Jason Kenney is on a roll

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Tue, 2009-03-24 07:36

al-Qa'bong

Along with banning pro-Arab British MP George Galloway from entering Canada today, the Gauleiter of Calgary Southeast has committed another outrage against Arab Canadians:

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made no apologies yesterday for ending the flow of funds to the Canadian Arab Federation, which he says has expressed support for terror groups.

Quote:

CAF president Khaled Mouammar believes Canada should regard Hamas and Hezbollah as "legitimate organizations," Kenney said.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are on the Canadian government's list of groups "associated with terrorism," according to the public safety department's [AKA The Committee of Public Safety] website.

In response to the CAF's press releases during the Israeli massacre in Gaza, which had the Incorruptible Kenney's full support, his Ministerialdirektor, Alykhan Velshi, speaking on Kenney's behalf, said:

Quote:

“There is no need for you to send me your press releases. I am not interested in

reading them. Thank you for your cooperation.” “Actually, on second thoughts, keep writing me. Your emails are hilarious

MINISTER JASON KENNEY’s HISTORY WITH THE CAF

Sat, 2009-03-21 00:25

Frustrated Mess Frustrated Mess's picture

He is a small little man who will be remembered in history for being a petty and chauvinistic creep catapulted into authority by a system so flawed only the mediocre and shamefully weak may rise to power.

Sat, 2009-03-21 01:11

Unbiased

I am so choked.

I just left the "pithiest" of comments on the G&M and though it says there are 315 comments posted, not one has appeared.

Is the Globe afraid of this one ?

Perhaps they ought to be. I have to say I was stunned at this.

I haven't read the Star yet but apparently Kenney was quoted by his spokesman as describing Mr Galloway as a popinjay. I had to laugh.

Popinjay.."A vain or conceited person, one given to pretentious displays."

Does anyone think that any of the morons in the Harper crowd would use this word ?

I need a break.. time to google Kenney.

What a jackass.

Sat, 2009-03-21 01:32

Jingles

The [url=http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/velshi200507130811.asp][color=blue... of Alykhan Velshi:

Quote:
You’re either with us,” said President George W. Bush, in a much-maligned speech delivered after 9/11, “or you’re with the terrorists.” At the time, our thoughts turned to whether the United States of America and her allies would have the steel to fight the war on terrorism to a victorious conclusion. Since then, a goodly number of America’s allies have wobbled, especially over Iraq, but even they realize that the United States is not the bad guy. One cannot say the same for the many Muslims living in the West who have yet to pick a side in the war on terrorism.

Quote:
the war on terror can never be won unless Muslims who have the privilege of living in the West stand up for civilization against the forces of barbarism and nihilism.

Quote:
I support the Bush doctrine, have a favorable disposition towards Israel, and supported the right to publish the Danish cartoons.

Quote:
The Geneva Conventions were drafted by civilized countries for the treatment of civilized soldiers. The terrorists we fight today, by contrast, are not dutiful conscripts or professional soldiers; they are would-be martyrs motivated by a fanatical and uncompromising ideology. Granting them the panoply of rights under the Geneva Conventions is inconsistent with the history and underlying assumptions of those treaties.

This guy is a real piece of work. Why is he in my country?

Sat, 2009-03-21 02:00

M. Spector M. Spector's picture

Unbiased wrote:

I haven't read the Star yet but apparently Kenney was quoted by his spokesman as describing Mr Galloway as a popinjay. I had to laugh.

Popinjay.."A vain or conceited person, one given to pretentious displays."

Does anyone think that any of the morons in the Harper crowd would use this word ?

Actually, that was a word that Galloway himself once famously used to describe Christopher Hitchens.

Sat, 2009-03-21 05:42

Unbiased

Ahhhh.

Thank you M. Spector !

Interesting background on that. However did you manage to dredge that out of your memory ? :-)

It clears up what was a bit of a mystery for me. I was baffled at the use of the word by a Canadian in what I presume was somewhat of a press release..

I entered this discussion from reading the Globe article and did not mention that as the basis for my post.

http://tiny.cc/lQrjL

I since have started looking into the Kenney phenomenom. What a piece of work this guy and his mouthpiece are !

I hope his views are soon given more prominence. I think Canadians need more exposure to this minister.

edited to apologize for re-using Jingle's phrase. Although immitation is ,.. etc ..:-)

Sat, 2009-03-21 12:48

sgm

I ran across the same Velshi piece Jingles quotes above, but I think this one he co-authored may actually be more relevant to the current decision by Kenney.

In it, Velshi and his co-author take issue with a judge's decision that the Bush administration was unconstitutionally proscribing charitable donations to "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" groups, or SDGTs.

