I was not very optimistic of a Coalition victory in Oz. I am a little more hopeful now. The leaks coming out of labour have been damaging. Good luck to Tony Abbott, a climate realist and Monarchist and our coalition friends.
The latest Nielson Poll represented a stunning reversal of fortunes for the government after a week in which damaging leaks about Ms Gillard's deliberations on the pension rise and paid parental leave and continued speculation on the role of the man she deposed as Prime Minister sucked the oxygen from Labor's campaign.
Ms Gillard said she sent a message of goodwill to Mr Rudd who has been hospitalised for a gall bladder operation.
The poll showed Labor's primary vote had fallen six points in a week to 36 per cent while the coalition's primary vote rose four to 45 per cent. The Greens remained steady at 12 per cent.
The poll also showed Ms Gillard's approval rating had fallen five points to 51 per cent and disapproval rating rose six points to 39 per cent.
Mr Abbott's approval rose six points to 49 per cent and his disapproval fell six points to 45 per cent.
Mr Gillard's 21 point lead in the preferred Prime Minister stakes had fallen to a 49-41 lead.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Frum wants a carbon tax
I of course oppose a carbon tax. It is an unnecessary tax grab. I do however agree with this passage from the article.
The climate-change issue has provoked great skepticism. Too many climate advocates have engaged in hysterical exaggeration (that’s you, Al Gore). Others have engaged in dirty tricks and data manipulation (hello, “hide the decline”). But maybe the biggest problem of all is the well-founded suspicion that many climate-change activists are trying to use the environment to smuggle in other concerns: to promote the redistribution of wealth to poorer countries, to expand the role of government in the private economy.
The climate issue won’t go anywhere until climate advocates jettison those unrelated priorities. Junk the secret agenda, and the core problem may prove surprisingly easy to fix.
The climate-change issue has provoked great skepticism. Too many climate advocates have engaged in hysterical exaggeration (that’s you, Al Gore). Others have engaged in dirty tricks and data manipulation (hello, “hide the decline”). But maybe the biggest problem of all is the well-founded suspicion that many climate-change activists are trying to use the environment to smuggle in other concerns: to promote the redistribution of wealth to poorer countries, to expand the role of government in the private economy.
The climate issue won’t go anywhere until climate advocates jettison those unrelated priorities. Junk the secret agenda, and the core problem may prove surprisingly easy to fix.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
I had the pleasure of meeting Ayaan Hirsi Ali last year. She is an amazing , brave young woman who understands first hand the jihadi threat. It is great to watch her slap down another cbc leftist. (h/t Kathy
More problems for the dems
The midterms keep getting bleaker for the dems. It seems two prominent members of the Congressional Black caucus will will tried in the house for ethics violations.
This is on top of Congressman Massa and congressman Jefferson and of course bo's friend blago . Corruption charges against the GOP figured prominently in the last election cycle and cost the GOP. It is interesting to note that Senator Steven of Alaska was completely cleared and the prosecutors severely criticized. This will be a very unpleasant time for the dems. If rangel and waters had an decency they would resign. Instead some of their prominent dem colleagues are defending them. Though the dems who fear defeat are calling for rangel's resignation.
“Charlie Rangel is not reflecting a culture of anything,” added Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who has served with Rangel in Congress since 1975. “He’s being charged with personal errors that may amount and may not amount to violations of the ethics rules; that has not been determined.”
So much for pelosi's claims that she would be draining the swamp. Most of the swamp seems to be inside the dem caucus. Read more from Michelle Malkin.
This is on top of Congressman Massa and congressman Jefferson and of course bo's friend blago . Corruption charges against the GOP figured prominently in the last election cycle and cost the GOP. It is interesting to note that Senator Steven of Alaska was completely cleared and the prosecutors severely criticized. This will be a very unpleasant time for the dems. If rangel and waters had an decency they would resign. Instead some of their prominent dem colleagues are defending them. Though the dems who fear defeat are calling for rangel's resignation.
“Charlie Rangel is not reflecting a culture of anything,” added Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who has served with Rangel in Congress since 1975. “He’s being charged with personal errors that may amount and may not amount to violations of the ethics rules; that has not been determined.”
So much for pelosi's claims that she would be draining the swamp. Most of the swamp seems to be inside the dem caucus. Read more from Michelle Malkin.
Lord Black on Lord Black
It is touching to read of Lord Black's affection for Lady Black. They have been married 18 years. Lady Black did not abandon Lord Black during this ordeal. I have been struck by the nastiness of the gossips particularly about Lady Black. I am also saddened by the shadenfreude of some Canadians who seem jealous of the wealthy and successful.
I am still a law and order conservative, but I have been disillusioned with the American justice system. They jail too many people,often for far too long. I want violent offenders and sexual predators heavily punished. Jailing people like drug users is often not very useful. As I have said before I am tending to believe the Portuguese system is probably better way. Arbitrary laws with too much prosecutorial discretion is a bad idea. This case and the Duke "rape" case have been eye opening to me. I still think our system is too lenient with violent criminals and especially on sexual predators, I don't want a situation where 1% of our population is incarcerated often for years for minor drug offences.
I am pleased that Lord Black has been released. He should never have been criminally prosecuted. These were civil matters. Hollinger has lost billions of dollars worth of value.
This prosecution has at lest had the side effect of exposing a vague and capricious law, at great cost to great man. I hope he is back in Canada very soon.
A steady stream of well-wishers from all factions of the compound came to say goodbye, as I put my books and papers and a few clothes items into cardboard boxes. (The only article of clothing that I took that was not among the few things I had bought myself was the nondescript brown shirt bequeathed to me when he left by the don of one of the famous New York gang families).
More from Jonathan Kay.
The Mafiosi, the Colombian drug dealers, (including a senator with whom I had a special greeting as a fellow member of a parliamentary upper house), the American drug dealers, high and low, black, white, and Hispanic; the alleged swindlers, hackers, pornographers, credit card fraudsters, bank robbers, and even an accomplished airplane thief; the rehabilitated and unregenerate, the innocent and the guilty, and in almost all cases the grossly over-sentenced, streamed in steadily for hours, to make their farewells.
Most goodbyes were brief and jovial, some were emotional, and a few were quite heart-rending. Many of the 150 students that my very able fellow tutors and I had helped to graduate from high school, came by, some of them now enrolled in university by cyber-correspondence.
I am still a law and order conservative, but I have been disillusioned with the American justice system. They jail too many people,often for far too long. I want violent offenders and sexual predators heavily punished. Jailing people like drug users is often not very useful. As I have said before I am tending to believe the Portuguese system is probably better way. Arbitrary laws with too much prosecutorial discretion is a bad idea. This case and the Duke "rape" case have been eye opening to me. I still think our system is too lenient with violent criminals and especially on sexual predators, I don't want a situation where 1% of our population is incarcerated often for years for minor drug offences.
I am pleased that Lord Black has been released. He should never have been criminally prosecuted. These were civil matters. Hollinger has lost billions of dollars worth of value.
This prosecution has at lest had the side effect of exposing a vague and capricious law, at great cost to great man. I hope he is back in Canada very soon.
A steady stream of well-wishers from all factions of the compound came to say goodbye, as I put my books and papers and a few clothes items into cardboard boxes. (The only article of clothing that I took that was not among the few things I had bought myself was the nondescript brown shirt bequeathed to me when he left by the don of one of the famous New York gang families).
More from Jonathan Kay.
The Mafiosi, the Colombian drug dealers, (including a senator with whom I had a special greeting as a fellow member of a parliamentary upper house), the American drug dealers, high and low, black, white, and Hispanic; the alleged swindlers, hackers, pornographers, credit card fraudsters, bank robbers, and even an accomplished airplane thief; the rehabilitated and unregenerate, the innocent and the guilty, and in almost all cases the grossly over-sentenced, streamed in steadily for hours, to make their farewells.
Most goodbyes were brief and jovial, some were emotional, and a few were quite heart-rending. Many of the 150 students that my very able fellow tutors and I had helped to graduate from high school, came by, some of them now enrolled in university by cyber-correspondence.
Friday, July 30, 2010
A decent man remembered
A lovely tribute to a thoroughly decent and loyal man murdered by the vile and cowardly ira.
Twenty years ago today, a fine man was foully murdered. Ian Gow had been one of Margaret Thatcher's close associates. No one on the UK mainland had been more resolute in defending the cause of Ulster Unionism. So he attracted the IRA's enmity. Even if not actually in uniform, he fell in battle against terrorism: a battle in which he had been a proud combatant.
His death had a terrible irony. A few weeks earlier, he had held a small drinks party. The conversation turned to the hardships suffered by MPs' wives, so often stuck at home in the constituency, cut off from the glamorous aspects of parliamentary life. Ian paid tribute to his beloved Jane, who never complained about being a grass-widow. He referred to her as "my poor widow" and "the Widow Gow". Then Ulster was mentioned. "Ian, old lad," said Jonathan Aitken, "I hope you vary your route to the Commons and check under your car." "Certainly not," Ian replied. "I am at less risk than any serving officer in Her Majesty's Royal Ulster Constabulary – and anyway, I wouldn't know what to look for."
On July 30, there was a bomb under his car. Ian was killed. Jane was widowed.
Twenty years ago today, a fine man was foully murdered. Ian Gow had been one of Margaret Thatcher's close associates. No one on the UK mainland had been more resolute in defending the cause of Ulster Unionism. So he attracted the IRA's enmity. Even if not actually in uniform, he fell in battle against terrorism: a battle in which he had been a proud combatant.
