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By David Climenhaga, on April 30, 2013, at 2:04 am A couple of old guys born just before the last King passed on, one of them your blogger, the other the pollster and former Tory strategist Allan Gregg. Below: Mr. Gregg in his iconoclastically Conservative heyday.
Long-time Tory pollster and strategist Allan Gregg ripped into the Harper Government on Saturday for what he termed its “systematic attack on evidence-based research.”
But since Mr. Gregg was speaking to the annual convention of the Alberta Federation of Labour, his startling comments went completely unremarked by Alberta’s mainstream media – notwithstanding the readily available “local angle” of an Edmonton native who did (Read more…)
By David Climenhaga, on April 13, 2013, at 1:58 am The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. Below, Ezra Levant in an orange wig with a can of Orange Crush mocks Jack Layton’s funeral. RIP or give it a rest?
Oh my – quelle horreur! – naughty Britons still appalled by the depredations visited upon their country by Margaret Thatcher’s government have shocked and appalled the world by pushing “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead!” to the top of the charts.
In case you missed it, the former British prime minister, who was in office from 1979 to 1990, died on Monday at 87. But (Read more…) took until yesterday for the song from the Wizard of Oz – an apt metaphor itself for the operational side of neocon governments everywhere – to mischievously reach No. 1 on the British Broadcasting Corp.’s weekly music chart.
The right-wing media in Britain and, quite naturally, here . . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Wicked Witch war of words: ‘Has Thatcher bashing crossed a line?’ Well, er… no!
By The Ranting Canadian, on April 10, 2013, at 9:57 pm
Brian Mulroney is going to be part of Canada’s official gaggle of groupies at Maggie Thatcher’s Bukkake party on April 17, 2013 in London, England.
Yes, that Mulroney; the disgraced former prime minister who took bribes, defrauded Canadians of millions of dollars, cheated on his taxes and resigned under a cloud of corruption (not necessarily in that order). Stephen Harper, Canada’s disgraced current prime minister, is the shithead who invited him for the free ride.
No doubt the dishonourable John “Angry” Baird will be there too. He met Thatcher once, and even named his cat after her. What a pussy!
. . . → Read More: The Ranting Canadian: Brian Mulroney is going to be part of Canada’s official…
By trashee, on April 10, 2013, at 7:34 pm … ex PC PM Brian Mulroney… I guess he was a real asshole, eh? A lefty pig? Never agreed with everything BM the PM said or did, but I do respect the guy… especially in the context of the über partisan Harperites. So how about it, Cons? Are ya gonna demonise one of Canada’s better [...]
By The Ranting Canadian, on April 8, 2013, at 7:55 pm
Faces of Evil
This one isn’t a music video; it is chilling old footage of Margaret Thatcher having afternoon tea with her close personal friend and political ally Augusto Pinochet, the murderous quasi-fascist dictator of Chile who overthrew a democratically elected government in a bloody coup.
Thatcher was an evil, evil, dirty politician, Hopefully her last few days on Earth were full of pain and suffering, as punishment for the pain and suffering she inflicted on millions of others.
Of the main 1980s proponents of Chicago School trickle-down capitalism — Milton Friedman, Pinochet, Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney —Thatcher is (Read more…)
By Lorne, on February 23, 2013, at 3:12 pm Actually, our former Prime Minister is more a legend in his own mind, but then, confronting harsh reality has never been one of Mr. Mulroney’s strong suits. His litigious past serves as ample testament to that fact.
But myth is always much more exciting than truth, and what better myth could Mulroney propagate than the one about the free-trade agreement his government negotiated 25 years ago with the United States? Last week, he made an appearance at the University of Toronto’s Rotman business school, where more than 700 guests gathered to commemorate his government’s ‘great’ achievement. In his usual
. . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: The Legend of Brian Mulroney
By EclecticLip, on January 28, 2013, at 4:02 pm I welcomed Kathleen Wynne‘s victory in the leadership race for the ruling Ontario Liberal Party this past Saturday, even though I live in faraway British Columbia. And I do mean far away — seriously, the International Space Station is ten times closer to the surface of the earth, than Vancouver is to Toronto. (Though that probably says more about how not-so-far-away the International Space Station is to us.)
Wynne is of course lesbian, and her ascent to the Premiership of Ontario — Canada’s most populous province — is a matter of minor national pride, whatever her
. . . → Read More: Eclectic Lip: Wynne-win for Canada! And, is America ready for another white male President?
By EclecticLip, on January 22, 2013, at 1:19 pm (originally written Nov 24, 2011. Part of Great Upload of 2013.)
