Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SDA Late Nite Radio. Tonight, for your delectation and pursuant to our Saturday night contemporary music show, here are ZZ Top and Willie Nelson performing She Loves my Automobile (3:19).
Your Reader Tips are, as always, welcome in the comments.
Just saw a bit on the CTV news that the Liberals are going to go with John McCallum for an interim leader if/when Stephie steps down……….
They managed to pick the only MP they have that has a worse command of the English language than Dion!
If they chose McCallum the liberal party will sink to a new low. Whose running the liberals, the funny farm?
Maybe that is the grand plan? After Dion then McCallum playing store minder, Wyle E. Coyote would look like a champ.
Hope they can keep him sober….
mccallum ? the guy that looks like a tired racoon. picture him along side lizzy may.
two iconic canajun animals.
That should brighten up Stephies mood.
Took my then, seven year old son to see ZZ TOP in 1990.
Seems to have rubbed off.
He’s a power engineer($$$!) and of course plays guitar, a couple actually. All the u$ual music toyzzzz.
Makes my day!!
Is this the same John McCallum who used to write op-ed pieces for the Financial Post in the late ’80s and early ’90s? Because that one made a lot of sense a lot of the time.
O joy a racoon (McCullum) and the beaver, side by each (parallel) unelected, unloved, irrelevant, O Canada!
Cheers Bubba
At least Mcallum will have his own airplane and it won’t matter how drunk he shows up for the flight, they won’t boot him off like AC did.
Captain Kirk “Shatner” on gun control!
Remember this is the professor (yes another looney professor) that when he was the minister of defense he didn’t know Canada’s military history (battle of Dieppe and Vimy Ridge).
You cannot read much into McCallum being interim leader – he’s actually fairly inoffensive and anonymous and best left alone.
Wasting time or energy on this guy is unproductive – save your guns and ammo for the contenders in the leadership race, they’ll be easy targets.
archie…don’t you mean DDay(we landed in Norway,you know) and Vichy Ridge???Kinda of funny(not)when you think about it….a Lieberal and Defense in the same sentence.
“Ice Reality Check: Arctic Ice Now 31.3% Over Last Year,
plus Scientists Counter Latest Arctic ‘Record’ Warmth Claims as ‘Pseudoscience’”
10/17/2007 5,663,125 square kilometers
10/17/2008 7,436,406 square kilometers
Δice = 1,773,281 sqkm or 31.3% more than last year
Source data here: http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/seaice/extent/plot.csv (Excel file)
You’ve probably heard by now how this new story circulating this week claims “record warmth” and that we are in the peak time of melting. Meanwhile, “back at the ranch”, sea ice extent continues a steady upward climb as shown above.”
http://tinyurl.com/6fveg3 (wattsup)
Good choice, McCallum. He doesn’t know his ass from page four. He’s both ignorant and arrogant with a smart ass flair. He’s a perfect fit for the mess the Libranos are in.
This is the same person who was not allowed to board a domestic flight because he wasn’t sober enough, or in plain terms,too drunk. He blamed it on having dinner at his Mother’s and too much wine being served. So he wanted us to believe he was over served by his Mother? Fancy that happening to a Conservative MP and not have it recalled incessantly in the media!
This is a good choice to continue the sinking of SS Liberal. It allows the Leadership keeners, Rae and Iggnatieff to go full out and work against each other for the big job they’re desperately seeking.
ZZ Top & Willie, yo sure know how to get the Texas in my blood going’. Thanks Vit.
Maybe the whole professor thing is a detriment?
After all Dion was a poli sci prof who missed the fact that being unable to effectively communicate with 75% of the electorate might be a bad thing…….
Colin Powell just endorsed Obama. I hate to admit it – but it’s over.
The Republicans have to start regrouping now and plan for 2012.
Includes embedded video of the aftermath:
(Via SWJ) Nick Meo, Afghanistan: The night I was ‘killed in action’ by a Taliban ambush
The convoy started with a line from a second-rate war film. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this mission,” said Major James Becker, as his unit of National Guardsmen – the US version of the Territorial Army – and Afghan National Police set off through the chaotic traffic of Kandahar city…
>>>> “ASSOCIATD”.
