Tuesday, February 07, 2006

At Least He's Honest

On CPAC, just now, John Reynolds was in a scrum outside the House. When asked about how he reconciles Harper's actions with the fact they ran on an accountability platform, Reynolds answered:

"Campaigns are Campaigns"


UPDATE: More gems of honesty. This time, from the Minister of Public Works:

"I didn't run, because I didn't want to run"

posted by calgarygrit at 1:59 p.m.

46 Comments:

  • Tories are the worst hypocrites in the world, i voted for them last time but never again, NEVER. I thought i was getting something different, and Harper puts his bagman in public works. Very disappointed, Ben and Rachel should be ashamed of their daddy

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:21 p.m.  

  • At least they are honest about lying. I wonder whether the media will ever admit that they were completely fooled by these nincompoops.

    By Blogger Jason Cherniak, at 2:39 p.m.  

  • I was pleased to see that in today's London Free Press (owned by Quebecor - run by Mulroney) they are all over the "mistake" Harper made. They're actually criticizing Harper in print. I take that as hopeful that MSM will finally start printing truthful articles.

    Regarding Tories being hypocrites, I guess all politicians are guilty of that at one time or another. But I find it very interesting that Canada's very first PM was a Tory who set the template for all who followed.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
    Prime_Ministers_of_Canada

    The Tories are the ones who introduced scandal in politics. The fact that they claim to be "principled" in today's world is laughable.

    By Blogger noone, at 2:43 p.m.  

  • "At least they are honest about lying."

    PARDON??!? You people are unbelieveable.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:44 p.m.  

  • The higher the horse the harder the fall. I wonder how all those righteous conservative supporters are feeling today?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:45 p.m.  

  • Sanctimony from Liberals. These are truly the end days.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:53 p.m.  

  • Count me as unsurprised. Did anyone except Harper's sycophants ACTUALLY believe that he was going to do things differently?

    By Blogger Ryan Ringer, at 2:56 p.m.  

  • Anonymous 12:45 pm

    To answer your question. Used.

    But prepared to do something about it.

    And you? My hidden behind an anonymous post friend?

    Fernando Minna

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:01 p.m.  

  • Emerson is not the same as Brison, Belinda or Keith Martin.

    Brison and Belinda both left because they no longer felt comfortable in the Conservative Party, and were also squeezed out by Harper.

    Keith Martin left, and sat as an Independent until he got elected as a Liberal.

    David Emerson was not squeezed out of the Liberal Party. Many Liberals in BC were actually talking to him about running for the leadership.

    He was elected as a Liberal only TWO WEEKS ago!!

    What is really sick is that, because he is a former CEO, it is okay. His treachery is somehow legitimized because it's "bottom-line" business thinking.

    If Emerson was poor and Indo-Canadian, he would just be another Gurmant Grewal.

    What a sick person Emerson is.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:41 p.m.  

  • Ah, good old John Reynolds. Steely eyed John can always be counted on for a light dressing of meaningless barnyard condiment.
    However, I think this one calls for one of the more erudite minds in 'the party'; let's hear what the Weenie has to say. Jason! Oh, Jason!
    Saaaay ...... anyone heard from Rob Anders yet? Is that maggot still alive, or what?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:45 p.m.  

  • Until Harper and the tories start siphoning money back to their party or to friends Liberals need to shut the fuck up.

    Harper has already saved Canadian Taxpayers millions by cutting the cabinet from 40ish to 25ish.

    Some of these appointments are questionable and only show the Tories aren't perfect but the Liberals are already sucking the bottom of the barrel.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:29 p.m.  

  • Anonymous 2:29

    Help me out, Why do we need to shutup when you boys mess up?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:48 p.m.  

  • If campaign platforms were throne speeches we'd have all the shit from the first Red Book of Lies.

    But on the upside we'd have no GST.

    LPC supporters have to be very careful given that they just lost government over a judicial report on corruption within their party. Gomery was quite clear that Liberals stole taxpayer money for their own benefit. Poaching a star cabinet minister is not in the same league folks.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:54 p.m.  

  • "I didn't run because I didn't want to." Hahaha. Should've said, "I didn't run because I didn't HAVE to."

