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Harper denies aide leaked Obama document

ALEXANDER PANETTA

Canadian Press and Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 3:55 PM EST 04/03/08

Prime Minister says his government is trying to find the person responsible for leaking a memo that has embarrassed the Democratic candidate on eve of critical primary ...Read the full article

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  1. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: If this leak results in Hillary getting the Democratic nod, Harper should hunt down that aide and fire his a$$. That's all we need is Hillary as president. Obama is inexperienced, but at least he has a decent head on his shoulders. Hillary's intelligence has never been anything more than ordinary.
  2. Stan L from Canada writes: Just and observation.....it's funny how many news stories over hte past two years on here or in all other media have started with the phrase ....Prime Minister Stephen Harper denies.....
  3. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Harper Government penchant for leaking damaging info for political purposes has backfired badly this time. Live by the leak, die by the leak. Live by the smear, die by the smear. Dirty politics is the trademark of this government.
  4. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes:

    For sure chaney freedom watch spp stevie were not involved . stevie is sputtering and stuttering under Dion /Layton question period . Heaven forbid having to stand up and face Hilary or Obama . stevie you are such a wimp .
  5. Vern McPherson from writes: Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies Harper denies
  6. spicydoc reconstituted from broken parts, Canada writes:

    Rae is wrong when he claims Harper is trying to help the republicans.

    If anything Harper wants to help Hillary.
    Maybe Bill helped set up the leak...

    Harper and Hillory see eye to eye on almost everything, and I suspect they've already blue-printed plans for trade and GHG, etc.

    I bet doesn't care about the repubs--at this stage nobody (including the CPC) expects a republican victory.
  7. Jeremy K from vancouver canada, Canada writes: by meddling in partisan politics in a different country Harper has again embarassed Canada and once again gives us yet another reason to vote him out of office
  8. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: spicydoc reconstituted from broken parts, Canada writes:

    Rae is wrong when he claims Harper is trying to help the republicans.

    If anything Harper wants to help Hillary.
    Maybe Bill helped set up the leak...

    Harper and Hillory see eye to eye on almost everything, and I suspect they've already blue-printed plans for trade and GHG, etc.

    I bet doesn't care about the repubs--at this stage nobody (including the CPC) expects a republican victory.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 3:40 PM EST |

    freedom watch - the ten richest men in the world can grasp losing ?
  9. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: SpiceyDoc: Hope springs eternal.... Harper would still prefer a fellow conservative in power in Washington. McCain may have a slightly different playbook than the Bush Cheney gang, but they still speak the same language. You may be right that the republicans have no chance, but neither would Bush if it weren't for a little skulduggery and a little help from Ralphie Nader bleeding off just enough Dem. voters to win a couple of close states for Bush. (Ralphie is running again)
  10. Brian Dondo from Canada writes: 'But Mr. Harper denied U.S. reports that his chief of staff Ian Brodie was the person who transmitted details of a private meeting between Mr. Obama's economic adviser and a Canadian diplomat.'

    Right

    LIke ABC News had even HEARD of Ian Brodie before this happened.
  11. C A from Toronto, Canada writes: jesus christ.. i'm so tired of this crap. i'm sick of my tax dollars being spent on these stupid politicians having tiffs with eachother. they are like a bunch of school children... only i'd actually trust a school age child in office over these lying sons of irresponsible woman!
  12. Kathleen Degelder from Tacomawashington, Canada writes: It is getting nasty down here and up to Canada. Yikes!---Remember when Belinda Stronache defected from CPC to LPC for a cabinet position?----Also the head of the ethics committe happens to be a Liberal: Szabo.
  13. Vern McPherson from writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L you're pretty slow even for a lefty windbag.
    Make sure you donate to Iggy, Dion and Ralph (the mouth) Goodale. They are going to need every cent they can get.
    Libel and slander is not looked upon favorably by the courts. Now we get to play in my ballpark. Man are we going to have fun with you lefty weenies.

    ---------------------------------------------------------

    stevie better be ready to come clean on discovery ..............
  14. Uh Oh from Once a REFORMER....., Canada writes: Hey - How can you tell when Little Stevie Harper is lying?????

    HIS LIPS MOVE!

    Ha, ha, - oh, wait, this isn't funny - THIS IS REALITY!
  15. jamie yavis from Canada writes: Deny and blame, that seems to be what George Harper doses best!