His death had a terrible irony. A few weeks earlier, he had held a small drinks party. The conversation turned to the hardships suffered by MPs' wives, so often stuck at home in the constituency, cut off from the glamorous aspects of parliamentary life. Ian paid tribute to his beloved Jane, who never complained about being a grass-widow. He referred to her as "my poor widow" and "the Widow Gow". Then Ulster was mentioned. "Ian, old lad," said Jonathan Aitken, "I hope you vary your route to the Commons and check under your car." "Certainly not," Ian replied. "I am at less risk than any serving officer in Her Majesty's Royal Ulster Constabulary – and anyway, I wouldn't know what to look for."
On July 30, there was a bomb under his car. Ian was killed. Jane was widowed.
Elaine Benes leads the grits?
wouldn't you like to see a dance off between these. Wow iffy is awkward. Maybe he forgot to take dance lessons at that great public high school Upper Canada College.
Iffy is open to more deficots and more stimulus spending. It was the grits and dippers who forced the deficit on us in the first place.
Ignatieff Says It's Too Soon to `Shut the Door' on More Canada Stimulus
By Theophilos Argitis - Jul 30, 2010 10:51 AM EDT
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Canadian opposition leader Michael Ignatieff said it’s too early to “shut the door” on additional economic stimulus as new spending measures may be needed to fuel the recovery.
Ignatieff, whose Liberal Party holds the balance of power in Parliament, said “very high levels” of consumer debt pose a risk to the recovery by putting a “squeeze on the middle-class family” as interest rates rise.
“We’re not sure the economic recovery is stable,” Ignatieff, 63, said in an interview in Toronto yesterday. “We’re going to have to make judgments about whether stimulus may be necessary” next year.
Iffy is open to more deficots and more stimulus spending. It was the grits and dippers who forced the deficit on us in the first place.
Ignatieff Says It's Too Soon to `Shut the Door' on More Canada Stimulus
By Theophilos Argitis - Jul 30, 2010 10:51 AM EDT
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Canadian opposition leader Michael Ignatieff said it’s too early to “shut the door” on additional economic stimulus as new spending measures may be needed to fuel the recovery.
Ignatieff, whose Liberal Party holds the balance of power in Parliament, said “very high levels” of consumer debt pose a risk to the recovery by putting a “squeeze on the middle-class family” as interest rates rise.
“We’re not sure the economic recovery is stable,” Ignatieff, 63, said in an interview in Toronto yesterday. “We’re going to have to make judgments about whether stimulus may be necessary” next year.
Hey murderous mullahs, leave those kids alone
The murderous mullahs have good friends in the godless chinese commies and in Turkey. They even have agents in Canada.
The west should give more money to democratic forces in Iran.
More fraum Dr Krauthammer.
The idea that Israel, let alone the United States, has the slightest interest in starting a war on Israel’s north is crazy. But claims about imminent attacks are serious business in that region. In May 1967, the Soviet Union falsely told its client, Egypt, that Israel was preparing to attack Syria. These rumors set off a train of events — the mobilization of Arab armies, the southern blockade of Israel, the hasty signing of an inter-Arab military pact — that led to the Six-Day War.
Ahmadinejad’s claim is not supported by a shred of evidence. So what is he up to?
It is a sign that he is under serious pressure. Passage of weak UN sanctions was followed by unilateral sanctions by the United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union. Already, reports Reuters, Iran is experiencing a sharp drop in gasoline imports as Lloyd’s of London refuses to insure the ships delivering them.
Second, the Arab states are no longer just whispering their desire for the U.S. to militarily take out Iranian nuclear facilities. The United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to Washington said so openly at a conference three weeks ago.
The shrinking deficit
We already had news that the deficit is already down by 41% so far this year Now it seems the Conference Board thinks the budget will be balanced a year earlier. Once again kevin page and the grits are wrong. The Conference Board is predicting 7.2% growth. That's a good start, but let's hope there are more cuts to make the deficit shrink even faster.
OTTAWA — So long as the federal government keeps its pledge on curbing program spending, Ottawa should return to a surplus position one year ahead of schedule based on how the economy is unfolding, the Conference Board of Canada said Thursday.
"A more positive fiscal outcome now appears to be unfolding" for the federal government, according to a commentary co-authored by the board's chief economist, Glen Hodgson.
The same can't be said for Canada's provinces, the piece said, and they have difficult choices ahead in the coming years due to mounting health care costs.
In a commentary published on its board's website, Hodgson and senior economist Matthew Stewart said they anticipate that nominal GDP — which is growth unadjusted for inflation and represents the base from which government collects taxes — will surge 7.2 per cent this year, compared with the 4.9 per cent expectation in budget 2010.
"This is a very strong first step on the path to restoring fiscal balance at the federal level."
OTTAWA — So long as the federal government keeps its pledge on curbing program spending, Ottawa should return to a surplus position one year ahead of schedule based on how the economy is unfolding, the Conference Board of Canada said Thursday.
"A more positive fiscal outcome now appears to be unfolding" for the federal government, according to a commentary co-authored by the board's chief economist, Glen Hodgson.
The same can't be said for Canada's provinces, the piece said, and they have difficult choices ahead in the coming years due to mounting health care costs.
In a commentary published on its board's website, Hodgson and senior economist Matthew Stewart said they anticipate that nominal GDP — which is growth unadjusted for inflation and represents the base from which government collects taxes — will surge 7.2 per cent this year, compared with the 4.9 per cent expectation in budget 2010.
"This is a very strong first step on the path to restoring fiscal balance at the federal level."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Stephen vs Mike on Power and Politics
It was great to see two of my friends debate on Power and Politics even if if it was on the cbc.( watch at 13:49) It was a friendly debate, but I am more on side with Stephen, though Mike makes some good points.
Stephen and Mike from roy eappen on Vimeo.
Stephen and Mike from roy eappen on Vimeo.
The hoax is dead?
An obituary for the church of kyoto and the chicken little movement.
The Death Of The Global Warming Movement
Shikha Dalmia, 07.28.10, 4:00 PM ET
Future historians will pinpoint Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's energy legislation, released Tuesday, as the moment that the political movement of global warming entered an irreversible death spiral. It is kaput! Finito! Done!
This is not just my read of the situation; it is also that of Paul Krugman, the Nobel laureate-turned-Democratic-apparatchik. In his latest column for The New York Times, Krugman laments that “all hope for action to limit climate change died” in 2010. Democrats had a brief window of opportunity before the politics of global warming changed forever in November to ram something through Congress. But the Reid bill chose not to do so for the excellent reason that Democrats want to avoid an even bigger beating than the one they already face at the polls.
Not only does the bill avoid all mention of an economy-wide emission cap through a cap-and-tax--oops, cap-and-trade--scheme, it even avoids capping emissions or imposing renewable electricity standards on utility companies, the minimum that enviros had hoped for. Beyond stricter regulations on off-shore drilling, it offers subsidies to both homeowners to encourage them to make their homes more energy efficient and the nation's fleet of trucks to use cleaner burning natural gas. This is not costless, but it is a bargain compared with the “comprehensive” action on energy and climate change that President Barack Obama had been threatening.
The Death Of The Global Warming Movement
Shikha Dalmia, 07.28.10, 4:00 PM ET
Future historians will pinpoint Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's energy legislation, released Tuesday, as the moment that the political movement of global warming entered an irreversible death spiral. It is kaput! Finito! Done!
This is not just my read of the situation; it is also that of Paul Krugman, the Nobel laureate-turned-Democratic-apparatchik. In his latest column for The New York Times, Krugman laments that “all hope for action to limit climate change died” in 2010. Democrats had a brief window of opportunity before the politics of global warming changed forever in November to ram something through Congress. But the Reid bill chose not to do so for the excellent reason that Democrats want to avoid an even bigger beating than the one they already face at the polls.
Not only does the bill avoid all mention of an economy-wide emission cap through a cap-and-tax--oops, cap-and-trade--scheme, it even avoids capping emissions or imposing renewable electricity standards on utility companies, the minimum that enviros had hoped for. Beyond stricter regulations on off-shore drilling, it offers subsidies to both homeowners to encourage them to make their homes more energy efficient and the nation's fleet of trucks to use cleaner burning natural gas. This is not costless, but it is a bargain compared with the “comprehensive” action on energy and climate change that President Barack Obama had been threatening.
Intrigue in Toronto
The Toronto mayoral race seems to be having some intrigue. For the millionth time someone says John Tory senior is running. His two sons are apparently working for Sarah Thomson. One of John Tory's sons was to be Thomson's campaign manager.Where is that son? Which also begs the question where is Sarah's old campaign manager , the lovely, highly competent and very well connected Wendy Stewart. Wendy was the reason I was initially supporting Sarah. The more conspiracy minded among us might see a plot.
A chief campaign strategist on Thomson’s very small team is Tory’s son, John Tory Jr. And on Wednesday, the buzz was that another of Tory’s sons, George Tory, was to be named Thomson’s new campaign manager.
Both, according to a source, told Thomson before signing on that they would leave should their father enter the race.
What began as a fringe candidacy in January, buttressed in part by Thomson’s gender in the white male political landscape, has evolved into a formidable run at city hall. An Environics poll released in June showed the plucky Women’s Post publisher running third — ahead of deputy mayor Joe Pantalone.
A chief campaign strategist on Thomson’s very small team is Tory’s son, John Tory Jr. And on Wednesday, the buzz was that another of Tory’s sons, George Tory, was to be named Thomson’s new campaign manager.
Both, according to a source, told Thomson before signing on that they would leave should their father enter the race.
What began as a fringe candidacy in January, buttressed in part by Thomson’s gender in the white male political landscape, has evolved into a formidable run at city hall. An Environics poll released in June showed the plucky Women’s Post publisher running third — ahead of deputy mayor Joe Pantalone.
Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle is releasing a Christman album and apparently Lady Gaga wants to sing a duet with her.( I have seen both of them live in Concert.)
