Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best this holiday season.

If you are like myself and are heading out later to do some last minute shopping today, try not to end up like this guy and get lost in the mall.

From the National post article; "Mr. Dion's next appearance with Chinese media at a mall in Markham faced similar troubles. A greeting party at the Markham Chinese Cultural Centre waited patiently before sending out a rescue party to find the absent leader, eventually locating him wandering through the mall's labyrinth of Chinese restaurants, knick-knack shops and bubble tea stands looking for the centre's storefront office with a bemused expression on his face. "Who is that?" asked the owner of a small Chinese grocery as Mr. Dion was guided past by local Liberal MP John McCallum."


Thursday, December 21, 2006

If this is all they have...

If this is the type of thing that the Liberals think is going to help them win the next election, they are going to be in for an unpleasant surprise.






Al

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Rebranding the B team

Only Dion and the Liberals could call a group, that the media was referring to as The B team just a short time ago, as the dream team.

Highjacked by the left

As I was reading reaction to the recent firing of Canadian Wheat Board president Adrian Measner and the debate about the CWB (Dion's reaction here, and some other 'so called liberal' opinions can be found here, here, here, and here), and I have come to the conclusion the the Liberal Party of Canada is no more. Yes, there is some entity out there masquerading as the Liberal Party, and we all just watched that nice little show from Quebec where they elected a new leader, but it is not the same Liberal Party that Canadians once knew as it has been hijacked by the far left from right under the noses of true liberals.

How can anyone that likes to refer to themselves as a liberal be supportive of this abomination called the CWB and claim to believe in fairness, freedoms or anything else that is written in the charter of rights? I can understand this type of reaction from the NDP as the personal freedoms which they like to tout must inevitably be tossed aside in order to reach the socialist utopia that they dream of, but coming from the Liberals it becomes more proof that they have veered way to far to the left of center.

To deny a grower of a certain crop (wheat) within a certain geographic boundary (west of Ontario) the right to sell his product to whomever they see fit is just about the most un-liberal thing I can think of and not something that any liberal can honestly defend. Spin away, but don't do it while looking into a mirror as lying to yourself is not a healthy thing to do.

It is getting harder and harder to tell the Liberals apart from the NDP, and it is even harder now that the great 'renewal' has taken place.

The left has not only become fully entrenched in the party, but it looks like they have taken over and are setting the direction the Liberals, who could once claim to be a centrist party, are now heading. Bob Rae is writing policy, and if not for some sly dealing between Dion and Kennedy at the convention, Rae could have easily been elected the leader of the party over the much more centrist candidate Ignatieff. Think about that for a minute, Bob Rae is going to be setting the direction of the Liberal party in the future, Bob Rae!!

Jack Layton should indeed be worried as the Liberals are going hard to woo his base, and so to should all those Canadians out there who still think of the LPC is a centrist party.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

He's Back.

This looks interesting; Jean Chretien is back.



Al

Dion ready for an election, but not just yet.

Right from his first day as leader of the Liberal party Stephane Dion has been saying that the Liberals are preparing for an election, but it looks like he is taking a pass on the first potential opportunity.

Stephane Dion says that the Liberals will not support a Bloc non-confidence motion calling for a change in our Afghanistan policy, and will vote against the motion.

Whether or not the motion even could bring down the government is debatable but it is nice to see that Mr.Dion is not going to jump at the first chance he can for an election. The reasons are only known to him and even if it was perhaps a bone for his new deputy leader, the reality of the latest poll, or just the fact that the Liberals are not really ready for an election, it was the correct decision to make.

Even Jack Layton looks to be in agreement as well.

Friday, December 15, 2006

So called........

The Lib bloggers are looking a bit euphoric because PM Harper used the words "so called greenhouse gases" in his press conference earlier today. From reading the blogs over there you would think that they have finally hit the jackpot and now the Canadian public will surely see that that this out of context quote somehow reveals the evil right wing, neo-con agenda.

Like hyenas on fresh kill, they are continuing to play the only card the Liberals have and that is to portray the conservatives as the spawn of Satan in order to divide and scare Canadians And in typical liberal fashion they are playing fast and loose with the facts.

