Tuesday, November 20, 2007

In case you missed it - again

2:30 p.m. Update: The Question Period theatrics rage on. This time it was Kitchener-Centre MP Karen Redman making all sorts of wild allegations regarding Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.

Poor Rob was getting a bit irritated. He requested that she and her fellow Liberals either refrain from making slanderous remarks in the House, or else "have the guts" to take it outside.

I'll try to supply Hansard references when available.

This Parliamentary privilege this is really quite remarkable. Apparently you can say anything in the House of Commons and not be held accountable for it. Yet the whole thing is televised for everyone in Canada to see; whether or not the truth is being spoken.

I just don't get it.


2:55 p.m. update - Monte Solberg tells the Member that she should apologize to the Minister of Justice.

Hear-hear!

3:05 pm Update: Peter Van Loan rises on a Question of Privilege to ask the Speaker to review the words that the leader of the Opposition used when referring to the Prime Minister in the context of not telling the truth, or something to that effect. The Speaker said he didn't hear the word "lying" used, but would look into it.

- End of 'Question Period' Live-Blogging

Christian Conservative has a bit more detail - Oops... Dion to apologize to Harper?


All the tawdry details now available from Hansard.

* * * *

This was a thing of beauty. (Links added by moi)

Hansard, Oral Questions 14:20:

Hon. Stéphane Dion (Leader of the Opposition, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, since the Prime Minister misled the House regarding the allegations of torture, what would stop him from trying to do the same in the Mulroney case, about when he saw Mr. Schreiber's letters, about why the Department of Justice interrupted its internal investigation, or about Mr. Schreiber's extradition?

Is he not trying to mislead the House on the Mulroney case, as he did on the allegations of torture?

Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Liberal Party is wrong. There is evidence of allegations in a case we learned about recently, two weeks ago. The Minister of Foreign Affairs explained this case to the House of Commons. We are working with the government of Afghanistan on the arrangement in place for investigating and resolving this situation.


Hon. Stéphane Dion (Leader of the Opposition, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the deception must stop: cover-up on torture and cover-up on Mulroney. Will the Prime Minister stop the cover-ups? Will he agree to testify under oath at the Mulroney inquiry?

Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, the terms of the inquiry, as the government already has said, will be set independently by Professor Johnston. I do not know whether he will accept the position of the current leader of the Liberal Party that there be an unlimited inquiry, or of the past leader of the Liberal Party that there be no public inquiry, or of the future leader of the Liberal Party, who says there should be a limited public inquiry. I am sure one of these Liberal positions will be adopted.

What I can say is that when the Leader of the Opposition alleges vast conspiracies and then votes by abstaining to keep the government in office, nobody takes his allegations seriously.


I love it.

* * * *

Meanwhile - Iggy remains strangely (or wisely) silent.

MP's want to hear quickly from Schreiber, former PM - Star.

Le Politico - James Travers conspicuously distances himself from official Liberal position.

If you missed CTV's Question Period at noon on Sunday, there is a great interview with Bob Rae & Tom Flanagan still available on the Politics page.

CBC - MP's tempers flair at House ethics committee meeting.

* * * *

Wednesday Update: Tories hit it out of the park in yesterday's QP - Trusty Tory. Mulder's comment addresses the Liberal mud-flinging that's going on in QP, and the Tories' demands that they take it outside.


L. Ian MacDonald - A despicable smear campaign:
One of the oldest tactical rules of the political game is, when you're in trouble, create a diversion. No doubt about it, it's working for the Liberals...

Thursday Update: Chuckercanuk - Cost Free Promises.



70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah I saw that as well. Talk about getting your ass kicked out behind the woodshed. I am sure one of these Liberal positions will be adopted.

Gold.

Anonymous said...

"What I can say is that when the Leader of the Opposition alleges vast conspiracies and then votes by abstaining to keep the government in office, nobody takes his allegations seriously."

Saw it and cheered...Wife came running, asked why a hockey game in the afternoon? ;-)

Priceless moment and should be used by PM Harper as required to shut Dijon's pie hole!

Anonymous said...

Saw the exchange as well and laughed out loud. Taped it so my wife could see it when she got home. She said Dion deserved it and more. He looks so silly.

Anonymous said...

