Keebler/Blog » Election

FoxNews: Are you f**king serious?!

Jonathan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:39:46 +0000

Dear FoxNews,

Are you trying to prove everyone right who said you were a shill for Former President Bush? Because by putting stupid photos of President Obama on your home page, you come off like a total douche (more so).

Is this what passes for commentary over there?

Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and FOX News contributor, said he understands why Obama is currently burning the candle at both ends, but he doesn’t recommend it.

“Ultimately, it’s going to be too much of a risk to his health,” he said. (source)

You really think a grown man doesn’t know that? You need to subtly suggest that your president doesn’t know how to get a good nights’ sleep? I know Former President Bush went to bed every night at 10 o’clock, but he was like 30 years older than your former president.

Anyhow, I hope you have a fun next 8 years. Way to fight the tide.

Go f**k yourselves,

Sincerely,

Me

Just watched King of the Hill … Just watched King of the Hill season/show finale w/ the...

Presidential Inauguration 2009 LIVEBLOG

Jonathan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:43:21 +0000

10:51 AM Jonathan Keebler - Obama and Bush just left the whitehouse in a motorcade together
10:52 AM Jonathan Keebler - Damn, that car is seriously bulletproof. NBC said it has the same armour as a battleship
10:53 AM Jonathan Keebler - Obama won’t get to drive a car again for about 4 years
10:54 AM Jonathan Keebler - I hear crowds cheering, but no one is allowed anywhere near the cars
10:55 AM Jonathan Keebler - I wonder what Obama and Bush are talking about in the car…
10:56 AM kmays - Inauguration day! I’ve been waiting for this for 8 years. And it’s flurrying here.
10:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - There are saluting military officers lining almost every foot of the car route
10:59 AM Jonathan Keebler - We’re about 1 hour away from Obama taking the reins
11:00 AM Jonathan Keebler - Should Obama really be in a car with license plate “1″? Shouldn’t he be in a decoy at the back or something?
11:01 AM Jonathan Keebler - The first ladies have arrived at the ceremony. Michele Obama is wearing a yellow dress. Nuff said
11:01 AM Jonathan Keebler - Bush and Obama walking in together
11:02 AM Jonathan Keebler - NBC has to talk about Cheney’s wheelchair about every 5 minutes He hurt his back while “packing”.
11:03 AM Jonathan Keebler - Did the NBC commentator just say that JFK appeared “headless..umm..I mean hatless” during his inauguration?! What a slip!
11:03 AM charlie_lytle - About to watch Obama make this inauguration his bitch!!
11:04 AM drewfield - is watching the inauguration with with his 2 younger kids. Great lesson in history and providence.
11:05 AM Jonathan Keebler - Lots of famous people in the crowd…of course.
11:06 AM Jonathan Keebler - It seems like the cameramen are in a desperate quest to get shots of every Kennedy in the crowd. OH! THERE’S ANOTHER ONE!
11:07 AM pollyprissypant - Love the secret service code names for the Obamas and the Bidens…strangely poetic for the men in black. Renegade, Renaissance, Celtic?
11:07 AM mpoli - Thinking about walking over to Times Square to watch the inauguration. They are airing it on all the big screens there
11:08 AM Jonathan Keebler - Al Gore in da house!
11:09 AM Jonathan Keebler - How are they going to get wheelchair-Cheney down all those stairs? He’s probably going to have to take the freight elevator
11:10 AM pollyprissypant - I thought half the people making their way to the dais were already dead…you learn something new every day! Walter Mondale? Who knew?
11:11 AM mattdev - There is a sea of people at the inauguration.
11:12 AM Jonathan Keebler - Al Gore getting his hand-shake on! Wow, people love him. Lots of hugs for Tipper
11:13 AM Jonathan Keebler - While we’re all watching this, there’s a bunch of movers at the White House moving in Obama’s stuff.
11:13 AM pollyprissypant - How did Dan Quayle get an invite to this? Maybe I don’t want to know.
11:13 AM Jonathan Keebler - The Capital Building looks amazing with all the American flags everywhere.
11:14 AM Jonathan Keebler - Old President Bush is walking…with a limp. Still beats Cheney’s wheelchair
11:14 AM Jonathan Keebler - Jimmy Carter just arrived. Probably there to pimp his new book that came out today.
11:14 AM Jo_Crew - watching the inauguration – it’s just all getting started. What a day!
11:16 AM Jonathan Keebler - The Clin-tons just arrived. Hilary looks so happy. Bill looks pleased. They are holding hands though
11:17 AM pollyprissypant - Hillary and Bill…good times. Wonder how she feels about the fact that Joe Biden got to choose between Sec of State and VP?
11:18 AM Jonathan Keebler - Just 15 mins to go!
11:19 AM arosefull - The Boy is napping, but Momma’s gonna wake him up to hold him in her while watching the inauguration at noon!
11:21 AM Jonathan Keebler - Everyone seems really happy to see the 1st President Bush.
11:21 AM pollyprissypant - Jimmy Carter looks great and so does Rosalynn! Wow…I think they might know the secret to life and youth.
11:22 AM Jonathan Keebler - GIANT applause for the Clintons coming out
11:23 AM Jonathan Keebler - The official bible that will be used for the swear-in just arrived.
11:23 AM pollyprissypant - I think the crowd is getting the idea that they are mere minutes away from experiencing one of the most important moments in their history.
11:24 AM Jonathan Keebler - Reports that the crowd has had a lot of “clogs” and “security snafoos”. Not sure what that means
11:24 AM Jonathan Keebler - There are literally moving vans in-front of the White House right now
11:24 AM tracymueller - WHOA. Just saw a full crowd shot of the inauguration for the first time. Incredible.
11:25 AM Jonathan Keebler - The First Daughters just arrived. They are so poised at that age. Amazing kids
11:26 AM ashleyjill - has goose bumps! Watching the inauguration!!!
11:28 AM Jonathan Keebler - LOL NBC is shooting the Obama daughters through bulletproof glass which is making their heads all funhouse mirror. They aren’t going to like that
11:28 AM Jonathan Keebler - Laura Bush making her way on to the stage. “Polite” applause from the crowd
11:29 AM esquareda - Wow! #inaug09 suuuurre is a different scene compared to the previous inauguration. Sheesh – already with all the #change
11:30 AM Jonathan Keebler - The hype around Obama’s speech is insane! Expectations are sky high
11:31 AM Jonathan Keebler - Michele Obama and Jo Biden coming out onto stage. Everyone’s still talking Dr. Biden saying on Oprah yesterday that her husband was offered Secretary of State
11:32 AM Jonathan Keebler - There’s Bush, coming out of stage for the last time as President. He looks quiet and solem.
11:32 AM serenajones - I’m totally smitten for the voice over guy of the Inauguration.
11:33 AM MDM - Lets do this thing!
11:33 AM Jonathan Keebler - Yah, the voice-over guy is awesome. Sounds like a movie-trailer guy
11:33 AM Jonathan Keebler - As Bush nears the stage, he slaps on a smile
11:33 AM MDM -
11:34 AM Jonathan Keebler - Everyone is quiet on the stage; almost holding their breaths waiting for Obama to arrive
11:35 AM Jonathan Keebler - Michele Obama is holding a red box. Might have the Obama family bible in it
11:35 AM MDM -
11:35 AM Jonathan Keebler - hahaha Here comes Cheney being wheeled out.
11:36 AM Jonathan Keebler - Ruffles and flurishes being played
11:36 AM Jonathan Keebler - Out comes Bush, Cheney.
11:36 AM demersdesigns - Inauguration fedora count: in the millions. FTW #inaug09
11:37 AM Jonathan Keebler - And here comes Joe Biden, looking extremely happy. It’s amazing that his mother gets to see him sworn in as VP.
11:37 AM MDM -
11:38 AM MDM -
11:38 AM Jonathan Keebler - First shot of Obama nearing the door. He looks focussed and calm
11:39 AM agent5959 - is watching the inauguration and feeling confidence about the upcoming year
11:40 AM MDM -
11:40 AM MDM -
11:40 AM Jonathan Keebler - Obama about to walk out and see that massive crowd
11:40 AM daltonsmommy - Is getting a little emotional listening to the inauguration.
11:41 AM pollyprissypant - The crowd is going wild, I’m starting to tear up and there is Obama. (also my 2500th tweet)
11:41 AM Jonathan Keebler - Everyone’s eyes trained at the door where Obama is about to come out
11:42 AM MDM -
11:42 AM TundrasIgloo - The crowd is going wild out there on the mall. Idon’t ever remember an Inauguration that had people so excited.
11:43 AM MDM -
11:43 AM Jonathan Keebler - And here is Obama. The crowd goes wild! American flags everywhere
11:44 AM Jonathan Keebler - Man, that guy is a cool customer! Looks completely calm and composed
11:44 AM MDM -
11:44 AM Jonathan Keebler - Chants of “Obama, Obama, Obama” from the crowd
11:45 AM MDM -
11:45 AM Jonathan Keebler - The whole crowd goes silent as Dianne Feinstein takes to the podium
11:46 AM MDM -
11:46 AM MDM -
11:46 AM Jonathan Keebler - Big emphasis on peaceful transition of power
11:47 AM Jonathan Keebler - “Supremacy of the ballot over the bullet”
11:47 AM angelas_notes - Watching the inauguration – my heart is breaking.
11:47 AM MDM -
11:47 AM Jonathan Keebler - This moment will be remembered as the “turning point for real and necessary change for our nation”
11:49 AM MDM -
11:51 AM Jonathan Keebler - Opening prayer
11:51 AM julees - Why do we have to pray at the inauguration?
11:51 AM julebanville - C-span won’t show people turning their backs on Rick Warren. #inaug09 #inauguration
11:52 AM inflatemouse - The last time I watched an Inauguration was 16 years ago. (Clinton’s 1st). #inaug09
11:52 AM MDM -
11:52 AM markeliasaputra - : Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life” leads the prayer at the inauguration ceremony.
11:52 AM Jonathan Keebler - Lord’s Prayer. The atheists must love this
11:53 AM MDM -
11:53 AM Jonathan Keebler - Aretha Franklin up to sing “My Country is of Thee”
11:54 AM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, she is great
11:54 AM MDM -
11:54 AM MDM -
11:56 AM MDM -
11:56 AM MDM -
11:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - Robert Bennet, Utah takes the podium to introduce John Paul Stevens
11:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - Oath of office is next. The moment is finally here!
11:57 AM MDM -
11:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - Joe Biden swearing in.
11:57 AM MDM -
11:58 AM MDM -
11:58 AM TameekaTime - whoa … the whole office just stopped working and is now watching the inauguration
11:58 AM MDM -
11:58 AM Jonathan Keebler - Joe Biden is now officially the Vice-President of the United States of America
11:59 AM suewolfe - is watching the inauguration with joy and hope in her heart!
11:59 AM pollyprissypant - Joe Biden is being sworn in. Take note as this will be his only gaffe-free moment in office.
11:59 AM Jonathan Keebler - Yo Yo Ma and friends performing a new work by John Williams
12:00 PM MDM -
12:00 PM MDM -
12:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - BTW, at this moment the executive branch of the US is Bush and Biden.
12:01 PM MDM -
12:01 PM Elizabethx817 - I’m so excited to watch the Presidential Inauguration right now! Go Go Obama!!
12:01 PM Kerrysherin - I can’t stop crying…there’s not a dry eye through this whole inauguration!
12:02 PM MDM -
12:02 PM chattchic - Crying watching the inauguration…
12:02 PM MDM -
12:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - A very hopeful, happy piece of music by John Williams
12:03 PM ShireenJ - Itzak Perlman, Yoyo Ma and two others play Air and Simple Gifts, a composition made just for this inauguration.
12:03 PM MDM -
12:04 PM MDM -
12:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama became the President 4 minutes ago officially
12:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama’s oath of office up next
12:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Crowd cheering as they stand
12:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama raises his hand
12:05 PM MDM -
12:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Big bumbles from Judge Roberts
12:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - And that’s it! Obama is sworn in. President Obama
12:06 PM MDM -
12:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - Marines playing ‘Hail to the Chief’
12:06 PM MDM -
12:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - And the crowd goes wild!
12:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama steps up to the microphone and looks out over the crowd. Crowd cheers “Obama, Obama”
12:07 PM MDM -
12:08 PM pollyprissypant - I honestly don’t understand how there are people in my office not the least bit interested in this. This is history! Be a part of it!
12:08 PM MDM -
12:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - “My fellow citizens, I stand her today humbled by the task before us, grateful of the trust you’ve bestowed”
12:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - “I thank Pres. Bush for his service to our nation”
12:08 PM MDM -
12:09 PM MDM -
12:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - “we are in the midst of crisis…our nation is at war…”
12:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - “(there is a) sapping of confidence across our land”
12:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - “The challenges we face are real…but know this America: they will be met!”
12:10 PM MDM -
12:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We have chosen hope over fear”
12:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - We are a “young nation” but “the time has come to set aside childish things”
12:11 PM MDM -
12:12 PM Jonathan Keebler - “all are free, all deserve a chance…to persue their happiness”
12:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - Our ancestors: “For us…they fought and died…”
12:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Our capacity remains undisminished”
12:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and (start the work) of rebuilding America”
12:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - “we will lay new foundation for growth”
12:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - “we will restore science to its natural place”
12:14 PM MDM -
12:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We will transform our schools and colleges to meet the demands of a new age”
12:14 PM MDM -
12:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - “What the cynics don’t understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them”
12:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - “The question is not whether our gov’t is too big or too small”, it’s about whether it works or not
12:16 PM MDM -
12:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - “we reject as ‘false’ the choice between our safety and our ideals”
12:17 PM MDM -
12:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - Bush is slumped in his chair
12:17 PM MDM -
12:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Know that American is a friend of each nation and each man/woman/child who seeks a future of dignity and we are ready to lead once more”
12:18 PM MDM -
12:18 PM Jonathan Keebler - Our ancesters know “our power grows through…the force of our example”
12:19 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We will not apologize for our way of live, or waiver in its defense…You cannot outlast us and we will defeat you”
12:19 PM Jonathan Keebler - “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness”
12:19 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We are shaped by every language and culture”
12:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds will someday pass”
12:20 PM MDM -
12:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - “To the muslim world, we seek a new way forward…based on mutual respect”
12:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - We will judge you based on “what you build not what you destroy”
12:21 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your hand”
12:21 PM Jonathan Keebler - (1st World) We cannot ignore struggling nations, “The world has changed and we must change with it.”
12:22 PM MDM -
12:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - (Spirit of service) “must inhabit us all”
12:23 PM MDM -
12:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Our challenges may be new…but those values on which our success depends…these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet course of progress thoughout our history”
12:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - “New era of responsibility”. “we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and our world:
12:24 PM MDM -
12:24 PM Jonathan Keebler - “This is the price and the promise of citizenship”
12:24 PM Jonathan Keebler - “This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed”
12:25 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Let us mark this day of rememberance of who were are and how far we have travelled”
12:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - George Washington: “‘Let it be told to future world that in the depth of winter’…America in the face of our coming dangers in this winter of our common hardship”
12:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - “God bless you and God bless the United States of America”
12:26 PM MDM -
12:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - Huge applause from the crowd
12:26 PM MDM -
12:27 PM MDM -
12:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - Elizabeth Alexander, poet takes to the podium with her poem “Praise song for the day”
12:28 PM MDM -
12:29 PM MDM -
12:32 PM pollyprissypant - Also…how much would it suck to have to follow that speech? Man, I have the greatest respect for this poet.
12:32 PM MDM -
12:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Praying not for our nation but for the community of nations”
12:34 PM sigheti - Correct me if I am wrong: the Obama inauguration was the largest public speaking ever. How many people (just) there?
12:34 PM maymaym - Transcript of Barack Obama’s #inauguration speech is available here: http://is.gd/gAPZ Might mine the #inaug09 address later…. (via @halans)
12:35 PM MDM -
12:37 PM MDM -
12:38 PM MDM -
12:38 PM pollyprissypant - I always forget how much religion plays a part in these official US ceremonies. Throws me off everytime. Rev. is a fantastic speaker though
12:38 PM Jonathan Keebler - That was actually an amazing prayer by Rev. Lowery
12:38 PM MDM - I love the end of it.
12:38 PM MDM -
12:39 PM MDM -
12:39 PM pollyprissypant - I know Bill Clinton has his head bowed in prayer, but it totally looks like he’s asleep. You know if anyone was going to…it would be him.
12:39 PM MDM -
12:40 PM MDM -
12:40 PM Jonathan Keebler - And with that, Obama makes his way off the stage
12:41 PM MDM -
12:41 PM MDM -
12:42 PM MDM -
12:42 PM pollyprissypant - RT @torontostar Read Obama’s inaugural address: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/574111
12:42 PM jtcours - Based on the way Internet routing’s bouncing around, half the world must be streaming the inauguration, and the other half texting about it.
12:43 PM MDM -
12:45 PM Jonathan Keebler - A crowd of 3M people are trying to leave the National Mall. This could be interesting
12:45 PM MDM -
12:45 PM Jonathan Keebler - The official flags of the presidency are making their way from the stage.
12:46 PM Jonathan Keebler - There’s a fog lifting from overtop the crowd. Seriously. How did they plan that?
12:48 PM Jonathan Keebler - Photos of Bush and Obama walking through the Capital Building
12:48 PM MDM -
12:48 PM Jonathan Keebler - Bush is about to make his official departure on formerly-Marine-1
12:49 PM MDM -
12:49 PM pollyprissypant - Bush is heading through the rotunda and out to the helicopter. Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out (athough let it hit Cheney)!
12:49 PM MDM -
12:50 PM pollyprissypant - Love this: RT @jtobin It took the White House all of 1 minute to begin blogging: http://shortn.it/MX9C
12:50 PM MDM -
12:50 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama walking Bush out to the helipad
12:50 PM MDM -
12:51 PM MDM -
12:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - Farewells between the former and current VP
12:51 PM MDM -
12:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - So long, Cheney
12:52 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama and Bush making small-talk on the stairs
12:52 PM MDM - Dick Cheney hurt his back packing. That’s funny.
12:52 PM pollyprissypant - Cheney looks like Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life…evil personified.
12:52 PM Jonathan Keebler - Fun fact: Bush will only get Secret Service security for 10 years from today
12:53 PM cbcnews - @thecbc Hundreds watch Obama Inauguration in CBC Atrium http://tinyurl.com/85z9zu #inaug09
12:53 PM Jonathan Keebler - Goodbye hug between Bush and Obama
12:54 PM Jonathan Keebler - And with a wave, Bush boards the helicopter
12:54 PM MDM -
12:54 PM Jonathan Keebler - The end of the Bush era of American politics
12:55 PM MDM -
12:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - Obama and Biden standing on the stairs, watching the helicopter lifting off
12:55 PM MDM -
12:56 PM Jonathan Keebler - Former-Marine-1 lifting off. Joe Biden salutes from the stairs
12:56 PM MDM -
12:56 PM MDM -
12:57 PM MDM -
12:57 PM Jonathan Keebler - All the newsrooms are a-gasp as the helicopter slowly flies over Washington
12:57 PM MDM -
12:58 PM Jonathan Keebler - And that is it. Congratulations President Obama! A great moment in history

