Liberal Implosion underway?

Did anyone outside the bubble believe the Liberals were going to fix their brand in thirty six days with heavy adverstisement and fluffing from the friendly media? Canadians are much smarter than some media give credit. The media spinners might believe they can still shape public opinion with flogging silly issues. From climategate to wafer gate our media has not realized how far they have fallen into disrepute for not protecting the perception of their own bias and credibility. The Social media explosion has changed the landscape at home and over seas.

Short of a game-changer between now and May 2, Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals will take a beating in Quebec next month. -Chantal Hébert

The Ignatieff campaign reminds me of the Martin campaign in 2006. The invisible platform with incoherent messaging and the inability to stay on track.  Will the media provide analysis on why the Liberals failed to close the gap in the last few weeks?

“People love to talk about strategies. But frankly, at the end of the day, logistics are at least as important, if not more important. There’s an old saying that amateurs talk about strategy and professionals talk about logistics… After the fact people go back and point to their own genius, or something that put it over the top, but as a matter of fact it’s a whole lotta luck.” (Party campaign manager) -Alex Marland, POLITICALMARKETING IN MODERN CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

More striking than this continuity in personnel was the continuity, a.k.a. immobility, in the Board’s thinking and attitudes. Its practice had been consistently to hype expectations about the leader’s performance, “Making History” being the prototypically inflated title they had given Martin’s all things-to-all-people acceptance speech at his leadership convention victory two years before. Having ousted Chrétien and ostracized rivals by the time Martin took power in Ottawa, the Board had proceeded to deepen divisions and alienate other Liberals rather than heal wounds and bring together the party’s different camps. –Stephen Clarkson, How the Big Red Machine Became the Little RedMachine

Key Liberals absent in 2011, are some just attending staged publicity events as they did in Dion Green Shift campaign in 2008?

Does it makes sense to bring out CBC labelled Liberal “heavy hitters”, “all-stars” like Jean Chretien and Paul Martin in the last half of the campaign? Some of us think this illustrates the tone-deafness of the media and Liberal party who still view these two men as assets vs. liabilities. Chretien never faced the united right centre party that exist today. The NDP traditional campaign messaging was not resonating with their base. Martin did repeat the Chretien strategy on the pulling the plug in May giving the Conservatives very little time to adjust after their conference selecting Stephen Harper as their leader in December.

The Conservative Party political organization’s strength was evident last week. They were able to provide a casual link from research within 48 hours of an internet Face book picture with of a guest that might pose a risk of a staged publicity event during the campaign. The media and opposition parties tried to run with it and create another issue. It failed. The Conservative party messaging has been consistent with 2008.   The other  parties have not been able to match the speed and sophistication at which the Conservatives have developed their intelligence gathering capabilities.

How will this affect the ground game the advance polls and Election Day?

Andrew Coyne's Leap of Faith?

Martin government to fall: Coalition Version 2004?

Andrew Coyne is trying to convince us, Stephen Harper leader of official opposition was in a similar arrangement  after a tweet summit with staff in Gilles Duceppe office. Andrew also asks us to take the word from David McGuinty that the Liberals won't re-enter in the coalition agreement that does not expire until 2011. Mr.  Coyne, for the sake of clarity, I suggest you arrange a video interview with the 2004 conspirators Gilles, Layton to answer a few basic questions. They can provide proof the letter sent to the GG in 2004 was similar.

In 2008 every MP in the proposed Lib-NDP coalition government was REQUIRED to sign onto the terms contained in the coalition accord and Ignatieff as deputy leader signed it last.  There was no effort by any leader in their party to have their MPs endorse the letter sent to the GG on the "alleged" coalition of the opposition parties in 2004.

Does this mean in 2004 Layton, Duceppe felt their MPs signatures were not necessary?

It might only be me but the Jean Chretien explanation of proof leaves me with several unanswered questions. I was able to find a picture of Harper, Duceppe, Layton next to each others cooperating for a photo op. Bonus:BBQ Martin to get grilled?

Can I expect our media provide actual proof before drawing conclusions or is creating controversy for your publication sufficient?