Monday, Monday, ……
…-
“North Korea to make major announcement on Monday, Japanese media reports
By THE ASSOCIATD PRESS”
…-
“19 Oct 2008 … “People in the Liberal Party are still telling us Dion intends to quit Monday afternoon,” CTV’s chief political correspondent Craig Oliver …”
(sympatico)
Michael Sheridan, Hardliners in bid to oust China’s PM
China’s most popular politician Wen Jiabao, the prime minister, has become a target for Communist party hardliners and could be forced from office, according to an influential magazine in Hong Kong.
Its report is a rare insight into the struggle over the future of China between political reformers and guardians of the police state…
Things not so rosy in the Axis of Diesel?
Philippe Naughton, World record sandwich? Iranians eat the evidence
The organisers of a Tehran food festival were licking their wounds today after spending two days building the world’s longest sandwich – only to see it devoured by the crowd before anyone had a chance to measure it…
This morning’s article by Greg Weston in the Toronto Sun — Bailout anyone? Liberal Party, just like Wall Street, is in financial crisis (http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/10/19/7132641-sun.html) — tells us everything we need to know about the kind of fiscal stewards the Liberals would have been had they got into power.
[Begin quote]
Ten days before last week’s federal election, a Liberal party fundraising letter announced that Stephanie Dion was “the only leader with a viable plan to address the growing crisis facing Canada’s economy.”
Unfortunately, it would seem Dion has had no such plan to address a worsening financial crisis in his own party during the past 22 months he has been in charge.
As a result, if Dion announces as expected tomorrow he will be stepping down as Liberal leader, the professor who imagined himself prime minister will leave behind a party deep in debt and with no foreseeable way to dig itself out of the hole.
[end quote]
What I’d like to know, is why the Liberal cheerleaders in the MSM didn’t make this point much more succinctly during the election campaign? It’s a point that should have been pounded into the Canadian psyche: Because the LPC hasn’t kept their own financial house in order, how could they possibly and credibly lead Canada through an international financial meltdown?
The Liberal Party’s dire debt situation doesn’t exactly make it the best exemplar of either fiscal responsibility or accountability and Canadians, of whatever political stripe, should be thankful that we were spared Professor Dion’s “leadership”—no thanks to our MSM talking heads at CTV and the CBC.
We may have more than a few problems if the US chooses Obama. Hopefully he realizes by now we don’t call our Leader “President”.
From ibloga.blogspot.com:
“Interesting Statistics – An Eye Opener Military Losses, 1980 thru 2007”
Whatever your politics, however you lean, and however you feel about the current administration, this report should open some eyes.
As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics: The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006 – by any cause.
1980 ………. 2,392 (Carter Year)
1981 ………. 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 ………. 1,999 (Reagan Year)
1988 ………. 1,819 (Reagan Year)
1989 ……….. 1,636 (George H W Year)
1990 ………. 1,508 (George H W Year)
1991 ………. 1,787 (George H W Year)
1992 ………. 1,293 (George H W Year)
1993 ……… 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 ……… 1,075 ( Clinton Year)
1995 ………. 2,465 ( Clinton Year)
1996 ………. 2,318 ( Clinton Year)
1997 ………. 817 ( Clinton Y ear)
1998 ……… 2,252 ( Clinton Year)
1999 ………. 1,984 ( Clinton Year)
2000 ……….1,983 ( Clinton Year)
2001 …………. 890 (George W Year)
2002 ………. 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 ……… 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 ……… 1,887 (George W Year)
2005 …………. 919 (George W Year)
2006………….. 920 (George W Year)
2007…………. 899 ( George W Year )
Clinton years (1993-2000): 14,107 deaths
George W years (2001-2007): 7,932 deaths
If you are surprised when you look at these figures, so was I. These figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are LESS than the loss of military personnel during Bill Clinton’s presidency; when America wasn’t even involved in a war! (Unless you include Bosnia or the disgrace of Mogadishu , Somalia when Clinton failed to respond to terrorists. Remember ‘Black hawk Down’?)
And, I was even more shocked when I read that in 1980, during the reign of President (Nobel Peace Prize winner) Jimmy Carter, there were 2,392 US military fatalities! From what? How?
I think that these figures indicate that many members of our media and our politicians will pick and choose the information on which they report. Of course we all know that they present only those ‘facts’ which support their agenda-driven reporting.
But why do so many of them march in lock-step to twist the truth? Where do so many of them get their agenda? Obviously there is one shared agenda. Could it be from the most powerful Democratic family of the decade?
