Monthly Archives: April 2008
Harper Like Nixon?
| 4/29/2008 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Interesting article in the British paper Guardian comparing Steven Harper’s attitude to Richard Nixon’s. Now, before you’re thinking that the paper is suggesting Harper is a crook like Nixon (aka Watergate), that isn’t the gist of the article.
What the writers are comparing between the two men is their rather obvious utter contempt for the institutions which shape and form their respective governments. That contempt was evident before either of them arrived in office and became even more obvious through Harper’s rather long running war with the national media.
Sometimes even more so than the official opposition, the media can manage to hold governments to account simply through their willingness to dig beyond the facade and find out what is going on behind the scenes. Then they publish their results. I often rail against the media’s often clear bias in their reporting and selective quoting but at the same time, they are bringing to light what would be otherwise in the dark and allowing governments in particular to operate without rebuke. (more…)
Publishing Gaps
| 4/28/2008 | Posted by Patti under Site News |
Just taking a few minutes to apologize for the gaps in my publishing. Sometimes, my offline life gets a tad hectic and this last month has been an example of that. I’m working hard to meet those commitments and be more regular posting to my blogs. Patience please.
Mounties Influenced 2006 Election — Legally
| 4/1/2008 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
RCMP public complaints commissioner Paul Kennedy has found that it is safe to assume that the naming of Liberal Ralph Goodale in a criminal investigation during the 2006 election campaign influenced the outcome of the election in favour of the Conservatives. Goodale had been accused by the NDP of leaking confidential information prior to an income trust announcement that allowed others to profit. He was eventually cleared but long after the election.
The NDP had written to the RCMP wanting a criminal investigation into the rumoured leak. The RCMP replied there was an investigation being launched and then issued a press release a few days later to confirm what had already been made public and naming Goodale. This is not within the usual practise of the Mounties, especially during an election campaign. Breaching the practise was shown to have been a decision specifically made by Giuliano Zaccardelli, then commissioner of the RCMP, who has been subsequently sacked for other misbehaviour.
(more…)
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