Deceiver prorogues, Iggy and Layton talk is OT here

[Al Czervic]

Carole James comments on Harper’s prorogue as it apparently applies to the B.C. Legislature. ...

Harper to address B.C. legislature on eve of Games
From the Globe and Mail - Ian Bailey

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will address the B.C. Legislature on the eve of the Olympics next Thursday, thanking the province for its efforts to prepare the Games. “The Prime Minister will salute Vancouver, Whistler and British Columbia for its magnificent work in organizing and hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – ‘Canada’s Games,’ ” said a statement from Mr. Harper’s office.

A prime ministerial speech to a provincial or territorial legislature is rare and last occurred in 1990, when Brian Mulroney discussed the Meech Lake accord with the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.

Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell noted Mr. Harper’s speech before B.C. members will be the first time a prime minister has so addressed the B.C. Legislature.

”To have the Prime Minister come and speak to the legislature for the first time in the history of the province, effectively to recognize the contribution of thousands and thousands of British Columbians to bring us these Games is something that’s very special,” Mr. Campbell said Thursday after Mr. Harper’s formal acceptance of an invitation to visit by the speaker of the legislature. “I am pleased he’s coming.”

Mr. Campbell said the Speaker, Bill Barisoff, will have to seek formal agreement from legislature members to allow for the Thursday speech.

NDP Leader Carole James said her party will welcome Mr. Harper, but acknowledged some may raise questions about him being at work in the B.C. assembly amid questions about Parliament being prorogued.

“If the Prime Minister is coming to address the legislature, he’s obviously the Prime Minister and he has a right to do that,” Ms. James said. “The questions that British Columbians will ask and Canadians will ask around proroguing and around the House not sitting in Ottawa – I think those are very valid questions and I expect them to be asked outside the legislature.”

Political scientist Norman Ruff of the University of Victoria said Mr. Harper’s appearance speaks to the state of harmonious relations between Ottawa and Victoria, and Mr. Campbell and Mr. Harper.

At various times throughout modern history, relations between B.C. and Ottawa have been too fractious to make such an event likely, he said.

Since coming to power in 2001, Mr. Campbell has tended to get along with prime ministers, whether they were Liberals Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin or the Conservative Mr. Harper.

[Rwede]

yea mabey but still dont change the fact harper is a devil worshipping lunatic does it?

One minute he's one of the right-wing Christians, the next minute you accuse him of devil worship. You leftists better get your stories straight if you ever want some credibility.


Al, don't you just love Carole? Every time she says something moronic (ie every time that gaping pie-hole opens), she helps to save us from the inevitable bankruptcy of an NDP led province. Keep up the good work Carole!

[Al Czervic]

yea mabey but still dont change the fact harper is a devil worshipping lunatic does it?

One minute he's one of the right-wing Christians, the next minute you accuse him of devil worship. You leftists better get your stories straight if you ever want some credibility.


Al, don't you just love Carole? Every time she says something moronic (ie every time that gaping pie-hole opens), she helps to save us from the inevitable bankruptcy of an NDP led province. Keep up the good work Carole!

I have to say I was very embarrassed by Carole James. Regardless of petty politics it is important that every province have positive relations with Ottawa. Look back at that idiot Glen Clark when he was the NDP Premier and all of the sabre rattling he did around Nanoose Bay and “Fed bashing” That bashing resulted in B.C. getting the shaft from Ottawa and having transfer funding reduced and no discretionary funds coming back to B.C.


Say what you will about Campbell but he has been able to maintain positive relations with the Federal Liberals AND the Federal Conservatives. This has resulted in record Federal spending in B.C. Flash forward to Carole James and these idiotic comments today. These comments were COMPLETELY unnecessary and she did them only to cow tow to her fellow NDP comrade Taliban Jack Layton by taking cheap shots at Harper. Suppose one day Carole James did end up as the Premier does she seriously expect to have a good relations with the someone like Harper after this low level crap ? She would end up screwing us all simply because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut all to support that glorified windbag Jack Layton.

[Rwede]

yea mabey but still dont change the fact harper is a devil worshipping lunatic does it?

