A Fisk of a Review of The Latest Gore Book of Bullshit

The event we've all been waiting for has occurred. Al Gore has released his new book "The Assault on Reason" which gives us all a chance to reasonably tear it to shreds. Yippee.

This review is on Amazon.com and was written by the author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World. How apt.

I can't post this on Amazon cause I would need to buy a book, which I ain't about to do.

Here's a radical idea: Americans can govern themselves best by having clear-headed, reasoned public discussions on the important topics of the day. A thought from Thomas Paine? Your high school civics teacher? No, Al Gore. That's the theme of this clear-headed, reasoned, and yes, even passionate argument on what's wrong with our country and how we can fix it.
-- I'd rather trust in a high school civics teacher than that ballooned blowhard. But maybe that's just me.

Yes, it bashes Bush, but how can it not? It's impossible to argue against the chatterbox shrillness of today's public debate without mentioning the subjects being debated. And if you're going to seriously examine Iraq, Katrina and the other issues of the last six years, how can our current President come out looking good?
-- By fighting the good fight for the right reasons against Gore and tens of thousands of other self-loathing, America hating Democratic Americans spewing nonsense about the mission in Iraq and what's going on. As far as Katrina, how about the greatest humanitarian relief mission in American history, while dealing with an attention grabbing Democratic Louisianna Governor and a dolt of a NOLA mayor?

Gore doesn't mince his words. He calls Bush a liar and an irresponsible leader. But he backs up these assertions with a 90-minute Powerpoint presentation worth of clear-headed, reasoned and well-documented argument -- complete with hundreds of footnotes.
-- Gore knows all about lying. Check out my profile of him on the new blog I'm working on. His environmental book and movie contains more bullshit than the world's largest cattle farm. Not to mention his claim to have "created the internet" and "been the model couple for Love Story".

Divided into three parts, the book's simple structure makes it easy to follow. The opening identifies what Gore contends are the five enemies of reason -- fear, superstition, ideology, deception and intolerance.
-- How about hypocrisy, deception, intolerance, fear and superstition, Gore style?

Middle chapters examine the damage those things have caused, and the last 30 pages offer a few solutions.
And just what is that damage? Gore breaks it down into five areas:
* The squandering of international goodwill over Iraq has caused a threat to our national security, as the world now fears us instead of respects us.
-- Meanwhile, Gore is trying to scare the bejeezus out of children in the USA. I could write a whole piece on Iraq, but why bother when thousands of others have.

* Ignoring the rational arguments of scientists has weakened our environmental security, as shown by the failure to be ready for the known problems Katrina and global warming would cause.
-- No scientist without his face in the AGW trough blames Katrina on Global Warming. This was just one of dozens of lies in his other book and movie.

* Our excessive dependence on imported oil continues to weaken our energy security.
-- I guess this means that he wants to somehow find more in the Hollywood Hills and plough it up.

* Our liberty is threatened when our government uses fear and raw power -- instead of reasoned argument -- to get what it wants domestically.
-- Gore is the Fear Meister. I guess Gore would have reasoned with the Islamoloonies who flew planes into their targets on 911. And would have reasoned with Sadaam (that worked great), and with Usama.

* And finally, Gore says our general welfare is threatened when our government stops serving the interests of all its people, and instead skews its policies toward the wealthy and privileged.
-- It is to laugh. Gore IS WEALTHY AND PRIVILEGED. He hangs out with wealthy and famous people. His patron and his father's was Armand Hammer (Oxy Petro Owner - to whom the Gore's sold their soul)

As for solutions, the book offers only one: Gore in '08! OK, not really. Just wanted to see if you were still with me.
-- Darlin, I was never with ya on this. Anyone who thinks that a gigantic theme park based around a happy rat is worth a book got a problem. And doesn't know anything about anything serious.

Actually, the book closes by arguing that, now more than ever, our citizens must be well informed and must feel like they are part of the political process. It holds out hope that the internet is the key, and that television could play a part by doing things like scheduling Congressional debates in prime time. Gore also claims that we need additional campaign reform, including making contributions more transparent.
-- Stop. Think for a moment. Congressional Debates in Prime Time. Up against American Idol. Will draw big. Yup. Big. As far as transparency on campaign finance, how about Fat Albert's own brush with the law on this one.

