Was Brian Mulroney a Crook?

[Keepitsimple]

A small item that has probably already been mentioned in this thread.......but most media would have us believe that Mulroney received 2.1 million from the feds as "settlement" of his defamation lawsuit. It has been reported that all of that money was to cover his legal costs and he personally didn't get anything. That seems to hold water to me because the only people who seem to come out ahead in these things are the lawyers.

[capricorn]

A small item that has probably already been mentioned in this thread.......but most media would have us believe that Mulroney received 2.1 million from the feds as "settlement" of his defamation lawsuit. It has been reported that all of that money was to cover his legal costs and he personally didn't get anything.

Good point but not a small item IMO. Many Canadians still think that Mulroney lined his pocket with taxpayer money. What the left leaning media is doing is keeping this myth alive.

[jdobbin]

Good point but not a small item IMO. Many Canadians still think that Mulroney lined his pocket with taxpayer money. What the left leaning media is doing is keeping this myth alive.

I love the left leaning media comment.

67% of Canadians want an inquiry into why Mulroney accepted money from Shreiber.

51% believe Harper covered up what he knew about Shreiber.

Luckily for Harper, 51% believe Harper was doing a good job calling an inquiry.

It does go to show that Harper really needs to put as much distance between Mulroney and himself and let the inquiry go ahead.

[capricorn]

67% of Canadians want an inquiry into why Mulroney accepted money from Shreiber.

I think they want assurance that the money exchange was not connected to Airbus or other government contracts.

51% believe Harper covered up what he knew about Shreiber.

A valid concern.

Luckily for Harper, 51% believe Harper was doing a good job calling an inquiry.

Maybe the other 49% didn't want an inquiry at all and wanted the matter dropped.

It does go to show that Harper really needs to put as much distance between Mulroney and himself and let the inquiry go ahead.

It looks to me that is exactly what he is doing. After all, he did say no Conservative MPs were to have any dealings with Brian Mulroney.

[jdobbin]

Maybe the other 49% didn't want an inquiry at all and wanted the matter dropped.

It looks to me that is exactly what he is doing. After all, he did say no Conservative MPs were to have any dealings with Brian Mulroney.

There were 30% that believe he is doing a bad job on the Mulroney-Shreiber investigation. I guess that could be people who don't believe in the investigation.

[sideshow]

I'm not a Mulroney fan by a long shot, but at least he had the balls to say "lets get it on". Whether he did it or not, and any shadows of it all wont be gone until there is a full blown investigation. I say get it done, move on, and shut up about it. I mean we all know that some politicians will better themselves via their office. Its just the ones we hear about getting caught that hit the news. Bury the hatchet with this one, and same with the whole shawinagin fiasco.....its old news and nobody really gives a shite.

[Canuck E Stan]

Schreiber says he paid cash to avoid paper trail

Schreiber has a history of dealing in cash.

His delivery of 1 million German marks (about $722,000) in a suitcase helped trigger a massive political scandal in 2000 that brought down the government of Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

But Luc Lavoie, Mulroney's spokesperson, said he was perplexed by the German-Canadian businessman's latest claim.

"I don't get it," Lavoie said last night. "He (Mulroney) accepted to be paid in cash because that's what he (Schreiber) offered."

Schreiber is suing Mulroney for $475,000 ($300,000 plus interest) because he says the former prime minister did not actually help in supporting business deals involving light armoured vehicles and a pasta company.

A man who deals only in cash is suing Mulroney and Mulroney's only crime will be that in Schreiber's view he didn't help him with his business dealings.

In an interview with two Toronto Star reporters in 2000, a few months after he'd been arrested by the RCMP and released on bail, Schreiber was adamant Mulroney hadn't done anything wrong.

"Mulroney is as innocent as the Pope," he said. "The records can prove it."

And I believe they will.

[Keepitsimple]

I love the left leaning media comment.

67% of Canadians want an inquiry into why Mulroney accepted money from Shreiber.

51% believe Harper covered up what he knew about Shreiber.

Luckily for Harper, 51% believe Harper was doing a good job calling an inquiry.

