betsy

Also, the candidates are given limited time to give their views or platforms. Why should Dion get some extra time (through May)? If they wish, Dion and May can split the alotted time for Dion. If everyone is supposed to have 60 seconds to reply....Dion and May can have 30 seconds each!

I assumed this: "After May denied there was any backroom deals (explaining and making it all seem so innocent and cute how Dion called her up)" meant that you thought there was something wrong with May and Dion and their "backroom deal". If that wasn't your intention, I apologize. If it was your intention, perhaps you could clarify the difference between May & Dion talking vs. Layton & Harper talking. I said there was nothing wrong about talking with Dion...or Layton...or even Harper....or whoever.... But she was not talking about ordinary "talks." She was trying to make light of...and desperately explaining about the "backroom DEAL."

Uh... that's a tough one. Lemme think.Maybe because Duffy is a TV journalist and he likes dramatics? Whaddya think? As to the term "Liberal Family Feud", that comes from that wonder of political analysis: Pierre Bourque. ---- The Liberals had their family feud between Martin and Chretien. This is no family feud. But given the media attention this emails are getting now....given the "importance" being attached to this previously unheard of Heard...he is definitely being heard now! Lol. Politics is soap. What could be more poetic than that May-Dion affair being dubbed as the "Devil's Pact." By someone from the Liberal's own camp. "Devil" used to be the Liberal's tag for Harper. I guess the Liberals are getting Karma-tized. We wait to see what happens next....how the drama unfolds. How the media will dramatize this. Reid and Heard have both been invited to square off one another on tv. By Duffy. I'll be having my popcorn.

But May is endorsing Dion as the Prime Minister. Therefore, she IS NOT seeking to be Prime Minister. She is campaigning for Dion, really....although she is supposedly the "leader" and carrying the banner of another party. Ethical issues here to be addressed. or maybe even legalities. I don't know. Are there any specific rules other than having such numbers of seats? By her own decision to campaign for Dion to be Prime Minister (while being the supposed leader of the Green Party), the Green Party is now actually a big joke....something that cannot be taken seriously as a party. So, why should she be included in an election debate that is meant for candidates running to be Prime Minister?

I agree there is nothing wrong with Layton talking with Harper. ...but then why is there something wrong with May talking with Dion? Who sez there is anything wrong with May talking with Dion? Or with Layton for that matter? Or with anyone she wishes to talk to?

The Green Party had always wanted and tried to get in on the election debates between leaders. The reason they were not included before was due to the numbers of seats that they have. There's some buzz by pundits that on the next election....the Green might get a spot. But how could it be now that Elizabeth May is endorsing Dion to be the Prime Minister? Is it still okay?

It's Ok for an opposition leader to talk with the prime minister, but it's not ok for a leader of a political party to talk with the leader of the opposition? But is there something wrong or unusual about Layton talking to Harper? May could just have chided Layton for not answering her call, as politeness would dictate. BUT THERE IS NOTHING unusual about Layton or Harper talking with each other. So she was trying to make something out of nothing....as a way to deflect. Some may take it that she is prematurely equating herself as an equal in stature as that of the official leaders of the Oppositions.....or even the Prime Minister. That's why I ask: is she even a sitting MP?

For who? By all accounts, it looks like he has gone back to the private sector. Well Duffy referred to him as a prominent Liberal supporter (along with his previous title)....and the journalist from the link above had referred to him as a "senior strategist". He may not be directly involved now...I dunno...but obviously he still has some clout or some importance to the party. Otherwise, why would Reid not put him properly in his place if he is a total "nobody" in the party? Why would Duffy bother mentioning his name....or an article written about him? Read the link about the Liberal Family Feud given by another poster.

Betsy, you seem to get all your information from Mike Duffy - but I can't believe the Duffster would ever describe Ray Heard that way.Ray Heard? Never heard of the guy. Here's how the Toronto Star described him: Liberal prime minister John Turner? Move along, there's nothing to see here. Circulez! No, I got the "senior strategist" description from the link that was given above about the Liberal Family Feud. Duffy described him as the Comm. Dir. to Turner.

