David Emerson crosses floor to the Tories

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I agree 200% to the bold/underlined part - which is much more than most others here are saying.

To want representation in Cabinet from all areas of the country is a valiant ideal.

But when you engage in the same activities that you have harangued the previous government about, and do it on the very day you assume power, then that is more than going about it the wrong way, that is about a immediate a violation of the 'ethical/moral' platform you ran on as I can imagine.

Conservative Revenue Minister Carol Skelton, who in the last session introduced a motion to restrict the practice of party-switching, told reporters she does not plan to renew the call when the House resumes.
"That was last year," she said. "We talked about it, and I decided not to proceed with it. It's one of those matters that is debatable."

Interesting. Would the Liberals have gotten away with the crap they pulled if they had just said it was "debatable"?

[Go4Gold]

We as Canadians will be going to the polls within 2 years, if that. The Harper gov't ain't gonna last. The lines between real conservatives and the reform are growing deeper. Just watch Klein be the final straw that breaks this fragile unity with the whole private health care.

Anyways, I predict another Liberal gov't within 2 years time.



Maybe that is all that we should allow our polititians to stay in power for?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by calculoso

You're obviously not reading what I'm saying.

Harper had a plan. He had an aim. He wants to get the best people for the positions. That part is awesome and what I like a lot.

Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm not reading what your are saying.

You are trying to paint this as some noble move by Harper, like this was the only guy in the country that could do the job so he just had to get him no matter what. He was part of the plan, he was in the sights, this was the guy all along that Harper wanted. I don't buy that.

If I did believe that I would be a little concerned about the quality of the rest of the Conservatives though. I'd think they'd have to be a lot of boobs and bunglers if the boss felt he had to go outside the party, right into the Cabinet of the corrupt Liberals at that, to fill this position.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Members of his new party now turning against him -- good.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/National

The most vocal critic among the Conservative MPs yesterday was Garth Turner, from Halton, Ont., who said the public was justified in being concerned about the controversial appointments of Mr. Emerson and Michel Fortier, the unelected party organizer who will be a Quebec senator and Public Works Minister.
"My own view would be I think a by-election would be a great idea," Mr. Turner told reporters when asked about Mr. Emerson. "This kind of thing actually grates a lot of people the wrong way."

Harold Albrecht, the rookie Tory MP for Kitchener-Conestoga, said he continues to oppose party switching and wanted to talk to his colleagues about the issue. Mike Allen, a newly elected New Brunswick Conservative, had little to say in Mr. Emerson's defence.
"He made the choice," Mr. Allen said. "He's going to have to deal with his electorate. Here's how I would put it: If the offer had been made to me, then I just wouldn't. That's my personal view. I just wouldn't do it."

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I heard something on the radio this afternoon which has me wondering more about Emerson than before. Seems as though the Liberal Gov't had some kind of a softwood lumber deal 70% done with the US and Emerson was one of those that kept it secret/was blocking the release of news of it... and is now one that stands to reap in the praise of getting the deal done.

This strikes me 2-fold. First, it does show that he was directly involved in this portfolio, so the decision to give it to him again had at least something to do wtih his qualifications. Next though, I wonder what he'd have to gain by blocking the news before the election only to gain it afterwards.... wierd.

1) Seventy percent is zero percent if its not done, particularly on THAT topic where the USA has busted on other rulings and deals.

2) Most of these deals are negotiated by bureacrats with political guidance from above. He would have been as indispensible to the end product as the next tissue in your Kleenex box.

3) Don't believe everything you hear when someone is running for their lives.

Again... I don't like that he switched parties... but to say it has nothing to do with his qualifications? Don't be so blind. He would have had a totally different post.

No, I don't believe his "qualifications" had anything to do with it - most of these people have little qualification for the portfolios they take on in the first place, hence the term "cabinet shuffle" where they can be moved from one thing they're not expert in to another where they're also not experts. There are exceptions but typically they're the political overseers of the bureacracy.

By saying his qualifications and prior experience in that cabinet post had something to do with this, you're saying he was targeted because of those qualifications . . . . . . and it seems pretty obvious he was targeted because he was the most prominent Vancouver politician likely to be a turncoat.

But . . . . we all have different opinions.

The petition is getting close to 9000 signatures and the press is starting to lean on him as well as Conservative politicians seeing the wind blowing the right way, are starting to make public comments.

It's only a matter of time now. And that's only right.

Cowperson

[Bobblehead]

Here is Garth Turner's Weblog

Looks like he hasn't endeared himself to the PMO.

This one MP came face-to-face with the party machine in a series of unhappy meetings including one tonight with the prime minister. I think it is now safe to say my career options within the Conservative caucus are seriously limited.

I know the PMO has a song sheet it wants all caucus members to sing from, and I know what happens when an individual chooses to go his or her own way. I was just hoping this time I would not be asked to choose – between party and principle. I chose principle. My deepest loyalty is to what I believe, what I told the voters and what I want Parliament to become.

[HOZ]

He is that hopelessly Con-tilted Bourque.org's look on things....


HARPER'S AWFUL FIRST WEEK
NDP WANTS INQUIRY INTO EMERSON PARTY SWITCH
TORY MP PLANS ANTI-PARTY-SWITCHING BILL
HARPER'S CAUCUS CRISIS
SHREWD OR STOOGE ?
DEFENCE'S LOBBYIST , PATRONAGE'S UNELECTED BACKROOMER, VANCOUVER'S TURNCOAT
SUN: "REALLY SCARY", HARPER ACTING LIKE A LIBERAL
BAY STREET LIKES 'TRUE BLUE' CABINET
POLITICAL PORK TOPS PRINCIPLE
CURIOUS EMERSON COMMENTS