As pointed out by poster Vicki at my blog, CTV still links to the error filled and shoddy story on the YWCA Report as a related story.

Not to mention, why show an Emerson protestor at all in the story? Did this possibly non-constituent yoyo have anything to do with a childcare story?

Posted by: molarmauler at April 18, 2006 09:19 PM

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I understand your tactic, but seriously don't think it matters where any protester is from.
I personally don't think floor crossing is a big deal, but those that do have a right to protest anyone who does.

I guess your point is that if you don't live there, you aren't directly effected by it. But, then how do you fell re: people protesting Mr. Ignatieff over his past stance on torture?? I believe (and I think you do too) they're allowed to protest this stance regardless of whether they live in Mr. Ignatieff's riding or whether they themselves have been subjected to the torture Mr. Ignatieff speaks about.

For those that think democracy has been flouted (I don't by the way), their location or whether they were directly affected, is therefore totally irrelevant.

Posted by: Mike at April 18, 2006 09:27 PM

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Ignatieff wants to be leader of the Liberal party of Canada. Not locally but nationally.

And who cares who the leader of the liberals are anyways. May they all rot.
enough

Posted by: enough at April 18, 2006 09:30 PM

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Fine - change the topic then and say they don't have a right to protest if they don't live in their riding or haven't been directly affected.

How about protesting Carolyn Parrish over her anti-US stance? I don't think you would argue against anyone's right to protest simply because they aren't American or they didn't live in Parrish's riding.

Seriously, think about it.

Posted by: Mike at April 18, 2006 09:40 PM

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Carolyn Parrish's repeated behaviour affected the government's relationship with the US, undermining the work being done by ministers who represent all Canadians. It's hard to stretch that reasoning to cover Emerson's perfectly legal move across the floor.

No one protested Parrish's responsibility to represent her riding. People objected to her behaviour, not to her job. The free and fair election of an MP is not something to be reversed except on the most serious grounds (treason, etc).

Arguably Parrish's actions did more to undermine the Canadian government than Emerson's.

Posted by: Steve Janke at April 18, 2006 09:50 PM

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We'll agree to disagree then.
I think anyone has the right to protest something they feel is egregious, regardless of where they live or whether they were directly affected. You, I guess, don't. Fair enough.

Posted by: at April 18, 2006 09:59 PM

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I agree with Mike that anyone who disagrees with David Emerson's decision to cross the floor has a right to protest whether they live in his riding or not. However, that is not the point. The point is that CTV, by identifying a protester as a constiuent, implies that there is ongoing unrest in the riding over this issue. Meanwhile the rest of Canada has moved on and really could not care less about this (see the latest polls). This only highlights the MSM's bias againt the current government and their attempts to continue to present it in a negative light.

Posted by: Red Deer Redneck at April 18, 2006 09:59 PM

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those are vancouver junkies.....below mankey population.

Posted by: george at April 18, 2006 10:01 PM

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those are vancouver junkies.....below monkey population.

Posted by: george at April 18, 2006 10:02 PM

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Bunch of Cry-Babies. The Emerson thing is no big deal especially compared to the Stronach defection that can easily be categorized as a power grab. The main salient point of this thread, it seems to me, is the CTV spin which is typical MSM. Do not think that it is an accident with Senior Liberal election strategists in CTV's management group.

Posted by: Mel N at April 18, 2006 10:39 PM

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There IS ongoing protest in Vancouver.

No one is going to forget it, and Emerson will be out in the next election. Which may be very soon.

He could have been honourable, his new boss could have been honourable. However, they chose their path and now they have to walk it. Thank goodness we won't have to re-hear the tired old ethics and morals blurbs from Harper this time around. Neither can they blame this debacle on the Liberals.

BTW, the man in the picture IS a constituent of Vancouver-Kingsway. He's been a force for democracy in the loose coalition that makes up the protesters since the day Emerson was sworn in. He has every right to be there, as does anyone who cares about democracy and the sanctity of the vote.

Emerson might liken the people as locusts who nevertheless have his respect, and Harper might smirk and diminish the protesters, saying it's old news, but in the end those locusts are the voters and they will not forget.

The people outside the riding saw what happened to Vancouver-Kingsway and know if we let it slide, it can happen to them. So, the Emerson locusts will continue to stand up for democracy.

Posted by: Emerson Locust at April 18, 2006 11:04 PM

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People have a right to protest peacefully whether they are from Emerson's riding or not. I think it is time to put this issue to bed until the next election and then the people will decide.

Posted by: steve d. at April 18, 2006 11:20 PM

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So Steve... The Emerson crossing is a non-issue that is only given prominence by the evil MSM, highlighting random outside agitators and the polls support Harper.
So why doesn't Harper let Emerson run in a by-election in Van-Kingsway and put the matter to rest? Huh?

