Canada 2011 Official Thread

[Foucaulf]

The NDP smear campaign continues... something about Jack being caught naked in a massage parlour in 1996.... the media is grasping at straws...

This will only help him in Quebec

Ratings or not, Sun News is beginning its corrosive effects on politics. Anonymous source leaks to channel that Layton was naked in a massage parlour? This is less Fox as it is News of the World, except they spent ten minutes talking about it.

But the media taketh and it giveth. Globe columnist Ibbitson claims the Toronto Star will endorse the NDP.

[cinyc]

Ratings or not, Sun News is beginning its corrosive effects on politics. Anonymous source leaks to channel that Layton was naked in a massage parlour? This is less Fox as it is News of the World, except they spent ten minutes talking about it.

Well, Layton's wife confirms the story was true, so Sun News' story is correct.

It is about time Canada got themselves a news channel that's not unabashedly leftist.

[Phony Moderate]

lol

[cinyc]

Sun News Video of the TV version of the story, FWIW:
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/924574695001

[Meeker]

Maybe I'm just being a worrywart, but I have a really bad feeling about this whole thing.

[Foucaulf]

Well, Layton's wife confirms the story was true, so Sun News' story is correct.

It is about time Canada got themselves a news channel that's not unabashedly leftist.

All Chow admitted was that Layton was found in a massage parlour by the police, and released without charges. Nothing about Layton being naked, or the Chinese masseuse, or wet Kleenex thrown into the trash.

It's yellow journalism overall. The news is advertised as "Layton found in bawdy house" when nobody has proof that it was a brothel. I have doubts that it is even legal for a policeman to reveal these confidential matters. Until a journalist can contact the TPS, this ranges on the absurd.

[Holmes]

Attacks like these have been rare in Canadian elections compared to the US, I can't see it working... similar to how Aqua Buddha backfired in Kentucky, for example.

It is about time Canada got themselves a news channel that's not unabashedly leftist.

Ha. ok.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What else would you expect from the gutter 'press'? Something like this was always likely at some point - that's just the way these things work, as disgusting as that might be. They'll have been trying to dig up something as soon as the NDP's poll numbers went through the roof nationally.

Edit: deleted 'contemporary' after remembering stuff from the 1970s.

[cinyc]

What else would you expect from the contemporary gutter 'press'? Something like this was always likely at some point - that's just the way these things work, as disgusting as that might be. They'll have been trying to dig up something as soon as the NDP's poll numbers went through the roof nationally.

I think you're giving journalists far too much credit.  They're generally a lazy bunch who are fed information for their stories.   I'd be shocked if the tip ultimately didn't come from the opposition research team of one of the three other parties, directly or indirectly.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I think you're giving journalists far too much credit.  They're generally a lazy bunch who are fed information for their stories.   I'd be shocked if the tip ultimately didn't come from the opposition research team of one of the three other parties, directly or indirectly.

All such people were included in the 'they'. It's a wonderful word for the left-wing and bitter/paranoid.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

From the Toronto Star article and posted without comment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[cinyc]

All Chow admitted was that Layton was found in a massage parlour by the police, and released without charges. Nothing about Layton being naked, or the Chinese masseuse, or wet Kleenex thrown into the trash.

It's yellow journalism overall. The news is advertised as "Layton found in bawdy house" when nobody has proof that it was a brothel. I have doubts that it is even legal for a policeman to reveal these confidential matters. Until a journalist can contact the TPS, this ranges on the absurd.

I don't think there's any dispute the massage parlor was allegedly being used as a brothel at time - even Chow said her husband was surprised to hear the allegations.  And I doubt Sun News would characterize it as a bawdy house unless there were some arrests made at that location - Canadian libel laws are far too tilted in favor of those allegedly defamed for even the press and Sun could easily get sued over it.

I also doubt there's any dispute that the masseuse was Chinese.  Sun News has zero reason to lie about that - nor is it particularly relevant in the grand scheme of things.  

Much of the rest of Sun News' report apparently comes directly from the notes of the police officer who spoke with Layton at the time.  Why would he have lied about things in those notes, exactly?   Now, Layton might have a different recollection or no recollection about the specifics of the situation at all, but I don't think Sun News is just making stuff up.

At the end of the day, how the NDP handles this will tell us a lot about whether they are fit to govern.  So far, they seem to be on top of things and fighting back properly.

