Convict him of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity!
Posted on February 15, 2008 by Douglas Bell
At various stages throughout Conrad Black’s trial I was fortunate to correspond with an august British author and pillar of The City whose views I counted on for their insight, wit and wisdom. With the trial a long way behind us, he agreed—“strictly not for attribution”—to comment broadly for publication on the case and its ramifications. Here are the choicest remarks:
• I consider [Conrad Black’s] positive contributions to our society [to] outweigh the negative ones. This is not to excuse his ‘crimes’ as determined by the Chicago jury, although it is worth noting that he was acquitted on more of the charges than he was convicted. Those crimes, in my opinion, were, however, more the result of greed and bad judgment than criminal intent. I could also convict him of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity!
• One should appreciate him as a talented biographer, e.g., [his writing on] Duplessis, FDR and Nixon (incidentally, all these books are extremely long; it was once said of one of Henry Kissinger’s equally long tomes, ‘I don’t know if Dr. Kissinger is a good writer, but I do know that you have to be a very good reader’) and as the man who rescued the Daily Telegraph, the largest circulation quality daily newspaper in the U.K. Without Black’s courageous investment, this 150-year-old newspaper would not exist today, but it does, and it is successful and a large employer. Black was known as a good owner who did not interfere with editorial policy, but when he had a disagreement with such policy he would write a letter to the editor, which the editor could, and did, publish.
• I always found Black an agreeable and amusing companion with a fount of historical knowledge and political comment that was always entertaining.
• I agree the board of Hollinger—or was it the audit committee?—are culpable for having approved the various non-compete payments to Conrad. (Incidentally, they were in effect bonus payments paid in a tax-effective form. That does not excuse the amounts or the deceit involved in dressing them up as payments required by the purchasers.)
• I have no view on whether Black should remain a member of the House of Lords, although on balance I think it is unlikely he will. Lord Archer (Jeffrey Archer, the novelist) spent about a year in jail having been convicted of perjury. Somehow he has retained his peerage, and I have been told it was because his jail sentence was a year or less. I cannot confirm whether this is correct.
• As to Richard Breeden, it is my understanding that he and his team charged enormous fees to Hollinger over an extended period of time, and I believe there is some evidence that he used his appointment there (which was made by Black himself, I think) to advance his own career, particularly in regard to a sort of corporate governance–oriented hedge fund he was establishing, and of which I have no details. I very much doubt whether his role was in any way helpful to the shareholders of Hollinger.
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Anonymous Doo-Doo February 15, 2008 at 1 p.m.
"strictly not for attribution”says it all. Even creeps like Mark Swine and gaga has-beens like William Rees-Mogg and various other of the neocon ilk and allied stripes have the courage of their convictions and will defend their old pal Black in public. It is a complete fantasy to imagine Black taking his seat in the House of Lords when he is released in five years' time. The British media will be outraged - that is if the House hasn't been abolished by the time Black is released and deported to Britain.
W. S. Gilbert February 15, 2008 at 1:12 p.m.
"I always found Black an agreeable and amusing companion with a fount of historical knowledge and political comment that was always entertaining." Anon.
The Policeman's Song
When a felon's not engaged in his employment
Or maturing his felonious little plan
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is just as great as any honest man
Our feelings we with difficulty smother
When constabulary duties to be done
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
When the enterprising burglar's not a-burgling
When the cutthroat isn't occupied in crime
He loves to hear the little brook a-gurgling
And listen to the merry village chime
When the coster's finished jumping on his mother
He loves to lie a-basking in the sun
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
When the drunkard shows no sign of where the drink went
He nobly bids all alchohol farewell
When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went
He hung his mother's picture in his cell
When the cardshark's finished wiping out his brother
He buys a rattle for his little son
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
A policeman's lot is not a happy one
Why doesn't he check his facts? February 15, 2008 at 1:17 p.m.
The "august British author and pillar of The City whose views I counted on for their insight, wit and wisdom" has quite a few gaps in his knowledge and memory. For example, given that British peers end up in the clink relatively seldom and there is massive publicity when it happens, this is a rather astonishing piece of disinformation, which could very easily have been checked:
"Lord Archer (Jeffrey Archer, the novelist) spent about a year in jail having been convicted of perjury. Somehow he has retained his peerage, and I have been told it was because his jail sentence was a year or less. I cannot confirm whether this is correct."
Archer was, in fact, sentenced to four years and served two (in addition to being suspended from the Marylebone Cricket Club for seven years, because perjury is not cricket, old boy!). He also repaid very substantial sums of his ill-gotten gains. The fact that Archer was convicted of perjury means that anyone can legally call him a liar, but not a thief or an obstructer of justice.
And how could anyone in the House of Lords get upset about there being a liar in their midst, given that being a liar is virtually an indispensable required qualification for the job?
Another difference between Jeffrey Archer and Black is that very large numbers of people buy the former's books.
Your "august author" has failed to live up to his august standards this time. No wonder he prefers to remain anonymous.
Judge Amiable February 15, 2008 at 1:53 p.m.
"Convict him of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity!"
Fair enough.
"Mr. Black, the jury has found you guilty of the crimes of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity, for which I feel a just punishment will be that you shall henceforth be the target of mocking comments, subtle and crude humour from commentators on the Toronto Life blog hosted by Mr. Douglas Bell, until such time as those commentators become bored with you.
"For the other crimes of which you have been convicted, namely stealing several millions and willfully obstructing justice, I shall sentence you to six and a half years' imprisonment in a Federal penitentiary. And you should consider yourself fortunate that you are receiving such lenient treatment."
leaf February 15, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
if it weren't for the finnman, there would be no post on this thread.
didn't he say he was employed?
so fickton, what is that accent of yours? british? scottish? what?
one thing for sure, it ain't canadian or american.
why did you hang up the phone? too coward to talk to me?
and why are you still advertising your financial services on that other site?
i don't think many people will think that Playboy write off you attempted was too bright. it's not a really good reference for financial services.
good luck anyway....
leaf February 15, 2008 at 2:29 p.m.
this is a big joke. can anyone stop me:
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leaf February 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
this blog is the only place where i am a soneone. and it will soon be all mine. bllllll
Arrogance February 15, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.
Arrogance is not a crime. The Greek gods punished arrogant men by making them blind. Blinded men cannot distinguish between right and wrong, and commit crimes. The lord has commited a crime. If a crime is commited the felon is sent to jail on March 3rd.
What a silly girl! February 15, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
leaf is lost in a fantasy world. I bet she doesn't even have a phone, much less the ability to make intercontinental calls. What would she have to say to anyone anyway? A sad case indeed. What can have happened to make someone such a complete loser and wannabee bully? And congenital liar who probably believes she really makes the phone calls she claims. In reality, she is using an internet terminal in a library or some place free like that. Besides, her semi-literate way of writing reveals that he is not a native speaker of English, but now she lets her imagination run away with her and is hearing voices in many languages. She knows that if she makes nuisance calls they could be traced, and is sane enough most of the time not to take the risk. More an object of pity, although people as nasty as here are still potentially dangerous - sometimes to themselves as well.
leaf February 15, 2008 at 2:54 p.m.
hey fickton
maybe toronto life is trying to tell you: you reap what you sow.
your vulgarity and all around obnoxiousness is not THEIR problem. my pointing out your lies and contradictions is not a crime. it is a voluntary public service to the blog.
unlike you, i have the honesty to post under one 'name' only and i don't post using other poster's names, like you do.
i will call you again. i hope you will have the courage to tell me why you keep posting under MY 'name'. or else have the courage to lie in my ear.
or, be the coward i expected and hang up the phone on me, like you did yesterday.
Lit 200 February 15, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
The avalanche of approbation was of course expected. Few here have any use for a cultured, well-read, masterful businessman who happens to have world views that they dislike.
But had any of them to take him on in debate, in an open discussion, they would ... well, Roger would totally piss his pants and be speechless; the others would have an even greater accident.
Anything Black does, says or writes is immediately discounted, vilified, and ridiculed. How unusual it is to read at last a calm, reasoned and balanced piece of work about the man. Is he greedy? My goodness maybe so! Is he a criminal? Of course he isn't.
