At the Shotgun, commentor “ET” reflects my own reaction to Paul Martin’s appointment of a little known CBC journalist to the post of Governor General, and then fleshes out the political strategy behind it.
The position of G-G is, as head of state, supposed to be held by an individual who has worked towards and achieved, by some measureable criteria, the well-being of the majority of Canadians.
It is a national position, it is an honorary position, it is an awarded position, and should be based, therefore, on accountable merit. By accountable merit, I mean non-political; a government’s patronage appointments must be made with integrity, i.e., by the use of non-partisan standards and for no partisan political agenda.
These non-partisan standards, in the case of the G-G, must be for work done by that individual for ‘national committment’, for ‘national achievements’, whether in politics, law, economics, education, science, medicine etc. There are plenty of Canadian individuals whose lifetime work has been non-partisan, has been national and has indeed showed extraordinary commitment to the well-being of citizens.
Ms Jean fits none of these criteria. It is trivial and irrelevant to divert criticism of this choice to her being ‘ethnic’, ‘non-white’, ‘a woman’, even to her being ‘Quebecois’..blah blah. That’s all trivia and obfuscates and hides what should be the basic criticism of this choice of her as G-G. The criticism? She doesn’t fit what should be a standard for a patronage appointment of this stature; namely, a lifetime work towards the betterment of the well-being of the majority of Canadians. As I said – there are many in Canada who have worked over their lives, in their fields, -whether in medicine, politics, literature, science, law, education etc..whose work has made profound contributions to the well-being of people.
So- what are Ms Jean’s qualifications???? None of the above. She’s a local broadcaster. So what? There are lots of local broadcasters and journalists and sports writers and national news reporters. So what? There’s absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in qualifications between any of them..well, a lot of them are far more knowledgeable than Ms Jean. Far more knowledgeable. And a lot of them speak many languages as well. Hey- there’s Chantal Hebert, there’s Andrew Coyne, there’s Irshad Manji, there’s Don Cherry, there’s Peter Worthington, there…and so on. But – do any of them have that criterion of a lifetime of work resulting in demonstrable improvements in the well-being of many Canadians…such as would be found in a lifetime of work in law, in economics, in science, in medicine, in politics etc. No. So- they can be awarded OTHER acknowledgements of their status. National Newspaper Awards, Order of Canada, etc, etc.
So- what was this position appointment really about? Remember – forget the trivia. Don’t even mention the ‘non-white’, female irrelevancies. The appointment was made, as are ALL LIBERAL actions – for one purpose only. Votes for Power.
The agenda is for the Montreal city votes in the next election. That’s what it’s all about. The Liberals figure they could lose the rural votes, the outside Montreal votes, which will go to the Bloc. But, Montreal has usually been Liberal and the Gomery has badly damaged that Montreal base. This appointment is for both the ethnic votes – which are ALL in Montreal (how’s that for a diverse province…all the ethnics are only found in Montreal; they aren’t welcome elsewhere in the province)…AND – it’s for the Montreal city votes.
It’s all about Liberal Power. Nothing else.
(Not to mention the lingering warm fuzzies that will keep the CBC firmly on side.)
I wonder if Gurmant was in the running?
If GG was in the running for GG I am sure he’ll have some (edited) tapes to prove it.
Peter
Even though I don’t think nomininating Jean is a vote getter let’s say it is. Given this then PMPM’s choice is inspired precisely because he chose someone worthy of the position and because it will garner votes. Isn’t this what the prime minister should be doing?
I just think that not having heard of Jean says as much about the poster as it does her.
All it says is that he dosen’t watch “Rough Cuts” or “The Passionate Eye” on a regular basis – a quality shared with 99.735% of the population I’m sure.
Face it, the woman is an unknown quantity to all but a few of the Toronttawa elite and perhaps professional Haitians. Her achievements may be commendable enough, but in the big picture they’re pretty indistinguished and in no way qualify her for such a historically important position.
Personally, I’d go with Don Cherry – now there’s a fine national representative. An indisputable national icon with a long-term track record of positively affecting the mental well-being of many Canucks! Probably would help boost the Liberal vote more across the country, too.
Dudley: what is a professional Haitian?
