Better by Half

Michigan and Florida that is.....and to the chants of Denver! Denver! Denver!

In other news, Obama pulls a Peter...or is it a Judas?

Stelmach a Little Full of Himself

This comes as no surprise.

NDP Getting Beat Up Over Carbon Position

The NDP used to be the champion of environmental issues. Environmentalists have even flocked to the party in past years. In B.C. however, Gordon Campbell's new Carbon Tax policy is signalling a sign of things to come for Jack Layton's federal Dippers. Environmentalists are now flocking to the side of BC's government on this issue. At the same time, they're appalled by the Dipper stance on the issue.

This will echo well for Stephane Dion on the campaign trail.

He's Come Undone

Poor Stephen Harper. Now he's suffering Liberalitis. Cabinet leaks to Jane Tabor. Poor bastard.

Julie Couillard - 619 and counting

619 Search Word Hits on this blog alone in the last 48 hours. 76% from other countries. Good thing this is not an international scandal.

Kady and the Committee of the (worm) Whole

In case you didn't know that the Canadian economy is in perfect shape, Kady O'Malley gives us a blow-by-blow (save for the sandwich and posting breaks) on the Committee of the Hole.

Thanks for working your fingers to the bone Kady - literally.

Conservative Blogger Calls for Jason Kenney as Foreign Minister

Frankly, I think Ms. Julie Couillard might be better than that choice. Anyway, Angry in the Great White thinks Jason "I'm the King of Multi-Culturism" Kenney would be his first choice for Foreign Affairs. Cleary this signals that the Conservatives are out of BENCH STRENGTH. After Bernier, O'Connor, Guergis, Ambrose, Poilievre, Kenney is next in line for foot in mouth syndrome.

Jason Kenney? Really? Do they sell Kool Aid abroad? Jason Kenney? Talk about a guy that can make Maxime look like a rocket scientist on the world stage.

Julie Couillard's Place in the World

This post can be filed under the heading of: "In case anyone thinks that the rest of the world isn't watching Canadian politics under a microscope."

Yesterday was one of the higher traffic days on this ole blog of mine. A quick analysis showed that most of the incoming traffic was generated by google searches of "Julie Couillard".

Fine. I get that. What did surprise me however was that a little more in depth analysis showed that the majority of the incoming google searches came from countries other than Canada. Yes, the rest of the world is watching you Mr. Harper.

Here are the last 60 referrals to my blog along with the location of where the searches hail from:
1a.
1b
2a
2b
3a
3b

Jeff has an in depth look at the headlines around the world.

Conservatives Asked Julie Couillard to be a Candidate

Imagine that! Lost in tonight's interview, Julie Couillard states "the Conservative Party had actually approached me to ask me if I'd be interested in becoming a candidate" (Minute 4:50)

Really? I thought they didn't know much about her.

Bernier Resigns in Favour of David Emerson

Update: The Interview


Resigns? Yeah. Sure.

Somebody better tell Deepak his boss was fired.

Leaving national documents at you girlfriend's house is never going to be a good outcome for a cabinet minister. Fife says RCMP investigation probable.

REMEMBER how all the Conservative trolls and bloggers kept telling us this was a non-starter? An imaginary scandal. Remember how all the Dippers, including Jack Layton, Thomas Mulcair, Paul Dewar, and Pat Martin kept saying that this was nothing and the Liberals were taking too much time in the House with their questions?

Chantal Hebert also thought it was a non-starter.

Maxime Bernier is Doing an Excellent Job

Just as Deepak Obhrai.

Here he is on Politics with Don Newman.

More Harpercrytics

They are such hypoctites aren't they?

In Opposition, the Harper Conservatives railed against patronage and cronyism they claimed was endemic in the Liberal governments.

"They've been touters of public virtues and they do have that burden of having to be purer than Ceasar's wife," said Parliamentary expert Ned Franks, professor emeritus at Queen's University.

That Stephen Harper Guy Sure is a Coward

So, in a week that promises to be explosive in the House of Commons, the PM decides he should go away for a while. And away to talk to Europeans about climate change...something he is a denier of. Be prepared to be embarassed on the world stage again.

Don't you think he should stick around and explain things to Canadians like why we had to rent a plane for a million dollars, why we can't find out exactly who interfered in a US Election, why Maxime Bernier is still Foreign Affairs Minister, why Vic Toews is being mentioned for a Federal Court appointment. Then again, he has Van Loan and Poilievre for that doesn't he?

