Who's Doing What?

Good point. IF this man has killed and raped, what the hell is he doing within arms length of some of the most important and powerful people in the country? Political parties aside, this is a serious case of dropping the ball. Who cleared him to be around our top ministers and PM?

IF level of venom reaches a little bit higher it might come close to matching what commonly comes the other way.

How about a counselling mischief charges for those people putting up road blocks? THis just stinks. Regardless of a "reasonable prospect of a conviction" this is the kind of thing that should be investigated for best interest of the public. IF Fantino is shown to be no more than a puppet of the GOvt. then he needs to be removed. IF he is innocent then that needs to be brought into the public forum aswell. Now we have no statements made under oath in a court of law, no evidence, nothing that tells us one way or the other what the hell really took place. Not bringing in an outside entity when the case invloves the Govt. is shameful. Something I would expect from the Harper govt. Come to think of it, I would expect it from the Chretien govt. aswell, cause a proof is a proof and all that. The fact that our politicians think so little of us that they feel they can behave in such a manner is really starting to piss me off. We need change.

In the few dealings I have had in the past with CA, he has always been fair. I have never known him to allow his own political feelings get in the way of how he moderates this site. Keep up the good work Charles.

Luke, I am your father.

HE complains because he is rich. He is right in a way. If you have money the US is the better place to go. I am sure in the US he is coddled and fawned over and given extra pillows and the whole works because he has the bank account to afford such treatment.

So I take it you believe that not telling the WHOLE TRUTH is not a lie? IF you are really that honest, let it all hang out. The BS the CPC has pulled since being voted in, is laughable. Their antics have been nothing more than a sideshow. That said, for the most part they are doing a decent job. A few policies I am totally against, but there are others I agree with. Not enough to vote for them, but close. Some better behaviour might help. Going a little left on some issues might make me mark that box.

Minimum wage v. Cost of living??? LMAO There is no comparison. $235 Daily cost to hold a man in federal prison (2005-06) $467 Daily cost to hold a woman in federal prison (2005-06) source

Why would you want to give these sicko's a chance to get out and contribute to the gene pool? IF you are screwed up enough to find a 3 year old attractive, and don't have the ability to control yourself, then you should be put down, like any dog that is uncontrolable. And don't hand me the crap about medication etc. Medication is easily forgotten, and therapy sessions easily missed. Make it clear, if you do these things you will die. End of Story. No loop holes, no procedural errors, none of the sneaky laywer crap that gets the guilty off. IF you are a monster you need to be removed from society, totally.

I can totally understand why someone would want to believe an all-powerful being took the slightest interest in their day to day lives, but I just don't buy it. Faith is faith. The belief in something without proof. Don't get me wrong I have read the bible a couple of times, but in no way am a scholar, but I do believe it sets down an excellent example of how to live one's life. My issue is that I just can't get past the idea that some all-powerful being is keeping track of how many old ladies I help across the street. "We are all stardust." Lovely lyric. This is where science and mysticism meet. Science says we all came about through the elemental evolution that is powered by the stars. This involves a historical relationship to everything in the universe since we are, according to science, created from very simplist of elements which began at one point in time, while mystically it confirms a connection to everything we know of in existance. Do we have a soul? Religion says yes. Newton's law says that energy cannot be created or destroyed. If the energy that gives us life remains intact after death, then perhaps we do have a soul. Is there a heaven or hell? Well continuing with the idea that our "soul" continues on after our bodies die, all that would remain is pure energy, and if it were conscious, it would be pure thought. Meaning as pure conscious energy you would go where ever you thought of, or thought you belonged.

