Admittedly, I'm not providing much new material, but "c'est la vie," as they say, at the moment.
On the other hand, with far smarter people than me populating the blogosphere with smartness, why should I worry? The latest thing I like...
"In other words, the dichotomy I am interested in is less who is to blame for where we are but rather, when faced with intelligent versus mindless policies in Canada, why we continue to pick the path less thoughtful."
- R. Silver
Globe and Mail
December 15, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Did Liberals make the right choice?
On Bob Rae...
"He sort of practices media metarelations - he doesn't just dodge trap questions, he points them out, and disarms them."
- Kady O'Malley, Macleans
On Michael Ignatieff...
"He has the capacity to be seen to rise about the fray..."
- Adam Radwanski, The Globe and Mail
"He sort of practices media metarelations - he doesn't just dodge trap questions, he points them out, and disarms them."
- Kady O'Malley, Macleans
On Michael Ignatieff...
"He has the capacity to be seen to rise about the fray..."
- Adam Radwanski, The Globe and Mail
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
It's Over...For Now
Crisis over. This is when Bartlett would say, "what's next?"
With the GG allowing Prime Minister Harper prorogue the House we're all safe from political disaster until late January. Now economic disaster is a different story.
So what are we to make of all of this?
Well, I think a few things should be clear. Among them:
My boss and I concluded our conversation by developing the following thesis:
He can't help himself.
With the GG allowing Prime Minister Harper prorogue the House we're all safe from political disaster until late January. Now economic disaster is a different story.
So what are we to make of all of this?
Well, I think a few things should be clear. Among them:
- Poor Stephane Dion, if he ever was, is not up to this job. Yesterday's disaster with the video seals that deal.
- The Liberals need to sort themselves very quickly. They did not come out of this looking good and I think that Coyne is right, they will bail on this and fast.
- Which presents a pretty serious problem for the NDP, who I'm sure are ready to fight for The Coalition. It would be great for Jack Layton to sit in a Minister's office for a few months and they must be furiously pushing Dion to hold his nerve.
- Gilles Duceppe manages to yet again seem like the most sensible federal leader, you know, aside from the separatism thing.
My boss and I concluded our conversation by developing the following thesis:
- everyone has flaws
- politics dramatically enhances those flaws by providing power and opportunity
- the success of a politician is measured by his or her level of self-discipline, and his or her ability to master their flaws (Politicians and the flaws that undid them: Martin=indecisiveness, Chretien=assholism, Mulroney=scruples, Trudeau=arrogance, Clark=naivete, Me=not born before Clark)
- every politician is ultimately undone by their flaws
He can't help himself.
Door Watch 2008
Yesterday it was the door to her plane. Today the door to her house. The GG's doorways are going to be famous after this week.
In other news...
"This did not go as planned."
In other news...
"This did not go as planned."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Dion's Message
(Stephane Dion is late to his own friggin national taped message party. Why is this not surprising?)
...
...
Really? Really.
...
...
Another four or five minutes. Really? Really.
...
...
Still no Dion. I wish I was kidding. I'm not getting much beer into me. Liberals across Canada must be nodding along, "thinking, this is not surprising."
...
...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......
(CBC misses the start...nice!)
- Two huge Canadian flags behind him. Subtle.
- I think they filmed this thing on hi-8.
- Focusing on partnership in order to fix something.
- Uh oh...getting into a lecture on coalitions.
- Tying it into the Canadian values of consensus, cooperation and other good C words that we should trademark around the world.
- Good tie. Not a great speech.
- Nothing about mean-spritedness or dysfunction thereby subverting my drinking game.
- "Rivals are working together all over the world. Why not in Canada?" Why not, indeed.
- "Let's get to work on the people's business."
- Maturity, nice.
- *Sigh* He still can't speak English well enough and he can't get over the mistakes when he makes them.
- Sounds like The Coalition is investing in everything (not education though I might add).
- "Live in dignity and developnew skills"...ummm, isn't this a bit like "ordinary families?"
- Who feels ownership over Parliament? Your Parliament. Raise your hands!
- And it's over...abruptly. This was not an Oscar winner, but these things aren't judged on production values.
...
...
Really? Really.
...
...
Another four or five minutes. Really? Really.
...
...
Still no Dion. I wish I was kidding. I'm not getting much beer into me. Liberals across Canada must be nodding along, "thinking, this is not surprising."
...
...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......
(CBC misses the start...nice!)
- Two huge Canadian flags behind him. Subtle.
- I think they filmed this thing on hi-8.
- Focusing on partnership in order to fix something.
- Uh oh...getting into a lecture on coalitions.
- Tying it into the Canadian values of consensus, cooperation and other good C words that we should trademark around the world.
- Good tie. Not a great speech.
- Nothing about mean-spritedness or dysfunction thereby subverting my drinking game.
- "Rivals are working together all over the world. Why not in Canada?" Why not, indeed.
- "Let's get to work on the people's business."
