Jaffer boasted to businesses: I can get government money easily

[Shakeyhands]

I doubt ( I think) that Jaffer had any real access to the PMO, but which of his friends and contacts did, what if he hadn't been arrested and charged for speeding, driving under the influence and cocaine possesion? Why was he cut such a sweet deal? Is he rolling on Gillani? With such a sordid tale told, will Helena Guergis face scrutiny from the PMO because of this?

Jaffer Story

Conservatives, Influence peddling, escorts and cocaine... oh my.

[Sir Bandelot]

I find it quite interesting that the party that tries to portray itself to the public as the most puritan is often the most corrupted and perverse. As we saw in another thread, comparing Democrat and Republican scandals. Likewise it seems to be the case with members of certain theological institutions, whose normal sexual urges are outwardly repressed. It's like a syndrome. This is what happens to closet pee-pee whappers.

[scribblet]

Jaffer is an EX MP and does not represent conservatives in general, so quit trying to tar all conservatives with the same brush.

It's quite a hatchet job by the Star, I wonder what their sources are or if they can back it up, so far I do not see it anywhere else.

[Shakeyhands]

Jaffer is an EX MP and does not represent conservatives in general, so quit trying to tar all conservatives with the same brush.

It's quite a hatchet job by the Star, I wonder what their sources are or if they can back it up, so far I do not see it anywhere else.

Sounds similar to Guite etc...

[Topaz]

Jaffer is an EX MP and does not represent conservatives in general, so quit trying to tar all conservatives with the same brush.

It's quite a hatchet job by the Star, I wonder what their sources are or if they can back it up, so far I do not see it anywhere else.

HE may not be part of the Tories but he was handing out cards that said so, impersonating an officer of the government?? His wife still is, at least, for now , so what about him/them buying and doing cocaine? Perhaps that's why she was so bitching at the PEI airport....going into withdrawal???

[M.Dancer]

Jaffer is toast. His marriage,is probably toast too...

[madmax]

Jaffer is an EX MP and does not represent conservatives in general, so quit trying to tar all conservatives with the same brush.

He CERTAINLY DID represent the Conservatives and did so for many terms and would have been caught with COCAINE, SPeeding and DRUNK as an MP if he hadn't lost by a few votes last election.

He's your baby and I have ALWAYS said, look it up, this guy needed to wear a bib with his sports jacket.

It's quite a hatchet job by the Star, I wonder what their sources are or if they can back it up, so far I do not see it anywhere else.

I just read this article again.

I have seen hatchet jobs and this isn't one of them.

You must have an exposed nerve or something to declare that article a hatchet job.

The Conservative party is notorious for its hatchet jobs and attack machines.

The SILENCE of the Conservatives on Jaffers activities is silent acceptance of his actions and his sweetheart deal that NO average citizen would ever receive.

Unless the Conservatives go after this "Non Representative" of their party, I'd say that the Conservatives are hypocritical and full of it.

TIME FOR CRIME unless you are a member of the Conservative Elite.

Special treatment for those with power and access to power.

Edited April 8, 2010 by madmax

[scribblet]

Techy today aren't we...

He was not an MP, and would not have been as he was actually shut out of the nomination process because the party didn't want him to run. So don't try pinning this onto the CPC, they have nothing to do with it, nor him. He, and he alone is responsible for his reported behaviour.

Edited April 8, 2010 by scriblett

[Shakeyhands]

Techy today aren't we...

He was not an MP, and would not have been as he was actually shut out of the nomination process because the party didn't want him to run. So don't try pinning this onto the CPC, they have nothing to do with it, nor him. He, and he alone is responsible for his reported behaviour.

kinda like Guite etc....

[M.Dancer]

kinda like Guite etc....

Not really. Guite had a job. With the Government.

[Born Free]

Jaffer is an EX MP and does not represent conservatives in general, so quit trying to tar all conservatives with the same brush.

It's quite a hatchet job by the Star, I wonder what their sources are or if they can back it up, so far I do not see it anywhere else.

Nice distancing job...of course he represented conservatives in general. Thats what MP's do.

The best hatchet job was actually committed by Harper when he accused Paul Martin of being a supporter of child porn.

[capricorn]

Conservatives, Influence peddling, escorts and cocaine... oh my.

I believe the facts in that article are true. Even though it is not normal practice for the terms of plea bargains to be made public, the Ontario Crown Attorney's office should disclose those terms. But that would be too tidy.

IMO, the blame for the soft treatment Jaffer got should be placed with the Ontario Crown Attorney and not the Conservatives.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson thinks the public should be allowed more information about the Rahim Jaffer plea bargain, adding his voice to the growing chorus of federal Conservatives who believe there should be more disclosure.

---

Mr. Nicholson noted, too, that it's not his job to put pressure on provincial Crown Attorneys for more transparency. “But if you're asking me in general about the public knowing, I find it's always helpful.”

The federal Justice Minister is not alone in this view. There is a risk that any perception that Mr. Jaffer was treated differently because of his political connections could reflect poorly on Stephen Harper's government.

Other Conservatives, such as pundits Tim Powers and Kory Teneycke, the Prime Minister's former director of communications, have called for more information about the plea bargain. In fact, Mr. Teneycke went so far as to say that Mr. Jaffer should apologize and explain his behaviour to Canadians.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/public-should-know-more-about-jaffer-nicholson/article1500313/

It's not surprising that Jaffer and Guergis are being used as blunt instruments by the opposition and their partisans to get at the government. After all, this is politics, a sport that is not always pretty or even-handed.

