"...[The War Room] has plenty of fascinating insights and is a must-read for political junkies."

- The Toronto Sun

"Warren Kinsella’s new book is a must-read for anyone interested in political campaigning in Canada. And not just political campaigning."

- The Literary Review of Canada

"The War Room is a rich, detailed, and substantive primer on how to run a winning war room - warts, pizza boxes, smelly couches and all - from a master war roomer."

- The Hill Times

"Kinsella has crafted a handy little guide for politicos and non-politicos alike. Just keep it away from the kids."

- The Winnipeg Free Press

"... a great read ... full of fascinating stories..."

- John Moore, CFRB

"...I don't want to say [he's a] genius...but there's valuable insights here..."

- John Oakley, AM640

"I just got one copy, but I plan to get more!"

- John Wright, Ipsos, CFRB

"I do recommend [The War Room] to everyone."

- Charles Adler, Adler Online

"A fascinating book...full of great stories."

- Ken Rockburn, CPAC

Archive for May, 2011

…meanwhile, here’s what PC leader Tim Hudak has to say on killing the Senate
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

The only defensible position on Senate “reform”
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Now, let’s see how long Timmy Hudak and his band of losers can ignore this one:

McGuinty rejects Senate reform; calls on Harper to abolish upper chamber (Senate-Reform-Ontario)
Source: The Canadian Press
May 31, 2011 10:35


BRAMPTON, Ont. – One day after Quebec threatened court action to block proposed Senate reform, Ontario is telling the federal government to abolish the upper chamber.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to introduce bills to impose term limits on senators and to allow provinces to elect nominees who would be appointed to the Senate.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’s talked with other premiers and believes the best option is to simply get rid of the Senate altogether.

He says to reform it in any substantive way “is just not possible.”

McGuinty says Ontario has 40 per cent of the population but only 25 per cent of Senate seats, and sees no need to have an unelected upper chamber in Ottawa.

Harper’s previous attempts to pass the Senate reform bills were thwarted by opposition parties, but the Conservatives now have majorities in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

INDEX: NATIONAL POLITICS

 

In today’s Sun: the NDP isn’t
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

The New Democratic Party — neither new nor democratic.

It’s true. Did you know the New Democrats have been calling themselves “new” for half a century? In the U.S., they might get jail time for that whopper. Down there, the Federal Trade Commission won’t let you call something “new” for more than six months. It’s against the law.

Up here, you can apparently call something “new” for five decades, and no one will take you to task for it. Federally, provincially, the NDP continue to insist they are “new.”

Given the fact I have been alive for almost exactly the same period of time, I insist everyone now start referring to me as “New Warren.” That, or “Young Warren.”

Also acceptable: “New, Young, and Strikingly Handsome With A Thick Head of Hair Warren.” If you’re 50-plus (or even less!), add the prefix “New” to your own name. It won’t be the least bit accurate, but perhaps it’ll make you feel better about yourself.

Sun Media, May 30: Hudak’s cock-up, and provincial elections
Monday, May 30th, 2011

Jacqi and I recoil in horror as Tim Hudak demonstrates the size of, er, something.

Tim Hudak wanted the main story today to be his policy platform
Monday, May 30th, 2011

…instead it’s Weinergate. Front-page all over Ontario, too. I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

New Ontario Liberal ad
Monday, May 30th, 2011

Click on this screen grab to get access!

Weinergate: How did the NSFW pix end up on Ontario PCs’ Twitter account?
Monday, May 30th, 2011

Poor George Lepp.

First, he and Tim Hudak said George’s Blackberry magically activated itself, and took X-ray photos of George in flagrante through his pants pocket.

Then, they said someone stole the Blackberry, even though they didn’t tell the police, and magically posted George Unzipped on Twitter.

Now they say it wasn’t George.  It’s some other guy!  Still no word on the police investigation.

Coming soon: aliens did it, and the shot is of Elvis.

I say, let you have a say!  Vote now in our Highly-Scientific Poll!  Stiffen your resolve to be heard!


 

Is this what Tim Hudak meant when he promised to put hardened criminals in your neighbourhood?*
Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Protestors “jostled” the upstanding Ontario PC candidate from Niagara Falls, a real family values type. That, or his Blackberry operates all on its own.

And Tim Hudak wants to be Premier? And George Lepp is the kind of guy we want in the provincial parliament?

Maybe the PC brain trust will come up with another whacked-out explanation by tomorrow morning, just around the time when the whole country is laughing at Tim Hudak’s sterling commitment to law and order, and his claim that he will soon be cracking down – as he told the Sun in a front page story just this morning – on “pervs,” quote unquote.  If you’re in his caucus, you get a free pass, I guess.

Here’s a bit of the story the Sun broke tonight, and will likely have on their front page tomorrow:

“Rookie PC candidate George Lepp says he’s embarrassed that a photo of his family jewels was posted on his campaign Twitter account for about 20 minutes before it was quickly unzipped.

Alan Sakach, communications director for the Ontario Conservatives, said the photo was inadvertently taken by Lepp’s BlackBerry when it was in his front pocket. The photo was posted after someone took it from the candidate for the riding of Niagara Falls, according to Sakach.

“He is pretty upset and embarrassed,” Sakach said of a photo that was posted on Lepp’s account Sunday. “It was removed as soon as it came to his attention.”

The Toronto Sun obtained grainy copies of the Twitter page images before they were removed.

The pictures — too graphic to reproduce in the newspaper — are of a man naked from the waist down, showing a close up of his penis and his crossed legs.

Sakach said the device was operating on camera mode in his front pant pocket when it went missing. He added that Lepp suspects it was taken as he was jostled by protesters outside the Dixon Rd. convention centre where the Tories met for the party’s weekend convention.

Sakach said he didn’t know if police were called about the stolen BlackBerry.”

You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried.

BCL has more, NSFW (or anywhere else). GC, too (even more NSFW).  Already, professional reporters are laughing at the claim – by Tim Hudak’s spokesman, no less – that George Lepp’s Blackberry took those photo all on its own.

Gives “Blackberry Bold” a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?

(*Stolen shamelessly from a funny friend.)

From inside the secret Ontario PC briefing
Sunday, May 29th, 2011

20110529-121445.jpg

Tim Hudak’s pl(a)n
Saturday, May 28th, 2011

 

 

If he can’t spell “education,” um, what else is he getting wrong?