Posted by: maryjane at April 18, 2006 11:47 PM

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By all means, let's put this issue to bed until the next election. I've seen so many outraged comments on this crossing of the floor by Emerson that were noticeably absent with Belinda Stronach and my own former MP, Joe Peschilido (please forgive my spelling). On Tuesday evening's Michael Smyth's CKNW radio programme he devoted some time to this issue and said that it was driven by partisan people and that it was time to get over it. There has also become a trend in recent comments to Angry's blog that seem to be going in the direction that Andrew Coyne's did a few months ago - to our loss.

Lance M. Jefferson
Richmond, British Columbia

Posted by: Lance M. Jefferson at April 19, 2006 05:34 AM

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I don't know...
I'm starting to feel sorry for the protestors.
When the one sad guy said that they all left work to be there, my heart strings were tugged. And then the PM wouldn't even stop by to honor their sacrifices.
He could go to Afghanistan but he can't even cross the street to support the real troops...

Ugh, I can't go on, 7:15am is too early for sarcasm and I haven't had my coffee yet.

Posted by: molarmauler at April 19, 2006 08:17 AM

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PM Harper has no control over "letting" Emerson run in a byelection. That is up to Emerson.

Frankly, PM Harper doesn't have nearly as much of a problem with the floor crossing as all the disappointed NDPers. The lefties are once again blind to reality. Let me sum it up.

1. The Liberal party has repeatedly taken advantage of floor crossing in their favor. As recently as last year. Can anyone say hypocrites?

2. PM Harper during the election clearly enunciated his opposition to floor crossing legislation.

3. Ian Waddell (the NDP candidate against Emerson) was a provincial cabinet minister who enticed the leader of a provincial party to cross the floor and become an NDP cabinet minister.

4. This loose coalition is mainly NDP with a smattering of Liberals. Any "conservatives" were anti-harper pro-Joe Clark tories.

5. It has been 3 months since the election. Get a life people.

6. 14 people at this protest. How many news reports counted the pro Harper crowd?
enough

Posted by: enough at April 19, 2006 08:56 AM

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"I personally don't think floor crossing is a big deal, but those that do have a right to protest anyone who does."

Mike, the hypocricy and blind partisanship of the protesters is evidenced by the very fact that they don't protest "anyone" who floor-crosses. These are nothing more than scripted photo-ops designed for a specific partisan purpose. Even the media knows this, but they have the same purpose.

Posted by: Jeff at April 19, 2006 10:28 AM

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"So why doesn't Harper let Emerson run in a by-election in Van-Kingsway and put the matter to rest? Huh?"

Maryjane: Because that is not required and Harper is not an appeaser.

Posted by: Jeff at April 19, 2006 10:34 AM

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I agree that the Emerson defection is a dead issue, and should be allowed to dissipate.

What I find significant is the way in which the Stronach floor-crossing was handled by the MSM, particularly the CBC, when contrasted with the Emerson defection. In the former, the consensus opinion seemed to be that it was a great coup, and Martin was lauded as a hero; in the latter, all we hear is that it was unethical, immoral & probably fattening.

The fact that the Canadian media is so overtly left-wing, with a VERY few exceptions is the main problem, and one PMSH is dealing with quite admirably. Its a hell of a difficult task to face a roomfull of predominantly liberal, mostly hostile and sneering reporters asking inane questions laced with innuendo, and not prattle on meaninglessly (a la PMPM) but to actually answer the question put. After a while, PMSH has seen that most questions being posed are not demanding of any answer, but designed only to catch him in some trap the questioner spent hours dreaming up.

Posted by: Alienated at April 19, 2006 11:39 AM

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Whether or not the protester was a constituent or not has no effect on his right to protest. He has one and that's that. The media misleading people into believing that he is a constituent is another matter. In the eyes of the public, a groundswell of protest in Emerson's own riding would likely be more damaging to Emerson. Thus if CTV lied about the protester, it is engaging in manipulation of public opinion, rather than simple reportage. Not that that's never happened before.

Posted by: Occam's Carbuncle at April 19, 2006 12:52 PM

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After the election, the media was all up in arms that Harper would not have any Vancouver, GTA and Montreal (you know, the REAL Canada) in his cabinet. PMSH went out and got it and now the media are pissed, so they try to keep the issue alive.

If they didn't have the "Emerson" issue, it would be the "Lack of representation" issue. In Harper's mind, I think the calculation was that the "Emerson" issue would dissappear over time, and I think he was right.

Posted by: DKJONES at April 19, 2006 05:09 PM

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from http://emersoncampaign.ca/ April 19, 2006

Harper forgot to muzzle a minion who promptly went and kicked the "dead horse."

Excerpt:

However, during the protest a Stephen Harper supporter and Conservative Party member, Peter Appleton, told two critics of David Emerson, who happen to be immigrants and Canadian citizens, to get out of the country. Appleton said "why don't you just go back to the country where you came from?"

Appleton is a Conservative Party official, duly elected to his post by members of the party in his riding. Appleton wore around his neck a name badge identifying himself as the president of the New Westminster--Coquitlam Conservative Electoral District Association.

