"Deficit? What Deficit?" - Rick Mercer Rant

As Rick Mercer says in his latest rant: "Porky Pig is better suited to manage this economy" than Stephen Harper.

{Video by The Mercer Report}

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Harper: "A little help from my socialist and separtist friends"

How do I feel by the end of the day
Are you sad because you're on your own

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love

Stephen thanks the other two thirds of the Three Amigos for keeping him in power. And someone has a little fun with it.



{Video by Justintet}

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EXPLOSIVE - Conservative Candidate Admits Government is using stimulus for political purposes

Gordon Landon, (likely now former) Conservative Candidate for Markham Ontario, tells City TV:

You're dealing with a Conservative bureaucracy and with Conservative ministers and, unfortunately or fortunately however you want to look at it, they just do not want to proceed with this [stimulus spending in his Markham riding] until such time as the riding becomes a Conservative riding.

And also this:

Landon: There's a lot of things we're not getting here as a riding. [...] They won't give it to this riding because it's held by a Liberal.

Host: The money can't flow because it's not a Tory riding.

Landon: That's right.

An astonishing admission from a member and candidate of the Conservative Party of gross political misconduct with stimulus spending, admitting that projects are being denied if the riding does not elect or did not elect a Conservative Member of Parliament.


{Video by jimranch85}

"What Mr Landon is suggesting indicates a massive scandal. Doling out infrastructure money for political purposes could be considered criminal." I agree.

But that is not the first we've heard of the Conservatives using taxpayer money to buy their way into the next election, now is it? Not to mention issuing government cheques with their party slogans and personal signatures.

When the Conservatives aren't completely bungling the spending, getting only about 12% of stimulus money out the door to help working Canadians, they are funnelling whatever funds they can to Tory ridings. The reality is that they are on more of an announcement rampage than a funding rampage, almost all in Tory ridings. This is appalling, anti-democratic behaviour from a government that is supposed to be acting for all of us.

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The League of Hypocrites: Harper, Layton, Duceppe (GritGirl)

Things are starting to heat up with a lot of Canadians getting increasingly tired of Stephen Harper and his games and his hypocrisy.

The latest instalment from GritGirl goes after "The League of Hypocrites", the coalition of the absurd among Harper, Layton and Duceppe.


{Video by GritGirl}

Is calling them "hypocrites" harsh? Well consider the facts:

- Harper has screached so many times that he could not support a government that relied upon the support of the "socialists and separatists", that to do so created an unacceptable instability in the Canadian federation and was anti-democratic and wrong. Not only has he tucked his principle between his legs on another issue just to keep his grip on power, but this is not the first time. We know he had serious discussions and even, in his words, an "agreement" with the Bloc and the NDP to support Harper taking over government without an election. He was planning on relying on the support of the "socialists and separatists" then, and he's relying on the support of the "socialists and separatists" now.

- Layton was quite apoplectic in January 2009 when the Liberals decided, in the middle of a recession, it was better to get some assistance out to Canadians in need rather than have an election since the Conservatives had done sweet F**k all up until they were forced to act by Ignatieff. He said over and over and over again in January and through to the end of the spring session that he could not trust Harper, he had no confidence in Harper, the Liberals were wrong to support Harper, it was far better to change the government immediately without hesitation. Well, we all know now that that was just bluster and smoke and the little emperor had no clothes.

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Ignatieff: Harper worse than Palin on climate change

In a great speech full of vision and economic policy, I can't help but focus in on one of the best one-liners I've heard in quite a while:

"We're investing less in renewables than the state of Alaska. So when it comes to clean energy, Stephen Harper's not just behind Barack Obama, he's behind Sarah Palin."

{Video by Liberal Video}

Full speech is here, but I'll give you this additional poignant excerpt as well, but read the whole speech for both the sharper attacks on Harper's use of stimulus to fund Conservative ridings, and his general fiscal mismanagement, but also about what a Liberal government under Michael Ignatieff would look like. The election that comes, and it will come, will be about choices and whether Canadians think more of the same is good enough or whether Canadians think we can do better.

"Back in July, after the G8 Summit in Italy, Mr. Harper gave an interview to The Globe and Mail, in which he said, and I quote:

“I don’t believe that any taxes are good taxes.”

Think about that for a moment.

“Je ne crois pas qu’aucune taxe soit bonne,” a dit Stephen Harper.

C’est une déclaration renversante pour un premier ministre.

It’s an astonishing statement for a prime minister to make.

We pay taxes, Mr. Harper, so that premature infants get nursing care when they’re born; so that policemen will be there to keep our streets safe; so that we have teachers to give our kids a good education.

We pay taxes, Mr. Harper, because we’re all in this together.