Well done again, Mr Bell. You have chosen your advisers wisely.
leaf February 15, 2008 at 3:17 p.m.
hey fickton
maybe toronto life is trying to tell you: you reap what you sow.
your vulgarity and all around obnoxiousness is not THEIR problem. my pointing out your lies and contradictions is not a crime. it is a voluntary public service to the blog.
unlike you, i have the honesty to post under one 'name' only and i don't post using other poster's names, like you do.
i will call you again. i hope you will have the courage to tell me why you keep posting under MY 'name'. or else have the courage to lie in my ear.
or, be the coward i expected and hang up the phone on me, like you did yesterday.
Nice for Lit February 15, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
At last, someone dumb enough to write something Lit can agree with. She's so pleased with herself she's forgotten to bash Muslims in her first post today.
Keen observer February 15, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.
Someone must have helped leaf write the last post. It is almost grammatical as opposed to the drivel she usually posts. Must have remembered her meds.
Cupid February 15, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.
leaf really has a thing for someone: "i will call you again. i hope you will have the courage to tell me why you keep posting under MY 'name'. or else have the courage to lie in my ear."
Is leaf a name?
Kelly February 15, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
jab3 says:
"kelly, wave,
You're discussing the writing of the wrong Barbara, surely.
I'd be interested in both your comments on how Barbara in Palm Beach makes people feel welcome in her Toronto living room."
*****
No jab3, I wanted to post to Barbara in BC and so I did.
I had already commented on Amiel's living room decor right before that: February 12, 2008 at 5:57 p.m.(presumably you missed it).
Con and Babs are glaring examples that money can't buy class or good taste.
baloney February 15, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
I am getting tired of the excuse that Conrad Black was not convicted on all counts therefore he must be innocent. Anyone with knowledge of how our criminal courts function in North America knows that often times people find themselves charged with a multitude of offenses, the police lay the charges with the prosecution weighing the probability of conviction. Often times the prosecution is unable to prove their case in court. This does not necessarily suggest innocence, it simply suggests that the crown was unable to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Any person who closely followed the case against Conrad Black clearly must have heard witness after witness ie especially those board members, fumble and claim they forgot or denied they read what Conrad Black was claiming they approved of, this does not suggest innocence to me but instead it suggests that they were all covering their greedy incompetent arses.
As for Blacks contributions to society, what are they? He started a news paper that is unable to turn a profit? He promoted the war in iraq? He insulted Canadians who would not vote as he did in federal elections? He wrote books that attempt to make heros out of less than stellar individuals? C'mon this man is not respected now as a convicted thief and obstructionist but apparently his media buddies just can't accept this and continue to promote him as a man unjustly convicted? Give it a rest as it makes you all look stupid in my mind!
Kelly February 15, 2008 at 4:19 p.m.
chronos says:
"Black reveals the essentially thuggish side of his character with his constant snide remarks about the physical features of the candidates he does not like and their associates."
My thoughts exactly. Serious political commentators are usually above ridiculing their subjects' physical attributes - all Black does just about every time he opens his mouth is reveal his strong antisocial bent.
*****
I wasn't particularly surprised about Whyte's conflict of interest (with the $100,000 bonus). Perhaps it's rare among journalists (certainly it should be), but in the Canadian world it isn't unusual to come across directors etc. with blatant conflict of interests. Who's going to sanction them?
Doug Bell is right to describe it as a banana republic in that respect anyway.
Kelly February 15, 2008 at 4:28 p.m.
Should have been "Canadian business world"
Lit 200 February 15, 2008 at 4:35 p.m.
Black made no contribution to journalism? Conrad Black was, as Doug Bell's friend rightly says, "the man who rescued the Daily Telegraph, the largest circulation quality daily newspaper in the U.K. Without Black’s courageous investment, this 150-year-old newspaper would not exist today, but it does, and it is successful and a large employer. Black was known as a good owner who did not interfere with editorial policy, but when he had a disagreement with such policy he would write a letter to the editor, which the editor could, and did, publish."
What low class buffoon Black is according to the ABB. And yet, Doug Bell's friend, who knows Black personally, says: "I always found Black an agreeable and amusing companion with a fount of historical knowledge and political comment that was always entertaining."
What a relief from the non-stop vilification spewing from Black's low-functioning detractors in this place.
Just the Facts February 15, 2008 at 5:02 p.m.
Barbara Amiel is stalking Fintan under her name "leaf", and vilifying Roger under the name "Lit200". Talk about a devoted wife!
ROGER February 15, 2008 at 7:28 p.m.
>>Lit 200 February 15, 2008 at 7:38 a.m.
Roger's post of 11:15pm came not from his own knowledge but directly from Wikipedia, without attribution. Plagarism - the outright theft of someone else's writing - does not bother Roger in the least. He's more of a thief than Conrad Black ever thought of being.<<
LOL! Why would I look up stuff I can write straight off the top of my head? LIT must think everyone is as ignorant as she is. My post is original and solely my words and creation, based on my memory over many years of scholarship and as a licenced practitioner. I do not need to read today's Globe and Mail article by Stephanie Nolan on this topic to know the details she presents--I already know it first hand. I know what Kenyata wrote, not because some person posted something on the internet, but because I remember Kenyata and his times. I realize that LIT is intimidated by my vast breadth and depth of knowledge. That is okay, most people are. Black would never debate someone like me, because I would have eviscerated him in public without any mercy or room for escape. No wonder Steyn runs from me! LOL!
The key point LIT is trying to run from is that this is not, NOT, and issue perculiar to Islam, despite the lies and propaganda to libel Muslims with every manner of malign statements. LIT has no argument to defend Black. Indeed, Lit is forced to admit that Amiel is scum. She is forced to admit that she is a defender of criminals. Lit is forced to admit she is soft on crime. Everything else is obfuscation.
ROGER February 15, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.
WHY DID EZRA LEVANT BLOCK MY POSTS ON HIS BLOG? Levant even berated his own supporters for their begging him to censor me --he wrote that they needed to try to beat me in debate. But finally, admitting defeat, Levant blocked my brilliant posts! Conrad Black went to court in Delaware and was given the opportunity to dazzle the court--Black is a trained lawyer. After hearing Black trying to defend his actions, and despite the very very high deference of American courts for controlling shareholders of corporations, Black lost and was called an untrustworthy scoundrel and liar to his face by the judge! Black was so traumatized, he was in terror and refused to testify in his own defense in Chicago! Imagine, Black did not even try to testify before the jurors and the world and proclaim his innocence! Some debater! LOL!
ROGER February 15, 2008 at 7:40 p.m.
WHAT KIND OF DEBATER IS BLACK? Lit claimed Black was a brilliant debater who would demolish any takers. So why did he not take to the witness stand and testify in his own defense in Chicago? It was a moment made for a brilliant debater to challenge his accusers and to demolish their verbal argument in a spectacular display of the magic of words and oratory. So why did Black whimp out? Does he lack courage? No intestinal fortitude? Seems to me that Black doubted his own skills and lacked the most basic courage one would expect of a man of honour. Black was slapped around in Chicago, in return Black huffed and puffed and promised a verbal flamethrower response, but when his turn in the spotlight came, he froze and fled in terror and whimpered he would use his right to refuse to testify and hide in his corner until it was all over! LOL!
ROGER February 15, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.
BLACK DID NOT SAVE THE TELEGRAPH! The editor of the Economist dreamed up a marvellous scheme to make a great deal and to buy the Telegraph for a pittance by baiting a hook for the owner of the Telegraph and to then take over the Telegraph for little money. If the Telegraphe had gone on the open market, Black could never have bought it for the amount he got it for--it was not Black's brilliance but the Economist editor who created the scheme.
Baloney February 15, 2008 at 7:46 p.m.
An insult coming from the likes of Lit, a person soft on crime, isn't an insult at all. (considering the source, a crook admirer)
What a relief from the non-stop vilification spewing from Black's low-functioning detractors in this place.<<<says Lit
You call us low-functioning? I doubt any of us have the millions that Black has and I also doubt any of us are facing time in the slammer.....this is your hero Lit, enjoy!
ROGER February 15, 2008 at 7:50 p.m.
BUT BLACK WAS TOO DUMB TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO WITH THE TELEGRAPH. In the end, Black's end began with the manoeuvre to take over the Telegraph. Black ended up in head to head competition with the very cunning and intelligent Rupert Murdoch who slaughtered Black in open, free market competition! The cash cow Black had counted on in the Telegraph turned into a shrinking cow and Black had no clue on how to turn it around and compete with Murdoch, who kept discounting his paper until Black was cornered. Black is a terrible businessman. A failure really.
leaf February 15, 2008 at 8:01 p.m.
is this a good time to call fickton?
leaf February 15, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
who is Doug Bell referring to in the thread title? roger?
