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November 6, 2008

Reader Tips

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SDA Late Nite Radio. Tonight, for your delectation and pursuant to our Wednesday night comedy show, here is Mr. Magoo performing Magoo's Buggy (1961, 4:23).

Your Reader Tips are, as always, welcome in the comments.

Posted by Vitruvius at November 6, 2008 12:01 AM
Comments

A parody of the events? Perfect!

Posted by: Bec at November 5, 2008 11:17 PM


http://www.anncoulter.com

sums 'er up today.

B.D.S.
remember Bush Derangement Syndrome?
funny how it can translate to... Barack Derangement Syndrome.

Posted by: marc in calgary at November 5, 2008 11:55 PM

The market is crashing, sell quick!

Hope you can get some change back on your investment.

Posted by: dinosaur at November 6, 2008 12:19 AM

Some lunar orbiter facts.
Japan's unmanned orbiter Kayuga in Sept 2007 cost $480 mil.
China's unmanned orbiter in Oct 2007 cost $187 mil.
India's unmanned orbiter Chandrayaan in Oct 2008 cost $79 mil.
As well about 1000 Indian scientists worked on the project for 4 years.

India plans for an astronaut in space by 2014 and a manned mission to the moon by 2020.

In contrast, Liberalvision in Canada spent $2.0 billion on a questionable, and many say useless, paper shuffling gun registry.
And Liberalvision in Canada also spent over $300 million brownbagging it on the Adscam corruption.

See, this is how a country falls down in the world when they are run by touchy, feely, social planners.
Our doors are getting blown off.

Posted by: rockyt at November 6, 2008 12:25 AM

Ottawa swoops in with climate change offer.

Globe and mail...

http://tinyurl.com/6jbk92


November 5, 2008 at 10:27 PM EST

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is proposing to strike a joint climate-change pact with president-elect Barack Obama, an initiative that would seek to protect Alberta's oil sands projects from potentially tough new U.S. climate-change rules by offering a secure North American energy supply.

In the comments...

Pamphleteer . from Canada writes: Remember when you were a kid and you had that cooler, slightly better off friend with a nicer house, more laid back parents and better food? Then you had to come home to what comparatively looked like crap --this is what it feels like to be Canadian now after Obama got elected. (Oh my ribs!)


Posted by: Glenn at November 6, 2008 12:39 AM

Here's some more trash from the left wing, this time courtesy of Linda McQuaig in Tuesday's Toronto Star.

She writes of the "immense damage done by the neo-conservative revolution" of Reagan and Thatcher, a "vicious economic revolution", and that the current economic meltdown has "exposed the deep flaws of unbridled capitalism".

One of the great tragedies of our age is that people believe this kind of swill because they don't have the analytical skills to realize it's false (a failure of public education). The Reagan-Thatcher reforms were much less than half-hearted, with maybe a whole two or three per cent of government cut back, and "unbridled capitalism" hasn't been seen in North America for over a century. It was regulations that caused the current crisis -- forced mortgages to people who cannot support them -- and the volume of regulations continues to multiply. Note that the HRCs are full of people who think it should be wrong to "discriminate" on basis of income, which means Canada is wide open to this kind of economic meltdown too. Canadian wages have been stagnant for some decades now, ever since Trudeau expanded "social programs", and all subsequent politicians continue to try to buy votes with them (i.e., bribing people with their own money). One suspects the whole purpose of left-wing economic and social policies is to wreck the country and make it ready for some kind of anti-democratic coup (in the name of a "democratic people's state" of some kind, of course).

McQuaig also takes aim at the notion of "the market as god", when in reality it is socialism, stretching back to the mystic fantasies of Hegel, that replaces God with society, while the workings of capitalism are based on reality.

She says, "Its core belief holds that society is an economic jungle where all advance their own interests. Shunted aside has been the notion of a society as a cooperative effort in which everyone has certain rights as well as responsibilities, and that together we work toward a 'common good'".