It costs us something, but it makes Canada the place it is: a place where we look out for each other.

But Stephen Harper doesn’t think that way.

Stephen Harper thinks no taxes are good taxes because he believes that the only good government is no government at all.

Liberals say no.

We don’t believe in big government, but we do believe in good government. If we give up on good government the way Mr. Harper has, then we will cease to exist as one great people sharing one great country—and Liberals will never let that happen.

That’s the difference between us and them.

That’s the difference between Stephen Harper and me.

His is an ideology of the past. An ideology that’s contemptuous of anyone who sees government as a means to do good.

It’s an ideology that vaporized the day Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy a year ago.

When Wall Street crashed, even the most ardent free marketeers turned to government to save the free market.

The last year has proved government’s value, as the guarantor of risk of last resort in the capitalist system.

The last year blew Stephen Harper’s ideology out of the water.

Liberals believe in good government. Canadians believe in good government.

You can’t get growth without good government."

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Liberal Ad: "Green Jobs"

Latest round of Liberal ads, this one about helping create the "green jobs of tomorrow today".



And once again, a nice contrast of a positive ad identifying what Liberal priorities will be versus Harper's ads of personal character assassination that even outright lie.

Is it any wonder to anyone that the Conservatives are afraid to tell us about their record or even to put Harper in any of their own ads?

{Video by LiberalVideo}

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Stephen Harper vs Women (Video)

What happens when a political "leader" cancels 10 provincial deals to provide univeral daycare for working parents, gives parents a measily $50 a month (after tax) when raising a child costs about $43 a day, cancels the court challenges program that has sought equality for women who escape violence at abuse shelters and who are underpaid or who are harassed, attacked pay equity, demoted his "star" women cabinet ministers and insulted any woman who has the audicity to speak out for equality?

You get a spontaneous nation-wide grassroots campaign like "PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT 'LEF-TWING FRINGE GROUP' CALLED WOMEN", supported by the Liberal Party and you get great videos like this one:



Equality is a Canadian value, not an ideological option, Mr. Harper. And elections are about choices.
{Video by The SuperGrit}

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Layton: "Party for Sale or Rent! We'll Support any Government"

Party for sale or rent
We'll support any government
No principles, no guts, no spine
No tape recorders when we dine.
Make us an offer we can't refuse
Anything to get me in the news
You need bills approved so let's move...
Make me a deal!
--- Jack Layton, 2005

While we're posting music videos, here's one from Jack Layton that he calls "The New NDP Theme Song" from the Press Gallery Dinner in 2005.

I guess the upside is that he's been consistent since 2005 when he wrote it, admitting to one and all that the party is "for sale or rent, it's as close to power as I'll ever get".



Full lyrics. Read 'em. It's not only rare and great self-deprecating humour from a politicians (kudos for him for that)... but a blueprint for NDP action in Parliament under Harper!

Party for sale or rent
We'll support any government
No principles, no guts, no spine
No tape recorders when we dine.
Make us an offer we can't refuse
Anything to get me in the news
You need bills approved so let's move...
Make me a deal!

When just a boy my dad said "Jack,
Sell the shirt right off your momma's back
Compromise your leftwing ass
If it can make a juicy budget pass"
So Conservatives or Bloc or Grits
You all give me the screaming shits
But I'll be your crutch in the clutch...
Make me a deal!

Billions and billions and billions of dollars dumped
And all we get in the polls is a 2 point bump
Even when we doubled our popular vote
All we got was 5 more seats on our boat.
So party for sale or rent
It's as close to power as I'll ever get.
We're not proud so shout it out loud:
Make me any damn deal!

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Canadian Please (Music Video)

For a little something different on a Friday, here's a quirky little video from two kids who are pretty full of talent and patriotism.

It is hard sometimes to express the kind of quiet pride Canadians have in their country without sounding too jingoistic, corny or phony. These two seem to have found the right mix of truly Canadian ingredients of pride, environment, institutions, symbols and all bound together with a good sense of humour.

Hope you enjoy.


{Video by gunnarolla; H/T}

Here is another video of theirs with some behind-the-scenes clips if you are interested. Here is another blogger's take on the video.

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"Reform-Conservatives - We have trouble recognizing certain types of people"

Are all Canadians recognized as being the same by the Conservatives?

Not according to their website, I guess.

The Conservatives have a new program on their website that is supposed to speak your name. It doesn't recognize "Mohammed", the most common name in the world (and now the second most popular names for boys in England). A very telling oversight.



Let us know if there are any other glaring cultural omissions.

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"We Are Family" - NDP keeps Tories alive (Video)

"If you oppose Mr. Harper and want to replace him, I urge you to join with the New Democrats Liberals."

"I think we would be the least most likely of the parties to support the Conservatives."