• Telephone conversations from senior staff
• Briefing notes draft letter about make up of coalition government
• MPs signing off from each party
• Mechanism for dispute resolution by this arrangement in 2004
• Power sharing agreement to avoid a no confidence vote, a termination date, renewal clause

Disclaimer:
Is it possible Conservatives did enter or negotiate with the Bloc or NDP into setting up a coalition accord similar? Yes, but before I can be convinced Stephen Harper did agree to a coalition with the Bloc and NDP I need proof. Waving that signed letter sent to the GG by Gilles or Jack for the next 36 days does not meet my standard of proof.

Who is telling the truth in 2004 and 2008? Which leaders changed their stories in 2008 and 2011?

 

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• Duceppe campaign, Coyne in Twitter dustup over coalition accusations (theglobeandmail.com)
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Tax Fighters: Ignatieff vs McGuinty

Who do you believe is going to be a better tax fighter on the campaign trail?

Can you spot the Tax fighter?

It took months for Ignatieff to roll over and vote in Parliament in support of Liberal Premier Glen Campbell and Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty on the implementation of the HST in BC and Ontario.  The auditor general recommended the accounting for the implementation costs of a harmonized programs should be included in this budget. Ignatieff and his critics are very upset now that the government has adopted her recommendations?

Ignatieff has recently decided to challenge the wisdom of lowering business taxes anymore and his crack team of career politicians are ready to talk taxes and why corporations don't need any more tax breaks. Ignatieff tacking left, adopting the NDP redistribution of wealth policies has been tried before in 2008, it was called Green Shift. Some people feel it is ethical to take from productive members of society to pay for social programs.  Do you?

This could have been an opportunity by Ignatieff to pick up the mantle from the Chretien-Martin Liberal tax fighters - deficit slayers by spending less, this is not. Ignatieff wants to keep taxes at their present level. He did not offer to reduce the tax burden on families or employers.

 

Ignatieff feels paying for more new social programs is a higher priority than the planned corporate tax reductions of Economic Action Plan. Ignatieff may feel the Canadians will agree with his views on the economy and jobs. Liberals feel the level of taxation is on small, medium and large companies is just. 

“This bill is not fiscally responsible,” he said of a Bloc Québécois private-member’s bill that comes to a vote Wednesday evening. The Liberals and the NDP had supported the bill at second reading and in committee, but Mr. Ignatieff said it will be a free vote for his MPs. -Ignatieff Sept 30 2010  

Ignatieff threatened to topple the government with the aid of the NDP-Bloc in May 03,2009 over the enrichment of employment insurance. 

Does Ignatieff realize if the world was a tuxedo, he would be the brown pair of shoes?

A press release on May 08, 2009 five days after the  Ignatieff  decided a threat was necessary to make parliament work showed an increase of 36,000 jobs. The rate remain unchanged at 8.0% .The increase in employment in April was all in full-time work. Overall employment gains for the month were spread between adult men aged 25 and over, and older women aged 55 and over. Since October, employment has declined among men aged 25 to 54 and youths 15 to 24, whereas it has increased among older workers. In April, the average hourly wage was 4.3% higher compared with the same month a year earlier. Unemployment rose from February 7.2% to 7.7% matching 2003 levels for March 2009. In April 2009 the Unemployment was 8.1%. Statistics Canada has it at 8.0%

He said if the government does not budge on jobless benefits “then we’ll have to have an election.” But he also reiterated his vow to make Parliament work and urged the public not to read any election timing into the June date of the platform. “I’m not playing games,” he said. May 03, 2009

Labour Force Survey Unemployment rate for May 2009 is 8.1% from Statistics Canada reported in June 04, 2009, two weeks before the roll-over.

Ignatieff has previously said he wants a single national eligibility standard for EI during the ongoing recession — meaning people could qualify for benefits if they've worked 360 hours in the previous 52 weeks, regardless of where they live. Currently, the eligibility criteria vary by region across the country, from 420 hours worked in Gander, N.L. to 700 hours in Winnipeg.- June 17, 2009

A reporter asked if he was steamrolled for backing down from his election threats, his earlier Press Conference with four conditions and taking a Blue Ribbon Panel and he replied if he looked steamrolled on June 17, 2009.