Do you want further proof? Consider the latest census of Americans. It shows the following FACTS about the distribution of American citizens, by race:
European descent …………………69.12%
Hispanic……………………………….12.5%
Black ………………. ……………….12.3%
Asian…………………………………… 3.7%
Native American……………………….1.0%
Other…………………………………….2.6%
Many media lead us to feel the military death ratio is off balanced compared to the distribution by race in America .. Here are the fatalities by RACE over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom. Do the comparison yourse lf .
European descent (white) …….74.31%
Hispanic……………………………..10.74%
Black ………………………………..9.67%
Asian……………………………….. 1.81%
Native American………………….. 1.09%
Other………………………………… 0.33%
I was surprised again. Our mainstream media continues to spin these figures (for political gain). Nothing more. It’s all about politics. I hope that during the time between now and November, intelligent Americans can decipher the facts from the spin, the spinners from the leaders, those who seek even more power from those that seek justice, and the dividers from the uniters.
Over the next weeks let’s be good listeners and see and hear who tries to divide our nation; and who wants to unite our nation. Who wants to control how our money is spent and who wants our money spent the way we would spend it. Who seeks po w er and who seeks justice? Who spins the facts and who is genuine.
These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and they may be confirmed by anyone at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf;
(PDF warning) Dr. Peppino A. DeBiaso, Missile Defence and NATO Security
The threats to the security of the United States and its NATO allies have changed significantly since the early 1990s and the demise of the Soviet Union. A broader and more complex range of challenges confronts the Alliance today. Prominent among these are the proliferation of destructive technologies, such as nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and the ballistic missiles to deliver them at great distances. Ballistic missiles capable of carrying WMD have become the weapon of choice for an increasing number of states who view them as low-cost, high-impact arms capable of offsetting Western military advantages. And the danger they pose is expanding in Northeast and South Asia, as well as the Middle East…
irwin daisy – very interesting set of figures. Thanks.
For something as important as who leads politically there ought to be repercussions on any media spewing lies, half truths and just plain damnable lies. The way it’s going now we’d be shutting down and/or taking to task most of the media on both sides of the border.
It’s a miracle Mr.Harper was able to make the gains he did given the lies and half truths spewed by Duceppes and his useless toothless turds called the Bloc Quebecois with their single province Fiefdom project.
While the Liberals are trying to get out of debt maybe they should look at the divided shambles they’re in as a party as well before they present as stewards of the Country.
Interim leader may be McCallum, let the fun begin.
Cal2, good observation on McCallum, he does look like “a tired racoon”…LMAO
Dr. Sam Valknin, a world authority on narcissism, comments on ‘the Prince of Darkness’:
Dr. Sam Vaknin, the author of the Malignant Self Love, believes, “Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist.”
Vaknin is a world authority on narcissism. He understands narcissism and describes the inner mind of a narcissist like no other person. When he talks about narcissism everyone listens. Vaknin says that Obama’s language, posture and demeanor, and the testimonies of his closest, dearest and nearest suggest that the Senator is either a narcissist or he may have narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).
Vaknin explains: “Narcissistic leaders are nefarious and their effects pernicious. They are subtle, refined, socially-adept, manipulative, possessed of thespian skills, and convincing. Both types [cerebral and somatic] equally lack empathy and are ruthless and relentless or driven.” These were the very traits that distinguished Hitler and Khomeini. Many of these traits can be seen in Obama. As for his ruthlessness, perhaps his support of legislation to let babies die if they survive abortion, gives a glimps into his soul, that he may lacks empathy, does not value life, and if in the position of power can be ruthless. Narcissists need power to show their ruthlessness. Considering the fact that Obama neglected his own half brother, George Hussein Obama, who lives on one dollar per month in Kenya, we can’t vouch for Obama’s empathy or say he is a caring person.
What is Narcissism?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) describes narcissism as a personality disorder that “revolve around a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and sense of entitlement. Often individuals feel overly important and will exaggerate achievements and will accept, and often demand, praise and admiration despite worthy achievements.”
The third and fourth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of 1980 and 1994 and the European ICD-10 describe NPD in similar language:
An all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration or adulation and lack of empathy, usually beginning by early adulthood and present in various contexts. Five (or more) of the following criteria must be met:
Feels grandiose and self-important (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents to the point of lying, demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion
Is firmly convinced that he is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special, unique, or high-status people (or institutions)
Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation, or failing that, wishes to be feared and notorious (narcissistic supply)
Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his expectations
Is “interpersonally exploitative” i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends
Is devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of others
Is constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her
Is arrogant, has haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted.
