Bernier in hot seat after reports

[jbg]

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?

Her expertise in motorcycle transport in lands with few roads that can carry cars.

[jdobbin]

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

Why would they let her go to Afghanistan when they wouldn't even let a Senate committee go?

Edited May 17, 2008 by jdobbin

[Topaz]

Since Bernier is on the hot seat because of Couillard, I think a good song for Bernier to sing is Travis Tripp's T-R-O-U-B-L-E to Julie. IF you don't know the song just go to amazon.com and type it in the music section and list to the sample.

[madmax]

Her expertise in motorcycle transport in lands with few roads that can carry cars.

There are alot of motorcycles in both countries. I enjoyed that answer. Perhaps I can get on the next plane trip.

[madmax]

More connections to bikers for Bernier's ex.

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

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.

I find it interesting that people all seemed to remember the past for this women, the older past associations, but it took this long to realize their were more immediate associations virtually right up to the point she met with Bernier.

I would think the fog of information would be hazier on information 10 years old, how do you overlook the very very recent past? Did the spin doctors think that her recent involvement with Outlaw Bikers wasn't going to be found out? How foolish can one be?

Why did she take such an interest in Berniers work, since she was just a travelling companion?

And since her boyfriend "committed suicide" just before she met Bernier, perhaps she had other plans in mind when she met him. (how many people died, or committted suicide that she knew?)

She was involved in with people in Organized Crime, Outlaw Bikers, Mob right up until she met Bernier. And then she no longer did "Associate" while she was a "travelling companion"

Why the would CPC/Government say there is no risk, yet not provide any new information on how they came to that conclusion.

Edited May 20, 2008 by madmax

[capricorn]

And since her boyfriend "committed suicide" just before she met Bernier, perhaps she had other plans in mind when she met him. (how many people died, or committted suicide that she knew?)

This woman has all the earmarks of a "femme fatale". With new information coming out, it's obvious Bernier is a poor judge of character and failed to find out the most basic of information on her background. There was a time I judged him to be a rising star in the Conservative party. Now, I think he belongs on the back benches. Like me, Harper was somehow duped by Bernier from the get go. I hope Harper deals with this the only way possible that is, cut the legs out from under him a.s.a.p.

[jdobbin]

Now, I think he belongs on the back benches. Like me, Harper was somehow duped by Bernier from the get go. I hope Harper deals with this the only way possible that is, cut the legs out from under him a.s.a.p.

His performance as minister has not been blockbuster stuff.

Harper is standing by him for now. What choice does he have with so few from Quebec?

It will be interesting to see who she moves on to next. If it is biker related one might think that the RCMP's claims of possible infiltration shouldn't have been so quickly dismissed.

[capricorn]

His performance as minister has not been blockbuster stuff.

Had it not been for the Couillard debacle, his gaffes could probably have been manageable.

Harper is standing by him for now. What choice does he have with so few from Quebec?

IMO, that's not a good enough reason to keep him in a major portfolio.

It will be interesting to see who she moves on to next. If it is biker related one might think that the RCMP's claims of possible infiltration shouldn't have been so quickly dismissed.

Couillard will keep a low profile, probably never to be heard of again although I think eyes may be on her for the next little while.

[madmax]

This woman has all the earmarks of a "femme fatale". With new information coming out, it's obvious Bernier is a poor judge of character and failed to find out the most basic of information on her background. There was a time I judged him to be a rising star in the Conservative party. Now, I think he belongs on the back benches. Like me, Harper was somehow duped by Bernier from the get go. I hope Harper deals with this the only way possible that is, cut the legs out from under him a.s.a.p.

I think you have summed up this thread perfectly. It's nothing personel, just good politics.

[Fortunata]

Like me, Harper was somehow duped by Bernier from the get go.

Harper wasn't duped. He isn't the type to be duped. He rolled the dice (because he needs high profile Quebecers and he'd sell his mother's soul to get a majority next election) and lost on this one.

[jbg]

Harper wasn't duped. He isn't the type to be duped. He rolled the dice (because he needs high profile Quebecers and he'd sell his mother's soul to get a majority next election) and lost on this one.

Is this kind of accusation of a quality of a similar one predicting that Harper would willingly lie under oath?

[Fortunata]

Is this kind of accusation of a quality of a similar one predicting that Harper would willingly lie under oath?

Link to where I predicted Steve would lie under oath? Are you one of Steve's inner circle that would know if he would lie or not? Are you in with the psychick stylist that will look in her crystal ball and tell you now whether Steve is honest enough to answer honestly?

I find you very dishonest and dishonourable to post something like that knowing most people would just read and move on, not searching to see if I had made that accusation or not. A bit weasely isn't it?

[madmax]

Harper wasn't duped. He isn't the type to be duped. He rolled the dice (because he needs high profile Quebecers and he'd sell his mother's soul to get a majority next election) and lost on this one.

I do not know what Harpier knows of Bernier, his background or his personal "travelling companion". But I do know that it would be prudent to do a vetting of his "travelling companion" and determine if he was a dupe to people involved in organized crime and Outlaw Gangs.

I don't think Harper rolled the dice.

I agree with Capricorn.

[Fortunata]

The Con supporters keep saying Harper is so smart. If he is so smart he wouldn't be duped by Bernier. He can't be both things. He's either not as smart as he is purported to be or he rolled the dice. My money is on the dice.

[jdobbin]

The Con supporters keep saying Harper is so smart. If he is so smart he wouldn't be duped by Bernier. He can't be both things. He's either not as smart as he is purported to be or he rolled the dice. My money is on the dice.

Just heard on CBC Radio that there is talk about a cabinet shuffle and Bernier's name is one of the people they are talking about in terms of movement.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...3bB3qSFIj5prHFw

The imminent departure of Stephen Harper's chief of staff could be just the first tremor in a pre-election shakeup of the prime minister's team.

Reports that Ian Brodie plans to leave Harper's office by the end of June fanned speculation Thursday that more changes - including a possible cabinet shuffle - may be in the works as the minority Conservative government girds for an election as early as the fall.

"We are now at most 16 months away from an election," said former Harper chief of staff Tom Flanagan, referring to legislation that requires an election in October 2009 if the opposition parties don't topple the government before then.

"So, I think any rational prime minister under the circumstances will be gearing up towards an election."

Flanagan, who now teaches political science at the University of Calgary, stressed he has no inside information on what Harper may be planning. But he said a cabinet shuffle and a throne speech in the autumn would both be good ideas for a government intent on putting its best foot forward for an election.

A small shuffle would help "to bulletproof yourself, take away any potential weaknesses," he said.

Flanagan declined to name weak ministers who may be due for reassignment. But speculation has been rife in Tory circles that Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, after a series of blunders and controversy over his ex-girlfriend's ties to outlaw bikers in Quebec, will be pushed aside or even out of cabinet altogether.

As well, Tories have been whispering that Treasury Board President Vic Toews, embroiled in a messy divorce, has fallen into disfavour with the prime minister.

I've tried not to mention anything about Toew's personal life but Tories seem to do a lot of talking about it. Busybodies.

Edited May 22, 2008 by jdobbin

[Who's Doing What?]

Link to where I predicted Steve would lie under oath? Are you one of Steve's inner circle that would know if he would lie or not? Are you in with the psychick stylist that will look in her crystal ball and tell you now whether Steve is honest enough to answer honestly?

I find you very dishonest and dishonourable to post something like that knowing most people would just read and move on, not searching to see if I had made that accusation or not. A bit weasely isn't it?

I know I said he would lie under oath.

Why not? If he lies he gets away with it. I would expect no less from any person.