Elizabeth Thompson reported yesterday that those who are invited to attend one of Stephen Harper's "public" events are now required to keep their mouths shut:
Members of the public who attend Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s campaign events are being required to agree to a gag order before they can walk through the door, iPolitics has learned.
While attendance is by invitation only, and attendees are vetted by the Conservative Party before receiving a ticket, those who want to attend a campaign event in person are also being asked to agree to a number of conditions including not to transmit any description of the event or any images from it.
And his candidates are also being told to keep their mouths shut:
When Harper visited Belleville, Ontario on Friday, the local newspaper was given an advance heads up by a local Conservative organizer that he was coming but directed to only send a photographer and advised the prime minister would not take any questions from the media. Nor did the local Conservative candidate Jodie Jenkins agree to repeated requests from the Belleville Intelligencer for an interview.
Now, reporters are being barred from Harper's displays of "public" support:
On Tuesday, veteran Queens Park reporter Susanna Kelley was refused entry to a Harper campaign event. While she arrived 20 minutes before the start of the event, she was told she could not enter because RCMP sniffer dogs were not available to check her out.
All of which suggests that the prime minister's mental health has been seriously compromised. Which begs the question, "Do we really want a man who displays symptoms of full blown paranoia occupying the highest office in the land?"
Image: https://twitter.com/hashtag/farleymowat
21 comments:
If the man's campaign events are this secretive, we can only imagine how many dirty secrets are at the heart of his government! But the strategy has worked for him before so he figures more secrecy will work even better. And maybe it will. At this point I don't put anything past the voters. If they bought his snake oil once, they could certainly buy it again. I know for the hard-core Con supporters they rationalize this with the simple, hackneyed, worn-out spin (which Harper has been peddling for years) that the media is outrageously liberal and out to get him. Never mind that the exact opposite is true, and the media overwhelmingly supports him. But the narrow-minded, blinkered core of rabid conservatives lap that stuff up and, I think, actually like the secrecy because it gives them a kind of sophomoric thrill that they are involved in something slightly nefarious and so ahead of its time that they have to hide it from people. As though they are some sort of vanguard of the specially anointed who are leading the way toward a special future, but that most people don't see their truth yet and so they have insulate themselves from the hoi-polloi. It is actually pretty powerful stuff for average CON supporters who are actually frighteningly average, boring people. This energizes them and makes them feel special. Watch for more of the same, and even more secretiveness as the campaign progresses.
Another related question Canadians need to ask is whether they are happy having a prime minister who, by his rigid rally admission requirements, displays such contempt for the traditions of openness and accessibility that have always been part of the national fabric.
Well done, Owen!! How this issue is not receiving more attention in the MSM is a sad sign of co-option. While Suzanne Kelly did report her experiences the fact remains that we know that NO OTHER sitting PM in Canadian history has ever campaigned in such a closed, undemocratic and yes, paranoid way!
It must be called out for what it is. Defend your policies and record or resign!
Is it paranoia, a king complex or simply a dictator showing his true colours? Either way we most certainly dont need or want such a sick man running our country!
Hey, what about that China-FIPA thing, where a Chinese investor, such as a state-owned oil company, can now sue Canada in a secret tribunal for laws passed by any level of government in Canada?
If ever there was a man, Rural, whose temperment disqualified him for the highest office in the land, that man is Stephen Harper.
Defend his policies, Asking? That's exactly what he intends not to do.
The man claims that his values are Canadian values, Lorne. His entire approach to this election proves exactly the contrary proposition.
John Stuart Mill's observation remains painfully accurate, Kirby: Not all conservatives are stupid people. But most stupid people are conservatives.
I wonder how many Canadians are aware of that provision, Hugh? The Harperites have done nothing to publicize that bit of information.
Harpers invitation only campaigning Owen is truly insulting to 2/3 of Canadians and I wonder if it's even legal.
Under the "Fair" Elections Act, it probably is legal, Pam -- until the Supreme Court declares the act unconstitutional.
Also, I'm sure many Canadians are not aware that the Canadian Bar Association, which represents all lawyers in Canada, has urged Canadians to march in the streets to protest Conservative legislation (Bill C-51):
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/national/canadian-bar-association-urges-canadians-march-protest-bill-c-51
Opposition is building, Hugh. Harper wants to make sure it doesn't get inside any place he visits.
PART I
'Paranoia big destroya...' Good thing he does not have any WMD he can toss around the globe when he has another serious tantrum at say Putin...
I get the picture fully he can't sell himself on the failed economy. So lately Harper has been Harping on security. So since he is fairly sure he will have 'enraptured' audiences at his closed-door 'invite only' campaign stops... This is the big secret he will reveal at those particular 'secret' meetings. Are you ready?
Harper will say "CSIS the RCMP and CIA have gathered Intel that ISIS is planning a major disruption of our democracy and freedoms during this election because they hate them." He continues, "The threat is extremely serious Five Eyes [Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States] the extremely super secret [har-har] Intel gathering spy cooperative organization has learned that Putin has given ISIS dirty bombs. They plan to use them against Canada at the time of our democratic and free election in October."
He pauses to let the 'enraptured' [captured] audience gasp at the horror they just heard. A female con party operative near Harper's podium swoons faints and falls to the ground. Harper yells for paramedics as the audience gasps terrorized while Harper rushes off stage to 'aid' the woman.
PART II
After the disruption where the woman is given CPR with Harper gallantly [barf] holding her hand through the 'staged' ordeal. The commotion is over everyone back in their seats the con operative carted away in an ambulance and Harper back at his podium.
He resumes "Ladies and Gentlemen now that you know this state secret about the imminent ISIS attack plan it is of vital importance that you tell no one." He pauses. "If you do and you disrupt CSIS's and the RCMP's efforts to stop these terrorists before they reach this great democratic and free nation Canada you could have aided the terrorists because they are lurking everywhere already we have learned.” He pauses for good measure. “You cannot even trust your neighbors anymore because they could be with the terrorists that is why we felt it was of utmost importance for the national security of this free and democratic nation Canada to pass Bill C-51.”
He stops to take a sip of water then continues. “ I am sure you will agree in these times of terror we ‘The Harper Government’ is the only government that can lead us out of these times of peril to the rapture and then through the gates of heaven. Thank-you and goodnight.” His captive audience gives him a standing ovation…
Sometimes ya gotta wonder,
Mogs
Indeed, Mogs. Sometimes ya gotta wonder.
Not sure where this will go but a Petition Asking media to stop covering the Stephen Harper campaign until he rescinds unfair rules has been created......
https://www.change.org/p/cbc-news-asking-media-to-stop-covering-the-stephen-harper-campaign-until-he-rescinds-unfair-rules?just_created=true
If the link doesn't work it's at change.org with the title Petitioning Canadian Media
https://www.change.org/p/cbc-news-asking-media-to-stop-covering-the-stephen-harper-campaign-until-he-rescinds-unfair-rules?just_created=true#petition-letter
CRZZY BASTARD
I'll trade you one of your Z's for An A, Anon.
Thanks for the link, Anon. An excellent idea.
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