Keeping it Real…

32 responses so far ↓

• 1 Powell river persuader // Aug 18, 2009 at 3:37 am

  The Cracks are forming in the Liberal caucus…..Donna barnett,newbie that won a squeaker in the Caribou/chilcotin has stated “hST is no dam good”……Harry Bloy(defeated Liberal ) has been making noise……
  Keith Baldrey tonight on Glowball news stated “If there was an election today the Liberals would be lucky to win a handful of seats” he went on to say that this time is different…….”this time it`s the core Liberal voter that are outraged,the business community,it isn`t fringe groups or organized labour that`s angry,it`s every Liberal”

  Those are strong words from Baldrey

  Campbell on the news tonight(from this morning actually) was asked about the HST,he did his spin with a deranged look on his face and said…..

  “We will be locked in for 2 years but then it could be reduced if the GST gets lowered”

  Say WHAT?….First off the GST won`t be lowered,secondly he just lobed the ball in to the feds court……I ain`t buying it,either is the public

  I realize that Campbell is a control FREAK but……

  Campbell is spoiled goods now,how many newbie Liberal MLAs are prepared to be one term wonders for the out-going Campbell…….Chickens are clucking,next month they will be coming home to roost!

• 2 Norman Farrell // Aug 18, 2009 at 4:29 am

  I notice that Vaughn Palmer didn’t join his critical colleagues with guns blazing. His blog reports that he’s not dead, just resting.

  “But not as much is happening in the capital these days and the entries will likely be sporadic until the legislature resumes on Aug. 25.”

  Perhaps, he is pained by the blog world. Two way flow of information doesn’t fit with some of the newspaper types. Vaughn’s blog got 7 posts in March, 29 in April, 13 in May, 1 in June and 0 in July and August, to date.

  I’ve said it before but H.O. and others have embarrassed the working professionals. They are responding to heat as much as political circumstances.

  (Response: Isn’t Vaughn on vacation? h.o.)

• 3 DMJ // Aug 18, 2009 at 5:38 am

  Harvey;

  Today, just after RAV’s hype and hoopla, the Premier axed the Department of Tourism. think this move may be the ‘last straw’ for a caucus rebellion.

  A good friend of mine who is a die-hard Liberal and a heavy hitter financial for the party, has just mailed his torn up Liberal Member ship card to party headquarters with a terse note – “Don’t call me, I will call you after you dump the b*****d”

  Campbell’s government is imploding and the Mainstream media has to report on the mess. Even the goody two-shoes RAV reports could not have stopped the negative news.

  (As an aside, when new transit systems open, they are generally free for the public on a weekend, giving plenty of time for all to ride free, not so with RAV which opening, I think was contrived to hide bad news from the courts)

  Has Campbell’s Teflon finally worn thin? Is the party tired of his micromanaging ways? Who will be the first Liberal MLA, who is not afraid to bell the cat, walk across the floor and join Vickie Huntington?

  Rumor is predicting 6 Liberals may walk before the fall session. 6 + Vickie + a new opposition party, which may send chills down Carole James spine!

  If the anger is a real as I think over the HST and other lies; if the Liberal MLA’s show some backbone and if the MSM start reporting news instead of printing Liberal news releases, maybe we will have a new premier to open the Olympic games,

  (Response: Don’t think there’s any way Campbell could/would be gone before olympics. If a new party was formed …it would have to build until the next election to make any real gains. But what an exciting prospect! h.o. )

• 4 Curt // Aug 18, 2009 at 12:36 pm

  I lost faith in the media along time ago. It’s the same old same old as far as I’m concerned. Appear to be ticked off with the Campbell Corporation, (and the Feds for that matter) play it in the news and on paper, (for awhile anyway) but in the end will support the lieberals (and Cons) in every way. Shame on them.

• 5 crh // Aug 18, 2009 at 3:49 pm

  If the MSM can show itself to be non-partisan in the next 8 years then I may think of them as reformed.

  Personally, I think they feel it is safe to slag Campbell over this HST policy due to an election being years away. They will stroke him again when he needs it.

  (Response: Yes, I too think that will happen. But just maybe this time Campbell has turned so many people off things will be different. After all, as I wrote, their own credibility … and diminishing subscription/advertising base … is also at stake if they just keep buying his deceit hook, line and stinker. h.o.)

