Is it possible to separate religion and politics -- church and state -- when you talk about saving our civilization from physical disaster and economic ruin? The godless Communists wish it were, because belief in God is antithetical to belief in an all-powerful State. The secular humanists wish it were, because faith in God implies lack of faith in mankind.
That's why, nowadays, you rarely hear politicians speak publicly about God or faith or anything vaguely religious. Most of them are afraid even to proclaim their personal beliefs, for fear of being pilloried in the lamestream media as "religious kooks".
And what of our religious leaders? Even when they do take a stand on a political issue with moral implications -- abortion, for instance -- they water the wine with disclaimers that non-believers or people of other faiths are entitled to their opinions, and Christian morality needn't be imposed on non-Christians... or even on self-styled "Christians" who choose to ignore the Church's teaching on such matters.
There is one Catholic apostolate which has never shied away from making the connection between religion and politics. That would be the Fatima Center, founded and directed by Rev. Fr. Nicholas Gruner.
For over three decades Father Gruner has been preaching the Full Message of Fatima. Very briefly, the Message is that the world can be saved from destruction and enjoy a period of peace (and the concomitant economic "peace dividend") in exchange for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. See "Why Pope Francis consecrated his Pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima".
It is not unfair to say that Father Gruner has been a voice crying in the wilderness created by the Freemasons, one-worlders and apostates in the Vatican. Until now. In 2012, two Italian members of the European Parliament arranged for "the Fatima Priest" to speak to that body. Thus Father Gruner learned that it's not enough to preach to popes and bishops. You have to get the message out to the politicians too.
That's why the Fatima Center is convening a conference in Niagara Falls in September "to examine the condition of the world and the Church and to urge our leaders to take the only action that can avert the economic, political and military disaster that is looming". The name of the conclave? "The Path to Peace"!
Will "The Path to Peace" be just another talkfest? The Fatima Center has mounted "peace conferences" before, targeted chiefly at bishops and priests, for whom geopolitics was not always of great interest. But the prospectus Walt has just received suggests the upcoming convention should be very different. One look at the roster of speakers tells me this is going to be HUGE!
The keynote speaker is going to be... wait for it... none other than Dr. Ron Paul. The conference brochure calls him "the only voice of reason" in the US Congress. "Dr. Paul stands by the truth," it goes on to say, "in season and out. He knows that the course governments are following can only lead to greater catastrophes than those we are now suffering."
Walt would cross the falls on a tightrope -- à la Wallenda -- just to hear Dr. Paul, but there's more! Getting second billing -- a close second -- is the Hon. Romeo Dallaire, a Canadian senator, and Lieutenant-General (Ret.) of the Royal Canadian Army. It was Lt.Gen. Dallaire who commanded the hapless UN forces in the Rwanda débâcle. He saw firsthand the failure of the "international community" to stop the worst genocide of modern times. His address will focus on the ethical and moral issues of conflict resolution.
Other speakers include Peter Lance -- winner of five Emmy Awards for news and documentaries -- and G. Edward Griffin, also a successful writer and documentary film producer. Joe Schiedler, National Director of the Pro-Life Action League, is on the list, along with William F. Jasper, senior editor of The New American.
As well, attenders will be able to hear talks by Father Gruner and a number of his colleagues and collaborators, including Father Paul Kramer, the author of three books on the troubles within the Church. Christopher Ferrara and John Vennari are American Catholic writers and commentators, referred to in WWW from time to time.
On the distaff side are Cornelia Ferreira, whose articles have appeared in Catholic Family News and Christian Order, and Catherine Pearson, author of Fatima's Unfinished Business. The Hon. Mario Borghezio, a member of the European Parliament, will speak, as will Roberto Fiore, leader of the Italian political party Forza Nuova.
