A blog about news and politics by Steve Janke

September 29, 2007

Dalton McGuinty's "I won't raise taxes!" pledge and Ontario Saving Bonds

Dalton McGuinty has gone on the record: "I won't raise taxes!"

A fine sentiment, but in the background, the actions of one arm the Ontario government is about to seriously impact on the ability of another arm of the government to raise funds through Ontario Savings Bonds. A lack of ministerial oversight has brought this absurd situation to a head.

Think about it. OSBs raised $1.3 billion for the government in 2007. If that revenue stream is squeezed, then how can Dalton McGuinty keep his promise?

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 02:22 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 Voters know Dalton doesn't mean anything he says, so for some reason they will vote for him and include another $600 'health' tax in their household budgets already - but Liberal voters had better hope it's only another 600 dollars, it could easily be more because keeping the teacher's union and aboriginals quiet during an election is very expensive. Ontario may be on the road to the bottom of the heap of provinces, but voters don't care provided their Liberals get great press releases. Why that comforts so many people is inexplicable.

Posted by: philanthropist at September 29, 2007 02:39 PM (lWBHZ)

2 Who fed you this story? Or do you expect us to believe that you came up with it yourself?

Posted by: Jason Cherniak at September 29, 2007 03:18 PM (iKlx3)

3 I don't expect anything of anyone. Heck, I don't even expect anyone to visit my blog, which is why I'm grateful for each and every person who comes by to read my ramblings and perhaps leave a comment. Believe anything you want -- it's a free country. If you think the documentation I've quoted tells a compelling story, that's wonderful. If you think that the issues raised by the banks concerning the changes promoted by Gerry Phillips and the OSC don't constitute an example of Ontario shooting itself in the foot, then I guess I missed the mark on this one. Don't sweat it, Jason. I don't see this one going any farther than the blog. Very few of my stories do.

Posted by: Steve Janke at September 29, 2007 03:37 PM (Dm7C6)

4 Well, that's a switch from last election, he promised NOT to raise taxes, he did, he lied, now he's promising no NEW taxes. Believe him again if your a fool. Appears the voters of Ontario are fine with being lied to and taken for fools if we are to believe the Polls. If Tory hadn't stupidly handed him the gift of Faith Based School funding he had nothing else to run with. What makes it sadder is McGuinty is a complete hypocrite on the school funding issue.

Posted by: Libby at September 29, 2007 03:40 PM (uTDIs)

5 You know, "No raised taxes" is a more accurate representation of what Dalton McGuinty said. I've made the change.

Posted by: Steve Janke at September 29, 2007 03:44 PM (Dm7C6)

6 No raised taxes, no new taxes, no matter,to believe him the only qualification is to be a fool.

Posted by: Libby at September 29, 2007 04:43 PM (oPn9k)

7 Lying liberal bastard, but then aren't they all?

Posted by: Dave at October 01, 2007 12:24 AM (nEzv9)

8 Looks like the Lying Liberal will be returned to office thanks to Tory and his stupid idea to fund all faith based schools. That is the one issue that seems to have grabbed all the attention, the voters of Ontario seem to be fine with being lied to. They also have no problem with wait times and long line-ups for C-Scans and MRI machines. They seem happy to believe McGuinty when he tells them wait times are down and he does not want us to use our health card to access private clinics. No problem with how he handled the Caledonia affair. Paying big bucks to stale buns like Jane Stewart and David Peterson to sort it out, they did squat. Tory is now saying he'll have debate and vote in the Legislature on the funding issue he created but it may be too late. People have been voting 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm already in advance polls. Many Conservatives are angry and frustrated with Tory, if he doesn't pull this one off he's finished in politics.

Posted by: Libby at October 01, 2007 07:32 AM (w8rOQ)

9 If this change (provincial) effects Canada savings bonds (federal) then I expect the OSC will get slapped down by the feds. The Harper government isn't going to allow some nebulous arm of the McGuinty government to decrease its revenues.

Posted by: Iron Oxide at October 01, 2007 07:38 AM (h3RCj)

10 If you had an issue that you really felt strongly about and wanted to see changed but you knew it might be controversial wouldn't you wait until you had gained power before you tried to start changing things? Actually, Kim Campbell was right, in today's world, an election is no time to discuss policy; she just shouldn't have said it. Elections are usually about the record of the government and there was so much material to work with in Dalton's record; hundreds of broken promises, the health tax, Caledonia, the stabbings and shootings in Toronto, the slush fund, the catch and release justice system. This is what the election should have been fought on. John Tory and his campaign team appear to be totally inept.

Posted by: muttsrus at October 01, 2007 11:03 AM (itTGO)

11 Here's a question to trot out during an all candidates meeting. "If your party forms the next government, when you legislate a carbon tax what will you call it, a tax or a levy?"

Posted by: gimbol at October 02, 2007 12:19 PM (IDRjR)

12 Some Dalton ad I saw on the iDIOT BOX last week, it seemed like Dalton was grinning thru his teeth, almost like he was laughing at me, down inside, because he knows it's all just plain shit! ...all these F'en LAWYERS running around in politics...bad people, sociopathic tapeworms. ....who was that cockroach "judge" who ruled these f**** could lie to get elected? So many laws to control us....so few to control them.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at October 06, 2007 05:56 PM (GN3Xe)

13 A Mcguinty promise has about the same chance as a blonde in Norman Bates' shower.

Posted by: bocanut at October 09, 2007 03:16 PM (d/RyS)

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September 28, 2007

Can Stephane Dion control half his caucus and avoid an election?

Bryon Wilfert, a close advisor to Stephane Dion, says the time is not right to have an election. If the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois vote against the Throne Speech, it would be up to the Liberals to support the Throne Speech and so avoid an election. Wilfert has a plan for how that would happen, but it hinges on Liberal MPs being in support of Stephane Dion, and I can't think we can just assume that.

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1 Dion has obviously not yet advised his caucus how to vote on the Throne Speech, and he is playing his cards close to his vest. After the Throne Speech is read, he will tell his caucus how he wants them to vote, and not before. If the caucus disagrees, Dion will just tell them he will consider it a vote on his leadership and resign. If the government calls an election as a result of the vote, that would mean the Liberals do not have a leader, and Ignatieff as 'deputy leader' would have to step into the bloody breach..!!! Hmmmm ......

Posted by: Observer at September 28, 2007 05:58 PM (sEDk+)

2 So, you have both Wilfert and Cherniak floating the idea of avoiding a fall election. They are both closely associated with Team Dion. So, that either means they're bluffing on Dion's part, or they're tipping off which way Dion is leading. I lean towards the latter, mostly based on what I wrote here. There is just no reason for an election now. If Dion forced one, he and his party would be punished. Politicians always try to live for another day. Harper might be hit by scandal or an economic downturn. Dion might actually look good by then, especially with members of his own party. It's in Dion's interests to wait. Yes, he would be weak. But he'd still be alive and removing and replacing him is still much easier said than done, at least until we have an election.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 28, 2007 06:13 PM (KIRFr)

3 btw, at the risk of providing two links to my own blog in the same post on someone else's blog (thanks, Steve

), here is a summary of my thoughts, given Wilfert's and Cherniak's position on a fall election. This, of course, is separate from the question of whether or not Dion has control over his caucus. My guess is that he'll find enough loyal Liberals to sit down when they're told, or at least question the loyalty of anyone who even thinks about not doing what they're told.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 28, 2007 06:37 PM (KIRFr)

4 Well, first in line to support Dion will be Martha Hall-Findlay and his Kingmaker, Gerard Kennedy. There will be enough for his life support, there are too many of them struggling to pay off the last election and not much in donations coming in. Dion is the Liberal sacrificial whatever and Findlay and Kennedy are done in as well. Iggy and Rae will be the next casualties.

Posted by: Libby at September 28, 2007 07:12 PM (crH1V)

5 MP Garth Turner playing it safe with duct tape: "Could you please comment on these difficult events that are creating real problems for Dion and the Liberal party? No. Â— Garth"

Posted by: Harry at September 28, 2007 07:14 PM (sEDk+)

6 You got that right, Libby. The genesis of Liberal ills begins with Chretien changing party funding rules, and Martin assassinating Chretien twice ... for leadership and then Gomery ... and when Martin abdicated, all the other A-team Liberals fled the ship for secure jobs, leaving the Liberal party to nondescript scrubs and assorted rabble. Who in their right mind would join the Liberal party ... other than Garth and appointed women?! A few more shakes of the Dion leadersnip, and maybe the house of cards will collapse. Surely Dion cannot survive the internal attacks and subsequent mess that must be saturating the Liberal party at the grassroots level. They fail to raise funds and their organization is collapsing. Something has got to give, before the Throne Speech on or about October 16th.

Posted by: Observer at September 28, 2007 07:26 PM (sEDk+)

7 My &&& is that the Dionkeys force an election.Basically how else is Dion going to neutralize the internal dissention within the liberal ranks and assert his control( rally around the flag boys).The call to battle and defeat of the Harperites let alone the victors promise of a return to the land of gravy/graft/power will be to much for any liberal to ignore."We must return to power as soon as possible"

Posted by: greyburr at September 28, 2007 07:37 PM (dsvXX)

8 I would split my pants if more than a few Tories came down with a 24 hour flu the day that the Throne Speech is voted on and couldn't possibly get out of bed to vote with the government. Dion is running out of works in which to have spanners thrown into. His leadership has been an abject mess and just seems to be getting worse and worse compounded by more and more problems. He's simply surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Posted by: alan at September 28, 2007 07:39 PM (2bEDO)

9 I posted on this this morning when all the west was abed Dion Not The Cause Got an interesting comment from a reader, what if the Grits decide not to want and the CPC to want an election. Drop a sweeeet SFTH. Well, maybe the Tories get the flu maybe 40 of them so they're down to 86. Heck, maybe the only ones who vote are the Bloc and the NDP. WOuldn't that be fun.

Posted by: Lemon at September 28, 2007 07:43 PM (jns8X)

10 All things considered I would hope that the Conservatives play straight and have every available member in the house to support the government. I also hope that the throne speach is mushy middle so that the opposition in voting against it alienates a large percentage of the voters. I don't think that the average voter wants this government defeated the liberals will be reduced to a rump party if they do not heed the voter's desire.

Posted by: joe at September 28, 2007 08:17 PM (t07u5)

11 If Dion votes against the budget but arranges for over half his caucus to be 'sick' the day of the vote he will look like a total hypocrite and will lose what is left of the respect that the general public has for him (and especially the left!). For months he has been railing on about how terrible Harper is, how awful it is that we have a Conservative government, how the Tories are literally a force of destruction in the world... and then he's going to arrange for their survival? Excuse me while I laugh. If the Tories really are as bad as Dion has been claiming he should be rejoicing that finally all the left wing parties are united in opposition to the despotic Harper regime. No, Dion has painted himself into a corner from which he cannot escape. If the tries to avoid a fall election in this manner, he may survive the month as Liberal leader, but the Left will crucify him. Layton and Duceppe will point out that while they supported the Tories on issues of principle, Dion was satisfied with registering symbolic opposition only. A true leader, they will say, would stand on his principles and take down the government.

Posted by: southernontarioan at September 28, 2007 08:36 PM (x+pNy)

12 Was it crazy when Harper abstained on the 2005 budget?

Posted by: Jason Cherniak at September 28, 2007 09:07 PM (iKlx3)

13 Is there ever going to be a better time for the Conservatives to have an election than now? Never mind the polls. Has anyone even seen a poll since the disaster in Quebec? The pollsters are curiously quiet. I hope Harper brings in a tough Throne Speech that will choke the Liberals if they plan on abstaining. I think Harper's little speech about possibly another minority government was to lull the opposition into a false sense of security.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 28, 2007 09:29 PM (487/8)

14 The Liberals have no money and their organization is a mess. The only reason to have an election now is that's the precondition to forcing a leadership review. But while many in the party might favor that, the MP's who'd have to put their seats on the line behind a flailing leader might think otherwise.

Posted by: GDW at September 28, 2007 09:55 PM (zbZ0n)

15 "We must go back to power as soon as possible" This is the first vote in a long time where the Liberal Party of Canada will have a real chance to bring down the Government. Every other confidence vote, we've had either the Bloc support us, or the NDP abstaining on the Afghan vote and then putting forward their own motion to withdraw. For Dion to show the "leadership" that he claims to have, then he MUST, without excuse, vote against the Speech from the Throne. He said, "We must go back to power as soon as possible". "ASAP"... this is the first opportunity he's had to make good on that commitment, so what is he going to do? Is he going to deliver on this longstanding commitment, or is he going to chicken out, and prove, once again, that he is "Not a leader"?

Posted by: Christian Conservative at September 28, 2007 10:01 PM (TXF0W)

16 Maybe some Bloq MP's will come down with the flu as well. Or if the NDP are smarter than I think they are, they will vote for the Throne speech. Why? They need time to get some good candidates into Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. If they want to be the offical opposition, they need good people in place, that takes time. Plus they can watch the Liberal party eat their own until '09. Can only help the NDP.