Yes, I've seen that show. I wouldn't say she was "on the attack." It was Jane Taber who was on the offensive. And May was "on the defensive"....and had gone on "deflect-mode." After May denied there was any backroom deals (explaining and making it all seem so innocent and cute how Dion called her up), Jane Taber pointedly told her about Broadbent's comment that she (May) was calling the NDP for weeks trying to "broker a deal." For a short while May was flustered and she said "I don't know why Layton wouldn't answer my call. He has time to talk to Harper but he never called me back." It was a tactic to deflect and make it seem like something was wrong that an Opposition leader should be talking with the Prime Minister. (Excuse me, but is Elizabeth May sitting as an MP in Parliament?) Then Taber became specific and told her that Broadbent was saying May was trying to talk to Lewis. Then Jane Taber promptly put her on the spot by asking, "are there any more deals between you and Dion?" "Is he going tohelp you campaign?" And Taber wanted and pushed for a definite and clear answer.

Perhaps that explains why Liberal senior strategist Ray Heard, in his letter to journalists, had said this of Dion: "He refused to support extending the terrorism provisions Bob Rae said were needed to find the Air India terrorists. He is fudging the commitment to fight terrorists in Afghanistan his own government made." Maybe Dion shares the views of this Kevin Potvin.

I don't even know if Heard is an adviser to anyone in the party right now. Seems to me that he is just making mischief with rivals who have never met him. But obviously, he is still considered as someone important within the Liberal Party. He's been described as a "senior strategist".

If that's the case....then what's wrong with what Harper is doing now? Baloney! MAY did not have any epileptic seizures out of fright from seeing the gas emissions soar up under Dion's watch....in fact, she is applauding Dion! And you tell me she's having night terrors imagining Harper would scrap everything??? If anything....it is Harper who is actually serious about doing something! But unlike the Liberals who only do gyrations of posturing (and spending), Harper is trying take a more practical....and sustainable approach to the environment! Harper is not the type to quickly jump in any bandwagon...or be carried away by hype! He is cautious. And that's what a leader should be, especially if the whole nation is counting on his decisions. But oh no....she'd rather put her money on Dion (with a documented dismal result as the environment minister). What kind of thinking is that? And what does that say of Dion...since he's so enthralled by her!

But that's just it, isn't it? Spending just for the sake of spending! Elizabeth May would rather we throw billions that doesn't do squat....just so she can PRETEND THAT "something is being done about it!" MONEY MEANS EVERYTHING....ESPECIALLY IF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE STARVING! Money that could've prepared us all to adjust to the climate change! If Ontario becomes a dessert....maybe it would've been possible to still live on it if we've invested in technologies that could still make it possible....or maybe the entire affected areas would've had to relocate! What does she think? Money just materialize from nothing? And there she was at a talk show talking about her plans for more taxation! Boy, we're still reeling at the excesses and irresponsible spending the Liberals had done to taxpayers money.....I guess, Elizabeth May would like to take it to new heights!

Still don't see a strategies segment. I have looked a couple of segments and not seen anything after Baird. Is there a Mike Duffy page that has them all listed? It's a video. You get to watch the whole show, which was divided by segments. I went to the ctv news homesite. On your right are different panels, one of which says Mike Duffy. I clicked on that and got to a page where you can watch the video. That's where the segments are described.

Well I dunno. English is not my first language....and yet I do have a grasp of what transparency means. Elizabeth May confuses me though....that I now question what I thought I know. She claims on MDuffy interview that what she and Dion had agreed to was "transparent"...because it was not a backroom deal. They actually discussed it on the phone. Unless she's a complete liar (you know, the kind who can look you straight in the eye and lie to your face)...or she also has problems with the English language? Dion has problems with the English language. And now he's trying to get Elizabeth May into the debate too. I guess to make his handicap less obvious? Or to give us a hilarious entertainment?

Yes....except by the looks of it now, it will be the Green and the Libs who will pay the price. If NDP knows how to play this card well....they could very well gain a lot! Ardent environmentalists may well become NDPers. At least the NDP had always been consistent where they stand. Elizabeth May just lost her credibility by backing and endorsing the minister who did not only spend billions supposedly trying to get to the target of Kyoto (but instead, even raised the gas emission). Not only did we waste billions for nothing....but we wasted them making the results worse! I guess to Elizabeth May, spending billions on the environment is her idea of "doing something"....even if the results are dismal. She is not here for the environment. She's here for the possible long-time coshy position! I shudder to think how much price tag we'll be enburdened with funding yet another fiasco.

