a Grim/m Fairytale? Cop-Boyscout-Lawyer

 Is this a grim/m Fairytale?

You decide.
 
Stretching another 4 years out of this tired government is difficult when one considers the polling trends.

The back room of the Newfoundland and Labrador PC's must be abuzz with plotting, scheming, and planning in an attempt to squeeze another term in office. There are many more resources they want to "develop".

So let's pretend we are in the room listening to the suggestions for extended office.

The first discussion probably would have been dragging the election date out - to compensate for Kathy's early departure. That damn law they might have said - and we put it there too - they might add.

The first plan therefore might have been to use whatever method possible to drag the term the full 4 years - giving them more time to attempt recovery in the polls.

The second discussion likely was who and what to blame the poor poll results on. Well we cannot blame it on Muskrat they may have mused and we can't currently blame the feds - so what then? The second plan could have been to blame it on communications - if all else fails it was her failure to communicate our message. Not policy - they could not blame it on policy.

The third discussion might have been - yah maybe not all policy but some stuff is bad. Bill 29 for example. That we can blame on Kathy and all we need to do is extend it out - buy some time - pretend we are listening. It won't stop Muskrat from proceeding but it will get their attention. So the third plan might have been Bill 29 - off to examination.

On to the fourth discussion - okay but what about leadership - we need a new face they may have suggested. Okay but we got to be careful here - don't want any radical change to our resource development policy. Protect Muskrat - Protect Muskrat - at all costs was probably suggested. So the fourth plan they might have concluded was to "con"vince somebody - totally non-political - a business person - somebody who looks professional - somebody who supports Muskrat. Further - we have to get somebody who can eventually win a seat - and we need a seat where somebody is leaving. Not as easy as we think - they might have uttered - how do we convince such a person. Fourth plan - Voila - Frank - but how do we convince Frank. And so it might have been done. He was convinced. Poor fellow though - he looked and acted like he was being dragged through the political streets of Damascus - under the Dannymon Empire.

Now to the fifth and they probably have agreed to plead it - how do we drag this on to extend the election? They might have suggested, alright we gotta get a few months out of Frank - let him get used to the people - don't swear him in right away. Then if we extend that long enough - perhaps Frank could leave at the last moment - if he does not work out and we can bring in the back-ups.

 Picture Evening Telegram - See my back? Job done?

So the plan perhaps became to drag out Frank as long as possible - then call a new leadership process when Frank quit. We have the back-ups and we can assign each of them some Cabinet support - well who do we get? Well Kent is always ready to cooperate - he's a social media animal - we can get some twitter, facebook, and web page support out of him. And best of all - we might be able to robo-call the VOCM question of the day - to get the results we want and we are sure VOCM will report.

Be Prepared - to Robo-call and Tweet

How about the diplomat? How about the fellow who likes Harper and loves Muskrat.

Yes the silvered hair guy who looks knowledgeable and even-keeled. Good Tory boy  comes from the right schools - has a stately name - and can speak circles around Kevin O'Brien. Surely they must have considered this.

Remember Me? I don't remember me!

So Ottenheimer it is they might have concluded.

Finally we need somebody in-between - almost like Goldilocks - you know the just right fellow. That is a task - not too much political baggage, looks good in a blue suit or uniform - able to speak coherently - has communication experience - family guy - PC district and is re-electable. Can we build a resume that highlights some areas but downplays either the lack of ability or lack of desire to lead? A fighter - that's what he is - on the side of good - almost like running Spiderman for election. Spin a web - fight crime - on the side of good - and be able to hide any underlying deficiencies. Yes that's him they all might have exclaimed at once. We got it! We got it! Paul Davis -  they all might have chimed together on the Atlantic Place escalator.

I'm the Good Guy. Is Muskrat Falls a societal crime?

They might have mused that with mini-me in control of the party wing

 - we can keep Danny out of the circus while quietly helping delegates to make up their mind - with the exception of Mount Pearl - who will send in the city scouts to support their boy/man Steve.

