While I cannot be 100% sure on this, I believe that my campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada has been the greenest one in at least the last 50 years.
My staff and I are doing our best to lead by example and this is why I have chosen not to use any airplanes during my campaign so far; I thought about getting a bus and traveling across the country, but that has already been done and lets face it, driving around in a giant diesel powered bus is not the best way of going green despite what David Suzuki would have you believe.
While being totally green would be all but impossible in this day and age, I promise to continue to do my best to limit my carbon footprint in my battle against Iggy and the insiders.
Remember delegates; some like to talk the talk but with the Ardvark you get action!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
An Urgent Message for Michael Ignatieff. Feb 16th, 2009
Michael before you head out of Stornaway today with your fake beard and top hat on, please take note that in Canada we do not celebrate Presidents' Day as you did while you were living in the USA. I would hate to see you make a fool out of yourself again this year.
Enjoy the Day.
I got $50 that says that Michael would not be able to name the Canadian Provinces which observe today as a holiday.*
*That is before his advisors fill him in on our quaint Canadian traditions. FYI Michael: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba observe today as a holiday.
Enjoy the Day.
---------
I got $50 that says that Michael would not be able to name the Canadian Provinces which observe today as a holiday.*
*That is before his advisors fill him in on our quaint Canadian traditions. FYI Michael: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba observe today as a holiday.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Things not to do
Here are a few things not to do:
Do not take driving lessons from Stephane Dion.
Do not take any stock tips or economic advice from Michael Ignatieff.
But most of all, do not believe for a minute that the last 2 leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada can relate to the average Canadian or claim to understand and represent them.
Do not take driving lessons from Stephane Dion.
Do not take any stock tips or economic advice from Michael Ignatieff.
But most of all, do not believe for a minute that the last 2 leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada can relate to the average Canadian or claim to understand and represent them.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Liberal Blogger Endorses the Ardvark for Liberal Leader.
If you want to run as a delegate you had to join the Party before 5 p.m. local time yesterday. With that deadline past I decided to provide my endorsement for the next leader of the Liberal Party. There isn’t much of a choice, ha ha, but here’s is my endorsement:
I endorse Alberta Ardvark for leader.
“He sucks but he has given as much to the Party as King Iggy, and he’s against torture.” - 1 Anxious Liberal
Take some time and read his stuff for a take on just how some of the grassroots of the Liberal party feel about Ignatieff's coup and how the members have been shut out by the party elite.
Anxious was also the one who first revealed to the blogging world that Michael did not donate any money to his own party in 2008 and triggered Ignatieff's war room guy into attack mode. He went after the wrong people of course by comparing leadership candidates with ordinary private citizens, but how much can you expect from an unpaid volunteer.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Ignatieff and the Gretzky Factor.
"We didn't get it done." Michael Ignatieff at the Liberal Leadership convention December 2006.
In 1978 Wayne Gretzky began his professional hockey career by signing with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA. Less than a year later he would be signed to play for the Edmonton Oilers where over the next 10 years he would lead the team to 4 Stanley Cup championship wins breaking numerous records along the way before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988; a day sports fans in Edmonton and Canada have etched into their minds. In LA Gretzky picked up where he had left off by continuing to dominate the game and by taking his team through the 1993 playoffs where in one of the most memorable 7 game conference finals in NHL history, the Kings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs earning their way into the league finals eventually losing out to the Montreal Canadiens; the last time a Canadian team won the cup. Gretzky would go on to play in the NHL until his retirement on April 18, 1999, at which time he held forty regular-season records, fifteen playoff records, and six All-Star records. He is the only NHL player ever to total more than 200 points in a single season, a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, he tallied over 100 points in 15 NHL seasons, 13 of them consecutively. Gretzky's #99 has been retired by all teams in the National Hockey League. He is one of only two athletes to have earned this honor from a major professional sport.
In 1978 Michael Ignatieff left his privileged life in Canada and moved to the United Kingdom where he lived and worked for 22 years until moving to the United States in 2000 where he would reside until 2005 when he decided that after a 27 year absence he would return to Canada with the goal of eventually becoming our prime minister. The 27 years that Michael Ignatieff was out of the country was 6 years longer than Wayne Gretzky's entire playing career and during that time I doubt that Michael Ignatieff ever watched Gretzky play the game, either in person at a game or even on "the telly".
And why is Gretzky so important? Well to be honest he isn't. Hockey is not the most important thing in the world, and missing out on watching the career of the greatest hockey player in the world is not the ultimate sin, but it does demonstrate in a small way just how much of our everyday history and lives Ignatieff did miss during his decades long absence from the country. Call it the Gretzky Factor if you like.
During his long period of absence from Canada Michael Ignatieff not only missed out on the events of those 27 years, but more importantly he missed out on the experiences and feelings that one can only gather by being present and living through these events of our day to day lives. He was not here, nor was he a part of the highs, the lows, the triumphs, the tragedies, and the seeing of both the good and the bad of Canada and Canadians which has helped shape our country and ourselves over the last 30 years.
Ignatieff was absent for 27 years of our collective Canadian history. 27 years!
While it is true that if he was interested in what was happening in Canada that Ignatieff could have learned about many of these things by reading the newspapers or watching the television from afar, but that does not even come close to or compare to having experienced it first hand by being here and living through it. I have been reading about what has been going on in Iraq for years now, but it would be terribly arrogant of me to assume that I know what is really going on there or what the citizens of the Iraq are thinking or feeling, and it would be even more arrogant for me to assume that I could go there and be their leader.
An abbreviated list of just a few of the things that happened in those 27 years and during which
Michael Ignatieff was absent from Canada:
for the shooting at École Polytechnique in Montreal, the crimes of Robert Pickton, Clifford Olsen, Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka.
during the tainted blood scandal.
when all of the disagreements and constitutional battles that have shaped our country were fought including when our constitution was repatriated, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms adopted, and during the fight over the Meech Lake Accord.
during the creation of Nunavut.
when the Free Trade agreement was passed.
during the Quebec referendums in both 1980 and 1995.
during First Gulf War.
when "Oh Canada" became our official national anthem.
for the softwood lumber dispute.
for the tenure of Brian Mulroney,Kim Campbell, John Turner, Jean Chretien, and he missed out on seeing firsthand what his former roommate Bob Rae did while he was the Premier of Ontario, as well as what happened in the politics of all of the Provinces from 1978-2005!
for Terry Fox's incredible and inspiring run.
during the Oka crisis, the Ipperwash incident, the Air India disaster.....
for 27 years of sports, music and culture that took place in this country.
when the GST was introduced and so hotly debated.
while our soldiers were active in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara, Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, East Timor and Sierra Leone and during the US-led humanitarian mission to Somalia and the infamous Airborne regiments disgrace there.
while Ambassador Ken Taylor risked his life rescuing Americans from Iran.
for the passage of the Young Offenders Act.
when the first Canadian entered space.
during the National Energy Program.
for countless natural disasters including ice storms, floods and tornadoes.
when the population of Canada increased from 23,963,967 in 1978 to 32,623,490 in 2005.
when both the "loonie" and "toonie" were introduced as currency.
and on and on and on ...
"We didn't get it done." Michael Ignatieff at the Liberal Leadership convention December 2006.
I think you got this one wrong Michael. We did get it done. "We Canadians" have managed to come together and build one of the best countries on earth during those 27 years and we managed to do it all without your help.
For 27 years Michael Ignatieff missed out on the major and minor events that shaped not only our country but our lives, and now after his long absence from Canada he feels that somehow he has earned the right to be our prime minister.
Tell Michael Ignatieff to stick a sock in it and go back to his books while the rest of us continue to go on living our lives and building this country for the better as we have been doing for all those years when he was an absent Canadian.
In 1978 Wayne Gretzky began his professional hockey career by signing with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA. Less than a year later he would be signed to play for the Edmonton Oilers where over the next 10 years he would lead the team to 4 Stanley Cup championship wins breaking numerous records along the way before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988; a day sports fans in Edmonton and Canada have etched into their minds. In LA Gretzky picked up where he had left off by continuing to dominate the game and by taking his team through the 1993 playoffs where in one of the most memorable 7 game conference finals in NHL history, the Kings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs earning their way into the league finals eventually losing out to the Montreal Canadiens; the last time a Canadian team won the cup. Gretzky would go on to play in the NHL until his retirement on April 18, 1999, at which time he held forty regular-season records, fifteen playoff records, and six All-Star records. He is the only NHL player ever to total more than 200 points in a single season, a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, he tallied over 100 points in 15 NHL seasons, 13 of them consecutively. Gretzky's #99 has been retired by all teams in the National Hockey League. He is one of only two athletes to have earned this honor from a major professional sport.
In 1978 Michael Ignatieff left his privileged life in Canada and moved to the United Kingdom where he lived and worked for 22 years until moving to the United States in 2000 where he would reside until 2005 when he decided that after a 27 year absence he would return to Canada with the goal of eventually becoming our prime minister. The 27 years that Michael Ignatieff was out of the country was 6 years longer than Wayne Gretzky's entire playing career and during that time I doubt that Michael Ignatieff ever watched Gretzky play the game, either in person at a game or even on "the telly".
And why is Gretzky so important? Well to be honest he isn't. Hockey is not the most important thing in the world, and missing out on watching the career of the greatest hockey player in the world is not the ultimate sin, but it does demonstrate in a small way just how much of our everyday history and lives Ignatieff did miss during his decades long absence from the country. Call it the Gretzky Factor if you like.
During his long period of absence from Canada Michael Ignatieff not only missed out on the events of those 27 years, but more importantly he missed out on the experiences and feelings that one can only gather by being present and living through these events of our day to day lives. He was not here, nor was he a part of the highs, the lows, the triumphs, the tragedies, and the seeing of both the good and the bad of Canada and Canadians which has helped shape our country and ourselves over the last 30 years.
Ignatieff was absent for 27 years of our collective Canadian history. 27 years!