It came to my attention that Naseem Nicholas Taleb, who authored The Black Swan (surprisingly, not about a ballet dancer, but about financial crises) discussed other avians in his book, among them the Thanksgiving turkey. Per the Wikipedia page, he seems to’ve co-opted the idea from a turkey anecdote by philosopher Bertrand Russell, whose atheism doubtless led antagonists to brand him cuckoo.
The abrupt change in the turkey’s situation is part of an argument that it’s ridiculous to project present trends very far into
. . . → Read More: Eclectic Lip: The Black Swan’s Thanksgiving Turkey
By David Climenhaga, on January 21, 2013, at 12:23 am Alberta Solicitor General and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, right, reacts to word of an Idle No More road blockade while Calgary Sun columnist Rick Bell looks on. Actual Alberta politicians and commentators may not appear precisely as illustrated. Below: the real Denis the Menace before he popped a gasket and the real Dinger.
Surprising as this may seem to alert readers in other parts of the country, protest is in fact permitted out here in Alberta. However, like strikes by unionized workers, it is usually only allowed if it’s completely ineffective.
So it should be easy for us to understand
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Idle No More protests successfully wind up Alberta solicitor general
By David Climenhaga, on December 31, 2012, at 1:34 am Happy New Year … and this time I mean it! Author and cook Stevie Cameron wearing the official regalia of a member of the Order of Canada. Actual Order of Canada recipients may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Ms. Cameron; Brian Mulroney, the 18th prime minister of Canada, wearing his OiC pin in his official portrait by Igor Babailov, which kind of captures the guy, you have to admit.
What a delightful and ironic twist on which to end one year and start another was the announcement yesterday that Stevie Cameron had been awarded the Order of
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Order of Canada for Stevie Cameron sets the right tone for the coming Year of Mulroney
By daveberta, on October 29, 2012, at 1:00 am TweetThe November 26 by-election in Calgary-Centre will be the fourth federal by-election held in Alberta in the past twenty-six years. In that time, only one of the by-elections saw the election of a candidate not from the incumbent political party. All three by-elections were won by candidates representing conservative parties. Pembina By-election (September 29, 1986) [...]
By opseudiablogue, on October 15, 2012, at 12:36 pm It’s good to see Dr. Michael Rachlis on the opinion pages of today’s Toronto Star. Rachlis has been tireless in his myth-busting around the sustainability of health care. As he points out today, total health care costs as a percentage … Continue reading →
By david, on October 9, 2012, at 2:26 am Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney in his heyday, grabbed from the website of Libraries and Archives Canada, and doesn’t he just look terrific! Below: Mr. Mulroney as he appears nowadays; Earnscliffe Strategies Principal Robin Sears.
Have you noticed how Brian Mulroney is looking pretty good lately?
Back in the day, after Mr. Mulroney left office in 1993 as the Conservative prime minister who brought us “free” trade, failed constitutional change and sundry other disasters, real and imagined, he could have been fairly described as the most unpopular man in Canada.
And that was before the sleazy sounding but never proven
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: The rehabilitation of Brian Mulroney: There’s a reason he’s looking so good these days
By david, on October 8, 2012, at 1:25 am “If it ain’t Alberta, it ain’t beef!” Not any more, though, thanks to the efforts of Alberta politicians, companies and the federal food inspection agency. From left to right above: Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry “Cold Cuts” Ritz, Alberta Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson and Alberta Premier Alison Redford. Actual politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The actual Ms. Redford and Mr. Ritz.
Today is Thanksgiving, and we give thanks the XL Foods plant in southeastern Alberta doesn’t process turkeys!
Because XL Foods, its parent company, the Alberta Progressive Conservative Government, the federal Conservative Government and the Canadian Food
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: XL Foods, Tories and a frightened, politicized inspection agency offer a textbook case of brand destruction
By Obert Madondo, on October 3, 2012, at 6:30 pm After months of speculation, it’s official! Justin Trudeau is running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. And he’s already dreaming big: he wants to replace Stephen Harper as Canada’s next prime minister. Announcing his leadership bid in Montreal Tuesday, the Papineau MP delivered a speech unequivocally pointing in that direction. The speech opened with the famous [...]
By CuriosityCat, on October 3, 2012, at 4:09 pm William Shakespeare’s powerful Macbeth introduced us to the unforgettable three witches, huddled around a cauldron in a dark cave, thunder echoing overhead. The witches toss amazing things into their witches’ brew: Just in time brewing
1 WITCH. Round about the caldron go; In the poison’d entrails throw.— Toad, that under cold stone, Days and nights has thirty-one; Swelter’d venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot! ALL. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble. . . . → Read More: CuriosityCat: Brian Mulroney believes Justin Trudeau has the right eye of newt and toe of frog
By Simon, on October 1, 2012, at 4:27 am Oh no. Blow me down like a leprechaun. It turns out Brian Mulroney didn't have to sing and dance for Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Shamrock Summit.
