Law and Order: Conservative intent (Canada - msm bias can't hide the truth)

CP via Halifax Chronicle Herald ^ | Wednesday, March 7, 2007 | Comrade Jennifer Ditchburn

[GMMAC]

Law and Order: Conservative intent
Harper says Dion’s Liberals too soft on crime and terrorism

By JENNIFER DITCHBURN

Halifax Chronicle-Herald
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

OTTAWA (CP) — Guns, gangs, drugs. Oh my!

The Conservative party is warning that life will be grim indeed on your street if you don’t cast a ballot for a Tory in the next election. The Liberals don’t like the police, and they’re just plain soft — soft on crime and soft on terror, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper. On the other hand, if you do vote Conservative, your government will be looking out for you.

"The first and foremost priority we have is to be protective of Canadians," cabinet minister Jim Prentice said Sunday.

"To be protective of the economy, to protect the environment, to protect them from terrorism." Get used to that type of rhetoric, because there’ll be a whole lot more of it during the federal campaign, whenever it comes.

Law and order is shaping up to be a key element of the Tory strategy as the party looks for ways to shake loose more voters — especially in Ontario — and push into majority government territory.

Harper provided a taste of what was to come in a major policy speech last month where his party’s ideas on crime and punishment were emphasized.

Canadians, he said, have "a clear choice between a country that values safe streets and safe communities, versus a country where the streets are ruled by guns, gangs and drugs."

That dire message was beaten home during the raucous Commons debate in February over whether to keep two expiring anti-terrorism measures on the books.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion declared that preventative arrests and secret judicial hearings were unnecessary infringements on civil liberties and his party voted against them.

Harper quickly labelled his opponent: Dion "is not just soft on crime," charged the prime minister. "For the first time in history we have a leader of the Opposition who is soft on terrorism."

It’s all pure politics, explains political historian Michael Behiels, focused on winning over just the right number of people in wavering Ontario ridings.

"(Harper) wants to make sure he can use this to get members of ethno-cultural communities in the Toronto region that have consistently voted Liberal to get them to shift their loyalty," said the University of Ottawa academic. "The one issue on which he can do that is this law-and-order matter."

Why those communities in particular?

"Most of them come from societies that are very tough on law and order, from societies where you have a lot of deference to authority and they put a premium on personal security and family security . . . so they’re more prone to being conservative on that issue," said Behiels.

The political stakes were laid bare by Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant in a position paper he wrote for the federal Liberal party, leaked to the Globe and Mail this week. Bryant scolded his party for not coming out tougher on crime, a politically palatable position in Toronto where there has been high-profile gun violence. "The point is to have some credibility on the issue, enough to assure voters during a crime crisis that Liberals actually have some answers to improve public safety, thereby removing crime as a wedge issue with Conservatives and allowing a focus on more traditional Liberal social justice issues," Bryant wrote.

University of Toronto criminologist Anthony Doob says the Liberals, and even the NDP, have ceded the law-and-order stage to the Conservatives: "It’s almost as if they’re embarrassed to be smart about crime."

Doob contends there is little evidence to support Conservative claims that proposals such as mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes or getting rid of house arrest for serious offenders has any positive effect on the crime rate — which is actually on a long-term downward trend.

Harper said during his Canadian Club speech that when he was a boy growing up in Toronto, "safe streets and safe neighbourhoods" were a given. In fact, when Harper was still in high school in Toronto in 1975, Canada’s homicide rate reached a peak of 3.03 per 100,000 people. The lowest rate since then was in 2003, with 1.73 homicides per 100,000, part of a decline over the past 30 years.

But whatever the rate, Doob says the problem is that it is far easier to explain to the public that you’re going to come up with a series of tougher laws, than to describe a long-term, workable strategy for actually reducing crime.

"I look at this and I see one party that’s absolutely clear on its position on crime — and they’re almost always wrong — and the other two national parties are afraid to come out with strong, coherent policies."

[GMMAC]

Typical CP mockery & agenda-driven spin published in a habitually left-leaning paper can't hide the truth:

Dion & the Liberals are elite pandering bleeding hearts who care nothing for Canadians' safety & security.

Canadian Press (CP) differs from the CBC only in not being publicly funded but is actually far more insidious as its consistently pro-left garbage is mindlessly re-circulated by low budget local media all across the nation.