Defence team February 15, 2008 at 10:15 p.m.
Reviewing today's thread, two names appear running the blog: Leaf and Lit 200. It does not matter who they are, the question is why are they posting so much? I have observed that as soon as an anti-black posting is made, Leaf and Lit 200 take it upon themselves to refute it.
It appears that this is their job. The Communication's Commission requires balanced reporting, so probably Leaf and Lit 200 are paid staff to keep the blog balanced. I always thought Leaf and Lit 200 are males. However, I have noticed that many anti-black bloggers believe that they are females. Some of their posting are vulgar, yet at times their posting contain very elaborate legal concepts. This leads me to believe that leaf and Lit 200 get help from a third party associated with the lord's defense team.
jab3 February 15, 2008 at 10:48 p.m.
Roger, thanks for reminding the thread of Black's real relationship to The Telegraph.
Rather, Black's contributions to journalism have been even marginally significant only if you believe that several English-speaking countries and Israel were hungering for more (neo)con newspapers in the 80s and 90s.
blogging February 15, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.
I want real news, not slanted opinionated half truths that are replaced daily with irrelevant facts where it appears that omission is practiced and validity is compromised.
There are some fine publications out there and not one of them were ever owned by Conrad Black.
JONES February 15, 2008 at 11:40 p.m.
"YAWN" Is Black in jail yet? Wake me when he is in jail. I figure I will be Rip Van Jones by that time.
Chronos February 16, 2008 at 2:29 a.m.
JONES February 15, 2008 at 11:40 p.m.
"YAWN" Is Black in jail yet? Wake me when he is in jail. I figure I will be Rip Van Jones by that time."
Be not of faint heart, Jones dear friend! In only 16 days from now, that's less than 400 hours, Black will be entering a new world - the world of Bubba. Then you can rejoice, and many will be rejoicing with you.
True, you will be getting closer to being Rip van Jones by the time he comes out and gets in our faces again.
Set your alarm clock for about 10 am eastern time on 3 March, check the news when you wake up and then alarm the whole neighborhood with your great cheers of delight.
Roger is right February 16, 2008 at 2:47 a.m.
Not for the first time, Roger has gotten it more or less exactly right.
Here is a link to an article about the Telegraph. It reports evidence that the present editor-in-chief, who is not anonymous like Mr. Bell's source, gave to the House of Lords last month:
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?...
Some of the quotes by Will Lewis are very revealing: “I was quite amazed by the thought that Conrad Black didn't interfere - the last time I read Max Hastings’s book it was full of clear evidence of interference on really quite absurd issues. He seemed to spend his life writing memos and his wife had a column in the paper I recall, she doesn’t have one now.”
Mr. Lewis failed to mention that Amiel was paid absurdly enormous amounts for her trite and nasty little columns - enough to pay the monthly salaries of at least a dozen good journalists.
The argument that Black saved the Torygraph is utterly absurd. He and his sickening wife drained it of vast sums of money to prop up their vulgarly un-British lifestyle of spectacular extravagance and it was only with the arrival of the Barclay twins and their (own) money that the process of recovery could begin.
My only regret is that Black managed to get British citizenship and that this is the only country he can return to when, with the reeking stench of prison about him, he returns to this country as the only one that has to take him in.
I wonder how eager Mr. Bell's source will be to engage socially with him then?
leaf February 16, 2008 at 4:23 a.m.
see, this article proves what i have been saying all along. apologies to Lit, the only one who understands me.
http://kyleselmes.blogspot.com/2008/02/l...
Drusilla February 16, 2008 at 4:49 a.m.
Anyone heard about the bail-appeal outcome? Are the 3 felons packing? Has McCain implemented water-torture at the lord's big-house? Is the pretty trial judge still dating the bail-judges? Is Frey's report sophisticated enough at the bail-judges level of sophistication? Are the anti-blacks salivating? Have Sun-Times bosses found the location of black's overseas millions? Has black secured his portrait of warhal or was it replaced by the portrait of goebbels' dog? Has black been evicted from his Palm Beach house due to non-payment of the 24% mortgage interest rate?
Has Mr Whyte return the ill gotten $100,000? Has McLean's filed for bankrupcy? Have leaf and lit 200 slashed their wrists? Has Sarko sent new emails to cecillia claiming to "leave carla if she returns" to the rabbit's den? Has Bon-Bon managed to cheat on the hot-rabbit while he is in the French guiana and she has the chastity-belt on?
Travellin' Lite February 16, 2008 at 5:35 a.m.
Drusilla: "Are the 3 felons packing?"
What's to pack? They aren't on their way to a holiday vacation or a luxury hotel. Where they are ending up, they will be provided with everything the host (HM Government in two cases and Uncle Sam in Black's) feels they need.
JONES February 16, 2008 at 7:36 a.m.
CHRONOS:
I derive no pleasure or solitude seeing anyone incarcerated. We as a society have rules to play by. Lard Black broke those rules and must suffer the consequences however as I have stated before I doubt the "thief" will spend 1 minute in jail. That is what I fear the most...a miscarriage of justice.
Chronos February 16, 2008 at 8:01 a.m.
Jones, we shall see. I salute your noble sentiment and inability to derive pleasure from someone being incarcerated, but suppose I am a less perfect person than you, because I can't wait to see the bastard suffer.
Pack' Lite February 16, 2008 at 8:02 a.m.
Travellin' Lite, for-heavens-sake, let's hope that the bail-appeal-judges don't read your posting of 5:35 AM, coz recall that frey in his 45 page report is demanding a seven months time period to do the packing for the 3 felons.
Livia February 16, 2008 at 8:12 a.m.
Bad luck for the lord, the pretty-trial-judge was so impressed by black's Louis-Vuilton's suits that she was determined to let the lord go 'till June. In fact she wanted to go shopping with the lord. Unfortunately, one evening when she did not have a date with the bail-appeal judges, she ended-up reading the National-Post column of the lord. She was shock to learn that the lord characaterized her as unsophisticated, blue collar, low level, and dumb. As a woman she was hurt. Next day she decided to re-wright her bail-extension opinion and deny the lord's request.
Just get him off the streets! February 16, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.
All that matters is that a jury convicted him and he will spend the next half-decade in jail. That will shut him up and leave Barbara with no demand for her hatemongering texts and only a big dog to console her. I hope she remembers to feed it.
leaf February 16, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
this is all untrue. i have nothing to do with that cow amiel:
Defence team February 15, 2008 at 10:15 p.m.
Reviewing today's thread, two names appear running the blog: Leaf and Lit 200. It does not matter who they are, the question is why are they posting so much? I have observed that as soon as an anti-black posting is made, Leaf and Lit 200 take it upon themselves to refute it.
It appears that this is their job. The Communication's Commission requires balanced reporting, so probably Leaf and Lit 200 are paid staff to keep the blog balanced. I always thought Leaf and Lit 200 are males. However, I have noticed that many anti-black bloggers believe that they are females. Some of their posting are vulgar, yet at times their posting contain very elaborate legal concepts. This leads me to believe that leaf and Lit 200 get help from a third party associated with the lord's defense team.
The hoosegow will straighten him out February 16, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
That fellow in London who prefers to remain anonymous forgot to heap one accolade on Black. He showed the world how to make a small fortune. You take a large fortune, largely consisting of other people's money, and then you spend and waste most of it - and hey, presto: you have a small fortune. DON'T convict him of arrogance, pomposity and verbosity (APV). Those are annoying traits, but not illegal, and the jury convicted him of thieving, fraud and obstruction of justice, which are. It's not for juries to convict people of APV; just leave it to Bubba and company to train those traits out of him.
Feldwebel Wolfenstool February 16, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.
Dougie-Wuggie, wipe Con Black's semen off your chin...
leaf February 16, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.
there is too much incivility on this blog. i'll have to call fickton to give him a telling off
Benny Hollinger February 16, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
Having read through the posts since I last posted, I have to say that the most heartwarming were those that heaped ridicule on Conrad Black's 'title'.
He engineered that himself and gave up the citizenship of the country that first provided him the wealth (through other people's efforts) to acquire newspapers, rip off shareholders, pay himself and his wife obscene compensations, and generally prove himself to be crook, a betrayer, and a failure as a businessman and a person of integrity.
