ChuckerCanuck 2.0

Chucker,
To quote the sage, if I may...
"Bullshit baffles brains"!
 

Oh gee, do you feel really clever today? Patting yourself on the back are you?

Feeling smug twisting things to your own version?

Yawn....

At least he had the guts to admit he was wrong. When is Harper going to admit it?
 

Yes, I feel very clever today and most days.

Yes, I feel smug.

Oh, and, as has been said, at least by me, for quite a few years now, I'll say I'm wrong in two - three decades when anyone with any sense can actually say it was wrong or worth it.

At this point, I'm not budging. One of my employees didn't show up last Monday because he spent the weekend celebrating the unprecedented performance of his home country in the Asian cup.

Do you know what country that is?
 

If none of the players live there, is it really his home country's team?
 

If I live in Boston, I'm not a Canadian? If a contractor comes to live in Canada from Germany, he's not a German for the time he's not in Germany?
 

I think that people who live east of Manitoba are barely Canadian, so the dude in Boston can suck it up and start cheering for the Bruins.
 

So Iggy has found the transition from the ivory towers of academia to the realities of hard scrabble politics to be an eye opener.

Shocking!!

And I thought Poly Sci profs were incapable of grasping something outside of their insular existance.

Hopefully he'll share this epiphany with some of the other profs in the LPC.

On second thought....I'm pretty sure I just lost my grip on reality.

*sigh*

Syncro
 

To those complaining about CC taking Iggy's words.. cut it out.

This is something that both sides do and its actually funny to compare what people have said to what they are saying now.
 

And besides...it actually makes Iggy look more intelligent and electable.

Keep it up and the Libs may dump Dion and replace him with someone better(TM).
 

GRANDSON of a Russian Princess.
 

Yeah --- grandson of russian pricess and son of a canadian diplomat.

that's hardly a charmed life. its mostly a hardscrabble life of suffering and misery. which explains why he's so in tune with the world.
 

My problem with Iggy relates to his long self exile from Canada to Harvard, which is known to breed such notable Canadian political failures like Peter Lougheed and a host of other "second stringers".

I also dislike his Russian chavinism, which was on display with his dumb remarks about Ukrainians during the last election.

The only thing worse than Russian chavinism, vis a vis Ukrainians is Polish chavinism.

I think that Stephane Dion will be the next Prime Minister and that he will be a great prime minister.

I also think that Ed Stelmach will become a great Alberta Premier that will finally get Alberta recognized in the Canadian Confederation as a mature Province that is on an equal par with Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

If these two men can accomplish this inspite of the Oil Barons in Calgary, and inspite of the blue bloods on Bay Street, they will have performed a great service to Canada, particularly the West. And that should set the stage to help the Maritimes also grow and take their rightful place in Confederation without being held down by right wing yahoos from Calgary.

Well Chucker, what do you right wing lunatics NOW have to say about the war started by Emperor George II in Iraq, where fully 80% of the population does not have regular power and water, and where over 25% of the population is suffering from malnutrition. Its crystal clear from the United Nations report that the Iraqi were better off with Saddam, then they now are under American Occupation.

And while the Americans waste treasure to secure Halliburton's future, they lack the money to even fix up their crumbling infrastructure at home.

I think its pretty obvious that American Capitalists have abandoned democracy for Chinese Communism as their preferred form of government, and that they have basically looted the treasury of the American people for their own blood soaked profits.
 

I stand corrected.

Thanx Joe Green!

Syncro
 

This shows how much progress has been made after a century of capitolism and American "hegemony". Nice, easy to understand graphics for people who talk a lot but comprehend little.
 

While the Big Red Machine may not be what it used to be, I'm inclined to think that they are behind this Iggy mea culpe.

So I expect the Liberal spin, coming soon from their critics will be:

Ignatieff is a big man for admitting that he was wrong about Iraq. Will Harper now do the same thing, and distance himself from Bush's failed foreign policies ?

I don't buy the speculation that Iggy is updating his resume so that he will have a better chance at becoming the next Liberal leader. The LPC is trapped within the straight-jacket of their own Constitution, and so will find it almost impossible to get rid of Dion oustide of a national convention, where Dion gets a low approval rating.

