Parrish: Should She Join NDP?

[Newfie Canadian]

How aout the rest of the caucus?

She said she didn't care if they lost the next election.

I have absolutely no loyalty to this team -- none

There are 133 other Liberal MP's who msut have shuddered at that kind of talk.

[maplesyrup]

Apparently Parrish wrote PM Martin a letter this morning prior to receiving her independent status. It must have been quite a letter.

I hope she releases it to the public.

PM Martin doesn't come out of this lookin' very good. He was trying to have it both ways, sitting on the usual Liberal fence, and now he has got splinters up his ass.

The message is loud and clear. Beat up on Bush/US all you want, but don't you dare criticize PM Martin.

But the reality is we now have a media circus, instead of discussing substative issues like missle defence, cow & lumber trade disputes, Iraq, etc.

Will Martin now force CBC to not air the show tomorrow, I believe when it is scheduled for, that shows Parrish stomping on the Bush doll?

[Newfie Canadian]

Ottawa is the home of the plitical circus MS.

No one comes out of this mess looking good, and the people who will end up uffering, as usual, are the ordinary folks who depend on trade and positive relations with the US, like lumber producers et al, cattle producers, farmers, etc.

[maplesyrup]

I really don't think Parrish had any influence or impact on any trade issues. And she has a much bigger following and support in Canada than you will ever hear about in the mainstream media:

Liberal Caucus Has Heart Removed

This issue can only help the NDP.

[Argus]

She is the one person in the Liberal party that is stranding up to the unacceptable behaviour of the US, concerning their illegal war in Iraq.

Oh phhhtt. She is a shrill, ignorant woman, the kind of very unpleasant next door neighbour who is always staring suspiciously out from behind her curtains, and ready to rush over at the slightest provocation to demand you rake your leaves or quiet your children or curb your dog. The only reason she got elected was because so many people vote the party banner without knowing a thing (or often caring) about who their MP is. Her blatant grandstanding and playing up to the camera cost her constituents dearly - but obviously they were never much of a concern to her.

Standing up to the Americans? What twaddle. She was a nobody MP. Her continuing embarrasment of the party made her a pariah, someone without influence within the party, unable to represent her constituents properly. Now she's an indpendant, unable to do anything at all but bray like the ass she is and hope someone records it for posterity.

Standing up to the Americans? Is that what she's paid for? What business is it of hers what the Americans do in Iraq? If the woman cared about victims of war and human rights abuses she'd be braying just as loudly about the Chinese, the Nigerians, The Sudanese, The Saudis, the Syrians, and so very many more. But that wouildn't get the deluded glory hound on the TV, so the hell with them.

Standing up to the Americans? Oh yes, by all means, why not have all our politicians continually bitch at and insult the Americans? It sure as hell won't change their minds on Iraq, but it will at least serve to make us feel noble as we lose hundreds of thousands of jobs. It never ceases to amaze me how pig ignorant so many so-called nationalists are about economics and the Canada-US relationship, willing to engage in the most infantile and provocative behaviour in order to satisfy their own sense of arrogant, moral superiority, but without the slightest idea what it could cost others. Or, for that matter, the slightest care.

[Big Blue Machine]

Thank God, she's out of causus, she should transfer to the NDP. They are the kinds of people who yells at US presidents. She will never become a cabinet minister. She is just grandstanding to excess. Ok, sometimes we need an outspoken MP, but she is too outspoken.

[JWayne625]

Like it or not people the U.S. is our largest trading partner and that is not likely to change considering that many corporations in Canada have their ownership controlled from south of the border. I may not like George Bush or his stance on either Iraq or foisting his interpretation of government on Middle Eastern countries. These people have their own culture and are not about to switch to a Western style of doing business.

These people have been fighting forever and all the interference in the world is not going to change that, and neither is sending our troops into harm's way. Every day U.S. and British troops are getting killed, but what does George Bush care, it's not his kids over there getting shot at.

