Friday, December 09, 2005
What, you were expecting intelligence?
Well, golly gee. It appears the Liberals have increased their lead - they're now ahead in the polls 39% to 27%.
What, are you surprised? Would you also be surprised to learn that they lead the Tories by 19% in Ontario?
If you answered "yes", then I presume you are also the type who would be surprised by vultures flying and cops eating donuts.
The point is, even after Martin today announced another hairbrained scheme to keep guns solely in the hands of government and criminals, his support continues to boom, especially in the East. No matter how often the Libs are proven stupid, wrong, corrupt, or all three, they get the votes. Surprise, surprise.
What, are you surprised? Would you also be surprised to learn that they lead the Tories by 19% in Ontario?
If you answered "yes", then I presume you are also the type who would be surprised by vultures flying and cops eating donuts.
The point is, even after Martin today announced another hairbrained scheme to keep guns solely in the hands of government and criminals, his support continues to boom, especially in the East. No matter how often the Libs are proven stupid, wrong, corrupt, or all three, they get the votes. Surprise, surprise.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
All aboard the commie express
Leo-Paul Lauzon, an NDP candidate and university professor in Quebec, wants the government to "Canadianize" several key transportation-related industries by buying up controlling interests in Air Canada, CN Rail, and the oil and gas industry. He says it's crucial to protecting Canadian sovereignty from American financial encroachment.
Give me a break. Lauzon is just carrying on with the typical NDP "government should own everything because it worked out so well in Russia" tagline.
I suppose there are some who might see the wisdom in government taking control of transportation...after all, they've so far done an amazing job with healthcare. Just don't blame me when you're standing in a five-hour line for borscht, but it doesn't matter because your train is six hours late.
Give me a break. Lauzon is just carrying on with the typical NDP "government should own everything because it worked out so well in Russia" tagline.
I suppose there are some who might see the wisdom in government taking control of transportation...after all, they've so far done an amazing job with healthcare. Just don't blame me when you're standing in a five-hour line for borscht, but it doesn't matter because your train is six hours late.
By the numbers...
Current support for the Liberals, according to the latest poll: 35%
Current support for the Tories: 29%
How much I care about the federal election: declining 5% every day
I'll say it again: nothing is going to change. I did, I will shamefully admit, hold a small glimmer of hope for the outcome of this next election. Not anymore. Seems the Easterners are going to vote Liberal again, but it doesn't matter. Even based on these last few polls, I'm convinced.
I'm done with Canada.
Current support for the Tories: 29%
How much I care about the federal election: declining 5% every day
I'll say it again: nothing is going to change. I did, I will shamefully admit, hold a small glimmer of hope for the outcome of this next election. Not anymore. Seems the Easterners are going to vote Liberal again, but it doesn't matter. Even based on these last few polls, I'm convinced.
I'm done with Canada.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
You won't see this from the Communist Broadcasting Corporation
How often has each of us wanted to shout something crude at a politician? Once a month? Once a week? For me it's practically every day. And yet, when Yves Engler showed up at Paul Martin's speech on Thursday and shouted "Paul Martin lies, Haitians die" at our Imperious Leader while throwing small bits of a human rights report into the crowd, I'm sure he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
What he was getting himself into was jail. That's right - for the simple act of yelling and throwing paper in a public place, he was arrested and imprisoned. On Friday, Crown prosecutors refused to allow Mr. Engler's release and left him in jail over the weekend. Makes the Ralphie pie-throwing incident seem like nothing, doesn't it?
This is yet another example of the leader of the Liberal Party using Canada's police forces as his own private terrorist squad. Whether it's Chrétien telling the RCMP to pepper spray protesters or Martin ordering midnight raids on journalists' offices and locking up a man for criticizing his policies, the mentality in the ruling party is becoming increasingly dangerous to democracy.
What he was getting himself into was jail. That's right - for the simple act of yelling and throwing paper in a public place, he was arrested and imprisoned. On Friday, Crown prosecutors refused to allow Mr. Engler's release and left him in jail over the weekend. Makes the Ralphie pie-throwing incident seem like nothing, doesn't it?
This is yet another example of the leader of the Liberal Party using Canada's police forces as his own private terrorist squad. Whether it's Chrétien telling the RCMP to pepper spray protesters or Martin ordering midnight raids on journalists' offices and locking up a man for criticizing his policies, the mentality in the ruling party is becoming increasingly dangerous to democracy.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
A note on climate change
December 4, 2005: yet another blow came to the eco-zealots last Sunday as the global warming conference in Montreal (where else?) was hit with a rather large dose of actual reality.