While it is true that if he was interested in what was happening in Canada that Ignatieff could have learned about many of these things by reading the newspapers or watching the television from afar, but that does not even come close to or compare to having experienced it first hand by being here and living through it. I have been reading about what has been going on in Iraq for years now, but it would be terribly arrogant of me to assume that I know what is really going on there or what the citizens of the Iraq are thinking or feeling, and it would be even more arrogant for me to assume that I could go there and be their leader.
An abbreviated list of just a few of the things that happened in those 27 years and during which
Michael Ignatieff was absent from Canada:
for the shooting at École Polytechnique in Montreal, the crimes of Robert Pickton, Clifford Olsen, Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka.
during the tainted blood scandal.
when all of the disagreements and constitutional battles that have shaped our country were fought including when our constitution was repatriated, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms adopted, and during the fight over the Meech Lake Accord.
during the creation of Nunavut.
when the Free Trade agreement was passed.
during the Quebec referendums in both 1980 and 1995.
during First Gulf War.
when "Oh Canada" became our official national anthem.
for the softwood lumber dispute.
for the tenure of Brian Mulroney,Kim Campbell, John Turner, Jean Chretien, and he missed out on seeing firsthand what his former roommate Bob Rae did while he was the Premier of Ontario, as well as what happened in the politics of all of the Provinces from 1978-2005!
for Terry Fox's incredible and inspiring run.
during the Oka crisis, the Ipperwash incident, the Air India disaster.....
for 27 years of sports, music and culture that took place in this country.
when the GST was introduced and so hotly debated.
while our soldiers were active in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara, Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, East Timor and Sierra Leone and during the US-led humanitarian mission to Somalia and the infamous Airborne regiments disgrace there.
while Ambassador Ken Taylor risked his life rescuing Americans from Iran.
for the passage of the Young Offenders Act.
when the first Canadian entered space.
during the National Energy Program.
for countless natural disasters including ice storms, floods and tornadoes.
when the population of Canada increased from 23,963,967 in 1978 to 32,623,490 in 2005.
when both the "loonie" and "toonie" were introduced as currency.
and on and on and on ...
--------
"We didn't get it done." Michael Ignatieff at the Liberal Leadership convention December 2006.
I think you got this one wrong Michael. We did get it done. "We Canadians" have managed to come together and build one of the best countries on earth during those 27 years and we managed to do it all without your help.
For 27 years Michael Ignatieff missed out on the major and minor events that shaped not only our country but our lives, and now after his long absence from Canada he feels that somehow he has earned the right to be our prime minister.
Tell Michael Ignatieff to stick a sock in it and go back to his books while the rest of us continue to go on living our lives and building this country for the better as we have been doing for all those years when he was an absent Canadian.
Gentlemen, start your engines.
Or in this case should that be ladies or perhaps even Constable?
Det.-Const. Heidi Fischer is charged with driving 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit, contrary to Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. Because she was charged with exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, her driver's licence was suspended for seven days and her police vehicle was impounded for a week.
Story here and here.
Det.-Const. Heidi Fischer is charged with driving 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit, contrary to Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. Because she was charged with exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, her driver's licence was suspended for seven days and her police vehicle was impounded for a week.
Story here and here.
Monday, February 09, 2009
The west wants in and Iggy can't deliver.
Aside from a few seats in B.C, most of the ridings west of the Ontario/Manitoba border could pretty much be considered a lost cause for the Liberal Party.
Why?
To be honest I do not claim to have all of the answers, but one thing is very clear. The Liberal Party has lost touch with half of the country and if the brains of the Liberal Party think that by anointing Micheal Ignatieff into the position of leader is going to help their position in the west, they are in for another sorry surprise come election time. Westerners are not fond of ANYONE treating them as idiots by telling them what to do/think or who should lead them. Arrogance does not go over big out west and anyone who claims that arrogance and Ignatieff are not synonymous with each other has not been paying attention to what has been going on.
The west wants in, and by voting for the Ardvark for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada I can promise you that I will do my best to get the west in. Not by being arrogant and telling them what is what, but by being inclusive and actually listening to other opinions that occur outside of the GTA.
If chosen as leader at the convention in Vancouver at the end of April I promise to run as an MP in the toughest place in Canada for a Liberal to be elected, Alberta. I am not afraid of a fight and unlike others I do not need to be parachuted into safe Ontario riding against the wishes of the local party members and will not have to sneak out of side doors to avoid party members.
If you want to include the west you should select the delegate supporting Ardvark for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Why?
To be honest I do not claim to have all of the answers, but one thing is very clear. The Liberal Party has lost touch with half of the country and if the brains of the Liberal Party think that by anointing Micheal Ignatieff into the position of leader is going to help their position in the west, they are in for another sorry surprise come election time. Westerners are not fond of ANYONE treating them as idiots by telling them what to do/think or who should lead them. Arrogance does not go over big out west and anyone who claims that arrogance and Ignatieff are not synonymous with each other has not been paying attention to what has been going on.
The west wants in, and by voting for the Ardvark for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada I can promise you that I will do my best to get the west in. Not by being arrogant and telling them what is what, but by being inclusive and actually listening to other opinions that occur outside of the GTA.
If chosen as leader at the convention in Vancouver at the end of April I promise to run as an MP in the toughest place in Canada for a Liberal to be elected, Alberta. I am not afraid of a fight and unlike others I do not need to be parachuted into safe Ontario riding against the wishes of the local party members and will not have to sneak out of side doors to avoid party members.
If you want to include the west you should select the delegate supporting Ardvark for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Q&A with the Ardvark
Since entering the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada I have deluged with questions of all types. Today I will try to answer a few of the more popular questions.
Why are you doing this?
It was not an easy decision on my part, but after having watched as a few party insiders decided amongst themselves who the next leader would be, all without the say of the card carrying members who really are the backbone of the party, I knew that I had to do something for those that were left out of the process. Fairness of process and the principles of democracy should not be trampled by anyone, particularly a few party elite who think that they know better than those members they claim to represent, in the rush to get "their" guy into the leaders chair.
Why you? I mean, after all you are/were a conservative.
A good question and one I get asked all the time. Having conservative leanings does not disqualify someone from the leaders job. If it did we would not currently have Michael Ignatieff as our interim leader, but unlike Michael I am at least honest about it.
But your were a conservative blogger, why do you think the Liberals would accept you as their leader?
I do not think that my political past will really matter that much or be that detrimental to my leadership bid. After all Bob Rae who was a former NDP premier found a home in the party and he was able to finish 3rd at the last convention and we cannot forget about Brison, Stronach, or even Garth Turner who were all accepted with open arms in the party. I mean if someone like Keith Martin who was in the Reform Party, a party that many liberals still think was more evil than Satan, can be accepted into the fold than I think I have an honest shot.
What are you offering in the way of policy or changes needed in the LPC?
This is still be worked on but having entered this process it is plain to see that in some aspects the party is broken. We cannot have a few backroom has been glory boys deciding who should be chosen as leader. It is not good for anyone and makes us look like we are running some kind of local waterbuffalo lodge rather than a national political party. A one member one vote strategy is very much needed to protect the interests of everyone in the party and give the power back to those that really matter, the card carrying members.
What about other policy?
As I said this is being worked on diligently, but off of the top of my head I can say today that Michael and I share many of the same ideas.
Michael supports the budget. I support the budget.
Michael is in favour of our mission in Afghanistan. I also support the Afghan mission.
Michael wants to support the 'most vulnerable' in our society. I also wish to support the most vulnerable in our society.
Michael supported Israel in the recent conflict. While I would rather see peace in the region, I support Israel's right to defend itself.
Michael has written positively on the use of torture in certain situations. I, um err. Actually I am against torture which I guess makes me even more liberal than Michael is and is another reason as to why I would make a better choice than Michael for leader of the party.
That's it for today. Keep those cards and letters coming.
Why are you doing this?
It was not an easy decision on my part, but after having watched as a few party insiders decided amongst themselves who the next leader would be, all without the say of the card carrying members who really are the backbone of the party, I knew that I had to do something for those that were left out of the process. Fairness of process and the principles of democracy should not be trampled by anyone, particularly a few party elite who think that they know better than those members they claim to represent, in the rush to get "their" guy into the leaders chair.
Why you? I mean, after all you are/were a conservative.
A good question and one I get asked all the time. Having conservative leanings does not disqualify someone from the leaders job. If it did we would not currently have Michael Ignatieff as our interim leader, but unlike Michael I am at least honest about it.
But your were a conservative blogger, why do you think the Liberals would accept you as their leader?
I do not think that my political past will really matter that much or be that detrimental to my leadership bid. After all Bob Rae who was a former NDP premier found a home in the party and he was able to finish 3rd at the last convention and we cannot forget about Brison, Stronach, or even Garth Turner who were all accepted with open arms in the party. I mean if someone like Keith Martin who was in the Reform Party, a party that many liberals still think was more evil than Satan, can be accepted into the fold than I think I have an honest shot.
What are you offering in the way of policy or changes needed in the LPC?
This is still be worked on but having entered this process it is plain to see that in some aspects the party is broken. We cannot have a few backroom has been glory boys deciding who should be chosen as leader. It is not good for anyone and makes us look like we are running some kind of local waterbuffalo lodge rather than a national political party. A one member one vote strategy is very much needed to protect the interests of everyone in the party and give the power back to those that really matter, the card carrying members.
What about other policy?
As I said this is being worked on diligently, but off of the top of my head I can say today that Michael and I share many of the same ideas.
Michael supports the budget. I support the budget.
Michael is in favour of our mission in Afghanistan. I also support the Afghan mission.
Michael wants to support the 'most vulnerable' in our society. I also wish to support the most vulnerable in our society.
Michael supported Israel in the recent conflict. While I would rather see peace in the region, I support Israel's right to defend itself.
Michael has written positively on the use of torture in certain situations. I, um err. Actually I am against torture which I guess makes me even more liberal than Michael is and is another reason as to why I would make a better choice than Michael for leader of the party.
