Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Watson+slams+Fryer/3628942/story.html#ixzz11agim1x
When Jeff Watson was elected in June of 2004, it was an historical political event. The Liberals had dominated the area for decades, even before the Trudeau era. He was the first Conservative to be elected in 46 years within Essex County. Watson had been outspoken about: the Members, federal pensions, the gun registry, and Liberal accountability. He ran against Susan Whelan, the incumbent Liberal and daughter of popular Senator Eugene Whelan, a former Trudeau cabinet Minister and Member for the Essex Riding. This young Conservative and former auto-worker had done what most thought was impossible!
Soon after his election Watson charged his former campaign manager, Nick Kouvalis with 'uttering threats' in 2005. This case went to trial in Windsor and resulted in all charges being dismissed against Mr. Kouvalis, on June 24th 2007. Justice Llyod Dean commented that the charge 'appeared' to be 'politically motivated' by Watson, his wife and Watson campaign workers. Dean cited testimony that the two witnesses spent five days discussing the alleged threat with family and friends, most in the Conservative party, and with Watson, weighing the pros and cons of having Kouvalis arrested, before reporting it to police.
He also cited Schnekenburger's testimony that she and Jonsson had collaborated on a written report about what happened before talking to police. They didn't tell police they had done this and told the court they had lost the report.
Jeff Watson made several announcements on moral issues including, condemning Dr.Henry Morgentaler receiving The Award of Canada, in 2008. Watson in his written statement said the choice of Morgentaler, one of 75 people receiving the honour this year, is a “continuation of the sad legacy of the Paul Martin administration. Today, through his appointee for governor general, Mr. Martin has succeeded in politicizing the Order of Canada and in doing so diminishing its value and undermining our culture of life.” Certainly, Mr. Watson's stance upon such ethical issues in the rural County of Essex has helped his career.
Other issues and comments have placed Jeff Watson countering his own policies. In 2007, a soon-to-be federal Reform party candidate, Watson described the pension plan for MPs as "filthy rich" and a trough for Liberals. In a letter published in The Star, he praised Reform MPs for acting with integrity by opting out of the plan. On Friday, June 25th 2010 Watson said the plan has changed. "The pension plan was different then," he said. "There's no opt-out provision now." Pensions are also only one part of the benefits package, Watson said. "My benefits as an MP are less than what I had as an autoworker." Watson said a majority of federal politicians aren't in office long enough to qualify for a pension and those who leave politics will not necessarily find it easy to return to a former job or line of work. "There's no safety net." But as a member of the "Class of 2004," Watson finds himself in the crosshairs of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. It is obvious that Mr. Watson's stance is less than credible, claiming his benefits are less than those of an auto-worker, especially when he ran on a platform against pensions.
Now, Watson has weighed into municipal politics, slamming a candidate against an incumbent. As a Member of Parliament his actions smack of interference in the democratic process. "I don't think it's appropriate for the MP to stick his nose overtly into municipal politics," said Lloyd Brown-John, University of Windsor professor emeritus. "I don't think he (Watson) has a grasp on what his role is," added Brown-John. Dr. Brown-John also commented that: " Watson appears to think that he is The King of Essex".
Citizen comments in rebuttal to Watson's attack, on CKLW AM 800, were against his interference and deeply contaminative of his actions. It is obvious that Watson is contributing to his own political demise, and his arrogance may not serve him well in a coming election. Maybe there is an autobiography in the work here with a possible title of "My Own Undoing", by Jeff Watson, former Member of Parliament.
Rob Cheshire
Banana Belt Tories, Windsor
When Jeff Watson was elected in June of 2004, it was an historical political event. The Liberals had dominated the area for decades, even before the Trudeau era. He was the first Conservative to be elected in 46 years within Essex County. Watson had been outspoken about: the Members, federal pensions, the gun registry, and Liberal accountability. He ran against Susan Whelan, the incumbent Liberal and daughter of popular Senator Eugene Whelan, a former Trudeau cabinet Minister and Member for the Essex Riding. This young Conservative and former auto-worker had done what most thought was impossible!
Soon after his election Watson charged his former campaign manager, Nick Kouvalis with 'uttering threats' in 2005. This case went to trial in Windsor and resulted in all charges being dismissed against Mr. Kouvalis, on June 24th 2007. Justice Llyod Dean commented that the charge 'appeared' to be 'politically motivated' by Watson, his wife and Watson campaign workers. Dean cited testimony that the two witnesses spent five days discussing the alleged threat with family and friends, most in the Conservative party, and with Watson, weighing the pros and cons of having Kouvalis arrested, before reporting it to police.
He also cited Schnekenburger's testimony that she and Jonsson had collaborated on a written report about what happened before talking to police. They didn't tell police they had done this and told the court they had lost the report.
Jeff Watson made several announcements on moral issues including, condemning Dr.Henry Morgentaler receiving The Award of Canada, in 2008. Watson in his written statement said the choice of Morgentaler, one of 75 people receiving the honour this year, is a “continuation of the sad legacy of the Paul Martin administration. Today, through his appointee for governor general, Mr. Martin has succeeded in politicizing the Order of Canada and in doing so diminishing its value and undermining our culture of life.” Certainly, Mr. Watson's stance upon such ethical issues in the rural County of Essex has helped his career.
Other issues and comments have placed Jeff Watson countering his own policies. In 2007, a soon-to-be federal Reform party candidate, Watson described the pension plan for MPs as "filthy rich" and a trough for Liberals. In a letter published in The Star, he praised Reform MPs for acting with integrity by opting out of the plan. On Friday, June 25th 2010 Watson said the plan has changed. "The pension plan was different then," he said. "There's no opt-out provision now." Pensions are also only one part of the benefits package, Watson said. "My benefits as an MP are less than what I had as an autoworker." Watson said a majority of federal politicians aren't in office long enough to qualify for a pension and those who leave politics will not necessarily find it easy to return to a former job or line of work. "There's no safety net." But as a member of the "Class of 2004," Watson finds himself in the crosshairs of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. It is obvious that Mr. Watson's stance is less than credible, claiming his benefits are less than those of an auto-worker, especially when he ran on a platform against pensions.
Now, Watson has weighed into municipal politics, slamming a candidate against an incumbent. As a Member of Parliament his actions smack of interference in the democratic process. "I don't think it's appropriate for the MP to stick his nose overtly into municipal politics," said Lloyd Brown-John, University of Windsor professor emeritus. "I don't think he (Watson) has a grasp on what his role is," added Brown-John. Dr. Brown-John also commented that: " Watson appears to think that he is The King of Essex".
Citizen comments in rebuttal to Watson's attack, on CKLW AM 800, were against his interference and deeply contaminative of his actions. It is obvious that Watson is contributing to his own political demise, and his arrogance may not serve him well in a coming election. Maybe there is an autobiography in the work here with a possible title of "My Own Undoing", by Jeff Watson, former Member of Parliament.
Rob Cheshire
Banana Belt Tories, Windsor
Watson has weighed in on federal campaigns in Windsor/West, Windsor/St.Clair, Provincial campaigns endorsing Christine Elliott, Essex Provincial PC Ontario, Windsor municipal, Essex municipal and Amherstburg municipal.
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