Obama : The more things change the more they stay the same
May 30, 2010
Change you can believe in, but actual change…
Well that’s just not going to be happening anytime soon. Like they say the prove is in the pudding.
And that prove was there for all to read with the release of the “National Security Strategy” by the White House.
Under the heading of , “Strengthen the Power of Our Example”:
The increased risk of terrorism necessitates a capacity to detain and interrogate suspected violent extremists, but that framework must align with our laws to be effective and sustainable. When we are able, we will prosecute terrorists in Federal courts or in reformed military commissions that are fair, legitimate, and effective. For detainees who cannot be prosecuted—but pose a danger to the American people—we must have clear, defensible, and lawful standards. We must have fair procedures and a thorough process of periodic review, so that any prolonged detention is carefully evaluated and justified. And keeping with our Constitutional system, it will be subject to checks and balances. The goal is an approach that can be sustained by future Administrations, with support from both political parties and all three branches of government…@
….”For detainees who cannot be prosecuted—but pose a danger to the American people” …what exactly does that mean ?
O, on second thoughts I get it now… its kinda like what Dubya use to do, i.e , no-crime-no-proof-no-problem-lock-em-up,hell throw away the keys.
Or as Glenn Greenwald states…
…of course we’ll provide a fair tribunal for proving your guilt — as long as we’re certain we can convict you — otherwise, we’ll just imprison you indefinitely without charges. ..@
Welcome to the one party state of A-merry-ca
Take that ‘stupid’ voters…
April 27, 2010
There’s hope after all,apparently even a former Liberal finance minister know what a bald-face lie looks like when she sees it
“This particular tax takes the tax off businesses – it takes $1.8-billion off of businesses – and puts it on consumers,” Ms. Taylor told a CTV News panel last week. “But I think the bigger issue is that [Premier Gordon Campbell] promised that they would not – they would not – do the harmonization of the sales tax. And then right after the election, decided to do it.”…@
I suppose though that not even she could remain silent any longer considering how blatant the lies & double-talk of her former boss Gordon Campbell have become.
Ms. Taylor’s statements will definitly help the NDP, not that the NDP really needs it…
Seeing as the B.C Liberal Fiberal’s support/popularity was already in free fall,that said sadly not much of that drop can be credited to anything the NDP might have done. Truth be told the NDP’s performance through out Campbell’s two terms has been pretty lackluster if not confusing at times.
Indeed the NDP’s inability to capitalize on Liberal ineptness, in a more effective manner, is definitly a head-scratcher.
Particularly when one considers just how many times the B.C Liberals have screwed-up & or out right lied -two terms worth at that- literally serving the NDP political ammo on a silver platter.
That said though, why quibble… in politics a win’s a win, even if it comes about despite one’s self.
Keep up the good work King Gordo.
And the moral of the story is,that it’s possible to win an election without having to do much of anything,other than turning up that is.
H/T The Gazetteer
PM Harper,Threat to Canadian Democracy….
December 31, 2009
No not really, despite the Coy-ne talk about Canadian democracy spiraling down the drain , and the King and Queen analogies.
Yes it might be maddening to the opposition(the elected opposition, together whom constitute the majority of seats) & to many ordinary Canadians,remember them the voters ? Many of whom also want answers,and rightfully so, on some rather important & troubling issues.
But when it’s all said and done, serving up a ‘pirogi’ or two, violates none of the rules or protocols of Parliament. In fact it’s just politics as usual…
Indeed we have all been here before…
When the going gets tough, and or some hard & uncomfortable question need answering, the ‘tough’ get proroguing. Next thing ya know, its a different day month & folk’s are talking about different shit.
All said, it is fun watching Liberals get all bent out of shape, on this occasion of Harper’s proroguing of Parliament,only his second…
Particularly when these same forgetaboutit Liberals had nothing to say when King PM Chretien served up four, during his ‘reign’ as King PM.
1. February 5, 1996 2. September 18, 1999 3. September 16, 2002 4. November 12, 2003.
That’s how you do proroguing, the Liberal way,Liberally…
Peas of a pod,them Conservatives & Liberals.
Apathy anyone,perhaps a nap…
Canadians can definitly count on the Liberals
March 18, 2009
They talk a good line,they know how to play the game,they are definitly more sophisticated than the Conservatives at playing the game but when it comes to actually doing ….
Well that’s where reality and Liberal speak go their separate ways.
A couple of very recent & prominent examples come to mind.
First the budget and the subsequent Liberal word games …
In particular the Liberal’s decision to support the NDP motion of March 10 which called on the Conservative government to address and correct the inequities of Canada’s “employment” insurance system.
Good on the Liberals ,right ? Naww not really,Liberal support for the motion was pure theater as opposition motions are not binding on the government.