Okay - Okay - they probably gasped with some short-term relief - now we need a plan - we need to attract the people back into our fold. Alright - spend money - lots of it. Employ people to do whatever up there in Labrador. Keep the trades involved - the nurses happy - and take advantage of the BBQ circuit. Announce - re-announce - put fillers in pot holes near and far. Announce hospitals, schools, arenas, fire-trucks, pavement (a km. each), a new penitentiary, and Muskrat jobs. Now do this right where if we happen to lose we already got the Liberals committed to billions over the next decade and if we win - we can delay delay - study study. In this way we can put it all out another 4 years - if we win - or torture the Liberals to make good on the billions in commitments we made.

Win win win - now - let's get at it. Nothing better than buying them with their own debt - they might have convinced themselves.

A grim Fairytale or a grim Reality?

Ottenheimer fumbles out of gate

The PC CAMP Condescending - Arrogant - Manipulative - Peremp(tory) is desperate to cling to power.

Sue's Blog has already raised the issue of the Tory Party abusing the intent of a law - the Tory government introduced in 2004. Now ten years later and the first time this part of the law is being utilized - they are showing us how they really operate.

There is no doubt that popular Tories of 2004 - are no so hot to trot with their new law - when they are behind in the polls.

Minister Terry French said this on December 07-2004

"Mr. Speaker, I believe, like I said from the beginning, that people of this Province, certainly, have the right to elect the Premier. The party should not have the right to select a Premier for this Province. Sure, they have the right to select a leader who will carry them into an election, and, sure, the party has the right to select the person they feel who is best qualified for the job, but then it is the job of the government of the day to put that person out in front of their party and say to the people of this Province: Who do you want? Who would you prefer? This person or that person? I believe this legislation will allow for that."

Right now Mr. French and all his PC colleagues are using a loophole Sue's Blog pointed out months ago after Dunderdale resigned. They are using their leadership process to drag on the time frame in which they must call an election. It was not the intent of this law to have political parties abuse and use it for political gain - in fact it was supposed to minimize political interference.

Enter Ottenhiemer     Cochrane's Failure

John Ottenheimer is now an official entrant in the PC leadership race. His debut on CBC'c On Point with David Cochrane was less than stellar and gave us some insight as to how he may use his office - if elected by the Party.

Ottenheimer is an experienced lawyer and parliamentarian - yet he chose these words:

"It's well perhaps 14 or 15 months before the next general election - which is in keeping with what the mandate allows the party anyway - in terms of when we were first elected or more recently elected in 2011."

Ottenheimer talks of a mandate as if there were no premature resignation of the Premier. He knows - he was there - he knows that a law - his party - the party he wants to lead - promoted and as majority government passed - says the original mandate no longer exists. Therefore Mr. Ottenheimer has decided to mislead instead of dealing with the subject truthfully.

For David Cochrane's part - it was a miss - he ignored the much touted and self praised initiative of the Tories - to remove pure politics from the calling of an election.

For Ottenheimer there remains many questions regarding his time as Minister of Health and this latest foray into a convenient memory does not bode well - if such is a demonstration of his leadership.

The PC's of late have been adopting Liberal policy almost as quick as they hear it - bankrupt clearly of anything progressive on the policy development side.

Next up - The Crosbie Monarchy

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.

Coleman proves - not ready to be Premier

Let's put all partisanship aside. Let's simply examine Mr. Coleman based on performance to date.

Here are the signs to me - as a voter - that Frank Coleman is not ready to be Premier.

1. He believes that the Tory's have done a good job to date. This means he is offside right from the get-go with the majority of people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2. Pro-Choice Pro-Life positioning in that he does not acknowledge that by participating in anti-abortion rallies - he does hope to influence legislative powers to make changes.

3. Response to the Humber Valley Paving controversy.

4. His limited and controlled accessibility to the media.

The most pressing concern right now for Mr. Coleman, the government, and the people is the cancelled contract for road development and paving between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Humber Valley Paving. There is no question that timing for both Mr. Coleman's entry into the Tory leadership race and HVP being let out of contractual obligations to the government (the people of NL) is at best unfortunate and coincidental or at worst deliberate and not usual.

Mr. Coleman must recognize the concerns the people have with this and understand their reasons for that concern. Mr. Coleman does know that he is becoming an unelected Premier, both at the Party level and through general election under his leadership. Mr. Coleman had a golden opportunity to demonstrate his leadership prowess and interest by simply acknowledging the concerns of ordinary people and the questions by the media - by publicly calling on the government he wants to lead to call in the Auditor General to clear the air. He did not have to comment about a company he used to own - he simply had to recommend that a third - independent party - review the situation. In this way he would have shown some respect for the people he hopes to lead. In this way he would clear the air of an environment that has been secret and unaccountable.