Doublejay,
Wtf? Were you born yesterday? Have you heard of political strategizing? Of course people don’t have merit from being from the west or the maritimes but it certainly is an easy way to court votes. What are you, Dr. Phil?
Next governor general to reach out to youth.
cnews.
Youths like these youths, man. From Jamaica, man..
Brought to you by Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, man.
Police chief will not reveal their identities…multiculturalism and political correctness kills: men, women, & children in TO, man
$$$$ man
Gangs fuelling street war in Toronto
TORONTO (CP) – The police chief of Canada’s largest city says an ongoing gang war is threatening the lives of innocent people in Toronto.
Bill Blair refused to identify the gangs involved in what he described as a turf war, but said there was an ongoing dispute between two groups.
cnews
We trashed this broad on FD last night and it was so much fun!!
As far as I can see, the GG’s position serves only a ceremonial purpose and is fundamentally impotent polictically. The GG is nothing more than a figure head representing a figure head and therefore totally redundant. As such, I could care less who is apoointed to the position, so long as that person doesn’t spend any more of my tax dollars than absolutely required. How much money does it take to lay a couple wreaths on Remberance Day and greet Royals when they make one of their infrequent visits to Canada? Any activity beyond that is uneeded and a waste of tax dollars. Oh right, wasting tax dollars is what the Liberals specialize in. I forgot … silly me.
Personally, my pick would be Ret.Gen.Lewis MacKenzie
Hey Brian Walsh. You are a racist piece of shit.
It’s depressing to see that some people actually think the PM has done something honourable here.
The Liberals are using the office of the Gov. Gen. to further their own agenda and to ensure they stay in power. There’s nothing complicated to understand. This is just one more abuse of power.
And because the standards of the Canadian voter have dropped so slow, many oooh and ahhh over Jeans credentials as if they are something earth shattering (as does the MSM). Many people speak multiple languages, many people have risen up from difficult circumstances, and many people have made far greater contributions to Canada than she has.
But the mediocrity that political correctness imposes upon us dicates that saying anything critical about the appointment of the new Gov. Gen. is bad, and unkind, and unfair, etc. etc. The strategy of political correctness is a brilliant one, albeit an evil one.
The Liberals’ lust for power, and their willingness to do anything to keep it, are truths, and truth is something which liberals in general live in fear of, because it is the very thing that can shine light on the shortcommings of their philosophy.
Unless Canadians have the intellectual fortitude to demand higher standards from their government, we will party on in a state of Liberal-induced euphoria until the hangover finally hits us.
Is that” The Passionate Eye For The Queer Guy”?
Yeah, I think I’ve heard of it.
She isn’t known nationally, hasn’t done anything and isn’t anything except a talking head. It doesn’t matter if Ralph Klein read the news, he was ELECTED not APPOINTED. The GG is a possible point of resistance to PMPM in the Librano Family that can not be allowed but must be eliminated. So appoint some nobody who doesn’t understand politic’s and that is that. Another part of check’s and balances on the Liberal government power eliminated.
Peter your beginning comments are to say the least offensive and continue downhill. I would expect a CLI(centrally located idiot)with your background to come up with something more interesting than “You are a racist piece of shit”. At least the person known as “Mackenzie Redux” puts in on the table and doesn’t hide like a few others.
I can’t wait until the end of the election whenever the Librano’s deign to allow the unwashed the opportunity to vote on their incredible record of success.
Robert:
To be clear, I’ve had other discussions with Brian Walsh in which he has said that those who marry people from other races are traitors to their race. He’s also expressed the genetic differences of the races and the superiority of the white race. He is, in short, a racist piece of shit.
Feel free to call me a CLI. I’ve actually lived in every region of the country, so I don’t feel too parochial.
Tokenism: black, woman, Quebecer. That ought to shore up the Librano$ in Montreal, keep the left leaning Libs happy, and ensure absolute chaos if matters ever reach another impasse that requires action by the GG. Oops. I forgot. There’s always the SCC to step in as they did on the SSM enactment.
PM announces next Governor General
Paul Martin kept his promise that the next appointed Governor General of Canada wouldn’t be any of the names that were under media discussion last week. He has announced that the new GG will be Michaelle Jean. I had to…
She might be a Haitian-Canadian – but African American please!!! Enough already!