Parrish is supposed to representing the best interests of Canada as a Parliamentarian. As such she does not have the right to shoot off her mouth and insult the President of a country who in many cases provides for our livelihoods. We enjoy Billion's per year in revenue through trade with the United States, and that trade is being put in jeopardy by someone who's big mouth is doing nothing to improve that situation. Chretien damaged that relationship enough, and we are finally rid of him, but now we have another loud mouth. I just think that if we ever hope to influence our neighbour's we cannot continue to childishly insult them. I know myself how eager I would be to do business with someone who continually insulted me, and it would be a long time before I was inclined to look at mending some fences. We may not necessarily agree with their stance on the MIddle East, but since nothing is forcing us to participate , why throw insults, they do nothing but hurt us, not them.

[maplesyrup]

She is out because she is disloyal to Martin. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with her comments on Bush/US which she has been making OUTSIDE of the House of Commons for some time now.

I believe that the NDP would not want her - she is too right wing, doesn't support same-sex marriage, etc., for them!

Parrish however one may disagree with her, or her tactics, does represent a sizeable portion of Canadian society. We will probably hear from some of them in the next few days.

[Guest eureka]

I am inclined to think the "pig-ignorance" is yours. It won't matter a damn what we call any Americans: they need the trade relationship as much as we do, and increasingly more. Economics is not as simple as liking who you deal with.

Parrish stepped overa party line when she publicly criticized the "team." She had to leave and should have done so of her volition. However, the affair shows how it is not a team. We have reached the stage of one person rule. Prime Ministers are powerful and have been from the nature of Parliamentary Cabinet government. But, they have never been so powerful that there was no room for dissent.

What should amuse me (but it doesn't) about this discussion is the panic because some Canadian is not afraid to speak her mind about the arrogance and dangerous policies of this American administration. It seems not to matter that this is trivial stuff compared to what some Americans, including more powerful figures than a Canadian backbencher, have called Canadian leaders and Canadian people. They have been doing the same for European peoples and leaders for the past couple of years. too.

Has nobody noticed that Rumsfeld was more than a little rude in his public comments about the German and French leaders and culture. Has nobody noticed that Bush, too, has said a couple of unkind things (perhaps Bush could be forgiven as something to be expected from someone who truly is pig-ignorant). Has nobody noticed what O'Reilly of Fox fame has been saying about Canada and Canadians.

The tenor of the criticisisms of Parrish is not one of courtesy but cowardice.

[Newfie Canadian]

Plain and simple

Not so plain or simple.

There were several caucus members featured on the various news networks saying when she they (the caucus) could all go to hell, she deserved to be kicked out.

Up until now she focused squarely on Bush, but when she turned on Martin AND the caucus, her days had to be numbered.

And rightfully so.

That, added to the icreasingly hostile personal attacks on Bush mere days before a state visit, and she had to go.

[Newfie Canadian]

Has nobody noticed what O'Reilly of Fox fame has been saying about Canada and Canadians.

At least he is not an elected representative, he's a right wing version of a shock jock trying to cater, without shame, to a select target audience.

some Canadian is not afraid to speak her mind about the arrogance and dangerous policies of this American administration.

There's a difference between speaking your mind and the constant ignorant and personal nature of her attacks against Bush.

Basically, my concern is not so much the message (that is the nature of the administration) as it is the delivery (rude, ignorant, etc).

[maplesyrup]

Quite frankly when I heard US sycophant Rex Murphy comments last evening I wanted to vomit.

How in the world the CBC hired such a wimp of a Canadian for such a prominent position is beyond the pale.

Canadians have a right to stand up and say whatever they want about the bullies to the South. I thought all you people believed in free speech. Can't have it both ways you know.

[Cartman]

Thank God, she's out of causus, she should transfer to the NDP. They are the kinds of people who yells at US presidents.

For example?

[Argus]

Parrish however one may disagree with her, or her tactics, does represent a sizeable portion of Canadian society. We will probably hear from some of them in the next few days.

The ignorant, the shallow, the obnoxiously self-righteous, the untutoured and unwashed who think of comic books as literature and anime porn as art.