One minute he's one of the right-wing Christians, the next minute you accuse him of devil worship. You leftists better get your stories straight if you ever want some credibility.


Al, don't you just love Carole? Every time she says something moronic (ie every time that gaping pie-hole opens), she helps to save us from the inevitable bankruptcy of an NDP led province. Keep up the good work Carole!

I have to say I was very embarrassed by Carole James. Regardless of petty politics it is important that every province have positive relations with Ottawa. Look back at that idiot Glen Clark when he was the NDP Premier and all of the sabre rattling he did around Nanoose Bay and “Fed bashing” That bashing resulted in B.C. getting the shaft from Ottawa and having transfer funding reduced and no discretionary funds coming back to B.C.


Say what you will about Campbell but he has been able to maintain positive relations with the Federal Liberals AND the Federal Conservatives. This has resulted in record Federal spending in B.C. Flash forward to Carole James and these idiotic comments today. These comments were COMPLETELY unnecessary and she did them only to cow tow to her fellow NDP comrade Taliban Jack Layton by taking cheap shots at Harper. Suppose one day Carole James did end up as the Premier does she seriously expect to have a good relations with the someone like Harper after this low level crap ? She would end up screwing us all simply because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut all to support that glorified windbag Jack Layton.

All part of her drive to bankrupt BC, Al. Of course, just like Taliban Jack, she's interested in power at any cost. Unfortunately, we the taxpayers would have to pay that cost.

[steven lloyd]

By the way I define you as a closet socialist. Someone who votes NDP but tries to deny being a socialist. Usually closet socialists will use words like “socially progressive” Just like me. I am not really a right wing nut job I am a “free enterpriser”

All right Al, define me as you will. However, I always understood (and still do) that a socialist was not someone who would support free enterprise (as I do), and certainly not someone who would support corporate investment in the resources extraction sector (as I do). I do, however, support certain types of public spending (that can be shown to be accountable and provide efficiencies and cost savings) and efforts to reduce marginalization and displacement (knowing that not only saves us tax dollars in the long run but just makes good sense and our society a better place for everyone) and if that’s what makes me a closet socialist ...
– oh well then, it’s back to the closet with me

p.s. as I’ve said many times, I would happily (eagerly in fact) vote Liberal if the Party wasn’t headed by a ideologically blinded megomaniac and a group of corrupt criminal thugs. Hell, at the federal level with the choices available I even support Harper most of the time these days.
(Closet socialist. Hmmm )

p.s.s. nope, since I'm also a “free enterpriser”, you are really a right wing nut job

[dogman]

So, Eral Jones gets 11 years and probably 22 months before parole.All for destroying countless lives.For bilking little old lady's and other retirement investors out of 50 million.Meanwhile in the good old U.S of A Maydoff gets 150 years with no parole, for doing pretty much the same thing .Good thing Harper had the opportunity to prorogue parliament and appoint some senators.Now we have the chance to rework the hacked and slashed watered down liberal senator version of tough on crime bills that where before the senate.Enough with Liberal soft on crime ,favor the criminal style of laws. Proroguing will pay off in the long run.

[steven lloyd]

So, Eral Jones gets 11 years and probably 22 months before parole.All for destroying countless lives.For bilking little old lady's and other retirement investors out of 50 million.Meanwhile in the good old U.S of A Maydoff gets 150 years with no parole, for doing pretty much the same thing ...

The important thing is we "get tough on crime" and get those marijuana-growing pot heads behind bars where they belong. That's going to make all of us so much safer (and we won't have to worry about a run on Doritos at the 7/11). We don't want to be quite so tough on the white collar fraud kind of crime because Stephen and Gordo still need some friends to hang with at happy hour.

[dogman]

So, Eral Jones gets 11 years and probably 22 months before parole.All for destroying countless lives.For bilking little old lady's and other retirement investors out of 50 million.Meanwhile in the good old U.S of A Maydoff gets 150 years with no parole, for doing pretty much the same thing ...

The important thing is we "get tough on crime" and get those marijuana-growing pot heads behind bars where they belong. That's going to make all of us so much safer (and we won't have to worry about a run on Doritos at the 7/11). We don't want to be quite so tough on the white collar fraud kind of crime because Stephen and Gordo still need some friends to hang with at happy hour.

