Politics-Federal

Convention Blogging III – Keynote and Post Speech Parties

Mulder

Thursday afternoon started with lunch at the Elephant and Castle. One of my riding delegates has known Rahim Jaffer for several years and with a second one having worked for him, we took a few minutes to congratulate him on his recent marriage.

While waiting for our food, BT co-founder Stephen Taylor passed by and we chatted for a few. I may be way off base here, but I got the feeling that he is more comfortable in his own skin these days compared to when I first met him at the Manning Centre sessions in Ottawa earlier this year. This is good news because he has a lot to give the movement and will be even more effective when sharing his ideas and passion for the “E” aspects of campaigning.

After a late lunch, things slowed a bit for me until the prep for the keynote speech.

I made my way to the grand ballroom for the keynote speech and as I sat there reading messages on my blackberry, I quickly discovered that with all the different flights in, and all the different hotels, and all the different floors and all the different convention rooms, (and even all the different sections within the grand ballrooms), that the most popular message being texted/emailed to and from friends was “Where r u?”.

The keynote speech was great and pumped everyone up and what I gleened from the various comments made were the following:

a) The Party is working hard to rebrand itself with the phrase “The Conservative Party is Canada’s Party.” This quick, easy to remember phrase, will appear more and more and help to overtake the believe that the Liberals are “Canada’s natural ruling party”.

b) The PM made comments about not being stuck in idealogy and dogma. Translated, to me this meant that the party will be going into deficit and possibly even bailing out specific sectors, which may include the auto sector.

and

c) Laureen Harper truly is the Party’s secret weapon. Having met her on several occasions, I can truly say she is a warm and charming lady with a down to earth attitude that may be more effective at winning people over than any policy that the party will move on.

After the speech, we made our way to Jim Flaherty’s suite for a glass of wine and a toast to the recent election win and after that we slipped down two floors to Peter Van Loan’s party. As I arrived I got a chance to tell him that I would be disappointed that he would not be fielding the bulk of the questions in QP because anyone who can smoothly call Liberal Mark Holland a Nancy Drew deserves credit. His new role as Minister of Public Safety was hyped with some posters with his top “political” safety tips and number 5 was the most humourous. Tip for Garth Turner: When crossing the street, look both ways and walk. But if you are crossing the floor, you must run!!

That wrapped my Thursday.

Convention Blogging II – Thursday Morning Registration

Mulder

I was asked by an Ontario National Council candidate to represent him at the draw for speaking order and table assignments which was at 11 am this morning. Ironically, the room it was to be held in was “behind” the security barriers in place (little people in yellow shirts with no guns were considered security hehe) and registration for your badge was not taking place until noon. So I sauntered past three yellow shirted “barriers” until finally one asked me for ID.

I promptly got out my driver’s license and my Conservative Party membership card to show him and he told me that anyone could have printed the membership card off and he would need to see further proof. At this point I pulled out my completely useless “Conservative Party Sustaining Donor Card” (**see note at end as to why I have this card with me if it is completely useless), and he said, that’s fine go ahead.

I then managed to squeeze into the long hallway with meeting rooms everywhere and made my way to the empty room where the lottery was to be held. At that point I got jumped by another yellow shirted “barrier” who dragged me out the other end of the hallway which, luckily, was where registration was. As I was there well before the registration started yet had a reason, they were nice enough to let me register. I ran into Mike Donison who introduced himself. He seems like a very pleasant man.

Following registration, I returned to my hotel room to drop off my kit and went back for the lottery. My friend running for National Council got what I think is the a pretty good table location and the second best speaking spot for Ontario candidates.

Following that I spent some time in the Delta lobby talking to Minister O’Connor, some of my fellow delegates, and I was lucky enough to get some time to talk to and congratulate Minister Tony Clement (Parry Sound – Muskoka) on his victory and I got to meet Winnipeg hometown boy Rod Bruinooge (Winnipeg South) as well as Chris Warkentin (Peace River). While waiting around security showed up and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife came in, shook a few hands and headed up to their suite.

I’ll be heading out to lunch soon and tracking down some bloggers. Dr. Roy has left me a message so we will likely hook up for a beer at somepoint today.