What she doesn't say is that societies that were supposedly based on the "common good" ended up slaughtering millions, often for the slighest amount of dissent. The National Post today reported that Fidel Castro apparently has called the US a "parasitical and rapacious empire"; the reality of course is that this malevolent blowhard and his gang of psychopathic minions have been the biggest bunch of parasites in the Americas for five long decades.

A society where individuals look after their own interests and trade with others doing the same is the one that works best, because its fundamental principles are consistent with justice.

Posted by: nv53 at November 6, 2008 2:00 AM

Call me naive or call me crazy but I just visited the Globe and Mail site referenced above and these are KIDS making fools of themselves. Are there no intellectual children left on the left?

WHO is putting this stuff into their minds? No value to their debates.

I am very frightened that my intelligent debates with my kids will be lost amongst the CRAP that I just read. (and have been reading)Unbelievable,truly,Unbelievable!

Posted by: Bec at November 6, 2008 3:00 AM

Avoid earthquake prone locations for the next week or two, I think the times are right for a major earthquake.

If you're an atheist, find some faith fast. The times are right for a Visit.

Posted by: Peter O'Donnell at November 6, 2008 3:07 AM

Earthquakes don't care what you think, Peter.

Posted by: Vitruvius at November 6, 2008 3:21 AM

Dear Kate,

My first exposure to you was a post I read a couple of years ago where you were degrading an intoxicated young man from eastern Canada who had fallen off of a balcony and died. I believe it was from the earlier years of your blog. When his close family members, in their moment of grief stumbled upon your website while searching his name, they let you know how hurtful it was that you had chosen to poke fun at their tragic loss. How could someone be so insensitive and callous I thought, Of course you didn't apologize, because you're not capable of demonstrating humility. It makes you feel weak and insecure. Instead you took it one step further and you continued to degrade their loved ones, telling them how stupid their brother, their son, their friend was....only days after they had lost him.

Since this time I have continued to pop by from time to time, and have also continued to bare witness to the rants of the angry and attention deprived wench that is you. You do not invoke exciting debate. You remind of an obnoxious and pompous girl I knew in grade 7, who needed to cut down others to feel better about herself. Some of us grow up, Kate.

In your psychotic derangement, Kate, you assume that a good human being ends at whether or not they share your political values, which is why it brings me jubilation that I can't adequately articulate, when I say to you these two words: "President Obama". It is with such joy that I rub this in your smug, hateful face. How does it feel, oh how does it feel?

You have lost, and your ideals are far, far away from seeing the light of day again. When Republicans re-emerge, it won't be to put people like you on presidential tickets. It will be Republicans that value academics and institutions like they used to. Joe the plumber (that's not really a plumber) or Sarah Palin will have no place in presidential politics.

Indeed it can be said, Kate McMillian, you are a shallow human being and you truly suck at life. You are a sad stain on humanity.

God help you.

Posted by: sam at November 6, 2008 3:53 AM

Folks, make sure to enroll your male children in sports - contact sports - so they don't end up like sam. In the sporting world we have a saying "act like you've been there before"; you'd think the Obamabots haven't won a thing in their miserable lives the way they are reacting and it's a total tipoff they've never competed in anything beyond hackey sack.

Peter: ixnay on the eligionray, it gets our good friend Vit's dander up like nothing else. He's one of those "end of knowledge\end of history" guys.

Posted by: Legacy Moralist at November 6, 2008 4:39 AM

From this I have deduced that earthquakes are liberals.

Also, looks like Sam has booked his spot in the Elitist Hall of Fame. Well shucks, us uneducated folks will just get back to work now and make the money for youse to retire in comfort, like in grand-daddy's time. C'mon Kate, there's manure to be slung into that there barn.

Posted by: Peter O'Donnell at November 6, 2008 4:42 AM

Sam, you’re still hurting from a girl in grade seven? She needed to cut down others to feel better about herself? And now you come here some 30 or 40 years later to cut someone down?
Are you feeling better?

Most of us at SDA are Realists not Feelerists. You’re living life backwards. Act in such a way that you get the feeling that you’d like, not the other way round.

