In today’s Sun: Bullets have no ideology

— 01.11.2011 07:09 AM

“Why do these things keep happening?

Whenever there is a loss of life caused by guns in the United States, people from all sides of the ideological spectrum ask questions approximating that one: “Why do these terrible tragedies happen?”

And, just as inevitably, some people – on both the left and the right – start to assign blame, and well before all the facts are in.

It happened again this past week, when Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords was targeted in an assassination attempt allegedly by Jared Lee Loughner.”


Comments (28)

Bank advice

— 01.10.2011 12:31 PM

Corporately, we deal with a bank that is making us very unhappy.

Anyone have advice about a banker in the GTA who would be interested in dealing with a healthy, debt-free company’s business?

Boy oh boy, am I ever going to have a story to tell.  Thanks, folks.


Comments (20)

Cold January morning bits and pieces

— 01.10.2011 09:44 AM

  • Go Right, young man? Young Grit John seems to suggest Liberals should make a sharp right turn if they ever want to return to power.  Forgive me for being so disagreeable at my advanced age, John, but I cling to the old adage that, if people have to choose between a Real Conservative and a Faux Conservative, they’ll always choose the Real one, ten times out of ten.  Go Left!
  • Vote subsidies: The Citizen has a highly cautious editorial about whether they should be eliminated.  The Reformatories favour doing so, primarily because it would handicap their main rival, the Liberals.  Grits argue, rightly, that eliminating big corporate and big union donations has made our politics a lot cleaner.  Personally, I anticipate Harper will make ditching subsidies part of his election platform – that way, even if he gets back in with a minority, he can deliver a sanctioned death blow to his hated rivals.  Just watch.  It’s coming.
  • Palin has blood on her hands? She bears some responsibility for debasing U.S. politics, of course: Congresswoman Giffords said as much to MSNBC, just a few months ago.  But I very much hope that Palin’s name is on the G.O.P. ticket in 2012: there is no better way to reassure an Obama victory.  She is the best thing that has happened to the Democratic Party since Richard Nixon.
  • Team Grit Campaign Team: Jeff Kehoe is one of the most honest, principled and decent Liberals left in Ottawa.  If he says that the Libs are ready for an election, you can take it to the bank.  Reading what he says in the linked Hill Times Naumetz yarn, I believe it.
  • The Divided Right: Being old, as noted, this all reminds me of the good old days of 1990-2003, when the Reform Party and the federal Conservative Party were scrapping, openly, about who was the real Conservative choice.  Unless Randy Hillier or Tim Hudak is ready to run up the white flag anytime soon (an unlikely prospect), this nasty little family feud is going to continue for many, many months.  How very sad.
  • Retail politics win: Meanwhile, Ontario Libs (full disclosure: I do work for their caucus) continue to focus on improving people’s lives – in this case, the thousands of Ontario families living in apartment buildings.  The LOC (Land Owner Conservatives), led by Timmy Hudak, will snicker about measures like this.  Good.
  • Rob Ford, “Tax Fighter”: He lied. What do we see in the gravy-train-stopper’s first budget?  Elimination of TTC routes, and a big hike in fares: Torontonians will now pay more for less.  This guy is a one-termer.

Comments (29)

Ch-ch-ch-changes

— 01.09.2011 10:51 PM

My appearances on CBC’s Power and Politics have come to an inevitable end (and not because of some Sun Media edict, either).  CBC wants to start trying out various replacements for me on ‘Firing Line,’ and not be left in the proverbial lurch when Sun TV starts dominating the airwaves.  Understandable.

I’ll miss Peggy and Evan and Jeremy and the gang, but I know the show will only get way better with me gone.

Sun TV deets to follow!


Comments (6)