Hudak For Premier

 

In spite of the fact I think Tim Hudak has been a disaster as the Provincial Progressive Conservative Leader, I am going to vote for him.

In fact, I would rather vote for a dead dog rather than vote for either Tweedle Dum or Tweedle Dee.

Dum and Dee aka Wynne and Horwath (along with their God Father - Dalton McGuinty) have collectively pulled off the greatest fraud on us taxpayers.

I will not get into reciting the various scandals and frauds since, unless you are Rip Van Winkle, by now you must know the infamous list by heart.

From his actions to date, Hudak has shown time and again that he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and I would even go so far as to say both Horwath and especially Wynne are much sharper than he.  Neither though are clever since clever people would not have dumped Ontario into the mess it finds itself today.

Simply stated, Ontario is the basket case of all North America.  Clever people would not have allowed that to happen.

Hudak does have an attributes that the others appear to lack; he comes across as both a decent, and honest person, albeit he is most naive and politically left footed.

Tim Hudak will have my vote come Election Day.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Reports or Rumours of His Death …

 

Are Greatly Exaggerated.

My apologizes to the late Samuel Langhorne Clemens – aka Mark Twain.

The His in this instance is of course our aloof and oft times rather dour Prime Minister Stephen Joseph Harper.

Media and Pundits are united in their belief that Young Trudeau is on a roll and is destined to become the next Prime Minister of Canada.

Indeed, Polls are showing YT with an up to 10% lead over the star crossed Harper.

With their policy convention closing this weekend in Montreal, those numbers should and likely will, rise even more.

But, as Yogi Berra is famous for saying, “it ain’t over til it’s over” and dear reader, it is a long way from being over.

All one had to do was listen to YT speak on Saturday night – why the young fellow said he stands for a ‘stronger economy and more jobs’.  Who’d have thought – though the same can be said for the Tories as well as the NDP and let’s throw in the Greens and the Bloc’ers too.  I was beginning to think Trudeau was going to come out next in support of  ‘apple pie’ but of course, that would be an Americanism … but still.

Bottom-line, the guy is deep ….as in a 1 inch lake.

The one area where he has made a bit of a splash is with respect to the debt / deficit.  He wants to make them greater.  What a thinker.  Does he not realize that such a policy is a job killer …. what was I thinking …of course he is not aware of that.

But beyond this, are a host of other ‘wedge issues’* upon which Harper can distinguish his party from the nipper’s:

• marijuana;
• climate change;
• tough on crime;
• abortion / euthanasia;
• provincial demands;
• Quebec’s continued demands;
• native demands;
• the pipelines;
• taxes.

* Wedge issues, for the uninformed, are those that split the opposition and allow a party to come down the middle successfully even if it lacks the support of the majority.  Brian Mulroney did this with free trade in 2008 – the majority of Canadians voted for other parties but Mulroney was able to secure a plurality to secure victory.

The list goes on and on. There is much ammunition for a guy like Harper to use against Young Justin without having to turn to negative personal attacks, which if he does that, runs the danger of turning off voters who might otherwise have voted Tory. 

Let’s hope Harper et al have moved on from such negativity. 

The other problem I have with YT is in trying to visualize him as PM dealing with world leaders who are less naive and inexperienced than he – the Putins, the Ayatollahs, the Chinese leadership, and such.  They would eat the poor lad for lunch and not even burb.

So dear folks, it is long from over. But that is not to say that in the end I trust the voter to do the right thing …after all, once upon a time they elected his father PM and Canada has never been the same.

Pity.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Are you beginning to think like me …

 

That God Is A Liberal ?

How else does one explain that every time an Ontario Election approaches we Conservatives shoot ourselves in the foot?

I say this because I do believe God’s Hand is evident in much of our history – such as Hitler’s foolish foray into Russia before he had consolidated the Western Front and Robert E. Lee’s suicidal attack on the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg?

Apply that to the situation to Ontario where we have experienced the worst government in our history beginning in 2003 with the election of Dalton McGuinty followed by two other victories by this same misguided man in 2007 and 2011.