It does go to show that Harper really needs to put as much distance between Mulroney and himself and let the inquiry go ahead.

I saw that poll/survey on either Newsworld or Mike Duffy and I remember the question being so convoluted that it looked like a double-negative phrasing that would be very confusing to answer. I have not been able to find the poll anywhere. Would you happen to have a link to the question and the results?

[Fortunata]

Deep down I wish and hope that Mulroney is innocent because of the embarrassment it brings.

My shallow side on the otherhand wants to see him spend the afternoons pumping iron with Conrad in the yard.

That pretty much sums up how I feel as well.

A theory that has been going around is that Schreiber kept silent about all of this because Mulroney was helping him stay in the country. When it became clear Mulroney no longer couldn't or wouldn't help, Schreiber decided that one good turn deserved another. If he was going down he was going to take Mulroney with him.

Another interesting tidbit on CBC yesterday was that Schreiber had tried to cozy up with the premier of Alberta, Peter Lougheed. Lougheed, not wanting to be associated with someone as sleazy as Schreiber, told his people not to have anything to do with him (i.e. not receive his calls or his money). Too bad Mulroney didn't have the same kind of ethics.

[jdobbin]

I saw that poll/survey on either Newsworld or Mike Duffy and I remember the question being so convoluted that it looked like a double-negative phrasing that would be very confusing to answer. I have not been able to find the poll anywhere. Would you happen to have a link to the question and the results?

I placed it in the polling thread yesterday.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...1114?hub=Canada

Edited November 15, 2007 by jdobbin

[capricorn]

I've been trying to find out when Schreiber received his Canadian citizenship. Has anyone seen any information on this?

Edit: I found it. He became a Canadian citizen in 1981.

Edited November 16, 2007 by capricorn

[Michael Bluth]

Schreiber has two weeks to get his affairs in order and try to convince the Supreme's to re-open his case. Otherwise he'll be on a plane for the motherland in December.

Edited November 16, 2007 by Michael Bluth

[capricorn]

Schreiber has two weeks to get his affairs in order and try to convince the Supreme's to re-open his case. Otherwise he'll be on a plane for the motherland in December.

If Schreiber is extradited before the inquiry starts, it would be perceived that the Conservatives arranged for the extradition in order to hamper his testimony. That would open the door for the Liberals to accuse Harper of a cover up. I think it would be preferable to make a deal with the German prosecutors to allow Schreiber to remain here to testify then transfer him to Germany to face charges there.

[jdobbin]

If Schreiber is extradited before the inquiry starts, it would be perceived that the Conservatives arranged for the extradition in order to hamper his testimony. That would open the door for the Liberals to accuse Harper of a cover up. I think it would be preferable to make a deal with the German prosecutors to allow Schreiber to remain here to testify then transfer him to Germany to face charges there.

Some Tories would obviously love to pack him into a plane and send him to Germany. I say go ahead. And cancel the inquiry while you're at it.

[capricorn]

Some Tories would obviously love to pack him into a plane and send him to Germany. I say go ahead. And cancel the inquiry while you're at it.

I'm betting as many Liberals have a similar desire. No way this inquiry will be canceled now. Not when the name of the current Prime Minister has been implicated, even though by a slime like Schreiber.

[Visionseeker]

I would not trade spots with Rob Nicholson for anything at the moment. He really is in an unenviable position. While the law tells him that extraditing Schreiber is the proper thing to do, politics tells him it would be foolish to do so.

As stated in an earlier story...

However, slightly more than half of respondents believe Harper may have covered up what he knew about the Schreiber's claims:

Total believe: 51 per cent

Strongly believe: 17 per cent

Somewhat believe: 34 per cent

Somewhat disbelieve: 19 per cent

Strongly disbelieve: 14 per cent

Total disbelieve: 34 per cent

Donolo said the results show Harper has not fully succeeded in distancing himself from the affair, despite repeated statements he has never personally dealt with Schreiber. The prime minister has also said he never received a copy of a letter addressed to Mulroney that Schreiber sent him.

Schreiber Poll

...deporting Schreiber now would inflame talk of a cover-up. No matter how clean Harper's hands are, the optics are terrible.

