Comments on: Bring on the storm and fury

By: Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:00:22 +0000

But Kady can you really sit there and say that they media does a good job with reporting facts? Because from where i sit there is very little fact finding going on and even less being reported.

You even fantasized in another column about calling the treasury department to determine if what Harper was telling the media was the truth. Did you ever get around to calling them? because i would love to know if the numbers back up the 80% claim that Harper made.

By: JustinWordswrth

JustinWordswrth — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:19:42 +0000

Are there Canadian political parties that are not moderate and centrist?

By: Richard Peregrino

Richard Peregrino — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:17:24 +0000

He wants a richer, fairer, greener report?

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:07:08 +0000

I don't feel so bad, then. Misery likes company.

By: William

William — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:00:28 +0000

In these bizarre times that we live in there is not much Iggy can do. Think about it—the perceived fiscally conservative party is projecting the highest deficit in Canadian history and defending it by saying it is small relatively compared to other nations. The three left wing free-spending parties are voting against the new budget update—-Why—the deficit is not high enough—not spending it fast enough ? It`s a tough time to be a liberal.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:29:18 +0000

If Hartburn controls the purse strings, he controls the work. A bully like him should know all about that.

By: sharing

sharing — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:29:08 +0000

By the reasoning of the Harperite stormtroopers my daughter is more qualified than Ignatieff to be PM since she has been a citizen for 7 years. Of course she is only 8 which again makes her the intellectual superior of most of the Harper cabinet. Since she was born in China and is also a european citizen who can speak and write both french an english this makes her superior to the entire conservative caucus. Harper's neocons have howerver excluded her and all others like her as plausible candidates for high office in their negative ads about Ignatieff. Their main complaints appear to be that he is well educated and cosmopolitan. My daughter is neither ignorant nor parochial therefore would not meat conservative standards.

By: SamDavies

SamDavies — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:22:32 +0000

Keep in mind that the Liberals defeated themselves.
The split between the Martin and Chretien camps was just plain sad, and this echoed in the minds of the voters.
Everyone had such high hopes for Martin, but after he went and stabbed the old man, he just seemed wrong.

In any case – all parties and politicians are power driven, at one point or another.
In order to maintain/gain power, policies are adapted/altered.
How else can you explain how Harper has taken us into deficit, considering what he stood for prior to prorogation?
No doubt – Iggy is sitting on the fence. What would you do in his place?

By: futurepm

futurepm — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:16:52 +0000

This statement brought to you by The Little Shop of Tories.

By: sharing

sharing — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:54 +0000

I agree. That would automatically exclude all the "angry old white men" who are the conservative core vote.

By: sharing

sharing — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:12:52 +0000

If playing nice with harper is destructive for the Liberals (especially amongst the rank and file of the Party) it would be pure poison for the NDP. Those of my acquaintances who are NDP supporters would be revolted by the idea of Layton keeping Harper in power. More than a few would switch their votes in such circumstances which is probably one of the reasons Ignatieff is doing things the way he is. The liberals can win by taking moderates from both the conservatives and the NDP. That is the advantage of being a moderate centrist party.

By: JustinWordswrth

JustinWordswrth — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:52:23 +0000

The Weakly Standard

The problem is not with the media, it is with the mediums.

What is so perplexing about the archetypal average man's appalling apathy towards politics is that politics is everything the average consumer of media is drawn to. It is Reality TV.

Politics is just a bunch of strangers attempting to out degrade each other with the hopes of being crowned the champion by determination of the votes from the viewers at home. Perhaps the reason politics does not do so well in the ratings is because we do not get to witness the losers slinking off the stage in shameful dejection.

A philosophically-minded individual might be tempted to ask:

If the news is broadcast where no one can be bothered to hear it, does it make a difference?

By: JustinWordswrth

JustinWordswrth — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:51:12 +0000

The Weakly Standard

The problem is not with the media, it is with the mediums.

What is so perplexing about the archetypal average man's appalling apathy towards politics is that politics is everything the average consumer of media is drawn to. It is Reality TV.

A philosophically-minded individual might be tempted to ask:

If news is broadcast in the woods where no one can be bothered to hear it, does it make a difference?

By: Simon Sez

Simon Sez — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:48:09 +0000

Guess it turns out he is crazy then.

