Let's review the situation we have had and continue to have with the PC Party and its leadership.
1. Kathy Dunderdale quits.
2. Marshall named interim Premier.
3. PC leadership rules and process announced.
4. Three candidates qualified to run.
5. One is thrown out (Tommy Williams and party exec) - a second bows out due to process (Danny Williams condemns him) - one candidate remaining.
6. Candidate remaining was involved (guarantor) with a company that was released from its bond obligation.
7. Auditor General called in to review the HVP contract circumstances.
8. Frank Coleman - Premier in-waiting admits he had personal guarantees attached to the bond.
9. Minister Nick McGrath attempts some sort of explanation regarding the bond/s.
10. Bonding experts claim Minister did not know what he was talking about.
11. Premier Tom Marshall fires most of Office of the Premier staff.
12. Premier Tom Marshall hires staff for the Office of not-yet Premier Frank Coleman.
13. Province admits road left by HVP will now cost 1.5 million dollars more.
14. This would not have been the case if the bond was not released.
13. Premier designate Frank Coleman - prior to actually taking office - quits.
14. PC Party starts over to find a new leader - and a Premier.
The Tories celebrated their new House of Assembly Act in 2004. This great new democratic tool to ensure everybody had some expectation of a regularly called election on a fixed date. They insured that if a Premier quit too early - then an election could be called earlier - so as to give the people a say in the new leadership and direction of the government.
Who talked to Frank Coleman and encouraged him to run? He came out of the blue and certainly did not appear prepared for or really that interested in politics. We should assume Mr. Coleman had some idea before he decided to run that his business HVP would be released from a bond - in which he was a personal guarantor. Is this enough to make somebody run?
What would be the value to the Tories? Well it certainly has delayed the call of an election - and they are in losing poll territory. However - if Mr. Coleman stayed - they would not get the same delay. They have bought themselves another 3 months. Many people speculated the fix was in for Frank - so it is more than coincidence that there was no contest - for if there were - we would still have a leader and an election could be called.
It has now become a conspiracy theory that all this is innocent. Any thinking - inquiring - mind would have to be cynical.
It is time the Opposition Parties demanded an election - visited the Lieutenant Governor and dealt with the obvious manipulations by the PC Party.
The PC Party is not the government. The PC Party and its representatives like Tom Marshall - should not be spending money for a Premier not yet in office. The PC Party should not be able to control through slight of hand the laws of this province.
The only way not to smell a rat - is if you have a tightly squeezing partisan clothespins on your nose.
Has it become so bad here that the most stinky of events - seems normal?
Showing posts with label bill barry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bill barry. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Tory Turmoil Continues - Legacy of Williams?
Here we go again. Back to square one. A new leadership process for the Tories begins as it did the last time.
Same group of people who may run.
Each day brings word of one of the list saying no.
Each day brings another Kent musing.
Media covering the same nonsense once again with almost the same panting breath.
The best we have so far is John Ottenheimer has announced he is running. Whoopee!
Is he how we describe renewal? Is he how we get new ideas? Is he the definition of fresh?
Nice fellow - John - despite his agreeing to do many things we have problems with. Is this the result of the Danny Williams leadership legacy?
Surround yourself with weak followers - surround yourself with obedient "colleagues" and voila you get leadership potential deficit.
A real leader surrounds him/herself with strong people - those with ambition and drive - those who strive to learn - listen - and lead.
One would figure there would be clamouring to get the top job after Williams left. He appointed Kathy Dunderdale to be an "interim" leader - while all other potential "new" leaders came to the for. Who did we get? We got lots of mumblings, whispers, and speculation. We had Brad Cabana try to run - but was determined "ineligible". So after all the fumbling, bumbling, and mumbling - Kathy was appointed.
Then Kathy the "interim" left - we should have expected the door to the candidacy locker to be kicked down - charged - and jammed with leadership hopefuls.
I woke-up one day and the media had a dozen or so waiting to come forward. Inside caucus - outside caucus - a retired army general, retired politicians, defeated politicians, a lobbyist, a retired fellow from the west coast, a fish merchant, and a grocer.
Day by day - the media plucked one off the list. We were down to three. Coleman, Bennett, and Barry. Danny did not like Barry and declared who he would not support. Delegate meetings were taking place before the actual campaign started. Bennett was thrown out of the race - Barry was procedurally crippled by the process and all we had left was one. No race again.
So the Premiership was Coleman's - the party had a leader and an election should have been called. Marshall stood in the House of Assembly and basically said his good-byes as he prepared to move over and let Frank take the helm. Sure before the handover occurred the Premiers Office staff went through a gutting putting Coleman's people in before he himself arrived.
Joan Shea quit so there was one seat open. Nope - Frank was not taking that one - so it became obvious that Tom Marshall was leaving his seat and Coleman could run at home.
Before a by-election could be called in St. George's - Stephenville East - the Premier appointed was gone - as quick as he came - with all his staff at the ready in the office he would never take over.
One clear sign of a good leader is that he/she has a reasonable succession plan. Draw your own conclusions.