Mr. Coleman must know that this whole situation looks unusual and also appears to be politically privileged. This was not the time to avoid, hide, or limit communications - this was a time to demonstrate societal leadership not a time to protect private business interests.

Frank Coleman failed to do this and as such demonstrated his leadership style. I believe the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through continued polling results have said - we are not interested in this type of leadership or government.

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.

Firing the NL Tories for their own good

Back at it. I've been away from the blog for a while and much has happened since I last posted. While I was not blogging - I was following all the news and happenings both in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.

While I must dedicate many posts to particulars - one theme has been prevalent throughout the couple of months. Our democracy is eroding and only we can prevent it from crumbling entirely.

The Conservatives in Ottawa and the Progressive Conservatives here at home appear to be ruling at their own will and ignoring the people who really control their destiny - us.

Our system of democracy places great power in both the Prime Minister's Office and the Premier's Office - and when the governing party has a majority - that precious power - one which they should be humbled by - seems to make them arrogant and dictatorial.

Both Bill 29 here and Bill C-23 in Ottawa demonstrate that arrogance.

Currently we have a Premier in waiting - Frank Coleman who will be handed the position of Party leader and Premier by acclamation in July. The provincial Tories have not had a leadership contested in 20 years. It's been a placing of the hands - however few - and a passing of keys to the office. The only say we as the electorate have is during a general election or some of the electorate in a by-election. Clearly this is a party not too concerned about people getting a choice of leadership candidates. The delegated convention just showed its hand or slight of it - clearly this process is antiquated and open for significant manipulation.

There is a real media story here and certainly our local journalists should show more interest. This would be in the public interest and serve as a great reminder that the people are not prepared to be fed what the self-proclaimed masters have chosen for them.

How many Cabinet and Caucus members ever met Frank Coleman prior to indicating their support for him? Were delegates chosen prior to any debate process for the candidates? Why did Frank Coleman become involved in the leadership process? What evidence is there that Frank Coleman ever held any interest in public office? We went from Lynn Verge to Loyola Sullivan to Ed Byrne to Danny Williams to Kathy Dunderdale to Tom Marshall and now Frank Coleman without once ever having a choice at a party ballot. This is very convincing evidence that people are being chosen by a few without any real consideration of party members.

Surely the PC's must be sent a political message - get your act together on leadership - open up the process so that any Newfoundlander and Labradorian who wants to vote can - and encourage not discourage a robust campaign with many candidates and plenty of open debate.

Remember also the last Tory leadership that was actually contested in 1995 still only had 2 contestants Lynn Verge and Loyola Sullivan. Prior to that it was 1989 when the leadership contest enjoyed 5 candidates - the eventual winner Tom Rideout. After he was beaten in the general election by Clyde Wells - Len Simms was appointed leader.

The PC's in this province and their backroom have not trusted their membership to choose the "right" candidate for two decades. The chameleon support or "big money" have their hands in all parties. The last leadership of the Liberals seen the people - not a chosen few - elect a leader. This of course is also encouraging as it can be said - that Dwight owes his position to the people not a chosen few. When one is prepared as interim leader to open the field wide and welcome 4 others to the race - one is willing to stand on ones own merit. It also demonstrates that debate and other points of view are welcome.

What we have been left with is a bunch of sitting Tories Cabinet and Caucus who sat on the bleachers choosing not leadership but cheer leading and the uncontested Frank Coleman who says he thinks they all did a fine job. Surely the Tories must do better or we might be faced with a Mulroney/Campbell scenario - where the NL PC's are replaced with a Conservative alternative. I'm sure there's a Peter MacKay like sitting on the Newfoundland and Labrador Tory bench waiting to sure up their importance. Or perhaps the Tories will hang on to a couple of seats in the next election - just enough to really start a renewal and hopefully precipitate a real leadership contest. How many of you think Frank Coleman is staying for a gig in Opposition?

Premier Coleman? I think not!

We have many "successful" people in our province. Most are not in business - however there are some in our business community who have a well-rounded "success" portfolio.