By: rockfish

rockfish — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:00:39 +0000

Who's constantly running to Fox news to spin his latest talking points unquestioned? Who refuses to put his policies to discussion with the Canadian public – instead choosing a pre-selected sham-wow! friendly audience with the Troy McClure of journalism? I'd say the person who doesn't understand the Canadian people, but prefers to give them what he thinks will get him what he wants, is none other than your so-called leader Harper.

By: SeanStok

SeanStok — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:00:35 +0000

I don't *want* to do laundry or go grocery shopping, but I accept such things as part of my responsibilities. It's a bit of an overly simplistic question to know what people really are thinking. Was that a proper poll or a self-select? Also, I wonder what proportion of that 63% *ever* votes. A long way of saying I wouldn't put too much stock in that!

By: YTZ

YTZ — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:48:53 +0000

Maureen, committing funds does absolutely nothing to stimulate the economy. Spending funds might. It is reasonable to expect the government to comment on what has been spent, and if there are delays, why there are.

By: John D

John D — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:46:12 +0000

I would also like to visit this campaign fantasy land

By: Geiseric

Geiseric — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:43:25 +0000

now you tell me ;o)

By: KadyITQ

KadyITQ — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:01 +0000

You got room in that DeLorean for ITQ? Because I *so* want to go back to the now-digitally-remastered-to-take-out-the-sucky-bits version of the mid-90s in which I can only assume these campaigns took place.

By: William

William — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:27:07 +0000

After watching Iggy at the presser I can assume the Liberal Party stands for more money should be spent on the EI program—-but don`t drive up the deficit anymore and no payroll taxes and also get that stimulus money out there now—- but take your time to consult with us about where it is spent and we need an answer to that isotope problem today —-though it has been a problem that`s been brewing for 50 years. How can we vote Liberal if their only policies are so unreasonable and non-sensical.

For those of you that think Iggy has not been given enough time to construct some practical and attractive policies please remember that 3 months after PM Harper became leader of the Conservatives he reduced the Liberal seats in the 2004 election by 40% because his party was policy-driven not power-driven.

For those of

By: Douglass

Douglass — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:26:29 +0000

"The information is available on the funds that Ottawa has committed, "
Committed and spent are entirely different beasts.

It is the federal government that determines when they get the money. So how's that going? Last I heard the municipalities where still waiting on the feds.

By: danby

danby — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:22:33 +0000

Gee whiz Simon, try looking around a bit. The PM has been wholly uncooperative since his ball breaking fall economic statement. The PM has been duplicitous to say the least and there's no reason to think that trend is not continuing. Can you honestly tell anyone what money is flowing?
As far as concerned with being PM, what do you call declaring the Coalition illegal (it wasn't) and then proroguing Parliament in a time requiring both cooperation and swift action. Self serving indeed.
Of course Mr Igantieff is concerned with being PM,and so is Mr Harper.

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:21:23 +0000

Brilliant tactical move. All the folks at the watercooler thought that he looked very Prime Ministerial.

By: Simon Sez

Simon Sez — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:10:48 +0000

How is threatening an election "making parliament work?". Give me a break, Ignatieff. Talk about just in it for himself.

He knows that his election will stop the money from flowing. But he doesn't care about getting Canada out of a recession as quickly as possible. All he cares about is becoming Prime Minister.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:08:58 +0000

The information is available on the funds that Ottawa has committed, but for some reason people (including Iggy) think that it is the federal government that is out there building roads, sewer systems etc. etc. etc. All the feds are doing is providing the money – it is up to the provinces and the thousands of towns, cities, hamlets, RMs, counties etc. that are actually doing the work. So it not be the federal government that determines when a road is built, it may be a small RM in rural Saskatchewan, they will have to send out tenders and hope they can find a company that can fit the work in before the snow flies.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:06:05 +0000

The bigger problem here is the press – when parliament breaks for summer (next week I think) and without an election, the press will have nothing to do but report an real stories that require more than just an opinion (like maybe hard research). Without an election they will become bored children and any mother, grandmother, and babysitter knows that bored children become troublemakers – which is what the press is doing right now. I suggest that the press chill out, maybe live with Canadians who reside outside of the Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto triangle and report back on their findings in the fall – they should try to be useful rather than bored, troublemaking children.