Earth Hour 2009 LIVEBLOG My exclusive liveblog of Earth Hour 2009!...
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Obama ushering in new era of…evil?

Jonathan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:49:39 +0000

So pretty much everyone is talking about Obama ushering-in a new era of hope, healing the world, etc. But I’m not really sure this photo on Citynews sums-up the spirit This is more the spirit of…oh, I dunno…”I’m going to kill your whole family.” I’m sure that’s not what they were going for, but come on! He looks totally evil! “My precious, my precious…” I’m seriously going to have nightmares about this photo!

Full disclosure: CityNews folks are good folks. BUT COMMON! This guy is going to lure kids down to sewers and make them float!

(source)

Fun with McCain (with his clothes on)

Jonathan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:14:30 +0000

I don’t know how I missed the Fun with McCain site during the US election, but I’m glad I found it finally. It’s a page of tributes to the most influential visual from the campaign. Now I can rest, knowing that the world has an absolute beauty which I will cherish with very fiber of my being.

If you’re wondering, the original photo of McCain making a wacky face behind Obama came from this debate at about 8:20. Happy YouTube-scrubbing!

Managed to find some clothes t… Managed to find some clothes to wear to wedding in...

The Governor General’s Decision: will the coalition be allowed to govern?

Jonathan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:43:50 +0000

11:42 AM Jonathan Keebler - The entire country’s eyes are glued to the door
11:42 AM Jonathan Keebler - They should really shut that door to conserve some energy.
11:43 AM Jonathan Keebler - Harper has been in there for a long time. The CBC commentators seem to think that’s a bad thing for Harper.
11:44 AM Jonathan Keebler -
11:44 AM Jonathan Keebler - That’s a photo of Harper going in
11:46 AM Jonathan Keebler - Nice Christmas decorations around the door
11:46 AM Jonathan Keebler - The blonde woman at the door is wearing a nice pant-suit
11:47 AM Jonathan Keebler - If the GG won’t shut-down parliament for Harper, what do you bet he leaves through the side door
11:48 AM Jonathan Keebler - Dion should take his request right to the Queen next time
11:49 AM PollyPrissyPants - They really are letting the heat out of her house…she’ll be getting a giant bill for this time.
11:51 AM PollyPrissyPants - No! There’s no camera on the door…what if he sneaks away and we miss him?
11:52 AM Jonathan Keebler - He’s gotta come out some time
11:52 AM Jonathan Keebler - Here’s what we’re watching:
11:52 AM Jonathan Keebler -
11:54 AM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, CBC is really vamping around their lack of new information
11:54 AM PollyPrissyPants - How funny would it be to catch him leaving by a window?
11:55 AM Jonathan Keebler - I wouldn’t put it past him, followed by an OJ-style chase through the streets of Ottawa
11:56 AM Jonathan Keebler - Maybe Harper ate some bad cookies and has the trots in the GG’s bathrooom
11:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - See that guy with the boom-mic waving it around the window? I sense a broken-window in his future
11:57 AM MDM - What happens when he comes out? Does Canada implode?
11:57 AM Jonathan Keebler - Only if the GG doesn’t grant his request…according to him
11:57 AM PollyPrissyPants - I want to see the CSIS guys take that boom mike guy out…
11:58 AM Jonathan Keebler - GREAT, CBC just said that there’s no guarantee that the GG will make a decision today.
11:58 AM PollyPrissyPants - So why are we watching this again? Thanks, CBC
11:58 AM Jonathan Keebler - CBC learned some tricks from CNN
11:59 AM Jonathan Keebler - It’s been about 1 1/2 an hour since Harper went in
11:59 AM Jonathan Keebler - MOVEMENT
11:59 AM MDM - We need a briefcase cam or an inside spy.
11:59 AM PollyPrissyPants - Watching Don Newman without sound is quite entertianing…
11:59 AM Jonathan Keebler - Damnit, it was just the changing of one of the CSIS officers. They need some more ceremony for that
11:59 AM MDM - Polly, are you at work?
12:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - @MDM – I am indeed
12:00 PM MDM - @ Polly Nice!
12:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Inside Government House: Harper: “Pleeeeeeeeeease! Common! I already unpacked all my junk in 24 Sussex! Do you know how expensive movers are?! Pleeeeeeeeease”
12:00 PM MDM - LOL!!!
12:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Some guy just came out and yelled at the reporters
12:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - And the doors just closed
12:01 PM MDM - Pretty Please. Common. Please…
12:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - Oh that was awesome…”get off my lawn!”
12:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - lol The guards were cold inside so they closed the doors
12:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - hahaha CBC has found a side-entrance and they are tracking it. Good work
12:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - The door are open again
12:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Now they are closed again. DAMNIT
12:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, check out the throngs of reporters in the reflection of the doors.
12:03 PM PollyPrissyPants - I think the guards are just messing with the reporters…like cats and mice.
12:03 PM MDM - Someone really needs to take control of that door
12:05 PM PollyPrissyPants - Are they debating why the doors are opening and closing?
12:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - I think it’s morse-code.
12:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - So if we see black smoke…that means prorogue? Or possibly if Harper sees his shadow?
12:06 PM MDM - What channel are you watching?
12:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - CBC
12:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC Newsworld
12:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, some interviewee (Derek Lee) just drew a comparison to the burning of the German Bundestag. Too soon?
12:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - Aren’t there other people who need to use this front-door? Like, doesn’t the mailman come today? Rogers cable guy?
12:08 PM MDM -
12:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, Don Newman (CBC) is coming up with all these crazy scenarios of what Harper could do e.g. find someone else in his party to rule
12:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - I know what we need: Obama to come up and save us
12:11 PM MDM -
12:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - Nice shot of the door
12:12 PM PollyPrissyPants - It’s classy door.
12:12 PM PollyPrissyPants - Can news really be breaking if they’ve been sitting at Rideau Hall for over an hour?
12:12 PM Jonathan Keebler - Don Newman thinks that our parliamentary tradition is threatened by these coalition actions. Normally, the Conservatives would have just given them a couple pages in the throne speech to shut them up
12:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - Good point from NP:
Shane Dingman: Jane Taber on CTV is adding some common sense to the whole situation, mentioning Ms. Jean “is making the most difficult decision” … it’s true… if you sign up for parties and trips abroad, and you end up being front and centre on an issue of constitutional precedent that could affect the Canadian political system for generations, you might take a while to figure it out.
12:14 PM MDM - Take a look at this guy.
12:14 PM MDM -
12:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - Did the cameraman kick his ass to get him out of the shot?
12:16 PM MDM - I think it is the camera man. Ooops!
12:16 PM Jonathan Keebler - Did a giant yellow chicken just walk in front of the camera?
12:16 PM MDM - LOL!
12:16 PM MDM - Thats a fair bit of shine coming off that forehead.
12:18 PM Jonathan Keebler - See the reporters hoping up and down to keep warm? They must be freezing out there
12:18 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper has cancelled his trip to Woodstock for this afternoon. Take from that what you will
12:19 PM MDM -
12:19 PM MDM - Lots of traffic at the hill.
12:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - Julie Bonner: Calgary thinks that they have more at stake in this decision today. Ya, like the rest of us don’t?! “Western alienation” is being tossed around a lot
12:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - Doors are open!
12:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - They look like they are open for real this time
12:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - I see people coming down the stairs
12:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - Door Watch 2008
12:23 PM MDM -
12:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - LOL The doors open and they throw to their reporter in Ottawa to get a sense of what it means. Like she knows anything from 2 doors opening
12:24 PM PollyPrissyPants - It means the guards inside managed to stave off frostbite and are willing to risk the elements again.
12:24 PM Jonathan Keebler - Did you guys see the BBC reporting on this story yesterday?
12:25 PM MDM - Nope, anything funny happen or said?
12:25 PM Jonathan Keebler - The blonde woman is back outside. They are from the PM’s security detail
12:25 PM MDM -
12:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - @MDM Nope, just noticed that it was their #2 top story. It’s getting some international attention
12:26 PM PollyPrissyPants - That guy on the left is smiling…there’s no smiling in poltical maneouvering!
12:26 PM PollyPrissyPants - It was the #2 headline on CNN.com last night too.
12:26 PM MDM -
12:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - No way! Nice
12:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - The GG should tell Harper “See You Next Tuesday”
12:27 PM MDM -
12:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Is that CNN?
12:28 PM MDM - Yes. Number two on the world watch.
12:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper’s car is at the side-door. We might be watching these doors for nothing
12:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - I’m still crossing my fingers for a bathroom window escape plan.
12:29 PM MDM -
12:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - PODIUM!
12:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - They are putting a podium infront of the door
12:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper is going to come out and speak!
12:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - We have movement…it’s either GG or Harper are going to talk or one of the CSIS guards has something he really wants to get off his chest.
12:30 PM MDM -
12:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - In Ottawa, do they just have their portable podiums all over the place?
12:31 PM PollyPrissyPants - They grabbed that out of their tickle trunk in the front yard.
12:31 PM MDM -
12:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - lol The technician is at the podium. Maybe he’s our new PM
12:31 PM PollyPrissyPants - No sign of a teleprompter…could this mean Harper will actually speak without a plan?
12:32 PM MDM - Sooo exciting…
12:32 PM MDM -
12:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Watch Harper come out and say “No comment”
12:32 PM MDM - Ladies and gentlemen our new prime minister. Yellow Jacket!
12:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Lots of shadowy figures in the Government House front hallway. I think I just saw Cheney
12:33 PM PollyPrissyPants - Or “ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to DisneyWorld!”
12:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here comes someone kinda official looking at the podium. Bah, he left.
12:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - Great, the GG will probably never speak about her thought-process on this…unless she writes a book
12:34 PM PollyPrissyPants - Appaarently he was the official podium authenticity checker. “Yup, it’s a podium…it’s go time”
12:35 PM MDM - @ Jon That guy looked like he was counting the steps to the podium.
12:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - omg, I’m so on-edge. WTF is going on in there!
12:36 PM MDM -
12:36 PM Jonathan Keebler - There is no legal remedy to the GG’s decision today. That’s a fun-fact. I wish I was a Queen-proxy…that came out wrong
12:36 PM MDM - LOL. I love all these podium testers.
12:37 PM MDM -
12:38 PM Jonathan Keebler - DAMNIT! The Conservatives are saying through back-channels that prorogation will go aheadc
12:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - Who said that?
12:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - What…is Harper, like, texting them?
12:39 PM Jonathan Keebler - Don Newman from PMO’s office
12:39 PM PollyPrissyPants - Ah…well, he is the man.
12:40 PM Jonathan Keebler - The PMO has officially announced that prorogation has been granted
12:40 PM PollyPrissyPants - So there are restrictions on what a government can do/accomplish during a prorogue period…so it has yet to be seen what this breathing room will actually allow teh Conservatives to do.
12:40 PM MDM - A prorogation is the period between two sessions of a legislative body. When a legislature or parliament is prorogued, it is still constituted (that is, all members remain as members and a general election is not necessary), but all orders of the body (bills, motions, etc.) are expunged. (In the British parliament, this has now changed somewhat in that Public Bills can be carried over from one session to another.)
In the British and Canadian parliamentary systems, this is usually due to the completion of the agenda set forth in the Speech from the Throne (in the UK, called the legislative programme, and also “the Queen’s Speech”). Legislatures and parliaments, once prorogued, remain in recess until summoned again by the Queen, Governor General, or Lieutenant Governor, and a new session is begun with the State Opening of Parliament and the Speech from the Throne.
12:41 PM Jonathan Keebler - The government can’t do anything during prorogation. It’s a complete time-out
12:41 PM MDM - What a great time to do nothing in Canada.
12:41 PM Jonathan Keebler - OMG, now we have to deal with 1.5 months of campaign-style arguments from politicians. Damnit!
12:42 PM Jonathan Keebler - What a dick! We need our government now more than ever! And he has it suspended for political reasons?!
12:43 PM MDM -
12:43 PM Jonathan Keebler - The press isn’t going to be allowed to ask questions. Typical Harper-style
12:43 PM PollyPrissyPants - Great – an election without an actual election. Just what we all wanted.
12:44 PM MDM - Lets hope the people will be able to see through the coming conservative PR campaign.
12:44 PM PollyPrissyPants - Doesn’t this just essentially put off the inevitable? Which is a vote of no confidence?
12:44 PM Jonathan Keebler - I hope the parties have some dollars left in their advertising budgets
12:45 PM PollyPrissyPants - It’s official…we have become the States. Mark it…Canada, time of death…11:45 am.
12:45 PM MDM - @Polly Yes but they can use the next 1.5 months to get the public behind them for the next election.
12:46 PM Jonathan Keebler - Parliament is in Question Period right now. When this announcement hits, it will just stop and the ministers will stream out