    If I were him I would be on my knees right now praying that neither Obama or Clinton get in, either way its toast for Harpo.
  16. evelyn robinson from Canada writes: Kathleen; I remember how Harper enticed a newly elected Liberal/ Emerson 2 days after the election.
    We are still waiting to get our democratic vote here in Kingsway.
    Emerson hardly has any excuse of being disillusioned by a leader when a dcision is reached that easily and quickly. Then there is the unelected Fortier . Since then nothing but lies lies and more lies fro the Harper gang
  17. Uh Oh from Once a REFORMER....., Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes:
    '...The Dems are looking alot like Liberal clowns'

    Um, Rick, 'alot' is two words.
  18. John Connor from Canada writes: Vern McPherson from writes: stevie better be ready to come clean on discovery ..............

    That's a pretty big assumption of you Vern, that this could stand a snowball's hope of ever seeing the inside of a courtroom. Your precious Liberals will have toppled the Conservatives by then, and we will be emeshed in an election nobody wants. Thankfully, the Conservatives will destroy the left once and for all, and you will be treated to a RIGHTeous society for once.

    There will be bigger weiners on the fire at that point, like Dion, Iggy, and Dipper Bob.

    On a brighter note, have you lined up more slave labour for tonight's visitation by the snow gods..????

    TTFN
  19. David Cousins from Hamilton, Canada writes: The reason behind the leak is obvious to anyone who follows US politics. The Republicans want to run against Hilary, they know McCain can beat her. They want to get rid of Obama.........he's an unknown quantity who is popular even among moderate Republicans. See article below

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080304/NATION/326810167/1001

    I think the actions of Harper's government are shameful.......and no I'm not a Liberal, nor have I ever voted for them.
  20. David N from Toronto, Canada writes: It just gets worse every day for this fellow, doesn't it? And I'm loving it!
  21. Greg Calgary from Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: If this leak results in Hillary getting the Democratic nod, Harper should hunt down that aide and fire his a$$. That's all we need is Hillary as president. Obama is inexperienced, but at least he has a decent head on his shoulders. Hillary's intelligence has never been anything more than ordinary.
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Alistair, I agree with you but how good of a president would Obama make if if fact this was true.
  22. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L you're pretty slow even for a lefty windbag.

    Make sure you donate to Iggy, Dion and Ralph (the mouth) Goodale. They are going to need every cent they can get.

    Libel and slander is not looked upon favorably by the courts. Now we get to play in my ballpark. Man are we going to have fun with you lefty weenies.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 3:48 PM EST |

    Is there any limit to the number of times stevie can hide behind his office to stay out of the witness box ?
  23. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: More embarresment from this government, lol This will be the legacy left us after this mess of a government gets knocked out.
  24. Stan L from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L you're pretty slow even for a lefty windbag......Libel and slander is not looked upon favorably by the courts. Now we get to play in my ballpark. Man are we going to have fun with you lefty weenies.

    Rick, you are a troll and no matter how hard you cut it your boyfriend is a stain and nothing you can say will erase the fact that there is indeed a lot of stories in the media that begin with the words ,'Prime Minister Steven Harper denies.....', but I will give you this to chew on .....name the only prime minister that was forced to resign from his seat and lost the next election becuase of a bribery scandal?...Give up? It was John A MacDonald, our first Conservative Prime Minister......135 years later will the Conservative party let history repeat itself?

    And btw.....tell your boyfirend ggod luck with that libel suit....I notice it hasn't moved anywhere beyond the threat of a lawsuit level......childish.

    Getting back to the story, absolutely no doubt in my mind that this memo was leaked by the PMO.
  25. Rosco Pico Train from Canada writes: Harper can't find a way to move the CPC up the polls, so he decides to take on Obama, the most charismatic politician the U.S has seen since JFK.

    I can understand his reasoning though...if Obama wins how are Canadians going to feel with Harper, Baird and Kenney representing this country?

    If Obama wins tonight expect payback. Perhaps a speech which includes a mention of the tar sands in Alberta.
  26. Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? - I'm sure your post makes sence to someone out there.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
  27. Brian Dondo from Canada writes: Uh Oh from Once a REFORMER....., Canada writes: 'Hey - How can you tell when Little Stevie Harper is lying?????'

    he twiddles his thumbs
  28. Joshua Albert from Toronto, Canada writes: The lefties are just a bit shook up because the leading Demagogue (er Democrat) contender has been caught being what H.L. Mencken described as 'one who will preach doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots'. In case I need to spell it out, the recipients in this case are voters in Democratic primaries.

