[Reverend Blair]

$1:

If you have any evidence on how the current government has degraded the responses to domestic violence, I'd like to see it. As somebody who has dealt professionally with the victims and suspects of domestic violence for 17 years I'd love to hear you elaborate on this statement:

The Conservatives are running Tomas Steen in my riding, Eyebrock. He named Hawerchuk and Hull as his campaign co-chairs. I can't remember...is it just one of those co-chairs or both of them who got in trouble for wife-beating? What kind of message does the inclusion of such low-life thugs in the Conservative campaign send?

As to how the Conservatives have trapped women in more domestic violence, cutting daycare, cutting women's programs, keeping women from getting EI and so on all contribute because it makes it much more difficult for women to leave violent relationships. Even the opposition to gun registry plays a role, since most domestic shootings are a man shooting his wife with a long gun.

Cuts to funding for women's groups, the removal of "equality" from the mandate of the Status of Women group, chopping Court Challenges...these are all things that have an impact.

There's also the general tone of the Conservative rhetoric. "Women are weak" is the subtext of the hockey-goon, gun-sucking, uber-machismo of the Conservative rank and file. You don't find a lot of members of other parties talking about "femi-nazis" or suggesting that men should have a say in a what a woman does with her body.

$1:

I doubt very much he knew he'd be caught. He only confessed and apologized after he knew he HAD been cought.

He knew all about the security. The people selling the ring testified to that. He knew he'd be on camera, and he knew that they would know who handled the ring last.

[PENATRATOR]

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... 5B%5D=5161

Thomas Steen 950 NHL games, 753 Penalty minutes, far from the image of a hockey goon

[Reverend Blair]

He has at least one wife-beater as a campaign co-chair, Penatrator. Gee, a big hockey player beating up a woman no, that's not goonish.

[EyeBrock]

The Status of Women Group? Is that all you can come up with? They were an uber left wing group that had been hijacked by activists and did little to help anybody out besides furthering their own activist agenda's. The group withered due to lack of interest.

I can say that we (that would be my partner and equal) appreciate the $1200 a year we get towards daycare, which is $1200 more than we got under previous governments. The Status of Women femi-nazis were more interested in pushing pet agendas, no loss there. Maybe you left wing guys and gals should have provided some of your own cash to keep them going?

I work with victims of DV. Really, I see no difference to programs under the Libs.
The fact is that the vast majority of these programs are provincial anyway. Nice try, this is a subject I know a lot about and you are just used to the back-slapping rhetoric you get on your little lefty site. I know facts can sometimes get in the way of far left arguments.

Be prepared to defend your groundless allegations, unlike on latitudes.

A vague statement accusing CPC voters of pushing 'women are weak' as an agenda shows one weakness only, that of your position.

Again, unsubstantiated comments cast at the Federal level that we are discussing.
You present no facts to back-up your partisan posts.

I've always been willing to listen to others points of view. You should try it sometime instead of preaching your far left views that are unsupported with any vestiges of truth.

You really should expand your social network to encompass a wider variety of views as your rhetoric is looking tired and flimsy.

What’s next? Flaming?

[PENATRATOR]

Reverend Blair Reverend Blair:

He has at least one wife-beater as a campaign co-chair, Penatrator. Gee, a big hockey player beating up a woman no, that's not goonish.

Hockey player or internet message board addict? Does it really matter? I really think you are grasping at straws man, don't get yourself so wound up.

[Reverend Blair]

$1:

The Status of Women Group? Is that all you can come up with? They were an uber left wing group that had been hijacked by activists and did little to help anybody out besides furthering their own activist agenda's. The group withered due to lack of interest.

The cuts went farther than that though. Groups advocating for women were decimated, including those working with the victims of domestic violence.

$1:

I can say that we (that would be my partner and equal) appreciate the $1200 a year we get towards daycare, which is $1200 more than we got under previous governments.

Lack of affordable day care...and $1200 a year before it gets taxed does not pay for daycare...is the largest factor in determining if a single mother can afford to work. Now consider that in the context of a woman who wants to get out of a violent relationship. She can stay in a middle-class relationship and get beaten, or pack up the kids and go on welfare.

$1:

The Status of Women femi-nazis

You realize that by using that word you just completely discredited yourself, right. You are now understood to be just as incredibly stupid as every other Rush Limbaugh dittohead out there. Too dim to think for yourself and spewing hateful catch-phrases from the radical right.

$1:

Nice try, this is a subject I know a lot about

Oh? 'cause the only source you've cited so far is yourself.

[EyeBrock]

How else can femi-nazis be described? The SOW crowd were rabid in their agenda. Just because discredited loony right wingers have used the phrase does not mean it's not an apt descriptor for some of the more loony lefty femi-groups. English is English and I'll use my language when and how I see fit. I don't answer to left wing pulpit bashers.

So tell me what you know about available outreach programs for victims of DV? VWAP or DVERS spring to mind? Didn't think so.
Both programs have grown rapidly in the past few years. Providing protection for the most vunerable women.
DVERS is also a private/public program with funding from ADT. I can give more examples of current DV programs that are successful, even without Sunera Thobani or Joan Grant-Cummings et al.

$1200 doesn't cover daycare but we also get tax back up to a level. All the programs available only cover day workers. We both work shift so I appreciate the cash and tax rebate as daycare spaces that are provide are of little use to us with our work schedule.
We don't fit in the little slots the left want us to be in.

