Harper Regime getting desperate: Tories prepare mass-mail attack ads as Trudeau......

[dcbogey]

The $20,000 speech to the Grace Foundation in New Brunswick was in June 2012.

In fact, Trudeau collected more than $200,000 in speaking fees after he was elected as an MP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...aking-fee/article12588572/#dashboard/follows/

He's dumb and unethical -- a bad combination.

I agree that taking speaking fees AFTER he was elected is not the brightest thing he could have done. Almost as "dumb and unethical" was the PMO sending out information about a speaking fee BEFORE he was elected, imho.

And I'm also sure that this won't be the last bonehead thing he, or the PMO, does.

 

[groggy]

So you believe Trudeau is completely justified in charging for his appearances?

Yup.
If its a charity then can ask him to donate his fee and Trudeau can make the choice based on how much he supports the charity. If they think they can pay his fee and then raise enough money to make it worth while they can sign him up, as the fools who did and lost money did. Its their gamble, they should take the loss. If they can't sell enough tickets to pay for Trudeau's fees then they are bad at business and shouldn't have done it in the first place. Falling to pressure from the PMO to retroactively ask for the fee back to fix their poor planning is over the top. And the PMO's pushing this one will bite them back, assuming that any conservative has ever been paid to speak (though who would want to pay them to hear more talking points remains to be seen).

If you're going to complain about this, you better get on your soapbox and complain about senators having second jobs on boards or any politician that makes any non-salaried income. That's going to get messy very quickly.
It won't take much for the PMO to come out as hypocrites on this issue.

 

[blackrock13]

Interesting that none of the other charities contacted could care less and aren't interested in a refund, Just the charity that has a well known Conservative as a chairman.

 

[Moviefan-2]

If you're going to complain about this, you better get on your soapbox and complain about senators having second jobs on boards or any politician that makes any non-salaried income. That's going to get messy very quickly.
It won't take much for the PMO to come out as hypocrites on this issue.

You make an interesting point.

However, there is a distinction between someone making money for work that is done alongside his/her responsibilities as an MP, and an MP that charges a fee for making a public appearance as an MP.

In the latter case, it doesn't appear to be a violation of the conflict or ethics laws. But it does say something about his moral character, particularly in cases where he was billing charities.

The problem for Trudeau is what this issue says about his character and morals. And it ain't pretty.

 

[Butler1000]

If he had been a bit smarter he could have turned around and donated the fee back and received a nice tax write off.

But I have a feeling he is trying to fill a war chest for the next election.....

 

[blackrock13]

If he had been a bit smarter he could have turned around and donated the fee back and received a nice tax write off.

But I have a feeling he is trying to fill a war chest for the next election.....

With his own money?

 

[guelph]

You make an interesting point.

However, there is a distinction between someone making money for work that is done alongside his/her responsibilities as an MP, and an MP that charges a fee for making a public appearance as an MP.

In the latter case, it doesn't appear to be a violation of the conflict or ethics laws. But it does say something about his moral character, particularly in cases where he was billing charities.

The problem for Trudeau is what this issue says about his character and morals. And it ain't pretty.

Many people make a lot of money from charities and nobody seems to object. In this case a conservative is trying to make a political point by reneging on a deal that was willing agreed upon if they didn't want to pay a fee they shouldn't have hired a speaker.

I guess I shouldn't be disappointed or surprised because we know what a lying bunch of cry babies the conservatives are.

 

[Butler1000]

With his own money?

Politicians like to have a bit of a slush fund that isn't accountable. There is the official money. Then extra for "other " work.

 

[blackrock13]

Politicians like to have a bit of a slush fund that isn't accountable. There is the official money. Then extra for "other " work.

So how much money does he have in this extra other work file? He's taking on these speaking engagements just like he did before he became a politician, just to build a fund so that he could spend money on special projects? I wonder if the members on this BB who make as much if not more than Trudeau, the special 1%'ers, have their own little slush fund for wet works, black ops, dirty tricks, and clandestine adventures. What am I saying, of course they do.

 

[dirk076]

I feel more comfortable personally with Mulcair as I believe he's a more accomplished and intelligent man. I could readily see Mulcair across the table from some world leader and negotiating an agreement that would benefit us more than them.

Are you fucking serious? First, the guy is a racist, separatist, citizen of France. Second, he's the leader of the NDP. A national NDP government would decimate the economy of this country. Third, The NDP are back to being nothing but a protest rump party after the next election. They will not keep their seats in Quebec and the only people who vote NDP elsewhere are leaches, freaks and social misfits.