That's it for today. Keep those cards and letters coming.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Piles of paperwork
Who would have thought that running for the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada would require so much paper work.
I guess they want to make sure that they do not let in any undesirable candidates.
I wonder if they would accept "I didn't know she was a police officer" as an acceptable answer to question number 52?
I guess they want to make sure that they do not let in any undesirable candidates.
I wonder if they would accept "I didn't know she was a police officer" as an acceptable answer to question number 52?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
I think they left something out.
From the Liberal Party web site. They seem to have forgotten all about the democratic process.
This April, Liberals from across Canada will gather in Vancouver to ratify a new leader (highlighting mine) and vote on new policy initiatives for the Liberal Party. If you would like to participate in this historic event and have a say in critical policy matters we encourage you to run as a delegate and join your friends and colleagues in Vancouver.
Leading up to the Convention
This April, Liberals from across Canada will gather in Vancouver to ratify a new leader (highlighting mine) and vote on new policy initiatives for the Liberal Party. If you would like to participate in this historic event and have a say in critical policy matters we encourage you to run as a delegate and join your friends and colleagues in Vancouver.
Delegates are elected by riding associations and clubs. The information below is a brief guide to your road to Vancouver.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us or click here for more information about what it means to be a delegate and fill out a delegate form.
Now until February 6, 2009
Registration Drive
Let’s seize this opportunity to grow the Liberal Party!
Registered Liberals are eligible to:
- run as delegates to represent their riding association or club at the Convention;
- vote for other delegates;
- delegates attend the Convention in Vancouver;
- delegates vote for the new leader of the Party on behalf of their riding association or club
February 6, 2009 at 5 p.m. local time
Membership Registration Deadline
If you want to run as a delegate you must join the Party before 5 p.m. local time on February 6th in order to qualify. You can register as a member of the Party by clicking here.
The family and friends you register help send you to the Convention by voting for you during “Super Weekend”.
For more information on what it means to be a delegate please click here.
February 20, 2009 at 5 p.m. local time
Delegate Registration Deadline
In order to stand as a delegate you must return the Delegate Application Form (Notice of Intention to Stand) by 5 p.m. local time on February 20, 2009.
You can download the form by clicking here.
You can return your form via email at delegate@liberal.ca, or by fax to your provincial or territorial association (PTA). For a full list of PTA contact information, including fax numbers, please click here.
March 6 – March 10, 2009
Super WeekendThe election of delegates in each riding happens on one day of "Super Weekend".
Each riding association, women’s club, youth club, and seniors’ club may send a delegation.
April 30 – May 3, 2009
Convention in Vancouver
The elected delegate’s first ballot decision is predetermined by the votes cast by their riding association or club.
In addition to elected delegates, there are a number of “ex-officio” candidates who may vote however they wish.
Ex-officio delegates are MPs, Senators, riding presidents, and other Liberal Party executives and former candidates.
----------
And what about February 27th? You know, the date that the papers have to be filed for those that intend on running for the leadership?
My war room guy.....
Here is another reason to cast your vote for the delegate supporting the Ardvark.
My war room guy will not make cheap racist jokes that are insulting not just to thousands of Canadians but to billions of Chinese around the world.
Jean Chretien would not have put up with this kind of crap and neither would I.
So why does Michael?
Vote for real change in the Liberal Party. Vote for the Ardvark for leader of the LPC.
My war room guy will not make cheap racist jokes that are insulting not just to thousands of Canadians but to billions of Chinese around the world.
Jean Chretien would not have put up with this kind of crap and neither would I.
So why does Michael?
Vote for real change in the Liberal Party. Vote for the Ardvark for leader of the LPC.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Is it any surprise that......
Is it any surprise that when the leader shows no respect for democracy that the young ones will also be lacking respect for the process?
Is this what the Liberal Party has become?
Respect the process. Respect the voice of the grassroots.
Is this what the Liberal Party has become?
Respect the process. Respect the voice of the grassroots.
The Real Coup.
There were 2 coup attempts in Canada last month, but only one of them succeeded.
We are all familiar with the failed attempt by the opposition parties at forming a coalition government in effect tossing out the current government and taking their place. We all know how that ended, but how many people are familiar with the details of other coup attempt that took place in Canadian politics last month, the successful one?
On December 10, 2008 Michael Ignatieff usurped the throne of the Liberal Party when the party brass, who were mostly supporters of Ignatieff, decided by themselves that the say of grassroots members of the party was not important and that they should be left out of the process of choosing the leader of their own party.
What started back in 2004 finally came into being by stifling the voices of the 68,000 card carrying party members in the name of a crisis that never really existed. There was a late attempt at democracy by then candidate Bob Rae to let the party members have their say but when that was shot down by party officials the coup was complete and Michael Ignatieff was named interim leader.
An interim leader without a challenger!
There is little point now going into the details of how this all was forced upon the party by Ignatieff supporters in the backrooms as the damage has been done, but some time has now passed since Ignatieff's leadership was forced upon the party and the reasons claimed for this undemocratic action are now gone.
It can be argued that once Stephane Dion was forced to resign in such an undignified way, if you want to believe that he wasn't forced to resign I have a bridge to sell you cheap, that a leader had to be chosen quickly if there was to be a quick election or if the GG decided to accept the notion of a coalition government. This I say is arguable because by the time Dion stepped down the GG had ALREADY decided to prorogue Parliament and there would be 50 full days before a budget was to be presented by the Harper Government. This of course makes the "crisis" that allowed the Ignatieff coup a fraud but now even more so as the Ignatieff lead Liberals have decided to support the budget killing the threat of a coalition and eliminating the threat of an election for some time to come.
But what now?
Ignatieff claimed that if he became the leader that he would "hope to immediately engage the grassroots."
Well Michael, the grass roots are indeed waiting. They are waiting for their chance to have their voices, which were removed from them by your team, returned. They are waiting for real democracy in the Liberal Party and they are waiting for a challenger to emerge to stand up and say to you that what you did was wrong and it was not the Liberal way.
The voice of the party is the members and not the backroom boys who imported you here to Canada after all of those years abroad to rule over us.
We are all familiar with the failed attempt by the opposition parties at forming a coalition government in effect tossing out the current government and taking their place. We all know how that ended, but how many people are familiar with the details of other coup attempt that took place in Canadian politics last month, the successful one?
On December 10, 2008 Michael Ignatieff usurped the throne of the Liberal Party when the party brass, who were mostly supporters of Ignatieff, decided by themselves that the say of grassroots members of the party was not important and that they should be left out of the process of choosing the leader of their own party.
What started back in 2004 finally came into being by stifling the voices of the 68,000 card carrying party members in the name of a crisis that never really existed. There was a late attempt at democracy by then candidate Bob Rae to let the party members have their say but when that was shot down by party officials the coup was complete and Michael Ignatieff was named interim leader.
An interim leader without a challenger!
There is little point now going into the details of how this all was forced upon the party by Ignatieff supporters in the backrooms as the damage has been done, but some time has now passed since Ignatieff's leadership was forced upon the party and the reasons claimed for this undemocratic action are now gone.
It can be argued that once Stephane Dion was forced to resign in such an undignified way, if you want to believe that he wasn't forced to resign I have a bridge to sell you cheap, that a leader had to be chosen quickly if there was to be a quick election or if the GG decided to accept the notion of a coalition government. This I say is arguable because by the time Dion stepped down the GG had ALREADY decided to prorogue Parliament and there would be 50 full days before a budget was to be presented by the Harper Government. This of course makes the "crisis" that allowed the Ignatieff coup a fraud but now even more so as the Ignatieff lead Liberals have decided to support the budget killing the threat of a coalition and eliminating the threat of an election for some time to come.
But what now?
Ignatieff claimed that if he became the leader that he would "hope to immediately engage the grassroots."
Well Michael, the grass roots are indeed waiting. They are waiting for their chance to have their voices, which were removed from them by your team, returned. They are waiting for real democracy in the Liberal Party and they are waiting for a challenger to emerge to stand up and say to you that what you did was wrong and it was not the Liberal way.
The voice of the party is the members and not the backroom boys who imported you here to Canada after all of those years abroad to rule over us.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Searching for a campaign slogan.
The Liberal Leadership Convention Vancouver 2009.
Let the Members Decide.
Ardvark for Leader.
What do you think? Your suggestions are always welcomed.
Thank you,
Ardvark
I respect the thoughts and opinions of the party grassroots.
Michael, can you say the same?
Let the Members Decide.
Ardvark for Leader.
What do you think? Your suggestions are always welcomed.
Thank you,
Ardvark
I respect the thoughts and opinions of the party grassroots.
Michael, can you say the same?
Reason # 1 to vote for the Ardvark.
Reason #1 to vote for the Ardvark for leader of the LPC.
When I sign my name to a document I will never sign it for my own selfish reasons only to change my mind later. I will stand by my signature and my word.
Leadership is knowing what to sign and what not to sign.
Vote for the Ardvark. Vancouver 2009.
When I sign my name to a document I will never sign it for my own selfish reasons only to change my mind later. I will stand by my signature and my word.
Leadership is knowing what to sign and what not to sign.
Vote for the Ardvark. Vancouver 2009.
I took a long walk tonight
I took a long walk earlier tonight, I would have taken a canoe trip but the river is frozen solid, and somewhere between the convenience store and the 4 way stop, I came to a realization. It did not come easy, nor did it come without much deep thought and reflection, but after having watched Canadian politics over the last few months it was obvious that I cannot just sit idly by and do nothing while a great political party is being dragged down by its leader.
So after first striking a committee a week ago to study the possibility; I have decided to declare my intent to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada at the convention taking place in Vancouver April 30-May 3, 2009. Many thanks to all those who have already expressed their support and to the many who have already began to work on the campaign. There is lots of work ahead, and with your help I can save the Liberal Party from an Ignatieff future.
There is so much to do and the paper work has to be in by March 1st to make it all official, but even with all of this work, I promise to use this media to keep you all informed of my progress, my platform, and the reasons why I am needed to save the Liberal Party of Canada.