- Maturity, nice.
- *Sigh* He still can't speak English well enough and he can't get over the mistakes when he makes them.
- Sounds like The Coalition is investing in everything (not education though I might add).
- "Live in dignity and developnew skills"...ummm, isn't this a bit like "ordinary families?"
- Who feels ownership over Parliament? Your Parliament. Raise your hands!
- And it's over...abruptly. This was not an Oscar winner, but these things aren't judged on production values.
Harper's Message
- What did I do?
- Did no one vote for the opposition parties?
- Separatists aren't good, I will grant that, but ummm, he really makes it sound like they carry the plague.
- On what level does this threaten democracy? Honestly. It seems to me that this is actually an integral part of our democratic system, which may suck, but it's not like this is really all that new.
- Pointing out that he has withdrawn certain proposals and that this is all taking place before a budget has been presented was prudent.
- Keith Boag is pointing out that Harper and the Conservatives don't say "separatist" in Quebec, they say "sovereignist." I think that this is becoming a problem. Francophone reporters are asking questions about this. Also, apparently Dmitri Soudas, not the PM or Lawrence Cannon or any other MP, has been the voice of the government in QC for the past week.
- Where did Harper get that voice? It was weirdly alluring. I think that he might be Kathleen Turner. (Don Newman just called it his "blue sweater" voice.)
- Did he film this thing in a log cabin or is that what his office is really like?
- This "we're going to use all legal means necessary," line is a bit ominous. Remember, Harper is the only federal political leader to ever sue an opponent. Weirdness.
- CBC says, "boring." Let's check CTV...woman with bad hair says that Harper is screwing himself with Quebeckers.
- Very little drinking from my drinking game...mostly just for "separatist."
More whenever the hell Dion gets his shit together and hands the networks his tapes.
- Did no one vote for the opposition parties?
- Separatists aren't good, I will grant that, but ummm, he really makes it sound like they carry the plague.
- On what level does this threaten democracy? Honestly. It seems to me that this is actually an integral part of our democratic system, which may suck, but it's not like this is really all that new.
- Pointing out that he has withdrawn certain proposals and that this is all taking place before a budget has been presented was prudent.
- Keith Boag is pointing out that Harper and the Conservatives don't say "separatist" in Quebec, they say "sovereignist." I think that this is becoming a problem. Francophone reporters are asking questions about this. Also, apparently Dmitri Soudas, not the PM or Lawrence Cannon or any other MP, has been the voice of the government in QC for the past week.
- Where did Harper get that voice? It was weirdly alluring. I think that he might be Kathleen Turner. (Don Newman just called it his "blue sweater" voice.)
- Did he film this thing in a log cabin or is that what his office is really like?
- This "we're going to use all legal means necessary," line is a bit ominous. Remember, Harper is the only federal political leader to ever sue an opponent. Weirdness.
- CBC says, "boring." Let's check CTV...woman with bad hair says that Harper is screwing himself with Quebeckers.
- Very little drinking from my drinking game...mostly just for "separatist."
More whenever the hell Dion gets his shit together and hands the networks his tapes.
The Great Thing About Political Crises
- Don Newman showing footage of the Governor General's plane landing and the staircar moving over to pick her up
- Don Newman saying, "Proroguing Parliament is the privilege of the Governor General." Surely he could have added another few P's in there.
- Andrew Coyne accusing the New Lib on the Bloc coalition of prematurely "measuring the drapes" based on a report to which he himself attaches a "Hoax alert!" Uhhh, really? Really.
- Mike Duffy padding his Senate resume by saying the word "coalition" as though it was a contagious disease.
- Me, breaking out in hives at the mention of "Senator Elizabeth May, Environment Minister."
- Duffy providing footage of the Governor General's plane. (Really? Really.)
- Don Newman saying, "Proroguing Parliament is the privilege of the Governor General." Surely he could have added another few P's in there.
- Andrew Coyne accusing the New Lib on the Bloc coalition of prematurely "measuring the drapes" based on a report to which he himself attaches a "Hoax alert!" Uhhh, really? Really.
- Mike Duffy padding his Senate resume by saying the word "coalition" as though it was a contagious disease.
- Me, breaking out in hives at the mention of "Senator Elizabeth May, Environment Minister."
- Duffy providing footage of the Governor General's plane. (Really? Really.)
Questions?
I don't know how I missed it before, but I have become a big fan of Andrew Steele's blog over at the Globe in the last 24 hours. His post yesterday about Harper's options is clear and well thought out.
Today, he reports on some curious Question Period responses provided by the government yesterday:
"Today's Question Period saw a reversion to the age old Canadian political tactic of saying one thing in English and another in French.
In English, the Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty attacked the Liberals as part of “the separatist coalition” who will betray Canada.
In French, the Conservative Quebec Lieutenant Christian Paradis attacked the Bloc Quebecois for giving a blank cheque to the Liberals and “betraying independence.”
