I always felt what Den Tandt wrote today, that Trudeau comes out a winner regardless of the outcome of the match. It was his idea, his invite, and he has been gracious and light hearted from the start, while brazeau was doing a great deal of bragging, sure he'd win, and boasted about how he planned to knock Trudeau out.
It'll be nice not having every other CON MP in the House engaging in boasts over the match as well.
Brazeau is a shameless apple, a disgrace as a senator, a self-centered, egotistical slimeoid, and a loud-mouthed braggart, so this looks good on him.
In the Post, Matt Gurney tries to equate Del Mastro’s attack on Trudeau’s private religious life with Liberals trying to get Harper to say clearly, publicly that certain issues such as abortion rights and the death penalty.
Mr. Del Mastro's attack on Mr. Trudeau is premised upon the fact that the latter is personally pro-life, though he does not believe he has the moral authority to legislate away a woman's right to choose, even though he believes she shouldn't choose abortion. That is an entirely defensible, entirely logical position for Mr. Trudeau to take. It's practically identical, in fact, to the Prime Minister's stance on capital punishment (and probably abortion, too, for that matter). And yet, so far, there have been no calls from David McGuinty demanding, if his fellow Liberal is truly pro-choice, he introduce a bill to prohibit abortion.
No it isn’t. In Trudeau’s case, he’s being accused of not basing his political stances on his religion. The Liberals charge that the Harper party does allow their personal religious based values determine which legislation they will push, what Bills they will bring forward, what political decisions they will make.
Since we have separation of church and state in this country, Trudeau is acting as he should separating his religious beliefs from his political actions and statements. Many of Harper’s MPs, however, make it very clear in public statements that their religious beliefs drive them in making decisions that could affect an entire nation of mixed beliefs.
When deciding to shut down safe injection sites, Clement attempted to defend his reason by saying "I believe I'm on the side of compassion and on the side of the angels." B.C. won the right to keep the sites open because the Court determined that facts on one side far outweighed vague, moral objections on the other.
Brad Trost bragged about how the religious Pro-Life Association helped kill funding to Planned Parenthood.
People like Darrel Reid have held high level positions of influence within harper’s tight, inner circle.
Reid wasonce the president of the evangelical Christian organization Focus on the Family Canada. He promoted conservative Christian family values, while actively campaigning against issues such as divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage. As president of Focus On The Family Canada, Reid described his role as mobilizing Christians in Canada to infuse their religion with their political beliefs.
Harper’s party has many members – including steve himself and Mr. Law ‘n Order family values guy Toews – have links to organizations established under the umbrella of the Council for National Policy (CNP), an American groupthat the New York Times calls a “club of a few hundred of the most powerful conservatives in the country which has“funnelled billions of dollars to right-wing Christian activists.
It is politicians’ private business which religious organizations they belong to except when the goal of those organizations is to actively “infuse their religion with their political beliefs,” as Reid prompts members to do.
So calling on harper to be clear on his intentions when it comes to religious based morality issues such as abortion or same sex marriage is not out of line, especially when his MPs have already tried back door ways of re-introducing legislation touching on those things.
In 2005, there was a vote to re-open debate on legalization of same-sex marriage and two Conservative private members’ bills that could have re-opened the abortion debate. That both failed means little, especially since harper had a minority at the time. It is very telling though that the very controlling harper allowed those issues to be brought forward by his own MPs at all.
You cannot equate attacks on Trudeau’s correct actions of separating church and state with attacks on the words and actions of members who seek to form laws and legislation based on their personal religious views.
The first is indeed an attack on the private person. The second is vigilance in defense of democracy.
According to Matthew 22:21, Jesus said: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" – Matthew 22:21. Jesus supported separation of Church and State.
In this bible reference, Matthew is talking about how the Pharisees wanted to trick Jesus into saying poor Jews shouldn’t have to pay taxes to the wealthy Roman empire, but (OH NO!!!! Jesus loves taxes!!!!!!!!!!!) Jesus indicated that man’s law and god’s law are separate.
And yet, Del Mastro criticizes Justin Trudeau’s faith because Trudeau does not shove his own personal beliefs onto his constituents and other Canadians through his office as MP.
“We haven'tcalled them to speak about a theological issue, we've called them to speak on inspiring young people to international service and their place in leadership now in society and make a better world,” Mr. Digby (department chair of Canadian and world studies at Holy Cross Secondary School) said. “That our minister of Parliament would have a problem with that I think speaks more about him (Del Mastro) than about Justin Trudeau.”
Del Mastro says that Trudeau's public positions “are often not in any accordance with the Catholic faith.”
That is true - because Canadian law is often not in accordance with Catholicism, nor, likely, are the views of many of Trudeau’s constituents, and as their elected rep, he must consider them all, apply sectarian reasoning or risk forcing his own specific religious beliefs on constituents who make up a wide range of beliefs. That's what a good politician does.
Del Mastro is not a good politician. He isn't even a good christian, if it's true that christians are supposed to follow the teachings of Jesus.
ThePeterborough teacher who first invited Mr. Trudeau to speak says he finds Mr. Del Mastro's comments “petty.” “First of all, my question, is: who is the faith police? Who are the people who are supposed to be judging somebody's faith?” said Trevor Digby.
The faith police...better think about that one before you open your mouth, Dean. Your fellow CONservatives ain’t exactly crime free on that score. And I do believe that lying is not in accordance with any Christian faith, even yours, and yet –
The originalFacebook post reads: "News that my local Catholic school board has invited/is paying Justin Trudeau to speak to students for a second time is outrageous," Del Mastro wrote.