Smackdown Rules Eh?

West Coast Teddi

Anonymous said...

Oh, oh! I think another Dion letter is just about due ...

Anonymous said...

That's what good government is all about - deftness with partisan taunts and jibes.

Gosh, I am so proud! My Prime Minister is an honourary Rat Packer!

Taping this for the wife? Oh my heavens, how about reading a good book...

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Methinks I smell a Liberal...

Anonymous said...

Methinks I smell a lot of contempt from Mr. Harper, and his sneering gallery here.

Canadians smell it too. So keep at it!

Hahahahaha!

Anonymous said...

oooh..
LS is very unhappy today.
Looking for a leader LS?
Hard to pick one eh?

Jeff said...

nobody takes his allegations seriously

maybe none of those who worship at the altar of stephen harper, but i can assure you that the 64% of canadians who didn't vote conservative take these allegations very serously.

the flippant attitude of this minority govt may entertain conservative backbenchers, it makes the rest of us sick.

Anonymous said...

oooh..
LS is very unhappy today.
Looking for a leader LS?
Hard to pick one eh?


The most perfect encapsulation of the CPC noise machine.
Line 1: Projection. Why would I be unhappy? You're using the rope we gave you very effectively. Keep it up!
Line 2: Another recitation of the tired "not a leader" routine.
We have a leader.
You have a dictator.
Dion is a statesman, and acts like it.
Harper is a henchman, and acts like it.
Line 3: Not hard to pick things to poke fun at the CPC and it's Dear Leader. You continue to provide a more "target rich" environment every day.
You're just like dinosaurs thrashing in the tar pits.

Hahahaha!

Anonymous said...

Then Jeff, don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.

Roy Eappen said...

How amazing was that exchange! Did anyone get it on Youtube. It was beautiful I missed it. Thanks Joanne.

Anonymous said...

Please don't feed the trolls.

Anonymous said...

How amazing was that exchange! Did anyone get it on Youtube.

That's illegal. It is a copyrighted broadcast. But, like everything else, I'm sure Steve will try to move the goalposts.

However, the new PM's CPC Propaganda Center is now preparing a re-enactment. I'm sure that will be freely distributed by the CPC.

Hugh MacIntyre said...

"That's illegal. It is a copyrighted broadcast. But, like everything else, I'm sure Steve will try to move the goalposts."

You're the one talking about partisan jeers? I'm sure you have never in your whole life downloaded copyrighted material without permission. Because god knows no liberal would ever break the law

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you have never in your whole life downloaded copyrighted material without permission. Because god knows no liberal would ever break the law

At least we don't openly advocate piracy. Why do you?

Platty said...

Stephane Dion

The gift that just keeps on giving.

Have to rename this guy Stuffy Dion, as in, dude just got stuffed at the net again by the PM.

Whoooooshhh......This PM's got game.


======

Anonymous said...

For Roy Eappen:
Audio only available here:
http://www.cpac.ca/clips/mp3/QP_nov19-07_eng.mp3

Video available here, legally, provided by our government:
http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/
The complete link is:
http://tinyurl.com/28olth
Unfortunately, I'm technically-challenged, so I can't tell you at what point QP starts. I was unable to fast-forward to find the clip.
Hope that helps

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Methinks I smell a lot of contempt from Mr. Harper, and his sneering gallery here.

At this point, I could make a comment about Liberals sitting on their hands whenever there's a confidence vote, but I won't.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

At least we don't openly advocate piracy. Why do you?

L.S. - I'm starting to get a bit worried about you. Are you o.k.? You seem really frantic lately.

Which ghost of Liberal leadership do you support - past, present or future?

Kristin Beaumont-Politics and Other Things said...

It was quite the moment...it made my rather dull Monday...very much brighter :-)

Omar said...

..the 64% of canadians who didn't vote conservative..

What was that number again, Jeff? 64%! Indeed. Personally, I believe that number will be much the same in the next election if not higher. Why? Because while Harper may or may not be a strong leader who has "game", he is surrounded by a very poor team and as we all know, there is no "I" in team. There never will be a majority government for Stephen Joseph Harper and for that I am thankful.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Gabby, thanks for those links. I'm having trouble finding the exact clip as well.

Anonymous said...

Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. "I am sure one of these Liberal positions will be adopted." Got to absolutely love it. Missed it on broadcast, caught it in print media. Debating/rebutting skills ala creme de la creme or what! Touche, Joanne.

Anna.

Platty said...

Thanks Gabby, for that Legal Link

It's great to hear the clear, concise point being made by the PM.


====

Anonymous said...

OK, re: "the 64% of canadians who didn't vote conservative ..."

In the last election, Conservatives received 36.27% of the votes.

The Liberals got 30.23%. That means 69.77% did not vote for the Liberals.

The NDP got 17.48%. That means 82.52% did not vote for them either.

Anonymous said...

Platty and Joanne, you're welcome.

Must leave now - other "duties" call.

Anonymous said...

Duh - it was more like Harper being a chicken shit and avoiding the question with a reasonable response.

Harper is a wimp. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and Harper shows that over and over again - why is he "afraid" to give a real answer?

Anonymous said...

Oh, so now abstaining from voting is a horrible thing to do? Harper's bunch of puppets abstained from voting on a Martin "budget" which is far more important than a ceremonial throne speach - why the double standard?

NDP abstained from voting on the softwood lumber deal - now it's a bad thing?

You people sure hold your standards low - bash, trash think your smart - pathetic.

Why is Harper afraid to answer?

Brian in Calgary said...

Thanks, Joanne, for this mini-transcript. I am one person who missed it.

To my Liberal friends, just chill out, and take a deep breath. For those of you who don't believe in the power of prayer (I'm thinking of the Serenity Prayer here), there is relief available that will enable you to say, "Just wait until next time/election" with the utmost serenity and equanimity. It obviously helped Saskatchewan's farmers endure 16 years of NDP government. It will help you get cope with the Harper-led government (long may he govern!). (It will also help you, Joanne, and indeed all my Tory friends in Ontario, get through McGuinty's second - and hopefully last - term in office.) That relief is called Gopher Power !!!

OMMAG said...

Gosh Joanne you certainly have stirred up the "special" kids from the liberal camp!

Anonymous said...

Liberals can't seem recognize a smackdown when it's hitting them square in the face.

"I smell a lot of contempt from Mr. Harper and his sneering gallery here."

No sneer from me LS...just one great big smile....ear to year.

The only good thing to come out of the Liberal caucus yesterday was Goodale's cheering on of the Rough Riders in the Grey Cup.

Poor Ralphy...a good talent going to waste in the wrong party.

Anonymous said...

L.S. - I'm starting to get a bit worried about you. Are you o.k.? You seem really frantic lately.

You seem more passive aggressive lately.

Which ghost of Liberal leadership do you support - past, present or future?

I am no longer beating my wife. I already heard the attack ad (the one that ran on Remembrance Day morning) so I know "indecisive" is the new talking point to go with the slogan "not a leader. not worth the risk".

Nice try with the "ghost of Liberal leadership - past, present and future" routine though. I think it will be a fitting last gasp for the CPC, as it reminds us all of the Dickensian nightmare a Harper majority would usher in.

Yes, then all that liberal claptrap can be finally swept away. Just think, no more teacher unions! We wouldn't need any, because most kids will be back to work where they belong. Once that dumb city in Japan agreement is finally reneged on, then we'll see, Coal is back! And lots of kids to mine it.



In the meantime, Harper is leashed, so I am just enjoying watching you desperately trying to get your election.

He can't call an election (because of his own law!). He can't make the Opposition vote down a confidence motion, unless of course he tries to implement the real agenda.

So his only option is to resign. I think he'll use the Mulroney inquiry to find an excuse.

Kristin Beaumont-Politics and Other Things said...

The liberals brought up the "torture" issue to gain political points from mr and mrs public...not because they are caring too much about it...same with the mulroney business...libs jumping up and down thinking they have a short and curly issue ...going in for the kill.... wow... too bad all opposition has lost all perspective from quite a long time ago...no wonder then there is temptation for smack downs when the opportunity is too ripe to resist.
I love the "special kids" comment.... well done...
I have seen no inducement to change parties. Not one party currently "out there" makes me feel like moving closer to them....
I'll stick with a party that is "getting things done" as Canada wants them to.

KURSK said...