• 6 Powell river persuader // Aug 18, 2009 at 6:33 pm

  A big story in the news last night that isn`t on most people`s radar…..Ceila Francis (Chief adjudicator at the freedom of imformation) has granted Susan Heyes lawyer Cameron Ward requests for all financial documents related to the operators of the Canada line…..
  Read the story here

  http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canada+Line+operator+ordered+reveal+deal+with+Translink/1902920/story.html

  And you can read my take on this latest revalation here…….Cameron Ward ..Crazy like a fox

  http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/08/susan-heyes-lawyer-cameron-ward-is-one.html

• 7 RossK // Aug 18, 2009 at 8:35 pm

  I think there is a new element that must be considered here…..

  Which is that there are certain business sector segments that are being buffeted here as well as just the plain ol’ plain folks.

  Which is very different than the usually, easily ignored, especially from an advertiser point of view, buffeting and bashing plain ol’ plain folks and, say, certain labour union sectors.

  (or some such thing).

  _____
  I also think the re-injection of a little competition into this media market due to the emergence of the Globe’s BC Bureau may have something to do with it as well.

  (Respopnse: Well, the Globe’s bureau here has been doing some terrific stuff ..and maybe the fact we’ve blogged about it here and talked about that prodded at least some of the local media to step up a bit more in keeping the government’s feet to the fire. But they have a good way to go yet! h.o.)
  .

• 8 Vacation // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:05 pm

  Hasn’t Mr. Palmer been on vacation for the last 8 years?

• 9 RossK // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:17 pm

  Harvey–

  You really think they pay attention to the Bloggodome?

  Me, I’m not so sure.

  (although they certainly do mention it often enough on Mr. Good’s radio show, so maybe I’m wrong)

  (Response: I think with the couple of hundred staff they have in the Public Affairs Bureau ..Big Brother watches EVERY kind of discussion ..including the ones here. Hi PAB! h.o.)

  .

• 10 Dan R. // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:21 pm

  Rumor is predicting 6 Liberals may walk before the fall session. 6 + Vickie + a new opposition party, which may send chills down Carole James spine!
  ==========

  Especially with that poll last week that had Campbell and his libs down 12 points but the NDP remaining the same 42% and the Greens and Cons gaining.

  I wish Ms. James would do the right thing and step aside…sigh..

• 11 Ruaridh // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm

  Campbell and Hansen talk on every occasion about the HST not being on the radar screen at election time.

  A bad choice of metaphor.

  The HST, if it did not appear on radar screens should perhaps be known as the STEALTH TAX, as stealth fighters are almost invisible on radar screens.

  STEALTH TAX is in fact a good description.

• 12 Ricky B // Aug 18, 2009 at 11:01 pm

  As usual the MSM fail to ask the real questions during a campaign. They should have been all over the BC Rail scandal, the projected budget that had no hope in BC of being anywhere near its printed target, the Run of the rivers scandal and who knows what else is lurking out there.

  The MSM can safely attack the LIBcons now that the election is over and the LibCons won. My question is will they ever get to the point they were when the Social Credit government was falling.

• 13 blaffergassted // Aug 18, 2009 at 11:22 pm

  The BC Liberals spent their first two terms governing like Conservatives. Now that they’re taxing and spending – like all good Liberals do – they’re losing their base and creating room for a new centre-right party.

  Harry Bloy, a federal Tory and current BC Liberal MLA (not defeated), may be one to watch, but I doubt it. He’s into his third term, and if things go sour, he’ll probably just retire from politics.

• 14 Lynn // Aug 18, 2009 at 11:36 pm

  Is possible that Harper is trying to discredit the Liberals in an effort to rally support for a conservative party in B.C. through this 1.6 billion dollar bribe? What is Harper’s true intention? I would love to see Campbell leave but why is Harper wanting the HST now? What is his angle?

  (Response: I doubt that. The feds have long wanted a harmonized sales tax ..boosts their revenues, supposedly cuts collection costs, standardizes the system across the country and benefits some large manufacturers and exporters.. And Harper has enough problems at the national level without worrying about building a Conservative party in BC. h.o.)

