Degrading Canada

A while back Tom Flanagan nailed a phrase which I think may very well come to epitomize the entire reign of 'The Harper Government:'

It doesn't have to be true. It just has to be plausible.

As I outlined yesterday (Harper risks denigrating our soldiers) and as many others have done too, the Roveian theme that to investigate the growing Afghanistan detention scandal is to not support our troops is being repeated by the Conservatives at every turn.

I repeat what I said yesterday: The Conservatives run the risk of having their falsehoods be believed by Canadians. Their falsehoods about the Liberals is not what I mean. It's their falsehoods about who can be held responsible for any detainee torture. If it comes to pass that the scandal leads somewhere, the optics forced by Harper may lead Canadians to believe that our troops are responsible, when, in reality, the fault can be found back in Ottawa.

Maybe that suits Harper fine. Evading responsibility by blaming ours troops would be Harper's tactic. Better them than him, he figures. When backed into a corner, Harper will do anything. Such as when he used libel law to shut down questions over the Cadman Affair, prorogued Parliament to avoid a non-confidence vote, started to force a unity crisis over the Green Shift, accused a Prime Minister of supporting pedophiles... I almost expect to wake up one day and find our opposition parliamentarians arrested for sedition.


For one of the best take downs of this despicable tactic -- and I don't often do this -- go read Coyne.

In the WTF category: Polar bear cannibalism due to melting Arctic?

You know, there's only one of 19 polar bear populations verified to be climbing, most of the rest stable or declining.

A quick primer on polar bear ecology: It's backwards from you'd expect. They gain weight in winter, lose weight in summer. Why? Because their main diet is seal. They hunt them on the ice during the winter. Less ice, less opportunity to hunt.More global warming = less ice = less polar bears.

Now, it seems that desperate polar bears are eating their young around Hudson's Bay.

Nothing to see here folks...

Harper risks denigrating our soldiers

He is. If you aren't familiar with Harper's tactics on the Afghanistan detainee torture scandal read Impolitical, then Greg Weston and then come back.

Back?

Harper figures if he can negatively frame the opposition's efforts to uncover the truth as an attack on our soldiers, one of two things will hopefully (for him) happen:

1. Sufficient evidence will not "surface" and the matter will collapse, and his charge of "traitors" will stick on the opposition.

2. The Opposition will retreat out of fear of being branded as traitors, and Harper will get out of trouble.

However, if the matter continues forward, and Harper keeps up his fallacious straw man rhetoric that the opposition is blaming our soldiers for torture, then Canadians may come to believe that the soldiers on the ground are to blame, regardless of what is really found out, because of Harper's self-serving false narrative.

Harper is not constrained by decency. When his back is in a corner, he acts like a wounded animal, and will crash and burn institutions if he has too. That's his proven instinct.

It is important that the opposition gets to the bottom of this.

We need an inquiry with a broad mandate. The sooner, the better, because our soldiers deserve Harper's fog  cleared.

Colvin's emails may have never used the word torture, but...

...he certainly described its effects:

Of the [redacted] detainees we interviewed, [redacted] said [redacted] had been whipped with cables, shocked with electricity and/or otherwise “hurt”….detainees still had [redacted] on [redacted] body; [redacted] seemed traumatized.

Individual sat with his toes curled under his feet. When he straightened his toe, it could be seen that the nails of the big toe and the one next to it, were a red-orange on the top of the nail, although the new growth underneath appeared fine. When we asked him about his treatment [redacted] rather than Kabul, he became quiet. He said that [redacted] he had been “hurt” and “had problems.” However, he is “happy now.” He did not elaborate on what happened [redacted]. [Redacted] seemed very eager to please, very deferential, and expressed gratitude for our visit. General impression was that he was somewhat traumatized.

When we asked him about his treatment [redacted] he said he had “a very bad time. They hit us with cables and wires.” He said they also shocked him with electricity. He showed us a number of scars on his legs, which he said were caused by the beating. He said he was hit for [redacted] days….

