I'm not sure that Peter knows he has gone on a diet, but with all the getting up to answer repetitive questions, I'm sure it's working.
Chuck Strahl points out how ridiculous the opposition is getting, not one question for him. As a matter of fact, poor Peter had to answer over 90% of the questions. What fatigued me most, were the dumb questions being asked by ALL opposition parties.
Don't get me wrong, I think this issue is not closed because Bernier resigned, but after so many supposed scandals, the average voter is going to choose "none of the above" if ALL parties don't start acting like grown ups.
I guess sex sells and that's why the opposition and MSM want to keep this issue in the spotlight. So, is it boobs that Canadians are concerned about, or health care wait times. The opposition is hiding behind another non-issue because they have no plan, no leaders, no vision, and no power. If this is such a scandal, vote down the government! Come on, you can do it! I dare you!
Cue the crickets!
Here's a thought, everytime we click on an article from the Toronto Star, everytime we comment on an article at the Globe and Mail, everytime we watch a video on the CTV website, everytime we link to an article on our blogs, we are increasing their "hits", they can sell this to their advertisers. Now, I don't mean we shouldn't do that anymore, but how about if we see a blogger who has linked to an article, we link to that blog, not to the article. Send the traffic to the blog, not the newspaper.
In the meantime, I hope Peter Van Loan understands that I'm trashing the opposition not him, I think he's doing a great job.
Chuck Strahl was right on target today, he was really funny but he made a powerful point, the Liberals did nothing to improve the state of our "First Nations" people, the Conservatives have started to change that, I suspect some "First Nations" people are not going to like their power being diminished. Why aren't the feminists protesting the fact that aboriginal women have had no rights, until finally a Conservative government has passed a law to protect them? Are they only out for themselves, and not to help real women who need assistance?
Nice diet Van Loan, answering stupid questions day in and day out has some benefit!
19 comments:
The opposition is taking a brilliant strategy. By just asking questions about the Bernier affair (no pun intended), they reduce the credibility of the Conservative team by showing Mr. Van Loan as being a puppet of Harper that goes up and down, up and down in the House of Commons. Why should the opposition be obliged to ask a diverse range of questions to prop up the Conservative team when by asking questions about one topic, they focus on the autocracy of Harper?
On another note: I notice the CBC news showing the opposition asking questions to Van Loan but not presenting his responses. Instead, a voiceover presents the interpretation of his comments in Question Period.
Me,
Smoking weed so early in the morning is clearly affecting your brain...Im hoping your having a good rest right now.
Otherwise you are a political rookie who has'nt got a clue how the House of Commons work: First of all, did you know Harper was in Europe this week? Could'nt be at QP to answer...Peter Van Loan is the deputy house leader; The government's official voice.
The voiceover on CBC is the House's official language translator when anybody decides to answer in French. This country has 2 official languages. d'uh!
Grind a Grit
Brilliant strategy???? Me...The opposition is what it is...useless,cowardly and Leaderless. It's a pity your blind partisanship doesn't allow for any critical thinking. If what I've seen in question period and in the press is any indication of the Liberal party's supposed BRILLIANT STRATEGIC manoevering..I laugh out loud at how deluded you all are. You hold the Canadian people in huge contempt if you think they are so stupid as to believe your ratings and lies. The Liberal party is as vacuous and manipulative as it's always been. We'll see who has the last laugh when the Liberals actually call an election...if that's even possible.
it seems the only folks who are confident harper would win an election at the moment are the uber-partisans.
let's face it, harper's govt is in bad shape. no vision, no policy, no clue.
expect harper to shut down parliament early and re-open late in order to avoid an election.
the opposition may not have wanted an election this past winter but i'd be careful what you wish for.
the bernier scandal is legit. it's not about boobs, as you suggest. it's about imcompetence and political pandering.
the spotlight is on harper's decision making. it turns out that his rush to buy votes in quebec has backfired. quebeckers don't like being made fools of. bernier has done just that.
harper's pro-american position on climate change will look increasingly pathetic once dion takes to the road and unveils the details of a carbon tax plan.
as hard as the CPoC may try to suggest that canadians don't support the idea of a carbon tax, poll after poll suggests otherwise.
in reality, the CPoC is very worried that dion's carbon tax could sink them.
harper has some major re-grouping to do. this hasn't been a good winter and spring for the govt.
voter dissatisfaction continues to deepen. it will be a long hot summer for conservatives as they try to dig out of their hole.
btw, van loan looks like a fool in the house. he's been the face of the govt all week. you think the average canuck feels safe knowing he's the best the govt has to offer?
bad days ahead for this govt. count on it.
