madmax

I agree with much of your post. ANd no doubt the burden has shifted to the middleclass. To think those under $20,000 are going to benefit from this tax means you believe the government. The only ones benefiting from the HST is the Government, followed by some businesses and the very wealthy. Those who can afford to pay will get a tax holiday.

Conservative and Liberal MPs have been selling the HST to the business community and general public. Hudaks running around like a jackass afraid to talk to big brother. The governments are giving nice breaks, to the tune of 15 Billion to corps and banks and insurance companies. The puppeteer in this is Stephen Harper. McGuinty is a follower, and not going to turn his back on $4.3 Billion in Harpers Bribe monies. Flaherty loves the HST .... the grinning idiot. The working stiff sided with the government and the HST long ago with their silence. Enjoy it.... more people are going to be affected by the HSt then the school kerfuffle Mcguinty backtracked on. Seriously, if the HST was a major burden on the public we would hear... ok... it is a burden and the government will hear, but too late. You think Hiding Hudak is going to do anything any differently? The taxing of the middle class and removal of burden upon the upperclass and corporations has always been the Conservative idealogy.

LOL You are a public servant.... You make your money of the public purse. Go make your money in the private sector.. and the NDP hasn't screwed you the governing parties have and they are the Liberals and the Conservatives. Governments tend to stick it to the people and the force behind this is the lobbiests on the hill. As Hydraboss acknowledged..... Lobbiests have more influence on the government then the NDP. Of course you do. Would you like to be the poster boy for our civil service? "I care about me, first" Poor you... Boo hoo!!!

Dag gonnit Argus... you were doing so well. Then you went looney tunes.

Good Analysis Argus. Did I just say that On another note, the only people talking about a merger are the lost liberals. As soon as the LPC find themselves the merger discussion will disappear. Frankly, there is never any discussion amongst Federal NDP for a merger. And there is no support amongst the rank and file. NO Debates amongst any Provincial rank and files at any conventions discussiong a merger. However, I would suggest that based on Argus analysis, that if the Liberals are intent on merging with someone, perhaps they should merge with the Conservatives. It really makes more sense. I can't see the Liberals backtracking on the HST. Bob Rae has been going around campaigning against the NDP in various ridings. Not against the Conservatives. The Conservatives supported the HST and Bob Rae is going around Reinforcing the Conservative support for the Tax. Considering that Layton just topped Harper as the strongest/popular leader, and we are splitting hairs as these numbers for either aren't super high, what is interesting is that Ignatieff is in the Cellar. DEEP and BURIED. As soon as the "NExT ONE" comes along to lead the Liberals into the promised land, the thoughts that Liberals have of grabbing the NDP apron will deminish. The Liberals real truth is that they are losing ground and their leader sucks. The NDP helped the Liberals a few years back and took alot of heat for it. The NDP should have let the LPC get wiped off the map. Regardless, the NDP were shit upon by Ignatieff the Pompous ass, who believed his own minions that he could defeat Harper and Canada was just dying for an election to annoited the appointed one. Honestly, the NDP spend more time attacking themselves in their policy conferences and no time is spent worrying about the poor liberals. The NDP appear to be happy debating their ideas. Never is there an idea to merge with the Liberals. It just doesn't come up. And those ideas are something the Liberals would never adopt and The Liberals have a problem with their own Ideas. I would think from an NDP perspective that merging leftwing/progressive ideas with a vacant lot doesn't really help the NDP. But consider Bob Rae a half merger. He's a great speaker. Few can spread the BS better. Liberals can enjoy his parlimentary skills. Plus he gets the media buying into his BS too.

And if you hit a vehicle from behind while driving a stick, you get charged. Anyone who has driven a stick and tapped a vehicle from behind will tell you this. Especially if the person they hit makes an issue over it. Unfortuneately it takes two people to determine if there was injury. One of those people is dead. A concussion can provide the same irrational behaviour and anyone familiar with head injuries knows this. Regardless, you cannot just "drive away" because you think there is no damage or injury. Only if both parties agree. On top of that, you still have to report "ANY" incident to your insurance company even if it is less then criteria required to initiate a police report. Bryant, an attorney would know you cannot drive away. And this video shows he wasted no time in leaving the scene of an accident. 1) Bryan Bumps Cyclist 1a) No reaction from cyclist brushes off 2) Bryant Hits Cyclist a 2nd time HARDER 2a) Bryant is advancing against a red light. 3) Bryant wastes no time in trying to leave the scene. All before the altercation ramps up. Nah, I see no difference. Others may scream. You would not receive a prosecutor from out of province. Well of course it doesn't set a "Legal" prescedent, but it is not the practice of defence attorneys to hand over their defence to the crown. IT would not happen if you were facing the same circumstances with the exact same case and situation faced by Bryant. No Breathalyzer for the person who is celebrating their aniversary and has lost control of their vehicle. An alcohol test for the Dead Cyclist. Its just an unusual set of circumstances. Of course I will never know. There is no trial and no evidence collected. 28 seconds. And yes, special treatment for a crown attorney. Sometimes, you can drive your vehicle into the wrong person. Some people will say, hey, no worries and let it go. Others will say.. compensation compensation and others may react irrationally. Some people engage in road rage prior to any physical contact. While you may think that I am up in arms over this.. its hardly the case. Its amusing that people believe they would be treated the same within the justice system. Nobody seriously believed that Bryant was going to receive any conviction of anykind did they?