Sorry, I just watched the segments and didn't see anything except May mention prominent Liberals of the riding supporting Dion's decision. Didn't see anything on Heard at all. May admitted that she spoke to the NDP. You were watching the wrong segment. Choose the strategies debate segment....the one after Baird.

Okay, so Dion got with May because she's seen as the guru of environment. What I don't get is this: If May is praising Dion for his environmental involvement....and Dion's own deputy leader Ignatieff was saying Dion DID NOT GET THE JOB DONE as an environmental minister....what does that say of May's credentials as the "guru" of enivronment? She doesn't know a thing! Tis true then, she's just full of hot air!

Whatever or however we view someone....the people should still have a voice. It would've been different if Dion and May had been transparent to both their respective party members and brought the idea to the table. Disappointment would be the mildest emotion I'd feel towards my leader if my party (Conservatives) had gone ahead with the Alliance (even though we practically share most conservative views) without informing us members and giving us a chance to have a say in the matter. It's the members of both the Liberals and the Green who got screwed by these leaders.

Both Baird and Broadbent dismissed May, who suddenly is being so understanding and sympathetic to Dion's effort to do something with the environment during his tenure. May's defense of Dion comes across as some sort of boot-licking to me. Unbelievable! I feel for the Green members....imagine watching your leader grovelling to please her supposed opponent....boy, imagine what she'll do to negotiate with the Taliban. (Lol) Ignatieff was the one who said Dion had not done the job. Layton must've just been repeating what Ignatieff had said about Dion's environmental record.

Democracy: Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. A political or social unit that has such a government. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power. Majority rule. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. How can those who have liberal values have a choice to have their values represented if they are denied a representative to elect? The party members from both the Green and Liberal had even been denied the right to decide if they wish to go this lenght of May and Dion ganging up on McKay! Just to gang up on Mckay! Isn't that quite a petty reason to deny your people the chance to get representation? To throw away principles? Boy, it doesn't take much for the two leaders to throw away principles, does it? All it takes is one McKay! Two cowardly leaders joining together to bully one! That's what it looks like! And that's what it is actually. If this kind of politics becomes acceptable....what stops others from freely making deals without the consent....or even the knowledge of their party members! Even if it means making an alliance with a party that doesn't share your belief. Getting hoodwinked by your own leader, who hadn't even made it to the top yet! What more if he was sitting in power? What's the point of being a member to a party??? Why bother having an election then, if the people's voice do not count at all! MDuffy mentioned about a deal with Joe Clark and another Liberal guy....but he was quick to say the difference with this from that, the Conservatives and the Liberals still ran candidates representing their parties in the respective ridings, but both just didn't make any serious efforts at campaigning! There was still the choice!

I'd like to see some of those names. I can't find information anywhere on it. Okay, I watched the tape again (but only the portion on strategists debating)....MDuffy specifically mentioned the name of Ray Heard from Toronto, former Director of Communications for Turner quoting parts of the statement. Check out MDuffy Live on ctv site....you can choose various segments from the show yesterday. On the very same segment, strategist Tim Power mentioned names of Liberals from Nova Scotia and one from the Green Party who were quoted as being against this arrangement. Btw, Broadbent mentioned the name of the NDP guy Elizabeth May called several times over the last few weeks, trying to make an arrangement to defeat Harper: Stephen Lewis.

At least the CP will have a field day doing ads depicting this unholy alliance! The CP just got mana from heaven! Two birds in one shot! Boy, Harper will chew them both when they do their debates! Lol! Btw, the Liberals, NDP, Green and some Tories are practically pointing out that the Conservatives are starting to look like Liberals. I guess Liberal supporters left out in the cold in Nova Scotia may not find it too hard to support McKay, just so to show Dion and May!

I haven't heard anything about prominent Liberals speaking out. Sounds like the prominent Tories who were speaking out prior to the last election on Harper. They turned out to be puffs of smoke once Harper won. Mike Duffy read some names (these people apparently e-mailed Duffy), one being a prominent supporter from Toronto.