RIDDLE ME THIS...

Who is behind the tele-polling this weekend which is asking a lot of questions about Michael Ignatieff?
My spouse got polled Sunday from an unfamiliar agency. Among the questions asked were: Michael Ignatieff will return to teach at Harvard if he doesn't win the next election - how do you feel about that?
The man also asked: The current advertising about Michael Ignatieff 'Just Visiting' talks about his recent return to Canada - How has it affected your opinion of him?
Michael Ignatieff was a supporter of the coalition - are you more, less or undecided on if you support the coalition?
Michael Ignatieff has said he would raise the GST if elected - are you more, less or undecided likely to vote Liberal knowing this?
Michael Ignatieff proposed the Green Shift first - does that affect your opinion of him positively, negatively or undecided?
Which party is the one you feel can deliver on the following issues: getting tough on crime; dealing with the economy; and protecting Canada's place in the world?
Which statement is closer to your opinion: To get Canada on track we need a Conservative majority; or, to get Canada on track we need a coalition government?
.....

There were more questions, she said it took about 10 minutes and the man asking the questions would not say who had commissioned the poll. It's fairly obvious to me who commissioned it, and for what purpose.
The CONs are spending a lot of money to see what kind of effect their current ad campaign is having on the public, while also fishing around for the next missive (coalition? taxes? economy?)... That the questionaire was knee-deep in lies and twisted truths is enough evidence to be convinced who is behind it.
I'm just hoping that we tax payers aren't paying for it. Oh, who am I kidding - we know that they are using public funding for this kind of BS; whther its via tax-payer subsidized political donations or fisking the federal treasury for its polling/focus grouping expenditures, Canadians are coughing up.
Too bad the MsM is only worried about its piece of the action to not dig up the dirt on Harper and his disgusting alliance.

THE NUKE'S ON YOU...

Finally, the CON government has revealed its long-hidden agenda for Canada's public nuclear industry. Just as its investing billions in the auto industry, Harper and Co. have opened the barn door and is going to put up for sale a portion of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd by splitting it into two.
The timing remains suspicious -- days after the radiated heat began to grow on the current medical isotopes shortage began getting into the news, and a few days after finance mismanager-minister Jimbo Flaherty dropped a $50-Billion bombshell in the foyer of the House of Commons, the gov't is talking about turning over Canada's public nuclear industry into a McDonald's restaurant-style partnership. Nuclear, under new management, the sign may read.
Suddenly, the shortage of isotopes isn't a 'conspiracy' as before, but a convenient coincidence as the 'For Sale' sign goes up.
In one sense, it may be a relief that the operation of this potentially dangerous power source is out of the hands of this incompetent crew. Unfortunately, the current Chalk River reactor's troubles has provided a golden opportunity, and while the official aim is to entice the best offer, this group is just as likely to secretly single-source it.
While the Governor General showed her courage and integrity by chowing down on a seal heart morsel, I'm betting Harper won't be ordering the three-eyed fish anytime soon. But those down stream may have to.

MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH...

So how do you like your tax dollars going for negative advertising- outside an election cycle.. because for every $100 a con-bot gives to his party, $75 of it is paid by you and me.
Are you happy that your tax dollars are helping flood non-conservative ridings (or any riding!) with 10-percenters with dubious messages?
Should Canada accept the current government policy of infrastructure investments in mostly CONserf-ative held ridings only?
Now that numbers-challenged finance minister Jim Flaherty has coughed up his latest faux paux of $50 BILLION - as in deficit - do you think Stephen Harper and his CONs know what they are doing, and is what they are doing good for Canada?

NATIVE SON...

Seems like the CONs' neg-ads are going over like poop pan cakes.
As many of the critics point out, debating or disagreeing on policy or positions makes perfect, and fair, sense.
Hitting someone because they've done more than your so-called leader is just downright dumb.
Let's not forget Harper, the man who thought building a firewall around a province as a perfectly keen idea during a dispute, who prior to becoming the leader of his party hadn't traveled off the continent. This is the same guy who, when disgruntled over the then-government's decision to not back the coalition of the Willing, posted his disagreement in an American newspaper -- the same journalistic natives he prefers to spend a lot of time with these days.
Another famous Canadian knew what it was all about. He hit the road and traveled far. Hank Snow was a proud son of it, and he is just one of many Canucks to find success at various corners of the globe but always know where his heart is. So in tribute to him and all those who believe that venturing and succeeding beyond Canada's borders is not some sort of sign of unCanadianism, I leave you with this:

NOT PRIVY ENUF...

Looks like Giorno got his way - again.
The Prime Minister's pitbull continues to alienate staff and bump out top civil servants, this time with the surprise announced 'retirement' of Clerk of the Privy Council Kevin Lynch.
As per usual when the dirty work gets done, so-called leader Stephen Harper is somewhere else. But don't worry, the fingerprints don't lie. Giorno, Harper's hitman who has been helping him maintain fear and loathing behind the doors of the Prime Minister Office, while also advancing a 'take-no-prisoners' approach with any grumblers in private or public. Will the piper have to be paid soon? Don't hold your breathe for the spineless members of Harper's caucus see the light anytime soon. That would take balls and bearing.
When loyal to a fault CON fartcatcher Ian L. MacDonald catches on and prints it, you know there's trouble in Toryland.
Although Lynch may want to talk to a lawyer after MacDonald gave him the backhand of compliments:"There is no question that Lynch was always one of the two smartest guys in the room, and that the other smart guy was usually named Harper."
Ouch.

