(UPDATE) Monday Off…
Oh for the dog days of summer…
I wish I could tell you I’m taking it easy as some of you have demanded, but that isn’t happening.
In fact, I’ve been working on more Basi-Virk material that will have our illustrious Premier, once again enjoying a healthy serving of crow pie. And, of course, Mike Morton’s pals running interference with stacked calls to NW etc.
Oh well…
And we’ll also do the posts left over from last week.
All beginning Tuesday.
UPDATE: In transit. Two posts tomorrow and another two Thursday. Internet service has been inconsistent.
But it’ll be worth your wait. I promuse. Sorry for the inconvenience.
The joys of being popular eh Alex?
[Translate]
Well, I have to say, it is a tad overwhelming. However…
[Translate]
…however, the alternative sucks.
And yes, they do stack those calls, don’t they. So blatantly obvious and by now you’d think they’d realize no one is being fooled. It was up long ago.
Look forward to your next post.
[Translate]
To overstate the obvious and preach to the choir, this gov’t is spending more effort and resources trying (in vain) to maintain a shred of even appearing to be competent, than actually governing. At least we have a defined election date, but even for me, a long-time BC Lib supporter (or for now an ex-supporter in their current form), May ain’t soon enough. The sooner we bring in the bitter pill the next gov’t will no doubt be, the sooner the province can get back to the business of real government…that is if anyone is old enough to remember what that is in BC (I’m not!).
Alex, someone needs to actually break CC’s spirit so she finally gives up. I love your work, but I don’t think you can do it alone because “they” don’t appear to respect you, and will stop at nothing to ignore, demean and discredit you. However, if the MSM can finally get tilted the right direction and really get the message to the joe-schmoes then it could speed up the process. Momentum is on your side, though, don’t let up, not one bit!
[Translate]
I won’t. Just sit tight for a day or so.
[Translate]
“they” don’t appear to respect you, and will stop at nothing to ignore, demean and discredit you. ”
Your confusing like, and respect.
Lack of respect does not drive someone to, in your words, “stop at nothing to ignore, demean and discredit”.
They respect Alex so they attack him. Believe or not it is a good sign.
They once ignored Alex,
They once laughed at Alex,
They are curently fighting Alex,
And then there is that one last thing…
[Translate]
Now they fear Alex…
.because he has been telling the truth all along..
[Translate]
And to that merry band of miscreants, the truth is a virus.
[Translate]
I just listened to an interview posted on the Gazetteer yesterday. Provides a good and apparently objective summary of the events leading up to the Basi-Virk trial.
Makes me shake my head in wonder at what we taxpayers allowed to be shoved up our collective asses just a few years ago, with the knowing compliance of a biased MSM.
If only you had been operating this site in 2004 we might have been spared many years of corrupt and incompetent mangement of our province.
Thanks, Alex and all you other bloggers out there who help us to be aware of the stories behind what’ is and is not reported on the evening news.
[Translate]
This, from CC’s Fakebook page:
” When I became premier, I pledged to review the potential of internet voting. Today, our government has requested that the Chief Electoral Officer examine the potential for using Internet voting in BC. What do you think?”
I certainly do not remember her pledging this. Does anyone else?
(If I missed it then I apologize in advance.)
[Translate]
She never said any such thing.
[Translate]
i dont recall specifically alex, but she talked a LOT about the current voting system on her radio show. she may have mentioned online voting at that point. she talked about trying to get young voters involved.
little does dummy seem to realize her predecessor has managed to do that. MANY young people woke up when they went to timmy’s one morning ans started paying an extra 7% on their breakfast.
many young people struggle when they first start out, and kicking people when they are down by adding tax’s to their daily neccisity’s is one way to surely get their attention and get them to vote.
the two initiatives the liberals have called for so far are a joke though. one is a blatant attempt to make the recall and initiative act meaningless and the other is so obviously open to fraud it makes my stomach turn.
as to anything CC or any liberal promised.. we all know liberal promises are only realized when it is convenient for the liberals… it has nothing to do with right or wrong or what has been said in the past.
