The Anth Zone

In electoral districts across the country that has elected a member of Liberals as their representative in the House of Commons is automatically the candidate for the party without facing an opposition to be the candidate in that district.

Recently there has been a discussion within the Fleetwood—Port Kell’s Federal Liberal Riding Association to approach the party’s leadership and propose an additional term to this particular current standing of the party to allow the past candidate to hold the candidacy for the upcoming elections if they were within 1,000 to 1,500 votes of the winning contestant. This way we as a party can evade episodes such as not having a candidate within three weeks for example, which happened in Fleetwood—Port Kells during the Winter Election. I believe this would benefit Fleetwood—Port Kells and other riding across the country who have came in as a close second for example, Brenda Locke by eight hundred and something votes.

I would like to hear your comments.

A private member’s bill to allow commissioners to refuse to wed same-sex couples has been blocked successfully in a provincial legislative assembly by the opposition in Alberta. The Liberal Party of Alberta has been accused for stalling the vote on the bill and has received strong words from both the Speaker of the House and Doctor Ted Morton. Morton is the Member who introduced the bill shared strong words about the Albertan Liberals:

“What goes around comes around,” he said.”The Liberals not only were irresponsible in blocking debate today, they were stupid, too.”

From: CBC Article, Alberta same-sex bill blocked by opposition

Dr. Morton plans to reintroduce the bill to the Albertan Legislature next spring in hopes that it’ll past. The Liberal house leader Laurie Blakeman denied the accusations for delaying the legislation, “I’m not going to accept arguments from Dr. Morton that he deserves special treatment to get his bill up and I’m frankly not going to accept that from the Speaker either.”

The Opposition and same-sex rights advocacy groups have stated that Dr. Morton’s bill is discriminatory it is on both sides. The battles have been fought on public television. I have heard both sides of the argument. I see the upsides and the downsides of both sides. I have heard the entire debate that the church and state are two separate entities in the democracy of Canada.

I do believe that same-sex couples should have the right to marriage, and members of the clergy or a member of a religious institution here in Canada should have the right to say no to wed two of the same sex due to their moral obligations that they have made to their higher being, however I do not believe civil commissioners who have legal means to perform marriage should not have the right to deny two people madly in love with one another regardless of same-sex. They are civic, public servants licensed by the provincial government.

Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc Québécois’ (BQ) Member of Parliament for Repentigny (QC) was killed in an automobile wreck earlier today. His vehicle struck a tow truck on the side of the road. The cause of the wreck has not been released. Monsieur Sauvageau served as the BQ’s transportation critic. Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe spoke fondly of his colleague on tour in Quebec City:

“He was respected not only in the sovereigntist [sic] camp but by his adversaries who always recognized him for his honesty and his determination.”

I do send my condolences to his family, friends, supporters and colleagues on his passing.

I have been looking into the results from the current past two elections. Sadly from looking over the results, it’s a Bloc stronghold and the only party to get votes over 10,000 is the Conservatives in the last election. There maybe gains when a byelection is called.

A friend and more importantly a fellow Liberal, The Northern Liberal has created a petition to be presented to the National Director and Party President to come to an agreement to lower the cost for party members to attend the convention as a delegate at the end of November - early December.

Sign the petition. Please.

http://www.petitiononline.com/libconve/petition.html

“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. History will remember Hezbollah as an organization that stood up to the most vile nation in human history.”

This is not a quote from a member of a notable organization that promotes Islamofascism such as Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Ahmadinejad’s Government of Iran, Taliban and/or the Muslim Brotherhood. This is an anti-Semitic statement released by a former high-ranking member of the Young Liberal Party of Canada in British Columbia (YLCBC) that has received mass attention within and out of the party in the media and leadership candidates such as Gerard Kennedy and Scott Brison.

The person who was quoted, his name is Thomas Hubert who holds a position on the YLCBC’s Executive as the Vice President for Communications who was seeded into the position by help by the majority of Kennedy supporters on the Exec. However, they have distance themselves because one of their own stated one of the most radical things that are unfavourable by party policies. I do hope that there is further disciplinary action as a result of this particular event.