If they were sick there would be some history or pattern over years. THe rule should be you rape, kill etc. you die. Plain and simple. Like I said the justice system would have to be revamped, but it could be done. I am not saying no govt. at all. A reasonable govt. that can look after the services that we as a society need while having minimal to no waste. Left or Right I think it is a bunch of hooey. I want good ideas, that make my homeland better. We don't need to stand a chance against Russia or the USA we just need enough to make it not worth their while. To a big country like those two you need to think in the term of tens of Billions. If there is only 100B worth of resources up there and they project a 85B budget for the effort to claim that land they won't do it. THe PR of dead soldiers is worth alot more than the little they would recieve. As of Right Now, what deterent do we have to either country planting a flag on an island and claiming it? And later I said I would be making a simliar post if he had come down on the Right Wing side of my post. I am a centrist. Make no mistake about it. For the most part on these forum I have come across as leftist, but that is because of more personal than idealogical reasons. Last trwo times I took the political leaning survey(someone should look that up again) I was less than 2pts in any direction. You've lost me. All I am saying is that we need to focus on what is better for the country and not what is the best thing we can do for the country that fits within our own political mantra.

So your freedom and liberty are not worth the price of moving a soldier, who has sworn to give his life for you, from one base to another base? Mexico is calling you. I wear a poppy 365 days a year, and have for years. Everyday we should thank those people who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that can have something as simple a bloody political forum where we can post our oppinions without fear of reprisal. Anyone who thinks we don't need to have a decent military, needs to watch more History channel. We poke our nose at those "animals/savages/lawless/evil cultures and countries all over the world and then convieniently forget that without the great sacrifices of our soldiers we would be living in one of those same places and cultures. How much is your life worth? $50,000? $100,000? When you can put a price on your life, then, we can do the math on what we owe those people who put their life on the line for you!

BUt the leftiews believe in rehabilitation instead of firm punishment. They would rather send a murderer to therapy instead of the electric chair. Why do you want a big govt.? Everyday there are stories of corruption, improper spending and general wasting of our tax dollars. The Lefties, don't want to put money into the military, while the North lands are ripe with minerals and fossil fuels and are under dispute and easy pickings for Russia and the USA. Your post points out the exact type of polarization that is engulfing our political system. Our politicians turn their backs on one set of Ideas because it doesn't follw the mantra they have been following. IF you had said the Righties were wiser, I would be making a similar post. We need to lose this chasm that has become the Great Political Divide.

A flat consumer tax in my oppinion is the way to go. THat way those spending money are funding the govt. A small income tax, starting at earnings over $60,000 combined with a 10-15% sales tax would benefit the most people. Those making good money pay a small income tax, while the consumer tax covers most govt spending. I just want my money. Give me my money and if I choose to spend it then tax me on it. If I chose to save it, like I am right now for a wedding and a house, then that is my choice. Tagging me for $400 every paycheck does not help me get ahead, regardless of how well the medical treament was I had during my hernia surgery. As I said when the CPC first proposed the GST cut, who does that really help? I don't have the income to spend enough to generate $1400 in GST at 7% over the course of an entire year, but the guy who can afford to buy the $100,000 car with the 2% reduction just saved $2000 in one shot. The taxation system is unfair. Why is that you can get a raise at work and take home less money? It needs to be looked at but I think a flat consumer tax is the best bet. It encourages both personal wealth and small govt. Is that not what we all want?

It is a damned shame we are forced to choose sides. There are really very few polarizing issues. Abortion, Capital Punishment and most recently Gay Marriage and Legalization of Marijuana and Prostitution. As far as things like foreign policy, military spending, taxation, and the general day to day things involved in the running of the country it is a shame that because I chose one particular party for X reasons I believe in that i Have to sacrifice the Y things I also believe in. Quick for instance: I believe rapists and murders should be put to death. These people affect society and should be dealt with harshly. Granted to do this we would need to revamp the criminal justice system. But I also don't care if someone wants to smoke pot or if two gay guys want to get married. That is none of my business. I like the idea of small Govt. but at the same time I think public services available to everyone are a must for any successful society. So why is it that I have to chose between which values are more important to me? This whole "Right v. Left" crap has taken the common sense out of just doing what is best for the country. Politicians follow a path that was chosen in a different time that had different ideals. The more polarized we become the closer to losing everything we are.

LOL That is just funny.

LMAO My goodness, Haliburton? You must mean the company Dick Cheney was running and the same Halibuton that got the very first contract in Iraq, worth 5B dollars. The Haliburton that has had it's hand in getting it's Republican politicians elected since it was nothing more than a small construction firm called Brown and Root? That is the right Haliburton correct? That is a funny post. Keep it up. More members will be dropping by just for a laugh.