The Conservatives are Soooooo Done Now

And this is bigger than you think. I know these two guys. I know what they're capable of. Not good news for the CONS. Stay tuned for more big internal Liberal moves coming soon to a Liberal Party near you.

AND, if we can just hear some news about Warren Kinsella's future appointment to the head of the War Room...then the circle would finally be closed and life in Liberal land will be all good again.

Imagine. Kinsella vs. Flanigan, Finley and Giorno. 3 on 1? I'll bet on Warren!

It's always good to dream a little dream.

Quebec Takes on Harper

Like the Stanley Cup final, the next election is shaping up to be a version of East vs. West. On Harper's side is the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. On Dion's side is everyone east of Manitoba, save for whatever is left of the Bloc.

Why, you ask? Well we already have Danny Williams campaigning against Harper in the Atlantic provinces. Jim Flaherty is assuring Liberal victory in Ontario. And, now, you have Jean Charest's government ready to take Harper on head to head over senate reform. Harper didn't see that one coming.

What does all this mean? Simple really. Stephane Dion is the next prime minister of Canada!

Conservatives are Entitled to Their Entitlements Too!

Jeff Jedras offers up a very in depth post today about the continuation of the Conservatives hiring Lobbyists. I wonder how Guy Giorno, a believer in access to information is going to get his head around PMSH getting rid of such freedoms as access to information.

Liberals Ahead of Conservatives in New Nanos Poll

I warned the Dippers they'd be in trouble in the next poll. 5% in Quebec. Good for fifth place. In the meantime, the Liberals are +14 from the last poll out west. Still think Harper wants an election right now you Conservative Trolls? Watch that Immigration Bill get stalled now. Better yet, maybe Stevie will prorogue again.

Here's Nik on the Numbers:

Methodology
Polling between May 7th and May 11th, 2008. (Random Telephone Survey of 1,004 Canadians, 18 years of age and older). A survey of 1,004 Canadians is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. The subset of 847 committed voters is accurate to within 3.4 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.


Question: For those parties you would consider voting for federally, could you please rank your top two current local preferences? (Committed Voters Only - First Choice)

The numbers in parenthesis denote the change from the previous Nanos Research Survey completed in April, 2008.

Committed Voters - Canada (N=847, MoE ± 3.4%, 19 times out of 20)
Liberal Party 34% (-2)
Conservative Party 33% (-3)
NDP 15% (+1)
BQ 11% (+3)
Green Party 8% (+2)
(*Note: Undecided 16%)

Committed Voters - Ontario (N=266, MoE ± 6.1%, 19 times out of 20)
Liberal Party 43% (-7)
Conservative Party 33% (+1)
NDP 17% (+4)
Green Party 7% (+1)
(*Note: Undecided 16%)

Committed Voters - Quebec (N=223, MoE ± 6.6%, 19 times out of 20)
BQ 40% (+5)
Conservative Party 23% (NC)
Liberal Party 22% (-1)
NDP 5% (-8)
Green Party 9% (+3)
(*Note: Undecided 11%)

Committed Voters - West (N=279, MoE ± 5.9%, 19 times out of 20)
Conservative Party 42% (-9)
Liberal Party 33% (+5)
NDP 18% (+2)
Green Party 8% (+2)
(*Note: Undecided 18%)

Committed Voters - Atlantic (N=80, MoE ± 11.1%, 19 times out of 20)
Liberal Party 42% (-9)
Conservative Party 26% (-5)
NDP 22% (+8)
Green Party 10% (+7)
(*Note: Undecided 18%)

Rule #583 - When in a Hole, Quit Digging

It's been a long day for a fellow blogger we know. The fireworks started this morning, but they just keep going on and on and on well into the night. But, now, my blogger friend has decided to use the "ethnic card".

Oh Boy. That's not going to play out very well.

Stephen Harper Winning the Hearts and Minds of Women

Really?

Harper to Canadians: We Can't Help you.

That's the basic premise of his big (Liberal) announcement yesterday.

MICHAEL OLIVEIRA

The Canadian Press

May 21, 2008 at 6:23 PM EDT

Beamsville, Ont. — Canadians stung by record-high energy costs shouldn't look to Ottawa for a gas-tax break as such measures would do little to slash prices at the pumps, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday to the chagrin of critics who said there's plenty of room for government action.

With oil prices having more than doubled over a year ago — surpassing $133 (U.S.) on commodities markets Wednesday — Mr. Harper touted broad-based tax cuts as an antidote and slammed Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's plan to tax carbon.