• 15 Powell river persuader // Aug 19, 2009 at 2:54 am

  Typo….on comment #1 meant to say John Nuraney….I get those Burnby liberals mixed up…….John Nuraney (defeated)

• 16 Patrick Bell (Not the MLA) // Aug 19, 2009 at 5:02 am

  I love how Campbell always refers to the Fed bribe for the HST impossible to turn down as it to protect our HEATH CARE AND EDUCATION……

  meanwhile he is gutting both…and the cuts will get even worse for both as these mega projects are costing way more than anticipated….

  Response to #9
  (Response: I think with the couple of hundred staff they have in the Public Affairs Bureau ..Big Brother watches EVERY kind of discussion ..including the ones here. Hi PAB! h.o.)

  I love it Harvey

• 17 Crankypants // Aug 19, 2009 at 7:59 am

  I first got introduced to your blog through your appearance on Bill Good’s show. It has been enlightening, entertaining and fun to participate in. The opportunity to exchange ideas on various subjects with others without constraints, other than legal concerns creates a great forum.

  I definitely think that your relentless attack on the state of the reporting of the mainstream media has had a positive effect. Also the poll that showed that the electorate was 85% opposed to the HST must have caught the attention of both the reporters and their bosses. That being said, I don’t necessarily think that all the reporters in the mainstream media are comitted to really going after a story. I think they have become intimidated by the politicians and will accept any answer that comes their way. My take is that as long as they have illicited any response then their job is done. Is it possible that to many of the reporters have been on the same beat for so long that they have developed personal relations with too many of the politicians and therefore become complacent. We have had the same reporters and the same incumbents interacting for a very long time, which cannot be a healthy situation.

  Let’s hope we have turned a corner with respect to the media, but I suspect once the furor subsides with the HST we will be back to the same old same old. I hope I’m wrong. If we only have reporting but no investigative reporting then we only have another arm of the government which serves no one.

  Our political system is so flawed that the official opposition is as toothless as Moms Mabely(apologies if I spelled her name incorrectly). Yes they can rant and rave all they wish, but when it counts they are as effective as a eunich in a whorehouse. We need the media to hold the politicians feet to the fire whenever possible. I understand that they have their own personal views on who or what they support, but the profession they have chosen dictates that they leave these personal biases at the door when they are on the job.

  I guess we will have to wait and see how things unfold.

  Harvey, thank you for creating this forum and not being afraid to step on a few toes when they need stepping on.

  (Response: Many thanks. This blog started just as a hobby after I retired, thanks to a friend who is computer wise and thought I should have a forum to go along with my new-found freedom. And I think we all together here have done a public service ..discussing issues we care about, even if we disagree. Your comments on reporters going stale reflect my own in a blog June 26 (http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/dont-let-lost-e-mails-scandal-drop/ ) in which the opening line was: “Would someone wake up the Legislative Press Gallery.” I guess we have …at least some! Just hope they don’t fall back asleep soon. h.o.)

• 18 genuine // Aug 20, 2009 at 2:26 am

  The pab should help out and retrieve some of those tapes.

  (Response: The spin they would put on their destruction is government officials were just trying to clear out the clutter, reduce and reuse, or simplifying history for our children and grandchildren. h.o)

• 19 RossK // Aug 20, 2009 at 6:55 am

  Thanks for the comment about the very, very fine folks from the PAB upthread Harvey….

  Not sure if you know it, but….

  Those fine, fine folks actually outnumber full time park rangers in this province ~20 to 1.

  (Response: I guess watching out for political fires rates higher importance. h.o.)

• 20 Robert // Aug 20, 2009 at 4:20 pm

  I listened to Mike the first thing this morning. His rant about honesty. He gave you a hint about how it was going to go once the outrage had died down by saying that he did not suggest we go back to the NDP. I take this as saying come the next election he willtie his horse to the Lieberals again.

• 21 Gary L. // Aug 20, 2009 at 5:00 pm

  Thanks to RossK’s comparison figures , re: PAB vs Park Ranger’s ratio.
  May I suggest that an immediate solution to this imbalance would be to clear out the PAB Office, and place these fine outstanding citizens on the front line, fighting our forest fires.
  Nothing like a real job, to make one pause and think…………….

  Cheers

• 22 genuine // Aug 21, 2009 at 12:40 am

  In Afghanistan,we are bending over backwards to make sure people are voting including our brave soldiers lives we have lost, and, continue to risk, yet right here in B.C. our brave premier,raises the bar for people to vote !Two pieces of id ,the gag law which was deemed unconstitutional,can some body tell me what in the hell is going on here?

