[kenmore]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Lemmy Lemmy:

So Harper's appointed 33 senators now. 33 senators at $131,000/yr. Nice one, err, 33, Uncle Stevie. That's quite a selfish spending spree you've gone on, buying yourself a Senate with our tax dollars in the middle of a recession. Oh wait, I forgot, Ayn Rand tells you selfishness is a virtue. But how can they fit all those bodies in the chambers? Mike Duffy's ass alone takes up a couple of cubic metres.

So what do you propose as an alternative?

Leave the seats empty?

It's often easy to sit back and judge, but come up with a solution if you don't like the status quo.

I think the issue is harper is stacking the senate with political has beens and old reporters who will dance to his music. The libs had a majority in the senate and it was lib controlled, but when you look at the history the libs were in power the majority of time since confederation. So it makes sense, however of note is the fact that many non liberal senators were put in the senate by the libs. They appointed Cons and NDP party faithful as well. Harper on the other hand has an agenda... its called autocracy and dictatorship..

[Gunnair]

kenmore kenmore:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Lemmy Lemmy:

So Harper's appointed 33 senators now. 33 senators at $131,000/yr. Nice one, err, 33, Uncle Stevie. That's quite a selfish spending spree you've gone on, buying yourself a Senate with our tax dollars in the middle of a recession. Oh wait, I forgot, Ayn Rand tells you selfishness is a virtue. But how can they fit all those bodies in the chambers? Mike Duffy's ass alone takes up a couple of cubic metres.

So what do you propose as an alternative?

Leave the seats empty?

It's often easy to sit back and judge, but come up with a solution if you don't like the status quo.

I think the issue is harper is stacking the senate with political has beens and old reporters who will dance to his music. The libs had a majority in the senate and it was lib controlled, but when you look at the history the libs were in power the majority of time since confederation. So it makes sense, however of note is the fact that many non liberal senators were put in the senate by the libs. They appointed Cons and NDP party faithful as well. Harper on the other hand has an agenda... its called autocracy and dictatorship..

[Lemmy]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Not that easy.

Doing the right thing rarely is.

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

In the end, Harper had 1 option. Fill the vacant seats.

Looking at the facts and the reality of the situation, there wasn't an alternative situation.

I still don't see any reason not to just leave the empty seats empty. Most senators don't come to work regularly anyway. Adding more useless boobs to a useless government body makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[Zipperfish]

Well, I can't say I'm too happy about it, but every cloud has a silver lining. In this case it's seeing all the rank and file Conservatives on this board in the last two weeks come out wholeheartedly in favour of:

(a) giving politicians time off with pay at the whim of eh Prime Minister, and
(b) an unelected senate with appointments are made at the whim of the PM.

And Liberals complaining that the PM is exercising too much power and is busy playing politics instead of running the country.

As a matter of fact, over the last two months, the Liberals sound like the Conservatives and the Conservatives sound like the Liberals. Not that the partisan hacks would notice, because a precondition of being a partisan hack is having a memory not longer than four months.

They're pretty much all the same once they get into power, folks, in case you haven't noticed.

[Curtman]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

As a matter of fact, over the last two months, the Liberals sound like the Conservatives and the Conservatives sound like the Liberals. Not that the partisan hacks would notice, because a precondition of being a partisan hack is having a memory not longer than four months.

I don't see anyone acting like Liberals. I wish they would.

lib⋅er⋅al⋅ism

$1:

a political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political, social, or economic institutions to assure unrestricted development in all spheres of human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.

or...

$1:

A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.

Nobody advocates these things anymore.

[Lemmy]

Curtman Curtman:

Nobody advocates these things anymore.

I do. Somewhere along the way the word "liberal" and "socialist" became synonymous. So we had to invent the word "libertarian" to fill the gap.

edits for typing like an orangutan.

[Curtman]

Lemmy Lemmy:

Curtman Curtman:

Nobody advocates these things anymore.

I do. Somewhere along the way the word "liberal" and "socialist" became synonymous. So we had to invent the word "libertarian" to fill the gap.

I do too, I meant none of our political leaders do.

[OnTheIce]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Well, I can't say I'm too happy about it, but every cloud has a silver lining. In this case it's seeing all the rank and file Conservatives on this board in the last two weeks come out wholeheartedly in favour of:

(a) giving politicians time off with pay at the whim of eh Prime Minister, and
(b) an unelected senate with appointments are made at the whim of the PM.

And Liberals complaining that the PM is exercising too much power and is busy playing politics instead of running the country.

As a matter of fact, over the last two months, the Liberals sound like the Conservatives and the Conservatives sound like the Liberals. Not that the partisan hacks would notice, because a precondition of being a partisan hack is having a memory not longer than four months.

They're pretty much all the same once they get into power, folks, in case you haven't noticed.

What land do you come from?

I know it maybe a Liberal train of thought, but just because the House isn't sitting, doesn't mean they sit at home on their ass! This is a time for them to spend time with the people they represent, which many, have taken advantage of.