My favorite part of the book is early on, when Gore argues that the main cause of the decline of reasoned political thought is television. He contends that when more Americans started getting their news from TV instead of newspapers, the emphasis changed from reading, an activity that by its nature activates the parts of the brain involved with reasoning, to watching, which elicits emotion but not thought. Recalling the words of Thomas Jefferson, Gore writes: "The 'well-informed citizenry' is in danger of becoming the 'well-amused audience.'"
-- I wish Gore only amused me. I can't disagree with the problems with TV - I produced a program called "The Death of Television". But maybe he doesn't have time to watch the good TV that's out there. And I suspect the first books he would put on anyone's list would be... his.

In my work, I spend many evenings at Walt Disney World, which concludes each day with a gigantic fireworks show. Called Wishes, it closes with children singing "If you keep on believing, a wish that you make will come true." I know it sounds trite, but perhaps those prerecorded kids have a point. Reading this book, I felt like I was back in my 1970s high school civics class, a time when the present had its problems, but the future seemed so bright. Maybe it can still be. If not for me, at least for my daughter.
-- If Gore keeps on believing, does that mean that he'll keep on running for President. Even after he wouldn't be able to fit through the doors of the White House.

Lemon: Truth From Iraq - The War is Being Won

From Here
Apparently this is the latest chapter in al-Qaeda's war manual in their war against the Iraqi people and the coalition; raiding remote peaceful villages, burning down homes and slaughtering both man and beast.
This campaign I will call a campaign of self-destruction. For probably a year al-Qaeda was trying to build their so called Islamic State in Iraq and several times they declared parts of Baghdad or other provinces as the capital of that state.
But now that they have been losing one base after another their objective changed from adding more towns and villages to the "state" to destroying the very same towns and villages! Obviously it's all about making headlines regardless of the means to do that!

And what are the chances of reading this anywhere in the western MSM.

Lemon: The Good that GW Bush Has Wrought

From Golden Lemon Award Winner Snakeoil Baron.

• A nation that was run by a totalitarian regime, controlled by an ethnic group that was a minority in the nation (no offense to Iraqi Sunnis but no minority can rule a majority without fear and force) is now run by a multi ethnic parliament that was elected by vast participation of popular vote.
• A government is in place in Iraq which is fighting corruption (not perfectly but progressively) and struggling to secure itself against forces which threaten it and the stability of the region rather than one which struggled to promote these forces.
• Iraq's freedom of the press and of expression has lead to a boom in the independent media and personal communications in a nation where cell phones and Internet access was controlled (Saddam once said that the Internet was the end of civilization)
• While corruption is widespread in Iraq it is declining where as up until the invasion it was rising rapidly.
• Iraq's economy is improving continuously in contrast to the 30 years before the invasion.
• The education, health, justice and banking systems and civil utilities are improving instead of declining. Children have been vaccinated, farmers are getting access to training and technologies they did not have before and access to veterinary services.
• Drained marshes are being restored.
• The more sectarian politicians who were elected in the first round of elections are no longer as popular and the populations in Sunni regions are turning against al Qaida.
• All told, Iraq is one of the nations that poses the least threat to the region and to America which is a far different case than before. Iraq holds far more potential for creating diversified (not exclusively oil based) prosperity and security than Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan or even Egypt not that she is devolving into a banana republic. It is not that there is no hope for these other nations but there must be a lot of change and hard work within them and a change of attitude toward them to get them on the most direct path to peace and prosperity.

Lemon: BBC Misinforming British Children

Discovered at CBBC and hat tip to Fred at Gay&Right.
CBBC is a BBC website directed at young teens. Get their hearts and minds early.
Note that not all content is US negative, but it should also be noted that none is US positive.

On Afghanistan:
"In September 2001, thousands of Americans were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The United States believed that Osama Bin Laden - the head of al Qaeda - was the man behind these attacks.
There was a lot of international pressure on the Afghan leaders to hand over Osama Bin Laden. When the Taleban didn't do this, the United States decided they would use their armed forces.
In October 2001, the USA began bombing Afghanistan. They targeted Bin Laden's al Qaeda fighters and also the Taleban."

On Al Qaida:
They have been blamed for a lot of attacks and bombings in different countries all over the world. They are opposed to a lot of western governments, who have called them a terrorist organisation.
They want countries like the US to stop having influence in the Middle East - particularly in places like Iraq and Israel. Their leader is thought to be a man called Osama bin Laden.

On Kyoto:
Some people say it won't have any real impact because America - one of the world's biggest polluters - has pulled out.
Any global agreement on trade or the environment isn't as powerful as it could be unless it has US backing, and the president decides what gets that backing.

