In a system of carefully arranged checks and balances, the U.S. president can hand-pick articulate individuals with management and policy depth to form his cabinet. Canada’s all powerful prime minister, on the other hand, is expected to wait, cap in hand, while our candidate selection processes miraculously produce cabinet material.
Canadians increasingly look to ethics commissioners, overhauling the electoral system and institutional reform to raise governance standards.
Margret Kopala’s column on western perspectives appears weekly.
Approved by the Official Agent David Emerson Campaign"
The above quote is from an Ottawa Citizen editorial published on David Emerson's Campaign Site at www.davidemerson.ca May2004
Of course he was running for the Liberals then, but libertarians just fit right in anywhere.
"overhauling the electoral system and institutional reform to raise governance standards" Ha!
They really hate all that electoral "cap in hand" stuff though, don't they?
I'm goin to run in the next federal election as a Reform candidate, (oops, I mean Conservative), and lie through my teeth attacking gays, promoting guns and war, and anything that promotes big business. Then when I win, -obviously; I'll 'cross the floor' and join the Marxist-Leninists (Trotsky Division). This wiil be good for my riding, my country, and the world. I call this new form of revoultion 'democracy infiltration'. Since they've already stolen the former, we might as well follow their lead in the latter.
ReplyDeleteCampaign Workers of the World Unite! All you have to Lose is your Own Riding!
Update: Just heard the Liberal Campaign Headquarters for Emerson are demanding he pay back the $79,000 he received in donations for his campaign. Right on! Without the chance for recall or the legal ability to force a byelection, at least they're making a point and hitting him for his pocket change. I kept thinking of the people who'd worked for him and actually stumped door to door for the dick. They must feel so burned.
ReplyDeleteOf course he's refusing; sticking to the pathetic talking point that its good for the riding if he's in the house, blah, blah, blah. I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of this one.
I wonder what it would take to have a definitive and respected pollster ask the people of Vancouver/Kingsway the following question: If a byelection was held today, who would you vote for? I strongly suspect that the results of that poll would not only get media time, but keep serious pressure on our new neo-cons.
Anyone else have some good strategies, or know of more that are afoot? How about we start digging for his business dirt? Nobody rises to that guy's income level without some of that money being dirty.
" If a byelection was held today, who would you vote for? "
ReplyDeleteOnly 18.8% voted Conservative in that riding as it is.
I really resent the "ends justifies the means" paternalism he's using as a defense of his actions too.
That may be the first time I've ever read someone describe the American system of having all government decisions made by non-elected officials as 'where we should be aiming'. Canada really is crazy at times.
ReplyDeleteHarper & Emerson: The Theft of Democratic Rights.
ReplyDeleteKerry Galloway, who voted for Emerson, was quoted in the press as saying: “I have been robbed of my democratic vote.”
A very good summary of what Messrs. Emerson and Harper cooked up in the days after the election and before Harper’s cabinet was selected. They acted like two highwaymen who waited for unsuspecting voters to come their way, then – political pistols on high – leaped out of hiding and demanded that the hapless voters in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway hand over their choice to the highwaymen, to be used by them rather than as directed by the voters in a democratically held election.
Also troublesome are two other matters: the attitude of these two men to what they have done.
Harper has displayed an incredible arrogance; he is quoted as saying: "I decided to call him and suggest I thought his talents would be best used on the government benches rather than in opposition," said Prime Minister Harper.
Think about that for a second. I decided –says the PM – what was best for a constituency. The fact that 80% of that riding did not vote Conservative? Pshaw! Harper brushes it aside. “I” decided.
An attitude worthy of a king. He might as well have told the voters in that riding: Let them eat cake …
And Emerson? Another supposedly bright man with good political instincts? He is quoted as saying he did not want to attend a rally called in his riding to protest the democratic theft because: “I felt it was a partisan exercise.” Then, to add insult to injury, he says: “I am doing what I think is in the best interests of my riding.” Another royal reply to the peasants …
Harper and Emerson together add up to a wonderful example of political dissynergy.
Come the next election, it will be time to take your vote back.