Bernier in hot seat after reports

[Topaz]

You know the Cons could have stopped this question if they only had answered the question. Was there a security check on Berniers girlfriend yes or no??? What is so hard in answering this question unless the Cons didn't and when Harper found out about he had Bernier chose between job and girl.

[madmax]

I sincerely hope so! I am so bored with the "Ned Flanders" image portrayed by our so-called political leaders. Totally out of touch with the common man.

The common person in Hamilton associates with organized crime?

[madmax]

You might be on to something. Maybe it was a setup by Judy Sgro.

Home Run.... LOL

[madmax]

You know the Cons could have stopped this question if they only had answered the question. Was there a security check on Berniers girlfriend yes or no??? What is so hard in answering this question unless the Cons didn't and when Harper found out about he had Bernier chose between job and girl.

It is so simple isn't it. I think you might even be right about the latter speculation.

[Wild Bill]

The common person in Hamilton associates with organized crime?

Just those who vote Liberal! It's a similar situation between having a Liberal MP and a local godfather.

If you knew anything about how things were run in Sheila Copps' riding...

[Shakeyhands]

Stronach's being given a Cabinet post so she'd cross the aisle, deducting one vote from the non-confidence column and addiing one to the confidence column.

She was good enough to garner 35% of the votes for the leadership of the CPC, she was good enough to hold a shadow posting for the CPC but she isn't good enough for the Liberals to name to cabinet???

Oh, and that isn't proof of what you are alleging.

[jbg]

If you knew anything about how things were run in Sheila Copps' riding...

Was it her or Hedy Fry who heroically stopped a cross burning in Prince George, BC?

[Who's Doing What?]

There's a difference between bribing a member, on the even of a confidence vote (whicy PMPM asked be deferred) with a Cabinet seat and bringing over an apolitical trade expert to serve in a new cabinet when no real confidence vote (that the Libs would take the government down on) is on the immediate horizon.

The way Svend, Graham and Brison can?

Answers to questions should be controlled and people should not be going off on their own agenda.

What is worse, giving an MP who was elected a year before and now in conflict with her/his party a position in your cabinet if they choose your party over another or sitting independant.

Or, Within hours of running for another party in a federal election, intice a member who happens to have won in a region you need exposure to jump to your own party?

For me the biggest difference is timing. Emerson had just run an election as a Liberal. It was as if the CPC had TWO candidates for his constituency. The people in his riding voted for a Liberal and within hours of being elected he switched and became a Conservative. To me that smacks of complete dishonesty, and the riding should have been put up for election again.

As for Stronach it was documented before the cross over that she was having difficulties within the CPC. She had mentioned that there were things the CPC wanted to do that didn't bode well for her constituents. It was not like on Monday she was elected as a CPC MP and on Wednesday she switched to the Liberals. There were other issues that drove her out of the CPC. The Liberals simply put an offer on the table and she accepted.

The overlying issue in all of this is how the CPC reacted when Stronach crossed the floor. She was basically defiled. Now here comes the CPC getting elected on INTEGRITY and ACCOUNTABILITY and within hours they pull the same kind of crap they totally freaked out about when Stronach crossed. Hypocrisy at it's finest.

[Who's Doing What?]

If jokes can be made about the relationship between heterosexual politicians and strippers why not jokes about inter-gay relationships? My joke was a response to WDW's similar joke about strippers. Don't take yourselves so seriously.

lol

I totally missed the connection. But don't you think if Dion were to walk around with a pair of 40DD twins on his arms his manly image would improve?

I am sure he is a great person but he just looks like the last guy you pick for a team in gym class. A couple of hot chickies and a new hair cut, a Mohawk I think, would do a lot to improve his masculine image.

But hey Lightening up a bit around here is an Excellent Idea.

Edited May 14, 2008 by Who's Doing What?

[jbg]

As for Stronach it was documented before the cross over that she was having difficulties within the CPC. She had mentioned that there were things the CPC wanted to do that didn't bode well for her constituents. It was not like on Monday she was elected as a CPC MP and on Wednesday she switched to the Liberals. There were other issues that drove her out of the CPC. The Liberals simply put an offer on the table and she accepted.