{Video by JJedras}

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Harper Raises Taxes, Part 2

Raising income taxes, taxing income trusts, increasing taxes through harmonized sales taxes, creating a carbon tax, and now... increasing the tax burden on businesses to pay off his record-shattering deficit.

Mr. Harper is indeed "The Taxman".


{Video by HarperBlocCoalition}

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Harper Raises Taxes, Part 1

With Stephen Harper announcing that, despite many promises to the contrary, he will actually be raising taxes - and taxes on small businesses no less - grassroots Canadians have been quick to voice their thoughts on youtube.

Here's one entitled "Stephen Harper Imposes Largest Tax Increase in History". I'll be posting more.


{Video by Harperfuntime}

The funny thing about his promise, of course, is that he raised income taxes the first month he was elected, raised taxes on income trusts despite an unequivocal promise thousands of seniors relied upon, pushes for harmonized sales taxes and has given us a carbon tax with his cap and trade plans.

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Ignatieff on becoming world leaders again

Michael Ignatieff is bringing out more and more policy positions, laying the groundwork for a platform that will come during an election.

At a speech yesterday, we see the strong internationalism and liberalism and proud patriotism of a Canadian Liberal, aspiring to be leaders instead of concentrating on expensive photo opportunities, unapologetically lauding Canadian internationalism and Canadians servicing abroad rather than belittling Canadians abroad or cutting veteran funding at home.

There will be an election in 2009. Relying on the support of the NDP and the Bloc despite assurances to the contrary, Harper may avoided one in October. But there will be an election and it will be about choices.

Here, Ignatieff lays out the choice we will have on Canadian internationalism.


{Video by Liberal Video}

As Ignatieff said yesterday, we once were world leaders, embracing internationalism, helping the poor and starving, sending our soldiers where they needed to be to protect the world's most vulnerable, the world's leading diplomats. We still have much of the talent out there in the world. We still have many of the leading diplomats and bravest soldiers. But we cannot be world leaders without government support and leadership at home. It's time for leadership at home so we can re-find our leadership abroad.

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Liberal Ad: "Jobs/Emplois"

From the second round of Liberal ads this past weekend, here is the Liberal ad "Jobs".
{Video by Liberal Video}

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Liberal Ad: "Vision du monde"

From the second round of Liberal ads this past weekend, here is the French version of "Worldview" called "Vision du monde".

{Video by Liberal Video}

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Liberal Ad: "Bilan environnement"

Here is one of the French Liberal ads: "Bilan environnement".

{Video by Liberal Video}

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Liberal Ad: "Bilan deficit"

Here is one of the two French Liberal ads: "Bilan deficit".

{Video by Liberal Video}

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Liberal Ad: "Worldview"

Here is the first English ad from Michael Ignatieff, "Worldview".

{Video by Liberal Video}

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Tony Clement: Budgets are "like gazing into a crystal ball"

Harper cabinet minister Tony Clement admits the Conservatives have no clue about any budget numbers and are just making it up as they go along: Preparing budget estimates for them is "like gazing into a crystal ball".

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Stephen Harper: Just Visiting

{Video by envionmentaldefence}

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Harper's hidden agenda

"Leftwing ideologues". That is what he said. About women and minorities and gays who ask the courts to enforce constitutional equality rights. Hmmmm.

I have found that those who accuse everyone else around them of being "ideologues" do so because they see the world around them in ideological terms. That is no less so for anyone on the spectrum. But it should not be how a Prime Minister of Canada should think or treat his fellow citizens. He is supposed to represent us all.

This is what he thinks of equality folks, and those who fight for it. This is what the election is about.

{Video by HarperHiddenAgenda}

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September 11

A few videos to remember that terrible day.

Here is a photo slide show tribute with music from The Fray, "How to Save a Life".



This one has almost a bit too much Bush and a little too much Americana, but it is a good video montage of the that horrible day. Besides which, on September 12, we were all Americans and we all supported Bush. Today, we can forget everything else that happened after and remember what happened then.


Here is a third, with music from Alan Jackson, "Where Were You (On That September Day)".

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Ignatieff press conference: he's ready, Harper's time is up

I have seen Ignatieff give a lot of press conferences before. I honestly don't think I've seen him sharper, more focused, and tougher on the message.

This to me sounds like a man who is fully geared up for battle, with a very sharp sword in his scabbard.


{Video by JJedras}

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Harper, Hidden Agenda and The Vast Leftwing Conspiracy

Pass the tinfoil.

Conservatives are funny creatures. Yes they are.

On the one hand, they tell you until they are even blue-er in the face, 'there is no hidden agenda'. And then they turn around and tell themselves until they are even blue-er in the face, 'just wait until we get a majority, then you'll see some real hardcore conservative policies'.

