Tuesday, December 28, 2010

BC Legislature Raid marks 7th Anniversary with call for Public Inquiry into unsatisfactory situation

Bill Tieleman outside BC Supreme Court - Lyle Stafford photo
Observers of the BC Legislature Raid case that led to corruption charges against former BC Liberal ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk expected to mark the 7th anniversary of the unprecedented police search of the BC Legislature on December 28, 2003 in a far different manner than today's non-event.

Instead of waiting for the resumption of the criminal trial in January 2011 and further cross examination of some of BC's most well-known politicians and political operators, we are left with a sudden guilty plea bargain by Basi and Virk for passing confidential government information on the $1 billion sale of BC Rail on to lobbyists for one bidder.

Basi and Virk spend the Christmas holidays under house arrest, having done a deal that saw them avoid both jail time and also paying off the $6 million legal fees their defence lawyers accrued over the past 7 years.

Former Finance Minister Gary Collins was spared his role as the next witness in the trial.

BC Liberal leadership candidate Christy Clark escaped a trial that would have doubtless brought up disturbing questions on her own role as deputy premier during the BC Rail sale - and questions about the role of her then-lobbyist brother Bruce Clark, found by police to have other confidential BC Rail documents in his possession that were received from Basi and Virk.

Then-lobbyist Erik Bornmann, who bribed Basi and Virk with money and benefits but was not charged when he became a Crown witnesses, carrieson with a new career.

But the public is denied the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I've written tens of thousands of words on the Basi-Virk case since the day it began.

But there is no question that much of this sordid situation remains a dark mystery.

Only a full independent public inquiry can establish what really happened - and how such events can be avoided in the future.

That's why I've called for a public inquiry and created a Facebook page for all who agree to join in that demand.

Go to Basi-Virk Public Inquiry on Facebook and sign up - particularly at this time of the BC Liberal leadership contest it's important that British Columbians demand honesty and accountability from those who would lead the province.

Thanks for you kind comments on my work in the past and for supporting this new effort.

 
.


68 comments:

DPL said...

It will take a change of government to get a public inquiry about the misuse of tax dollars, and hopefully in the not too distant future. Even if we got a Billion bucks, which I sort of doubt, the losses will eventually equal or beat the amount and a lot of bottom feeders will fight as hard as possible to prevent it from happening

Anonymous said...

Even with a change in government, a public inquiry would not satisfy everyone here in Bill's blog.

There will be complaints of missed facts, twisted facts, and labellng that the Inquiry Commission was corrupt. There will be complaints about it from Day One, even complaints as to who it is that heads up such a committee. The bottom feeders would perpetually complain ad nauseam.

Best to just leave as it is, and just move on.

Face reality. The public has given up having interest in it, and its more to do with politics, than the actual mechanics of the bid process.

Besides, the province can't afford it. Why spend money on an inquiry when there are less fortunate people to attend to?

Solange said...

It wont take a change of government to bring forth the much needed answers, it will take the restoration of integrity and accountability for this to occur. The election of a new government guarantees nothing in this regard.

Anonymous said...

Also interesting that many figure Basi and Virk were "victims". They were not. They ech could have jumped out when they could have, but did not. So they ended up in front of a judge.

Sheesh for two so-called "smart" political people, they sure came out to be reallt dumb and dumber.

Anonymous said...

Calls for "anything" political or legal to do with Basigate are nothing but a counter-productive and naive classroom exercise.

Basigate is now nothing but a singular and minor "distraction" in a vast political and legal crisis going back almost a decade.

The BC Liberal Government of Occupation, aided by its BC media Quislings and given muscle by a grossly corrupt law-enforcement establishment . . . can pretty much do anything it wants in 21st Century British Columbia.

So inquiry or no inquiry, come March of 2011 the Falcon regime will be in a legal position to "rule by decree" for another two years.

The various "public safety" security measures enacted in BC for the 2010 Olympics, and the similar draconian measures of Toronto G20 Summit could certainly be re-activated by a Premier Falcon determined to suppress dissent.

Ultimately with no voice, no representation and no rule of law, a supposed 2013 free and fair election is nothing but a sick joke.

With no effective opposition parties, no free speech coming from a BC collaborationist media, and with no rule of law from a corrupt judiciary and government . . . democracy has failed in British Columbia.

The GREAT SATAN

Alan said...

I don't know who writes many of the comments on this blog. It would be naive to believe that the old Lieberal machine does not still pay their operatives to undermine any criticism and any protest. Create apathy. Create dissension. All they can say is "Woe is me! There is no answer! Let's just leave a BC Rail Inquiry. What could we learn? We are just losers. Let's give up"

What non sense. Stand up and be counted. The nay sayers are just paid to be nay sayers. Or they are off their medication for the holidays. Let's get to the bottom of this scandal that is BC Rail and the BC Lieberal party.

Christy must be really scared along with her powerful political backers to resort to these measures.

Pay no mind. There are more and more blogs covering the BC mess and there are more people reading those blogs. The scandal is gaining momentum even over the holidays - what a time to for the recall campaign and the BC Rail inquiry. But never mind. Just keep on pushing.

I have a dream....

(who are these "anonymous" writers anyway. check out their IP addresses and ban them. )

Leah said...

..."(who are these "anonymous" writers anyway. check out their IP addresses and ban them.)"

No, don't ban them. They have a right to state their opinion, paid for or not. Stupid or not. Worthless or not.

Don't ban them. OUT them. Stop letting them hide behind their supposed anonymity, help them become persons strong enough to own their opinion by signing their name to it.

Skookum1 said...

Anonymous 2:14
The public has given up having interest in it, and its more to do with politics, than the actual mechanics of the bid process.

Besides, the province can't afford it. Why spend money on an inquiry when there are less fortunate people to attend to?


You couldn't establish yourself more as a Public Affairs Bureau/Liberal Party mole with a comment like that. "the actual mechanics of the bid process" were a criminal act that has gone unexamined and unindicted, but should be, and the public hasn't forgotten about it, though clearly you want them to, and are claiming that they have or will. Certainly the Liberal Party would like everyone to forget it - but no, it won't be pushed under a mossy stone just because you say it has been.

And as for the expense of the inquiry, that's pretty simple. There's a Victims of Crime Act, and between the politicians who rigged the deal and the company who benefitted from it, and was the major backer of that party's rise to power - and certain associated lobbyists - the cost of the inquiry should borne by the guilty parties. That's pretty simple. The people of BC should not have to pay for the justice they have been denied; that should be borne by those who denied it to them, and stole from them, using the Crown as a shield and license-to-sell-in-secret.

And if we got back BC Rail's revenues, and the money that we've paid out to CN for taking it from us (because "sale" is too generous a word for something with no visible profit, and mounting after-the-fact costs and contract loopholes - well, if we get that back, we'll have lots of money to fund all the programs that the Liberals trashed in their "Golden Decade".