12:46 PM MDM - WHO’S paying for all of this. Hmmmmm I wonder.
12:46 PM PollyPrissyPants - True…but wasn’t that going to happen anyway? If the coalition takes over, all parties involved will get a backlash in the next election, whether they do well or not. Because the Canadian people won’t educate themselves on the issues.
12:47 PM Jonathan Keebler - There will be no spending limits on the PR campaign to follow! Ka-ching!
12:47 PM MDM - You can bet on that.
12:47 PM Jonathan Keebler - If the coalition ultimately gets power, Dion will only be PM for 4 1/2 months.
12:47 PM MDM -
12:48 PM MDM - Please. Please. I beg you…no more elections!
12:49 PM Jonathan Keebler - Great, after the time out, then Harper can go back to the GG and ask for an election! omg, this could go on for a LONG time
12:49 PM PollyPrissyPants - I love this – having an election with having a real election. Fantastic. Then he’ll want to call an actual election. My head hurts…
12:49 PM Jonathan Keebler - What is Harper doing in there? Finishing his plate of cookies?
12:50 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC livestream
12:50 PM MDM - Lets hope they call an election and no one shows up to vote.
12:51 PM PollyPrissyPants - Harper’s having a little pie…with Cool Whip. Then he’s coming out to talk.
12:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - Cool wHip? You can’t have a pie without Cool wHip
12:51 PM MDM - @Jon Should we wait until he comes out before lunch
12:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - @MDM yah
12:52 PM PollyPrissyPants - This could go on for awHile.
12:52 PM MDM - oh Hreally.
12:53 PM Jonathan Keebler - It’s started to rain in Ottawa
12:53 PM MDM - 60 sec.
12:53 PM Jonathan Keebler - A prepared text was just put on the podium. I guess he was inside writing it. God-forbid he speak off-the-cuff
12:54 PM PollyPrissyPants - That’s because proroguing makes Mother Nature sad.
12:54 PM Jonathan Keebler - They are going to allow 4 questions from the press: 2 English, 2 French
12:54 PM PollyPrissyPants - Here he is.
12:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - I see Harper!
12:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - He’s at the podium
12:55 PM MDM -
12:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The GG has agreed to prorogue parliament
12:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - Says the men & women of Canada want him to keep working on his plan
12:56 PM Jonathan Keebler - When they come back, the first item on the agenda will be another budget
12:56 PM Jonathan Keebler - (it’s now hailing on him)
12:56 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question 1: Why were you in there so long? What took so long to convince? And how will the prorogue help?
12:56 PM MDM - It seems appropriate that a storm is brewing.
12:57 PM Jonathan Keebler - Answer 1: “I can’t discuss the content of my discussions with the GG”
12:57 PM MDM -
12:57 PM PollyPrissyPants - Harper: Proroguing will give us a chance for us all to work together to take on the economic issues.
12:58 PM Jonathan Keebler - He finally admits all the parties are elected
12:58 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…all of a sudden he’s in favour of working together! Sounds like the GG made him write it 100 times until it sunk in.
12:58 PM Jonathan Keebler - But then implies that the Bloc isn’t one of the parties working together for the greater good of Canada
12:59 PM PollyPrissyPants - One step forward, one grand jete backward.
12:59 PM Jonathan Keebler - I hope a piece of hail smacks him in the face
12:59 PM MDM -
12:59 PM Jonathan Keebler - In House of Commons, they start shutting it down
12:59 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The economy is the priority now, not parliament
12:59 PM PollyPrissyPants - I wish there were snow so a reporter could launch a snowball right at his head.
1:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question 2: Did you make a mistake in your economic plan last week?
1:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Question 2: Did you make a mistake last week when you pulled the financing of the other parties?
1:00 PM MDM - The regular CBC channel just went to commercial.
1:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - Answer: We believe that everyone needs to tighten their belts…including political parties.
1:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Answer 1: We believe that political parties should lead by example
1:01 PM MDM -
1:02 PM MDM - Its really coming down now. The snow and the bull.
1:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: “We need to do some bridge-building, on both sides”
1:02 PM PollyPrissyPants - Answer: The other parties say the allowance isn’t the issue – it’s the financial stimulus package. But any government only sitting for 2 weeks can’t provide one without consulting with people.
1:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, Harper is getting pummelled with hail
1:02 PM MDM -
1:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The opposition parties don’t have the skills to produce a better budget quicker than this. January 26th.
1:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: “I would encourage them to engage with the government”
1:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: the 3 parties working in the interest of the country need to work together (implying again that the Bloc shouldn’t be a part of it)
1:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: “consensus”
1:04 PM PollyPrissyPants - I don’t think Harper understands what a coalition is…
1:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Today the Harper-who-wants-to-work-together showed up. So insincere after the rest of what he has been saying this week
1:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: “It’s my sole responsibility now…to fulfill my mandate”
1:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - It really seems like the GG impressed upon him the importance of him reaching across the aisle. Otherwise, he’d lose her support.
1:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - Question: Are you just delaying the inevitable now? Are you just wasting government resources on an election-style campaign?
1:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - WHAT? His responsibility to fulfill HIS mandate. Wow…arrogant much?
1:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - Nice question from the CP.
1:07 PM PollyPrissyPants - Harper will not be using public money for the campaign.
1:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - Answer: My focus will be working on the federal budget. Won’t have time to do much else (Ya right!)
1:07 PM MDM -
1:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - From Mike M. (an observer at work): He got a 38% mandate.
If he were in school, they’t take away his pencils so he doesn’t hurt himself.
1:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper basically saying it will be work-as-usual for him for the next month, working on the budget
1:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The coalition got in a “side deal with the Bloc”
1:09 PM MDM -
1:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - Wow, he is really ragging on the Bloc! I guess he’s writing off Quebec now. That’s going to hurt him the next election I think
1:10 PM PollyPrissyPants - That is going to REALLY hurt him in the next election. This is why he doesn’t speak off the cuff mostly…
1:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: “I’ve never put myself in a position where I would be beholden to the Bloc”
1:10 PM PollyPrissyPants - He just LIED.
1:10 PM MDM - I have to say that I am not fond of the “Federal” Bloc either. Lesser of two evils perhaps.
1:11 PM PollyPrissyPants - He had to get their support to pass his previous budgets! Wow.
1:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - I am not either, but he’s trying to imply they are part of the coalition which is not true
1:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe speaking now: “He’s done this just to save his own skin”
1:11 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yup – I’m not a fan either, but as I’ve said…as of now they’re a federal party and should be treated as such. He can’t discount them when they don’t help him out.
1:12 PM PollyPrissyPants - Duceppe: “Worst attack on Quebecers since Meech Lake.”
1:12 PM MDM - He may have just signed his death in Quebec. There goes his 10 seats.
1:12 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe: the election cost $300M this past September
1:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe: On Oct 14th, the voters gave us a clear mandate: prevent Conservatives from carrying-out their ideology
1:13 PM PollyPrissyPants - Duceppe (paraphrasing): The Conservative leader held an election at a major cost to the country…for the “sake of the economy”…but he keeps putting off dealing with it.
1:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - IT’S ON!
1:14 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…this is fantastic! Call him on it, Duceppe.
1:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question: Can the coalition survive?
1:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - Answer: Ask those in the coalition!
1:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe: “We are still prepared to support the coalition”
1:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - Duceppe: Harper is just trying to play for time.
1:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - Oh it’s on!
1:16 PM MDM -
1:16 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe: Harper asks me what I want to see the in throne speech. I was just as much a sovereignist then as I am now.
1:17 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question: In terms of Quebec’s interest…if the budget gives Quebec what it wants, will you support it?
1:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - Duceppe: “(Harper) is trying to make fools of all of us”
1:17 PM PollyPrissyPants - Answer: I very much doubt Harper will meet the demands. It would include agreeing with Kyoto despite the fact that Harper calls it a “socialist plot”.
1:18 PM Jonathan Keebler - What was that tractor comment?
1:19 PM PollyPrissyPants - Gotta love French proverbs: “If my grandma had a wheel, she’d be a tractor.”
1:20 PM PollyPrissyPants - Duceppe: “I don’t make predictions, but he did say elected Quebec politicians have less importance so…”
1:21 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton is up now
1:21 PM PollyPrissyPants - Have I mentioned how much I love Gilles Duceppe? I don’t always agree with his politics but since he has nothing to lost nationally, he always calls everyone on their bullshit.
1:22 PM MDM -
1:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: “He has put a lock on the door of the House of Commons”
1:22 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: Harper is unwilling to face the representatives of the people of Canada.”
1:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: “He has used a monoeuver to escape responsibility”
1:22 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: A sad day for parliamentary democracy.
1:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: We were trying to implement a plan to take bold action like other countries. The PM decided to play politics instead
1:23 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: political manoeuvering taking precendence today over dealing with our desperate economic issues.
1:24 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: Harper decided to save his own job and not the jobs of Canadians.
1:25 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: Harper cannot be trusted. We have already given him our opinions on the stimulus package..he rejected them. His concilliatory manner now cannot be trusted…he’s just trying to protect his job.
1:25 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: I don’t think Canadians really trust him to listen to everyone’s concerns. If he comes up with interesting ideas over the next weeks, we’ll listen and make them part of our coalition government
1:26 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton: The coalition will not give up in terms of their goals – to bring the Canadian people what they need.
1:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: It’s very clear the MPs have lost confidence in Harper
1:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: Harper promised us we would have a vote on Monday
1:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - The coalition should have gone underground until Sunday before the vote
1:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question: Has Harper just delayed the inevitable?
1:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton…in so many words…”yes.”
1:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Question: Would you deny The People the ability to hear the (new) budget in January by voting it down instantly?
1:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: Confidence isn’t going to be restored by “7 weeks of propaganda”
1:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - Answer: We’ve already given him that oppotunity…the confidence has been lost. Our confidence won’t be restored by the end of January.
1:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - Layton is stepping around the Quebec issue.
1:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: Harper took away my right to vote as an MP, took away a fundamental right in a democracy
1:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - Question: How will you counter the “6 weeks of propaganda”?
1:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Layton: Ideas are always worth more than money
1:32 PM PollyPrissyPants - I like Layton…but his talking points drive me nuts. Stop saying locks on the doors.
1:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - And with that, Layton walked away. He seems pissed
1:32 PM PollyPrissyPants - Well, that line kind of sums up the NDP platform!
1:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion is expected to respond later
1:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - I’m going to go get some lunch
1:34 PM PollyPrissyPants - Dion is currently speaking to a rally in Ottawa in support of the coalition.
1:34 PM PollyPrissyPants - Lunch break.
1:37 PM PollyPrissyPants - Don Newman has Bob Rae with him.
1:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - Rae: “You can run but you can’t hide.” There will be a vote of confidence for the budget in January. He’s lost not only the confidence but also the trust of the house.
1:40 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question: How can you vote against a budget you haven’t seen? Rae: Because it’s not about the budget…it’s about trust and confidence. His actions are unprecedented and he is misleading Canadians while alienating those Canadians who hold a different viewpoint.
1:40 PM PollyPrissyPants - Rae: This is a time that tests all of us. Do we want to have a government and a leader who won’t face the House of Commons?
1:41 PM PollyPrissyPants - Question: Is Dion the general to lead the coalition?
1:42 PM PollyPrissyPants - Rae: This issue is a lot bigger then the liberal leadership…it’s about the Harper regime.
1:43 PM PollyPrissyPants - Rae: The PM basically called those that oppose him (on national tv) traitors to his country. It’s unacceptable…we have to take this to the people.

