So prophetic, so appropriate.

"Once the toothpaste is out of the tube it's going to be very hard to get it back in." - H.R."Bob" Haldeman

That is a Watergate reference.

Stephen Harper - ever the opportunist and at times, plagiarizer - deployed that quote when describing the political situation in Egypt during the Arab Spring when Mubarak stepped down, throwing his authoritarian regime into a tailspin.

We are reminded these days by the spectacle unfolding in the Senate and in the House of Commons, with regard to allegations of criminal fraud, corruption, collusion and subversion of the Parliamentary process, how perfectly appropriate that analogy is.

And we salute Corporal Greg Horton, one brave individual RCMP officer who has rigorously pursued this criminal investigation, interviewing many hostile or fearful people, and finally, sifting through hundreds of documents and an ocean-sized cesspool of obfuscations to shine the light of justice upon some very ugly CPC machinations.

At this point, some in the media are playing it coy, aware that the teflon-coated Harper may yet walk away unbesmirched by the volcanic eruption of shit his Con government has produced.

How CONvenient!

The trial for Harper adviser Bruce Carson was set to resume in late October.  Following the RCMP investigation into Carson's actions while he worked in the PMO,  he was charged with fraud on the government, also known as influence peddling.

Is anybody in the Canadian media shocked to hear that it's been delayed to July 2013?  StunTV?  Anyone?

APTN is certainly not surprised by this delaying tactic.  Their investigative journalists have been on this most news-worthy story like velcro since the first stench of unethical dealings and insider contacts emerged from Carson's dealings. 

One hopes this trial clearly exposes PMSHithead and his Con Politburo's ongoing cosy connections with corporate lobbyists, with crooks and possibly, with organized crime.  

Grand merci to Dred Tory for the update. The picture of Bruce Carson was found here.

Best stocking stuffer evah!

Behold the Stephen Harper wood dildo.

Available here.

Another kind of PMSHithead gift item, here.

Making Sense of Libya (and making fun of wannabe despots)

I spent yesterday glued to sweetie's computer, watching developments in Libya on Twitter and livestreams.

In particular, it was amusing to watch pendants pull screeching 180s on their positions. From 'It's a US-European colonial war' to "Thank gord for NATO'. From 'It's a civil, tribal war' to 'It's a popular uprising by an oppressed people'. From 'It'll be a long bloody struggle' to 'The revolutionaries are meeting no resistance'.

Anyway, there was and still is a ton of bullshit being spoken, written, and tweeted about it, most of it splendidly kicked to the curb by Juan Cole in Top Ten Myths about the Libya War, a blogpost from today.

The Libyan Revolution has largely succeeded, and this is a moment of celebration, not only for Libyans but for a youth generation in the Arab world that has pursued a political opening across the region. The secret of the uprising’s final days of success lay in a popular revolt in the working-class districts of the capital, which did most of the hard work of throwing off the rule of secret police and military cliques. It succeeded so well that when revolutionary brigades entered the city from the west, many encountered little or no resistance, and they walked right into the center of the capital. Muammar Qaddafi was in hiding as I went to press, and three of his sons were in custody. Saif al-Islam Qaddafi had apparently been the de facto ruler of the country in recent years, so his capture signaled a checkmate. (Checkmate is a corruption of the Persian “shah maat,” the “king is confounded,” since chess came west from India via Iran). Checkmate.

Then there's this one from him yesterday.

As dawn broke Sunday in Libya, revolutionaries were telling Aljazeera Arabic that much of the capital was being taken over by supporters of the February 17 Youth revolt. Some areas, such as the suburb of Tajoura to the east and districts in the eastrn part of the city such as Suq al-Juma, Arada, the Mitiga airport, Ben Ashour, Fashloum, and Dahra, were in whole or in part under the control of the revolutionaries.

Those who were expecting a long, hard slog of fighters from the Western Mountain region and from Misrata toward the capital over-estimated dictator Muammar Qaddafi’s popularity in his own capital, and did not reckon with the severe shortages of ammunition and fuel afflicting his demoralized security forces, whether the regular army or mercenaries. Nor did they take into account the steady NATO attrition of his armor and other heavy weapons.