Regardless, call an election now - your party mess is not our mess and is not the mess of government.
Same group of people who may run.
Each day brings word of one of the list saying no.
Each day brings another Kent musing.
Media covering the same nonsense once again with almost the same panting breath.
The best we have so far is John Ottenheimer has announced he is running. Whoopee!
Is he how we describe renewal? Is he how we get new ideas? Is he the definition of fresh?
Nice fellow - John - despite his agreeing to do many things we have problems with. Is this the result of the Danny Williams leadership legacy?
Surround yourself with weak followers - surround yourself with obedient "colleagues" and voila you get leadership potential deficit.
A real leader surrounds him/herself with strong people - those with ambition and drive - those who strive to learn - listen - and lead.
One would figure there would be clamouring to get the top job after Williams left. He appointed Kathy Dunderdale to be an "interim" leader - while all other potential "new" leaders came to the for. Who did we get? We got lots of mumblings, whispers, and speculation. We had Brad Cabana try to run - but was determined "ineligible". So after all the fumbling, bumbling, and mumbling - Kathy was appointed.
Then Kathy the "interim" left - we should have expected the door to the candidacy locker to be kicked down - charged - and jammed with leadership hopefuls.
I woke-up one day and the media had a dozen or so waiting to come forward. Inside caucus - outside caucus - a retired army general, retired politicians, defeated politicians, a lobbyist, a retired fellow from the west coast, a fish merchant, and a grocer.
Day by day - the media plucked one off the list. We were down to three. Coleman, Bennett, and Barry. Danny did not like Barry and declared who he would not support. Delegate meetings were taking place before the actual campaign started. Bennett was thrown out of the race - Barry was procedurally crippled by the process and all we had left was one. No race again.
So the Premiership was Coleman's - the party had a leader and an election should have been called. Marshall stood in the House of Assembly and basically said his good-byes as he prepared to move over and let Frank take the helm. Sure before the handover occurred the Premiers Office staff went through a gutting putting Coleman's people in before he himself arrived.
Joan Shea quit so there was one seat open. Nope - Frank was not taking that one - so it became obvious that Tom Marshall was leaving his seat and Coleman could run at home.
Before a by-election could be called in St. George's - Stephenville East - the Premier appointed was gone - as quick as he came - with all his staff at the ready in the office he would never take over.
One clear sign of a good leader is that he/she has a reasonable succession plan. Draw your own conclusions.
Regardless, call an election now - your party mess is not our mess and is not the mess of government.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Arms Length hmm
I was just reading part of a Canada Revenue Agency Document - that's interesting. Wonder what definition a court would use?
Example 1
A has two adult children, C and D. C has two children, X and Y, and D has one child, Z. A owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of Aco, consequently, A controls Aco. Each of Y and Z owns 50% of the common shares of Opco. Since Y and Z are cousins, they will, for purposes of the Act,
be an unrelated group that controls Opco. As A is related to each of Y and Z (i.e. A is their grandparent), Aco and Opco will be related pursuant to subparagraph 251(2)(c)(iv)
Corporations and Other Persons
11.Paragraphs 251(2)(b) and (c) set out the statutory rules for determining when a corporation and another person will be considered to be “related persons” (or persons related to each other) for purposes of the Act. Under paragraph 251(2)(b), a corporation will be related to another person
(including another corporation) where:
(a) that person controls the corporation;
(b) that person is a member of a related group that controls
the corporation; or
(c) that person is a person who is related to a person
described in (a) or (b) above.
In addition, paragraph 251(2)(c) provides that two
corporations will be related if:
(i) the two corporations are controlled by the same
person or group of persons;
(ii) each of the corporations is controlled by one
person and the person who controls one
corporation is related to the person who controls
the other corporation;
(iii) one of the corporations is controlled by one
person and that person is related to any member
of a related group that controls the other
corporation;
(iv) one of the corporations is controlled by one
person and that person is related to each member
Saturday, May 03, 2014
Harper and Coleman eerily similar
Continuing from my post yesterday - the Conservative edge of politics both here and in Ottawa has adopted an arrogant dictatorial sharpness that is cutting the electorate patience to the core.
Harper has amped his manliness up by intellectually going after our Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice - Beverly McLachlin; a frontal lobe competition our Prime Minister will soon regret.
But really the most concerning, revealing, and consistent trait of Harper is his refusal to communicate; at least in a way that is normal for a mature democracy.
At the basic core of this fellow is a stereo-typical troglodyte - a being so caught up in self-preservation that he appears paranoid. With his basic refusal to accept some science as real - he may easily believe that Mansbridge, Soloman, Martin or any Ottawa journalist are the dinosaurs waiting to pounce.
Sadly - as Canadians - we have failed by generally treating the PM's dismissal of unfettered scrums or appearances on national network political programs - as normal. Harper's protective communication goons have effectively removed their boss from open media access. The man has also annihilated the First Minister's conference. Why meet openly with Canada's real leaders - the Premiers of the federation.