Don't they have happy hour in those white collar type crime resorts er prisons?
Tough on drug related crime is a great start though.

[Urbane]

Life is about to return to normal after the Olympics and our politicians will be back at work. How did we survive without Question Period et al? Rex Murphy sums it all up:

Rex Murphy: Somehow, we survived prorogation
Posted: February 27, 2010, 10:00 AM by NP Editor
Canadian politcs, Rex Murphy


February in Canada has only one mercy: it is short. And this February was far crueller than most, because of the machinations of that artfullest of dodgers, our Beatle-playing Machiavelli, Stephen Harper, who shut the doors on the House of Commons, and confronted the nation with the great shock and deprivation of — prorogation. February, and no Question Period — how did the nation survive? Will we be able to pick up the threads of our tattered democracy after this callous hiatus? Will there be threads left to gather?

Somehow we seem to have staggered through. We owe a lot of thanks to Vancouver that we did. Were it not for that splendid city’s hosting of the Olympic games, and some of the supernally beautiful images that have come out of them, it would have been a hard slog. I know, for example, that the men’s hockey team’s trouncing of Russia on Wednesday, and the women’s romping to gold on Thursday, didn’t really fill the void in the Canadian soul left by the absence of Question Period. Nor did they completely stifle the deep yearning every Canadian harbours for daily Ministerial Statements. But for the moment, these small sporting triumphs papered over our common need.

Let’s face it. We all miss, more profoundly that it is perhaps polite to specify, Bob Rae and John Baird and that other McGuinty fellow. We all miss the hive-like clusters of the parliamentary scrums, the flashes of razor wit and elegant wisdom that brocade every minute of our parliamentary life. So it was pure serendipity that the Olympics were on to divert us from the absence of these treats in the short, chill, gloomy days of a Canadian February. Prorogation was a massive burden on the Canadian spirit and taxed our very will just to continue. Were it not for our female athletes doing a bankers’ run on the medals, and the splendour of so many other Olympic moments, I somehow doubt the Confederation would have survived.

Hansard, as all acknowledge, is the very book of Canadian life. When it is closed, as now, its pages dead to new entries, why then, so is Canada. Which Canadian, in his or her hour of spiritual crisis, has not turned to the great Book of our national life and seen there, some inspirational passage — something like “Some Honorable Members: [inaudible]” or “One moment please. There is a problem with the interpretation. Is it working now?” — and not risen from the encounter a larger, better person?

During Parliament’s hiatus I have not infrequently gone online myself to revisit “the sweet sessions of (not so) silent thought” recorded so dutifully by the wonderful Hansard staff, and have invariably been improved and edified by the riches to be found. If you will allow, here is but a single nugget from an overloaded mine — I foreshorten some of the exchange, but its beauty shines through nonetheless:

Mr. Michel Guimond: While my colleague from Joliette was asking his question, members on this side clearly heard the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence say the word “*bleep*.”

Mr. Laurie Hawn: Mr. Speaker, the words were not spoken. The words were mouthed. I applaud the leader of the Bloc’s ability to lip-read in English. That is very commendable. I do apologize for mouthing inappropriate comments. The next time I will mouth something more appropriate, like “bovine scatology.”

The spirits of Disraeli and Churchill and Burke live on. How did we, in February, get by without it? Canada is a stronger nation than we give her credit for.

The good news, of course, is that February is almost past, and next week the dark, grey veil of prorogation is lifted. Our Senators and Members, the Ministers and their flocks of flacks, are back. And, a real plus this, we have a double feature: a Throne Speech and the Budget, one after the other. After Lent, there is Easter, and after prorogation two of the biggest parliamentary days in a row.

It’s better than the Olympic hockey series. The parties are virtually tied in the polls. Mr. Harper will be slagged for his devious shutdown of the Commons. Mr. Ignatieff will, once again, introduce himself to the Canadian public. Question Period will be ripe with plastic indignation and pious inquisition. The detainee issue looms. For the Commons-starved epicures of this country, it will be a full banquet.

I expect, at the very least, dancing in the streets.

