gerryhatrick

Because he wants reporters to put their name on a list to ask him questions at press conferences he is avoiding them? Yes. He wants to pick the people who ask the questions....and has avoided reporters when the system was first introduced. That, and also given the fact that he's hiding himself and his MP's from reporters to allow complete avoidance of reporters after cabinet meetings he's basically insulated himself from the press entirely. Recall in France while touring Vimy Ridge he said "Back then ...the enemy had guns not cameras." Ho ho, that's funny. But what it underlines is his fear of reporters. On his 3-day G8 trip he took a total of six questions. 6. Leaders from the UK, Germany, U.S, France and Russia spoke to media and took questions every day. Putin held hour-long ask-anything pressers each night. German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the media travelling with her an hour-long "off-the-record" briefing. Harper is a afraid of the media, and has decided to paint them as the "enemy", and he's asking Canadians to come along for his paranoid cowardly little ride. No thanks. I might actually want the media to ask my leadership a question once in a while.

Odious and obtuse were just comments on your behaviour and not personal attacks. That is the line you have drawn repeatedly... My gawd RB, I'm joking. I'm poking fun at you for your outrage over the word "wimp" and constant invoking of forum rules over basically nothing at all. There is no list at scrums.

I apologize, the Websters definition was through the Thesaurus option. Here is the dictionary definition: Main Entry: wimp Pronunciation: 'wimp Function: noun Etymology: origin unknown : a weak, cowardly, or ineffectual person I would say Harpers avoidance of the press is weak and cowardly.

You really are odious. The difference between a PMO list of who can ask questions at a press conference and in a media scrum isn't readily apparent. And in reality so minute as to show how obstinate your behaviour is. Odious am I? Oh Ricki, is it necessary for you to personally attack me like that? A scrum is something different than a press conference. Do you agree with that? Traditionally in a scrum reporters yell out questions and the object of the questions decides what to answer. A press conference has traditionally consisted of a statement, followed by questioners from a list compiled by the press gallery. That is the where the current disagreement lies. The PMO now wants to compile the list, and in doing so they began excluding some questioners. Your response was along the lines of "oh, other PM's have excluded questioners....remember my link???" Ah yes RB, but that is in terms of a scrum, which is something entirely different from a press conference. Although other PM's have surely wished they could hide from certain questioners at press conferences, they have never done it. Harper has, which is weak, scared (wimpy, if you will) behaviour. Oh Ricki..Ricki....Ricki. You of ALL people I thought would follow the rules. I'm hurt by that, deeply hurt. And don't think you can hide from the law of the land forever. I'm sure those who apply the rules will smite you as you deserve to be smitten for such a personal and direct attack upon myself.

You're in the wrong topic about the issue and I have not avoided it. Everyone makes mistakes, but pls. take it back to the correct topic. Rules....as I'm sure you know.

Is that right? Wow, that's interesting. Tell me, is this Global Warming thing a socialist plot to take down Capitalism?

So your definition isn't an insult? Correct. In the context of him hiding from the press, he is a wimp. It would fall under the second definition.

That's right RB, there's no difference between a press conference and a scrum. I'm satisfied I handed you your a$$ on a platter over the matter, which is why you're now playing your games over it. Look on the bright side, you learned something about current events today.

Careful, RB will be hitting you with the rules. I prefer Websters. It's something I've actually heard of before: Entry Word: wimp Function: noun Text: 1 a person lacking in physical strength <just because you can't lift 300 pounds doesn't mean you're a wimp> -- see WEAKLING 1 2 a person without strength of character <what kind of wimp would just give in to pressure?> -- see WEAKLING 2

The Liberals did use government money to conduct polls. It is a justified use of government money to try and gauge public opinion before implementing a major policy. It just shows how much the Harper haters are grasping at straws in trying to tear down the govenment. When did the Liberals perform such an obviously partisan poll? Cite one example. Deal with the topic as it's presented...polling shortly after an election on the very platform they were just elected on. What was the point? When did the Liberals do that? And gc1765 makes a good point that any polling Liberals did was criticized by the right as "leading by polling" or some such thing. Were you defending the Liberals while that rhetoric was ongoing, I wonder? Did you call them "Martin haters"?

If you don't know then perhaps you shouldn't post on the topic. I am not your educator.

You attacked Harper as being a wimp. You didn't attack his actions. You attacked him personally and directly. tsk tsk Gerry follow the rules... If I called Harper weak for avoiding the press gallery, would that be an attack? If I called him afraid, would that be an attack? Please provide me with a list of dictionary adjectives I'm allowed to use RB in describing what I see as wimp-like behaviour. Wimp is a dictionary word, btw, so I humbly ask that it be placed under consideration. And I think you should recognize that when there is supporting evidence for the label then it is quite legitimate. If a corrupt politician is called "corrupt", should we all follow your lead and cry about a "personal and direct attack", RB? Do clarify that for us also, thx.