How can a separatist coalition betray independence?"
Indeed, good question. Another good question might be how long the Conservatives believe they can continue to treat Canadians like idiots and get away with it?
The answer, at present, appears to be: longer.
Today, he reports on some curious Question Period responses provided by the government yesterday:
"Today's Question Period saw a reversion to the age old Canadian political tactic of saying one thing in English and another in French.
In English, the Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty attacked the Liberals as part of “the separatist coalition” who will betray Canada.
In French, the Conservative Quebec Lieutenant Christian Paradis attacked the Bloc Quebecois for giving a blank cheque to the Liberals and “betraying independence.”
How can a separatist coalition betray independence?"
Indeed, good question. Another good question might be how long the Conservatives believe they can continue to treat Canadians like idiots and get away with it?
The answer, at present, appears to be: longer.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Coalition Like It's Going Out Of Style
I don't know how I've resisted the urge to write about all of the machinations in Ottawa, but let me just say that it likely has something to do with two business trips to Winnipeg in November. Ah, Winnipeg in November...my friends, this is the life.
So being late to the game I won't pretend I have much to add that hasn't been said by much smarter people than I.
Peter, not surprisingly, is smart over here.
Paris is "wowzers" over here (and other places).
Coyne is losing his mind over here...and here...and here...and, well, you get the point.
Wells loses his mind here and here and here...well, you get the point.
Also, I've enjoyed reading Radwanski in the Globe and comrade O'Malley in Maclean's.
So, now for my two cents (thought you could escape, eh? Not so much.).
Besides being downright fun and maybe leading to Canada's first coalition since we let honest to god Commies sit in Parliament this is a fascinating example of hubris. Harper is eating his lunch after he tried to stuff it down the throats of Mssrs. Dion, Layton and Duceppe. Not being a constitutional scholar this all seems like fair play, as crazy as it may seem to the outside world. Ezra Levant was on TV yesterday ranting and raving about how the stock market was reacting so negatively to word of the coalition, but of course if politicians could in fact control the stock market, Harper wouldn't be in this mess now would he.
I've been asking my smartest friends and colleagues a question that is stuck in my head and everyone seems to agree that this is all political miscalculation by the CPC. No one thinks that any of this is orchestrated and I admit that it's a bit much to think it might be. What bothers me though is that my brain can run along the following lines: Despite what we (the royal we) may all like to comfort ourselves thinking politicians aren't stupid. No not stupid person introduces a poison pill without thinking that there will be some sort of consequence, possibly severe. People don't like being poisoned. So, what did the Prime Minister think would be the consequences of the Economic Update? Are there reasons that Harper might have provoked this incident? I can think of two. Not good reasons, but here they are:
So being late to the game I won't pretend I have much to add that hasn't been said by much smarter people than I.
Peter, not surprisingly, is smart over here.
Paris is "wowzers" over here (and other places).
Coyne is losing his mind over here...and here...and here...and, well, you get the point.
Wells loses his mind here and here and here...well, you get the point.
Also, I've enjoyed reading Radwanski in the Globe and comrade O'Malley in Maclean's.
So, now for my two cents (thought you could escape, eh? Not so much.).
Besides being downright fun and maybe leading to Canada's first coalition since we let honest to god Commies sit in Parliament this is a fascinating example of hubris. Harper is eating his lunch after he tried to stuff it down the throats of Mssrs. Dion, Layton and Duceppe. Not being a constitutional scholar this all seems like fair play, as crazy as it may seem to the outside world. Ezra Levant was on TV yesterday ranting and raving about how the stock market was reacting so negatively to word of the coalition, but of course if politicians could in fact control the stock market, Harper wouldn't be in this mess now would he.
I've been asking my smartest friends and colleagues a question that is stuck in my head and everyone seems to agree that this is all political miscalculation by the CPC. No one thinks that any of this is orchestrated and I admit that it's a bit much to think it might be. What bothers me though is that my brain can run along the following lines: Despite what we (the royal we) may all like to comfort ourselves thinking politicians aren't stupid. No not stupid person introduces a poison pill without thinking that there will be some sort of consequence, possibly severe. People don't like being poisoned. So, what did the Prime Minister think would be the consequences of the Economic Update? Are there reasons that Harper might have provoked this incident? I can think of two. Not good reasons, but here they are:
- None of the other parties can afford an election, therefore if he can walk enough of the badness back and make the case that a stimulus package must await the Americans first move, he could position himself to take more seats in a hasty election. Dion can't exactly run a credible campaign and the NDP simply won't win enough seats to be a real threat, although they might finish off the Libs while their shit hits the fan.
- He actually wants to be desposed for a while in order to hang the opposition with the recession he was about to get hung with. Bob Rae of all people will be sensitive to the fact that economic forces are much bigger than the politicians who promise a way to the light at the end of the tunnel. I wonder if any of the three coalition party leaders have considered whether they actually want to be the government right now?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)