The day I hear that jail door close on him, knowing that as many people as possible will think of him now as that pompous villain Lord Black of North Mudchute, I will rest in final peace.
And if he ever dares to refer to himself grandly again as Lord Black of Crossharbour to anyone, may that person say:
"Crossharbour, Crossharbour, let me see that is north of Mudchute in the East London Tube, is it not?"
For the sake of the once a great company, and the men who put the original Hollinger together, the brave railroaders turned miners, their families, the workers, the foremen,the people and townsfolk of Porcupine, Hailybury, Temiskaming, and Timmins, Ontario, and the good managers and executives who built the company and preceded Black, do this.
Spread the word, for beside his incarceration, this too is a fitting comeuppance:
Lord Black of North Mudchute
My last wish.
Benny
leaf February 16, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.
im guessing that the post from
leaf February 16, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
was, in fact, not made by me. i have never called BA a cow. not to mention, who would ever pay good money to a stalker to give "balanced" opinions on a blog?
leaf February 16, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
leaf February 16, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.
im guessing that the post from
leaf February 16, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.
was, in fact, not made by me. i have seldom called BA a cow, even if she is. not to mention, who would ever pay good money to a stalker to give "balanced" opinions on a blog?
or maybe i did. i'm not quite sure. i'm so confused. i think i'll call BA or fickton, or someone.
Lord Black of North Mudchute February 16, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
Benny Hollinger, you watch it you small person. Barbara and I will get leaf to compile a dossier on you, and then you'll be in real trouble.
Flutter February 16, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.
As they say in Texas, leaf is all hat and no cattle. Unfortunate girl, fat and ugly and unloved, and going all the wrong ways about coming to terms with her reality. Youngish, too, so why the fixation on an old man who couldn't care less about her and admits to drooling at the very thought of Scarlett Johansson? This blog has some weird characters, but none that come close to leaf. Or is leaf a clever creation of UNOHU?
A natural born leader February 16, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
The funny thing about this blog is that the same ol people type here day after day no matter who they claim to be. This is not rocket science.
Morticia February 16, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.
You are all being so mean about me, but I will have the last laugh when my Conrad wins his appeal and we regain all our wealth and take all of your asses to the cleaners. Inshallah!
So true February 16, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
A natural born leader February 16, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
The funny thing about this blog is that the same ol people type here day after day no matter who they claim to be. This is not rocket science.
*********
Yep, and half of them are Donna clones. She really has nothing better to do than hang around here. Sad.
leaf February 16, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.
see, all you stupid people, i can write in more than one dimension. i wrote this, which proves i am not the sad sack lump of flabby protoplasm my enemies claim:
So true February 16, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
A natural born leader February 16, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
The funny thing about this blog is that the same ol people type here day after day no matter who they claim to be. This is not rocket science.
*********
Yep, and half of them are Donna clones. She really has nothing better to do than hang around here. Sad.
leaf February 16, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
i'm going to call fickton. scottish, i know, fits in with his cheapskate lifestyle ...
Siska February 16, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.
I love this blog. Here I can make up the news. Unlike listing to TV, where the media moguls dictate the fabricated news that they make-up to brainwash Americans. On this blog we got leaf and Lit-200 who read my made-up news to ensure that no item against black goes unrefuted.
I have my own readership of two, who slavishly read every word of my fabrications. I enjoy this blog. When I have nothing to do, I post a comment. i never read what others posted, coz I only care about my own news. I hope this blog is gonna go on for a while.
donna clone February 16, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.
leaf needs to have her diaper changed. her mother should come home from the gin joint. it'as wrong 4 BA 2 exploit the handicapped like this.
leaf February 16, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.
why do u think i am crazy?
if it weren't for the finnman, there would be no post on this thread.
didn't he say he was employed?
so fickton, what is that accent of yours? british? scottish? what?
one thing for sure, it ain't canadian or american.
why did you hang up the phone? too coward to talk to me?
and why are you still advertising your financial services on that other site?
i don't think many people will think that Playboy write off you attempted was too bright. it's not a really good reference for financial services.
good luck anyway....
bllllllll, gooooooo
no, i'm not nuts. i'll be calling u and making dossiers about all of u
dr February 16, 2008 at 4:32 p.m.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing...
"I suppose no analysis would be complete without considering Black. For all his erudition and ostensible complexity, I would argue that he is a simple creature in at least one important sense. Throughout this long, sordid tale, it is difficult to point to a single action of his that bears a whiff of integrity. He lied to his shareholders repeatedly. When caught with his hands in the cookie jar, he threatened anyone and everyone with lawsuits. He has demonstrated a singular incapacity to confront both his own unethical behavior and its terrible consequences. Black teaches us that while our detractors may be sometimes motivated by avarice or hatred, their criticisms of us are not always wrong. If we heed their more sensible observations critically, we may avoid future follies. Or, let’s put it another way: Don’t be an ass."
Attention Sycophants February 16, 2008 at 6:24 p.m.
The Nat. Post today published a lengthy opinion piece by Steven Skurka in which he whines that the US justice system is "systematically rigged to favour prosecutors" and uses the trial of the Hollinger foursome as his evidence. The piece included copious quotes from the Lord's defence lawyers as to the dreadful unfairness of the process. Funny we never heard from Sturka and the Eddies before now as to how biased the US justice system is toward defendents, eh wot?
Also, a good third of the Sturka article rails at the fact that Black wasn't able to have a trial by judge alone, rather than by a jury. Was I dreaming???? Didn't Black opt for a trial by jury?
Finally, Sturka sums up by saying that the Canadian justice system would never have allowed matters to proceed as disgracefully as they did in Black's US trial. You can bet your booties on that, Steve. Here in Canada we have well-connected prosecutors and judges who know better than to hold the rich and powerful to the same standards as the great unwashed.
Peeyew! What a stinker of an article! Black, himself, was MIA in today's Post.
Prison News February 16, 2008 at 7:18 p.m.
Lord Black of Crossharbor will soon grace us with his presence!
Yes, boys and girls, we will soon have a real lord amongst us. Please be sure to give him a real good down home American jailhouse welcome! Make him feel at home. Show him love and affection, the kind for which we are famous for. Word is that he is a real party animal and likes it a bit rough. He does need an attitude adjustment and is known for being a long-winded jack*ss. Best of all, he is used to paying big bucks for personal services! Some security consultant ought to make a bit of money off him! Apparently, he loves to bore people with long monologues about Napoleon's war strategies. We can do society a favor by teaching him social manners in discourse. Its cherry picking season boys!
The justice system in Canada is sick February 16, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.
Black will be pleased to know that "risk" is a major board game played in prison.
As for the Canadian justice system, all one has to do is examine what the RCMP have been up to for the past few decades with "air India", Mahar Arar, Mulroney airbus investigation, the pension fund, the death of native peoples left to freeze to death etc and all those dirty Toronto cops who had their trial "stayed" recently....enough said! We have one big mess to clean up in this country but very few people who have the courage to do it.
I forgot February 16, 2008 at 9:38 p.m.
Lets not forget the racist Barrie cop caught only recently sending emails of the sick racist kind and how the Barrie police insist this is an isolated incident when in fact the Canadian public has been told over and over again that our police are racist....How much do we want to bet that the Barrie cop, inspector no less, will not be fired for sending racist emails? I bet he is not!
These people have to hide! February 16, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.
I salute the cop who reported the scum to the Toronto star! That is courage but unfortunately I bet that same cop will not identify himself to the public because they fear their peers!
Doing the right thing is rather leftist February 16, 2008 at 9:41 p.m.
Perhaps that cop is a woman?
Criminal Cop News February 16, 2008 at 10 p.m.
That cop in Barrie is chief of the criminal investigations unit! Why has he not already been fired?
racist cops should be fired February 16, 2008 at 10:26 p.m.
He has not been fired because these dirty cops protect each other? Go ask Serpico, he took a bullet in the face before he was believed!
Marilyn February 16, 2008 at 10:49 p.m.
Here's a link to get this blog back on topic: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story....
ROGER February 16, 2008 at 11:17 p.m.
MATE DEMONSTRATES WHY THE PSYCHIATRIC APPROACH AND THE FREUDIAN LEGACY AMONGST SOME practitioners are so silly and lacking and contrary to evidence-based practice. Black is a crook because of learned behaviour. His father rewarded Conrad's criminal behaviour instead of punishing it. Many people have less than ideal parents, but how many turn out to be crooks and thieves?