Even Liberal MP Dan "Gas Hypocrite" McTeague has been holding Town Hall meetings regarding an issue in his community! What a concept, eh?

You act like 1 month of these MP's spending time with their communities is the worst thing to happen to Canada. Get a grip.

[Zipperfish]

Curtman Curtman:

Nobody advocates these things anymore.

You won't get any argument from me on that count, buddy. The right wants Big Government to protect us all from terrorists. The left wants Big Government to protect us all from global warming. The notion of individual freedoms and liberty is passe in contemporary political discourse.

[Zipperfish]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

What land do you come from?

I know it maybe a Liberal train of thought, but just because the House isn't sitting, doesn't mean they sit at home on their ass! This is a time for them to spend time with the people they represent, which many, have taken advantage of.

I'm not a Liberal. I am a liberal. Your inability to see past the Liberal/Conservative paradigm once again--as if we needed any more evidence--amply demonstrates your partisan hackery. Strike One.

$1:

Even Liberal MP Dan "Gas Hypocrite" McTeague has been holding Town Hall meetings regarding an issue in his community! What a concept, eh?

Your ceaseless attempts to bait and switch by bringing up some bad thing the Liberals are doing once again demonstrates your inability to see past the Liberal/Conservative paradigm. Again, textbook partisan hackery. Strike Two.

$1:

You act like 1 month of these MP's spending time with their communities is the worst thing to happen to Canada. Get a grip.

Your relentless reposting and re-reposting of orthodox Conservative talking points spoon-fed to you once again--as if we needed any more evidence--amply demonstrates your partisan hackery. Strike Three. Yer Out.

Thanks for showing up, now back to your hole, troll.

[DrRosen]

I dont like the partisan aspects of senate apoointment but its still cheaper then reforming the whole system.

[OnTheIce]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

What land do you come from?

I know it maybe a Liberal train of thought, but just because the House isn't sitting, doesn't mean they sit at home on their ass! This is a time for them to spend time with the people they represent, which many, have taken advantage of.

I'm not a Liberal. I am a liberal. Your inability to see past the Liberal/Conservative paradigm once again--as if we needed any more evidence--amply demonstrates your partisan hackery. Strike One.

$1:

Even Liberal MP Dan "Gas Hypocrite" McTeague has been holding Town Hall meetings regarding an issue in his community! What a concept, eh?

Your ceaseless attempts to bait and switch by bringing up some bad thing the Liberals are doing once again demonstrates your inability to see past the Liberal/Conservative paradigm. Again, textbook partisan hackery. Strike Two.

$1:

You act like 1 month of these MP's spending time with their communities is the worst thing to happen to Canada. Get a grip.

Your relentless reposting and re-reposting of orthodox Conservative talking points spoon-fed to you once again--as if we needed any more evidence--amply demonstrates your partisan hackery. Strike Three. Yer Out.

Thanks for showing up, now back to your hole, troll.

Ah yes.....ignore the issue and facts and throw in some comments without merit cause it makes you feel better about avoiding discussing things on a man-to-man level.

You sir, are in no place to call anyone a partisan hack. The amount of time you spend dodging questions and discussions while dishing out poor attempts to be witty, you could participate like an adult.

See, Zip, many of us here don't agree on much, but we can debate and discuss things and answer one another.

Try it sometime.

And do us all a favour and drop the whole Derby line "I'm a liberal not a Liberal" routine. Grow a pair of nuts and stand up for the party you support. Coward.

[Scape]

DrRosen DrRosen:

I dont like the partisan aspects of senate apoointment but its still cheaper then reforming the whole system.

I think Harper having the new appointments swear to an 8 year term is a way around that. Perhaps instead of Iggy hiding behind the provinces and in fact putting it on the record that no senator will be appointed without agreeing to a limit would do a great deal to solve this impasse and not going into consitutional talks ala Meech Lake.

[poquas]

Scape Scape:

DrRosen DrRosen:

I dont like the partisan aspects of senate apoointment but its still cheaper then reforming the whole system.

I think Harper having the new appointments swear to an 8 year term is a way around that. Perhaps instead of Iggy hiding behind the provinces and in fact putting it on the record that no senator will be appointed without agreeing to a limit would do a great deal to solve this impasse and not going into consitutional talks ala Meech Lake.

The terms Harper claims to have sworn the Senators to, has no standing in law whatsoever. A senator is “entitled” sit until their 75th birthday. If he really wanted to take the high ground, he wouldn’t fill the seats at all. All the bills he claimed the Senate screwed with was bullshit. The bills were still in the house and are now history since he decided to invoke the latest parliamentary holiday.

[DerbyX]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

And do us all a favour and drop the whole Derby line "I'm a liberal not a Liberal" routine. Grow a pair of nuts and stand up for the party you support. Coward.

The whole Derby line? You are the one who keeps posting that despite having a "C" next t your name you aren't really a partisan conservative yet at every turn do just that.

Zips right on the money here.