But the proof is in the pudding as the saying goes.
Rewind one week earlier when the Libs were in a position ,where together with the NDP and BLOC,they could have called the government on E.I, they did not. Instead they chose to support the Conservative government’s budget rather than stand up for working people.
This disconnect between words and reality is just so typical of the Liberals,and liberalism in general.
Secondly the U.N Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples….
This is a prime example that illustrates the more sophisticated strategy & tactics of the Liberals,as opposed to the Conservatives . Although both Party’s seemingly have opposing positions on this issue,and indigenous issues in general,in reality there is little if any difference.
While the Conservatives just came straight out and rejected the declaration .The Liberals well they understand the effectiveness of a good PR & spin campaign.
On one hand they publicly state that indeed Indigenous peoples do have rights(gee how generous of them) but then turn around and slip a clause into the declaration that mutes the whole exercise.Despite all the nice Liberal talk about equality and the rights of indigenous peoples the end result is exactly the same as the Conservatives.Indigenous rights are secondary to and only apply if they do not conflict with existing Canadian law.Hence the status-quo is assured.
So when the next election cycle comes around and the Liberals go on about how the Conservatives screwed over working Canadians,or how they have no respect for indigenous people etc… remember the tale of the kettle & the pot.
All said,the Conservatives are just as cynical at playing the game,but at least one knows where they stand.
Liberal MP’S Hypocrites:Gee no kidding
February 6, 2009
After all it’s not like the Liberals party is known for it’s adherence to principled action.Rather it’s,say one thing do the opposite and hope that the electorate are to stupid to notice.Smoke and mirrors.
Senator Fabian Manning is accusing the province’s Liberal MP’s of hypocrisy. Manning says less than 48 hours hours after the six Liberal MP’s stood to vote against the budget in the House of Commons, they flip-flopped and voted in favour of the Ways and Means Motions supporting the same budget. [ @ ]
I believe they call that political expediency,Liberal Party arrogance.
A reflection of cynicism and the low regard to which many politicians hold the common voter/citizen.
That contempt of the citizenry,which drives many Canadians to distrust politicians in general and many others to apathy.
Say one thing about the Conservatives,at least one knows where they stand.They definitly are not shy when it comes to “articulating” policy,i.e full speed ahead and damn the nuances.
But that is not to say that the Con’s are less inclined to play political games than the Liberals, just not as sophisticated in their use of PR and words game .
Its not by accident that the Liberals Party like to use the term “Canada’s natural ruling party”. When it comes to hanging on to power ,not only do they know all the tricks,the Liberals will not hesitate to employ them no matter how cynical & self serving.
Mother of all Welfare Check’s,trumps principals
January 12, 2009
Surprise,surprise…
Apparently the 18 senators appointed by Harper will in all likelihood be serving till death or age 75,which ever happens to comes first.
Despite the fact that every last one of em…
pledging to support future eight-year term limits and Senate reforms.
Like as if there was any doubt,did anyone really expect principle’s from any of these patronage appointee’s ? After all,if they had any principles or indeed even supported Senate reform,none of them would have accepted the job patronage,in the first place.
Talk is cheap,in Ottawa it’s even cheaper.
One can imagine just how many times Canadians will be told over the coming years(40 years plus in some cases),well we do understand senate reform is needed,but ahhh (pause ,scratch) it’s better to try and change things from the inside,from the inside one can,blah blah…
Yeah okay Mr & Mrs Senator you keep telling yourselves that.
Yet again taxpayers are left holding the bag, paying 105 senators millions upon millions in what amounts to ,the mother of all welfare check’s.
105 senators, wtf ?
Deck the halls with patronage apointments
December 22, 2008
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Tis the season to be rewarded
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay hypocrisy
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
As we troll the public trough
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
See the future considerations before us (alternative -see the pile of loot before us)
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Strike our pride and join the looting
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Follow me in a merry looting
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
While I tell of public trough lootings
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Fast away the misgivings pass
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Hail the,forever big fat pay cheques,all ye undeserving
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Sing we “thankful” all together
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la-la
Appointees will receive a $130,400 annual salary indexed to inflation until they retire or reach age 75, followed by a very comfortable pension — and both are indexed to inflation.
Fuck big business
December 20, 2008
“A criminal is a person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation.”….Howard Scott
Rather the government should be looking for ways to help working Canadians and small/family businesses.
Remember us “peons”,that do not have millions of dollars in bonuses and perks to ride out the rough times ?
NOW mag suggests five steps to do just that,and none of then involve subsidizing lost causes,lousy business practices or the obscenely wealthy .
1.Boost E.I big time
2.Raise work subsides
3.Invest in education
4.Pump volunteerism
5.Follow Trudeau ( not so sure about this one-Trudeau ? )
