A preceding article contains two comments from readers whom I regard highly. The contributions were to Overrun with dullards, bums, and hacks… Because they merit close attention, I present them here again for emphasis.
The first was from Rafe Mair:
If it weren’t for Norm and one or two others we would know very little about what my old legal tummy tells me has some jail terms in it. Will Horgan have a no holds barred judicial Inquiry as he should? I doubt it. He’ll see it as a huge distraction even though that’s mostly avoidable with the right commissioner. He can’t be sure that the rot doesn’t go back before 2001.
Because of Campbell’s now embarrassing connection to the Federal Liberals the feds will pull out all the stops, especially fiscal to protect him and then there’s the fear that if The NDP do this to the Liberals, the next right-wing government will retaliate. I have never seen anything in government look and smell like this. Not by a long shot.
There is a good way to get a belly laugh out of this and see how our systems work – everyone go to a Liberal member of parliament and ask if they will demand that Mr. Trudeau authorize a federal investigation?
Tears of laughter have started down my cheeks at the thought of my Liberal lickspittle, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones speaking up on anything if there’s the remotest chance that the guy who gives her $200,000 a year to deliver occasional standard cheques a year to the Lions Bay Village Hall and make sure she attends the largest Remembrance Day service in the riding to lay the uniquitous Federal wreath.
But we’ll do nothing and pretend that we live in a parliamentary democracy where our hardworking federal political toadies stand up bravely for their constituents.
See you at the pig flying races!
The second comes from Scotty on Denman:
I think Rafe is correct that we’ve never seen—“Not by a long shot”—any benchmark or milestone as astounding as BC Liberal perfidy and breach of public trust (hiding from the public ideologically guided sabotage of public enterprise being, after all, the BC Liberals’ abiding calling card). And I do agree a sweeping purge or witch hunt would be an imprudent distraction for Horgan who will be busy enough repairing the damage to our public enterprise, a challenging necessity even without dwelling on who broke it. But I take exception to the idea that Horgan’s worried about what any inquiry into willful BC Liberal dysmanagement might say about NDP governments of the past.
First of all, whatever indiscretions Rafe might recall about Harcourt’s or Glen Clark’s governments, they are almost ridiculously, and certainly vanishingly, tiny in comparison to their BC Liberal successors’. I’m sure, if he wasn’t so busy, Horgan would be happy to invite citizens to make those comparisons—there are so many, and the contrast so sharp, the point is soon made clear without further trouble about it. Any public inquiries will be well attended, as such big draws usually are, and the audience may judge for itself.
Secondly, Horgan holds a position of leadership more magnified than any in generations, what with a partisan (or should I say, “non-partisan”?) accord with assiduously non-ministerial Greens—with their own leader, let’s not forget—and a razor thin parliamentary dynamic that turns on sum-zero-Speaker-relieved calculus. Horgan’ task is to relieve us of the partisan contention of election campaigns, and to lead with relative impartiality for the good of all, the two-party accord and the bubble of parliamentary confidence effectively demanding it. It’s not by shrewd political discernment and assiduousness that the new leader now moves, but rather by the will of the electorate, the necessities of administrative vitality, and the circumstances of the vote and subsequent agreement with the Greens. Making government work is now plainly less partisan and more cooperative—what voters seem to have wanted—and, whether by arm’s-length or intra-bureaucratic inquiry, will appear nothing short of required—as opposed to favouring—as the new government proceeds.
Horgan needs to be more like a leader for all, in the circumstances provided by voters’—all voters’—will, more than any BC Leader since WAC Bennett, and therefore must be less doctrinaire or indebted—or wary—of his socialist forebears. He stands upon the shoulders of many, yes, but now holds new ground over which he is his own man with no overshadowing of NDP governments past.
Nevertheless, I agree that no real impediment exists to finding “the right commissioners” to do the job of any inquiry (which are, by definition, “no holds barred”). I know, it seems refreshingly weird to realize impartiality can be mustered when needed after a BC Liberal reign of cronyism, conflicts of interest, and other breaches of public trust that have become almost ordinary under its defeated regime. Premier Horgan is well advised to avail these opportunities to reinstate ethical oversight while remaining at arm’s-length and undistracted from the challenges of administration he’ll face every single day as a result of BC Liberal poison.
It’s ironic that unwinding the antisocial tentacles of extreme ideology and partisanship ends up having to affect administrative impartiality that might seem at times to absolve—or at least commute—the perfidy of the outgoing culprits. However, in the circumstances the electorate provided, it seems wise to avoid being tempted by partisan vengeance and focus instead on what inquiries are required to put public enterprises back on viable footings. Robespierre would have found it too dull, I’m sure.
But there’s no doubt about the political task at hand: to decease the neo-right saboteurs of democratically sovereign public enterprise. That might sound mighty partisan, but it needn’t be: it is right and proper for political conservatism to fit into the mix, but Horgan—and even ethically minded right-wingers—need to expose, condemn and, finally, terminate the unethical virus of neo-rightism espoused by Gordo’s BC Liberals, all without offending the electorate’s apparent demand for fair and democratic public administration without all the favouritism and corruption and uber-partisanship so unscrupulously adopted by the usurped party of the right.