• 23 CB // Aug 21, 2009 at 12:37 pm

  There must be someone in PAB willing to give us goods. Can you imagine if one of these spinmisters came clean to the media? Instant fame and notaritey… I’m sure the public would treat them as a hero. Come on, PAB, surely there’s a wistle-blower amongst you!

• 24 Powell river persuader // Aug 21, 2009 at 7:07 pm

  Are the media getting it Harvey….when pigs fly,nothing but stooges I say,stooges….

  my take on the media…..

  http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/08/mediaare-they-mentally.html

• 25 genuine // Aug 21, 2009 at 10:18 pm

  CB; do you really think the media are not aware of these issue’s,and, a whole lot more we no nothing about this is a consorted effort by government and media police and courts judges to put it simply,to SCREW US,I suggest we join in the rallies and up coming protests to at least show these asses we know there game !!!BUSTED.

• 26 Crankypants // Aug 22, 2009 at 5:28 am

  During the provincial election the media was falling all over itself quoting David Suzuki, Tzeporah Berman , Mark Jaccard and other environmentalists with respect to the NDP’s “axe the tax” campaign. They were all lighting their hair on fire that anyone suggest that the carbon tax be abolished and the MSM was all over it.

  Fast forward to the announcement of the HST in which the majority of the 5% exemption allowed by the feds is being applied to gasoline type products. However there will be HST applied to such things as solar panels and other environmentally friendly products. Also the Liberals have seen fit to cancel the Live Smart programme. Where are these environmentalists now? How come none of the MSM aren’t seeking them out now for their views on the Liberal green shift from the environment to the colour of Canadian taxpayers money.

  It seems a tad hypocritical to me. What say you?

  (Response: I think you’re right. The silence … or the lack of coverage of whatever they have said (If anything!) …is deafening. And like you, I wonder why h.o.)

• 27 DMJ // Aug 22, 2009 at 2:36 pm

  I don’t think the media are getting it, rather they are trying to blame the blogs for the problem. The blogs “are a law unto themselves” or the blogs are “immune from libel”, and so on.

  Some blogs are over the wall, for sure, but yours, David Berners, Stephen Rees and the Rail for the Valley blogs are almost a daily reading must.

  The media, I think, are ever conscious of the future; will they get a communications job, will they get an Order of Canada, or even a Senate seat.

  There are some very good reporters, Charlie Smith, of the Georgia Straight is very provocative. Potvin’s ‘Republic’ (now in hiatus) was also an interesting read. Potvin’s expose of Campbell’s drunk charge and his other relationships and liaisons is a must read.

  The two dailies though have turned into reporting press releases and spin-doctoring for the present government and that is not news, it is propaganda. Especially the Sun, which seems to be Mr. Campbell’s ‘Pravda’ and is next to useless being considered a newspaper.

  The electronic media also suffers and ‘god so help me’ if i hear another goody-two-shoes- Olympic story, I’ll upchuck. To prevent sickness, i now watch more American news on the box than Canadian, which is a very sad reflection on BC’s media.

  (Response: People who fight, raise real issues, don’t buy the government line, ask tough questions, stand up against overpowering authority are apparently ineligible for the Order of Canada. They prefer peopel like Alan Eagleson, Rene Levesque, Conrad Black and David Ahenakew. Speaking of the Order of Canada, I was just reading that Steve Fonyo is back in jail ..again. He certainly raise a lot of money to fight cancer..$13.5 million … during his run … but that was a one-shot deal 20 years ago, not a life-long dedication or pursuit …and followed instead by all kinds of trouble with the law… jailed TWICE in the last couple of months. Clearly troubled ..but worthy of Order of Canada? h.o.)