You'd better watch out. You'd better not cry. Susan Boyle's music is coming to town this Christmas.
That's right. The Scottish singing sensation -- who stunned judges on Britain's Got Talent and soared to international YouTube fame -- is recording a Christmas album.
Sony is targeting an October street date for the as-yet-untitled release.
. Her first album has sold 3.7 million cds in the US . I hope she soon comes to Canada to perform.
Susan sings with Elaine Paige
Her segment on Oprah repeated yesterday
Michael Buble on Susan Boyle
Glen Beck on Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle on Larry King
Susan Boyle in 1984
You'd better watch out. You'd better not cry. Susan Boyle's music is coming to town this Christmas.
That's right. The Scottish singing sensation -- who stunned judges on Britain's Got Talent and soared to international YouTube fame -- is recording a Christmas album.
Sony is targeting an October street date for the as-yet-untitled release.
. Her first album has sold 3.7 million cds in the US . I hope she soon comes to Canada to perform.
Susan sings with Elaine Paige
Her segment on Oprah repeated yesterday
Michael Buble on Susan Boyle
Glen Beck on Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle on Larry King
Susan Boyle in 1984
Aids activists miss President Bush?
President Bush is responsible for saving millions of lives. Maybe even the left should acknowledge that.
The rage is directed at the Obama administration, which many activists say is reneging on a commitment to continue big annual increases in global AIDS spending. The panic arises from the knowledge that in some African countries, patients who want antiretroviral treatment are being turned away and will soon start dying.
Some activists pine for former president George W. Bush, who launched a much-praised multibillion-dollar fund to fight AIDS around the world. But now, in the eyes of many, the U.S. government has replaced the pharmaceutical industry as the main impediment to progress.
This is also somewhat unfair as the United States is still giving many billions of dollars for this initiative.
The rage is directed at the Obama administration, which many activists say is reneging on a commitment to continue big annual increases in global AIDS spending. The panic arises from the knowledge that in some African countries, patients who want antiretroviral treatment are being turned away and will soon start dying.
Some activists pine for former president George W. Bush, who launched a much-praised multibillion-dollar fund to fight AIDS around the world. But now, in the eyes of many, the U.S. government has replaced the pharmaceutical industry as the main impediment to progress.
This is also somewhat unfair as the United States is still giving many billions of dollars for this initiative.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Cameron is a disappointment
HM UK PM Cameron has made some very silly coments about Gaza. He is a wet. Hopefully the Tory right will one day retake the UK Tory party. Perhaps HM PM Cameron should read this as well. Israel is a democracy in a sea of tyranny. Israel is a staunch ally. Cameron should understand that. Unfortunately he seems to be taking advice from bo.
This is not the first time Cameron had described Palestinians as being imprisoned in Gaza. Quoting from Hansard, the House of Commons’s official record, The Guardian reports his remarks during a June 28 debate: “Everybody knows that we are not going to sort out the problem of the Middle East peace process while there is, effectively, a giant open prison in Gaza.”
This is not the first time Cameron had described Palestinians as being imprisoned in Gaza. Quoting from Hansard, the House of Commons’s official record, The Guardian reports his remarks during a June 28 debate: “Everybody knows that we are not going to sort out the problem of the Middle East peace process while there is, effectively, a giant open prison in Gaza.”
HIH Prince Reza Pahlavi discusses freedom for Iran
Freedom for Iran!!
An interview with the Empress Farah.
Watch the full episode. See more Real Orange.
An interview with the Empress Farah.
Aretha and Condi
I have been in Philly for the last few days for the Aretha Franklin/Condileeza Rice Philadelphi Orchestra Gala Benefit in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Mann Center. You can watch here. It was a wonderful evening. I attended the Gala dinner before the concert. The Food was great and I sat with one of Secretary Rice's literary agents.
The concert was amazing. The Mann center is a covered outdoor performance space. Secretary Rice played a beautiful piece by Mozart.( It was from Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor with the orchestra). She has previously played for Our Sovereign Ldy.
The second half was all Aretha, who started of with Respect and Natural Woman. Aretha started off in Philadelphia and still has strong ties to the city. She dedicated one of her songs to one of the audience members and brought Ron Isley of the Isley brothers on stage to sing the Way We were. Aretha sang a few classical numbers including Nessum Dorma. She also sang some Gospel. Secretary Rice accompanied her on Say a little prayer and My Country Tis of Thee. An amazing evening. I attended the after party, but Secretary Rice left before I could to speak to her and Aretha was feeling unwell. It was an amazing evening.
There was one moron protester, but I never saw him.
Hackers take down cap and tax site
The lefties don't like al gore's preferred method of profiting from the hoax. Hackers brought down a carbon credit trading site. Perhaps the right and the left will unite to bring down the scam. Probably not.
The website of the London-based carbon credit trading platform was hacked at close to midnight on Friday and showed the spoof homepage for around 22 hours. It then took technical staff another day to restore the official homepage.
Instead of its normal rolling ticker data listing bids for carbon credit futures, the ECX website blared: "Super promo – climate on sale: Guaranteed profit!"
Explaining the "carbon trade scam", the spoof site decried how the EU's flagship environmental policy is "susceptible to corporate lobbying," offers industry "licences to pollute so they can continue business-as-usual," and "generates outrageous profits for big industry polluters, investors in fraudulent offset projects [and] opportunist traders."
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Even greens are exposing the hoax
It seems even some greens and lefties are beginning to understand the global warming hoax.
Rancourt is scathing of universities (and rightly so):
“They are all virtually all service intellectuals. They will not truly critique, in a way that could threaten the power interests that keep them in their jobs. The tenure track is just a process to make docile and obedient intellectuals that will then train other intellectuals,” Rancourt said.
“You have this army of university scientists and they have to pretend like they are doing important research without ever criticizing the powerful interests in a real way. So what do they look for, they look for elusive sanitized things like acid rain, global warming,” he added. This entire process “helps to neutralize any kind of dissent,” according to Rancourt.
“When you do find something bad, you quickly learn and are told you better toe the line on this — your career depends on it,” Rancourt said.
Rancourt is scathing of universities (and rightly so):
“They are all virtually all service intellectuals. They will not truly critique, in a way that could threaten the power interests that keep them in their jobs. The tenure track is just a process to make docile and obedient intellectuals that will then train other intellectuals,” Rancourt said.
“You have this army of university scientists and they have to pretend like they are doing important research without ever criticizing the powerful interests in a real way. So what do they look for, they look for elusive sanitized things like acid rain, global warming,” he added. This entire process “helps to neutralize any kind of dissent,” according to Rancourt.
“When you do find something bad, you quickly learn and are told you better toe the line on this — your career depends on it,” Rancourt said.
LSS10
Matt Bufton Peter Jaworski
I recently attended the Tenth anniversary edition of the Liberty Summer Seminar. It was great to see many friends and celebrate freedom in Orono, Ontario. Some of the high handed actions of the Ontario government, emphasized that the fight for freedom never really ends. Swimming has been banned in the Pond at the site. Also Peter's mom was not allowed to cook for the gathered crowd because of snooping by a nosy competitor and health department intervention. These things can be overcome by getting permits that cost tens of thousands of dollars.
I wasn't able to stay for the whole weekend. I actually had to work on Saturday night. I did get to hear Prof Jan Narveson and Canadian Constitution Foundation director John Carpay. I would have loved to hear the other great speakers in person. I will have to watch them online. We did have the annual LSS rain storm and we even had CBC reporter Kady O'Malley in attendance. Another great event by the Institute for Liberal Studies. You should make a donation! Help the ILS teach more young people about freedom.
pakistan
It is no surprise to me or most people who have been paying attention, that the isi is actively helping the taliban. Indeed as I have written before, the isi created the taliban. India has been complaining about the isi for a long time. Finally the rest of the world understands. I am not sure the pakistani government is strong enoughto defeat the jihadi thugs in the isi. It would be good if the pakistani government at leasy acknowledged the problem.
There seem to be few surprises in the 90,000 or more Afghanistan war documents released Sunday on the WikiLeaks website, and by The New York Times, Britain’s Guardian newspaper and Germany’s weekly Der Spiegel. Pacifying the Taliban and turning Afghanistan into a functioning civil state is going slower than expected. Bribery and corruption remain rampant, which is further retarding development of the rule of law. And elements within the Pakistani military and intelligence service freely aid the Taliban and al-Qaeda against NATO forces in Afghanistan.
It’s bad news. But most of it was already known. These are not the Pentagon Papers, the top-secret Vietnam-era documents whose disclosure seemed to prove that successive U.S. administrations knew the war in Southeast Asia was unwinnable, but perpetuated it anyway largely to save face even as casualties escalated.
Our troops already know progress is slow, so this disclosure is unlikely to weaken their resolve. Canadians, in particular, are under few illusions. Home-front support for our mission likely will be undeterred.
There seem to be few surprises in the 90,000 or more Afghanistan war documents released Sunday on the WikiLeaks website, and by The New York Times, Britain’s Guardian newspaper and Germany’s weekly Der Spiegel. Pacifying the Taliban and turning Afghanistan into a functioning civil state is going slower than expected. Bribery and corruption remain rampant, which is further retarding development of the rule of law. And elements within the Pakistani military and intelligence service freely aid the Taliban and al-Qaeda against NATO forces in Afghanistan.
It’s bad news. But most of it was already known. These are not the Pentagon Papers, the top-secret Vietnam-era documents whose disclosure seemed to prove that successive U.S. administrations knew the war in Southeast Asia was unwinnable, but perpetuated it anyway largely to save face even as casualties escalated.
Our troops already know progress is slow, so this disclosure is unlikely to weaken their resolve. Canadians, in particular, are under few illusions. Home-front support for our mission likely will be undeterred.