 

[blackrock13]

Are you fucking serious? First, the guy is a racist, separatist, citizen of France. Second, he's the leader of the NDP. A national NDP government would decimate the economy of this country. Third, The NDP are back to being nothing but a protest rump party after the next election. They will not keep their seats in Quebec and the only people who vote NDP elsewhere are leaches, freaks and social misfits.

What's wrong with being a citizen of France? Canada allows duel citizenship. Apparently so does France. What makes you say he's a separatists?

Harpers one of the biggest redneck phonies in the country and he's PM. NDP supporters are leaches, freaks, and misfits; talk about hyperbole.

Some of the greatest minds and politicians were from the ranks of the NDP; Douglas, Noles, Broadbent, Lewis. You may not like them, more through ignorance than anything else, but others throughout the country and abroad feel otherwise.

 

[dirk076]

Greatest minds? LOL....just LOL..... Broadbent was my MP for a long time. He was no great mind and neither were any of the others you mention.

Keep telling yourself that blackie. That's why they've been oh so close to forming a government at any point in their history. We'll revisit this after the next election when they are back to their rightful third place as the rump protest party.

 

[blackrock13]

Greatest minds? LOL....just LOL..... Broadbent was my MP for a long time. He was no great mind and neither were any of the others you mention.

Keep telling yourself that blackie. That's why they've been oh so close to forming a government at any point in their history. We'll revisit this after the next election when they are back to their rightful third place as the rump protest party.

You are obviously too close to Broadbent to see him as others see him. I've seen the work and reception Broadbent and Lewis got during their work in Africa. Something also tells me you're too young to even know what Douglas did for this country. He was voted the greatest Canadian of all times in one poll. Likewise with Stanley Knowles, who was revered on the Hill as probably the most honourable politician to ever walk the halls. He was even given a seat for life in the House after he retired at the clerks table in the centre of the action. No one else has eve been given that honour.

You never did answer why being a dual citizen of France is wrong. You may not like it, but it's legal. Then there's the separatist claim. How's that. The present PM recognizes Quebec as a nation in Canada. What's with that?

Your lack of understanding of the political history of this country is showing. You most be in you late 30's.

 

[yolosohobby]

Blackrock what did you do in Africa? serious question. I admire Lewis and his work. Unaware of Broadbents.

 

[dirk076]

Another very wrong assumption on age blackie. But in too many threads to count, you've been making ridiculous assumptions for years. I've forgotten more about politics, and been actively involved at all levels at an insiders level, than you will ever know.

Those polls were conducted by the CBC.....enough said.

 

[blackrock13]

Blackrock what did you do in Africa? serious question. I admire Lewis and his work. Unaware of Broadbents.

I've been to Africa many times for work, lived in S Africa for short periods of time over a 20 year period, and used it as a base to do projects in other southern countries.

Broadbent has always been a strong voice in social issues in Africa, especially in S Africa. A little less hands on than Lewis, but always listened to as a voice of reason, especially during his time heading the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development inn the 90's.

 

[blackrock13]

Another very wrong assumption on age blackie. But in too many threads to count, you've been making ridiculous assumptions for years. I've forgotten more about politics, and been actively involved at all levels at an insiders level, than you will ever know.

Those polls were conducted by the CBC.....enough said.

Radiculous assumptions? Guessing ones age from the comments you make is ridiculous? It could be more a simple case that you sound like a 30 something than you true age. Since you don't know that much about people like Stanley Knowles and TC Douglas, and their status in Canada's parliamentary history, your insiders level must have been a narrow or truncated at times. I may not live eat and breath it like some, but have had much of the more dynamic times in the political history thrust in my face enough to make it a large factor and you learn or else.

So what if the poll was a CBC poll. If all you're asked is who the greatest Canadian, it really can't be massaged much. Considering the top ten the selection was across the spectrum. Liberals, Conservative, Social Democrat, Scientists, Doctors, Humanitarian, sports personalities. The next 40 were just as varied..

 

[Jennifer_]

Your lack of understanding of the political history of this country is showing. You most be in you late 30's.

.... I'm in my early-30s but I know what Broadbent and Douglas did for our country.

I don't think age determines one's opinions on politics nor determines one's awareness....

 

[elmo]

.... I'm in my early-30s but I know what Broadbent and Douglas did for our country.

I don't think age determines one's opinions on politics nor determines one's awareness....

But...your webpage says you're only 28...say it ain't so.

 

[Moviefan-2]

.... I'm in my early-30s but I know what Broadbent and Douglas did for our country.

I don't think age determines one's opinions on politics nor determines one's awareness....

I'm reminded of those retirement ads that used to run on TV.

Jenn: You look familiar. Who are you, Ms. Middle-aged, CBC-hating, right-wing fiscal hawk?

Right winger: Why, Jenn, I'm you ... 20 years in the future. :thumb: