Hunny, Where's My Teddybear?

Has anyone else noticed that green vest Harper always wears? Not only was he wearing it out in Afganhistan but it found his way to Mexico as well. This gives me yet another theory about our beloved PM... the green vest is Harper's security blanket. His wife would not allow him to pack his teddy bear or tickle-me Elmo... so he was stuck with the green vest - poor guy, how is he going to sleep without his Elmo?!

"Hunny, did you see my Elmo?" Harper calls from his bedroom.
"Stephen, I told you already, you're too old for a stupid stuffed animal" his wife yells back.
"Mommy would let me take him to Mexico with me!"
"You didn't just use the Mommy-card!!"
"Oh, I did, now give me my Elmo bit - ... "
"You know what, you're sleeping on the couch tonight buddy"
"Fine, I won't bring Elmo with me"

That is perhaps the conversation that took place - however, if the vest is not there as Elmo's replacement, than perhaps it's some sort of weight-compression garment, or bullet-proof vest. The weight-compression garment wouldn't surprise me, though with today's fashions, I'm sure he could have found something a little bit more flattering - green isn't his colour, and damnit, it just doesn't do anything to flatter his girlish figure.

Now... if the green vest is a bullet-proof vest... than perhaps our PM is a wee bit paranoid that someone's out to get him. A bit early into his career as prime minister.... it was even a good few months before Bush started hiding behind bullet-proof glass... poor guy...

Either way, I'm sure that there's some reason behind the tacky green vest... next week, I will tackle the idea of Harper's hair - toupe... or whatever it really is

Assault MPs With Passionate Letters

In a news article that I read today, Harper said "Conservative supporters and Canadians at large should flood their MPs with demands for the kinds of change they want to see in government" If he wants change, then I suggest that he starts with his hair - would it absolutely kill him to get some highlights? A haircut? Or a new toupee? The one change I would like to see however, is another Liberal government - I know, I know Harper's our PM... but I'm not gonna be happy about it...

"Harper pledged again to introduce an Accountability Act" to clean up government corruption. e repeated promises to cut the GST, crack down on crime, give parents money for child care, and develop a health-care wait-times guarantee." Okay... so Harper's all for government accountability, then how is it that he got off scottt-free from the ethics commission for the Emerson incident? Isn't that something to be accountable for? Or am I just a stupid 18-yr old? And give money to parents for childcare? Isn't that $200 a month? How are needing-parents going to work with $200? I think that's cutting it a bit tight.

"And friends, make no doubt about it, Canadians are with us." And friends? I read on "Blog Boy's" Liberal blog during the election, that a true friend is someone who you would share your socks with. I'm sorry, but is there any sock sharing? I have a hole in my left black sock, and no replacement for it from Harper yet. Furthermore, "friend" you're not my friend. Calling everyone your "friend" like he does, is something that perhaps one of those snot-nosed rude obnoxious "popular kids" would call everyone - even if they despised you for your non-comformist ways with a passion... hell a friend is someone who in kindergarten, you would share your purple crayon with. Sorry Harper, I'm not about to let you borrow my crayon.

Fashion Police!

Seeing as I have a few minutes to waste before going to my Psychology
lecture, I thought that I would take a few minutes to blog - while I criticized Emerson yesterday, I thought that I would switch things up and poke fun of Harper's fashion statements.

I'm sure that everyone has seen the hideous cowboy-getup, dear God, I have never seen something so ugly... a slightly over-weight politician wearing a black leather cowboy outfit - sooo Brokeback Mountain! Minus the homosexuality of course, Harper doesn't like homosexuals... nevertheless, the cowboy costume is the worst I've seen yet.

