shift Inc. and applying it to his key environmental policy. In the same vein, I would like to start a political party and call it the Liberal Party of Canada.

The organization now operating under the same name might have a problem with it, but if the party complains, I’ll just adopt Dion’s stance and describe the complaint as "deplorable."

( . . . )

Unlike the old Liberals, the Arrogant Liberals did the homework to make sure the name for their key intellectual property hasn’t already been taken. Right there, that shows we’re more competent to run the country than Dion and his gang.

Details for Denley’s amusing tongue-in-cheek piece can be found in between the above two quotes.

Jennifer Wright’s situation is not funny though and she needs your help to fight the LPC Machine. A Facebook page has been started and she is asking for your support.

Please help Jennifer in any way you see fit.

And don’t forget The Victory Fund!

Thank you.

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.

* * * *

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!

* * * *

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!

* * * *

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.

The Star is reporting that the Liberals have a new fund-raising project with a catchy name: The Victory Fund.

Be sure to donate! These guys are going to need all the help they can get.

Let’s face it - The only way to environmental salvation is through the Liberal party, right? At least that’s what they’re telling us.

Now you can help Stephane Dion "save our country from the things we don’t want, like (Prime Minister) Stephen Harper, (Environment Minister) John Baird and (government House leader) Peter Van Loan…"

BTW, The Victory Fund website is now up and ready to accept your donations. A paypal option is also in the works.

Even as little as $5.00 a month will be gratefully accepted.

Please do it for the planet and for democracy. Thank you!

(H/T Sandy )

* * * *

Update: Sandy tells us a bit more about the genius behind The Victory Fund.

And don’t forget to check out Paul’s blog at www.TheGarth.ca.

National Newswatch is featuring an update from the Star - Firm to sue Liberals over "Green" brand.

Warren kinsella is not going to be a happy camper when he reads this Don Martin piece - Remarks return to haunt Gomery:

…Jean Chrétien and his hangers-on can claim a technical legal victory from the bias verdict rendered against a judge they openly loathed and mocked.

But in the court of public opinion, he will remain the prime minister who tried to bribe Quebec with our money — and rendered the once-mighty Liberals a pariah in a province that refused to be bought.

Ouch!

* * * *

Friday Update : Martin’s article in today’s print edition of the Post provides some quotes from the ruling.

Judge fell for ’spotlight’ - Post.

Saturday Update: Chretien, Martin still at it - Sun.

Wednesday Update: Gomery’s lapses don’t absolve Liberals - Gazette

Matt and Sandy’s story is really chugging along. I originally mentioned it at the end of this post in an update. It seems that a private company called Green Shift is quite perturbed that the Liberal party have used their trademarked name for the launch of the Tax shift plan.

Just a nice little company doing the right thing, and then along comes the big, bad Liberal party and starts messing with them. Matt tells us the clients are concerned that they are affiliated with the LPC, and this is starting to affect Green Shift’s bottom line.

Why is the Liberal party giving this company the shaft? Will Green Shift receive an apology? Will the Liberals change the name of their plan?

Stay tuned.

* * * *

Update: MSM is on it!

CTV - Firm takes action against Liberal ‘Green Shift’ brand.

National Post - ‘Green shift name taken’, enviro group tells Liberals.

Globe - Liberals Green Shift brand hits a snag.

This story is really staring to look bad for the Liberals. It’s clear from the MSM links that the Liberals knew about this conflict and just ignored it anyway. Ms. Wright feels that this is a David vs. Goliath situation. The Liberals really are the bullies here.

Is this the party you want running the country? Someone who would step all over a great private company that was just trying to do the right thing. Jennifer Wright has been working hard to develop a good reputation only to have it trod upon by some arrogant politicians.

I always thought that Stephane Dion valued green companies and women. But when push comes to shove, the party’s own interests seem to get priority.

Greg Weston - Dion’s costly shift.

Again we are witnessing the thinly-veiled symbiotic relationship of MSM and two of the opposition parties as they work together to smear this Conservative government. The only question is which one is actually the instigator here.

CBC’s Keith Boag reported on last night’s National (right-click on link and choose ‘open link in new tab’) , that the opposition parties knew about this for weeks , so why did they wait so long to raise an issue that supposedly relates to national security? He says that the opposition parties encouraged the media to report it before they dared bring it up themselves.

Why? Did they already know this story had no substance and they needed the media bandwagon to justify the invasion of privacy of the Minister and his ex-girlfriend?

Chantel Hebert confirms the conspiracy:

..But the inside story is that, behind the scenes, the Bloc (and the Liberals) had been actively lobbying the media to break the news for weeks…

To its credit, the NDP party does not feel that this is any of their business, which would tend to support the view that the Bernier’s relationship with Couillard hardly represents a breach of national security.

Or as Don Martin pointed out, "Julie Couillard has never been charged nor convicted of a crime, except falling for a political figure in a Parliament where guilt by association overrides the presumption of innocence."

But considering the lack of substantial policy offerings in the Bloc and Liberal parties, one can understand (but not forgive) their desperate attempt to grasp at any straw as they glumly watch their polling numbers stagnate if not decline .

And some members of the media are only too happy to assist.

* * * *

Update : Steve Janke continues investigating the conspiracy angle here .

Saturday Update : Gerry Nicholls has a great letter in today’s Post :

The Liberal Party of Canada has officially hit rock bottom. With all the important issues facing this country — war in Afghanistan, possible economic recession, soaring gas prices — the Liberals have chosen instead to focus public attention on the sex life of Cabinet minister Maxime Bernier. How sleazy. How sad.

It seems the once proud party of Laurier, King and Pearson, the party some have called the "most successful political machine in Western democracy," is now simply the political equivalent of The National Enquirer.

*   *   *   *

Sunday Update : The Chronicle Herald has a cartoon that I feel is in really bad taste. I don’t even want to link to it directly, but you can view it via National Newswatch. I wonder how many other past Cabinet Minister’s names could be inserted in that cartoon? I can think of one Liberal cabinet minister for sure. Oh, that’s right. Liberals keep their mouths shut. Uh-huh.