BS: Wild Canadian Politics

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 02:52 PM

Well Jim Lad ... maybe when the lefties get a full majority in the House of Commons there might be a couple of seats vacant in the Senate for two East Coast working stiffs such as gnu and me.

Happy Christmas to you too Jimmy. :)

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 02:41 PM

Well it's actually $130.000 per year, Gnu and I'm only guessing here but I'd have to say that judging by some of your comments, you probably lean slightly left of the governing party and for that reason alone are not likely to be offered a position.
I could be wrong of course.
Happy Christmas to all of you.
Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 02:21 PM

I'm with ya on that one gnu !

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 02:20 PM

His counterpart on CBC was quite giddy when being teased about being appointed in the lead up to this.
The CBC has been absolutely brutal towards this government in general.
I think the choice to appoint two CTV personalities was a bit of a slap in the face to CBC.
Mike had open heart surgery about a year ago and has not been well since.
I think this is one way of allowing the man to contribute.
I know that if you don't like the Conservatives then nothing Mr. Harper does will ever be right but the simple fact remains that to not fill the seats would have been the biggest mistake of his career as Prime Minister.
Parliament has been held to a virtual standstill with the opposition holding the vast majority of the unelected positions.
There will be at least eleven vacancies in the next year.
Once they are filled, the Senate Reform can begin and I think we are all in agreement that the Senate cannot stay the way it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 01:59 PM

If someone offered me about $200k a year for life and the opportunity to voice my opinion on Canuckistan's future in public, in the media, and actually also have ALMOST a say in the legislation? Bet yer bottom dollar I would sign up!!!

The Duff should have refused? What fuckin planet did these twits come from?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 11:26 AM

Another reaction to the Duffy and other appointments:

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=7db1d777-5489-4e65-8887-8e9eb37280ee&p=1

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 11:12 AM

Some reaction to the Duffy appointment:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/todays-paper/Duffy+appointment+raises+eyebrows/1107500/story.html

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 11:09 AM

While Duffy will represent PEI, (was born there) I do"t believe he lived there since the early 70's (excluding vacations, of course).

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 09:57 AM

time for a Mars bar eh ? or is the Senate going Greene ?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 07:48 AM

I can kinda understand them all, except Nancy Greene. Come on, now.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 07:45 AM

The Duff is from PEI.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: bobad
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 07:44 AM

Well, Harper said he was going to reform the senate, it is certainly re-formed now.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Beer
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 07:35 AM

Hay Gnu!,
Is Mike Duffy from Newfoundland?
I knew his brother Peter who worked in St. John's
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 06:57 AM

The Duff too!!!

The new senators include:

two former Conservative and Progressive Conservative MPs (Fabian Manning of Newfoundland and Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis of Quebec);

two former Conservative candidates (Yonah Martin of British Columbia and John Wallace of New Brunswick);

two former advisers at the provincial and federal levels (Stephen Greene, onetime chief of staff to Preston Manning, and Fred Dickson, a former adviser to Nova Scotia premier John Buchanan);

six party officials, fundraisers, supporters and organizers (Michael MacDonald of Nova Scotia; Leo Housakos, Patrick Brazeau and Michel Rivard of Quebec; Nicole Eaton and Irving Gerstein of Ontario);

three former provincial elected officials (former Conservative MLA Percy Mockler in New Brunswick, former B.C. Liberal MLA Richard Neufeld and former Yukon Party member Dan Lang).

The remaining three are the most well-known and were not previously engaged in Conservative politics. They include career broadcaster Mike Duffy, who until last week hosted a daily hour-long political show called Mike Duffy Live; Former CTV broadcaster Pamela Wallin, who served last year on the independent panel of Canada's role in Afghanistan; and Olympic gold medalist skier Nancy Greene Raine.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 06:36 AM

"What is the world coming to?" That is the question. Is nothing sacred!???! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 08:06 PM

Cigar smoking used to be a big part of Christmas.
Now you have to nip out in the snow for half a fag.
What is the world coming to?
I ask you.
WWJD?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: bobad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:55 PM

I was gonna say that you guys should start a new thread on Cuba appreciation because of the drift factor but then it came to me that that's probably where much of our government is heading anyway so it's not too out of place. We will return to our kvetching when parliament resumes.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:43 PM

Regarding those famous Havana cigars, Jim Lad...