I am neither angry nor surprised. The facts exist.

Exactly. That is the drivers responsibility for care and control of a motor vehicle. It is why I said the charge for that offense is "STop Start and failure to safety". I have seen that charge applied to those who "bump" another traffic vehicle. The evidence shows Bryant attempting to drive away first, slowly and around the fallen bike. And that is one of two incidents that 99.99% of the public would be charged and convicted. Not by the friendly crown. I oprefered your first post...the nonsense made it funnier.. The public doesn't get out of province attorneys. And why from BC were Bryants roots are and where there are also strong political and legal ties to the region. His defence mentioned this and stated that they felt their case so strong that they gave it to the crown. Bryants defence said this was unusual, but felt safe in doing so. To paraphrase. Neat coincidence eh. Bout time I made you laugh for a change. But he got special treatment and its important for the justice system, lawyers, defence, crown etc to say he didn't. The crown has a right to drop charges. Just like they did with Jaffer. If you hit someone from behind, you will not have the charges dropped. Luckily you don't drive cars much. And if you are hit from behind. Well, I await your passive reaction and lets hope the driver that hits you doesn't try to leave the scene.

The facts come from Bryants own statements. He hit the cyclist. The Cyclist did go over the hood of his car. THere is video of Bryant trying to leave the scene. That is when the Cyclists takes his life into his hands by trying to remove the keys from the ignition by jumping at the car. A struggle ensues which is soon followed by the death of the cyclist. None of that is in dispute. Its Bryant own statement that he stalled his car on two occasions and the 2nd restart resulting in the lurch that hits the cyclist. Bryant has committed what is called.. Stop Start failure to safety. A charge rarely laid as "Careless Driving" is normally laid instead. Most people might watch as a car tries to leave the scene, but others who are hit, especially if in shock, is not unusual to see an irrational or dangerous response. Fact is, if Bryant hit the Cyclist. Fact is, Bryant got off all charges. Fact is, the cyclists response is what put him in further danger including his death. Fact is, Bryant got off from being responsible for losing control of his car and hitting the cyclist. Fact is, Bryant got off attempting to leave the scene of an accident.

Bryant Ran into the Cyclist and tried to drive away. Bryant claims he TWICE lost control of his vehicle before hitting the cyclist. Either Bryant was drunk or careless, and being it was his anniversery, he likely was impaired. We will never know. But he did hit the cyclist. Bryant is the advocate for taking possession of ones vehicle even in innocent. Bryant is tough on traffic offences. Bryant got special treatment. A special prosecuter from BC, where he is from. Bryant Boxes, hey, so did his prosecutor pal. Bryants own lawyer handed over their case to the crown, something unheard of. Precedent setting. I don't care if the person hit was a mental case. He was still hit. His reaction to try to stop Bryant from leaving the scene by taking Bryants car keys out of hte ignition cost him his life. Nobody in the real society is treated like Bryant. But he did get the Jaffer treatment.

Jaffer was the golden boy of the Conservative Caucus... Everything was rosy right up till he lost the election. He was slippery before, but there was always the loving Conservatives making excuses for the boy with a Smoking jacket and a bib. Dumping the clown has taken 10 years to long. No doubt... Scribblet has been right that Helena is suffering guilty by association and some very bad political decisions and an elitist attitude of entitlement. But thats the entire Conservative Caucus. So... put her back where she belongs.

Holy Crap Bean Counter... no wonder we are in debt up to our eyeballs. Would you like to do the math on those salaries again? To put this in perspective. The Federal Government was more willing to have a $350 Million dollar election (that lasts 6 weeks or so) then cough up $1billion for EI over 3 years. They stopped at 900million for three years servicing some 150,000 extra people. While the other 800,000 at the time got nothing. The Fiscally Responsible and in touch with the common man Conservatives can blow 1 billion dollars on a 3 day photo op. The Conservative government should have pulled the plug, the moment they let these costs get out of control Great PR.... It's great talk in the coffee shop.

On MLW!!! No, you don't say.. Erm, you are a party operative.. I think there should be an official posting and tender. I would love to see Argus as the official Post correcter. He has that public servant PR talent to act like an aristocrat while being intelligent and abusive all at once. Perfect for delivering a government service/message on the internet Or.. Have the moderator on MLW web contracted by the government to correct all posts and misinformation. It might be easier to close the forum or maybe block Conservative I mean misinformed posters from posting. But then this place would just be no fun and without information. Sorry, Gotta keep the Feds out of here. I like MLW and all the people on it. And I would like to see Jdobbin return, but not as a paid Federal EMployee monitoring the internet forum but as an individual like the rest of us just having fun and bashing out some policy/BS and banter.