    I'm trying to think of the Liberal corollary of this action. Would it be the Martin appointment of Dawson or Fox to the senate plus a cabinet post? Maybe had he appointed Terry O'Leary to the senate and cabinet? Probably not Herle, Reid or Murphy as that would have been more equivilent to Flanagan getting an appointment. For Chretien maybe Goldberg for senate and cabinet? John Rae? Help me out.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:56 p.m.  

  • By the by, the best response to the "we needed someone to represent Montreal and Vancouver" claim requires only three simple words:

    "what about Toronto"?

    They can't answer that, except with Flaherty, and that's transparent nonsense.

    As is the "urban" argument.

    By Blogger Demosthenes, at 5:06 p.m.  

  • Would this be the same John Reynolds who wrote the Law Society of Upper Canada suggesting possible criminal conduct by David Peterson for his role in brokering Belinda Stronach's switch to the Liberals?

    The same John Reynolds who, in today's Globe is identified as the Emerson-Harper deal broker who called Emerson up on January 24th to say 'How'd you like to stay in government.'

    Because it would be awfully ironic if he was, in fact, the same John Reynolds.

    By Blogger Stephen, at 5:10 p.m.  

  • Colin

    You guys ran on a campaign based on accountability. It took you 20 minutes to blow that pledge. You want a medal for not stealing from tax payers yet? Give Fortier a month, we’ll see what our new unelected, unaccountable, bagman, Minister of Public Works does.

    Reynolds has basically admitted all pledges on accountability were election B.S.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:10 p.m.  

  • "LPC supporters have to be very careful given that they just lost government over a judicial report on corruption within their party. Gomery was quite clear that Liberals stole taxpayer money for their own benefit. Poaching a star cabinet minister is not in the same league folks."

    Colin, are you conveniently forgetting that the Cons didn't just promise to be 'more' honest than the liberals during the campaign, but rather to be honest, and accountable. Period.

    Lets hope their lies/days-in-office ratio doesn't keep up this rate, else we may have to have an election all too soon.

    Hardeep

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:11 p.m.  

  • Ooaooh! A a tad testy over there on the right, aren't we? Whatsa matta, true party colors beginning to show, Hmmmm? We tried to warn you before you bought your, "Harper is swell", button. Would you listen??????? No, no, you had to have it your way, so all that can be said now is ............
    you Conservatives have got to learn never to stand at the rear of the manure spreader once you've turned it on.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:24 p.m.  

  • "Brison and Belinda both left because they no longer felt comfortable in the Conservative Party, and were also squeezed out by Harper."

    That is a flat out lie.

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 5:50 p.m.  

  • Brison told me he intended to run for the united party leadership a week before he crossed to the Liberals.

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 5:50 p.m.  

  • There is nothing more sickening than Liberal cry babies. Is this what we have to look forward to on your blog for the next year? A minority government is going to have a lot deals. What exactly is wrong with this?

    Do any of you know what skills it takes to be a cabinet minister? Nothing!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:00 p.m.  

  • A Conservative complaining about liberal whining? I just lost my lung to laughter, welcome to the last 13 years of my life.

    Don’t worry Digger we won’t be complaining for long.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:17 p.m.  

  • NotBob: I don't think you'll find one. Fortier is not a lifetime backroom guy. He ran for the PC leadership in 1998, and for a HoC seat in the 2000 election (lost, came 4th).

    Perhaps a similar example would be when Chretien appointed Tobin back to Cabinet fresh from his Premier seat in Newfoundland. Though Tobin didn't have a seat in either Chamber until after the election.

    Just checked, and it was only 41 days from being appointed to Cabinet to being elected, so not the best example.

    But back to Fortier. To be honest, I think he's banking on Martin resigning his seat after he sees how the new House numbers shake out.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:17 p.m.  

  • It just occured to me that the Conservative party are still in election mode. The "policy of the day" has become the "... up of the day".
    Can hardly wait 'til tomorrow. Who cares if the whackos are running the show ... this is funnier than .......... at least it's entertaining.
    Go Harper, Go! Go Harper, Go!
    Ol' John Reynolds should be the show of the day tomorrow; Mr. Integrity 'n all.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:35 p.m.  

  • Good to see that Jason has suddenly discovered that BS should have gone to a byelection.

    Surely all of these Liberal posters didn't vote for Maria Minna?