Note these two paragraphs, in which the now-famous Cromwell allusion had an early run:

There is, however, a compelling basis for a government ban on any assistance — even self-described humanitarian aid — to terrorists. Because terrorist organizations are not known as models of corporate transparency, there is no way of knowing whether a terrorist entity’s humanitarian arm is funneling money to its militant one. What is more, the fungible nature of money means that donations to the peaceful arm free up money to be spent by the militant arm.

It is similarly absurd to believe that a terrorist organization’s political and humanitarian services can excuse its terrorist activities. Hezbollah is the exemplar of this strategy. Although it holds itself out as a legitimate political party, because its political demands are backed by the threat of force, its political wing has a symbiotic relationship with its military one. Without their heavies in the hills, Hezbollah politicians would be street-corner Cromwells, guilty of their country’s blood but powerless to spread their poison inside the Lebanese government.

In an interview with British media, Velshi seemed to imply that Galloway's recent delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza counted as support for terrorism, not surprisingly given this earlier essay.

Another theme stressed by Velshi in this piece is the need for broad discretion by the executive authority to fight terrorists (hence his unhappiness with the judge's ruling that the discretion to define SDGTs was unconstitutionally broad).

Canada doesn't have the same three-branch structure as the US of course, but the recent action of the CBSA under the Conservatives could be seen as a similar broadening of the government's power.

Perhaps Velshi and Keney are importing US-style attitudes and views of government into Canada:

Palpably, the government must not let a flawed judicial decision that relaxes restrictions on terrorists stand unchallenged. Nor can it afford to be passive in defense of our foreign policy while the cold, lacertian [lizard-like] eyes of our enemies watch for any flicker of hesitance.

Sat, 2009-03-21 15:34

Frustrated Mess Frustrated Mess's picture

He's a fucking fascist.

Sat, 2009-03-21 15:38

Unbiased

The firestorm is growing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAm7rfHKSyY

where we can watch Galloway in a televised debate with Meir Weinstein, director of the JDL Canada.

Weinstein is nasty. Its funny, out of the blue he brings Iran into the mix. He also rants on about children being influenced by terrorism.

(The British government is resuming talks with Hezbollah shortly and Tony Blair spoke with Hezbollah yesterday)

More shameful words from the "spokesman" Alykhan Velshi, ..."We're going to uphold the law, not give special treatment to this infamous street-corner Cromwell who actually brags about giving 'financial support' to Hamas, a terrorist organisation banned in Canada," he said. "I'm sure Galloway has a large Rolodex of friends in regimes elsewhere in the world willing to roll out the red carpet for him. Canada, however, won't be one of them."

Sat, 2009-03-21 16:19

#10

contrarianna

It might have been posted already but this comment piece in the Toronto Star (I don't what page it ended up on) is the best, so far, I've seen in the mainstream media...though I don't believe Kenny is some abberation in the micromanaged Harper government :
====
Mar 21, 2009 04:30 AM
Banning British MP a clumsy, dangerous move

Jason Kenney has gone over the edge. The increasingly erratic immigration minister made headlines last week when, in a fit of pique, he cut off funding to an Arab organization that helps newcomers learn English. Now, Kenney has banned British MP George Galloway from entering Canada, on the spurious grounds that he supports Middle East terrorism.

It's a clumsy move, designed presumably to bolster the Conservative government's support among voters who ardently back Israel.

But in a roundabout way it does illustrate how absurdly broad Canada's new anti-terror laws are and how dangerous they can be in the wrong hands...."

http://www.thestar.com/article/606073
=====
See, as a corrective, to the "it's mainly Kenny" slant, this piece in the Pacific Free Press

"Little Jason Kenney Roars for Likud Lobby in Galloway Ban
Written by Chris Cook
Saturday, 21 March 2009 10:07

".....
Though I agree with the tone of Walkom's piece, which correctly depicts Kenney and the Conservatives as the idiotic provincials they are, there is nothing "erratic" about the direction Canada has moved under Stephen Harper's leadership. Canada's border police consistently bar anti-war voices from being heard in this country, and their antipathy to any that would criticise the Harper world view, a world view now entirely in disrepute, is unswerving.

Over the last few years, Harper's new government has barred rap singers, folk singers, activists, writers, educators, and now a prominent politician entry into Canada. The one common denominator in these barrings, all made to protect the sensitive Canadian populace from odious and possibly infectious bad ideas emanating from said miscreants, is the anti-militarist, anti-war views these people hold and promulgate publicly.... "

http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1/3894-little-jason-kenney-roars-fo...

