Sister Sage's Musings

Posts Tagged ‘Liberal Derangement Syndrome’

Not Hot: Jane Taber

Let me get this straight; in the world according to Jane Taber, Tony Clement who looks & talks like the Adams Family butler is hot? I had to read this twice. Even Jane can’t be this much of a cheerleader for the Harpercons, especially not for this flunkie.

Feeling all alone in his defence of the government’s decision to scrap the long-form census, the Industry Minister moved this week to mitigate some of the outrage by including language-related questions in the compulsory short-form census. He also announced the government would drop jail time as a punishment for not complying with the mandatory aspect of the census.

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Mr. Clement talked about the fall-out from the controversy: “I would have preferred to have spent my summer a bit more quietly. In politics as you know, you take the adversity as well the good stuff. Right?”

Mr. Clement also talked about the media coverage: “I am not responsible for creating headlines. I am not responsible for how things are reported. But I did say and I still say Statscan gave us some options to mitigate the risks and we chose one of those options. That’s factually true.”

Are you also feeling all alone, Jane? Is Lurch’s missing link that great company?

Oh and Jane, the Harpercons were offered compromises to take the threat of jail out of the equation by the opposition. Guessed you all musta missed that one. Not to mention, the threat of jail is still lurking for those who don’t fill the short form or the agricultural census form. After all, how else are they going to fill those big-assed super private prisons?  Unreported criminals  simply won’t do.

Oh, boys n’ girls, it gets funnier:  Jane thinks the Parliamentary Press Gallery is Not hot because wingnut  radio talk host Dave Rutherford attacked them for being to “liberally biased”.

“We’ve seen the census coverage. We’ve seen some of the commentators – the columnists in Ottawa, Toronto – just hyperventilating about this ridiculous census story and they’re all saying almost exactly the same thing. Very interesting.”

And this is why the Parliamentary press gallery ain’t so hot? Because Dave Rutherford’s feeble lack of originality like most Harpercon media hacks?  Or was it simply because Taber was not invited to the parliamentary press gallery’s reindeer games?

Another thing our pal Jane Taber doesn’t think is quite so hot is Stevie spiteful’s polling numbers going on a downward spiral. And the Blogging SupposiTories think she’s a liberal shill?? Nuff said.

Oh and apparently, what is hot in her books is that Ol’ Jimbo Flaherty and Porky Puffy Duffy are out spending on what is, no doubt, useless to most Canadians and spreading the gospel according to King Stevie along with other Harpercons scurrying about with their pork barreling.

Yes, an epidemic is coming back with a fury, I tell you! Liberal Derangement syndrome is back!

Speaking of  nasty Harpercon super bugs, what I think is hot is the following  comment from Little Rock in response to another commenter, Derringer following Taber’s insipid column. I thought it was kinda cute:

From Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to Senator Mike Duffy, the Conservatives are everywhere, feverishly making spending and good-news announcements.

…that’s the problem with our current C.R.A.P party…they feverishly spend Canadian taxpayers money!…BUT…Derringer has prescribed a cure for our incompetent spendthrifts…

…Derringer

8/9/2010 5:52:06 PM
Warning of New Disease to hit CANADA in Fall of 2010

Information about Gonorrhea Lectim (Harperalis strain)

The Ontario Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease.

The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim. It’s pronounced “Gonna re-elect ‘em,” and it is a terrible affliction.

The disease is contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior involving putting your cranium up your rectum.

Many victims contracted it in 2006…but it is only now that most people, after having been infected for the past few years, are starting to realize how destructive this sickness is.
It’s sad because Gonorrhea Lectim is easily cured with a new drug just coming on the market called Votemout.

You take the first dose in 2010 (HST variant) and the second dose in 2012 and simply don’t engage in such behavior again; otherwise, it could become permanent and eventually wipe out all life as we know it.

Most ridings are already on top of this, like many in the north, and apparently now in the east, with many more seeing the writing on the wall.

…election please!

Ads like the video below got Paul Martin into trouble. With everything  Master Steve said in his hay days of Reform and NCC, the ad below was certainly a doozy and seemed far fetched, even for Harpercon standards back in the day. Match that with The sponsorship scandal gone viral, well…as Dave from the Galloping Beaver put it, if Nostradamus had put on that ad, he probably would have had more credibility.

A few bloggers have been putting up the video since the G20 Police state of terror.  I hope more do this. That video should also serve as an ominous reminder of how putting the G20 summit in Toronto, at the Convention center was all deliberate. It was vintage Steve, once again, testing the waters; slow frog cooking politics again, checking to see if the frog was ready for that particular heat without jumping out of the pot.

This brings me to those morons who called the talk radio who say that those of us who called with all the indignance saying that we have no idea what a police state is, citing places like Cuba, China or any military junta is far worse. True, but check the above video.  And police states aren’t built over night. They take time.

