Layton Calls On PM Martin To Step Aside

[bigdude]

Ethics Commissioner investigating Grewal tapes

The controversy in Ottawa over the Gurmant Grewal tapes showed no signs of slowing down, with word the federal ethics commissioner will be investigating what went on.

Bernard Shapiro, the federal Ethics Commissioner, confirmed Friday his office has now launched an investigation.

Shapiro's spokesman Jonathan Choquette told The Globe and Mail it is "a bit early" to tell how long the investigation might take.

Right now, though, NDP Leader, Jack Layton says Prime Minister Paul Martin, his chief of staff, Tim Murphy, and Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh should all step down until the matter is resolved.

At the heart of the controversy are tapes recorded by Grewal, who is an MP from British Columbia, and whose wife, Nina, is also a B.C. Conservative MP.

The recordings purport to show Grewal engaged in negotiations with the Prime Minster's Office about him and his wife's leaving the Conservative, in exchange for possible political favours.

Grewal alleges he and his wife were offered plum posts in exchange for their support in the crucial budget vote.

[Riverwind]

Right now, though, NDP Leader, Jack Layton says Prime Minister Paul Martin, his chief of staff, Tim Murphy, and Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh should all step down until the matter is resolved.

Ah yes, another polictian out manipulating things to suit their own interests. If Layton really cared about ethics he would not be grandstanding and making demands rediculous demands for resignations. He would just wait an see what the ethics commisioner has to say.

Clearly Layton has decided that he wants an election now and is trying to position himself. Get ready for Layton to announce that he will no longer support the Liberal budget. Looks like we are headed for a summer election after all.

It is too bad. Up until this point the Layton had been able to maintain some of the moral high ground. If Layton was PM would never 'step aside' in a similar situation and he knows this. Just other example of 'situational' ethics coming from the opposition benches.

[bigdude]

Jack Layton knows exactly what he is doing.

Right now the New Democrats are keeping the Liberals in power and Layton does not want the New Democrats to be seen as too closely associated with that white trash.

[The Terrible Sweal]

I thought Layton cared a little bit more for sanity and integrity than to hop on this bandwagon of doctored tapes and extreme exaggeration.

He's really gone down a peg or two in my eyes.

[Riverwind]

Jack Layton knows exactly what he is doing.

Right now the New Democrats are keeping the Liberals in power and Layton does not want the New Democrats to be seen as too closely associated with that white trash.

Calling for the Liberal PM to step aside while you are coorperating with with the Liberals to get a budget passed is the political equivalent of declaring war. There are lots of ways Layton could have kept his distance but choosing this way is a sign he is planning to pull the plug.

I suspect the NDP internal polling shows a jump in NDP support so now Layton wants to take advantage of it. All that from a leader who a few weeks ago was talking about how Canadians want parliment that works together to deliver the policies that Canadians want.

We will see if Layton mispoke himself and backs off on his call for the PM to step aside. If he doesn't then get ready for a summer election brought to you by Jack and his band of cynical political opportunists.

[bigdude]

Look, the Liberals are the government, not the Conservatives, and hopefully the Conservatives will never be the government again in this great land of ours.

All the more reason that the Liberal MPs, government members, be held to high or higher, ethical standards. The Liberal government has failed the Canadian people big time on that score. Does that mean I want the Conservatives to take over? Of course not. I want the Liberals to clean up their act. Right now the Liberal party, from the prime minister on down, seem to be full of disgusting white trash. What ever happened to Trudeau's ideals for Canada?

[The Terrible Sweal]

... All that from a leader who a few weeks ago was talking about how Canadians want parliment that works together to deliver the policies that Canadians want.

Yeah, what happened to that?

Is Layton pulling his own version of a Peter-MacKay?

Meanwhile, the NDP holds the balance of power now, and Layton wants to jump into an election? Pooooooor strategy. He'll get slaughtered.

[Riverwind]

All the more reason that the Liberal MPs, government members, be held to high or higher, ethical standards.

The specific 'ethical' failing shown by the Grewal tapes is in a grey area. Moreover, how far the Liberals crossed into that grey area depends on what was said on the original undoctored tapes and what was said in conversations that Grewal may not have recorded.

My guess is the Grewal affair will only serve to solidify people's current position. For every voter that abandons the Liberal's for deal making we will see another leave the Conservatives for doctoring the tapes.

[bigdude]

In Canada there is a crime in the criminal code that makes it ILLEGAL to try to entice an MP to not vote or to abstain.

If there was a tape that had Tim Murphy explicitly saying to Grewal "You will definitely be made a Senator if you and your wife do not show up for the confidence vote" - he could get up to 14 years in jail.

[bigdude]

Dosanjh was heard him on TV saying the transcript was wrong in having him say Grewal could expect gratitude in 2 to 4 weeks. Dosanjh claims he said "2 to 4 to 6 weeks."