Posted by: Hunter at September 28, 2007 10:35 PM (tHko3)

17 Jason your argument is not convincing because the circumstances are different. Martin had 'just' won another term as PM and Harper had an obligation to make sure that Parliament worked. Harper could not support the government because he felt the budget was poor but was obligated by the will of the people to abstain to make sure it passed. It was what Martin successfully campaigned on. Harper actively tried to bring down the government during its second year. Similarly, Dion has no obligation to ensure the Harper government survives since it has already passed the average age for which minority governments last. Not to mention the fact that Dion has been railing for months, years maybe that the Harper government is so terrible, so awful, so harmful, that he needs to be taken down as quickly as possible. Could you imagine Harper in the fall of 2006 deciding to abstain when Layton and Duceppe agreed to take Martin down? No! Why? Because he spent the whole spring ranting about how terrible the Liberals were, to back down then would mean he wasn't serious about it to begin with and only wanted to use the opportunity to take power. If Dion backs down like this, he'll be showing the same opportunism. And as Harper found, being labeled as an opportunist is almost as bad as being corrupt.

Posted by: southernontarioan at September 29, 2007 12:17 AM (x+pNy)

18 Was it crazy when Harper abstained on the 2005 budget? Posted by: Jason Cherniak at September 28, 2007 09:07 PM .......................... It will be crazy if Dion or part of the Liberal party abstains on the 2006 Throne Speech, and once again proving that Dion is NOT a leader.

Posted by: Observer at September 29, 2007 04:56 AM (Hr7yh)

19 Christian Conservative, agree Dion is in a bind given his statement "we must get back to power as soon as possible". The statement also smacks of the arrogance of the Liberals and their attitude of divine right to rule. That attitude remains even through corruption and lies. The biggest lie ever told was by Chretien on the scrapping of the GST. He was caught on taped video saying "ITS GONE", in answer to the question what about scrapping the GST. HE STILL DENIED SAYING IT.

Posted by: Libby at September 29, 2007 07:24 AM (s0AT6)

20 The Quebec byelections changed the status quo in the Liberal Party. That changes the internal party dynamic. The one guaranteed event is that Dion will be the Liberal leader at the next election. How will the Liberals deal with that reality? Dion has begun making some of the right moves through his proxies Wilfert/Cherniak (Steve, isn't it interesting that Dion's own proxy is showing up here up on your blog to help float this trial balloon?) but failing at many others (Garneau, Leduc, Carroll). This is Dion's only move, abstain, but Jason is making the wrong analogy. This isn't like the post 2004 election/pre 2005 budget time period. This is like the pre 2004 election time period. Harper was the new & first Conservative leader. He was giving the rhetoric that an election was necessary. The Liberals didn't want an election but the polls were more favourable to them then the Conservatives. There were many in the Conservative Party who felt that an election was necessary ASAP so that Harper would lose and then they could get a better leader like Lord or Harris. Harper was seen as unelectable or unable to get a majority. Get the election over with and then move on. They felt that the election would return nearly the status quo, so there was little to lose and they would get rid of Harper in the process. Similar forces are now on the ascendency in the Liberal Party. The Liberal versions of Joe Clark and Carole Jamieson are publicly sabotaging Dion. What Harper needed then and what Dion needs now is time. Events & the Prime Minister didn't cooperate then, it remains to be seen whether Dion will be more lucky. During the 2004 election, Harper over-acheived, but his party under-acheived. This pretty much killed the internal revolt and the rebels began leaving because they knew they couldn't wrest control of the leadership from Harper. I think it is clear that during the next election, the Liberal Party is going to under-acheive. Everybody, EVERYBODY, knows that during an election now Dion will under-acheive. He's not ready for prime time. Dion has fewer than 25 MPs in his caucus he can count on to abstain. Of the remaining 71 MPs, I don't think there is a single MP who is in danger of losing his seat in the upcoming election. What have they got to lose by voting against the Throne Speech? Only the leadership of Stephane Dion. Harper is luring those 71 MPs into an election by predicting the status quo after an election. They have the perfect cover: "I could not endure one more minute of this @$%#% Harper government. I had to vote with my conscience against the Throne Speech." I wonder how many Liberal MPs would say that right now on the record? If it's more than 48, we are going to have an election soon.

Posted by: PlaidShirt at September 29, 2007 07:48 AM (YMB4Z)

21 I M da leeder, and u will do as I tel u, or I wil, wil, fart in your general direction!

Posted by: Roberto at September 29, 2007 10:17 AM (czKMh)

22 Roberto must have wandered over from Garths blog...

Posted by: at September 29, 2007 10:21 AM (KwJgT)

23 Dion seems sincerely convinced that he can beat Harper, but he only needs more time. Last June he told Don Newman that he will beat Harper in BOTH the French and English debates ! That one overconfident, delusional statement spoke volumes as to why Dion cannot play the political game anywhere near Harper's level. I believe the guy is on a mission to prove his Liberal detractors wrong, and the Tories are wrong (that in fact he IS a leader), and Ignatieff was wrong (he WILL get the job done). Given that he needs more time to prove his points, I think he will instruct his shadow cabinet to vote against the budget, while having the rest of the MPs abstain.

Posted by: at September 29, 2007 11:10 AM (g7gYB)

24 ...Jason who?

Posted by: tomax7 at September 29, 2007 12:06 PM (jHhd0)

25 Don Newman on CBC TV is losing his patience with Dion when interviewing him, and is confronting him when Dion spouts his ridiculous claims that he is a good and growing leader, the party is united and will beat Harper in debates AND the election. I have heard near-apoplectic Don contradict Dion several times to his face, as the CBC provides unlimited free air time for the Liberal party poobahs and MPs in their desperate attempt to shore them up. It's so pathetic ... I suspect the desperate CBC is losing confidence in Dion, and are fearful of a Liberal majority government that would clip back the CBC Newsworld budget and reallocate it to artsy-fartsy stuff that nobody will watch anyway ... because that is the way to make the CBC totally irrelevant to Canadian life.

Posted by: Observer at September 29, 2007 12:44 PM (bXGic)

26 I still think it would be hilarious for only Harper to stand up and vote "yea." And the rest of the Conservatives abstain. This would mean that 80 out of 96 Liberals would have to vote "yea" to prevent the government from falling. It would force Dion to either vote for the Throne Speach and come off looking like a total loser, or just give in and head for an election they don't want. Either way it's lose-lose for Dion. If the Conservatives did that it would remove the possibility of Dion & the Libs from having any manuevers that would allow them to save face.

Posted by: Reid at September 29, 2007 01:43 PM (PiL/n)

27 The only thing the MSM hate worse than Stephen Harper and the Conservatives is a weak, wimpy Liberal leader who cannot win an election for them. If the writ falls, look for Dion to be propped up bigtime for the campaign; however, if there is no election , the MSM will be ruthless in their quest for a replacement. They want to get back to power as soon as possible.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 29, 2007 02:00 PM (jjTbT)

28 This just in. Garth Turner answers the questions of a young Liberal named Jason regarding the Party infighting. Sounds like the letter could be from Cherniak, heh, heh. Garth says drop the writ.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 29, 2007 03:36 PM (jjTbT)

29 "Roberto must have wondered over from Garths blog" You must be one of Stephanies fart catchers. Getting tired of keeping up with your idol, don't worry about his farts, you better prepare yourself for his next verbal diarreah LOL!!

Posted by: Roberto at September 29, 2007 03:57 PM (czKMh)

30 Garth says drop the writ? Looks like Garth is as delusional as his Leader, Stephane. They do have something else in common, they're both in danger of flickering out.

Posted by: Libby at September 30, 2007 07:20 AM (ILaaU)

31 Here's a neat theory about the newest front in the liberal civil war thats been raging since 93. The ones that are most eager to see Dion go and are working to see him lose an election is the Rae/Power Corp team. Oterwise known as the "establishment". Rae started his leadership campaign yesterday with the letter he? penned for the G&M. Regardless the liberal party has been replaced by the MTV* party. *Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver

Posted by: gimbol at October 02, 2007 12:26 PM (IDRjR)

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Stephane Dion's Caricature: I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!

Is Stephane Dion the little yellow dude of Canadian politics?

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1 I always thought of it as SpongeBobRae BarePants (carousing with stud Rick Mercer)... and Dion as "Le Rat (devenu Castor)" comme ici: http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/large.php?Lang=1&accessnumber=M999.81.118 A classic cartoon in Quebec !!

Posted by: Observer at September 28, 2007 10:00 AM (RngoX)

2 I've said it before, I'll say it again: the only reason why that caricature of Dion is so strong in the public imagination is that caricatures exaggerate what already exists. In other words, Dion would essentially be fighting himself. Which means he's as divided as the party he wants to lead.

Posted by: PhantomObserver at September 28, 2007 10:12 AM (RU8Qm)

3 I'd vote for Spongebob over Dion! <3 Spongebob! I said it elsewhere, we need to be careful, lest we end up with Jack Layton as PM. It's not too far a stretch to see the NDP fill in the left like Labour did in the UK. Dion's making everyone look amazing by comparison.

Posted by: Lore_Weaver at September 28, 2007 10:33 AM (dtsfj)

4 Leave it to Jane Taber and the Globe to publish a story like this. The Quebec LPC is threatening to lock it's doors and turn out the lights for lack of funds. "Star" Quebec Liberals are abandoning the party. Stephane Dion's close advisor and National Director is being asked to step down for controversial remarks he recently made. Fundraising from LPC grassroots is barely sputtering along at best. Many LPC candidates have yet to be chosen/appointed. And Jane Taber is writing as if nothing is wrong with the LPC and they are firmly getting their election footing. Uh-huh. Righty right. All these things are enough to give a Party pause before going into a General Election, but...there's still the leader Stephane Dion and the idea of him leading the LPC to contend with. Stephane Dion himself is badly hurting the Liberal brand in Quebec - Trudeau owned the province, now the Libs barely have a dozen of the 75 seats there with no viable hope of gaining many more. He doesn't resonant well in any part of Canada. He is not well-liked within his own party. He can't attract the fundraising that is badly needed. The policies he does maintain firmly are either impractical or unworkable. The biggest current beef he has with the Conservative government is on Afghanistan. Fine enough, but Dion hasn't even been to there to see firsthand what is going on on the ground there. If anything, this does make life interesting from a political point of view, but Taber should give her head a shake and acknowledge what is really happening, not what she is told or thinks is happening.

Posted by: alan at September 28, 2007 10:38 AM (2bEDO)

5 Please don't insult Spongebob by comparing him to Stephane!

Posted by: Soccermom at September 28, 2007 11:02 AM (sglp2)

6 Perhaps the most telling aspect of this is how eager Dion is to believe what some Liberals are feeding him. Then again, it's nothing new. So much of Dion's perception of himself has been the result one steady stream of platitudes from federalist pundits and environmentalist lobby groups. Perhaps no ego in politics is so dependent on what a few select people have been saying about him over the years. It's a bubble, and it's going to burst, folks. Believe it.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 28, 2007 12:08 PM (FnDNC)

7 Comments running like a wood chipper. The beaver/Le Rat is being shredded. ...- Quebec Liberals targeting Dion's inner circle Updated Fri. Sep. 28 2007 12:04 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff A campaign is being waged in Quebec against Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and his inner circle.

Posted by: maz2 at September 28, 2007 12:11 PM (NULkj)

8 Jason Cherniak gives Dion some advice today. He wants him to go to the matresses like Michael Corleone. It's an unfortunate analogy as a commenter writes "Dion Corleone. I love it. The rebirth of the Libranos". Priceless.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 28, 2007 01:58 PM (TK9ic)

9 I'm wondering at what point Liberals realize that the Cherniaks of the party are part of the problem. Then again, maybe they're all Cherniak types, which is why he has such a loud voice for the party to begin with.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 28, 2007 02:04 PM (FnDNC)

10 Dion might find Kyoto's head (his dog) under his silk sheets...

Posted by: at September 28, 2007 03:11 PM (KwJgT)

11 While all hell is breaking loose back at Liberal Party headquarters, the Kingmaker, Gerard Kennedy, has slipped out of the country. According to CTV news he has run afoul of police while observing voting in the Ukraine. I thought he was teaching at Ryerson. Why isn't he home gearing up for an election?

Posted by: muttsrus at September 28, 2007 03:30 PM (TK9ic)

12 It's ok, He left a cardboard cut out of himself at Ryerson.

Posted by: Ken M at September 28, 2007 04:50 PM (gllom)

13 Where the hell is Kennedy getting the funds to swan off to the Ukraine? Is he there to pick up some new tricks for the Liberals in the guise of being an observer? Sorry, but never know, desperation time for the Libranos.

Posted by: Libby at September 28, 2007 05:55 PM (krzcQ)

14 "Bikini Bottoms" is infested with leeches and tapewroms.....

