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Who Wins the Political Insider Coveted Thanksgiving Turkey Award? #bcpol #canpoli #uspoli

On Occasion I hand out the Political Insider coveted Bonehead of the Month Award and well it’s Thanksgiving weekend so why not hand out a brand spanking new Political Insider Thanksgiving Turkey award.

I know most readers think that this is a slam dunk and that Justin Trudeau will win because he had a lousy week and he is in way over his head.

I have to admit he had his hand on the trophy and just when I thought the award was his he was beaten by a nose by Monica Hargrove.

I can hear it now ;what ,who is Monica what party does she belong to?

Just because I write a political blog doesn’t mean all the awards have to go to politicians.

Monica, bless her heart lives in Columbus Ohio , and wins the award on a number of fronts.

The local police as do police in many locations post on Facebook and newspapers outstanding warrants in hope the public will call and help them apprehend these fugitives.

In this case dear Monica was wanted for armed robbery.

Did the police get a call on Monica?

Yes ,Monica herself called because she was upset at the picture the police used because it wasn’t very flattering.

( if you are thinking smart police,they traced her cell phone and arrested her read on)

The police person who answered the call listened and said that if she didn’t like the picture ” she should come down to the station and we can talk about changing it.”

Monica came immediately and was arrested on the spot.

For this she bests Justin Trudeau for the Thanksgiving Turkey award.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Blowing a Lead in the Polls, The Olivia Chow Story! #onpoli #canpoli #bcpoli

All the talk lately in Ontario has been about how Olivia Chow has blown her lead in the polls in the run up to the Ontario election.

I remind people the election isn’t for another 10 days and we won’t really know if she has blown it until the night of the 15th.

But if she has here is my take on why that might have happened.

If you recall in August there was the incident regarding the so-called tweet from Warren Kinsella and all the nonsense about it being racist.

That was Chow’s moment to shine and show the people of Toronto she was a leader.

She should have gotten out in front of it herself and not sent Jamey Heath out to take care of it.

I believe in that moment she showed the good folks of TO she wasn’t a leader.

I mean let’s face it, that not what Jack Layton would have done would he.

He would have walked out with his big smile and said he made and mistake and asked for forgiveness.

Had Chow done that, she would be ahead.

If she loses she has nobody to blame but her self, the tweet was her moment and she blew it.

Politics and Soap Operas,What’s the Difference? #bcpoli #onpoli #canpoli

Firstly my apologies for not blogging for a bit as I have had a pinched sciatica in my back and it has been difficult to sit and type much let alone blog.

The time off as given me cause for thought and it begs the question: Is there any difference between politics and a soap opera?

I recall listening to folks who have said they followed such and such a soap opera for years and nothing much ever changes, that they could walk away for a few months and while a few characters are different the plot is still what and where it was when they left.

While I have been off, Justin is still saying dumb things, pretending he is a leader in a party that is supposedly inconclusive but not including those folks who are pro-life unless of course Justin says its okay.

That sounds a bit like he’s a chip off the ole block head and a lot like his dad was back in the 60’s and 70’s. ( not the pro-life or choice part,just the penchant for saying dumb things)

Meanwhile in the Ontario election, poll after poll is released and says the PC’s are ahead, the Liberals are ahead, the NDP is picking up steam, the NDP is losing steam etc.

Geesh so what are you to believe?

Let’s ask Dimitri Pantazopoulos the pollster who has a penchant for getting it right as he did in the 2013 BC Election;

“Some insight into numbers being thrown around in Ontario:
1. I am dubious of the numbers given the disparity between pollsters (this underlies the comments that follow).
2. The “best Premier” question is meaningless. Only one of the candidates has ever actually BEEN Premier. So, of course she is chosen more often as the “best Premier.” That is a wasted question.
3. Time for a change number and wrong track number would seem to indicate that the ON Lib ceiling is in the range of 30%-34%. This would suggest a PC victory
4. The fact that the NDP are so high, indicate a strong likelihood of another Liberal minority.
Does it sound like I am hedging? Yes, I am. Mainly because of the amount of contradictory information in the public domain.”

So what else is happening?

The Nomination race for the CPC in Oakville North-Burlington is once again clouded with alleged shenanigans.

That’s it right?

Well Rob Ford’s car was spotted out for a drive while he is in re-hab…..

So I ask,is there any difference between politics and soap operas?

You tell me?