If you were planning on supporting Michael, all I ask is that you give me the chance to prove to you that I can be as much of a Liberal as he is, because we all know that he is already as conservative as I am.
Unlike others who have high jacked the party and who are already planning the coronation; I value the democratic process along with your opinions, and I will work for your votes rather than just assuming the throne.
Vote for real change. Vote for the Ardvark for LPC leader!!
Thank you for your support.
AA
So after first striking a committee a week ago to study the possibility; I have decided to declare my intent to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada at the convention taking place in Vancouver April 30-May 3, 2009. Many thanks to all those who have already expressed their support and to the many who have already began to work on the campaign. There is lots of work ahead, and with your help I can save the Liberal Party from an Ignatieff future.
There is so much to do and the paper work has to be in by March 1st to make it all official, but even with all of this work, I promise to use this media to keep you all informed of my progress, my platform, and the reasons why I am needed to save the Liberal Party of Canada.
If you were planning on supporting Michael, all I ask is that you give me the chance to prove to you that I can be as much of a Liberal as he is, because we all know that he is already as conservative as I am.
Unlike others who have high jacked the party and who are already planning the coronation; I value the democratic process along with your opinions, and I will work for your votes rather than just assuming the throne.
Vote for real change. Vote for the Ardvark for LPC leader!!
Thank you for your support.
AA
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Adler defines Ignatieff
"Any careful examination of the life and times of Michael Ignatieff will show that the one core principle he will never abandon is his ability to abandon. Friends, acquaintances, organizations, causes, universities, countries and now coalition partners. All have tasted the sour juice of abandonment."
You can read the rest here or listen to it here.
Update:Sept 11, 2009: Adler sends Ignatieff another letter. Dear Michael.....
You can read the rest here or listen to it here.
Update:Sept 11, 2009: Adler sends Ignatieff another letter. Dear Michael.....
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
In 9 months time....
If in 9 months time* the poll numbers look positive enough for the Liberals that they decide to pull the plug and try to force an election.
Will Jack and Gilles play along?
And if you think the answer is yes, could you offer up some reasons as to why you think they would do so after their 'coalition leader' Iggy just threw them both under the political bus?
As most adulterers know, sometimes those old bed partners can come back to haunt you.
The love fest has already started.
From the comments:
"Ignatieff will turn 65 and get his pension before we see an election,
... oh no, wait, he can't get a pension, he's never worked in Canada ..."Thomas Mulcair NDP MP.
The latest addition to the NDP web site. "This is the first important public decision Mr. Ignatieff has made in his life. And what he decided to do is stick with Mr. Dion's unfortunate habit of voting for Stephen Harper. What you and I learned today is that we can't rely on Mr. Ignatieff to oppose Mr. Harper."
Update: A day later: NDP radio ads appear. Ad #1 Ad #2
That was fast. You might think that these were ready before the budget came out. Nahhh, that would make no sense.
* an arbitrary but perhaps realistic date.
Will Jack and Gilles play along?
And if you think the answer is yes, could you offer up some reasons as to why you think they would do so after their 'coalition leader' Iggy just threw them both under the political bus?
As most adulterers know, sometimes those old bed partners can come back to haunt you.
The love fest has already started.
From the comments:
"Ignatieff will turn 65 and get his pension before we see an election,
... oh no, wait, he can't get a pension, he's never worked in Canada ..."Thomas Mulcair NDP MP.
The latest addition to the NDP web site. "This is the first important public decision Mr. Ignatieff has made in his life. And what he decided to do is stick with Mr. Dion's unfortunate habit of voting for Stephen Harper. What you and I learned today is that we can't rely on Mr. Ignatieff to oppose Mr. Harper."
Update: A day later: NDP radio ads appear. Ad #1 Ad #2
That was fast. You might think that these were ready before the budget came out. Nahhh, that would make no sense.
* an arbitrary but perhaps realistic date.
A little Jack Layton spin for your enjoyment.
Jack Layton "In today's budget, he prioritized $60 billion in corporate tax cuts and only $1.15 billion for the unemployed,"
That is very interesting Jack because as part of your deal with the devils of the coalition you had already agreed to totally reverse your position and now would support the Liberal view on the proposed Conservative cut to corporate taxes and that they would remain unaltered in a coalition budget.
Funny how with the coalition idea slipping away to the trash heap of Canadian political history that he now tries to spin it differently.
Or maybe he knows something that the rest of us don't.
Speaking of spin. Does this look like the future NDP line of attack on Iggy and the Libs?
Jack Layton: "He has a choice to make. It's either to prop up the Harper government and allow it to continue in a fashion that is clearly wrong-headed, or to pursue the agenda laid out by the coalition, which would create jobs for the future and would transform our economy and would really protect the people who are suffering the most from the economic crisis."
Update: As I said, it happened and Jack is already going hard after Iggy. I will just put this quote here because Layton seems to want to now use the term coalition as a negative when up until this morning it was the greatest thing in the world. ""We have a new coalition now on Parliament Hill. It's a coalition between Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff," Mr. Layton told reporters.
This guy will say anything if he thinks it will benefit him.
That is very interesting Jack because as part of your deal with the devils of the coalition you had already agreed to totally reverse your position and now would support the Liberal view on the proposed Conservative cut to corporate taxes and that they would remain unaltered in a coalition budget.
Funny how with the coalition idea slipping away to the trash heap of Canadian political history that he now tries to spin it differently.
Or maybe he knows something that the rest of us don't.
Speaking of spin. Does this look like the future NDP line of attack on Iggy and the Libs?
Jack Layton: "He has a choice to make. It's either to prop up the Harper government and allow it to continue in a fashion that is clearly wrong-headed, or to pursue the agenda laid out by the coalition, which would create jobs for the future and would transform our economy and would really protect the people who are suffering the most from the economic crisis."
Update: As I said, it happened and Jack is already going hard after Iggy. I will just put this quote here because Layton seems to want to now use the term coalition as a negative when up until this morning it was the greatest thing in the world. ""We have a new coalition now on Parliament Hill. It's a coalition between Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff," Mr. Layton told reporters.
This guy will say anything if he thinks it will benefit him.
Pulling the rug out from under the coalition.
Heard any of these before?
Stephen Harper does not understand that he did not get a majority.
The Conservatives fail to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation.
He (Harper)was given a minority, and he refused to work with the other parties, he had 38% of the vote and he's trying to govern like he had 100% of the power, he's the one who's got democracy wrong, not us.
Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action.
The Conservatives chose partisan games based on ideological beliefs instead of considering the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.
The Conservatives must work with the other parties.
The Conservatives divisive measures that were making it hard for Parliament to work together .
Now tell me how a budget that does address the concerns of the coalition, is a real response to the current situation, is perhaps so non "conservative" or ideological that it is pissing off many so called conservatives, that the Government invited the other parties to participate in it's creation, is ready with cash immediately for the economy, is popular among the electorate, and is pretty much doing exactly the opposite of what the above quotes claim, could be voted against by the people who made the above statements?
It can't be, or at least it can't be honestly unless those above statements were just more of the same political rhetoric that we have seen so often in the past, and that Canadians are getting tired of reading about.
There has been plenty of talk about how the PM has abandoned the principles of conservatism, and that he should stick to his guns by not increasing spending etc. Fortunately those so called conservatives that are doing most of the criticizing are not the PM as this type of thing would be playing right into the hands of Layton and the coup crew who would be overjoyed if the PM were that stupid or that ideologically rigid. It would be spun as proving that the coalition is a good idea because the PM does not understand or care about Canadians and is not willing to make things work. They are not going to get that chance.
The opposition gets out foxed by Harper again and they have not yet figured it out.
The budget will pass, the coalition will be dead with the partners pointing fingers at one another in blame, good honest government will continue, and when an election eventually is called the proof of who compromised and was willing to make government work, and who was only playing political games will be even clearer than it was when the NDP/Bloc/Liberal hidden agenda was first revealed back in early December.
Stephen Harper does not understand that he did not get a majority.
The Conservatives fail to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation.
He (Harper)was given a minority, and he refused to work with the other parties, he had 38% of the vote and he's trying to govern like he had 100% of the power, he's the one who's got democracy wrong, not us.
Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action.
The Conservatives chose partisan games based on ideological beliefs instead of considering the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.
The Conservatives must work with the other parties.
The Conservatives divisive measures that were making it hard for Parliament to work together .
Now tell me how a budget that does address the concerns of the coalition, is a real response to the current situation, is perhaps so non "conservative" or ideological that it is pissing off many so called conservatives, that the Government invited the other parties to participate in it's creation, is ready with cash immediately for the economy, is popular among the electorate, and is pretty much doing exactly the opposite of what the above quotes claim, could be voted against by the people who made the above statements?
It can't be, or at least it can't be honestly unless those above statements were just more of the same political rhetoric that we have seen so often in the past, and that Canadians are getting tired of reading about.
There has been plenty of talk about how the PM has abandoned the principles of conservatism, and that he should stick to his guns by not increasing spending etc. Fortunately those so called conservatives that are doing most of the criticizing are not the PM as this type of thing would be playing right into the hands of Layton and the coup crew who would be overjoyed if the PM were that stupid or that ideologically rigid. It would be spun as proving that the coalition is a good idea because the PM does not understand or care about Canadians and is not willing to make things work. They are not going to get that chance.
The opposition gets out foxed by Harper again and they have not yet figured it out.
The budget will pass, the coalition will be dead with the partners pointing fingers at one another in blame, good honest government will continue, and when an election eventually is called the proof of who compromised and was willing to make government work, and who was only playing political games will be even clearer than it was when the NDP/Bloc/Liberal hidden agenda was first revealed back in early December.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Well Colour Me Surprised.
Jack Layton and coalition partner Gilles Duceppe say they will not support the budget.
In the mean time Iggy is trying to find more creative ways to have Liberal MP's sit on their hands.
In the mean time Iggy is trying to find more creative ways to have Liberal MP's sit on their hands.
