The Tolerant Left

The Tolerant Left 6 Comments

One of the nastiest intellectual habits of the intellectual Left is that it prescribes set political agendas or menus which must be followed by rote or diktat, and in full. If the first course is the emancipation and equal treatment of women, the main course must be a smorgasbord of left of centre, politically correct social attitudes. Any deviation from this norm, and from this prescribed package of values and policies provokes a “moral” outrage which requires the vilification of the “deviant” who has strayed from orthodoxy. That vilification can often be carried out with all the zeal of a medieval religious fanatic confronting a so called “heretic”, that is someone who had the temerity not to follow God’s will as revealed to the zealot.

Thus, the Hatred of Maggie.
h/t EBD

A Short History of Backfiring Reporters

Uncategorized 68 Comments

Here’s Canwest News Service in early 2007, 20 months before the Stephane Dion-led Liberals lost 18 seats and the federal election:

“Negative Tory ads could backfire, say experts.”

Here’s The Canadian Press on March 2nd, 2009, before the Conservatives’ attack ads against Michael Ignatieff were released:

“Any attempt by the Tories to smear rookie Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff would backfire with recession-ravaged Canadians, Liberals say.”

Canadian Press headline in May, 2009, after the ads were released and two years before the Ignatieff-led Liberals were decimated in the federal election:

“Tory attack ads find audience, but could backfire: poll.”

The Star, June 1, 2009:

“Tory attack ads backfiring…”

Now, the Justin Trudeau era. An editorial in today’s Star —

“Conservative attacks on Justin Trudeau backfire on Harper”.

A CTV report published today, with the byline “CTVNews.ca Staff”, begins —

“Attack ads released hours after Justin Trudeau was named leader of the Liberal party, framing the 41-year-old as being “way over his head,” may backfire on the governing Conservatives, says one public relations expert.”

Ah yes, the experts. In yesterday’s Globe and Mail, in report headlined “Negative ad strategy holds risks for Conservatives, experts say”, Gloria Galloway writes:

“Can the ads backfire, and under what circumstances? All three experts said yes…“

#gosnell

Great Moments In Socialism 49 Comments

A revolting story. A reinforcement of why I, a socially liberal fiscal conservative, am in favour of banning third trimester abortions except when under 16, rape or health.
But then, Canada has no laws at all governing abortion and the uterus corps will mobilize at the first mention there of, so whatever, eh. The Aztecs had a pretty good civilization for a long time with human sacrifice too.
While I don’t particularly believe the media cone of silence theory, one really has to question their bubble … or at least good journalists would.
h/t: Instapundit

This isn’t your fathers NDP

Insufferable Twits Tommy Douglas: Not Dead Enough 12 Comments

I know that most people were engrossed in Prince Justin’s coronation this weekend, but another notable event also happened in Canadian politics. The NDP had a policy convention.
Nothing much of note happened, except that chief radical* Barry Weisleder was ejected from the NDP convention.
You know how it’s the ‘new’ NDP? How people question the association of marxists and socialists with the ‘modern’ NDP? Yeah, nothing says we aren’t socialists like ejecting the head of the Socialist caucus from your policy convention.
What’s that?


Oh, never-mind.
* I had a very similar beard for several years. Growing a beard doesn’t necessarily mean you are a radical. Given my political leanings at that time though it may actually mean you are a radical.

Reader Tips

Reader Tips 41 Comments

What happens when you remove auto-tune, reverb, and all other studio gimmickry from this modern-day bunco that some call music? Well, let’s just say the results aren’t pretty: here, for example, are the legendary Beach Boys as they actually sounded.
Absolutely shocking.
h/t
The comments are open, as always, for your Reader Tips.

The Gilded Tit

Uncategorized 21 Comments

Alberta’s opposition Wildrose Party released documents today showing that Michele Lahey, the former executive vice-president and chief operating officer for the former Capital Health Authority, was reimbursed by Alberta taxpayers for a $6,230 bill from the Mayo Clinic.
Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who appeared personally bereft of even the first whit of any factual information about the case, opined “It is very possible this individual went to this clinic for a meeting and actually was at a seminar for two or three days.”
Possible, yes, but not very possible:

The Wildrose said it appears the trip was personal because there’s no mention in the documents of a work-related conference. Lahey also did not claim any airfare.

Guess we’ll have to turn to AHS for answers:

AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson said the department won’t be investigating…”Alberta Health Services isn’t going to speculate or comment on the past.”

Why would they?

Spending by health bureaucrats has been under the microscope since last year, when it was revealed that former AHS financial officer Allaudin Merali charged taxpayers almost $370,000 for lavish restaurant meals, repairs to his Mercedes Benz, and a butler.

Venezuela Election

Political Animal 13 Comments

Trouble without;

This is the single worst thing that could’ve happened: CNE has announced Maduro won the election by 7.51 million votes to 7.27 million for Capriles, but the opposition may well be sitting on clear evidence that this is not true. What comes next is a deep governability crisis.

Trouble within;

Maduro’s speech tonight was innocuous. He talked as if he had scored a huge win, instead justifying that a one vote win would have been enough.
But it isn’t and it wasn’t, for the simple fact that Chavismo’s party PSUV is divided, even more so now, as those that aspired to succeed Chávez likely think that Maduro was not the rightful successor to Hugo Chávez. And most of them think they are.

h/t marc in calgary, jwkozak91

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