The Star’s Tim Harper reports that Kellie Leitch, one of the robotic but very malleable mainstays of the former Harper regime, has become the first declared candidate for the Conservative Party’s leadership.I hope no one forgets her appearance with Imm…
Continue readingTag: harper demagoguery
Politics and its Discontents: More From Marg: Canada’s Barbaric Cultural Practices Tip Line
Marg Delahunty reminds us of one of the many offences against Canada committed by the Harper regime: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Senior Scam Alert
Although now retired as Canada’s longest-serving mayor, the redoubtable Hazel McCallion continues her life of public service: Meanwhile, over at Don Martin’s Power Play, watch the first two minutes of his questioning of Monte Solberg defending Harper’s hypocrisy of having well-known crack-user Rob Ford and his brother Doug at his
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I’ll Be So Glad To See The End Of This
I think most would agree that Terrence Young and the rest of his ilk are long past their best-before dates. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Something To Gladden The Spirit
During this campaign, while Harper has been appealing to the worst in Canadians, I have to admit that my faith in humanity has been faltering. The following, which I saw on Facebook, is something of a restorative. “You see, you’ve misjudged us… You’ve underestimated us.” A former Calgarian writes an
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Guest Post: The Values Edition
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, It seems a propitious time to reflect on the values that have been fostered and avidly promoted (especially during this election season} by the Harper government, values that no doubt will be on the minds of many as they head to the polls on October 19.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Some Things To Give Thanks For
H/t Toronto Star As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, moving beyond the usual things we express gratitude for (family, health, etc.), here are a few other things I give thanks for: A high turnout in advance polls: Elections Canada says it estimates some 850,000 people voted on Friday, the first
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Word From Harry Smith
Harry Smith, who I have written about previously on this blog, has some timely reminders for us this election season. …because so many Canadians of my generation had come from nations fraught with religious and ethnic tension, we tried to create a more tolerant society that crossed political beliefs. Inclusion
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About That Pavlovian Response
It is enough to make a recovering cynic suffer a very bad relapse. As I noted earlier this week, to see what lurks just beneath the surface of Canadian sensibilities, something dark and ugly, is extremely disheartening. Amply revealed by the Machiavellian incitement of prejudice engineered by Lynton Crosby to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Better Angels Of Our Nature
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” – Abraham Lincoln Stephen
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: We Aren’t As Good As We Think We Are
If anything, the racism and xenophobia that have become cornerstones of the Harper re-election strategy are showing us something we would prefer not to think about: when provoked, our own darker natures come easily to the surface. In his column today, Edward Keenan reveals a few things we should ponder:
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Lifting The Veil
Lifting the veil behind what has become a major part of the Tory re-election strategy reveals nothing good. Consider, for example, this shameful announcement by party stalwart Kellie Lietch, who has yet to meet a Harper directive she doesn’t salivate over: In other words, the directive has gone out: surveil
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: He Sounds, On The Surface, So Reasonable
As I lamented in yesterday’s post, the issue of the niqab at citizenship ceremonies is apparently responsible for a resurgence of support for the Harper regime, whose leader has ruthlessly exploited the issue to his political advantage. Playing upon people’s prejudices against ‘the other,’ Harper is appealing the court ruling
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Hope Fades ……
It is becoming difficult to hold on to hope. Despite all we know about the Harper regime, despite all that has been written about its corruption, its abuse of power, its undermining of our democratic institutions, its insidious appeal to the worst in our natures, it seems to all be
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Robert Fisk
Last evening my wife and I attended a talk given by Robert Fisk, the renowned British journalist who has lived in and covered the Middle East for almost 40 years. The talk was quite dense, given the complexity of the issues and dynamics of that region, and I realized how
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Echoing His Master’s Voice?
People who read my blog regularly may have noticed that lately I have been posting videos and images more than I have been writing. The fact of the matter is that as a political junkie I have overdosed, something I suspected might happen due to this ridiculously long election campaign.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Code Deciphered
H/t Graeme MacKay Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Clearly, There Is Method In Harper’s Madness
Recently, Robin Sears wrote a piece severely critical of the Conservative response to the Syrian crisis, a commentary prompted by Immigration Minister Chris Alexander’s disastrous appearance on Power and Politics. In it, he suggests that rather than the snarling and aggressive response Alexander gave P&P host Rosemary Barton, he could
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About Those Diversions, Mr. Harper
H/t Raeside Cartoons Meanwhile, always perspicacious Toronto Star readers will have none of it. Here is but a small sampling of their sentiments on Mr. Harper’s diversionary tactics: Re: Harper vows to end ‘terror tourism,’ Aug. 10 Travel restrictions to terrorist locations shouldn’t be election promises. When warranted I expect
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: In Which Stephen Harper Tries To Change The Channel
One suspects it won’t work. Recommend this Post
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