Sunday, August 31, 2008

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel...

... is a train heading right for the LPOC.


OTTAWA -- Only one week before they expect to be plunged into a federal election campaign, some Liberal MPs are still hoping to make "adjustments" to the centrepiece of their party's platform -- the risky proposal to impose a carbon tax.

They want Liberal Leader Stephane Dion to massage the so-called green shift to make it more palatable to farmers, truckers, rural residents and others who stand to be hardest hit by a tax on fossil fuels and who have not yet been appeased by the promise of offsetting income tax cuts and tax benefits.

Really? But Ralph's been trying to sell it to Saskatchewan just the way it is.

Prime Minister Harper, let's get rid of these buffoons once and for all. Call the election.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Ralph's Weekly Bloviation

Two words; Sponsorship Scandal

...


WEEKLY COMMENTARY

By Ralph Goodale, M.P.

A TAINTED ELECTION! A TAINTED GOVERNMENT!

From its first day in office, Stephen Harper’s government has been one of questionable legitimacy.

The Conservatives made two massive, vote-buying promises in the last campaign which they quickly dishonoured. One was never to tax Income Trusts. The other was to pay Saskatchewan $800 million more every year in Equalization.

Such bare-faced dishonesty obviously undermines Conservative legitimacy.

Their position is further eroded by the serious legal questions which have been raised by the Chief Electoral Officer about a Conservative election financing scam in the last campaign.

Respected, independent election officials are investigating whether campaign spending limits were violated at the national level, while illegitimate reimbursement claims were filed locally.

On top of that, the Conservatives benefited shamelessly from the extraordinary and inexplicable involvement of the RCMP in the last campaign. Every credible independent observer says this incident in the midst of the last election had a huge and totally improper impact.

Two and a half years later, Stephen Harper now wants a snap election – in violation of his promise of a fixed election date in October of 2009.

The illegitimate Conservative behaviour continues.

What has the Harper government so panicked that they are prepared to break their word to Canadians – yet again – and even break the spirit of the fixed-election-date law which they, themselves, enacted?

They’re spooked by at least three things on the horizon, which don’t look good for Mr. Harper.

First, the Conservatives will lose all four of the federal byelections called for September.

Secondly, the national economy is getting into deeper trouble, and the responsibility will rest squarely on Mr. Harper’s shoulders.

And third, the investigations into Conservative ethical lapses are exposing more and more illustrations of apparent Conservative corruption and incompetence.

A quick election could sweep this all under the rug.

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Attack on Green Shift...

continues unabated.


"The carbon tax proposed by the Liberal leader would be like a new transfer program, whereby billions of dollars would flow from taxpayers in these two provinces, to be spent in other regions.

...

Mr. Dion has won some praise for showing leadership by introducing a bold idea.

But leadership at the national level also requires an understanding of the interests of Canada's different regions and a willingness to ensure that any national proposal does not penalize one region, especially one in which the Liberals hold very few seats.

Let's not return to the divisive days of western alienation and regional discontent."


Well said, Ms. MacKinnon...

Thursday, August 28, 2008

This Is Really Going To Screw Up Our Pension Plan

While Ralph Goodale continues to sell Green Shift, as is, to one of the provinces that will be most hurt by this wealth transfer tax, other Liberals seem to have been reading the tea leaves.

Is that election thing still on, Stephane?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

More Proof: Just Because You're Tenured...

Doesn't mean you know anything...

"Staging the election this fall would allow Stephane Dion, the Liberal leader, to capitalize on some of the excitement surrounding Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic candidate, said Stephen Clarkson, a political scientist at the University of Toronto."

Now I've heard some political scientists say some pretty stupid things over the years, but this have to be one of the dumbest.

"The perception of Obama standing for change and hope will play out it Canada in its own way," Prof. Clarkson said. "And Obama is portraying himself as green, so there is a connection there as well."

Regardless of the fact that Mr. Clarkson is in fact a political scientist, there is no evidence whatsoever to support either one of his statements. The line between "political scientist" and "progressive" seemed to have been breached.

Clarkson gives a personal opinion that is easily lapped up by Cowan, which says something about Cowan and the National Post.

Cowan would be wise to ask a few more questions of Clarkson rather than taking what he says as some incredible insight, rather than the wishful thinking that it is. Mind you, this is just another example of the abdication of professional journalism shown by the MSM.

