Yesterday - the big announcement from the White House on the Parkway - Ross Reid becomes new Chief of Staff for Premier Dunderdale.
More curious - however - were his duties in the "new" role.
Rossie is apparently going to play a "key role in policy development".
Is that what a Chief of Staff does?
How about Rossie has always been involved in policy and has been involved in much of the mess this government has produced?
He moves smoothly from politician to democracy fighter to "adviser" to Williams/Dunderdale - then pops out of his job - we pay him for - to run election campaigns - then hops back to a government position again. Well now he is the Chief of Staff - what will that mean to us - the people who pay his salary?
1. Select and supervise (control) staff?
2. Control access to the Premier's office? that should be good...
3. Manage communications and flow of information? kind of like a Bill 29 human back-up
4. Negotiate with different departments - or external groups to achieve Dunderdale's agenda? (protect the Muskrat Falls development)
Rossie is now at the beck and call of the Premier? My guess he's running the place and has been for a while. The question is will Rossie use his experience in "allegedly" helping to democratize regimes such as Afghanistan - to allow democracy back in our province?
Please advise us - Madame Premier - Queen of the Muskrat - what has Ross Reid done for the past decade and what will he be doing differently now? Details please...
For people like Kent and Lane - Reid's new title might bring them brief but needed hope that their parties death may have been greatly exaggerated and for the ladies in waiting Shea and Sullivan - Ross may provide a brief relief from the Premier's busy social agenda (Garden parties - where they present and restate already committed dollars, festivals where they can sing their own praises, BBQ's where the roasting is more friendly, or travelling the world in search of Waldo).
Rossie's Policies - that has the potential to be an ward winning election jingle - Perhaps VOCM could have one of the talk shows sponsored by Rossie's Policies.
Perhaps the people who elected Bonnie Hickey knew something I didn't know at the time. Perhaps they knew the real Ross Reid - perhaps they knew he should have gone away with the Mulroney PC's. He was at one time the "advisor" to Mulroney right? Perhaps Ross can become "National Director" of the NL PC's? Perhaps Ross can be part of another destruction of a Progressive Conservative Party? Not to worry with people like Kent, King, and Kennedy the CARP (Conservative Alliance Reform Party) of NL might be right around the corner. Maybe Len Simms can play the "MacKay" role this time round.
Showing posts with label preston manning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preston manning. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Harper - Capitalist Despot - Attacking Canada's Democracy
The question of robo-calls and other various oddities during our last federal election has left many Canadians feeling disenfranchised.
This followed the Conservative in-out scandal from the 2006 election campaign.
Obviously there is a real problem and efforts by the Prime Minister or his Caucus to downplay these events further emphasize the need for concern.
Stephen Harper and his ilk have been playing the Gods of Morality since they entered the federal political scene - they have pushed the value of "family" - as they see it - they have spoken about individual freedoms - as they see them and basically condemned all governments before them.
We were going to get an elected Senate - remember? Harper continues to stuff the Senate with under-qualified partisan buffoons and has removed the public funding of elections - in an effort to maintain power by any means.
Stephen Harper believes that you too will see the "right" way if he and his cronies, MacKay, Baird, and Toews keep spewing it. With that "right" way also comes the arrogance of a class system where they as leaders are above the people who elect them.
The Harper reformers are arrogant, cheating, and lying, despots who believe they owe nobody an explanation. They are opposed to transparency and accountability - all under the guise of knowing what is best for you and me.
These overstuffed suited Byzantinians are not into democracy and they do not believe in our electoral system. The question is - how much trouble are we in?
I contend that if these elections irregularities were noticed in countries where democracy is in its infancy - our independent observers would cry foul. If there are in fact over 30,000 incidents where voters felt their free vote was tampered with in any way - we have an election which should not be valid.
Determining how many "rogues" there were does not make me feel any less angry and I demand that Canada stop this major erosion of our democracy.
I have listened to various media outlets attempting to downplay these irregularities - in part - because they play partisan and in part because the reporters along with millions of Canadians do not want to accept that this erosion is actually real.
