Goodbye Tom Flanagan! :)

[jacee]

Tom Flanagan, Harper's mentor, used to have a lot of power and influence.

Now he's gone! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Ex-PM adviser Tom Flanagan sorry for child-porn comments: Professor and pundit questioned if child-porn viewers should be jailed

I certainly have no sympathy for child molesters, but I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures, said Flanagan.

Its a real issue of personal liberty and to what extent we put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person.

...

The comments drew heavy criticism from the PMO's office and the Wildrose, as well as the University of Calgary where Flanagan works as a professor.

...

Tom Flanagans comments on child pornography are repugnant, ignorant, and appalling, tweeted director of communications Andrew MacDougall.

The Wildrose released a statement saying that Flanagan would have no role with the party going forward. There is no language strong enough to condemn Dr. Flanagans comments, reads the statement.

...

Flanagan was a member of the Power & Politics' Power Panel. The CBC announced Thursday he would no longer be appearing on the program.

The U of C also released a statement Thursday distancing themselves from Flanagan and the comments.

...

Flanagan was scheduled to speak at a Manning Centre conference next week but has since been dropped.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Creep!

Edited February 28, 2013 by jacee

[shortlived]

He needs his own radioshow.

The Mr. Dressup and Flanagan Show

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uFT1tY6r4MI/TLqKbMYgn-I/AAAAAAAAAN0/XCHIez3XycE/s1600/CaseyFinnegan1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sentineldispatch.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html&h=323&w=430&sz=26&tbnid=q2I6CmgtyusyrM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=136&zoom=1&usg=__cUWh5EDDNytxdyMqKIGFAp5ZyEE=&docid=mltoQHy2EyaciM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-t4vUePGDeL10gHJ6oDQCA&ved=0CDkQ9QEwAQ&dur=1

hold on is this hate speech?

---

personally I think his comments atleast have partial validity...

last thing we need is some perv to be bunked with some young quebec pot smoker.

You know work camps with willing hookers, or russian and Chinese mail orders is a far better solution. You know to keep them healthy and their minds right. Cause sterilization isn't moral.

Or how about co-ed. the way the world really works.

Edited February 28, 2013 by shortlived

[jacee]

Tom Flanagan retires from university post after child porn comments Edited February 28, 2013 by jacee

[Argus]

I have to express more than a little surprise, even though I perhaps
shouldn't, at the depths of raw hysteria which continues to surround the
subject of child porn. Heck, maybe they should burn him at the stake
for having the termerity to state an opinion that such hysteria is
overblown and that looking at pictures is not akin to mass murder.

It's funny that you can state your opinion is that Canada should be broken
up, that drugs should be legalized, or that Democracy should be replaced
by Communism, but dare to suggest people who look at dirty pictures on
the internet shouldn't be put in prison and the hysterics will lynch
you.

Oh but it's for the CHILDREN! SOB!

Edited March 1, 2013 by Argus

[jacee]

I have to express more than a little surprise, even though I perhaps

shouldn't, at the depths of raw hysteria which continues to surround the

subject of child porn. Heck, maybe they should burn him at the stake

for having the termerity to state an opinion that such hysteria is

overblown and that looking at pictures is not akin to mass murder.

It's funny that you can state your opinion is that Canada should be broken

up, that drugs should be legalized, or that Democracy should be replaced

by Communism, but dare to suggest people who look at dirty pictures on

the internet shouldn't be put in prison and the hysterics will lynch

you.

Oh but it's for the CHILDREN! SOB!

Pictures of children being raped.

[Argus]

Pictures of children being raped.

You actually don't know anything about the law, do you.

[jacee]

Politicians across the country are condemning

Students were audibly appalled ...

The University of Lethbridge is distancing itself ...

"Dr. Flanagan is not an employee of the University of Lethbridge."

campaign strategist for Alberta's Wildrose party ... the Wildrose released a statement saying Flanagan would have no role with the party moving forward

"It turned my stomach," said Premier Alison Redford, ...

