Harper government wimps out in free speech fight

[Godwin]

http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... nghill.htm


My count on Conservative MP's standing for free speech is one.
Have any backbenchers stood up for our basic liberties? The most courageous can only leak talking points? Is it not remarkable that there are not dozens of Conservative MP's willing to stand up and demand the repeal of Section 13? What happened to the Albertans?



I emailed my MP ( Conservative). I did not get a reply. Of course for some years, I have thought that my MP has an IQ approaching room temperature.


If this person is representative of other Conservative MP's little can be gained from approaching them.



IF not rational anarachy , then at least let us try for rationality.

[Faramir]

leewgrant thanks - so Harper is far more concerned about so called human rights than free speech, eh? I say vote for the Freedom Party - any chance they will have reps here in BC?

[leewgrant]

leewgrant thanks - so Harper is far more concerned about so called human rights than free speech, eh? I say vote for the Freedom Party - any chance they will have reps here in BC?

When it comes to free speech the current parties in the House of Commons look pretty barren territory.

[Dacre]

leewgrant wrote

When it comes to free speech the current parties in the House of Commons look pretty barren territory.

And how sad and pathetic is that when you think about it. Free speech used to everything. Worth dying for in fact. Where are we today in Canada on this issue? Do we even have a majority that care? I wonder.

[free_life2]

If there was still a Reform party in the HoC they would be calling for the end of section 13 daily. That is the stark difference with Harper's liberal party.

[Angleland]

If there was still a Reform party in the HoC they would be calling for the end of section 13 daily. That is the stark difference with Harper's liberal party.

Not sure about that - Manning was a self centred conrol freak. I recall his craven snivelling in helping to get the Lord's Prayer out of the House of Commons. There had been no big push for it. Just a sudden brain fart by the Liberals and Manning told his MP's to go along. A few had the courage to vote against.

[T.G.]

Richard Pipes, in his autobiography, "Vixi" relates part of what happened at a Bilderberg meeting (I think it was Bilderberg). Jeane Kirkpatrick had to set the record straight about what the world should expect from a Reagan administration. Those who needed the explanation acted like the best way to proceed is to hide under their desks.

The autobiography is a great read, and well worth getting your hands on.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

[Jason Kauppinen]

This is sad.

There is no doubt now that Harper cares very little about core principles and only cares about short-term power.

Principles can only be put into action by those with power.

Some prefer martyrdom.

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[Rohan01]

This is sad.

There is no doubt now that Harper cares very little about core principles and only cares about short-term power.

Principles can only be put into action by those with power.

Some prefer martyrdom.

Do some homework. How long was Menachem Begin the head of Likud before he became the Prime Minister of Israel.

By my recollection, the Labour Party had a 40 year run of who was Prime Minister, starting with David Ben Gurion and ending with Shimon Peres (but I could be mistaken as to who was the Israeli Prime Minister that lost to Likud in '78 or '79).

[Maikeru]

When it comes to free speech the current parties in the House of Commons look pretty barren territory.

That's right folks, Canada has 307 MP's spread out over 4 disparate parties who remained mum, and a sole MP who didn't and was subsequently asked by the Leader of the Loyal Opposition to STFU and withdraw his motion.

Any of the parties could have jumped on this one, and it's disappointing tomany ardent Conservatives that the CPC didn't, but there's nowhere near the hue and cry from elsewhere on the political spectrum due the general impression being that only the 'right wing' need fear an HRC complaint anyway.

During the period the FD server emigrated to Panama, I visited Rabble to see if the issue had gained any traction amongst hard-core Dippers. There were those who had twigged to the fact that their ability to slam 'Israeli aparteid' was at risk under 13.1, but the gay perspective was firmly for maintaining the ability to lash out at opponents through same.

Over in Kinsellaville, no one sees the harm in HRC hate speech legislation, and they won't until someone finally gets nailed by an HRC for subjecting National Socialists to public 'hatred and contempt'.

Our Universites - in better times the champions against government abuses - now cheer the idea of jailing politicians for failing, essentially, to take 'An Inconvenient Truth' seriously after Al Gorge won an Oscar and Nobel P.P.