    Where the hell were you guys when Maria and 40 CPC MPs voted with the NDP on C-251?

    Probably hanging out with Harper's other MP's and the Bloc and Liberal caucus.

    Coyne is right. The Tory Bloggers did your work then and they are still pushing for all crossers to do a byelection.

    If this doesn't apply to some of you fine. The rest of you are fully paid up in your Hyprogrit memberships.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:47 p.m.  

  • I don't have much time for either Belinda, or Brison. Brison voted for the merger then jumped before seeing the results of the leaderhip race, or first policy convention.

    Belinda's excuses were somewhat lame too and she got a Cabinet Post which she probably wasn't qualified for. It's a little worrisome that both are considered Liberal leadership "frontrunners"...

    But, in both cases, at least they put up the pretence of having some moral/policy reason for their jump. Emerson's was 100% about getting into Cabinet.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 7:03 p.m.  

  • Did anyone catch Mike Duffy's fawning interview with Vic Toews this afternoon? If that's the kind of approach our largest private network will be taking towards this government, I don't think Harper will have much to worry about.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:16 p.m.  

  • cg: Anyone can parse the reasons.

    You missed the part where they stayed away from a confidence test beyond any precedent while they shopped for BS.

    Do you think BS and DE should have faced by-elections?

    Maria Minna and most Tory Bloggers did and still do. Jason has just discovered that he does.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:20 p.m.  

  • Demos,

    Unfortunately, the reason the Conservatives don't appear to need a 416 representative is because, well, they don't.

    Mike Harris won re-election without a seat in Toronto. In fact, he used the City as a punching bag for four years, and still got reelected.

    Thankfully, with Baird, Flaherty and Clement sitting in the backbenches, the citizens of T.O. need not worry about being marginalized.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:21 p.m.  

  • 5:21 anonymous.

    Actually, Harris won eight of the 22 seats in Toronto proper in his second mandate, and pretty well swept 905.

    As for the what about Toronto bit, James Bow on a comment on another site said it best, none of the MP's from there would bite. Urban representation as an argument for this is false.

    By the way, if we're really putting things in perspective, the Fortier thing stinks 1000 times worse than the Emerson. At least Emerson was elected. Falsely, but still.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:06 p.m.  

  • Unfortunately, the reason the Conservatives don't appear to need a 416 representative is because, well, they don't.

    Mike Harris won re-election without a seat in Toronto. In fact, he used the City as a punching bag for four years, and still got reelected.    This is precisely the problem. There is little reason for anybody in Toronto to think that the Tory agenda is to shift the urban/rural divide to a Toronto/everybody else divide.

    As much as it would gladden hearts in Calgary, this would not be good for Canadians.

    By Blogger Demosthenes, at 9:55 p.m.  

  • sorry, that should be "every reason"... and if Harper were so intent on Toronto representation, why not appoint a Liberal cabinet member from Toronto who remains a member of the other party? (A NDPer, for example?)

    If Emerson hadn't been required to jump parties, this would not only be a non-issue, Harper would be lauded far and wide for his graciousness and pragmatism. Had he given it to an NDPer (maybe even Jack?) he would have given that party a potent weapon against the Liberals in the next election, splitting votes and getting his own people in.

    Instead, he had a man switch parties before he had spent a day in government. At least Belinda could claim that she was ticked off at being yelled at.

    By Blogger Demosthenes, at 10:01 p.m.  

  • whoa fellas, don't wanna use up all your empty Liberal rhetoric in the first week.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:24 p.m.  

  • Baird is from Ottawa, not Toronto.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:41 p.m.  

  • Harper is playing to win. I say good on him. He should do whatever the rules allow, because that is the very least of what his opponents would do to take power back from him. I'm not saying the rules shouldn't be changed to prevent the sort of shenanigans that go on in our parliament, but until they are changed (possibly by Harper himself if he can get a majority) then he should do what it takes.

    If the CPC wants a buffoon to play softball with the NGP then they should bring Joe Clark out of retirement. Hmmph!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:16 a.m.  

  • When I looked at the glow in the sky tonight at first I thought it was the northern lights. But then I realized it was just all the LIBERALs SETTING THeIR HAIR ON FIRE.


    Horny Toad

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:43 a.m.  