Remember, though, she was a failed candidate for party leader. A more balanced view would be that she considered her entitlement to be a Cabinet seat or PM position bought and paid for by Daddy, in whichever party.

[jbg]

lol

I totally missed the connection. But don't you think if Dion were to walk around with a pair of 40DD twins on his arms his manly image would improve?

************

But hey Lightening up a bit around here is an Excellent Idea.

Thanks. I appreciate those who reach out to support those they usually don't agree with. I promise to do the same when I can.

[madmax]

Just those who vote Liberal! It's a similar situation between having a Liberal MP and a local godfather.

If you knew anything about how things were run in Sheila Copps' riding...

Common, be serious. You said the Common Person, not an MP.

you are suggest what has been said in the thread, that MPs can be tied to and solicited by Organized Crime. But the Majority of people (Common People) do not spend their time with Outlaw Biker Gangs in Strip Clubs.

More reason to investigate Bernier. It is out there, in public, and there is good reason to followup on what has happened.

Edited May 14, 2008 by madmax

[madmax]

Was it her or Hedy Fry who heroically stopped a cross burning in Prince George, BC?

He is suggesting that Ordinary People Associate with Outlaw Biker Gangs, to justify Bernier and his travelling companions association with Mobsters, Outlaw Bikers and Gangland Executions.

[Wild Bill]

He is suggesting that Ordinary People Associate with Outlaw Biker Gangs, to justify Bernier and his travelling companions association with Mobsters, Outlaw Bikers and Gangland Executions.

Well, that's your interpretation. It seems to hinge on how YOU define "associating"!

There are close associations and remote associations. I could make another joke at how if one Liberal handed out money in Adscam then ALL the caucus is dirty! Guilt by association, n'est-ce pas?

Of course, my logic would be just as flawed as yours. The only association we know of is that Bernier chose a woman for a girl friend who years ago hung out with some bikers.

Ordinary people can be said to associate with outlaw biker gangs all the time. Have you yourself ever played a pinball machine in a bowling alley? Or even bowled in a few alleys? Ever taken your car to a car wash? Ever gone out with the boys to a "nudie bar" to give a friend who's about to get married a send-off?

These are just a few examples of areas often if not usually under biker control. If any fit, would you consider YOURSELF an associate of bikers?

No, there may be an association implied in my words but you've stretched it past the point of credulity. Besides, even if I grant for the sake of argument that you're correct (which I DON'T!) you're attacking my model and ignoring my point!

My point is, I place far more trust in someone down to earth than one who comes across as elitist, patronizing and condescending at worst or at best, like Ned Flanders, naive.

In other words, most Liberals!

I cite your own twisting of the meaning of my words as an example of your appropriate category.

[Who's Doing What?]

Remember, though, she was a failed candidate for party leader. A more balanced view would be that she considered her entitlement to be a Cabinet seat or PM position bought and paid for by Daddy, in whichever party.

Right she was a failed candidate for her party's leadership. She was obviously one of the top people in the party if she even ran for the leadership, so why would you stick a high profile person like that in some obscure corner of the HoC when she comes over to your party?

Sorry I just don't agree with your last statement. I think the statement is more unbalanced than the reality.

[madmax]

Well, that's your interpretation. It seems to hinge on how YOU define "associating"!

That all depends on what your definition of "IS" is (BILL CLINTON) ...

There are close associations and remote associations.

The only association we know of is that Bernier chose a woman for a girl friend who years ago hung out with some bikers.

Marrying bikers, being around murders, being swept up in police raids and spending a decade amongst mobsters and outlaw bikers is remote?

But that's just her background....

His is that he is either involved or possibly a dupe, hanging around the wrong people.

Edited May 14, 2008 by madmax

[madmax]

Well to be a threat, she would have to be "in"with the mob. It appears she was "out." Also, she would have to have access to information that was relevant to the mob. Please tell me why the mob would have any interest in Bernier's portfolio.

If the mob wanted to infiltrate the government, they'd run someone for office. Maybe they have done so. The mafia did it rather successfully.

More reason to investigate her...

They go back 5 Years on FORMER spouses of port workers.