[karra]

$1:

a thief is a thief .

Not to some as you may have noticed - particularly those inclined to kiss Svend's ring at each and every opportunity. . . .

[Reverend Blair]

Uh, there is no group that goes by the acronym "SOW", Eyebrock. Turns out your far-right brainwashing has rendered your rhetoric incomprehensible, since you can't even refer to a legitimate group by its legitimate name.

I doubt you know much at all about violence against women though, and I still don't see you citing any sources other than yourself. In the meantime, every legitimate women's group in Canada complained about the cut, not just Status of Women, and all involved noted that the cuts would harm programs that funded women's shelters, provided counciling for everything from post traumatic stress to finding a job, and even provide legal aid and advice for those unable to afford it otherwise.

I'm sure that you work shifts and so avoid paying for daycare, but that isn't an option open to everybody, especially single parents.

[EyeBrock]

Nice try but fails again.
You should pop down to the GTA and I'd be glad to take you to the shelter where I have built up a great working relationship over the past 8 years.
I could always let you sit in a meeting with the several committees that are active in supporting victims of DV I belong to.
I could always show you the files I have and the impact the programs I'm involved with have in helping women ( and it's 99% women who are the victims in cases of domestic violence) get back on their feet after abusive relationships.

I could show you some of the awful photos of the injuries inflicted on defenceless women and sometimes children who have the cuts, bruises and broken bones and other scars of domestic violence.

And on shifts, while you sleep people actually arrest the men who beat women and others take those victims to places of safety.

Asking for a tax break to pay for somebody to look after my kids while I sit with a bloodied woman at 3 o'clock in the morning is not my idea of avoiding paying for daycare.

Oh and pardon my use of abbreviations such as SOW, DVERS etc, it's the military in me.
Yep, a military guy who now helps victims of domestic violence. Enough to make a hardened left winger weep.

[Reverend Blair]

Yeah, I'm sure you're going to put your name and address up here on the web so we can check your credentials. Even if those credentials are valid though, you still have presented no sources to back up your claims.

You are basically claiming small time personal involvement as proof that the cuts have had no negative impact. It's roughly the same as me claiming that since I've adopted a couple of abused dogs, animal cruelty is no longer an issue. I make no such claim, of course.

If you go to the NDP site, and I assume the Liberal site, and look into the issue, you'll find a myriad of sources backing up their policies on the issue, ranging from Stats Can to sociological studies. If you check with any of the women's groups, including what's left of Status of Women, you'll find similar references. All of these sources are critical of Harper's policies and the cuts that go with them.

[EyeBrock]

Hey, we have chatted a long time Rev, you know what I do as do a few others here. If you doubt my sincerity what can I do?

At the end of it all , both Provincial and Federal, since I arrived here in 1994, have continually upgraded their response to DV.

I don't want to jam this issue down your throat but I'm on the front line in this battle.
Trust me, Harper/Dion/McGuinty/Tory and that very nice NDP guy ( and very under-estimated) Howard Hampton, ex of this parish, are all on the same page.

To say the Tories have cut funding for DV programs is just wrong.
This is something that is bigger than partisan politics and if you check your facts Chretien dealt the death blow to the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (SOW is way easier to type).

I'm genuine in offering to take you along and see what we are doing.

I think you should focus your efforts in a different direction than slagging off the Tories response to domestic violence. You are on the wrong track. The Feds and the Libs are doing a good job on this file, and so they bloody well should.

Try the environment or something, you are striking out on this one mate.

[Reverend Blair]

The federal Conservatives have cut spending on women's programs, Eyebrock. That has had a ripple effect throughout the system.

Their track record on women's issues is atrocious, and has been since the Reform Party was just a twinkle in Presto Manning misogynistic little eyes.

Again, your claims of personal experience do not change that. Your claims do not counter the references used by involved parties.

You mention your parish though. Are you promoting faith-based funding?

ETA:

I have no plans on going to Toronto in the near future, or ever if I have my way. If I find myself forced to suffer through the nightmare of the Pearson Airport again though, I'll let you know.

[EyeBrock]

Parish is just a figure of speech mate! I am the worst catholic there is. My gran would beat me!
We will just have to disagree on this. Anytime you are in the GTA though, you might be very interested in what I do re domestic violence. We are changing attitudes and holding the bad guys accountable.
The best thing I do is see these victimised women get out of the bloody awful situations they have been in for years.

We can leave it at that mate. No hard feelings and all that.

[Reverend Blair]

See, where I'm from a parish isn't a figure of speech at all. In fact it has a very specific meaning, especially when it comes to funding for church-run programs, and I haven't been a Catholic for more than a quarter century.

I have no trouble with helping women get out of bad situations, but larger programs can help immensely in doing that, and other programs can keep those situations from ever developing.

This is a recurring theme for the Conservatives. They claim to be "tough on crime" by locking people up, but refuse to fund the programs that can prevent...have been shown to prevent in study after study...people becoming involved in crime.

The same goes for their "environmental" measures. They target little things that could be dealt with at the local level with a little backing, but have no vision beyond that.

Same with the economy. Hey, some tiny tax cuts...15 bucks a year per Canadian if the corporations don't decide to keep it for themselves...and we're supposed to jump up and down. The thing is that the top economists in the world are saying that we'd better retool our economy or life is going to suck really bad in a few short years.