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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
We're on the road with the PM
For understandable security reasons, we haven't been able to tell readers until now that, over the weekend, we'd flown Western Standard Senior Writer Kevin Steel from his home in B.C. to Ottawa, where he joined the small media group accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his staff on the PM's secret visit to Afghanistan.
Kevin has now filed his first report on the trip, below. And he'll write a complete story about the trip for an upcoming edition of the Western Standard.
Although Mr. Harper said he wasn't making the trip "because of the polls," I'm betting the visit will surely boost the PM's rating among core Conservative voters who might have been sliding away because of the Tory government's ongoing rush to the political centre. Harper's principled foreign policy and pro-Canadian Forces stance is one of his biggest strengths, and he is wise to play it up.
Posted by Terry O'Neill on May 22, 2007 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
What a pleasant surprise to find that a totally new source of information is accompanying the PM to Afghanistan.
Perhaps Terry you can fill your blog visitors just how Kevin became involved in the trip with the PM, etc.
I suspect I am not the only reader anxious to know more.
And what I am personally looking for is how MSM will paint the visit and compare it to the presentation of Kevin as the visit progresses..
Good stuff Western Standard, you are beginning to make a difference to Canadians!
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2007-05-22 12:52:59 PM
Why did Goodale leak info re this trip last Sunday on Question Period.
Posted by: maryT | 2007-05-22 1:10:13 PM
maryT:
Ralphy leaked the trip because he's a leaker, can't help himself, he's lost control. With him it's politics of desperation, he's down to the gotcha stuff. Funny thing is he's looking more foolish every time he shows his face ranting and jerking on about the terrible Conservatives.
He and his crew of Liberal fools are in for some tough times, Harper has had about enough of their bullshit.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-05-22 1:50:51 PM
Harper saying that he wasn't making the trip "because of the polls" suggests to me that he made the trip "because of the polls."
This is another abuse of tax payer's money! What important message did Harper have to convey that General Hillier could not have conveyed. Why now exactly?
The PM puts the troops in Afghanistan at an even greater risk by simply being in Afghanistan.
This, too, may backfire on Harper.
From some media reports of the visit, I understand that some of the troops could not wait to leave after Harper finished talking and had to be ordered by their officers to wait until Harper actually left the stage.
Posted by: Rob | 2007-05-23 12:00:26 AM
"From some media reports of the visit"
CBC, by chance? Or another Leftoid source.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-23 7:46:49 AM
Martin of the Asper propaganda machine wrote a nasty piece on the Prime Minister's Vist to Canadian NATO Soldiers in Afghanistan - Martin
always looks like a cornered rat in his Asper
posed photographs. Canadian Media in Afghanistan
would perform an important task for our Army by clearing minefields - Canadian Media are no friends of the Canadian Forces, especially the MSM Toronto and Ottawa based -a sad reflection of the abject sorry state of Canadian Media today, with their agendas and their motivation of the news -MacLeod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-05-23 8:01:46 AM
I totally agree with you Jack Macleod. It is rampant within their colony and their actions towards the prime minister since inception, is very repugnant to me.
Posted by: NB Tory Lady | 2007-05-23 12:32:33 PM
Why would I not be surprised that the Western Standard would be part of the rhetoric.
Harper is pathetic. This photo-op nonsense that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousand of dollars because he can't face tension and "cuts and runs" from the press, parliament and anyone else who does't agree with him.
Harper is a weak leader, very weak.
Who the hell cares if he went to Afghanistan to be palsy walsy with the corrupt Karzai.
And, Harper should try to wear clothes that fit.
Posted by: Lynne | 2007-05-23 4:55:07 PM
1. "This photo-op nonsense that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousand of dollars because he can't face tension "
2. "palsy walsy with the corrupt Karzai."
3. "Harper should try to wear clothes that fit"
All three talking points of this Leftoid are from the CBC and Leftwing media outlets.
What flavour of Koolaid did they serve up today, Lynne?
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-23 5:13:40 PM
Actually, I'm grown up and don't drink Koolaid. I haven't watched CBC lately.
The Koolaid is served on this site and I am not going to partake.
Perhaps you should give up Koolaid - it's time.
Posted by: Lynne | 2007-05-24 6:30:08 AM
"Actually, I'm grown up"
Hardly, when you respond that "I don't drink Koolaid- you do! Nyah nyah!"
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-24 7:01:04 AM
Take heart Lynne,
soon the Liberals will be back in power and all will be right again as the forces of truth and justice triumph.
*/sarcasm off/*
Posted by: Anon | 2007-05-24 10:33:43 AM
Lynne sometimes makes me wonder if women should have been granted the right to vote.
Posted by: obc | 2007-05-24 10:56:01 AM
Some of you remind me of the current Federal "conservatives" or Liberals of yester-year-- I think that "Conservative" is what they are still calling themselves these days.
When someone says Harper is wasting tax payers money needlessly and putting the troops at risk foolishly, you counter with nothing but insults to the members of the media and the speaker. I don't know some of you just seem to really be Liberal wannabees.
Sad to expect more, I guess. Sigh!
Do any of you have any idea of what the logistics involved in having a Prime Minister visit troops in a field of combat? What is Harper's purpose right now in being there? Think about that before you snap back with your insults about the CBC.
Posted by: Rob | 2007-05-24 9:42:25 PM
Embedded reporting at its finest. Look at the people who comment to this site, for a start. Look who Harper's yapping at: the lowest.common.denominator.
Bunch of fascist wannabes. You'll be remembered.
Posted by: Jennifer | 2007-06-04 10:41:02 AM
Jennifer:
None of us here would like to be National Socialists.
Fascists are left wingers.
You're obviously a commie, since fascists only too social control over their populace and failed in taking state control over the economy.
Don't you have a rock to crawl under?
Posted by: set you free | 2007-06-04 10:46:03 AM
The Leftoid blogs must have been backlogged for this troll to shove her socialist rantings here. And the stench is as unbearable as ever now.
Posted by: obc | 2007-06-04 11:20:58 AM
The Troops in Afghanistan were happy to accommodate their Prime Minister, considered it an honor. Only the Liberals are bothered. It's down to gotcha politics with the Liberals and playing silly beggars suits them just fine, they've nothing else to offer.
The Liberals are out of Office for a very good reason and the way they're performing they'll stay out for a very long time. They can't even act as a credible Opposition they're the worst in memory.
All we need do is look at the dog and pony show in QP starring Dion and Ignatieff to confirm it.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-06-04 12:40:13 PM
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