Now Nicholson has given Schreiber 15 days. Which is really intended to give the Conservatives 15 days to gauge where this issue is going. But you can't take a time-out on issues that belong to the opposition. Nicholson has given all opposition parties a time defined gift that will let them embarrass the government into keeping Schreiber here.

Edited November 16, 2007 by Visionseeker

[Michael Bluth]

Now Nicholson has given Schreiber 15 days. Which is really intended to give the Conservatives 15 days to gauge where this issue is going. But you can't take a time-out on issues that belong to the opposition. Nicholson has given all opposition parties a time defined gift that will let them embarass the government into keeping Schrieber here.

Why can't Schreiber testify by teleconference?

If those necessary arrangements are made then there is no gift.

Or the government could hold Schreiber in jail throughout an inquiry.

[jdobbin]

Now Nicholson has given Schreiber 15 days. Which is really intended to give the Conservatives 15 days to gauge where this issue is going. But you can't take a time-out on issues that belong to the opposition. Nicholson has given all opposition parties a time defined gift that will let them embarrass the government into keeping Schreiber here.

If some big Tory supporters here get their way, he will be gone in two weeks.

It should be interesting what happens to the polls when that happens.

[Fortunata]

Why can't Schreiber testify by teleconference?

If those necessary arrangements are made then there is no gift.

Or the government could hold Schreiber in jail throughout an inquiry.

Schreiber is in jail now; I don't imagine that will change even if his deportation is postponed so he can be here for the inquiry. And I do think it will be taken as a cover up by the government if he is deported before he can testify. After all, it is his coming out that has sparked this whole thing.

If some big Tory supporters here get their way, he will be gone in two weeks.

That's the Tory branch. Reformers will want him here.

[August1991]

Deep down I wish and hope that Mulroney is innocent because of the embarrassment it brings.

My shallow side on the otherhand wants to see him spend the afternoons pumping iron with Conrad in the yard.

I have generally defended Mulroney and I even consider him one of Canada's best PMs. He accomplished alot and he almost accomplished so much more. Harper owes his political success to Mulroney. The Tories would not have won 10 seats in Quebec in 2006 without Mulroney.

Nevertheless, I am appalled by this scandal. If Mulroney has nothing to hide, then he should simply give a speech and explain everything. Why did Mulroney not mention once this affair in his 1000 page autobiography? (The choice of subtitle "Memoirs 1939-1993" is too ingenuous.)

I have no patience for this kind of politics and I suspect neither does Harper.

[jdobbin]

I have no patience for this kind of politics and I suspect neither does Harper.

It is probably why Harper threw Mulroney under the bus and Mulroney's response will be to keep this going so that dominates the news from here till the election.

Edited November 16, 2007 by jdobbin

[jbg]

If Schreiber is extradited before the inquiry starts, it would be perceived that the Conservatives arranged for the extradition in order to hamper his testimony. That would open the door for the Liberals to accuse Harper of a cover up. I think it would be preferable to make a deal with the German prosecutors to allow Schreiber to remain here to testify then transfer him to Germany to face charges there.

How about allowing the extradition with the understanding that he'd be on a plane to Ottawa if/when needed here?

[jbg]

It is probably why Harper threw Mulroney under the bus and Mulroney's response will be to keep this going so that dominates the news from here till the election.

In now way is Harper a Mulroney accolyte, or vice versa. Remember it was the Reform Party that, in part, unmade Mulroney, not the other way around.

[jdobbin]

In now way is Harper a Mulroney accolyte, or vice versa. Remember it was the Reform Party that, in part, unmade Mulroney, not the other way around.

And it has been Harper who has been trying to rehabilitate Mulroney over the course of the last two or so years with kind words, meetings and the like.

[capricorn]

And it has been Harper who has been trying to rehabilitate Mulroney over the course of the last two or so years with kind words, meetings and the like.

Apparently, it was Marjorie Lebreton who was trying to get Mulroney and Harper to warm up to each other. I heard on a TV interview that Mulroney did not support initial Harper's leadership bid. So it looks like they were not buddy buddy.