Monday, February 08, 2010
Iggy & Hugo
The question of the day:
Who sends who the talking points? Does Iggy send them down to Hugo Chavez? Or is Hugo Chavez enlisting Michael Ignatieff into the Chavezification movement?
At this point, we can't tell. But we know they each share an abiding dislike of Stephen Harper. They are both alight with anger over the move to prorogue Canada's parliament. And they are both interested in, to use a Venezuelan envoy's words, "
an investigation over the violation of human rights -- I am talking about torture and assassinations -- by its soldiers in Afghanistan."
Is it so bizarre to see an emerging alignment of interests between Michael Ignatieff and hugo Chavez? Afterall, Iggy's political hero, Pierre Trudeau, was madly committed to the Hugo Chavez of the 20th century, Fidel Castro. And every time Michael Ignatieff talks about the economy, like Hugo Chavez, he likes to demonize "free markets" and blames "free markets" for the current recession. Like Hugo Chavez, Michael Ignatieff knows that governments must play a huge role in the economy in order to ensure la justica socialismo.
I'd look for more signs of an emerging alliance between Michael Ignatieff and hugo Chavez. Watch for Iggy to criticise our free trade deal with Columbia. And, he'll probably have a nasty word or two about el diablo, los Estados Unidos.
Who sends who the talking points? Does Iggy send them down to Hugo Chavez? Or is Hugo Chavez enlisting Michael Ignatieff into the Chavezification movement?
At this point, we can't tell. But we know they each share an abiding dislike of Stephen Harper. They are both alight with anger over the move to prorogue Canada's parliament. And they are both interested in, to use a Venezuelan envoy's words, "
an investigation over the violation of human rights -- I am talking about torture and assassinations -- by its soldiers in Afghanistan."
Is it so bizarre to see an emerging alignment of interests between Michael Ignatieff and hugo Chavez? Afterall, Iggy's political hero, Pierre Trudeau, was madly committed to the Hugo Chavez of the 20th century, Fidel Castro. And every time Michael Ignatieff talks about the economy, like Hugo Chavez, he likes to demonize "free markets" and blames "free markets" for the current recession. Like Hugo Chavez, Michael Ignatieff knows that governments must play a huge role in the economy in order to ensure la justica socialismo.
I'd look for more signs of an emerging alliance between Michael Ignatieff and hugo Chavez. Watch for Iggy to criticise our free trade deal with Columbia. And, he'll probably have a nasty word or two about el diablo, los Estados Unidos.
Labels: Two peas in a pod
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Where I pull a Cherniak
I am loath do this as I find questioning pollster methodologies or polling results to be the last refuge of the politically desperate. However, some things coming out of Frank Graves' mouth are a little ridiculous.
First off, let me state that I don't question the polling results. I don't even mind them because you don't need to give the Liberals very much before they get all loony-tunes in assuming they are six easy paces from their limo rides. Right now, the Liberal war room is high fiving itself and wondering how they can slip abortion into every other political debate in this country.
Where I think Frank Graves went a little cock-eyed is in his interpretation of last year's coalition blow up. From the article:
"However, Mr. Graves says Canadians at the time were not as opposed to a Liberal/NDP government as they were to then-Liberal leader Stéphane Dion leading it."
No doubt, some people didn't like the idea of Prime Minister Dion. But suggesting the problem with last year's coalition was simply Dion is wrong. Likewise, pretending that the legitimacy of an NDP-Liberal coalition was a big problem is also wrong. True, it would taste as bad as Buckley's only it wouldn't work. But we've had Dippers and Grits spooning before and we survived.
The heart of the problem - convenient for any Liberal or Liberal sympathizer to forget - was that the Liberals were prepared, in order to gain power, to hand the Bloc Quebecois veto power over the federal government. That possibility spread demonic terror across the land.
To pretend away the insane risk of giving the Bloc Quebecois veto over the federal government is to re-write history to the benefit of the Liberals. I am surprised to read Frank Graves make this play and it taints whatever future analysis he might bring to the table.
