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By slamming experts, Pierre Poilievre and his staff are degrading political debate Stephen Maher is a political journalist and author of The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau. On Tuesday, when Doris Grinspun, the CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, told CBC that Ontario’s decision to close 10 supervised drug consumption sites is “a death sentence for people that use substances,” the federal Conservatives were quick to attack her. Sebastian Skamski, a spokesman for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, slammed her on X: “CBC’s so called ‘expert’ (with 23 letters behind her name) deems Trudeau’s crime ridden drug dens ‘essential’ & equates them to cancer treatment centres. These are the WACKO ‘experts’ Trudeau uses to defend his drug disaster. These are the WACKO ‘expert’ voices media peddles.” Story continues below advertisement Mr. Skamski, who is entitled to put two letters behind his name, may not fully appreciate the value of the letters after Dr. Grinspun’s name. They show, among other things, that she is a registered nurse and a PhD, that she has an honorary law degree and is a member of the Order of Ontario. Those letters do not show that she is right about supervised injection sites, but do show that she might know what she is talking about, and is the kind of person we ought to hear from. If she has good reasons to believe that supervised drug consumption sites save lives and reduce the harm of addiction, then she has a responsibility to speak out. Mr. Skamski is impolite, therefore, to call her names and treat her disrespectfully for doing her job. But he is following the example set by his boss. Mr. Poilievre is going after the people working on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. It is part of a pattern. Story continues below advertisement Mr. Poilievre has previously attacked Indigenous survivors of residential schools, the chief electoral officer, former governor-general David Johnston, a small-town reporter and variousexperts. Mr. Poilievre is often careless about others’ reputations. In February, for example, in the House of Commons, where he can speak without fear of defamation law, he called housing expert Mike Moffatt a “failed Liberal academic,” an ill-considered, inaccurate and unfair smear on a public intellectual who has done as much as anyone in Canada to explain the housing crisis and propose solutions. In the online conservative world where Mr. Skamski and Mr. Poilievre likely spend too much time, it is normal to refer to some people as NPCs – non-playable characters. It’s an idea from video games: NPCs are the figures nobody is controlling, like the pedestrians who get hit by cars in Grand Theft Auto. Conservatives who are “very online” – meaning they are excessively engaged with internet culture – use the term as an insult. Elon Musk used the phrase recently to complain about hostile media coverage of his boring conversation with Donald Trump. But in a way, many citizens are NPCs in politics; they are non-partisans who nonetheless can participate in debates. It is a bad idea to sneer at those people, or discourage them from speaking. Story continues below advertisement Mr. Poilievre has a fearsome reputation because of his unerring ability to quickly identify his opponents’ weak spots and attack them ruthlessly. He sometimes goes further than necessary, but the parliamentary system depends on no-holds-barred exchanges. It is wrong to expect the Leader of the Opposition to treat the Prime Minister and his cabinet as flawed but well-meaning. That’s not how the game has ever been played – not by John A. Macdonald, John Diefenbaker or Jean Chrétien. If you don’t want to be attacked, do not run for office. But when Mr. Poilievre is disrespectful to NPCs – like Dr. Grinspun or Mr. Moffatt – he is making our public conversations even viler than they need to be. Our debates do not need to resemble YouTube comment sections, where nasty basement dwellers anonymously trade vicious insults with strangers. Mr. Poilievre has had a commanding lead in the polls for almost two years. His party is united behind him while the Liberals are confused and dispirited. Everyone thinks he is going to be prime minister. He would be smart to start acting like it and direct his partisan attacks only at those who put their names on ballots. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-by-slamming-experts-pierre-poilievre-and-his-staff-are-degrading/

While filming a political video at Arlington Cemetery, an Arlington employee told a Trump cameraman that he was forbidden from entering or photographing Area 60, where the most recent veterans are buried. Doing so, she explained, was a violation of Federal law. But we know that Trump and his cronies don’t give a damn about Federal law, nor respecting our veterans. The statement from the U.S. Army said Trump’s staff “unfairly attacked” an Arlington National Cemetery employee: “This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked,” a statement from the Army’s public affairs office said, referring to Arlington National Cemetery. “ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve.” Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, said in a statement that the cemetery official was “clearly suffering from a mental health episode” and that the campaign was prepared to release footage of the confrontation to support its account of the clash. The campaign did not provide that footage after several requests. Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign adviser, added in a separate statement that the cemetery official was “a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.” PROOF that Donald Trump and his cronies have no respect for the men and women who serve our nation.

