On the @CTVNews set…

…with Scott Laurie as my candidate Hillary Clinton speaks! (Yes, that’s my Daisy Group binder prepared by my colleague Arti. Thanks Arti.)

  


How will Trudeau react to the first domestic terrorist attack during his tenure? (updated)

And so:

TORONTO – A brazen knife attack that sent two Canadian soldiers to hospital was disturbing enough, but police sources say it was the attacker uttering the word “Allah” that prompted Toronto Police to call in terror experts.

Chief Mark Saunders told reporters outside of the federal building at 4900 Yonge St., north of Sheppard Ave., Monday that the male suspect used “certain comments” that were as concerning as the violent attack.

He did not elaborate, but several police sources say witnesses told them “Allah” was used.“Some heard him say, ‘Praise Allah’ and others heard ‘Allah’ or ‘Aly,’” a police source told the Sun.

“Several heard the man use this terminology. It’s not something you take a chance on and this is why the call was made to the police agencies who handle terror issues.”

The RCMP, CSIS and OPP are now involved in the investigation.

Ironically, the elder Trudeau was pretty good on this terrorist stuff. He didn’t screw around.

The son – as we saw have seen for years, now – finds it challenging. My sense is that he fundamentally believes that the usual response to terror – the one, ironically again, favoured by his own father – isn’t the right one.  He may be right about that, but public opinion is not on his side.

Anyway. We are all grateful that the injured soldiers will be okay.

We would also be grateful, equally, for a government response on terror that is clear and coherent.

Like we always got from Pierre Trudeau.

UPDATE: And here is the accused.  So, has anyone questioned the Prime Minister yet? There’s not much he can say, of course, but I suspect the Canadian Armed Forces personnel – who take their orders from him – would like to hear from him.

UPDATED AGAIN: Trudeau responds, here. Good. Would be no different with Harper. 
 


In this week’s Hill Times: selfies, state dinners and West Wing 

A meal, some speeches, and some selfies.

That’s what State Dinners are, mostly. They’re supper, basically, except you have to wear your best clothes and be on your best behaviour.

When Jean Chretien was still running things, I was lucky enough to be invited to some State Dinners. At one of them, the best-ever Prime Minister was hosting Russian president Vladimir Putin. Unlike Stephen Harper would do, much later on, I shook Putin’s hand.

I tried to exchange a few words with Putin, too, via a translator. I distinctly remember an ominous grin playing across the Russian strongman’s face as he looked up at me (he’s really short, or I’m really tall). I recall thinking he had the look and comportment of a guy who would run you over with a tank if he didn’t like what you had to say. Which, as historians will agree, is exactly the case.

Anyway. That’s State Dinners. Most of the time, they’re genteel affairs, with lots of politesse, and everyone doing their utmost to avoid sounding like Donald Trump.

But was anything actually accomplished, at last week’s much-written-about Trudeau-Obama bromance banquet? Probably not. But fans of The West Wing – which famously did a whole episode about State Dinners, way back in 1999 – will know that they can be an occasion for important things to be said. To wit:

Sam Seaborn: Toby, do you really think it’s a good idea to invite people to dinner and then to tell them exactly what they’re doing wrong with their lives?


Toby Ziegler: Absolutely, otherwise it’s just a waste of food.

Exactly. (And don’t you wish Josiah Bartlet was running for president in 2016? Me, too.)

The point, here, is that Justin Trudeau was having duck for dinner duck – as in, a lame duck. The guy he was breaking bread with will be at a Wall Street law firm a year from now, making a bajillion dollars for speeches to Rotarians. He won’t be spending two minutes thinking about Trudeau or Canada.

The people Trudeau needs to be focused on, instead, weren’t even at the dinner: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz or (God forbid) the aforementioned Donald Trump. They were chasing delegates in the mid-West.

Per The West Wing, Canada’s newly-minted Prime Minister should consider using State Dinners, and the like, to pass along a few hard truths to Washington audiences. These are found below, helpfully typed up as talking points.

· My American friends, I’m from Canada. Head to Buffalo, then turn left. You can’t miss us.
· I know the primaries probably convinced all of you that the path to power lies in tearing up trade agreements with countries like mine. That’s why Bernie shocked everyone, and beat Hillary in various Rust Belt states. That’s why Donald won everywhere – he peddles anti-free trade xenophobia.
· But don’t do it. With the world economy starting show the faintest glimmers of hope, don’t embrace protectionism. Don’t become (even more) insular. Don’t succumb to the siren song of solipsism. It doesn’t work.
· While we’re on the subject, consider a couple things Canada is good at. Our banking system, for starters. Yours, a few years back, plunged everyone into a global recession. We Canadians did pretty well, in that sad era, because we don’t ever let bankers do whatever their tiny black hearts desire. You need to similarly restrain them, before they conjure up yet another mess.
· Guns, too. Proportionately, we have as many crazy people as you do. But we don’t like our crazy people get their hands on assault rifles. You should do likewise. You’ll thank us one day.
· Health care, as well. We’re not bad at it, and you stink at it. When candidates for president start promising to give U.S. citizens less health care, not more – when they want to let poor, sick people get poorer and sicker – well, there’s something wrong in your culture, folks. Needs fixing.
· Refugees, immigrants, newcomers: we welcome them. You should, too. They become citizens, they get jobs, they pay taxes. It’s a good thing. 
· Canada has some useful tips for you to consider. Thanks for dinner.

Would Justin Trudeau ever say any of those things to a well-heeled American audience? Of course not. We Canadians are way too polite.

But these State Dinners don’t come along every week, PMO. The next time one happens, consider delivering a few cautionary messages.

After all, if President Josiah Bartlet thought it was okay to do so, it’s always okay to do so.


Son Four gets the Three!

Shot on the fly, so I forgot I was in that irritating “portrait” mode.  Sorry. Anyone know how to get in “landscape” mode? (See? I’m up on all the new tech lingo.)

Raptors, address all inquiries about signing to me, his agent.


When you stare into the abyss, etc. 

Is Donald Trump deliberately provoking violence to help his campaign? Probably. Are we falling into his trap? Maybe. 

Here’s what Maddow says:

Maddow pointed out that Trump’s rallies have included racially charged violence for months and said, “There have been instances in the past where he has at least encouraged or praised the idea of violent actions by his supporters. When he’s spoken wistfully about how great it would be to beat people up at his rallies or he has told people that he would pay their legal fees if they would beat up a protester on his behalf. 

He has done that in the past. But this sort of blood lust. Right? This half tongue in cheek, mostly serious call for a tougher America where there are more beatings and where anti-Trump protesters fear for their lives.”

 Rachel Maddow date stamped a series of Trump comments to show that the escalation of the violence at his rallies is deliberate.

So, if she’s right, Chicago helps him. It doesn’t help those who oppose him. 

But here’s the thing: what happened in Dayton – when a guy came very, very close to getting him – doesn’t. I mean, Mr. Trump, what good is your provoke-violence strategy if you end up…well, you know. I don’t wish that on you, but I won’t be surprised if it happens now, either. After all, etc.

Like I always say: when you set a mean dog loose, he may bite someone else. 

But, eventually, he’ll bite you, too.