FD members are universally opposed to 13.1 for very good reason. An HRC probing attack was launched against our opinionating, and the furore raised herein by that attack used as fodder for a civil suit.

What was meant to be a quick one-two knock-out backfired horribley due the sudden emergence of ill-considered HRC complaints against Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn, which ignited a shit-storm in the blogosphere.

It is the blogosphere which has the potential to break the bondage of the CRTC - the mothership of political correctness in Canada. The blogoshpere so threatened the CRTC that it empowered HRC's to build the case for internet control in Canada.

No minority government is going to to diddly squat to the CRTC.
Unless and until a solid 60% of Canadians are onside with deep-sixing the CRTC, and, by inference, the CBC, HRC's will be positively presented in polite society.

CPC MP's represent around 40% of Canadian ridings. They need another 30 plus seats to gain a majority, and another 60 seats to really get at the rot in a responsible and effective manner.

In the meantime FD'rs would be better off expanding upon the momentum gained than bitch-slapping PM Harper for serving up cold porridge.

More effectively linking to like-minded souls in the Canadian blogosphere is crucial to the battles ahead.

[leewgrant]

If there was still a Reform party in the HoC they would be calling for the end of section 13 daily. That is the stark difference with Harper's liberal party.

Ah huh! This is exactly what the Conservative Party has become - the Liberals in drag, During the election, when you listen to a party leader, close your eyes - you won't know if it's Dion, Layton or Harper. When it comes to liberal fuzziness directed towards the Mindless Middle they will all sound the same.

[Connie Fournier]

There is a difference between 'bitch-slapping' someone, and drawing a line in the sand, Maikeru.

I didn't expect the other parties to leap up to protect us...that is one of the reasons I campaigned for the CPC.

What I expect is for Harper to take the muzzle off his MPs so we can see who is truly on our side on this issue.

Bottom line: I will NOT work my butt off to help the CPC gain greater power unless I know they are committed to protecting our free speech.

[Maikeru]

I didn't expect the other parties to leap up to protect us...that is one of the reasons I campaigned for the CPC.

What I expect is for Harper to take the muzzle off his MPs so we can see who is truly on our side on this issue.

Harper was decidedly more aggressive as Leader of the Loyal Opposition than he has been as PM, which befits minority government scenarios.

Martin's entry into the fray, and the ensuing reaction by Dion cast the Loyal Opposition as divided, and unwilling to challenge the excesses of a bureaucracy they themselves largely put in place.

I can't help but think that were Harper still leading a Loyal Opposition he'd be all over the issue. Instead, his 'wait and see' approach as PM has lent no ammunition to his opponents, and the sole attempt by a Dipper to impugn the PMO by association with HRC defendent Ezra Levant failed miserably.

This issue is hugely important to members of FD, but here in Svendville BC folks have been ignoring blatant HRC free speech abuses for more than a decade.
Hell, the only CPC MP for Vancouver was elected as a Liberal !

Perhaps it's because I'm used to BC being ignored by Ottawa - unless crosses are burning on front lawns - that I'm more laid back than folks closer to the sun.
Or perhaps it's because when I refer to Levant, Steyn or the HRC, folks eyes glaze over.
"Levant and Steyn ? Is that a law firm ?"

[leewgrant]

What I expect is for Harper to take the muzzle off his MPs so we can see who is truly on our side on this issue.

Bottom line: I will NOT work my butt off to help the CPC gain greater power unless I know they are committed to protecting our free speech.

We all expect an election. Harper has decided debating Section 13 is not in his interests. Probably figures it's too controversial. He has told his troops - if it comes up divert debate to aboriginal bands being covered by the CHRA.

I intend to ask all the candidates in my riding if they are in favor of repealing Section 13. If none of them is, I will vote by writing the words, Repeal Section 13 across the ballot

Did I call him a Liberal in drag? Maybe John McCain is more appropriate. When he is speaking he mumbles the words "pro-life" in the hopes people won't have heard him.