August1991 Posted May 29, 2013 Report Posted May 29, 2013 (edited) Was I the only person to see a sad PM, a prosecutor OLO and a lightweight but remarkable third party Liberal leader? IMHO, this 15 minute exchange will enter Canadian political folklore. Watching Harper, I imagined that he felt his father looking down on him and asking, "How did you get into this situation?" Harper was not recalcitrant, although he attempted to appear this - no doubt someone advised him to be apologetic. But Harper's demeanour was more. He either knows that he's made a deal too many or, Chretien-style, he's trying to figure his wriggle room. Wriggle room? Chretien at least was a federalist - no wriggle there. What principle would Harper never sell/compromise? How far does Harper's wriggle room go? And the sad fact is that Harper, in the back of his mind, seems to know this. ----- I was impressed with Mulcair, more than Trudeau Jnr. Following Andrew Coyne's advice, Mulcair had precise questions. They were short, and there was no grandstanding. At a critical moment, Mulcair showed Canadians that he's a very smart guy. Trudeau Jnr had his key moment with his last question: Mr Harper, do you take Canadians for fools? ------ Last points: Harper's French is painful to the ear. In the future, are Mulcair or Trudeau Jnr any less likely to compromise to obtain/maintain power? Edited June 8, 2013 by August1991 Quote
Newfoundlander Posted May 29, 2013 Report Posted May 29, 2013 Someone has gone back in time a few months. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted May 29, 2013 Report Posted May 29, 2013 Last points: Harper's French is painful to the ear. In the future, are Mulcair or Trudeau Jnr any less likely to compromise to obtain/maintain power? Well, to be fair, Chretien's English (or French) is similarly painful. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
GostHacked Posted May 29, 2013 Report Posted May 29, 2013 Well, to be fair, Chretien's English (or French) is similarly painful. About as bad as Bush's english, or whatever language he was speaking. Quote
Newfoundlander Posted May 30, 2013 Report Posted May 30, 2013 Well, to be fair, Chretien's English (or French) is similarly painful. Yes but Quebeckers don't see it that way. Anglophones are expected to speak flawless French. Quote
eyeball Posted May 30, 2013 Report Posted May 30, 2013 We're also expected to hear and follow the translation over the voice of the person being translated. Is it just my tinnitus and cranky disposition acting up when I watch Question Period or does anyone else find this especially annoying? Why the hell can't they mute the person being translated? Quote I said now watch what you say they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh fanatical criminal
Guest Posted May 30, 2013 Report Posted May 30, 2013 Is it just my tinnitus and cranky disposition acting up...? That explains a lot. Quote
Pliny Posted May 31, 2013 Report Posted May 31, 2013 No one seems to be discussing the issue so I guess it isn't one. Quote I want to be in the class that ensures the classless society remains classless.
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Well, to be fair, Chretien's English (or French) is similarly painful.B_C, you're simply wrong. In this particular Question Period, Harper's French was far worse than Chretien's English ever was. Even Bush Jnr, a target of the Left, used English in a fluid manner. Harper's use of French was jilted, jerked, irritating - and ultimately, incomprehensible. --- The old saw is that it's hard to lie in a foreign language. About as bad as Bush's english, or whatever language he was speaking.A sad ad hominem, that your guy Mulcair wisely avoided. ----- Thomas Mulcair, alone, made the Question Period in the House of Commons suddenly relevant. The basic conclusion is that if our federal Question Period is dysfunctional, it's because of the opposition. Edited June 1, 2013 by August1991 Quote
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 Someone has gone back in time a few months.Huh? Please explain. ------ I realize that I too sometimes appear to be cryptic because, well, this is an Internet forum and sometimes I have patience, and sometimes I don't. Quote
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 Uh, is this it? Yes but Quebeckers don't see it that way. Anglophones are expected to speak flawless French.Yet Newfoundlanders, for centuries, have dined out on their gift for the gab. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) B_C, you're simply wrong. In this particular Question Period, Harper's French was far worse than Chretien's English ever was. I think not....."a proof is a proof...." Listening to Chretien was an exercise in pity and frustration, even for Langue des signes. Edited June 1, 2013 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 I think not....."a proof is a proof...." Listening to Chretien was an exercise in pity and frustration, even for Langue des signes. WTF? Let me translate this into American: "I'm not a crook." Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 Let me translate from YouTube.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX6XMIldkRU Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Well, to be fair, Chretien's English (or French) is similarly painful.b_c, you also critically miss the other (second) point in my OP. Aside from Harper's accent in French, would Trudeau Jnr or Mulcair be anymore likely to be honest? Edited June 1, 2013 by August1991 Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 b_c, you critically miss my other (last) point. Going back to my OP, aside from Harper's accent in French, would Trudeau Jnr or Mulcair be anymore likely to be honest? Beats me....I don't expect "honesty" from any politician no matter what language they speak. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 Beats me....I don't expect "honesty" from any politician no matter what language they speak.Yet in a civilised society, we need politicians. What's your advice to a LIV -regardless of language? Quote
Bonam Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 What's your advice to a LIV -regardless of language? Ummm... to stop being a "LIV" maybe? Quote
August1991 Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Ummm... to stop being a "LIV" maybe?Sorry Bonam. I admire your sarcasm. But my question was addressed to B_C - and it was partly rhetorical, and partly inspired by de Toqueville. Edited June 1, 2013 by August1991 Quote
cybercoma Posted June 1, 2013 Report Posted June 1, 2013 B_C, you're simply wrong.In this particular Question Period, Harper's French was far worse than Chretien's English ever was. but probably as incomprehensible as Stephane Dion's English, to be sure. Quote
August1991 Posted June 8, 2013 Author Report Posted June 8, 2013 Someone has gone back in time a few months. Oops. Fixed. Quote
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