We - as Canadians - had better wake-up quickly or we may lose the real values we hold dear and find ourselves surrounded by right-wing economists who are treating our resources and people as part of a collective corporate pot - possessing absolutely zero ethics and social conscience. Canada is a country not a company and it does not belong to entities registered on the various stock exchanges.
That is the real message of young people who stand as anonymous and with the Occupy movement. The wearing of masks simply highlights that we no longer have a face - we are no longer human beings - we are just a cog in a resource extracting wheel that knows no borders and recognizes no human rights.
This Prime Minister was politically raised to do just what he is doing - and for Canadians that spells danger. We must all fight to have our democracy restored and to remove from office these robos that want to vote the people out.
Even posts like this one - coming from an identifiable IP address - are something the Conservatives want control of.
This followed the Conservative in-out scandal from the 2006 election campaign.
Obviously there is a real problem and efforts by the Prime Minister or his Caucus to downplay these events further emphasize the need for concern.
Stephen Harper and his ilk have been playing the Gods of Morality since they entered the federal political scene - they have pushed the value of "family" - as they see it - they have spoken about individual freedoms - as they see them and basically condemned all governments before them.
We were going to get an elected Senate - remember? Harper continues to stuff the Senate with under-qualified partisan buffoons and has removed the public funding of elections - in an effort to maintain power by any means.
Stephen Harper believes that you too will see the "right" way if he and his cronies, MacKay, Baird, and Toews keep spewing it. With that "right" way also comes the arrogance of a class system where they as leaders are above the people who elect them.
The Harper reformers are arrogant, cheating, and lying, despots who believe they owe nobody an explanation. They are opposed to transparency and accountability - all under the guise of knowing what is best for you and me.
These overstuffed suited Byzantinians are not into democracy and they do not believe in our electoral system. The question is - how much trouble are we in?
I contend that if these elections irregularities were noticed in countries where democracy is in its infancy - our independent observers would cry foul. If there are in fact over 30,000 incidents where voters felt their free vote was tampered with in any way - we have an election which should not be valid.
Determining how many "rogues" there were does not make me feel any less angry and I demand that Canada stop this major erosion of our democracy.
I have listened to various media outlets attempting to downplay these irregularities - in part - because they play partisan and in part because the reporters along with millions of Canadians do not want to accept that this erosion is actually real.
We - as Canadians - had better wake-up quickly or we may lose the real values we hold dear and find ourselves surrounded by right-wing economists who are treating our resources and people as part of a collective corporate pot - possessing absolutely zero ethics and social conscience. Canada is a country not a company and it does not belong to entities registered on the various stock exchanges.
That is the real message of young people who stand as anonymous and with the Occupy movement. The wearing of masks simply highlights that we no longer have a face - we are no longer human beings - we are just a cog in a resource extracting wheel that knows no borders and recognizes no human rights.
This Prime Minister was politically raised to do just what he is doing - and for Canadians that spells danger. We must all fight to have our democracy restored and to remove from office these robos that want to vote the people out.
Even posts like this one - coming from an identifiable IP address - are something the Conservatives want control of.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Money begets your government! Harper chops away at Democracy and the Truth
So Harper, surprise surprise - is going to end party subsidies. That is the $2 annually each federal party receives per vote from the previous election.
So who gets to buy government now?
Let me see! We still pay tax - and none of that now will go to support open democracy with a strong competitive party system - and the ones that can afford to throw in thousands of dollars will buy and own government.
Instead of the voters having a say through tax dollars we will pay anyway - the Corporations (entities which cannot vote) will buy elections and politicians. I thought we had enough of that!
What an absolute disaster this government will be for Canada. Now the lobby has begun to eliminate the CBC - they might have thought about that program "power and politics" a little deeper.
The CBC and media - other than a few like Terry Milewski - cowered in front of the dictator that said "I will only answer 5 questions a day", the same man who is already passing the media off to spokespeople - that we the taxpayer generously employ.
The man who says only an elected Senate will do and then promptly appoints failed Conservative candidates. A man who made vows on Income Trusts, the federal-provincial fiscal arrangements act (equalization), and on custodial management of our offshore - lies again.