And yet they continue to win.

Why so?

We continually give them the ammunition to take the focus off themselves.

First, John Tory when he came out for Faith Based School Funding when all around him were worried about Islamic Imams radicalizing their young parishioners.  Dumb.

Then in 2011 Hudak proposes financial help for immigrant workers when all about him are losing their jobs.  Dumb.

And now, dear Mr. Hudak wants to cancel the Rand Formula which would neuter organized labour. All the while when organized labour has been propping up McGunity and their ilk.  Good going, Hudak, how to reinvigorate your foe but more importantly, you have given the Ruling Liberals something to clobber you with during the upcoming campaign. I know that you are now desperately trying to backtrack from your promise …but you are simply too late.

My question to you is who the hell is advising you?

All John Tory and now Hudak had to do was focus on the mess the Liberals have created for our once great Province.

Here is how an intelligent Leader would have handled these past and future campaigns: ‘Mr. Conservative Leader what would you do if elected Premier of Ontario?:

• I would put a stop to companies / individuals receiving upwards of .82 cents per kwh, for power we do not need and indeed are forced to pay neighbouring jurisdictions to take off our hands.
• “Anything else?”  Glad you asked, I would stop giving companies 20 year contracts not to produce power?
• “More?”  I would lower hydro costs to a level that both homeowners and businesses could afford, and finally,
• I would call for judicial inquiries into all the scandals the Grits have inflicted on us over their 10 year reign of terror.

Let the media put that in their collective pipes and smoke it.

And my guess is that a lot of Unions folks would be similarly appalled and just might vote for us.

But no, Hudak has to tick them off so the outcome of this Spring’s Election is now in question. 

The Province simply cannot afford another Liberal Government but I can console myself in the thought that it might be too late to bail this sinking Province out in any event.  Maybe the Grits deserve to get elected once again.

Having said, perhaps God has a master plan for our forlorn Ontario which we humble servants are not aware of.  I despair of our politicians or even our electorate doing something creative about it.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Yes Sir, No Sir, Three Bags Full Sir.

 

Meaning you are in the Army now and yours is to follow orders whether you are a Buck Private or a top General.

So that brings me to General Andrew Leslie and his infamous move from one Rockcliffe home to another smaller one…at taxpayers’ expense.

Many are up in arms (pun?) especially the Government in Power who see this as a blatant waste of money.

But I submit to you that this is not the main issue here.

That said, what I do find strange is that the person focused on – General Leslie (ret’d) – is a Liberal and not a Conservative since most of these types of stories relate to the latter…thanks to the left leaning media.  But in that I have digressed.

There are two other issues of more importance.

First relates to the policy itself:

The policy is designed to move military personnel once they retire – should the military person wish to move that is. When you and I think of this we think of some poor soldier based in Victoria whereas he grew up and joined the military in Halifax.  So the policy is designed to return this chap home after his military career comes to an end.

We do not think of this occurring in the same town – as in Leslie case, where he took his last move to move from one home to another home virtually down the street, at a cost of some $72 grand.

But Leslie, like many other in the military, had many moves throughout his career – indeed some 18 moves.  He had no choice in that since he was military and went where ordered.  And I submit he would have the same mindset re each of those 18 moves – that is to say, they were not a permanent move and that and the end of his days, he would make a decision as to where he wanted to live out his days.  Indeed his move, although just down the road, was a down size move to a smaller home more in keeping with retirement.

Ergo – if there is a problem here, it is with the policy – it was and continues to be the Government’s responsibility to reform it.  For instance, cut out ‘in town moves’,… if that is their wish.  (For me, I would leave it alone for my reasons given).

Therefore the fact that General Leslie and countless others followed the policy is really not the issue.

To me, the most important issue here is that this is just one more ‘got u’ moment.  Our politics, I submit, has sadly descended into this.  Politicians of all stripes and all media seem to relish in catching folks out in what I would call misdemeanours while the real issues go unresolved or are left to the Courts and / or to the Auditors General etc. to deal with. I have come to believe that this is just a ruse for them to ignore having to do anything of importance to the electorate.

