In today’s Sun: Kenney for leader!

— 12.20.2011 01:00 AM

There are many things, and many people, which Jason Kenney doesn’t like.

The list of things which the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism detests is long. For example, the corpulent Calgary Conservative detests multiculturalism, quite a few immigrants, and an impressive number of his fellow citizens, too. In fact, Kenney may be the first federal cabinet minister to preside over a department he would like to eliminate.

Born in 1968 in Oakville, Ont., Kenney has never really worked in the private sector. He was one of the mouthpieces of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation for a while, but that’s essentially a branch of the Conservative Party. Since 1997, he’s had his snout firmly planted in the public trough, and he likes it there. For example, when he was (ironically) the Canadian Alliance finance critic, Kenney spent more than $120,000 in taxpayer money on trips in a single year. That made him one of Parliament’s biggest big-spenders.

He also attacked fellow conservative-minded MPs – calling them “dishonest and hypocritical” – for opting into the MP pension plan. When, um, he was already a member of said plan.

Therefore, we know that’s something he likes: Kenney likes to blow taxpayer dough on himself.


Comments (33)

Nerf serf

— 12.19.2011 12:29 PM

In my place, I have pretty much every single Nerf gun ever made. The boys’ mother, wiser than me, won’t let them in her place. I do, however.  They’re everywhere.  Nerf darts and cartridges, too.

Nerf guns are not “ultra realistic,” or whatever the author says in this fun story. They’re Nerf guns. They’re orange and they’re toys. AK-47s they are not.

My youngest boy enjoys sneaking up on me, Ninja-like, and shooting me in the back over impressive distances and at impossible angles – and then watching me jump three metres in the air. It’s fun. Well, for him, it is.

What do you Dads (and Moms) out there think? Should there be a long barrel Nerf registry? Should there be constitutional protection to raise a Nerf militia?

Me, I don’t mind Nerf guns.

Getting shot in the back by a Nerf ninja, not so much.


Comments (18)

Winners and losers of 2011

— 12.19.2011 09:07 AM

Like every other newspaper columnist in the Commonwealth, I am doing Winners and Losers of 2011 columns.  And I want you help!  Let me know what you think!

They don’t have to be political or national figures, but it helps if they are – ie., your local mayor may irritate you a great deal, but but your local mayor is unknown to anyone who lives outside your town.

So, suggestions are welcome.  You can post them in comments or send me a private note here.

Opinionize, punditocracy!


Comments (31)

The NME, maaaan, 25 years ago and now

— 12.18.2011 10:39 PM

Here’s what they fronted 25 years ago.  And I had that issue.

And here’s what the NME reckons is the top tune, 25 years later. Dunno why, but I thought it’d be interesting to juxtapose the two videos.


Comments (3)

The Star and mental illness

— 12.18.2011 07:50 PM

This is actually standard operating procedure for the Toronto Star: on one day, make all kinds of sympathetic noises about mental illness, and then – on another day – kick the Hell out of someone who actually suffers from a mental illness.

That’s why I actually don’t mind being a liberal who contributes to right-wing media: they mostly don’t care about the weak, and they don’t hide it. They’re consistent, at least.


Comments (6)

In today’s Sun: the Speaker, in disgrace

— 12.18.2011 01:00 AM

A lot of people were astonished by that. How can the chief judge of the Commons say he has jurisdiction, say there’s no dispute about the facts, say it’s “reprehensible” — and then do nothing? MPs, who generally never criticize the Speaker out loud, did.

And then, a day later, a new shocking fact emerged: Scheer had used Campaign Research — the same outfit that was at the centre of the Cotler case — himself. In the May 2011 election, in his Saskatchewan riding, Scheer had paid Campaign Research thousands to work their magic for him. And he had told no one, as he sat in his green velvet throne and listened to Cotler make his case. He didn’t recuse himself, or even admit that he was in a clear conflict of interest. He said nothing.


Comments (23)