On this day in 1974
…in yesterday walks tomorrow, you sausage-fingered, sphincter-mouthed human Cheezie.
Adler-Kinsella: trade, Trump and Trudeau’s troubling trip
As in my Hill Times column next week, I was pretty tough on Justin Trudeau about the Indian imbroglio. Charles Adler said he’s never heard me be this tough.
To me, a Prime Minister’s job is essentially threefold:
- communicate to, and on behalf of, Canada
- promote policies that are developed by his or her cabinet, caucus, officials, staff, political party (and, very rarely, by him or her)
- articulate a vision that brings Canadians together
That’s it. And the thread that runs through all of that, as you can see, is communications. That isn’t what the job is mostly about – that is the job.
Justin Trudeau is one of the best retail politicians this country has ever seen (Messrs. Chretien, Mulroney and Trudeau Sr. were also amazing at the retail stuff, in that order). He has an ability to connect with people that is extraordinary.
But there is a danger inherent in being a great communicator: sometimes, when you are that good at the retail stuff, arrogance slips in, like an unwanted guest at a crowded party. You start to delude yourself into thinking that charm and conviviality will get you out of any mess. You start to think that you can win the people over with a big smile, and nothing else.
Justin Trudeau, in just about everyone’s view (if they’re being fair), is a terrific communicator. He has clearly convinced himself that the whole job is about communications, too.
But here’s the thing: when you get too cocky, too arrogant, too full of yourself, you start to forget that you need to be communicating/articulating/promotion ideas and vision, too.
In the most simplistic terms, I am now convinced this guy thinks it’s all sizzle, and no steak. It’s all about pictures, and forget about the words.
In that, he is gravely mistaken. And – as in all things in politics – his main strength is also his main weakness.
The thing that got him elected is the same thing that will defeat him. I’m convinced of that, now.
Here’s me and Charles.
Another unhappy PC person writes in
Hi Warren,
I thought this might be of interest since news can sometimes hit close to home — and your home includes the Beach (one of the ridings mentioned).
Apparently the rumour is that the successful candidates in these ridings have very close ties to that guy Snover Dhillon who’s been mentioned in newspaper articles. I have learned lthat the Beaches-Woodbine riding was to have its nomination meeting in June, but it was cancelled on the afternoon of the meeting. The meeting was rescheduled to September where Sarah Mallo was nominated as the candidate – through an acclamation.
You should also look at this guy: How to Lose an Election (when you’re ahead in the polls) – Part 6
India to Canada: your Prime Minister’s claims are “baseless and unacceptable”
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:
India’s government formally says your claims are “baseless and unacceptable.” That’s a quote. Are they lying or are you?
India is only the world’s largest democracy, with whom we are trying to boost trade. No biggie. Keep insulting them, Prime Minister, instead of taking responsibility.
For once.
Sincerely,
Canadians Mystified By Why You Prefer A Diplomatic Incident To Admitting You Made A Mistake
P.S. Way to stomp all over your budget’s most important full day.
Teenagers, the destroyer of worlds
And this is why I’m in the middle of writing a trilogy about teenagers: they’re more interesting, and intelligent, and fearless, than any adult.
“Facebook announced a decline in daily users in America and Canada for the first time…globally, users were spending around 50m fewer hours per day on Facebook. [This] translates into users worldwide spending 15% less time on Facebook year over year.”
Reasons why here.
From the archives: Martin Patriquin is a corrupt, over-refreshed scumbag
Always has been, too.
The passage below is from this web site, on September 26th, 2010, as passed along by Dan Shields.
I actually forgot I wrote it. Patriquin didn’t, I guess, and iPolitics gave him a platform to pursue a personal vendetta against those who have the temerity to criticize him.
They probably shouldn’t.
Martin Patriquin is one of the biggest scumbags in Canadian journalism. This week, we’re going to be hearing all about Patriquin, because he has written Maclean’s cover story [about how Québec is corrupt].
If that seems familiar to you, that’s because it is. [He’s often claimed Québec is corrupt.]
So, not only is he scumbag, he’s not very original. He’s also a phony, turns out.
Here’s what Patriquin wrote in the National Post on January 5, 2007: “Sorry, I’m not going to blog. Life, any life, is just far too mundane a spectacle. With any luck, the journalist blog trend will follow the faux-hawk into the giant dumpster of bad ideas and everyone, journalists included, will figure out the advantage of knowing when to shut up.”
Uh-huh.
You guessed it: Patriquin then started a blog, in Maclean’s. You know, the one he said he’d never do, because it’s a “bad idea.”
My personal experience with Patriquin is not dissimilar. He reprints government talking points, is regarded as a cynical no-talent by his more-accomplished colleagues, and sends over-refreshed emails to people in the middle of the night. He thinks he’s clever, but he isn’t. He’s a loser.
So how is it that he’s employed at Maclean’s? Beats me.
As Norman Spector has pointed out, Patriquin’s “story” declines to provide the reader with a study – any study – that proves that Quebec is “the most corrupt province in Canada.”
They won’t, either, because no such study exists. Patriquin just made it up, and someone at the magazine went along with it. Personally, I hope every person in Canadian public life – and every person – kicks the living shit of Matrin Patriquin this week. He richly deserves it.
Oh, and corruption? Corruption is defined as “a lack of honesty or integrity.”
By that definition, the rest of us know who is really corrupt, don’t we, Martin?
Please God make it stop
Tweet of the week, folks
No doubt Mr. Brown would like to turn over a new page. As it were.
— Jim Maclean (@CrustyMaclean) February 24, 2018
X
On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was murdered, slain in front of his wife and children by the racist and anti-Semitic Nation of Islam.
X is, as friends and family will tell you, a rather big deal to me, on many levels. Among other things, X is the name of the three books I am writing/have written. X is in every room where I work and live. And X is on my arm, literally.
He was truly a giant of a man, and he would have never hesitated to stand up against the racist, criminal Donald Trump. His voice is acutely missing, in these profoundly dark days.
Worth remembering, then:
People who stand for nothing – will fall for anything.
A: At the mall.
Q: Where do these guys recruit their political staffers?
Favors interns half his age. Keeps them on public payroll. Deserves censure.
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) February 21, 2018