They're still a big item in Cuba, specially for tourists, but the funny thing is that Fidel Castro himself publicly gave them up at least a decade ago (or maybe more) in order to encourage Cubans not to smoke. No one ever thought they'd see the day when Fidel stopped smoking cigars, but the times have changed. ;-)

A lot of the folks I went down with brought back a few Cuban cigars for their friends and family back in Canada. I like the smell of the things before they're lit...lovely...but after they're lit? Godawful!

All a matter of personal taste, I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:36 PM

My nephew stayed in Gardenas at that place LH .... I know what you mean about those tourist compounds ... the reason I asked was that we want to go to Cuba in May ... and are on the search for some lodgings in Havana, far from the resort mentality as possible. I can appreciate and understand your love for that country.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:34 PM

"but they laugh and roll their eyes when foreigners request it, because it has become such a cliche over the past 60 years (in Cuba, I mean)."
Well when you translate the lines I chose, I can see why.


For the sincere friend
Who gives me his honest hand.
Those poor people have suffered at the hands of their neighbours since I was 5.

Never smoked a La Habana but my first cigarette was definitely a Number 6.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:32 PM

Number 6 - We landed in Varadero, but I spent the visit (a week) in Cardenas, the same city that Elian Gonzales comes from. It's not a tourist spot, but I wasn't doing the standard tourist thing at the hotels. I was staying with some Cubans at a place which is sort of like a community service and teaching facility. It's run by the United Church community in Cardenas...and they are an excellent group of people, I must say. I had about the best time there that I have ever had in my whole life, and it has left me with a profound love for that country and its people.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:21 PM

Ah!
The Spanish Unicorn.

I've noticed (Without introducing any "Key" words here) that the man in charge is missing from the news today.
If as I suspect, he has taken a trip overseas then I'm sure we all wish him a safe return to his family in time for Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 06:16 PM

LH ... did you by any chance stay in La Habana when you where in Cuba ?

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 05:20 PM

The really cool thing with that song, Jim Lad, is to hear some Cubans sing it...which I have...but they laugh and roll their eyes when foreigners request it, because it has become such a cliche over the past 60 years (in Cuba, I mean).

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 03:48 PM

"Yo soy un gran ejemplo de...de... (Dang! I can't remember the word for what comes next.) ;-)"


Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 02:47 PM

Yo soy un gran ejemplo de...de... (Dang! I can't remember the word for what comes next.) ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 02:22 PM

LH ... usted no puede ser una lengua

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 02:08 PM

"doesn't any one out there speak anything other than english?"

I speak Spanish, filidh. Es me segunda lengua. Esta bien?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 01:12 PM

No way on earth that this individual is from Cape Breton, Meself.
Nothing there but decent folks the last time I checked.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: meself
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 12:08 PM

" people in cape breton respect our democraticv institutions and are upset at their being ignored bedcause untike a poser like you they have tradition and respect their political foes"

Yeah, buddy, you clearly have great respect for your political foes. Please stop posing as the voice of Cape Breton; you're making the place and its people look really bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 07:05 AM

Heheheee... just opened a PM telling me to stop my weening (which I have) and calm MY Irish temper. It also suggested that "Coalition" might be a song for Jim Lad to pen. Could be; I am sure it would be a good one.

Carry on.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 02:21 AM

"Well ... that's wild Canadian Politics Jim Ladd"

Looks like this spelling my name wrong thing is catching.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: filidh
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 12:15 AM

ps

thanks for asking, i'm new to mud cat. and to the internet
and of laddy boy had emersed himself in cvape breton celtic culture he ought to know what filidh means--but clearly he doesn't --ergo he's a poser

doesn't any one out there speak anything other than english?

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 11:52 PM

I guess it's part of the freedom of speech, freedom of expression that they want here in the Cat ... in someways it is disconcerting, but I can see their point. Just learn to roll with it I guess. There has been worst nastiness around here, and they do step in at a certain point.

