From next week’s column: the second paragraph will be all anyone’s interested in

…their claims to the contrary.  Plus ca change, etc.

“…The above-noted case studies are the three clear exemptions to the Clooney-esque “personal is personal” rule. One: don’t be a hypocrite – the Pat Buchanan Rule. Two: don’t invite people to take a look at your personal life, and then be upset when they do – the Gary Hart Rule. Three: don’t say your private, personal views influence your public duties, and expect people not to care – the Stock Day Rule.

Ottawa, of course, is undeterred. There’s always something “personal” that folks want to push and pull over the line into the “public.” There’s been unseen affidavits allegedly floating around about one party leader, filled with allegedly sordid details. There’s been allegations about an alleged hotel room and a police officer and another party leader, allegedly. There’s been – full disclosure – a former member of the Press Gallery circulating copies of my divorce pleadings, and a senior (and still there!) Liberal staffer doing his utmost to simultaneously cause pain. (That’s not alleged, either – it all happened.)”

Pat Buchanan, Gary Hart, Stockwell Day and George Clooney all in one opinion column! In next week’s Hill Times!

 


Goodbye Canada AM

I loved going on Canada AM, back when JC was PM.  I’d face off against David Miller (for the NDP), or Line Maheu (for the Alliance/Reform/whatever they were called that week), or Dan Tisch or whoever (for the PCs).

Canada AM was where I did this good-natured little jab, too.  Became a Trivial Pursuit question, that one.

Anyway, goodbye Canada AM.  And here’s a clip from way back when that a reader found (don’t know how).  O that we were all young again, etc.


I have to get something off my chest about Elvis Costello

Me and the Hot Nasties saw Costello and The Attractions [emphasis added – ed.] for the first time on November 15, 1978 at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. There was a minor riot at the foor of the stage involving the bouncers, us, and Costello. We refused to sit down and jumped into the orchestra pit to dance; the big hippie bouncers didn’t like that, and started to toss us around like matchsticks; Costello didn’t like that, and threw his mic stand at the nastiest, meanest bouncer. It was glorious.

Anyway. In those days, Costello was backed by Steve Nieve (ivories), Pete Thomas (skins) and Bruce Thomas (four strings).  They were gods.  Evidence, here:

Now, here’s Costello in his later years, without The Attractions [emphasis added – ed.]:

With The Brodsky Quartet? A classical ensemble? Seriously?

Like I say: I’ve been keeping this inside for too long. Elvis Costello TOTALLY SUCKS without The Attractions. He’s a boring old fart – the gravest crime for which you can be convicted, in my books.

Discuss.


My additional reaction to the Hunter Tootoo case

Seriously, guys: fish or cut bait.  If you have an allegation to make, make it. But it’s not particularly fair to condemn a guy for the fact that you don’t have evidence he did something wrong.


How to beat Donald Trump, in one easy step

Here it is:

His voters don’t read or watch mainstream media.  So condemning/investigating/bashing him with traditional media works to his advantage – his supporters like it.  They feel mainstream media disrespects them as much mainstream media disrespects Trump.  Reach those voters, instead, with the media his vote trusts.

Also, this.  This should be a big hit, and played on Down South every talk radio show, 24/7.  This is how you win, in one minute and 44 seconds, Hillary.