First off, let me state that I don't question the polling results. I don't even mind them because you don't need to give the Liberals very much before they get all loony-tunes in assuming they are six easy paces from their limo rides. Right now, the Liberal war room is high fiving itself and wondering how they can slip abortion into every other political debate in this country.
Where I think Frank Graves went a little cock-eyed is in his interpretation of last year's coalition blow up. From the article:
"However, Mr. Graves says Canadians at the time were not as opposed to a Liberal/NDP government as they were to then-Liberal leader Stéphane Dion leading it."
No doubt, some people didn't like the idea of Prime Minister Dion. But suggesting the problem with last year's coalition was simply Dion is wrong. Likewise, pretending that the legitimacy of an NDP-Liberal coalition was a big problem is also wrong. True, it would taste as bad as Buckley's only it wouldn't work. But we've had Dippers and Grits spooning before and we survived.
The heart of the problem - convenient for any Liberal or Liberal sympathizer to forget - was that the Liberals were prepared, in order to gain power, to hand the Bloc Quebecois veto power over the federal government. That possibility spread demonic terror across the land.
To pretend away the insane risk of giving the Bloc Quebecois veto over the federal government is to re-write history to the benefit of the Liberals. I am surprised to read Frank Graves make this play and it taints whatever future analysis he might bring to the table.
Labels: Go for it Liberals - power is just a fist pump away
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Sleazy Ignatieff
This is the kind of thing that reminds me why I would never support the Liberal party; if the Tories disappeared from the political scene, I would leap over to the Dippers or Bloc Quebecois only to keep these disgusting sub-humans from pretending to represent Canada.
Michael Ignatieff is using the Liberal's nuclear wedge against the Tories - despite the fact that the PM has pledged to keep the peace on this issue so long as he is PM. But Iggy isn't just throwing out the abortion grenade today; no, he is planting an IUD set to explode next year when the PM's international agenda begins taking shape.
Next year, he and his crew will be hollering during Question Period about one thing: abortion, abortion, abortion. Picture it:
Ralph Goodale: Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says he wants to help women and children in developing countries but he hasn't funded a single abortion in a developing country all year. When will he truly address their needs and start hoovering?
Marlene Jennings: Mr. Speaker, what is the point of building schools in developing countries if we don't set up abortion clinics in those schools? Why should girls be forced to learn to read and count if we don't offer them abortions on demand?
Bob Rae: Mr. Speaker, the question is simple. How many abortions has Canada donated to developing countries last year?
Michael Ignatieff: Mr. Speaker, this government has failed women in developing countries. It has failed children in developing countries. I want to see proof. I want to see that Canada is donating abortions to developing in record numbers. I want to see container loads of pickled fetuses here on parliament hill. And they had better look like fetuses from developing countries. I don't want to get all ideological here. I want abortions.
Michael Ignatieff is using the Liberal's nuclear wedge against the Tories - despite the fact that the PM has pledged to keep the peace on this issue so long as he is PM. But Iggy isn't just throwing out the abortion grenade today; no, he is planting an IUD set to explode next year when the PM's international agenda begins taking shape.
Next year, he and his crew will be hollering during Question Period about one thing: abortion, abortion, abortion. Picture it:
Ralph Goodale: Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says he wants to help women and children in developing countries but he hasn't funded a single abortion in a developing country all year. When will he truly address their needs and start hoovering?
Marlene Jennings: Mr. Speaker, what is the point of building schools in developing countries if we don't set up abortion clinics in those schools? Why should girls be forced to learn to read and count if we don't offer them abortions on demand?
Bob Rae: Mr. Speaker, the question is simple. How many abortions has Canada donated to developing countries last year?
Michael Ignatieff: Mr. Speaker, this government has failed women in developing countries. It has failed children in developing countries. I want to see proof. I want to see that Canada is donating abortions to developing in record numbers. I want to see container loads of pickled fetuses here on parliament hill. And they had better look like fetuses from developing countries. I don't want to get all ideological here. I want abortions.
