The British Columbia Mainstream Media Mustn’t Ever Again Complain About Robust, Legitimate Criticisms: The ‘Basi-Virk’ Evidence Accepted Then Ignored
I’ve spent the last two days since I released the Kieran-Bornmann memo (showing the Premier to have, once again, lied about her involvement in the sale of BCRail) flummoxed by the mainstream press in this province.
I never complain when I cover a story that they don’t. I understand there are more important things like forest fires, shootings, crash fatalities and nude princes of England cavorting in Las Vegas, that will trump almost anything on any given day.
Sensationalism and sex, sells. It’s the old saw my father used to tell me about–one that he learned first hand: “You have to sell the sizzle with the steak, my boy. No one will give a damn about a piece of meat on the plate unless it looks appetizing, too.”
Yes, quite. But I’m afraid the MSM in this province is over-selling the sizzle.
Case in point: Respected media baron David Black’s proposal of a refinery in Kitimat and Martyn Brown’s eBook, primarily schooling Christy Clark and her government, have dominated the headlines on provincial matters for the last ten days. Mr. Black’s rather adventurous, but sensible (in principle) proposition would be understandably big news. He’s a captain of industry and a big believer in good government, as well as good governance.
Mr. Brown’s book (which I highly recommend as it’s a very good read, even if it’s, at least, revisionist on Gordon Campbell’s tenure as Premier) has set the political world aflame with devastating criticisms of Christy Clark’s time as Premier (for his clear-eyed prose, Martyn Brown should be commended).
Though, I harken back to June the 24th. of this year–not even two months ago, when I dropped this bombshell. Remember? This was, of course, David Basi’s 2003 memo, wherein he claimed Christy Clark was intimately involved in a BC Rail information highway between herself and Erik Bornmann, Brian Kieran and the rest of the Pilothouse boys. Bornmann’s former secretary confirmed this for me well-over a year ago. Countless documents from the trial support this contention. And yet Sara the Gum from the Premier’s Office, bypassing the signature of Basi’s lawyer at the bottom of the memo, even went so far as to suggest the memo was “purported” and “fabricated.”
But the media were all over it. Jon McComb had me on for an exclusive interview. The Province’s Mike Smyth covered it. Oh yes, as did someone else.
I want you to read the following–very, very carefully. And then read it a second time. I’ll explain below.
“Uh Dave uhhh I got a lot of time for both guys but Dave has made a number of allegations and assertions over the years that have never been substantiated have never been proven or have been proven wrong he has been basically his credibility I think is obviously shaken severely by the fact that court in court he admitted to lying and to fraud so the credibility of that person [Basi] obviously is under a cloud and so anything he says in regards to BC Rail right now having experienced a lot of the things that he said over the years I have to take with a giant grain of salt so when when a memo written by him emerges um where he [Basi] purports to make to say something happened considering his track record on this, as a journalist, I have to put that up against a very skeptical lens and say well just because he[Basi] said something happened given the track record here I’d have to say that it does not mean that that particular assertion actually occurred and so as a journalist and certainly as someone who um plays a role on Global’s ‘News Hour’ in determining what I report I’m just not going to put that out there, I’m not going to put my name to it I don’t think it’s I don’t think it’s a story if you want to call it that that stands up purely on the basis of what Dave Basi has to say and I know that you mentioned a number of other journalists came to the same conclusion. I talked to a lot of reporters yesterday it’s an interesting issue and again kudos to Alex for for keeping this story alive but uh from our point of view, and I am not the only one a lot of senior political journalists came to the same conclusion that just because David Basi said something does not mean that it’s true and given his track record and his lack of credibility that the courts have established uh it rings even less true.”
For those of you beginning to smile and have already caught on, kudos.
This is a statement from CKNW’s ‘Cutting Edge of the Ledge’, uttered,by none other than Keith Baldrey, Senior Political Reporter and Victoria Bureau Chief for Global British Columbia. Keith, a long-time good friend of Christy Clark, went well-beyond trying to discredit the Basi memo, he actually spun that the courts “have established” that Basi is a liar.
Unfortunately, the biggest lie in that statement was Baldrey’s own assertion that the courts established anything. Quite to the contrary, Basi and Virk’s legal team won an unprecedented number of pre-trial disclosure motions, based often, on the credibility of Basi and Virk’s contentions.
And isn’t it interesting how he admits to interfering in allowing otherwise newsworthy stories to see the light of day? Think about that the next time you’re watching Gailus or Hope at six o’clock. Nice one, Keith. How to assail your own credibility in one easy lesson–and that of YOUR team.
The bigger picture here, is that the mainstream press went gaga over the Basi memo. And after the (Vaughn) Palmer and Baldrey tag-team to discredit the memo, the press all but dropped the issue again.
So, for all intents and purposes, Basi has no credibility, even though when he wrote the memo, he was king of the hill, literally.
