May 2015 Provincial Election Thread v2

[Resolute 14]

Perhaps Notley should dig into Alberta's history and bring back the Accurate News and Information Act. That way her politburo can control the message.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Red

We probably don't need an official government statement that Levant is not a reporter, but for those that think otherwise see below.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ces-and-events

“Our rationale on this is very simple and it comes down to one thing: It’s the fact that Ezra Levant himself has testified under oath that he is not a reporter and so we don’t consider him a reporter,” she said — apparently referencing Levant’s 2014 testimony in Ontario Superior Court as a defendant in a libel case.
“I’m a commentator, I’m a pundit,” Levant said at trial. “I don’t think in my entire life I’ve ever called myself a reporter.”
“If you go to court and testify under oath that you are not a reporter, the government doesn’t consider you a reporter,” Oates said.

That's kind of funny. Says one thing to get out of trouble, that puts him in other trouble.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

All it mentioned was that when it was discovered who she worked for, she was kicked out. So not sure about accreditation.

Wait, was it Ezra himself getting kicked out or a different reporter. What basis does the NDP have to kick or revoke the credentials for other reporters then? Just association?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Red

We probably don't need an official government statement that Levant is not a reporter, but for those that think otherwise see below.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ces-and-events

“Our rationale on this is very simple and it comes down to one thing: It’s the fact that Ezra Levant himself has testified under oath that he is not a reporter and so we don’t consider him a reporter,” she said — apparently referencing Levant’s 2014 testimony in Ontario Superior Court as a defendant in a libel case.
“I’m a commentator, I’m a pundit,” Levant said at trial. “I don’t think in my entire life I’ve ever called myself a reporter.”
“If you go to court and testify under oath that you are not a reporter, the government doesn’t consider you a reporter,” Oates said.

This makes the NDP look pathetic and small. Usually governments should be governing and not making press releases about why they think a reporter is not a 'journalist'. Pathetic and amateur hour.

[peter12]

I have no time for Ezra Levant, but I don't think the NDP gets to share my perspective. To repeat what northcrunk said, "amateur hour," and it continues.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Wait, was it Ezra himself getting kicked out or a different reporter. What basis does the NDP have to kick or revoke the credentials for other reporters then? Just association?

It wasn't Ezra who I think lives in Toronto, it was other people from therebel if I read the story right, so guilt by association.

[Dan02]

It's like the NDP found a old book about all the things a conservative can do to be hated and decided to adopt it. I find my optimism for our new government waning at an accelerated rate and wonder why we elected them. Then i remember they were the least ####ty option.

[Weitz]

Well, I just read that the Rebel plans to sue, so I don't expect this to go away soon.

[Fuzz]

That seams to be how Ezra makes a living. Make a bunch of noise, stir up controversy to get his name in the news and watch the $ roll in.

[Resolute 14]

^Agreed there. And Notley walked right into it. She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lose control of the message since the election. Which is really bizarre given how well she controlled it during the campaign.

Originally Posted by chemgear

Wait, was it Ezra himself getting kicked out or a different reporter. What basis does the NDP have to kick or revoke the credentials for other reporters then? Just association?

It was some of Ezra's staff.

One member was already inside the meeting room - I presume they had credentials to get in, but it is equally possible that nobody bothered to check until they discovered an 'enemy' outlet was around. The other member apparently did not have accreditation, which was the justification for removing them from the area of the press lock-up. But Lorne Gunther says she was also accepted as a journalist by the President of the Legislature's press corps, so the NDP having her removed from public areas where Notley happens to be is pretty damn petty, no matter what one thinks of Ezra Levant.

[Swift]

I'm a leftie, liberal type who wants to see the NDP do well, but yeah, this is some bull####.

Dissenting voices should always be allowed report on the Govt regardless of whether the Govt of the day agrees with them or not.

[OMG!WTF!]

Have they defined what a reporter is yet? Or just that a Rebel employee isn't one? If Ezra isn't one, could his employees still be? What a bunch of goofs. All around.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Have they defined what a reporter is yet? Or just that a Rebel employee isn't one? If Ezra isn't one, could his employees still be? What a bunch of goofs. All around.

To me, letting one in, which means that she got past the vetting and then booting her out is really painting the wrong picture.

But this government is the gang that can't shoot straight, I don't think there's anything thats not minor that they haven't completely bungled.

I think the budget drops next month, and that could be the watershed moment since Ceci has been basically and largely overwhelmed in the Finance role.

Even though it doesn't matter because of their majority status, I think budget votes are automatically confidence votes.

Its not a good thing when the general population lives in fear of what the government is going to do next. If this budget is badly received, you could see a major cabinet shuffle or public calls for resignations, and if Ceci gets shuffled they don't have anyone else that is going to fit into the finance role.

[Resolute 14]

A budget is automatically a confidence vote, yes. But, as you say, a confidence vote is meaningless in a majority situation.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

A budget is automatically a confidence vote, yes. But, as you say, a confidence vote is meaningless in a majority situation.

Yeah its more symbolic then anything else.

Reading further into this, Levant has posted a letter from his lawyer to the director of communications, and it really looks like the whole Accreditation thing is pretty shakey at best.

Basically therebel asked the press galley president what they needed to work the legislature, and he replied that they didn't need accreditation, and the person needed to be a working journalist, when she showed up at the legislature she was denied by direction of the premiers office because of a lack of accreditation. In other words Notley blackballed the organization with a dishonest reason.

Levant is going to take this as far as he can, and when you look at his twitter he's getting a lot of play and support from mainstream media members.

Hate the website name, but the link includes the legal letter

http://www.therebel.media/notleyisabully

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Red

“Our rationale on this is very simple and it comes down to one thing: It’s the fact that Ezra Levant himself has testified under oath that he is not a reporter and so we don’t consider him a reporter,” she said — apparently referencing Levant’s 2014 testimony in Ontario Superior Court as a defendant in a libel case.
“I’m a commentator, I’m a pundit,” Levant said at trial. “I don’t think in my entire life I’ve ever called myself a reporter.”
“If you go to court and testify under oath that you are not a reporter, the government doesn’t consider you a reporter,” Oates said.

That's pretty comical. Let's go back to 2014 and ask all of the NDP MLA's if they are politicians. Bet almost all of them say no.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Reading further into this, Levant has posted a letter from his lawyer to the director of communications, and it really looks like the whole Accreditation thing is pretty shakey at best.

In the spectrum of freedom of the press, arbitrary government revocation of journalist accreditation seems like one of the most obvious red flags from first world dictatorships and crappy countries.

Obviously not lumping the NDP with that but it shows how utterly stupid this is.

[CaptainCrunch]

Someone on Twitter said something interesting, that there isn't a consensus professional college that names you a reporter or journalist and there is no real universal accreditation process.

To put it bluntly I never went to journalism school nor made a dime as a reporter, yet the Stampeder's gave me media accreditation when we requested it for our site (insert cheap plug here).

For therebel to actually ask if they needed accreditation and told by the president of the legislature press gallery that they didn't and then later tossed out because the premieres office decided that they need accreditation is slimy at best, and pretty dishonest at worst.

Notley has been a major disappointment, but I gave her a bit of a break because she fought a good campaign, but now it looks fully like the Peter Principle resides in the Premieres office.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Jacks

That's pretty comical. Let's go back to 2014 and ask all of the NDP MLA's if they are politicians. Bet almost all of them say no.

I bet none of them went to politician school!

[Frequitude]

Why would she pick this fight?! What an idiot.