As of today, "The Path to Peace" has confirmed 20 speakers, who will hold forth for five days, September 9th through 13th, at the new Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Walt will be there! How about you? For a brochure or further information, e-mail The Fatima Center or call toll-free 1-800-263-8160. Tell them Walt told you!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Why Pope Francis consecrated his Pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima
Just over a month ago, Walt predicted (as did many traditional and "mainstream" Catholic bloggers) that Pope Francis would finally do something concrete to honour the request of Our Lady of Fatima for the Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart. See "Pope Francis to move on Third Secret of Fatima?"
What the Blessed Virgin asked for is not difficult or expensive. She told the late Sister Lucia that a simple prayer for the conversion of Russia, by name, would suffice. The ceremony should take about five minutes, or ten minutes, tops. But it must be done publicly and solemnly, by the Pope, with all the other bishops joining him in their own dioceses at the same time.
You would think that would be simple enough to do, and worth doing considering the benefits promised by Our Lady -- a period of peace of prosperity and the salvation of millions who would otherwise perish. But no pope, from Pius XII through Benedict XVI has had the, errr, gumption to do it in the way Our Lady asked.
A couple of popes have come close. Pius XII and John Paul II both consecrated "the world". But they knew -- and Sister Lucia said -- that wasn't enough. All the bishops must join in, and Russia must be mentioned by name! But this runs contrary to the ostpolitik -- friendly dialogue with the Church's Communist enemies -- promoted by Cardinals Casaroli, Sodano and Bertone, former Vatican secretaries of state.
Even worse (for them), heeding the Blessed Virgin's warning in the Third Secret of Fatima would precipitate a cleansing of the Church, a dismissal from power of the Freemasons, apostates and heretics who now hold high offices in the hierarchy, and a much-needed correction of the numerous errors of Vatican II. The Message of Fatima is therefore bad news to the liberals, apostates and heretics who now hold high offices in the hierarchy.
That's why those "fallen stars" (see Chapter 12 of the Apocalypse), led by the disgraced Bertone, have been campaigning for years to consign the Message of Fatima to the dustbin of history. They characterize Our Lady's prophecies as "old news", and Her vision of "the bishop clothed in white" as referring to the attempted assassination of John Paul II -- over and done with. But Benedict XVI, who read the Third Secret, said the Message is even more relevant now than before.
We do not know if Pope Francis has yet read the text of the Third Secret -- the words of Our Lady which the Vatican still refuses to reveal to us. But it is evident the Holy Father believes in the need for repentance and reform to which the Blessed Virgin calls us. That is why, within weeks following his election, the Pope asked the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon -- twice -- to consecrate his new papacy to Our Lady of Fatima.
And, even though Cardinal Policarpo is thought to be in the "modernist" camp of Cardinal Bertone, the prelate did what the Pope asked. Addressing the Portuguese bishops in their 181st Plenary Assembly, he announced the Pope’s request for this consecration and he expressed his own desire that “all the episcopal conference [would join] itself to the realization of this request.” The Portuguese bishops accordingly decided to make this collegial act at the conclusion of the Mass of the International Anniversary Pilgrimage on May 13th, the 96th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.
The international pilgrimage was presided over by Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, and drew crowds of well over half a million during the two-day celebrations, with more than 37,000 pilgrims walking to the holy site from various places in the Iberian peninsula. 37 bishops and 290 priests also participated.
At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Policarpo led the bishops in consecrating Pope Francis' pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima. The prayer of consecration began thus:
“Most Holy Virgin, we, the Bishops of Portugal and this crowd of pilgrims, stand at Your feet, on the 96th anniversary of Your apparition to the little shepherds, in this Cova da Iria, to fulfill the clearly expressed wish of Pope Francis to consecrate to You, Virgin of Fatima, his ministry of Bishop of Rome and Universal Shepherd.”
The Cardinal went on in this prayer of consecration (lasting about six minutes) to ask Our Lady of Fatima for all the graces of discernment and courage that the Holy Father will need to “overcome, in charity, the trials that the renovation of the Church will bring him.”
The text of the consecration prayer needs to be read carefully, with full attention to the exact words used, and to the words that were not said.