The PMO has become a term that we have become too familiar with - as it's not Harper who is responsible for the bad deeds. The PMO said this and that. Media now reports regularly on what the PMO says - not what the PM says. In this regard the media is failing in its duty to the people of our country. The photo-ops carefully planned and executed are dutifully reported by the Hill's men and women - who have otherwise been trained to probe and ask questions in an open environment.
So what does all this have to do with Frank Coleman? You should seriously consider that question and look at what we've been handed by the chosen one to date. The training of our media here has already begun.
Harper has amped his manliness up by intellectually going after our Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice - Beverly McLachlin; a frontal lobe competition our Prime Minister will soon regret.
But really the most concerning, revealing, and consistent trait of Harper is his refusal to communicate; at least in a way that is normal for a mature democracy.
At the basic core of this fellow is a stereo-typical troglodyte - a being so caught up in self-preservation that he appears paranoid. With his basic refusal to accept some science as real - he may easily believe that Mansbridge, Soloman, Martin or any Ottawa journalist are the dinosaurs waiting to pounce.
Sadly - as Canadians - we have failed by generally treating the PM's dismissal of unfettered scrums or appearances on national network political programs - as normal. Harper's protective communication goons have effectively removed their boss from open media access. The man has also annihilated the First Minister's conference. Why meet openly with Canada's real leaders - the Premiers of the federation.
The PMO has become a term that we have become too familiar with - as it's not Harper who is responsible for the bad deeds. The PMO said this and that. Media now reports regularly on what the PMO says - not what the PM says. In this regard the media is failing in its duty to the people of our country. The photo-ops carefully planned and executed are dutifully reported by the Hill's men and women - who have otherwise been trained to probe and ask questions in an open environment.
So what does all this have to do with Frank Coleman? You should seriously consider that question and look at what we've been handed by the chosen one to date. The training of our media here has already begun.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Enough of the Bullshit
This week we heard our former Premier Danny Williams use the word bullshit to describe population projections for Newfoundland and Labrador by the Conference Board of Canada.
We also heard him dismiss Bill Barry completely for a run at the PC leadership.
Top that with a new legacy for his family announced with plenty of "Mile One" like fanfare.
What's bullshit is this:
I need a line here - and I need a line there. I need for you to be proud. I need a development on the lower churchill. You will be Premier - you will run - you will not run? We got it - we are have - we are cool, hip, and PROUD.
Grimes should shut-up - but I don't need to? Harper should shut-up - but I don't need to? The Conference Board of Canada - well that's bullshit - listen to my well researched statistics and projections instead?
Hydro-Quebec is good - Hydro-Quebec is bad - take em on - lace up the skates - go around em - through em.
I will fight with Abitibi - shag it if we lose two papermills? I will fight with Harper - shag it if we lose any number of things?
I will boot Fabian out (he supported his people)? I will remove Tom from Cabinet (for something he did not do)?
I will tell you when to be proud and tell you when it's over. I will tell what resources will be developed and when? I will avail of those resources myself - when I want and how I want?
The throne of God is diminished in his presence?
That's bullshit. It always was bullshit and remains bullshit.
I will tell the media when they can speak to me - what they can ask me - and dismiss them at my will - I will punish and sue and punish and threaten to sue - don't give a shit if it's valid?
Look at me - I'm Danny Williams - Look at me?
Bullshit.
We also heard him dismiss Bill Barry completely for a run at the PC leadership.
Top that with a new legacy for his family announced with plenty of "Mile One" like fanfare.
What's bullshit is this:
I need a line here - and I need a line there. I need for you to be proud. I need a development on the lower churchill. You will be Premier - you will run - you will not run? We got it - we are have - we are cool, hip, and PROUD.
Grimes should shut-up - but I don't need to? Harper should shut-up - but I don't need to? The Conference Board of Canada - well that's bullshit - listen to my well researched statistics and projections instead?
Hydro-Quebec is good - Hydro-Quebec is bad - take em on - lace up the skates - go around em - through em.
I will fight with Abitibi - shag it if we lose two papermills? I will fight with Harper - shag it if we lose any number of things?
I will boot Fabian out (he supported his people)? I will remove Tom from Cabinet (for something he did not do)?
I will tell you when to be proud and tell you when it's over. I will tell what resources will be developed and when? I will avail of those resources myself - when I want and how I want?
The throne of God is diminished in his presence?
That's bullshit. It always was bullshit and remains bullshit.
I will tell the media when they can speak to me - what they can ask me - and dismiss them at my will - I will punish and sue and punish and threaten to sue - don't give a shit if it's valid?
Look at me - I'm Danny Williams - Look at me?
Bullshit.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Williams - Barry... Same ting
Bill Barry wants to be Premier. That's nice for him - but what of for us?
The first interview you should watch is On Point with David Cochrance CBC - Press HERE
Let's start with "if everyone in the province wants the same old same old - I can tell 48 people to vote for".
