Harper assuming presidential stance

[gerryhatrick]

Harper assuming presidential stance

Nov. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM

A grateful nation pauses to pay tribute

Nov. 12.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but does not protocol in our Constitution require that the Governor General is the head of state and as such the Prime Minister is not her equal during formal national events such as Saturday's Remembrance Day parade and so should not be on the dais to take the salute of the parade?

Of course, maybe he is now her honorary aide.

I would suggest that this is another example of Stephen Harper's style of presidential importance.

Someone should remind him and his PMO staff that this is not a republic.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...id=970599119419

An interesting letter concerning Remembrance Day protocol. I'll have to keep an eye on the guy, see if this is another new habit of the new government.

I spent a while looking for some confirmation of this protocol, but could not find it. That of course doesn't mean it don't exist.

[Cameron]

Gerry, you crack me up sometimes....

Do you have a customized Google search for these things.....

AND, Gerry, the STAR....Pluuuease....

[g_bambino]

Gerry, you crack me up sometimes....

Do you have a customized Google search for these things.....

AND, Gerry, the STAR....Pluuuease....

Actually, it was a letter to the editor printed in the Star (perhaps subject to the Editorial Board's scrutiny, but not eminating from them); still, the author has a point: Harper stood beside the Governor General on the dais, thereby receiving the salutes of the passing Forces personnel. Our Forces owe their allegiance to the non-partisan Sovereign, not the transient and political prime minister. They should therefore not be saluting him at all.

[normanchateau]

Gerry, you crack me up sometimes....

Do you have a customized Google search for these things.....

AND, Gerry, the STAR....Pluuuease....

Here's a novel concept: Why not respond to the post rather than insult the poster?

[hiti]

Did anyone today catch our military guard giving Harpo a salute as he left his plane? Does he really think that he is president of Canada?????? I seen him on the dais standing slightly ahead and to the left of the Governor General. He looked like an impostor and it was shameful of him to presume that he is our Head of State and Head of our Military.

Our Queen is our Head of State and our Governor General is our Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian military in the name of the Sovereign. Harpo speaks for the elected minority while our Governor General speaks for the whole country.

Harpo is shameful.

[geoffrey]

So because Harper stands beside the GG he's a terrible person?

Uh huh.

[hiti]

So because Harper stands beside the GG he's a terrible person?

Uh huh.

He did more than stand beside the Governor General. He stood where the Commander-in-Chief of our Military stands and he accepted the salutes of the military that are reserved for their Commander. That is what is shameful.

[geoffrey]

So because Harper stands beside the GG he's a terrible person?

Uh huh.

He did more than stand beside the Governor General. He stood where the Commander-in-Chief of our Military stands and he accepted the salutes of the military that are reserved for their Commander. That is what is shameful.

How do you not accept a salute to you? Like if I were saluted by a solider, what do I do to unaccept his salute?

[hiti]

So because Harper stands beside the GG he's a terrible person?

Uh huh.

He did more than stand beside the Governor General. He stood where the Commander-in-Chief of our Military stands and he accepted the salutes of the military that are reserved for their Commander. That is what is shameful.

How do you not accept a salute to you? Like if I were saluted by a solider, what do I do to unaccept his salute?

You do NOT stand on the dais in front of our GG while the troops file by and salute her.

Plus our military is NOT required to salute the PM as their Commander in Chief. That may be the case in the USA where the President is the Commander in Chief but in Canada the GG is the Commander in Chief, NOT the PM. Harpo is shamefully changing Canadian traditions where he can receive adulation and force our military to salute him.

[margrace]

Yes I saw Mr. Harper in all his arrogance trying to usurp our Govener Generals Role. And yes I think he would dearly love to have the veto powers that Bush has, remember he is a little shrub.

Rather disgusting I thought. Until the people of Canada decide otherwise we are part of a Monarchy and guess who Glamorizes our Monarchy the most in the world, the American citizens.

[Charles Anthony]

I'll have to keep an eye on the guy,

Why start now?

[gerryhatrick]

So because Harper stands beside the GG he's a terrible person?

Of course not Geoffrey. It's just a question of protocol. If indeed this is the wrong protocol standing where he stood and getting the salute as he did, why is it happening?

It's an interesting thing. Maybe it was an accident, but with this "new" government I suspect few of these kinds of things are accidents.

[cybercoma]

Perhaps Harper wasn't receiving salutes, but instead standing next to the GG (for the sake of the press getting photos) who was being saluted.

[Shakeyhands]

Harpo is shameful.

I'd think Harpo was against the forum rules Hiti, really no different than Dithers. We all need to clean this stuff up, it adds nothing.

[watching&waiting]

So this is what happens when there is not a scandel a week coming from the ruling party? All this knit picking about who stood where and who received the salute from the troops. I am sure if you dig much harder and deeper, you can find a public school paper that harper wrote saying the poem of Flanders Field, or something the like.

As much as I promised over a month ago to give GH a pass on his stupid positions, it has been long over and my pointing out just what he is and the things he does, has made not one difference. That just goes to show you he was not goated into being the person that displayed so much hate and bile towards all things Harper.

Look people there are real terrible things going on now with the Liberal leadership race. There are enough bad things right there to satisfy even the most voraciuos appetites for scandel. Why do you have to mar a day like Rememberence day with your petty bickering. Go where the real nasty stuff grows naturally. That being the Liberal party and all its infighting. There you get to see 8 or 9 people melt down over the next 2-3 weeks. The real nasty stuff will be coming out the flood gates the closer we get to the final weekend. Now there will be a story for everyone to get their teeth into.