Posted by: Cal at November 6, 2008 4:50 AM

Support pleading; vote NAFTA, eh? You'll make a killing, eh?
...-

"Anderson said polls show Canadians support Obama over McCain by a 6-to-1 ratio. He said Canadians generally tend to align themselves with the Democratic ...
The Canadian Press"
...-

>>>> "Don't kill NAFTA, Canadians plead"
(TOSun)

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 5:44 AM

So, Sam, how exactly does it feel to be you in day 1004 of a Harper government?

Posted by: AtlanticJim at November 6, 2008 5:55 AM

Arafat's Revenge.
Q:Which foreigner was the most frequent overnight sleeper at the Clinton White House?
A:Yasser Arafat.
...-

"Obama's Jewish Chief of Staff Directed Rabin-Arafat Handshake

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

(IsraelNN.com) Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama's new Jewish Chief of Staff, was active in the Oslo negotiations and choreographed the Rabin-Arafat handshake at the White House.

"It was an emotional moment for him," according to public relations consultant Richard Mintz, who worked with Emanuel. "He would like nothing more than to participate in another peace agreement signing.""
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128261

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 6:42 AM

Ad$Cam Chretien-MartinJr's revenge: Gag Order.
...-

"Globe writer ordered to cease reporting

MONTREAL — A Quebec Superior Court judge yesterday ordered Globe and Mail reporter Daniel Leblanc to cease reporting on negotiations between Ottawa and a firm targeted by a massive federal lawsuit in the sponsorship program.

Mr. Justice Jean-François de Grandpré issued the publication ban even though neither side had requested it, Globe and Mail lawyer Mark Bantey said.

"As far as I'm concerned he had no right to do so, with all due respect, and I will appeal it," Mr. Bantey said."
http://tinyurl.com/69ebsv (globe-mail)
(No Comments)

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 6:49 AM

Magoo's Buggy: priceless! (Forgive the unintended pun ...)

'Takes me back to my grandparents' living room. We all loved Mr. Magoo. Our first daughter's nickname, for the first half-hour after getting out of bed is "Magoo," for obvious reasons.

Thanks, Vitruvius, for the memories!

Posted by: batb at November 6, 2008 7:05 AM


What makes Paul Martin think that we care what his opinion is on varied subjects. Three articles in National Newswatch of his thoughts. How come he's come out from under his rock suddenly when he has been hiding from the House for the past 2 years. Anyone who was elected and gets his pay for doing nothing has no right to expcct the public's ear. I have trouble looking at him let alone reading his thoughts.

Posted by: dolly at November 6, 2008 7:09 AM

Peter O'Donnell: "Also, looks like Sam has booked his spot in the Elitist Hall of Fame."

In a Magoo moment, I thought I saw "Elitist Hell of Fame."

Hey, if the shoe fits ...

Posted by: batb at November 6, 2008 7:21 AM

dolly, right on. Paul Martin is a washed-up has-been who, as far as I can see, hasn't done an honest day's work in the HOC since losing the 2006 election. And what the heck's he been doing in China? Not feathering his own nest? Say it ain't so ...

Posted by: batb at November 6, 2008 7:25 AM

On the other hand Smug Sam, after a few years of the Big Owe, some Democrats may be telling you that the inexperienced Obama has no place in presidential politics either.

Chicago is not known for its 'clean' politics.

BTW, apparently a Facebook group has already started an 'impeach Obama' movement.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, eh?

Posted by: rockyt at November 6, 2008 8:35 AM

Yah gotta love politicians or maybe its just awe at their unbelievable stupidity. After all the pleading of Miller and his politburo to please, please just give our black community more basketball courts and everything will be okay, honest, we have Councillor George Mammoliti wanting the hoops pulled down. George, when he is not on one of his world trips for the good of Toronto, says these basketball courts are used by drug dealers and gangs to get together to play loud music and sell their wares. Who knew!

Moronliti says if there are no courts they will move out of his area and of course become the headache of another councillor, seems fair. Of course if we close down all the courts the Bloods and Crips will obviously move totally out of the city or return to Jamaica. Could be a plan.

Posted by: Dave at November 6, 2008 8:49 AM

Record for shortest honeymoon broken, again. Now the record is 3 hours, 3 minutes.

