this-on-that

Atlanta Jewish Times Owner: 'it might be time for the Mossad to take out Obama'

2012-01-21T11:27:00.001-05:00

In a column published last week in his community paper, Andrew .B. Adler put forth three options on how to deal with those who don't put Israeli interests ahead of their own. Lets jump to option three.

"Three, give the go-ahead for US-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice-president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States' policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies,"

"Yes, you read "three" correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel's existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don't you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel's most inner circles?"

"How far would you go to save a nation comprised of 7 million lives – Jews, Christians and Arabs alike? You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table."

Apparently, the piece wasn't published online, an "anonymous tipster" uploaded the article and forwarded it to Gawker.com. Gawker contacted Mr.Adler, giving him an opportunity to explain his remarks.Here is the exchange.

A nervous Adler told me over the phone that he wasn't advocating Obama's assassination by Mossad agents. "Of course not," he said.

gawker: But do you think Israel should consider it an option?
Adler: "No."

(g): But do you believe that Israel is in fact considering the option in its most inner circles?
(A): "No. Actually, no. I was hoping to make clear that it's unspeakable—god forbid this would ever happen. I take it you're quoting me?"

(G): Yes.
(A): "Oh, boy."

After being asked about the contradictions between the article and his statements over the phone, Adler asked for a few minutes, presumably, to give him time to come up with a plausible explanation for suggesting Israel assassinate the President of the United States. And he came up with a winner!

When I asked Adler why, if he didn't advocate assassination and didn't believe Israel was actually considering it, he wrote a column saying he believed that the option was "on the table," he asked for a minute to compose himself and call me back. He did a few moments later, and said, "I wrote it to see what kind of reaction I was going to get from readers."

And what was the reaction? "We've gotten a lot of calls and emails."

Of course he has since apologized, however, that does not excuse what he wrote. He lent a voice to extremists who would love nothing more than having Barack Obama meet a horrific ending.

He sought reaction. That's the best excuse he could come up with. Fine, here are some reactions.

The American Jewish Committee in Atlanta:

"While we acknowledge Mr. Adler's apology, we are flabbergasted that he could ever say such a thing in the first place. How could he even conceive of such a twisted idea?" said Dov Wilker, director of AJC Atlanta. "Mr. Adler surely owes immediate apologies to President Obama, as well as to the State of Israel and his readership, the Atlanta Jewish community."

Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League: "There is absolutely no excuse, no justification, no rationalization for this kind of rhetoric. It doesn't even belong in fiction. These are irresponsible and extremist words. It is outrageous and beyond the pale. An apology cannot possibly repair the damage. Irresponsible rhetoric metastasizes into more dangerous rhetoric. The ideas expressed in Mr. Adler's column reflect some of the extremist rhetoric that unfortunately exists -- even in some segments of our community -- that maliciously labels President Obama as an 'enemy of the Jewish people.' Mr. Adler's lack of judgment as a publisher, editor and columnist raises serious questions as to whether he's fit to run a newspaper."

From Haaretz Jewish publisher is an idiot - but his hatred is shared by many.

Anyone who has spent any time talking to some of the more vociferous detractors of Obama, Jewish or otherwise, has inevitably encountered those nasty nutters, and they are many, who still believe he is a Muslim, who are utterly convinced that he wants to destroy Israel, and who seriously debate whether he is more like Ahmadinejad than Arafat or – and I heard this one with my own ears – more like Hitler than Haman.

Anyone who reads some of the opinion articles and blogs posted on the Internet by the more extreme Obama-hating writers and pundits – again, many of them Jews - cannot deny the wanton and inflammatory nature of much of their anti-Obama invective.

One wonders how many of today’s anti-Obama politicians and opinion-makers, the latter-day elders of yore, will be able to read Adler’s crazed counsel to Benjamin Netanyahu, and, may that day never come, take a good look in the mirror, wash their hands of the whole affair and declare with a clear conscience that their otherwise sharp and probing eyes didn’t see a thing.

Keystone XL pipeline proposal rejected

2012-01-18T15:47:00.001-05:00

The U.S. government has denied an application by TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline, the State Department announced Wednesday

Good news, for now.

Update...

The always vigilant folks over at DESMOGBLOG are keeping an eye on the oil shills and their propaganda campaign while debunking their claims.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Republican Congressional Committee want to make sure that no matter what your opinion of the decision, and no matter who you follow, that you won't be able to avoid their political spin. Both groups are paying for "Promoted Tweets" on various Twitter streams relating to the Keystone XL decision.

Big Oil may have the money to try to "buy" popular opinion, but they don't have the facts. The truth remains that Keystone XL, if built, would be an export pipeline that would do nothing to increase American energy security, would actually increase the cost of oil in the Midwest,....

move out of the way, Orly Taitz ~ there's a new crazy in town : 'Mr. Basiago, Mr. Stillings confirm meeting Barack Obama on Mars'

2011-12-31T13:40:00.002-05:00

Hmm, upon further reflection, (and a link I just came across) I'm gonna declare them all equally delusional.

First, some lunacy from the Mars visitors.

According to Mr. Basiago and Mr. Stillings, in Summer 1980 they attended a three-week factual seminar about Mars to prepare them for trips that were then later taken to Mars via teleportation.

In addition to Basiago and Stillings, two of the eight other teenagers in Major Dames’ class that they can identify today were Barack Obama, who was then using the name “Barry Soetoro,” and Regina Dugan, who Mr. Obama appointed the 19th director and first female director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency...

Mr. Basiago states that during one of his trips to Mars via “jump room” that took place from 1981 to 1983, he was sitting on a wall beneath an arching roof that covered one of the “jump room” facilities as he watched Mr. Obama walk back to the jump room from across the Martian terrain. When Mr. Obama walked past him and Mr. Basiago acknowledged him, Mr. Obama stated, with some sense of fatalism: “Now we’re here!”

Mr. Stillings states that during one of his visits to Mars, he walked out of the “jump room” facility and encountered Mr. Obama standing beside the facility by himself staring vacantly into a ravine located adjacent to the facility.

For more crazy, and there is more, follow the link.

And now Orly. I can't believe she is still at this! Even more disturbing though, is the fact that the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission would grant her an hour to spew her nonsense. But they did.

Dated Tue., Nov. 22 2011

Taitz and some foaming-at-the-piehole New Hampshire state reps filed a complaint Saturday to knock President Barack Obama off the primary ballot in the Granite State because he's a forger and social security fraudster.

The state's Ballot Law Commission flatly turned down the complaint with a very public 5-0 vote, causing birther bellyachers to make a showy retreat from the Concord hearing room, braying, "Treason!" "Traitors" and "You have no decency."

After the decision, Orly's firm grasp of reality, shone through.

"The level of corruption was unbelievable," Taitz reportedly said later to Sharon Rondeau of something called the Post & Email. "We found out that all five members of the committee are Democrats. As I was presenting all of the evidence, people were listening and getting more and more angry."

Of course, the chair of the commission is Brad Cook, a prominent Republican. I used to get a chuckle from people like these, but shit, when someone is this divorced from reality, it's not a laughing matter.

Whew! Despite Late Attack on Santa, christmas 2011 pulls through!

2011-12-25T22:02:00.001-05:00

Man, that was close! As evidenced by the photo, a baby jesus hatin cop ambushed jolly ol' St.Nick on his last stop. The poor guy was prevented from shimmying down the chimney, forced instead, to ungracefully "drop" the last gift down the opening. Barely!

I won't sugar coat this. I was very worried we might not make it this year. After reading story after story of vicious attacks from people pushing some nonsense about the separation of church and state, I thought they had us.

And consider this, now backed by a Muslim/Kenyan President as an ally, the "war on christmas" ~~and apple pie, and the troops, and white people~~ had reached a crisis point.

Would courts side with the extremists who believe the government should represent all of society, or would they agree with the reasonable folks who want to remind everyone, everywhere, all the time, that their beliefs are the only ones that matter?

Although it wasn't a perfect outcome, due to the fact some of the zealots were allowed to put up displays on government property, in the end, faith prevailed and christmas was saved!

And with that, Season's Greetings to all and a safe and happy 2012!

(Or whatever salute you sinners go by!)

New York "foreclosure mill" mocks homeless at halloween party

2011-10-31T01:11:00.001-04:00

Speaking of offensive halloween costumes....

For the full story and images, visit the New York Times

A former employee of the largest foreclosure firm in New York City, Steven J. Baum, has shared some photos taken at last years office party, revealing what she describes as 'an accurate representation of the firm's mind-set.'

"There is this really cavalier attitude," she said. "It doesn't matter that people are going to lose their homes." Nor does the firm try to help people get mortgage modifications; the pressure, always, is to foreclose.

From the author of the article:

Let me describe a few of the photos. In one, two Baum employees are dressed like homeless people. One is holding a bottle of liquor. The other has a sign around her neck that reads: "3rd party squatter. I lost my home and I was never served." My source said that "I was never served" is meant to mock "the typical excuse" of the homeowner trying to evade a foreclosure proceeding.

A second picture shows a coffin with a picture of a woman whose eyes have been cut out. A sign on the coffin reads: "Rest in Peace. Crazy Susie." The reference is to Susan Chana Lask, a lawyer who had filed a class-action suit against Steven J. Baum - and had posted a YouTube video denouncing the firm's foreclosure practices. "She was a thorn in their side," said my source.

These pictures are hardly the first piece of evidence that the Baum firm treats homeowners shabbily - or that it uses dubious legal practices to do so. It is under investigation by the New York attorney general, Eric Schneiderman. It recently agreed to pay $2 million to resolve an investigation by the Department of Justice into whether the firm had "filed misleading pleadings, affidavits, and mortgage assignments in the state and federal courts in New York." (In the press release announcing the settlement, Baum acknowledged only that "it occasionally made inadvertent errors.")

The firms reaction to the Times piece?

"It has been suggested that some employees dress in ... attire that mocks or attempts to belittle the plight of those who have lost their homes," the statement read. "Nothing could be further from the truth." It described this column as "another attempt by The New York Times to attack our firm and our work."

Yes, those images aren't mocking anyone! Those employees dressing up to portray those who have lost their homes as whining, lying, alcoholic losers, is just their way of showing empathy.

Assholes!

Marine to NYPD:"this is not a war zone, it doesn't make you tough, to hurt these people! It doesn't! If you want to go fight, go to Iraq and Afghanistan"

2011-10-24T14:08:00.003-04:00

Inspiring video.

U.S Marine Corps. Sgt. Shamar Thomas challenged a large number of New York City police officer's at a Times Square OWS gathering just over a week ago. The young veteran was outraged with the acts of intimidation and outright police brutality directed at unarmed, non threatening protesters. Thomas confronted the police, face to face, asking cops, "why you all doing this to these people? I've been to Iraq for fourteen months for my people! You come over and hurt them, they don’t have guns. They don’t have guns. They don’t — why are you hurting these people?" And the cops are stunned. They don't know what to do. My opinions on what the men in blue were thinking, aside, the 24 year old continued reprimanding.

"This is America"
"nobody is trying to hurt you guys"
"There are no bullets flying out here, there are no bullets flying, how tuff are you"
"There is no honor in hurting unarmed civilians"
"There is no reason for this"
"There is no honor in hurting unarmed civilians, I won't let it happen, have a good night"

Now some have criticized the good sergeant's demeanor, and I admit there were a couple of times during the incident where it became a repetitive rant, but it was an intense situation which could have backfired on the young man, and because of that I'm am dismissing the critics objections as mere nit picking.

It was full of win, as they say. When the confrontation came to an end and Thomas walked away, random protesters reached out in a show of support.

More on Sgt. Shamar Thomas

Marine's dressing down of cops sparks OccupyMARINES

Thomas on Olbermann

Interview with Russia Today

h/t Daily Kos

update
Shamar Thomas's youtube channel.

herman cain disputes he's flavor of the week by naming himself after flavor out of production

2011-10-16T22:18:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. But if one is gonna use the same metaphor over and over and over again, shouldn't he or she at least make sure the thing being compared to, actually exists?!.........just sayin

Cain regarding Chris Christie's possible run for the wingnut nomination:

~ “He’ll get a lot of attention, suck up a lot of oxygen for a while, and at the same time, you’ll see ‘black walnut’ moving up the charts!”

In response to criticism from the Queen of Quit:

~ “I can eat black walnut all the time – it’s not a flavor of the week! It’s not that heavy. You can eat it on the cone or in a cup.”
(Not sure why, but that bolded part is giving me a good chuckle.)

On ~~Conan's~~ Leno's show:

~ “I happen to believe there’s iced milk, and then there’s Haagen-Dazs black walnut. Substance, that’s the difference. I got the substance. I’m the black walnut! It lasts longer than a week.”

Anyway, ABC News actually did a fact check on this.

Here’s the problem: Haagen Dazs no longer makes black walnut ice cream. It was a limited edition, and is no longer available.

When contacted by ABC News, Hazel, at the Haagen-Daz customer service line, said, “We don’t sell black walnut. The sales nationally did not meet our expectations, unfortunately. It did not behoove us to continue with the product.”

Hey,laughing at stupid things, is still laughing!

toronto star: Liberals best choice for Ontario’s future

2011-10-01T12:19:00.000-04:00

And I agree. My short explanation is this. I would never vote for a right wing conservative such as Tim Hudak. And after observing Andrea Horwath in the spotlight for the first time, I'm not impressed with her either.

The Star has a more legitimate breakdown. Some points.

Tim Hudak’s Progressive Conservatives and Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats both claim to offer the “change” they feel voters want. While they have worked hard to relate to voters’ insecurities and fears about jobs and rising costs, neither has put forward credible plans that would address those concerns.

Under the Liberals, Ontario’s education system has become a world leader. They brought in full-day kindergarten. High-school graduation rates have gone up sharply. And more students than ever are going on to college and university. The government invested heavily in hospitals, doctors and nurses and, more recently, has begun to implement important cost-saving measures in health care. It stabilized our electricity system; the blackout of 2003 is a bad memory and we no longer have to wonder whether the lights will go out again.

McGuinty has proven he is willing to make politically difficult but necessary decisions. Indeed, that’s where much of his unpopularity comes from.

On energy, McGuinty would have been more popular if he continued the game that previous premiers played — under-investing in our electricity system and hiding rising costs within the provincial budget. Instead, he made the right decision for Ontario’s future. Hydro bills are higher, but despite the claims by Hudak and Horwath that has little to do with the Liberals’ green energy policies. It has far more to do with investments in new power supply (nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectric), transmission lines and paying down debt left over from previous governments. The suggestion by Hudak and Horwath that electricity will be much cheaper if they win isn’t credible.

Sportsnet fires host following anti-gay marriage tweet

2011-05-11T15:58:00.000-04:00

Or it may have just been the last straw in a strained work environment. Whatever the reason though, kudos to SportsNet.

After a spate of tweets in support of a hockey agent’s anti-gay marriage stand, Rogers Sportsnet decided Wednesday to fire on-air host Damian Goddard.

“Mr. Goddard was a freelance contractor and in recent weeks it had become clear that he is not the right fit for our organization,” the sports giant’s communications director, Dave Rashford, said in a short statement.

Some background leading to today's development.

Good riddance, Damian!

dipper deputy leader: Obama is a liar....update: dipper foreign affairs critic: U.S. government has photos

2011-05-04T21:39:00.000-04:00

Well, after the catastrophic election results on Monday, and by that I'm referring to the harper majority, I suppose bashing the new opposition party for any reason whatsoever might be a way to pass the time. Karma, and all that.

Anyway, Barack Obama decides that releasing the pictures of osama bin killed, might not be a good idea.

"It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who is shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool…we don't trot out this stuff as trophies," said Obama, who saw the photos.

Deputy dipper Thomas Mulcair says, yeah, that's because he doesn't have any pictures, so there!

Thomas Mulcair struck a conspiracy theory note Wednesday when he told CBC TV that U.S. President Barack Obama's version of the death of the terrorist mastermind is incomplete, if not untrue.

"I don't think from what I've heard that those pictures exist,"

Where did you hear that, Mr.Mulcair? Alex Jones, perhaps?

update

Well that didn't take long. Foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar contradicts Mulcair.

"We have no reason to doubt the veracity of President Obama’s statement," Dewar wrote in an emailed statement.

"I understand that the U.S. government has photos, but decided not to release them as they do not want them used as trophies. This is a legitimate concern. We agree these types of photos shouldn’t be used as propaganda tools.

"As in all cases, the public’s right to know must be balanced with public safety concerns."

So Dewar would hide information when he thinks it's appropriate? Not very dipper like, I must say!

scummy ex cop tells Scum Media that cops hate poor people

2011-04-30T12:22:00.001-04:00

Could this ex cop be julian fantino? He's an ex Toronto cop, and scummy to boot! At any rate, the smear job on Jack Layton, which by the way, Orwell's Bastard has done a bitchin job covering, does reveal the contempt certain cops have for those less fortunate. It could explain why they kill people with diminished capacity, those who arrive from foreign lands and don't speak English, assault those whose only crime is having an artificial limb. Perhaps the Scum Media chain could investigate that. While I hold my breath with anticipation, here is the passage.

"To have arrested him and charged him would have served our egos a lot more. Layton was a thorn in the side of the police, siding with the anti-poverty movement in '96 or '97 ... Jack was anti-police," the ex-cop said.

