tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post111568143104982351..comments2024-03-21T00:43:40.171-07:00Comments on Paying attention: Radio debate shows fierce final week aheadUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1116603078050003412005-05-20T08:31:00.000-07:002005-05-20T08:31:00.000-07:00Big Government Labour spent over 6.5 million tryin...Big Government Labour spent over 6.5 million trying to unseat the liberals to no avail! I am a card carrying union person and not happy with my executive spending my dues on these activities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115855303210560802005-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:002005-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:00Campbell's personal attack on David Chudnovsky bei...Campbell's personal attack on David Chudnovsky being "the most radical leader of the BCTF ever" is ludicrous. As president of the BCTF, Chudnovsky forwarded the democratic decisions of one of the most democratic unions around. As for leadership, I can't trust a "leader" who doesn't live with his wife (where's nancy on the campaign trail anyway?) and who is <BR/> A CONVICTED DRUNK DRIVER!<BR/><BR/> That trumps everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115789023101099162005-05-10T22:23:00.000-07:002005-05-10T22:23:00.000-07:00I don't think we should give Mr. W. a hard time ab...I don't think we should give Mr. W. a hard time about his fairness/balance. <BR/><BR/>My beef is with this talk show push-poll format that chokes of true discussion/airing of all issues. <BR/><BR/>For example, what if we had had 5 differently themed debates with a similar format as last week's televised debate with a skilled and knowledgable moderator bent on fairness each time?<BR/><BR/>Just imagine how much better we would know all the candidates, where they stand, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are.<BR/><BR/>I also think that the grandstanding would be greatly reduced.RossKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677239332112652522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115774289727418972005-05-10T18:18:00.000-07:002005-05-10T18:18:00.000-07:00Paul, good article, but I concur with the posters ...Paul, good article, but I concur with the posters above. If it's fair to call out the labour side of the NDP why can't we get an accounting of the Liberal candidate's ties to business? <BR/><BR/>Why has labour become such a bad word in this province, anyway? The vast majority of union workers are honest, hard working, tax paying citizens—why should their status as union members be held against when run for government?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115754634463737142005-05-10T12:50:00.000-07:002005-05-10T12:50:00.000-07:00Fair to Note: Paul, since you don't seem to mind...Fair to Note:<BR/><BR/> Paul, since you don't seem to mind dragging out old history of the NDP in your commentary of the radio debate, maybe it's important to also drag this out as well.<BR/><BR/>One of the first actions by this Liberal government was to shut down the Smith Inquiry. To quote from the Attorney General's own words of his June 22, 2001 newsrelease he said,"I don't think we'll learn anything more about gaming in BC by giving the commission more time and money."<BR/><BR/>The former Commissioner disputed the Attorney General's statements. He released a powerful five page document on June 22,2001 which the public I don't think was ever allowed to see.<BR/><BR/>It should never be forgotten that the Liberals shut down a very important Inquiry into accountablility of charitable funds which the ex-Commissioner said was a story only half told.<BR/><BR/>And now we have recently found out that the Liberal party has been accepting donations from charitable organizations. To me what Plant and Campbell did by closing the Inquiry was not only unacceptable, it was unforgivable.<BR/><BR/>And to try to make the public believe there was nothing to be gained by allowing the Inquiry to reach its conclusion I think was very, very misleading. <BR/><BR/>This government isn't open, it isn't accountable, but it certainly is transparent.<BR/><BR/>From a very unhappy former Liberal now voting NDP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115750391479647402005-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:002005-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00Anon--I too cannot disagree with Mr. Willcocks tha...Anon--<BR/><BR/>I too cannot disagree with Mr. Willcocks that everyone's ties and affiliations should be open to scrutiny. <BR/><BR/>But your point about the other side is a good one. <BR/><BR/>The problem is, that given the nature of the format, and, I would suggest, the producers running that format (ie. 14 of 18 calls against James - see Schreck), of yesterday's 'debate' that was never going to happen.<BR/><BR/>And that is the real problem here. <BR/><BR/>A balanced view of that problem can be found in Joel Connelly's column from yesterday's Seattle PI that I commented on and the Tyee is now running with.RossKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677239332112652522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-1115744728427397112005-05-10T10:05:00.000-07:002005-05-10T10:05:00.000-07:00I agree Paul, that there is something disturbing a...I agree Paul, that there is something disturbing about this fierce attack strategy from a party that is certain to return to victory with a comfortable majority. This is what bothers me most about the Liberals. They have some good ideas and intentions, but I find their inability to tolerate any opposition, dissent, questions, criticism, etc really creepy. It's also the root cause of their biggest screw-ups, like the Coquihalla and the MCFD disasters. I actually think they would have done a far better job in the last four years if they'd had a strong opposition.<BR/><BR/>I also agree that questions about the links of NDP candidates Chudnovsky and Dix should be fully discussed (faking a memo to cover something up reflects the kind of sleaziness that we take for granted all too often in politics). I wonder, though, why this isn't ever done for the other side. Did anyone ever ask about the conflicts facing all those Liberal MLAs with links to business, land development, farming, etc. when Campbell & co set about deregulating and creating a more "business-friendly" BC? Surely that's been hugely relevant, particularly now that it seems all those changes disproportionately benefitted those very same interests at the expense of regular British Columbians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com