Senator gropes grand-daughter on TV, and still wins!

Jonathan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:16:28 +0000

You know you’ve got some great constituents in Georgia when you can grope your grand-daughter in a Public-service Announcement and still win an election. Saxby Chambliss is just such a man. The creepy part is how he says, “I sure do approve this message” as he squeezes. WTF is going on here?! Did the Republican party spend all their video-previewer dollars on the Presidential election?

Taking Sides on the Coalition: Harper and Dion Address the Nation

Jonathan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:05:43 +0000

6:49 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper takes to the stage in about 10 mins…by-which-I mean, they press play on his recorded message
6:50 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion is set to speak after at 7:30pm EST
6:50 PM Jonathan Keebler - This is almost as excited as US politics I figure, I watched the US debates; at least I can watch this Can(adian)Con(tent)
6:50 PM PollyPrissyPants - Do you think he’ll be be-sweatered?
6:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - I doubt he’ll make that mistake again. He’d better have a Canadian flag in the background after his comments in parliament yesterday
6:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - The Governor General should make an address after these two
6:51 PM PollyPrissyPants - The way things are going, I would assume he’d have a giant Palin-esque flag pin on his lapel.
6:52 PM Jonathan Keebler - …and slaughtering turkeys in the background
6:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - The dark clouds on the CBC broadcast behind Peter Mansbridge are freaking me out. Susan Bonner gets a Christmas-tree; no fair!
6:57 PM Jonathan Keebler - NDP and Bloc are going to issue video statements later tonight too
6:58 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter Mansbridge made a “blue sweater” joke. YES!
6:59 PM PollyPrissyPants - It’s a hard one to resist – even for a professional newshound.
7:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Seriously, what’s with those clouds? Is Peter in Mordoor?!
7:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - Love when they “pause to bring in the rest of Canada” on CBC. Where were they before?
7:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Watching ‘Friends’ reruns
7:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - It does look like the Eye of Sauron is going to appear at the top of the Peace Tower.
7:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here we go. Throw it over to Stevie
7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - Here we go…
7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - Someone had his makeup done.
7:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Creepy smile right off the back. He looks thin
7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - No sweater
7:02 PM PollyPrissyPants - He’s talking about the fact that a core of Canada’s identity is that our government is always chosen by the people.
7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - His argument: governments have always been chosen by the people
7:02 PM PollyPrissyPants - He is honoured we returned him to office on October 14 with a strengthened mandate. I hate he keeps repeating that.|
7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Says that the Conservatives came back to parliament with a “strengthened mandate”
7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Blah blah blah helping sooooo many people blah blah blah
7:03 PM PollyPrissyPants - It doesn’t even look like Stephan Harper – looks like his stunt double.
7:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - He looks mellow or something…and concentrating too much on those cue cards
7:03 PM PollyPrissyPants - He’s telling us to wait to see what their big Budget plans will be at the end of January.
7:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We are consulting with” x 10
7:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We have already changed some of our *own* proposals”
7:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The opposition wants to “overturn” the election results
7:05 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…he is pulling out the separatist card. He says a coalition with the BQ cannot help Canada.
7:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Says the government can’t be run by a coalition with the separatists. [NOTE: the Bloc isn't in the coalition]
7:05 PM PollyPrissyPants - He didn’t mind them when they helped him pass his past budgets.
7:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Not a time for backroom deals with the separatists”
7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - He didn’t mind their help taking out Paul Martin
7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - The BQ has only agreed to help the coalition until 2010. Way to sell falsities, Harper.
7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - That’s it! Wow, that was short with no surprises
7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…not even 5 minutes long.
7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - Was that even necessary?
7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - There was NOTHING new in that
7:07 PM PollyPrissyPants - Also – way to alienate the entire province of Quebec. I have a feeling this could really pull the seperatist question back to the front burner…which IS bad for Canada but only because he’s forcing their hand.
7:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - lol In the French version, they said “sovereignists” instead of “separatists”. Other than that, the French version was a direct translation.
7:07 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC just called Harper on his inaccurate statement that the Bloc was a part of the coalition.
7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…he does know most people in Quebec can speak English too right? And know he’s doing that?
7:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - The CBC reporters seem pissed that there was nothing new
7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yeah – he does! He seems all “I came all the way in and got dressed up for nothing?” Sonofa…
7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Oh Keith Boag…how you amuse me.
7:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - He’s going to burn down that Christmas tree behind him
7:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - CBC is waiting for the Dion tape to arrive at the station. Somewhere, someone is yelling “EDIT FASTER, DAMNIT!”
7:10 PM PollyPrissyPants - More blue sweater comments!
7:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - Don Newman said it was a “low key” statement
7:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - I can’t believe I got out of the shower for this. I hope Dion’s speech has something in it
7:11 PM PollyPrissyPants - Don Newman is calling Harper on his inaccuracies. Pointing out that Harper talked about the coalition “overturning the election results”…when in fact the coalition is using the results to get to where they are.
7:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter seems pissed that they aired that for free. Maybe they take that airtime out of his salary
7:12 PM PollyPrissyPants - But Don Newman also pointed out Harper’s accurate statement that the parties did say before the election that a coalition was out of the question.
7:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - Yah, totally. Of course, if they said that during the election, their party supporters would have been upset
7:13 PM PollyPrissyPants - Oh…apparently Harper doesn’t know his Canadian history. Wow…you think they’d look that stuff up before hand.
7:13 PM PollyPrissyPants - Exactly…you wouldn’t RUN for election as a coalition here…and least not officially, it wouldn’t work.
7:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - So Harper’s strategy:
1) Make your point
2) Buy time
3) SUCCESS!
7:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - The sad part? People won’t look into what he’s saying…and check up on his inaccuracies. He’s actually looking into the camera and not telling the truth! How is no one in the public pissed about this?
7:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion’s tape has arrived at the “central pool point for the networks”
7:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - Peter does not seemed impressed with any of this…
7:16 PM Jonathan Keebler - All the networks need to see it at the same time. Probably about 4-5 minutes
7:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here’s Harper whole speech:
STATEMENT by Prime Minister Stephen Harper

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement:

“Good evening,

Canadians take pride in our history as one of the world’s oldest continuous democracies. During the past 141 years, political parties have emerged and disappeared, leaders have come and gone, and governments have changed.

Constant in every case, however, is the principle that Canada’s Government has always been chosen by the people. And following the light of this democratic tradition, Canadians have built one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries the world has ever known – a land of hope and opportunity that inspires others around the globe, and has drawn millions as new immigrants to our country.

On October 14, for the 40th time since Confederation, Canadians voted in a national general election. We are honoured that you returned our Government to office with a strengthened mandate to lead this great country through the most difficult global economic crisis in many decades. Canada’s Government is acting to deal with the crisis, right now.

* Further personal and business tax reductions are coming into effect;
* We are doubling spending on infrastructure;
* We are ensuring credit for businesses and consumers by injecting liquidity into financial markets;
* We are helping seniors who rely on RRIR income;
* And securing pension plans

We are implementing the Automotive Innovation Fund and, working with the Government of Ontario, we are undertaking due diligence on any further requests for assistance from the auto industry. We are increasing support and incentives for manufacturers, the forestry sector, and others to pursue business opportunities. We are implementing agreements with the provinces to enhance labour mobility. And, next month on January 27, we will bring in a budget which will contain additional measures to boost Canada’s economy, while making sure we avoid a long term structural deficit in Canada’s finances.

In preparation for that budget we are consulting widely with Canadians, meeting with premiers of our provinces and territories, and working in collaboration with our international partners in G20. The Minister of Finance will be consulting with the business community and interest groups.

We are consulting with, and expect to hear more from, the opposition parties in Parliament. We hope they bring forward specific proposals – we have invited them to do so. In fact, we have already changed some of our proposals to meet their concerns. Unfortunately, even before the Government has brought forward its budget, and only seven weeks after a general election, the opposition wants to overturn the results of that election.

Instead of an immediate budget, they propose a new coalition which includes the party in Parliament whose avowed goal is to break up the country. Let me be very clear: Canada’s Government cannot enter into a power-sharing coalition with a separatist party.

At a time of global economic instability, Canada’s Government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together. At a time like this, a coalition with the separatists cannot help Canada. And the Opposition does not have the democratic right to impose a coalition with the separatists they promised voters would never happen.

The Opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent, and without your vote. This is no time for backroom deals with the separatists; it is the time for Canada’s government to focus on the economy and specifically on measures for the upcoming budget. This is a pivotal moment in our history.
We Canadians are the inheritors of a great legacy, and it is our duty to strengthen and protect it for the generations still to come. Tonight, I pledge to you that Canada’s Government will use every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy, and to protect Canada.

Thank you, and goodnight.”
7:17 PM PollyPrissyPants - I really think Harper missed out on an opportunity to really make something of his time. I wonder if Dion will use his time wisely…
7:18 PM PollyPrissyPants - Is it just me or does Harper really seem completely blindsided by everything? How can anyone as a minority leader ever be resting on their laurels enough to be caught off guard?
7:19 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag thinks the Conservatives are burning bridges in Quebec to try “to save the furniture”
7:19 PM PollyPrissyPants - What does that even mean? lol
7:20 PM PollyPrissyPants - This killing time as they wait for the tape reminds me of Dan Rather trying to take up air time while waiting for them to call Florida for the second time in 2000.
7:21 PM Jonathan Keebler - That he’s happy to throw them under the bus to keep control of government. Quebec won’t get them any votes anyhow
7:21 PM PollyPrissyPants - Ah…thank you for the translation.
7:22 PM PollyPrissyPants - 2 minutes…
7:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter is pointing out more historical inaccuracies with the Conservative statements. Seems to be a fun game for him
7:23 PM PollyPrissyPants - It is a fun game…sad that there are enough that it’s mentioned more then once!
7:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter thinks our children’s children are going to be talking about this week. Only if it works
7:23 PM PollyPrissyPants - Otherwise…the children will just be talking about the ridiculous storm graphics.
7:25 PM Jonathan Keebler - They should have made Harper and Dion give the speeches live, no teleprompter
7:25 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yes! Sadly…this is another core of Canada…shitty planning.
7:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag seems concerned that it’s almost 7:30pm. I wonder if CBC will switch to Jeopardy!
7:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - At 7:28, the tape will start rolling
7:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - Swiss Chalet just buzzed up. Blast!
7:27 PM PollyPrissyPants - I’m willing to bet it’s not CBCs fault this is running late I can guess whose it is…
7:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - Dion is up…
7:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Black screen on CBC
7:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - And we’ve got black screen…great
7:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Federal government has a duty to act
7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - The video quality is SO shitty
7:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - Harper’s priority is partisanship and has lost the trust of the majority of those in the House of Commons
7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Canadians don’t want another election
7:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - The parties WANT to work together so they are working with those that are willing.
7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Green Party has also agreed to support the coalition
7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - Coalitions work in many parts of the world
7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - Consensus is a great thing
7:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - I think he read my blog about this before crafting his statement
7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - We can achieve more for Canadians through collaboration instead of conflict
7:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - We can solve this problem with team work…not with partisanship
7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - His speech is so much better.
7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - YES WE CAN!
7:31 PM PollyPrissyPants - It really is…he’s doing a great job. He’s really bringing forward the urgency of why now
7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - Shares our distaste that the political crisis has taken priority over the economic crisis
7:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Harper’s solution is to extend that (political) crisis
7:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Let the vote next Monday proceed. Accept the result “with grace”
7:32 PM PollyPrissyPants - Politicians are working together elsewhere in the world to deal with this economic crisis…why can’t Canada? We want to…Harper doesn’t.
7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Bumbled on “significantly” 3 times, but it’s a hard word
7:33 PM PollyPrissyPants - He reaching out to all part of the country…trying not to alienate anyone.
7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - He has a book called “Hot Air” on the bookshelf behind him, and *2* Canadian flags
7:33 PM PollyPrissyPants - I can barely say that most of the time.
7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: We are going to invest in lots of different industries
7:34 PM PollyPrissyPants - HA! Hot air…that’s a brilliant subliminal message.
7:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Our compassion as a country is tested in situations like this
7:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: I wrote the GG and asked her to refuse any request by the PM to suspend parliament
7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - If Harper wants to suspend parliament, he must first call a vote of confidence.
7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - Damn, he’s a good speaker! Better than during the campaign
7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yeah – where was this during the election campaign?
7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: I will work day and nights to fight the economic crisis
7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - I’m actually getting goosebumps listening to a CANADIAN politician
7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - Nice reminder that his position will be a temporary one – in power, that is. He is stepping down as leader of the Liberals in May.
7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - That’s the end of it
7:36 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC now reacts…
7:36 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag: The weight of the speech was selling the coalition and what it can do. Reassurance
7:37 PM Jonathan Keebler - Manalive, I’ve SO impressed by Dion’s speech. Good on him!
7:37 PM PollyPrissyPants - All 3 contenders for the Liberal leadership are in support of the coalition, fyi.
7:37 PM PollyPrissyPants - I want a transcript of this…that was very good.
7:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - I really hope people actually took the time to watch this and listen to what they had to stay. Style v. substance.
7:38 PM Jonathan Keebler - I want to feel hopeful, like we can overcome this economic slump
7:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - He really did a good job of outlining what the coalition intends to do, why they are making this move and the fact that they know this isn’t the ideal situation for anyone.
7:39 PM Jonathan Keebler - If I have to choose between someone telling me that our country will collapse if the majority of the House gets control, and someone asking me to work together, I’m going to take the latter
9:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here’s Dion’s full speech:

“Canada is facing the impacts of the global economic crisis. Our economy is on the verge of a recession. Canadians are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, their savings. Every economist in the country is predicting increased job losses and deficits for the next few years.