Notice that Cardinal Policarpo made no mention of the specific content of the Fatima Message and Our Lady’s requests. The impression the Cardinal gave was that Fatima was a call to prayer as a means of "conversion". But whose conversion? What sort of prayer? And why would it take an apparition of Our Lady and a spectacular public miracle -- the Miracle of the Sun -- to get only a general exhortation to pray? Surely the Blessed Virgin wants more of us, and of the leaders of the Church!
Nor did Cardinal Policarpo mention the Consecration of Russia as a condition for the conversion of that nation and the ensuing period of world peace. Russia is most assuredly not converted and world peace seems a present impossibility, barring a miracle. But it is precisely such a miracle that Our Lady has promised, if Her conditions are met.
But that's what Heaven wants. The Pope and the bishops, together, must consecrate Russia, by name, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Nothing less will do. Let us pray that this month's consecration of the papacy of Pope Francis is a first step in that direction.
We can be encouraged by the sense of urgency implicit in Pope Francis' having asked for the consecration of his papacy not just once, but twice. Presumably this was to ensure that Cardinal Policarpo would actually do it! And the Holy Father asked not just for consecration to Our Lady, but to Our Lady of Fatima!
What could have prompted Pope Francis to take such drastic action? (I have chosen the words carefully. the Pope's request was certainly drastic compared with the timid efforts of his predecessors.) Walt is convinced that the Holy Father must have read the Third Secret before he telephoned Cardinal Policarpo. And obviously he believes Our Lady's warning. So should we!
Further reading: “The Unsinkable Message of Fatima” by Christopher A. Ferrara, Esquire.
What the Blessed Virgin asked for is not difficult or expensive. She told the late Sister Lucia that a simple prayer for the conversion of Russia, by name, would suffice. The ceremony should take about five minutes, or ten minutes, tops. But it must be done publicly and solemnly, by the Pope, with all the other bishops joining him in their own dioceses at the same time.
You would think that would be simple enough to do, and worth doing considering the benefits promised by Our Lady -- a period of peace of prosperity and the salvation of millions who would otherwise perish. But no pope, from Pius XII through Benedict XVI has had the, errr, gumption to do it in the way Our Lady asked.
A couple of popes have come close. Pius XII and John Paul II both consecrated "the world". But they knew -- and Sister Lucia said -- that wasn't enough. All the bishops must join in, and Russia must be mentioned by name! But this runs contrary to the ostpolitik -- friendly dialogue with the Church's Communist enemies -- promoted by Cardinals Casaroli, Sodano and Bertone, former Vatican secretaries of state.
Even worse (for them), heeding the Blessed Virgin's warning in the Third Secret of Fatima would precipitate a cleansing of the Church, a dismissal from power of the Freemasons, apostates and heretics who now hold high offices in the hierarchy, and a much-needed correction of the numerous errors of Vatican II. The Message of Fatima is therefore bad news to the liberals, apostates and heretics who now hold high offices in the hierarchy.
That's why those "fallen stars" (see Chapter 12 of the Apocalypse), led by the disgraced Bertone, have been campaigning for years to consign the Message of Fatima to the dustbin of history. They characterize Our Lady's prophecies as "old news", and Her vision of "the bishop clothed in white" as referring to the attempted assassination of John Paul II -- over and done with. But Benedict XVI, who read the Third Secret, said the Message is even more relevant now than before.
We do not know if Pope Francis has yet read the text of the Third Secret -- the words of Our Lady which the Vatican still refuses to reveal to us. But it is evident the Holy Father believes in the need for repentance and reform to which the Blessed Virgin calls us. That is why, within weeks following his election, the Pope asked the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon -- twice -- to consecrate his new papacy to Our Lady of Fatima.
And, even though Cardinal Policarpo is thought to be in the "modernist" camp of Cardinal Bertone, the prelate did what the Pope asked. Addressing the Portuguese bishops in their 181st Plenary Assembly, he announced the Pope’s request for this consecration and he expressed his own desire that “all the episcopal conference [would join] itself to the realization of this request.” The Portuguese bishops accordingly decided to make this collegial act at the conclusion of the Mass of the International Anniversary Pilgrimage on May 13th, the 96th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.