Forget for a moment that the quote was very selectively taken from a much longer answer to a reporters question, but it is that the lib bloggers are inferring that the words "so called'' are in a negative context and somehow reveal PM Harper's deep thoughts and bias that make this nit picking and a stretch to say the least. When taken in context it is clear that this is not what the PM implied, but with the concern of the lib bloggers over this, it begs the question.

If using the term "so called" by the PM is supposed to somehow reveal a bias or his deep thoughts; would you not consider that the continuing use of the term "so called war on terror" by CBC news is also showing a bias or unsolicited editorial comment as well? Tomorrow can I expect liberal bloggers from all over Canada to call on the CBC to stop this blatant display of bias as the words "so called" must ,by themselves, show the bias of those that spoke them?

I didn't think so.

More free advice to my liberal friends. File the scare tactics in the waste basket as it not only makes you look weak and frightened, but it is the same losing tactic that you tried last election and it will net you the same result.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Senate Reform Bill

Pm Harper announced just a few minutes ago that he is tabling a bill on senate reform.

More from CBC here. This should make things interesting for the next little while.

CTV now has the story up here.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Bill 257, bad for everyone

Bill 257 is a private members bill from the Bloc Quebecois that if passed would ban the use of replacement workers during strikes at federally regulated businesses. This disaster of a bill should not be allowed to pass, and I advise you to check how your MP is planning to vote, because if it does it would give too much power to the unions and could in fact paralyze the country.

Far from being just a bill to limit the use of replacement workers, Bill 257 not only puts limits on what an employer can do during a lockout or strike, but it also puts limits on the union members themselves by not allowing them the choice to go work at their own jobs inside the company. It would force people in unions to strike even if they did not want to, which while bad for free choice and the workers, would help increase the strength of the union. Is it any wonder that all the unions are in favour of this legislation.

As for the employers, this bill would effectively shut them down for the duration of a strike or lockout. During a strike an Employer would not be able to hire any replacement workers, allow any member of the striking union to cross a picket line to work either at his regular job or even at another job in a different location, import his own employees from other locations to fill in , or allow any employee or management to do the job of a member of the striking union.

Did you catch that last line? No one, including management would be allowed to do any job that was performed by a union member. The only thing an employer would be allowed to do during a strike essentially would be to make sure the furnace was on so the pipes do not freeze and lock the doors. A union strikes and the employer shuts down; a unions dream but a nightmare for the rest of us.

Think about that for a moment. The union would not only have the power to shut down telecommunications companies like Bell and Telus (what about 911 service?), but could also shut down air travel in this country completely on a whim. Unions usually choose to strike at the moment where they can do the most damage to their employers and subsequently the public; think postal unions who seem to always go on strike just before the Christmas season, or better yet when was the last time a teachers union went on strike in July when school was out?

This bill give all the power to the unions, does not level the playing field, and has the ability to cripple our country and must be defeated. The Liberals and their new leader Stephane Dion have not yet decided on which way they will go on this, but so far Liberal MP Denis Coderre and few others are looking to be favour of this legislation.

How is your MP planning to vote?

News stories: Here, and here

Blog stories: here, and here

Your comments are as always welcome, and I would like to ask my Liberal friends their opinion on the proposed legislation as well.





Liberals after Jack?

Some speculation in liberal land about where Bob Rae should run for a seat in the next election, and Jack Layton's riding of Toronto-Danforth has been mentioned as a possibility.

I know that the Liberals are still trying to blame Jack for the defeat of Paul Martin's government, while totally ignoring the millions of Canadians who did the actual voting, but isn't targeting a leader considered a no no in political circles?

If they do decide to not target Jack, Bob Rae could always go just across the inner harbour and try his luck here?

Sunday, December 10, 2006

A good week

From my perspective as a political junkie I would have to say it has been a great week. From last weekends leadership races in both the federal Liberals and the Alberta PC's, right up until tonight where I was at a little local meet and greet for like minded conservative individuals; it has been been a full week.

A big hello to some of you who I may have met earlier tonight who are checking out my blog for the first time; feel free to leave a comment and drop in anytime.