This development, with the capital creating its own nationalist mythos of revolutionary participation, is the very best thing that could have happened.

If you read only one (or two things) about yesterday's extraordinary events, read one of these.

After all, Cole has been speaking sense on the 'Middle East' for so long that George W. Bush tried to get the CIA to discredit him. (And of course you can follow him on Twitter.)

I'm still decompressing, but I admit I'm absurdly elated at the thought of all the world's despots and wannabe despots crapping their pants.

Oh jeez, look. There's an opening for a cheap shot at our own wannabe despot.

Hey, whaddaya expect? DJ! lives for the cheap shots.

To know him is to . . . laugh at him

If you're not on Twitter you may have missed this bit of fun. Someone posted a machine translation of an incident involving PMShithead and the president of Brazil.

And a bathroom.

Canadian Prime Minister goes to the bathroom and back with only requirement met

The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, has caused constraints in Brazilian diplomacy on Monday, demanding a change in the ceremony and only go to the salon for lunch with the President after Rousseff met.

The speeches and toasts are common in this type of event can be both before and after lunch. Dilma prefers it that later, but Harper made sure they were done before the guests start eating at the meeting yesterday.

He had already angered aides and diplomats at the presidential palace, telling reporters that Canadians speak there, breaking the rule that such interviews always occur in the Foreign Ministry.

As the Brazilian side denied the request, Harper has reached the Foreign Ministry, for lunch, showing bad temper and demanding the reversal of the freebies. Then locked himself in a private Minister Antonio Patriota, while waiting for an answer.

Stunned, Brazilian diplomats did not know what to do if you meet a desire of the Brazilian President or surrendered to the whim of the Canadian visitors.

Only when we have confirmed that he would be met is that Harper went to Brasilia room where the banquet took place, with palm heart salad, guinea hen and "pineapple delight". Toasts are made with wines.

A less amusing but not substantially different translation is provided here.

Yes. Our PM actually had a snit and locked himself in a bathroom. While on a state visit.

So, the officials were obviously pissed, but what did the 73 commenters on the story have to say?

Here at DJ! we live to serve, so we ran some likely looking comments -- for example, with 'infantilidade' in them (which means about what you'd expect) -- through the translator.

Here's a sampling:

But that arrogant foreigner, desinteligente. In the other house elegance recommends that one should submit to the host. Come so far to shame here, the hope is to forget the path that does not return soon. And if you do, it is with a position of ruler of the 1st world. You know that song poor, the Naiara Azevedo; ecomendar it would be for her a song response to this bumbler.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS Greasy satisfy the request, should have given the toilet DISCHARGE AND HAVE LET HIM DOWN TO THE PLACE.

Here in Brazil things are kids do not want to take medicine when they lock themselves in the bathroom.

He left the bathroom after it was taken care of? But what is it? The illustration of the Brazilian populace to know: This is cag ... ing and walking to Brazil, literally ahahhahahahahahah

Should it be with diarrhea and invented this excuse to relieve themselves.

Someone in government had to have taken a more energetic attitude in this case. Should take the pink bunny doll, and put him jolhos in maize.

But just what was missing was this ... Our president has even muitaaaa patience, I would put to wash dishes. Now let the fresh man!

The next one is gonna leave, er, a mark.

Hahaha ... It is not the first time that this guy runs to the bathroom in meeting offices. In April 2009 he appeared in a photo go because G20 was in the bathroom. This news came on the BBC and The Telegraph ...

The next commenter has taken the measure of the man.

Lets get this straight: the visitor arrives at the host and gently before being subjected to the customs of the recipient well, require its rules in the most awkward possible. Therefore, these facts lead me to suppose that the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, besides acting as a spoiled brat, is a tremendous rude, arrogant, rude and their attitude, therefore, should shame the great people of Canada. Would have done a favor if you had not come. Get out of here.