Fifteen months have transpired since his being steamrolled. Our unemployment is reported at 8.0% . Bill C-308 is what Ignatieff demanded when unemployment reported at 7.7%. His four ultimatums declared in early May 2009 were reduced to a Blue Ribbon Panel in mid June when unemployment was reported at 8.1%.

 

Ignatieff initially voted with the NDP and Bloc to pass an improved Bill  that would have seen a 35% increase on employers and employees. The Federal government won praise from Unions and Association of small businesses for restricting  the increase to only five per cent. Experts wanted a 15% increase to get the EI fund balanced quickly. The Federal government decided the risk of job losses and risk to the business climate would require a delay in balancing the program in the short term.

This is why governments across Canada of all ideological stripes have done just the opposite of what Mr. Ignatieff is proposing. His Liberal predecessors, former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, understood the importance of reducing corporate taxes. That's why they dropped the federal rate to 21 per cent from 28 per cent. Many provincial governments have also cut corporate income tax rates in recent years, including NDP governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Redistribution of Wealth is Socialism: Ignatieff where does it work?

Ignatieff would be wise to look at what Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty has done. He increased corporate income taxes shortly after coming into power in, realized the destructive impacts of that move and did a u-turn last year, announcing a rate cut to 10 per cent from 14 per cent by 2013.

Ignatieff the tall poppy?

Anyone that seeks power to govern possesses a certain arrogance and anyone that attains power possesses the strategic skill. Therefore, in Canadian politics, arrogance and crass raw political strategy must be seen to be the character of one’s opponent. When government falls to trigger an election, Ignatieff and Harper will do their best to let the other poppy be boastful and stand too tall.- Stephen Taylor

September 2009: Budget Passed with NDP support.

If Michael Ignatieff Liberals were serious about lowering the taxes and helping families why have they failed to introduce a single bill in parliament for debate on behalf of the Liberal party that actually reduce taxes or helps business? Is he just playing games with supporting the NDP-Bloc policies that he initially introduced?

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Liberal Party Census Policy Designed To Protect Privacy of Wealthy Canadians

The Liberals are vowing to bring the census battle to the House of Commons in September by tabling a bill to reinstate the long-form census and remove the threat of jail time for not completing a questionnaire.

Another political stunt? When will the games end and real substantive policy debates be discussed by the Liberals?

After promising to not sit on your hands in May 2009, the Ignatieff led Liberals have at least thirty MPs regularly skip votes to prop up the government.

“If you believe, as we in the Liberal party believe, that there is a major role for the federal government in Canadian society and the Canadian economy, then I think the era of tax cuts is over for the foreseeable future,” Mr. McCallum said on Tuesday. He said the Liberals would not raise taxes.  - John McCallum April 20, 2010

The party had become utterly dependent on finance by corporations. Paul Martin had been showered with $12-million to ensure that he became the next leader. Consequently, in 2003, Jean Chrétien introduced the legislation that was to be his final and finest legacy for democracy. Corporate financing was to be all but prohibited. - Tom Kent  August 27, 2010

The Liberal Party is the most dependent on large donations Pundits Guide April 30, 2009  and looking at the amount raised, 40.0% of the Liberal total came from small contributors, as compared with 66.7% of the Conservative amount and 77.7% of the NDP's. 

2010 - The Conservatives took in $4.1 million in donations between April 1 and the end of June, compared to $2.4 million for the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois combined. For the Conservatives it is their best second quarter result since coming to power in 2006, despite months of negative headlines about deficits, Guergis and the G20. The Liberals raised a total of $1.6 million, down from last year's total of $4 million when they actually out-tallied the Conservatives on fundraising.

The only people who would benefit  not shrinking government are wealthy citizens who can afford the fees and increasing costs of regulation. The Gun Registry boondoggle is a perfect example of extra fees introduced by big government on law abiding citizens. The cost of government for Liberals is a necessary evil as our taxes or is it used as a means to control the population and learn private details of their citizens for resale?

