This forum is for non aviation related topics, political debate, random thoughts, and everything else that just doesn't seem to fit in the normal forums. ALL FORUM RULES STILL APPLY.
I heard that's one of the reasons Ed Broadbent ducked out this time around. He said he's never seen such poor debate in the Commons. Apparently it was much more civilised before.
Oh well, let's see how many cross the floor still. I personally would like my Belinda to do it again so she can be in the media more. What a babe!
Wilbur wrote:Who cares what is said in the folly and absurd theater that is question period? It counts for nothing beyond it's entertainment value regardless of political affiliation. Hell, I wouldn't even hold that despicable scumbag Cretin to any of his question period quips and retorts.
It's sort of like the Misc. / Political Debate / Aviation Humor board at AV Canada
Wilbur wrote:There is no comparison between Harper's appointment of Fortier to the senate and past Liberal patronage appointments. Fortier's appointment is limited to the term of this government, after which he will resign from the senate and run for a commons seat, and was made so that Canada's second largest city would have representation in cabinet. It also won't impact Conservative long term plans to move to an elected senate as that seat will be vacant again by the time any moves are made in that direction. If anything, the creativeness and flexibility of this move shows the Conservatives are not as dogmatic as the Liberals would like everyone to believe.
As for Emmerson, the people of Vancouver Kingsway should not forget that this fellow was never part of the partisan political system. He was recruited by Martin because of the qualifications and skills he has as a PHD economist and the former, highly successful CEO of Canfor. Prior to running for office he had not even been a member of a political party. Emmerson entered politics for one reason, to serve his country as a cabinet minister in his area of expertise. He didn't need the "status" or money as his former job was higher on both scales. Harper recruited him from the Liberals for the very same reasons Martin recruited him from the private sector, as well as him now having several years experience in cabinet. The political optics may be bad Emmerson, but it's a very good move for the actual running of the country. And again, the Conservatives do not appear so driven by dogma (policy calling for floor crossers to run in a new bi-election) that they can't be flexible when it is good for the country.
As for the voters of his riding, emmotionally they may be unhappy with him for changing parties, but if they look at it logically, the man's socio-political beliefs have not changed, they have a powerful representative in cabinet, and he will certainly be a moderating influence on some of the more conservative minded cabinet members. They are far better off with him in cabinet than they would be with him on the opposition benches.
Stonach, on the other hand, was part of the partisan political system, had no cabinet experience when she crossed the floor, and took over a cabinet portfolio to which she brought no specific knowlege or skills.
Wilbur your Tory party id card is in the mail; Stephen apologizes for the delay, but is really impressed with your ability to spout the party line even when your fellow Tories don't believe it.
Driving Rain wrote:February 7, 2006 - David Emerson as a Liberal cabinet minister said the following over the last parliamentary session (dug up as a result of reading Hansard transcripts for hours):
Some interesting clips you dug up there, makes one almost chuckle, if it wasn't actually a serious issue. I heard Mr. Harper say himself during the campaign, to cross the floor, and mp needs to resign, and win a by-election under the new banner. This little escapade shows just how much truth there was to all of the conservative campaign rhetoric regarding ethics in government. On thier first day 'in power', they already abandon all the election talk that got them there in the first place. This little incident virtually guarantees the minority government will be short lived, they have already demonstrated thier idea of ethics.
The system needs an overhaul, and there's only one thing that will truely fix it. Every ballot in every riding needs 'none of the above' added to the ballot. In a riding where 'none of the above' wins, a by-election for 56 days later is called automatically. Candidates and parties represented on the first ballot are excluded from the by-election, voters have already stated, we dont want them. It'll take 2 election cycles to shake out the system, and we will finally end up with governments that actually give a damn about the voters outside of an election campaign.
goldeneagle wrote:
I heard Mr. Harper say himself during the campaign, to cross the floor, and mp needs to resign, and win a by-election under the new banner. This little escapade shows just how much truth there was to all of the conservative campaign rhetoric regarding ethics in government. On thier first day 'in power', they already abandon all the election talk that got them there in the first place. This little incident virtually guarantees the minority government will be short lived, they have already demonstrated thier idea of ethics.