And sometimes, we are fortunate enough to catch it on video.



They'll also tell you that taking snippets of tape, cutting it out of context to attack someone's character is completely legitimate when it means helping themselves keep power. Then they'll tell you it is sneaky and unfair to show full length video of Harper telling his supporters that they need to teach the opposition and the lefty judges a lesson. But, of course, consistency of principle has never been a character trait of conservatives.

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Stephen Harper supports Coalition - Part 3

This whole idea of supporting coalition government, particularly cooperation with Gilles Duceppe and the Bloc Quebecois, actually dates back to Stockwell Day and increased under Stephen Harper.

How quickly he tries to forget. How quickly he wants us to forget. How much he wants us to forget.

As this video asks, if Stephen Harper is willing to lie about his support about coalitions just to keep his hold on power, can we really trust him?

{Video by HarperBlocCoalition}

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Stephen Harper supports Coalitions - Part 2

Have you noticed how quickly and easily Harper will abandon any prior belief or principle if it suddenly become convenient to do so? Along with fiscal prudence, no taxes, fixed election dates, accountability, etc., his claim to oppose coalition government is a prime example. It really is a "convenient coalition" for him, isn't it.

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Stephen Harper supports Coalitions - Part 1

It seems that the Conservatives are going to try for another Seinfeld election: nothing about them or what they are going to do; lies and personal attacks on the Liberal leader.

If they plan on using words taken out of context that are decades old by Ignatieff, we will keep hitting back with words directly out of Harper's mouth, directly on point. Here is Stephen Harper endorsing coalition government:

{Video by StephenHypocrite}

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Liberal Minute - 2009 Federal Election Message

A short summary of why the Liberals can no longer support the Harper Conservatives from Liberal Minuteman Justin Lamarche.
{Video by LiberalMinute}

And no, I don't know what's going on with this guy's arms during the video.

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This is what Harper thinks of Canada

The Conservatives insist that quoting someone is always fair game. And then quote out of context, distort or even make up quotations. When they do this they are trying to distract you from their incompetence and horrible erratic performance on the economy.

And to distract you from what Stephen Harper himself has said about his own country.

Here is our Prime Minister, in his own words, in context and about his own country. Disgraceful.


{Video by Daviolis}

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*Breaking* New Conservative attacks ads coming this weekend

Clearly spooked by the prospect of losing the support of the Liberals, the Conservatives are about to launch an ad campaign all about the positive reasons Canadians should support the Conservatives. Er. No. Of course not.

I have been informed from a reliable source that this weekend the Tories will be launching another negative attack ad campaign against Michael Ignatieff, this time taking quotes from some BBC broadcast a couple of decades ago. They know their time is up and they are clearly desperately lashing out.

Will these ads be about Tory accomplishments? No.

Will these ads be about the economy? No.

Will these ads offer anything to Canadians? No.

Will these ads attack Ignatieff personally? Yes.

Will these ads quote Ignatieff horribly out of context? Yes.

Will these ads show how petty, small, out of ideas, clinging to power the Tories are, thereby proving Ignatieff's point? Very definitely.

Is there time up ladies and gentlemen? Oh, yes.

Will we crush them? Yes, absolutely yes.

Stay tuned here for more. I will be posting something juicy shortly.

Harper blows a gasket (Video)

Classic take.

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Tories reject Layton's deal-making, want an election

On the Rutherford Show today, calling the NDP "a party of hardcore leftwing ideologues" that is "not like a moderate centre-left party", Jason Kenney cuts NDP at the knees, destroying any hope they had about avoiding an election and forming a coalition with the Conservatives.



Sounds like the Conservatives want an election to me.

I got a real chuckle out of the irony of Jason Kenney (or any Conservative, frankly) accusing the NDP of being "folks who drink their own kool-aid."

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The Job Losses Continue to Climb (by GritGirl)

414,000 jobs lost since January 23, 2006.

Recovery? Job losses worsen in each of the last two months. In the last quarter, Canada lagged behind the other G8 countries.

The job recovery is worse than the last two recessions.

The total job losses are staggering.

The plan is non-existent.

The ballot question is clear.


{Video by GritGirl}

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Where's Jack! Layton? (Video)

The man who can't find a camera he doesn't love, can't be found.