Frank Coleman appears to have achieved financial, family, and social success - if one were to read articles about him or if one knew him personally.

For me - that's not the question. The question is what would the person do if he/she became Premier.

As a board member of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc. - I trust Mr. Francis Colemen is well aware of and compliant with the fiduciary duties he has.

Emera NL has a mission: our team is helping channel the energy potential of Newfoundland & Labrador, to provide clean, renewable and reliable electricity for Nova Scotia and beyond.

There is nothing in the statement above that makes me believe the bests interests of our province is the objective. If Mr. Coleman wants to channel our most lucrative resource outside Labrador - he should run for the Premiership of Nova Scotia or beyond.

In my opinion his candidacy would be nothing more than a continuation of an agenda that is not the best for Newfoundland and Labrador - rather a agenda to make the wealthy wealthier.

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.

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.

Trevor Taylor running for Tory leader?

Well the Tories should be ecstatic - looks like Trevor Taylor might be getting ready to throw his hat in the ring.

Taylor really lost it today in his Telegram opinion column READ HERE

Trevor decided that a frank discussion on the state of politics in Newfoundland and Labrador was in order.

His column takes many shots at the current crop of politicians in our province. He says of Liberal leader Dwight Ball: "Dwight Ball, while a nice guy, is not seen as a leader who is going to inspire the six or eight strong individuals he needs to step forward to form his first line." 

A leader - Trevor - is somebody who is willing to step up and take on the hard tasks and do so without unnecessary drama and bravado. A leader - Trevor - is somebody who can bring people together from all sides of the political spectrum and make it work for the people. A leader - Trevor is somebody who does not quit in the face of adversity and finds a way to rebuild and connect. Dwight Ball is exactly that - and everything you are not.

Trevor expounds on "Cabinet Material" like somebody who knows what that is. Taylor was in Cabinet and accomplished what? Then Trevor quit. Then Trevor quit. Now Trevor complains.

He threw the entire backbench of the Tories under the big blue bus and is awaiting the coming of the next savior. Another man - like his leader Danny Williams - who quit. Or maybe like his leader Kathy Dunderdale - who quit. They are after all like him - they quit.

Considering your sage commentary - I expect your purported truth, wisdom and common sense is exactly what you will offer fellow Tories - by running for leader.

You remain a partisan sniper - who knows the political wilderness for your party is just around the corner. Now have the guts and step to the plate - and show us what you believe makes a real leader.

The recycled failed Tory Cabinet is exactly what you need to fix. What does it take to be a Cabinet Minister or leader Trevor? Why not show us.

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.

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.

Cathy Bennett fails 1st Transparency Test

The Liberal leadership has brought a barrage of commitments from all candidates regarding openness, transparency, and accountability. This is a great thing.

The candidate who has been on the firing line the most on this issue is Cathy Bennett. Rightly - other Liberal hopefuls have suggested her work as the Chair of Nalcor was wrought with secrecy and during a time when government was shutting information doors.

Ms. Bennett says she was opposed to Bill 29 and determined to open the information lines to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

She was tested the other night and failed.

The debate at Memorial University was public. The exchanges were heated. Leadership was on the line.

We know that Cathy Bennett said something to Danny Dumaresque immediately following the debate.

We know that Cathy Bennett apologized to Danny Dumaresque for the comment.

Considering this was a public forum being held as part of a process to choose a leader of the Liberals; who may well go on to be Premier - we should know what Cathy Bennett said to Danny Dumaresque.

The comment may have been made at the heat of the moment - but we can anticipate that a Premier of a Province may have many such moments when dealing with Ottawa, provincial colleagues, executives of companies, union representatives, or citizens. We need to know what happens to Cathy Bennett when she is challenged. We need to know how she conducts herself in these circumstances.

The fact that Cathy Bennett will not tell us - means her transparency will be based on what she thinks we have a right or need to know. That's exactly what we have now.

Cathy Bennett has failed her first transparency test.

Cathy -They Don't Appoint Liberals

Cathy Bennett has two significant messages for us.

1. I am a Liberal - Always been a Liberal - Will always be a Liberal.

2. I am the leader who can bring the Liberal Party together.

Let's examine these:

Williams and Dunderdale do not appoint Liberals.

