To the reader:
Please take the time to read this and then sit back and think about it for a while. Let me know what you think.
Sue
From the gate - Stephen Harper while not taking questions as he exited the Governor General's residence claimed the opposition parties were attempting to form a coalition.
He controlled that message from day one. This was a carefully crafted PR move by somebody and Harper played his role perfectly.
Election called - first message - unquestioned - they want a coalition.
Then came a week of:
The coalition wanted an election - Canadians did not.
The coalition have a plan to take over power - Canadians do not want a coalition.
The coalition will... and so on.
The media for their part - despite any evidence of the foregoing - reported and re-reported that the coalition was the election issue.
Harper played the media like a fiddle - all the while blocking open access to them and limiting questions and controlling the physical environment.
The media like a part of the Harper team - chased Ignatieff here and there and would not allow any questions but those on the coalition. Then Harper "suggested" to the media that they need to get a commitment from Ignatieff that he would not form a coalition. They almost dutifully tracked Ignatieff and asked and asked until - Ignatieff - exhausted from the inability to get to any other subject - mistakenly - promised no coalition.
All the while Harper skirted the real question - on why he was limiting questions and controlling the media - which they have since capitulated and now follow his rules. This did not help the voters or our democracy. It was - in my opinion - one of the greatest media blunders of recent memory.
Next we had Harper segue into the economy - he would say it would not be good for our economy if we had a coalition - it would damage our progress he would add. So then he had the media reporting that Harper's concern was now all about the economy. Throughout this dog and pony show - the public were not treated to a question posse by the media - wherein Harper should have been asked about his problem with democracy and why he felt that Canadians should not be allowed to choose their own democracy - including the possibility of a coalition.
Now the real duping might finally be revealed to our investigative journalists. Harper wanted a commitment in the media from Ignatieff - to not form a coalition - for two reasons. The first is to ensure that if he formed another minority - he would hold on to the job of Prime Minister (or be able to state to Canadians that Ignatieff lied if a coalition were formed) and second to do what the party started today. The Conservative candidates now have the media reporting that even if Ignatieff did not want a coalition - they might vote down the budget and then the Governor General might ask Ignatieff if they might be able to form a coalition.
Where is Stephen Harper in all these games? Unavailable to the media!
Now the coup de grace has arrived as Harper above all people complained that the Liberal ads have him misquoted. This man - a proven liar - a cheat - in contempt is complaining about a quote on universal health care. Now the media has yet another shift in coverage - essentially accommodating Stephen Harper.
Tomorrow it is Quebec and how if a majority is not achieved - Gilles Duceppe will be in a position to move the separatist agenda forward into another vote on sovereignty.
If the media is at all interested in constructive criticism - they might want to consider how they have been used as part of a Harper re-election campaign and begin the process of returning to independent journalists giving Canadians the information they need to make their own minds up.
To the handlers of Michael Ignatieff and to Ignatieff himself - talk to Canadians about our issues and continue addressing problems of contempt, lies, cheating, right-wing fanaticism, and one scary Harper who gets up every day plotting to get and keep power.
Showing posts with label duceppe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duceppe. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Old Harry - and the French Debate - What are the Premier's thoughts?
Old Harry another potential multi-billion dollar oil-gas reserve off Newfoundland and Labrador's coast is slipping away and is probably gone.
Our Premier - Kathy Dunderdale - is either incapable of dealing with this issue or does not desire to fight it for another reason.
I believe the French Language debate has concluded where her buddy Stephen Harper stands and that is contrary to the best interests of our province.
Let's everybody decide what we can take from this Harper commentary. When asked about Quebec's place in Canada and how the parties were going to win back the hearts of Quebeckers - Harper said:
- we recognized Quebec as a nation within a united Canada
- we gave Quebec a seat at UNESCO
- we have established a new agreement on Old Harry
As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - do we think the Premier's buddy Harper was misspeaking?
Should we take a long pause and wait for Harper to add - if it is determined that Old Harry is within the Quebec boundaries?
Old Harry is gone unless we get rid of Dunderdale and start fighting for our very existence.
By the way - Duceppe has already started to extend that oil/gas boundary to the fishery and is coming after us on that in short order.
What are the Premier's thoughts?