So if being anti~poverty makes one anti~police, it only follows that, you must despise the poor if you want to be pro~police, right?

Shake it off, Jack. Of course it is an embarrassing incident, but your only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just pretend it never happened. harper does it all the time.

steve harper's Federal agency for victims just another scam

2011-04-26T07:02:00.000-04:00

So says the agency’s first boss.

tory majority on the horizon, that is all!

2011-04-12T21:04:00.002-04:00

Stella Ambler, wtf? update...

2011-04-03T21:49:00.000-04:00

update

Upon reading my post after its appearance on Progressive Bloggers, I realised most wouldn't have a clue who stella ambler is. Here is some quick background.

She is running for steve harper in the federal election in my district. I received calls from both stella and steve within thirty~six hours of each other. Stella Ambler adores steve harper and is running on his record.

end of update

Hey Stella! Was that you that cut me off and endangered both of our lives this morning?

Do you drive a white car with a prominent sign displaying your name on the passenger door, the door I would have hit if I hadn't slammed my brakes?

The intersection was Indian Road and Infinity. The time was between 8:10 and 8:25. Was that you? You fascist loving opportunist!

More on Stella in the coming days,....unless of course, I die going to work one day because a right wing fuckhead decides her time is so valuable that rules don't apply to stephen harper fans.

steve harper, governing by sledgehammer

2011-02-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

A brilliant analogy, Mr.Gardner!

snippet

The other day I picked up a sledgehammer and smashed my television.

The wife and kids were somewhat surprised.

“Honey,” my wife said gently. “Why did you do that?”

“Didn’t like the picture quality,” I replied.

“But we’ve had that TV for years and you never said a word about it before,” she said.

I shrugged.

My wife expressed further disgruntlement. So did the kids. I thought they’d shut up about it but they just kept going on and on. It was annoying.

“OK,” I said. “I’ll fix the situation.”

So I went to the store. “Fix the situation,” I told the clerk.

The clerk showed me new TVs.

“Do these have better picture quality than the TV I smashed?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “The TV you smashed is the best TV there is. No other TV is its equal. Would you like to buy a new one?”

Wow, I thought. This guy’s not very sharp. “I’d look pretty stupid if I bought the same TV I smashed,” I said. “I want a different TV. But it should be as good as the one I smashed.”

The clerk frowned. “But I just told you no other TV is as good as the TV you smashed.”

“I don’t care about your problems, buddy, “ I said. “Fix the situation.”

This is how Prime Minister Stephen Harper governs Canada.

Here is the rest of the anecdote.

tim hudak: ' I can get you drunk for $1.60 less! '

2011-02-08T16:55:00.001-05:00

meh, here's the link. While there is at least an admission on corporate influence over politicians in the article, why would Hudak make this an issue? Is he going after the rob ford voters? Is it because cheap alcohol got him laid?

Anyway, at the time, the Liberals excuse for raising the price on 'buck a beer' was~

“social responsibility” of discouraging underage drinking as a reason for the mandatory increase.

Which is bullshit if the "Liberal insider" is to be believed. It was all about the lobbying.

susan auch, just visiting, pulling a palin

2011-02-06T15:03:00.000-05:00

Does stephen harper know about this? Three~time Olympic speedskating medallist {pfft,never a gold} Susan Auch, has decided to run for the con nomination in Assiniboia, Manitoba, a seat held by New Democrat Jim Rondeau since 1999. The dilemma for harper seems obvious. Ms.Auch has been away from Manitoba for the past twenty years! And considering how important an issue this is for steve, I mean going so far as devoting resources to attack Michael Ignatieff for earning a living somewhere other than his birthplace, I expect harper to act as the principled man he pretends to be, and smear Auch with same vigour directed at Iggy.

pulling a palin

So why has Auch decided to run after a twenty year absence? Well, gosh darnit, even though she has been living in Calgary for most of that time, she "watched Manitoba from afar", mostly from Stampede Park, I think, and says ~~Alaska~~ Manitoba has so much to offer that it should be leading the rest of ~~America~~ Canada. Where to is anyone's guess. The fact Ms.Auch lacks any real political experience, well, like palin, she sees that as a strength.

"I think it's good to come in without direct political experience because I bring new thought and new ideas and new inspiration."

I'm sure she'll do fine as long as she dresses 'properly', that way she won't have to rely on her fresh ideas for inspiration.

harper infiltrates CRTC

2011-02-05T11:58:00.000-05:00

According to Heritage Minister James Moore's office, just because Tom Pentefountas fails to meet the criterion required for the position of vice-chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and he is buddies with harper's spin doctor Dimitri Soudas, Tom was the best candidate available. Nothing to see here.

NDP heritage critic Charlie Angus, disagrees.

“We see their intense interest in Fox-style news. Mr. Harper has already asked for personal updates on the process at the CRTC,” the New Democrat charged. “His former communications director [Kory Teneycke] suddenly leaves and then announces that he is going to lead up the run for Sun TV. Then the CRTC announces well maybe we don’t need any broadcast standards.”

On the eve of that decision there will be someone with ties to the Conservative Party with no broadcast experience who is sitting as the vice-chair, Mr. Angus said.

“It’s a $60-billion industry,” he said. “You have to have credible people who have are seen as transparent and accountable. You can’t have the Prime Minister deciding he’s going to put political friends on there.”

Egypt's new vice president ~ expert on rendition and torture

2011-01-31T20:57:00.000-05:00

Stephen Soldz of Dissident Voice has the goods on the former intelligence chief and newly crowned vice president, Omar Suleiman. Here is a passage from Stephen's piece.

Shortly after 9/11, Australian citizen, Mamdouh Habib, was captured by Pakistani security forces and, under US pressure, tortured by Pakistanis. He was then rendered (with an Australian diplomats watching) by CIA operatives to Egypt, a not uncommon practice. In Egypt, Habib merited Suleiman’s personal attention. As related by Richard Neville, based on Habib’s memoir:

Habib was interrogated by the country’s Intelligence Director, General Omar Suleiman…. Suleiman took a personal interest in anyone suspected of links with Al Qaeda. As Habib had visited Afghanistan shortly before 9/11, he was under suspicion. Habib was repeatedly zapped with high-voltage electricity, immersed in water up to his nostrils, beaten, his fingers were broken and he was hung from metal hooks.

That treatment wasn’t enough for Suleiman, so:

To loosen Habib’s tongue, Suleiman ordered a guard to murder a gruesomely shackled Turkistan prisoner in front of Habib – and he did, with a vicious karate kick.

It'll be interesting to see which of ~~Israel's~~ Egypt's allies welcome him, and which {if any} join the citizenry in their demand for wholesale change. As the article points out, the Obama administration, at least two high ranking members that I have heard, have come out and criticized Mubarak for re shuffling the deck. But if I had to predict what the U.S administration ends up doing regarding Suleiman, I'd say they back off their previous position and accept that "orderly transition" to democracy crap I keep hearing about.

Mubarak begins implementing democratic reform by shutting down Al Jazeera

2011-01-30T08:22:00.004-05:00

updated below

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, you consider Hosni Mubarak a family friend. Perhaps you could tell him he's doing it wrong! You also said you looked forward to seeing more of him in the United States. Invite the dictator over for an extended stay. Convince him he would have a blast hanging out with Mr.Clinton.

Network's licenses cancelled and accreditation of staff in Cairo withdrawn by order of information minister.

The Egyptian authorities are revoking the Al Jazeera Network's licence to broadcast from the country, and will be shutting down its bureau office in Cairo, state television has said.

"The information minister [Anas al-Fikki] ordered ... suspension of operations of Al Jazeera, cancelling of its licences and withdrawing accreditation to all its staff as of today," a statement on the official Mena news agency said on Sunday.

In a statement, Al Jazeera said it strongly denounces and condemns the closure of its bureau in Cairo by the Egyptian government. The network received notification from the Egyptian authorities on Sunday morning.

"Al Jazeera has received widespread global acclaim for their coverage on the ground across the length and breadth of Egypt," the statement said.

An Al Jazeera spokesman said that the company would continue its strong coverage regardless.

Looks like Mubarak is happy to ride this out, hoping the people of Egypt tire themselves out and settle for a new version of the old guard.
May they remain resolute.

update ~ recent developments

per Al Jazeera

- Reports that Mubarak has given the Army permission to open fire on protesters

- Military leader tells protesters the Army refuses to do so

- Prisoners released - allegedly to intimidate protesters

- Fighter jets make low altitude passes over crowds

- S.o.S Hillary Clinton calls for an "orderly transition" to democracy, whatever that means

- Member of ruling party appears on Al Jazeera and claims a majority of Egyptians want Mubarak to retain power.
Asked how he knows this, he responds he lives in Egypt.

- Looters discovered to be plain clothes police officers.

update 2

Al Jazeera undeterred

Due to the repressive Egyptian government's attempt at silencing the citizenry, Al Jazeera is offering other means for those who wish to pass along any information, or simply stay abreast of real time news in Egypt.

To further enhance its coverage of the unfolding events in Egypt, Al Jazeera has made available to bloggers, activists, and citizen journalists the following ways to send their images and stories to Al Jazeera:

• Arabic content can be submitted to: sharek.aljazeera.net
• English content can be submitted to: yourmedia.aljazeera.net
• On phone to +974-4489-6190 or +974-4489-6192

Our Arabic sister channels are now broadcasting on the following new frequencies:

1) New frequency for AJA & AJM on Nilesat 7W:
10949 vertical (new)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

2) New frequency for AJA & AJM on Arabsat 26E:
11585 vertical (new)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

3) Arabic and Mubasher on Hotbird:
12111 MHz Vertical (Old)
SR: 27.500 Msps
FEC: 3/4

4) Arabic and Mubasher on Arabsat Badr4 (Old):
12034 MHz Horizontal
SR: 27.500
FEC: 3/4

5) Arabic and Mubasher on Arabsat Badr4 (Old):
11996 MHz Horizontal
SR: 27.500
FEC: 3/4

update ~ 31/1/11

Six Al Jazeera journalists briefly arrested, released without camera equipment, rendering them unable to broadcast.

2004: stephen harper immoral ~ 2011: stephen harper still immoral ~update

2011-01-28T16:35:00.004-05:00

updated below

Look at it this way, Iggy. He could have accused you of supporting child pornography.I know, I know, give it time. But as stephen harper's latest false attack ads make their rounds targeting ignorant voters, a.k.a - his base, I wonder just how desperate he'll become as the threat of an election becomes a reality. How vicious will stephen harper become? Is there a line of decency this fascist won't cross? I don't believe such a line exists. stephen harper has shown how immoral he really is on multiple occasions, however, for those who may not have been following closely back then, let's flashback to the 2004 federal election campaign.

stephen harper uses rape and murder of 10 year old girl; accuses Paul Martin and N.D.P of supporting child pornography.

On June 18, 2004, as the federal election campaign wound down, and the conservatives leading in the polls mind you, stephen harper and his band of "warriors" sent out a press release titled "Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography?".

The date of the release is relevant, and here is why. About thirteen months earlier, a little girl in Toronto was raped and murdered by a sicko. One day before stephen harper's despicable attack, the suspect at the time, pleaded guilty and told the court that child pornography was to blame for his actions. Seizing on raw emotion from a heart wrenching tragedy, stephen harper and his crew jumped on the opportunity to insinuate Mr.Martin was a pedophile. I'm surprised it took them that long.

What was behind stephen harper's reprehensible attack? Paul Martin didn't agree with some measures the right wing harper supported. And as we know, if you disagree with stephen harper on anything, you hate Canada. Don't agree with torture? You hate the troops and coddle terrorists! Don't think someone should be locked up for having some marijuana? You my friend are soft on crime! and on and on....

It was a fiasco for the harpercons. Retracting the initial release, releasing a second inflammatory memo: "Today, Martin says he's against child pornography. But his voting record proves otherwise,", retracting that one seconds later. The cons were spinning, realizing they had in fact gone too far. Of course harper never apologized, cause that would take integrity. And because he is never wrong. So the writing was on the wall regarding stephen harper's character.

The lesson here is stephen harper will accuse, insinuate, outright lie, smear, cheat and do whatever it takes to gain and or retain power. Including using a tragedy like the one mentioned above. And that is immoral. stephen harper, a man with no honour. He never did retract the one asking if "The NDP Caucus Supports Child Pornography?". Such a role model. Such an a adult.

Here is a link describing some of what happened that day.

update: harper cons pull misleading ads

This is rich. After taking criticism from all sides of the political spectrum for their dishonest attack ads, harper's crew have taken down the two videos, claiming they were only intended as a one day special web posting. Sort a like a sale at Best Buy. Or something. I'm sure it had nothing to do with being ridiculed.

The federal Conservatives have abruptly yanked two controversial attack ads just a day after unleashing them.

The ads, featuring an out-of-context video clip of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, prompted a torrent of criticism — even from some conservative commentators.

A party official said the ads were always intended to be "a one-day web posting" and there were never any plans to pay to air them on television.

today's hero: Justice Elliott Allen finds cops guilty of assault

2011-01-25T18:20:00.001-05:00

updated below

This restores a little bit of hope. Edward Ing and John Cruz were found guilty of assault causing bodily harm while making an unwarranted arrest on a disabled man, Richard Moore. Naturally, the two thugs justification for beating up Mr.Moore, was that they were only looking out for his own good. Oh, and Mr.Moore berated them.

Edward Ing and John Cruz were stone-faced and had no comment on after Justice Elliott Allen gave his verdict in Brampton court Tuesday morning.

“His injuries are consistent with being struck constantly,” the judge said, adding that he accepted the officers’ testimony that Moore was verbally abusive towards them.

“The preponderance of evidence suggests he was making venomous remarks upon his arrest,” the judge said.

The officers had testified that they were attempting to take Moore into custody on a charge of being drunk in public for his own safety, fearing that he might wander into traffic.

The judge said the officers did not have grounds for an arrest.

He noted that Moore had no trace of alcohol in his system when he was taken to hospital and that the charge of being drunk in a public place was later thrown out of court.

Assholes!

updated~Jan 26 2011

‘Rare’ guilty verdict for cops in police brutality case

“It’s very, very rare,” said lawyer Barry Swadron, referring to the verdict. Swadron represented Richard Moore. He's been practicing for nearly 50 years. But let's not just take his word for it. Paul Bailey, former president of the York Regional Police Association chimes in.

The outcome is notable because such accusations rarely hold up in court, said Paul Bailey, former president of the York Regional Police Association.

He estimated that 95 per cent of accusations of assault against on-duty police officers do not end in guilty verdicts.

“The vast majority of officers are either found not guilty or the charges are stayed or withdrawn,” said Bailey, a past administrator with the Police Association of Ontario.

is harper stooge John Baird insane?

2011-01-24T14:23:00.000-05:00

Seriously, is he? Firstly for aiding a fascist, but secondly, coming out with this nonsense. Conservatives scold opposition parties for polishing their election campaigns, especially the day after imbecile harper stages yet another propaganderrific commercial. Most likely on our dime.

The NDP is taking media through its newly renovated, very orange, war room near Parliament Hill, showing off its information technology and research capacity.

And as the Liberals kick off their winter caucus meetings, they're bringing in all their election candidates for a training day today, as well as putting up their leader Michael Ignatieff for photos in campaign literature.

The Tories have sent out House leader John Baird to scold the opposition for playing games with the electorate while work in reviving the post-recession economy needs to be done.

John, you self loathing asshole! You and your party have been campaigning for the last five years! Go fuck yourself.

listen to howard stern blast sarah palin: 'you effer, you c~word, you effin crybaby!'

2011-01-15T18:22:00.000-05:00

While I've never been a Howard Stern fan, I give him props for this. He has many followers, and if he has made even one of them reconsider their support for this shallow, anti~american screecher rethink their values, well, he did some good.

wishing all a safe, happy and Harperless 2011

2011-01-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

And in the spirit of the day, some live U2 goodness.

As it should be, interpretation is in the ear of the beholder. For me personally, I lost the most influential person of my life on New Year's day, many many moons ago. Since that day, January first has always represented the anniversary of that tragedy. Not only for me, but most of my family as well.

Reflecting on it now, that might be part of why I never bought into New Year's resolutions. I mean, why not start in June, September or November? Sure, I get the 'but New Year's Day represents a new beginning!' philosophy. I just don't subscribe to it. If one believes changes are in order, why not start then? At the time of realization.

Anyway, when I was younger, {and less jaded, perhaps} I liked to imagine {as the line in the song suggests} that maybe one day we {this person and I} would be together again. Unfortunately...

All the best in 2011!

Canadian Colonel declares mission accomplished in Afghanistan

2010-11-26T14:38:00.000-05:00

Yup! I'm sure it's different, this time!

Christine O'Donnell ~ "Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?" video goodness included ~small update: forward vid to 2:35

2010-10-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

Thank~you Christine, even though you preach against it, you give me pleasure almost everytime.

Christine's latest: "Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?":

Republican Christine O'Donnell challenged her Democratic rival Tuesday to show where the Constitution requires separation of church and state, drawing swift criticism from her opponent, laughter from her law school audience and a quick defense from prominent conservatives.

