First, here are a few thoughts from Jody Wilson-Raybould’s committee testimony and the aftermath. What Jody Wilson-Raybould and Justin Trudeau are both saying could likely be true. They do not have to be mutually exclusive. We know now that Jody Wilson-Raybould is likely responsible for the leak, or had a
Continue readingTag: Nigel Wright
Montreal Simon: Nigel Wright and the Con Scandal That Won’t Die
The timing couldn't have been more embarrassing for the Cons. On Saturday they will choose a new leader, and Rona Ambrose is still desperately trying to whip up interest in the event… The big day is almost here – on Saturday we're going to find out who Canada's next Prime Minister will
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Arancha González Laya distinguishes between international trade and corporatism – arguing that we should be looking to ensure people benefit from the former by reining in the latter: Making trade more inclusive requires action on three broad policy fronts: trade rules, domestic social
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: How Nigel Wright Got a Pass
It’s an interesting story but hardly convincing. When the RCMP went after senator Mike Duffy for supposed bribery it left people shaking their heads. How could Duffy have committed the crime of bribery for receiving Nigel Wright’s $90-thousand without Wright being criminally responsible for giving the bribe? It became known
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Now We Know Why The RCMP Didn’t Charge Nigel Wright
It was for me the burning question at the heart of the Mike Duffy scandal. The one that never got answered.Why did the RCMP charge Duffy with bribery, and not charge Nigel Wright for paying that bribe out of his own pocket?And now we finally know the answer.Read more »
Continue readingAlberta Politics: RCMP explanation of why Nigel Wright was never charged doesn’t quite pass sniff test
PHOTOS: Sen. Mike Duffy arrives at the courthouse for the final day of his trial in April 2016 in this screenshot. A couple of hours later he would look considerably happier. Below: Nigel Wright, Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff at the time of the events for which
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Those crazy federal Tories! Just how dumb do they think we are? (Hint: plenty)
PHOTOS: Rona Ambrose dressed up in hospital scrubs and a stethoscope. Hint: She’s not a real doctor. It’s not clear from this photo, which was published on a CTV site, if the other people are real health care workers or Tory MPs. Below: Your blogge…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Same old same old at the CPC: The Conservative boss hasn’t gone crazy, and he may even be the same guy …
PHOTOS: The Conservative Party of Canada is still singin’ the same old tune – Stephen Harper’s. (CBC photo.) Below: Senator Mike Duffy, former Conservative cabinet member Jason Kenney, Manitoba Tory MP Candice Bergen, Ontario Court Judge Charles …
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: For Harper, It’s Showtime – the Sequel. Fremdschamen, Indeed.
Okay, it’s not Mike Duffy. We won’t hear much of him again until the election is over. Today’s fare is more like a light lunch, maybe just a handful of trail mix. It’s Bruce Carson time! The two-time jailbird, fraudster and, naturally, top Harper aide goes back to his old
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Michael Harris: Have the Mounties Become Harper’s Private Police?
A few days ago I wrote a post where I wondered why the RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson has so far failed to explain the reason his investigators decided not to charge Nigel Wright for his role in the Duffy scandal.Even though he promised to do that more than a year
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Duffy Cover-Up: Why the RCMP Must Explain Itself
Now that we know that Stephen Harper's lawyer believed that Nigel Wright had Harper sign off on a five-point plan to payoff Mike Duffy. That good to go really meant good to go. And now that we know this:Donald Bayne, Duffy’s defence lawyer, read from the transcript of a police interview
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Duffy Scandal: PM Harper does not get it that there is a second trial going on
Harper defence to Trial #2 Here’s what Harper is saying in response to questions about the senior advisors and senators involved in a cover up of the real facts in the Duffy senate expenses scandal: The Conservative leader refused to respond to direct questions whether Novak had his support and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More Fun With ‘Deceivin’ Stephen’
H/t Theo Moudakis And this from Star letter-writers: Re: Duffy scandal dogs Harper, Aug. 17 Liars. There are many types, just as there are many kinds of lies – white, boastful, malicious, and the Big Lie. This last kind can perhaps be used successfully only by one class of liar
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Conapocalypse: The Duffy Trial’s Explosive New Revelations
It's the smoking gun. Or should I say the smoking flamethrower? The Con conspiracy has finally been exposed.It now seems that Ray Novak, Harper's beloved Chief of Staff, knew all about Nigel Wright's payment to Mike Duffy. Read more »
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: Mike Duffy’Ant trial: Nigel Wright’Ant communicated with Ray Novak’Ant 2 weeks ago
Satire inspired by this headline: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-trial-nigel-wright-testimony-day-5-1.3194569
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: Mike Duffy’Ant trial: Nigel Wright’Ant communicated with Ray Novak’Ant 2 weeks ago
Satire inspired by this headline: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-trial-nigel-wright-testimony-day-5-1.3194569
Continue readingParliamANT Hill: Mike Duffy’Ant trial: Nigel Wright’Ant communicated with Ray Novak’Ant 2 weeks ago
Satire inspired by this headline: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-trial-nigel-wright-testimony-day-5-1.3194569
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Duffy trial: How many in the Harper PMO were walking around in a cloud?
Donald ‘Darth Vader’ Bayne Barrister Donald Bayne, the Darth Vader defender of democracy (and of the sad figure of Senator Duffy), scoffedat the answer given him by Harper’s former Chief of Staff about the reactions by Canadians to Wright’s payment to Duffy of $90,000: Nigel Wright testified Tuesday that he
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