And if the case were to be a civil suit, in US courts, we'd be able to get damages of all kinds, at least double the value of the deal. We'd also win a lot of respect, as opposed to the shame of being a pack of sheep who, upon being stolen from and complaining about it, are told "well, there's nothing to be done about it now, the criminals have won, get over it."

It's your post that's about politics, and that's being evasive and deflectionary about "the mechanics of the bidding process". When those "mechanics" are fraud, collusion, deceit, favouring one bidder who happens to be the main party backer also.....those "mechanics" are not just about politics; they're about THE LAW. And by "the law" I don't mean our courts or police, who haven't followed the law, rather been selective - partisan - in their application of it, I mean the law of justice and of what's right and wrong.

People do care about that; you want them to swallow their spew; but most informed people reading your post no doubt feel like vomiting.

Alan said...

Exceptionally well written Skookum1; It is about right and wrong and standing up for justice. Leah you are right too. Lets hope the leiberal trolls learn something.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Leah also, if there's no legal issues about publicizing IP addresses. I'm one of the ones that usually tells people here that they are off their rocker thinking we live in a democracy. Stop wasting your time whining about an inquiry that probably won't happen and even if it did would produce no meaningful result. Give up on this anti-HST idea, the tax is here to stay. Don't bother to vote, our only options are Liberal and almost-Liberal. And well, basically anything that Bill T advocates is probably bad for most of the people of BC. I'm sick and tired of people here constantly whining about "more PAB" when I chime in. I hate the Liberals as much as anybody. I also think the NDP is not a realistic alternative. Bill is very adept at fooling people with his writing. His actions only re-inforce our system which keeps the Liberals in power longer than they should be. I can quite easily disagree with him and not be PAB and I'm perfectly happy to be "outed" as such. I usually go by an amusing handle here but for now . . . Anon will do

Anonymous said...

"So inquiry or no inquiry, come March of 2011 the Falcon regime will be in a legal position to "rule by decree" for another two years."

Interesting observation. Did Ujjal Dosanjh rule by decree? Did Paul Martin? Chretien?

Anonymous said...

"You couldn't establish yourself more as a Public Affairs Bureau/Liberal Party mole with a comment like that. "

You couldn't have stated your obvopus bias with a comment like that. Once again , you're wrong.


"the actual mechanics of the bid process" were a criminal act that has gone unexamined and unindicted, but should be, and the public hasn't forgotten about it, though clearly you want them to, and are claiming that they have or will. Certainly the Liberal Party would like everyone to forget it - but no, it won't be pushed under a mossy stone just because you say it has been."

and a public inquiry won't happen just beacuse you yourself want one. If there is one, would you agree to the eventual outcome? Who leads the inquiry, how the inquiry progresses? I think not.


And if we got back BC Rail's revenues, and the money that we've paid out to CN for taking it from us (because "sale" is too generous a word for something with no visible profit, and mounting after-the-fact costs and contract loopholes - well, if we get that back, we'll have lots of money to fund all the programs that the Liberals trashed in their "Golden Decade".

Not going to happen, since the actual profits on the BCR line go into CN's general revenue, and it would be expensive to go through an audit of their operations to find out exactly what specific profits there were and at what time after the sale. Remember, CN does use that line to move trains from its southern service to Prince George and back again, the same way that CN contracted BCR to move cars when it owned the line.
Happens all the time with trains.


"And if the case were to be a civil suit, in US courts, we'd be able to get damages of all kinds, at least double the value of the deal."

Not nessesarily, and this is not the United States so your argument is not valid.


We'd also win a lot of respect, as opposed to the shame of being a pack of sheep who, upon being stolen from and complaining about it, are told "well, there's nothing to be done about it now, the criminals have won, get over it."

Sure. Just as the NDP stated with the Fastcats, right?

"It's your post that's about politics, and that's being evasive and deflectionary about "the mechanics of the bidding process". When those "mechanics" are fraud, collusion, deceit, favouring one bidder who happens to be the main party backer also.....those "mechanics" are not just about politics; they're about THE LAW. And by "the law" I don't mean our courts or police, who haven't followed the law, rather been selective - partisan - in their application of it, I mean the law of justice and of what's right and wrong."

It's actually yours that is more political. You accuse Anon. as being a member of PAB, come out with some silly comparative to legal activity in the United States, and state returned profits can go to benifit programs, and not to mention your other political statements. Not one in regards to BCR/CN operations or the mechanics of the bid process from a business view.




People do care about that; you want them to swallow their spew; but most informed people reading your post no doubt feel like vomiting.

Yours are much better for that than bad food our Syrup of Ipacac.

Anonymous said...

"No, don't ban them. They have a right to state their opinion, paid for or not. Stupid or not. Worthless or not."

Same can be said to the NDP types here. SOme of the comments made by obvious left wingers are jsut as or even more nuttier than those coming from Liberals.


Don't ban them. OUT them. Stop letting them hide behind their supposed anonymity, help them become persons strong enough to own their opinion by signing their name to it.

Anon is a name, just as "Great Satan, DPL, Skookum1", etc. etc. is.

As far as disclosing IP addresses, it would contravene the basic tenents of journalism (never reveal sources), so that would not make Bill here a journalist as many left wingers think he is.

But it is his blog and his credibility that is on the line, not anyone elses.

If he wants just left wing opinions, petition for him to have space within the NDP, and passcode protect it.

It's totally up to him as to what he wants to do.

Not all left wingers have been right in their take on events.

and why is that NDPers hate to be wrong?

Ron1 said...

Among the wedge-ssues in the next provincial election I hope to see the NDP call for:

- an independent inquiry into the BC Rail corruption sale and mock trial
- abolition of the HST and replacement with a PST with sensible health, social and environmental exemptions
- a provincial poverty reduction strategy with a priority on children living in poverty
- an independent study of a provincial progressive, fair tax system
- reduction of post-secondary(vocational and academic) fees
- reform of the provincial apprenticeship system so that it is not totally dependent upon employers

Anonymous said...

Among the wedge-ssues in the next provincial election I hope to see the NDP call for:

"- an independent inquiry into the BC Rail corruption sale and mock trial"

Why just an inquiry as to the mechanics and the outcome of the sale? the trial was the outcome and would not be included in any inquiry.

But as per usual, many would be critical of the inquiry's scope even though those same people wanted an inquiry in the first place.

"- abolition of the HST and replacement with a PST with sensible health, social and environmental exemptions"

As to what? Basic emergency services? Doctor visits? Butt lifts? Healthcare is expensive.

"- a provincial poverty reduction strategy with a priority on children living in poverty"

The NDP could have done that when they were government, but for the most part, did not.