As for the National Scope of her show – I’m sure she’s only well known in Quebec because there is so little outside of local broadcasting that is French that unilingal francophones have no choice but to watch the CBC. Whatever profile she has outside of Quebec is hasn’t reached the west – but then we’ve been boycotting the CBC for years. We watch HNIC and that’s all!!!
GG is an anachronistic post that should be eradicated at the earliest possible time. I’m hoping that she will finish the job AC started. (Spend so much that Canadian are universal in their contempt for the position and it will be gone.)
To the guy who asked “Who does Hannah Gartner have to sleep with … LOL – made my day.
This “appointment” is no less than her needing a new wardrobe for her kid and her boyfiend, and it is going to cost us hudnreds of thousands. No Canadian woman qualifies it seems to go on a spending spree compliments of the tax payer, the “immigrant” women deserve it more. She has no power, can’t do a thing without the Fuehor’s permission, only hire her staff and raise her budget is she desires as Clarkson did.(slam) The GG is nothing more than the one that wears the phonie medals while the Fuehor signs all the papers, this has been the case since 1942 when the power of the GG was passed over to the PM. I consider this a slight on “Canadians” not Provinces, when in 1952, after 85 years of England appointing the GG the Canadians were allowed to choose their own GG at much fan fare, finally Canadians could have a born Canadian as GG. However it was all a sham in the first place as the GG has no power at all save the above. Herr Martin is already “King” of Kanada, there is no other way it can be described, he has the seat of Politics, with the power to make ALL the appointments, and the PM has had the Crown Chair since 1942, and the players involved in this RUSE AND SCAM AND CRUEL JOKE, went along with it.That is every Prime Minister and GG dating back to 1942, Canadians have been living in a country of “Jokes”, this latest “appointment” is just another one. Shows me what kind of slime bags we have had in office all these years, is it any wonder whey they don’t have our respect. I wonder if there were any Anglo Canadians offered the job, but refused to go along with the Ruse, and the Scam, which is the GG’s office. What decent Canadian could sit in a chair just so they can spend money on themselves, and shut up until Herr Martin tells them they can say something? It shows this twit that has accepted to be the latest Herr Martin Puppet has no principals and is out for a new wardrobe, plain and simple. However the fact that Herr Martin is the real King, the least he could do is wear the medals that he so deserves, the fact that he is the official Administrator of the Office, why should the GG wear the medals, although all that shopping could get tedious, but not worth a medal
Stephen Parksville BC ww 2 vet.
Late to the thread. Scanned quickly. Looks like some people are getting hotheaded over this issue.
Personally, I think the position of GG has been rendered entirely irrelevant by the Libranos. It’s irrelevant who’s in the position, as it has no practical, real-world value. No way will a Librano GG appointee be any more honorable and respectful of the constitution than Paul Martin.
Plus, could someone please state what specific experience and/or education/training is brought to the position by Madam Jean that is actually directly relevant to the core functions of the position? What does she know? What has she proven already? What makes her the BEST choice among so many who could be nominated, if there were to be nominations?
Being a CBC TV person really doesn’t do anything for anyone- after all, it’s the CBC, the semiofficial mouthpiece of the LPC and of the left in general. Where she lives has no bearing. Being of either sex matters not at all. Race has nothing to do with anything.
Just what has Madam Jean got that thousands, indeed, millions, of people don’t have?
what is a professional Haitian?
Basically, I refer to those who make a living or exercise political power by trading on their ethnicity, generally through their work at associations and councils whose professed purpose is to represent an ethnic/religious group.
Who this would be for the Haitian community I have no idea, but I’m sure such groups exist. These folks would likely be very aware of “representatives” of “their community” such as Ms Jean.
Hans Island, Parrish, SSM, and now this. Another non-event diversion.
The stress of not dissolving parliament when power was clearly held by means of fraud put GG Clarkson in the hospital with heart problems.
The next evasion will be a leave-of-absence by means of pregnacy, and our new GG is forty-two, I see.