The school said Trudeau is not being paid for his talk.
Del Mastro suggests Jason Kenny as an alternative, “a truly great speaker” and catholic, to boot. Who would kids be more inspired by?
Suck it up, fat man. And in case you need another opinion on the appropriateness of Trudeau addressing this particular group -
Mr. Digby said Mr. Trudeau's speech was extremely well-received, and is part of an ongoing series of speeches by Canadians from a variety of backgrounds that are meant to emphasize the importance of international service to humanity. He said he didn't know Mr. Trudeau's religious background, and didn't care.
Apparently, the CONs are still terrified of the Trudeau name. I think they may also be more than a little frightened by Justin Trudeau regardless of what his last name may be. The guy is smart, charismatic, has vision and courage...and the looks don't hurt, either.
Sure, but that hasn't stopped Mr. Petulance - in the course of the same event.
Harper goes on about "days of economic darkness" under Trudeau then fails to explain how he will come up with the billions required for his budget promises.
Ten years after his death, Trudeau is still a threat to harper the chicken.
For 30 daysJulian Fantino held his tongue, campaigning as the Conservative candidate in the suburban Toronto riding of Vaughan
Actually, harper tied your tongue in a knot, fantino. But go on...
He had vowed to take the high road during his campaign
Yeah, so high it was outside Earth’s atmosphere...
At 68 years of age, Mr. Fantino now finds himself a rookie MP and will be sitting in the Commons across from the likes of Justin Trudeau, Michael Ignatieff and the rest of the Liberal crew who, he says, made his life miserable.
Boo-fucking hoo...
Cue in the tough guy -
He asserts the Liberals were “desperate” but that he would rather have “faced dangerous people with loaded guns than some of the nonsense” during the campaign.
But he has been taking notes from the CON playbook -
“ I call it the Hitler Theory. You tell a lie often enough you hope that some people will believe it."
(Repeat after me: evul coalition, eul coalition, evul coalition...I believe in me and reject the fearmongering and risky Michael Ignatieff coalition)
(Warning - some people may find the lyrics offensive - but appropriate)
(50% faster than original version) “I’ve been as many as 21 days in the witness box in court, being cross-examined by the best lawyers in town. There is no peek-a-boo. ... It was a character assassination.”
So fucking what.
I think O.J. Simpson has you beat.
“You know what, here’s me with 42 years of working night shifts and facing people with loaded guns and dealing with murderers and rapists ... and I get a lecture from a newbie. C’mon.”
So fucking what.
You’re on Parliament’s turf now and yes, the House has become a free-for-all shame but on the Hill, dodging a bullet is a metaphor and you have yet to learn new skills. Not going to run into a whole lot of murderers and rapists there.
Fantino, on the Hill, you are the newbie.
You seem so stuck on your past career that I doubt you will be open to learning the skills necessary to take on experienced politicians.
Caution: could cause nightmares. Really, really boring ones.
Anyone registered to receive PMO notices knows that they need to check their mail over the weekend or risk having it fill up.
Why? Well Dear Leader seems to think we are getting value for money with these:
Who except the odd salivating member of the Dear Leader Fan Club, guiltily fantasizing over what a dreamily-dreamy-dream the Beloved Leader is as they chew marshmallows – slowly – late at night has the slightest bit of interest in seeing these, let alone foot the bill for them. And why so many of this type that show Steve, nothing but Steve, and even cases of Steve in front of a picture of Steve?
Yes, yes. I know. “but-but-but-ADSCAM!!!”
Someone took my truck off-roading and got it stuck on a stump. Expensive, yes. Unnecessary, yes. But if someone else leaves the cream out and it goes bad, I’m not going to say “hey, who cares, remember the truck?”
No, I’ll still be annoyed because it’s wasteful and unnecessary.
So not another word about ADSCAM. I will never forget ADSCAM. I have it tattooed on my arm. I renamed my dog ADSCAM.
Now back to the photos.
Some photos actually put Steve in some sort of context, but the majority of the shots are self-aggrandizing. Sort of creepy if you go through the PMO photo link with its page after page of Harper close-ups, as above.
Only 3 photos there, and guess what? No ceremony, no Acadians, no athletes. Just Steve, Steve, and look...Steve.
Here’s a telling one:
Steve, the really important focus of this meeting on funding for AIDS. Really, who gives a fuck about Gates, right?
But then, we are dealing with a guy who thinks the perfect Christmas card is a photo of him looking at photos of him and who believes the best décor consists exclusively of…yes, pictures of him.
Why would Stevie think we are at all interested in this barrage of photos of him…talking, mostly. Or just standing there? Or looking like he always looks, all the time, same expression.
It isn’t as though he has the spontaneous, fun nature that makes for good candid shots like this guy had:
He doesn’t do warm and fuzzy well at all:
And can’t even pull off a decent I’m-just-a-regular-dad shot:
And don’t look for him in celebrity news like this fellow:
Steve can’t do casual like this man could:
People wanted to follow Pierre Trudeau around with a camera. He was fun, interesting, spontaneous.
I suppose Steve hopes that if he shoves his picture at us often enough, we will be enthralled (as in brainwashed). Cult leaders are known for that tactic. Or he has such a powerful belief in his own wonderfulness he figures if we see his image often enough, we’ll just all swoon with love and hand our lives over to him.
Not in a billion universes and all of time, Stevo. Besides being a small minded, vicious, provincial, misogynistic, petulant, sulky, visionless, unimaginative, sociopathic, ego-centric creature, you’re as boring as dandruff.