One determining factor in the development of NPD is childhood abuse. “Obama’s early life was decidedly chaotic and replete with traumatic and mentally bruising dislocations,” says Vaknin. “Mixed-race marriages were even less common then. His parents went through a divorce when he was an infant (two years old). Obama saw his father only once again, before he died in a car accident. Then, his mother re-married and Obama had to relocate to Indonesia: a foreign land with a radically foreign culture, to be raised by a step-father. At the age of ten, he was whisked off to live with his maternal (white) grandparents. He saw his mother only intermittently in the following few years and then she vanished from his life in 1979. She died of cancer in 1995.”
In Vaknin’s words, “Pathological narcissism is a reaction to prolonged abuse and trauma in early childhood or early adolescence. The source of the abuse or trauma is immaterial: the perpetrators could be dysfunctional or absent parents, teachers, other adults, or peers.”
————–
Soon to be King of the World?
According to Vaknin, “The narcissistic or psychopathic leader is the culmination and reification of his period, culture, and civilization. He is likely to rise to prominence in narcissistic societies.”
He also said, “Bragging and false autobiography – The narcissist brags incessantly. His speech is peppered with ‘I’, ‘my’, ‘myself’, and ‘mine’. He describes himself as intelligent, or rich, or modest, or intuitive, or creative – but always excessively, implausibly, and extraordinarily so.”
And, “The narcissistic leader prefers the sparkle and glamour of well-orchestrated illusions to the tedium and method of real accomplishments, His reign is all smoke and mirrors, devoid of substances, consisting of mere appearances and mass delusions.
irwin daisy – while I agree that Obama is a narcissist, I disagree with the suggested reasons.
The suggestions that narcissism is a result of an abusive or traumatic childhood, requires a view of personality that has the newborn child as a blank slate. This blank slate then develops as an adult only by virtue of life experiences. I disagree with such an analysis.
After all, we can empirically find people with traumatic childhoods of the same type who do NOT mature as narcissistic. And we can find narcissistic personalities from different backgrounds.
Chretien is a Canadian example of a narcissist. I doubt if his upbringing would qualify within the assumptions of trauma.
Yoram Ettinger, Demographic Implosion in Moslem Societies
The UN Population Division reports a sharp decline of fertility rates (number of births per woman) in Muslim and Arab countries, excluding Afghanistan and Yemen…
The collapse of fertility rates in Muslim countries is a derivative of modernization/ Westernization, rapid urbanization and internal security concern by dictators, fearing the consequences of the widening gap between population growth and economic growth. As a result, the UN Population Division has reduced its 2050 population projections by 25% from 12 billion to 9 billion, possibly shrinking to 7.4 billion…
It should also be said that narcissists attract narcissists. Hence, all of Hollywood bowing down and worshipping at Obama’s feet, isn’t unusual:
“He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere, anywhere,” George Clooney told talk show host Charlie Rose.
“I’ll do whatever he says to do,” actress Halle Berry said to the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’ll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear.”
It’s becoming more and more scary. Try to talk to family, or friends in the Obama camp, and facts about O’s past, his voting record, known associations and his pathological lying makes no difference at all. In fact, I’ve had some people get downright angry, just for bringing up the facts.
He even committed a treasonous act during this campaign while visiting Iraq. The Logan Act (est. 1799) makes it a crime for a citizen to confer with foreign governments against the interests of the United States. Specifically, it prohibits citizens from negotiating with other nations on behalf of the United States without authorization.
That is exactly what Obama did during his trip to Iraq, a charge that Obama’s national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi confirmed, while trying to deny it. She said, “In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a ‘Strategic Framework Agreement’ governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office.”
The Prince of Darkness. Soon to be the King of the World.
I am adamantly opposed to Proportional Representation, but, our present electoral system needs some attention.
The Bloc received only 1,379,565 votes for 50 seats.
The NDP received 2,517,075 for 37 seats.
The CPC 5,205,334 for 143.
The Libs 3,629,990 for 76.
The Greens 940,747 for 0.
I’m against the very existence of the Bloc and have no interest in the Greens, but how could the Bloc, with only about 400,000 more votes get 50 seats and the Green – get none?
How could the NDP get almost twice as many votes as the Bloc, and yet, receive 37 to the Bloc’s 50?
