Stephen Harper is still in Contempt this #elxn41

I believe election campaigns should be fought on the issues. I believe that during an election campaign all our political leaders are obligated to engage Canada's electorate. I believe that leaders who are asking for our vote are duty bound to honestly tell us where they plan to take our country.

I believe any political leader who consciously tries to downplay and/or avoid the scrutiny of voters during an election campaign is doing democracy a disservice. Moreover, I believe any leader who attempts to limit public access to his events during a campaign is in contempt of our electoral process and, in effect, thumbing his nose at us.

I believe Stephen Harper's "one-trick pony" fear-mongering coalition message has become tiresome. I also believe he has intentionally avoided giving Canadian voters the straight goods on his party's long-term fiscal plans for our country. I believe his unending efforts to try to frighten we voters into giving him a majority- or else - once again demonstrates his utter contempt for both his opponents and our political system. I believe Stephen Harper is unworthy of a parliamentary majority. And I firmly believe it is in Canada's best interests if we hand he and his party a defeat on May 2nd.

Post Debate - Harper diminishes us still

Okay, I'll admit I was disappointed to see Stephen Harper perform semi-competently during last night's election debate. Clearly, his pre-debate prep must have included the meme: ape the calm automaton and you'll present a believable banality that keeps your base happy and will not not send centrist voters running & screaming into the arms of the Liberals. And so he did. But he still lied.

He lied when he stated the choice in this election is all about the economy. Of course, this election is partly about the economy; but mostly it is about his abject CONTEMPT for our democracy and its institutions. He lied again when he accused the opposition of triggering an "unnecessary election". This election is necessary. Now more than ever.

This election is necessary because when we exercise our collective democratic right to pronounce a decision on Mr. Harper on May 2nd, it will inform who we are and what we value. And should we misstep that fateful day, it will see us fundamentally alter our society in a way that diminishes us all as a people. Bottom line, if Harper achieves his much sought after majority on May 2nd, our future will be bleaker. Unencumbered by any real checks and balances on his power, we'll see a man already found guilty of not respecting our institutions take us down a dark path bound to weaken our country, deprive us of fairness, and lessen our freedoms. A Harper majority will, in short, lead to disaster.

So to those of you who thought Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party of Canada performed "okay" in last night's debate, you're right. He did "okay". But "okay" is not good enough... for he still sat there before us and lied.

For me in this election it's not about a one-off debate performance. It's about the principles and values of the different players who are asking for our trust. It's about the merits of their respective visions for our future possibilities. It's about their commitment to us as a people AND how they believe our polity should function.

This election is about what the candidates are are offering Canadians. Will they bring out the best in us? It's not about taking a path borne of cynical calculation and contrived memes. Rather, its about us having the courage to choose a path that balances the needs of the many with the avarice of the few and, a path, that is committed to protecting our rights, laws, freedoms, and the integrity of our institutions. It's about taking a path Stephen Harper is not offering each and every time he stands before us and lies about why we are having this election. We are having this election because it is needed to combat his CONTEMPT. We are having this election to pronounce our judgment on a man who think us fools and who really believes we're willing to overlook his lack of integrity. We are having this election because, frankly, there has to be a better way to run this country called Canada!

Yellowstain Harper: A liar worthy of Contempt!

Harper will try to tell you his government fell on a budget that was never debated. He will try to tell you that there is a conspiracy afoot to unseat him. He will try to tell you that Jets, Jails, & corporate tax cuts are what you need. He will tell you, after challenging his main opponent to a 1:1 debate, that he's yellowstaining it because that “train has left the station”. He will tell you he knew nothing of his top political adviser's criminal past. He will tell you he knows nothing of why his Conservative campaign is doing background checks on attendees and forcibly removing some of them from his appearances. He will tell you his plan to keep the $6BILLION in Canadian Corporate tax cuts are good for you and your family. He, in short, will tell you anything! AND he will be lying! It's all lies... Stephen "Yellowstain" Harper is quite simply a LIAR! Proof? See here:

Corporate tax cuts don't spur growth, analysis reveals as election pledges fly

Already deemed to be in CONTEMPT of our democracy by the MAJORITY of our duly elected parliamentarians, Stephen Harper has no shame, he simply continues his streak... he is, quite simply, a contemptuous LIAR!


[photo courtesy of Globe & Mail]

Stephen Harper says: "Hey, what the fuck you guys! You know I don't answer questions."

(i.e. "What you talking about Willis?")

Shelly Glover's gaffe and her ensuing lies about Anita Neville's voting record

Conservative Shelly Glover is prone to gaffes and tripping herself up. Yesterday she accused Winnipeg South Centre Liberal MP Anita Neville of being too old to do the job. Of being past her "expiry date". Rightly her comments were viewed as ageist. Today, panicked, Glover was in full frontal damage control mode. Yet, rather than apologizing, she then tried to explain away her face-planting gaffe by lying about Anita Neville's voting record.

Yep, that's what she did. You see, rather than admit her remarks were wrong, Glover opted instead to flat out lie about another Honourable Member's parliamentary voting record. Professing she never meant to "insult" senior citizens across this land, silly Shelly then said that all she really had meant to do was "remind" seniors: "that Ms. Neville just voted to oppose the Conservative Government’s plan to increase [Guaranteed Income Supplement] payments to the most vulnerable, lowest income seniors in Canada..." Problem is, Glover's new assertion is patently false!