I imagine that it's quite hard to constantly be in the public eye; people watching your every move and ... in Harper's case, his expanding waistline. Though along with the sad weight gain, comes the horrible suits. Has anyone noticed how his suits are always either way too baggy? I must admit, my sleeves are sometimes too long, and due to my short stature, my jeans will occassionally drag on the ground (hey, you try finding a good pair of jeans when you're 5'0"!) ... but seriously, you'd think that a high-profile man such as himself, would spend an extra five minutes or a couple dollars to see a tailor... or go to a fashion consultant ... blue may be the Conservative Party colours, however it just doesn't do anything for him. Maybe a nice charcol gray... might match his hair... or black... black would be a good colour - I hear that black is a very sliming colour... not to mention, black goes with everything.

Anyways, aside from complaining about his lack of fashion sense - I don't have anything more to talk about... despite having a few more minutes before having to go to class, I think I've rambled on enough for now...

We Don't Love You Either

Constituents in Vancouver-Kingsway are still not pleased with David Emerson - not only are they plotting to plant "de-elect Emerson" signs on their front lawns like pink flamingos, but to send messages to Emerson via the clouds - sending an Et-esque message, saying "David Emerson Call Home"

"A Vancouver-Kingsway resient has hired a small aircraft and piolet out of Toronto to fly over Ottawa as Parliament opens April 4, towing a banner with a message for Emerson." while the plane won't fly directly above the Parliament buildings, it will fly close enough for all the MPs to see - this is all to "highlight the fact Emerson has not been available to constituents in his riding since he joined the Tories"

My hypothesis is that the banner is going to read "David Emerson Call Home", because the messages that the constituents really want to leave with him would not fit onto the 40-meter banner - after all, how many explict words can you fit onto a 40-foot space?

So... they've asked him questions, he hid in a corner - I'm sorry, but Emerson should, as the saying goes "grow a pair of balls" and face his fear - a couple hundred very angry constituents... I'm sure that it's nothing worse than having to go to the dentist for a root canal...

Furthermore, and yes, there is more for me to bitch about - this airplane stunt will be held only a day after an angry protest against Emerson, dubbed the "Walk for Democracy" - which he won't be attending, because you know - it's Emerson, I'm sure that it's not a case of him not wanting to face the mob of angry citizens armed with pitchforks, torches and "de-election" signs - but a case of he didn't know whether the mauve or periwinkle tie went better with his charcoal business suit, and black leather gucchi shoes.

"I Don't Love You Either"

Give Up Harper, It's Pointless

It seems to me and our beloved pollsters that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's trip to Afghanistan failed to boost the "waning public support for the combat mission" (The Ottawa Citizen, March 25, 2006) ... recent polls suggest that only 52% backed the use of our troops "for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaeda" ... so, as most polls go - subtract an extra couple percent from the percentage given, in order to get an accurate answer... therefore, it's quite doubtful that 52% of the population supports this, for lack of a better word, "bullshit"

"Mr. Harper's trip didn't do much" yea... that was kind of obvious - something tells me that hoping on a plane, fleeing the country and supporting a cause that a great many of Canadians think to be utterly ridiculous isn't going to gain any popularity points - getting a new hair cut would probably have been more successful, instead of a couple hundred dollars to cross the ocean in a big air plane.

Furthermore, during an interview for CTV, Harper told them "it was hard for him to comprehend why come Canadans have such deep-rooted objections to the military mission in Afghanistan" - um... "dude" it could be either because military action is uncalled for, or the fact that every few weeks, one of our own come home in body bags - death for no cause, military action with no reasoning - you do the math.

There are a great many of people who don't like Harper to begin with - I'm even one of them, I'm not going to lie. But there's a decline in support for military operations, and going to munch on camp food and get sand in a pair of shoes isn't going to gain popularity.

One Ultimatum, Two Ultimatum, Three!

OTTAWA - Opposition party leaders warned yesterday they are willing to bring down Stephen Harper's minority government if it does not change its course -- particularly on the Tory promise to provide a child-care subsidy to parents -- in the next two weeks.

In separate meetings with the Prime Minister, interim Liberal leader Bill Graham and the Bloc Quebecois' Gilles Duceppe reminded the Conservative leader his party is outnumbered in the House of Commons and urged him to compromise on the government agenda as he drafts his Throne Speech.