UDATED:Quebec Election 2014, A Liberal Blowout and a Marois Resignation! #qc2014 #bcpoli #canpoli #goodbyepauline

The final numbers aren’t in ( Lib 70,PQ 30,CAQ 22,QS 3) but make no mistake about it, this is a Liberal blowout of herculean proportions!

The Quebec voters have handed Philippe Couillard and his Liberal Party a majority and by doing so have put the boots to Pauline Marios and her separatist crew for some time to come. ( More on that later)

In his victory/concession speech lucky new PQ MNA Karl Pierre Peladeau sounded more like a man who was giving Marois the Royal shove off the stage as he paid homage to the victory of Philippe Couillard.

For what it’s worth local politicians never congratulate leaders of winning parties. They usually leave that to their leader, unless of course that MNA already thinks he is the leader.

His speech sounded like the groundwork for that campaign and lets face it, who in the PQ would take him on right now.

Of course victory for him won’t be easy especially if you are a PQ member who blames Peladeau for the loss and lets face it his entrance into this contest and his sovereignty proclamation turned this election on its ear and handed it to Couillard and the Liberals.

Since Peladeau gave his speech he has already been telling reporters not to be blamed on him.

Personally I don’t think Peladeau will stick around and he will quit soon. A by-election will be called and the CAQ will pick up another seat.

The debates played a role and showcased the leadership of Francois Legault. His superb performance propelled the CAQ to upwards of 20 seats a new high for the party. They no doubt peeled off disenchanted PQ votes because of that and likely because a vote for them as well as Quebec Solidaire was ” safe’ in this election.

What about Marois? She will likely lose her seat by the hair of her chinny chin chin and either give herself the hook on a speech expected shortly or be given the boot by the party aka Peladeau.

She called an election a mere 18 months into her mandate ( David Peterson could have taught you a thing or two Pauline) and she lead what could be classed as one of the worst campaigns in history.

In her speech she resigned? Why wouldn’t she, she left the party in shambles.

What of Separation?

The separatists have a number of problems to deal with.

1) The current old generation of separatists probably just saw the last of their elections.

2) There are 3 parties in the house , 2 of which grew in size and who also troll for separatist votes.

3) Once the aforementioned old guard retires they will have rely on the young vote to help their cause and we all know the young folks don’t vote.

To be sure, Philippe Couillard has been given a big mandate not only to grow the economy but also to keep his foot on the throat of the separatists.

Will he do it?

Will Francois Legault be able to grow the CAQ as a viable alternative to the PQ?

Will the PQ go the way of the dodo bird? Who will be their new leader.

Will Peladeau quit soon and go back to private life?

What do you think?

The Jenny Kwan Saga: My View #bcpoli #bcleg #canpoli #resignation #bcndp

What? Did you three think you were going to get off that easy?

By now most people have read the sordid tale of the Portland Hotel Society.

Lost in all this as usual are the taxpayers and in particular the constituents of Jenny Kwan’s own riding.

They are lost because she ,during her teary eyed press conference yesterday, pledged to step away from politics and take a sabbatical.

This is of litle help to the people of her riding,Vancouver-Mt.Pleasant because it means they will not be represented in the house as long as that sabbatical continues.

In my view that is a sham.

It is also, in my opinion, scandalous, that the current leader of the BCNDP ( Adrian Dix) and the two leadership hopefuls ( John Horgan and Mike Farnsworth) have not come out and taken a strong stand and asked her to step aside.

In fact they haven’t said anything. How do they think the voting public will take them seriously in 2017.

Stepping aside for Kwan and taking a stance by leadership would be the right thing to do.

Somebody said to me yesterday even if she did resign and a by election were held the riding would still vote BCNDP.

My answer? So what! The people of Vancouver- Mt. Pleasant should be represented in the house like all other ridings.

As far as Kwan goes? She would be able to run for nomination in the lead up to the next election and if she wins, she’s the people’s choice.

But her actions yesterday have silenced the people of her riding, and that’s wrong.

The BCNDP Leadership and Kwan should be ashamed, no matter how you spin it!

“Le Shove” Will it Catch On? #canpoli #bcpoli #abpoli #qcpoli

Pauline Marois has started something with her recent shove of Pierre Karl Peledeau from the podium in a recent Q and A session during the Quebec election.

I think before this election is over Pierre will give her the “Le Shove’ back.