Ms. Neville never did any such thing. The legislation that Glover refers to was contained in the bogus Tory Budget 2011 which, as CBC pointed out, was never brought up for debate and/or voted upon. Why? Because Glover and her party were found to be in CONTEMPT of Parliament. So tell me Ms. Glover, hours before your petulant and power-hungry leader is scheduled to set down here in Winnipeg: Do you stand by this lie?

Sorry... I can't hear you. "Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?..."

[photo courtesy of ChrisD.ca]

Harper continues to Abuse Government of Canada Websites: Tory Platform aka "Budget 2011" gets a free ride at taxpayer expense

First go see the official Government of Canada Finance website. See how prominently the Tory election platform is displayed? No surprise really. After all what would you expect of serial abusers like Harpo & Co who believe, in their heart of hearts, that the public purse is there to be raped for partisan purposes. See here also.

Fact is "No Confidence" Harpo and his band of contemptuous usurpers will leave this free advertising up for as long as they can get away with it. In my calls to members of the Public Service at the Finance Department today it was acknowledged that "somebody had brought this up this morning" - but as of yet they have had no clear directive to take the shameless partisan items down. They are awaiting guidance. Needless to say, Flaherty's minions at Finance will wait until the last possible moment to abide by the law before making a change.

Following my conversation with a poor and clearly besieged conscientious public servant (whose tone, if not words, conveyed awareness that this abuse is not proper), I then phoned CBC "Power & Politics" to convey my concern. A nice gent named Greg took my message and promised to forward it on... well let's see what Evan Solomon and Co. do with it today. Or like so many other blatant examples of the "Harper Government" abuses of Government of Canada websites will it fall through the cracks of the election cycle spin?

Bottom line, Harpo & Co. know this is wrong. The "Budget 2011" was never debated, it was never passed and it is NOT Canadian Government policy... why? Because his government was found in CONTEMPT for this very sort of behaviour. Enough is enough, no more taxpayer dollars for their partisan agenda.

Bruinooge Watch pt.1: Bill C-393, "Odd-Rocket" Rod Bruinooge fails to vote to help those suffering from AIDS?

So what is the true story behind why my Conservative MP in Winnipeg South, "Rocket Rod" (aka "Odd-Rod") Bruinooge was unable to cast any vote whatsoever on bill C-393 ("An Act to amend the Patent Act drugs for international humanitarian purposes...")?

On both the 2nd reading of Bill C-393 and again on the final and 3rd reading just two weeks ago on March 9th, he was curiously mute. Hmm. Very curious. Even more so because it's not like he was a "paired vote". Further, if I am correct, he was not in any committee meetings anywhere on the Hill. The simple fact is he simply (very, very simply), didn't bother to vote at all. Hmm.

Curiouser still because I know that on March 9th he was present both on the Hill and in the House. Even odder because when I phoned his parliamentary office earlier this month, a member of his staff went out of their way to remind me that Odd-Rod is not the kind of MP who ever "misses a vote" - ergo, given my call occurred on March 9th ... his not voting on C-393 that very same day is indeed very strange stuff.

So what's up?

Could it be that Bruinooge knew all along he would not have to go on the record on bill C-393? Could it be he knew it would be killed in the Harper-Government controlled Senate on orders from the most mindless minuscule and weaselly wonders of Harpoism - Minister Tony Clement? Did Bruinooge know in advance (on March 9th?) that the hapless grinning aping chimp that is Industry Minister Tony Clement would be tasking Harpo's hand-picked partisan Senators with goosestepping marching orders to NOT let bill C-393 pass the Upper Chamber before the anticipated, ugly, and rightful demise of Canada's 40th Parliament?

Did Bruinooge know, in effect, the Tories had planned all along to leave the bill in an aborted stage on the Senate floor?

Or, alternatively (and/or concurrently) could it be that Bruinooge (much like Montreal's Tory Senator Larry Smith) had already been approached by Big Pharma here and told to either vote no and let them keep maximizing their obscene profits because of our flawed drug patent laws - or to simply (again very simply) stay away altogether? Hmm? Why wouldn't Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge cast any vote at all on a bill designed to improve access to life saving drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa?

What are his true reasons for missing both C-393 votes?
Did he know something we didn't?

Stay tuned.

"IN CONTEMPT!" - HARPER GOVERNMENT OF CANADA reaches new heights

Canadian Opposition parties find Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government "IN CONTEMPT". The important thing here to remember is that our duly elected federal representatives (who garnered 64% of all federal votes cast in 2008) have found the MINORITY HARPER GOVERNMENT in contempt of OUR Parliament. After all the prorogues, all the lies, all the abuses, and all of the misuses of authority exhibited by the HARPER GOVERNMENT these past five years - it's about time!

In Canada, it takes a Cowboy like Jason Kenny to lead the "Very Ethnic"!

The only thing missing in this pic is the six-shooter Cowboy Kenny plans to use for electoral "target" practice on the "Very Ethnic" voters. Err... that and any sign of "very ethnic" Ukrainians from Winnipeg's Elmwood riding!