THEN, when they assumed the Liberals would support the Reformatories:

"The NDP would be the least likely of the political parties to support the Conservatives in office" Jack Layton Aug 25

"It's like that cough medicine - you know, it tastes bad, but sometime you've gotta take it." Jack Layton Aug 21 on looming election speculation

NOW, that the Liberal security blanket is removed:

"We are ready to manage an arrangement (with the Conservatives). It is possible" NDP MP Joe Comartin Sept 2

“The Prime Minister needs to decide if he wants to call an election or call Mr. Layton,” NDP Director of Communications Brad Lavigne Sept 1

"NDP MP Thomas Mulcair agreed with the prime minister, saying "we'd better have a bloody good reason for forcing a fourth general election in five years." Sept 1

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Caucus Speech / Discours au caucus estival

Yesterday, Michael Ignatieff put the Conservatives on notice that they have failed their probation and their time is now up. An excerpt of his speech to caucus is below.

Some choice excerpts:

“We’re working against a government that’s ready to sacrifice national unity to stay in power. But we have a secret weapon on our side: Stephen Harper’s record. The worst unemployment record in two decades The worst deficit in our history. And last quarter, the worst performing economy in the G7.”

“We can do better. Nous pouvons faire mieux.”

“Stephen Harper hasn’t just failed to stand up for Canada—he’s also failed to stand up for Canadians. Suaad Mohamud. Omar Khadr. Makhtal. Bahari. Mohamed. Abdelrazik. Being a Canadian must mean the Canadian government will stand up for you—no matter where, no matter when. This is at the heart of what every Liberal believes: a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. A Liberal government would stand by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We would stand by our citizens. And we would bring forward legislation to protect Canadians abroad—to make it illegal for the government to pick and choose which citizens it protects—to make sure these abuses never happen again.”

“In fact, only two hundred of the twelve hundred infrastructure projects that the Conservatives announced in Ontario have actually received the funding they were promised. Only Stephen Harper could count that as 80% underway.”

“Stephen Harper’s response has been: “Don’t worry, give it a few years, and the books will balance themselves.” You can put that next to his promise not to run deficits in the first place. Or his promise not to tax income trusts. Or his promise not to appoint Senators.”

“You can’t count on a government that can’t count—and a prime minister who’s only good at division.”

“Liberals proudly support public health care in this country—and, unlike the Conservatives, we’re not afraid to defend it.”

“In June, we set out four tests for Stephen Harper. Mr. Harper, you have failed all four. You’ve failed to protect the most vulnerable. You’ve failed to create jobs. Failed to defend our health care. Failed to restore our public finances.”

“After four years of drift, four years of denial, four years of division and discord—Mr. Harper, your time is up. Vous avez raté votre chance. The Liberal Party cannot support this government any further. We will hold it to account. We will oppose it in Parliament. Canadians deserve better.”

“So let’s get started. Allons-y. Notre pays nous attend.”

{Video by Ignatieff}

Full text of his speech is here.

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Patronage King (By Daviolis)

Lots of mileage with Harper's latest broken promise and abandonment of yet another FFP (Former Fundamental Principle). Here's the latest take:


{Video by Daviolis}

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Mark Holland MP Update 24 August 2009

Mark Holland on what he has been up to this summer and on what has been going on in Ottawa.



{Video by Mark Holland, MP}

Also, congrats to Mark on his recent wedding. Check out photos here.

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Stephen Harper: The New King of Patronage (GritGirl)

There is the obvious hypocrisy of the senate appointments and the humourous parallels and the telling parallels, but I didn't quite realize the immense audicity of the record breaking pace of Harper's patronage appointments.

Now I do. Thanks to GritGirl.


{Video by GritGirl}

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Beholden to "The One that binds them all"

Nine new senate appoints, you say? All beholden to the one that binds them all, perhaps?

They were once men. Great kings of men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one, falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul. Ring Wraiths. Neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring, drawn to the power of The One. They will never stop hunting you.

{Video posted by Voozio}

In case you are wondering, the music is "Just Like You Imagined" by Nine Inch Nails.

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Harper: "We are here to fight Brian Mulroney"

Ah, memories.

{Video by CBCTV Archives}

But that, of course, was then. And this is now.

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The Senate: a "dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister"

“Despite the fine work of many individual Senators, the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister.”
--- Stephen Harper, January 15, 2004

Welcome to the public world, you favoured cronies of the Prime Minister.



Apropos of nothing at all, a short stroll down memory lane. Remember way back when, when it came to appointments, the Prime Minister "had an option. [He] could have said "I'm not going to do it. This is wrong for Canada"?