The audience reaction caught by the mic are pretty funny. And the rush to her defence from the usual suspects is predictable. These are the wingnuts after all. Seeing the world through black and white lenses is what they are all about.

"Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?" O'Donnell asked while Democrat Chris Coons, an attorney, sat a few feet away.

Coons responded that O'Donnell's question "reveals her fundamental misunderstanding of what our Constitution is. ... The First Amendment establishes a separation."

To witch Christine responded, "Really?" Also interesting in the video, is her reaction to the audience reaction. It seems, at least for a second, that she thinks she scored some major "Gotcha"! Then reality hits and she spins it in to "Those words" are in the first amendment?!?!?!?

Christine O'Donnell ignorant of the Constitution

Federal Court judge: stephen harper and his klan are morons for smearing George Galloway

2010-09-27T17:48:00.000-04:00

However, there is not much he can do about it. Because after the harper government labeled Galloway a terrorist sympathizer {a.k.a anyone who has a different perspective} and warned that he would be refused entry into Canada, George did not make a physical attempt to enter. One would think it was a wise decision on his behalf, but that is where he went wrong, apparently.

From The CBC

In his ruling released on Monday, Justice Richard Mosley writes that since Galloway never actually tried to enter Canada after being warned the government would not let him in, there isn't much he can do.

However, Mosley, a former Crown prosecutor, found the decision to prevent Galloway from coming to Canada "a flawed and overreaching interpretation of the standards under Canadian law for labelling someone as engaging in terrorism or being a member of a terrorist organization."

Yes, welcome to stephen harper's Canada, Mr.Mosley.

Mosley also concludes it is clear that the Canada Border Services Agency's preliminary assessment was hurriedly produced in two hours and on scant evidence after receiving instructions from Velshi.

He writes the CBSA assessment is unreasonable because it "overreaches in its interpretation of the facts, errs in its application of the law and fundamentally fails to take into account the purposes for which Galloway provided aid to the people of Gaza through the Hamas government." The judge also notes that for the formal assessment, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service advised border officials that it had no concerns with Galloway's visit.

Yet Velshi told reporters that the decision to bar Galloway was made on national security grounds. Mosley writes "one might hope that a ministerial aide would exercise greater restraint in purporting to speak on behalf of the government, his comments to the press amount to little more than posturing."

Where I disagree with the good judge, is his opinion that Velshi acted on his own.

george dubya's illegal war kills at least 29 more

2010-09-19T18:51:00.000-04:00

As far as I'm concerned, george.w.bush, george tenet, dick cheney, condoleezza rice, et al, should be in fucking jail! Great clip. You can see the hurt in his eyes.

Thank~you Sean, for putting yourself out there and taking on the real evildoers. I don't agree with all of your opinions. But I get it. I get why you are so pissed off. Rolling around in the mud with them can get dirty. And you certainly have taken your fair share of hits. So again, thank~you for using your soapbox for a greater good.

Now, for all the right~wingers, left~wingers, libertarians, teabaggers, whatever you want to call yourselves, this is NOT the Black guy's war! He opposed it even at a time when it was considered unpatriotic. No matter what happens in Iraq, this will always be george w. fucking bush's war. Deal with it!

Many killed in Baghdad blasts

At least 29 people have been killed in two near-simultaneous car bomb explosions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

In one of Sunday's incidents, a bomb went off in the busy Adan juncture in the northwestern Kadhimiya district as people were heading to work. Nineteen people were killed in the blast, near an office of the national security ministry.

Security forces said another car bomb in the western Mansour district killed 10 people outside the Zarzour kebab restaurant and the office of the phone company Asiacell.

An official said the victims of both blasts were brought to the same hospital and the chaotic situation made it difficult to give more details about the casualties in each of the blasts.

About 100 people were wounded in the two explosions.

Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh, reporting from Baghdad, said officials believed civilians were targets of both attacks.

Green Zone attack

Also on Sunday, a father and son were killed when a magnetic bomb was attached to their car in Ghazaliyah in western Baghdad, an interior ministry official said.

The official said three mortar rounds had also been fired into the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to many foreign embassies and government buildings, without causing any casualties or damage.

Canadian women to stephen harper: you're just not man enough to satisfy me

2010-09-11T17:41:00.002-04:00

Meh, it's my duty to mock this tyrant.

Not really a big surprise, considering stephen harper has admitted he has probably {read most likely} never even seduced his wife. But after reading this story and catching up on some blasts from the past, this Divine video just seemed appropriate.

Give it a chance, it was a great dance song.

some of the lyrics

Turn around
Stand up like a man and look me in the eye
Turn around
Take one final look at what you've left behind

Then walk away
From the greatest lover you have ever known
Yes walk away
You're telling me that you can make it
On your own, by yourself
All alone, without my help
Mister you just made a big mistake

You think you're a man
But you're only a boy
You think you're a man
You are only a toy
You think you're a man
But you just couldn't see
You weren't man enough to satisfy me

I was a DJ in another life, and a Divine song always spiced things up.

His best though, was Native Love....

warning~extended version

tyrant stephen harper stealing from Canadians for the sake of self~promotion

2010-09-06T16:45:00.000-04:00

What is left to say? stephen harper is someone in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically. Of that there really is no doubt. Here is a great example {H/T Of Gods & Other Monsters} of what happens when anyone crosses the man who makes the rules

This is simply an extension of an insecure, self~absorbed, power driven madman's policies.

sign sign, everywhere a sign

stephen harper has decided to divert resources from such agencies as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, whose function is supposedly,

Dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

to safeguard his contrived image. From the article:

Civil servants across Canada were ordered by the Harper government to document every single sign posted anywhere promoting the federal economic stimulus plan, The Canadian Press has learned.

Eighteen departments and agencies are involved, including the country's over-stretched food inspection agency, fisheries and oceans officials, health, public safety and environment workers and Parks Canada employees.

And so it goes. I wonder what it would take for true Conservatives to finally stand up to stephen harper, and for Canadian democracy.

faux news north wants to know if you would trust addict and liar rob ford as mayor of Toronto

2010-08-21T20:09:00.001-04:00

If one wanted to, they could vote here.

Mayoral Candidate Rob Ford Enjoys Fellating Donkeys!

2010-08-13T00:28:00.002-04:00

Can I back up this statement with evidence? No! But since wingnut Rob Ford has adopted the right wing strategy of smearing his opponent and then asking them prove him wrong, I have decided to play his game.

So Rob Ford, prove to me that you don't fellate donkeys! I'm waiting, Rob. Why would anyone vote for Rob Ford when they know he fellates donkeys? Oh and have I mentioned that Mayoral Candidate Rob Ford Enjoys Fellating Donkeys? Playing the Rob Ford game is fun! Anyhow, here are the relevant quotes from this story, in my opinion...bolding mine

Councillor Doug Holyday, chair of the audit committee, agreed with Miller that Ford should approach the authorities with concerns.

“Corruption is a strong term, and I think in order to use it, you have to have proof,” said Holyday, like Ford a member of council’s right wing. “I really don’t have proof of corruption here and I don’t know that anybody else has.

“If somebody has any evidence of it, they should take it to the authorities, and if they’re not prepared to do that, then I think they’re stepping out of line to use that term.”

christ, Rob Ford! Stop fellating donkeys! You have lost a fellow right winger! Even he wants you to stop...

never an honest word when stephen harper ruled our world

2010-08-09T22:21:00.000-04:00

Since stevie stalin enjoys jamming so much, I thought he might consider rehearsing this tune. You know it's coming, steve!

Yes, I understand songs are open to interpretation, despite the artist's intention, however, stephen harper will one day sweep the streets he used to own. And that day can not come fast enough! He, like other hacks, will not stand the test of time. Eventually people catch on.

And if nothing else, enjoy a great song...

most disturbing front page in the history of the toronto sun!

2010-08-04T22:11:00.000-04:00

No citizen should be subjected to such vulgarity simply because they are walking around. Isn't there some decency law prohibiting such an offense?

Courtesy Newseum

For the record, unlike stephen harper fans, I don't find her repulsive because of her "lifestyle choice", or her looks. It's the harperocrisy.

This woman cemented my opinion as an ugly zealot when she proposed government should sterilize poor women so taxpayers could save money. I don't have a link, she was on right wing radio and I could not find the quote. But that is Sue Ann Levy, forever an obscenity in my eyes.

Rand Paul: I love Black people, but Mr. Obama is un~American

2010-05-21T19:28:00.000-04:00

This is some funny stuff! After checking in on Progressive Bloggers and reading about the Rand Paul fiasco, I used the Google and found this.

From The National Pest GOP candidate Rand Paul walks into another minefield

Having spent the past two days blowing up his political reputation by criticizing 1960s civil rights legislation that allowed African-Americans to eat at the same private lunch counters as whites, the GOP’s newest Senate candidate has ventured off into other treacherous waters.

Specifically, the oil-soaked waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

In an interview (he just can’t stop talking!) Friday morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, Paul said the Obama administration’s criticism of oil giant BP was “un-American.” We’re not exactly sure why, but given Paul’s world view, it’s likely because he thinks private businesses are so sacrosanct as to be beyond reproach from government – whether they discriminate based on race or preside over ecological disaster.

I have no idea who Sheldon Alberts is, but he ably dissects Paul's arguments in short order. Here is an example.

Paul: I’ve heard nothing from BP about not paying for the spill. And I think it’s part of this sort of blame-game society in the sense that it’s always got to be someone’s fault instead of the fact that may be, sometimes, accidents happen.

I mean, we had a mining accident that was very tragic, and I’ve met a lot of these miners and their families. They’re very brave people to do a dangerous job, but then we come in and it’s always someone’s fault. Maybe, sometimes, accidents happen.”

Says Sheldon... "Accidents happen. In coal mines. On offshore oil rigs. People die. Guess there’s nothing more to be done about it."

P.S... GO HABS GO!

In Halak We Trust!

2010-04-29T00:10:00.006-04:00

photo courtesy of The Star

Fuck yeah!

Jaroslav Halak is better than any god I've ever heard of! He actually produces.

They said it couldn't be done! I said it very well could be! As a Habs fan, and really, what fan of any team wouldn't be proud if they came back from a 3~1 deficit against the league's top team to advance! The Habs did it. I'm proud!

I plan on listing the controversies surrounding the team this year, before their 2nd round exit. :) But not tonight.

Thousands of fans celebrate Montreal Canadiens' miracle victory in Game 7

Following an improbable, come-from-behind seven game series win against a far superior opponent, Montreal Canadiens fans couldn't help but put their faith in a little divine intervention.

stephen harper: Well, if I could, I would make sure Canadian women had no choice either

2010-04-26T18:22:00.000-04:00

But since that is political suicide, I'll appease my base by destroying the lives of women who can't vote for me! True colours and all... DAMMIT JANET! has a roundup.

Sask Party MLA Serge LeClerc: I'm not gay, I only have sex with straight men! ~ update LeClerc won't run again

2010-04-20T15:18:00.000-04:00

Serge LeClerc, a self described former drug addict, violent gang leader and one of Canada's most-feared criminals, has pulled himself from the Saskatchewan Party caucus. After learning the CBC received an information package containing audio recordings of LeClerc, allegedly, discussing drug use and hot homo sex, he says he needs the time to clear his name. While he admits the voice on the recordings sounds "a lot" like his, he would never had said those things. And he doesn't have sex with gay men!

"I don't have sex with gay men, and I don't do cocaine, and this is not me," Leclerc said. He also said he doesn't use marijuana, either.

But it is an interesting denial, isn't it? I mean, why not say "That's not me because I'm not gay", or simply, "I don't have sex with men, that can't be me". And really, Serge, don't rely on that whole converting to Christianity shtick for cover. You definitely don't want to go there.

snippets from the audio:

At one point on the recording, a voice is heard to say, "I had one guy come over with a little coke a few weeks ago and had great sex. He was one of the ones I weeded out, not because of the coke, just because of compatibility."

In another part of the recording, the voice refers to a visit from another male.

"I had a guy over that brought some weed over and we smoked up," the voice says.

Earlier this month, NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter said LeClerc had given him the finger in the assembly. Lingenfelter also claimed he was threatened in a November confrontation in the legislature rotunda. LeClerc denies the accusations.

An e-mail from Reg Downs, senior adviser to Wall, said LeClerc will also be removed from his unpaid position as legislative secretary to Corrections Minister Yogi Huyghebaert, where he was responsible for the "Corrections Facilities Initiative," and from his post as a member of the legislature's human services committee.

update

As to why, well, he lists several reasons. He's too old for this shit, he's stressed out, it's the NDP's fault, and he suffers from serious sinus problems, vertigo and the after~effects from beatings and head injuries he suffered as a criminal. Oh, and because he is overweight it proves he didn't use cocaine!

Perhaps he could consult Rahim Jaffer about those sinus problems, possibly on how to avoid them. And why isn't jesus looking after all that other stuff? That must be the Dippers fault as well! Hmm, on second thought, it must be the Liberals fault! After all, they're the godless ones, right?

“The people that don’t know me, it doesn’t matter, they can believe what they want to believe. And at the end of the day the people who hate me because they are NDP supporters will hate me no matter what evidence comes out,” LeClerc said, describing himself as “emotionally and psychologically drained.”

Wall noted to reporters a negative drug test would not conclusively prove the incident in question did not occur.

When asked what it would take for LeClerc to return to the caucus, Wall said it “was such a speculative question.”

I think he's done.

harper mole Mary Dawson refuses to investigate Helena Guergis ~ updated

2010-04-13T14:16:00.003-04:00

And she doesn't even have to explain why. It is interesting that stephen harper saw fit to call for an investigation while his appointee sees no reason for one.

“Based on the information the Commissioner has at this time, she is not in a position to proceed with an inquiry” based on conflict-of-interest rules governing MPs and cabinet ministers, the statement said.

But Dawson said she “will continue to monitor the situation.”

Oh, well, as long as she monitors it, I'm sure it will be fine!

The commissioner has also declined to follow up on a request by the federal Liberals to look into Guergis’s purchase of an $880,000 house in Ottawa.

I'd say harper's accountability pledge is working out pretty great.

updated to add:

The Star is under the assumption that the commissioner’s office lacked evidence of "information indicating that Guergis acted in an official capacity to further her own private interests or to further the private interests of a relative, friend or other person." How can one possibly come to that conclusion without an investigation?

great snapshot of Evander 'Holyfield' Kane knocking out Matt Cooke

2010-04-11T13:20:00.001-04:00

Video of the fight, below.

Saturday, April 10, Atlanta Thrashers rookie Evander Kane, named after boxing legend Evander Holyfield, lands a solid punch on the chin of Penguin's pest Matt Cooke, sending Bruins fans into ecstasy.

H/T bluelandblog.com click image for full view

On March 7, Cooke blindsided Boston Bruin forward Marc Savard with a shoulder to the head. Savard suffered a grade~two concussion and has not returned to the Boston line~up. Cooke, a repeat offender with several suspensions and a reputation for questionable hits, escaped N.H.L discipline.

Some believe it was an attempt by the league to avoid charges of hypocrisy. Back in October of 2009, Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards laid out Florida Panthers forward David Booth in much the same manner. Unlike Cooke, who received no penalty for his hit, Richards was assessed a five~minute major for interference and a game misconduct, with no further action from the league.

Many are of the opinion that the N.H.L simply did not want to explain conflicting rulings between a star player and that of a shit disturber. I personally don't accept that explanation, seeing as how the league has taken a players past behavior into account in many cases. But one thing is clear, take the head shots out of the game. They do nothing positive for the game.

Atlanta coach John Anderson
"What goes around, comes around. That's all I can tell you."

From a report by Associated Press Writer, George Henry, it seems the Pittsburgh Penguins were more concerned with going after the 18 year old rookie for body checking Sidney Crosby, than actually playing to win.

...but the Penguins appeared to lose focus after Crosby objected to a check into the boards by Kane midway through the first period. Crosby was penalized for cross-checking Kane at 10:24.

Then the Penguin goons went after Kane.

Kane was behind Pittsburgh's net over 4 minutes later when Michael Rupp was given a 10-minute misconduct and Eric Godard was called for roughing.

Cooke was the third of four Penguins skaters penalized for tangling with Kane, who appeared to anger the Penguins for hitting Crosby into the boards twice in the first period.

Atlanta coach John Anderson:

"If they take exception to who gets hit out there, does that mean you are supposed to start a fight?" Anderson said. "I don't get it. Crosby is so great for this game, but when you're always around the puck, you're going to get hit a little bit. Every time he gets body checked, does that mean somebody is going to get attacked?

"Cooke came at an 18-year-old. What goes around, comes around. That's all I can tell you."

David Letterman sums up ann coulter...(video)

2010-03-23T19:19:00.000-04:00

Enough said.

Hillary Clinton: U.S. insulted by Israel's settlement announcement

2010-03-13T09:59:00.001-05:00

hmm... wonder if stephen harper is going to add Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to his list of anti semites?

Clinton sat with CNN's Jill Dougherty (15 second commercial before interview begins) to discuss Israel's most recent attempt at derailing any progress with the Palestinians. While Hillary maintains that the United States relationship with Israel is not at risk, she goes on to criticize her "friends".

"But we have to make clear to our Israeli friends and partners that the two-state solution -- which we support, which the prime minister himself says he supports -- requires confidence-building measures on both sides," Clinton told CNN's Jill Dougherty. "And the announcement of the settlements the very day that the vice president was there was insulting."