Monday, July 26, 2010
oliver stone, charley sheen, roman polanski and mel gibson
It is fascinating to watch leftists and their moral relativism. We know see oliver stone is a raving anti semite. He has minimized the Holocaust while sober in the London Sunday times. We have
charley sheen wife abuse and 9/11 truther and of course child rapist roman polanski. All of these people have been forgiven by the left and their friends. They are given awards and large contracts. Though I am not defending mel gibson ( I am very disappointed), he has been raked over the coals by the same lefties who defend the other creeps. Why? because he professes he is a Christian.
Oliver Stone: 'Jewish-Dominated Media' Prevents Hitler from Being Portrayed 'in Context'
By Alana Goodman
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 21:03 ET
Director Oliver Stone belittled the Holocaust during a shocking interview with the Sunday Times today, claiming that America's focus on the Jewish massacre was a product of the "Jewish domination of the media."
The director also defended Hitler and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and railed against the "powerful lobby" of Jews in America.
Stone said that his upcoming Showtime documentary series "Secret History of America," seeks to put Hitler and Communist dictator Joseph Stalin "in context."
charley sheen wife abuse and 9/11 truther and of course child rapist roman polanski. All of these people have been forgiven by the left and their friends. They are given awards and large contracts. Though I am not defending mel gibson ( I am very disappointed), he has been raked over the coals by the same lefties who defend the other creeps. Why? because he professes he is a Christian.
Oliver Stone: 'Jewish-Dominated Media' Prevents Hitler from Being Portrayed 'in Context'
By Alana Goodman
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 21:03 ET
Director Oliver Stone belittled the Holocaust during a shocking interview with the Sunday Times today, claiming that America's focus on the Jewish massacre was a product of the "Jewish domination of the media."
The director also defended Hitler and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and railed against the "powerful lobby" of Jews in America.
Stone said that his upcoming Showtime documentary series "Secret History of America," seeks to put Hitler and Communist dictator Joseph Stalin "in context."
The Census
The Economist( Thanks Ww) and Neil Reynolds also agree with HM Government. The census is intrusive and making it a criminal offence to not fill it out is pretty whacky.
Yet, as The Economist noted, the census is essentially recognized as obsolete in a growing number of countries – a conclusion that arises from the intuitive fact that the world is so filled with statistical data that it would be a greater public service to lessen the quantity than to increase it. Britain will hold its last census next year, as will Germany. Denmark hasn’t had a census for decades. Sweden, Norway and Finland retain only a rudimentary census. With its constitutional requirement of a room-by-room head count, the U.S. government spends $11-billion to count its population – $36 a head. Finland spends 20 cents a head.
People should, as a matter of principle, prefer a voluntary census to a mandatory census. But the reason to scrap the census has nothing much to do with coercion (which is, in fact, minimal) or with cost (which is, in fact, minimal, too). The reason to scrap the mandatory census is that it, along with a great deal of other government fact-finding, is simply not necessary. Indeed, the government should have made this argument. After all, if the most statist countries of Old Europe are abandoning the coercive census, why shouldn’t we get rid of it, too? From this perspective, the government could have defended its decision as, well, liberal and progressive rather than as, well, conservative and reactionary.
Update ( thanks Wilson) Even Stats Canada advisory panel wants to get rid of the jail terms and intrusive questions. The red star spins .
Yet, as The Economist noted, the census is essentially recognized as obsolete in a growing number of countries – a conclusion that arises from the intuitive fact that the world is so filled with statistical data that it would be a greater public service to lessen the quantity than to increase it. Britain will hold its last census next year, as will Germany. Denmark hasn’t had a census for decades. Sweden, Norway and Finland retain only a rudimentary census. With its constitutional requirement of a room-by-room head count, the U.S. government spends $11-billion to count its population – $36 a head. Finland spends 20 cents a head.
People should, as a matter of principle, prefer a voluntary census to a mandatory census. But the reason to scrap the census has nothing much to do with coercion (which is, in fact, minimal) or with cost (which is, in fact, minimal, too). The reason to scrap the mandatory census is that it, along with a great deal of other government fact-finding, is simply not necessary. Indeed, the government should have made this argument. After all, if the most statist countries of Old Europe are abandoning the coercive census, why shouldn’t we get rid of it, too? From this perspective, the government could have defended its decision as, well, liberal and progressive rather than as, well, conservative and reactionary.
Update ( thanks Wilson) Even Stats Canada advisory panel wants to get rid of the jail terms and intrusive questions. The red star spins .
khmer rouge scum convicted
<a href=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/cambodia/7909799/Duch-trial-Khmer-Rouge-prison-chief-sentenced-to-30-years-in-prison.html/>Duch trial: Khmer Rouge prison chief sentenced to 30 years in prison
A UN-backed tribunal has sentenced a former Khmer Rouge prison officer to 30 years in prison for his role in the deaths of at least 14,000 people three decades ago.
Remember these victims of the monstrous evil known as communism. Contribute with me to Tribute to Liberty.
Cross Country Checkup on Lord Black
It was an interesting 2 hours on Cross Country Checkup. Lots of fairly positive comments and I must say Ann Medina, the guest host was pretty even handed.
You can listen to me I'm the first caller after the first guest at 15:03. My friend and fellow BT Adam Dafaillah was on in pre recorded form at 30:30 and my friend Paul Beaudry was on 1:04:30 I told him about the show on Facebook. Paul has a great radio voice. He should have his own radio or TV show. Adam was great as always. There was the usual schadenfreude about Lord Black, but many callers were quite pleased by his release from prison.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Good: khadr stays in gitmo
The Federal Court of Appeals has recognized that courts do not set foreign policy in Canada. So omar stays for trial in gitmo.
Any chance the Canadian government would come to Omar Khadr’s rescue before his murder trial starts in Guantanamo Bay next month seems to have been washed away with a court ruling.
The Federal Court of Appeals has sided with the Harper government, staying an order that required the Conservatives to quickly come up with and pursue ways to help the young Canadian terror suspect.
The court found a judge had overstepped his authority by ordering the government to help Khadr and by setting himself up to supervise and approve its actions.
Khadr, now 23, has been held in U.S. custody since he was accused, at the age of 15, of killing a U.S. army medic in Afghanistan by throwing a grenade at him during a firefight.
The court ruling delivered last week brings at least a temporary halt to a legal bid to force the Canadian government to help Khadr, an effort that picked up steam thanks to the country’s top court.
Any chance the Canadian government would come to Omar Khadr’s rescue before his murder trial starts in Guantanamo Bay next month seems to have been washed away with a court ruling.
The Federal Court of Appeals has sided with the Harper government, staying an order that required the Conservatives to quickly come up with and pursue ways to help the young Canadian terror suspect.
The court found a judge had overstepped his authority by ordering the government to help Khadr and by setting himself up to supervise and approve its actions.
Khadr, now 23, has been held in U.S. custody since he was accused, at the age of 15, of killing a U.S. army medic in Afghanistan by throwing a grenade at him during a firefight.
The court ruling delivered last week brings at least a temporary halt to a legal bid to force the Canadian government to help Khadr, an effort that picked up steam thanks to the country’s top court.
Crime down in Canada?
Not according to Licia Corbella
But right on the same page as that quote is a graph of the crime rate per 100,000 population in Canada from 1962 to 2007. The crime rate increase is so steep the graph looks like a drawing of Mount Everest.
In 1962 -- when police reported crime started to be mapped -- there were slightly more than 2,000 crimes per 100,000 population; in 2007, it was a whopping 6,984. But this is the mild stuff. For an even steeper, more precipitous climb, look at the graph that illustrates the exponential rise in violent crime.
In 1962, there were just slightly more than 200 violent crimes committed per 100,000 population. In 2007, that number spiked almost five times to 930 violent crimes per 100,000 population. In other words, we are a much more violent society today than we once were in recent history. What is even more alarming about these figures is it doesn't take into account the aging of Canada's population. Aging populations should show a decline in violent crime -- not an increase.
In the report released Tuesday, there is a subheading called: "Youth violent crime declining but still higher than a decade ago." So, the trend is down, but it's also up, and if you take a longer-term view of things, it's way, way up.
or Lorrie Goldstein
Every year, when Statistics Canada reports on the annual crime rate, I’m reminded of three old sayings.
First, there are lies, damned lies and statistics.
Second, while a river you’re swimming in may have an average depth of one metre, you can still drown in water that’s way over your head.
Third, if you don’t know what you’re looking at, for example if you had to describe an elephant solely by touch, you might mistake it for a snake (trunk), a tree (leg) or a dagger (tusk).
All these sayings come to mind regarding media reporting of the annual crime statistics. Most outlets, year after year, rewrite the top lines of the Statistics Canada press release.
Words to the effect that the year-over-year crime rate has dropped — this time by 3% in 2009 compared to 2008, and 17% compared to a decade ago.
Or Lorne Gunter
Has crime really fallen precipitously in Canada in the past decade, or have many of us merely given up reporting minor instances to the police because there is no longer any point in doing so?
It's probably a little of both. This past Tuesday, Statistics Canada released its annual report on police-reported crime. It claimed a 17-per-cent drop in crime in the past decade.
That stat was immediately grabbed by opposition politicians and the federal government's detractors in the media as proof that the Tories' get-tough-on-crime strategy is misplaced.
Commentators and opposition critics insisted the Tories' plan to build $5 billion or more in new prisons, to put more criminals behind bars and to keep them there longer was nothing more than pandering to the ill-informed masses.
But right on the same page as that quote is a graph of the crime rate per 100,000 population in Canada from 1962 to 2007. The crime rate increase is so steep the graph looks like a drawing of Mount Everest.