With that one statement Bill Barry eliminated all elected MHA's - from all sides of the House. He does not agree with one of them? Certainly it was a smack at the Party he wants to lead - and maybe that's not a bad thing - but smacking everybody that any of us elected is more than a little scary.
Cochrane did a good job probing some of the obvious questions and therefore the people get a chance to listen to unedited answers. A response to one of the questions regarding political ideology - Barry stated "I am running for the Conservative Party". That statement was very clear and certainly distances Barry from the Progressive Conservatives in this province - who Barry feels are not conservative. "I am a fiscal Conservative" Barry said. Another indicator that his leanings are very/extreme right is when he says only, "I don't consider myself a callous person", he does not say I'm a social Liberal.
Sue's Blog made an initial call on Barry - likening him to Bill Gates - in that both gentlemen appear to love consolidation in their favour and the elimination of competition. They both also like to be in control of who is worthy to receive money and under what circumstances. This comes through again and again in his interview with Cochrane.
As for his comment "most of the crowd in government today - if it's a bucket of shit - most of them wouldn't know it if you hauled it down over their head" - Barry danced like a wounded butterfly to escape what he calls "Billisms".
Barry has his own language - and an ego to match. If Barry was that concerned about governance of the Province since Clyde Wells - then he certainly did not rally the people - speak out - do something to stop all the wastage's.
One of Cochrane's questions netted the following comment, "My life experience and business experience is quite different than would be the norm in the House of Assembly"... On this one I want Barry to elaborate. More particularly his life experience. The idea that Bill's life is quite different than most in the HOA means it is different than the norm of the people who elected them. What in Bill's life is different and not the norm? This particularly - as he has toyed with changing the health and education systems.
We already know Barry blew it on the "Newfoundland Inc." comment - no mention of Labrador - which he corrected in the interview to say Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. Once again it was obvious where Barry would go fiscally - and is one of the real indicators where he would go socially. Businesses - such as the ones he operates are not operated with a social agenda - they are operated to be profitable. The government and it's whole reason for existence may be escaping Barry.
Barry does talk about increasing revenues though royalties and increased activity in offshore exploration - but says nothing about the secondary processing piece - where we use our resources to attract industry with maximum processing output. That is the only way we sustain an economy and grow population. Barry's route would see a continued stripping of natural resources - mostly in the Labrador Inc. part of the equation - for a one time royalty. He sees royalties not industrial development and growth in the secondary processing sector as the way to sustain expenditures. Barry does not get that because it works in his business does not mean it will work to develop and grow a society. If Barry finds a better price for "his" fish - processing or otherwise - elsewhere - then it's gone. Stripping out ores and straight-lining energy out - instead of using the naturally occurring resource to expand industrial processing - seems to be his tune. Ironically this is no different than the government he abhors.
On the political savvy side of the equation - he does not get it. Barry states to Cochrane "I'm not politically smart" - and wears it like a badge of honour. I certainly cannot be accused of wanting politics as usual - but there is no need to deny yourself knowledge - and this appears to be what Barry has done. He says of delegates going to the Tory leadership convention - to go there with an open mind - listen to everybody then decide. Barry clearly does not even understand why most of the delegates would be there. If Barry wanted to do something different - he should be up bellowing for an open voting process - and attract 10,000 people to vote for him.
Bill Barry woke up one morning - the same way Danny Williams did - today I'm gonna become Premier - I'm gonna shake things up - I'm gonna do it my way. Let me take my prowess at making a fortune in the private sector and let me run your government that way. Our unemployment is still way up - we are losing population - we are growing debt and producing deficits - we are making bad deals for the people but great deals for the private elite.
Business as usual - Williams and Barry - same ting....
The two boys are feeling competitive - that's all. That want to use us as their playhouse.
The first interview you should watch is On Point with David Cochrance CBC - Press HERE
Let's start with "if everyone in the province wants the same old same old - I can tell 48 people to vote for".
With that one statement Bill Barry eliminated all elected MHA's - from all sides of the House. He does not agree with one of them? Certainly it was a smack at the Party he wants to lead - and maybe that's not a bad thing - but smacking everybody that any of us elected is more than a little scary.
Cochrane did a good job probing some of the obvious questions and therefore the people get a chance to listen to unedited answers. A response to one of the questions regarding political ideology - Barry stated "I am running for the Conservative Party". That statement was very clear and certainly distances Barry from the Progressive Conservatives in this province - who Barry feels are not conservative. "I am a fiscal Conservative" Barry said. Another indicator that his leanings are very/extreme right is when he says only, "I don't consider myself a callous person", he does not say I'm a social Liberal.
Sue's Blog made an initial call on Barry - likening him to Bill Gates - in that both gentlemen appear to love consolidation in their favour and the elimination of competition. They both also like to be in control of who is worthy to receive money and under what circumstances. This comes through again and again in his interview with Cochrane.
As for his comment "most of the crowd in government today - if it's a bucket of shit - most of them wouldn't know it if you hauled it down over their head" - Barry danced like a wounded butterfly to escape what he calls "Billisms".