The federal government has a duty to act and help Canadians weather this storm.

Stephen Harper still refuses to propose measures to stimulate the Canadian economy. His mini-budget last week demonstrated that his priority is partisanship and settling ideological scores.

The Harper Conservatives have lost the confidence of the majority of Members of the House of Commons. In our democracy, in our parliamentary system, in our Constitution, this means that they have lost the right to govern.

Canadians don’t want another election, they want Parliamentarians to work together. That’s our job. Canadians want their MPs to put aside partisanship and focus on the economy.

The Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party are ready to do this. Jack Layton and I have agreed to form a coalition government to address the impact of the global economic crisis. The Bloc has agreed to support this government on matters of confidence. The Green Party has also agreed to support it.

Our system of government was not born with Canada. It is ancient. There are rules that govern it and conventions that guide it.

Coalitions are normal and current practice in many parts of the world and are able to work very successfully. They work with simple ingredients: consensus, goodwill and cooperation. Consensus is a great Canadian value. In this spirit, we Liberals have joined in a coalition with the NDP. We have done so because we believe we can achieve more for Canadians through cooperation than through conflict. We believe we can better solve the challenges facing Canada through teamwork and collaboration, rather than blind partisan feuding and hostility.

Our coalition is a consensus to govern with a well-defined program to address the most important issue facing the country: the economy. It is a program to preserve and create jobs and to stimulate the economy in all regions of the country. The elements of the program need to be spelled out and this is what we will do if we are allowed to present it to the House of Commons.

We share the frustration Canadians have about a political crisis that has been allowed to take prominence over the more important economic challenges we face. Elsewhere in the world, leaders are working to cope with the recession, to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies. Politicians are working together. Rivals are working together.

Mr. Harper’s solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote. By suspending Parliament and continuing the confusion. We offer a better way. We say settle it now and let’s get to work on the people’s business. A vote is scheduled for next Monday. Let it proceed. And let us all show maturity in accepting the result with grace and the larger task of serving Canadians in mind.

Within one week, a new direction will be established, a tone and focus will be set. We will gather with leaders of industry and labour to work, unlike the Conservatives, in a collaborative, but urgent manner to protect jobs.

To stimulate the economy and create good well-paid jobs we will not only accelerate already planned investments, but invest significantly more in our country’s infrastructure. Helping our cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Halifax build modern, efficient public transit systems.
Investing in our rural communities so that cherished ways of life are protected for future generations. We can stimulate our economy through investments in clean energy, water and our gateways.

We will invest in our manufacturing, forestry and automotive sectors to protect and create jobs. We believe that in these tough economic times the government has a role to play to ensure that those who are doing their share for the prosperity of our country can continue to provide for the wellbeing of their families.

In times like this our compassion as a country is tested. We believe it is imperative that the government offers Canadians who have already lost their job, whether in the factories of South Western Ontario or the forests of Eastern Quebec and British Columbia, the support they need to live in dignity and develop new skills.

That is precisely what we intend to provide.

Earlier today I wrote Her Excellency the Governor General. I respectfully asked her to refuse any request by the Prime Minister to suspend Parliament until he has demonstrated to her that he still commands the confidence of the House.

If Mr. Harper wants to suspend Parliament he must first face a vote of confidence.

In our Canada, the government is accountable for its decisions and actions in Parliament.

In our Canada, the government derives its legitimacy from an elected Parliament.

Allow me to end tonight on a personal note. If I am entrusted with the role of Prime Minister for the next months that I have left to serve, I will work day and nights to combat this economic crisis, to do what it takes to minimize its effects on Canadians, to protect jobs and to create jobs.

I will serve my country until my time to serve is at an end.”

Liberal-NDP Coalition: Facts

Jonathan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:24:24 +0000

1:19 AM Jonathan - I’m going to try to keep track of all the interesting points I hear in the media about the Liberal-NDP coalition that may form the Canadian government
1:20 AM Jonathan - Dion will be resigning as the Liberal party leader in May. That is unchanged, so the perspective Liberal party candidates may have a shot at becoming Prime Minister
1:21 AM Jonathan - Dion would be the Prime Minister of Canada
1:21 AM Jonathan - Harper may try to convince the Governor General that a coalition government could not govern, and that she should call another election
1:23 AM Jonathan - Harper could ask the Governor General for prorogue, that would close parliament for 1 1/2 months. He could do so to stop the momentum of the coalition
1:30 AM Jonathan Keebler -
1:31 AM Jonathan Keebler - The Bloc has agreed not to challenge the coalition for a minimum of 18 months
1:32 AM Jonathan Keebler - The NDP will get 5 members in the caucus including Jack Layton
1:32 AM Jonathan Keebler - The Bloc has agreed not to table separatism while the coalition is intact
1:36 AM Jonathan Keebler - The coalition will be in a position to take over power by next week if Harper doesn’t do something drastic to stop it
2:40 AM Jonathan Keebler - The Bloc is not part of the coalition. They have merely agreed to 18 months of “stability” in parliament by not challenging the confidence of the coalition government
2:41 AM Jonathan Keebler - There was a Canadian flag at the press conference (photo above) despite Harper’s claim to the contrary
2:41 AM Jonathan Keebler - Harper has said that he will ask the Governor General for prorogue. It is yet to be seen if will grant it.

Someone at CNN thinks Palin is a diva

Jonathan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:28:31 +0000

Checkout the URL of this video of (non-VP-elect) Sarah Palin talking about her future: cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/11/05/bts.palin.diva.cnn. Looks like someone at CNN still might be feeling a little partisan

P.S. Yes, I know. At the very end of the video she says “diva”. Fine, you got me. I’m just really tired from all my liveblogging last night

Obama: To the rest of the world: “Our stories are singular but our destinies are shared”

Jonathan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:47:24 +0000

Tonight, we witnessed a historic moment in world history. We liveblogged every second of it on ScribbleLive and it truly was the amazing turn in American politics that so many people hoped it would be. Congratulations to America for having the courage to set forth on a new path into the 21st century!

I think my complete world view… I think my complete world view was formed by ‘Microserfs’,...

Dion: “The last one I want to speak first is CTV”

Jonathan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:15:19 +0000

After losing the election tonight, a media scrum surrounded Stephan Dion. When CTV asked for an interview, he was easily overheard saying, “The last one I want to speak first is CTV. Do you understand that?!” Hilarious! I guess he’s still pissed about that interview.

Vote Barack Osama ‘08

Jonathan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:34:31 +0000

If you live in Rensselaer County, New York, and you are voting by absentee ballot, you’re going to have the unique opportunity to vote for Barack Osama Now, I’m not say’n that this was a deliberate mistake by some crafty Republicans, but I am saying that Barack Osama is probably Osama Bin Laden’s cousin so you probably shouldn’t vote for him

(photo source)

Palin Bingo: fun for all ages

Jonathan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:15:06 +0000

I am totally playing Palin Bingo the next time she “debates”! All this score-card needs is “Joe”, “Trooper”, and “Bridge-to-nowhere”

Confirmed, Harper tried to bribe dying MP with $1M life-insurance policy

Jonathan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:40:56 +0000

That’s it, I’m no longer happy with the Liberals keeping the Conservatives to a minority. The polls are close enough that the Liberals can win! Please, if you are thinking of voting NDP or Green, consider changing your vote to Liberal. Dion isn’t a very dynamic leader, but he’s smart and he deserves a chance to see if he can make a minority government work with the backing of the NDP. The NDP will ensure they keep environment initiatives at the forefront, while the Liberals will work to keep our economy from tanking like the U.S.

As if you needed more poof that Stephen Harper needs to go:

OTTAWA–A tape recording at the centre of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s $3.5-million defamation suit against the Liberal party was not altered as the prime minister has claimed, a court-ordered analysis of the tape by Harper’s own audio expert has found.

The key portion of the recorded interview of Harper by a B.C. journalist contains no splices, edits or alterations, says the finding by a U.S. forensic audio expert.

The analysis was filed in Ontario Superior Court on Friday by lawyers for the Liberal party, despite attempts by Harper’s lawyer to keep the opinion out of the court file until at least next week.

Harper sued the Liberals in the midst of a raging controversy earlier this year over claims in a book by B.C. author Tom Zytaruk that Conservatives offered late MP Chuck Cadman a $1-million life insurance policy in return for help defeating the minority Liberal government in 2005.

The Prime Minister claims Zytaruk doctored the tape of an interview he conducted with Harper after Cadman died, and denies he told Zytaruk he was unaware of the “details” of the insurance policy offer.

Harper insists he only confirmed the party had offered Cadman “financial considerations” in return for rejoining the Tories and voting against the Liberals in a Commons confidence vote.

But former FBI agent Bruce Koenig, the sound expert Harper hired to prove his allegations, submitted a report dated Friday to Harper’s lawyer, which also had to be sent to the Liberal lawyer, Chris Paliare, saying the contentious portion of the interview was uninterrupted.

Koenig said the first part of Zytaruk’s interview with Harper, where the two had apparently discussed other aspects of Harper’s relationship with Cadman, had been erased and over-recorded with the portion dealing with the insurance policy.

But that segment had not been altered, Koenig found.

He reported that it “contains neither physical nor electronic splices, edits or alterations, except for the over-recording start that erased and replaced the end of the first part of the designated interview.” (source)

Dying plant in the back of Uof… Dying plant in the back of UofW truck http://twitpic.com/hbp5l ...
A day in my life as seen by my penis ...

Bush-Harper ‘08

Jonathan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:08:19 +0000

These ads running on the Toronto Star website caught my attention today. They are promoting a Liberal site bushharper.com with a video of their latest “Harpernomics” ad. The banner ads look like they are promoting a Bush-Harper election ticket. For you Americans that have no idea what’s going on, it’s a very bad thing in Canadian politics to be seen as aligned with George Bush’s policies

And before you think the Liberals are taking it too far, check out the Conservative sites: WillYouBeTricked.ca and NotALeader.ca.

I love watching all the parties spending so much cash on an election that won’t change anything…

Harper: “If you remain a drug addict, I don’t care how much harm you reduce…”

Jonathan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:39:04 +0000

REPOSTED FROM OCTOBER 5TH, 2007 WITH UPDATED LINKS

I was reading “Prime Minister” Stephen Harper’s “new” drug “strategy” today, and this quote of his really took me aback:

“If you remain a drug addict, I don’t care how much harm you reduce, you are going to have a short and miserable life.” (source)

Seriously? This is the leader of our country making a statement like that? Mr. Harper, you were elected to govern everyone in this country, not just the people that voted for you. How dare you turn your back on these people.

As for the Insite safe-injection program in Vancouver, that program has widely been seen as a great success, so much so that it has been extended another six months. Just look at the numbers (pdf) for what it has accomplished.