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 29, 2007 08:24 PM (GN3Xe)

15 Poor Lil' Stephi.... Can you possibly imagine how lonely he must be feeling right now?.. He has no friends......except those with a knife behind their back. Poor mis-understood Stephi.... If only everybody in Canada could see how sincere he is....how intellectual and truely compassionate he is.......then everybody would rally behind him, conservative and leftie alike.... He would 'fix' everything if only given a chance! He would put that upity Alberta back in it's place....(shameful Albertains, I mean HONESTLY!). He would continue to 'help' the indians...the people in the maritimes....and the urban voters in T.O., Vancouver and Montreal.(those that are left),,,,he would fix everything and wrap it up in a nice pretty ribbon called Kyoto. He will inspire all Qubecer's to sign the constitution, eliminate the BQ, stop all foriegn take-overs of Canadian Companies and kiss and make up with China.... Oh, how grande Canada will be after that! I can't wait! Damn.....ok, who put the LSD in my coffee?.....c'mon....fess up...WHO put the damn LSD in my coffee????? Ignatieff?....was it you?....Bob Rae?... Jason?.... Buzz?

Posted by: arctic_front at October 05, 2007 02:06 PM (FCm5t)

16 Hello first time to come to this forum, I like it very much!sd5f46s5df465sd4f

Posted by: lebron 9 galaxy at December 03, 2012 08:46 AM (1zd/s)

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September 27, 2007

CP reports of massive Liberal infighting over Jamie Carroll's Chinese joke

The Jamie Carroll story continues to spiral out of control. The list of Liberals publicly demanding that Stephane Dion take action grows by the hour. That Stephane Dion's leadership has taken another huge body blow is no longer in question.

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1 yawn

Posted by: yawn at September 27, 2007 06:22 PM (UNgyQ)

2 Dion needs to take some serious action to stem the bleeding. Take one of the renegade MP's, either Coderre, or Rodriguez, and then nominate someone else for their riding. Voila - you are no longer running for the Liberals. I am not sure if he is able to do that to a sitting MP, but whatever he does, the message needs to be powerful. His detractors keep raising the stakes because there are no apparent consequences for attacking the leader. I think the Liberals have still not fully atoned for Adscam, thus I am hardly sympathetic. Still, this is getting painful to watch.

Posted by: Concerned Torontonian at September 27, 2007 06:47 PM (Wsk1E)

3 Liberal are exploding, self-destructing in front of the nation. This is incredible and awesome!

Posted by: Ravinder at September 27, 2007 07:05 PM (kzTm6)

4 Of course Dion could round up all his enemies and get them to agree to shut up by appointing them all to the senate....Oh what am I thinking they're not in power anymore.

Posted by: David at September 27, 2007 07:32 PM (KwJgT)

5 We need an election NOW! Harper needs to come up with a Throne Speech the opposition will vote against no matter what or that will cause the Liberal MPs to revolt against Dion and vote against it.

Posted by: Ryan at September 27, 2007 07:33 PM (+UAJx)

6 The infighting in the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party has to be the most entertaining soap opera of all time. It blows away the infighting of the old days of the PC Party. Even the late Dalton Camp could not have thought of this type of infighting to get rid of a leader! If Dion wants to have a chance of saving his feeble leadership he needs to find some stones and trim the fat in the Quebec office of the party. Those plotting against him should be fired and the MPs and Senators calling him out should be suspended from caucus or at the very least removed from their critic portfolios and replaced with MP's loyal to Dion (if there are still any). He has to do this publicly and quickly or he can kiss whatever control of the party he has left goodbye, as well as any hope of not being labeled a weak leader by his opponents. Oh wait, that is already his image. I am curious to know how the Liberal Party in the rest of Canada feels about this brewing Civil War. It can not do much to encourage them to want to fight a potential election after the Harper Government's upcoming Throne Speech that will now likely include some form of real tax break for Canadians.

Posted by: Kelly at September 27, 2007 07:36 PM (Pps56)

7 Bob Rae will be Liberal Leader by December.

Posted by: Dion ite at September 27, 2007 07:39 PM (9UMGx)

8 Oh for Pete's sake -- I agree, no atonement for Adscam, I'm not sympathetic, but this is getting ridiculous. Are these people joking that they want to run the country?

Posted by: JBG at September 27, 2007 07:48 PM (fDU+j)

9 Say HELLO to Iggy

Posted by: zilla at September 27, 2007 07:51 PM (z5xBo)

10 Where are Kinsella and Raymaker on this ? I'm not making my mind up on this until they make it up for me.

Posted by: Gargle with salt at September 27, 2007 08:06 PM (57TwP)

11 This is ridiculous - not that I'm surprised Janke is pumping this story but lets look at motives. I personally believe there are those in LPCQ who are trying to shift blame for themselves for what happened in the by-election. Taking Carroll's commnet out of context provided them a perfect scapegoat. My rule of thumb - never trust people connected to Jean Lapierre. What is so sad is the only thing hurt by this crap is the Liberal Party. Janke should be happy. There are so many more important story's out here: Monte Solberg admitting the Tories can't deliver the promised Day Care spaces and blaming the provinces even though the provinces agreed to the previous governments plan; Stockwell Day's plan to arm border guards is going to cost a billion dollars according to Greg Weston even though there hasn't been an incident at a border crossing where a guard has needed a gun for decades; Tom Flanagan admitting that a Tory majoriy will get rid of supply management (lets see Harper talk about this in rural Quebec); The Tory plan to funnell advertising through candidates to bypass Elections Canada laws which allowed them to overspend in the last campaign by $1million; Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper never accounting for their desire for Canada to be part of the Iraq war; The complete disrespect for Climate Change science from the Tory government and Harper's siding with the world's biggest polluters against the UN; The list goes on and this list affects my daily life. Instead everyone is wrapped up in a story that if anyone actually looked at Stephane Dion's record they would see francophone communities outside Quebec call the commitment of the federal government to bilingualism, 'The Dion Plan'. It's time to debate issues and put the personal shit behind us. Janke is a great defender of Tory policy and I respect him for that but lets leave the personal bullshit for Frank Magazine.

Posted by: calmdown at September 27, 2007 08:10 PM (b4u/G)

12 Finally, someone who can criticize me in a coherent, fact-based manner, without calling me names or threatening to sue (indeed slipping in a couple of kind words). Thanks, calmdown. Please come by again.

Posted by: Steve Janke at September 27, 2007 08:20 PM (O9174)

13 Calmdown, you need to actually calm down. This story was broken by the Canadian Press, not Janke. The story was run because the reporter got a phone call from a "Potential Liberal Candidate in Quebec", not Janke. The root of the story resulted from 4 people who attended the meeting calling the press, not Janke. It is newsworthy because the press loves to see blood being spilled in a political party. When the MSM was raking the Conservatives over the coals a few years back you would not have been complaining. The other things you talk about are also being reported, but have no legs because your party's infighting is far more interesting to the general public and most certainly to Bloggers.

Posted by: Kelly at September 27, 2007 08:25 PM (Pps56)

14 I don't get what the entire hubub is about (from the Liberal side)... the comment seems pretty innocuous. Why are the members in such a state of frenzy? Guess some things I'll never quite get

Posted by: Ivan at September 27, 2007 08:28 PM (iSwJB)

15 Uh, thanks for the propaganda, c-d, but no thanks. If we wanted to hear tripe we'd join one of your fiberal websites!! OK? Oh, and get a dictionary- "There are so many more important story's out here:" We LIKE to discuss your troubles!!!

Posted by: Larry at September 27, 2007 08:30 PM (/tpqx)

16 The dangerous part about this insurrection within the Liberal sewer is that, when these sewer rats succeed in dumping(pun intended) Dion, they will then trumpet that all the slime has been cleansed from the Liberal Party and they are shiny clean again--a new Party that is safe to vote for yadayadayada. We all know that the party is corrupt and Dion is only a small part of it. As long as there is one of them left it will be ever thus.

Posted by: George at September 27, 2007 08:36 PM (6tqaV)

17 I'm afraid Larry is right calmdown, we do like hearing about the LPC imploding, in fact it makes my day! If you don't like it, well there's lots of other news out there. Why doncha just buy some beer and popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show?

Posted by: kelly at September 27, 2007 09:33 PM (pdf5D)

18 Â“Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper never accounting for their desire for Canada to be part of the Iraq war Â…Â” Who wrote the following?: Â«A year ago, I was a reluctant yet convinced supporter of the war in Iraq. A year later, the weapons of mass destruction haven't turned up, Iraqis are being blown up on their way to the mosque, democracy is postponed till next year and my friends are all asking me if I have second thoughts. Who wouldn't have? Â… ... We seem not even to recognize freedom when we see it: Shiites by the hundreds of thousands walking barefoot to celebrate in the holy city of Karbala, Iraqis turning up at town meetings and trying out democracy for the first time, newspapers and free media sprouting everywhere, daily demonstrations in the streets. If freedom is the only goal that redeems all the dying, there is more real freedom in Iraq than at any time in its history. And why should we suppose that freedom will be anything other than messy, chaotic, even frightening? Why should we be surprised that Iraqis are using their freedom to tell us to go home? Wouldn't we do just the same?Â» Michael Ignatieff, in a NYT article in March 2004. After he became a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party, Mr. Ignatieff tried to distance himself from his previous support of the Iraq war in another NYT Aug. 2007 article entitled "Getting Iraq Wrong." Day, Harper, AND Ignatieff made their decisions with the information they had AT THE TIME. Like the proverbial Monday morning QB, the three of them might have made different decisions knowing what they know now.

Posted by: Gabby in QC at September 27, 2007 10:13 PM (E2GmW)

19 They seek him here, they seek him there They seek him everywhere Is he in Heaven? Is he in Hell? That damned elusive PimpÂ…erÂ…Lieberal

Posted by: Bernie at September 27, 2007 10:42 PM (7wgeT)

20 Shall we start a DION DEATH WATCH thread, because what we are witnessing is the pathetic attempts by some in the Liberal party to rid themselves of Dion's leadersnip. Will Dion fight because those detractors in the Liberal party underestimate him ... or will Dion roll over and flee the country, perhaps retiring to France to join pal Pettigrew..?? Ah .. as the worm turns .. LOL

Posted by: Observer at September 27, 2007 11:17 PM (J2zNP)

21 Calmdown has a long wishlist of what he would like to see the Tories do,but that ain't happenin' buddy! We're not that stupid. Take your lumps and what for the election!

Posted by: Louise at September 28, 2007 12:46 AM (ID/Q7)

22 Okay okay guys, everyone calm down. As Steve said, calmdown should be respected because he came here and made his point without ad hominen attacks or otherwise insulting anyone. That being said, I disagree on the border issue. Having lived in a major border town for several years there wasn't a month that went by when we weren't reminded in terrible ways the dangers of lax border enforcement. Knowing several border guards as I do, (both professional and the students that they hire) the issue of arming the guards is incredibly common-sense. Guards currently do not 'need' guns because their rule of thumb is 'if you think the traveler is packing, let them through'. Most security at the border is ridiculous anyways, I've crossed without even been required to show ID! While arming the guards may not solve all these problems it is a necessary first step in order to empower security at the border to be able to defend themselves if necessary and be willing to enforce the laws without fear of finding themselves outgunned. At the very least, it removes this excuse for their inaction.

Posted by: southernontarioan at September 28, 2007 02:01 AM (x+pNy)

23 I love every second of it. To so the Liberals self-destroy is a Christmas gift three months ahead of time. It does look like 1988 again when liberals were revolting against John Turner. Being a Quebecker, I never understood the logic behind the selection of Dion as a leader. Whatever he does, he will never be liked either in Quebec or anywhere else for that matter. I agree with the others, the PM should call an election before the liberals kick Dion off.

Posted by: Martin at September 28, 2007 05:27 AM (lDRff)

24 Geez Calmdown, you had me at "hello", but then you lost me when you cited the Tory's alleged 'complete disrespect for Climate Change science.' You claim to wish to debate the issues, but according to your post, on climate change it's a done deal, the science is settled, no more debate required. Sorry, ain't gonna happen. But the gist of your post is well taken.

Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at September 28, 2007 07:06 AM (xUjnI)

25 Any poop that gets out to air from within the Liberal Den is always billed as someone else's fault, the scapegoat principle. Never could Coderre, Rodriguez, Kinsilly or anyone else attack another in the fold, ya, right. The Liberals are imploding and it's difficult to ignore, we're dealing with the brutality of politics here, it's not for the weak-kneed wimps. The Liberals are good at begging for mercy and civility but don't practice it themselves.

Posted by: Libby at September 28, 2007 08:02 AM (XRL0a)

26 Chinese-Quebeckers, sure...as long as they're ALSO female, pregnant, lesbian, handicapped and speak Cree as a third language.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 28, 2007 08:56 AM (GN3Xe)

27 Let the border guards borrow a single-shot .410, from a locker at work, and make them buy their own bird licences and shells...there, I just saved a billion dollars...