Keep the media coverage going. It might just prompt those who really know what happened to speak up.

[Born Free]

It's not surprising that Jaffer and Guergis are being used as blunt instruments by the opposition and their partisans to get at the government. After all, this is politics, a sport that is not always pretty or even-handed.

Keep the media coverage going. It might just prompt those who really know what happened to speak up.

Given that you've shown yourself to be such an upstanding and worldly citizen, did you agree with the Harper move to villify Paul Martin that he supported child porn?

[Molly]

Techy today aren't we...

He was not an MP, and would not have been as he was actually shut out of the nomination process because the party didn't want him to run. So don't try pinning this onto the CPC, they have nothing to do with it, nor him. He, and he alone is responsible for his reported behaviour.

That's disingenuous. He was entirely embraced as their man... until he didn't win. He wasn't disavowed in any manner at all until he became a walking scandal, was still considered the distaff side of a 'power couple' within the Tory ranks until Helena did it to herself, and he still seems to inspire only uncomfortable silences from the high-moral masters of bombast.

[M.Dancer]

Personally I think Jaffer should be hung out to dry. Not because he is a conservative,,,,but as an object lesson to all former and current MPs of any party, that influence peddling is verboten.

[ToadBrother]

HE may not be part of the Tories but he was handing out cards that said so, impersonating an officer of the government?? His wife still is, at least, for now , so what about him/them buying and doing cocaine? Perhaps that's why she was so bitching at the PEI airport....going into withdrawal???

To be honest, if I had a spouse like him, I'd probably spend some part of every day being irrationally angry too.

[Molly]

I'm pleased to see the lie called on the suggestion that there was something wrong with the evidence, and/or the competence of the Caledon OPP. Blaming the sweetheart treatment on the police was shameful.

[M.Dancer]

I'm pleased to see the lie called on the suggestion that there was something wrong with the evidence, and/or the competence of the Caledon OPP. Blaming the sweetheart treatment on the police was shameful.

I don't recall anyone blaming the OPP...I recall that the responcibility was on the Crown.

[Molly]

On March 9, 2010, crown attorney Balogh told a hearing (in front of a different judge) that she was withdrawing all charges speeding, driving over the legal blood alcohol limit, and cocaine possession against Jaffer because there were issues with the evidence and she saw no reasonable prospect of a conviction. She replaced the charge with one count of careless driving, to which the former MP pleaded guilty. He was fined $500 and also voluntarily made a $500 payment to a cystic fibrosis charity.

'problems with the evidence' = police screwed up.

Edited April 8, 2010 by Molly

[M.Dancer]

'problems with the evidence' = police screwed up.

That's an assumption based on no evidence.

When news of Jaffer’s arrest leaked out the next week, it was front page news. Toronto lawyer Howard Rubel was hired to defend Jaffer. Jaffer told associates that the cocaine was in his jacket pocket, which was hanging in the back seat of his car, which he said meant he would likely get off on a technicality. The police maintain the cocaine was in his pants pocket.

[M.Dancer]

... because there were issues with the evidence and she saw no reasonable prospect of a conviction. She replaced the charge with one count of careless driving, to which the former MP pleaded guilty. He was fined $500 and also voluntarily made a $500 payment to a cystic fibrosis charity.

'problems with the evidence' = police screwed up.

Issues and problems may be two different things.

[Wild Bill]

That's disingenuous. He was entirely embraced as their man... until he didn't win. He wasn't disavowed in any manner at all until he became a walking scandal, was still considered the distaff side of a 'power couple' within the Tory ranks until Helena did it to herself, and he still seems to inspire only uncomfortable silences from the high-moral masters of bombast.

Of course he wasn't "disavowed" until the scandals, Molly! How on earth can you disavow someone if you don't yet know anything bad about him?

I would agree that Jaffer and perhaps his wife have been revealed as hypocrites of the highest order. However, people are fallible. There was a time when Chuck Guite was held in high esteem within the Liberal Party. For that matter, there was a time when the Liberal Party itself was held in high esteem.

I've posted before that I have had first hand knowledge of "slimy" behaviour on the part of a highly placed NDP figure. So what? We can all draw examples from all parties. I'd be willing to grant that even Elizabeth May had some indiscretions in her youth. Hopefully, for her sake!

I'll also agree that the Tories might provide more contrast to such incidents by appearing more of a "straight and narrow" bunch. However, I wouldn't push that point, if I were you. The logical converse is that the other parties would have to be LESS "straight and narrow". In other words, "wide and crooked"!

I don't like the Liberal Party for their culture of arrogance and entitlement. I despise the NDP as a party even more, for their philosophy of bleeding the capable and hardworking. Still, I would never tar every Liberal and every NDP member with the same brush! There are some very fine people within those parties. I don't define good character as only those who agree with my beliefs!

[M.Dancer]

was still considered the distaff side of a 'power couple'

He was considered a woman?

[Molly]

He might wish that he was the spear side, but he wasn't.

Aren't you a cozy literalist, though! No poetry in your soul at all?

[M.Dancer]

He might wish that he was the spear side, but he wasn't.

Aren't you a cozy literalist, though! No poetry in your soul at all?

I am filled with poetry...

But words have meanings,

Some even suggest leanings,

I say

A man on the distaff

Would cause some to laugh

Cause they thought he was

quite Gay