A bunch of us are taking our frustrations with the Ontario government's ever-growing ultra-statist monopoly on liquor sales to a more organized level with www.sellthelcbo.com. Not sure if that's the kind of thing you usually put in your reader tips, but I thought I'd pass it along.

I'm still trying to comprehend how a budget gets passed without a vote in a minority Parliament of all things. Descriptions come to mind; strange; absurd; hilarious etc.
Does anyone ever remember this happenning and can anyone explain in laymans terms "how" it happenned?
I can't decide whether this was brilliant politics on PMSH's part or if Dumbo and the clowns were asleep at the switch as the train mowed them down.
In minority parliaments of recent memory every budget vote was a tense affair with "all hands on deck". I understand that no one has an appetite for an election right now but it seems implausible that Jack, Bill and the Blockhead wouldn't want to stand in their place and register their yea or nay.
It seems that this sets up the possibility for the Block to support the next budget as they didn't have to give assent to this one. Very interesting days ahead. Go PMSH!
Daniel

Since the BC Liberal Government announced the a Gun Amnesty for the month of June, there has been considerable "debate" in the local dalies and radio programs with a distinctively characteristic one-sided flair. Although one columnist in the Vancouver Sun, Stephen Hume writes a column mocking many letter writers for disagreeing angrily with him, no newspaper or radio station dares allow a voice disagreeing with the Provincial Government's plan. It's as if the orchestra is being conducted from the big podium in Victoria. How could I think that?

A tidbit from Stephen Hume's column in the Sun of June 7.

Judging from invective coming my way, last week's column on the national gun registry inflamed
the angry male contingent among The Vancouver Sun's far-flung reader- ship.
Here's a sampling from the verbal firing squad:
"Stupid stupid rabid liberal s**thead."
"Dumb wit."
"Your column is so full of crap that you should have your head examined for loose screws."
"Blah, blah, blah, register your guns. Jews did. Look what the Ger- mans did to them and that is only
one example, of many, that happens to a society that accepts seemingly 'reasonable' gun control laws."
"When something quacks like a ……

Anger is incited by muzzling debate, then the angry are mocked? Hmmm; seems familiar.

Regarding Neil Young, Not sure but if he really cared about Human Rights and that kinda treehugger thing he might want to go to the Middle East and write songs about why there is absolutely no freedom there. Try Iran Neil and see what happens. Maybe Saudi?? No? How about Pakistan or go try living with the Taliban.
Young is an old man who is trying to rekindle a past that doesn't exist. This is not the Viet Nam era. It is completely different and that's what he and his ilk don't get.

Alghabra and Khan in the Globe:

Born in 1946, Mr.Khan arrived in Canada in 1974 having served 7 years in the Pakistani airforce.

Born in 1970(?), Mr. Alghabra arrived in Canada from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the very young age of 19.

Not sure if this got circulated:
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060605fa_fact

Im sorry. I've got to get this off my chest.

I had the unfortunate lack of judgement and tuned into my regional CBC Radio noon hour show. the guest was a professor from Dalhousie and he was other of a report stating that increased spending on security doesnt lead to an increased deeling of being secure. It was a reasonable topic to have in light of the Toronto arrests. What happened next was utterly disgusted. The next four callers ( all regulars as i can tell from the familarity between the hosts)launched the most disgusting diatribe of left wing poop i have ever witnessed. Every copout and rationalization that left-wingers have ever created to explain the rise in extremism was spewed by those 4 caller. The host couldnt or wouldnt stop them from their attack. Inded when she tried to get the show back on topic this Gang of Four turned on her and in the ultimate irony blamed the CBC for spreading this terror in a bid to feeding the "terror industry". Yeesh I as a Canadian taxpayer have to pay for this leftist crap. I nce had hope for the CBC. Not Now . Not Ever again. CUt the funding now and let these left winger pay for the Mother Corp out of their own pocket.

PS
Go to cbc.ca/nooneditionsask and dig for the Real Audio feed. Trust me its disgusting

MSNBC is reporting that Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been reportedly killed by U.S. special forces, say U.S. officials.

Reports: Iraq's al-Qaida chief dead By PATRICK QUINN, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was expected to make an important announcement at a news conference Thursday, amid a report that al-Qaida in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have been killed, his adviser said.