In 1962 -- when police reported crime started to be mapped -- there were slightly more than 2,000 crimes per 100,000 population; in 2007, it was a whopping 6,984. But this is the mild stuff. For an even steeper, more precipitous climb, look at the graph that illustrates the exponential rise in violent crime.
In 1962, there were just slightly more than 200 violent crimes committed per 100,000 population. In 2007, that number spiked almost five times to 930 violent crimes per 100,000 population. In other words, we are a much more violent society today than we once were in recent history. What is even more alarming about these figures is it doesn't take into account the aging of Canada's population. Aging populations should show a decline in violent crime -- not an increase.
In the report released Tuesday, there is a subheading called: "Youth violent crime declining but still higher than a decade ago." So, the trend is down, but it's also up, and if you take a longer-term view of things, it's way, way up.
or Lorrie Goldstein
Every year, when Statistics Canada reports on the annual crime rate, I’m reminded of three old sayings.
First, there are lies, damned lies and statistics.
Second, while a river you’re swimming in may have an average depth of one metre, you can still drown in water that’s way over your head.
Third, if you don’t know what you’re looking at, for example if you had to describe an elephant solely by touch, you might mistake it for a snake (trunk), a tree (leg) or a dagger (tusk).
All these sayings come to mind regarding media reporting of the annual crime statistics. Most outlets, year after year, rewrite the top lines of the Statistics Canada press release.
Words to the effect that the year-over-year crime rate has dropped — this time by 3% in 2009 compared to 2008, and 17% compared to a decade ago.
Or Lorne Gunter
Has crime really fallen precipitously in Canada in the past decade, or have many of us merely given up reporting minor instances to the police because there is no longer any point in doing so?
It's probably a little of both. This past Tuesday, Statistics Canada released its annual report on police-reported crime. It claimed a 17-per-cent drop in crime in the past decade.
That stat was immediately grabbed by opposition politicians and the federal government's detractors in the media as proof that the Tories' get-tough-on-crime strategy is misplaced.
Commentators and opposition critics insisted the Tories' plan to build $5 billion or more in new prisons, to put more criminals behind bars and to keep them there longer was nothing more than pandering to the ill-informed masses.
Rex on Lord Black
Rex admires Lord Black's relentless pursuit of justice, as do I.
Rex Murphy: A Dickensian hero in the age of Enron
Rex Murphy July 24, 2010 – 10:43 am
It does not have quite the redemptive brio (or the props) of the Papillon story — a dive off the murderously steep cliffs of Devil’s Island with a sack of coconuts for a raft — but some brio there is, and not inconsiderable, in Conrad Black’s release on bail from a Florida penitentiary a mere third through his judicially assigned six-and-a-half year stay.
There was and is something extraordinary in Mr. Black’s relentless defiance of the charges placed against him, against the atmospherics of the prosecution’s case, and a system of U.S. law that places such leverage in the hands of secondary players, or those it chooses to regard as secondary, in its addiction to plea bargaining. It is that unbroken persistence which allows a reference to the Papillon story. Even those who have no time for Conrad Black — and for good or ill, they are a multitude — have to admit a glimpse of something close to heroic in the stamina and (relative) stoicism with which he has resisted and combatted the assaults on his career and reputation.
Further, when even one of his former U.S. prosecutors talks of admiring “the moxie and tenacity of this guy,” and of how Black’s determination is “impressive, no matter how you look at it,” I think it’s more than clear that the script on the life and varied times of Conrad Black is still very much — to borrow a phrase of his own — a work “in progress.” There are turns in the plot yet to come. They who glutted themselves on the story of his utter and irremediable ruin have dined unwisely, too early and too eagerly. With his front-page article in Thursday’s National Post ( “I hope Black’s enemies like crow”), Terence Corcoran has correctly identified the next item on the buffet for that crowd.
Rex Murphy: A Dickensian hero in the age of Enron
Rex Murphy July 24, 2010 – 10:43 am
It does not have quite the redemptive brio (or the props) of the Papillon story — a dive off the murderously steep cliffs of Devil’s Island with a sack of coconuts for a raft — but some brio there is, and not inconsiderable, in Conrad Black’s release on bail from a Florida penitentiary a mere third through his judicially assigned six-and-a-half year stay.
There was and is something extraordinary in Mr. Black’s relentless defiance of the charges placed against him, against the atmospherics of the prosecution’s case, and a system of U.S. law that places such leverage in the hands of secondary players, or those it chooses to regard as secondary, in its addiction to plea bargaining. It is that unbroken persistence which allows a reference to the Papillon story. Even those who have no time for Conrad Black — and for good or ill, they are a multitude — have to admit a glimpse of something close to heroic in the stamina and (relative) stoicism with which he has resisted and combatted the assaults on his career and reputation.
Further, when even one of his former U.S. prosecutors talks of admiring “the moxie and tenacity of this guy,” and of how Black’s determination is “impressive, no matter how you look at it,” I think it’s more than clear that the script on the life and varied times of Conrad Black is still very much — to borrow a phrase of his own — a work “in progress.” There are turns in the plot yet to come. They who glutted themselves on the story of his utter and irremediable ruin have dined unwisely, too early and too eagerly. With his front-page article in Thursday’s National Post ( “I hope Black’s enemies like crow”), Terence Corcoran has correctly identified the next item on the buffet for that crowd.
More obama bias against opponents
obama and his henchmen biased? Quelle surprise.
Inspector general finds racial bias in auto dealership closings ordered by Obama
July 24, 8:14 PMVirginia Beach Conservative ExaminerDave Gibson
Troubled Asset Relief Program Inspector General Neal M. Barofsky has found that many of the General Motors and Chrysler dealerships ordered closed by the Obama administration, after last year’s bailouts, were victims of racial, gender and even political bias.
According to Barofsky’s report, 2,000 dealerships were forced to close which cost 100,000 jobs.
However, the businesses allowed to stay open “were retained because they were recently appointed, were key wholesale parts dealers, or were minority-or woman-owned dealerships.”
The report also indicates a political bias may have come into play, due to a disproportionate number of dealership closings in rural areas, even though the closures could "jeopardize the return to profitability" for both GM and Chrysler.
Barofsky states: “ultimately close to half of all of the GM dealerships identified for termination were in rural areas.”
Of course, in 2008, Obama lost the vote in the nation's 1,300 rural counties by close to 80 percent.
Inspector general finds racial bias in auto dealership closings ordered by Obama
July 24, 8:14 PMVirginia Beach Conservative ExaminerDave Gibson
Troubled Asset Relief Program Inspector General Neal M. Barofsky has found that many of the General Motors and Chrysler dealerships ordered closed by the Obama administration, after last year’s bailouts, were victims of racial, gender and even political bias.
According to Barofsky’s report, 2,000 dealerships were forced to close which cost 100,000 jobs.
However, the businesses allowed to stay open “were retained because they were recently appointed, were key wholesale parts dealers, or were minority-or woman-owned dealerships.”
The report also indicates a political bias may have come into play, due to a disproportionate number of dealership closings in rural areas, even though the closures could "jeopardize the return to profitability" for both GM and Chrysler.
Barofsky states: “ultimately close to half of all of the GM dealerships identified for termination were in rural areas.”
Of course, in 2008, Obama lost the vote in the nation's 1,300 rural counties by close to 80 percent.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
As I wrote before...
The Count of Monte Cristo: The Sequel?
Margaret Wente notes that when Lord Black sues , he wins. I have no doubt, that pattern will continue.
His next book will skewer his enemies. HIs lawyers should put the fear of ruin into them in the near future. I agree with David Frum, restore Lord Black's citizenship.
Journalists have learned the hard way that Lord Black always wins. He has sued most of the major Canadian media, including the CBC, the Toronto Star, The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail. In 1983, he sued his biographer, Peter Newman, over a snarky story Mr. Newman wrote for a society magazine called Town and Country. In 2005, he sued him again over a vicious characterization of Barbara in Mr. Newman’s memoir, Here Be Dragons. He once sued writer Ron Graham for a passing remark made in a book called God’s Dominion: A Skeptic’s Quest; his complaint was that “the author announces that having me for an acquaintance taught him that greed and ego add peculiarly to the sum total of human misery.” He extracted an effusive apology, which appeared in an ad in The Globe.
Margaret Wente notes that when Lord Black sues , he wins. I have no doubt, that pattern will continue.
His next book will skewer his enemies. HIs lawyers should put the fear of ruin into them in the near future. I agree with David Frum, restore Lord Black's citizenship.
Journalists have learned the hard way that Lord Black always wins. He has sued most of the major Canadian media, including the CBC, the Toronto Star, The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail. In 1983, he sued his biographer, Peter Newman, over a snarky story Mr. Newman wrote for a society magazine called Town and Country. In 2005, he sued him again over a vicious characterization of Barbara in Mr. Newman’s memoir, Here Be Dragons. He once sued writer Ron Graham for a passing remark made in a book called God’s Dominion: A Skeptic’s Quest; his complaint was that “the author announces that having me for an acquaintance taught him that greed and ego add peculiarly to the sum total of human misery.” He extracted an effusive apology, which appeared in an ad in The Globe.
Salim Mansur on failed states
Salim Mansur discusses failed state Pakistan. He agrees with me that the colonial legacy of the Raj have left Pakistan with some of the only things that work. My post from yesterday makes a similar point.
Pakistan's foolish policies have brought about its own misery.
It is no good to blame the problems of these states on colonialism-imperialism of the West that ended more than two generations ago. And if the West is to be held responsible for the continued misery of the states on the index, then honesty requires acknowledging these states would be likely much worse today except for what the West left behind as part of the colonial legacy.
