Sunday, April 17, 2011

"Missed It By That Much!"



As Mr. Harper repeats his claim that his government stands for prudent financial management, there appears a story in today's Ottawa Citizen, reporting that the F35's the government plans to purchase are of the stripped down variety:

The multi-million dollar F-35 stealth fighter that the Conservatives want to purchase comes with all the accoutrement's of a high-tech aircraft — everything, that is, except an engine.

The government will be required to provide engines for the 65 planes to be delivered by U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin, according to newly released Defence Department documents.
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In another time and place this story would provide the seed for an episode of Get Smart. It's not hard to visualize. Max and the Chief, entombed in the Cone of Silence, are reviewing the numbers for the purchase. When the Chief questions those figures, a flustered Max replies, "Missed it by that much!"

The point is that "smart" is not the adjective which comes to mind to describe this crew. When they present figures, the public response should be what President Obama reportedly told the Republicans on the other side of the bargaining table: "Do you really think we're stupid?"

Speaking of Harper's plan to find $11 billion dollars in savings, Paul Martin -- who has some experience constructing federal budgets -- told an audience in Edmonton yesterday:

Now I look at those numbers and I have the same reaction that the C.D. Howe has, that the Fraser Institute has, which is to say they can’t find that money without major cuts, and I can tell you one area that clearly is in danger [of] suffering, that is in fact the health care budget.

He then reminded his audience of what the Prime Minister has said in the past:

Stephen Harper has said unequivocally that he does not think that the Canada Health Act or that health care is a federal responsibility, so he’s going to stick with where the federal responsibilities in his mind are.

Mr. Harper has spent a lot of his time during this campaign running away from his past, and essentially repeating the lines of an old Bob Dylan song: "I Was So Much Older Then, I'm Younger Than That Now." Perhaps -- when the Prime Minister finally leaves government -- he will have a future as a pianist -- or better still, as a comic. Like Buster Keaton, he need never crack a smile.

If someone gets the bright idea of bringing back Get Smart, perhaps he'll answer the casting call.







4 comments:

Annie said...

The recent revelation of fighters without engines is simply another reason Canadians shouldn't vote Conservative. Still, they give Harper a confidence rating of over ninety percent. Ignatieff rates barely over fifty percent; Leighton,less than that.

The turnout for this election is expected to hit a record low. What in Susan's name is going on?

Soma,anybody?

Owen Gray said...

I don't have an answer, Annie. The polls seem to be all over the place. But, remember, we're electing local MP's not the leaders of the parties. Therefore, I wouldn't trust the numbers.

The reccuring examples of Conservative incompetence would normally set that party back on its heals. On the other hand, they have worked very hard to establish the meme that politics is tiresome.

In the end, they believe Canadian voters are fools. The question is: Are they right?

Anonymous said...

Have a look at the web site of four young people, shitharperdid, good for them for getting the message out there for the young and the old.

Read about, Harper's henchmen storming Guelph University, to stop the students from voting. The henchmen even tried to grab the ballot box.

Google: Harper delivers his plan of, Global Governance for Canada. People are really steamed at Harper's fascist ideas and dictatorship. Canadians want Canada sovereign and free. If Harper doesn't like Canada free, he can get the hell out.

Harper has a convicted criminal, as an adviser, working for him. He and his Conservative party, are held in contempt by the House.

There are Canadians who think, Harper needs a little Egyptian justice. He was so afraid of the anger spilling into Canada, he even called a meeting regarding the subject.

Harper is a despised man. He has had to, beef up his security.

No, people are now seeing through Harper. They have seen, Harper ignores our Constitution. Our Civil Rights and Liberties, have been taken away from us. Democracy and Freedom, Harper has buried under a ton of dirt and corruption. Canadian anger at Harper, is growing and growing, and spreading across the entire nation, like wildfire.

Owen Gray said...

The Harper campaign claims that the Liberals are fearful and desperate. That's not surprising for a campaign that is rooted in fear -- fear of coalitions, fear of elections, fear of outsiders.

It would be a a terrible strategic mistake to confuse anger with fear.