The Piece of Shlt named Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. This is a fact, because the United States is a nation of laws. Those laws were followed, Trump filed his ridiculous 64 lawsuits and lost them all, so done deal. Even his hand-picked Supreme Court refused to overturn the election. And Fox News lost $785 million in a defamation lawsuit because they lied about Trump’s loss. Repeat: Fox News paid $785 million because they repeatedly lied to their viewers. Now the traitor says he will pardon the seditionists who attacked the U.S. Capitol, including people convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 17 years in Federal prison. One of Trump’s closest confidants, Stephanie Grisham, said that while spending the holidays with the Trump family, Donald repeatedly called his own supporters “basement dwellers.” That’s what Trump thinks of YOU. He thinks you’re a “basement dweller.” And, maybe you are. Trump hates the United States Constitution, hates disabled veterans, illegally uses Arlington Cemetery for political photo ops, illegally tear-gassed people for another photo op, and is still facing felony charges in DC, Florida and Georgia. This convicted 34-time felon is facing sentencing next month. Republicans are supporting a traitor who hates everything about America. Donald Trump wants to turn America into an oligarchy just like Russia, with no civil rights, where reporters are jailed without trial and nobody has freedom of speech… and the only people with money are a handful of a few dozen oligarchs. That’s Trump’s America. More tax cuts for billionaires, and nothing to help the middle class.

Why are so many conservatives afraid of imaginary monsters?

But he didn't get things done. He committed to the failed Afghanistan withdrawal, he couldn't even build a border wall (and people just used rope ladders to climb over what was built), and he ruined the economy by creating chaos with his mismanagement of Covid and his failed insurrection attempt. His only policy is to grift money for himself, pardon himself, and give more tax breaks to billionaires. You guys don't care about policy at all. You just want to burn it down to own the libbies.

these leftist Academic elites run every institution in Canada as a result, Canada has followed their Woke Progressive agenda to the letter and in less than a decade, that has resulted in widespread chaos and a sharp economic decline across the board no we are apparently supposed to feel sorry for these vacuous fops as the fires of populist revolt inevitably rise around them

It's too bad that biden/Harris incompetence led to so many dead veterans. Very sad indeed

Not only that, sounds like some anti-Trump leftist bureaucrat tried to abuse their power to make a scene too. The families invited him. The families took pictures with him. Yes, he did honor them.

Yet FB was directed to censor people the Demoncrats didn't like. You Libbies don't "protect" Democracy...you actively destroy it.

Woops - all caps AND bold. You really riled him up this time @Deluge . You can practically hear the foam forming when he types LOL

Because he's present and paying respects? Yeah. Funny how that works. More than she did Do.... do you realize that pretending to studder makes you look like a tard? Of course not, you're a tard. Do... do you realize that what you just said makes it even MORE shameful Kamala didn't show? Of course not, you have no sense of honor or decency. Oh well. I guess we can't expect you to recognize decent behavior considering you can't recognize a vagina.

I used to be a vigilante but quit when my profession was being overrun with vaginalantes who were all fakes.

I love when they demand peer-reviewed studies and I provide them, then they reject them all. And my other favourite, "The FDA said blah blah blah". I don't care what the lying FDA said about ivermectin, there are 87 peer-reviewed studies and datasets from all over the world that say otherwise. 🤣

Kamala Harris supporters. Figures. Sad really

Those who still understand common sense.