The interview Susan Delacourt had with David Miller even hints that Master Steve played games. No, it’s not outside the realm for a politician to point the finger elsewhere and lie much like the Dalton McGinty Government-Bill Blair He said-He said that’s going on now. However, with this interview, I think Miller is being truthful about Master Steve leading him to believe that the G20 hootenanny would’ve been held at Exhibition Place. Steve being secretive and lulling Miller into a false sense of security would fall into Steve’s modus operendi.

Many have reacted. Many, like myself, are forever changed because of the G20 events–and I was safely tucked away at my home in Montreal and my family in Toronto remained safe, something for which I’m truly thankful. I can only imagine those who were actually at the protests and/or who had the misfortune of being arrested, abused and detained in the manner that you were.

However, what is more frightening is that after media hacks continue selling the lies of Chief Bill Blair the hero and Steve is the only one who can keep us safe in a dangerous world; after hearing many callers from Toronto actually supporting the lies, some of the arrested actually coming out saying they deserved to be arrested for not having proper id for the cops or being at the wrong place at the wrong time, I have even less faith. Many are going toward embracing Steve’s police state.

Scarier still, are those who are apathetic. A coworker of mine said she didn’t want to talk politics when a few of us were discussing what happened in Toronto, to which I told her we were discussing basic human rights. She simply said that she only cared about her own rights with a smirk that I found extremely irritating.  I was about to tell her that even if she only cared about her own rights, that this conversation was pertinent, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

And what about those Canadians who are so apathetic that they put their indignance and energies into defending their apathy rather than channelling that energy into getting involved into their own future?

Then there are those who still insist on the opposition performing like circus poodles.

Many are criticizing the lack of reaction from the opposition leaders.

Well, they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If they started to come out and ask the questions we ask about the police; about agents provocateurs; about Blair inventing laws and such, everybody in the right slanted media, pundits as well as many Canadians would groan and smack them for being hyperpartisan. It’s happened too many times before. Hell,  the above video of Paul Martin’s prophecy was ridiculed. I’m sure many are still ridiculing it today. So they come out with standard answers like the bill was too expensive, hold the G20 in secret; condemn the vandals, because they took away from the message from the legitimate protesters. What else can they say without being lambasted? But no, they’ll be criticized for not going far enough.

Gilles Duceppe has yet to weigh in, but I have my own theory on that which I will be blogging about later. Suffice to say, the events in TO play further into the Quebec sovereignty agenda, I believe.

For those who are still going to be petty about Iggy telling a room of party faithful behind closed doors to “shut-up” in light and/or chastise a Liberal blogger for telling Steve to basically fuck off in the title of his blog following that fateful week-end; Get over it!! Please! It really does pale in comparison to what Steve will really do if let loose with a majority.

Again, are folks going to suffer from Liberal Derangement syndrome as much as they did before what happened in Toronto?  Sadly, I think that will be a painful reality.  Sadly, I would still venture that the idea of Paul Martin being an amateur of kiddie porn having more credibility than his prophecies of a police state or anything else he warned us about Harper in the 2004 video below. 

Apathy,  Master Steve’s ”safety” propoganda, the absolute need for our opposition to either be pretty or pull rabbits out of hats or perform stunts are all what would help precipitate the next Police state temperature crank, unless we do something  about this now. How high does it have to go before Canadians take notice? How much of a more insidious act or bill does Master Steve have to pass for Canadians to become believers?  Maybe I’m being a tad optimistic, but I am hoping that by the time Canadians notice and finally decide to  take action, that it won’t be too late, that Steve will not already have his coveted totalitarian regime majority.

Videos H/T Pushed To The Left And Loving It

Any bets as to how long it’ll take before a Harpercon, any cheerleader from their media and/or blogging supposiTories will take before they blame it all on the Liberals?

First, a little review of why these leaders have been summoned to an overpriced shindig and photo op by Master Steve.

Last night and this morning, he attempts to tell world leaders to cut their deficits in half by 2013 by introducing austerity measures; to cut their programs and raise taxes. Given that he so arrogantly told them he would not participate in a global bank tax, I hope these world leaders will tell Steve where to go. It seems that President Obama, while hated in his own country, still is considered to be one of the cool kids on the world stage and he is telling all not to cut stimulus spending so fast.  Economist Paul Krugman tells us here and here how these austerity measures are not only a bad idea, but could also set off a double dip recession. Other economists like this one share Krugman’s opinion, including this one who says that much of Canada’s economic recovery in the 90s had a lot to do with lucky circumstances likely to not be repeated, and why the UK is drawing a bad example from Canada. Can’t explain this gluttony for self punishment being in vogue really.

Photo taken by Erik Twight. All rights Reserved. Used with permission

It would appear I’m not the only one asking these serious questions about Agents Provocateurs, some shoddy police work and noticing things that just don’t fit.

Now, the Winnipeg Free Press comes out doing PR for the cops; why, they did an excellent job! Their priority was not the businesses or police cars, but keeping mere mortals from the fence separating them from the  ’20 worldly wise men’. Didn’t take too long for the kool-aid to get served, did it? In other words, that old painful reminder of that socio-economic class struggle.