LMAO You have no clue whatsoever. First of all being crappy for several years and getting lots of high draft picks is what turned around the Blackhawks. Not only the Blackhawks, but the Caps, Pens, Blues and Kings. You completely miss the point that putting a team into a market like Phoenix is a longshot, whereas putting a team in Canada is a sure bet for success. I understand perfectly well why the NHL expanded into the sunbelt. They wanted to get a huge US TV deal like the NFL has, and to do that they needed to be popular across the country. I'll enlighten you further below. Again your logic is laughable. The casual fan is the one the league wants to hook. The league wants the guy who might check the scores and standings in the paper on the weekend to get excited enough about the game to go out and buy tickets, hats etc. A rivalry grows the game, especially geographic rivalries. You keep bringing up viewers on TV. Do you have any idea what the NHL deal is with NBC? The NHL TV rights were given to NBC for their game of the week for zero dollars. Get it? NBC wasn't willing to fork over a single red cent to get the broadcast rights for their game of the week. The deal is entirely dependant on sharing the revenues generated by advertizing. The NHL deal with Versus is only seen in a small number of US households since to get the channel you have to be in the highend of the cable packages. Bottom line is the NHL is the US isn't worth very much. LMAO again. Your level of understanding in this matter is a joke. Per capita New York has fewer hockey fans than the GTA. They have 2 NFL teams, 2 MLB teams, and counting the Nets 2 NBA teams. All of those sports are way ahead of the NHL when it comes to the # of fans. Again you have no understanding of the situation. The dollar was low, around $0.60US iirc, there was no revenue sharing, and teams that had money were jacking up players salaries so fast smaller market teams couldn't compete. Sure there are more NEW NHL fans in the US but that is because thewre were so few to begin with. Almost every fan is a NEW fan. Canadian veiwership has plateaued? Give me a break. You have absolutly no evidence to back that up. You know where the NHL ranks in US TV ratings? Last year Arena football had more veiwers. I think figure skating beat it aswell. Good grief! Pit and Was are rivals because they are two of the elite teams in the league with the three brightest stars in the game between them. A great playoff series last year added more fuel to the rivalry. This is totally different from a geographic or even divisional rivalry. It is 3 games a year and it is not that much cheaper to go to Buffalo after they have jacked up the tickets. Their rivalries with other divisional teams, and their State rivals aswell as teams like Pitts and Wash are all more expensive to go see. Sorry but with the lack of a huge US TV deal gate revenues are a huge part of any team. From The Toronto Star May 30 2008: So tell me again how the ticket revenue won't cover the 56M in salary cap. The Sabres don't want a team in Hamilton because they get 3000-4000 Canadians coming across the border for each game. I don't think the team should go in Hamilton anyways. MLSE just loves it's monopoly on Southern Ontario. Oy Vey! Depending on who you believe Moyes lost between 30 and 70 million per year in Phoenix. That maybe pocket change to you, but to us here in reality it's a fortune.

There is no plans for expansion... yet. With all the young talent in the league right now and players who could still be playing in the NHL going over to Russia to play, due to cap restraints etc., it won't be long before the league starts tossing around the idea of expansion.

A team isn't being fast tracked to Southern Ontario because the Leagueisn't ready for expansion yet. There is a huge difference between a relocation fee and a new franchise fee. No team will ever be relocated to Southern Ontario because the expansion fee will be the biggest in league history by a wide margin. So, that is just 2 votes out of 30. NY and DAL also have about 3 times the combine populations of the canadian cities aswell. Not to mention they are generating revenues in American dollars as opposed to getting paid in Canadian dollars and paying out American. But regardless of that your assertion about revenuesis completely wrong. NYR and Dallas generated 242M in revenues 2007-08. Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Ottawa generated 385M in revenue during the same period. Again with the Timmy's analogy. Here's a clue, IT DOESN'T WORK.

