A Few Quickies...

Beginning with Minister Oda

I suspect what has happened here is that after the Minister signed the $7 million Grant her Chief of Staff received a call from either the PMO or from Immigration Minister Kenney's Chief of Staff saying you must not allow it. At this point her Chief of Staff added the "not" to the approval.

Where Minister Oda went wrong is when she lied to her Standing Committee that she did not know how the "not" got there. Of course she did and for lying the only proper recourse is for her to resign.

I suspect Harper will come to that conclusion but if he does not - you can expect to see his polling numbers slide. In fact, I suspect that they will slide anyway given his defence of Oda to date.

All of this is somewhat bizarre when you consider that all MPs are constantly lying - i.e. defending policies that they really do not always support. The only thing saving them is the fact that their lying cannot be proved.


Hudak

I have for sometime now despaired with Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's logic and he seems to only be getting worse.

His great pronouncement of a "buck a beer" - at a time when Ontario is going to Hell in a Hand Basket Budget Wise - leads the voter to conclude he is out of touch.

The next example shows this even better. He has come out this week in favour of keeping the dreaded Health Sur Tax - you know the one that Pinocchio McGuinty said he would never impose (I will not reduce taxes nor will I increase them).

I have been critical for some time now in regard to Hudak's unwillingness to say what his Government would do if Elected. Many have said that he is simply being smart and use John Tory's example of coming out too soon with a stand that can be attacked. In Tory's case, it was funding for religious and private schools.

But that was not the same - Tory came out with an ill conceived and divisive policy which had nothing to do with McGuinty's mismanagement of Ontario.

All Hudak has to do is attack McGuinty's record and provide some solid popular alternatives.

Here is a guy that should be 10 to 20 points ahead of the Provincial Grits and yet he is finds himself in a neck and neck duel. Hard to understand!!

Okay - so we go back to our example of the Health Sur Tax - Hudak should be saying I will deep six it or at least drastically reduce this tax and replace the lost revenue with the proceeds to be realized from scrapping the Health LINS which is one thing Hudak has said that he proposes to do if Elected. This despite the fact that the vast majority of Ontarians would be at a loss to understand what the Hell a LIN was in the fist place.

But the one thing the Folks would understand from this is that Hudak has a solid plan to save them money.

It's a win win and Hudak would go up in the Polls.

Sadly, this will not happen and if the Tory's are not more careful McGuinty just might squeeze back into power next time out.


Layton

Yesterday, Jack Layton met with the Prime Minister to see where they might have common ground re the March 22nd Budget.

The Press Reported it as an attempt for Harper to see how he could craft this Budget to ensure needed NDP support.

Layton came out of the meeting looking well satisfied and saying that there are a number of areas where his Party is in sinc with the Tories.

If I were Layton though I would check and see if I still had my wallet.

My guess is that Harper was sizing Layton up and determining where he and the NDP are most vulnerable and then exploit vulnerability in the coming Budget.


And finally Obama and the Middle East

Things continue to deteriorate for President Obama in this important part of the world.

After having cut his friend Mubarak loose other Middle Eastern Strong Men are now back peddling away from America - most notably in Saudi Arabia.

I have already pointed out that when Obama lent his support to Democracy in Egypt what he failed to realize is that it was the least likely thing to occur in that impoverished nation. Now I think it is starting to dawn on him how naive he was.

Simply stated, the Western World and most notably the United States need a safe and abundant supply of oil. It is now going to become ever more difficult for that to continue as the Middle East retreats closer to Theocracy.

The US and Israel could have forestalled these events if they had taken concrete steps to deal with Iran. It is now probably too late.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

Obama on Egypt...

I hope his is correct....but...

Obama came out yesterday guns blazing saying how proud he was of the Demonstrators in Tahrir Square as they were about to bring Democracy to this former Dictatorship.

Either he is most prescient or his unequivocal statement amounts to nothing more than wishful thinking.