In recent days in Alberta, it seems the PC Party is getting ready to tell free spending leader , bully and Premier Alison Redford to “Shove Off“. In fact a second MLA has just left to sit as an independent and out of her caucus.

Federally, Liberal candidates are now telling leader Justin Trudeau to “Shove it” and backing away from party nominations.

I suspect in 2015 voters will tell him the same thing.

Pretty soon ” Le Shove” will be Canada’s national dance!

Rumor Du Jour-Saanich Gulf Islands ! #canpoli #bcpoli #sgi

In amongst the oil pipeline demonstrators at Brentwood College in beautiful Mill Bay yesterday ( these are the tard muffins that would rather have their oil trained and trucked), a new rumor has risen from the ashes.

There is talk that Elizabeth May will cross the floor and run under the Umbrella of the I love China Justin Trudeau Liberals.

It would be a match made in heaven say some since one is a dope and the other smokes a plant of the same name.

Who knows maybe Gary Lunn will come out of retirement and make that whole thing interesting.

Only time will tell!

Stay Tuned!

Christmas Langley Surrey Style! #Surrey #Langley #bcpoli #canpoli

Merry Christmas everybody. I hope you are all releaxing enjoying the day.

Meanwhile, a scant few blocks from my home and right where my daughter was kind enough to go to Timmies and get me a coffee, the cities of Langley and Surrey celebrated the festive season as only they can do, with a special down home touch.

I’ll let Cheryl and Dave of the Vancouver Province tell the tale for you.

There were no reports that a fat guy in a red suit was anywhere near the scene and no coffee was spilled on the return home.

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas to all!

By-Election Results; Did the Trudeau Bubble Burst? #bcpoli #canpoli

Harper: Put that in your pipe and smoke it Justin!

The results are now in in tonight’s by-elections and the Conservatives held onto their two seats and the Liberals won their two.

What does it all mean?

In a nut shell Justin Trudeau aint exactly the next great thing.

Lets face it the Liberals won two seats that they should have, lost one they could have and got blown out in the other.

In the great battle that was Toronto Center the Liberals won a Bob Rae seat in a by-election where nobody bothered to vote. ( 27.8 % of registered voters voted)

In Quebec they won Denis Coderre’s old seat. So what; they won that with great leaders like Ignatieff and Dion .

In Manitoba the Conservatives won big where they were expected to and squeaked by in Brandon-Souris.

In other words with the deck some what stacked against them the Conservatives still won.

To wit;

a) it so goes that sitting governments rarely win by-elections

b) the senate scandal

c) so-called problems with the nomination process

d) the Liberals ran a candidate with the last name Dinsdale a very popular candidate in the riding

e) the Conservatives ran a candidate who already lost the riding once

f) the mainstream media threw everything at the Conservatives they could to help Trudeau

This was the Trudeau chance to show greatness and steal one for the team and he couldn’t deliver.

What are the take a ways from all this?

The Conservatives have to keep the nomination process whistle clean and they should be fine. After all almost 45 % of registered voters turned out in their squeaker and they still won so I don’t think the public will be influenced at all by the so-called senate scandal come election time.

For the Liberals : Trudeau is not the piece of gold you quite thought he was. The west wasn’t buying what he was selling. Without a platform and a vision it is the voting public who will give him the finger when his train leaves the station.

For the NDP : Tom Mulcair might be excellent at question period but he is a dipshit on the campaign trail. He couldn’t motivate anybody to vote for everybody’s favorite socialist Linda McQuaig.

What will the mainstream media say? That Harper will worry over the results tonight.

In truth he won’t and it will be the media and the opposition that will be worried.

I would say the prospects for another majority look a little rosier now than they did a few hours ago, don’t they?

It’ll be an interesting run up to the 2015 election and Political Insider will be there to bring you all the action.

Stay tuned and as always thanks for reading!

Rumour Du Jour Surrey Style #bcpoli #canpoli #cpc

Another attempt at a seat? This time federal?

A fresh Rumor out of yesterday’s early morning Ministerial meet and greet with Chris Alexander has Allison Patton mulling over a potential run at a Federal CPC nomonation.

You remember Dr.Patton.

She was the so-called dissident that led the charge against the BC Conservative Party.

She followed that stroke of genius with a failed attempt to run as an independent and then as a BC Liberal.

I would imagine Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Campaign Director Jenni Byrne would rather drill holes in each others heads than think about the possible mayhem Patton would cause if she ran for a nomination.

For the party’s sake let’s hope it’s not true.