# Who does Harper want to talk to, Pravda? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169 "2006-05-25T14:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/1 "2006-05-25T14:47:43Z")
So apparently the Prime Minister of Canada has decided it’s not necessary to talk to the national media: [Harper says he’s finished with Ottawa press corps](http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/24/harper05242006.html) > [@](#): > > Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he’ll no longer give news conferences for the national media, after a dispute led a number of journalists to walk away from an event when he refused to take their questions. […] > > Since becoming prime minister in January, Harper has had a testy relationship with the national media in Ottawa. His staff has tried to manage news conferences by saying they will decide which reporters get to ask questions. > > The press gallery has refused to play by those rules. “We can’t accept that the Prime Minister’s Office would decide who gets to ask questions,” Yves Malo, a TVA reporter and president of the press gallery, told CP on Tuesday. “Does that mean that when there’s a crisis they’ll only call upon journalists they expect softball questions from?” This is… astonishing. Did he really expect he was going to be able to choreograph the media’s questions? Did he really expect he was going to be able to be Prime Minister without being peppered with questions, many of which would go in a direction he didn’t like? Because from where I’m sitting… > [@Stephen Harper](#): > > unfortunately the press gallery has taken the view they are going to be the opposition to the government. They don’t ask questions at my press conferences now. We’ll just take the message out on the road. There’s lots of media who do want to ask questions and hear what the government is doing. …sounds like, “I had to come up with something off the top of my head one too many times. Now when I want to justify my bullshit policies, I’ll do so in front of media I can rely on to be more pliable.” He already won’t let the media see the caskets of dead soldiers, even if the family want them there; is he planning to reproduce every PR policy of the Bush administration? Because if so, I know some porn actors who might like press passes. Hopefully he’ll keep on being this frank about his mindset for the duration of his tenure. It’ll make the next election more pleasant to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/2 "2006-05-25T15:07:43Z")
For someone who bitched daily about lack of transparency on the part of the Liberals, he does seem rather obsessed with controlling every aspect of how the public receives information about his government. I really, really want the Tories to be a reasonable party some of whose policies I might oppose but whom I’m not unwilling to hand power to now and then. Shit like this certainly isn’t helping. Fortunately, he won’t find it so easy to duck out of Question Period. I really hope he’s raked over the coals by all opposition parties for this. I’ll grant him that the Canadian media’s got a somewhat small-l liberal bias, but he apparently thinks that Liberal PMs didn’t get asked tough questions or something, which is complete bullshit. Stephen, have the stones to stand up and take it like a man. If you don’t like the questions being asked, answer the question you wanted to be asked instead like every other PM in history has done, rather than throwing a tantrum like some 2-year old. Or for bonus points, answer by explaining why the question is unfair, and then explain what the fair version of the question would be, and answer that. You’re the fucking Prime Minister. You aren’t being oppressed. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/3 "2006-05-25T16:30:13Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > This is… astonishing. Did he really expect he was going to be able to choreograph the media’s questions? Did he really expect he was going to be able to be Prime Minister without being peppered with questions, many of which would go in a direction he didn’t like? Yeah, who does he think he is? The President of the United States? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/4 "2006-05-25T16:42:19Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I really, really want the Tories to be a reasonable party. So did John A. Macdonald. Are you really still hoping? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/5 "2006-05-25T17:02:55Z")
Canada, Og he’p you, has obtained its very own George W. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/6 "2006-05-25T17:09:22Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Canada, Og he’p you, has obtained its very own George W. Naah. He still restains some vestiges of competence, although this latest flap has me wondering how quickly they are evaporating. He _was_ awfully credulous with that Iranian report. Thank Og it’s a minority government, and the other parties can pull the plug on it by a vote of non-confidence. ---
**Author:** ![Queuing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Queuing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queuing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/7 "2006-05-25T18:02:23Z")
Cool, 2 threads in different forums on the same topic. I almost started mine in the Pit as well, but wanted a little more decorum. [My GD thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=7) I agree with you wholeheartedly **matt\_mcl**. Harper is becoming more and more of a jackass every day. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/8 "2006-05-25T18:34:29Z")
And unless he’s only planning on speaking in Calgary, I am thinking that “local” media will have just as many questions that he objects to. ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/9 "2006-05-26T03:22:27Z")
