I hope to write an actual blog post on an entirely different topic later today, but since the latest poll shows a very strong reaction against the Prime Minister’s puerile attack ads directed against Justin Trudeau, I can’t resist reproducing a few of the letters from Star readers in this
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Politics and its Discontents: ‘Is There No Honour In This Man?’
So asks MP Charlie Angus about the subject of this video report, Mike Duffy, who, as we learn, has even less integrity than it would be thought possible for any person to have: UPDATE: Unbelievable – now Duffy claims he repaid the money in March. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is Harper Just A Big Bully?
These Star readers seem to think so: Tories attack Trudeau on first day in new job, April 16 It is fair to criticize opposing politicians for their political beliefs and policies. It is right to deplore bullying in all its forms. Now we find that the usual unfair, unjust and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Hypocrisy on Full Display
In his column this morning, The Star’s Tim Harper points out something that I think many of us are all too aware of: Stephen Harper is a hypocrite. There really is no other way to describe the despicable partisanship that permeates our Prime Minister’s deformed soul, most recently on display
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Becomes An International Embarassment
Time to cut our losses? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Allan Gregg on Attack Ads
I have written about Allan Gregg on this blog before; probably his most noteworthy recent contribution to political discourse came in his speech to Carleton University’s School of Public Affairs, in which he denounced the Orwellian bent of the Harper regime in its promotion of ignorance in place information and
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Incoming Editorial Cartoon
Oh, I do so savor The Toronto Star. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is Nothing Sacred?
Apparently not to Stephen Harper, who used the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings to try to attack Justin Trudeau. Apparently the Prime Minister discourages any rational consideration of crime in favour of his well-known modus operandi, knee-jerk reactions and demagoguery. Watch the following and decide for yourself: Recommend this
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: For Your Further Consideration
Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pondering The Dark Arts
For those as weary of political attack ads as I am, The Star’s Carol Goar has an interesting column in today’s edition. Entitled Debating ‘dark arts’ of political campaigning, Goar relates her experience of moderating a panel over the weekend comprised of … Jaime Watt, the primary architect of former
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper Hate-Mongering
The latest attack ad, this one against newly-appointed Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau, serves as a timely reminder of the Harper government’s seemingly endless capacity for hateful and divisive propaganda. In this, I make an all-too obvious observation. But I have, for some time, wondered about the audience for those
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pernicious Effects of Harper Politics on the Young
This, I assume, requires no further comment: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Conservative Attack Ad – UPDATED
I suspect many will agree that this ad says more about the Conservative Party behind it than it does about its subject: UPDATE: This Star editorial provides some useful context for and analysis of this attack ad. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Jesus Christ, Still a Figure of Controvery
Many years ago, the iconic writer and broadcaster Pierre Berton wrote a book entitled The Comfortable Pew. Yapdates gives the following summary of the book, commissioned by the Canadian Anglican Church in 1965. … the author accuses the church of forgetting its main identity and what it first stands for.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Insincere Apologies
I’ll probably have more to write later, but for now, here are some always reliable insights by Star readers on the ‘apology’ from RBC CEO Gord Nixon: Royal Bank chief executive makes public apology, April 11 An open letter to RBC President and CEO Gord Nixon: Don’t outsource jobs at
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: So Typically Classless
But then, why would anyone expect anything different from the Harper regime? H/t Sol Chrom Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Appeasement at the BBC
Whenever I travel, especially when a Canadian television station is not available, I tend to tune into the BBC, which generally practises the kind of hard-hitting journalism that the CBC was once known for, before embarking upon a policy of trying to appease the right-wing. Sadly, that virus of appeasement
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two Blogging Recommendations
With so many things of note to comment on, today is one of those days when, if I had the time, I suspect I would spend most of the day writing blog posts. Instead, allow me to direct your attention, if you haven’t already read them today, to Alison over
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Remembering Jonathan Winters
If you are of a certain age, you will remember Jonathan Winters, probably the most nimble comedic mind that the twentieth century produced. As a lad, he was one of the few people that could make me genuinely laugh out loud. The inspiration for people like Robin Williams, another comedic
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Puncturing Right-Wing Mythology
I hope everyone will take five minutes to watch this video, originally considered too controversial for TED Talks. The speaker, entrepreneur Nick Hanauer, very deftly cuts through the mythology perpetuated by the right wing that the super-rich are our job creators and hence must be treated with taxation kid gloves.
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