Media Whore Alert # 32
The MSM seem to have found a new hobby. Find conservatives who disagrees with PM Harper (in particular those who are into self promotion in a big way) and give them some air time.
Anything to sell papers I guess.
Anything to sell papers I guess.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Caroline Kennedy out Kirsten Gillibrand in.
New York Gov. David Paterson has selected an NRA-endorsed moderate Democrat from Upstate New York Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the US Senate seat vacated by newly confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after Kennedy withdrew from consideration on Thursday. Source
Caroline Kennedy removed her from consideration for the U. S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton because of problems involving taxes and household employees, the New York Times reported, citing an unnamed "person close to Gov. David Paterson." Source.
Problems with taxes and household employees huh. If taxes are not going to be enough to stop this guy from getting in, I have to wonder just how bad those "problems" really are.
Caroline Kennedy removed her from consideration for the U. S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton because of problems involving taxes and household employees, the New York Times reported, citing an unnamed "person close to Gov. David Paterson." Source.
Problems with taxes and household employees huh. If taxes are not going to be enough to stop this guy from getting in, I have to wonder just how bad those "problems" really are.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama Redo
President Obama retakes the oath of office after his well publicized flub yesterday.
"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday," said White House Counsel Greg Craig.
"But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An exploratory committee for my bid to become leader of the LPC
In the spirit of democracy, and because no one else seems to want the job, I would like to announce the formation of an exploratory committee for my bid to become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Nothing is certain just yet, but if there is a certain level of support out there this might just turn out to be the beginning stage of what may become my bid to provide REAL change to the LPC.
Thank you for your support.
AA
3.
NOMINATION OF LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS
3.1
Qualifications. To be eligible for election as the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, a person must satisfy the requirements of subsection 55(1) of the National Constitution and, in addition, must at least 62 days before the day of the Leadership Vote, deliver to the National President or their designate care of the National Office:
Nothing is certain just yet, but if there is a certain level of support out there this might just turn out to be the beginning stage of what may become my bid to provide REAL change to the LPC.
Thank you for your support.
AA
3.
NOMINATION OF LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS
3.1
Qualifications. To be eligible for election as the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, a person must satisfy the requirements of subsection 55(1) of the National Constitution and, in addition, must at least 62 days before the day of the Leadership Vote, deliver to the National President or their designate care of the National Office:
Attention Media: Micheal Ignatieff is the "Interim Leader" .
Micheal Ignatieff is the interim leader of the Liberal Party. He is not the leader until he is ratified at the Liberal Party convention in May and there is still plenty of time for a new challenger to surface, an old one to step back into the ring, or even a revolt of the rank and file.
These are the facts. There is no guarantee that the well spoken Iggy will be anointed as the 'chosen one' at the convention; so why does the press almost always refer to him as the Liberal Leader and leave out the word "interim"?
Any ideas?
You might say that this is just what the press does, but before you do, ask yourself if they did the same thing for Bill Graham?
Hmmm, can't remember?
Well perhaps you might want to refresh your memory by doing the following: Go to CBC, CTV, or any of your other MSM outlets and do a search for Bill Graham stories from January to December 2006. Take note of the number of times he is referred to as the interim leader. Now repeat the same for Iggy over the last month. What did you find, and do you still think that the press have been treating both of these interim leaders the same?
These are the facts. There is no guarantee that the well spoken Iggy will be anointed as the 'chosen one' at the convention; so why does the press almost always refer to him as the Liberal Leader and leave out the word "interim"?
Any ideas?
You might say that this is just what the press does, but before you do, ask yourself if they did the same thing for Bill Graham?
Hmmm, can't remember?
Well perhaps you might want to refresh your memory by doing the following: Go to CBC, CTV, or any of your other MSM outlets and do a search for Bill Graham stories from January to December 2006. Take note of the number of times he is referred to as the interim leader. Now repeat the same for Iggy over the last month. What did you find, and do you still think that the press have been treating both of these interim leaders the same?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Save the Hollow Tree!
Sorry Kate, but I say we need to save Vancouver's famous Hollow Tree which stands (with much help) in Stanley Park.
It stands as a symbol for all things that would, or perhaps should, die a natural death if it were not for taxpayer* dollars being spent. After all, we do know more than mother nature about this kind of thing don't we?
* before someone jumps in to tell me that this is all going to be private money I would like to point out the matching grant from the Heritage Legacy Fund of BC which was funded by tax dollars, and such additional costs as the cost of about $100,000 to landscape around the site and restore the roadway curbing, as claimed by Stanley Park board staff.
-----
It stands as a symbol for all things that would, or perhaps should, die a natural death if it were not for taxpayer* dollars being spent. After all, we do know more than mother nature about this kind of thing don't we?
* before someone jumps in to tell me that this is all going to be private money I would like to point out the matching grant from the Heritage Legacy Fund of BC which was funded by tax dollars, and such additional costs as the cost of about $100,000 to landscape around the site and restore the roadway curbing, as claimed by Stanley Park board staff.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
MP Peter Stoffer and some common sense.
Someone is going to be in the NDP doghouse.
N.S. MP Peter Stoffer disagrees with his leader's stand on rejecting the upcoming federal budget sight unseen.
N.S. MP Peter Stoffer disagrees with his leader's stand on rejecting the upcoming federal budget sight unseen.
Stoffer told 'The Afternoon News" radio show host Tom Young, that his party should 'wait and see what is in the budget' before rejecting it sight unseen.
Stoffer indicated he would raise his concerns over Layton's stand at the NDP's caucus meeting next week.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Quebec Leans Conservative.
How else can you explain Ignatieff's alleged popularity in the Province of Quebec?
Friday, January 09, 2009
Ardvark Predicts the Future.
Sometime during the next election campaign Jack Layton will be in front of a microphone and he will say the following: "Michael Ignatieff is nothing more than Harper light".
And he will do so with that big annoying smile.
And he will do so with that big annoying smile.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Sorry for my absence.
Sorry for my absence, but I have been busy writing a book and did not want to disturb your Christmas.
Ht BLY
Ht BLY
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas from the Anthill
It has been one hell of a year and I would like to wish everyone, both political friends and foes, a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Al
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
You might want to check those credentials
From the Toronto Star: "He cited a letter by constitutional lawyers to the Montreal newspaper La Presse, saying that a "growing body of expert opinion suggests the Prime Minister may be violating the Constitution by making these appointments without the confidence of the House of Commons."
If ANY constitutional lawyer believes that the PM does not have the right to make these Senate appointments, they should either have their credentials reviewed and or be made to pee into a cup because they have no clue as to what they are talking about.
I do not have the time but does anyone out there have a copy of this letter with the names of these so called constitutional lawyers? Drop a link into the comments if you come across the info.
If ANY constitutional lawyer believes that the PM does not have the right to make these Senate appointments, they should either have their credentials reviewed and or be made to pee into a cup because they have no clue as to what they are talking about.
I do not have the time but does anyone out there have a copy of this letter with the names of these so called constitutional lawyers? Drop a link into the comments if you come across the info.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Screw GM, Ford, and Chrysler...
We need to bail out these guys. Come on Canada, lets save this Canadian institution.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Kingsford to the rescue.
I was out doing my Christmas shopping this afternoon, a few days early this year but that is another story, and as usual I had a few names on my list that were giving me some problems as to what to buy them. I had managed to find something for all of my friends and family members but could not find the right gift for some of the others on my list; the members of the proposed coalition.
So after wandering around aimlessly from store to store looking for that something special to jump out at me, I finally found the perfect gift to send to all of the members and supporters of the coalition*.
What could be a more perfect gift than coal for the coalition?
* all except for Bob Rae. I bought him some astroturf.
So after wandering around aimlessly from store to store looking for that something special to jump out at me, I finally found the perfect gift to send to all of the members and supporters of the coalition*.
What could be a more perfect gift than coal for the coalition?
Merry Christmas everyone.
* all except for Bob Rae. I bought him some astroturf.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Jack Layton to move into Stornoway as leader of the opposition.
An AWM exclusive: Don't call the movers yet Iggy.
Having had his plans of being in a coalition cabinet thwarted by newly anointed interim Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff; Jack Layton has made a deal with Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe that would have the NDP named as the official opposition with Layton as leader.
Similar to the failed tripartite coalition agreement the 2 parties are expected to approach the Speaker of the House of Commons with a letter of intent outlining their cooperation in forming the official opposition as their 2 parties combined have more seats than the now current official opposition Liberals.
An NDP insider said; "If Mr. Ignatieff will not honour the coalition agreement that he signed then we have no other choice but to do what Canadians have already strongly voiced with their votes in the last election." adding that "74% of Canadians voted against the Liberals being the official opposition and we are following along with the great traditions of our democracy by doing what the voters intended."
Our phone calls to the Liberal Party of Canada were not returned.
Having had his plans of being in a coalition cabinet thwarted by newly anointed interim Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff; Jack Layton has made a deal with Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe that would have the NDP named as the official opposition with Layton as leader.
Similar to the failed tripartite coalition agreement the 2 parties are expected to approach the Speaker of the House of Commons with a letter of intent outlining their cooperation in forming the official opposition as their 2 parties combined have more seats than the now current official opposition Liberals.
An NDP insider said; "If Mr. Ignatieff will not honour the coalition agreement that he signed then we have no other choice but to do what Canadians have already strongly voiced with their votes in the last election." adding that "74% of Canadians voted against the Liberals being the official opposition and we are following along with the great traditions of our democracy by doing what the voters intended."
Our phone calls to the Liberal Party of Canada were not returned.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
“A guy like Chrétien don’t like separatists very much, whoever they are.”
The words of former PM Jean Chretien, Nov 2007: “A guy like Chrétien don’t like separatists very much, whoever they are.”
Forget for a minute that he is eerily speaking in the third person and then think back to his role in negotiating the coalition involving the separatist Bloc Quebecois and contrast that to the above statement.
How very typical of a Liberal politician, say one thing and do another. He doesn't like separatists, even if that separatist is the Dalai Lama, but he is more that willing to overlook that and deal with Canadian separatists if that helps the Liberal Party of Canada fulfill its goal of power in this country no matter the cost.