When You're Explaining, You're Losing

Liberal policies at odds with province

"Based on the reception the various players got at a Liberal town hall meeting here Sunday, the answer is Orchard. He received easily the loudest ovation of any of the half dozen or so candidates presented, even Goodale."

Man, that's gotta sting...

Monday, August 25, 2008

Dion Is The New "Baghdad Bob"


Prime minister in 'panic,' Dion says in Saskatoon

Anybody remember this guy?


We Are "Not So" Many Festival

Check out John Gormley's blog for the "standing room only" crowds at this weekend's We Are Many festival. The festival received $40,000 of your tax dollars to promote leftist and environmental views, which evidently doesn't seem to go well here in the heart of the flat lands.

But the "big draw" at WAM was Stephane Dion on Sunday, where he and Ralph Goodale extolled the virtues of Green Shift to a partisan crown of around 300.

To put this in perspective, the Ukraine Day in the Park crowd was estimated at 2,000. And Cruise Weekend, a celebration of carbon belching, American made classics, was the largest in its history with an estimated 100,000 people dropping by over the three days. Saskatoon's entire downtown was transformed into a museum of American art for CW.

If the Liberals had their finger on the pulse of Saskatchewan, they would have gone to where the people were, and doing the things that people care about, rather than trying to shove a "wealth distribution plan" down their collective throats on a hot Summer in front of a partisan crowd.

People in Saskatchewan seem to care more about perogies and classic autos, than they care about the Liberals and their Green Shift plan.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

"Parliament is doing its work"

Huh?

After threatening the Conservatives with a fall election, Stephane Dion now wants to have a chat with Harper about... what?

When joined with the NDP and the Bloc, the Liberals have the votes to bring the government Conservatives down. What is there to discuss? The only reason parliament is working is that on confidence issues in the past, the Liberal's have abstained from even showing up to vote.

So much for the courage of their convictions.

The Liberals have not received the expected bump from Green Shift. As a matter of fact, they have received the opposite.

From Dion's unexpected tariffs announcement, to Ken Boschoff's announcement that Green Shift was indeed a "wealth redistribution" tax, and Goodale's less than truthful representations to the Saskatchewan people about the plan's impact on the economy, Green Shift has gone from bump to bust.

If the Liberals, who attack Harper and disagree with his policies at every turn, want an election, they have all the backing they need to bring the government down. An election call won't matter the NDP or the Bloc. They both know they are incapable of forming the next government. So it really is the Liberals who have the ball in their court now as they have had since 2006.

But by continually playing the brinkmanship game they, and I didn't think this was possible, have even lost more credibility.

Don't discuss anything with Harper, Stephane. Bring down a government you claim your party or the people have no confidence in.

But I suspect the only thing Dion will learn after a fall election is how much confidence the Canadian public have in the Liberals.

Friday, August 22, 2008

A New Acronym For the LPOC

LPOC used to stand for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Now, I believe it stands for the Loco Party of Canada.

"Premier Rodney MacDonald’s opposition to the federal Liberals’ green plan has been “fully bought and paid for," says a Liberal MP (Scott Brison)."

Check out Rodney MacDonald's carbon tax calculator here...

BTW, someone in Nova Scotia needs to start brisonwatch.blogspot.com. It's working here in SK...

Andrew Scheer Nails It!

"Of all the criticisms one might have of Ralph Goodale, one would not question his faith in the value of putting party loyalty above all other considerations --even common sense."

...

"The reasons are simple. Goodale uses misleading math when attempting to sell the new tax, most recently in an opinion column published in this newspaper. What Goodale conveniently leaves out of his arguments is the simple fact that not only will individual Canadians pay higher taxes on energy-related necessities like home heating and electricity, but the cost of virtually every necessity they buy, from clothing to groceries, will go up as well."

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Stick It To Stephane On Sunday

Stephane Dion will be in Saskatoon on Sunday, Aug. 24/2008 to speak about his Green Shift wealth distribution plan. Early reports are that Stephane will be speaking at the WDM at around 5PM. That is yet to be confirmed so watch this post for additional details.

John Gormley is calling upon his listeners to attend the event and urges them to "Stick It To Stephane on Sunday".

Let Dion and Goodale know what Saskatchewan really thinks of Green Shift. It might be worth the drive up from Regina to attend this.

What Saskatchewan People Think

We get dozens of emails every day. Here is a sampling of the typical messages we receive.