[maplesyrup]

I think all you people that are dumping on Parrish need to put things in perspective and take a valium:

Linda Ronstadt, hummin' an outraged tune

"People don't realize that by voting Republican, they voted against themselves," she says. Of Iraq (news - web sites) in particular, she adds, "I worry that some people are entertained by the idea of this war. They don't know anything about the Iraqis, but they're angry and frustrated in their own lives. It's like Germany, before Hitler took over. The economy was bad and people felt kicked around. They looked for a scapegoat. Now we've got a new bunch of Hitlers."

[maplesyrup]

Liberals latest buzz word for dealing with Parrish:

ACCUMULATIVE

It is bullshit of course.

Peter MacKay will never need acting lessons when he leaves politics. Jeez what a clown! He must have been taught by Paul Martin.

[Big Blue Machine]

She proabably meant the Martin Team, not the Liberal Team. But I think it's silly to say that cmments will hurt the economy. Free speech is cool but people exploit the right of free speech.

[Argus]

I am inclined to think the "pig-ignorance" is yours. It won't matter a damn what we call any Americans: they need the trade relationship as much as we do, and increasingly more.

Oh bullshit. We export 48% of _all_ our manufactured goods to the United States.

The US takes 85% of all our exports

Last year, we exported $92 billion more than we imported from them. You are most likely unaware of it, but we tend to run export deficits with most countries. You also might be ignorant of the fact that it is much, much easier to replace a seller of goods (that's Canada) than a buyer (the US).

Parrish stepped overa party line when she publicly criticized  Prime Ministers are powerful and have been from the nature of Parliamentary Cabinet government. But, they have never been so powerful that there was no room for dissent.

Maybe you'd like to tell me which PM would tolerate her saying the kinds of things she said about Martin and the cabinet?

What should amuse me (but it doesn't) about this discussion is the panic because some Canadian is not afraid to speak her mind about the arrogance and dangerous policies of this American administration.

It is not panic, but contempt and disgust for this shrill, ignorant, braying ass who continues to do her best to antagonise our closest allies for no good reason.

And personally, I always get irritated when people who clearly have below average intelligence and the no real knowledge keep spouting their ignorance as if it's dogma.

[Argus]

Quite frankly when I heard US sycophant Rex Murphy  comments last evening I wanted to vomit.

How in the world the CBC hired such a wimp of a Canadian for such a prominent position is beyond the pale.

Perhaps they don't consider ignorant bigotry against Americans to be as much of a stirling character trait as you do.

Canadians have a right to stand up and say whatever they want about the bullies to the South. I thought all you people believed in free speech. Can't have it both ways you know.

This coming from someone who strongly implied on another thread that anyone who causes offense to others in public speech should be locked up, or at the least, deserved to be killed.

[Argus]

Liberals latest buzz word for dealing with Parrish:

    ACCUMULATIVE

It is bullshit of course.

There is no such word. You probably mean "cumulative", which means this loose cannon had shot off her fat mouth one too many times.

The mainstream parties tend to be less tolerant towards brainless screwballs than people on political web sites are.

[maplesyrup]

Argus.....whether you like it or not a lot of Canadians are very unhappy with the US, and it is a growing phonemena in Canada.

And they have every right to express their point of view.

A lot of people don't think our government represents them, and why should they, as the Liberals are governing with, what was it, 36-37% support. Most Canadians are opposed to missle defence. If the government represented what Canadians want, maybe there would be less shrillness.

[Big Blue Machine]

You should never call anyone idiots or bastards, especially the Americans. It's rude and ignorant.

[maplesyrup]

Why especially US citizens?

America BTW is comprised of North & South America and includes many countries such as Chile and Equador. I know that is not who you meant.

[Argus]

Argus.....whether you like it or not a lot of Canadians are very unhappy with the US, and it is a growing phonemena in Canada.

Yes, I recognize there are a lot of ignorant people who are too intellectually lazy to provide themselves with sufficient knowledge to make intelligent decisions.

And they have every right to express their point of view.

Do they? Perhaps we should imprison them for hate speech, or shoot them. Your attachment to freedom of speech seems oddly to coincide only with the kind of speech you approve of.

[maplesyrup]

Parrish is probably a follower of Gwynne Dyer, who has a different perspective on things compared to our RAW RAW USA compadres on the right.

Gwynne Dyer