“The ability of governments to affect the price of gasoline per se is so small that it's not worth doing,” Mr. Harper said following an announcement on new food labelling regulations.

TRANSLATION: I blew all the surplus we had and cut the lucrative GST, so we have to get money on the backs of all Canadians. And, my oil buddies and my home province are really happy right now. Screw Ontario, Dalton deserves it.

“What you've really got to do is lower costs for consumers generally, rather than try to fight the upward trend in the price of gasoline.”

Overall tax cuts, like the two percentage points his government has taken off the GST, are the best way to bring savings to consumers, Mr. Harper added.

“What we don't need right now in the face of rising gasoline taxes and rising taxes on energy products are governments that come in and specifically impose carbon taxes on our economy,” he said.

“We think that is a foolish and unnecessary policy being proposed by our opposition.”

TRANSLATION: I hate David Suzuki and I blew the wad when I cut the GST, so now I'm stuck with this inflation thing.

A carbon tax proposal is to be the central plank in the Liberals' election platform. Mr. Dion is expected to unveil the plan before the end of June and then spend the summer trying to explain it to Canadians.

The implementation of a carbon tax would be more about raising revenue than helping the environment, Mr. Harper said.

“If what you really want to do is get money for the government and claim that you're trying to reduce emissions, then you impose carbon taxes.”

TRANSLATION: We still don't believe scientists across the world on this climate change thing. And, we have no idea what we're going to do to get money that we just blew back into the coffers in the face of a major recession with soaring inflation.

Gas prices at the pump and other energy prices were the big impetus behind April inflation, which rose to an annual 1.7 per cent.

Pump prices have risen 11.6 per cent from last April, while fuel oil and other fuels surged 36.9 per cent, the fastest increase since September 2005. Taking gasoline prices out of the calculation, the inflation rate would have been 1.3 per cent in April.

Given that provincial and federal taxes make up almost one-third of the price of gas, it's a myth to say governments can do nothing about the pump price, said John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“The government has a great deal to do with rising gas prices; 28 per cent of pump price is tax,” he said.

“If governments were to act, either in solo or in concert, prices would come down.”

The GST cut, Mr. Williamson added, doesn't really affect the price of gas.

TRANSLATION: Harper is full of sh#t.

But Chisholm Pothier, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's press secretary, said the GST cut has in fact “given Canadians a break at the gas pumps.”

“It lowers the price of gas every time a Canadian fills up their tank,” he said.

Toronto-area Liberal MP Dan McTeague said he also doesn't buy Mr. Harper's argument, and he noted that with fuel prices in their current range, Ottawa stands to add a substantial amount of cash to its coffers.

If prices keep rising unchecked, it could bring the Canadian economy “to its knees,” said Mr. McTeague, a long-time gasoline price watchdog.

“It's already having a troubling, damaging impact on the manufacturing sectors of this country,” he said.

Despite record-high oil costs, prices at the pump — while painfully high — have not yet risen in tandem.

Mr. McTeague predicted that disparity would come to an end as early as Thursday as gas and diesel prices begin to rise.

TRANSLATION: Jim Flaherty is full of sh*t. Canadians are going to pay $1.50 a litre by the end of spring.

Mr. Harper also made stops Wednesday in several southern Ontario communities and held an hour-long roundtable discussion with town residents in Thorold, where he heard their views on the struggling economy, disappearing jobs and other local issues.

Ralph Journeay, who is self-employed and runs his own auto parts business, said he was impressed that Mr. Harper took the time to listen to their concerns, and he supported the prime minister's GST cuts.

He said he couldn't fault Mr. Harper for saying he was powerless to control gas prices.

“Our hands are tied. I wish we could [lower prices] but I don't know that we can,” Mr. Journeay said.

“But that 2 per cent on the GST, that's helping, and hopefully in time we can get rid of all it, get rid of the other 5 per cent. That would be great.”

TRANSLATION: I'm friends with the Conservative party and probably donated to them. (A Ralph D. Journeay has given $890 to the Conservative Party since June 2004). Journalists should be more careful.

Ian Brodie's Head Rolls First

The master of the Obama Leak is gone. In his place comes yet another Mike Harris leftover - Guy Giorno. Doesn't this Harper government remind you of the last days of Mulroney when everyone was in hot water and resignations were almost daily?

The Harris list of Cronies continues up in Ottawa. Watch for a landslide in Ontario by the federal Liberals in the next election.