Barry has his own language - and an ego to match. If Barry was that concerned about governance of the Province since Clyde Wells - then he certainly did not rally the people - speak out - do something to stop all the wastage's.
One of Cochrane's questions netted the following comment, "My life experience and business experience is quite different than would be the norm in the House of Assembly"... On this one I want Barry to elaborate. More particularly his life experience. The idea that Bill's life is quite different than most in the HOA means it is different than the norm of the people who elected them. What in Bill's life is different and not the norm? This particularly - as he has toyed with changing the health and education systems.
We already know Barry blew it on the "Newfoundland Inc." comment - no mention of Labrador - which he corrected in the interview to say Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. Once again it was obvious where Barry would go fiscally - and is one of the real indicators where he would go socially. Businesses - such as the ones he operates are not operated with a social agenda - they are operated to be profitable. The government and it's whole reason for existence may be escaping Barry.
Barry does talk about increasing revenues though royalties and increased activity in offshore exploration - but says nothing about the secondary processing piece - where we use our resources to attract industry with maximum processing output. That is the only way we sustain an economy and grow population. Barry's route would see a continued stripping of natural resources - mostly in the Labrador Inc. part of the equation - for a one time royalty. He sees royalties not industrial development and growth in the secondary processing sector as the way to sustain expenditures. Barry does not get that because it works in his business does not mean it will work to develop and grow a society. If Barry finds a better price for "his" fish - processing or otherwise - elsewhere - then it's gone. Stripping out ores and straight-lining energy out - instead of using the naturally occurring resource to expand industrial processing - seems to be his tune. Ironically this is no different than the government he abhors.
On the political savvy side of the equation - he does not get it. Barry states to Cochrane "I'm not politically smart" - and wears it like a badge of honour. I certainly cannot be accused of wanting politics as usual - but there is no need to deny yourself knowledge - and this appears to be what Barry has done. He says of delegates going to the Tory leadership convention - to go there with an open mind - listen to everybody then decide. Barry clearly does not even understand why most of the delegates would be there. If Barry wanted to do something different - he should be up bellowing for an open voting process - and attract 10,000 people to vote for him.
Bill Barry woke up one morning - the same way Danny Williams did - today I'm gonna become Premier - I'm gonna shake things up - I'm gonna do it my way. Let me take my prowess at making a fortune in the private sector and let me run your government that way. Our unemployment is still way up - we are losing population - we are growing debt and producing deficits - we are making bad deals for the people but great deals for the private elite.
Business as usual - Williams and Barry - same ting....
The two boys are feeling competitive - that's all. That want to use us as their playhouse.
Monday, February 10, 2014
PC Leaders in wait?
This is the shortest post I will probably ever write.
A leader does not wait to see who's in the race before they enter it.
Next up - the words to watch from Bill Barry. There were some real indicators from Barry when interviewed by David Cochrane last week.
A leader does not wait to see who's in the race before they enter it.
Next up - the words to watch from Bill Barry. There were some real indicators from Barry when interviewed by David Cochrane last week.
Friday, January 31, 2014
What do Bill, Darin, Keith, Derrick have that Kathy does not?
So Bill 29 is getting inspected - but why unelected Premier Marshall?
Was elected Premier Kathy Dunderdale so vicious that you and your colleagues could not stop her?
Thousands of people yelling and screaming protest on Bill 29 - and you unelected Premier Marshall and your colleagues just ignored that? But why?
It took the loss of the first woman elected Premier of our province and who had a majority government for you and the other fellas to say - maybe we should review this.
On the strength of that - why after we were on rolling blackouts for obvious reasons of incompetence - did you not fire Ed Martin?
On that note - if you are going to "review" Bill 29 - why not "review" the Muskrat Falls deal?
Every identifiable Tory willing to speculate has been hauled out as a potential candidate for your upcoming (whenever) leadership contest. The only one left is Brian Peckford - can you manage to politically resurrect him - in your spin to demonstrate real interest in taking over the 20% party?
Is Dunderdale's seat being held for a new Townie leader and yours unelected Premier Marshall for Bill Barry?
The same old twitter backbench rats continue to attack and mock citizens. They continue on the same old path.
Then there is this - the people and the media are to blame for the loss of our Premier Dunderdale. "She was not understood" "people did not know her like we did". Sure - your the ones who booted her out. "She was not a good communicator" - yet you now are reviewing Bill 29 - not trying to re communicate the virtues of the Bill.
I've been around politics long enough to know that the PC's are in real trouble and are in panic mode. Even PC's - Bill Barry - thinks a revolution is needed - for him to even support you. So the one and only leadership candidate basically thinks the party needs to be blown up (figuratively speaking) in order for it to survive.
Tell me what do Darin King, Steve Kent, Derrick Dalley, or Keith Hutchings think they have that Kathy does not? Oh no never mind - the glass ceiling thing again.
One final question - if Bill 29 is changed - will the changes be retroactive?
As the unelected Premier overseeing the internal election of another unelected Premier - please remember you should not proceed with any major deals or developments. Time to go to the electorate - not PC's in a panic.