Iggy looks bored, and I suspect won't be sticking around beyond the next election. So he's taking a bullet now for the Liberal team, preparing the ground for the coming attacks on Harper over Iraq.
 

but pretty lame attacks they will be.

in fact, worse then lame, they will be catastrophic:

Canada did not enter the Iraq war. So, if the Liberals attack Harper on Iraq they will accomplish two things:

1) They will open up the very legitimate question that Liberals don't talk about foreign policy as foreign policy, but merely as point-scoring - afterall, Iraq has no place on Canada's agenda vis a vis, say Afghanistan.

2) In so far as it is on our agenda, the Iraqi claim that the west has abandoned Iraq will be born out by such a silly argument instead of "what can we do to help Iraqis" arguments.

No, Iggy's move is pathetic because his article does nothing to establish the maturity of judgement he has earned in the past 16 months (what a crock) - it proves the craven apetite for power he has. If it was to establish his own growth - why take such a personal jab at President Bush?

Seriously, Calgary Junkie:

I can accept people disagreeing, strongly even, with President Bush - but I cant' understand why those people, including Iggy, can't start on the grounds that President Bush is sincere and of a different view point. It seems to me that folks, like Iggy, who are incapable of recognizing this are automatically far off the mark in their judgement of anything.
 

Chucker, you need to come to grips with political corruption in all its forms, in both the US and Canada.

This is not a new topic, it took place in the US with the collapse of the stock market in 1929 when leading "neocon" Republikan fascists were proven to have committed offenses leading to the collapse of the stock market, which led to the reforms of 1933-34.

Your man, Harper, has been tarred with the same brush as Emperor George II. The tar and feathers stick, and are not going to come off easily, because had Harper had a majority government in 2002, Canadian troops would now be coming home for the last time in body bags, and we Canadians would be bearing the responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and for malnutrition now ravaging the people of Iraq.

INDEED the American Occupation of Iraq and their policy of mass starvation NOW CLOSELY FOLLOWS WHAT JOSEPH STALIN DID IN UKRAINE, WHERE HE TOO TRIED TO STARVE A NATION INTO POLITICAL SUBMISSION.

In that sense, Emperor George II, differs from Joe Stalin at this point not with policy, but in the matter of degree.

Bush and the neocons are going to lose the war in Iraq, for the very same precise reasons they lost in Viet Nam, and before that in the War of 1812, when Canadian patriots repelled the illegal invasion of our country.

So tell us Chucker, how do you like living under the Chinese Communists and their "globalization agenda"?

We are all waiting with baited breath for your "ideas".
 

I think Chucker is clever on most any day of any week, and I'd pat him on the back for it anytime - same as I would Calgary Grit, or Olaf, or Paul Wells.

And one thing he should be smug about is constantly handing a winning strategy to the left, which keeps on rejecting it: treat Bush (and Harper, here in CA) like nice guys you respect but differ with. Man, if we all did that to express our disenchantment with the Iraq War, or Katrina or whatever, it would be unstoppable. But getting into all this childish sulking namecalling? It's stupid and doesn't win over anyone. I'd be smug about it I were him. For sure.
 

I think Chucker's been pretty clear, repeatedly, about how he feels about the Communist Government of China, and I'd say he's offered some good, really decent ideas in that direction (trade less with China, and more with struggling democracies).
 

I still wouldn't be surprised if Ignatieff sticks around, I'm not convinced he's quitting. But heck, what do I know?

I think he'd be a lousy PM, though.
 

"My problem with Iggy relates to his long self exile from Canada to Harvard, which is known to breed such notable Canadian political failures like Peter Lougheed and a host of other "second stringers"."

And that Trudeau guy. What a disaster he was.
 

This thread, and Calgary Junkie in particular, does make me wonder: if I was being paid to advise Harper, would I suggest he do the same, and announce his support for Iraq was based on an altogether different type of plan/strategy, etc., and to distance himself from the whole thing?

I think it could be an even weaker point for him as the time goes by -- it's possible Iraq will get worse in a year's time.

Hmm. I don't know what I'd do if I were in his shoes. Not sure.
 

Michael Ignatieff will succeed Harper as PM. There is no doubt in my mind. Harper wins election, Liberals convene, Ignatieff wins, finds footing over next 4 years, challenges a tired Harper, wins. Harper is done like dinner.
 