Lemon: Of Obama and Hilary

Lots of folks have asked for my opinion on who the next POTUS will be, and as all know, everyone is entitled to my opinion.
First off, I don't think that the Democrats have it locked up at all. It's a long time til E-Day down south, the GOP are fierce and successful campaigners, the economy is in great shape and the situation in Iraq is improving.
And they have some pretty good candidates - notably Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, both of whom might not be much on content, but are great on TV.
Meanwhile, the best that the Democratic Party can up up with are Hilary and Obama.
Obama is too slick by half and lets his mouth work faster than his mind ("invade Pakistan", "President of Canada").
Hilary is an icicle with a complete inability to connect individually or to mass audiences.
Also, I know the US pretty well, and I recall a story told by Richard Pryor a generation ago, that is the elephant in the parlor:
"I asked God, 'Lord, will there ever be a female President?"
"God said, 'Not in your lifetime, Richard.'"
"Well, then, Lord, will there ever be a black President?"
"God said, 'Not in my lifetime, Richard.'"

Best of CBL: US Should Pull Out of Memphis Feb 28/06

Originally Posted February 28, 2006
If the logic of Dems in the USA (and other America Haters around the world) were followed through with, then the US should pull out of at least 9 US cities. A Tabular Perspective of "violent" death rates in Iraq, the USA and Canada.

Lemon: Whence Afstan

Peggy Wente has an interesting piece in the Globe yesterday. She interviews "Rory Stewart", someone seemingly unbiased politically, but very aware of the staus went, quo and possible in Afghanistan.
His conclusion (my summary) is that Afstan is a country just out of the stone age, with a population having no awareness or interest in democracy.

In Mr. Stewart's view, there's not much difference between the illusions of the American neo-cons (who imagined that once Iraq embraced democracy the rest of Middle East would follow suit) and the illusions of the enlightened policy consultants and aid workers from CIDA or the UN. "Colonial administrations may have been racist and exploitative," he writes. "But they did at least work seriously at the business of understanding the people they were governing."

The thing is, does the impossibility of trying to compress two centuries of societal evolution mean that this war should not be fought or a rush to civilization not attempted?

An argument can be made on continuance based on two factors. (a) It is far better to confront and tie Al Qaida's and the Taliban's shorts in knots in Khandahar than in Kitchener or Kansas, and (b) it is valuable to not allow Afstan to act as a save haven and grad school for terrorists.
We need to stay there for this, if for no other reason.

Does CBC Hate America?

I know, it's a rhetorical question..
This morning, driving to the links, I tuned into CBC Sunday Edition.
I have written positively on the program before - I think it is likely one of the best radio news programs in the world. Often guests will be truly neutral and panels will be equally represented from both sides. And I like Michael Enright, he most often doesn't push his own views and acts as a congenial and well balanced host.
Today was an exception.
This morning's show opened with an essay on Iraq by Enright - certainly the most uninformed, biased report on Iraq to which I have ever been an audience (I suspect there were a few dozen others.) Every possible facet of the struggle for democracy was deemed to be a failure (notwithstanding that the population turned out to vote - with risk of assassination - in higher numbers than ever in Canadian history.
I was disappointed that the intro didn't provide a transcript, but here's a link to the website - audio should be posted in a day or two. I encourage you to listen in if you wish to be really pissed off.
And notwithstanding that even ABC says that things are getting much better.
And reports I get from US soldiers say that people in Baghdad live pretty normal lives - the kids go to school every day, Dad goes to work and Mom to the market. Every week or so there's some gunfire or bomb noise somewhere within earshot and people go inside for an hour or two.
And he fails to mention how Kurdistan has become a tourist hot spot.
Why does CBC feel it necessary to be so patently partisanly political?

Rambling thoughts

In the interest of seeming to be different, the Dion Liberals are appearing schizophrenic - very busy reversing positions on many laws and legislation that they put in place, in the first place. Examples include the Anti-Terrorist act, along with being a leader in the Afganistan mission and the detainee agreement.

But also, it looks like they are reversing fields on the hate they have for everything American. During the Chretien/Martin years the IN thing was to be anti-US. If the US anything it was wrong and our candy-assed liberal leaders bent over backwards to do the opposite. Iraq and Kyoto are two obvious examples.

When did things change? Because now, the Liberals are selectively choosing to look toward Americans for leadership, even encouraging their involvement. Providing it fits with their weak-kneed philosophy, of course.

They are cheering on an 85 yr old grandmother from the states who's taking on Syncrude.
They love a crtain chubby ex-president who has all the answers for Canada when he could not even get his on government to sign Kyoto.
He even voted AGAINST IT!
Good for him, because while the US pople didn't want him as President, he has Canadian Liberals who seem to love him.
I wonder how many trees have been cut down to produce Gore's book, how many tons of energy used and how much pollution produced by printing and distribution. And it is replacing the Bible in hotel rooms.
How many other Americans are loved by the Liberals and are influencing us today. Ellie May is a US citizen and personal friend of Bill Clinton. Iggy spent many years as a professor there and supported Iraq and torture.
Then there is Time magazine naming Arar one of the most influential people in the world, while George Bush is left off the list.
I wonder if we should warn supporters of SSM, to beware, the way liberals change their mind, they might change their policy on that next. And who knows, maybe they'll finally keep their promise to kill the GST. If w're ever dumb enough to elect them.

Evening Lemons Report Duff & Newman April 27

I know, I know - I was gonna take a Newman Duff break - but they had some new faces on - Iggy, Attaran, Pink Lloyd and Babs Mac. So I started taking notes...
What did Michael Corleone say? "Every time I try to get out, they pull me back in..."
I never said never.

Iggy says Minister O'Connor doesn't have confidence of PM. From whence does this come from?
Duffy says deal struck by Grits less than other NATO participants. Why?
Babs MacDougall and Pink Lloyd on Newman. Babs says mission breaking new ground. All agree our people acting exemplary. Lloyd says we're the exception - lies and says that NATO mission was only to provide protection. Where did this come from? Why doesn't he blame his Grits for striking this deal to escalate war if that the case?
Lloyd says we're not protecting the civilians in Kandahar - lies and says we're not leaving anyone in the villages to save the teachers.
Babs slaps Lloyd on his watch in Kosovo, he makes half assed story to justify USA's unilateral action under Clinton. (which was a good move, just like Iraq is and killing Taliban is).
On Duff - frmr Canadian Colonel Pellerin informs that only 5 of the 30 prisoners interviewed by Globe and Mail were ever in Canadian hands.
DUFF reads Al Qaida Handbook instructions to lie about torture when captured...
Iggy loving Amir Attaran on DUFFY - Spin Speaking Islamic Lover.
Amir (using typical Grit spin) says that then if they are Taliban/AlQaida and have been released, the story is even worse.
Duff says pretty rich for Liberals to complain about deal when it was their deal. Amir says he doesn't want to be partisan (like he is ANYTHING ELSE BUT PARTISAN). Makes excuses for Grits and says Bill Graham had nothing to do with deal on observing prisoners - was Hillier (ohhh - so the Liberals gave UP citizen control of the military). Says how does Pellerin know only 5, says names were not released. Says he doesn't believe it. (Maybe he's not important enough - or trusted enough - to be told.)
Regular poli-mouthpieces on Duffy-- Ablonczy says legal process on Adscam still underway. Duffy got copy of letter from Taliban Jack to get Bill C-30 brought forward this week as private members bill. In this event we will be going to the polls - mid June.
Same story on Newman - Ellie May has her Liberal scarf on - must be using THEIR image consultants and hair dresser. Refers to legally binding treaty on Kyoto - there will be penalties she says by 2008. Yeah. Like we would pay them. Newman says, Ellie May - you and Jethro are tight - are you advising Jethro to get an election?
She wants Harper replaced now! Says she not a very good election strategist (first correct thing she's said).
She wants to be in on the discussions - who the heck does she think she is? I want Doug Henning in that huddle too. She's irritating. Click.
Dosanjh says that the Grits will review options on Bill C-30 - won't dismiss. Want to shame government into action. Diane A says - this from a party who did nothing.
Danny the Dick Williams calls PMSH "Steve" six times. Doesn't want more money - wants all the money. Good. Danny eff off and separate. Not Newfoundland just you. Partition Joe Batts Arm and live there. You're sure to have a great cable signal.
Powers with buzzcut. Scott equally clean cut - like him better looking like his raccoon self. More lies from Reid about Newfie deal.
Powers on allegations in Afstan. "We're at war and an irresponsible opposition is disparaging government." Reid says Martin sent troops to organize picnics and under PMSH Canadian soldiers are dying to suck up to GW Bush.
Newman Press Panel -Russo says nobody wants election (and I agree but the level of ugly debate in the House means an enema or an election).
Red Travers says more reasons for election than last time. Says parties should get together. Yeah. Sure.
Chris Hall of CBC says that the opps could get together and force an election. He might get his wish.
Weston says Tali Jack setting trap for Liberals - private members bill could cause defeat of CPC unless Dion votes against C-30.
Ol' Duke and Miss Jane on Duff - talks about Justie Trudeau. Taber says do you really think that the Grits will let him lose the nomination? Oliver says O'Connor has lost credibility - The General has more credibility than ALL the Grit MPs combined. Says Jay Hill will become Defense Minister. If, and I say, if the General does go, then Jay would be a great choice.

