- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Key Porter Books (April 24 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1554701791
- ISBN-13: 978-1554701797
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 272 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#30,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional Canada > Ontario
- #13 in Books > Computers & Internet > Home Computing > Blogging & Blogs
- #58 in Books > Nonfiction > Government > Politics
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
Garth Turner was the first politician in Canada, possibly the world, to be dooced?fired for his web site. For his blunt online honesty the Member of Parliament was, in turn, reviled, shunned, humiliated and lauded as the future of politics.
This is the fascinating, unique and boldly-written first person account of politics at the crossroads?democracy unleashed on the Internet versus a cabal of operators and old-school, backroom manipulators in Stephen Harper?s Ottawa whose task it was to contain, control and mould public opinion. In the two years leading up to the pivotal 2008 federal election, Turner was in a unique position to witness and take part in the battle for the minds of voters, first as a member of Harper?s caucus and then as an observer of St?phane Dion?s leadership as special advisor for the opposition.
In this, his first political book, Turner chronicles his experiences in the rising tide of the blogosphere, its dangers and the monumental clash he experienced with the political establishment.
Clarification
At page 65 of Sheeple, the author makes reference to The Canadian Press running a story about the Prime Minister receiving a standing ovation in caucus after re-iterating that he would not allow the Peace Tower flag to be flown at half-mast when combat deaths took place in Afghanistan. The author never discusssed this or any other issue with the Ottawa bureau chief.
The author`s comments were meant to reflect the fact that leaked information from confidential sources within a caucus is not verifiable in the sense that its truth cannot be definitely ascertained, but Mr. Turner accepts the assertion by The Canadian Press that this story and all Canadian Press stories that use anonymous sources are double-sourced and cleared for publication by a senior editor.
Mr. Turner has enormous respect for The Canadian Press and at no time was intending to suggest that it acted improperly.
About the Author
GARTH TURNER is a former Member of Parliament and a bestselling author, syndicated columnist, business editor and radio and TV personality. His books include Greater Fool: The Troubled Future of Real Estate; 2015: After the Boom, The Strategy, The Defence and 2020: New Rules for the New Age. Currently he is heard in person by more than a hundred thousand Canadians at 700 lectures and seminars across the country.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Garth is our shepherd.,
By
This review is from: Sheeple: Caucus Confidential in Stephen Harper's Ottawa (Paperback)
I enjoyed this eye opener from Garth Turner.
Garth is a good writer and the topic is super-important for voters. The book convinced me that members of parliament switch from representing the voters to being homogenized followers of the party line as soon as they get to Ottawa; they become sheeple. He was turfed out of the Conservative Party for running his blog letting his constituents be heard. This is a No-No; the party leader wants to run the show and not be bothered by the opinions of the common herd. Beware the power of the Religious Right which threatened Garth's nomination; he shows the damage done by a one-issue lobby groups who disagreed with Garth's failure to toe the line on abortion and same-sex marriage. I look forward to the day when independents like Garth form the majority in the House of Commons giving voters more say in running Canada democratically.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Garth Has a Story To Tell,
By
This review is from: Sheeple: Caucus Confidential in Stephen Harper's Ottawa (Paperback)
Garth Turner has burned a lot of bridges in his political career, but deserves some credit for sacrificing that career in his pursuit of what he calls digital democracy.
The book essentially confirms the worst suspicions of Stephen Harper as Prime Minister. The PM is a bully and control freak who is demonstrably dishonest and untrustworthy, and who rules his party and government by fear and intimidation. Do not cross this man, or he will slit your throat as Garth and Michael Chong discovered. But Mr Harper is not the only target of Turner's poison pen, as he also singles out the Religious Right movement, Rahim Jaffer, John Baird, Rob Anders, Jim Flaherty and others for their transgressions. The book does contain a few factual errors. The back cover states Garth Turner served as a Member of Parliament for nine years. In fact, Garth was elected in November 1988, and defeated in October 1993. Elected a second time in January 2006, he was defeated by Lisa Raitt in October 2008. This adds up to seven years and eight months time served as an MP. On page 50, it was reported that libertarian Ted Morton was a member of Ralph Klein's cabinet when he ran for the leadership of the PC party in 2006. But King Ralph never did trust Morton's far-right leanings, and left him on the backbenches after winning a seat in 2004. Morton only became a cabinet minister when Ed Stelmach succeeded Klein as Premier in December 2006.
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