[Translate]
Unfortunately we have no access to the pre Premier Christy audio vaults from CKNW..
They were removed from the audio vaults when Christy was put into office.
Perhaps this is something CKNW should reconsider, for the good of the Province..
[Translate]
Actually, they weren’t removed. NW changed their audiovault and everything prior to the leadership run of the BC Liberals, was lost on that format. However, as they have demonstrated, they have all their old archival clips, just not on audiovault. But they never specifically targeted Christy’s work.
[Translate]
I didn’t realize that, thanks for the clarification and apologies to NW..
That is really too bad, those files were a goldmine of information..
Reinforces the power of the pen doesn’t it..
Recently my computer died, right now it is limping along with help of friends, temporarily.
I lost everything and didn’t have back up.. so I really understand.
[Translate]
Oh boy do I know that too well!
My Mac’s logic board died and I took it to Apple only to discover yes there was a recall on that particular logic board, but it EXPIRED six months ago. Urrrgggh.
A friend fixed it for me, having god-knows-how-many spare computer parts laying around so that saved me $500 but three days later my power supply died. Awesome.
Sorry to hijack, AGT.
[Translate]
Hi Alex,
This came from her Liberal Leadership campaign, not as Premier:
Clark Calls for Look at Online Voting
VANCOUVER – BC Liberal leadership candidate Christy Clark, in a just posted video to her Facebook page, says she will ask Elections BC to study the issue of introducing online voting for provincial elections in British Columbia.
• Voter turnout is on the decline, with only 50 per cent of eligible voters participating in the last election.
• Clark will ask Elections BC to appoint a non-partisan panel to study the issue, reviewing how it is done in Canada and other jurisdictions.
• It is currently done in certain Ontario municipalities and is being considered by Vancouver and Surrey.
• Online voting would only happen if security concerns are addressed.
“Online voting is something that can really increase participation. Our political party has recognized that… and I think it’s something we should consider for B.C.,” says Clark.
[Translate]
Perfect. The Marrisen Method.
“We only cheat when we can’t win.”
[Translate]
Good, we’re thinking the same brainlength. As much as I dread the thought of Premier Dix, cheating isn’t the way to beat socialism – telling the truth about socialism is. Watch this: http://www.komonews.com/kathi-goertzen/video/1989-Fall-of-the-Berlin-Wall—part-2-166023966.html
Will somebody please tell PMSH to stop this mad woman from turning your democracy into a disasster zone!?!? One or two phone calls from him and the caucus would replace her with a more worthy Premier.
[Translate]
im confused. what does a 1980′s video about a communist country that had been essentially under occupation for 40 or so years gaining its independance have to do with socialism in 2012?
AGT why do you still let josef post here?
[Translate]
Fairness…um, okay, entertainment…
[Translate]
Oh I get it Krusty, its a Filopina thing again right? Back her up now Pammi!
[Translate]
Noticed that she had a girls only event in North Vancouver and another in Richmond. She’s adamantly against the NDP gender policy when it comes to their selecting candidates on the basis of anatomy.
What exactly went on at that tea party? Certainly couldn’t be talk about what Easy Bake Ovens or Barbies they had when they were little or important questions like “Greg Brady, Davy Jones or Keith Partridge?”
[Translate]
LOL, believe me she actually does giggle and talk about things almost as vapid
[Translate]
On August 03rd, Christy Clark appeared at a luncheon advertised as women’s only and hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce. She assured the attendees that there were no men in the room because, “We kick all the men out. We have gotten rid of the male server and everything. There’s a reason I do this. I notice that conversations happen differently when it’s just women in the room.”
This violates the BC Human Rights Code (sections 3(a) and 7). Can you imagine if she had shown up at a function advertised as whites only, and assured everyone there were no pesky East Indians in the room by stating, “We kick all the East Indians out. We have gotten rid of the East Indian server and everything. There’s a reason I do this. I notice that conversations happen differently when it’s just whites in the room.” Or can you imagine Gordon Campbell speaking at a luncheon for men only and using the same language barring women?
Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t go near anywhere she was speaking and she’s probably doing men a favor by excluding them from her nonsense. But it’s interesting how she gets a free pass from the media because it’s just males she’s discriminating against.
[Translate]
….as a noteable person once said a few years back,
“If your a white, english speaking male, you’re not allowed to have an opinion on anything”……..
All others are allowed to critisisze, berate, belittle and mock with impunity.
Oh, the “politically correct” times we live in……….
[Translate]
I see Mike Smyth has a column on Christy’s women-only political meetings today, so the free pass part of my comment has been answered. I wrote to my local newspapers and CKNW (no response) about it on the weekend.
[Translate]
Here is an interesting post on the women’s vote..
http://www.straight.com/article-755141/vancouver/christy-clark-political-problems-require-more-meetings-restricted-female-voters
[Translate]
No matter how many cheesy, folksy sayings Christy spews forth. It doesnt matter one bit.
She’s too stubborn, too stupid and too unpopular to get elected.
Only 15% of women would vote for her!!!!! And she’s STILL at thehelm? WHO The Frack is running that gong show?
I’m wondering what the “cringe factor” is amoung her handlers when she is let loose in a public setting.
EVERYTHING she says is painfully contrived or painfully inept.
Watching her talk on TV is an embarassment of epic proportions. Its like a reality show where a contestant is rapidly approaching failure and they truely believe they’re going to win. You dont want to watch but you’re drawn back into the “show”.
Morbid curosity as a political drama. Love it.
[Translate]
Right on very well put indeed.
[Translate]
i would guess that some liberals are hoping the BCCP will fall apart… or merge with the libs under a new name. in either of these scenarios the liberals still get completely destroyed in the next election and will need someone to blame… hello CC.
not only will they need someone to blame for next mays defeat (theres no way they will ever accept responsibilty for there own actions), but anyone that took over from her is at best a temporary place holder.
no one wants CC’s job.. why would they. she has turned a marginal situation where the liberals may have recovered in 6 to 10 years into the complete destruction of a party.
[Translate]
How about the announcement of the 3 million dollars needed and granted to upgrade the new website for the City of Vancouver? Ummm didn’t we need that money for the teachers, but we didn’t and don’t have it? Or how about for healthcare so some people don’t sleep in beds in a hallway?
[Translate]
Ashley, that money spent on the website was only paid by the
Home/ Business owners of the city of Vancouver (thank god)
Teachers, healthcare, is paid by ALL of us working people in British Columbia (your income tax), Christy Clark is in charge of that box car of money……,frightening isn’t it.
[Translate]
I understood that the $3M tab was picked up by the taxpayers of Vancouver. Someone please confirm if this was a grant from the province.
[Translate]
Hey! I am older, had a B day.
Trust this……Main Stream Media……MSM….Ha!
Make sure all of the content of the news is true.
ALL of British Columbia is watching
Where is Our fake leader?……..
Thanks Mr White.
[Translate]
SO the gov’t can spend 3million on a rock band some posters and guitar picks for some dumbass job fair that no young person(that is really looking for a job) is going to take seriously. no point putting money where it may be used to a better end now is there(like education ,real job trianing etc etc.etc etc.) nice touch keeping all the men out of your silly little girls only pj party. her next pr stunt is to go to a construction site and say “in my heart iam a filipna but in my other lying heart i am just a good ol hard working stiff like all you guys, but stay away from me cuz you smell. has my vote right away. NOT
keep up the pressure theres not much more this dope and her gang of idiots can do to save this gov’t.(or should i say doom this gov’t) not even internet voting is gonna save them
CHEERS ALEX
[Translate]
Fun comments at Mike Smyth’s blog.
Ban Mi Agen overheard two Libs talking and quotes:
“Female: ” How is Christy doing anyway? She’s getting hammered in the news.”
Male: “Not good. She’s not doing well at all. She’s in real trouble. Everyone’s turning on her. Truth be told, Christy’s out. Harry Bloy’s in. But that’s not common knowledge yet.”
