The Liberals have stepped in it bigtime! I can't wait to see all the backtracking and spinning that the MSM and Liberals are going be doing!
A couple of questions:
Will this injunction apply to others who suggest that Harper had knowledge of the "bribe" made to Cadman?
Is this how the Conservative Party is going to deal with allegations leveled against it in future?
Oh, and one more... Can the Liberals sue the Conservatives for libelous defamation of character regarding their "negative" advertisements?
Red Tory: GET REAL.
Why do you ask Red Tory?
Worried that before the libel suit was presented, the CPC worked day and night doing a copy&save on all those nasty Libloggers comments and posts?
Can it be proven that Dion is not a leaders?
oh yah.
There is no scandal here. The Liberals are just grasping at straws on this issue. This issue is nothing more than a "yawn" to the Canadian public.
Maybe we need to close Parliament to avoid hurt feelings and let the Courts decide everything.
What does this prove besides the fact that Harper is willing to lie to a grieving widow.
It was a semi-serious question. If the CPC does think these allegations are libelous they've certainly been widely repeated... will they be going after everyone who's leveled them?
As for my postscript question, again... not entirely non-serious. I would say that the Conservatives' ads and "cute" little efforts to trash Dion could be described as "defamatory" in nature. I mean, if this is the ground your want to play on, then fair is fair.
Red Tory
The only problem here is that the Liberals will not accept the truth. They expect everybody is as sleezy as they are...check out the track record.
Also coming your way in the future the Shawinigate Affair will be investigated for the first time...will be verrrrry interesting!
Maybe Ontario should sue Flaherty for defamation as well. 
"Maybe we need to close Parliament to avoid hurt feelings and let the Courts decide everything."
Alan,
Your point is well taken, however, these comments were made outside the walls of parliament.
There is an alternate reality that exists in the House of Commons. There remarks can be made and insults levelled that could get you sued or even killed if said outside of this artificial reality.
The Liberals took it outside the House and posted [alleged] criminal libel on their website. They're toast and good riddance to the lying trash!!!
Will this injunction apply to others who suggest that Harper had knowledge of the "bribe" made to Cadman?
As long as they say "alleged" bribe, they should have no problem.
One of my readers noticed that the Liberal website has been changed somewhat over the last little while.
"As for my postscript question, again... not entirely non-serious. I would say that the Conservatives' ads and "cute" little efforts to trash Dion could be described as "defamatory" in nature. I mean, if this is the ground your want to play on, then fair is fair." - Red Tory
Apples and oranges. Stating that Dion is not a leader is subjective. Saying someone offered a bribe - or is covering one up - can not be dismissed as an opinion.
Liberal website may have changed 'somewhat' but it's a bit late.
They're still howling like banshees with accusations and smears in the only venue they have, the HOC.
They're too dumb, too stunned to realize the mess they've created for themselves.
Noted a talking head twit on CTV questioning James Moore, trying to make an implication that Dona Cadman was asked by someone in the Party to issue her statement clearing Harper.
If a Media in any country ever needed a jolt of reality it's here. The spinning and manipulations are beyond the pale.
"Can the Liberals sue the Conservatives for libelous defamation of character regarding their "negative" advertisements?"
Red Tory, do you mean the ad where Dion says "Do you think it's easy to make priorities?"
Solution: Dion sues himself.
Or do you mean the one where Ignatieff and Dryden both say "Stephane, you didn't get it done!"
Solution: Dion sues Dryden and Ignatieff.
There. Problem solved.
I really have to post this since no one else has. If the Conservatives offered Cadman a bribe it would have had to be greater than what his death benefit would be. i.e. his benefit plus the amount of the bribe would have had to be greater than $500,000.
Since he voted for with the Liberals then the bribe was not greater than his benefit. Therefore, to be offered something less than his benefit makes the offer to run as a conservative in the next election makes more sense and is in keeping with the facts as stated by Mr. Harper.
Copied from Garth Turner's blog entry
"Or a governing party that once trying to seduce a dying MP into supporting it. Or the Conservatives breaking election financing laws. Or firing the country’s nuclear regulator. Or trying to throw a municipal vote. "
Seems he is stating (not alleging) some serious charges here.
see entry http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2008/...t-tonight-dear/
Nobody is considering what the Liberals offered. They had many visits to Mr. Cadman too.