Glad I tuned in - great shows tonight - just when I least expected it.
solid 9/10

Human Rights Watch on CBC

Audio will be available here tomorrow.

Quote 1
"Just because you are fighting a war on terror doesn't mean you can ignore human rights."

This statement by the HRW representative on The Current this morning will certainly go unchallenged (at least by the Ceeb). But the implications of this are immense. They include:
-- Freedom of Information: Any person who is subject to investigation for terrorist connections (even UBL) could demand that all files be released to them and they be notified any time investigation is conducted.
-- Freedom of Movement: Any person who has not been charged or convicted of a crime could demand that they have exactly the same rights of a passport as any 'innocent' person.
-- Habeas Corpus: Any person found in the act of conspiring to launch a terrorist event (911 sequel) could demand that he/she be immediately be given counsel and receive all accompanying rights.
I'm sure there are other examples.
While rights were designed to protect the innocent, they are being used as a tool of terrorists. They will take our strengths as a society and use them against us. Expect them to hire our countries' top constitutional lawyers to represent them.

I wonder if the HRW representative would agree if she had lost anyone in the World Trade Center?

Quote 2
"No one knows how much pressure is being applied (in Ethiopia) by the United States.
So, where's the story here. There is none unless the US is proven to be applying pressure.
Somalia is a new desired breeding ground for Al Qaida, after being booted out of Afstan and Iraq as training grounds. Should we wait until they're fully imbedded before taking action? I WANT my nation to work actively against those who are conspiring to chop off my head. Good on them, if it's true.

