Shorter Garth Turner
February 10, 2006 · By Peter Rempel
Garth sez: “It’s important that individual MPs be allowed to stand up against the party leader!”
Garth sez: “I support legislation which would require MPs to resign after leaving the party they were elected under, removing arguably the most important method for individual MPs to stand up against the party leader!”
How to reconcile the two? Make whichever choice is more likely to get Garth some coverage.
I haven’t seen a single workable proposal for anti-turncoat legislation yet, not one. In each case the cure is worse than the disease. In light of this, the shrieeekers are living in a dreamworld. You don’t get to pretend to be “ethical” unless you can come up with a better solution. Canada is a million dollar new condo with Victorian-era plumbing that very few seem to understand completely.
I believe you have summed up Garth Turner very nicely!
Stephen Harper made a liar out of Garth Turner, and for that matter, myself. As a volunteer, I phoned hundreds of people, and told many of them that Stephen Harper would only appoint elected senators. What Stephen Harper did was a betrayal. Don’t try to divert the issue by complaining about Mr. Turner.
Paul, what you told people is not Stephen Harper’s fault. He appointed Fortier to the Senate to get him into cabinet and it’s too early for Senate elections. Most Conservatives can understand Harper’s calculus and have a little faith in his good judgement. In Alberta, the birth place of the Triple-E-Senate, there has been very little noise among Harper’s base over either Fortier or Emerson.
For the last few days now, I have been commenting on the ignorance of Central Canadian conservatives when it comes to the workings of our parliamentary democracy. Western Canada, where Harper’s cabinet picks has by and large raise little ire, has demonstrated a more thoroughgoing appreciation for the ins and outs of responsible government. Westerners seem to grasp that weakening party discipline, and even keeping the age old ability to leave one party for another without facing election, is absolutely crucial to reconciling any democratic deficit. They see little comparison between Stronach and Emerson.
Garth Turner is acting like a little turd, over-joyed at all the attention he is getting, irrespective of what contradictory things he actually says! The tunnel vision of Central Canadian conservatives ruined the winning conservative coalition of Multoney’s era, giving impetus to the Reform Party in the first place. Maybe these characters need to humble their Upper Canadian egos and reacquaint themselves with bedrock notions of Canadian democracy like “responsible government”, with what those notions entail in practice. Of course, this would mean guys like Garth Turner shutting up for a while!
Harper has done nothing wrong, whatsoever.
He’s got the winning conditions to trump his opponent in this debate. Maybe Garth would be suitable for this glaring omission: http://andrewcoyne.com/2006/02.....ission.php
I am shocked that there are people are putting the PM and their party before Canadians. It is these self-serving people that have a problem. If only there were more MPs like Garth Turner, in every party.
Garth Turner should be elected as leader of the Conservatives. He is the only one with honor, dignity, and of course, honesty. I’m glad this happened – it finally exposed all of you hypocrits for what you’re worth. Weren’t all of you crooks complaining about this type of thing less than a week ago. Whining left and right on blogs everywhere about how turn-coats were evil, how an unelected senate was a liberal bastion that needed to be brought down… and now that the Conservatives have done the very thing they complained about – you’re actually defending it. Enjoy you’re 6 months in power you losers.
[...] We already knew that Garth knew nothing about investing; we then learned that he knew nothing about Parliament. Apparently he knows about as much about the law. When are people going to realize that that neatly-trimmed beard adorns an entirely empty head? [...]
Frank…don’t give yourself a hernia! Garth is looking after Garth, that’s all. I am more upset with him then I am with Emerson crossing the floor, at least with Emerson we get some brains, Garth, not so much!
Hypocrits
Garth Turner is definetley not conservative material. He should be booted out of the party immediately. Imagine the nerve of this guy – how dare he stand up for what he campaigned on. Who does he think he is by trying to keep the promises of the platform that his party ran on? How dare he be outraged at this blatant hypocrisy? A sick honest man with dignity, honor, and a sense of responsibility for the voters has no place in the Conservative party. Boy am I glad to find out that many conservatives also feel this way.
We must have some deference;
Garth has become King of the John!
You know if he could keep his mouth shut, he might have a decent funeral…
Garth Turner, King of the John, singin’ “rubber ducky, you’re the one!”
Shania – Are you alright?
[...] ThePolitic.com has not been kind to Garth Turner. See here, here, here, here, and here. Finally, Garth has responded: I am flattered at your attention and I trust the 11 recommendations in my report will receive as much consideration on Wednesday. The Conservative Party is only enriched when Canadians watch us vigorously toss around ideas, instead of savaging ourselves. We have historically been the party of popular opinion and grassroots participation, and I truly hope that is not lost in the current climate. [...]