I think it's a perfect example of people that take ideological arguments too far, ..."

Harpers spokesman Andrew Macdougall tweeted on Thursday that Flanagans comments are repugnant, ignorant, and appalling.

Flanagan has been dropped from the CBC television program 'Power and Politics'

The University of Calgary says Flanagan will be retiring from the school on June 30.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Flanagan!

Edited March 1, 2013 by jacee

[WWWTT]

You actually don't know anything about the law, do you.

That a boy Argus,let yourself go down with the sinking ship!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Flanagan!

That doors going to get pretty wore down by the time 2015 comes around!

This incident is going to be used on Harper just like how Harper likes to use slime ball smears on others!

Paybacks a

WWWTT

[Guest Derek L]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Flanagan!

That doors going to get pretty wore down by the time 2015 comes around!

This incident is going to be used on Harper just like how Harper likes to use slime ball smears on others!

Paybacks a

WWWTT

From the OP link:

Flanagan goes on to say that he is not part of the Conservative government, and that he has some doubts about the some of the party’s justice initiatives.

Give her a go.........

[jacee]

Flanagan's no longer part of the government because Harper turfed him for revealing campaign strategy secrets in his book "Harper's Team".

But Harper is a Flanagan ideologue through and through.

And we can certainly fault Harper's poor judgement in his appointments from the getgo.

[Guest Derek L]

Flanagan's no longer part of the government because Harper turfed him for revealing campaign strategy secrets in his book "Harper's Team".

But Harper is a Flanagan ideologue through and through.

And we can certainly fault Harper's poor judgement in his appointments from the getgo.

Hence why I feel your party of choice should run with it……….After a couple more lawsuits, coupled with such a hypothetical campaign tract, the NDP’s Pat Martin will surely end up living in a fridge box under a bridge………….The NDP should play up the “Harper-Flannigan-child porn” angle………..Go for it.

[WWWTT]

Hence why I feel your party of choice should run with it……….After a couple more lawsuits, coupled with such a hypothetical campaign tract, the NDP’s Pat Martin will surely end up living in a fridge box under a bridge………….The NDP should play up the “Harper-Flannigan-child porn” angle………..Go for it.

Ya and how did those lawsuits against the conservatives turn out???

Oh but somehow,now only lawsuits that the conservatives file have merit????

2015 couldn't come fast enough!

If you think nothing will come out of this then that's fine,there's nothing the conservatives can do about it now anyways apart from trying to distance themselves from any elements that are "caught"!

Don't worry,lots of NDP spin doctors are salivating and rubbing their hands,thinking of how their going to word this one!

Won't be that hard,nothing wrong with making direct quotes and stating the obvious.

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

The NDP should play up the “Harper-Flannigan-child porn” angle………..Go for it.

You said it,not the NDP.

Man,this is going to be freekin easy!

WWWTT

[Boges]

Yeah well he was regularly on the CBC so what does that say about them? :-/

Edited March 1, 2013 by Boges

[Argus]

That a boy Argus,let yourself go down with the sinking ship!

WWWTT

Are you suggesting I not defend basic principles if that would be unpopular?

[Peanutbutter]

I cannot understand anyone who would defend people who are pedophiles and those who collect child pornography The children in the child porn are victims. End of story. No amount of spin will take that away. It's complete nonsense for anyone to say that there are no victims when it comes to viewing child pornography.

Any police officer will tell you that is completely false and that the children involved with the making of child porn videos and pictures are in fact real victims. Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise, it's appalling and disgusting and perhaps they should be removed from this forum. I'm not sure this forum is any place for child porn sympathizers at all. Absolutely disgusting.

When the children are appearing in porn videos and pictures they are being raped. If some people don't see the rape of a child to be a serious concern then I....I don't know, I am just gobsmacked.

[Argus]

I cannot understand anyone who would defend people who are pedophiles

Do you think pedophiles should all be imprisoned? If so for how long?

and those who collect child pornography The children in the child porn are victims.

