In tonights debate Paul Martin blamed the increased incidence of gun crimes in Toronto not on gangs and Hip Hop culture, or ghettoization of marginalized communities, or illegal gun smuggling across the largest undefended border (due to staffing cuts by the Liberals) in the world, nope he said; Gun collectors are to blame for gun violence.
Paul Martin: The second point I would like to raise is there are 500,000 handguns in the hands of collectors. They are one break-in away from being used in a crime. The mayor of Toronto has pointed out it is handguns stolen from homes that are killing people. We've got to stop that. We've got to ban handguns.
Ah uh Paul right all those guns are not just in Toronto, and they have to be locked up tighter than a bank vault. The Liberals keep using one single case of a break in to justify this stupid arguement. At least Jack Layton gets it.
Jack Layton; And that would include tougher penalties and sentences, particularly for possession and sale of handguns and assault weapons. We've got to deal with sale of weapons over the Internet, doubling the maximum penalty for importing illegal arms as well, and arm the officers at the border so they can be safe and do their job. But we also have to strengthen witness protection so people can come forward and help the police as well as respond to the needs of victims. And, you know, it's important to get addicts off the street with programs that help them. It's important to get to the inequality that lies at the root of it with housing child care and other investments.
So the only party NOT supporting the gun ban is the NDP. Surpise, surprise. This used to be Reform Party territory. But once you play the law and order game you have to play me too which is exactly what Harper said tonight.
Stephen Harper: I support the handgun ban. We've had a handgun ban enacted for decades in this country. This is the first government that couldn't control the flow of guns. Even Mr. Goodale and Ms. McLellan, Mr. Martin's own ministers, admit his proposal will make no difference whatsoever.
The NDP offer the only realistic Law and Order platform, more border patrols, armed, better laws for victims protection and legal drug clinics for addicts like the one in Vancouver. Exactly what the Conservatives want to ban.
Also see my articles on the Handgun Ban
and Kate/SDA Is Pro Union
Tags
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Federal Election
Politics
Leaders Debate
Harper
Martin
Layton
Liberals
NDP
Conservatives
Toronto
guns
gun control
handguns
crime
Liberals
It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, January 09, 2006
Liberal Bombshell & Harper Lies
Wow just finished watching tonight's Leadership debate. Much better format, got to actually have some debate. Excellent moderator. Exciting to watch.
The Liberals are absolutely desperate, Paul Martin dropped a bombshell tonight announcing that he will bring in legislation to eliminate the Not Withstanding Clause from the Constitution. This was planned in the war room. Though I think Martin pulled the pin on this particular handgrenade too early and had to toss it into the fray early. Jaws dropped, Harper sputtered and defended the status quo.
Duceppe great line of the night Martin runs like an NDP and governs like the Tories and he got Martin to say Fiscal Imbalance then he got Martin to admit that Quebec is a country.
Harper remembers something about the Conservative plan for the constitution and says if there is any Constitutional change he wants private property put in.
Duceppe and Layton tag teamed it tonight like the good old days of Stampede Wrestling. Beating up on both the Conservatives and Liberals alike.
Martin, Duceppe and Layton ask Harper for his list of leadership donors. Harper lies and says its public. Duceppe and Layton pipe up oh really when did that happen.
Layton stayed on message looked at the camera and said if you want change real change vote NDP.
Harper says that the lowest paid Canadians will get no Liberal tax cut, so his GST cut will help them. Martin reminds economist Harper that his government took hundreds of thousands off the tax roles. Harper says his tax cut will help them. Layton reminds him that his tax cut will hurt working poor and middle class still pay taxes. Harper can't give cost of his promises, and insists his roll back of the Liberal tax plan won't hurt average Canadian taxpayers. He lies again.
Duceppe reminds viewers that when he raised Options Canada, $4.8 million dollar secret National Yes campaign slush fund for the 1995 referendum, in the house the Torys and Liberals defeated his motion. He says Options Canada is not a Liberal scandal but a Liberal, Tory, Federalist scandal. Uh oh.
Harper defends supply side management and monopoly of agricultural products in Eastern Canada and Quebec but says he wants to get rid of the Wheat Board and replace it with two tier market model. Wheat Board and open borders.
Harper smiles and looks into the camera. Harper actually smiles not grimaces.
Martin looks like death warmed over.
Layton has a winning smile looks into the camera and talks to viewers.
Duceppe smirks.
Leaders bring grim game face into English debate
Martin, Layton, talk about the 'working class' in Canada. Let me repeat that, no not working families or working Canadians, both Martin and Layton say working class Canadians. Martin says it first. Buzz must be rubbing off on him.
Duceppe in the background 'answer the question' he says repeatedly until Martin says yes he has always said Quebec is a nation.