By: DroppingBY

DroppingBY — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:05:59 +0000

I read that a CTV poll showed that 63 per cent of Canadians want no election until the minority government reaches the end of its "term".

This being the case, I'd be happy if, in the 2010 election, the vote was restricted to the 37 per cent of Canadian who apparently understand at least something about how Parliamentary democracy works.

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:05:56 +0000

" … although the stream of muttered curses coming from one of our most election-sceptical colleagues would indicate that for some of us, the writing is on the wall – and it doesn’t say “Have a Fabulous, Restful Summer and We’ll See You In The Fall!” "

Campaign experience of a journo : choking down all the smoked salmon, canapés and free booze you can handle, having your collective behinds kissed by staffers who barely acknowledge your existence at the best of times, traveling around seeing parts of Canada you would have never visited on your own, staying in nice hotels.

Campaign experience of a volunteer : eating crap pizza every day all day, getting yelled at by electors at the door, canvassing in parts of the riding that you normally wouldn't normally be caught dead in but are more likely to turn up dead in, virtually living in a reeking, rat infested campaign office formerly used as a greasy spoon.

That's the sound of the tiniest little violin playing for your colleague …

By: anonlinereader

anonlinereader — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Are you a folding chair sales person ?

By: Geiseric

Geiseric — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:47:59 +0000

I'm looking forward to Harper coming clean on what's been spent.

Can't resist laying claim to one of the "Other" votes on the ITQ poll. :o)

By: anonlinereader

anonlinereader — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:44:10 +0000

Iggy let Giles / Jack paint themselves into a corner over the " estimates " vote ?

By: John D

John D — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:42:42 +0000

If I'm ever on probation, this is the sort of probation officer I want. 'We mean it this time, for real!'

By: John D

John D — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:37:59 +0000

Yeah, you already posted that.

By: DroppingBY

DroppingBY — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:27:37 +0000

The key overlooked point is that Iggy does not actually have the power to call an election. He lost that power when he reneged on the coalition agreement.

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:19:10 +0000

Iggy just jammed Stevie. Now the ball is back in the government's court. Nice.

Harper could have never dreamed in his worst screaming nightmares that Iggy would be pulling the strings of his government. Hilarious.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:17:18 +0000

Likely will be a flesh and blood reiteration of the report submitted a couple of weeks ago. That report essentially said that the 2006 ethics guidelines would have prevented what happened back in 92/93 and especially the Fred D stuff.

Likely would have covered Chretien's Ministry as well, one wonders how much scrutiny has happened on all of those dealings, including those of the Martin camp. Post PM employment is a tough thing. Harper and his cabinet will be the first ones to go through it when they leave.

Other point of the report was that there was no need to toughen the 2006 guidleines.

But you might get a interesting discussion or so out of it all.

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:51 +0000

EEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLEEECTTTTIOONNN

By: John D

John D — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:07:35 +0000

You can breathe during talking points you know.

By: John D

John D — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:30 +0000

Ha! I was thinking the exact same thing

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:54:51 +0000

According to CP, it looks like we're on the Star version i.e. gradual-bailout, but with clench fists and fury, plus maybe some strategic absentees. Of course, he's putting so many constraints that it might seem like he's giving Harper an atomic wedgie which — as ITQ can imagine — is no easy task.

By: knick

knick — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:38:39 +0000

It's all speculation at this point, but I somehow think that if Ignatieff was going to back down he would have done it late Friday when nobody is paying attention, not wait until everybody is paying attention on Monday morning.

By: Big Dave S

Big Dave S — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:32:39 +0000

Now he'll clean, until he's done.

Then he'll have a nap, until he's done napping.

By: Big Dave S

Big Dave S — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:32:15 +0000

I think he's done messing.

By: Mulletaur

Mulletaur — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:31:32 +0000

Why is everybody so bloody impatient ? Do you really want to throw out 'les Cons' that badly ? Iggy just became leader a few months ago, yet he is already supposed to have a universal cure for cancer, a formula for everlasting world peace, a cheap solution to global warming and the end to poverty, etc. etc. We have already seen the consequences of simple, seemingly politically attractive policies which are ill-conceived, such as the GST reduction, which put Canada into a structural deficit even before the recession hit. If you want better governance, you need to give the guy a chance to get his feet under the table at least. Geeesh.