Does he really think these people are going to just stop being drug addicts because there’s an increase in policing and information on the subject?

Conservative Poll Numbers Tanking

Jonathan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:57:36 +0000

Poor, Conservative poll numbers You are sinking so quickly. You must be very sad, Conservative poll numbers. You are at 31% Conservative poll numbers, just 5% ahead of the Liberal poll numbers. I guess you should have reacted to the financial news, eh, Conservative poll numbers? Remember when you only had 2 seats in Ottawa? Wasn’t that a drag, Conservative poll numbers? Are you afraid that that might happen again? Well, buck up little buddy, I’m sure someone will vote for you. Good luck.

Canadian Leadership Debate Liveblogging Round-up

ShiftEdit — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:14:41 +0000

Last night there was all sorts of liveblogging of the Canadian Leadership Debate in English on ScribbleLive. We had over 5,400 posts from dozens of authors last night, and it was great to see our Wordpress crossposting feature being used all over the place.

The Canadian University Press definitely gets the award for the most people in a single thread liveblogging ever. When the main writer, Carl, lost his wifi connection, the commenters continued to liveblog the event (and drink beer according to their posts) Carl eventually got back online and posted some photos of the event.

For the second night in a row, Maclean’s was liveblogging the debate too. They were using crossposting to send all their updates to their Wordpress.com blog. Looks like all the buzz around their liveblog made them #12 in the Top Blogs today. Congrats, guys!

We had another few great blogs using our embed feature to liveblog including the Western Standard Blog and THIS Magazine.

Great job covering the debate everyone! It was hilarious to watch all your commentary. Please join us again on ScribbleLive for all your wacky, obsessive, liveblogging needs each and every debate…or anything else that’s fun to liveblog

ScribbleLive + mesh09 = liveblogging BFFs I’ve been working on an Enterprise liveblogging site for...
Liveblogging “Event-Driven Arc… Liveblogging “Event-Driven Architectures” at #meshU09 http://mesh.scribblelive.com/Event/Event-Driven_Architectures ...
Couldn’t resist liveblogging W… Couldn’t resist liveblogging Wolfram|Alpha launch http://tinyurl.com/pth2cr ...

Joe Biden lives in Home Depot

Jonathan — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:22:55 +0000

The most important thing to come out the U.S. Vice-Presidential Debate tonight: Joe Biden loves Home Depot! I always suspected

Thanks Emma!

LOL “/. is home to a lot of pe… LOL “/. is home to a lot of people that...
The MTV.ca home page is now 6.25MB in size! The MTV.ca home page is now 6.25MB in size!...

