Saturday, October 17, 2009

Slow learners

You would think politicians would learn from the mistakes of their own ilk. It was the attempted cover up of Watergate that destroyed "Tricky Dicky" Nixon. It was the shading of the truth regarding his relationship with Lewinski, along with the "I didn't inhale" comment, that called into question Clinton's integrity.

Incumbent Bev Dubois says she was at the USSU forum, when in fact she wasn't in attendance. She then tries to squirm out of her "gotcha" situation by saying she meant to say that her daughters were there on her behalf. An exercise in kindness would call this response stretching the truth.

Say nothing at all, or speak the truth. Time after time politicians try this and get caught. It does make you wonder though how many times it worked. Voters may be slow burners when it comes to slow learners but when they are fired up these same politicians usually go up in smoke.

44 comments:

  1. Isnt it possible she did err? If it were a regular occurrence one would be less inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt...but have there been any other incidences where she hasnt told the truth?

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  2. How do you error on if you went to an event or not?

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  3. Perhaps she misspoke? I am not suggesting she did or didnt. But, we so often jump to condemn when people make mistakes not keeping in mind that we all do. If this is not a singular incident then maybe she was being untruthful. Noone has yet suggested this isnt an isolated incident???

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  4. Seems like her correction came after people realized she was not in attendance versus Bev realizing she mispoke and quickly clearing it up.

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  5. That may be the case. But the person who questioned whether it was a mistake or not is right. Why so quick to judge her? Seems we all too often judge polticians we dont like as guilty based on our personal feelings for them rather then actual facts.
    Its no wonder few people want to put their names forward for public office.

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  6. So what may or may not be a typo that was quickly rectified is an election issue, yet our Mayor gets away with purposely misleading the public about his jerry-rigging federal funding lists for the Mendel and the local paper says nothing?

    This is truly pathetic. There is something seriously wrong with electoral politics in Saskatoon.

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  7. Bev Dubois routinely lies. Sorry - I realize "lie" is a strong word - but this behaviour is standard for her. She never returns calls or emails - her typical excuse is "her email isn't working" or "she didn't get the message". She is the only councillor who does this. (at least Gord Wyant - who also doesn't return calls and emails - doesn't make up these excuses - he just doesn't do it)

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  8. I realize that elected officials are subjected to intense (and often undeserved public criticism for people who are just trying to do their best) but I have to agree with the person before - Bev Dubois is a liar. Just check out her website - www.bevdubois.com - it states under her bio that she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan - complete, total and deliberate dishonesty. She doesn't have a university degree - never has - never will.

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  9. I certainly think if an elected official is going around saying lies that it is an issue.

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  10. me too. also- I just looked at her website - it's just a bunch of pictures of Bev and a big write up all about her (including the lie about graduating from university) - it's totally arrogant. Does she not have anything else to say?

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  12. I am not crazy about anonymous postings. It should easy to find out. Someone should call the University. I think they have to disclose that if asked.

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  13. Seriously people...what's with all of the "typical U.S. political tactics" here. Funny how none of this has come out until now, until there's an election a week away. Suspicious that all of these "anonymous" people suddenly know so much.

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  14. Well its either true or it's not and if it's not then it is a deliberate attempt to mislead people about who you are. This is not about exagerating your war record or mis-interpreting a voting record against a particular cadidate. She either graduated or she didn't. It's that simple.

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  15. I just called the university - she does NOT have a university degree. Anyone else who wants to confirm can call too.

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  20. very amusing read. In total absence of an actual issue 'some one' under the wonderful use of anonymous posting tries to bring this up AGAIN. Honestly I think certain candidates should be ashamed of the lack of political acumen they have when they have to continuously return to these tactics. Anyone can point fingers, try to toss out blame and create something out of a non-issue. This is another example as to why voters turn away from the polls and turn out continues to drop. A candidate that has nothing to offer but being savy with the spell check and weak on his own actual platform other than a very sad catch phrase is a disservice to any level of politics.

    By all means, please review this for any spelling and or grammar mistakes, I didn't bother to check it since... the rest of us have already moved on and all of this will not even count as a foot note in the coming weeks.

    With luck, those that use these tactics in their campaigns will also soon be part of the less than illustrious history of politics in our city.

    we look forward to the days when respect and professionalism return.

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  21. I agree with the above..lets get back to the issues! A candidate's personal life is not relevant. This is American style politics.
    And I am certain this forum was not set up for that purpose...it was established to provide us political junkies a forum for political discussion of the isssues!!

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  22. Regardless of the personal comments about her - the real issue still remains - she lied about being a university graduate. That type of dishonesty should not be rewarded with election to public office.

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  23. Time out.

    My computer crashed and I have been unable to access the blog for the past 24 hours.

    While I'm thrilled to see debate and discussion of civic politics get started, I'm disappointed at the ugly turn this has taken.

    I'm suspending comments here until I'm re-connected.

    Your mistress is taking a day off. I hope to be back in action tomorrow.

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  24. I commend Elaine for deleting the offensive personal comments. I agree,that if in fact, she was untruthful about graduating from university that is certainly relevant information for voters to know..

