This really bothers me.Stephen Dion wants the scope of the inquiry to look into Harpers role... which I can't see how it has anything to do with it
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This is just standard Opposition rhetoric. You see a problem you call for an inquiry most of the time hoping the government doesn't actually call one and make you look like a fool when nothing is proven.
Does Dion have anything useful on Harper with the letters? Most likely not. But Harper was in the same boat when he started calling for an inquiry into the sponsorship scandal; it wasn't until things started coming to light that the real guns came out. Not saying this is anything like that at all but I wouldn't have expected anything more or less from the Opposition regardless of the leader or the party holding the title.
Sponsorship... not at all the same. The A-G had called for action... really I don't even want to discuss it. The Ad-Scam thing, Gomery, Martin's terms of reference... the whole thing pisses me off. I won't be satisfied until the Liberal Party pays back everything they stole or goes bankrupt in trying.
I have no problem in Dion calling for an inquiry (although I don't think a Parliamentary inquiry is necessary when an RCMP investigation will do). What I have a problem with is Dion calling for an expended terms of reference, to include Harper's role when clearly he's had no role. Harper was an adversary. Whatever role he's played recently at worst could only be an obstruction of justice, but unlikely seeing as how Harper called for the inquiry, even if it's proven he did so reluctantly.
Dion's motivation, from where I sit, doesn't look so much like toppling the party and forcing an election, as much as smearing Harper's credibility by associating him with one of the most hated figures in modern Canadian history. That way, when he does opt to vote away Harper's minority, he can be better poised to assert his own government at the fore.
Knowing Dion (unless this is being taken care of by one of his advisers - which I doubt) this is not an effort to tie Harper in bed with Mulroney. If Dion is pursuing anything beyond opposition rhetoric he had a card in his hand that is worth something.
I don't love Mulroney, but I don't despise him either. But that's my opinion and I'm sure I'm not entirely alone on that.
Tying Harper in with Mulroney is a bit of a stretch. Maybe in recent years, after the whole Belinda Stronach crossing the floor thing, where Mulroney was betrayed by BStronach, but I'm not sure how close Mulroney and Harper ever got. They're certainly not foes anymore, and they're on the samesideof many issues, but Mulroney has had little to offer the man with all the power. Not like Harper has needed his help. If anything Mulroney has needed Harpers... maybe.
Dion has little chance to poise his cabinet to anything with this. He would be better off creating a platform of policy.
A Prime Minister's salary, lecture circuit fees, book deals, law practice salary and public service pension is nice scratch. Strapped for scratch? Tells me Columbians are making it huge. Mila, go powder your nose!
By Harper first refusing the initial investigation by a committee, it signals there was careful thought as to whether a parliamentary committee, or any other non-police investigation, was/is warranted. Criminal accusations should be investigated by police, rather then politicians. Only because this touches on such Parliamentary issues of conflicted interests, and protocols for exiting politics does this seem appropriate.
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This is just standard Opposition rhetoric. You see a problem you call for an inquiry most of the time hoping the government doesn't actually call one and make you look like a fool when nothing is proven.
Does Dion have anything useful on Harper with the letters? Most likely not. But Harper was in the same boat when he started calling for an inquiry into the sponsorship scandal; it wasn't until things started coming to light that the real guns came out. Not saying this is anything like that at all but I wouldn't have expected anything more or less from the Opposition regardless of the leader or the party holding the title.
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I have no problem in Dion calling for an inquiry (although I don't think a Parliamentary inquiry is necessary when an RCMP investigation will do). What I have a problem with is Dion calling for an expended terms of reference, to include Harper's role when clearly he's had no role. Harper was an adversary. Whatever role he's played recently at worst could only be an obstruction of justice, but unlikely seeing as how Harper called for the inquiry, even if it's proven he did so reluctantly.
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Dion's motivation, from where I sit, doesn't look so much like toppling the party and forcing an election, as much as smearing Harper's credibility by associating him with one of the most hated figures in modern Canadian history. That way, when he does opt to vote away Harper's minority, he can be better poised to assert his own government at the fore.
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Tying Harper in with Mulroney is a bit of a stretch. Maybe in recent years, after the whole Belinda Stronach crossing the floor thing, where Mulroney was betrayed by BStronach, but I'm not sure how close Mulroney and Harper ever got. They're certainly not foes anymore, and they're on the samesideof many issues, but Mulroney has had little to offer the man with all the power. Not like Harper has needed his help. If anything Mulroney has needed Harpers... maybe.
Dion has little chance to poise his cabinet to anything with this. He would be better off creating a platform of policy.
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But yeah, they should just ship Schreiber back to the Germans and have done with it.
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Get the inquiry over with t hen send the bastard to Germany.
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By Harper first refusing the initial investigation by a committee, it signals there was careful thought as to whether a parliamentary committee, or any other non-police investigation, was/is warranted. Criminal accusations should be investigated by police, rather then politicians. Only because this touches on such Parliamentary issues of conflicted interests, and protocols for exiting politics does this seem appropriate.
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