U.S. Presidential Debate Sept. 26, 2008 LIVEBLOG

Jonathan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:51:37 +0000

6:47 PM Tonight we’ll be liveblogging the 1st Presidential Debate between John McCain and Barack Obama
6:47 PM The debate kicks off at 9pm Eastern on CBS
6:49 PM McCain agrees to attend
6:51 PM Here’s the scene getting setup for tonight:
6:51 PM
8:05 PM Early reports suggest that they are going to address economic issues, despite this debate being slated to cover foreign policy and national security
8:59 PM There is two others covering this on SL
8:59 PM Presidential Debate 1
9:00 PM Crazy! Will be a big night for liveblogging
9:00 PM Woot Katie!
9:01 PM Pundits think foreign policy is going to play to McCains strengths
9:02 PM Introduction to the debate: primarily national security and foreign policy. Divided into 9min segments
9:03 PM Audience being asked to stay silent tonight: no cheers, no applause
9:03 PM McCain and Obama shake hands
9:04 PM Question: Eiesenhower”We must achieve both security and solvency…foundation of miliary strength is economic strength” At this moment tonight, where do you stand on financial recovery plan?
9:04 PM Obama: “Mainstreet” has been suffering already. Put forward series of proposals to protect tax-payers. Need oversight, possibility of getting it back/gains, none of that $ going to CEOs, helping homeowners. This is a “final verdict on 8 years” of Bush’s policies; hasn’t worked. Fundamentals of economy = middleclass
9:06 PM McCain: Sen. Kennedy in the hospital: “our thoughts go out”. Feeling better tonight: Dems and Reps working together on this crisis, thinking about “mainstreet”. Has to be a package with other elements to it. This isn’t the beginning of the end of this crisis, this is the end of the beginning. We have a lot of work to do.
9:07 PM
9:08 PM
9:08 PM Q: How do you stand on the recovery plan? “We have 5 mins. We can negotiate a deal right now”
9:09 PM Nice: I like how he ( the moderator) re-asked the question.
9:09 PM Obama: We haven’t seen the language yet. How did we get in this situation in the first place? 2 years ago he warned “we could potentially have a problem”. Yes, we have to solve this problem shortterms. Have to look at how “we shredded so many regulations”.
9:10 PM
9:10 PM McCain: Going to vote for the plan. Also warned about Fanny Mae/Freddy Mac, etc. Eisenhower reference. Lost accountability
9:11 PM McCain is talking about WWII cause he was there.
9:11 PM
9:11 PM Obama: We need responsibility, but not just when there’s a crisis. As we solve this shortterm problem, need to look at longterm issues. Disagrees that “fundamentals of the economy” are sound.
9:11 PM
9:12 PM
9:12 PM LOL: McCain made a hearing joke
9:13 PM Q: Do you agree, McCanin?
McCain: “No doubt that we have a long way to go”, more consolidation of regulatory agencies. American workers are most productive.
9:13 PM McCain: We need to fix the system: To bad it was the republicans that put them there.
9:14 PM
9:14 PM Question: Are there fundamental differences between your approach and Obama’s approach to lead country out of this crisis?
9:14 PM McCain: Spending is out of control. “We came to Washington to change Washington, and Washington changed us”. Will veto all spending bills that would come across his desk. Burns Obama for porkbarrel spending.
9:16 PM McCain: Spent 3 Million to study the bears DNA
9:16 PM Obama: McCain right that earmarks process has been abused. McCain proposing $300B for corporate tax cuts. All earmarks are just $18M. “We need to grow the economy from the bottom up”. Has proposed tax cut to 95 %of Americans. McCain wants to follow policies of Pres. Bush.
9:16 PM
9:17 PM Obama: McCain wants 300 Billion is tax cuts
9:17 PM Obama: Wants to cut taxes to 90% of all Americans.
9:18 PM
9:18 PM McCain: Maybe porkbarrel is not a lot of money to Obama, but completely out of control. It’s a system that “has to be cleaned up”
9:19 PM Obama: Don’t know where McCain is getting those figures. No one is denying that $18M is important, but eliminating earmarks alone is “not a recipe to getting the middleclass back on track”
9:20 PM Obama: I closed corporate loop holes, Healthcare has basic coverage
9:20 PM McCain: US paying highest business taxes in the world; drives away business. Wants to cut that business tax…so businesses will stay in American. Porkbarrel spending at lot more than $18M
9:21 PM McCain: I want to keep businesses here in America.
9:22 PM McMain is stuck on the 900M in Pork Barrel spending.
9:22 PM Obama: To American ppl = 95 %of you will get a tax cut. Business loopholes make businesses pay one of lowest tax cuts in the world. McCain will tax health credits.
9:23 PM Obama: Making over 250,000 you won’t see a raise in taxes.
9:24 PM McCain: “Another case of walking the walk and talking the talk”. Reference energy bill: he fought against it, Obama voted for it. Obama has “shifted on a number of occasions”
9:24 PM See more coverage here. US Presidential Debate, 27th Sept
9:25 PM
9:25 PM Obama: Look, “that’s just not true”. Can’t give into oil companies. Can’t give them to the oil companies
9:26 PM McCain: You already gave them to the oil companies
9:26 PM McCain keeps saying check the record. The republicans keep talking about less government but put the US in more debt.
9:26 PM Obama: You’re opposed because it would strip away benefits to oil companies.
9:26 PM Question: As President, what are you going to have to give up, in terms of priorities, to pay for financial rescue plan?
9:27 PM Obama: Hard to anticipate budget next year. “we can’t do everything that needs to be done. ….(need to do) things that have to be done”: healthcare system, oil reliance, American families, competing in education, rebuild our infrastructure. Eliminate programs that don’t work
9:27 PM
9:28 PM Obama: Need to invest in Science, College for everyone, broadband lines, no grid.
9:29 PM McCain: Need to cut spending. Need to examine everything in gov’t. Reduce defence spending e.g. “Literal Combat Ship”. Need fixed-cost contracts. Defence spending vital but need to get cost overruns under control. “I know how to do this”, been involved in doing this for many years.
9:30 PM McCain has one plan….Cut spending. The republicans keep saying it but put the US in more debt.
9:30 PM
9:31 PM Moderator: Neither one of you want major changes as result of bailout?
9:31 PM As of September 2008, the total U.S. federal debt was approximately $9.7 trillion
9:32 PM Obama: Need to change the culture of medicare. I’m not widely liberal, just oppose Bushs’ policies. Has worked to produce “google of spending”
9:32 PM Moderator: Financial crisis = how is this going to affect you?
9:33 PM McCain: Should consider a spending freeze except for vetrans
9:33 PM Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
9:33 PM Obama: Freeze = using a hachet instead of a scalple
9:34 PM McCain: $700B a year overseas to countries that don’t like us very much (oil). Create jobs and energy using nuclear power. Obama opposes reusing spent nuclear fuel.
9:34 PM
9:34 PM McCain: big on nuclear power.
9:35 PM Moderator: Will financial crisis have major effect on your presidency?
9:35 PM Obama: No doubt it will affect our budgets. If we’re lucky and get it back, but in shortterm, we may not see that money for a while. Will have to make tough decisions. Have to know what our values are to make those decisions. If spending $ on tax cuts, we have made a bad decision.
9:36 PM
9:36 PM McCain: Don’t want to “hand over healthcare to the federal government”. Can adjust spending. Healthy economy = best recipe to recovery. Fought against wasteful spending his whole career.
9:37 PM Why not hand over healthcare. It works in other countries including Canada.
9:38 PM Universal health care
9:38 PM Obama: Your president presided over this “orgy of spending”. You voted for his budgets. Hasn’t happened over past 8 years.
9:38 PM
9:39 PM McCain: Well known he “hasn’t been elected Miss Congeniality”. “Mavrick” of the senate, has a good “maverick” partner now
9:39 PM McCain is trying to distance himself from other republicans.
9:39 PM Question: Lessons of Iraq?
9:39 PM McCain: Can’t have a failed strategy. 2003: “we have to change this strategy”. “This strategy has succeeded. We are winning in Iraq. We will come home with victory and honor”. “We will see a stable ally in the area”. “We are winning in Iraq and we will come home…not in defeat”
9:41 PM As of August 2008, around $550 billion has been spent based on estimates of current expenditure rates, which range from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimate of $2 billion per week to $12 billion a month, an estimate by economist Joseph Stiglitz.
9:41 PM Obama: Should not have gone into war in the 1st place. Haven’t finished the job in Afghanistan. “I thought it was going to be distraction”. “Wish I had been wrong and they had been right (about Iraq)”. Cost so much and Al Qieda is “resurgent”. Now we are borrowing $ from overseas. Lesson: never hesitate to use military…but have to do it wisely.
9:41 PM According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report published in October 2007, the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost taxpayers a total of 9/27/2008 1:41:18 AM.4 trillion dollars by 2017 when counting the huge interest costs because combat is being financed with borrowed money. The CBO estimated that of the 9/27/2008 1:41:18 AM.4 trillion long-term price tag for the war, about ,Timezone:-4.9 trillion of that would be spent on Iraq.
9:43 PM McCain: Next President will have to decide how/when we leave Iraq
9:43 PM Obama: They (Iraq) has a surplus of 79 Billion
9:44 PM
9:45 PM Long-term health care costs
A recent study indicated that the long term health care costs for wounded Iraq war veterans could range from $250 billion to $650 billion
9:45 PM Obama: Violence has been reduced in Iraq. Troops have done an amazing job. But that was a “tactic” of the failed strategy of the war before that. John wants to think war started in 2007.
9:45 PM McCain: Obama doesn’t understand difference between a tactic and a strategy. Story about when he went to Iraq. Troops told him “let us win…we don’t want our kids coming back here…Obama doesn’t want to let us win?”
9:46 PM McCain stories are so contrived.
9:46 PM McCain: “we are winning in Iraq”
9:46 PM Obama: That is not true (the story McCain told).
9:47 PM McCain is carrying on the story, Obama trying to cut him off
9:48 PM Obama: difference between them was not funding troops, but he wanted to fund troops with a timeline. In rush to go into Iraq, McCain said Afghanistan was already dealt with. Need more troops for Afghanistan.
9:48 PM
9:48 PM Remember this Guy? Republican!
9:49 PM