You think so? Then tell me why it is the usually 30% empty buildings in NJ and Long Island mysteriously sell out when the Rangers come to town. Rivalries sell the sport and increase interest from fringe fans. What is the harder ticket to get: Toronto v. Montreal, or Toronto v. Anaheim? It doesn't work because a new Timmy's across the street is not going to get more people interested in Coffee and Doughnuts. A new NHL team across town, creates a rivalry and does generate more interst from the casual fan of the game. I don't know how you get the idea that one team for 8 million people is a "saturated market". Two teams could easily be supported in the GTA. You also have to remember that on a per capita basis there are far more canadian hockey fans thanthere are in the US. Well I don't think Hamilton is the place for the team, but at any rate they are drawing from roughly 1/6 of the number of people that the Leafs do so I doubt demand would be close to what the Leafs have. You need to keep in perspective that Toronto is the best franchise in the league from a revenue generating standpoint and only Montreal and New York Ranger can come close. Um, that would be HAD, a great rivalry, there has been nothing of note between them for a couple of years now. And you have finally seen why the Timmy's comparison doesn't work. Check out Sabres ticket prices. Why is is that when the Leafs come to town the ticket prices jump through the roof? Hmm.... A Rivalry maybe? As I said earlier, there are owners on the board who are losing money who don't want to see a financially successful team in Canada because it will raise the cap and cause them to lose more money.

So which game do you think is going to generate more viewers and thereby more advertizing revenue? A game between MTL and Tampa Bay or a game between MTl and a new Quebec team? Easily the QC v. MTL game. Rivalries are what builds the sport and draws in the fringe fans. Healthy competition is a good thing for the game. The Tim Hortons analogy doesn't work with sports, sorry. The League WILL NOT contract. Plain and simple. It won't happen. Teams will be moved first. KC, LV, WPG and now QC are all destinations the league would explore before ever considering contraction. The only way a new team is put in Southern Ontario is through expansion. I think it is a serious possibility when you consider that expansion just to SO could put somewhere in the neighbourhood of 15M dollars into each existing owners pocket in expansion fees. That figure could go up to 20-25M with a second team brought into either QC or WPG. Far from it. A franchise in SO is like a licence to print money. In a bidding war that figure could easily be attained. I doubt the league would put a team there for much less. Hamilton could have had a franchise. They just didn't want to pony up the cash, whereas TB and OTT did. Saturated eh? How many of your friends can afford to go to a Leafs game? How many can get tickets on a regular basis? Another option in SO is needed. The best place for a team is not in Hamilton, where everyone seems to want to put one, but in the NW corner of the GTA. Put a team in the north end of Mississauga or south end of Vaughn. There is more than enough people to support two teams in the GTA. You don't get it. Having two Timmy's across the street from each other does not increase people's interest in coffee or doughnuts. A close rivalry in sports does gererate more interest and increase the overall fanbase of the league by drawing in the fringe fans. As far as a team's territory is concerned there is ample history of teams paying a one time fee to locate within the perceived boundary of an existing franchise.

That is only half right. Some on the BOG are already losing money. WAng I think said 20-30M per year for the last few years. The problem lies with taking a money losing franchise and moving it to somewhere it will be profitable. Since players salaries and the salary cap are tied to league revenue's if you increase revenues you increase the cap. With owners losing moneys already with the cap floor where it is at, it would only mean more money down the drain if another healthy profitable franchise were to join the league and raise the salary cap floor.

1. If any team is to be relocated, it will NOT be to Southern Ontario. It will be going to Kansas City. 2. Winnipeg is a place the NHL would be ok in returning to. It is not at the top of the list but has already been mentioned by Bettman. 3. The "Nordiques" will never come back to Quebec. They will have a different name. The Poutine's maybe? 4. Montreal would not lose revenue with a team in QC. Nor would Toronto lose money with a team in Southern Ontario. If anything the rivalry would generate even more money through higher TV ratings, ticket demand etc. 5. There is no way the NHL is going to relocate a team into Ontario and miss out on the 400-500M in expansion fees. IF you want another team in Ontario, start praying for expansion.

Try reading my earlier posts. It's pretty simple.