You mean thanks to the spineless limpwrist that not only dissolved his party without consulting his party or the BC electorate and must now kneel before and play 2nd fiddle to the very man that kicked him in the nuts. Winning is everything even if you have to give up on everything you believe in and so lack any shame you still think that's winning. No spine, no shame. no honour. Abandoned every centrist voter in BC to concede a chance for the anti-vaqx, anti-environment, anti-first nations, social regressive populist with no actual platform to "win". Faclon = ****. Wimp. Traitor.

Why are leftists such tragic ldiots? You woketards will vote for anything that smells left; way, WAY Left.

Apparently the women wasn't acting right even tho Donnie got clearance for a private photographer. She's probably worked up because of all Harris/Biden casualties so we can give her a pass

I agree. The war hero Tampon Tim is a perfect example too.

The convicted part is done. Sentencing for 34 felonies is in three weeks. Well.., the piece of shlt shouldn’t have committed a hundred felonies and lead an insurrection against the government.

Do you work in a movie theatre? Because that's some serious projection.... So what breed of dog was that robo? I think it was a dunning-kruger wasn't it?

^BANKRUPT animal abuse

Lol...tho thilly.

It’s too bad that you’re supporting a piece of shlt TRAITOR who lead a RIOT on the US Capitol and promised to pardon the insurrectionists if re-elected. You hate America and it makes us sick.

Oh no. OK...who left myata's padded cell door open this time?

"I honor you with this photo op of meeeeeee!" 😁👍

But it's great that it is! One case. If there is one, there are more.

No, and i think deep down you understand how this works He's way ahead in California. But California only has so many Electoral College votes. Whether you win California by one vote or a million votes makes no difference So you have to look at the swing states. And then you have to look at the margin of error if there is a 3% +- margin of error then If they are within three points of each other they are tied. That is how math works. So even nationally they are tied. It's within the margin of error. But when you take into account the swing states it's an even closer race because the Electoral College matters.So no, trump isn't losing, you just don't understand math. Or your mental health crisis has caused you to ignore it, it's kind of hard to say

And as i've previously noted - one of the favorite leftie defenses when they know they can't refute the fact they don't like is "why are we even talking about this??". They will downplay it. pretend it's nothing. Claim nobody's interestesd. ANYTHING - ANYTHING rather than address the issue or suggest it should be addressed. Obviously Hodad knows this is true and a problem - but he doesn't want people talking about it. So .. "why are we talking about this?"

Yeah, gross.

If this were a dude putting on such an obviously fake mask to appear to be a woman, you would be here cheering him on and trying to tell all of us that makes him a woman.

Why do people post garbage like this. One can tell the MAGA cultists was melting down, and becoming very nervous, as Harris leads by over 3 points.

Again for the mentally impaired: "Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," according to the statement. "Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants." If she had showed up and flashed a grin and a thumbs up over a dead serviceman's grave like Trump did, you would shit your pants. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it.

Oh is that why he brought his campaign staff with him? LOL, dumbass.

I would. I love those.

What a bunch of a55holes. Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery Two members of Donald Trump's campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned. A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump staffers from filming and photographing in a section where recent U.S. casualties are buried. The source said Arlington officials had made clear that only cemetery staff members would be authorized to take photographs or film in the area, known as Section 60. When the cemetery official tried to prevent Trump campaign staff from entering Section 60, campaign staff verbally abused and pushed the official aside, according to the source. ... "Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate's campaign," according to the statement. "Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants."

What in your mind is the difference between a "gift" and a bribe? Crow wanted Thomas to stay on the bench and PAID HANDSOMELY to "persuade" him to do that. That "gift" meets every definition of a bribe. bribe /brīb/ verb persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement. "an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence" They are not. NOT even sworn testimony. You don't even know who wrote them.

The point is that expertise itself is moving under the political realm. That's not a good thing in any sense. No money to be made in objectivity anymore.

Sure. The open borders alone should be enough to impeach her ass, so why not load up the charges? Let's throw her ass in jail and throw away the key!

I think the OP should be congratulated. He's come up with a topic that builds bridges and fosters unity. People all across the political spectrum can agree that this subject is profoundly stupid.

Does anybody have any idea what he's on about this time?