Is anyone surprised?
Speaking of JC; it would seem that he forgot to destroy the photos of his meeting with the Dalai Lama before denying that he had met with him.
Again, is anyone really surprised?
Updated with related story links here, here, here, here, and this one comes courtesy of former Liberal MP David Kilgour , the last Liberal MP elected in Alberta.
Forget for a minute that he is eerily speaking in the third person and then think back to his role in negotiating the coalition involving the separatist Bloc Quebecois and contrast that to the above statement.
How very typical of a Liberal politician, say one thing and do another. He doesn't like separatists, even if that separatist is the Dalai Lama, but he is more that willing to overlook that and deal with Canadian separatists if that helps the Liberal Party of Canada fulfill its goal of power in this country no matter the cost.
Is anyone surprised?
Speaking of JC; it would seem that he forgot to destroy the photos of his meeting with the Dalai Lama before denying that he had met with him.
Again, is anyone really surprised?
Updated with related story links here, here, here, here, and this one comes courtesy of former Liberal MP David Kilgour , the last Liberal MP elected in Alberta.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Iggy's Favorites: Seating plan for the HoC.
Currently the seating plan for the front bench of official opposition reads like this from left to right: Kennedy, Dryden, Hall Findlay, Dion, Goodale, Brison, Bennett,Fry, Bevilacqua, Macaulay, Guarnieri, Volpe, Ignatifeff and Rae.
Aside from the obvious 2 changes of Dion and Iggy, what other changes do you see in store for the front bench of the Liberals in the House of Commons when they return in late January?
Turnabout is fair play so I would like to see Dion and Iggy just trade places myself because the vision of Rae and Dion sitting beside each other at the end of the front bench would bring joy to my heart this holiday season and would make for some good TV on CPAC.
My prediction*: Honestly I expect Dion to go about 3 rows back and sort of do a Paul Martin style disappearing act, and I do think that all of those currently sitting left of Dion, Kennedy, Dryden, and MHF , are going to be getting a different view of the HOC soon as Iggy does some shuffling of his front bench for January.
It should be fun seeing just what Ignatieff comes up with for both the seating plan and shadow cabinet roles under his helm.
Feel free to speculate in the comments.
Current Seating Plan PDF.
*Void if Iggy is dumb enough to go coalition. In that case Jack Layton can sit next to Dion.
Aside from the obvious 2 changes of Dion and Iggy, what other changes do you see in store for the front bench of the Liberals in the House of Commons when they return in late January?
Turnabout is fair play so I would like to see Dion and Iggy just trade places myself because the vision of Rae and Dion sitting beside each other at the end of the front bench would bring joy to my heart this holiday season and would make for some good TV on CPAC.
My prediction*: Honestly I expect Dion to go about 3 rows back and sort of do a Paul Martin style disappearing act, and I do think that all of those currently sitting left of Dion, Kennedy, Dryden, and MHF , are going to be getting a different view of the HOC soon as Iggy does some shuffling of his front bench for January.
It should be fun seeing just what Ignatieff comes up with for both the seating plan and shadow cabinet roles under his helm.
Feel free to speculate in the comments.
Current Seating Plan PDF.
*Void if Iggy is dumb enough to go coalition. In that case Jack Layton can sit next to Dion.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Scott Brison: Then and Now.
Scott Brison then:
"These gaffes are damaging to a leadership campaign but they will be terminal to a national general election campaign," Brison said in an interview.
However, Brison said that in nine years in politics he hasn't made as many "retractions and clarifications" as Ignatieff has made in just nine months.
"These gaffes are damaging to a leadership campaign but they will be terminal to a national general election campaign," Brison said in an interview.
However, Brison said that in nine years in politics he hasn't made as many "retractions and clarifications" as Ignatieff has made in just nine months.
Brison compared Ignatieff to Stockwell Day, who jumped from provincial politics to become leader of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance without any experience at the federal level.
Brison said Ignatieff is "smarter than Stockwell," now Harper's minister of public safety. But he added Ignatieff faces an even steeper learning curve, having spent almost 30 years out of the country as an academic and journalist.
Brison took Ignatieff to task for other recent so-called gaffes, including telling the Star that Canadians "live and operate in a heartless world and you need leadership that understands that."
"When you see the world as being heartless, that helps someone justify ruthless acts," such as Qana, Brison said.
He also chided Ignatieff for saying that Canada's peacekeeping tradition "died" with the genocide in Rwanda.
Brison said that remark could only come from someone who's spent 30 years outside the country and fails to appreciate how important peacekeeping is to Canadians and to Liberals in particular, who view party icon Lester Pearson as the father of peacekeeping.
He also scoffed at Ignatieff's recent admission that he's not sure he's "up to the price you have to pay" to succeed in politics.
"If you go in to have heart surgery and the surgeon says, `I think I'm ready to do this but I've never done it before,' you're probably going to look for a surgeon who's done it before," Brison said.
Scott Brison now: "Michael Ignatieff possesses an intellectual curiosity and thirst for ideas that will raise the level of debate both inside and outside the Liberal party."
Mr. Ignatieff's experiences as someone who knows the world make him uniquely qualified to strengthen Canada's role in the international community.
You can read the rest yourself here, or you can listen to a secret recording of the latest Liberal caucus meeting below.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Where is Gilles?
With the anointment of Ignatieff as the interim leader of the LPC and as he would become our PM if the tripartite coalition is successful in their underhanded bid to thwart the last election results ignoring the wishes of Canadians, I have to ask a question.
Where is Gilles Duceppe and why have we not heard his thoughts yet on the the selection of Iggy as interim leader of both the LPC and the coalition?
I can't see Gilles being too happy with this considering that Iggy has always had the support of the Liberals Quebec wing, but coalitions make strange bed fellows as we have seen over the last week or so.
So come on Gilles, it is time to go on the record about your new bed mate.
Where is Gilles Duceppe and why have we not heard his thoughts yet on the the selection of Iggy as interim leader of both the LPC and the coalition?
I can't see Gilles being too happy with this considering that Iggy has always had the support of the Liberals Quebec wing, but coalitions make strange bed fellows as we have seen over the last week or so.
So come on Gilles, it is time to go on the record about your new bed mate.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
We the undersigned....
We the undersigned having given our 100% caucus solidarity to Stephane Dion last week and having forced him to resign this week, should never be trusted again.
I am not sure if I would want a guy who does not understand simple directions to print his name as my PM.
----
The complete set of documents with all 77 signatures is available here.
---
I am not sure if I would want a guy who does not understand simple directions to print his name as my PM.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Dion resigns. Sorry no video available
Stephane Dion resigns with a caveat:
A small problem. Dion is not the leader, he has already stepped aside and is only the interim leader, so when he speaks of his successor being duly chosen is he talking about another interim leader or an actual leader? By caucus or a leadership convention, within the LPC constitution or by some other creative method?
It is all so confusing, but I have no doubt that not having video of this was a very purposeful move by the Liberal Party of Canada as they kick Stephane to the curb.
Adieu Stephane.
Statement by the Honourable Stéphane Dion
After the election on October 14 I announced I would stay on as Leader of the Liberal Party until my party could select my successor. One of my goals was to ensure an effective opposition to Stephen Harper’s government.
I believe that decision was the right one and I am proud of having forced Stephen Harper to back away from his attempt to force upon Canadians his most ideological and harmful plans in these tough economic times.
The alliance between the Liberal Party and the NDP to replace the Harper government, with the support of the Bloc Québécois, is a solid basis to give Canada a government that reflects both the aspirations of the majority of Canadians and the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. Such a government would be more stable than a minority Conservative government incapable of cooperating with opposition parties.
As the Governor General has granted a prorogation, it is a logical time for us Liberals to assess how we can best prepare our party to carry this fight forward.
There is a sense in the party, and certainly in the caucus, that given these new circumstances the new leader needs to be in place before the House resumes. I agree. I recommend this course to my party and caucus. As always, I want to do what is best for my country and my party, especially when Canadians’ jobs and pensions are at risk.
So I have decided to step aside as Leader of the Liberal Party effective as soon as my successor is duly chosen.
I will offer my unconditional and enthusiastic support to my successor in the same way I have always supported the leaders of our great party. I will work under the next leader’s direction with all my energy in order to give Canada a better government.
I wish to close by making it absolutely clear that my earlier departure does not change the facts of the situation that the Prime Minister has created in the last two weeks.
The Prime Minister and his government refused to lay out a plan to stimulate the economy. The Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister shut down Parliament to save his job while thousands of Canadians are losing theirs. The Prime Minister has poisoned the well of trust and respect that is necessary for a minority government to work in Parliament - especially in a time of crisis.
Mr. Harper took an economic crisis and added a parliamentary crisis that he then tried to transform into a national unity crisis: this is no way for a Prime Minister of Canada to act.
It is my hope that the decision I have announced today will enhance the capacity of Parliament to function effectively for the sake of Canadians in this economic crisis.
Stéphane Dion, PC, MP.A small problem. Dion is not the leader, he has already stepped aside and is only the interim leader, so when he speaks of his successor being duly chosen is he talking about another interim leader or an actual leader? By caucus or a leadership convention, within the LPC constitution or by some other creative method?
It is all so confusing, but I have no doubt that not having video of this was a very purposeful move by the Liberal Party of Canada as they kick Stephane to the curb.
Adieu Stephane.
Fun with advanced coalition math.
Class, simmer down. Today we are going to discuss coalition math.
The basic premise of coalition math = The Conservatives were elected with 38% of the vote therefore 62% of Canadians voted against them and the Prime Minister.
Forgetting the obvious that you do not vote against anyone but rather you vote for someone, lets look at the math in more detail.
CPC 38%
Lib 26%
NDP 18%
Bloc 10%
So 26 + 18 + 10 = 62
62? No it doesn't. It equals 54. What the hell?
Now why haven't I ever heard that number used by the coalition? Why is it always 64% ?
