Flahertys fast talking, flip flopping economy ruining plan

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090225.wflahert0225/BNStory/politics/home


The first line says it all, Flaherty is admitting he will foul up and waste our money. This is a new plan, and perhaps for the tories the only one that may work. Instead of saying everything will be fine,( remember Harper and Flaherty said no recession was coming) they now just admit upfront they are going to waste your money.

I would think the plan should be to ensure no mistakes, and that should be the aim, but that's not the tory strategy, it is to admit defeat and tell us now that they are going to waste our money.

I guess the amount of flip flopping and promise breaking we have seen from this party, has finally been accepted as actual party policy. I mean if you do something all the time anyway, you may as well get some credit for it. Too bad for the Canadian taxpayer that the thing the Tories do all the time is waste our money.

What a shame. Now off to work I go, and thank heavens, with the way Harper is blowing through our money we need all the taxpayers we can get.

Terrible Gas pains in Nova Scotia

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1108327.html

I get the argument for paying for gas before you fill up, but the gas retailers leave out several key problems/issues. First, by their own design, gas stations have become convenience stores as well, some with tim hortons inside. You now have people who wil have to make two trips in and out of a store to make purchases, crazy talk.

Second, sometimes I want to fill my tank, it rarely comes out to a number like $20, or $30. Do I have to guess, or not fill up. I get the credit card thing, but I don't always want to use it for gas, or can't sometimes.

Third, this sets a terrible precedent. I don't see why almost any business can't ask for money up front first. Many businesses work on billing systems, they may all decide they want money up front. From a cash flow and security stance, it makes sense, money in product out.

Gas stations/big oil companies, spent years laying off employees and bringing in self serve for gas, they encouraged us to come in, shop around. Hell most had magazine racks, movies to rent, food, you name it, none of which was designed to encourage wham bam thank you mam consumerism.

If security is an issue, then bring back full serve gas, but at self serve price, they are making the money back on the chocolate bars and windshield wiper fluid we buy, and it is they who say security is the issue, so take the steps to ensure security, at their own cost, I doubt they would argue employee safety isn't a top priority, so money shouldn't be an issue. But of course it is, it always is.

One more thing, I noted this response from one of Rodneys do nothing except the wrong thing Ministers in regards to employees being liable for stolen gas ( which I think is a damn outrage),

On Tuesday, Labour and Workforce Development Minister Mark Parent said gas-and-dash is more a theft issue than an occupational health and safety issue. He noted his department did make a change in 2005 that ensures employees working during a gas-and-dash usually don’t have to cover the loss.

The word that bothers me is "usually" . So sometimes employees have to pay to cover that cost, and Rodneys crew think that is okay, and indeed passed a law to ensure it. Shameful.

Anyway....sunny in Halifax tommorow..wooooooo

Back at it! Sorry Steve, you brought it on yourself!

After some technical fine tuning and updates, I am back. Sorry if I caused anyone to miss their daily fix, however much I doubt that is true, I still hope you're glad I am back.

From now on, most updates will be focused on 2-4 times daily. Morning, 6ish and probably later in the evening. These seem to be the best times to hit people who are 1- waking up and checking 2- arriving at work and checking ( don't worry everyone checks daily news, email, facebook etc at work) 3- Checking in after you are home and settled.
This also gives me more time to add better links, updates and full story on topics I am blogging about.
Tell your friends, become a follower ( it's easy) and enjoy!!!!

Here goes:

Let's all be honest here for a minute and look at the bare facts. Fact #1- Harper has been PM for almost 4 years. Fact #2- Our Economy is tanking, jobs are bleeding, industry is collapsing, some economists, not many but some, are using the D word. While the number is few, the credibility of those who think so is without question. And the news agency reporting it, CTV.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090219/great_depression/20090219?hub=CanadaAM


Fact #3, while in opposition, and in his younger days as a hill staffer ( I am almost ashamed to that share common bond with him, well maybe ashamed is a tad hard) and Head of a Right wing group, Harper would attack liberal governments for situations they had to deal with while they governed.

He was correct in doing so, a government takes credit for the good that happens under their watch, the burden of failure is also theirs to carry. Harper can't escape this fact.