“Typical Liberals.” (Says BMA) “They think they operate within a cone of silence. Next time do up your windows, iidiots.”
http://www.theprovince.com/news/allowed+Christy+Clark+women+only+events/7084887/story.html
[Translate]
I can’t believe all of the fear mongering reguarding the NDP they certainly did a better job governing the province than the liberals. I’m not saying that they are the best thing since buttered bread but I am saying that during their governance I don’t know whether they had a majority or not but this time they should have a pretty good majority. I believe that they will govern fairly and gain the respect of the electorate but there will always be those nay sayers who will feed off of past wrongs done by the NDP or feed their own inadequacy by saying bad things about them. Look at the media and the free ride they give the current lieberals. I am certain they will be all over the NDP for whatever they can find. This is my opinion
[Translate]
They did muck up the business climate, and had a quite a few gaffs on other fronts..
But you’re forgetting the most important thing man.. It’s all about the colossal waste of money known as the fast ferries. Those things cost us so much money man! I mean, you could put a new roof on B.C. place for the cost of those fastcats man!
[Translate]
and with the money spent and lost in taxes and economic spin-off on the Super C class ( built in Germany as opposed to C class ferries which are built in BC ) ,,, the loss to the provincial economy was greater than the fast cats
[Translate]
While I am critical of all governments: the fast cats were a disaster, they hold no candle to the friggin waste of this bunch of so called stewards of the econonmy. Their 10 year stats are no better than the NDP’S reign…and that’s a fact.
I was never a supporter of the Socreds, but i always respected WAC for what he built for the citizens of this province. This pack of thieves has basically trashed every legacy that man left for the citizens of this province… all the citizens, not just the 1 % or the big unions. Liberals, and I use that term somewhat in disgust, should hang their heads in shame.
Marty
[Translate]
If there is a problem with our system in BC is that voters elect a 4 year dictatorship every time they go to the polls and people dont trust the NDP with it when you consider their leader was there the last time the NDP caused the train wreck.
It essentially comes down to their labour supporters who take advantage of them every time they are in power as well as the left wing wackos they owe favours to. It drives business out of the province like clockwork.
The argument that things will be different might have been believable with James but not with Dix.
[Translate]
if you want to see what a ndp goverment would be like just look at how vision vancouver is running the city of vancouver.
.
[Translate]
It’s pretty amazing that Vision is getting away with such crap.
[Translate]
Anyone could do better than the BC Liberals, but is a huge majority NDP the best thing for BC? I think not.
They have a large majority, it was 51 NDP, 17 BC Liberals and 7 BC Social Credit so essentially 51 NDP and 24 Opposition within a 75 seat house.
So with that the NDP had a + 27 seat majority.
In 1996, the NDP shed some seats (12), the BC Liberals added new MLAs ( +16) BC Social was obliterated, but Provincial Reform added 2 (both ex: Social Credit MLAs.
So essentially, the NDP had 39 seats, the Opposition forces 35 seats
for just a +3 seat majority
The evil MSM will turn on the NDP no question.
Large majorities (beyond + 20 seats) do not make good government.
In looking at the NDP, I have my doubts if “governing fairly” will enter the picture of an Adrian Dix government. Even more so when I re-read
who was backing him during his leadership. It was more of the left wing/union element than was obtained by Farnsworth or Horgan.
After participanting in several leaderships (participating in a campaign at a senior level in two and being able to watch at closer range than the membership in a few others and voting in all of those), I can see where the prospective leader fits with direction quite easily
(as can Alex here).
While Christy Clark had some of the most politically stupidist people imaginable on her campaign, Kevin’s was way too heavy on “contacts influential” business and had too much money, and a rather inane campaign run by someone who doesn’t know his way around a Constituency Association meeting, Adrian’s was too heavy on left wing idealogists and the labour movement. John Horgan followed very closely about one footstep behind by Farnsworth had far more moderate elements that would have brought more fairness.
I would say that George Abbott had a similar aspect, not too heavy
despite some interesting outcomes, more balanced and had direction as to where he wanted to go.