The international pilgrimage was presided over by Archbishop Orani Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, and drew crowds of well over half a million during the two-day celebrations, with more than 37,000 pilgrims walking to the holy site from various places in the Iberian peninsula. 37 bishops and 290 priests also participated.
At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Policarpo led the bishops in consecrating Pope Francis' pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima. The prayer of consecration began thus:
“Most Holy Virgin, we, the Bishops of Portugal and this crowd of pilgrims, stand at Your feet, on the 96th anniversary of Your apparition to the little shepherds, in this Cova da Iria, to fulfill the clearly expressed wish of Pope Francis to consecrate to You, Virgin of Fatima, his ministry of Bishop of Rome and Universal Shepherd.”
The Cardinal went on in this prayer of consecration (lasting about six minutes) to ask Our Lady of Fatima for all the graces of discernment and courage that the Holy Father will need to “overcome, in charity, the trials that the renovation of the Church will bring him.”
The text of the consecration prayer needs to be read carefully, with full attention to the exact words used, and to the words that were not said.
Notice that Cardinal Policarpo made no mention of the specific content of the Fatima Message and Our Lady’s requests. The impression the Cardinal gave was that Fatima was a call to prayer as a means of "conversion". But whose conversion? What sort of prayer? And why would it take an apparition of Our Lady and a spectacular public miracle -- the Miracle of the Sun -- to get only a general exhortation to pray? Surely the Blessed Virgin wants more of us, and of the leaders of the Church!
Nor did Cardinal Policarpo mention the Consecration of Russia as a condition for the conversion of that nation and the ensuing period of world peace. Russia is most assuredly not converted and world peace seems a present impossibility, barring a miracle. But it is precisely such a miracle that Our Lady has promised, if Her conditions are met.
But that's what Heaven wants. The Pope and the bishops, together, must consecrate Russia, by name, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Nothing less will do. Let us pray that this month's consecration of the papacy of Pope Francis is a first step in that direction.
We can be encouraged by the sense of urgency implicit in Pope Francis' having asked for the consecration of his papacy not just once, but twice. Presumably this was to ensure that Cardinal Policarpo would actually do it! And the Holy Father asked not just for consecration to Our Lady, but to Our Lady of Fatima!
What could have prompted Pope Francis to take such drastic action? (I have chosen the words carefully. the Pope's request was certainly drastic compared with the timid efforts of his predecessors.) Walt is convinced that the Holy Father must have read the Third Secret before he telephoned Cardinal Policarpo. And obviously he believes Our Lady's warning. So should we!
Further reading: “The Unsinkable Message of Fatima” by Christopher A. Ferrara, Esquire.
Monday, May 20, 2013
When pigs fly: Duffy en route to Ottawa -- stay tuned!
Today is a holiday in much of Canada. Québec is excluded because this is Victoria Day, commemorating the birthday of the late queen. Vicky was actually born on May 24th, and she died 111 years ago, but so what. That the day is still celebrated (outside of Québec) tells you all you need to know about the Great Not-so-white North.
Tomorrow Canada's Parliament resumes sitting. Both houses -- the House of Commons and the Senate. The latter august body now has four "independent" members, one former Liberal and three former Conservatives. One of those is the "honourable" Mike Duffy, erstwhile senator from Prince Edward Island... or Kanata... whatever.
When last we heard -- see "'Bring me the head of Senator Duffy!'" -- the Puffster was holed up in his sty on PEI. Not talking, is what he was doing [for a change. Ed.]. But Walt's agent on Spud Island reports that the belly that walks like a man [or two men. Ed.] was seen in Charlottetown boarding a plane destined for the world's second-coldest capital.
What does the sight of a pig about to fly portend? Could it be that His Smugness, who crawled half-way under the bus last week, will push the rest of his fat self beneath the wheels and tender his resignation not just from the Conservative caucus but from the Red Chamber itself? Stay tuned, and remember who told you. Lifetime pct .980.