Al-Maliki adviser Adnan al-Kazimi told The Associated Press that he had heard a report that Jordanian terrorism mastermind Abu Musabd al-Zarqawi may have been killed late Wednesday in Baghdad.

But Al-Kazimi said he could not confirm the report.

He said al-Maliki was scheduled to shortly give a news conference along with the top U.S. general in Iraq, Gen. George Casey.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told AP over the phone that "since al-Zarqawi's latest video tape, there was a serious effort in chasing him and detecting his movement. The location (where Zarqawi appeared in the video tape) was pinpointed."

The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004.

The United States had put a $25 million bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden.

In the past year, al-Zarqawi had moved his campaign beyond Iraq's borders, claiming to have carried out a Nov. 9, 2005 triple suicide bombing against hotels in Amman that killed 60 people, as well as other attacks in Jordan and even a rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel.

U.S. forces and their allies had come close to capturing al-Zarqawi several times since his campaign began in mid-2003.

His closest brush may have come in late 2004. Deputy Interior Ministry Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal said Iraqi security forces caught al-Zarqawi near the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah but then released him because they didn't realize who he was.

In May 2005, Web statements by his group said al-Zarqawi had been wounded in fighting with Americans and was being treated in a hospital abroad — raising speculation over a successor among his lieutenants. But days later, a statement said al-Zarqawi was fine and had returned to Iraq. There was never any independent confirmation of the reports of his wounding.

U.S. forces believe they also just missed capturing al-Zarqawi in a Feb. 20, 2005, raid in which troops closed in on his vehicle west of Baghdad near the Euphrates River. His driver and another associate were captured and al-Zarqawi's computer was seized along with pistols and ammunition.

U.S. troops twice launched massive invasions of Fallujah, the stronghold used by al-Qaida in Iraq fighters and other insurgents west of Baghdad. An April 2004 offensive left the city still in insurgent hands, but the October 2004 assault wrested it from them. However, al-Zarqawi — if he was in the city — escaped.

Zed is dead, baby.

Not a good week for the head choppers.

Hope that cockroach is burning in hell right now.
Piss be upon him.

Dave C:

Nice Pulp Fiction reference!

I bow to your trivia greatness! ;-)

On the National tonight, there was one of those "serious" three-guest panel discussions about the larger implications for us as Canadians of the recently apprehended terrorist cell.

Jeffrey Reitz of U of T was utterly platitudinous; he kept vaguely on course by reiterating textbook '90's era Liberal crap, which he couldn't seem to connect directly to the questions asked, relying instead on trigger-words.

Haroon Siddiqui of the Toronto Star seemed to consider that he had official national permission to nay-say and tut-tut anything politically incorrect or interesting coming from Irsad Manji, who was eloquent but without worthy interlocuters. Siddiqui seemed ready to fight for the multi-culti/LPC values he insists upon, such as that the west needs to look at itself, and that it is not permitted to look elsewhere. He seems to have memorized the LPC/multi-culti/Canadian values rulebook. "No, no, you can't say that -- don't even start -- and I can say this. These are the rules of multi-culturalism".

The whole exercise was that familiar Liberal-values reach-around. We know we will never see, say, a Mark Steyn on one of these panels; what's odd is how we're past the point of even asking why not. CBC is part of Liberal Canada, its own church, with its own narrow teachings and it delusions of supremacy.

Remind me again though why everyone in the country who isn't a member has to pay for it?

I like Neil Young's music.

I like much of Sting's music.

I've always been a Beatles fan.

But they're all successful, wealthy musicians.

Enjoy the music and dismiss the political commentary.

If there's any group on the face of the earth that is the least affected with the consequences of "Living with War," it's surely these guys.

Though I understand the Dixie Chicks are apparently not getting quite the level of ticket sales they'd like these days.

Poor dears.

Cause and effect? in the "oil markets"?

Z-man crashes? oil prices drop somewhat?

Pure speculation by Bloomberg, no?

Oil Extends Decline After Al-Qaeda Leader Is Killed in Iraq
Bloomberg - 24 minutes ago
June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell after the leader of al- Qaeda in Iraq was killed, prompting speculation the attacks and sabotage that have curtailed Iraqi oil exports will ease. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was ... google news

"The Beast That Vomits White Men"

Good metaphor. Describes Phil Fontaine/Payola AdScam Martin's Kelowna Accord/Bribe/Payoff Fraud.