In fact many of the Liberal and NDP complaints revolve around the extreme partisanship of this government.

Our agencies and Crown Corporations are run and managed by well known Tories such as Len Simms and Glenn Tobin.

The halls of Confederation building are traversed by many lifelong Tories and their families.

So partisan is this government that serving a community breakfast - if you are not a Tory - is a no no.

So how then can we possibly believe that this Tory partisan government appointed to the top position of Nalcor - a lifelong Liberal? How can we reasonably believe that the top priority - massive spending - key Muskrat deal would be under the hand of a lifelong Liberal?

For me this is not possible. I must go with the balance of probabilities - that is Cathy Bennett did in fact through contribution and action demonstrate that she was a loyal PC.

As for the second claim of bringing the Liberals together - I can only say that with her unmovable stance on Muskrat Falls and her longstanding Tory connections - that she would have the most difficult time in bringing Liberals together. One only needs to watch and listen to Liberals after they have observed her in a debate to know that electing her leader would be more divisive than the Efford Grimes fight.

To accept this candidacy as anything more than special interests protecting special projects is too much of a stretch for me. I guess it's up to the other candidates to expose this for what it is. Kissy Kissy Lovey Lovey - we are all Liberals chant - will not cut it for this circumstance.

Election Act may allow PC's to avoid the Polls - if Kathy departs this October.

The Sir Robert Bond Papers says:

"Rumours have started to circulate that Kathy Dunderdale will toss her teddy bear in the corner in October.  Maybe.  Unless the Tories change the House of Assembly Act to reverse the changes they made a decade ago,  they’ll be forced to go to the polls within 12 months of her departure. That might have made sense once, but with the mess they currently have , there’s no guarantee the Tories would be able to run a successful election that quickly."

Actually Ed Hollett may be wrong - the Act is weak and says the following:

Election on change of Premier

      3.1 Where the leader of the political party that forms the government resigns his or her position as leader and as Premier of the province before the end of the third year following the most recent general election, the person who is elected by the party to replace him or her as the leader of the party and who is sworn in as the Premier of the province by the Lieutenant-Governor shall, not later than 12 months afterward, provide advice to the Lieutenant-Governor that the House of Assembly be dissolved and a general election be held.

You will note that the party has to have an election to get a new leader first; that can take them up to a year before the election. In that time an interim leader can be appointed (not elected) and caucus can make many changes to try and turn the tide. 

For sure the interpretations on this will vary - however - there is certainly significant wiggle room. Section 3.1 has two conditions that must be achieved; election of a new leader and then 12 months to call a general election. 

I'm sure the PC's have looked at this and we will know their interpretation soon. I'd say Kathy is gone and perhaps Terry French will provide interim leadership. My guess is Darin King is gathering his leadership gang together as I write this blog. 

Bond (Ed) Bond hits the nail right on the head of Bennett

The Sir Robert Bond Papers seems to have best summed up what to expect from Cathy Bennett if she became leader of any political party.

In his "Politics of Fashion" post Mr. Hollett talks about pollster Don Mills and his chat with the Board of Trade. Please see the excerpt below or keep it all in context by reading the complete post HERE

"...The provincial government started focussing on things like the Lower Churchill,  squeezing more hand-outs from the federal government, and spending beyond what the public treasury could support.  One of the provincial Conservatives’ biggest supporters after was Don Mills. Right in line behind Mills was the St. John’s Board of Trade.  They cheered as the provincial government increased spending by incredible amounts.  As the government admitted starting in late 2009, what it was doing was what the public couldn’t afford.  Neither Mills nor the Board of Trade said a peep about it.
None of this is surprising.  The two go together.  CRA is the only pollster the local elite accepts and the Board of Trade reflects the views of the highly clique-ish local establishment.  Mills is on the Board of Trade’s agenda because he is fashionable, not because he is saying something provocative or even something the Board actually supports.  They don’t.  The Board actually supports unsustainable government spending because that’s what puts cash in its members pockets.." (emphasis added)

Mr. Hollett certainly does not hold anything back when talking about Mills or the Board of Trade and their support of unsustainable spending by government.