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  25. To be sure that the facts are correct before commenting I have visited the website for Bev Dubois. I cannot find anywhere on the site where she states that she has a degree from the U of S. True she states that she has graduated from the U of S, but so have I and I don't have a degree. What I do have however is a beautifully framed piece of paper signed by Peter McKinnon, a Dean and a Secretary granting me a Certificate in Business Administration (BAC). It was handed to me by the incredible Peggy McKercher when I GRADUATED from the BAC program which I spent 4 years (at night) taking at the U of S. I paid my tuition and all sorts of other fees to the U of S. I get mailings from the U of S considering me part of the Alumni in the College of Commerce. Why? Because I am a GRADUATE of the U of S. Bev Dubois has not lied about being a graduate of the U of S anymore than I have.

    Please people, get your facts straight before you go spewing all of this garbage around.

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  26. In my opinion, from some past experience, Bev Dubois is, at best, duplicitous. She'll skirt around things, say one thing & do another, etc. With regards to the USSU forum - I suspect just another example of bacially telling an un-truth, hoping no one would notice. If you have actually convocated from the U of S, or graduated, or whatever you want to call it - & you are a City Councillor - you put your degree up with your Curriculum Vitae, on your website. You do not say "I graduated", if it's a diploma program, unless you specify the diploma. Doing what Bev has done is consciously misleading, since 99% of people reading it will assume she has a degree - which she knows & is using. I don't want a City Councillor that I cannot trust to be telling the truth.

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  27. again...does she have a diploma from U of S?
    Yes,most people will clearly indicate what area they have a degree in.

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  28. It's interesting to see someone anonymously take a jab at a fellow anonymous blogger. As for Ms. Dubois, her performance as a councilor has not been stellar. At council meetings she is always asking questions that have either already been addressed or is on the next page of her coucil package and would be apparent if she had in fact bothered to read it. But you can always depend on her to take a trip somewhere on the Cities tab(check the City expense records)

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  29. Hello, fellow hiders-in-anonymity:

    I don't care one way or another about Bev Dubois or her record on Council. But as far as her university record goes, can any of you fools say "maiden name"?

    I did a very minimal amount of research using public and easily accessible sources, and can tell you uncategorically that she did indeed graduate, from the University of Saskatchewan, from a recognized program. You want more information, go find it yourself. Otherwise, please feel free to shut up and move on.

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  30. to the last post-

    Hear, hear! Is it any wonder people don't step up to run for public office?

    Accountability is important, but it's far too easy to trample people with whisper campaigns and ignore the real issues facing this city.

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  31. Give me a break - what constitutes a "recognized program". For Bev Dubois to claim that she "graduated" from the University of Saskatchewan because she took a typing class does not mean she is entitled to put "graduated from university" beside her name. She is an insult to those who have have the intelligence, dedication and committment to actually finish a post-secondary degree - qualities she clearly lacks.

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  32. Swimming lessons are a "recognized program" by the UofS - does this mean I can start slapping "graduated from university" on my resume??

    Sound ridiculous?? Well that's exactly my opinion of Bev Dubois. She is an embarassment to elected office.

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  33. Sorry kids - her name is on the convocation program.

    I think it should be pretty clear from what I said that I wasn't talking about swimming classes or a typing program (and besides, pretty tough to pull any of those records from public sources... YA THINK?)

    So the only potentially valid complaint about Dubois so far is that she has been untruthful. The proof offered? That she "lied about her university education". In fact she did NOT lie. Thus the accusation - that she is a list - is proven to be false.

    That being the case, if any of you scholars out there care to take the time to actually complain about REAL problems with Dubois' record... now's yer chance. Let's hear actual reasons to vote against her instead of scurrilous (look it up) foolishness.

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  34. A "liar" is what I meant to say, not "list"

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  35. So what degree did she earn? Odd you dont note what college she convocated from?

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  36. Do your own research...

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  37. Here is the thing. When somebody says some stupid attack against Bev that she does not have a University degree; I think it is pure dirty politics. However, when somebody ask what degree she has and the response is do your own research I begin to think she does not have a degree.

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  38. precisely my point. if she has a degree,its very curious that noone is willing to speicfy what degree she earned? It would be so easy to end this debate by simply responding with the answer?

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  39. So after reading all these posts over the last couple of days I have come to the realization one side won't say what degree/certificate she has and the other has no proof she doesn't have one so here it goes I say she has a certificate in business administration. Oh and my proof... I said it and my word is good honest why would I lie... Oh maybe just to shut you people up. See that wasn't all that hard are we all satisfied? Move on to something more important like what colour of dress will Bev be wearing on election night, will her opponents be wearing suits? Remember people posting anything here doesn't make it real.

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  40. The difference between me and you is, of course, that I *did* the research and know the date she convocated and what she earned. You want details of her past, you go find them yourself.

    To the poster who said "it would be so easy to end the debate by specifying what degree she earned..." well - if you won't believe me when I say she earned a degree, then why would you believe me if I told you what it was? Someone early on said "she never graduated - I called the University and found out". This is almost certainly true. I am quite certain that if you call the Registrar's office and ask if Bev Dubois is on their list, they'll tell you "no".

    Personally, I don't care about her university record. I just hate people who use lousy research to spread misinformation.

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  41. "Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes." - F. Scott Fitzgerald. Since starting her Twitter account, Bev Dubois has posted 103 times. Of those tweets, 95 have included exclamation marks! Way to go Bev... reading your council updates and now these tweets make me feel like I'm skimming a transcript from an excited teenager's 13th birthday party.

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