Like the Bojangles of Baie Comeau.
The Americans liked him enough already. Read more »
By daveberta, on September 20, 2012, at 10:37 pm TweetCan the online campaign 1 Calgary Centre succeed in its goal to unite (or crowd-surf) progressive voters behind one candidate in the impending Calgary-Centre by-election? It is not impossible, but it is improbable. The existence of a Naheed Nenshi, Linda Duncan, or Chima Nkemdirim style of candidate who progressive voters could unite behind could make Conservative organizers lose some [...]
By david, on September 15, 2012, at 12:16 am The message from worried Canadians, in and out of uniform, to former Frank publisher Michael Bate. Below: Frank’s semi-iconic logo, Mr. Bate, a typical Frank cover from the Paul Martin era.
TORONTO
If you’re a Canadian politician, you should be afraid, very afraid.
Frank Magazine will soon be back… Or so it’s rumoured and so we fervently hope.
The last Canadians heard officially from former Frank editor and publisher Michael Bate, back in 2010, was that he’d “morphed into a Canadian composer.” Like, of music.
This was disheartening news. I don’t care if the guy is Charlie Flippin’ Parker,
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Neocon slapheads beware! This may not be just a Frank Prank?
By Oh, on August 16, 2012, at 7:49 pm One of Canada’s enduring mythologies is that during the NDP reign in Ontario from 1990 to 1995 a whole plethora of woe was inflicted as the result of Bob Rae and his mismanagement. Most people point to the fact that during that time the deficit of Ontario increased quite a bit – this is true.
A common article for the Toronto Sun outlines this: Rae tripled Ontario’s deficit to $9.7 billion and raised taxes in his first budget in 1991, saying he was proud to fight the recession rather than the deficit.
But, to be fair, Rae was facing (Read more…)
By david, on July 17, 2012, at 1:38 am Preston Manning and his then-protégé Stephen Harper back in the day. Below: Mr. Manning as he now appears (United Church Observer photo): Alberta premier E.C. Manning, Preston Manning’s father; Mr. Harper as a Reform Party candidate.
Nowadays, folks think of Preston Manning as a benign force in Canadian politics – possibly because of his scratchy voice and grandfatherly demeanour, and partly because on a personal level he is most certainly an honourable person.
This is a dangerous misunderstanding.
It’s worth remembering that while the former Reform Party of Canada leader may not be a sinner, he is certainly no
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Preston Manning is no saint, as secretive Carleton University scheme illustrates
By LeDaro, on July 15, 2012, at 10:47 am Interesting cartoon from Toronto Star.Only thing missing is brown bags of cash next to Mulroney.
By david, on June 26, 2012, at 2:17 am Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, with Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois … or something very much like that. The politicians pictured above may not be exactly as illustrated in real life. Below: Thomas Mulcair, Jack Layton.
Now that our sullen neo-conservative prime minister is on speaking terms once again with former PM Brian Mulroney – in desperate hopes of staving off an eventual electoral disaster in Quebec at the hands of the federalist NDP leader, Thomas Mulcair – one wonders how long it will be before the Harper Government sits down to sup with separatists.
Sure enough, it was only
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: How far will Prime Minister Stephen Harper go with separatists to hang onto power?
By david, on June 25, 2012, at 2:14 am Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein, back in the day. Below: Former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau, also back in the day.
Now that the campaign to give the Order of Canada to Ralph Klein has all but met its goal, one wonders when the effort to hang the same gong on Jacques Parizeau will begin? Seriously! The former premier of Quebec meets the essential qualification.
For months now, a relentless campaign has been under way by a group of journalists, sometime Klein caucus mates and political allies, and other loyalists of the former Alberta premier to ensure that Mr. Klein is
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Time to wax philosophical about Ralph Klein and the Order of Canada
By david, on June 22, 2012, at 2:41 am Yikes! Brian Mulroney and Stephen Harper: It’s always dangerous when Conservatives decide to counter threats to national unity. Below. W.L. Mackenzie King.
Be afraid! Be very afraid!
Why should you be afraid, you wonder? It’ll be right there on the front pages of tomorrow’s Alberta newspapers: Prime Minister Stephen Harper is heading to Quebec to, in the words of Postmedia News, “counter a potential threat to national unity.”
Now, it’s never a good thing in this country when Conservatives start messing with the national unity file. Those of us who were around at the time saw what
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Be very afraid … Prime Minister Harper wants to woo Quebec!
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