Maybe they can't determine the geographical area as the individual at issue here as he/she/it could be from outside our known galaxie ...


ok ... let's stick to the subject of the thread.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 11:36 PM

I find it disconcerting too. Seems to me that the Joe Clones here can determine which server (in which geographical area) a post is coming from, can't they? That would at least narrow it down some.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 11:19 PM

Well ... that's wild Canadian Politics Jim Ladd ... goes with the territory .... but I'd say this is pretty mild compared to threads with such topics as an American election, religion (whew, that get's pretty heated) and the the big bad daddy of them all is the great Canadian Seal hunt ... man, now that one is one donnybrook of a topic.

Now ... let's get back to some wild Canadian Politkal banter here .. wake me up around the end of january.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 10:57 PM

It's not that difficult to have two completely different handles without any of the staff knowing.
Having said that, I repeat that it most certainly is not LittleHawk.
I am concerned about the mental stability of whomever this individual is though. He or she addresses me as if I should know them, is pretty damn insulting and when I check, there is no record of this person prior to this thread. Not even a "Hi, I'm new here" type of post.
I'm pretty sure most of you would find it pretty disconcerting but because we don't share the same political views, most of you seem to be okay with that.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Beer
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 09:03 PM

L.H. , you have just pointed out something that i have been wondering about as well. When one registers there is information that is required. Now if you went back and tried to register again under a different handle, wouldn't the folks that are doing all the behind the works stuff know that one is trying to register under two different names? Maybe i have it all wrong and I won't apologize for thread drift.
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 08:49 PM

And I have a wacky sense of humour, which is why I sometimes post as "Guest, Chongo Chimp" or "Guest, Blind DRunk in Blind River"...but when I do that it's always as a Guest poster, and it's normally a character that pretty well everyone here already knows is one of my joke characters.

I don't even know how one would go about posting under a different Mudcat membername from one's usual membername...I've never looked into that, and I wouldn't want to in any case.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Beer
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 07:22 PM

I've known Little Hawk almost from the beginning when I joined 6/7 years ago. I assure you and others know as well, that Little Hawk has no need to hide behind another name. He is well respected very knowledgeable.
Adrien
(from Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Great grand father from the Margaree in lovely Cape Breton.)

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 06:46 PM

"I have no intention of insulting you or anyone else by posting over the top, badly spelled political diatribes on this or any other thread."
Good answer. Pity more of you didn't afford those postings the contempt they deserved rather than offering encouragement.
You're right, LH. The coward is not you.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 06:41 PM

Jim Lad... "I don't think my political savvy is in question, Gnu."

Yes, it is. Simple fact of the matter is, you have repeatedly ignored and pooh-poohed many posts on this and other related threads as if you haven't read them or you think they have no merit.

When you ignore the facts and the requests for you to address the facts, you lose credibility. When you lose sight of the fact that your credibility is in question and you repeat your mistakes, including debasing those whom you apparently feel superior to because of your ability to write posts in proper English (mind, not everyone is as educated as you... or, perhaps, has your eyesight???), you only repeat your incredibility.

Political savvy? You have as much as as your arguements... saying tha same thing over and over with little substance? Address the facts and provide some reasonable input. AND... read the posts of the people you purport to debate. When you ignore true debate, it is to your detriment.

Having said that, I intend to stand down. No sense in talking to someone who doesn't listen. We'll see what happens after Jan 26. If Stevie One becomes a human being, the Coalition will be worthwhile. If not, the Coalition will be more than worthwhile.

gnightgnu

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: number 6
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:45 PM

I don't think it was L.H. at all ... probably was that nasty monkey friend of his .. Chongo.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:38 PM

Jim Lad, you had best think carefully about what you are saying. If you press the matter, I can easily get Joe Offer or Big Mick or one of the other clones to confirm for you that I did not make any posts under the membername "filidh".