Sun, 2009-03-22 02:29

#11

banned

Who told him to bar George? Think!

Sun, 2009-03-22 02:38

#12

Cueball

Michelle?

Sun, 2009-03-22 02:41

#13

al-Qa'bong

Bernie?

Sun, 2009-03-22 13:55

#14

Boom Boom

Jack Layton condemned Kenny's banning of Galloway today on CTV's Question Period, as well as Kenny's English/French requirements for new immigrants - explaining that his wife's mother spoke very little English when she came over and worked in hotels for 30 years.

Sun, 2009-03-22 14:26

#15

Frustrated Mess Frustrated Mess's picture

Good for him. Of course, on-line, there is no mention of it.

Sun, 2009-03-22 14:58

#16

Cueball

Boom Boom wrote:
Jack Layton condemned Kenny's banning of Galloway today on CTV's Question Period, as well as Kenny's English/French requirements for new immigrants - explaining that his wife's mother spoke very little English when she came over and worked in hotels for 30 years.

Good.

Sun, 2009-03-22 15:18

#17

Will Hiscock

This is one of the most blatent pro-empire moves this government has made. I really hope they have stepped over the line of what Canadians find acceptable. I hope Canada has a line.

Sun, 2009-03-22 16:18

#18

al-Qa'bong

Cueball wrote:

Boom Boom wrote:
Jack Layton condemned Kenny's banning of Galloway today on CTV's Question Period, as well as Kenny's English/French requirements for new immigrants - explaining that his wife's mother spoke very little English when she came over and worked in hotels for 30 years.

Good.

Yes, it is good that Layton spoke up about l'affaire Galloway and Reformatory immigration policies. Did he say anything about the government's cutting of funds to the Canadian Arab Federation's language training for immigrants program?

Does anyone else find it disturbing that this régime, which is backed by the corporate class and other monied interests, is attacking a small, defenseless ethnic and religious minority, claiming it is a threat to national security?

Where have we seen this before?

Sun, 2009-03-22 20:25

#19

Sarann

Many westerners, including me, had grandparents who couldn't speak English when they came to this country. Think about this ignorant little man and his little ideas all you productive, hard working descendents of those brave people.

Sun, 2009-03-22 21:06

#20

remind

Funny thing eh, how embolden the Harpo Cons are after Iggy took control of the Liberals?

Sun, 2009-03-22 21:09

#21

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Whole new playbook this week.

Sun, 2009-03-22 21:29

#22

Slumberjack

Boom Boom wrote:
Jack Layton condemned Kenny's banning of Galloway today on CTV's Question Period, as well as Kenny's English/French requirements for new immigrants....

I applaud Jack Layton for taking a principled stand.

Sun, 2009-03-22 21:34

#23

Unionist

Yes, bravo Jack! Well done.

Sun, 2009-03-22 22:53

#24

al-Qa'bong

I went on a tirade about all this on my radio programme tonight. Then I played a song that I dedicated to the guy I called " a tinpot little brownshirt." The song was Die Fahne Hoch.

Then I sat back and waited for the hostile phone calls. None came, but one guy phoned in and said he was in the Hitler Youth for six years and had to sing that song every day. I didn't see that one coming. He agreed with what I said about Kenney, too.

Sun, 2009-03-22 23:07

#25

Boom Boom

al-Qa'bong wrote:
Did he say anything about the government's cutting of funds to the Canadian Arab Federation's language training for immigrants program?

Jane Tabor was controlling the flow of questions, and she didn't ask this particular one.

Sun, 2009-03-22 23:24

#26

Boom Boom

Wow!

Sun, 2009-03-22 23:29

#27

saga

[url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090322/Galloway_Ba... plan confronation for banned Brit MP[/u][/url]

Updated Sun. Mar. 22 2009 9:47 PM ET

The Canadian Press

TORONTO -- Organizers of the four-city speaking tour of British anti-war MP George Galloway are going to challenge the decision to bar him from Canada in court.

The organizers also say if that fails, they've already prepared plan B.

Organizers are to announce Monday they will file an emergency injunction in Ontario federal court on Tuesday seeking to overturn Citizenship and Immigration Canada's entry ban on the outspoken politician.

Should that fail, a delegation of Canadian MPs, lawyers and activists is assembling to escort Galloway from the U.S., where he is on tour, across the Canadian border.

"Our hope is the decision will be overturned by the courts when it actually looks at the merits of the decision of the government," said organizer Laith Marouf, national branches co-ordinator of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights.

"But also ... we're not going to stop at that. We will mount our physical confrontation.