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 28, 2007 09:05 AM (GN3Xe)

28 desert sand...cacti dotting the landscape...a scorpion scurries under a rock...vultures circling in the sky above...the silhouette of a thin, little man on his knees pathetically crying with an annoying accent "It's not my fault!"

Posted by: PlaidShirt at September 28, 2007 11:15 AM (F47cQ)

29 Watching Dion's leadership unravel is like watching a car wreck in slow motion as it is happening.

Posted by: Brian in Calgary at September 28, 2007 11:37 AM (am0pv)

30 Wonder how His Largeness,Sir Michael of Duffy will spin this? One of his favorites, Denis Coderre will be involved no doubt, Duffy apologized to Coderre for something he said.

Posted by: Libby at September 28, 2007 02:50 PM (QsjP0)

31 These comments are fairly innocuous. The media devises their product through 'blood in the water' reporting maintained by iterative feeding frenzies. It is interesting to see that frenzy pointed in a leftward direction. That's a rare event anywhere in the North America.

Posted by: iowavette at September 28, 2007 04:36 PM (lnmx6)

32 Wouldn't it just be easier to make a list of people NOT asking for Jamie Carroll to be fired? Just a suggestion.

Posted by: Paul MacPhail at October 01, 2007 03:39 AM (paAS8)

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Stephane Dion is openly challenged

An official call has been made by Robert Fragasso, the president of the Liberal Party in Quebec, that Jamie Carroll resign as national director of the Liberal Party. Carroll is Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion's longtime ally and an important party of Dion's inner circle. His position as national director is key to what control Stephane Dion has over his party.

But with this news, we have the first open sign of a serious challenge to Stephane Dion's leadership.

Update: Massive Liberal infighting goes public.

more...

Posted by: Steve Janke at 05:43 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 587 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Steve wrote: "And I think this is all part of the game plan of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party to remove Stephane Dion as quickly as possible." If this keeps up, Stephane Dion may want to remove himself as quickly as possible. One solution to his troubles would be to commit political seppuku in a general election.

Posted by: aek at September 27, 2007 07:01 PM (oG/LJ)

2 Have fun Janke as you will start to see a very different Dion shortly. No more bullshit a la Harper.

Posted by: at September 27, 2007 07:59 PM (NNUmD)

3 "Have fun Janke as you will start to see a very different Dion shortly. No more bullshit a la Harper" Oooh. what a mind. The sheer eloquence! Anywho... I love reading about fiberal infighting. Thanks Steve.

Posted by: Larry at September 27, 2007 08:40 PM (/tpqx)

4 "Have fun Janke as you will start to see a very different Dion shortly" yep..we have seen the imbecile, now we will see the political corpse. *smile*

Posted by: zilla at September 27, 2007 09:06 PM (O+ehS)

5 "Have fun Janke as you will start to see a very different Dion shortly. No more bullshit a la Harper" That comment reminds me of the old Peanuts sketch where Lucy holds the football and tells Charlie Brown to kick it and every year she pulls it away and he wipes out. He continually falls for it over and over. Hey its even getting to the right time of the year for it, I remember it used to be around Thanksgiving. 10 years of Dion as an MP in the party, 1 year as a leadership candidate and almost a year as the leader, yet somehow he will magically morph into the savior of the Liberal party. Overnight this caterpillar will emerge from his 12 year cocoon and kick the stuffing out of Harper.

Posted by: Davide at September 27, 2007 09:25 PM (p9aaN)

6 My goodness, I can smell the desperation and decay eminating from the Liberals. It is a huge farce

Posted by: Louise at September 27, 2007 10:26 PM (ID/Q7)

7 Looks like the Quebec Liberals haven't "underestimated" Dion ... they know exactly what a loser he is and no longer want to support Dion's leadersnip. Won't it be a tad incongruous having Ignatieff sitting next to Dion on the front benches of the HoCs when Parliament resumes .. particularly in Question Period when Dion has to stand up and make his usual incomprehensible and idiotic harangue..?? Somehow I suspect that Iggy is planning for an empty seat where Dion sat .. by October 16th or else the Liberal party may well split, leaving Dion without a party to lead.

Posted by: Observer at September 27, 2007 11:27 PM (J2zNP)

8 No...no...not "challenged". Herr Dion iz exzhibiting der clazzic manifestations of an individual deeply emotionally scarred and mentally disturbed. Ja, in mein OPINION, firstly, he's a pathological liar. Secondly, a unconvicted thief. He seeks to control the free speech of individuals around him. A Megalomaniac, he'd try it on a National Scale. Old Uncle Adolf had that particular "bug" real bad, too. Don't let these often-very smooth, very intelligent, individuals fool you with their PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE infiltration techniques. Scary that legions of these "jackals" have infiltrated gov't and police, and unconsciously have "bonded" together to enhance and perpetrate a State which is essentially an expensive CONFIDENCE RACKET bigger than any ORGANIZED RELIGION.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 28, 2007 08:13 AM (GN3Xe)

9 I like it very much!sd5f46s5df465sd4f

Posted by: mercurial 9 at December 02, 2012 12:04 PM (HgLm+)

10 Hello first time to come to this forum, I like it very much!sd5f46s5df465sd4f

Posted by: lebron 9 galaxy at December 02, 2012 12:05 PM (B+nK4)

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Liberal blogger demands Stephane Dion denounce Jamie Carroll's Chinese crack

We hear from Liberal sources that at a meeting with Quebec Liberals in the aftermath of the Outremount by-election loss, Jamie Carroll responded to demands that more Quebecers be included in Stephane Dion's inner circle. Jamie Carroll is the Liberal Party's National Director and a close supporter and advisor of Liberal Stephane Dion.

Jamie Carroll's response: If I hire more Quebecers, will I also have to hire more Chinese?

A Liberal blogger has had enough and wants Stephane Dion to slap Jamie Carroll down.

Meanwhile I am amazed at just how eager Quebec Liberals are to make sure that any misstep by Stephane Dion or his inner circle is made known to the press.

Update #1: The president of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party of Canada, Robert Fragasso, is demanding that Jamie Carroll remove himself as national director.

Update #2: Massive Liberal infighting goes public.

more...

Posted by: Steve Janke at 01:25 PM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
Post contains 790 words, total size 7 kb.

1 This is so funny. I just love watching the Liberal Party fall apart -- and it will! Ha! Ha!

Posted by: Werner Patels at September 27, 2007 02:11 PM (mR4Oq)

2 I think I know what this is all about. I suspect that Mr. Carroll was complaining about the Quebec Liberals wanting positions in the party HQ -- solely because they were from Quebec. The analogy that he used could certainly be considered culturally insensitive, but the point he was trying to make would still be valid: that Quebec Liberals shouldn't assume they're entitled to positions of authority just because they're from Quebec. To hire a Chinese Canadian, on the basis of race, would make just as much sense. As a Canadian-born Chinese, I can say I wasn't particularly offended by Mr. Carroll's remarks as reported. But then againk I'm a Tory.

Posted by: PhantomObserver at September 27, 2007 02:38 PM (RU8Qm)

3 While I too enjoy watching the Liberals twist in the wind, I can't help but think that there isn't some Chinese proverb about enjoying the travails of one's opponent too much to the point that those same ills befall you. I mean, the Liberals enjoyed watching the Conservatives implode for so long, now look at them.

Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at September 27, 2007 02:53 PM (xUjnI)

4 Good point, Phantom: only Liberals offend easily. Then again, they're wusses. Look at Dion: "It's not fair" (....shedding tears .....).

Posted by: Werner Patels at September 27, 2007 03:12 PM (mR4Oq)

5 ...blame it on les argent et ethnique...

Posted by: tomax7 at September 27, 2007 03:33 PM (jHhd0)

6 Hoo hoo, this is hilarious.

Posted by: Not a Kinsella Sock Puppet at September 27, 2007 04:05 PM (57TwP)

7 If you're not careful, I'm going to have to sue you. Stop misrepresenting my words.

Posted by: Jason Cherniak at September 27, 2007 04:13 PM (iKlx3)

8 One may remember that in former days, French-Canadians have been called "the Chinese of the Eastern States" by our friends to the South. (http://wquercus.com/acadie/wright/wright.htm). That comparison was not so far away from the reality at that time. Jamie Carroll should keep that one for next time everybody comes to Montreal with that giant Canadian flag, eh ?

Posted by: Lion in Quebec City at September 27, 2007 04:15 PM (V9Bbt)

9 Setting the record straight:[Steve Janke] claims that StÃ©phane Dion referred to Liberal MP Arthur Lee as "the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament" and that this was some sort of horrible refusal to recognize PC MP Douglas Jung. At first, I thought he might have a point (if overly exaggerated). However, if you watch the video that Janke posts on his site, you will learn that Dion did no such thing! In fact, he referred to Mr. Lee as the "first MP of Chinese origin".
>>
>If you read Mr. Jung's biography, you will immediately learn that he was "born in Victoria, British Columbia". At the very least, it is debatable whether this constitutes "Chinese origin".<
blockquote>Debatable as to whether this constitutes Chinese origin. So that means questioning whether Douglas Jung, who is clearly of Chinese ancestry (his parents were born in China), ranks as someone whose origins in China are strong enough to count as the first MP...nah, I think I got it right. Of course, the real joke is that Liberal Arthur Lee was born in Alberta, and so the whole debate suddenly became unimportant. The official Liberal Party reaction?But Liberal blogger Jason Cherniak disagreed with Janke on his blog, saying that Douglas Jung was born in Victoria, British Columbia. "At the very least, it is debatable whether this constitutes 'Chinese origin'," said Cherniak. But Cherniak afterwards made an apology, stating that Arthur Lee was born in Alberta. Cherniak says on his blog that he is Dion's blog campaign co-chair and president of Richmond Hill Federal Liberal Riding Association. Dion's press secretary said that Cherniak is an independent blogger and does not speak for the Liberal Party.The funny thing is that the quotes I'm using come from Jason Cherniak's blog and the newspaper Sing Tao. Perhaps I'm interpreting those two sources incorrectly. Please correct my representation of the words. This is a good faith effort to make sure that the meaning of these statements is reproduced accurately.

Posted by: Steve Janke at September 27, 2007 04:32 PM (O9174)

10 May I respectfully suggest to all the people who find some perverse comfort in this immature debate to shut the fu*k up and start organizing something constructive outside of Ottawa.

Posted by: Steven Megannety at September 27, 2007 04:52 PM (kawJL)

11 Sorry, that should be "start" organizing something constructive outside of Ottawa, because you are dangerously close to destroying any cohesion we have ever had in Disney on the Rideau.

Posted by: Steven Megannety at September 27, 2007 05:00 PM (kawJL)

12 It is fairly obvious that the Liberal Party of Canada does not do well in Opposition. With no tax payers to fleece, no patronage appointments to hand out, no cabinet positions to assign, etc., there is no way to keep the troops in line and no way to punish those who misbehave. As we all know, most Liberals don't donate to their party and not many seem to volunteer so they will be hard pressed to fund the necessary paid workers needed to run any future election. If their vote totals in the next election are anything like their Quebec byelection results the party will soon be bankrupt and we will face the possibility of the NDP as official opposition and a potential future Government. Lets hope the Liberals learn to function in opposition before an NDP official opposition become a reality.

Posted by: Dave Topping at September 27, 2007 06:07 PM (DDK60)

13 Dave, when you decide to learn to read, try some history. Elsie Wayne for Queen.

Posted by: Steven Megannety at September 27, 2007 06:44 PM (kawJL)

14 Perhaps Mr. Carroll should focus on hiring Liberals? One might almost conclude by his remarks that liberals are in short supply, a disappearing minority, or excluded from the job description. No offense to vertically challenged Canadians of any political background.

Posted by: john at September 27, 2007 08:35 PM (nranl)

15 Can I sue Jason Cherniak for being a really bad blogger?

Posted by: I Like to sue people at September 27, 2007 09:29 PM (2URFF)

16 ...wow, the Matrix must be shifting. I'm having deja vu regarding this Chinese born in Victoria is not really Chinese, debate from a year ago. Sheesh.

Posted by: tomax7 at September 27, 2007 10:42 PM (jHhd0)

17 Jason Cherniak writes: "If you're not careful, I'm going to have to sue you. Stop misrepresenting my words." I love it Jason, every time you open your yap you prove what an utter liability you are to the party you support. You have zero credibility - you have shown over and over again that you utterly lack common sense and good judgment. As a Conservative supporter, I have to say You Go Jason!!! ;-)

Posted by: Jonathan W at September 28, 2007 08:08 AM (ucKMj)

18 To Jonathan W - What you said, only in spades. Jason seems like your typical Liberal/leftist: if he doesn't like what you say, whether or not it is true or fair comment, he threatens to sue. He really should grow up.

