Meet the First Harperland Cabinet ~ A Simple Photo Opportunity?

Mark My Words Folks, the next four years are ^NOT going to be good years for this country. Not on your life. Late last year, back in Canada, when it was announced that the name of the government was being changed, I was against formally calling 'The Government of Canada', "The Harper Government" and made myself heard on the subject But this new twist, this strange new twist, has me thinking that I would be very much in favour of renaming this Great Country, so long known as the Dominion of Canada, to the more appropriate "Harperland". Welcome fellow Harperlanders (it's OK you'll get used to it) to the first few days of a Harper Majority. Hold onto your hats, hide the silverware, and remember:         Take ^Notes.

 
       So, WELCOME TO HARPERLAND!

No, I haven't completely lost it, ( just yet) but I want it to be easy to keep this four and a half years separate from the first one hundred thirty four years of Canada's proud history, at least in people minds. I want everyone to know that this is ^NOT the Canada of Diefenbaker. This is not the Canada of; Pearson, Trudeau, Clark, Campbell, Mulroney, Chretien, Stanfield, Martin and this is not the Canada of the "Minority Harper Government".  No, this is a brand new entity. This is ^NOT Canada as I recognize it.

Neither am I suggesting that we forget the lessons learned during the Minority Harper Government, as it is obvious that these lessons were never really learned. The information is still there though, and even the over zealous Stephen Harper will ^NOT be able to hide it. He will however, double, re-double and again re-double his grip on Harperland and most of that in the next 100 days. I will be doing my best to chronical at least some of this huge undertaking.


The New Harperland cabinet was announced today, may 18, 2011, although a lot of it, was released last night, as harper was bursting at the seams like the suitcoat he bought last fall is now bursting at the seams, to get the Good News out there. (see the previous blog post, just below)

                         ~ The first Harperland Ubercabinet ~
        ~ A Photo-Opportunistic Adventure in Pomp & Metaphor ~ 

I have just got to admit that I see pure metaphor in the image behind this group of Harperland's Founders.  In this beautiful bewitching painting (see below for details) the local people are gathering, coming from all directions, from far and wide, their mouths agape, their innocent faces turned upward, on an up hill climb, staring awestruck at the huge figure of a big blue Bird, who is itself being seemingly adored by another closer, darker group. Am I reading too much into it? I sure hope so.

If you are new to this, start with this smaller group:

        So, Keep busy, Stay awake, Take notes, Hide the silverware. I'll be back!


But, Before I go, I want to reassure you that although I have no real faith in Harper or anyone in his cabinet, I am aware that there are still real heros in the world. And that brings me back full circle to the Painting behind the man behind the curtain!
(thanks to Karen C for the reminder)

This painting was done by a man who never set foot in Harper land. He spent his entire life as a Canadian and he was a beautiful Canadian. He was an amazing painter.

please have a look.


Seriously, I'll be back. thanks.

Does Your Member of Parliament Know Your Name?

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I keep hearing Concerned Canadians asking when the 'Opposition' is going to do something about this dismal Government.

First of all, ask yourself this: Have you asked the Opposition what they actually plan? It is obvious that most Canadians who are disillusioned with Harper do not blame his Government's persistence entirely on the opposition. Most of us believe that the opposition can simply pull the plug on this Government and most of us believe it is time to do so. Most of us it seems do not see that it is a difficult process to bring down a Government, especially when they employ Rovian tactics. What many of us also do not get is that we can help.

Get a hold of your local MP or the closest Opposition MP.  

Call, drop in or email them. I prefer to call on their constituency offices personally myself.
Also if you get a chance to drop in there regularly, so much the better.

Don't be shy.
Introduce yourself.
Find out when your Member of Parliament will be in and ask to see him.
Leave them with your email address.
Ask for theirs (The constituency office may have a different one than is listed on official sites.)
Grab a few business cards.
Leave your card.

Feel free to hang around. MPs offices are public Places.
They work for you, or should. 

It is amazing how many Canadians think that all they get to do is vote. You do not need to vote to be heard. You do need to speak up to be Heard!

Be Heard! If you are not a supporter of the Government you are already part of the Opposition.

