Thursday, March 13, 2008

YOU be the Blogger

I'm taking a few days off and may have Comment Moderation on, but I will check in occasionally to allow any non-profane, rational thoughts on anything you wish to discuss.

If any comments are especially noteworthy, I'll post them here.

In any case, have a great weekend!

* * * *
Saturday Update:
This is worth a read - Michael Coren: I do, I do, I do, I do.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your time off, Joanne!

From Wiki:
"To date, Judge Ito declines to give interviews regarding the O.J. Simpson trial because the Canons of Ethics that guide the conduct of California trial court judges forbid comment upon pending matters or matters likely to come before the courts."

I'm beginning to wonder about Judge Gomery's "Canons of Ethics" after seeing this:
http://tinyurl.com/ytegz9
“Speaking Thursday on CTV's Canada AM, Gomery said he is disappointed little has been done with his report, which took two years to complete and made 19 recommendations.
"I was expecting the report would be given more consideration and would be to some degree at least followed, and it really hasn't. It's been put on the shelf."

He said the Conservative government adopted its own version of what it thought was necessary to improve accountability, with its Accountability Act.”

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/248550
“Gomery, 75, a retired Quebec Superior Court justice, is taking on a new challenge as a legal commentator on Radio-Canada and its all-news channel, RDI, the network announced in a news release Tuesday.

Gomery criticizes the Conservative government for its apparent lack of transparency, yet
http://tinyurl.com/2dakhp
Gomery fights release of sponsorship commission e-mails
Jack Aubry
CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, August 21, 2006
“How can a former head of government take part in this vaudeville show! Everything was there, even the shills at the back of the room. His lawyer looked uncomfortable. This show didn't impress me,” Gomery reportedly told Perreault.
But lawyers on the Chretien side now argue that the revelations in the book, which was approved by Gomery and included a preface from the judge, provide more fodder for their court case against Gomery and his findings. …”

And although I seldom agree with Kinsella, he makes some valid points here:
http://tinyurl.com/2dakhp
A tell-all that shouldn't be told
Warren Kinsella, National Post 
Published: Thursday, February 02, 2006
“As La Presse revealed in a little-noticed story this week, a senior official with the Gomery Commission was permitted to write a book about what was going on behind the scenes -- while the commission was still underway. And, as recited above, Justice John Gomery gave his blessing.”

Judge Gomery appears to relish remaining in the spotlight.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Judge Gomery appears to relish remaining in the spotlight.

Good observation, Gabby. I was just thinking about that myself. I used to admire the man, but he does seem to be crossing the line between matters of the courts and that of Parliament.

Perhaps he is allowed to do that now since he has retired.

Anonymous said...

Hey...will you be in my neck of the woods?
I'll wear my CPC t-shirt around town...so you could spot me!...lol..

bluetech

Anonymous said...

Yes, he has retired, but he is not a "retiring" man, as in "withdrawing from contact with others; reserved; shy."

He did the job he was given. So now, why make the kinds of wild statements he's made, like "the prime minister's office is developing a dangerous concentration of power"
AND
«That very trend ..."is a danger to Canadian democracy and leaves the door wide open to the kind of political interference ... that led to what is commonly called the sponsorship scandal."»

Möbius said...

I'm a little concerned when I hear (nominally) conservative folk criticizing Gomery for pushing implementation of his recommendations post-sponsorship.

Do you think the current government could never be caught up in such a scandal? We don't need rules? Talk about history repeating itself.

Kinsella will always find a quasi-criticism of Gomery, somewhere, somehow, because of his allegiance to Chretien. Don't play that game. Insist on the CPC implementing what is needed to prevent Adscam II. They need to be cleaner than clean.

Möbius said...

From Wiki:
"To date, Judge Ito declines to give interviews regarding the O.J. Simpson trial because the Canons of Ethics that guide the conduct of California trial court judges forbid comment upon pending matters or matters likely to come before the courts."


I think it's more likely he declines interviews because of how he screwed up that trial.

OJ is free, and threatening peaceful Las Vegans as we speak.

Anonymous said...

"OJ is free, and threatening peaceful Las Vegans as we speak."

As far as I know, all the politicians who knew about Adscam and who should have known about what was going, are all free, some drawing a handsome pension, and others drawing their MP's salary without hardly ever showing up in the House.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Hey...will you be in my neck of the woods?

Bluetech, no not this time. Not so far north. But hey, wear that CPC shirt anyway! ;)

Anonymous said...

"I'm a little concerned when I hear (nominally) conservative folk criticizing Gomery for pushing implementation of his recommendations post-sponsorship."

Gomery appears to be more miffed about the fact that ALL of his recommendations were not implemented holus-bolus, rather than improving the workings of government.

Gomery claims that all the power resides within the PMO, which at this time means in the hands of Stephen Harper.

Has Gomery forgotten that it is this PM who has relinquished the power to call an election whenever the fancy strikes him by passing legislation for fixed election dates?
One less power in his hands.

Has Gomery forgotten that it is this PM who commissioned the Manley Report to advise him on the future of the Afghanistan mission, whereas other PMs exercised that decision without any consultation?

Has Gomery forgotten that it is this PM who TWICE put a motion before the House on the Afghanistan mission, something the previous government, who initiated the mission, did not do?

Has Gomery forgotten that the PM had selected Gwyn Morgan to chair the new public appointment commission for the grand sum of $1 dollar per year, but thanks to the NDP’s accusation of racism, his appointment was rejected, and the position has not been filled?

Has Gomery forgotten that it is this PM who named an ELECTED senator to the Senate, not some party hack expecting a sinecure?