More strolling:

"In the 21st century, those who want to sit in the parliament of a democratic state should have a mandate from the people."
--- Stephen Harper, February 7, 2006)

"A conservative government will not appoint to the senate anyone who does not have a mandate from the people."
--- Conservative Party website during 2006 election

“As everyone in this room knows, it has become a right of passage for aspiring leaders and prime ministers to promise Senate reform – on their way to the top. .But once they are elected, Senate reform quickly falls to the bottom of the Government’s agenda. Nothing ever gets done.”
--- Stephen Harper, Speech on Senate Reform before Senate Committee, September 7, 2006

“I don’t plan to appoint senators; that’s not my intention.”
--- Stephen Harper, Standard-Freeholder, January 14, 2006

“Stephen Harper will cease patronage appointments to the Senate. Only candidates elected by the people will be named to the Upper House.”
--- Stephen Harper Leadership Website, www.oneconservativevoice.ca, January 15, 2004

“I challenge Mr. Martin, once he becomes Prime Minister, to turn a page on the past, and appoint only elected Senators to the Upper House.”
--- Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance Press Release, July 4, 2003

“Canadians from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia remain ashamed of Canada`s senior legislative body. They are ashamed the Prime Minister continues the disgraceful, undemocratic appointment of undemocratic Liberals to the undemocratic Senate to pass all too often undemocratic legislation.”
--- Stephen Harper, Hansard, March 7, 1996

“We don’t support any Senate appointments.”
(--- Stephen Harper, Winnipeg Free Press, January 29, 1996

UPDATE: Gerry Nichols' job application:

Despite what I have written or said in the past, I firmly believe Stephen Harper is the greatest, most magnificent, most brilliant Prime Minister in the history of the universe.

And I look forward to one day serving the Great Leader with unthinking, blind obedience and with complete loyalty.

(There, if that doesn't get me a Senate appointment, I don't know what will.)

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Ignatieff on Pharmacare

Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.

Canadians seeking EI at 11 year high under Harper's Conservatives (Daviolis)

The number of Canadians seeking EI benefits is the highest its been in 11 years. That's a six percent increase from last month. Since the Harper Conservatives were re-elected, the number of Canadian families depending on EI has shot up by more than 300,000. That's an increase of more than 63 per cent.

They want you to believe that everything is A-OK, just like they wanted you to believe that Canadians weren't worried about their jobs, that there was never going to be a recession, that there was never going to be a deficit, that the recession and their deficit (once they had to admit they put us into a deficit before the recession began) was going to be small and manageable, that the deficit (once their first and second and third predictions were way off) was unpredictable and not their fault.

I think we all know better.

Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.

Nothing says "I'm a Man" like using soldiers for props

Ok, folks, from the top again, into positions, let's get it right this time, can we get the submarine to move over about 5 metres, pretend you are talking, start looking up, alriiiight... "Mission Accomplished", Take IV ...



It's a cool campaign photo election propaganda photo that they set up for, I have to admit. But I thought about calling this post "The Million Dollar Shot" but that wouldn't be accurate as $1 million wouldn't even cover the cost of the Prime Minister's security detail for this giant-ego-sized photo opportunity for his election campaign ads. Especially when you can't get right the first time. Or the second time. Or even the third time.

Mission accomplished

Alison Crawford reflects on the exquisite precision of a Stephen Harper photo op :

The Coast Guard’s Pierre Radisson ship and the submarine HMCS Cornerbrook lined up one one side of the frigate HMCS Toronto. On the deck of Toronto, was a gaggle of reporters, cameras at the ready.

Then, Defence Minister Peter MacKay sauntered onto the deck with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They stopped to make idle chit chat until urged by handlers to move forward a few metres in order to have them perfectly positioned with the other two vessels in the background.

But wait! There’s more! Three CF-18 jets flew past in formation. But the fly-by was a little to fast for some camera operators and photographers to catch the entire montage of sub, jets and coast guard, so the CF-18s passed over four more times.

Which reminded me of this gem from Jim Flaherty, November 27, 2008: "We cannot ask Canadians to tighten their belts in tougher times without looking in the mirror."

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Because it's hard to get a good photo op with an isotope

Not, strictly speaking, a video, but funny and accurate nonetheless.

Ignatieff on Medical Isotope Crisis

Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

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Ignatieff on Afghanistan

Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

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Tornados Hit Toronto Area - Video

This is a video taken of the tornado that touched down in Vaughn, the city just to the north of Toronto.

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Ignatieff on Conservative Attack Ads

A classy and politically astute take on the Conservatives' attack on Ignatieff's patriotism and Canadians who work abroad.



Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

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Ignatieff on Agriculture

Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

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Barney Frank Responds to Conservative Anti-Healthcare Nut

The vile crap that is being spewed by the anti-Obama/anti-healthcare crowd is getting viler with each day. Comparing the desire to ensure every American has adequate healthcare to Nazism and Obama to Hitler, calling health advisory boards that assist the elderly with living wills (a policy virtually identical to one introduced by Bush, by the way) as "death panels", actively trying to prevent debate at townhalls, brandishing banned military-type automatic and semi-automatic guns at anti-Obama rallies... shows how despicable and out of touch these protesters are. Even if you oppose helping Americans get healthcare - and there are lots of genuine reasons to oppose this particular plan - any decent person would have to agree these people are despicable and destructive and quite definitely dangerous.