    Obama wasn't even smart enough to check around with his advisers before denying the meeting took place.
  29. Rosco Pico Train from Canada writes: Joshua Albert from Toronto, Canada writes: The lefties are just a bit shook up because the leading Demagogue (er Democrat) contender has been caught being what H.L. Mencken described as 'one who will preach doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots'. In case I need to spell it out, the recipients in this case are voters in Democratic primaries.

    Shouldn't you be out there looking for WMDs?
  30. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? - I'm sure your post makes sence to someone out there.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
    Posted 04/03/08 at 4:28 PM EST

    t h e s t e v i e w i m p h a s r e f u s e d t o a p p e a r i n c o u r t o n c e a l r e a d y t h i s t e r m . ( W i m p y e h ? )
  31. Rosco Pico Train from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes:

    Obama and Clinton lie to their faithful then send a flunky to Canada to let us know they are only kidding regarding NAFTA. Harper calls the lefty windbags on it to defend Canadain rights and the anti-Canadians howel.

    What do you mean Harper calls them on it? He's denying he did that you pathetic little puke...get your lies straight!!!
  32. Uh Oh from Once a REFORMER....., Canada writes:

    Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes:

    Um, Rick, 'Hahahahahahahahahahahaha' are MANY words - I guess it's true that Reformers are truly thick (as in dense), and are not quick to learn, hence the support of Little Stevie Harper.....oh well, maybe at some point you'll be moved off the fryer......good luck with that.
  33. Stan L from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L we are now in the year 2008, Liberals and their supporters are scum that disgust real Canadians.

    Speaking of disgust, I am offended that the Conservative Party thinks so little of the 4th estate that it sends out the village idiot to try and troll on their behalf.....
  34. Rosco Pico Train from Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L we are now in the year 2008, Liberals and their supporters are scum that disgust real Canadians.

    Speaking of disgust, I am offended that the Conservative Party thinks so little of the 4th estate that it sends out the village idiot to try and troll on their behalf.....

    They could at least give him his meds before they send him out
  35. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L you're pretty slow even for a lefty windbag.

    Make sure you donate to Iggy, Dion and Ralph (the mouth) Goodale. They are going to need every cent they can get.

    Libel and slander is not looked upon favorably by the courts. Now we get to play in my ballpark. Man are we going to have fun with you lefty weenies.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 3:48 PM EST |

    That was yesterdays blow hearted threat ricky . Did you not note that stevie the wimp blinked today ?
  36. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: Rick McNaulty from CalgaryOttawa, Canada writes: Stan L you're pretty slow even for a lefty windbag.

    Make sure you donate to Iggy, Dion and Ralph (the mouth) Goodale. They are going to need every cent they can get.

    Libel and slander is not looked upon favorably by the courts. Now we get to play in my ballpark. Man are we going to have fun with you lefty weenies.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 3:48 PM EST

    Rick - Dion has too much testosterone for your painted lady wimp stevie ?
  37. D R from Canada writes: Congratulations Prime Minister Harper. You've managed to undermine democracy in TWO countries! Care to stick your nose into the next British or Australian election to make it three?
  38. pik scott from Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Harper is a liar. If you Cons feel the need to continue to defend your Fuhrer why don't you join your ideological brethren to the south - and stay there---------------------------------------If you had one ounce of brain, you would know that the cons are a lot closer to the dems then the repubs and your nazi line is totally out of line.
  39. Joshua Albert from Toronto, Canada writes: Rosco Pico Train - if you could keep on topic you would have a greater chance at credibility (credibility in N-scale.)
  40. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: pik scott from Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Harper is a liar. If you Cons feel the need to continue to defend your Fuhrer why don't you join your ideological brethren to the south - and stay there---------------------------------------If you had one ounce of brain, you would know that the cons are a lot closer to the dems then the repubs and your nazi line is totally out of line.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 4:50 PM EST |