Posted by: Brian in Calgary at September 28, 2007 11:29 AM (am0pv)

19 "But back to the Chinese question. Just what was Jamie Carroll trying to say? That Quebecers are a sort of cultural minority in Canada like, say, Chinese-Canadians?" If that is what he was trying to say, then what of it? It is, after all, the truth. Is that not why there is an affirmative-action program in the federal civil service, which seeks to ensure an over-representation (by a huge margin) of Quebecois?

Posted by: Ed Minchau at September 28, 2007 03:23 PM (b7I5m)

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Liberal Party in Quebec in rebellion?

Apparently the Liberal Party in Quebec will shut down tomorrow unless Liberal Party headquarters in Ottawa sends them $250,000 immediately.

I don't know what is more remarkable. That the Liberal Party in Quebec is shaking down HQ for money, or that we're hearing about it.

But to me, it comes near to confirming a pattern suggesting that the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party is in full rebellion.

more...

Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:57 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 775 words, total size 6 kb.

September 26, 2007

Dalton McGuinty's $63,000,000 crystal blob

Is $60 million a lot of money to Dalton McGuinty? Don't expect a straight answer. If my sources are right, then for the premier of Ontario, it really depends on who is getting the $60 million and why.

Autistic children? Um, sorry, too rich for his blood.

Goofy architecture backed by Ontario's wealthiest citizens? Sure, and who can Dalton McGuinty make the cheque out to?

Maybe it really depends on which group of people is worth more in political donations in the future.

more...

Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:27 PM | Comments (24) | Add Comment
Post contains 2004 words, total size 14 kb.

1 A compelling piece of investigative reporting there, Angry; at $6,750 per square foot this must be the most expensive bit of building ever constructed in Canada. I seem to recall that the new War Museum in Ottawa (under the auspices of our old friend J. ChrÃ©tien) came in at around $150 per square foot. Dalton certainly appears to have his priorities and given his apparent popularity it would seem that a good portion of Ontarians share them. But then again, we won't see anything about this in the MSM.

Posted by: Bob in Ontario at September 27, 2007 02:31 AM (jCi75)

2 I've been really excited about the renovations at the ROM. The ROM is one of my favourite museums, it's one of the best science/history museums out there. I just wish they didn't spend so much money on the ugly architecture, and instead put more money into the great scientific research that they do there and the exhibits.

Posted by: jonny_eh at September 27, 2007 07:43 AM (ZQ7AG)

3 ....and the miners of Ontario's OFFICIAL GEMSTONE, Amethyst, are all starving, going belly up, and selling out their gem mines to Americans, for peanuts.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 27, 2007 08:16 AM (GN3Xe)

4 Should be in line for top honors for the ugliest structure ever built. Looking at it for a prolonged period does something to the psyche, like it could drive one mad. Can't figure the electorate, in spite of such glaring examples of waste and misplaced priorities to outright lies, well documented, McGuinty remains nine or ten points above the Tory Conservatives.

Posted by: Libby at September 27, 2007 08:30 AM (dgJbq)

5 That design is hideous! It looks like either a drug-dazed hyper-cynic or a schizophrenic designed it. So much for history and good taste. What a joke on the people of Ontario.

Posted by: aek at September 27, 2007 09:26 AM (oG/LJ)

6 Great investigative reporting piece. If Premier Dalton takes over the CIBC loan, let us change the name to "Dalton's Dome". ( Recall the Skydome debacle). How about "The Dalton Broken Crystal" ( Not to be confused with Doulton Fine China). or how about "Dalton's Broken Dreams", or "Dalton's Broken Promises". Steve, how about a contest to name the new Crystal Blob, the Monster that Ate the ROM and the Liberal Government, in honour of Dalton bailing out The ROM Crystal.

Posted by: Mad as Hell at September 27, 2007 09:38 AM (EU9Sm)

7 Steve: I think you are being a bit too harsh on us poorly-understoond billionaires, or in my case, a son of a billionaire. You forget we are on the margins of society. We are shunned by most working people, especially people like me who survive on my trust fund distributions. We have rights too. People like the Westons and that Lee Chin fellow deserve to be bailed by the McGuinty government as well. Bailing out Billionaires has a nice literary ring to it. SAVE OUR HOME, SAVE THE ROM, SAVE OUR WORLD. Dalton has my vote.

Posted by: Drinking Thru My TrustFund at September 27, 2007 09:53 AM (EU9Sm)

8 We have here in Kitchener a similar monolith albeit significantly less in money.It is in front of the court house I believe. A sculpture was erected on the side lawn at a cost of $40,000 or so (20 years ago).It looks like a piece of bowel! Every time I pass it I shake my head. This crystal could be mcGuinty's lasting legacy. It looks like a dilithium crystal.Who knew Dalton was such a trekkie. Where are his Spock ears?

Posted by: David at September 27, 2007 10:05 AM (KwJgT)

9 Hey, Rich TrustFund guy: You make me want to puke all over your tan Topsiders. Guys like you were born with silver spoons up your butts. I am sick of hearing about you guys and your fancy Spoke Club, your elitist charity balls, your Caledon farms and Muskoka mini mansions. Get a job, loser. If McGuinty and his group bail out the ROM, I am going to burn my Liberal membership card right on the Crystal steps. I am not a fan of John Tory. But even he would not be that stupid to bail out you rich parasites.

Posted by: WorkinJoe at September 27, 2007 10:28 AM (EU9Sm)

10 The Crystal is a brilliant design. It reflects Toronto upon itself. Our fears, our self-doubts, our anxieties, our striving for perfection and moral clarity in a fractured world.

Posted by: Cynthia at September 27, 2007 10:47 AM (EU9Sm)

11 Cynthia: Say What?

Posted by: WorkinJoe at September 27, 2007 10:50 AM (EU9Sm)

12 "...our striving for perfection and moral clarity in a fractured world." Cynthia, umm, do you pay GST on that stuff you smoke? ...and here I thought 'ROM' was left over prop sets from 'TRON'.

Posted by: tomax7 at September 27, 2007 11:47 AM (jHhd0)

13 It looks like a piece of shit, but then so does McAsswipe and his ScumBag Fascist Party of Ontario

Posted by: Pissedoff at September 27, 2007 12:16 PM (NPMCy)

14 I actually kinda like the design. That said, I'd suggest issues like this needs to be discussed, at least initially, without the subjectivity of whether or not a design is appealing. If the financial commitment is unwise, I would think it's unwise whether or not the design is well liked. The actual design should only really come into play if it is first determined that the financial expenditure has merit to start with. If it makes sense financially, then lets move on to considering the design.

Posted by: Denis at September 27, 2007 12:24 PM (SqX7o)

15 Cynthia said "The Crystal is a brilliant design. It reflects Toronto upon itself. Our fears, our self-doubts, our anxieties, our striving for perfection and moral clarity in a fractured world." LMAO. Cynthia, I love it. I think your description fits it to a tee and the ROC, including QC (this time), will have another fine reason to hate T.O. BTW, nice work Steve. It's just another reason to mosey on over to my local CPC candidate and donate that $25 I've been meaning to give. Hey Hey! Ho ho! Dalton's gotta go!

Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at September 27, 2007 12:26 PM (xUjnI)

16 Cynthia: Didn't we hook up after the BSS Formal in 97? I think we ended up partying at your dad's loft on King Street. Of course 97 and 98 is mostly a fog to me. But I love your take on The Crystal. Pure poetry, like you, Cynthia. I love your private school breeding. Your artistic temperment. Cynthia, you are not properly appreciated, like the fine Crystal. In fact the Rosedale elite, the Westons, the Thomsons, are not particularly appreciated in Toronto. That is why I'm voting for Dalton McGuinty. He reminds me of my nerdy English lit teacher at UCC in the lower years. He appreciates us. We are the new Medicis. Help us out and we will help you out.

Posted by: Drinking Thru My TrustFund at September 27, 2007 01:38 PM (EU9Sm)

17 You are all philistines. The lot of you. Especially, that boor with the trust fund. The Crystal speaks to our collective core. The design and the execution inspire us, disturb us and force us to question the inner and external turmoil around us. How can you put a price on that? I challenge you. What better use of our funds?

Posted by: Cynthia at September 27, 2007 01:58 PM (EU9Sm)

18 Cynthia asks rhetorically, " What better use of our funds?" That is precisely the issue. I personally do not mind if the social and cultural elite of Toronto want to fund the construction of the Crystal. But when the Ontario Government has to step in and take over the financial obligations that were the responsibility of ROM and its wealthy billionaire donors, then we have to take a stand. Certainly we have better public/social use of $75 million. Certainly, autistic children, greater access to health care and quality education are more deserving than salvaging, to paraphase Cynthia, " the fractured wetdreams of Rosedale nobility".

Posted by: WorkinJoe at September 27, 2007 02:19 PM (EU9Sm)

19 WorkinJoe: Touche, I guess there is some intelligent life and intellectual life north of St. Clair.

Posted by: Cynthia at September 28, 2007 07:15 AM (EU9Sm)

20 Cynthia: No offence, Cynthia, but you and Drinking Thru My TrustFund should mate and produce trust fund heirs and heiresses, otherwise your species of rich, beautiful, hideously shallow pod people will soon become extinct. But the more important issue here, is that Dalton McGuinty and his Government are hiding all kinds of financial disasters just waiting to explode after the election. This ROM deal is just the tip of iceberg. I predict that Dalton's financial misdealings at the expense of the Ontario taxpayers will reach titantic proportions.

Posted by: WorkinJoe at September 28, 2007 07:24 AM (EU9Sm)

21 RE the ROM Blob: It's a shame that we the rabble are forced to pay taxes for the excesses of the idle, inbred tuxedo crowd. How about if you want abstract crap, YOU pay for it ALL BY YOURSELF? If you want art we all can appreciate, give us a call.

Posted by: Larry at September 28, 2007 11:23 PM (/tpqx)

22 Larry: You are on to something there, brother. "inbred tuxedo crowd". I like that. Pass the word.

Posted by: WorkinJoe at September 29, 2007 08:11 AM (EU9Sm)

23 The crystalline wart on the ROM building is not only ugly, it is terrifyingly overbyuilt for the streetscape. It is actually frightening when you come down Avenue Road to Bllor and look on it. We keep the children away, lest they be frightened. It is a great conversation peice though. Every out-of-town visitor we have had recently, without exception (including a retired architect), thinks it looks ugly or stupid. Concept art/architecture is all fine, so long as the drain on the public teat is negligible. To be extraordinarily expensive and extraordinarily ugly is inexcusable.

Posted by: murray at October 01, 2007 10:35 AM (dw9A3)

24 I thought Cynthia was being ironic.

Posted by: murray at October 01, 2007 10:40 AM (dw9A3)

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Janine Krieber labels the BlackBerry a terrorist's tool

The wife of Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion, Janine Krieber, recently gave a speech at Queen's University. It was an official Liberal Party event, and the audience was treated to Krieber's insights into the ins and outs of terrorism.

And guess what? Apparently the BlackBerry from Canada's RIM would make a real good tool for terrorists.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:26 AM | Comments (26) | Add Comment
Post contains 507 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Another DESK JOCKEY, bullshitting their way thru life, to a fat pension.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 26, 2007 11:59 AM (GN3Xe)

2 Dr. Janine Krieber, an expert on terrorism is telling us that terrorists can use the Blackberry as a tool to possibly attack Canadian targets?? It seems to me she is acknowledging we have terrorists living in our midst .. in Canada .. in Toronto .. on the Prairies too ??? We can't ban the Blackberry, but we can do our best to stop the terrorists and Liberals too ..!!!!

Posted by: Observer at September 26, 2007 12:26 PM (bmkgb)

3 Ms. Kreiber must think that Garth Turner is Dion's Number One terrorist since he has a BB glued to his hands! I wonder if GT will make the No-Fly List??? LOL

Posted by: A Haltonite at September 26, 2007 12:31 PM (jrXo5)

4 If you think this is news, then you're a little bit of a moron.

Posted by: Jason Cherniak at September 26, 2007 12:41 PM (iKlx3)

5 If you DON'T think this is news, then you're a BIG moron. If Harper's wife was blathering on and saying such stupid things, you would think it was big news.

Posted by: Barbara at September 26, 2007 12:58 PM (zM/PA)

6 But, the Blackberry is a great tool to be used by terrorists. Keeping that a secret (which it isn't) would be harmful to counter-terrorism operations. We should worry more about combating terrorism than profits of a company. If she said that briefcases can be used to deliver bombs, would you get upset too? In any case, how would this hurt RIM's sales? Would someone avoid buying a Blackberry because someone else who buys one might be a terrorist? Maybe people that sell the devices should be informed so that if they spot suspicious persons they can report them to CSIS. Maybe Rogers should monitor email traffic for red flags. Also, don't take her out of context. It's not like she said: "Hello everyone, Blackberries are used by terrorist, bye". She was giving a talk about terrorism in general, and I'm not a fan of the Liberals nor Dion, but why go off on this? There are plenty more things to get upset about.