The speech, which will be delivered by Governor-General Michaelle Jean on April 4, sets out the agenda for the coming parliamentary session and will be passed or defeated in a confidence vote that could spark another election.

Mr. Graham insisted the Liberals are willing to face the consequences of a confidence vote even though they won't have a new leader until December and are still struggling with the fallout of the party's defeat in January.

He laid out his party's well-known concerns about the Tory agenda, including the fate of a $5-billion deal -- signed by the Liberals last year -- to improve living conditions for aboriginals, opposition to a cut to the Goods and Services Tax and Mr. Harper's promise to pull out of child-care agreements that were also signed by the previous Liberal government.

"We'll make our decision about how to vote when we see the Speech from the Throne," Mr. Graham said. He noted the New Democrats and the Bloc joined with the Conservatives last November to kill several initiatives they now want to see passed.

Despite Mr. Graham's threat, his party is ill-suited to face an election until at least 2007. The Liberal executive agreed last weekend to hold a leadership convention in December to replace former prime minister Paul Martin.

Mr. Graham pointedly refused to say whether he was prepared to lead his party into an election if Mr. Harper's government suffered a quick defeat. He called one reporter's scenario "hypothetical."

Mr. Layton, who met with his opposition counterparts yesterday but not with Mr. Harper, shares Liberal opposition to the Conservative plan to give parents $1,200 a year for every child younger than six. The Tories will cancel a Liberal plan that involved sending money to provinces to set up institutional daycare programs.

Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow has suggested opposition parties use their majority to pass legislation protecting the Liberal initiative.

The Bloc, with 51 seats in the House of Commons, also wants to see Ottawa respect the child-care agreement signed with Quebec Premier Jean Charest. But unlike his opposition counterparts, Mr. Duceppe struck a less-than-dire tone following his meeting with the Prime Minister, perhaps encouraged by Mr. Harper's high-profile overtures to the province since being elected.

Warning that his party's support will be considered on an "issue-by-issue" basis, he said Mr. Harper has made encouraging promises but must now begin to deliver on them.

"It seems there's a place for a new approach, but we have to see concretely what these things will be," he told reporters.

Mr. Duceppe said the Conservative leader promised to "find a way" to respect the child-care agreement with the Quebec government, which already has an institutional daycare system, but did not explain further.

Other Bloc concerns include guaranteeing Quebec a seat at international cultural forums, respecting the Kyoto environmental treaty and ensuring a vote for future military deployments -- not including the current mission in Afghanistan.

Mr. Harper promised he would consult with opposition party leaders on his Throne Speech before Parliament opens in April, but cautioned them not to become too hopeful or too insistent with their demands.

"It will ultimately be my decision and the decision of our Cabinet how much we accept," he told reporters just after the election.

"We've run on a series of priorities that are very clear and I think are popular with Canadians, and I think Canadians expect us to pursue those priorities

You're Not So Strong

"It's up to New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois to see that the minority Conservative government survives its first throne speech, says Opposition leader Bill Graham", the interm Liberal leader paid Harper a visit to remind him, that he's not as strong and mighty as he thinks he is... if political leaders Stephan Harper wouldn't be the roaring lion that he thinks himself to be, but rather a scruffy looking ally cat.

"Harper's Tories captured 36% of the popular vote, and 123 seats" during the last election - only 36%, if this had been highschool student president elections, he would be the nerd with the pocket protector whining about how none of the kids like him; needless to say the Conservative government is still walking on egg shells, one wrong move, and the popular vote may drop a bit more, perhaps to 34.587% - though I'm not fortune teller - I'm just a conservatively-pessimestic university student.... which a smidgin of personal opinion thrown in for good measure (perhaps some sarcaism and wit as well).

"Today, the Conservative government is adamant it will pursue only five specific governing priorities: a GST cut; a child care credit for parents; new accountability legislation for parliament; a patient wait times guarantee; and tough new criminal sanctions." they had to drop the sixth priority, which was very "hush hush" - having those fab-5 queer men giving Harper a major fashion makeover - thus there will be no "Harper Edition" on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"....