In the case of the latter, I believe it is essential for Leaders of Important Nations, such as the United States, to think before they speak and as you can tell I am not sure he did so yesterday.

So what's the harm?

None, if he is correct.

Much if he is wrong, since his statement may very well bring about the opposite of what he is predicting. That is to say, Mubarak will be replaced either by another Dictator - this one more vicious that the previous - or - Mubarak will be replaced by the Ayatollahs which will be far worse than any Dictator since it is based on distorted religion.

How so?

If it had been me speaking - I would have said that it is the United States' fervent hope that true Democracy will follow Mubarak's Dictatorship but I would caution that much remains to be done. I would warn the world and especially those legitimate Egyptian Protesters that their goal of Democracy is not guaranteed with the simply the removal of Mubarak. That there are sinister players in the wings which will try to take advantage of the current situation and as such represent a very danger.

In a sense - I would put the Demonstrators on notice that their work is far from done but that the United States will be working with them in their ongoing efforts to be successful.

In effect, Obama's comments may lead to complacency which the enemies of democracy will be quick to take advantage of.

On a lessor note - Obama's critics will also be quick to play yesterday's sound bite back to demonstrate how out of touch their President is.

Again - he may be right in his declaration - for his sake and the sake of the world, I hope he is.

But as I setout in yesterday's Blog - I doubt it.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

The Straw That Might Break The Camel's Back

That is to say, if the Harper Tories knuckle under to Quebec's demand to fund a hockey stadium in Quebec City it may well be their final act driving me to vote 'none of the above' in the upcoming Election.



I turned to blind eye to their casting Canada unnecessarily into deficit position - some 50 - 60 billion dollars per annum.



I turned a blind eye to their adding to the civil service some additional 30k employees.



I turned a blind eye to their declaring 'nation status' for Quebec and,



I turned a blind eye to their doing nothing to rein in the authoritarian Human Rights Commissions



However this Proposal would just about do it for me.



If it comes to pass that is and I truly hope it will not but suspect it will.



How can a Conservative Government rationalize helping fund a Private Sports facility where young prima donnas are grossly overpaid and where owners are unduly enriched; at the same time while running a massive deficit?



As a self professed Libertarian it is relatively easy for me, philosophically, to vote 'none of the above' because for the most part I see the major Parties as being Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.



I am not saying conclusively that I will not vote Tory should they succumb to this nonsense but the odds are most favourable that that is exactly what I will do.



And I will make you a promise that in a Future Blog should the Tories go down that road - I will disclose to you how I voted.



As I see it...



'Galagher'

What's Going On in the Middle East Dad?

When writing these Blogs I often approach them as if I were explaining some facet of current events to my three adult children, who readily admit that they are not always up-to-speed on what's going on in the World.



So let's do the same with the recent events in North Africa especially in regard to Egypt.



Its current Dictatorial Government of Hosni Mubarak is under siege and in fact has collapsed awaiting a replacement.



And this is good? ... my children may say.



Not really, I reply.



Egypt as well as all other countries in Northern Africa are dictatorships save for Israel. Thus being a dictatorship is in keeping with the Region and as such, it is most unlikely their peoples are ready for democracy.

In fact, I predict that when the dust settles, no democracy will have been established.


Which means of course that Mubarak's Government will be replaced by some other form of Tyranny: either by another Dictator supported by their Military or by the Muslim Brotherhood which will install an extreme form of Theocracy similar to what is in place in Iran.

We can only hope for another Dictator and one that leans to benevolence.


Where we in the West have been remiss is in not working more closely with dictators like the Shah and like Mubarak to help set the stage for true democracy - to educate their citizens, establish truly democratic parties and build needed institutions such as a vibrant judicial system to insure the Rule of Law.

When I think of that weak kneed President, Jimmie Carter and how he let down the Shah and allowed the much more wicked Ayatollah to replace him my blood pressure rises.