Maybe she will remember the evils of Doc Duvallier and de-throne the Martinites when they least expect it. 73s TG
The GG’s 42? Huh. Seems quite young for such a lofty figurehead position, doesn’t it? And I’m a spring-chickenlike 33, so nobody can call me ageist, I guess.
I always thought a GG should be, like, OLD. But that’s just my view.
Hey Kate, I think Lew MacKenzie would have been ideal. At the very least, he should be in the senate. I think he’s been too critical of the Libs and their castration of the (Dis)Armed Forces to merit any Librano largesse. More’s the pity. Blessedly, we’ve been spared Judy Rebbick.
Well, I am just glad that Martin’s choice gave you racists something to talk about.
I got tired of reading the universal praise for this appointment, justified though it may be, so I decided to check in here for what I was sure would be a festival of aggrieved self-pity and deranged paranoid carping. Thanks folks, you haven’t disappointed me.
I think Spooky has it right: the lame stream media – “Senator” Jim Munson, Susan “Don’t Call Me Anne” Murray, Pam Wallin, Clarkson, Jean, etc – further solidify my low opinion of them everytime they accept an appointment like this.
CBC: Trusted (nope). Connected (yeah, to the Libranos). Canadian (in the Chretien “Da Canadian values” way).
“That is every Prime Minister and GG dating back to 1942, Canadians have been living in a country of “Jokes”, this latest “appointment” is just another one. Shows me what kind of slime bags we have had in office all these years, is it any wonder whey they don’t have our respect.”
Stephen Parksville BC ww 2 vet.
Posted by StephenMichaud at August 4, 2005 05:17 PM
So that’s what you were fighting for? That’s the legacy our vets left us? According to you it is. Maybe we should have fought the Americans, they could have given us a proper system of government. Take a nap, you’re going to give yourself a stroke.
Tony & Stephen, apparently she’s 48, but that’s according to the CBC so who knows really?
The fact that the Liberals will use use Madame Jean’s appointment to help further their interests in Quebec is a normal perk of power in Canada. Learn to live with reality! Besides I think Jean may be a useful federalist voice in Quebec in the future.
I do not support the Liberal Party, but I do think that this appointment is one of Paul MArtin’s better moves and does not deserve all the crap some people are piling on.
Come on guys/gals. Get a life. This is just the GG position. It’s ceremonial. Not some key policy position. Let’s focus on more important things than who is GG. Next week you’ll all forget anything about her.
Have some respect, Stumpy. Let the man give his opinion, to which he’s equally entitled. He fought for that equality, after all.
Brian Smith is also entitled to his POV. Even if I can’t see why anyone would see how this particular appointment is such a “better move” for Martin. Maybe Brian didn’t see my first post on this thread.
I have never heard of this person, or “Rough Cuts”. Whether or not its any good, it certainly doesn’t have much of an impact on Canadians. This appointment is a total sham, and PC tokenism at its worst.
As one os the so-called ‘ists(facists, sexists,racists etc), could the supporters of the ‘isms(multiculturalism, bilingualism etc.) just answer the straightforward question
What are her qualifications to be GG, other than the political opportunism and tokenism (more ‘isms, Sorry)?
And Peter, please don’t answer she is a “national” broadcaster. I watch too much Newsworld for my wifes liking and unless they snuck her in between that near-endless loop of the Fifth Estate slam job on O’Reilly I can honestly say I have no idea who she is.
Again, this is not a rhetorical question, she has a fine biography, one to be proud of, just nothing that would qualify her to the HEAD of State.
“Take a nap, you’re going to give yourself a stroke.”
I’ll tell you right now Maple Stump, if we were in the same room and you verbally made a crack like that at a WW2 veteran, I would (assuming you’re a guy) personally bitchslap you until you bled from the ears.
You had damn well better apologize to Stephen Michaud.
Yeah! Lefties who insult war veterans are assholes! Lefties think they can do anything!
Guess what, Stumpy? See the following link:
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/12380.html
There!
Ed, anyone who publicly signs his name with the qualifier ww 2 vet and denigrates the highest offices of our country, no matter who is in power should have his medals taken off his lapel. I don’t give a fleck what he thinks, just don’t link it up to our vets, most of which have served valiantly and have the utmost respect for out institutions. We will one day win an election and on that day we can do something about it but in the meantime, our government is not to be debased and be made an object of derision. The vets I know are still fond of what they fought for and it’s particularly unbecoming of any Canadian to vomit such drivel.