But what have they done now, this week, when I revealed the Kieran-Bornmann memo? Nothing, Not a peep, except from ONE, solitary, courageous community paper reporter in Parksville. Where is the illustrious Keith Baldrey now? Brian Kieran is one of his colleagues in the Victoria pack of front porch perma-summer, self-sedated dogs, that literally don’t take bathroom breaks unless by unanimous decree. Is Baldrey’s silence code for Kieran being a liar, too? Because the RCMP didn’t think so. Along with Bornmann, they hung the entire trial on such testimony!!! What’s your excuse now, Keith? What about your pals? Erik Bornmann is a respected lawyer today. He’s no longer a briber of public officials. Their memo, from roughly the same time period as Basi’s, confirms much of Basi’s assertions and even goes further–showing Christy to have been running interference and exerting influence–possible crimes, INSIDE THE CABINET ROOM–something she claims NEVER happened.
She stood in the Legislature YOU COVERED and said so. Your pal Vaughn wrote about it!
Well then, where are the hell are rest of you in the MSM in this God-forsaken province? You want us to pay to read you online, as well as at the doorstep. You bitch about any legitimate criticisms. You routinely take advertising money from government to feather-bed your corporatist bailiwicks. When challenged, you attack the challenger instead of the challenge. The whine is often deafening. Well? What’s today’s excuse? Tell me!!!
Do not EVER AGAIN complain about criticisms from the public or blogs. You’ve earned it in spades–and then some.
IF DAVID BASI HAS NO CREDIBILITY, THOUGH YOU COVERED HIS HANDY WORK, WHY THEN ARE YOU NOT COVERING THE EXACT SAME KIND OF A MEMO WRITTEN BY ONE OF YOUR OWN, AND HIS ACCOMPLICE??? THEY HAVE CREDIBILITY AND WERE NEVER “CONVICTED” OF ANYTHING!!!
I’ll tell you why: Because your sorry lack of journalistic ethics and terminal laziness are as bare as Prince Harry’s ass.
Alex,
Totally off subject, but I was thinking of sending Bill Good a case of “chapstick” for his lips due to all the ass kissing he does on his ‘show” at CKNW……. Any idea where I would mail it?
[Translate]
C’mon guys. LOL!
[Translate]
Bill Good
c/o CKNW 980AM
Suite 2000 – 700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC
V7Y 1K9
Or drop it off in person and bring a diet Coke for June at reception and I’m sure she’ll make sure Bill gets his package.
[Translate]
Suite 2000??!!!
Wow!
They’re on the TWO THOUSANDTH FLOOR!!??
They can probably grab God by the ankles from there!
They’re way above us MSM-consuming peasants!
Better send Billi Vanilli an oxygen tank… and a XXXL carbon fibre explosion-proof colostomy bag!
[Translate]
Nah, I think the floor they’re on …..they wouldnt be grabbing God by the ankles……it would be someone with cloven hooves……….
[Translate]
Hey! Take it easy hotshot. I gave up the hooves for high heels.
[Translate]
HOTSHOT!!!???
Is that the brand of your new fashion-forward high heels?
Doesn’t look like you’re giving up much; if anything, you’ve added a couple of high fashion dimensions.
http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/gun-hooves.jpg
[Translate]
LMAO
[Translate]
Afterthought: Was Billi Vanilli the cloven hooves donor?
Poor Bill has been cut off at the knees so many times by bloggers and the public for his perpetual bullshit; maybe this is his way of making a fashionable mia culpa?
You know, hoof in the mouth one last time… and then, off with the offender!
[Translate]
Re: Online Voting.
If this happens I will do my best to ensure I am your next premier. I hear its a dead heat between myself, castro, and the always likeable hitler.. wouldn’t that make fun international headlines?
I’m not kidding.. I will take a leave of absence from work to ensure the idea of online voting is show for the complete joke it is and I’m sure I won’t be the only one trying to subvert this stupid plan…. though im sure i’ll be one of few with good intentions unlike our current premier.
[Translate]
I wouldn’t pay a dime to read what the msm calls news and I think a lot of people would agree with me.
[Translate]
Alex, do you think there is any connection between the Province and the Vancouver Sun and a number of other PostMedia news sites charging their customers to access (and comment) on their news stories? Most of the comments I have read are critical of the government. The conspiracy theorist in me can’t help thinking that the government is in collusion with the MSM to control the message. If the government can connect the comments with the paid accounts, maybe they can dig up dirt on their detractors. What do you think?
[Translate]
Since Mike Morton appeared almost anything’s possible. Basi and Virk advise that he is an extremely skilled media manipulator.
They also advise that he can lie with a straight face and laugh while he’s walking away.
[Translate]
If I had to put money on it, I would choose death rattle over skillful manipulation.
[Translate]
There’s some truthiness in what truthiness says.
But MSM’s attempt to get the public to pay for feces that up to now was free will backfire.
Look at the Buy & Sell business model as an example – Business ads were paid, while small traders and individuals ads were free & unlimited.
As a result, the Buy & Sell was an inch and a half thick and had huge circulation.
CraigsList (and other free online sites) came along, and what did Buy & Sell do? Everybody that was free before had to register, give up anonymity, and pay $5 per ad in print to qualify for the same ad free on line.
Result: Within a few months, Buy & Sell circulation tanked, paid ads were down, Buy & Sell’s thickness shrank to a 1/4 of an inch; Buy & Sell Panicked and within a few more months, ads were free again.
