Lying is not new to politics. But, these days, it has become a vaunted art form. Consider Donald Trump’s recent town hall. Michael Harris writes: Like a mob boss sticking to his story under interrogation, Trump repeated old fictions to the delight of his cackling cult followers. The lies poured
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Northern Reflections: The Fading Consensus
At the end of World War II, the movers and shakers established a new economic order. They called it “The Washington Consensus.” Glen Pearson writes: The economic agreement of recent decades is fading. It was termed the “Washington Consensus,” and it was strong and adept enough to draw in the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Trump’s Townhall
Donald Trump appeared on CNN last night. Frank Bruni writes that, if people are worried about Joe Biden’s mental acuity, they should consider Donald Trump’s mental health: Given all the attention to President Biden’s cognitive fitness for a second presidential term, it seems fair, even mandatory, to assess Donald Trump’s
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: We Know Who She Is
Danielle Smith’s past keeps coming back to hurt her. Luke LeBrun writes: A newly resurfaced video shows Alberta UCP leader Danielle Smith endorsed the Ottawa convoy occupation and Coutts border blockade as a means to force an end to public health measures across Canada. Last week, Smith faced heavy criticism
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot became an international celebrity. But, to me, he was quintessentially Canadian. Back in 1965, as a university freshman, I attended a concert he gave as part of our Winter Carnival festivities. He ended the concert with his Canadian Railroad Trilogy. He sang of a country that had existed
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Pierre’s Disease
I’ve written a lot about Pierre Poilievre lately. That’s because he’s clearly not prime ministerial material. But, more than that, he carries the disease which threatens to take down the republic to our south. Michael Harris writes: He started out as Stephen Harper’s attack-trained chihuahua, tugging at every enemy pant-leg
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Splintering?
Cracks are showing in the Conservative Party of Canada. Stephanie Levitz and Rob Benzie report that: A hint of a triumphal smirk crept across Justin Trudeau’s face as he launched a partisan salvo at his fiercest rival. “Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada — no relation
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Tough Guys?
Some of us admire people for being “tough guys” — who see life as a series of hard, stark choices. When it comes to economics, Paul Krugman argues, that admiration can be misplaced: Some economics textbooks used to define their subject as the “science of scarcity.” Maybe some still do.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Election Preview
If you want to know what the next federal election will look like, take a look at Question Period in the House of Commons. Susan Delacourt writes: The Conservative leader acknowledged his lack of vocal prowess in the Commons this week after attempting to sing a few bars of “New
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: It May Make The Difference
Danielle Smith has received Stephen Harper’s imprimatur — backhanded though it may be. Michael Harris writes: First it was Jason Kenney, then Pierre Poilievre, and now Danielle Smith. Former prime minister Stephen Harper has once again elbowed his way back into active politics in Canada, this time with an “endorsement”
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Not The Man For The Job
Pierre Poilievre has taken on journalism. History suggests that’s not a wise strategy. Robin Sears writes: The first conservative to destroy his party through a hatred of journalists was, of course, Richard Nixon. The next was Donald Trump, who has delivered three defeats since his razor thin single victory, all
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Carlson’s Exit
A couple of days I wrote that Tucker Carlson planned to air a program in which he advocated the invasion of Canada by the United States. Carlson’s last program was on Friday. So we will not — it appears — be seeing that program. That’s good news. Michelle Goldberg writes:
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: One Of The Reasons
Pierre Poilievre is fluently bilingual and has a French last name. But that doesn’t mean he impresses Quebecers. Chantal Hebert writes: More than six months after his election as Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre has yet to meet Quebec Premier François Legault one on one. That stands in stark contrast with
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Latest On Carbon Change
On April 14th, we got some accounting on climate change. Aaron Wherry reports: The annual account of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions was released on April 14, just as most of Ottawa was fixated on the uneventful testimony Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff was giving to a parliamentary hearing on foreign
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: American Fascism
Fascism has come to the United States. It wears Donald Trump’s face. Robert Kagan writes: The entire Trump phenomenon has nothing to do with policy or ideology. It has nothing to do with the Republican Party, either, except in its historic role as incubator of this singular threat to our
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: War Mongering
Trucker Carlson is a white weasel who is in the business of peddling hate. Stephen Maher writes: Canadians should expect a restless night on May 1, because that’s when Fox News superstar Tucker Carlson releases his latest project: a special film called “O, Canada.” The program argues that the US
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Plutocratic Power
Paul Krugman argues that suspicion of plutocratic power is an American tradition: People on the right often insist that expressing any concern about highly concentrated wealth is “un-American.” The truth, however, is that worrying about the dangers great wealth poses for democracy is very much part of the American tradition.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Economic And Political Perceptions
Canadians are worried about the economy. Glen Pearson writes that Canadians have reason to be: We’re right to fret, especially after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its grim financial forecast a week ago. Its conclusion was that the next five years will be the weakest for the global economy
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The First Casualty
From the beginning of his tenure, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has gone to war with the media. He took his cue from his predecessor, Andrew Scheer. Max Fawcett writes: Former Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer hinted at this in his 2020 resignation speech. “Challenge the mainstream media,” he
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Trump In The Great White North
When Trump flags showed up as part of the Truckers’ Convoy in Ottawa, it was clear that the American Disease had drifted across our border. Michael Harris writes that Donald Trump has become part of our political conversation: Not that the political arena was ever a monastery. There have always
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