"- an independent study of a provincial progressive, fair tax system"

Fair to whom? Consumers? Business?
Seems to be something that every party wants, but never does.

"- reduction of post-secondary(vocational and academic) fees"

So why pays the difference? The fees paid at SFU, UBC, UVic, UNBC are far lower than what you'd see at Washington State University and other places in the U.S. because post secondary education is heavily subsidized by the taxpayer.

"- reform of the provincial apprenticeship system so that it is not totally dependent upon employers"

The unions need to play their part too. Seems there are too few seats in the trades offered by the unions, and few of them really market their opportunity to bring in new guys and gals to their work trade environment.

Anonymous said...

Hey Anonymous,

Your "obvopus bias" typo along with "Syrup of Ipacac" has given away your identity. Trolls never learn.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't Bill and his commentators get into discussions about anything else other than the Basi/Virk trial?

The topic is getting old, and the public isn't exactly interested anymore.

Is Basi Virk the only reason why Bill keeps this hobby blog of his going?


The NDP is about to get into their own leadership, and one guy has already stated he's running.

There's more out there than just Basi Virk, people.

ubless the commentators are of the kind that perpetually whine and complain constantly on just one topic.

Anonymous said...

"Hey Anonymous,

Your "obvopus bias" typo along with "Syrup of Ipacac" has given away your identity. Trolls never learn."

Hey Anonymous,

Your obvious bias and focus on not all that important topics has given away your identity.

Trolls never ever learn.

Skookum1 said...

Yeah, anonymous, there's also corrupt highway/bridge contracts, BC Hydro/Accenture, IPPs staffed/owned by ex-Liberal honchos, and more.

YOu and other PAB/Grit trolls want the public to not care; they DO. If you're not listening at the coffee shops, don't pretend that other people are deaf to it just because you are.

And it's not as if Bill's blog were alone....

DPL said...

actually Anon, a whole lot of us want a public review of the BC Rail case, and are not about to forget about it, no matter how many anons tell us that we are not interested.The Opposition critic and other present MLA's have called for such an inquiry, and if the NDP forms the next government Krog will be in a position to ensure it happens.Just as he will be in the position to sort out the PAB and have it consist of Government employees not Liberal hacks. I too would like to see a few of those IP addresses checked out.

Skookum1 said...

Yeah, Anonymous, there's a lot more, like corrupt highways/bridge deals, BC Hydro/Accenture, fish farms, IPPs whose boards are stacked with ex-Grits, and more.

But you're quite wrong; the public is if anything more riled and offended by BC Rail than they are by the HST and cuts in schools and hospitals. And Bill's not alone in keeping the BC Rail flame burning - it's not just the host of other bloggers/citizen journalists, it's also other mainstream journalists.

You PABsters think that you can shut down discussion by claiming that the public doesn't care. We do, and we won't stop caring until BC Rail is back in public hands and/or Campbell et al. are in jail for flim-flamming it away to their barbequeing buddies....

Anonymous said...

The world must be shaking it's head in amazement, that a province such as British Columbia can be run by a bunch of inept circus clowns going by the name of BC Liberal party, led by Pinocchio Gordon "the liar " Campbell and have been getting away with it for nine years. Of course the propaganda and bullshit arm of the provincial government (PAB) is hell bent on destroying anything decent that might be left.

The BC Liberal government just plain cannot be trusted, is dishonest, lies, has no credibility or integrity as of today, threatens citizens that want to register in a recall campaign.

Come on guys, give your heads a shake - the province is being run by a dictator with many willing supporters - feeding their own ego's and bank accounts. No such thing as honesty, decency, itegrity or even doing the right thing for either the province of British Columbia or is people exists in this province any longer.

Even the so called oppostion is strangely mute over what is happenng - nary a word or peep out of them.

What a disgusting state of affairs we have - real criminals and criminal wannabees.

rosco said...

One positive step we can all take is to become card-carrying NDPers (If not already)and let the Party know we will only vote for the leadership candidate(s) who make unqualified statements to call a Public Inquiry as soon as the paty forms government.

Radical Peace said...

"You PABsters think that you can shut down discussion by claiming that the public doesn't care. We do, and we won't stop caring until BC Rail is back in public hands and/or Campbell et al. are in jail for flim-flamming it away to their barbequeing buddies...."

Sure Skookum1, you care. I don't think anyone is saying you don't. Same as when a loved one dies tragically. You don't stop caring but NOTHING will bring BC Rail back to the public, well nothing in your realm of thought anyways. As for the culprits responsible being held to account, let me know when they put Mulroney in jail. If he doesn't do time, then no Canadian politician ever will. I guess it's one of the perks of the job. Obscene expense accounts on top of excessive paycheques apparently aren't enough to entice honest people to run for office.

Skookum1 said...

to call a Public Inquiry as soon as the paty forms government.

Gee, for a second there, I thought you'd typed "as soon as the pasty forms the government.

Anonymous said...

Just a reminder to all readers - of what this is all about. How the BC Liberal government has set about wrecking what was once the best place on earth until Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals got into power.

Re - read this link as it applies to not only Pinocchio Campbell, but the BC Liberal party as well.

http://lailayuile.wordpress.com/100-reasons-gordon-campbell-must-go/

The total number of reasons why the BC Liberals must go is probably three to four times the number (100) given.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

As far as the call for a public inquiry goes, one important question that must be asked is that posted by former Socred Rafe Mair in his recent column at The Tyee,

Why did the province pay the legal bills for people who pled guilty?
Mike De Jong claims that's a government policy, but both he, and the government, have refused to reveal exactly what the policy says, or when it was enacted.

And, as Rafe clearly points out, the policy was definitely not in effect when Glen Clark was premier. It was common knowledge that had Bill's old boss been found guilty, even the premier would have had to pay his own legal bills.

Why the change?
And what exactly was the change?

BC Mary said...

Anon 12:08,

Thanks for the laughter ... good one! ... and I think we all needed that.

What's not so comical, though, is people who say that it's ok knowing they stole BCRail from us ... we should just let the crooks have their way.

I often wonder if folks realize the cost of NOT bringing the facts out into the open and laying charges where needed ... and re-possessing the railway as indicated.

It'd be awfully stupid to quit now.
.

Alan said...

B.C Mary is absolutely right - imagine the cost of not bringing all the corruption of Campbell's Gotham City to light. The corruption would go on for ever because no one would fear prosecution.

Look at Mulroney. The billion dollar airbus scandal still fouls the air and no one fears doing it all over again since Mulroney was caught red handed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in a US safety deposit box yet he was not charged with any crime.

We can't afford not to have an inquiry into BC Rail and we can't afford not to over turn all the corrupt deals and bring all the corrupt politicians to justice.

And, let's also charge those bag men who bribed our "public servants". Why do those who bribed Basi and Virk not face prosecution?