UPDATE: How is Giorno going to defend a government that is shutting down access to information when he has built a reputation for exactly the opposite? Here's an excerpt from his resume:

During the 1990s he routinely represented public-sector institutions (respondents) in freedom of information appeals, but Guy now acts exclusively for requesters, helping them to exercise their rights to obtain government records under freedom of information/access to information legislation.

NDP Set to Filibuster Immigration Bill

So says Olivia Chow.

In what could be the only vote left to bring down this brutal government of Stephen Harper, all eyes will be on this bill. It should prove interesting. Will the Conservatives continue their claim that they are ready for an election on the budget implementation bill by not accepting any ammendments on the Immigration Bill contained therein? Will they accept ammendments? Will they remove it completely as the Parliamentary Committee recommends? Will it even make it back to the House before June 20th (or the 6th if Harper calls it early)?

My belief is that the Conservatives truly don't want an election right now.

Big News from Saskatchewan and Orchard

Update: Hello readers of SDA. I see you!

Media release
Wednesday, May 21, 2008


David Orchard to run for the Liberal nomination in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River

"Following an extensive period of consultation across the riding, I have decided to put my name forward as a candidate for the Liberal Party nomination in the northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

As part of the Liberal team, I will offer my energy and experience to work for an alternative vision for the riding and the country to that put forward by Stephen Harper’s government. If selected, I intend to speak for Metis, First Nations and non-aboriginal alike. Mine will be a fighting voice for. everyone — the Meadow Lake farmer, the daycare worker in Sandy Bay, the student in Pinehouse, the trappers in Cumberland House, or the fishermen and women in Wollaston Lake. It is my hope to also be a voice for understanding across the cultural and racial divide in this far-flung riding, which covers over half of Saskatchewan.

I pledge my strengths to the battle for justice and fair play for a region in Canada that has not seen enough of either.

I am a fourth generation farmer who knows agricultural issues in my bones. As a teenager I drove a tractor in farm protests. In 1975, our farm made the transition to 100% organic production. In 1995, I ripped up the Crow benefit cheque for $15,000 for my farm at a press conference, because I believed that the Crow rate, guaranteed to farmers in perpetuity, was not for sale.

I have spent thousand of hours in the battle for First Nations and Metis rights. In the 1980s, I was part of the effort (successful) to save the historic bullet scarred boards on the front of the rectory at Batoche. In the 1990s, I stood with the Elders and protesters at Canoe Lake, was arrested and jailed with them, in the battle for environmental protection and for a fair return to First Nations for their forest resources.

Throughout my adult life I have worked to protect our country’s sovereignty and the environment upon which we all depend for our survival.

In the weeks ahead, I will continue to travel from farm to farm, town to town and First Nation to First Nation across the north to speak, to learn and to listen.

I will ask for support from across the riding and in turn will continue to give my all, whether on the national stage or on one in Pelican Narrows or Ile-a-La-Crosse, for a better, stronger, fairer Canada for all of its citizens, regardless of race, colour, occupation or background."

Finley's Immigration Bill Doomed

And thank goodness for that. A Bill dissed by every immigrant group and the Canadian Bar Association should be trashed. But will the Conservatives listen to the letter written by their own chair? I doubt it, so we'll see if we get an election over it. Then again, the Conservatives really don't want an election right now do they?

Another Conservative Cabinet Minister with Spousal Issues

This time the Cabinet Minister uses Parliament as a get out of jail (in this case testifying) free card.

Let's see now. Maxime Bernier - Cabinet Minister involved in dreadful mistakes abroad and bikers. Lawrence Cannon - Cabinet Minister involved in an In and Out Scandal with Elections Canada. And, now, Cabinet Minister Josse Verner invoking Parliamentary Priviledge to help out her husband's company. That Conservative Quebec wing is sure making sponsorship look like a long gone thing of the past in PQ.


It's like shootin' fish in a barrel these days. Wait until an election, when all these CONS have to speak for themselves without restraint by the PMO.

Conservative Accountability Act My Ass...Hypocrites and Liars

And the NDP and Pat Martin are in shock!