Harper says he can work with anybody if he is the government. Won't say if he thinks he will be a majority or minority government.
Layton says he can work with whoever is government, outlines his program, five points, repeats it several times. Calls for a vote for the NDP for change.
Harper praises Ed Broadbents NDP plans for electoral reform says they dovetail with his.
Layton hits everyone on supporting his better balanced budget, clarifies that it was the NDP budget not the Liberal budget last summer that passed and Harper and Duceppe opposed it.
Layton doesn't worry about Quebec being a country he says he wants a flexible confederation and get Quebec to sign the Constitution.
Tonights winner, a tie, the tag team of Duceppe and Layton.
Loser Harper, no big hit on Martin, almost looked prime ministerial, took body blow, lied.
Bigger Loser Martin, looks punch drunk, challeged Duceppe and got beat up.
But pulled constitutional rabbit out of the hat which will be THE news story tonight and tomorrow. Martin vows to end federal notwithstanding clause
Tags
Canada
Federal Election
Politics
Leaders Debate
Harper
Martin
Layton
Duceppe
Liberals
NDP
Conservatives
CBC
CTV
BQ
The Liberals are absolutely desperate, Paul Martin dropped a bombshell tonight announcing that he will bring in legislation to eliminate the Not Withstanding Clause from the Constitution. This was planned in the war room. Though I think Martin pulled the pin on this particular handgrenade too early and had to toss it into the fray early. Jaws dropped, Harper sputtered and defended the status quo.
Duceppe great line of the night Martin runs like an NDP and governs like the Tories and he got Martin to say Fiscal Imbalance then he got Martin to admit that Quebec is a country.
Harper remembers something about the Conservative plan for the constitution and says if there is any Constitutional change he wants private property put in.
Duceppe and Layton tag teamed it tonight like the good old days of Stampede Wrestling. Beating up on both the Conservatives and Liberals alike.
Martin, Duceppe and Layton ask Harper for his list of leadership donors. Harper lies and says its public. Duceppe and Layton pipe up oh really when did that happen.
Layton stayed on message looked at the camera and said if you want change real change vote NDP.
Harper says that the lowest paid Canadians will get no Liberal tax cut, so his GST cut will help them. Martin reminds economist Harper that his government took hundreds of thousands off the tax roles. Harper says his tax cut will help them. Layton reminds him that his tax cut will hurt working poor and middle class still pay taxes. Harper can't give cost of his promises, and insists his roll back of the Liberal tax plan won't hurt average Canadian taxpayers. He lies again.
Tory tax plan worries some business leaders
Duceppe reminds viewers that when he raised Options Canada, $4.8 million dollar secret National Yes campaign slush fund for the 1995 referendum, in the house the Torys and Liberals defeated his motion. He says Options Canada is not a Liberal scandal but a Liberal, Tory, Federalist scandal. Uh oh.
New book on unity fund adds to Liberal woes
Harper defends supply side management and monopoly of agricultural products in Eastern Canada and Quebec but says he wants to get rid of the Wheat Board and replace it with two tier market model. Wheat Board and open borders.
Harper smiles and looks into the camera. Harper actually smiles not grimaces.
Martin looks like death warmed over.
Layton has a winning smile looks into the camera and talks to viewers.
Duceppe smirks.
Leaders bring grim game face into English debate
Martin, Layton, talk about the 'working class' in Canada. Let me repeat that, no not working families or working Canadians, both Martin and Layton say working class Canadians. Martin says it first. Buzz must be rubbing off on him.
Duceppe in the background 'answer the question' he says repeatedly until Martin says yes he has always said Quebec is a nation.
Harper says he can work with anybody if he is the government. Won't say if he thinks he will be a majority or minority government.
Layton says he can work with whoever is government, outlines his program, five points, repeats it several times. Calls for a vote for the NDP for change.
Harper praises Ed Broadbents NDP plans for electoral reform says they dovetail with his.
Layton hits everyone on supporting his better balanced budget, clarifies that it was the NDP budget not the Liberal budget last summer that passed and Harper and Duceppe opposed it.
Layton doesn't worry about Quebec being a country he says he wants a flexible confederation and get Quebec to sign the Constitution.
Tonights winner, a tie, the tag team of Duceppe and Layton.
Loser Harper, no big hit on Martin, almost looked prime ministerial, took body blow, lied.
Bigger Loser Martin, looks punch drunk, challeged Duceppe and got beat up.
But pulled constitutional rabbit out of the hat which will be THE news story tonight and tomorrow. Martin vows to end federal notwithstanding clause
Tags
Canada
Federal Election
Politics
Leaders Debate
Harper
Martin
Layton
Duceppe
Liberals
NDP
Conservatives
CBC
CTV
BQ