[scribblet]

Harpo is shameful.

I'd think Harpo was against the forum rules Hiti, really no different than Dithers. We all need to clean this stuff up, it adds nothing.

I've been told name calling is against the rules, I would also think that shrub etc. much as it shows the poster's lack of intellect, is not in keeping with the forum rules. Actually this particular thread is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

This type of namecalling is actually a form of propaganda, a phrase repeated over and over again in every thread, gives the reader the idea, links them to a negative symbol hoping that the reader rejects the available evidence contrary to their idea.

[Greg]

Actually this particular thread is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Agreed - this thread is nothing more than troll feed and is rather petty. Lets discuss REAL issues, rather than focus on petty accusations of improper protocol.

[gerryhatrick]

As much as I promised over a month ago to give GH a pass on his stupid positions, it has been long over and my pointing out just what he is and the things he does, has made not one difference. That just goes to show you he was not goated into being the person that displayed so much hate and bile towards all things Harper.

It is a freaking letter to the editor and I found it interesting AND it is quite in line with federal politics.

I'm sorry if you find it so offensive that it was necessary for you to start attacking me personally.

It's unfortunate that there are forces at work on this forum that seek only to silence and corral others. You say I have "stupid positions", but what you mean is I'm not politically like you and that makes you angry.

The forum has been much better lately. I hope you're not picking up the personal attack torch.

[watching&waiting]

GH I stand by what I said and yes the promise I made was because much earlier it was said that all the people attacking your posts were what made you go to swearing etc. So I pulled myself out of it, and you were the same way for the whole month. That to me is proof that what you get yourself involved in is of your own making. So read anything you want in this, but I have said what I mean. I also said this whole thread was stupid and was a slap in the face once more about Rememberence day and that there were many more things needing discussion then this stuff.

I am totally amazed that you are here and others are not, but that is not up to me. If you think I am picking up a torch, then think again. I have said after the way people behaved in the lead up to Nov11, that I will no more let the things slide that I did before. It is those who do these things and get away with it that need to be proved wrong and never let them foget that. Because they are more dangerous then any terrorist will ever be.

[gerryhatrick]

GH I stand by what I said and yes the promise I made was because much earlier it was said that all the people attacking your posts were what made you go to swearing etc. So I pulled myself out of it, and you were the same way for the whole month.

I swore at a poster after I was accused of wanting Canada to lose in Afghanistan.

I did not "go to swearing" and then maintain that for a whole month. Don't read my posts and don't post to me, but don't think that you can pick up where others left off and begin attacking me all over the forum.

The forum is not the place for your personal sniping at me.

[watching&waiting]

Enough GH I have just had more then enough of you and reported you and these posts to Greg. Let him handle you.

[gerryhatrick]

Enough GH I have just had more then enough of you and reported you and these posts to Greg. Let him handle you.

YOu accuse me of "hate" and "bile" and openly lobby for my removal from the forum, and now YOU are reporting ME. That's rich.

Greg, please lock this thread. You were right, it's proving to be too much for the flamers.

[g_bambino]

So this is what happens when there is not a scandel a week coming from the ruling party? All this knit picking about who stood where and who received the salute from the troops.

Look people there are real terrible things going on now with the Liberal leadership race. There are enough bad things right there to satisfy even the most voraciuos appetites for scandel. Why do you have to mar a day like Rememberence day with your petty bickering.

Personally, I don't regard this as anywhere near a scandal, but there is a certain point to the claim that Harper is adopting a "presidential stance." At first glance this claim would contradict his open support for the Monarchy, but if we look at things a little closer I think the statement should be refined to: Harper assuming presidential stance in regard to the military.

As soon as the Harper ministry moved into their offices in Ottawa they replaced the portrait of the Queen removed by the Liberals, Harper's first speech to the House as Prime Minister opened with him paying tribute to the Queen, and he has spoken often of Canada's bond to the Crown, and how it is shared by other countries like Australia and the UK. So, I don't think there's any substance to the assertion that Harper wants to userp the Queen and become head of state. But, if we look at his actions relating to the military, and consider that it was he who went to Afghanistan, he (or his people) who have denied the Governor General the ability to do so, he who addressed a graduating class from the Royal Military College, he who received salutes from the Forces at Remembrance Day, he who receives salutes when debarking from the government plane, etc., one has to wonder if he believes himself to be the Commander-in-Chief.

This may seem at first glance like a simple matter of breached protocol, but the larger issue at play is that it causes confusion about who the military owes its allegiance to - they swear fealty to the Queen but salute her Prime Minister? Which one is their supreme commander?

Frankly, I'm surprised that Harper would behave in this manner, and I can't understand why he'd mix the presidential system of a political commander-in-chief with the principals of constitutional monarchy that he seems to support. It's just puzzling.

[margrace]

Ah but isn't that the draw for Men such as Harper, all dictators in whatever mode usually control the military.

[jefferiah]

I can't believe people are serious about this. What difference does it make where he stood? Did the Governor General try to shoo him away? I think people are analyzing this too deeply. Maybe he stood just stood by her. Who cares? Do people have to dig up something so insignificant to badger Harper?