To try to understand crooks is a worthwhile endeavour, but it is not a substitute for punishing thieves like Black. Being soft on crime begets more crime. Hopefully, both the UK and Canada will commence criminal proceedings against Black and his accomplices, including Lady Barbara Amiel Black aka Marie Antoinette. When the six years is up in the USA, if Black survives American jailhouse life, he can go straight to a UK or Canadian prison--preferably a UK jail so he is not allowed to set foot in Canada again. Any proceeds from books, articles or income derived from his crime, direct or indirect, ought to be confiscated and used to pay compensation to his victims. To that end, he ought to be made to work in jail to cover the expense of housing, clothing and feeding him. I am eager to see the civil suits get started. What is left of their reputations are going to get shredded and rules of evidence will allow much more to be presented than at a criminal trial. I wonder how much dirt on Mulroney, Harper and the CONservatives Black has that he will be divulging when they don't come to his rescue? Ought to be interesting.
Marilyn February 17, 2008 at 12:26 a.m.
Apparently Conrad Black expects to teach when he gets to prison. Read to the end of this link for his own musings on prison life: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/...
ROGER February 17, 2008 at 12:42 a.m.
LOL! What will Amiel say when Black is caught confessing to sneaking peaks up the short black skirts of women? (see Marilyn's link).
Black thinks an American jail is like the boarding schools of his youth, minus corporal punishment! lol! Poor Black is in for a surprise.
Violet February 17, 2008 at 12:51 a.m.
Conrad's new e-mail buddy Ruth Dudley Edwards is to millionaires what Mother Teresa was to the impoverished!
from the link in the previous post:
"I'm looking forward to the noise before he [Conrad Black] marches through the prison gate. And, of course, hoping he'll be allowed to email. He will not succeed in persuading me to go back to Rome, but I'd like nonetheless to carry on with my enjoyable corporal work of mercy."
Root Diddley February 17, 2008 at 2:04 a.m.
Thanks for that link, Marilyn. Ruth Dudley Edwards is a major joke. More right wing than Mark Swine (yes, it is possible!) and a Catholic like Black, she has a penchant for supporting lost causes. Most famously (?) of all, she supported the Protestant extremists who tried to prevent little girls from walking down their street to a school in Belfast and threw stones, bottles and blast bombs at them. If I remember correctly, it was called the Holy Cross school and was major news all over the world at the time. I think Edwards claimed that the girls (aged 9-11) were all hardened IRA cadres, or at least would probably grow up to support the cause. Eventually, the Protestants distanced themselves from her - as an embarrassment. Nice to see her on Black's "team". She also ought to have mentioned that she is a former employee of Black's.
Cobblers February 17, 2008 at 4:29 a.m.
Ms. Diddley the British journalist hopes Black will be allowed to use e-mail in the slammer. If he is, so should every prisoner in the same security category, otherwise it will only reinforce his belief that he is something special.
The mind boggles at the idea of a blossoming romance between those two far-right nutters. Not that there will be sex involved, but he's a bit past it anyway and it was never really much of an option in her case. A platonic union of mutually admiring minds.
That leaves Babsie morally entitled to look around for a new partner. Her options in that respect are rather limited, but here's one candidate:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_...
Of course, there is one practical obstacle, but not one that Babsie couldn't overcome if she uses whatever of those famous wiles she still has left.
Charles February 17, 2008 at 5:51 a.m.
Does anyone know more about the the Ontario Securities Commission investigation/hearings? I thought there was to be a hearing in January.
"The action against Black, Hollinger Inc., David Radler, Boultbee and Atkinson alleges diversion of up to C$89.7 million along with incomplete and misleading disclosure.
The Ontario commission's action dates back to March 2005 but was put off during the U.S. criminal proceedings."
- http://money.aol.ca/article/conrad-black...
I would be delighted to know when the civil actions begin as well.
I want to see Black bankrupted.
Nice euphemism for thieving February 17, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.
Is this doctor for real? Addicted to acquisition = can't stop stealing:
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/s...
Pin-up girl February 17, 2008 at 6:39 a.m.
Here's Black's admirer. Something to pin up on his cell wall:
http://www.ruthdudleyedwards.co.uk/compl...
Matoo February 17, 2008 at 7:19 a.m.
The best way to become wealthy is to inherit a fortune.
Conrad unlike most of us inherited a large fortune plus connections through family to even more wealth. Where is
the unloved childhood? His father loved him so much that he
cleared him from stealing in school. E P Taylor and Mr McDougal help to promote his career. Any psychologist who
finds him equal to a street-youth-addict is half demented.But there is a future for Dr Mate, he can join leaf and Lit-200 and post on this blog daily.
leaf February 17, 2008 at 8:42 a.m.
matoo is as obnoxious as the old crazy in helsinki who refuses to respect me. another dossier has been opened. those who laugh at BA and me will regret it.
Sasha February 17, 2008 at 8:57 a.m.
Many bloggers fiercely anti-black have been dismayed when learning that the lord is going to have an email, paper and pencil to write while in his cell. I beg to differ. The more he writes, the more in trouble he gets. For example, the lord has not yet expressed his views about prison life: the warden, the guards, the innmates. A couple of columns in the post about the aforementioned, is going to be retaliated by physical action or lengthen his time in the big house.
Tatiana February 17, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
Serbia was the spark for World War One. Today Serbia wants to ingnite another spark over Kosovo. Over ten years Serbians have been at war with Croatia, Bosnia, MonteNegro, Slovenia, and so on. How much more blood the Serbian people demand in Europe? Hopefully, now that Serbia has been reduced to a tiny backward enclave in Eastern-Europe, their wings of gandeur cut-off, we in Europe are going to have a respite. I doubt that Serbia is going to be admitted to the Eurpean-Union soon. To many 'niet' votes are waiting.
Peda Gogics February 17, 2008 at 10:11 a.m.
So Black fancies himself as a teacher in the slammer?
That should be a hoot. Is he going to teach Bubba the difference between a hold up and a stick up? Or teach a course in creative accounting or manipulating auditors and supervisory boards?
Maybe he has more to learn than teach, although any lessons he learns will be too late in life for him. For example, how many of his prospective students don't know already that he should have hired an accomplice to pop down to the security camera and spray the lens with paint before he personally arrived and handed his fat ass to the prosecution the way he did?
And how eager will Mickey the Shank, Juan the Strangler or Machine Gun Fritz be to learn the true meaning of words like callipygian or the line-ups of forces in the Battle of Austerlitz?
Poor c*nt, if burying himself in such deep denial and fantasy is his survival strategy, then so be it!
Dorothy February 17, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
Hold your horses. No prision official has said that the lord is going to teach. The teaching job was made up by the lord in one of his emails. Never-the-less, I have heard that to be a teacher in secondary-school is pretty rough. Imagine being the teacher of Mickey-the-Shank, Juan-the-Strangler or Machine-Gun-Fritz? Just think if the lord awards failing grades to the above? God have mercy on the lord. I suspect it is better to wash floors or fabricate license plates. The lord's teaching career is going to be short lived.
fintan February 17, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.
[This comment has been removed.]
Just the Facts February 17, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
Fintan doesn't post here anymore under that name, someone is impersonating him. Guessing it's a Black relative.
Onlooker February 17, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.
About the personal attacks on anti-Black posters here...
Peter C. Newman about Barbara Amiel:
“While I abhorred her facile dismissal of the small-l liberalism that was my own ideological bent, I admired the nerve of her contrarian views and her penchant for ad hominem attacks.”
http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?conte...
fintan February 17, 2008 at 12:23 p.m.
i'll post under whichever name i chose. would you mind butting out?
i live to get the swine's goat.
leaf February 17, 2008 at 12:32 p.m.
see how clever i am. i've learned to post under fintan's name and i'm posting his phone number too. i'm clever.
leaf February 17, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.
just the fact is wrong. no one is controlling me. i think of all those things myself.
leaf February 17, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.
i am so obsessed with fintan that i realize that other people who are not fintan post here.
JONES February 17, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.
I am anti Black and I say if he ever goes to prison which I doubt very much, give him everything he desires. Hell give him a computer with internet access. But as I have stated over and over he will never serve a minute in jail. March will turn into June, June will turn into when the appeals court can render a decesion. Then he will be exonerated or the lenght of time he was confined to Palm Beach will be deducted from his sentence. The Lard has money. Money can buy many things including freedom.