Labels: Save the planet - abort Iggy's leadership
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
English Comprehension Contest
Justin Trudeau does an interview with one of the McGill newspapers (not the commie rag, the McGill Daily, but the commie dish cloth, the Tribune). In his interview, the next great hope of the Liberal party makes the following statement:
"It's a real challenge for Montrealers going to McGill, because everyone does all the Frosh exercises, everyone's meeting friends from all around, and Montrealers are just like, 'Oh, we know everyone in Montreal."
Today's contest, friends, is to figure out what the hell that means. Now, to participate in this contest, you must decipher the strange code above - without the use of hallucinatory drugs - and translate it into a language that adult Canadians will understand.
You may say, "no fair! Montrealers who went to McGill University have an advantage in understanding what Justin Trudeau just said."
Well, as a Montreal who went to McGill University, I can say this: I have no flikkin' clue so I doubt we have an unfair advantage. Besides, the prize is the usual trophy: nothing.
As an interesting backgrounder, I am just a little younger than Justin. So, in my lost years at McGill when I started off as a philosophy student, I was in classes with Justin's younger brother, Sasha. Sasha liked dressing up. He'd come to Existentialism in riding boots and gloves, dressed for a classic British hunt. Then he'd show up to 17th century philosophy in a turban bejeweled by a ruby scarab. Compared to me, in my sensible khakis and Old Navy polo shirt, he looked like a freak. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that whether dressed as Lord Ashborne of Gloucesteshire or the djinni in Alladin, Sasha had better luck with the babes than I did.
"It's a real challenge for Montrealers going to McGill, because everyone does all the Frosh exercises, everyone's meeting friends from all around, and Montrealers are just like, 'Oh, we know everyone in Montreal."
Today's contest, friends, is to figure out what the hell that means. Now, to participate in this contest, you must decipher the strange code above - without the use of hallucinatory drugs - and translate it into a language that adult Canadians will understand.
You may say, "no fair! Montrealers who went to McGill University have an advantage in understanding what Justin Trudeau just said."
Well, as a Montreal who went to McGill University, I can say this: I have no flikkin' clue so I doubt we have an unfair advantage. Besides, the prize is the usual trophy: nothing.
As an interesting backgrounder, I am just a little younger than Justin. So, in my lost years at McGill when I started off as a philosophy student, I was in classes with Justin's younger brother, Sasha. Sasha liked dressing up. He'd come to Existentialism in riding boots and gloves, dressed for a classic British hunt. Then he'd show up to 17th century philosophy in a turban bejeweled by a ruby scarab. Compared to me, in my sensible khakis and Old Navy polo shirt, he looked like a freak. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that whether dressed as Lord Ashborne of Gloucesteshire or the djinni in Alladin, Sasha had better luck with the babes than I did.
Labels: I'm like totally whatever - gag me
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Iggy, Senate Refoooooormer
Here's a smart statement that Iggy made today:
"I don't think that Senate reform is the highest priority of the hard-pressed middle class of this country."
Pretty accurate assessment. The punchline, of course, is that Iggy makes this trenchant observation when announcing his 12 step program to a better Senate.
The double punchline is that Iggy's interest in senate reform burst like dried bush struck by lightning only once the Liberal party lost its plurality in the senate. While that certainly reinforces the Liberal party as a power-mad institution, it also demonstrates - again - that its deep-thinking leader thinks deeply on a scattershot of subjects making a bimbo out of him.
Nevertheless, it is a good day when the Liberal party moves with us towards the Right path for Canada.
"I don't think that Senate reform is the highest priority of the hard-pressed middle class of this country."
Pretty accurate assessment. The punchline, of course, is that Iggy makes this trenchant observation when announcing his 12 step program to a better Senate.
The double punchline is that Iggy's interest in senate reform burst like dried bush struck by lightning only once the Liberal party lost its plurality in the senate. While that certainly reinforces the Liberal party as a power-mad institution, it also demonstrates - again - that its deep-thinking leader thinks deeply on a scattershot of subjects making a bimbo out of him.
Nevertheless, it is a good day when the Liberal party moves with us towards the Right path for Canada.
