By Alison@Creekside
Notable how many of Steve’s patronage peeps are grifters, conmen, or alleged perps.
Starting from the left . . .
Dr. Arthur Porter, “His Excellency, Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Republic of Sierra Leone,” also Harper-appointed chair of CSIS watchdog SIRC and lead investigator into CSIS’ treatment of Abdelrazik. Money once paid to former Israeli arms trafficker to sell infrastructure deals to Sierra Leone, and now subject of an arrest warrant for fraud, money laundering and bribes/kickbacks in connection with SNC Lavelin’s successful bid to build a $1.3-billion hospital in Montreal.
Viv Toews, minister responsible for CSIS and SIRC, says somehow it’s the fault of the NDP and Libs.
Senator Mike Duffy, Harper-appointed lollypop, whose very useful 2008 election coverage included running Stephane Dion’s three-time-stumbled interview restarts five days before election day. Duffy now being investigated for his housing expenses as a senator due to apparently having no idea which province he lives in.
Bruce Carson, Harper’s “The Fixer.” A lawyer disbarred for fraud in the 80’s, Carson was charged last year with influence peddling on behalf of his 22-year old ex-callgirl fiancee — the only bit anyone remembers — to sell water purifiers to First Nations, and lobbying for a $25 million government grant within five years of leaving government.
Senator Patrick Brazeau, 38, suspended from the Senate he barely attended with full salary. Dodgy alleged financial record going into the Senate, now highlighted by sexual assault arrest and an investigation into questionable Senate housing expenses.
Tom Flanagan, Harper’s one-time Calgary School mentor and election mastermind. Fired from CBC and since Thursday on leave from U of Calgary till retirement for framing the watching of child pornography as a victimless crime and an issue of “personal liberty.” Accused Paul Martin of supporting child pornography during 2004 election. Toast, but his legacy lives on.
Con MP Rahim Jaffer, once Harper’s Chair of Con Caucus. Ran election campaign ads accusing Jack Layton of being soft on marijuana. When Jaffer was arrested for drunk driving, cops and defense lawyers couldn’t agree whether the cocaine was in Jaffer’s pants pocket or in his jacket pocket so he got off.
Nathan Jacobson, busted in the US in 2008 for fraud, $46-million in money laundering, and running online no-prescription pharmacies, but neglected to tell his Canadian hosts he was a fugitive due back in US to serve his sentence. Arrested in Toronto last October.
Nice photos of Jacobson with Harper and Benjamin Netanyahu, presumably no longer available on government website.
As noted at Dammit Janet!, Con propaganda machine stressed to the breaking point here but Steve still scraping them off when and only when their public behavior becomes an embarrassment.
You are your company.