This man who does not believe in our democratic system and believes that coalitions should be outlawed - while liars like Bev Oda are returned to Cabinet.
The man who eliminates people from his caucus by reason of association - ignores of freedoms and rights - now eliminates people from the election formula.
The man who has secrets about secrets and employs people who employ people who are questionable at best.
Good Luck - Canada - you're gonna need it.
Newfoundland and Labrador should just leave - before this Atlantic Canadian hater - finishes us off.
And on the Peter Penashue appointment - this man is an Innu Leader - first mistake was his allegiance to the Queen - and now this left leaning Liberal is going to support massive cuts? Presumably not to aboriginal groups. Does Peter believe in government subsidies, universal health care and the fair treatment of people. We are about to find out how this odd couple get on.
While we are at it - let's see how Conservative Kathy Dunderdale and crew are. Williams did say he was a dangerous man right?
So who gets to buy government now?
Let me see! We still pay tax - and none of that now will go to support open democracy with a strong competitive party system - and the ones that can afford to throw in thousands of dollars will buy and own government.
Instead of the voters having a say through tax dollars we will pay anyway - the Corporations (entities which cannot vote) will buy elections and politicians. I thought we had enough of that!
What an absolute disaster this government will be for Canada. Now the lobby has begun to eliminate the CBC - they might have thought about that program "power and politics" a little deeper.
The CBC and media - other than a few like Terry Milewski - cowered in front of the dictator that said "I will only answer 5 questions a day", the same man who is already passing the media off to spokespeople - that we the taxpayer generously employ.
The man who says only an elected Senate will do and then promptly appoints failed Conservative candidates. A man who made vows on Income Trusts, the federal-provincial fiscal arrangements act (equalization), and on custodial management of our offshore - lies again.
This man who does not believe in our democratic system and believes that coalitions should be outlawed - while liars like Bev Oda are returned to Cabinet.
The man who eliminates people from his caucus by reason of association - ignores of freedoms and rights - now eliminates people from the election formula.
The man who has secrets about secrets and employs people who employ people who are questionable at best.
Good Luck - Canada - you're gonna need it.
Newfoundland and Labrador should just leave - before this Atlantic Canadian hater - finishes us off.
And on the Peter Penashue appointment - this man is an Innu Leader - first mistake was his allegiance to the Queen - and now this left leaning Liberal is going to support massive cuts? Presumably not to aboriginal groups. Does Peter believe in government subsidies, universal health care and the fair treatment of people. We are about to find out how this odd couple get on.
While we are at it - let's see how Conservative Kathy Dunderdale and crew are. Williams did say he was a dangerous man right?
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Harper's first Scary Quote after the Election: As Canada Erodes
Below is a quote by Stephen Harper in a Globe and Mail article today.
Read it very carefully and remember it as Canada devolves to become unrecognizable.
“One thing I’ve learned in this business is that surprises are generally not well-received by the public, and so we intend to move forward with what Canadians understand about us and I think what they’re more and more comfortable with”
So what do we understand about them - and what does he think we are becoming more and more comfortable with? Notice we are Canadians - they are them - and somehow we are more and more comfortable with something we understand about them "us".
Read it very carefully and remember it as Canada devolves to become unrecognizable.
“One thing I’ve learned in this business is that surprises are generally not well-received by the public, and so we intend to move forward with what Canadians understand about us and I think what they’re more and more comfortable with”
So what do we understand about them - and what does he think we are becoming more and more comfortable with? Notice we are Canadians - they are them - and somehow we are more and more comfortable with something we understand about them "us".
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Ontario Wins Big, Newfoundland shows Guts, the Big Land goes it Alone and Dunderdale may have Trouble!
Congratulations are in order for Ontario - for once again dictating the outcome of the federal election. Harper will be there for our biggest "greatest" province.
There may now be hope for the federal Liberals - if - they clean house at the executive and backroom level. Canada's "heartland" will set the agenda for the upcoming parliament and have rewarded Harper for the massive corporate bailouts in the auto and associate industries.
Irving and companies will also be a big winner in New Brunswick.