One more fee to collect?

Why are the Liberals not interested in treating citizens fairly by keeping the information of the poor, middle class as private as the wealthy?
The donors to the Liberal party that earn in excess of $ 200k per year can afford a $ 500 fine for not complying with the Census, the single mother earning under $ 30k can not.



There is no comparison.

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Everyone Loves Harper

Annual Stampede Breakfast PM Harper

I know what you are thinking but bear with me.  The West began a split from the Progressive Conservative Party of Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark in the late-eighties, early 90's. The West had already rejected the Liberals for the most part in the 70's, Robert Stanfield PC and the CCF were embraced.

The Liberals through unilateral changes in campaign reform are responsible for giving over $ 60 million dollars of taxpayers money to the right of centre party led by Stephen Harper since 2004.

Liberals, Democrats and Separatists MP's Love Stephen Harper and their voting record in parliament proves it. Canadian voters have only awarded a minority since 2004 but PM Stephen Harper has never had a non-confidence unlike Paul Martin who did within two years of his mandate. Voters rejected him in 2006.

Background in the Liberal mindset on campaign reform.

Campaign Reform by Liberals in 2000

The new Canada Elections Act introduced by Bill C-2, which came into force on September 1, 2000, does not alter the voting process itself, but modifies the federal electoral system to make it more accessible, fair and transparent.

It greatly empowers the Top Civil Servant at the head of Elections Canada as previously it could only be enforced through the criminal courts.

In 2003, the Chrétien government passed An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act. This Act amended the Canada Elections Act to include stronger financial disclosure and registration requirements for political entities, introduced new limits on political contributions, and tighter restrictions on contributions from labour unions and corporations to political parties and leadership contestants. The Act further implemented new public financing provisions, allowing political parties to access public funding to support their activities. The Act also amended the Income Tax Act, increasing the maximum tax credit for a political contribution.-MapleLeafweb

 

The Liberal Party must miss a trans-formative leader such as Stephen Harper:

Stephen Harper was born in Toronto and attended Leaside Richview Collegiate Institute. When he was very young he was a Liberal and than later a PC.
"What drove him into politics was indignation, outrage," argues commentator William Johnson, who has written a biography called Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada. It was ideology, not love of the game, that Mr. Johnson believes pushed Mr. Harper into public life.
"One thing that I would say about him, with great conviction, is that he's a straight arrow," Mr. Johnson believes. "What you see is what you get. He's not good at acting or pretending. He doesn't weep with widows and hug every orphan in sight, and he won't wear a hundred hearts on his sleeve. By character and by principle he opposes all the photo ops and false sentiments" that are part of political theatre.- Who is Stephen Harper?
Stephen Harper grew unhappy with political culture of several parties and with the help of many reshaped the political landscape in Canada.

In March 2002 Stephen Harper beat Stockwell Day to lead the Canadian Alliance. Within 18 months he merged the PC with Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada by beating Belinda Stronach and Tony Clement on March 20, 2004.

On May 23, 2004, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, on the advice of Martin, ordered the dissolution of the House of Commons. Following a 36-day campaign, voters elected 308 Members of the House of Commons. 

History in the making a slow romance with Ontario playing hard to get.

Canada Day PM Stephen Harper

The 2006 Canadian federal election (more formally, the 39th General Election) was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes: up from 29.6% in the 2004 election. The election resulted in a minority government led by the Conservative Party with Stephen Harper becoming the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada. By proportion of seats, this was Canada's smallest minority government since Confederation. Despite this it was the longest serving minority government led by a party other than the Liberal Party of Canada, and the third longest serving minority government overall.

In 2008 Canadian federal election (40th General Election) was held on on Tuesday October 14, 2008. The Conservative Government were able to pick up an additional 19 seats, Liberals gave up 26 seats, Separatist  lost 2,  and the NDP picked up 8 additional seats. The Green Party gain no seats but make tremendous gains with raw votes.