To me this is what is transpiring with General Leslie  – another piddling issue to distract the masses.  When are we going to demand better from our leadership – be they Tory, Grit, Dippers, Green, White of Purple?

No wonder less and less get out to vote.  It is all the same old.

Switzerland makes great use of Referenda.  Maybe the time has come for us to do likewise and show Parliament, the Courts, the Quasi Courts, the Officers of Parliament…who really is in charge.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

What Would George Hees Have Done?

 

Arguably, the best Veteran Affairs’ Minister in Canadian History, the late Mr. Hees would have been truly dismayed to view the antics going on recently in regard to his beloved Department.

These antics culminated this past week in the closing of several their District Offices and the sorry confrontation between the current Veterans’ Affairs Minister Julian Fantino and a number of Second World War Veterans bedecked in their military campaign medals.

These were most certainly pathetic moments in the history of Veterans’ Affairs, especially regarding Fantino’s personal antics.

So it got me thinking, how would our old boss have handled things?

I believe the best way to determine this is to go back to the time in September 1984 when George Hees was appointed Minister.

That time mirrored those of today in the sense that Veterans then were also up in arms with then outgoing Liberal Government and things had gotten so bad, a Commission of Inquiry had been struck to look into their complaints.

The first official act of George Hees though was to shut down that Commission saying he did not need an expensive inquiry to tell him what is wrong with Veterans Affairs – ‘I know what needs to be done’ . And he went on to do it.

He contacted all of the veterans’ leadership.  As a decorated wounded World War 2 Vet, Hees had an immediate rapport with them and that soon translated into becoming their best friend in Government. 

As a former Grey Cup winner with the Toronto Argos, his approach was always a team approach and he employed that to win over …’depoliticize’ …his dealings with the Opposition Party Critics. ‘We are in this together’ he told them,  ‘our common objective is to do what is best for Canada’s Veterans’.

He then found ways to communicate directly with our Veterans telling them that they were the most special of Canadians in that they risked having their arms, legs and heads blown and that too often they suffered just that.

He then told Veterans Affairs Staff that they too were special and that next only to Canada’s Veterans, they were deserving of our thanks for the great work they were doing on behalf of their clients.

Hees also paid special attention to the various Parliamentary Committees both in the House and in the Senate ensuring that their respective memberships were fully briefed on what was happening at Veterans Affairs and more importantly, why.  He was ever open to their comments and suggestions telling them with a smile that he ‘was not above stealing and implementing good ideas’.

Long time observers of Veterans Affairs were heard to say in the early days of Hees’ Administration that he would lose interest.  But he did not; George Hees continued to push himself and his employees to achieve, in the end, what was considered an amazing turnaround.  At his final speech to the Royal Canadian Legion in 1988, he received numerous standing ovations in recognition of what he had done for Canada’s veterans in the space of 4 short years. 

That, dear reader, is what I know George Hees would do again today if he came back to life and was once again given the chance.

With that in mind, let’s overlay it on the issues affecting veterans today and let’s assume that George Hees was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs at the beginning of this past week:

First, in regard to the ugly confrontation we witnessed this week between the old vets and the current Minister – here is how George Hees would have handled the same situation. (He would not have come an hour late to the meeting.  In fact as a former military man, Mr. Hees was punctual to a fault). He would have entered that room and would have gone over immediately to the War Veterans and placed his arm over their shoulders saying ‘you guys are all heros, thanks so much for coming to see me.  Now guys step into my office and let me know what I can do for you’. Full stop.

Second item of business, Hees would have Reversed the District Office Closures. Forgetting for a moment whether or not it was the right thing to do, the fact remains it was poorly implemented and done without proper consultation and for those reasons alone, he would have objected to it. 

Third, over and above retaining the District Office setup, he would have taken the extra step of insuring extra special service to our veterans of WW 11 and Korea on the understanding that these veterans, now averaging 90+ years should not be expected to seek out government offices – rather they would be entitled to visits by departmental counsellors in the comfort of their own homes.