Now that the NDP is an essentially Quebec and Ontario based party 58 and 22 seats respectively close to 80% of their seat count with over 50% out of Quebec - what and who will they represent? Further the NDP had more of a say in the minority than they have in a Harper majority.
Now that Canada has sent a message to the Liberals to clean-up - they have done so by electing a fellow who has shown complete disregard for the truth, parliament, and our democracy. Harper has his majority and it is going to be real tough on the Progressive Conservatives in the party.
The Bloc is temporarily down - while Quebec takes a break from a nationalist party in Ottawa - but may very well elect a sovereignist party provincially. This is just another Quebec change-up.
The Conservatives are nasty and they will - without humility - rub this victory into the faces of Canadians who believe that moderate not extreme is Canada. This is a very clear example for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador - that we really don't matter much in this system.
We witnessed a taste with Bev Oda - and her leaning respecting funding and pro-choice ideology. More interesting is her decisive win last night - rewarding her despicable behavior. Ontarians in her riding have redefined public service and the value of honesty. What did Oda have to say?
“Those who know me know I would never lie or mislead,” This is unbelievable!
In Newfoundland - we absolutely did the right thing and showed extreme courage by not electing one Conservative on the Island. Despite the on the ground boots of most all Dunderdale's Cabinet - they lost. We actually said to those who betrayed this province - we don't want you. Sullivan, Ottenheimer, Manning and fibre-optic Taylor were defeated - in most cases soundly.
In Labrador I can take some solace in knowing that the Big Land did what it wanted to do and not what our Island suggested they do. They have made a decision and it was their own. That is also the case with the Lower Churchill - this time it will not be shoved down their throats - rather they and they alone will determine what happens to this great resource. Further this time - they will sit in Cabinet at the federal level - not representatives from the Island. It is also clear that Labrador believes that Harper will live up to his promises for the base and the loan guarantee.
The deal on the Lower Churchill is up to them. If they wish to export - do so - and they can even make us pay for it. After all power leaves their place and heads to other jurisdictions - and they are left with royalties for the aboriginal peoples (or some of them) and a handful of jobs after construction - it will not be our fault as it was with the Upper Churchill.
Peter Penashue has a great deal of responsibility resting on his shoulders and good luck to him. I hope he brings to Labrador what Labradorians want. I hope he delivers in spades for his people and uses his voice to eliminate the long-standing social problems. For now they can choose their destiny - and the direction is all theirs. They can stand proud and make decisions that are good for them - eliminating the Island and most non-aboriginal influence. They can further build corporate partnerships between aboriginal companies and other Labrador based operators. They can take control of tenders and dictate how many jobs will be kept in Labrador and how many will leave. They can control the route of the hydro power resource and determine if they want industrial development at all - or prefer to go for royalties only. I have fought for the equal rights of Labradorians as an Islander for most of my adult life - and I have now experienced closure in that regard. Presumably Dunderdale will have to answer to Labrador and if the deals are not already done - will have to be done with the aboriginal peoples and corporate Labrador. Labrador now has control of its destiny and that is a good thing.
From a provincial Progressive Conservative point of view - there are many significant developments on the Island. The votes were mainly Liberal and NDP and both rural and urban voters have said no to Kathy Dunderdale and her team of Cabinet Ministers. We know what happened when Danny said ABC - the province listened. When Kathy Dunderdale said ABC is over and now we need to vote Conservative - the province did not listen. The PC urban vote did not recover and did not show well in other rural communities - with the exception of perhaps Felix Collins and Keith Hutchings. The federal election of 2006 saw almost 43% popular vote for the Conservatives. The ABC of 2008 demonstrated a complete collapse of that vote to 17% and now that ABC was called off by Premier Dunderdale the vote climbed to only 28%. The urban PC vote stronghold has not regained anywhere near the reliability needed to guarantee the almost always guaranteed vote for the PC's in St. John's and surrounding communities.
Let's look at the Avalon Peninsula - as it relates to influence by the current Premier Kathy Dunderdale versus the influence under Danny Williams. Same provincial layout - with only 2 opposition members in a bastion of Blue including a significant number of the Cabinet.
