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Needs more kittehs to improve political image.
Sometimes I think it would have been better if we had actually passed our own Canadian Patriot Act. At least we would have a predictable baseline of oppression of every day Canadians not to mention a political target to take action on. Rather, we have the chaotically raging adolescent security boner the Harper government occasionally plays with and thus leaves me unsure of just when its going to go off and make a mess of things (looking at you bill C-51.)
This latest story of the PM’s own propaganda hacks exposing Canadian soldiers and their families to possible violent retaliation leaves me wondering how to categorize this particular brain-fart properly. Is it the usual arrogance of our PM, safely ensconced in his warm fuzzy blanket of narcissism or is it just the PMO drones slavishly making stupid mistakes?
“Another video showing the faces of Canadian military personnel has surfaced on the prime minister’s website, just days after his office was forced to remove two similar videos that potentially endangered soldiers’ lives.
This time, however, the video seems to have been posted with the approval of the military.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s staff took down two videos shot in Iraq and Kuwait because they risked identifying Canadian Forces members and exposing them and their families to possible attacks.”
You would think that our war loving PM would be a little more in touch with the concept of Operational Security. Opening up our soldiers to retribution because he needs to be seen on the battlefield isn’t exactly the best PR move in the book. This wasn’t rocket science the media that wasn’t a part of the PMO personal propaganda squad had very strict instructions.
“Media travelling to Iraq and Kuwait with Harper were required to sign a five-page agreement pledging to uphold operational security. Among other things, the agreement instructed reporters not to publish photographs that could identify any personnel “who are not designated spokespersons.”
“Publication or inadvertent dissemination has the potential to jeopardize operations and endanger lives,” the document warned.”
So I think we can reasonable rule out ignorance in this case. Hubris and stupidity are making a comeback as far as the reasons for this security breach are concerned.
“CBC News has confirmed the military never screened or approved the 24 Seven videos as initially claimed.
The Prime Minister’s Office admitted it had made a mistake. Rob Nicol, the prime minister’s director of communications, issued a statement expressing regret and promising to review PMO protocols for posting images online.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson also issued a statement, saying that after reviewing the two videos, the military determined they presented only a low risk. But he said they should not have been posted.”
Whoops. Stupidity confirmed. The necessity to provide hate-fap propaganda to the Harper faithful apparently out-weights the risks to the Canadian soldiers in said propaganda. It’s always refreshing to know where your government stands on the safety of Canadians.
“The opposition has been scathing in its criticism of the government throughout the whole affair. NDP defence critic Jack Harris Friday accused the government of being more concerned about “the prime minister’s propaganda” than the safety of Canadian troops.
“They had about four or five different stories,” Harris said, “and they never did acknowledge that they misled the Canadian people.”
I’m completely shocked that the PMO’s office would flagrantly abuse the security of Canadians for political gains. Do keep in mind the lovely juxtaposition of this same government bringing in legislation to spy on Canadians (bill C-51) ostensibly to tighten domestic security and enhance public safety.
Way to lead by example Steve! Keep up the good work, I’m feeling safer already!
Let’s be honest folks, this election win by Rachel Notley and the NDP was completely unexpected here in what has been fortress Tory Alberta for the last 44 years. I watched the election write itself out with trepidation for the first hour and a half, because one can never forget, this is Alberta, and for the longest time you could elect a half a bag of stale nacho chips here as long it sported the Tory Blue colours.
And then it happened. The seat count exploded for the NDP and the Orange Crush never looked back. No Tory Minority, No NDP Minority but… damn son… an NDP Majority government. The missus and I, around 9:30, broke out the Honey-Jack and toasted Rachel Notley and the new political future of Alberta.
I am very glad that we have a new government as of today, the old PC’s by now could be nothing but rife with patronage, cronyism and corruption. Out with the old corruption and all that; hopefully we’ll have a nice long window of reasonable governance before the new wave of graft starts.