Nothing is as amusing as listening to liberal supporters who thought it was their God given right to enjoy perpetual rule..

How it must just kill you every day to hear a competent leader hold sway over an effete and ineffectual fop of a 'leader' in Stephane Dion..

How scared are you that your party will not hold power, and have more chances to rob the Canadian public blind, for many years?

Please, keep screeching..it amuses me..and if you want to know why the conservatives have only contempt for your ineffectual brand of governance, look only to the way you treated the conservatives (in all their guises) over the years, in order to remain in power.

There was no lie that you would not tell, no falshood you would not repeat to smear and denigrate the conservatives.

All i can say, is that it looks good on you, and paybacks a bitch isn't it?

Bring your sleeping bag, that trip to the wilderness will be a long one..

Joanne (True Blue) said...

O.K. I think you can see the video at this link that Gabby gave us (click 'view this clip' and whatever video format you require), and then just move the bar ahead to around the 3:19:20 mark.

Well worth the effort if you are a CPC supporter.

Anonymous said...

"The Liberals got 30.23%. That means 69.77% did not vote for the Liberals."

It is amazing how the LIEberals under DeYawn do not choke on stats like the above. Simon and Garfunkel had a song where the phrase, "man hears what he wants to hear and disreguards the rest ... " is typical LIEberal response to the truth about anything bropught up about them; like the promise to get rid of the GST but "... never got it done." Now they want to raise it back to 7% if they get elected - I hope they keep that as part of their election platform.

I think the PM should have an inquiry into why DeYawn "... didn't get it done" on fighting pollution. Think of the scandle - enviromental minister [DeYawn] sits on his hands [for ten years] whil pollution runs ramped and the present government is trying to fix DeYawn's lack of response on the enviroment. DeYawn gave Canada a bad name on not fighting pollution under his department, under the LIEberal government.

Anonymous said...

The Liberal leader is the gift that keeps on giving...to the Harper government.

A la Christmas Vacation will we see Dion, with a nice red bow, under Steve's Christmas tree again this year?

Let's hope so.

Anonymous said...

Nothing is as amusing as listening to liberal supporters who thought it was their God given right to enjoy perpetual rule..

I'd like to meet such a person. But I never have. Perhaps you think the Liberals have God given rights, but I do not. We're just people, but we're not angry radicals.

I find CPC supporters sneering and jeering is more amusing, since it shows them for what they are.

How it must just kill you every day to hear a competent leader hold sway over an effete and ineffectual fop of a 'leader' in Stephane Dion..

Another "are you beating your wife" statement. Don't you ever come up with anything more creative?

Stephen Harper holds sway? Hahaha! I suppose a dog on a leash thinks he is leading too.

Oh, and while you get the points for repeating the "not a leader" meme, you missed a golden opportunity to call Dion a faggot. If it's good enough for Annie Coulter, it should be good enough for you.

How scared are you that your party will not hold power, and have more chances to rob the Canadian public blind, for many years?

Yes, I am still not beating my wife. Suppose the Liberals do "rob the Canadian public blind". It would be better than your real agenda, after which there may not be a Canada. At least not a country by that name. I'd prefer no sleaze in government, but I'd take that over your planned anschluss.

Holding power for the Liberals mostly means preserving, and conserving our nation. Not selling it out for coins, like Harper is bound and determined to do.

Please, keep screeching..it amuses me..and if you want to know why the conservatives have only contempt for your ineffectual brand of governance, look only to the way you treated the conservatives (in all their guises) over the years, in order to remain in power.

Oh boo hoo, you poor mistreated fright wingers. Your arrogant sneering contempt is not justified by whatever treatment you claim to have received. You guys are the experts in manufactured rage, and in projection. Screeching? Sheesh!


There was no lie that you would not tell, no falshood you would not repeat to smear and denigrate the conservatives.

Really? Nobody said the Conservatives would nuke every county in the world. That would be a lie, and since it was never told, your statement becomes a lie. Generally your own words are what smears you. "Second rate country". Sound familiar?


All i can say, is that it looks good on you, and paybacks a bitch isn't it?

Good for you.

Bring your sleeping bag, that trip to the wilderness will be a long one..

