Bush 'Slush Fund,' Courtesy of Canada

[CHIMO]

Softwood deal pours $450 million straight into White House, says U.S. lawyer.

http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/08/29/SlushFund/

[tuvor]

1. Winning hearts and minds the world over.

[daleo]

2. So, courtesy of Harper's deal then?

I wonder what Harper gets out of it?

[tuvor]

3. Canada Too Willing to Pay the Washington Tribute Tax

When the Harper conservatives promised to shave the GST they forgot to tell Canadians about the WTT, the new tax they would be introducing. Actually, it is an old tax that has been around for some time. Under the quisling conservatives though it will be going ballistic.

A tribute tax is open ended, often hidden, levied in various forms (some more subtle than others) and the tax man-in this case the USA-can decide on a whim when, where, how much and in what form it is to be levied.

It can also be levied in the form of hard cash, as with the 1.3 billion dollars in duties seized by the US as part of the pending softwood lumber agreement.

Even though the United States Court of International Trade declared the US duties on softwood lumber illegal, our Minister of International Trade David Emerson, undeterred, went ahead with the sham agreement. The USCIT ruling is a Godsend for the Canadian softwood lumber industry as a basis for a whole new set of negotiations, but Emerson remains the fixated dupe of the US Commerce Department.

http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20060828171605426

[applegrove]

15. I cannot wait until the election when Harper and Emerson have to

talk about their position on "Union" of the three economies. I cannot wait. But I doubt that, in this day and age, Karl Rove will allow Harper to participate in a debate.

[Canuckistanian]

4. This is such an old problem. Clinton could have dealt with it

Those duties have been collected since Clinton's presidency. And, IIRC, Sen. Max Baucus was an enthusiasic supporter of the (illegal under NAFTA) duty.

NAFTA certainly has benefitted those in power in America, to the detriment of Canada and Mexico.

[Reckon]

5. This is outrageous!

From the same link..

Snip..
"Some perspective. At the height of the Watergate scandal, focus was on an illegal slush fund available to the Committee to Re-Elect the President, that was thought to be tipping the balance of American politics. The fund never exceeded $20 million. One of the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon was that he received foreign campaign donations, perhaps as much as $50,000. Both by statute and by the United States Constitution, gifts of money to the United States must go to the treasury and be appropriated by Congress."

snip..
"So, here we have the government of Canada requiring that Canadian private parties sign over $450 million to an escrow fund slated to be conveyed to the White House. The agreement does not mention Congress, and the Bush administration says that Congress will not be involved in any way with this agreement. The government of Canada thus is making a gift of $450 million to be spent by the president."

Snip..
"The entire Republican campaign war chest is less than $300 million. Canada will add to it by 150 per cent in funds to be expended for "meritorious initiatives." It does not require much imagination to foresee the strategic places where this money will be spent."

[lambert]

6. Analysis of the lumber agreement's text shows that yes, it's a slush fund

$450 million slush fund for Bush from Canadian lumber deal, just in time for the midterms.

Excerpt:

The story has a lot of detail, but the bottom line is simple: The terms of the Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada will give Bush complete control of an escrow account with $450 million in it, controlled by a board that Bush appoints, and which can be used for any purpose whatever, with no Congressional oversight.

And, of yes, the date for listing beneficiaries for the $450 million -- "meritorious initiatives" -- is September 1.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi lambert!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tuvor]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Sorry, USA. Last year, our present PM was not in power, and he demanded full payback of the five billion dollars. "You don't capitulate," he said.

Well, now that he's in power, the son of a bitch is capitulating all over himself.

[formercia]

8. Steven Harper's thanks

for fixing the Canadian elections.

[tuvor]

9. Care to back that up with, oh...some proof?

[formercia]

10. Look into the activities of Ralph Reed

and other GOP 'consultants' that worked with Harper's people to make sure he won.

[tuvor]

11. And exactly where should one look for these "activities"?

Links from credible sources would be much appreciated.

At any rate, I hope Harper didn't pay too much for the "fix". All he got was a lousy minority and another imminent election.

[formercia]

12. He would have been offered the door otherwise.

There's some information on the search engines.

I prefer not to compromise my source. It might affect an ongoing criminal investigation.

Now let's see if the RCMP has the balls to get there first.

What happened in Canada is mirrored in what's happening in Mexico and Venezuela.

[tuvor]

13. If you're not going to offer proof, please don't trouble yourself

with replies to my request for proof. It serves only to waste your time and mine.

[applegrove]

16. Canadians have hand counted ballots. Harper only won cause

Canadians were disgusted with sloppy seemingly fraudulent Liberal Sponsorship Scandal of the Liberals. And, because the NDP made a deal with Harper to not criticize them DURING AN ELECTION. If the left party makes a deal with the Right Wing party... well that is a fix. I doubt it will happen again in the same way. NDP must be feeling a little Ralph Naderish. But then Ralph didn't seem to want to learn anything.

I'm sure there will be more sleazy dealings come this election. Conservative Campaign will be run by that Karl Rove vessel...the australian guy.

But it does seem that the old time Conservatives are moving to the Liberals. And even a few NDPers. Which scares the NDP. Which may be why they are seeing so much red that they made the deal they made. They are being squeezed by the Green Party on the left (which is international). So..really - I think the Liberals will win. Especially if Harper runs on Softwood deal. And agrees to a debate.

IMHO

[formercia]

17. Maybe if the Canuckistanians took their heads out

of their collective asses and looked around, they might see the truth.

BTW, my parents were from Canuckistan, so forget the racist, self-loathing lecture.

[applegrove]

14. Not only that..but the softwood thing is forcing Canadians to set a

precedent of ignoring the dispute mechanism settlement. So that in the future all disputes can be ignored. Which will force Canada back to the table to negotiate a "trade deal". Which is what * wants.

It is all a shell game.Canada has a comparative advantage in softwood - and ignoring that isn't classic economics... it is like everything the neocons do... it is about creating a new reality... a reality that only benefits the right wing of the USA.

Chances are.. USA is desperate for Canada to change to the USA dollar. Desperate to have something to offset all the bourses. A Canadian economy based on the US dollar would help. And instead of bargaining from a position of strength, Canada will be desperate for a new trade deal to offset the fact that there will be no court for trade disputes.

We could, in ten years, negotiate with the USA to start using the American dollar from a position of strength. But that will not be allowed. And Harper is falling for it.

Fact is Canada has to do something to offset the rise in our dollar that will follow Alberta oil boom. Coffee houses are already paying like $16 an hour to employees in parts of Alberta the economy is so hot. And the rest of the country will loose as the Canadian dollar rises, as our exports and technical expertise and commodities and goods become too expensive for foreigners.

I cannot wait for Harper to go to the polls on this issue. I simply cannot wait. Cause he will loose on the Softwood Lumber deal. I know he will.

IMHO.

[formercia]

18. I think Canadians suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.

It has always been an abusive relationship with US corporations and politicians manipulating the Canadian economy to their benefit. Wake up Canada. You have the advantage now. Don't let your future be determined by someone else and meekly go along with the plan like some self-deprecating abused spouse.

Stephen Harper is a shill and lackey of Bush Gang. Throw the bum out.