Caledonia is also "The Beast That Vomits White Men"

Author: "White Men:

Just spoke with a buddy who is home on his leave from Afghanistan. The Taliban call the LAV III "The Beast That Vomits White Men" because it has proven indestructable and rolls up with a fully auto stablized cannon and dismounts 7 infantry from the back. The Taliban are frustrated out of their minds trying to attack these things.

http://www.voy.com/178771/2141.html

For a report from a MSM type who appears to have his head screwed on properly: Privileged to be Canadian

Monday, February 20, 2006
Terror Camp in Combermere, Ontario and Other Locations in Canada

Continuing my investigation, I've come across information on a specific location inside of Canada of a Jamaat ul Fuqra (JuF) "jamaat", a rural community of Islamists appparently training in terrorism.

The jamaat in question is located in the Madawaska Valley in Combermere, Ontario.

Note that this is just outside of Ottawa!

http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2006/02/terror-camp-in-combermere-ontario-and.html

It's Iggy Ignatieff or Scotty E-Mail Brison for Librano$ Leader. Scotty? Iggy? Unbelievable.

Graham's well-heeled backers prostitute themselves for Graham's backing. Or is it verse-vicea? Yucck.

The disgust for "Hans Off Hans Island" Graham is "palpable".

Librano$ Warning:

"Cut-and-Run" Rae joins with CUPE in allying with Muslim Islamist terrorism.

"Kids'-Piggy Banks-Are-Ours" Volpe allies himself with Rae.

The rest of the "Liberal" rat-pack are at "odds".

Librano$. Warning. $$$

Rae wants early end to Afghan mission
Liberals at odds

John Ivison
National Post

Thursday, June 08, 2006

OTTAWA - The battle lines between Liberal leadership candidates became more defined yesterday after a spokesman for Bob Rae said the former Ontario premier believes Canadian combat troops should be pulled out of Afghanistan next year -- in stark contrast to one of his main competitors, Michael Ignatieff, who last month voted with the Tory government to extend the mission two more years.

"While [Mr. Rae] supports the current mission, he believes that when the combat component expires in 2007, it should not be renewed, and that we have made our contribution with respect to combat," said spokesman Alex Swann.

He added that Mr. Rae believes Canada should focus its military, aid and diplomatic resources on reconstruction and rebuilding Afghanistan.

"We should ensure we understand whether any such efforts affect our ability to contribute to resolving other troubling situations, such as in Darfur," Mr. Swann said.

Mr. Rae is the first leadership candidate to call for combat troops to be withdrawn, although Joe Volpe has said Canada should return to its predominantly peacekeeping duties rather than engage Taliban insurgents in combat. ...

The issue is already evolving into a defining one for the party. Some Liberals say their leadership choice is now limited to Mr. Ignatieff or Scott Brison, the only two candidates who voted to extend the current mission, while a number of caucus members have said privately they cannot now vote for Mr. Ignatieff, the perceived front-runner.

Last night, Bill Graham, the interim Liberal leader, hosted a garden party at Stornoway, his official residence, for well-heeled backers in the Laurier Club, whose members donate more than $1,000 to the party. One member said he intended to bring up the issue of Afghanistan.

"If Bill Graham had any brains he would've stood up in the House before that vote and said, 'Thank you, Prime Minister, for this opportunity for your government to endorse our policy,' " said one Liberal elder. "I'm disgusted at the lack of leadership Graham exercised."

"It was a big tactical mistake. There was some concern that it came so quickly and some say Harper purposefully didn't consult so we'd split. But there is no excuse for this," said another. "Louis St. Laurent in his Principles of Foreign Policy speech in 1947 talked about the need to defend democracy and liberty and freedom around the world.... Did we just discard all that? The so-called Liberal left has always been staunch supporters of NATO and the UN. [To pull out] would leave a huge gap in our treaty obligations."
http://www.paulding.net/bin/url.cgi/13307.10

Might be a good time to invest in Kinsgton, Ont. From Kathleen Harris, ottawasun.com:

"Canada's prison guards will pocket huge pay raises of up to 44% if they adopt a tentative deal inked between their union and the federal government.