"I mean, it was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone -- the United States, our vice president who had gone to reassert our strong support for Israeli security -- and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that known."

Heh, the audacity of this woman! How dare she says anything neg... oh, never mind. I'll let the insufferable director of the Anti-Defamation League speak for himself.

Abraham H. Foxman

We are shocked and stunned at the Administration's tone and public dressing down of Israel on the issue of future building in Jerusalem. We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States. One can only wonder how far the U.S. is prepared to go in distancing itself from Israel in order to placate the Palestinians in the hope they see it is in their interest to return to the negotiating table.

STFU, Abe. Seriously! This is Foxman's m.o. I have written a little about his tactics, in the past. He went after Bill Moyers last year, and Moyers humiliated Abe with his rebuttal. Here is a snippet.

Dear Mr. Foxman:

First, to call someone a racist for lamenting the slaughter of civilians by the Israeli military offensive in Gaza is a slur unworthy of the tragedy unfolding there. Your resort to such a tactic is reprehensible

Contrary to your claim, I made no reference whatsoever to “moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel. That is an old canard often resorted to by propagandists trying to divert attention from facts on the ground, and, it, too, is unworthy of the slaughter in Gaza. Contrary to imputing “moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel, I said that “Hamas would like to see every Jew in Israel dead.” I said that “a radical stream of Islam now seeks to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth.” And I described the new spate of anti-Semitism across the continent of Europe. I am curious as to why you ignored remarks which clearly counter the notion of “moral equivalency.”

B'Nai Brith Canada: Obama made harper say something negative toward Israel because he sucks

2010-03-11T23:41:00.000-05:00

You just know stephen harper's clan gathered around portraits of himself and that orange cat of his and stared at each other trying to come up with a way not to offend the Israelis. Unfortunately for the war crimes supporters, they couldn't just stay quiet while the rest of the world criticized Israel for their latest attempt at sabotaging any shot at peace talks in the Middle East.

So even though Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon did issue a statement, it certainly seems to have an apologetic ring to it. Said Cannon

"Consistent with the positions of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and other key partners, the Canadian government sees the construction of permanent settlements in East Jerusalem as an obstacle to the prospects for peace,"

"Canada believes that all parties should abide by their international commitments. This announcement does not advance the cause of peace in the region."

Translation: "We really don't want to upset you Israel, we approve of your ways, but we must be seen as being onside with the rest of the world in this matter. On the bright side, mums the word on the white phosphorus!" wink

By no means an unpleasant statement, unless of course one is of the mind that mere criticism of Israel is offensive. Somebody like Frank Dimant for example, the executive vice president of B'Nai Brith Canada, who remarkably had this to say.

it was "regrettable" that Cannon objected to Israel's right to build the settlement, but said his statement was "very mild" compared with Biden's.

Dimant said he believed the Harper government was motivated to make the statement in order "to appease" the United States.

"I think the Americans may be looking for more counties to voice displeasure with Israel and therefore apply additional pressure to Israel to make even more concessions because, up to now, Obama's policy has been a failure in the Middle East," Dimant said.

"Therefore, I think they probably called on Canada, which is seen as a very strong, fair supporter of Israel, to join in this condemnation."

Frank, you are an imbecile who lives in a fantasy world. What you consider very strong, fair support of Israel, is absolute acceptance of their policies. You may want to heed the words of Vice President Joe Biden, who said to the audience at an Israeli university, "Quite frankly, folks, sometimes only a friend can deliver the hardest truth."

budget watchdog says harper's budget plans fall $10 billion short

2010-03-11T18:43:00.001-05:00

Has stephen harper been right about anything during his reign as ruler? Does he actually have a degree in economics, and if so, where did it come from? A gum ball dispenser perhaps?

At any rate, Parliamentary budget watchdog Kevin Page says while he and jet setter Jim Flaherty generally agree over the short term forecast, the harper clowns are far too optimistic about how quickly they will be able to balance the budget.

Last week's budget predicted a $53.8-billion deficit at the close of this fiscal year, falling to $1.8 billion in 2014-15.

Page said the deficit will likely still be $12.3 billion at that time.

The disparity stems from Page projecting $6 billion less in corporate tax revenues, and about $4.5 billion higher spending, in part due to higher service charges on the national debt

Page is not saying it can't be done, but additional measures will be needed. A spokesperson for Flaherty dismissed Page's projections because his private sector buddies say Jim is the awesome.

anti~gay, family values conservative: "I'm gay"

2010-03-09T06:52:00.002-05:00

Another Republican hypocrite bites the dust. Rumours started swirling shortly after the arrest of Roy Ashburn(R~~etard~~~California) for drunk driving hit the news.

"Sources" claimed the divorced father of four had been pulled over after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in downtown Sacramento, just prior to his arrest. Realizing there was no way out, so to speak, Ashburn admitted he is gay in a radio interview with KERN radio host, Inga Barks.

Staying true to his republican values, Ashburn justified working against things like gay marriage, by explaining he was simply representing his constituents. And that is simply a cop~out, in my opinion. Many Californians voted for equal rights for the GBLT community. Whatever the real reason, he picked a side, the wrong side. And in light of this revelation, he should be ashamed of himself. Not for being gay of course, but for actively working against himself and others. You'd think someone who has had to live a life of lies would try and help others so they wouldn't need to go through the same torture. But that would take courage.

Here is an example of Ashburn's malicious discourse, popular among the folks with traditional values.

"We need to preserve traditional values for the future of our children. Children must be raised with morals and principles. As a society, we must provide them with a secured and loving environment that allows them to flourish."

Yes, we must protect the children!!! I suggest the courts intervene and forbid the Senator from having contact with any of his children.

Main Source

Ms.Glenna Hanley, Mr.Peter Hogg, Please Get Your Facts Straight

2010-01-18T07:45:00.000-05:00

Ms. Hanley has published an article this morning which includes an interview with Peter Hogg, "Canada's leading scholar in constitutional law." In it, she asserts Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff pledged to abandon the practice of prorogation, should he become Prime Minister. Mr.Hogg takes the statement as truth and advises against it. However, Hanley's version of what Ignatieff said, is wrong.

Ignatieff is now pledging, if he becomes prime minister, to never prorogue Parliament.

Hogg said that's not a wise promise to make.

"It is quite normal to have several sessions of Parliament in the course of the life of a Parliament," the professor said.

"If Mr. Ignatieff were elected and had a majority and his government continued for four years, he might want to have more that one session. That would require prorogation."

What Ignatieff actually said.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he would never prorogue Parliament to avoid controversy if he became prime minister.

....telling reporters that while prorogation is a legitimate constitutional power, using it to avoid "tight spots" is completely unacceptable.

"To use it every time you're in a tight spot seems to me is a flagrant abuse of a constitutional power and that's why Canadians are angry about it," said Ignatieff. "So therefore, I take from this a commitment not to do the same thing, period."

Tom Flanagan: "Everybody knows that parliament was prorogued to shut down the Afghan inquiry"

2010-01-11T19:57:00.003-05:00

harper stooge {though he denies it, but c'mon} Tom Flanagan was one of the guests on today's segment of Power Panel, hosted by Evan Solomon. Soloman played a clip of stephen harper suggesting that the markets are unstable due to the fact, and get this, he only has a minority government!

He then asked the panel for their thoughts. {video at the second link} When it was Flanagan's turn, he dismissed harper's drivel, saying it didn't make sense to him, and the government's talking points don't have much credibility because "Everybody knows that parliament was prorogued in order to shut down the Afghan inquiry"

Tom then offers advice on how harper should proceed. He suggests harper turn over all appropriate documents in a timely manner, and cooperate with the opposition.

Just kidding. He says the prorogation was a highly defensible action and harper should blame the Liberals for everything.

On a related note, the Facebook group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament has registered over 160,360 members as of 8:56 pm.

harper by the numbers: shortest parliamentary sessions ~ least number of sitting days

2010-01-09T09:19:00.001-05:00

That's some top notch accountability right there! According to the Winnipeg Free Press:

Average length of parliamentary sessions, by prime minister

Pierre Trudeau 511 days

Brian Mulroney 618 days

Jean Chrétien 484 days

Paul Martin* 421 days

Stephen Harper 303 days

Average number of sitting days per session, by prime minister

Pierre Trudeau 171 days

Brian Mulroney 215 days

Jean Chrétien 176 days

Paul Martin* 159 days

Stephen Harper 108 days

* Martin's one session ended in November 2005 when his government was defeated in a confidence vote.

Also, the Facebook group, Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament had registered 123,300, members at the time of my posting.

Liberals~Parliamentary Budget Officer will return to work while stephen harper cuts and runs

2010-01-06T06:46:00.001-05:00

As stephen harper, the coward with dicktatorial tendencies focuses on subverting democracy, real Canadians have decided to get back to work.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff notified caucus members that they were expected to report for work on Jan. 25.

He told caucus members they can't let Prime Minister Stephen Harper get away with shutting down Parliament and stifling debate.

"We think there's lots of work to do even if the government doesn't," said one Liberal involved in the call.

The insider said Liberals are also open to continuing unofficial hearings into the treatment of Afghan detainees, provided all opposition parties work together to ensure the hearings don't devolve into "an overtly partisan event."

Adding lemons to haper's acido, is Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page. Page says there are no rules in place forbidding him from releasing the upcoming reports.

A parliamentary committee advised Mr. Page last year not to release reports during election campaigns, but there are no rules as to how the relatively new office should conduct itself during a prorogation.

As a result, Mr. Page devised his own policy. He will not release any reports on research requested by parliamentary committees or MPs. However, his larger studies conducted independently of such requests will be released.

“Our objective is to ensure parliamentarians have timely access to relevant analysis,” Mr. Page told The Globe and Mail. “The government has not provided their own estimates of the structural balance or the impact of aging demographics on federal finances. In this respect, we are not providing a critique, but adding to the analysis required to have a thoughtful debate about the fiscal planning environment when Parliament resumes.”

Page has been a thorn in harper's side since releasing the cost estimate for the Afghanistan war. The harper government predicted costs would run around $8 billion. Page's figure was closer to $18 billion.

That made stephen harper very angry. And when stephen gets angry, his true toryism emerges. Shutting down parliament {*twice*}, refusing to fund Page's office so he could continue his work as a diligent budget watchdog. But hey, what does one expect from someone with dicktatorial tendencies? He just can't help himself.

note ~ photo ~~stolen~~ copied from Steve V's site, who as I understand, ~~stole~~ copied it from Impolitical.

Sri Lankan war crimes video is authentic, Times investigation finds

2009-12-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

A disturbing video captured on a cell phone showing what appears to be Sri Lankan troops committing war crimes is genuine, says Grant Fredericks, an independent forensic video specialist. The Times asked Mr.Fredericks to study the footage after the Sri Lankan government claimed they had “established beyond doubt” the footage was doctored.

“This level of subtle detail cannot be virtually reproduced. This is clearly an original recording,” said Mr Fredericks, who was previously the head of the Vancouver police forensic video unit in Canada.

In Mr Fredericks’s opinion “the injury to the head of the second victim and the oozing liquid from that injury cannot be reproduced realistically without editing cuts, camera angle changes and special effects. No [errors] exist anywhere in any of the images that support a technical fabrication of the events depicted,” he said.

The findings bolster former head of the army, General Sarath Fonseka's charge that the Defence Minister had ordered surrendering Tiger leaders be killed rather than taken prisoner in the final days of the conflict. They may even spark an independent investigation into the alleged war crimes, carried out by both sides.

In a ruling which stunned several human rights organizations this past May, the United Nations Human Rights Council not only rejected calls for an inquiry into the alleged abuses, but praised the Sri Lankan government in the process. The government for its part, has been quick to lash out at critics, accusing them of wanting to "bring the government of Sri Lanka into disrepute, through fabricated allegations and concocted stories."

In October the U.S. State Department released a report which found that allegations of human rights abuses in the final days of the country's civil war were "credible and well substantiated"

Although the US stressed the allegations in the report did not constitute an accusation of war crimes, the Sri Lankan foreign affairs ministry in Colombo accused the US of smearing its reputation. "The allegations against the government of Sri Lanka ... appear to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence. There is a track record of vested interests endeavouring to bring the government of Sri Lanka into disrepute, through fabricated allegations and concocted stories."

Stephen Rapp, the US ambassador-at-large for war crimes, called on Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of abuse by both sides. "We want accountability in this situation," he said. "We believe that [Sri Lankan authorities] can investigate this. We're trusting in that commitment."

No, the irony of the U.S. State Department calling for accountability does not escape me. At any rate, as the months go by and evidence mounts, the case for a proper investigation is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. U.N Secretary~General Ban Ki-moon announced the HNHRC would go forward, contingent on reliable new evidence. If this is not enough to satisfy the body and they choose not to act, in my view, they render themselves expendable. Leaving it in hands of the Sri Lankan government won't suffice.

happy x~mas to all

2009-12-25T17:33:00.004-05:00

And with a little luck, here's hoping it will turn into a xx or xxx, for you :)

As a show of appreciation for all who contribute to my favourite blog aggregator, I have decided to make a contribution, in your name. Now now, don't feel guilty for not getting me anything. The true spirit of the holiday season is giving, not receiving. And it is within that spirit which I contribute in all your names to the "Human Fund". Hey, it's money for the people! Who can argue against that?

As a result of this selfless act, you will now have extra time for what truly matters at this time of year. ~~fighting with family~~ Drinking too much and overeating. So with that, I wish all Progressive Bloggers and their families {along with Parliament Shill and reedwrites} a happy and healthy holiday with continued well being.

Peter Kent: the harper government is only anti~semitic behind closed doors

2009-12-19T10:54:00.001-05:00

Why does stephen harper hate the Jooz?
All right, perhaps those weren't Kent's exact words, but if one straps on some tin foil and takes a trip through crazy con country, the implication is obvious.

After reading BigCityLib Strikes Back's post yesterday relating to the harper government's politically motivated decision to cut funding for Kairos on the basis of anti-semitism, I was reminded of a brief interview I read about a few days ago. I don't even recall how I landed on this page, but I did find the short exchange interesting. With stephen harper and his merry band of sycophants accusing anyone who criticizes Israel as being anti-semitic, I thought I'd share Mr.Kent's little Q & A session.

Steve Paikin met with Peter Kent on November 18 and asked him three questions. I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that's why Paikin titled his piece, Three Questions for Peter Kent.

The first question is irrelevant.
Steve's second question and Kent's response.

Q: I noticed when I attended Question Period earlier today (November 18, 2009) that, rather than ad-libbing your answers as you would have frequently done in your broadcasting days, you read everything from prepared sheets. How come?

A: I can ad-lib answers around specific points but I’m covering a lot of files today that aren’t normally mine.

One of the strengths of our government and one of the shortcomings of the opposition parties is that we make sure everyone knows what our government’s position is. We make sure we speak to issues with a united voice.

Translation: A monkey could do my job, I don't need to know anything, really. We receive talking points from propaganda headquarters and repeat them until our lies seem plausible.

Third Q & A.

Q: So that’s why you, and the prime minister, and other ministers all end up using the exact same quotes when you answer questions?

A: Yes. So when we’re asked about the Israeli position on settlements, we never criticize Israel publicly. We say those settlements are “unhelpful” in finding a comprehensive peace settlement.

We’ve put on the record our position on nuclear power and India. We say “it’s no longer the 1970’s, it’s now 2009.” I saw the prime minister’s quote in the newspapers to that effect yesterday, and so I used it today.

Translation: Again, most of us don't understand what the hell is going on! But as long as we stick to the script and mouth platitudes, we should be fine.

So there we have it. Following the logical conclusion to the conservatives illogical argument that criticism of Israel = anti-semitism, the harper conservatives are anti-semitic, just not publicly.

Canada's troops being investigated for Afghan abuse

2009-12-18T21:45:00.002-05:00

Remember when discredited peter macKay accused the opposition of attacking the troops in response to Richard Colvin's testimony in November? Right, you're probably asking, 'which time?' Well this was on December 10.

"The member is suggesting by implication that the military did something wrong, that somehow they did not do the right thing. That is what is so despicable," MacKay said on Dec. 10.

First, nobody was accusing the troops of any wrongdoing, second, while the military police have ruled five of the six cases lacked merit, one investigation is still ongoing. Disgraced peter macKay had to have known about these allegations because according to the CBC, the documents they received 'were written for Defence Minister Peter MacKay in March to prepare him for question period.'

Canada's military police have been quietly investigating allegations for more than a year that the country's troops abused Afghan detainees, CBC News has learned.

Canadian soldiers captured the detainees sometime in 2008 and the investigation into their conduct has been ongoing for at least a year.

I have no idea how legitimate the conclusions of the military police are, since they seem to be willing to hide anything that embarrasses the harper government. Put aside the fact macKay knew this, put aside the court martial of a Canadian captain charged with murdering a wounded Afghan fighter in his custody, for macKay to hide behind the troops like a coward just reinforces how much of a despicable douchebag he really is.

"We felt CEFCOM didn't care...no one in Canada gave a crap"

2009-12-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Global National has a short video report of a military police sergeant who says her warnings of a prisoner in custody under unsuitable conditions were ignored.