And not correcting Right Wing Propoganda and disinformation. What a great use of public taxpayers monies. I suggest you apply for the position. Of course, you would have been corrected by the government on your positions of Jaffer and Guergis. Or you would have to correct yourself and your own misinformation as it didn't toe the Conservative government line

Politicians not answering questions isn't front page news. But blowing a photo op and PR exercise is. And this one went south The Lob balls turned into walks and balks. The intent of one pitcher to throw a pitch, not a fastball,curveball, screwball, spitball, or hardball, was called off by the coach. Ball 4

LOL, just take a crap on young Conservatives and demonstrate the real values of the party. Brilliant!!!

sounds more like a fictional stereotype. Senior Editors of Business Press voted NDP If any Senior Editors of any media held an NDP perspective or values, the public, and likely the NDP would know this by now. LOL. Its just not the case. Besides that, the NDP is not considered "left" by those on the left. However, the NDP does not have any media cheerleaders in this country, unlike the Conservatives and Liberals who benefit from Corporate media of CTV & Global and there respective newsprint media. You anecdotal evidence is mere hearsay at this point has no basis in demostratable fact and its totally unlikely that you could NAME ONE EDITOR of a business press that voted NDP. However, its pretty easy to rhyme off those media support for Conservatives and Liberals in each Province and across the country. There isn't enough space in the forum to print the list, its well over 10,000 characters. Care to name your handful? Care to name point towards a few thousand media that support the NDP. I am sure Bellmedia, nope, erm, Canwest, erm nope, erm, hey aren't these corporate medias enjoying the Canadian Bankruptcy laws? And why would they dare challenge their masters when it is the government that protects their very existance or they would have been wiped out a decade ago.

I shake my head everytime I hear some Hack say there is a leftist media when the media Corporate and Centre Right. Comments like the one above are made by goofballs at Fox ComedyEntertainmentNews Channel. The Liberal Party is for all purposes a Corporate party with its Corporate media sponsors of the Toronto Star and CBC. While the CBC is government run, the other media is government protected. Its just a case of Corporate fiefdoms and their loyalties. It certainly has nothing to do with "leftist". Of course Fox News and the National post and Sun Media can cheerlead for the Conservatives in such a manner that would put Pravda to shame. I doubt a "leftwing" media like "Socialist Action" have a subscription of more then 4 or 5 thousand in North America. There is certainly no leftwing Television Media or Radio Media. Its time for a "left wing media". Maybe you should hang out on rabble and babble.

Guergis says its "UNFAIR" Tossed out with the dirty laundry. Is she being treated like dirt by her own party? http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/805327--guergis-bounced-as-candidate-for-next-election-report Other then her choice of a Husband, and her own public tantrums, just what makes her not good enough for the CPC? She has more to offer then much of the dead wood and other donkeys butts that are nominated by the CPC or sit as MPs. She is not alone in being a bit crazy and over the top or incompetent? She is not alone in scheming and scamming. Why her and if she is so bad, why not start cleaning house all around? http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/Guergis+says+stripping+nomination+unfair/2993452/story.html http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/05/05/13840386.html http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/guergis-removed-as-candidate-ctv-reports/article1558444/ And she had had such a positive response at the riding association meeting. What went wrong.

MAJOR part of the Puzzle. It turned out to be a deadly decision. Not so, but as with anything to do with Mike Harris it is polarized. The Harris government is responsibile but the Harris Defenders will never admit it. The Harris Budget cutback was not the Only Factor. But it is clear that in conjunction with other Harris Cuts, the budgets and the incompetents at the gate, it was a recipe for disaster. And that is fact!!! For their actions! Harris is responsible for his and his Governments. Apply your same level of Horsefeathers to the Harris apologists and I will concur with everything above. It seems you have decided to pick and choose those responsible for the breakdown of the system. In my operations, a person/group/taskforce is responsible for the quality of the product they make. Another person group or taskforce is responsible that that bad product doesn't get out the door. Its like Toyota saying its "NOT US" its "the Supplier". Which is exactly what they did to deflect their role and responsibility. Walkerton was bigger then two people. But you can have false comfort and sense of security if you wish to blame those two alone. You would think that those two were responsible to the other Harris Changes that changed guidelines that allowed for the situation of the shit in the water to begin with.

Ditto BIG NOSE!!! http://www.skepticfiles.org/en001/bignose.htm One of my favourites from Life Of Brian.

Absolutely Correct. The CPC have turned into a Petty Party focussing on the Lowest common denominator of attack politics if an opposition member dare do or say anything. If it hadn't been Jaques and it had been a Liberal Senator, the CPC would make sure the crap hit the fan.

You are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine. Keep on posting, you will wake up all the Pro Choice and Progressive Women who have been asleep for decades because the right to choose exists. Serious Mental Trauma also exists when you give children up for adoption for both the Mother and the child. Serious Physical trauma can occur because of a bad pregnancy or disease. Canada is in the wrong on this one as are you. That is my opinion.

Its painful to read these posts. I can only feel sorry for the people who don't know when to get off the sinking ship. I'll order a couple extra sports jackets and a bibs. I don't know how anyone can take you or Argus's positions seriously. There is a reason that the CPC and the Prime Minister have cut bait.

LOL