[GMMAC]

PING!

[JimRed]

...where the streets are ruled by guns, gangs and drugs."

Sound familiar? Describes at least sections of any RAT dominated metropolis south of the Canadian border.

[GMMAC]

Wish I had a buck for every time I've FR posted:

Neither citizenship nor geographic locale has much, if any, bearing on liberal denial and/or stupidity.

[goldstategop]

Canadians used to pride themselves on "good order." Its a cardinal Canadian virtue, written into the Constitution Act Of 1867. The country was tamed by the law and was orderly for much of its existence. Today, its picked up the American vice: lawlessness, anarchy and violence. And the Liberal Party Of Canada has picked up that quintessential American vice: being soft on crime. Canada is not about freedom but good order and good government. The two go hand in hand with the country's history and Stephane Dion has forgotten it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[gidget7]

Yes, but I must admit, the title was hysterical! It's my new name for "Law and Order", as almost every episode bashes conservatives of one sort or another!

[GMMAC]

Agreed.
... and my wife & I now refer to CSI Miami as "CSI: SBU" - "Special Batman Unit" based upon its lead David Caruso's - "the Adam West of our times" appallingly hammy & totally untalented performances each week.
We do enjoy the original CSI & especially Gary Sinise in the NY version.

Back to Law & Oder ... of self-righteous socialist agenda, we've watched it from Day One &, with the exception of Fred Thompson who's the best ever in the DA role, is the remainder of its current cast not the worst & weakest - ever ?!?!

Plus, "Jack McCoy - now 70ish civil servant", there's 'real world' believability, eh?

[gidget7]

rofl I'll say, ditto all you said! And est we forget, law and order SUV!

[GMMAC]

"SUV" ???

Were you referring to the "SVU" mutation - or as we call it around here: "Law & Order: Special Male-bashing Unit" - or have they now added one featuring a huge truck presumably with 'Night Rider' like capabilities?

If so, it's pretty much a given the vehicle will display considerably more talent & charm than CSI Miami's vile David Caruso who, apparently in real life, is an even more massive narcissistic jerk than the character he (badly) portrays.

[gidget7]

LOL No just referring to the parody song/skit from Rush 24/7. There is no liberal activist position they have not attacked, and continue to.

[GMMAC]

So-called 'pit bulls' are the SUV's of dogs, ya know?
... at least according to the msm they are anyway.

Next time you notice a FR thread on same, check it out.
It's simply amazing: supposed 'conservatives', who otherwise wouldn't believe the msm about anything else, suddenly find its fear-mongering & 'stories' concerning these poor dogs akin to Gospel!

Plus, they totally abandon the conservative tenets of individual responsibility, personal accountability & respect for property rights - not to mention, permit their emotions trump all facts & logic - by stridently & abusively demanding a nanny state shotgun 'solution' wherein law abiding, conscientious pet owners are treated exactly the same way as cruel & irresponsible ones.

Ever want to see out & out Nazis on FR, 'pit bull' threads are definitely the place!
BTW, I haven't owned a dog of any sort in 40+ years.
It's just the Viking Kitties & I don't suffer willful illogic & faux conservatism lightly.

[gidget7]

Thanks for the heads up!

I have been a pet owner, of dogs and cats, for most of my life. You are right about accountability and responsibility! And for most Conservatives, the lack of those things is apparent in many areas of society, on all facets of life! Being habits, eating, parenting, behaviors, whatever.

It all about precious feeeeeeeeeeelings, which the Constitution rightly, does not protect, nor should it!

[GMMAC]

H'mmmm ... thinking about it ... maybe these commies are onto something ???

[fanfan]

LOL!

They're on to us!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LaBlatt Blue BUMP

[gidget7]

ROFL that's great!

[rasblue]

Jennifer Ditchburn... Hmm... Is she still on the CBC News or is this her new gig?

[GMMAC]

Yeah, exactly a year ago:
Krista Harris moves up; Jennifer Ditchburn moves out ~ CBC Watch, March 10, 2006

CBC apparently has something akin to a cookie cutter for turning out snotty ice cold feminist reporters & newscasters - somewhat like the one Global seems to have for coming up with one virtually identical girlie-man weather forecaster after another - LOL!