Sorry, we're not going to just go away. The right wing was quite free to work out its problems for years, because they knew the country will still be here, no matter how long the Liberals are in power. We don't have that luxury. Harper is dangerous to Canada. We will not go and snooze someplace.

Anonymous said...

Dion is a statesman, and acts like it.

"SPEW" - Crap - LS - now I have to stop and clean all the coffee off the screen, keyboard, desk, walls and myself.

Whom shall I send the cleaning bills to??

Anonymous said...

"afraid" to give a real answer?"

Classic answer from a liberal whose party wrote the book on "non-answers".

The thing about your comment is that - He does answer, over and over and over and over again - Liberals just don't appear to have very good hearing

KURSK said...

Oh great! a fisking!

Well, one good turn deserves another doesn't it?

"Nothing is as amusing as listening to liberal supporters who thought it was their God given right to enjoy perpetual rule..

I'd like to meet such a person. But I never have. Perhaps you think the Liberals have God given rights, but I do not. We're just people, but we're not angry radicals."

Perhaps you have not met any personally in the liberal party, but phrases such as 'natural governing party' do not come about for no good reason.Angry radicals?
good lord ,i would never ascribe those traits to a liberal, that would take too much effort on your part to work up the courage and or the energy..

"Another "are you beating your wife" statement. Don't you ever come up with anything more creative?

Stephen Harper holds sway? Hahaha! I suppose a dog on a leash thinks he is leading too.

Oh, and while you get the points for repeating the "not a leader" meme, you missed a golden opportunity to call Dion a faggot. If it's good enough for Annie Coulter, it should be good enough for you."

Oh yes, do you mean like 'do you love your country?' kind of like that? I think you will have to admit that PM Harper is actually leading Dion around by the nose, everytime Dion brays about bringing down the govt, then sits on his hands..if you are to use a dog analogy, (perhaps not a great idea considering Kyoto, hmm?)it would be Harper leading the pack as top dog, with Dion relegated to number 2, perpetually sniffing butt, and never able to overtake.

Dion may very well be a faggot, i really do not know, but you could perhaps ask Bill Graham or Scott Brison, they may be more in the know..Ann Coulter? don't really follow American wags, sorry to disappoint you.

"How scared are you that your party will not hold power, and have more chances to rob the Canadian public blind, for many years?

Yes, I am still not beating my wife. Suppose the Liberals do "rob the Canadian public blind". It would be better than your real agenda, after which there may not be a Canada. At least not a country by that name. I'd prefer no sleaze in government, but I'd take that over your planned anschluss.

Holding power for the Liberals mostly means preserving, and conserving our nation. Not selling it out for coins, like Harper is bound and determined to do."

Wow, in One Paragraph, you defend the theft of Canadian taxpayers money, accuse (again ..ad nauseum..) the conservatives of a 'hidden agenda' to break up the country, and of the conservatives being Nazis.I, on the other hand, don't suppose the liberals are corrupt.I know they are.And quite a few of them deserve to be in jail for a long time for the theft they condoned and committed.Such wonderful company you keep..

Keeping and holding power for its own sake is the liberals reason for existing..and conserving and preserving our nation? This from the party of social engineering and govt enforced 'isms'... If you were so concerned about the preservation of Canada, i can think of about a dozen instances where the liberals acted against the very faric of our traditional way of life.Preserve Canada indeed, but only in the liberal image, right?

"Please, keep screeching..it amuses me..and if you want to know why the conservatives have only contempt for your ineffectual brand of governance, look only to the way you treated the conservatives (in all their guises) over the years, in order to remain in power.

Oh boo hoo, you poor mistreated fright wingers. Your arrogant sneering contempt is not justified by whatever treatment you claim to have received. You guys are the experts in manufactured rage, and in projection. Screeching? Sheesh!

Please spare me..Manufactured rage? See: Mulrooney, Brian M.
We don't complain , we get even..!
Enjoy the lawsuits..

"There was no lie that you would not tell, no falshood you would not repeat to smear and denigrate the conservatives.

Really? Nobody said the Conservatives would nuke every county in the world. That would be a lie, and since it was never told, your statement becomes a lie. Generally your own words are what smears you. "Second rate country". Sound familiar?"