Time for recess while I check on my facts. Take 15 everyone.
This just in. The coalition expands to include the following political parties:
AAEV Party of Canada, CAP, Christian Heritage Party, Communist, FPNP, Green Party, Libertarian, Marxist-Leninist, neorhino, NL First Party, PC Party, PPP, Radical Marijuana, WBP, the Work Less Party, and all Independents.
That is going to be one ugly caucus meeting, but I am sure that all of those that cast votes for the above parties are 100% totally in favour of their votes for something being counted as if they were votes cast against something else.
Democracy and math, coalition style.
So now that we understand the insane logic behind the use of the 62% number by the coalition, lets apply the same logic to their own performance in the past election.
Liberal 74% against.
NDP 82% against.
Bloc 90% against.
So class if we use the same principles and logic that the coalition uses we can clearly see that
Sorry but that is all the time we have for today. Remember that next week you will have a guest instructor in my place.
A Mr. Broadbent will be coming in to instruct you on how to infiltrate and take over a political party without their knowledge. I am advised by Mr. Broadbent that you should read Chapter 1 "Get someone on the inside" before coming to class next week.
Class dismissed.
The basic premise of coalition math = The Conservatives were elected with 38% of the vote therefore 62% of Canadians voted against them and the Prime Minister.
Forgetting the obvious that you do not vote against anyone but rather you vote for someone, lets look at the math in more detail.
CPC 38%
Lib 26%
NDP 18%
Bloc 10%
So 26 + 18 + 10 = 62
62? No it doesn't. It equals 54. What the hell?
Now why haven't I ever heard that number used by the coalition? Why is it always 64% ?
Time for recess while I check on my facts. Take 15 everyone.
This just in. The coalition expands to include the following political parties:
AAEV Party of Canada, CAP, Christian Heritage Party, Communist, FPNP, Green Party, Libertarian, Marxist-Leninist, neorhino, NL First Party, PC Party, PPP, Radical Marijuana, WBP, the Work Less Party, and all Independents.
That is going to be one ugly caucus meeting, but I am sure that all of those that cast votes for the above parties are 100% totally in favour of their votes for something being counted as if they were votes cast against something else.
Democracy and math, coalition style.
---------------
So now that we understand the insane logic behind the use of the 62% number by the coalition, lets apply the same logic to their own performance in the past election.
Liberal 74% against.
NDP 82% against.
Bloc 90% against.
So class if we use the same principles and logic that the coalition uses we can clearly see that
246% of Canadians voted against the coalition.
Sorry but that is all the time we have for today. Remember that next week you will have a guest instructor in my place.
A Mr. Broadbent will be coming in to instruct you on how to infiltrate and take over a political party without their knowledge. I am advised by Mr. Broadbent that you should read Chapter 1 "Get someone on the inside" before coming to class next week.
Class dismissed.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
If it is good for the Canadian Goose it is good for the....
If it is good for the Canadian goose it should be good for the LPC gander.
If the Liberals wanted to impose the coalition on the country without a vote, why would one be surprised that they would want to appoint their new leader without a vote of Liberal members.
Too funny. Each and every argument against this is an argument against the coalition, but they are so upset at their own party that they have not made the comparison and figured it out yet.
Go Bob Go.
No, Go Iggy Go.
No, Draft Manley
No wait, Stay Stephane stay.
Yehaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Go liberal brain trust go.
Maybe they should just form a new party: The Backroom Deal Party of Canada.
Some Liberal opinions and some of them are not very happy about this.
What about Bob?
Wilson's comment here deserves mention: "How does it feel? Western Canadians feel your pain."
If the Liberals wanted to impose the coalition on the country without a vote, why would one be surprised that they would want to appoint their new leader without a vote of Liberal members.
Too funny. Each and every argument against this is an argument against the coalition, but they are so upset at their own party that they have not made the comparison and figured it out yet.
Go Bob Go.
No, Go Iggy Go.
No, Draft Manley
No wait, Stay Stephane stay.
Yehaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Go liberal brain trust go.
Maybe they should just form a new party: The Backroom Deal Party of Canada.
Some Liberal opinions and some of them are not very happy about this.
What about Bob?
Wilson's comment here deserves mention: "How does it feel? Western Canadians feel your pain."
Saturday, December 06, 2008
This time the Canadian Press has gone too far.
I know the MSM seem to lean towards Dion and his left wing buddies but this is ridiculous!
Edmonton's Rally for Canada
I just got back from the Rally for Canada Edmonton edition held today at the Alberta Legislature. It looks like the attendance was around 400 people. (397 against the coalition 3 for it)
Not a bad turnout considering the weather and the amount of snowfall we had overnight which has now turned to freezing rain that made the trek on the roads and sidewalk a bit of an adventure.
Good speeches, a very enthusiastic crowd including many who were not normally political but felt the need to come out in support of Canada, and some very creative signs were in amongst the crowd. Local MPs Tim Uppal, Brent Rathgeber, and Laurie Hawn were in attendance along with former MP Deborah Grey.
The 3 counter protesters were of the nasty sort and thought nothing of yelling down or cursing out anyone who questioned them. I was personally called a Nazi when I informed one of them that it was Her Excellency the Governor General that made the decision to shut down Parliament. I guess he must have been upset that his sign was wrong after spending an entire 5 minutes making it. Oh well.
Some pictures of the event to follow once I warm up and get them downloaded.
A couple of signs that I thought deserved mention.
Not a bad turnout considering the weather and the amount of snowfall we had overnight which has now turned to freezing rain that made the trek on the roads and sidewalk a bit of an adventure.
Good speeches, a very enthusiastic crowd including many who were not normally political but felt the need to come out in support of Canada, and some very creative signs were in amongst the crowd. Local MPs Tim Uppal, Brent Rathgeber, and Laurie Hawn were in attendance along with former MP Deborah Grey.
The 3 counter protesters were of the nasty sort and thought nothing of yelling down or cursing out anyone who questioned them. I was personally called a Nazi when I informed one of them that it was Her Excellency the Governor General that made the decision to shut down Parliament. I guess he must have been upset that his sign was wrong after spending an entire 5 minutes making it. Oh well.
Some pictures of the event to follow once I warm up and get them downloaded.
A couple of signs that I thought deserved mention.
I thought Dion said that he was going to concentrate on fundraising
Stephane Dion: "We have to bring our fund raising machinery into the 21st century, or the Liberal Party will be at a permanent political disadvantage. This work has to start now and must be successful in the coming months."
"I recently announced that my remaining time as Liberal Leader would be largely dedicated to fund raising,” said Mr. Dion.
I guess the fund raising was going so well that Stephane felt he had the time to form the most hated political movement this country has ever seen.
My cheque is in the mail and so are a few others.
Off to the rally for Canada. I hope to see you there.
"I recently announced that my remaining time as Liberal Leader would be largely dedicated to fund raising,” said Mr. Dion.
I guess the fund raising was going so well that Stephane felt he had the time to form the most hated political movement this country has ever seen.
My cheque is in the mail and so are a few others.
-----------------------------------
Off to the rally for Canada. I hope to see you there.
My challenge to the union leaders who are organizing the pro coalition rallies.
Poll your own members, all of them, and ask them if #1 they support this coalition idea, and #2 if they want their dues going towards this or any kind of political activities.
I cannot expect much from this challenge considering the unions are the ones organizing rallies in favor of an unelected change in our government, but it would be nice if they would show the balls to actually find out what the opinions are of those that they are well paid to represent before they run off and spend their members money on such folly.
I know, I know, it is too much to ask but it is getting close to (the seasons celebratory season*).
* I should say Christmas but it has been edited to suit the sensibilities of the far left and the unions of which they belong, oh and Quebec too. I hear from the MSM that they are very sensitive to almost anything said on any topic and you can't be too careful nowadays.
I cannot expect much from this challenge considering the unions are the ones organizing rallies in favor of an unelected change in our government, but it would be nice if they would show the balls to actually find out what the opinions are of those that they are well paid to represent before they run off and spend their members money on such folly.
I know, I know, it is too much to ask but it is getting close to (the seasons celebratory season*).
* I should say Christmas but it has been edited to suit the sensibilities of the far left and the unions of which they belong, oh and Quebec too. I hear from the MSM that they are very sensitive to almost anything said on any topic and you can't be too careful nowadays.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Watch out Iggy
Be careful Michael; because if this guy tosses his hat into the ring your are going to have a fight on your hands.
John Manley on dumping Dion and getting the Liberal Party back into fighting shape. With a good dose of common sense thrown in for the entire country.
John Manley on dumping Dion and getting the Liberal Party back into fighting shape. With a good dose of common sense thrown in for the entire country.
The coalitions last gasp
I would think with the polls coming out overwhelmingly against the coalition idea that this beast would be dead, but there seems to be a little hope left among the left that by getting rid of Dion and installing someone else as leader that there still might be a chance this could work.
Yes, because installing another temporary interim leader, who in the election 7 weeks ago received no votes or endorsement to lead us and was not even considered by voter for the roll of PM , would be enough to fool Canadians to change their minds.
Keep playing politics with this Liberals. After all it has worked so well for you up to this point.
Yes, because installing another temporary interim leader, who in the election 7 weeks ago received no votes or endorsement to lead us and was not even considered by voter for the roll of PM , would be enough to fool Canadians to change their minds.
Keep playing politics with this Liberals. After all it has worked so well for you up to this point.
Thanks Jack
Anyone remember this? It made it onto more than a couple of Liberal friendly websites. I wonder if they will make him a new one for his role in the coalition.
Jack will also be proud of this decision.
Jack will also be proud of this decision.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
You see Ma'am this is your problem right here.
You see Ma'am; this is your problem right here.
Just got rid of it, take about a year off and you should be good to go again.
Just got rid of it, take about a year off and you should be good to go again.
Caution: Do not get caught in the stampede...
of coalition supporters running away from the following query and offer of a generation*.
