Friday, August 15, 2008

Who’s the bigger hypocrite? Harper or the Toronto Star?




Today's Toronto Star Editorial reads "Tories' tactics insult democracy".

Funny, but when I met with the Toronto Star Editorial Board, they didn't consider Flaherty's 18 pages of blacked out documents to be an insult to democracy?


In fact these hypocrites were arguing that it was a "good" thing? That was April 12, 2007. Maybe the Star has "found religion", since then?

I doubt it, since their commercial agenda still rules their inane view on income trusts.


EDITORIAL
Tories' tactics insult democracy
Toronto Star
Aug 15, 2008 04:30 AM


If history is any guide, the hardball tactics being deployed against a parliamentary committee this month are being carefully choreographed by Conservative party strategists. Doubtless they believe the best defence is a strong offence – no matter how offensive to the precepts of a parliamentary democracy.

By denigrating the parliamentary process, they may hope to distract voters from the substance of Elections Canada's allegations of co-ordinated spending abuses in the last campaign, in which Conservative headquarters – then as now – was seen to be calling the shots.

But even by the low standards of this dysfunctional minority Parliament, the latest standoff is unprecedented. Not content to hurl insults across the table about allegations of under-the-table dealings, some Conservatives have opted to duck the table entirely.

One after another, Conservative party officials, former candidates and their representatives who were served with notices to testify have snubbed Parliament and left the witness chairs empty. Some say they were told by headquarters to stay away.

Campaign director Doug Finley added his own unique twist by refusing to appear on his scheduled day and demanding to kick off the hearings so he could no doubt deliver a coup de grâce. In a performance that would have embarrassed previous Tory leaders who had an underlying respect for the institution, Finley behaved like a juvenile squatter who had to be evicted by the Sargent-at-arms.

This disrespect fits the pattern behind the Conservatives' so-called "in-and-out" scheme, which pooled untapped advertising spending limits from local ridings so that the national campaign could exceed permissible ceilings by more than $1 million. Elections Canada says $1.3 million was transferred into the local bank accounts of 67 candidates, then sent back to the national campaign.

It was a dubious moral calculation back then. And the party's latest theatrics may be another miscalculation. By thumbing their noses at Parliament, and aggressively casting aspersions against Elections Canada, the Conservatives are giving voters fresh insights into their modus operandi in the last campaign – and the next one.

Opposition MPs have accused the Conservatives of contempt of Parliament. By turning the committee hearings into a three-ring circus, on a fundamental question of election fairness, the Conservatives are showing their disdain for democracy itself.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's good to see that the press is starting to wake up to Harper's dictatorship. I have watched and watched wondering how far Harper could go before decent members of the press finally put their love of freedom, decency and democracy above their fear of losing their jobs (Harper's firing of anyone who opposes him keeps many in check - bully tactics do work for a time).
More and more Canadians are seeing this 'New' government for what it is, or more so, for what it is not. With Harper, it's all about Lies, Betrayal and Deceit.
Let's hope some more brave reporters step up and challenge this morally and ethically handicapped government.

Anonymous said...

That is one of the srongest editorials I have ever read in modern times.

I'm quite impressed.

Anonymous said...

Premier Says Harper's Comments 'Laughable'

Gary Kean
The Western Star
Last updated at 11:51 PM on 15/08/08

CORNER BROOK — Premier Danny Williams, on Friday, described as “laughable" Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s comments earlier this week that the federal Liberal’s proposed carbon tax [Green Shift] would be devastating to this province.

“I guess if anybody would know what’s not in the fundamental interests of Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s Stephen Harper because he reneged on his promise (regarding offshore oil revenues) and worked against our interest by breaking a $10-billion promise and people won’t forget that,” Williams said during a visit to Corner Brook.

“I also personally don’t forget the comment he made to me in a private meeting where he said we (the federal Conservative party) don’t need Newfoundland and Labrador to win this country."

“It’s all show and based on an election."

“A couple of years ago, we had a great budget — our first really wonderful budget in this province — and I remember him (Harper) standing up in the House of Commons mocking that budget and brought (Tory MP) Fabian Manning down deliberately to sit next to him."

“People don’t forget this and see through it.”

Anonymous said...

Harper Out Of Touch With Atlantic Canada

"If he gets a majority government, God help us all."


The Canadian Press
Sat., Aug 16, 2008 4:46 AM (EDIT)

CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, on Friday, said prime minister Stephen Harper is completely out of touch with Atlantic Canada.

"He basically wrote off Newfoundland and Labrador and Atlantic Canada in the beginning when he said we had a culture of defeat."

Williams said Harper isn’t interested in Atlantic Canada.

"He pays lip service to Newfoundland and Labrador. He was in Atlantic Canada because he’s scrambling for seats to get a majority government. But, as I’ve said before, if he gets a majority government, God help us all."

Anonymous said...

New Harper Party Advertisement

"Hey Canada, I'm Stevie Harper and I'm a celebrity too. I want Canada to know that I'm, like, totally ready to MIS-lead."

(With apologies to Paris Hilton.)

Anonymous said...

To: Dan.Miles@ffin.gc.ca
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 10:16 AM
Subject: Comedian

I don't know whether you are aware of a site on TV where "wannabe comedians" come on for 3 to 4 minutes and if not eliminated go on to the next level. You, I am sure, with your superbly funny assumptions about Brent Fullard would be a hit! You could take your boss Flaherty along because by just being himself, I fall down laughing. As he got any abilities whatsoever aside from the capabilities to chase ambulances. I live in Quebec and much as you might believe the Conservatives are popular here, you are dead wrong. "Ils sont les cowboys" Just keep on believing you are winning the next election...take your cue from McCain. He believes his own lies. What did you do in your former life.....probably had a job where lying and subterfuge were the two assets you had to have. LOL

Anonymous said...

Ditto as for "S&M"...

It only took - what? - about two years to finally put in writing what most Canadians have known all along:

Harper and his thugs constitute a FASCIST (THEOCRATIC) DICTATORSHIP, still exhibiting PREPUBESCENT HORMONAL IMBALANCES.

But it seemed as though the Star had caught the same sort of disease, perhaps transmitted by CON MP Tom Lukiwski.

Anonymous said...

To be honest, I don't think we will ever see a PM who is "in touch" as it's said with every part of the country. Canada is very different from coast to coast, Hence why in Theory Confederation is a good idea for it,

but somewhere along the line we moved from the Provinces dealing with their own matters to a Federal government trying to make a standard across the board which one each issue only pleases a one or two provinces at most with each decision it makes.