National Post

[Urbane]

As many of us predicted, the prorogation of Parliament doesn't seem to have made one bit of difference in the long run:

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blog ... -rear.aspx

[NAB]

As many of us predicted, the prorogation of Parliament doesn't seem to have made one bit of difference in the long run:

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blog ... -rear.aspx

Good find Urbane. It seems that prorogation has actually made a difference however, but not the one those who tried to get political mileage out of it anticipated. It is now quite clear that that the break/reset was needed so the electorate in general could give their head a shake and view reality more clearly without the constant BS from the opposition. Many thanks go to former Liberal Prime Minister Chretien for helping that process along. He clearly continues to have the best interests of Canada as a whole in mind regardless of his political affiliation

And of course it comes as no surprise (at least to me) that Mr. Layton has outdone Mr. Iggy for #2 spot behind Mr. Harper as a choice for PM. Obviously the Federal Liberals still have a long way to go before they get their act together (and an acceptable leader) sufficient to once more contemplate a shot at governing Canada. if anything, they have been walking backwards for far too long now.

That the Olympics provided some entertaining home grown diversion was also helpful of course.

Nab

[I Think]

So the deceiver prorogues, so that he can "take time to work on the economic situation" then comes back after 6 weeks with a stay the course budget.
HUH?

[rookie314]

And the Liberal plan is...................Sorry have to get back to you on that one, because they don't have one. The Canadian Liberal party, no leader, no plan, no ideas, just nothing.

[Liberty and Truth]

Layton's plan: Position yourself at a bar in Toronto before the Canada-USA gold medal hockey game front and center by a CTV camera you know is going to be showing crowd shots all game, and make sure you are all decked out in Team Canada gear. Then when Sidney Crosby scores the winning goal and an exuberant fan jumps in front of the money shot of you and your stupid grinning face at the bar celebrating make sure you grab her arm and push her out of the shot. This is the perfect example of what an attention grabbing weasel this guy is:

http://vimeo.com/9813396

Now I know the Harper and Gordo haters are going to say that they were doing all they could to maximize their public attention during the Olympics, but they were supposed to, they are the Heads of State. Layton could have gone to the Olympics too, if he wanted to fork out for them. I am sure the unions across the country that supply most of the NDP's cash could have fronted some tickets for Layton and his entourage. At any rate, I never saw Gordo or Harper grab anybody and push them out of the shot to maximize their camera time. Just sad - but yet no surprise a weasel like Layton would do such a thing.

[NAB]

Yesterday I got a flyer in my mail (as did everyone I suppose) from our local (Conservative) MP. The timing of course is immediately following the federal budget, and that's important to my point here..

Please correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know this budget did not include any obvious new personal tax cuts of any kind, particularly related to income tax. yet the big print on this flyer (we all know all anyone reads these days, and bases their formed opinions on, is the big print, right? ;-) ) headline things like..

"Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Conservative Government is delivering over $20 BILLION in personal tax relief over the next 5 years"...

"This action includes:
-Letting you earn more before you pay taxes
-Improving existing tax benefits for low-income families
-Helping Seniors stretch their fixed income by increasing the Age Credit Amount.."

It also includes some large graphics of 50 dollar bills and small change captioned "Lower taxes-More Savings".

Reading the smaller print explanatory narrative (which most people rarely do or remember), it makes none of the above "untrue", but the whole impact of the flyer would lead the casual reader to think the new federal budget contains some new income tax relief, when as far as I know it doesn't. It even gives the illusion that the Home Renovation Tax Credit is continuing which, as far as I know, it is not. Also, that 5 year thing.. we all know what the "Big Print giveth" - can be changed at any time during the 5 years should it be deemed necessary and politically expedient.

Are these things not just reflections of past budgets, presented in a way that can be very misleading to the dumbed down electorate, hence truly an effort on the Conservative Party's part to knowingly practice deceit?

Not of course that the other partys don't engage in similar practices (the NDP and Liberals particularly) so maybe no choice is left for the Conservatives but to fight fire with fire.

Just the same, I do see it as being deceitful, and it really irritates me that it has become so common in politics from all quarters.

Edit to add: ...and so common that the lazy sheeple fall for it so easily it seems...)
Nab