Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
It's a Hat Trick - First Brazeau, Then Duffy, Finally Wallin. Senate Does Harper's Dirty Work
The Senate has turfed Patrick Brazeau. Vote 50 to 29 with 13 abstentions. Wallin and Duffy expected to follow before the day's out. Duffy now gone 52-28. 11 abstentions. Now Wallin is finished.
I don't know what sickens me more, the unprincipled use of majority, the ever-changing narrative from the PMO, the financial negligence of Brazeau, Duffy, and Wallin, or the cowardice of those who abstained. It is all nauseating to me. This is a bad day for all of Canada.
I feel the same way, Elliott. A thoroughly (and deliberately) compromised Senate coming forward to do the prime minister's dirty work. LeBreton, Tkachuk and Stewart-Olsen taken off the hook, at least for now. How the Tories have disgraced the Senate that they themselves dominate.
This was one of the most disgusting acts of expediency driven political brutality I've ever seen. This was nothing less than a drumhead court-martial convened by Harper despite all his protestations about how the Senate was its own master. This expulsion order came out of the PMO to the Senate, the PM himself made clear it was expected by all good Conservatives to support it in the Senate (especially after you go from private member bill to government motion) and that it was to protect his and his Party's image and not because there was an actual basis for expulsion beyond being politically embarrassing. The so called evidence of the audit is far less clear than Conservatives claim, there was nothing remotely resembling due process involved, and unlike the private sector there is little recourse for the expelled Senators to fight back against improper/lack of due process basis for suspension/dismissal.
My contempt for the Conservative Senators who took their orders from the PMO despite being free from anything beyond caucus threats for coercion (which is WHY they are appointments for life/until 75, to prevent such coercion) is beyond simple description. This was totally unprincipled from beginning to end on the CPC side, showed just how little anything remotely resembling due process matters to this Prime Minister when it gets in his way, and just how far Canada as a nation has fallen where the rule of law is concerned. On this Pam Wallin was correct in her brief exit statement after the vote. I have no use for any of the three Senators in question, never did (except to enjoy watching JT destroy Brazeau in the boxing ring, especially after all the expectations of Conservatives going into it about how the "shiny/pretty pony" was going to get all messed up), but the whole point of due process is to remove such considerations from fair and equal application of the law, its protections and its penalties being evenly applied for all.
Yet again Harper illustrated how my fears about him for abuse of power scandalous behaviour was concerned was if anything understated. This is a very dark day in Canadian history, and worse, we may have seen a PM abuse his position to create a legal barrier against being charged or even just put in a position to be forced into court under oath regarding Duffy being charged with something by creating a possible double jeopardy defence scenario. We don't know that this will be the result, but there clearly has been more than a little legal concern expressed that this could end as a result of this action from more than just Senators, and the unwillingness of the Senate to verify this properly before acting further underscores just how much of a drumhead trial this was IMHO.
Truly a day of great dishonour all to protect PM Harper politically. Truly a disgusting sight indeed.
Mound, as much as I love your posts, I wish you would cease and desist from calling these greedy theocratic monsters Tories. It is insulting to the memory of all real Tories in the UK or Canadians like Robert Stanfield or even the Chief of Deef.
Of course if you are using it the following way it might be acceptable.
"The word "Tory" derives from the Middle Irish word tóraidhe; modern Irish tóraí: outlaw, robber or brigand,
@ Koot my use of "Tory" is a literary form of biting my tongue. It keeps me from using a preferred descriptor.
@ Chris - if the hundreds of documents, e-mails etc. Duffy's lawyer just passed on to the RCMP contain the smoking gun his lawyer mentioned, it's hard to guess how long the current parliamentary session might last.
10 comments:
So it would appear that the Duffster kept his powder so dry it blew away with one breath of hot air.
I don't know what sickens me more, the unprincipled use of majority, the ever-changing narrative from the PMO, the financial negligence of Brazeau, Duffy, and Wallin, or the cowardice of those who abstained. It is all nauseating to me. This is a bad day for all of Canada.
So those responsible have now been sidelined and Harper can continue on his merry destructive way.
I feel the same way, Elliott. A thoroughly (and deliberately) compromised Senate coming forward to do the prime minister's dirty work. LeBreton, Tkachuk and Stewart-Olsen taken off the hook, at least for now. How the Tories have disgraced the Senate that they themselves dominate.
Everything Harper touches becomes corrupted.
This was one of the most disgusting acts of expediency driven political brutality I've ever seen. This was nothing less than a drumhead court-martial convened by Harper despite all his protestations about how the Senate was its own master. This expulsion order came out of the PMO to the Senate, the PM himself made clear it was expected by all good Conservatives to support it in the Senate (especially after you go from private member bill to government motion) and that it was to protect his and his Party's image and not because there was an actual basis for expulsion beyond being politically embarrassing. The so called evidence of the audit is far less clear than Conservatives claim, there was nothing remotely resembling due process involved, and unlike the private sector there is little recourse for the expelled Senators to fight back against improper/lack of due process basis for suspension/dismissal.
My contempt for the Conservative Senators who took their orders from the PMO despite being free from anything beyond caucus threats for coercion (which is WHY they are appointments for life/until 75, to prevent such coercion) is beyond simple description. This was totally unprincipled from beginning to end on the CPC side, showed just how little anything remotely resembling due process matters to this Prime Minister when it gets in his way, and just how far Canada as a nation has fallen where the rule of law is concerned. On this Pam Wallin was correct in her brief exit statement after the vote. I have no use for any of the three Senators in question, never did (except to enjoy watching JT destroy Brazeau in the boxing ring, especially after all the expectations of Conservatives going into it about how the "shiny/pretty pony" was going to get all messed up), but the whole point of due process is to remove such considerations from fair and equal application of the law, its protections and its penalties being evenly applied for all.
Yet again Harper illustrated how my fears about him for abuse of power scandalous behaviour was concerned was if anything understated. This is a very dark day in Canadian history, and worse, we may have seen a PM abuse his position to create a legal barrier against being charged or even just put in a position to be forced into court under oath regarding Duffy being charged with something by creating a possible double jeopardy defence scenario. We don't know that this will be the result, but there clearly has been more than a little legal concern expressed that this could end as a result of this action from more than just Senators, and the unwillingness of the Senate to verify this properly before acting further underscores just how much of a drumhead trial this was IMHO.
Truly a day of great dishonour all to protect PM Harper politically. Truly a disgusting sight indeed.
It is time to go to the streets. "I couldn't care less" should be the call used against Harper.
We must not be overly judgemental. Harper may be in a drunken stupor.
God bless the people of Canada.
Mound, as much as I love your posts, I wish you would cease and desist from calling these greedy theocratic monsters Tories. It is insulting to the memory of all real Tories in the UK or Canadians like Robert Stanfield or even the Chief of Deef.
Of course if you are using it the following way it might be acceptable.
"The word "Tory" derives from the Middle Irish word tóraidhe; modern Irish tóraí: outlaw, robber or brigand,
The news stories say they are suspended for the duration of the current parliamentary session. That could conceivably last until the next election.
But it means that if Harper prorogues parliament again they are back next session.
@ Koot my use of "Tory" is a literary form of biting my tongue. It keeps me from using a preferred descriptor.
@ Chris - if the hundreds of documents, e-mails etc. Duffy's lawyer just passed on to the RCMP contain the smoking gun his lawyer mentioned, it's hard to guess how long the current parliamentary session might last.
Post a Comment