Cadman himself said no offer was made.
And in the end, the government stood largely because Belinda Stronach - a lackluster, lightweight member of the Conservative caucus - walked across the aisle and straight into the Liberal cabinet.
And we're talking about what the TORIES offered someone in exchange for their vote? What a joke.
Ken Dryden has now made comments outside the house - cue the lawyers.
Cadman said there was no offer from the Tories.
While all this was supposedly going on, lightweight Belinda Stronach walked across the aisle and straight into the Liberal cabinet.
And the scandal is about Tory bribery? Joke.
Late to this thread here.
Probably the best thing about Harper threatening Dion with a libel suit is that it should help put this issue to rest much more quickly.
If the Libs want to continue their slanderous behaviour then maybe it should be taken into the courts.
If they realize they have nothing and back down, then maybe the HOC can get back to what it is there to do.....GOVERN!!!!
We need Dona Cadman to come forth and really attack the Liberals for the nonsense they're going on with concerning her dead husband. It's just so distasteful.
Did anyone else have a listen to Duffy live tonight and get a load of the obnoxious twit, Susan Smith? The Liberals need her back to talk over everyone else, her words are empty but she cuts everyone else out. Duffy should know better.
To top it off she was going on about the million dollar insurance policy.
There were 11 Liberals who voted against the budget today, the rest were lurking behind the curtains.
Ok, I don't care who you are, Liberal or Conservative, but politicians who threaten to sue each other, or actually go through with it, are seriously lacking in fortitude. I don't care if you're on the right or wrong side of an issue, but real Canadians do not think very highly of people who need to get lawyers involved to solve arguments.
Harper will lose respect for this among regular Canadians. I'm not talking about the law students and political pundits in the blogosphere. Hiding behind lawyers is cowardly.
The best thing about this is watching the cbc/ctv talking heads squirm as the report things. I have never heard the word ALLEGED used so often.
It is making them pause before they attack.
TJ, I beg to differ. A comment made in a public forum meant to discredit another person, being a malicious and false statement, merits follow up. At a minimum a public apology saying that they are sorry that they lied about whatever it was they said about someone would be in order.
The process of extracting the apology, and the retraction of the statement, varies depending on who is the offending party and who is the offended party. Do you think a simple letter from the PM to Dion would have made the news, let alone made an impression upon Dion? Let us not forget the canny Cretien (they always called him that in the news) when he pulled the same strategies out of his ass.
Cretien - canny, Harper - coward.
Who has the double standard? The media for sure, how about you?
Also, as someone pointed out in another thread (or another post) the "news" stories are rearing their ugly heads on how the "Canadian taxpayer" could be on the hook for millions of dollars for the lawyer costs. Someone needs to call bullshit on them as was pointed out that the costs would be born by the CPC, flush with cash and willing to spend it.
TJ
Would you rather Harper beat the hell out of him instead?
Harper was libeled and Dion has a choice...apologize or face the courts.
Simple as that. (a no win situation)
This is what happens when the mouth works quicker than the brain!
Dion and company may want to heed the legal papers served them, Harper means business, he's not playing games.
Has anyone wondered whether there might be a possibility Mr. Cadman was offered an incentive by the Liberals?
Dwayne,
Did you miss the part where I said it doesn't matter whether they're Liberal or Conservative? It is seen by the public (I wasn't talking about the media) as cowardly. Harper, Chretien, anyone.
And yes Al, I think the public *would* rather Harper beat the hell out of him - with words that is (well, ok, a lot of people would also like to see a good beating). The Prime Minister isn't an average citizen. He has the advantage of the public eye and ear, and he gets to speak in the House of Commons. So if Dion is lying Harper should just PROVE in PUBLIC that he is lying instead of hiding behind lawyers.
I've been wondering recently why there is still immunity in the House of Commons? Considering that this protection of Parliament was put in place before CPAC and other media outlets transmitted the daily Question Periods in the House of Commons...it seems it's time for new laws/rules... The fact that every word that is said in House - including libellous statements, and "allegations" stated as though they are "facts" - are broadcast, essentially worldwide; and the Hansard Record is made public...why is there still protection and immunity for MP's in the House?
P.S. interesting...in the Oxford Dict. 'libellous' is the word immediately before 'liberal'...Coinsidence? I think not...