"On Monday the 30th in the morning, Mr. Galloway will attempt to cross the border. It has not been decided yet which land crossing -- most probably in Quebec," he said.

"He will be met by throngs of supporters on the other side."

more ...

YES!!!

Mon, 2009-03-23 06:44

#28

thanks

thanks for that piece of news, saga!

Mon, 2009-03-23 06:46

#29

Maysie

Quote:
Jason Kenney is on a Roll

Kaiser or onion and can we get him TO GO?

Mon, 2009-03-23 06:47

#30

Cueball

Excelent. Are there busses planned for this possible confrontation?

Mon, 2009-03-23 06:51

#31

Michelle

Fabulous news! Thanks for posting!

And, welcome to babble, "thanks". :)

Mon, 2009-03-23 10:15

#32

martin dufresne

I have read an allusion to this, but haven't been able to spot the actual reference on Babble. So here it is:

Toronto Star
March 21, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY - Immigrants who can't speak English or French well enough should be denied citizenship, says the federal immigration minister.
In a speech to an immigration conference yesterday in Calgary, Jason Kenney said Canada needs to improve its efforts to integrate newcomers and "one area that we can ask immigrants in the country to make a greater effort (in) is that of language."
Kenney later told reporters that immigration needs an overhaul and an effort must be made to ensure immigrants and those who want to become citizens speak French or English competently. He said the requirement exists but isn't being enforced enough.
Kenney worries that granting citizenship without guaranteeing language skills puts a new Canadian at an economic and social disadvantage. And he wants to know how some people who can't speak either of Canada's official languages got through the system."

How about if we advocated that speaking any First Nation language be made an alternative option?...

Mon, 2009-03-23 10:43

#33

remind

al-Qa'bong wrote:
I went on a tirade about all this on my radio programme tonight. Then I played a song that I dedicated to the guy I called " a tinpot little brownshirt." The song was Die Fahne Hoch.
Then I sat back and waited for the hostile phone calls. None came, but one guy phoned in and said he was in the Hitler Youth for six years and had to sing that song every day. I didn't see that one coming. He agreed with what I said about Kenney, too.

Good for you Al Q, it is about time the media played a role in stopping/exposing this Harpo con BS, as opposed to tolerating it, or encouraging it.

And the response from the German fellow is interesing, do you think they have overstepped their bounds, in the demographics that are usually Conservative, but hate police states?

Mon, 2009-03-23 10:43

#34

Michelle

Fascist freak.

If that were the rule when my grandparents came here, they wouldn't have gotten their citizenship, at least my grandfather wouldn't have. It took him a long, long time to learn English.

Mon, 2009-03-23 11:02

#35

remind

Ya, there is no doubt of that, and one would think that those who would normally vote Con, but would've been impacted themselves through this speaking English or French crap, would be turning off of the Harpo cons and their police state actions.

Mon, 2009-03-23 11:07

#36

It's Me D

Quote:
If that were the rule when my grandparents came here, they wouldn't have gotten their citizenship, at least my grandfather wouldn't have. It took him a long, long time to learn English.

And the Prairies would be practically empty... including Alberta... it'd be a pretty funny thought, if this asshat wasn't in a position of power.

Mon, 2009-03-23 11:45

#37

Boom Boom

One of the pundits on CTV's QP yesterday said this move was to get Conservative support back in Quebec. Fat chance of that happening is my guess.

Mon, 2009-03-23 12:41

#38

remind

Really? Are they so short sighted, oh well, I guess the answer to that is obvious.

Mon, 2009-03-23 16:44

#39

Green Grouch

I'm a newbie here, Babblers, so hope I'm doing this correctly. Here's a message from the wee outraged mannie Galloway hisself:

http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/20951

Must say it's such a refreshing change to hear someone express himself with humour and coherence... as opposed to the goose-stepping stiltedness of Harper Inc's speech/prose.

I hope the boarders aren't repelled at the border by our guardians of right-- I'm very curious to see how much deeper the Gauleiter might dig himself.

I also appreciated the Rabble article on the CAF funding cuts.... as usual, better than the mainstream, largely detail-less crap that was on offer first thing this morning.

Mon, 2009-03-23 16:56

#40

Jingles

Quote:
And the Prairies would be practically empty... including Alberta...

uh...except for all the Blackfoot, Blood, Tsu T'na, Cree, etc, etc.

But they didn't speak English, so Kenney would want to deport them.

Mon, 2009-03-23 19:41

#41

Boom Boom

Kenney was on Newman's show tonight, what a jerk - smug, condescending, self-righteous. Blamed the Galloway mess on a border guard who decided Galloway was a threat under new existing terror laws, and Kenney says he has no choice but to support that decision - just following the law - and kept repeating the tired mantra that Hamas is an illegal terrorist organization (and that Galloway was aiding and abetting them).

