To hear Greg Weston tell it, it's Stephen Harper.
Weston apparently believes the RCMP takes its marching orders from the PMO, which is why they used a hammer to smash an ant when they hauled in Jeffrey Monaghan for questioning the other day. Likening this to a police state, Greggie supposes the Conservatives would love to do the same thing to more people, both bureaucrats and reporters. And yet here we read an insulting accusative story about the government -- Greg, you're so brave.
Of course, the absolutely non-political RCMP couldn't possibly have its own agenda for making the sitting government look stupid or high-handed. And never has any individual or group within the RCMP made errors in judgment, appeared overzealous or acted disproportionately. It must be all Harper's fault.
Environment Minister Baird's suggestion that the arrest was "a signal to other government employees that leaks of information wouldn't be tolerated" and his conclusion that "obviously (the RCMP) feel it's serious enough to lay charges" which proved to be erroneous, seem to be the smoking gun for political commentators. Baird's first statement was in defense of having called in the RCMP to investigate in the first place, not an admission of political interference. His second was a reaction to an apparent arrest. And had the detainment been politically directed, Baird likely would have got that point right, and the episode -- so public and so over-the-top, would have likely resulted in more than a conversation. But let's overlook the obvious if it makes Harper look bad.
It's far juicier to imply government conspiracy than to assume that the RCMP acted rashly. It also fits in much better with Weston's personal antipathy for Harper. If it's the RCMP running amok, it fits in with the larger issues that pre-date Harper's governance. But if it's political direction, Harper and his nasty band of not-quite-conservatives can be castigated with impunity without ever having to prove any involvement on their part. This works much better with Weston's ongoing hypothesis that Harper is the puppet master to whom everyone demurs.
Weston's bizarre accusation is part of a pattern. He and pal Don Martin are a scrawling dynamic duo, who will stop at no cliche and leave no insinuation left hanging in order to ascribe blame to Harper personally in any awkward or unflattering situation, regardless of how unlikely his involvement. Whether it's the way Harper dresses or unfounded political innuendo, the two columnists share such bitter contempt for Harper, they never mind setting aside credibility in order to get in a good dig.
Just an observation, Mr. Weston: The RCMP does a pretty good job of screwing up all on its own.
That huge chunk of animus on your shoulder is probably impairing your vision.
canadianna
17 comments:
That disgusting piece of garbage mascarading as an op-ed wasn't even worthy of Weston; and that's saying something.
It was very well written. Truth hurts some times, we all know that.
You find it disgusting because you don't agree with it. That doesn't make it disgusting.
Using arrest as a form of intimidation is disgusting. John Baird said he wanted to send a message to the public servants. Disgusting.
How can you defend such a terrible abuse of ministerial and police power.
You guys will be scary if you get a majority (which, thankfully, you won't).
The hate-on that Weston has for Harper deepens into "Harper Derangement Syndrome" with this latest. It's small wonder Harper chooses not to dance to the PPG tune. I still hold the suspicion that some Liberal dropped a word into Weston's shell-like that there would be a reward of some kind when the Liberals won the election, with GW on-side on the editorial front, and that he is ever bitter about losing whatever plum was dangled.
I don't read Weston any more (not that I did much to begin with). His columns come off too whiny and weasally to take anything he says seriously.
The guy is just a pissed off, sour-grapes parliamentry Press gallery snot that's all pissy because Harper doesn't bow and scrape for the PPG.
So basically he's following through on the PPG's cheap shot threat to treat Harper to bad press in retaliation. Really it's not much of a threat because come hell or high water the PPG will always be anti-conservative anyway.
To the poster above who alluded to Weston's being bribed with rewards. I wouldn't be surprised if MANY PPG reporters have been approached this way. The Liberal's standard tactic is to buy off those individuals and groups they need support from. Why would the press be any different?
I mean really the last two gov. gens have been lefty media personalities and the national press never even questioned this. If the last two govenor gens had been former soldiers the press would have been all over it, but they were former MSM types so of course they must be pure as the driven snow RIGHT?