As does this one:

THAT'S WHAT MAKES A PRESIDENT VISITS CHOOSING NOT DILMA. MARKING LUNCH WITH AMATEUR WORLD THAT THINK FIRST. PAPER Kid A LACK OF RESPECT TO THE WOMAN IS A NATION. On the other hand is very weak CEREMONIAL WHY SHOULD HAVE NEVER MET AN APPLICATION whim, HE WANTED TO SHOW POWER. FAILED The ceremonial.

And some good advice for presidential hosts and parents everywhere:

They should have left him there and followed with other affairs of state.

And now, my fave.

Spoiled ... fresh in the Portuguese right. I know not, but the world is in the hands of people at this level. Or is this a nerd or the arrogance of Obama. Now, let's see, what did we come to Canada? Salmon, tuna, train ... my! In fact, he is the face of MAD, remember?

This is how our PMShithead appears to Brazilians.



Gratifying, isn't it?

ADDED: The MSM is on it!

ADDED: More MSM. Everybody loves a bathroom story.

ADDED: Even the Washington Post loves a bathroom story!

UPDATE: At last look (couple of hours ago), there were more than 330 comments at the original Portuguese story. When time allows, I'll run some more through the translating machine.

Stevie: Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Over at Strategery! The tactical brilliance of Stephen Harper, C.C. lists those Blogging Tardies who are licking one another all over in a paroxysm of ecstatic relief that (less-popular-than-fried-onion-ring) Leader has turned his cylon gaze back to Parliament.

Meanwhile, Montreal Simon spanks and flogs Stevie teh Spiteful in public, marvelously.

Valentine's Day is approaching. May I remind you all about this brilliant idea, following up on the momentum of the Pro-Democracy Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament rallies.

And. Also. Our very own DAMMIT JANET! notion for curing what ails the Lardy Leader of the ReformaTories.

This is an effigy. Make it as minuscule as its subject deserves or as bloated as your penetrative tool of choice allows. Have fun.

Showing the Pink.

Now, now. Keep those minds out of the gutter.

The women of DAMMIT JANET! are proud members of the constituency Stevie has labeled "left-wing fringe", along with francophones living outside the province of Québec and - of course! - gay and lesbian equal rights-seeking organizations. That's quite a number of citizens the future 'former prime minister' has managed to offend in one go.

Isn't it interesting how progressives get labeled that way, more proof the ReformaTories are no longer even pretending to court our votes. Add up all those so-called "special interests" and "left-wing fringe" groups and you've got a considerable number of Canadian electors riled up at you and your party, Stevie. A majority of them, I'd say.

And though rightwing lunatic fringe groups might whip up the fury and the fear once more on your behalf, Stevie, I'm predicting they won't. In your desperate attempt to re-brand yourself as some sham 'conservative moderate', you didn't deliver the goodies you promised to your fundamentalist religious base.

So fuck you, Stevie. And fuck your blue-boy sweater. Look for me at election time. I'll be one of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of women flaunting a pink T-shirt. I won't be voting for you. I'll be voting for a party that will cure this country of the Con curse and pestilence.

The money raised by T-shirt sales should be channeled towards the organizations whose core funding you slashed when you savaged Status of Women Canada, that bone you threw to R.E.A.L. women.

The photo of a sculpture by Kate Carr is from this website.

Stevie: Ooops, I did it again.

Get the man a Timex, for crying out loud! From here:

As leaders of the industrialized world lined up for their 'family' photo today, they were once again, waiting for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to show up and take his place with the group.

His late arrival at the London G20 photo op in April had prompted jokes about his having been in the "loo." This morning, the Canadian prime minister finally arrived well after U.S. President Barack Obama jogged into his spot.

Harper's colleagues giggled, as some in the waiting crowd called out "Harper? Harper? Where's Harper?"

Afterthought: It wouldn't hurt for him to add a little fiber to his diet, either. Just saying.

Fiber ... FIBER!!! I said fiber, Dimitri.

A picture that is well worth 1000 words, squared.

A friend showed me this photo that she stored on her cell phone.

It made me laugh.

The challenge: Give us a caption for this photo. It shouldn't take anywhere near 1000 words. Don't worry, be pithy.

How Stevie and his RepubliCons celebrate IWD.