It is important for the NDP in Alberta to make good on their promises to the people of Alberta. For the record here are the highlights
Notley campaigned on having the wealthy pay more to fund better health care and education. She’s promised:
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A Resource Owners Rights Commission to review the royalties oil companies pay to the province.
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A boost in the corporate tax rate to 12 per cent from 10 per cent. Increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2018. Current wage is $10.20.
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More tax brackets for high earners than the Tories are proposing: a 12 per cent rate on income between $125,000 and $150,000; 13 per cent on income between $150,000 and $200,000; 14 per cent between $200,000 and $300,000 and 15 per cent over $300,000. NDP would also roll back the Tory health levy.
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The creation of 2,000 long-term care spaces over four years.
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A ban on corporate and union donations to political parties.
Well there we go. Let’s hope that we see movement on these issues as early as the new budget that will be coming up
Another thought does occur to me, as I am still processing this NDP win in Alberta: How does this affect the prospects for the upcoming federal election? Is there enough momentum to carry the Orange Crush to the next level – and in Harper’s hometown to boot. I’m thinking the political landscape has become a lot more volatile, not only in Alberta, but in Canada as well.
For once, the polls in Alberta were right.
Time for a change in Alberta. Let’s give Ms. Notley a chance.
A link here to the official Elections Alberta site. I’m looking at you younger crowd, ‘unbusy’ yourself and vote this time to make a difference.
The amount of horseshit per square centimetre in this Edmonton Journal editorial must violate the laws of physics, it just isn’t reasonable to pack this much fail into one column of newspaper. Who wrote this tepid work of Tory apologia? To me it smells like the business owners out East decided they needed to nobly stand up for the privileged in our province.
I’ve excerpted the parts I wanted to comment on, but you really should read the entire slavering, propagandistic ode the PC party over at the lowly esteemed Edmonton Journal. Duly note that this is corporate boot-licking at its finest, we should expect nothing less from the fearlessly-besotted-lick-spittles of what passes for editorial board over at the EJ.
“The choice, then, in Tuesday’s provincial election, comes down to competing economic visions.
We need a premier who can be our chief executive, piloting a $48-billion public company through a fiscal minefield for at least the next two years, while the world price of Alberta’s lifeblood, its oil, remains below $75 per barrel.
That person is Jim Prentice.”
I’m not looking for a fracking CEO to run our province. The last thing we need is more business bullshit that erodes our values and sense of community, and more to the point our sense of humanity.
“In his March budget, Prentice came to grips with the issue of the province’s dependence on volatile oil revenues, and took the bold move of ending Alberta’s anti-tax political culture.”
Boldly raising the sin taxes and the gas tax. Visionary stuff there, filled with visiony things and stuff…
“Is it a perfect plan? No. Even he’s admitted that, having reversed a decision to cut a charitable tax credit in half. There’s more room for improvement; many voters believe he should have spread the tax pain to the corporate sector.
Those types of changes could come if Prentice listens to the apparent groundswell of discontent that’s being revealed by recent polls.”
OH OF COURSE, our allegiance to the status quo has been serving the people of Alberta so damn well over the last 41 years. Please note that changing the status quo never starts with electing more of the status quo.
“No one wants another costly and divisive election, hard on the heels of this one.”
Then don’t vote PC and we won’t have any problems with another divisive election, you know kinda like this election called opportunistically before the legislated date.
“only the PCs have campaigned on a vision that balances revenue generation with spending cuts in a way that will allow Alberta to weather this fiscal crisis and be better prepared to avoid future catastrophic swings in oil prices.”
Oh you mean where we balance the books on the backs of the poor and middle class while the elites and the corporations continue to unjustly prosper in our society. I’m tired of that particular PC corporate provincial strategy.
“That sort of thinking is a clear sign that Prentice isn’t leading the same old Tory party; he’s a leader with clarity of vision and the aptitude to chart a new course for Alberta.”
How come this ‘new course’ sounds and looks exactly like the old course from yesteryear, only with different clowns at the wheel? There is no ‘new course’ only more of the same BS that has been and will be bad for the average Albertan.