And now we have another weak Leader in Barack Obama allowing the same to happen in Egypt. Hopefully, as I have said, it will not be the Muslim Brotherhood that will win out but that is truly in the hands of the Egyptian Military - not Obama's nor even in the hands of its citizens in the streets. The latter are mere pawns for a more sinister battle going on behind the scenes.

I have told you about Haiti in past Blogs and how I see it would take some 20 years of Martial Law to set the stage for true Democracy to win out. Egypt is not the basket case that Haiti is but it too requires a period of peace and order to see Democracy triumph and under the current conditions I do not see this happening.


And then we have Lebanon - once an Oasis in a desert and now ruled by the Terrorist Organization Hezbollah. Poor Israel finds itself wedged between these two countries - Egypt and Lebanon. Here I cast blame on Ronald Regan who fled Lebanon at the first sign of crisis during his term in office. Hezbollah would not have been in power today had Regan stood and fought. And the Christians would still be in the majority.

And Bush - and more lately Obama for giving Iran as pass. The day is quickly coming - if it is not already too late - when Iran has the capability to destroy Israel with Atomic Bombs. Once they have it - it will be too late, as we've seen in the case of North Korea.

There are others on the side lines watching how this will play out; Tunisia and Jordan for instance and if the Ayatollahs win out in Egypt you can expect those countries to follow in lock step. A Northern Africa united under Islam and in control of much of the world's oil will soon put the squeeze on all of us. They are dedicated to seeing our way of life end and they will have the resources to see it happen.



The Bible speaks about the end of the World beginning with war in the Middle East and just maybe this is the time it was speaking about.

As I see it..

'Galagher'

Why So Hard On The Tories?

A few folks have written in since my last Blog querying why I am so hard on the Tories - what about the Libs and the NDPers?

The short answer is that I have long ago lost hope for those two left leaning - high spending and rights trampling Parties.

That's Why.

In regard to the Conservatives - I see them as the lesser of evils - they too lean to the Left - but not quite as far.

As you will likely know, I am looking for a true right of centre Party - preferably Libertarian but certainly one that respects individual rights and taxpayers dollars.

I often wonder when politicians - of all stripes - announce some tax spending initiative - would they still do so if their own money was tide to the venture.

In that regard we all would be better off if we gave each Politician $1 million dollars at the beginning of their term and each time they voted for a spending initiative they would lose a certain percentage of that amount. At the end of their term they could personally keep whatever remained. It would certainly insure that any voting measure voted for had the total fiscal and moral backing of that particular Member.

So to sum up - I support the Tories until a true Conservative Party comes along.

This Country can afford nothing less.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

Conservative's Vulnerable Under Belly...

Harper and his fellow Tories seem to be on a roll but they do have a few striking vulnerabilities which could rob them of their of long sought after Majority.

The first relates to their Law and Order Agenda.

Crime is down, policing is up and cops support their claim for more resources on a per capita basis - i.e. as the population increases, they believe more officers are needed despite the fact that there is much less crime per capita.

Prison populations are bulging despite that fact that approx. 50% of inmates are in for non-violent crime and yet the Tories want to spend more money on prison expansion. We cannot afford it!

Simply stated - the Conrad Blacks of this world do not belong in jail - that only costs us the taxpayer more. Rather - take away their money and other valuable assets - strip them of their boardships and corporate positions - place ankle bracelets on them - even sandwich boards if you will, but keep them out of jail. Make them do Community Service. Jails are nothing more that finishing schools for criminals and it benefits us all to keep the non-violent as far away from them as is possible.

Jail, when it is used, should only be used for violent offenders to keep the public safe and punishment for these violent offenders needs to be much more severe on the basis that the longer they are behind bars - the safer the public is. Hopefully by the time they get out their tendency toward violence will have burned itself out with age.

Military Spending

The second area where I see the Tories as being vulnerable is with respect to spending billions of dollars on our military.