2006 When Danny got promises from Harper on equalization, Five Wing Goose, and custodial management.
Loyola Hearn enjoyed 44.6% of the popular vote.
Fabian Manning enjoyed 51.5% of the popular vote.
Norm Doyle enjoyed 46.5% of the popular vote.
2008 When Danny Williams declared ABC most all PC MHA's campaigned for Liberals or NDP.
St. John's South/Mount Pearl District (formerly Hearn, candidate Merv Wiseman) dropped to 12.6% of the popular vote.
St. John's East (formerly Doyle, candidate Craig Wescott) dropped to 9.3% of the popular vote.
Avalon District (Manning) dropped to 35.2% of the popular vote.
2011 When Kathy Dunderdale declared ABC over and has all but one PC MHA campaigning for Conservatives.
St. John's South/Mount Pearl District only recovers to 22.8% of the popular vote.
Avalon District only recovers to 40% of the popular vote.
St. John's East District only recovers to 20.9% of the popular vote.
Without a doubt the vast majority of the people continue to support Danny Willams position on Stephen Harper and the majority reject Kathy Dunderdale's new relationship with Stephen Harper. This despite - what can only be called strong provincial MHA's Caucus and Cabinet out in force as never before for federal Conservative candidates.
Further the Conservative candidates in St. John's East and St. John's South/Mount Pearl in the 2008 election, Craig Wescott and Merv Wiseman respectively were arguably much weaker candidates than the "star" candidates of 2011 in Loyola Sullivan and Jerry Byrne. One might speculate that the candidates themselves brought the difference to the table versus any recommendation by Dunderdale. In Manning's case where he was the constant he went down 16 points during ABC and only recovered 5 points last night. That we can write off to PC's feeling it was okay to vote at all.
This was not a good night for Kathy Dunderdale despite the tremendous victory for her friend - and colleague Stephen Harper.
The October election remains up for grabs and in many critical seats. The only thing holding back a resurgence for the provincial Liberals is the party itself. They should be able to make great gains in October as may well a few more NDP seats on the strength of Layton and Harris. (depends on how NDP policy impacts NL)
If the Liberals do some cleaning and add some star candidates of their own - they may very well cause Dunderdale and company real problems. After the turnaround of PC MHA's back to Harper which was seen by the majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as disingenuous and opportunistic - seats won on Danny's coat-tails will be vulnerable.
My overall feelings are that Canada was crushed by the Ontario not Orange wave and that never bodes well for Atlantic Canada. Further Canadians have absolutely decided with the exception of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec and parts of British Columbia that lying is okay, contempt of Parliament is dandy, and that the Elections Act is not anything relevant. Let's see if the right wing extremeists get the upper hand this time. Will Harper moderate? I don't believe a word he says - so my guess is he will not. You know when Preston Manning is delighted - we moderate people should be very concerned.
A great night for Newfoundland as we told Harper - you cannot lie to our people. Labrador - time will tell - if the Big Land gets what it wants I am happy for them. If it does not - the Island - for once will not be responsible.
There may now be hope for the federal Liberals - if - they clean house at the executive and backroom level. Canada's "heartland" will set the agenda for the upcoming parliament and have rewarded Harper for the massive corporate bailouts in the auto and associate industries.
Irving and companies will also be a big winner in New Brunswick.
Now that the NDP is an essentially Quebec and Ontario based party 58 and 22 seats respectively close to 80% of their seat count with over 50% out of Quebec - what and who will they represent? Further the NDP had more of a say in the minority than they have in a Harper majority.
Now that Canada has sent a message to the Liberals to clean-up - they have done so by electing a fellow who has shown complete disregard for the truth, parliament, and our democracy. Harper has his majority and it is going to be real tough on the Progressive Conservatives in the party.
The Bloc is temporarily down - while Quebec takes a break from a nationalist party in Ottawa - but may very well elect a sovereignist party provincially. This is just another Quebec change-up.
The Conservatives are nasty and they will - without humility - rub this victory into the faces of Canadians who believe that moderate not extreme is Canada. This is a very clear example for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador - that we really don't matter much in this system.