He and others told [redacted] that three fellow detainees had had their fingers “cut and burned with a lighter”….When we asked about his own treatment [redacted] he said that he was hit on his feet with a cable or a “big wire” and forced to stand for two days, but “that’s all.” He showed us a mark on the back of his ankle, which he said was from the cable. [Note: There was a dark red mark on the back of his ankle.]

 The heavy lifting has already been done by Dawg's Blawg, Voice from the Pack and Contrarian.Go read.

"Mark Steyn"

From Chris Tindal on Twitter:

Mark Steyn protip: make stuff sound dumb by putting quotation marks around it. Suggestions: "science," "Europe," "youths," "peer review"

So true.

Info commissioner calls Colvin's paper trail allegations 'disquieting'

In this issue of Embassy Magazine:

Allegations that senior staff in the departments of foreign affairs and defence ordered Richard Colvin not to write down information about Afghan detainees are "disquieting," says Canada's interim information commissioner.


In an exclusive interview with Embassy on Friday, Suzanne Legault said the allegations reinforce the need for legislation that would require civil servants to leave paper trails—requirements that simply don't exist right now.

...Each year the information commissioner publishes report cards on specific departments and their responses to Access to Information requests. Foreign Affairs has consistently received extremely poor grades over the past five years. The Defence Department has generally fared better, but has prompted its share of frustration by establishing a "Tiger Team" to vet requests on Afghanistan and refusing to divulge readily available information.


During the interview, Ms. Legault said the departments' records are "a huge concern" for a variety of reasons. One is that they are hubs of information and many other departments and agencies have to consult with them when processing ATIP requests they received.


In addition, she said, the war in Afghanistan is a major issue for Canadians and there have been long-standing calls—including, she noted, from the Manley panel—for more information from the government on the mission.

"Canadians want to know what's going on in Afghanistan," Ms. Legault said. "There has to be a flow of information to Canadians."

Ms. Legault said she has uncovered cases of officials intentionally not keeping records, but no proof that it is a systemic problem.

"Do I have a lot of evidence of it?" she said. "Not a lot."

However, the reality is that the information commissioner's ability to investigate such allegations is hampered by the fact there are no legal requirements to keep records. Rather, there is only a government-wide policy.

"It's a gap," Ms. Legault said. "There is no duty to create records."

There have been numerous calls for such legislation going back more than a decade, but successive governments have repeatedly sought consultation.

The current Conservative government also recently refused a series of recommendations on the subject put forward by the Commons' Ethics committee. In particular, the government said giving the information commissioner the ability to launch investigations would turn it into a quasi-judicial body, instead of an ombudsman.

Whether orders not to leave paper trails are systemic or not, however, Ms. Legault said Mr. Colvin's allegations—which she reiterated have not been proven—are "disquieting." She noted the NDP's call for a public inquiry, and said her office will be watching closely.

"We will see how it unfolds," she said. "We'll certainly keep a close eye on this."

A lack of a paper trail is going to allow for a lot of creative testimony, don't you think?

Thoughts on Krieber's cryptic musings

Is Janine Krieber, Stéphane Dion's partner, musing about both him and her jumping to the NDP? People have wondered if through her they should see him as well.

Here's a though to consider: Would Stephane Dion, whose Green Shift carbon tax initiative was strongly opposed by the NDP, jump ship to that Party? Would Dion, strong on the unity file as he has been, jump to the Bloc? Shift to the unelected Greens?

I think Krieber is speaking for herself.

Krieber's musings are cryptic:

“I am starting a serious reflection. I will not give my voice to a party that will end up in the trashcan of history. I am looking around me, and certain things are attractive. Like a dedicated party that doesn't challenge its leader at every hiccup in the polls. A party where the rule would be the principle of pleasure, and not assassination. A party where work ethic and competence would be respected and where smiles would be real. Maybe I'm not dreaming.

If she's willing to jump ship to the NDP despite Dion's allegiances, perhaps she's also willing to jump to the Bloc. Well, the Bloc certainly would be ecstatic. And if she's considering the NDP despite their strong opposition to Dion, perhaps she wouldn't be opposed to the Bloc despite their opposition to Dion over the unity issue.