Mr. Hollett continues on by adding the following later in the post:

" The Board is like an arm of government. The Board is such a reflection of the official view of things that they won’t even give time at a luncheon for a representative of the Liberals or New Democrats to speak.  That sort of thing would be commonplace anywhere else but not in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2003." (emphasis added)

Well Mr. Hollett - I could not have said it better myself - however it was not only the Board of Trade and Don Mills who remained quiet while spending soared. You failed to mention one other; Cathy Bennett as the President of the Board of Trade in 2007.

This seems to differ greatly from Hollett's earlier post on Bennett's candidacy where he says:

"Bennett could prove to be the catalyst for a major change on the local political landscape.  She is a fresh face.  She offers potential."

Hard to match "fresh face" and "potential" with Hollett's earlier description of the Board of Trade and Don Mills since 2003. Hard to match "an arm of government" with catalyst for change. 

Many of us already believe that Ms. Bennett is an opportunist - but Mr. Hollett puts it so much more clearly.

Dunderdale and Co. going going...gone

Cathy Bennett, Dean MacDonald, Paul Antle - all coming from the woodwork. The Establishment has determined the PC's are not winning the next election.

If the backbench Tories do not see this yet - well - they might not. They seem to just nod their heads.

The media is picking up the frenzy on possible candidates for the Liberal leadership and in so doing hyping up the race. Dunderdale is already passe and a new guard is forming in front of her face. The lady got her job done - she has delivered Danny's Muskrat child.

The problem now is that - is it really done? What about the other assets left to snatch by the elite investors?

The money is getting a fever and is starting to realize that power might land in the hands of somebody who will work - first and foremost for the people.

They are sweating the fact that Ball is a worthy candidate who can deliver competent and forward direction for the people.

They underestimated the people and overestimated Kathy, Jerome, and Darin.

Let's give the old boys club a royal boot and take back our province.

I would like the next leader to show the people all papers relating to the Muskrat deal to date. All contracts, all discussions, all written material. That's what they are really afraid of.

SNC Lavalin right here at home.

Who will be the next Premier? Do or Die Time!

There is little doubt that Dunderdale and Co. are on their way out - albeit a very long swan song. People across all walks are fed up with secrecy, arrogance, tribalism, and mismanagement. They are equally sick of the inept backbench and bumbling Ministers.

The costs to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador will be astronomical and potentially crippling within a decade. Those responsible - of course - will be long gone and pensioned. Probably Florida golfing in the winter - or taking residency in another Province - for many of them dreaming of the great Senate seat to come.

They know they are leaving a mess that they will not have to deal with. They know there will be no cash and mounting debt. They know there will be an aged population - with no ability to finance the basic social needs of health and housing. They know education will suffer as fewer and fewer schools remain viable - particularly in rural communities. They also know that urban cities and regional centres will be challenged even more with the lack of affordable housing filled aging seniors homes, and crime. They know the population will continue to decline and numbers of children will be way down as we lose our brightest from this and the next generation to jurisdictions with vision. They count on the inevitable province of Atlantica to ease the mourning Newfoundlanders - shattered by the loss of their beloved Island. They know that Labrador - the resource mecca - will either partner with their geographical mate Quebec or sit as a new Territory. They also believe it will not grow much unless that partnership is with Quebec - and thereby ensuring some resource wealth will actually be used in the Big Land.

I say "they" and I mean those with the real political power - the puppeteers - the ones who are not overly evident in day to day commentary, news, or the House of Assembly. They are the ones who pull "saviours" out of their hat - for the weary voters to "believe" in. They are the corporate elite who find democracy to be a hindrance however more civil than the dictatorship they long for. They are the ones with no political ideology rather an ideology based on finance - their own to be exact - and control of crown asset wealth. They are the ones who can trigger responses in politicians by having a cup of coffee with them, or a round of golf, or in most cases patting them on the head and telling them they are doing well. They are the ones who creep their way into the bureaucracy of governments - so they can guide their intellectually lazy political masters - in a direction that suits their real agendas. Every now and then one of "they" gets caught and some end up in jail - despite the throngs of underlings willing to cover or do time for them.

So what are we left with? Well unless something very drastic happens to our political system or somebody - who is not able to be bought or manipulated - accidentally wins a leadership and then government - we are stuck with the misfortune above.

