How much “confidence” can the Harper Cons handle? How much do they deserve? They have made a mockery of the idea of confidence votes claiming virtually every Commons vote to be a confidence vote. This was a vain attempt at trying to trigger a needless and pointless early election. The con the Harper Cons are perpetrating now is even more ridiculous.
Yesterday they put the Con back in confidence with the allegations of doctored tapes of Harper recorded comments on the Cadman Affair. Their dumb and dumber diatribe over such superficial allegations underscores the propensity of the PMO for message control and media manipulation. This latest episode of the decline and eventual demise of the Harper “government” has taken on a theater of the absurd quality.
The latest Con claims of “doctored audio tapes claiming alleged changes in the “meaning” of the Prime Minister’s comments about a million dollar insurance offer to Mr. Cadman for his vote is as worrisome as it is laughable. Such efforts of diversion of media attention are not new with this “government.”
The thick binder of “evidence” presented at the “news” conference was to confirm the tape contained “edits” seems to be more voluminous than luminous. Author Tom Zytaruk, who did the recording of the PM for the Cadman book he was writing, explained the “edits” in the Globe and Mail today. He says he stopped the tape “…momentarily when he thought Mr. Harper had finished speaking. When Mr Harper turned back Mr. Zytaruk resumed taping. He (Zytaruk) insisted that neither he nor Mr. Harper said anything during the interruption.” Over to you and to your audio experts Mr. Prime Minister. Rebut that please.
The story gets richer. The PM has sued the Liberals for libel but he has not taken action against the book publisher nor the author, who did the taping where the claims originated. The doctored tape claims appear strangely political don’t you think? Strangely political goes even further in this farce.
The con the Harpercrits are perpetrating goes further into the absurd. According to news report they have applied to the Ontario Superior Court to seek an injunction to stop the Liberals from using the tape…but they don’t want the matter dealt with until Sept 18. The sense of urgency to protect the PM’s reputation in these circumstances is underwhelming. Clearly there is no concern over the potential damage that these so-called “doctored tapes” might cause to the PM’s reputation and standing in the community as a result of the alleged libel can wait 3 or 4 months to be dealt with. Could it be the Cons are trying to use the courts for political purposes? Say it ain’t so Steve!
The news reports show the Cons evidence to back up such claims of “doctoring” is scant to say the most. The posturing and posing by the Harper political and Orwellian message machine is beyond suspicion. It is so far past being ludicrous.
This is not about remedying a damaged personal reputation or seeking justice for a wrong. It is the same old – same old Cons pursuing a purely political agenda. This is about them using their tried and true political tools of message control, bluster and bullying.
This will not help the Harper Cons gain the trust and respect of Canadians they need to get a majority – or even win the next election. The confidence of the people in the face of the con being perpetrated by the Conservative “government” is now an open and undecided question for the Canadian voters. This latest Harper Cons misadventure and political ridiculousness will move the needle of public opinion but not the way the Harper manipulation machine intended.
I think the point of view you need to have for some announcements by the Harper cabinet think tank -- remember that they have many followers contributing $$ -- and these followers need further confirmation that the "THEY/THEM MYSTERIOUS GROUP (may be called Liberals) are in charge of a massive conspiracy against the Harper cabinet...
ReplyDeleteSo anything that shows that the Harper cabinet is dishonest is just really the products of this mysterious "THEY" group.
The Harper government is hoping that an election will be called before this issue goes to court -- they realize that trying to prove something in court is harder than proving it by press conference and newspapers that just print the spin.
I believe that this latest legal manoeuvre is just to block the use of the tape, rather than claiming the content of the tape is wrong.
If your premise is correct, Dion and the liberals would surely bring down the government and have an election.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that they will not. As such, they must have confidence in the government even if you do not.
Anon @ 2:22 - GOOD GUESS this is not something to call an election over.
ReplyDeleteIt is something to cause us to worry about how badly we are being governed and to insist the Harper government smarten up.
If Harper wants an election he can drop by the GG's residence and ask for one. Pretty simple stuff.
To the contrary, Harper has passed fixed date election legislation - taht is pretty simple stuff.
ReplyDeleteWill you admit that this post is a complete bunch of crap if it is proven that the tape was indeed doctored? Remember when you liberals suggested Harper bribed Cadman - the RCMP found, and I quote "no evidence" (not that there was not enough evidence to warrant an investigation but NO EVIDENCE). Dion will pay through his nose in the defamation lawsuit. He is complete idiot for not retracting his statements as soon as possible - who the hell are his legal advisors??
Interesting thing about defamation actions, while you may prove the defamation, you also have to prove there were damages to your reputation bfore you get any compensation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Harper's reputation, nor that of his "government," could go much lower concerning the Cadman affair...so what would his damages be if he won? NIL
Morning Anon…to you main point, I will be more than willing to admit I was wrong IF the tape is actually PROVEN to be doctored. Now it is merely alleged to be "edited" or whatever other fuzzy language was by the "experts" being paid by the Cons to give “opinions” – not proof!
ReplyDeleteThe Cons have sexed up the story to allege tape “doctoring.” The only “doctoring” we know of for sure in this matter is the “spin doctoring” of the story that is being by the Harper Cons. Notice how quiet the Cons went on this when they were called on it?
Moreover, if the tape was proven to be doctored and the proof was that the tampering done by a political party operative, including the possibility of it being done by the Cons themselves. After all they have had access as much as anybody to doctor the evidence as much as the facts. Then I will be very worried about the state of politics in this country and the quality of character of those who are selected to govern us.
Given the Cons capacity for message control and bullying I would not be the least bit surprised if it were proven they did the doctoring as a means to divert attention away from Bernier and their egregious breaches of Cabinet confidentially. I don’t think this happened, because I don’t think the tapes were doctored at all by anyone. But if it were proven that the Cons did it for political “advantage” I would not be surprised – just very angry and disappointed!
The damages for harming the reputation of such a well known individual will be over $2 million (although the statemetn of claim asks for over $2,500,000) - with your complete lack of knowledge of the law, maybe you are thier advisors.
ReplyDelete"You may be able to prove defamation" - wow, such an admission is outstanding - it is defined as wilful conduct attempting to harm or damage the reputation of another individual without any foundation. If this happens, the Liberals and especially Dion are not fit to govern our country.
Anon - Keep the intentional misinterpretations to yourself...and while you are at it tell who you really are.
ReplyDeleteI have admitted nothing and it is not my place to admit anything in the Harper-Liberal party law suit. Please be more serious in your comments and try to add to the conversation in a constructive way.
Damages of $2M were a settlement for Mulroney and that is now in doubt...and may be clarified if Harper ever calls the inquiry he promised last November.
I have seen defamation damages of $1 too. More likely end result I expect and that is IF Mr. Harper can prove his claim and any actual damage to his rep as a result.
You must be on drugs or something if you think Harper, upon proving damages, would obtain mere nominal damages. An action for $1 would never be the case for someone with such a high public profile. I hope Dion's lawyers are a lot better than you.
ReplyDeleteAnon - your frame of reference on this stuff is so narrow and shallow. How do you know what the outcome will be? Are you the judge assigned to the case and have you already made up your mind based on media reports? Don't waste our time with such tripe.
ReplyDeleteWe don't even know who the hell you are...but we know you are a tedious and very defensive person. Drawing conclusion and making petty insults and hiding your identity are cowardly at best and more typically bullying - just like Mr. Harper.
Come out of your shadowy closet and face the world as a confident self assured citizen. What have you got to be afraid of - other than the Federal Conservative Politburo?