These people are more desperate than we realize, because they know exactly what they got caught doing. Jack's response is moderate and appropriate.

[bigdude]

June 3, 2005 - Hey, it's quiz time!

Final round. Who said this:

"Hyp·o·crite: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue."

Give up? Well, that would be the Merriam-Webster dictionary folks. And, final question: who are the real hypocrites?

Awww...that one is too easy.

[bigdude]

June 3, 2005 - I'm torn on this one.

On the one hand, I know that ethical propriety demands that the alleged wrongdoers step aside while their conduct is being investigated. But they won't, which is bad for Canadian democracy.

On the other hand, politically, I'm not entirely displeased. Stories like these hasten the day when real Liberals will finally be rid of them. Every week, they - all on their own, with no help from anyone else - inflict more damage to their collective reputation than guys like me could dish out in a year of trying. It's been amazing to watch, actually.

This guy has a point!

[Guest eureka]

You should not use an American dictionary for definitions of words with an ethical context!

[Riverwind]

In Canada there is a crime in the criminal code that makes it ILLEGAL to try to entice an MP to not vote or to abstain.

This is a law that is only intended to apply to outsiders trying to influence MPs. There are no precedents that would allow the RCMP to lay charges and good legal arguments that they should not. Whether you like it or not this is a political matter.

If there was a tape that had Tim Murphy explicitly saying to Grewal "You will definitely be made a Senator if you and your wife do not show up for the confidence vote" - he could get up to 14 years in jail.

This is complete and total male bovine discharge. Have you actually read the transcripts? If you did you would know this.

[cybercoma]

This is the most idiotic thing I think I've seen in the news lately. Who gives a crap, Grewal should step down for being such an absolute moron as to illegally record a conversation and try to use it as evidence later by doctoring the tapes (if that's indeed what happened). Stephen Harper can piss off too if he's going to defend that kind of bottom-feeding lowlife stunt.

We already know seats have been offered and such, one needs to look no further than Belinda Stronach. This is such an obvious diversion it has become ridiculous to watch.

[scribblet]

All the more reason that the Liberal MPs, government members, be held to high or higher, ethical standards.

The specific 'ethical' failing shown by the Grewal tapes is in a grey area. Moreover, how far the Liberals crossed into that grey area depends on what was said on the original undoctored tapes and what was said in conversations that Grewal may not have recorded.

My guess is the Grewal affair will only serve to solidify people's current position. For every voter that abandons the Liberal's for deal making we will see another leave the Conservatives for doctoring the tapes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So far we only have allegations about the doctoring of the tapes, and at that, a very small segment op those tapes. The tapes are conclusive proof that the liberals were into vote buying etc. All should step aside and Martin should call an election this fall.

[Riverwind]

So far we only have allegations about the doctoring of the tapes, and at that, a very small segment op those tapes.  The tapes are conclusive proof that the liberals were into vote buying etc.  All should step aside and Martin should call an election this fall.

The conservatives just released another 14 minutes of audio that they 'lost' during media transfer. Of course it is just a co-incidence that the missing audio makes Grewal look even worse.

[weakisevil]

So far we only have allegations about the doctoring of the tapes, and at that, a very small segment op those tapes.  The tapes are conclusive proof that the liberals were into vote buying etc.  All should step aside and Martin should call an election this fall.

The conservatives just released another 14 minutes of audio that they 'lost' during media transfer. Of course it is just a co-incidence that the missing audio makes Grewal look even worse.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sparhawk u delusional little flake. The bubble of your left wing la la land is close to popping. Your beginning to panic. Its a stinky calogne. Irrational thoughts are needed to let pressure off the balloon. And your more than willing to help out.

You lefties do realize that as soon as the Conservitives take power the deathcamps will be opened. And all ye sinners shall feel the consequences of your tawdry past.

An evil little bubbble world you have created

[Riverwind]

Sparhawk u delusional little flake. The bubble of your left wing la la land ...

Left wing? Me? You must be kidding.

[Technocrat]

lol... In the grand scheme of this this is a dead issue. Nothing really happened of any real consequence. How about we drop this whole stupid thing and put our collective efforts into something constructive.

spelling and grammar may be off... well past midnight

[mcqueen625]

That's a little like asking your partner from your latest bank robbery to step forward and turn themselves in, so that you can go free. Layton and the NDP is all that has kept the corrupt Liberal government in power. For Layton to now ask a co-conspirator to step aside is a bit hypocritical. Layton and the NDP are the reason the vote was so close, and is he really naive enough to believe that Martin will honor all of the promises he made to secure NDP support. If he is really that naive, I have some ocean-front property for Jack, in Arizona.

[bigdude]

Tell that to Canada's mayors who are meeting this weekend.

These 19 New Democrat MPS, who are working their butts off btw, are having the biggest impact on the current government.

Layton is now the most trusted federalist leader in Canada, not too shabby a performance.