To watch the disgraced senator performing this new walk craze, please click here. Recommend this Post
Continue readingTag: senate corruption
Politics and its Discontents: Beware High Walls
H/t Dawg’s Blog & Alison at Creekside for the inspiration. Oh, the great outdoors beckon on this fine Victoria Day morning, so for now, allow me to offer you this from today’s Toronto Star: Hard to believe Duffy has no nest egg Re: Duffy resigns from caucus, May 17 It
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Preferential Treatment of Disgraced ‘Senator’ Mike Duffy
If you watch this video from the 5:40 mark, a natural question arises: If someone knocks on your door, will the police arrive if you call them? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Your Sunday Smile
Plus a sobering rebuke of Mr. Harper in this morning’s Star editorial: “This sordid saga of improper Conservative behaviour, high-level secrecy and winking at wrongdoing has infuriated Canadians, disgraced the unelected Red Chamber, and spurred renewed interest in its abolition.” Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Growing Public Cynicism
I can only hope that the growing public cynicism evident in these Star letters translates into a deep and abiding anger that lasts until at least 2015. Here is a sampling: Beyond money, audit reveals a bigger problem for Duffy, May 15 This column described Mike Duffy’s problem but the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: In Case You Missed It
Here is Rex Murphy holding forth on the current ‘troubles’ in Ottawa: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Mike Duffy Tried To Influence CRTC Decision on Sun Media
There just seems to be no bottom to this cesspool. Now the Puffster is said to have tried to subvert the CRTC hearing so that the money-losing Sun News gets its wish to be carried on basic cable. You can watch the video here. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I Know This Is Probably Getting A Tad Tiresome But
…. people showing such contempt for my intelligence really inflames me: A senior PMO official told Fife that Duffy couldn’t afford to repay the $90,000 and did not want to borrow money from a bank, fearing that his wife would be stuck with the large debt if he died suddenly
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Political Lessons From Macbeth
In Act 5 Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, when the overthrow of the ruthless, power-drunk politician/king is nigh, Angus speaks these words about him: Now does he feelHis secret murders sticking on his hands.Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach.Those he commands move only in command,Nothing in love. Now does he
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pierre Poilievre Does It* Again
If you start at about the 5 minute mark, you will witness Harper’s pet parrot Pierre, through endless repetition, parody a Member of Parliament actually answering a question and showing respect for Canadians’ intelligence. * Show an absolute absence of anything that could be even remotely interpreted as integrity. Recommend
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Friends In High Places
It must be very comforting indeed to the increasingly odious Senator Duffy that his relationship with the Prime Minister is so ‘special’ that the latter is willing to exercise unethical, perhaps even illegal interference on his behalf during the Senate’s investigation into his fraudulent expense claims. For the rest of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Mike Duffy – A Senator With Neither Credibility Nor Honour
Thomas Walkom explains why. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Why Is This Man Smiling?
Could it be because Senator Duffy was tipped off by the man investigating him for expense improprieties? Or could it be because once more, an errant staff member is to blame for Conservative ‘irregularities’? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: ‘Is There No Honour In This Man?’
So asks MP Charlie Angus about the subject of this video report, Mike Duffy, who, as we learn, has even less integrity than it would be thought possible for any person to have: UPDATE: Unbelievable – now Duffy claims he repaid the money in March. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Low-Hanging Fruit
My, my, my, they are incorrigible, aren’t they? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Face of Integrity
While we are witness to almost daily examples of greed, venality and dishonour (think of Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, Mac Harb and Patrick Braseau as but a few odious examples) in public life, we don’t often get to see its obverse, personal integrity. That is why I take particular pleasure
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Portrait of Ambition
While even I can reach my saturation point when it comes to tales of Senate fraud and corruption, I found this portrait of Senator Pam Wallin in today’s Toronto Star rather interesting. Apparently the former broadcaster is known for her political ambitions, having unseated and replaced Liberal Colin Kenney from
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Tale of Two Moralities
A message from your Harper Government to all E.I. claimants: A message from your Harper Government to all Canadians regarding allegations of fraud in the Senate: Fortunately, the NDP didn’t get the memo. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Ongoing Outrage
The host of letters appearing in today’s Star attests to the ongoing public outrage over the Senate porkbarrellers. Although in many ways a mere sideshow to the endemic and systemic problems that face our governance, it nonetheless illustrates that Canadian anger, when it can be aroused, can be formidable. I
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: This One Isn’t Much of a Challenge
But apparently our Prime Minister heartily disagrees, constitutional requirements notwithstanding (BNA Act 23:5). Recommend this Post
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