I find is most entertaining that despite all of the hoopla (yes, I just said hoopla) with the Conservative government that they're still out to put in that "accountability legislation", especially since Harper got off scott-free from the the Emerson defection - can you say "hypocrit"? Because I can... hypocrit, hypocrit, HYPOCRIT! If you've read my previous posts, you won't be surprised to see that I still hold that grudge. We all know how well women can hold grudges for long periods of time - and I am a woman... so I will hold my grudge.

"A Harper spokeswoman said Tuesday there is no set timetable for further meetings between the leaders concerning the throne speech before April 4, but did not rule them out" Yea, there aren't going to be any little "meetings" nor interviews with the press - has anyone else noticed that Harper has yet to speak with a reporter out in the open? Sending post-it notes and throughly edited press releases to the media don't count - is our prime minister camera shy? Afraid that we won't like what he has to say? Or is it simply a fear of the camera adding ten-pounds?

You're Kidding, Right?

Harper Cleared Of Ethics Violation

Bruce Cheadle, Canadian Press
Published: Monday, March 20, 2006

OTTAWA -- The practice of switching political stripes for a cabinet job needs a good public airing, says the federal ethics commissioner, but does not break current ethical rules for MPs.

In a report Monday, Bernard Shapiro cleared Prime Minister Stephen Harper and International Trade Minister David Emerson of any wrongdoing under Parliament's conflict-of-interest code.

But Shapiro said the timing of Emerson's move to the Conservatives, just days after he won his Vancouver seat as a Liberal in the Jan. 23 federal election, raised ethical questions for voters who felt their ballot "was somehow devalued, if not betrayed.''

"Although technically there has been no violation to the rules of conduct of the members' code, the incident in question does raise the whole issue of whether the principles upon which it relies have been respected,'' Shapiro wrote in his report.

"In the final analysis, the most appropriate place to settle issues of this kind is not in the office of the ethics commissioner but in Parliament itself.''

Harper's reaction was terse.

"This was never an ethics issue,'' the prime minister said in a release. "Today, the ethics commissioner has confirmed that there was not even a basis for an investigation. This comes as no surprise.''

Harper called the widespread criticism of Emerson's cabinet appointment "nothing more than a partisan effort to demean his fine record of public service.''

Emerson, in keeping with a recent PMO gag order on all cabinet members, was not available to comment.

New Democrats responded by vowing to reintroduce a floor-crossing bill when the Commons returns next month.

Winnipeg MP Pat Martin praised the Shapiro report, saying it makes clear that under the existing rules it is fair game to offer a cabinet job to get someone to switch parties.

"That's helpful information for us,'' said Martin. "Now, we've got to go fix the root of the problem.''

The NDP floor-crossing legislation, which was supported by 40 Conservative MPs in the last Parliament, died on the order paper when the election was called. The bill would force any MP contemplating a party switch to first sit as an Independent, awaiting re-election under a new banner.

Three opposition MPs had alleged that Harper improperly induced Emerson to switch parties by offering the former Liberal industry minister the perks and pay of a cabinet minister.

This, they argued, broke three sections of Parliament's Conflict of Interest Code for MPs.

Shapiro ruled otherwise.

"I am satisfied that no special inducement was offered by Mr. Harper to convince Mr. Emerson to join his cabinet and his party,'' he wrote.

"In addition, there is no reason and certainly no evidence to contradict Mr. Emerson's own claim that accepting Mr. Harper's offer seemed, at least to him, a way to better serve his city, province and country.''

Yet the report doesn't give a blanket clearance for any floor-crosser to demand or to be lured by a cabinet post.

In fact, Shapiro wrote that MPs who switch parties just before important parliamentary votes are breaking the ethical rules.

"Clearly, if the prime minister were to approach a member with an offer of a cabinet position with the sole intent and specific purpose of acquiring that member's vote directly linked to a parliamentary proceeding existing at that time, such conduct would be inappropriate and unacceptable,'' he wrote.