Christy Clark’s campaign had a direction as to where the BC Liberal members could go (ahem, esp. if it caused them political diarrhea which Pam still does).
Dix is going to have very serious trouble if he tries to exclude in being fair the expectations of Labour and the more left wing elements. That’s what caused Carole James to be stabbed. The NDP like any political parties have a core group who “expect certain things to happen”.
Dix wil have to decide what’s best for the province or what’s best for that group that attends his annual fundraisers.
[Translate]
I consider their opposition effort over the past almost 12 years to be pathetic to the extreme.
Therefore, I don’t consider the party worthy of taking over the reigns, and certainly am not enthusiastic about them likely doing so.
With that said, I’ll take them over the BC Liberals every day of the week.
[Translate]
If Alex will post this, (permission required obviously) I urge all the regulars here to check out a newer blog put up by retired Liberal staffer Ryan Pineo…google “Columberta”.
Just as AGT is a conservative who talks outside the talking points, Mr. Pineo is a Liberal who gives an honest opinion about the Liberal poll numbers. You’ll see that he makes no claim to investigative reporting, but his opinion is cogent and a must read
[Translate]
Why do I feel like I’m at a restaurant and the waiter just told me to go down the street to another guy’s eatery?
[Translate]
OK benefit of the doubt… I read the blog.. he lost me at this one comment…
” I consider myself one of the most important BC Liberals right now because I’m actually calling it like it is. ”
Seriously.. come on buddy..
[Translate]
I’ve read Ryan Pineo before and find him a refreshing voice.
[Translate]
We all have different preferences…that is why I like this blog it isn’t an
echo chamber..
[Translate]
I checked him out and went to leave a comment — as no one else had — and the choices he provides didn’t fit any of my profiles. I don’t want to join any more groups.
No wonder he’s not getting any feedback. He needs to open things up, if he wants dialogue.
[Translate]
Order the veal.
[Translate]
That reminds me of the days when you steered us towards Ruth’s Chris.
[Translate]
LOL! In this case I was being facetious.
Boy, do I miss Ruth’s Chris Palm Desert! I WILL retire there one day.
[Translate]
Absolutely delightful. Thank you for that.
[Translate]
With pleasure.
[Translate]
I have my main meal here (mostly)..and snack elsewhere for variety. I miss your point George. What I said to Ryan, and I think we can agree, is that all sides benefit from presenting their views free of partisanship. It’s not that I agree with his every word, or AGT’s (far from it), but I like the range of views. And honesty appeals to me, wherever it comes from.
[Translate]
What?! you mean you don’t agree with everyone of my utterly logical opinions???
You’re banned! LMAO!
[Translate]
Merv, there was no point, actually my comment was meant for Alex.
I follow Ryan’s opinions on twitter and found his blog last week.
The line that I found a bit over the top was that he felt he was the most important Liberal.
I feel every voice is important..
I have no loyalty to any party, if you have followed any of my comments over the years you would know that I too respect honesty and loyalty & integrity..
I’m sorry if you misunderstood my comments … there was no point, just my opinion.
[Translate]
Very kind George. Misunderstanding cleared up. We;re in agreement. Cheers
[Translate]
Not sure I agree with Bob Turners comments about the NDP being better at governing the province as the NDP government of the day deserved every bit of the ass kicking the voting public gave them for all their failings.
They have spent many years in the “sin bin” and have managed to rebuild much of what they lost, albeit with a lot of help from Gordo, Dummy and the rest of that sad sack in Victoria.
The Liberals had their kick at governing, have lost all credibility and have no sign of leadership or vision for themselves, let alone our province. Its time the voting public sends them packing as was the case with the last NDP government
With an NDP victory likely, my hope is that they (The NDP) remember the lesson handed to them years ago and are a better government this time around for it…
[Translate]
You have to agree, Big
The NDP have made errors, but they are nowhere near as good as the Lieberals at putting this province into a hole that our grandchildren will not be able to dig out of.
This is the one area the Liberals have far exceeded every provincial government we have ever had!!
NDP are true pikers compared to Liberals at costing us taxpayers big money.