Also consider that she's clearly not happy with the current Toronto-centric nature of the Liberal Party. Well, Toronto has a strong infuence on the Federal NDP as well.

And how about the Greens?

I'm just saying that though the NDP seem like the safest bet, there are other possibilities.

And don't forget that she's merely "starting a serious reflection." We may never hear of it again.

Harper's Global Warming poison pill

Stephen Harper says he won't reduce our emissions unless China and India agree to do far more. Well it is true that China and India are turning into massive emitters of greenhouse gases, the so-called 'First-World' is the primary cause of global warming to date, and if we aren't doing enough to stop it, why should they? This is the disingenuous position Harper takes: We didn't do anything to solve the problem we caused, now we won't do anything unless you agree to solve our problem.

Of course, the response is predictable, expected and wanted by Harper: they are balking.

The elite Harper works for will be untouched by global warming's worst, having the money and influence to pick and chose where it is best to live and work.

Harper is playing chicken with our children's future, but he's likely to be dead before the worst hits.

Just a thought

State-sponsored torture is state-sponsored terrorism.

Iggy's new low

Proving it takes more than scandals to get a lift in the polls:

A new public opinion survey shows support for the Liberals has slipped to 23 per cent – well back of the 38 per cent support for the front-running Conservatives.

Everyone is down, or stable -- except the Greens. I suspect the Greens are currently a refuge for many voters tired of the same-old same-old.

U.S. Mortgage Delinquencies Reach a Record High

Just in case you were getting comfortable listening to the sounds of banks making money again and automakers breathing sighs of relief, there's this from the NYT:

Nearly one in 10 homeowners with mortgages was at least one payment behind in the third quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association said in its survey. That translates into about five million households.

The delinquency figure, and a corresponding rise in the number of those losing their homes to foreclosure, was expected to be bad. Nevertheless, the figures underlined the level of stress on a large segment of the country, a situation that could snuff out the modest recovery in home prices over the last few months and impede any economic rebound.

Unless foreclosure modification efforts begin succeeding on a permanent basis — which many analysts say they think is unlikely — millions more foreclosed homes will come to market.

“I’ve been pretty bearish on this big ugly pig stuck in the python and this cements my view that home prices are going back down,” said the housing consultant Ivy Zelman.

The overall third-quarter delinquency rate is the highest since the association began keeping records in 1972. It is up from about one in 14 mortgage holders in the third quarter of 2008.

We aren't in the same boat here, but the more trouble the average American consumer is in, the smaller our major market.

Clement channels Dion

Given how it was so effectively used to defame Dion, you'd think Harper would have had a ban on ministers shrugging.

Tony Clement: “I’m trying my hardest!” The Industry Minister, emailing from Tel Aviv, was reacting to a report in The Globe and Mail this morning that his Muskoka riding may not be able to accommodate the G20 portion of next summer’s international summit. It might have to be moved to Toronto.

Ya, you Globe and Mail people! Don't you know it's hard to oprioritize?

Seriously, isn't this something that should have been figured out some time ago? Seems to me that determining venue is a basic component of hosting anything.

Maybe Clement couldn't extract enough stimulous money for his riding?

The Harper Government Counter hits 9900!

Tracking Harper's self-promotion on the taxpayers' dime.

This is exciting! Harper's self-obsession nearly has the non-partisan government domain gc.ca repeating the phrase "The Harper Government" 10,000 times.

We are now at 9900 hits, according to Google.

So far this month, we've seen an increase of 200 mentions, from 9700 to 9900.

10,000 is just around the corner!

Tom Flanagan says he looks up to Iggy

A must read. Lots of nuggets in this interview: Ignatieff 'quality guy,' Flanagan says

Back to where we started... but the NDP are moving?

From Jane Taber's third point:

EKOS’s Frank Graves has

"...also looked at the political horserace, finding that the Liberals are “stuck in amber” along with the Conservatives. For the second week, the numbers show that we are exactly where we were on election day 2008 - 36.6 per cent for the Conservatives, 26.6 per cent for the Liberals, 16.8 per cent for the NDP, 11.2 per cent for the Green Party and 8.8 per cent for the Bloc. Mr. Graves is noticing, however, that Jack Layton and the NDP are on the move in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Atlantic."