Oh. You thought the Conservatives were telling the truth with those shit-eating grins did you Pat? If I were in a campaign war room for the Liberals, you can bet your ass I'd be doing a point by point analysis of the bullshit contradictions the Conservatives have maneuvered through their own Accountability Act. Then again, we'd need an election for that.

accountable for the broken trust;and accountable for all that they failed to accomplish because of this government’s total preoccupation with scandal and damage control.
For those Canadians seeking accountability the question is clear: which party can deliver the change of government that’s needed to ensure political accountability in
Ottawa? We need a change of government to replace old style politics with a new vision. We need to replace a culture of entitlement and corruption with a culture of accountability. We need to replace benefits for a privileged few with government for all.

Clean up the procurement of government contracts
Under the Liberal government, abuse of the government contracting process has become
commonplace. Former Liberal cabinet minister Art Eggleton, for example, awarded an untendered contract to a former girlfriend. He was later appointed to the Senate by Paul Martin.
The plan
A Conservative government will:
• Review and amend all contracting rules to make the government’s procurement process free from political interference.
• Appoint a Procurement Auditor to ensure that all procurements are fair and transparent, and to address complaints from vendors.
• Permit smaller vendors and vendors outside of the National Capital Region to receive due consideration for government contracts.

Harper Warned Bernier...He Didn't Listen

h/t to Paul Wells on this one.

It seems the Stand Up comedy continues for the Conservatives. PMS Harper was apparently concerned about Mad Max's companion as far back as October. Le Devoir has the story here. We already knew that Bernier's staff had serious concerns too. Some feel this story is going to die away. I say not until Mad Max has been shuffled again. He gets kicked over to Treasury to replace Toews, who is heading for the Manitoba Bench.

I wonder who will accompany him to the next swearing in thingy?

Harper Classless as Mulroney

History will show in years to come that Stephen Harper and Brian Mulroney were the most classless Prime Ministers ever. In Mulroney's case, history has already reared its ugly head.

The distinction of being the only two PMs in recent history to not attend the portrait hanging ceremony of a previous PM is theirs alone.

Conservatives...Doin' it Old Style

We need a change of government to replace old style politics with a new vision. We need to replace a culture of entitlement and corruption with a culture of accountability. We need to replace benefits for a privileged few with government for all.
Everyday Canadians – the hardworking people who pay their taxes and play by the rules – want and deserve a new government that will put the people’s interest ahead of self-interest.

Replace old school? Privileged few? People's interest ahead of self-interest?

An unelected cabinet minister. A cabinet minister vying for a Federal Court appointment. A finance minister making policy to protect his retirement. Privileged few in deed.

Accountability and Transparency Applies to EVERYONE...unless you're a conservative

Here's today's message from the now infamous Conservatives Standing ON Canadians playbook from the last election campaign.
Strengthen Access
to Information legislation
The Liberal government has consistently rejected attempts to provide Canadians with access to government information. The present Information Commissioner has gone to several times to force the government to open its windows.
The plan
A Conservative government will:
• Implement the Information Commissioner’s recommendations for reform of the Access to Information
• Give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of information.
• Expand the coverage of the act to all Crown corporations, Officers of Parliament, foundations, and organizations that spend taxpayers’ money or perform public functions.
• Subject the exclusion of Cabinet confidences to review by the Information Commissioner.
• Oblige public officials to create the records necessary to document their actions and decisions.
• Provide a general public interest override for all exemptions, so that the public interest is put before the secrecy of the government.
• Ensure that all exemptions from the disclosure of government information are justified only on the basis of the harm or injury that would result from disclosure, not blanket exemption rules.
• Ensure that the disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act cannot be circumvented by secrecy provisions in other federal acts, while respecting the confidentiality of national security and the privacy of personal information

So here's today's lie based on deception. These guys just keep bullshitting Canadians. Have you ever seen a government go to court as much as the Harperites? Ever?

Harper and Bernier to Embarrass Canada...AGAIN!

Here's what Harper said in his Stand On the Backs of Canadians 2006 Campaign Manual


advance our interests on the world stage

And here is more of what this brutal foreign affairs twosome plan to do next. Abandon a bid for a spot on the UN Security Council. Why? To save themselves from international embarrassment.

Do these jokers remember anything they said during their last campaign?

My Man John Edwards

I've made no secret about my respect and support for John Edwards. In fact, I will keep my John Edwards link on this very blog. In communicating with some Edwards supporters today, I get the sense that his endorsement today has a great deal to do with ending the nomination process as soon as is humanly possible to get on with the business at hand...beating the Republicans.

Although Senator Edwards said on Larry King Live the other evening that he wasn't considering a shot at the Vice Presidency on any ticket, I certainly hope that Senator Obama can talk him into it. What a ticket that would be!

So, ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to email the Obama campaign and suggest to his braintrust they have that conversation with the good Senator.

Got Blow?...I Love Blow

Now, I don't know about you, but the justification of marketing a brand name at the expense of some moral decay and the youth that we are influencing in so doing, might be summed up in one, VIAL product launch.

Blow Energy Drink is alive and launched in the US. Here is their home page. The company claims they are not marketing their product under the guise of Cocaine and that their target market is an older crowd.

See if you can spot some of the contradictions to those statements by viewing their online marketing.

I'll start you off. The product is shipped in powder form and contains a mirror and a fake credit card. The girls on their homepage are all of what, 15? The homepage has a white powdery substance in a vertical line that certainly resembles a smash. Then there's the whole entire product page that uses every possible catchphrase known to mankind in the world of cocaine users.

Anyhow, genius marketing?...or the decay of our society?...talk amongst yourselves.

Harper is at War: Dion

Stephane Dion is starting to emerge from under his self-imposed shell. Bold statements like these get headlines. As I told one national co-chair over sushi recently, the Canadian public is just waiting for the guy to tell them something...anything.

He made his mark as a "man of letters". Notorious for writing to Quebecers in letters to the press. It's high time we see that confidence again.

As for Harper? I think this line summed him up in a nutshell:

"He's wielded his power as head of government to attack the state. It's across the board, whether it's the Senate, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Elections Canada, these are all institutions of the state that he doesn't like."

Truth be told, this Harper guy has been fighting Canadian institutions forever, and he isn't going to stop until they are dismantled.

Donate to Stephane here. Make your voice heard.

For the Dippers...That Was Short Lived

In the not-so-distant past I suggested that an Angus Reid online poll may have been less than accurate. You see, that poll showed 20% support for the NDP. I tried to point out to some of the Dipper fans writing in that these type of polls were not reliable and to wake me up when the next poll came out. One blog declared this could be the greatest thing since Broadbent won 43 seats.

Guess what? The next poll is out. Guess what else? The Dippers are back to their 14% territory. In the meantime, the Liberals continue their march upward.

Don't forget to donate. NO EXCUSES!

Conservatives Are Above the Rules

I like the new Dipper tactics in the House and on the streets these days. Much better than the worn out Liberal attacks. First there was Pat Martin exposing another Conservative election fraud. And, yesterday, we had Mr. Angus taking on Bev Oda. Great quote at the end of this article.

Mike Duffy: "This guy is not a rocket scientist this guy Max Bernier"

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR I FINALLY AGREE WITH DUFFY ON SOMETHING. I THINK HARPER MIGHT BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH POOR MAXIME WITH STATEMENTS LIKE THIS.

$10 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY

Now, I've searched high and low for the square footage of 24 Sussex Drive. It would appear that nobody has the answer to "how big is 24 Sussex Drive". Not even the National sites have it.

Anyway I'm going to put my tiny realtor type hat on and give the grand old house 20,000 square feet (I'm really thinking 10,000). Having been there once, I'm going to assume the home needs new everything.

To that end, the calculation is an easy and even $500 a square foot. Now I don't know what part of Canada all of you live in, but where I come from, you can build an entirely new home, land in, for $200-$250 a square foot. Sussex already has the 3.8 acres of land.

And people were outraged when this family below put a pool on the property.



So what in God's name are we getting for $500 a square foot in renovation and where can I submit my estimate for the job?

VICTORY IS OURS

On the heels of The What Do I Know Grits efforts to reduce the Leader's debt comes a massive initiative by the Liberal Party of Canada.The Victory Fund. Donate now and donate often.

Stephen Harper Standing Up on Top of Canadians and Their Institutions

Today's Stand Up Comedy manual excerpt. This is Stephen Harper's message to Canadians taken from his 2006 campaign manual.

The time for accountability has arrived.
Canadians will soon be able to finally hold the Liberals accountable. After 12 years in power,the Liberals must be held accountable for the stolen money; accountable for the broken trust;and accountable for all that they failed to accomplish because of this government’s total preoccupation with scandal and damage control.
For those Canadians seeking accountability the question is clear: which party can deliver the change of government that’s needed to ensure political accountability in
Ottawa? We need a change of government to replace old style politics with a new vision. We need to replace a culture of entitlement and corruption with a culture of accountability. We need to replace benefits for a privileged few with government for all.