We can't afford to let let this criminal behaviour go on. We owe it to everyone in the province and in the country to clean house.

We need to clean up Gotham city and go through Campbell's dirty laundry. Who made the bribes? Who collected the cash? Let's expose the fraud and revoke the corrupt deals. There's more to it than just BC Rail, but its a start. We can't afford not to hold a public inquiry.

Anonymous said...

Besides, the province can't afford it. Why spend money on an inquiry when there are less fortunate people to attend to?

So says anon 2:18

Yes, I agree, there are many more Lib supporters standing in line waiting for their pocketbooks to be filled to the brim, courtesy of the poor BC taxpayer.

Foff

Anonymous said...

"Yeah, Anonymous, there's a lot more, like corrupt highways/bridge deals, BC Hydro/Accenture, fish farms, IPPs whose boards are stacked with ex-Grits, and more."

Yeah interesting when Bob Williams was given the Secretariat's job as soon as Mike Harcourt got elected, and Marc Eliesen came back to continue being on the BC Hydro CEO for a time. Then there was Jack Munro who was an icon in the forest industry but didn't know beans about maritime transportation.

You think the NDP won't pack the government with its own supporters once the NDP returns to government?

As far as highways go, it was interesting that Harry Lali was celebrating the fact that the HOV project would get people home from work faster.

Thing was he didn't figure that it also made sense to get them to work, first, hence he didn't find an extra $10 million to make the HOV lanes acrosss the Port Mann Bridge reversible.

and then there is ICBC. Guess who started that one?

Anonymous said...

Come on guys, give your heads a shake - the province is being run by a dictator with many willing supporters - feeding their own ego's and bank accounts. No such thing as honesty, decency, itegrity or even doing the right thing for either the province of British Columbia or is people exists in this province any longer.

You'd see the same thing when the NDP becomes government, jsut as it was with Mike Harcourt and Glen Clark.

Anyone who thinks partisan appointments would not exist under the NDP's governance, well thanks for the laughter.

And Len Krog? Good luck in him getting any decisive say in what happens in government.

But it will be interesting to see who exactly supporters a Public Inquiry, and don't stop there. Ask EXACTLY what this inquiry will consist of in terms of scope, and who leads it, and long it would be, and the cost.

and every blog commentator here on the left side of the political equation (Skook, DPL, etc. etc.) agrees 100% with who leads it, the scope of the inquiry and the outcome.

Otherwise we start all over again.

Anonymous said...

"B.C Mary is absolutely right - imagine the cost of not bringing all the corruption of Campbell's Gotham City to light. The corruption would go on for ever because no one would fear prosecution. "

So by this, the NDP has nothing to fear?

"Look at Mulroney. The billion dollar airbus scandal still fouls the air and no one fears doing it all over again since Mulroney was caught red handed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in a US safety deposit box yet he was not charged with any crime. "

He wasn't charged with any crime, but he was found to be incredibly stupid, and a snake oil salesman.

"We can't afford not to have an inquiry into BC Rail and we can't afford not to over turn all the corrupt deals and bring all the corrupt politicians to justice. "

True enough, but the next government be it NDP or Liberal needs to keep their noses clean.

The NDP had a few creative activities themselves, namely the
Commonwealth Holding Society which was skimming charity bingo money from charities to go to the NDP's provincial campaign funds.

"And, let's also charge those bag men who bribed our "public servants". Why do those who bribed Basi and Virk not face prosecution?"

What exactly would they be charged with? The flow is to the public servants to accepted bribes in this instance. But both were dumb enough to accept such bribes and therefore they are not "victims".


"We can't afford to let let this criminal behaviour go on. We owe it to everyone in the province and in the country to clean house. "

Applies to every party, be it federal Liberal (Adscam), the NDP (CHS), the Conservatives (Airbus) and the BC Liberals (BC Rail).


"We need to clean up Gotham city and go through Campbell's dirty laundry. Who made the bribes? Who collected the cash? Let's expose the fraud and revoke the corrupt deals. There's more to it than just BC Rail, but its a start. We can't afford not to hold a public inquiry."

Gotham City? Seem to be a manifestation of watching too many 1960's era Batman TV episodes or reading one too many Batman comic books.

So as another Anon stated, go to the NDP candidate of choice and demand a Public Inquiry. But why stop there? Demand one from your NDP MLA or otherwise he or she doesn't get your vote.

Get goin. Complaining and whining to a blog or writing entries into a Facebook page or reading cut and paste articles in a blog isn't going to get the Public Inquiry to a conclusion.

Skookum1 said...

No, anonymous, the provincial NDP have show no leadership on this at all (other than Bill here), other than me-too-ism raised in response to the heat in blogspace. They're just bag-carriers with no vision, and no spine.

Instead, pressure your MPs about it, demand a federal-level public inquiry into BC Rail (and BC Hydro/IPPs et al.) and get one of them to raise it in the House of Commons.

If the provincial NDP haven't acted on this yet, don't expect them to start. They seem like all the rest of the apologists - "it's a done deal, can't do anything about it now, move on".

Evalynn said...

Skookum1 said:

"No, anonymous, the provincial NDP have show no leadership on this at all (other than Bill here)"

Except of course that Bill has nothing to do with the NDP.

RonS said...

Seems like the PABs ate a lot of turkey this Christmas. Their gobbling for hiding the sale of BC Rail is heating up. One thing about turkey though, it's a lean meat and it will wear off soon and so will their gobbling.

Anonymous said...

"No, anonymous, the provincial NDP have show no leadership on this at all (other than Bill here), other than me-too-ism raised in response to the heat in blogspace. They're just bag-carriers with no vision, and no spine."

Correct, but it is up to the NDP members to do something about that. Why aren't you?


Instead, pressure your MPs about it, demand a federal-level public inquiry into BC Rail (and BC Hydro/IPPs et al.) and get one of them to raise it in the House of Commons."

Wrong approach. This is a provincial level incident, not a federal one, since it did not involve any federal politicians.

A public inquiry would have to be set by a provincial government, not a federal one.


If the provincial NDP haven't acted on this yet, don't expect them to start. They seem like all the rest of the apologists - "it's a done deal, can't do anything about it now, move on".

Again it is up to the NDP membership to tell their MLAs and future leader to get goin' on it, at least set the foundations in place so that once the NDP becomes goverment, they are ready to go.

So get goin' on it, if ya want it.

Anonymous said...

Except of course that Bill has nothing to do with the NDP.

Bill actually has had alot to do with the NDP, even though he is just a member and has been a member of any other party.

Anonymous said...

"Seems like the PABs ate a lot of turkey this Christmas. Their gobbling for hiding the sale of BC Rail is heating up. One thing about turkey though, it's a lean meat and it will wear off soon and so will their gobbling."