"What happened to Ralph? He used to stand up for the people in his riding?" T.M. Regina

"You know, just when Saskatchewan gets on a roll, the Liberals are trying to destroy it. Why Goodale would back Dion is beyond me." L.P. Regina

"Goodale is a good example of why we need term limits in parliament" L.L. Saltcoats

"When Ralph became the finance minister, he was the pride of Regina. Now, by the way he's been pushing this Green Shift down our throats, he has become the embarrassment of Regina." J. Y. Regina

"If Ralph had any morals, he would stand up against Dion and the Liberals and stand for the people of Wascana!" F.P. Regina

"Goodale is an a**hole!' P.L. Saskatoon

Thanks for reading and keep the emails coming.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Would You Buy A Used Car From This Man?


Ralph tries selling Green Shift with real Corinthian leather

WEEKLY COMMENTARY

By Ralph Goodale, M.P.

SASKATCHEWAN WILL BE AN INVESTMENT WINNER

One inescapable reality of the 21st century is the world-wide battle against climate change and the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that cause it, especially carbon dioxide.

As a consequence, constraints on carbon pollution are inevitable.

This is not an “optional” state of affairs. Even both of the candidates for the U.S. Presidency, John McCain and Barack Obama, are committed to “putting a price” on carbon as a key way to slash American emissions.

The good news for Saskatchewan is that world markets will still want our valuable fossil fuels. They’ll just want them cleaner, with less pollution. For Saskatchewan, this can be a big opportunity. To take advantage of it, we need to get out in front of the carbon issue.

We need to be leaders, not followers.

The first step is “carbon pricing” – i.e., charging something when carbon pollution is dumped into the atmosphere, and then using all the revenue raised in this way to cut income taxes, both personal and corporate.

As respected experts like Jack Mintz from the University of Calgary and Don Drummond from the TD Bank point out, this will lead to a stronger economy.
Such a fiscal framework will also help position Saskatchewan as a clean energy powerhouse – one that’s built to last.

We’ll need to focus on three priorities.

First, greater energy efficiency and conservation in everything we do. This is just common sense and it saves money for everyone through lower energy bills.

Secondly, more renewable green-power sources, like cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel, and wind, solar, geo-thermal and small-hydro projects.

And thirdly, new technologies to develop our fossil fuels in cleaner ways.

The level of high-quality “green” investment flowing into Saskatchewan, to cut harmful emissions, could rival past Canadian mega-projects, like the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway.


What's missing in this piece is how Goodale is going to replace the estimated $3 billion of taxes on Saskatchewan each year as a result of Green Shift.

And no Ralph, we don't want the rust proofing...

Monday, August 18, 2008

The Old Goat Speaks

Chretien blasts Harper for not attending the Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing.

But...

"Dimitris Soudas, a spokesman for Harper, shot back at Chretien, saying that he only attended one of six Olympic opening ceremonies during his 13 years as prime minister, when he went to Atlanta in 1996.

"For Mr. Chretien to sit there and say our relations with China are damaged because the prime minister did not attend is hypocritical," said Soudas, adding the government sent a delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson."

After presiding over one of the worst and most costly political scandals in Canada on would think that Jean Chretien should keep his misguided opinions to himself.

As an aside, one wonders what Canada's progressives and the MSM would have said had Harper actually attended the opening ceremonies in the capital of one of the worst human's rights violaters in the world.

Scratch that... We know what they would have said.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Have You Ever Seen Anyone This Uncomfortable...


... holding a fish?

It looks like he's holding his breath too.

Nice golf shirt and tailored trousers. And not an ounce of fish slime on him. It must be the newest the fashion rage for fishermen.

How The Mighty Have Fallen

A new sacrificial lamb provincial Liberal leader has been anointed.

Congratulations to Ryan Bater who will in all likelihood be the second consecutive Liberal leader not win a single seat in the Saskatchewan legislature.

The first leader to accomplish that feat was David "Senior Spiky Shoes" Karwacki.

Not surprisingly, Bater's leadership bid went unchallenged.

Even Layton Gets In On The Act

"If anyone was out of step with the needs of Saskatoon, it was Goodale, who preferred to address boardroom table issues instead of kitchen table issues."

We never thought we'd say this but, "Atta boy, Jack!"

Now excuse us while we wash our mouths out with soap.

Goodale - "As Popular As A Kick In The Groin"


Stephane Dion and Garret Oledzki in happier times



First, it was Ralph Goodale's backing of Joan Beatty in DMCR that backfired - twice.

Now comes the revelation that Palliser Liberal candidate, Garrett Oledzki, probably stepped down because of this and not the Green Shift platform as some suggested earlier.