Next, a little video about Austerity, an arrest of a protester and of course, a crash course on G20 Agents provocateurs.  Thanks to Thor of Riding the Porcelain Bus

On a serious note,  as that host on the video asks, could a banking corporate facist regime be the new world order? A question that must be asked.  Many economists have warned against austere measures and I have linked to a few of them above. Do take the time to read them.

By the by,  UK British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel fucked off the meetings with Master Steve in favour of finding a TV to watch their respective countries play each other in today’s bout of world cup soccer.

In spite of all this,  Craig Oliver and Jane Taber both asked Larry Cannon and ol’ Vic Toews if they still believed Downtown Toronto was the proper venue to host this hootenanny, to which they both answered an emphatic “yes!”  Really Craig & Jane, were you really expecting any other answer?  Besides, it’s only a matter of time these clowns are all going to catch their very contagious case of Liberal Derangement Syndrome. Any bets has to how long it will take for any of these Harpercons or their spin doctors or even their cheerleaders from the Blogging SupposiTories to blame the Liberals for all this?

Some Liberals are showing their desperation as the next federal election announcement looms closer. Some scrambling the rumours of coalition governments to be built haphazardly. Something that won’t end well.

Now, there are even rumours of asking Jean Chretien to come back, an even worse idea.  For openers,  Harpercons and their cheerleaders are already shoving the ghost of ADSCAM down the throat of Iggy who wasn’t even in the country when it all occurred. It’s one thing to honor Chretien with a portrait and rehash the good ol’ days at some overpriced rubber chicken dinner, it’s quite another can of worms to ask him back to lead the Liberals even temporarily. Jim Travers (also mentioned that Alf Apps, the President of the Liberal party is stepping down?? That could definitely change things. Do I dare hope,perhaps for the better?)  To best summarize Jim Travers’ latest column as to why the quick fixes of coalition with NDP and/or bringing Chretien back are bad ideas.

Chrétien was arguably his generation’s most shrewdly intuitive politician and at 76 is still impressively vigorous. But retreating to the future would be as risky a Liberal solution as abandoning its brand.

A nostalgic Chrétien honeymoon would soon be cut short by nagging Conservative reminders of his Quebec sponsorship fling. And Liberals seduced by the idea of uniting the political left are forgetting that that their party wins when it controls the policy centre Harper is shifting right.

This brings me back to why I changed my mind about a coalition. The Liberals owned the center because they offered something for everyone. They have always had  a mixed bag of MPs the fiscal conservatives, the progressives,  centrists and yes, even  devout Catholic Socons.  They attracted a range of voters from the fiscal conservative voter who also stood for social justice to the those to the left who don’t vote NDP because they know they will never lead. A coalition could gain new voters but there would be a bloodshed to the Harpercon camp. Like corporations looking for political parties to back, Jane and Joe Centrist like winners. Coalition now is admitting defeat.

I had to face a reality that I think Progressives who fear a Harpercon majority as much as I do would do well to face up to. Denial isn’t going to help us any. The fact is that the majority of Canadians are centrist. They always have been. They’re Jane and Joe Centrist who like to hang out Timmy Hortons. They generally don’t like to try thinking for themselves. They are content simply swallowing the kool-aid du jour which of course favours Steve and the Harpercons. They don’t like to think outside the box, nor do they like anyone correcting their info when it is erroneous. That is construed as ‘elitist’ and ‘patronizing’, which is how they view Iggy or most from the Left for that matter. That is thanks largely in part to bombastic wingnut talk radio hosts like Chuckles Adler (remember how we’re latte  sipping, quiche eating armchair quarterbacks who don’t care about our country or our troops?). Yes, folks, the majority centrists are shifting rightward. And those are the folks that have to be pandered to (voters that is; don’t get me started on corporations, big oil and banks). Steve (with the invaluable help of corporate media, naturally)  knows how brainwash…pander to those folks. Jack to some degree, except his party, no matter how far to the center or even right of center his party goes, will always seem to carry the indelible, grossly misused term, “soshalism”. Iggy can’t seem to make any traction with these people. Odd, because Trudeau was exactly that type of  aloof, anti-social intellectual as well but he somehow resonated with the center. I guess this is further evidence of change throughout the generations.

It is that same Timmy’s crowd who reacted violently to the proposed coalition of 2008.  They won’t vote for it if they know about it prior to election. When you have Steve using simplistic, sophomoric language  like ‘winners’ and ‘losers’, just like high school cliques doing their thinking for them, there is no use proving to them that the coalition was perfectly legal and democratic because each of the coalition members would have mathematically represented the country.  Ask your neighbours why they vote for a particular candidate to represent their riding come election day and they will tell you it’s because that MP is in the party of their favourite leader. That is their intent. And intent is more important than fact. No, I daresay more will shift to vote in Harpercon.

My father used to say that the federal party who will win a federal election in Canada always campaigns from the left, even if they govern from the right.

There are those who say that the Liberals not going back to what they stood for in the old days is not a good thing.