Our Premier - Kathy Dunderdale - is either incapable of dealing with this issue or does not desire to fight it for another reason.
I believe the French Language debate has concluded where her buddy Stephen Harper stands and that is contrary to the best interests of our province.
Let's everybody decide what we can take from this Harper commentary. When asked about Quebec's place in Canada and how the parties were going to win back the hearts of Quebeckers - Harper said:
- we recognized Quebec as a nation within a united Canada
- we gave Quebec a seat at UNESCO
- we have established a new agreement on Old Harry
As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - do we think the Premier's buddy Harper was misspeaking?
Should we take a long pause and wait for Harper to add - if it is determined that Old Harry is within the Quebec boundaries?
Old Harry is gone unless we get rid of Dunderdale and start fighting for our very existence.
By the way - Duceppe has already started to extend that oil/gas boundary to the fishery and is coming after us on that in short order.
What are the Premier's thoughts?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Harper's Stategy - The Media not Canadians are stupid
I give Harper and his strategists credit. They have a new twist on politicking in Canada.
Most politicians that are underhanded, deceitful, and/or unlawful usually rely on the population being stupid. For instance in Newfoundland and Labrador - Kathy Dunderdale and the Willderdale administration believe that our people will simply follow her and them blindly into a disastrous development deal on the Lower Churchill.
Harper on the other hand - intelligent - but a liar, decided that Canadians generally speaking are somewhat intelligent and would therefore utilize the media and competent journalists to get a fair and balanced package of information. On that basis - Harper and the Reform Party strategists - set about whipping the national media - and selling his propaganda to them. I believe that a significant portion of the Harper strategy relies on the predictability of the media in delivering his message.
When Harper won his first minority - he started right in on "paralysing" the media by picking and choosing journalists that would be allowed to ask a question let alone the ones he would answer. The Press Gallery uttered their displeasure quietly and then quickly conformed. That same attitude was evident again on Friday when he refused to answer questions after his government had been thrown out of office by the Parliament of Canada. Thrown out under historic conditions as a result of being found in contempt of Parliament. In some societies that shame would be unbearable and with some molecule of remaining integrity they would remove themselves from office while apologizing profusely.
Harper decided some months ago that the issue for the upcoming and planned election would be the evil "coalition". The man who clearly lies with ease and without regret - carries on with his pitch that this election is about a "coalition" who rejected his government's budget initiatives. Like clapping seals or herding sheep the media almost to a one (there were some exceptions) carried his message to the people of Canada - despite his refusal to answer media questions. The fact that Harper would not take questions demonstrates that he does not believe in democratic principles and is paramount to a witness giving testimony without the other side having the right to cross-examine. Harper acts and behaves like a wannabe dictator - stuck in a country that will not give him unfettered access to that title. That is why Canadians fear a majority under this Reform Party ultra-right wing Conservative leader.
The media of our country might want to step back - remember how Harper treated them - and smarten up. A Harper majority would also change the landscape for the "freedom of the press" concept.
Once again - ironically - Duceppe is doing more to preserve Canadian democracy than any Conservative on the campaign trail.
Most politicians that are underhanded, deceitful, and/or unlawful usually rely on the population being stupid. For instance in Newfoundland and Labrador - Kathy Dunderdale and the Willderdale administration believe that our people will simply follow her and them blindly into a disastrous development deal on the Lower Churchill.
Harper on the other hand - intelligent - but a liar, decided that Canadians generally speaking are somewhat intelligent and would therefore utilize the media and competent journalists to get a fair and balanced package of information. On that basis - Harper and the Reform Party strategists - set about whipping the national media - and selling his propaganda to them. I believe that a significant portion of the Harper strategy relies on the predictability of the media in delivering his message.
When Harper won his first minority - he started right in on "paralysing" the media by picking and choosing journalists that would be allowed to ask a question let alone the ones he would answer. The Press Gallery uttered their displeasure quietly and then quickly conformed. That same attitude was evident again on Friday when he refused to answer questions after his government had been thrown out of office by the Parliament of Canada. Thrown out under historic conditions as a result of being found in contempt of Parliament. In some societies that shame would be unbearable and with some molecule of remaining integrity they would remove themselves from office while apologizing profusely.