Once again, Saskatchewan's most influential Liberal takes a hit.

Has Goodale had enough, or is his desire for power so great that he would rather risk his entire political reputation and the well being of his fellow Canadians to govern with the immoral Liberal Party of Canada once more?

I think we know the answer to that...

Friday, August 15, 2008

Bring It On

PM hints at coming election

Ralph pops his head up to say something incredibly stupid... again

"But Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale said Harper would be "breaking his word" by calling an election before the fixed date -- in November 2009 -- although it would not be illegal.

Goodale rejected the prime minister's statement blaming the Liberals for dysfunction in Parliament. "The obstruction and the dysfunctionality comes entirely from the Conservatives themselves."

Evidently, it's only Liberals that are allowed to break their word.

If Ralph believes that his morally and fiscally bankrupt party are NOT responsible for the dysfunction in Parliament, he really has lost it.

The Prime Minister should call the election. And Wascana needs to get rid of Goodale for the sake of all reasonable Canadians, and for Goodale's own family.

He's probably embarassing the hell out of them.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

A Senior Roars; Turner Blames Harper for Green Shift

Jon C. Coates breaks down Dion's carbox tax and it's effects on seniors.

Meanwhile, asshole par excellence Garth Tuner denies Coates even exists.

'I was highly suspicious of the letter when I received it for the umpteenth time, for several reasons. If he does have an income consisting only of government benefits, where did the money come from to retrofit an entire house with new insulation, windows and doors? How about those new energy-efficient appliances? How could his energy costs increase by 25% under the Green Shift, while his income tax load stayed the same? And the “Tax Poem” that’s attached to his letter is nothing more than a crude knockoff of a US chain letter, which is factually wrong. Moreover, calculations of the impact of the carbon tax also being circulated with his email are simply incorrect.

This had all the markings of a PMO disinformation initiative, and I concluded that, especially so after I called Mr. Coates Sunday and his wife answered, putting to bed the assertion he lives on one income.'


In an arrogance that is indescribable, even for Turner, he turns Coates argument around and ends up blaming, of all people, Stephen Harper.

"Do I blame him? Absolutely not. I admire him. He decided to do something about a situation he perceived was unjust. There are too few among us willing to do so.

It’s just a shame his prime minister lied to him."

These are Liberals.

They are without shame, ethics or morals.

They are all about power at any and all costs, even if it means trashing a senior on a fixed income.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Stop The Carbon Tax

New website launched here. Make sure you sign the petition...

Let's make sure the Liberals never get to implement that plan that will destroy our economy first then our country.

Monday, August 11, 2008

So The Solution is To Tax Us More Through Green Shift?

I love the last line... Doom and Gloom Goodale.



THE HONOURABLE RALPH GOODALE, M.P. (WASCANA)
310 University Park Drive, Regina, Sk., S4V 0Y8
Telephone: (306) 585-2202
Facsimile: (306) 585-2280
E-mail:
Goodale@sasktel.net



August 11th, 2008

For Immediate Release


WEEKLY COMMENTARY

By Ralph Goodale, M.P.


CANADA’S ECONOMIC TROUBLE DEEPENING

The western Canadian economy is booming right now, thanks to world-wide inflation in prices for basic commodities like oil.

That good fortune is not the result of any government policy. It’s simply our long-awaited turn to cash-in on rising global markets.

But be cautious. The commodities boom – as enjoyable as it is, while it lasts – is masking fundamental weaknesses that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives continue to ignore, or even make worse.

Mr. Harper has recklessly increased federal spending by more than $40 billion, to try to buy voters with their own money. Prudence has been thrown to the wind.

He has also eroded the tax-base – pushing Canada to the brink of a deficit once again, while failing to provide meaningful reductions in personal income taxes.

Independent monitoring agencies, like the Conference Board of Canada, are reporting a sub-standard performance by this country in such fields as productivity growth, innovation, literacy skills and environmental integrity.

In four of the last six months, despite western resource wealth, the economy not only stalled overall, it actually shrank. Sectors like manufacturing, forestry and tourism are in particular trouble.

The Bank of Canada and all major private sector forecasters are now predicting a pathetic annual growth rate of barely one percent.

In July, 55,000 Canadian jobs were lost. The last time we saw that sort of setback was in the early 1990’s under Brian Mulroney.

Remember, the Harper Conservatives are the people who failed to tell the truth about Income Trusts or Equalization.