If the majority centrists are headed rightward, perhaps the party campaigning from too far left of center would be a bad idea. I think we should just concentrate on at least, slowing this trend somehow.

Another thing is that the blue grits within the liberal party will never sign on to be members of a new coalition with the ‘soshalists’. They would more than likely lose their contituents and would sooner cross the floor to the Harpercons rather than lose them. Steve, salivating more and more by the day over that majority, will welcome them with open arms; more seats he doesn’t have to earn.

So what can be done?   As Travers says:

Ending the current panic begins with recognizing that Chrétien’s return is a flat joke and that restoring the party is slow, hard, serious work.

Is Travers saying that we should let the next election yield a Harpercon majority thus leaving the Liberals more time to rebuild?  Even many progressives entertain this idea. However, I also say that these progressives are underestimating Steve and his “we’re not going to recognize the place once he’s done it” and that once they get this majority, “all bets are off”.   Steve has proven to be a PM like no other we’ve ever seen in history and give him his majority, it will be a totalitarian regime. Furthermore,  we can’t assume Steve “de l’action; pas d’election” will even hold elections… he sill surely implement parliamentary reforms…in his favour.  If that sounds far fetched, then how about this: he will surely end up doing what he’s been salivating to do for a dog’s age: eliminate that 1.95$/vote subsidy, thus not only opening the flood gates for that corporate influence like U.S. Congress, but would also financially cripple the other parties who would not be able to afford the election campaign war chest without it. Elections would be nothing more than symbolic with Steve always winning anyway.

So the Liberals are all we have as is and as for the rest of us: accept there are no more progressive parties in Canada anymore; not even the NDP with its’ swing to the center nowadays.  There are no more progressive parties because the majority of Canadians aren’t all that progressive. There is Harpercon with his evangelicals and cuts to all universal social programs with no doubt, criminalize everything, and corrupt private prisons that cost far more than the long gun registry,  permanent war alongside the U.S in the Middle-east or we elect  a center liberal party. As far as calling the Liberals “harperlite” , even that is the far lesser of the evils by a longshot.

Yes, the Liberals are also too corporate friendly, but hey, we’re almost like Americans with that Corporate influence over government. Think how much worse things would be without that per vote subsidy.

A few things the Liberals can do and frankly, don’t understand why they don’t do them.

1) why don’t they ask both Jack Layton and Steve about the two of them forming a coalition with each other? The precedent exists from 2004.

2) Steve will tout himself as the hero of the ‘fast improving’ Canadian economy. Why don’t they bring up that it is largely in part to Paul Martin and his  strict regulations and that if Steve were given a majority, he would have done everything Georgie and Dickie would have asked/told him to do. I realize that Paul Martin may not be a popular person for the Liberals right now, but it’s time to put personal feelings aside and call a spade a spade; to take credit for the good economic shape we’re in.

3) They’re going to have to find a way to climb out of ADSCAM. It is clear that no matter who leads the party now or in the future is going to keep inheriting this. Even if they paid the money back, I don’t think it would be forgiven that fast. If it were that simple, I think some efforts would have been made by now to put the money back. Again, falls under the heading of no easy answer, but Steve won’t let this go away. Nor will the Bloc Quebecois for that matter. The Liberals are going to have to keep the sponsorship scandal where it belongs; dead and buried and/or in the history books.

Honestly, even the way they are today is far less terrifying than the alternative. Something to think about.

Oh, and those who are thinking of the good ol’ days: Were Canadians ever really that progressive? Think about this one, lyin’ Brian Mulroney won not one but two massive majorities and Ed Broadbent, a much stronger leader than Jack Layton and his NDP still couldn’t break out of third place finish. Something to think about.

Remember this slogan from the November 2009 by-election; a hint at what a Harpercon majority would feel like. Is that a chance we really want to entertain?

After reading some of the Blogging Tories this fine wintery morning, watching them all fall all over each other over how the evul opposition (especially the separatists) will endanger our national security and above all, how Speaker Milliken’s decision has just put the troops’ lives in danger overseas. I was going to write a simple rebuttal saying basically, wanna protect the troops, pull them out immediately, but POGGE beat me to it, for one additional  reason. Very special reason: apparently, the military apparently  suck at basic  filing and administrative tasks.

It was revealed today that Afghan detainee transfer documents are all stored in some shipping container in a haphazard manner so chaotic as it would take years to catalogue, file and inventory them properly. Funny, how this only comes out now after all of this.  I wonder why this wasn’t revealed in the first place?  Seems Brother Steve could have avoided things like prorogation and such; should have said, “the military dog ate the documents at some Kandahar airfield.”  In the words of Scott from Scott’s Diatribes: “How Conveeeeenient!”   Not that incompetence of  the most basic of skills from the government should surprise anybody.  Why should the care of supposedly sensitive documents be any different? Hello,  Ex-Lax Max?

The revelation by Maj. Denis Gagnon emerged when he was closely questioned by lawyer Paul Champ, who said the commission is on the verge of deciding whether it has to suspend public hearings, partly because of missing and delayed documents from the Defence Department. A senior military official admits to delaying the documents requested due to concerns (here we go again with that all to convenient excuse) about the safety of the troops.