"you think the average canuck feels safe knowing he's the best the govt has to offer?"
The average canuck neither knows nor cares who Peter van Loan is. The average canuck is much more interested in having a life, BBQing, watching baseball, going to the cottage, laying in the sun, enjoying summer than paying the slightest attention to the juvenile antics of a bunch of politicians who would rather throw mud than try to talk about policy.
Harper was a great Opposition leader. Dion is a terrible Opposition leader.
Harper is a terrible Prime Minister.
Dion, by most estimates, will be a great Prime Minister.
Soon we'll have both these guys doing what they do best.
Don't worry, the election is coming. The Liberals are getting there in terms of finances. I'm sure they wish they hadn't banned corporate donation, but it was the right thing to do.
The biggest problem now, is that the Liberals cannot stop laughing at the buffoons in this government long enough to put it out of its misery. The Stephen Harper Party is stymied and contained, so there is no real rush. But the election will come soon enough.
Ah Jeffy!...Dillusional and illogical as always:
"it seems the only folks who are confident harper would win an election at the moment are the uber-partisans."
Why is'nt Dion pulling the plug then?
"let's face it, harper's govt is in bad shape. no vision, no policy, no clue."
All his priorities have been addressed or are in the works in commities or stalled in the Senate by the Lib majority there...Canucks don't change their cars if it's in good shape but the gas tank is empty. They just refill it. A new slate of mandates will be presented in the fall session. They might become election promises though (if Dion decides to do something before he finally gets back stabbed by his own party).
"expect harper to shut down parliament early and re-open late in order to avoid an election."
"To avoid an election"...TOO FUNNY! The only 2 parties itching for an election right now are the CPC and NDP.
"the bernier scandal is legit. it's not about boobs, as you suggest. it's about imcompetence and political pandering.
the spotlight is on harper's decision making. it turns out that his rush to buy votes in quebec has backfired. quebeckers don't like being made fools of. bernier has done just that."
Again, people don't trade in their car (Like their gov doing a good job) because a mistake occur and they got a ticket for traffic violation. They accept their mistake and try to do better. The Bernier affair does not warrant changing the government. This is not Adscam. Yesterday's Crop poll in Quebec: CPC and Bloc tied at around 30%, NDP and Libs tied at 15%. No change since new year...Try again.
"harper's pro-american position on climate change will look increasingly pathetic once dion takes to the road and unveils the details of a carbon tax plan.
as hard as the CPoC may try to suggest that canadians don't support the idea of a carbon tax, poll after poll suggests otherwise.
in reality, the CPoC is very worried that dion's carbon tax could sink them."
There's mass demonstrations in Europe over taxes on energy where some Governments have already stated putting the cabosh on green taxes. Dion's promise came at the worst possible time. He's trying to immulate his European socialist heros too late. Now if he even hints at backtracking this ill advised move it will be his last flip flop...He's got to stay on course with this one now. He'll pick up some city hippy votes...That's it. As far as your poll goes; People think that carbon taxes are to be paid by industry...They will be in favour as long as they don't pay for it. True Greenies willing to make huge sacrifices are very few and far between. It's a fad. They're all for it as long as it does'nt affect their lives.
And Jeff, I'm sorry to inform you that Annon at 8:58 has surpassed you as far as being detached from reality...His Kool-aid as got quite the kick...You may want to get his recipe.
Grind a Grit
Who is a leader? Dion? Not according to Canadians. It's PMSH. Dion's approval rating across Canada.....10. After the $100 million dollar sponsorship scandal that "broke every rule in the book", to funnel TAXpayers money into the Liberano$ party coffers, Dion's Liberals cannot be trusted...re: carbon TAX. So many of their questions don't deserve the time of day. No policy's. no vision, no credibility. NOTHING...O. PMSH will be releasing his vision for Canada in the next election(can't do it now...Liberals would steal it).After all these month's of contrived scandals by the libs, Canadians have seen the Liberal's evil hidden agenda. The only thing the libs have going for themselves is the support of the CBC & CTV. A pack of small people with small minds. When will we see Jennings and Holland dragging the bugged mattress down the street? Guess we will have to ask Ralph Goodale? Off to the bank now, to cash my HUGE income tax REFUND.
Treat yourself to a nice bottle with your tax refund Ontario Girl!
Man, I love Conservative minded women...Especially the one's in 'fruitland' Ontario!
Grind a Grit
Aahh..I'm crushed Anon 10:28, what about Lotusland tory minded women or redneck alberta tory minded women???