Further reading: "The integrity issue is reaching critical mass", by Lawrence Martin (author of Harperland) in the Globe and Mail.
Riddle submitted by Agent 3: What do Mike Duffy and Anne of Green Gables have in common? Answer: They're both fictional residents of Prince Edward Island!
Tomorrow Canada's Parliament resumes sitting. Both houses -- the House of Commons and the Senate. The latter august body now has four "independent" members, one former Liberal and three former Conservatives. One of those is the "honourable" Mike Duffy, erstwhile senator from Prince Edward Island... or Kanata... whatever.
When last we heard -- see "'Bring me the head of Senator Duffy!'" -- the Puffster was holed up in his sty on PEI. Not talking, is what he was doing [for a change. Ed.]. But Walt's agent on Spud Island reports that the belly that walks like a man [or two men. Ed.] was seen in Charlottetown boarding a plane destined for the world's second-coldest capital.
What does the sight of a pig about to fly portend? Could it be that His Smugness, who crawled half-way under the bus last week, will push the rest of his fat self beneath the wheels and tender his resignation not just from the Conservative caucus but from the Red Chamber itself? Stay tuned, and remember who told you. Lifetime pct .980.
Further reading: "The integrity issue is reaching critical mass", by Lawrence Martin (author of Harperland) in the Globe and Mail.
Riddle submitted by Agent 3: What do Mike Duffy and Anne of Green Gables have in common? Answer: They're both fictional residents of Prince Edward Island!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Wright was wrong! Wright is gone! But WHY?!
The Canadian Senate shitstorm increases in fury! Only yesterday -- in "Bring me the head of Senator Duffy" -- Walt gloated (yes!) over the resignation of Senator Mike Duffy from the Conservative caucus. While I wrote, Tory Senator Pam Wallin announced that she would join him under the bus.
What, Walt wondered, would it take to get the Puffster or the fragrant Ms Wallin -- or Senator Harb (ex-Liberal) or Senator Brazeau (the third ex-Conservative) -- to resign not just from their party's caucus but from the Senate itself?
Of even greater interest was (and still is) the question of why the Tories went to such great lengths to protect only the dishonourable Senator from Kanata. For what reason would Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Harper's Chief of Staff, pay over $90,000, allegedly out of his own pocket, to cover the expenses for which Puffy improperly billed the Canadian taxpayer? Was it party esprit de corps, or an outpouring of the milk of human kindness?
A further question arose as to the future of the incredibly generous Mr. Wright. A spokesthingy for Mr. Harpoon said the PM had "complete confidence" in his Chief of Staff. Was that the kiss of death?
Perhaps so, as sometime between yesterday's post and today's, Mr. Wright bailed. Admitted he was not Wright but Wrong. Tendered his resignation, which the PM quickly (and "regretfully") accepted.
Walt would love to have a man-to-man talk with Nigel Wright, but he seems to be in seclusion. The Puffster is hiding in his sty in PEI, much to the surprise of neighbours who couldn't recall ever having seen him there before.
If I could, I would like to find out what it is that Duffy knows -- and may yet tell -- about Harper, about Wright, and perhaps about others. For instance... Wright has been described as a long-time friend of Duffy's, hence his eagerness to give his old buddy 90 large. And of course Wright is a close friend of the Prime Minister's too. Does Mr. Wright have any other friends? What about John "Nancy" Baird, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs? Is there some connection there? Just asking...
What, Walt wondered, would it take to get the Puffster or the fragrant Ms Wallin -- or Senator Harb (ex-Liberal) or Senator Brazeau (the third ex-Conservative) -- to resign not just from their party's caucus but from the Senate itself?
Of even greater interest was (and still is) the question of why the Tories went to such great lengths to protect only the dishonourable Senator from Kanata. For what reason would Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Harper's Chief of Staff, pay over $90,000, allegedly out of his own pocket, to cover the expenses for which Puffy improperly billed the Canadian taxpayer? Was it party esprit de corps, or an outpouring of the milk of human kindness?