In November of 2008 the conservatives tried in their economic update to stop the flow of taxpayers money in excess of $ 10 million per year to their own political party war-chest but the coalition led by Dion, endorsed by all opposition political party leaders demanded the political subsidy remain and it was undemocratic to remove it. They were threatening an election over it.

The Conservative Party of Canada has been able to raise $ 147,594,561 without the Liberal Campaign Reform changes. If you include the subsidy they have earned through various revenue streams nearly $ 250 million since 2004.

• In 2006 the Bloc and NDP took turns passing the Conservative Party of Canada's Agenda.
• In January 2009 the Liberals abandoned their coalition in order support Stephen Harper.
• In September 2009 Jack Layton did the same.
• In 2010 we have at least thirty Liberal MPs who are unable to show up, whipped not, to vote against Stephen Harper Conservative Party of Canada Agenda.
• This summer Ignatieff spent his summer dancing, talking about his unrequited love for the Conservative Agenda and visiting friends asking for money. The Liberal Express summer bus tour has been a flop, according to a new Leger Marketing poll.

  

h/t/Pundits Guide Party Financing.

The Harper Govt accomplishments here

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Senator Nancy Ruth: Speaks Truth To Power

Ottawa reception at the Métropolitain Brasserie & Restaurant, Equal Voice Acting National Chair Donna Dasko thanked party leaders for their work in advancing women in politics. $ 1.2 million on Feb 2009.

Enough of the political games! Nancy Ruth is a Conservative Senator, she understands the dangerous game played by the relentless fighting in Ottawa. She is speaking truth to power. She is not mincing words. Audio here.

“We’ve got five weeks or whatever left until G-8 starts. Shut the f--- up on this issue,”

“If you push it, there will be more backlash,” said Ruth, who fears that outrage will push her boss, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to take further measures against abortion and family planning – abroad, or maybe even in Canada. “This is now a political football. This is not about women’s health in this country.” - -Toronto Star May 3, 2010

Ruth was appointed to the Senate as an Independent in 2005 by Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, but joined the Conservative caucus a year later.  She says she has never felt any awkwardness about the fact she is gay from Prime Minister Stephen Harper or any of his staff. "It just isn't an issue. I'm first and foremost a women's rights activist." - CBC May 10, 2009

This lady is no shrinking violet. I applaud her efforts trying to getting the politicians, lobbyists to drop the abortion football wedge. Conservative Senator Nancy Ruth also got our attention awhile back on gender changes to the National Anthem.I did not agree with her opinion on changing the anthem, but her voice on this ending the games makes sense.

“I am proud that Canada’s G8 Development Ministers meeting here in Canada has been so successful,” said Minister Bev Oda. “All G8 members lauded Canada’s initiative to champion healthier mothers, healthier babies and to reduce maternal and child mortality. With agreement on a set of principles to guide the leaders of G8 countries, my colleagues all believe that progress will be made to reduce the number of deaths and to keep mothers and children healthy.  We agreed that our interventions must be integrated across the continuum of care, including pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood. - G8-Halifax April 28, 2010

Ontario Senator Ruth, who is unique in the Tory caucus in that she is a strong feminist who is also gay, has a column about the proposal that will appear in Monday’s Hill Times. Liberal Senator Vivienne Poy once had a similar private member’s bill asking Parliament to replace the words “in all our sons command” with “in all of us command.” The original Old English wording was the awkward, “True patriot love thou dost in us command.”

While no one is objecting to the idea, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff told reporters the government should be taking more substantive action on women’s issues.- The Hill Times March 4, 2010

Baseball Teamwork How will the media and opponents Spin this latest opinion from a Conservative, here is my opinion. Framing us as the bad guys is important.

It’s the same old narrative — Liberals good, Tories bad.  Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader. Great post here.

G Version below:

PG Version below:

Al Capone - The Untouchables

Dan Gardner: Try Googling Errol Mendes Liberal

When Dan Gardner writes a hit piece comparing our PM to a disgraced American President, communist dictator, American-Italian gangster, English king in order to revisit  "expert" opinion on prorogue.