Getting Newfoundland and Labrador back on the right track is going to take a lot of doing and the decisions are tough. It is going to take a backbone of steel to take the necessary actions. The next Premier would have to be able to say no to fish pirates, Ottawa, mining wannabes, oil companies, and individuals like Danny Williams, Ches Penney, Brian Tobin, Dean MacDonald and their ilk. The new Premier would have to use his/her vision to represent the electorate and have Mandela like integrity - to save this place.

The new Premier has to smarten-up the population and be exhilarated by public education and intelligent debate. The new Premier has to believe that smart people don't only reside in one Party but reside across the political spectrum. The new Premier must be confident enough that others may duly criticize and from that grow a more enlightened understanding. The new Premier must serve the people and Newfoundland and Labrador - not the multitudes of outstretched Party hands seeking their interests above all others.

The new Premier must return the ownership of information back to the people and believe that by doing that may bring opposition but in the end lead to right choices. The new Premier must lead by taking knowledge by the horns and understand when the bureaucracy has been infiltrated by special interests "they". The new Premier must encourage knowledge and understanding of policies, legislation, and contracts.

The new Premier must believe in and practice true democracy. The doors of his/her office are as open to one ordinary citizen as they are to the corporate elite (they) and Party players. The new Premier must insure integrity within our systems of advocacy and not seek the unnecessary protection of their office. The new Premier must believe in the freedom of the press, access to information, and the shareholders rights in a Crown Corporation. The new Premier should seek to uphold all democratic procedures both in the House of Assembly and the Elections process.

The new Premier must be willing to serve his/her Province first - not seek to make nice with a federal Party or other Provinces. The new Premier must be willing to turn his/her back on issues of save Canada, Ontario, Nova Scotia etc. - there is already a federal system for that. If by chance a development in our province benefits others as well - fair enough but the new Premier must seek the best deal for us.

The new Premier must respect the people and believe that he/she is working for them not the other way around. The new Premier must understand that he/she is spending our money and bartering our resources and not use these both as if he/she is doing us a favour. The new Premier must celebrate successes with the people - all the people - and be willing to take significant responsibility for costly errors made with the peoples money or resources.

Many people in politics come in for all the right reasons and before long succumb to partisanship, party brass, one political party whip or another. Many politicians start by feeling humble and end up hiding behind the sullied apron of an arrogant "leader". Many people get into politics because it's the best gig they will ever have and the time is right under a guaranteed win. These individuals will do and say whatever is necessary to keep such an undeserved windfall and chase the Cabinet carrot around the room until dizzy. There are others who get into politics through encouragement of Party brass - praising them as necessary to place another puppet onto their stage of manipulation.

If you really have it - if you really can serve, lead, and are out of manipulative reach - you should apply. Will the rest of you please leave?

1. Do you have the strength to stop this Muskrat deal?
2. Do you have the strength to employ the brightest of the bright without partisan filters?
3. Will you truly seek to strengthen the lives of our most vulnerable?
4. Will you conduct yourself through independent education, investigation, and thought?
5. Will you strip the bureaucracy of industrial insiders, resume distributors, and partisan nitwits?
6. Will you release information to the people without nonsense of "proprietary" interest?
7. Will you recognize all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as shareholders of our crown assets?
8. Will you be the designer not copier of legislative templates?
9. Will you really maximize value of resource development for the people?
10. Will you recognize that native resources such as water, energy, forests, and minerals are stationary and therefore - those wanting to exploit them will pay maximum value?
11. Will you really be the CEO of our wealth and maximize profits for the shareholders - regardless that the shareholders are all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?
12. Will you promise to deliver services from our revenues that are reflective of what the people want to spend their money on?
13. Will you seek to employ the best candidates for any position regardless of their perceived political leanings?
14. Will you truly consult with the people before making budgetary choices?
15. Will you protect democracy from those who wish to dismantle it?
16. Will you protect the integrity of our electoral system?
17. Will you take charge of the fishery and do what in necessary to offset the failure of Confederation regarding this wild resource?
18. Will you develop rural Newfoundland and Labrador through tourism, infrastructure, industry, and population?
19. Will you - in good faith - deal with pensioners, the public service, health professionals, educators, police, firefighters, correctional officers, safety officials, sheriffs and judicial staff, and Newfoundland and Labrador businesses?
20. Will you seek advice within your province when at all possible and not rely on "experts" who will deliver your desired outcome?
21. Will you give every Newfoundland and Labrador family an acre of Crown Land?
22. Will you give taxation breaks, grants, loans, and infrastructure to small local companies in the same manner you will to outside large corporate interests?
23. Will you end poverty for children and families? Will you protect children from abuse?
24. Will you seek to strengthen our democracy by passing whistle blower legislation, recall legislation, and legislation banning corporate and union donations?
25. Will you protect the environment for future generations?
26. Will you protect the people through the establishment of necessary search and rescue assets?
27. Will you do what is necessary to protect our province from Ottawa and refuse to give up anything else?
28. Will you demand a proper equalization system and demand inclusion in all federal government trade deals?
29. Will you demand compensation for mismanagement of the fishery and demand that Canada take custodial control  of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap? Are you willing to do what comes next if they refuse?
30. Will you allow the media proper access to information? Will you tell the truth?

