May 2015 Provincial Election Thread v2

[Buster]

Ezra's claim to being a journalist is probably much more valid than Notley claim to being a competent premier.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't like Ezra very much, but I do give him credit for living by the credo of Controversy creates cash.

I also give him credit, the guy does seem to do his homework, his work on the Environmental third party funding and his work against Chief Spence were pretty deep and detailed.

But the point above, is that as a political leader, you really can't pick and choose your press unless you want to go to state sponsored journalists, or you pick a few and then craft your message while shutting everyone else out.

I tend to think right now that Notley has been wrecked by the media on both sides, and she's terrified of not being able to control the message, its the nightmare of any good socialist.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Honestly, Slava, the only reason why you are calling it "debatable" that Ezra Levant is a journalist is the fact that he's a very conservative journalist. He's been a journalist for two decades.


Incidentally, Nenshi asked Cournoyer on Twitter if he had ever been in one of those media lock-ups. The answer was no. So in that one respect, Gunther might have been implying more than may be true in reality (depending on whether rabble.ca people have been allowed in). But it still leaves open questions about the NDP having rebel media people kicked out of public lobbies, and kicking out someone who was already inside the lockup - presumably because they did have an accredited media pass - because of politics.

It has nothing to do with his politics. Like I said, he might be a journalist in which case he makes the cut. I personally think that's debatable and really he's just a pure opinion columnist which shouldn't get you into lock-ups and things like that. Really between you and I we have thousands of posts on here about politics and I certainly don't think that I would qualify as journalist, and no offence, but that fact shouldn't qualify you either.

I just think that when you have his staff or whatever saying "hey I appeared on a radio panel as a hockey mom" that shouldn't qualify you either. I can't even believe that is questionable.

Originally Posted by Weitz

So why do they allow his equivalent left leaning writers?

Can't have it both ways imo.

I said above that they should apply this equally. I'm not sure how much more blunt I can be.

[Resolute 14]

As CC notes, Levant has done some serious investigative journalism as well. Even so, trying to claim he isn't a journalist because he frequently writes op-eds seems akin to a no true scotsman fallacy. Hate the man's politics, but there is absolutely no question that he is a journalist. And by extension, his employees usually are too. In this specific case, the president of the Legislative press gallery recognized Reid as such as well. It isn't Notley's place to be controlling the media.

[Slava]

Well I guess if someone says you're a journalist you are. It's like a hover board: we all know it doesn't hover and has wheels, but if people start calling it a hover board, you've pulled it off.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I tend to think right now that Notley has been wrecked by the media on both sides, and she's terrified of not being able to control the message, its the nightmare of any good socialist.

There hasn't been a Canadian politician in the last 50 years more dedicated to controlling the message than Stephen Harper. Remember, he's the one who replaced the time-honoured tradition of prime ministers and cabinet ministers facing a media scrum as they left meetings with an American-style stage-managed press conference.

[nik-]

I honestly find it shocking how vigorously you're defending this Slava.

It's a bull#### move, and you know it.

[Fuzz]

Perhaps arguing that he isn't a journalist is the wrong stance. What could be argued is his journalistic ethics are far below what I consider acceptable for a journalist. You are supposed to report the news, not make it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I guess if someone says you're a journalist you are. It's like a hover board: we all know it doesn't hover and has wheels, but if people start calling it a hover board, you've pulled it off.

If that someone is the president of the press gallery, then yes, absolutely.

[rubecube]

Yeah, as much as I think Levant is a blowhard, this is bush league politics. It made sense when Trudeau refused to do an interview after the crap Ezra flung at him, but that's on a party and personal level and not a government level.

[Fuzz]

So is this because they neglected to get media accreditation(they obviously can't let anyone in to these things) or did they got through the process and have it revoked? I looked through the sun article and the Rebel one and didn't see any mention that they are accredited, or that they attempted to be.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So is this because they neglected to get media accreditation(they obviously can't let anyone in to these things) or did they got through the process and have it revoked? I looked through the sun article and the Rebel one and didn't see any mention that they are accredited, or that they attempted to be.

Didn't the article said that once it was determined by the NDP person that they were accredited and present, their credentials were removed and they were kicked out?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

There hasn't been a Canadian politician in the last 50 years more dedicated to controlling the message than Stephen Harper. Remember, he's the one who replaced the time-honoured tradition of prime ministers and cabinet ministers facing a media scrum as they left meetings with an American-style stage-managed press conference.

Rachel is that you?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by nik-

I honestly find it shocking how vigorously you're defending this Slava.

It's a bull#### move, and you know it.

I just don't think that we need all of these people in the budget lock-up. I don't really care if its Levant, or the CTF of CFIB or whoever. What purpose does it serve? There is a big difference between lobbyists and opinion groups as compared to say BNN. One of those sources tells you "here's what is in the budget" as an information piece and the other is pushing an agenda. Its not even about vigorous defence, I just don't think that excluding these kinds of groups is all that big of a deal.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Yeah, as much as I think Levant is a blowhard, this is bush league politics. It made sense when Trudeau refused to do an interview after the crap Ezra flung at him, but that's on a party and personal level and not a government level.

Except that Trudeau didn't just refuse Levant, he basically said that he wasn't going to talk to the Sun Media Chain.

Which to me put him in the Harper category.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Perhaps arguing that he isn't a journalist is the wrong stance.

Why try to figure a different hypothetical argument just to get the same result? It's a terrible policy (optically) and practically.

You can't just pick and choose the press based on whether you like them or not.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just don't think that we need all of these people in the budget lock-up. I don't really care if its Levant, or the CTF of CFIB or whoever. What purpose does it serve? There is a big difference between lobbyists and opinion groups as compared to say BNN. One of those sources tells you "here's what is in the budget" as an information piece and the other is pushing an agenda. Its not even about vigorous defence, I just don't think that excluding these kinds of groups is all that big of a deal.

That's a pretty weak defence so I'm glad you admit that it isn't vigorous. Pretty much every media has bias in this day and age. It's an indefensible act and I don't even like Ezra Levant. Pretty homerish to defend this at all really.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Why try to figure a different hypothetical argument just to get the same result? It's a terrible policy (optically) and practically.

You can't just pick and choose the press based on whether you like them or not.

Sorry, that wasn't what I meant. If they had denied his organization based on him breaking journalistic ethics, they may have a leg to stand on.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by nik-

That's a pretty weak defence so I'm glad you admit that it isn't vigorous. Pretty much every media has bias in this day and age. It's an indefensible act and I don't even like Ezra Levant. Pretty homerish to defend this at all really.

Well let's say that him and his people are banned from attending. What difference will that make for the average guy? Why should people really care here?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sorry, that wasn't what I meant. If they had denied his organization based on him breaking journalistic ethics, they may have a leg to stand on.

Not that I doubt you, but can you show me these breaking journalistic ethics claims?