Read the rules February 17, 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
[This comment has been removed.]
Do rules mean anything at TL? February 17, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
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************Several weeks ago, the obsessive character leaf posted what is supposedly Fintan's phone number and urged people to do him physical violence. That post was deleted, but leaf has repeated it several times. Toronto Life obviously cannot or will not do anything to stop leaf.********
the latest example is at 11.53 today.
Who is behind leaf, and what does she hope to achieve?
Keeping in touch February 17, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
Black is probably too optimistic in his e-mail to Ruth Deadly-Edwards. If prisoners in the Federal prison system are already allowed to use e-mail, then he will too.
But I suppose it's unlikely. After all, isn't even snail mail subject to censorship? Or am i wrong about that.
Anyway, Black actually solicits e-mails to him and the address cbletters@gmail.com is provided with his column in the NP.
Why not send him your greetings, advice, words of solace, or whatever else you might want to say to him?
Rojo February 17, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.
Well, I have read your demonstrative posts regarding Mr. Black with amusement and can only conclude that there is most likely none among you that are or have been businessmen in your own right. Thereby how or what qualifies any of you in passing judgement on topics whereby you have no knowledge albeit hearsay.
Just like the jury (of his peers LOL) that found Mr. Black guilty, while being intimidated, by the prosecutors (Government) in this case. You fall for the presumptuous tale that guilty is the only conclusion simply because you have been told so. I suppose that you also believe that 9/11 was perpetrated by some crazy militants hell bent on destroying America, to each their own I guess.
As a businessman or a high positioned employee this case will leave many, if not all, fearful of either selling at a profit or retiring and gathering together your mementoes accumulated over many years.
Should I appear to be supporting Mr. Black, then you are right, this case is nothing more than a spectacle of U.S. harassment perpetrated to further instil fear amongst the masses.
Here is a link that, I believe, explains this case in it’s most simple terms.
http://moxargongroup.blogspot.com/2007/0...
Put off your petty beliefs for a moment of what you have read or been told and use some common sense in your determination of whether this man is truly guilty of any crimes committed in the good old U.S. of A. Now if you are a believer in the NAU, maybe once the rules are finally set forth and made known to the citizens, then and only then might this guilty verdict hold water. But until then I don’t feel that a foreign government has any right to drag another countries citizen into their courts and apply their system of justice (corrupt as it is) against any individual.
A closer view of the truth, in this case, can be easily followed through the works of Mark Steyn, who followed this case from inception to conclusion. Here is his link;
http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=...
For what it is worth.
occasional visitor February 17, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
Do rules mean anything at TL? February 17, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
Please note that everyone of leaf's posts, particularly those that explicitly threaten others, is printed out and being kept in a file. In due course, law enforcement will be notified.
Melanie February 17, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.
The history of the trial in a collage format was well done.
Unfortunately re-writing history to suit the needy doesn't
change the truth. Let's wait what the bail-appeal guys decide. If they decide against the lord, they are going to called "abusers of the rich." This argument doesn't hold water.
occasional visitor February 17, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
Do rules mean anything at TL? February 17, 2008 at 2:02 p.m
In addition, leaf's internet provider and address are already known and being saved in same file mentioned above.
How close to Amiel is leaf? February 17, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
[This comment has been removed.]
Don't begrudge the man February 17, 2008 at 3:02 p.m.
leaf (and her soulmate Lit) both get very upset at talk of male rape, which nobody has actually wished on Black. Several have, of course, pointed out the obvious: that it happens a lot in the US prison system and people with Black's arrogance, pomposity, verbosity and inappropriate people skills is likely to be a victim.
But even if it doesn't happen, more than five years without nookie is a long time and who could blame him if he looked for some kind of substitute? Maybe that's what gets Lit and leaf so annoyed.
Madge February 17, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
leaf, if you think you have Fintan's phone number, why don't you call him yourself? Knowing you are so obsessed with him might be flattering to him, and who knows what it could lead to. Just try to be a bit friendlier in voice than you are in text.
Just the Facts February 17, 2008 at 3:44 p.m.
A few years back, Barbara Amiel wrote:
“American institutions, under any administration, enthusiastically celebrate the values of free enterprise and individual freedoms relative to the British and European Left. What is called anti-Americanism is really anti-liberal democracy.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main....
Some of that good old American “free enterprise” and “individual freedom” in action -
“Some Homeless Squat in Foreclosed Houses”
"Many homeless people see the foreclosure crisis as an opportunity to find low-cost housing (FREE!) with some privacy,”
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080217/homeless_...
Lucia February 17, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.
Why is black claiming that he is being abused by the US courts because he is wealthy? The reason is that that argument has worked for him during his lifetime. Wealth adds beauty and individual in our society. This claim has served him well in Canada, were nobody could touch him.
Why in the US this argument is not working? If it were true Murdoch, Gates and Buffett would be jail. The current US government is pro-rich, every week we hear that to solve the economy, taxes on the rich should be lowered. Let's compare Buffet to Lord Balck. Buffet is worth $50,000,000,000. Black is worth $10,000,000 less the civil-lawsuits amount to $500,000,000. Black net worth is negative (-$490,000,000). In fact he is poorer than the homeless walking the streets. An argument could be made that he is prosecuted because he is poor. Conrad doesn't want to make that the issue because then he becomes irrelevant. How many homeless are having a column in the National Post?
Just curious February 17, 2008 at 4:14 p.m.
Where is Peter Griffiths? Leaf has his phone number too.
leaf February 17, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.
C'est ridicule, plus que ca, c'est stupide
You rascal you February 17, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.
A sincere sentiment from leaf/amiel to Fintan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKGOLQhbU...
not from PQ February 17, 2008 at 9:15 p.m.
I read over the weekend that an Irish pub in Montreal has some old poster ads for various beers on the wall,in English of course.
The owners will have to explain to the Quebec Language Police why they are not in French. Without good reason, they would be taken before the courts and fined.
Not a great deal of difference in my mind between those idiots, and the way the Taliban do things.
Here's the difference February 17, 2008 at 9:52 p.m.
The Taliban plant bombs underneath the roads that have blown lots of people to smithereens.
Nobody other than Pierre Laporte (and I don't underestimate the loss of his life, by the way) ever got killed in the Quebec language war.
If you don't see a difference, I do.
re-read the story dumbo February 17, 2008 at 9:52 p.m.
The issue was the fact that this pub had old signs that read "English only" this of course is lighting an old flame and most Canadians don't appreciate reigniting issues that have long ago been dealt with. The moral to this story is that we Canadians don't want racism in our public forum no matter what colour or language reference it makes. English only/French only, both are history in this country....deal with it or face the wrath of Canadians who continue to dominate the public view that we are no longer changing, we have changed!
5 years on, 14 days to go February 18, 2008 at 1:06 a.m.
Amiel must be feeling wery distraught as the clock ticks away. Look here to see the kind of nazi stuff she was writing five years ago, now it's her time to whinge: http://davidaslindsay.blogspot.com/2008/...
Just the Facts February 18, 2008 at 1:29 a.m.
From reading their pro-war propaganda at the link you can see how much Mark Steyn and Barbara Amiel pitied the poor Iraqis and wanted to make their lives better. Now that 1 in 40 Iraqis have been killed in the chaos of occupation, I hope they at least feel guilty for doing their part in ruining Iraq. Law and order are dead, the Shias and Sunnis now hate each other and thugs rule.
The UK option February 18, 2008 at 2:20 a.m.
Just one hurdle left. Just one tiny straw for Black to clutch at. The appellate judges will announce their decision before the end of this week, almost certainly a resounding "no", and after that it will be only a few more days before the cell door slams shut behind the crook. If he hadn't been such a complete fool and thrown away his Canadian citizenship, he'd have had the option of doing his time in his native country, and might have been out in a year or two. Now his only chance of getting more remission than the 15% the Federal system offers him is to try and have himself transferred to the UK, where he just might get out after serving three years. This is the system he might be "looking forward" to entering, because it's less grim than the one he's going to in 2 weeks' time:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/f...
jab3 February 18, 2008 at 3:27 a.m.
some loose ends:
1. a couple of errors i made in earlier postings, as pointed out by other posters. The Woman in Red was indeed, part of the Dillinger legend, not the Capone legend.
