Friday, August 27, 2010

Day Two, Wayne Doorknob Easter Gets Called Out

Yesterday Dave Rutherford called Wayne Doorknob Easter out for his criticism of Conservative patronage appointments.  Today L.Ian Macdonald comes out swinging at Doorknob Easter.
The Grits wheeled out Wayne Easter, one of the shrillest voices in the House, to denounce Stephen Harper for “another case of the PM having broken (his) word.”
The word being that in his Reform-Alliance days in Opposition, Harper was always quick to denounce the Liberals rushing to the trough, promising to reform the appointments process if he formed a government.
Welcome to the NHL, Wayne. That was then, this is now. Or as Robert Bourassa once put it in a similar context in Quebec: “What, you expect us to do business with our enemies?”
Easter represents a Prince Edward Island riding, and on P.E.I. there is an old saying: “If it moves, pension it; if it doesn’t, pave it.”
Easter likes to work with props to make his case.
He once had his picture taken with a doorknob at a newser whose purpose was to illustrate waste in an upgrade of a government building.
This was a bad career move. The Hon. Member from Doorknob.
At his press conference denouncing Tory patronage, he awarded Harper and cabinet colleagues little trophies with smiling pigs on top. Clearly, it was no time for subtlety.
To be clear, the $25,000 donated to Tory coffers by Conservative appointees was within the individual limit of $1,100 per year under the Harper government’s 2006 Federal Accountability Act.
No law was broken, and no appointments were bought.
And if a couple of future judges once made donations to the Tories, or were party activists while in private practice, it is hardly a first for lawyers, and hardly constitutes buying seats on the bench. Applicants for judgeships have to pass a peer review before their names make a short list. That’s how it works, and generally speaking, it works very well. Imagine, lawyers in politics. Shocking.
Doorknob Easter isn't doing himself any favor with these over the top outrageous exaggerations if not outright mis-truths.  Earlier this year with his shrill over the top outrage he accused former Tory Cabinet Minister Helena Guergis of having a meltdown at the airport in Charletown that later turned out not to be true.  The airport video that was later shown to a few reporters showed Helena did not have the temper tantrum meltdown that Easter had accused her of. In fact she apparently was quite calm through out her whole ordeal. I hope Helena sues the crap out of him.  Maybe he would gain a  little honesty and integrity and therefore  be a little careful in the future with  his accusations. But then I will not hold my breath, afterall  he's a Liberal. I don't think honesty and integrity is programed into the Liberal DNA.

What Doorknob Easter tends to forget when he accuses the PM of breaking a promise he should remember that it was the opposition who scuttled the appointments commission.
Easter or anyone in the opposition or the media has no reason to accuse the PM of a promise broken. The PM at least tried to keep his promise.  Hypocrisy! Nothing but hypocrisy!

Heads up: Dave Rutherford to testify in front of the committee at 9:30 am mtn.  Apparently not being televised but you can catch it online at the CPAC website.

11 comments:

  1. And Rutherford is doing a spot-on job!

    He does not suffer fools.

    I found some of the questions put to Mr. Oh, especially, to be quite disrespectful.

    What did this special event cost us to bring back all of those MPs and staff and witnesses...for what!

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  2. Interesting take on the Public Appointment Commission. The government, back in 2006 (4 years ago) put forward "one name" to fill the position. The opposition decided not to rubber stamp the appointment, and like a spoiled little child the PM decided to take his ball and run home.

    I HATED patronage appointments when the Libs did it, and I hate it even more when the Conservatives do it.....Why the double standard.....because the Conservatives ran on a platform of doing thing differently. Heck, they even legislated it's creation trough the FAA.

    Same crap different party.

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  3. ''opposition decided not to rubber stamp the appointment''

    That's what you call subjecting an honorable man to being called an unqualified racist, anon?

    '..All opposition members of the committee voted against him. During the committee session, Morgan was branded as a racist ...

    Peggy Nash declared Morgan had "insufficient qualifications and competence related to the proposed appointment.