Finally, Judge Gomery should perhaps read this article:
http://tinyurl.com/2hcevb
“Kathryn May 
The Ottawa Citizen 
Monday, February 27, 2006

A national group of business and former government leaders has launched a campaign to oppose Justice John Gomery's proposals to dilute the "chief executive powers" of the prime minister, including the authority to appoint deputy ministers who run departments.”

And here is the response of the Prime Minister to that group:
http://tinyurl.com/38aww2

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Chantel Hebert surprised me this morning: Valid reasons to resist Gomery's cure.

Anonymous said...

Chantal Hebert made the same points last night during the At Issue panel on The National, and I'm glad at least one journalist sees the other side of the issues, not as seen through Gomery's hurt feelings.

Anonymous said...

I don't have any comments about Gomery but I do have a comment about unions. That is the big topic on the local radio station this morning because yet another union is trying to intice Toyota workers at the plant in Cambridge to join the union.

It doesn't look likely to go through but I'm surprised they'd even try. I think that many are finally realizing the direct link between unions and the closure of many manufacturing plants in Waterloo Region. If our manufacturing sector has any hope of surviving the overseas competition, we need to abolish unions completely.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I think that many are finally realizing the direct link between unions and the closure of many manufacturing plants in Waterloo Region.

Unions certainly are a huge issue. There may be other factors such as the high dollar etc., but when push comes to shove and a company has to close, they would certainly focus on a plant with a militant union that has been giving them nothing but grief.

And profitablility is hard enough today - especially in Ontario. If the union bosses refuse to give an inch on wages, then I think their fate is sealed.

Anonymous said...

Lieberal's had more to gain by influencing Chuck Cadman than the opposition conservatives

Anonymous said...

this article is a bit disturbing to me ...I mean what is going on and why ? katou.... http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8323

Anonymous said...

katou...When I moved to this are(North Bay 30 years ago) there were both American and Canadian soldiers at the base. I suspect this may be a continuum of an on going agreement.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Yes, I actually toured the NORAD site in North Bay a long time ago. Quite the amazing underground facility there!

I think this latest agreement is merely intended to be a facilitation of assistance by either country in times of emergency. The host country would still be in charge.

It's something that any good neighbour would do for another but it cuts through the red tape.

Of course, the conspiracy theorists will believe what they want anyway...

Anonymous said...

Re: 'Inside the CBC'
Just a confirmation of what we have known all along but the lefties try to deny.
From the lack of comments on this topic I believe it reveals that most BT's not shocked at all.

bluetech

Anonymous said...

For those who are concerned about American Forces personnel being based here in Canada, please refer to Wiki (NORAD):

"… NORAD's main technical facility has been the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado ...

Discussions and studies of joint systems had been ongoing since the early 1950s and culminated on August 1, 1957, with the announcement by the U.S. and Canada to establish an integrated command, the North American Air Defense Command. On September 12, operations commenced in Colorado. A formal NORAD agreement between the two governments was signed on May 12, 1958. …

Recent deputy commanders include:
• Lt. General Charlie Bouchard, CF (August 2, 2007 – )
• Lt. General Eric A. “Rick” Findley, CF (July 14, 2003 – August 2, 2007)
• Lt. General Ken R. Pennie, CF (August 8, 2001 – July 14, 2003)
• Lt. General George MacDonald, CF 1998-2001
• Lt. General Donald C. MacKenzie, CF 1983-1986
• Lt. General Edwin Reyno, CF 1969-1972
• Air Marshal Clarence Rupert Dunlop C.B.D., SS, Croix de Guerre, D.C.L., D. Eng, B. Sc, RCAF 1964-1967
• Air Chief Marshal Roy Slemon, RCAF 1958-1964"

Anonymous said...

Sounds like more unneeded bureaucracy .I guess during Catrina the people of new Orleans were gladly surprised to see members of the RCMP ..I think there were a few Firemen that showed up on the 911 thing as well .
I mean why would we sign into something that we have already shown the ability and the will to do anyway ...One thing I have learned watching Govt's ..there can be way too much red tape .
These people take their orders from who? Oh yes these creatures we see on TV name calling and coming up with their own conspiracies ..do you want to be my friend then sign here , just so its legal ,right .Now tell me would we have to circumvent any laws or maybe amend any statutes or just what is involved in doing something like this ...is it a treaty of sorts ?
Who would be liable for something going wrong ..Oh yes I should leave it in the competent hands of our fearless leader's to make all the responsible decisions ...Dione included ..as sad or crazy scary as that may sound we only need look south and see how politicians do their stuff ..no watch a episode of the house ... katou

Anonymous said...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7267134620652018859
Gabby in qc here is a who of who's in military ..Truth and Liberty is a conspiracy .well at le3ast the one we are led to believe.....katou

Anonymous said...

"Truth and Liberty is a conspiracy .well at le3ast the one we are led to believe"

Katou, I fail to see what the link you provided has to do with your initial post re: "The Deployment of US Troops inside Canada."

It is your prerogative to believe what you want about our neighbours to the south. There's no lack of conspiracy theories inside and outside America, so you're free to choose the one you prefer.
As for me, I'll continue in my firm belief that we share many common values with America and Americans.

Anonymous said...

gabby in qc I'll continue in my firm belief that we share many common values with America and Americans.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5646.htm
value is not always portrayed as it should be ..I value human life and would think that America would as well but gee they have to be the biggest killing machine of human life this world has ever seen .
I guess we maybe should decide how to govern not who to govern .katou