45 Comments

As a lifelong Conservative voter, I like to believe I vote how I do because of stated policies and the record of the major parties. However, I rely on journalists like Paul Wells and Terry Glavin to keep me from making a fool of myself by blindly believing ALL of the negatives about the Liberals and ALL of the positives about the Conservatives. Thanks again, Paul.

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I will look forward to any response from Marilyn Gladu to your final question. Not that there will be one, which, of course, is also a response. Great piece. I enjoyed it.

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This is one of those stories that has something for everyone. Before this I didn’t know Menzies, so if I had been a minder he’d’ve gotten nowhere near ms Freeland. I’m left to infer that her security detail knew who he was and weren’t concerned.

So what are we supposed to think about the behaviour of the guy in the black coat? And his BFFs in the provincial police? He knows he’s being filmed but doesn’t carte? Politics aside (which is where I like ‘em) I see Stasi.

No, wait! Don’t hang up! Take another look at the video, imagine that someone told you it was a video from Russia, or China - or East Germany. Sure, Menzies got out alive, and that’s a significant difference in the end result, but there’s a level of smug arrogance that I find unsettling.

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Hi Paul, the reason I pay from my own pocket ( not the parliamentarian one ) is that I find you to be a thoughtful and fair journalist who calls it like he sees it. This is super important in a healthy democracy. I am not aware if you are receiving any government subsidies, but if you are , they are certainly not buying your white washing of the issues. I find your commentary to be humorous ( good use of sarcasm) and hard hitting. Keep up the good work. Best regards MP Marilyn Gladu

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Thanks, Marilyn, for this classy reply.

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This is a classy reply and I appreciate it. And since you say that Paul is not in either of the two groups into which you said the media was divided, why not take it a step further and withdraw that comment, which was just more divisive partisan drivel and not classy at all, to be frank.

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Ok Paul. I ‘think’ I sort of know where you stand on the ‘event’. I watched David Cochrane host his scrum chums after and was slightly taken aback by what appeared to be his uneasiness with the arrest. David knows who butters his biscuit. Try as he could to suggest otherwise, his chums seemed largely aligned to malign this guy as a bit of a kook and therefore, somehow deserving and culpable for the arrest. That doesn’t work for me. Either we have free speech and reasonable access to our elected officials for our media or not is the point. This guy was set up, arguably assaulted and denied that access. As they always say when this starts, if they can do it to him, they might just do it to you Paul! Thank goodness the cameras were rolling.

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Does “reasonable access to our elected officials” mean haranguing them on the street, getting between the politicians and their security, and getting in their way like that? There was nothing reasonable about it.

In the US that Menzoid guy would have been on the ground and handcuffed in a second.

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I agree with you Ron. Menzies was doing his job, but because you don’t like Menzies or the Rebel, it doesn’t mean that he deserves or is culpable for his arrest.

The CBC (apparently, I don’t go anywhere near the CBC), insinuated that Menzies was misogynistic in his questioning of Freeland. That was a stretch for normal folks, but for the CBC it was a typical slur along with racist and homophobic. So, again, because you don’t like Menzies naming him as a misogynist is a bit rich.

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Sir, so wonderful!

Now, for something - not at all, let alone completely! - different.

I do not subscribe to Rebel News. I do, however, get their free emails. I pay PW but Rebel is something that I don't sufficiently value to pay. With you, I know that I get value and thoughtfulness with every issue but with Rebel I find that - occasionally, very occasionally - I get a useful different perspective than the more common reportage in the mainstream (and, no, I do not refer to PW there).

All of that said, I did see the Rebel story on the "brutal" [oh, the hyperbole!] arrest of the Menzoid - useful nickname, no? - and it was certainly worth a chuckle. But not a whole lot else. [Well, maybe worth a shake of the head at the stupidity of the cops.]

I find that His Majesty's Loyal Opposition talks (as is the case for all Oppositions, both L and C) out of both sides of it's mouth in criticizing the current government for censoring Rebel and various other outlets. Of course, of course, they "will be different" when they are the government [presumptuous, no?] but for that we will have to wait and see.

I see ever so many Liberals and Liberal supporters in the MSM who make the case that PP is very much into "rage farming" or some such claim. In fact, he is just doing his job, just as the "rage farming" Liberals did their job once upon a time. (Can you say Sheila Copps or John Nunziata?)

So, the government is being stupid. Again. On the other hand, that is what governments do when they are on the way down. Oh, and, yes, the Opposition also finds ways to be stupid, just not as many right now. Later? We will see.

All in all, a delightful giggle but not too indicative of anything other than helping Rebel to raise money from those who do subscribe (remember, not me; I subscribe to PW).