Categories: BC Liberals, Corruption, Horgan, John
in-sights.ca 
Lew says, “Incidentally, Rich Coleman has been acting very much like a Killdeer on Twitter lately. Makes one wonder if some of those closets contain nests as well. Maybe start with those.”
I don’t know if many have seen a nesting kildeer in action — but I got your reference immediately. Years ago, I observed their “Look this way… nothing to see over there” diversions as I walked too close to their nest. The parents would limp away with a fake broken wing, to lure me away from the mottled eggs in the nest.
Coleman could get some good aerobic exercise, while deking and diving in the coming months.
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Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.
Joseph Goebbels
This is exactly what has happened to our media and the likes of BS Baldry & Bula, Vague Palmer and Vanilla Bill and a score of others, the rape of BC Hydro went largely unreported. I few intrepid bloggers, did research and reported their findings.
Gordon Campbell sole purpose being Premier was to enrich his friends and Clark took it up a notch with “Pay to Play”, evely brazenly taking a $50K annual stipend from political donations!
Good government has been absent for over a quarter of a decade and the province is lurching from political rape to another grossly expensive mega project as the massive financial fiddle sees taxpayers monies flow into the coffers of major corporations.
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I agree with Rafe and Scotty. True an inquiry would be costly, a distraction, and perhaps to some, a witch hunt. Whether or not it would achieve the required end result remains to be seen.
With that being said, the “neo nepotism” as espoused by Campbell, then elaborated upon and expanded by Clark, has to be dealt with. It is an affront to democracy and every taxpayer in this province, if nothing is done, to correct the perception of malfeasance that the BC Liberals legacy has given us. Along with huge deficits, questionable finances, these people have ” manipulated” the taxpayers in this province, into huge boondoggles, and questionable legal actions.
What is going to be done to prevent this disease, this cancer of corruption, from every staining this province to such a ridiculous degree, in the future. Is democracy a hollow shell, where corruption and malfeasance can reside with impunity?
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I see now why Premier Horgan made David “The pit bull” Eby as top cop instead of Minister of Housing. And after today’s ICBC announcement of impending financial implosion 1 week after the NDP/Green coalition gets the reigns of power it looks like the Neo-Liberal party of BC’s skeletons are getting up and walking out of the closets themselves. The thought of Mr. Attorney General appointing special councils that are not related to , best friends with or donaters to Christy Clark makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
So many scandals to choose from so little time.
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The next election will arrive too slowly for the BC Liberals and much too fast for the NDP. But whenever it comes the NDP must have accomplished two main objectives. A focused exposition of the true depth of malfeasance and/or incompetence of the BC Liberals during their time in office, and a demonstration of even-handed competence when it comes to legislating its own agenda.
In legislating, the NDP must do what was promised, avoid the scent of hidden agenda, and to the maximum extent possible without betraying promised change, accept ideas put forward by the official opposition. Avoid surprise here at all costs.
In exposing the BC Liberals record, what is to be feared and avoided is a wide and frenzied door-opening exercise that is certain to backfire. After 16 years in opposition the NDP must have a good idea where the skeletons are. Focus carefully on three or four of the most egregious closets and open them widely. After 16 years in office with the levers of power and most of the underhanded dirty tricksters Canada has to offer coming in and out of their ranks, it is very doubtful the BC Liberals have left any NDP bones in those closets. Surprise the uninformed here.
Incidentally, Rich Coleman has been acting very much like a Killdeer on Twitter lately. Makes one wonder if some of those closets contain nests as well. Maybe start with those.
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@e.a.f.
http://www.leadershipcanada.ca/2017-conference/ggclc-speakers-2017/gordon-campbell/
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Wow! He sounds like a pretty dazzling person. No warts at all!
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very interesting posts and comments by Rafe Mair and Scotty on Deman. Mr. Mair makes mention of Gordon Campbell, “el gordo” in relationship to the federal Liberals. What is Mr. Mair referring to. Once el gordo was off the federal gravy train was he engaged by the federal liberals in some other capacity. I did read he was at a conference with the feds regarding global corruption. In my opinion it was fitting el gordo was present, he is a perfect e.g. of corruption. B.C. Rail and all that. Then of course there were the German ferries and the extra interest rates and the extra loan taken out and placed in general revenue while the debt was placed with the B.C. Ferries.
So what is el gordo up to these days and is he benefiting some how from any of our tax dollars, beyond all his pensions.
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liberally adding debt for 16 years.?Hows that for a sucker punch?i cant believe the public believed me?
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Hello Norm…the importance of yourself and other investigative journalists not bound by the MSM can be measured in many ways. It would not be a leap of faith to believe that were it not for the facts we receive because of impartial and honest reporting Christy Clark might still be Premier. You provide a most valuable service defending our democratic right to know the truth. Yes Rafe….I can’t thank you enough either for all you have done and continue to do.