One study says that global cooling may be making a comeback, with the possibility of temperatures in Europe cooling over the next twenty years by an average of 1 degree Celsius. Again, the climate change zombies say it's our fault, but how is left up to the imagination.
Another study reviewed prior efforts to reconstruct global temperatures over the last millennium, and found that temperature fluctuations over this time period have in fact been so great that human intervention could not possibly have caused them.
Of course, many of us have been saying that for years. There's evidence that five hundred years ago, northern France was practically tropical; then we had the "Little Ice Age". Was that our fault too? Or is it just possible that the climate cycle which has been going on for millions of years has not stopped simply because of Humanity's rise to self-importance?
One study says that global cooling may be making a comeback, with the possibility of temperatures in Europe cooling over the next twenty years by an average of 1 degree Celsius. Again, the climate change zombies say it's our fault, but how is left up to the imagination.
Another study reviewed prior efforts to reconstruct global temperatures over the last millennium, and found that temperature fluctuations over this time period have in fact been so great that human intervention could not possibly have caused them.
Of course, many of us have been saying that for years. There's evidence that five hundred years ago, northern France was practically tropical; then we had the "Little Ice Age". Was that our fault too? Or is it just possible that the climate cycle which has been going on for millions of years has not stopped simply because of Humanity's rise to self-importance?
Ah, the sound of windbags in December
Deputy PM Anne "Landslide Annie" McLellan seems to think America is bad. What a horrendous shock.
The unelected second-in-command of our country had the following to say about the American National Rifle Association: "The NRA and their US-style, big-money gun lobby efforts are not welcome here." And I suppose she's used to lobby groups that are poor? Besides, Annie, when exactly did the government gain the right to determine who was welcomed in Canada?
She's mostly worried about the NRA "intervening" in our election. The Canadian Shooting Sports Association asked the NRA for political advice, and it was given; I don't see the problem. And I can't help but notice that there was no problem with half the world chiming in during the last Presidential election.
Meanwhile, Belinda "Jezebel" Stronach decided to attack the Tories on issues of "unity". Well I guess she'd know, wouldn't she?
The woman whose name has become synonymous with defection and betrayal in Canada decided to attack Harper by accusing him of "assaulting" federalism in Quebec. "I didn't work so hard to put the two conservative parties together to have Mr. Harper break apart this country," she said in a speech yesterday. While her humility is fragrant, her honesty is, as usual, locked in a cabinet somewhere screaming to get out. Fact is, Stronach isn't really the type to care about the country or its people, except for the fact that Quebec leaving would mean fewer subjects when she eventually becomes Prime Minister (a dream which we had all better hope doesn't come true).
The unelected second-in-command of our country had the following to say about the American National Rifle Association: "The NRA and their US-style, big-money gun lobby efforts are not welcome here." And I suppose she's used to lobby groups that are poor? Besides, Annie, when exactly did the government gain the right to determine who was welcomed in Canada?
She's mostly worried about the NRA "intervening" in our election. The Canadian Shooting Sports Association asked the NRA for political advice, and it was given; I don't see the problem. And I can't help but notice that there was no problem with half the world chiming in during the last Presidential election.
Meanwhile, Belinda "Jezebel" Stronach decided to attack the Tories on issues of "unity". Well I guess she'd know, wouldn't she?
The woman whose name has become synonymous with defection and betrayal in Canada decided to attack Harper by accusing him of "assaulting" federalism in Quebec. "I didn't work so hard to put the two conservative parties together to have Mr. Harper break apart this country," she said in a speech yesterday. While her humility is fragrant, her honesty is, as usual, locked in a cabinet somewhere screaming to get out. Fact is, Stronach isn't really the type to care about the country or its people, except for the fact that Quebec leaving would mean fewer subjects when she eventually becomes Prime Minister (a dream which we had all better hope doesn't come true).
Election news of the day
A poll came in with 57% of voters saying they're undecided. The majority of those describe themselves as left-wing or moderate. Let's hazard a wild guess at why: they have finally begun to realize that the Liberals are crooks, but on the other hand they still think Conservatives are really Nazi footsoldiers in Tom Cruise facemasks. To those who actually believe the Tory-Nazi connection (and I've met more than a few of you), a message: take your bigotry, your propaganda-induced stupor, and your just plain idiocy, and stick it up your ballot box. Congratulations on being the reason I'm too embarrassed to own a Canadian flag.