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Oh please, can we not say Sheila Copps. Please.

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Susan, I didn't SAY Sheila Copps, I just asked if YOU could say it. Sophistry worthy of the politicians, no?

And, I do agree with your perspective on SC.

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So, the “rule” that politicians should never direct how police should conduct themselves -- which was solemnly intoned during the Rouleau enquiry -- may have some exceptions after all?

Like the assertion during the SNC Lavalin affaire, that a PM would never, ever, interfere with the administration of justice?

And of course, it would be too cynical, here, to think that the proximity to Liberal ridings, would have anything to do with having a tete a tete with the Police Chief, or his subsequent decision to change his tactics.

Because we all know that police are independent and policing is “provincial”, so a federal politician would never, ever intervene?

Or maybe we should remember the wisdom of Marx (Groucho): “Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others”, because that is what describes the real life behavior of many politicians.

But as usual, an illuminating and amusing column.

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Well, Mr. Wells, I am another commenter, who along with Tom Eagles, admits to being full on conservative, but am happy to pay for your work. It is at least reasonable and at times I even agree with you. It is important to get two sides of the story and there isn’t a lot of MSM that even pretends to be unbiased.

Menzies – I like Menzies. I don’t really follow the Rebel but there are times that they break a story because they have actual journalists on the ground, unlike the stenographers of the MSM. (I have to exclude the National Post from my MSM rants, because at times the NP prints stories that don’t show up elsewhere.)

Thanks for your writings, Paul.

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Good read! - glad that Paul is taking the Menzoid harassment seriously, because we all know where ignoring it can lead.

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It’s interesting to watch all the nice theories about how power is supposed to work in a modern democracy get tested against reality. The myths and ideals fall away pretty fast, yet we still make a point of clinging to them.

“Politicians don’t direct the police”: ok, but what happens when the police let a disruption go on too long? Who declares enough to be enough?

“The attorney general is independent” LOL. Until justice becomes inconvenient for an important engineering firm or developer or whatever.

“Monetary policy is run by an independent central bank” until someone makes a government agency or infrastructure bank or whatever that can effectively print money.

“The Supreme Court/Charter will save our preferred policy” LOL notwithstanding the Notwithstanding Clause.

I think we’d be a lot better off if we just acknowledge and expect that politicians have a lot of power, and that’s better than unaccountable bureaucrats having a lot of power because the will of the people matters and democracy can actually make things better.

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Very interesting column Paul. Your take is always appreciated. You are among the few journalists left without a biais for one side or the other.

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Hope you're not holding your breath waiting for Gladu to answer that question!

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There is no doubt that reporters from Rebel and others seeking influence seldom take the high road when attempting to seek their fame and fortune that already exists in Mr. Wells well-earned quarters. However, I believe to suggest all those who would seek a perspective from Rebel are somehow all aligned with the Conservative party is a bit of a stretch or alternatively that PP may be interested in their reporting solely for that reason. That may be true, but that perspective exists in no concrete data of which I am aware. Many are seeking views from a variety of sources in hopes that all facets of an issue can be obtained. I believe the Deputy PM may have had the answer to the press more to what should be happening in a democratic society than what really happened as demonstrated openly by the PM visiting the Chief of Police in Toronto. It is a failure of the policing structure when deemed necessary to have the PM or any politician direct law enforcement and I might add in direct contravention of constitutional precedence. Easily setting such precedence and having it accepted by all is a short road to political corruption of law enforcement in a direct and unattractive direction. The RCMP had to have known the reporter in the incident with the Deputy PM and had to have known, at least, that he, presented little physical threat. Protection of the Deputy PM did not justify an arrest in this case and the fact that the officer went in that direction was overreaction at best. So much could have been avoided by simply dialing the situation down and avoiding the subsequent scrutiny and criticism that follows.

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Always stiffing the Conservatives Paul. Would be interested on your thoughts of those that keep Prime Minister Trudeau and the CBC alive. You know like Jagmeet Singh and Yves F Blanchet. If either of these two Trudeau back pocket supporters gave up their offices, would Canada still be suffering from our "Canada is a Post-Modern" Liberal Leader? And Paul, if get some spare time hoping you will tell us what you think of this PM's carbon foot print and 40 security officers following him daily, including to the Caribbean!

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I am sure with your broad contacts and insight into Ottawa you could come up with a reason to be censored by the Liberals. It doesn't even have to be a good one. I wonder how often they take questions from Sam Cooper?

Don't wait for an MP to assign you a role in political discourse. Anxiously waiting.

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M Gladu could never be honest in her criticism of the media unless it’s someone organization like Rebel so called news, let alone an unbiased journalist as you Mr. Wells are known for.

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