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.

#elxn41's "Other Quebec": A Conservative Disneyland

In the past 36 hours, much ado is being made over the legitimacy of the French language debate. Many say it was unnecessary. Among them a majority of those who constitute Stephen Harper's English Canadian base. Dismissing the second debate as a flawed exercise, they assert it reeked of overindulgence by placing an unwarranted focus on a "biased" province. They are wrong of course. Just as they are wrong about why Canada's "other Quebec" should be allowed to retain its own special status during this #elxn41. A privileged status that will see it's political culture emerge unscathed, unchanged, and quite possibly the most powerful political force in Canada after May 2nd.

Wedged between a more populous province to its west and some relatively insignificant provinces to its east (at least in terms of population and economic output), this "other Quebec", this monolith, is failing the rest of us. Having no desire to have other Canadians examine the true power and influence they wield over the Harper regime, this province's current federal incumbents are doing everything possible to avoid the media. A province with a tradition of ideological bloc voting that revels in its own political distinctiveness - it's leaders believe they are "right" to avoid the current electoral fray that is #elxn41.

Curiously, they are correct. For despite their abject blind allegiance to Stephen Harper, the power-brokers in this "other Quebec" really are relatively immune from any criticism on the national stage. The rest of the country, and our national media, just takes them for granted and lets them be. Comforted by this knowledge, they can and will continue to deliver the goods for Stephen Harper on election day. They are also sitting pretty because they know they are the absolute key to any hope that Stephen Harper has of forming a majority government. And, because of this, the province's current crop of MP's also know that, should Stephen Harper get his majority on May 2nd, they will, in turn, get everything they want from the federal government. All without having their values or their disproportionate sway over our national economy questioned. A sweet deal really, especially when you consider that all that is being asked of the "other Quebec's" MP's by Harper is to just: "Keep your frigging heads down... until May 3rd."

I am speaking, of course of Alberta. "Welcome to [the real] Conservative Disneyland"!

Discuss.

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.2: Silent "Odd" Rod and the cancellation of the 2012 World indigenous Games

Rod Bruinooge is nothing if not tight-lipped when it comes to the abject failure of Harper's Conservative Party to stand up for aboriginal people.

According to the Winnipeg Sun, the Harper Government's refusal "to match a $3.5 million commitment" by Manitoba to support Winnipeg's hosting of the inaugural 2012 World Indigenous Games has led to the event's cancellation. As an event organizer said, "the wheels fell off" when Harper's Conservatives failed to support the initiative and now this "lack of federal support means Canada might not be the place to host the first games." Typical! Bloody typical!

Rod Bruinooge's Con Party can find $30+ BILLION for jets we don't need - but they refused to cough up a measly 1% of that amount to ensure Winnipeg could host a "United Nations and the International Olympic Committee" sanctioned event that would have brought "more than 3,000 participants from across the globe to Manitoba and generated an estimated $50 million in economic activity." Moreover, aside from highlighting aboriginal culture & sport, the event would also have provided a much needed positive example to our aboriginal youth here in Manitoba. But no, Rod Bruinooge's CON Party didn't see it that way - they are too focused on jets and jails to give a rat's ass about our aboriginal youth, their potential, or our city!

And here in South Winnipeg, Odd-Rod stays silent still... what else is new?

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.

Jack Layton says NO - Canada is to have a federal election ASAP!

"And therefore New Democrats will NOT support the budget as presented." - Jack Layton at 3:44pm CST on CBC radio here in Winnipeg.

So Harpo & Co. here ya go... an election we do have. Good riddance to ya!

Now, if only both the NDP and Liberal opposition parties can keep their eye on the ball and not become distracted by petty things. Gentlemen (and ladies) start your engines!

"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!

Globe & Mail reports: "Harper’s top aide being linked to in-and-out scandal"

Read and wonder... is this the kind of accountability he promised us?

Anyone remember February 2006? "Canada's next prime minister said his first act in Parliament will be to propose a federal accountability act." HA! What a joke that turned out to be.

Five years on, and too many scandals to mention, it is clear to all rational Canadians with ears and/or eyes that Harpo's words and actions are as cheap, tawdry, and empty as a whore's promise of love when the money (i.e. the vote) is the issue. His faux commitment to transparency is, like everything else about the man, notable only for its absence. With no heart and no shame ... all that he covets is political gain. Fuck him, let's tell him his run is done!

A worthy read: Andrew Wherry on Harper

Here's but a tidbit from Andrew Wherry's recent piece at MacLeans on he who has renamed OUR Canadian Government after himself, ... it's worth a full read!

"The man who once said there wouldn’t be a recession now congratulates himself for having seen the country through the downturn. The man who once said he’d never run a deficit now says he’s the only one who can be trusted to get us out of the red. The man who once derided Canada now campaigns on his love of country and loudly questions the patriotism of all others. The man who once predicted that the Liberals would lose power when a coalition overtook them and who then joined with the leaders of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP to ask that the Governor General consider her “options” before allowing the Liberal minority government of the day to dissolve Parliament, now says “losers” don’t get to form government."

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!

Editing a Globe & Mail story: NEW TITLE - Hush money paid to Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet by the HARPER GOVERNMENT!

"The [DISGRACED] former public sector integrity commissioner ... walked away with a half million dollars – and a promise to keep her mouth shut ....

Although she was the person in charge of fielding complaints from federal whistleblowers – an office that demands an arm’s length relationship with the government – ... she had tried to meet with Treasury Board President Stockwell Day and did meet with his predecessor, [CONVICTED IN & OUT EXPERT] Vic Toews. .... And she exchanged emails with officials in the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic arm of the Prime Minister's Office, about [HOW TO HIDE] some allegations of [CONSERVATIVE] wrongdoing."