Labels: Triple E but Zero L Senate
Saturday, January 30, 2010
One of the most outrageous frauds in human history
If there's anyone who'll give the public the straight dope on climate change science, it would be Copenhagen organizers.
Climate changists are hip, urbane people with an average of 1.47 college diplomas per changist. They are locked in a titanic struggle against hairy white men who believe God made everything, even the dinosaur fossils, in seven days. This evil cabal of hairy white men have no appreciation for the aesthetic quality of life and would happily convert the planet to a grey, industrial swamp in a relentless pursuit of profit.
The good guys, climate changists, aren't like those evil hairy white men. They are savvy, cynical; resistant to the lures of dogma. They follow truth wherever the truth takes them. That's what makes their cause so damned acceptable and what makes these clever tricks and such so mortally wounding to the whole damned enterprise.
Climate changists are hip, urbane people with an average of 1.47 college diplomas per changist. They are locked in a titanic struggle against hairy white men who believe God made everything, even the dinosaur fossils, in seven days. This evil cabal of hairy white men have no appreciation for the aesthetic quality of life and would happily convert the planet to a grey, industrial swamp in a relentless pursuit of profit.
The good guys, climate changists, aren't like those evil hairy white men. They are savvy, cynical; resistant to the lures of dogma. They follow truth wherever the truth takes them. That's what makes their cause so damned acceptable and what makes these clever tricks and such so mortally wounding to the whole damned enterprise.
Labels: I'd weep but its bad for my carbon footprint
Friday, January 29, 2010
Hooray for Gerard Kennedy
I think all Liberals can agree that Gerard Kennedy said what everybody's thinking. The solution to the deficit is raising taxes like the GST: suck on the consumer just a little harder and fill your belly with a little more of her blood.
It is a bold idea - the first bold idea since, well, forget it - it is the first bold idea that a Liberal has proposed under the Ignatieff regime. This is Gerard Kennedy saying: I'm in this game to win. Afterall, his brave call to raise the GST hits Harper and Ignatieff at the same time.
For Harper, it hurts because it rallies the Liberal base so much. The Liberal base loath the Prime Minister and go loopy for attacks about Stephen Harper's "incompetence".
For Iggy, it hurts because taxes was an early, big scare for Canadians when he couldn't figure out if he wanted to raise or abolish taxes and spent several days publicly debating himself on the matter. With Gerard taking a big, solid stand in favor of raising taxes, he contrasts to Iggy's wobbly-ness and looks rather leader-ly.
A Thinkers Conference is coming and the only Liberal thinking is Gerard Kennedy. His leader makes wan statements at bra burning ceremonies but like Milli Vanilli, his blames his lack of ideas on the rain (or lack of it in his case). Kennedy's pivot into this policy leadership role means that he has blocked Bob Rae from being able to coup Iggy. And just maybe, he'll be the next leader of the Liberal party.
It is a bold idea - the first bold idea since, well, forget it - it is the first bold idea that a Liberal has proposed under the Ignatieff regime. This is Gerard Kennedy saying: I'm in this game to win. Afterall, his brave call to raise the GST hits Harper and Ignatieff at the same time.
For Harper, it hurts because it rallies the Liberal base so much. The Liberal base loath the Prime Minister and go loopy for attacks about Stephen Harper's "incompetence".
For Iggy, it hurts because taxes was an early, big scare for Canadians when he couldn't figure out if he wanted to raise or abolish taxes and spent several days publicly debating himself on the matter. With Gerard taking a big, solid stand in favor of raising taxes, he contrasts to Iggy's wobbly-ness and looks rather leader-ly.
A Thinkers Conference is coming and the only Liberal thinking is Gerard Kennedy. His leader makes wan statements at bra burning ceremonies but like Milli Vanilli, his blames his lack of ideas on the rain (or lack of it in his case). Kennedy's pivot into this policy leadership role means that he has blocked Bob Rae from being able to coup Iggy. And just maybe, he'll be the next leader of the Liberal party.
Labels: ps Gerard there is a fine house down my street for you
