Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Harper is on guard for thee, but the instability contagion is spreading!

Be on watch, patriotic Canadians! There is a sinister danger lurking in our gentle land, an evil scourge that threatens our economy, our jobs, our economic recovery, even our families and our very way of life. What is this evil plague, you ask? Is it gingivitis? Well, that’s bad too, but no, I’m talking about: Instability!!

Yes, I know, it’s frightening, but it’s true. Instability has taken root in our land and is spreading. No one is safe. You, or your little dog Toto, could be next. Thankfully, we’re lucky enough to have a glorious leader in Stephen Harper with the foresight and bold vision to recognize this growing threat. And he is waging the battle against instability for you, Joe and Jane Canadian!

He recognized the growing threat of instability as far back as this summer, when the possibility of an election that would send Canadians to the polls to vote for their elected representatives threatened to give instability a beachhead into our democratic system:

"We do not need another round of political instability and another round of elections — we need parliament to focus on the economy," Harper said in Adstock, Que., as he announced a $225-million project to expand high-speed internet to rural areas across Canada.
Yes, our leader Stephen Harper had the foresight to know an election would give oxygen to the embers of instability and allow its flickering flames to burn our nascent recovery in the fiery fires of even more instability, but a kind that burned people and stuff.

NO! He declared, you stay away from Parliament, you dreaded instability! We need Parliament working, passing legislation, focusing on the economy, we need Parliament doing its work and not getting all unstable, and what not!

In September, seeing the instability still advancing, the Prime Minister launched another counterattack: get back, instability, we need Parliament on the job!

“The fact of the matter is that Canadians do not want an election, Canada does not need an election and an election is not in this country's best interest. We have important economic measures before Parliament. All the parties in Parliament should be focused on those measures and on the economy. The Leader of the Opposition should focus on our country's best interests.”
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hansard, September 14, 2009.
Despite his valiant efforts though, instability proved to be a tenacious adversary. Despite Harper’s defences, and the ordering of plenty of instability vaccine, even if it arrived rather late, the instability was insidious and, rather than triggering an election, the instability mutated, and began to infect Parliament itself.

Instability, in our Parliament! We did not make this up! We’re not allowed to make this up.

Faced with this threat of instability in the very cradle of our democracy, with the infection beginning in the toe and spreading slowly up the leg, like a surgeon Stephen Harper had no choice but to do what he had to do to stop the spread of instability before it became life-threatening: cut off the foot.
"As soon as Parliament comes back, we're in a minority Parliament situation and the first thing that happens is a vote of confidence and there will be votes of confidence and election speculation for every single week after that for the rest of the year. That's the kind of instability I think that markets are actually worried about. But you know the government will be well-prepared and I think Canadians want to see us focus on the economy."
You see, he had no choice but amputation, er, prorogation! Yes, it was vitally important that we had Parliament on the job back in July to focus on the economy, that’s true. But that was before the instability infection had spread to Parliament. Now it had to be prorogued, for the good of the economy and Tim Horton’s and Hockey Night in Canada, before the instability spread further.

Let’s just hope that Harper finally has this nasty bout of instability beat, and that prorogation will do the trick. If the instability spreads to his cabinet, if the incompetent performances of his ministers begins to put the recovery at risk, he may have to resort to a cabinet shuffle.

Because if that doesn’t work, the instability could even infect the Prime Minister’s Office itself, and Stephen Harper could be out of a job.

And that would be pretty unstable indeed.

Well, for Mr. Harper, at least.

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24 comments:

Ted Betts said...

Well done, Jeff.

AirFarce did a take on this as well a year ago that is still pertinent today: "The most important point is that I have to remain Prime Minister. [...] So Canada there you have it. I'm still Prime Minister. We don't want anyone who is not me to be Prime Minister."

CanadianSense said...

Well written post.

In my opinion I agree the lack of effective ideas from the opposition has been not been a problem.

The stalling in the senate by the Liberals as well not the big problem.

The alternative (signed accord expires June 30, 2011) poses the real danger to our stability.

The coalition threat is the real danger. Do you agree?

I have no problem with letter voters decide through a general election.

Mark Richard Francis said...

@CS: Non-Conservative majority rule! Sounds like a Conservatrive stability gap!

Tof KW said...