Evening Blue Lemons Duff & Newman Report - April 10

The Old Boys are Back
Looks like the same dam "news" they been giving us for 10 days. Election? Now? Later?
Duff opens with return of soldiers from Ghanni. "Have reopened the discussion". Denis Coderre - public supporter of terrorists - well qualified to speak on this. For the enemy.
Libby Davies says that some wars were worthwhile but not others. Only those that save the lives of Socialists, Libby? "Our thoughts go out to the families" . . . pshaw. The NDP morally bankrupt on this - playing anti-war but supporting the soldiers. Horseshit.
How many Canadians dead - 51. How many Jihad Yokels - about 2,000. Who's winning this war? We effin are. And no thanks to you Libby. You are a traitor to the memories of those men. They WANTED to be there. Who the hell are you and Taliban Jack to tell them their mission is futile and wrong?
The NDP want Canada to be as useless and gutless as the French and Germans.
So Denis was with some families of the troops in New Brunswick? On which side. Hezbollah?
Libby wants to jump in. She always wants to jump in. Opposition and growing skepticism. NDP IS irresponsible, to quote Coderre. They are truly useless. Very important questions, Libby? Yes. Why do we have an NDP party - even the unions have dumped you because you're so incompetent. They will continue to oppose mission. Peacedicks.
Newman has peacenik Michael Byers from LIU Institute - he says Iraq war's not lost yet but not looking good. Check out my "Black and Right" post for great commentary on this.
Political Agenda - MacCallum and Libby Davies - can't stand 5 more minutes of her and any more of him. Click.
Stephen Staples - Renowned Communist on Duffy. Why do they get this guy who has dedicated himself to destroying our society and economy on major media outlets.
MacCallum and Davies suggest that the Tories might declare passage of the amended Clean Air Act a lost vote of confidence if it is passed - that's a new one. But I predicted a month or two ago that this might happen - the governing party vote against a money bill.
Nik Nanos on Duffy - doesn't have anything new to say.
Margaret MacDermott reports on IPCC in Wonderland - Says a lot of talk about water rising, drought, bad storms, etc. Proof? No, but a lot of talk. www.charlesadler.com got a great report from some new voices.
Gonna be less research done because THIS government is cutting funding (emphasis hers).
So the scientists have their funding cut and are really angry
so they're changing their forecasts for the end of the world
from 100 years from now to 2008.
I'm scared.
Should we spend $20 million on more science on global climate warming change research or on AIDS research or on food for starving people? The CBC will be the last to drop this line of bizarro world thinking.
Gerrard Kennedy on Duffy with Benoit and Ndip McGrath - Vimy and Ghanni compared - McGrath says Vimy Party fantastic but Ghanni deaths horrible. Deep.
Kennedy got his hair cut - much more low key and less partisan than in past. He musta been gotten to. Kennedy mentions a Dutch guy bringing a gift every year to thank Canada (likely Chretien's invisible homeless guy). Does Gerrard think the a million Tulips in Ottawa grow on trees.
Sensitivation?? Gerrard just invented a word.
Newman talking about US primaries - I guess even HE is bored with Canadian politics these days.
Little bit of chatter about an election.
LaRue back on Newman - now there's a politician for ya - got the boot from the LPOC and got 1.8% of votes for Toronto Mayor. Robin Sears and Rick Anderson. Election . . . How much can be said about so little.
Duff with Weston and Taber. Weston - Dion numbers really hurt. (I'm starting to feel sorry for the little guy - maybe that's his strategy.) Dion melting in every wage group for PM job - was number 2 in every other party. Dead heat in Green Party between Eliz May and Stephen Harper. Liberal unlikely to get any drift from any other party. Grits say Steffi is out on the road getting better known. Maybe that's why he's at 14%.
Did bad stories on Steffi Dion (Air Canada and Dion using Martin advisors) come from inside Grit party?
Could Martin advisors be Scott Reid and David Herle?
Why are loyal Liberals leaking to journalists? Have they given up hope?
Was no great merger of supporters at the Grit Convention - has to win back own party.
I got pissed off at Libby Davies - just am tired of their pissing, moaning and mewling. She's just the messenger and I don't really blame her. Okay, a little (lot).
I enjoyed the shows as had a little 4 day withdrawal.
But still, not much new and nothing great. 3/10