""The honeymoon period for president-elect Obama is already proving extremely short-lived,".
...-

World stocks plunge as recession fears bite
Yahoo ^ | Nov. 6, 2008

LONDON (AFP) Global stock markets tumbled for a second day running on Thursday as investors shrugged off Barack Obama's election as US president to focus on growing recession fears, traders said.

Europe's main markets were up to four percent lower in late morning trade after Asia saw losses of around seven percent. Wall Street shed five percent overnight and on Thursday there were also sharp losses for Nordic and Gulf share prices.

"The honeymoon period for president-elect Obama is already proving extremely short-lived, with the run of grim US economic data (on Wednesday) highlighting the mammoth task ahead in terms of getting the economy back on its feet," said Mitul Kotecha, an analyst at Calyon investment group."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2126914/posts

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 9:02 AM

What an embarrassment.

Obama wins an election in the US and Canadian lefties think that gives them the signal to stick their heads out of their holes and chirp such idiotic things?

How can one function in such a state?

Small dead animals, indeed.

Synchronicity at work: sam magoo.

Posted by: irwin daisy at November 6, 2008 9:03 AM

Foget the stock markets.
Here is the real crash.
The honeymoon never did get going.
The O honeymoon crashed before it crashed.

Their money is not cash/cheque: It's a "$30 pre-paid Visa [credit] card".

""I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker."

>>>> "They just got here and they're trying to get it organized,""
...-


"Obama campaign workers angry over unpaid wages

Indianapolis - Lines were long and tempers flared Wednesday not to vote but to get paid for canvassing for Barack Obama. Several hundred people are still waiting to get their pay for last-minute campaigning. Police were called to the Obama campaign office on North Meridian Street downtown to control the crowd.

The line was long and the crowd was angry at times.

"I want my money today! It's my money. I want it right now!" yelled one former campaign worker.

A former spokesman for the Obama campaign said 375 people were hired as part of the Vote Corps program and said people signed up to work three-hour shifts at a time. Three hours of canvassing got workers a $30 pre-paid Visa card.

The workers showed up to get their cards Wednesday morning at 10:00 am.

"There was a note on the door saying 1:00 pm and then at 1:20 pm everybody was like why is nobody here. They just got here and they're trying to get it organized," said Heather Richards, a former campaign worker."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2126909/posts

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 9:16 AM

Perhaps of only academic interest after the American surrender on Tuesday.

Dan Green, Saving Afghanistan

Why the Iraq strategy isn’t the answer.

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at November 6, 2008 9:35 AM

Imagine what else Hussein will accomplish when he has actual executive power... and responsibility.

(Via SWJ) Ann Scott Tyson, Combat Brigade Is Cut 6 Weeks Early in Iraq

Gen. David H. Petraeus has decided to reduce the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq from 15 to 14 about six weeks earlier than planned, as a result of dramatically lower violence there, Pentagon officials said yesterday.

"The hope is they can come home before Christmas," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said of the decision...

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at November 6, 2008 9:43 AM

I consider myself much more of an independent (or libertarian) than a conservative because I am much more interested in small (lightweight) government than anything else. I can’t really speak of independents (or libertarians) in the United States but I suspect that if Obama’s win continues to bring the crazies out of hiding the Democrat’s control over the White House and Congress will be very short lived. A lot of people voted against Bush and for History, and now Bush is gone and History has been made so now they have to sell their policies to the American public who is (for the most part) not ‘Progressive’. If the government doesn’t follow a fairly centrist approach to governing the United States their approval rating (across the board) will remain in the crapper.

Posted by: NoOne at November 6, 2008 9:45 AM

One of the best strategies against the progressives is to simply let them talk and act unhindered for awhile. Then, after collecting a number of their "best" quotes and corrupt/stupid ideas, highlight them to the public over and over again.