In an interview with the Military Police Complaints Commission, Sgt. Carol Utton told them that in the Spring of 2007, Ottawa sent word the transfer/release of detainees was to be temporarily suspended. At the time, Canadians were operating a walled compound with eight cells designed to hold prisoners for up to 96 hours. One prisoner was in custody at the time. Due to the new directive, he was held there for days on end with the temperature inside the cell reaching as high as 140 degrees F.

Canadian soldiers tried to help the prisoner by handing over frozen bottles of water, to no avail. His screams continued prompting some soldiers to ask if it was a dog crying. Sgt.Utton says they were frustrated with Ottawa's response.

"Our hands were tied because CEFCOM {Ottawa headquarters} was saying you cannot release him"

Utton said her boss sent warnings to superiors.

"She did everything she could to let the chain of command know how serious it was."

"We felt CEFCOM didn't care...no one in Canada gave a crap"

Let the denials continue.

Democracy stephen harper-style: How do you like it so far?

2009-12-17T07:08:00.000-05:00

um, what he said!

Lawrence Martin with an excellent recap of the past 4 years under the harper regime. A snippet

It is said that a hallmark of democracy is the toleration of dissent. Best leave that one in the church pew. Exceptional measures need be used to crush the opposition. Stuff such as taking the unprecedented step of launching personal attack ads between election campaigns. Or trying to push through a measure that would effectively cut off financing to the opposition.

A heavy dose of demagoguery also can go a long way. Play on simple prejudices by accusing opponents of not supporting the troops or of being anti-Israel. If nothing's working, if the going gets really tough, don't hesitate to bring out the heavy timber. Just after Parliament has reopened, have it shut down.

peter worthington ~defending torture, disparaging diplomats ~ its just his way

2009-12-14T06:13:00.000-05:00

Perhaps he is still reeling over the whole Conrad Black affair.

Whatever the reason may be, Mr.Worthington has put out a piece rivaling Christie Blatchford's screed {which has been debunked and corrected} in an attempt at discrediting Richard Colvin. But while they both dismiss anything Colvin had to say as irrelevant, Worthington goes completely off the deep end by suggesting that as long as Canadian soldiers "don't seriously abuse prisoners -- neither physically nor mentally", whatever happens to them after they are turned over is none of our concern because, "It's not our country".

His piece is full of holes, contradictions and stephen harper's talking points.
The irony is, although Worthington's headline reads, Colvin's tale not full Afghanistan story, it is he who then proceeds with half truths and what I contend are, intentional omissions.

Here is a breakdown.

That 95 former ambassadors have rallied to defend diplomat Richard Colvin who warned that Afghan prisoners turned over to Afghan authorities by Canadian soldiers were tortured, is interesting, even embarrassing to the federal government. But also irrelevant.

What these ambassadors know about Afghanistan and its customs verges on zilch.

Quite an assumption on Worthington's part. What clue does he have with regards to what these former ambassadors understand about Afghan culture? Even if one agrees with that statement, it does not undermine the crux of that letter, which was that the harper government was using personal attacks on a senior diplomat in order to discredit him. The letter has nothing to do with understanding Afghan culture or torture. The point of the letter was the consequences stephen harper's smear job would have on future officers coming forward when they see fit.

They now become weapons for the opposition to attack the government, claiming cover-up, deceit, intimidation, lying and whatever invective comes to mind. Basic is the demand that Defence Minister Peter MacKay be fired for saying there's no evidence prisoners turned over were tortured.

The fact is, Peter, the harper government's actions are directly responsible for creating the situation where others could legitimately claim cover-up, deceit and intimidation. Not the opposition parties, nor the ambassadors. From providing heavily redacted documents which are about as useful as harper's word, to discouraging witnesses from co-operating, to being shown the government's denials have been proven false, the charges against the government are warranted.

Any dispassionate assessment of Colvin's reports and testimony would likely conclude he honestly believes what he was told.

And "told" is the operative word. He didn't witness any torture or abuse, but was "told" by victims they were tortured. Can anyone recall a single Taliban or al-Qaida prisoner who hasn't claimed he was tortured?

Scowl at a Taliban detainee and it's interpreted as torture.

Of course, in the World according to Worthington, anybody who knows anything about Afghan culture such as Mr.Colvin, is aware of the rampant torture, but only if they happen to witness it with their own eyes, otherwise, it simply doesn't occur. Or something.

In yet another of Worthington's fallacies, he adopts stephen harper's right wing talking points. By labeling all the detainees as "the Taliban", the goal is to remove any legitimate criticism of human rights abuses. They set up a narrative in which they can accuse those who deplore torture as sympathizing with the enemy. As stephen harper has done on more than one occasion.

"I can understand the passion that the Leader of the Opposition and members of his party feel for the Taliban prisoners," Harper told the Commons on March 21, 2007.

The facts are there was little evidence that many of the detainees were linked to the Taliban at all, which bolsters Colvin's testimony that many of the Afghans detained by Canadian troops were innocent farmers, peasants or people in the "wrong place at the wrong time."

Worthington repeats Blatchford's claim that Mr.Colvin simply took complaints and hardly went out in the field.

There's little evidence Colvin ventured much beyond the wire with troops, or has ever been exposed to conditions in the field. He did his job as he saw it, but he's more a recipient of complaints than an investigator for truth.

That's also incorrect. Blatchford's piece has been updated with new information.

Mr. Colvin made several trips, not one, outside the military base in Kandahar. Incorrect information appeared in a column Nov. 28.

Now we arrive to the heart of the matter. Pistol~whip~ Pete sees nothing wrong with the Canadian military handing over detainees to be tortured at the hands of others. Heck, we can even abuse them ourselves, just not too much.

On their part, the generals tend to form a unified front in defence of themselves and soldiers. Our top soldier, Gen. Walter Natynczyk, says all this happened before he was in command, but other generals clearly weren't overly concerned about the fate of prisoners turned over to the Afghans. Nor should they have been. It's not our country.

Generals and combat officers should concern themselves that our soldiers don't seriously abuse prisoners -- neither physically nor mentally.

A majority of Canadians disagree with you, Peter. 7O% of them, in fact.

Moreover, fully 70 per cent said it's unacceptable that Canadian forces would hand over prisoners if it's likely they'll be tortured. No less than 60 per cent in any region and even a majority of Conservative supporters subscribed to this view.

Worthington wraps up by attacking the opposition parties, dismissing the need for an inquiry, and accusing the former ambassadors of doctoring reports to please their masters.

And none of that shields the harper government from scrutiny . Talk about having a sense of entitlement!

N.S. town considers closing Wood Street to keep out teh gheys ~ update...

2009-12-12T18:58:00.001-05:00

Alright, no torture~gate for me today.....Well except for this poll on Peter MacKay's job security.

Is Peter MacKay's job safe?

Ah, those mischievous gays. Always rendezvousing and "doing their thing." Okay, yes, - I confess I was originally going to post this solely for the title, however there are a couple of issues in this story I'd like to address.

The first being the separation of church and government. If an elected official relies on their religious beliefs to steer their policy, they should seek new employment. In this particular case from Nova Scotia, Truro mayor Bill Mills has taken a matter of law and order and clouded the issue with his bigotry.

The town council in Truro, N.S., is considering closing a street which leads to a park that the town's mayor has called a favourite pick-up spot for men.

Truro mayor Bill Mills added to the controversy when he told a local newspaper that the spot was a "favourite pick-up spot for guys from all over the Maritime provinces."

"They go up and have a rendezvous and then they go into the woods and do their thing. It's been known for years and years and is becoming more and more of a problem," Mills told The Truro Daily News.

The other point I'd like to make is, if folks are breaking the law, they should face appropriate consequences, but what difference does it make whether they're gay or not. Why inject your misguided dogma into the situation at all? Are there no heterosexuals "doing their thing" in the park? And let there be no doubt, this mayor is driven by his interpretation of Christianity.

Al McNutt, a gay rights activist who lives in Truro, said the mayor's comments do not reflect well on the town.

"Truro is being looked at by many, many communities as a very, very homophobic town," he said.

McNutt referred to an incident two years ago when the same council caused an uproar when it refused to allow the rainbow flag to be flown during gay pride activities in Pictou County.

At the time, Mills said he could not agree to raise the flag as a Christian.

I doubt the mayor was asked to run around Truro waving the rainbow flag. And therein lies the risk of having one's religious beliefs influence their politics. The flag incident illustrates precisely why there should be a disconnect between church and government. Because the mayor's "Christianity" didn't agree with the flag being raised, he wouldn't let others raise it either. Is that the way to govern? I think it's wrong so ~ I won't let you do it!

*update*

While mayor Mills remains unrepentant, the rest of Truro's municipal council members are distancing themselves from his remarks.

Municipal councillors in Truro, N.S. are distancing themselves from comments made by the town's mayor about gay men using a local park for sexual encounters.

"We all have friends and families in every walk of life so you turn around and you don't want to single out one group…you know it's just not right," said Deputy Mayor Greg MacArthur.

MacArthur said sexual activity at the park "in general" is still a problem.

Good on them.

The Cons vs 50 Former Ambassadors ~ update x 2

2009-12-09T06:05:00.004-05:00

After reading liberal catnip's post yesterday titled, The Cons vs 23 Former Ambassadors, I decided to ~~steal~~ borrow her title for this post. Hope you don't mind, catnip.

A group of 23 former Canadian ambassadors released a short letter yesterday chiding the harper government over the personal attacks used in their effort to discredit senior diplomat, Richard Colvin. Today that number has grown.

update As the harper government dig in their heels, the number of former ambassadors rebuking the governments treatment of Colvin has hit 95.

The Harper government responded to Mr. Colvin's testimony with a series of attacks on his credibility, an onslaught that this week brought a letter of protest from former ambassadors against the diplomat's treatment.

On Thursday, the number of former ambassadors putting their names to the letter climbed to 95. The open letter castigates Ottawa for dismissing Mr. Colvin's 2006 and 2007 torture warnings as irrelevant and suspect – a move ex-ambassadors fear casts a chill over the foreign service's ability to report frankly from abroad.

“I have never seen foreign-service officers come together like this before in my life," ex-ambassador Gar Pardy, an organizer, said of the effort.

update 2

Up to 111 as of Friday.

Memos show stephen harper more concerned with image than torture in 2006

2009-12-08T06:03:00.001-05:00

stephen harper's government assured the Red Cross in 2006 it would take a significant role in determining the fate of Afghan detainees handed over by the Canadian Military. They then went on to spend the next several months crafting talking points designed to suppress any negative information relating to possible torture abuse.

The records, examined on a confidential basis by The Canadian Press, show the Harper government placed a greater emphasis on drafting "key messages" to the public and preparing "approaches" for embarrassing disclosures than on dealing with the human rights of prisoners.

Throughout 2006, when Canada took on its combat role in Kandahar, the International Red Cross pressed Ottawa to take more responsibility for prisoners captured by Canadian soldiers.

As predictable as ever, stephen harper had no interest in actually dealing with the situation at hand. His pattern is well established. Climate change, Afghanistan ~ it simply does not matter. The only thing harper is concerned with is protecting the facade his handlers have concocted to fool Canadians.

November 2006

"Canada is reflecting on how to engage more pro-actively with Afghan and international authorities on the issue of treatment of detainees, including asking the Government of Afghanistan for permission to visit the prisons, discussing with Afghan authorities the process and procedures for handling and treating detainees from transfer to arrival at final detention facility, and talking to the (Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission)," say the talking points.

The document also warned officials to prepare "an interdepartmental approach" for dealing with "the potential scenario where allegations of mistreatment or torture are substantiated."

Clearly the government was not in the dark. Their heads may have been in the sand, but they were aware of the potential fallout.

February 2007

No. 1 on the eight-point plan for officials was to "Prepare standard key messages (ie. importance of adhering to obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law regarding the treatment of detainees.)"

Even when the conservatives took action, it was only to protect harper's image.

In March 2007, the federal government did ask the Afghan human-rights commission to check on the welfare of prisoners, but the chronically underfunded agency had trouble getting into detention centres.

The Harper government eventually decided on full-blown Canadian monitoring, but only after being rocked by published allegations that prisoners handed over to Afghan intelligence may have been abused..

Canada's former high commissioner to Pakistan, Louis Delvoie and Errol Mendes, human rights law expert, sum it up.

A respected former diplomat was aghast that "developing the spin" would take priority over dealing with an issue as urgent as possible torture. "This is one of those situations where – once again – presentation has taken the place of substance,"...."It's a rather sad commentary on what is taking place. You (should) deal with the substance of an issue and then you develop the communications plan as a separate and subsequent item to explain how you're doing it and what you're doing." He said this is not the kind of conduct Canadians should expect from their government in wartime.

Mendes:

said the paper trail demonstrates that the Harper government viewed the war as a political exercise, where image-branding trumped policy.

"Throughout all of this the military has been used as a political prop and that is dangerous," he said.

"Governments come and go but the military as an institution remains and the damage this kind of approach can leave is severe."

all emphasis mine

Globe editorial: The record and the falsehoods

2009-12-08T03:13:00.000-05:00

It seems as though the paper who praised stephen harper with an endorsement before the last election, has finally realized what his government is all about. From the Globe & Mail

The record speaks for itself on what the Canadian government knows, or should have known, about the torture of Afghan detainees. It speaks far louder than the falsehoods from the government that have by now become routine. If these falsehoods are offered unintentionally, one wonders how senior government ministers can be so ignorant of the contents of such an important file.

Mr. MacKay should read the newspaper files if he can't be bothered reading the government files (no doubt he will deny reading either). Last January, The Globe reported that Justice Department lawyers announced Canada had found a credible case of torture, and therefore stopped transferring detainees. Canadian diplomats even found the instruments of torture (an electrical cable and rubber hose) under a chair in a secret Kandahar jail. “Canadian authorities were informed on November 5, 2007, by Canada's monitoring team, of a credible allegation of mistreatment pertaining to one Canadian-transferred detainee held in an Afghan detention facility,” the lawyers said in a letter to Amnesty International Canada and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association.

At every breach of the walls of secrecy that the diplomat Richard Colvin has alleged existed within government and the military, the government fires off untruths (the above list is by no means complete). But they are laughably weak armaments against the truth. As each one is knocked aside, the government's insistence it knew nothing about the torture of detainees becomes more and more tenuous.

Congratulations, G&M. It's about time.

Oh, p.s. Did you by chance leak a copy of this to Christie Blatchford?

bye bye, peter macKay! And take that rat stephen harper with you

2009-12-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

The harpercons are finally being exposed as the frauds they are. I actually thought they'd get away with the torture cover~up a little longer. Then again, I suppose a group this depraved shouldn't really be all that surprised.

Here is mackay in his own words denying, denying, denying, that there had ever been a single, solitary, proven allegation of abuse of a detainee or a Taliban prisoner, transferred by Canadian Forces.

"There has never been a single, solitary, proven allegation of abuse of a detainee, a Taliban prisoner, transferred by Canadian Forces.” Dec. 2 in the House of Commons

“Mr. Speaker, there has not been a single, solitary, proven allegation of a prisoner being abused that was transferred from the Canadian Forces.”
Nov. 23 in the House of Commons

“We do want to hear from individuals who can bring forward credible, proven allegations, not just recitations of what was heard, what was passed on, what was read in reports, or what was disclosed by Taliban prisoners themselves. That is what the evidence is so far. We have not seen a single scintilla of proof.”
Nov. 23 in the House of Commons

“There has never been a single proven allegation of abuse involving a prisoner transferred by the Canadian Forces, not one.” Nov. 23 in the House of Commons

“Not a single Taliban soldier turned over by Canadian forces can be proved to have been abused. That is the crux of the issue.” Nov. 22 in a press conference

“There has not been a single, solitary proven allegation of abuse involving a transferred Taliban prisoner by Canadian forces.” Nov. 19, in a press conference

Okay technically, that's just not....um, true..

In one well-documented case in the summer of 2006, Canadian soldiers captured and handed over a detainee who was so severely beaten by Afghan police that the Canadians intervened and took the detainee back.

Canadian medics then treated the man's injuries. The incident is documented in the field notes of Canadian troops, recounted in a sworn affidavit by a senior officer and confirmed in cross-examination by a general.

Our soldiers performed admirably and with honour, which is something this regime could not possibly fathom the meaning of. Our soldiers knew their responsibilities and fulfilled them.

Col. Noonan's affidavit also refers to instances of Canadian soldiers refusing to transfer prisoners threatened with death by Afghan security forces.

“The Afghan National Army wished to take custody of a detainee captured by the Canadian Forces and were overheard, by an interpreter, to be contemplating the execution of the detainee,” Col. Noonan said in his affidavit, adding that the chain of command was advised and the detainee wasn't transferred.

Former Lieutenant~General Walt Natynczyk ~ who has since been promoted to chief of defence staff ~ denied the beaten detainee had passed through Canadian custody however, that has been convincingly contradicted by Col. Noonan and then Brigadier~General Joseph Deschamps.

However, the soldier's contemporaneous field notes – written on the day of the incident but not released until months after the DND's media statement – offer a version that matches the sworn affidavit and provides compelling detail of a sequence of capture, transfer, rescue and medical treatment. “Local ANP [Afghan National Police] elements were in possession of a PUC [person in custody] detained by CDA troops and subsequently transferred to ANP custody,” the detailed written notes say.

