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Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Absurd Mulroney Affair
Can someone explain to me, other than the obvious animus felt by the media for Brian Mulroney, why it is necessary to hold an expensive and extended public inquiry to examine the almost certianly unverifiable (and, in any case, a decade and a half old) allegations of a man about to be deported from the country to face charges of fraud?
These accusations are absurd on their face. What kind of kickback gets paid out in multiple installments FIVE years later? The entire public interest in this - that is to say the only part of this affair which might concievably not be considered the private business of Brian Mulroney and the other individuals involved - is the claim that the money paid to Mulroney in 1993 and 1994 was, in some fashion, related to the Airbus sales completed in 1988. Frankly, the allegation seems absurd to me.
I fully understand why, with the Globe and Mail running the story above the fold practically every day (one might recall also their treatment of Conrad Black - this isn't a paper that is shy about abusing its front pages to attack those it sees as enemies) Brian Mulroney would want an inquiry to clear his name. But, frankly, I'm at a loss for why I ought to be on the hook to pay for a pointless judicial circus which, given what we know -and extensive prior investigations - is fairly likely to conclude that the whole matter is inconclusive.
Posted by Adam T. Yoshida on November 15, 2007 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Tracked on 2007-11-15 10:01:54 AM
Comments
Mulroney had an option in 1995, sir. He could have said, "I accepted three cash payments of $100,000 for questionable services and didn't pay taxes on it. I should not have done it. It was wrong for Canada, and I am not going to ask Canadians to pay the price." He had an option to tell the truth, and he chose to say 'yes' to the old attitudes and the old stories of corrupt government ; )
Posted by: Hill Kane | 2007-11-15 1:50:28 AM
Brian Mulroney was out of office in 1995. He was a private citizen with no obligation to explain his business dealings to anyone.
Yes, I recognize the reference - but it's not apt. This doesn't have anything to do with government. It's part of a vindictive attack against a man who the media and establishment always despised.
Posted by: Adam Yoshida | 2007-11-15 2:05:35 AM
Cbc spent millions chasing this phantom story,therefore they will be promoting it and the fallout to justify thier expenditure. They are the unofficial opposition,much more effective than steffi and his crowd. We can only hope that the inquiry peels back the covers and exposes the cbc's inherent bias and outright lies.
Posted by: wallyj | 2007-11-15 6:20:45 AM
>"It's part of a vindictive attack against a man who the media and establishment always despised."
Posted by: Adam Yoshida | 15-Nov-07 2:05:35 AM
Brian Mulroney has always been part of the establishment, I disagree that the establishment ever despised him.
That said, with a 211 seat majority, the largest in Canadian history at the time, Mulroney INVITED the media to be the Official Opposition because the Parliamentary Opposition numbered so few seats across from him in the House.
Posted by: Speller | 2007-11-15 6:50:28 AM
This debacle is also a sad commentary on Canadian mainstream media.
Had they been half as aggressive investigating the corrupt Chretien /Martin administration in Quebec during a decade of malfeasance as they are about Mulroney, Canadian could view MSM as trustworthy independent news disseminators.
History simply reveals them to be enablers and very selective in their political leanings.
Conservatism and Harper as leader are definitely in the leftist Canadian MSM crosshairs.
Hopefully this Johnston guy will see a large enough picture to delve into the Augean stable that involved the Airbus purchase as well.
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2007-11-15 7:51:15 AM
Joe M ~
If Johnson does not find Mulroney guilty of every charge - including beating his wife and children - Johnson himself will be accused of countless crimes by the Enemedia.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-15 8:10:38 AM
PM Mulroney was and is responsible for the creation of the notorious Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency whose first Minister was his X classmate Senator Lowell Murray. But once the Liberals regained power, they promptly turned the Agency into
a Liberal Patronage kingdom which,loaded to the brim with Liberal political appointees, whose principal
function is to undermine the New Conservative Government on a Daily basis. PM Harper must terminate the President of ACOA and every Vice President plus their entire Liberal Board. The fact
is from a political perspective Harper cannot afford ACOA -which recruits on direction by Liberal bagmen in NB, NS, and PEI. Bilingualism is mandatory for a career in ACOA which in New Brunswick means primarily the Acadian version of French -I doubt if any ACOA bureaucrat could compose a Memo in French. MacLeod in the Irving owned Picture Province -Irving's got more money than the new Provincial Government and ACOA Combined and don't deal with the slovenly Agency
whatever - Macleod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-11-15 8:23:38 AM
Of all the moronic things they spend my money on, at least this will have good entertainment value!