Let us hope the NDP surges to victory finally sweeping the rotten PC dynasty into the dustbin of history. I’m still very wary though, we might need round “N” of PC guided political seppuku, as 41 years of one party rule might not be enough.
From the CBC –
Of course, this is all based on the premise that the polls are accurately gauging the state of the race in Alberta. With the 2012 debacle still in everyone’s mind, that is a risky proposition. No wonder, then, that many Albertans think the PCs will still win.
While voters will have the final word on the accuracy of the polls, there is good reason to doubt that the same phenomenon that saved Alison Redford in 2012 will work in Prentice’s favour in 2015.
Only two parties, Redford’s PCs and Danielle Smith’s Wildrose, were in the running in the last election. And with both parties being adjacent to one another on the political spectrum, a swing from Wildrose to the Tories in the final days was hardly unimaginable. The PCs may have also benefited from Liberal voters moving over to support a centrist like Redford to block a right-wing Wildrose government.
But those dynamics are no longer at play. There are now three parties in the running, and their supporters do not so easily move from one party to another. If there is a shift in the final days to block one party, it is not so clear that the move would occur all in the same direction as it did in 2012. In many parts of the province, the NDP has become a better option to block Wildrose than the PCs. Similarly, any move to block the NDP might go to Wildrose rather than the Tories.
Why isn’t unabashed self interest paying of for meeeeee?
The politics in Alberta usually annoy the hell out of me. How can the people of this province continue to elect a party that is puts the interests of Big Oil first in every fiscal decision. For the latest example please see the latest Alberta budget, after we all have been looking in the mirror, where everyone except corporations got a tax hike. Because jobs. Keep voting PC Alberta blue zombies, keep voting blue. Alberta voter idiocy aside; we’re actually here to look at the slow motion career seppuku going on for the Wild Rose defectors.
“Danielle Smith has lost her bid for the Progressive Conservative nomination in her riding of Highwood, losing out to Okotoks Coun. Carrie Fischer. “
What? The former leader of the Wild Rose Party just failed to get her ass nominated. How is that even possible after betraying your hard right conservative base? Hard right-wingers are known for their forgiveness and short memories when it comes to what they see as treasonous behaviour. I have to say I am quite shocked at this outcome.
Smith was quite gracious in her failure:
“This is, of course, a mixed-emotions day for me. I did want to get a mandate to be the PC candidate for Highwood, but residents felt otherwise,” she said. “I look forward to supporting Carrie in her efforts to win this riding for the Progressive Conservatives.”
She said her decision to leave the Wildrose for the PC party, which may have contributed to her loss, was “absolutely not” a mistake.
Oh lordy, call in the LOL-copters Danielle Smith. In fact, call in the LOL-legionairs. We’ll need all the guffaws as your garrulous words are fooling exactly no one. You just got burned for your brash political opportunism.
I’ve never been a fan of the Wild Rose party, but they were the official opposition in Alberta and they did their best to slow down the PC corporate gravy train. The exodus of Smith and the others devastated the party and the WRP is still rebuilding thanks to these floor crossers.
Make no mistake – I shed no tears for the WRP – but my animus lies with the resulting political vacuum created because the damn Opposition just joined the damn Government. Who is left to keep our Big-Oil loving PC government in check?
Friends, Albertans – you’ll just have to look in the mirror.
GSA’s OK!
Allow me to put on my cynical hat for just a second to analyze the recent legislative flip-flop by the Alberta Government. I’d like to investigate why it is wrong to paint the narrative of this picture as anything other than shameless pandering to the people of Alberta.
We’ll let the Edmonton Journal set the stage:
“EDMONTON – In a stunning about-face, the Progressive Conservative government Tuesday passed a new law making the approval of gay-straight alliances mandatory in Alberta schools, a move celebrated as a leap forward for human rights in the province.”
