CBC needs to Rethink - Decisions Questionable

Did anybody catch the political panel on CBC Here and Now tonight?

If you did you were probably scratching your head.

First question - did CBC choose the panelists?

PC representative - Ross Reid Current Campaign Chair Forever Tory
NDP representative - Lana Payne active with current and ongoing ties to the NDP
Liberal representative - Bill Matthews the Liberal/PC with no obvious current ties to the Liberals

This was an obvious problem from the get go. First Matthews has not always been Liberal - rather for a significant period of his political career he was Tory. Second - he has not been obviously involved with the Party during this election or over the past number of years. Third - he seemed disconnected with what's current in the Libs organization and campaign.

This contrasts completely with the other two individuals who are stalwarts of their respective parties and are obviously current and involved.

The first question revolved around the ongoing battle in St. John's Centre and the battle between Gerry Rogers NDP and the incumbent Shawn Skinner PC. Really there was nothing left to do but agree for Bill.

Then we got into the polls and the expectation of seats. Ross Reid just had to sit back and let Bill Matthews do the hacking for him. Lana predicted 5 for the NDP and then predicted 4-5 for the Liberals. Ross just sat there smug as Bill agreed with Lana and was unable to talk about any seats outside the overpass. Ross sat there again letting them split 7 or 8 seats.

Regardless of the types of polls done - accurate or inaccurate - when you remove the greater St. John's areas and a few strong Tory seats in other areas of the province - the numbers for a significant number of rural seats would probably show a very close split between the Liberals and Tories.

Let's look at this:

Yvonne Jones - does anybody believe she is at 16%?
Andrew Parsons?
Eddie Joyce?
Dwight Ball?
Kevin Aylward?
Neil Ward?
Joanna Guy Ryan?
Danny Dumderesque?
Wayne Morris?
Eric Skinner?
Merv Wiseman?
Chris Montague?
Randy Edmunds?
Todd Squires?
Leanne Hussey?
Jim Bennett?
Marshall Dean?
Barry Snow?
Ryan Lane?

I could carry on. Anybody like to take a crack at the popular vote in these districts before the election?

Despite the continued attack on the Liberals by certain anti-liberal media it will be interesting to check these polls on election day.

I have to say CBC - the panel on tonight was the worst demonstration of balance I have ever seen. That is unless the Liberal party sent Matthews. If that's the case - something worse is on the go.

No answer from the polling company! Public Servants restricted in Private Life?

MQO has not answered my request for specific information on the election poll. They claim to be an upstanding member of MRIA - an agency that sets standards for polling and research.

The information I am seeking - according to MRIA - should be given to a member of the public that asks for it. So where is it. The only answers MQO has given is a self proclamation of their goodness.

Then we move to a Telelink Poll that has 42% undecided. That number could form its own government.

Now word that the PC government policy is that public servants are being controlled in their private lives by their employer - the province.

Rules like - can't make a political contribution, can't display a sign on their own lawn, can't wear a button outside the workplace, and can't stuff envelopes!

Who does this apply to?
- report directly to, speak on behalf of, or provide advice, opinions or recommendations to the Premier, Cabinet, Treasury Board, a Minister, or a Deputy Minister

That could be anybody.


What's next?

This is a very dangerous and not democratic. Also is this applying to the Tories - and the political emails from the Confederation Building - managers and all - promoting Tory things. Okay let's start pumping these out.

Then there's this.

Political Support Staff

For the purpose of this Policy, political support staff members are considered to be politically non-restricted. The appropriateness of the political activities undertaken by this group will be determined by the respective Minister.

So if the PC's win - does that mean that Ross Reid and Len Simms cannot come back - because maybe they would not be impartial and may treat certain members of the public unfairly.

Finally this one takes the cake.

The policy actually says:

Employees
All employees can vote in an election.

Gee Thanks!