Take this simple Simple test:

Does your MP know YOUR NAME?

TOOLS:

Find Contact Information for All Sitting MPs

Find your MPs Name and Information using your POSTAL CODE

Conctact the Liberal Party of Canada

Contact the  New Democratic Party of Canada

Contact the  Bloc Quebecois

Contact the  Green Party of Canada

Remember, you can also find out who in your riding represents the different parties through their local Riding Associations. Most ridings already have a full slate of candidates in place.

So, Does your MP know YOUR NAME?


I'd love to hear your story!

HARPER AND PUTIN ON THE FRITZ?

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Comparing Vladimir Putin and Steven Harper and all set to music too!

Quotes:
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Putin on size of Government:
"We don't need a weakened government but a strong government that would take responsibility for the rights of the individual and care for the society as a whole."


Harper: Sadly, I can not find a single quote that covers this. But this should help!
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Putin on Human Rights: "Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms."


Harper: "Human rights commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society... It is in fact totalitarianism. I find this is very scary stuff."
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Putin on History and Tradition: "We need to develop respect for our history, despite all of its flaws, and love for the Fatherland. We need to pay the utmost attention to our common moral values and consolidate Russian society on this basis. I think that this is an absolute priority."


Harper: "When I am through with Canada, you won’t recognize it"
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Putin: on Patriatism: "Russia is an ancient country with historical, profound traditions and a very powerful moral foundation. And this foundation is a love for the Motherland and patriotism. Patriotism in the best sense of that word. Incidentally, I think that to a certain extent, to a significant extent, this is also attributable to the American people."

Harper: "Whether Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion."
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Putin on social Development and the means to achieve it: "We still have a great amount of work to do in social development, including resolving one of the biggest challenges we face in this area, namely, reducing the gap between high-income earners and people, citizens of our country, who are still living on very modest means indeed. But we cannot, of course, adopt the solution used 80 years ago and simply confiscate the riches of some to redistribute among others. We will use completely different means to resolve this problem, namely, we will ensure good economic growth."


Harper: "Some basic facts about Canada that are relevant to my talk... Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it."



"In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."
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Putin on the Iraq War: "Russia does not want confrontation of any kind. And we will not take part in any kind of "holy alliance"."


Harper: "It [referring to calling a Minister "Idiot"] was probably not an appropriate term, but we support the war effort and believe we should be supporting our troops and our allies and be there with them doing everything necessary to win."
Montreal Gazette, April 2003

"We should have been there shoulder to shoulder with our allies. Our concern is the instability of our government as an ally. We are playing again with national and global security matters."*******************************


Putin on Democracy: "Russia has made its choice in favor of democracy. Fourteen years ago, independently, without any pressure from outside, it made that decision in the interests of itself and interests of its people.. of its citizens. This is our final choice, and we have no way back. There can be no return to what we used to have before."

Harper: "I think that I make the rules"
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Putin: "On BlueBerry Hill"


Now ~ same song Done Right:


Harper: Sweet Caroline


Now ~ same song Done Right!


So, whether you compare their unbelievable rhetoric, or their incredible willingness to share their musical inability with the world, they both come up a bit short.
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Well that was fun but Harper does not need to be compared to anyone to get the short end of the Stick. These Stand-Alone quotes by Harper are among the most revealing:

"I think in Atlantic Canada, because of what happened in the decades following Confederation, there is a culture of defeat that we have to overcome."

"If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away."

"If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people."

"On the justification for the war, it wasn't related to finding any particular weapon of mass destruction"

"Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage,” Harper said. “They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody".
-Stephen Harper, May 26, 2006 10:24 PM ET, CBC News


"There is a Canadian culture that is in some ways unique to Canada, but I don't think Canadian culture coincides neatly with borders."


"Universality has been severely reduced: it is virtually dead as a concept in most areas of public policy"


My Absolute Favorite All~Time Harper Quote:


"What Would Ya Do if I Sang Outta Tune?
Would Ya Stand up and Walk out on Me?"


In a heartbeat, Stephen, In a HeartBeat!!


p.s. At the Time of publication, Simon Cowell had yet to Comment!
But I suggest it might go something like this:

 
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