Posted by: jonny_eh at September 26, 2007 01:22 PM (ZQ7AG)

7 Never having met or seen or listened to Dr. Janine Krieber I found the sound clip very enlightening. I'd like to take bets on when she becomes 'pretty sure' terrorists find that telephones, cell phones, semtex, C-4, and AK-47's are 'real good tools' for terrorists along with blackberrys. When so-called 'experts' prattle on like this I begin to wonder if we haven't as a nation plunged over the precipice.

Posted by: Antenor at September 26, 2007 01:31 PM (VLWCg)

8 Antenor, please keep in mind the audience. She wasn't telling this to terrorism experts, and we don't know what was said before or after. Let's criticize things worth criticizing.

Posted by: jonny_eh at September 26, 2007 01:40 PM (ZQ7AG)

9 Perhaps the liberal party is just catching on. Coming to realize we do have terrorist living amongst us. It is hard to believe knowing what she is suppose to be an expert on, and her husband calling for the immediate withdrawal of Canadian troops. I do hope they keep Dion as the leader of the liberal party, and he demands an election.

Posted by: Honey Pot at September 26, 2007 03:33 PM (ilL1b)

10 The way the latest polling in Quebec has put the Liberals below the NDP there will not be any election, unless they want to get rid of their nemesis, who also happens to be their leader. Blackberries are their least worry.

Posted by: Libby at September 26, 2007 04:43 PM (TqMcX)

11 ...time for a Blackberry registration program.

Posted by: tomax7 at September 26, 2007 06:17 PM (jHhd0)

12 Don't give them any more ideas, tomax7, we're already bogged down with registrations and taxed to the grave and beyond. Who gains? The governments, they get surpluses to buy our votes next contest.

Posted by: Libby at September 26, 2007 07:02 PM (pzotf)

13 Of course your blackberry is always "on", so is the computer, cell phone, cordless phone...terrorists tools indeed, all kinds of whackos come through these devices. Her argument sounds simplistic, a 14 yr old could come up with the same talking points.

Posted by: kelly at September 26, 2007 10:53 PM (pdf5D)

14 Using a communication tool that is easily monitored by law enforcement is a "good" tool for terrorists? Good for us law abiding citizens maybe.

Posted by: dkjones at September 27, 2007 05:17 PM (ClxyY)

15 So can we expect a Federal Blackberry Registry? No Blackberries, no Funerals?

Posted by: john at September 27, 2007 08:14 PM (nranl)

16 Why go off on it? Because it's a retarded thing to say. Comment on how technology assists terrorism, maybe, but don't list specific companies. It makes it seem like Blackberries enable terrorism.

Posted by: Lore_Weaver at September 28, 2007 12:49 PM (dtsfj)

17 I could be wrong, but my guess is this lady wears the pants inside the Dion household. That's not a good thing. It's bad enough my Party is saddled with a bland inept milquetoast like Dion. It is worse to know his balls are in his wife's pants. Truth be told, I'd rather have Janine as my leader than her manservant Dion.

Posted by: Nervous Nellie at September 28, 2007 04:27 PM (57TwP)

18 you people are ridiculous. nice cyber bubble ya'all live in. how much you paying Bourque for the links?

Posted by: gawd at September 28, 2007 04:44 PM (UNgyQ)

19 Her dad was a real nazi. Four years on the East front where 26 million died

Posted by: jack at September 28, 2007 05:57 PM (Kdd+t)

20 No Blackberries, no Funerals? Ha! I love it!

Posted by: Joanne (TB) at September 28, 2007 07:31 PM (1Hxx/)

21 Cripes! Is this the best shot to be taken at the Liberals today? Bloggers and those who post comments -- from whichever political corner -- would be far more effective were they to avoid this kind of shoddy attack, give credit when and where it's due (horrors!) and provide solid critiques when the other guys screw up.

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22 My grandfather was 141065 in Dachau. http://clevelandjgs.org/dachauatoz.pdf

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September 25, 2007

The rising cost of Stephane Dion's leadership

The Liberal Party has paid a steep price since electing Stephane Dion leader. And yet as bad as it gets, there always seems to be room for things to get worse. Now news that Marc Garneau, Canada's first man in space, and a former star candidate for the Liberal Party, won't run for the Liberals this time around. But the way in which Marc Garneau explained his decision, the way it portrays the Liberal Party in the worst possible light, especially in Quebec and in particular attributed to Stephane Dion's style of leadership, has pushed that price up even higher.

Frankly, I can't imagine how much longer Liberals are going watch idly as the cost of Stephane Dion's leadership rises.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 10:50 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 Steve, I think this just goes to show that a high IQ score isn't everything. Stephane Dion obviously HAS a genius for something, but it isn't politics. I'm glad that Marc Garneau has resigned from running under a Liberal banner in the next election. For a man of his vision and determination, it was sad to see his name tarnished by the Liberal brand. He knows something about going where most men haven't gone, too bad for Mr. Dion that he didn't see fit to get some advice from him.

Posted by: Paul MacPhail at September 26, 2007 01:33 AM (paAS8)

2 Appparantly if you wear glasses and look like a geek, it qualifies you as a "genius". I'm not sure where the "Dion is very intelligent" meme got started, but it's most certainly false. Forget his horrible judgement for the moment, and just watch any of his non-prescripted exchanges. He's unable to string together coherent points, and is simply aweful on the fly. He seems dumb as a post. Perhaps his stupid decisions are a result of....well...stupidity?

Posted by: chuck at September 26, 2007 03:02 AM (GN3Xe)

3 Perhaps instead of focusing on the 'leader' we should be noticing the power of the leader over the Party. This is supposed to be a democracy, isn't it? Then why, when our MPs are supposed to be representing us, does any leader have the power that Dion is displaying? The Liberals are giving us a valuable lesson if we only care to recognize this. They are the epitome of everything that is rotten in our 'democracy' and yet we still focus on that dork Dion. He is just a symptom of how rotten our system has become. This happens in all parties. The 'leaders' have become tin pot dictators. What can we do to get our country back?

Posted by: George at September 26, 2007 05:40 AM (RUB5Q)

4 You know what would be freaking hilarious? If he announces that he's going to run for the Conservatives. (and it would be even better if he said "I switched to the Conservatives because they're the only viable option for Federalists in Quebec")

Posted by: S at September 26, 2007 06:25 AM (TXF0W)

5 Dork is not the word!!Garneau would have won hands down thanks to his high profile as an astronaut.Dion made a stupid decision which really shows his shortcomings as a politician...Not much of a strategist...more like an astronut....

Posted by: Paul at September 26, 2007 07:28 AM (vi8LX)

6 No big loss, Garneau's merely the JET-JOCKEY equivalent of a Dr.Fruit-Fly.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 26, 2007 07:46 AM (GN3Xe)

7 What would we be hearing from the usuals if Harper were hand picking candidates? If Garneau wants to stick it to Dion he could run for the Conservatives, the people would be sure to reward him. Garneau may have been out in space but Dion seems to have a vacant space between his ears when it come to leading a Political party. Any bets there are already negotiations going on?

Posted by: Libby at September 26, 2007 07:48 AM (QvQC4)

8 Steve, are you trying to goad the Liberals into switching leaders just before a potential election? This is a deliberate ruse, right? There is a point where bad leadership is better than none and that point is generally in the lead-up to an elections. No, the Liberals have to stick to him, at least until after the next election. Then all bets are off. And Liberals do not hold the monopoly on smart leaders with no political skills. I seem to recall a certain Joe Somebody who managed to avoid acquiring them even after decades of experience.

Posted by: Walrus at September 26, 2007 08:17 AM (yrh+S)

9 When Ignatieff takes over the reigns of the Liberal party, Garneau will make a sudden, miraculous comeback as Liberal candidate for Westmount. Dion is getting squeezed out of the Liberal leadership by Harper and Ignatieff, and there can be no doubt about that. In effect, Harper is selecting the next Liberal leader, and the result ain't gonna be pretty for the Liberals.

Posted by: Observer at September 26, 2007 09:35 AM (q047S)

10 If Garneau wants to stick it to Dion he could run for the Conservatives, the people would be sure to reward him. Now, that would be hilarious, and oh, so ironic. It would make Dion look more and more like the Liberals' answer to Joe Clark (I remember Jack Horner's defection to the Trudeau Liberals before the 1979 election - not that it gained him anything, he lost his deposit to the new Tory candidate, and I think Garneau would fare a whole lot better, but I digress). Like Clark, Dion is a basically decent man who is sadly in over his head, and never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

Posted by: Brian in Calgary at September 26, 2007 11:17 AM (g7gYB)

11 "in an attempt to prove to the Liberal Party that his judgment is sound" If his judgement was sound, then he wouldn't be a member of the Liberal Party.

Posted by: Ed Minchau at September 26, 2007 12:58 PM (b7I5m)

12 The problem is, most of this speculation is based on the assumption that Garneau is going to remain a politician. I have to believe that the whole nomination / election process soured Garneau and his family on politics in general, be it federal, provincial, whatever. I don't think he'll be seeking a seat in Parliament, nor would he affiliate himself with a political party -- any political party -- again. That doesn't mean he won't be a player in federal politics. "Private sector" suggests he may become a lobbyist for Canada's aerospace industry; his experience with CSA would prove an asset there.

Posted by: PhantomObserver at September 26, 2007 01:52 PM (RU8Qm)

13 Actually Marc Garneau was not a very good politician either. He ran a poor campaign in 2006 that he should have won. He garnered bad headlines during that election that hurt all Liberals in Quebec. (I can't believe I'm sticking up for Dion here.) Big names, empty suits like Justin Trudeau have to run in marginal, but winnable ridings. They don't get safe seats. Them's da rules. If you're going to get in the business of picking candidates, instead of letting the local associations do it, then you put the smart, good managers in the safe ridings. If they have little aptitude for retail politics or no name recognition that's where they go. Just like Emerson in Vancouver.

Posted by: PlaidShirt at September 26, 2007 07:05 PM (4kbeI)

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September 24, 2007

Gilles Duceppe's conservative nature

Gilles Duceppe faces an uncertain future. The only certainty, therefore, is that he would want that reckoning to be delayed as long as possible.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 10:35 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
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1 I think the only party that truly wants an election now is the NDP. The Conservatives don't want one now, but, ulike the Bloc & Libs, they're not afraid of one now. What Duceppe has done is basically forced the Libs into a corner while trying to get his machismo back for the Bloquistes back home to rebuild his fortunes. This is Duceppe's gambit. He knows that if he does nothing then he's toast whenever the election does come. He's hoping the Liberals will do his dirty work and keep Parliament alive. Time's running down on the clock. The Bloc is down by 5 and isn't in field goal range. It's third and long and Duceppe is throwing a hail Mary to the endzone. We're just waiting to see if the receiver makes the catch or drops the ball.

Posted by: Reid at September 24, 2007 11:28 AM (rXo+C)

2 Duceppe and Layton are playing a game of chicken with the Liberal party. They both know that the Liberals cannot effectively run an election campaign because their fund-raising efforts are a failure, and their grassroots party members will not show up to work for a Dion leadership as they demonstrated in Outremont. It was mentioned on CTV QP on Sunday that what might happen on the Throne Speech vote, the Liberal front bench might vote non-confidence while the Liberal backbenchers will not rise from their seats thus abstaining and avoiding an election this year. The Liberal party executive may be running the show now that Dion has effectively abandoned leadership and is just flapping around like a one winged puffin ... LOL

Posted by: Observer at September 24, 2007 12:28 PM (2/7no)

3 Reid I agree, this is all about cornering the Liberals, who probably want an election less than the Bloc right now. Duceppe at least gets to give the impression that he is principled and ballsy, whereas the Liberals will be forced to support the throne speech. Dion will still groan about it, but he has to support the throne speech if only for the 'fog' reason Steve highlighted above. Either way, it looks as though we have two parties in disrepair, going nowhere fast, and another party that noone can take seriously. Things are looking better and better for conservatives.

Posted by: James at September 24, 2007 12:39 PM (BOCj2)

4 Harper/Flaherty sell off of Canadian income trusts continues apace: Abu Dhabi picks up PrimeWest Energy Trust in $5 Billion deal. The devaluation of income trusts caused by Harper's reneging on his pledge not to add new taxes onto trusts has created a buyers market for these great Canadian assets. Well done Stevie boy and much more to come. http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070924.wprimewest0924/BNStory/robNews/home

Posted by: da prince at September 24, 2007 01:01 PM (ry7L0)

5 This is a poker analogy if ever there was one. Basically, Duceppe is leading off with a weak hand and is going all-in before he even sees the flop. He's trying to use table position to try and force the other players to commit and lay down chips just to stay in. Trouble is, he's been around so long now that people are calling his bluffs. Dion is all over the place. Sometimes he plays tough with a weak hand and folds a strong hand. Dion's chip stack is dwindling rapidly. His tells are obvious. Despite his experience, he takes foolish risks and throws good chips after bad. Other players are watching him, knowing he is going to bust out and open up a seat at the table for other players to buy-in. Layton isn't doing as badly as he was at the start of the game. Layton loves the inane table talk. He may be short stacked, but any hands he wins are invariably at Dion's expense. Sometimes he surprises you with a large ballsy win and manages to stay in. Harper is clearly the chip leader. Momentum is on his side and he has been using this to pull in a lot of blinds and strong pre-flop betting with strong hands and gutsy betting. When Harper first came to the table, he was underestimated. But Harper can read the ebb and flow of this table better than any of the players. Elizabeth May can't get enough money together to even buy in for one blind. Dion promised to lend her the money, but he is going to have enough trouble hanging on to what he's got, let alone give her anything.