• 28 genuine // Aug 22, 2009 at 5:31 pm

  Heres a good one for you guy’s,has anybody heard about the reno’s at the new convention center? Well it’s coming ,and I think they started already ,talk about the media not doing it’s job,do you think 400,000,000 in over run’s would have fix this situation?I guess not ,the milking of our wallets hasn’t stopped yet on that project,yet the media asks james to answer questions that do not evem make any sense,like will you eliminate the hst ?Who cares it will already be put in place,and they do that an each and every issue,obfuscation is what that is,doe’s the media think we are that stupid? Well I for one see right through you,and I’m sure others do to ,so cut the silly crap and do your job or,just leave us alone,because the only truthful information we’ll ever find is on these blog’s written by truthful and concerned citizens!! Oh,and by the way BUSTED!!!!!!AGAIN!!!!!!! You people and use the term people very lightly,are stupider than we think if you think your fooling anyone,except for the really naive,In which reading some other blog’s ,still believe,the msm, government,police and the courts have our interests at heart! What a joke you guy’s at the msm are,keith,micheal,nothing happening at the ledge,vaughn?,are you reading this ,maybe you can enlighten us at whats going on at the convention center?Besides that million dollar raindrop?Take your time I’m not holding my breath.Man just reading some of the stuff Mary had on her blog years ago and the msm ‘is reporting on it now ,years latter you guy’s are a joke and they pay you for what!they pay you for your silence andcontempt of the people that at one time elevated and trusted you blindly,now you have lost that trust ,remember this my fellow BCR”S,it is always darkest before the storm,and once this storm of obfuscation has passed and it will only pass if we join in our ranks and support those who do not support this unholy structure,the government has erected police,courts,pab and msm are for corporations not the citizen!So let’s support anyone that’s trying to do anything for us ,including the people the msm is laughing at on their news papers and electronic media,I’m sure you know whom I’m talking about ,there mentioned above

• 29 Henri Paul // Aug 23, 2009 at 4:30 am

  genuine // Aug 22, 2009 at 5:31 pm
  said in part,maybe you can enlighten us at whats going on at the convention center?Besides that million dollar raindrop.
  ————-
  Enjoyed your comment, but if you wouldn’t mind allowing me to make one small correction. In references to what you refer to as the raindrop.
  My understanding is that its a drip, a dedication to remind us of the drip in Victoria. In times gone by, when someone had the clap, it was referred to as the drip, therefore one should be able to grasp the correlation between these two drips.

• 30 Jean // Aug 24, 2009 at 9:58 am

  (Chris Gailus … edited by ho … see Jean’s note below) on Aug. 21/09 ‘news’ on Global had his little chat with Campbell about the HST. Campbell, as usual, very annoyed that he would be questioned about the HST, ranted on and on about all his pros for the HST. He then ‘switched seats with (Gailus) and raged that (Gailus) should also show more people FOR the HST instead of only anti HST people. (Gailus) almost interrupted Campbell but then stopped and let Campbell rage on and on. The next day (Gailus) informed the viewers that Campbell had complained so he was reporting on all the pros on Aug. 22, which he did, like a good little Can-Wester. Aug. 23 should have been the cons kick at the cat but NOTHING. Amazing, Campbell on (Gaiulus’s) Global news telling (Gailus) what to report on!!! Funny if it wasn’t so scary and sick. B.C. will never recover from the damage this felon and his gang have done to our once great province. (I may be wrong on those dates but it was in the last few days). What we need in this province is a Lou Dobbs, CNN, reporting on politics and economics and a Nancy Grace, HLN, reporting on crime.I hope someone organizes a rally, like Victoria, in Surrey and Vancouver. Please let me know if there is one here. Say NO to corporate welfare.

• 31 genuine // Aug 24, 2009 at 11:00 pm

  Last night ,which was Sunday around 8:00 pm I recieved a phone call from the govrment of canada(the conservatives,)ordering me not to hang up,do not hang up in a robotic and almost threatening tone, and asked if I was in favor or disagreed with the bailout of GM,push 1 for yes and 2 for no,of course I did not answer and made a comment it went like this,isn’t it a little late you’ve already bailed them out this question would of been a little more appropriate last FEB,don’t you think ,and the mechanical voice went on to say ,we are experiencing technical difficulties and hung up? Did this call come to anyone else?It also registered as an unknown caller ?Shouldn’t it have said Government of Canada on the call display?

  (Response: I’m always reluctant to press buttons when instructed to do so by sources I do not know, regardless of who they say they are: could be a scam ..and you never know exactly what you are doing (turning your phono line over to rhem?) when you press buttons. I just hang up. h.o)

• 32 Jean // Aug 25, 2009 at 7:06 am

  Re my comment #30, it should read Chris Gaillis (sic?) and not Kevin Newman, in all instances. OOOps!!

  (Response: Ahhh! I couldnt remember seeing Kevin do that interview …but since I’m retired… I don’t watch them all. Will correct. h.o.)

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