[Translate]
I hear you Big Man and further to the previopus post by Keln . Gordo was in a hurry to make the NDP look bad when he sold the fastg cats for a song. I see that the NDP made some blunders but they didn’t get the working people to pay the taxes of big buisness. I believe that we have to give the NDP another chance. Who else is there? And why not?
[Translate]
What worries me is that anytime an NDPer says “working people” they really mean union people.
[Translate]
The NDP was already looking bad even before The Gordomatic approved letting the Fastcats be sold at their second offering for sale.
The NDP tried to sell the fastcats very soon after the third vessel was completed (it was never placed into service), and failed. There simply wasn’t the market for them. There was interest. An auction was tried
and it came out to be.
Dan Miller (and later Joy McPhail) admitted getting into the Fastferry project was not the way to go. They did not agree with Glen Clark’s
assumption of the total cost of the project.,
The NDP erred by not going along with a replacement large steel hulled ferry build program after the second of two Spirit ferries were completed. There were three intermediate ferries completed, but no larger vessels for the three main routes to The Island. So the net result of that are the larger 1960′s era ferries which are at the end of their service life.
If the NDP had continued on with the modular construction of larger ferries, of the likes of roughly one a year as per what was done in the 1960′s the ferry system would have been much better off, and BC would have gained enough experience and expertise in building ferries within a very competitive but limited market and the shipbuilding industry and the suppliers thereto would have been much much better off.
[Translate]
Take your time. We do appreciate quality and integrity.
[Translate]
Jay Jones do you have a party in mind as to who should take over governing BC or is it just the general way you feel about the NDP?
[Translate]
I consider the BC NDP way to extreme left, the BC Libs way to extreme right and the BC Cons way to religiously touched for a political party.
So I was just saying, it looks like the BC NDP will win the next election and although I do not consider them worthy of governing BC (primarily based on my considering its opposition efforts over the past 12 years to be pathetic), I rather be governed by them instead of the BC Libs for many reasons I am sure are obvious to you.
If a 3rd of each of BC’s top 3 provincial parties formed a new party, then I think I’d have a party I could feel comfortable about voting for as I think the combination would keep all centre’d, moving left and right as common sense demands so.
[Translate]
Well NDP will be inheriting a nightmare, and MSM will surely rake them over the coals after a short honeymoon. Just Good Bye to the current bunch.
[Translate]
The Fast Cat “sale for a song” – was nothing more than cutting off the tax payers nose to spite the NDP face. There will likely be nothing else left to sell by the time the Lieberals are voted out and no need to make them look bad.
The new government will only have to open the books for the public to see how well the “free enterprise party” has managed our province during and through the biggest commodity boom the planet has ever seen.
However, I doubt that they will have the jam to put some of the present gang of thieves in front of the courts.
[Translate]
and what exactly would the legal action be? I’m no fan of the BC Libeals and have lost patience in how they run the party, but this mantra about Christy Clark’s government being wanted to be summoned to the courts is getting to be a bit much. There has to be solid evidence that a violation of a contractual obligation, a rule of law or an assult on a person or inflicted willful phyiscal damage to a person, or thing in order to be brought to court. Such as been the case with Basi/Virk and BC Rail, but somehow I am not able to see why George Abbott, Mary McNeil and Blair Lekstrom need to be facing the judge.
Besides even if it was able to happen, it would cost you the blogging taxpayers millions money better spent on health care.
[Translate]
It is hard to be an optimist about BC politics but, considering the current government, let us try. LIberal versus NDP means mothing anymore; what I look at is the character of the individuals running for office. On balance, right now, I see more individuals who have character from the NDP than I do from the Liberals. I have never voted NDP in my life but probably will now because of what that woman and man has done to this province. I can not vote Conservative because they are currently “lame” and “uninspiring”.
“A few good men ( and women)”- I will settle for that as the bar has been so lowered by the current regime that personal integrity is all that is left. Having Bond and Clark raise the possibilty of on-line voting scares me senseless as their lack of integrity would tempt them to cross the line. History proves time and time again that appeasing corruption only leads to an erosion of democracy and basic human rights. These people can not be trusted.