Let us take the case of Pakistan, a country on the index that I am most familiar with. The Afghan-Pakistan border, or the Durand Line drawn by the British towards the end of the 19th century, tells quite a story of colonialism that few are willing to explore.
East of the Durand Line inside Pakistan, anything that barely works — from the poorly administered government to the crumbling infrastructures for health, education, agriculture, railways, road system, etc. — has to do with the colonial legacy. How valid this view is can be assessed by observing the state of affairs west of the Durand Line inside Afghanistan.
Hence, blaming western colonialism will not do. On the contrary, it can be said India’s relative success in the contemporary world in contrast to the Middle East has much to do with the duration of Britain’s presence in the subcontinent.
Pakistan's foolish policies have brought about its own misery.
It is no good to blame the problems of these states on colonialism-imperialism of the West that ended more than two generations ago. And if the West is to be held responsible for the continued misery of the states on the index, then honesty requires acknowledging these states would be likely much worse today except for what the West left behind as part of the colonial legacy.
Let us take the case of Pakistan, a country on the index that I am most familiar with. The Afghan-Pakistan border, or the Durand Line drawn by the British towards the end of the 19th century, tells quite a story of colonialism that few are willing to explore.
East of the Durand Line inside Pakistan, anything that barely works — from the poorly administered government to the crumbling infrastructures for health, education, agriculture, railways, road system, etc. — has to do with the colonial legacy. How valid this view is can be assessed by observing the state of affairs west of the Durand Line inside Afghanistan.
Hence, blaming western colonialism will not do. On the contrary, it can be said India’s relative success in the contemporary world in contrast to the Middle East has much to do with the duration of Britain’s presence in the subcontinent.
Friday, July 23, 2010
A Tale of two Realms
I believe Constitutional Monarchy is the best system of Government, but even good systems of government can be sabotaged by socialist policies . A fascinating article comparing two of Her Majesty;'s Realms Barbados and Jamaica. Both have similar Westminster style Constitutional Monarchies, yet Barbados is much more successful. The reason? Jamaica's socialist governments.
Read Here. and listen here.
Read Here. and listen here.
Finally US cap and tax is dead
Senator Inhofe told me this last year, but it is now fully confirmed. This is good news for Canadians as well. We would have been drugged into the US scheme, now we won't be.
Cap and Trade is Dead (Really, Truly, I'm Not Kidding). Who's to Blame?
Read more: http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/07/22/cap-and-trade-is-dead-really-truly-im-not-kidding-whos-to-blame/?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0uWuDxNUh BRYAN WALSH
The headline has been written countless times, but this time it is true: carbon cap-and-trade of any sort will not come out of this Congress—and perhaps it never will. Instead of comprehensive economy-wide carbon cap that Senator John Kerry had urged—and that the House had already passed a year ago—or even the compromise utility-only cap bill that had been suggested as an alternative, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that he would move forward next week on a bill that only deals with the BP oil spill and a few other low-profile energy policies. The reason was simple, according to Reid—politics:...
Even lefties find olbermann awful
keith olbermann is a useless blowhard. It seems even the leftist conspiracy that is journolist can't stand him.
Olbermann's Production Staff Jumping Ship, JournoListers Hate Him
By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
Fri, 07/23/2010 - 10:39 ET
While on a much-needed vacation, things for Keith Olbermann have gone from bad to worse.
News is coming out almost daily concerning members of his production staff jumping ship to work for Lawrence O'Donnell's new program.
On top of that, the Daily Caller has published e-mail messages of liberal JournoList members expressing their disgust for the "Countdown" host.
As people hating on Olbermann is guaranteed to brighten a conservative's day, let's start there:
SNL Skewers Keith Olbermann - Watch more Funny Videos
Glen Beck skewers the worst person on earth
Olbermann's Production Staff Jumping Ship, JournoListers Hate Him
By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
Fri, 07/23/2010 - 10:39 ET
While on a much-needed vacation, things for Keith Olbermann have gone from bad to worse.
News is coming out almost daily concerning members of his production staff jumping ship to work for Lawrence O'Donnell's new program.
On top of that, the Daily Caller has published e-mail messages of liberal JournoList members expressing their disgust for the "Countdown" host.
As people hating on Olbermann is guaranteed to brighten a conservative's day, let's start there:
SNL Skewers Keith Olbermann - Watch more Funny Videos
Glen Beck skewers the worst person on earth
My Letter in the Gazette on Lord Black
I am very happy that Conrad Black has been released from his unjust imprisonment. Black is a brilliant man who has contributed greatly to Canadian society.
Everyone who visits London should see the war memorial that Black helped make possible in Green Park. The National Post is a wonderful newspaper started by Black. He is a prolific author. While in prison he educated many in and out of prison.
The U.S. government's persecution of this great man has soured my view of American justice. I hope the Canadian government restores Black's citizenship that a mean-spirited Jean Chretien insist he renounce if he wished to take his seat in the House of Lords.
Roy Eappen Montreal
Hopefully the judge will allow Lord Black to come home. Lorne Gunter has it right, as does Joe Warmington.
Everyone who visits London should see the war memorial that Black helped make possible in Green Park. The National Post is a wonderful newspaper started by Black. He is a prolific author. While in prison he educated many in and out of prison.
The U.S. government's persecution of this great man has soured my view of American justice. I hope the Canadian government restores Black's citizenship that a mean-spirited Jean Chretien insist he renounce if he wished to take his seat in the House of Lords.
Roy Eappen Montreal
Hopefully the judge will allow Lord Black to come home. Lorne Gunter has it right, as does Joe Warmington.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Good
I despise affirmative action programs. People should be hired on merit. I am pleased that race, minority based hiring will be reassessed. Since we are making lefty heads explode I suggest HM Government should also eliminate hrc section 13.1, hell why not just eliminate the hrc. Let's eliminate the sow and cut all advocacy spending. Let's institute a flat tax and call for cuts to the civil service. If the lefties are going crazy over something so minor let's give them something to really stew over.
The Conservatives have ordered a review of federal government affirmative action policies, saying the public service should hire based on merit, not race or ethnicity.
Cabinet ministers Stockwell Day and Jason Kenney announced the review of the Public Service Employment Act, along with any related practices and policies, on Thursday. “While we support diversity in the public service, we want to ensure that no Canadian is barred from opportunities in the public service based on race or ethnicity,” Mr. Day, the Treasury Board President, said in a statement.
Mr. Kenney, meanwhile, was more blunt in his calls for a meritocracy.
“I strongly agree with the objective of creating a public service that reflects the diversity of Canada, and with fair measures designed to reach that goal. But we must ensure that all Canadians have an equal opportunity to work for their government based on merit, regardless of race or ethnicity,” said the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism...
BCF has the grit and dipper take on this.
The Conservatives have ordered a review of federal government affirmative action policies, saying the public service should hire based on merit, not race or ethnicity.
Cabinet ministers Stockwell Day and Jason Kenney announced the review of the Public Service Employment Act, along with any related practices and policies, on Thursday. “While we support diversity in the public service, we want to ensure that no Canadian is barred from opportunities in the public service based on race or ethnicity,” Mr. Day, the Treasury Board President, said in a statement.
Mr. Kenney, meanwhile, was more blunt in his calls for a meritocracy.
“I strongly agree with the objective of creating a public service that reflects the diversity of Canada, and with fair measures designed to reach that goal. But we must ensure that all Canadians have an equal opportunity to work for their government based on merit, regardless of race or ethnicity,” said the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism...
BCF has the grit and dipper take on this.
Liberty Summer Seminar
Though I am not a libertarian, I do agree with libertarians on several issues , I do support the ILS and their Liberty Summer Seminar. It is a great weekend discussing freedom. There is a great line up of speakers including Michel Kelly Gagnon. It will rain , but they do have a tent. It takes place in beautiful Orono Ontario. I urge you all to attend. If you can't attend send the ILS money!!!
The Count of Monte Cristo the sequel?
Conrad Black in Florida: ‘I still expect justice to prevail’
Many of Lord Black's tormenters should be afraid.
The focus of the libel suit is the now discredited August 2004 Report of Investigation by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Hollinger International. In that report, spearheaded by Mr. Breeden, a former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission hired as a special advisor to Hollinger, the company is described as a "corporate kleptocracy." Those words alone, while only used once in the report, are sensational and powerful enough to carry a libel suit in most circumstances if found to be unsubstantiated.
Equally damaging language dominates the summary of the report, which claimed that $500-million had been swept out of Hollinger. Easily found through Google today, the first 20 pages make for stunning over-the-top reading. "Hollinger wasn't a company where isolated improper and abusive acts took place. Rather, Hollinger was a company where abusive practices were inextricably linked to every major development or action." It claimed that "ethical corruption was a defining characteristic of the leadership team."
Along with Mr. Breeden, the libel suit names a group of Hollinger executives who had taken over the company after Lord Black had left. They include Gordon Paris, James R. Thompson, Graham L. Savage, Raymond Seitz and
Henry Kissinger. To fight the libel case, the defendants want the case moved out of Ontario, where libel laws work in favour of the plaintiff by forcing the defendants to prove the veracity of their statements. Mr. Breeden and the plaintiffs want the case moved to New York or Illinois, where the opposite burden prevails and the law favours defendants.
A lower court last year threw out the Breeden attempt to shift venues, saying the case should be heard in Ontario. The judge also awarded Lord Black $90,000 in expenses, perhaps an omen of things to come. The Ontario Court of Appeal heard an appeal of the jurisdiction issue this past May, and is expected to issue a decision sometime over the next three months
Many of Lord Black's tormenters should be afraid.
