The more that I think about it, the more I expect the Prime Minister to call a Public Inquiry after the Olympics, when the world has finished visiting. It is entirely plausible that the PM has intended to call an Inquiry for some time now, and that said Inquiry is going to include some really bad news for the Liberal Party. I am pleased that my Prime Minister paused these Reindeer Games while we host an Olympic Games.
The hardcore activists like O'Malley have been hitting the internets hard to frame the prorogation of Parliament as Government giving themselves a paid vacation. I can assure you that many of our Government Ministers are working very hard in their ridings and in Ottawa to listen to their constituents. I know that John Weston has been very hard at work for the people of West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast--Sea to Sky Country. I've been watching.
I don't know if the PM foresaw the dip in the poll numbers, but any official poll that includes an online component cannot be considered scientific. I do a lot of polling and I admit that it is unscientific. The benefit to the poll numbers coming out is that it is going to encourage and empower the Liberal Party on an issue in which they are outraged at the Tories for a problem they created. When the Parrish Party decided to stop handing over troops to Americans, did they address allegations of torture in Afghan prisons? It would be interesting to see a transcript of those 2004-05 cabinet meetings, if any such transcript exists. I almost guarantee there would be some really damning statements, especially with word-smiths like John McCallum in the room.
I thought the Oliphaunt Inquiry was a waste of money. In a perfect world we wouldn't even be wasting public time talking about this, but since it is being so vigorously thrust upon us, I say let's do it. I don’t think it’s gonna be what Bob Rae thinks it will be. Or maybe Bob is trying to scorch Iggy’s Earth?
Yep. Let's have that inquiry. At least the Liberals won't be able to stack it with their supporting cast of witnesses. I hate to see more public money spent on these inquiries, but the Liberals and their CBC boot-lickers have been making such a fuss that it's time to shut them up. Prior to setting up the terms of the inquiry and selecting a judge, I think Mr. Harper should make it plain to the Canadian public that he doesn't want to waster money on another media circus, but he is being coerced into it by the opposition. Then, hit 'em with both barrels. I love to watch "Juicy" John McCallum squirm.
ReplyDeleteAn inquiry, is a dumb, dumb, dumb, idea for the obvious reasons and I do not support it. This is all politics, grandstanding and skewing by the Opposition and their media prostitutes.
ReplyDeleteThis PM has NOTHING to hide (guaranteed) and I will resent the expense of an unnecessary inquiry. I personally believe that stuff will seep out and DESTROY the Liberals.
Something is up with the NDP and BLOC being so diplomatic. Just sayin'.....hmmm
I don't think the government can release information collected by a previous administration...?
ReplyDelete''Section 13 of the Act provides mandatory class protection for records "obtained in confidence" from other governments, foreign, provincial and municipal as well as international organizations.
The need for such an exemption is compelling since each government should be generally responsible for controlling and releasing its own information.''
Early polling data suggests "waste of money" is pulling away from "let's get to the bottom of this." Was the public opinion swayed by the "paid vacation" internets campaign, and had nothing to do with the Detainee issue? The Liberals are desperately trying to tie the two together.
ReplyDeleteHonestly if the Liberal Party were smart, they would drop the Detainee issue and run with prorogation. By trying to merge the two issues into one ball of fury, they are fixing to fall on their own swords. They can let the NDP do their usual wall-banging and zip it, problem being that the anti-war wing of the LPC is really juiced right now. It is hard to shut them up when they see an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, since I am a Tory Blogger, they should do the opposite of what I say...even when I'm exactly right.
They can't separate them now Iceman, or they lose the 'Harper is hiding something'.
ReplyDeleteBut what if there is a request for documents from the Chretien/Martin era?
Why hasn't the committee requested those documents too?
Bec Said: "This PM has NOTHING to hide (guaranteed)"
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Oh that is ripe. How can you make such a claim?
Because anonymous, some of us believe that the man has integrity. Obviously you don't.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, 'integrity' is not the word I would use and I'm not here to be disruptive in any way. I just thought that while some good points were made here, I find it odd that someone can guarantee something like that. What you or I believe has no bearing on the truth. Without proper references or sources it makes one look foolish.
ReplyDeleteIT's okay Iceman, some of us KNOW that the PM has nothing to hide.... These guys will look really stupid.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the Anony's or is the anony my old friend, Liberal Supporter?
I selected Anon. because it was the only option that applied to me. Why have the option for Anon? So you can put us all in some category to put your mind at ease?
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I might look really stupid. It's okay, I KNOW (CAPS!) that you hold all the secrets to this mystery and someday you'll enlighten the rest of us.
I don't know if an Inquiry serves the public interest; however, I think a Royal Commission to sharpen the bigger picture about how Canada goes to war could be helpful.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is well known Foreign Affairs and DND rarely play well together, the fact remains Canada is at war and likely will be for a long long time. There is a wealth of hard won experience that needs to be recorded and assessed. We all know politics and bureaucracy are a toxic mix, but Afghanistan needs to be examined outside the theatre of cheap gotcha politics or no one will truly benefit.
For one thing, communications. The government has been completely AWOL from their responsibility to communicate this war while the MSM remains completely uneducated, even hostile, towards all things military. Notwithstanding a few brave reporters outside the wire, why is it most of the stories that get published are filed from the same pub in Ottawa?
The detainee "story" is a perfect example of a story never told in context. It is a narrow slice of Afghanistan our lazy press gallery can easily chew on, but it is a story told without any reference at all about how Canadian soldiers actually go about their business. You have to read the Torch to get that. Why is that?
Unlike Canada, the U.S. has both political reporters and war reporters and they combine to tell the whole story; here, we seem to have only political reporters. They are only equipped to cover the theatre in Ottawa and they seem to feature the exact same talking heads over and over. For lack of a better filter, they rely on cheaply gotten press releases to cover Afghanistan and they fill in the blanks from that never-ending stream of anonymous brown envelopes Ottawa is famous for.
Is it any wonder the most outrageous of accusations can be tossed about so casually and are dutifully reported without any regard to what real war crimes look like? It's simply outrageous and it cheapens everything and everyone in this country. Disgraceful.
Maybe a boring Royal Commission (or something of that nature) examining everything in context isn't as sexy as a narrow partisan Inquiry, but for the country to benefit, we need to get past this idea Afghanistan is merely a offshoot of a war between Conservatives and Liberals.
My two cents.
Does anyone know why
ReplyDeletethe committee has not requested documents from 2001-2006 too?
"Does anyone know why
ReplyDeletethe committee has not requested documents from 2001-2006 too?"
Well Wilson...I would say it is because the Tories weren't in gov't then - and this is, well - all about bringing down the Tories.