Maybe when the CRTC displaces Newsworld to make room for Fox News Harpie will be happy. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/10 "2006-05-26T10:22:13Z")
Har. This won’t last six weeks. A Prime Minister cannot avoid scrums and press conferences and allow the opposition leaders, buy doing THEIR press conferences, to get all the face time on Parliament Hill. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/11 "2006-05-26T14:55:29Z")
Harper had a word with the press when they asked to have a meeting to settle things. His reaction “I think what’s unfortunate is when we make ourselves available to the media, the press gallery will not allow journalists to ask questions,” He believes the media is “Anti Conservative” He doesn’t seem to realize that the Press is just “Anti Governement in power” It’s that little intitution that keeps governement honest. Of course maybe he’d prefer questions like “Mr Harper why don’t the Liberals get it?” sigh… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/12 "2006-05-26T17:53:20Z")
If not Pravda as the OP suggests, has Harper considered giving his interviews to Talon News? “Jeff Gannon” is available for work now. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/13 "2006-05-26T18:30:35Z")
An interesting discussion in today’s [globe and mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060525.wlivemedia0526/BNStory/specialComment/home) (registration may be required) Peter Donolo has a good line: “It’s a bit like picking a fight with your mother-in-law. It may feel great at the moment. But she’s around for the long haul. She has a million ways of getting back at you, and making your life miserable. It’s just not worth it.” ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/14 "2006-05-26T18:33:15Z")
Or Mark Twain’s line that they have been bandying around lately: “Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/15 "2006-05-26T21:52:07Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > …Thank Og it’s a minority government, and the other parties can pull the plug on it by a vote of non-confidence. Is the government having supply problems? Harper’s dependant on the Bloc Quebecois to stay in power (gotta love the irony). What would it take to get them to block supply? ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/16 "2006-05-26T23:28:07Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Is the government having supply problems? Harper’s dependant on the Bloc Quebecois to stay in power (gotta love the irony). What would it take to get them to block supply? Actually, the Conservatives and NDP also make a majority. And depending on the vote, Harper may also get the support of a certain number of Liberals, so he’s not entirely depending on the Bloc. As far as I know, no party wants an election in the short term, so it would take a lot to decide them to make the government fall. ---
**Author:** ![mcott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@mcott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcott)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/17 "2006-05-27T00:32:58Z")
> [@severus](#): > > Actually, the Conservatives and NDP also make a majority. And depending on the vote, Harper may also get the support of a certain number of Liberals, so he’s not entirely depending on the Bloc. > > As far as I know, no party wants an election in the short term, so it would take a lot to decide them to make the government fall. Prediction: March 2007, the current government will table legislation that triggers a non confidence vote. They will loose. The ads for the ensuing election will include the fact that the Conservatives have done alot for Canada and were brought down by the power hungry Liberals. Conservative majority follows. That’s the strategy as far as I can see. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/18 "2006-05-27T01:02:12Z")
> [@mcott](#): > > Prediction: March 2007, the current government will table legislation that triggers a non confidence vote. They will loose. The ads for the ensuing election will include the fact that the Conservatives have done alot for Canada and were brought down by the power hungry Liberals. Conservative majority follows. That’s the strategy as far as I can see. This would require the Liberals to be almost pathologically stupid. Depending who their leader is, I would be shocked if they allowed the government to fall on a routine vote before 2008. ---
**Author:** ![mcott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@mcott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcott)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/19 "2006-05-27T01:14:36Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > This would require the Liberals to be almost pathologically stupid. Depending who their leader is, I would be shocked if they allowed the government to fall on a routine vote before 2008. Well, your words, not mine on the _almost_ pathologically stupid thing. From what I hear from government employees (ie: family and friends, read into that what you will), it’s a disticnt possibility. I honestly think it could happen. Who are the Liberals going to pick as leader? I can’t see a uniter on the current slate. Although, minority governments for the next few decades might not be a bad thing. BTW, don’t blame me for the current situation, I voted for Paul Dewar 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169/20 "2006-05-27T03:48:49Z")
After comments like these, I’m sure there are Conservatives who miss the good old days of Stockwell “Doris” Day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-harper-want-to-talk-to-pravda/358169.md?page=2)