    State the lie and repeat it ? List policies to prove your point rick macnaulty clone .
  41. Robin M from Canada writes: check here:Hillary has a math problem http://www.newsweek.com/id/118240 and here: http://www.slate.com/features/delegatecounter/ and here: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1077592 and see following excerpt from op-ed in The New Republic blog this a.m. 'If this story is getting the kind of coverage in Ohio CNN is suggesting it is, it's hard to see how Obama makes up ground there today. P.S. On the call just now, a reporter asked about a report that the Clinton campaign had a similar conversation with Canadian officials about NAFTA. Spokesperson Phil Singer, who's got the NAFTA-gate portfolio, adamantly denied this. He said the campaign had freed Canadian officials from any confidentiality agreements, allowing them to come forward if they knew otherwise. To which my immediate reaction is: What is it with these Canadians? Are they running some sort of entrapment operation up there? Why do they keep trying to torpedo Democratic candidates? Update: I was in and out of the subsequent Obama campaign call, but campaign manager David Plouffe took 2-3 questions about this that I heard. The campaign's position is that Goolsbee was having a conversation with the Canadians in his capacity as an economics professor at the University of Chicago, not as a campaign adviser. Not sure how much to make of that distinction, but, if true, it could at least explain why the campaign initially denied the reports--they wouldn't necessarily have known about the meeting. --Noam Scheiber '
  42. Greg Calgary from Canada writes: J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Harper Government penchant for leaking damaging info for political purposes has backfired badly this time. Live by the leak, die by the leak. Live by the smear, die by the smear. Dirty politics is the trademark of this government.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I can't disagree but would add dirty politics is a trademark of most governments.
  43. does stevie blink at midnight phone calls ? Ahhhhhhhhh Leadership from Canada writes: pik scott from Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Harper is a liar. If you Cons feel the need to continue to defend your Fuhrer why don't you join your ideological brethren to the south - and stay there---------------------------------------If you had one ounce of brain, you would know that the cons are a lot closer to the dems then the repubs and your nazi line is totally out of line.
    Posted 04/03/08 at 4:50 PM EST |

    Hilary/ Obama will be in Iran when george / stevie roll in with our 500 bush supplied bunker buster bombs ?
    http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=149999&TICK=RTN&STORY=/www/story/11-14-2007/0004705438&EDATE=Nov 14, 2007
  44. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Harper's nose is growing. And he's wooden.
  45. Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: careful Catherine harper might sue you
  46. Vern McPherson from writes: As things are going there may not be a whale large enough to swallow stevoccio .............
  47. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Harper's nose is growing. He is wooden. And his strings are being pulled by Charles McVety.
  48. Ron White from Calgary, Canada writes: Many people on this site and in the USA seem not to understand the policies as perported by the CPC. If this party were to run in the USA, they would be much, much closer to the Democrats than the Republicans. While in Canada, the Cons maybe somewhat right wing, in the USA they would be centrist left.

    With respect to trade, the current Republican administration has done much to protect their industries, moreso than even the Democrat one that preceeded it.
  49. Joseph Sis from Ottawa, Canada writes: As if we needed more proof that Harper's government is anything more than a puppet of US evangelical and special interest groups...
  50. Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: When will it end? Every few days, Stephen Harper is found to be completely without integrity. How low can he get? He always tries to blame somebody else, if possible a Liberal. But with Mrs. Cadman, well, I wonder what made her change her mind. Maybe, he told her she would not be welcome in his caucus? Now, as Prime Minister, he did not know that 'somebody' from his office was visiting Chicago and trying to 'undo' Obama????

    ONLY UNINTELLIGENT PEROPLE SUPPORT HARPER.
  51. Joseph Sis from Ottawa, Canada writes: Comment to Let's be prudent from Toronto.

    It is unlikely that a Canadian diplomat leaked the document, Canadian diplomats are world class professionals, unlike Harper and his goons,starting with his foreign minister...these are no diplomats who do not understand the world any better than US right wing evangelicals...
  52. Let's Be Prudent from Toronto, Canada writes: I am ashamed and embarassed for Canada. How is it that a person has a meeting with a Canadian diplomat and then the memo from that meeting is all over the front pages of two nations? How many people will trust a Canadian diplomat's words that a meeting is 'confidential'? Clearly, the memo was not leaked by the consulate in Chicago; no diplomat (or even a clerk in the telecommunications room ) would leak such a memo;they would never get another international posting. It would have been sent 'For Minister's Eyes Only' so the question is whether Minister Bernier or the PM authorized the leaking. One final thing; I notice PM Harper is denying that Ian Brodie actually leaked the memo. Perhaps Brodie's secretary actually put it in the brown envelope; the question is whether Ian Brodie BENEFICIALLY leaked the memo and with the approval of what other persons? If Senator Obama is the next president, will he be able to trust PM Harper, given the output of this Chicago meeting was used to 'shop' him? Will we be first or 15th on Obama's visit list? Even Burkino Faso does a better job on keeping sensitive documents confidential!! I hope that Obama's theology as a Christian stresses 'forgiveness' rather than the 'vengeance and nastiness' that regrettably appears to be on display in Ottawa.
  53. siren call from Canada writes:
    Harper has, and continues to be, nothing but a monumental embarrassment on the international scene.