Morally I feel like I have no other choice than to vote for the NDP.
God help this province because we sure need it.
[Translate]
left. Having Bond and Clark raise the possibilty of on-line voting scares me senseless as their lack of integrity would tempt them to cross the line.
It simply won’t happen under their watch. There simply isn’t enough time to rework the electoral system.
Besides it isn’t their call directly. A go or no go for approval by the Legislature is the call of the Chief Electoral Officer and even after that changes to the Elections Act need to be done and those changes debated in the Legislature, so even if all that managed to occur by March, it wouldn’t apply to the 2013 election.
I sure as hell ain’t voting NDP. I’ll either spoil my ballot or vote BC Conservative (and have a half bottle of Scotch when I get home to forget what I did).
[Translate]
I certainly agree with the first half of your comment, JW.
In my view, having character means, among other things, having the courage to vote in your constituents’ best interests ahead of toeing the party line.
I remember helping to elect an MP in the Mulroney sweep to take our message to Ottawa. After just a few months in office, his main mission in life was to bring Brian’s message to us!
What this polarized province really needs is a few successive minority governments, where legislation is more by consensus than by dictate.
[Translate]
Yes it would appear that the BC NDP, are the only viable alternative to the current Kleptocratic regime, and the stumbling BC Conservatives. Not much of an option I admit. Perhaps Mr. Dix will find a balance between the needs of the party and the needs of the province. Leadership in any party is a dance that has to be orchestrated, some more of a tightrope walk than others. It remains to be seen, whether or not his party and future government, will be up to the task.
Bearing all this in mind…anything is better than the “political gong show”, we now have at the BC legislature. A true “nightmare” in progress, devoid of leadership, intelligance, or moral fortitude.
[Translate]
We need you back ASAP…there’s just too much idiocy and extravagance to comprehend…
- $62 million in severance over the past 7 years
- The Dummy’s “no men allowed” soirees
- the first fare gate going up at a Skytrain station, and they celebrate like it’s a step into the future rather than something that should have been done 25 years ago
There’s way way more, but I don’t want to get myself worked up into a rage this early in the day.
[Translate]
Those of us who consider ourselves to be right-of-centre voters are in a quandry, not of our own making. Personally, I have been completely disallusioned by the deceit, secrecy, obfuscation and dishonesty of the BC Liberals. I could never see myself voting for them again, although I have to confess that my political leanings line up quite nicely with what they say they stand for.
My wife and I joined the BC Conservative Party last year when we felt that the BC Liberals were no longer listening to the people of BC and when we finally concluded that they are irreparably corrupted. We view everything they say with a calloused eye.
Last week, we informed the BC Conservatives that we want to be deleted from their membership list and refuse to receive emails from them. The inclusion of Randy White to their leadership ranks has infuriated us, despite the fact that we are evangelical Christians. In fact, I teach in a Christian highschool in the Fraser Valley. Not every evangelical is a fundamentalist, nor do all suscribe to the idea that we can enjoy the amazing religious freedoms we have as citizens of this great country while denying the civil rights of those with which,perhaps, we might not agree.
We are, at this point, willing to give our vote to the NDP. Anything is better than the current status quo.
[Translate]
As with all political parties we as British Columbians only have hope for a better political future. My trust has always been with the NDP. The Fast Cats were an expensive try at improving the ferry system. And that failed. It was an attempt at improving life in BC. Who ever could have guessed that the BC Lieberals were about to sell BC Rail and introduce an HST and have the Olympics- all in one term in office. Honestly how do they expect the BC constituents to pay for this extraviganza? I hope there isn’t anyone out there that says that the olympics is a boone to BC economy. We in Prince George don’t see it in fact Enbridge wants their dirty oil to piss all over us. But that’s another story in how northerners get screwed.
[Translate]
i am no fan of the ndp however the fast cat ferries contract was an attempt to establish the ship builders of bc as the go to place for aluminum ship building.
aluminum ship building is a specialized build glen clark was hoping to establish a niche service for bc .