But it was too late – a few months later, the Buy & Sell was shut down, all sales catagories were ommitted, and the paper was rolled into their “Auto Trader” – vehicle ads only – 95% from dealerships.
R.I.P. Buy & Sell!
MSM, this could very well be you in the near future!
MSM, if I were you, I’d be giving those nicely gift-wrapped bags of “news” Mike Morton sends you a real good sniff before eating!
MSM, while you’re “holding the Mike Morton’s bag”, it might just catch fire and you’ll have to stomp on it to put it out.
It’ll be too late for you to clean the LIEberal dog shit off your shoes!
[Translate]
Oh my God!
Coffee snarf alert!
[Translate]
Every person that reads this blog should cancel anything they have to with shaw, and explain to them, it’s Baldrey’s reporting that is causeing you to do this!!!!!!! Keep up the great work Alex, it’s yourself and Raif that keep my hopes up
[Translate]
I wouldn’t. It would be too much to lose watching hockey games on TV
[Translate]
You can always switch to Telus or Novus. Novus has allegedly the best deal on bundles including TV, Internet and home phone.
[Translate]
What a whinner
[Translate]
Several possibilities occur to me:
• The briefing note presented by AGT is a forgery by others.
• The note is genuine, but Mr. Kieran was lying to his client.
• The note is genuine but Mr. Kieran’s’ sources lied to him.
• The note is genuine and Mr. Kieran and his sources are telling the truth.
One guy who can answer to all of these possibilities is the author of the briefing note. He also happens to be a current member of the BC Legislative Press Gallery. Although it is very difficult to find a current copy of the constitution and by-laws of the press gallery, the 1987 version, at article II says, “In the fullest spirit of press freedom and journalistic professionalism, the objective of the B.C. Press Gallery is to ensure the dissemination of parliamentary and government news in a fair and accurate manner.” It’s hard to imagine it has changed much in intent since. In practice, it may be a different story, but I digress. It seems to me that the content of the briefing note is very much “parliamentary and government news” and although the other members and journalists at large should definitely be reporting it Mr. Kieran owes us a duty on both counts; author and reporter.
Don’t look to his peers for support in this. Keith Baldrey, president of the press gallery during the Margot Sinclair-Bud Smith fiasco, said at the time, “The press gallery is not in the business of investigating and policing individual members for anything. Journalists should not put themselves in a situation where they hold court and become judge and jury over their colleagues and contemplate taking any disciplinary action against them.” Or in a situation where they report on each other, eh Keith?
[Translate]
Yeah, we’ve seen how well the police investigate police for possible criminal wrong doing.
I can just imagine journalists investigating journalists for non criminal biased reporting.
I can just hear Baldrey at a Journalism Tribunal of his peers ,” So I have breakfast, lunch and supper 3 times a week with the Premier. Whats wrong with that?”
The media used to be filled with reporters that made a middle class wage at best. And while I dont begrudge anyone for making an excellent wage ( What’s Baldrey pull in ? $250k per year? More?).
There in lies the conflict.
When the media become rich and start hanging out with the elite in power. They BECOME part of the story.
Unbiased reporters dont “hang out ” with the people that we, the public, expect them to hold accountable for their actions.
The perception of the public is that these ‘elitist” reporters are lobbing softballs at their subjects. Fair or not, that IS the perception we the public have.
Why are the MSM losing audience membership?
The audiences are leaving because they dont believe the messenger.
Zero credibility.
Time for a change MSM?
Time to start actually living by a Code of Conduct?
Some very big egos to deal with so I dont see anything changing until the almighty accountants count the ‘beans” and realize “Loss” is not “Profit”.
[Translate]
Saw Rich Coleman at yvr airport intl arrival sat/ today at 1230pm .looked relaxed -like he didnt read former liberal e book and/ or sold something.?
Did Rafe Mair get dropped from CBC.?
[Translate]
Yes. Rafe and I spoke. It’s not a good situation.
[Translate]
Perhaps a Tsakumis/Mair online radio show?
[Translate]
[Translate]
turn a bad situation into an opportunity?????
[Translate]
We are no better off than china with its media and internet censorship. Whats next will they come and cart you away in the middle of the night never to be seen again? Could be part of the new cheat to win internet voting. Corperate pigs at work well before the writ is dropped.
[Translate]
intenet vote- possible hack ,worm, trojan, beacon ,cookie.Ever heard of stuxnex.flame virus etc.Also claims already of evote tampering.
[Translate]
Ever heard of reality in how the inernet voting would actually arrive?
it won’t be here for the 2013 election. There is simply not enough time to select, test and implement an online voting system.
Besides, once again if it did exist, it would be a supplementary means, not a replacement (similar to the options available such as voting well before election day at the Returning office, or at the advance polls.
But I am not in favour of it. I saw second hand the manipulations that went on with Kevin Falcon’s leadership, and read about the problems the NDP had with their online leadership voting.
There isn’t any government sanctioned censorship Glenn. It’s self styled by the papers themselves. Many blogs have self imposed censorship such a the Tyee.