    In this contest, Obama is so much the better man, even stone cold Simple Steve knows it.

    While Obama talks of hope and room for people to change their government, Harper is left holding his bitter hand of hatred and fear.

    Of course stone cold Steve is trying to tear down Obama.
  54. William Ross from Victoria BC, Canada writes: Good Grief! There actually people buying into this. First point under no circumstance would Harper have anything to do with this as it only adds ammunition to his adversaries and anyone who actually thinks otherwise is painfully naive about politics. Actually Stevie Blink from above came very close to the crucial fact here. No way what has really happened is that someone (more than likely either someone close but not on the actual team of etiher McCain or Hillary) had something to do with this as they are the only ones that gain from this!
  55. Go Oilers Go! from Canada writes: Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes:

    'When will it end? Every few days, Stephen Harper is found to be completely without integrity. How low can he get?'

    Take a look at Chretien. He makes Harper look like Mother Theresa and he lasted 11 years. Only 9 more to go Yvonne.

    'ONLY UNINTELLIGENT PEROPLE SUPPORT HARPER.'

    Riiiiggghhht. As opposed to intelligent people supporting whom? Dion and the Liberals? Man I can't even type that without laughing.

    Here's a hint Yvonne...just because you think you are intelligent doesn't make it so.

    Have fun hating on Harper. The more you, Vern, Catherine and the rest of the Liberal hacks bust a vein complaining about Harper the happier I am.

    It's free entertainment watching you clowns flop around and complain about all the things the Liberals did while in gov't.

    Nothing the CPC has done or even been accused of holds a candle to the Liberals.

    Just a bunch of whiners who can't figure out everyone in the country save the GTA hates your party's guts.

  56. R L from Canada writes: Divide & Conquer, this is the favoured NeoCon tactic of Sick Harper.

    Now he has even brought it south to interfere with another country's democratic process.

    The people of USA should know that the vast majority of Canadians despise Harper and despise everything about the HarperCons.
  57. R L from Canada writes: Harper's next move... I'll SUE YOU!
  58. siren call from Canada writes: Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, But with Mrs. Cadman, well, I wonder what made her change her mind.
    .........................

    Stone cold simple Steve probably threatened to sue her.

    Seems to be what he does best.

    How many cases does Harper have in court?
  59. Go Oilers Go! from Canada writes: R L from Canada writes: 'Divide & Conquer, this is the favoured NeoCon tactic of Sick Harper.'

    Correction that tactic was perfected by the Liberals.

    Since they had no policy to run on for a decade or so they relied on simply talking about 'hidden agendas'. No details...just fear mongering and scare tactics that were lapped up by Canadians in central Canada.

    When trolling for votes in the '06 election the Liberals resorted to one of their favourite stump slogans of running down Albertans.

    Nothing highlights divide and conquer quite as well as Paul Martin smiling and clapping while that smuck Buzz feeds the rally with rhetoric that 'Albertan' values are not 'Canadian' values.

    As usual the Liberal Party suffers from hypocritical delusions.

    They run around saying they are the only party that can keep Canada united.

    In reality they are the only party that will split this country up.
  60. Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary, Canada writes: The GG of Canada (the CBC hostess) should make the motion to dissolve the Liebrano Party of Canada as the Official Opposition.

    They have negelected their duty as MPS even on the first day back from a 6 week vacation XMAS they were only 32 members for Christs sake. OHHH I should say Ala in the case of the Liebranos.

    It must suck to be a Liebrano these days.
  61. R L from Canada writes: 'How many cases does Harper have in court?'

    Well there were the ones with the Premier of Saskatchewan, the Premier of Nova Scotia, and Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador.

    Stephen Harper's response after breaking promises to the provinces... I'll SUE YOU!
  62. James Tod from Vancouver, Canada writes: In the wake of the recent and devistating damage to Harper's reputation and the Conservative Party, how can we believe what the PM is saying about these allegations with Obama? There's just no credibility in my opinion.