A further question arose as to the future of the incredibly generous Mr. Wright. A spokesthingy for Mr. Harpoon said the PM had "complete confidence" in his Chief of Staff. Was that the kiss of death?
Perhaps so, as sometime between yesterday's post and today's, Mr. Wright bailed. Admitted he was not Wright but Wrong. Tendered his resignation, which the PM quickly (and "regretfully") accepted.
Walt would love to have a man-to-man talk with Nigel Wright, but he seems to be in seclusion. The Puffster is hiding in his sty in PEI, much to the surprise of neighbours who couldn't recall ever having seen him there before.
If I could, I would like to find out what it is that Duffy knows -- and may yet tell -- about Harper, about Wright, and perhaps about others. For instance... Wright has been described as a long-time friend of Duffy's, hence his eagerness to give his old buddy 90 large. And of course Wright is a close friend of the Prime Minister's too. Does Mr. Wright have any other friends? What about John "Nancy" Baird, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs? Is there some connection there? Just asking...
Saturday, May 18, 2013
"Bring me the head of Senator Duffy!"
Senator Puffy was being audited by Deloitte (at the request of the Senate) over housing expenses he claimed and received for maintaining a residence in Kanata -- a suburb of the world's second-coldest capital -- because his principal residence was supposedly in Prince Edward Island. The amount in question was in excess of C$90,000 ($88,000 in real money.)
Trouble is, Duffy had occupied the house in Kanata for years and years, whereas the sty in PEI went largely unoccupied according to neighbours -- more of a summer cottage, if that. That spelled trouble for the Puffster because the Canadian Constitution requires senators to live in the province they represent. Calls were loud for the "honourable" senator to resign from his position and/or at least pay back the money, and after weeks of stonewalling, Duffy said in February that he would do the latter but not the former.
As reported two days ago, the 90 large was indeed repaid, not by the porcine parliamentarian but by the Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office. Why?! One's first guess would have to be to make the whole stinky affair go away. If that's what he was thinking, Wright was Wrong!
Embarrassing questions were asked the moment CTV broke the story. Why, Canadians wondered, was Senator Puffy given special treatment? (Two other senators -- Liberal Mac Harb and Conservative Patrick Brazeau -- also faced demands to repay ill-gotten housing allowances.) What did Duffy have on the Conservatives that they would spend so much political capital -- not to mention cash -- to protect him? Maybe he has proof of John Baird's sexual preferences? Maybe he has pictures of Harper and the Duck?
While Canucks were mulling the possibilities, there was a further revelation! The Tories refused to provide details of exactly what improperly-claimed expenses were being repaid. Turns out that, apart from the housing allowance, Duffy had billed the Senate per diem fees for work allegedly done while he was in Florida. Images of a beached whale spring to mind!
Ditto for a number of days during the federal election campaign of 2011 during which Mr. Puffy charged the Senate for attending to his senatorial duties while at the same time stumping for his beloved Conservative Party in constituencies far removed from Ottawa. [Not in PEI, though! Ed.] As the Tories themselves had paid Duffy for those days, it would seem that the "honourable" senator was, errr, double-dipping.
All this caused considerable soiling of shorts in the corridors of power, especially the Langevin Block. [That's where the Prime Minister's Office is. Ed.] Pundits and publicans were unanimous in calling for the heads of both Duffy and Wright. But did either of them resign? Errr, no. Duffy resigned, not from the Senate but from the Conservative caucus. He will now sit in his extra-wide seat as an "independent". Wright has been neither seen nor heard, but a fart-catcher for Steve Harper says the PM still has "complete confidence" in his chief of staff. Stay tuned.
Double-dip footnote: Duffy's was not the only snout deep in the trough. Late last night, another Conservative senator decided to join the Puffster under the bus. [On the "independent" benches, surely! Ed.] Pamela Wallin -- coincidentally another former "non-partisan" broadcaster who formerly worked for CTV -- is also under investigation for improperly claiming "other travel" expenses in the neighbourhood of $321,000.