Notice has been served to the United Nations, in the form of an intent to file a formal complaint regarding the removal of remove the right of public sector workers to file pay equity complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

"We just heard Helena Guergis speak to the UN Committee of the Status ofWomen, touting the Harper government's supposed record on women's rights. It's appalling that she would set foot on an international stage to make claims about women's equality while the government is in the midst of implementing policies that are trampling women's equality rights at home," said Patty Ducharme, PSAC's National Executive Vice President. The signatories to the "notice of communication" will work together in the coming weeks to formalize their complaint and submit it to the United Nations. "We will not sit back and watch as our government retreats from its international obligations and undermines women's equality rights," said Robyn Benson, Regional Executive Vice-President, responsible for women's issues at PSAC.

More information about how the bill introduced and passed by Stevie's RepubliCon government represents a systemic attack against women’s equality rights can be found in this document:

...several reforms proposed in this bill quite simply have no budgetary ramifications: for example, federal government spokespersons have admitted that they have not estimated the costs or savings related to the new pay equity regime for the federal public sector that is being introduced by this bill. There was no significant consultation with trade unions, women’s groups and other civil society actors before introducing these reforms. In addition, the gender-based impact of these reforms were not taken into account ...

This is how the RepubliCons merrily observe International Women's Day.

First, kill all the economists ....*

At Canadian Cynic, there's an exercise in compare and contrast. Stevie Harper, during the fall election campaign, did and said pretty much just about anything to get a much lusted-after majority. But now ...?

Remember the advice Stevie offered after his little performance at the Canadian Club in Toronto on October 8th, during an interview with Peter Mansbridge?

Economists may now occupy the most hated professionals niche that once belonged to lawyers. Double whammy if you're an economist AND a politician known for betraying your promises and lying through your teeth.

Update: Accidental Deliberations goes further in demonstrating how for Stevie, it's never about his own professional or personal accountability but, but, but about the Librulz.:

* with apologies to William Shakespeare.

Where did that illicit tape recording come from?

CTV News claims to "have learned" that the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have been holding "secret talks to form a coalition party" - even before Jim Flaherty laid his egg in Parliament last week - from an audio tape that was recorded by an unidentified "Conservative member".

Dimitri Soudas was interviewed by Radio-Canada. He accomplished the feat of sounding shocked yet unctuous as he waxed eloquent about the content of the audio tape, while remaining evasive as to how the recording was obtained.

Shall we take bets on the provenance of this tape? Dirty tricks from rank amateurs, à la Watergate? Or more ominously, was it obtained from a professional employed by the RCMP or CSIS, now moonlighting for the RepubliCons on the side?

Read more about this at bastard.logic. Stevie is slowly morphing into Tricky Dicky, aka Richard Millhouse Nixon.

Update: More at Red Tory, regarding the NDP response.

More update: Beijing York gives emphasis to the importance for the Progressive Coalition to stay focused and to avoid the bait, since Harper is already cornered.

Take Him Out!

Scott Reid, former communications director for Paul Martin, in the Globe:

First things first: take him out.

After all, Stephen Harper is the most dangerous animal lurking in the jungles of Parliament. He is a threat to the future viability of the Liberals. A blood simple opponent of the NDP and the only serious contemporary challenge to the Bloc Quebecois. Without him, his party is an unlikely combination of Reform Party leftovers, Harris refugees and Red Tory desperates. They don't matter or even exist without Mr. Harper. So before you think a moment longer, opposition leaders, think on that.

And if that's not compelling enough, remember: He doesn't play to win. He plays to conquer. Under his guidance, the public interest is always subjugated to his personal political advancement. And he poisons Parliament with an extreme, bare-fanged breed of partisanship that has no hope of repair until he is banished.

This becomes relevant because suddenly, he is weak. In fact, at this particular moment, he is almost unable to defend himself. Owing to a ridiculously ill-considered act of hubris, he has laid himself vulnerable to his opponents. Their imperative could not be more clear: kill him. Kill him dead. Do not, whatever you do, provide him with an opportunity to extend his hold on power. Because you can be damn certain he will never again be so reckless as to give you a chance to finish him off.

Go read the whole thing.