** Note on sustaining donor card. I just got it in the mail. It is a credit card quality piece of plastic with my name imprinted on it. The card means absolutely nothing to anyone other than to indicate that for 2008, I gave the party some cash. I get one of these beautiful cards annually and usually I promptly toss them into the circular filing cabinet.

Ironically, my more valuable membership card that I have had for several years now is on a flimsy piece of plasticized paper. My information is printed on this card with black inkjet or laserjet and is fading quickly yet I am not slated to get a new card for 2 or more years. Then again, a membership is $10 and I donate far more than that annually so perhaps from a cost perspective things line up a bit better. Still, it would be nice to have a proper membership card in my wallet.

Convention Blogging I – Travel To Winterpeg and Wednesday Night Dinner

Mulder

My travel to Winnipeg, as expected, was on a plane full of people I recognized. From seeing Martin Stringer of CPAC checking in, to seeing Walter Robinson in the line up to get on the flight, to having Joël-Denis Bellavance ov La Presse sitting a couple of seats back, to having MP’s Pierre Poilievre and Guy Lauzon walk on the plane just before take off, the flight was fun. I had two of my fellow EDA delegates on board and I had another delegate from Nepean-Carleton whom I know sitting beside me so we gabbed politics the whole flight. My day was starting off on the right foot but would only get better.

Wednesday night is probably going to be the climax of my convention and it hadn’t even started. I ran into an old acquaintance in the lobby of the Delta and while talking we ran into Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton). Not having dinner plans, Pierre graciously asked me to join him and a few friends for dinner. Little did I know it would be MP’s Jay Hill (Prince George – Peace River), Tim Uppal (Edmonton – Sherwood Park), Brian Jean (Fort McMurray – Athabasca). It was nice to get a call from my MP, Gordon O’Connor (Carleton – Mississippi Mills) and be able to invite him to join us as well. We were also joined by candidate Rob Zandee (BC Southern Interior).

A few other guests turned up to say hi while we dined. Ian and Vida Brodie, Diane Ablonczy, John Baird and a couple of friends from the Nepean-Carleton EDA.

I have to say it was one humour filled evening. Maybe it was the beer, but I was in stitches most of the time with good fun camaraderie, light-hearted ribbing of each other and heavier ribbing of the Liberals.

I hope the fun continues at this pace.

Where Has Mulder Gone?

Mulder

Or better yet, where is he going!!!

Many of you know I am very involved with my local riding association and the election had me lost in a sea of politics at night while taking care of my day job by day.

In light of this, I plan to be back a bit more than usual and will do all I can to keep posting videos once the new session of parliament starts up in a couple of weeks.

For those of you who will be at the Conservative Party Policy Convention as a delegate this coming week so email me and perhaps we can grab a beer. I land Wednesday night and fly back to Ottawa Sunday morning.

Ottawa's Classic Rock Station Offends Republicans

Mulder

I will let my letter to the station speak for itself.

    On Saturday September 6th in the mid afternoon, I heard the DJ (not sure who) talking about a racist in the USA who had a black baby doll hanging from a cross in front of his house.

    He went on to talk about how this person was fighting in court to be able to continue to display this.

    All this was fine and I agree with the DJ that the hanging doll was clearly a racist and disgusting display.

    What I found very distasteful and upsetting was his remarks that this racist American was a frontrunner for the Republican vice presidential nomination but wasn’t good looking enough.

    I know it was a joke, and the comments about him not being good looking enough may be considered male chauvinistic and I would not be writing if that was the joke. But it wasn’t. His comment about Republicans (and subtly by extension conservative minded people) as being racist or as considering a racist to be in a top position in their political hierarchy was extremely offensive.

    I think this DJ owes all conservative minded people an apology.

    Regards,

Why I Am Voting Liberal (tongue in cheek)

Mulder

WHY I AM VOTING LIBERAL

I’m voting Liberal because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

I’m voting Liberal because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I’m voting Liberal because when we pull out of Afghanistan I trust that the bad guys will stop what they’re doing because they now think we’re good people.

I’m voting Liberal because I believe that people who can’t tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don’t start driving a Prius.

I’m voting Liberal because I’m not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep inmates who should be on death row, alive.