So how does that reconcile the turkeys on the left wing who perpetually gobble about the same thing over and over again?

Bill has shown that 2010 was a year of the finest made BC Whines.

Skookum1 said...

Correct, but it is up to the NDP members to do something about that. Why aren't you?

Why should I want to join a party that has shown itself to be both ineffective and ideologically-dominated? What I'm "doing about" what's wrong with BC is serving as an independent commentator, not muzzled by party loyalty or ideology and not blinker-bound to the party system, which I believe has failed BC completely.

I'll vote for an Independent before I vote NDP, let's put it that way. Unless you get a leader with calling that, and also openly and loudly proclaim that a public inquiry won't be just a puppet show, and that you intended to recover lost provincial assets from the American companies the NeoGrits have sold off or outsourced.

Right now, I see your party president mauling the only declared candidate because he supports marijuana decriminilization. That's not going to get you any new voters, and if anything shows your party appartus' entrenchment in status-quo thinking.

Nope, can't help you. Good look with turning your pet dinosaur into a raging t-rex, but right now all I see is a stuffed animal.

RonS said...

Hey anonymous, afraid to use your real name? Oh by the way, gobble, gobble gobble,... you know what I'm saying. By the way my name is Ron Sward and yours.....?

Skookum1 said...

Wrong approach. This is a provincial level incident, not a federal one, since it did not involve any federal politicians.

Your understanding of the matters at hand is obviously very shallow.

!. Sovereignty is a federal issue (foreign corporations backing politicians and benefitting from illegal bidding processes in return, likewise outsourcing government agencies to foreign soil).

2. Administration of justice is a federal issue, and there are numerous reasons for the justice system in BC, and individual justices and of course special prosecutors, to be closely examined for misconduct and partisan "cooperativeness". There's also the mystery of why Justice Bennett was elevated to the Court of Appeal in the middle of an exhaustive set of pre-trial hearings, and why the Harper government appointed Justice Mackenzie, then made her ACJ ("upon the recommendation of the British Columbia" government), given her virtual appearance out of nowhere?

3. Competition is a federal issue, especially when it's unfair competition resulting from a tainted sale from a provincial government to a private corporation. See above about justice; if the Supreme Court of BC and the Attorney-General of BC won't investigate evidence of criminal behaviour (whether the rigged bidding process or the deleted email evidence), then it behooves the federal level to make sure British Columbia politicians obey the law, and the constitution.

4. The misconduct of the BC Liberals and their...allies...in the courts and the police and media set a very bad precedent for all of Canada, our freedoms and our assets have been robbed from us by a group of bandits operating in the Queen's name, but on behalf of foreign capital and their own advancement beyond politics once all the hatchetwork is done. These are matters which should concern all Canadians, and should not be kept under quarantine behind the Rockies.

cont....

Skookum1 said...

cont....

3. Competition is a federal issue, especially when it's unfair competition resulting from a tainted sale from a provincial government to a private corporation. See above about justice; if the Supreme Court of BC and the Attorney-General of BC won't investigate evidence of criminal behaviour (whether the rigged bidding process or the deleted email evidence), then it behooves the federal level to make sure British Columbia politicians obey the law, and the constitution.

4. The misconduct of the BC Liberals and their...allies...in the courts and the police and media set a very bad precedent for all of Canada, our freedoms and our assets have been robbed from us by a group of bandits operating in the Queen's name, but on behalf of foreign capital and their own advancement beyond politics once all the hatchetwork is done. These are matters which should concern all Canadians, and should not be kept under quarantine behind the Rockies.

5. Your suggestion that it SHOULD be kept only in BC is perhaps is a ruse; of course the public inquiry would be held in BC, but as much discussed there is a need for an impartial judge from another jurisdiction; even another country such as the UK or Australia. Keeping it in BC means it can be manipulated and controlled, and someone appointed with a yoke around their neck and purseful of gold promised once the deed is done. Nope, let all Canada watch as we round up the bandits and rake them over the coals; don't hide it.

There is need of radical rethinking of national politics as well as provincial politics; there is no arbitrary separation of powers when matters of criminality of constitutionality at stake. If Canada doesn't protect the citizens of BC from misconduct by its provincial government, and our system doesn't provide any means of redress or recourse when things are "all sewn up", as they are, then it's not bloody much use anymore is it? (Canada, I mean, and Confederation).

The point of asking those questions - since of course the Tories aren't going to do f-all, given their own vulnerability to the same kind of inquiry, on various fronts - is to raise awareness of the deep political crisis and juridicial crisis in BC in the national arena.

Out east, they think Gordon Campbell is a "green Premier" and that he was an important, durable leader, taken down by only the HST. No, the whole country should know what happened to BC Rail and BC Hydro et al, so it doesn't happen to them. And since there's little sign that either of our political parties, or our media, do not intend to hold a public inquiry, but it's clear that there's a mounting call for there to be one, then the feds should listen.

We have no working constitution in BC; no recourse in the courts or from the opposition or media, and barriers to recall and referenda designed to be difficult to overcome.

Here's a referendum question: "Should a special prison be built in a remote, unpleasant part of British Columbia, specifically for politicians and bureaucrats who break the law in teh course of their duties?" A rainy island, or a frozen valley in the Cassiar District, with lots and lots of mosquitos and black flies.

Anonymous said...

Skooky:

All convicted politicians should be forced to read every blog post and comment that you ever wrote. And you can write new ones every day.

That'll learn them, eh?

DPL said...

Not wishing to argue with some poster, on this start of a New year, but to say the NDP has done nothing about a public inquiry is not quite true. I saw Ralston on TV saying a Inquiry is needed, as did Krog on a different program. No doubt, NDP members are also raising the issue as well.Their lame leader is part way out the door, as is of course Gordo. If none of the files suddenly disappear hopefully there will be an election much sooner than later. So an appropriate question to the candidates should be" Do you support a Public Inquiry, or do I ignore you in the polling booth?" Yes the whole mess has festered way to long, and yes, hopefully some resolution will occur shortly after the election. In the mean time one of the Liberal candidates, DeJong isn't doing well in his attempt to be Gordo II. with any kid of luck, some folks will be in the slammer by the next New Year

Skookum1 said...

Even if we got a Billion bucks, which I sort of doubt, the losses will eventually equal or beat the amount and a lot of bottom feeders will fight as hard as possible to prevent it from happening

In other words, "will fight as hard as possible to continue living off the proceeds of crime".

Them that has the money, gets. Them that has the money makes the rules, money is power, power corrupts absolutely etc.

Skookum1 said...

All convicted politicians should be forced to read every blog post and comment that you ever wrote. And you can write new ones every day.

That'll learn them, eh?


yeah, probably....I wonder if I could get a salary from the Corrections Branch for that? Hmmmm.....