They also refer by name and unit to the Canadian platoon that originally captured the individual and took pictures of him (showing no injuries) before they handed him over. Those photos, both showing the detainee unharmed before being handed over and after being beaten, have been withheld by the government.

I must say, macKay's denial in light of this new evidence is flimsy, at best.

The minister's spokesman said Sunday that Mr. MacKay was standing by his repeated denials.

“He has said what he has said based on the advice of generals and senior officials in the department,” said Dan Dugas, spokesman for the minister.

What type of advice? Is it of the legal variety? Where it allows you to parse words, redact documents and conceal evidence which counters your propaganda? And how far up the chain of command does this spread? I don't believe the harper government was oblivious to any of this.

I say bring on the inquiry and let the harpercons fall where they may.

Breaking: new document clears harper government of Afghan torture cover-up

2009-12-03T21:43:00.000-05:00

I checked my e-mail and some organization calling itself the "10 percenter society", sent me this. If you're still not convinced, click on the image for the undeniable truth!

Cpl. Benjamin Monty Robinson trying to get away with killing 21 year old boy

2009-12-01T23:33:00.000-05:00

Stay alert, Vancouverites, because folks running into R.C.M.P darling Benjamin Monty Robinson, have a strange way of dying. I don't have the time expand on this at the moment.

But shit like this makes my blood boil. Here is a pretty good recap of this liar's latest legal troubles.

Mountie escapes impaired driving charge in B.C. death

Overruling recommendations by a local police force, B.C.'s Ministry of the Attorney-General won't lay impaired-driving charges after a fatal crash last year involving an RCMP officer who was also at the centre of the Robert Dziekanski case.

The charge stems from an Oct. 25, 2008, crash in Tsawwassen, B.C., in which motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson was struck by a Jeep driven by Cpl. Robinson, who was off duty at the time, the ministry said.

After the crash, Cpl. Robinson gave his driver's licence to a witness and left the scene to carry his two children, who were in the Jeep, to the family's nearby home, defence lawyer Reg Harris said in an interview Tuesday. Cpl. Robinson has said he'd consumed two beers earlier that night and, once leaving the crash scene, drank two shots of vodka at his home.

I covered this story in one of my initial postings. For more info, see here. I remember Dr.Dawg and Buckdog providing some great coverage. I hope one of them have the time to spread the story.

new documents dispute both David Mulroney and general Rick Hillier's testimony

2009-12-01T05:33:00.000-05:00

But don't tell Christie Blatchford! She might question your patriotism. H/T Contrarian

From Contrarian's link comes this. Con clown Christie:

E-mail trail only adds to Afghan questions

And they took a lot of prisoners – many more than either the British, who were at the time in Helmand Province where things were then relatively quiet, or the Dutch, who were later moving into Uruzgan.

From the start, Canadian soldiers were using gunshot residue tests (this was mentioned by the former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier in his testimony to the committee this week, but the significance of the remark went unnoticed) to sift the wheat from the chaff.

In condemning with the same brush highly professional Canadian soldiers, and to complain that they were complicit in breaches of the law of armed conflict and knowingly buried his reports, it is Mr. Colvin who has some explaining left to do.

Is it really Mr.Colvin who has some splainin to do, Christie? Or is it you and the control freak, stephen harper and his yes men? I know Christie, being handed talking points is so much easier than doing your job, and perhaps you are just angling for a SenaToryal appointment, but really, try and be discreet.

Mulroney, Hillier have some explaining to do

Look Here, Christie!

Little evidence detainees linked to Taliban: report

The Canadian government documents detail how agents from the National Directorate of Security, a key Afghan organization involved in the fight against insurgents, raised concerns in spring 2007 that Canadian and NATO soldiers were taking people into custody, but could not provide proof of how they were involved in insurgent activities. As a result, the NDS had been releasing most of those captured.

So Christie's claims that 1 "And they took a lot of prisoners – many more than either the British, who were at the time in Helmand Province where things were then relatively quiet, or the Dutch, who were later moving into Uruzgan."

And two ~ (this was mentioned by the former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier in his testimony to the committee this week, but the significance of the remark went unnoticed) seem pretty irrelevant. Unless of course, one only tows the party line. Why is Mulroney more credible than Colvin? Why is Hillier, for that matter?

Members of a Commons committee recently heard testimony from Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin who said that many of the Afghans detained by Canadian troops were innocent farmers, peasants or people in the "wrong place at the wrong time."

His view, however, was challenged last week by diplomat David Mulroney, who had been a key player in the Afghan mission. He testified there was "no doubt that the detainees captured by the Canadian Forces posed a real threat to Afghans, and more than that, in some cases, had Canadian blood on their hands."

No doubt? Perhaps in the black and white, good vs evil world view of the neo-con. Hillier was just as confident.

Retired general Rick Hillier also disputed Colvin's allegations and said that Afghans taken into custody were indeed working for the enemy.

He told the Commons committee that those detained had actually been caught in the act of trying to kill Canadian troops and had explosive or gunpowder residue on their hands.

Really? How many of them, sir? 25%-50-75? Why were so many being released? More.

During a May 7, 2007, meeting at the NDS prison in Kandahar, the Afghan intelligence officials complained to a Canadian Forces legal advisor, as well as Foreign Affairs and Correctional Services Canada representatives. "(Names of NDS agents censored from document) complained that they need more detailed charge information when detainees are transferred by Canadian Forces," the Canadian government report from Kandahar noted. "In the cases the only evidence is (details censored from document) which in the Afghan context is insufficient grounds to hold someone in detention."

The report was sent to various Canadian officials including Mulroney, Foreign Affairs, Defence Department and Privy Council Office representatives. Colvin was not included on the list.

The NDS officials asked that their concerns be passed on to Canadian and NATO troops, according to the report.

Dicktator stephen harper plays the "national security" card to derail torture cover~up~ sends out big guns

2009-11-26T01:15:00.000-05:00

I have said this before., And I'm sure that to any rational being following the politics under the harper regime, this comes as no surprise.

The federal government is blocking whistleblowing diplomat Richard Colvin from giving documents to a special House of Commons committee investigating Afghan torture.

How law & order steve plans to obfuscate.

The revelation Wednesday came one day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged that the committee would get "all legally-available" documents in order to carry out its investigation.

And who will be the one determining what is "legal" and what isn't? Apparently, the Justice Department and Foreign Affairs.

Justice Department lawyers have told Colvin - through the Foreign Affairs Department - that they do not accept the view that testimony before Parliament is exempt from national security provisions of the Canada Evidence Act.

The result from thee desperate for power stepen harper's actions? Not good!

As a result, Colvin's lawyer has written to the committee advising that Colvin won't be able to provide documents to Parliament as he was instructed to do last week.

Given "the potentially grave repercussions to Mr. Colvin for violating provisions of the Canada Evidence Act, Mr. Colvin is not now in a position to comply with the committee's request for documents without further instruction resolution of the question of the applicability of (Section) 38 to the documents," Lori Bokenfohr wrote in a letter obtained by The Canadian Press.

Why are we in Afghanistan, again?

Canadians not buying stephen harper's torture cover-up

2009-11-25T07:06:00.000-05:00

A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll reveals that Canadians are siding with Richard Colvin over harper and his thugs, by a margin of 2:1.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents said they believe Colvin's testimony to the committee last week.

In stark contrast, only 25 per cent said they believe the government's contention that the diplomat's claims are flimsy and not credible.

Those who identified themselves as supporters of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives were most inclined to give the government the benefit of the doubt. But even they were almost evenly split, with 40 per cent buying the government's take on the issue and 34 per cent buying Colvin's.

Another positive statistic, is that 70 per cent of respondents said it's unacceptable that Canadian forces would hand over prisoners if it's likely they'll be tortured.

Dipper Darrell Dexter Discovers Directing is Difficult

2009-11-16T20:22:00.001-05:00

Give a Dipper a chance and they turn into just another politician. Five months into his stint as Nova Scotia Premier, Mr.Dexter is flip-flopping and breaking some key campaign promises. One being tax hikes, another being service cuts.

Funny that. After all the bashing from the Dipper faithful against anyone else in power, I was convinced that if given the chance, one of their representatives would be a stellar improvement. But alas.

I will give him this though, he is learning.

"We are going to keep the commitment to balance the budget. What is changing today, of course, is the timeline in which this can be achieved.

Nice.

stephen harper's next image enhancement delivered on silver platter

2009-11-15T23:37:00.000-05:00

Maybe there really is a god? At least, for steve harper. Could he have prayed for a more desirable issue than this?

A group representing tens of thousands of poor children shipped in the early part of the last century from Britain to Canada where many worked as child labourers is pleased with a planned apology from the British prime minister.

Sidney Baker, 76, of Home Children Canada, says he's also expecting an apology from the Canadian government for the treatment of about 100,000 children who were scooped off streets in the U.K and shipped to Canada from the 1860s to the mid 1930s.

Baker says the victim and their families have never asked for compensation from the Canadian government but only for an apology.

Speaking from his home in Sidney, B.C., Baker said Sunday he is delighted by the move in Britain, saying his group has been working on recognition since 1991.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized Monday for the treatment of thousands of children shipped to Australia, just days after the British government said Prime Minister Gordon Brown would apologize for the child migrant programs.

In all, 150,000 poor British children, some as young as three, were shipped to the former colonies, with the vast majority sent to Canada.

They are not asking for money, just an apology. Right up harper's alley, tell them what they want to hear and it doesn't even have to be sincere! The bonus being he'll fool a few more Canadians in the process.

right wing ally receives life in prison for fatally stabbing pregnant Egyptian

2009-11-11T20:20:00.002-05:00

How conflicted the wingnuts must have been at the time. On the one hand, a Muslimn is dead, yay! On the other, she was with child. I'm thinking it probably went something like this. "Oh my god! Oh, it was a Muslin, whew, that doesn't count as a real baby, we're all good!"

Then they dropped to their knees and prayed to cardboard cutouts of george bush or stephen harper. But that's just a guess.

At any rate, the racist murderer got life in prison with no chance of early release for stabbing Marwa al-Sherbini to death. He was also convicted of attempted murder for his attack on al-Sherbini's husband, Elwy Okaz.

In his closing arguments on Monday, prosecutor Frank Heinrich said there was no doubt of Wiens's reasons.

"It's clear that his motive was hatred for Muslims," Heinrich told the panel of judges. "Like a maniacal, cold-blooded killer, he started stabbing the woman and her husband, who was trying to protect her."

Good riddance!

Military's top lawyer stonewalls questions on Afghan prison torture

2009-11-04T21:29:00.000-05:00

Like a good little harpercon,

Brig.-Gen. Ken Watkins, the military judge advocate general, claimed solicitor-client privilege about whether he'd seen warnings from a diplomat in Kandahar and whether he'd received direction from the prime minister's office.

Full Story

Emergency H1N1 debate granted~ tonight

2009-11-02T21:35:00.001-05:00

It's about effin time!

An emergency swine-flu debate in the House of Commons was called Monday night after a request by the federal Liberals and NDP, who accused the Harper government of incompetence.

Of course the harpercons are incompetent! Their only concern is power Power so as to destroy this once ahead of the curve Country, Canada. When will folks realize this fucker hates his own Country?

Please excuse my pissedoffedness, I have other things going on. But for christ's sake, can't these assholes at least pretend they give a shit regarding their citizens, instead of blaming them?

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says production "over-estimating" by the company producing the H1N1 vaccine and a panicked public are to blame for the shortages now gripping the country.

Why would the harpercons rush out two million doses of H1N1 vaccines when clinical trials are ongoing?

2009-10-19T17:46:00.001-04:00

Could it be because this do nothing government is far too busy with arts and crafts to worry about things like governing?

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced today that GlaxoSmithKline Plc has shipped out two million doses of the vaccine to Canadian provinces, with more on the way. However,

She said the vaccines would be offered to the public once clinical trials have been concluded and the federal regulator gives its approval.

Why in the world, at this late stage, are clinical trials still being performed? Is it simply a case of right wing ideology, which amounts to little more than "hey, at least we're doing something!" ?

The fact that the trials only began sometime in the past seven days, only after the bottling process had begun, doesn't inspire any confidence in these clowns. Last week

About one million doses of Canada's H1N1 vaccine have already been bottled and are getting ready for rollout while clinical trials are set to begin this week, the country's chief public health officer said Tuesday.

Dr. David Butler-Jones emphasized there has been no delay in delivering Canada's H1N1 vaccine and that it will be ready for large-scale immunization programs the first week of November, if not sooner.

I suppose if one substitutes safety for expediency, well done! However, it looks like this government is scrambling to catch up and hellbent on getting the drug out the door, consequences be damned.

That could explain why Health Canada's role in the trials will be limited. Add the fact that your plan is to treat Canadians as guinea pigs.

Additional studies will be done on certain Canadian subpopulations he said, and the surveillance systems that keep track of side effects have been enhanced so that safety data will be gathered after the vaccine is rolled out and closely monitored.

What about women who may be pregnant and at a higher risk of contracting H1N1? Are they part of that "subpopulation"? That's a crap-shoot as well.

While health officials say adjuvanted vaccines are just as safe as the unadjuvanted type, there is no safety data for their use in pregnant women and little data on the safety of the additives in vaccines given to children.

But have no fear, ladies. According to Dr. David Butler-Jones, If you think you could become infected with the H1N1 virus, just take whatever vaccine is available. If you should happen to die, rest assured, they'll monitor it.

harper government plays the "National Security" card to hold back mountie files on Tommy Douglas

2009-10-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

And what a great card it is. Really, it can be used in just about any situation.

The federal government is being taken to court over its decision to withhold hundreds of pages - some decades old - in the Mounties' secret file on Tommy Douglas.

will add more this evening~late for work

New Democrats would support random breath tests: Layton

2009-10-06T06:52:00.000-04:00

Jack and steve, sitting in a tree. I have an idea, Jack. Why not allow cops to enter any home they want, without any probable cause and search the residence? After all, it could potentially reduce crime.

NDP takes "blue ribbon" baby away from same sex couple

2009-10-05T18:42:00.001-04:00

{ahem...adjusts dipper outrage hat} Why does the NDP hate gay people? What does it say about the people who vote for this despicable party? They are trying to destroy Canada!!! They are immoral and insane!1!1 Sellouts!! Unless we do it, of course!

A same sex couple in Winnipeg are left wondering:

"Why are we good enough to foster very special, high-needs kids, but we aren't good enough for the 'blue-ribbon baby'?"

The couple, who were already caring for two children at the time of placement, agreed to look after a third on the condition it would be a long-term placement that could lead to adoption.

This past Friday however, government officials informed the women they decided another couple should become the adoptive parents.

They said an official with the provincial government's Child and Family Services Ministry told them the little girl was a "blue ribbon baby" because she was healthy.

The couple is taking their case to the provincial Human Rights Commission.

video~orangutan, dog, more advanced than harpercons

2009-09-26T20:21:00.000-04:00

I first found this video at Huffpo, but for some reason, when I tried to watch the video, was told it wasn't "available in your country". So from the original source comes proof that animals have indeed, evolved further than right wingers.

the maniacally defiant harpercons

2009-09-22T03:11:00.000-04:00

h/t Impolitical

So steve the skeeve harper is up to his usual brand of politics. Steal tax payer money and fund an illegal media blitz touting some bullshit, or other. In this case steve decided he'd rather promote his party, by a spending ratio of 5:1, over raising public awareness about the flu pandemic. But hey, why spend money educating the public when body bags are so much more cost efficient?

Impolitical's link concerns the actions taken by steve and his cronies following some backlash from the transparent stunt. According to the story, they removed over 30 pictures of harper from the action plan website.

And this is the part where their sanity comes into question. One of steve's spokeswomen defended the original photos being on the site. 24 hours later, she denied any were taken down. Seriously, wtf is wrong with these people?

Late Sunday night, a PCO spokeswoman had defended the dozens of Harper photos on the action plan website, writing by email that, "The Prime Minister is the chief spokesperson in the Government of Canada for the (action plan)."

Monday evening, the same PCO spokeswoman called The Canadian Press with a single talking point that can in no way be reconciled with the altered appearance of the site:

"We have not removed any pictures of the PM," said Myriam Massabki.

part 3 from David Pugliese~soldier who witnessed abuse of Afghan boys: “It’s disgusting, we let this happen?”

2009-09-21T09:29:00.000-04:00

Hats off to David Pugliese for staying on an important story! A story the harper government and military brass undoubtedly want buried.

In today's report, David speaks with now former corporal, Travis Schouten,26, who witnessed two Afghani men, one with a knife in hand, sodomizing a young boy. Travis reported what he saw to his superiors. Travis played a big role in getting an investigation started. Although the Canadian Forces National Investigation Services concluded allegations were unfounded, it is clear they botched their examination and, frankly, have no credibility in this case.

Pugliese allows Schouten the opportunity to tell his side of the story and clear up some misconceptions surrounding his experience.

“It’s disgusting,” said Schouten, now retired after eight years in the military. “We’re telling people that we’re trying to build a nation there and we let this happen?”

“We allow rampant abuse of young boys at the hands of what is supposed to be their finest police officers and army officers, then what does that say?”