We witnessed a taste with Bev Oda - and her leaning respecting funding and pro-choice ideology. More interesting is her decisive win last night - rewarding her despicable behavior. Ontarians in her riding have redefined public service and the value of honesty. What did Oda have to say?
“Those who know me know I would never lie or mislead,” This is unbelievable!
In Newfoundland - we absolutely did the right thing and showed extreme courage by not electing one Conservative on the Island. Despite the on the ground boots of most all Dunderdale's Cabinet - they lost. We actually said to those who betrayed this province - we don't want you. Sullivan, Ottenheimer, Manning and fibre-optic Taylor were defeated - in most cases soundly.
In Labrador I can take some solace in knowing that the Big Land did what it wanted to do and not what our Island suggested they do. They have made a decision and it was their own. That is also the case with the Lower Churchill - this time it will not be shoved down their throats - rather they and they alone will determine what happens to this great resource. Further this time - they will sit in Cabinet at the federal level - not representatives from the Island. It is also clear that Labrador believes that Harper will live up to his promises for the base and the loan guarantee.
The deal on the Lower Churchill is up to them. If they wish to export - do so - and they can even make us pay for it. After all power leaves their place and heads to other jurisdictions - and they are left with royalties for the aboriginal peoples (or some of them) and a handful of jobs after construction - it will not be our fault as it was with the Upper Churchill.
Peter Penashue has a great deal of responsibility resting on his shoulders and good luck to him. I hope he brings to Labrador what Labradorians want. I hope he delivers in spades for his people and uses his voice to eliminate the long-standing social problems. For now they can choose their destiny - and the direction is all theirs. They can stand proud and make decisions that are good for them - eliminating the Island and most non-aboriginal influence. They can further build corporate partnerships between aboriginal companies and other Labrador based operators. They can take control of tenders and dictate how many jobs will be kept in Labrador and how many will leave. They can control the route of the hydro power resource and determine if they want industrial development at all - or prefer to go for royalties only. I have fought for the equal rights of Labradorians as an Islander for most of my adult life - and I have now experienced closure in that regard. Presumably Dunderdale will have to answer to Labrador and if the deals are not already done - will have to be done with the aboriginal peoples and corporate Labrador. Labrador now has control of its destiny and that is a good thing.
From a provincial Progressive Conservative point of view - there are many significant developments on the Island. The votes were mainly Liberal and NDP and both rural and urban voters have said no to Kathy Dunderdale and her team of Cabinet Ministers. We know what happened when Danny said ABC - the province listened. When Kathy Dunderdale said ABC is over and now we need to vote Conservative - the province did not listen. The PC urban vote did not recover and did not show well in other rural communities - with the exception of perhaps Felix Collins and Keith Hutchings. The federal election of 2006 saw almost 43% popular vote for the Conservatives. The ABC of 2008 demonstrated a complete collapse of that vote to 17% and now that ABC was called off by Premier Dunderdale the vote climbed to only 28%. The urban PC vote stronghold has not regained anywhere near the reliability needed to guarantee the almost always guaranteed vote for the PC's in St. John's and surrounding communities.
Let's look at the Avalon Peninsula - as it relates to influence by the current Premier Kathy Dunderdale versus the influence under Danny Williams. Same provincial layout - with only 2 opposition members in a bastion of Blue including a significant number of the Cabinet.
2006 When Danny got promises from Harper on equalization, Five Wing Goose, and custodial management.
Loyola Hearn enjoyed 44.6% of the popular vote.
Fabian Manning enjoyed 51.5% of the popular vote.
Norm Doyle enjoyed 46.5% of the popular vote.
2008 When Danny Williams declared ABC most all PC MHA's campaigned for Liberals or NDP.
St. John's South/Mount Pearl District (formerly Hearn, candidate Merv Wiseman) dropped to 12.6% of the popular vote.
St. John's East (formerly Doyle, candidate Craig Wescott) dropped to 9.3% of the popular vote.
Avalon District (Manning) dropped to 35.2% of the popular vote.
2011 When Kathy Dunderdale declared ABC over and has all but one PC MHA campaigning for Conservatives.
St. John's South/Mount Pearl District only recovers to 22.8% of the popular vote.