“We know full well that Canada’s enemies are ready to use that kind of information against our troops that are deployed there,” Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette said. “That is why there have been certain delays in producing those documents.”

Well, now we know where the Harpercon cheerleaders get this liberally deranged parnaoia.  That old Georgie Bush ‘with us or against us’ schtick. It begs the question who in  Brig. Gen. Blanchette’s mind is the enemy? Is it the Afghans or Canada’s opposition parties?

It seems that Major Gagnon not cannot give straight answers as to how long it will take for them to produce the documents,  When acting commission chairman Glenn Stannard asked why the transfer orders weren’t included in the paperwork that has already been turned over to the inquiry. Major Gagnon pulls his best Sergeant Schultz act:

“I don’t have an answer for you, sir,” Gagnon said.

but also can’t find the personnel to to take care of them.

“The documents in theatre are far more difficult to find because of the constant rotation of our personnel,” he said.

“Plus . . . with the current tempo of our operation, they don’t have the ability to . . . dedicate the proper troops to task in order to properly identify all those documents that may be co-located with many other documents.”

 As I’ve mentioned,  the best way to keep these troops safe is not hiding behind the truth. It’s not scrambling about so we can continue endorsing an Afghan national sport of torturing detainees.  No, it’s to pull them out of Afghanistan immediately.  Would those Blogging tories feel assured by that idea? Probably not. 

I’ll be  waiting for Blathering Blatchford to defend this incompetence to Ricky P sometime soon.

A logical person would think that losing documents  lord only knows where,  or storing them in the haphazard way Major Gagnon describes would definitely be far riskier than in the hands of a parliamentary committee or the opposition parties.  At least, everyone would know where they are. If they’re really lost, no telling who’s hands these ‘sensitive’ documents would found in. I wonder if those Harpercon cheerleaders would see that? My guess is no;  funny how a bad case of Liberal Derangement Syndrome can severely hamper sound judgement.

Yes, no doubt there will be some firings, perhaps even Major Gagnon, as POGGE suggests, but I don’t think it will be over the loss of these documents floating around Gawd knows where: it would be because they weren’t put through the paper shredder.

I wonder if the British will have the same problem of missing documents as their torturegate case proceeds in the courts?

Update:  Dawg offered his prediction as how the Harpercons and the Liberals will handle this issue.

I think it highly likely that the parties will reach an agreement in the next few days. It is certainly in the interests of both the Liberals and the Conservatives to do so, given their current standings in the polls.

Dawg, I think you’re prediction is correct, at least, for now anyway. The Harpercons are eager to compromise.  They seem willing more than likely after good ol’ Vic Toews found an American precedent.

 He points out that other countries, including the United States, routinely swear politicians to secrecy when reviewing sensitive documents.

Oh, yeah! Did I forget to mention, the maintenance of secrecy disguised as protecting national security?

Iggy also seems willing to meet Brother Steve half way  provided Brother Steve change his “secretive ways”.

“I am willing to reach out,” the Liberal Leader told reporters today after the meeting of his national caucus, which dealt with yesterday’s historic ruling by the Speaker of the House of Commons. “What I’m saying once again is, let’s not make this more complicated than it need be. A government and an opposition that are both acting in good faith can find a solution in a couple of hours.”

Yes, I guess most Canadians would like to see compromise between Harpercons and opposition most of all.

Given the dismal polling numbers (below 30%) each party, I guess we can understand the hesitation of  triggering and election from either side.  Funny, Brother Steve, nor Iggy  can no longer use the old ‘Canadians don’t want an election’  schpiel. From what I’ve been reading so far, it seems many would welcome an election.

Yes,  all the right wing media and the Blogging romper roomies all in emergency mode, slamming Frank Graves for simply making comments about the Liberal party and what they should do do if they want to win elections.

We saw Ezzy IreLevant’s blood pressure go up  over Mr. Graves and his statements about whoa is him…Iggy hates Alberta! Well, no Ezzy, ya got that backwards. However…not to mention… years ago,  I don’t seem to remember Chretien campaigning a whole hell of a lot in Alberta; at least, not as much as he did in the rest of Canada.

I don’t get the tizzy; the twisting of conservative digestive tracts and the rising of blood pressures over the statement regarding Alberta.  It’s true! Conservative Alberta will never vote Liberal or any other party that isn’t right of center. Can anyone honestly say anything to the contrary?

I gotta admit, this is definitely a keeper! Aìn’t he precious?

Anyhow, between Iggy offering to forgive up to 20,000$  after four years in student loans for doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners to go work in rural areas, where they are sorely lacking; and, his latest proposal today (which would also appeal to urban Canadians) is a subsidy to promote ‘Buy Local’ produce  as part of a Liberal food plan being unveiled.

• An $80-million “buy-local” fund to promote farmers’ markets and home-grown foods.

• A $40-million program to help 250,000 low-income children get better access to healthy food.