Posted by: Kai Wolf at September 24, 2007 01:17 PM (XSs3M)

6 I wonder if some Conservatives might get a case of the flu on the day of the vote. That would be funny to watch the Libs counting seats to see who can still stand up and who should stay seated.

Posted by: Expert Tom at September 24, 2007 01:19 PM (uBVn5)

7 LOL, good point Tom. With enough Party support from either of the other Parties, and just enough to make the Liberals scramble. That would be hilarious.

Posted by: Kai Wolf at September 24, 2007 01:30 PM (XSs3M)

8 The politicians fiddle while Canada burns. How caring of them. This is real life those of us out here are living, and the politicians think it is a game of onupmanship--they are all disgusting. I hope they all lose. Why should we bother to mark our ballot when this is what they are most interested in? I have more things to do with my time than play games. Too bad the political parties don't.

Posted by: George at September 24, 2007 01:51 PM (evgs9)

9 I can think of at least one group of Liberals that want an election, and that would be the ones backing Iggy. Dion cannot be deposed until after an election. The NDP don't stand to gain a whole lot, they will be fighting it out in the large urban areas with the Liberals. They could gain a few but I don't see anything dramatic at this point. Their support is spread wide and thin across the country with only a few seats that they could realistically turn around. They stand to make very good gains if Iggy does end up with the leadership and would be better off waiting out the Liberals implosion.

Posted by: davide at September 24, 2007 04:12 PM (4S2vz)

10 it shouldn't be allowed, that some FRINGE party can suddenly decide, to start the election process, just because he isn't getting enough ATTENTION. Most 14-year olds, have already learned not to act like this kind of guy....

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 24, 2007 05:03 PM (GN3Xe)

11 Why not come out with six guns, er, five guns blazing; Duceppe needs to rally the troops. No point in laying low; he might as well steal the NDP thunder by taking the strongest stand for Kyoto and against the Afghan mission and leave the Liberals dangling in the wind. The Bloc is still the main leftist party in Quebec and it shows he is conceding nothing to Liberals and the NDP. He needs to look strong and decisive. Then again, with the current controversy surrounding Pauline Marois and her multi-million dollar estate, perhaps Duceppe has renewed optimism for his provincial political aspirations.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 24, 2007 07:13 PM (ms+aE)

12 I agree with your sentiments, George. I think it's because they are insulated from us by bureaucracy. They get to their office and basically follow orders from their party leaders and bureaucrats. Which brings up a good point- Who here doesn't have a story of some surly bureaucrat, on the phone or face to face, who made our lives more miserable? Never mind feeling lucky to have a cushy job, these public desk jockeys often enjoy reminding us "who's boss". THEY are our window on our government! If we made every elected lawmaking occupation (federal down to municipal) carry a two term limit we could end (or at least incapacitate) political corruption, nepotism, empire-building, you name it. If you can't get done what you think needs to be done in eight to ten years, then I say, sorry, Mr Jones, thanks and buh-bye. Here's a nice watch. We would know that they were once again caretakers of the public purse and infrastructure rather than just wallowing in it.

Posted by: Larry at September 24, 2007 07:42 PM (/tpqx)

13 Oh, and back on topic, Gilles Duceppe is a weenie.

Posted by: Larry at September 24, 2007 07:46 PM (/tpqx)

14 Duceppe is a cornered weasel in survival mode. Gnashing his dull fangs. Canadians like myself just want a government to do the work they were elected to do, provide the service they were elected to provide and let us live in peace. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc are just a menace. Ontario has an election brewing right now and it just sickening for those of us who just want to be left alone to live our lives. UGH!

Posted by: zilla at September 24, 2007 08:01 PM (5of9u)

15 This has nothing to do with Duceppe, but I'm surprised that Steve Janke hasn't picked up on the Bruce Allen controversy in Vancouver. There's a man who dared say on the airwaves what is on the mind on many people and is being threatened with losing his job (not that he needs it) because he dared say that immigrants who cannot adapt to our laws and respect them should go home. It's been on the airwaves for days now and may open up the whole debate about what we are willing to do to accommodate immigrants (just like in Quebec). The majority in Vancouver support him, but the Sikh activists (friends of the federal Liberals) were very fast in crying racism and complaining to the CRTC. It turns out that a lot of them are extremists who may even have been be involved in the Air India disaster. It's amazing how freedom of speech is good for the goose, but the gander. Say anything about immigrants and you are branded a racist.

Posted by: Louise at September 25, 2007 12:07 AM (ID/Q7)

16 To see what some Quebecers are thinking about Duceppe's challenge to PM Harper go here: http://galeriedephotos.cyberpresse.ca/index.php?t=Black&a=969&m=cp The caption reads: The Bloc goes on the attack. Duceppe: "C'mon, Harper, I'm waiting for ya!"

Posted by: Gabby in QC at September 25, 2007 08:11 AM (E2GmW)

17 Just a heads up Steve, in case you haven't seen it. A post by The Phantom Observer is saying that David Atkin (CTV) is accusing you of being a "handmaiden of the PMO".

Posted by: muttsrus at September 25, 2007 11:37 AM (k6rrt)

18 David AKIN, sorry. Kady O'Malley of Maclean's also has a post on this and Red Tory weighs in with his 2 cents.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 25, 2007 11:56 AM (k6rrt)

19 George - vote, but mark "none of the above" on the ballot, but at least go and vote.

Posted by: jt at September 25, 2007 03:27 PM (BqPuU)

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September 22, 2007

Technical difficulties

I've just found out comments have been out of order. Please stay tuned.

Update: Issues have been resolved (comments, access to API, etc)

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 09:42 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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The Liberal Party is a bigger tent than I thought

I've always had a stereotypical view of Liberal Party members, both federal and provincial, as having a unified set of opinions on such issues as homosexuality. I was surprised to see just how far off of Liberal Party policy you could veer and still be called a Liberal. In this case, I'm looking at Dave Yadallee, a riding president for the Alberta Liberal Party, and his opinion that homosexuality is a slur on society.

Well, that isn't very Liberal of him.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 04:44 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Who represents all of us TRISEXUALS out there, who draw the line at goats?

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 23, 2007 07:23 AM (GN3Xe)

2 It;s not a matter of the Liberals being the party of "tolerance" where sexual proclivity is concerned.....I don't think there is a person alive that would want to see consenting adults punished in any way forthing they do in private. What the so-called gay rights movenment is about is a well heeled , well funded political lobby which has set a goal of attempting to normalize something which is clearly abnormal and setting criminal penalties out for anyone who dissents in opinion from the lobby-corrected status quo. The role the liberals played in this uncivil overthrow of equality before the law and freedom of speech is not so much as a focus poit for gay rights nut as moral cowards who helped subvert the criminal law to aid a special interest lobby which represents less than 2% of the population.

Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at September 23, 2007 11:27 AM (INHn8)

3 He's found his niche, his comfort zone in the Liberal Circus tent, hope he brought cash.

Posted by: Libby at September 23, 2007 08:16 PM (AhkYB)

4 Yaddalee has a long history yammering on in edm.general and calgary.general. He is the recipient of at least one usenet kook award with his inanity plaguing various usenet groups for 15+ years. Being a homophobe isn't anything new for him. Check out this comment about Yads dating from 1994. And I'm sure there's more gold in his usenet posting history. Yads is a well known socially inept kook and has bragged about his position with the Alberta Libs for years in the local newsgroups. Welcome to 2007 Dave. The blogs may finally be your undoing.

Posted by: Outing the Kooks at September 24, 2007 06:34 PM (hgxwr)

5 "Who represents all of us TRISEXUALS out there, who draw the line at goats?" Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 23, 2007 07:23 AM ROFLMAO

Posted by: Larry at September 24, 2007 07:59 PM (/tpqx)

6 "Who represents all of us TRISEXUALS out there, who draw the line at goats?" What have you got against goats? Why, you're nothing but a knuckle-dragging, troglodytic bovidaephobe! /sarc

Posted by: Darrell Goodman at September 26, 2007 07:10 AM (YM8yA)

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Why Kyoto is doomed

Put aside that the Kyoto Protocol is fatally flawed, based on bogus number that even supporters admit would have little impact on their own much-vaunted (but equally useless) computer model predictions. The fact is, where it matters, no one cares.

China is exempt from the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol, given a pass because it argued that the "world's factory" needed more growth to finish emerging from the status of a developing country. Sure. Whatever. But even if China, as one of the planet's largest producers of greenhouse gases, was included in Kyoto, it wouldn't have mattered.

As illustrated on Car Free Day, one of the world's most carefully controlled populations under the rule of one the world's most enduring dictatorships simply ignored the government-supported environmental initiative.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:44 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 'world's most carefully controlled population'? Maybe that is what we have been told by our 'government controlled press'? Obviously if these people chose to drive in spite of government orders they are not as tightly controlled as we have been led to believe. I find it interesting how our press and governments decry the control by government in other countries but move as fast as they can to emulate those actions themselves. Maybe it is time for a re-think of all the propaganda we have been fed over the years? BTW--did you catch the news clip with Mattel stating that not all the problems with the toys are the fault of China--it was a 'design flaw' with Mattel! I guess Mattel would rather shoulder some of the blame rather than lose it's access to slave labour? I wonder if the people of china will ever follow the Kyoto scam the way the sheep of the West are? Will they be mandated to use only poisonous lightbulbs by 2012? Will they follow that dictate. Obviously the people of China have more courage and smarts than we do.

Posted by: George at September 23, 2007 06:12 AM (TwVo9)

2 Right on George! There isn't a "federalista" skank in our centralist political party cartels that didn't wish they had the unaccountable arbitrary powers of the communist commissariats...Kyoto is testament to that...a flimsy excuse using junk science to scare us into allowing the state deeper control of our lives and property....Chinese have suffered for generations under this crap and now they have a small taste of civil freedom are saying "Phuc yu" to political strong men and buraucratic control freaks....we should as well. I agree with you about Mattel...it was pathetic watching the CEO belly crawl to a commie autocrat just so he didn't get cut off from his wind fall profiteering on slave labor and free polluting in China. For that alone patriots in the free nations should have a Mattel embargo.

Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at September 23, 2007 11:18 AM (INHn8)

3 Chinese people are nationalists but they are as unimpressed by their government as westerners are. They just don't like it when foreigners attack China or Chinese government policies.

Posted by: southernontarioan at September 23, 2007 06:52 PM (x+pNy)

4 The buses in any Chinese city are always crammed to over capacity, so why would people try to use them and not be able to get on them. Cities would need to at least triple the number of busses on the road which with the extra diesel fumes would defeat the object. Also it is no different to Canada, the buses do not always go where you want to go. It should be noted that the Guangzhou local government refused to take part in this car-free day for those reasons saying it was impractical. Besides the Mattel fiasco another US company has admitted it is not the fault of China with respect to the manufacture of a make of cot/crib which if assembled wrongly can kill babies, but is the fault of a design engineer, someone who has not heard of MurphyÂ’s law. No matter what people think of these admissions they have certainly destroyed western credibility when it comes to pointing the finger at the Chinese, now they are just pointing back. The Chinese have been using those light bulbs George (not mandated) longer than Kyoto because electricity is very expensive and they are cheap to use.

Posted by: Pissedoff at September 24, 2007 02:55 AM (7RxzR)

5 That is my point about those lightbulbs--they ARE mandated in Canada starting in 2012! Democracy right down to the lightbulbs? Isn't it interesting though--the fingerpointing at China does not mention that most of these lightbulbs are made in China. To follow the mandated use of these lightbulbs to it's logical conclusion, it is safe to use lightbulbs from China but nothing else? Anything for Kyoto?

Posted by: George at September 24, 2007 06:24 AM (evgs9)

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September 21, 2007

Canada blessed with warriors (or not)

The key to being an effective politician is to be flexible in your thinking.

Imagine something flexible, like an overcooked noodle.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 04:52 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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September 20, 2007

Liberal Party abandonment in Quebec

The website for the federal Liberal Party's Quebec wing is a complete mess. I'm not talking about a couple of bad links. I mean a site that would never be released as a beta. For a working website to have reached this state suggests a site that has essentially been abandoned.

