Another busy day. Things should be back up to speed by tomorrow.
Belinda – “Canada’s top political dog”. Who knew?
Another poll goes horribly wrong.
In the worldwide war on Islamist terrorism, who would have guessed one of our strongest allies would be Ethiopia?
Speaking of Somalia – I have a proposal. The next columnist who refers to the United States of America as “the ultimate rogue state” should be required to spend an unescorted year in Somalia (or the Sudan, or Nigeria or North Korea) before ever being allowed to write again.
Brussels Journal;
Régnier applied for and received the status of an invalid from Wallonia’s generous welfare authorities. He consequently receives a welfare check of over €1,000 a month. His three wives are all unemployed. Hence, they each get €800 in unemployment benefits. On top of this the family receives €4,000 in child allowances. This makes a grand total of more than €7,400 a month ($9,700 or £4,960) – all of it provided by Belgium’s taxpayers. All the money matters in the household are taken care of by Serge. His wives are only interested in children. They have told the press that they each hope to have another baby in 2007.
Merry al-Christmas!
Add yours in the comments.
Read below of France, its malevolency towards Canada. Here is the country of Citoyen Kyoto Dion: France.
France is an enemy of Canada.
Liberal leader Dion is a citizen of France.
Dion must choose: France or Canada.
Read more of President Ford, a true friend/ally of Canada.
Long live President Ford.
…-
“Then-French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing was adamant that Canada did not belong and the first Group of Six summit was held in Rambouillet, France, in 1975 without Canadian participation.”
Veteran [Trudeau Liberal] insider recalls how Ford made Canada a G8 country
By ALEXANDER PANETTA
OTTAWA (CP) – Canada’s place of pride as a G8 nation is thanks largely to Gerald Ford, a veteran political insider recalled Wednesday.
The late U.S. president’s actions three decades ago helped secure a spot for Canada in the elite club of world economic superpowers, said Tom Axworthy. Axworthy was an aide to then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau when, against the objections of some of his peers, Ford insisted on a place for Canada.
“We are there because Gerry Ford invited us,” Axworthy said in an interview. …-
cnews
Jeff, Jose, exile,
you know, it’s very strange for an American to hear the US referred as “an empire,” or as a monolithic abstraction.
The US is a democratic republic, and not an empire by any stretch of the imagination. Naturally, since we are a free people, as Canada is, many of our wealthy citizens own properties here and there around the world, but that doesn’t make us an empire.
I think that Americans are very puzzled by people who refer to some of the foreign policy initiatives of particular administrations as “America”.
Down here, when someone talks about America, we feel they are speaking directly to us. I am an American, and so if you’re talking about America, you’re talking to me and everyone I know, and we never fit into your categories.
Reflection: as we elect our president, our senators and representatives through the votes of the people, I think it makes us feel a lot more participatory than a country that has a lot of appointments in places where we would have popular votes.
Even though we technically have 3 branches of government, and the press is sometimes referred to as the 4th branch of government, really there is a 5th branch, and that is the power of the American people.
We are able to put an enormous amount of pressure on our politicians. Our House of Representatives is elected every 2 years, and we do the hiring and firing. I would imagine you should be happy, because with our last election we voted in a lot of conservative Democrats.
The whole point of this missive is simply to say that because of the level of participation and power that American citizens have with our ability to vote for politicians at every level and our grassroots lobbying efforts, we have sufficient power so that when you speak of America you are talking about us, the people.
Now this is imperfect of course. Sometimes “we the people” lose the struggle with powerful interests in Washington, but we win a lot of them as well.
I think that your criticisms are primarily directed at foreign policy initiatives that come out of specific administrations and their State Departments. And the fact is, most of us do not really think of those particular activities as in any way summing up “America” or the “United States.”
I’m an American, and so are all my family and close friends, and we are definitely your friends too.
Read here of the illwill/malevolence of France shown towards Canada by Giscard.
Canadian Liberal Party leader Dion is a citizen of France.
Citoyen Dion must choose between France and Canada.
Read on of the debt Canada owes to the late POTUS Gerald Ford. President Ford chose Canada.