Evening Lemons Report Newman and Duff - March 23

NEW POLL RESULTS IN HERE
Duff reveals Harper on cusp of Majority and that another poll shows Harper doing even better!
Quebec outlook for Charest is a little glim - three way tie. Almost certain Liberal minority.
Duff and Bill Johnston, Ian Macdonald and a prof on Fed/Prov relations in QC. Johnston reports that this campaign is the first in 37 years in QC that is not about separatism - is about more autonomy - in other words - Provincial Rights - which plays very well with PMSH strategy. Federals are riding at 2/3 of the vote - biggest since Rene L worked at CBC.
As a Cdn Nationalism major way back when (even met and was slightly scared by Levesque), this is an astounding change in QC.
Spin I'm looking for is where Fed Tories fit in with this trend. I gotta see it as the Liberal's iceberg - if a full third of the population has moved from the PQ to the ADQ for more autonomy but with laissez faire federalism this gotta be good for Harper.
Newman on Iranians capturing Brit sailors. We will see how this will roll out - will the Brits reinforce their Iraq commitment or pull a Spain? This could heat up in a hurry. Cannot be a bad thing, frankly. 80% of Iranians barely notice that Ahmedinejad even exists.
Peter Donolo (who works for my old buddy Al Gregg but worked for years for JJ Chretien after working for Barb Hall) is about to comment on the CPC dominant poll on Duff.
Pete says positive momentum and that Harp is in election territory. That budget pressed a lot of buttons.
Effective at growing base of support - every age group, everything but big cities but good movement there too. Still behind in women and immigrants. Says that ADQ strength is a good sign for CPC. Ontario - tied with Grits strength outside of 416/905 will see if this can be sustained.
Helena Gorgeous on message on poll as always, which means boring. Alexa agrees that bluenosers pissed off, but frankly they're ALWAYS pissed off, just as Alexa is ALWAYS self righteously outraged at the Tories. Remind me, how many NDP seats were there when she was NDP leader? 9 or something?
Zimbabwe / Mugabe?? Where the hell did this come from?
Ruby Dhalla is also on doing her best Angelina - talking fast, dressed nice - must be heading to a fundraiser. Alexa tries to beat up Helena on Canada not taking a leader role - gets slapped by Helena that Canada cannot do so - not in security council. Alexa was at one time an attractive leader - where'd she go bad.
Newman's all star print panel on budget. Prov Reps given airtime - all look like greedy idiots. Russo says he surprised more at lack of apoplexy by Premiers. Restreaming of FedFunds to Quebec tax break criticized as gratuitous by Delacourt. So?
Travers gets the primo opening relating budget to poll - he says need to wait to mean anything. So?
Travers - simplistic solutions to complex problems? Get real... Is his nose getting bigger? Click.
Reid and Powers go at it.
First on Stock Day paying off a guy who stepped down so he could run - of course with the Libs they used to just get a senate, judge, ambassador job to step down so a acolyte could run in a safe seat. Reform might have had to pay somebody cash. So?
Tim properly goes after Holland who is an absolute stunning idiot.
Reid looks clean and sober tonite - he's a smart guy and tough when he's on his way to Hy's not from Hy's.
I go back to my comment yesterday - why is it not political for the Grits to get the RCMP to investigate this case, but political for the NDP to go after Ralphie Hedgehog over the Income Trust mess? Huh?
New Poll promised.
Is Bertrand Bigras of the BQ a chicken that can talk? Bad hair Bertie...
NEW POLL - Ipsos Reid - 40% CPC -29% LPOC - More surge being seen. Get out the comfy shoes people.
Craig - we DID expect it. More seats in QC on the horizon.
Gloria thought the LPOC thought they had a good week. ooops. Could this be because Gloria sleeps with a Grit organizer?
Suggests Steffi be more active and vocal. (Best possible scenario for CPC I think). PMSH's dream is to have Steffi more active and vocal.
SK, NS and NL are anti CPC. So? What's the delta of them being pissed off - four seats?? They always tend to vote for the people in their least best interest anyway.
Gloria forgets the $1 Bill to farmers - think Sask farmers won't like this, Glo?
NS to sue feds?? Constitutional Right for equalization? So?
Craig SLAPS Paul Martin on deals with NS, SK and NL - says horrendous mistake.
FANTASTIC NIGHT ON DUFF and NEWMAN.
Lotsa huge stuff here.
It's a less stinky fishwrap tonight.

Chairman Mo Strong on Suzuki Board

Geneticist Kooky Suzuki makes a point of trying to suggest that his Foundation is a servant of the people.
But even a cursory glance at his Board reveals the leadership of most conflicted "peep" possible relative to the entire, stinky anthropogenic global warming mosh pit, Maurice Strong. (Note - Updated Link from CFP)
CBL has been a frequent observer of the questionable connections of Mr. Strong. How he has close ties to businesses with major interests in France that are reliant on Irani oil interests, how he is closely aligned with these same interests in China, how he was influential as a leader within the United Nations that resulted in corrupt programs such as Oil for Food in Iraq and Food Money for Nukes in North Korea. How he organized for Paul Martin to take over Canada Steamship Lines for a pitance, and then to become PM. How he was Godfather for almost forty years of Prime Ministers (prior to PMSH). And how he is the Father of Kyoto.
People are known by the company they keep. And if Kooky-man is in bed with Mo, than we can be assured that every single act of Suzuki and his Foundation should be given very in-depth scrutiny.

The End of the World as I Know It

Dems get elected, Al Qaeda claims victory.
Wandering through the streets of Toronto, and hearing that David Miller was a virtual lock to win as Mayor, and after thinking through what will likely happen in the Middle East with a real Nancy in charge of the House and the Dems running the Senate, I decided to give up and enjoy things while I can.
Toronto's traffic will be standing still, I will continue to get about $200 / month in tickets for parking in front of my own house, I will be getting even more nasty yellow notes from my garbage collector for desposing of more than 20km of wet waste and not following all the recycling rules, the bums will not hesitate to knock on my door to beg for money - it's their right (doncha know). Toronto will become more like Belgrade.
I'll steer clear of the subway, tall buildings and large collections of people because the islamofreaks will be bringing the war to us.
So, I'm gonna drink up and be merry.

Meanwhile, John Moore on CFRB is having a special celebrating veterans from WW2. Which is good. But then he slaps around all those who celebrate the attempts to do for Iraq and Afstan what we did for the French, Germans and Dutch, et al fifty odd years ago.
Ain't this finely hypcritical.