I’m voting Liberal because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as THEY see fit.

I’m voting Liberal because I believe Liberal judges need to interpret the Constitution to suit fringe kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I’m voting Liberal because I believe that illegal refugees and government give-aways to foreigners is a great way to grow a nation.

I’m voting Liberal because I’m way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and
thieves.

I’m voting Liberal because I love the fact that I can now marry who and whatever I want. I’ve decided to marry my turtle.

I’m voting Liberal because I believe oil companies’ profits of 10% on a litre of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same litre of gas at 50% plus a carbon tax of another 20% isn’t.

I’m voting Liberal because I’m such a pinhead it’s unlikely that I’ll ever have another point of view.

h/t my friend Frank

B.C. Carbon Tax Has Immediate Effect

Mulder

On July 1st, 2008, a BC Carbon Tax took effect. Lefties say it won’t affect gas prices. The chart below begs to differ. The average gas price in BC was $1.40 for a consistent length of time and then July 1st it spiked over 2 cents. Coincidence?? I think not.

I hope Canadians are paying more attention to this than Stephane Dion is!!

BC Gas Prices July 1st, 2008

You can view various gas price statistics by visiting this link.

Just another example of Canadian Taxpayers getting OfficiallyScrewed.

Shortshaking – Don't Be Man'hand'led

Mulder

Between my non political day job in technical sales and my political volunteering, I shake A LOT of hands. And I mean A LOT. And in shaking so many hands, I have come to the conclusion that there is one specific type of handshake that I really dislike.

And that is the “shortshake”.

For those who do not know what I mean, a “shortshaker” is the type of person who has a good firm grip, but tends to start the grip “short” or early. This results in the shortshaker gripping the fingers of the “shortshakee” which makes it impossible for the shortshakee to return the grip as their fingers are immobilized by the shortshake.

What I would call a good handshake is when the webbing between the thumb and index finger of both people is close enough so that when both shakers grip their fingertips can curl around the other person’s hand so that both can get a good grip in.

I dislike the shortshake so much that I have started saying things like “let’s do that shake again and let me get a grip this time.” or if it’s someone I am close with I might even say “hey, don’t short shake me…you make me feel like a wimp. Give me a chance to shake your hand properly.” and I will then reshake. My wife thinks this is probably offending the person, and she may very well be right but I have stopped caring.

In actuality, I think the response is either appreciative or earning me a bit of respect. The appreciation comes from those who just have never thought about it and perhaps feel that I have helped them realize what a good handshake is. The respect is a different story. I feel that many shortshakers do it as a sign of power as it leaves the shortshakee in an awkward position. By standing up for a good shake, I am showing those types that I am willing to stand up for myself and that I cannot get walked on.

So stand up to the shortshake with me.

Liberal Saboteurs Feed Stephane Dion A Big Fat Shiftburger

Mulder

I cannot help but think that someone in the Liberal Party must really have a hatred on for Stephane Dion. When I told a friend about this feeling, he quickly responded….”No Shift Sherlock!!”

In naming their new carbon tax a “green shift”, it became quite clear that someone within the Liberal Party has “shift for brains”. I mean let’s look at this seriously.

G – reen
S – hift
T – ax

Bwahhhahhhhahhhhahhhhahhhhhaaaaaaa. For real??? Another GST??? I wonder what kind of “shift” the Liberals were smoking when they came up with this name? When the Gomery commission was going on, Conservatives thought it was the gift that kept on giving. This GST2 is going to be an even bigger gift.

I am simply dumbfounded to think that there wasn’t a single person in the Liberal Party who did not notice this acronym. To top it all off, there is now talk of a lawsuit because the name GreenShift is already taken. Uh Oh!! Somebody really stepped in it this time.

I was further amazed when people immediately starting calling it “the Green Shaft”. It took less than 24 hours for opposition parties to come up with this new nickname. Surely over the past few weeks/months that the Liberal plan was being developed there was a single Liberal somewhere…anywhere, that could have seen this coming from a mile away. If not, then I would think they really are not ready to run a nation.

If we weren’t sure saboteurs existed before, we sure are now. I think this may be an interesting summer to sit back and watch the “shift hit the fan” within the Liberal Party.