A NANNY STATE...

These are serious accusations.
And if they stand up after investigation by the proper authorities, I'll be hoping that the consequences will be serious. The cost, if then, will have to be more than just her political career.
But today they remain accusations only.
Not that I'm surprised that the media, especially Crapwest, is rolling this out coast-to-coast as national scandal. The Globe's latest story paints Ruby Dhalla as a high-maintenance MP, a Liberal diva. That certainly helps ensure that the facts will all be weighed fairly, no doubt.
But I have a few curious questions on how this has evolved... Kinda funny that it all came to light immediately after the end of the Liberal Convention, eh? Also kind of coincidental, I'm sure, that it also surfaced when CON leader Stephen Harper, he of the 'this isn't for print, is it?' footprints, is out of the country. Just as he likes to assign a lot of the dirty heavy lifting in the House to his chubby minions, guess who's leading the charge, not waiting for the justice system to work its magic?
Of course, they've had good success in past years with their immigrant outreach, or luring people with bribes and promises program. It's interesting how they are trying to twist this story in the House, while also using it to dampen Liberal interest to force a spring/summer election. While the scope of the story is important, I can't really believe it is worth day-after-day-after-day reporting, with the facts still to be determined, while Canwest essentially ignores things like this.
I know CONs have no faith in the Canadian justice system, unless of course it's their butt they are trying to cover. But you'd think they'd show a little hesitation of going on the offence over unproven facts... You know, considering this.
And the NDP, playing along. Quelle surprise, eh? Did they learn anything from this?
I suppose they all are certain that there's only one side to this story, and if you jump to conclusions enough times you'll be on the right side once or twice.
But I'm reminded about the current cycle of radio commercials that run on the Giant NW (big fans of the CONs, of course) these days. After the tax lawyers calling all tax cheats to come to them, there is also the investigation service company that helps you screen those caregivers who are ready to cheat your parents, after they shadow your partner to see who he's cheating on. I never liked their commercials. And I dislike the CONs tactics even more.

ICE WARS...

It's not about a hockey team, but more of a battle between two stubborn powerful egos.
And while it's easy to pick a horse in this race, it's likely that the previous trend will continue.
Ontario -- whether it's Hamilton, Waterloo or Orangeville -- is not the real battleground. It's in the board room of the NHL, where Blackberry's Jim Balsillie is aggressively trying to get his way on the third try.
Although expansion-loving and game-wrecker Gary Bettman should be on thin ice with his bosses, the owners of the 29 other NHL teams, he has been very successful in the past on keeping them on message.
Bettman pulled the rug out on Balsillie when he thought he had a deal for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The NHL commish then deked out the RIM CEO on a purchase agreement for the Nashville Predators, instead prefering to invite future jailbird named 'Boots' Del Biaggio III. Another Bettman protege, Anaheim's Henry Samueli, is currently on probation and wearing a criminal record after pleading guilty to charges of financial wrongdoing.
The roof is falling in on the Coyotes, who were busy denying just a week ago that the NHL had taken over daily operation. The current owner has been seeking an buyer or deep-pocketed partner for a couple of years now with no luck. While the rumours are out there that Russian billionaire Alexander Medvedev, who owns that thorn-in-the-NHL-side Continental Hockey League, is ready to buy a North American team, another story has Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf as being a more NHL-friendly option for Phoenix.
But why the hate on for Balsillie? He has the money and the interest -- two very critical and currently hard-to-find assets in the current economic climate. Under Bettman's watch, NHL owners will continue to carry the burden, even if a miracle new owner steps forward, for low expectations and lower fiscal returns on the dying Phoenix. Never mind the messes that are Atlanta, Long Island, Nashville, Tampa Bay and Florida. The southern markets in general are sucking badly on the league revenues, while Canada continues to be the wind in the NHL sails.
Is it that Bettman has another plan for southern Ontario, which doesn't involve a headache named Balsillie?
While he had no problem shipping 'ready-made' playoff contenders from the northern hinterlands of Winnipeg and Quebec City to Arizona and Colorado, respectively (with the Denver team winning the Stanley Cup in their first year away from La Belle province), it appears he only wants Canadian hockey fans to take the dregs, while the NHL owners pick up the rewards.
An expansion team in a league of 28 or 30 teams won't be blessed with talent, and even under the most generous player dispersal, will be a dog to watch. For years. But Bettman knows Canadians will eat it up, while the other NHL owners will each rake in a pretty expansion-team penny.
While I don't give Balsillie a snowball's chance in Dallas of winning this, I'm thinking he'll settle to see the NHL owners turn on their own employee. Bettman's reign is due to end sooner than later, and this may be the final straw. For Canadian puck fans, Bettman's end can't come soon enough.