Reporter “confronted” by family of Lib candidate Steve Pickard at courthouse

More details are emerging on the arrest of Liberal candidate Steve Pickard who spent two nights in jail before being released on bail to his father, former Liberal MP Jerry Pickard.

Pickard’s family members then attempted to impede a reporter who managed to get audio and some still shots of the confrontation here

Pickard “is charged with assault, forcible confinement and four counts of uttering threats.”

“According to court documents, the charges stem from three allegations related to an incident on Friday. The other charges date back to 2006 and 2009. Three alleged victims are named in the documents.” (see story here)

Update: The dots are starting to connect on what these charges were all about. It isn’t too hard to deduce the scenario from the places Pickard is banned:

“The councillor is banned from a dozen addresses, including the Chatham Cultural Centre, Dover fire hall, Chatham Capitol Theatre, Ecole Secondaire de Pain Court and Theatre Kent.” (see here)

Steve Pickard arrested: No mention of being Liberal candidate

Am I just being a little paranoid when Chatham Councillor Steve Pickard is arrested and there is no mention that he is also the Liberal candidate for Chatham-Kent Essex? (see story here)

U of O Pres Alan Rock’s released emails about Ann Coulter

Nothing is usually shocking about the hypocrisy of the Liberal mind but I was actually stunned when I read what the University of Ottawa’s Alan Rock  had emailed out about Ann Coulter and her scheduled speaking engagement at the campus. Check out the public responses he was giving here.

Now compare it to what he was actually saying.

Rock directed Francois Houle, vice-president academic and provost to warn Coulter:

“You, Francois, as Provost, should write immediately to Coulter informing her of our domestic laws. … You should urge her to respect that Canadian tradition as she enjoys the privilege of her visit.”

“Ann Coulter is a mean-spirited, small-minded, foul-mouthed poltroon. “She is ‘the loud mouth that bespeaks the vacant mind’.”

“She is an ill-informed and deeply offensive shill for a profoundly shallow and ignorant view of the world. She is a malignancy on the body politic. She is a disgrace to the broadcasting industry and a leading example of the dramatic decline in the quality of public discourse in recent times.”

Rock’s reaction to Houle’s proposed letter:

“Quel excellent message! Merci et felicitations. I am sure she has never been dressed down so elegantly in her life!”

Then when this all blew up in the collective University’s face and advised to lay low by the communication’s director Andree Dumulon:

“I am going to follow Andree’s advice”

Keep in mind that all this is from an ex-Justice Minister. (see story here)

h/t Alberta Ardvark

Monte Solberg sticks up for CSIS boss

Interesting column by ex-Conservative MP Monte Solberg who was CSIS’ Dick Fadden’s political boss at Citizenship and Immigration.

Solberg defends Fadden’s comments from an interview with the CBC (see here) about how provincial cabinet ministers and municipal politicians were being influenced by foreign countries:

Being blunt about the danger posed by foreign agents is surely more important than the embarrassment caused for some provincial and municipal politicians, though Fadden should have divulged to them what he could.

Dick Fadden is doing his job and I’m glad he is.

(see column here)

Where is BC’s Danielle Smith?

Reading the National Post’s Kevin Libin’s run-down (see here) on Wildrose Alliance (jeesh, I do hate that name) leader Daniele Smith’s speech at their convention over the weekend, I couldn’t help but wonder where is the emerging political leadership coming from here in BC.

I look at the potential leaders that are bandied around and all are re-run/failed candidates, re-hashed/low-profile federal politicians or ex-politicians retired of senior age. None are even close to being ideal and can you see any of them being asked to go on a roller coaster ride with Rick Mercer on his show?

Where is our young, dynamic, smart and articulate savior that BC so desperately needs?