That was then, this is now, etc.
Early morning: “Ontario rethinking Toronto region’s $34-billion transit plan”
Late morning: “Statement from the Minister of Transportation on The Big Move“
Election lexicon
On the way in this morning, Son One and I were listening to a CBC Radio reporter I really like. At one point, he talked about Ontario being “plunged into an election.”
“Plunging,” I suggested to my boy, is a clear pejorative. And it’s a case of letting language do our thinking for us.
Here’s the thing: despite occasional evidence to the contrary, we live in a democracy. And, in Ontario in particular, we live in a democracy where there is a minority government.
Having elections is not a bad thing. It is a good thing. It is what happens in democracies, thank God.
In a minority situation, the most you can ever hope to survive is a couple years. We’re getting pretty close to that now.
So, if an election happens – and I honestly, truly cannot tell if Andrea Horwath’s team will opt for one (they seem to want one, but simultaneously fear one) – we haven’t been “plunged” into an election. We’ll have been given an opportunity, as a people, to choose change or something else. And the Ontario NDP will deserve not a moment’s criticism for choosing to have an election.
Words are important. Elections, in democracies, are too.
Carville gets the Shawinigan handshake
Forgot to post this one, from the dinner Monday night in Ottawa. Wanna know how to do deal with your political opponents? No “conversations” or “process”: let Chretien show the way!
(Carville survived, by the way. Fret not.)
Dear Justin Trudeau
Want something to hit Harper with, hard, over and over, until he can’t breathe? Here it is:
This revelation hits the Harper Cons at the very core of their being: as sound fiscal managers, and as protectors of the Canadian homeland, they are a joke.
Go at it, over and over and over, relentlessly. God has just given you a gift.
Use it.
Sincerely,
Warren
Wither thou goest, Ontario NDP?
Who knows. Devil’s in the details, as they say.
Stuff like this will have the hawks pushing for an election now. Stuff like this will have others urging caution.
What will they do? I literally do not know. Neither, it seems, does anyone else.
Daisy: happy birthday to us
The Daisy Group is seven years old today. We’ve had some amazing folks working here, and we’ve got some even more amazing folks working here now.
I can’t believe it’s been seven years! We’ve been lucky to have some terrific clients, however – and they’ve stayed with us, too. It’s the best business move I’ve ever made.
Here’s the ad that inspired the name. The message: we’re the best war room and issues management company around. Use us once – the ‘Daisy’ ad only ran once – and we’ll help you win. Like ‘Daisy’ did.
Jerry Agar is an idiot
My Mom painted this
She’s an artist. Interested in seeing more of her stuff? Let me know. I’m her son/agent.
Who I had dinner with tonight
Nice guy. American, I think.
There was a “John” Chrétien guy there, too, as I recall. Quite the characters.