Everyday Canadians – the hardworking people who pay their taxes and play by the rules – want and deserve a new government that will put the people’s interest ahead of self-interest. And this election provides them with a chance to tell Liberal Ottawa that they've had enough; that they’re tired of being forgotten; that it’s finally their turn.

Now don't you think these are words that Mr. Harper can choke on right about now?

NO SPRING ELECTION - BLAME THE TOILETS

That's right. Blame the plumbing.

My conspiracy theories are rampant on this. You see, Diane Finlay was supposed to appear infront of the Immigration Committee and the Finance Committee today to answer questions about Bill C-50. You all recall Bill C-50. That's the one that reminds you of when you have to wrap your dog's antibiotics in a piece of cheese so that he doesn't recognize the awful pill. Bill C-50. An awful Immigration Reform Bill wrapped in a Budget Implementation Bill.

Anywho, because the plumbing at Parliament Hill had zero pressure today, Mrs. Finlay didn't get a chance to appear at these committees. So what does that mean? It means the committees will be stalled again.

The long and the short of it is that the Conservatives really don't want a spring election whilst in the middle of 5 scandals. So they will stall this Bill in committee until it can no longer get back to the house before the summer break. You see the Conservatives know full well that this is the Bill that Liberals have no choice but to vote against. They know that the Dippers and the Bloc may vote against it too, thereby toppling their shaky little minority government.

The House is set to adjourn for the summer break June 20 - a mere 46 days from now. However, his royal majesty Stephen Harper could end the session a couple weeks earlier, which means 32 days from now.

In the final analysis, what all of this means is that the Conservatives, as much as they would lead the public to believe, don't want an election right now. They'll stall the only Bill that can spark an election. And this all because of a toilet.

Say, didn't the Conservatives have some favours to call in from the Mayor of Ottawa?

Oh Those Scandalous Dippers

Former BC NDP MP (say that ten times fast) is in a little hot water.

More Conservative STAND UP Comedy

Here are a couple more entry discrepancies from The Conservative Election Manual for 2006. The manual's title? Stand Up...There's the comedy!

On POLLING the Conservatives said this under the Accountability section

I guess technically they aren't hypocritical then if they've screwed taxpayers on election rebates claimed for polling by transfers from 50 of their candidates.

On ACCESS TO INFORMATION the Conservatives said this under the Accountability section

I guess technically the Conservatives getting rid of CAIRS doesn't fall under this category either. But really, I think it kinda does, don't you.

Danny Williams' ABC Campaign to Continue

Today on Question Period Danny Williams was discussing Equalization. Craig Oliver, bolder than ever, ended the segment by asking Danny Boy if he was going to continue his ABC - Anyone But Conservative - campaign. And, further, will Danny Boy be campaigning openly against the Harper Conservatives.

Danny's answer: You bet. He made that pledge and he's sticking to it (my words).

Fundraising 101. Just Ask!

No Excuses Update #2. Thousands of dollars sent in already. Send money today.


NO EXCUSES!!!

All of my readers know what my position is in regard to whether or not I think we, the Liberals, should bring down this bloated, phony, corrupt, and ineffective Conservative Government.

If you have read any of my more recent blogs, you will also know that I do not think we should wait to bring them down.

And further, it should be apparent to any of my readers that I have become somewhat critical of MY leader for not shifting this party into campaign mode . . . STAT!!!

There has been a lot written on other bloggers’ sites and in the news that the Conservatives are outpacing the Liberals in gathering donations and that many Liberals, including MY LEADER have not yet retired their campaign debts.

That being said, I want to give MY leader NO EXCUSES for not bringing Stephen Harper and his opaque, secretive, irresponsible, and entirely disrespectful government down at the very next opportunity.

I am therefore proposing that all of my Liberal friends and all of those who read my blog and all of you who support the party go to this link and make whatever donation you can make to help retire Stephane Dion’s campaign debt and leave him with NO EXCUSES for continuing to prop up the Harper Government.

And when you are done making your donation, forward this link to all of your Liberal friends and colleagues.

Donate now and donate often. The only shame involved in this solicitation is my shame in having Stephen Harper remain Prime Minister of this great country any longer than is absolutely necessary.

Press here to help retire the debt.

My friends and I have already donated. Your friends should too!!!

NO EXCUSES!!! The Update

UPDATE 12 Hours in: People are donating. YOU SHOULD TOO!!!


NO EXCUSES!!!

All of my readers know what my position is in regard to whether or not I think we, the Liberals, should bring down this bloated, phony, corrupt, and ineffective Conservative Government.

