Yowza, anyone watch question period in the House of Commons today?

[HEyHEY]

Dion and Harper yelling at each other. It was almost comical. Harper is visibly upset, just like all bullies when they get slapped into place. As soon as I find the highlights on youtube I'll post em.

What do you think of all of this the day after?

[HillWilliam]

1. I've been reading along

cheering for the liberals. Sounds as if neocons are the same all over, big tittybabies when they aren't getting all their way. I'm imagining Harper with a face like a slapped arse, taking bets on how long it will be until he starts chewing the carpets.

Aside from posts on DU, we're not hearing a thing about it down here. Keep us posted!

:popcorn:

[Robbien]

2. Did you see the Canoe article: "Harpers appeal to flag falls short"

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2008/12/02/7610181.html

OTTAWA — An attempt by Stephen Harper to wrap himself in the flag and take a dig at the opposition coalition fell flat Tuesday.

The prime minister has been portraying the Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois government-in-waiting as an unholy alliance of “socialists and separatists.”

During question period, he suggested the opposition parties staged their pact-signing ceremony Monday without a Canadian flag in the background because of the separatist Bloc.

“Yesterday, as part of the culmination of the machinations of the leader of the NDP, we had these three parties together, forming this agreement, signing a document and they wouldn’t even have the Canadian flag behind them,” he said.

“They had to be photographed without it because a member of their coalition does not even believe in the country.”


Video confirms that Harper was technically right. There wasn’t a Canadian flag in the background — there were two.

This stuff is great.

Go Canada!

[Cerridwen]

3. The link you provided appears to have gone missing - may I suggest

this one: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2008/12/02/7609961.html

Complete with picture showing 2 Canadian flags. :D

[Critters2]

4. "The National" was on C-Span last night. I hope it is again tonight. nt

[HEyHEY]

6. They show the national on c-span? Huh

[Critters2]

8. Not all the time. Only when something interesting is happening in Canada.

They've done it before, but I can't remember what the Canadian news was then.

Here's info from Wiki:

On September 11, 2001, several American broadcasters without their own news operations, including C-SPAN, carried the CBC’s coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington, DC. In the days after September 11, C-SPAN carried CBC’s nightly newscast, The National, anchored by Peter Mansbridge. The quality of this coverage was recognized specifically by the Canadian Journalism Foundation; editor-in-chief Tony Burman later accepted the Excellence in Journalism Award (2004) – for “rigorous professional practice, accuracy, originality and public accountability” – on behalf of the service.

C-SPAN has also carried CBC’s coverage of major events affecting Canadians, including:

* Canadian federal elections
* Six days in September 2000 that marked the death and state funeral of Pierre Elliott Trudeau
* The war in Iraq: The National aired on C-SPAN each night for about 3 weeks following the start of the war on Iraq
* The power outage crisis in summer 2003
* Key proceedings in Canadian Parliament
* U.S. presidential elections: In 2004, C-SPAN picked up The National the day after the election for the view from Canadians
* State visits and official visits of American presidents to Canada

[HEyHEY]

9. have some fun..here

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/question-period---dec-2/#clip117957

Question period today

[Critters2]

11. Wow!! Makes our Congress look beyond boring!!

Maybe you can answer a couple of questions. First, the young people around the Speaker, they look like pages or something...who are they, and are they required to stand when the Speaker does...and if so, why?

Also, I've seen in both the Canadian and UK Parliament members stand at their seats for just a few moments, when someone is speaking. Then, they sit back down. I've seen that more in the UK, but some in Canada, too. Do you know why they do that?

Thanks! :hi:

[HEyHEY]

12. They are pages, I believe

As for the standing, I think that's just to show support.

[Critters2]

13. Thanks! nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. In the UK parliament PM's questions, they stand to say "I want to ask a question"

trying to catch the Speaker's eye. When someone else gets called, and starts their question, they sit back down - until the PM's reply is finishing.

[Critters2]

17. Yep, that's what I've been seeing. That makes sense. Thanks! nt

[Robbien]

5. Found a transcript of the Dion/Harper argument

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/12/02/213729.aspx

Harper basically saying if Dion was a gentleman who loved Canada he would walk away from any idea of taking Harper's job away from him.

From reading the argument, Harper appears to think he has a mandate. How is being a minority leader a mandate?

[HEyHEY]

7. that is his failed logic at work, he governed like he did and ruined it for himself, ha!

[HEyHEY]

10. Wooo, highlights!!!!!

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/question-period---dec-2/#clip117957

[fla nocount]

15. I love the tit for tat of Canadian politics.

Pierre Trudeau bitch-slapping Joey Smallwood for his adherence to US policy comes to mind. Canada needs a Trudeau...badly. What I got from the video is that tax cuts don't work.

[mudesi]

14. Harper bluffed. They called him.

He did not win a majority government, but he's acting like he did. He thought there was no way the opposition would try to bring him down so close after the election.

He was wrong.