I am quite disappointed in one Hubert stated at possibly the wrong time when the party is under fire in Ottawa due to an Liberal M.P. who was found saying to local newspapers that he believes that Hezbollah should be taken off of the government’s terrorists organizations list.

Bill Graham made it clear that the Liberal Party has and will continue to view Hezbollah as an organization dedicated to terrorizing the lives of not only Israelis but the Lebanese, which I applaud him for.

I am pretty sure a lot of people will put me under fire for my comments in speaking out against the violence between Hezbollah and Israel. Accuse me for taking sides with a terrorist’s organization. However, my main concern was not Hezbollah but the people of Lebanon that the bombs were being dropped on.

I was also outraged that Canadians have lost their lives and their families are in mourning but I have came to realize that there will always be collateral damage in armed conflicts around the world – from reading the casualties lists there were a lot of people who are believed killed from other nations around the world. I am regretfully sorry if you misunderstood my position, I was only looking out for the Lebanese that were in between the cross-fires of both sides.

I believe in a secured – Lebanon, Israel and an independent state of Palestine. Secured meaning that there are no organizations that inflict great pain and suffering in the forms of fear and terror. This is the only way that these three peoples could achieve peace and prosperous statehood forever.

Israel has broken the ceasefire agreement that was place into force last Monday after sending in Commandoes to raid Hezbollah strongholds in eastern Lebanon and blowing up a bridge, a preemptive attack. Mark Regev, spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the following in a news briefing, “If the Syrians and Iran continue to arm Hezbollah in violation of the [ceasefire] resolution, Israel is entitled to act to defend the principle of the arms embargo.”

In reality the Israelis are screaming out, “No ticket!” However, no Nazis were harmed or thrown out of a window of a Zeppelin or it would have been a great Indiana Jones film.

The Israeli Government was not willing to give Hezbollah the opportunity to disarm them selves since they were never given a chance. However it is highly unlikely that they would have thrown down their munitions and rifles to honour the UN Security Council Resolution since they are classified as a terrorist organization.

There is no news to provide clarification that the administration was distributing arms than clearly Hezbollah one who broke international law.

At least there is one Conservative M.P. that deserves my full respect when it comes to the issue of Same-Sex Marriage here in Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Halton, Ontario. His name is Garth Turner, and he’s a ‘Red Tory’. Though there are four other Conservative caucus members that support SSM, they are as followed: Jim Prentice, John Baird, James Moore, and Gerald Keddy. I am sure there are a few more in the ranks of the Conservative Party, however they are as not outspoken as these selective four.

He disagrees with his party on their stances on the issue of gay marriage and has been threatened multiple of times by the Christian Right in the Riding Association that he’ll be ejected from the Conservative’s candidacy in the rumoured fall election campaign. These are two memorable quotes from Canada.com’s article, Conservative MP facing possible challenge from anti-gay marriage candidate:

1. “Am I supposed to change my mind and all of a sudden hate homosexual people because I’m facing a challenge in my riding? Of course not, I’m not going to change.”2. “I’m still the member of Parliament, and I’m still going to do what I said I’m going to do. They’re not going to threaten me, they’re not going to intimidate me, they’re not going to scare me and my tail is not between my legs.”

In the first quote is why I appreciate this Conservative. He is no push-over. His refusal of the party’s guideline is astonishing. He’s foundation of belief in his political ideas should be encouraging to us all. He sticks to his word.

Even if turning against same sex marriage and gay rights would gain him more votes. He won’t because he’s right. People in this country have to understand that we are not a theocracy where the church/religion dictates social and economical equality.

Nor have they realized that our nation is based on fundamental values where every human being regardless of skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, age and et cetera are all equals. Canada is a nation where church and state are two separate entities. It was the right decision when the majority of parliamentary members voted in favour of C38 – Civil Marriage Act (Same-Sex Marriage Bill).