I have no problem with letter [sic] voters decide through a general election.

Well bully for you that you think democracy is a good idea.

Personally I think an authoritarian police-state is in our best interests. What better way to finally rid the nation of socialists and separatists?

CanadianSense said...

TofKw

I would not be pointing to Liberals for lesson in democracy.

http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2010/01/memories-of-liberal-democracy.html

APEC or War Measures Act ring a bell?

Ted Betts said...

What better way to finally rid the nation of socialists and separatists?

And that pesky instability too, don't forget. That evil instability (with which we seem to have managed OK through this recession, but I digress) will be forever gone if we could only embrace an authoritarian state.

Gene Rayburn said...

Why does Canadiansense cite her own blog as proof of her opinion? Wouldn't that just be more of the same unproven OPINION?

Thanks CS for keeping reality as far away as possible.

Old School Liberal said...

Be gentle with CanadianSense. These are difficult times for her with Conservative numbers plummetting, her leader abandoning pretty much everything he believed in only 4 years ago, Canadians not believing or trusting the government, etc.

If things were starting to look this bad for me, I'd probably want to live in my own reality too. She even has her own kind of magic calendar there that shrinks the days Parliament is shut down, magically increases the number of days Parliament has sat under Harper and magically decreases the average days Parliament has sat before Harper.

Call it a mental buffer from reality necessary for her sanity.

CanadianSense said...

GR,

The videos and links are embedded and you can view them from the CBC directly.(Nice try though to ignore who put the army in the streets, rounded up Canadians and violated our Constitution.)

Hint:
Learn some Canadian history and learn perspective. 17 days delayed in a minority is not as severe as a Pepper loving PM with a majority!

OSL=Parnel
Running out of sites to post? The gender bashing pattern is classic, don't forget to use Harper is scared and running and don't hide behind your skirt next"

Old School Liberal said...

See what I mean Gene?

A comment that has nothing to do with gender in any remote way... is "gender bashing". LOL.

And I'm supposed to be someone else "Parnel". Whatever.

And somehow a prorogation from December 30 to March 3, totally 60+ days, in CS's magic calendar is only 17 days.

Tell us more about your world CS. Do they have seasons? Is it winter there like it is here? Do they have nice cushioned white walls and nifty ultramodern cutting edge fashion super long longsleeve shirts that buckle at the back?

Tof KW said...

You know, the more CS babels all over the Lib-o-sphere, the more I'm ticked at the Ontario government.

It's true.

I know they inherited a mess from Harris and Flaherty, but after all these years in power you'd think the McGuinty government could have improved the mental health facilities in the province a bit by now. CS is clearly a symptom of a bigger problem.

- - -

Oh, Mr Betts - Absolutely!
Think of the utopia we could build once a strong dictatorship could be established. The stability alone would do wonders for our economic development. My god, why can’t people see the brilliance of Harper’s plan and just rid ourselves of this silly anachronism we call parliament?

archivist said...

CanadianSense: You're comparing the War Measures Act (a response to terrorists and the kidnapping of the Deputy Premier and a diplomat, requested by the Premier and the Mayor of Montreal) with Harper-style prorogation (a twice-used tactic by an infinitely lesser PM skirting political crises that he himself created)?

I guess the 14% "shoot-yerself-in-the-foot Steve" drop in the polls reflects a people who are not as stupid and attention-deficient as he'd hoped!

PS I know a guy that sells nice straws for you to grasp at!

CanadianSense said...

MichaelB
It was a Quebec law enforcement problem. 450 Canadians were rounded up without ignoring our Constitution. How many were charged?

It was an over reaction back than, unless you think we should suspend our rights and deploy the army in the streets because 1-2 may have been kidnapped and eventually killed.
Do some research on the "terrorism" and why Tommy Douglas was right back than to NOT support this suspension of our democracy.

APEC

How many Canadian students were detained, strip searched so a visiting despot would not be embarrased by the protest?

vs

a routine act used 105x?

The minority government can not stop, prevent the opposition from restarting the questioning and motions again. The delay is 17 sitting days.

Gene Rayburn said...

I love being lectured about Canadian history by CS. Confirms that I actually know my history and Hysteria Dementia aka CS Version.