Avalon District only recovers to 40% of the popular vote.
St. John's East District only recovers to 20.9% of the popular vote.
Without a doubt the vast majority of the people continue to support Danny Willams position on Stephen Harper and the majority reject Kathy Dunderdale's new relationship with Stephen Harper. This despite - what can only be called strong provincial MHA's Caucus and Cabinet out in force as never before for federal Conservative candidates.
Further the Conservative candidates in St. John's East and St. John's South/Mount Pearl in the 2008 election, Craig Wescott and Merv Wiseman respectively were arguably much weaker candidates than the "star" candidates of 2011 in Loyola Sullivan and Jerry Byrne. One might speculate that the candidates themselves brought the difference to the table versus any recommendation by Dunderdale. In Manning's case where he was the constant he went down 16 points during ABC and only recovered 5 points last night. That we can write off to PC's feeling it was okay to vote at all.
This was not a good night for Kathy Dunderdale despite the tremendous victory for her friend - and colleague Stephen Harper.
The October election remains up for grabs and in many critical seats. The only thing holding back a resurgence for the provincial Liberals is the party itself. They should be able to make great gains in October as may well a few more NDP seats on the strength of Layton and Harris. (depends on how NDP policy impacts NL)
If the Liberals do some cleaning and add some star candidates of their own - they may very well cause Dunderdale and company real problems. After the turnaround of PC MHA's back to Harper which was seen by the majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as disingenuous and opportunistic - seats won on Danny's coat-tails will be vulnerable.
My overall feelings are that Canada was crushed by the Ontario not Orange wave and that never bodes well for Atlantic Canada. Further Canadians have absolutely decided with the exception of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec and parts of British Columbia that lying is okay, contempt of Parliament is dandy, and that the Elections Act is not anything relevant. Let's see if the right wing extremeists get the upper hand this time. Will Harper moderate? I don't believe a word he says - so my guess is he will not. You know when Preston Manning is delighted - we moderate people should be very concerned.
A great night for Newfoundland as we told Harper - you cannot lie to our people. Labrador - time will tell - if the Big Land gets what it wants I am happy for them. If it does not - the Island - for once will not be responsible.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Political Pigs at the Trough and Bacon in the Senate - goodbye Maple Syrup
Stephen Harper - stated he was going to move toward an elected Senate. He - being different than PM's before him would bring democracy to bear on the Upper Chamber.
What do Canadians think of the Senate - my guess is not much - and as of late disgusted.
Harper has yet to fulfill another of his election fibs (lies).
Harper used to have a real antagonistic relationship with the unelected Senate - that is when the majority of them were Liberal appointees. Nowadays no such urgency. The Senate now has a majority of Conservatives which pleases Harper and assists in moving forward quickly his "legislative" agenda.
What did Harper do when becoming Prime Minister? As quickly as he could he "appointed" to the Senate Michael Fortier and then right on to his Cabinet as Public Works Minister. This was to accommodate the city of Montreal - which had not elected a Conservative.
We do remember right when an entire province Newfoundland and Labrador did not elect a Conservative - did we get somebody appointed to Cabinet from outside caucus? NO! We got Peter MacKay.
So this Reformer - Stephen Harper - the man who wants/ed an elected Senate did a fine job appointing Conservatives to the Chamber regardless of his "strongly held" fundamental beliefs.
If all these lies and deceit is not enough - Senators are running around the country kissing babies, rubbing elbows, and running Conservative candidates' campaigns. Does this sound right to you? Does this sound like a party or a potential Prime Minister that wants to have the Senate answerable to voters? Maybe we misunderstood him - as apparently is often the case - maybe what he meant was Senators should get involved in electing Conservatives to the House of Commons. Perhaps now he means we can call a Conservative riding headquarters and ask to speak to the Senator who is helping the Conservative candidate out. Maybe that's what he meant by "answerable to the voter".
As I watched Preston Manning the other night answer a reporters question about being proud of where the Conservatives are today - I was reminded that a few reformers sat at a table and planned to get a Reform government in by 2000. Manning added they were just 12 years late. The archival clips shown were of those reformers Manning and Harper saying the Progressive Conservative Party had to go. Then I am reminded of political wimps like Peter MacKay and Loyola Hearn that accommodated that destruction.