Fourth, after first determining the Veterans’ Leadership positions on various issues of concern …especially in regard to the controversial new Veterans’ Charter, he would call a Round Table Discussion composed of the veterans’ leaders and Chaired by himself.  He would then follow this initial meeting by instituting regular semi-annual follow-ups.  Items such as the Veterans’ Charter would soon be controversial no more.

Fifth, regarding the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he would understand that this issue crossed both the departments of Veterans Affairs and DND and as such he would work toward establishing a Committee Co-Chaired by both Departments and composed of Membership from the Veterans Community as well as by Experts from the area of Mental Health.

He would ensure that this Committee held Regular Press Conferences to update the public and where the Mental Health Experts would act as Chair and committee members from the veterans community would be available to respond to any questions. PTSD would no longer be an issue of us versus them.

George Hees worked so hard to get the support of veterans; where has that devotion to duty gone today?

Some people become politicians, only a very few  were born to it, as in the case of the late and great George Harris Hees.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

Black Day In July…

 

Or to be more precise, in January, as in January 31st, 2014.

This was the Day that Lord Black was stripped of his Order of Canada.

If Black was a country he would be Israel since few seem to like the guy.

Ostensibly his defrocking was due to criminal charges laid against him in the great United States of America.

But dear reader, it really goes back to 2009 when Jean Chretien forced Black to renounce his Canadian Citizenship in order to clear the way for his acceptance of Peerage in Great Britain.

What’s that?

“Didn’t Chretien himself receive one of the highest orders – The Order of Merit – from Queen Elizabeth herself?’'

“And are there not numerous Francophone MPs who have French as well as Canadian Citizenship?”

Including the current Leader of the Opposition Mulcair and does not former Liberal Leader Dion have such dual citizenship?

Well yes they do.

But Black is different …why he is a Conservative don’t you know.

Black was setup in the States otherwise if had really been guilty, he would have been charged here in Canada under our own Security Laws.

The recommendation for his Order of Canada stripping originated from an 11 member advisory panel consisting Chaired by the illustrious and left leaning Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

It was then endorsed, on the recommendation of our Prime Minister, by the Governor in General.

Harper should have shown some intestinal fortitude and turned their recommendation down.  But alas.

And where is this distinguished panel when it comes to dealing similarly with such luminaries as Henry Morgentaler – may he Rot in Hell. 

Canada is a small country and with each generation we produce few giants that tower head and shoulders above the rest of us .. Conrad Black is one of those but there are those who cannot rest until they cut him down to size.

Fortunately, Black has shown time and again that this is not to be.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

 

SMART MOVE >>>

 

DUMB  DECISION !

As in Young Trudeau’s move to kick all Liberal Senators from his Caucus.

Smart, in the sense it happens just ahead of the Auditor General’s Report on the hanky panky that has been going on in the Senate, some of which will no doubt involve involve Liberal Senators.

Now YT can say, with his hand over his heart, that he has nothing to do with these former caucus members.

Cute, but effective.

It also provides him at last with a stand on the future of the Senate – something he and his Party have lacked heretofore:

The Tories are on record as wishing to make it an Elected Body while the Dippers have consistently stood for its abolishment.

Again points to the Liberal Leader.

So again – smart move on his part.

But it is dumb, nonetheless:

We are said to live under a Constitutional Democracy – Democracy being defined as the form of government where the people choose their representatives by voting.

The Tory position is consistent with these democratic values since it would turn the Senate into an elected body.  The NDP position similarly is consistent with democratic ideals in that it would deep six this unelected archaic institution.

The Grits position however is entirely inconsistent with democratic principles – it not only promotes the continuation of an unelected body – it makes the situation worse since it frees former caucus members from party discipline.

So prior to Mr. Trudeau’s action, we had Liberal Senators free from accountability to the voter and now we have them free from accountability to their own Party.

From Bad to Worse.

So the bottomline remains – an Unelected Senate is anathema to Democratic Traditions – either it needs to be elected or abolished – my preference being the latter - but Trudeau’s approach is not only unhelpful, it makes no sense whatsoever.

Save for himself.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’