Was elected Premier Kathy Dunderdale so vicious that you and your colleagues could not stop her?
Thousands of people yelling and screaming protest on Bill 29 - and you unelected Premier Marshall and your colleagues just ignored that? But why?
It took the loss of the first woman elected Premier of our province and who had a majority government for you and the other fellas to say - maybe we should review this.
On the strength of that - why after we were on rolling blackouts for obvious reasons of incompetence - did you not fire Ed Martin?
On that note - if you are going to "review" Bill 29 - why not "review" the Muskrat Falls deal?
Every identifiable Tory willing to speculate has been hauled out as a potential candidate for your upcoming (whenever) leadership contest. The only one left is Brian Peckford - can you manage to politically resurrect him - in your spin to demonstrate real interest in taking over the 20% party?
Is Dunderdale's seat being held for a new Townie leader and yours unelected Premier Marshall for Bill Barry?
The same old twitter backbench rats continue to attack and mock citizens. They continue on the same old path.
Then there is this - the people and the media are to blame for the loss of our Premier Dunderdale. "She was not understood" "people did not know her like we did". Sure - your the ones who booted her out. "She was not a good communicator" - yet you now are reviewing Bill 29 - not trying to re communicate the virtues of the Bill.
I've been around politics long enough to know that the PC's are in real trouble and are in panic mode. Even PC's - Bill Barry - thinks a revolution is needed - for him to even support you. So the one and only leadership candidate basically thinks the party needs to be blown up (figuratively speaking) in order for it to survive.
Tell me what do Darin King, Steve Kent, Derrick Dalley, or Keith Hutchings think they have that Kathy does not? Oh no never mind - the glass ceiling thing again.
One final question - if Bill 29 is changed - will the changes be retroactive?
As the unelected Premier overseeing the internal election of another unelected Premier - please remember you should not proceed with any major deals or developments. Time to go to the electorate - not PC's in a panic.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Former Premier Roger Grimes - Perspective on Policies and Politics
Talk with Sue - Special Guest next week - Former Premier Roger Grimes
Many things have happened over the past year - not the least of which is the resignation of the first woman to be elected Premier of our Province. She resigned last week - suddenly and without much notice - and hers was a majority government.
Muskrat Falls debate rages on.
Bill 29
The Liberal and Tory leadership races.
New Premier Tom Marshall.
The resignation of Jerome Kennedy.
Natural resource development.
Budgetary issues. Debt and deficits and the unfunded pension liabilities
Health Care
Auditor General's Report
The massive change in political polling results.
The defection of sitting MHA's.
The state of the NDP and ruling Tories.
The changing tide for the Liberals.
The new Liberal leader.
As we get settled in to 2014 - what's in store for us?
Roger Grimes has agreed to talk about it all - a perspective from a man who once held the top job and the responsibility of the office.
This will be two hours of fascinating discussion that you won't want to miss.
Tuesday - February 4th from 6-8 on the Island and from 5:30 to 7:30 in most of Labrador the former Premier will be my special guest - live on Talk with Sue.
You can join the show live and enter the chat room - where you can pose some questions.
Many things have happened over the past year - not the least of which is the resignation of the first woman to be elected Premier of our Province. She resigned last week - suddenly and without much notice - and hers was a majority government.
Muskrat Falls debate rages on.
Bill 29
The Liberal and Tory leadership races.
New Premier Tom Marshall.
The resignation of Jerome Kennedy.
Natural resource development.
Budgetary issues. Debt and deficits and the unfunded pension liabilities
Health Care
Auditor General's Report
The massive change in political polling results.
The defection of sitting MHA's.
The state of the NDP and ruling Tories.
The changing tide for the Liberals.
The new Liberal leader.
As we get settled in to 2014 - what's in store for us?
Roger Grimes has agreed to talk about it all - a perspective from a man who once held the top job and the responsibility of the office.
This will be two hours of fascinating discussion that you won't want to miss.
Tuesday - February 4th from 6-8 on the Island and from 5:30 to 7:30 in most of Labrador the former Premier will be my special guest - live on Talk with Sue.
You can join the show live and enter the chat room - where you can pose some questions.
Monday, January 27, 2014
PC Convention - putting more lipstick on a pig
For a Party that has avoided a real leadership contest in almost two decades - 19 years - the choice of a delegate style event seems underwhelming.
In a country where provincial and federal parties are opening up the leadership process to all but children - the Newfoundland and Labrador Tories are determined to keep this in their controlled house.
The question is why?
When the Party was at its height - in popularity - somewhere holding on to the coattails of Danny Williams - people were kept at bay from challenging the "I don't want this job" interim Premier Kathy Dunderdale.
At first there were rumors that several caucus members would throw their hats in - then some speculation on outside interests. Brad Cabana paid his money - but was blocked from even a challenge - to what the party interests wanted. In the end - no takers.