OTTAWA -- New rules are forcing Canadian port workers to reveal details about their current and ex-spouses to obtain security clearance, which is a more stringent requirement than the one faced by the country's ministers.

As the Harper government deals with a furor over the former girlfriend of its Foreign Affairs Minister, critics are arguing that some federal workers face more scrutiny than the cabinet members who are responsible for their work.

Police don't look at spouses when they do a minister's background check, but recent rules force federally regulated port workers seeking to work in specially designated zones to provide the date and place of birth of their spouses. In addition, port workers have to provide data on former spouses going back five years.

"Any minister would have access to a great deal more confidential and sensitive information than any of my members," said Tom Dufresne, president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada.

"We certainly shouldn't have to undergo any deeper background check than a minister of the Crown would," he said.

[Topaz]

It appears the Cons are conning this nation again when they said that Bernier and his girlfriend are the past. It's being reported on www.bourque.org that they were seen with Stockwell Day and his wife the end of March out to dinner! No wonder Day wouldn't questions about her having a security check! Her dad has had charges of home grown marijuana growing and Bernier travel expenses that the taxpayer pay for have been over the top. Trip to Laos cost 17,000 and could have been for 7,000. I wonder how the Cons are going to explain the girlfriend probably as always....shame of the Libs for getting into private lifes of ministers. I think the lying and secrets the Cons keep are worse than what they accuse the opposition parties of!

[Borg]

Well, as an old neighbour used to say - "You are known to others by the people you hang out with".

In the end this babe could not likely pass a security check. Her background is too shady.

Great body and as has been said, a real hot dish. Perhaps this guy needs to examine his friends a bit more closely.

More than one VIP has gone down (forgive the pun) because of a piece of tail.

Whether or not this relationship is over is not the point - it is more important that good old Max realizes optics are important.

If he drops her fine - carry on.

If he does not drop her it means she is a keeper - or he likes jumping her bones and does not care what the world thinks.

Either way he will go on doing what he thinks he can do (get away with) until he is dropped by the boss or defeated in the next election.

Not a smart man in my mind.

Borg

[madmax]

Trip to Laos cost 17,000 and could have been for 7,000. I wonder how the Cons are going to explain the girlfriend probably as always....

Bernier spent $17,000 to go to LAOS? What FOR? What was he doing there? Why is it such a large sum of money?

[Fortunata]

Didn't she also go to Afghanistan with him? Not bad for being just a girlfriend. I wonder how much that one cost?

[madmax]

Didn't she also go to Afghanistan with him? Not bad for being just a girlfriend. I wonder how much that one cost?

We paid for Berniers girlfriend to go with him to Afghanistan? Are you sure? Why would the Taxpayer, pay for his girlfriend to travel to Laos and Afghanistan?

[Topaz]

We paid for Berniers girlfriend to go with him to Afghanistan? Are you sure? Why would the Taxpayer, pay for his girlfriend to travel to Laos and Afghanistan?

Have you heard the saying, what you don`t know can`t hurt you ?

[Oleg Bach]

Have you heard the saying, what you don`t know can`t hurt you ?

It always hurts you inevitabliy. So have you guys figured out what a person with underworld connections is doing hanging out in Ottawa? Maybe the Angels have merged..who knows..perhaps Mel Lastman brokered the peace deal?

[jdobbin]

More connections to bikers for Bernier's ex.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...516?hub=QPeriod

The Harper government says Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier's recent romantic liaison is no threat to national security, despite a news report that said his ex-girlfriend's links to the criminal underworld were more recent than previously thought.

But the Conservatives refused to say whether authorities investigated the affair or took any other measures that allowed them to conclude there was no threat.

Bernier's former relationship became political fodder once again Friday after Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported that Julie Couillard lived with a man with ties to the Hells Angels three years ago.

Couillard's penchant for bikers and bad-boys was thought to have been limited to one husband and one live-in boyfriend before 1999.

But La Presse said she lived until 2005 with Robert Pepin, who the newspaper said owed money to a Hells Angels loanshark when he committed suicide last year and once pleaded guilty to trafficking stolen goods.

It now seems Bernier's ex took an active interest in his work to the annoyance of the department's staff.

Somehow this didn't seem to pose a security risk.

Edited May 17, 2008 by jdobbin