The Liberals have committed just shy of 13 billion dollars to defense spending, bringing the total to almost $20 billion within five years. Congratulations, Canada; that'll give us about 200 of the latest fighter planes, not including pilots, ground crew, armament, upkeep, parts, or a place to park them. Meanwhile, the Tories have made a vague promise to increase the defense budget "in magnitude". I should hope so; currently, Canada spends 1.1% of our GDP on defense, next to America's 3.3% and, more frighteningly, Saudi Arabia's 12% and North Korea's 25%. Within NATO, we outpace only Iceland (which has no military and relies completely on the United States for defense) and Luxembourg in percent of GDP spent on defense. The fact that we are positioned next to the United States does not excuse our government from its responsibility to maintain our ability to protect ourselves.
The Tories announced new plans to cut income tax on single-income homes, intending to allow "income-splitting", which would allow a family with a single wage-earner making $60,000 to file taxes as if they had two wage-earners making $30,000 each, thereby putting them in a different income bracket and saving them money. Of course, Canada's "progressive taxation" is a system that needs serious revising in its entirety. But we can't expect miracles.
Harper has announced a pledge to create "special prosecutors" to seek out corrupt politicians. Unfortunately, the deputy leader of the Tories, Peter McKay, contradicted him.
When confronted with the statement that Harper had gained the early lead, Paul Martin responded with "You must be looking at a different campaign than I've been looking at." It seems Martin remains as observant as ever he was during his time as Finance Minister.
We have received actual documentation of airborne pigs and Satan ordering an Eskimo outfit from Amazon.com as yesterday NDP leader Jack Layton reversed his position on healthcare, promising to stop public money from flowing into private healthcare but not to shut down private clinics. He says that private clinics are a "fundamental aspect" of the health-care system and there isn't much that can be done to remove them. Hardly a rousing endorsement, but a fascinating development.
The Bloc Quebecois wants the Liberals to "disappear" in Quebec. Sounds like a good idea to me…I'd like to see them disappear everywhere.
The Liberals have committed just shy of 13 billion dollars to defense spending, bringing the total to almost $20 billion within five years. Congratulations, Canada; that'll give us about 200 of the latest fighter planes, not including pilots, ground crew, armament, upkeep, parts, or a place to park them. Meanwhile, the Tories have made a vague promise to increase the defense budget "in magnitude". I should hope so; currently, Canada spends 1.1% of our GDP on defense, next to America's 3.3% and, more frighteningly, Saudi Arabia's 12% and North Korea's 25%. Within NATO, we outpace only Iceland (which has no military and relies completely on the United States for defense) and Luxembourg in percent of GDP spent on defense. The fact that we are positioned next to the United States does not excuse our government from its responsibility to maintain our ability to protect ourselves.
The Tories announced new plans to cut income tax on single-income homes, intending to allow "income-splitting", which would allow a family with a single wage-earner making $60,000 to file taxes as if they had two wage-earners making $30,000 each, thereby putting them in a different income bracket and saving them money. Of course, Canada's "progressive taxation" is a system that needs serious revising in its entirety. But we can't expect miracles.
Harper has announced a pledge to create "special prosecutors" to seek out corrupt politicians. Unfortunately, the deputy leader of the Tories, Peter McKay, contradicted him.
When confronted with the statement that Harper had gained the early lead, Paul Martin responded with "You must be looking at a different campaign than I've been looking at." It seems Martin remains as observant as ever he was during his time as Finance Minister.
We have received actual documentation of airborne pigs and Satan ordering an Eskimo outfit from Amazon.com as yesterday NDP leader Jack Layton reversed his position on healthcare, promising to stop public money from flowing into private healthcare but not to shut down private clinics. He says that private clinics are a "fundamental aspect" of the health-care system and there isn't much that can be done to remove them. Hardly a rousing endorsement, but a fascinating development.
The Bloc Quebecois wants the Liberals to "disappear" in Quebec. Sounds like a good idea to me…I'd like to see them disappear everywhere.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
The human see-saw dips back to the right
The Chameleon has done it again. Red Tory one day, true blue the next.
Stephen Harper announced yesterday his plans for the Canadian legal system. Among the several promises he made: increased minimum sentences for drug trafficking, refusal to reintroduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana, and the closing of "safe-injection" sites across the country.