We'll of course never hear about it if members of the press have been approached by Liberals because the press never report TRULY negative stories about their own anyway.
Heh,!!
It's almost enough to make a person want to casually stroll through the employees parking lot at your local newspaper with a screwdriver doing so unoffical "paint job alterations" with a screwdriver.
The original reports had it that it was the Deputy Minister of the Environment Dept who asked the RCMP to investigate the source of the leaked document. Gee I wonder if its at all possible that this Deputy Minister, who is plainly one step removed from Baird, actually acted on his own ?! Kind of like maybe he was doing his job ?
It's obviously hard for Weston and others in the MSM to get their heads around this possiblity. After all those years of watching Chretien use the RCMP to advance his political agenda, the MSM find it incomprehensible that Harper might actually respect this (proper and necessary) separation of the state and the police.
Hey Greg, what are you gonna write about when your inside sources all head for the hills ? Not to worry, Tim Horton's is hiring here in Calgary.
Expect extremely misleading headlines, ugly op-eds and
columns, in retaliation from msm for :
-the msm 'gossip source' dry up as a result of the 'arrest',
and
-being 'appointed' to a Senate position is now near zero.
Tory TV and the soldiers being trained as reporters (remember that announcement last fall) will likely hit the airwaves to counter the 'Revenge of MSM'.
How quickly the media forgot about the Liberals when MP Volpe threatened the Grewal's with Deportation during the exposure of the Audio tapes proving Paul Martin approved illegally buying opposition members with Cabinet seats as Martin did with Belinda.
The Liberal sponsorship fraud that the RCMP was part of might explain why Martin had to be dragged kicking and screaming to call an inquiry to save his sorry butt, even now the taxpayers have only seen the small fish go to jail while while Martin and Chretien walk free.
As for the Grewal's, keep in mind that Volpe tried to use a Allegation over about $50'000.00
that might have been given to Grewal by a immigrant expecting approval and citizensip.
But then we had a video tape of a MP caught stealing a $60'000.00 item from an auction,Liberals were very foregiving and allowed the RCMP to visit the thief and report themselves as the criminal, then the MP got a sweet backroom deal
that no Black youth would ever get, it was probation with community work and the MP was welcomed back to run in the 2005-6 Federal Election.
When the CSL Cargo ship was caught with 150lbs of cocain smuggled into canada, the then Zaccardeli allowed the RCMP to not lay Charges because it could have been planted there by Criminals , the Martin's got off scot free which none of us would have if caught with a small about of drugs at Niagara falls or Fort Erie .
How ironic that the Media stayed mute during the Liberals powers that are now dangerous for Harper to have, the RCMP,Military,SCOC,G.G.'s post,and other controls as a legally Elected leader of a UN Democratic Nation .
I just wish people would be honest and admit that they are angry over their Party not winning, because it makes no sense to not be outraged when Liberals did the same thing and had the same powers.
Personally I would like to see biased press coverage considered as a political contribution and as having real monetary value. Weston and his publishers just gave the libs, ndp, greens a contibution of over the maximum allowed under the elections act.
Right on Canadianna...
I always get the feeling that Don Martin and Greg Weston write their columns in some dark dank bar, after they have had clearly 10 too many and are full of old childish resentments.
I don't know if they are talented journalists, that remains for them to prove. But, they have proved themselves to be miserable.
To mr anonymous:
Well-written junk is still junk. I know this well: I write for a publication that is full of well-written junk.
So apparently civil servants are supposed to be above the law now? Free to act as political activists to their heart's content, whether or not they have to breach public trust, or outright break the law in order to do so?
That is the definition of a joke without a punchline.
Jeffery Monahan broke the law. why is it so surprising to people like baghdad bob when he is arrested for it?
I just read one of your comments over at Shlemazl's and was wondering if you ever got an answer from your priest regarding anti-Semitic statements made by the Apostles. If so, please let me know. Other than that, I've read some of your posts and like what I'm seeing. Keep at it!
Hi - not yet. He's been on sabbatical for a couple of weeks and I finally just got in touch with him on the weekend.
I'm glad you stopped by. I'll let you know as soon as we've talked about it.
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