    I think Dion now needs to quickly move forward and put his policies and personality front and centre. If Dion can show leadership in pulling his party together, I think we will have a competitive election. Otherwise it is going to be more years of Harper and his shenanigans.
  63. siren call from Canada writes: Go Oilers Go!

    Say what you will about the Liberals. They have been the government of this country for the majority of time we have been a country, so there's plenty of good and ill to be said.

    But they never embarrassed us on the international stage the way Harper has.

    Harper cozied up to Blair, Bush and Howard. And only those 3, when anyone could see they were dead enders.

    From his ridiculous stance on Israel pounding the living he11 out of Lebanon to selling off our embassies in London, Rome and Paris -- the guy is a complete and utter international horror.
  64. R L from Canada writes: But of course, Stephen Harper 'can't discuss any matter that is presently before the courts.'
  65. edward prior from Montreal, Canada writes: There is a lot of print here but the ultimate response is: Of Course he does; what would one expect???
  66. siren call from Canada writes: R L from Canada writes: But of course, Stephen Harper 'can't discuss any matter that is presently before the courts.'
    ...................

    Which is, I think, exactly why 'So, sue me -- no wait, I'll sue you' is his preferred tactic.
  67. edward prior from Montreal, Canada writes: And if anyone in the US actually followed Canadian politics or what Canadian politicians say ( except, unfortunately for a good friend in SF - where else) then they are more likely to say: whoa... he supports Clinton, therefore, I SHOULD support Obama. As if Harper would ever accept a woman as his equal....no, sorry...make that...ANYONE...as His equal.
  68. R L from Canada writes: The GG of Canada should make a motion to dissolve the minority government of the HarperCon Party of Canada, aka the Bribery Party of Canada, aka the Torture Party of Canada, otherwise known simply as the 'Regressives'.

    They have run the most secretive government in history, blocks the flow of information to Canadians, blacks out all documents, and insists on running as if they have a majority government (every Harpo motion must be a confidence motion, with no room for compromise) for which they have no mandate from the electorate.
  69. garlick toast from Canada writes: the future president of the u.s.a. reached out to reassure an ally and got made a fool of.how's that going to effect his regard for our country?
    mccain has a better chance of beating clinton and if he loses,clinton owes harper for sandbagging obama.
    now all harper has to do is find someone to hang out to dry.he seems to like women for that function.
  70. Go Oilers Go! from Canada writes: R L from Canada writes: The GG of Canada should make a motion to dissolve the minority government of the HarperCon Party of Canada, aka the Bribery Party of Canada, aka the Torture Party of Canada, otherwise known simply as the 'Regressives'. Your post is comical. The Bribery Party of Canada name is already used up. The Liberals signed it out when they bribed Stronach to cross the floor with a Minister's portfolio. Then they were offering Senate seats in exchange for votes. The allegations against the CPC are that Mr. Cadman would receive the exact same compensation if Martin's gov't was defeated as he would have if they weren't. Oooooohhhhh....what a conspiracy. They are alleged to have bribed Cadman by offering him nothing more than what he would get if Martin's gov't didn't fall. The Torture Party name is also already signed out by the Liberals. In case you missed the memo the Afghan detainee transfer agreement was signed and approved by Paul Martin and Bill Graham....Liberals. If the Liberals don't agree with the confidence motions vote against them. It's that simple. The popular vote the CPC received last election is the same as for one of Chretien's majorities. Spare us your drivel about not having mandates.
  71. The Bell Curve from Canada writes: I'd like to know who leaked the memo and why. Anyone?
  72. W M from Canada writes: There are only two options, the government is lying to help Obama's Republican rivals, or they have abused a discussion they asked for in confidence in an effort to discredit Obama. Either way it is blatant meddling in another countries internal politics, which goes far beyond anything that Canada has ever done in the US (or anything the US has ever done in Canada). How ironic that Harper used to complain ad nauseum about Jean Chretien's lack of judgement. Chretien, too, was often a classless pit bull, who sometimes seemed incapable of toning down his (hyper)partisanship, but the this goes FAR beyond anything Chretien ever did. Moreover, this meddling is consistent with the highly partisan (highly undiplomatic) speach Harper made to the Australian parliament just before Australia's last election. Harper's ally lost anyway and it has certainly not earned Canada any brownie points with Australia's new government, either. Harper is now in full scale damage control, but it is hard to understand why ABC would lie about the identity of the leaker. I wonder who Harper will try to blame this blunder on - at the very least, he is likely to look for a scapegoat in the full time public service, but don't be surprised if he tries to insinuate that it was actually "a Liberal plot".
  73. Go Oilers Go! from Canada writes: siren call from Canada writes: 'But they never embarrassed us on the international stage the way Harper has.' Sorry but I disagree; they were nothing but embarrassments on the international stage. Jean Chretien stepping off a plane to represent Canada was embarrassing enough. Or maybe you forgot thought Carolyn Parrish stomping on a doll of the US President was cute. Or signing an international agreement on climate change and lying to the world that they would do something regarding climate change is a source of pride. If you want to believe LPC drivel go right ahead. Harper 'cozied' up to Blair, Bush and Howard? Working with the leaders of the Britain, US and Australia is embarrassing? You're kidding right? I suppose you prefer thumbing our noses at our largest trading partner, jumping on dolls or hanging out with leaders of communist Cuba instead. Each to their own I guess. Ridiculous stance on Israel? Sorry but the only thing that I was embarrassed about was seeing Dennis Coderre marching with a bunch of Hezbollah supporters advocating Israel be wiped off the mat. I guess you support rockets being launched into the middle of cities and buses being blown up by suicide bombers are means of negotiating. Selling embassies is an international embarrassment? Are you serious?
  74. siren call from Canada writes: The Bell Curve from Canada writes: I'd like to know who leaked the memo and why. Anyone?
    ...................................