This also shows why it proves that our government is not overly influenced by Christian rights groups in the United States where a variety of social equality issues have been dismissed at the federal and state levels. A reason why I can say I am proud to be a Canadian. I heart the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Each time I quote it, a Conservative has a heart attack. God bless, Mr. Trudeau.

On to the second quote, Christian fundamentalists groups in the electoral district of Halton continuously harass Mr. Turner is the President of the Canada Christian College, Charles McVety. Mr. McVety said the following about my newfound hero, Garth:

“He has this disease called entitlement…where because he won a nomination meeting at one point in time, he’s now entitled to it, and if anyone even dare talk about challenging him, they have breached his entitlement.”

He is representing his constituents when he speaks in favour of support for same-sex marriage and yes, he is entitled to two things; to express his opinions, thought and the ability to choose who he associates with. He has another entitlement as the Member of Parliament, to overall to serve the interests of the entire constituency. Let’s look at the historical facts of the electoral district of Mr. Turners.

The riding has existed since Confederation and the majority of Members of Parliaments to represent it were members of Canada’s true party, the Liberals. Garth only one by over two thousand votes against incumbent Gary Carr.

If Garth Turner loses his candidacy for the next election, I do hope to see him cross the street and join where the real party is at. However, I do not know where Mr. Turner stands. So I don’t know if he’ll fit in comfortably.

The contest for Liberal leadership race has had its first dropper. Maurizio Bevilacqua is no longer a runner. He has declared his full support for Mr. Rae. Leaving only ten more able candidates in the running, however he is not the first to do so after John Godfrey picked up his hat from the racing circle back in April-May due to issues in relation to his family and health. Sadly, I never got the chance to meet Godfrey during his short lived race; however, I do hope to meet with him at the convention.

Let’s get back on track. I did have a great opportunity to meet with Maurizio when he was in town back at the end of May when he attended a Liberal gathering at a Bill Graham BBQ to fundraise to assist with ridings in British Columbia that need financial assistance to pay up their debt and place money in their war chest for the rumoured late summer – early fall election campaign. I told him that I had an acquaintance working for his Maritime campaign chair, Alain Bourgeois. Though, Alain was not around to comment.

I think Maurizio is an influential member of our party. However, I do hope that he receives a cabinet post when we are elected back into government. As most hopefuls, I hope it’s soon before Harper begins making bigger mistakes that threaten Canada’s reputation as an international cooperator. Oh, my bad. Placing too much faith into that man. He’s already made mistakes like that. However, that’s for another time.

I am sad to see his choice in supporting Bobby for Liberal Leader. I could give him forgiveness if he had chosen anyone except Rae and Ignatieff. If he chose, Dion – I would give him more praise that what he’s worth. Unfortunately that is not the case.

Israel has given into the ceasefire outlined by Resolution #1701 from the U.N. Security Council this Sunday following cooperation provided by Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. This armed conflict has left 1,020 Citizens dead, unconfirmed count. There were collateral casualties on both sides, Israeli and Lebanese. This armed conflict was a bloodbath in the Middle East, and I predict this won’t be the last and final battle between Israel and her bitter and sworn foes. Though, I do hope that this cessation does last for a long time and there is no more death in the region.

I have to make myself clear on my stance on this dying armed conflict. First of all, I do not support Hezbollah in any mean necessary; they are an organization that believes inflicting massive pain on their neighbours and terrorizing the streets of Lebanon. I do hope that that Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah immediately, however, if she cannot do it on her own, honest and trustworthy member-states of the UN should offer their complete assistance.

I do support existence of Israel; however, I believe that Israel should only have the land that was claimed in the UN General Assembly Resolution 181. As well, I do believe that Israel should have not bombed the entire Lebanese countryside in retaliation of the capture of their servicemen, they should of done it by other means besides negotiate with Hezbollah.