Canada is at best a medium power - our population of 33 million ranks at the lower end scale of nations. Added to this is the fact that we have the second largest land mass in the world. This all means that we have to carefully budget and plan for our military needs. Search and Rescue, Coastal Surveillance, Ice-breaking and such needs to take priority.

The latest in jets and other specialty air craft are just too expensive for us and as their predecessors have shown - are often under utilized.

We do need aircraft but why not use cost effective Drones or relatively new American cast-offs.

As I said, it comes down to dollars and cents. Britain the second power in NATO recently had to make severe cuts in it military - e.g. 25% due to its growing debt. Here in Canada we too have a growing debt - $600+ Billion and we have to get serious about getting it down. The day is quickly coming when even our neighbour to the South will have to bite the bullet - so to speak - and cut their own military.

Attack Ads

This brings me to the third and final main area where I see their vulnerability.

In the unofficial election campaign within which we now find ourselves, the Conservatives have once again fallen back on negative ads - that is to say - attack ads on the personalities of the Opposition Leaders.

Studies pretend to show that such ads work - and they very well may - but I cannot stand them. I see them as the last refuge of a rouge.

With all the legitimate issues our country and indeed the world now faces - war, economic melt down, numerous serious societal pressures - I see it as a cop-out for our Politicians to try to skate around these issues through personalty attacks.

It diminishes the public perception of our politicians, assuming that is still possible, and takes all of our eyes off what is really important.

As I see it...

'Galagher'

A Human Rights Commission Does It Again..

And This Time They Really Do It.... They took away one of our most fundamental rights - the Right to Free Speech.

You may have read about this recent decision of the Human Rights Commission of Quebec levying a fine of $12k against an individual for calling his neighbour a derogatory name for a Gay Person. Speaking as a lawyer, the ramifications of this Ruling is truly disturbing.

Some facts on this case which really matter little other than for general interest.

According to Lt. Col. (ret'd) Rusk, his Neighbour nearly ran over his son while playing ball hockey on the road. He claimed the Neighbour was driving in a totally reckless manner.

Lt. Col Rusk thereupon expressed a word to the Neighbour which the Neighbour found objectionable. We would find the world objectionable as well.

Neighbour takes Rusk to Criminal Court where the case is thrown out since to that point, Free Speech was allowed in our Society. It is indoctrinated in the American Constitution and here in Canada was initially brought into legislation by John Diefenbaker's 1960 Bill of Rights and then subsequently codified in our own Constitution via Pierre Trudeau's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

(As an aside - the one area of difference between the Diefenbaker Bill and the Trudeau Charter was with respect to the inclusion of Enjoyment of Property Rights - it is included in the former but not the latter. Trudeau, as a Socialist, had difficulty entrenching that right for the benefit of our citizens).

Now back to Freedom of Speech. Prior to protection in legislation, the Right to this Freedom was ingrained in the English Common Law indeed it along with Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Assembly were the corner stones of our Society.

Then along comes a Quasi Judicial Human Rights Body that Rules against One of those very Corner Stones - The Right to Freedom of Speech.

And Ladies and Gentlemen, we are not talking here about things said on Radio or TV - we are now talking about what an individual may say in his or her private life. The fact that such comments may not be palatable to the ordinary person is not the issue since Freedom of Speech by definition should be without restriction unless serious death or injury is apt to occur (e.g. yelling our 'fire' in a crowded theatre).

To be truly Free - Speech cannot nor should not always be sanitized.

And yet that is precisely what we have with this recent decision. Political Correctness is an attempt to have done what this decision does but it does not have the Commission's power of enforcement. That is to say we as citizens are free to voluntarily accept Politicial Correctness but are compelled to follow Quasi Judicial powers to fine and imprison.

This is decision represents a Sad Day for Freedom and Democracy but more sadly, it is another in a long lis of our diminished Rights.

As I see it...

'Galagher'