The question has come up as to where voters are going. It has occurred to me that the NDP are in position to pick up votes, given the partisan hackery on the Hill. The Conservatives and the Liberals are bereft of ideas and decent policy, and the Greens are invisible and not represented.

That leaves Jack.

Of course, the NDP have long been the party of unrealized opportunity, so I'm not holding my breath.

The Harper Government Counter hits 9870

Tracking Harper's self-promotion on the taxpayers' dime. 

How many instances of the phrase  "The Harper Government" can we find on the non-partisan government domain gc.ca?

Well, so far this month, we've seen an increase of 170 mentions, from 9700 to 9870.

10,000 is just around the corner!

Kinsella to support John Tory for T.O. Mayor

So says Warren Kinsella: "“I'm still a Liberal, always will be, and - if John runs, and I hope he does - I will be one of the many card-carrying Grits who supports him."

As opposed to supporting George Smitherman, who announced his run for Toronto mayor the other day.

It's all fine by me, but interesting to note. It's not that a Liberal supporting Tory is a stretch these days. The surprise is that he's not supporting Smitherman.

Is this good or bad for Tory? LOL.

Jeff Jedras video from Romania

Jeff Jedras of a BCer in Toronto is attending the World Blogging Forum in Romania this week.

He was kind enough to share with me a video of his adventures so far.

BUGS BUNNY-TRANSYLVANIA 6-5000
by pierrot77

Read this first, then move on

I love watching theory be put into practice.

"It doesn't have to be true, it just has to be plausible." -- Prof. Tom Flanagan

Now go read Impolitical.

The Definitive Senator Duffy Chronology of Shame

It's almost always forgotten, but 'Senator' Mike Duffy is a senator for PEI. Camille Labchuk, whom I briefly became re-acquainted with yesterday at the informal Progressive Bloggers gathering in Toronto (a big thank you for that to Kelly John Rose and Tracy Cogsdill Rose of http://www.1337hax0r.com/ BTW), is from PEI and, among other things, reminds me with her latest post of the indignity islanders have to put up with having this pathetic partisan 'represent' them.

Mike Duffy: Canada's Worst Senator

I kid you not: The Smith & Wesson Breast Cancer Awareness Pistol

With a pink handgrip and everything:

From http://www.juliegolob.com/

Mountie who repeatedly tasered Dziekanski sues CBC for libel

We all know how much I know and *love* libel law. So you'll understand why I'm reluctant to discuss this, while very much wanting to.

I hope to find and read Constable Kwesi Millington's claim.

"The European Court of Human Rights ruled today that Italian schools should remove crucifixes from classrooms, sparking uproar in Italy, where such icons are embedded in the national psyche."

Many Italians are none too happy, but religious icons mandated by the State to hang in every public school room just isn't acceptable.

Arguments that this is tradition and not religion are ridiculous. Our own Supreme Court wisely sees no difference.

People feel their identity slipping away. I understand that, but if you want to be part of the big wide world, accept foreign workers and the advantages of the wider European market, some customs are going to have to be shed.

I remember my high school had bible readings every morning. I had to admit, it bothered me. I even had a vice-principle take me to ask for not believing in the Christian God (25 years ago). It really does make a person feel inferior to be surrounded by another's religion, while in a space which is supposed to be all-inclusive.

The Harper Government Counter hits 9680

Tracking Harper's self-promotion on taxpayer's dime.

In the past week, the number of times the phrase "The Harper Government" appears on *our* government's domain of gc.ca has increased by 110 to 9680.

In a few more weeks, we could hit 10,000!

Hudak fundraiser is private clinic CEO

Shaun Francis (no relation) is the CEO of Medcan Health Management, the same private clinic in the news which has been doling out a publicly-secured supply of H1N1 vaccine to it's members (only).

Francis was also head of PC leader Tim Hudak's fundraising team.

Politically, there's a connection I would think any politician would want to avoid making.

A connection well worth noting.

Impolitical has more plus links.