Reps retained something like 47% of the popular vote despite following one of the most unpopular presidents. The US is still a strong center right country. They simply lost the middle-of-the road vote. They really need to work on their policies and message. They have the so-cons and small government voters as long as they remain true to basic conservative ideals and get rid of Washington corrupted politicians. But they seem to have forgotten where their power to form government resides. It is at Joe the Plumbers address. Middle class, married, skilled and college educated but working taxpayers. Reps will never get the vote of the over-educated and welfare crowd so trying to appeal to these groups is just waster energy. A consistent conservative message, a bit of cutting humor and a more inspiring leadership needs to be found.

Posted by: lynnh at November 6, 2008 10:08 AM

Prominent Professor May Lose Salary for Refusing 'Sham' Sexual Harassment Training


IRVINE, Calif. — A prominent biologist at the University of California, Irvine could be placed on unpaid leave because he refuses to take sexual harassment prevention training.

...

"I even offered to go to jail if the university persisted in persecuting me for my refusal. We Scots are very stubborn in matters of this sort."

http://tinyurl.com/5c4dgh

Posted by: dale at November 6, 2008 10:25 AM

Melanie Phillips at the Spectator says it better than I can,

...What this election tells us is that America voted for change because America is in the process of changing – not just demographically by becoming less white and more diverse, but as the result of a culture war in which western civilisation is losing out to a far-left agenda which has become mainstream, teaching American children to despise the founding values of their country and hijacking discourse by the minority power-grab of victim-culture.

Posted by: Friend of USA at November 6, 2008 10:45 AM

Sam- It's a really bad idea to even read the newspaper when you lose a loved one. Googling the person's name is just asking for more grief. Just look at the stories about Tim MacLean. His family probably couldn't escape the disgusting flood of graphic reports. When someone dies in any manner other than old age, it only takes a day or so for the ghouls to start piling on the dirt. Look at Steve Irwin, it took less than a day for people to start slagging him. There was a terribly nasty post on this site after George Carlin died.

When my brother was killed in the mid sixties, we picked up the paper and cut the news clipping. We listened to the radio for the report. No one ever imagined that something unpleasant would be said. One person we knew made a smart-ass remark, but my sister took her down and beat the living shit out of her. The times are changing.

What most people forget is we've all got it coming. When you speak ill of the dead, you can expect it back in spades. If you make a real habit of it, the payback might extend to your friends and family.

All that being said, what in the hell does this have to do with the US election? How does the election of Obama somehow become payback for being insensitive about a young man's death?

Posted by: dp at November 6, 2008 11:00 AM

Vladimir Socor, Oil Development In Kazakhstan Underscores Significance of Azerbaijan-Georgia Transit Corridor

Effective from November 1, Chevron’s subsidiary TengizChevroil is significantly augmenting oil shipments from Kazakhstan, via Azerbaijan and Georgia, to international markets. This development adds to the evidence that business confidence is returning to the Azerbaijan-Georgia transit corridor, in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war. The U.S. company operates Kazakhstan’s super giant Tengiz onshore field...

In October of this year, TengizChevroil finalized an agreement with the BP-led Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline company (in which Chevron is a minority shareholder) to increase the inputs of Tengiz oil into that pipeline...

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at November 6, 2008 11:13 AM

On the lighter side:

Rabbi Yonason Goldson, Six out of ten isn't bad, is it?

How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism.

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at November 6, 2008 11:17 AM

James Travers TorStar

http://tinyurl.com/5hjr2t


Hard on the heels of the elating news of Obama's triumph comes the sobering reality that Ottawa will struggle to be noticed in Washington. It's not that the government here remains lightly haunted by its irresponsible attempt to tilt U.S. voters to John McCain by leaking an embarrassing Obama NAFTA memo. It's that Stephen Harper's Conservatives are, in significant ways, the last George W. Bush Republicans left standing.


Lawrence Martin On Ugly American @ G&M

http://tinyurl.com/5mfwg9

As part of that accommodation, officials say Mr. Harper could well decide to replace Canadian ambassador Michael Wilson before Mr. Obama takes office in January. While there's no evidence he was at fault, Mr. Wilson was caught up in the so-called NAFTA-gate controversy in which a leaked Canadian diplomatic memo embarrassed Mr. Obama during his primary campaign against Hillary Clinton in Ohio. Mr. Wilson will soon have served three years in the post. The rumour mill has David Emerson, the former foreign affairs minister, as a lead candidate to become the new ambassador.


http://tinyurl.com/5h6ra2 Ottawa Sun

.....Sick days and short-term disability leave are costing the taxpayer-funded CBC over $15 million annually in lost productivity.

