shoop

Maybe Warren Kinsella has it right today. Kinsella's blog page. The CPC and NDP are better off if Goodale stays. By focing him out Martin would show resolve and a commitment to cleaning up government. By letting him stay the story will have a longer life...

Why you contemptuous of a tax credit aimed at encouraging use of public transit? What is contemptuous in a plan to deal with childhood obesity by making it more affordable for parents to put their children into organized sports? How is providing proper support to our veterans of the armed services contemptible to you?

LC, Good post. The Honest Politician is clearly a young Liberal hack who is so blinded by personal ambition that he can't see how severly corrupt this government has become. Honest ministers resign when there is the appearance of impropriety and don't have to be torn from office kicking and screaming. But that is forgetting the Liberals divine right to govern. That will be an issue the RCMP looks at in this investigation.

Oops, double post.

Basic right is the Liberal spin on the issue. Ask Martin if he favours gay marriage, and he will waffle and talk about rights. You ensure rights by guaranteeing civil unions and Martin falls apart on the issue. Too bad though. The Liberals don't have the *right* to line their friends pockets ala Sponsorship and Income Trust. That is the issue that will decide this election.

Hmmm, that is right. They have enough evidence to start an official investigation. Clearly they don't have anybody dead to rights ... yet. That is ok though. You have convenienlty ignored the devastating effect on your campaign. It is time for a long period away from power for the Liberals, ala 1984. The arrogance is appalling. How is this for a way to deal with corruption. Fight every allegation tooth and nail, no matter how increasingly serious they become. Then when we are proven guilty (i.e. of $1.14 Million dollars by justice Gomery.) hope the country will believe us when it is time to move on. So sorry, not this time... Soon to be Deputy Prime Minister Peter MacKay said it best.

Kind of a tough position to be in. Regardless of the outcome of the investigationi this could very well be the final nail in the coffin for the Liberals. I think your talk of a plea bargain shows a little too much "Law & Order" and "CSI" knolwedge. Things don't work that quickly in the real world...

This time it is a Federal Liberal cabinet minister. David Emerson of BC referred to Jack Layton as having a "boiled dog's head smile.'' Random CTV link... Symbolic of the arrogance and lack of discipline in the Martin Liberals. Paul Wells had the best line with respect to this one.

The RCMP would no start an investigation in the middle of a campaign without serious evidence. The RCMP isn't playing politics here. Obviously they are going ahead because they honestly feel there is enough evidence to go forward with. "Save you stakes and crosses?" More like save your pensions and arses. Regardless of who charges are field against in this case, ethics and honesty in government are now front and centre in this campaign. That is a good thing for all Canadians. Bad news for the Liberals though...

CC, That is going a *little* far. There are people on the left of the canadian spectrum that are looking for an alternative in their voting choice. United Canadian Socialist Republic? Yikes dude the overstatement doesn't really help your argument and makes you look like a watcher of Fox News.

Uhhh, your support for the Liberals in spite of their many, many ethical transgressions questions your commitment to honesty.

I kinda liked being told to "get a life" and "shame on my smallmindedness". Yes, the victimization is amazing. I guess it really should be 'shame on me for questioning the Liberals divine right to govern this country. It is possible that there was no illegal action, but that is why the RCMP is investigating - to answer that very question. Goodale should step aside as minister until that question is answered. Regardless of the histrionics on the Liberal part this investigation is terrible news for them. They had managed to push corruption of the front page. Now it is back and will likely stay there throughout the campaign. Oh my, this sounds like a Liberal feeling victimized and it's all the Oppositions fault. The irony of a Liberal demanding for someone to "see both sides" is simply astounding. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The $1200 a year will not open up spots in government run daycare facilities. However, it will create more demand for spaces which will be met by entrepreneurs. This will give parents more choice in the matter. It will also open up spaces by the tax credits given to companies to create daycare spaces for their employees. Which will also open up more spaces when those parents leave government run programmes to have their children with them at work.

That is what I meant when I said informing somebody privately. It shouldn't be that hard to figure out. Sounds like you are actually agreeing with me on this. You appear to have talked yourself into seeing the potential wrongdoing in this one. Good for you!

Typical of the Liberal arrogance that is losing them the campaign. They decided to just lay low, not release major policy pronouncements and allow Harper to "self-destruct" again. Oh wait, Harper is running a solid, professional campaign. The executive VP of the Liberal party of Canada (Ontario) compares Olivia Chow to an animal, refers to Rahim Jaffer as an 'ethnic', degrades Rona Ambrose and calls Jack Layton an a**hole. Oh wait, they are all offensive and have actually hurt the Liberal party. Ralph Goodale ignores parliamentary precedent and refuses to step aside while his department is under criminal investigation. He won't step aside because he hasn't personally been named as a target of the investigation by the RCMP. Oh wait, parliamentary precedent on issues like this deal with investigations of departments, nothing about the Minister himself being named.

I would want to be able to make the choice of what daycare facility to send my child to. Not have the government make it for me.

Informing someone privately that an announcement would be made would definitely be a crime in this case. Even if nothing else was said, knowing an announcement would be made on that day gave whoever had access to that information knowledge that wasn't publicly available. If that fact can be proven then the RCMP will go ahead and press charges. Goodale should step aside until this case is dealt with.

Good catch. It is even getting prominent coverage on the CBC Web site. Very, very bad news for the Liberals. So much for those attack ads turning the tide for them.

Hmmm, cutting the GST ... anti- the people? Helping parents provide for daycare the best way they see fit ... anti- the people? Dealing with the epidemic of childhood obesity by encouraging kids to take part in sports ... anti- the people? Strange all those policies seem pro-people to me.

So to *qualify* to be considered one of the *most perceptive participants* you have to be from the left... Thanks for shooting down my trolling for a compliment. Going to go off an cry now.

Don't know about that Liberal breakthrough in BC. The story has been told many times before but the votes either swing to the left or right once they get into the ballot box. (Heck even Liberal celebrity blogger Mike Klander agrees with me on this one.)

Wow, almost like you could see the Mike Klander thing coming. Or were you referring to the Scott Reid *beer and popcorn* line? I can see it now "Beer and Popcorn: The Inside Story of the disastrous 2005-06 Liberal election campaign.' Now all I need is a publishser.

Stan, I think what you are predicitng is plausible if the campaign keeps going as it is. I have a feeling the Liberals' *hard-hitting* tv ads are going to go over like a lead balloon and get hammered in the press. Too bad I am currently living in Alberta. The Liberals aren't even pretending to try and win any seats other than Edmonton-Centre. I drove through the riding today and would give Laurie Hawn the decided edge on the sign war in that one. So my only chance to see those ads will be on the news.

Are their any non-Liberal supporters on your list of *most perceptive participants* on MLW?

This story has the potential to become bigger as the election continues. So far it is just another item on the long (and growing ) list of Liberal mishandling this election. It is strange how much things can change in 18 months. In 2004 Harper and the CPC couldn't catch a break. Now it is the Liberals in that position. Oh wait for their *hard-hitting* attack ads in 2006. Yaaaaaawn!