What about an imaginary child created by computer graphics? What about a child whose picture was taken thirty years ago for a nudist magazine? What about a sixteen year old who took the picture herself?

[Jerry J. Fortin]

While this may in fact be just Tom's problem, because of who he is the optics change everything. His association with the party being both extensive and influential by definition indicates that his views were not merely listened to but acted on as well. This puts the partisan effort of the Conservatives in a light entirely undesired. The entire party is tainted, and by extension both the Government and the PMO as well. The entire nation appears to be distancing itself from the former cabinet minister, and the entire nation remembers what political party he came from.

I will suggest that what happens in the next two months will determine the direction of politics for the duration of the current term of the Government of Canada. While the Official Opposition has the soap box, and the Liberals choose a new leader, the fate of the government is simply not in question until 2015. Granted that is a long time off, yet it may not in fact be time enough for the Harper government to mitigate this latest disaster.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Do you think pedophiles should all be imprisoned? If so for how long?

What about an imaginary child created by computer graphics? What about a child whose picture was taken thirty years ago for a nudist magazine? What about a sixteen year old who took the picture herself?

I think they should be imprisoned forever, never see the outside of their cage. They are animals and should be treated that way. Lets be serious here, we are not talking about CGI, or the existance of old pictures, or the misguided efforts of a child, we are talking about people taking advantage of children in the pornography industry, and the purchase of that garbage by perverts. It is illegal, it should stay that way and it should be heavily reniforced with all available legal means.

A society that does not defend its children offends me.

[jacee]

Do you think pedophiles should all be imprisoned? If so for how long?

What about an imaginary child created by computer graphics? What about a child whose picture was taken thirty years ago for a nudist magazine? What about a sixteen year old who took the picture herself?

Instead of setting up hypothetical strawmen - er - scenarios, why don't you research it and tell us?

I assume that's covered in legal definition of child porn, and in sentencing.

[Canuckistani]

It is. No to the first one, if you don't distribute it. Not sure about the second, depends how it's distributed, i would guess. Definitely yes to the third - kids have been charged for sending pics of themselves, I believe.

Pedophiles that use materials that involved the harming of children should be imprisoned.

[scribblet]

While this may in fact be just Tom's problem, because of who he is the optics change everything. His association with the party being both extensive and influential by definition indicates that his views were not merely listened to but acted on as well. This puts the partisan effort of the Conservatives in a light entirely undesired. The entire party is tainted, and by extension both the Government and the PMO as well. The entire nation appears to be distancing itself from the former cabinet minister, and the entire nation remembers what political party he came from.

.............

You an others seem to ignore what else Flanagan said.

He specifically identified the issue as one he and the CPC disagreed on then went on to attack conservatives. He actually identified the conservatives as waging a 'jihad' against pornographers, and that he felt they were wrong in that regard.

Edited March 2, 2013 by scribblet

[WWWTT]

Are you suggesting I not defend basic principles if that would be unpopular?

Penut Butter pretty much summed it up,the rest of the conservative party never want to hear about Tom again.

Defending him is the furthest thing on their minds.

WWWTT

[Argus]

I think they should be imprisoned forever, never see the outside of their cage.

Does that go for everyone else with a mental illness? Should all schizophrenics be locked up in a cage forever, for example?

They are animals and should be treated that way. Lets be serious here, we are not talking about CGI, or the existance of old pictures

Uhm, yes, we are.

we are talking about people taking advantage of children in the pornography industry, and the purchase of that garbage by perverts. It is illegal, it should stay that way and it should be heavily reniforced with all available legal means.

A society that does not defend its children offends me.

This is the cliche'd emotional response. It lacks any empathy, concern, consideration or thought with regard to the complexities involved or the flawed legislation, and seems almost entirely based on outrage that these people are turned on by kids -- regardless of the fact it stems from a psychiatric disorder. It wants them all locked up 'in cages' regardless of whether they ever go near a child or even access pornography. It wants them basically dead because of what they are.