This naturally led me to imagine which figures from history best exemplify Stephen Harper. At first I thought of the obvious contenders — Richard Nixon, Fidel Castro, Michael Corleone — but then I hit on King Charles I, circa 1635.- Danny G. (Nice thanks Danny!) Can't find any references in Canadian politics: Liberals PM hint Jean Chretien or NDP Ontario leader Bob Rae who used prorogue on several occasions?

Hey Danny G, did you check to see if the expert had any relationship with the previous Liberal Government?

Just curious, seems like a number of media outlets, journalists are forgetting to include a potential bias.

To find bias by use of experts or sources, stay alert to the affiliations and political perspective of those quoted as experts or authorities in news stories. Not all stories will include experts, but in those that do, make sure about an equal number of conservatives and liberals are quoted. If a story quotes non-experts, such as those portrayed as average citizens, check to be sure that about an equal number come from both sides of the issue in question. Also check to see if a reporter's generalization about how "economists across the political spectrum" or "most health care specialists" is supported by subsequently cited experts. If they are all or overwhelmingly from one side of the political spectrum, then you've come across bias by use of sources. - Fair Press http://www.fairpress.org/identify.htm

I already blogged on this before MSM: Are They Cherry Picking Experts?

Danny where is that conservative expert in your article or the affiliations and political perspective on Errol Mendes? Hint it took me all of 0.28 seconds to find a problem. Too busy to use Google? Pity....

In September 2005, the Ottawa Citizen reported an appointment to the Privy Council Office:

Mr. Martin made several other appointments yesterday within bureaucracy's senior ranks, including the hiring of University of Ottawa law professor Errol Mendes as a senior advisor in the Privy Council Office to handle diversity in the public service and other special projects.

So maybe the media could report Errol Mendes as "University of Ottawa law professor and former senior Liberal advisor under Paul Martin".

Oh, and then there is this. Since 2006, Errol Mendes has contributed over $3,600 to the Liberal Party, including over $200 in the past year.

So maybe the media could report Errol Mendes as "University of Ottawa law professor, Liberal Party supporter, and former senior Liberal advisor under Paul Martin".

Errol Mendes' opinions might be worth reporting. I'm sure they are well thought out and thought provoking. But that he is also cheek-and-jowl with the Liberal Party in recent years, including a prime ministerial appointment to the PCO, is thought provoking as well. -Steve Janke (Conservative Blogger CPC supporter)

Conservative Blogger and CPC supporter Stephen Taylor on Prorogue here

An historical perspective shows that prorogation is quite a common parliamentary procedure in the country and most prorogations have passed without too much ink spilled on the pages of Canada’s historic newspapers.

After the latest CBC, Ekos President Frank Graves blow up you would hope the media would be able to spend 0.28 seconds on Goggle to double check and look for potential bias. Oh well.

BTW Danny I became a CPC voter (no financial or employment biases) after moving to Mississauga 1999 -2000,  voted Liberal, NDP in York South Weston until John Nunizata GST became an Independent. As an Oakville resident now voting for another great CPC MP Terence Young. I am proud of our PM, are you?

Politics: Moving The Chess Pieces

Politics requires motivating your opponents to act against their self-interests.

The Opposition parties in Parliament rely on the same pool of voters and are experiencing the similiar difficulty the Progressive Conservatives, Reform, Canadian Alliance parties experienced during the thirteen years of Liberal government.

If the centre, centre right voters were to remain divided the Liberals led by Paul Martin may still have clung to power. Ontario voters rejected the Federal Liberals in 2008.