So now the field has become wide open (so to speak) for any select individuals to step forward. As mentioned in an earlier post - I believe this process is taking on such flurry now because particular corporate interests wee unsuccessful in getting their chosen Liberal leader.
Such as all this is - why shut the people of the province out? Why not allow all to vote who want to vote? Why use delegates on a floor instead of the more progressive and open approach of letting everybody cast their own votes?
Instead of over 20,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians casting individual votes - as was the way with the Liberal Party - late last year - we are going to see about 500 district delegates and some ex-officio's engage in some good old backroom politics and deals.
For a party that says it wants to listen to people more, engage them more, and be more open and accountable - their first act of contrition - is to control the party once again from within.
The slight of hand thing has already been set in place with wannabe - really wannabe - Cabinet Minister - Sandy Collins - referring to the Liberal Convention this way "we should strive to repeat your process. I really liked the sounds of crickets in the half filled room. Tumble weed nice touch."
Sandy has taken over from Minister Kent who used to do the useless hacking until he was placed in Cabinet. Of course like children - if they see another child being rewarded for bad behavior - similar behavior may follow.
In either case - what the Liberal process did was allow everybody to cast their own private vote and to choose a second third and fourth choice. The fact is over 20,000 people participated directly in that democratic process.
Collin's instructed position is that we would rather stuff 500 in a room via delegate selection - so the optics would be better. He likes the sounds of cheers and wants to be taken to a room and be smoozed into voting for one or another.
The 500 or so who attend may well represent only 1000 or less people. You and I will never know unless we attend each and every district association meeting.
In our democracy you don't get a separate vote for the Premier - so a leadership contest is the only inclusion there is. When you strip that to a delegate convention - you may party hardy and hoop and holler - but you are doing nothing to directly involve tens thousands of people.
So here we go again - the method of communications - is key - not the message. That's why they say Dunderdale was dumped. Pile people in a room - they are delegates - therefore they should have their expenses paid. Pile people in a room - looks like the party is growing in its enthusiasm. Pile people into a room and feed the media cameras.
Let's not forget - not that long ago people piled into a room for now former Premier Kathy Dunderdale. The media reported that all was happy in Toryland. In fact Telegram reporter James McLeod headlined "Support for Premier rock solid at convention". This was September - just 4 months ago.
Now after 19 years of no leadership contest - after appointing and anointing the chosen - the Tories are going to the backrooms to pick a leader.
The message has not changed - the Tories are putting more lipstick on a pig.
In a country where provincial and federal parties are opening up the leadership process to all but children - the Newfoundland and Labrador Tories are determined to keep this in their controlled house.
The question is why?
When the Party was at its height - in popularity - somewhere holding on to the coattails of Danny Williams - people were kept at bay from challenging the "I don't want this job" interim Premier Kathy Dunderdale.
At first there were rumors that several caucus members would throw their hats in - then some speculation on outside interests. Brad Cabana paid his money - but was blocked from even a challenge - to what the party interests wanted. In the end - no takers.
So now the field has become wide open (so to speak) for any select individuals to step forward. As mentioned in an earlier post - I believe this process is taking on such flurry now because particular corporate interests wee unsuccessful in getting their chosen Liberal leader.
Such as all this is - why shut the people of the province out? Why not allow all to vote who want to vote? Why use delegates on a floor instead of the more progressive and open approach of letting everybody cast their own votes?
Instead of over 20,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians casting individual votes - as was the way with the Liberal Party - late last year - we are going to see about 500 district delegates and some ex-officio's engage in some good old backroom politics and deals.
For a party that says it wants to listen to people more, engage them more, and be more open and accountable - their first act of contrition - is to control the party once again from within.
The slight of hand thing has already been set in place with wannabe - really wannabe - Cabinet Minister - Sandy Collins - referring to the Liberal Convention this way "we should strive to repeat your process. I really liked the sounds of crickets in the half filled room. Tumble weed nice touch."
Sandy has taken over from Minister Kent who used to do the useless hacking until he was placed in Cabinet. Of course like children - if they see another child being rewarded for bad behavior - similar behavior may follow.
In either case - what the Liberal process did was allow everybody to cast their own private vote and to choose a second third and fourth choice. The fact is over 20,000 people participated directly in that democratic process.
Collin's instructed position is that we would rather stuff 500 in a room via delegate selection - so the optics would be better. He likes the sounds of cheers and wants to be taken to a room and be smoozed into voting for one or another.
The 500 or so who attend may well represent only 1000 or less people. You and I will never know unless we attend each and every district association meeting.
In our democracy you don't get a separate vote for the Premier - so a leadership contest is the only inclusion there is. When you strip that to a delegate convention - you may party hardy and hoop and holler - but you are doing nothing to directly involve tens thousands of people.
So here we go again - the method of communications - is key - not the message. That's why they say Dunderdale was dumped. Pile people in a room - they are delegates - therefore they should have their expenses paid. Pile people in a room - looks like the party is growing in its enthusiasm. Pile people into a room and feed the media cameras.