Bo Green,

Thank you.

I have been clear about Communist China. Many, many times.

In fact, I have urged and will continue to urge, Canada to skip the 2008 Olympics.

And you're right, I often compare Central American trade against Chinese trade.

I feel more vindicated now that we know they put lead in our kids toys and melamine in our foodstuff.
 

Harper should do what he's doing re: Iraq.

Except, in 12 months, I would tell him to be bold:

Announce that world can't abandon Iraq simply to spite a president.

Bold, bold, bold.
 

In fact, I have urged and will continue to urge, Canada to skip the 2008 Olympics.

I did not know that, but I totally agree.


If you don't think Harper sucks at press relations, here's yet another sign of deep proof: he hasn't hired you yet, and that should tell us all something. You know that I'm personally one who thinks the focus ought to have been on Afghanistan and that Iraq was taking our eye off the ball -- I still can see that your line of thinking is really smart. I wouldn't have thought of it, but when I see it, I know it's right. You're good, dude. Start dropping his office a line now and then.
 

ahhhh, he can't afford me!
 

And you're right, I often compare Central American trade against Chinese trade.

I believe that the PM is already trying to foster more trade links with Latin America...
 

Again you pleasantly surprise me Chucker, with your stand against Communist China.

On the other hand, the damage has been done to the North American economy, and it will not soon improve.

It will take a generation to rebuild the North American economy with a PROPER trade policy and a PROPER IMMIGRATION policy that serves the vital interest of our various Member States.

I think that the US has so besotted itself vis a vis the United Nations in New York, that Mr. Harper should offer it a new home in Canada. There is no shortage of facilities at Mirabelle Airport, and that is where it should be placed, with close connections to Ottawa.

I would pay for that as a taxpayer, and I would further fund a permanent infra-structure component to the UN based in Canada that is complete with Army, Navy and Air Force logistics components.

Canada should cancel O'Connor's Folly with respect to the C-17 boondoggle, and we should start a massive reconfiguration of our forces for Peace Keeping. Furthermore, the RCMP should be placed back into the Armed Forces of Canada, where they rightfully belong, and where they have vital peace keeping duties abroad, and policing functions at home.

Not that Harper is listening. The "neocons" would rather withhold contributions to the UN, and then blame it for failures like Rwanda and Dafur.
 

"In fact, I have urged and will continue to urge, Canada to skip the 2008 Olympics."

The 2008 Olympics should be a celebration of the success of free trade. China is much better off today because of trade and so is North America. I am more than happy to pay low prices for goods to help hundreds of millions of people escape poverty and build better lives for themselves.

As for the safety concerns, there was a time when those things happened here (they still do from time to time). We didn't tolerate it then and what would make you think that an increasingly educated Chinese population would tolerate it now?
 

"I think its pretty obvious that American Capitalists have abandoned democracy for Chinese Communism as their preferred form of government, and that they have basically looted the treasury of the American people for their own blood soaked profits."

Where are Chretien and Mo Strong toiling these days, by the way?

Wasn't aware they were American.
 

Moebius said...

"Where are Chretien and Mo Strong toiling these days, by the way?

Wasn't aware they were American."

As usual for right wing ideologs, you have your history screwed up. Free Trade was an issue that the Liberals lost a general election on to Lyin Brian Mulroney, who promised the moon, and delivered factory closures, wage reductions, dumbing down the work force from factories to Big Mac stores, and more.

Capitalists like the Walton Republikans that own and operate WalMarts, are Communist Chinese supporters, and so was Brian Mulroney when he was Prime Minister. He did not then, and does not now give a shit about Canadians.

And this massive transfer for wealth from North America to Communist China has spawned a massive military moderization program in China, with even more fierce weapons being pointed at Taiwan and with massive expansion of Communist Chinese nuclear weapons and space programs, including new efforts at militarization of space the the Communists.

All this, with the blessings of the fascist "neocons" that plotted this massive fraud and theft from Canadians and Americans.

If Communist China was such a good friend of democracy, free trade and progress, why are they so "unable" to bring about significant pressure on North Korea to simply properly feed and medicate their own populations???
 

You didn't answer my question.