Will Stephen Harper resign over the Senate scandal?

[Argus]

Who's the last PM that damn near bankrupt us? That would be John Deifenbaker. Now we have the largest deficit ever under Harper. Physcal responsibility from the CPC? Not according to history.

Fairy tales are nice but they don't hold up in the real world. Diefenbaker almost bankrupted us? Let's see some cites to support this.

As for the current deficit, it's nowhere near the largest in history.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Argus

[PIK]

You expect Mr. Wright to publically announce, "The PM was correct, I, Nigel Wright, deceived the Canadian public"? (That is Harper's new claim, as I'm sure you've heard.)

Well, maybe. It's not impossible. I guess we'll see.

The PM was correct and, I , Nigei Wright being his chief of staff took it upon myself to protect the PM on this matter as I tried to clean this mess up.

[Argus]

You expect Mr. Wright to publically announce, "The PM was correct, I, Nigel Wright, deceived the Canadian public"? (That is Harper's new claim, as I'm sure you've heard.)

Well, maybe. It's not impossible. I guess we'll see.

All Wright comes across as is an overly eager rich boy who tried to make this story go away in his loyalty to the party.

Deceiving the public is what politics is all about - for all parties.

[Argus]

If they do this for expenses, where else are they stealing public funds?

Senators don't have the opportunity to steal public money except through expenses.

Meaning he knew about it. But got the party to pay for his judicial fees.

The party routinely pays legal fees, but okay, if it makes you feel better. It's their money anyway.

And this attitude is exactly the response they want. They want you to not give a damn. And if you don't care about this small amount of cash, then you won't mind if they take a little more of it each time.

I have a sense of priorities. It's not that I don't care. But i'm sure it will be handled. The AG will come out with a report soon, and the senators are, I'm sure, being much careful now in what they file for.

The lawyer fees were paid for by the Con party. Since that money can come by donations, it may not be all taxpayer money. Expenses however are paid for by government (aka taxpayer money). I think that is how it works.

Nonsense. First, most of the donations to the party are in small amounts that most people don't even bother to claim. Second, so what? If they don't use the money for this then they'll use it for ads or whatnot. It's all used to enhance their popularity one way or another, so I really don't have an issue with it.

[carepov]

Well, take a look at the defecit his party has created before you do anything.

Yes. I will beleive it [eliminiation of the deficit] when I see it. That GST cut from 7-5% sure was economically stupid!

[Keepitsimple]

Amazing. People say that Harper is lying - that he must have known all about the "scheme" prior to it becoming public. But Nigel Wright has already told the RCMP that he acted alone and did not advise Harper before or after about his payment to Duffy for $90,000. So, is he lying too? If the Harper-haters could take a moment to wipe the froth from their mouths, it would make much more sense that both are telling the truth rather than both are lying.

[guyser]

Me too. Nothing I've seen so far even remotely qualifies as scandalous.

Hmm...I wonder why all the delegates going into the convention are worried .

[eyeball]

Consider what Harper himself has said about others caught up in scandals, being oblivious to them while they're unfolding under your nose is no excuse.

[guyser]

Consider what Harper himself has said about others caught up in scandals, being oblivious to them while they're unfolding under your nose is no excuse.

There is a quote floating around from the Adscam scandal where Harper implicated PM PM even though PM wasnt the boss at the time...something along the lines of incompetnece or complicion.

MR Harper, theres a little egg on your face....no a bit lower...yup there it is.

[waldo]

But Nigel Wright has already told the RCMP that he acted alone and did not advise Harper before or after about his payment to Duffy for $90,000. So, is he lying too?

no - it was Harper who insisted Wright acted alone.

Wright has advised the RCMP that he told four people, including three members of the PMO, about the 'Duffy cheque':

- Conservative Senator Irving Gerstein;

- Wright's assistant, David van Hemmen;

- Chris Woodcock, then director of issues management in the PMO; and

- Harper's legal adviser at the time, Benjamin Perrin. Duffy has extended that number by 1 to also include

- Arthur Hamilton, the Conservative Party's top lawyer.

[GostHacked]

Senators don't have the opportunity to steal public money except through expenses.

I am sure it's not the only way.

The party routinely pays legal fees, but okay, if it makes you feel better. It's their money anyway.

I had indicated it was party money. But the offer was to pay Duffy's legal fees as a gesture to support Duffy's original claim of innocence. Now Harper has to backtrack on the notion of innocence.

I have a sense of priorities. It's not that I don't care. But i'm sure it will be handled. The AG will come out with a report soon, and the senators are, I'm sure, being much careful now in what they file for.