If I remember correctly about the English/French language requirements for immigrants, he said that was in a speech he made, was reported incorrectly, but still insists that without French or English skills, immgrants can't get jobs here. Maybe it's on the CBC website?

Mon, 2009-03-23 19:46

#42

al-Qa'bong

ESL programs are now being scaled back because of the funding cut, and of course jobs are going to be lost.

I wonder if Kenney had considered how his policies are affecting good, clean white Canadians.

Mon, 2009-03-23 20:34

#43

remind

What a lying liar Kenney is!

Mon, 2009-03-23 22:59

#44

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Welcome Green Grouch, here is the rabble article he/she was referring to:

http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/uzma-shakir/canadian-arab-federation-lose-federal-funding

Quote:

Furthermore, to hold settlement services hostage, services that are 100 per cent geared towards newcomer immigrant and refugee needs, is to reduce them to discretionary services subject to the vagaries of political agendas as opposed to services that ought to be integral to our society. Canada is a nation built on immigration, multiculturalism and notions of justice. To use defunding of settlement services to disenfranchise some immigrants and refugees strikes at the heart of what is (and ought to be) our core values -- namely, the charter of rights and freedoms.

I think it is time for all anti-racist and social justice organizations and advocates to raise their voices to defend our civil liberties and our social services and ask the Prime Minister to rescind Mr. Kenney's decision.

Mon, 2009-03-23 23:05

#45

Boom Boom

Galloway was delicious on The National tonight! He positively skewered Kenney. Kenney responded that he will not be swayed although he has the power to overturn Galloway's banning, he will not. What an ignoramous.

Mon, 2009-03-23 23:11

#46

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Where are the monarchists when we need them. This is an outrage.

About 6sq" of space in the Toronto Sun today buried with Newsflashes. No political or media suppression, none.

Mon, 2009-03-23 23:25

#47

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Sure is on a roll:

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2009/03/21/8839971-sun.html

Quote:

Kenney's roster of 266 online devotees includes many handsome boys and girls; the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation; Steve Outhouse, "husband, father and Christ-follower;" the Canada-Israel Committee; "Catholicism" for papal news; and the prime minister.

The immigration minister's tweeting covers lots of the usual nail-biting stuff found on Twitter: "Arriving in Calgary for an evening event ... Touching down in Ottawa ... Just done reception, speech."

(Apparently his tweets also include a special code that allows conservatives to hook up with each other faster than you can say right-wingnuts.)

We also found a few unfortunate technical glitches.

For instance, Kenney posted a tweet earlier this month -- "Liberal MP endorsing pro-terrorist rally" -- with an Internet link to what was supposed to be a YouTube video of a Tamil demonstration on Parliament Hill.

Unfortunately, by last week, the "terrorist rally" linked to a video of the St. Patrick's Day parade.

But for rare entertainment on Twitter, it is hard to beat Kenney's tweeting the night of the annual black-tie "Politics and the Pen" book-awards gala earlier this month.

SCHMOOZE

Kenney described it on Twitter as "one of the year's best schmoozefests -- one of the few nights of the year when conviviality trumps Ottawa's often brainless partisanship."

At 6:55 p.m. that evening, Kenney was apparently sitting down to dinner at a table with my good pal and CanWest columnist Don Martin, when the minister pulled out his BlackBerry to begin tweeting to adoring fans online.

"Drew the short straw, and am seated next to Don Martin," Kenney tweeted. "He's still sober!!"

(Hard to believe the prospect of an evening with Kenney didn't drive Martin to drink.)

8:48 p.m. "Listening to Brent Butt of Corner Gas perform. Actually very funny! Just did a riff on PM's hair."

9:05 p.m. "Listening to winner of the big prize, Dr. James Orbinski, for An Imperfect offering -- Humanitarian Action in the 21st Century."

9:17 p.m. "Orbinski, who has done good work, is over-staying his welcome at the podium, rattling off pretentious liberal cliches. Embarrassing."

Orbinski, a Canadian physician, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

Tweet. Tweet.

Mon, 2009-03-23 23:55

#48

Cueball

Ok. Well. He's a moron.

Tue, 2009-03-24 00:14

#49

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

The scary part is this almost seems planned.

Tue, 2009-03-24 01:19

#50

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Fuck Cueball, I like it when you shoot straight, now I have to go read that over 5 times because I'm getting conflicting messages. I'll give you 5 to fix the typos.

Tue, 2009-03-24 01:23

#51

Cueball

If you insist.

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