If you have read any of my more recent blogs, you will also know that I do not think we should wait to bring them down.

And further, it should be apparent to any of my readers that I have become somewhat critical of MY leader for not shifting this party into campaign mode . . . STAT!!!

There has been a lot written on other bloggers’ sites and in the news that the Conservatives are outpacing the Liberals in gathering donations and that many Liberals, including MY LEADER have not yet retired their campaign debts.

That being said, I want to give MY leader NO EXCUSES for not bringing Stephen Harper and his opaque, secretive, irresponsible, and entirely disrespectful government down at the very next opportunity.

I am therefore proposing that all of my Liberal friends and all of those who read my blog and all of you who support the party go to this link and make whatever donation you can make to help retire Stephane Dion’s campaign debt and leave him with NO EXCUSES for continuing to prop up the Harper Government.

And when you are done making your donation, forward this link to all of your Liberal friends and colleagues.

Donate now and donate often. The only shame involved in this solicitation is my shame in having Stephen Harper remain Prime Minister of this great country any longer than is absolutely necessary.

Press here to help retire the debt.

My friends and I have already begun to donate. Your friends should too!!!

In the words of the immortal Bruce Springsteen: NO RETREAT BABY, NO SURRENDER

NO EXCUSES!!!

NO EXCUSES!!!

All of my readers know what my position is in regard to whether or not I think we, the Liberals, should bring down this bloated, phony, corrupt, and ineffective Conservative Government.

If you have read any of my more recent blogs, you will also know that I do not think we should wait to bring them down.

And further, it should be apparent to any of my readers that I have become somewhat critical of MY leader for not shifting this party into campaign mode . . . STAT!!!

There has been a lot written on other bloggers’ sites and in the news that the Conservatives are outpacing the Liberals in gathering donations and that many Liberals, including MY LEADER have not yet retired their campaign debts.

That being said, I want to give MY leader NO EXCUSES for not bringing Stephen Harper and his opaque, secretive, irresponsible, and entirely disrespectful government down at the very next opportunity.

I am therefore proposing that all of my Liberal friends and all of those who read my blog and all of you who support the party go to this link and make whatever donation you can make to help retire Stephane Dion’s campaign debt and leave him with NO EXCUSES for continuing to prop up the Harper Government.

And when you are done making your donation, forward this link to all of your Liberal friends and colleagues.

Donate now and donate often. The only shame involved in this solicitation is my shame in having Stephen Harper remain Prime Minister of this great country any longer than is absolutely necessary.

Press here to help retire the debt.

My friends and I have already begun to donate. Your friends should too!!!

In the words of the immortal Bruce Springsteen: NO RETREAT BABY, NO SURRENDER

Another Broken Harper Promise

In the "Our principles no longer apply to us" files, we have this for you good readers today:

2006: The Conservative Party makes a promise to the people of Canada in order to improve our democracy: Make all votes in Parliament, except the budget and main estimates, “free votes” for ordinary Members of Parliament.

Source: Page 44 of the 2006 Conservative Party Election Platform (you know, the one Canadians elected them on).



2008: The Conservative Party breaks a promise to the people of Canada in order to keep their firm grip on power:Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is declaring film tax-credit legislation a matter of confidence in the Conservative government, meaning MPs could land on Canadian doorsteps this spring to debate the line between art and pornography.

It seems principles for the Conservatives are something to be used in order to get elected, but not to govern.

(h/t TB)

Thank You to All of Paul Wells' Readers

for stoppping by yesterday. More proof I'm not the only one that is glad his stint in Paris is over.

While Paul explains that my position on Quebec Liberals will be countered by Conservatives gaining equal amounts of seats from the Bloc, I'd have to say that the Liberals will balance that off by winning seats back in Ontario. Burlington, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Trinity Spadina and Parkdale-High Park to name a few. There's always the posibility of Oshawa, Barrie and ADFW as well. Most of those gains in Ontario will be at the expense of the NDP and a dab of Conservative on the side.

And, one final word on this. The gross underestimation of Stephane Dion as a leader is something that his leadership rivals have learned is a mistake. This assertion that Dion won't play in Quebec will be shot to hell in a campaign.

So, yes. Two days ago I said I wouldn't be happy with the Liberal Party if we didn't take this sore excuse for a government down before summer. I'm still of the opinion I will get my spring election. That is if the NDP and Bloc don't change their mind about having one.