Caz,
I love ALL Conservative minded Ladies where ever they live!
Caz...Is that short for Casanova?...Might you be envious?...Real women are Conservatives.
Grind a Grit
Who is a leader? Dion? Not according to Canadians. It's PMSH. Dion's approval rating across Canada.....10.
In an ONLINE poll! How many times did you vote in that poll? I didn't even see it. You see most of those slacker lefties are busy working, not sitting aroun freeping polls.
After the $100 million dollar sponsorship scandal that "broke every rule in the book", to funnel TAXpayers money into the Liberano$ party coffers,
You make it sound like the intention was to do that. It was not. Rogue underlings stole money and used it for election expenses. This is quite unlike the "in and out" illegal activity, which was intended to do this, and was approved of by the PM.
Dion's Liberals cannot be trusted
Based on your opinion only, not on any facts.
...re: carbon TAX. So many of their questions don't deserve the time of day. No policy's. no vision, no credibility. NOTHING...O.
Your say so does not make it so.
PMSH will be releasing his vision for Canada in the next election(can't do it now...Liberals would steal it).
You sneered when Dion refused to release his platform so the CPC cannot steal it. In fact you sneered in the previous paragraph "no policies". Sounds more like the same action, not releasing the platform ahead of time is "one meaning for me, another for thee". Usual CPC rhetoric.
After all these month's of contrived scandals by the libs, Canadians have seen the Liberal's evil hidden agenda.
Yes, the Liberals left the Classified files at the home of someone with no security clearance. It was the Liberals who tried to bribe Cadman. It was the Liberals who doctored the Grewal tapes. Okey dokey...
No, the Liberals' evil hidden agenda is to govern as they always have. They have their faults, but you will still have a country at the end of any mandate they have. Unlike the CPC which is attacking every institution we have. I'm sure the renovations on 24 Sussex are being put off since they might as well renovate it later, when its new purpose as the mansion for Governor Harper is revealed.
The only thing the libs have going for themselves is the support of the CBC & CTV.
You forgot to mention the Toronto Star.
A pack of small people with small minds.
Yes, we Canadians will just have to make do with our small minds. The fat heads just don't seem to be cutting it as a government.
When will we see Jennings and Holland dragging the bugged mattress down the street?
If you had bothered to follow the story, Couillard alleges that it was bugged at one time but the bugs had been removed. But carry on with your talking point that everyone is only interested in the titillating details and not the boring potential breach of National Security.
Guess we will have to ask Ralph Goodale?
Why? I must have missed the smear that this is code for. I forgot my decoder ring today.
Off to the bank now, to cash my HUGE income tax REFUND.
Good for you. I managed to do the math correctly so my installments matched what I owed. I've been spending that refund all year instead of letting the government bank it for me with no interest.
" managed to do the math correctly so my installments matched what I owed. I've been spending that refund all year instead of letting the government bank it for me with no interest."
Actually anonymous 1.14, the tax cuts were announced last fall and backdated, so you were actually not paying enough tax during the year. Now why was that ???
And why is it these days that all the Liberal bloggers are "anonymous". Can't you even manage to come up with a name, or are you just embarrasssed to be seen as standing up for the Liberal Party ???
Actually anonymous 1.14, the tax cuts were announced last fall and backdated, so you were actually not paying enough tax during the year. Now why was that ???
I pay by quarterly installments. You can pay what they calculate based on the previous year, even if your income went up. I had planned to pay more in the December installment, but did not bother, due to the minor tax cut. So I paid about $200 less on April 30 than I would have otherwise.
I hope your stereotype of "Liberal" was not that we're all either on some form of welfare or unionized/government office workers. My income is dividends from my business.
And why is it these days that all the Liberal bloggers are "anonymous". Can't you even manage to come up with a name, or are you just embarrasssed to be seen as standing up for the Liberal Party ???
I am anonymous because a lot of bloggers, after they fail to win arguments, resort to intimidation. If it isn't veiled threats based on publishing my identity and contact info, it is attempts to shut me up by damaging my livelihood. A concerted campaign against my clients could result in my having drastically reduced income, and therefore no time to comment on blogs.
I could muse that such intimidation is more common among right wingers, because I actually believe that, but I have not researched it. I will leave it at this simple fact: Attempts to stifle opposing views by threats and actions do exist.
Similarly, there are lots of anonymous right wingers and I would suspect that your assertion that there are more anonymous Liberal bloggers than the rest is not proven.
Anonymous,
Your rationale about your taxes doesn't actually make much sense, but presumably you have a good accountant, you just don't understand his explanation.