Really? try this on for size..guns in our streets, reduction of personal freedoms, no access to abortion, suppression of homosexuals, enforced religious schooling etc etc..

Want to hear a truism? Under the liberals, we were resigned to be a second rate country, with no standing in this world..liberals always talked a good game, but under them we dropped into the eighties in peacekeeping/peace enforcement, our foreign aid dropped, our foreign policy was seen as a joke, with no clear vision our armed forces were allowed to wither when it came time to finding money for pet social programs.Under the conservatives this is changing, and we have a true voice that is principled.Canada truly is back, that Canada of my forefathers before the liberal social engineers took over..

"All i can say, is that it looks good on you, and paybacks a bitch isn't it?

Good for you.

Bring your sleeping bag, that trip to the wilderness will be a long one..

Sorry, we're not going to just go away. The right wing was quite free to work out its problems for years, because they knew the country will still be here, no matter how long the Liberals are in power. We don't have that luxury. Harper is dangerous to Canada. We will not go and snooze someplace."

Harper is dangerous to liberal pigs who would love to still be wallowing in the trough..he is dangerous because he will undo all the social engineering that have allowed you to lead Canadians around by the nose, all the while fattening your wallets for your friends, whilst turning Canada furthur to the left..

Liberals are dangerous, and they have been for a very long time.Canadians only started to wake up to this fact in Jan.2006

Anonymous said...

Aside from obsene language and outright slander, are there not any restictions on "parliamentary privilege"? If not, then nothing said within the House can be taken at face value. Perception it would seem is everything and truth means nothing.

OMMAG said...

Kursk .... you're wasting your time and energy on someone without the maturity or intelligence required for constructive self examination.

Go back and read any number of comments by this juvenile cheerleader for the Libs and you will see not one evidence of critical thought process behind it's blathering diatribes.

Anonymous: Tue Nov 20, 03:48:00 PM EST....
I remind of "Fuddle Duddle" one of the pivotal moments in the general loss of decorum ... courtesy Liberals.

The rule of the house are constantly abused by grandstanding fools ... when the LIberals do it the MSM reports what they claim and ignores the measured response.
WHen the NDP do it ... mostly gets ignored as the same old nonsense from the party of nonsense.

When the Conservatives do it (yes they do) it is ignored or mocked by the MSM and the Liberal clever retorts are dutifully reported as proving how superior they all are.
Notice ... you NEVER see the MSM mocking the Liberals behaviour.

However, I think this may soon change as Dion continues to provide such easy fodder for mockery.

My observation of our current government ..... much more mature.
Thanks Stephen Harper!

Anonymous said...

Wow, a lot of action in my absence.

An "anonymous" commenter said the Conservatives abstained from voting, so why the double standard if the Liberals do it.

Well, I hate to break it to you, at the time it was because Mr. Harper said the budget was "a conservative budget" so he wouldn't be opposing it (that was before the NDP extorted another 4 billion from the Libs so that they could remain in power).

BTW, Joanne, re: parliamentary language. The speaker in the Quebec National Assembly recently admonished the honourable members that it was unparliamentary to refer to a member as a "girouette" - a weather vane. I guess we truly are distinct in Quebec ;-)

Anonymous said...

One other great thing about PMSH...he brings out the worst in
liberal supporters.

And one praticular lib sup cannot even deal with the context of the great smackdown #501 (Nov. 19/07)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I guess we truly are distinct in Quebec ;-)

Gabby, too funny!

It might be that the defining thing with Parliamentary privilege is to not call another member names outright, but perhaps it is considered o.k. to label the behaviour, as in 'liar' vs. 'lying' or 'not telling the truth'.

Or maybe you can't use the L-word at all. It will be interesting to see how the Speaker rules on this one.

Anonymous said...

It might be that the defining thing with Parliamentary privilege is to not call another member names outright, but perhaps it is considered o.k. to label the behaviour, as in 'liar' vs. 'lying' or 'not telling the truth'.

Or maybe you can't use the L-word at all. It will be interesting to see how the Speaker rules on this one.


No, Parliamentary privilege simply protects you from being sued for libel or slander, if your words are spoken in the House.

You can be turfed for "unparliamentary language", and calling someone names can qualify, but you cannot be successfully sued.