    Gwen Morgan resume:
    (But not experienced enough for a Dipper!)

    A graduate of the University of Alberta, he had three decades (30 YEARS) of executive experience ...
    Morgan is a past recipient of the University of Alberta's Canadian Business Leader Award,
    the Ivey Business Leader Award from the alumni of the University of Western Ontario's business school,
    is a member of the Alberta Business Hall of Fame and,
    in 2005, was named Canada's Most Respected CEO in a survey of his peers conducted by Ipsos-Reid.'

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  4. That's rich, a spud islander ranting about patronage appointments, when half the island has a government job. (real conservative)

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  5. Dave later was a guest on Adler, and said he did not think one mind was changed today.
    IMHO it was just a waste of money and an opportunity for the committee to pad their paycheques. Dave was right on when he said a form going to only 20% of the people is not a census, it is a survey. Hey, every survey I get, the first question asked is, will you take part in this. That make it voluntary.
    The coalition and media jumped all over this and even tho they know they have lied and misled the people they can't back down.
    Loved it when Dave said, the long form has not been cancelled.
    Mary T

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  6. MaryT, Dave did a very good job today at committee. He sure did put it to the coalition that's for sure. Everything he had to say was exactly correct. I liked too when he questioned why no other media was at the table to testify,especially the ones who support the mandatory long form census like the Globe,the CBC etc.
    I'm sure he'll be talking about on his show on Monday.

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  7. I'm watching the Industry Committee right now on the CPAC website linked to above, but I haven't heard Dave Rutherford's name mentioned as one of the guests. Am I watching the right committee meeting?
    -- Gabby in QC

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  8. Well, after three hours -- yes, I stuck with it -- I finally heard what Dave Rutherford had to say. Out of all the people on that committee, including MPs and witnesses, Dave Rutherford is the ONLY one who made sense, IMO, using logical arguments for supporting the voluntary long-form census.

    Among those arguments, Rutherford debunked the notion that voluntary responses to a census would be less credible than responses made under the threat of some penalty.

    On the other hand, although I lean more towards a voluntary form, I don't view the mandatory one being as big a threat or as an intrusion into one's privacy as is being portrayed.

    I believe it is a mistake to portray the government as "the enemy" out to punish citizens who do not wish to provide certain information to government. Equally a mistake to encourage the notion that citizens have the right to refuse to abide by existing laws, even though they may disagree with those laws. Would it be legitimate for citizens to carry over that attitude into other realms? Would citizens be justified in refusing to provide ID if asked by a traffic cop? Would travelers be justified in refusing to open their suitcases if asked by a customs officer? Do you see where this could lead?

    I wonder whether this battle is worth all the attention it seems to be getting.
    -- Gabby in QC

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  9. 'when he questioned why no other media was at the table to testify,especially the ones who support the mandatory long form census like the Globe,the CBC etc.'

    They are either afraid of what David will say about their so call performance on the story which he thinks it is rediculous or they are not allowed to give an opinion of their own-tow the party line.

    David may be bias but he is not a fool not an idiot-if the conservatives do something out of the ordinary David talks- there is no kissy kiss there that's for sure. Whereas, the national media kiss the liberals and opposition parties every waking hour.
    Also, being from Alberta his opinion doesn't count; we are of a different country.

    I also hope that David says something on Monday on this waste of money committee and the silence from the media.

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  10. Committees are showcases for foolishness on the part of the opposition, most seem to be a total waste of time and money, little is ever accomplished.

    All we need do is reflect on some of the past committees starring Marlene Jennings or Paul Szabo in the chair doing his act, oozing condescension.

    I'd say the Big Shrill,Wayne Easter, should survey his own party for patronage appointments then get back to us.

    LizJ

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  11. Committees are showcases for foolishness on the part of the opposition, most seem to be a total waste of time and money, little is ever accomplished.

    LizJ,since 2006 committees have become kangaroo courts where witch hunts and political games take place. They're becoming almost as bad as Question Period and of course Kady O loves to do her live blogging and as usual tries to make the Conservatives look bad and the opposition look good.

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