A Toronto paper reported that Travis walked in only to witness the aftermath of the attack. Travis addresses that report and why he just walked away.

“I walked in and they were raping a kid,” he recalls. “The kid was bleeding. They guy with the camo fatigues had a knife in his hand.”

“I wasn’t going to start doing something at the scene,” he recalled. “I’m in the middle of the ANP (Afghan National Police) headquarters. What do I do; start shooting Afghan police? I’d get myself shot.”

Travis takes on the military's cop-out, dismissing the abuse as a "cultural" issue.

Schouten, however, questions whether a five or six-year old child, or even an 11-year-old, can consent. “The Canadian Forces wants people to think it’s a cultural thing, that everyone is doing it, because it takes the onus of responsibility off them to stop it,” he said.

It has been a devastating episode in this former soldier's life. After the incident, he turned to alcohol. Shortly after arriving back home, he was involved in a car accident where a passenger in his car was hurt. After missing an appointment with a psychiatrist, the army tried to have him dishonourably discharged. Schouten fought back and was given an honourable discharge on medical grounds. Travis has little confidence this whole matter will be dealt with in any meaningful way.

Although soldiers know Afghan security forces are having sex with kids, the issue is too explosive to deal with, he adds.
Schouten said the rape and its aftermath shook his faith in the military. “In my mind, when I signed up, it was a brotherhood to me,” he explained. “I thought I was there for an established set of values and I loved that. I was wrong.”

Schouten is now rebuilding his life and is going to university. “I’m putting myself back together,” he said. “But at the same time I do feel people should be held accountable and people should know this is what is going on over there.”

Follow Up~Military investigation of sex abuse ‘doesn’t ring true’

2009-09-20T21:03:00.001-04:00

David Pugliese has new details on yesterday's story regarding the sexual abuse of Afghan boys on Canadian bases. To be clear, the abuse was carried out by Afghani men who were members of Afghan security forces. The Canadian military has in no way been accused of such heinous activities. They, along with the harper government in my opinion, are only covering it up!

What's new

Today we learn the agency charged with conducting the investigation into the allegations, never stepped foot in Afghanistan.
the Canadian Forces National Investigation Services has about as much credibility as the RCMP.
the abuse was enough of a common occurrence that Canadian and foreign soldiers coined a phrase for it: "Man Love Thursdays"
Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert, NDP’s defence critic, Jack Harris, calling for outside investigations, not buying the ~~government~~ military spin

Jack Harris:

“My initial reaction to the report was that it doesn’t ring true and it still doesn’t ring true that all of these allegations can be dismissed as having no substance at all,” Harris said. “It doesn’t pass the sniff test.”

Bryon Wilfert:

“There’s always questions in the public mind whether certain organizations should investigate themselves,” Wilfert said. “I think the severity of these allegations are such and (the NIS report) seems to fly in the face of pretty credible witnesses who have come forward.”

what is steve harper's role in covering up the sexual abuse of Afghan boys? ~ Sex abuse and silence exposed

2009-09-20T09:41:00.000-04:00

A week ago I blogged about a report which focused on the harper government's control over certain media matters in Afghanistan. From granting or denying reporters interviews-to providing government approved talking points to the military, the harper government is deeply involved with respect to what will be reported. And military brass seem to have no objections with their arrangement. In fact the director of public affairs operations with the Defence Department, navy Capt. Dave Scanlon, argues:

"It really is a whole of government approach, with CIDA, Foreign Affairs, National Defence and Public Safety," he says. "Right at the strategic level, you have very, very good co-ordination on communications amongst the four lead departments."

"It's part of my job to tell the Canadian Forces story, but to do that as part of a whole of government context. It has to be done with the political oversight of the government of the day."

So it's been established that the military and the government of the day collaborate to control the message. That being the case, is it unreasonable to assume the harper government was readily aware that sexual abuse of young boys at the hands of Afghan security forces stationed on a Canadian base was taking place?

A story published yesterday entitled, Sex abuse and silence exposed, by David Pugliese, certainly begs the question. While Pugliese exposes the military's role in the cover-up, I find it difficult to believe harper, or at the very least those who report to him, were ignorant of such a volatile situation.

In David's piece, his opening paragraph highlights the fact that upon learning of the abuse allegations, the military's main concern was the story being reported in the media.

Army staff and National Defence headquarters officials were told in 2007 that young boys had allegedly been sexually abused by Afghan security forces at a Canadian base in Afghanistan, but the concern at the time was that the incident might be reported in the news media, according to military records obtained by the Citizen.

But even more disgraceful, is news that some military police were told by commanders to ignore incidents in which Afghan forces were having sex with children because, and get this, since it is practised by some Afghans, Canadian Forces should not get involved in what should be seen as a “cultural” issue. A "cultural" issue?! We're not talking about betting on dog fights or praying at certain times of the day. Can we not draw the line at letting children get raped with our consent?

More from David's must read article.

And after reading it, I'd like to see The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, investigated. Earlier this year they released a report concluding the allegations of sexual abuse were unfounded and that such incidents were never reported to Canadian military commanders. That is false.

In addition, it appears senior Canadian commanders were also concerned about the abuse. In a June 13, 2008, letter to army commander Leslie, the office of Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier asked that an investigation be started into the sexual assault allegations. “Furthermore, initial queries suggest there appeared to be some concern of the part of the Roto 2 BG chain of command with respect to certain off-duty activities related to the same incidents later raised to the reporter,” the letter noted.

The records also indicate the allegations sparked much debate inside the military on what to acknowledge in public. The first response was to deny anything ever took place.

And here come the talking points.

However, a series of “talking points” were produced on June 17, 2008, in which it was acknowledged in regard to “Afghan male sexual abuse of underage males” that “Soldiers are generally aware of this practice taking place in Afghanistan; They know that abuse, let alone of minors is wrong by our standards; They will report this activity to the appropriate authorities.”

Clearly, the CFNIS botched the investigation. Despite eyewitness reports, meetings, discussions and strategy sessions on how to deal with this matter, the investigators concluded the allegations were 'unfounded'? Are they simply following orders from prime minister harper? His ministers? Evidently, letting steve have control over a military rife with yes men is devastating for those poor kids. And it's a shame for our Country.

Banned by webmaster. Your comments will not be added

2009-09-16T00:45:00.000-04:00

Awesome! Dr.Dawg proving there is no difference between left wingers and right wingers!
Except for the fact that right wingers actually govern!

Dr.dawg has banned me from commenting, and even threatened to ban all "Liberal" posters!

Here is the whole thread. Watch the accusations fly. They ban you, and then attack!

Banned by webmaster. Your comments will not be added

Gravatar Brison is a moron.
And given that he's been in both parties, he really is a Librocon...
CWTF | 09.15.09 - 8:31 pm | #

Gravatar Hey Dawg! Are you being paid by any political party? Yes, that includes the ndp'rs.
Christian | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:08 pm | #

Gravatar Good God,no. But sometimes I think I should be!
Dr.Dawg | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:14 pm | #

Gravatar Wow. Sounds like Rae wasn't being truthful when he said that they'd be listening to all sides of the story when the bill went to committee.

Hey Scott Brison!! How many pro-government death squads are roaming around Venezuela killing Chavez's enemies? None? How many Indian peasants are being slaughtered by pro-government militias in Venezuela? None?

But Chavez is "evil" and Colombia is, ... what exactly?
thwap | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:23 pm | #

Gravatar I agree, you should be paid. Any fluffer should receive proper compensation.
Christian | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:25 pm | #

Gravatar Brison is a sick man. And his party is chock-a-block with sick, amoral people whose only interest is power.

I'm seriously thinking about banning all Liberals from this site unless they speak out against the banality of Ignatieff-Rae evil.

That goes for their flak "Christian." Peddle your sexual fantasies somewhere else, little man.
Dr.Dawg | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:25 pm | #

Gravatar Hold the damn phone there Christian, you disingenuous twat. How dare you attempt to label the good Doc Dawg a fluffer when there's a prominent link on the front page of your blog to a Liberal party fundraising site? You can cast your petty aspersions after you rinse the gritty seed out of your own mouth.
psa | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 9:32 pm | #

Gravatar Now PSA don't go all logical and shit on Christian, after all he is cognizant compared to the dunderheads over at the Blogging Tories..

If only he could take the blinders off once and awhile...
CWTF | 09.15.09 - 9:40 pm | #

Gravatar So Christian how does it feel to be supporting death merchants? Pretty neat I can imagine for you...
CWTF | 09.15.09 - 9:41 pm | #

Gravatar I'm seriously thinking about banning all Liberals from this site unless they speak out against the banality of Ignatieff-Rae evil.

Time to boot this this lefty thug off Progressive Bloggers.
Liberal | 09.15.09 - 9:55 pm | #

Gravatar Time to boot this this lefty thug off Progressive Bloggers.
That you Warren Kinsella?
CWTF | 09.15.09 - 10:00 pm | #

Gravatar That would say something about ProgBlogs.

More tomorrow. I'm quite serious about this.
Dr.Dawg | Homepage | 09.15.09 - 10:17 pm | #

Gravatar "I'm seriously thinking about banning all Liberals from this site ....."

Oh dear. So where would that leave me....?

"Time to boot this this lefty thug off Progressive Bloggers."

Hey, Liberal, I don't agree with Dawg's politics at all, but his material is always interesting, even with one or two of his hangups. And I don't quite know how he does it, but he does attract a reasonably high standard of comment.

Booting Dawg off "Progressive Bloggers" would be like the NDP expelling Ed Broadbent or one of the elder Lewises.

Twit.
knygathin_zhaum | 09.15.09 - 11:01 pm | #

Gravatar Christian's red herring dump on the thread was very Blogging Tory. I think he was just lashing out from the shame this post made him feel.

I think its ti-guy at 9:55.
lenny | 09.16.09 - 12:10 am | #

steve harper manipulating information coming out of Afghanistan

2009-09-13T23:32:00.002-04:00

Well what a shock! Neo-con steve has put together an impressive network of spies to monitor reporters covering the war.

The records, obtained under Access to Information legislation, show that what reporters are asking about, what they are writing about and what they have been told are the subject of regular briefing notes shared with everyone from officers in Kandahar to commanders in Ottawa to civilian officials reporting to the prime minister.

No doubt so steve and the professional liars on his staff can come up with their best spin.

The briefings outline which news organizations have reporters in the field, what information they have requested and what stories they are working on.

They show some interviews are either approved or denied by the Privy Council Office. Talking points for other interviews are approved in advance.

So which interviews is steve harper denying the journalists? Is he preventing reporters from uncovering relevant information Canadians should know about? Even going as far as providing the talking points! That's our steve!

But, wait! Navy Capt. Dave Scanlon, who just happens to be director of public affairs operations with the Defence Department, says there's nothing to see here.

"It's our job to monitor the media and that includes the work of individual journalists – but in full respect for freedom of the press," he says.

Really? How does fully respecting the media square with dictating which interviews are or aren't granted? He goes on.

"When we pass that information up our chain of command to warn them about what may or may not appear in the press the next day so that they're ready for it, that's a natural part of our work and an expected part of our work."

"It's part of my job to tell the Canadian Forces story, but to do that as part of a whole of government context. It has to be done with the political oversight of the government of the day."

Thank-you Captain Scanlon, for admitting neither you nor the government can be trusted with telling Canadians the whole truth!

How to create a "sticky" post for blogger

2009-09-13T21:45:00.001-04:00

I have been meaning to post on this for a while now, so after reading one of Morton's Musings from this morning, I decided I would finally get around to it. A "sticky" post, for those who may not know, is a post you would like featured at the top of your page. Whether it be a poll, an announcement, an image, or a post that has generated a worthy discussion,

the post remains static. Meaning it will not drop a position each time you add a new entry.

For those of you on wordpress, you're on your own:)

Okay, on with it. Create whatever "sticky" you'd like, and publish it. Next, go back to the editor, click edit, and direct your attention to the 'post options' feature located on the bottom left corner of the editor. Now click on that and 3 options appear. The one we are interested in is on the right side, the ‘date’ . Simply change the date to some point in the future~according to how ever long you want the post up there, and voila! You're done.

This will be my sticky for a while.

Jewish extremists infiltrating the military

2009-09-07T17:40:00.001-04:00

I have said before that I have no problem with people of faith, so long as they are rational, skeptical individuals. Because let’s face it, they have no idea if some almighty being exists, and neither do I. And frankly, I really don’t care if such a being exists because that wouldn’t change the way I live my life or how I treat other people. The ones I do take issue with however, are the believers, those who are arrogant enough to presume they are the one’s who have it right. So ideologically driven that they must take up ‘His’ cause and fight ‘His’ wars. It does not matter which religion we point to, they each have their share of extremists. These folks are not only irrational and arrogant, they are downright dangerous.

The BBC highlights the transformation taking place within the Israeli military from a secular entity, to one with a growing number of believers. Here are some excerpts.

Military rabbis are becoming more powerful. Trained in warfare as well as religion, new army regulations mean they are now part of a military elite.

They graduate from officer's school and operate closely with military commanders. One of their main duties is to boost soldiers' morale and drive, even on the front line.

Gal Einav, a non-religious soldier said there was wall-to-wall religious rhetoric in the base, the barracks and on the battlefield.

As soon as soldiers signed for their rifles, he said, they were given a book of psalms.

And, as his company headed in to Gaza, he told me, they were flanked by a civilian rabbi on one side and a military rabbi on the other:

"It felt like a religious war. Like a crusade. It disturbed me. Religion and the army should be completely separate," he said.

But military rabbis, like Lieutenant Shmuel Kaufman, welcome the changes. In previous wars rabbis had to stay far from the front, he says. In Gaza, they were ordered to accompany the fighters. "Our job was to boost the fighting spirit of the soldiers. The eternal Jewish spirit from Bible times to the coming of the Messiah."

Please visit the link for more.

For those with access, BBC 2/Newsnight is airing a full report this evening at 10:30 pm, local time.

why men die first

2009-09-06T23:03:00.001-04:00

This is a classic example of why women have a longer life expectancy than men.:)

Most men just go...@#%^ it! I give up!

Tell me it doesn't ring a bell!?!

Maria Bartiromo channels her inner wingnut

2009-09-05T09:39:00.000-04:00

What a pathetic display of ignorance on the part of the “money honey”. I’m not sure if Maria just thinks, well, I won’t speculate on what she thinks. I’ll let her make a fool of herself with her own words.

On Tuesday, September 1, Maria joined Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to discuss health care reform in the U.S.

In this clip, Maria is going on about the evils of a government run health care system in the U.K and why it would be wrong for America.

Weiner jumps in and points out that the government already operates Medicare, and folks who use it are generally happy with it. At that point, Bartiromo interrupts the 44 year old congressman, and shrieks,

“How come you don't use it [Medicare]? You don't have it. How come you don't have it?”

As she looks around as if she just made some irrefutable point. Weiner tells her, “I’m not 65.”
Dumbass

I guess when you’re a corporate whore/pimp, facts just get in the way.

Woohoo! I hate Iggy too! please rec me at Progressive Bloggers.ca

2009-09-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

Here!1 Hurry!1!

So what are we left with? A useless plan and a worthless government. Just the way neo-cons like it.

2009-08-31T13:07:00.001-04:00

From the star.

Slimy steve and one of his backward ministers have decided that helping big business is more important than helping average Canadians.

Not only has this incompetent bunch of fools killed what promised to be an effective tool for consumers, now taxpayers are on the hook for the tens of thousands of dollars spent on research and development.

I suppose for the harper government, the merits of free enterprise are only legitimate if they benefit corporations. From the star article:

After spending tens of thousands of dollars creating and testing an online calculator designed to help consumers select their ideal wireless plan, Industry Minister Tony Clement killed the project weeks before it was scheduled to launch.

Government records suggest intense lobbying this spring by Canada's wireless companies, who feared the service would promote lower-cost plans, played a key role in the decision.

Well, the lobbyists do love tony. He ranked third among the ‘most contacted by lobbyists competition’, back in June. Lisa I’m too sexy to apologize Raitt, ranked number 1.

The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), a branch within Industry Canada with a mandate to promote and protect consumer interests, was the original source for Which Cell Plan? A Calculator.

The calculator asked consumers for detailed information about their current or anticipated cellphone use and provided them with a detailed list of suitable plans from Canadian providers.

Imagine that! A government agency actually fulfilling their responsibility, only to be stopped by a bunch of charlatans whose battle cry is, "government sucks!".

According to lobbyist registration records, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and Bell Canada met with officials from Clement's office on April 8, with the association listing telecommunications regulation and consumer issues as the topics of discussion.

Two weeks later, Telus also met with the same officials to discuss consumer issues.

The carriers were apparently concerned that the tool only covered voice services and was geared toward lower-priced plans.

Yes, I can see why the carriers were concerned. How are they going to afford those million dollar bonuses if the government gives already struggling Canadians some useful options? That’s just crazy. How does anyone expect them to pay for the latest yacht?

Sensing that Clement was facing pressure to block the calculator, Canadian consumer groups wrote to the minister, urging him to stick with it.

But alas, tony clement and steve harper ultimately chose to throw Canadians under the proverbial bus. Or in this case, a luxurious boat. Either way, whether they be Canadians at home or abroad, this regime is a disgrace.