Staff working at CBC French television missed 9.7 days of work in 2006-07 while CBC French radio staff missed 8.2 days of work. This is in stark contrast to CBC's English television staff that missed only six days of work that year and CBC's English radio staff who missed even less at 5.9 days.


Thanx to http://bourque.org/ Lots of news happening today.

Posted by: Glenn at November 6, 2008 11:31 AM

You mean the guy who did the swan-dive off a balcony during a drunken "spitting contest?"

Still generates a guffaw. Thanks, sam.

Posted by: Kate at November 6, 2008 11:34 AM

That 15 billion in lost productivity is one third of the proposed CPC arts funding cut, cue the riots.

Posted by: Glenn at November 6, 2008 11:37 AM

"Obama Win Could Spur Holiday Sales"
http://adage.com/article?article_id=132280
...-

Which "holiday"?
This one:
"I'm dreaming of a black Christmas*".
(Apology to I**. Berlin (**Irving)

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 11:46 AM

.. but, PM Harper, here is Obama:

>>> "I mean, I'm not into global warming, either, but, you know, it's a little chilly today. ..."

Oh, Sorry. It's climate change now; not global warming. Sorry.
...-

"Obama Delivers Remarks at a Chester, Pa. Rally - washingtonpost.com
28 Oct 2008 ... Obama Delivers Remarks at a Chester, Pa. Rally .... I mean, I'm not into global warming, either, but, you know, it's a little chilly today. ...
feeds.washingtonpost.com/~r/wp-dyn/rss/politics/index_xml/~3"
...-

"Feds confirm plan to seek climate deal with Obama

CTV.ca - 3 hours ago
With US President George Bush's replacement officially waiting in the wings, Ottawa has opened up about its plans to seek a joint climate-change plan with president-elect Barack Obama"

Posted by: maz2 at November 6, 2008 1:29 PM

Some useful insight to readers unfamiliar with communication strategies - or the base concept of getting others to do what you want them to...

Nov. 4, 2008, will go down in history as the biggest day ever in the history of marketing.

Take a relatively unknown man. Younger than all of his opponents. Black. With a bad-sounding name. Consider his first opponent: the best-known woman in America, connected to one of the most successful politicians in history. Then consider his second opponent: a well-known war hero with a long, distinguished record as a U.S. senator. It didn't matter. Barack Obama had a better marketing strategy than either of them. "Change." Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels was the master of the "big lie." According to Goebbels, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

The opposite of that strategy is the "big truth." If you tell the truth often enough and keep repeating it, the truth gets bigger and bigger, creating an aura of legitimacy and authenticity.

http://adage.com/columns/article?article_id=132237

Posted by: hardboiled at November 6, 2008 2:00 PM

maz2- Not Black Christmas! It's Kwanzaa, pilgrim!

Posted by: Gerry Atric at November 6, 2008 2:02 PM

You mean the guy who did the swan-dive off a balcony during a drunken "spitting contest?"

So some idiot does that then the family searches the net for his name and is upset with what they find? You know where he gets the stupidity from.

Sam's very mean spirited methinks.

Posted by: dinosaur at November 6, 2008 2:54 PM

Uh oh. The hangover this will bring is going to be a doozy. Hopefully, the City has the silverware hidden...

Thu, November 6, 2008
Vancouver candidate confirms Olympic loan

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — Vancouver city officials have approved a $100-million loan to complete the Olympic athlete’s village project, which is struggling for financing in the aftermath of the U.S. banking crisis.

CBC reports that Vancouver city councillor and mayoral candidate Peter Ladner confirms the Olympic cash to help Millennium Development Corp.

The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that councillors voted to approve the loan at an in-camera meeting on Oct. 14 and Ladner confirmed Thursday the money is from the city property endowment fund.