I repeat, I completely and totally reject Proportional Representation, but the ridings need to be changed. You can’t have a riding with twice as many people as another…
From Hot Air
“Ms. Information
Democrats continue to cover up their relationship with Fannie Mae, and the media plays along.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122437428735247797.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
On the theme that Zero has it in the bag, I submit these observations (from an Ann Coulter article):
In 1976, Jimmy Carter narrowly beat Gerald Ford 50.1 percent to 48 percent. And yet, on Sept. 1, Carter led Ford by 15 points. Just weeks before the election, on Oct. 16, 1976, Carter led Ford in the Gallup Poll by 6 percentage points — down from his 33-point Gallup Poll lead in August.
Reading newspaper coverage of presidential elections in 1980 and 1984, I found myself paralyzed by the fear that Reagan was going to lose.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan beat Carter by nearly 10 points, 51 percent to 41 percent. In a Gallup Poll released days before the election on Oct. 27, it was Carter who led Reagan 45 percent to 42 percent.
In 1984, Reagan walloped Walter Mondale 58.8 percent to 40 percent, — the largest electoral landslide in U.S. history. But on Oct. 15, The New York Daily News published a poll showing Mondale with only a 4-point deficit to Reagan, 45 percent to 41 percent. A Harris Poll about the same time showed Reagan with only a 9-point lead. The Oct. 19 New York Times/CBS News Poll had Mr. Reagan ahead of Mondale by 13 points. All these polls underestimated Reagan’s actual margin of victory by 6 to 15 points.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis by a whopping 53.4 percent to 45.6 percent. A New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 5 had Bush leading the Greek homunculus by a statistically insignificant 2 points — 45 percent to 43 percent. (For the kids out there: Before it became a clearinghouse for anti-Bush conspiracy theories, CBS News was considered a credible journalistic entity.)
A week later — or one tank ride later, depending on who’s telling the story — on Oct. 13, Bush was leading Dukakis in The New York Times Poll by a mere 5 points.
Admittedly, a 3- to 6-point error is not as crazily wrong as the 6- to 15-point error in 1984. But it’s striking that even small “margin of error” mistakes never seem to benefit Republicans.
In 1992, Bill Clinton beat the first President Bush 43 percent to 37.7 percent. (Ross Perot got 18.9 percent of Bush’s voters that year.) On Oct. 18, a Newsweek Poll had Clinton winning 46 percent to 31 percent, and a CBS News Poll showed Clinton winning 47 percent to 35 percent.
So in 1992, the polls had Clinton 12 to 15 points ahead, but he won by only 5.3 points.
In 1996, Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole 49 percent to 40 percent. And yet on Oct. 22, 1996, The New York Times/CBS News Poll showed Clinton leading by a massive 22 points, 55 percent to 33 percent.
In 2000, which I seem to recall as being fairly close, the October polls accurately described the election as a virtual tie, with either Bush or Al Gore 1 or 2 points ahead in various polls. But in one of the latest polls to give either candidate a clear advantage, The New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 3, 2000, showed Gore winning by 45 percent to 39 percent.
In the last presidential election the polls were surprisingly accurate — not including the massively inaccurate Election Day exit poll. In the end, Bush beat John Kerry 50.7 percent to 48.3 percent in 2004. Most of the October polls showed the candidates in a dead-heat, with Bush 1 to 3 points ahead. So either pollsters got a whole lot better starting in 2004, or Democrats stole more votes in that election than we even realized.
We asked three political junkies for their thoughts on the fallout of the recent election.
At the ready on their BlackBerries?
Andrew Potter, the Citizen’s national editor and a national columnist.
Scott Reid, a principal with the speechwriting firm of Feschuk.Reid. He was communications director for former prime minister Paul Martin. Kady O’Malley, a veteran political observer who blogs about life on Parliament Hill for Maclean’s. LOL
http://tinyurl.com/6fhrnt
Update: Will NK beat Libs to the announcement?
…-
“McCallum won’t confirm he’ll be interim leader
John McCallum has refused to confirm whether he will take over as interim leader of the Liberals, after a disastrous election campaign that saw the party lose 19 seats in the House of Commons.” (nnw)
…-
“N Korea ‘announcement’ expected – 8 hours ago”
(googoo)
ET,
I don’t necessarily agree with that statement either. However, it is interesting to note that many narcissistic world leaders, tyrants, in fact, have had the same type of traumatic upbringing and displacement, simply as an observation.