[Translate]
Correct, and it was a dumb idea to begin with. Engineering was wrong, and the engines had to be run at 90% power in order to make schedule. Most engines run most efficiently at 40% to 50% of power capacity. Run non high performance engines at close to 100% capacity all the time and they will eventually breakdown. There were problems with wash (wake) and that meant a cut down on speed, so the benifits of the 60 minute advertised crossing time was back to 80 to 90 minutes. An expensive way to try and save 30 minutes (not including wait times).
The other aspect was the limited market for catamaran high speed ferries. They existed in Europe and the Victoria to Tasmania route in Australia, but not on all routes in Europe have them. Curiously the route from Germany to Denmark (a bit shorter in distance from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo) never had fast ferries, even though that route operates 24 hours a day. .
A third aspect is that the Fastcats could not carry commerical trucks or buses, which represent a higher revenue stream per vehicle length than does a car or a pickup truck (it’s much higher than 3 cars equalling the length of a common carrier bus).
Clark should have stayed with continuing on with the building of replacement ships for those completed in the 1960s. The biggest problem was neglect by the NDP on part of BC Ferries in favour of the FastCats.
If he did that BC Ferries and the shipbuilding industry would have been much better off. As would the service levels.
Curiously Clark said he was a fan of WAC Bennett, but never followed him in WAC’s quest to build ferries locally when he could have.
The biggest problem with governments be it BC Social Credit (VanderZalm), NDP or the BC Liberals and even civic governments is infrastructure. It simply has to be continually updated, and improved.
Too often things are left too late, and despite the Colgate Beautiful People smiles of politicians at the Opening Events, the projects come too late to have much lasting benifits before improvements have to be made.
The Port Mann Bridge Project for example is not “new”. It should have been started in the late 1980s.
The Evergreen Line (Lougheed Mall to Port Moody and Coquitlam Ctr) was supposed to start in 1988 after the King George Extension was completed. By virtue, it’s not the Evergreen Line the province should be starting on now, it’s the extension of Skytrain out to Langley and Walnut Grove (both the Evergreen and Canada Lines since completed and in service) imply because Surrey east of 146th Street and north of 64th is growing like ferns in a rainforest.
[Translate]
The Fast Cats were an expensive try at improving the ferry system. And that failed. It was an attempt at improving life in BC
Who ever was the nuclear scientist that thought that one up didn’t do the homework (and yes the BC Liberals’ nuclear scientist didn’t know that 2 +3 = 5 when it came to the HST either).
Why is it that the NDP is always dour and when they try to do something major they never get it right and yet won’t take the responsibility. The NDP always seems to be negative, and doesn’t like success.
What exactly did they accomplish up there in The North? Down here they came out with the M-Line which Glen Clark did not want Skytrain in the first place. They put in an HOV lane along the freeway which is fine, but they did not set a reversible lane on the Port Mann. Could have been done for $10 million. But some genius figured people wanted to get home from work fast. Trouble is people had to get to work on time. So hence the long lines on the Surrey side.
Won’t even get into the geniuses in the NDP that run Vancouver that decided riding a bike in a cold November rain is going to be better than using a car
[Translate]
And here I thought CC was bad at news events!! what a joke !!!!! I mean ah ah ah what a I duno ah I ah next!!!
http://www.cknw.com/news/vancouver/story.aspx?ID=1757145
[Translate]
Now go read my story. It’s up.
[Translate]
Quiet this week. Hope you’re not feeling poorly?
[Translate]
Go forth and read. I just set off a bomb in John Cummins’ lap…
[Translate]
Alex,
I wish you had a comment section where we could leave our thoughts and not to be concerned about being ‘off topic’. For example the question on CKNW today is: “Do you support the way the province overseas ICBC?” When I voted around 08:30 the results were Yes – 9% and No – 91%. An hour later the Yes has 56.4% and No 43.6%. Mike Morton must of been pretty busy today
Thanks,
[Translate]
This is why he’s back. This is precisely why he’s back. HE learned these methods from his old friend, Dave Basi.
[Translate]