I find that very interesting.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 06:40 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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The Liberals need to connect the dots

Scanning the news in the aftermath of the Quebec by-election results that saw the Liberal Party under Stephane Dion suffer humiliating losses in every riding, I am struck by the pattern that emerges. Different stories on different topics, and yet knitted together they paint a picture of a Liberal Party in disarray, but even worse, a leadership that isn't acting in a way that suggests they recognize it.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:27 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 I posted this at SDA: Meanwhile, the G&M is reporting that Dion, in a radio interview, is saying that the problem is his "low profile". I totally agree. He needs to get out in front of regular Canadians and talk and talk and talk. It would be especially helpful if he talks a lot about bringing our boy Khadr home. The ensuing flood of cash will really get the libs in excellent fiscal shape to fight a fall election.

Posted by: Rob R at September 20, 2007 11:32 AM (y9Fs6)

2 Very astute analysis Steve, but aren't you giving advice to the enemy? Speaking personally, I could live comfortably with a brain dead Liberal Party for years. It would give us time to repair the damage of the jackals.

Posted by: Larry at September 20, 2007 09:23 PM (/tpqx)

3 It was also reported, I think in the Montreal Gazette, that the local Liberal party volunteer workers refused to show up for the Outremont campaign ... either because they were Ignatieff supporters or because they despised Dion and his hand-picked gnome Coulon. They did appeal to Liberals outside of Montreal to come to Outremont and help GOTV thinking all they needed was 700 extra votes to win the riding ... meanwhile they lost by 4,000 votes. Outremont reflects the utter failure of the Dion Liberals to motivate their grassroots party members to work on the Quebec by-elections. It also worries Liberals in strongholds like Toronto that they are at risk of losing to the NDP if not the CPC in any general election. Dion's support for Omar Khadr will gain support in the Toronto muslim community, but that only reveals Liberal desperation and concern. It appears the Liberals are disintegrating with this kind of rear guard action as they retreat into their urban strongholds.

Posted by: Observer at September 20, 2007 10:34 PM (vt2tL)

4 I have found Dion's responses to the by-elections to be odd. He says it's about personality and style. Uh, no. It's about your incompetence and complete lack of judgement. Honestly, if I was a Liberal, I'd be very anxious about the fact that this guy is leading the party. After ten months, he still doesn't get it. And, even after the people of Quebec told him on Monday that he doesn't get it, he doesn't get it. Good luck with that.

Posted by: Dennis (Second Thots) at September 21, 2007 05:25 AM (KTJZF)

5 No bags stuffed with cash = NO votes.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 21, 2007 08:34 AM (GN3Xe)

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September 19, 2007

Michael Ignatieff fundraiser...with puffins!

Michael Ignatieff is having a fundraiser in Vancouver. Can't find it? Look for the posters with puffins on it.

I'm not kidding.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:01 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 Credit where credit is due. I think embracing the puffins is funny. Self-parody is a healthy trait, in small doses. If he continues to play on this it will back-fire. Intentional or otherwise I love the whole Liberal/hiding excretement equation.

Posted by: Paul the Canuck at September 19, 2007 12:07 PM (PsXAn)

2 Perhaps people didn't get his joke - CRAP is excrement. Conservative Reform-Alliance Party of Canada shortform is CRAP. Burying excrement-crap???

Posted by: Sam at September 19, 2007 12:13 PM (SRpsb)

3 "Perhaps people didn't get his joke ..." Geez, when you have to go to the next town to get the punch line, doesn't say much about the "joke" to begin with ... Some people use Â“ReformÂ” as a pejorative. But look it up in your history books; the Liberal party also has a REFORM party antecedent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_%28pre-Confederation%29 Â“The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America (Canada). It agitated for responsible government. In Maritime Canada, these movements were also referred to as Liberal, and later became the Liberal parties in those colonies.Â”

Posted by: Gabby in QC at September 19, 2007 12:41 PM (E2GmW)

4 It is akin to gays taking the word 'queer' back, and embracing it..so that it loses more of its stigma..how that is to be done here remains to be seen..amusing though it is..

Posted by: kursk at September 19, 2007 12:56 PM (x8+jh)

5 Puffin Iggy may just get flipped the bird in his efforts to bum for dollars. They have a leader, Iggy is his second in command, why would they want to support him for leader and risk further meltdown of the Party?

Posted by: Libby at September 19, 2007 02:04 PM (lwOKi)

6 Just think about it .... the federal Liberals don't have a leadership quality replacement for Dion ... noooooobody ... LOL

Posted by: Observer at September 19, 2007 02:14 PM (A+j+y)

7 Michael Ignatieff the "Puffin Man". Try it to the tune of the child's song "The Muffin Man". I thought they would have let the puffin analogy disappear rather than keep reminding the public. Joke? The guy was dead serious about being as fastidious as puffins covering up their excrement. He just wasn't quick enough to think about the litteral translation to which he was subjecting his own party.

Posted by: Malcolm at September 19, 2007 02:41 PM (8qJpZ)

8 Well..there is always Corn Cob Bob....

Posted by: David at September 19, 2007 07:26 PM (KwJgT)

9 ...what about the do-do bird?

Posted by: tomax7 at September 20, 2007 10:04 AM (jHhd0)

10 Another birdbrained politician only interested in feathering his own bed, another MOCKINGBIRD, laying it's eggs in other birds' nests, so that it's offspring can push the other babys out of the nest, to die on the ground... Qaannaddians are the poor sparrow parents, trying to feed these fat, greedy, greasy, sociopath baby mockingbirds....

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 20, 2007 10:17 AM (GN3Xe)

11 Sorry, I meant CUCKOO BIRD.

Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at September 20, 2007 10:23 AM (GN3Xe)

12 Dion's new theme song will be: Oh dear what can the matter be Oh dear what can the matter be Oh dear what can the matter be Iggy is not playing fair Now run along boys and girls there will be Puffin Poo for all.

Posted by: joe at September 22, 2007 11:52 PM (t07u5)

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Liberals have to stop fighting Liberals

The Liberals must stop fighting among themselves. Listen to this guy, he knows what he's talking about.

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:35 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 "The Liberals must stop fighting among themselves" Are you kidding? Offering organizational solutions to the greatest malevolent force to plague Canadians in the last century? Please Steve, let them implode into corrupt irrelevance and allow Canada to heal from their malignant infection of public office.

Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at September 19, 2007 09:14 AM (INHn8)

2 You are a brave man, Steve.

Posted by: muttsrus at September 19, 2007 10:53 AM (saNvv)

3 i'd like nothing better than to watch them grind themselves deep into the ground . very deep.and then pull the sod over top of there thieving sorry asses.

Posted by: John Demerais at September 19, 2007 11:32 AM (djUg7)

4 WLMR: Couldn't have said it better myself. "...malevolent force..." "...malignant infection...". Perfect description.

Posted by: Mike at September 19, 2007 11:47 AM (sI6wh)

5 It's fine in theory to say that but the chasm in the Liberal party is very old and very deep. Opposing sides have been nailing each other since before the Trudeau era. Chretien ruled with an iron fist and Martin plotted for 13 years to overtake him, expunging any other potential leaders or anyone who wouldn't openly support him, leaving only toadies and yes men left to support him and a giant vacuum in place of potential leadership. Then in the 1 year draaaawn out leadership campaign the top two contenders turn out to be a guy who hasn't lived in the country for 30 years and who is frankly, running for the wrong party, and a former provincial NDP leader who tried his best to wipe Ontario off the map. The party elects candidate #3 on the basis that he is less hated than the #1 and #2 guys. But the problem with Dion isn't his language, or the fact he is from Quebec, the problem is that he looks like a weenie, talks like a weenie and acts like a weenie. He appears to be missing two round objects that normally reside between a manÂ’s legs. Then he tries to be inclusive and hires a large chunk of the Martin brain trust (including Herle) that had produced what was probably the worst campaign in recorded history and made them his trusted advisers. He is running around literally in flames at the moment and itÂ’s hard to watch, but you can't stop looking at it. The closest parallel I can come up with is Stockwell Day (Same initials, odd). And we know where that one went. The best advice I could give him would be to pull out his ax and start firing people. Start off by firing ANYONE who worked on the Martin campaign. Then sack anyone who you think worked on the campaign. Next, get rid of any of your closest advisors who are Iggy people. Even if Iggy isn't pulling the strings they might be doing what they think he wants. Put the Ray people on notice that they are next if anything happens. Then come out issuing orders and directives and start looking like a leader. Lose the beret, stop making that sad hand gesture, and for gods sake don't get filmed eating any more hot dogs with a knife and fork.

Posted by: Davide at September 19, 2007 12:19 PM (4S2vz)

6 Again: Dion is a leader without a party, and the Liberals are a party without a leader. Tic toc tic toc .....

Posted by: Observer at September 19, 2007 02:10 PM (A+j+y)

7 The Liberals are only interested in power for power's sake. They feel they have the divine right to rule. Let them squabble on with their backstabbing program they've been using for over a decade, it's working to keep them out of power. They need to learn a little humility and respect the choices made by the voters of this country, it's not all about Liberals. A good start would be hone in on ridding themselves of their most supreme arrogance. We do not reward scandal ridden political parties including those with the MSM as a fifth column.

Posted by: Libby at September 20, 2007 07:35 AM (vMbVk)

8 Dion will be asked to step down as Liberal leader, as will all his friends who supported him in the leadership race. You know, all those old dog Liberals who flocked to Dion because they feared Ignatieff's promise to "renew" (read: purge) the party. If Dion remains as leader, Liberal popularity will sink like a rock, and that will panic Liberal MPs into shoving Dion out asap. Holding on to Dion is like sinking with the ship, and no politician likes that. Also grassroots Liberal party members overwhelmingly rejected Dion as their leader, and if he hangs on they will abandon the party in any next general election. Dion is a total loss, and for Liberals to present him as their choice for prime minister is an insult to all Canadians. If Quebec doesn't want Dion, why should the rest of Canada?!

Posted by: Observer at September 20, 2007 10:38 PM (vt2tL)

9 Just a doggone minute! Why are we giving any help at all to the " Natural Governing Party"? It is very clear we need things the way they are. Two reasons- if the CPC wants to wait, then we don't need the LPC figuring out what they should to get out of the spot they're in; if we go early, we definitely don't want the Liebs in any shape to run a campaign. S D is our best friend. Let's maintain the status quo.

Posted by: David P from Campbell River at September 25, 2007 05:30 PM (0WQh0)

10 I like it very much.564651321348545 http://www.lebronjames9galaxy.com

Posted by: Mercurial Vapor IX at December 03, 2012 05:09 PM (aBAeq)

11 I like it very much.564651321348545 http://www.lebron10shoe.com

Posted by: Kevin Garnett Shoes at December 03, 2012 05:10 PM (Zgesn)

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September 18, 2007

Gilles Duceppe and Stephane Dion and the bottom line

Aside from the shift in the MP distribution, what do the number of votes cast for each candidate in the Quebec by-elections tell us about what arguments are going on behind closed doors at the party headquarters of the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois?

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Posted by: Steve Janke at 11:48 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Dion is now a leader without a party, and the Liberals are a party without a leader..!!

Posted by: Observer at September 18, 2007 02:31 PM (qssgQ)

2 "Dion is now a leader without a party, and the Liberals are a party without a leader..!!" Never the twain shall meet!!!

Posted by: zilla at September 18, 2007 08:14 PM (U5YZJ)

3 So long Stephane. Next Liberal leader...Michael "The Puffin Man"? He'd have a ready made theme song to help his campaign...Do you know the puffin man, the puffin man, the puffin man.

Posted by: Malcolm at September 18, 2007 08:52 PM (fFxAV)

4 So long Stephane. Next leader...Michael "The puffin man"? Do you know the puffin man, the puffin man, the puffin man.

Posted by: Malcolm at September 18, 2007 08:58 PM (fFxAV)

5 Dion is now a leader without a party, and the Liberals are a party without a leader..!!How goes the old joke? "I don't belong to any organized political party. I'm a Liberal." I, for one, will be sad to see Dion go when the time comes; he truly is the best thing to happen to the Conservatives in a long time! And while I'm rambling, perhaps someone can confirm or deny this rumour: a caller to the local talk radio station said that every Liberal leader since Confederation has been Prime Minister (if even only for a few weeks), and Stephane Dion could have the dubious distinction of being the first person to lead the Liberals and not occupy the PMO. Anyone know if this is accurate?

Posted by: Tom at September 18, 2007 09:50 PM (JW99v)

6 Every leader of the Liberal party (with the exception of Dion) has served as Prime Minister. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Canada

Posted by: Malcolm at September 19, 2007 08:56 AM (8qJpZ)

7 Almost. The guy before Laurier -- Blake, I believe; he led between Mackenzie and Laurier -- never became PM.

Posted by: Ben (The Tiger) at September 19, 2007 12:53 PM (eUrTl)

8 I like it very much!sd5f46s5df465sd4f

Posted by: new ctr360 maestri iii at December 02, 2012 03:53 PM (cF8y5)

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