"If anyone can make a coherent argument as to why the rise of a coalition government was a grassroots victory and not a backroom political deal, I will give that person a unicorn. An honest-to-god unicorn." source
ht UA
Avoiding questions seems to be a common trait among New Liberal Bloc Party members.
Here are a few of my own:
When did Jack Layton first approach the Bloc?
" " the Libs?
When are we going to see your economic plans?
Why are you refusing to go back to the people of Canada before changing the direction of our current government led by the people who kicked Dion's ass?
When did Canada enter this recession I keep hearing about and why are you not waiting to see what the Obama administration does before going off half cocked screaming into the wilderness on the economy?
Why are you ignoring the parliamentary tradition of calling an election within 6 months?
Is it possible for Jack Layton to be PM in this coalition?
If you do not have the balls to go to an election on this why not make the confidence vote a free vote? ( My personal favorite)
A few more from CCT
and a few more from the National Post.
Feel free to ad more of your own questions for the coalition in the comments.
The Canadian people need answers before you get to, as your leader said in that messed up video, called our house.
* apologies to Paul Martin
"If anyone can make a coherent argument as to why the rise of a coalition government was a grassroots victory and not a backroom political deal, I will give that person a unicorn. An honest-to-god unicorn." source
ht UA
Avoiding questions seems to be a common trait among New Liberal Bloc Party members.
Here are a few of my own:
When did Jack Layton first approach the Bloc?
" " the Libs?
When are we going to see your economic plans?
Why are you refusing to go back to the people of Canada before changing the direction of our current government led by the people who kicked Dion's ass?
When did Canada enter this recession I keep hearing about and why are you not waiting to see what the Obama administration does before going off half cocked screaming into the wilderness on the economy?
Why are you ignoring the parliamentary tradition of calling an election within 6 months?
Is it possible for Jack Layton to be PM in this coalition?
If you do not have the balls to go to an election on this why not make the confidence vote a free vote? ( My personal favorite)
A few more from CCT
and a few more from the National Post.
Feel free to ad more of your own questions for the coalition in the comments.
The Canadian people need answers before you get to, as your leader said in that messed up video, called our house.
* apologies to Paul Martin
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Dion late for the show....
Stephane Dion was late for the show, looked kind of red faced, and seemed to be getting a couple of bucks for the bankrupt Liberal Party for the product placement of a book entitled, and I kid you not, "Hot Air".
(Updated with added pic of our future overlord and his in focus bookshelf.)
So what happened next?
Jack Layton, a guy who signed away any ability to be a spokesman for the coalition goes ahead and muscles in to have his say outshining his new boss Dion in the process, then he goes on by inviting the entire NDP caucus to drop by the GG house for some kind of meet and greet.
I wonder if the media will give Dion another do over and only show newer and yet to be delivered copies of that video in the future? Any wagers?
How bizarre. The coalition is already a cluster F*&$.
Where is the Kids in the Hall guy when you need him to squeeze Dion's giant head.
A couple of other things to get off my chest. First off Canada is NOT in a recession so all this bluster about a crisis is just that, bluster. Yes there will be tough times ahead but the polices of the present government have already made us better off than almost any other country in the world. We are in no immediate need of expensive measures to deal with a problem that has not hit us yet and before our rather large and powerful neighbor to the south changes their government and announces their plans. Doing things too early is just as bad as doing nothing at all. The fake claims of the immediacy of the crisis is just more socialist bullshit.
And if I hear one more time that the government does not have the confidence of the house I might just slap someone. They DO have the confidence of the house until a vote is taken and that vote has yet to be held. Sorry coalition, but you haven't won that vote yet and there are many many MP s out there that know that they are betting their political careers on this vote. It is by far not yet a done deal.
Pesky facts I know, but they are at the time of writing, the truth.
(Updated with added pic of our future overlord and his in focus bookshelf.)
So what happened next?
Jack Layton, a guy who signed away any ability to be a spokesman for the coalition goes ahead and muscles in to have his say outshining his new boss Dion in the process, then he goes on by inviting the entire NDP caucus to drop by the GG house for some kind of meet and greet.
I wonder if the media will give Dion another do over and only show newer and yet to be delivered copies of that video in the future? Any wagers?
How bizarre. The coalition is already a cluster F*&$.
Where is the Kids in the Hall guy when you need him to squeeze Dion's giant head.
A couple of other things to get off my chest. First off Canada is NOT in a recession so all this bluster about a crisis is just that, bluster. Yes there will be tough times ahead but the polices of the present government have already made us better off than almost any other country in the world. We are in no immediate need of expensive measures to deal with a problem that has not hit us yet and before our rather large and powerful neighbor to the south changes their government and announces their plans. Doing things too early is just as bad as doing nothing at all. The fake claims of the immediacy of the crisis is just more socialist bullshit.
And if I hear one more time that the government does not have the confidence of the house I might just slap someone. They DO have the confidence of the house until a vote is taken and that vote has yet to be held. Sorry coalition, but you haven't won that vote yet and there are many many MP s out there that know that they are betting their political careers on this vote. It is by far not yet a done deal.
Pesky facts I know, but they are at the time of writing, the truth.
Speaking of Parliamentary Tradition....
There is a lot of yapping that is coming from the other side about parliamentary tradition and what not in their power hungry attempt to unethically take control of the Government of Canada until mid 2011, but the left conveniently seem to have forgotten about one parliamentary tradition when doing so.
Our parliamentary tradition is that newly appointed Prime Ministers seek electoral sanction within six months. Louis St. Laurent, the former Liberal Prime Minister, holds the record for the longest period between his appointment (November 15, 1948) and his election (June 27th, 1949) but at least his party already had the endorsement of Canadian voters.(NP)
So how does this tradition fit in with the tripartite pact signed by Dion, Duceppe, and Layton?
I await your spin.
Our parliamentary tradition is that newly appointed Prime Ministers seek electoral sanction within six months. Louis St. Laurent, the former Liberal Prime Minister, holds the record for the longest period between his appointment (November 15, 1948) and his election (June 27th, 1949) but at least his party already had the endorsement of Canadian voters.(NP)
So how does this tradition fit in with the tripartite pact signed by Dion, Duceppe, and Layton?
I await your spin.
Justin Trudeau Papa would be so proud.
It kind of speaks for itself.
Courtesy of ParlVu and CTV. Thank you for keeping Canadians informed.
My apologies for the bad sound on certain parts of the clip.
Fight the New Liberal Bloc Party Coalition.
Courtesy of ParlVu and CTV. Thank you for keeping Canadians informed.
My apologies for the bad sound on certain parts of the clip.
Fight the New Liberal Bloc Party Coalition.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
What can the Liberals really expect to gain from the coalition?
Other than a backdoor chance at a return to power, I got nothing. Anyone?
Update link dumps: all thing coup.
adding links for posterity: Original story BTF Another BTF .
Ipsos and Compass Ekos Leger PTBC poll roundup.
Joanne has rally mania.
Update link dumps: all thing coup.
adding links for posterity: Original story BTF Another BTF .
Ipsos and Compass Ekos Leger PTBC poll roundup.
Joanne has rally mania.
Hey, this option is legal too.
The confidence vote happens and the Government loses. Dion starts to hear from upset people all across Canada and after being pushed by frightened leadership candidates he begins to realize that the coalition may not be that great of an idea and backs away.
Layton infuriated by this goes to the GG with Gilles Duceppe and offers up a NDP/Bloc coalition be allowed to form government with Gilles Duceppe as PM since the Bloc has more seats than the NDP.
The GG appoints the duly elected MP from Laurier—Sainte-Marie as PM.
As pointed out by coalition trolls everywhere this scenario would not only be legal & would fit with parliamentary tradition, it would also be the correct thing for the GG to do, and opposing it would make you undemocratic.
Think about that for awhile the next time a coalition troll or party pundit is making the case for this coalition that does not have the balls to put their unholy alliance to a vote before the Canadian people.
BTW, it will be these same 'if it's legal' eagles to be the first to scream if PM Stephen Harper exercises his legal authority and fills the empty seats in the Senate.
Layton infuriated by this goes to the GG with Gilles Duceppe and offers up a NDP/Bloc coalition be allowed to form government with Gilles Duceppe as PM since the Bloc has more seats than the NDP.
The GG appoints the duly elected MP from Laurier—Sainte-Marie as PM.
As pointed out by coalition trolls everywhere this scenario would not only be legal & would fit with parliamentary tradition, it would also be the correct thing for the GG to do, and opposing it would make you undemocratic.
Think about that for awhile the next time a coalition troll or party pundit is making the case for this coalition that does not have the balls to put their unholy alliance to a vote before the Canadian people.
BTW, it will be these same 'if it's legal' eagles to be the first to scream if PM Stephen Harper exercises his legal authority and fills the empty seats in the Senate.
Any takers on whether or not the next election will get out more than 59% of the voters?
The election 7 weeks ago had the lowest voter turnout in Canadian electoral history with just 59.1% of the electorate turning up to cast their ballot.
Any takers on whether or not the next election will get out more than 59% of the voters?
I am placing my wager on the affirmative.
The unholy coalition with all of their bluster have just woken up this country's many complacent slumbering conservatives and changed the minds of many more Canadians who would not normally vote conservative to do so in the next election.
The fools have no idea what they have actually done.
Any takers on whether or not the next election will get out more than 59% of the voters?
I am placing my wager on the affirmative.
The unholy coalition with all of their bluster have just woken up this country's many complacent slumbering conservatives and changed the minds of many more Canadians who would not normally vote conservative to do so in the next election.
The fools have no idea what they have actually done.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Bob Rae files his papers and is officially in the race for PM.
Link:
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - "Bob Rae has officially entered the race to replace Liberal Leader Stephane Dion."
Let the speculation begin.
To myself it is looking like we are now witnessing a merger of the 'so called' left of Canadian politics.
One question though. If Jack Layton figures this highjack of the Canadian Government will last for 2 years or more, and the LPC leadership convention is in March. Does Layton and the NDP now have some influence on who the LPC choose as leader (and possibly PM) ?
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