Harper decided some months ago that the issue for the upcoming and planned election would be the evil "coalition". The man who clearly lies with ease and without regret - carries on with his pitch that this election is about a "coalition" who rejected his government's budget initiatives. Like clapping seals or herding sheep the media almost to a one (there were some exceptions) carried his message to the people of Canada - despite his refusal to answer media questions. The fact that Harper would not take questions demonstrates that he does not believe in democratic principles and is paramount to a witness giving testimony without the other side having the right to cross-examine. Harper acts and behaves like a wannabe dictator - stuck in a country that will not give him unfettered access to that title. That is why Canadians fear a majority under this Reform Party ultra-right wing Conservative leader.
The media of our country might want to step back - remember how Harper treated them - and smarten up. A Harper majority would also change the landscape for the "freedom of the press" concept.
Once again - ironically - Duceppe is doing more to preserve Canadian democracy than any Conservative on the campaign trail.
There is an Elephant in the room and it is not a Coalition - it is a Liar
You should try googling Harper is a Liar and see what Canadians think. This is the issue!
Duceppe attacks Harper as a `liar' as election campaign starts
Is Stephen Harper a Liar?
He has decided that it’s perfectly alright to lie to CanadiansStephen Harper is a liar.
Stephen Harper, is he blind or just a liar?
Idiot or liar?
To bring in the new year, Harper decided to break one more promise.Stephen Harper: The Liar
The Truth Behind The Lie
lying about war is unforgiveablePM Stephen Harper is a cad and a liar
Stephen Harper A Liar: Discuss
Stephen Harper’s liesAnyway, the reason Harper is a liar is
Harper lied to the people of NL
Either Harper blatantly lied to the Canadian people
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Polls and Promises the Art of selling out Newfoundland and Labrador
Finally it appears that all political parties in Ottawa are going to hold Harper and his cronies to account. The lying, cheating, and misleading all leave a bad taste in the mouths of Canadians.
I sat and watched the budget yesterday - and wondered - what is the truth? Is Flaherty telling me the truth? Then I quickly reminded myself that he and his colleagues have cooked up some more politics, partisan tripe, and outright spin to see if they can't make it on third down? If all else fails Harper might want to try the US to see if he can make the end line of a fourth down attempt or just agree to pack it in and kick it off to the other team.
What I liked most about the commentary yesterday was the corporate elite telling Canadians - we do not want another election. Banks broadcasting that they was a 5 fold return on investment in the next quarter or half and major faceless shareholders drooling over yet more corporate tax cuts. Corporations do not vote! They do not own our election process - although arguably own quite a number of our politicians.
Then there were the media gurus who had Jack Layton supporting the budget before he left the House - only to be wrong as Jack first took to the mics. You got to give him his due - the Leader of the NDP - as he waited and waited for the Bloc and Liberals to state the obvious - and then after all were finished he arrived to a throng of childlike reporters hanging on to his every word.
Perhaps this election will see the virtual end to the Green Party and perhaps the birth of another to take its place. At the moment the Green's appear to be one very large employer for Elizabeth May and one very considerate draw on taxpayer voting dollars. I would like to see a few more parties in Canada - with choices more like the Bloc but for the rest of us. We need somebody to push for the real changes we need such as reform or abolition of the Senate, the restructuring of our confederation, equity for smaller provinces, equalization that does not punish the development of non-renewable resources, and parties that recognize that people not corporations - vote.
If they want to talk about fiscal responsibility as the Conservatives love to yammer on about - let's try to let them sink or swim on their own - the Conservatives do this but to average Canadians not failing mega-corps. Jim Flaherty like some of his past colleagues (now residing in corporate positions) believe they work for banks - not Canadians. When Flaherty gives yet another tax break to the largest of the largest publicly traded conglomerate - he his doing so with our money - not his.
We will soon find out if political prostitution is alive and well in our province - as we all await what Ms. Dunderdale will recommend to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Will she forget about the 10 billion lost when Harper lied to Williams and to our people - just to fan dangle a loan guarantee for the Muskrat Falls development. A loan guarantee that we would not need if Harper had not screwed us on equalization - rendering our oil revenues a punishment not a mover for our long-term economic stability. Will our Premier - so desperate for the Emera deal - ignore the injustices perpetrated by the Harper administration and move us toward negotiating away even more of our future for that line to Nova Scotia?