From the blogging prospective I couldn't be happier. I was lucky enough to have been the first to get posts up on the Blogging Tories on more than a couple of occasions and got the scoop so to speak. Not to toot my own horn as it has more to do with luck than anything else, but being the first one to post something feels great and more so knowing the talent that is here on the BT's. My stats are way up as well and I would like to thank everyone who popped in to have a look around and check out my little soapbox.

Have a great weekend everyone and although my blogging will be light due to my work schedule, I look forward to what the next week will bring.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Dion on anti-Semitism

For Immediate release
December 8, 2006

Statement from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion Regarding the Anti-Semitic Comments Made Against Bob Rae and Arlene Perly Rae

The hateful comments made against Liberal leadership candidate Bob Rae and his wife Arlene Perly Rae at the Liberal leadership convention in Montreal are reprehensible and will not be tolerated within the Liberal Party of Canada.

Canada is a nation founded on diversity and tolerance for people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds. The Liberal Party of Canada celebrates and promotes this diversity and tolerance.

There is no room for abhorrent comments such as these within our Party. The individuals who made these despicable and prejudiced comments are condemned by myself and Liberals throughout Canada.

-30-

For further information contact:

Andre Fortin
Press Secretary
613-614-1915


I await his response to Mr. Graham's Goebbels comments.

More on the Nazi thing and the MSM

There has been some concern among conservative bloggers about the lack of MSM coverage of Bill Grahams comparison of the new government to Nazis (currently less than 10 stories found) versus that of the infamous dog story.(over 400,000 hits)

The answer to this concern can be found in the facts of the 2 different events, and we know the media is all about the facts. So listen up my conservative friends while I try to explain the differences that justify the difference in coverage by the MSM.

In one of these we have clear video evidence of not only who said the slur, but also exactly what was spoken. While in the other instance we have no video of the speaker of said slur, but do have an enhanced audio tape with added sub titles to help you make out what was said in this top quality audio recording. Surly anyone who heard the tape could hear this.

In Hansard, the official record of the House of Commons, we get a nice concise word for word record of one event, while the other event is not recorded at all, almost as if it never took place.

The two comments themselves are also very much different both in spirit and meaning. In the one, anyone sane could figure out that 'you already have her' not only implies a dog, as well as who it was aimed at, but also the pure viciousness and women hate of he who spoke those vile words.

While in the other instance it is not so clear as to what was really implied. First off, the word Nazi was not spoken, so I have no idea where that came from. Also saying that the conservatives "were reading from a textbook" cannot possibly be considered a slur, but instead should be considered a compliment because we all know that reading is good. And lastly how could anyone possibly confuse this Gobels guy with a Nazi?

So my conservative friends, let me sum up by saying this; the MSM is all about the facts, and in this case the facts speak for themselves.

Liberal Comedy Classics or the N word?

Not that N word; Nazi.

Today the laugh a minute former temporary leader of the LPC, Bill Graham, compared the Conservative Government to Nazis, stating "The government members in this House behave as if they were reading from a textbook written by Mr. Goebbels when he was preparing for power in Germany," "It's disgraceful. . . It's dishonourable. . ."

This guy has a career in comedy locked up when the voters of his riding decide to send him packing. Just yesterday I wrote about another joke that Graham made in a speech at the LPC leadership convention last Friday; where rumour has it he was given a nice torch light parade by some of the delegates. This Graham guy is hilarious. If he would just mess up his hair a bit more he could be Canada's answer to Kramer or maybe he is just a Dick.

When you think comedy, Think Liberal!!


------------------

Bill gets some support.


Thursday, December 07, 2006

Bob Rae target of anti-semitism @ LPC convention

Was Bob Rae the target of an anti-Semitic smear campaign at the LPC convention last weekend in Montreal? It sure looks like it after reading this from CTV.

Somehow this does not surprise me.


ht to Ace from the comments @ SDA


This LibBlogger has some thoughts as well.

A few Random things

Hunter has a nice post up about the wheat board. I guess this is another one for the 'party of the charter' to twist themselves in knots over while denying the hypocrisy of their position.

Dion promises to reinstate the wheat board. Ok fine, but why stop there. If it is such a good idea to keep this top heavy monopoly going, also promise to include ALL Canadian grain farmers in the process as well, and not just those west of Ontario. After all the talk today in the house about equality, rights, freedoms, and fairness, it is the only right thing to do. Chance of this actually happening of course is zero.