[Lief 🗽]

All Chow admitted was that Layton was found in a massage parlour by the police, and released without charges. Nothing about Layton being naked, or the Chinese masseuse, or wet Kleenex thrown into the trash.

It's yellow journalism overall. The news is advertised as "Layton found in bawdy house" when nobody has proof that it was a brothel. I have doubts that it is even legal for a policeman to reveal these confidential matters. Until a journalist can contact the TPS, this ranges on the absurd.

I don't think there's any dispute the massage parlor was allegedly being used as a brothel at time - even Chow said her husband was surprised to hear the allegations.  And I doubt Sun News would characterize it as a bawdy house unless there were some arrests made at that location - Canadian libel laws are far too tilted in favor of those allegedly defamed for even the press and Sun could easily get sued over it.

I also doubt there's any dispute that the masseuse was Chinese.  Sun News has zero reason to lie about that - nor is it particularly relevant in the grand scheme of things.  

Much of the rest of Sun News' report apparently comes directly from the notes of the police officer who spoke with Layton at the time.  Why would he have lied about things in those notes, exactly?   Now, Layton might have a different recollection or no recollection about the specifics of the situation at all, but I don't think Sun News is just making stuff up.

At the end of the day, how the NDP handles this will tell us a lot about whether they are fit to govern.  So far, they seem to be on top of things and fighting back properly.

The police officer admitted that the Toronto police were pissed off at Layton at the time for his policies on the City Council. I'm not saying he's lying, but even he admitted bias. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Layton is even more of a FF if this is true.

[Hatman 🍁]

The Sun has been attacking Ignatieff for some time about a lot of preposterous things, now they have decided to attack Layton.

[Hatman 🍁]

Some more riding polls:

Pontiac: It can now be confirmed that the NDP is in the lead there, 39-33. Interestingly, Cannon hasn't lost any support.

Churchill River: Tories are in the lead here, 57-35 over the NDP. So much for my thoughts...

Juan de Fuca: Tories are ahead here 40-35 over the NDP in this open seat.

Nunavut: Tories lead the Liberals 71-20.

[Meeker]

There were a few others released with that batch, including one that has André Arthur up by 6: http://www.huffstrategy.com/MediaManager/release/ProjectDemocracy/29-4-11/ProjectDemocracy-releases-new-riding-specific-polling/2220.html

[Hatman 🍁]

Interesting how in just a few days the race in Charlesbourg went from Cons vs. NDP to BQ vs. NDP.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

Some more riding polls:

Pontiac: It can now be confirmed that the NDP is in the lead there, 39-33. Interestingly, Cannon hasn't lost any support.

Churchill River: Tories are in the lead here, 57-35 over the NDP. So much for my thoughts...

Juan de Fuca: Tories are ahead here 40-35 over the NDP in this open seat.

Nunavut: Tories lead the Liberals 71-20.

Are these new?

[cinyc]

Interesting how in just a few days the race in Charlesbourg went from Cons vs. NDP to BQ vs. NDP.

Caveat emptor on these riding polls.  Were the Charlesbourg polls even by the same pollster?

The MoE on the most recent set of polls is so high (+/-4.9%) that everyone but the Liberals are still in the race in Charlesbourg.

[Hatman 🍁]

Some more riding polls:

Pontiac: It can now be confirmed that the NDP is in the lead there, 39-33. Interestingly, Cannon hasn't lost any support.

Churchill River: Tories are in the lead here, 57-35 over the NDP. So much for my thoughts...

Juan de Fuca: Tories are ahead here 40-35 over the NDP in this open seat.

Nunavut: Tories lead the Liberals 71-20.

Are these new?

Yes. They were done the 2 days following the previous batch of riding polls.

[Hatman 🍁]

I think it's safe to say that all 5 Quebec City seats are in play for the NDP, and they are so close that it will probably be all or none.

[2952-0-0]

Next up on Sun News: Is Layton really born in Montreal? Where is his birth certificate? Stay tuned.

[cinyc]

I think it's safe to say that all 5 Quebec City seats are in play for the NDP, and they are so close that it will probably be all or none.

Yes, the seats are in play, but I don't think it will necessarily be all or none.  A split is certainly possible.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Next up on Sun News: Is Layton really born in Montreal? Where is his birth certificate? Stay tuned.

Maybe he wasn't born in Canada at all! That would mean he can't be Prime Min... oh wait, yea that's right, our country is not silly like that