Similarly, you cannot be successfully sued for libel based on statements made at trial in a court. If you are proven to be lying, that is perjury. But a fact free statement in court that is not proven false will not libel.

Anonymous said...

Did you watch QP when the Harper group were in opposition? This is mild, mild, mild compared to their antics and statements.

And, please, let's leave the step outside stuff for the low life punks in cheap honky tonks.

Möbius said...

Of course, Dion has said he would never go negative, like trying to link Harper to Mulroney.

How long did that last?

Welcome to political reality, M. Dion.

Möbius said...

Not selling it out for coins, like Harper is bound and determined to do.

Likely the most (unintentionally) funny thing I've heard a Liberal say in the last several years.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the Liberals have shown their real side in regards to Schreiber and finding out "the truth".


Anyone see the clip on Duffy and Newman where NDP MP Martin and a Bloc MP blew a gasket when the chair, Liberal MP Szabo decided that if Schreiber appears before the committee the only questions asked can deal with May 2006 until present. NO questions in regards to Schreiber and the Liberals decade old relationship.

I have never seen Martin that mad. You can repeatedly hear him saying you son-of-a @$#!* because of the Liberals tactics.

Anonymous said...

Dion's got more trouble brewing again in Halton....check out "The Garth Who Stole Christmas"

www.miltoncanadianchampion.com/news/article/136798

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Anon, that's hilarious!!!

Thanks for that. Never a dull moment with good old Garth.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

This is funny too - Liberal entitlement lives on.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

So his only option is to resign. I think he'll use the Mulroney inquiry to find an excuse.

You really have lost it, L.S.

Anonymous said...

Hey Joanne - Kinsella's doing his Barney Rubble bit again re: the Peter VanLoan vs Dithering Dalton dust-up.

Sad that a guy of Kinsella's calibre can so easily resort to name-calling and going negative, when he's got nothing else.

I think Dalton's wrong on this whole issue. Ontario is NOT a growth province. Perhaps if it were we could take his hissy fits seriously.

Anonymous said...

Hey anon. - that whole Barney Rubble thing will backfire on Kinsella because Barney Rubble is a very endearing character. Every one loves Barney Rubble.

re: going negative and name-calling - Kinsella's quick to complain when it's his Liberals on the receiving end but oh, how he loves to dish is out....

Anonymous said...

I've been wondering lately just when someone will be suing Kinsella for something he has said.
L.Ian MacDonald's article this morning is so good. Hope everyone reads it.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Ruth, I just read Macdonald's piece too, and posted a link. Also just did a new post on the Rubble-McGuinty spat.

Warren is really something. He almost rivals Garth Turner in ways that are not flattering.

Anonymous said...

Kursk, OMMAG (king of the stupids), Gabby etc...

You surely have an awful lot of time on your hands for such a group of highly skilled, successful, profoundly intelligent and surely unimaginably wealthy citizens of the world.

Have you ever paused to think that maybe, just maybe, your little PM and his party might not be infallible?

Again, I recognize that the ability to taunt in a highly partisan way is the high watermark of reasoned and intelligent discourse, but you may wish to consider some other issues as well, such as stewardship of our economy, which is heading towards dangerous waters with the ridiculously free-spending supposedly "conservative" government.

It is clearly conservative only in words. It figures because few if any of them, let alone career political hack Harper, have ever had to budget and meet a payroll.

Anonymous said...

"Again, I recognize that the ability to taunt in a highly partisan way is the high watermark of reasoned and intelligent discourse, but you may wish to consider some other issues as well, such as stewardship of our economy, which is heading towards dangerous waters with the ridiculously free-spending supposedly "conservative" government.

It is clearly conservative only in words. It figures because few if any of them, let alone career political hack Harper, have ever had to budget and meet a payroll."

Wow, do you ever think before you write? Have you not seen the Liberals complain that Harper is evil because he has cut spending? Which budget has Harper run a defecit since taking power? If he is spending too much where has he found the fiscal capacity to implement his tax cuts? Have you not read the economic reports showing how strong Canada's economy is, DESPITE a slowdown in the U.S.?

Nobody on here said he was infallable, just that he is a vast improvement over the previous government.


paulsstuff

Anonymous said...