I would like to believe the US system of government prevents a would be tyrant, whether Obama is one or not, from succeeding.
But things are getting stranger by the minute. Obama’s ‘truth police,’ and the ‘fairness doctrine’ come to mind.
I would not be surprised to see him agree with and support the OIC/UN bill to make blasphemy against Islam a punishable humanitarian crime in the US.
http://tinyurl.com/6cyrkj Jeffrey T. Kuhner is a columnist at The Washington Times. Many observers believe the Tories have only about two years before they are forced to call another election. I disagree. Mr. Harper is a brainy technocrat, who possesses an impressive grasp of economic issues. In fact, Republicans would do well to follow Mr. Harper’s lead. He is a genuine fiscal conservative, whose record consists of prudent tax cuts, balanced budgets and spending restraint. He is an avid free-trader, who wants closer economic ties with Washington. Also, his government has not been tainted with the kind of corruption scandals that have plagued the GOP in Congress. In short, he is a model of fiscal responsibility and personal probity – the very sort of middle-class conservatism that many Americans hunger for. http://tinyurl.com/6of8xw The Washington Times-EDITORIAL:Canada’s new conservatism… The World Economic Forum rated Canada’s banking system as the strongest in the world. And indeed, a sound Canadian economy is good for America since Canada is our largest trading partner.The opposition attempted to portray Mr. Harper as a Bush-type conservative – to no avail. Herein lies a lesson for American conservatives: The people know a fiscal conservative when they see one.
This is a completely different topic, but the Station 20 West project in Saskatoon – http://station20west.org/# – is trying to go ahead, despite the wise decision by the Saskatchewan Party Government to remove their funding commitment. Station 20 West has so far only received 170 personal cheques, yet “thousands” showed up to protest. – http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=37c5ab77-3e98-42cd-9fff-6a951ec10f06&k=29462 – You would think that if every on of these “thousands” of people gave a mere 25 cents per day, or $7 per month, and they committed to continuing their personal donations for the years to come, Station 20 West would be receiving $7000 to $14,000, or more, per month in a endless stream which could be used to build the grocery store and later used to fund an infinite number of projects for poverty stricken people all over Saskatchewan. When the projected profits start to come in from the grocery store they would be able to also commit those dollars to various other housing and investment projects in core neighbor hoods.
My point is this; if all those people who protested the cuts in funding to the Station 20 West grocery store gave just a few dollars every month they would be able fund these type of projects themselves. Of course, this will never happen.
I am sure that the BQ was originally supported by Quebecers as a party of separation. It also seems obvious that it is now supported by Quebecers for very different reasons – greed and entitlement. One thing to note about greedy people is that it is not only about how much they have but how much they are getting in relation to others.
I saw this often amongst my union brothers. They preached solidarity but during negotiations or other goody moments, it was each shop/individual for themselves. They would gladly step on each other for personal gain, if the price was right. Management often used this to their advantage. Perhaps this trait could also be exploited in Que. For instance, the CPC did win a few ridings. They might consider throwing these areas some perks in full view of the neighboring ridings held by the BQ.
I realize that it may seem unethical but no more so than bribing the whole province with little to show for it. After all, the never ending and increasing price tag of buying off the entire “belle” province costs more and just ticks off the CPC base.
The other alternative, ignoring them, would be fully exploited by the LPC. If the LPC was ever again able to reliably count on Que votes, then they would only have to continue to pander to Toronto to win. It would be back to the regionally divisive politics of Central Quontarion vs. everyone else.
In the long run, of course, the goal should be to re-instill in Quebecers an attachment to Canada and I think this is best done by de-centralization. Que should look to their provincial govt to fulfill their needs instead of the ROC.
lynnh – if the federal govt privileges only those ridings with CPC MPs, then, the Liberals could readily exploit that just as easily as they could exploit ignoring all of Quebec rather than just the non-CPC ridings.
My suggestion is to treat it equally. No privileges. No extra money (as, for example, is given for immigration); nothing special. Treat Quebec exactly like the other provinces. After all, treating Quebec as special results in hostile reactions from the other provinces. The Liberal agenda, to win seats in Quebec, by treating it as special..wouldn’t get them seats anywhere else.
My view is to acknowledge the situation. Allowing the Bloc to exist was a terrible, terrible thing to do to Canada. But it exists. There’s no going back. I don’t think that attempts to supplant it by a federal political party – any federal party – are going to work. Quebecers aren’t interest in governing Canada; they aren’t interested in travelling to Canada; they aren’t interested in Canada. At all. Other than as a Bank.