Both the NDP and the ethics advocacy group Democracy Watch said Monday they intend to continue to pursue a complaint against Liberal MP Belinda Stronach. She jumped from the Conservatives to Paul Martin's cabinet last May, just two days before her vote proved instrumental in the Liberals surviving a confidence measure in the House.

Shapiro has not yet responded to requests for a Stronach investigation.

Democracy Watch is taking Shapiro to Ontario court next month in an effort to have him forced from his job for failing to enforce the provisions of the ethics code. His latest ruling just reinforces their case, said spokesman Duff Conacher.

"It's typical. He wants to let everyone off the hook. He's done it again and again.

"Voters have a right to have this code enforced, even if parliamentarians keep in place a hack who doesn't enforce it.''

One issue the report did put to rest was opposition threats of holding Harper in contempt of Parliament next month for refusing to assist Shapiro.

Despite public assertions from his office that he was "loath to co-operate'' with the investigation, Harper in fact provided the ethics commissioner's office with both an interview and a written response, the report said.

They Hate Me! They Really Hate Me!

It does not look like David Emerson will be weeping into a tissue murmering "they love me, they really love me" as many beauty pagent contestants or actors say after winning some sort of award - perhaps "they hate me? Why do they hate me?" or something like that... as in the Vancouver Kingsway riding thousands of signs saying 'De-Elect David Emerson' will be hammered into the freshly spring-green grass.

Sorry buddy, but it's been weeks since the election, and people still have their under-garments in a knot - hell I'd even put up a sign if my front lawn wasn't covered in snow and ice. I say "good for them" they're standing up for something that they believe in - while "Emerson claims the attacks against him are from a clique of 'partisan zealots.'"

"Partisan zealots"? I know true-blue NDP'ers that are just as disgusted...

So hammer those "De-Elect David Emerson" signs, pin one of those pins onto your jacket and be a "zealot"!

Tory Support Isn't Faultering?

According to a news article that I read, the latest poll suggests that "Tory support is as strong as it was in the Jan. 23 election" I'm sorry, but who exactly did this poll? Did the pollster walk into a room of conservatives? Or did they walk into a room of random people and asked "So, do you like the complimentry cheese and crackers?"

Polls all depend on who's being asked... "In this week's poll, the Conservatives have more support than the Liberals in every part of the country except for Ontario, where they trail by only three percentage points" Um... again, did they ask a room filled with tories? Or did the hire a bunch of starving actors and university students with a box of kraft dinner and a cookie? Wait, wait... they bribed them with gold stars and said they're special... didn't they?

Either way, despite all of these popular polls, I for one can say that I loath Harper and his Conservative minions as much as I did back before the federal election. Sorry, it's gonna take more than a box of KD and a gold star to twist this girl's arm.

On Your Mark, Get Set... GO!

Potential Liberal Leaders Meet In Halifax

Broadcast News
Published: Sunday, March 05, 2006

HALIFAX-- The starting gun for the federal Liberal leadership race appears to have been fired in Nova Scotia.

A half dozen potential contenders -- and one declared candidate -- were in Halifax this weekend for the provincial party's annual meeting.

They're talking to delegates and testing the waters as they try to determine how much support they might be able to drum up.

There were so many possible leadership candidates there yesterday, they could barely avoid bumping into each other at the hospitality suites.

They included Belinda Stronach, Scott Brison, Carolyn Bennett, Ken Dryden, Maurizio Bevilacqua, and Michael Ignatieff.

Martha Hall-Findlay, however, is the only person to officially announce her candidacy.

The Toronto lawyer says she planned to use the convention as a way of introducing herself in Nova Scotia where she's not well known.

The meeting wrapped up last night.

What's Her Name? Jane?