Some parallel subjets are just ignored. I figured Alex here would roast and baste Keven for the way the interdiction of voting was done by his supporters for the leadership. His eday leadership workers should never ever have touched in any means the way to vote on behalf of his supporters. They only contact the voter to convince them to vote. That is all they are supposed to do and nothing more. Supporters of any candidates do not under any circumstances touch the instrument or means to vote by voters ever except post election voting where even then the ballots are never touched by scruitineers, ever. I had once a prominent candidate and his scrutineer who tried to touch the ballots during counting, I did one thing and one thing only.
Told them loudly to get out of my counting room, now.
[Translate]
Why do you continue to insist that there isn’t enough time to implement a method by which Christy may cheat (again) and then suggest that there isn’t enough time with which to cheat in getting there???
There is ample time to cheat. She’s made a life out of it. Stop say there isn’t enough time.
Because it’s simply untrue.
[Translate]
The one thing this Liberal government has done well is lie, cheat and steal on an accelerated timeline.
6 months is oodles of time for them to implement an online voting system where they can steal and election.
[Translate]
There is a lot to be said for the system used in the Middle East… dip your finger in the inkwell after you vote..
serves 2 purposes
1. It makes sure you only vote once.
2. Shows everyone who voted & who didn’t .
3. Solves the problem of mandatory voting…
perfect!
[Translate]
It also shows who picked their nose right after voting….
[Translate]
Simply because as an IT professional, it does take time to put complex systems into place.
It’s not like buying a box of Microsoft Office Eight Point Oh and dumping into your computer like Krusty O’s into a bowl and adding milk for your breakfast feast.
Alex if it’s going to be done, it has to be done right and done right the first time.
Also consider that Elections BC is non partisan and reports only to the Legislature not the Premier (as a former politico you know that). Any changes to the electoral system has to be approved by the Legislature and that means public debate. So yourself and anyone here who follows the Legislature will be able to tell early on if it happens.
My experiences in being within the electoral system (civic, federal and provincial, and being on both sides of the table) tells me that new systems take considerable time.
I’ve seen many instances of IT projects being put into place too fast with disasterous results. The programming was crap and the system
didn’t work at all to specification. When that happens the whole schmeal has to be replaced.
‘
Yes she can “cheat” and try to speed it through, but quite bluntly she would not chance it, as there is too much of a chance for error.
Sorry m’lad but I think in terms of operands and things like that even in politics. I’ve put systems in place locally, and actually have had complex campaign systems ready for a candidate to use well ahead of an anticipated election. That way there is ample time to test and improve what has been put in.
So having said that, there are two ways to go.
There isn’t enough time. If you want to do it right. Examine your options, present them to the public, let them have input (yes no, if yes what do you want, how would it work),
A parallel would be a supplementary referendum a simple yes or no question to online voting as an alternative option (the existing system stays unaltered).
if yes and consensus on means, select the best option available and test it. Test it successfully
perhaps use it co-operatively with a civic election as a test, review your results make the changes, and re-test again.
Then when everything works properly then release it for public use, but accompany it with easy to follow and easy to understand guides (including guides in the four largest used languages in BC).
But always provide it as an option. Never as a replacement.
There is enough time , It can be started on Thursday, if you want to be dumb and stupid about it and surely seal your fate of being destroyed in the next election.
Your choice.
I can see you look for idiocy on part of Christy Clark and you’re extremely good at it.
Sorry, I look at this from a systems operations view.
But I would not support it, nor would I use it if it was provided.
[Translate]
I think the point is the system would not be implemented properly and in fact as a fellow IT professional you should know that no matter the security and no matter the audit trail the system can be hacked especially from the inside.
The value of hacking the online election system in sheer $$$ would make it a huge target especially for resource hungry china.
[Translate]
Also I’d like to add: just look how hard it is for the auditor general to get the records regarding the basi/virk payout, can you imagine the delays in getting information on a fraudulent election?
[Translate]
“My experiences in being within the electoral system( civic, federal and provincial,and being on both sides of the table) tells me that new systems take considerable time.”
“Sorry m’lad but I think in terms of operands and things like that even in politics. I’ve put systems in place locally?? and actually have had complex campaign systems in place ready for a candidate to use well ahead of a anticipated election??? That way there is ample time to test and Improve what has been put in”.
“But I would not support it, nor would I use it if it was provided”.??
Your last line of doublespeak, is quite unique. Ya pretty much said you invented or at least understand the technology to the point of ….YES manipulating ANYTHING online can and Will happen. (“Nor would I use it if it was provided).
I don’t know Alex…….Good ole Seymore seems to provide a soft pillow to what is coming
Hey he’s your friend………not mine.
Thanks Alex Mr White..
[Translate]
That is So Cool you printed my words. Thank You Alex..
So All of Canada Can See Mr Whites print.
However interesting it may be.
My Daughter may be proud..
Thanks Alex Mr White.
[Translate]
Well Mr. White a few points here.
One can watch the development of computer systems (such as Linux), but I wouldn’t have it on a computer as I don’t have a use for it.
The same can be said for Apple OS. I’ve used Apple O/S on computer, but don’t have an Apple PC at home.