    I think the "why" is pretty clear.

    Obama has a message of hope, an idea that ordinary citizens can have a say in their government.

    Harper, armed only with the politics of hatred and fear, wants to quash that message.

    Harper is a neo-conservative with an agenda of continental integration. He seems to think that either Clinton or McCain would be better partners for that project.

    As for "who" leaked the memo. Who has no time for Canada's foreign affairs department? Who understands virtually nada about international affairs?

    Harper was giddy and smug when taking Layton's question on this issue. Frankly, I think it was all he could do not to leap up and take credit for leaking a memo that does in fact seem to be hurting its target, Obama.
  75. siren call from Canada writes: Go Oilers Go! -- sorry, we disagree.

    Harper cozied up to only those 3 and at the G8 ignored the more reasonable members who wanted to put forward a motion that Israel stop bombing Lebanon's infrastructure.

    At the UN and recently in Bali, Harper aligned with the US, China and India.

    And yes, selling our diplomatic capital in European cities is serious.

    As is meddling in the historic US election.

    If Harper's subservience to the US is so effective, why are we back in the softwood lumber court?
  76. frederick duquette from Canada writes: Few in the U.S. are concerned about this issue as it pertains to Canada. Tearing up NAFTA is code for Mexico-U.S. economic relationship, immigration etc. Note that an Obama aide did not visit the Mexican consulate with similar assurances. I mentioned this issue to a Democrat friend of mine who is casting a vote in the primary today...the response: "What does this have to do with Canada?" If there are job loss concerns, the finger is pointed south of the Rio Grande.
  77. garlick toast from Canada writes: ontario's in the crapper and flaherty flips them the bird.now harper's putting the boots to nafta.what gives? does he have a plan?will he sue me for posting questions?
  78. Paul Byer from Canada writes: Seems to me this is more about the deception of the American public and an attack on Canada at the same time, in the name of politics. However, this point seems to be totally missed and accepted in some arenas.
    The same arenas that attempt to justify the corrupted government that Canada finally voted out. And this is sold as change?
  79. the catholic church from Purgatory, Canada writes: Go Oilers Go! from Canada writes: Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes:
    ...
    Just a bunch of whiners who can't figure out everyone in the country save the GTA hates your party's guts.
    ...