Posted by: Septtwp | 2007-11-15 8:25:24 AM
joe and obc:
The Johnson guy is a law professor whose job it is ti set the parameters of the inquiry.
So far, a commission chair has not been named.
One guy on TV last night said this was an unusual way to set up Royal Commission.
Yet, all Harper said is he would set up an inquiry ... not a Royal Commission, which is what Mulroney, the MSM and the LIberal attack dogs want.
I see where Mulroney is suing Thibeault for $2 million for comments he made on Sunday's Duffy show. That would be the way to go if Mulroney would like to expand the paramaters ... he's perfectly free to clear his reputation in a court of law, not a political Royal Commission.
There seems to be much confusion on this issue. It's important to cut through the political BS on this one.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-11-15 8:40:51 AM
As I stated in a previous post; Schreiber's letter was not scandal material in the first place and any recationary impulse by partisan Media and politicians to work it as a scandal will repercus badly on them.
Well it seems theat Muldoom has started the ball rolling with a 2.2 mil suit against a Liberal loudmouthed MP for lipping off on Duffy...other suits are pending and Muldoom's lawayers have been pretty clear that there are Star, G&M editors/journalists to be called in the inquiry...and the implied process is to have them come clean or face civil suits.
This is certainly not the GTA MSM's finest hour...but it is a wonderful theater for those of us who want to see these slandering partisan pricks taken out for good.
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux | 2007-11-15 9:13:08 AM
Robert Thibeault was the town clerk of an Acadian Village on the French Shore of Nova Scotia prior
to his election and a Liberal MP -he was the Minister under Chretien and later Martin responsible for ACOA. He is not considered a very bright light
He would have been put up to nhis attacks on former PM Martin Brian Mulroney by flunkies in Martin's
and Chretien's PMO Mulroney should sue the dumb SOB
which will cause him to secure Valium daily for about three years. Thibeau8lt knows nothing about
Air Canada's President nor Board, nothing about Aerospatiale (now EADS) or Airbus commercial carriers, he is to put it mildly profoundly ignorant, typical Nova Scotia MP, all of whom are expendable. Macleod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-11-15 9:15:51 AM
Lol!
Looks like Mulroney has launched a full scale assault on the Liberal-MSM axis. This is really starting to get good! Loving it!
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-11-15 9:27:02 AM
Agreed Epsi. Watch Puffy Duffy sweat and squirm as
Mulroney and legal consuls unload on the Liberal and Socialist media -Martin Brian Mulroney QC was a very good lawyer prior to his annoitment to Conservative sainthood. Halifax Media are going to revive the notorious NS Liberal Party Toll Gate affair as I
write this, all fully documented with immaculate records maintained by the Liberal Accountants who
kept and maintainec the books -there is over six million in the not so secret Trust Fund -Frank Magazine Halifax and Ottawa will have a field day with this stuff.Jeez, Puffy Duffy looked like he
was going to throw up the other night on the Liberal owned CTV "network" -a charter meber of that well known Ottawa franchise "Ho's R'Us"
MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2007-11-15 9:41:00 AM
The leftie retards want to tarnish the Conservative brand name at all costs -- the PM has left the door open to Cretin, Martino and others; I'm waiting for hapless Dion to play into PM hands...since Mulrony received cash under Liberal rule, I wouldn't be surprised to see Martino or Cretin hand in the till as well.
Furthermore, who is investigating conflicts of interest from past PMs who joined law firms for 7-figure retainers, makes $300K seem like chickenfeed...
Posted by: John | 2007-11-15 9:52:48 AM
Here is the breakdown in ownership of CTV and the G&M under Bell Globemedia.
Thomson holds 40%, Torstar, BCE, Teachers, 20% each of Bell Globemedia
So the Red Star owns 20% of both the Globe and CTV. Not a surprise.
Needless to say, now would be a good time to switch to Roger's Wireless. Go through your stock portfolio and be sure you purge it of any BCE, Thompson and Torstar holdings. Go through your mutual funds and if you see these stocks listed as major holdings, dump it.
And the same goes for Power Corp.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-11-15 9:59:33 AM
Bang on - I quoted and linked to your post on one of my own.