When does Godwin's law kick in for these yahoos?

Sometimes, you just have to cut through the BS that all opinions are of equal value. Watch Barney Frank calmly and appropriately respond to one of these angry nutbars:



You almost see why our Prime Minister has made such a great effort not to defend Canadian healthcare or to duck questions about our healthcare, or even saying anything positive about it and claim he's "not qualified" to get involved in the healthcare debate... just to avoid getting anywhere near this "debate".

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Ignatieff on Arctic Sovereignty

Some politicians get it. And some don't even know how to spell it.

Here is Michael Ignatieff speaking on Canadian Arctic sovereignty this summer.



Thank you to Bob Speller for uploading all of these great clips from the summer BBQ tour with grassroots Liberals that the media and the Conservatives would like to believe has not been happening.

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NDP Convention 2009: Banned delegate Dana Larsen speaks out!

A video of former NDP candidate, Dana Larsen, who was banned from attending the NDP convention in Halifax.

Maybe "New" is not the part of the party name they should be changing.

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Conservative Policy 2009 (by The Mercer Report)

They say in Newfoundland, if you don't like the weather then wait a minute.

They say in Ottawa, if you don't like Conservative policy then wait a minute. Or at least until the next internal poll or focus group results come out.

Or, as Rick Mercer puts it, wait twenty minutes because Conservative policy is always "20 minutes fresh".

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Stephen Harper.. still bankrupt (by Glistando)

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The Harper Conspiracy

If for no other reason than 'cause this is quite well done and fun.

"Stephen Harper knows about a conspiracy but no one will believe him. Will he be able to save the Christian faith in time?"

The Harper Conspiracy from Harper Conspiracy on Vimeo.

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Unsolved Canadian Political Mysteries: Harper's Deficit (by AudreyIIETP)

"If you have any information on what the Harper Government's deficit will actually end up being, please contact your local MP."

A clever take on the show Unsolved Mysteries.

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Harper Blamed Canada? (by AProudCanadian1)

Surprise surprise, Harper passes the buck and won't take responsibility for the clampdown on Mexican tourists and the visa requirements. Used to be that he just blamed staffers though. Now he's gone big, real big, and blamed the problem on... Canada:



Come to think of it, he's blamed and attacked and slagged Canada on the international stage before, hasn't he.

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The Job Losses Continue to Climb (by GritGirl)

Unemployment numbers are down! Unfortunately, that is only happening in the US. Here in Canada, we continue to have horrible and even worsening job numbers... as GritGirl highlights in her return (not sure why the video takes 1:22 before starting, but it is worth it).

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Why are they all leaving? (by TheGritsRule)

Playing a little catch-up, now that I'm back from vacation. This one asks a pretty simple question about what the proverbial rats might know about the shape of the Conservative ship. Seems to me we all noticed a lot of staffers pro-actively looking for work in 2003 (Ontario PC) and fall 2005 (federal Liberal). Like I keep saying, 2009 has the feel of late 2005.

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Harper's Government Reports: Canadians seeking EI at an 11-year high

By Daviolis

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Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski's Hate Speech

Apropos of this, we remind you of this and, oh yes, can't forget this:


By Scottross00

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JJedras - Where in the world is Stephen Harper

Cool beats.

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Andrew Coyne eviscerates Harper's lack of conservativism

Not only has Harper not acted in any way like a conservative and abandoned all conservative fiscal priniples and policies and ideologies, according to Andrew Coyne at the 2009 Manning Centre Conference, and not only have they not "moved the centre" of Canadian politics to the right, even before the recession Stephen Harper and the "Conservative" Party actually moved the centre of Canadian politics further to the left. That's his take; what's yours?



h/t

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HarpersVacation - Stephen Harpers Summer Vacation

A video summarizing a pretty awful week for Prime Minister Harper. And it doesn't even include Harper's major international gaffe this morning when he went full guns ablazing on Ignatieff over comments that Ignatieff did not make, which surprise surprise is being blamed on a staffer.

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"Wafergate" video back up despite censorship attempt

Apparently, the Conservatives CBC got youtube to censor the "wafergate" scandalette video due to "copyright" concerns. Right. Anyway, here is the full stream video. It actually includes more footage of the Prime Minister.



Note that this is not the first time the Conservatives someone has forced youtube to censor a clip that was critical of the Conservatives.

I still don't know what Harper did with the host, but it is clear that, in the first 10 seconds after he reached out to receive it inappropriately, he did not eat the host.