The Harper government really needed to shut down the string of lies, deception, and manipulative practises - and so they completed a half-arse election budget knowing that an agreement would not be reached with other parties. Funny it is - watching Harper govern as a majority despite the minority reality - and up until yesterday the other parties allowed this to be.
And so today as I listen to the pundits tell me over and over again on our national media circuit - that Canadians do not want an election - I will remind myself that I must be in the minority - one who believes that parliamentary rules do matter - the truth from politicians must be paramount - and that these elected representatives are answerable to the people not the creepy animated character in some bank advertisement.
Where do I mark my X - I am still on the ABC campaign - as I assume our Premier will be. I wonder if Harper will "promise" a loan guarantee to Dunderdale for the hydro legacy of shame and if Dunderdale will accept that promise like others before her? Will she join the long list of politicians who will sell out this province cheaply and conservatively?
I sat and watched the budget yesterday - and wondered - what is the truth? Is Flaherty telling me the truth? Then I quickly reminded myself that he and his colleagues have cooked up some more politics, partisan tripe, and outright spin to see if they can't make it on third down? If all else fails Harper might want to try the US to see if he can make the end line of a fourth down attempt or just agree to pack it in and kick it off to the other team.
What I liked most about the commentary yesterday was the corporate elite telling Canadians - we do not want another election. Banks broadcasting that they was a 5 fold return on investment in the next quarter or half and major faceless shareholders drooling over yet more corporate tax cuts. Corporations do not vote! They do not own our election process - although arguably own quite a number of our politicians.
Then there were the media gurus who had Jack Layton supporting the budget before he left the House - only to be wrong as Jack first took to the mics. You got to give him his due - the Leader of the NDP - as he waited and waited for the Bloc and Liberals to state the obvious - and then after all were finished he arrived to a throng of childlike reporters hanging on to his every word.
Perhaps this election will see the virtual end to the Green Party and perhaps the birth of another to take its place. At the moment the Green's appear to be one very large employer for Elizabeth May and one very considerate draw on taxpayer voting dollars. I would like to see a few more parties in Canada - with choices more like the Bloc but for the rest of us. We need somebody to push for the real changes we need such as reform or abolition of the Senate, the restructuring of our confederation, equity for smaller provinces, equalization that does not punish the development of non-renewable resources, and parties that recognize that people not corporations - vote.
If they want to talk about fiscal responsibility as the Conservatives love to yammer on about - let's try to let them sink or swim on their own - the Conservatives do this but to average Canadians not failing mega-corps. Jim Flaherty like some of his past colleagues (now residing in corporate positions) believe they work for banks - not Canadians. When Flaherty gives yet another tax break to the largest of the largest publicly traded conglomerate - he his doing so with our money - not his.
We will soon find out if political prostitution is alive and well in our province - as we all await what Ms. Dunderdale will recommend to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Will she forget about the 10 billion lost when Harper lied to Williams and to our people - just to fan dangle a loan guarantee for the Muskrat Falls development. A loan guarantee that we would not need if Harper had not screwed us on equalization - rendering our oil revenues a punishment not a mover for our long-term economic stability. Will our Premier - so desperate for the Emera deal - ignore the injustices perpetrated by the Harper administration and move us toward negotiating away even more of our future for that line to Nova Scotia?
The Harper government really needed to shut down the string of lies, deception, and manipulative practises - and so they completed a half-arse election budget knowing that an agreement would not be reached with other parties. Funny it is - watching Harper govern as a majority despite the minority reality - and up until yesterday the other parties allowed this to be.
And so today as I listen to the pundits tell me over and over again on our national media circuit - that Canadians do not want an election - I will remind myself that I must be in the minority - one who believes that parliamentary rules do matter - the truth from politicians must be paramount - and that these elected representatives are answerable to the people not the creepy animated character in some bank advertisement.
Where do I mark my X - I am still on the ABC campaign - as I assume our Premier will be. I wonder if Harper will "promise" a loan guarantee to Dunderdale for the hydro legacy of shame and if Dunderdale will accept that promise like others before her? Will she join the long list of politicians who will sell out this province cheaply and conservatively?
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