She and Duffy both say they will rejoin the Tories once these little misunderstandings are "resolved". Wallin's calls to Nigel Wright have not been returned.
Scandals in Washington and Ottawa: who's the sleaziest?
This post may be a tad incoherent. [Like that's never happened before! Ed.] It's just that the week has been so eventful that Walt finds it difficult to draw breath, let alone draw comparisons. But that's what we must consider -- the comparison between the scandals threatening to inundate the Oval Office and the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
First let's ask ourselves why America's Most Important Jew (pictured) is incandescent with rage. Dear reader, what you are seeing is the fury of disappointment, the shock of the realization that Barack Hussein Obama's supporters -- including Jon Stewart -- were played for fools.
Mr. Stewart (né Leibowitz) is shocked -- shocked -- to discover that the Prez, who offered Americans a change from "politics as usual", is just a politician like all the rest, intent on seizing and holding onto power... for its own sake and to advance his socialist, secular agenda.
For Jon-boy, seeing the depths to which Obama would sink to deceive the public and defeat his enemies must have been like seeing the picture of Dorian Gray revealed as the real person.
Was Obama wrong to lie to the public -- during the election campaign, mind you -- about what really happened at Benghazi and who was responsible? Of course, but all politicians lie during elections.
Is it OK for the IRS to target conservative organizations and individuals for inquisitorial audits to deter them from expressing their opinions of Obama and his policies? Of course not, but the Prez says that he was shocked -- shocked -- to find out that this was done. Heads will roll, although not the head of the Head of State.
Is it right for Big Brother to demand details of AP's telephone calls -- or yours -- to find out who's "leaking" politically sensitive information? Certainly not, but here again the Prez has deniability.
It all adds up to "three strikes, but not out". The American system of government [Is dis a system? Ed.] is such that you have to be able to pin an impeachable offence on the President in order to force him out of office. Every once in a while -- hello, Richard Nixon! -- the people win. So far, in Obama's case, resignation or impeachment is not even on the radar.
What the Excited States of America needs is a scandal with a clear link to the President -- a scandal involving cold hard cash! And that's why, for once, Canadian politicians have surpassed Americans. Their Senate expenses scandal is waaaay sleazier. It has claimed two victims so far, threatens a third, and might even result in irreversible damage to the government of Steve "Stephen" Harper himself. Walt will give you the latest in the following post.
Mr. Stewart (né Leibowitz) is shocked -- shocked -- to discover that the Prez, who offered Americans a change from "politics as usual", is just a politician like all the rest, intent on seizing and holding onto power... for its own sake and to advance his socialist, secular agenda.
For Jon-boy, seeing the depths to which Obama would sink to deceive the public and defeat his enemies must have been like seeing the picture of Dorian Gray revealed as the real person.
Was Obama wrong to lie to the public -- during the election campaign, mind you -- about what really happened at Benghazi and who was responsible? Of course, but all politicians lie during elections.
Is it OK for the IRS to target conservative organizations and individuals for inquisitorial audits to deter them from expressing their opinions of Obama and his policies? Of course not, but the Prez says that he was shocked -- shocked -- to find out that this was done. Heads will roll, although not the head of the Head of State.
Is it right for Big Brother to demand details of AP's telephone calls -- or yours -- to find out who's "leaking" politically sensitive information? Certainly not, but here again the Prez has deniability.
It all adds up to "three strikes, but not out". The American system of government [Is dis a system? Ed.] is such that you have to be able to pin an impeachable offence on the President in order to force him out of office. Every once in a while -- hello, Richard Nixon! -- the people win. So far, in Obama's case, resignation or impeachment is not even on the radar.