Same can be said for cars. It would be great to have a Shelby Super Snake read to do race battle at Mission Raceway with Alex here, but I don’t have the money to get one.
Every campaign invents ways to do things to suit the local candidate
and the riding. it’s not a cookie cutter system as the Parties like them to be.
It appears yoiu want the online voting for the sole purpose of being critical of it. once it is there.
Even Christy wouldn’t be that dumb to insist on it, when she is statistically tied with a party that figures they can Go with God when it comes to doing good for the province.
She can only insist to the Chief Electoral Officer, She can’t demand it as the Chief Electoral Officer reports to the Legislature not to the Premier.
if anything is going to happen on this online voting thing, it will have to be started sometime in late October or early November as a system in order to meet the time line to be in place for the next election. That Mr. White will include revisions to the Elections Act which must pass through the Legislature in a fall session)
and I don’t know who you are and so you’re Alex’s friend, not mine.
[Translate]
You know who I am, I consist of the unread thoughts of the general public.
I am not the super IT tech that is bought off and generalizes public opinion with a witty retort.
I give a shit, in My own way. That alone, seems upsetting to you.
When I wrote, “Hey he’s your friend”, did you really think that Alex and I were buds? Never met the man.
I write thoughts. I rarely defend corruption, if ever.
You were the first to chastise me on a future outlook on this, insane path in BC politics. And I wrote back.
Suck it up princess.
You are a very smart writer(Notice I didn’t write man or woman?).
Cause You are right, We don’t who We are.
Until the Next Topic, carry on Seymore Forest.
Mr White.
[Translate]
Yeah, but. You need to remain behaved or I’ll ban you again.
So far, so good.
Seymour is one of our residents here–he gets lots of slack because he’s earned it.
[Translate]
“Alex if it’s going to be done, it has to be done right and done right the first time.”
i agree seymour, but have the liberals not proven time and again they will rush and push things through when it is in their best interest but not the publics?
“Also consider that Elections BC is non partisan and reports only to the Legislature not the Premier (as a former politico you know that). Any changes to the electoral system has to be approved by the Legislature and that means public debate. So yourself and anyone here who follows the Legislature will be able to tell early on if it happens. ”
the liberals hold a majority… so approval by the legislature is meaningless.. if they want it they can vote it in. as to us knowing… SO WHAT.. we did not want the HST and look at the massive effort it took to get the liberals to back down. they had gotten to the point of completely destroying their own party before they admitted they were wrong.
“My experiences in being within the electoral system (civic, federal and provincial, and being on both sides of the table) tells me that new systems take considerable time.”
no seymour, it SHOULD take time, but the libs can force it through if they want.
you state that elections BC is a non-partisan office. you might beleive that, but imho the reality of the situation does not reflect that. ANY online voting system is susceptable to hacking (either externally or internally) and if elections BC were truely non-partisan they would flatly reject the idea of online voting.
its as simple as this seymour, a head of a family of 8 (6 of whom are voting age) takes all the voting cards for his/her family… logs in and votes for the entire family. THATS WRONG, if not illegal. and with an online voting system how would elections BC be able to tell?
[Translate]
That’s exactly why there needs to be time to put a system in place to prevent that from happening if that is the way to go.
Also consider that right now there is no indication as to online voting actually being implemented as an option system. Right now it is in the “let’s have a look to see if it would actually work here”. There is no obligation from Elections BC to actually accept online voting, If Elections BC figures from both a system and voter view it wouldn’t work, it simply would not be put in place.
Argue if you want, but in my 20 or so years of being within the political system, these things are not the same as buying a box of Microsoft Windows or a box of Office and dumping into your PC. It takes time to do it right and to do it right the first time.
The NDP model for using online votijng during their leadership did not work as it was supposed to. The online voting used by the BC Liberals was not 100% perfect. Witness the people in Kevin’s leadership who were able to receive PIN numbers from those who wanted Kevin’s people to vote on their behalf because they didn’t know how or didn’t want to do it themselves. Plus Christy’s membership slips which were colour copies and did not have a serial number on them.
and the Liberals would be foolish to try and press this through, They are statistically tied with the BC Conservatives and no party in the low to mid 20s would ever try to make changes to a voting system in order to try and make themselves a better result. It will only result in disaster.
They would be better off to correct the many problems they have now rather than add new ones.
[Translate]
you have made assumptions that i find to be questionable seymour.
” there needs to be time to put a system in place ”
agreed, but who is to say the liberals wont buy an existing system from somewhere? online voting has been done, the software exists. you rightly conclude it will need time to be implemented, who says the liberals are not allready working on this… remember the HST that was “not on the radar” that is now taking over twice as long to get rid of as it did to implement. if you still beleive that was not in the works before the election..
” There is no obligation from Elections BC to actually accept online voting,”
you still assume that elections BC is impartial… ummm, ok. if our public institutions that are supposed to be impartial are just that, why did the RCMP not follow up on all the evidence they found while investigating BC rail? why was the brother in law of a liberal MLA allowed to head the investigation?