They are the ones who raised Personal Income Tax Rates, while claiming to cut them. They are the ones who proposed investment policies that encouraged foreign takeovers of Canadian enterprises.

Incompetence and dishonesty are their hallmarks.

That’s why Tory times are always, ultimately, tough times. And it’s happening again!




Ah, yes I remember how good SK was under Chretien and Martin.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Influence?

"On the first question, there is no doubt federal MP Ralph Goodale is the single most influential Liberal in the province. Few significant decisions are made without his involvement and approval. Goodale is a big part of the reason leader Stephane Dion chose to appoint Joan Beatty as the party's candidate in its failed attempt to hang on to the riding in a March byelection."

The real question is whether the Liberals have prospered in Saskatchewan as the result of Goodale's influence.

Despite being the Liberal finance minister and the former leader of provincial Liberals, under Goodale's influence the provincial liberals have been electorally wiped off the face of the map for two consecutive elections. Federally, under that same influence, Goodale has managed to save one seat in Saskatchewan; his own.

His support of Joan Beatty in the riding of DMCR was the kiss of death for the Liberals there. The Liberals lost the only other seat in SK they had after the 2006 general election because of Goodale's influence and Dion's bumbling.

If Goodale is indeed influential, it has been and will continue to be a negative influence, especially as he continues to promote the wealth redistribution plan that is Green Shift.

If the Liberals desire any presence ever again in the province, they have to get rid of the most Saskatchewan's most influential Liberal, Ralph Goodale.

Ralph has been good for one person... Ralph.

It's time to go, Ralph...

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Great Liberal Trademark Heist - Part Deux

The REAL Green Shift fires back....

"Liberal partisans are trying to diminish our rights to our name by calling it an everyday term. In point of fact, an independent analysis performed by Influence Communication of some 15 million environmentally themed news articles and editorials from 14,000-plus publications in 159 countries exposes the falsity of that assertion: Between June 1, 2007, and May 31, 2008, they found the term Green Shift used only 62 times."

The Liberal Party Of Canada is immoral.

If they are willing to "steal" a fully copyrighted name for their own purposes right under their noses, what do you think they would do to the average taxpayer?

They cannot be trusted...

Chicken Little Speaks

Goodale's latest column in the Leader Post is amazing in it's arrogance and lack of hard cold facts.

He's got all the basics down;

1. The obligatory reference to George W. Bush - "There will always be skeptics, like President George W. Bush, who simply deny every problem, but the hard evidence is compelling."

2. The liberal (small and big L) view that humans are bad and should be punished - "Is climate change real? Yes it is. It results from human activity. And it's serious."

3. The sky is falling scenario - "We see more damaging storms, droughts and floods, rapidly melting mountain glaciers, northern permafrost and polar ice-caps. Sea levels are rising, yet there are dwindling prairie water supplies. The devastation of Mountain Pine Beetles and other pests and diseases threatening agriculture and forestry. People and communities increasingly at risk."

4. The spin - "That's the "shift" -- taxing less the good things we want (like incomes, investment and innovation) leaving more money in taxpayers' pockets and boosting overall productivity, while charging something (for the first time ever) when pollution is dumped into the atmosphere."

5. The Big Lie - "When fully implemented, this proposed carbon pricing is expected to cost the average Saskatchewan household about a dollar-a-day. Simultaneously, the typical Saskatchewan family with two kids and an annual income of $60,000 would get their taxes cut by $1,350 per year (or $3.69 per day)."

6. The attack - "What about Stephen Harper's plan? Harper is proposing a punitive regulatory scheme. It would involve quasi-criminal penalties against all energy utilities, like SaskPower and SaskEnergy, the oil and gas industry, IPSCO Steel, PotashCorp, Cameco, cement companies, chemical producers and many others.

7. Identifying the real enemy - "Those who throw stones at Dion should keep a closer eye on Harper."

8. The incredible enlightenment of the Liberal Party - "We can show the world how to run a resource-based economy that is built for lasting success --one that is knowledge-intensive, environmentally sound, a magnet for world-class investment, competitive, rapidly growing and highly profitable."

Goodale has taken a page out of Barry Obama's playbook; enlightened platitudes, hand-holding and if the Liberals win the next election, all will be well with not only the world, but the universe.

Goodale's plan with destroy the Saskatchewan economy for the benefit of the Liberal Party of Canada and Goodale.

It's time to go, Ralph...




Monday, August 4, 2008