BTW, do you know him personally? How do you know he truly is a vet from WW2? Maybe he’s just a plant to make conservative folk sound like ranting lunatics?
Well, then, Stumpy:
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/10232.html
Now, do you still feel the same way? Did that smart?
Mark:
History about Hong Kong aside. My point had less to do with the qualifications about either women, and more about liberal tokenism in the guise of “being progressive”.
Thanks for keeping me grounded BTW.
Maple Stump: At least Stephen Michaud signs his name. So do I.
And you were decidedly disrespectful to him.
And no, I don’t know him personally. I don’t necessarily agree with him either. However, it is because of him and men like him that you are able to speak your mind at all.
Apologize to Stephen Michaud. And sign your name if you have any cojones.
Ed, of course I was disrespectful to him! When a military man wears his uniform, he represents our forces and what they stand up for, do you agree? Consequently, if a man qualifies his name with WW2 vet, I take it as such; he’s showing his colors and this means that he must uphold the values of the military, one of which is the respect of our government. If he wants to wear his civvies and denigrate the government, up to him but he should not wrap himself in the flag while doing it.
Stephen, you spend waayyy too much time surfing the internet. Maybe you’re just too drunk to get up.
Maple Stump: Meet me by the bicycle racks after school.
Hey Maple stump;
I served over 20 years for queen and country and I think this appointment stinks of political crap. Yes, the GG might be a nice person and she has accomplished a lot but she isn’t exactly national Canadian figure. As I said before, there are a lot more deserving and qualified people out there like Marc Garneau, Lewis MacKenzie, etc. It may be only a toothless appointment as far as power goes, but it will not do any good to make it a totaly blatent political post.
But your obviously cheap shot at a wwII vet is pretty low. Grow up, eh.
Ralph, I stand corrected on the circulation — it is more than 200,000. Blogs can bring out the worst in us — as some of these posts illustrate — but your speedy correction of my statement shows how effective they can be.
Referring back to the new GG, I think the biggest disappointment for me is that her crowning accomplishment is to work at The Passionate Eye, a show that spends most of its time criticizing the US. It’s the kind of cheap demogoguery that I would rather not see in a GG.
And on that note, I wonder why the CBC — our national broadcaster — gets away with producing reams of documentaries on the US. It would be nice if our tax dollars occasionally went to a media that documented our own dirty laundry.
This Canuck manages to thread in his favourite, batty/looney aunt: Aunty-American. Also sets us straight on the fact that tolerance and acceptance are “not the same concept.” Good old T&A.
Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
“The new Governor-General represents all that is good in this country: multiculturalism, diversity, a celebration of intellect and reason, tolerance and acceptance (not the same concept). The United States likes to refer to itself as “the land of opportunity”, yet I somehow doubt that we will see a Black head of state in that nation for years to come. Kudos to Mr. Martin. Sir, you have chosen well.
James Sanyshyn, Vancouver”
http://www.rapp.org/url/?FRXO6V3G
Gob & Pail: Have Your Say… your tax dollars $$$
I would think it’s fair to say that the new GG was a national broadcaster with local reach. There! That should end this particular bit of hooey!! Group hug.
David Suzuki. The man is way to left for me and lord
knows teacher cum politician is always a disaster.
Too long at the public trough don’t you know. Having
said all that, his work in genetics and being Japanese-Canadian. If your going ethnic for the optics then pick someone who has earned it. As much as I hate his politics I couldn’t carp too much about him as a choice.
PMPM does nothing – absolutely NOTHING – that isn’t designed to enhance his and the party’s political standing. Whether the choice is good, bad or indifferent is moot. She was chosen to maximize the number of votes for the Liberal party come election time.
Oh, and for the record:
a) I’ve never heard of her
and
2) I think Lew Mackenzie would have been a solid choice as well
Right on Maple Stump.
If a man idendifies himself as a WWII vetern he must lap up the post 60’s vision of Canada…despite the fact that this was not what he was fighting for.
What pathetic garbage.