    You seem to be demonstrating the same critical flaw yourself. Only Albertans, the BC Bible belt, and a few stray Ontarians would agree with you. According to your logic, Harper and his Con cronies should have an 85% approval rating (GTA ~5M, Canada in total ~33M) . Your ethno-centric viewpoint is uneducated and presumptive to the extreme.
  80. Bill Harrison from Canada writes: For all those crying about Harper supposedly involving himself in the American election, I wonder if the same bloggers, had they been around in 1963, would have been equally vehement toward the American president who involved himself in the Canadian election?
  81. garlick toast from Canada writes: yes,i'd say those two examples are about equal albeit one was forty-five years ago.then there was the a.m.a. which campaigned heavily in canada against medicare.
    as a bully,harper should know you don't go up against someone ten times your size.
  82. Canada First and Always from Canada writes: I'm feeding Little Stevie Blunder some more rope - give him enough and you know the rest. This jerk's a total embarassment. Perhaps the 65% of voting Canadians who really don't like this little boy should get together and take a Class Action suit against him for wasting our time and money, and for lack of governance and for the CONSTANT international embarassment he continues to heap on us - it seems that's the only language he understands and, like the surly little child he is, that tends to be his first response to anyone who disagrees with him.

    No one need do anything - this twerp will self-destruct.
  83. Mister G. from Canada writes: Everythin is always Harper's fault, blha blha blha whinne whinne whinne.

    All you people can do is swing mod and unfortunatly for you, nothing stiks.

    Why won't the slimy-whimp bring down the government?

    Cowards.
  84. P Martin from St. John's, NL, Canada writes: Whether or not Harper may have had anything to do with this, through his aide, is only part of the problem. The response by Harper about what he will do is pathetic. There are only a couple of people that could have leaked this...and it should be possible, given our government's lack of morals to figure it out. I wonder which patsy they will eventually sell down the river to cover this up.
  85. Dik Coates from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Find out who leaked it and fire him/her.
  86. garlick toast from Canada writes: o.k. i admit it. i'm a ''mod swinger''. groovy
  87. Vickky Angstrom from Canada writes: Another month -- another international embarrassment. If it is not Baird going to a cocktail party in Bali instead of a crucial meeting, it is Harper supporting the Republicans (maybe he thinks he is actually American???).

    Can't grasp the separation of church and state, writes and distributes entire booklets on how to block the government from working, and now, meddles in the affairs of the most dangerous nation on earth at a time when their democracy is already super fragile...

    Resign Stephen -- because the world needs more Canada - and you ain't it.
  88. siren call from Canada writes: garlick toast from Canada writes: o.k. i admit it. i'm a ''mod swinger''. groovy
    ..........................

    Peace, man.
  89. garlick toast from Canada writes: siren call from Canada writes: garlick toast from Canada writes: o.k. i admit it. i'm a ''mod swinger''. groovy
    ..........................

    Peace, man.

    .....................................

    outa sight
  90. scott thomas from Canada writes: Did Harper's aide "mis-speak"? Wait! Will I be sued for this comment? Un-do! Un-do!
  91. gene eng from Markham, Canada writes: I heard that some Washington Post reporters are digging up some dirt.

    Looks like the leak did help Clinton tonight in Ohio. This is for real.

    Not even Canadians know who Ian Brodie is, and his name is in US papers tagged with this leak. Hmmm, very interesting.
  92. gene eng from Markham, Canada writes: They are busy looking for a Liberal-appointed civil servant to blame.
  93. garlick toast from Canada writes: someone's getting fitted for the frame-up.
  94. Pablo W from Canada writes: Just wait till he accepts responsibility for something, we will all be amazed. It may be that he forgot to deni.
  95. 4Cryin Outloud from Canada writes: From the article: “The leak of this particular document is not only regrettable, as the Canadian embassy in the United States as already said, it's completely unacceptable to this government, and we will find out –we will do our best to find out who did it.”

    Echoes of Turd Blossom and Bush over the Plame leak. Harper emulates at every turn.
  96. Miles Lunn from Toronto, Canada writes: Even as a Liberal supporter, it is not as though the Liberals haven't been open about wanting to see the Republicans to lose so as far damaging relations with the United States, that is kind of rich considering relations with the US have generally been poor under the Liberals. Now quite frankly, although I want the Democrats to win, I think we need to distance ourselves from the United States whoever wins. Yes we shouldn't meddle in their elections, but that goes for both sides.
  97. I R from White Rock, BC, Canada writes: I think Mr. Rae has lost it. Negative campaigning to win a seat. I hope he reaps what he has sown. I also hope Mr. Dion distances himself and LPC from Rae.
  98. Brian Colby from Canada writes: A demonstration that these clowns are more occupied with T&A in Canadian movies than affairs of state. Choose from incompetence, negligence or malice...this government is rife with them all.