Despite months of preparation, thousands of dollars in taxpayer expense, the creation of an effective tool and the obvious benefits for lower-income Canadians, Clement nevertheless killed the project.

So what are we left with? A useless plan and a worthless government. Just the way neo-cons like it.

In the meantime, Industry Canada has posted a cellphone checklist that asks consumers many of the same questions, but does not provide any information on carrier plans or pricing.

Awesome! steve harper, his god and family are pro-choice!

2009-08-30T15:28:00.000-04:00

Or, steve the skeeve is full of shit. Either way. From a recent article in the Globe and Mail, here is the proof:

In the article, Mr. Harper said it's too early to consider how history will treat him, adding that a more pressing and ever-present priority is ensuring family comes first.

“The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it's a disaster.”

He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.

“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God's verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.

End of story. Right? Because if steve won an election while putting the abortion issue aside, he, his family, and his god must be okay with it, no?

Doer to be named new U.S. ambassador-confirmed

2009-08-28T09:08:00.002-04:00

Well that didn't take long. I wonder when the discussions started.

OTTAWA — Outgoing Manitoba Premier Gary Doer will be named Canada's new ambassador to the U.S., the Canadian Embassy in Washington has confirmed.

Doer announced he was stepping down as premier Thursday.

The Prime Minister's Office has not confirmed the appointment.

The PMO, however, issued a statement early Friday saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be meeting with the new ambassador-designate of Canada to the U.S. at 9:30 a.m. in Ottawa.

Speculation Doer had accepted a posting to Washington D.C. or overseas began as soon as the premier announced he was stepping down.

From the Winnipeg Free Press

Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Thursday he liked the idea of his longtime ally and friend possibly ending up in Washington, D.C., as Canada's ambassador to the United States.

"If that were the case, then I would be the first to applaud that,'' Charest told the Free Press in an interview only hours after Doer announced he would step down Thursday.

It was inevitable Doer would wind up in the United States, said University of Manitoba political studies professor Jared Wesley. "It was just a question of where."

In his resignation speech on Tursday, Doer hinted at the possibility a Tory prime minister could appoint an NDP premier to a high-profile position.

"The old left-right jargon I believe is out of date and out of touch with the public," he said.

best political video of all time...period

2009-08-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

If there has ever been a greater adaptation of a song, I am not aware of it.

Garth Turner seeking Liberal nomination in Dufferin-Caledon

2009-08-18T09:43:00.000-04:00

Stumbled upon this from Garth's blog

Former Conservative-turned-Independent-turned Liberal MP Garth Turner who represented the Ontario riding of Halton from 2006 until 2008 but lost the last federal election to Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt is now seeking the Liberal nomination in the Ontario riding of Dufferin-Caledon, currently represented by three term Conservative MP David Tilson.

Mr. Turner did not respond to interview requests but Judi Longfield, executive director of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party confirmed that Mr. Turner is seeking the Liberal nomination in Dufferin-Caledon. As of last week, the Liberal nomination in the riding had not been called but Ms. Longfield said that only one other candidate Jeff May, president of the Dufferin-Caledon Liberal Riding Association, had officially entered the race.

harper hypocrisy hits new heights

2009-08-12T17:17:00.002-04:00

Suaad Haji Mohamud, who? Really, steve, if you wanna fool people into believing you care about human rights, start at home.

steve is pissed at the mistreatment of Aung San Suu Kyi, by her government.

moran

will steve harper stand up for the environment, or the polluters? acid rain blamed on oilsands

2009-08-11T12:55:00.001-04:00

steve harper in Bonn, Germany, May 2008

~“Canada has gone to great lengths to protect and preserve our rich and diverse environment, and in our country this is not just a government enterprise. We are partnered with many private individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental philanthropy.”

Show us what you’re made of, steve.

story from the CBC

Heads up, Saskboy! The Saskatchewan Environmental Society has released a statement {warning-PDF} claiming data collected from the Saskatchewan environment ministry, shows that rain falling in the La Loche area of the province has a a pH level which falls under Environment Canada’s definition of acid rain. The reason? Activity from the Alberta oilsands.

“The majority of the acid precipitation falling on the La Loche region is coming from oil sands plants in neighboring Alberta” said Josef Alcoming ,conservation biologist and Saskatchewan Environmental Society Board Member.

“Those operations are releasing vast amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere – more than 200,000 tonnes per year.The prevailing winds for much of the year are from west to east with the result that approximately two thirds of these pollutants make their way into Saskatchewan.”

The society wants the federal government to intervene and place regional caps on the amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide that activity associated with oilsands development can release into the atmosphere. In their view, pollution crossing provincial boundaries puts the issue under national jurisdiction, justifying federal intervention.

I’m sure steve will get right on that.

pH levels

The generally accepted threshold for normal rain is a pH of 5.6. Environment Canada has determined any value less than five may be termed acid rain.

Ann Coxworth, a spokeswoman for the environmental society, said data from the Saskatchewan government shows the average pH level for rain and snow in the La Loche area is 4.96.

According to the full statement, many test results fell below levels of 4.96.

So what are some of the risks to lakes and rivers? According to Environment Canada:

As water pH approaches	Effects
6.0	~crustaceans, insects, and some plankton species begin to disappear.
5.0	~major changes in the makeup of the plankton community occur. ~less desirable species of mosses and plankton may begin to invade. ~the progressive loss of some fish populations is likely, with the more highly valued species being generally the least tolerant of acidity.
Less than 5.0	~the water is largely devoid of fish. ~the bottom is covered with undecayed material. ~the nearshore areas may be dominated by mosses. ~terrestrial animals, dependent on aquatic ecosystems, are affected. Waterfowl, for example, depend on aquatic organisms for nourishment and nutrients. As these food sources are reduced or eliminated, the quality of habitat declines and the reproductive success of birds is affected

And I thought I was just a lousy fisherman.

DNA results are in, harpercons fail again

2009-08-10T20:05:00.001-04:00

Suaad Haji Mohamud's DNA test positively proves she is the woman she claimed she was, says her attorney.

"There's no way to debate this anymore, so the government really has nothing more [it] can say about this."

Yeah, I wouldn't put anything past this regime, Mr.Boulakia. Don't be surprised if they challenge the results. (er, you know, for national security reasons)

President Sarkozy taken to hospital

2009-07-26T14:45:00.000-04:00

There are conflicting reports coming from different sources on whether or not Sarkozy actually fainted while jogging, but he was transported by helicopter to a military hospital after “feeling faint” at the end of his nearly one hour long run.

An official stated that the 54 year-old president, suffered a minor vasovagal episode - a loss of consciousness which can be provoked by such causes as hyperthermia, dehydration or stress. The vagal nerve is a major nerve that runs from the abdomen to the brain and controls several functions.

Professor Xavier Jouven, a cardiologist at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, said such episodes were caused by a fall in arterial pressure and heartbeat frequency. "The two together mean you get less blood going to the head, you don't feel well and you need to lie down," he said.

"It's benign, it's frequent and it's common with sportsman just as they end their physical effort."

Claude Gueant, general secretary of Mr Sarkozy's private office, said the president was "well' and "talking normally with carers" at the hospital, which was cordoned off by a police.

"He's okay, he's hungry, he's complaining," said Patrick Balkany, a member of Mr Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement.

5 rabbis, 3 New Jersey mayors, and 2 state legislators walk into a synagogue

2009-07-26T11:18:00.001-04:00

Fascinating story out of New Jersey. At last count, 44 people have been swept up in a federal probe that uncovered political corruption, human organ sales and money laundering from New York to Israel.

From the F.B.I press release

Law enforcement personnel, with the assistance of a cooperating witness, first infiltrated a pre-existing money laundering network that operated internationally between Brooklyn, Deal, N.J. and Israel and laundered at least tens of millions of dollars through charitable, non-profit entities controlled by rabbis in New York and New Jersey.

One criminal Complaint charges a Brooklyn man, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, with conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for a transplant, at a cost of $160,000 to the transplant recipient. According to the Complaint, Rosenbaum said he had been brokering the sale of kidneys for 10 years.

Among those charged in criminal Complaints are:

Peter Cammarano III, the newly elected mayor of Hoboken and an attorney, charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes, including $10,000 last Thursday, from an undercover cooperating witness.
L. Harvey Smith, a New Jersey Assemblyman and recent mayoral candidate in Jersey City, charged along with an aide of taking $15,000 in bribes to help get approvals from high-level state agency officials for building projects
Daniel Van Pelt, a New Jersey Assemblyman, charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
Dennis Elwell, mayor of Secaucus, charged with taking a $10,000 cash bribe
Anthony Suarez, mayor of Ridgefield and an attorney, charged with agreeing to accept a $10,000 corrupt cash payment for his legal defense fund.
Louis Manzo, the recent unsuccessful challenger in the Jersey City mayoral election and former state Assemblyman, and his brother and political advisor Robert Manzo, both with taking $27,500 in corrupt cash payments for use in Louis Manzo’s campaign.
Leona Beldini, the Jersey City deputy mayor and a campaign treasurer, charged with taking $20,000 in conduit campaign contributions and other self-dealing in her official capacity.
Eliahu Ben Haim, of Long Branch, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, N.J., charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Saul Kassin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., the chief rabbi of a synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Edmund Nahum, of Deal, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Mordchai Fish, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a rabbi at a synagogue in Brooklyn, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. His brother, also a rabbi, was charged as well.

Arturo Gatti found dead, wife detained~ update 2

2009-07-12T15:04:00.013-04:00

update Monday, July 12

*Amanda Rodrigues was arrested Sunday, now her sister Flavia, her attorney, and police have chimed in with their theories. First Amanda:

According to police, Rodrigues told them she thought her husband had committed suicide or that someone had entered the apartment and killed him.

Next, Flavia:

Rodrigues' sister, Flavia, told the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo there is "no way she could have strangled a man of that size."

Well sure there is. Police have said that Gatti was found with a head injury from a sharp object. Add to that, he was drunk - it probably wouldn't take much force. Amanda should find a better lawyer, if all he can come up with is the same lame excuse as Flavia.

"She is fragile, young and skinny -- how could she kill a boxing champion?" Avelino said. "When she awoke, she presumed he had committed suicide. But she had nothing to do with it."

The cops are not buying it.

Teixeira said police do not think anyone else entered the apartment and killed Gatti -- he said there were no signs of forced entry and electronic locks indicated nobody else had entered the room aside from Rodrigues and Gatti.

The investigator said Rodrigues told them she thought her husband had committed suicide or that someone had entered the apartment and killed him. Teixeira ruled out both scenarios.

end of update 1~

update 2 ~

July18,2009
Gatti’s circle speaks

The Toronto Star provides a glimpse into the stormy relationship between Amanda and Arturo. The story paints Rodrigues as an insecure and vindictive woman. One example is the recounting of an incident that occurred at party. While discussing children, Amanda Rodrigues referred to Arturo’s daughter from a previous relationship, as “retarded” and that she looked “like a mongoloid”.

According to those interviewed, in addition to attacking an innocent child, Amanda Rodrigues also enjoyed spreading rumours about Gatti’s siblings. Some believe she was only after Arturo’s money. Gatti’s lawyer, John Lynch:

Two days after signing a pre-nuptial agreement, and then getting married in Las Vegas, Rodrigues began insisting he cancel it, he said. A few weeks later, the couple entered Lynch's office and Gatti asked for a copy. "He made a show of ripping up the copy in front of her, so she was happy," Lynch said. (The dramatic act carried no force of law.)

Rodrigues also complained about the amount of child support Gatti provided for his daughter, Sofia. When Amanda approached her husband, asking him to finance her own fashion line, Gatti refused.

Finally, she wanted to start her own fashion line. "Gimme a break," Lynch said. "I think he was smart enough to say, `I'm not giving you millions to start a fashion line because you have a whim.'"

Much more at the Star’s page.
end of update 2

Rest in peace, champ.

Sad news out of Brazil. Fan favourite Arturo Gatti, 37, has been found dead at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil. The two time world champion arrived at the posh resort on Friday, with wife Amanda Rodrigues, 23, and their 10 month young – son, Arturo Jr.

Rodrigues discovered the Canadian fighter lifeless early Saturday morning and alerted authorities. Foul play was suspected from the start of the investigation. Gatti was found in his underwear with blood stains on his neck and the back of his head. In an initial police statement, police investigator Edilson Alves told The Associated Press that it was unclear how the 37-year-old died. "It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange," Alves said.

Also found at the scene was a bloodied purse strap which was used to strangle Gatti, according to a police spokeswoman.

Rodrigues was taken into custody Sunday after giving contradicting statements. Investigators also wondered how the woman, originally from Brazil, could spend 10 hours in the same hotel room and not notice her husband was dead. One of the couple’s friends said their marriage was in trouble.

Four-time world champion boxer Acelino (Popo) Freitas, who is from Brazil, told Globo TV's website that he was close to the couple and that he "knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate."

Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was known as a “blood and guts” warrior in the Boxing world and I was, am, a fan of the way he fought. He was by no means a technical fighter, in fact his defensive abilities were non-existent, but you knew when he stepped into the ring he was gonna leave it all there, no regrets, and I admire that. Of the half dozen or so fights I watched, I don’t remember one where Gatti wasn’t cut, his face bloodied early, and thinking, “this is going to be a short one.” But he had other ideas, much to the chagrin of his opponents.

Gatti received Ring Magazine's “fight of the year” honours four times throughout his career. His professional record ended with

40 wins
31 by knockout
9 losses

Some reaction

Micky Ward

“I can’t believe it,” Ward said by phone from his home in Lowell, Mass. “I really can’t believe it. I don’t know what to think or what to say. [Actor] Chuck Zito just called me about it around five o’clock and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I know it happened and it’s still hard to believe.

“I’m walking around in a daze. I’m just dazed by it all. You fight a guy, you go to war with them, and there is a respect there. But with me and Arturo, it was greater. There was a real bond between us. It’s why hearing this, hearing what happened to Arturo is like a piece of you is gone, because we shared so much of everything in the ring. We were friends, close friends.”

Main Events President Kathy Duva

“I’ve been through a lot in life and I’ve learned how to keep it together, but this is a tough day, it’s a challenge,”
“His entire boxing career he fought with us; we’ve known him since he was 17,”
“It’s just an unspeakable tragedy.”

“I was sitting with him at the postfight press conference — I can’t remember which one — and I looked at his hand and it was three times the normal size,” Duva said. “He gave me this goofy grin and he said: ‘Yeah, I know. We’ll party tonight and I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow.’ ”

Many considered Gatti reckless, in and out of the ring. I’m guessing that was part of his appeal as well.

Some highlights

Canadian Band pressures Airline to reconsider douchebaggery ~update Dave Carroll is a class act

2009-07-10T21:30:00.000-04:00

h/t to my favourite Canadian blogger over at the Great Orange Satan,

MsLibrarian. Your hockey team still sucks, but I won’t hold that against you.

MsLibrarian reports on how Canadian band The Sons of Maxwell, went about pressing United Airlines to accept responsibility for mishandling the group’s instruments . And for the majority of folks who have had to engage airline officials in this capacity, I imagine they would agree that it can be a very frustrating experience.

According to lead songwriter Dave Carroll, the band was on their way to Nebraska for a one week gig back in April 2008. The flight path included a stopover in Chicago, where while waiting to deplane, Carroll says a fellow traveller cried out- “My god they’re throwing guitars out there.” One of Dave’s band members immediately looked out the window and witnessed his own guitar being thrown by one of United’s baggage handlers. Carroll’s $3500 Taylor was thrown just before.

Obviously the guys were concerned at this point, but when they tried to alert United Airlines staff, the games began. Here is a taste of Dave’s adventure. For complete details, follow the link.

I immediately tried to communicate this to the flight attendant who cut me off saying: “Don’t talk to me. Talk to the lead agent outside”. I found the person she pointed to and that lady was an “acting” lead agent but refused to talk to me and disappeared into the crowd saying “I’m not the lead agent”. I spoke to a third employee at the gate and when I told her the baggage handlers were throwing expensive instruments outside she dismissed me saying “but hun, that’s why we make you sign the waiver”. I explained that I didn’t sign a waiver and that no waiver would excuse what was happening outside. She said to take it up with the ground crew in Omaha.

So after reaching the breaking point, Dave decided to do what comes naturally. (no, he didn’t hunt them down one by one ) He wrote a song about the incident and made a video, titled,

United Breaks Guitars. And it’s pretty good, too!

In my final reply to Ms. Irlweg I told her that I would be writing three songs about United Airlines and my experience in the whole matter. I would then make videos for these songs and offer them for free download online, inviting viewers to vote on their favourite United song. My goal: to get one million hits in one year.

And guess what? It only took one youtube video to get United’s attention. Via the Herald

Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for Chicago-based United, said late Tuesday afternoon that the airline has changed its course and wants to speak with Mr. Carroll today to settle the matter. She declined to comment further until she spoke to him.

“This has struck a chord with us,” she said.

“We’re going to contact him directly.”

~update

Dave Carroll has posted a youtube video informing those following his story about the latest developments. In response to United Airlines monetary mea culpa, Dave asks that the company donate the money to a charity of their choice. He also defends United's spokeswoman, Ms. Irlweg, saying that some of the comments posted on youtube were unfair and she was just doing her job. He even looks forward to 'sharing a laugh with her over all this'

end of update~