Here is the url:
http://theboredbureaucrat.blogspot.com/2007/11/airbus-affair-reloaded.html
Posted by: theboredbureaucrat | 2007-11-15 12:49:33 PM
I can see Chretien's Flunkies orchestrating the attack by that simple soul Thibeault on former PM Martin Brian Mulroney friend of President Ronald Regan, Privy Councillor, who recruited some of the best Conservative Cabinet Ministers into his Government and who changed the industrial base of the Atlantic Region. Mulroney loved the blarney, but that is not considered a failing in Irish Catholic families. Chretien's flunkies will find that Mulroney is no pushover and already MSM are calling for an investigation in Shawiningate, whose principals remain pissed off with Chretien's flunkies and former Cabinet Ministers -you can guess who they are! It will escalate as
time goes on and Thibeault will seek solace from a kindly Priest or Bottle of Rum. Macleod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2007-11-15 2:55:14 PM
Who will be paying for Thibeault's legal fees? Does the Liberal Party have a fund for such things?
By the way, where the hell is Iggy hanging out? Is he out hunting Puffins?
Posted by: Liz J | 2007-11-15 4:48:37 PM
Is The Chin a crook? We may never know, but of this I am certain; were there any damning evidence ANYWHERE on this planet I am quite sure that the libs and the hateful media would've been able to dig it up. The lack of evidence up to now against The Chin through the whole Airbus enquiry says quite a bit too.
Posted by: Hoser | 2007-11-15 4:58:43 PM
We can thank Dion for this.
He hollered for it and Harper gave it to him.
Be careful what you ask for.
Horny Toad
Posted by: Horny Toad | 2007-11-16 12:19:06 AM
I was wondering what happened to the questions, during QP about campaign funding - the Deyawn 'in/out' rant - answer is over at Angry in the Great White North. Angry has written proof of Dippers and Puffins doing the same 'dirty deed'. End of that story.
I have been listening to the Air India Inquiry. THIS is, IMO, the Liberano Achilles Heel - the children of the gentleman who was murdered for printing a newspaper with views that some did not like, are testifying. They have outlined the 'lovely' ways that Canada, under the Liberanos, allowed funding of Terrorist organizations. They damned all politicians who defend terrorists. They mentioned the leader of the Fed Dipper Party as a person guilty of promoting terrorism in this country. They said other politicians 'cater' to terrorist groups, like the Tamil Tigers?? 14 MPs went to a funeral recently. They also said that the media aids terrorism in this country.
Could it be that this Mulroney thing is to keep the heat off the Liberanos for this dreadful transgression of Justice? These people feel that because it was an Air India flight and not an Air Canada flight (ie not a 'white flight') nobody paid any attention or cared about these innocent people; murdered by terrorists.
Things that make me go Hummm.
Posted by: jema54j | 2007-11-16 1:27:42 AM
What have we done to deserve the freaking spectacle on Parliament Hill?
We elected a Conservative government, an new amalgamation with a very capable Leader and with our best interests coming forward.
For the Liberals, it's all about games and how quickly they can disrupt the affairs of government to get themselves back on the gravy train they've become accustomed to. It's got nothing to do with what's best for Canadians.
This Mulroney fiasco revisited has not one whit to do with this government. Further we've been forced to pay upwards of 30 million to re-investigate on the word of a convicted fraud artist by the name of Schreiber . This is all over a sum of $300,000.
The stupidity of the people of this country is astounding according to the polls. They're so bloody out of touch with what's going on, used to reading the scratchings of biased spinners and manipulators of truth and taking it a gospel.
We have a PM beyond the intelligence of any we've had in many years. The contrast is blatantly obvious in the HOC when we look at the three stooges opposing. Dion's performance in QP this has been beyond imagination. He, Layton and toss in the irrelevant Duceppes are making a mockery of our House of Government.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-11-16 5:33:45 AM
Further, this money is coming from we the people who are among the highest taxed on the planet from cradle right into the ground.
We're taxed on everything we buy, everything we use, right down to toilet paper and everything we do.
The Liberals should be decimated instead they're going up in the polling due to the most brain dead electorate in any democracy on the planet.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-11-16 8:10:56 AM
"this money is coming from we the people who are among the highest taxed on the planet from cradle right into the ground."
From womb to groom to tomb, eh? :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-16 9:32:17 AM
It's simple... the liberals fear that there is going to be an election... Stephan Dion is a moron.. gotta talk smack so they could possibly WIN an election. Sound right?!?!?!
Posted by: Sonya | 2007-11-21 4:00:34 PM
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