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There are many voices outside the corporate media that contributed to shifting voters’ choices in May 2017. Mine is but one. The Tyee has done outstanding work, particularly in the last year. So has Desmog.blog. Bob Mackin (theBreaker.news) has my unending admiration for diligence and no-holds barred reporting.
Among regular political bloggers, each has her or his own style but the people who’ve stayed at it for lengthy time periods are far more credible than old style media will admit. We’ve developed significant audiences and those readers echo the messages to many others.
Our blog items usually are not long-form. Unless compared to Twitter. That’s something I stayed away from for quite a while, reasoning (incorrectly) that too little worthwhile information could be conveyed in 140 characters. However, the platform has grown steadily and I find it useful – a starting point to prospect for ideas and to pass along worthwhile material. Doesn’t seem that long ago that I thought 500,000 interactions a month were pretty decent. Now the number on my feed is headed toward 2 million a month.
I complain about political reporting by pro-media people who’ve grown stale doing the same job for decades. However, they ought to be preparing their professional obituaries because they can’t continue to pass off lazy, incomplete or uninformed work without losing credibility. Social media provides opportunity for citizens to push back against poor quality reporting and commentary so corporate media scribblers ought not to think they can preach from the mountaintop and push the mute button when others hold them to account.
But, it’s not just critics that will be complaining. Readers and listeners are departing from old style media because it has lost value to the people who count most.
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“Readers and listeners are departing from old style media because it has lost value to the people who count most.”
A line that bears repeating.
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Criminal behaviour such as we have seen by the BC Liberal government should not go unpunished.
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Many writers on this issue ignore contradictions and they always ignore their obligation to explain the contradiction. This is where the skill in recognizing liars and their lies protects one against deception no matter what the subject might be. Simply, many who place an “X” on a ballot don’t have the skill or the time to seek the truth. We need this skill more today than ever since the Media is deliberate, in protecting their own self-interest. The few that are left to tell the truth have chosen to serve the same political and corporate masters to the detriment of the working people.
We know that Christy Clark responded to question on the BC Rail not to inform but to deceive. Her dishonesty should not be assumed nor should we assume her honesty that should be left for a judicial analysis. However, too many people, like El Gordo in his time, choose to serve a master without caring about the contradiction of their service. Even when contradiction in their position are pointed out they remain loyal to their conditioning regardless of evidence. Some individuals in this group break out of this cycle after a long period of examining the contradictions in their conditioning. Others, in BC Hydro, BC Ferries, mining and forestry, simply continue the deception since there is no profit in telling the truth.
Political history is full of examples where individuals deliberately and consciously chose to place themselves above the law and then they use their influence and contacts in the Media, government and the bureaucracy to mould those around them to be their accomplices. They set themselves above the law, and when they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar they use public funds to pay the legal fees of their accomplices in order to deflect their complicity as was done in the BC Rail case and the sale of the fast ferries.
What are we if we are not honest to ourselves and our fellow travelers, no better than Chomiak and Freeland, Gordo and Christy, Blair and Bush, Basi and Virk, who chose to serve self-interest regardless of cost to others.
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I should have made it clear that my point about an investigation going back prior to 1991, was not that there had been wrongdoing in fact for I have never believed there was. . What would likely happen though is that the Liberals would pull all stops to make that appear to have some validity, pull out ancient documents the context of which are doubtful and thus take the heat off. That’s the typical tactic of cornered political rats done on the assumption that some of it will stick.
Let me make this clear – I was in a position or paid critic during the NDP decade and as much as I found things to criticize, i have no doubt doubt that each premier was an honourable man. With Clark and Pilarinos, I always made it clear that I thought he’d been a damned fool, not crooked. At the close of the Crown’s case I said that I was reminded of the old Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?” Moreover the timing, frequency and nature of the police raids is what alarmed me and still does.
I stand by my point – if there is a full blown hearing, and there damned well should be, I as Premier Horgan would be concerned about what the Liberal bunch would do when in a corner. They might not, of course retaliate as I suggested, but cornered politicians like company.
My point remains that any current premier would worry about this point. I say, furthermore, that it’s Premier Horgan’s duty to put aside any concerns he might have and in the public interest find out how this huge, flush corporation, in a period of prosperity, and all the customers it could want, could be driven into the ground.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
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Thanks Norm for including me in your network of contacts. Here’s a link to my analysis of what’s going on: direct link to the âNEW PREMIER OF BCâ Issue [July 21 2017] scroll to find my piece on page 2 – it’s an independent publication that I wrote a piece for. There are so many shenanigans it’s hard to know where best to start. The stuff at ICBC really stinks too. If you were asked would you serve on a board of inquiry? JT
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We really need to find a way to stop using the name “liberal” when referring to the party that’s been in office for 16 years. The word ‘liberal’ has meaning. These folks are not liberals! They are neo-conservatives !
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