"I hope your stereotype of "Liberal" was not that we're all either on some form of welfare or unionized/government office workers."
Where did this come from ? If you thought somehow that I was inferring any of this, I really think you need to get a life.
"Similarly, there are lots of anonymous right wingers and I would suspect that your assertion that there are more anonymous Liberal bloggers than the rest is not proven."
My point here, for those who did not understand, was that this is clearly a conservative blog, and the negative comments by and large come from people who identify themselves as "anonymous".
It may come as a surprise to you, but most people that comment on blogs do so under some kind of pseudonym or nickname, not an identifiable name that can be used to "intimidate" them. If you really think people go through blogs trying to identify individuals that they can "intimidate" or 'threaten" because they take an opposing political view, you are quite simply delusional, not to mention seriously technically-challenged.
I would offer some suggestions for an identity, but as it says above, this is a family site, so I will restrict myself to "Pompous" or "Paranoid".
A good point is made by Jad. Anonymous posters could use a name like most of us do, that would allow us to distinguish between anon's.
I found it quite funny that anon's don't want to be distinguished from other anon's, while posting on a blog by "Hunter", another anon!! HA!
Pick a name and people will start to identify that name with the positions you take. I'm sure even if I stated my real name, you would all still think of me as "Hunter".
You see, "Hunter" now has a personality that you can identify with, you agree with "Hunter's" point of view or not, it doesn't matter anymore what my real name is, because you now identify with "Hunter". That's not a bad thing, maybe someone can use it as their thesis for a Master's.
Your rationale about your taxes doesn't actually make much sense, but presumably you have a good accountant, you just don't understand his explanation.
You probably don't operate a business. I know about the start of year forms where you tell your employer what deductions you expect to have so they calculate your tax withholding accordingly. I receive a notice telling me how much to remit 4 times a year. I can remit a different amount if I explain it. But even if my income rises, I can remit the amount they suggest and make it up April 30 the following year, and earn some interest on it up until I send it in.
Where did this come from ? If you thought somehow that I was inferring any of this, I really think you need to get a life.
I think it was your statement "you were actually not paying enough tax during the year. Now why was that ???" inferring I am possibly a tax evader. You did not appear to understand what paying by installments means. Anyone whose income tax is not withheld at source has to pay by installments.
It may come as a surprise to you, but most people that comment on blogs do so under some kind of pseudonym or nickname, not an identifiable name that can be used to "intimidate" them.
It does not come as a surprise, since I already know this. Your condescending attitude is also no surprise.
If you really think people go through blogs trying to identify individuals that they can "intimidate" or 'threaten" because they take an opposing political view, you are quite simply delusional, not to mention seriously technically-challenged.
You don't get out much in blog land do you? Never heard of sitemeter and its ilk? IPtolocation? If you think I am technically challenged, see if you can find any record of my visit here at this time.
Pick a name and people will start to identify that name with the positions you take.
Yes, and automatically react to the name without even bothering to read what is said. Then trying to tie past statements by that name to the current discussion, whether relevant or not. You see the sneering at my statements here, why allow someone to add "and yesterday you said..."?
why allow someone to add "and yesterday you said..."?
God forbid that we should expect you to take a stand on an issue or be consistent in your arguments. But then again, isn't that the Liberal way? I believe it was your former grand poobah, Jean Chretien, who said something along the lines of, "The great thing about being a liberal is that you can wake up the next morning and change your mind."
I'm a CGA and well aware of the practice of small-business owners of dividending profits back to themselves instead of paying a salary in order to minize income tax. NB This is perfectly legal and I am IN NO WAY criticising you for this. I was merely pointing out that you didn't seem to understand the logic of what you were trying to say.
"You don't get out much in blog land do you? Never heard of sitemeter and its ilk?"
Now who's being condescending ? A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I think you are confusing Site Meter with FaceBook or something similar. Site Meter is a service which provides counter and tracking information for Web sites. By logging IP addresses and using JavaScript or HTML to track visitor information, Site Meter provides Web site owners with information about their visitors, including how they reached the site, the date and time of their visit, etc.
So Hunter can track your IP, and it doesn't matter whether you call yourself "anonymous" or John Smith.
As for your claim that the owners of sites you visit are prone to intimidation if they don't like your opinions, that's a pretty seruious accursation, and Hunter may want to address it.
I think the problem is not that you don't want to be identified, but that you simply don't want to be identified with standing up for a particular point of view.
Given the nature of some of the comments you have made on this post, I quite understand.
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