Hint CS - trying coming up with a theory that doesn't make you sound like a whackjob.

Those straws must be hard to grasp onto these days.

CanadianSense said...

GR,

do you have links to back up your version of Liberal democracy?

The personal attacks from you reflects your obsession in avoiding the post.

Jeff writes a witty post on prorogue and mocks Harper for pointing out the repeated threats by the minority is a problem.

I simply reinforce our history has examples of governments who have abused our democracy and if you can refute those EVENTS with facts feel free.

(Glasshouse thing)

Ted Betts said...

Just for CanadianSense.

archivist said...

Oh please. Even Tom Flanagan is telling us it's about torture allegations. Yes, prorogation is routine, but the nuance is obvious. Do it over the holidays, phone the GG instead of paying her a traditional, time it with a cloaking device, end the year as you began it (hiding from your own doggie doo), issue "childish" talking notes for idiots, disown your mentor, hide behind soldiers, and you don't have prorogation as usual.

Hey, Tom Flanagan created Harper in his laboratory (forgot the emotion chip, I guess) and is taking responsibility for his errant one.

And geez, stop looking for Liberal parallels or we'll bring up Louis Riel!

CanadianSense said...

OSL,
feel free to visit Nik's Blog (Parnel) has used that handle as explained and verifiable.

Christmas holidays are until January 25, 2010.(FACT)

The colour coding should help.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/ChamberCalendar.aspx?Language=E

Now if you want to include days the parliament does NOT sit (weekends than by all means keep distorting the truth)or the negotiated week off for the Olympics.

Thanks for coming out.

Here is the last Liberal who challenged the "math".
http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2010/01/liberal-math-it-still-wont-add-up-james.html
Liberal math is a problem.

Ted Betts said...

CS:

Parliament is a lot more than just the House sitting. That's where you've gone wrong. On of the places at any rate.

December 30 to March 3 - spin it with as much grease as you like, it is still 63 days when government can't pass laws, government can't raise extra money for emergencies, committees can't receive reports or interview experts, cabinet ministers are not accountable to the House.

CanadianSense said...

Ted B,

I accept you can't handle your party lost the last two elections. Prorogue is a routine matter allowed in our constitution and 17 sitting days were added. It is just one tool that is used.
The opposition agreed to the Olympic break. Your distortin includes the Christmas Holidays and break make your entire point mute.

During the Christmas holidays no one is doing anything?

Instead of being a partisan, try being a Canadian first, turn on the TV and watch how our Government is acting on their holidays!
Log onto each political party website and look at the work the MP's being done at their own riding.
The delay in 17 sitting days in Ottawa was overblown for cheapshots and can be added.
Check the Gov't website
Each session of a Parliament ends with the prorogation of Parliament by the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister. Most unfinished business dies and committees cease to function. Parliament then stands prorogued until the opening of the next session on a specified date. This date may be changed by a further proclamation.
Government bills that have not received Royal Assent prior to prorogation can be reinstated in the next session only if the House takes a decision to this effect. All items of Private Members' Business are automatically reinstated. Tabling of documents before the House must await the beginning of the new session. Requests for responses to petitions and for the production of papers remain in effect, as do requests made for government responses to committee reports.
http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2009/12/perogie-teaching-moment.html

Ted Betts said...

Oh CS, you really are cute, you know.

Like Wile E Coyote coming up with increasingly strange ways to capture the Roadrunner but always making himself look silly... and yet, right back at it after he mends from the last bomb to explode in his face.

Good for you, though, I must say. Good for you to stay true to your team. Don't let facts or reality interfere with your faith and devotion.

Have a good proroged weekend, CS. Enjoy it. Only 49 more days of prorogation.

CanadianSense said...

Ted

From where I am sitting the only people in denial are those who can't count sitting days or balance their party coffers.

http://punditsguide.ca/

Ted Betts said...

Oh, CS, there you go again with your magic calendar that turns 83 days of no Parliament and 63 days of prorogation into 17.

I don't think even the PMO is trying that one. They seem to understand that Parliament is a lot more than sitting in the House.

Gene Rayburn said...

Well there is reality then there's CS world. Where everyone is just angry they lost and she is always right, no matter how irrational or off topic she is.

Yes it's odd & like a rainy day in a European city, something smells funny.