The accused serial killer Robert Pickton faces one less murder count after a judge ruled that he cannot be tried on a charge of killing an unidentified Jane Doe, in New Westminister, B.C. Just because they cannot put a name to the woman, her murder will be swept under the rug. He took that woman's life - he should face the consequences for that action, whether she has a name or not. To me, this was a blatent act of disregard towards women - call her Jane Doe for as long as it takes to find out her real name, but to white out on the tally sheet this murder because of the lack of a name is uncalled for.

The judge found "that in the circumstances of this case, the count as drawn fails to meet the minimal requirement set out in Section 581 of the Criminal Code. Accordingly it must be quashed" (Canadian Press, March 2, 2006). I'm sure that if it had been an unidentified male, the judge wouldn't be so quick as to "quash" the case - this woman had rights, despite all circumstances, and Pickton should be accountable for her death, Name or no name.

"Pickston was charged with 27 counts of first-degree murder involving women -
most of them drug-addicted sex-trade workers who disappeared over a stretch
of years from Vancouver's seedy Downtown Eastside."

Who bloody hell cares that those women were in that area of Vancouver? They're still women, no matter what situations they find themselves in. They count too.

"On Thursday, Pickton lawyer Adrian Brooks said outside court
that the ruling was 'a positive step in our defence of Mr. Pickton'."

A postive step? What is that supposed to mean? That the judge is going to magically say that Pickton really wasn't responsible for the death of twenty-eight women - oops, I mean twenty-seven women; that Jane Doe woman doesn't count.

" 'It is essential that minimal requirements of fairness be shown to every
accused and this decision is part of the fairness to be shown to Mr. Pickton.' "

Excuse me? They're complaining about fairness? Was it fair to those twenty-eight woman that their lives were taken away by this man? Something tells me murder isn't fair.

"Lowe said he wanted to make 'absolutely clear' that the deletion of one
count did not weaken the Crown's case."

Who cares if it didn't weaken the case? Pickton murdered that woman, he needs to take some responsiblity for every one of his actions. Even if they don't know the woman's real name. Jane Doe has rights too.

Consider Me In, Folks!

Well everybody, we have another man up for the challenge in entering the federal Liberal leadership race - the Ontario Education Minister, Gerard Kennedy has piped up that he is interested in competing for the leadership roll.

Although he is interested in entering the Amazing Liberal Race (a spin-off from the reality game show, Amazing Race), he has admitted that he's not ready to launch a leadership campaign just now... suggesting that he has to "exercise", which means attending God-knows how many political meetings and drinking high-protein sports drinks - in preparation for the race.

According to Canadian Press, Premier Dalton McGuinty has said that he's "not surprised Kennedy's name has surfaced in Ottawa" (March 1, 2006) - so, as it goes there are several interested politicians who will compete - lets just hope that the federal Liberal leadership race will be as interesting as the next installment of Canadian Idol.

Apparently They're Not Fans of Bush

Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan

Terence Hunt, Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, March 01, 2006

KABUL -- President George W. Bush, on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, vowed Wednesday to stand by this emerging democracy and not ''cut and run'' in the face of rising violence. He also predicted Osama bin Laden would be captured despite a so-far futile five-year hunt.

''I'm confident he will be brought to justice,'' Bush said, standing alongside Afghan President Hamid Karzai outside the presidential palace.

Bush also rallied U.S. troops and expressed solidarity with Karzai's U.S.-backed government in a surprise visit of just over four hours at the onset of his South Asia trip. The U.S. leader was accompanied by his wife Laura, who visited the country on her own in April 2005.

He later flew to New Delhi, India, where tens of thousands of people demonstrated Wednesday against his visit, and was visiting Pakistan later in the week.

Bush pledged that bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader, and other planners of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks would be caught.

''It's not a matter of if they're captured and brought to justice, it's when they're brought to justice,'' Bush said.

Bin Laden is believed to be hiding out somewhere along the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Suspicion that al-Qaida and Taliban militants may be using Pakistan as base for launching strikes in Afghanistan has become a source of tension in relations with Afghanistan.

Bush said that, when he is in Pakistan later this week, he will raise the issue of cross-border infiltration with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Karzai greeted Bush as ''our great friend, our great supporter, a man who helped us liberate.''

