The allegation that Conservative Party officials tried to bribe dying Independent MP Chuck Cadman in May 2005 to vote against the Paul Martin government continues to keep the political watchers in a state of frenzy.

A key element of the story -- that the enticement offered was a $1 million life insurance policy -- seems absurd on the face of it.  Insurance officials now confirm that they can't imagine how anyone could believe that anyone in the final stages of terminal cancer would be offered a life insurance policy.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:04 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A Liberal blogger's attempt to embarrass a part-time Conservative researcher has come to silly end with an abject apology.

All posts have been withdrawn -- including the one in which someone inside the parliament used their access to government computer resources to provide confidential information in the effort to wreck this person's life.

Too bad the apology doesn't take the time to mention who is still lurking in the halls of parliament, looking for an opportunity to send out personal information of any Conservative who looks vulnerable.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 10:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A new story is gripping Ottawa.  Did the Conservatives try to bribe Chuck Cadman before the May 2005 confidence vote against the Paul Martin minority government?

If only there was a fly on the wall.

No wait, there was!  Let's recall the "Cadman Cam".

Posted by: Steve Janke at 08:12 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I know that sounds ridiculous.  Don't look at me.  I didn't say it.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 04:53 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The spin from the Liberal Party has been that Stephane Dion decided to support the Conservative budget because there was little in it to oppose.  That's nonsense. 

Posted by: Steve Janke at 12:45 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The Conservative budget has been delivered, and Stephane Dion and the Liberals have announced, both in word and in print, that they will not vote down this budget.

The fury in the Liberal ranks is palpable.  Stephane Dion's guards are growing nervous and ever more desperate.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 10:55 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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If you listen to David Suzuki, you'd hear about how human activity is causing the Earth to warm up.  Specifically, how a mere 30 million Canadians are supposed to shoulder a large amount of the blame.

His rhetoric has become increasingly heated, ironically.

Well, it seems that the heat generated by his latest comments has caused David Suzuki to throttle it back. 

Posted by: Steve Janke at 10:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Sometimes you wonder if people are saying more than they mean to.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 09:19 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Stephane Dion has done it again.  Without even taking the time to inform the local riding association, the Liberal Party leader has gone ahead and appointed a candidate for the riding of Etobicoke North.

Dr Kirsty Duncan will be the candidate.  Hopefully for the riding association, she will have turned out to be a good choice.  It's hard to say, given that she has no experience whatsoever in politics.  But she is a woman, and Stephane Dion needs to reach his goal of 33% female candidates. 

Still, there are elements of Duncan's personality that makes me wonder just how well she'll perform in the rough-and-tumble world of politics.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 04:38 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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There have been three very different polls released in rapid succession. 

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey conducted from February 14 through 17 showed the Conservatives and the Liberals in a dead heat, with the Conservatives making modest gains in Ontario to pull into a near tie there as well. 

On the other hand, a poll by The Strategic Counsel for The Globe and Mail/CTV News, conducted over the same three days, showed the Tories ahead of the Liberals by a full 12 points nationally, and by 8 points in Ontario.

An Ipsos-Reid poll split the difference, showing the Tories just seven points ahead.

So what gives?

Well, guess what.  It doesn't matter.  What matters is how the information is going to be used and by whom.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 12:51 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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CTV has released the results of a new poll.   There isn't any good news for the Liberals in it.  Not even a little bit.

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Today John McCallum spoke to Graeme Richardson on Mike Duffy Live.  It was really quite enlightening.  According to McCallum, the Liberals have drawn a line in the sand, and the Liberals will be voting.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 08:34 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Globe and Mail has reported, based on information from unnamed sources, that the Conservative government is proposing that John Manley be appointed as the United Nations "super envoy" in Afghanistan.

John Manley is the Liberal and former cabinet minister who delivered a report to the government advocating continued Canadian involvement in Afghanistan.

But the Ottawa Citizen is debunking the story...somewhat.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 12:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Not surprisingly, Stephane Dion is in full backpedal mode.  Yesterday he said he would be satisfied to let Canadians suffer economically if it meant he could hold on to his job as Liberal Party leader.

Yes, that's what he said.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 08:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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News that a popular and eminently electable former Liberal MP, Francoise Boivin, is going to run for Jack Layton's NDP is an insult to Stephane Dion.  There is no way to spin this as anything neutral.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 05:12 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Senior Liberals are opening discussing a coup with reporters.  Stephane Dion's response?  Nothing.  It's like he's not even there.

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Bob Rae wants an election about nothing.  That would suit him just fine.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 06:30 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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There are people out there who sell companionship, usually in hourly increments.

Well, someone order a purple velour hat (with leopard print trimmings) for Stephane Dion, because the Liberal Party has turned into an escort service.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 05:44 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I'm confused about something.  Today, the Liberal caucus walked out of parliament in order to avoid voting on a motion designed to pressure the Liberal-dominated Senate to finally deal with the long delayed omnibus crime bill.

But it seems that Stephane Dion didn't want to be photographed walking away from the House of Commons.

Maybe he was worried it would look too much like a retreat.

So he lets Ralph Goodale do the deed.

Hey, maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that if Stephane Dion wants to earn the respect of the rest of the caucus, he's going to have to do more than make uncomfortable decisions.

He's going to have to be seen acting on those decisions.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:47 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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David Suzuki has been in hot water this week over comments he made (on two different occasions) that politicians ought to be jailed for expressing skepticism about climate change (specifically, about David Suzuki's view on climate change).

Go way back, and you encounter an entirely different David Suzuki.  This man pleaded for Canadians to be skeptical of science, to exert influence and oversight over the scientific community, and to be careful of the hidden agenda behind scientists and their theories.

I kid you not.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 05:22 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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