Harper and Mansbridge the Christmas Message

Can't Wait

Tuning up the old violin here today as I await the Christmas/New Year fireside chat between overpaid Mansbridge and unwanted Harper.

The two - civil - casual - well coiffed pair will sip some coffee - put on a serious but welcoming face - and quietly discuss all the abhorrent behavior and lies of the Prime Minister.

You'll smell shortbread and turkey from your television as they oh so quietly tip-toe around the ghastly details. Elite to elite they will hypnotize you; Peter with his voice and Stephen with his blue eyes.

As Stephen quietly dismantles any thought that Duffy and Wright are not the only ones involved - Peter will toughen up and say but - but and then let the Prime Minister repeat the speaking notes.

Both men like who they are - no they love themselves - and certainly we must love them too. Peter - after all is the only newsman in the land that Stephen will address - minus the media police. Peter will be "free" to ask the tough already agreed to questions - and the Prime Minister will not refuse to answer with the already prepared responses.

The CBC - having lost hockey will rebound in spades - as they and only they will get the holiday visit.

The Prime Minister has been surrounded by corruption, incompetence, lies, and crooks - and he appointed them all. Peter is the patriarch of our public broadcasting system - slightly less popular than Don Cherry - but filled with grace and finesse.

Yes I'm looking forward to another year where Stephen Harper controls the media - while we the public do not get the direct answers - out of his mouth.

I wonder whose suits they will be wearing - and what colour ties. Think about it - the PM interviewing the PM - matching  monogrammed Towelettes?

So this year - we will once again - get to feast on a turkey and a ham.

Next year who knows - perhaps Rogers will get a 10 year exclusivity contract for chats with the Prime Minister.

Harper cheers for twins from Sweden - as Canadian Essential Services are CUT

So President Harper wants to see a hockey game in Boston.

President Harper hitches a ride with the Air-Force 1 wannabe to the USA.

A pleasant picture of President Harper and his daughter in the stands cheering for "Canada's" team is shown by Canadian media - the same media who were restricted to 5 questions during the election campaign.

This at a time when smiling Oh'Flaherty slices jobs and essential services to Canadians. At a time when the the maladroit Minister of Finance happily hops down the steps heading to Parliament; on route to heckling political adversaries who are fighting his draconian cuts.

You see the NHL is a professional sports league that offers a product of unessential entertainment - best described as grown men passing a rubber disc around an ice surface with an aim to shoot it into a net owned by the opposing team. These men are paid millions to break a sweat while skating in 35 to 50 second intervals - and occasionally hit each other with an elbow, stick, or fist.

So at a time when jobs are being cut in Harper's republic, Newfoundland and Labrador is losing a rescue centre, and essential services for Canadians are being trimmed down - the Prime Minister has absolutely NO excuse to use government assets to watch a hockey game.

Do you think Harper is an average Canadian? He should be - he was elected by average Canadians to manage their collective affairs.

Harper is a liar; of that there is no doubt - but Harper is also clearly vindictive - to the point where average Canadians are blaming each other for voting anything but Conservative. It is a real belief in this country that if a particular electoral district voted for anybody but a Conservative - they will be punished with cuts to services and jobs. Worse Canadians believe - if a Province failed to vote for and elect a majority of Conservative seats - that population will be punished.

In Newfoundland and Labrador there is evidence that this is the case and will continue. Harper once said we had an attitude of defeatism and liked welfare - providing the benefit was rich enough. Harper felt completely comfortable abusing his power - while travelling to watch "Canada's" team in the NHL match-up.

Considering all these teams are rostered with individuals that are from everywhere - the PM actually sat in the stands cheering twins from Sweden while Newfoundland and Labrador's player Michael Ryder cleaned Vancouver's clock.

The Prime Minister Harper asked us to ignore "contempt of Parliament" and "violations of the Elections Act" and concentrate on the economy. Well done Harper - you lied again.

Remember Premier Dunderdale this is "your" man. 

Harper's Vendetta will now cost Lives - will Dunderdale stand by "her" Man?

Stephen Harper will not do right by Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Prime Minister has lied to Premier Williams directly, he has lied to me directly, he has lied to our people directly and it has cost us billions of dollars.

Each decision he makes guarantees that our Province and her people lose again.

The Prime Minister has lied on equalization, custodial management of the Nose and Tail, Air Force Base Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Senate appointments, and Income Trusts.

Regardless of your point of view about Danny Williams - he was right in his assessment of Harper and his very public warning about Harper's character should be remembered.

Harper is now threatening Fisheries Science again and places into more peril the stocks which the federal government is already responsible for mismanaging. Cuts to the Department, puts another nail in the coffin which is our future. That was figurative! With respect to cuts to the Coast Guard and emergency response - the man is placing in jeopardy - real lives. This certainly must be the last straw for our people!

The way Harper sees it is if we don't voluntarily jump off the bridge - he will push us.

Last but not least - Harper takes particular pleasure in having Newfoundlanders and Labradorians stand by his side while he takes aim at our province. Manning, Hearn, Sullivan, Beth Marshall, and Fabian have been used successfully and now he has our Premier Dunderdale holding his left hand and Peter Penashue holding his right hand. Let's hope they let go before more damage is done.

Penashue tows the well worn Party Line - Follows Hearn and Manning

Well at least we did not have to wait long to see if Penashue would follow Manning and Hearn - yes he did.

Penashue's comment that massive budget cuts were "painful" but "responsible" - is the Conservative line.

With cuts in the Department of Fisheries - recovery of stocks and necessary science for sustainability will be impacted. That cannot really sit well with an aboriginal leader - can it?

As a Labradorian - is Peter concerned that cuts to Defence may spell trouble for Happy Valley-Goose Bay?

The 4 billion dollars budgeted to be eliminated - will mean ramifications to essential services - and Peter supporting that - does not seem to jive.

There is a possibility though - that Peter has made a deal for his people - the Innu - and perhaps the Nation will gain direct benefits from a deal.

The Innu Nation claims to protect its people from outside threats - that does include the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada. The Innu Nation has fought industrialization which impacted their traditional life and lands (Lower Churchill). This was fixed by letting the Nation in on the project.

I prefer to let the Nation speak for itself on these issues: Below are statements taken from the Innu Nation site:


...It also made it mandatory for Innu children to attend school and threatened to stop welfare and family allowance payments to families whose children did not attend class.


As a result, many Innu families had to live in the communities for most of the year, despite their concerns that doing so would threaten their migratory way of life and connection to the land.

Innu parents also felt the school curriculum taught their children more about white North American society than their own and worried younger generations were being alienated from their cultural traditions.

Compounding these concerns were a string of post-Confederation forestry, mining, and other industrial developments that occurred on Innu land, but without Innu permission.

Most dramatic among these was the Upper Churchill Falls hydroelectric project, which flooded thousands of kilometers of land in Labrador, including valuable caribou habitat and Innu burial grounds. Although the Innu people used and depended on much of this area for centuries, the provincial government did not consult them before damming the Churchill River.

I do not believe the cuts will impact the Innu Nation or Peter's people - it will however continue to hurt Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be very interesting - and educational.

Will the missing Cod find their way to the Base in Goose? Ask Harper and Dunderdale!

You can see how the Stephen Harper government will support Newfoundland and Labrador.

Department of Fisheries budget cut by $53 million.

Department of National Defense axing 2,100 positions.

Are you impressed with Premier Dunderdale's support of Harper?

The only reason Stephen Harper will give a loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill is to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador loses more of its valuable resources to other provinces. Just like the first 5,000 MW's to Quebec - we lose.

Stop the Emera deal and tell Kathy Dunderdale NO in October.