Bush held a working lunch with Karzai and other Afghan leaders, attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the U.S. embassy in Kabul and spoke to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Base.

''People all over the world are watching the experience here in Afghanistan,'' Bush said, praising Karzai as ''a friend and an ally.''

Karzai took power after U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government. Although in disarray after the invasion, Taliban insurgents and their al-Qaida allies have been increasing attacks within Afghanistan in recent months.

The director of the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency, Lt.-Gen. Michael Maples, told a congressional hearing in Washington on Tuesday that the insurgency was still growing and posed a greater threat to Karzai's government ''than at any point since late 2001.''

Asked about the search for bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States, and of the president's long-ago call for getting him ''dead or alive,'' Bush said the search for bin Laden and his associates continues.

''We've got U.S. forces on the hunt for not only bin Laden but anybody who plots and plans with bin Laden,'' Bush said. ''There are Afghan forces on the hunt. ... We've got Pakistan forces on the hunt.''

Bush's entourage flew into the city from Bagram in a flock of heavily armed helicopters. Two door gunners on a helicopter carrying the news media fired off a short burst of machine-gun fire as the aircraft flew low and fast over barren, rugged countryside. A U.S. military spokesman said later the gunners were test-firing their weapons as part of ''standard operating procedure'' for such helicopters.

''Neither President Bush nor any of the aircraft in the flight were ever in any danger,'' said Lt.-Col. Paul Fitzpatrick.

Before leaving Afghanistan, Bush gave a pep talk to U.S. troops at the air base. Speaking to about 500 soldiers in a huge recreational tent, Bush expressed resolve over the U.S. mission.

''I assure you this government of yours will not blink, we will not yield. ...The United States doesn't cut and run,'' Bush said to enthusiastic cheers and applause.

There are about 19,000 America troops in Afghanistan, a number U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said would be reduced to about 16,000 by summer.

They are supported by troops from a number of NATO countries, including Canada, which has just taken command of the southern area near Kandahar. About 2,200 troops are involved in the Canadian mission there

Silence In The Court

Harper says Marshall Rothstein was "easy" choice as top court appointment Stephen Thorne, Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, March 01, 2006

OTTAWA (CP) - In the end, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was an easy decision.

Harper confirmed Marshall Rothstein's appointment as justice to the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, saying he's confident the first high-court nominee to face a public hearing will prove an excellent choice.

"The appointment of Judge Rothstein marks an unprecedented development in our history," Harper said in the foyer of the House of Commons.

"For the first time, a Supreme Court justice faced questions from democratically elected members of Parliament, a public event that gave Canadians the opportunity to evaluate the man who will soon sit on Canada's highest court.

"On reflection, this was an easy decision to make and I'm confident that Justice Rothstein will make an excellent addition to the Supreme Court of Canada."

In a one-line statement, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin welcomed the appointment.

A former Federal Court judge from Winnipeg, the 65-year-old Rothstein faced members of Parliament from all four parties during an afternoon-long hearing on Monday.

Rothstein told them judges should stick to the law and leave social agendas to elected politicians.

He tempered his remarks by observing that legislation must always be measured against the Charter of Rights.

But the overall tenor of his comments were expected to ease concerns by some - especially Conservatives - about so-called judicial activism.

Harper, who chose Rothstein from a short list of three candidates agreed to under a process started by the former Liberal government, has spoken of his concern about "judicial temperament" - the degree to which a judge is prepared to apply the law rather than make it.

It's better known as "judicial activism," a pet peeve of many Conservatives for years.

Monday's hearing was low-key, a stark contrast to the protracted, often contentious interrogations of judicial nominees conducted in the United States.

While some contentious questions were allowed, Rothstein was told Monday he was free to answer - or not - as he saw fit. The MPs had no veto power over his appointment.

Rothstein is to replace Justice John Major, who retired in December.

He will be sworn in during a simple ceremony before he sits on the high court's spring session, which begins April 10.

