Wherein Gary Mason writes the column I wrote, but gets to publish it before I got to publish
There is an enormous danger associated with this strategy. By remaining mum, Mr. Trudeau and his global counterparts are normalizing this man’s behaviour. Mr. Trump is a classic bully, and bullies thrive on the silence of their victims. No one should ever be afraid to stand up to this man, to denounce actions that deserve to be denounced.
Certainly no one should ever be disparaged for doing so.
Most will recall the now-infamous tape recording that emerged during the presidential campaign of Mr. Trump making horribly deplorable statements about women. Asked at the time to comment, B.C. Premier Christy Clark properly characterized his remarks as “absolutely disgraceful.”
Earlier this week, Ms. Clark was ridiculed by a commentator on The Tyee, a left-of-centre online news magazine, for having earlier made her views public. According to the author, in criticizing Mr. Trump, the Premier had needlessly risked the jobs of thousands of people in her province whose companies do business with the United States. Imagine: being excoriated for decrying behaviour that is by any measure is execrable. Isn’t that what we want our political leaders to do?
It seems absolutely bizarre to be chastising Ms. Clark because Donald Trump is now President. But it speaks to the broad uneasiness that has descended on the world in the wake of his victory. People are afraid, including our politicians. Few seem to have the backbone to stand up to him.
Look how easy it was for Mr. Trump to say he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA. It seemed to take all of three seconds for Canada to say okay, and throw Mexico under the bus in the process. This is the kind of influence the U.S. President wields. He knows it and isn’t afraid to use it. Mr. Trump is also aware his fellow leaders are going to act in their nation’s own self-interests. And if that means not doing anything to provoke a notoriously thin-skinned president, so be it.
The Nazis did this too. Canada reacted in the same way.
Donald Trump has ordered his new administration to publish a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants.
The US President’s sweeping new executive order on immigration, which he signed on the fifth day of his presidency, includes a paragraph mandating the Secretary for Homeland Security to “make public a comprehensive list of criminal actions committed by aliens” in the US.
The list will also include details of so-called “sanctuary cities” that refuse to hand over immigrant residents for deportation.
Still think he didn’t mean it? Still think he would change after being sworn in? Still think someone around him would talk him out of being a, you know, fascist?
Again, where is my government? Will anyone in it finally object to this actual fascism, as Mexico has now done?
Why is Canada silent?
Vote now, vote often: totally totalled
Tell Warren what to do, totally!
I'm straight-edge, totally, but I'm heading to an all-inclusive in Caribbean with @lisakinsella. What to do?
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 26, 2017
MTM, RIP
That column on the death of the U.S., now on HuffPo
Trudeau shows guts (and smarts) in my hometown
Watch this. Impressive.
Live feed dropped before the last question tonight in Calgary, about oilsands development. Here it is in full: pic.twitter.com/Sxf4ZuIaF4
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 25, 2017
Punk vs. Trump
Once asked @BrettGurewitz same thing. He told me "that's like saying heroin is good for colds because it reduces sniffles." @badreligion https://t.co/349cpXAYoX
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 25, 2017
Thoughts @alancross @kinsellawarren @bifnaked @DOAJoe? Trump Administration May Be The Best Thing For The Punk Scene https://t.co/WsmOdUGnPQ
— Dave Teixeira (@davedotca) January 25, 2017
Only one punk combo staked out the moral high ground more than a year ago, when no one was taking this racist, sexist, fascist seriously!
Comment about comments in the Alternative Facts era
I welcome comments here, but within limits.
One additional thing that I will not permit is the use of this space to promote racism and hatred. Thus, this, to “Fred from BC.”
Comments are welcome, but I will not allow this space to be used to advocate for a ban on Muslims. Go elsewhere, if you want to spew that kind of bullshit.
Warren
Just as the New York Times is now (correctly) describing the Unpresident as a liar in news story headlines, I will not allow my web site to become a repository for hate and obvious bullshit.
Understood?
At what point does silence become complicity?
A wall. Ban on Muslim immigration. Tear up TPP, gut NAFTA, bash NATO, end family planning funding. At what point will Ottawa say something?
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 25, 2017