Wisdom in Galactica

Just watching this very cool program.
Ya see the good guys had a hero pilot down and the commanders were hell bent to send in a rescue mission.
The President urged them to reconsider and they would not. Finally they were persuaded by her statement that, "You are honorable and intelligent men. If you feel that the lives of 45,000 people and the future of mankind is worth the life of one pilot, than the human race has no chance of survival."
Rings a bell as far as our situations in Iraq and Afstan, doesn't it?

ps - in the end, she saves her own life through initiative, endeavour, intelligence and guts.

Great News - We have enough cowards of our own..

I'm sure Jack Layton will be all atwitter over this.

An American war deserter who sought refugee status in Canada will be returning to the U.S. to face the music -- but don't mistake that for surrender, says a war resister spokesman.
Darrell Anderson fled to Canada two years ago after serving seven months in Iraq.

The Death of the Blog

According to Ted McKeough in a special to The Star:

NEW YORK—There have been plenty of commentators arguing that blogs will lead to the demise of "old" media organizations that publish newspapers, magazines and books. ABC News columnist Michael S. Malone predicted the end of newspapers last year when he saw "the first links embedded in blogs. There was simply nothing in the physical world that could ever hope to match the ability to leap through cyberspace from story to story, file to file, with almost infinite extension." Or as former editor-in-chief of MSNBC.com Merrill Brown put it: "The future of the news industry is seriously threatened by the seemingly irrevocable move by young people away from traditional sources of news."Yet despite the proliferation and popularity of blogs, the obliteration of mainstream media as we know it is just not happening. Rather than resembling a steamroller, blogs are looking like the cheese on the bread that is mainstream media; or if you prefer, the icing on the cake.

As it now stands, the reason that so many blog links go to MSM is because, currently, the MSM is the dominant gatherers of news and content. No blogger can afford, individually, to, for example, imbed a journalist with the troops in the front lines of Iraq (or as most MSM outlets do, in the green zone). An except to this has been Steve Marshall of Guerrilla News who produced a Sundance award winning doc while doing this on his own tab.
This will change when there are more bloggers at the places where news occurs. News will be something that is reported in real time, by the participants and direct observers. And the main media for this will be blogs, in real time. And with the use of aggregators and spiders, a second after someone posts something interesting, the world will have it.
Then the MSM will become republishers. And they will die.

Forecast of Tuesday's Post Debates Comments

Susan Delacourt: "Paul Martin seemed to be half asleep until values were mentioned, then he was almost evangelical (in a good way) in denigrating Harper as 'an enemy of every single moral and ethical value that makes this country great. And I, for one, will not stand by while this man ruins this great country."

James Travers: "Paul Martin performed like an old shoe, not much to look at, but easy to slip into and out of. I suspect that a whole lot of people who tuned in are going to be dropping into Payless before January 23rd."

Tom Clark: "Paul Martin was in fighting trim and came out swinging when the topic turned to Quebec. He blasted at Stephen Harper that 'if you haven't lived in Quebec, then you can't understand Quebec, and you certainly can't help Quebecers who are trying to keep this country together'."

Greg Weston: "The Liberal's unhappy prospects for election took an even more desperate turn toward the end of the debate. The soon to be former Prime Minister piled one empty platitude on top of another until even his own eyes started to glaze over. Meanwhile, Stephen Harper stayed entirely within his bandwidth; not too hot, not too cold, just right."

Andrew Coyne: "When will it end... Repeating unfulfilled Liberal promises from elections past and bringing to the debate old enemies long gone from the battlefield. I kept waiting for Martin to bring up Arthur Meighen, for heaven sakes. If Martin is to have any hope in this campaign, then he has to start living in the now. Otherwise, I just wish someone would put him out of his misery. Maybe he could finish the campaign on a slow CSL boat to Vanatu or something."

John Ibbitson: "This campaign remains to be decided. No one was overly impressive, nor destructively bad, and nothing was done or said that would swing a meaningful number of votes in meaningful ridings. It will be hard to say, though, what Paul Martin can do between now and E-Day to turn things around."

Sheila Copps: "This guy has no shame; seconds after he was denying any connection to the Chretien government, he was taking credit for everything from the Clarity Act to staying out of Iraq. This even though in caucus meetings he had spoken vigourously against both."

A Certain Grit Blogger: "Paul Martin got em exactly where we want em. His calm, statesmanlike stance blew Harper out of the water and promises to make his tenure in Stornaway even briefer. Its great to be a huge underdog going into the last two weeks of the campaign."