“and the Liberals would be foolish to try and press this through”
why? they have absolutely nothing to lose at this point. they are done as a party. CC has led them to complete irrellevance. and if you plan on cheating… why on gods green earth would you care if its “done right”?
you assume the liberals can not buy software that allready exists.. i think you are wrong.
you assume there is no time to implement an online voting system… speculation is that the liberals will be pushing back the election date giving them more time, and this also assumes that they are not allready actively working on this.
you assume elections BC is impartial..i doubt it.
you assume the liberals will not cheat, you are wrong.. no question on that one.
[Translate]
“who is to say the liberals wont buy an existing system from somewhere? online voting has been done, the software exists”
What exactly is it that makes you think this is a done deal?? What is it that makes you so sure this is going to happen? Cite? All that exists now is an exploratory. a trial balloon (of which VanderZalm flew many)
So why in fact is this “who is to say the liberals wont buy an existing system” of higher value or being towards the truth as opposed to say “we will go step by step to see what’s out there and what the voters think first”??
Yes online voting has been done, the NDP used it, and it did not work the way it was supposed to. Mechanically the BC Liberal variation did, but both Kevin and Christy corrupted the process. They should have left the process alone and not get into trying to manipulate it. I’d verbally tear both of them apart if I had the opportunity to do so but that is starting to age, and I’d rather tear both of them apart on the topic of the BC Liberal Party being a mess and the fact that fhis government is also a mess, plus a few issues of note. Trust me I would have no hesitation in letting them have it with both barrels given the opportunity, especially Christy Clark and in particular one idiot political hack who is living in a self-serving over the top I am important environment. That person is very close to being verbally torn apart now as it is.
One thing in politics, never ever rest on speculation alone. Many times those looking towards speculation as being correct are floating on the wrong log which is going in the wrong direction.
Check facts and look for definitive pattern first. It’s not the most popular nor the most fun way to go, but at least you’ll find alot less on this online voting issue than what has been spectulated.
Myself I want to check facts first. If I ever see a definitive direction towards online voting. the nearest MLAs to me will most certainly be torn apart verbally about bringing it in.
You can bet your sweet ass on that one
[Translate]
“What exactly is it that makes you think this is a done deal??”
10 years of liberal rule
” What is it that makes you so sure this is going to happen?”
nothing makes me sure. the liberals history of the last 10 years makes me KNOW i should be concerned it might.
“Cite?”
bc rail- not for sale, HST- not on the radar, legal contracts- torn up after an election, Basi Virk- paid to keep quite, BC hydro- showing a profit… and on and on the list goes
“All that exists now is an exploratory. a trial balloon”
yep, and after ten years of the same bull shit, if you have not learned by now that the liberals CAN NOT be trusted, and that you should automatically assume they are up to no good until they prove otherwise…..
what does it mean when you do the same thing over and over again but expect different results seymour?
[Translate]
Total agreement.
[Translate]
You tell em’ Whiterockj.
Thanks Mr White.
[Translate]
If crissy or any other liebral mentioned ,even in passing, anything about online voting than you can bet that there is a plan floating in cyberspace about it.
She may even believe that she can just dust off and modernize her leadership program.
BC voters are proving to be so easily fooled into electing politicians that they can be led into anything by just spinning the right amount of mixed BS,Prayer or Stupidity . So far we are still waiting for any honest party to be elected. And my hopes are getting less each election..
[Translate]
I went to a closed session on media about a decade ago and an award winning Sun reporter there said that the Vancouver Sun was a paper oriented to the westside businessman. It was a revealing moment for me then as I had grown up with Margorie Nichols, Hutchinson etc. That comment was before BC Rail. That reporter’s comments have been borne out by the lack of credibility that exists, especially in the editioral page, and the political spin of its stories-with some exceptions. When was its last investigative report on politics as opposed to some interest group coming forward with it? I still subscribe to the paper as it has writers that are outstanding in other fields than politics and I want it to survive as both a local business and a necessary voice. I totally agree with the comment that the ” leading lights” in the media like Good and Baldrey represent the people they report on, not the non-elite. They are disconnected from the public.
[Translate]
Excellent article Alex! Nice to see how the MSM is ignoring this. One has to wonder that if it was someone like Bill Vander Zalm in Snookies place, the MSM would be all over him like a fat kid is on candy.
I’m no fan of the NDP but they hammered away at Glen Clark & his neighbour over a bloody deck. I’m sure both Glen & Bill have mellowed with time since they left politics. I’d also bet that they are both just laughing at the contrast of how they were treated & the soft ride Snookie is getting from the MSM. I’d take either of those gentleman over Snookie any day. Hell,l maybe they could both get together and form a coalition to help save this province from impending doom…….(Hello Mayor Watts from Surrey, the Province needs you!) The Conservatives are going nowwhere at the moment & we need help ASAP!
The sun & province serve pablum & prozac laced articles. Their editorials are bland and predictable. No way will I pay for their internet service. I’ll use the freebies for the sports info while I suck back the morning coffee. I predict that soon, one of the daily papers will be gone, just like the Buy& Sell…..
[Translate]
The MSM at the time was indeed all over Bill VanderZalm when his idiocy shone in the spotlight.