I misunderstood a reference in a Roger post to sex assignment surgery.
2. yet another poster, on this thread, talking about the stupid ignorant jury: The defense seems to have excluded possible jurors who knew a lot about business, and Conrad could have attempted to have a trial by judge--a judge who knew business.
3. this same poster thought those of us critical of Black knew nothing about business. That is not entirely true, but even were it so, one does not have to have killed someone to have a legitimate opinion about whether, in a particular case, murder has been committed and by whom.
4. I doubt that leaf, who has made anti-Semitic comments, is Amiel. Lots of people, deal in ad hominem attacks; it is a common fallacy into which almost everyone, including me, is tempted to fall.
5. Mate's theory MIGHT apply to Amiel, but seems "off" with regard to Black, more "off" than the sociopathy theory put about on this blog and elsewhere. Addiction has become a psychological explanation of choice recently, and by being made to explain everything, becomes an overly distended and shapeless concept. Poor relationship with one's parents in childhood as an explanatory device for adult faults is a century-old theory and still going strong, too. And as another poster on this thread pointed out, Black's relationship with his Dad wasn't all that unloving or distant.
Going, going, g.... February 18, 2008 at 3:36 a.m.
Has anyone noticed the deafening silence from Mark Swine? Not a dicky bird about his former master and guru for the past couple of months. And he didn't even acknowledge Babsie's offer of refuge in the Florida mansion should things start going pear-shaped for him in Canada. When even that rat has already swum far out of sight, you know the ship is doomed. I wonder how well Lit and leaf can swim?
jab3 February 18, 2008 at 3:38 a.m.
5. re Skurka: of course, in Canada, the defense has far less latitude in challenging potential jurors; the prosecution can appeal acquittals; and the defense can not talk to the jury or review their comments in the media to help them find seeds for an appeal.
6. Just the facts: thanks for that delicious quotation from Amiel about how lovely American institions are. Countries that are more left wing really don't care as much as America if capitalists (such as shareholders) are criminally screwed over by other capitalists.
Nice for a change February 18, 2008 at 5:38 a.m.
A recurring theme in right-wing newspapers in Britain is how soft the law is on crime. Day in day out they present a menu of tales about "youths" terrorising entire communities, demoralised police forces who catch criminals, but see them treated too leniently by the courts, taxpayers' money being "wasted" on alternatives to prison, etc. etc. Naturally, the same publications pooh-pooh any suggestion that at least some of the causes of crime lie in social inequality, the failings of the educational system, etc. etc.
Publications like the ones Black "owned" lead the hue and cry for tougher penalties, "zero-tolerance" and so on.
That is precisely what they do in America. Crime does not pay and those who commit it will not be mollycoddled.
Isn't that what Black's publications have been calling for?
So why are the right-wingers getting their knickers in a twist now that one of their own is getting the kind of shafting they want everyone else to get?
Lucinda February 18, 2008 at 8:24 a.m.
The paradise retreat of archipelago Fernando-de-Noronha off the Brazilian coast 200 miles in the south-atlantic, is the destination for a honeymoon of the 'hot-rabbit' and first lady Bon-Bon. Once again as in Egypt, Petra and Versailles at the French tex-payers expense. Doesn't this reminds us about the lord's bora-bora? The amoral horny-toad is going to suck dry the French people's cash in the next seven years.
Blackrupt Watch February 18, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.
When does Lord North of Mudchute go Blackrupt?
How much money does this fat white codfish with the forked tongue have left?
Will Scloss Blackula South be seized?
When do the Ontario Securities hearings start?
The civil suits?
Rene February 18, 2008 at 9:35 a.m.
Lucinda,
Who gives a flying about the French President's honeymoon and whether or not the taxpayer's of France pick up the tab?
This blog is about Conrad Black.
Stay on topic or stay off line reading your Paris Match and Hello magazines.
Some answers 4 u February 18, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.
Blackrupt Watch,
Lord North of Mudchute is already bankrupt in the sense that his liabilities far outweight his assets. The prosecution only brought some sample charges to save time and effort and even then only some were made to stick. In other words, he got off light. The real extent of his thievery is probably a lot closer to what Breeden identified. The civil suits are likely to bring judgments against him - and His Bride of Blackula wife - that will far exceed the value of everything they have in Toronto, Florida and elsewhere.
Schloss Blackula South will probably not be seized, but they will have to sell both it and Schloss Blackula Toronto to pay off some of their debts.
The big vulgar diamond will go too. There are not many women as vain and vulgar as the Bride of Blackula in the world, so it'll probably end up in a museum collection. Perhaps the Black Museum run by Scotland Yard.
At least she will have enough shoes to last her the rest of her life.
Finally, when will the hearings start? Don't know, but what's the hurry? Black won't be going anywhere for the next five years.
Lit 200 February 18, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
After Richard Breeden destroyed Hollinger, he is continuing his wrecking career with other companies. At hollinger, he and his army of accountants and lawyers, milked the company of millions by charging up to $800 an hour for their services. That was nothing. The "activist" hedge fund owner, is now making $10 to $20 million a year in management fees, plus a lot more than that via a 20 per cent share of any profits his hedge makes. Typically he buys into "troubled" companies with the intention of "fixing" them. Ha. He's now busily destroying Zale jewellery, after bringing H&R Block to its knees due to mismanagement.
Breeden has watched Zale's stock, which traded above $30 last February, nearly cut in half under his activist leadership. When asked, his response was "No comment." No wonder.
Some hero.
Good Giggle February 18, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.
What a chump! he claims he's being "assaulted" by the US Government, but boasts of being "impervious to pain". He'll soon find out what it is to be assaulted, and not by the US Government, and we'll see how impervious to anything he is.
http://www.truveo.com/Lord-Conrad-Black-...
make believe works February 18, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
The very second Black is secured in custody, when all appeal attempts are denied, I imagine those he swindled will be out for their share of restitution. How ironic that Black, who used the courts all those years to press towards slanted self-serving justice, finds himself today a sitting duck with legal fees galore.
The bride of Blackula never one for critical thinking, will be entertaining to watch as the civil court actions proceed. Projection will be her only defense strategy as she is completely delusional now.
Fly Swatter February 18, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
make believe works
"Projection will be her only defense strategy as she is completely delusional now."
How right! Sooner or later it will hit her that Black might have kept just barely the right side of the legality line if he had not been blinded and led astray by her ambition and greed. With him and his power base gone, she is just another shrill and nasty far-right scribe that few want to know. Her looks are likewise rapidly deteriorating without the massively costly treatments she needed to maintain the lie that she is a 19-year-old sylph. She will probably go to the grave without ever, even for an instant, regretting anything. Instead, she will blame everyone else and cast as much mud as she can with all the abandon of her secret idol Goebbels.
She used him for the power it gave her and which she abused so spectacularly. Now she will soon have nobody except the poor puppy. If it were anyone else in such an unenviable position, I would feel sorry for her, but she has earned all the hardship that comes her way.
Another Foreign Git February 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m.
Has anyone been following the latest soap opera in London? It's even funnier than the Black saga. It's almost as hard to believe Fayed's claims as it is to believe Black's protestations of innocence. The British ought to introduce tougher immigration controls to weed out dubious characters from places like Egypt and Canada. But at least Fayed never made it into the House of Lords.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk...
Billy February 18, 2008 at 10:46 a.m.
Lit 200: "After Richard Breeden destroyed Hollinger------"
C'mon now, not this crap again --- Conrad Black,CEO of Hollinger, not Breedon, destroyed Hollinger.
Beware of the Mogg February 18, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.
Oops! There goes another friendship. Good old Moggsy was one of Black's last defenders in the UK, but now has broken ranks and endorsed O'Bama for the presidency. Unlike his old friend Lord North of Mudchute, who is so hung up on McCain that he even resorted to close-to-racist innuendo in his Nazional Post column:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment...
Lit 200 February 18, 2008 at 11:22 a.m.
Yeah, again.
While Black was CEO, hollinger stock was solid and paying dividends. Neither statement is true after Breeden's fine work and the mis-management of Black's overpaid successors.
And as you can see, Breeden's busy wrecking other companies right now. And with a 2% management fee on $1b of investments, what does Breeden care about the companies he wrecks? Investors be damned. I believe his phony hedge fund will take a huge bath in the coming US monetary and financial collapse.