Hopefully not as bad as Vogon poetry.....but we could subject them to readings from really, really bad Canadian poetry anyway......they might prefer to stand out in the rain.

Doesn't have to be a remote island or northern valley....some of the coastal inlets like Toba are horrifically rainy.....

Alan said...

Its not "just" about corruption and payoffs at the highest levels of public office, including the police, its about declaring the privatization of BC Rail (for one) illegal and rescinding returning it to the people of B.C. and Canada. Its also about asking why the people who bribed and had possession of BC Rail documents illegally acquired from (the Basi/Virk docs) have not been charged. Surely, its illegal to bribe public officials and/or to have possession of those documents?

We want BC Rail back! Bill Gates has more than enough money to buy his own country. He can start a railway there.

Finally, I think everyone should just ignore the Lieberal Trolls who just want to discourage everyone from doing anything. I really don't care if they join the NDP. The party is better without them. Let the trolls start a new party or join the Liberal/SoCred?Cons. They are all neo-cons, or as Marci MacDonald says, theo-cons, anyway.

Happy New Year to all and specially our anonymous "sunshine" Troll.

G West said...

Happy New Year Bill.

All the best to you and your family for 2011.

Anonymous said...

Nope, can't help you. Good look with turning your pet dinosaur into a raging t-rex, but right now all I see is a stuffed animal.

Well good luck in your pigs can fly vision (and I'm not referring to Pink Floyd Pigs on the Wing here).

Indpendents don't work effectively in a parliamentary system.

Your long winded responses tell us that you're looking for something politically that doesn't exist.

Anonymous said...

"Your understanding of the matters at hand is obviously very shallow."

You're obviously at the bottom when it comes to seeing the light.


"!. Sovereignty is a federal issue (foreign corporations backing politicians and benefitting from illegal bidding processes in return, likewise outsourcing government agencies to foreign soil). "

BC Rail was never (other than adhering to standardisation for Canadian Railway operations) a federal domain. It was and has been since PGE days a provincial Crown Corporation.



2. Administration of justice is a federal issue, and there are numerous reasons for the justice system in BC, and individual justices and of course special prosecutors, to be closely examined for misconduct and partisan "cooperativeness". There's also the mystery of why Justice Bennett was elevated to the Court of Appeal in the middle of an exhaustive set of pre-trial hearings, and why the Harper government appointed Justice Mackenzie, then made her ACJ ("upon the recommendation of the British Columbia" government), given her virtual appearance out of nowhere?"

Administration of justice is both provincial and federal. Federal is related to Constititional matters, the criminal code, and inter-provincial. Provincial justice covers other areas of law.

"3. Competition is a federal issue, especially when it's unfair competition resulting from a tainted sale from a provincial government to a private corporation. See above about justice; if the Supreme Court of BC and the Attorney-General of BC won't investigate evidence of criminal behaviour (whether the rigged bidding process or the deleted email evidence), then it behooves the federal level to make sure British Columbia politicians obey the law, and the constitution. "

Depends. Market competition is not explicitly regulated. If that were the case, ICBC would have been delcared illegal since it has a monopoly on basic automotive insurance. So go and petition the courts to remove ICBC.

have a nice year, if you can, and try not to get too worked up. It's been a good few sunny days, you should have been out enjoying them.

If you figure you have all the right answers (and your self-righteousness says so), start your own political organization. Bill here has experience - much more than you have - in organizing, so go to him.

Skookum1 said...

Depends. Market competition is not explicitly regulated. If that were the case, ICBC would have been delcared illegal since it has a monopoly on basic automotive insurance. So go and petition the courts to remove ICBC.

Applea and oranges, insults, patronizing language, and deflection. Hallmarks of a p.r. school/thinktank graduate....do you work for the PAB or the Liberals or are you maybe a consultant? Because you're not making sense, and calling me "self-righteous" when political righteousness, only equivcation, is what's on your radar.

You guys are so easy to spot it's comical.

The issue of ICBC being a monopoly is nothing of the same order as a ruling party using unwonted power to conduct an illegal sale with foreign investors using a Canadian proxy company, with bidders protesting that the process was unfair and favoured the one company, who just happened to be the major contributor to the current regime's rise to opposition, and then power. Lying all the way. ICBC was nothing like that and you know it - and bringing up an NDP-created policy you clearly think is...anti-competition - isn't the same thing as a rigged bidding process or international investors manipulating our political system and our politicians to rob us of our commonly-owned assets. It's also typical of you lot to treat overblown hysterics over NDP policies and behaviour and behave as if your own side deserves to go unchecked because of that.

My own organization? Sorry, I don't need part ty speak my mind, or to call a spade a spade, and I don't need you telling me to think I do.

"Go enjoy the nice sunhy day" etc...yeah, right, you might as well have said "here's a lollipop, go suck on it, sonny.....and then you call me self-righteous. Get a grip.

This country needs justice, and a renegade, out of control, regime pulled to heel. That's clearly impossible from within British Columbia. And if no one in the federal Parliament or anywhere in our constitutional system, has no power to investigate rank and extensive corruption by a provincial government and its backers, then it's not much of a country worth belonging to any further.

cont....

Skookum1 said...

cont.

Another organization? No, more like another kind of government, completely. that doesn't give any small minority of the polity the power to rule like a despot and give away the house to its friends (especially foreign friengs).

I'm all for statehood, actually....I doubt Bill's for that. But we could elect judges, prosecuting attorneys, police chiefs, and have a House capable of taking out a corrupt Governor, at least on paper. If the Americans are gonna own us, it should be on a level playing field.....
Anyway I know the reason for your repeated attacks on me; you're threatened by the logic of my ideas and need to shut me down - or think you can. LOL. But you know what? Truth will always triumph over equivocation, no organization required, only persistence and the refusals to be deflected by red herrings and personal put-downs, "why not just go for a nice walk and smell the flowers?"

This province, and this country, need radical change; if our federal government and all our MPs are as ineffective in dealing with something like this as the provincial government has been, and all our MLAs......well, their mandate to rule is over, it's only a matter of time. Whether it's historians that lay it bare, or courts for criminal or civil action, the truth will eventually come out. No matter how much our politicians look the other way and shuffle their feet, or types like you come along and try and shoot holes in the "Cause".

Righteousness instead of cynicism is far preferable to "they're all crooks, but don't do anything about it, and here's a useless task/suggestion to keep you from doing anything about it".

Pressure has to mount on our federal politicians to recognize the urgency of a need for a public inquiry, it's that simple. You're claiming they don't have a mandate, but they do, whether you like it or not and whether they act on it or not. That they don't may cost some of them their seats.....this is bigger than you or your contempt or nit-picking or dredging up the ghosts of the NDP....you guys are a bunch of broken records....

cherylb said...