TAH DAAAHHHH!
And so...it begins. Strike one.
We traded one circus act for another...250 million...down the drain.
To: Government Of Canada
We the undersigned believe that David Emerson elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver Kingsway should be immediately recalled and a by election held so that the people of Vancouver Kingsway and in general all Canadians can be represented by the party and candidate of their choice.
David Emerson should immediately resign his current position in the Conservative Party and his cabinet position of Minister of International Trade. The people of Canada and in Particular the people of Vancouver Kingsway deserve proper democratic rights.
Sincerely,
Oh wait a minute, I can't vote, I don't live in the riding. Oh what the heck, sign it anyway what's democracy have to do with it?
Emerson wasn't the choice of V-Kingsway the first time either - Martin parachuted him along with Chan and Dosanjh in 2004 (remember that? Liberal democracy at its finest)
Emerson obviously intended to retire and go back to coining it in the private sector as the backbenches weren't for him (as Martin's immediate and totally-not-arranged-in-advance appointment of him to Cabinet showed) but John Reynolds got there first. He said - listen mate, these fscking bloggers are up our ass about no MPs in YVR/YUL/YYZ. Everyone hates the Leafs and we own Bay Street again now we're in power so fsck YYZ. But we need to fix the other two. You'll be right back in the Cabinet and we'll give you how ever much money the tools in VANOC overspend on the olympic bid - Stephen's already plugged the first $55m they're looking for into his Blackberry calculator. Come across the floor - it'll be brutal for a while but you were CEO without Daddy making it happen unlike Bling-da so it'll all blow over.
How close is that
And for the record - when I read Daddy S had previously run for the Libs back when Bling-da was a Tory, it made so much sense later when she jumped ship. Sure she made a fool of MacKay but he'd already done that to himself by his surrender to Harper. (This is the guy who will sign pieces of paper abroad on our behalf)
Emerson's just as greedy as she is, not more not less, but I feel we're at least getting some value out of Emerson being a Minister of the Crown.
GIVE THE GUY A BREAK. HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY WAITING TO BECOME A MAN. EVEN CHRETIEN ADMITTED TO MAKING A MISTAKE. aT LEAST HE HASN'T LOST BILLIONS OF OUR MONEY-----YET
goldeneagle ------ you can leave it the way it is or have it the way you want.......it changes NOTHING. You are under the mistaken idea that your MP runs for election to represent YOU and others in your riding. Tha'st the plan "on paper" and would be nice, but once he gets to Ottawa he will vote EXACTLY as he is TOLD to vote or the following will happen:
1) The Party Whip will pay him a visit for a "fireside chat" and he'll be told to "get in line" or else if he doesn't, he'll be removed from the Party. This will be done with no fear whatsoever of what your reaction might be because he doesn't give a shit.
2) Your MP may allow that to happen and wait for the next election to run once again for the same Party. The PM will see those "Nomination" papers, won't sign them and he'll therefore not be able to run for the PM's Party. Again, the PM will not "give a hoot" who you want nominated becasue he's the boss of the Party..........unfortuneately, you had no "say" in that either.
Politicians only START to be afraid of what you think about 6 months before an election. That increases until about 1 month before the polls open and at that point there are some who would perform fallatio on you at the corner of Bay & Bloor in Toronto at high noon in order to get your vote. One day after the election is finished, you're just another big mouth and who cares what you think anyway.
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
There is a public meeting of members of the community to express their views on Emerson's defection on Saturday, February 11th at Sir Charles Tupper High School between 1pm - 3pm. It is hosted by the BC NDP.
Basic rundown of that meeting today:
David Emerson is a traitor, a scumbag, and an arrogant ass. Repeat this a couple hundred times, and you will get the message from the riding.
GIVE THE GUY A BREAK. HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY WAITING TO BECOME A MAN. EVEN CHRETIEN ADMITTED TO MAKING A MISTAKE. aT LEAST HE HASN'T LOST BILLIONS OF OUR MONEY-----YET