MacDonald's article says it all

"This isn't about what happened 20 years ago, nobody cares about that," admits one senior Liberal. "It's about nailing Harper."

Anonymous said...

I could care less about what the Liberals say about spending cuts.

This government has increased spending massively across the board, while making a few select ideologically driven cuts to programs they simply didn't like. Peruse the writings of some reasoned conservative writers such as Andrew Coyne who to his credit regularly points out the irony of having a high spending conservative government.

The issue of deficits is a different one entirely. A decade of quite prudent fiscal management has left us in a very good position, but it is not a "default" position and will not
continue in perpetuity without constant vigilance and sound planning.

The tax cuts are largely small and highly targeted to modify behaviour, something which conservatives are not supposed to like. The GST cut, while hugely expensive, is far less effective than meaningful across the board income tax cuts, as any economist will tell you.

So, yes, I do think before I write and you would be well advised to do the same.

Anonymous said...

"The tax cuts are largely small and highly targeted to modify behaviour, something which conservatives are not supposed to like. The GST cut, while hugely expensive, is far less effective than meaningful across the board income tax cuts, as any economist will tell you."

Yep, those targets are highly targeted, with the biggest winner being those young families with young kids. Makes sense to me. Income spiltting for seniors. Makes sense to me. The GST cut might seem trivial, but apply it to the price of a house. Many families actually have to include the tax into the mortage, then pay interest on it for 20+ years. Vehicle sales? Same thing. Hargrove never seems to mention the tax savings on an automobile purchased and produced here in Canada. (And I am a 30 year CAW member). Not to mention the Liberals were going to use the $5 billion from the GST cut for national daycare. How does that help people who cannot or have no need for daycare? And how is National Daycare going to grow the economy faster tah a GST cut. Please get these economists to explain that.

A large part of the spending increase is military spending, something that was sadly neglected by both Mulroney and Chretien/Martin. And ZI remember Chretien claiming that the Cold War was over and there will never be a need for a strong military. Thats the same Chretien who sent our under-managed troops to Afghanistan.

Anonymous said...

"The GST cut, while hugely expensive, is far less effective "

Um - I beg to differ on this one. The Left rails on and on about how the GST cut only benefits the rich while across the board tax cuts are what we need.

But - the lowest income Canadians do not pay income tax and therefore DO NOT benefit from any "tax cut" yet they have to buy clothing, household items, food (whether or not the GST applies to same), transportation, gas etc. etc. etc. Therefore, any cut in the cost of the everyday items will benefit them.

So your "every economist" seems to be looking at things from the same economy that talks about a "cost of living" that does not include things like home heating, electricity etc.

Instead of listening to the rich lawyers in the liberal party or the economists - go talk to the guy on the street and ask him if he likes the GST cut or would rather have a "tax cut" (which by the way, the Tories have also done and are going to be doing more of as of Jan 1 of 2008)

So I would advise you to quite thinking because obviously you have your head in those left wing clouds - come down where the average Canadian lives and see what the real world is like.

Anonymous said...

"Kursk, OMMAG (king of the stupids), Gabby etc...

You surely have an awful lot of time on your hands for such a group of highly skilled, successful, profoundly intelligent and surely unimaginably wealthy citizens of the world."

Qui? MOI !?!
I don't think I ever claimed to be any of the above - but I'll humbly accept the laurels you cast my way - you know, highly skilled, profoundly intelligent ... oh, please! stop! I blush!

As far as infallibility is concerned, even the Pope's is being challenged, so I don't think conservatives have claimed that's what makes Stephen Harper a good leader.
But here's some qualities that I appreciate in PM Harper (not in any particular order):
• honest
• decisive
• straightforward and plainspoken
• hard-working and disciplined
• intelligent
• flexible when circumstances warrant a change in position
• a true democrat who believes in the Canadian people's ability to manage their own affairs without state intervention into every facet of their lives.

Thanks again for all the compliments ;-D

Joanne (True Blue) said...

You seem more passive aggressive lately.

Passive?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

No, Parliamentary privilege simply protects you from being sued for libel or slander, if your words are spoken in the House.

Wow. So the only penalty would be to get turfed out by the Speaker. Meanwhile, unsubstantiated allegations can go out unedited through CPAC.

Amazing.

Thanks, Liberal Supporter.