Today the centre, centre right, voters have only one national party eligible to form the federal government. The results are evident with the CPC forming the government with the largest number of seats. The smaller parties through a coalition can legally take power if the Governor General asks them to form government. A coalition government made up without the party holding the largest numbers of seats is NOT a regular, normal event in our recent Canadian Political History. In December 2008 Canadians pushed the CPC to 46% against the coalition parties seizing power. Only in Quebec was the idea popular.

ht/ Stephen Taylor

If we search for Google News stories concerning “prorogation” OR “prorogue” AND “Facebook” we learn that the Canadian media has written 424 stories, while the Facebook group protesting prorogation has 208,744 members. This amounts to 492 new members to the Facebook group for every MSM article referencing the group over the past few weeks. This number does not include television, magazine and radio coverage of the Face book group. And to think, it all started with a “fury” of 20,000 when the group was in the budding stages of becoming an MSM darling. - Stephen Taylor January 21, 2010

 

ht/ Alberta Ardvark

The Liberal Party of Canada returned from their Christmas Vacation to stage a photo in the afternoon on January 25, 2010 in front of the locked doors of Parliament. Those doors were NOT locked, the NDP took their photos in the morning before the cleaning staff had unlocked the doors. IT was a classic example of a failed publicity stunt.

 Bob Rae had no qualms in using prorogation several times as Ontario's Premier.

The Liberals spent several days holding meetings in Ottawa trying to keep the attention of the national media the Liberals were "back to work".

The Government responded by sending some media releases to get "air time" and allowed photos of cabinet meetings demostrating they were still at work. In light of the media driven agenda to cast the twenty two delay of Parliament as something unusual, a threat to democracy, avoiding work, our government sent a letter cancelling the March Break for Parliament. It was a brilliant move and the Liberals and Bloc immediately agreed to the cancellation of the time off. No March Break For You! , Liberal MP complains the changes.

Check.

The Throne Speech was very long and included an item that media went "ALL IN".  A request by a Progressive Conservate Senator (appointed by Paul Martin) to set up a committee to review "gender neutrality" in our National Anthem. (Wednesday March 3, 2010) Apparently this was a serious matter for our one dimensional media at the exclusion of all others.

In less than 24 hours .....

The Deficit Budget was presented on Thursday March 4, 2010 and was virtually ignored by everyone as our media was busy asking Canadians about the National Anthem.

Stephen Taylor has a great site and lists the feedback of stakeholder reaction on March 4, 2010.

 Purchasing a pair of new shoes in introducing a new budget is a tradition for Finance Ministers

The NDP, Bloc recognize the Ignatieff led Liberals are unprepared or unwilling to vote against the government have resorted to their traditional roles of voting against the government.

The Liberals after losing power in 2006 have been unable to present a credible image of an "alternative government" to the Canadian voters. In October 2008 Liberals suffered the worst popular vote since confederation. They were greatly reduced to seventy seven seats based largely in the three largest cities. In 2009 in four contests they failed to post any gains against the CPC led government, the CPC in fact won 50% of the seats including one held by a Bloc MP.

Check.

Real tragedy struck and Canadians responded.

Haiti broke the media driven campaign around prorogue. Next the Olympics required the media and opposition parties to pause their attacks and criticisms for nearly 17 days erasing all their momentum they built against this government.

PM SH praises Heil for Gold Win

Check.

Return to Canadian Politics: Throne Speech, Budget. The Games we ARE NOT watching. (Ottawa bubble)

The Liberals state they are AGAINST the Budget. So what are they doing about it? How is the MEDIA reporting the Liberal Party position?

At least 10 Liberal MP's are being asked not to show up for work, vote against the budget. Our loyal opposition is to challenge, influence the Government's Agenda.

Liberals are REFUSING to act responsibly and hold the government to ACCOUNT as per our traditions in our parliamentary democracy. The NDP, Bloc MP's are going to show up for work and not undermine our parliament.

Source: Parliament

Liberal Loyalty? (oxymoron)

First, the Liberal Party of Canada is solidly united behind the leader Michael Ignatieff, just as it was united behind Stéphane Dion, Paul Martin, Jean Chrétien, John Turner, and Bob Rae. I know, Rae has nothing to do with it, but let's give him some latitude. -Angelo Perischilli

Source December 23, 2009 Blue Wave Part II

The Fall: the economy will continue to expand, more of the stimulus will have taken hold: An election will take place and the Liberals will continue to undermine our Government with publicity stunts without providing an alternative.

Checkmate.

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