Out on a limb
I predict the NDP will cave.
Frankly, they have a bona fide reason for doing so – their leader is very ill.
Comments? Contrary views?
This weekend! More important than the budget!
In today’s Sun: the crusade against the colonel
“Imagine, for a minute or two, that you are Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi. What are you going to do?
And then, early Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama and his western allies — including Canada, whose former prime minister, Paul Martin, had just a few years ago come to Libya to sing your praises — did what you never thought they’d do. They attacked Libya.
Contemptuous
As expected, the Opposition found the Harper regime in contempt of Parliament.
Now what?
It’s a big decision. If the historic (and unprecedented) contempt finding is to mean anything, and if they are to avoid looking like rank hypocrites, the Opposition now must move non-confidence in the government. They have no choice. And, if everyone shows up to vote, the minority government will fall.
But is it a good idea, politically? From my secure position in an armchair, pretty much everyone has a good reason to avoid an election right now:
- The Conservatives aren’t likely to get a majority – they’d likely only get what they have now. And, with the sleaze and scandal now emanating regularly from their cabinet and backrooms, they might even lose some seats. They’ve got a leader many trust to be PM, but few like as a person.
- The NDP have recently taken a pounding in public opinion, and Jack Layton is still courageously fighting some serious health issues. They’ve got a leader many like as a person, but who they don’t trust to be PM.
- The Liberals are likely to lose seats, based on recent polls – and they lack a ballot question, and have a dearth of nominated candidates. Meanwhile, they’ve got a leader who is neither liked nor trusted.
- The Bloc? They can’t be seen to be holding up some big federal transfer payments heading to Quebec – and terminating this Parliament would do just that. They’ve got a leader, and they don’t give a rat’s ass if you like him or trust him.
My guess? Someone will get a case of Parliamentary flu. No election.
Unless a bunch of them have gone batshit crazy, that is, which – it being Ottawa and all – you can never really eliminate as a factor.
Neo-Nazis in Calgary
As I said to the reporter: where the Hell is Mayor Nenshi? Why hasn’t he resourced the Calgary Police Service to deal with what is clearly a growing problem?
The reduced numbers shouldn’t be taken as a sign that such groups are waning, according Warren Kinsella, who wrote Web of Hate, a book about organized racism.
“There is a danger into being lulled into a false sense of security by minimal numbers,” he said.
White supremacy “is not a real strong movement,” in the city, he added.“
Great David Olive column (updated)
He’s off the mark on a few things – the true state of the numbers, the competence of senior staff – but it’s a fun read because David Olive always is.
Oh, we do like elections, so enough of that nonsense.”
UPDATE: And more fun reading bits from Senator Olive, here.
Sick
That’s the only way you can describe this – going after an opponent’s family.
Maybe, you know, they will mock someone’s disability next. A facial paralysis or something.
Oh, wait.
In today’s Sun: the connection election selection
“Connection. You have it or you don’t.
Pardon me, but that’s horseshit. If anyone can produce a single undoctored photograph of Stephen Harper lined up for a double-double at a Tim Hortons prior to the 2004 election campaign, we’ll happily post it in this space and issue the requisite mea culpa. But they can’t.
Why Harper is crazy to campaign now
Check this out:
I met this guy at the 2006 Liberal leadership convention. To the Cons present, he was clearly a big deal. They flitted around him like flies.
And Harper had hired him to work in PMO – after the results of his security check were known. After.
He had a Top Secret security clearance.
Why is Harper certifiable to hit the hustings now? Because almost every day will bring a shiny new Carson cruise missile. Right now, investigative reporters are digging away. They won’t stop.
Remember Jaffer? That one had sex and sleaze, too. It went on and on for months.
This one is different. It leads directly into the Office of the Prime Minister.
And, officially, these Reformatories have become what they said they’d destroy. They are the biggest hypocrites in Canadian history, full stop.
They make me sick.