What the Excited States of America needs is a scandal with a clear link to the President -- a scandal involving cold hard cash! And that's why, for once, Canadian politicians have surpassed Americans. Their Senate expenses scandal is waaaay sleazier. It has claimed two victims so far, threatens a third, and might even result in irreversible damage to the government of Steve "Stephen" Harper himself. Walt will give you the latest in the following post.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Moron* Mike Puffy
The smelly story so far
As a reward for his biased, below-the-belt "reporting" of the political scene -- plus a natural propensity for arse-kissing -- "Duff" was rewarded by his good friend Steve "Stephen" Harper with appointment to the Senate of Canada as a senator from Prince Edward Island.
The Canadian constitution requires a senator to maintain his principal residence in the province which he purports to represent. Sadly for Duffy, although he was born in PEI and resembles a PEI potato -- a huge PEI potato -- he has lived for decades in Kanata, a suburb of the world's second-coldest capital. He has a large house there, with a large ($360,000) mortgage.
Nevertheless, the "honourable" senator from PEI signed a declaration that his principal residence is (what turned out to be) a summer cottage in Cavendish PEI. That would make him eligible for a housing allowance to defray the costs of maintaining the aforementioned residence in Kanata.
When this came to light in the course of enquiries into expenses claimed by Duffy and three other senators (one Liberal, two Tories), the ace reporter claimed he'd had trouble understanding the declaration he'd signed. Perhaps he failed to comprehend the implications of the word "principal", since its homonym -- "principle" -- is clearly not in his vocabulary.
Anyway, it was all a big "innocent" mistake, and a couple of weeks after the "error" was revealed, Duffy trotted out the old contrition act. Without actually using the word "sorry", he said on national TV that the whole thing had become a "distraction" from his onerous duties as senator, and he and his wife (nice touch) had decided they would repay the $90,000 or so in housing expenses which he had "mistakenly" claimed and received.
Fast forward to March, when the Senate committee looking into the matter was about to present its report. By the way, someone asked, did Senator Duffy ever give back his ill-gotten money? Oh yes, said Marjorie LeBreton (government leader in the Senate) and Steve Harper, he did the right thing -- the honourable thing -- and all the money has been repaid.
What no-one said -- not Duffy, not Harper nor his many minions -- was that it wasn't the arch-troughster who actually ponied up the funds with which to reimburse the Canadian taxpayer. The cheque was actually cut by... wait for it... one Nigel Wright.
Nigel Wright? Who he? Ed.
Nigel Wright is a wealthy Bay Street capitalist who, as a reward for [Get on with it! Ed.] has for a couple of years been the Chief of Staff in the office of... wait for it... Prime Minister Steve "Stephen" Harper!
Wright is also an old and dear friend of Senator Puffy. When he somehow learned that Duffy, in spite of his $132,000 Senate salary and generous expense allowance, was impecunious, Wright generously offered to give the skint senator the $90,000 needed to cover his enormous fundament. That's "give", not "lend".
Looks like Wright was wrong to help out his fat old friend in this way. First of all, it's just not done to make a large payment in cash (or cheque) to a sitting legislator for no reason at all. And even if the gift itself is not illegal, the recipient would -- under the Senate's conflict of interest code -- be required to report the gift within 30 days of receiving it. In this case the deadline would have been sometime before April 25th. Need I add that no such report was ever made.
Why did Wright do it? Did the Prime Minister know? The deal, according to Duffy himself, was made in the course of "negotiations" between Duffy's lawyer and "the Prime Minister's Office". Duffy would pay back the housing allowance and the government would "go easy" on him and (presumably) not make him resign his Senate seat even though he is clearly not eligible to represent Prince Edward Island.
The way Walt sees it, the only way Prime Minister Harper could not have known about the deal to save Duffy's fat face (and that of the PM who appointed him) would be if Harper wilfully closes his eyes to the business of his own office. We know that Harper is an avid piano player... just like the piano player in the brothel who says "I don't know what goes on upstairs".
The federal Ethics Commissioner will investigate as soon as her bucket of whitewash can be refilled.
Further reading: "The only right thing left for Mike Duffy to do now is resign" by one of Walt's favourite commentators, Andrew Coyne, in today's National Post.
* The headline originally read "More on Mike Puffy" but it's funnier now. Ed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)