The Liberals tried to counter by saying that the Opposition parties, by forcing the upcoming election, essentially killed eight bills that would have strengthened the legal system. In truth, though, it seems doubtful the Liberal party would have introduced even one tough crime law in the average three-month span, let alone 8. But even if they're telling the truth, how tough would these laws really have been? The Liberals have been talking about decriminalizing marijuana and prostitution for years - with the necessity of keeping the NDP on their side, these supposed crime bills would've been just this side of completely useless.
Of course, the Tories will still leave our legal system far short of where it should be. A true justice system is one in which the punishment fits the crime - in other words, one which includes things like the death penalty. But we'll see some improvement under the Conservatives - that is, if Stephen Harper, the spinning color wheel of Canadian politics, doesn't slide left again tomorrow.
Stephen Harper announced yesterday his plans for the Canadian legal system. Among the several promises he made: increased minimum sentences for drug trafficking, refusal to reintroduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana, and the closing of "safe-injection" sites across the country.
The Liberals tried to counter by saying that the Opposition parties, by forcing the upcoming election, essentially killed eight bills that would have strengthened the legal system. In truth, though, it seems doubtful the Liberal party would have introduced even one tough crime law in the average three-month span, let alone 8. But even if they're telling the truth, how tough would these laws really have been? The Liberals have been talking about decriminalizing marijuana and prostitution for years - with the necessity of keeping the NDP on their side, these supposed crime bills would've been just this side of completely useless.
Of course, the Tories will still leave our legal system far short of where it should be. A true justice system is one in which the punishment fits the crime - in other words, one which includes things like the death penalty. But we'll see some improvement under the Conservatives - that is, if Stephen Harper, the spinning color wheel of Canadian politics, doesn't slide left again tomorrow.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Dude, where's my party?
I retract what I said yesterday. The Conservatives actually might manage a majority government. How? By compromising their positions, of course.
The announcement came down from on high just yesterday: Stephen Harper will fight Alberta's "Third Way" and any attempt to introduce private healthcare into our destitute medical system. This officially moves Harper down from "good guy" to "lesser of two evils". One wonders what other plans he has to attack both Alberta and common sense. This is exactly why I cautioned against thinking Western alienation would end under a Tory government. If they'll pander to socialists to get into power then you can bet they'll keep doing it to stay in power. And as "my" party's principles go down the proverbial drainpipe, I wonder whether or not I should cancel that lawn sign request.
I guess it was to be expected, but I had hoped we could get through this election without the Tories turning into politicians.
The announcement came down from on high just yesterday: Stephen Harper will fight Alberta's "Third Way" and any attempt to introduce private healthcare into our destitute medical system. This officially moves Harper down from "good guy" to "lesser of two evils". One wonders what other plans he has to attack both Alberta and common sense. This is exactly why I cautioned against thinking Western alienation would end under a Tory government. If they'll pander to socialists to get into power then you can bet they'll keep doing it to stay in power. And as "my" party's principles go down the proverbial drainpipe, I wonder whether or not I should cancel that lawn sign request.
I guess it was to be expected, but I had hoped we could get through this election without the Tories turning into politicians.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Don't get your hopes up
So we've got an election coming up. I'm happy it happened, and it's a milestone to be sure, but don't hold your breath: the Liberal propaganda machine is in full swing and the Eastern predilection for leaving one's brain behind on voting day is likely to continue. Assuming that it's unlikely the NDP, Greens, or Bloc will be able to take the government, we have four basic options.
Option 1: Conservative majority. This, to me, seems unlikely. If it does happen, however, we will see drastic changes within the federal government system. The Conservatives have already promised a reduction in the GST and the end of the Wheat Board, and they are also likely to introduce a Triple-E Senate and other democratic reforms. However, we should remember that even under a Conservative government, Alberta's problems will not go away. Ontarian Conservatives (an oxymoron in my book) may not care as much about the West as we would hope.
Option 2: Conservative minority. This is a horrible scenario. The Tories will not form an alliance with the Greens, Liberals, or NDP. If they ally themselves with the Bloc, they will lose any semblance of support. If they fail to form any sort of alliance, they will be thrown out in a non-confidence vote within months, leading to either another Conservative government (likely another minority) or a return to the Liberals.
Option 3: Liberal minority. Nothing changes. This is even worse than option 2. Nothing will change under a continued Liberal minority; they will continue to make deals with the NDP and push themselves even further left.
Option 4: Liberal majority. This is perhaps the best option as far as the Alberta independence movement is concerned. There are many who are tired enough of Liberal rule that if they finally realize nothing will change, they will decide it is time to leave. Strangely enough, a part of me is hoping for this outcome (it would certainly be better than the nothing that would happen in option 2 or option 3).