If he did toss it into his pocket, that is a pretty big sacrilege and worthy of the media feeding frenzy - including international attention - it is getting. Still, none of the Canadian media coverage seems to me to be "going after" the Prime Minister, but merely reporting the claim and giving the PMO a chance to reply. Indeed, most media columnists and several Liberal MPs - Dominic LeBlanc himself, and Pearson to name two - have said drop the story. None give the Prime Minister as stern a rebuke as ultra conservative LifeSiteNews.com, so it is hard to describe this as an anti-Conservative media bias thing.

Still, if all he did was to inappropriately receive and consume the host as a non-Catholic, wouldn't the easy thing be to simply say "ooops, my bad, not my religion, sorry - won't happen again"? Then we all move on. But that would be admitting that the Prime Minister is fallible, not perfect, so we won't be seeing anything like that.

What we do see, is a lot of Harper defenders quick to blame the priest and the media. That is the typical pattern for this PMO. It is always someone else's fault. And we see it again today with an outright and total screw-up by the Prime Minister, with Harper going on an anti-Ignatieff tirade in his concluding G-8 remarks based on something Ignatieff did not say. Will we see an apology from Mr. Harper? No, a staffer is already being blamed/taking the blame.

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Kramet1 - Steven Harper puts the host in his pocket

At the very sacred occasion of the funeral of former Governor General Roméo Leblanc, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is not a Roman Catholic, first accepted the host and then... put it in his pocket. Here is the video:



From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

Real sacrilege

Real sacrilege is the irreverent treatment of sacred things as distinguished from places and persons. This can happen first of all by the administration or reception of the sacraments (or in the case of the Holy Eucharist by celebration) in the state of mortal sin, as also by advertently doing any of those things invalidly. Indeed deliberate and notable irreverence towards the Holy Eucharist is reputed to be the worst of all sacrileges. Likewise conscious maltreatment of sacred pictures or relics or perversion of Holy Scripture or sacred vessels to unhallowed uses, and finally, the usurpation or diverting of property (whether movable or immovable) intended for the maintenance of the clergy or serving for the ornamentation of the church to other uses, constitute real sacrileges. Sometimes the guilt of sacrilege may be incurred by omitting what is required for the proper administration of the sacraments or celebration of the sacrifice, as for example, if one were to say Mass without the sacred vestments.

From Code of Canon (Latin Rite Code canon 1367; Eastern Rite Code canon 1442):

As Christians believe Jesus to be true God and true man, his body and blood in the form of the consecrated host are adored in the Catholic Church. Theft, sale, or use of the hose for a profane purpose is considered a grave sin and sacrilege.

I am not Catholic, so it is not for me to ask for an apology from the Prime Minister or to be offended by his actions at that sacred occasion. But clearly he knew enough to know, as a non-Catholic, not to eat the Host, so why did he receive it in the first place and why, having received it, did he toss in his pocket?

So I ask my Catholic readers: how bad was the Prime Minister's sacrilege? What should the Prime Minister do to atone for his sacrilege?

Clearly, many Canadian Catholics noticed, think it was a bad sacrilege and asking for an explanation and an apology from the Prime Minister for accepting the holy sacrament in the first place and then desecrating it by tossing it in his pocket in the second place.

Not surprisingly, many bloggers have noticed as well.

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Michael Ignatieff at Calgary Stampede, Part 2

Part of Michael Ignatieff's speech at the Calgary Zoo on July 4, 2009. Ignatieff speaks about education, health care, the new economy and broadening our competitiveness and efficient users of energy.

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Michael Ignatieff at the Calgary Stampede, Part 1

Part of Michael Ignatieff's speech at the Calgary Zoo on July 4, 2009. Ignatieff talks about the diversity of Canada, its strengths, and the Tory ads attacking Canadians who work abroad. The shapings of a really good stump speech.

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Michael Ignatieff in Calgary (April 6, 2009)

Michael Ignatieff speaking about what the Liberals plans for rural Canada (food strategy, better infrastructure, better access to healthcare, better access to post-secondary education) vs what the Conservatives offer (gun registry opposition), the importance of the West/Alberta to the nation, unemployment in the West, etc.

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Dosanjh and Coady on Working Together in Tough Times

On Canada Day, let's reflect on what kind of Canada we want and what kind of Canadian government we want. Do we want a government that is working together for every region of the country or a government more concerned with funnelling 80-95% of government spending for partisan gain into Conservative ridings?

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LiberalVideo - Michael Savage on the Accessibility Fund

Earlier this year, Michael Savage asks why 95% of the Accessibility Fund spending has gone to Conservative ridings and whether the Accessibility Fund has been turned into a slush fund.



Of course, this is hardly the first time we've had clear evidence of extremely slanted Conservative pork and preference, is it? And it won't be the last.

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LiberalVideo - Michael Ignatieff meets China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi

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