They will be careful, for a short while. I don't think we need to wait for a report from the AG.

Nonsense. First, most of the donations to the party are in small amounts that most people don't even bother to claim. Second, so what?

That is not what I had written. The lawyer fees come from the party. Which I indicate that money the party has, came from donations from people. Sure they can get a tax credit, but in the end these people willingly give their money to the party. And in that case, I have no problem with how they use those funds.

If they don't use the money for this then they'll use it for ads or whatnot. It's all used to enhance their popularity one way or another, so I really don't have an issue with it.

This is not a popularity contest, these are people that are in the driver's seat of our nation. The senator's payroll is through taxpayer money that the government takes in. Expenses are also paid for by taxpayers. Legal fees paid for by the party's own funds is NOT using taxpayer money.

Hope that clears it up.

[Big Guy]

Nigel Wright is expected to fall on his sword for the "Leader" and is respected by the Conservatives for his loyalty. What he is not is expected to do is to go to jail for his leader. Nigel gave at least $90,000 to senator Duffy for some reason. I would like to see the RCMP "CHARGE" Nigel with bribery and Duffy with accepting a bribe. Let them both testify under oath. I think that the information that would come out under those conditions would force the Conservatives to force Harper out of the party and office. Remember, we did not vote for Harper for Prime Minister - it is the Conservatives who appointed him. They have the power to appoint someone else.

[Argus]

Hmm...I wonder why all the delegates going into the convention are worried .

You've polled them, have you?

[guyser]

You've polled them, have you?

Naw....just watched a whack of them interviewed on TV.

Yup...worried is what I would call it.

[Boges]

I think Stephen Harper should send Rob Ford and/or Toronto Police Chief Blair some flowers today.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Boges

[Argus]

Naw....just watched a whack of them interviewed on TV.

Yup...worried is what I would call it.

It hasn't occured to you that the ones who weren't worried wouldn't be interviewed on TV?

And what are they worried about?

Senate scandal hasn't hurt Tories support.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/senate-scandal-hasnt-hampered-tories-support-poll-says/article15174731/

[guyser]

It hasn't occured to you that the ones who weren't worried wouldn't be interviewed on TV?

And what are they worried about?

Senate scandal hasn't hurt Tories support.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/senate-scandal-hasnt-hampered-tories-support-poll-says/article15174731/

Actually the ones not worried are the ones who normally line up and shout they arent. But that didnt happen, not to suggest there arent any but you know the drill.

Iy hasnt hurt....down a few points since the start of this, but then again, this isnt over by a long shot. When Nigel finally has enough ( if he ever does) then maybe he will be driving the bus and run Harper over.

Seems it is what they do.

[Boges]

If JT can't take a huge lead in the midst of all this while he hasn't even said anything about what he'd do as PM, he's likely toast in a 2015 election.

[guyser]

If JT can't take a huge lead in the midst of all this while he hasn't even said anything about what he'd do as PM, he's likely toast in a 2015 election.

I wouldnt agree with that.

Always best to let the fire burn and not to be seen anywhere in the neighbourhood. Keep the focus of the fire on the guy who lit the match. No need to get scorched standing around talking about it.

[Boges]

I wouldnt agree with that.

Always best to let the fire burn and not to be seen anywhere in the neighbourhood. Keep the focus of the fire on the guy who lit the match. No need to get scorched standing around talking about it.

Rob Ford has changed that for a bit. The Media can't keep both these stories going at the same rate.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Boges

[waldo]

Senate scandal hasn't hurt Tories support.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/senate-scandal-hasnt-hampered-tories-support-poll-says/article15174731/

online poll! ... you may as well have linked to the G&M's own online poll:

or... the latest Oct25 polling average from ThreeHundredEight:

[guyser]

Rob Ford has changed that for a bit. The Media can't keep both these stories going at the same rate.

Oh I dunno.....outside of TO this shouldnt play very long (Ford). Besides , all the good news has been said until the next round of released papers comes out, and by all accounts that should be even more fun.

[Boges]

Oh I dunno.....outside of TO this shouldnt play very long (Ford). Besides , all the good news has been said until the next round of released papers comes out, and by all accounts that should be even more fun.

And once Duffy and company are turfed from the Senate early next week what's the fuel for the media beyond that?

[Boges]

online poll! ... you may as well have linked to the G&M's own online poll:

or... the latest Oct25 polling average from ThreeHundredEight:

Ipsos-Reid is an online polling company?

[waldo]

Ipsos-Reid is an online polling company?

read the original linked G&M article: "The results are from an online poll of Canadian respondents Oct. 25 to 28."