According to the court in Chicago, Black took some $6 million in non-competes that he shouldn't have. That's after more than $1 billion of income from the sale of newspapers in Canada and the US.
Compared to Breeden, Black is a piker.
Mary February 18, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.
I am glad that it has been pointed out on this blogg by an astute and alert blogger that Breeden is taking two percent management fee on his fund. This should alert our friendly bloggers that the Canadian five large banks charge the same amount of management fee on 'mutual funds' of their clients. All mutual fund holders are suckers being cleaned out by the five large banks. The answer is to invest in indexed funds, these funds are allowed in the RRSPs. I'm sure bank staff are going to refute my claim pronto.
leaf February 18, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.
i haven't had time yet to catch up with the blog since my last visit so i'll just comment on today's posts:
UK option: “If he hadn't been such a complete fool and thrown away his Canadian citizenship blah blah re-blah….”
-----
How many times do you think this has been told here, fickton?
My guess: anywhere between 250-300 times minimum.
Don’t you ever get tired of writing the same thing time and time again?
Do you think you are enlightening anyone or rather, showing your very limited range?
-------------
Jabber the 3rd: “I doubt that leaf, who has made anti-Semitic comments, is Amiel.”
-----
Back that up or get personnaly acquainted with me.
---------------
Going, going, sunk: “I wonder how well Lit and leaf can swim?”
-----
Obviously better than you. At least, we’re still posting with our respective alias. A luxury only afforded to upfront and ethical people in this blog.
-------------------
Nice for a change :“Day in day out they present a menu of tales about "youths" terrorising entire communities….blah blah and reblah”
-----
For a change, we’ll have to send some of those wayward youths up finland way. More precisely, up fickton’s alleyway. More precisely even, up fickton’s back alleyway.
Save that one for your file, fickton. With a mind like yours, you could read lots into it…
------------------
Lucinda, that would be the next 5 years but who’s counting……?
------------------
Blackrupt Watch: “ How much money does this….. deleted…..have left?
------
Eat your heart out fickton. You would drown in what he’s got left.
Take the bus and enjoy your weekly sorrow drowning with your chili dog and chili wine.
----------------------
Fly Swatter: “Her looks are likewise rapidly deteriorating without the massively costly treatments she needed to maintain the lie that she is a 19-year-old sylph.”
-----
Same question as above fickton: how many bloody times have you repeated this?
Same answer as above.
-----------------------
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose........
RENE'S COUSIN February 18, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.
Split 200
Hogwash as usual from you.
If it hadn't been for Amiel tipping the concierge with chits charged to Hollinger, lavish parties expensed to Hollinger, two jets expensed to Hollinger for non-business trips to places like Bora Bora, caviar champagne, cell phones, gym attire, living expenses, theatre tickets, staff, residence swaps and you name it, as charged by outraged shareholders, Breeden never would have been brought in, let alone Mudchute's crappy business sense unless it was in the form of illegitimate pay-offs to himself and his cronies.
Let's not go over all that again.
RENE'S COUSIN February 18, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
Leaf,
Take your medication and get to therapy - you're late.
leaf February 18, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
fickton, is this a good time to call you?
Is Amiel back? February 18, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.
Notice that when posters comment on Amiel's dubious physical charms, her lack of integrity and her role in steering her Lord across the thin borderline that separated him from criminality for decades, plus the bleak future that awaits both him and her, leaf quickly appears. Just a coincidence, of course!
And, of course, the threats typical of this helpless little girl who wants to grow a willy and appear all macho:
"For a change, we’ll have to send some of those wayward youths up finland way. More precisely, up fickton’s alleyway. More precisely even, up fickton’s back alleyway..".
and
"Jabber the 3rd: 'I doubt that leaf, who has made anti-Semitic comments, is Amiel.'
-----
"Back that up or get personnally acquainted with me."
Threat?
Next we'll be hearing more fables about leaf calling this one and that one and hearing British/Scottish/Vulcan/Klingon accents.
Shrinks probably have a long fancy word for it. Ordinary people call it "hearing things" or just "raving".
It's nearly lunchtime in Palm Beach now. In exactly two weeks' time, Black will be tucking in to his first distinctly non-gourmet lunch in the slammer. Babsie will have a greater range of culinary choice, but I suspect less appetite.
Halleluja!
Medici February 18, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.
Have we heard this before? The French 'fast-toad' has declared that he is the 'propriator' of the french governement. As such he is entitled to use the peoples funds as he pleases. "Le propriator c'est moi" states the 5'2" toad. The 'hot-rabbit' has joined the lord in as much as he is unwilling to renounce the rights of the aristocracy-plutocracy. Who says the lord has no followers in old Europe? Wow, if the trial of lord Hollinger were in Paris (France) the lord would get a pardon in no time. The french elite has written a letter to the toad expressing concern about the loss of the republic. Carla who is now named 'queen consort' is to reply to the letter.
fael February 18, 2008 at 12:26 p.m.
leaf February 18, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
fickton, is this a good time to call you?
I suspect it is never a good time to get a call from a crank, and would your welfare check cover the expense of transatlantic calls?
The only other poster whose number you have is Peter Griffiths. Why not call him? You both have a big animosity to Fintan and support Black. And who knows, it might only be a local call?
leaf February 18, 2008 at 12:30 p.m.
fael.... who asked you?
Eagerly Waiting February 18, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.
It will be fun to read what leaf has to write on 4 March as she squirms uncomfortably on her seat vicariously ...
leaf February 18, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
does anyone here understand that Conrad Black is NOT my concern?
Isnt’it obvious that I get my kicks out of calling out the few liars and hypocrites found on this blog?
Yeah, yeah! February 18, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
leaf February 18, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
"does anyone here understand that Conrad Black is NOT my concern?"
Does anyone even try to understand what goes on in that sick mind of yours?
And if Black is not your concern, why do you get so uptight about it when posters point out what's going to happen to him in the slammer?
Good to know you get your kicks some way, though. Guess there aren't too many in your life.
Most everyone is laughing at you.
Donor February 18, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.
Someone give leaf a dime so she can call her secret love.
Vocation February 18, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
leaf: "Isnt’it obvious that I get my kicks out of calling out the liars and hypocrites found on this blog?"
What a noble vocation in life! Stalking and bullying. But all bullies are cowards, and leaf is a really craven one.
flea: an acrostic from an anagram February 18, 2008 at 2:38 p.m.
my alter-ego, "leaf", has been pressing me for several days to forward this "email" one of the several that "fintan" "sent" "leaf".
So this morning I gave in, here it is:
To my Funny Valentine
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I went to a church
And i began to pray
You'ld be in Helsinki with me
If I had my way. . .
L-is for the way you look at me
E-is for the evil that you see
A-is you, awful Amiel, you
F-is what I want to do to you.
Leaf, that's all I want to do to you;
Leaf, it's a game can be played with more than two;
Leaf plus two could be lots of fun.
Think it over, let me know, right now I gotta run.
jab3 February 18, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.
I sent the above post from "flea".
"leaf" is not amiel, who would not have made the snarky references to "Donna's" Jewishness that "leaf" made and that have been deleted from this blog.
"Donna" and Amiel both share a staunch anti-Semitism.
jab3 February 18, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.
that should read: "Donna" and Amiel both share a staunch anti-anti-Semitism.
fael February 18, 2008 at 2:57 p.m.
jab3.
"leaf" is not amiel, who would not have made the snarky references to "Donna's" Jewishness that "leaf" made and that have been deleted from this blog.
"Donna" and Amiel both share a staunch anti-Semitism.
Nice bit of poetry and funny. I suppose you mean Donna and Amiel share a staunch DISAPPROVAL OF anti-Semitism, but don't be so sure Amiel isn't in the background. Given her and Black's long history of deception, deviousness and manipulation, it would be very much in character for her to make a couple of anti-Semitic remarks about Donna as one way of covering her tracks.
Besides, I think she's only a Jew when it suits her to be. Maybe she should ask a Rabbi's advice about how Judaism views stealing, just as Black needs to meet some priest other than a Cardinal or a fashionable right-wing polemicist like De Souza and ask him if the RC Church still considers stealing millions a sin.
Lit 200 February 18, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.
Mary is right. The banks have been plundering average Canadians like warlords. If a bank has 50 billion in "assets" it means $1 billion in the kitty for them every year, whether their funds gain or lose.