Ignatieff in the Financial Times: a populist is born, too late

— 11.18.2011 09:17 AM

Quote:

“For the moment, it is a good sign that Mr Monti is being called “the professor”. It’s an indication that the people want him to succeed. Having been a professor myself and having done my time in politics, I would offer only one piece of advice: convince your people that you are doing this not for the banks, not for Europe, not for the bond market, but for them, your fellow countrymen and women. Remember they, not the bond market or the European Union, have the ultimate power. If they believe you are on their side, you can succeed. If they believe you are not on their side, you will fail and they can make your country ungovernable.”

The rest of his Financial Times essay is seemingly aimed at academics-cum-politicians in Greece and Italy, and it’s there if you want to read it.  The above paragraph is the only part that references those of us toiling in the colonies.

The bit about the banks was interesting.  I recall talking to him, during the 2009 global recession, and suggesting that we go after the banks – they, after all, were the ones who caused the mess in the first place, aided and abetted by laissez-faire conservative governments.  Seemed pretty straightforward to me, and the likes of Trudeau and Chretien wouldn’t have hesitated a moment.  Ignatieff, however, abjectly refused.  His refusal wasn’t ever explained, but a refusal it certainly was.

That’s why the florid prose at the centre, there – “you are doing this not for the banks, not for Europe, not for the bond market, but for them, your fellow countrymen and women” – is a bit of a surprise.  I don’t remember calls for that sort of stirring populism ever echoing through the hallways at 409-S, however much Bolsheviks like Ian Davey and I tried.  Main Street always trumps Bay/Wall Street, I told him once, while he regarded me as if I was E.T.

Anyway, it’s all part of life’s rich pageant, I suppose.  You live and learn.  Sometimes you learn way too late.


Comments (30)

Ho ho ho

— 11.18.2011 07:59 AM

The Santa Claus parade is on Sunday here in Toronto. Last year only one of my kids would go. Will anyone at all come this year?


Comments (8)

Questioning bits and pieces

— 11.17.2011 09:27 AM

  • Blogging makes money? Bullshit.  I’ve sold some advertising over the years, but I don’t run this web site – which predates the word “blog,” which I hate, and which isn’t a “blog” – for money.  I do it for fun. Anyone who says they can make a living out web logs is full of it.  You can’t.
  • London Rippers? A team named after a notorious serial murderer of women: yeah, that’s really funny.  Why stop there?  Why not name sports franchises after other homicidal and genocidal maniacs from history?  The Son of Sam Shooters! The al-Qaeda Slashers! Stuff like that wouldn’t offensive at all, would it?
  • F**k Off?: I tell people to do it online every once in a while, too.  I also ban them from this site, Facebook and so on.  But that’s me: I’m not an MP.  My rule of thumb is that Twitter and politicians don’t mix: if they are being careful when they Tweet, they’re boring.  And if they’re not being careful, they get into trouble.  So why bother?
  • Hudak Helper? Check out Ontario Newswatch’s lead story and the fun graphic therein – I recognize that!  Since General Mills have sent me threatening legal letters about the further use of same, I will be uncharacteristically careful.  Ahem. But Ms. Kelley is right: Andrea and Tim are besties! Not sure their core supporters are going to dig it, however, which saddens me no end. Stay, Tim, stay!
  • Bob’s blast? Is it ever. One of my best friends on Earth – who I did not speak to about this issue – has blasted the federal Grits for their idiotic position on a more-democratic House of Commons.  Quote: “Federal Liberal position on expansion of seats in the House of Commons is idiotic and anti-democratic. So it is okay to maintain over-representation in rural canada, but not okay to provide representation in growing urban (read new Canadians) Canada? Good to see old elites firmly in charge. Pathetic.” Bob was the head of Red Leaf, folks. Ouch!
  • A Liberal giant passes? No question there.  Tom Kent was a towering figure in Canadian public life.  When I was partner at a Bay Street law firm, I had the pleasure to work with his equally-amazing son, and we discussed his Dad often.  A huge loss to this country.

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You can take the boy out of Frank magazine, etc. (updated twice)

— 11.16.2011 11:30 AM

What a piece of work Glen McGregor is. How is this news?

I think it’s just about time to publicize my recent correspondence with this jerk, and my less-recent experiences – such as when he publicized my family’s home address, thereby helping neo-Nazis I’d written about here to find us.

From the archives – what happened after McGregor published our home address:

Glebe park closed to foil rumored supremacist picnic

The Ottawa Citizen
Sat May 28 1994
Byline: Carolyn Abraham

In an unusual move, the City of Ottawa has decided to close one of its parks this weekend to foil alleged white supremacist plans for a Saturday evening picnic.

In response to an Ottawa police request Thursday, the city’s administrators decided to close Glebe Memorial Park today and Sunday, erecting barricades and signs reading: No Trespassing.

It was the first case of a park being closed to protect public safety that city and police officials could recall.

Ottawa police made the rare request after a flyer, allegedly from white supremacist groups, was distributed announcing plans to hold a “picnic and midtown stroll at the park at Percy and Chamberlain streets.

The flyer said the event was to “support young White families victimized by RACIST job quotas join 300-400 White families in celebrating our European heritage.

But Ottawa Insp. Patrick Moyle says the picnic was more likely intended to harass author Warren Kinsella, whose home backs on to the Glebe park — an uncommon spot for demonstrations or rallies.

Moyle said Kinsella has been targetted by white supremacists and received threats against his property since his bookWeb of Hate: Inside Canada’s Far Right Network was released earlier this year.

It was to protect Kinsella and his home that police asked the city to close the park. Moyle said police would find it “very difficult to defend Kinsella’s property should a gathering of white supremacists grow threatening adjacent to his backyard.”

When he learned of the park closing Friday, Kinsella said, “It was a prudent thing to do. I was concerned, especially for people who live in the neighborhood. It is distressing.”.

UPDATE: Poor Glen is upset. He has emailed and telephoned me to say that I have mischaracterized the email he sent to me about my private life, back in January. He says “I am happy to post it on my blog,” quote unquote. I’ll bet he is – in that way, he can circulate the results of his investigation into my private life to a wider audience, thereby building on his stellar reputation as the guy who cooked up the “rape Caroline Mulroney” contest. In that January 22 email, he tells me I “look silly” and then relates all sorts of detail that he could have only obtained through such an investigation. One: no, Glen, you don’t have my permission to publish stuff about my private life. Two, get a life.

UPDATED: He’s now sent another email that seems to threaten a libel action. Go to it, pal. We’d love to get you in Discovery to recount what folks in the Hot Room have told me and others.


Comments (16)

New federal Liberal strategy

— 11.16.2011 10:22 AM

Here.

Let’s see if I get this right.  Their super-duper brilliant strategy is to now:

1. Scoff at the Constitution;

2. Dismiss Liberal Premiers who want this;

3. Piss off multiple regions who want democratic fairness; and

4. Echo what right-winger losers like Tim Hudak have said about “too many politicians.”

And people wonder why guys like me don’t have anything to do with the federal party anymore.

Wonder no more, etc.

 


Comments (24)