Copps alleges tampering by Valeri campaign - Globe and Mail

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040310.wcopps20310/BNStory/Front/

Former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps is accusing the campaign of senior Martin cabinet minister Tony Valeri of tampering with phones to thwart her efforts to win the nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

Yesterday, Ms. Copps asked the RCMP to investigate her allegations that a member of the Valeri team changed a message on her office telephone that told her supporters where, when and how they could get a ride to the polling station.

Instead, she said, they heard: "Hello, my name is Bob. Please leave a message."

Police have confirmed they are investigating the Copps complaints; the Valeri camp has denied tampering with telephones.

-I thought I'd better clarify for our American friends. These people are all in the same party.
Yeah, I know.

This woman is in such deep denial that she could possibly lose that she's liable to see a lot of things as a vast right of center liberal party wing conspiracy (what a mouthful...) without it necessarily being true... because, well, she's Sheila Copps, she could never lose fair and square.

I have no idea about the specifics though, just what she looks like on TV right now...

I apologize in advance, but your about to be subjected to my “extreme” dislike of Sheila Copps. Copps has always been loose cannon, but I’m seriously beginning to question her mental stability. During her failed leadership bid, she broke cabinet solidarity and pointed the finger directly at Anne McClellan blaming her for the SARS crisis. She received a dressing down from Chrétien, retracted and apologized. At the time I thought that she was just grandstanding for the Toronto media, but now I’m not so sure. Sheila may have lost more than the nomination; she’s exhibiting signs of real instability. Sheila had a sense of entitlement to this riding; she considered it “her” riding. She was offered another riding, but she chose to fight it out in “her” riding. No, Sheila, it wasn’t your riding, and it wasn’t "your" nomination". The nomination belonged to the members of the Liberal party and to whom the members voted for. She took the risk and can’t accept the result.
She has been egotistical. It always all about her. Even when she was considered the NDP, it was never about her political views, just about “Paul is being mean to ME, the men are picking on ME”. She used Layton and the NDP for leverage, how offensive was that? I was uncomfortable that Layton played along with this, and do consider it a mistake on his part.
Copps wanted to stay in the Liberal Party as a Liberal MP. It is about her own power and self-interest. She probably has some crazy plan that if she stayed on the Liberal backbench, then she could execute some plot to gain control of the party from Martin…and someday be the Prime Minister. After all, since Sheila feels that she’s entitled to anything she wants, she must be entitled to be PM. Martin is the Leader, Martin is the Prime Minister and Copps had a duty to support him. She wasn’t just a backbencher; she was once Deputy Prime Minister. And now she's going to waste the time of the police because she can't accept that Hamilton didn't want her. Martin and the Liberal party is well rid of her. He’s gone to great lengths to accommodate her…who turns down Ambassador to France for goodness sake.

her perspective is so at odds with reality.

It couldn't have unfolded better for the NDP if Layton had scripted it himself, and Copps would have harmed Martin more if she'd remained in caucus than she might squealing without. Most Canadians, quite simply, can't stand her. For all her claims of being a progressive force, she's a classic, old-style ward heeler. Who needs her?

many assumed that her assistant moved over to the NDP to pave the way for Copps to defect. I suspect that the move was made because he knew that Copps was not only finished in politics, but unstable as well. It must have been horrible working for her. The funny thing about Copps latest stunt, is that she may actually be the catalyst that will unite the Liberal party behind Martin. Nothing joins people together quicker than mutual dislike of someone. Copps is a perfect example of what's been wrong with "old-style" politics in Canada.
Copps is regressive and belongs in the past. I've never thought of Copps as a progressive, just to opposite in fact.

and if any of the allegations she put forward is true, it could get VERY interesting! I was surprised by the number of charges she had.

I'm just saying.

either she has legitimate claims which, if so, need to be known and she gets a second chance or, as it stands today, her career as a politican is over.

I will be interested in the Liberal party response to her, if they give one.

Either way, the Liberals have two "scandals" to deal with, guess the election call will be put off for sure now lol

I don't know if I'd call it a scandal per se, as I don't know how much it connects with the folks out there.

right now it is the leading story on the news. Given that it is a formal appeal, they party has to respond and that will give another set of leading headlines.

Either way, it isn't good for the Liberal party, that's for sure.

When you take the other investigation, the one that had search warrants being carried out in the British Columbia legislation around party membership, etc., there is alot out there right now.

she desperately reaching for anything that could help her. I imagine that it will not hold water. This was a local issue, it's not the job of the PM or the PMO to control nomination meetings. She's really trying to link this to Martin, but when questioned further by Julie Vandoosen(sp?) she couldn't make the link. She sent a letter to the PM, he passed it to the appropriate to person ( it's not like he threw it in the garbage). Copps was always protected by the PM in the old days,and Martin had no interest in protecting her (big change for Copps) . She didn't get where she was on merit and ability, Chretien out her into positions that she didn't deserve. What's becoming clear IMO, this is Copps vendetta, not Martin's, ( although I'm sure he'd be very happy if she was gone). I bet she wouldn't make one complaint if she had won.

If you ask me, Dylan Thomas has a lot to answer for.