Another fun time was when the media kept going on about Gordon Wilson and Judy Tyjabi’s ahem – two member caucus meetings. The coverage ended up more sickening sweet and syrupy and promoted the onset of sugar diabetes faster than a Brady Bunch episode or Donny Osmond singing “Sweet and Innocent”.
[Translate]
ahhhhhhh, those WERE the days weren’t they?
When reporters shoved a mike in the face of Gordons wife and asked her if the rumours of his infidelity were true and she replied,” I still do his laundry”…….
[Translate]
I don’t think the mic should have been shoved in her face she was a victim of his bad behavior..
Gordon should have been held to account for his own bad behavior, perhaps then we wouldn’t be in the position we are now.
The MSM is guilty of giving Gordon a free ride on that front.. nothing to do with his innocent wife and kids..
[Translate]
He was. He was bumped off during the BC Liberal leadership and Gordon Campbell won over Gordon Gibson Junior who would have been a better choice.
Gordon was held to account via those sickening sweet and syrupy stories in The Provine. Gordon also got into media trouble with his beleagured Democratic Alliance which owed money but was never paid back prior to Gordon crossing the floor to sit as an NDP MLA and consequently made Cabinet.
[Translate]
You mean Wilson, right?
[Translate]
Keith Baldrey doesn’t look well.
His guilty conscience shows up in spades when he is on TV …edge from the ledge, yeah right….
[Translate]
too many meals at the trough will do that to anyone…….
[Translate]
Keith isn’t feeling badly, I found this gem on twitter after Raif left CBC…Really classy Keith…hope he wasn’t referring to himself as being better..
23 Aug Keith Baldrey @keithbaldrey
@BillTieleman @csmithstraight @georgiastraight other than fish farms and evil private power what did he ever talk about? Better out there..
[Translate]
Wow! !, what arrogance on display.
[Translate]
“Deep Throat” had Keith Baldrey’s number from day one!
The essence of what “Deep Throat” said to AGT about Keith Ball-Less: “… He’s an asshole, an absolute asshole – he’s not your friend – never was, never will be… fuck him…”
“Deep Throat” was right then – he’s right now.
[Translate]
Kieth Baldrey’s “Twit-er” …”Other than fish farms and evil private power .what did he(Mair) ever talk about….”
Gee Keith , you mean he actually had the balls to be critical of something instead of lapping the testicles of his pay masters?
Got news for you ya arrogant prick, there is a shit storm coming and you’re standing on the wrong side of the fan…….
[Translate]
I agree, Baldrey can’t be trusted period!!
He isnt going to report anything you bring forward Alex
His “job” is to deflect and turn the heat down on this government.
Has to guide the dialogue
[Translate]
I have always believed that Baldry is a paid mouthpiece of the Lieberal government. He looked sheepish as he spewed his biased commentary and he reminded me of the tpye, who as a kid, always got beat up in the schoolyard.
Noted that my comments are in past tense – I quit watching him and BCTV quite a while ago. If we all did, the advertisers would withdraw their ads and the station would have a tough go of controlling much of what people seem to believe in this province. Seems the adage that if it is said often enough people will believe it, and if it is not said, it is soon forgotten.
It is really too bad that the MSM does not have the courage to report the truth, or in the least, unbiased journalism. Too bad that the government’s feet are not held to the fire anymore.
Glenn Clark is gone because of a deck, Harcourt because of Bingogate, Van der Zalm because of Fantasy Gardens….This bunch has sold us out time after time, and the MSM have helped to cover it all up.
Shame on them. Shame on many of us for being sheep.
Madr (CBC name)
[Translate]
Seymour, Snookies idiocy isn’t shineing like a spotlight? I think so very much hmmmm!!!!!!!!!
[Translate]
Well Len, there’s no need to keep going on and on and on about Christy’s idiocy. It’s like when you were a kid and kept rubbing that road rash because it was still there and felt good when you kept scratching and adding to the infection and delaying the healing.
The BC Liberals are fried when it comes to the next election. They will keep living their fantasy world but reality is going to hit them and hit them hard. They will be lucky to make it past the minimum required for party status and while they will be Opposition, the NDP majority will be so large and the BC Liberals have lost credibility it will be
difficult to stop the NDP from doing dumb things. It will be an open store for the NDP.
My hope is that Adrian will be smart and learn to say in public “no”, rather than burying his statements in politically puffed answers.
I mean how many times do people have to be keep going on and on and on about the obvious idiocies of Christy Clark?
[Translate]
Len. Just realize Seymore is mostly….Bla,..Quite cool information, and bla…..bla bla bla.
[Translate]
and what does Mr. White consist of? Not much in courtesy from what I can see.
[Translate]
And yet I was censored from this site..
I think there is a word for that!!!!
[Translate]
You weren’t censored.
You’re an asshole. You’re an asshole who believes in the tyranny of Clark and her band of thieves and cheaters.
You believe in political grifting. The rest of us don’t.
You recently came by to call me a whiner. I approved that. What’s your problem?
I’ll tell you. Your an asshole.
Go back to kissing Christy’s ass.
While kids go hungry in poverty, and the poor are screwed…asshole.
