Paul Calandra makes tearful apology to Tom Mulcair, House for non-answers
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A sensible person is pretty much indifferent about anything to do with politics, since their forte is generally lying! -
Well he did get sweet little Tammy! -
No - credit must be earned, an apology must be real. So no on both counts.
He was given his marching orders from on high.
Andrew Coyne: The real problem with Parliament is its shared culture of cynicism and gall | National Post
In the style of most political apologies, it quickly turned to self-praise. He had, he said, been so carried away by his “passion” and his “anger” at these repugnant statements (such, we were to understand, was the acuteness of his conscience) that, quite without meaning to, he had put on this sustained display of contempt for the House.
Not that this was the first such display, nor it seems the last. “I’m fairly certain there will be other opportunities in this House,” he said, “where I will be answering questions [in a way] that you don’t appreciate. I don’t think this will be the last time I get up and answer a question that doesn’t effectively respond.” So: I’m very sorry, and I promise to do it again.
After which he sat down — to a standing ovation from all sides.
There is no useful distinction to be made between sincerity and pretence in this tableau. Mr. Calandra’s self-pity was undoubtedly genuine, his manipulativeness admirably unforced. And the House’s empathetic response? We know you have no intention of changing anything. Neither do we. Indeed, your non-answers weren’t a great deal different than the non-answers we are normally given, or the ones we’d give ourselves, in the same position, just more obvious. Our chagrin was as feigned as your contrition.
Mind you, in a way being obvious does make it worse. Though the non-answer is as frequent a feature of Question Period as the non-question, it is ordinarily bounded by the time-hallowed conventions of hypocrisy. The minister who takes the trouble of pretending to answer does Parliament the courtesy of dissembling; by his efforts at concealment, he implicitly acknowledges there is a standard expected of him, even if he declines to meet it. He’s still not answering the question. But by observing the proper rituals, custom is respected, and a certain equilibrium between the parties is maintained. The Mafia operates on much the same lines.
Calandra’s overtly nonsensical answers, by contrast, represented a deliberate flouting of convention. He was not just refusing to answer the question: he was rejecting the whole concept of question-answering. He was not only taking no care to conceal his refusal: he was going out of his way to make it obvious. It was a calculated snub to the Opposition, offered up, what is worse, in full view of the public. No wonder they were so filled with fake indignation.
Mulcair questions House Speaker's neutrality | CTV News
Lol
I've been seeing this double double facepalm gif everywhere now.
Lol
I've been seeing this double double facepalm gif everywhere now.
Shocking.
Conservatives attempt to dodge vote on NDP bid to boost Speaker's powers
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/c...n-ndp-bid-to-boost-speaker-s-powers-1.2781264
Conservatives attempt to dodge vote on NDP bid to boost Speaker's powers
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/c...n-ndp-bid-to-boost-speaker-s-powers-1.2781264
Politicians almost without exception are so childish, whatever political stripe!
More accurately, if someone in Parliament wasn't an idiot, it would be very close to a first time!
"Conservative ministers will still have the right to be wrong," she stressed, "we're just requiring them to be relevant."
Bwaaahahahaha!
That should include the political hay the opposition spends the bulk of its time flinging, lolz
"We believe in two-way debates, and we also believe that question period should be a two-way street," Van Loan said. "The government shouldn't be left with its hands tied while the opposition has a free hand to go after them."
Pete's right, but I can see how the NDP and its sookie supporters here would like it their way, that's how they want everything, lolz.
Isn't there another thread where you and your goons devote your entire time to talk about me?
Why don't you go back there so you get some psychological relief..
Why don't you go back there so you get some psychological relief..
Don't know of one. But it couldn't be anymore fruitless than trying to talk to you, lolz.
You spelled "I" wrong, lolz.
It's OK pumpkin, your BFF will be here soon, taking time away from his limited time to enjoy all his wealth, and you two can try and tag team me again.
I know how much you love that, lolz.