  • All the blue in the face Tory fartcatchers seem to miss the meat here -- your leader is a hypocrite who spent the past 20 months shouting for the hides of Grits who worked in these slick manner, doing these exact things. He insisted twice, against the general populations wishes, to call an election (the first time Chuck stood up) to campaign on these grounds, saying he and his party would do better. Those of us who know the behind-the-scene mugs in Harper's tent knew better -- com'mon, John Reynolds, principled?
    To win a slim majority and than pick up the Grit torch of 'I do what I want because I'm the King', appointing a party chump to senate on the first day and scooping up a fallen Liberal cabinet minister (no arguing his credentials, unless those are the credentials listed on the ballot!) show Harper for his true colours. Remember, when he didn't get his way and didn't like Preston's manner, he stormed away from the party. He's a 'It's my ball and we'll play by my rules' type of guy. By wholeheartedly embracing his sudden conversion to tainthood doesn't look good on you, Torimeisters!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:10 a.m.  

  • Brison told me he intended to run for the united party leadership a week before he crossed to the Liberals.

    Gee, I wonder why he changed his mind?

    On a COMPLETELY UNRELATED note, Vic freaking Toews is now the face of Conservative justice.

    But back to Brison, yeah, what could he have possibly been thinking? I mean, he probably could have won that leadership, too, if he learned to stop being gay.

    By Blogger Ryan Ringer, at 2:40 a.m.  

  • We should all look at the facts. Fortier had already committed to being campaign co-chairman. That's why he didn't want to run. Harper approached him because of his talents and connections. No more need be said about Fortier's quote. Truly making mountains out of molehills.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:15 a.m.  

  • proud K-W conservatives

    Another example of we aren’t as bad as the Liberals yet.

    I guess all those conservatives principles concerning accountability and ethics were just election rhetoric?

    I wonder what else was just election rhetoric?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:40 a.m.  

  • "But, in both cases, at least they put up the pretence of having some moral/policy reason for their jump. Emerson's was 100% about getting into Cabinet."

    I'm surprised at you, CG.

    We both know what Belinda and Scott's motivation were. It sounds like you're saying you're happier with them because at least they put spin on it - and they they told a few lies to justify it, pretended it was about the issues, not a cabinet post, etc.

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 10:57 a.m.  

  • "But back to Brison, yeah, what could he have possibly been thinking? I mean, he probably could have won that leadership, too, if he learned to stop being gay. "

    Are you saying Brison crossed the floor because he is gay?

    So what changed between the day we voted in favour of the merger and the day he crossed the floor? He didn't *become gay* during that week.

    Brison would have received a lot of votes, and might have been a contender. At the time, he had a lot of support.

    More importantly, if Brison cared about it at all, he would have campaigned against the merger. People would have listened to him.

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 11:02 a.m.  

  • Are you saying Brison crossed the floor because he is gay?

    I would have. Actually, I did. You're talking to a gay former PC. And I empathize with his decision, because I went through the same thing. I reluctantly was in favour of the merger, but after it happened realized that it was a bad idea and switched sides. The fact that he got a cabinet spot (actually, parliamentary secretary) out of it and I didn't is a natural reflection of his importance as compared to mine.

    So what changed between the day we voted in favour of the merger and the day he crossed the floor? He didn't *become gay* during that week.

    Of course I forgot. Changing your mind in politics is a sin.

    Brison would have received a lot of votes, and might have been a contender. At the time, he had a lot of support.

    Bullshit. This is what your party really thinks of people like Brison, Svend, myself, etc.:
    http://www.lufa.ca/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=4773

    By Blogger Ryan Ringer, at 5:50 p.m.  

  • Add to that, if power was really his motivation, why wouldn't he have run for a leadership that you claim he could possibly have won, instead of switching to a party where he (at the time) would have been a fairly dubious name as leader? Same with Belinda, actually - she would have been a big name in a Conservative cabinet. If she hadn't switched sides, she'd be in cabinet right now. The "they did it for the power" argument makes no sense.

    By Blogger Ryan Ringer, at 5:53 p.m.  

  • Bottom line, if what the Connies were offering was so great for Canada, why on earth did they have to dress it up so much in lies and subterfuges?

    I bet that the Campaigns are campaigns insult to the Canadian electorate will haunt the Neocons for years to come. And so it should!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:10 p.m.  

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