That has got to be one of my biggest beefs with this government. They talked such a big game about reform, and doing things different during QP, and more transparency and accountability, and on and on about their higher standards, and how have they delivered?
This is the guy who angered journalists and reporters by only allowing certain people to ask questions, thus controlling the type of questions they got. The made a list that you had to be put on by the PM staff. It is the nature of on their toes, facing tough questions from smart educated reporters that helps keep governments in check.

This is the guy who has seen QP become the biggest joke in memory. It was bad under Chretien at times, hell it was bad under most PM's, the nature of QP is adversarial. But Under Harper it is beyond a sad joke. I had the privilege of sitting through many a QP during the Chretien days, and it was loud and partisan, but under Harper, it has become not only louder and more partisan, but the nature of some answers leaves me to wonder if medicinal marijuana wasn't prescribed to some ministers to help calm nerves before they must stand in the house. I have heard MP's ask over and over again for a simple yes or no answer, they almost plead to have just a yes or no, and the answer, 99% of the time ( at least the time i see it) is a partisan slam that often accuses the questioner of some wrong doing. It is almost a sin that hard working MP's ( and yes there are some) have to waste their time sitting through non answer after non answer, when they have real work to do.

If you ever get a chance to watch QP or read Hansard, listen or look carefully, listen to how 30 seconds of talking can say so little.

So there it is, a quick, rambly re-start.
Tomorrows will have some good morning links to start the day...plus the weather. Fancy.

SHOCKER:Bus driver makes 8yr old walk km's in snow,

Super S#*t disturber and all around strike queen Joan Jessome, still giddy from her near strike experience, in which her big pitch was that her drivers care sooooo much about the kids, doesn't have the energy she once had. What else could explain her almost complete silence on the fact that mere days after getting a pay raise and more, her drivers made small children, some as young as 8, walk through treacherous conditions, km's away from the planned drop point.

First, this driver should be fired and not receive any of this retroactive pay. Second, Joan Jessom now has a major credibility crisis on her hands. She used the safety of tax payers children as one of the main reasons her drivers deserved more $ . Granted , it wasn't the only one, but it was a major plank in her sympathy bid. But now we see through the layers of foundation, blush, mascara and lies. We see the real Joan Jessome. A person who will say anything, and do anything to "win". And a person who when faced with her own errors, refuses to fess up and take the punishment. She made a promise, kids safety was #1, she didn't follow through, how can she ever be trusted again?

Look all of you Joany moany supporters. I know she didn't drive the bus, so waste your breathe with that argument. When she makes it clear to everyone and anyone who will listen, over and over and over again, who she is and what she thinks, then she has to take the heat for this. She wants credit for all the good, she wants people to know she is the leader of that Union, we get it Joan.

The key word I used above is leader. She claims to be, and clearly is the leader of that Union, leaders don't let others suffer for their mistakes. If she is going to preach safety is #1, she damn well better to be able to back it up. These are kids, not cakes or flowers or pizza getting delivered, these are humans.

You know with all this flip flopping, constant fight picking, and refusing to own up to her mistakes, she may be just what Harper is looking for in an Senator, and we know how he ikes to appoint like minded people. Take her, PLEASE!!!!

Bill Casey vs the Bully party

I should have been but wasn't shocked. I should have been because the accusation against Casey is ludicrous, hogwash and without merit. I wasn't because nothing Harper does surprises me. This is a dirty smear against a man who just happened to make Harper look really bad. Just coincidence? No way

Bill Casey and Newfoundland and Labrador, unfortunately, have had to take some awful abuse at the hands of Harper. The only silver lining is that this may be the straw that breaks the camels back. Polls recently have shown Canadians place blame for most of the recent Parliament hijinks squarely on Harpers shoulders. He caused all the recent trouble with his hyper partisan attitude. Canadians don't like it. My prediction, polls in the next 2 Weeks show a drop for Harper a bump for Iggy.

Update..read it and have fun

For those who didn't read the most recent post, before this one, please do, but you don't have to, I am easy.

I want to see what kind of answers i get to this question:

Excluding all Current MP's, who would you most like to see as Prime Minister?

Post you answer in my comments section...this should be fun.