The contract, which will run until 2010, gives guards an average 30% pay hike, awarding the highest-paid a bump to $70,477 from $53,137 a year. New recruits will earn $49,571 -- a 44% increase from the current $34,277.
...
Martel credits the Tories for breaking the four-year logjam with the feds, saying the new government's law-and-order agenda brings new respect for the guards who face daily danger from the country's gangsters, killers and robbers."

ottsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2006/06/08/1619891-sun.html

O Canada, Art And Purpose

"How did it come to pass that Canada became fertile ground for home grown terrorism?"

"Still, the question has to be asked. How did terror become an acceptable form of political expression among second and even third generations of Canadians?

We believe the answer is simple: Canada has come to lack a defined sense of purpose and a defined direction. That once great nation has abandoned it's principles in favor of multicultural political correctness.

Great nations are defined by their sense of purpose. America is about freedom. This great experiment in democracy has served as a blueprint for nations in search of the same. The influence America has had on democracy is evident in all the free nations of the world. Americans may be critical at times of their governments, but they all cherish their freedom. While it is true that there are those who believe that freedom- and the vote- should only be available to those who agree with them, thankfully, they are only a fringe minority. There are still others who believe we should abandon democratic allies and instead, support terrorist and avowed racist regimes. They are an even smaller, fringe minority.

Great nations are also defined by what they stand for. Great nations will not allow political correctness or ideologies that have been watered down, to mar the principles on which they stand.

No great nation has ever sustained itself by highlighting the ideologies or nations they hate. Only small, pitiful and failure-states do that.

That is a truth Canadians must face." ...

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

That nation has become a bastion of leftism and what is mistakenly referred to as liberal ideology. Canada is not a part of the allied coalition in Iraq and in fact, the previous long term Liberal government had been quite steadfast in that country's opposition to the war. Canadian public opinion, notconcerned with diplomatic niceties, is notably anti American, war or no war.

So how come terror came to Canada? How is it that a country that is so anti American, found herself at risk from homegrown terror, not just once, but at least 12 times in the past few years?

The pundits will opine endlessly, but in fact, it has become clear that terror and the threat of terror has as much to do with blackmail as it does with politics. ...
http://sigcarlfred.blogspot.com/2006/06/o-canada-art-and-purpose.html
via newsbeat 1.com

Re Mark Kelley's CBC piece on multiculturalism in Britain and Holland (News Junkie Canada):

Canadians have been asked how they feel about multiculturalism by a questionnaire, I believe sent out by Statistics Canada a number of years ago.

The consensus was: the majority of Canadians do not want to be known as "hyphenated Canadians," particularly those who are immigrants. They want to be known simply as Canadians.

"Multiculturalism" has been the screen behind which the Librano$ have hidden (and the Dippers and Red Tories, with the MSM hot on their heels) to justify massive immigration to bloat the Lib electoral rolls and to squash Judeo-Christian values in Canada.

Ironically, on the second point *** deep-sixing the Judaic and Christian religions in Canada, which are largely responsible for our democratic principles and laws and for the establishment of most, if not all, of our public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and universities *** most immigrants would not question Canadians' faith. They understand faith (look at the Muslims).

On the other hand, the atheists and secular humanists amongst us, who are the recipients of unprecedented democratic freedoms in Canada based, remember, on Judeo-Christian values, don't understand faith and, additionally, are highly suspicious of and bear a deep animosity towards Judaism and Christianity.

Sadly, it's clear that they've done a good job mine sweeping Canada with the multiculti broom. At this point, 20% of Canadians regularly attend synagogue, mosque or church, which of course means that 80%, a vast majority of Canadians do not.

Given that at least the Judeo and Judeo-Christian faiths are a "vaccine" against the kind of lawless hooliganism and terrorism we're experiencing in our communities in Canada, (Jews and Christians do not detonate bombs, go on suicide missions, or plan such missions) *** in Canada, I'm not making this up *** it's inexplicable why the lefties want to eradicate the faith element in our country, except that they've bought "the opiate of the people" myth and, frankly, IMHO are "useful idiots" and duped dunces for having done so.

Al-Zarqawi is dead. On the CBC 6:00 a.m. radio news, the commentator called this an "alleged victory".