Christy Clark live chatting on the Vancouver Sun today at noon. Good opportunity to ask about BC Rail.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Live+Chat+Christy+Clark+noon/4057816/story.html

Anonymous said...

"I'm all for statehood, actually...."

Kind of hard to do unless Canadians vote to join the United States, which just wouldn't happen.

"I doubt Bill's for that. But we could elect judges, prosecuting attorneys, police chiefs, and have a House capable of taking out a corrupt Governor, at least on paper."

A bit too much America idealism. The judiciary in the U.S. is far too politicial. There has never been any taking out of a corrupt Governor in Washington State, and many others.

"If the Americans are gonna own us, it should be on a level playing field....."

Well thankfully they don't. WHo wants their problems up here. We have enough of our own to contend with.

"Anyway I know the reason for your repeated attacks on me; you're threatened by the logic of my ideas and need to shut me down - or think you can. LOL."

Yeah right. You're way off your logics when it comes to basic politics. As for shutting you down, it comes down to a basic aspect. "I recognise your right to say it, even though I disagree with you". Try it sometime. Your statement says you figure your above me or anyone else you disagree with. Far from it.



"This province, and this country, need radical change; if our federal government and all our MPs are as ineffective in dealing with something like this as the provincial government has been, and all our MLAs......well, their mandate to rule is over, it's only a matter of time. Whether it's historians that lay it bare, or courts for criminal or civil action, the truth will eventually come out. No matter how much our politicians look the other way and shuffle their feet, or types like you come along and try and shoot holes in the "Cause".

Well get out there and start the change. COme back to us in two weeks and tell us what you have accomplished.

Skookum1 said...

Well get out there and start the change. COme back to us in two weeks and tell us what you have accomplished.

I won't even dignify the rest of your equivocations and putdowns as worthy of comment; you're a dissembler, and taht's all you are. What have YOU accomplished, other than pissing on other people's ideas?

As for statehood and the level playing field; some democracy is better than no democracy at all, and if the Americans are going to have their way with our economy and resources, we might as well have a say in them. We'd also be able to impeach - and sue - Campbell and his crew for their crookedness, instead of not being able to because they appointed/control the courts and police. It's that simple.

Direct statehood not likely viable - for one thing, Americans fought for their freedoms, such as they are; Canadians never fought for theirs and don't really have any, as we ahve all seen with this ongoing BC Rail fiasco an the rest of the criminal behaviour by federal and provincial politicians of all stripes. But the mechanisms available for policing the constitution in the US - we need that in BC, it's painfully obvious. Checks and balances, teh right to sue the government, the right to chargee the police, an indepedent judiciary and a regulated legal profession and more; BC continues on with the vestiges of its colonial-era system firmly in place. It's time to change; telling me to organize that int two weeks instead of continuing to write about the need for change, and how and why, is just more silencing views you don't like and which would upset the high-assed applecart that types like you, and your friends, live off of.

As for this:
You're way off your logics when it comes to basic politics.

You're way off your morality and clearly have a mind wanting to stay with the status quo because it serves you well. "Basic politics?" Basic politics is about constitutionality, morality, criminality, political reform - all stuff you clearly don't care about, and want us to stop talking about.

Now go away and patronize someone else for a while; your criticisms are pointless and only meant to muzzle me, and others. And buddy, frankly, after seven years of hearing from trolls like you, you're as transparent as a beer glass and petty criticisms like yours are not gonna shut me up, or anybody else, whether it's about BC Rail or about political reform in general.

YOU don't tell ME how to think, buster.....

Skookum1 said...

The judiciary in the U.S. is far too politicial. There has never been any taking out of a corrupt Governor in Washington State, and many others.

Pfft. As if the judiciary in BC weren't too political, likewise nationally; here they're partisan lapdogs. There they at least have to be vetted to get the job, not parachuted to ACJ as a reward for being the government's hatchetman (hatchetperrson).

And re Governors, you seem to be unaware of Rod Blagojevich and Eliot Spitzer, maybe you should pay attention to US news more instead of only Liberal Party talking-point scripts. And what Campbell is done has been far worse than anything Blagjoevich or Spitzer did...for his drunk-driving charge alone Campbell would have been driven from power in disgrace..and if this were a US state, the media would have paid attention to this case; and it would have been impossible to impose the arbitrary publication bans or hide behind "cabinet confidentiality"

Anonymous said...

"I won't even dignify the rest of your equivocations and putdowns as worthy of comment; you're a dissembler, and taht's all you are. What have YOU accomplished, other than pissing on other people's ideas?"

In political volunteering quite a bit and none of it related to being anywhere near the Liberal's PAB. But there is no need to justify my volunteer record to you.

What have you actually accomplished other than pissing on comments you don't like?
Canada had no need to "fight for theirs. Policing the constitution in the UNited States is very complicated. Not nessesarily needed here in BC. The U.S. is hardly a perfect model of governance.

"Checks and balances, teh right to sue the government, the right to chargee the police, an indepedent judiciary and a regulated legal profession and more; BC continues on with the vestiges of its colonial-era system firmly in place."

In different ways and means, that can be accomplished here. You would never get an independent judiciary with elected judges since almost all of them run on a Democrat or GOP label. Check the Washington State Voter Guide for the last election and you'll see them.

"It's time to change; telling me to organize that int two weeks instead of continuing to write about the need for change, and how and why, is just more silencing views you don't like and which would upset the high-assed applecart that types like you, and your friends, live off of."

I said in jest, you really cool off a bit. Writing about a purported need for change in one blog is not going to change much. Bill hit a hit with the HST, but such wins are rare in BC politics.

There is no need to silence, but perpetually whining and not physically doing anything about it doesn't accomplish much. If you're going to lead, lead. If this is what you want, get organised. If this is want you want, work at it.


Now go away and patronize someone else for a while; your criticisms are pointless and only meant to muzzle me, and others. And buddy, frankly, after seven years of hearing from trolls like you, you're as transparent as a beer glass and petty criticisms like yours are not gonna shut me up, or anybody else, whether it's about BC Rail or about political reform in general."

Oh we see, you you figure myself and others should just go away, and not you? What makes you so special and privileged to be here, and no one else including yours truly? Who exactly made you the door guy?


YOU don't tell ME how to think, buster.....

YOU don't tell ME how to think, either pal.

Do yourself a favour and take a walk around the Seawall..

Then come back and tell us what you have accomplished in setting up a website for your New Movement in politics.

Meanwhile, us in the NDP and them in the BC Liberals will solider on.

Anonymous said...

Geeez, Skook, get a life. You're not the foundation of solid politics.

If you've been following blog contributors you don't like for seven years, then it's time to move onto another worthwile hobby.