However, I do wish that they could create a provision of a declaration on the ceasefire that south of the Litani River in Lebanon will be declared dematerialized zone which would continue the primary objective of this clause to disallow paramilitaries such as Hezbollah to operate in that area of Lebanon, however it would fall into Lebanese jurisdiction and with cooperating with United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces in the area.

My negativity against Israel was the result of the death of eight Canadians throughout this armed conflict without issuing an apology to the public. However, if the Israeli Government did apologize to Stephen Harper and he did not release this statement – I will apologize to the Israeli government over my blog and have more of a reason to encourage distrust of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Fear: Terrorism. August 10, 2006 01:22 PM Democracies in Western Civilization have always used the essence of fear to make a political gain. In the past it has been used to execute the McCarthy Purges eloquently against the unseen threat of terrorism that placed fear in the American people that they would receive a subpoena to attend the hearing.

In today’s post-cold war modern world, politicians across the globe use the threat of terrorism to spite the nationals into fearing death in an attack on their home soil. In recent events over in the United Kingdom and here at home in Canada have seen fear being used as a tool. In the British Government overturned a leaf to discover an alleged bomb threat, an airliner.

Today, The Canadian Ministry of Transport boosts up security at airports for precaution. A tool used to stir fear in the hearts of the citizenry and visitors to our country. A precaution the government warrants. There are consequences of cause of effect in the report of an alleged bomb threat as it sent that British airliner’s stock into a descending tornado:

“Airline stocks fell sharply on world markets Thursday morning after the revelation of an alleged passenger jet bomb plot in the U.K. sent shock waves through the travel industry.”

CBC News Online, Alleged bomb plot in U.K. sends airline stocks down.

There is a real terrorist threat today, but only the government continues to like fear strive among the people.

I have been currently reading a book by Corey Robin, Fear: The History of a Political Idea. Corey Robin is a Associate Professor of the Political Science Faculty at the Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Fear: The History of a Political Idea to purchase at Chapters for $19.95.

I have been meaning to write one of these endorsement entries for a long length of time after accidentally deleting the Liberal Country after establishing, The Anth Zone to continue my political writings on the World Wide Web. I have been committed myself to this candidate long before they declared them self as a candidate in the Liberal leadership contest. I believe he is a rarity amongst the politicians: he’s a fair, kind and honest politician from Quebec and yes, a true gentleman (most women can argue that’s hard to come find these days, email me for my number).

I am sure that I have made it clear by now that I am supporting Stephane Dion that has been deeply entitled on this site, I am just procrastinating to write my endorsement announcement. Though, please not that I did make time in my busy schedule to get time off in the beginning of April to meet potential leaders of our fair and just party.

Let me list off a few: Belinda Stronach, Michael Ignatieff, Hedy Fry, and Maurizio Bevilacqua. Later on, I had the opportunity to meet the rest of the candidates like Scott Brison and Carolyn Bennett at Young Liberal’s Camp Wannabe Free up in Peachland, British Columbia.

Oh and Martha Hall Findlay if you accept a video cast that was brought to us by her son and by the way, I feel very attracted to this woman. Unfortunately she is married, poor choice, Anth. Why do I continue to refer myself in third person like Bob Dole? I support Dion because…

He is for a green sustainable economy for Canadians which will bring forth prosperity in marketplaces here at home and abroad, which will create more jobs for the growing CANADIAN working class.

He is for CLIMATE CHANGE. We as Canadians should be educated on the complications that polluting our planet will be harmful for our children and our children’s children.

He is for a STRONGLY UNITED CANADA.

He is our greatest chance in the name of federalism.

He is for our Canadian farmer’s and rural communities in providing financial assistance and promoting Canadian agricultural industries to encourage a strong economy.

He is for improving and bettering our HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

I support Stephane Dion to be our Leader of our Party and our Country because he’s the only best choice to repair the wrongdoings of the short-lived Conservative Government and allow Canadians to believe that good governance does exist in our nation.