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)

Question to CIJA

— 12.16.2011 10:50 AM

The “C” in their name, as I’ve written before, stands for Conservative. They, and their “CEO,” have become ardent fart-catchers for the Harper government.

Proof of same is found in this question, which is rhetorical:

Have any of you, at any point, condemned the despicable way in which Irwin Cotler – one of our greatest Parliamentarians, and a man regarded in Israel as a giant – has been treated by the Harper government?

Trust me, they haven’t.


Comments (20)