New Canadian law to seize the assets of "Dictators" may backfire on Stephen Harper!

"In some circumstances, the new law would give the government broad powers that will make it easier to freeze the assets of any ousted dictator, ..." No word yet if the new law will also apply to Canada's corrupt dictator, Stephen Harper, when his day of reckoning arrives. Stay tuned.

Unlike Canada's Prime Minister - here's a PM with BALLS!

While I may not agree with the British PM's politics... I gotta say the man has balls. Mere days after the Egyptian uprising and the ouster of the authoritarian Mubarak, British PM David Cameron has boldly (and maybe even wrongly?) decided to ally himself with the current caretakers of the Egyptian people.

Though the hybrid civilian and military command now running Egypt faces many perils, and is possibly in danger of taking missteps between now and the scheduled fall elections in Egypt, British PM Cameron has nevertheless decided to demonstrate solidarity with their cause and mission.

Can any Canadian imagine our hapless hopeless Harper ever demonstrating the same kind of gravitas? Can any of us here in Canada imagine our PM actually committing himself so wholly and completely to a process still in flux and potentially fraught with so many political downsides? Can anyone (any Canadian?) imagine our Prime Minister ever displaying a pair of balls like British PM David Cameron has just done?

The short answer is: NO!

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper simply does not have the balls, the testicular fortitude, or the gonadal gravitas to ever take a chance like this; he is simply too weak. He is, sadly, an "international leader" without credibility.

The post-revolutionary game in Egypt is not for the weak of heart who pander but never lead. It is not for the mimics who cannot see that aping other leaders and then parroting pablum on the global stage is not leadership. Frankly, it is not for men like Stephen Harper. He hasn't got the timber, the time, and/or the convictions to be taken seriously by anyone outside this country. In short, Harper's international Cannon is too weak... a mere pop-gun.

Stephen Harper is too selfish to ever take a chance like David Cameron. And he is too gutless to ever act on a point of principle that would open him up to criticism! As a "world leader" he is nothing but a disgraceful pantywaist, a man who has no business sharing the stage with real men and women of substance! Stephen Harper is a Foreign Affairs failure who only "kisses" when its safe and never "tells" it like it is. Stephen Harper is weak.

The Oda Odor begets yet another alternate Tory reality sideshow.

Faced with the fact that Oda's lying version of events over the Kairos affair has set off Canada's collective bullshit meter, Stephen Harper is at it again. With Harpo & Co's current PC Minister of Misremembering (Bev Oda) seemingly truth challenged the PMO has decided to invoke Rule#1 from the PC Emergency Political Playbook (aka PEPP).

For those of you unclear on Harpo & Co.'s PEPP Rule#1, it reads:

"Should our government or any of our amoral minions be caught in the act of deceiving the Canadian public:

a.) it shall be the official policy of this PMO to immediately employ all the obfuscating ideological trained spin-monkeys at our disposal to invent a faux alternate reality to explain away why the facts don't matter.

b.) This new gospel, this narrative of nonsense if you will, is to then be distributed to all our sitting turnips, ... err... that is, to our Ministers of the Crown and the Cockus.

c.) Said PC turnips, sycophants, yes-men, and assorted mimics are then to spread out like a pathogen across the land and throughout the media-sphere to endlessly and shamelessly champion the new talking points. The new gospel is to be disseminated to ALL.

d.) Internal questions as to the veracity of the new narrative will not be entertained, and any effort to apply logic and/or integrity to this process is strictly VERBOTEN!"

Given today's news in the Montreal Gazette it would seem the rule is in play. The PC spin wizards are again trying to baffle us with bullshit - "Operation Oda: To sanitize, deodorize, and minimize" has indeed begun!

Really, were we to expect anything better from Harpo & Co.? Sadly, the answer is no.

5 Stupidest Things I Have Read Today - pt.1

Okay, here goes... a listing of the 5 stupidest things I have read today. Enjoy.

1. - "In oral cultures, the most significant historical information is found in oral sources, particularly stories."
* MacKinley Darlington, "Captain Death Strikes Again: Tuberculosis and the Stó:lõ 1871-1907", (MA Thesis: University of Saskatchewan), 2010. p.3

2. -"World-class news commentary from the most authoritative news source in Canada" * Globe & Mail's banal banner boast on their "Commentary" section webpage (devoid of hubris)

3.- "If Prime Minister Stephen Harper had the oratorical style of a Barack Obama, the nuanced elegance of a Pierre Trudeau, or the fire of a John Diefenbaker, his speech last week on anti-Semitism and Israel would be put on a pedestal." *Toronto Star, Nov. 15, 2010 (editorial)"Stephen Harper is exactly right on Israel" - UTTER BULLSHIT!

4.- "Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 31, 2010 – Premier Greg Selinger and Mayor Sam Katz today joined Ken Hildahl, Chair, Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Football Club, David Asper, Executive Chairman of Creswin Properties Inc. and University of Manitoba President, Dr. David Barnard to announce a plan to accelerate construction of a new community-owned football stadium at the University of Manitoba. ... Beginning this summer, Creswin will construct the $115 million facility with an opening in time for the 2012 CFL and Bison football seasons" *Government of Manitoba News Release - Jesus, that's always good for a laugh!

5.- "Harper said his government's budget forecasts are ... already forecasting modest economic growth in the years ahead." *Vancouver Sun, Nov. 15, 2010, "Global trade imbalance serious, but not an urgent issue, PM says" - "already"?

A Post-Easter Resurrection: Fat Arse is Back!

Sometimes self-imposed prorogues are healthy(?)
Don't ask where I've been... it's enough to know that I am back.
Too bad I've returned to find our governing party still rife with the same hypocrisy we have all come to expect of the "open and accountable" charade that is Harpo & Co.