• New health-labelling criteria for food and tougher standards on trans-fats.

• Investing $50 million to ensure foreign imports meet local standards and to improve food inspections.

Judging by Ezzy IrreLevant’s appearance above, looks like he can stand to add some of that healthy Canadian farm fruits and veggies in his diet.

“We need more home-grown food on Canadian tables because our health and our economy depend on it,” Ignatieff told reporters at a farm just north of Toronto.

“Our farmers produce the healthiest, safest, highest-quality foods in the world and we’ll help them get more of their products on our tables with Canada’s first comprehensive National Food Policy.”

According to Iggy, this program would be paid for by cancelling the corporate tax breaks.

Here is more about the Liberals’ Rural Canada Matters program. 

Iggy’s proposals for rural Canada doesn’t sound like he’s about to engage in a cultural war with them. That ol’ Divide and Conquer game, is more Brother Steve’s thing. In fact, he invented the culture war that Frank Graves was talking about.

If as you all say Graves is just another Liberal hack who’s polling is unreliable, why are you all making a big stink out this? Why not simply ignore it and move on to important things, like dreaming up new hideous  ways for Steve to drive us closer to a totalitarian regime?

No,  Iggy and the Liberals are coming up with ideas and policies. Iggy is starting to show leadership. I think this is cause for concern for the Harpercons, especially with their own little scandals (something to note; someone mentioned awhile back that is applicable to the current Harpercon situation; it isn’t necessarily the scandals themselves; it’s how they’re handled. Clearly Steve is mishandling each one) and their cheerleaders.

Iggy, you’re starting to go on the right track now: never mind the right slanted corporate media, the pundits and other Harpercon cheerleaders; they will lambaste you, no matter what you do. Someone also pointed out, you will never please everyone all of the time. Paul Martin failed at it and  President Obama is learning the hard way.

For some reason after reading the latest posts this morning about  Harpercon MP and apparent devoted gun nut, Garry Breutkreuz has offered a rather feeble apology and one of the least original kid’s excuses for his threats to wish Iggy bodily harm. Yanno, the typical “Dog made me do it” kinda thing made me think of that Waylon Jennings theme to the “Dukes of Hazzard”.

Apparently, Brother Steve’s lapdog has finally resurfaced to half-heartedly denounce the gun nut’s act, “in poor taste and inappropriate.”

“Mr. Breitkreuz has apologized. What Mr. Breitkreuz should have said is that Michael Ignatieff once again turned his back on rural Canadians by clearly stating he still supports the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry,” Soudas said.

In other words, what do you want for the poor guy?  He’s reacting the way anyone would for attempting to make him register his gun…

Soudas’ half fast justification should remind us all of how sexist the Harpercon government is. Remember what’s happening with Helena Guergis nowadays for being guilty of bad judgement; events that more than likely don’t leave her’s and Jaffer’s social and business circles. Remember what happened to most of the Harpercon women, guilty of far less serious sins than threatening bodily harm to anyone, like Rona Ambrose, Diane Ablonczy and Lisa Raitt to name but a few.

Not only did this wingnut threaten bodily harm on someone, he is starting a dangerous American trend of the tea-bagger hit parade. What is disturbing is that it doesn’t seem to be disturbing Brother Steve all that much. No, I seriously doubt he will kick him out of caucus. Why would he? He’s one of Brother Steve’s typical good ol’ boys from out west and he will no doubt be having his flunkies like Soudas telling the world this good ol’ boy never meant any harm.

No, I don’t mean the Americans today.  I, unfortunately mean Canadian Cons. Like their American counterparts, they prove to be more and more unstable…Like their American counterparts, they are obsessed with killing the long gun registry. Imagine! No one is trying to take guns away from law abiding citizens here. The only thing being asked is to simply register them as you would a dog (cat in some jurisdictions) and car. Like a little extra paper work is going to somehow ruin their lives. Yeesshh!  My take on this is, if you’re a law abiding citizen who owns guns, then you should have nothing to hide; no reason to not do the paperwork.

Well, I can’t believe what I just read; well, if it came from a  Blogging Romper Roomie, I would…many of them have proven they’re not exactly poster children for mental health.   Get this, boys and girls, a Harpercon MP is calling for Iggy to be beaten black and blue over his decision to whip his caucus to vote down the twiggy wannabe with the mullet’s c-391; the bill to scrap the long gun registry. Wow! An MP!

Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz fired off the release Tuesday, angrily denouncing Ignatieff’s decision to require all Liberal MPs to vote against a private member’s bill that would scrap the controversial long-gun registry.

The Tories have launched an orchestrated campaign to ridicule Ignatieff’s decision and to pressure eight Liberal MPs, who supported the bill at second reading, to stick to their guns when it comes up for a final vote next month.

But Breitkreuz’s missive went well beyond the official party line. Indeed, P.E.I. MP Wayne Easter, one of the eight Liberals the Tories are trying to court, called it “a tirade that’s unbecoming of a member of Parliament.”

Breitkruez, a passionate, longtime gun registry foe, said Ignatieff is “a bully who may well be committing political suicide.”