The focus of the libel suit is the now discredited August 2004 Report of Investigation by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Hollinger International. In that report, spearheaded by Mr. Breeden, a former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission hired as a special advisor to Hollinger, the company is described as a "corporate kleptocracy." Those words alone, while only used once in the report, are sensational and powerful enough to carry a libel suit in most circumstances if found to be unsubstantiated.
Equally damaging language dominates the summary of the report, which claimed that $500-million had been swept out of Hollinger. Easily found through Google today, the first 20 pages make for stunning over-the-top reading. "Hollinger wasn't a company where isolated improper and abusive acts took place. Rather, Hollinger was a company where abusive practices were inextricably linked to every major development or action." It claimed that "ethical corruption was a defining characteristic of the leadership team."
Along with Mr. Breeden, the libel suit names a group of Hollinger executives who had taken over the company after Lord Black had left. They include Gordon Paris, James R. Thompson, Graham L. Savage, Raymond Seitz and
Henry Kissinger. To fight the libel case, the defendants want the case moved out of Ontario, where libel laws work in favour of the plaintiff by forcing the defendants to prove the veracity of their statements. Mr. Breeden and the plaintiffs want the case moved to New York or Illinois, where the opposite burden prevails and the law favours defendants.
A lower court last year threw out the Breeden attempt to shift venues, saying the case should be heard in Ontario. The judge also awarded Lord Black $90,000 in expenses, perhaps an omen of things to come. The Ontario Court of Appeal heard an appeal of the jurisdiction issue this past May, and is expected to issue a decision sometime over the next three months
Bye bye mr sheikh
Who will retire with a fat pension. It is not the civil service who sets government policy. IT is HM Government. If the civil service doesn't like it they can resign. We are hearing that coercion is necessary for information gathering. It is not. Ask any marketing firm. It is my hope that many of the other obstructionist grit plants in the civil service will now also resign.The civil service is supposed to be neutral and implement the policies of HM Government. That is their job. The grits loaded the civil service with their partisans. It is now time to rid the civil service of these partisans and obstructionists. If they themselves resign, all the better.
The government should return stats can to being the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and rid the agency of other obstructionists and others who believe they are political operatives.
The government should return stats can to being the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and rid the agency of other obstructionists and others who believe they are political operatives.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Treaty Commisioner Jamie Wilson
My friend and ex BT Jamie Wilson is now Manitoba's Treaty Commissioner. There is an article about him in the Winnipeg Free Press. I have no doubt that Jamie will succeed at this job. I hope he can help bring Native people to more integrated with other Canadians while respecting their culture. Education, hard work and self reliance will be what helps bring Native people ahead. It is what every immigrant child is told by their parents. I know Jamie is passionate about education and he will do everything he can to be a success in this job.
Seven documents a century or older covering every square centimetre of Manitoba -- coming soon to a school near you.
Manitoba's new treaty relations commissioner Jamie Wilson wants students to know what many adults do not -- that the seven treaties First Nations and Ottawa signed between 1871 and 1921 are living documents.
"It's all about where we are as a country -- we're a work in progress," says Wilson.
Wilson stepped down as education director in his hometown Opaskwayak Cree Nation to succeed Dennis White Bird as treaty commissioner.
So what does a treaty commissioner do?
He's a "neutral facilitator of dialogue" between First Nations and Ottawa, explained Wilson.
He laughed -- let's try this again.
Wilson said education and research are pillars of Manitoba's treaty commission. He's got a speakers bureau of 30 people, and is eager himself to get into schools: "I'd love to. If I'm invited, I'll be right in there."
But it's in the school curriculum where young people can learn what those seven treaties mean to all Manitobans, and how they're fundamental to the ever-developing relationships among Manitobans, said Wilson.
Seven documents a century or older covering every square centimetre of Manitoba -- coming soon to a school near you.
Manitoba's new treaty relations commissioner Jamie Wilson wants students to know what many adults do not -- that the seven treaties First Nations and Ottawa signed between 1871 and 1921 are living documents.
"It's all about where we are as a country -- we're a work in progress," says Wilson.
Wilson stepped down as education director in his hometown Opaskwayak Cree Nation to succeed Dennis White Bird as treaty commissioner.
So what does a treaty commissioner do?
He's a "neutral facilitator of dialogue" between First Nations and Ottawa, explained Wilson.
He laughed -- let's try this again.
Wilson said education and research are pillars of Manitoba's treaty commission. He's got a speakers bureau of 30 people, and is eager himself to get into schools: "I'd love to. If I'm invited, I'll be right in there."
But it's in the school curriculum where young people can learn what those seven treaties mean to all Manitobans, and how they're fundamental to the ever-developing relationships among Manitobans, said Wilson.
Bring Lord Black Home
Bring Conrad Black home
National Post · Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2010
I am totally thrilled that Lord Black has been granted bail. His persecution by American authorities has led me to harbour serious doubts about the American justice system. All of the charges brought against him should have been addressed in civil court. Lord Black's accusers have lost billions of dollars in assets, and what has this accomplished? I urge the government to reverse former prime minister Jean Chretien's petty spite and restore Lord Black's citizenship, in the hopes that Canada will welcome home this great man in the very near future.
Roy Eappen, Montreal.
More from my friend Tasha Kheiriddin. From L.Ian Macdonald. Even kind words from Siklos. Lord Black may be freed today.
I am pretty pro Police, but not this pro police.
Apparently many people in the US are being prosecuted for filming police actions. That is ridiculous. The police are civil servants and I think allowing filming them is justified. How is this different than journalists videotaping police. these prosecutions seem unconstitutional to me. I hope they will not happen in Canada.
Growing Number of Prosecutions for Videotaping the Police
Prosecutions Draw Attention to Influence of Witness Videos
By RAY SANCHEZ
July 19, 2010
That Anthony Graber broke the law in early March is indisputable. He raced his Honda motorcycle down Interstate 95 in Maryland at 80 mph, popping a wheelie, roaring past cars and swerving across traffic lanes.
Anthony Graber was arrested for posting a video of his traffic stop on YouTube.
But it wasn't his daredevil stunt that has the 25-year-old staff sergeant for the Maryland Air National Guard facing the possibility of 16 years in prison. For that, he was issued a speeding ticket. It was the video that Graber posted on YouTube one week later -- taken with his helmet camera -- of a plainclothes state trooper cutting him off and drawing a gun during the traffic stop near Baltimore.
In early April, state police officers raided Graber's parents' home in Abingdon, Md. They confiscated his camera, computers and external hard drives. Graber was indicted for allegedly violating state wiretap laws by recording the trooper
Growing Number of Prosecutions for Videotaping the Police
Prosecutions Draw Attention to Influence of Witness Videos
By RAY SANCHEZ
July 19, 2010
That Anthony Graber broke the law in early March is indisputable. He raced his Honda motorcycle down Interstate 95 in Maryland at 80 mph, popping a wheelie, roaring past cars and swerving across traffic lanes.
Anthony Graber was arrested for posting a video of his traffic stop on YouTube.
But it wasn't his daredevil stunt that has the 25-year-old staff sergeant for the Maryland Air National Guard facing the possibility of 16 years in prison. For that, he was issued a speeding ticket. It was the video that Graber posted on YouTube one week later -- taken with his helmet camera -- of a plainclothes state trooper cutting him off and drawing a gun during the traffic stop near Baltimore.
In early April, state police officers raided Graber's parents' home in Abingdon, Md. They confiscated his camera, computers and external hard drives. Graber was indicted for allegedly violating state wiretap laws by recording the trooper
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
R.I.P. Sapper Brian Collier
Sapper Collier had been wounded earlier on this tour of duty.
“Previously injured in a separate IED strike, Sapper Collier fought hard to overcome his injury in order to get back to doing his job with his comrades,” said Brig.-Gen. Vance.
“Today, the entire task force — both military and civilian — is mourning our fallen comrade. Any Canadian who could have seen Brian in action would have been proud of him and proud of our country for the work being done with and for Afghans,” he added.
Sapper Collier was born in Toronto and raised in Bradford, Ont.
A member of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Edmonton, he was serving in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. It was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Brig.-Gen. Vance said Sapper Collier was known for his easygoing nature and sense of humour, and was an automobile enthusiast who loved to spend time with his Audi.
A Wise Man, not a chicken little
A very wise physicist , who is a Nobel Laureate. Liberals seem to think they are King Canute and believe they can control the sun and the moon. You can read the whole piece here at the American scholar.
Stanford University physicist Robert Laughlin says governments – and people generally – should proceed with more humility in dealing with climate change. The Earth, he says, is very old and has suffered grievously: volcanic explosions, floods, meteor impacts, mountain formation “and all manner of other abuses greater than anything people could inflict.” Yet, the Earth is still here. “It’s a survivor.”
Writing in the summer issue of the magazine The American Scholar, Prof. Laughlin offers a profoundly different perspective on climate change. “Common sense tells us that damaging a thing as old as [Earth] is somewhat easier to imagine than it is to accomplish – like invading Russia.” For planet Earth, he says, the crisis of climate change, if crisis it be, will be a walk in the park.
Relax, Prof. Laughlin advises. Let it be. “The geologic record suggests that climate ought not to concern us too much when we gaze into the future,” he says, “not because it’s unimportant but because it’s beyond our power to control.” Whatever humans throw at it, in other words, Earth will fix things in its own time and its own way.
Psalm 81<> O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Stanford University physicist Robert Laughlin says governments – and people generally – should proceed with more humility in dealing with climate change. The Earth, he says, is very old and has suffered grievously: volcanic explosions, floods, meteor impacts, mountain formation “and all manner of other abuses greater than anything people could inflict.” Yet, the Earth is still here. “It’s a survivor.”