If you are not willing to do these things - what do you want? A job? We're not hiring!
If you are not willing to do these things - move over for those who will.
We are collapsing - right now we need a leader not a saviour.

Trudeau will be the next PM

The timing is right and Justin Trudeau has his homework done. I predict he will become the next Prime Minister of Canada.

Here are the factors:

1. Harper is destroying Canada as a right wing fanatic.

2. Mulcair will not solidify but rather he will confuse the NDP base.

3. Quebec support of NDP will shift to Trudeau.

4. Trudeau's message is simple, genuine, and achievable: my father left me with a beautiful country and I want to do the same for my children.

5. He has political smarts.

6. He will get the necessary hype from the media.

7. He dominates the social networks meaning youth will vote in numbers unseen before.

8. He has the generational attraction from the 50 plus who adored his father.

9. He is a Liberal in the true sense of the philosophy.

10. He will attract Canadians who enjoy seeing Canada as a respected global leader.

11. He will attract Canadians who want their politicians to stay out of the bedrooms of the nation.

12. He will attract Canadians who want their universal health care system enhanced not dismantled.

13. He will attract Canadians who are disgusted with Americanization of the country.

14. He will attract Canadians who want to see peacekeeping not war making.

15. He looks young but has a wealth of experience. Fresh, vibrant, energetic, and honest.

16. The media will enjoy accessibility - something stripped by Harper. This will result in mass media attention.

17. Strong but not as central dominated government as his father supported.

18. Arts and Culture will return to the fore.

19. Environmental prowess linked with industrial opportunities.

20. His innate sense of equality for all peoples. 

As for winning the Party leadership - yes - because Liberals are looking for somebody who can win.

The most important reason Brad Cabana should be able to run for PC leadership

A TAX CREDIT IS AVAILABLE

The Provincial Income Tax Act allows for a credit against Newfoundland and Labrador personal and corporate income taxes payable for a portion of political contributions.

The tax credit available is calculated as follows:

- 75 per cent of the first $100 of total contributions, and

- 50 per cent of the next $450 of total contributions, and

- 33 1/3 per cent of the next $600 of total contributions

For a maximum available credit of $500.

If a political party is unable or unwilling to provide reasonable information to a candidate (rules) - clear and simple and if that same political party has inconsistent policies such as the litmus test for an MHA candidacy is different materially than the policy for running for a leader - they should be unable to offer tax receipts.

If you contribute to a political party and receive a credit in return that involves all of our money regardless of our stripe and the party receives public money. The test for fairness for things such as rules for leadership candidacy must be clear and certainly appear democratic. If it wishes to act as a private club - where rules are changed to suit the executive - then no public money. This is my money and yours - yet we are unable to nominate an individual?

People using arguments about the PC pedigree of Cabana are being partisan to the extreme. If 50 ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians cannot qualify to suggest to a PC convention that they support this fellow or anybody else to run then what should the party expect during the election? How many at an average PC (while in government) convention? 500 - well Cabana got 10% of that number and I am relatively sure they were resident in this province. The PC's and the Liberals do a fine job controlling the conventions - what is troubling them?

If the rules are that you must have been at a convention, showed up at a district association meeting, or somehow convinced somebody on the PC executive that you are PC - then who will be voting for them in the next election. Some 100,000 people should be on the list from the last time.

If you want public funds - then you're mandatory constitution should be fair, open, and accountable.

Then again that is not their strong point - right?