This is good news. I’m all for more support systems for people who are often marginalized and bullied within the school system. I have no contention with the actual passing of this bill.
“Education Minister Gordon Dirks tabled a surprise amendment to the government’s Bill 10 on the first day of the spring session. Dirks said he spent months consulting with Albertans since Premier Jim Prentice put the legislation on hold in December. Some of those moments were very moving moments as you heard students telling their stories of being bullied, discriminated against, feeling suicidal, even attempting (it),” Dirks said. When that happens and you have those kinds of intimate, frank conversations with students, it goes from your head to your heart.”
I’m going to call bullshit right here. This is the same government that is dismissively slashing the funding to the Child and Youth Advocate of Alberta. You know, the people responsible for the welfare of children in Alberta, and also tasked with inquiring into why so many children are dying when they become wards of the state. Let’s get the money quote here on the supposed benevolence of your government –
“Afterwards, Progressive Conservative MLA Genia Leskiw was asked by reporters why there is money available for the Auditor General but not the child and youth advocate. […] She said she doesn’t believe the advocate’s office “sharpened their pencils as sharp as they could have.”
First it is “Look in the mirror” and now we have “sharpening their pencils...” The duplicity and arrogance of this Tory government is quite appalling.
Of course slashing the budget of the Youth Advocate has nothing to do with said advocates’ involvement in bad PR tidbits like this:
“The Alberta government has dramatically under-reported the number of child welfare deaths over the past decade, undermining public accountability and thwarting efforts at prevention and reform. A six-month Edmonton Journal-Calgary Herald investigation found 145 foster children have died since 1999, nearly triple the 56 deaths revealed in government annual reports over the same period.”
Yep, they (The CYA) had better start manning the pencil sharpeners, stat! Clearly, they lost their funding because of the glaring inefficiencies in their department…
Ah, but let us return to the sunny and fresh idea that we have democracy and our leaders listen closely to the peons people who elected them.
“Passage of the law Tuesday all but took the issue off the table weeks before Prentice is expected to call a spring election. This is a case of a government responding to what they are hearing from the citizens of the province, including — I would emphasize — young people, who have had a significant say in this, who have moved me, and who have moved the minister,” Prentice said. “
WOW! Watch our keen government action; responding with adroit swiftness to issues that, to the government, have no meaning outside of the opportunity for some beneficial PR on the embarrassing social conservative front (hey look at us, we are not completely regressive ftw!).
Citizens of the province have been demanding more royalties from oil companies.
Citizens of this province have been demanding an end to the environmental chaos being sown in the Tar Sands region.
Citizens of this province have been demanding a fair and progressive tax structure.
Citizens of this province have been demanding prudent use of oil revenue and the establishment of a fund that would benefit all Albertans.
Citizens of this province have been demanding a rational plan of action to facilitate the ‘boomer bump’ in demand for medical services.
On these issues dear friends – there are no fucks to give – because these all involve diminishing the status of the moneyed few that help our elected officials ‘properly’ govern this fine province. So, hoi-poli, revel in your amazing victory and in making the government really “listen” to your concerns, especially you, younger Albertans.
Meanwhile, back at the Child Advocate office:
“Last May the government expanded the responsibilities of the advocate’s office, effectively doubling the number of child death reviews that need to be done each year, Graff said. In July, the committee agreed to increase Graff’s budget, “so there was acknowledgement that the additional work demanded additional resources,” he said. This is an absolute example to do more as a result of legislative amendment and then with the decision yesterday being provided with less resources to do it.”
Graff [Alberta’s CYA] is worried they may have to reduce their workload.
“The very best we can do is delay some of investigations,” he said. “We wouldn’t want to be making decision about whether or not they’re ever done based on dollars.”
Yes, I believe we should celebrate the GSA ruling, but realize that this small victory and frame it in a context of a government that will “listen” only when the perceived cost of doing said thing, is politically expedient.
Del Graff, Alberta’s CYA looking sombre in as he contemplates getting more work *and* less funds.
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
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