I would also like to make a personal appeal to those of you in the United States. If any of you have friends, relatives, acquaintances, or fifth-grade teachers in Canada, call them up and tell them to vote Conservative. You may think it doesn't affect you; you're wrong. A Tory government in Canada will benefit America in the following ways:
-Increased trade and decreased taxes/duties
-A more cooperative attitude towards border control
-More ability and willingness to participate in the defense of North America
-The possibility of military support overseas
-Fewer bigoted Members of Parliament expressing their hatred of the United States in national media
-More stringent immigration procedures to help prevent terrorists from using us as safe harbor
-A stronger internal economy leading to a stronger North American market
-Reduced controls on agriculture, opening up entire new industries to international trade
-Fewer controls on "cultural materials", increasing the market for American music, movies, and TV shows
-Loosened controls on exportation of Alberta's oil, likely lowering fuel prices in the United States
See? It matters more than you think. And that's just what I could come up with in a few minutes. So if you can do anything to help the fight from your side of the border, please do.
Option 1: Conservative majority. This, to me, seems unlikely. If it does happen, however, we will see drastic changes within the federal government system. The Conservatives have already promised a reduction in the GST and the end of the Wheat Board, and they are also likely to introduce a Triple-E Senate and other democratic reforms. However, we should remember that even under a Conservative government, Alberta's problems will not go away. Ontarian Conservatives (an oxymoron in my book) may not care as much about the West as we would hope.
Option 2: Conservative minority. This is a horrible scenario. The Tories will not form an alliance with the Greens, Liberals, or NDP. If they ally themselves with the Bloc, they will lose any semblance of support. If they fail to form any sort of alliance, they will be thrown out in a non-confidence vote within months, leading to either another Conservative government (likely another minority) or a return to the Liberals.
Option 3: Liberal minority. Nothing changes. This is even worse than option 2. Nothing will change under a continued Liberal minority; they will continue to make deals with the NDP and push themselves even further left.
Option 4: Liberal majority. This is perhaps the best option as far as the Alberta independence movement is concerned. There are many who are tired enough of Liberal rule that if they finally realize nothing will change, they will decide it is time to leave. Strangely enough, a part of me is hoping for this outcome (it would certainly be better than the nothing that would happen in option 2 or option 3).
I would also like to make a personal appeal to those of you in the United States. If any of you have friends, relatives, acquaintances, or fifth-grade teachers in Canada, call them up and tell them to vote Conservative. You may think it doesn't affect you; you're wrong. A Tory government in Canada will benefit America in the following ways:
-Increased trade and decreased taxes/duties
-A more cooperative attitude towards border control
-More ability and willingness to participate in the defense of North America
-The possibility of military support overseas
-Fewer bigoted Members of Parliament expressing their hatred of the United States in national media
-More stringent immigration procedures to help prevent terrorists from using us as safe harbor
-A stronger internal economy leading to a stronger North American market
-Reduced controls on agriculture, opening up entire new industries to international trade
-Fewer controls on "cultural materials", increasing the market for American music, movies, and TV shows
-Loosened controls on exportation of Alberta's oil, likely lowering fuel prices in the United States
See? It matters more than you think. And that's just what I could come up with in a few minutes. So if you can do anything to help the fight from your side of the border, please do.
A funny story from Ottawa
So my dad's in Ottawa at a conference in Ottawa right now, and had an interesting story for me tonight. He and eleven of his compatriots were meeting in a restaurant somewhere in Ottawa, and the four that decided to walk had just walked in, greeted by my father with "where've you been", when one Mr. Jean Chretien walks in right behind them. And without missing a beat my dad (in true Alberta fashion) says to his friends "and where's my gun when I need it?"
The rest of the group was cracking up for a half hour. Then they notice that all the waiters seem rather on edge. After inquiring, they discover that while Chretien is eating downstairs, Justice Gomery is having dinner upstairs!
Unfortunately, as far as we know, they didn't run into each other. Too bad. Might've come to some pretty hilarious blows.
The rest of the group was cracking up for a half hour. Then they notice that all the waiters seem rather on edge. After inquiring, they discover that while Chretien is eating downstairs, Justice Gomery is having dinner upstairs!
Unfortunately, as far as we know, they didn't run into each other. Too bad. Might've come to some pretty hilarious blows.
subscribe
