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Lorna Mills and Sally McKay
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Sally McKay graphically defends the Magna Carta to great success. (and great effect)
OK Harper made his appointment with the GG, so we'll know if he gets to cancel parliament for a month and rally or if the coalition will rule fair lovely Canada. Galenagalaxian told me about this petition. Or we could set cars on fire, or set cars on fire or maybe we could set fire to cars, or perhaps just setting fire to cars is what we can do. I'll think of something. I've got it, let's set cars on fire.
b/t/w I am a little bit confused about this blingee that Sally made. ...but it's very nice.
From the CBC:
"I've never seen the leader of a Conservative party, certainly not Bob Stanfield, certainly not Joe Clark, lie — I choose the word deliberately — the way Mr. Harper has," Broadbent said.
The former NDP leader, who helped negotiate Monday's deal between the New Democrats and the Liberals with the support of the Bloc Québécois, said Harper also lied when he said the three opposition leaders refused to sign their agreement in front of a Canadian flag because Gilles Duceppe, a Quebec sovereigntist, objected.
In fact, there were at least two flags present at Monday's signing ceremony, as well as a painting of the Fathers of Confederation.
From the CBC
Some constitutional scholars argue that the so-called reserve power of a governor general is so archaic and unused that it should not be relied upon in contemporary situations — the electorate should always be the ultimate decider — which is why Gov. Gen. Jean is getting so much conflicting advice of late.Now somehow I can bring this all back to the Magna Carta, because, for some strange reason, it doesn't seem to be discussed enough in blogger circles
The three main reserve powers that a governor general has are to dismiss a prime minister, to dissolve Parliament (or not) and to delay or refuse royal assent to legislation, which has been used only once before, in Alberta during the Depression.
These constitutional conventions are not written down and so involve a fair amount of subjectivity on the part of the incumbent.
In Jean's case, the fact that she is a Quebec francophone, was appointed by the Liberals and was accused of separatist leanings at one point (which she denied) may also factor into her decision making, some observers argue, if only because she might not want to be seen dragging her high office into petty controversy.
But those anti-monarchists who ask why we have a non-elected official deciding who will govern miss a point: virtually every western republic in the world (save the U.S.) has a dual system involving a head of state and a head of government, based largely on the Westminster model, for just these eventualities. At some point, somebody has to decide.
In fact, in India, a democratic republic with a history of fleeting coalitions, the head of state, the president, has taken on the difficult task of trying to herd coalition partners together and to, shades of Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion, spell out their commitments in written form.
The U.S. invests its reserve powers in the president, which can prove problematic when he uses his "royal prerogative" to dole out controversial pardons just as he leaves office or to decide on his own what constitutes something like torture.
From wikipedia
By 1215, some of the most important barons in England had had enough, and they entered London in force on 10 June 1215,[1] with the city showing its sympathy with their cause by opening its gates to them. They, and many of the moderates not in overt rebellion, forced King John to agree to the "Articles of the Barons", to which his Great Seal was attached in the meadow at Runnymede on 15 June 1215. In return, the barons renewed their oaths of fealty to King John on 19 June 1215. A formal document to record the agreement was created by the royal chancery on 15 July: this was the original Magna Carta. An unknown number of copies of it were sent out to officials, such as royal sheriffs and bishops.
The most significant clause for King John at the time was clause 61, known as the "security clause", the longest portion of the document. This established a committee of 25 barons who could at any time meet and overrule the will of the King, through force by seizing his castles and possessions if needed. This was based on a medieval legal practice known as distraint, but it was the first time it had been applied to a monarch. In addition, the King was to take an oath of loyalty to the committee.
Clause 61 essentially neutered John's power as a monarch, making him King in name only. He renounced it as soon as the barons left London, plunging England into a civil war, called the First Barons' War. Pope Innocent III also annulled the "shameful and demeaning agreement, forced upon the King by violence and fear." He rejected any call for restraints on the King, saying it impaired John's dignity. He saw it as an affront to the Church's authority over the King and the 'papal territories' of England and Ireland, and he released John from his oath to obey it.
So this means that Ratzinger is going to get involved, but at some point in the near future, Harper will want to divorce his wife causing a break with all Papal authority to create the Church of Canada. I, of course, will chronicle these future events for wikipedia.
What gives Globe and Mail?
You were one of the newspapers that endorsed Harper in the last election. Remember the one that was held about 15 minutes ago?
This week, Canadian Politics have turned into a garden party worthy of Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels.
But it gets better, according to Andrew Steele's Globe article about the options that Harper can exercise to remain in power, one is to "Preemptively Remove Michaëlle Jean" (the GG) however,
"This is the true nuclear option for Harper: a preemptive strike against Jean to remove her from office, and replace her with a governor-general sympathetic to the argument that the people should decide in an election."
[...]
"Mr. Harper could advise the Queen that Ms. Jean should be removed from office, perhaps noting her past dalliance with Quebec separatism as grounds. He would then be free to appoint someone who would agree to call an election or prorogue rather than call upon Mr. Dion to form a Ministry.
The difference is critical here. In Australia, the issue was the Senate refusing to pass supply. Prime Minister Whitlam had a majority in the lower house, which is normally supreme in matters of confidence. But PM Harper does not have a majority in the Commons, has not tested the will of Parliament and an alternative administration enjoys a majority of support.
To call this option risky is a grave understatement. Not only would it threaten the role of the monarchy in Canada, but parliamentary supremacy back to the Magna Carta would be called into question."
Also could some please make this logo 3D. I only have Easy GIF Animator.
(Harper wants to destroy the Magna Carta)
ALMOST NOTHING with Josh Thorpe, Yam Lau and Barbara Balfour at Akau Inc. 1136 Queen St. W, Toronto. Dec. 4, 2008 to Jan. 31, 2009.
Curated by Cheryl Sourkes
Opening: Thursday, Dec. 4, 7 - 9:30 pm
Josh Thorpe - Stripe for the Eel 2008 Wall with acrylic paint. (Installed in the Experimental Exhibition Lab at UofT)