Appleton's comments are completely unacceptable and are deeply offensive to millions of Canadians.

Uh oh.

Posted by: Emerson Locust at April 19, 2006 05:33 PM

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The media continues to obsess on issues votors by and large care nothing about. To wit, access to Cabinet Ministers and Emmersons defection. If the country realy cared deeply about these issues. Harper and the conservative poll numbers would be going down. But if you repeat a story often enough, it becomes reality. There are no WMDs in Iraq.

In the Leftist mindset, Stronach and Emmerson are not the same issue. Belinda was a conversion, worthy of praise. David is a traitor and deserves damnation. Double photo op protest damnation.

Posted by: john at April 19, 2006 08:08 PM

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john,
Are you out to lunch? Stronach at least showed the people by crossing the floor; Stronach had a beef with Harper, and she talked about it; Stronach ran in her riding and won.
Emerson... not so much.
Emerson showed up at a swearing in as a Conservative MP; Emerson talked about it, saying he really didn't care what the voters thought; Emerson has not run for anything since winning his Liberal seat. Would he run in his "own" riding again?
There's the rub, eh? Emerson knew for 2 weeks he was a Conservative; Harper and Reynolds admit he was contacted the very next day after the election. He didn't have a bout of doubt, he never spoke to his people... when is the last time he showed up at his office in Vancouver-Kingsway?
That's the difference. He didn't serve even one day of his sworn mandate to his riding on which he was elected. Just popped up at the swearing in as a Conservative, and constituents be damned.
Are voters now expected to ask point-blank to each candidate's face: are you really really really a (fill in the party blank)?
Ridiculous.
And would you believe them?
Could you?

Posted by: Emerson Locust at April 19, 2006 08:46 PM

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So, this is but a tempest in a teapot: "bleating(Janke)
"One sad guy" (molarmauler).
"Harper is not an appeaser." On this issue? Perhaps not. He's just a hypocrite.
enough: Harper has complete control. All he has to say is "David, resign your seat and face the electorate, you know, that democracy thing we are promoting in Afghanistan, or sit as an independent." But we all know they're both nutless wonders.

Posted by: maryjane at April 19, 2006 10:48 PM

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Maryjane,
Your obliviousness continues.
Stephen Harper has no problem with the floor crossing.
No problem.
Quite fine with it.
Thought it got representation for Vancouver.
Understand?

Welcome to democracy. It ain't always pretty. Doesn't always go your way.
Nut jobs like locust are obsessed with this.
enough

Posted by: enough at April 20, 2006 12:00 AM

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> This only highlights the MSM's bias againt the current government and their attempts to continue to present it in a negative light.

What a load of BS. Is there any more common lament of the neo-con than that the MSM is against them? I didn't realize that playing a perpetual victim was a conservative value.

Posted by: Todd at April 20, 2006 02:37 AM

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Enough... I am oblivious to Harper supporter's attempts to put lipstick on this pig. No matter how you try to dress it up, it's still swine. And smells like it.

Posted by: maryjane at April 20, 2006 12:47 PM

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So where do you stand on Belindas defection?
Scott Brison?
Ian Waddell as a provincial cabinet minister advocating and instigating a defection?
I assume wrong, wrong and wrong.

But, do not accuse PM Harper of backtracking. He specifically stated his intention to not legislate or speak out against.

The Liberals do it when convenient. Their sudden prison born again conversion smacks of hypocrisy.
The NDPs problems especially with Waddell being so hard done by because of this incident is also hypocritical.

Thanks maryjane it has been fun but the horse is now glue. I leave it to the fanatics and the insufficiently medicated whackos to continue this debate. Have at it.
enough

Posted by: enough at April 20, 2006 02:27 PM

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enough ....Where do I stand? Stronach and Brison had the testicular fortitude to face their respective electorates. 'nuff said?

Posted by: maryjane at April 22, 2006 05:33 PM

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enough.... Where do I stand regarding Stronach and Brison?...With the democratic decision of their respective constituents, unlike Harper, Emerson and their apologists, who stand for political expediency. 'nuff said.

Posted by: maryjane at April 22, 2006 09:31 PM

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Marjane:
Did Belinda or Brison face the electorate before the next federal election
NO!!
Did the Saskatchewan Liberals go to a by-election
No!! Osika got a plum job after getting his butt kicked {Board of director crown corporation}
How would you know what a pig smells like! You Hate farmers.
Belinda and Scott waited for the next election and won to sit in opposition. Can you wait for the next election or are you buddies going to spend more money protesting?

Posted by: Scott at April 24, 2006 11:59 PM

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Scott....You must be inhaling too much manure if you think Emerson would ever run in Van/Kingsway, in a general or by-election.
Living half a mile from a pig farmer, I think I know what a pig smells like.
I don't hate farmers, I hate having to subsidize farmers from cradle to grave.

Posted by: maryjane at April 26, 2006 02:32 PM

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