--------------------

Rick Mercier does a little number on the Liberal convention here.

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Speaking of the LPC convention, how did this little nasty comment from Bill Graham escape unnoticed?

Bill Graham: "but you sit along way away from the Prime Minister of Canada. I sit in the House of Commons and it's two swords lengths away according to the measurements that, of the times And there are days that if I had the sword..." applause from the crowd.

Nice one Bill, jokes about stabbing the PM always make for a good laugh and show what a classy guy you are. I am wondering if Mr.Graham got these guys to write his speech for him?

Not funny at anytime.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Passport please.

Stephane Dion holds both Canadian and French citizenship, big deal or not?

Many Liberal supporters don't seem to see an issue with it as this topic has been making the rounds over the course of the day, but its not the votes of hard core libs that Dion has to worry about. It is the votes and thoughts of the average Canadian voter that should matter to Dion. Trying to dust this off as nothing, or name calling and labeling those who believe that there should be NO doubts at all about the loyalty of a possible Prime Minister of their country, would be foolish.

Free honest advice from a conservative, so take note.

Deal with this now, and tell the 'new guy' to turn in his French passport* as soon as possible. This is not the ideological hill to die on.

Spin all you like, but do so at your own peril.

End of free advice.

edit Dec 7th

* as pointed out in the comments. I would like to note that Mr.Dion does not actually possess a French passport. I will have to take their word for it because I have not been in Mr. Dion's sock drawer to dig around looking for it.

My point still stands though, and it would be best to just do the pragmatic thing and fix it. This subject is not going to die and it doesn't help that your favorite Liberal and mine, Belinda Stronach as well as Liberal MP Paul Sazbo both think he should dump the extra citizenship.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updated: They continue not to get it. here here here here
The head cheerleader can be found here

Good comments here from Andrew Potter at Macleans h/t from one of the few lib bloggers who sees this for what it is, Nav Purewal
--------------------------------------

Another day another update: A few lib bloggers are starting to see this in a different light.
here here

-------------------------------------

Another and possibly the last update as it seems that Dion is willing (in Liberal speak) to toss his French citizenship. CBC has it here, and I called it here.

If he would have followed my advice from the beginning the time wasted over the last few days, looking not very leader like, could have been spent attacking Harper or re-selling Kyoto to Canadians.

So with him caving like this, do those that 'appreciate the fact that he is not bending to pressure' think he wimped out?





Delayed, but why?

Was the long delay in the passing of the Federal Accountability Act of the Liberal dominated senate done with a purpose in mind?

Check this out and render an opinion for yourself. Globe and Mail Story here. It looks like it is time once again to follow the money.



Big hat tip to Canadian Patriot at Defend Canada

Premier Stelmach

Congratulations Mr. Stelmach on your well deserved victory Saturday night. You were not the first choice on my ballot, but my second place vote was counted in your favour and you have my support.

I would have loved to have seen Jim Dinning's face the moment he realized that Ted Morton was the candidate that was going to be knocked off the ballot. There was no way in the world that JD was going to pick up more second place votes than Stelmach had from Morton's supporters, and he knew it. Priceless.

Looking at the numbers: Of the 41243 first place votes Morton received, 3o307 had made a second place choice. Dinning was the second choice of only 4227 of those voters, while Stelmach received 25813 votes or about 85% of the total.

So much for all this split party nonsense I keep hearing about.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

"Do you think it is easy to make priorities?"

Remember these words (approx 2:30 into the video) and expect to hear them often in the near future.

 (UPDATE: above link now dead but here is another video with the quote =)

Alberta, get out and vote!!

Today is the day; it's your chance to decide who will lead the PC Party of Alberta and become our next Premier.

Late edit: This quote has to be saved and perhaps may be the most biased question ever asked at a debate.

Mia Sosiak asks
“Mr. Morton, you’re perceived as a far-right candidate. You’re opposed to same-sex marriage and you are endorsed by some religious groups,
including Concerned Christians Canada. As leader, will you push your personal principles down the throats of Albertans or will you compromise your own beliefs to reach out to those with more moderate views? Which is it?”