I have no reason to insult you, I have not done so, and I have no intention of insulting you or anyone else by posting over the top, badly spelled political diatribes on this or any other thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:10 PM

I don't think my political savvy is in question, Gnu.
Think about it some more though.
Theatrics? Would Mr. Layton risk his chance at grabbing the brass ring by talking "Smack"?
He did and he lost.
Mr. Dion who wanted power at any cost joined in and lost his party.
The separatists are basically in hiding and the Conservatives get to govern without the drama that is Question Period interrupting them on a daily basis.
They had to take the pulse of Canadians is why they gave a warning.
Unfortunately, the media was all over it and before you know it, parliament was in a frenzy with no apparent way out.
Stephen Harper gave them a way out and has been rewarded with a huge spike in the polls.
Mr. Ignatieff has taken over the Liberals and now seems to want to build his reputation as a more co-operative member of parliament.
He gets the same polls as we do.
I'll be interested in how the other two opposition leaders fare but there is one more shoe yet to drop from this affair.
What do you think the young Quebecois make of all this separation talk?
Do you really believe that with the opportunities to travel within Canada being what they are, the next generation wants to isolate itself?
They could get by with there French in France but not too well.
You think maybe they would like to learn English like most of their countrymen and be afforded the same opportunities as the rest?

Littlehawk: You want me to believe that some individual whom I've never before encountered just popped into Mudcat with the sole purpose of insulting me?
Because so far, that's all that he (You?) has done.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 03:15 PM

Ummmm... they want(ed) him to clean up his act or they will(were going to) kick his ass.

Perhaps you should read the thread again, take some notes maybe.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 02:13 PM

"Why did all three parties warn Mr. Harper that they were about to form a coalition?"

Hmmm...(?)   Well, maybe...

They wanted to see him sweat?

Or for the sheer drama of it?

Or they have a tendency to be a tad sadistic?

Who knows? ;-) Perhaps we'll find out some day when one of the present luminaries writes his memoirs.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 02:06 PM

Jim Lad, you are mistaken. I have no alter ego on this thread, just my own posts under my own name. I have no idea who "filidh" is, but in any case, they are clearly a member of this forum posting under their own Mudcat membername, they are not me or some other member masquerading as a "Guest".

I have not insulted you. Matter of fact, I have agreed with you on some of the points you've made, but certainly not all of them.

The thing we can all find some satisfaction in is this: for the first time in quite awhile Canadians seem to actually be interested in domestic politics and even excited about it!!! That's a miracle. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 01:35 PM

Ask yourselves this.
Why did all three parties warn Mr. Harper that they were about to form a coalition?
Why not just do it?
Doesn't really matter now because the coalition is dead but they all had the option of voting down a financial statement (not a budget) and leaving the Governor General to decide whether or not there should be an election.

Little Hawk: I'm guessing that's your alter ego up there.
Didn't even read it this time. Not one word of it. So if it is full of the usual personal insults, you've wasted your time.

Subject: RE: BS: Wild Canadian Politics
From: bobad
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 10:29 AM

Not only is Harper a hypocrite and a liar but so is Stockwell Day.

"The brutal fact here is that something has happened that has never happened before in Canadian history," Mr. Day, the current Conservative Minister of Trade, said on CTV Newsnet on Tuesday. "And that is two federal leaders have actually signed a deal with a separatist party whose goal it is to destroy the country."

The separatist Bloc Québécois was part of secret plotting in 2000 to join a formal coalition with the two parties that now make up Stephen Harper's government, according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The scheme, designed to propel current Conservative minister Stockwell Day to power, undermines the Harper government's line this week that it would never sign a deal like the current one between the Liberal Party, the NDP and the Bloc.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

"We will have [in a coalition] a mechanism of permanent consultation empowering the Bloc Québécois on every question of importance, notably concerning the adoption of the budget. This Prime Minister, this government, this party has never and will never sign a document like that," Mr. Harper said.

While in opposition, however, Mr. Harper asked then-Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson in 2004 to turn to him if Paul Martin's newly elected Liberal government were defeated in the Commons.

"We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority," Mr. Harper said at the time.

Now at the time, the Liberals had 135 seats, the Conservative Party had 99 seats, the Bloc Quebecois had 54 seats and the NDP had 19 seats.

So when Harper said that "the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority," that included the Bloc Quebecois. He could not have formed a minority coalition government without the 54 Bloc Quebecois seats.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081203.wquebec1203/BNStory/National/home