It’s not uncommon for an RCMP Commissioner to jump through hoops at Stephen Harper’s bequest. We saw that when Zaccardelli gave Harper a leg up to victory by conjuring up an empty scandal about Ralph Goodale in mid-election campaign. Ominously for a country based on the rule of law, Zac
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Politics and its Discontents: More On Duffy
Like many others, I have been trying to fathom how Nigel Wright has escaped without charges for the cheque he wrote to Mike Duffy, while the latter has been charged with accepting a bribe. I have also been attempting to get video of two programs, Power and Politics and last
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Little Something For Your Friday Evening Enjoyment
When it comes to Mike Duffy, the hits keep on coming. Enjoy: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Blast From The Past
I am sure that some politicos would prefer certain things remain buried in what seems to be a collective public amnesia. Thankfully, the Internet is the gift that just keeps on giving, as this piece from Press Progress reminds us: . Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Things Should Really Start To Get Interesting Now
As just reported by the CBC, the RCMP has decided to lay charges against disgraced Senator Mike Duffy. Let’s hope the ‘fat lady’ sings loudly: Recommend this Post
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The Wright Case & The Mounties: Did they or did they not?
Yes, we consulted … Seems to be a little bit of confusion about who was consulted when the Mounties decided that there was no case to make against Wright. Here’s one report (my underlining): Commissioner Paulson says the facts uncovered by investigators – many of which were publicly detailed in
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: CPC slogan 2015: “No grounds for criminal charges.” *
* H/t Dan Gardner In the twisted morality of the Harper universe, it will be claimed and conveyed as a complete vindication of the Prime Minister. That the RCMP has found no grounds upon which to lay criminal charges against Nigel Wright in the $90,000 payoff-to-Mike-Duffy-scandal does nothing to dissolve
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why the Senate Scandal Can Still Bring Down Stephen Harper
For a brief moment today I wondered whether I should remove Nigel Wright from the poster for my new and exciting season of Senategate.After the RCMP announced that he was no longer under investigation. The RCMP has ended its probe into Nigel Wright, the former chief of staff to Prime Minister
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Senategate : The RCMP Goes After the PMO !!!
Oh goody. It looks as if my favourite show Senategate is back.With the whole cast of characters ready to entertain us again.And now even MORE exciting than before.With the RCMP going after the PMO !!!!Read more »
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Slip Slidin’ Away
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away You know the nearer your destination, the more you’re slip sliding away – Paul Simon I know, by his public efforts to appear reasonably normal, that Stephen Harper is a Beatles’ fan. Whether he has ever listened to or crooned any of Paul Simon’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I Guess Sometimes It Doesn’t Pay To Have Friends In High Places
Although I have no sympathy for those who work, either directly or indirectly, for the Harper regime, there is a story in Toronto Life entitled, With Friends Like Harper: how Nigel Wright went from golden boy to fall guy which made for some interesting reading. Part profile of Wright and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Responsibility We All Must Assume
In a column entitled A disheartening year in Canadian politics published on Dec. 20, The Globe’s Jeffrey Simpson recounts the corruption, buffoonery and scandals that permeate our municipal, provincial and federal political governments. Whether we look at the antics of Toronto’s Rob Ford, the widespread venality, graft and ties to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: "I Know Nothing"
It seems I am not the only one to have connected the dots between Harper and Sgt Schultz: RCMP allege PMO played greater role, Nov. 21 Quoting from this news item, “On Wednesday, (Stephen) Harper repeatedly told the Commons the RCMP had found ‘no evidence’ he knew of the Wright
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: No Disagreement Here
H/t The Toronto Star And a Toronto Star reader weighs in on the issue: Re: RCMP investigating Nigel Wright, PM says, Nov. 20 If Prime Minister Stephen Harper didn’t know about illegal payments being made to Senator Mike Duffy (as he has claimed on numerous occasions) he doesn’t deserve to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: At Issue: Harper’s Obfuscation
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary offers the following definition of obfuscate: to make obscure; to confuse. As an intransitive verb, it means to be evasive, unclear, or confusing. I suspect that those engaged citizens following the details of the Senate scandal that continues to dog the Prime Minister and shows no
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Plausible Deniability?
After watching the Prime Minister’s ongoing repetitive and wholly unconvincing responses to Thomas Mulcair’s incisive questions during Question Period, and after reading the latest details of the RCMP investigation into the scandal engulfing his government, I couldn’t help but wonder if Stephen Harper, as a youngster, was unduly influenced by
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Time For A Break
Recently, as I watched Peter Mansbridge’s One on One interview with former Prime Minister Joe Clark, I was reminded of a time when Canadian politics had more texture, depth, structure and, yes, intelligence. Clark, no fan of Stephen Harper, spoke knowingly of the complexities of politics, both domestically and internationally,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rather Appropriate, Don’t You Think?
H/t The Chronicle Herald Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Carnival in Calgary
I hear that the Tory convention is turning out to be a real circus: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Debt Owed To The Media
As fashionable as it is to denigrate the mainstream media for their frequent timidity and conservatism, public knowledge about both Rob Ford’s disgraceful performance as Mayor of Toronto and the current Senate scandal embroiling Stephen Harper, impeaching the integrity and honesty of both politicians, would not exist were it not
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