9:50 PM McCain: General Pertraus: fragile successes. Setting a timeline would hurt that, and that’s what Obama has trying to do. If we “snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory”, would have more work to do.
9:50 PM Question: More troops to Afghanistan?
9:50 PM Afghanistan….
9:50 PM Obama: Yes, as quickly as possible. Been saying that for a year. Can’t separate Afgh. from Iraq. Would send 4 bridgades from Iraq to Afgh. 4X more troops in Iraq = strategic mistake because Al Quaeda is biggest threat to US. Have to press Afgh govt “to make certain they are working for their people”. need to deal with poppy trade. Need to deal with Pakistan because they are providing safe havens to Al Qu.
9:51 PM
9:52 PM The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001 as the U.S. military operation Operation Enduring Freedom, was launched by the United States with the United Kingdom in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It was the beginning of the War on Terror. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.
9:53 PM McCain: Story about Afghanistan vs. Russia: can’t ignore lessons of history. Not prepared to cut off aid to Pakistan, need to get support of ppl of Pakistan. New Pakistan govt has his hands full. “I’ve been (there). I can see how tough that terrain is”. Obama doesn’t understand that we need a new strategy in those areas of Afghanistan. Going to be tough, but we need to get cooperation of ppl in those areas. Knows how to work with Pakistan and would not state he would attack them.
9:55 PM It would be nice if McCain can pronounce Taliban.
9:55 PM Obama: If US has Al Quaeda + Bin Laden in our sites, and Pakistan is unwilling to act, we should “take them out”. McCain has sung songs about bombing Iran!
9:56 PM
9:56 PM I g2g for 5 mins. Carry on without me
9:56 PM When will the monkey knife fight start?
9:57 PM Obama: They [taliban] are more powerful than ever before.
9:59 PM McCain: I admire Reagan. I voted against Lebanon. I voted for the first Iraq war. I have a record of being able to send troops in.
10:00 PM Some story from McCain about some mom bla bla bla
10:00 PM Just because you are in a war does not mean you should be there.
10:01 PM Obama: I have a bracelet too. Please make sure no other mothers go through what I have loosing my son. We are still seeing the terroists sending out tapes
10:02 PM McCain: I went to Afghanistan. Big deal.
10:03 PM Moderator: You are both even on time.
10:03 PM Moderator: Threat from Iran
10:03 PM McCain: Nuclear weapons = threat to Israel. Need to form a “league of democracies” = group of countries with common ideals. Iran has a “lousy govt”. We can affect Iranian behaviour. Iranians putting most leathal IEDs into Iraq, training. This is “a serious threat…to the security in the world”
10:03 PM Is this all about Foreign Policy?
10:04 PM Yah, and national defence
10:04 PM Wow…second holicost from McCain.
10:05 PM McCain: League of Democracies. Sound like the super friends.
10:06 PM Obama: I believe the Republican Guard of Iran is a terrorist organization. War in Iraq = has strengthened Iran. Has funded Hammas. Our policy for past 8 years has not worked. McCain is right, we can’t tolerate a nuclear Iran. Might set off armsrace in the middle east. Need tougher sanctions, with help from Russia, others. Need to engage in tough deplomicy in Iran. McCain doesn’t want to talk.
10:06 PM Nuclear program of Iran
10:08 PM Iran insists that nuclear power is necessary for a booming population and rapidly-industrializing nation. It points to the fact that Iran’s population has more than doubled in 20 years, the country regularly imports gasoline and electricity, and that burning fossil fuel in large amounts severely harms Iran’s environment. Additionally, Iran wishes to diversify its sources of energy. Iran’s oil reserves are currently estimated at 133 billion barrels (2.11×1010 m3), at a current pumping rate of 1.5-1.8 billion barrels per year.
10:08 PM McCain: Obama has said he would sit down with Pres. of Iran without preconditions. Would legitimize person who wants to exterminate state of Israel! Thoroughout history….”I will sit down with anybody…but not without preconditions”.
10:08 PM
10:09 PM I like how Obama contantly says “When I am President”
10:10 PM Obama: “I reserve right as Pres. of US, at the time and place of my choosing” if it will benefit US. Preconditions means we won’t talk to them before they meet out demands. Should try to talk;If it doesn’t work, we have strengthened our ability to make alliances
10:10 PM
10:11 PM Obama: Meet without pre-conditions. Says one of McCain’s advisors has the same opinion.
10:12 PM Obama: North Korea is a great example of how not to handle this situation.
10:13 PM McCain: “Not going to set White House visitor schedule before I’m Pres. of US”. Always encouraged lower-level diplomats to talk to Iran. If President sits with those people (Pres. of Iran) you ligitimize that regime that wants to destroy Israel. North Koreans = can’t talk to them.
10:14 PM
10:14 PM Though this was a fun fact.
10:15 PM Obama: McCain suggesting President would meet without doing his research: “preparation”. Meeting without preconditions just means that we dont sit down expecting all conditions to be met.
10:15 PM McCain: Going on about how Iran wants to whip Israel off the map.
10:15 PM List of Presidents of the United States
10:16 PM Russia?
10:16 PM
10:16 PM Obama: Our entire Russian approach needs to be reevaluated. Their actions in Georgia “were unacceptable”. “You cannot be a 21st century superpower” and act like a 20th century barbarian. Georgia, etc. = free to join NATO if they meet the conditions. Can’t enter Cold War posture with Russia; loose nukes could fall to Al Quaeda.
10:17 PM The 2008 Georgia – Russia crisis began on March 6, 2008 when Russia announced that it would no longer participate in the Commonwealth of Independent States economic sanctions imposed on Abkhazia in 1996. The crisis has been linked to the push for Georgia to receive a NATO Membership Action Plan and the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. Tensions in the crisis have been primarily centered around the breakaway state of Abkhazia and increased following the shootdown of a Georgian UAV drone airplane and subsequent buildup of military forces by Russia.
10:19 PM McCain: Obama’s reaction to George: “both sides should show restraint” = naive. Not going back to Cold War. But need to support friends. Conflict was about a pipeline. Will support inclusion of Georgia, Ukraine into NATO. Story about being in Georgian territory. Want to work with the Russians, but expect them to behave as a country that respects international borders.
10:19 PM
10:20 PM Russia – Alaska. Very, very close.
10:20 PM wtf is that map?
10:20 PM They are very concerned that Russia is close to Alaska. NFK
10:21 PM McCain: Watch Ukraine.
10:22 PM Obama: We agree on this issues for the most part. Immediately said that Russia-Georgia was “illegal, objectionable”. Sending $ to help them rebuild. Russia: have to have foresight to anticipate these issues. Should have had international peacekeepers. Issue of energy: Russia resurgent because of petro dollars. US has to have energy strategy to deal with Russia + rogue states. We only have 3% of world oil supplies, we use 25%. we can’t “drill ourselves out of the problem”. Strategy to move to alternative energy including nuclear.
10:24 PM How did they get on energy?
10:25 PM McCain: Obama says he’s for nuclear, but he’s against using spent fuel for energy. Dismisses offshore energy as stop-gap measure.
10:25 PM Obama: Have never said he objects to nuclear waste, but has to store is safely.
10:26 PM Question: Likelyhood of another 9/11 attack?
10:26 PM McCain: We have a “safer nation” but not completely safe. Were opposed by Bush admininstration to investigate 9/11 failures. When 9/11 widows applied pressure to Washington, we got things going. Against torture. Work more closely with allies. America is safer today than it was “in” 9/11. Men/women in security agencies doing a great job, can do a better job.
10:28 PM
10:28 PM Obama: “We are safer in some ways”…”still have a long way to go” in securing our transit, ports. biggest threat to US: terrorist getting nukes. Need missile defense. Al Aqueda in 60 countries = need more cooporation with allies. The way we are perceived in the world, helps . Less respected now in the world. We have a lot of work to restore sense that US is “shining beacon on a hill”
10:30 PM I can’t believe huge questions like Healthcare or the environment were just sub headers in foreign policy.
10:31 PM McCain: Obama said missile defense had to be proven. Obama doesn’t understand that if we fail in Iraq, will be used as a base for Al Quaeda. Iraq = central issue of our time.
10:31 PM @MDM: Those come in the debates in the coming weeks
10:31 PM Winner…loser…boring. No real fire
10:32 PM @ Jon: How many more are there?
10:32 PM Obama: No doubt, over last 8 years, Bush + McCain have been solely focussed on Iraq. Bin Laden still out there. Al Quaeda resurgent. “We have weakened our capacity…because we’re viewing (all these conflicts) through a certain lense”. We have put all chips in. No one is talking about losing this war. Next President has to have sense of all this issues.
10:32 PM @MDM: 2 more
10:34 PM
10:34 PM McCain: Been involved in these issues for so many years. Believes Obama just doesn’t have the experience. Failure to acknowledge that he was wrong about The Surge. Loves the vetrans, “I’ll take care of them”. Has background, knowledge to keep this country secure. “I don’t think I need any on-the-job training”
10:34 PM Obama: Nice summary on the war and the need to be more than just a leader of troops.
10:36 PM Obama: Father came from Kenya, wrote letters to go to college in US. In 70s, values of US inspired the world. Can’t say the same thing today. Next Prez needs to send a message to the world: invest in education, invest in ordinary people
10:36 PM God, you [McCain] are is 5 or six wars and that all that’s on your mind.
10:37 PM I knew he would bring up being in prison.
10:37 PM McCain: When got out of prison, saw veterans being badly treated. Know how to deal with enemies and friends.
10:37 PM That’s the end.
10:37 PM John McCain’s capture and subsequent imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam, when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.
10:38 PM Senators shake on it then go to hug their wives.
10:38 PM
10:38 PM Wives shake hands. HOT!
10:38 PM McCain doing his stupid shrug thing.
10:38 PM Big applause from crowd. Cheer with Obama waved on his way off the stage.
10:39 PM
10:39 PM
10:41 PM
10:43 PM
10:43 PM Obama wins by a show of hands.