The ceremony will be conducted by the court's registrar and is usually attended by the justice minister, the justices, former colleagues, the attorney general from the judge's home province and the president of his law society.

Think He Has A Chance?

Personal Thoughts
Apparently David Emerson thinks that he has what it takes to run in the next election - I'm sure that a few people support him (for whatever reason) while the rest of the population would rather be represented by Jessica Simpson, that blonde ditzy bombshell.

People flock in protest against him, I know I'm a mere 18-year-old, though my better logic tells me that if you have to hide in your own riding, perhaps it's not the best idea to run there. Or run there, however grow some balls first and call a byelection... if he's just a great guy with oddles of support, it should be no problem for him to get re-elected in the byelection.

Emerson Will Run In The Next Election
Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, February 28, 2006

VANCOUVER -- Trade Minister David Emerson says he will run again in Vancouver-Kingsway in the next federal election despite the continuing uproar over his defection to the new Conservative government just days after leading the Liberals' B.C. campaign attack on the Tories.

"I do plan to run as a Conservative in the next election,'' Emerson said Tuesday in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Emerson won his east Vancouver riding as a Liberal in the Jan. 23 election, winning by a solid majority over veteran New Democrat Ian Waddell. The Conservative candidate was a distant third.

Emerson said he has not contemplated shifting out of Vancouver-Kingsway, which has not elected a Conservative since 1958.

"I'm certainly focusing on Vancouver-Kingsway's needs as I carry on my duty as an MP,'' he said.

Emerson, industry minister in Paul Martin's Liberal government, has been the focus of demonstrations in his riding by people demanding he face a byelection over his decision to join Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative cabinet.

But he said he hopes hard work on B.C. issues such as softwood lumber, the Olympics and the Pacific Gateway trade initiative will win over the dissenters.

"I'm driving those issues hard and I strongly believe that people will look at the specifics of my job and my performance in the next election,'' he said.

Emerson, former CEO of forest giant Canfor Corp., and once a senior B.C. government bureaucrat, was initially flummoxed by the backlash his floor-crossing spawned.

A reluctant recruit to partisan politics, Emerson contemplated quitting but said he now believes he was right to jump. He's the only Tory MP in Vancouver's urban core.

"I can't tell you how many people are coming through the doors and the windows with issues that they felt a little stranded by and not knowing what to do with,'' he said.

"I strongly feel I made the correct decision, that I can serve my constituents and my community better in doing what I'm doing now and I feel very good about that.''

Emerson now is back in Ottawa after being hunkered down in Vancouver where he was being briefed by senior trade officials on his new portfolio as the storm broke over his head.

"I have not been distracted from my job,'' he said in the telephone interview.

"I believe very, very strongly that the prime minister made a bold and, I think, a good decision to bring someone in to the cabinet from Vancouver.''

Emerson said he is starting to get a handle on his department's priorities.

"Canada generally has to put the Canada-U.S. relationship right at the top of the list in terms of issues that are critically important for our economic future,'' he said.

"In that context, you cannot escape softwood lumber because it has, to a real degree, defined the relationship over the last few years and it's not been a very positive definition.''

Emerson did not offer any clues about how the Conservative government's strategy on the longstanding trade dispute would differ from its Liberal predecessor's approach -- legal challenges to punitive American lumber duties combined with the prospect of a negotiated settlement.

"I think what will be critically important is for the tone to be set at the top,'' he said.

"The prime minister has been very clear that we want a deal but not at any cost, and that's going to mean the president is going to have to indicate that he has as strong a desire as we have to bring this to constructive resolution.''

Harper is scheduled to meet Bush, along with Mexican President Vicente Fox, at a NAFTA summit in Cancun at the end of March.

Harper has said he favours reviving the idea of appointing top-level envoys to lead the way to a settlement.

"I think any potential mechanism like that is worth considering,'' said Emerson, but stressed envoys must have political weight behind them.

"An envoy is only going to be as good as the empowerment and the tools that that person is given.''