Canada vs Duffy vs PMO

[ToadBrother]

What could get interesting, and scary for Harper, is that with the slowdown in the proceedings, and the presiding judge already stating that he is willing to extend the length of the trial due to its import, the trial could possibly run to wear the really nasty stuff, (i.e. the bribery portion and Wrights testimony) could occur as the election campaign is getting into full swing.

It does pose a problem for the Tories if this extends closer to the election date. It was one of the reasons I know many of the Tories in my area were hoping for an election in February-March, in part to avoid the potential for worse economic news, and in part to avoid the Duffy trial blowing a hole in Tory support.

[On Guard for Thee]

It does pose a problem for the Tories if this extends closer to the election date. It was one of the reasons I know many of the Tories in my area were hoping for an election in February-March, in part to avoid the potential for worse economic news, and in part to avoid the Duffy trial blowing a hole in Tory support.

I was kind of expecting an earlier election as well, although then Harper would have been breaking his own word and law. And now he has to deal with the word atrocious being applied to the economy for the first Q.

[Smallc]

No, it's a badly needed exposure of a group of people who know how to work a system but have no ethics.

Duffy spent years working the hill and learning how to game the system. When he got the opportunity, he made the most of it.

Regardless of the legal outcome, this is healthy.

I agree in terms of the Senate overall. In relation to Harper, not so much.

[Wilber]

I agree in terms of the Senate overall. In relation to Harper, not so much.

I'll wait to see what the rest of the trial brings. Right now, all the talk regarding the PMO is just that, talk. All we know for sure is that Wright paid Duffy's bill. However, enough has come out about Duffy's expense claims to make it very clear he has no ethics when it comes to spending the money of others, whether it meets the letter of the law or not.

[On Guard for Thee]

What has also come out, although it was pretty obvious priorly anyway, that Harper had Duffy there for one purpose, raising funds, and he didnt mind Duffy billing the taxpayer while doing work for his party.

[cybercoma]

It's more a witch hunt than real corruption.

Yeah. Those court convictions. Just a witch hunt.

[Smallc]

What has also come out, although it was pretty obvious priorly anyway, that Harper had Duffy there for one purpose, raising funds,

Nothing has made that an inescapable conclusion. In fact, nothing really even points that way, unless you happened to be looking for that particular thing.

[On Guard for Thee]

Nothing has made that an inescapable conclusion. In fact, nothing really even points that way, unless you happened to be looking for that particular thing.

Everything points that way. Duffy was seldom in the red chamber, too busy on the road fund raising for his mentor. Walli pretty much the same. Brazeau, well, hate to say it, but clearly an attempt to garner votes from the FN community. And of course that has gone horribly wrong. Harpers judgement perhaps...

[Smallc]

Everything points that way.

The things that followed don't say what you want them to. That's the way thing went. There's no evidence that was the intention, and even if it were, it's a huge stretch to turn that into Harper being corrupt.

[On Guard for Thee]

The things that followed don't say what you want them to. That's the way thing went. There's no evidence that was the intention, and even if it were, it's a huge stretch to turn that into Harper being corrupt.

Not a stretch of any size, the check came out of his office written by his chief. You think he didnt know...

[Smallc]

Not a stretch of any size, the check came out of his office written by his chief. You think he didnt know...

I would be surprised if he did.

[On Guard for Thee]

I would be surprised if he did.

Given his reputation as a control freak, most of us would be surprised if he didnt. Well I guess we will just have to wait and see what ...good to go ...actually meant, when Nigel takes the stand.

[Smallc]

Given his reputation as a control freak, most of us would be surprised if he didnt. Well I guess we will just have to wait and see what ...good to go ...actually meant, when Nigel takes the stand.

It was his job to shield Harper from liability in these kinds of things. If he thought it was wrong, he would never have told Harper.

[On Guard for Thee]

It was his job to shield Harper from liability in these kinds of things. If he thought it was wrong, he would never have told Harper.

I am sure Wright, being the experienced lawyer he is, knew damn well it was wrong. I suspect they just didnt expect the lid to blow off the pot like it did in this case and hoped, as was the purpose of the check, that it would all just fade away. Well it looks like they got a surprise. Wright and possibly even testifying in the midst of the campaign must be a serious nightmare for Harper.

[Keepitsimple]

I am sure Wright, being the experienced lawyer he is, knew damn well it was wrong. I suspect they just didnt expect the lid to blow off the pot like it did in this case and hoped, as was the purpose of the check, that it would all just fade away. Well it looks like they got a surprise. Wright and possibly even testifying in the midst of the campaign must be a serious nightmare for Harper.

LOL. We can clearly see that's what you are breathlessly hoping for.

[Smallc]

I am sure Wright, being the experienced lawyer he is, knew damn well it was wrong.

Then Harper didn't know. It would be Wrights job to just make it go away.

[cybercoma]

I would be surprised if he did.

Then you're incredibly naive.

[PIK]

If harper knew ,his people did not do their jog right.

[On Guard for Thee]

Is that in some way supposed to excuse him...

[ToadBrother]

Is that in some way supposed to excuse him...

If Harper wasn't privy to the details, then to some extent yes. It is one of the unwritten duties of any political chief of staff to take a bullet for the person they work for.

[On Guard for Thee]

If Harper wasn't privy to the details, then to some extent yes. It is one of the unwritten duties of any political chief of staff to take a bullet for the person they work for.

The point I was responding to was if in fact he DID know what was going on, the fact a colleague let it slip is no excuse. We are talking illegal activity here.

[Smallc]

The point I was responding to was if in fact he DID know what was going on, the fact a colleague let it slip is no excuse. We are talking illegal activity here.

With no apparent negative motive on the part of Wright or apparent knowledge on the part of Harper. If this trial keeps on as it is (no one cares because there's nothing to care about) and the budget is as rumoured with more tax cuts and security and defence spending this election campaign is going to be bad for the opposition. Hate Harper all you want, but you have more money than in decades after tax.

[On Guard for Thee]

With no apparent negative motive on the part of Wright or apparent knowledge on the part of Harper. If this trial keeps on as it is (no one cares because there's nothing to care about) and the budget is as rumoured with more tax cuts and security and defence spending this election campaign is going to be bad for the opposition. Hate Harper all you want, but you have more money than in decades after tax.

You have certainly jumped the gun on the potential outcome of the trial. We still have lots of people to hear from, including Wright and perhaps Duffy himself. As to the budget, we shall see, I have no kids so I will just be paying for income splitting and not benefitting from it, like most of us.

[Smallc]

You have certainly jumped the gun on the potential outcome of the trial. We still have lots of people to hear from, including Wright and perhaps Duffy himself. As to the budget, we shall see, I have no kids so I will just be paying for income splitting and not benefitting from it, like most of us.

Everyone will benefit by the sound of it

[On Guard for Thee]

Everyone will benefit by the sound of it

So far all we know much about is income splitting, and the experts seem to agree it is a big fail.