The sooner the CBC gets axed, the better. As my uncle used to say, "What a crew"!

Good review, EBD. You forgot to mention how Siddiqui tried to link Harper to Bush with every utterance.

Did ElJazeera-CBC report the applause?

Down with ElJazeera-CBC. Cut off ElJazeera-CBC's funding. The CBC's money comes from Canadian taxpayers; cut off the money.

CBC supports the "evil radical Islamic monster".

Fade the CBC to black. ...

"Loud applause broke out as al-Maliki, flanked by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told reporters at a news conference that "al-Zarqawi was eliminated."

A Fitting End To An Evil Enemy...
News Sarasota, AP, DOD ^ | June 8, 2006 | Matt Bruce

Posted on 06/08/2006 4:19:46 AM PDT by Matt Bruce

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Killed In Air Raid...

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NS/AP) -

I woke up early, as I do every weekday morning, around 0330 ET to the news that al-Zarqawi had been killed in an air strike in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, in a heavily forrested area...

His own al-Qaida people, along with Iraqi Civilians and Jordanians helped to pinpoint where this evil man was hiding...

This tells me one very important thing right off the bat, the Iraqi people have had enough of those horrible suicide bombings, hostage taking and killing incidents that al-Zarqawi was famous for doing...

In fact, this evil radical Islamic monster has been personally responsible for thousand's of deaths of innocent Iraqi men, women and children ever since 2002 when it was first known, al-Zarqawi was in Iraq preparing for the invasion of Iraq from Kuwait by U.S. led Coalition forces..
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645448/posts

Regarding Zed being dead ....

U-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu! I sez as I hands out candy!

new kid on the block said: "They want to be known simply as Canadians."

John Diefenbaker said that also: I am a Canadian.

Hail To The Chief.

I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.
John Diefenbaker (From the Canadian Bill of Rights, July 1, 1960)
http://www.allgreatquotes.com/canada_day_quotes9.shtml

"I am not a Canadian first".

She is the spawn of the evil Pierre Trudeau. She pinned a rose on his lapel, she says.

The Sick Rose

O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm.
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
William Blake (1757-1827)

The dark side has captured this woman.

This woman is a traitor to Canada.

The RCMP must arrest this woman. She is an accomplice to Muslim Islamist terrorism. ...

Wife of terror suspect went from troubled Halifax teen to serene Muslim, friend says

By CHRIS LAMBIE Staff Reporter
Excerpt:
On another website, Ms. Jamal said: "I am not a Canadian first. I am a MUSLIM first, and then a Scottish descendant, seventh-generation Canadian."

Ms. Jamal went on to say she "once pinned a rose on the lapel of the then-newly elected prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and I once represented the Canadian military in a NATO Tattoo in Stuttgart, Germany, as a drummer (in a mass band)."

Those aren’t her only claims to fame.
...
http://www.herald.ca/Front/508784.html
via nealenews

Via Instapundit...

Top 11 Things That Anti-War Protesters Would Have Said At the Normandy Invasion on D-Day (Had There Been Anti-War Protesters At Normandy)

merk1821 - I heard that too - it's why I so often end up switching to infomercials rather than listen to CBC.

A caller to the Roy Green Show just stated that there is a post on the SN website in support of the Muslim terrorists arrested last week--I do not have the site--does anyone out there have it?

Hey NewKid....

Ann Coulter said it best...

We've finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism, and they don't want to fight it. They would, except it would put them on the same side as the United States.

What a dilemma....the left has been at war with our christian based free market system for decades, they are at war with all religion, but to continue this war against Islam means they have to support the good old U. S. of A.

Poor lefties, what to do, what to do....!

Here's another thought, who will they support, when Islamists start beheading Gays...
Will they support Islam against Gays or will they support the Gays against Islams religious
discrimination.

Poor lefties, what to do, what to do....!

There's a link on Nealenews this morning; The Price of 'Nice' for Canada: Goldberg.

A good op-ed by Jonah Goldberg of L.A. Times. He says; " Canada is arguably the most deluded industrialized nation in the world. Because elite Canadians think the U.S. is the font of the world's problems, they think being different than the U.S. and sucking up to the United Nations will buy them grace on the cheap. They claim to be "a nation of peacekeepers," but they rank 50th among U.N. peacekeeper nations in the number of troops sent."