Therefore, Harper’s agenda of decentralization fits in with this reality. Allow the provinces more and more self-governance and control over their own economies and social services. Reduce federal responsibilities to foreign affairs, common transportation, defense, national infrastructures.
Now – if we achieve this new structure, which acknowledges the great ecological, demographic and economic differences in such a vast land as Canada – then, each region is strengthened.
And something else. I suspect that what will happen is that a fight for control of Quebec will break out. Between the Bloc and the Provincial Govt of Quebec. This is the area to watch. Why should the Bloc be deciding issues about Quebec rather than the Quebec provincial govt?
In other words, by treating the Bloc as a provincial govt, you are setting up a conflict, an internal conflict, between the Bloc and the provincial govt. Let them fight it out.
Then, we’ll see what happens.
ET, I agree with your assessment as a long term plan but in some instances “union-breaking” tactics are very effective. Then the reliance on union is replaced with something else. In this case reliance on local government.
In my observation, Quebec shares many similarities with the mindset of a union. Constant whining, collectivism, low productivity, a willingness to make their business (Canada) uncompetitive through unreasonable demands, etc. Therefore employing some shrewd business practices may be needed to shake up the status quo.
The Prince of Darkness. Soon to be the King of the World.
My thoughts too, irwin daisy. Belzabub appears in any guise he chooses – but he always attracts people. The most beautiful of all the Angels, he was banished from Heaven for one fault: He HATED humans; he considers the ‘low life’ (humans) unworthy of God’s love.
BTW, I doubt that there will be a competition between the BQ and Que. provincial government, except for bragging about who brought home the most goodies.
lynnh – Yes, I think your assessment of union-breaking tactics by local govt might work.
But I do think that a fight will eventually break out between the Bloc and the Quebec Prov Govt. After all, essentially, you have inadvertently set up TWO govt forces with the SAME agenda; getting the goodies for Quebec. This will almost inevitably lead to one or the other being seen as irrelevant in this area. Is the Prov Govt going to be reduced to dealing only in sewers and roads, while the Bloc gets the credit for all the work in getting the money?
I wonder. After all, you have a small Set of political people in Quebec; they can’t help but cross paths. And swords.
I think it would be a very good thing if the Bloc and the Quebec PG were to fight it out, soon, as to who exactly Works for Quebec. While the Bloc only works for the Pensions of its MPs.
‘announcement’ Watch.
Key words are: “probable”, “interim”, “health”, “if”,
“feisty critic”, “Kim”, “John”, “economist”, “temporary”, “Monday”.
“Channel 4 – News – North Korea ‘announcement’ due
19 Oct 2008 … North Korea will make an “important announcement” on Monday amid speculation over the health of its leader Kim Jong Il, a Japanese newspaper ..”
…-
“McCallum expected to get temporary job heading Liberals
Calgary Herald – 3 hours ago
OTTAWA — Toronto MP John McCallum is the probable interim Liberal party leader if Stephane Dion steps down as expected Monday. The Toronto MP and economist is a feisty critic of the government’s economic policies -”
Re Irwin at 10:55 re US Forces deaths
I read the item with interest, and I wondered where these deaths occured as well. That caused me to go to the report cited, and read it.
When I compare Table 5 in the report to the list of deaths I see the list has overstated the deaths in the Clinton years in 1995, 96, 98, 99 and 2000 by about 6600. The deaths during Bush’s term are underreported in 2003, 2005 and 2006 by about 2150.
Even with these corrections (I discounted the number for 2007 as the cited report did not have it) Those that died during Clinton’s term are about 7500 compared to 9180 under Bush from 2001 through 2006. Very strange that they should be so close when WJC never was in a “hot war” the whole time.
I also note the number of deaths due to accident has decreased significantly since the 80’s. The armed forces in the US were sure not a safe work site back then!
“party insiders say” Watch: “power shift”.
…-
“Goodale joins McCallum as interim leader contender
CTV.ca – 56 minutes ago
OTTAWA — Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale is pushing hard behind the scenes to line up caucus support to become interim leader if Stephane Dion steps down Monday, party insiders say”
…-
“North Korea dismisses reports leader Kim is ill | Reuters
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea on Wednesday dismissed reports that leader Kim Jong-il might be seriously ill, a development that could trigger a power shift …”