Don't be fooled by the Newfoundland and Labrador PC faces that show up at your door looking for a vote. These people have become members of a party that was built on extreme right-wing philosophies and are only shrouding that until they get a majority. Then the likes of Fabian Manning, Jerry Byrne, John Ottenheimer, and Loyola Sullivan will have to sit and take the absolute extremism a Progressive Conservative does not support the likes of which has never been seen in our Province.
These Pigs at the Trough are learning to say and do anything to get elected - and then learn to shut-up as reformers alter this country to something between a police-state and a Bush party.
The ABC campaign must be stronger than before and more aggressive. Just today I was reading an announcement for an upcoming debate - being sponsored by a community services group. It read that 4 parties were participating - Liberal - NDP - Progressive Conservative - and the Green Party. It also listed Loyola Sullivan as a Progressive Conservative. A wolf in sheeps clothing.
Well Newfoundland and Labrador if you elect these opportunistic - ideologically void - pigs at the trough - they won't hesitate to sell us out and tell us we have an attitude of defeatism if we complain.
What do Canadians think of the Senate - my guess is not much - and as of late disgusted.
Harper has yet to fulfill another of his election fibs (lies).
Harper used to have a real antagonistic relationship with the unelected Senate - that is when the majority of them were Liberal appointees. Nowadays no such urgency. The Senate now has a majority of Conservatives which pleases Harper and assists in moving forward quickly his "legislative" agenda.
What did Harper do when becoming Prime Minister? As quickly as he could he "appointed" to the Senate Michael Fortier and then right on to his Cabinet as Public Works Minister. This was to accommodate the city of Montreal - which had not elected a Conservative.
We do remember right when an entire province Newfoundland and Labrador did not elect a Conservative - did we get somebody appointed to Cabinet from outside caucus? NO! We got Peter MacKay.
So this Reformer - Stephen Harper - the man who wants/ed an elected Senate did a fine job appointing Conservatives to the Chamber regardless of his "strongly held" fundamental beliefs.
If all these lies and deceit is not enough - Senators are running around the country kissing babies, rubbing elbows, and running Conservative candidates' campaigns. Does this sound right to you? Does this sound like a party or a potential Prime Minister that wants to have the Senate answerable to voters? Maybe we misunderstood him - as apparently is often the case - maybe what he meant was Senators should get involved in electing Conservatives to the House of Commons. Perhaps now he means we can call a Conservative riding headquarters and ask to speak to the Senator who is helping the Conservative candidate out. Maybe that's what he meant by "answerable to the voter".
As I watched Preston Manning the other night answer a reporters question about being proud of where the Conservatives are today - I was reminded that a few reformers sat at a table and planned to get a Reform government in by 2000. Manning added they were just 12 years late. The archival clips shown were of those reformers Manning and Harper saying the Progressive Conservative Party had to go. Then I am reminded of political wimps like Peter MacKay and Loyola Hearn that accommodated that destruction.
Don't be fooled by the Newfoundland and Labrador PC faces that show up at your door looking for a vote. These people have become members of a party that was built on extreme right-wing philosophies and are only shrouding that until they get a majority. Then the likes of Fabian Manning, Jerry Byrne, John Ottenheimer, and Loyola Sullivan will have to sit and take the absolute extremism a Progressive Conservative does not support the likes of which has never been seen in our Province.
These Pigs at the Trough are learning to say and do anything to get elected - and then learn to shut-up as reformers alter this country to something between a police-state and a Bush party.
The ABC campaign must be stronger than before and more aggressive. Just today I was reading an announcement for an upcoming debate - being sponsored by a community services group. It read that 4 parties were participating - Liberal - NDP - Progressive Conservative - and the Green Party. It also listed Loyola Sullivan as a Progressive Conservative. A wolf in sheeps clothing.
Well Newfoundland and Labrador if you elect these opportunistic - ideologically void - pigs at the trough - they won't hesitate to sell us out and tell us we have an attitude of defeatism if we complain.
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