While reading it I was reminded of Anne McLellans' reflections Tuesday about how "Canada has lost it's innocence" and we no longer live a "blessed existence". She claims essentially that she always knew that we weren't immune and so should Canadians have known. She figures she did her best to psycologically prepare us, without scaring us.

Yeah right Anne. She and her party feel smugly superior to Bush and Americans in general and thought if we didn't take a stand we wouldn't be targets here or elsewhere. I don't think they fully comprehended, and still don't, that the 17 arrested and charged are home-grown radicals. Ingrates who, as a group (note to lawyers, judges and juries), had no compunction about biting the hand that feeds them or taking their brothers and sisters with them. No respect for life, no respect for democracy. No respect for our tolerance and our willingness to live and let live.

Daniel, The conservatives had a good day yesterday "Thanking all opposition for their unanimous support of the budget bill". As well PMSH had a great time in regards to daycare rubbing in the fact that with the passing of this bill the daycare program will be enacted and every child will be receiving $1200 not paying $5400 to the Liberal leadership race. The conservatives then all started chanting Joe, Joe, Joe. PMSH actually got this dig in twice. I just love this man's sense of humor. It seems that the opposition parties are alittle disorganizied at the moment and PMSH is keeping them off balance. PMSH keep up the good work.

Tories to kill long-gun listing

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day plans to table legislation this month to kill the long-gun registry, and he's confident a majority of MPs will vote to abolish the program. canoewnews

Gunney99 -- I was one of the people who emailed Stephen Hume after his original article. Obviously he touched a nerve with a lot of people.
I emailed him after he shared some of the edited replies he got (not mine -- I think I was too polite). His reply --"My, my, aren't you a pleasant little fellow". I look forward to more good natured discussion with him.

Here's some more good news by way of Nealenews.com :

Dixie Chicks tour struggling

Initial ticket sales for the Dixie Chicks' upcoming tour are far below expectations and several dates will likely be canceled or postoned.

Check out Debris Trails' latest post. Well thought out, and worth passing on to all.

http://cjunk.blogspot.com/2006/06/supporting-our-troops-with-logic-part.html

"Story by:CTV.ca News Staff" says Chretien's Librano$ paypal will "repay" "funds he allegedly spent improperly".

Allegedly??? CTV would say: Lenin and Stalin were allegedly Communist tyrants and murderers. Stalin allegedly killed 50,000,0000 people.

Allegedly, with the imputation that Lavigne is being smeared, and is not a Librano$. CTV.ca is a fellow-traveller of the Librano$ $$$

Liberal Senator will pay back $23,500 in misspent funds

Following an investigation by an internal Senate committee, Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne will repay more than $23,000 in funds he allegedly spent improperly on travel .... ctv.ca
via nealenews

Maz2 is slowing down. Here is a headline and a link he missed: "Attacks are directly tied to our mission in Afghanistan, terrorism expert says."

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1def9854-e5ba-4e75-986f-26553b43ea27&k=13516

There's a superb article by Jonah Goldberg in the latimes. com. 'The price of nice for Canada'. Neale news has it.

"Canada is arguably the most deluded industrialized nation in the world'.

Go read it.

Ryerson University is defending its decision to grant Margaret Somerville an honourary degree. Apparently people were "outraged" that the university would dare honour someone who opposed same-sex marriage.

Here's the e-mail the President sent out in the university's defence:

"The university has received questions and comments from some members of the community, and from the media, regarding the decision to award an honorary doctorate to Professor Margaret Somerville, who is arguably Canada's most internationally recognized legal ethicist. Some community members have expressed unease and concern about some of Professor Somerville's activities and positions on various social issues, including same-sex marriage.

I want to share with the community the university's position, and what I have told the media:

1. The decision about who receives honorary degrees from Ryerson University is made by the Awards & Ceremonials Committee of Academic Council. The selection of Professor Somerville as an honorary degree recipient was subject to the usual nominating and selection procedure of the committee.

2. Awarding an honorary degree to Professor Somerville is not meant to be hurtful or disrespectful to members of the Ryerson community, the public, and the gay and lesbian community. Ryerson is an open and tolerant community that celebrates diversity in all forms. The university completely supports equality and the legal rights of individuals to live free of discrimination.