“With tactics like this, I doubt he’ll be missed on either side of the House,” he said in the release.

Breitkreuz called Ignatieff’s attempt to head off elimination of the registry “an act of desperation that insults the intellect of Canadians.”

“His true colours are showing and, if his caucus has any integrity, those colours should be black and blue.”

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police also wound up in Breitkreuz’s cross-hairs as he mocked opposition MPs’ claims that the registry helps save lives.

“It’s like a cult that is led by organizations of police chiefs who pretend the registry helps them do their jobs. They should be ashamed.”

The police chiefs association supports retention of the gun registry. But Breitkreuz called both it and the Coalition for Gun Control “politically motivated lobby groups that derive financial support from pro-registry sources.”

“Their positions are tainted and suspect in my view because their endorsement can be bought.”

He alleged that a registry software contractor is a “major contributor” to the police chiefs association

Wow! So that’s where many of these hard core Harpercon cheerleaders get their paranoia, cult-ish mentality and instability from!!

Well,  if  Breutkreuz thinks Iggy is committing political suicide, why is he jumping and down in manic paranoia?  If he is sooooo sure Iggy is committing political suicide, then shouldn’t he just leave him the rope to hang himself and sit back and watch the fun? Yeeshh!!! I’m surprised this wingnut walks through life without a helmet.

And, Breutkreuz, aren’t you a member of that law and order, tough on crime party? As such, shouldn’t you be showing more respect for the police forces?

Needless to say,  neither Brother Steve nor his flunkies have anything to say about this one.

Update: And now Breutdreuz “apologizes” .  He apparently, doesn’t want Iggy beaten up to a pulp…hmmm!   His excuse is an even bigger doozy!

“I want to apologize for the language in the news release. It was over the top,” he said in a phone interview from his office.

“I don’t know how that got out of here.”

Yes, Breutkreuz would like everyone to know that the ‘evul soshalist’  dog made him do it!  Oh, what  a  party!

Here we go yet again.  Once again, Iggy may not be our first choice, but he’s all we’ve got at this time. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t, yeesh! This time, it’s about that whole marijuana; to legalize or not to legalize? That is the question of the day it would seem. Even over at the Youtube site, TalkCanada,  where folks are posting questions for St-Stevie to answer at about 19;00 tonight are largely, if not for the most part, all about the legalization of pot. Way to go, Canada! Great way to keep our priorities straight. I can get these questions from impressionable teen-agers or even young adults who haven’t lived long enough to question more substantial issues. However, from the 30 something and up crowds?

Don’t get me wrong, I also support the legalization of marijuana, particularly if it is regulated and taxed, much like alcohol and cigarrettes.  Instead of throwing pot users into our already overcrowded jails and prisons, being a further drain on the taxpayers,  legalize it and earn tax revenue from it that can go toward much needed improvements on our health care system or some other program of importance. I would lobby for that, but also, it’s not a deal breaker for me when I go out an vote. There are far more important issues that should be deal breakers for voters though. Issues like health care, abortion, equal rights for all, torturegate, the environment, that war in Afghanistan, women’s issues, etc. etc.

I’m also for the legalization and regulation of prostitution. Again, more tax revenue and the sex trade can be regulated to make it a whole lot safer, much like in the Netherlands. I didn’t see or hear too many questions about that at the TalkCanada site.

There were quite a few of those questions as well there should be. There should have been even more, although, sadly, most of those questions will be censored, more than likely.

As for that little ‘scandal’ at that Newfoundland high school, where Iggy spoke, one kid asked him his thoughts of legalized marijuana:

“If I had to tell you as a parent or as someone who has spent his whole life working with young people, the last darn thing I want you to be doing is smoking marijuana,” the federal Liberal leader said. “I want you to be out there digging a well, digging a ditch, getting a job, raising a family … doing stuff, instead of parking your life on the end of a marijuana cigarette.”

No matter how progressive you may claim to be, are you all going to tell me that you allow your kids to smoke pot? Or that you would condone anyone in a position of power to condone pot or drugs of any kind at their school?  Be honest with yourselves, and really think about that one. I also know that if Steve, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe or even  Lizzy May were faced with this question by a kid, they too would have to be careful with the answer they give no matter what they may campaign on at a later time or whatever their feelings are on the subject.

In addition, Iggy gave the typical old stay in school, work hard and be productive members of society speech. I can agree that that whole ‘ditch digging’ metaphor was a poor choice, but I think we can all get it.  Also, yes, he could have given a better explanation than that whole ‘We don’t want to displease Washington thing’; Lord knows there are many he could have drawn from.  Personally, if it were me, I would have brought up the more important issues I mentioned above in this piece, but, essentially, he have the same speech that would have been expected of any leader anywhere.

However, Chris, not like your master never played such a close game of  ‘monkey see-monkey do’ with the Whitehouse, eh?  Not like he makes a regular nuisance of himself with President Obama?

Folks, leave the Iggy and other opposition parties bashing to the likes of the Blogging Tories, they have not much else to do with themselves.