Let's not forget - not that long ago people piled into a room for now former Premier Kathy Dunderdale. The media reported that all was happy in Toryland. In fact Telegram reporter James McLeod headlined "Support for Premier rock solid at convention". This was September - just 4 months ago.
Now after 19 years of no leadership contest - after appointing and anointing the chosen - the Tories are going to the backrooms to pick a leader.
The message has not changed - the Tories are putting more lipstick on a pig.
Friday, January 24, 2014
New PC leader will come from Outside
The PC race - so to speak - is remarkably active.
A party at 20% in the polls usually finds it tough to grab serious interest from the outside - but this time it's different. There's significant cash and wealth on the line.
The Liberals have elected a competent, successful, professional - who just happens not to be one of the backroom elite. The money - old and new - and the political establishment in Newfoundland and Labrador were not successful in electing their candidate for Liberal leader. As I've said before - Dwight Ball is a people's leader and will be a people's Premier after the next election.
So - the boy's club - thinking they could count on taking over the Liberal Party in the wake of a disastrous performance by the current government - were left surprised. Up until a few months ago - if all else failed they might have gone the Jack Harris/NDP route.
There is no doubt the boys will be very careful this time around. They need somebody who can make corporate resource giveaways look like the people just won the lottery. Considering most of the current PC MHA's don't have that "X"factor - most not even considered Cabinet material - the new leader has to be a savior.
If the boys had managed to own the Liberal Party the PC's would be doing the usual government on the way out thing - where a few sitting members would run as caretaker while they sit out a new Liberal rule.
So what's likely then?
Inside we can see possibly:
Team King
Team Dalley
Team Davis
Commoners
Outside it may be the:
Team Barry McDonald Tobin
Team Powers Penney Sullivans
Establishment
I suspect Danny may be either - as either can meet his needs - as a citizen.
Marshall - who has always been there - just in case - oops correcter is now the Interim Premier leaving him to stay neutral - so to speak - that is continue to help usher for the feature film. Marshall - interim of everything (thereby confirming the lack of depth in the back bench) gets to have the title - be the boss - and protect the boat until a new skipper can be found.
Powers - who so coincidentally was introduced as a guest VOCM talkshow host over the past year - is now known more broadly by the electorate. He's well known in the lobbyist and corporate masters arena.
Barry - is a provincial character - fish merchant - I believe is a Gates type individual - wherein if we give him all the money - all the fish - all resources - he'd be happy to give some back to what he considers worthwhile causes and people. Competition not needed.
Both have enemies and both represent the establishment.
Question is which one can they sell to the people? Maybe neither - so they will be looking further afield for a back-up just in case.
At this time I predict - the new leader will come from the outside - in order that the resource giveaways keep a coming.
This is going to be a real test for the people of the province. Do they support the establishment merchant or the leader of the people?
A party at 20% in the polls usually finds it tough to grab serious interest from the outside - but this time it's different. There's significant cash and wealth on the line.
The Liberals have elected a competent, successful, professional - who just happens not to be one of the backroom elite. The money - old and new - and the political establishment in Newfoundland and Labrador were not successful in electing their candidate for Liberal leader. As I've said before - Dwight Ball is a people's leader and will be a people's Premier after the next election.
So - the boy's club - thinking they could count on taking over the Liberal Party in the wake of a disastrous performance by the current government - were left surprised. Up until a few months ago - if all else failed they might have gone the Jack Harris/NDP route.
There is no doubt the boys will be very careful this time around. They need somebody who can make corporate resource giveaways look like the people just won the lottery. Considering most of the current PC MHA's don't have that "X"factor - most not even considered Cabinet material - the new leader has to be a savior.
If the boys had managed to own the Liberal Party the PC's would be doing the usual government on the way out thing - where a few sitting members would run as caretaker while they sit out a new Liberal rule.
So what's likely then?
Inside we can see possibly:
Team King
Team Dalley
Team Davis
Commoners
Outside it may be the:
Team Barry McDonald Tobin
Team Powers Penney Sullivans
Establishment
I suspect Danny may be either - as either can meet his needs - as a citizen.
Marshall - who has always been there - just in case - oops correcter is now the Interim Premier leaving him to stay neutral - so to speak - that is continue to help usher for the feature film. Marshall - interim of everything (thereby confirming the lack of depth in the back bench) gets to have the title - be the boss - and protect the boat until a new skipper can be found.
Powers - who so coincidentally was introduced as a guest VOCM talkshow host over the past year - is now known more broadly by the electorate. He's well known in the lobbyist and corporate masters arena.
Barry - is a provincial character - fish merchant - I believe is a Gates type individual - wherein if we give him all the money - all the fish - all resources - he'd be happy to give some back to what he considers worthwhile causes and people. Competition not needed.
Both have enemies and both represent the establishment.
Question is which one can they sell to the people? Maybe neither - so they will be looking further afield for a back-up just in case.
At this time I predict - the new leader will come from the outside - in order that the resource giveaways keep a coming.
This is going to be a real test for the people of the province. Do they support the establishment merchant or the leader of the people?
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