Long live President Ford.
…-
Veteran insider recalls how Ford made Canada a G8 country
By ALEXANDER PANETTA
OTTAWA (CP) – Canada’s place of pride as a G8 nation is thanks largely to Gerald Ford, a veteran political insider recalled Wednesday.
The late U.S. president’s actions three decades ago helped secure a spot for Canada in the elite club of world economic superpowers, said Tom Axworthy. Axworthy was an aide to then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau when, against the objections of some of his peers, Ford insisted on a place for Canada.
“We are there because Gerry Ford invited us,” Axworthy said in an interview.
“I’m not sure many Canadians realize that, but one of the key turning points in our foreign policy is due to this man.”
In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, France spearheaded a new club of democratic leaders who could meet regularly to chat informally about global problems like skyrocketing inflation and energy prices.
Then-French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing was adamant that Canada did not belong and the first Group of Six summit was held in Rambouillet, France, in 1975 without Canadian participation. …- cnews
When I say America is an empire, I am talking about America as an economic and military power, not about the American people. Maybe I could say, for example, “the Bush administration”, but I mean something more than this. I want to talk about the structures and exercise of economic and military power. But I do not mean the people of the United States of America. It’s too bad we don’t have different words for these things and maybe it is important to try to find some.
I won’t reply to everything you say – for example, I think the US, like Canada, is a democracy only in a limited sense – but I do want to say that I have no animosity towards the American people and my criticisms are not directed at them. I think most Americans are good people with good intentions. I know you are our friends and I hope you realize that I am yours too. It’s true that I am a far-left “moonbat” but that doesn’t mean I feel anything but friendship for Americans 🙂
I forgot to mention that my last post was directed to ‘Greg in Dallas’. I’d also like to mention that I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and civility of his post.
You may be mildly amused at suggestions and good wishes for Liberals at: CalgaryGrit.Blogspot.com
Normally a most tolerant Blogsite. But this is a test. = TG
Thanks for that. That’s a very good blog! (No, everybody, I disagree vehemently with the liberals! But I know a good blog when I see it.) The quiz is very witty!
SEVERE STATIC ON THE NDP BLOGGING LINE
As long as McClelland is allowed to head up the Blogging Dippers, I doubt the NDP blogs will ever amount to much. No serious political party would want to be associated with McClelland. It’s a shame, but the rest of the NDP bloggers are suffering as a result. …- (national newswatch)
Here is the left-whinger/moonbat referred to above:
My Blahg » TIME TO SUE
by Robert McClelland. After I wrote my now infamous “Fuck the Jews” post–a post that was not anti-semitic but a discussion on anti-semitism–it became the …-
well hoss you seem intent on rewriting scripture and biology encyclopedias ’cause thats the firt time Ive ever seen it claimed that the imaculate conception landed on the same date as His birth.
If Mary was pregnant during the trip to bethlehem, who or what was she pregnant with if not the immaculately CONCEIVED Son of God?
same day MALARKEY. only single cell organisms can do that kind of timing.
face it dude, the adoption of new calendars, leap years, the wrenching forward by a couple weeks of the calendar by some pope a long time ago, etc etc, how in blazes can you claim ‘christmas’ ie the birth of Christ actually happened on what we call dec 25th? how ?? and do tell, what amalgam of scriptural passages whittle it down to that date? where is this ‘proof’ of yours? in the biblical rewrite you just finished ?
also o wise one feel free to point to a SINGLE scriptural reference that tells us to celebrate it.
its all an invention of man who typically gloms all sorts of riders and additional rationale for holidays and special days in the year.
and also feel free dipwad to explain how THAT line of questioning is ‘knee-jerk leftism’ as opposed to your ‘knee-jerk fundaMENTALism’.
I win !!!
I win !!!
I insist you award yourself the prestigious Bollix Award.
While you’re at it, award yourself for the most creative insult.
A little good natured sparring to ease personal tensions and now for two fingers of Amaretto in a glass of Dole sparkeling orange.
A drink to put the famous Sigapore Sling in second place. Mmm, good! = TG