3. The committee based its decision on Professor Somerville's internationally recognized scholarship in the area of research ethics in science and medicine. Professor Somerville holds professorships in both the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine at McGill University, and is Founding Director of the McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and the Law. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including honorary degrees from four universities. Her biography follows below, for reference.

4. By its very nature, Professor Somerville's work generates controversy and debate, which are characteristics central to the life of a university. Ryerson has invited Professor Somerville to visit the campus during the upcoming academic year for an open discussion with the community, and she has accepted the invitation. Ryerson is committed to providing this forum for debate.

5. Ryerson has awarded honorary degrees to a wide variety of distinguished Canadian and international figures from all fields: arts, business, science, public service, and communications. The awarding of an honorary doctorate is a recognition of an individual's distinguished achievements in a particular field. It is not an endorsement by Ryerson of that person's activities and positions on specific social issues.

Sheldon Levy
President"

I thought I would touch on the Neil Young stuff. I think people are under the impression that Neil is writing about things he believes in. Neil is in the business of making money. If you look at his career he will do or say whatever he thinks will bring him more cash. A few years ago "Let's Roll" got you some money. Now it is GW is a crook. If a song about starving all the albino mice is a money maker five years from now Young will be there to cash in. Don't take what he says to seriously.

Volpe pressured to quit race
Liberals angered by children's donations
Toronto MP says he won't leave contest
Jun. 9, 2006. 05:26 AM
LES WHITTINGTON
OTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA—Joe Volpe is facing increasing pressure from other Liberals to quit the party's leadership race in the wake of the kids' funding uproar.

Many Liberals expressed anger and exasperation that the Eglinton-Lawrence MP's acceptance of $27,000 in donations from the children of drug firm executives has revived the corruption issue that damaged the party in the last election.

His critics are not mollified by Volpe's decision to return the donations and the desire for him to quit the race is likely to be an issue among party members as they gather in Winnipeg on the weekend for the first leadership debate.

"This is not doing anyone in the party any good," said MP John McKay (Scarborough-Guildwood), who is supporting Toronto MP and former academic Michael Ignatieff in the leadership contest that culminates in Montreal the first weekend in December.

"Some people are disappointed, but the race must go on, and there are lots of candidates in this race," said Maurizio Bevilacqua, the Vaughan MP who is vying for his party's top job.

"More than anything, people are saying: `Haven't we learned our lesson from Gomery?'" said a senior Liberal who is backing former Ontario premier Bob Rae. Justice John Gomery's inquiry produced explosive evidence of Liberal wrongdoing under the ill-fated federal sponsorship program.

Whether Volpe should step down was reportedly a prime topic of conversation on Wednesday night when interim Liberal leader Bill Graham held a garden party for well-heeled party supporters at Stornoway, his official residence.

"Some Liberals have been troubled by it, and some may rethink what they are doing," said Senator David Smith, the co-chair of the Ignatieff campaign, in a reference to the decision by B.C. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal (Newton-North Delta) to leave the Volpe team.

Privately, Liberals were more blunt, saying the former cabinet minister should exit the race for the good of the party.

"It's a self-inflicted wound. I don't think what happened was favourable to us, because as a party, it's hard to recover from something like that," said one Liberal closely involved in the contest. The source added that the candidates' fundraising efforts have been made even more difficult by the Volpe controversy.

Asked about pressure to quit, Volpe said "it's fair to say that there are those who have expressed that view to others, and it's come back.

"I'm sorry for the impact that it's had on the party," he said of the fundraising issue. "But I took quick and vigorous action."

Withdrawing now is out of the question, he said. "No way, no way. Absolutely not. It didn't even cross my mind.

"Everybody wishes it hadn't happened because we were going full steam ahead. It looked like we were doing so much better than anybody had ever expected," said Volpe. "You don't like to have a contretemps like this one here." But he said he is still generating support for his leadership bid.

As a result of the Volpe affair, rebuilding the Liberals' ethical image has taken on fresh urgency as 11 candidates ready for tomorrow's debate in Winnipeg.

The candidates' stances on Canada's military action in Afghanistan will also assume more importance in the wake of the recent arrests of alleged terrorists in Toronto. ...
toronto red star