Chretien For PM

Man oh man do I miss Chretien. He knew how to be a Liberal. He knew that obstacles are to be overcome, not used an excuse to do nothing. The Liberal Party was built on moderate, progressive ideas that a large majority of Canadians support. They just need us to show them that we are the party of Canadian values. They needs us to remind them of what we stand for. They need to know that we stand on the side of what is right, no matter the consequence, no matter the fight we face. At the end of the day a well funded campaign wil never beat a campaign built on fairness, equality, openess ,respect and compassion.

I have worked my bum off for years during and in between elections for the Liberal Party. Now this party of Moderates has said they will support a budget which will cost NFLD billions and many people their jobs.

Who is worse, Iggy for going along with it, or Harper for trying to push it through.

I am a fan of Iggy. I have complimented him on his approach, and up until the last few days was okay with the budget. It has been the ensuing equalization issue that has altered my opinion. It was put in the fine print, Harper hoped to squeeze it in, and we all know what this is. Harper, who was destroyed electorally in NFLD because of Premier Williams is a vindictive man, and he is sticking it to the people who don't want him as their PM.

That isn't the kind of leadership we deserve. Ignatieff has been put in a tough spot, and I am glad he was the only leader to allow his MP's to vote with their conscience.

My problem with the support is that once again we are a party that screams bloody murder, we talk big, and then we lay down and play dead.

If we are forced into an election, so be it, yes there is a cost, but the long term cost of having a government in power that has clearly shown no ability to deal with the economic situation is much greater.

And I doubt it would come to that. The GG would almost certainly have to ask Iggy to form a government, he could, and should. Anyone who thinks this shouldn't happen doesn't understand how our system works. It's not a partisan thing, it's a written in law thing.

This budget has failed Canadians. To stand by and watch it happen, to see Harper divide the country, again, and do nothing, is not an option.

What is becoming of our party? Where have all the Liberals gone? Is it too late to bring back Chretien? Maybe he will bring Martin too....oh please come back. Canada needs you, before it's too late. ( If you hadn't noticed, the guy in charge now, not so good)

E-I-E-I Oh no she didnt!!!!

These guys and gals just don't get it. Thousands and thousands of factory workers, mill workers, service industry workers, construction workers etc are losing their jobs because the Harper Reform party can't manage the economy. Now they are saying they don't need to improve EI because they don't think people who are on EI should be living a Lucrative life.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Business/Finley+under+fire+jobless+comment/1246450/story.html

These people don't get average Canadians. A very very large number of Harpers Cabinet is made up of Silver spooners, always had it easy, lots of money, never worried about bills.

Sure there are some in Cabinet who weren't born that way, but I guess their well over $150,000/year salary has made them forget.

I doubt anyone on EI lives a lucrative life. Conservatives look at people without jobs as, welfare bums, lazy, no good etc.,

I wonder if Mrs. Finley would ever consider changing places with someone on EI for just one week, swap salaries, home etc., I guarantee 1- she would never do it, nor would any tory, they like their money.

2-She wouldn't last a day

It's a sin, this government attacks people who are unemployed, during a time in when 100,000+ jobs will be lost, and when people are scared for their future. The stigma of unemployment created by these tories may lead some people who deserve it to not apply. I know I would be worried about applying for a program whose participants the government has disdain for and publicly berates.

I am sure unemployed workers are glad that you added to their stress, by painting them out to be lazy.

Shame on you Harper and Finley, but I shouldn't be surprised, silver spoons can often distort reality.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Business/Finley+under+fire+jobless+comment/1246450/story.html

Gettin' Iggy with it

Ignatieff is Harpers worst nightmare. Smarter, more polished, more human, less likely to shake a small childs hand. The Cons/reformers are scared, and with good reason;

The New York times has recognised what many Canadians are starting to understand. Ignatieff is the new kind of leader we need.

I hope you enjoy this article and some nice poll numbers

http://thechronicleherald.ca/World/1104199.html

http://www.nikonthenumbers.com/topics/show/117

Conservative Myth busted

I have always wondered why the old belief that Tories are the best fiscal managers to be puzzling. Any basic reading of Canadian and American political history shows it to be a complete lie. The Tory times are tough times theory is the accurate one.

This article does one of the best jobs I have seen at very simply explaining why the Conservatives pitch that they are the best economic minds is false, plain and simple!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotian/1104126.html