Writing in the summer issue of the magazine The American Scholar, Prof. Laughlin offers a profoundly different perspective on climate change. “Common sense tells us that damaging a thing as old as [Earth] is somewhat easier to imagine than it is to accomplish – like invading Russia.” For planet Earth, he says, the crisis of climate change, if crisis it be, will be a walk in the park.
Relax, Prof. Laughlin advises. Let it be. “The geologic record suggests that climate ought not to concern us too much when we gaze into the future,” he says, “not because it’s unimportant but because it’s beyond our power to control.” Whatever humans throw at it, in other words, Earth will fix things in its own time and its own way.
Psalm 81<> O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Discriminating against the white middle class
I oppose affirmative action. It doesn't work. Once again we see how this social engineering has backfired in the US. The solution is not more social engineering, it is too eliminate all such considerations and return to merit based admissions.
Last year, two Princeton sociologists, Thomas Espenshade and Alexandria Walton Radford, published a book-length study of admissions and affirmative action at eight highly selective colleges and universities. Unsurprisingly, they found that the admissions process seemed to favor black and Hispanic applicants, while whites and Asians needed higher grades and SAT scores to get in. But what was striking, as Russell K. Nieli pointed out last week on the conservative Web site Minding the Campus, was which whites were most disadvantaged by the process: the downscale, the rural and the working-class.
This was particularly pronounced among the private colleges in the study. For minority applicants, the lower a family’s socioeconomic position, the more likely the student was to be admitted. For whites, though, it was the reverse. An upper-middle-class white applicant was three times more likely to be admitted than a lower-class white with similar qualifications.
This may be a money-saving tactic. In a footnote, Espenshade and Radford suggest that these institutions, conscious of their mandate to be multiethnic, may reserve their financial aid dollars “for students who will help them look good on their numbers of minority students,” leaving little room to admit financially strapped whites.
Last year, two Princeton sociologists, Thomas Espenshade and Alexandria Walton Radford, published a book-length study of admissions and affirmative action at eight highly selective colleges and universities. Unsurprisingly, they found that the admissions process seemed to favor black and Hispanic applicants, while whites and Asians needed higher grades and SAT scores to get in. But what was striking, as Russell K. Nieli pointed out last week on the conservative Web site Minding the Campus, was which whites were most disadvantaged by the process: the downscale, the rural and the working-class.
This was particularly pronounced among the private colleges in the study. For minority applicants, the lower a family’s socioeconomic position, the more likely the student was to be admitted. For whites, though, it was the reverse. An upper-middle-class white applicant was three times more likely to be admitted than a lower-class white with similar qualifications.
This may be a money-saving tactic. In a footnote, Espenshade and Radford suggest that these institutions, conscious of their mandate to be multiethnic, may reserve their financial aid dollars “for students who will help them look good on their numbers of minority students,” leaving little room to admit financially strapped whites.
More on Lord Black
Extensive coverage in the NP. A great piece by my friend Adam Dafaillah Lord Black is expected to ask to return to Canada. The "experts" speak.
Schadenfreude at the red star and the daily mail.
It seems that Lord Black's ordeal may finally be coming to an end.
I urge HM Canadian government to reverse pseudo chretien's pettiness. ( pseudo chretien is a vindictive nasty little man) Restore Lord Black's citizenship.
Schadenfreude at the red star and the daily mail.
It seems that Lord Black's ordeal may finally be coming to an end.
I urge HM Canadian government to reverse pseudo chretien's pettiness. ( pseudo chretien is a vindictive nasty little man) Restore Lord Black's citizenship.
Andrew Coyne on Canadian History
A brilliant piece by Andrew Coyne. Senator Serge Joyal has helped bring portraits of all of Canada's Monarchs French and English to grace the Rotunda of the Senate. I heard him speak at a Canadian Royal Heritage trust event on just this subject.
But if the history of Canada is an unbroken chain of sovereignty, Francis to Elizabeth, Champlain to Johnston; if what is important about it is not the change from French to British rule but the continuity between them—if we are not a British monarchy, or even a French monarchy and then a British one, but simply a monarchy, throughout—then the Conquest is not the pivotal event in our history: it is just an event. The effect, in turn, is to deracinate the British inheritance. What is valuable is the inheritance—Crown, Parliament, the common law, the Constitution—not its Britishness.
If that sounds like a lot to load onto a few words, it certainly didn’t strike Quebec nationalists that way. When Harper first started talking about Quebec City as the birthplace of Canada, around the time of the 400th anniversary, the nationalists were fairly purple with rage, accusing him in the most acrid terms of rewriting history for political ends.
But then, they should know. The nationalist project, notably in the use of the neologism “Québécois” in place of “French-Canadian,” was a conscious attempt to shunt the history of Quebec off onto a siding, separate and apart from the history of Canada, whose logical terminus was a separate Quebec. The logic of Harper’s language is to wrench it back on to the same track as the rest of us: while Champlain could hardly have known he was founding Canada, it is certainly true that the history of present-day Canada leads inexorably back to him.
But if the history of Canada is an unbroken chain of sovereignty, Francis to Elizabeth, Champlain to Johnston; if what is important about it is not the change from French to British rule but the continuity between them—if we are not a British monarchy, or even a French monarchy and then a British one, but simply a monarchy, throughout—then the Conquest is not the pivotal event in our history: it is just an event. The effect, in turn, is to deracinate the British inheritance. What is valuable is the inheritance—Crown, Parliament, the common law, the Constitution—not its Britishness.
If that sounds like a lot to load onto a few words, it certainly didn’t strike Quebec nationalists that way. When Harper first started talking about Quebec City as the birthplace of Canada, around the time of the 400th anniversary, the nationalists were fairly purple with rage, accusing him in the most acrid terms of rewriting history for political ends.
But then, they should know. The nationalist project, notably in the use of the neologism “Québécois” in place of “French-Canadian,” was a conscious attempt to shunt the history of Quebec off onto a siding, separate and apart from the history of Canada, whose logical terminus was a separate Quebec. The logic of Harper’s language is to wrench it back on to the same track as the rest of us: while Champlain could hardly have known he was founding Canada, it is certainly true that the history of present-day Canada leads inexorably back to him.
Monday, July 19, 2010
gillard is an atheist, will that affect her chances?
I'm not sure but I am told by some of my friends in Oz that even the right side of the Australian labour party are not so happy with gillard's atheism. I hope that the Coalition will beat labour on the Aug 21 vote. This may indeed play a factor.
The PM's admission that she doesn't believe in God has divided religious leaders, writes John Elder.
ON AUGUST 15, between 3pm and 6pm, Julia Gillard may feel a sudden draining of her energy. She'll shrug it off as a sign that the demands of campaigning are catching up with her. And she'll be right.
On that Sunday, Melbourne witch and high priestess Lizzy Rose and her coven will invite Ms Gillard's energy into their magic circle to speak about ''her intentions of where she is taking the country''.
Ms Rose says her divinations ''will prove to us whether Julia is going to govern through ego or through her heart space''.
The PM's admission that she doesn't believe in God has divided religious leaders, writes John Elder.
ON AUGUST 15, between 3pm and 6pm, Julia Gillard may feel a sudden draining of her energy. She'll shrug it off as a sign that the demands of campaigning are catching up with her. And she'll be right.
On that Sunday, Melbourne witch and high priestess Lizzy Rose and her coven will invite Ms Gillard's energy into their magic circle to speak about ''her intentions of where she is taking the country''.
Ms Rose says her divinations ''will prove to us whether Julia is going to govern through ego or through her heart space''.
Hurray!!! Lord Black gets Bail!!!
I am very pleased by this news. It shows that appeals court is likely going to overturn the convictions. This whole trial has been a farce. Lord Black should never have been tried , let alone convicted. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this persecution. Shows what all those experts like sussman know. Only Steve Skurka got it right. I must say it again makes me have more sympathy with my libertarian friends about law and order issues.
Conrad Black has been granted bail pending his appeal on fraud charges.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued an order Tuesday allowing Lord Black to be released from a Florida prison, but ordered the terms of the bail conditions to be set by the district judge who presided over his criminal trial in 2007.
The U.S. Supreme Court has thrown into question most of his three convictions on mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud and one count of obstruction of justice in a decision last month.
Lord Black was sentenced to 78 months in prison by Judge Amy St. Eve and began serving his term at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in March, 2008
:
Conrad Black has been granted bail pending his appeal on fraud charges.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued an order Tuesday allowing Lord Black to be released from a Florida prison, but ordered the terms of the bail conditions to be set by the district judge who presided over his criminal trial in 2007.
The U.S. Supreme Court has thrown into question most of his three convictions on mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud and one count of obstruction of justice in a decision last month.
Lord Black was sentenced to 78 months in prison by Judge Amy St. Eve and began serving his term at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in March, 2008
:
John Williamson
My friend John Williamson has been very busy in the last couple of years. He obtained a Master's degree at the London School of Economics. He was HM PM Harper's Director of Communications. Now he is running to be the CPC candidate in South New Brunswick. He is a young man, but has already had a distinguished career. He was National Director of the Canadian Taxpayer's Federation and has written extensively while at the NP. He is a funny, brilliant energetic guy. He is right on policy. He helped bring the party back together and back into government. He would be an excellent MP. Check out his website. Then donate, volunteer and vote for John!
• Job creation and opportunities for families
• Lower taxes
• A government that lives within its means
• Tougher sentences for criminals and compassion and fairness for the victims of crime
• Scrapping a useless long-gun registry that unfairly criminalizes farmers and hunters
• Supporting the Canadian Forces and our men and women in uniform
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Cirque Eloize ID
I also saw the new Cirque Eloize show Id in Montreal's Old Port. It was an amazing show. It had an urban theme. The show was very exciting. It had a lot more dance elements than their previous shows. The show was part of the Montreal Circus Festival.
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I Support Lord Black
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