[Translate]
(looking at this conversation. Carrrrefully looking at Alex out of the corners of the eyes tilting head slightly for a better sight..
extends arm partially with a purple open box in hand to offer Alex something comforting..
“um…. chocolate?”
[Translate]
[Translate]
Good for you Alex.
[Translate]
Frank’s Anthem Of The Trolls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o30wacwdoc
The HST stickmen is a nice added touch.
Enjoy!
Asshole!
[Translate]
A perfect response for Frank ‘The Asshole’.
Sums up the Lieberal party to a ‘T’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o30wacwdoc
[Translate]
Hey Alex
I saw an interesting article in the paper. Remember how Krusty said she is Families First? Remember her saying how much she is a single mom and all that crap, well explain this Krusty. Why don’t you help out these kids? Don’t you see that by them having a specialized school it ACTUALLY SAVES YOU MONEY?? They had 2-3 Special assistants EACH. How much does that cost?? Have a heart. Honestly Krusty is the Grinch who stole Christmas and education from kids who never got a fair chance. Not all kids are born in a mansion with a silver spoon. This is truly repulsive.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Vancouver+school+kids+with+complex+health+problems+faces+closure/7147948/story.html
[Translate]
I did have a post up but perhaps it’s length and slight off topic ranting meant it was removed. Fair enough.
I’ll paraphrase what I said earlier by saying the problem of the mainstream media is no just in BC but is Canada wide. We have journalists who are either owned by a corporation or, in the case of the CBC and specifically Evan Solomon on Power and Politics, journalists with access who are afraid to lose that access because they ask a tough or biting question.
It’s a sad day when a “journalist” editorializes and puts their bias into their work. It’s easy to do, which is why journalists are trained not to do it and simply should report and allow readers the opportunity to form their own opinions.
Thank you for doing this Alex, for allowing us to come to our own opinions through your good work.
God Bless,
Ryan L. Painter
[Translate]
I approved it!
[Translate]
Cheers Alex. I assumed because I didn’t see it now but I saw it before perhaps it was removed. Do old ones get archived? It might be my Chinese internet as it sometimes cuts off parts of webpages and crashes websites. Not trying to offend Alex, I have a high opinion of you and it’s your site. You do with it as you please. I feel the same about my own blog.
God Bless,
Ryan L. Painter
[Translate]
No problem at all. None taken.
All are indeed archived.
[Translate]
The BC msm is the RCMP of Canadian media: horribly broken.
[Translate]
This little graphic says it all…
http://www.jsmineset.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/clip_image001_thumb11.jpg
[Translate]
A news paper in Whitehorse has a post that is always on the front page, It says “NON CARBORUNDUM” which is derived from Latin and it means “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”. I believe that itis applicable every where.
[Translate]
I read the following somewhere:
“There is reality and there is perception, rarely will the two ever meet.”
The perception part of this is the liberal mla’s and those that support them believe what the likes of clark, coleman, falcon et all are expounding. Dix and his merry band of pigs at he trough, not unlike the liberals, unfortunately will be no better.
[Translate]
How the fuck do you know what Dix will do in the future. All the soothsayers with crystal balls should be kind enough to let us in on what will happen tomorrow, or next year. Maybe Dix will fall on his face, perhaps not. At least give the man a chance and see what he does.
[Translate]
What’s with people writing essays here!?
[Translate]
Some people have a lot to say and Alex is kind enough to not only give us his opinion but give others a platform. The MSM doesn’t take into account the opinions of many so it’s important for them to have another outlet of sorts.
[Translate]
I really appreciate the opportunity for all to speak their piece on these forums — largely without being edited or banned.
I remember writing into the Province about the curse of train whistles 8 years ago. They cut and re-wrote what I had said, changing the meaning. When I wrote a letter of complaint, they bastardized that as well.
We are free-er on the internet to write lengthy responses… but you’ve got to consider your audience. It takes time to write coherently and if you want people to read and respond, I say keep it short… with generous use of the return key.
[Translate]
Gary
People like dab can’t reflect on the past, therefore they never learn.
dab please inform us all on the 12 year stint of the MOST corrupt party BC has ever encountered.
It’s time to ban political parties in general as they are just GANGS.
[Translate]
Thanks Gary, I to believe that the NDP need to share their knowlege in how to govern our province and it is my hope that they will introduce legislation that ensures the abolition of child poverty, that alone would make the NDP a hero in my books. Another good piece of legislation would be to introduce a judicial inquiry into the sale of BC RAIL. With both pieces of legislation I can’t possibly see how anyone could ever bring the BC NDP into disrepute.
[Translate]
Apparently our socialist/neo-communist friends can learn from history … unfortunately they have some serious amnesia problems about there own history.
Who really believes if there were online voting in BC, every commie geek in BC wouldn’t be in like a dirty shirt? … Dix wouldn’t even have to pay them … on the unions dime.
[Translate]
That may be. However, Christy would call her brother and ex-husband, and the fix would be in almost immediately. The cheating would be magnificent; the deceit, spectacular; the corruption, wondrous.
Bruce Clark and particularly Mark Marrisen have never seen a political play they haven’t been delighted to rape.
Thoroughly. And repeatedly.
With relish and laughter.
[Translate]