I have a question for those progressives who really hate Iggy and/or the Liberals though, Why is Iggy much worse than St-Stevie? Sometimes,  when I read some of the progressive blogs, I get the feeling that Iggy is more criticized than St-Stevie and the Harpercons; almost like  they would even entertain an Evangelical Far Right Christian Fundamentalist totalitarian regime over having Iggy as PM of a Liberal minority government (best Iggy can ever hope for and even then). Why is that?

Do they honestly think that St-Stevie’s far right ruling of illegal abortions, Americanizing what’s left of our universal health care system (Flaherty even hinted at it very recently), repealing not only same sex marriage, but also stripping away all gay rights,  and a whole host of nightmarish things he always dreamed of doing is better than a Liberal minority?  We may not know Iggy that much, but I think it’s a safe bet that at worst, Canada remains as is…still  in need of certain reforms, but I don’t think Iggy can make it any worse than a St-Stevie majority can. ..no Fundamental Christianity  Sarah Palin/ George W Bush rule and laws that go with a Harpercon majority.

No, it’s more like Iggy is pretty much like most politicians, not a great thing, but then,  apathetic Canadian  don’t try to get any better neither. St-Stevie, though, to his credit and much to the chagrin of all of us progressives has demonstrated how different he is from the usual politician in so many ways.  He always said we wouldn’t recognize Canada when he got through with it. Most of  us have already started to see those drastic changes he did for the worst…and that is with a minority! Imagine him with a majority? Would be the totalitarian regime, no doubt. Any party in opposition would simply only have the role of taking up space as they would be rendered absolutely useless.

No folks, this Iggy and Liberal bashing as well as those who bash the N.D.P. (Eugene Forsey, I hope you’re reading this!) or bash any of the opposition parties is not going to get Harper out of office, if anything, it helps him get his majority. Remember, Stevie’s secret to his success is playing that old divide and conquer routine.

In order for Iggy to be gone, he needs to lose a general election. The liberals are not going to get rid of him otherwise.  Even if St-Stevie gets another minority, I gather that would be it. His party is going to see that Steve cannot get that coveted majority and they would push him out the door surely. I would hazzard a guess that the Cons would pick somebody more Progressive Conservative type than another evangelical far right Christian fundy type.

What would be best before the next election is for all of the opposition parties as well as progressive Canadian citizens to push for a coalition to get us through the next election.  A coalition would be our savior.

Yes indeedy, according to the Grope & Fail article that was released not long ago; certainly after today’s episode of Question Period when Jane Taber did indeed ask Rob Nicholson about that. Earlier today, Nicholson basically passed the buck to the Ontario attorney general, just like the dutiful 1010 talkradio host John Tory (Yes, Astral Media must be oh so proud!) did,  regarding the Rahim Jaffer case. After, Tory and Nicholson did what good Harpercons do best: blame the Liberals…or the Liberal biased media (a la Vic Toews.

True, the Ontario Attorney general who works for the Ontario Liberal Government is responsible and he does owe  some kind of explantation as to what happened; what kind of backroom wheeling and dealing took place. After all, no matter what province we live in,  generally that cocaine posession would warrant a light jail sentence at best; and Jaffer only gets a fine?

The problem with hiding and continuously blaming the Liberals or their Liberally biased media implies the Harpercons have something to hide even where Jaffer’s case is concerned. Once again, it goes to accountability. This kind of behavior clearly indicates anything but…especially since they’re trying to sell that whole tough on crime stuff.

In this instance, there are even Conservative pundits who are calling for explanations from both Jaffer, regarding his own conduct and the Ontario Attorney general, regarding what happened with the crown: did Jaffer get out free because of whom he’s married to?

Now Nicholson is saying the public has a right to know more about  Jaffer.

“… This was a provincial police investigation, handled in a provincial court by a provincial Crown Attorney,” he said. “That being said, I understand in a general context that people want to know as much as possible. They want to have confidence in the criminal justice system.

Well…Well…I wonder how the Harpercon power couple are going to fair now?

Between the drunk and druggy and the shrilly shoe throwing shrew, Helena the Horrible’s antics at the Charlottetown airport, it is definitely all in who you know. After all, if any of us pulled that kind of shit at any airport that Guergis pulled, we would have been tasered and arrested; no question.

Ah, the poster couple for stability! I wonder what came first? His need for drugs and alcohol because he’s married to a shrew? Or is it she, who is fed up of coming in second to hubby’s drugs and alcohol as it is often the case with these co-depence type cases?

I'm going to hold my breath until we can separate from the east coast...

It would seem though, according to Craig Oliver, Guergis may be pushed out the door soon as she is becoming a political liability. No shit! Ya don’t say? If she is pushed out the door, no doubt, this will elicit not only another temper tantrum, but she will blame others for her own demise; not only the librul AG of Ontario, but also her hubby for his own vices. Then again, maybe they’re too afraid of her temper tantrums to get rid of her.

Well, that would certainly give her new reasons for her to turn blue.