Questioned about the decision at the start of a mayoral debate, Ladner said the fund is equipped to handle a loan of this size and he’s confident the city can make the loan without handing a crippling debt to Vancouver taxpayers. His rival for the mayor’s seat, Gregor Robertson, agreed the loan should not pose a risk to the city because of solid land values that support the property endowment fund."

The Olympics are kinda like having a crack addicted family member in the home. First, some small change disappears and maybe postage stamps, then some larger amounts and watches, then next thing you know....

Nice to see the land values are securing it. Those values are never subject to volatility (sarc ON)

Posted by: hardboiled at November 6, 2008 3:06 PM

Monte Solberg with a few words that we can all believe in...

http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/11/06/7320671-sun.html

Posted by: Andrew at November 6, 2008 3:19 PM

Thank you, hardboiled for the article. Interesting but I disagree with it.

The author essentially declares that Obama won by virtue of a better 'marketing strategy'. That is, the Democratic Party marketed him more successfully than the Republican McCain campaign, than the Clinton campaign. I don't think so. After all, marketing a product rests in a process of image-making. I think that the image-creation of Obama had a deliberate agenda of delivering him as unconnected with reality.

What happens when your marketing campaign can't deconstruct your connections with actual reality. The Clintons were aligned with the realities of an actual era of 'ups and downs', of failed policies, of increased costs. Hillary was part of the Washington set, which by now is deeply mistrusted. Same with McCain, and he carries the baggage of alignment with the Bush era. [I interject that I strongly support Bush's Middle East policies but that's hardly relevent].

What you had with Obama was an outsider. He had no baggage connected to him. Heck, he wasn't even present most of the time in the Senate. Any time baggage emerged, such as his alliance with the anti-American, racist Wright, his alliance with Ayers and so on - this baggage was rapidly flung off the Obama train. Certainly the MSM was a major ally in this task of removing any and all reality from Obama.

His semantic image of 'change' is informationally empty. It can mean whatever the listener decides it will mean. That's marketing, most certainly.

BUT, his problem now, is that he can't and indeed no-one can 'fill' an empty slogan, Change, with ALL the actual meanings that ALL his voters have ascribed to that term. That's what happens when you set yourself up as a purely fictional person.

So now, the Obama team is scrambling to empty the term, to tell the public that he can't possibly fulfill their interpretation of what his term 'change' meant. He's going to have some unhappy customers out there, when they realize that his verbiage was totally and completely empty.

As the White Queen declared, sometimes she believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. With Obama, now that breakfast has arrived and he's actually sitting at the table, he's going to have to deal with those impossible things.

Posted by: ET at November 6, 2008 3:29 PM

(Via Contentions) Ben Shapiro, Americans Embrace Childish Unity

This election was about one thing and one thing only: Americans’ puerile need for unity through self-congratulatory, cathartic membership in a broad, transformative political movement.

For eight years, Americans have been engaged in hostile politics. And after eight years, Americans were sick of it.

That isn’t to America’s credit. Hostile politics -- hard-fought political conflict over the issues that matter -- is not a bad thing. It is precisely the sort of messy republicanism the founders embraced. Early elections were replete with mudslinging, character assassination, brawls and scandals. They were also replete with some of the most substantive debate on policy ever put before mankind...

Posted by: Charles MacDonald at November 6, 2008 4:44 PM

...cnn beam me up

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/06/hologram.yellin/index.html?iref=werecommend#cnnSTCVideo

Posted by: tomax7 at November 6, 2008 7:02 PM

The original Dear Leader is positively a superman controlling not only his subjects, he controls the sun and basically the environment where he is present.
Have a look.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5101905.ece


Posted by: Lev at November 6, 2008 7:52 PM

Sam should watch this and then tell us about cruelty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDEAYgm0Dv8&eurl=http://michellemalkin.com/2008/11/06/child-abuser-obama-supporting-teacher-bullies-soldiers-daughter/

Posted by: ww at November 6, 2008 8:33 PM

"What happens when your marketing campaign can't deconstruct your connections with actual reality."

No repeat buy.

Posted by: irwin daisy at November 6, 2008 9:14 PM
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