You don't know me or other blog contributors, I have accomplished quite a bit in volunteering in politics, but sorry to disappoint you, I have no need or requirement to justify that to you, except to say the volunteering spans two federal, two provincial and two civic parties, including the NDP.

I would not want you silenceed. Your rants and perpetual whining and complaining are a compliment to you, plus being entertainment.

Anonymous said...

"Now go away and patronize someone else for a while; your criticisms are pointless and only meant to muzzle me, and others. And buddy, frankly, after seven years of hearing from trolls like you, you're as transparent as a beer glass and petty criticisms like yours are not gonna shut me up, or anybody else, whether it's about BC Rail or about political reform in general.

YOU don't tell ME how to think, buster....."


THis Skook character is something else. He wants one Anon to go away. Who is he? Some kind of door man appointed by Bill. Seems to be more of a door mat than anything else.

And he doesn't tell others how to think either. He needs a rest and be much happier in 2011.

But it is his life. If he wants to be miserable, that is his choice.

Doesn't have to be ours.

Alan said...

Do you see what these lieberal Trolls do on this blog? They just love to insult, degrade and be as obnoxious as possible to divert attention from the real issues - one of which is the BC Rail inquiry and how that should best unfold. The other is how to direct public attention to Missy Clark's brother's possession of Basi Virk documents procured by bribes and why those who payed for those documents have not been brought to justice, etc., etc.

My suggestion is to ignore the Trolls - unless you feel like wasting time on them.

By the way, did you see Bill's latest hilarious article about the gong show that is BC politics?

Ignore the Trolls.

Skookum1 said...


THis Skook character is something else. He wants one Anon to go away. Who is he? Some kind of door man appointed by Bill. Seems to be more of a door mat than anything else.

And he doesn't tell others how to think either. He needs a rest and be much happier in 2011.

But it is his life. If he wants to be miserable, that is his choice.


You, sir, are a patronizing jerk, and stink of the put-down elitism that this province is infamous for all the way out to the Atlantic. Your post is essentially that *I* am miserable (LOL, how can I be when trolls like you are so easy to recognize, like shooting fish in a barrel). As for me being Bill's "doormat", yeah you'd like to treat me like a doormat but it just don't work; I've faced worse in the way of insulting propagandists and dissemblers than you'll ever have the intelligence to be. You're a hack, a spittoon, someone with nothing better to do than catcall people and try and degrade them, as if accusation were guilt and my advocacy of greater democracy for BC were some kind of intellectual defect.....geez, it's almost like you're an MLA, given behaviour like that......did my stopping in its tracks your campaign's efforts to manipulate/whitewash the Wikipedia article on Christy piss you off and now you're "out to get me?".

Go ahead, continue to be a jerk, it's quite entertaining pointing out, over and over again, how willing and determined of a jerk you're proudly painting yourself as. As a defender of the status quo, you're just adding fuel to the fires of reform, a reminder of just how rank and nasty spin doctors are so intent on being......and why the rest of us detest you SO much.

And as I said before, your animosity is only proof of how much of a threat to the established political order my posts are being seen as. "Take this guy Skookum1 out"....but tell me, exactly whose doormat are YOU. Are are you just a puppy, interning in the hopes of a nice cushy appointment as a ministerial aide someday, like certain others before you?

Anonymous said...

Skook is fast becoming a troll. Used to be good, but has slipped badly in quality of his posts.

Take Alan's advice and ignore him.

Anonymous said...

"Do you see what these lieberal Trolls do on this blog? They just love to insult, degrade and be as obnoxious as possible to divert attention from the real issues - one of which is the BC Rail inquiry and how that should best unfold. The other is how to direct public attention to Missy Clark's brother's possession of Basi Virk documents procured by bribes and why those who payed for those documents have not been brought to justice, etc., etc. "

True enough, but there are other issues out there. Such as the NDP Leadership with Lali, and Simons with others to follow. Would be more interesting if Bill started covering the NDP Leadership in detail rather than constantly going on about the BC Rail deal. There's very little that's new with it, and the same people just want to keep it goin.

Let's get Bill goin' on other interesting things in politics for once.

The Liebrals have had their day, and will be out anyway.

Skookum1 said...

...constantly going on about the BC Rail deal.... and the same people just want to keep it goin.

Yeah, those same people are the informed public of British Columbia, and they want to keep it going until BC Rail is back in public hands, and those behind the rigged bidding process are in jail.

And, it seems, the same people, always anonymous, just want to silence it, or insist that the bloggers "find something else to talk about".

Anonymous said...

And, it seems, the same people, always anonymous, just want to silence it, or insist that the bloggers "find something else to talk about".

Many anons wouldn't advocate silence on the BC Rail subject overall, but just how many times must the same things be covered by the same people over and over again?

The public is more interested in the $6m payout deal, than the corruption of Basi/Vicrk, Campbell, Collins and others. We know Campbell and Company is corrupt. Nothing new there.

Skookum1 said...

anon 10:49:
The public is more interested in the $6m payout deal, than the corruption of Basi/Vicrk, Campbell, Collins and others. We know Campbell and Company is corrupt. Nothing new there.

No, nothing new at all except the mounting campaign by types like you to claim that the public knows about Campbell et al.'s corruptions so "no need to do anything about it, the public only wants the $6 million buy-out to silence the trial investigated" is just pure spin-doctor horseshit. The public wants back its $2 billion railway, and they want the perpetrators put in jail where they belong, and those connected to it and who supported it and rigged not just the bid but the courts and police investigations publicly horse-whipped. And that's just not "Campbell, Collins and Basi-Virk", it's also Clark, Falcon, Coleman, Berardino, Mackenzie etc etc. By trying to point only at Collins, Campbell and BVB it's clear that you want to deflect attention from those on the current leadership roster, and the rest of the snivelling cretins of the Liberal caucus who continue to support them, and continue to evade questions about the deal, and are prepared to lie to their constituents again and again and again to shore up the dishonest behaviour of the ruling Liberal-Conservative-Reform coalition who stole the party revived by Gordon Wilson, with CN's help, in 1995....

There's more and more coming out about the intricate web of lies and manipulations that the public is interested in and will continue to be investigated and publicized in blogspace....and more and more and more, like the calls for a public inquiry, that the mainstream media will eventually find themselves forced to report on, or become as utterly irrelevant sa Pravda or the People's Daily are to truth-in-journalism in Russia and China.

Also it would seem the $6 million buy-out is something that is most easily targeted at de Jong, out of the current leadership ponies. Say hi to Christy for the rest of us, OK? Your intentions are written all over the contexts of your spin. You guys are SO easy to read, really.

The public at large want a public inquiry, and not JUST about the shutting down of the trial as you want to claim is all they want. What a crock....

Alan said...

Skookum1: you are absolutely right in my opinion. Thank you for explaining the importance of BC Rail again.