What is your point Gerry? Would it be ok by you if Harper went back to scrums and only answered questions from reporters who signed up for the list then? The point is clear, if you understand what a scrum is and what a press conference is. The disagreement the press gallery has with the PMO is regarding press conferences. OBVIOUSLY a PM (or MP) can choose which questions to answer at scrums. Always been that way. For someone who cries and whines about personal attacks all the time you engage in it quite a bit. I am making the distinction between a scrum and a news conference in good faith since you brought up the behaviour of a previous Liberal PM in scrum situations. It is a valid point. You are comparing apples and oranges, and to accuse me of being "contrary for the sake of it" because I point it out to you is lame and hypocritical given your constant complaints about others.

I'm curious...do you REALLY believe that? Given what the VAST majority of scientists concede as fact, do you actually believe what you're saying? What does that mean? That is really an incredibly bizarre thing to say. It appears you think concern over Global Warming is a political stance....akin to agreeing with 9/11 attacks.

What makes you think there would be less water in Canada? Nothing wikipedia suggests that would be the case. Well, the wiki page on the effects of global warming does mention increased drought, but you're right it doesn't mention Canada specifically in that. I didn't claim it did. What makes me think there would be drought as a result of Global Warming in Canada? It's pretty common knowledge, actually. Do you mean to say you've not heard it? Here's one link quickly found: http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2005/dro..._research.shtml It's a pretty simple concept: warming = more evaporation. Warm air can hold more water for longer. This = dry conditions. And paradoxically more flooding as this increased amount of evaporated water gets dumped at intervals.

Tell me something. Let's assume global warming is happening. Why should anyone in Canada, who does not own property on the seashore, care ? Warmer winters is Canada is a good thing and will reduce heating costs and expand the amount of arable land in the country. Go to google, type in wikipedia global warming effects The effects on Canada are not as rosey as you might want to believe. Oh, and as for "increase arable land" in Canada....what will you grow with no water?

http://www.cjob.com/news/index.aspx?dir=na...=./n091027A.xml Well of course Harper doesn't consider greenhouse gases to be "pollution", so why would he waste money on that? Has anyone every actually asked him if he believes Global Warming is happening? I know nobody can ask him any questions anymore....but maybe before he was elected there's something on record??

Ahhh, but Martin did do that. See the Paul Wells link I posted earlier. Chretien like Wells and let him ask questions often. Martin didn't and never let him ask questions. That's the way it is and the way it has always been. Why is it such a big deal now that the Conservatives are in government? Are you sure you're not confusing a news conference with a scrum? I think you are.

By the way.... RB, Hicksey, and jbh have provided me some motivation, so I must thank them. I will scour the web everyday for whatever news - large and small - regarding Harper that exposes him as the failed PM that he so clearly is. He is not a leader, he's an electioneer. Nothing more. I'll help you three see that. As we get closer to another election and as things like his so-called "green plan 2" come out there will be PLENTY of information to post which exposes him for what he is. Thanks.

I post news items about Harpers actions. And I didn't create his tempest with the press gallery, he did. I'm entitled to my opinion about it. You're another partisan who can't accept critisism of your beloved Harper without accusing others of "hate". Notice I have never accused others on this forum of "hate" over all of the attacks on Layton or Martin ect ect. Your double-standard is showing.

You, sir, are an admitted troll. You've more than once come out and indicated that your only goal is to get others "off track". Several other posters have commented that you scream over any critisism of Harper, calling it "hate". I critisize Harper. I don't like his Global Warming avoidance. I don't like his press avoidance. I don't like him using the troops for political gain. I could go on, but you get the picture. Because I post news articles that expose these things about Harper you have decided I am your political enemy. I am quite convinced that you are employeed by Harper in some capacity. You are CPC through and through. Assuch, you nit twit around the forum accusing anyone of critisizing Harper of not obeying the rules or of hating the man. Grow the #$%K up for gawdsake.

In fact, the Globe only began to investigate because of repeated questionis on this issue in the House by the BQ. So technically it was the BQ who clued people into what was going on. Post a link on that, if you think it's worth pursuing. It's all a bit of a tangent from the original topic....which is that Harper is a wimp for hiding himself and his MP's from the press.

Your logic is despicable. To suggest that the mission must be adhered to in a "stay the course" fashion because anything less would sully the memory of those who died is absolutely disgusting.

The legislator said "They continued the policy of the U.S. and our people don't agree with U.S. policy, and this is why there is no positive results right now." THAT is "America bashing" in your view? Saying that a US policy isn't working equals "America bashing"? You need to work on your objectivity a bit I'd say. It would help if she explained what aspects of this "policy" she doesn't like. Maybe she did. The entire transcript of what she had to say is not available in the Western media link provided, I would guess. So, perhaps you shouldn't assume that wasn't explained.

Exactly. That is the bottom line.